text:
Effective and Efficient Meetings
Meetings are such a dread. Haven't you attended meetings
which are totally unproductive, time-wasting, and boring? Or
are you guilty of chairing such meetings? In one of my places
of work, I had meetings almost round the clock. "Remember
that time is money." If you agree with Benjamin Franklin, time
is a huge cost to the company. While I won't say they were all
unproductive, I would think that meeting times could have
been halved if the meetings had been better conducted. You
can't do away with meetings, be it in person, or through a
teleconference or internet relay chat. What you can do,
however, is to conduct them effectively and efficiently, and
make them engaging and purposeful.
Belling the Cat
[Illus by Milo Winter]
The Mice once called a meeting to decide on a plan to free
themselves of their enemy, the Cat. At least they wished to find
some way of knowing when she was coming, so they might have
time to run away. Indeed, something had to be done, for they
lived in such constant fear of her claws that they hardly dared
stir from their dens by night or day.
Many plans were discussed, but none of them was thought good
enough. At last a very young Mouse got up and said:
"I have a plan that seems very simple, but I know it will be
successful. All we have to do is to hang a bell about the Cat's neck.
When we hear the bell ringing we will know immediately that
our enemy is coming."
All the Mice were much surprised that they had not thought of
such a plan before. But in the midst of the rejoicing over their
good fortune, an old Mouse arose and said:
"I will say that the plan of the young Mouse is very good. But let
me ask one question: Who will bell the Cat?"
The Mice looked at one another and nobody spoke. Then the
old Mouse said:
"It is easy to propose impossible remedies."
It is much easier said than done.
Let those who propose be willing to perform.
It is one thing to say that something should be done, but quite
a different matter to do it.
Kidding me:
You may have read the joke that has been freely circulated on
the internet regarding the organs of the body having a meeting
to decide who's the boss. I wrote a poem out of it, and put it in
a nice frame. You may show this to your boss the next time he
is behaving like a 'you-know-what'. If you need a larger or
clearer copy, let me know, and I could send it to you.
Quotable Quotes:
"A conference is a gathering of important people who,
singly, can do nothing but together can decide that
nothing can be done." ... Fred Allen
"Outside of traffic, there is nothing that has held this
country back as much as committees." ... Will Rogers
"The length of a meeting rises with the number of
people present and the productiveness of a meeting
falls with the square of the number of people present."
... Eileen Shanahan
"The executives of corporate America spend 70 to 80
percent of their time in meetings ... are 70 to 80 percent
posturing and leveling." ... Nicholas Negroponte
"While we're talking, envious time is fleeing; seize the
day, put no trust in the future." ... Horace
"He who would make serious use of his life ... must
schedule his time as though he were about to die."
... Emile Littre
[browse collection of quotes and quotations]
Lessons in life:
Through the years, I have learned a trick or two in hosting
effective and efficient meetings:-
1. Call for a meeting only when you have something important
to discuss or share. Focus on one or two key issues, leaving some
time for ancillary reports and housekeeping matters. Quite often,
we may have reserved our senior members' time by fixing
meetings on a certain day, at the same time, every week. The
same rule applies, i.e., if there is nothing important to raise,
cancel the meeting. Some decisions can be confirmed via an
exchange of emails. Even board resolutions can be circulated
and endorsed, without requiring the directors to meet.
2. Invite as few people as possible to the meeting. Managers
like to round up every member in the team to hear what they
have to discuss. If you have a sales department of say, 50
members, will you want to waste 2 hours of all their time, which
works out to 100 man-hours? Will it not be better to meet up
with their section heads, or team leaders, and have them
disseminate the information after the meeting?
3. When fixing a time for a meeting, I usually go by a rule of
thumb – meetings requiring brainstorming, problem solving,
and decision-making on critical issues are to be held in the
morning; every other type of meetings may be held in the
afternoon. My belief is that our brains are most active in the
morning. We tend to feel sleepy after lunch (there is a
number of scientific explanations for this), and packing an
afternoon meeting with heavy agenda is surely going to put
your members to sleep.
4. The Boy Scout's motto, "Be Prepared" applies here. Plan
for the meeting, and get all participants thoroughly prepared.
This would include stipulating a time duration for the meeting,
circulating the agenda (issues to be discussed) in advance,
identifying the speakers to address on particular issues, and
getting ready the equipment like projector, flipchart, and video
player. I read an interesting article by Guy Kawasaki, which he
termed the 10/20/30 Rule of Powerpoint. He opines that an
effective Powerpoint presentation should have 10 slides, last
no more than 20 minutes, and contain no font size smaller than
30 points. Before the meeting, try to address the problems at
the sideline, have dialogues with the individuals, and make some
minor decisions. Ensure that the relevant participants do their
homework, research, and can provide the necessary information
at the meeting.
5. Remind everyone, including yourself, to turn up punctually.
Once the meeting commences, dispense with small talk; reserve
the chit chat for informal settings. Close the door, switch off all
cell-phones, pagers, and if possible, all computer notebooks.
Yes, notebooks. You won't want the people to be sending each
other love messages or emails during the meeting. The
secretaries and receptionists should be briefed on the handling
of all phone calls, and are not to interrupt the meeting unless it
is a matter of life and death.
6. I like to start with the most important item on the agenda.
Reasons are two-fold. One, people are usually fresh, energetic,
and responsive at the start. Two, if there is insufficient time to
go through the rest of the agenda, you are assured that the
main purpose of your meeting has been covered.
7. The role of the chairperson of a meeting is that of a
facilitator, not a leader. If you are the sort who makes all the
decisions, you don't need a meeting to rubberstamp your
decisions; all you need to do is to inform the staff through
email about the decisions you have unilaterally made. People
like to feel empowered and important. They come to a meeting
precisely to share their wisdom and experience. Ask them for
suggestions, ideas, and proposals. Keep directing and re-
directing the questions. The tone need not be serious
throughout. I like to punctuate meetings with humor. A light-
hearted mood promotes discussion. Be in control. If someone
is sidetracked, steer him back. If someone is not attentive,
involve him in the discussion. The boss may share his views,
but should do that sparingly, and in any event only after a lively
debate. If the boss speaks too soon on the subject, the debate is
likely to end. In their mind, "God has spoken".
8. For a meeting to be successful, it must encompass action
plans. If it is a project, carve out the various areas of
responsibility, determine who is to take charge of each portfolio,
set deadlines for submission of proposals (for programme,
budget, logistics, manpower, publicity, etc.). After the meeting,
be sure to monitor their progress. By doing so, you show your
concern and involvement, as well as ensure that they are on
target to meet their deadlines.
9. It is essential to keep a record of the key points raised at the
meeting. These meeting "minutes" should be brief, highlighting
the main arguments, the decisions made, and the plans for
action. They should be circulated to all the relevant staff,
including those who are not invited to the meeting but should
be aware of the matters covered.
From a managerial perspective, I see meetings as a great
platform to assess the staff. You can appreciate their thought
processes, knowledge depth, and also the true-self which will
usually surface in the midst of a heated debate.
Related Articles:
Leaders must be decisive
Control and Overcome Procrastination
Books worth reading:
For an interesting insight into the management philosophy
of Japanese companies in maintaining quality in their
products while eliminating wasted time and resources, a good
read is this The Toyota Way: 14 Management Principles From
The World's Greatest Manufacturer. Among other things, you
will learn about their A3 process which helps to accomplish
effective meetings.
The Time Trap: The Classic Book on Time Management is
instructive on time management techniques. Hear what Alec
MacKenzie has to say on cutting down time wasters to achieve
personal and professional successes.
© Business Fables and Management Lessons


text:
Your shopping cart is empty!
The Big Party stock a Jake & the Neverland Pirates party range which includes all of the Jake & the Neverland Pirates decorations, tableware & accessories you could need.
Order today before 2pm for next business day delivery across Ireland and there is free delivery for all orders over 50 Euro.
Order from thebigparty.ie - Ireland's #1 online shop for kids' party supplies.

subset: commoncrawl


text: Afghanistan's security situation remains unstable, as the country enters the summer fighting season [Reuters] At least 14 civilians, including women and children, have been killed in a NATO air raid in the Afghan southern province of Helmand, local authorities say.US Marines in Helmand's Nawzad district called in air support after their base came under attack from small arms fire, the provincial government said in a statement."During the air strike, two civilian houses were targeted, which killed 14 civilians and six others were wounded," it said. The statement said the dead included five girls, seven boys and two women. "ISAF are aware of the reports that civilians were allegedly killed in an ISAF air strike," Major Tim James, a spokesman for the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force, told the AFP news agency. Aslam, a local elder of Nawzad district, said he "lost 12 relatives while 10 others including children were injured" in the air strike. He said some shots were fired at ISAF helicopters which flew into the area, adding that the choppers returned after 10 to 20 minutes and fired rockets, killing the "innocent civilians". Civilian deaths Afghan authorities said on Sunday NATO had killed 52 people, mostly civilians, in air strikes against fighters, as violence picked up in recent weeks with the start of the fighting season. Separately, the governor of Nuristan on Sunday said that 18 civilians and 20 police were killed by "friendly fire" during recent US-led air strikes against al-Qaeda-linked fighters in his troubled northeastern province. Owen Leitch reports on the blast that killed northern Afghanistan's top security chief on Saturday. Nuristan was the scene of heavy battles last week between the Taliban and Afghan security forces. The police and civilians were targeted on Wednesday after they were mistaken for al-Qaeda-linked fighters, Jamaluddin Badr said. "The policemen were killed due to friendly fire," Badr said, adding the air strike in the troubled district of Do Ab targeted a location that the officers had just taken from the fighters during clashes. "Civilians were killed because the Taliban ... [who] ran out of ammunition fled into the civilians' houses and then the civilians were mistaken with the Taliban and fired upon," the governor said. Major James of ISAF said those allegations were also being investigated. "ISAF has sent a fact-finding team to investigate the allegations about civilian and police casualties in Nuristan," he said. "Our initial reporting does not indicate civilian casualties in that air strike," he added. NATO strikes Civilian casualties in the US-led war against al-Qaeda-linked Taliban fighters is a sensitive issue and one of the main causes of a widening drift between President Hamid Karzai and his US backers. Karzai on Saturday ordered his defence minister, Abdul Rahim Wardak, to take over control of night raids from the NATO forces. Karzai's administration says most civilian casualties occur during such operations and that night raids of civilian homes drive war-weary Afghans against his already-fragile administration. There are about 130,000 NATO-led foreign troops in Afghanistan, fighting a Taliban-led insurgency launched after the 2001 invasion brought down their regime in Kabul. SOURCE: Al Jazeera and agencies Politics Asia US & Canada Afghanistan United States


text:
Our technology is available free for non-commercial purposes in the form of the GrFNN Toolbox. To use our technology commercially, please contact us at email@example.com to discuss commercial licensing options.
The GrFNN Toolbox is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License. It is not allowable to include this software library in a commercial or proprietary program. If you desire to copy, distribute, or modify the Program, including in connection with your own proprietary work, other than in accordance with the terms of the GNU General Public License, you may contact firstname.lastname@example.com.
GrFNN Toolbox is copyright 2016 by The Music Dynamics Lab and Oscilloscape LLC Our technology is protected by US patents 7,376,562 and 8,583,442 to Oscilloscape, LLC; other US and International patents pending.


