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"The staff and parents of Hugs Plus were supportive and friendly while I transitioned back to work. Although this was a difficult decision, I could not have chosen a better place for my child. The staff at Hugs Plus is extremely knowledgeable, friendly, helpful, and loving. They have helped him grow and develop several skills. He is always smiling! As a working professional, it is a relief to return home from work and be able to spend time cuddling with my son knowing that he has already participated in sensorial activities, tummy time, and play. "
My children, now four and five years old, started with Hugs Plus Learning Center in Stoughton as toddlers. Since we began, everyone at the center has made this a rewarding and educational experience. The teachers and staff appreciate each child's individuality and promote creativity. They truly care for the children and their families in the center. My children have been given an opportunity to learn, grow, make new friends and experience new things in a fun and safe environment, and for that I am forever grateful!"
"Hugs Plus has been part of our extended family for 10 years. Both of our children have attended from 3 months through Pre-K. The staff helped guide us through infancy of our first child, held our hands as parents during the "terrible twos" and thoroughly prepared our kids for Kindergarten. Our children received a top notch education and had the freedom and encouragement to explore a wide variety of topics and interests throughout their early childhood. The Hugs Plus staff is professional, welcoming, encouraging is at the forefront of trending early education and is truly part of our family."
"We had the pleasure of watching our son grow every day with carefully thought out lesson plans in art, music, reading, sensory play, language, and much more. We have always been engaged by his teachers in his learning so that we understood what he was experiencing on a day to day basis. Similarly we often had pictures and artwork to bring home as a way to share even more in his day. Most importantly, however, we have always been able to trust that our son was treated with exceptional care. We dropped him off every day knowing he would grow, learn, and be nurtured and that feeling of comfort as a parent is unlike any other."


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Defensive Carbine Class II (8 HRS)
Prerequisite: Defensive Carbine I Class (8hrs) or equivalent training (8-hours or more)
This class is a continuation of our defensive carbine series. It includes additional drills, 50-yard qualification course of fire, field firing to 100 yards, and live fire malfunction clearance drills. This class covers the basic defensive use of the carbine (AR platform 5.56/.223). We will begin with a review of the topics and fundamentals of marksmanship from Defensive Carbine I and move into more advanced drills. Students will continue to improve their carbine handling skills while reinforcing the fundamentals of marksmanship. Timed drills will help the student learn the balance between speed and accuracy.
4H Range
Culpeper, VA
Off Rt 15 across from General Winder Rd. Exact location provided after registration.
Your carbine must be zeroed prior to this class.
If you need assistance zeroing your carbine for this class, please contact us. We can also make arrangements to help you zero your carbine prior to the start of the class.
Topics Covered
Shooting positions
Multiple targets
Non standard response
Turning and shooting
Timed drills & standards
Malfunction drills
Target acquisition & discrimination
Strong and support side shooting
Speed reloads/magazine changes
Equipment Needed
Rifle and 3 magazines
Be able to retain 2 magazines on your body
450 rounds of 5.56/223 ammo (minimum). No steel core, no armor piercing, no tracer.
Knee pads (optional, but recommended)
Water for hydration
Eye protection, hearing protection (electronic recommended) and baseball cap
Lunch is included.
It's highly recommended to bring a chair.
This is an outdoor range, so the only restrooms are Port-A-Johns.

subset: commoncrawl


text: Central Induction and related support In 'Learning and Development Opportunities' Central InductionCoaching AcademyILMManaging performance and PDRsMentoringOnline PDR for Support StaffOpen programmes A to ZRecruitment & SelectionResearcher skillsDeveloping leaders Back to 'Development' New member of staff For new members of staff, you are required to complete the following five mandatory training courses: GDPR Health and safety induction Fire awareness training Information security training Equality and diversity We would also suggest that as well as your local induction you select the following: Central induction (see below) Recruitment and selection workshop (both the online equality and diversity training and workshop are mandatory before you can sit on a recruitment or promotion panel from 2015) Furthermore, if you are a member of the academic staff we would suggest that you also select the following: Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (probationary requirement for Lecturers) Central induction Key contact Contact POD (x44606; x43693; firstname.lastname@example.com). Duration Half day run every month. Delivery method Centrally via presentation, various locations. Who it is suitable for All new members of University staff, as soon as possible after joining. This is the ideal opportunity to gain a greater awareness of the University; its history, research, alumni, community engagement and plans for the future, in addition to an introduction to the numerous support services available to all employees. This event builds from your local induction, which should take place in your first few weeks, and will reinforce your welcome to the University. What you will be able to do after the event You will have a better view of how your role contributes to the success of the University and will have developed knowledge that will build on and support relevant local induction activities. Content A variety of presentations, including from: An overview of the University from a member of the University's Executive Board Speakers from across the University 'Speed-meeting' session So what's distinctive? A chance to see the aims and 'big picture' of the University and the way all parts of the organisation go about achieving these as well as the opportunity to consider how you might contribute to success. How to book As a new starter you will be automatically invited to attend this event, however if you've not received the invite or you would just like to attend again, please select a date and complete the booking form.


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It's U.S. party in the semifinals of the Olympic women's saber competition as Rebecca Ward and Mariel Zagunis of the Oregon Fencing Alliance joined top-seeded Sada Jacobson in the final four Saturday at the Fencing Hall in Beijing.
The second-seeded Ward fought off Azza Besbes of Tunesia 15-14 in the quarterfinals. Zagunis, seeded No. 6, had an easier time, beating China's Bao Yingying 15-9.
The two Oregon fencers will meet in the semifinals on Saturday evening for the right to advance to the gold medal bout. The loser will fence for the bronze.
The top-seeded Jacobson also advanced with a 15-9 victory over Olena Khomrova of the Ukraine.
Jacobson will meet fifth-seeded Sofia Velikaya of Russia in the semifinals.
Ward's quarterfinal bout went to the wire.
"She was fencing very well today," Ward said. "It was a little bit of an unusual style. I was really glad I could pull that off at the end."
With the score tied 14-14, both fencers touched. The judge consulted the video before awarding Ward the winning point.
"I was down 8-5 at the break," Ward said. "I was going too fast at the beginning. I had to slow down and change my game up a little."
The last point was close.
"Luckily I could make her short in the end, and a long, very nerve-wracking attack, and I finished it," Ward said.
Zagunis, who had her hands full in her first two matches, took control early against Bao. The pro-China crowd was never a factor.
She has Ward, her teammate at the Portland-based OFA, next.
"We've fenced thousands of times in practice and in competitions," said Zagunis, the defending gold-medalist. "I'm going to go back to the village, relax and prepare myself the best I can. ... Whatever. We're teammates and it's great to have three Americans in the top four. It's fantastic for all of us so far."
Velikaya upset the fourth-seeded Tan Xue of China 15-9.


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The RX8 cluster is primarily controlled through the CAN bus and listens for other modules broadcasting speed, rpm, temps, error codes, etc. Since the ECU will no longer be on the bus broadcasting these parameters (and there is no ICE engine to get sensor inputs from) I will have to send the appropriate CAN messages myself.
So far I have the following functions figured out:
- Speed
- rpm
- Water Temp
- Oil Pressure
- Traction Control MIL light
- Brake Failure MIL light
The images below show when the bus is quiet after the ICE controller has been removed (first image), and when I am sending it fake bus messages to control the cluster (last image).


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You guys, how AWESOME is my husband?!?!?! Did you read yesterday's post? He wrote it! All by himself. It started as a joke, when I said how tired I was (and I was…it was a veeeeeery tiring weekend), and he asked if I'd like him to write my blog post for me. I laughed and said "I would LOVE that" and after asking me three times if I was serious, I told him the window was already open on my laptop and to just go nuts.
He did a great job, didn't he? Even writing about the theme of the series and everything!
He makes a mean chili, that guy. And who doesn't love chili?
Seriously, though…he knows just when to pick up the pieces, just when to lend a hand, and just when to kiss my forehead and say "Go to sleep. I know you're tired." And I don't just mean last night.
I had a completely different blog post planned, but Alex's post sort of inspired me to delve a little deeper into a HUGELY important part of my home: him!
Ashley Urke of Domestic Fashionista is writing her 31 Day series on serving her husband, and I have to say I kind of love how often she has professed a love for her husband that goes so much deeper than just saying it. She really makes servitude about putting your love first, not necessarily the person first, but both of you together as a unit. It's beautiful and a series TOTALLY worth reading.
Alex puts me first, and I him. We put our small family of two (ok, three if you count Luther) first in all decisions we make about our lives and our home.
He prays with and for me when I need it,
he makes me laugh when I need it,
and he wipes the tears from my face. He even writes my blog posts when I am simply too tired to open my laptop and let the words come out and my face looks like this:
It takes a special guy to love this face!
This is home.
Where you can fall asleep while someone else picks up the pieces for you, even if it's just for a little while.
Focusing less on the stuff. More on the
chili love!


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Both my goal and my daughter's goal for this homeschool year is to have more FUN with math. Well, I think this morning we got off to a very good start! A veteran homeschooling friend of mine gave me the most wonderful book, The Number Jugglers Math Game Book. This morning we sat down and learned how to play the Number Ladder Game. Believe me when I say you NEED to learn how to play this game!!!
As chance would have it, after we played the game, I knew I wanted to write a blog post about it. When I sat down at the computer to look up the book, I found a whole site dedicated to the book AND the full instructions for The Number Ladder Game on their site! You can even play the game by yourself on this site! Yippee!! My day just keeps getting better. :-)
Basically, the game involves making simple equations with number cards. You have to come up with an equation to equal whatever rung of the ladder you are on. In this equation we were trying to come up with the number 33 to balance out our equation. I made extra cards for the game that were plus, minus, and times signs. I would also, the next time we play, make parentheses -- we just grouped things verbally today and it was ok, but I want to be more clear next time. This was (5x5)+8=33
Even my five year old could play (with me assisting him on some of the rungs). I was astounded and so happy. My daughter discovered some neat patterns in her ladder, and also figured out that having a 10 card was a commodity. But, my son discovered having a 1 card was not so shabby, either. If you are confused, read the instructions to the game and play and it will make perfect sense!
Our ladders got pretty tall! In the end, Miss B got up to 38 rungs and then we quit.... but you see she has a smile on her face -- and it's math time! Hooray!
Maybe games like this aren't any big news for some of you, but for me, I WISH I would have learned math a little more like this. I would take this game over flashcard drills (or worse pages of written drills!) of addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division any day! I am excited to explore the rest of the book. My friend told me all of the activities were great, so bring on the math!


