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Everything Was Fine Until 3rd Grade
A common theme that we hear from many of the parents we work with is, "everything was fine until third grade."
Parents often wonder, what happened!? My child wasn't struggling in class, the teacher didn't express any concerns, their reading was on grade-level or close to it, and then suddenly in third grade everything fell apart. What happened!?
For all students, third grade is a big year that brings about significant change to their educational journey. For dyslexic students, this is typically the year that dyslexia makes its presence known or becomes more obvious.
Why, you ask? What's the big deal about third grade?
In Kindergarten, first, and second grade, students are learning phonemic awareness and phonics.
These are the first two elements of literacy instruction; phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. While all five elements are developed in these primary grades, the emphasis is on the first two, phonemic awareness and phonics.
These two skill sets are all about learning sounds, associating these sounds to letters, blending these letters and sounds together to decode words, and all the rules that go along with that enormous task of developing early reading skills.
While phonics instruction is still a common denominator in third grade, it is no longer a main focus like it was in the primary grades. I often tell parents that second grade is the last stop on the phonics highway in terms of explicit instruction.
In grade three, expectations increase significantly in many areas.
Students go from the primary grades where they are learning how to read to grade three where they are now expected to take that foundation of decoding skills and letter/sound knowledge and apply that to texts to read for information or read to learn.
Teachers who are trained to identify the signs of dyslexia may notice early in the primary grades that a child is struggling. Often, especially if the teacher is not familiar with these indicators, it may just seem that the child's reading hasn't 'clicked' yet, or they need the gift of time to mature and cement these skills. In this primary setting, a dyslexic child is getting the instruction that is targeting their greatest area of weakness, phonemic awareness and phonics.
Even if they are struggling, they are still being exposed to the information they need and it is being reinforced daily. In this setting, a dyslexic child can cope and fly below the radar so to speak.
Texts in primary classrooms are decodable, predictable, repetitive, and offer a lot of picture support. Dyslexic students can use their above average strengths to look like readers with these texts even if they can only access a portion of the actual text.
A dyslexic child can often glean the gist of the story from the pictures and seemingly comprehend the text. They may identify some of the words from their memory and appear to be decoding the words in the book. These children can look like they are reading or only minimally struggling when in fact they may be merely coping and barely getting by.
These coping strategies no longer work in third grade because texts become longer, contain more multi-syllabic or hard to decode words, and books do not have nearly the same picture support that primary level texts do. This makes it harder for dyslexic students to fly below the radar and their difficulty accessing text or decoding becomes more apparent.
It is because of the context of expectations in third grade (as compared to the expectations in the primary grades when students are learning the ropes to decoding) that it can seem as if a child is suddenly a struggling reader when in fact, they may have always been a struggling reader – the signs just weren't as obvious.
If you are a parent or educator looking for more information on dyslexia, click here to read "5 Clues to Dyslexia." You can also join us for our FREE online training 7 Steps to Reading Intervention that Works by clicking >> here! <<


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Casting Quality
Casting quality mainly includes the appearance quality, the internal quality and the working quality.
Appearance quality refers to the surface roughness, surface defects, dimensional deviations, shape deviations and weight deviations.
Internal quality refers to the chemical composition, physical properties , mechanical properties,metallographic structures of castings and the holes, cracks, inclusions and segregation existing in the castings.
Working quality refers to the working durability of the castings under different conditions, including wear resistance and corrosion resistance. It has many properties, such as heat shock, fatigue, shock absorption, machinability and weldability.
The casting quality has great influence on the performance of mechanical products. For example, the wear resistance and dimensional stability of the machine tool castings directly affect the precision of the machine tool. The size of the impeller, the shell and the inner cavity of the hydraulic parts,the accuracy of the shape line and the surface roughness directly affect the working efficiency of the pump and the hydraulic system, the energy consumption and the development of the cavitation; the cylinder, cylinder head, cylinder sleeve, piston ring, exhaust pipe and other castings of the internal combustion engine strength and heat shock resistance directly affect the working life of the engine.

subset: commoncrawl


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Dolce & Gabbana SS 2008 Parachute Shirt 40
Dolce & Gabbana SS 2008 Parachute Shirt 40
A highly detailed button up shirt from Dolce & Gabbana's SS 2008 collection. The parachute shirt features a series of pockets with velcro closures and zippers at the chest and shoulders.
This piece is in like new condition aside from some light discoloration under the arms - a flaw that is extremely common in this model of shirt. can be removed by a professional.
Marked size 39. please see measurements for exact fit.
Measurements taken flat.
Shoulder to Shoulder: 17 inches
Pit to Pit: 20 inches
sold out


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Helium launches $51M-funded 'LongFi' IoT different to mobile
With 200X the vary of Wi-Fi at 1/1000th of the price of a mobile modem, Helium's "LongFi" wi-fi community debuts immediately. Its transmitters may also help monitor stolen scooters, discover lacking canines by way of IoT collars and gather knowledge from infrastructure sensors. The catch is that Helium's tiny, extraordinarily low-power, low-data transmission chips depend on connecting to P2P Helium Hotspots folks can now purchase for $495. Working these hotspots earns house owners a cryptocurrency token Helium guarantees can be useful sooner or later…
The potential of a brand new wi-fi normal has allowed Helium to boost $51 million over the previous few years from GV, Khosla Ventures and Marc Benioff, together with a brand new $15 million Sequence C spherical co-led by Union Sq. Ventures and Multicoin Capital. That's partly as a result of one in every of Helium's co-founders is Napster inventor Shawn Fanning. Buyers are betting that he can change the tech world once more, this time with a wi-fi protocol that like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth earlier than it might unlock distinctive enterprise alternatives.
Helium already has some massive companions lined up, together with Lime, which can take a look at it for monitoring its misplaced and stolen scooters and bikes once they're introduced indoors, obscuring different connectivity, or their battery is pulled, out deactivating GPS. "It's an extremely low-cost model of a LoJack" Helium CEO Amir Haleem says.
InvisiLeash will companion with it to construct extra trackable pet collars. Agulus will pull knowledge from irrigation valves and pumps for its agriculture tech enterprise. Nestle will monitor when it's time to refill water in its ReadyRefresh coolers at workplaces, and Keep Alfred will use it to trace occupancy standing and air high quality in buildings. Haleem additionally imagines the tech being helpful for monitoring wildfires or radiation.
Haleem met Fanning taking part in video video games within the 2000s. They teamed up with Fanning and Sproutling child monitor (bought to Mattel) founder Chris Bruce in 2013 to start out work on Helium. They foresaw a model of Tile's trackers that would operate anyplace whereas changing costly cell connections for gadgets that don't want excessive bandwith. Helium's 5 kilobit per second connections will compete with SigFox, one other lower-power IoT protocol, although Haleem claims its extra centralized infrastructure prices are prohibitive. It's additionally dealing with off in opposition to Nodle, which piggybacks on gadgets' Bluetooth hardware. Fortunate for Helium, on-demand rental bikes and scooters which are good for its community have reached mainstream recognition simply as Helium launches six years after its begin.
Helium says it already pre-sold 80% of its Helium Hotspots for its first market in Austin, Texas. Folks join them to their Wi-Fi and put it of their window so the gadgets can pull in knowledge from Helium's IoT sensors over its open-source LongFi protocol. The hotspots then encrypt and ship the information to the corporate's cloud that shoppers can plug into to trace and gather information from their gadgets. The Helium Hotspots solely require as a lot power as a 12-watt LED mild bulb to run, however that $495 price ticket is steep. The shortage of a concrete return on funding might deter later adopters from shopping for the costly system.
Solely 150-200 hotspots are essential to blanket a metropolis in connectivity, Haleem tells me. However as a result of they have to be distributed throughout the panorama, so a consumer can't simply fill their warehouse with the hotspots, and the upfront value is pricey for people, Helium may want to enroll some retail chains as companions for deployment. As Haleem admits, "The arduous half is the training." Making hotspot consumers perceive the potential (and dangers) whereas demonstrating the alternatives for shoppers would require a ton of outreach and slick advertising.
With out sufficient Helium Hotspots, the Helium community received't operate. Meaning this startup must concurrently win at telecom expertise, enterprise gross sales and cryptocurrency for the community to pan out. As if a kind of wasn't arduous sufficient.