text:
Prince Polo Classic (36gr)
Prince Polo Classic chocolate wafer bar. Crisp wafer with cocoa filling covered with plain chocolate.
Four layers of wafer and three layers of chocolate inside.
Prince Polo has been one of the most popular chocolate in Iceland for the past 55 years, imported from Poland.
Tip of the day:
Icelandic word for candy is "nammi"


text:
Arkham City Robin gets some extra costumes/
Now we all know that Robin will be a playable character in the challenge maps and that his mentor, the dark knight himself, will be having alternate costumes to be obtained via pre-order. Looks like the boy wonder will be having a few wardrobe changes as well.
The hooded Robin is something we have already seen when he was first revealed. Along with that look, he will also have a Red Robin skin and one from the Animated Series.


text:
I'm standing in the middle of the bridge. Beneath me, the river. It roars, announcing its presence, its power, its inexhaustible and unending flux. The sky above me is a great slab of slate.
Not slate. Slate has presence. The sky makes itself known in its absence. It is void, vacuum, the howling expanse that envelopes all the world. Pitiless. Blind.
I am suspended over one river and yet immersed in another, an interminable flow of people streaming over the bridge. I stand in the midst of it all, and this human river cleaves about me as if I were a stone splitting the water. I cannot move so the world moves around me.
There is a strong and steady wind, which seems to come from all sides at once. Both ahead of me and behind me there are the towers of the city, reaching ever skyward, straining to blaspheme against the essential nullity of the above with their actuality. The above and the below, incomparable, unalike, having only intransigence in common.
As the towers rush up to fill the sky, the sky reaches down and surrounds them with nothingness. Every ingress the below makes into the above is returned with simultaneous attack and retreat, the actual eternally surrounded by the null.
That is when the sky finally fell. It exploded downward, quicker than anything, with all the implacable urgency of time itself, screaming all the way. The world beneath my feet retreated from it in desperation, had already retreated, had begun its retreat as soon as the sky had begun its assault.
And it was then that I realised the impossible. With a single inner motion, the inconceivable was conceived. I was not falling downward with the world, the world remained where it always had. It was I that fell upwards.
And as I fell, I felt my presence dissolving, the actuality of my being converting into nullity, thing into no-thing, and after my initial fear subsided, I welcomed this as an infant would welcome a return to the womb.


text:
Two photographs taken in Alice Springs have made the cut for the prestigious National Photographic Portrait Prize held in Canberra each year. ...
ABC Alice Springs Archives
Stories from 06 December, 2010 on ABC Alice Springs (10 items)
Australia's unofficial poet laureate returns with a new collection of songs, dubbed The A-Z Recordings....
Northern Territory Opposition Leader Terry Mills says people can read an alleged phone conversation transcript and form their own view about whether ...
A 20-year-old man was robbed at knifepoint in Alice Springs at the weekend....
When you start looking at many of the issues surrounding climate change and other environmental problems, it's quite easy to feel overwhelmed by it ...
A 25-year-old man has died after he fell off his motorbike on a private property near Alice Springs....
Air services between Tennant Creek and Alice Springs resume today....
Two photographs taken in Central Australia have been short-listed in the National Portrait Prize....
Australia's workplace ombudsman is planning to audit dozens of hospitality businesses in Alice Springs and Katherine in the next two months. ...
- Arts and Entertainment
- Business, Economics and Finance
- Community and Society
- Defence and National Security
- Disasters and Accidents
- Education
- Environment
- Government and Politics
- Health
- Human Interest
- Information and Communication
- Law, Crime and Justice
- Lifestyle and Leisure
- Rural
- Science and Technology
- Sport
- Unrest, Conflict and War
- Weather


text:
Sydney Blinds Online
Offering one of the largest ranges of window furnishings online in Australia, The Blinds Company provide a huge range of high quality products at the best prices Australia wide. With the beautifully warm Sydney weather, blinds are an important addition to any Sydney home. Blinds are the most practical way to manage the amount of light, the temperature and the level of privacy your home provides your family. With a simple and easy way to dress your home, our made-to-measure sophisticated and contemporary blinds or curtains will add value to any home. Keeping your home comfortable through the ever-changing Sydney weather, our versatile range has something for each and every room.
From a range of Roller Blinds, Roman Blinds, Venetian Blinds and Panel Glide Blinds, dressing your home has never been easier. Improving the functionality and appearance of your Sydney home, knowing that choice matters to suit your sense of style, The Blinds Company offers the perfect solutions for you. Our Roller Blinds are high quality, customisable and versatile to suit all rooms of your house with a modern and uncluttered appearance. Without sacrificing the great functionality roller blinds provide, our range is eye-pleasing and streamlined to provide an excellent option when aiming to achieve a look of elegance and sophistication. Roman blinds are also a great option for Sydney homes, with delicate soft folds these blinds transform your windows style. Bringing a sense of timeless elegance to any room in your home, our Roman Blinds come in a range of fabrics and style to suit your every need. Venetian Blinds make for a great clean cut, contemporary look in your home. Venetians are perfect for controlling sunlight as you can effortlessly enjoy the afternoon's warmth or reduce the glare simply by adjusting the cord. A charming and practical option for any window space, Panel Glide Blinds are made from sleek fabric panels that effortlessly glide across a single headrail track. This user-friendly design allows for smooth operation, making light control a breeze. So if you're looking to give your Sydney home a new look and feel, we have a range of styles, colours and designs to suit each individual taste.
Based in Perth, no matter where you live in Australia, we'll deliver our ready-made curtains to you within 21 days. The Blinds Company offer 24-month warranty on all custom-made products. See more in About Us for information on Warranty & Exchange Policy, FAQ, Style Mag, Free Samples, Huge Stocks, Feefo Reviews, 30 Day Money Back Guarantee, Customer Service and more.


text: The i4 series for the batch 2016-18 was resumed after a month-long break on 3rd December 2016 at the iFEEL campus, Lonavala. This week's i4 saw the presence of two highly respected individuals in the industry, Mr. Chetan Tolia, CEO & Executive Director, WREPL (A Tata Power Company) and Dr. Hitesh Bhatt, Director- Marketing & Communications, Retailers Association of India. ...Read More »


