text:
Achieve supports and validates your professional achievements. We provide accessible information that encourages your professional growth. Use our professional development team, tools, and resources to reach your achievements.
Individual Membership
Processing Time
At Achieve, your application is processed as quickly and accurately as possible. Applications are processed in the order they are received and can take up to 6 weeks from when Achieve receives documentation. View an infographic that explains Achieve's workflow process.
Explore Achieve policies, procedures, and other helpful information.
Your Learning Record details your qualifications for working with children and families by providing an accurate record of your training and education. Access your Learning Record through your Develop account. This powerful tool is accepted as verified documentation outlining your achievements by:
- Achieve Partners
- Employers
- Scholarship Processes
- Regulatory Agencies
You can also include your Learning Record to enhance your resume.
View your Learning Record now!
Sign in with your email address and password to get started.
Your Learning Record will be located under your Professional Profile in the Reports tab.
Advance your career in the childhood care and education field with our Individual Training Needs Assessment (ITNA) tool. Use this tool to:
- Learn more about yourself.
- Make informed choices to improve your skills.
- Find opportunities to help you achieve your goals.
- Advance your Career Lattice Step.
Take the Individual Training Needs Assessment now!
Sign in with your email and password to get started.
The ITNA is located on the Professional Profile section under the ITNA tab.


text:
The Scoop on Down Payments:
They Don't Need to be 20%
It seems like a lifetime ago, but in actuality, it's only been (approximately) 8 years since our nation's housing crisis began …
Since that time, there has been a tightening of Mortgage Underwriting Standards. Much needed, as it's obvious that the underwriting and lending standards previous to the crisis were way too lax.
New safety guards and regulations meant to protect and help Borrowers have now been implemented. Much has been written about them. All you have to do is a simple online search utilizing any of these terms (or many others):
- Mortgages
- Home Buying
- Mortgage pre-approval requirements
- Documentation Needed for Mortgage Application
- Down payments
- Underwriting
- More
... you'll reap page after page of articles and editorials alerting and educating current and potential homeowners and mortgage borrowers to the changes that have occurred as a result of the crisis.
Also addressed are the pros and cons of the changes and how homeowners and borrowers can and should utilize the new standards to their benefit. But it should be noted that the one thing in financing left largely unchanged throughout and after the crisis is: DOWNPAYMENT.
So if you've been hearing/reading that you need a full 20% down in order to buy a home? That's wrong.
Yes, it's true that the ABC's of financially building and saving a Down Payment is vastly more challenging within the current economy. But the actual percentages surrounding Down Payment requirements for financing/borrowing have remained vastly unchanged.
Both prior to the housing crisis and currently, the following were/are available:
- 3.5% Down Payment FHA loans
- 0% Down Payment VA loans (Qualified Veterans)
- 3% Down Payment Conventional loans
- 0% Down Payment USDA loans (Eligible Applicants – Eligible Locations)
- Many States/local municipalities have Grants or resources available for Borrowers in need of Down Payment Funds
It should be noted that the topic and details surrounding Down Payments are hugely important. So you'd think that every effort would be made to write articles or report factual information, right?
Yet misleading or inaccurate information remains readily available. Such was the case with a radio advertisement I heard this weekend.
Hearing incorrect Down Payment info conveyed in that radio message about made my head spin. I felt compelled to take action, as bad info is keeping too many from their home buying dream.
So what is the single most important FACT hopeful Home Buyers need to know about current Down Payment requirements? It's simple …
You DON'T need 20% Down!
What's also a fact:
- A new Home Buyer/Borrower may be required to hold Private Mortgage Insurance if putting less than 20% down
- That Private Mortgage Insurance does NOT keep them from buying. (The obtaining of Mortgage Insurance is almost a foregone conclusion for qualified Buyers)
- Private Mortgage Insurance is mandatory on FHA Government-Insured Loans
But it's also true that: Down Payment Funds can come from many allowed sources.
Those sources include:
- Gifts from relatives
- Loans from Retirement Funds
- Life Insurance Policies with Cash Value
- Stocks
- Bonds
- Inheritance
- Traditional Sources of Savings, Checking, Mutual Funds, Money Market Accounts
Documentable Bonuses from Employers
Are you a hopeful Home Buyer or potential Borrower?
If you're hearing from someone or reading somewhere that you're required to have a 20% Down Payment to buy or finance a home? Keep moving. That's not true. Options and requirements needed for a lower Down Payment may exist elsewhere.
Don't give up! Seek additional advice regarding your needed Down Payment. Exhaust all your options and information resources.
Try talking with another Lender. Get a second opinion. Because it's also a FACT that financing options can vary between Lenders. Mortgage Programs, Mortgage Program availability, options, requirements can also change and evolve.
And if you still receive a negative answer? Don't get discouraged. Any setback may be just that, a setback. And only temporary, for all the reasons mentioned above ...
* Watch for my upcoming post on Closing Costs ...
* Hoping to Buy or Refinance a home in Chicago or elsewhere in the Chicagoland area? Contact me! I'll put my 40+ years of Mortgage experience and expertise hard to work on your behalf.
I can be easily found at:
Gene Mundt
Mortgage Originator - NMLS #216987 - IL Lic. #031.0006220 - WI Licensed
American Portfolio Mortgage Corp.
Direct: 815.524.2280
Cell/Text: 708.921.6331
eFax: 815.524.2281

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Pupils of The Executive Children Primary School suffered a big tragedy after being involved in a fatal motor accident in Abuja.
The accident had reportedly left scores of primary school pupil dead and many others seriously injured.
The school bus was reportedly hit by a heavy truck.
See photos below


text:
One Step at a Time
"One Step at a Time: A Young Marine's Story of Courage, Hope, and a New Life in the NFL" follows Josh's journey from his enlistment then on to active duty in Fallujah, through two years of rehab, and ultimately to his job as the community spokesman for the Indianapolis Colts. Everyone has had that "one bad day". Josh discovered that life begins when we embrace our bad days and keep going forward, one step at a time. Audience members will be inspired by his undying enthusiasm, infectious joy, and sense of humor.
One Step at a Time has sold over
10,000 copies to date.
Josh Bleill LLC, is happy to offer quantity discounts for your meeting or event. Contact firstname.lastname@example.com today to receive pricing as well as customization details. A book of inspiration is a terrific take away for any attendee from your company, a sponsor or organization.


text:
open layout with vaulted living room
1196 sq. ft. two bedroom, two bath
Our smallest floor plan still packs a big punch! Perfect two bedroom, two bath home on the main level for the growing family, or perhaps an empty nester looking to "downsize" some. Gable roof has a covered entry providing an inviting welcome, and a nice accent. Over-sized double garage provides plenty of parking and storage.
To receive your free quote please click the button to start choosing your options.


text:
|Project by mrdull
|posted 02-25-2009 02:18 AM
|1642 views
|2 times favorited
|0 comments
simple mantle except they didn't allow for overhang on each side of the mantle between a room corner and the door facing, this is the kind of problem I like to deal with.
-- "Duty is the sublimest word in our language. Do your duty in all things. You cannot do more. You should never wish to do less." General Robert E. Lee, C.S.A.
0 comments so far
Have your say...
You must be signed in to post the comments.


text:
We Believe
We believe that the greatest force of evangelization and social change in our world is beauty.
We believe that Catholicism is the most beautiful framework for understanding and expressing the human experience. We do not have to be working for the Church to express that narrative powerfully, we just need to pursue our craft with excellence. Anything less compromises our passion, erodes our credibility, and dulls the vibrancy of our Catholic vision. We are a community, a movement, and a work-in-progress. Get involved, contact us, and shape what we can become together.
Want to know more about what we believe?
Community pillars
the catholic creative defined
Our Mission
Catholic Creatives is movement of Catholic designers, filmmakers, photographers, creative thinkers, artists, entrepreneurs, and others working to bring the gospel to the world in fresh, beautiful ways.
Our community provides members the space for feedback, collaboration, and resources.
The Church was once at the forefront of beauty, art and design — our mission is to do our part to bring that back! We have God-given gifts that, in a self-centered world, we can use in selfless ways for His glory. Our Catholic Creatives vision includes "creative challenge" meetups throughout the country, a resource-packed website and online community, and an annual summit where members can connect in person.
What We're Doing
Catholic Creatives is committed to sponsoring initiatives that champion the true, good, and beautiful. We connect investors with the best talent to create partnerships and ideas that change the world.


text:
About four days ago, I realized there was a big problem around my shed. You see, I don't pay much attention to the shed. It's in a rather neglected niche in the yard and is easily overlooked.
While many gardeners probably wouldn't show you their troubled areas (I guess because it's like showing someone your holey underwear), I will. No garden got beautiful by accident. Someone commits time, energy, and probably money to get it that way. Some gardens have issues, and I'm the first to say mine certainly does with its weirdly shaped lot.
When I purchased this property, I suspected the survey would show the narrow funky "arm" where the shed is located wasn't legally part of the plot, but I was wrong.
An 80+ year old neighbor who grew up in this 'hood informed me there used to be an alley/city easement behind the homes on our side of the street where the sewer pipes ran, but at some point, the City relinquished ownership and for an unknown reason, my property ended up with a sizeable portion of the alley that goes behind two other homes.
There is an +/- 8' x 16' piece of land behind the shed. (Future secret garden???) I rarely visit it, but the vines and the weeds do, and they're sneaky and evil.
Here is that approximate 8′ x 16′ area. Can you see anything but weeds? No? Neither can I.
Four days ago, I looked at the shed and realized it was being eaten by vines so I went back into the jungle and cut the vines off at their roots.
I removed the dead vines above today.
Truthfully, I'm sick of pulling weeds, but I resigned myself to commit 2-4 hours/day removing weeds in the area beside and behind the shed. BLAH!
For two days, I cut, pulled, and sacked big nasty thorny weeds (greenbriar and wild dewberry) along with Virginia Creeper, Snailseed vine, and English ivy. In that time, I managed to clear a 4' x 8' area along one side of the shed.
I know this photo is blurry, but if you look to the left of the leaves, you'll see a very thick thorny greenbriar cane. The black spots are vicious thorns.
Thorny dew berry above.
This morning when I grabbed my gloves, my brain finally turned on. What was I doing????
Why wasn't I using cardboard to cover/smother the weeds on the ground? I'd done this on other occasions. Duh! And it just so happened I'd walked by a huge mound of cardboard placed out for the trash yesterday.
I stopped mid-glove, hopped into my car, and rushed to the house with all of the boxes. Whew! The big boxes were still there. I took almost all of them.
On the way home, I spied a lonely Amazon box sitting on the top of a garage can.Why not take it too?
So, I pulled over, got out and grabbed it, and that's when this disembodied voice called out to me.
"You need to ask my mommy!"
Hunh? Where was that voice coming from?
I finally spied a little girl on the swing set behind the house looking at me.
She said again, "You need to ask my mommy!"
I answered her by saying I was pretty sure her mommy didn't want the box because it was sitting on the garbage can. However, the little girl wouldn't be swayed.
"No. You need to ask my mommy, first."
I didn't want to meet "mommy." I was dressed like a weed-pulling bum in a T-shirt that was three sizes too large with holes and my pants were stained and baggy.
I put the box back on the garbage can and said I didn't need it after all.
"No," she said. "Wait!" With that, she ran inside the house.
Damn, I wanted to go.
Thankfully, the girl came out immediately and told me, "My mommy says you can have it. I'll get it for you." And she did.
Tomorrow, I'll work on cutting and bagging the vines on the fence, but the cardboard makes this job so much easier. I've not decided yet what I'll cover the cardboard with. I have mulch, but don't want to attract termites to the shed.
Finally, here's what was blooming in the yard today:
My hair looks like this most days. I think it's an allium/onion. Got it at an estate sale.
Abutilon (flowering maple)
Happy blogging!


