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Live and Online
The 5 Key Considerations for Successful Webcasts
The Ingredients You Need To Pull Off Broadcast Quality Webcasts for Modern Events
Webcasting is a method of delivering a presentation or event to an online audience using streaming technology. While webcasting as a medium to extend a message has been around since at least the mid-1990's, capabilities and use cases continue to evolve.
Today it's become much easier to pull off a great webcast thanks to new technologies and platforms becoming more powerful while also increasing in simplicity, but even so, not everyone is getting it right. Whether for your live event, virtual event, brand town hall, or live social video campaign, if you plan your webcast using the following five ingredient considerations, it should be a smash hit!
1) Date & Time
Often the most basic but overlooked way to increase the success of your webcast is simply putting some research behind picking the right date and time to maximize viewer engagement.
Be aware of dates where you may experience a spike in internet usage creating location-based bandwidth bottlenecks. We're talking about Amazon Prime Day, or March Madness Finals. Trying to stream out of a hotel ballroom when everyone at the hotel and in the surrounding city areas is online either watching video or shopping will certainly run into some issues with video lag-time and when the player isn't working perfectly, you will lose frustrated viewers. Not to mention your target viewers may be distracted by these same events.
Speaking of distractions, you'll want to avoid any days that bookend a holiday or holiday weekend, and also stay away from internet rush hour which is typically between 7 and 11 PM local time.
We recommend scheduling your webcast for Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday between the hours of 10 AM and Noon EST — a time of day that works well for West Coast, East Coast, and European viewers. Of course there are considerations based on industry and audience demographic, but that has proven to be most effective time period for our clients.
2) Production
Production quality is the number one thing that can keep your audience engaged and it can't be stressed enough. If your webcast doesn't look or sound good, people won't watch.
The days of webcasts coming out of a single static camera capturing a wide shot of the stage from the center of the room are long gone. That just won't cut it anymore. People want to feel like they are watching a TV show.
We recommend using a three camera setup with feeds going to a live switcher, a custom graphics package with branded lower thirds, a logo ticker, bumpers, and if the presentation includes a PowerPoint, mix those slides right into the stream full screen. Again, treat it like a TV show. We use Broadcast Pix for a switcher, but Livestream Studio, Tricaster, and Wirecast are great options as well.
3) Platform
Picking the right streaming platform for your specific event, message, and audience is crucial. There are a few options to consider in regards to choosing the right platform, but it's a must that your webcast be mobile optimized and work across operating systems (MAC/PC) and browsers.
You have the traditional players like ON24, Sonic Foundry, TalkPoint that are perfect if your webcasting a presentation with slides. These platforms feature a separate slide window and video window, include Q&A and polling tools, and with their low bit-rate streaming are great for broadcasting internal meetings, town halls, or investor relations events over corporate intranets.
Next is the crop of high-quality, high-definition video players built to deliver TV quality broadcasts using adaptive bit-rate streaming perfect for mobile. These are platforms like YouTube LIVE, IBM Cloud Video, Livestream, or Brightcove and they are great for external events like user conferences that are less concerned about the need for private corporate networks.
Then there is the field of live social video, which YouTube LIVE is also a player in but additionally includes Facebook LIVE, Instagram LIVE, and Twitter's Periscope. You can and should use these social live platforms in conjunction with other broadcasting platforms to reach as many people as possible, and its especially smart to use live social video if you already have a large audience on social media.
Going live on social networks is well received when conducting candid interviews on trade show floors, at launch events, streaming speaker Q&A sessions from the stage on a conference, or really any behind-the-scenes feeling moment where you can pull the curtain back for your online audience and bring them into the fold in a unique way. These videos live on with their ability to be downloaded after the stream ends and then re-shared to various networks.
An interesting tool we've used is Socialive and that allows you to distribute a single stream to multiple channels, measure viewing analytics across platforms, and improve engagement by monitoring comments from one spot and responding or even embedding those comments straight into the live feed.
4) Presenters
There are two sides to thinking about presenters and those are the comfortability of whoever is presenting, as well as the location of presenters.
Speaking to a camera is different than speaking to an audience in the room and people tend to present better and more naturally when there are people in front of them to speak to. Even if your webcast is more of a town hall or panel discussion (not part of a large meeting or event), we recommend always having a small audience in the room. This helps presenters forget about the camera and deliver better messages.
We also recommend shying away from using a teleprompter when possible. People today have a much better authenticity gauge and they want to feel more like they are part of the show, and not just being talked to. If this is a challenge for your presenter, try shooting interview or panel style and broadcast a conversation instead of a speech.
So the other side of the presenter consideration is to not be afraid of bringing people in from multiple locations. What was once a multi-satellite major operation is now a fairly simple process. Tools to connect different parts of the world in real-time are becoming commonplace.
You could make it simple to connect presenters with a video conference solution like Zoom, Blue Jeans, or Skype, or you could go the high-end broadcast route with solutions using low-latency HD video over IP like Dejaro or Teradek Slice. These are what major networks like the NFL, MLB, or CNN are using to bring in remote feeds without satellites, and with the emergence of HEVC (high-efficiency video encoding) codec and 5G technology on the horizon, these tools will become more and more efficient.
5) Measurement
It's hard to say which of these five webcasting ingredients are the most important, (I think you need them all to bake this cake!) but you certainly can't know your webcast was successful without a measurement plan. And it's important that you think about how to measure the success of your webcast BEFORE your broadcast.
Before your virtual event, conference broadcast, or whatever else you plan to webcast, create a metrics plan for measuring success. What are you goals for the stream and how will you know you've achieved them?
Is it number of unique views, time spent watching, understanding where and when viewers drop off, geo-locations reached, poll responses, comments, and other audience engagement stats? It's to study and understand everything, but if you're just getting started, we recommend picking three metrics that will be your benchmarks for success.
Collecting data without a plan or measurement targets won't really give you the insight you need to know your investment in the webcast paid off.
Regarding a way to ensure you hit your most important metrics, you might want to try using a tool like AmpLive to boost your live stream and reach audiences on external publications the same way you might use a programmatic advertising distributor to get more eyes on your owned content.
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Chocolate Beet Cake from Erica Linden
For those of you that make faces at beets, here is a delicious and unusual recipe from one of our members, Erica Linden. I hope it inspires you to give beets another try! And I'm sure it will be wonderful for all of us that already love beets too. :) Earlier this month we shared a blogpost that Erica published about her CSA share. It was a lot of fun for everyone on the farm to read an account from the CSA members perspective. You can check it out at thebeetbunch.com.
Combine beets with 1/2 c applesauce in a blender, puree and set aside. Combine dry ingredients in a separate bowl. Beat sugar, 1/2 c applesauce, yogurt, eggs, and vanilla for 3 minutes. Add the dry ingredients and the beet mixture. Blend. Grease and flour a bundt pan (for cake, or use muffin tins). Pour 1/2 the batter, sprinkle chocolate chips and cover with remaining batter.
Bake at 350 degrees for 60 minutes. Cool 10 minutes, remove from pan. Cool completely. Top with powdered sugar. (This cake is very moist, refrigeration is best to keep it from spoiling.)
Variation: Mini muffin tins, bake for 10-15 min. Let the kids poke a few chocolate chips down into the batter.

subset: commoncrawl


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>Well, yesterday I launched (or resurrected) my first novel, Draugr, as an ebook.
A few weeks before that I released Dust as an ebook (available only in the US and UK because I don't have the Canadian rights).
Total sales so far: 6
I'm actually very pleased with that. I don't see this as a massive sales rush, but more a long term project that (I hope) will pay off over time. If I only make $1000.00 a year from the experiment...then that's ten grand after ten years (because the books will not be taken off the shelves unless something major happens to the internet or people start downloading them into their brains).
Why bother? Well, two main reasons. One is that these books were out of print in various countries, so I could at least be making an income from them. The second is that right now in the publishing world there is great, numbing fear about the changes coming to the industry via ebooks (umm...update the changes are here) and, frankly, the e-rights being offered by major publishers are not very generous (to make it simple if I sell an ebook through a publisher I make $25% of net which on a $10.00 book would be $1.75. If I upload that same book to amazon myself I make $7.00). Obviously there are a multitude of factors on why a traditional contract is still very much in the cards for a new book ("paper" books are the vast majority of my sales and, at this moment, the sales of the Children's market, publishers have promotion budgets, editors, sales staff, etc.) For my out-of-print books it was an easy decision to go it alone.
I am a bit of a techie and I like to have control over my own work. I was inspired by blogs by people such as JA Konrath
and Robin Sullivan of Ridan Publishing.
Read those blogs. They are very inspiring and eye-opening about the ebook world (Konrath has a long list of authors who have been successful on the epublishing front--some heady stuff, to be sure, though of course I can't find a corresponding blog about failures of e-pubbing--then again you can't win if you don't play).
So armed by inspiration, I researched how to make an eBook. And you know what, it's relatively easy. First I signed up at Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)(Amazon's ebook publishing program). Then I converted my book into html following this guide by Derek Canyon:
Then I asked an artist friend to do the cover for a fee (in the case of Dust it was Christopher Steininger and Draugr was done by Derek Mah--hire them, they're great). Then I uploaded my file to KDP and within 24 hours it was for sale worldwide (C'mon brits...buy a book...I dare you!).
Of course, Amazon isn't the only game in the ebook market. There are many others including B&N, Apple, Sony etc. I am in the process of getting my books on iTunes myself, but for the rest of the distributors I used Smashwords. What Smashwords does is take a word file (prepared exactly to their specifications) and put it through their "meatgrinder" which spits out your book in various formats (epub/pdf/html) and then distributes it on their website and to all the major ebook sellers (Amazon/B&N etc.,). For a fee, of course (15% of net). This is likely the easiest way to go--I chose to put up my book on iTunes and Amazon on my own because it was easy enough to do and I kept that 15%.
Anyway, that's been the journey so far...
Hmm in the time it's taken to write this blog another sale appeared on Smashwords. That's 7 total. I'm gonna open the bubbly when it hits double digits. Err, maybe I'll wait until after 11 AM.