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POST-TIVO ANALYSIS: WASHINGTON V CALIFORNIAFirst, a word about our old nemesis Tyrone Willingham.
With Willingham, what you see is what you get. You get a guy who is absolutely obsessed with discipline and preparation. For the past several years Washington has displayed about as much consistency as Holly Golightly on a crystal bender. Under Snake and the Fatman, UW didn't block or tackle at D-1 levels, and they were good for 5-7 hideous mental mistakes a game. Sometimes they didn't bother to show up. This UW team comes ready to play. They absolutely took the game to Cal along both lines, and their secondary played a superb game for about three quarters.
But then there's the other side of Ty Willingham. His bland as a tuna fish sandwich on wonder bread personality drives sportswriters and fans to distraction, and it's reflected on the field as well. UW was in Saturday's game because of the first Ty - but they failed to put us away because of the 2nd Ty. To wit:
* He didn't show nearly enough faith in Bonnell to win the football game with his feet. Look, I know it's your backup QB and you don't have much behind him. But Willingham was happy to call for five and seven-second drops in the passing game (which expose his QB's blind side) - why not call for more QB draws and rolls and just tell him to hook slide if he's in trouble? A Bonnell rollout would have made a lot more sense than running Louis Rankin or Kenny James up the middle again and again and again...
* Which brings up UW's absolutely maddening play selection in 3rd and short. Time after time they gave the ball to the deep I-back (James or Rankin) and on all but one occasion they failed to convert. As good as UW's line was in pass protect, they really struggled to get a consistent push in the run game. This was apparent after 15 minutes, but OC Tom Lappano kept calling the same play in short yardage.
* Ty called one gadget play, and it worked bigtime (the flea flicker pass). It wouldn't have hurt to roll the dice more than once, particularly given Cal's tendency to overpursue. I was shocked that we didn't see at least one reverse.
Willingham definitely has the Huskies back in the Pac-10 mix, and that's a testament to his ability to manage a program. It will take more, however, to win conference titles and satisfy a notoriously tempermental fan base. On Saturday, he had the chance to step on Cal's collective throat and he chose to play it safe. That won't do in this conference.
Cal Summary:
OL - TIVO doesn't lie. Our lines were handled for most of the game. I doubt that anyone on the O Line grades out very well. This is the 2nd straight game that we've been average-to-poor in pass protection. I could accept it a bit more easily against M'Kristo Bruce and the gang than I can against this Washington defense, which is solid but unspectacular. We also had a couple of very costly penalties, including a false start by Robertson on the go-ahead drive. Robertson also whiffed on a block that busted our 4th and 1 try deep in UW territory.
QB - Longshore is a puzzle. He did feel some pressure, but on more than a few occasions he simply missed open receivers on three and five step drops. He had his greatest difficulties throwing into the wind during the first and third quarters - his throws tended to sail, indicating an overcompensation on Nate's part.
RB/FB - Lynch put the team on his back in the 2nd half. I was particularly impressed by his ball management - Willingham emphasizes the strip and Husky defenders were going for the football on every carry. An historic performance that I will remember long after Marshawn drives his equipment cart out of Berkeley. Forsett had a hard time finding holes, but made a nice reception in the 1st Q; I thought Storer had an unusually poor day blocking though it was nice to see him get two touches (!).
WR/TE - Receivers had their worst outing since Tennessee. I just don't believe the UW secondary is good enough to prevent DeSean from getting seperation at least occasionally. Opposing coaches will try to take him out of the game, but we still need to find a way to get him more than three touches. Hawkins got less attention, but had some very costly drops. Jordan was OK and made a crucial catch on a difficult pass in the last drive. TE Craig Stevens played a very good game - maybe his best of the year.
DL - The D line as usual played solid against the run, but couldn't get any pressure rushing four. This continues to be a concern, and may force us to blitz more than we'd like against the LA schools.
LB - Linebackers played a whale of a game. Desmond Bishop was on fire and played his best game as a Bear - I counted one significant mistake in sixty minutes of football - highlighted by sixteen tackles and a pick. Zach Follett made a couple of drive-ending plays, including an improbable diving interception. Our entire linebacking corps is so athletic, they essentially take away the other team's screen game. Willingham went away from it after our LB's blew a couple up in the first half. Worrell Williams had a great interception, taking the ball away from a UW receiver.
DB - Secondary was uneven. SQT continues to improve, but still gets lost as he did on the Russo score right before halftime. On a positive note, his run support continues to be very good, and he hasn't gone into the tank despite some early-season difficulties. Hughes was generally good, though he did fail to check Marlon Wood on the Hail Mary and he got beat in the 4th quarter (only to be saved by when Brandon Hampton tipped the ball away at the last second). Safety play was generally good, though we failed to pick up the TE on a couple of occasions.
Special teams - Larson was typically brilliant and Schneider was 3-4 including a wind-aided 50 yarder. The return game was non-existent thanks to a good performance by UW's punter.
Overall - Washington gave a terrific effort and deserves all sorts of credit for their preparation and energy. The fact that Cal came back and won a tight game speaks volumes about its ability to handle adversity. That said, Cal should have won this game by two touchdowns and would have if not for breakdowns in the passing game. Our performance on Saturday won't cut it against UCLA, and it won't keep us in the ballgame against USC. The Rose Bowl Express is still on schedule, but it's time for a bit of mid-season maintenance in the off week.


text:
Keira Hauck is a NJ Licensed Clinical Social Worker in private practice who specializes in working with pre-school age children and families. Ms. Hauck holds a Master's degree from the New York University's School of Social Work, and has over sixteen years of training and experience in all areas of child development. After years of working in the nonprofit sector, she opened the Path for Change Counseling, LLC. Ms. Hauck is also credentialed as a NJ Disaster Response Crisis Counselor and Clinical Social Work Supervisor.
Ms. Hauck's approach to treatment embraces the unique needs of the individual, guiding them on a "path for change" towards wellness, while honoring their cultural and spiritual beliefs.
Everyone heals on their own time- Path for Change's goal is to help people find the balance they need to find that little seed of hope.


text: Our sourcing director Ben Myers has been abroad for over two weeks developing projects in northern Europe and then down in southern Ethiopia. Today he is cupping fresh 2016 lots alongside our import partner Trabocca. We do this all in the name of proactivity and quality development in future coffee contracting.


text:
Beauty products are finally on board with the stylish traveler. While it used to be standard practice to portion out full-sized creams and liquids into spare contact cases, brands are now finding innovative ways to deliver TSA-friendly customer favorites.
Case in point: last summer's vending machine launch by 3FLOZ was nothing short of genius, replacing airport snacks with rows of miniaturized luxury product. But for those who want an entire regimen to pack—not purchase just before boarding—there's the vbeauté It Kit.
Vbeauté's focus is on anti-aging, although their paraben and fragrance-free line should work on all ages. Originally conceived as a high-end skincare line, the company has also introduced hydrating lip glosses, no doubt inspired by their founder's beauty preferences.
"My daily routine is simple, and I don't use much makeup," says vbeauté CEO and founder Julie Macklowe. Her permanent essentials include only skincare and lip gloss, and the former isn't always the most convenient thing to pack on-the-go.
When Macklowe launched her brand in 2011, her first creation was a set she could easily carry through the airport. Her It Kit comes fully stocked with downsized tubes of cleanser, exfoliant, serum, moisturizer and eye cream. Each holds enough product to last a full month, and you can refill the compartments when you're done. But the real selling point is the packaging: lightweight plastic with a gunmetal spray that scans straight through security. Pack it in your carry-on with the rest of your travel gear, and leave the clear Ziploc bags at home.
Since Macklowe is a frequent flyer, I suspect the It Kit isn't the only thing she always brings with her. Her other must-haves include a lip product (she's currently loving her vbeauté Lip Spread Tinting Gloss), ear plugs, an eye mask, a neck pillow and a makeup palette from Too Faced—"It can prep you for any look and is easy to carry." And to combat the dry air in the plain? She slips an SK-II Facial Treatment Mask into her bag.
Beauty favorites aside, she's also picked up some general travel tips over the years. "I always stick with a color scheme when packing clothes," she tells me. By this, she's not suggesting a one-color wardrobe, but one that allows clothes to easily be interchanged. Save bulky items for your airplane outfit (layer as much as possible) and double check that you can dress most pieces up or down.
Her final tip is a much-appreciated space-saver. "I recommend taking some knits and rolling your clothes to make more room," she says, "Use tissue paper to avoid wrinkles, and in the worst case scenario, a quick steaming in the shower will save most items." And with this parting advice (and her It Kit in tow), she's off to her next destination.


text:
Hello dearies,
Well, I've decided to put my shop on pause for a month or two. I will be moving over to Etsy eventually, and once I get a job in "real-life" I'll be able to devote more of my time and resources to Flying Ships. So, I shall return with more merch and an Etsy shop probably around October/November-ish. I'll share the link here and on my blog First Impressions when that happens. Thanks!
Maria Elyse


text:
The shoes I've painted for Vans, that were exhibited on House of Vans Berlin 2014.
"Off the wall" means to me connection between street and people. Wall is the best medium, that carries and shows us the meaning of street life. We can see a lot of different stories written on them, starting from vandalism, going further with art and memorials to even declarations of love. That's part of people lives, and taking good inspirations from them, we are creating a connection line, which will be hard to broke – and for me that's the point. Off the wall.
Thanks For Watching!


text:
An eventful first week back!
Wow, what a week! Year 5 have been non stop this week with all the exciting activities we have had provided for us.
We have been lucky enough to enjoy a session with Harold the Giraffe and the Life Bus team. We learn about drugs, those that are illegal and those that are not. The different between medical drugs and non medical drugs.
Later on in the week, we enjoyed a session of Yoga, experiencing the different moves and the importance of breathing. It was great fun!
Bring on Charlie and the chocolate factory! Some of us have had our costume fittings and we are just starting to learn the songs and dances. The next few weeks will be filled with more rehearsals getting us performance ready.
We are construction ready! After a very enjoyable visit from the construction company Wilmott Dixon we now know more about what it takes to build buildings. We played a game where each person took on a different role in building a project and worked together to be the best team at creating the building with the correct tools and supplies.
In our curriculum subjects we have started putting our measurement skills into practice by learning about perimeter. English has seen us create our own chocolate machines and explain how they create our wonderful chocolate creations.


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Join the Wild and Exposed podcast team as they hear about Tim Irvin's incredible 7-week solo canoe adventure in the remote northern Canadian wilderness. The abundance of wildlife encounters are truly amazing during the exploration!Read More
Ron catches up with Michael and Mark to hear about their adventure to the Kenai Peninsula in south-central Alaska. The primary goal of this summertime trip into wilderness was to try to film bears and fishermen sharing a river during the sockeye salmon run. Listen in to find out how this thrilling expedition unfolded and what they learned along the way.Read More


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What seemed to be yet another fantasy flying vehicle may have moved closer to reality this week when a test version of the three-wheeler PAL-V One took off publicly in Holland.
Accelerating just some 500 feet along the A1 highway near the city of Amersfoort, the three-wheeler took off easily in front of the Dutch Minister of Traffic Safety and Water Affairs, Camiel Eurlings, and a massive group of curious journalists.
According to the Digital Journal, many had hoped to see a real prototype of the flying-and-driving vehicle, which is aimed at consumers. What actually took off was a proof-of-concept vehicle, to show that the tiny three-wheeler could both drive and fly for real, which it apparently could.
On the other hand, as the autogyro technology it's based on was invented in 1919 by the Spaniard Juan de la Cierva, and flew for the first time in 1923, this was no hugely sensational news. Minister Eurlings, whose ministry is involved in the project, also said that despite some people's hopes, the vehicle would not be a solution to traffic congestion, but a possible alternative to helicopters for emergency services.
PAL-V Europe, the company developing the three-wheeler, still describes it as the "first Personal Air and Land Vehicle (PAL-V) available for anybody."
The inventor, John Bakker, has spent six years on its design, which basically combines a patented three-wheeled, self-balancing hybrid motorcycle-car from the Dutch company Carver with an autogyro.
The autogyro technology in itself makes flying possible through a free-spinning rotor, using a separate propeller for pushing it. It's considerably more silent than a helicopter and much easier to fly. A kind of pilot's license is still required.
On the PAL-V One, the rotor can be folded on top of the roof when the vehicle is used for driving, permitting speeds up to 120 mph on the ground. The same top speed should be possible when flying, while cruising speed would be 90 mph and the flying range 280 miles.
According to PAL-V Europe, the typical flight altitude will be 4,000 feet, which means the vehicle can be operated without filing a flight plan.
While Bakker depicts a scenario of ordinary people flying the PAL-V One in safe and controlled highways in the air with the assistance of GPS navigators, Holland's Radio 1 News editor Van de Wiel wasn't so optimistic after the demonstration. "End of subject (...) I was right, nothing will ever come out of this," he writes in his blog.


