text:
The UK's leading provider of Sustainable Solutions
National Installer of the Year
Options to help you finance and reduce the payback of your system.
Solarsense offer an O&M contract on every system we install.
View our range of renewable technologies.
From small factories and industrial units through to big brand manufacturers like Renishaw & Brabantia - solar PV and other sustainable solutions could reap huge financial benefits for your business.
Increasingly weighty business overheads are making energy consumption a growing source of concern, particularly within our unstable energy market and with utility prices rising year on year. As a result forward thinking manufacturers are looking closely at both what they pay for their energy and how they use it.
Through installing sustainable solutions businesses are able to considerably cut their overheads, improve business operations and increase their bottom line with up to 100% savings on their daytime electricity costs.
Generally speaking the higher the user of energy – the higher the savings and therefore the larger the benefits sought - making the manufacturing sector the perfect case for sustainable solutions.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
Sustainability is becoming increasingly important within the supply chain - The UK government is putting pressure on companies to turn to sustainable solutions and therefore wholesalers & retailers are now considering green credentials when choosing their suppliers.
Installing sustainable solutions not only reduces business overheads but has the augmented benefits of increasing your green credentials and creating an effective PR tool.
Law and Legislation (ESOS)
ESOS is a mandatory energy assessment scheme for organisations in the UK that meet the qualification criteria. The Environment Agency is the UK scheme administrator.
Organisations that qualify for ESOS must carry out ESOS assessments every 4 years. These assessments are audits of the energy used by their buildings, industrial processes and transport to identify cost-effective energy saving measures.
ESOS applies to large UK undertakings and their corporate groups.
A large undertaking is any UK company that either:
For more information please visit the Government services website by clicking here.
The Solarsense guide to sustainable solutions for food & drink manufacturers
The Carbon Trust estimates the food and drinks processing industry is the fourth highest industrial energy user in the UK.
In 2010, it consumed nearly 37TWh; enough energy to power 125,000 homes for nearly 15 years. It emitted around 11 million tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
To combat this, the Trust advises that energy consumption in the sector could be considerably reduced by implementing simple and effective energy efficiency measures, reducing carbon emissions and cutting the costs for businesses.
The full guide can be viewed by clicking here.
Why Choose Solarsense?
With more than 20 years of continuous trading, Solarsense can take the strain out of helping you generate your own power with full Construction, Design and Management (CDM).
We can help you to finance and payback your system. As part your quote we will include detailed IRR calculations to ensure you understand exactly how and when you can expect to break even, the structure of repayments and income and the overall profitability to your business
We offer a full on-going monitoring & maintenance service to ensure the systems' performance doesn't drop and safeguards you against possible breakdowns.
All our staff are based in-house ensuring seamless delivery and a single point of contact.
For a full list of our credentials please visit our About Us page.
Or contact us today to take control of your energy and reduce your overheads.
Solarsense offer financing solutions helping companies to avoid the initial capital expenditure. Subject to approval our packages provide savings and revenue from the day the system is commissioned with minimal installation down-time allowing you to get on with your business focus.
Visit our Incentives and Finance page for further details or contact us today to speak to our commercial team.
Industrial PV Case Studies
Solarsense have unrivalled expertise when it comes to installing on commercial rooftops - we have installed solar PV on every type of roof and work in a way that doesn't disturb your business activity.
Read about some of our industrial PV installations by clicking the images below. This is just a sample - if you would like a full printed brochure please contact us and we can have one sent out to you.
Files open as .pdf documents. You will need a free copy of Acrobat Reader to open them.
Essential Trading
National Composites
Renishaw - New Mills
Renishaw - Miskin


text:
The relationship between people and plants for both food and medicine goes back hundreds of thousands of years. In the recent centuries, this knowledge has been forgotten....
Take a walk on the wild side with herbalists Kim & Vicky to re-discover the wild herbs and plants growing on Hampstead Heath and their past uses by the communities around them.
Learn about:
- correct wild plant identification,
- the folklore & traditional uses of herbs,
- sample some traditional foraged edibles and medicines and take home recipes
£35/£25 concessions.
Location on booking.
Bring a pen, notebook and camera if you wish. A raincoat is also a good idea.
The walk will go ahead even if the weather is not perfect: unless there are severe weather warnings- Kim & Vicky reserve the right to make this decision if the walk goes ahead and will inform participants. If such circumstances occur, a refund or a transfer of the ticket may be possible.
Full refunds are possible if cancellations are no later than 14 days before the walk. 50% refunds are available if cancellations are over 14 days. No refund is possible if the attendee cancels less than 72 hours before the walk. A transfer to another course may be available.
NB: Picking plants in the protected space of Hampstead Heath is prohibited. Walks with permission of the City of London

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Available for purchase and/or licensing at:
Amazon.com The Drama Bookshop Samuel French
Lane, a doctor, a woman in her early fifties. She wears white.
Matilde, Lane's cleaning lady, a woman in her late twenties. She wears black. She is Brazilian. She has a refined sense of deadpan.
Virginia, Lane's sister, a woman in her late fifties.
Charles, Lane's husband, a man in his fifties. A compassionate surgeon. He is child like underneath his white coat. In the first Act, Charles plays Matilde's father.
Ana, a woman who is older than Lane*. She is Argentinean. She is impossibly charismatic. In the first Act she plays Matilde's mother.
*Ana is named as sixty-seven within the dialogue. This number may be changed from production to production if need be.
Everyone in this play should be able to tell a really good joke.
A white living room.
White couch, white vase, white lamp, white rug.
A balcony.
A metaphysical Connecticut. Or, a house that is not far from the city and not far from the sea.
1. Matilde
Matilde tells a long joke in Portuguese to the audience.
We can tell she is telling a joke even though we might not understand the language.
She finishes the joke.
She exits.


text:
This is an adaption on the build of
casync from fedora 28. Notably it does not build with fuse support, due to fuse3 dependency not being avalaible in stock or epel centos.
Installation Instructions
cd /etc/yum.repos.d/
wget https://copr.fedorainfracloud.org/coprs/vbatts/casync/repo/epel-7/vbatts-casync-epel-7.repo
yum install -y casync
Active Releases
The following unofficial repositories are provided as-is by owner of this project. Contact the owner directly for bugs or issues (IE: not bugzilla).
|Repo Download
|Epel for CentOS 7
|ppc64le (0)*, x86_64 (0)*
|Epel for CentOS 7 (26 downloads)
* Total number of packages downloaded in the last seven days.
Quick Enable
$ dnf copr enable vbatts/casyncMore info about enabling Copr repositories


text:
Your Guide to Local Green Organizations (Part 1)
Are you looking to get involved with some eco-organizations in the future? Check out some of the local organizations that are committed to a greener future in Hamilton and abroad!
Want to get involved with environmental initiatives at MAC? Start here! MACgreen is operated under the McMaster Students Union and acts as a service for anything environmental. Run by students for students, MACgreen hosts many green initiatives every year and has acted as the voice of environmental change on campus. Whether you're interested in promoting cycling (check out MACycle too!), reducing waste, or have your own idea, MACgreen is the service for you.
The Sustainability Office is a department of McMaster University working directly with administration to ensure that the operation of the University is done in a sustainable manner. Unlike the grassroots, student focus of MACgreen, the Office of Sustainability is a resource for both staff and students and is funded by McMaster University itself.
Environment Hamilton is a non-profit organization founded in 2001 to "help Hamiltonians to develop the knowledge and skills they need to protect and enhance the environment around them". It began from a small group of citizens who were concerned about the proper clean up of Hamilton's old Rennie Street landfill. Environment Hamilton offers workshops, volunteer opportunities, and engages in several projects to educate, empower, and advocate for community members.
While Environment Hamilton handles more of the advocacy side of things, Green Venture handles the technical. If you're looking to get information on retrofitting your home, installing solar panels, conserving water or handling waste, Green Venture is your best bet. Green Venture's EcoHouse is the perfect example of what an eco-friendly home looks like. Tours of the EcoHouse are held several days a week to you how you can make changes around the home. Green Venture also offers energy audits done by licensed professionals and runs a community garden program.
And of course, the list wouldn't be complete without a plug for ourselves. Check out the bottom of the about us page to see how you can contribute to our site.
Check back later for some more cool groups that you can become a part of!


text:
Heavy Duty Javascript-ing
The new project I'm working on is moving on quickly and I'm in the middle of some really heavy duty Javascript work for a complicated web form. We are making use of a Javascript library which I think I've mentioned before called the DHTMLXGrid which is a full featured dynamic table solution which can store it's data as XML and HTML. No single bit of it is especially complex but put together it would take several months to duplicate and it only costs £150 for the professional version so we've forked out for it. Well worth a look, even the basic, free version is very good.


text:
David Jones
Co-Founder & General Partner
Prior to co-founding BCVP, David was (and continues to be) a partner with Southern Capitol Ventures. David was with the Deloitte Consulting practice in Washington, DC. He is co-Founder and former Chief Technology Officer of medical device portal, Orthocopia.com.
David is on the board of Medfusion, Reveal Mobile, Biospatial and a board observer at Attila Security, Spoonflower and AdWerx. David was also on the board of ArtusLabs (acquired by PerkinElmer), board observer at AVIcode (acquired by Microsoft) and board member at BrightContext (acquired by WealthEngine).
David's background in technology stems from the military where he served as a Naval Aviator flying over 1900 hours in the P-3C Orion. During his last tour he served as an Assistant Professor at the University of Virginia teaching Engineering and Leadership courses. David served as the Weapons and Operations Officer during two deployments to the Mediterranean theater and North Atlantic and led a Naval Intelligence special projects crew testing cutting-edge technologies for acoustic and non-acoustic sensors and combat mission hardware and software.
He received his BS in Electrical Engineering from the US Navy Academy, his MS in Management Information Systems (MIS) from the University of Virginia and his MBA from UNC Chapel Hill.


text:
An attention grabber is a word or phrase that is designed to capture an audience's attention. An attention grabber is often used at the start of a persuasive essay and is called a "hook."
Anything can be an attention grabber depending on the context. Any phrase or sentence that sparks curiosity in the reader will cause the reader to intently focus on the following sentences and paragraphs. An important part of an effective hook is to contain relevance to the following content. If the hook is relevant, readers will keep reading in order to find an answer, but if the hook is obviously only included to peak curiosity, focus will rapidly trail off.