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The 1 secret to winning Holdem is to continually learn new and also No Limit Holdem Poker tips. That's why […]Read more
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Budget travel in Cyprus is nearly impossible. It's not that the country is particularly expensive; it's more than the Balkans but cheaper than the Nordic countries. No, Cyprus just makes it really difficult to enjoy the country if you're not rich and looking for a luxury vacation.
Getting to Cyprus, since it's an island in the Mediterranean, is mainly by plane. While my blog post on finding cheap flights will give you some great tips, there's one more which is invaluable for finding the cheapest flight to Cyprus. Use Skyscanner, and search for round trip flights from Cyprus to everywhere, and then find the location closest to you. When you reverse the route from that airport to Cyprus, the price should be about the same. For instance, I found round-trip tickets from Cluj to Larnaca for about $45 (€40), and was able to get a ride from Bucharest to Cluj for $17 (€15) with Blablacar, saving over $100 (€90) from what the flight would have cost from Bucharest direct.
Once you get to the island, you might want to rent a car to truly be able to explore some of the best places. But if the minimum $20 a day for a car rental is not in your budget, don't fret. The intercity buses are quite cheap. Round-trip tickets are mostly $8 (€7). You'll probably need one for Larnaca – Limassol and another for Limassol – Paphos. The cities themselves are mostly walkable, as long as you get accommodations not too far outside of town. Having said that, I did walk a whopping 50 miles within in 5 days on Cyprus! Hopefully you can find some locals, couchsurfing hosts or other travelers to team up with. Unfortunately, hitchhiking has proven to be more difficult for me, but perhaps you'll have better luck.
There is a local bus system on the island, but the locals say it's horrible. It doesn't show up on Google maps, and you have to pay to download their map. The have a website which you can use, but navigating it can be difficult. While it's in English, you still need to know some Greek to find the locations. However, if you do work it out, bus rides are only $1.65 (€1.50) per ride. A central hub for the buses in both Larnaca and Limassol is Old Hospital bus stop. Yep, same name, two cities.
The timetable for the buses can be found on their website. One thing to know is that they don't really follow the timetable, and they all stop around 6-7 PM. Also, there are far fewer buses on the weekend, especially Sunday.
First of all, the Cypriot government ordered all hostels shut down in Cyprus back around 2014. Most of the cities – Larnaca, Nicosia and Paphos – complied with that order, but you can still find three available in Limassol. Ironically, they're all within a couple minutes of each other, just down the street from the inter-city bus stop. Unfortunately, they cost about $17 (€15) a night. there are few cities in Europe where you can't find hostels cheaper than that.
I stayed at Lima Sol Accommodations House and Trip Yard Hostel. Lima Sol was nothing to write home about. Trip yard was fantastic. But there's a secret I probably shouldn't be telling you. Trip Yard is listed on Couchsurfing, and you can get your first night there for free if you are in a pinch. It's not in the dorms, but rather outside in a tent or hammock. Of course, in the summer heat, the tent was actually the most comfortable place for me personally in my week on Cyprus.
Speaking of couchsurfing, that's obviously the best way to explore Cyprus on a budget. But Cyprus is also the first place I ran into trouble with Couchsurfing, other than just not being able to find a host. You can read about my whole adventure with Couchsurfing in Cyprus.
If you're not traveling solo, I'd definitely recommend getting an Airbnb. There are some fantastic ones on the island, and they come out to less than individual beds in the hostels. Click on this link to get a $38 credit to your next Airbnb reservation.
The food in Cyprus is the one department where you won't have to watch your budget…too much. While there will always be the fancy, five-star restaurants to blow your budget at, Cyprus offers a wide range of alternatives. There are bakeries offering sandwiches and salads, kebabs with gyros and doner, street food trucks selling cheap hamburgers and hot dogs, and supermarkets where you can get all kinds of meals, or food to cook at home. Getting a meal for $4 (€3.50) is not hard, and a large bottle of water costs about $0.75 (€0.60).
Usually I'd say to avoid the touristy spots of town, like the harbors, city centers and old towns, but this isn't necessary on Cyprus. While these all have their fancy restaurants, some of the cheaper ones listed above can also be found intermingled. Just take your time and you're sure to find something in your budget.
At least you can get an all-you-can-stack ice cream cone at E. Pygra at the Old Harbor for a meager. $1.65 (€1.50).
Nearly all the historic and archaeological sites, such as castles and excavations, I found were $2.80 (€2.50) for entry. Unfortunately, not all of them were worth it. If you're interested in these locations, they are all worth a visit for that price. But if you've been around the world as much as I have, there's not really anything special at most of them. The Kition Ruins in Larnaca were small with faded information panels and a casual walk-through doesn't take more than a couple minutes.
The Tomb of the Kings in Pathos is another matter entirely. While there are a lot of negative reviews for the place, and many of the people leaving while I was there said it wasn't worth it, I found it highly interesting. Technically, there were no kings buried here, but rather high-ranking officials. But the ruins are extensive, and really take at least an hour or two to explore. Just make sure you avoid mid-day in the summer months, and bring lots of water for you. There isn't a lot of shade except in the underground tombs, and those are even hotter.
There are also plenty of free attractions on the island. I didn't make it to many, but the Larnaca Salt Lake was stunning, and I also enjoyed a hike to the Caledonian Waterfall with my couchsurfing host. If you get a chance, try to make it for sunset at the salt lake. You might even get to see the flamingos there, depending on what time of the year you arrive.
Some of the better attractions on the island, such as the Blue Lagoon, Aphrodite's Rock and the Troodos mountains are only accessible with your own transportation. See the above section on that for suggestions on how to get there.
Aside from your flights, I would recommend budgeting $15 a day on Cyprus, plus accommodations. If you can get a couchsurfing host, then it will be that $15 or less. If you have to pay for a hostel or Airbnb, expect your expenses to double ($30 a day). Obviously, you'll have to do the usual things to stick to that budget, including skipping the fancy dinners, expensive tours, cocktails and hotels. But if you're a budget traveler reading this, you should already know all those things.
Sure, there are other places in Europe you can visit for far less than that a day, but I would personally recommend a visit to Cyprus at least once in your travels. I personally have completely fallen in love with the country, except for the unbearable heat. I'm looking forward to coming back someday, preferably in the spring or autumn. Will I see you there?
Planning to visit Cyprus?
Here's some extra reading to save hundreds on your next vacation or stage of your journey.
5 Steps to Book Cheap Flights
Hostels: To Book or Not to Book
Is Workaway Worth it for the Traveler?


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The Farmers Club 1842-2017 uses original research and abridges three previous histories to provide a delightful insight into a truly unique organisation. Through its pages readers discover the Club's rich history, its profound impact on the farming industry, and the emergence of a fine fellowship with its heart in the countryside and a Club in central London.
Beautifully produced, with a dark blue hardcover and gold embossing beneath a bright dust-jacket, the easy-reading text is supported by historic portraits, and a wonderful colour section showcasing the current Club and its many activities.
Tracing the whole 175 years from its very first beginnings in 1842 to the 175th Anniversary Celebrations in December last year, The Farmers Club 1842-2017 skilfully captures the essence of all the Club stands for.
This important book appraises the pivotal role played by the Club in British farming – from 1842 to 2017 – a time when horses gave way to machines, self-sufficiency succumbed to world trade, technology drove intensification, and domestic policy gave way to Brussels bureaucracy. Previous texts have been abridged, new material included, and recent years added in detail, bringing to life a unique organisation that has created friendships, memories and business progress in a way other industries can only dream of!
The editor, Charles Abel, spent 23 years at Farmers Weekly, where he became Group Head of Content, before creating his own media business abelcomms, through which he now edits the Farmers Club Journal. Creating The Farmers Club – 1842-2017 involved much original research, as well as amalgamating and abridging three previous histories of the Club – Kevin FitzGerald's Ahead of Their Time (1842-1968), Peter Bell's Adapting to Change (1968-1988) and Don Gomery's The Farmers Club at 2000 (1988-2000). The new book is a fine testament to the dedication of those authors in the years gone by.
Ideal as a Christmas present – this wonderful new history of The Farmers Club can be bought at Club Reception or ordered via the Club website.
Click here to download the Order Form.


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1 2 3 4 5 6
Age: 30
Summary: Kaia is tough and sarcastic. A quick wit. She'll poke fun at her current situation but can easily deal with the issues at hand due to her intelligence and military background. Has a tendency to drink herself into a stupor in an attempt to drown out her past. She can be brash at times which typically leads to more sticky situations that could have easily been avoided.
Age: 22
Summary: Aleese is a caring and intelligent woman. She has high hopes for her world but is naïve due to her youth and privileged upbringing. She is quick to trust which makes her seem gullible at times; but she is always trying to see the good in others. Until Kaia.
Summary: The Miras 9 began its life as a cargo delivery ship. The entire front half of the ship was once used to haul cargo to and from different cities, coutries, and planets. When the company that made the ships went out of business most of the cargo ships were designated as space junk. The Miras 9 is the only cargo ship left of its kind and currently serves as a personnel transport. It also doubles as Kaia's mobile space home.
Age: 27
Summary: Marcella is powerful and career driven. She strives to succeed. Like Kaia she is tough and intelligent but is lacking quick wit (aka street smarts). Like Aleese, she is committed to the people of Andersia, but only as her duty to serve demands. She has trouble finding fault in her leaders.
Age: 32
Summary: Raithe is a force to be reckoned with. A solider for the House of Fenix who excels at all things combat. Though he is smart, he tends to become bull headed especially during intense situations like combat. He can be as stubborn as a mule, especially when something challenges his personal moral code.
Age: 52
Summary: Grundo is a mechanic and cargo pilot. Angry at his old employer and society for their arbitrary rules and cultural standards. Having never felt accepted for who he was, Grundo moonlights as a drag queen when not delivering cargo.


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Personal Banking
Small Business Banking
Commercial Banking
Private Client Group
Personal Financial Services
For the quickest answer, search previously asked questions below. Chances are, others have asked a similar question and there's already an answer waiting for you. If you can't find a match, ask a new question and our team members will answer.
I have cancelled my debit card and would like to get a new one but I'll be at work until 8pm and would like to know if I can send in my cousin to get my replacement card.Thank you
Farida, East Orange
October 30, 2017 03:46:30 PM
1 person recommended this |
1 Response
In reply to Farida, East Orange
Hi Farida! Welcome to TD Helps.
While we know it would be convenient for your cousin to pick up your debit card for you, for security reasons, we cannot offer this option. Debit cards can only be picked up by the person to whom it's being issued.
We understand that our Customers have commitments such as work that could prevent them from visiting before we close for the day. For this reason, we try to be available early, offer later hours and even weekend hours. While we won't be open late tonight in East Orange, we will re-open at 8:30AM tomorrow, if you're able to visit us then. We'd be glad to print out a new debit card for you on the spot! You can review the contact info and hours for this Store here: https://go.td.com/2yhsiQv.
Please know that if you're unable to stop in to see us, we can also have a replacement debit card mailed to you. Just give us a call 24/7 at 888-751-9000. You can also send us your request by secure message through your online or mobile banking. To send a secure message, log into your TD Bank online profile by clicking here: https://go.td.com/1eaISlq. Once you've successfully logged in, look for the 'Message Center' on the left hand side and select 'Send a secure message'. From your Mobile Banking, log in and select 'Send a Secure Message' from the side Menu. We can generally respond within 24 hours or less.
We hope this helps, Farida. If you have any additional questions, please don't hestitate to reach out to us here or through one of the methods above.
We hope you have a smooth day at work, Farida!
Candice A, Mount Laurel
October 30, 2017 03:46:58 PM


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When your life is in danger, and you are in need of help, you wait to be rescued. In being rescued others may end up putting their own lives at risk to save you.
Someone has already given their life for us, just so we could live freely, and be forgiven of our sins – Jesus died for our sins, what greater rescue has there ever been then Jesus rescuing us!