text:
Home » Cost Benefit Analysis
Dan Farber June 11, 2014
Does OIRA Live Up To Its Own Standards?
OIRA should conduct a cost-benefit analysis of its own activities and explore alternatives to its current oversight methods.
Dan Farber March 5, 2014
The Lost World of Administrative Law
The regulatory process has become more opaque and less accountable. We need to fix that.
Dan Farber February 19, 2014
Peering Behind OIRA's Veil of Secrecy
OIRA is staffed by under-trained, over-worked short-termers.
Dan Farber December 18, 2013
Going for Broke at the Climate Casino
The new Nordhaus book is good as far as it goes. But its analysis is muddled in crucial respects.
Dan Farber June 7, 2013
The Cost of Carbon Revisited
Dan Farber June 2, 2013
The Curious Case of Positive Train Control
Dan Farber April 23, 2013
Going Global with CBA
Dan Farber April 2, 2013
The Case for Carbon Austerity
Dan Farber February 20, 2013


text:
England open tour with tight win
England 192 (Taylor 73, Gunn 39, Rasangika 4-38) beat Sri Lanka 187 for 9 (Polgampola 32, Kaushalya 32, Hazell 3-22) by 5 runs
England held Sri Lanka to 187 for 9 to secure a tight, five-run win in the first one-day international of their limited-overs series at the Nondescripts Ground in Colombo. Claire Taylor's half-century, her 22nd in ODIs, held England's middle order together amid a four-wicket haul for seamer Deepika Rasangika as the visitors were bowled out for 192 after being put in to bat. A middle-order collapse hampered Sri Lanka's chase, and a tight final over from seamer Jenny Gunn sealed the result for England.
England made a stuttering start to their Sri Lankan tour, losing opener Heather Knight - bowled by left-arm seamer Rukshala Dharmasiri - without a run on the board. With captain Charlotte Edwards and left-hander Lydia Greenway also falling for single figures, it was left to Taylor and Gunn to repair England's innings with an 86-run partnership for the 4th wicket.
Rasangika then struck back for the hosts, picking up three wickets in two overs - including that of debutant Fran Wilson first ball - as England slipped to 143 for 6. Wickets fell regularly thereafter, with Laura Marsh and Anya Shrubsole providing the only resistance before the visitors were bowled out in the final over.
Sri Lanka's chase got off to a positive start, Chamari Polgampola and Chamari Atapattu putting together a 64-run opening stand. After they were parted, however, England's spinners ran through the middle order. Edwards, Laura Marsh and Danielle Hazell combined to reduce Sri Lanka to 86 for 5 before Eshani Kaushalya and wicketkeeper Dilani Manodara's 52-run partnership brought Sri Lanka back into the game.
Sri Lanka needed just 55 in slightly over eight overs when Isa Guha returned to the attack and bowled Manodara for a watchful 26. The lower order managed to keep up the scoring rate, Sripali Weerakkody slamming a 16-ball 19 that included a four and a six, but at a cost of wickets. With six runs needed from the final two deliveries, Gunn had Rasangika caught by Shrubsole and then sealed a slim victory with a dot ball to close the innings.
The teams meet for the second ODI at the P Sara Oval in Colombo on Wednesday before a series of three Twenty20 matches, starting on November 19 at the Nondescripts Ground.


text:
Spurring On in Shared Church Meetings
- Peter is hanging out and eating with non-Jews. Now he suddenly pulls back from them.
- Esther, by speaking up, may save her people. But in doing so, she may lose her own life.
- Philemon suffers loss when his slave runs away.
What need do all three have in common? To be spurred on.
Paul challenges Peter over his two-faced behavior when conservative Jews from Jerusalem show up in Antioch (Gal. 2:11-14). Because Esther may have "come to royal position for such a time as this," Mordecai urges her not to remain silent (Esth. 4:12-16). And Paul, having seen the runaway Onesimus become a Christ-follower, presses Philemon to welcome him back. (Philem. 17).
Encourage vs. Spur On
Spurring on, says the author of Hebrews, should happen when we meet with fellow Christians. Like encouragement, it is a major element in one-anothering—part of the mutual give-and-take of shared church. Encouragement and spurring on overlap. Yet the New Testament seems to distinguish between them. Encouragement aims to restore eroding trust (Jn. 14:1; Acts 14:22), whereas spurring on seeks to refuel love and right doing (Heb. 10:24). One shores up faith; the other renews practice.
Where the NIV uses spur on, other versions translate the Greek word as motivate, stimulate, or stir up. To many, a set of spurs may seem like an instrument of pain and cruelty. Yet to those who know and love horses, spurs—used in the right way—are simply intensive tools to move the animal into action.
In her website, Stacy Westfall (a trainer in horsemanship) says "a spur is nothing more than a motivator . . . something that encourages your horse to make a change in its behavior. . . . When used correctly the horses don't really mind spurs at all. The key here is 'used correctly.' It is important for you to know your own limitations. Don't use spurs if you know you might jab when you don't intend to. And remember, using spurs when your horse doesn't understand is like talking louder to someone who doesn't speak your language; it doesn't help."
Like horses, we Christians often need to change our behavior. Living in bodies made of dust, working among the "thorns and thistles" of the world, we quickly drag our feet or balk. All too easily we "become weary in doing good" (Gal. 6:9). Even young people, Isaiah said, "grow tired and weary" (Is. 40:30). No wonder, then, that each one of us needs prodding to keep on plodding.
Churches Need It, Too
Churches can come up short on love and good deeds. So, they—like individuals—need to be roused and redirected. According to Jesus, the church in Ephesus had left the love it had at first. He spurred them on to "Repent and do the things [deeds] you did at first" (Rev. 2:4,5). He told the church in Sardis to "Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God" (3:2). And because the lukewarm Laodicean church was producing defective deeds, Jesus spurred them on to repent (3:15, 19).
Having served as a pastor, I know that some of the most effective spurring on comes from one's peers in the trenches. Suppose a believer who works all week as an accountant for the government has nearly given up on shining the light of Christ because of a twisted emphasis on separation of church and state. Imagine the impact of hearing another government employee tell how God has shown her effective ways to live out her faith in a public agency without running afoul of the law.
A few days ago, I spoke with Nita Kotiuga, who serves as pastor of spiritual growth, connectedness, and prayer at the Westview Bible Church in Quebec, Canada. She told me about the Sunday-morning testimony of a man who suffers from chronic back pain. He told the congregation, "I have such a temptation to take that extra pill. I know I'll get addicted. It is so easy for me to become an addict."
Here was a man, whom the Westview church family holds in high esteem, confessing how easy it is to become an addict. After he spoke, two people came up to him and said, "You know, I'm addicted to painkillers, and I'm in the process of weaning myself off." Clearly, his words had spurred them on to continue the battle.
Spurring On in the Sunday Meeting
Nita told me, "These were two people we would have never thought of in this regard. In church, you can feel like everyone else has their life together and I'm the only one who's wrestling. This happened in the sanctuary on a Sunday morning. It was a beautiful, holy moment of God."
For many Christians, what takes place "in the sanctuary on a Sunday morning" is the only church they experience. In Curing Sunday Spectatoritis, I quote Steve Cordle, who reports: "The stark reality is that more of America's church members stay away from home groups than attend them. Joseph Meyers writes that in the vast majority of churches, no more than 35 percent of the congregation participates in a home-based small group."
If it is true that 65 percent of church people do not take part in small groups, where will they receive any regular spurring on by other believers? And where will fellow Christ-followers receive spurring on from that 65 percent? Is it possible that discipleship today too often lacks horsepower because so few church meeting formats provide a place for spurs?


text:
2nd Avenue and Boardwalk
The Albion Hotel that stood in the later twentieth century replaced an earlier structure destroyed by fire in 1940. The public's fear of fire prompted advertising materials and postcards to call out the "completely fireproof" nature of the new building.
The Albion Hotel's modernistic furnishings included murals and fixtures from the 1939-1940 World's Fair. The Rainbow Room at the Albion Hotel was truly a most popular night spot of the time.
The Albion Hotel closed for business in the late 1980s. There was interest in restoring and reopening the hotel, but the hallways were too narrow to meet modern building codes. It was demolished in 2001. The Rainbow Room sign was salvaged from the demolition, and in 2011 it was restored and now hangs in the Transportation Center next to City Hall.


