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- What is meditation?
- What is it not?
- The benefits of meditation
- The science behind meditation
- How do I meditate?
- Which meditation technique is the right one for me?
- What do I need for my meditation practice?
- How do I create a regular meditation practice?
What is Meditation?
Meditation is a state of mind when you enter into a deep thought, full relaxation, and inner calm. Meditation is about training your brain to develop a clear awareness of your thoughts and feelings; it's the key to cherish every moment as it is and about finding who you really are.
Meditation is a method for relaxing the mind that helps you scape your ordinary state, your regular thinking mind and experience a higher consciousness. It is the journey to discover and feel all the possible levels of consciousness and finally enjoy knowing yourself at all levels.
Meditation has been around for thousands of years. It was originally a common practice of the Buddhism and Hinduism as a mean to break with the ordinary thinking and elevate the mind to a higher state. Since then mediation has evolved and become what it is today: a powerful technique to discover and fulfill your full potential, all that you can be.
When people think about meditation, they usually see a Buddhist monk in a robe sitting beside a waterfall or a Sufi whirling around to an enchanting melody, which isn't necessarily untrue, but at the same time it's not limited to a religion, a spiritual movement or exclusive to certain places. Meditation is more; it's a technique with specific exercises and procedures to help you train your mind and enjoy its many benefits. Even modern physicians consider meditation a type of mind-body complementary medicine and recommend its practice for stress reduction. Moreover a number of recent research studies have shown the amazing benefits meditation can have for your body, mind and soul.
You may already know these things and think that mediation is one of those things that require a lot of time, time that you probably don't have. But actually it doesn't. Meditation only takes a few minutes out of your daily routine and who doesn't have a few minutes to spare, right? Meditation techniques are not complicated; they involve an easy-to-do exercise that anyone can do and that's why more and more people these days are meditating regularly.
What is it not?
Over the years meditation has been given a large number of definitions and explanations, ranging from being a mysterious technique to consist of conventional exercises to improve the concentration.
There is an enormous amount of information out there about what meditation actually is and while most of it follows one particular school of thought or doctrine. But very little consideration has been given to other approaches and opposite discourses so before we get into that, let's have a look at the most common misbeliefs about what meditation is. You can probably find and read the following statements in many sites but in fact they are just misunderstandings and false clichés about meditation.
The Mode of Relaxation
All Meditation techniques are about training the mind to focus on one single thing or thought. As a result you feel less anxious, you relieve stress and therefore you relax but relaxing is not the sole outcome of meditation. In fact relaxation is more like a positive side effect if you'd like.
A Religious Doctrine
Originally meditation was linked to religion and used as a tool to get into the spiritual world. Since then meditation has evolved to what it is today: a versatile technique that you can use to train your mind and achieve amazing benefits. Meditation is not limited to one particular school of thought or religious doctrine; Meditation is a journey to achieve a better YOU regardless of your beliefs.
An Act of Concentration
Concentration happens when you focus on one single thought or thing for a long period of time. You may need to make exercises to practice your concentration in order to learn the art of mediation, above all at the beginning, but concentration is not meditation itself.
The Way to avoid Reality
There is a common misunderstanding that meditation helps you to run away from your reality: your fears, your bad feelings and worries. Absolutely wrong! Meditation brings you to a level of consciousness where you can actually access your subconscious and what lives there: good and bad. Your emotions, your feelings, you experience them in full so there is absolutely no avoiding. If you don't like a part of your reality, a feeling, a habit, Meditation will help you change it, not running away.
The benefits of meditation
Mediation has been practiced for thousands of years and over time people have meditated to achieve different things: reduce stress, be happier, reach a superior state of awareness … You can try the different exercises and techniques but they all have one end destination, one main goal: to help you refine your mind and improve your emotional regulation.
Each one of us is different. You are different; your cognitive, spiritual and emotional level is different. You use meditation for your own purpose but in the end what is common to each of us is that meditation significantly transforms your body and mind, in a different way for each of us, but it does. So let's have a look at the main benefits of meditation:
1. Stress Reduction
Meditation helps you release accumulated stress and it actually prevents its bad and negative effects, even at the beginning. Meditation is also used to control the initial symptoms and control depression right at the beginning.
2. Physical Improvement
On a physical level meditation makes you healthier, it can reduce high blood pressure; decrease any stress-related pain, such as tension, headaches and ulcers; improve the immune system and boost your energy level.
3. Improves Concentration
Concentration is a positive side effect of Meditation. Meditating helps focus your attention on positive thoughts and channel these into productive affirmations.
4. Anti-aging Method
Studies on the effects of mediation have shown that it can actually slow down the aging process of the cells. Meditation increases the production of the anti-aging hormone DHEA and therefore can change the biological age of the meditators, explaining why they usually live longer than someone that has never meditated.
5. Enhances Creativity
Meditation affects your brain activity, fosters your creative thinking, improves your learning performance and can strengthen your memory.
6. Social Awareness
Meditating helps you create positive relationships with others and improve your social relations at home and in the office. You see the big picture, what really matters and you are able to solve complex problems that you may encounter in your social life.
7. Self-Actualization
By practicing Meditation you are able to keep things in perspective, reach a peaceful mindstate and enjoy a happy life. You discover your purpose in life; your potential and you become all that you can be.
8. Attain Enlightenment
Through Meditation your achieve harmony in your soul, mind and body. You reach a spiritual enlightenment where you find self-acceptance, you stop trying to change yourself and become who you really are.
9. Will-Power
Mediation is the journey of training the mind and it promotes significant changes in the brain such us making both brain hemispheres work better together; increasing brain size and developing a strong will power.
10. Restful Sleep & Cure of Insomnia
Studies have proven that Meditation can help with sleep problems: it improves sleep quality and can cure insomnia, which has also a positive impact on your wellbeing because it reduces your need to take sleeping pills and other pharmaceuticals.
The science behind meditation
Researches have invested an enormous amount of time studying the relationship between science and meditation. You may think it's difficult to find a real link between the spiritual world and the tangible reality but studies have shown that some effects in your mind, produced by meditating, are responsible for certain changes in your body and brain.
When you meditate you get rid of the negative and non-productive thoughts and focus on those that let you reach a calm and peaceful mind state. Recent research offers evidence that Meditation strengthens your mind and fosters faster connections between your brain cells. Moreover long-term meditators can actually process information faster than non-meditators. But how? There is a correlation between the number of years you meditate and a process called "gyrification", which is basically the folding of the outer layer of your brain called cortex. This folding allows you to better form memories; make decisions and process information in general.
Other studies have shown that meditation is linked to cortical thickness, which can result in a decreased sensitivity to pain.
Research has also proved that long-term meditators experience higher levels of tolerance to negative emotions and thoughts and feel a decrease in stress problems related to depression and anxiety disorders. Professor Emma Seppala believes that regular meditation may lead to a significant increase in the grey matter of the brain. The grey matter influences your immunity to fight external and foreign contaminations, which often can lead to diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's and diabetes. You can read her scientific summary explaining all the benefits of meditation in this article.
Meditation causes physical changes in your brain. For example, neuroscientists observing MRI scans have learned that meditation strengthens the brain by reinforcing the connections between brain cells, thus increasing coherence between the different parts of the brain.
Furthermore, a recent study about the effects on rational thinking caused by intensive periods of mindfulness meditation suggests that it may significantly improve your working memory capacity and help you sustain a longer attention span.
How do I meditate?
Mediation helps you better meditate when you practice it regularly and becomes part of your lifestyle when you do it regularly. Mediation can reduce your stress levels and improve your general wellbeing. It can help you with chronic pain; make you sleep better, feel happier, be more peaceful, as well as enjoy every moment of your life.