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There Is No Rose
from Three English Carols
SATB a cappella
Duration: 2.5 Minutes
Text: Anonymous, 15th century
Year: 2002
Premiered by: EAMA Summer Program Choir, Mark Shapiro, director, Eglise Saint-Séverin, Paris, France
Publisher: E. C. Schirmer #6075
This anonymous 15th-century text is variously set with the Latin response reiterated after each of the five verses–the last with a descant. There is some divisi. It would be ravishing with a good choir.
— The American Organist, October 2004


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Comfortable eight chairs at Sushi bar faces to Sushi chefs. "Itacho Omakase" and monthly special menu available for you to enjoy seasonal freshness of Japanese seafood.
Two Semi-private tables, divided by Japanese Shouji wall creates cozy and relaxing atmosphere.
New Teppan-yaki area is available for 6 seats.
Chef will slice and grill fresh ingredients in front of you.
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While I am going to write about this in more detail in an upcoming newsletter... I think it important to also 'double up' here.
As you all know I am no big fan of either of the main candidates...but I will hold my nose and vote for Hillary. I may explain in another post shortly.
But that said, I am deeply concerned about her desire to change the Estate Tax program for the very, very worse for small business owners. Currently, the threshold of zero taxes is in the $5 Million range. Under her plan it would fall to the $3 Million range, at which point the tax would be 40%.
I just helped a client sell his publishing company for $2.2 Million. he has a house paid for, and some savings. Even after paying taxes on his sale, his estate is going to be over $3 Million. Without some serious thought, anything over, which in his case today would be about $600K... would cost his family almost a quarter million dollars.
And the only reason he would even be aware would be his sale of his company.
There are thousands, tens of thousands, of business owners who fall into this category. A business worth 1-2Million, a house, some savings, IRAs, a second home maybe... and all of a sudden, after the IRS values the business after the owner's death... an ordinary family is now into $4 million in assets... on which, under Hillary's plan, they would have to find and pay up $400,000.!
Just a reminder that anything can happen and you MUST stay current and focused on protecting your assets and tax structure at all times.
Let me know if you have any questions.


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Emily Porta
I found a t-shirt, that I eventually bought, that said "Fear is Excitement without Breath." Have you every noticed your breath when you are afraid, worried or panicked? We forget to breathe! It makes sense if we were in a jungle and being hunted and didn't want to be found...right? But that same instinct exists when we are overwhelmed, stressed, or nervous and yet it does not serve us. When we stop breathing we are restricting ourselves and this can make us more panicked.
What are you afraid of? People come into my office with a list of things they don't want to talk about or deal with. I understand, we are scared. I am too sometimes. I am afraid of what I will discover. But fear is a response to our imagination. If we are self deprecating, then typically we will imagine a worse case scenario when we are stressed. Our brain cannot tell the difference between imagination and reality and thus it responds to your self created catastrophe in your mind.
The practice of mindfulness shows us how to sit with fear and look at it for what it is...not for what we create it to be. When you lean into what you fear, fear dissipates and other emotions are allowed to infiltrate the mind. I find when I face my fears, really look to see if it is worth keeping in my life, they tend to be squashed. Yes, there is a good kind of fear. When you are in a traumatic situation, fear can serve to help you survive. I am talking about our daily fears. For some of us that means our fears to commit in a relationship or change careers. For others it might even be a fear to leave the house or try something new. Whatever fears you may have, they keep you chained up and away from experiences.
Counseling can help with fear. It isn't the complete antidote, but it is supportive while you challenge yourself. Trust me, your imagination is holding you back. Live in reality, live in the now.


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New Credit Suisse CEO Promises "Ruthlessly Selective" Review - FT
Published: 04th July 2015 09:11 AM | Last Updated: 04th July 2015 09:11 AM | A+A A-
Reuters: Newly appointed Credit Suisse AG Chief Executive Tidjane Thiam, in an interview with the Financial Times, promised a "ruthlessly selective" review of the Swiss bank's businesses, amid expectations that the incoming CEO would cut staff by about 15 percent from its investment banking arm.
Thiam's strategic review will involve executives competing with each other for capital allocations by showing their units' profitability throughout various economic cycles, although "people who have no performance issues have no concerns," Thiam was quoted as saying in the Financial Times.(http://on.ft.com/1dDu6Us)
Even though investors and analysts expect the new CEO to scale back operations in the capital-intensive investment banking area and focus more on private banking in Asia, he would not necessarily take the decisions they expect, the FT reported.
The 52-year old former chief executive of British insurer Prudential said that Credit Suisse may pursue growth by expanding internationally in emerging markets, United States and Switzerland, the FT said.
Thiam's reputation follows his success at Prudential, where he expanded into Asia with a clear strategy by laying out medium-term targets, and after an early spat over a failed takeover of rival Asian-focused insurer AIA, built good rapport with regulators.
In an internal memo to staff soon after assuming office, Thiam said choosing what the bank will do and where it invests its cash will be a focus in the weeks and months ahead, adding that he would determine the strategy later this year.


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Fears cerebral palsy sufferers wont be able to sue under new scheme
Lawyers fear cerebral palsy sufferers will be stripped of their legal right to sue for medical negligence under a new injury insurance scheme being developed by the federal government.
The Australian Lawyers Alliance fear the National Injury Insurance Scheme, if introduced, may mean children who are born with cerebral palsy due to medical malpractice may be unable to take civil action to compensate for lifetime care and support.
The alliance has pointed to a major negligence case in the ACT, in which a family settled for $7.5 million, as evidence of the importance of civil action in such cases.
In that case, the family had alleged that malpractice at Canberra Hospital caused their son's cerebral palsy when he was born, and settled recently after action in the ACT Supreme Court.
The alliance has warned that plans to introduce a National Injury Insurance Scheme, which is being developed alongside the National Disability Insurance Scheme, could prevent sufferers from taking similar action.
But the federal government said no decision had been made on such an approach, and that full consultation on the scheme was yet to take place.
"A decision regarding the implementation of a NIIS for medical treatment accidents will only be made following a public consultation process," a Treasury spokesman said.
"No decisions have been made with regard to rights to sue under the common law or the treatment of cerebral palsy."
The scheme is designed to provide no-fault lifetime care to Australians who suffer major injuries because of someone else's negligence.
But the Productivity Commission has recommended that cerebral palsy should be covered by the NDIS only, and not the National Injury Insurance Scheme.
Alliance national president Andrew Stone said that meant health and medical costs would not be covered, as they would be under the NDIS, and sufferers would only be able to access what is available under the public health system.
"The recent Canberra settlement clearly shows, contrary to the assertions of the Productivity Commission, that those who suffer cerebral palsy as a consequence of medical malpractice can successfully sue," Mr Stone said.
"In future cases such as the one settled in Canberra, people could be left without the right to sue for future medical costs, the ability to receive it under the NIIS, and any right to choose, even where negligence has occurred."


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Happy New Year! If your resolutions fail, there's always Chinese New Year in February and Thai/Khmer/Lao New Year in April and well... you can pick any day to be a new you. 💕 Here are my learning lessons from 2018.
(Hint: The "Law of Attraction" only works when you take action!)
Happy Loy Krathong!! 🇺🇸🙏🏾🇹🇭 "Loy" means to float. "Krathong" is what we use to float our wishes on down the stream toward the mythical Nagas (sacred water serpents) by candlelight, traditionally made from banana leaves. We honor the spirit of water on this day, releasing any stagnation (grudges, anger, regrets, etc) we're holding onto in our minds and bodies so that we can allow gratitude, joy, and peace to flow into our lives. But how do I celebrate this Southeast Asian Buddhist holiday while being in the United States?
With the holidays approaching, I know that this time can be incredibly difficult for people who are far from their loved ones. Many may also choose to protest Thanksgiving altogether to show their solidarity with people indigenous to this land. How will you be celebrating? And if you grew up with immigrant parents, what were you feasting on this time of the year?
"In a world that profits from your insecurities, loving yourself is a radical act. Your joy is a revolutionary and radical act; anger can be a beautiful thing until it manifests into sickness. Tears are a sign of strength. Stay woke, but not to the point where there's no room for those who have yet to awaken. And while those who came before you have experienced struggle, remember you come from a long line of resiliency. You are a beautiful badass."
"We are ALL seeds, trapped in our shells
Eagerly waiting to sprout
And soon, our mother will quake
To shake us into existence.
The clouds will rumble with anger upon truth
Rain will drop tears to cleanse this pain
To remind us this was always ours,
and now. is the time. to reclaim."
Some of my succulents didn't survive, and what felt like a reflection of my life were the resilient plantains growing in this pot gifted to me by Green Wisdom that gave up their fight and wilted away. I dreaded looking at them as I walked up to my doorstep, but still I watered them. Like watering a graveyard, hoping they would reincarnate from the dead to greet me again...
Illness is not seen as an individual problem. It is viewed as an imbalance in which one individual becomes the focus of the healing process that in the end will purify and balance all of the systems and community or family members involved..." -Elena Avila
"Live Truthfully under Imaginary Circumstances." — Sanford Meisner
"I love you, I appreciate all the work you do."
Making peace with confusion.
"My mother was my first country, the first place I ever lived."
-Nayyirah Waheed
A doula (/ˈduːlə/), also known as a birth companion or post-birth supporter, is a non-medical person who assists a person before, during, or after childbirth, as well as their spouse and family, by providing physical assistance and emotional support.
My heart pounds as I prepare the script in my mind of how to respond. I've rehearsed this many times before, but even still - the question presents itself as a box, seeing whether I can be stuffed in or not.
"Don't worry. We've got you." -My Ancestors
"But all we have left of this today is the little tatter called a 'baby shower,' where all the birthing jokes, mother gifts, and genitalia stories are squeezed into a two hours' time, no longer available to the woman throughout her entire lifetime as their mother..."
-Women Who Run With Wolves
"Enlightenment is a destructive process. It has nothing to do with becoming better or being happier. Enlightenment is the crumbling away of untruth. It's seeing through the facade of pretense. It's the complete eradication of everything we imagined to be true." – Adyashanti
"The mind spends most of the time lost in fantasies and illusions, reliving pleasant or unpleasant experiences and anticipating the future with eagerness or fear. While lost in such cravings or aversions, we are unaware of what is happening now, what we are doing now." - S. N. Goenka
"We are not doctors with (cutting) tools. In the old days, the only tools we had to use were our hands and our hearts. Don't think too hard; just feel it."
In order to find something, you must first lose it.
No matter where the seeds land...
Yoni = Sanskrit word for "sacred place", a flower to bloom, the beginning of consciousness, portal into the cosmos, or more commonly known to westerners as...
What will you do with the fire radiating from your core?
Freedom is not something we strive for as an aftermath of our struggles, but is something we can begin to embody today.
Surviving my Saturn Return...
"Don't shoot for the stars, we already know what's there. Shoot for the space in between because that's where the real mystery lies." - Vera Rubin
Time for new rituals!
"The most radical thing I ever did was stay put." - Grace Lee Boggs