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Or this could all be some clever marketing scheme to "peak" (notice smart tie in, please) your interest in my upcoming release? Hmmm. Well, the truth of my motives I leave to you my dear friends. I can promise you that if you do follow along you will be entertained, enlightened and quite possibly emboldened in your day to day life.
How you might ask?
With every step will come not only a preview of the name of one of Peak and Thrust's chapters but also a teasing little excerpt to tickle your romantic bone… or your smut bone, whichever you bring to the party.
Along the way, my wry sense of humor will make frequent appearances as I give you all a behind the scenes "peek" at the writing of P&T.
More importantly, however, (at least I hope) are the tiny insights I'll give you into life with a chronic mental illness.
Whenever you pick up a Chloe Stowe original, you get a little piece of me with it. It may not always be pretty and shiny, but I do hope it is always enlightening. Shining my little penlight into the often over-looked shadows of mental illness may be my reason for being here on this planet. I hope it is and I hope you will all share a little of your light with those still lost in their mind's dark.
Then, of course, there's the sex… or the step to better sex, I should say. (Sorry but the budget didn't really allow for passing out condoms to all comers, so there will be no author sanctioned penetration here. However, please feel free to bring your own though to share with the rest of the group. The more condoms the merrier, I always say.)
Anyhow, there will be fun. There will be teasers. There will be uncut gems of hope. All I ask for in return is your patience with my sometimes royally screwed up mind. It may be a bumpy ride folks, but when we've got hot guys hungry for some loving bumping along with us then it's all good, right?
Tomorrow Step One will arrive in your social media outlets and with it a look at the Prologue for my eighth original novel. Until then and to thoroughly whet your appetite for more I give you today the world premiere of the official (at least until my publisher changes it) back-cover blurb for Peak and Thrust…
"Happily ever after's" rarely came to men like these…
Joey Ballios was a cop. For ten years his life had been little more than long foot chases through the cold Detroit snow, piles of paperwork on perps who would never be caught, and forty hour shifts that were as thankless as they were heroic.
Laird Fox climbed mountains. His whole life had been dedicated to scaling the unreachable and bringing the unattainable into the novice's reach. He was a mountain guide in Alaska, a man who spent his days taking strangers to the top of the world, fulfilling their dreams while ignoring his own.
The two men's lives should never have touched, their worlds never have crossed.
But when three gunshots ring out in a sweltering summer night, some lives are cursed while others are saved…
Joey's partner is dead, shot in a darkened house that bears a dangerous secret. Running from that night, Joey escapes to Alaska.
There he finds Laird, a man who offers him sweet, scorching sex, a fresh take on life and a heart as scarred and as neglected as Joey's own.
For five weeks they live for and love each other. But when the long held secrets of the past won't let Joey go, both men's futures are put on the line.
Will they surrender to a litany of lies? Or will they rise above them and rescue each other?
Sometimes Fate is more than just a whisper in the hot Detroit wind, more than just a wish on a distant Alaskan star.
Sometimes Fate arrives on tragedy's tail, a post-script that begins with "Once upon a time."
I hope to see you all tomorrow for Step One. Please bring your friends and your condoms!
Until next time…
Thank you all for reading!
Chloe Stowe


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At one time or another, we've all been around worried family or friends. Sometimes it's awkward and uncomfortable. We don't know what to say, so we say something fast and easy, like "everything's going to be okay," "you'll be fine," or even worse, "stop worrying." It's as if we think we can change behavior with a smile and a few words of encouragement. But, face it…words mean nothing. Not when you're the one without a job and no way to pay the mortgage. Not when you're the one who is on their third round of chemotherapy. Or it's your kid who won't get out of bed because he's being bullied at school. Don't worry? Tell that to the single parent struggling to raise five children. We don't need words. We need an action plan. It's no secret we live in a fragile world. Sometimes, it seems as if we're just one terrorist cell away from disaster, one bank crisis away from economic collapse, one missing gene away from Alzheimers. In a matter of seconds, tornado's rip streets apart and earthquakes destroy entire cities. One minute you're healthy and the next you have breast cancer. Yes, life changes and surprises. It also breaks hearts and challenges. And, if we let it, it can leave us anxious and in a constant state of worry. And if this sounds like a half-empty glass of water I'm pouring, nothing could be further from the truth. I still believe we have a choice…a choice that has the power to transform our lives. We can throw sheets over our heads and let worry destroy us, or we can find a way to flip worry on its head and turn it into a philosophy that allows us to begin enjoying the lives we were meant to live. Here are 6 ways to embrace the Art of a Worry-Free Life:
- Step 1: Accept That Worry Doesn't Help "I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened." - Mark Twain I wouldn't object to worrying if it was more practical in improving our lives. But, the fact is, worrying won't pay the rent or stop an aneurism from exploding in our brain. And I've never seen a hurricane that could be stopped by a few hours of nail biting. Worrying does nothing to help us deal with what we're anxious about. It doesn't make us more creative, smarter, engaging, or productive. Go ahead, worry 24 hours a day, 52 weeks a year…and see for yourself if one second of that worrying does anything to make your life better. And while seeing through this illusion of worry won't immediately put you into a Zen-like state of bliss, it will hopefully give you more energy, while freeing up your mind long enough to see practical solutions to your problems. It will hopefully lead you to action.
- Step 2: Stay In The Moment"Today is the tomorrow we worried about yesterday." - Author Unknown The problem with worry is that it exists almost entirely in the past and the future. We spend so much time and energy worrying about what has already happened, or what we think might happen in the future, that we have no time for today. This not only keeps our worries spinning alive, but weakens us, kills our spirit, and robs us of joy. Staying in the moment —living in the now— is at the heart of any worry free program. Volumes have been written on the subject and, to be honest, you could spend a lifetime mastering it. Here is what you can do right now to get started:
Catch yourself living in the past or the future as often as you can. Notice regret as it pops up, or guilt, or longing. Recognize when you start thinking about what might or might not happen tomorrow. Catch all these "past and future" moments, then bring yourself back to the moment you're living in.
- Engage in activities that keep you in the moment. Deep breathing exercises work, as will yoga, meditation, gardening, reading, running, swimming; a walk in the woods, a bike ride at the beach. Nature helps, so does humor, volunteering, and doing virtually anything you're passionate about.
- Surround yourself with people who live in present moment awareness. Children are good for this, so are older people, outdoor types, athletes and creatives. With a little effort, you'll find your own role models. Spend enough time with them and it'll rub off. Note to your new self: At first these people might get on your nerves. That's your worried, uncomfortable self cringing at the idea of letting go. Stay with it.
- Step 3: Stop Looking For Bad Things To Worry About"He that seeks trouble always finds it." - English Proverb Turn off the news, switch off talk radio, stop reading newspapers, and avoid all conversations with people who only want to talk about how screwed up the world is. You know who they are. The more you think, talk, or obsess about something, the faster you'll bring more of it into your life. After all, it's hard enough to stop worrying about your own problems, let alone have to take on those of the world. Don't pile on more.
- Step 4: Start Looking For Good Things to Be Happy About"He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not,but rejoices for those which he has." - Epictetus It's a law of the universe that two objects can't occupy the same place at the same time. This applies to our thoughts as well. It's not enough to want to rid ourselves of worried thoughts, we need to replace those worries with something positive to think about. In other words, stop focusing on the approaching hurricane and start thinking about the family you're huddled around with in the basement. Worry isn't going to go away easily. We have to fight it with everything we have. And what we have are our children, our spouses and loved ones, sunsets and stars, oceans and mountains; our beating hearts and strong minds; our endless capacity to love, laugh and find joy. It's called gratitude…and it works.
- Step 5: Be Prepared, Then Let Go"Some of us think holding on makes us strong, but sometimes it is letting go." - Herman Hesse Living a worry-free life doesn't mean we should pretend our world isn't filled with challenges. We need to be ready for what comes. And nothing combats worry more than action. So, wear sunscreen, pay off credit cards, eat more greens, learn fractions, and when that hurricane approaches, board up the windows, stock up on supplies and head to the basement. What we can't do is tell the hurricane to make a u-turn when it comes to our street. That's the point we need to let go. It's called surrender, trust, or the simple knowing that there is something larger than ourselves and the problems we face. All of which leads to our 6th and most important step.
- Step 6: Use Worry To Find Meaning In Life"Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars." - Khalil Gibran While the previous five steps will take us far in alleviating worry, to achieve lasting relief, we need a shift in perception. We need to re-interpret our worries in light of what they have to teach us. Granted, not everyone will want to do this. It isn't easy asking someone to look beyond his or her struggles in search of a greater truth. It's like asking someone to see the rainbow when they're stuck in the middle of a storm —easy advice to give, not so easy to take. Yet, it is the exact step that will bring us peace. The key is to cultivate this spirit of living before the storm hits. It's no secret that we all have our stories, our own scars. You have yours. I have mine. They may take different shapes, or arrive at different times in our lives, but nobody is immune from pain, sorrow and challenge. It is only how we write the endings to our stories that are different — how we will each work through, and then learn from our experiences. And, of course, the best stories —the ones we all remember— are the ones where we come out of a crisis as a different person. The stories where we not only endure, but emerge stronger, happier, and wiser. It is the hero's journey. Your journey…and mine. It is a journey where worry evolves into action, insight, then reinvention; where worry transforms into hope and promise. But, this journey takes choice. A decision has to be made. What will we do with worry as it creeps into our lives each day? Will we cry foul, play victim, and point fingers? Will we give in and let worry continue to rule our lives? Or will we take action and engage life? Will we reject negativity, seek stillness and embrace gratitude, searching out people who will nourish and make us stronger? Will we choose to meet our worries head on, with the knowingness that our challenges, however difficult they may be, contain the seeds to bring more purpose and meaning into our lives than we could have ever imagined? Make the right choice —the heroic choice.Written on 7/05/2012 by Bill Apablasa. Bill Apablasa is a writer, social experimenter, nomadic homebody and creator of http://www.theother999rooms.com, where he writes about reinventing your life...one room at a time. Photo Credit: Joe M500
Do you have a bucket list? Here are 101 things to do before you die. Includes a tutorial on how you can create your bucket list too!
Read more posts on Dumb Little Man »