Although many people try meditation at some point in their lives, only a small percentage actually stick with it for the long-term. This is unfortunate and a possible reason is that beginners do not know what mindset is needed to make the practice sustainable.
There are a number of Meditation techniques: concentration Meditation, mindfulness Meditation, mantra Meditation, guided Meditation, visualization Meditation and so on. But despite the differences, the basics on how to meditate in each of them remain the same.
Here are a few tips on how to meditate:
- Find a quiet spot – Choosing a quiet place for meditation is a must. Maybe you have a spare room in your house, or you know of a quiet corner in the park, or at the beach, or in any other peaceful location you can think of. The important thing is that is quiet and there are not distractions.
- How long? – Before you begin, you should decide how long you are going to meditate. For beginners, it is highly recommended that you start with small sessions of 10-15 minutes everyday. Later on, when you are used to the exercises and meditation itself you can then increase the time.
- Body Posture – Sit straight, on the floor, on a sofa or on a pillow, so you keep your spine upright. It doesn't matter where as far as you are in such a position your body remains relaxed for the whole session.
- Close your Eyes – Close your eyes.
- Count your Breath – The best way to help beginners to meditate is by counting the breath. By counting, the count itself and the noise of the breathing become a mantra, a rhythm that helps you avoid other feelings and thoughts and just focus. When you inhale and exhale you feel each and every movement of your body: shoulders, chest, rib cage, belly. Nothing else but your breath.
- Let Frustration go – At the beginning you may find difficult to focus, to concentrate in your breath and to listen to your body. You have so much going on in your life and boom! that's when frustration kicks in and you feel tempted to give up…. don't! That's exactly when you need to push those feelings away, say no to frustration and concentrate more on your breath.
- Thoughts and Emotions – Thoughts and emotions are hard to control. So don't! A productive meditation routine requires that you let them run free so you can relieve your mind and body from the fight of restraining, the internal war in over and finally you gain the energy to focus on each thought and emotion separately and act about it.
- Remind yourself of the Purpose – It is very important that you keep reminding yourself why you started meditating so when it gets difficult you remember the reason, the purpose, the motivation you need to keep going.
Which meditation technique is the right one for me?
Every Meditation technique aims at bringing you to a peaceful state of mind and physical awareness but how they do it is very different. Mediation is a journey; and when you decide to meditate it becomes your journey. How you practice it and your goals are unique to you.
Your reason to start meditating may be different than why your best friend or partner started: reduce your stress levels; be happier; correct a bad habit or simply fine-tune your intuition. The reason matters as the technique matters, but in the end it's all about the technique. So let's have a look:
Mindfulness Meditation
Mindfulness mediation is about achieving your awareness. While practicing mindfulness meditation you allow your mind to work spontaneously and see the things clearly without any restriction. The best way to start using this technique is by observing the breathing patterns and motions of your body.
Guided Meditation
During guided meditation, you are asked to visualize something pleasant, for example a quiet sandy beach. The purpose of this practice is to help you make use of all your senses, so you don't only visualize the beach but you can actually feel the warm sea breeze on your cheeks and the water splashing your feet. At the beginning visualization is about repeating a mantra or concentrating on one positive image. It takes time and perseverance but if you do well you can get more creative with practice.
Transcendental Meditation
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi developed this meditation technique in the 1950's and with it he became a worldwide reference and leader in this new art of meditation. In Transcendental Meditation (TM) you use a mantra, specific Sanskrit words, a list of names or words that you repeat in a rhythmic matter. The repetition, the rhythm affects your mind, makes a change in your brain activity moving you from your routine thinking mind to a higher state, where you are more aware and conscious about you, your feeling, your thoughts; where you are relaxed and powerful.
Zen Meditation
Also referred to as Zazen, meaning "seated meditation" and is a Buddhist meditation technique that mainly pay attention to the position of the body, the posture. Your posture has a lot to do with how you communicate with the world and with yourself and Zen Meditation is the practice of sitting in a specific way so you can relax your body, open your mind and discover the nature of your true being.
Concentration Meditation
This technique is about choosing one single point of attention: the sofa, a light, a candle flame, your breath, a beat or a song. You train your mind to stop thinking and just focus on one point, that sofa, the light/flame or the beat. Your mind relaxes, you feel calm, stable, settled.
Primordial Sound Meditation
You have your own personal mantra that you repeat silently until you enter into the meditation mode and afterwards into a deep level of awareness. The mantra is different for every member because it is the "vibrational sound the universe was creating at the time and place of your birth. It's calculated following Vedic mathematic formulas and is very personal and specific to you".
Reflective Meditation
Reflective meditation is also known as analytical meditation and it involves training the mind to identify and control how you think. To practice Reflective Meditation you need to choose a question, theme or a topic and focus on your analysis and reflection on it.
Taoist Meditation
Taoist meditation aims at generating, transforming and circulating your inner energy so you can channel it to make the best of what you know, increasing your cognitive abilities and enhancing your physical well-being.
Kundalini Yoga
The Kundalini Yoga tradition is a type of meditation where you use specialized tools and exercises to support your mind and guide your body to practice breath, mantra, mudra (hand position) and focus.
Yoga Nidra Meditation
The Yoga Nidra practice was developed thousands years ago to achieve a deepest state of inner peace and relaxation. Yoga Nidra helps you get into a sleep-like state so you are totally relaxed but conscious and aware at the same time. Similar to the moments when you are just about to fall asleep. In this state you can positively impact and reprogram your subconscious for good.
Nondirective Meditation
In nondirective meditation you start by focusing on your breathing or on a sound to help you get into the right state but afterwards there are no rules, your mind runs free, wherever you want to go you go, you go.
Walking Meditation
Walking meditation is probably the only technique that requires you to be active physically in order to meditate. Basically you walk and the act of walking is used as the main point to focus. One step and you concentrate on that step, another one and focus again on that step… While walking and focusing on your steps, you become more attentive to what's on your mind, what you feel, opening the door to the connection between your mind and your body.
What do I need for my mediation practice?
Let's start by finding you the right place for your regular meditation. It can be your favorite corner in the bedroom or that cozy spot at the park, it doesn't matter as far as you feel conformable in it, it is quiet and you are sure that you won't get any major distractions.
Make yourself comfortable by sitting on the ground, on a cushion or a chair. Find a posture so you are comfortable and relaxed for the whole session. If you are at home you can create a calm and relaxing atmosphere by lighting a candle or burning a relaxing scent stick.
You also need to think about when it's the best time for your meditation. This needs to be a time that will work regularly so outside the office/school hours. Maybe you prefer an early morning sessions or the opposite, you love the evenings.
Begin with sessions of 10-15 minutes and as you become more confortable with the technique and its effects, you can later increase you sessions. Day-to-day meditation is like bathing; you clean your mind and you prepare it for the new day.
In the end it's about you finding that spot and enjoying the time you meditate on it. You create a space for yourself, you make the exercises consistently, you are persistent and regular, you follow the technique and boom! It happens, your mind changes, you get use to the relaxing, the focusing and you start feeling it!
You are meditating.
How do I create a regular meditation practice?
Many people try, many people start but only a few become regular meditators.
A lack in commitment or in will power, as well as unreal expectations are the main reasons why people give up. Meditation takes time and it needs to become a habit, a part of your lifestyle if you want to feel its benefits.
So start by your main reason, the purpose why you are meditating in the first place and once you say it out loud, then make a commitment and start the meditation. Your strong intention will support your mind to avoid excuses.
Just start. Stop thinking about the obstacles, why you can't and just do it. Your mind is powerful in both ways, it can stop you by giving you all type of excuses… but it can also push you!
Be consistent – start with a session or two for a few minutes each day. Continue to do so for a week. Then keep going, it takes time, but don't get frustrated, you will soon start feeling the benefits… just keep going… The only way is to keep trying, to go forward.
Show discipline – discipline will help you make a habit out of meditation. Moreover discipline will help with your lifestyle, you can stop doing something, stop using something as an excuse. Instead you go and do the right thing, you do it today, tomorrow and the rest of the year, that shows resilience and discipline.