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beauty in - awkward?
It never ceases to surprise me the plague that seems to follow everywhere I go. I have been through some of the most awkward and embarrassing moments that really sound more out of a far-fetched comedy flick, than real life.
But that is totally me.
Writers for comedies should just follow my life.
In the beginning, I felt terrible every time it happened. I would think, what is wrong with me? Why do clumsy, weird, funny things happen to me?
I would trip while running up the stairs and get angry at anyone who laughed. In fact, my entire family roared in laughter when I told them I was practicing yoga. I would always forget names and important facts about people who were not used to being forgotten... and I am a blusher, meaning I give away what I feel and think the moment you look at me. A poker face I do not possess!
One, truly mortifying moment that has happened to me, stuck with me...
I was having breakfast with my good friend Chan, at my college diner. We would get together quite frequently as we were in the same calculus 3 class and although I was studying electrical engineering and he was studying math, we were often together in a few classes.
As we got up to leave, another friend I knew, but not that well, and whom Chan did not know, approached us.
And thus, I found myself in the confounded triage of death for those with terrible memory for names. I tried to think of what to do - ask him for his number and how to spell his name? Might just work! Of course, it would look like I was flirting, but anything is better than admitting I had forgotten his name!
I say, "Hi! So I noticed I never got your phone number so we could study (really? study?) together sometime! Ok, so just tell me how to spell your name..."
He gives me this weird look and says, "J-O-H-N"...
Me: "...hehe (nervous giggle) well, you know it could have been J-O-N!"
(I want to leave so very badly... )
So then I turn towards Chan and say to John, "John, this is Chan, and Chan, this is John"
Smile! We did it! Barely!
Chan looked at me, confused, and almost incredulously said, "My name isn't Chan."
True story. Completely true. Just ask everyone I know. I tell it all the time, like an old lady on broken record mode. Because it is surreal what that experience was like!
Obviously I was so embarrassed with those two friends, who, by the way, never ate breakfast with me again, but I was even more intrigued by how incredibly funny it was. And in finding the humor in this humiliating experience, I finally found freedom to accept who I was.
The ability to laugh at yourself is so rewarding! It frees you from the need to be perfect, and makes you real for others. I can never have those perfect Instagram accounts, because I am just way too awkward. I will spill that perfect cup of coffee on myself right as the professional photographer clicks. It would take a million tries. My Facebook lives are full of crazy faces because I can't seem to keep a calm face on and feel the need to express the words I am saying with an actual insane face.
Trust me, I still really try to remember people's names. I know how important this is! It's one of my biggest pet peeves about myself! I actually don't mind when people forget my name, and I won't even correct people when they say the wrong name, since I had gone through that same experience.
I once had a manager at my company (not direct manager) call me Inez for 10 years... and it wasn't out of fear of correcting someone. I could correct him on all kinds of technicalities, and even on the poster of women in his office and how it was offensive. I just didn't think it was worth the embarrassment of telling him my real name. I didn't care if he knew it. I even came to like the name... psychologists might have a field day with that one... but I already know the diagnosis. It's called fear of the Awk-Ward.
When it comes to people, I mostly remember their stories and how they look - and if they wore something interesting, what they wore. I just really struggle with names. But I also try to be chill. I warn people I will probably ask them their name a year from now and that it's not because they aren't important or didn't make an impression - it's because my brain likes to put me in painfully uncomfortable situations, as if it were on purpose.
I am certain that when I become an old lady, people will interpret my odd behavior as senile. But you heard it here first: I was born with it.
Just the other day, as I struggled to keep my grocery bag from falling and balanced it on the back bumper of my SUV, I used my own back to keep it up against the car, while I chatted on the phone with my sister. I said I would just put away my groceries in the car then go meet her. Before I could even hang up, I accidentally pushed the button on my key chain to open the entire back door of the SUV, and it began to push me and my grocery bag out into a clumsy fall, because I refused to let go of my phone, or release my back from the grocery bag and the impending door that was forcing its way at me. My dumb-faced expression caught that of the many onlookers passing by, probably wondering what the heck is wrong with that woman. Meanwhile, somehow in some sort of self defense, I say out loud, "Don't know why I did that! Don't know why I did that! Hehe!" ...Awk-Ward!!
And this was just one of many many. Not even my worse.
Seriously - if you want a good laugh, just follow me. I won't do it on purpose. I really don't like the attention. I wish I could be all flawless and walk around like a model. It is especially when I try that, when I trip over a rock and come flying forward, bump into a poor kid who falls, while their mother gives me the evil eye.
So what's the beauty in this? It's in that I can laugh at myself because I'm rather good at making a fool of myself. I never mean to, which makes it all the more hilarious. And I have noticed in some cases, it has disarmed some people that might have otherwise never opened up. Because they see, heck, she's a mess - at least I'm not that bad! And if that's enough to make someone feel a bit better about themselves, so be it. I have a hardy laugh nowadays with my stories!
So next time you see a comical situation on a movie or TV and think, no way! That could never happen to anyone I know! Think again.
Because you now know me.


text: Minion Crunch Party Mix We have a fun and easy treat for Despicable Me fans! Are you throwing a Despicable Me Party? Check out this Minion Munch Party Mix! Have a Despicable Me movie night and enjoy this easy snack with the kids! Featured on Zulily's July 2015 Weekly Pinterest Roundup: Minion Edition! Love it? [Read more…]


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The Good Earth Food and Wine Co. has been a haven for discerning food and wine lovers and an oasis for the senses. Our gardens, orchards and vineyards provide a spectacular backdrop for wine and culinary experiences that reflect all the good things the earth has to offer.
Full Name
E-mail Address
# of Guests
Date (if unsure, enter your best guess)
Message (optional):
Are you a customer or vendor?


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The Word
It has come at last—salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth—the one who accuses them before our God day and night. And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. (Revelation 12:10, 11)
Satan is relentless in the pursuit of condemnation, faultfinding, and criticizing. We are opposed by the darkness to our final earth moment as the evil one attempts to prosecute us with our failures and deficiencies. He opposes any and all given to God.
We do not stand though, in our weaknesses and failures, but instead abide cloaked in Christ's triumph over all our sin. Though the accuser stands frothing venom, shouting outrages, demanding our doom and destruction, we will stand clothed in the righteousness of Christ, blameless before God because of the redeeming blood of Christ, which covers us from all sin and accusation.
Thank you, Redeemer God, for the forgiveness of my sin. For the triumph over my weaknesses and failures because of your great deeds. Amen.
"and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. "


