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Albums don't "matter," anymore. But they used to, and when they did, Aretha Franklin, who died on Thursday, was responsible for one of the very best: "Amazing Grace," a live album recorded over two days in January 1972, at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in South Los Angeles.
The excellence of "Amazing Grace" is no secret. It's still one of the country's best-selling gospel records, as well as Franklin's most popular album. Bloomsbury's music-criticism book series, 33 1/3, put out an exhaustive forensic appreciation by Aaron Cohen in 2011. And in 2016, in a reverent critical profile of Franklin for The New Yorker, David Remnick called it "perhaps her most shattering and indispensable recording."
Yet it's frequently dispensed with. Polls of the great albums rarely include it. (An NPR poll, from last year, of the 150 best albums by women and nonbinary artists, had it at No. 23.) Generally, if a list bothers with Franklin at all, the obvious choice is "Lady Soul" from 1968, her 14th album. It's the one with "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman," "Chain of Fools," and "Ain't No Way." Or, her 11th, from the year before: "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)," the one with "Respect," "Drown in My Own Tears," and "Dr. Feelgood (Love Is a Serious Business)." No complaints here.
"I Never Loved a Man" is a narcotic album — its 11 perfectly done songs should come in a pill bottle. But "Amazing Grace" is an artist reaching another level. It's as long as a movie and as deep as the valley of the shadow of death. It should be included alongside the usual suspects — your "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" and "Rubber Soul" and "Highway 61 Revisited" and "Pet Sounds" — each regarded as monumental.
This was a monument, too.
In the Baptist tradition, when the spirit stirs you, you move. You clap. You get on your feet and slap at the air. You whoop. You carry on. You disturb the floor with a flurry of taps, like your feet are burning. So it goes in the Aretha tradition, too.
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This is to say that whoever was out in the seats that weekend came pre-stirred. The first song is "Mary Don't You Weep." Before it starts, the Rev. James Cleveland, the pioneering gospel singer, introduces Franklin to the congregation. Then an organ chimes in and applause builds to a simmer. At the 11th second, a woman, with a rasp, says something that I've never been able to make out, but the translation is basically, "Come on, Aretha. Let 'er rip!" Franklin's lethal four-man band and the Southern California Community Choir ease out of the gates before she does. The rhythm's a vamp. It sounds like somebody sneaking through the house for a midnight snack. But the tiptoeing is set to a waltz. "Oh. Oh. Ma-ry," sings the choir, preparing the mood for Franklin, who answers, eventually, with a blurting "Mary!" of her own.
There's a mighty bristling as the song starts to come together. Presumably, they'd all heard "Mary Don't You Weep." It's a slavery-era spiritual, built around, among other things, a despairing plea for Jesus to raise Lazarus from the dead. Almost every church choir has a version. The Swan Silvertones's incarnation and, later, Sam Cooke's, with the Soul Stirrers, might be the best known — as doo-wop. In Los Angeles that day, people bristled, perhaps, because they hadn't ever expected to experience one that topped Inez Andrews's tearing into it, with the Caravans in the 1958. Or maybe they bristled because they knew this version was going to be good. It's much better than that.
A rhythm section was Franklin's gospel innovation. She installed some swing and paved a road for her singing to go to town. About four and a half minutes into "Mary Don't You Weep," Franklin skips town altogether and is out in the solar system, a one-woman space program, synopsizing the story of Lazarus's plight, but from the point of view of his sister Mary, who in her grief over her brother's death, sees fit to chastise Jesus. So it's theater, too. Franklin caterwauls as Mary, then resumes serenity as Christ, who asks to see the body. The band and the choir set the table for Franklin, and the whole troupe serves the meal of Jesus' miracle.
This arrangement doesn't tell you amazement has taken place. It becomes the amazement. Franklin's Jesus wails for Lazarus to hear him, her voice a whip in one syllable and a caress in the next — religion itself! As Jesus strains through the impossible — Laaaaaaaaaaaazarus! Oh yeah! — giving life to the dead, two women separate from the choral multitude and ululate with awe, gently, soulfully, as if they're about to pass out. This isn't a moment you want to encounter in a vulnerable spot. I heard it jaywalking once, and actually stopped in the middle of the street, about to faint with disbelief. Who succeeds at upstaging a biblical miracle with a musical one? And yet it's not only pious. Franklin's reverence can wink: "He got up walking like a natural man. Oh, yes, he did," she sings, yanking Lazarus out of death and into one of her hits.