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Used Trimble S6 Robotic Total Station With 5" accuracy and DR300+ reflectorless
This Trimble S6 is a fully robotic one-man total station system. With 5" accuracy and DR300+ reflectorless measurement capability, this unit is perfect for a wide range of jobs. This S6 has just been serviced, including a calibration and firmware upgrade to R 12.2.47. All items includied in aution are used. Only items pictured are included in the auction. This unit is in 100% working condition. A factory warranty is included with this item.
Trimble S6 DR300+ 5" Robotic Total Station
3 Trimble Batteries
5 Bay Trimble Battery Charger Kit (with case)
3 Bay Muli-Battery Adapter
360 Degree Passive Prism
Target ID
Trimble Hard Transport Case
Trimble TCU with Survey Controller 12.49
Trimble TCU Robotic Holder with 2.4 Ghz internal radio
Trimble TCU Desktop Docking Station with USB cable
|No. of Cores

subset: commoncrawl


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Jointly organized by the School of Arts of Peking University and the Central Academy of Fine Arts, the lecture "Observing Ink and Wash in the Cross-Cultural Perspective" was held at Guanghua School of Management of Peking University on November 15. Peng Feng, Professor of the School of Arts of Peking University, presided over the lecture and invited Pan Gongkai, President of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, and Cliff Ross, an American artist to discuss their artistic creation. Cliff Ross presented his latest series of works of video and installation, photographed and produced on the basis of an ink and wash painting, a gift by Pan Gongkai years ago. Professor Peng Feng made a brief speech, and said the creation by Cliff, produced by advanced digital art, broke through the limitation of traditional ink and wash, and achieved a fusion of antiquity and technology. And he hoped to seek a new possibility in developing traditional Chinese ink and wash through this dialogue.
Firstly, Pan Gongkai made a speech and said it had been an unsolved problem on how to change traditional ink and wash style to be modern, and Cliff, as an American artist, had done it in his own way, but he was still exploring, and the more people that joined the better.
Cliff Ross fully agreed with Pan Gongkai's speech, and believed that not only can a Chinese artist discuss the transformation of traditional arts to modern arts, but also artists all over the world did. Cliff said, when he received and firstly saw the gift by Pan Gongkai, he saw not a small-sized ink and wash but a large-scale landscape. He found the charm of art was originated from double clues of cross-culture and cross-time. The charm of this works emerged through the paper and ink, and even the texture of the chapter. He had exaggerated these details as much as possible to perform the "poetic" texture. At the same time, he had succeeded in reprinting the works by woodblock, and he said he would go on exploring along this road.
Prof. Peng Feng perfectly appreciated the transformation by Cliff, and he pointed out that people loved Chinese ink and wash painting because of their energetic language, and enjoy the interesting subject regardless of the painting's size. Pan Gongkai added that the way a Chinese artist created an ink and wash painting fulfilled Prof. Peng's view, "the performance of the artist's experience", that an artist's accomplishment and experience would be reflected through his or her works. Different from the "object-oriented material" of Western aesthetics, Chinese aesthetics treated aesthetics as a "process".
But Cliff believed that not only Chinese but also Western artists expressed their "process", and using digital media, he still paid attention to the "strokes" in the media, with his years of experience dealing with paintings and sculptures.
Some of the audience asked why we went on exploring the art of ink and wash painting, when we were living in an extreme impetuous era, and were no longer in the context of traditional ink and wash?
Pan Gongkai firstly admitted this fact, but argued that art was a way to find the Pure Land, a way to make up the shortcomings of life. Cliff agreed with Pan Gongkai's saying, and said the road of art was not simple, an artist should not only oppose the dark side of society but also work for his or her art, which pushes artists into different directions, therefore, there were different explorations.
Someone asked if Pan Gongkai' works portrayed to us a "big world" , which might be related to some ideas of Buddhism, while works by Cliff were performing another "world", a micro world, then how to find the consistency of these two "worlds"?
Pan Gongkai firstly pointed out that there was no need to find their consistency, and it was metaphysical to create a work, and hard to predict the result. But Cliff believed that the two "worlds" were consistent, and compared a traditional English proverb "See the world in a grain of sand" to "See a world in a flower", words of Chinese Buddhism. Prof. Peng Feng pointed out that the two worlds could not be exactly the same, but Cliff had shown us a way to see the "big world" in his works.
Lastly, someone asked how to continue your creations after finding a new way to develop ink and wash painting in a cooperative way?
Cliff believed that he had a chemical reaction with Chinese ink and wash when he produced his works, in which he was very interested, but still fascinated by other art objects and media, so, it did not affect his future creations. Pan Gongkai also said that they appreciated each other, but had different understandings of the works. And he believed that the traditional way of ink and wash should still be continued, which not only continued the way of painting, but also inherited the culture. The literati spirit was materialized to images in his painting.
Text by Sun Tianyi/ CAFA ART INFO, Photo by Dianzi
Translated by Chen Peihua and Edited by Sue Wang


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|The Extended Conversation, 24x36 oil
April 18, 2017
The Extended Conversation - Sold
April 11, 2017
Invitation to 'Signs of Life'
The date of my show and the opening have been finalized, and here is the invitation. I'm working on a couple of final pieces and am really looking forward to this show! I can't believe my last solo show was in 2013!
The artwork in the invitation is called 'Hanging Out Together', (48x24 oil).
April 05, 2017
|Parked, 18x36 oil
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In 2012, I had the most wonderful opportunity to live on a tiny tropical island in Pacific Ocean near the Philippines. Although I could tell you a thousand things that happened, there was one night that stands out in my mind in a surprising way.
I was with three friends and we decided to take a night hike. This trail was extremely rugged; it definitely brought out my adventurous side. We were undeniably in jungle land: vines strong enough to swing from, enormous limestone rock formations, terrifying-looking but truthfully-harmless insects, singing birds, the love/hate relationship with constant humidity, and dense vegetation.
About halfway along the trail, we got to a clearing. It wasn't necessarily a meadow, but trees went from being 3 feet apart to about 25 feet apart with very few bushes in between.
This new terrain made it extremely easy to see speckles of light kissing the forest floor all around me. I was an astronaut…but only it wasn't the moon's light getting past the tree canopy that gave the illusion I was in space.
The light was tinted bluish/green and came from hundreds of bioluminescent mushrooms all around me. I started to tear up at the sight. I've seen these mushrooms up close before this moment, yet it was a different experience to see the vastness they covered in the jungle rather than just innocently peaking out from behind a fallen log.
I've had a lot of experiences with nature, but this encounter blew them all away by far.
The lines between microcosm and macrocosm were blurred and all that I could do was surrender to the wonder of the universe.
(Image sources unknown)


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Nissan announced that the 2015 370Z Coupe with the 6-speed manual transmission will start at $29,990, which means that the pricing remains unchanged. The 2015 Nissan 370Z Coupe that uses the 7–speed automatic transmission costs $31,290. For those who want more, Nissan offers the 370 Coupe Sport 6MT for $33,570, while the model equipped with the 7-speed automatic transmission costs $34,870.
The 370Z Coupe Sport Tech 6MT is priced at $37,070 but if you want the automatic transmission pricing is increased to $38,370. The 370Z Coupe Touring 6MT has a price tag of $37,970, while the 370Z Coupe Touring 7AT costs $39,270.
Each model comes as standard with the 3.7-liter DOHC V6 engine that generates 332 hp as well as with a revised steering feel and suspension tuning. 18-inch wheels finished in black are offered on the 370Z and 370Z Touring models while the Nissan Navigation System comes as standard on the 370Z Touring.
If you want to feel the wind in your hair, the 2015 Nissan 370Z Roadster equipped with a 7-speed automatic transmission is available for $41,820. The 370Z Roadster Touring equipped with a 6-speed transmission costs $45,270 but if you want this model and a 7-speed automatic transmission you have to pay $46,570.
The 370Z Roadster Touring Sport 6MT is priced at $48,100 while the model using an automatic transmission has a price tag of $49,400. The 2015 Nissan 370Z Roadster comes with the same engine found on the coupe, developing 332 hp.
Also new for 2015 is the 370Z Touring Sport Roadster trim level that offers Viscous Limited-Slip Differential, SynchroRev Match (manual transmission only), 19-inch RAYS super lightweight forged aluminum-alloy wheels and Nissan Sport Brakes.
If the coupe or the roadster are not enough for you, you'd better know that the 2015 Nissan 370Z Coupe NISMO starts at $41,990 when equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission and at $43,290 when using a 7-speed automatic transmission.
The 2015 Nissan 370Z Coupe NISMO Tech 6MT costs $45,490 while the model using an automatic transmission costs $46,790. The 370 NISMO is powered by a 3.7-liter DOHC V6 engine that generates 350 hp.
Also new for the 2015MY is the design, which is inspired by the GT-R Nismo and includes a deep front fascia with Hyper LED Daytime Running Lights, black headlight bezels, the well-known signature NISMO red stripe accents and a new rear spoiler.
Nissan will offer the 370Z NISMO in four exterior colours – Solid Red, Magnetic Black, Brilliant Silver and Pearl White – while the interior is offered with black-and-red Recaro leather-appointed seats with Alcantara accents.
For the 2015MY, the 370 NISMO gets the Tech model which arrives with hard drive-based Nissan Navigation System with 7.0-inch VGA touch-sensitive display, RearView Monitor, Bose Audio System, SiriusXM Satellite Radio (SiriusXM subscription required, sold separately), Streaming Audio via Bluetooth, auto-dimming rearview mirror and HomeLink Universal Transceiver. Prices do not include the $810 destination charge. [source: Nissan]


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Singh, Paras B. and Matanhelia, Shyam S. and Martin, Frank L. (2008) A potential paradox in prostate adenocarcinoma progression : oestrogen as the initiating agent. European Journal of Cancer, 44 (7). pp. 928-936. ISSN 0959-8049Full text not available from this repository.
One in 10 men in the developed world will present with prostate cancer (CaP), and in an ageing population developing strategies for its chemoprevention or treatment is of significance. For decades, androgen ablation has remained the frontline treatment for CaP that is no longer organ-confined and thus deemed surgically inoperable. Orchidectomy or drug-induced reduction of serum testosterone levels with the consequent removal of growth-promoting effects in the prostate is the driving rationale for this regimen. However, resistance often develops within a few months to years and androgen-insensitive tumours develop. In recent years, there has been an increasing focus on chemoprevention with agents such as finasteride being employed to reduce the risk of developing CaP. Significantly, such chemoprevention strategies are also based on 5α-reductase inhibition thus reducing intraprostatic dihydrotestosterone levels. Although there may be an overall reduction in CaP incidence in cohorts using such chemoprevention, in a subset of users who do develop this pathology there results a more aggressive, higher-grade disease. There have also been suggestions regarding the protective role of androgens against high-grade CaP. This leads to the intriguing notion that 17β-oestradiol (E2) may be an initiating driver of CaP; in fact, in old studies in which CaP was induced in rodents, E2 often accelerated the effect of the carcinogen. Might certain chemoprevention strategies or androgen ablation result in a systemic feedback loop in hormone synthesis or metabolism? If so, elevated serum E2 levels could result in its increased conversion to genotoxic catechol oestrogens in target tissues such as the prostate. Paradoxically, if E2 were to be an initiating factor in CaP, anti-oestrogens might be an overlooked treatment or chemoprevention strategy.
|Item Type:
|Journal Article
|Journal or Publication Title:
|European Journal of Cancer
|Uncontrolled Keywords:
|Faculty of Science and Technology > Lancaster Environment Centre
|ID Code:
|Deposited By:
|Mr Richard Ingham
|Deposited On:
|13 Jan 2010 15:27
|Last Modified:
|28 Aug 2019 00:56
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Have you ever experienced a computer malfunction? You madly press the power button, but the machine won't boot up. Or maybe you're typing away on a document, and the blue screen of death appears. When you rely on your computer for your business, it can be a huge problem when it breaks. If you live in the greater New Orleans area, however, you can get fast business computer repair at Wisp.
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How Wisp Works For You
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Keeping your business computer secure and streamlined is important. You don't want to lose valuable time because your operating system is slow. Completing necessary updates keeps your computer protected and functioning smoothly. If you purchase a new business computer, we can help you set it up so that it operates properly and connects with all of your business networks and hardware like printers and external hard drives .
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TÜV SÜD Product Service announces the launch of their new training course, 'Designing For Safety Compliance'
TÜV SÜD Product Service have announced the launch of a new two-day training course entitled 'Designing For Safety Compliance'. Hosted by Product Safety Specialist, Alastair McLaughlin, it will first be held in Fareham on 5th November 2013.
The course will cover a selection of test standards, their differences and similarities; safety hazards and how to avoid them; product tests to prove compliance both in the lab and on the production line; and documentation requirements, including technical file contents and submitting for testing.
Please see below for a list of announced dates and locations:
5th November 2013 - 6th November 2013 - Fareham BOOK HERE
11th February 2014 - 12th February 2014 - Fareham BOOK HERE
13th May 2014 - 14th May 2014 - Birmingham BOOK HERE
7th October 2014 - 8th October 2014 - Fareham BOOK HERE
For more information about this new course, please click here.