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Contact Us or Request a Quote
Interested in receiving a quote for your drafting project? Use the form below to contact us by email, or use the contact information at the right to reach us by phone.
DRL Drafting & Design
Don Loew, Owner
Direct Phone: 715-726-9656
Cell Phone: 715-864-0022


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The rise of the gender-bender agenda, recently highlighted by the 'bathroom wars', is the latest phase of the ongoing sexual revolution. It is, like previous phases, imported from the US and entirely top-down and media driven.
It sees gender identity as a social construct rather than a biological given. It claims our gender is fluid, should be chosen by ourselves as we grow up and may change if we wish; it is not settled by nature (or God if you are a believer) at the time of our birth.
It is also dangerous nonsense. But it is coming your way.
It came my way this week when a polite young woman from LBC Radio contacted me. Oxford City councillors are introducing the gender-neutral option of Mx – pronounced "mix" – to official forms with a view to phasing out the conventional Mr and Ms: "Do you have views?" she asked.
Half an hour later I found myself on LBC's Iain Dale show together with trans journalist and equality campaigner Paris Lees. (If you want to check out our chat, it's the first item on the 16/08/16 show here (£)).
Paris' arguments were excruciatingly unpersuasive. The stronger the binary male-and-female gender identities, she claimed, the greater the violence against women. The solution is to "blur the boundaries between men and women", she said – happily ignoring inconvenient facts like, for instance, the high level of lesbian and gay same-sex violence which some consider has reached epidemic proportions.
For my part, I welcomed the good sense of Oxford Pride chairman Rob Jordan who stated he doesn't mind Mx as a simple addition to the current available titles, Mr and Ms. If Oxford Council wants to add a gender-neutral title in order to increase choice and inclusivity, that's OK.
But of course it doesn't stop with this apparently innocuous change to council paperwork. Indeed the sexual revolution does not stop anywhere. So the Oxford councillors have determined that next they want to drop Mr and Ms because these titles "are not inclusive of transgender people".
In other words they are, wittingly or otherwise, promoting a gender-destruction ideology which reduces choice and, uninvited, imposes a gender-free framework on everyone: all Oxford residents will be titled Mx on all council forms.
The wider gender ideology is a cancerous virus that is creeping across the western world. It is destroying foundational categories such as 'man' and 'woman' and helping undermine time-honoured healthy family structures and relationships.
And gender activists like all sexual revolutionaries are targeting our kids. They insist even pre-pubescent childen have the right to question – and receive medical help to change – their gender identity.
Fortunately for once some influential professionals have stood their ground. The American College of Pediatricians recently issued an important statement called "Gender Ideology Harms Children". It's worth reading in full, but I quote here excerpts that should be read out loud to Oxford City councillors at their next council meeting:
"Human sexuality is an objective biological binary trait: 'XY' and 'XX' are genetic markers of sex, male and female respectively… The norm for human design is to be conceived either male or female. Human sexuality is binary by design with the obvious purpose being the reproduction and flourishing of our species. This principle is self-evident…
"Human beings are born with a biological sex… People who identify as "feeling like the opposite sex" or "somewhere in between" do not comprise a third sex. They remain biological men or biological women."
I thank God for this rock of sanity and common sense that stands out against the West's rising tide of sexual madness and gender muddle.


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Today's New Residential Construction Report showed a slight gain to both single family permits and single family starts suggesting that housing is continuing to remain weak in the wake of the expiration of the government's housing tax credit gimmick.
Single family housing permits, the most leading of indicators, increased just 0.5% on a month-to-month basis to 405K single family units (SAAR) and declined a notable 14.4% below the level seen in September 2009 and an astonishing 77.47% below the peak in September 2005.
Single family housing starts ticked up climbing 4.4% to 452K (SAAR) units but remaining 10.8% below the level seen in September 2009 and a whopping 75.21% below the peak set in early 2006.
With the substantial headwinds of rising unemployment, epic levels of foreclosure and delinquency, mounting bankruptcies, contracting consumer credit, and falling real wages, an overhang of inventory and still falling home prices, the environment for "organic" home sales remains weak and likely very fragile.
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Coffee in Snow
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When it snowed the night before our shoot, Jessica Drue knew me well enough to know that I would want to shoot in it. So she picked out this outfit. Just so you don't all think I am a meanie, she picked the outfit!
10 responses
Elyseo gave props (21 Dec 2010):
funny, beautiful B&W!!
Rich Klein gave props (21 Dec 2010):
Brrrr.... but an eye catching image
Jacobz Johan gave props (21 Dec 2010):
Sam Hauss (Deleted) said (21 Dec 2010):
Iztok Urh gave props (30 Dec 2010):
nice photo!
Ope O gave props (29 Jan 2011):
good work
Daniel Forero said (8 Feb 2011):
Beautiful contrast.. her skin color and snow
Benn Bell gave props (10 Feb 2011):
Frank Morales gave props (13 Feb 2011):
LOL... I love the whole package. The Title and the Photo.
Han Ermens said (20 Mar 2012):
Well posed!! Lying in the snow en deliver such a look. What a face! Well done!
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Breakfast might include a large Belgian waffle topped with strawberries and cream. For the egg lovers, there is a plethora of ideas from the cheddar cheese and country ham or garden omelets, baked apple French toast, sausage and egg casserole, or the more traditional fried, scrambled, or over easy.
All breakfasts are accompanied by fresh fruit, a hearty side of county ham, local bacon or sausage, and Dana's favorite, Blue Ridge Mountain High popovers! This is just a smattering of what to expect. Dana is always trying something new. Bring your special breakfast recipe so that it may become an Inn favorite.
Guests can choose to dine in the formal dining room, the casual sunroom, or the outdoor patio, weather permitting, all with a great view of the gardens!
Should you have any special dietary needs, please let us know at the time of your reservation, and we will be happy to try and accommodate your needs.
Breakfast is the only meal we serve. For your other meals, we recommend these area restaurants.
Our rates range from $119-$149. All rates include full breakfast. Rates subject to change and do not include 9% tax. Advance deposit required (see below).
Weekends require a 2-night minimum*
Holidays require a 3-night minimum*
* Occasionally, rooms become available for shorter weekend or holiday stays, so don't hesitate to call.
Visa, Mastercard and Discover accepted.
Children 14 years and up are welcomed.
No facility for pets.
No smoking in the house.
Special Requirements - We do have one Inn pup, so if you are highly allergic, you may want to consider this, although she is not allowed in the guest rooms. She loves having guests here, but not other pets!
If there are any special dietary restrictions or requests, please let us know when you make your reservation.
Check In between 3:30 pm and 6:00 pm. (If after 6:00 pm please call ahead.) Check Out by 11:00 am.
We know that plans can go astray. However in our location, we rely primarily on advance reservations, and cancellations cannot be readily filled. So to be fair to all concerned, please observe the following:
1. An advance deposit of one night's rate (including tax) is required at time of reservation.
2. Advance deposit is to be received by us within seven (7) days of making a reservation.
3. Deposit will be happily refunded or applied to a new date if cancellation is received two (2) weeks prior to arrival date.
Relaxing Bed and Breakfast just Minutes from Harrisonburg, Bridgewater and Staunton, Va.
Luxurious Beds Luscious Breakfasts
Wake up from a restful night's sleep in one of our comfy four-poster beds, listen to the birds sing and think only of the bountiful breakfast awaiting you and the idea that you can choose to do a lot – or a little – on your vacation in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley.
The spacious guest rooms feature four-poster beds with soft linens, slowly turning Victorian ceiling fans, oriental rugs, Shenandoah Valley antiques and fresh flowers. But there are modern comforts as well — an intimate sitting area in all four rooms, cable TV, free wireless internet, central air-conditioning, private baths, and refreshments upon your arrival.
If you are looking for lodging at a Harrisonburg, Bridgewater or Staunton bed and breakfast, the Inn is convenient to shopping, colleges, restaurants and entertainment in all surrounding towns.
The Dogwood Room
Queen canopy bed, intimate sitting area, private bath with skylight and large shower.
$129.00 + tax Mon - Th
$139.00 + tax Fri - Sun
Room With A View
Queen canopy pillow-top bed, and large private bath with tub/shower.
$119.00 + tax Mon - Th
$129.00 + tax Fri - Sun
The Garden Room
King poster bed, comfortable sitting area, bath with corner tub/shower.
$139.00 + tax Mon - Th
$149.00 + tax Fri - Sun
The Rose Room
Tall antique queen canopy bed with bed steps, fireplace, private bath with large shower. $145.
$139.00 + tax Mon - Th
$149.00 + tax Fri - Sun
The Cross House Garden Inn
1224 Keezletown Road
Weyers Cave, Virginia 24486
Dana & Dennis Cross, Innkeepers
Toll-free 855-223-2283


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Click Here To Download Podcast #101
As the nation marks the 50th Anniversary of the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Dick welcomes his good friend, and longtime friend of the Kennedy family Tom Delisle to the table. Dick shares personal stories of his amazing encounters with JFK, and Tom shares some behind-the-scenes information including how one his friends ended up being a pall bearer for Lee Harvey Oswald and how the gun Jack Ruby used to take him down in that parking garage ended up in Detroit. Incredible details you won't hear anywhere else in Podcast #101.