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The Unique Sports Betting System Provided By Stakers
How Stakers Has Revolutionized The Online Betting Experience
There is no shortage of sportsbooks in Europe and the United Kingdom. Thus, there needs to be something unique about the one that is going to attract your attention. A company called Stakers should fit the mold. It cuts through the noise by providing an exorbitant amount of online betting options — more than 30,000 live events per month — and an extensive range of both pre-match and live betting options and markets. Ultimately, you need to have the knowledge and expertise to win. You should choose an operator based on its options.
In addition to the online betting options, you want to use an operator that makes it easy to access and manage. A pleasing, easy interface is a requirement in 2018, and Stakers gives you just that through its radically simplified, lightning-fast HTML5 interface that was designed with attention to every detail to deliver an exclusive sports betting experience that allows you to bet on sports while remaining engaged in the game being played. Not only does the interface make it simple to bet and understand your wagers, it also provides a comprehensive coverage of the statistics involved in the match-play. While Stakers can't make the bets for you, the site gives you all the tools you need to be at the top of your game.
The aforesaid infrastructure is built on top of the cloud, which allows Stakers to essentially support an infinite number of events, trading options and online players. Furthermore, Stakers is able to guarantee no-lag game play in coordination with its sports betting system, which means that there are no breaks and that you can get action in 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and on every bet of your liking.
Certified, secure and fair sports betting environment
Financial Security Standards & Responsible Gaming
Integrity and fairness are not only important, but required in today's day-and-age. Stakers proclaims that it is committed to ensuring that no integrity or fairness is forfeited in its system, and it claims to be dedicated to complying with all regulatory requirements within the jurisdictions where it operates. Stakers says that it has official certifications from the Malta Gaming Authority, Accreda, iTechlabs, Blackfoot and a number of other authorities and regulatory bureaus, and is focused on responsible gaming and providing fair play with a reasonable chance of winning in a safe, secure online sports betting environment.
There is no denying the prevalence of gambling and how it consistently enhances one's interest in any particular game, even when there is no affiliation whatsoever to the teams playing. Online betting on sports has become not only a cause for enjoying an otherwise meaningless game, but also a common topic of conversation among friends. However, Stakers is cognizant of the problems that can result from problem gambling and it stipulates that one of its most important goals is to offer a place for gaming and betting that is as safe as it is entertaining. As such, it has developed best industry practices to curb problem gambling as best as it possibly can, including mechanisms to curb underage gambling and doing whatever it may to provide a secure sports betting environment to its customers.
Sports betting should be a form of entertainment, and entertainment only. Stakers says it doesn't expect nor want people to use its services as a form of guaranteed income and that all players should know that they are taking a risk with their money whenever they participate in any form of sports betting. It is vital that consumers understand that they are just as likely to lose as win in any given event.
As such, Stakers always seeks to reiterate that the urge to gamble should be set aside unless discretionary monies are being used to wager. Compulsive gambling is a serious issue and no one wants to see people spending money without a realization of the risks involved. As such, Stalkers says it has put in place assistance procedures that allow players to place limits and lock accounts entirely to regulate gambling activity on its site.
Stakers' institutes payment processing for bettors in Europe
Stakers wants you to deposit and withdraw your funds with confidence
A concern with online sports betting operators is the ability to withdraw monies with speed and efficiency. Stakers wants its customers to feel confident that they will be able to collect their winnings with ease and that it should not be a concern when they place their wagers at the website. It says that it has effectively integrated all major credit card processors, instant banking, e-wallets and aggregators into a single wallet system for placing a bet, and that their customers can currently use payment options such as Skrill, Neteller, Visa, Mastercard, Trustly, Paysafecard and Sofort.
Virtual Sports Betting on Stakers
Stakers wants you to experience the fun and thrill of betting on virtual sports
In addition to traditional sports betting offerings, Stakers also has an extensive collection of virtual sports games that use CGI technology and a proprietary physics engine to provide detailed, fast-paced and high-definition sports betting action. The content covers over 17 sports such as motor racing, badminton, cycling, archery and table tennis. And as always, it is offered 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.
Some of the sports betting industry's top experts helped put together a cryptographically secure random number generator that uses RSA hash keys to support random outcomes during the gameplay.
Intricate math models are used so that Stakers is able to conform to high standards, as Stakers wishes to ensure that there is trust between it and its users who are using the innovative virtual sports to engage in a newer type of sports betting experience.
Stakers offers a sportsbook with a mobile-first mindset
A fully responsive and mobile-friendly sports betting website is provided
It's no longer acceptable to simply have a workable online betting website. Based on that premise, Stakers set out to create a mobile sportsbook that has all of the features and statistical data you crave and deserve, as well as the most competitive pre-match and live betting odds, all available when you are on the go, which lets you stay on top of all the late-breaking sporting action in real-time, right from your mobile device.
Sports betting needs to be provided in a seamless web app, which is why Stakers dedicated the resources to making it happen. You don't want to miss a goal when you're on the move, and Stakers wants to make sure you are never worried about missing out on the action.
The platform is built on an HTML5 client that is optimized to operate with high latency and resumes play in moments in case of network collisions, connecting to hyper-speed secure channels operated by Stakers and broadcasting a complete state of the match with every action lined. Again, Stakers has a cloud-based system that allows for distribution of traffic loads without errors so that your sports betting action is uninterrupted.
Stakers originally launched its mobile app to supplement its desktop website, but now the company is truly going mobile-first and the customers tend to prefer logging on through their mobile devices to access everything that Stakers has to offer.
You should take advantage of unbounded sports betting promotions
Marketing and promotions campaigns make being a part of Stakers even more enjoyable.
Promotional campaigns can make involvement much more enticing. Stakers is cognizant of that fact and is willing to give a little bit away in order to build a trusted and passionate community. Think massive bonuses and incentives. That's what Stakers wants to give its customers to show a level of appreciation and have them coming back for more personalized sports betting experiences that look and feel better than what any other competitor may claim to be able to offer.
Book a Bet
Start taking advantage of your first Stakers bonus before you've laid out a penny. With Book a Bet, even before you've registered with Stakers, go ahead and choose a line to wager. Stakers will reserve that bet, at those odds, for 4 hours – and give you a 100% sports betting bonus up to €50 on your first booked bet. That means if you place a €50 stake on the big game, Stakers will match it, giving you a total of €100 on that line. And Book a Bet is in addition to Stakers' Welcome Bonus, giving you plenty to play with for your first time at Stakers.
The team at Stakers is wild about sports, and they want to make sports fans feel welcome from the moment they sign up. As soon as you join Stakers and make your first deposit, you will become immediately eligible for Stakers' Welcome Bonus – where Stakers match 50% of your first deposit up to €100 EUR. Then, when you place your first bets, half of each wager will come out of the funds you deposited, and half will come out of your free funds. It's Stakers' way of basically thanking you for becoming a part of the community.
With the Stakers Tennis Bonus, you can earn up to 50% on your tennis wagers with Twofold+ Multiples. Combined bets on Pre-Match events are eligible, including both Single and Double Matches in ATP, WTA, Davis Cup, Grand Slam and Challenger Tour events. Your sports betting bonus amount depends on the amount of picks in the combined bet and your remaining active stake.
The Stakers Football Bonus lets you discover the hottest betting action on the world's most popular sport. All you have to do is choose 3 to 14 combined bets on Threefold+ Multiples for European domestic football league matches, and Stakers will add a sports betting bonus amount to your bet slip. The result is bonus winnings for your active stake, leaving you ahead.
Enjoy your favorite sports and stay focused on the game with easy-to-use trading tools and boosters that are built right into your Stakers betting slip. If you find better odds on another website – or if you simply want to augment your bet – then Stakers has an incredible option that can put more money in your pocket on any pre-match market, on any sport, once a day. Simply go to your bet slip, choose to Boost Your Odds on a single pick of your choice on Single/Parlay/System/If-Bets, and Stakers will increase the sports betting odds for you.
Being a sports fan is undoubtedly exciting. Whether you think you have an edge or not, you truly never know how a game may twist and turn, and the outcome is never fully predictable. As you know, when you are betting on sports, the suspense can quickly turn to misery if your team isn't playing how you are used to seeing them perform, and it may give you buyer's remorse -- wishing that you had cut your losses while you were either even or ahead.
Lucky for you, Stakers has a Cashout feature that puts you in control of your online betting action. This way, you are better able to minimize a loss on your favorite bets, whether it be before kick-off or even during a match.
If a game appears to be heading in the wrong direction and you want to end the pain early, then hit the Cashout button on your bet slip and, depending on at what point in the match you decide to stop the bleeding, you will receive a certain portion of your stake without any questions asked. Stakers even provides a mechanism whereby you are able to partially Cashout, leaving some money on your bet slip in case the game turns.
The Cashout option is good for all bets on active markets, including Football, Tennis, Basketball and many other sport events, fixtures and pre-match as well as in-play markets. Even short-duration sports betting events like horse racing are eligible for your Cashout.
Analytics for faster, smarter sports betting decisions
Stakers wants to give you better odds.
Stakers is offering its players a type of trader level, real-time analytics with a 360-degree view on the entire match flow before kick-off, during the game, and after the match. Stakers' comprehensive dashboards feature key performance indicators for every game, tournament and league, with a drill-down to period-specific breakdowns, and its extensive gameplay reporting suite unlocks betting insights into every match, team and player movement.
Bet online with the widest array of sports betting markets
Discover the world of sports betting, from time-tested favorites like football, basketball and tennis to the intensity and suspense of Pesäpallo and Surfing odds. By offering a full array of events, Stakers brings your betting experience to the next level, even entertaining you with the occasional odds on local and global political elections and cultural events.
Comprising more than 90% of sports bets in Europe and Asia, football is the most popular sport in the world, and Stakers rises to the challenge of running lines for football fans just like you. You will find the sharpest, most competitive football betting odds in the market on Stakers' website – from the English Premier League to Serie A, Bundesliga and La Liga, Stakers has you covered. Stakers also seeks to make international events more enjoyable for customers, including Champions League and Europa League, providing, as always, pre-match and live sports betting odds.
Not only can you bet on the outcome of games at Stakers, but you can also bet on halves or even make prop bets like how many assists, shots on goal, passes and tackles a particular player will have in a given match. Design a 3-way outcome of your favorite match to push the limit, explore the complexities of Asian Handicap betting, or focus on an individual player's performance. Make any bet and keep track of your outcomes quickly and easily. No matter what your online betting strategy, Stakers offers you full support, real-time updates, and features to bring the excitement of sports wagering alive for you.
Develop your own sports betting strategy to follow with the greatest selection of bet types
Stakers offers you a huge selection of performance-related bets on nearly every sport in the world, from Premier League, Serie A, UEFA, Champions League, World Cup, NFL and NBA to a live in-play for 4th Division of Norway. Its promise is to keep the betting odds always on with Handicap, Match Goals, Full Result and Double Chance on all events until the kickoff time, and Stakers' stays competitive with 250+ sports betting markets for the world's biggest sporting action, including more exotic betting options such as Number of Bookings, Incident First, or Win to Nil, both pre-match and live-in-play.
Combine more than two events with a Parlay bet and discover your new odds – then, the latest bet bonus, increase your winnings greatly. While you test your strategies, your betting slip will keep track of both pre-match and live betting odds and let you know in advance exactly how much you could win on a given bet. And you can also check on changing odds, and change your wager with just a few clicks with a cashout feature.
Place your bet as far in advance of a game as you'd like, or while the match is happening. Designed from a truly academic approach, Stakers' trading system takes advantage of in-house developed algorithms. You will get the most accurate and competitive online betting odds available in the industry. Stakers' bets are settled instantly, and it claims to have security protocols and internal controls that meet or exceed industry standards, ensuring safety of every single transaction.
The most comprehensive approach to live sports betting offering
Stakers' live betting takes the sportsbook experience to a new level thanks to its scientific approach to data accuracy, with advanced pro-level mathematical models and market movements that are monitored by its experienced in-house traders. All of its live features are organized and highlighted to let you make quick, smart sports betting decisions.
With Stakers' match timeline feature, you can follow along with live in-play goals, shots off target, throw-ins, cards and substitutions in real time. Enjoy unlimited access to comprehensive multi-match monitoring, live stats, and more when you track your favorite matches.
Stakers' flexible, customizable widgets allow you to create your own events dashboard showing your event statistics, pre-match and live sports betting odds, results and highlights that are 100% accurate and updated in real time. Choose all or some of these widgets and follow your events for an exclusive experience that's like no other.
The accurate results and statistics for the biggest array of sports betting events
Stakers brings you the scores, statistics, and player performance data of the world's major sports, matches and tournaments as well as the local sporting events, available instantly as soon as the official results are announced. Furthermore, thanks to the Stakers intuitive interface, with just a glance you'll be able to look up the stats on past, ongoing, and future matches and get real-time sports betting event information at hundreds of matches worldwide, around the clock.
The top place to find the most exclusive pool betting options
Stakers is proud to offer pool betting, the most popular form of sports betting action across the world. Its customers enjoy Stakers pools for Football and Tennis, and wagers include 1X2 and Correct Score. Even if you have little wagering experience, betting pools is a fun, exciting welcome to the world of sports betting thanks to a next-to-nothing entrance fee and life-changing winning amounts.
Pool betting is a skill-based experience that lets everyone feel like a winner, right away. Unlike the regular lottery, where numbers are random delivered with so little fanfare that many forget to check their tickets till days later, a pool bet lets fans have a shared sports betting experience that's thrilling and immediate. Place your bet with the best intelligence and full control, dig deeper to discover the inside scoop on your bet, and claim your reward quickly and easily within minutes of the final buzzer.
Sports Betting Customer Support"Stakers is all about the people."
Customer service is a priority for Stakers, which is why they have invested in the best technical and customer support team in the industry. Our three-tiered support stands ready to help you with your sports betting needs and questions, 24/7.
- Telephone Support 24/7:+356 3550 0220
- Email Support:email@example.com
- Fax Support:+356 3550 0220
- Live Chat:24/7
- Written Correspondence:527 St. Paul's Street, St. Paul's Bay SPB3418, Malta