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Latest Coverage
Title & link – Your Thurrock: Thurrock Labour councillors delight in Biomass victory
Date – 30 October 2015
Reference – Your Thurrock
Author – Staff
Summary – Local residents and councillors are celebrating their planning victory over the West Thurrock Biomass Plant application on Thursday.
Title & link – BBC: Drax power station criticised for biomass by US environmental group
Date – 22 October 2015
Reference – BBC
Author – Staff
Summary – An American environmental group has criticised a UK power station over its use of biomass.
Title & link – Thurrock Gazette: Plans for biomass plant in West Thurrock given green light for approval
Date – 22 October 2015
Reference – Thurrock Gazette
Author – Staff
Summary – Plans for a biomass plant in West Thurrock have been given the go ahead to be approved next week despite huge public calls for the proposal to be scrapped.
Title & link – Biomass Magazine: UK Biomass Heat: Ready for Takeoff?
Date – 17 September 2015
Reference – Biomass Magazine
Author – Neil Harrison
Summary – The United Kingdom biomass heat sector is experiencing turbulent times, due to a near-perfect storm of market factors, subsidy review and fallout from dramatic growth in the industry since the introduction of the Renewable Heat Incentive in November.
Title & link – Edie: Teesside set for world's largest combined heat and power biomass plant
Date – 11 August 2015
Reference – Edie
Author – Matt Field
Summary – Teesside is to be the site of the world's largest new power and steam biomass plant as part of a new £424m project.
Title & link – Newsweek: Two Numbers – Humans Have Burned Up Half the World's Biomass
Date – 5 August 2015
Reference – Newsweek
Author – Douglas Main
Summary – A study published in July in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences calculates that we've burned nearly half of Earth's biomass in the past 2,000 years, with 10 percent of that being consumed in the past century alone.
Title & link – Biomass Magazine: Drax discusses recent regulation changes in half-year results
Date – 28 July 2015
Reference – Biomass Magazine
Author – Katie Fletcher
Summary – On July 28, Drax Group plc released its half-year results for the six months ended June 30. Before the half-year (H1) results were presented, Dorothy Thompson, chief executive, addressed the change to the Climate Change Levy, which will be removed for renewable electricity generated after Aug. 1.
Title & link – Yorkshire Post: Defiant Drax in move to bring on third unit
Date – 21 July 2015
Reference – Yorkshire Post
Author – Ros Snowdon
Summary – Drax, the UK's biggest power station, said it still intends to bring on a third unit running predominately on biomass by the end of this month despite the surprise scrapping of a climate change tax exemption in the recent Budget.
Title & link – This is Money: Drax urges government to delay Climate Change Levy cut as its share price dives
Date – 19 July 2015
Reference – This is Money
Author – Jon Rees
Summary – Power generator Drax is trying desperately to persuade the Government to delay the imposition of the Climate Change Levy after a dramatic collapse in its share price.
Title & link – Biomass Magazine: Drax provides update of biomass operations
Date – 08 June 2015
Reference – Biomass Magazine
Author – Erin Voegele
Summary – On June 8, Drax Group plc issued a trading update, reporting progress with its U.S. pellet plants and providing an update of the company's biomass conversion projects.
Title & link – Renewable Heat Incentive: Update on biomass sustainability reporting requirements
Date – 06 July 2015
Reference – Department of Energy and Climate Change
Author – DECC
Summary – The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) regulations, which will come into force on 5th October 2015, include requirements for the use of sustainable biomass by participants. This document clarifies some points relating to the regulations.
Title & link – Energy and Carbon: European biomass power is a stranded asset risk
Date – 23 May 2015
Reference – Energy and Carbon Blog
Author – Gerard Wynn
Summary – It is time for the biomass industry, and British and European policymakers, to take a more robust approach to carbon accounting.
Title & link – The Carbon Brief: Does the UK's biomass burning help solve climate change?
Date – 11 May 2015
Reference – The Carbon Brief
Author – Simon Evans
Summary – The Carbon Brief investigates whether the UK's growing use of biomass for power generation help solve climate change or not.
Title & link – NGO Report: Pitfalls and Potentials: the Role of Bioenergy in the EU Climate and Energy Policy Post 2020
Reference – Oxfam International, ActionAid, Bird Life International, Climate Action Network, European Environmental Bureau, Fern, Greenpeace, Transport and Environment, Wetlands International, WWF
Author – Various Staff
Summary – An NGO policy paper on the climate, environmental, and social impacts of bioenergy.
Title & link – Click Green: International groups call for end of subsidy support for Drax power station
Date – 21 April 2015
Reference – Click Green
Author – Click Green Staff
Summary – An international coalition of NGOs representing groups in North America, South America and Europe have written an open letter to the UK's Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) calling for an end of state support for the Drax power station.
Title & link – BBC:Southampton and Avonmouth biomass plants shelved
Date – 23 March 2015
Reference – BBC
Author – BBC News Staff
Summary – Plans for two biomass power stations have been abandoned after the company behind them hit financial problems.
Title & link – BBC News: Scottish Energy Minister Fergus Ewing opens biomass plant in Fife
Date – 5 March 2015
Reference – BBC News
Author – BBC News Staff
Summary – A combined heat and power biomass plant on the site of a Fife-based paper maker has been opened by the Scottish Energy Minister.
Title & link – Business Green: Drax publishes biomass supply data in bid to address sustainability concerns
Date – 3 March 2015
Reference – Business Green
Author – James Murray
Summary – Coal giant hails its position at heart of Europe's 'biggest carbon reduction project'
Title & link – The Times: Drax braced for fight with Brussels
Date – 25 February 2015
Reference – The Times
Author – Tim Webb
Summary – The owner of Britain's largest power station is bracing itself for the European Commission to launch a state-aid investigation into plans to convert one of its coal units to burn biomass.
Title & link – Environment & Energy Publishing: On burning wood pellets for electricity, it's U.S. environmentalists vs. European generators
Date – 20 February 2015
Reference – Environment & Energy Publishing
Author – Elizabeth Harball
Summary – Is the United Kingdom's biggest, most carbon-emitting coal station's switch to wood energy a good thing or a bad thing for America's forests and the climate?
Title & link – EurActiv: Commission investigates UK state aid for biomass plant
Date – 20 February 2015
Reference – EurActiv
Author – EurActiv Staff
Summary – A European Commission investigation into whether British plans to use public money to convert a coal power plant into a wood-burning facility broke EU competition law, was opened Thursday (19 February).
Title & link – Click Green: Europe launches state aid probe into UK biomass plant plans
Date – 19 February 2015
Reference – Click Green
Author – Click Green Staff
Summary – The European Commission has confirmed it has launched an in-depth investigation to assess whether UK plans to support the conversion of the Lynemouth coal power plant to operate entirely on biomass were in line with EU state aid rules.
Title & link – Biomass Magazine: Report highlights growth of EU pellet consumption
Date – 17 February 2015
Reference – Biomass Magazine
Author – Erin Voegele
Summary – The EurObserv'ER has published a new edition of its Solid Biomass Barometer
Title & link – The New York Times: A Biofuel Debate: Will Cutting Trees Cut Carbon?
Date – 10 February 2015
Reference – The New York Times
Author – Eduardo Porter
Summary – The New York Times asks whether combating climate change require burning the world's forests and crops for fuel.
Title & link – Biomass Magazine: EU approves U.K. state aid for Teesside biomass CHP plant
Date – 22 January 2015
Reference – Biomass Magazine
Author – Erin Voegele
Summary – Biomass Magazine reports on the European Commission's decision to approve the UK's plan to provide state aid to the proposed Teesside combined-heat-and-power (CHP) plant
Title & link – The Guardian: 'Green' biomass boilers may waste billions in public money
Date – 14 January 2015
Reference – The Guardian
Author – Arthur Nelson
Summary – The Guardian reports that over £10bn could be paid in incentives for non-domestic biomass boilers despite a government study showing they are less efficient than thought and won't help the UK meet clean energy targets
Title & link – The Telegraph: Why biomass is key to the UK's energy future
Date – 4 November 2014
Reference – The Telegraph
Author – James Quinn
Summary – In an interview with James Quinn, Drax chief executive Dorothy Thompson explains why the times are a-changing at the UK's largest electricity power station.
Title & link – The Telegraph: Drax boss Dorothy Thompson defends high energy bills for homeowners
Date – 4 November 2014
Reference – The Telegraph
Author – James Quinn
Summary – Chief executive Dorothy Thompson does not believe the lights will go out this winter - but is 'uneasy' around energy plant failures
Title & link – BBC: Drax renewable energy move 'could harm forests'
Date – 22 September 2014
Reference – BBC
Author – Staff
Summary – The UK's biggest coal power station has been accused of causing environmental damage as it moves to produce electricity from "renewable" resources.
Title & link – The Guardian: Drax admits defeat on state subsidy as court of appeal rules for government
Date – 7 August 2014
Reference – The Guardian
Author – Angela Monaghan
Summary – Angela Monaghan reports on the court of appeal's decision on subsidies for Drax
Title & link – The Times: Another renewable myth goes up in smoke
Date – 28 July 2014
Reference – The Times
Author – Matt Ridely
Summary – Matt Ridley reports on the setback in the search for clean energy.
Title & link – The Times: Letters to the Editor
Date – 28 July 2014
Reference – The Times
Author – Alastair Kerr
Summary – A letter to the Editor by Alastair Kerr, WPIF Director General, addressing DECC's recent report on biomass.
Title & link:-
9 May 2013
Leo Hickman/Alastair Kerr
Alastair Kerr, WPIF Director General, responds to the Guardian's Eco Audit on biomass. Alastair's comments were published at 12:29pm.
Title & link – The Times: Biomass plants can be less green than coal-fired
Title & link:-
RSPB: The biomass industry should come clean about its environmental impact
3 May 2013
Harry Huyton
Harry Huyton from the RSPB sets out the NGO's position on biomass and mentions the concerns from sectors including the wood panel industry.
Title & link:-
17th November 2012
Matt Ridley
Matt Ridley explains why he thinks that biomass is 'an even crazier idea' than windpower
Title & link:-
You and Yours Programme on the implications of the Renewables Obligation
12th May 2011
Sharmini Selvarajah
Reporter Sharmini Selvarajah speaks to furniture manfacturers, wood panel manufacturers, the Rt Hon Anne McGuire and Greg Barker (Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change) about the Renewables Obligation and its impact on the price of wood.
|Title & link:-
|Today Programme on the renewable heat incentive
|10th March 2011
|BBC News
|The Today Programme interviewed the BBC's environment analyst Roger Harrabin on the renewable heat incentive (RHI).
|Title & link:-
|Channel 4 News on the impact of biomass demand on timber prices
|6th March 2011
|Channel 4 News
|Tom Clarke
|Channel 4 News reported this week on the government subsidies to encourage power companies to burn wood which are distorting the market for timber and forcing up prices in manufacturing and construction industries.
|Title & link:-
|Welsh AM's support MakeWoodWork
|18th August 2010
|Mark Isherwood
|Welsh Assembly members Mark Isherwood and Brynle Williams following a site visit to woodbased panel manufacturer Kronospan Ltd have come out in support of the industries MakeWoodWork campaign.
|Title & link:-
|Biomass plants' 'carbon debt'
|29th June 2010
|Dundee Courier
|Stefan Morkis
|'Forth Energy have denied claims that its proposed biomass generator for dundee docks might not be carbon neutral until the middle of the century.'
|Title & link:-
|Government subsidies for biomass energy plants could destroy wood panel industry and increase Carbon emissions
|29th June 2010
|Jon Close
|Report regarding the Make Wood Work campaign
|Title & link:-
|Wood recycling "at risk" from large-scale biomass
|29th June 2010
|Rachael Meredith
|Large-scale biomass plants being paid a renewable energy subsidy to burn woodchips have pushed up woodchip prices by more than 30% in the last four years and are putting wood recycling at risk, according to the Wood Panel Industries Federation (WPIF).
|Title & link:-
|Scots jobs 'at risk' as fears grow over biomass plants' appetite for wood
|29 June 2010
|The Scotsman
|Jenny Fyall
|An article in relation to the Make Wood Work campaign focusing on biomass energy plants effect other businesses in Scotland in terms of potential job losses.
|Title & link:-
|Green energy boasts hit unintended target
|29 June 2010
|The Scotsman
|Author unknown
|Unintended consequences of energy production from biomass and its effect on the wood panel industry
|Title & link:-
|Biomass plants threaten UK wood panel industry, campaign says
|28th June 2010
|Greenwise Staff
|An article regarding the Make Wood Work campaign and the reasons behind it.
|Title & link:-
|Biomass Electricity Generation Threatens UK Wood Industries
|28th June 2010
|Green Building Press
|Green Building Press
|An article regarding the Make Wood Work campaign and the reasons behind it.
|Title & link:-
|Wood-fuelled energy is fine ... if done right, campaign says
|29th June 2010
|An article regarding the burning of waste wood for fuel.