text:
Use the first 4 numbers to search for a reference.
A most impressive stone built country house for sale near Les Arcs in Provence. Dating originally from 1873 then extended in the 1990's, this handsome property retains plenty of character whilst offering comfortable family living. A large open-plan living, dining and kitchen area forms the focal point of the home. There are three bedrooms (one a mezzanine) and one bathroom in the main house, then two bedrooms and a further bathroom in the separate apartment (60m²) on the lower ground floor. Outside there is an impressive 15m x 7.5m swimming pool surrounded by a large sun terrace with great views towards the Alps. A large garage with room for several cars. Electric gates with videophone. Privacy, peace and quite
"Whilst every effort has been made to present information accurately, it should be noted that much of the information supplied is taken on good faith from the owners of the properties. Also it should be noted that there is a time delay between a change in specification (price, availability, etc) actually happening and the consequent amendment to the web-site. Before entering into any contract, we strongly recommend verifying the information given. Coast and Country declines all responsibility for any inaccuracies in the information supplied."


text:
Sunbathers Framed Art Print
Sunbathers Framed Art Print
This photographic print will make a statement in any space.
81 x 101 x 4 cm
To ensure longevity of framed prints, we recommend avoiding exposure to direct sunlight for extended periods of time in order to maintain print colour. Wipe clean with a dry cloth.
Our framed prints are strung with cord and ready to hang. Visit your local hardware store or contact a professional picture hanger for advice on the best types of fixtures and method to use for your specific wall type. Please also be sure to take into account the weight of each piece.
Please allow around 8 weeks lead time for all Warranbrooke Art.
All products must be picked up from the Amazema Warehouse, located at:
142 Old Pittwater Road, Brookvale NSW
Once purchased, invoice will provide details to arrange pick up.


text:
I wonder what image comes to mind when you read that word. For me it's a small child with a red bucket and shovel crouched in the sand at the beach. A child. I picture a child. Do you?
Play is something that I find I have to remind myself to do now that I am an adult. Especially when I'm creating images. Setting aside time to experiment and create art without worrying about the outcome. That seems to be when I have the biggest break-throughs and produce the most satisfying work. I wonder... is it because I lower my expectations? Or perhaps I raise my creative power? Many would say it's because that's when the muse visits (hey Karen Hutton)!
Whatever the reason, I find the most interesting things are found when I'm not looking and are created when I'm not trying too hard.
Recently I've been having a lot of fun playing around with my iPhone photos lately. Turning them into watercolour art! So fun! Some are recent photos - like the one below that I snapped just this week on the sunrise photo shoot down at the lake. And then there are others that have been sitting quietly waiting for their big debut. I've a new column right over there on the right that displays some of them but if you hang out on instagram and want to see the latest you can find me there. Elle_Bruce... if you search or use the easy link button at the bottom of this page.
Have a great weekend everyone. Get out there and play a bit!


text:
Recent comments from our guests:
"Overall a awesome venue. Gardens are beautiful. Spa facilities are awesome and we got awesome treatments. Thank you for a wonderful day! Me and my mom enjoyed it very much! The treatments and spa facilities were great." ~ Surinak
"Great venue, great staff and excellent food! Function venue is perfect for any function. Book spa in advance for they are very busy. Architecture is fantastic – little bit of Cape Town in Gauteng – great!" ~ Elsabe
"What better way to spend a special overnight stay for your anniversary than to be pampered at the beautiful spa, enjoy an expertly prepared 6 course meal at the Granita and rest in the comfortable rooms while taking in the beautiful surroundings..Kievits Kroon: thank you for a memorable time." ~ Samuel
"Kievits Kroon never disappoints. We have been on numerous occasions and always good. Service, food, spa facilities and staff are great. After not being there for 18 months, when we walked in to Reception, Daphne still remembered us and was very welcoming. We always have dinner at Granita, such a great experience!" ~ Celeste
"Wow! I loved every bit of my experience at Kievits Kroon, from the spa , food , drinks .. right through to the friendly staff and wonderful therapist! Thank you for the amazing experience! You will see me again! What a remarkable place!" ~ Angelique Liversage
"Absolute stunning surroundings for a quick getaway from the rat race and amenities are in very good condition! Accommodation, meals and service all of a high standard. Spa treatments were wonderfully relaxing and staff very professional Garden and surroundings gorgeous Staff are friendly and attentive to guests." ~ Dale
"The venue is beautiful and it forces you to relax. Staff is efficient and friendly and the food in the Grantia is fantastic. The wine pairing meal is absolutely recommended. The Spa was lovely and a good way to spend the day." ~ Denise H
"Amazing stay. Great staff. Great towels. Great Wi-Fi! "~ Sharon
"Very relaxing break. Went to this hotel for a spa day and one night stay. The attention to detail and attentiveness of staff is second to none. Spa was amazing, very clean and so many facilities to enjoy. Dinner was superb and breakfast offered so many options according to taste. Would recommend to anyone!" ~ Yolandi M
"[Staff were] all courteous & helpful. Patricia was my masseur & she had magic hands. The setting, buildings & garden are beautiful. On summer when all is green & in bloom is must be breathtaking. [The highlight of our stay was] sitting on the stoep enjoying the view & of course the kiwiets. Food was also delicious. Thank you all." ~ Mercia van Niekerk
"My husband and I would like to express our gratitude to all staff at Kievits Kroon. All made our special day a pleasantly memorable one. The chefs even baked us a special anniversary cake. The effort just awed us. The spa experience was excellent. Even my husband felt so relaxed. Dinner at Kingsley's was really tasteful. And service perfect. We will most certainly return some day" ~ Zanette Rossouw
"The friendliness of your staff gives off a nice welcoming atmosphere"~ Jeandre Engelbrecht
"What a beautiful place. Beautiful rooms. Absolutely loved staying here."~ Miss Marieke Snyman
"It was an amazing time with an amazing atmosphere. I would highly recommend this spa!" ~ Nadia van Niekerk
"Best spa experience ever! Thank you very much." ~ Chanté Lottering
"General expectations were met and looking forward to spend most of my training in this lodge. Great staff" ~ Tiyani Chauke
"Overall an excellent experience, food was exceptional as was service. (We have been here many times and food has improved)" ~ Long
"Wow, 1 night @ Kievitskroon felt like we were away for an entire weekend! 🙂 I just want to thank you and all the other staff at Kievitskroon for really making our anniversary super special! Thank you for the gift basket, the card and the special cake at dinner…. everything was just perfect! Every staff member were friendly, helpful and very professional! The food at dinner and breakfast was something to write home about! 🙂 Thank you thank you thank you!" ~ Elanie Jansen van Veuren
"We love Kievits Kroon, this is our second home and we will be back soon. The staff are exceptional in their services and made us feel like a king and Queen. Thank you." ~ Mr and Mrs Haggard
"First time coming here. Excellent service and staff. Will definitely come back. ~ Tarryn Sinden
"We always enjoy our stay with you. Highest standard of service." ~ Werner and Lilian Bekker
"Thank you for a wonderful experience, Kievits Kroon is peaceful, great to wake up to the sound of birds signing. The food is excellent, compliments to the chef. The spa facilities, especially the Jacuzzi is well placed. Well done!" ~ Mr & Mrs Faulmann,
"One of the best places to stay at. Thank you for the wonderful experience." ~ Zwane
"We'll be back. It's a wonderful, friendly, relaxing, peaceful, luxurious, pampering weekend retreat." ~ Tondy & Wendy da Cruz
"Thank you for this memorable experience" ~ Mr Henk Crouse
"We always enjoy our stay with you. Highest standard of service." ~ Werner and Lilian Bekker
"Great stay for my mom's birthday, very special!" ~ Leila
"We enjoyed everything from the service. Hope to see you soon!" ~ Mampane
"Thanks so much, it was amazing! Will come back." ~ Leslie Ozouaki
"Thank you for a lovely weekend!" ~ Burger
"Friendly staff, amazing massage – Viola 10/10." ~Anon
"Great stay at an amazing place. Thank you all for a great memory." ~ Mr & Mrs de Souza
"The staff is so friendly, food was lovely – well done!" ~ Katlego Motubatse
"We had a wonderful stay and will definitely return! Thanks for everything!" ~ Van den Berg