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It has been another productive week! I must admit I am enjoying the challenge of constantly having things to do and people to go and see. To put it in context, this time a year ago, when I wasn't working I wasn't doing anything really. It wasn't good for me in any way and by setting this goal of trying to raise £1 million for Cancer Research UK I have found a renewed purpose in a lot of ways. It sounds strange but I had gotten to the point of work being the highlight of the week because it gave me something to do. Whilst I still enjoy work on the whole, I now have other things to do out with it and it has meant I have a far better work/life balance in my mind.
As this post goes live I will have just arrived in Madrid to visit my sister for the week who is studying there as part of her degree. It'll hopefully be a fairly cheap trip away with the only real expense being the travel there and if I want to do things. But at the end of the day family is always the most important thing to me. It is something that I have come to realise in these last few years as mum and others have fought through less than perfect situations. When you have watched them struggle through these times and come out the other side fighting and remaining positive it really does give you a whole new perspective on life. Far too often, we fail appreciate what we have and how easy it can be lost. Your family are precious and I'd ask you to never forget that.
With the job that I have, I am privy to the fact that the lives of ordinary people can be thrown into turmoil at anytime of any day of the week. I hold a position where I see people in their darkest hours fighting some of the most difficult sets of circumstances that anyone can face. But ultimately it is family and a belief that things will get better which sees them through. I like to find a positive in every situation, regardless of how small it may be. At the end of the day, a positive is a positive and that allows me to have hope. Positivity and hope will help you through any bad situation; I can guarantee that.
So, as much as I am getting a cheap holiday to Madrid, ultimately it is really to visit my sister who I haven't seen for around a month. I am not entirely sure when I will see her next after I come home to be honest. She has become a bid of a nomad in recent years and is always on the move. If I could speak different languages and spend lots of my time abroad in the sun then I probably would as well! It will be a good week in Madrid I am sure, despite the fact that it looks likely that the weather won't be all that great whilst I am there. Although that will mean that I can go running without a guarantee of being tortured by the sun. We can't have everything in life though I suppose.
The 'Evening Telegraph' ran the story that we did with Cancer Research UK this week and it seems to have had a pretty positive response which me and mum are both extremely thankful for. If you are new to my page, this blog and what I am trying to achieve – welcome! It is good to know that the publicity has helped to bring people on board and we can share our story a little bit further. My thinking is that if a million people can donate £1 then raising £1 million is actually quite easy! At least that is how I like to think about it!
I'm feeling good about how my running is progressing. I am by no mean the fastest runner out there, but I am building up the distance and for me that is a really positive step. For me, exercise is 20% about what your body feels like it is capable of and 80% about how mentally tough you are. If your mind stays strong you can achieve far more than you maybe feel like you can. Over the last year in a lot of ways I let my fitness slip and its something that has genuinely frustrated me. My fitness certainly wasn't where it once was. But, taking on all of these challenges is helping me get back to where I was and hopefully go well beyond that. That is certainly a goal of mine. I want to finish this year significantly fitter than how I started it. But I think that is more than achievable if I stick to all of the various challenges I have organised for this year. They are forcing me to get out and do exercise where in recent times I would have maybe avoided a training session and become somewhat lazy. But I have identified a problem and I am working to fix it. Improving your fitness takes time however and I have to be patient. If I keep plugging away then I am sure I will get back to where I was!
I had a really positive meeting this week about the possibility of getting to speak to some school assemblies about what I am doing and the mindset that I have for achieving my goals. I think it is a really good opportunity to spread the word and help get more people on board with this fundraising. The more people we speak to and spread this message of positivity, the greater our chances of hitting the target are. I still don't doubt for one minute however that we will not hit the mark. I know we will. Lots of little actions can combine to effect real change in this world. Donating £1, clicking that like and share button. It's all it takes to make a difference.
"Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny" – C.S Lewis
Thank you all as always.


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J asked if we could go op shopping last weekend to update her working wardrobe now she's in a less corporate environment. Except I ended up working last Saturday. But this weekend we managed it: my first op shop foray in far far too long.
The Frugalling Fairy had obviously been missing me. Before I left home this morning I realised I'd have to shift my Mac before this afternoon's Photoshop lesson as I only had one high stool to sit at. But then, at Salvos Tuggeranong I spied this for $15.00: Yes I realise it's yellow but I justified it as I figured it would be a temporary resident chez TSS before possibly heading into The Craft ACT shop to replace the current chair which is on wheels and is prone to whizz off across the (vinyl) floor if you so much as shift position.
Except it would now seem that Abode Suite lessons will be a regular occurrence for the next little while. So the either the stool stays or I donate it to Craft ACT with the proviso that I can come and borrow it when required...
I also found a copy of this intriguing looking book at Salvos Tuggeranong. A tad expensive at $10 but too stunning to leave behind. The SuperJesus CD (from Salvos Weston Creek) was a $2 gamble as I didn't know their music but somehow recognised the cover. So far I'm not impressed but I'll give it another listen before deciding if I'm redonating it.
And the Jeffrey Steingarten book ($2) was a random pick from Salvos Jamison which because a must-buy when it clicked that this was JEFFREY STEINGARTEN aka the main reason I still subscribe to US Vogue.
And I also bought a little wool for Taph (not photographed). And a coffee at Chocolate Olive mid quest. And lunch at Ha Ha Bar post quest. And J went home with 3 pairs of trousers for $15.50 and a top (forgot how much it was, but less than $7). All in all a good day...
Cook from the cupboard
Today's menu:
Breakfast: Cup of tea. Toasted crumpets with wilted spinach, egg and parmesan cheese.
Morning tea: Coffee
Lunch: Half a haloumi and Mediterranean vege panini, chips and salad. Glass of wine.
Afternoon tea: Apricot danish. Cup of tea.
Dinner: Penne pasta with tuna, spinach, corn, Dolmio and parmesan cheese. Chocolate.
Today's purchases:
Bar stool: $15.00
Book: $10.00
Coffee: $3.50
Book: $2.00
Wool for Taph: $1.50
Lunch with J: $11.00
Total for today: $45.00
Total for June: $370.94
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Second hand Saturday
1 comment :
- Frank said...
Looks as though you could easily disassemble the stoool and recover it using some of your stock-piled monochromatic black material.
Or - from another age
May I suggest .....
Aged male parental unit
- 3:26 pm, June 15, 2009
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Metaphysics is the study of that which transcends time and space, and through this study we can attempt to know more than what is apparent in this world. Since it's much too broad a topic for an all-encompassing account to be made, we're going to divide our study into specific eras and places, starting with ancient, canonical texts to set a firm foundation.
We'll be reading selections from Aristotle's Metaphysics, Books 6 - 10.


text: For this design I wanted to capture the busy hustle and bustle of the Central district of HK - The traditional signs, iconic trams, the traffic, and the street furniture that you see all around you when you are walking the pavements in this vibrant city. I spent many hours taking photos of taxis, trams and buses, but my personal favourite HK icon in this print is the 'Pawn Shop' sign on the top right. With over 250 of them in Central and Kowloon, you see these traditional pawnshops everywhere on the streets of HK. The swallows are a common sight in the city, making their nests under awnings and air-cons. I included them in this design because, although the concrete city is so built up and congested there are constant reminders of the nature and wildlife that lives amongst it if you look closely enough. In a vertical city like HK you must remember to look up!