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Self Portrait
30 x 40 cm
Oil on canvas
Every once in a while I paint a self portrait. When I show the finished painting to my wife, she always asks why I look so serious. I don't know, maybe that's the way I look when I'm painting.
geweldig mooi
groet Tonnie en Debby


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Happy Thanksgiving to all the US readers!!! Today is a day to spend with family and friends enjoying a wonderful meal, but tomorrow marks the official start of the Christmas Shopping season with Black Friday. So I created a project to help you get in the Christmas spirit.
I picked up these wood letters at my local craft store and I love that they stand up on their own. I gave them a few coats of white paint and once that was dry I misted each letter with Iridescent Pearls Maya Mist for a little sparkle and shimmer. To decorate the letters I used images from Wings of Joy and Holiday Wonder, both available at Taylored Expressions. I love how these two sets can mix and match.
I started by stamping the images with Memento Tuxedo Black onto Choice Snow White then I coloured them with copics. Then I started adding the little touches to really jazz up each image. The tree was decorated with Tiny Twinkles.
I coated the lights on the bird house with two layers of clear Glaze pen and added some sparkly snow to the bird house (white Liquid Applique topped with glitter before I puffed it).
The chipboard snowflake was coloured with a blue copic then I coated it with Waterfall Stickles and topped it with a button from my Whirligig pack.
The snowman received a hint of bling with a red Tiny Twinkle on his scarf.
I also made some quick paper trees to accent my word art. They were super simple...cut two triangles of the same size for each tree (my trees are 6, 5, and 4 inches tall). On one of the triangles, cut along the center line from the bottom to the mid-point. On the other triangle cut along the center line from the top to the mid-point. Then just slip them together...voila! No adhesive required and they'll fold flat for storage.
Taylored Expressions is having a big sale this weekend in honour of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, the two biggest shopping days of the year! The entire store is 15% off!!!! Just use the promotional code TEBlackFriday upon checkout to receive the discount. Also, Tiny Twinkles are buy 2 get 1 FREE, JustRite products are 50% off, and there are the sweetest new TE shirts and aprons!!!
So skip the lineups and save some time, money and gas by shopping at Taylored Expressions from the comfort of your own home this weekend!
Thanks for stopping by!


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As she stands next to the mudlark statue that she raised money to build, Margaret Foster looks out over The Hard and points out a raised, green-painted walkway.
Although the construction of the bus interchange has changed the face of this part of Portsmouth's coastline, the bridge reminds Margaret of her childhood in the 1950s – a place from which crowds of passers-by would throw coins as she performed in the mud below.
'I'm visualising myself now, taking myself down there. It was absolutely magic. To feel that mud squelching between your toes, it was such a wonderful feeling.'
Located outside the entrance to the Historic Dockyard, the statue celebrates the experiences of these mudlarks, a fascinating part of Portsmouth's heritage.
The project, which was completed in 2010, was partly funded by the profits of a book Margaret published called Mudlarkers: Memories of Earning a Few Bob In Portsea, a collection of true stories told by people from the area.
Over three years, what initially started as a 20p pamphlet with a couple of interviews grew into a book that has now sold 3,600 copies and raised about £16,000.
'It's gone to New Zealand, Canada, Australia, Thailand. It has absolutely blown me away,' says Margaret.
The book has even got the royal seal of approval. 'The Queen likes to read local history books, so I sent her a copy. I received a lovely letter back from her lady-in-waiting saying that she will enjoy reading the book.'
Margaret, who lives in Queen Street, Portsea, knows exactly why the book has been so popular. 'It's taking readers by the hand and leading them back down memory lane to the older people who gave their stories.
'It's full of history. That was our life, and that is our heritage. That is what the book is about: the city and Portsea.'
She interviewed one of the book's subjects, Ivan Harbert, on his deathbed.
'His story was so moving. We shed tears, we laughed, you wouldn't believe the deprivation that there was. I couldn't believe some of the stories I was hearing.
'Some children used to creep down in the night and get a razor blade to get a slither of cheese out of the larder.'
With a knowing look, she adds: 'Mudlarking was a form of begging, even though we entertained the people in the mud, which was fabulous.'
'We did cartwheels, headstands, rolled over in it. But there were some parts of the mud that were like quicksand and a couple of times I sank up to my neck. But we were lucky, the fisherman were always there to help us.'
She adds: 'You can see in the book that we were all hard-working children, we didn't just mudlark to help put money on the table,' she adds.
'We helped park the cars that came down to The Hard; we used to chop wood and sell bundles; we would go cockling and winkling, which was quite dangerous, and sell them in pint jars.'
She flashes a smile. 'We got up to all sorts to earn a few bob, but mudlarking was the easiest, the best, and the funniest.'
She points to a photo in her book. It is of a little girl, a cheeky grin spread across her face as she poses in her Sunday best, looking slightly worse for wear.
'There I am, that was my first day mudlarking. Would you believe it was a brand new, velvet, bright red dress!
'Somebody said: "Little girl, here you are", and chucked me down a penny. Then came another penny, and then a ha'penny, and then some threepenny bits, and before I knew it I had too much money in my hand and I didn't know what to do with it.'
The only solution was to convert her skirt into a pouch in which to put her earnings.
'It was getting heavy because the money was wet and I was picking it up with stones as well, and soon enough there was muddy water dripping out of it.'
Her brothers, who were also mudlarking, had to help her. 'They thought by standing me under the standpipe across the road they would get the money and mud stains out, but of course it just went dirtier and dirtier until it was just one big brown mess.'
Some weeks Margaret and her fellow mudlarks would earn £4, more than her father's wage. 'Our money went on luxuries that mum couldn't afford to buy us, like ice creams and sweets.'
Margaret, who has been a councillor for the Charles Dickens ward for more than 10 years, knew how profits from the book would be spent. 'I decided every single penny would go into the community so Portsmouth children would benefit.'
She pulls chequebooks from her handbag and shows some of the good causes that have benefited from her generosity.
'I have given £5,000 to Hilsea Lido so children across the city can use the pool, I have given hundreds to the theatres to help with children's productions, anybody who needs a little bit of funding.'
In recognition of Margaret's community spirit and the story she has to tell, the New Theatre Royal has commissioned a play based on the stories she has compiled. They will be performed as part of the theatre's eventual reopening.
'I'm pleased there's going to be a production, and who knows, one day it could become a film. Its so steeped in history.'
Margaret waves to one of her constituents. 'To a lot of people mudlarking was dirty, but we never suffered any illness as children.
'I'm 62, and I'm just starting to get a few laughter lines now but we've all got good skin, so the mud did us good. We might have had cut feet and cut fingers, but the mud did us good!'
Writer Bernie Byrnes, who lived at North End, Portsmouth, from the age of 14, has been commissioned by the New Theatre Royal to adapt Margaret Foster's book into a play for the New Theatre Royal's opening season.
Bernie, who is originally from Newcastle upon Tyne, is currently one of the theatre's associate artists in residence and has worked on similar community-based theatre projects in Portsmouth and London.
She says: 'I was approached by Liz [Weston, Head of Education] about the project and then met her and Margaret. I was instantly taken by the idea.'
'Getting this book is brilliant because it has done a big chunk of the hard prep work for me,' she continues.
'Ordinarily on a project like this I would spend months interviewing people and transcribing their recollections. Finding the right people is a huge task in itself.
'Luckily for me Margaret had already put the legwork in so I got to jump in at stage two.'
Bernie is now entering the intensive writing period. 'Margaret's book is full of wonderful voices and capturing them is an enjoyable challenge.
'There are also interesting facts about what Portsmouth looked like then, what life was like in post-war Britain and it's important that this is spot-on too.
'I really enjoyed meeting Margaret and her sister Carol Brett, on whom the lead character is loosely based, but actually feel like I know them better as children than who they are now.'
Mudlarkers – Memories of Earning a Few Bob in Portsea (Portsea Memories Publishing £7.99) is available from branches of WH Smith and Waterstones.