text:
The Lore Keepers Notes
I am 32 years old and have always been somewhat "exotic" looking according to most people... Many people have trouble telling what nationality I am and I like to keep them guessing.... After all who's heard of Lithuainia anyway right? I am actually a second generation American Lithuainian Jew.... I am a practicing pagan... I practice a form of paganism known as Asatru.. Which follows the Old Norse pantheon of Gods... The goddess I primarily serve is Freyja who is of the Vanir... There are two different pantheons of Gods but we won't go there right now.... I study Middle Eastern Dancing and I also read Tarot cards and study the Elder Futhark of Runes... I am divorced and I see my two wonderful sons every other weekend... So that says pretty much everything I think....
I essentially grew up in the suburbs... I'm the youngest of three kids and I have an older sister and an older brother... I have a niece and nephew by my brother and his wife... I spent a good portion of my childhood reading if you can believe that!!! In the summer that I was 8 years old I read 100 books!!! And they weren't the picture variety either!! Anyway, my parents were pretty great in a lot of ways and didn't stop me from choosing subjects that I found really interesting... By the time I was in 3rd grade I was reading the younger versions of greek mythology... And so my romance with folklore began...
Here's a list of some of my favorite authors... Robert Heinlein.. Issac Asimov.. Hans Christian Anderson(yes I'm serious) Un-named storytellers who have given us the wonderful gifts of folktales that we have today!!!
Here's a list of some of my favorite kinds of music: African, Arabic, Indian, Shamanic,Celtic,Medievil, barroque, industrial,Jazz,Funk,classical.... I am a lover of almost all music... Especially anything that evokes a "mood"


text:
Copyright © 1982-2019 All rights reserved
A Site by Beck & Stone
Vol. 38, No. 1 / September 2019
If you are a subscriber and you have not received an issue, or if an issue arrived damaged, please call 800-783-4903 or 973-627-5162 within 90 days of issue date for a replacement copy.


text:
The Palmetto Council NESA Committee honored a lifelong Scouter, Norman F. Schaefer, as our third recipient of the NESA National Outstanding Eagle Scout Award.
The NESA Outstanding Eagle Scout Award (NOESA) is a prestigious recognition granted by the local council's NESA committee to Eagle Scouts who have demonstrated outstanding achievement at the local, state, or regional level. Unlike the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, which is a national award, the NOESA recognizes Eagle Scouts whose efforts have made a positive impact closer to home.
Norman F. Schaefer's Scouting Biography
Norm began his Scouting career in 1945 when he joined a Cub Scout Pack in Philadelphia, PA. Later he joined Troop 130 where he held every position available to him, then tapped out for the Order of the Arrow in 1949. He earned 52 merit badges on his way to becoming an Eagle Scout, which he received on September 17, 1955. In 1957 Norm joined the US Army and was assigned to Fort McPherson, GA where he was Scoutmaster of Troop 237. He was next assigned to Sandia Missile Range in Albuquerque, New Mexico where he coordinated the Scouting Program for military base personnel. Becoming a Professional Scouter in 1970, Norm joined the staff of Valley Forge Council, PA as Assistant District Executive. His career has included Community Service Director in Danville, VA; Camping and Activities Director for Coastal Carolina Council in Charleston, SC; Program Director for Blue Ridge Mountains Council in Vinton, VA; National Sales Representative in Charlotte, NC; Curator for the Palmetto Scout Museum in Spartanburg, SC; Customer Service Manager for the Distribution Center; Store Manager for the Orlando, FL Scout Shop and Manager of the Carolina Scout Shops. Among his awards is the Saint George Emblem, the Order of the Arrow Founders' Award, the God and Service Award, and many others. Scouting and working with children has been Norm's lifelong passion. For many years Norm served as a Cubmaster, Scoutmaster and a Big Brother. He shared his love and compassion as he worked with mentally challenged youth, abused and abandoned children, under privileged children and at-risk youth. Norm has been a positive role model and has made a positive difference in many young lives. He and his wife Donna have been married since 1972 and have 2 children, and two granddaughters. The Palmetto Council takes great pride in honoring such a worthy Eagle Scout! Congratulations, Norm!


text:
Tidal Pool Reflector II
These are additional images of "Tidal Pool Reflector II". This vessel is approximately 4.5" tall x 9" wide.
This is a raised copper vessel, that was hammer chased, finished with a torch-fired patina, and gilded with 23K gold leaf.
The Tidal Pool Reflector II is SOLD, but the Available Vessels gallery is frequently updated with available work.


text:
If you're of the opinion that the movies have become dominated by reboots and adaptations of comic books, well, you won't find much refuge on television, either. On Tuesday evening, while ABC was showing the debut episode of "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.," its action series spun off from the superhero blockbuster "The Avengers," Fox was making its own commitment to "Gotham," a new show set in the stomping grounds of Batman, the caped-and-cowled DC Comics champion.
"Gotham," which is written by Bruno Heller (the creator of the CBS procedural "The Mentalist") and produced by Warner Brothers Television, will be a one-hour crime drama set before the days of the Caped Crusader and will follow "the origin stories of Commissioner James Gordon and the villains that made Gotham famous," according to a description of the series. No casting was immediately announced, though the character of James Gordon has been played over the years by Gary Oldman (in Christopher Nolan's "Dark Knight" film), Pat Hingle (in the "Batman" movies of Tim Burton and Joel Schumacher), Bob Hastings (in the '90s-era "Batman" animated series) and Neil Hamilton (on the '60s live-action "Batman" show.)
A debut date for "Gotham" has not been set, but look to the skies for further Bat-signals.


text:
Jennifer Stevenson is a multidisciplinary designer and business strategist with the ability to understand the subtle aesthetic and nuanced usability that transforms great design into actionable products and services. She utilizes UX, UI, service, system, and graphic design to build solid brand experiences culminating in websites, graphics, content, new business strategies, services, and processes. In 2007 Jennifer designed a set of reusable totes that were featured in national publications such as Real Simple, Town & Country, and Health Magazines as well as being included in two consecutive seasons of NY Fashion Week.
Jennifer loves seeing good ideas come to life in the marketplace and has a particular interest in brands that take into account a triple bottom line resulting in economic, societal, and environmental benefits.


text:
So, it's not so much historical, but it sort of IS in its own way.
Every year the White House for the Holidays, does an all out spectacular from decorations to food (for obvious reasons). HGTV did a one hour show show casing the details of the Holiday, the staff and hundreds of volunteers, as they prepare for the Holiday seasons.
One of the more culinary tidbits is the years Gingerbread Houses that they present and put on display. It's a pretty impressive piece of chocolate (as far as I can tell, it looks to be mostly white chocolate with gingerbread as the under structure) that ways nearly 400 pounds.
The picture really doesn't do the piece justice and I would suggest watching the show if you can catch it.
They also go behind the scenes, showing the kitchen, many cookies (and how they decorate in the process sort of as an after thought) and discuss some culinary tidbits here and there.
Over here is the HGTV website with some more photos if you'd like to take a peek.
Here is actually the 2008 version of the chocolate White House…it was located in the State Room, featured a drum and fife band as well as former first pets Barney, Miss Beazley and Kitty in a rooftop sleigh. Christmas 2008
Both look very nummy. I wonder what happens to them after the holidays?


text:
Admissions Process
The school assesses candidates for entry to ensure that the curriculum and pace of learning are appropriate for them and that they have the potential to be happy and to thrive in the school, contributing co-operatively towards the community. The ability to understand and communicate effectively in English is fundamental.
Assessment of Candidates
Total Assessment time, including breaks: 4 hours.
- Cognitive abilities and English language. All candidates will sit a series of computer-based cognitive ability tests that assess their verbal, non-verbal, quantitative and spatial reasoning skills. This will provide the school with a profile of the candidates' reasoning abilities and academic potential. These tests are not knowledge based and therefore it is not possible to prepare in advance. Any candidate whose first language is not English and who does not have a recognised qualification in English (e.g. IGCSE, IELTS) may be required to sit a computer-based English placement test, which will indicate the candidate's ability to study in an English language institution and whether the candidate will need English Support.
- Previous school reports, including achieved examination results and predicted grades. Candidates are also invited to provide a simple Record of Achievement or CV giving a list of achievements and interests. When possible, a confidential report from the candidate's current school will be used, otherwise parents will be asked to provide a copy of the most recent school report.
- An informal interview. Conducted in English. It is intended that this should be a friendly, two-way experience, enabling the School to get to know the candidate and allowing the candidate to ask questions about the school. This interview will normally begin with the candidate one-to-one and parents may be included later if appropriate.
The assessment is designed to need no special preparation and it is much preferred that candidates do not receive coaching or tuition in advance. It is intended to be a positive experience of benefit in itself and it should certainly not disrupt ordinary school work. It is understood that candidates will have different school backgrounds and different levels of English; the assessment attempts to measure a candidate's potential to learn and develop.
All candidates will be assessed in a similar way so that decisions about class groupings and setting can be made. Some schools, including some British curriculum schools, are able to provide fuller and more focused information on candidates. This is important and useful to us, but no candidate will be at either an advantage or disadvantage because of the school from which they apply. Similarly, the admissions process is devoid of any discrimination and the application of quotas. Parents are asked to let us know in advance of any special needs so that arrangements can be made.
Out of courtesy, parents should inform the candidate's current school before assessment for POWIIS. It is particularly important that a current school is aware of intentions before we ask for a confidential report. Ideally current schools, teachers and headteachers should be involved in the discussions so that they can offer advice about future schooling. They will know their pupils well and so their advice is to be valued.
Prior to admission, parents are required to declare they have shared with the school any background information which might reasonably be thought relevant to the offer of a place, and to the candidates' potential for success at POWIIS.