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And this just in - Btselem's offices in Jerusalem on fire, police investigating at the scene if it was arson (which wouldn't be surprising)
— Amir Tibon (@amirtibon) January 10, 2016
נשלח ע"י WhatsApp pic.twitter.com/M6IBHPAkGr
— nir hasson (@nirhasson) January 10, 2016
Last update: Btselem spox says damage to office "extensive", arson possible. If arson, says spox, context is new smear campaign by gov & co
— Dimi Reider (@dimireider) January 10, 2016
Btselem is the largest Israeli NGO fighting against the occupation by documenting the grave human rights violations in the West Bank & Gaza.
— Elizabeth Tsurkov (@Elizrael) January 10, 2016
From the B'Tselem Facebook page:
My friend Batya Kallus wrote on Facebook:
The smell of the fire and smoke is lingering in my head after standing outside on the sidewalk as the fire department broke windows in Btselem's offices to allow the smoke to escape.


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V wh; V with quote
V wh; V with quote
For other combinations with the pattern V wh, see V about n and V that above.
advise affirm agree announce argue ask confess declare deduce demand estimate explain guess inquire marvel note predict proclaim query recall remark report say speculate state stress suggest think warn wonder
Around eleven, Father Gregory phoned to ask how she was.
'Where have you been all this time?' Bess asked anxiously.
You can use a chart to note when your next injection is due.
I noted in my diary, 'I must say this car really is a little beauty.'
I was thinking how lovely this house is.
Pamela was right, she thought.


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Just want to mention one of our California farmers just
opened his duck club area for last days of the season, the owner had some
health problems. He normally leases for the year, but wants to rent it day to
day....It has not been hunted all year!!! This could be a great opportunity and
we want to help him out, too, he has had a rough time...go to
www.ranchhuntandfish.com, click on "Colusa" county....on the
comment/additional county line type in the code "help Frank"
What are you waiting for? Registration only takes a few minutes and it is completely free. As a registered user you can set up your profile, make friends with other upland hunters, post on our hunting forums and more. Click here to register with Gamebirdhunts.com
Already A Member? Please Log In Now
Once you become a registered member this page will display your messages, notifications and updates from the site as well as your friends on Gamebirdhunts.com


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I am really scared that decisions are being made that will significantly impact my future and not necessarily for the better. I cannot speak out for or against health care reform, financial reform, military actions and the like because I just don't have the necessary information. The information is hard enough to find and gather and understand but I simply can't spend time thinking about these things.
I'm having enough trouble keeping my sanity balanced just trying to move through the day from when I wake up to when I go to sleep. Now on top of all that I have a president and a group of "leaders" who are making decisions on my behalf that live in their ivory towers where the rules don't apply to them and who have no clue what it's like to live like the people they represent. It scares me that they will make those decisions and there ain't a damn thing I can do about it. I cast my vote (and will continue to do so) but it just seems to get deeper and deeper.
I must stop now or my fear will turn to insanity.
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
Fear Of The Unknown
Posted by Joe at 8:04 PM
Labels: About Me, In the news, Mouthing Off, Politics
No comments:
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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©2013 Jennifer Noland
In Your Backyard - Trailer, (Work in progress)
A documentary on coastal and ocean pollution from the surfing community's perspective.
Adventure Playground, 2012
An afternoon spent at the Adventure Playground.
La Historia de los Colores, 2006An animated adaptation of Subcomandante Marcos' story of the same title, which is a Mayan folktale of how colors came to the Earth. The story also explains why people look differently and have different ways of thinking. The Gods are bored with their grayscale world and decide to go find more colors.
Cielito Lindo, 2005*NOTE* Film starts with audio on black.
Grabbing hold of fading memories while traveling with friends.
Flow, 2002
A hand-processed, experimental short film about the relationship between fire and music.
Glide, 2004
A blending of thoughts.
Loop, 2003
An experimental montage exploring war and the market driven economy.


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Mural Featured in Moment Magazine
We are delighted that the mural is featured in the March/April issue of Moment magazine. You can read the story about Jewish Vermont and the mural in the print edition, or see it online here. Thank you editors of Moment for recognizing the history and the power of the Lost Shul Mural!


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Pizza and logic
Column like I see 'em
This is an open letter to the people in life governed by logic.
I was writing a completely different article this week, quite noticeably behind schedule, when I went to the caf with my roommate to get some pizza.
He went for the alfredo pizza. I mentioned in passing that without the tomato sauce, it seemed more like a triangular cheesy bread.
I marveled at that thought.
How clever! Next week I could write about my thoughts on pizza! Easy money!
At the cash register, I mentioned at how much I enjoyed pineapple pizza. The grilled fruit makes such a decadent topping: juicy, sweet, and sometimes sour. It couples so well with the cheesy goodness I've loved for years.
It was then brought to my attention what another patron had mentioned while I dreamed of foods drifting just outside my reach.
"Pineapple pizza is illogical."
I was aghast. My favorite pizza? Illogical?! Blasphemy!
It's true, sweet and savoury flavors are opposite, and it doesn't exactly make sense that they go well together, but you know what? They do. It's illogical and delicious.
Chicken and waffles. Cinnamon rolls and chili. Cheesecake. None of these makes sense, but they're so, so good.
And so it is with life!
Is it logical that a man sees some lady he's never seen before, and pushes aside every instinct screaming at him to turn and run just to speak to her?
Nope. And yet babies are birthed on the reg.
Is it logical to spend an entire day ignoring responsibilities in order to enjoy a pleasant day lakeside, enjoying the company of friends and refreshing carbonated liquid heaven?
Of course not. We could be working double time, making profit for days. We could have cured cancer already if not for paid vacation and angry birds.
Is pleasure reasonable?
In a totally logical world, yes, there would be no war, scientific progress would be exponential and we would all eat little slow release nutrient pills with the exact vitamins and calories necessary to exist.
But gone would be the spark that makes life worthwhile.
Passion, art and the beauty of thrusting headfirst towards the enjoyment of life even at the cost of efficiency and logic are what make our dreary life of work and suffering something to stick by and bleed for. It makes everything worth it.
My uncle used to tell me life is pain, and then you die.
That's true, but there's also ping pong and pineapple pizza to ease the journey.
Kevin Niederman is a junior studying nursing.