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Here at the Red Barn we offer great British pub classics alongside some delicious, lighter alternatives too. Our dedicated kitchen team use the fresh, ethically sourced ingredients and turn them into mouth watering dishes that are sure to wow. Top that off with the finest selection of wines, beers, cocktails and soft drinks.
Our food is no fuss, no nonsense, all flavour. Chef, Kevin Oliver and his team take only the freshest ethically-sourced ingredients and turn them into a range of traditional British dishes which are bold, dashing and quintessentially British. They also make many of our bar-snacks and do a mean brunch, not to mention of course a Sunday lunch which is almost illegally good.
Seeing as the pub is open all day every day it would be a shame if the kitchen wasn't – so it is and offers everything from a light brunch to an evening feast and all points in between. So whether you're popping by for breakfast or rounding out the night with us we've got you covered.


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Knowledgefire is our dream for building community through shared learning. For now, Knowledgefire is a free program we run by putting 5% of our gross income into summer programs and workshops. Someday Knowledgefire will be its own non-profit, but until then you can still make tax-deductible donations and help this beautiful place flourish. We'll even match every donation you make, up to $25. Follow the link below to find out more.
University Heights Tool Library
We are partnered with the University Heights Tool Library in two ways: We promote membership with UHTL and we are coordinating to make Knowledgefire a satellite tool library on the West Side. We believe in the mission and sustainability of tool libraries as valuable neighborhood assets. The Tool Library is a remarkable non-profit and with us access is insanely inexpensive.
West side economic development initiative
We strongly support WEDI's mission on the West Side, have seen the power of their work and are happy to help their clients (our neighbors) accomplish their dreams.


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Upgrade Video games
Posted on 28/02/2017 in Newest Games
We could be attending to the top of the Christmas launch period now, but that doesn't imply it is letting up. It's fairly this opposite, in actual fact. Similarly, while many Pokémon video games force you through a slog of fighting pigeons and rats early on, in Sun and Moon you were in a position to capture robust and recognizable monsters from the outset. With the upcoming Pokémon Extremely Solar and Extremely Moon — enhanced versions of last yr's wonderful Hawaiian-themed adventures — Nintendo has crafted probably the most welcoming Pokémon yet. Activision's best-selling first-particular person shooter game returns with a brand new model developed by Sledgehammer Games. A high school graduate who joins the Eagle Jump games company as a personality designer, as they made her favourite game. Most of us know Nintendo for its contribution to the videogame and toy industries – but the writer did not actually enterprise into these areas until the late Nineteen Sixties. The games are grouped alphabetically by genre, and the titles in each class are listed in alphabetical order.
Going by the number of add ons for The Sims four, we're not going to expire of any new packs to purchase but all we actually want is the Cats and Canine pack that is been introduced for LAPTOP. You possibly can order cafe food or even alcohol do you have to select to. They've a ridiculously giant collection of board games. Microsoft and Nintendo are offering new or upgraded consoles after Sony rereleased its PlayStation four console and extra highly effective PS4 Pro last 12 months.
Briefly, it's cozy and welcoming and you may need to stay all day playing board video games and consuming coffee or beer. For the shock releases, take a look at our weekly information to five new Steam games you probably missed this week. You play as an Imperial officer as she seeks revenge on the Jedi for the demise of the Emperor.
Initially, Nintendo was founded to produce handmade hanafuda enjoying playing cards, and apparently sufficient, that is an area of business that Nintendo remains to be involved with at this time. After working a summer job as a debugger for Eagle Jump, she takes an interest in designing games herself and shortly joins the corporate as a programmer in Umiko's department. The baristas are actually friendly and enjoyable and can explain the rules to a number of the games for you. A lot of the focus in the Extremely games is on legendary pokémon, powerful-to-beat creatures sometimes discovered toward the end of the sport. The demented sport present seems like it will help eight players rather than the everyday dozens like other battle royale games. The man who worked there was very helpful in suggesting enjoyable new games for us to attempt.
Clue #3: The first 10 pieces of the iOS game's DLC—DLC Pack A—appear to be hidden in the 3DS model of the game as free content, though our resident puzzle-solver is 5 hours and three cases into the sport and hasn't found any of it. The instruction handbook indicates that some outfits in the game will be obtained by special coins generally known as trend farthings" and says such cash are uncommon." We think those cash unlock these first 10 bonus outfits.


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Aviation History
582 FLIGHT International, 9 October 1969 lllllii Four-jet sub-hunter handover DEFENCE by the Marine Corps. However, the Department of Defence is placed on notice that no further authorisation will be approved by this committee for the procurement of this aircraft unless it is produced within the continental limits of the United States." More US Army Hueys AN ORDER FOR 175 additional UH-1H Huey tactical transport helicopters has been placed by the US Army with Textron's Bell Helicopter Co. This was announced on September 24 by the company's president, Mr E. J. Ducayet. Initial funding for the purchase is $11,550,000; deliveries will be made during 1971 and the contract is being administered by the US Army Aviation Systems Command, St Louis, Mo. Australia's Gazelle Interest ONE OF THE MOST DETERMINED CON TENDERS for an Australian Army order to replace its ageing Bell Sioux heli copters is the Sud-Westland SA-341 Gazelle, according to a report from Sydney. Australian interest in this air craft follows the Sud-LTV agreement to market and support three Sud helicopters in the US and Canada. In a planned second stage of operations, LTV Aero space will combine technologies with Sud to produce new equipment. What adds weight to Australian in terest in the Gazelle is the likelihood of the American Services equipping with the type. Army chiefs in Australia are talking with Hawker de Havilland, Australia (representing Westland), on the Gazelle, and have shown a lot of en thusiasm for the aircraft, which is re ported to have a good repertoire as a passenger carrier and for ambulance, cargo, rescue and air survey operations. Maverick Under Control FIRST AIR LAUNCH TEST of a Hughes Maverick air-to-surface missile (USAF designation, AGM-65A) took place at Edwards AFB, Calif, on September 19 from a Phantom. Although unguided, the Maverick used in the test possessed the aerodynamic and mass characteristics of the ultimate operational missile. This test was one of a series being conducted jointly by Hughes Aircraft Co and McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Corp to demonstrate the safe launch and jettison of the missile from an F-4, one of the aircraft on which it will be used opera tionally by the USAF (the others are the F-111A and F-1UD and A-7D) for attacks on pinpoint targets. Hughes were awarded a $95 million fixed-price incen tive contract in July 1968 for develop ment, test and evaluation of Maverick over a three-year period. The missile itself is about 8ft (2.4m) long and 1ft (0.3m) in diameter, weighs about 5001b (226kg) and is self-homing with TV guidance. THE FIRST OF 38 Hawker Siddeley Nimrod maritime reconnaissance/strike aircraft was handed over to the RAF at the manufacturer's Woodford, Cheshire, air field on October 2. Receiving it from the deputy managing director of Hawker Siddeley Aviation, Sir Harry Broadhurst, was the AOC-in-C Coastal Command, Air Marshal Sir John Lapsley. At Sir Harry's invitation Lady Lapsley per formed the naming ceremony. Later in the day an RAF crew flew XV230 to its base at St Mawgan, Cornwall, where the Nimrod maritime operational training unit (MOTU) is being formed. By 1971 the RAF should have received its full complement of Nimrods, with production steadily increased to about two a month: five production Nimrods are already flying. Squadron crews, who, once trained, will stay together as a team, will pass through the MOTU, whose work will begin in January and be substan tially complete in 18 months. Crews will spend three months there, followed by a further month working up at their base. First Nimrod squadron is to be No 201 at Kinloss; this is likely to be opera tional by next June. The C-in-C said there would be four squadrons in the United Kingdom, each with six aircraft, and another one in Malta. This comparatively small force of air craft can do all the present Shackleton force does, and more. Later on, as the Royal Navy phases out its carriers the Nimrods will take on an additional role as airborne early warning aircraft for the fleet. RAF crews who have flown the Nimrod are delighted with the new air craft. Inheriting the spacious fuselage of the Comet 4C, the Nimrod will provide much more crew comfort than the Shackleton it replaces: computerised navigation systems will relieve the crew of much arduous work. Although Nimrod has the latest opera tional equipment, basic submarine detec tion methods remain much the same. Provision is also made for incorporating new still-experimental systems. Nimrod's radar can detect surface vessels or sub marine periscopes and snorkels. Elec tronic countermeasures equipment locates sources of radar transmission, and sonar buoys can be dropped to locate under water targets. There is a device to "sniff" the exhaust fumes of diesel engines. A magnetic anomaly detector (MAD) in the tail boom indicates the presence of submerged vessels. Nimrod's computerised navigation sys tems, developed by a specialist manage ment company, E-A Space and Advanced Military Systems Ltd (EASAMS), are linked with sensor devices and the flight system to give what is claimed to be an extremely accurate and effective auto mated navigation and tactical system. Sensor input data is continuously pro cessed by an Elliott MCS 920B digital computer, while routine navigation relies on accurate inertial heading information from an Elliott E3 stable platform, com-. bined with drift and ground speed (after correction for sea motion) from a Decca Doppler. Normally Nimrods will carry a crew of 11 who will man stations according to the phase of operations in progress. Most of the work will be done in the tactical control room. Aft of this is a combined galley and dining area. Powered by four Rolls-Royce Spey 250 turbofan engines —essentially a military version of the civil Spey-25 with protective modifica tions to permit continuous operation at low altitude in a salt-laden atmosphere— the Nimrod can cruise at more than 500 m.p.h. and loiter on two engines. Hawker Siddeley Aviation are looking at export prospects for the Nimrod and can see the possibility of interesting about ten customers. The Canadian Armed Forces are said to be particu larly interested in Nimrods to re-equip their Argus force in 1973, and could use a larger number than the 38 ordered by the RAF. South Africa is another potential customer but politics make negotiations difficult. Air Marshal Lapsley said that there was a considerable bonus to be gained from commonality of equipment. If India and South Africa were to operate Nimrods, this benefit would spread from the North Atlantic down to the Indian Ocean, the Far East and the South Atlantic. Air Marshal Sir John Lapsley speaking at the Nimrod ceremony at Woodford on October 2. Behind him is Lady Lapsley who had just "launched" the aircraft, and on her left is Sir Harry Broadhurst, deputy managing director. Hawker Siddeley Aviation
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© Reed Business Information 2010