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Homeschooling Black History...
I shared this quote this week along with a response to some interview questions I asked of my ten-year-old son. While it is a powerful quote from a ten year old, I also found it disheartening because I understood it's full context.
He and I watched two movies last month that touched his naive core. We watched Selma followed by The Watson's Go To Birmingham. Each movie reenacted the 1963 church bombing in Alabama that killed four girls. Both were gut wrenching scenes. In the Watson's movie, one of the girls that went to the church was a girl he really likes from another show. I watched his face as he watched in horror. He said, "I just don't understand why anyone could hate anyone so bad." I thought to myself, I wish this was the worst of it.
About the movie Selma he said, "If I could, I would march. But I wouldn't want to get hurt. But I would want to march."
We talked about how people loved Martin Luther King, Jr. and how so many people hated him. He asked me if people hate our president this way. I said, "Unfortunately they do." I said he's not a civil rights activist like Martin Luther King, Jr. was but people hate him because he's black. I told him about the night he won the election and how united the country felt in the moment but it only lasted for a short time. He said, "I hope nobody kills him" followed by "I would never want to be President."
Little by little I am teaching him black history. The type of history he won't learn in school. I hate to tell him that in some ways as a race we haven't come far enough in 50 years. The talks we will have in the future when he leaves this house alone will be the same talks mother's of black sons had with their boys back then.
His life has not been personally affected by oppression but he will have to know it still exists.
I'm not sure how hate and prejudice are taught but I hope that I haven't changed his perception of what he can accomplish because of the color of his skin. But how can I not tell him that no matter who he grows up to be, he will always be black first. This is black awareness.
Today I had to write from my iPad so I set a timer for 10 minutes because it takes twice as long to type from it. Under normal (computer working circumstances)... this would be my 5 minute Stream of Consciousness Sunday post. It's five minutes of your time and a brain dump. Want to try it? Here are the rules…
- Set a timer and write for 5 minutes.
- Write an intro to the post if you want but don't edit the post. This is writing in the raw.
- Publish it somewhere. Anywhere. The back door to your blog if you want. But make it accessible.
- Link your new posts to All Things Fadra (feel free to use her SOC Sunday graphic).


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Market Research Outlet recently published Global Air Quality Sensor Market Research Report provides useful data about the market size, share, trends, growth, analysis, and forecast(2019-2025). This Air Quality Sensor market research offers extensive information that enhances this report's knowledge, scope, and implementation.
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- General Air Quality
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This study studies the worldwide Air Quality Sensor market status and forecast, categorizing worldwide Air Quality Sensor market size, income, type, implementation, and area. Air Quality Sensor business report by Material, Application, and Geography-Global Forecast for 2025 is an expert and far-reaching study that provides information on significant provincial financial circumstances worldwide, focusing on key regions (Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific) and basic countries (UK, Japan, US, Germany, South Korea, and China).
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Okami HD
Xbox One
What do you need help on? Cancel X
In Okami, the player takes the role of the mythical sun goddess Amaterasu, in the form of a wolf. Her task is to restore color (or 'life') to the world by destroying the monsters who have stolen it. Since Amaterasu is a diety, there are naturally people who worship her and people who don't. The more people who worship her (as a result of her restoring color and doing other good deeds for them), the more powerful she becomes.
Popular Recent Questions
Game News
- The Nintendo Switch US Eshop Is Lowkey Having One Of Its Best Sales EverUpdated Aug 23, 2019
- Nintendo Direct: Okami HD On Switch Coming This SummerUpdated Mar 10, 2018
- 11 Years Later, Okami On PS4 And Xbox One Is Still A MasterpieceUpdated Jan 3, 2018
- Xbox One Adds PUBG, Okami, And More New Games This WeekUpdated Dec 14, 2017
Game List Statistics
Now Playing
3 Users
Wish List
5 Users
Hot List
0 Users


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At the weekend both Manchester United and Manchester City were involved in shock defeats which has raised questions already that maybe this is the end of Manchester Domination.
Manchester United lost at home to West Brom for the first in over 20 years and have had the worst start to a premier league campaign since 1989. Despite the fact the years in between represented the Sir Alex Ferguson era; current manager David Moyes has inherited the exact same squad that Sir Alex Ferguson won the premier league with the season previous.
Not taking anything away from the incredible performance by West Brom, especially by Sessegnon who managed to single handedly command the midfield at Old Trafford. Despite this, it was clear for all to see that there was something wrong in the Manchester one-up, looking out of position on many an occasion with the strange decision to start Phil Jones in Midfield.
Despite being quite early on in the season, Manchester United will be very unhappy sitting in 12th place and right now already look very unlikely to retain their title.
Manchester City throw away a 2-1 lead away at Aston Villa to lose 3-2 with the winning goal containing a major defensive error letting Andreas Weimann to calmly dribble passed Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart and celebrate with the Aston Villa fans. Manchester City seemed to have started very well, especially after am impressive victory over Manchester United However, this loss to ASton Villa seems to have dampened to club's spirits and go into a Champions League match in the week against Bayern Munich with something to prove; that they are a team still fighting to win the league and possibly even the Champions League.
Both Manchester clubs have definitely not performed to what the spectators were expecting: easy, relaxed victories with both clubs leading the way at the top of the table. But the Manchester City 6th and Manchester United all the way down in 12th, could this be the beginning of the end for the two giants of the game?


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March 29,2002 | March 28, 2002 | March 27,2002 | March 25,2002 | March 23,2002 | March 21, 2002 | March20,2002 | March 19, 2002 | Saint Patrick's Day | March 14,2002 | March 13, 2002 | March 12, 2002 | March 11,2002 | March 8,2002 | March 7,2002 | March 5,2002 | March 3, 2002 | March 1, 2002 | February28,2002 | February 26, 2002 | February 25,2002 | February 24,2002 | February 22, 2002 | February 21,2002 | February 20, 2002 | February 19, 2002 | February 18, 2002 | February 17,2002 | February 16,2002 | February 15,2002 | Valentines Day | February 13, 2001 | February11,2002 | February 10,2002 | February8,2002 | February 7,2002 | February 6,2002 | February 5,2002 | February 4, 2002 | February3,2002 | February 2,2002 | February 1,2002 | January 31,2002 | January30,2002 | Daily log for January 29,2002 | January28,2002 | Daily Log Page for 1/27/2002
"Some of the harshest prisons do not have bars,But are no less effective in handing out life sentencesAnd diminishing the human spirit.These prisons, whose walls are made from the bricks of hopelessnessAnd held together by the mortar of pain and despair,And whose windows are covered with perceptions of inadequacy,Accepted limitations and shattered dreams,Are sadly, and often unknowingly,Created and maintained by the very one being condemned..."
D. S. Neviaser
Many have asked how I have managed to stay focused and lose the weight. I have been living this the program for nineteen weeks...I have used some strategies and will share them with you here, as they have helped me stay on target.In the beginning I did not go out to eat. It was on the 6th week that I went out to dinner,by that point I was able to resist temptation. If I was gonna be somewhere other than home, I packed my food..(once ate it in a parking lot before meeting friends for lunch, then just sipped coffee and drank water and enjoyed the company..not the food.).
I keep repeating the affirmation...nothing tastes as good as losing weight feels. I have been determined not to allow situations to sabotage me. I put myself and my new eating program first..above all else. I am sorry if I inconvienced someone, or "hurt" someone's feelings, but I have put time, money and effort into making ME healthier.I have gone to the movies, I sat at the end of the row, not in the middle where they are sharing popcorn. You can bet there is fruit and a piece of cold chicken in my purse..I have even told a friend that I was on a new eating plan, and that I was trying to stay with it, please understand and don't try to sabotage me.
At first I got "the looks", like here she goes again...but as time as progressed, others have also accepted my new way of eating,in fact it has taken them longer to accept it than it has me. But now when they look at me I see respect.
Anyone who is reading my journal is here for a purpose..100 pounds overweight is unhealthy. We can not let anyone or any situation sabotage that which we are trying to repair...Stand tall, and firm..and if need be break the silence by saying, No Thank you..Remember you owe no one an explanation....We can do this...


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I walked into the room and there she was. She stood out among the others - tall and slender. The first thing I noticed was her amber glow. As I approached her I was overwhelmed by the elegant smell of roses and coconuts. I picked up the glass and took my first sip and I was astonished by her complexity. Caramel and honey and spicy cinnamon. The flavors lingered long after I had swallowed and I knew that I was in love.
Until I saw her silver sister...
Crystal clear, with a subtle honey-suckle scent and a supple body. Delicate flavors of pear-eau-de-vie and a gentle burning heat. Sip after sip her creamy, rich finish left me wanting more.
I couldn't tell which rum won my heart that evening, but in the end it didn't matter. They both had me falling in love with rum.
That was a brief retelling of my first experience absolutely loving rum. The distiller is Privateer in Ipswich, MA. The first rum I described was their Amber 'True American.' Twice distilled from Grade A Molasses and Brown Sugar, the True American is aged in three types of New Oak barrels (French, Hungarian and American), then finished in three types of Second Fill barrels (Bourbon, Sherry and Brandy). The resulting spirits are then carefully blended batch by batch, creating a unique and complex rum each time. Sip it on its own or throw it over ice.
The second rum was a true surprise; previous to my little affair with Privateer's Silver Reserve I had only ever had white rum mixed in drinks. Sipping on this, however, was an experience that far surpassed my expectations. Also twice distilled, this spirit is made from a base of Cane Juice and Brown Sugar. Aged in Stainless Steel to allow the flavor compounds to mature, the Silver Reserve is finally bottled unfiltered to allow for a rich and creamy mouth-feel. The biggest surprise for me was the delicate palate - subtle pear fruit with a hint of vanilla had me fooled into thinking I was sipping on an eau-de-vie. Certainly a far cry from the rum and coke's I thought I enjoyed in college.
Needless to say my night with Privateer began what is sure to be a lifelong love affair with rum.