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Johnston Sunrise | By: Ethan Hartley
While it may be a tall order to get aboard either of the real ones, climbing into a Boeing 747 that has been made into an exact replica of Air Force One is as easy as reserving a spot online and heading down to where it sits on display at Quonset Airport.
As part of their mission to excite the next generation about American democracy, the Children's Democracy Project spent years transforming a regular jumbo jet into a museum piece - dubbed the Air Force One Project - which will allow up to 50 people at a time to get an intimate look at how the president of the United States travels around the country, and the world.
"When we talk about Air Force One, one of the things we always talk about is the opportunity to see what the inside of Air Force One looks like," said Ari Scharf, who chairs the Children's Democracy Project board, at an unveiling press event last Thursday. "That's one of the things that we knew would not only generate interest in children, but the general public as well."
The striking recreation will remain in Quonset until Oct. 31, and will then be hauled by barge to New York City and then to its final destination in Washington D.C. Although the experience available in Rhode Island is a scaled back preview compared to what will be seen in New York and D.C., it is still a remarkably interesting accomplishment that should appeal to history and avionics enthusiasts alike.
Reservations are necessary to gain access to the exhibit. Tours run seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets to reserve a spot cost $17.50 for adults and $10 for children. Residents of Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut were given a first-come, first-serve opportunity to reserve free tickets online at AirForceOneExperience.com when the exhibit went live. More than 9,000 of these free tickets sold out within three days of the exhibit's announcement. Weekend slots are said to be filling fast, so reserve quickly.
The exhibit was temporarily closed due to concerns over Hurricane Jose, but will be open once again on Friday, Sept. 22. Anyone who reserved a spot for a time during the temporary closure will have the opportunity to reschedule their reservation at no additional cost.
Prior to entering the 232-foot long, 63-foot tall, 195-foot wingspan aircraft, ticket holders will be able to enter a tented area that holds various presidential artifacts throughout history - including a jet black, 1960 Lincoln Continental Limousine used in John F. Kennedy's motorcade, a seat that Kennedy sat in aboard his era of Air Force One, a handwritten letter from Abraham Lincoln and a variety of artifacts emblazoned with the presidential seal, from cigarettes to Hershey's Kisses.
Also displayed inside the tent is an infographic timeline and two videos that give the history of Air Force One and provide insight into how the Children's Democracy Project created their full-scale replica.
Inside the plane, visitors can stroll down the hallway and view the spacious conference room, the sick bay, the president and first lady's chamber and the executive room in which the president may address the nation while being in the air. Pictures of various presidents aboard the plane, including a rare shot of Reagan sporting sweatpants, adorn the main hallway.
Providing unmatched perspective into the tours is Chief Master Sergeant Howard "Howie" Franklin, who began his military career at 20 years old as an enlisted member of the Air Force and went on to become the lead flight attendant on Air Force One for 18 years, working directly with five presidents (Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton).
It was Franklin who provided many of the unique Air Force One artifacts that he had collected from his years onboard. He also helped provide minute details to ensure that the recreation of the plane's interior was as close to perfect as possible. The only slight variations that were made were increases to the width of some doorways to make the exhibit fully handicap-accessible.
"That's why we have it as a visual aid," Franklin said on the value of the plane as a showpiece for the Children's Democracy Project. "It's something that excites people from all over the world."
Recollecting on many experiences with some of the most important men in the world, Franklin stated that his personal favorite story was the time he had to tell Bill Clinton, exhausted and refusing to wake up prior to an event in Moscow, to "wake his [butt] up and do his job." He recalled an astounded Hillary Clinton laughing hysterically at this.
"I said, 'Don't you laugh,'" he said. "You're next!"
The Children's Democracy Project is a for-profit entity that strives to engage younger generations and get them interested in the process of Democracy. Scharf said that he hopes that the Air Force One Project will successfully generate interest among hundreds of thousands of children.
"One of the things we plan to do down the road is to have as much corporate participation as we possibly can so that we can get this message out to the children," he said. "They're so important to the future of this country, especially in a time right now where there's so much going on that some kids may feel a little disconnected, that our idea is to bring them back and to bring them back with things they know best - which in most cases is planes, trains and automobiles."


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Monthly Archives: September 2018
Recent Articles
- The Actors of "CARNIVAL ROW" Rave About Joanna Eatwell's Costumes
- Check out Production Designer Marco Niro's recent interview with Variety about his work on FX's "LEGION"!
- Congratulations to Julian Court (Director of Photography) for his BAFTA Craft Award nomination for his work on "KILLING EVE"!
- Check out Director of Photography Dan Laustsen's recent interview with Collider about his new project "JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 3 – PARABELLUM"!
- Mike Eley Speaks to British Cinematographer about working with Ralph Fiennes and their new film The White Crow
- Sharen Davis speaks to The Emmys about her work recreating feudal Japan for Westworld
- Congratulations to Sharen Davis on her win at the 21st annual Costume Designers Guild Awards!
- Congratulations to Simon Bowles on his 2018 British Film Designers Guild Awards win!
- 'The Kindness of Strangers' to open the 69th Berlin International Film Festival
- Congratulations to Simon Bowles on his 2018 British Film Designers Guild Awards nomination!
- Congratulations to Jean-Francois Hensgens on his 2019 Magritte Awards nominations!
- Congratulations to Sharen Davis on her 2019 Costume Designers Guild Awards nomination!
- Check out James Merifield's (Production Designer) piece for the Art Directors Guild regarding his work on the film "Mary Queen of Scots".
- Congratulations to Sean Bobbitt, one of Collider's Best Cinematographers of 2018
- Congratulations to Dany Cooper for her Avid Award win!


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Justice Matters
November 6 - December 17, 2005
Bay Area and international artists reflect upon the Palestinian struggle for justice by expressing their political understanding through art.
All proceeds of the show were donated to a silk-screen project for women in Dheisheh Refugee Camp in the Occupied West Bank.
Participating artists: Ayed Arafa, Jesus Baraza, Rana Bishara, Eric Drooker, Ala Ebtekar, John Halaka, Mildred Howard, Rafik Majzoub, Toxqui Perez, Jackie Salloum, Jos Sances, Josh Short, Christine Wong and Holly Wong.


text:
XProtect Essential+ is a free full-featured version of Milestone's market-leading video management software (VMS). With support for eight cameras, XProtect Essential+ is the perfect match for the small business owner who wants video surveillance to protect employees and assets. You can integrate other systems and applications with your surveillance, and you can access your system from any Internet-enabled device. If you want to expand your system with additional features and functionality, you can always look into our more advanced products and find a solution that best suits your needs. Why start anywhere else?
Let us show you what our VMS can do for you. Book a free, online and tailored VMS demo.
Choose any format: Export video as JPEG images, MKV, AVI and the native database format
Choose any medium: Easily export and share video via a media player, email or MMS
Choose to make it secure: Ensure your evidence stays private by password protecting database exports
Find brochures, product specifications, videos, white papers and much more about XProtect Essential+
Download supporting or technical product material with detailed information about this XProtect product.


text:
Joy Of Being (CD) by The Casanova Wave
Joy Of Being (CD) by The Casanova Wave
Joy of Being is the debut album from The Casanova Wave. It is the follow-up to his critically acclaimed eponymous debut EP.
"Simply put 'Joy Of Being' is a joyous, wonderful album." - Dan Hegarty (The Alternative RTE 2fm/2XM)
"Stuffed full of uplifting electronic pop" - State Magazine
"The kind of earworm that is always welcomed when it comes your way" - Jim Carroll (The Irish Times)
Track Listing:
1. How the Beat was Tempered
2. The Light
3. The Victoria Principle
4. A Song for Grace
5. The Fox's Den
6. Play, for the Night is Coming
7. 11:13
8. The Casanova Wave
9. Kimota!
10. All Of It's Yours
Release Date: 13/07/2012
Catalogue Number: BSR004
For Digital Download via Bandcamp click here.
Add To Cart


text:
énergie Fitness Hatfield offers the very best local gym experience in Hatfield and an amazingly low all-inclusive monthly price with no long term contracts. We have top quality, modern state of the art Precor exercise equipment including cardio, resistance, free weights and a functional area. We are fully staffed at all times and have experienced personal trainers available for additional support and guidance.
énergie Fitness Hatfield provide an all-inclusive low monthly rate combined with exceptional service which simply cannot be beaten. All our fitness classes are included in your membership and these are run by experienced trainers not virtual classes offered by some gyms. We have a full class timetable including classes such as: boxing, HIIT, spin, circuit, weightlifting, abs, stretching and many more.
énergie Fitness Hatfield don't believe in locking our members in so we have no long-term contracts or strings attached. We just provide the very best gym experience in Hatfield for an amazingly low, all-inclusive monthly price.
With over 100 gyms in the UK alone we are part of an award winning successful fitness group. énergie Fitness Hatfield is the perfect fitness centre for anyone looking to meet their health goals from improving cardio fitness, strength training, toning to serious weight lifting and body building. Our fun and friendly free classes simply cannot be beaten. Join now with no contract or contact us for more information or simply walk in and take a look around. We are conveniently located in Hatfield Town Centre opposite NatWest with free parking behind the club. For convenience, value and the very best gym experience we simply cannot be beaten.
Where better to workout than in an energetic club with likeminded people? énergie Fitness offers the whole package from start to finish, so our members stay motivated and empowered every step of the way.
Take a walk through our club and get a feel for the énergie vibe. With everything you need under one roof, from state-of-the-art cardio and strength equipment to refreshment areas and modern changing facilities, all that's missing is you...
A budget membership without the budget gym experience. What's the catch? There really isn't one. We're just a great club with no frills, giving our members what they want, when they want it.
Our club staff and qualified Personal Trainers are always on hand to help with training tips, your club experience and everything in-between. We don't bite, so don't be afraid to get to know the team!
Work for the results you want with us, and celebrate your success with us. We like to keep things interesting for our members, so why not get involved in our classes and club activities too?
Fully kitted out with state-of-the-art facilities and the very best cardio and resistance equipment, our clubs have something to suit everyone from the beginner to the advanced fitness enthusiast. Not only that, but we're proud to offer our variety of fast-paced and fun fitness classes, alongside our team of fully trained staff and Personal Trainers who are always on hand to ensure your experience at our clubs is unbeatable.
Now it's never been easier to keep on top of your fitness! Record your workouts at the click of a button, enter yourself into our latest fitness challenges and take advantage of exclusive member deals. Your motivation no longer needs to be a picture stuck on a fridge or a screenshot on your phone! Simply let the App handle everything for you and focus on hitting those goals.