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2CommentsJoined November 28th, 2015
- SimtechBen commented on snikogos's instructable LED NeoPixel Motion Sensor Stair Lighting2 years agoView Instructable »
Big clive has a video to show how to add the LDR to the PIR module so that you don't have to use a pin on the arduino. And then it doesn't need to be in the code either.Do your PIR modules have this capability?
- SimtechBen commented on drips's instructable Geometric Cut Paper Table Lamp3 years ago


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Applications are being accepted for Huntley's Citizens Police Academy, a free, 10-week program designed to give residents a better understanding of the different areas of law enforcement.
The department holds one session a year and is limited to 20 students.
Classes will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays from March 6 to May 22 at the Huntley Police Department, 10911 Main St.
The course is open to anyone age 18 or older who lives or works in Huntley. All applicants will be subject to a background check and will be informed in writing as to whether they have been accepted, rejected or put on a waiting list for a future class.
Because there is limited space, applicants must agree to attend at least eight of the 10 scheduled sessions.
Topics will include patrol, telecommunications, traffic law, criminal law, use of force, evidence, juveniles, investigations, gang awareness, problem-solving and crime prevention. The program will allow participants to gain a working knowledge of the duties and responsibilities required to be a law enforcement officer.
The objective is not to train an individual to become a reserve police officer but to produce informed citizens.
Graduates of the program are encouraged to join the Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association, which offers the opportunity for continued education in the field of law enforcement and a more interactive association with the police department, according to the village's website.
The application deadline is Feb. 15, unless the class is filled before then.
As part of the application process, applicants must authorize the police department to conduct a criminal history background investigation. Applicants with felonies, certain misdemeanor or traffic offenses or those arrested by Huntley police are not eligible to participate.
Applications are available on the village of Huntley's website. Signed and completed forms should be sent to officer Megan Racila at email@example.com or dropped off at the police department. For information, call Racila at 847-515-5411.


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The joys of the holiday season are quickly approaching, so it's important for exempt, salaried employees to understand whether their employers are complying with California federal holiday pay laws.
California Sb 1241: California-based Employees Can Keep Employment Disputes In California
Recently, California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law Senate Bill 1241. The new law, which will take effect on January 1, 2017, adds Section 925 to the Labor Code and intends to ensure that employees who primarily live and work in California have the benefit of a local forum and employee protections of California law during employment disputes. The new law voids forum selection and choice of law clauses in employment agreements.
Can A California Employer Check A Job Applicant's Credit During A Pre-employment Background Check?
When you are applying for a job, it goes without saying that a potential employer will likely conduct a pre-employment background check before making a hiring decision. But when an employer asks you to submit information for a consumer credit check during the pre-employment process, it might strike fear in your heart. Perhaps you have been unemployed for a while and your credit has suffered. Or perhaps you made some bad money decisions in the past that have negatively impacted your credit score. If your potential employer uses your credit rating as a factor in hiring, it could cause even more financial problems for you if you are not hired due to your credit.
10 Common Signs Of A Hostile Work Environment - Infographic
Hostile working conditions can result in a workplace harassment claim against an employer if the negative conduct is motivated by an employee's protected characteristics as defined under employment laws including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), among others.
Google Suffers Big Blow In Ongoing Age Discrimination Lawsuit
U.S. District Judge Beth Freeman recently refused to dismiss a class-action age discrimination lawsuit against Google, giving the plaintiff a chance to prove her claims and expand the list of people eligible for compensation if she wins.
Former Employee Sues Home Depot For Disability Discrimination In California
Home Depot is in hot water due to a recent workplace discrimination suit brought against the company by a former employee who worked as a merchandiser. The home improvement store has been sued for disability discrimination, wrongful termination, and employer retaliation.
Can I Sue My Employer For Defamation Of Character In California?
It is never pleasant when someone makes a statement about you that is not true. It can harm your reputation, cause others to treat you differently and it can affect your self-esteem. Sometimes false statements can be minor, but other false statements about you could have a significant impact on your life. This is particularly true when your employer is making them, which could rise to the level of defamation.
What Rights Do Transgender Employees Have In The California Workplace?
Transgender issues have taken the country by storm this year. Individual states have vastly different positions on transgender issues, including the rights that transgender employees have in the workplace.
California Restaurants Launch First Transgender Jobs Program
Transgender people face some big challenges when it comes to harassment and discrimination on both personal and professional levels. And the negative impact stemming from violence and prejudiced actions on these individuals can have damaging, life-long effects.
California Assembly Bill 1843 Prohibits Employers From Using Juvenile Criminal History In Hiring Decisions
Recently, California Governor Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 1843 into law. The bill, which goes into effect on January 1, 2017, amends the California Labor Code to make it illegal for employers to use certain juvenile records in hiring decisions. But what does the new law entail, and how will it impact California employees?
Misclassification Of Employees In California: Common Questions
Did you know that your employer can save ample amounts of money simply by misclassifying workers as independent contractors? Despite the illegal nature that the act of purposefully misclassifying employees entails, many employers in California and across the nation still continue the unfair practice.


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It has been one hectic, non-stop Sunday. I didn't do any work at all today. At most, I wrote two sentences for my court assignment due Thursday, but I don't regret a single minute of today. It was just so much fun!
This morning, I went to the Met with Nat as per usual. It turns out the main pastor just found out he has cancer. We had a guest speaker who was talking about the sovereignty of God, as invited by our old pastor. For someone who has just received that kind of bad news, it's pretty powerful to see how at peace he was. His first words were still, "God is good." That's intense.
After church, I dropped by Loblaws to pick up a big box of double chocolate cookies for a Superbowl party tonight. It's supposed to be a chili competition, but I can't make chili, so I figured I'd bring the dessert.
By the time Nat and I got back to res, we had about 45 minutes to get ready for tea. At 12:15 p.m., the four of us (Kitty, Natalie, Lindsay and me) set off for the Fairmont Chateau Laurier downtown for high tea. It's kind of my belated birthday celebration since everyone was busy for the past two weekends.
It was so much fun! I'm a little too tired to go into detail, but each person gets to order a tea tower full of scones, finger sandwiches and pastries. We ended up getting two traditional teas and two Canadian teas so we could get the full Chateau Laurier experience. Everything was delicious! We were already having way too much fun sipping tea with extended pinkies and obnoxious British accents, but the food really did add to the whole experience. I can't remember the last time I heard so many queen jokes in the span of two or three hours.
Since I don't have time to upload pictures today, here's the menu to give a bit of an idea as to what we ate:
Traditional Tea Choice of Fairmont Tea
- Seasonal Fresh Fruit Cup
- Victorian and Cranberry Scones with Devonshire Cream and Strawberry Jam
- Dainty Finger Sandwiches
- English Cucumber and Watercress
- Smoked Turkey Salad
- Egg Salad
- Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese
- Afternoon Tea Cake
- Fruit Tartlet
Canadian High Tea Choice of Fairmont Tea
- Seasonal Fresh Fruit Cup
- Victorian and Cranberry Scones with Devonshire Cream and Strawberry Jam
- Deluxe Sandwiches
- Smoked Salmon Pinwheel
- Sandwich Mini Open-faced Alberta Beef Sandwich with Honey Mustard and Watercress Sprouts
- Cured Quebec Duck Breast with Cranberry-Apple Compote on Fresh Baguette
- Canadian Cheese Board
- Aged Balderson Cheddar
- Brie
- Classic Oka
- Maple Mousse
- Maple Tuile and Maple Sugar Tartlet
In case it's not obvious, we were extremely full by the end of all that, and rather giddy (thanks to being all hopped up on tea and sugar cubes). It was a great birthday celebration, with ample opportunity to showcase our elegance … or lack thereof.
Kitty and I headed back to school after tea (Nat and Lindsay went shopping). I had about 30 minutes before rushing out again. This time, I was on my way to Celebration! Church. After a bit of a shorter service, we went to our pastor's house for the Superbowl party.
The chili competition was a bit of a fail since there was only one contestant who made it in on time, but one of my friends brought in a chili for the party. Our pastor's wife made a lot of cornbread, and it turns out I wasn't the only one who brought dessert. There may not have been as much chili as expected, but I think everyone got plenty to eat.
I'm not a particularly big football fan, but my friends and I just picked a team to cheer for and we ended up winning (Go Green Bay! It's only like my favourite bay …). For the most part, I was just having a good time talking with friends and just enjoying the freedom of a "scheduled hang-out." It seems silly, but it actually makes me a feel much less guilty for skipping out on schoolwork to spend time with my friends if I actually plan it out in advance.
It felt like we spent a really long time watching the Superbowl, but we managed to get back by 11:15 p.m. I think it's safe to say I'm going to have to just forget about getting anything done tonight and just head to bed. I have such catching up to do tomorrow.