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Subscribe To FlixWorthy Puts Up Its Dukes For The Fighter Updates
I've already subscribed
Welcome back to FlixWorthy, your guide to Netflix streaming! Yet again we're bringing you a handful of new or notable selections from Netflix's Instant Watch catalogue. Some will be classics, some will be little-seen gems, some will be shows you might have missed, and some...some will be crap so awful they simply has to be seen to be believed.
It's an interesting time for Netflix, with the company taking heat over its recent price increase and competitors on every side doing their best to become genuine threats. Whether the anger at Netflix is justified, it's certainly understandable, so it will be fascinating to see what the company has to offer in coming weeks. If I were them, I'd be doing my damnedest to line up some really exciting content to help calm the naysayers (not to mention their stockholders). Will they recover, or is the age of Netflix domination coming to an end. We'll just have to wait and see.
In the mean time, here's what's FlixWorthy this week, kids...
The Fighter
(2010, Rated R, 115 min., HD)
The Fighter is a perfect example what Netflix does well. It's one of the most praised and talked-about films of last year, and it's got a stellar cast and crew including Christian Bale, Mark Wahlberg, Amy Adams, and Melissa Leo, under the direction of David O. Russell. It rates 91% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, and it earned two Oscars and was nominated for nearly a half dozen others. It's also a movie that, however buzz-worthy, a lot of people didn't get to see in theaters. Despite having been available on DVD and VOD services for a while now, many of those people -- myself included -- still haven't checked it out. How many will watch the movie now on Netflix that never would have otherwise? While we're all paying a monthly fee for Netflix, the simple fact that we don't have to approve individual purchases makes it easier and more convenient to try new stuff, and sort of tricks our brains into feeling like we got something for free. Whatever eventually dethrones Netflix -- assuming anything does -- defeating that psychological carrot-and-stick of the monthly fee/watch all you want model will be tough. In the meantime, let's all finally sit down and enjoy the story of down-and-out fighter Mickey Ward and his no-good half-brother/trainer, Dicky. And let's all pretend we're getting it for free!
Double-Feature It With:
(2010, Rated PG, 123 min.)
Audiences love a good underdog story, even if that underdog is a horse. Look, even if you haven't seen Secretariat, you've already seen Secretariat. You can guess most of the twists and turns, you know how it will all end, and you know that the score will be emotionally manipulating you the whole way through. But hey, sometimes you're in the mood for feel-good fluff. If now is one of those times, check out Secretariat.
The Kid Stays in the Picture
(2002, Rated R, 93 min., HD)
Despite having repeatedly laughed my ass off at Patton Oswalt's Robert Evans bits, I have never actually seen The Kid Stays in the Picture. Now, that will change. Evans is the notorious producer of such huge films as The Godfather and Chinatown, and The Kid Stays in the Picture is based on his autobiography of the same name. The documentary traces Evans' career through highs, lows, and troubles with the law. Even better, the entire affair is narrated by Evans himself, the man Oswalt described both as "my hero" and "actually Satan." The film uses footage from the producer's films alongside interviews and photographs from Evans' long, strange trip through Hollywood. Give it a watch, if only to judge how accurate Patton's impression of the man is.
Double-Feature It With:
Tales from the Script
(2009, Not Rated, 104 min.)
It might not be as scandalous as The Kid Stays in the Picture, but Tales from the Script is worth a watch for anyone who aspires to make a living writing, especially in Hollywood. Screenwriters such as John Carpenter, Frank Darabont, and the legendary William Goldman tell tales from inside the trenches.
Sleeper Cell
(2005-2006, TV-MA, Two Seasons, HD)
Like the excellent but also short-lived Brotherhood, Sleeper Cell never quite made it onto the radar for most people. One of Showtime's early attempts at original series, Sleeper Cell was eclipsed by the successes of shows like Weeds and Dexter, and that's a shame. Fortunately, now it's got a new chance to find a bigger audience. As the title suggests, Sleeper Cell focuses on an undercover terrorist group operating inside the United States, and the Muslim FBI agent who infiltrates the group in order to bring it down. The cell is targeting Los Angeles, which may inspire 24 flashbacks, but you probably won't have to worry about annoying blonde girls fleeing from cougars on Sleeper Cell. Creators Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris also worked on Brimstone, in case any of you were wondering what ever happened to them.
Double-Feature It With:
Rescue Me
(2004-2009, TV-MA, Five Seasons, HD)
Like Sleeper Cell, Rescue Me was also a product of the events of, and public mindset after, September 11th. While the former follows the men and women who strive to keep us safe, the latter focuses on those who risk everything when the worst does happen. Rescue Me has had its ups and downs over the years, but the story of alcoholic, womanizing, deeply damaged firefighter Tommy Gavin (Denis Leary) and company is always funny, often gripping, and occasionally poignant.
Spider-Man: The Animated Series
(1994-1997, TV-Y7-FV, Five Seasons)
Opinions are pretty sharply divided over The Amazing Spider-Man, even with the release of a surprisingly good trailer. Some claim the character needed a fresh start after the train wreck that was Spider-Man 3. Some are still loyal to Raimi's vision of the character and think a reboot this soon is preposterous. Some of us just want to know why we have to be subjected to yet another freaking origin story. For me, however, if I want a pure dose of Spidey-related nostalgia, I have only to queue up episodes of this Spider-Man animated series from the mid '90s. It may not have the complexity or maturity of its contemporary, Batman: The Animated Series, but it makes up for that by being a ton of fun and packed to the gills with fan service. Pretty much the entirety of Spidey's rogues gallery turns up, from obvious enemies like Doc Ock and The Green Goblin to deep cuts like Kraven and The Chameleon. You'll even get appearances from Marvel mainstays like Doctor Strange and the X-Men. They've done several Spider-Man series in the years since, but none of them have topped this one in my book.
Double-Feature It With:
X-Men: The Animated Series
(1992-1996, TV-Y7, Five Seasons)
Speaking of contemporaries, Netflix has also added the complete run of the similarly awesome X-Men animated series. Like the Spider-Man series, it treats its subject matter with respect and manages to be great fun for adult fans and kids alike. This show is also why, with all due respect to Bryan Singer and Hugh Jackman, Wolverine will always sound like this guy to me.
To read the FlixWorthy archives, click here!


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CO-OP ONLY – Ontario Power Generation – Training, Planning & Design
Close Date: December 20, 2016 11:30 pm
As one of North America's leading electricity producers, Ontario Power Generation offers challenging opportunities and career diversity in a work environment where safety is a fundamental value – and where you can realize your personal and professional goals.
JOB TITLE: Webpage publishing, Arts, Business, Teaching, Journalism and Communications Co-op or Developmental Student – Summer 2017
LOCATION: Pickering, Ontario
EDUCATION LEVEL: Minimum completion of first year
SHIFT(S): Days
TRAVEL: No Travel
We are excited to offer a student placement in our Training, Planning, and Design Department, which is located in Pickering, Ontario, approximately 40 kilometres East from Toronto, Ontario.
We are searching for an enthusiastic Information Technology (Web Publishing, Graphic Design), Web-Based Application Development, Communications, and/or Journalism student who has completed a minimum of one year(s) and will be returning to university or college (full time) upon completion of this work term or requires one final work term to graduate.
We hire dozens of students each term, and we work hard to keep them challenged and provide learning opportunities. In fact, many of our students return for a second term because the OPG experience is so valuable. So tell us what areas you're interested in and we'll tell you what you can accomplish in the months you're with us, while you enjoy networking with your peers in a flex-time and business-casual work environment!
Preference may be given to the candidate who has the following skills and qualifications:
- Strong technical experience with Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel and Word
- Strong troubleshooting skills
- Problem solving & critical thinking
- Contact and work with 3rd party software manufacturers/vendors when required
- Ability to work in a team environment
- Excellent English written and communication skills (French would be an asset)
- Understand the user's technical issue/requirement
- Adherence to deadlines
- Willing to provide solutions that are complete and meet the requirements
As the successful candidate, you may have the opportunity to assist in a variety of work assignments which may include:
- Publishing on-line (eLearning) courses using various industry standard software
- Providing front line phone support for OPG's eLearning environment
- Developing web-based training content using various tools including Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint
This job will provide you with the following professional development:
- Web-based application development tools (Microsoft PowerPoint, Articulate StoryLine)
- Communication and customer support
- Working in a team environment
- Enhanced time management/organizational skills
- Enhanced communication (verbal and written) skills
Application Details
Applicants must meet the Co-op Program requirements for their degree. For further information, contact Carly Turnbull: CBU Student Placement Officers.
All students applying for student positions at OPG must be returning to full-time studies upon completion of their work term. You will be required to show an OPG hiring manager your transcript, should you be invited to an interview.
To Apply: on-line only at www.mypowercareer.com, no later than midnight, December 20, 2016.
- OPG sincerely thanks all those who apply, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
- In the event you are invited for an interview, please note you will be required to provide transcripts.
- If you receive an interview, please notify the hiring manager of any accommodations you may require for the selection process.
- You must be eligible to work in Canada.
- OPG supports the principles and practices of diversity.