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Portland Roofing Team is a licensed and insured locally owned residential roofing contractor. Portland Roofing Team has served the residential roofing repair, residential roofing replacement needs for Portland, OR and surrounding areas. Our goal is complete customer satisfaction, which demonstrates our commitment to you. In addition to roof repair and roof replacement, we offer hail, wind and storm damage restoration, gutter replacement, gutter guard installation, sheetrock repair, interior painting, exterior painting, home insulation and siding installation.
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Unreal estate
Two weeks ago, Mark and Glenda Weaver got into their $600 Ford XD Falcon and drove from Melbourne to Bundaberg. They had planned to leave on a Saturday but were so excited they packed and left the day before. They saw the sights, went to Fraser Island, "had a huge feed of seafood" and, near Bundaberg, bought a property.
Weaver had researched the Queensland town for some time. People were moving into the area, rental properties were scarce, the town was about to "go off". They paid $65,000 for the house and found tenants straight away. Weaver was ecstatic. "Who knows?" he said on Thursday. "I might even look in an agent's window and pick up a house in Kingaroy on the way home."
The transformation of Mark Weaver, Sunshine scrap-metal recycler, into Mark Weaver, property investor, is also the transformation of Australia.
For years, Weaver had wanted to buy property, but didn't know how to do it. "Where I come from, people just don't tell you that kind of stuff."
And this bugged him, too: "Some guys are as dumb as dogshit, but through pure luck, or because they inherited something, they move in the right circles and they get taught things. I'm not from Toorak. I grew up in Avondale Heights, I grew up in the west. We're supposed to be dumb bastards out here!"
Weaver worked hard but never seemed to get anywhere. His Dad, too, had "worked like shit" as a foreman at CUB and paid off the house and car. But now "he's on the pension, always looking for the pensioner discounts. Me, I'd like to further myself."
Mike Cowan remembers seeing his mate Weaver after he had just read Rich Dad Poor Dad (What the rich teach their kids about money that the poor and middle class do not!) by American investment guru Robert Kiyosaki. "He had tears in his eyes. He understood all of a sudden why he had been working his arse off, buried in shit and grease in a wrecking yard. There's nothing in it, working hour for hour."
So when Cowan, a mechanic turned small businessman, suggested they go to a seminar by property marketeer Henry Kaye, Weaver defied his outraged wife and paid $5500 for a four-day course.
Kaye talked about how 99 per cent of Australians died broke; how the rich had "the knowledge". And, as he did, a floodlight went on for both men. "Henry would say something and we'd look at each other and say, 'He's talking about us'," Weaver remembers. The course finished at midnight, but Cowan says "we drove around Ascot Vale till 4am looking at properties, we were that pumped up."
Pumped up by Kaye, the men formed a group of friends to buy a block of six units in Roxburgh Park from a builder. Since they had bought the whole block, they got 20 per cent off. Weaver had his first investment property and has borrowed off the equity to buy more. At 44, he can now see the day when he no longer works because "every day when I get out of bed, I'm making money".
Kaye and other get-rich-quick property advisers have sent tens of thousands of Australians into the property market. Some, like Weaver and Cowan, have come back happy. But others are sitting, sometimes unhappily, on properties bought from Kaye, often with loans worth 100 per cent of the property's value. If the market turns down, if investors are unable to find tenants or service their loans, that is when trouble can begin.
And some have already lost a lot of money. Following a Federal Court decision last month, unhappy seminar clients may get refunds if they can prove they did a Kaye course because his company claimed, wrongly, that it was approved by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. But others may just have to cop their losses.
"We've had a significant number of complaints against the Henry Kayes of the world," says Consumer Affairs Victoria director David Cousins.
"They should be under no illusions; they're very much in our sights. However, it's buyer beware. It's a real issue: how far can you protect people from themselves?"
'There are a lot of Mikes and me out there," says Weaver. "What do you think is fuelling the housing market?" And he is right. Paul Chapman is a 42-year-old window cleaner who owns 13 investment properties because "when I retire, there might not be a pension".
Ann Cotterell, who runs a Geelong aged-care service, is a property investor and has even developed a block of flats because "I'm a middle-aged woman on my own and I'm thinking what can give me security for my old age". Paul Colquhoun, 34, is a Warburton glazier who is developing five units in Healesville and plans to expand from there because "in five years I want to be in a place where I don't have to work".
These three people, all Kaye graduates, help to explain why lending to housing investors has soared - from $31 billion two years ago to $65 billion this financial year. In June alone, lending was a record $6.88 billion. Three years ago, the last figures to hand, the number of taxpayers with negatively geared properties was 7 per cent and rising fast.
Says Frank Gelber of economic forecaster BIS Shrapnel: "We are geared to the eyeballs in order to buy houses."
Why? It is an extraordinary confluence of factors: low interest rates, a sluggish stockmarket, a tax system that favours investors, housing demand driven by a growing population, more broken families and single people, and a seemingly endless supply of land.
And something else is moving in John Howard's Australia. The old Australian contract - that the state will support you in hard times, that people hang together or hang separately - is dying. It's a new country, of landlords or losers. Talk to the new property investors and they all say the same things: the country will not be able to support the ageing baby boomers; people will have to fund their retirement; superannuation is too little, too late. Throw all these forces together, all this opportunity, desire and fear, and you have the kindling to make a bonfire - the biggest property boom in 30 years, perhaps 100.
To this fire, seminar gurus are the kerosene. And the biggest of them may be 33-year-old multimillionaire Henry Kaye. As he tells it, he gave his first property advice seminar in 2000 to 30 people. By his seventh he was pulling in 1000.
Craig Murray, a Wodonga car salesman, paid $2800 for a Kaye weekend seminar in South Melbourne. Murray says he has now "had a gutful" of Kaye's company after he put down a $1500 deposit on an off-the-plan St Kilda apartment, then could get no information for two-and-a-half years on its completion.
Back then, though, he thought Kaye was a dynamo. "We went from 8pm to 2-3am three nights in a row. After I left on the last night, people were lined up for three hours waiting to hand him their credit card to sign up for his 15-grand boot camp."
In Albury-Wodonga, Rachelle Valente watched Kaye's people, and others like them, come into town. "I call them the black suits," says Valente, a mortgage originator, or broker. "They drive in, put an ad in The Border Mail, do some telemarketing and run a free seminar on how everyone's going to be rich if they go up to Sydney and do their course. But you have to pay. And people did. They trusted them."
Valente says 2000 people from her area alone went up to Sydney to do a Kaye course. Dave Muller, a roof plumber, and his wife Julie Geisler, a receptionist, were two of them. Muller, 54, rents his house and has never fully owned a property. He and Geisler stumped up $15,000 - a discount rate - and caught the bus to Sydney. Muller says they went because "you don't want to see your kids battle like we have".
The courses taught many "strategies", as Kaye's people call them. How to use a deposit bond to get a loan with no money down. How to do deals with developers. How to control property valuations. They taught other things, too, says Claudine Binet from Newcastle. "They told us the banks have secrets they don't share. It's only the rich who know. You do get convinced; they are so good."
Many people went off to try their strategies on unsuspecting real estate agents, accountants and developers. Others, like Muller and Geisler, found that with no equity or experience, Kaye's advice was useless.
But hundreds of others, with equity or not, took the next step and bought properties through Kaye's property arm - in St Kilda, Carlton, Port Melbourne, Richmond, Hawthorn . . . all over town.
Kaye also charged clients a sourcing fee of as much as $6600 a property, but even that hefty commission failed to slow the rush. One financier who worked for a company that provided loans to Kaye clients recalls: "People would come in and say they wanted to buy five properties now. I'd go back to the tearoom and say, 'These people are from Mars'. Some of them didn't even have a job. One had just given up his job and wanted to lease a BMW, so he could look like a professional property investor."
Egon Grossberg, a Toorak business consultant, did some consultancy work for Toorak Financial. He says a woman from Taylors Lakes came in to see him. She was 24, her husband was 32 and they had a combined income of $57,000.
"She had been to a Henry Kaye course and now she wanted to buy 10 properties in the next two years. I said, 'You can't buy two, let alone 10'." One woman reportedly broke down in tears when told she couldn't get a loan, saying: "You've just destroyed my dream."
Grossberg became disillusioned with Kaye and now acts for a group trying to work up a legal case to recover money from the marketeer. Most of these, including Muller and Geisler, are unhappy seminar clients, but one says Kaye and his disciples cost him about $100,000.
"Colin", who asked that his real name not be used, is a soft-spoken chiropractor in his early 50s. A few years ago, he came into an inheritance and thought he had better make something of it. He saw a Kaye ad in the paper and spent $10,000 on an investment mastery course. Within a little time he had purchased seven townhouses across Melbourne. Colin purchased only one property directly from Kaye; the others were from a couple who had worked for Kaye but left to go freelance.
Before doing the Kaye course, Colin knew nothing about real estate. Now he found himself in a storm of loan payments, maintenance costs, and legal and body corporate fees - nearly $2 million. Colin clicks open his spreadsheets and sighs. "All my money was going out. It was like taking on a second job. I was way out of my league."
Worse, when Colin tried to sell the properties he found he could not. Grossberg, his financial adviser, managed to extricate him from three, but he has been forced to hang on to two others and he sold the other two at a $70,000 loss. He says he lost a further $30,000 in costs.
"I would have to describe myself as gullible," he says. "Of course, I was very angry for a while. I have learnt a lesson I will never forget."
Colin sees Kaye as a very powerful person. But "if you are going to trigger change in people, you have to take responsibility. I don't think he has thought through the effect he has on people's lives."
What about other purchasers? Mike Cowan says he would rather his daughter did a Kaye course than go to university. Still, he now knows that a Maribyrnong property he bought from Kaye is worth far less than the valuation suggested. He is not alone. The Age has uncovered a pattern of resales in Maribyrnong that fall well below the prices on purchasers' valuations and on their contracts. Cowan is taking a loss because he cannot rent his place for the amount he needs. Even so, "I don't blame Henry. I blame myself. He always tells you to do your own valuations."
But many purchasers say they did not, taking instead valuations provided by Kaye. Conversations with more than 20 Kaye purchasers indicate that many believed they were getting a discount when, subsequent resales suggest, they were getting close to market rate. Some also believed, often wrongly, that their valuations reflected market price.
If the housing bubble bursts - and the Reserve Bank is warning that inevitably it will - such purchasers might be exposed. In a downturn, when investors struggle to find tenants and can be forced to sell, the true prices of properties can be revealed.
But in the new Australia, old mates Mike Cowan and Mark Weaver see themselves as winners. Cowan is waiting for the downturn in Docklands apartments. When it comes, "I'll be down there like a buzzard to pick up some deals. It will be at other people's expense, but if I buy something new off the plan and pay top dollar it will be at my expense. That's what Henry taught me. He's in it to make money and that's the only reason I'm into it: to make money. There's no other way forward than making money."