By this point, the bristling has long given way to Baptist stirring. People are hollering. At Aretha Franklin. In a church. (That until the 1960s was a movie theater.) They're telling her to go on. They're prodding her to keep them exhilarated, praising her praising the Lord. We're not in New Temple Missionary, and yet: Aren't we? You can hear each guitar plink, each bongo spank. You can practically smell myrrh wafting from the organ. This isn't happenstance. It's engineering. Franklin had reconstructed these songs. This one moves at the same pace as the Caravans', but it's got more dimensions, more heft.
The entire album is a feat of witty, hooky arrangements, of mischief, ecstasy and bass. The repeated running together of the word "everything" on "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" really is everything. The gospel claps there and on "How I Got Over" (and everywhere else, really) are castanet clear. And "Wholy Holy" is such a celestial R&B achievement that the second-best place to experience it, after a black church, is the nearest planetarium.
So much of the experience listening to music — gospel and otherwise — is feeling it, catching the spirit. "Amazing Grace" is a church full of people's spirits getting caught, over and over — by Aretha. A movie exists of these two days. Why no one's seen it is a long story, mainly involving Franklin's own wishes. But the audio experience has always been cinema enough. How do you hear people going crazy as she unfurls the song "Amazing Grace" and not assume that she's levitating, that she's levitating them.
The whoops and hollers are as crucial to the glory of this album as Franklin, the choir and the band. She is but the centerpiece around which a lively stained-glass scene is built — the stirrer and the stirred. Franklin alone with a piano would have sufficed. But she swings for a more radical gospel music that weds emotional might to musical muscle. Her going for the max maxes you out. This is what virtuosity should do — leave you knock-kneed, perform the unthinkable. Maybe Mary shouldn't weep. But you and I are a different story.


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About Us
Swimming Pool, Hot Tub & Spa Specialists!
In the Summer of 2011 Products4Pools.co.uk entered the online arena of pool supplies, equipment and fitting sales. As a pool installation and maintenance expert, our MD Alan Jackson wanted to ensure that those working in his field has access to only the top products in the industry, ones he'd personally use and recommend.
If you're after a large range of swimming pool supplies, then you've certainly come to the right place. With the best swimming pools in the UK, order now from Products for Pools and you can get Free UK Shipping for orders worth over £60. That's Swimming Pools, Hot Tubs, Saunas, Spas and Swimming pool parts direct to your door, for free.
Currently we supply everything from water features to plumbing fittings worldwide to both the trade and retail customer. We offer a wide variety of products including pool covers (solar, thermal, winter and safety equipment), water treatment filters, dehumidification, chemical injection systems, maintenance equipment, hot tub/pool ladders and above ground pools. In addition to standard 'pool' equipment and fittings, we sell products which promote 'wellbeing' such as spas, saunas and steam rooms.
We have made it our objective to cater for all pool, hot tub, spa and sauna customers, regardless of their budget. We are 100% focused on customer service and helping the people we work with find what they need quickly, and at a price they can afford. That's why, unlike most online companies we offer a free phone line which customers can utilise for advice on their purchase, or to resolve any queries. Call now for free on (0800 977 4966).
Products4pools.co.uk are a well established business, we strongly believe that we are well on our way to becoming a market leader in online pool equipment and fittings sales.
The Best Swimming Pool, Hot Tub and Spa Brands!
We have always maintained the approach of providing top quality products for our customer base. Our years of experience in the field of Swimming Pools, Hot Tubs, Spas and Jacuzzis has allowed us to source only the best brands for our product range. The list below includes leading manufacturers such as 303 Cleaning Products, Aladdin, Amazonas Hammocks, AquaQuick Europe, Badu, Blue Horizons, Blue Lagoon, Bowmans, Boxer Adhesives, Calorex, Calpeda, Certikin, Covermate Spa Covers, Elecro, EnergyGuard, Essentials, Etatron Engineering, Eutech Instruments, Fi-Chlor Spa Care Products, Flexinox, Frog Pool & Spa, Game Pool Party Water Features, GeoBubble, Great Barrier, Guardex, HANNA Instruments, Hayward Pool Products, Horizon, IPS Weld On, Iberspa, Indux, Innotec, Insta-Test, Intex Pools, LT LED Underwater Lights, Lacron, Life Spa & Hot Tub Essentials, Little GIANT, Lovibond Pool Testing, Martinique Luxury Hot Tubs, Monitair, Pahlen, Palintest, Performax Chlorine Feeders, Prozone, Q-Vac, Redox Chemical Testing, SR Smith Pool Lifts, Scott, Solax, Spectravision Pool Lighting, Sta-Rite,Super Soft, SwimSafe, SwimSportz, SwimWays, Tangit, Thermalec, Vaporex, Waterco, Zodiac and Zoggs Swimming Equipment.