text:
Brave New World Repertory Theatre : Crossing Brooklyn Ferry / Jenny Scheinman
The dynamic Brooklyn-based company follows last summer's Bandshell production of "The Great White Hope" with an adaptation of Walt Whitman's love song to the borough "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry" that fuses poetry, projections, music, rap, and dance. Commissioned by Celebrate Brooklyn. Violinist/composer JENNY SCHEINMAN "has the street musician's trick of getting attention with the pure power of a single, perfect note." (NY Times) Her latest album, 12 Songs, includes the Whitman-inspired "Song of the Open Road." --Celebrate Brooklyn
Last night we took the girls to see this show at the Prospect Park Bandshell . Amelia's imaginative play class, Dreama, was taught by Claire Beckman, who conceived, adapted and directed Crossing Brooklyn Ferry , and her daughter (whom Amelia adores) was an actor in the show.
When we take the kids to things like this, I will confess I have moments in which I regret not getting a babysitter, moments where I think I will go mad from worry about how distracting or noisy my children are being (remember, Lucy is still randomly screaming). But then Amelia becomes entranced by an amazing violinist and asks Justin if he will help her build a violin when we get home. Then the stage lights up with screen images, dancers, poets, rappers, singers, all uniting in a love song to this place we call home. All uniting to stir peace and unity in our hearts, to show us that the best of art, like the work of Walt Whitman, is timeless. That even though it seems that all the world has changed, in another sense what it is to be human hasn't changed a bit. And I am dazzled by the magic that my daughter is watching it unfold--the world debut of this show--yards from where she sits.
We walked home along Prospect Park in the dark heat, with old-fashioned-shaped street lamps lighting our way. Before we turned toward home, we saw Grand Army Plaza lit up on every side with purple-blue lights. We could be in Paris right now, you know? I ask Justin. He thinks a minute, knowing I'm talking about more than the arch, and nods.


text:
Wondering how you can help?
Here are some great ways to help out:
Purchase items from our Amazon Wish List.
Let your Amazon shopping addiction do some good...buy items for our residents from our wish list. We have a little bit of everything on this list and it really helps us out not to have to use our funds to purchase these items. The dogs LOVE it when the UPS man shows up - they know the packages are usually for them!
Consider making a monthly donation.
One of our largest monthly expenses is medication. Almost every dog at the Sanctuary takes some kind of medication on a daily basis. This is incredibly expensive. Your recurring donation helps us cover these monthly expenses.
Start a canned food drive.
We go through about 12 cans of canned food a day. Yep, a day. We use mostly canned because our dogs are old and don't have teeth. And they are picky as hell and don't want to eat dried. We aim to please, so canned it is. We use Pedigree, but will take any kind of canned. We can arrange for you to drop the food off at the Sanctuary, or we can come pick it up. Sam's Club has awesome deals on flats of Pedigree.
See if your workplace matches donations.
This is an awesome way to get more bang for your buck. A lot of workplaces will match your donation, this is a great way to make a difference without having to pay for it out of your own pocket.
We don't use volunteers for dog care (just because our sanctuary is run out of our home, so this could get awkward). But we do use volunteers for things like events, administrative work and fundraising. If you have a special skill you think we would benefit from, contact us!
Organize a fundraiser
This could be for money, or things like beds and blankets and food. If you have an idea, contact us and we'll do anything we can to help.
Adopt an old dog...or two. Or four. Or better yet, start a senior dog sanctuary!
The absolute best thing you could do would be to adopt an old dog from a shelter. We believe the key to happiness is an old dog. Try it. You'll see we are right!


text:
What's for dinner?
My husband definitely didn't marry me for my cooking; but my desserts - maybe. My first "date" dinner for him was so awful that it's only been a few years since he stopped talking about it. It was bad enough and early enough in our relationship for him to back out but he didn't. Let's just say it was a Salmon disaster. No matter how well I prepare it now, he still doesn't want to try it. His first "date" dinner for me, I fell in love – with him and smothered chicken.
Sometimes the hardest part of my day is figuring out what's for dinner. If I ask for a suggestion, I don't get much more than, "I don't know" or "whatever you want". I don't like to cook, so all I ever want is a salad, but that's not gonna fly. So a few weeks ago my husband told me had a taste for some Red Beans and Rice, and smothered turkey legs. I raised my eyebrows, thinking, Yeah that sounds good. He cooks very VERY well, just not VERY often. So I'm thinking that this was one of those meals that he was going to fix. Turns out it was a hint. To suggest I prepare something like that is as extreme as asking Martha Stewart to serve up a Lean Cuisine to her significant other. It ain't that easy.
So two weeks after the "suggestion" I decided to cook the Red Beans and Rice, smothered turkey legs, cabbage and cornbread. Yes, I know – IMPRESSIVE! Don't be too impressed with the cornbread; it was Jiffy. But I spent hours on everything else. After 14 years married to my Louisiana man, I think I finally "hit the spot". Don't get me wrong, I can cook. I can actually throw down, when I try real hard. However, the effort is usually reserved for the holidays.
Most of my daily dinners, I get 'no comment' from my big boy (my husband) but the little one will tell the truth. "This looks gross mom, but it tastes okay". If the big boy overhears this "compliment" before he has decided to partake – he'll say he had a late lunch and he's not that hungry. The looks gross taste okay meal does not get saved for leftovers.
My husband likes these wings that I get from Sam's. He has said to me, "I can eat this every day." I'm like, Really? The effort is pre-heating the oven, tearing off a piece of aluminum foil and turning the chicken over halfway through. I think he can eat them every day because he's guaranteed a meal that he likes and he doesn't have to go through the motions eating.
Here's the thing…I have definitely improved in the kitchen over the years. But I haven't earned a classic. There are never any requests unless it's takeout or one of my desserts. So years from now my son may come home from college asking me to take him to Red Lobster and make him some brownies.
Sporadically Yours,


text:
Portable Speakers Wireless, JawBone Speaker - Cadence
Set the mood for your trip with Jawbone's small but powerful travel speaker
We get it- you invest in an incredible hotel room only to see an old docking station. Skip the FM radio static- we've found your travel-sized solution!
The MiniJambox by Jawbone is a must-have travel accessory for a lot of good reasons, but here are our top three:
1. The wireless, 1-inch, 9-ounce sleek design is barely noticeable in your suitcase or your hotel room. Except when streaming music, of course.
2. Did you get upgraded to a larger suite? You can pair two MiniJamboxes together for twice the sound.
3. Smartphone calls can be connected for incredibly clear, crisp sound- a huge step up from speakerphone. Now you can write it off as a business expense for conference calls!
The speaker is available in nine colors and five designs for a limited time price of $129.99, down from $179.99. Grab one online here before your next trip!


text:
if at first you don't succeed, take a moment, eat a snack, drink some water, maybe a cat nap. things aren't as dire as they seem, until they are as dire as they seem.
but you don't want to blow your stack over the petty or insignificant. details, it's in the details. save your emotions for the real biz.
fluctuations of the heart, affections out of sync and unparalleled, old loves, new loves, friends coming in, out, and through your life. everything is relative, and if you are spent trying to get loose sideways details straight, you will have wasted a lot of time and energy.
better to feel it. better to know the truth. better to make your worth seen and understood if the situation really calls for a reaction. none of this menial snide casual ire; be decisive and have a moral compass. it doesn't have to be aligned with everyone around you, but it has to have substance.
tonight's homework:
give it another shot. things can change with a perspective shift or the passage of time, no matter the duration.


text:
Posted by Squiddledee Ties on October 18, 2013
A lot of the ties that get play on the internet are typically more casual (knit, skinny, etc) and/or novelty—but if you're spending more time in the board room than you are away from it, these ties from Squiddledee might help your "I'm made for a promotion" look. Founded by sisters and inspired by the charismatic men in their lives, these made in America ties are made from premium silk and scientifically engineered to make you look as dashing as possible. Sure, they've got subtle and playful patterns—but that doesn't take away from its professionalism. In fact, it might even just add to it… Buy here.


text:
The West Palm Beach Tarot Circle Meetup
Our first meeting will focus on Tarot basics, so beginners should make a point to attend. Our topic will be Major Arcana Key Words and Archetypes. We will learn and discuss ways to understand, interpret and learn the lessons of the 22 Major Arcana cards.
Bring a Tarot deck and a notebook, or purchase a new deck at the meeting.
Please be aware that the meeting fee is a suggested donation, and not required to attend!
Light refreshments will be provided.


text:
You've seen the earlier samples of Brack babies and their stories, gathered in a sense of history, since the hospital, founded 1884, will close on May 21. We couldn't help sharing more. (By the way, the Seton folks wanted to make sure you knew there won't be a maternity ward at Dell Seton. You'll go to Seton Medical Center for high risk babies.)
Terri Mantia sent this adorable shot:
"Here's my premie baby born at Brack on Nov. 30, 1999. She was 2.5 months early and weighed 2.5 lbs. Sally's now 17, a Junior at LASA high school, plays electric bass in a band, aspiring special effects make up artist (Instagram stopthemusic), and bio-science is her thing at school. Obviously, a super proud mom," Carole LeClair.
Janice Cartwright sent in this story along with a full set of photos.
"Ewing E. and Dorothy Biggers Cartwright's six children were born at Austin's Brackenridge Hospital. The same doctor and charge nurse, Dr. James M. Graham and L. Holman, delivered all six children born between 1951 and 1965. Dr. Graham continued as the children's primary care physician until his retirement in October 1997.
"In addition, two of the Cartwright children's great aunts lived across the street from the hospital (to the east) and worked at Brackenridge. When going to visit their aunts, the family would drive past the hospital to try to catch a glimpse of the babies in the nursery that faced 15th Street!
Brack's Cartwright babies, who grew up in Elgin, TX where their Mother still resides, are:
- Deborah Cartwright, a property tax attorney living in Austin, TX (1951
- Janice Cartwright, a CPA and association executive living in Austin, TX (1952)
- Glenda Cartwright Cason, a registered nurse living in Lake Jackson, TX (1954)
- Stevan Cartwright, a restaurateur and entrepreneur living in Bastrop, TX (1955)
- Tami Cartwright Leeper, mother and child disability advocate living in Austin, TX (1959)
- Melodie Cartwright, a paralegal and office administrator living in Elgin, TX (1965)
Sharon Butler shared a generous story with this photo:
Travis County Commissioner Brigid Shea shared this story. No photo.
Eamon is a Brack baby:
I was an older mom when I headed into the alternative birthing center at Brackenridge hospital, December 17, 1995.. I'd gone through all of the birthing classes and thought I was prepared. But nothing can prepare you for your first birth. So I was grateful to be surrounded by extremely experienced labor and delivery nurses at Brack. I was in labor for a total of 26 hours, the last three pushing. I was exhausted and weak and just about to give up. If this baby didn't start to come out I was headed for a C-section. After trying everything the collective group could think of, one of the nurses suggested we try the "knotted sheet" technique. This required my husband to stand at the end of the bed with one end of the sheet and me and my midwife at the opposite end sitting up and pulling simultaneously on the knotted sheet. This technique did the trick and finally our beautiful baby boy Eamon emerged at 5 pm, quitting time, on December 18. Mom dad and everyone involved was delighted at the skill and resourcefulness and great expertise of the labor and delivery nurses at the Breckenridge alternative birthing center. It was a great loss for our community when the center closed. I know there are many other parents with grateful stories like mine. I don't remember the names of the three complete shifts of the nurses who helped me but I am thankful for all of their wisdom and experience!