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with special guests
As part of Sydney Guitar Festival 2017, Damian Wright will perform a rare solo flamenco recital in which he will present the extraordinary variety of musical styles within the flamenco guitar tradition. With influences from it's most historical origins to the most contemporary and personal interpretations of this incredible art form. Witness the world of the flamenco guitar in all it's virtuosity, depth and imagination by one of Australia's most respected musicians.
When & Where:
Fri 25 August, 505
From $25


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Iranian Regime Continues Systematic Violations of the Right to Life
Iran's record of executions, arbitrary killings, deaths in custody, and death sentences continued with multiple hangings in various prisons throughout the country. Three prisoners, which were detained in Lakan Prison in the town of Rasht, were hanged on drug related charges. One of the men had no prior record.
In Mashhad Prison, a 22-year-old man was hanged for stabbing a man in defense of his brother. Two other prisoners who had been charged with murder were hanged at the Tabriz Prison. Other prisoners, a total of seven, were executed at Rajaie Shahr Prison. Only three of the men were identified and these executions were not reported by state run media.
But before the executions are carried out, prisoners may suffer additional punishments. One prisoner in Shiraz's Adel Abad Prison, who was charged with robbery and murder, had his hand amputated 10 days before he was executed on April 18.
These are just some of the killings that are occurring in Iran. Security forces recently attacked border porters, killing at least one and severely wounding several others. The security forces also fatally shot a young man in Baluchistan without prior warning. The young man was driving in his car with his cousin when the security forces opened fire. A bullet hit him in the head, killing him instantly. After determining that he had been killed, the security forces immediately left the scene.
Sentences are often arbitrary, and can include additional physical punishment along with a prison sentence. Five men, who were charged with robbing a store that sold gold, were sentenced to an overall 23 years in prison, 306 lashes, and confiscation of property. Two brothers, who had already been sentenced to death, were beaten and severely injured in the hands and feet, as well as having their noses broken. The beatings were handed out by the prison guards.
Theft is severely punished, but the increasing rise of theft could be a symptom of the bigger economic issues that continue to plague Iran. Unemployment remains persistently at 12%, despite lifting of sanctions and several international deals meant to bring foreign investments into the country.
The members of a robbery network, who robbed the house of a wealthy son of a businessman, were sentenced to prison, flogging, and the confiscation of property. All of them were sentenced to lashes, in addition to prison time, despite having different charges.
Once individuals begin serving their prison sentences, they have to deal with the poor prison conditions, where individuals lack basic care, including medical attention. One political prisoner, Zeinab Jalalian, is in danger of losing her eyesight due to an untreated eye disease, but prison officials have prevented her from receiving medical attention outside of prison. Another ailing prisoner received 20 days in solitary confinement for letting his foot come in contact with a guard while he was in a state of convulsion.
Arbitrary arrests continue for social violations and various charges. Many are taken to unknown locations, with their families not being informed of their charges or their whereabouts. Those who try to speak out against these human rights violations can suffer the consequences. The Telegram voice was deactivated by judicial order, according to sources from the Ministry of Intelligence. Another cleric called for a ban on all concerts in Iran. It could be seen as another attempt to limit large gatherings of the people for any reason.
The human rights violations are not limited to those protesting various actions by the regime. Religious and ethnic minorities are also being targeted. The Head of the Guardian Council even demanded that any religious minority candidates in local elections be disqualified from running in the upcoming election.
This is just a sampling of the issues in Iran, but the people of Iran continue to speak out against the regime and its power-grabbing actions.


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Norway says and the world will listen – Since the design-trio Torbjörn Anderssen, Andreas Engesvik and Espen Voll received great international recognition with their creations, proved by awards and the title "Norway's Designers of the Year".
The three founders studied at the National College of Art and Design in Bergen. They founded their common project Norway says in 2002. After they began working with wood, the design group however, works with all kind of materials today. The works are meanwhile in numerous permanent collections of world-famous museums such as the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
The Oslo also received the world-wide highest design award by the Röhssla Museum in Stockholm, with the reasoning of being "one of the most active and successful design groups in the north. With furniture, textiles, glass, lamps and other industrial design, setting new trends, placing Norway and Nordic forms on the international design map, achieving recognition and admiration from the whole world".
They walk separated paths since September of 2009. Torbjörn Anderssen, Andreas Engesvik and Espen Voll work in their own design studios since then, fully active in Andreas Engesvik and Anderssen Voll.
Website by Norway Says


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Who We Are
We are leaders in providing equitable, holistic mental health and addiction services for *racialized communities.
Client-Centred + Collaborative
Across Boundaries provides a dynamic range of mental health support and services and works within Anti-Racism/Anti-Black racism and Anti-Oppression frameworks. This framework addresses the negative impact of racism and discrimination on mental health and well-being.
Rooted in up-to-date research and consistently active community engagement, our progressive strategies are implemented by our capable staff - who are committed to improving the quality of mental health and addiction care for *racialized people.
Innovative + Holistic
Across Boundaries provides community mental health, addictions supports and in-house programs that integrate:
- Individual support
- Community outreach
- Support groups, alternative and complementary therapies
- Community kitchen
- Skills building
- Social and recreational activities
We speak: Mandarin English Somali Tamil Urdu Dari Twi Sinhalese Gujarati Tagalog Arabic Pashto Hindi Farsi
*Racialized: the term racialized person or racialized group is preferred over racial minority, visible minority, person of colour or non-White as it recognizes the dynamic and complex process by which racial categories are socially produced by dominant groups in ways that entrench social inequalities and marginalization."
— Ontario Human Rights Commission


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Patchouli Essential Oil
Dolphin Clinic Patchouli essential oil (pogostemon cablin) has a musky sensual aroma. It is recognized by Aromatherapists as being effective for combating nervous disorders, helping with dandruff, sores, acne and other skin conditions. It is said to have antidepressant, anti inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral and aphrodisiac properties. It has a wonderful grounding and balancing effect on the emotions. Patchouli is a base note oil and is one of the oils that improves with age. 10ml
BrandDolphin Clinic
Size10 ml
Common Uses
Patchouli essential oil from The Dolphin has been used for these ailments: Nervousness, dandruff, acne, sores and other skin conditions. Due to its great skin rejuvenating, anti inflammatory and antiseptic properties, it is often used to treat eczema, fungal infections, skin allergies and acne. It has a wonderful grounding and balancing effect on the emotions.
Suggested Dosage
Adults add one drop to bath or burner. Add one drop to every 10ml of carrier oil. Children half dropage. Not to be used on infants 0-12 months. To achieve the best results it is necessary to dilute the concentrated essential oil before application. Burners and light bulb rings are effective ways to disperse the oil aroma. Or add to a carrier oil and massage into the skin.
Health Information
Dolphin Clinic stands apart from other suppliers by being dedicated to providing quality product at the best possible prices. The company range covers over 50 different kinds of Pure Essential Oils, 15 carefully blended Complementary Oils, and a range of everyday natural solutions marketed as Aromatherapy Solutions. The range also includes bath oils, massage oils and luxury blends of massage oils that are unique, sensual and exquisite, providing the client with researched and beautifully presented product designed to meet specific needs. The company has access to a qualified and trained beauty and massage Therapist and a qualified Aromatherapist who regularly provides professional advice on the oils and blends.
Pure Patchouli essential oil. Patchouli essential oil from The Dolphin clinic is steam distilled from the leaves of the herb.
Keep out of reach of children. Not recommended to use during pregnancy. Not to be taken internally.