text:
Hot Chocolate/
I've been experimenting with Kaakao Chocolate and Oatly and ended up with the most creamy hot chocolate 😍 100% plant based and no added sugar, only the good stuff and no guilt attached.Read More
I've been experimenting with Kaakao Chocolate and Oatly and ended up with the most creamy hot chocolate 😍 100% plant based and no added sugar, only the good stuff and no guilt attached.Read More
It was International Waffle Day the other day, on the 25th of March to be exact, and as a waffle lover I made some very yummy waffles. After posting about it on instagram, I got so many requests on the recipe... so here it is!Read More
This homemade body butter has the mix of rosemary, cedarwood and ylang ylang which gives the synergy effect of soothing, toning, refreshing and uplifting. This blend is very hydrating and specially designed for dry winter skin...Read More
This recipe is perfect for deep hydrating and used as a night serum preventing premature aging, filled with vitamins and minerals. The essential oils give the benefits of deep relaxation and soothing wonderful for your beauty sleep...Read More
We are constantly exposed to the pressure to use cosmetics to obtain a certain image, look and smell right, and the never-ending process of defying the natural process of ageing....Read More
These cinnamon rolls are made with an ancient grain called spelt and based on my Norwegian grandmother delicious recipe. This grain has been around since approximately 5000 B.C. and is even referenced in the Old Testament. It originated in the Near East and later spread to Europe. Spelt was introduced...Read More
Are you aiming for a healthy start of the year, but you're struggling with cravings?? Happy news for you, this is an organic, natural and sugar-free chocolate mousse, packed with healthy antioxidants and building blocks your body will love! Super easy to make, satisfying for your tastebuds and 100% guilt free AND suitable for vegans.Read More
This recipe is a very quick version, and do not include the original fermentation process.
Red cabbage is a nutritious and delicious vegetable that has become very popular throughout the world for a number of reasons..Read More
Veganuary is here and its a perfect way of testing delicious vegan dishes. I know it sounds scary for a lot of people to have a whole meal without animal products, but believe me - this lasagne is delicious and filling, and the positive part, its better for your health, the animals and the planet...Read More
I was served Rebel Recipe Niki´s Chocolate Avocado Truffles a few weeks ago and the taste of these truffles are out of this world. I just loved them so much I had to make them myself during Christmas. I didn't have avocado, so I used..Read More
When you're feeling tired and sluggish in the workplace, a lot of employees decide that grabbing a can or two of an energy drink is the best way to get that quick fix kick you need to keep yourself.....Read More
This bread is made in almost no time and is filled with only healthy buildingsblocks that your body will love. It taste delicious and it's perfect for cosy weekend breakfast or bring with you as quick snacks for energy refill during a hectic work day.Read More
I posted on my instagram story a few days back - my mums delicious Carrot, Ginger & Orange Soup, and since so many of you have asked for the recipe - here it is :)Read More
This month I've had the pleasure of working with Soil Association and Whole Foods Market during their Organic September Campaing. I was asked to take part in the dedicated Organic Pop Up Kitchen at the Kensington Store this past Saturday, along with....Read More
I've recently been working with this amazing Matcha tea brand Taiki Tea, its been a lot of fun exploring recipes with their blends and I'm sharing one of my recipes with you at the end of this article. Taiki Tea is a certified organic matcha company based in East London....Read More
Lilo is the founder of Honey&Roots, a platform allowing the integration of knowledge and action in the synergetic approach of food, health, agriculture and sustainability.
Lilo has an extensive educational and practical experience within the field of food and agriculture, health and nutrition, environmental sustainability, and socio-economic factors. She has a medical background as a Registered Veterinary Nurse, Foundation Degree in Basic Science in Medicine, a Bachelor's of Science in International Business Management, Postgraduate Diploma in Chinese Nutritional Therapy and Certified Medical Laser Therapist.
If you want to share a recipe or article on your website, please make sure you reference me, linking to my website and do send me an email to let me know! Thank you.
The medical and nutritional information on this site is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
Powered by Squarespace.


text:
Here are just a few of the companies we've worked with:
Greenville Minibus & Charter Bus Rentals
Center of the largest metropolitan area of South Carolina, Greenville is home to numerous attractions to capture your attention. It's is the perfect destination for a weekend getaway or a week-long vacation.
GOGO Charters is the most popular Greenville charter bus company among tourists. We offer modern and safe charter buses, unparalleled customer service, and professional drivers, guaranteeing a safe and pleasant trip.
When you call our reservation specialists at 864-248-4070, you can request modern amenities such as reclining seats, air conditioning, restrooms, TV monitors, DVD players, WiFi, and more. Choose from vehicles ranging from 18 passenger minibuses to 56 passenger charter buses.
What to See and Do in Greenville
Museums: The Greenville County Museum of Art, considered to be the premier American art museum in the South, entices visitors each year with the world's largest public collection of watercolors by American artist Andrew Wyeth. The museum's Southern Collection includes Federal portraits and contemporary abstractions, all by artists with ties to the American South. The Upcountry History Museum at Furman University offers a comprehensive review of Greenville's unique past, helping visitors make personal connections to the area's history.
Outdoor Activities: Take a stroll through the nature trails and gorgeous gardens of Falls Park on the Reedy, leading you all the way to Main Street where you can explore local shops, pubs, and restaurants. Visit the Greenville Zoo to watch African lions, Masai giraffes, and several species of primates in various habitats across the grounds, as well as a farm exhibit and a reptile house. Right next to the zoo is Cleveland Park, the largest park in Greenville, which includes volleyball courts, a softball field, playground areas, a fitness trail, and picnic shelters.
Theatres: Greenville's Center Stage, located downtown, produces 6-8 mainstage productions each year and regularly hosts other entertainment and nightlife activities. The theatre's activities also include art exhibitions, chamber concerts, and independent film screenings. The Peace Center hosts over 300 events each year, including classical music, Broadway shows, and appearances by other famous musical acts. Your bus driver can take your group to a local restaurant for dinner before dropping you off at the theatre for a show. At the end of the night, they'll promptly and safely take you back home.
Day Trips: Groups who wish to plan sightseeing trips to Hilton Head, Charlotte, Atlanta, Chattanooga, and Nashville can rent a charter bus through GOGO Charters to make traveling easy, comfortable, and efficient.
Rent a Charter Bus for Your Greenville Events
Whether you need a charter bus in Greenville for day trips or for transporting groups to various events, GOGO Charters is here to provide the best charter bus for you. Keep your group together and ensure that no one gets lost, all while avoiding the frustration of navigating new city streets. Call our team today at 864-248-4070 and rent your charter bus for your Greenville event.
Rent your charter bus now:
You may have seen us featured in:
Calculate Rates
from Greenville, South Carolina
Example Prices
Restrictions Apply
From: Greenville,SC
To: Atlanta,GA
Restrictions Apply
From: Greenville,SC
To: Charleston,SC
Restrictions Apply
From: Greenville,SC
To: Jacksonville,FL
Restrictions Apply
From: Greenville,SC
To: Knoxville,TN
Restrictions Apply
From: Greenville,SC
To: Nashville,TN
Restrictions Apply
From: Greenville,SC
To: Savannah,GA
- Gogo Charters Greenville
- 150 Executive Center Dr Suite 209, Greenville, SC 29615, USA
- 864-248-4070
Overall Rating: 9.9 out of 10 from 244 unique reviews


text:
As if the title wasn't enough of a spoiler, I want to share some big news…
(Update: I already did the Mongol Rally! You can learn more about the entire adventure on this page.)
I'm super excited and freaked out about this adventure. For those of you who don't know what the Mongol Rally is; imagine driving 1/3 of the way around the world through the toughest terrain on earth on a car that is barely made to take your grandma from home to the supermarket.
The Mongol Rally is an unsupported and un-routed driving adventure from London, England to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Starting July 13th, our team, The Drama of Llama, will be crossing nearly 10,000 miles of unforgiving deserts, perilous mountain ranges, and non-existent roads, in a 2005 Hyundai Getz.
As you can imagine, this car is ill-suited for this type of mission. In the end, our car will be donated to a charity in Mongolia that will give good use to it.
But I'm not doing this crazy stunt alone! My international partners in crime are Livia Aguiar, a journalist and travel blogger at Eusouatoa (a travel blog in Portuguese); Vitalli Lunkevich, a final year Business and Management student; and the misadventurous Stephen Schreck of A Backpacker's Tale.
But, this rally is not just an adventure; it is a way to help those in need while having an adventure.
We, as one of the hundreds of teams driving in the Mongol Rally, will also raise money to benefit two charities: The official Mongol Rally charity, Cool Earth, and our chosen charity, Set Her Free.
Why have we chosen Set Her Free?
Set Her Free, is a non-profit organization that is working to restore the lives of young girls formerly enslaved by the sex trades—the harshest form of child labor in Uganda.
Set Her Free provides not only food and shelter, but also formal education, technical training, counseling, medical care, and much more – currently to 120 young women. The cost to benefit each girl for a year calculates to 2,272,000 UGX or $909 (inclusive of food and education).
In addition to the great work they do, I have some sort of personal connection with them. Remember when I reached Uganda by mistake and was rescued by a stranger? Yup, that was Robinah, the founder and woman behind Set Her Free. Robinah extended me a helping hand when I was in need and lost in a country I didn't know, now I extend mine to help back.
Alright, so the big news is out! Now we need your help!
An adventure like this doesn't come in lightly to our pockets. We need to raise about $13,000 for the team and we have a goal of raising $5000 to be split between our charities – but of course, we'd like to raise for charity as much as possible.
This will be a great adventure, and the most interesting thing about the Mongol Rally is that anything can happen in that span of 10,000 miles!
Have ideas for a route from London to Ulaanbaatar? Give us your suggestions and we might incorporate them in our route!
Read the next post about our Mongol Rally experience!
Plus, receive a short e-book with 15 Beginner Tips and Tricks to Start Travel Hacking!


text:
Working full-time and having a busy gym schedule means that sometimes my blog can get a little behind on content. However, since the beginning of this year, I have been actively trying to organise my blog in advance so there is always something new to read.
Monthly planner:
I find that having a monthly planner is key to keeping my blog organised. This little gem I picked up in TK Maxx at the beginning of the year. In the planner, there is a double page for each month with a section for notes at the side. I particularly like this layout as I can easily see what is being posted when and I can also see if there is a variety of content available.
Google Calender:
Sometimes when I have a little time to kill (like on my commute), I will type up a few blog posts. However, I never seem to have my monthly planner handy when I need it. Enter Google Calender. Google Calender is great as once content is finalised in my main planner, I can input it in there to refer to at any time I need to.
Block shooting photos:
Generally the only time that I have to shoot and edit photos for the blog is at the weekend. Even then, I don't have a huge amount of time to do it. So I find that block shooting and editing photos as far as I can in advance really helps.
Sticky Dots:
These dots are one of my favourite things to organise my blog with. Generally, I use them as a colour code system: red is for a post going live; light blue/dark blue is for photos and graphics being completed; yellow for Social Media and green is when everything is completed. It is such an easy method to work with and great for a visual person like myself.
Social Media:
Once a post has been completed in Blogger, I will schedule the social media to go with it. My weapon of choice for scheduling Social Media is Hootsuite. I don't 100% rely on scheduled Social Media as it does fall along the lines of being robotic. However, when you're as busy as I am, it sometimes is a godsend.
How do you keep your blog organised?