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An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. That's how it is usually said. But in the unusual case of Sharron Thornton, it's actually an eye for a tooth. Or is it a tooth for an eye? 60-year Thornton … [Read more...]
A tooth for an eye
September 24, 2009 by Leave a Comment


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Tailor-Made Tours Fish River Canyon
Fish River Canyon Vacations
Namibia Desert Encounter
This unusual journey through four distinctive deserts takes you on a tour that seamlessly blends remote, historical towns and the fascinating semi-arid and arid biomes of Namibia.
9 Days/8 Nights
Namibia Southern Journey
This 9 day self-drive holiday leads you from Windhoek, Namibia's capital city to the southern reaches of the Kalahari Desert with its antique red sands to the gigantic 100-mile long ravine of the Fish River Canyon.
9 Days/8 Nights


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What Lies in Your Debt Review-Learn to Turn the Tables
Being in debt is one of the most stressful situations in life; a person loses his control over everything in his life when he has to face such circumstances of not being able to pay the debts. Banks and lenders have been taking advantages of such conditions in people's lives from a very long time.
What a common person doesn't know about these troublemakers is that he has a power over them from a legal point of view; most of the money lenders are acting illegally and with proper knowledge you can turn the tables on them.
The problem is that we are programmed by society to fear and become powerless in front of these money lenders, our subconscious mind's conditioning makes us to not fight against banks because we are taught that they are much powerful than us.
What Lies in Your Debt opens up new doors for you and introduces you to the new way of looking at your debts. This program will shift your way of thinking and it will replace your "fear" with "confidence".
With the knowledge resources and expert help that you will be getting here, you will be able to change your condition from helplessness to power.
An Interactive Forum of Members
The best thing about this program is that you get access to a forum where you can get help from experienced members, pdf tutorials, video tutorials etc.
You can ask any type of questions there and receive guidance from the experts; you can get your doubts clear by looking into the questions asked by other members also.
With the help of the case studies, 3 support calls, webinars etc you will be perfectly equipped with all the knowledge that is needed to proceed with the case.
Change the Game
Receiving a notice of foreclosure is a dreadful experience for any person who does not have much of judiciary knowledge. The usual crowd can't even think of fighting back against these large institutions because their mind is trained to believe that they are powerless in front of them.
But, with the help of information and support received from this program one can really change the game and escape the financial crisis that may have occurred.
After enrolling to this program you will get to know that you are protected by law against any bullying tactics and that you have proper rights to fight back any such illegal methods used by lenders.
You can also earn money by asking a few questions and by pointing out few facts, lenders are afraid of such actions and they may pay you to settle it out because they are well aware of the fact that they are not going to win the case because of the illegal tactics they have used on you.
A lot of members have earned money instead of paying the debt using the knowledge resources and support provided by "What Lies in Your Debt" program.
Final Advice:-
This program has been around from quite a long time and it has provided great solutions to its previous members, bringing them out of debt and helping them to avoid legal foreclosure.
If you too are facing such situations then opting for this program will be a great step, it will bring you out of helplessness and will give you the power to face it.
To know more, please visit the product website here.
I hope you liked this post. I would love to hear your views about this so please do leave me a comment in the box below. (Your email id will be safe and hidden, you can even prefer your secondary email id for commenting)
You can also mail me at email@example.com
If this post was helpful to you then please spread the word by sharing it on your online social networks.


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Value your trade
Find the Value of Your Trade
This Hyundai Tucson delivers a Regular Unleaded I-4 2.0 L/122 engine powering this Automatic transmission.
Power Door Locks, Passenger Air Bag Sensor, Security System, Driver Air Bag, Engine Immobilizer, Lane Departure Warning, Front Head Air Bag, Stability Control, Trip Computer, Power Windows, Passenger Air Bag, Traction Control, Lane Departure Warning, Rear Head Air Bag, Back-Up Camera, Traction Control, Lane Keeping Assist, Front Side Air Bag, Child Safety Locks, Driver Vanity Mirror, Fog Lamps, Wheel Covers, Daytime Running Lights, Temporary Spare Tire, A/C, Auxiliary Audio Input, Smart Device Integration, Variable Speed Intermittent Wipers, Brake Assist, Power Door Locks, Steering Wheel Audio Controls, Trip Computer, Rear Defrost, Bucket Seats, Brake Actuated Limited Slip Differential, Cruise Control, Adjustable Steering Wheel, Floor Mats, All Wheel Drive, Steel Wheels, Intermittent Wipers, AM/FM Stereo, Keyless Entry, Pass-Through Rear Seat, Rear Bench Seat, Tires - Front All-Season, 4-Wheel Disc Brakes, Cloth Seats, MP3 Player, Power Windows, Heated Front Seat(s), Bluetooth Connection, Tires - Rear All-Season, ABS, Power Door Locks, Heated Mirrors, Passenger Vanity Mirror, Automatic Headlights, Power Steering, Rear Spoiler, Power Mirror(s)
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Value your trade
Find the Value of Your Trade
Grande Prairie Hyundai
11418 - Westgate Dr.
Directions Grande Prairie, AB T8V 8L2


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BLUES are relaxed about Mario Melchiot's challenge to give him a new contract.
The right-back used his own personal Internet site to threaten to quit St Andrew's on a Bosman free transfer in the summer.
Before the season started Melchiot met with manager Steve Bruce and the board to discuss a new deal. No agreement was reached and it was decided to address the issue again at Christmas, with Melchiot intimating that he expected Blues to improve and that their ambition to progress should match his.
Melchiot has been speculatively linked with a move to Bolton Wanderers but he made it clear that his focus was on helping Blues to move out of the Premiership relegation zone.
"I spoke to the club before the start of this season regarding my hopes for the future," said Melchiot on icons.com. "It was a private meeting, so they know my thoughts.
"I showed them that I didn't want to leave Birmingham and now it's up to Birmingham to see if they want to keep me. Otherwise at the end of the season I will be 29 and on a Bosman."
Blues beat off the challenge of more than a dozen clubs for Melchiot when he was up for grabs on a free transfer from Chelsea two summers ago.
They agreed to match his previous salary of around £30,000-a-week but are unlikely to give the Dutchman a rise on that figure.
Melchiot has been out of action since the end of September nursing a knee injury but is expected to be fit for Bolton's visit on Monday, November 21.


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Please adjust the options below so we can estimate the most accurate monthly payments.
There are many reasons why drivers choose SUVs when deciding to purchase a used vehicle. SUVs are versatile, offering plenty of space for both passengers and cargo, and when you buy used, you can't beat the price. Our team at Hillside Auto Mall specializes in pre-owned vehicles, so if you are in the market for a used vehicle, come on down to see us at Hillside Auto Mall.
We have a wide variety of SUV models in our inventory. SUVs are popular because of their ability to mold to many different needs of the owner. Drivers feel confident that they can fit all of their passengers comfortably, while still having enough space to carry gear and supplies. SUVs tend to be designed as a sporty, athletic vehicle, so anyone who likes adventure or just wants to travel in style without sacrificing space should look at an SUV.
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So we started this User Group…
…and, you know, it's a real thing. We've got active chapters now in five US cities, a sense of "blueprint" for spreading it rapidly to many more cities worldwide, and nearly 700 members in the LinkedIn group. (What, you haven't joined yet? Darth Formulus finds your lack of faith… disturbing. A problem easily remedied yes?)
But wouldn't you know it. All you analytical types started asking "hey, what IS Modern Excel, exactly? What is considered 'fair game' to discuss at meetings?" "And what the heck is the point of this LinkedIn group – you've made virtually no announcements whatsoever."
Ambiguity? That will never satisfy humans with Compulsive Data Crunching Disease. And I wouldn't have it any other way. I thrive on this sort of thing.
As an aside, constantly being forced to be precise (by my peers) at Microsoft is one of the most formative and useful experiences of my life to date. My first 22 years on the planet had been fueled strictly by Instinctive Conviction – which in hindsight is merely another form of "coasting." But I've since come to believe that if you cannot communicate your opinions effectively, not only will their impact be forever limited, but actually, even YOU don't understand what you THINK you do. Sloppy communication often masks sloppy thinking. 22-year old Rob arrived in Redmond with an ample supply of both. It was as much fun as a multi-year waterboarding, but they straightened me out.
Excel 2007 Desktop is a BIG Dividing Line
Let's start by "ruling out" a massive swath of possibilities. Sometimes it's easiest to start by saying what something is NOT, and this is one such case.
Here's the acid test: if a topic is something you could do with Excel 2007 desktop, it's not Modern, and does not belong in the group.
Excel 2007 Desktop: Anything You Could Do Here is NOT Modern
So, here are some Examples that are NOT modern, even when you use them in Excel 2013:
- Traditional pivots
- VLOOKUP, SUMIF, etc.
- Interactive solutions driven by VBA Macros
OK, So What DOES Qualify?
Here are some examples of Modern:
- Power Pivot, Power Query, Power View, etc. (the "Power Star" family)
- Excel Web App, Excel Services – "Web Excel" (especially for publishing)
- Topics that support the above – Designing Good Dashboards, for instance
- Leveraging Modern Excel for Career Growth, Org Growth, etc.
Hybrids Are VERY MUCH Modern!
Yes. We Like Hybrids.
Practitioners of Modern Excel know that the Network Effect of Excel is a huge part of its strength, and therefore a huge part of OUR strength as professionals.
So we would never, NEVER, "rule out" techniques and approaches that blended Excel's rich "traditional" features with its newer features. It's what separates us from animals after all.
With that in mind, here are some examples of Modern Hybrids:
- Chart tricks that are used in concert with Power Pivot (SUPER relevant!)
- Using VBA to automate the creation of Power Pivot reports
- Using in-grid formulas in concert with slicers and measures.
- In other words, features that existed in 2007 desktop and earlier ARE encouraged and applauded in our reindeer games (i.e. at our meetings), as long as they are used to "improve" something Modern. They just can't be the FOCUS of a topic.
How About Something More Poetic?
The answers above read like a checklist. If that's a bit too OCD for you, great. Let's change gears.
The reason we chose the name Modern Excel is because we're talking about a New Way. A Better Way. You know, a new world:
- Where we spend far LESS time on repetitive, tedious tasks.
- Where we spend far MORE time thinking!
- Where we spend as much time formulating better questions as we spend answering questions.
- Where slight changes in our needs often require a few seconds of work, rather than a few days.
- Where our most impactful creations (our most insightful workbooks) don't become anchors that we must drag around with us until we change jobs.
- Where we see, every day, the impact of our efforts. And we feel that rewarding glow.
- Where others see the impact of our efforts. And we see that reflected in our tangible rewards.
Questions? Comments? Outright Disagreement?
This is a "living definition." Always open for refinement. So bring the comments
I can't seem to find the Modern Excel or Modern XL in Linkedin? Can you help me find it?
Sincerely, Mike Girvin
The one thing that I don't normally see mentioned are power-shell scripting to automate excel tasks. All the reports that I'm making now using powerpivot, powerquery & powerview also get auto-refreshed, saved as pdf & send via email on a scheduled basis using powershell scripts. So once I make the reports, the report requires zero intervention going forward. I get a little more time to feed my OCD…
I know pivot tables aren't modern, but I've come across quite a few people who don't know what a basic pivot table is. People who write complicated Excel formulas or T-SQL statements to analyze data when a pivot table would work faster.
Pivot tables are the foundation of Power Pivot and other Power BI tools. I have a presentation just on pivot tables – it's simple enough any professional can benefit and both times I've presented it there's been someone in the audience who's like "I had no idea". I always conclude by saying – hey, you know you can't join 2 pivot tables? Well, guess what you need to learn about next?
Pivot tables are a gateway drug to Power Pivot, I tell ya
Carry the flame!
Although I like your approach of networking, I have to say, this is not for me because it seems – and that may sound controversial – racist against "traditional" users. Yes, all these new techniques are amazing and enhance the Excel capabilities by a factor I cannot even define, but you really rule a lot of people out how had no chance so far to get used to these techniques.
If I look at my experience with Excel I would say I'm an advanced user and the go to guy for a lot of people in my company (not trying to brag or something). However, I recently just started to dive into 2013 (which I subscribed to privately as my company still forces me to use XL2007), signed up e. g. for Chandoo's PowerPivot course (incl. your adv. power pivot part + books) and I think it will take some months until I'm at the level you require. As a result this means for me: you don't want me in there. I mean, in the end that's fair, but I'm not really sure if that helps people who are new to this whole PowerBI stuff, Excel now offers.
I would be more than happy if you correct my point of view, maybe I have misunderstood something…?!