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Today's Fall weather -- cool, damp, and the forecast of a possible "NorEasterner" created the desire for comfort in both drink and food. My first reaction was a comfort drink so -- off to the tea closet I went. Several minutes later I walked away with an Herbal/Tea blend. "Eight Treasures" from the Red Blossom Tea Company (San Francisco) (www.redblossomtea.com) filled my tea-desire
The tea/herbal blend combined White Peony Tea with lycium berries, wolfberries (goji), longan berries, candied melon, rosebuds, red and black dates and chrysanthemum flowers. The blended berries, herbs, and tea liquor left one experiencing the lingering notes from the fig, goji berry, and a hint of melon with the after mouth feel of white tea. The liquor was a warm comfort in the morning and an iced delight for late afternoon/evening. I enjoyed the tea knowing that I was loading up with extra antioxidants to see me through whatever Mother Nature sent my way the next couple days.
With the onset of a possible hurricane/NorEasterner snowstorm I am sure tomorrow's tea choice will be a robust black tea strong enough to stand up to milk and sugar if so needed to meet the needs of the day.
My tea choices being satisfied it was time to seek "comfort" food. When considering comfort food I went to the King of Comfort Food -- my husband. Our late lunch, early dinner was meatloaf, mashed potatoes, peas (for me), applesauce (for him). Now, how much more comfort could one want from a meal, except if maybe the selection had been Mac and Cheese.
Now it is off to bed with anticipation for tomorrow's tea!
Here's to a tea that will bring you warmth and joy throughout the Fall,
The Tea And Hat Lady


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Jaya Grocer has recently open at Intermark, their first supermarket in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. It boasts 30 000 square feet which means it's much bigger and more well-stocked than their other branches.
Jaya Grocer at Intermark is markly different from their other branches. It mirrors upmarket supermarkets overseas such as Selfridges in the UK and reminds us of BIG Independent Grocer in Publika.
There's a huge section dedicated to selling cheeses and wines. Local as well as a huge range of imported items are available. Expect live oyster which are shipped in weekly and never-before-seen food labels.
Apart from marketing, you can dine at their extensive and beautifully designed food court. There's a non-halal food court which serve favourites from Lam's Kitchen, Woo Pin Fish Head Noodles, Sun Huat Kee's pork ball noodles from Bangsar, and the award-winning Menya Musashi. Even if you're not there to shop, it's worth a visit just to dine there.
- They have plans to have stall manned by an attendant to interact with shoppers. You'll be told how to choose an artichoke or whether the local radish is better than the China variety for a particular soup.
- Seafood are delivered fresh daily from Kuala Selangor.
- Pick your meat or seafood and have their in-house chef cook for you for free (with a purchase of a side dish at Fresco)
- It's the only place Absinthe is sold at the moment.
- Purchases above RM30 entitle shoppers to free parking for the first two hours.
Lower Concourse Level
The Intermark
348 Jalan Tun Razak
50400 Kuala Lumpur
Note: Get easy and same level access to the supermarket from Gate D.


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To enable ECDSA public-key algorithms for Tectia Client, do the following:
In the Tectia Connections Configuration GUI, go to General > Default Connection and select the Authentication tab.
ecdsa-sha2-nistp521to the Enabled Algorithms list:
Once you have enabled the elliptic curve algorithms, you can change the order of the list using the red up and down arrow buttons. Tectia Client reads the list in the top-down order. The list will look like this if the ECDSA algorithms are ordered at the top:
- Click Apply.
To enable ECDSA keys for X.509, repeat the process above but select the keys named
In the Tectia Connections Configuration GUI, go to User Authentication > Keys and Certificates. Under Key and Certificate List, click New key....
Provide a file name for the key.
Click Advanced Options.
For Key type, select
Select the Key length. A 256-bit ECDSA key provides a level of security equivalent to a 3072-bit DSA or RSA key.
To generate the key, click Next.
The wizard takes you to the Upload Public Key page. If you do not wish to upload the key to a server, click Cancel.


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by Pankaj
(Saudi Arabia)
Hi, I want to visit Dubai in id holidays 9 September to 12 September 2010 from Saudi Arabia. I am working in Saudi basically I am from India. so how i can arrange the visa & hotel booking. what is the cost of visa & hotel booking.
Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Dubai Visit Visa.


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Metal Fabrication and Welding
Dana Point Shipyard is your one stop shop for all marine repairs, including metal fabrication and welding services. Our fabrication and welding services are done by professionals with extensive experience in fabrication and welding. We have the knowledge to turn your fabrication idea into a reality. We offer:
- TIG welding for Aluminum and Stainless steel and steel
- MIG welding for Aluminum, Stainless steel and steel
- ARC welding for stainless steel and steel
- Tube bending
- Tube notching
- Shearing
- Slip rolling
- Brake bending
- CAD design service available
- Lazer cutting service available
- Miling work
- Lathe work
Labor Rate on fabrication and welding: $125 per hr
Whether it's a repair on an existing component or fabricating something new, you can count on Dana Point Shipyard to get the job done right the first time! Here are a pair of custom fabricated SS struts, we were told these units were not available and would have to be custom made with a 12 week lead time. Our solution was to custom make them ourselves.
Here is another example of our fabricating services. This customer had his exhaust system replaced with black iron schedule 40 pipe and it corroded in a matter of a few years. We custom built him a new SS system utilizing schedule 80 pipe that should leave him trouble free for years of service. We also machined the groves at the hose connections.
Other examples:


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With our network of partner agencies, JUF/ Federation provides human services that give help and hope to those with nowhere else to turn.
In 2017, we served over 500,000 Chicagoans of all faiths at every stage of life, giving people in crisis tools to turn their lives around, coming together as a community to strengthen and lift up people in need.
JUF gives help and hope to the most vulnerable through a network of local agencies and programs, transforming the lives of over 500,000 Chicagoans of all faiths and millions of Jews in Israel and in 70 countries around the world. Services are provided for those who are impoverished or in crisis, seeking employment, people with disabilities, at-risk children, seniors and others with special needs.
JUF encourages wide-ranging participation in Jewish life and community, reaching out to Jews of all ages from across the spectrum of observance. JUF advocates for Israel in the public square, in the halls of power, in the media and on college campuses, and promotes diversity and inclusion in Israeli society.


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Seattle Times
I finally got to Seattle! As part of our editorial tour with Spoonful Mag, Sara and I went to Denver (see post here), Seattle, Portland and San Fran during December. Yup, we were living out of our roll-on suitcases all month, but we can't complain!
Seattle was gorgeous. The air was different, the people were chill and the food was delicious. We went all over including Pike Place (naturally), which was full of a ton of food and craft vendors. From there we went to Gasworks Park which had a gorgeous view of the city, the Space Needle (which is such a literal alien-looking tower thing), the cool bridge troll, and so much more. We were only there for less than two days, but we got such a great taste of the city while there. I would definitely visit Seattle again!
Enjoy the pics below, and let me know what your favorite place in Seattle is in the comments!


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ISSN 2618-9844 (Online version)
ISSN 1810-6374 (Print version)
As the world economy shows mounting signs of deceleration and recessionary fears intensify across global markets, the world community is likely to focus increasingly on how to undertake an effective anti-crisis response.
This is a special issue of Russia in Global Affairs, dedicated to this big topic. Thirty years after the end of the Cold War, euphoria over the triumph of liberal ideology, which is "omnipotent because it is true," has given way to dark pessimism about the future and led to the loss of ideational and moral guidelines.
China is Russia's most important and responsible partner in the international arena. The five years that have passed since the beginning of the fundamental complication of relations between Russia and the West have shown that despite prejudices and lack of trust at the grassroots level, relations between the two countries remain friendly.
In order to gain a freer hand in exercising foreign policy and pursuing those objectives, which include practices such as regime change, the US and its allies needed to change the manner in which the rules and boundaries of international relations were conceived and applied.
The second decade of the 21st century began with a string of explosive protests in the Middle East and North Africa, which have destabilized not only the countries that saw violent regime change but the entire region. A way out of the profound systemic crisis is yet to be found.


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I am a mum of 3 children & 1 Spaniel. I am a bit of a hippy and I love all things a bit woo woo, as well as the ocean, yoga, music festivals and watching other people shine. I am passionate about the Environment and creating a better world. I dislike negativity and dusting! Oh man, I cant stand dusting!
I have run my own bookkeeping business (Gregory Account Services) since 2004 and it that time I have worked with a whole host of different businesses. I absolutely love sitting with someone who has an idea for a business and watching that spark grow into a flame which is where the idea for Biz Savvy came from.
I understand the pressures a new business person is under as they try to wear many hats at the same time. I also know how hard it is to be a mum and run a business and how lonely and isolating it can be. Biz Savvy can help with practical advice, like what accounting records do you need to keep, be a support for you when you are feeling on your own, as well as giving a helpful nudge to keep you on track with your goals.


text: The Rotring Tikky Ballpoint has one of my favorite pen barrels, but its traditional 1.0mm ballpoint is just average. I switched out the refill a long time ago with a black Parker Gel 0.7mm, and while it is better than the original ballpoint, it still isn't great. It drags across the page much more than you would expect from that size of refill. I'm still on the hunt.


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Two more Foothills Farmers' Market winter markets in Shelby, NC at Newgrass Brewing Co. before the regular weekly market opens on April 7th.
Mark your calendars for the second Saturdays in February and March.
- Saturday February 10, 2018 8a-12p @ Newgrass
- Saturday March 10, 2018 8a-12p @ Newgrass
We should be upstairs with spinach, lettuce, carrots, microgreens, sunflower shoots, pea shoots, and plenty of eggs. Come by and see us!