text:
The open roads of America are hard to ignore this time of year. Millions of people heed their call and embark on trips throughout this grand country. Whether you're the kind of road-tripper who lackadaisically putts down quiet 2-lane roads in search of lost American culture or blasts through states at 75 mph on the nation's Interstate system, the vehicle you choose for your adventure will play a vital role in your trip's success.
Choose a car that's too small and you'll drown in stuff. Choose one that's too big and you'll spend more money than necessary on fuel. Choose one that doesn't offer the perfect seating position and your back may never recover.
I've been on my fair share of road trips over the years and am currently in the middle of the biggest one yet, an 8,000-mile jaunt that's taken us from Washington state, over through Chicago, down to Ohio, back up to Buffalo and Toronto, over to Montreal, then down through New England, New York, Washington D.C., the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Kansas before heading back to the Pacific Northwest.
Needless to say, the perfect vehicle was essential for this trip, but we didn't own the one we needed. Our Land Cruiser, which had a lot of space, was too old with too many miles and poor fuel economy. The Subaru Legacy would be a reliable choice but couldn't handle the amount of stuff four people need on a 3-week cross-country jaunt.
The solution?
A 2006 Dodge Ram 3500 diesel 4×4 Mega Cab. We sold the Land Cruiser and located the perfect truck, then found a used canopy which basically turned the truck into the mother of all SUVs. We loaded the weather-proof bed with tents, sleeping bags, suitcases, lacrosse sticks (to carry on a tradition of playing lacrosse on the lawns of state capitols), food, a massive cooler, and more.
The diesel has provided reliability and peace of mind while delivering fuel economy of around 15-16 miles per gallon. Not bad! The 4-wheel drive makes easy work of muddy back roads, and the Mega Cab turns the truck into a hotel on wheels should exhaustion set in before we locate a satisfactory camping spot.
The drawback has been navigating the big rig through Manhattan and parking in tight garages. That's a price we're willing to pay, though, for a vehicle perfect for this trip that will be even better for future towing and hauling needs.
The massive 3500 certainly isn't for everyone, so we wonder: What would be your perfect vehicle for the ultimate road trip?
Find Certified Pre-Owned Cars and Used Cars in your area at CarGurus.
Used Toyota Land Cruiser
Used Subaru Legacy
Used Dodge Ram 3500
Shopping for a new vehicle?
Bring along CarGurus' mobile app to help check prices, find good deals, and research cars on your smartphone.


text:
CYBERminder is the only Internet protection software to recognise that one size does not fit all. Its unique protect keys provide bespoke flexibility across all age ranges, allowing children of different ages to enjoy the Internet, expand their horizons and develop knowledge on safety.
CYBERminder "Protect Under 9"
Consisting of a blue supervise key and green protect key for children aged under 9 - allowing them to play and surf on the internet safely using a green protect key in an environment closed to pornography, violence, gaming, social networking and other age inappropriate sites.
CYBERminder "Protect Aged 9-12"
Consisting of a blue supervise key and yellow protect key for children aged between 9 and 12 - allowing them to surf and search on Google; Yahoo and Bing in an environment closed to pornography, violence, gaming and social networking sites but allowing them to use instant messaging.
CYBERminder "Protect Teenagers"
Consisting of a blue supervise key and orange protect key for teenagers allowing them to surf and search on Google; Yahoo and Bing in an environment closed to pornography and violence and allowing them to use social networking sites and instant messaging.
- Easy to use
- Allows your whole household to surf the net safely and freely
- One for every generation of your family
All items will be sent using Royal Mail, followed by your local postal service, absolutely free of charge..
Other faster options are also available:
The free 'standard shipping' option takes between 2-3 working days from the time of dispatch, although we usually find it takes less.
All of our international orders are sent by standard mail worldwide. However, if you would like your order to be tracked, we will happily arrange for it to be sent via other recorded means. You can select the delivery option you would like at the checkout.
Please be aware that your order must be placed before 1pm between Monday to Friday to take advantage of the Next Day delivery option.
Returns Address
To check full details of our returns policy, please visit our Help and Support pages


text:
Languages: French and English
Alain Pierre was born in Cairo, Egypt, and has lived in Montreal since 1989. He is a father, step-father, father-in-law, and since April 2016, a grandfather to baby Talia. Alain Pierre is married to Cym Gomery, also a UU—it was Rev. Diane Rollert who performed the nuptials, back in 2008. He has been attending the UCM since 2007, yet, in true UU style, he considers himself a Catholic, while practicing and (to anyone who will listen) preaching Buddhism. Alain's mother tongue is French, but he also speaks fluent English and Arabic and of course Egyptian! His nickname in his youth was Halak ("the barber") because he is fond of expounding on all kinds of topics!
Alain is a project manager at Bombardier Aerospace, where he has worked for 26 years. Needless to say, perhaps, he considers loyalty the greatest virtue! In his spare time, he likes to work out, or to watch movies (with a strong preference for action movies à la Jean-Claude Van Damme). This sporty and sexy sexagenarian has participated in the Ride to Conquer Cancer five times in a row! —Cym Gomery


text:
Gold and Silver Stamped Bangles
Item Description
These bangles are hand stamped with fun phrases to express yourself; wear one alone or stack them. Best sellers include "faith trust and pixie dust," "scars are tattoos with better stories," "though she be but little, she is fierce," "the book is always better," and "fucking fabulous."
Most sayings available in both silver and gold.
Please place phrase preference in comments if ordering online - customized bracelets available as well.
» Tagged: Handmade, Jewelry, Personal Accessories
» Share:


text:
Ander Herrera has said that he is ready to sign a new contract at Manchester United.
Herrera, 29, has a deal until the end of the 2018-19 campaign after United triggered a one-year extension last season.
The midfielder has played 161 times for the club since arriving from Athletic Bilbao in 2014 and has hinted he would like to extend his stay at Old Trafford.
"I have been able to play more than 160 games right now, so what I have in my mind is to go for the 200 games and keep adding games for the club and for myself," he told Inside United.
"The way the club treats me is perfect. The love the fans show for me couldn't be better or bigger, my family is happy in Manchester, so I will just try to give everything and use all my strength and effort to keep deserving to play for this club."
Herrera missed the 2-1 win over Leicester through injury after picking up a knock in the final preseason friendly against Bayern Munich.
When he returns he will find competition for places with Nemanja Matic, Paul Pogba, Andreas Pereira, Scott McTominay, Marouane Fellaini, Jesse Lingard and £47 million summer signing Fred all battling for places in midfield, but he is up for the fight.
"First of all, I am very proud because when you play for Manchester United you have to deserve every season to keep playing for the club," he said.
"I think the manager is very happy with me and the fans are very happy with me. That makes me really proud."


text:
A woman has been rescued by firefighters after being involved in a crash in Wakefield this morning.
Emergency services were called to reports of a collision in Ouchthorpe Lane shortly after 6.10am.
Also in news: Patients are 'not being diverted' from Pontefract Hospital
West Yorkshire Fire Service said one vehicle had been involved and its crews found someone trapped inside.
Crews from Wakefield and Ossett worked together to free the woman, who was left in the care of Yorkshire Ambulance Service paramedics.
Also in news: Convenience store plans the 'worst seen in 40 years', angry councillor says


text:
By Jeffrey Ball | Why the Saudis Are Going Solar | The Atlantic | July/August 2015
By Jeffrey Ball
Prince Turki bin Saud bin Mohammad Al Saud belongs to the family that rules Saudi Arabia. He wears a white thawb and ghutra, the traditional robe and headdress of Arab men, and he has a cavernous office hung with portraits of three Saudi royals. When I visited him in Riyadh this spring, a waiter poured tea and subordinates took notes as Turki spoke. Everything about the man seemed to suggest Western notions of a complacent functionary in a complacent, oil-rich kingdom.
But Turki doesn't fit the stereotype, and neither does his country. Quietly, the prince is helping Saudi Arabia—the quintessential petrostate—prepare to make what could be one of the world's biggest investments in solar power.
Near Riyadh, the government is preparing to build a commercial-scale solar-panel factory. On the Persian Gulf coast, another factory is about to begin producing large quantities of polysilicon, a material used to make solar cells. And next year, the two state-owned companies that control the energy sector—Saudi Aramco, the world's biggest oil company, and the Saudi Electricity Company, the kingdom's main power producer—plan to jointly break ground on about 10 solar projects around the country.
Turki heads two Saudi entities that are pushing solar hard: the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, a national research-and-development agency based in Riyadh, and Taqnia, a state-owned company that has made several investments in renewable energy and is looking to make more. "We have a clear interest in solar energy," Turki told me. "And it will soon be expanding exponentially in the kingdom."
Such talk sounds revolutionary in Saudi Arabia, for decades a poster child for fossil-fuel waste. The government sells gasoline to consumers for about 50 cents a gallon and electricity for as little as 1 cent a kilowatt-hour, a fraction of the lowest prices in the United States. As a result, the highways buzz with Cadillacs, Lincolns, and monster SUVs; few buildings have insulation; and people keep their home air conditioners running—often at temperatures that require sweaters—even when they go on vacation.
Saudi Arabia produces much of its electricity by burning oil, a practice that most countries abandoned long ago, reasoning that they could use coal and natural gas instead and save oil for transportation, an application for which there is no mainstream alternative. Most of Saudi Arabia's power plants are colossally inefficient, as are its air conditioners, which consumed 70 percent of the kingdom's electricity in 2013. Although the kingdom has just 30 million people, it is the world's sixth-largest consumer of oil.
Now, Saudi rulers say, things must change. Their motivation isn't concern about global warming; the last thing they want is an end to the fossil-fuel era. Quite the contrary: they see investing in solar energy as a way to remain a global oil power.
Read the full story here.


text:
Gerry Bertier never lost his love of sports. Despite his life-altering injuries, he won a gold medal in the national Wheelchair Olympics.
Ten years after the Titans' big game, and Gerry's paralyzing injuries, he was in another accident, caused by a drunk driver. As a result, Gerry died on the 20th of March, 1981.
Image, courtesy the Bertier family.
Hope You Have Enjoyed Your Free Sample
Please Join as a Silver or Gold Member
for Premium Functions, Stories, Apps, Newsletter and
Skip the Ads for as little as $1.70 a month.