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Fraport Greece Begins 40-Year Concession at 14 Greek Regional Airports
11 Apr, 2017, 16:12 BST
FRANKFURT, Germany, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --
Greek State receives €1.234 billion upfront payment - Fraport Greece will further invest about €400 million for improving and expanding the airports' infrastructure by 2021 - Focus on enhancing facilities, operational processes and the passenger experience - Single largest expansion of Fraport Group's international airport portfolio says CEO Schulte
FRA/rap - Fraport Greece (73.4 percent owned by the Frankfurt based airport operator Fraport AG and 26.6 percent by Copelouzos Group) today commenced the 40-year concession for managing and developing 14 regional airports on the Greek mainland and popular holiday islands - a mamoth investment for the country's infrastructure and economically vital tourism sector. Following the operational transfer of the airports, Fraport Greece today paid the upfront concession fee of €1.234 billion - the biggest concession fee in Greece's history - to the state-owned Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRADF). Along with this upfront fee, an annual fixed concession fee of €22.9 million will be paid to the Greek State, as well as a variable annual fee based on 28.5 percent of Fraport Greece's yearly operational profit (EBITDA - earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization). Actual ownership of the airports is retained by Greece.
Dr. Stefan Schulte, Fraport AG's executive board chairman explained: "Since being selected as the winning bidder for the Greek Regional Airports in 2014, we have remained steadfastly committed to this visionary project. We believe in Greece and its potential as one of the greatest travel destinations in the world. The goal of Fraport Greece is to enhance the travel experience for visitors from around the world - by upgrading and expanding facilities and by improving operational processes, shopping and services. Today is a great day for Greece and its people. It is also an important day for us because Fraport Greece is the single largest expansion of our airport portfolio and a milestone in further growing our international business."
Currently, Fraport generates more than 20 percent of its annual revenue through its portfolio of international airports and subsidiaries, bundled in the company's External Activities & Services business segment. With the operational transfer of the Greek airports, the Fraport Group will significantly enlarge its international activities, further broaden its worldwide footprint and reduce dependency on the development in single regions or markets.
The 14 Greek regional airports served a total of 25.3 million passengers in 2016, an increase by nine percent year-on-year. Fraport Greece will operate, manage and develop the airports over the next four decades - with responsibility for aviation as well as non-aviation areas. The mainland airports include Aktion (PVK), Kavala (KVA) and Thessaloniki (SKG), Greece's second largest city. The eleven island airports are located in Kerkyra/Corfu (CFU), Chania/Crete (CHQ), Kefalonia (EFL), Kos (KGS), Mytilene/Lesvos (MJT), Mykonos (JMK), Rhodes (RHO), Samos (KGS), Santorini (JTR), Skiathos (JSI) and Zakynthos (ZTH).
Alexander Zinell, Fraport Greece's CEO, emphasized: "Today marks the beginning of a new era for the 14 Greek regional airports. Within only twelve months we have created Fraport Greece, a world-class airport operator with over 500 highly motivated staff eager to move each of the 14 airports forward into the future. We will develop and manage the airports for the benefit of passengers and airlines - for all stakeholders. These mainland and island gateways will act as a catalyst of growth for Greek tourism as well as other industries. Well-managed airports have been proven to serve as dynamic economic engines for their regions. We appreciate the outstanding support received throughout Greece and look forward to the challenges and opportunties ahead."
Under the concession agreement, Fraport Greece will be investing about €400 million for improving and expanding the airports' infrastructure over the next 48 months. Hence, Fraport Greece recently signed an agreement with the Greek-based Intrakat construction and engineering company to refurbish, expand and build new facilities at the 14 airports - including five new passenger terminals. In subsequent years, Fraport Greece will make investments for maintenance and demand-driven capacity expansions.
Approximately €1 billion in long-term financing for the Greek Regional Airports project is being provided by a consortium of leading financial institutions. Some €280.4 million of the total loan will be used to finance construction projects at the 14 airports, while €688 million will be used as part of the upfront concession payment to HRADF. Fraport Greece recently raised its total equity capital to €650 million.
For further information about Fraport AG please click here: http://www.fraport.com/en/the-fraport-group/about-us/fraport-at-a-glance.html
Print-quality photos of Fraport AG and Frankfurt Airport are available for free downloading via the photo library located in our Press Center on the Fraport Web site. For TV news and information broadcasting purposes only, we also offer free footage material for downloading.
If you wish to meet a member of our press team when at Frankfurt Airport, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our contact details are available here.
Fraport AG
Robert A. Payne
International Spokesman
Press Office, Corp.Communications
60547 Frankfurt, Germany
Telephone: +49-69-690-78547
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Internet: http://www.fraport.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FrankfurtAirport
SOURCE Fraport AG


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Here are our proud young does. Some of them traveled half of the country to us. They have correct dairy traits and wonderful genes behind them. AND most of them are organic babies born and raised here at our farm!
Bannerfield Farm Valhalla (6/2014)
Sire-Dill's LD Roulette
GS: ARMCH Twin Creeks Luck of the Draw *S(MCH HBF Luckey Strike 'E' S
GD:MCH/PGCH Raha Acres Twinks Pixie *D E)Dill's BH Ima Keeper(Promisedland CP Bounty Hunter *S X Piddlin Acres Fantasia)
Dam: SG-NC Promisedland B Peppermint *M
GS: NC Promisedland Sharpe Blanco *B
GD: NC Promisedland RB Sunflower
Rosasharn CB Sheba (2/2014)
Judge would like Sheba to be more mature in the next 2 years. However, kidded single buckling, she has amazing capacity and butterfat in our DHI program (2.9 lb 7.2%).
Sire- Rosasharn SH Celtic Ballad +*B
SS: Rosasharn BB Son of Honey +*B
SD: CH Rosasharn P Haiku 4*M
Dam- Rosasharn Madonna Promise 5*M
SS: Rosasharn's BH Pino Grigio *B
SD: Rosasharn BB Black Madonna Honey 4*M
Sheba has matured very nicely. She is sweet and gentle. She
She kidded one buck as FF, yet is producing 3 lb of milk per day.
SG (Superior Genetic) Lake Sai Rhada (Blue Eyed) - (10/2013)
Sire- Caesar's Villa Shamrock
GS: Caesar's Villa R Pinochle
GD: Caesar's Villa Sharon's Delight 2*D
Dam- Little Tot's Estate Kalanchoe- 1xJrCH, 1xRsGCH
GS: Woodhaven Farms Levi Legend +B
GD: Little Tot's Estate Mimulus
Rhada is a beautiful small doe; as FF, she kidded 2 bucklings.
A dream to milk and is producing 4 lb per day. Rhada just received SUPERIOR GENERIC award from ADGA in dec. 2015.
Lake Sai Vane Shah Heema (2/2014)
We did not do a good job while we tattooed our kids. Was afraid of hurting their little ears. In results, there are a few kids were not able to be recognized during our first LA. Heema was given a verbal LA by Judge. He believe she could get a 83 as a FF. Heema has a amazing capacity, and beautiful udder. She gives 4 lb. 4.7% butterfat with 2 kids on the ground.
Sire: Kaapio Acres MH Josiah
GS: Rosaharn SP Manuka Honey *B
GS: CH/PGCH Little Totes Estate Callilily
Dam- Little Tots Estate Annette Lue
GS: Rosasharn HR Chewbacca *B
GD: Little Tote Estate Euphorbia 1*
Heema is beautiful and complex. Her udder is so beautiful and wonderful to milk. Check out her bloodline with all the toppest herd and toppest goats in those herds in her. A dairy dream for our little organic farm. She produces up to 4.1 lb per day, kidded one doeling and one buckling.