subset: commoncrawl


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Reviewing your savings requirements
As life changes it is worth reviewing your retirement savings requirements – how much you are saving, and whether your savings are invested mindfully. There are some changes you can make to your KiwiSaver account – you can transfer to another KiwiSaver scheme, change the fund(s) your money is invested in and change the amount you save.
We often put off changing our financial arrangements because of the hassle or because we might think that our employer has to do something to make the change for us. When it comes to changing KiwiSaver schemes this is not the case. If you want to join our Scheme then you simply read the Product Disclosure Statement to see if you are eligible and whether our Scheme is right for you, complete our application form and we will handle the rest.
It is worth checking with your current provider to understand whether there will be any transfer fees.
Changing the amount you save
Most people save the default percentage of their pay, which is 3% – however, you can choose 4%, 6%, 8% or 10%. If you're working, contributions are deducted from your pay at the rate of 3%, 4%, 6%, 8% or 10%. Changing from (say) 3% to 4% can make a significant difference when you come to withdraw your savings. Work out how much difference making greater contributions can make using the Sorted Calculator.
Voluntary payments
You can make voluntary additional contributions at any time. There is no upper limit on voluntary contributions to our Scheme.
Taking a savings break
A Saving Suspension allows you to take a break from making payments into your KiwiSaver account. You can do this once you have been in KiwiSaver for more than 12 months. For more information visit the KiwiSaver website.
Changing investment funds
The Christian KiwiSaver Scheme offers you three investment options – the Growth Fund, the Balanced Fund and the Income Fund.
Are you in the right type of fund for you?
To determine what's right for you, consider: How long is it until you need the money? Would you be able to stick it out if your balance dropped a bit from time to time? Do you have other savings?
To help you clarify your attitude to risk, you can seek financial advice or work out your risk profile at Sorted.


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- Please call us for FREE help:
- (866) 531-0695
1st Aid Home Health Services
4604 Putnam Dr, PLANO, TX
- In-Home Care
Payment Options
- Medicare No
- Medicaid No
- Veteran's Benefits No
- Long Term Care Insurance No
- Subsidy Available No
User Reviews
Description of 1st Aid Home Health Services in PLANO, TX
1st Aid Home Health Services, located in Plano, Texas provides the following services: In-Home Care. 1st Aid Home Health Services has an average user review rating of 5 stars. 1st Aid Home Health Services has a very good hospital, Methodist Richardson Medical Center, located nearby, which scored a 88 out of 100 in its most recent Medicare review. The 1st Aid Home Health Services's nearest hospital is 4 miles away. The zipcode (75024) in Texas, where 1st Aid Home Health Services is located, has an above average safety rating based on recent crime statistics. A more detailed description of the types of care for 1st Aid Home Health Services can be found here.
1st Aid Home Health Services is an in-home care provider. In Home care could be either medical ("skilled") or non-medical ("custodial") support services delivered at the home of the senior. "skilled" service providers who usually provide various medical care needs and "custodial" care providers who provide services for daily living such as bathing, dressing, and meal preparation but may also extend to assistance with transportation, paying bills, making appointments, and simply being there to provide companionship and emotional support. Home Care services are generally available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and are sometimes paid for directly by the client or through a variety of public and private funding sources such as Medicare and/or Medicaid. Make sure you know your loved one's Medicare and Medicaid eligibility, and understand how you can use tools like long term care insurance to pay for in home care.
Source: SNAPforSeniors, Inc.