text:
Travelling through Bavaria by train on a recent holiday I took the opportunity to read Ogilvy on Advertising by David Ogilvy, an advertising executive widely lauded as the 'King of Madison Avenue'.
For those unfamiliar with Ogilvy's background, he founded Ogilvy & Mather in 1948 and laid much of the groundwork for the agency to become the success story we know and admire. Ogilvy & Mather were the leading ad shop of the day and have continued to sustain and build upon that success - today the agency works almost exclusively with blue chip brands and are a key part of Sir Martin Sorrell's WPP.
Business Lessons from David Ogilvy
Ogilvy on Advertising was published in 1983, towards the end of Ogilvy's glittering 40 plus years in the industry, but it has certainly stood the test of time. Given the prevailing "cult of youth", it's important to seek out and gain the perspective of people that have helped develop, lead and shape an industry. Indeed, many of the lessons Ogilvy shares are widely applicable, such as the attributes which lead to success, the difference between fads and genuine change, as well as how to build a winning organisation.
The book is an insightful read and five business lessons stood out:
1. It's all about results (and sales)
Early on in the book Ogilvy stresses just how essential it is to focus on and deliver results, with sales taking precedence over creativity a recurring theme. While he clearly respects the creative process, Ogilvy rightly reveals a dislike of creativity for creativity's sake, and always sought to tie advertising back to sales. He makes the case that advertising should be seen as a medium of information, not art, and the best copywriters consider themselves salespeople, rather than performers.
2. Build a foundation on research and evaluation
To give yourself the best chance of success you need to invest in research to guide your planning process and then evaluation to see if you achieved your stated goals. To ensure robust planning, Ogilvy advises studying your client's product, competitors and consumers. Once the campaign has launched, you should measure sales and track changes in brand preference. The learnings from this exercise should then be reapplied and used as a foundation to inform future work.
3. Develop a great product - and then make it greater
Advertising can persuade people to buy a bad product once, and only once. The most effective way to increase sales of a product is by consistently having a great product. There's no shortcut. Whether you're selling a software as a service (SaaS) marketing tool, luxury car or a loaf of bread you need to make the product the very best it can be for the price you're selling it at. In the book Ogilvy bemoans brand managers for their lack of interest in improving products - they often want to increase sales from marketing, while rarely providing customers with a better product.
4. Unhook your rational thought process
Ogilvy shares his belief that big ideas come from the unconscious. He advises people to unhook their rational thought process "by going for a long walk, or taking a hot bath, or drinking half a pint of claret." This way, "the telephone line from your unconscious is open, a big idea wells up within you." In my mind, Ogilvy is advocating that people should be well read, curious and passionate about their work, while recognising the need for this to be counterbalanced with activities that help people unwind. Great ideas can and do come from anywhere, but it helps hugely if people are happy, healthy and relaxed.
5. Double down on wins and cut your losses
Ogilvy advises people to spend their time, brains and advertising money on successes. It is easier to make a great campaign better compared to salvaging a failing one. Most people fall into the trap of throwing good money after bad and continue to invest in products, campaigns or companies long after they should have stopped. Instead, Ogilvy recommends cutting your losses earlier and focussing on making your wins even greater by doubling down on these investments.
If you want to learn more about marketing and how the world's most successful ad man built and led his agency, then read Ogilvy on Advertising. There's many insightful lessons that can be applied today, and far beyond the world of advertising. The book is a timeless classic and recommended reading for anyone wanting to broaden their knowledge and understanding of marketing and business.


text:
Temperatures were in the upper 80s two weeks ago as I trudged across campus for a review session with nervous students prepping for a final in biology. The sweltering, clammy calm of the afternoon was interrupted by a lonesome call of a male periodical cicada high in the top of a willow oak tree. With this announcement, the 2018 periodical cicada season was officially underway.
Holes in the ground, shed skins on leaves, and adults ready to ascend to the treetop… yep, cicada season is underway.
In the intervening week, I received two reports confirming the arrival of adult cicadas in Bowie and Columbia, MD. A recent afternoon jog around the neighborhood in Columbia revealed shed skins on several majestic elms, oaks, and lindens, where hundreds of cicadas were spotted last year. Entomophiles are already awaiting the return of Brood X cicadas scheduled for 2021. Last year we had a sneak preview of this event in many neighborhoods in the DMV with the appearance of thousands of cicada "stragglers". Stragglers are periodical cicadas that emerge "off cycle" in years prior to or after their major brood appears. Often, 17-year cicada stragglers appear four years prior to their expected emergence date; however it is possible for periodical cicadas to emerge several years earlier or later than expected. According to Cicada Mania, the most reliable source for all things cicada, historical records indicate that part of "the Big Brood", Brood X cicadas, undergo a curious developmental phenomenon known as acceleration. Accelerations occur when a portion of a cicada brood emerges years in advance of the billions of cicadas comprising the bulk of their ginormous synchronous brood. Four year accelerations, including some associated with Brood X, have been observed in Washington DC, and in Chicago, Cincinnati, and other parts of the Midwest. In several areas, last year's stragglers emerged in numbers sufficient to best hungry predators and survived long enough to reproduce and lay eggs. With any luck their progeny will emerge in spring some 17 years in the future.
Brood X stragglers have already been reported this year in Cincinnati, Ohio and Bloomington, Indiana. I think we can add Bowie and Columbia, Maryland to this growing list. However, after discovering a local Columbian cicada patch, I returned early one morning to find it had turned into a cicada killing field as mixed swarms of several bird species picked off scattered cicadas that had emerged overnight. You see, without millions of their broodmates to fill the tummies of hungry predators, these stragglers were likely doomed to perform the Darwin experiment: emerge prematurely and remove your genes from the population. Cicadas pay a heavy price by not following the rules of their ancient strategy of predator satiation, a plan that depends on an enormous synchronous emergence that simply overwhelms the capacity of predators to consume a tsunami of cicada prey. While I always root for the cicada, I fear numbers are too slim for cicada success this year.
In the cicada killing fields, pileated woodpeckers seem to search a tree while a tufted titmouse enjoys a tasty cicada for breakfast in branches above.
The real deal brood of cicadas emerging in 2018 are those of Brood VII, the ill-fated Onondaga Brood. The range of this brood, which once occupied at least nine counties in the Finger Lakes region of New York State, has declined dramatically in recent decades. Experts fear it may be the next brood to go extinct, joining Brood XI that disappeared in Connecticut. Cicada Mania points to the usual suspects of habitat destruction due to agriculture and urbanization, habitat degradation due to several factors including pesticides, and natural events such as persistent floods that smother cicada nymphs in their subterranean lairs, as the underlying causes of these declines. Magicicada cassini, one of the major participants in Brood X, utilizes ash trees as a favored host for egg laying. Emerald Ash Borer, dastardly destroyer of more than 100 million ash trees in 20 states where cicadas are found, certainly hasn't helped the plight of our periodical cicadas.
If you want to see periodical cicadas in all their glory, your best bet would be to head for the Finger Lakes region of New York near Rochester to have a look, maybe the last look, of these strange and magnificent creatures of Brood VII. Here in the DMV, keep your eyes and ears open for the next several weeks, and please participate in the citizen science project listed below to track these magical creatures. Happy cicada hunting!
CALL TO CITIZEN SCIENTISTS: we need your help! Cicada experts are attempting to map the distribution of these magnificent and magical insects. If you see periodical cicada nymphs, shed skins, adults on vegetation or on trees, please report your sightings to: http://magicicada.org/magicicada/mapping-updates/
Thank you for your help.
To learn more about all things cicada, please visit the following website: http://www.cicadamania.com
We thank entomophile Gaye Williams and picture taker Nancy Perkins for providing the inspiration for this episode. Two wonderful articles, "Evolution of 13- and 17-year periodical cicadas (Homoptera: Cicadidae: Magicicada)" by C. Simon, and "The ecology, behavior, and evolution of periodical cicadas" by K. S. Williams and C. Simon, and information at Cicada Mania were used to prepare this episode.


text:
Corsair Sprint 750 MK II
Price, $85,500 USD nicely equipped and delivered in the U.S.
Redefining modern sailing in a revolutionary way.
The Corsair Sprint MKII trailerable trimaran is fast, fun and performance proven. A great pocket cruiser, daysailer, one design or OMR racer that is easy to manage, transport and exhilarating to sail.
Developed from the popular Corsair Sprint 750 with the new more powerful floats off the Corsair Dash 750.
The interior has increased volume with more room above the v berth and an area for porta poti and cooler. Huge extended cockpit ideal for racing crew or family fun.


text:
"Whatever are your personal or family legal needs, we make it easy. With our experience, knowledge and gentle guidance, your specific and unique needs will be sensitively met."
We have been helping clients just like you—individuals, families and businesses—in our community since 1911. Morelli Chertkow is proud to be located in Kamloops, a city with outstanding quality of life and strong community spirit. Many of us were born and raised in the area and we love it here. That's why you'll see our lawyers and staff actively supporting the community with the same commitment to service and excellence we provide to our clients.
Every client matters to us. We know you place your trust in us during a time of need, and we are here to help you. This approach to client care is just one reason why generations of families continue to count on our firm for their legal needs.
To help you with your legal needs, we have an outstanding team of lawyers, paralegals and legal assistants, reasonable and competitive legal fees and fee by percentage on personal injury cases.
Contact us today and let's discuss how we can assist you.
Call us for a consultation today at 1.888.374.3350
Your lawyer will explain
to you all the necessary steps
in the legal process.
All matters handled by
Morelli Chertkow and its
employees are confidential
Clients are asked to sign
a retainer agreement
and deposit retainer funds
before legal services begin.
Accounts are generally
issued once per month
or at the completion
of a specific step
in the legal process.


text:
Why So Serious? with Rory Cashin (entertainment.ie) and Brogen Hayes (Movies.ie) is back with the best and worst of October 2013, featuring reviews of THOR: THE DARK WORLD, ENOUGH SAID and BAGGAGE CLAIM.
Filmed in glorious HD by Brian Lloyd in Cineworld, Dublin.
We will announce our next Cult Comedy Classic Screening soon, so keep an eye on our Facebook and Twitter pages for more…


text:
The nude form has long been used as a symbol of protest against the established system, a way of making a statement beyond the power of speeches and signs. It is also now used as a way to get attention as few things get as much attention as the nude form, particularly in public places. The installations below combine nudity and a political statement.
A comment and commemoration of the BP Oil spill created by the environmental protest group Liberate Tate. A nude individual was "exhibited" in the classical sculpture space lying in a fetal position covered in mock-oil for 87 minutes, one for each day of the spill. It was also to protest the fact that the Tate receives financial support from BP, which the group views to be "dirty money." From:http://flavorwire.com/180906/hacking-museums-our-retrospective-of-interventio...
Peta has been one of the groups best able to harness the power of the nude statement, with campaigns based on the idea that "I'd rather go naked than wear fur." In one of the latest projects, which claims "if Americans gave up one pound of meat, 2,463 gallons of water could be saved." This amount would be equivalent to six months of shower water. To get this point across, women took public baths or showers in Hollywood and London. The event got so much attention, there was even a car crash in Hollywood from a distracted spectator.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1369302/Peta-holds-naked-shower-protest-Hollywood-causes-car-crash.html#ixzz1NMpcVDcM


text:
We're all about kids and families—share the love on your own channels. Thanks so much!
America, popping off the page!
Tigers and pigs go pee-pee, too. Yes, they do.
America in all its wild splendor (for the toddler set)!
What's in a name? The story of YOU, for starters.
Monsters have feelings, too...just like you!
It's okay to miss your mama!
A little family of me and you...is full of love and happiness, too! http://bit.ly/2huE2UM
You be you, no matter what a bully may do!
On planet Earth, there are so many wonderful ways to live...and love!
These crayons are seeing red! A hilarious book to read before bed.