text:
B-Unstoppable all terrain Tank-Quadcopter Drone
On the ground fast driving tank with amazing terrain capabilities, in the air agile quadcopter.
B-Unstoppable all terrain Tank-Quadcopter Drone
On the ground fast driving tank with amazing terrain capabilities, in the air agile quadcopter.
B-Unstoppable is the first in the World commercially available hybrid Tank-Quadcopter, from the creator of Expendables 3 drone.
Due to patented solution (patent link: goo.gl/c7jq5u) B-Unstoppable achieves outstanding performance in driving across difficult terrain.
It can turn on the spot, which is extremely useful in limited space, which provides 360 view for on-board camera. When obstacles become too big, it can simply take-off and fly over them. The model weighs only 84 g, therefore it can be operated nearly everywhere, without the worry of falling down and causing damages to others or model itself.
Despite the small size and low cost, B-unstoppable has good endurance: 9 min of flying, 12-18 min driving and combined endurance of 12-15 min. It has powerful coreless DC motors, 900 mAh Li-po battery. It comes with 2.4 GHz radio transmitter. Front and back lights, that allows for night flying as well as indicating low battery level. It is a cool toy for everyone, that can be used indoor as well as outdoor. It is extremely easy to control; flicking a mode button will convert tank to quadcopter. Steering is also very simple, in the air B-unstoppable is controlled as any other quadcopter. On the ground each track is controlled by separate channel so you get the full experience of driving a tank.
B-Unstoppable is capable of driving over high obstacles.
Once the model drives over the obstacle, the bottom part of caterpillar track adjusts according to terrain. Tread tension is maintained by arms at either end, which flex in and out by up to 4 mm as the vehicle goes over obstacles.
The arm and canopy design is focused on providing as small as possible shape drag: main body (canopy) does not shadow the propeller, therefore does not take away the static thrust. Also, the arms of B-unstoppable are streamlined which further reduces the shape drag.
B-Unstoppable has a payload of 4-6 g, enough to carry a DVR or FPV camera.
The video below shows full flight endurance and the wind resistance.
Flying endurance: 9 min
Driving Endurance : 12-18 min
Combined : 12-15 min of fun
The video below is the recorded footage via DVR camera module. please set to highest in order to see full resolution.
Above Camera resolution HD 1280 x 720, supports up 32 GB microSD card ( class 10 or higher gives better results)
Below video shows live footage from on FPV camera. .
FPV version includes: 25 mW 5.8 GHz transmitter, CCD 720 camera, 5.8 GHz receiver, USB AV in adapter.
Risks and challenges
The risk in the supply chain has been reduced by a smart approach to the design. The moulded parts will be made as single direction draft components; the complexity of the cavity, production time and cost are reducedtoo. Above all, set up time for injection moulding is significantly shorter. Most of the electronic components are available from more than one supplier. Further reduction in risk can be made by ordering the same component from two suppliers.Learn about accountability on Kickstarter
Funding period
- (59 days)


text:
You can generally rely on VIA for a skinny mainboard with HD credentials, and their new VIA EITX-3001 doesn't disappoint. Based around the Em-ITX standard, a compact 12 x 17 cm form-factor, the fanless EITX-3001 packs an integrated 1.3GHz VIA Nano E-Series processor, VIA VX855 media system processor and HDMI connector, and is suitable for outputting 1080p High Definition video with hardware decoding of MPEG-2, H.264, VC-1 and WMV9 content.
There's also a VGA port, gigabit ethernet, dual COM ports, four USB ports, a USB device port and audio jacks, and then there are plenty of headers for hooking up other devices and display options. VIA also offer a range of wireless modules and I/O cables, and the EITX-3001 also has a USB touchscreen driver onboard.
VIA reckon the EITX-3001 will be of most interest to kiosks, embedded and other relatively dull applications, but we can see home users drawn to its low-power requirements, fanless build and HD output; it would make for an interesting HTPC unit, certainly. No word on pricing, though it's apparently available to customers now.
Press Release:
VIA EITX-3001 Shows that 'Thin is In' for Embedded Devices
VIA announce VIA EITX-3001, a slim-line Em-ITX form factor board featuring VIA Nano E-Series and HD video over HDMI
Taipei, Taiwan, 9 June 2010 – VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator of power efficient x86 processor platforms, today announced the VIA EITX-3001, its latest Em-ITX form factor board and the ideal solution for a range of durable and fanless next generation devices in kiosk, HMI, POI and POS embedded applications.
Combining the latest VIA Nano E-Series processor and the VIA VX855 media system processor, the VIA EITX-3001 offers a full featured I/O specification on a specially developed slim-line board. Fanless devices based on the VIA EITX-3001 can enjoy absolute stability within a wide temperature range in a low profile system of less than 35mm high.
"With the VIA EITX-3001 we're offering a full-featured board that is the ideal starting point for much slimmer, fanless and rugged devices," said Daniel Wu, Vice President, VIA Embedded Platform Division, VIA Technologies, Inc. "The VIA EITX-3001 combines versatility with ruthless stability at extreme temperatures in a form factor that is ideal for space constrained industrial and commercial environments."
The VIA EITX-3001: Slim, Stable and Fanless
The VIA EITX-3001 is powered by a 1.3GHz VIA Nano E-Series processor, bringing a performance optimized, 64-bit architecture to today's modern embedded applications. The VIA EITX-3001 also takes advantage of the VIA VX855 media system processor, a feature packed all-in-one digital media chipset that brings excellent hardware acceleration for the latest HD video formats including MPEG-2, H.264, VC-1 and WMV9.
The VIA EITX-3001 is based on the unique Em-ITX form factor, placing both the VIA Nano E-Series processor and VIA VX855 MSP on the reverse side of the board, optimizing available board real estate and facilitating simple fanless chassis designs. The VIA EITX-3001 is guaranteed to be stable in passive cooling configurations at temperatures ranging from -10oC to 60oC.
The VIA EITX-3001 includes an onboard DC-to-DC converter that has both AT and ATX power modes, supporting a wide range of power input voltage from DC 7V to DC 36V, configurable through an onboard switch. An on board built-in 5-wire/4-wire USB Touch interface makes the EITX-3001 ideally suited for high-end interactive touch screen multimedia applications.
Dual I/O coastlines allow for a wealth of I/O ports including a HMDI port, VGA port, Gigabit Ethernet, dual COM ports, four USB ports, a USB device port, audio jacks and power and HDD activity LEDs. LVDS is supported through on board pin headers allowing for a range of multi-display options including CRT/LVDS, CRT/HDMI and LVDS/HDMI configurations.
The VIA EITX-3001 supports all 32-bit and 64-bit Microsoft Windows operating systems including the latest Windows Embedded Standard 7.
The VIA EMITX-30001 is available to customers now. To learn more about the VIA EITX-3001 please visit:


text:
If you had to classify Portland duo Dresses, they'd probably end up on the spectrum of folk-pop. That term, however, doesn't fully encompass the pair's collection of songs on their 2013 record Sun Shy. Jared Ryan Maldonado and Timothy Heller pull musical elements from folk, beach-pop, and rock and package them together into catchy, enthusiastic tunes. Dresses' sound is simultaneously versatile and wonderfully consistent.
Blog Posts from indieATL about Atlanta, music, videos, shows, special events, and the music industry at large.


text:
- Font:
- +
- -
SEATTLE — Authorities have made an arrest in a weekend convenience store robbery that a Seattle store owner found remarkable for the robber's politeness.
Sgt. John Urquhart of the King County Sheriff's Office says officers quickly identified a suspect from tips received after surveillance video of Saturday's robbery "went viral."
The man is seen in the video telling White Center Shell station owner John Henry: "I'm robbing you, sir."
He takes $300, apologizing and saying he has bills to pay and children to feed. If he ever gets back on his feet, he tells Henry, he'll pay the money back.
Urquhart did not identify the 65-year-old man arrested Monday at a residence near the robbery site. The suspect has convictions for armed robbery and forgery.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


text:
Famed for being one of the few remaining whisky distilleries still run by the founding family and born from one man's ambition, to create the 'best dram in the valley', the world's most awarded single malt whisky celebrates their 125th year anniversary.
To mark this extraordinary achievement, Glenfiddich are hosting a number of Groove Lounge events across South Africa, from May through to December 2013, with the first event taking place on Friday 3 May at Cubana in Green Point, Cape Town.
The Groove Lounge series is an exclusive - by invite only - initiative, representing the unique brand heritage, rooted in craftsmanship. Guests will be entertained by the best in class musicians and DJs, whilst learning more about the core Glenfiddich range through unique sensory experiences, hosted by the Glenfiddich brand ambassadors.
The events are to take place on Friday's from 6pm – 9pm, in Gauteng, Western Cape and KwaZulu Natal, with the aim of kick starting the weekend in true Glenfiddich style and sophistication.
To win one of three sets of two tickets to the Cape Town event answer this simple question:
What anniversary is Glenfiddich celebrating?
Send your answers to email@example.com along with your name and contact information. Put "Glenfiddich 125th Anniversary Competition" in the subject line.
Entrants must be over 18 years of age and no correspondence will be entered into. By entering into the competition you agree to the terms and conditions that are stipulated on our website.
Competition closes Thursday 2 May 2013.