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What I'm Reading: A Banquet of Consequences
Yesterday could have been a fabulous writing day. I had time, opportunity, and a deadline. Generally this is all very motivating, but I was caught up in Elizabeth George's fabulous mystery and couldn't seem to wrench myself away.
George kind of went her own way with this book, genre-wise, and I love that.
This book does not begin with a dead body and a mystery. It begins by immersing the reader in the lives of all of the people involved. By the time the murder happened - sometime after page 100 - I was deeply immersed in the dark, complex psychology that ties the characters together.
The combination of this depth of character development with a satisfyingly twisting mystery served to keep me turning pages late into the evening.
There were, I will admit, a few flaws. I guessed the murderer sooner than I wanted to. But the beautiful writing and incredible character and world development made that just a small thing. Definitely a five star book for me.


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Wine Pick: Michael Keenan of Keenery Winery Talks Shop
Michael Keenan spent about half of our time together describing his wines. He spent the other half apologizing for his colorful language.
"Once in San Diego I participated in an elegant dinner- 10 wines with 10 courses. I found out later there was a secret contest to see how many times I would drop the f bomb during it," he admitted with a look of mischief in his eye.
When our giggles subsided, someone asked, "So how many times were there?"
"I don't know," he shrugged. "At least 18."
If a stereotypical winemaker is arty and even a touch pretentious, Keenan proved anything but. His spirited attitude and knack for lively storytelling won me over immediately. The story of his wines begins when his father, Robert Keenan, purchased 180 acres of abandoned land in 1974. The property on Spring Mountain in Napa used to be a well-established vineyard called the Conradi Winery. Unfortunately, it fell into disrepair during prohibition. Robert saw hope in it though and hired a contractor to begin the ambitious task of breathing new life into the land.
Michael started to work alongside his father in 1977. In a somewhat ironic twist though, he left to work for the contractor tasked with reviving the vineyard. The change brought success and Keenan eventually started his own company. He was making a viable living when his father contacted him and told him he was giving up the winery. He offered it to Michael and said that if he did not take it, he would be forced to sell it to someone else entirely. Though hesitant, Michael agreed to at least return to the premises and consider the offer.
It was love at first sight. Keenan recalled his thoughts as he stood overlooking the valley.
"I realized, 'this is so special. I have to figure out a way to keep this in the family,'" he remembers. He gave up his personal business and embarked on a new journey. He knew it would be hard, but he was up for the challenge. He hired a small team of trusted individuals and even housed them on the property.
"Those guys are still working for me," he told me. "That kind of continuity is important."
Though Keenan is usually unfiltered in typical conversation (another case in point: he resents that a movie about "two terds" threatened his Merlot sales), his entire demeanor changes when he begins talking about his wines. He speaks about them with genuine affection reminiscent of the pride a parent might exhibit for a beloved child. He chooses every word carefully so that his ideas can be conveyed most accurately. In one particularly poignant moment, he explained to us how his final version of the Mernet depends on achieving what he calls a "sweet spot."
"It's a high-toned perfume," he said thoughtfully. He went on to describe how the Mernet is a "winemaker's wine." While the others' notes are driven by the land's terroir, the Mernet's bouquet comes from his ability to blend the grapes together just so.
When I tasted the wine, his words made complete sense. The wine starts off feeling like a whispy velvet in my mouth. There are light touches of ripe fruit. The wine evolves entirely as it lingers though. It sinks down to an earthiness with more weight and darker fruits. Though the wine tastes incredible on its own, the balance between the acid and fruit makes it an ideal food wine.
"I like to say a wine responds to food instead of that it pairs with the food," he states. "Pair is a passive word."
As the name implies, Mernet is a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Keenan gave me a chance to taste both varietals in two versions: regular vintage and reserve.
The 2008 Merlot is 100% Merlot grapes. Keenan still refers to it as a "blended" wine though because the Merlot grapes come from four different vineyards. The 2009 Mailbox Merlot, on the other hand, is a single-vineyard wine. Keenan believes that having all of the grapes originate in the same place gives it a "narrower focus" and "vertical depth." He praises the Mailbox Merlot for two qualities in particular: a sense of completeness and uniqueness.
"It doesn't need anything else to complete it," he explained. "It's unique because it has a high floral note and a long long finish."
Just smelling the wine took my breath away. A single sip left me in total awe. The extremely lush, peppery liquid hit every last iota of surface area in my mouth. The spice and fruit ricocheted off my palette from every angle.
Keenan then introduced us to the Cabernet Sauvignon. This varietal was more of a challenge to create.
"It took us 25 years to learn how make Cabernet," Keenan admitted. His father believed that a great wine came from placing stress on the land. In other words, amazing grapes were the result of the earth struggling with itself. Keenan brought a more "California approach" to winemaking.
"We're supposed to love the plant- not torture it!" he laughs. At the same time, he doesn't adhere to the more strict regulations that an organic or biodynamic labeling would require.
"I take a common sense approach," he asserts. "Nature can take care of itself."
The Cab proved extremely complex. Red and black fruits seemed to war and then come to a truce as the sip filled my mouth. Keenan described it as having "volume and range." By volume, he meant that it has weight and a physical presence in the mouth. Range refers to how it encompasses a wide variety of notes. It was aromatic, floral, fruity, and earthy all in one.
Keenan ended our tasting with a Chardonnay- a departure from the white to red ordering that so many wine drinkers insist upon. I enjoyed this immensely. I think wine should be fun and whimsical and love it when people break the traditions that seem to govern it.
The reds were certainly phenomenal, but to me the Chardonnay was true star of the day. It is full bodied and buttery without tasting of oak. The finish goes on for what seems like an eternity. It manages to be creamy and complex but still easy drinking. Unlike other Chardonnays, it does not go through malolcatic fermentation. Barrel fermentation imparts the perfectly balanced character.
So how does Keenan know when a wine is perfect?
"I felt like I was stoned the rest of the day," he quips. "That's how I knew it was good."
And just like that he's back to the endearing jokester from before. A jokester with truly amazing, artistic wine.
You can find Keenan Wines at the following restaurants and stores:
Douro restaurant, Greenwich CT
L'Escale restaurant, Greenwich CT
Nicholas Roberts Fine Wine, Darien CT
Lordship Wine & Liquor, Stratford CT
Glen Liquors, Noroton-Heights CT
Max Downtown, Hartford
Max Oyster, West Hartford
Max A Mia, Avon CT
For more information, visit the Keenan website: http://www.keenanwinery.com/


text: The NY Times has a long article today on the current state of digital rights management measures from Hollywood. Not much new here. Basically, they want to sell you a license to view a movie, or TV show, or listen to a song, rather than selling you your own copy of the media to do with as you please. You already know that companies in the copyright business want to treat you this way, so there's probably no reason to read it.