text:
Ed Cyzewski, one of the most generous and thoughtful writers I know, connected me with N.D. Wilson, and I'm so very grateful. I love a writer who is able to balance confidence with humility and who knows that our work as writers is about writing . . . that the rest will follow. So today, enjoy N.D. Wilson in our latest Writers Write interview.
1. Tell me about your latest project.
Death by Living. The book is a combination of memoir, meditation, and narrative gratitude. The focus is on our own mortality and how gratitude for the past, and an accurate perspective of ourselves living in our divinely appointed moments, can help us live more fully and more faithfully as we create more of that past with our own choices and actions.
2. What role, if any, did books, writing, and reading play in your childhood?
I would say that they played as great a role as, say, meals. I ate every day. I don't remember most of those meals (though I do remember some), but they still fed, nourished and shaped me. My parents were reading stories to us all the time. They were telling us stories all the time. My grandparents were telling us stories all the time. And we fed on those stories…because they really were meals–nourishing and shaping our imaginations, sensibilities, and loyalties. I can't possibly begin to imagine my childhood without books and stories.
3. What is your writing practice, your writing routine?
It varies depending on the stage of the project, but I'm currently on a kick of trying not to work nights (after years and years of writing at night). We'll see how long I last! Even if I am doomed to fail, I'm attempting to write in the day and then do my reading and pondering and mulling at night. So far, so lovely. But when a deadline looms or a story grabs me by the back of the neck and demands that I finish it, I suspect that I will once again find myself sitting at a desk by moonlight, wondering if I will still be there at dawn.
4. Who are you reading now?
At the moment: Birds of a Feather by Jacqueline Winspear, Back to Blood by Tom Wolfe, Dark Lies the Island by Kevin Barry, Clear Winter Nights by Trevin Wax, and (my thriller airplane read) Siege by somebody or other.
5. What are three of your all-time favorite books? Why do you love those?
That Hideous Strength (my favorite novel in large part because of its effortless and awesome myth-weaving), Orthodoxy (
6. How do you balance "building a writing platform" and the actual writing to set on that platform?
For me, it's all the same thing. I haven't really set out to build a platform, but I have tried to maintain a consistent voice/brand. I can focus on making my stuff as good as I can make it, trying to cook meals that taste great and smell wonderful from blocks away. If I'm doing that, I'm happy. I think many authors spend too much time 'platforming' and too little time seeking and soliciting tough criticism, refining craft, expanding insight, etc. There are some authors who go about their art like they are building bee traps instead of books. Nothing immoral about that, it's just not who I want to be. I am on twitter (only because a publicist said I could set up an account or she would start one and begin tweeting for me–my handle became @ndwilsonmutters in snickering protest). I do enjoy twitter, despite its distractions. I forgot my linkedin password, and I have never plugged into Facebook (nor will I). To me, my inbox is a rustling pile of leaves. I crunch through it, missing the majority of what's there regardless of import, and rely on others to tell me when to pay any attention to it. I love the business of creating, and the business of tasting the creation. The peddling my wares bit, well, let's just call it a weak spot and leave it at that…
7.What is a typical day like for you?
Man, I need to get me some of those. What is this 'typical day' of which you speak?
I built an attic loft above the covered porch that's off the master bedroom in our very tall DIY home. I've now written at least…five books up there, and it still treats me well. Gorgeous view through rustling tree-tops, mini-fridge, bookshelves. I hope to add a spiral stair that directly accesses the loft from the bedroom. But before that, I wrote in the kids' playroom, and that was awesome too (although it required headphones).
9. What is the hardest writing critique you ever received? How did you respond?
I want to be quick to receive criticism (any accurate criticism is my friend and will only improve my future work). But if something is clearly wrong (or just irrelevant), I blow it off quickly and move on. Recently, my horrified wife forwarded me an email in which someone wanted to toss something truly gnarly on me. I won't even bother to repeat it here. My wife was upset by it, but it really didn't bother me…because it wasn't true. My texted reply (to my wife) consisted entirely of: Silly.
10. What is the best wisdom you have to share with other writers?
Focus on controlling what you can control, and don't fret about the rest. Make your stuff as good as you possibly can make it, steward your gifts, refine your craft, and realize that you live in a world in which cream rises. He who is excellent in his work will stand before kings. Every truly great writer has a different story about how they rose up to cultural influence, but they all have one thing in common–they were truly great. Be faithful with what you have been given and God will bless it. Faithfulness and diligence please Him. No other critic matters. No other critic can remove that endorsement
N. D. Wilson is the best-selling author of the 100 Cupboards
trilogy (now in more than 20 languages) and the acclaimed Ashtown Burialsseries (both from Random House). Notes from the Tilt-a-Whirl was adapted into the widely distributed "bookumentary" film of the same name.
He has adventured on camera for the National Geographic Channel and is currently involved in producing C.S. Lewis' The Great Divorce for the screen (which he adapted himself). His writing has been featured on media outlets ranging from NBC's Today show to NPR's All Things Considered.
He was born and raised in Moscow, Idaho, where he currently lives with his wife and their five young kids (along with two tortoises and a snake). He is a Fellow of Literature at New Saint Andrews College, where he teaches freshmen how to play with words.
Leave a comment here on the blog and share this interview for a chance to win a copy of Wilson's book Notes From The Tilt-A-Whirl: Wide-Eyed Wonder in God's Spoken World. A comment gets you one entry and each share another. In your comment, be sure to tell me where you shared it so that I can give you your full-scape of entries.
I'll announce the winner on Tuesday, September 3rd. Good luck!


text:
Adobe Fireworks CS4 software is used to rapidly prototype websites and application interfaces and to create and optimize images for the web more quickly and accurately. It is ideal for web designers, web developers, and visual designers. Simply having the software isn't enough, however; you'll need to know how to use it. In this CS4 video tutorial, you'll learn how to import files into Adobe Fireworks.
Import files into Adobe Fireworks CS4
Have an iPhone? Check out all 200+ new features coming in iOS 13.


text:
New Escape Room Games Online
People are always looking for escape room games online because once you do a new challenge, you cannot do it again. You know the clues, you know what to look for and you have to start over with a new challenge. Thankfully, escape rooms like Adventure Vault in Boca Raton offer more than one option so that you can enjoy multiple visits.
But what exactly are you looking for when trying to find new escape games online? To start, you want to make sure that people have enjoyed their experiences. If people are bragging about how much they loved the challenges then you know you have something worth trying. People who participate in these challenges on a regular basis know exactly what they want. They want something that is fun, different and gives them a thrill. If you can beat the level in less than half an hour is it really that much fun? You want to see situations where people struggled to get done in time because that's where the real excitement is.
The next thing you should look for when trying to find new escape games online is the theme. Believe it or not, the theme makes a big impact on how good the challenge is as well as if people will be interested in it. We all have our different interests and one of the reasons there is such a high demand for escape room games online is because there is literally something for everyone. Like mystery? It doesn't get more mysterious than this. Like to be challenged? You will have to answer several clues throughout the hour. That's why these adventures have become so popular; they are great for a birthday party or a simple Saturday night when you want to have some fun with your friends. So if you're ready to accept the challenge give us a call today!


text:
Obama the Muslim
Just one week after the mid-term elections, President Obama touched down today for a visit to Indonesia, the largest Muslim country in the world. Many Americans still believe Obama is a Muslim himself, which colors their view of him and his patriotism. What I want to know is whether Obama's Republican opponents will set the record straight, or further exploit this falsehood for their own political gain.
To me, it wouldn't matter whether Obama is Muslim. It bears no relationship to his abilities or love of country. But, according to public opinion surveys, large numbers of Americans still believe otherwise, and the president's "opponents" clearly know this and have long tapped into people's fears to oppose the president, no matter his stated beliefs or policies.
Indeed, in recent months, The White House has gone out of its way to "prove" the president's deep Christian faith to counter this misinformation. But, even with that, people like Glenn Beck have cast aspersions at the president's brand of Christianity. No matter the steps Obama takes, his opponents attack.
This week's edition of TIME magazine has on its cover John Boehner, the presumed new Speaker of the House of Representatives. On the heels of the mid-term elections, Boehner has pledged to work on behalf of the American people, bring more humility and transparency to his post and Congress, and be more inclusive of the Democratic minority. He and others in Washington, D.C. have said they've heard the American people: get to work.
Thus, there is no better time than today – this very day – for Boehner and his colleagues to demonstrate their commitment to their mission. They should publicly honor Obama's visit to Indonesia and, in doing so, forswear any more dirty politics involving the president's faith.
If the country is to have any chance to make progress in these trying times, then politicians must end their crass demonizing of one another and engage more forthrightly in the genuine policy debates about how we can move ahead. Let such disagreements and debates flourish; that's democracy. And make no mistake these debates will be heated and emotional as there are real issues at stake; but that's also part of democracy. But, let the debaters stop the mistruths, innuendoes and spread of falsehoods that only breed cynicism and fan the flames of fear.
Trust, or the lack of it, is at the core of the country's inability to make progress. Who can people trust is the number one issue we face today – who can they trust to create safe spaces for us to engage in public discourse without toxic acrimony and divisiveness; who can they trust to focus on issues that matter to them; and who can they trust to take action that is relevant to their lives.
During his campaign for president, John F. Kennedy sought to inoculate himself from those who feared a Catholic in The White House. Today, a single speech or series of public activities won't silence the questions about Obama's faith. Instead, too many people give in to the temptation to scapegoat all Muslims for what a relatively few have done. Only Obama's opponents themselves can put an end to the demagoguery and fear-mongering. On this very day, while Obama is in Indonesia, his opponents should squelch the dirty politics and rumors once and for all.