text:
Establishing goals is important in every aspect of your
life, including setting goals for your business, but one of
the worst things a new business owner can do is set the
goals so high that they are not attainable. Setting goals
will take more than pulling a figure out of the air,
especially when it comes to income from your business. To
be accurate any target number you are aiming for must be
within reach of the arrow or else it could fall harmlessly
to the ground considerably short of the target.
Every business owner has heard the advice to aim high to
achieve high results. However, aiming too high could have
the arrow fall straight back down hitting you in the head.
In order to establish realistic goals, you will also need
to set intermediate goals as well as way to achieve them.
Once you have gone through the goal-setting process you
will know if you have any chance at all of hitting the
income target. Setting income goals for your home business
has no relationship to daydreaming about what you would do
if you hit the lottery. This process has to be grounded in
You can begin the process by pulling a number out of a hat,
but then you have to go back and calculate what it will
take to meet that number. Kind of like eating an elephant,
it takes one bite at a time to establish a realistic goal
for generating cash. For example, if your plan is to make
$10,000 a month, break it into weeks, showing you need
$2,500 a week to hit the goal, or $333 a day. Look at your
sales or production goal to determine if the current level
of production can earn an income of $333 a day and if so,
maybe the number was not as arbitrary as initially thought.
On the other hand, if production indicates you can only
produce enough to make $250 a day, then the weekly and
monthly and subsequently annual income project will have to
be lowered to meet expectations. You can then look at your
production schedule to determine if any streamlining can be
done to improve output as well as looking at many issues
that could slow you down and lower your income projections.
Whenever you pencil in a number you have to also write down
how you are going to meet that daily and weekly goal,
taking into account anything that might hinder you
achieving that goal.
The most devastating affect of setting lofty goals that
cannot be met is the disappointment that follows. On an
individual basis, if goals are set too high, and targets
are consistently missed, you might simply stop trying. What
this means to the business owner is they can end up closing
up shop and trying something else. For any employees, it
can mean the loss of their job. Setting the goals at a
realistic level and hitting them is cause for celebration,
but only for a few minutes as you now start looking at the
next level in the goal to meet your long-range projections.
About the Author:
William Drapcho is owner of http://williamdrapcho.com and
writes on a variety of subjects. Visit his site and sign
up for his free home computer business ideas newsletter.
articles >


text:
New Youtube + First Vlog
I can't believe it- I started my own YouTube channel! Cory and I have been wanting to start one for our work for quite some time. We finally just said hey, let's try something new and branch out from just photography and Instagram. Cory was the first one who inspired me as he bought a new camera, which is the Sony RX100. So I went out the next day and bought the same one. It's an awesome little handheld camera for vlogging!
My YouTube channe will be going over photography related topics, behind the scenes of my shoots, daily exploring vlogs, and daily outfits/style finds. Be sure to check it out and subscribe!
My first vlog is about a little adventure to the Big Four Ice Caves in Granite Falls, WA. My friend Jay was visiting Seattle and we wanted to show him a local spot that people love to take photos and walk around. He's definitely a character and needs his own YouTube account- ha. The crew was Cory, Jay, my brother Trevor, and I that went and took some photos. This place is unreal! I remember once going as a little girl and never thought twice about it after. Then last year, Trevor said something about how we need to go check it out again. So we adventured out there August of 2013, and was eager to go back after! The video doesn't even show you how beautiful this place is in real life. Looks like you'll have to go out there and see for yourself :).
Here are a few frames I shot of Jay out there.


text:
The Minneapolis Yoga Conference is an exploration of what yoga is. It is designed to serve the community not as a proclamation of answers, but instead as an unending set of questions. Our primary aim is to explore the practice of yoga in an open, welcoming space for everyone in the yoga community. We embrace and celebrate the different and unique perspectives across the wider yoga community, so that together we can feel can feel a unity that is all too often missing. We are a conference that accepts, embraces and celebrates everyone for exactly where they are in their yogic journey, no matter where they are.
For the 2018 conference we have once again curated a group of world-class presenters, providing countless offerings and hundreds of available workshop hours. Whether you've been practicing for twenty days or twenty years, the 2018 Minneapolis Yoga Conference will have something for you.


text:
VIDEO - Baghdad, Iraq - Al-Qa'eda used Islam as a way of drawing a wide base in Arab and Muslim countries, while in Iraq other militias manipulated local Imams and Muslim clerics. Both saw controlling mosques as a tactic for providing secure gathering points as well as a steady supply of new recruits.
Many Imams chose not to go quietly along with Al-Qa'eda's and the other militia's plans, and they often suffered for it. Some were assassinated by Al-Qa'eda, who considered them non-believers or sometimes for being simply uncooperative. Others were killed in US raids on mosques suspected of harboring Al-Qaeda.
There was also another kind of conflict occurring, this one between Sunni and Shiite. Many Sunni mosques were located in heavily Shiite territories and vice versa. Many of these Imams were displaced, or worse, tortured and killed. Most were at the hands of religious extremists for the purpose of sectarian control. Some, however, were targeted out of sheer ignorance.
For instance, the Shiite have a type of mosque known as a "Husseiniya." A Husseiniya differs from a mosque in that it is made mainly for gatherings for Muharram, the mourning of Hussein ibn Ali, and not necessarily for holding prayers in jumaa'at or regular Friday prayers. This slight difference in attendance was used by many militias as justification for killing those seen as "disobeying" those Friday prayers.
Car bombs, on the other hand, did not discriminate between Sunni or Shiite. Many mosques were closed or destroyed and the imams forced to relocate after spectacular, and deadly, car bomb attacks. For example, a car bomb in Khanaqin, a Sunni district, killed 70 people and injured more than 100, while in the Shiite region of Najaf, a similar attack left 95 dead and many hundreds wounded.
The mosques are thus left between a rock and a hard place. On one hand, it's often too frightening for Iraqis to go to mosque under threat of car bombs and militia attacks, while on the other hand, Iraqis are used to meeting and gathering at mosques, an integral part of their culture. Because of the constant threat of Al-Qa'eda and militia attacks, Iraqis have sadly become accustomed to the sight of mosques brimming with armored vehicles and heavily armed gunmen there to protect the worshipers.
This week Alive in Baghdad brings you inside one of these mosques to hear what Iraqis have to say regarding the sectarian conflict, Al-Qa'eda attacks, and the struggles they go through daily just to worship.


text:
Random Pool Management
The Council on Alcohol and Drugs offers employers a simple and cost-effective way to manage the company's random drug testing selection process. The Council acts as a Third Party Administrator (TPA) for the member company in regards to the random testing selection process. Each selection is made based on the average number of positions in the pool using a scientifically valid computerized random selection process in which each covered individual has an equal probability of selection.
Each company customizes the random program to meet their business needs:
• Frequency: Monthly or Quarterly
• Rate: Percentage or Fixed Amount
• Selection: Drug Screening
Why is random testing so important?
Random testing serves as a true deterrent in any drug free workplace program. Knowing a test is possible will discourage light users from indulging and forces heavy users to change jobs or change their habits! Random drug testing can easily be budgeted and offers a tremendous return on investment.
Starting your Random Pool Management is easy:
Step 1: Click Drug Free Workplace Registration Join Now to create a user name and password (be sure to write this down)
Step 2: Click Members Only Login to access portal with your new user name and password
Step 3: Select Purchase and make your selection for Random Pool Management ($99.00/year) and submit payment information. Price reflects quarterly selections.
Step 4: You will receive a confirmation call from a Testing Specialist who will confirm your employee roster, participation agreement and answer any questions that arise.
Step 5: Watch your email for roster verifications and selection reports.
If you need additional assistance, please contact email@example.com or (404) 223-2481.
- Members ONLY Login
- Random Pool Management
- Purchase Instant Drug Testing Kits
- Drug Free Workplace Registration JOIN NOW
- Georgia State Board of Workers' Compensation
- DOT Training & Compliance
- DOT Consortium Services
- DOT Registration JOIN NOW
- Return Policy Drug Free Workplace
- Drug Free Workplace FAQ
- Drug Free Workplace Links


text:
A USA Today/Gallup poll of 12 swing states doesn't tell us much we didn't already know about the presidential race. It's very tight, with President Obama holding a slim 47-45 percentage point lead over Mitt Romney in the 12 states (Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin) that are likely to decide the election. However, the significant figure Democrats will be crowing about is not that two-point edge that is well within the poll's four-point margin of error. Rather, it is the fact that eight percent of those polled say the political ads they have seen in recent months have influenced their opinions. As the pollsters rightly assume, it isn't likely that a brief television commercial will change anyone's opinion of the president — about whom most voters have entrenched views be they positive or negative — but that means the deluge of negative Democratic ads about Mitt Romney have changed some minds about the Republican nominee.
That's good news for Democrats who understand that sliming the challenger is the only way for a president who can't run on his record to gain re-election. The bad news is that if the smears directed at Romney's business record have only managed to keep Obama relatively even with his opponent, it's a sign he's in trouble. Contrary to the Pollyannas of political punditry who say such attacks hurt the candidate who throws the mud, going negative is actually quite effective. But while the Democrats can help themselves by seeking to solidify the image of Romney as an out-of-touch rich guy in the minds of the public, the president's efforts to shift the blame for the poor economy on his predecessors are not working as well. That means the president's campaign has locked itself into a box in which the only way to go is to continue escalating their attacks on Romney. That's worrisome for Romney but also doesn't give Democrats much room for winning over independents who are more concerned about the parlous state of the economy than about Romney's wealth.
In a close election, what both sides need more than anything else is to turn out their bases. Negative ads about Romney and Obama will help in that regard. The analogy that comes up most often is the way Republican abuse of John Kerry energized conservatives and hurt the Democrat's efforts to win over independents. The assault on Kerry worked because he was an elitist who had little sympathy for the views of most Americans. Yet each election and each candidate is different. Romney does have a problem connecting with ordinary voters, and the attacks on his record at Bain Capital have done some damage. Romney is a rich guy, but for all of his wealth, he epitomizes the sort of mom and apple pie traditionalism that is hard to hate. Efforts to portray him as weird or sinister are not likely to succeed in the long run because they don't fit in with his basic character.
Democrats may say they are just getting warmed up in their campaign to slime Romney, but if they get too focused on his personality or background they will be fighting a losing game. Despite his awkward public persona, his flaws don't really lend themselves to the hate being whipped up against him. At a time when the economy is failing, his image as a wealthy business wiz can help rather than hurt him.
With less than four months to go before Americans go to the polls, the Obama campaign has already emptied its bag of tricks and finds itself effectively tied with the GOP. With a well-funded Romney effort able to answer the Democratic attacks and redouble their own assaults on Obama's record, the question for the president is whether he will have any cards left to play once the effort to demonize Romney falls short of the mark.