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Yaïr Stern (pronounced YAH-EER) was born on the beautiful green mount of Carmel, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. His being suggests jewelry: a tall and firm-minded person, yet very gentle and amiable man; just like jewelry: made of sturdy material yet fine and delicate. His name means 'shining star'; one would imagine that becoming a jeweler would be natural for one baring such a name, but Yaïr had other plans.
Yair became a mathematician and studied for a degree in mathematics in The Technion the prestigious technical school, overlooking the Haifa Bay. Between one Q.E.D. and another he made beautiful yet simple jewelry with basic tools. He sold his jewelry to earn a living. At the end of his studies he had a large collection and decided to sell it all so he can continue with a second degree.
But his customers returned for more and Yaïr had no choice and began teaching himself the complex, difficult and fascinating craft of a jeweler. His first love was silver; it was less conservative but the color, shade, shine, feel of the metal and the lack of pretentiousness appealed to him. He returns to his first love often, but in those 20 years - he has designed with all precious metals and gemstones.
Yaïr Stern owns an acclaimed gallery in Israel and sells to galleries & museum shops across the US, Canada, Australia and Israel. He creates your favourite jewelry in his studio in the Toronto area, Canada.


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Pure Cold Press
If you are into healthy living, juice and salads, look no further than Pure Cold Press! Located in Coolidge Corner, this spot is beautiful inside and definitely worth a visit. They press all their juices on site, take a look at the video to see behind the scenes! This video is to be displayed on a loop in the restaurant.


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Welcome to Fairfield Performing Arts!
The Fairfield Performing Arts Department provides a variety of music performing opportunities to almost 300 students in grades 7 – 12. Located just outside of Goshen, Indiana, Fairfield Community Schools serves the students in the communities of Benton, New Paris and Millersburg. Over the past 25 years, Fairfield music ensembles have consistently distinguished themselves at the state level, earning numerous state finalist distinctions. In addition, the Fairfield Performing Arts Department received the Total Department Award from the Indiana State School Music Association from 2013 – 2015 and the Choir Department Award every year since 2012.
Recent Music News
Fairfield Varsity Winter Guard is the State Champion of Divisional Regional A Class!!!
Fairfield Winter Percussion consecutively places in Top 3!!
Fairfield Varsity wins 3rd place at national WGI competition!
The Fairfield Varsity Guard traveled to Warren Central for the Regional Championships of the Winter Guard International circuit. There they advanced to the final round in their class and placed 3rd out of 7 finalists. They will travel to Carroll High School this Saturday, February 23rd, competing once again in the IHSCGA circuit.
Fairfield Varsity Continues Winning Streak!
Fairfield Varsity has now received a gold rating and taken 1st place at every competition so far in their 2019 season! At East Noble, at Westfield, and at Brownsburg, the varsity stood out among their competitors. Their show entitled "Dear Hate" has captured the judges and audience week after week! Be sure to see them at our Winter Showcase.
Fairfield Fusion wins @ Garrett!!
Fairfield Fusion traveled to the Garrett Railroader Rush competition Saturday, 2/2/19 and placed first in the Small Mixed Competition and 1st Runner-up overall! Congrats to the singers, pit musicians and crew for a job well done!
Upcoming Music Events
The Fairfield Show Choirs will perform at the Carroll Show Choir Invitational (Carroll High School, Ft. Wayne, IN) this coming Saturday, 2/9/19. Expressions performs at 10:15 AM and Fusion at 2:00 PM. Come support the choirs as they continue their competition season. An itinerary for all show choir members appears below.
Fairfield Music Department To Perform in Carnegie Hall!
The members of the Fairfield High School Choral program and the High School Wind Ensemble have been invited to perform at the New York Invitational Music Festival to be held at the world-renowned Carnegie Hall. Registration for this event is already underway. For those interested in travelling with us, please visit https://www.superholiday.com/ and register today! Fairfield choir students should use code FHSC4652619 and band students code FHSW4652619 to create their account.


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Women's Floral Bralette Surf Top
Hurley Quick Dry
The Hurley Quick Dry Surf Top is designed to give you support where you need it, and none where you don't. Featuring hybrid fabric with a fun print, this lightly compressive bralette delivers comfort and style in and out of the water.
- Colour Shown: Black
- Style: AV0798-010


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Famed theologian A.W. Tozer said, "What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us." Our theology matters. It determines how we relate to God, how we treat others, how we see church, even what our eternity will look like. Our beliefs matter. That's why we're kicking off a new series: I Believe: Exploring the Theology of the Apostle's Creed.
I have three goals for you with this series:
- I want to help you clarify your beliefs. Every person on earth has beliefs—about God, Jesus, sin, salvation. But not everyone knows what they believe. So, whether you're a Christian or not, do you know what you believe?
- I want to challenge some of your beliefs. It's easy to treat Christianity like Chinese buffet: I like God being loving but don't like hell. I like Jesus' miracles but not the virgin birth. Research by Barna in 2015 revealed that only 17% of Christians held what they called a biblical worldview. So, there's a good chance that you believe some stuff that's unbiblical.
- I want to check your definition of what it means to be Christian. The beliefs we are going to talk about in this series have defined "Christian" for more than 1500 years. They are the basics, bare minimum, the non-negotiables. So, if you don't agree with some of these, you might not actually be a Christian. You might think you are, but your beliefs say otherwise.
How does all that sound?
To do this, we're going to turn to one of the Church's oldest statements of belief. It's called the Apostle's Creed. Creeds were really important in the first 500 years of the Church. They helped summarize the Bible, defining & clarifying Christian belief. The Apostle's Creed was the very first formal creed. It dates back as early as 150 AD. And it's called Apostles Creed, not because apostles wrote it. They were all dead by this point. But because it accurately represents what apostles taught and wrote in Scripture.
The early Church used this creed used as:
- A teaching tool, like catechism or Sunday school curriculum
- A way to identify heresies and false teachers.
- It was even used as the first baptism test.
I want to start by reading the whole thing. If you know it and believe it, you can read it along. Or you can just listen.
I believe in God,
the Father Almighty
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ,
God's only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate
was crucified, died, and was buried;
On the third day, he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of Father
and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy universal Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
For next 9 weeks, we're going to talk about this. We'll break it down, by sections and phrases. If this sounds familiar, it's because we've been singing a song called "I Believe", which is based on Apostle's Creed.
So, this week, we're going to focus on the first section. It reads like this:
I believe in God…the Father Almighty…creator of heaven and earth.
Here are three big characteristics of God. Did you catch them? He is Father, he is Almighty, and he is Creator. Matt Chandler, pastor of The Village Church in Texas has a great way of summarizing this: God is immensely powerful and intimately personal. God is almighty and creator of everything, but he is also Father. God is immensely powerful and intimately personal.
There's a passage in Acts that perfectly captures these themes of God as Father, Almighty, and Creator. It's a speech that Paul gave to some very important people in Athens. He was on his second big missionary journey through what we would call Syria, Turkey, and Greece. He stopped in Athens. He spent time in the Jewish synagogue and the Greece marketplace. Then he was invited to a meeting at the Areopagus, where they held the courts and city council meetings. There he directly challenged their religious beliefs with some bold statements about the nature of God.
This is Acts 17:24-31. You can turn to it, click your Bible app, or follow along on the screen.
24 "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.
Paul begins with a strong emphasis on God as Creator and Almighty. He makes five big statements describing God's Almightiness.
- God made the world and everything in it
- He is Lord of heaven and earth (That means he is the ruler.)
- He gives everyone life and breath and everything
- He made all the nations
- He marked out time and land boundaries
Think about that for a second. God marked out all dates and land for all nations for all time. Mesopotamians will start here and end here. England start here, end here. America: start here, end here.
But why would God do all of this? Paul answers that question next.
27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.
Let's pause here. Let that sink it. God did all of that so that YOU would look for him, reach out, and find him. And then he says the most amazing statement: He is not far from any one of us. Some of you needed to hear that this morning. God is not far from you. Despite your pain, your mistakes, your hard work or your no work, your success or your failure. None of that changes the fact that God is not far from you. Remember, God is intimately personal.
Then he continues with 2 examples of how intimately personal God is to us.
28 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'
He quotes two Greek philosophers, which happen to also match biblical teaching. First, everything about us is found "in God." Second, we are his offspring, his children. Remember: God is intimately personal.
Then, he concludes with his application, his "so what". He starts with the word "therefore." Like I always say, "When you see a therefore, find out what it's there for." Here, it's to help people transition from theology to daily living.
29 "Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.
And there it is: repent. Turn away from our sin. We need to repent of our bad theology.
- Not believing God is immensely powerful
- Not believing God is intimately personal
- Not believing God is our Father
- Not believing God is Almighty
- Not believing God is our Creator
Why do we need to repent? Paul answers it.
31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead."
And in case you didn't catch it, that's Jesus. We're gonna talk about this in a couple weeks.
So, If Paul is commanding us to repent of our bad theology, how do we know whether we have bad theology? It comes out in two ways: the obvious (our beliefs) and subtle (our daily life).
Let's go back to the first line of the Apostle's Creed to help us think this through:
I believe in God…the Father Almighty…Creator of heaven and earth.
Remember, the three characteristics of God: He is Father, he is Almighty, he is Creator? What would it look like to have bad theology, or heresy, in these three critical beliefs?
First, do you believe that God is Father? You might push against this idea and favor gender-inclusive titles for God. Anyway, God's not male, and it just reinforces patriarchy in the church and the home. Or you didn't like your father, so can't imagine God being like him. While those may be true, it doesn't change the fact that Scripture, even Jesus, describes God in relational terms of Father. We can't just change that because we want to or because sexist men have abused that term.
Now, that's an obvious example of heresy. But what about some that are more subtle? For example, do you see God as close or far away? Is he involved in your life or detached? If God is distant or detached from you, you might not think of him as Father. Because Scripture consistently describes God as intimate. Remember: he is not far from any one of us.
How about the next one: Do you believe God is Almighty? This one seems easy enough. You're not going to find many in the Church who believe in a limited-power God, in a small God with small power. I believe most, if not all, people in here will say they believe God is Almighty.
But do you live like you believe God is Almighty?
- Do you worry a lot? How's your anxiety level? It probably means you don't fully trust God because you don't really believe he's Almighty, all-powerful.
- How do you react when things go bad? Do you get controlling, angry, judgmental? All of that emanates from one belief: God isn't powerful enough to handle my problem. So, I have to take matters into my own hands. Is that you?
- When you need help or advice, where do you go? Do you ask all your friends, post to Facebook, Google for answers? If you go to Siri before God, you might not see him as Almighty.
Lastly, do you believe God is Creator? This one might seem obvious. Do you believe in the evolutionary origin of humans? If so, that's heresy. It doesn't mean that all of evolutionary science is wrong. This also doesn't mean that you have to believe in seven literal days in Genesis or everything that Ken Ham and the Answers in Genesis people believe. But what it does mean is that the Bible is very clear about the origin, uniqueness, and elevated place of humans across among everything else in nature. It also means that being for the last 2000 years has been synonymous with believing that God created humans and everything else.
That's an obvious example. But what about more subtle examples. How do you view ownership of your body, your stuff, this world? A common rallying cry of the pro-choice movement is "My body, my choice." Theologically, this could not be more wrong. It's not your body. You didn't create it. You don't keep it alive. It's God's body. Whether it's your health, your drinking, your tattoos – it's God's body, not yours.
One of the consequences of really believing God is Creator is a sense of accountability to God. If God created you and me, we answer to him for the way we live our life. We aren't masters of our own destiny, free to do what we feel is best. We belong to God.
Where do you need to repent? Where's God tugging at your heart? What part of God are you missing out on?
- God as a loving Father; near to you; intimately personal
- God as Almighty Lord; immensely powerful
- God as Creator; deserving of worship; the one to whom you are accountable
I want to close with this. At the end of each message, we're going to recite part of the Apostle's Creed together. And each week, we're going to add onto it. This is your opportunity to stand before God and say this is what I believe