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The IBS Recipes Soup Three is a delightful IBS friendly diet to be served as a snack at any time during the day.Red Lentil Vegetable Soup - 2 Servings
1 teaspoon olive oil1 yellow onion, diced1 large carrot, chopped2 tomatoes, diced3 cups of water1 vegetable stock cube1/3 cup red lentils2 bay leavesSalt and black pepper; to taste
Pre-heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the olive oil. Wait until it sizzles. Add the onions. Cook for 2 minutes. Add all other ingredients to the pan. Cook for another 15 minutes. Season to taste. Serve immediately.
Return to IBS Diets
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How does learning become enjoyable?
Enjoyable learning denotes learning experiences which support participants in a way that the learning process becomes enjoyable and thereby fruitful. The enjoyment spoken of here comes as a result of freedom from constraints and is fueled by exercises and assignments that the participants themselves tailor according to their own needs, interests, and goals. When learning becomes enjoyable, the participants are no longer dependent on a time, place or a person to monitor and learning becomes a part of the their everyday activities. A good way of deriving maximum engagement of participants is through making them present their ideas on topics they are extremely passionate about where the central creator of the topic is the learner himself or herself – the necessary tools, materials, methods based on his or her needs, abilities, and goals. The tools and materials are experiential – games, podcasts, videos, blogs, music, film. The participant learns in tandem with his or her needs and an instructor trained in the enjoyable learning process is able to guide him.


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All successful RE investors understand that you make money by buying properties for less than they are worth. The decision to buy is properly based on well-honed analysis and reliable numbers. Buying or selling based on emotion is the fast-track to losing money. Most investors seem to understand these rather elementary points. As such, it amazes me how many would-be investors purchase overpriced advice and overpriced course material based on emotions. When it comes to selling asset protection material, the carnie-type speakers tend to market based on greed and fear. Based on what I've seen, lots of REIA members flock to the back of the room with little thought and buy greed and fear when they think they are buying asset protection.
Here's what & how most asset protection gurus sell:
- First they scare you with the "Evil Lawyers Refrain" (Play Phantom of the Opera or The Empire Strikes Back Darth Vader theme for audio effect). They talk about how idiot plaintiffs make $2 million dollars off of idiot juries after spilling boiling coffee on themselves. They get you worked up and afraid. Before the pitch is over, you'll be looking under the bed for evil lawyers every night. Like government, the asset protection speaker creates a problem to solve and markets that problem through fear…..and then offers a convenient "solution", in exchange for some serious dollars (or freedoms, in the case of government).
- They then talk about how expensive it is to hire attorneys of your own. Hundreds of dollars per hour, hundreds of hours needed. Even when you "win", you really lose because of the cost. Jacking up the cost of solutions makes their product more "valuable", what a shock! Reminds you of the phony appraisals some people use to sell over-priced houses. You CAN save money on legal & accounting fees with good course material – but to suggest that you can eliminate such fees (as many authors do) is dangerous nonsense – there ARE certain things that no course can teach and professional help is a MUST. Often, doing it yourself is penny-wise, pound foolish.
- Then they offer a comprehensive "solution", in the form of an overpriced course. The hallmarks of the typical asset protection course:
- Often written by a non-attorney, non-accountant. Would you let a car mechanic operate on you or let a surgeon fix your car? Absurd! Even many of the speakers with credentials (JD, CPA, etc.) haven't practiced in years, if ever.
- Suggests that asset protection consists of using entities. That's partially correct, but quite incomplete and therefore misleading. There is far more to it than that. It's like suggesting that investing consists of writing checks at closing. That's part of the process, but quite a lot has to be done to get there first! The danger: Investors with entities feel "protected" by their entities and therefore neglect certain fundamental asset-protection issues (e.g. – HOW you do business), which in turn creates needless vulnerability down the road.
- Suggests that entities are necessary for huge tax savings. While certain entity types can offer tax savings, most tax breaks are independent of existence or type of entity. Also, many of the "tax benefits" touted by slick-sales types are illusory. For example, you'll invariably hear that C-Corporations can deduct $50,000 in term life insurance. True – so what? $50,000 of term life runs $120/year in premiums at most. So if you are in a 30% tax bracket, a $120 deduction saves $36 in taxes. Who cares? That sort of "savings" isn't going to enter into my decision to form or not form a C-Corporation. But if you didn't know that, the number that would stick in your mind is the $50,000 figure. Great sales technique, poor tax planning. These sorts of illusory benefits abound on the speaking circuit. Entities CAN save you taxes – in certain situations for a certain price. The trick is to weigh the true benefits against the true costs.
- Suggests that you can set up your own trusts without an attorney. Setting up entities (e.g. – LLC's, corporations, etc.) is fun and easy. With a few exceptions (e.g. –land trusts), non-attorneys should NOT dabble in trusts. Even most lawyers are not competent where trusts are concerned. Specialists are required. For example, setting up your own living trust (for estate planning purposes) is generally a massive mistake. People who sell do it yourself kits for trusts (excepting simple land trusts) are doing you a major disservice. A few template documents and explanatory tapes will NOT qualify you to set up a trust!
- Suggests that you need Nevada or other foreign entities. For most RE investors, such entities provide NO or INFINITESIMAL additional protection but DO involve plenty of extra cost.
- Suggests the use of complex, multi-tiered entity structures. Such structures are generally not appropriate for small to medium-sized RE investors. They add little in the way of true protection, but DO add plenty of additional cost in terms of time and money.
- Is quite expensive. You should not be paying thousands of dollars for a course based on the "tens of thousands" in lawyer fees it will "save" you. There are plenty of reasonably-priced products out there that provide quality information. I think that particular advice applies to RE courses across the board. A few hundred bucks for high-quality material can be reasonable, if the material is good. Paying thousands is a bad joke.
As you can tell, I'm not a big fan of most "asset protection" speakers. Allow me to (immodestly!) offer one alternative. My entities material is:
- Based on current experience: I am a practicing attorney and accountant and real estate investor. All of my clients are real estate investors. I get lots of information from books. Unlike many would-be "gurus", I also learn from dealing with real estate, RE investors and the legal system day-in and day-out.
- Reasonably priced: What you get for $299 will more than suffice to meet the entity needs of a small to medium sized RE investor. Spending more than that makes little sense.
- Focused on cost-benefit: Every business cost has to pay its own freight. My material focuses on balancing the cost of entities versus their benefits. Unlike many authors, I do not focus on benefits to paint a rosy picture and pump sales. Instead, I look at the benefits in light of their costs – and costs arise in many ways (e.g. – your time). I look at the benefits in terms of their true impact (Remember the $50,000 in deductible life insurance). The costs of entities can also be indirect (e.g. – needing a licensed attorney to evict once a property is no longer in your personal name). A high cost and lack of real benefit is why I do not care for Nevada entities in RE, for example. Cost-benefit, cost benefit, always cost-benefit.
- Explanations: I have heard countless investors lament that "I get different advice from different gurus….who do I listen to?" I do not just tell you what to do (or not to do!) – I also explain WHY you should or should not do something. That way, you can use your own judgment in making important decisions. You can compare my "why's" to others' reasons for doing things (assuming that they provide any reasons at all).
- A state-by-state approach: The first two-thirds of the course focus on universal principles, applicable across the nation. The last third provides the documents needed to set up and run an entity in your specific state. One size does NOT fit all.
- A KISS approach to setting up entities: Setting up an entity is quite easy – any literate adult can do it. We walk you through the process, step by easy step. Most attorneys charge at least $500 to do this (I do). Setting up ONE entity pays for the course!
- The documents needed to run the entity: Meeting minutes, corporate resolutions, bylaws, they are all there.
- Clear Choice of Entity Rules: Knowing which entity to use is of key importance, especially where taxes are concerned. We provide an analysis of entity types and the reasons to use (or not use) each one. Which entity for flips? For rentals? For Sub2's & Lease-Options? We answer those questions!
- Non-Entity Asset Protection: Entities are just ONE step for proper asset protection. We cover a number of other KEY issues, such as how to run your business and tips on drafting enforceable contracts.
- Cover the TRUE Nature of the "Lawyer Problem": This country does have a lawyer problem – but it is probably not what you think or what the gurus tout. To effectively defend yourself, you must know the true nature of the enemy.
- Available for the Following States: AL, AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, LA, MD, MI, MO, MS, NC, NJ, NV, OH, OK,TN, TX, VA, WA
My course, The Real Estate Investor's KISS Guide to Entities, will teach you to select, set up and maintain the correct entity for your RE business. You can pay $299 now, or you can pay MUCH more later when:
1) You pay someone to set up an entity that you could have done yourself; 2) You set something up yourself that you should have paid a professional to so (we help distinguish between #1 & #2); 3) You pick the wrong entity for your business and pay extra taxes as a result; 4) You overcomplicate the business, adding expenses but little real protection; 5) You focus on entities to the exclusion of other important asset protection issues.


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My tweets
- Fri, 17:27: Kickstarter - Gothitropolis Raven Action Figure by Four Horsemen Studios: http://t.co/XpXKIfaHN9
- Fri, 18:13: Given how awesome my life is, it really doesn't make a lot of sense for me to wake up this unhappy. No sympathy for myself.
- Fri, 21:40: I understood gender discrimination once I added "Mr." to my resume and landed a job http://t.co/ajmT1A5Fj6 via @qz