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Battle Lake Continuing Education Committee
Clock Hour and Relicensure Guidelines
This year's members are:
Andrea Bellig (Chair) Jen Kerzman
Jodi Himmelspach (Co Chair) Anne Cline
Jeff Drake Anita Schaller
Tanya Hensch (Community Member)
Meetings: The committee will meet the second week of each month: November, February, and May.
Anotice will be placed in the faculty announcements one week prior tothe meeting date as a reminder of the upcoming committee meeting.
Every five years, you must accumulate 125 clock hours of continuing education to renew your teaching license. You may not bank hours.
*National Board of Professional Standards Certification
2. Clock Hour Categories – State of Minnesota rules regarding these categories can be found in Appendix A.
Category A: Relevant coursework completed at accredited colleges and universities.
• Sixteen clock hours are granted for each quarter credit earned and 24 clock hours for each semester credit earned.
• Coursestaken for no credit (audit) earn 15 clock hours per each semestercredit earned upon verification via accredited college/university.
• Teaching a college course will earn the hours of time in class.
• Verification includes a grade report or transcript. Photocopies are acceptable.
Acceptable Examples
• on-campus courses
• online courses
Category B: Educational workshops, conferences, institutes, seminars, or lectures in areas appropriate to licenses held.
•Activitiesmust be organized, structured, learning experiences presented andattended for the purpose of professional development in education.
•Clock hours cannot include travel time to the workshop, registration, meals, or coffee breaks.
•Verificationincludes an attendance certificate (or an agenda signed by the workshopsponsor) indicating the hours of attendance and topics covered.
Acceptable Examples
• Workshops
• State and national conferences
• Education Minnesota Conference
• Field Trips
Fieldtrips may earn clock hours for those items that are directly related toyour field. Hours will only be granted once for each field trip duringeach five-year renewal period and preapproval must be given by the committee. If preapproval is not asked for, hours will not be granted.
Unacceptable Examples
• business or administrative portions of meetings
• field trips that haven't been preapproved by the committee
• field trip hours for supervision of students on a bus, meals, overnight hours
• personal growth activities without a direct pedagogical application
• activities intended for non-education careers
Category C: Staff development activities, inservice meetings, and courses.
• Verificationincludes an attendance certificate (or an agenda signed by the workshopsponsor) indicating the hours of attendance and topics covered.
• district workshops
• faculty meetings
• staff work days
• department leader meetings
• activities and courses intended for non-education careers
• business or administrative portions of inservice meetings
Category D: Site, district, regional, state, national, or international curriculum development.
Category E:Engagement in formal peer coaching or mentorship relationships withcolleagues that addresses one or more of the standards in part 8710.2000.
Category F: Professional service in the following areas:
(1) Supervision of clinical experiences of persons enrolled in teacher preparation programs.
(2)Participation on national, state, and local committees involved withlicensure, teacher education, or professional standards.
• Verification includes a written statement with validation of hours of participation from the chair of the committee.
(3) Participation in national, regional, or state accreditation.
•Verification includes a written statement of hours of participation from the head of the accrediting organization.
Category G:Leadership experiences in the following areas: (1) development of newor broader skills and sensitivities to the school, community, orprofession; (2) publication of professional articles in a professionaljournal in an appropriate field; or (3) volunteer work in professionalorganizations related to the areas of licensure held.
• School Improvement Plan meetings • teaching Sunday School
• singing in a church choir • playing in a community band
• serving as an officer in a PTA or PTO • coaching sports
• volunteering at your child's school • participating in Community Ed sports leagues
Category H:Opportunities to enhance knowledge and understanding of diverseeducational settings in the following areas: (1) experiences withstudents of another age, ability, culture, or socioeconomic level; or(2) systematic, purposeful observation during visits to schools and torelated business and industry.
• Thereis a maximum of 30 hours for this category for each five-year renewalperiod. (The committee may limit the number of hours)
•Verification includes a written validation of hours from an appropriate representative of the school or business.
• exchange teaching in a setting different than your own
• tutoring inner-city students
• observing in schools with different demographics
• judging a science fair at a different school
• touring a business employing a workforce different than your students (secondary vocational teachers)
• coaching your child's sports team • teaching Sunday School
• substitute teaching
Category I:Pre-approved travel or work experience: (1) travel for purposes ofimproving instructional capabilities related to the field of licensure;or (2) work experience in business or industry appropriate to the fieldof licensure.
• Both travel and work experience must be pre-approved.
• There is a maximum of 30 hours for this category for each five-year renewal period.
• One week of pre-approved travel or work experience for purposes ofimproving instructional capabilities equals 10 clock hours.
• Pre-approval application should include a detailed itinerary or work plan and educational objectives.
• Verificationincludes a detailed accounting of time spent as well a summary of howthe travel or work will make you a better teacher.
• travel to Spain or Latin America for a Spanish teacher • construction work for an industrial tech teacher
• language interpreter for a foreign language teacher
• spring break to Daytona Beach
3. Renewing Your License You can renew your license online at https://education.state.mn.us/MIDMS/login.jsf?AppId=CEL
4. Applying for Clock Hour Approval
Turn in completed forms with appropriate documentation to either Andrea or Jodi.


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Conversations with IrishPride Episode 13/
I'm Still Here!
Hello everybody and welcome to episode 13 of Conversations with IrishPride. I realize it has been well over a month since my last installment, but I'm back and ready to talk Star Wars: The Old Republic! First off, I hope all of you out there had a great holiday season filled with family, fun and of course video games. Also, I hope you have a fantastic 2012!
One main reason that I have not been keeping up with CwIP is because of SWTOR and how I've been absolutely addicted to it. I've been eagerly awaiting the release for The Old Republic for awhile now and even anointed it my Best of E3 winner. Luckily, I pre-orderd the fancy Collector's Edition way back in July when they first announced it, so I had no problem getting into the early access that started on December 13th.
This is not going to be a review of the game because that literally could take up to five pages to complete and I don't want to bore you with a wall of text. Instead, I'm just going to tell you my initial impressions, just in case if you're on the fence about playing it.
If you are one of those individuals that are on the fence, GET OFF THE FENCE! I may be a bit biased since I love MMO's and love Bioware, but if you're a fan of MMO's, Bioware, Star Wars or great storytelling, do yourself a favor and buy SWTOR. If you know anything about MMO's, you know you really don't pay attention to the story because it's either non existent or non engrossing. You run around doing quests, not reading what the questgiver tells you, and kill 6 boars. Return with 6 boar skulls, collect your reward and move onto the next quest. Well, SWTOR has all the same questing elements, but there is actually a story you will want to follow and it's easy to follow since everything, I mean EVERYTHING, is voice acted and brilliantly done so I might add. You'll feel like you are fighting for a bigger cause when you're completing these quests becuase of the great storytelling and your choices. If you played the KOTOR (Knights of the Old Republic) games, you will be pleased to see that your choices will effect your character with light and dark side decisions. Every class, of which there is eight to choose from, has their own unique story line that you follow. Sure, they all will have the same side quests, but the unique story lines more than make up for the repeatable side quests.
Okay, I'm going to have to be careful, because I just want this to be my quick, initial impression. But there is so much I want to talk about that this could easily transform into a wall of text. I'll save that for the review. Let me just say this. I've already put well over 70+ hours into SWTOR and I've no where even scratched the surface of the game. Sure, I may be level 38 and level cap is 50, but there is still so much that I want to see and do. I'm also an alt-aholic and want to see the different stories so I'll be checking them out too.
I know there will be people out there that will complain that you have to pay $15/month, but I look at this way. I get a whole lot of entertainment a month for just $15. Instead of going to a 2 hour movie and spending $15, I would much rather play as my Bounty Hunter and earn some extra credits assassinating a specific target.
It has been a long wait for Star Wars: The Old Republic, but thankfully the wait was well worth it; one of the cleanest MMO launches in history. If you are a fan of MMO's, Star Wars, Bioware or the popular Star Wars The Knights of the Old Repblic series, do yourself a favor and jump into a universe where the storytelling is so superb that only the fine folks at Bioware can deliever.
This is IrishPride signing out and until next time, may the force be with you.


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Kitty (17) plays drums, harmonica, ukulele, banjo, trombone and guitar. Daisy (22) the lead singer also plays drums, piano, accordion and xylophone. Lewis (19) plays guitar, piano, banjo, lapsteel and drums. They needed a bass player and hey asked their mum. She hadn't played bass before but she learned and joined in. Don't miss out on the chance to have a lot of fun and beat your friends in the race to be the hippest kid on the block, check out Kitty Daisy & Lewis now.
- mochi mochi


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Apple Watch battery will be replaceable to extend device's lifespanIn the event that the Apple Watch battery needs to be replaced, Apple technicians will be able to swap the component out, although the company hasn't elaborated on how the replacement process will be handled.
The information was shared by a spokesman with TechCrunch, who suggested that Watch owners will likely need to send their device to Apple to have the battery swapped for a fee.
The Apple Watch isn't designed to be opened easily or accept conventional watch batteries. Instead, it uses a rechargeable battery topped off through an inductive charger.
The company has been touting "18-hour all-day battery life" for the product. This is however based on a "mixed usage" scenario with a 38 mm model, as Apple states in its marketing, comprising "90 time checks, 90 notifications, 45 minutes of app use, and a 30-minute workout with music playback from Apple Watch via Bluetooth over the course of 18 hours."
A 42 mm Watch "typically experiences longer battery life," Apple remarks.
In practice, some functions can also consume considerably more power if they're used for long, such as workout tracking or music playback. Phone calls in particular are a massive drain, such that doing nothing but taking a phone call will shrink battery life to three hours. A faulty battery could potentially become a serious issue.
More details about the Apple Watch should arrive as the April 24 launch date approaches.


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RITU AUTO COMPONENTS All Rights Reserved.(Terms of Use)
Developed and Managed by Infocom Network Ltd.


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Lees-Marshment, Jennifer and Pettitt, Robin (2010) UK political marketing: a question of leadership? In: Lees-Marshment, Jennifer , Rudd, Chris and Stromback, Jesper, (eds.) Global political marketing. London, U.K. : Routledge. pp. 113-127. (Routledge Research in Political Communication) ISBN 9780415427227Full text not available from this archive.
|Item Type:
|Book Section
|Research Area:
|Politics and international studies
|Faculty, School or Research Centre:
|Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (until 2017) > School of Social Science (until November 2012)
|Depositing User:
|Helen Woolfries
|Date Deposited:
|06 Aug 2009 09:47
|Last Modified:
|18 Jan 2010 17:06
Actions (Repository Editors)
|Item Control Page


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The Music Committee is a sub-committee of the Worship and Pastoral Care Committee. As such, it is not a decision-making body, but receives requests for activity and makes recommendations. To learn more about our music program's activities, please click here.
7 or 8 members, one of whom shall be a member of the Worship Committee. Included in that number are the Director of Music (ex officio) and one representative of each church choir.
The committee shall meet at least four times a year, or at the request of the Director of Music or other members of the committee.