text:
The Vegas Golden Knights will be playing at T-Mobile Arena next year, but for now, the arena is giving fans a major dose of political correctness.
In a post on Facebook, T-Mobile Arena said, "From a 60-foot holiday tree to our first-ever ice rink at #ToshibaPlaza, we have everything you need to enjoy the holiday season. Join us tomorrow as we kick off Holiday at The Park starting around 5:00PM."
On the arena's website, the term 'holiday tree' is yet again mentioned, but so too is Santa Claus. It seems like that while taking elements associating with Christmas (because Christmas is awesome), they don't want to be associated with the holiday.
"Tis' the season at The Park from November 19, 2016 – January 15, 2017. An ornament-filled archway, frosted-crystal blooms, branches sparkling with icicle lights and The Park's 60-foot holiday tree will welcome visitors to the festive winter wonderland," the description says.
"Lace up your skates and show us your best axel jump on the first-ever ice rink at Toshiba Plaza, outside T-Mobile Arena. Don't feel like skating? Visit Santa Claus, listen to harmonious sounds of carolers all while sipping on hot beverages and snacking on delicious holiday treats provided by Levy Restaurants."
Carolers, trees, treats and not a single mention of Christmas. Who exactly are they trying not to offend?


text:
Aiken, Joan
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase
JUV A2883.w (sound recording)
Bonnie and her cousin Sylvia are left in the care of a grim governess when Bonnie's parents leave on a sea voyage. 2012.
Gerver, Jane (adaptation)
Little Women
JUV A35.lw
Tells the joys and sorrows of the four March sisters and their mother in nineteenth century New England. Adapted in 1999.
Atwater, Richard
Mr. Popper's Penguins
JUV A889.m Awards
Mr. Popper trains his twelve pet penguins to become stage sensations. 1938.
Barrie, J. M.
Peter Pan
JUV B274.p1
The adventures of Peter Pan, the boy who would not grow up, in Never-Never Land. 1950.
Baum, L. Frank
The Wizard of Oz
JUV 398.4.B3267w
After a cyclone, Dorothy finds herself in the land of Oz where she seeks out the great wizard hoping he can return her to Kansas. 1992.
Bianco, Margery Williams
The Velveteen Rabbit
JUV B4665.v
More than anything else, the Velveteen Rabbit wants to become real, just like the wild rabbits he's seen hopping in the woods. 1960s.
Bond, Michael
A Bear Called Paddington
JUV B6406.b
A very small bear found by Mr. and Mrs. Brown at Paddington station becomes one of the family. 1960.
Brink, Carol Ryrie
Caddie Woodlawn
JUV B77.c Awards
The adventures of an eleven-year-old tomboy growing up on the Wisconsin frontier in the mid-nineteenth century. 1935.
Burnett, Frances Hodgson
The Secret Garden
JUV B93.se
Ten-year-old Mary comes to live in a lonely house on the Yorkshire moors and discovers an invalid cousin and the mysteries of a locked garden. 1987.
Burnford, Sheila
The Incredible Journey
JUV B9315.i
A Siamese cat, an old bull terrier, and a young Labrador retriever travel together 250 miles through the Canadian wilderness to find their family. 1961.
Carroll, Lewis
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
JUV D663.a
A little girl falls down a rabbit hole and discovers a world of nonsensical and amusing characters. 1999.
Daugherty, James Henry
Daniel Boone
JUV B.B644Dd Awards
Traces the life of the colonial pioneer, hunter, and woodsman, from his youth in the Pennsylvania wilderness to his adventures exploring the frontier, especially the land called Kentucky. 1939.
De Jong, Meindert
The Wheel on the School
JUV D3646.wh Awards
The school children of a small fishing village in Holland search for a wheel to put on the roof of their school so that storks will nest there and bring good luck to the town. 1954.
Du Bois, William Pène
The Twenty-One Balloons
JUV D8506.tw Awards
A retired math teacher traveling by balloon crashes on the island of Krakatoa, shortly before it explodes. 1947.
Estes, Eleanor
The Hundred Dresses
JUV E793.h Awards
Wanda, in response to the taunts of her classmates because she only wears one dress to school, tells them that she has a hundred dresses at home. 1944.
Field, Rachel
Hitty, Her First Hundred Years
JUV ME COLL F454.h Awards
A doll named Hitty recounts her adventures as she moves through a continually changing string of owners. 1929.
Gates, Doris
Blue Willow
JUV G219.b Awards
A little girl, who wants most of all to have a real home and to go to and a regular school, hopes that the valley her family has come to, which so resembles the patter on her treasured blue willow plate, will be their permanent home. 1968.
George, Jean Craighead
My Side of the Mountain
JUV G2892.m Awards
A young boy relates his adventures during the year he spends living alone in the Catskill Mountains including his struggle for survival, his dependence on nature, his animal friends, and his ultimate realization that he needs human companionship. 1988.
Gipson, Fred
Old Yeller
JUV G4365.o Awards
A stray dog is adopted by a frontier family. 1956.
Grahame, Kenneth
The Wind in the Willows
JUV G762.w
Escapades of four animal friends who live along a river in the English countryside. 1940.
Irving, Washington
Rip Van Winkle
A man sleeps for twenty years in the Catskill Mountains and wakes to a much-changed world. 1984.
Kipling, Rudyard
The Jungle Book
JUV K62.j
Presents the adventures of Mowgli, a boy reared by a pack of wolves, and the wild animals of the jungle. 1991.
Kipling, Rudyard
Just So Stories
JUV K62.ju
Twelve stories about animals and insects including How the Camel Got His Hump; How the First Letter was Written, and How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin. 1952.
Knight, Eric
Lassie Come-Home
JUV 636.78.K744l
A collie undertakes a 1000-mile journey in order to once again meet her former master at the school gate. 1940.
Lewis, C. S.
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
JUV L5807.l
Four English schoolchildren find their way through the back of a wardrobe into the magic land of Narnia. 1994.
Lindgren, Astrid
Pippi Longstocking
JUV L6409.p
Escapades of an unusual little girl who lives with a horse and a monkey, but without any parents. 1977.
Lofting, Hugh
Doctor Doolittle: A Treasury
JUV L825.d13
An introduction to Doctor Doolittle's world of animals, including selections from eight of Lofting's books about him, and many of the author's original drawings. 1967.
MacDonald, Betty Bard
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle
JUV M139.m
From her upside-down house, the eccentric Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle issues to parents her marvelous cures for such common children's diseases as Won't-Put-Away-Toys-itis, Answerbackism, and Fighter-Quarrelitis. 1957.
Milne, A. A.
JUV M633.w
The adventures of Christopher Robin, Pooh Bear, Piglet and Eeyore. 1961.
Norton, Mary
The Borrowers
JUV N8183.b
Miniature people live in an old country house and borrow things from the humans. 1953.
Sandburg, Carl
Rootabaga Stories
JUV S213.r
Forty-nine whimsical and humorous stories. 1923.
Sewell, Anna
Black Beauty: The Autobiography of a Horse
JUV S516.b
A horse in nineteenth-century England recounts his experiences with both good and bad masters. 1945.
Selden, George
The Cricket in Times Square
JUV T3736.c Awards
A country cricket falls into a picnic basket and ends up in New York City. 1960.
Spyri, Johanna
JUV S77.h
A Swiss orphan is heartbroken when she must leave her beloved grandfather and their happy home in the mountains to go to school and to care for a wheelchair-bound disabled girl in Frankfurt, Germany. 1922.
Travers, P. L.
Mary Poppins
JUV T6975.m
The wind brings four English children a new nanny who slides up the banister and introduces them to some delightful people and experiences. 1962.
White, E. B.
Charlotte's Web
JUV ME COLL W5862.c Awards
The story of Wilbur, the pig, smallest of the litter, who is raised by the farmer's daughter, and who finds a friend in Charlotte, the spider. 1980.
White, E. B.
Stuart Little
JUV ME COLL W5862.s
The adventures of the debonair mouse Stuart Little as he sets out in the world to seek out his dearest friend, a little bird who stayed a few days in his family's garden. 1973.
Wilder, Laura Ingalls
Little House on the Prairie
JUV W64045.li
A family travels from the big woods of Wisconsin to a new home on the prairie, where they build a house, meet neighboring Indians, build a well, and fight a prairie fire. 1981.
Wyss, Johann
The Swiss Family Robinson
JUV W99.s
The fortunes of a family struggling to survive after being shipwrecked on an island with abundant plant and animal life. 1947.


text:
After Siemens: German Firms Remain Heavily Involved in Iran
"In Response to Iran's Nuclear Program, German Firms Are Slowly Pulling Out" reads the headline in the February 2 edition of the New York Times. Out of Iran, one supposes. The basis for this vast generalization is the decision of a single German firm, the engineering giant Siemens, to forgo any new contracts with Iranian partners. But documents show that some 200 German firms are active in Iran — and that the real extent of German-Iranian trade has surely been underestimated.
See my new article on Pajamas Media here.
- February 13th, 2010
- Tags: Germany & Iran, NYTimes


text:
- $6.99
- $6.99
Publisher Description
This book brings the world of reptiles to life with eye-catching photos and captivating information about turtles, snakes, lizards, crocodiles, and their scaly-skinned kin. Readers will learn how reptiles survive in many habitats, from hot deserts to tropical forests and even under the sea. They'll get an up-close look at reptiles' amazing senses, tricky defenses, and wide variety of strategies for moving around, catching and eating food, and bearing young.