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7687 Pebble Creek CIR #402, NAPLES FL
- 3 Beds
- 2 Full Baths
- 1,379 SqFt
- 217060519
- Type
- Residential Rental
- Subtype
- Mid Rise (4-7)
- Development
- Subdivision
- Year Built
- 1996
- Cable
- Yes
- Status
- Active
- Zip
- 34108
- Approx. Living Area
- 1,379 SqFt
- Approx. Total Area
- 1,522 SqFt
- Total Floors
- 5
- Gated Community
Rent & Availability
- Annual
- $3,300 per month
- Seasonal
- $6,500 per month
- Off Season
- 0 per month
Enjoy peace and tranquility with a private lake and golf course view from this updated 4th floor condo. Professionally decorated with the highest attention to detail. Many lovely features include new bamboo hardwood flooring, new paint throughout, granite counter-tops, ceramic tile, raised panel cabinetry, ceiling fans and new upgraded carpet in the bedrooms. Directly located across from the North Tram beach access station taking you to a private beach pavilion where you can enjoy lunch or dinner while viewing the beautiful sunsets on the Gulf of Mexico. You can also take a short walk or bike ride to the newly opened community center featuring gym, spa, tennis and computer lab. Available Annually or seasonal for a 90 day minimum.
- Furnished
- Turnkey
- Elevator
- Yes
- Ceiling Fans
- Yes
Interior Features
- Fire Sprinkler
- High Speed Available
- Smoke Detectors
- Tray Ceiling
- Walk-In Closet
- Window Coverings
Equipment & Appliances
- Auto Garage Door
- Cooktop
- Dishwasher
- Disposal
- Dryer
- Microwave
- Range
- Refrigerator/Icemaker
- Smoke Detector
- Washer
- Private Pool
- No
- Private Hot Tub
- No
- Garage Spaces
- 1
- Golf Course
- Lake
Exterior Features
- Tennis Court
- Beach Access
- Bike And Jog Path
- Clubhouse
- Exercise Room
- Internet Access
- Private Beach Pavilion
- Sidewalk
- Streetlight
- Tennis Court
- Deeded
- No Commercial
- No RV
- No Truck
Application, Fees, & Deposits
- Association Application Fee
- $100
- Rental Office Application Fee
- $150
- Security Deposit
- $1,000
- Departure & Cleaning Fee
- $150
- Approved Period (Days)
- 21
- Last Month Rent Required
- Yes
We're sorry, but no properties that meet this criteria are currently available.
This listing is courtesy of Downing Frye Realty Inc..
The source of this real property information is the copyrighted and proprietary database compilation of the Southwest Florida MLS organizations Copyright 2019 Southwest Florida MLS organizations. All rights reserved. The accuracy of this information is not warranted or guaranteed. This information should be independently verified if any person intends to engage in a transaction in reliance upon it. The data relating to real estate for sale on this limited electronic display come in part from the Broker Reciprocity Program (BR Program) of M.L.S. of Naples, Inc. Properties listed with brokerage firms other than John R. Wood Properties are marked with the BR Program Icon or the BR House Icon and detailed information about them includes the name of the Listing Brokers. The properties displayed may not be all the properties available through the BR Program.
The accuracy of this information is not warranted or guaranteed. This information should be independently verified if any person intends to engage in a transaction in reliance upon it. Some properties that appear for sale on this website may no longer be available. For the most current information, contact John R. Wood Properties.