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Chanakuh on Union Square
Well although I'm not much of a religious person, I have over the years admired the Jewish faith. It's not so much the religious part of it I guess, as much as the tradition part of it and the strong sense of community and culture that the religion fosters. Without getting into the politics of Judaism, I've always admired the rich sense of family and closeness that the religion seems to embrace. When I was growing up as a kid my father had a deep sense of respect for the Jews. Perhaps this is where my respect for the religion is rooted. Although my dad was a Christian and not a Jew, he had many close friends that were Jews and we even celebrated Passover a few times at our home when he had some of his Jewish friends over. Even this Christmas I still sensed my father's respect for the Jewish customs and traditions when he lit a menorah in our family home.
I'm nowhere near as religious as my father, in fact not religious at all, but I did enjoy watching the lighting of the menorah in Union Square earlier this evening. Apparently they have been lighting the menorah in Union Square since 1975. Legendary rock promoter Bill Graham was a force behind this and despite the religious tones of the ceremony in the public space, it has gone on now for over 30 years. The Rabbi who spoke tonight reflected back on Bill Graham and his contributions to the Union Square lighting. He talked about Bill also being involved with a psychedelic Christmas Tree one year. He remembered a solitary word that Bill Graham spoke to him when he was asked why the ceremony was so important to him. That single word was survival.
The ceremony was a moving tribute and it is nice to see that here in San Francisco in 2005 you can still spend a few minutes in the early evening with strangers and observe this public event even as an outsider. Here is another account from years past that I found on the ceremony. I've got a short set up on Flickr of tonight's lighting.
Merry Christmas and a Happy Chanukah to all.


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If you get convicted of a DUI in West Virginia, not only will you receive jail time and fines, but you driver's license will be suspended for months, even years. Not having the means to drive can make it difficult to get to work, attend scheduled classes, and conduct daily activities. Unfortunately, there are individuals out there who run the risk of being caught driving with a suspended license due to a DUI conviction.
However, if you are convicted of driving while your license is suspended because of a DUI, you will face a jail sentence between 30 days and six months, as well as fines ranging from $100 to $500. If you are convicted of driving while your licenses is suspended for the second time, you could be punished with a jail sentence between six months and one year, and fines ranging from $1,000 to $5,000.
Let Sutton & Janelle, PLLC Get Your License Back
Our Berkeley County DUI lawyers understand what it takes to get you back on the road and get your life back to normal. With more than 60 years of combined experience, we have a thorough understanding of West Virginia driving laws and DMV hearings to provide you with the legal support to obtain the outcome you desire. Let us help you navigate through the complexities of the legal system.
Contact our firm and request a free consultation with our Berkeley Count DUI attorneys today.


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The Huffington Post just posted an article from Jaime Rojo & Steven Harrington from brooklynstreetart.com which I consider a pretty interesting on abstract artwork (influenced by geometric shapres) in the public setting. This article doesn't exactly explain what it is that we are doing but paying attention to the fact that there is a collective of like minded artists doing it at the same time. If you have time check it out HERE or you can click on the image below.
photo © Jaime Rojo


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India in Marrakech
Holidays in Marrakech. Yes, with my girls!!! We have all three been to Marrakech before, but never together. So, I will document.....maybe too bold a statment. Hence, I will take pictures and hopefully, you will all keep me, India and Tatiana company during this last week before the New Year.
I have been trying to ignore the new pool fashion passage. Thinking it would go away and everyone would get back to pareos and Havaiana flip flops. You must understand that I have been collecting pareos on every island from every country I have visited over the last 20 years. Not to mention my new metallic Havaiana flip-flops. I bought both gold and silver. I felt proud when I was packing them. BOTH colors. I could not go wrong.
Wrong I was. Marrakech is meant for long fluid floaty cover-ups. I have used this expression before, but Marrakech is BOHEMIAN CHIC. Example personafied in India's choice of poolside wear today. What was I thinking!!! Guess who is going to the souk to look for new pool looks this afternoon? As IF I needed an excuse to go shopping in the souks of Marrakech. Oh, Please.
Thinking of you Madame B.
My love to all, Linda


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5-2-1-0 Healthy Workplaces
Workplaces reach parents and caregivers where they spend the majority of their day, in an environment that can highly influence and support their behaviors around healthy eating and physical activity. These parents and caregivers play an important part in supporting and role modeling the 5-2-1-0 behaviors for their children.
There are many benefits to employers who want to help employees and families be healthier. The 5-2-1-0 message provides a great starting point for workplaces that are new to wellness promotion and strengthens the efforts of workplaces with existing wellness activities. This makes workplaces an ideal location to support increased physical activity and healthy eating!
5-2-1-0 Healthy Workplaces is a program aimed at increasing healthy eating and physical activity in various workplace settings by supporting environmental and policy change. The program is based on the following easy-to-remember 5-2-1-0 message:
The 5-2-1-0 Healthy Workplaces toolkit is based on 6 key evidence-based strategies that can be used individually or collectively in various workplace settings to address the policies, practices, and environment that influence healthy lifestyle behaviors.
ARE YOU A Workplace WHO HAS PARTNERED WITH LET'S GO! GULF COAST?
There are more resources to supplement your toolkit! Resources are organized into the '6 Strategies for Success.' Under each section, there is information specific for healthy workplaces and their employees.


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I was commissioned by TriMet, the public transit agency in Portland, to shoot an ad that would appear on busses and benches around the Portland area. The ad was meant to promote safe apparel for bicyclists as a part of their "Be Seen" campaign.
The idea was to show a bicyclists with a lot of motion, to the point where the cyclist themself was mostly obscured, but their reflective clothing and lights were the focal point of the image.
I headed down to the East waterfront with an art director and a model for a night-time shoot with the city lights as a backdrop. Here are some of the shots we got:
That last image was the one that was chosen for the ad, and here's how the ads, for bus and bench, looked after some editing from the design staff and text placement.
And here's the ad in the wild:


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Dana (Dyna) and Melissa (Mo) are the creators with the imagination behind DyNamo.
Dana and Melissa had met a lifetime ago, through a friend, in which they realized they
had shared many of the same hobbies and interests. DyNamo all started after Dana had
been making jewelry for herself and thought it would be fun to create for others looking
to stand out from the crowd. Melissa, who had similar interests in doing crafty things
was interested in the proposition of combining forces thus creating DyNamo!
Creating accessories was the obvious choice since the economy was tanking and
people did not have a lot of money to spend on things that were not a necessity.
Accessories are the easiest way to get a ton of mileage out of a wardrobe without
having to go out and buy all new clothes. Many of our items are inspired by runway
trends, and re-inventing existing materials. In addition to our conventional line of
accessories, in spring of 2010 DyNamo successfully introduced a whole new line of
feather bridal hair pieces for the bride on a budget looking for an alternative look for her
special day.


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mmm...it's so comforting to know that this time tomorrow I will be sleeping in and snuggling with Jeff and the pup. I'm also thinking of heading downtown for the market. I'm seriously craving those fresh mini cinnamon donuts that you get still warm from the fryer. That will be my first stop. Maybe my only since the market is geared towards tourists and I'm not needing any kind of native art or alaska sausage at the moment.
I will then be lock down in my home to finish up editing and burning the photos I took from my first wedding shoot. I have one more wedding and that will be it for me. I knew it was going to be a lot of work but you never know if you're good at something until you try. After this past shoot I feel I'm 1. not good at directing a large group of people 2. not good at the constant go, go, go. The most important aspect is that it wasn't fun and it's definitely not my type of photography. Don't get me wrong, the wedding itself was a joyful occasion and a fun one at that but actually working at a wedding was not. I also did not enjoy the neck cramp I endured a week afterwords due the heavy lens I chose to use and 3 weeks of editing. It's one thing if this was my sole profession but it's not. I work a regular job and to be quite honest, the last thing I want to do when I get home from work, especially now that I'm pregnant, is to get back in front of a computer and edit, edit, edit.
So what's my type of photography? I'm much more comfortable with newborns and individuals. I like the slower pace and the one on one interaction much much better. It suits my personality much more as well. It's so delightful to work with young ones than a huge group of adults on a day of rushing around. I always admired those wedding photographers that take stunning photographs and now have great respect for what they do.
Onto girl loves.
So I'm starting to be on the lookout for cute baby stuff and one of the important things on my list is a cute diaper bag. I know, not really super important but I don't want to get into clothes and nursery stuff right now. The thing is, I'm having a really hard time finding one I like until I saw this one.
I must have it. It doesn't even look like a diaper bag and that's what I love the most. (found via Ohdeedoh)
I also want to brush up on my sewing skills so I can make a few of my own crib sheets. How inspiring is this classroom?
I've always liked chocolate and ice cream but now I crave it daily. I've been stopping in Baskin Robbins once a week for a quart of my favorite ice cream ever, World Class Chocolate but It's getting spendy and I'm looking for other ways to satisfy my craving. I came upon this recipe and I knew this would be it.
You had me at hello.
This girls style minus the cancer stick.
a few of my favorite stamps getting the pink slip. get 'em before they're gone! my favorite add on that includes most of my picks from CHA winter 2010. washi tape!!
Sneak Peeks for June's kit and add on's here.
Happy Friday!