text:
Eeps! This M-i-L is being a P-i-t-A!
Writes Save the Date reader Sarah:
My fiance's mother is insanely aggressive. She's not paying for our wedding, but she keeps announcing what she wants on the menu and where her guests will sit. She's not making suggestions, she's telling me how things ARE going to be. And any time my fiance and I disagree—even if the decision is minor and not wedding-related, like the color of bedspread or style of furniture we're registering for—she always weighs in and ALWAYS agrees with him. It dries me crazy. My wedding is just two weeks away, and I'm not sure if I can make it! Help!"
Here are my thoughts:
As someone who also has a, um, "vocal" mother-in-law, here's my best advice: In regards to the wedding, remind yourself that she just wants it to be a great party. Then grin, bear it, and do things your way. Obviously it's YOUR wedding, but if her friends and family members are going to be there, she wants to feel a little bit in control, even if she doesn't exactly deserve that control, since she's not hosting (read: paying for) the party. Let her say that you're serving shrimp cocktail and her friends are sitting at tables 1, 2 and 3. If her plans don't jibe with your own, come up with a list of rational reasons why, and present them to your fiance. (Your reasons shouldn't be, "I WANNA DO THINGS MY WAY." I understand that you want to organize your own damn party, but unless there's a good reason she CAN'T have her way, maybe just let one or two things slide. That way no one accuses you of being unreasonable. And I'm not saying you ARE being unreasonable, I'm just saying that brides have this reputation, so ...)
And as far as the rest of your life goes—whether you're talking about what color to paint your living room or where you future kids will go to pre-school—do your best to make well-considered, educated decisions with your husband ahead of time, then you can let her know what you're doing. She may (read: will) think your living room should be blue and her grandkids should go to private school, but if you and your husband have already gone through the decision-making process, hopefully she'll respect your decision. And if she doesn't, you might need to ask her to do just that. You know, "We value your input and we consider it every time, but we've decided that we're not serving pigs in a blanket/vacationing in Florida/buying our kids a brand new car for reasons X, Y and Z. We'd appreciate it if you'd respect our decision, because it's already been made."
Whether you're talking about two weeks from now or two decades from now, do your best to be calm and civil—and when you HAVE to complain (and, oh, honey, you WILL have to complain!) whine to your friends and not your husband, who will likely defend her every time, no matter how crazy she's talking. Take a deep breath, and remind yourself that no matter how awful she's acting, she raised an awesome son, so you should try (try!) to respect her for that.


text:
What is it about dragons? We read the My Father's Dragon series last year. Junior now recommends it to his friends with the panache of a true enthusiast. At present, we're two books into the How To Train Your Dragon series here, and we're all completely captivated by Toothless, the hero's small, lazy, crochety, and almost completely talentless dragon. In this week's blog post, Michele Braun discusses her family's favorite (literary) dragons. Do you have a favorite?
The salesperson at our then-local bookstore recommended My Father's Dragon, by Ruth Stiles Gannett (you can see a public domain edition of the first story in print and also listen to the audio recording), when my daughter was about three years old. She fell so much in love with the baby dragon of the title that I painted his portrait on to the cake for her 4th birthday. This baby dragon, named Boris, is ever cheerful and ever resourceful, as he and Elmer, the "my father" of the title, go adventuring. Boris is the youngest in a family in which the markings on all the twelve dragon children are different combinations of blue and gold. Boris is distinctive in his wide blue and gold stripes. His dragon dad is blue, mom is gold, [or other way around?] and the other eleven siblings (6 girls and 5 boys) are beautiful patterns in gold and blue. Somehow I managed to find a very small container of edible gold leaf and stayed up into the wee hours decorating that cake. Boris became the first of many dragons that landed on birthday cakes in our house. My cake painting technique has improved over the years, but Boris had the honor of being the first.
What is it about dragons that are so captivating? Ursula Le Guin, a favorite author because of the elegance of her prose as well as the content of her stories, observed that "It seems to be a fact that everybody, everywhere, even if they haven't met one before, recognizes a dragon." I have been fortunate to meet many dragons. With the exception of komodo dragons at the Smithsonian's National Zoo, however, I've never met one in person. I have, of course, frequently come to know dragons through the pages of beloved books.
Now, let me introduce you to a few favorite dragons, as well as to the books where you too can get to know them.
Unlike Boris, Smaug, the dragon in JRR Tolkein's The Hobbit, is a nasty piece of work who sleeps greedily on his pile of gold and jewels. Smaug is a wily character, who bedevils Bilbo Baggins, the book's earnest but somewhat bumbling hero. I've not seen either the animated or the live-action movie versions of The Hobbit, but reading about Bilbo, his love of adventure, and his attempts to outthink Smaug surely provides far more hours of pleasure than any two- or three-hour movie can.
Sometime in her mid-elementary school years, I took my daughter to see the new movie based on Eragon, by Christopher Paolini. We enjoyed the movie, and Saphira, the dragon and co-lead character, was reasonably endearing. But…, but…, but something was wrong. On the way home, I informed my daughter that it was about time she read the classics. More specifically, the classics of dragon lore. I could tell that Paolini, who had been home schooled and had started writing while high-school aged, had himself read and reread these classics because Saphira so clearly drew on the world of Anne McCaffery.
Dragonflight and Dragonquest, the first two books in Anne McCaffery's Dragonriders of Pern series introduced huge dragons with telepathic powers that enabled them to communicate with the especially sensitive humans who ride them and with whom they create unbreakable life-long bonds. Together, dragons and humans defend the planet Pern, which has been settled by refugees from intergalactic wars, from natural and human enemies. Yes, I know this sounds hokey, but it works, especially because McCaffery created a complex world and, unlike much science fiction, her female characters are as strong leaders as the males. Also, I think McCaffery's Pern books were the originals, providing a set up on which other authors have drawn.
In a related series, McCaffery's Harper Hall trilogy for younger and teen audiences, Dragonsong and Dragonsinger follow young teen Menolly as she hitches rides astride the huge Pernese dragons and impresses "fire lizards," (miniature dragons). Menolly struggles and succeeds in creating her distinctive place in an unaccountably male-dominated feudal society. The third book, Dragondrums focuses on Menolly's friend Piemur, whose irrepressible good humor and insatiable insistence on breaking rules leads him into memorable adventures and unusual pets.
The dragons in Ursula Le Guin's Earthsea cycle fly among the lands of Earthsea and sometimes threaten human settlements but are not evil. Rather, these dragons are descendants of an ancient race with their own language and ways of being. The Earthsea books were for many years a marvelous trilogy about wizards, magic, and great, enigmatic dragons. Over the years, Le Guin, a prolific author, turned to writing other books. Then, she says that events had moved forward in Earthsea. In the author's words, "A mere glimpse at the place told me that things had been happening there while I wasn't looking. It was high time to go back and find out what was going on now." By including newly unfolding events plus dragon pre-history, the Earthsea serices expanded to six books—The Wizard of Earthsea (1968), The Tombs of Atuan (1971), The Farthest Shore (1972), Tehanu (1990), Tales from Earthsea (2001), The Other Wind (2001)—as well as several short stories. (Spoiler alert: There are no dragons in the excellent The Tombs of Atuan.) Le Guin's voice is that of a storyteller, so these are quite enjoyable to read aloud.
Finally, a favorite picture book about the sweetest dragons you will ever meet and their reluctant rescuer: Good Night Good Knight, by Shelley Moore Thomas, pictures by Jennifer Plecas. I leave you with the first page:
The rest you will have to read out loud, even if you are alone.
Michele says, "At bedtime, my mother would read to us. I favored Beatrix Potter and Madeline, while my brother requested the nonfiction Microbe Hunters. Summers during junior and senior high school, my mother would insist that I not spend my 'down time' sprawled on the couch; I should go outside. So I'd take my book to the lounge chair out back, but never stop reading. Since my daughter was born, I've read thousands, maybe tens of thousands, of pages to her, rediscovering old favorites and exploring new stories and worlds together."
I welcome guest posts! If you're interested in writing a post, let me know!


text:
UK delivery from £3.50
Tracked 2 Day Royal Mail Service
Superior Wicking Properties and Anti-Bacterial Finish
Great Value!
We are so impressed with the quality of your service!! My boyfriend and I, both dancers, ordered two pairs of Bloch Criss Cross dance sneakers on Tuesday night, with delivery to Finland. On Friday at 9 am, they were at our door! We were impressed by the speed of both dispatching and delivery. We also were impressed by that the shoes were packed well and neither the package nor the shoes were damaged in any way during the delivery. Well done! Will definitely recommend your website to other dancers!
© 2019 UK Dance Trainers, PO BOX 973
Wembley HA9 1FT
England. Telephone: 01895 808699. Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Web design by MID


text:
I'm willing to bet that you've thrown away a lot of perfectly good makeup, cleanser, maybe even shampoo. Sure, you may think it's empty… nothing's coming out of the bottle anymore, right? You have no idea how much of your products you are actually wasting.
Products that come in tubes are usually favored by many, because it dispenses easily and hygienically. In my experience, this is one type of packaging that easily allows you to waste product by thinking it's empty, when there could still be so much left for you to use!
The Every Drop Beauty Tube Squeezers let you get every last drop of your favorite tubed products. This plastic gizmo clamps over the end of any tube, and will flatten out the packaging as you slide it towards the spout. This pushes all of the product up towards the opening, making it easier to dispense when there's a small amount left, and makes sure no drop is left behind! I've also found that this helps product keep its consistency, because you're eliminating the air from the tube that could potentially dry it out.
Skin care and hair products that come in pump bottles are also notorious for making you think there's nothing left, while there is still product at the bottom, just under the straw and in the corners. I was ready to throw away this cleanser about a month ago, and it's been sitting neglected in my shower because I couldn't get any more product out. Luckily, I kept forgetting to throw it away. When I got a hold of the Every Drop Beauty Spatula, I went to work trying to salvage what was left— which was almost half a shot's worth. (Yep, a shot glass was the only clear container I had around the apartment… shh!) This was enough product for seven extra uses— a whole extra week! There are even smaller spatulas for you lipgloss junkies.
These inexpensive tools will help you maximize your dollar on every product you spend– no more wasting beauty products! So next time you think the bottle's empty, think again.


text:
Clock Tower Events Wedding in Denver Colorado | Cecilia & Darin
A lovely and exceptionally beautiful elopement wedding at Clock Tower Events in downtown Denver. Absolutely LOVED everything about this couple. Their charisma, intelligence and their ability to really work it for the camera (and willingness to go the extra mile with my crazy ideas for photos!) Can't say enough amazing things about my experience in Denver with Cecilia and Darin!! Here's their wedding but don't miss their snowy engagement session and their cliff hanging after session on a mountain top in Colorado!
Engagements: Denver | After Session: Lookout Mountain | Indoor After Session: Coming Soon