text:
1st overall - James Boyce Sam Tozer Papercourt SC
2nd overall - Dave Derby Nicky Derby Bough Beech SC
3rd overall - Steve Restall Judy Restall Downs SC
4th overall - Tom Morris Emma Porteous Hayling Island SC
1st lady helm - Juliet Charles (Lina Haines) Burghfield SC
1st over 50 helm - Dave Derby (Nicky Derby) Bough Beech SC
1st under 20 crew - Georgia House (Steve Janering - helm) Wembley SC
2nd under 20 crew - Eliot Lewis (Tim Lewis - helm) Littleton SC
For the full race results click here
For photographs of the racing click here
|Race 1
|Race 2
|Race 3
|Race 4
For the full race results from Sailwave click here
About the SEAS 2010 Events
The SEAS in 2010 consists of eight meetings at a variety of venues through South Eastern England taking in reservioir, gravel pit, estuary and open sea sailing. All are welcome, meetings usual attract 20-30 boats with crews of a wide range of ability and racing experience and a SEAS meeting is an ideal way to sample racing your RS200 in a reasonably sized fleet.
You do not need to be a member of the RS Association to enter individual SEAS meetings and last year over 100 crews took part, making SEAS the largest regional series for two person dinghys. The format is usually two races before and two races after lunch.
You can join SEAS racing on the following dates:
The series prize giving will take place after the final race at Wembley where a host of goodies will be given out to the sucessful crews. For futher details please refer to the events section of the RS200 website.


text:
North American Vexillological Association
Founded in 1967, the North American Vexillological Association–Association nord-américaine de vexillologie is a United States and Canadian bi-national, non-profit, scholarly organization dedicated to the study of flags and their cultural, historical, political, and social significance. It is one of the largest associations of its kind in the world. The Association oversees a vigorous publications program, organizes an annual meeting in which vexillologists showcase their research, supports flag conservation and flag research projects, and offers awards to recognize and promote excellence in vexillological scholarship. The Association does not participate in the patriotic promotion of any particular flag.
With members from across Canada, the United States, and around the world, the Association serves historians, educators, museum directors, government officials, flag retailers and manufacturers, writers, and designers. Membership is open to anyone, regardless of their country of residence, with an interest in flags.


text:
Theorem Solutions, world leading supplier of PLM interoperability solutions is pleased to announce the availability of the latest JT for 3DVIA Composer CADverter for V6R2012. Theorem's CADverter provides interactive, batch and command line interfaces for 3DVIA users to directly access JT data independently of any JT products.
Interactive 3DVIA Composer users can now simply open JT data, including geometry, assemblies, product structure, meta data and PMI. All that is required is a selection from a pull down menu for quick and easy use of JT files for the creation of assembly and disassembly procedures, technical illustrations, interactive 3D product experiences, training materials, marketing materials, sales tools and more.
Working within the Dassault Systèmes' 3DVIA Composer architecture Theorem's CADverter provides two additional ways for the 3DVIA user to incorporate JT data. The need to work with multiple JT files in a batch is met by using the 3DVIA Sync interface and a command line interface enables integration with PLM applications through 3DVIA Enterprise Sync.
The integration of CADverter and 3DVIA Composer is more than a technical innovation. This new CADverter enables 3DVIA Composer users in enterprises of all sizes to work with JT files to meet and overcome longstanding business challenges of reducing costs, improving quality and reducing timescales.
Theorem's Product Development Manager Steve Bee comments "There is a fast growing trend for the re-use of 3D design data across business enterprises. Wider use of 3D data brings tangible business benefits and we are delighted that Theorem technology is being applied from within 3DVIA to make this happen"
Dec 5, 2011
Popular Articles
- FARO and Autodesk Collaborate to Add Support for Point Cloud Data to AutoCAD 2011
- AVEVA and RIEGL Sign Interoperability Agreement
- AVEVA releases AVEVA Design Reuse
- Apache Design's Totem Software Adopted by Fujitsu Semiconductor for Power Noise and Reliability Analysis
- ETA releases PreSys R3 Service Pack
- Podcast Interview With 'Tintin' Visual Effects Luminary Now Online on Autodesk AREA
- ESI Group acquires Efield, European specialist in electromagnetic virtual simulation solutions
- FISHER/UNITECH Acquires SolidVision
- TurboViewer Pro Turns v2.0
- GE's Light Technology & Design Center at Bangalore designs products on fixtures with ThinkDesign


text:
Flushing Hospital's Ambulatory Surgery Unit performs over 6,500 procedures annually and is equipped with state of the art surgical instrumentation. This unit is designed for patients admitted the day of surgery who are expected to be discharged home later that day.
Patients are welcomed by our dedicated and professional staff and safely guided through their operative experience with care and compassion. Our experienced team is focused on providing patients and their loved ones with the best care possible. That care extends to the next day when one of our experienced nurses will call you at home to ensure you are recuperating well and answer any questions you may have.


text:
I just wanted to share some food ideas for little people's birthday parties, having just hosted one that went well, thanks to parents helping out, as well as my husband and eldest daughter, amidst the chaos. And I wanted to show you don't have to resort to beige party food, and tons of sugar for kids to enjoy it.
DIY pizza
We made wholemeal spelt flour pizza bases. My bread maker had broken and I was in a bit of a panic about it as I usually make the pizza dough in it. Then I found this great recipe on Doves Farm website. I use spelt flour as, based on experience – mine and lots of parents, I know, while it's not gluten-free, people who have gluten intolerance seem to be able to tolerate spelt. Because its gluten content is low compared to modern wheat flour.
My new favourite thing in the kitchen is this pin and board, which was made by my brother-in-Law, Garry, I am going to be selling some of his products in the not-too-distant future. He was inspired by a vintage Welsh pin and board. If you want to roll the perfect pizza base or pie crust this is for you, though as you can see from the photo, I need a bit of practice. Anyway it is a really rather lovely thing to use. My eldest took over the pizza making – always a good idea to delegate.
Passata is easy to make. We had about 12 children and I made the passata by heating 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, adding finely chopped garlic and dried mixed herbs, letting it cook for a couple of minutes then adding 2 tins of chopped tomatoes. After stirring I let it simmer for about 10-15 minutes before taking off the heat and blending til smooth – I then put it in two bowls and let it cool.
Toppings – do as many as you can think of. We did chickpeas, organic ham, peas, sweetcorn, orange and yellow pepper, mushrooms, grated cheese and I forgot the basil. You can drizzle with virgin olive oil which adds a lovely flavour.
Hubster kept a tab on who's pizza was who's with a plan of the oven shelves on our kitchen blackboard.
Sides and drinks
We did sides of vegetable crudités, sliced cherry tomatoes, low salt crisps and popcorn, water and watered down juice (1:1).
I found this amazing chocolate cake recipe which is gluten free, and dairy free and has no processed sugar (just 125g maple syrup which is effectively 62g of sugar – so is very low), it is delicious and because it's so moist you don't need icing. If ever my kids have a cupcake the icing gets eaten first, and if it's butter icing (which I know is really yummy) then it's packed full of sugar. Per 100g, this cake contains about a third (11g) of the amount of sugar found in shop-bought iced chocolate cakes (29-34g). Portion sizes for the kids were about 20-30g.
There were no complaints (even from older children) about the lack of icing and the cake went down really well with vanilla ice-cream and mango. I also made gluten-free mini Victoria sponges with reduced sugar jam from this Dove's Farm Recipe.
For the chocolate cake, I used a bundt tin and lined it – painstakingly with greased parchment paper, in strips all the way round, otherwise the cake sticks to the tin. I also replaced vanilla extract with orange oil. I made two cakes and cut sections out to make it into a 3.
Party bags
I had these paper bags, which some of the kids decorated at the party, and some took home to decorate, and put a dried fruit snack in (instead of sweets or chocolate), a small pack of coloured modelling clay and a wildlife colouring book, bubbles were meant to go in but were forgotten in the chaos.
I've just realised a couple of days later that while the kids had a great time, it was relatively calm amidst the chaos and we didn't have any tantrums or meltdowns…I wonder why…
What I did wasn't perfect, am sure you have lots of other ideas you have for your children's party – would be great if you could share them using the comments section below….


text:
The FAO Aquaculture Newsletter
1997, No. 16
Inland Water Resources
and Aquaculture Service, Fisheries Department, Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, Rome, 00100 Italy
The FAO Aquaculture Newsletter (FAN) is issued
three times a year by the Inland Water Resources and Aquaculture Service, Fishery
Resources Division, of FAO's Fisheries Department, Rome, Italy. It presents articles and
views from the FAO aquaculture programme and discusses various aspects of aquaculture as
seen from the perspective of both Headquarters and the field programme. Articles are
contributed by FAO staff from within and outside the Fisheries Department, from FAO
regional offices and field projects, by FAO consultants and, occasionally, by invitation
from other sources. The FAN is distributed free of charge to various institutions,
scientists, planners and managers in Member Countries and has a current circulation of
about 3,000 copies. It is also available on the FAO internet Home Page:
Editor: Ziad H. Shehadeh
Editorial Board: Mario Pedini, Albert Tacon, Robin Welcomme
Layout and Production: Sylviane Borghesi
Fishery Enhancement and the
Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries
An article in this issue presents the conclusions of the FAO/DFID Consultation on Inland Fishery Enhancements. The topic of enhancements has been treated on previous occasions in FAN (issue 12, April 1996; issue 14, December 1996) and the outcome of the forthcoming International Symposium on Stock Enhancement and Sea Ranching (Bergen, Norway, 8 - 11 September 1997) will, in due course, be reported in these pages. This concentration on techniques on the borderline of aquaculture which are aimed at improving yields per unit area and for increasing control over the production process in lakes, reservoirs, rivers and even marine coastal areas, is symptomatic of the changing view of management in many parts of the world. Clearly, the increasing demand for fish for food and for social and recreational amenity that is being placed on the fishery and on waters, which are themselves subject to a number of other uses, is leading to an intensification of management through stocking, fertilization and other practices. Such approaches have been used for many years to bias natural productivity and species composition towards goals set by society, but only rarely has there been any scientific study of the processes involved. Such is the present scale of fish production from aquaculture installations and abstraction of young from natural stocks for the purpose of stocking into other bodies of water, that it is now necessary to evaluate most carefully the economics and ecology of the various practices. One motive for this is clearly financial in that the cost of seed is a major input in the cost-benefit relationship and, as governments are now less enthusiastic about subsidising production of this type, the private sector is increasingly called upon to pay the full cost of management. A further reason is that many countries have adhered to the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries or are subject to conservationist pressures for the management of their natural resources. The provisions of the Code frequently require careful interpretation in the case of intensified fisheries. It is central to the philosophy of enhancements that the various methods are deliberately aimed at changing the productivity of the water, the nature of the fish stock, and even the form and function of the environment. As such they conflict with the conservation oriented requirements of the Code in that they involve a shift of the management of natural resources from some criterion of sustainable yield towards input-output based systems. These, in common with aquaculture, are aimed at increasing the overall supply of fish available for human consumption. As most enhanced fisheries require high levels of inputs of fish seed, feed, fertilizers etc., they can only be regarded as sustainable in the sense that any agricultural or aquacultural activity is sustainable. That is, that the practice may continue from year-to-year at the same levels of input and offtake without noticeable degradation to the natural support system. This means that the financial and social need for the enhancement should be clearly established and that any impacts on the natural system should be monitored as closely as possible. It also implies that different levels of control should be applied depending on the intensity of the activity. For instance systems which are simply stocked in support of capture fisheries should have little effect on surrounding waters and would require little special provision. Those requiring large inputs of fry and fertilizers, on the other extreme, should be carried out in waterbodies isolated as far as possible from other parts of the system so that nutrient rich effluents or escapes of stocked fish are kept to a minimum. Thus to better comply with the spirit of the Code of Conduct, and the need to establish viable and sustainable rural enterprises, enhancement of fisheries in inland and coastal water should not be allowed to proliferate anarchically but should be subject to assessments of social, economic and environmental impacts.
Robin L. Welcomme, Chief
Inland Water Resources Service
Fishery Resources Division