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I've made a conscious effort this year to expand the QUALITY of my professional and personal network. As any introvert aspiring to be a good networker, things tend to be a bit more mechanical on my side of things but I am working on an automation formula!
Anyways, I've noticed something very interesting in the networking events I've attended – it seems we've entered the era of Business Card Personalization. As the name suggests, Business Card Personalization refers to the application of Personalization (a concept very popular these days in the digital world due to Web Personalization) to networking – in layman's terms carrying multiple business cards and targeting the recipients of the card based on how closely they fit your information or skillset on each card.
Using myself as an example, I have 3 business cards (soon to downgrade to 2). Each business card has it's own brand and depicts a somewhat unique side of my professional aptitude. For the record, business cards should be for business purposes – for personal relationships please exchange cell phone numbers. As you'd already guessed, which business card I hand depends greatly on the person I'm handing it to. If I'm at an entrepreneur or startup networking event, I usually give out my Miigle business card, if I am approached by a potential client I hand out my consulting card, and if I'm acting on behalf of my employer I hand out its branded card.
Why am I writing about this? Well, let's start with my own reasoning. I decide to carry 3 cards because I have and usually pursue different interests at various points in time and thought it'd be too confusing to 1) fit all that information on one card and 2) have to answer the question "So what do you do?" with multiple titles on a card. Given I already have a very hard time answering the question "Where are you from?", I figured I'd save myself some time there. But I've got to ask. Am I doing it right?
Surely, people before us (i.e. our parents and grand-parents) had multiple interests? Yes! However, those interests did not always translate (intentionally or unintentionally) to being an additional source of income as they do today. It's actually quite amazing if you think about it. There is no prior period in time when people have embraced and felt so comfortable about creating favorable financial conditions for themselves through their different interests and skills! #Entrepreneurship
To be fair, is that not why business cards were created? i.e. Remember me. I'd like to make money from or through you [one day].
So I ask, is this the death of the single business card?
p.s. Perhaps I could keep it simple and just get one business card with the title "Hustler"? I have a feeling there's someone out there who'd be more deserving. Peace.


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Mixing Cultures in Games: Part 4
Now that I've given you some tools to combine multiple cultures in your game, I thought you'd like to see my advice in practice. While writing this article I really got into the idea of the French Renaissance, but with a belief focus on animism mixed with judeo christian beliefs (taking my Thai spirit house example one step further). So, I decided to use that springboard for my example. I decided to take a more fantasy approach to the subject so I could inject active spirits into player's lives, because I think that is fun.
Here is just a tiny window into the world I created:
All items have spirits and life. Animism is mixed with Christianity, the bible has been interpreted to mean that there are individual 'spirits' in all things. Therefore, people have grown to not only worship God, but put respect into the land and items they possess for different reasons (eg- spirits). With the Renaissance, this means that new ideas and creations, have taken on their own lives. The Birth of Venus, for example has its own spirit, the piece is not only respected for its beauty, but for the beauty of the spirit within.
Aside from spirits within items, there are also wandering spirits, celestial beings or mischievous imps that must be appeased. Spirits who find a home on your land can be appeased by the building of a spirit house, a maison de l'esprit.
Spirit houses take many shapes and forms, but are commonly ornate and well kept.
Offerings are placed at the houses to appease spirits and refreshed around once a week. These offerings can range from wine, food, flowers, and even valuable items - depending on how much the spirit needs to be appeased.
Spirits who are left alone for too long without an offering will being to play pranks on their human neighbours.
- After a month, items will begin to break around the house, milk will curdle, and plants will grow at an alarming rate.
- After a few months to half a year, people will begin to trip in the house, guests will sit on pins, and the gardens will be untamable.
- After a year the property might suffer from a small earthquake causing a tear in the house. This is a social disaster, it is a faux pas to neglect the spirits on your property, and shows your family is doing poorly.
Spirits who are worshipped and appeased on a weekly/bi-weekly basis provide the following benefits, but will be more quick to anger when ignored:
- (d20 system, D&D, Swords & Wizardry etc.) Players feel stronger in their homes and may crit on their powers on a 19+. Additionally, once per story players may add +2 to the result of their roll, if they are on their property, this action may be taken after rolling.
- (d10 system, WoD) Players feel refreshed at home and may regain 1 willpower when they have worshipped at the shrine. Additionally, once per chapter players may turn one failed roll into a success if they are on their property, as the spirits come to their aid.
- (AW) The spirits residing in spirit house have the following move (with a +2 to rolling) they may perform once during a story. "Aid" On a 6 and under the spirits come alive and show themselves in the open, but are unable to help. On a 7-9 the spirits aid their neighbours by assisting in their roll and bumping up to the next success tier. On a 10+ there is the same effect as 7-9 and they may use this power again during the same story.
Spirits who are worshipped on a monthly basis will provide the following benefits:
- (d20 system, D&D, Swords & Wizardry etc.) Players feel stronger in their homes and may crit on their powers on a 19+.
- (d10 system, WoD) Players feel refreshed at home and may regain 1 willpower when they have worshipped at the shrine.
- (AW) Once per story the spirits residing the in the spirit house, when the players is on their property, will give the player a +1 to their roll.
Someone who steals an item from the spirit houses will suffer the following:
- (d20 system, D&D, Swords & Wizardry etc.) Players suffer from a constant -2 to all actions performed on this property. Additionally, they may not gain any rest in this area.
- (d10 system, WoD) Permanent +1 DC to all actions performed on the property, this may be removed if the spirit is somehow appeased again. Additionally, they may not regain willpower by resting in this area.
- (AW) Permanent -1 to all moves performed on the property, this may be removed if the spirit is somehow appeased again.
Well, that's it for this series of articles. I hope that I have helped you to be able to combine different cultural elements into your game and that you have the confidence to do so for yourself now! If you decide to use my advice, I'd love to hear from you and see the awesome examples you've created!
You can read the first post in this series here, the second here, and the third here.


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Well, it's finally here… the summer has come and gone, and school is in session. While you may be dreading all of the homework, don't lose sight of all of the exciting things going on in the area! After you're finished that math problem, or when you've finally written that essay, remember to get out of the house and check out some of the local activities that can be enjoyed even as it starts getting cooler.
If you're looking for a sweet treat to hold you over, head to Nibblins and you won't be disappointed! You can stop by with the family one evening and grab some fresh fudge for dessert. If you're feeling a little creative, you can buy some of their one-of-a-kind cookie cutters and bring them home to make your own customized cookies. Don't forget to pack one in your lunchbox!
"My children probably enjoyed playing along to find the clues at Nibblins the best. Thanks for a fun idea" – A.M. We love that families have such a great time there, no matter if they're participating in an activity, or just enjoying the sweets!
Sometimes after a long day, you just need a good pick-me-up, and we have the perfect place for you! Grab the whole family (yes, mom and dad, you too!) and go to the Alamo Drafthouse. With a wide selection of movies, you can be sure to find one that everyone likes. Forget the popcorn… you will have a full menu to choose from, as the cinema is complete with dinner tables and a wait staff that will ensure your movie experience is top-notch and that you don't go home hungry. Kids can enjoy a burger and a root beer float, and parents, you can enjoy a local brew or a nice glass of wine. Food AND a movie? Definitely an evening everyone can appreciate after a long day at work and school!
Don't worry if your school week is too busy to enjoy these activities, we have more fun things that you can fill the weekend with!
With fall creeping in, we're bound to have some rain and chilly days coming up. Instead of being bummed that summer is over, load up the car and drive to the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley! You can explore the museum at your own leisure and dive into one of their many fascinating exhibits. Or, you can check out one of their events, such as a "Meet the Artist Q&A Session", or plan for a late night out at one of their featured concerts!
If you're looking for a little more adventure, grab your camera and your rain jacket and make your way to Shenandoah Caverns. This natural wonder will impress you beyond words! Upon purchasing your admission ticket, you will be assigned a tour guide who will show you around the underground world and tell you everything you want to know about the caverns (trust me, you'll want to know it all!). Since you'll be going below the ground, it can be a little damp and chilly, so a rain jacket may come in handy. And as previously mentioned, you HAVE to bring a camera! The natural formations are too cool, and you will want to remember the sights long after you're gone.
Remember, just because you're back to early mornings and colder weather, don't let it get you down! There is still plenty to do during the evenings and weekends that will keep you having fun and getting out of the house well into the fall season.


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We'd love to have a chat about your app and you help you get your mobile project off to a great start.
We can help evaluate your app concept, tell you what's technically feasible and give you a rough idea of the costs and timelines involved.
Get in touch today and find out how Infinite Touch can help create your winning mobile strategy.


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Mary with Amethyst Necklace
Mary with Amethyst Necklace
This medal is a lovely and striking Marian image for anyone with a special devotion to Our Lady. Recast in sterling silver this beautiful medal shines next to the lavender and deep purple of the amethyst, all enhanced with silver accents.
- Medal: Sterling Silver cross with Our Lady of Grace image surrounded by fleur-de-lis 1"
- Beads: 6mm amethyst beads, lavender glass seed beads, silver pewter accent beads
- Clasp: Sterling Silver twisted cleft clasp
- Length: 19 inches
sold out


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Contact Colorado Commercial, Advertising, & Editorial Photographer Jason Carncross
Please feel free to contact me for any of your photographic needs. I am always willing to discuss my process for making your commercial, advertising, and editorial photography needs a reality.
Thank you for your interest in my work. Please feel free to fill out the form below if you would like to contact me. I will get back with you as soon as I can.


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New Channel 4 drama Born To Kill scored by Samuel Sim
Channel 4's latest psychological drama Born To Kill, starring Romola Garai and Daniel Mays, follows Sam (Jack Rowan), a teenager on the brink of acting on his hidden psychopathic desires.
Born to Kill is directed by Bruce Goodison (Home Fires, Dr Foster) and composed by Samuel Sim. It airs on Thursday 20th April.
Click here for the trailer.


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Books by Angela Ackerman
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