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It has often been said of many of the speakers that come to the US to address the "Settlement Issue" or to speak, or raise funds for various projects throughout Yehuda and Shomron (Yesha), that they are usually "Preaching to the Choir". There is no doubt that this is a correct statement. However the task is not "Preaching" it is Teaching. It is teaching that same choir how to sing that is needed most. Most "Choirs" know the sermon by heart, but few can repeat it out loud. Heads shake in agreement, but when the verses are needed to be heard and to be heard out loud by others, the words and tunes are mysteriously jumbled or forgotten.
Our "Preachers" erred greatly when they only approached those that came to choir practice. They forgot to look for talent outside of the box. Perhaps this is why we only hear the music on select channels and not all over the bandwidth.
It seems that many choir members are tired of hearing the same sermon, time and time again to the point that they do not sing anymore.
The sermon must change and new members are needed. Talent must come from all over and not just the closed doors of the sanctuary. This task is in the charge of the Preachers, and they must learn that all octaves are needed to make a great choir. Relearning is needed by all.
The Jewish people are at a crossroads, with their souls being chased by many. One thing for sure is that a wrong decision will have dire results for all of us all over the world. The entire concept of legality and truth are being rewritten before our eyes, a double standard is quickly becoming a double-edged sword. Israel's personal business has become everybody's business with the world telling us we don't have the right to decide anything for ourselves. As children we have all learned that there comes a time when we have to stand up to bullies, now is that time, no matter how many there are.
Nobody in this world has the right to dictate to Israel what to do, it is the other way around, and it is up to Israel to show the world what to do.
Every moral law is being broken regarding the Jews of Israel. What would be deplored as blatant discrimination and hatred and injustice is quickly becoming Standard Operating Procedure towards Israel. Accepted once again is discrimination against the Jews, this time at government and international levels.
Lack of leadership, lack of direction and the compromise to terror has brought us down this path. The land of Israel has always represented strength and unity to the Jewish people. As the attempts to carve it up increased, as our leaders gave in to the world, it has affected all of us as a people. The momentum decreased, we started to splinter and this is the opportunity our enemies were waiting for.
The many faces of the Jewish people started looking elsewhere for leadership often forgetting that we are one. We allowed our differences to take over and separate us, the first victim being the heartland of Israel and the dedicated Jews living there. The target is Jewish strength and Jewish identity.
The choir has been coming apart, no longer are their voices loud enough to be heard over the shouts of hatred. We find ourselves now on the defense. Jewish students on campuses throughout the US desperately seek ways to respond to Arabs and Left wing enemies of Israel. Israel did not become a strong nation by responding, but by taking the initiative and moving forward. When we perceived a threat, we made the first move in order to preserve life, to protect life. Israel learned that responding to attacks cost too much blood. Yet today our brothers outside of Israel cower and hide or worse, adopt the enemy standpoint.
So it is time to reorganize the choir, to teach them to sing loud, to teach them to sing together, to deafen the shouts of our enemies. A successful choir must include many octaves, and they must learn to work together despite the tonal differences.
The preaching will continue, and the teaching will continue until we can rebuild that choir. We will learn to sing again, together as one, and the world will be our audience, and the music and voices will be heard again from our hearts and our heartland, Yehuda and Shomron.


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Not every course is right for every role - system administrators don't usually need to code; developers don't always need to set up a network. Your teams will learn the most when taking courses that are customized specifically to their roles within the organization.
We're the only technical learning solutions company delivering completely customized learning experiences based on the people and the project. By customizing the learning experiences to fit our students' needs, they learn and retain more in less time, making it easier to adopt the new concepts back on the job.
At DevelopIntelligence, we know as a Project Manager (PM), you meticulously keep the project and everyone involved on track. Somedays you feel like your herding cats. Other days, you are the MS Project wizard. Without you, the project would be over budget, over schedule - maybe just over. You speak geek, but just enough to make sure the developers aren't pulling a fast one on you.
The following is a list of our courses the Project Manager role.


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District Vision Screening Program
Here you'll find documents related to our LCIF Grant District Vision Screening Program where our District Volunteers can review documentation, print out their own forms and familiarize themselves with the equipment from an electronic source – our District Web Site.
Documents and Forms
Welcome to the Lions of District 4C4 Vision Screening Program — includes various documents, consent, refer and the reporting document that every club MUST complete and send to District Chair
Guide to Vision Screener Use, Care and Operation
Common Forms for Vision Screening Program — Clubs can copy and use when they conduct Vision Screening Programs
Spot Vision Screener Instruction Guide — Operation Use and Care of the Welch Allyn "Spot" Vision Screener
Plusoptix S12 Quick Reference Guide
Plusoptix User Manual Pgs 1-30 – Includes Contents Pages, Table of Figures, Table of Screenshots Page and Manual Pages 1-30
Plusoptix User Manual Pgs 31-74 – Includes Contents Pages, Table of Figures, Table of Screenshots Page and Manual Pages 31-74
Demonstration Videos of each screener are available on the 2nd & 3rd slides of the slider above.
District Chair
PDG Jack Van Etten
LCIF Vision Screening Grant Administrator


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R1: Community Medicine Rotation
(and longitudinal R2 Community Medicine)
(1 Rotation)
Community medicine lies at the heart of what we do as family physicians. Most of the illness we see in our patients directly or indirectly results from forces in our society: poverty, inequality, racism, violence, exploitation. In a sense, our clinical work is only a band-aid for the ills of the individuals and families who enter our clinics seeking health care. Our specialty occupies a unique position at the nexus of individual, family and community. In our everyday clinic work we identify and treat the common medical conditions that affect our patients. We start to see patterns and trends: epidemics of heart disease, obesity, depression, substance abuse. Using the tools of epidemiology and basic principals of public health, we can take the next step of learning about the macro forces that lie behind these illnesses. Our advocacy in our communities for affordable housing, living wages, ending food deserts and addressing institutional violence and racism have the potential to impact the health and well being of the people we serve in as powerful a way as using a prescription pad. We seek to make an education about the social determinants of health more than an intellectual exercise.
Goals of the Community Medicine CURRICULUM:
- To develop the skills necessary to conduct occupational, environmental and population-based health assessments
- To foster an awareness of and appreciation for the many local public and private organizations working toward a common goal of improving the health of the community
- To develop the leadership skills, organizational abilities and communication skills essential to effective community organizing.
Community Medicine Curriculum
- Starts in R1 Block 1 with Social Determinants of Health 101 and walking tours of clinic neighborhoods
- R1 Block rotation in Community Medicine with places residents in a variety of community organizations
- Longitudinal: R2s participate in monthly 4 hour workshop in the nuts and bolts of community organizing led by community organizers from Sound Alliance, a coalition of community benefit organizations
- Community Medicine project. This can be an individual project or a group project that develops our of the R2 workshops.


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Facebook Goes Myth Busting
BusinessWire, PR Newswire, PR Web and Facebook—one of these seems oddly out of place. But the social media network, which now has more members than India has people, has launched FB Newswire. In a marriage of old and new media, Facebook has partnered with News Corp-owned Storyful to try and make it easier for journalists to find, share and embed newsworthy content from Facebook. The idea being that Storyful will help Facebook verify news and thus debunk false stories, or as News Corp eloquently puts it, separate the "substantial from the superficial and the real from the fake."
This is certainly a huge step in the right direction. Social media allows news to spread faster than ever before, but that speed often comes at the expense of fact-checking. And in many cases, it often seems that the bigger the story, the greater the desire people have to be first on their soapbox. The Boston Marathon tragedy and Super Storm Sandy are perfect examples of how social media can quickly spread misinformation.
The announcement comes at an interesting time. The recently published 2014 Pew Research State of the News Media survey provided a fascinating summary of the intersection between social media and news, which among other nuggets highlighted that about 30% of U.S. adults get some news from Facebook. That dwarfs the numbers from any other social media site – YouTube (10%), Twitter (8%), Google + (4%), LinkedIn (3%) – and means that if Facebook can in fact bust myths before they start, it could significantly reduce the spread of false news across the Internet.
And when looking at Facebook from a PR and marketing viewpoint, this partnership adds to an interesting couple of months. There was the small matter of a $16 billion acquisition and then a lot of talk about the end of the Free Lunch when Facebook tweaked its algorithm to reduce the reach of organic posts by brands. Then of course Facebook blew out Wall Street's expectations, showing it is clearly adapting to the mobile world and using a combination of existing and new brands to engage an even broader audience. And now we have a move to make news more reliable and trustworthy on social networks.
There's a lot to Like about where Facebook is going. We'll be sure to watch out for what's next at tomorrow's f8 Developer Conference.