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75% Merino Wool
20% Silk
5% Stellina
Lace: 875 yd/100g
DK: 231 yd/100g
A yarn to match your sparkling personality!
Offered in two weights, Eleanor blends the strength and warmth of silk with ultrafine merino and a hint of silver sparkle.
Use Eleanor in laceweight for the most delicate shawls. Highlights and lowlights in the silk and wool blend give your projects exquisite depth of color.
In DK weight, Eleanor makes special garments: glittery evening wear, fun festive items, or a special surprise for the princess in your life!
(Keep in mind - Eleanor is handwash only!)
Check out Eleanor DK and Lace on Ravelry to see all the beautiful projects made from this yarn!
(Almost) Instant Gratification
Here's what I have ready to send off to a new home! If these don't quite do it for you, scroll a little further and you can have me dye up exactly what you're after.
Dyed to order:
When you add this to your cart, it will ask what colorway you'd like.
Standard turnaround is approximately 2-3 weeks.
Choose from any colorway shown below.
For even more possibilities, you're welcome to choose your favorite colorway shown on another yarn* or fiber. Just keep in mind that they all take dyes a little differently. Colorways shown on Ada and Marie will be most true on Eleanor.
*Not Neil, Steve, or Terry, as cotton-based yarns use completely different dyes.


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Grapes Chardonnay 100%
Origin Fluvio-glacial, Deep Morainic, Thin Morainic
Cultivation systems Guyot, Spurred Cordon
A complex Franciacorta, with a strong taste, due to a unique interpretation of the Satèn. Original and intriguing in its overall sensuality, it has varied perfumes, with floral notes of genista, bread crust and hints of hazelnuts. With an intense straw colour, lively and sparkling, it has a fine perlage. T he palate is crisp and structured, with good balance, accompanied by notes of nougat during a persistent finis.
Related articles
- Franciacorta Essenza Pas Dosè – Clarabella (mywinechannel.wordpress.com)
- Franciacorta terroir (and a little Pinot Nero porn for your hump day) (dobianchi.com)
- Wine of the (Mid)Week (biggerthanyourhead.net)


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Oepsie the Ostrich, made by a 10-year-old Rustenburg boy, Dohann Schoonbee from Deutsche Schule Kroondal, has been on the road for over a year. He has assisted the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) and the Wrigley Litter Less Campaign in South Africa to promote a cleaner, greener and healthier environment.
At the Eco-Schools National Operators' Meeting (NOM), with over 60 country representatives participating in the Eco-Schools programme, Oepsie was offered and accepted the opportunity to spread his message to Spain. Oepsie has raised our awareness that burning plastic and tyres causes asthma and cancer and has shown that we can do creative and fun things with waste to beautify our surroundings or possibly to sell. For example, Temogo Special School obtains old linen from tourist establishments and makes these into bags or cushion covers and then paints floral motifs.
Oepsie has encouraged three schools to start herb gardens and these have been used to make a type of Zambuc and to bake rolls and biscuits. Broken mirror and tiles that were found in the bush have been re used. Scarecrows, pallet swings, bottle top wall murals, educational toys for pre-schoolers, birdfeeders and T-shirts from shopping bags are other items that have been made from waste. Tyres are being used as borders, planters, tables and chairs, an earthworm farm and to make see-saws for pre-schoolers.
Currently three schools have earthworm farms and 15 schools have food gardens. Oepsie also started a recycling swop shop which has been a success with the two participating schools choosing the option to receive washable sanitary pads rather than stationary. To date 56 girls have earned themselves packs and we hope that this will assist them in feeling confident to attend school during their monthly cycle.


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This is website for excellent data: http://www.energyxxi.org/keystone-xl-benefits
I was thinking this morning…what if this term beginning 2012 Mitt Romney, Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, Sarah Palin, Herman Cain, Rick Perry or Mike Lee were Presidential or Vice Presidential leaders of the United States…would our country be suffering from the following actions created by this Administration?
- Do you think that the Keystone XL Pipeline would have been approved by now?
- Do you think that our economy would be in any better shape?
- Do you think we would be printing money at the same rate?
- Do you think that our nation's unemployed would be decreasing dramatically?
- Do you think that our relations with China would be any different?
- Do you think our international relations in the Mid East and around the world would be any different?
- Do you think we would still be leading from behind?
- Do you think that our military power would be on the decrease or the increase?
- Do you think we would have had Benghazi and four dead Americans?
- Do you think we would have had the NSA overreach into the AP scandals?
- Do you think the Snowden whistleblower would have ended up in Russia?
- Do you think the IRS would have tried to stop the Tea Party underhandedly?
- Do you think the Veteran Administration would have allowed non-payment of veterans for their medical bills?
- Do you think Fast and Furious would have been sanctioned and approved by the attorney general?
- Do you think we would have pulled out of Iraq totally and lost all of our investments there?
- How loud do you think the liberal media would be screaming about all these things if the Conservatives of the United States had committed all of the acts above? How upset and loud would they be?
- Do you think that Putin would be acclaimed today as the world's peacemaker?
And the list goes on and on…my point to all of this is that President Obama continues to make a political game out of the Presidency and disregard the strong majority public opinions of this country by this delay…
Keystone XL Pipeline Another Political Decision For The President
I ask anyone who is concerned about any and all of these actions to call or write their President, Congressmen and Senators today…
U.S. decision on Keystone XL pipeline likely to slip into 2014
By Timothy Gardner
WASHINGTON | Tue Sep 10, 2013 6:05pm EDT
(Reuters) – As the State Department drags out the approval of the Keystone XL pipeline, it is more likely President Barack Obama's final decision on the project to help link Canada's oil sands to U.S. refineries will slip into 2014, experts said.
The department has yet to finalize a controversial environmental review of more than 2,000 pages it issued on March 1 that it had been expected to complete by mid-summer. Instead, the department is reviewing and publishing in batches the more than 1.5 million public comments it received on the review. The first batch of comments was posted on May 23; the most recent batch went up about a week ago.
Is That Baloney?
Don't feed from the media baloney!
Guess How Much Michelle Obama's Staff Costs Taxpayers? Try $1.4M Per Year
First lady Michelle Obama is under fire all the time for spending our tax dollars frivolously while on her vacations in Ireland, Hawaii, Martha's Vineyard and other exotic locations. She spent $3,000 per night on a hotel room so she couldhave lunch with U2's lead singer Bono and the Obama's Hawaii vacation cost some $7 millionwhile they paid a small fraction of that to rent a 5,000 square foot home. And since the Obama trip to Africa was official business, it is likely the Obama's paid nothing for their own accommodations on that trip.
But now reports are coming out that her entire office entourage costs taxpayers around $1.4 million per year. That is nearly three times the cost of Laura Bush's staff, which was slightly over $500,000 per year. With the President constantly traveling around the country telling us that the rich don't pay their fare share, why in the world does the First Lady need to have a $1.4 million staff?
Do you think Michelle Obama gives our country $1.4 million worth of value every year? Do you think there is something better that $1.4 million could be spent on every year instead of an outrageously expensive staff? Tell us what you think in the comments, below.
The Limbaugh Letter
Closing White House Tours Backfires on Obama
Click Here To See Beginning of Transcript
Support Keystone XL Pipeline – FuelingJobs.com


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On a beautiful day in September, I went up to Maine to photography a beautiful wedding. Moriah and Gregory's wedding was actually my first Maine wedding and I hope to be able to photograph another one in Maine again soon. Upon arriving to Gregory's sister Ashley's house, I was instantly at ease. Moriah, Ashley and her friend (also a bridesmaid) Tessa made me feel welcome right away. These three just had such a bond, each helping each other get ready putting on jewelry and fixing hair.
From there we headed out to the ceremony site at the Wells Ogunquit Historical Society, a stunning venue for a wedding. It was a photographers dream for an indoor ceremony venue (white walls and ceiling, and tons of natural light). There was a really sweet moment when Moriah and her bridesmaids arrived and they all saw Zachary, Moriah's son, for the first time. Zachary, who by the way totally stole the show a few times that day, walked his mother Moriah down the aisle and ran into Gregory's arms at the end. The ceremony was filed with laughter and sweet moments, and ended with Moriah and Gregory beaming with happiness.
From there we went to their reception venue at Old Marsh Country Club and had the most gorgeous golden hour light. I kid you not, the best light for family portraits and couples portraits of Moriah and Gregory. Shortly after portraits we heard some lovely and heartfelt speeches by Gregory's sister Ashley, his friend Adam, and Moriah's friend Tessa. Stealing the spotlight though, was Zachary who was giving a little speech and then wanted to hold on to the mike and kept talking, which made everyone there crack up. He had everyone laughing so hard, and clearly he is a born entertainer. There were so many sweet moments during this wedding, I feel like I couldn't keep track from Gregory and his sister dancing with their grandparents, to Zachary and Moriah's dance, to Gregory and Moriah sharing so many love filled glances and kisses. The whole day was just so very beautiful. I have no doubt that Moriah, Gregory, and Zachary will be a happy family because they were already there even before it was official. Congratulations again Moriah and Gregory (and Zachary), I wish you a lifetime of happiness and fun!
Coordinator: Chantel Williamson || (580) 699-9031 || firstname.lastname@example.com
DJ/lighting: Kevin Way || 207-807-5292 || http://www.eventective.com/marketplace/listing/site/559273
Cake: Beach Pea Baking Co. || (207) 439-3555 || www.beachpeabaking.com
Photo Booth: Boko || (207) 632-3221 || www.bokobooth.com
Hair and makeup: Kelly McLin || (603) 692-7002