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Going beyond community building and renewable uses, LooLa resort finds a new way to prevent wastewater pollution with a simple but smart garden design, benefiting Indonesian residents in many ways. Mallika Naguran visits the resort in sunny Bintan to find out how.
Singapore, 30 October 2017. On a video assignment for WildAsia, videographer Carmen Lin and I arrived at a rustic resort in the southeast coast of Bintan, Indonesia by ferry from Singapore. Walking around the green shrubs, playing fields and coconut palms of the beachside property, LooLa Adventure Resort was what I had thought it to be – an unpretentious ecotraveller's choice of stay.
The winner of a number of awards including the WildAsia Awards in 2012 and Responsible Tourism Awards in 2015 – a rather prestigious award if you're in the tourism and travel industry – LooLa first took its baby steps in 2000.
"When we started LooLa the idea was to highlight the natural hospitality of the local people," said CEO Dr. Marc van Loo, who co-founded the resort with his wife Isabelle Lacoste by purchasing the land from Indonesians (located in the ancient village of Galang Batang) and promptly employing them to build the resort with community building and resource conservation in mind. The locals, always good in word games, also suggested the name LooLa as a contraction of the founders' names and in honour of a locally famous seashell called the Lula.
Smiling faces could be seen and laughter heard almost throughout the day as local staff such as Siti Romana guide children and youths through obstacle challenges such as coconut palm climbing (to pluck nuts, why else?), zipline, skywalk, kayak, raft building and more. It is not often one sees people happy at work! I sensed real passion for warm hospitality and that was because the fundamentals were taken care of – that staffs weren't just employees, they were also leaders and bosses.
Community First
The European couple had the idea of creating a self-sustaining resort; one that is run and managed by Bintan residents themselves, including budgeting and hiring of staff, totaling 55. Only the marketing function is being conducted out of Singapore where they and three other Singaporean staffs reside.
"Apart from being an instructor, I am also a co-owner of the shop where I learnt how to run it and to manage the accounts," smiled Romana. The provision shop is well stocked with drinks, snacks and the ice creams (most relished given the hot climate), and the revenues go completely to them.
"Community engagement has been key from the start and it is part of our business model that the staff and community must benefit. So we do a lot of community work that also benefits the clients and is meaningful for both," said Dr. van Loo.
A range of projects see guests getting involved through the Community Involvement Project (CIP) initiatives for about SGD30 to SGD40 per person (LooLa aims just to recover the direct costs of the CIP projects and does not profit from it). There has been a series of school repairs, painting and various building of infrastructure-related projects.
We visited the school; as Lin filmed the facilities and children, I admired the new graveled front porch and fresh coat of paint on the walls.
Conservation through Renewables
Intent on keeping to the theme of going local and minimising the environmental footprint, LooLa's chalets are mostly built from wooden materials gotten from local sources. Carpenter Mulyadi showed us a series of furniture that once belonged to the marine world. "We bought discarded boat wood and used that to make window frames, tables and chairs," said the skilled Indonesian.
Other environmental initiatives include the use of solar power – both in the usual and most unusual way. First, the usual. There are 70 photovoltaic (PV) panels of 80kW/hr each that collectively supply 60% of the resort's power needs. Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS) is a research partner, helping to configure the solar power system to try to optimise their use. Despite the lack of locally available technical support to attend to a number of issues, LooLa was able to get a return on investment (ROI) of the PV installation in under two years.
Now for the unusual. LooLa in 2015 implemented chemical-free, solar-power driven air conditioners in its four Luxury Eco Villas using an ice block. How does this work? The solar energy captured by PV panel is used to power the cooling compressors that freeze a block of ice during the day. This block of ice melts at night, releasing wafts of cool air through the air vents into the villas, helping one to sleep in comfort. According to Elias Ola Purlolon, LooLa's sustainability manager, this is a world's first.
To complete the rustic natural feel of the local scene, guests in the other room types such as the six sea chalets and dormitory enjoy sea breeze and an electric fan instead of this air conditioner. Showers are warm thanks to the sun!
Apart from energy conservation, water is also regarded as most precious – which it is on an island where people on average make 20 times less money than Singapore citizens yet have to pay 10 to 20 times more for access to ever-dwindling water resources. The resort uses rainwater to supply nearly half of their needs, while it believes that with a bit of tweaking, rainwater could yield well over 80%. Water meters keep track of consumption, while the rainwater harvesting system is currently being adjusted to achieve this target.
"I used to spend over SGD5,000 a year on piped water, whereas my rainwater harvesting systems cost under SGD10,000; data showed that between 80 - 100% of all our water could come from rainwater harvesting, which we are working on soon," he said, adding that he envisages the ROI of rainwater harvesting could be within a couple of years.
But Dr. van Loo is now bent on raising the bar with the water resource to solve a number of environmental and health issues.
Safe Water Garden
Clean water and proper sanitation is a priority for Indonesia. Without clean water through proper filtration and treatment, there has been many health and hygiene related issues: an Oct 2016 UNICEF report notes that every day in Indonesia, 370 children under the age of five die as a result of lack of basic water sanitation systems. Keen to help mitigate these problems, Dr. van Loo has been providing water filtration machines as a pilot project in the neighbouring village of Galang Batang. "Bathing their babies in filtered water got rid of the rashes they suffered while providing them with clean drinking water," related Dr. van Loo , referring to Wateroam's filtration systems.
From there, van Loo has gone to a more circular way of thinking in using water as a resource. LooLa has also adopted a biological wastewater processing system, following a UNESCO-approved model (developed in the wake of Aceh tsunami), to recycle water through wastewater gardens. LooLa guests and staff have introduced this Safe Water Gardens to more than 130 households in their neighbouring villages, while the Dutch government provided a grant in 2016 to help a Dutch-Indonesian-Singaporean alliance of top universities to start research into optimising the systems further.
These gardens solve many health and social problems. Scientific surveys conducted by the university partners show that 70% of the recipients reported that they no longer have diarrhea. The systems are completely maintenance-free following a single but life-long installation. Parents now feel free to let their children play in the garden without worrying that they might get sick due to sewage outflows. The social status is lifted because the house no longer smells bad and mosquitoes are reduced. Best of all, the villagers get a small but highly functional maintenance-free garden that they can use to grow cash crops.
The wider environment would also benefit if these systems were to be used on a large scale: other than making people sick from drinking such polluted water from ground wells, nutrient-rich water cause algal blooms in rivers and oceans, that take up oxygen needed for fish and coral health, threatening ocean survival.
How does the Safe Water Garden work exactly? The system is made up of a septic tank, a leach field in the form of a garden, and a separate ceramic filter is needed to complete the system.
The wastewater flows from the shower and toilet into the septic tank. Bacteria in the septic tank convert the waste into nutrients. The nutrient-rich water then flows from the septic tank into a horizontal leach pipe with numerous little holes that allow drips or leaches onto a gravel bed. There the roots of the garden plants absorb the nutrients, which could otherwise enter and pollute ground water systems. The gravel bed, coupled with a layer of coarse and porous white sand on top of the gravel, facilitate the efficient uptake of the water, preventing surface flooding.
Strictly counting materials only, a safe water garden unit costs about SGD600, but LooLa hopes to optimise the design and have a new, equally efficient, safe water garden by mid 2018 for half the price:
"We are still researching the system with the help of universities. The goal is to finetune the existing designs to retain their efficiency while making them cheaper, socially desirable and easy to build. The goal is that all Indonesian villagers can build and maintain the Safe Water Gardens themselves, while taking charge of their own water filtration," said Dr. van Loo, who is raising funds and calling for collaboration to achieve this vision.
Rather than seeking to profit from this venture, Dr. van Loo hopes to mobilize an ever-growing coalition of concerned citizens, educational institutions, businesses and business organization who share the vision and contribute their own passion and expertise to make the vision come to life.
To date companies, institutes and organisations that have joined this coalition include Eindhoven University of Technology of The Netherlands (TU/e), Universitas Gadjah Mada in Yogyakarta of Indonesia, the National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, Borouge (committed to demonstrating that plastic can be a force for good), Schneider Asia Pacific (manufacturer of valves and manifolds), Musim Mas Group (palm oil company) and the non-profit Business Council for Sustainable Development Singapore.
"The concept of sustainability is incredibly important because a sustainable business shows that it is simply good for business to look after staff, the community, resources, and the natural environment. Putting it plain and simply, in a sustainable business, everybody wins."
Selected photos courtesy of Loola Adventure Resort. The rest by Gaia Discovery.


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Beginning today with Great Vespers the Church commemorates an important event in the earthly life of our Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 2:22-40). Divine Liturgy for the Feast takes place tomorrow, Feb 2.
Forty days after His birth the God-Infant was taken to the Jerusalem Temple, the center of the nation's religious life. According to the Law of Moses (Lev. 12:2-8), a woman who gave birth to a male child was forbidden to enter the Temple of God for forty days. At the end of this time the mother came to the Temple with the child. At this time the righteous Elder Simeon (February 3) was living in Jerusalem. It had been revealed to him that he would not die until he should behold the promised Messiah. By inspiration from above, St Simeon went to the Temple at the very moment when the Most Holy Theotokos and St Joseph had brought the Infant Jesus to fulfill the Law. The God-Receiver Simeon took the divine Child in his arms, and giving thanks to God, he spoke the words repeated by the Church each evening at Vespers:
"Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word, for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people, a light to enlighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel" (Luke 2:29-32).
St Simeon said to the Most Holy Virgin: "Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be spoken against. Yea, a sword shall pierce through your own soul also, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed" (Luke 2:34-35).
At the Temple was the 84-year-old widow Anna the Prophetess, daughter of Phanuel (February 3), "who did not leave the temple, but served God with fasting and prayers night and day". She arrived just when St Simeon met the divine Child. She also gave thanks to the Lord and spoke of Him to all those who were looking for redemption in Jerusalem (Luke 2:37-38). In the icon of the Feast she holds a scroll which reads: "This Child has established Heaven and earth."
A Great Vespers is conducted on the evening before the day of the Feast. Scripture readings for the Feast at Great Vespers include – extracts from Exodus 12:15-13:16; Leviticus 12 and Numbers 8; Isaiah 6:1-12, and 19:1,3-5,12,16,19-21.
In the Orthodox Church, both baby boys and baby girls are taken to the Church on the fortieth day after their birth. This is done in remembrance of the Theotokos and Joseph taking the infant Jesus to the Temple.
Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos, full of grace! From you shone the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God. Enlightening those who sat in darkness! Rejoice, and be glad, O righteous elder; You accepted in your arms the Redeemer of our souls, Who grants us the Resurrection.
By Your nativity, You did sanctify the Virgin's womb, And did bless Simeon's hands, O Christ God. Now You have come and saved us through love. Grant peace to all Orthodox Christians, O only Lover of man!


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Hooked on Houses/
My aunt introduced me to the site Hooked on Houses a few years ago and I've been waiting for the right time to blog about it. The other night my mom and I got to watching Sleepless in Seattle. I love the houseboats featured in the movie like the one Sam (Tom Hanks) and Jonah live in. Anyone remember Jason Mesnicks season of the bachelor? Jason was the present day "Sleepless in Seattle" while he and his son lived, just the two of them, in a houseboat like the one in the movie. You can see an inside look at the houseboat on Hooked on Houses.
{Overview of Sam and Jonah's houseboat}
Hooked on Houses is a website created by Julia, a self proclaimed "house swooner." She gives you an insight into some of your favorite celebs, movie and TV houses! The site features houses such as the Hampton estates from Revenge, the ever-so famous "Bachelor Pad," everyones dream house, the Father of the Bride house, and my personal favorite, Meryl Streep's Santa Barbra cottage in It's Complicated.
{Swoon. This is the actual Father of the Bride house located in Pasadena, CA. The front was filmed here, but they used a different house's backyard to shoot the basketball scenes.}
Julia uses pictures from the movie and ones found online to show off the famous movie houses! I could spend hours on this site looking at these iconic houses.
{The Bachelor Pad like you've never seen it. An ex cast member describes it as a "compound." What they don't let you see on the show is the 7 ft cement wall surrounding the mansion.}
{Dan in Real Life is one of my favorite movies. The Rhode Island river house they spend Labor Day weekend at in the movie is actually a real house that you can rent out. I wouldn't mind spending a cozy weekend here!}
{Iris's cottage in The Holiday is actually a movie set. Everything was custom built for the movie.}
{Meryl's kitchen in It's Complicated}
{The house in It's Complicated is a real house in California, but all the interiors were filmed on a movie set in Brooklyn. Here is the the kitchen in the real house that was used for exterior views.}
Head over to Hooked on Houses and you can see some over my other favorite on-screen houses from The Proposal, Sex and the City, The Parent Trap, Something's Gotta Give, Gilmore Girls and The Blind Side.
xo annie