text:
Do you ship everywhere?
Unfortunately, we're unable to ship to all locations. However if you're country isn't listed in the shipping tab, and you have any questions about shipping to a particular location please send an email to firstname.lastname@example.com
How long will it take before my order is delivered?
All Sergio Wonder Classic items that have already gone into production will take up 3-5 business days to shipped and delivered. In the event that you've ordered anything from the private collection, these are considered bespoke items and will take 10-15 days to be tailored and delivered.
Can I cancel my order once it has been placed?
Once the order has been placed it is final and will need to be processed as a return.
What is your return policy?
We want you to be completely satisfied with your purchase. If you wish to return your purchase, you may do so within 14 days of the ship date on your shipping label for exchange or store credit. PLEASE NOTE: All vintage items are FINAL SALE and cannot be returned or exchanged for store credit.
How do I make a return?
If you are not satisfied with your purchase, please send an email to email@example.com for a return authorization. Please explain your concerns and whether you would like to make an exchange or receive store credit, you should send the item(s) purchased to the address below and once we receive it we will promptly exchange or issue a credit as you instruct within 10-12 business days. If you prefer a store credit, please specify in the email. For international orders, please allow 2-3 weeks for returns. No returns will be accepted without a return authorization email.
Our Return Address is:
Attn: RETURNS
Sergio Wonder
90 Convent Ave, Suite # 5
New York, New York 10023
How can I contact someone if I have a question?
Please send all questions and inquiries to firstname.lastname@example.com call 345-815-0772 between the hours of 12PM and 7PM EST
If something is sold out, will it be replenished?
We rarely reproduce items, on www.sergiowonder.com we don't generally offer large quantities. If you have a special request please email us at email@example.com
Can I have a different billing/shipping address?
It is possible to have different billing and shipping addresses, we just ask that when placing an order, please make sure the shipping address has been confirmed with PayPal to ensure safety and reliability.
Can I have something sent as a gift?
You can send items as gifts, you will just need to add the receivers confirmed address through PayPal.
How can I track my package?
Once the order is shipped, PayPal will send you a tracking number via email. You can use the tracking number at http://www.usps.com/ to track your package.
I wanted to exchange my items but what I wanted isn't available, what do I do?
We apologize for this inconvenience, in this situation we ask that you either select a different item or you can receive store credit for future purchases.
Can I return items to the actual store that were purchased online?
Items can be returned to one of our locations, please have the credit card used to purchase the item, as well as a picture ID and your packing slip. You will then be able to exchange the items or receive store credit.
Who processes my payment when I make a purchase?
All purchases are processed through PayPal.
How do I contact PayPal?
You can email PayPal or call through their customer service department. https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_contact_us
Do I need to pay shipping for my returned item?
You will be responsible for shipping the item back to us, we will cover the costs of shipping the item back to you.


text:
Against my mother's will I used to choose this airy, caramel confection when we were taken to the candy shop as kids. She will eternally favor truffles, the grand nexus of chocolate. But I like a bit of hardened texture in my confections, and this treat could not be more satisfying. Caramel seafoam is the adult equivalent of a teething biscuit. It presses against your teeth as you bite into the brittle caramel, rewarding you with sweetness for the task of chewing.
When it comes to the chemistry behind this confection, what we're really looking at is carbon dioxide racing to escape quickly-rehardening sugar. I add the vinegar in this recipe just at the end, right before I dump in the baking soda so I can make the most of that grade-school science experiment. Caramel traps the overflowing bubbles in a molten moon landscape that is almost as joyful to watch as it is to eat.
- 1 1/2 cups White Sugar (pure sucrose)
- 1/3 cup Corn Syrup (pure glucose)
- 1/3 cup Water
- 1/8 teaspoon Cream of Tartar
- 2 teaspoons Vinegar (either white or apple cider, but not balsamic!)
- 2 teaspoons Baking Soda
- 1/4 teaspoon Salt
- Line an 8x8 baking dish with parchment paper.
- Add the sugar, corn syrup, water, and cream of tartar to a heavy-bottomed sauce pan and place it over medium-high heat.
- Don't bother stirring or mixing the ingredients, splashing the mixture around the side of the pan can lead to sugar crystal accumulation that will, in turn, burn before the caramel has been made.
- Allow the sugar mixture to bubble and burble, monitoring the flame underneath as you keep an eye on the clock. 10 minutes to caramel! If it starts to gain color before the 9th or 10th minute, lower the flame. Likewise, if the bubbles are slow to gather, then your heat is too low. Caramel making is a ten-minute exercise in calibration!
- Just as the golden color accumulates around the edge of the pan, pour in the vinegar and let the bubbles carry it through the mixture.
- Immediately following the dispersement of the vinegar, add the baking soda and salt (together if possible), and WHISK WHISK WHISK. The escaping carbon dioxide will foam up the caramel, this is good.
- Pour the light-golden foam into your lined baking dish and allow it to set for one hour at room temperature.
- Shatter the confection into shards and get addicted.
Recipe Notes:
This caramel should take 10-12 minutes to make. You can use a thermometer to check the temperature (we're looking for 300 degrees) but let me suggest that your eyes are capable of monitoring this perfectly well. If the heat is too low, your caramel will take too long to reach the ideal temperature. In that instance, the water will have cooked off long before we reach ideal temperatures for molecular breakdown (caramelization), resulting in sugar that is too reduced and likely to burn. If the heat is too high, the sugar will burn before it has time to gently break down into new flavor and color components (caramelization).
Set a timer for ten minutes and put the heat to medium high. The bubbles will begin at the edge of your pan, then move inward. They will, likewise, begin as large, thin bubbles, and then progress into small, thick bubbles as the sugar reduces. For this particular confection you do not need a deep golden brown. You should begin to see caramel color around the edge of the pan in the 9th or 10th minute, and that is the perfect time to add the vinegar and baking soda.


text:
5D5N Family Vacation in Singapore
by Jen
(Reader's Question)
A 5-day-5-night itinerary for a large-family vacation in Singapore!
|Hi! We'll be a family of 5 adults and 5 young children (ranging from 3-10 years old) visiting Singapore for the first time during the Holy Week. We need your help to fine-tune our itinerary below.
Day 1: Arrive at 11am. Check in at hotel. Visit Singapore Flyer, Merlion Park, Helix Bridge. Cruise?
Day 2: Universal Studios Singapore
Day 3: Singapore Zoo and Night Safari
Day 4: Jurong Bird Park and Science Centre
Day 5: Sentosa Island
We'd also like to see Chinatown, Little India and some of the colonial buildings. When should we squeeze it in?
Thanks so much for your time and attention.
Hi Jen
Here are some suggested refinements for your family vacation in Singapore:
Day 1 - Marina Bay and Singapore River
After checking into your hotel, start with the Singapore Flyer, the Helix Bridge and Merlion Park. From Merlion Park, you could embark on a Singapore River Cruise.
Day 2 - Universal Studios Singapore
Universal Studios opens at 10am - so arrive accordingly. Allow 6 hours here. You could end the day at Resorts World Sentosa or proceed to Vivo City Mall for shopping.
Day 3 - Singapore Zoo and Night Safari
Start the day with something light - such as the Duck Tour from Suntec City Galleria - or just laze by the hotel pool in the morning.
After lunch, leave for Singapore Zoo. This is followed by the Singapore Night Safari in the evening.
(Avoid starting at the Zoo too early Otherwise, the kids to be tired out.)
Day 4 - Jurong Bird Park, Science Centre & Chinatown
Morning: Jurong Bird Park
Afternoon: Singapore Science Centre
Evening: Chinatown
Day 5 - Little India & Sentosa Island
You could spend the morning in Little India Singapore, and leave for Sentosa after lunch.
Important Note
With young children, consider taking it easy. Be prepared to cut down on movements and see "less". This way, the entire group is more likely to enjoy the vacation in Singapore.
Travelling Together During Your Vacation in Singapore
If your budget allows it, consider hiring a licensed Singapore tour guide - who could pre-arrange your tours and take you around in a mini-bus during your Singapore vacation.
This way, your family could travel together and cut down on time waiting for each other. Here's an enquiry form for a customised Singapore travel package.
Have an enjoyable family vacation in Singapore.
Gabriel Tan
Return to Singapore Tour Plan.