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Embrace the Process
Treat your transformation like a start-up firm. There will be days when you want to give up. …
Leave this field empty if you're human:
AAJ Magazine is published by AAJ Media Group. AAJ is a magazine that is published every 2 months, with the exception of supplementary issues. Any reproduction of the magazine, editorial content, images or advertisements cannot be reproduced without permission.


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July 22, 2016 – Missing Nigerian Soldiers Fear Dead After Boko Haram Ambush Attack In Borno State
An unspecified number of Nigerians soldiers declared missing following an ambush attack by Boko Haram Islamic sect have been feared dead.
The attack carried out by the dreaded Jihadi sect at Guro Gongon village in Borno state left 19 soldiers and 3 civilians seriously wounded yesterday.
Search and rescue operation is currently ongoing to locate the missing soldiers and reunite them with colleagues.


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Anyone stumbling across this blog will notice that we haven't posted for a long, long time. We apologise for this but ultimately have decided that we needed to pursue other projects. That's not to say that we'll never post again but at the moment we just don't have the time for it. It's a shame because we have had lots of many happy memories in writing it. We hope that you've enjoyed reading it too.
My personal project and current blogging outlet is at The Cheese and I. This is where I have been documenting my journey through the cheese industry in France. We invite you to have a look and hope to maybe see you here again one day.


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Seven day trip to Cyclades
Kalamaki – Kythnos 45 miles
Leaving the Kalamaki marina you reach after 45 miles Kythnos island. Kythnos is a quite island that since recently has started to attract tourists. A place you should definitely visit is Phikiada or Kolona bay on the north-west side of the island, near the main harbor. The place has two small bays that are separated from a small sandy strip. Furthermore, a nice place to visit on the north-east side of the island is Loutra bay, where you can find hot springs. Lastly but not least is Kythnos country a lovely and scenic place to visit.
Kythnos – Serifos 20 miles
Leaving Phikiada bay and sailing south after 20 miles you reach cape Kyklopas on Serifos island. From there you can exploit for about 2 miles the most beautiful beached of Serifos, until you reach Koutalas bay, the main harbor of the island. There you can find supplies, water and fuel, as well as lift (taxi, bus) for the main country of the Island. The country is located up on the hill behind Koutalas bay, having a beautiful view South. A place you should visit during the sunset.
Serifos – Siphnos 15 miles
Leaving Serifos and sailing south-east for about 15 miles you reach the next island, Siphnos. The main harbor is Apolonia a well-organized place with lots of taverns and tourist shops. One of the most beautiful and well protected bays with nice sandy beach is Platys Gialos on the south end of the island, a place you should visit and spent at least a night.
Sifnos – Despotiko Antiparos 16 miles
Leaving Siphnos and sailing with the wind abeam (most of the times, as Meltemi often prevails) you reach Despotiko island, a small island near Antiparos. The two islands are creating a nice bay with shallow waters. Special care should be taken to shallow waters at the end of the gulf, as there is no passing to the north-east side of Antiparos. Small tavernas are available on Antiparos coast (Ag. Georgios) where you can enjoy eating special Greek cuisine. Depending on the season you visit the place, you can watch the sun setting directly into the sea, a picture absolutely fabulous.
Despotiko Antiparos – Paros 14 miles
Leaving Despotiko and sailing round Antiparos island you travel between the south side of Paros island and the main country of Antiparos. There you can explore either the long sandy beach of Pounta, or stay for a night at Antiparos harbor. To be noted that Antiparos country is very attractive for its nightlife. Pounta beach is well known for its perfect conditions for extreme sports like kite surf and wind surfing.
Seven day trip to Saronic and Argolic Gulf
Visit the islands of Aigina, Hydra, Spetses and Poros close to Athens in combination with other islands further in the Cycladic complex. Itinerary can be proposed by your skipper or can be shaped and adjusted upon weather and your request.
Status Charter has created the following indicative itinerary in the Saronic Gulf, also ideal for a family trip:
DAY 1 Athens – Poros (31 miles)
DAY 2 Poros – Hydra (14 miles)
DAY 3 Hydra – Spetses (17 miles)
DAY 4 Spetses – lob – Nafplion (27 miles)
DAY 5 Nafplion – Porto Heli (26 miles)
DAY 6 Porto Heli – Hermioni (15 miles)
DAY 7 Hermioni – Moni- Aegina (25 miles)
DAY 8 Aegina – Athens (18 miles)
POROS lies very close or the Peloponnese separated from it by a narrow channel. The island is extensively wooded with pine trees reaching to the shore. In ancient times Poseidon was the patron and a few remains of a temple to Poseidon can be found on a picturesque side on the east coast. Poros town, built on rocky slopes, is attractive and the approach by sea one of the most beautiful in Greece. Perhaps the ideal first place to stop over during your sailing vacation and yacht charter holidays in Greece.
HYDRA is mountainous, arid and devoid of vegetation. In 1821 it was the first island to pledge its sizable fleet to the Greek cause. It has been said that but for the Hydriot fleet and sailors, the War of Independence against the Turks would not have been won. Hydra is a fashionable resort for the rich and famous and a stop over island for the jet set. The town remains architecturally very much of the 18th and 19th centuries with large stately houses built around the natural amphitheatre above the harbor. The total lack of vehicles adds to the atmosphere. Hydra will be the island you will remember from your sailing vacation and yacht charter holidays in Greece.
SPETSES is mostly covered by pine trees. The attractive town is popular with tourists and Athenians alike as well as for yacht charter and sailing vacation sailors. The old harbour and environs with many grand old houses is a wonderful place to wander around. The local yards build the Spetses caique which is considered to be among the best in Greece. John Fowles' novel "The Magus" is set on the island. In September a small caique rigged out as an old trader is set on fire to commemorate the revolt against the Turks. This is accompanied by a noisy fireworks display and much merriment.
TOLON was a small fishing village that has developed into a tourist resort on the strength of its sandy beach.
NAFPLION, a large town of mostly 18th and 19th century buildings, is a gem. The stone houses seem to be engulfed in vegetation and the narrow cobbled streets wind in and out of modest mansions many of them built in golden sandstone that seem to absorb colour from the sun. Shops and taverns are tucked away in streets everywhere. The Venetian citadel, Palamidi is the most finely preserved piece of Venetian military architecture in existence. The interesting exhibits of the local museum include a suit of Mycenaean armour, a reminder that this whole area was the heartland of the Mycenaeans.
PORTO HELI is a natural land-locked bay where many yachts choose to spend the winter. Many villas adorn the numerous coves on either side of the entrance channel into Porto Heli. Heli means eel in Greek, probably referring to the numbers of eels which once lived here. The area was once zoned as a NATO base but the plan was eventually shelved. Over the years trees have been planted and a number of hotels have been built. The serene waters of the bay offer ideal conditions for water sports, sailing and charter stop over.
HERMIONI has been relatively untouched by tourism, yacht charter and is the secret place to stop over during your sailing vacation. The village saddles the headland the end of which is wooded and proves idyllic for afternoon walks. On the south side of the headland where things are peaceful you can sit in a bar on the waterfront with wonderful views over the water. According to Pausanias, a festival in honour of Poseidon was held here and it is possible that Hermioni was the site of the first small boat regatta in recorded history.
MONI is a small uninhabited island that is partially wooded. It is a sanctuary for wild life and the sight of peacocks along the beach in the mornings is quite common. A small tavern operates in summer.
AEGINA, the town is a busy little place but very pleasant and homely. It has the distinction of being the first place in Greece where the Greek flag was raised at the end of the War of Independence. The single Dorca column on Cape Kolona nearby is all that remains of the Temple of Aphrodite that formerly stood there.


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Homemade meal, not by me, but by my son. It was our New Year´s dinner. It was delicious.
More about homemade starting at Francesca´s FuoriBorgo
Homemade meal, not by me, but by my son. It was our New Year´s dinner. It was delicious.
More about homemade starting at Francesca´s FuoriBorgo
Is also strawberries time … around here at least.
A little while ago I bought this new cookbook and the first thing I tried from it was roasted strawberries, mostly because it sounded like a strange thing to do, but the result was really very good and I am definitely making them again.
(Should you not have heard of roasted strawberries before, just google it and you will get plenty of instructions on how to prepare them).
Above you see the result of my latest food experiment. Almonds covered with white chocolate (mixed with a bit of grated lemon zest) and rolled in licorice root powder. They were very nice. I made them for one of the Christmas days, so it is already quite some time ago. Hmm, time to think up new food experiments as it makes cooking more fun, I think.
More experiments starting at Francesca's FuoriBorgo.
or waiting for the water to boil to make a cup of tea …
and (b)ring in the new one.
We got it right before Christmas. Yay. I'm sure i'll post more pics from it during the course of the year …
This is my slightly alterated corner view post. More Ring out the old … views starting at Francesca's.
We are in the process of changing our kitchen … and I hope it is more than a dream that we will have it ready before Christmas. These days we have a mason doing the walls and somehow this involves most of our downstairs space with bags of cement and tools and dust etc. and not so much for me to do … except giving me a good excuse to go dreaming about all nice stuff I saw on Etsy today.
1: Texturized Sterling Silver Earrings from mariagotijoyas
2: Round bubble ring by The Angry Weather
3: Simple but beautiful earrings from deLcobrestudio
4: Golden Love Band from katjajesek
5: 3 organic rings from Petaluda
6: Rose quartz ring from Naventin
7: Red triple wrapped leather bracelet from TyssHandmadeJewelry
8: Silver and Wood Rings from the Ring Tree
9: Emerald Green Dahlia Blossoms earrings from floria
More cornerviews about dreams starting at FuoriBorgo
The light is not the best in my kitchen and I don't have many photos of it. I took this photo though while wating for this chicken dish with coriander seeds, turmeric, lemongrass, garlic to finish cooking.
Head over to Lete if you want to join her in the I Spy Alphabet game.