Demographic Profile for PLANO, TX, 75024
Cost Of Living
Compared to the National Average
Provided By EPA; Closer to 100 is better
Annual Crime
Nearby Hospitals
Methodist Richardson Medical Center401 W Campbell Rd
Richardson TX 75080
Medical Center Of Plano3901 W 15 Th St
Plano TX 75075
Baylor Regional Medical Center At Plano4700 Alliance Boulevard
Plano TX 75093
The Heart Hospital Baylor Plano1100 Allied Drive
Plano TX 75093
Nearby Drug Stores
Albertsons Llc3513 E Park Blvd
Distance: 1.5 miles
(972) 633-8213
Randalls Food And Drugs Lp2200 14 Th St
Distance: 1.5 miles
(972) 423-4107
Sams East Inc1200 E Spring Creek Pkwy
Distance: 1.5 miles
(972) 516-8525
Nearby Churches
Water of Life ChurchPO Box 861327
Plano, TX
Distance: 0.1 miles
Where Eagles Soar Family WrshpPO Box 861437
Plano, TX
Distance: 0.1 miles
First Presbyterian ChurchPO Box 861480
Plano, TX
Distance: 0.1 miles
Nearby Parks
Park Development & Planning1409 K Ave
Plano, TX
Distance: 0.1 miles
Haggard ParkPlano, TX
Distance: 0.1 miles
Harrington Park401 W 16th St
Plano, TX
Distance: 0.8 miles


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Welcome to Sweden
Offering everything from deep-blue archipelagos and Northern Lights, to killer fashion, food and design, Sweden is a Nordic dream date.
Swedish Style
Few countries are as design literate as Sweden. Impeccable taste and attention to detail make much of the country look like a shoot for Wallpaper or Architectural Digest. Almost everyone in Stockholm got the memo to 'look sharp', while the prevalence of irresistible furnishings, textiles and lighting in cafes, restaurants and homes across the nation are nothing short of enviable. Yet, Swedish style is rarely ostentatious; form and function are tightly linked in a society that reveres moderation, simplicity and practicality. Prepare to celebrate all things beautiful and democratic.
Natural Grandeur
Truth be told, the best thing about Sweden is its natural assets. Indeed, to really appreciate this country's magnetism, take time to leave the city behind. Whether you're sailing across an archipelago to a lonely island or trekking along a kingly trail flanked by snowcapped mountains, the sense of space, solitude and freedom is matched by few corners of Western Europe. It makes perfect sense: Sweden claims one of the lowest population densities on the continent. So, go pitch a tent by a Baltic beach or ride a sleigh under the Northern Lights. You can thank Mother Nature later.
The Sami
The northern end of Sweden is home to the Sami people. One of Europe's few indigenous people, their rich and ancient traditions offer a very different take on the Swedish experience. To the Sami, northern Sweden is known as Sápmi and its wild, bracing wilderness is the best place to sample Sami culture. Spend a night or two in a Sami reindeer camp, take a dogsledding tour, or simply dig into local flavours at a Sami restaurant. All offer memorable, thought-provoking insight into an oft-overlooked side of the country's cultural tapestry.
Historical Riches
History is written large in Sverige. Ancient rune stones poke up out of grassy parks, while huge stone-ship settings and burial mounds recall long-gone kings and chiefs. Across the country, walled medieval cities, seaside fortresses, turreted palaces and revealing museums attest to Sweden's long and complex backstory. Each historical artefact, building and ruin is a piece of a jigsaw. Put them together and you'll come closer to understanding how each historical high and low has helped shape the modern nation and its widely admired denizens.
Top experiences in Sweden
Recent articles
Sweden activities
Arlanda Airport Shared Arrival Transfer
Travel from Arlanda International Airport to any one of 7 bus terminals in Stockholm City.Your transfer will be confirmed instantaneously and you will be provided with a travel voucher to present to the driver.Transfer services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.It's that easy! The bus will stop at the following bus terminals: • Jarva Krog • Frosunda • Haga Norra • Haga Forum • Norra stationsgatan • St Eriksplan • FAC Airport Coaches City terminal - Stockholm City
The Original Stockholm Ghost Walk and Historical Tour
As the evening closes in, your experienced ghost-guide will light his lantern and lead you through a maze of forgotten courtyards, deserted alleyways and empty cobble-streets in search of the places where history meets mystery. Not only will you hear true accounts of ghosts, poltergeists and haunted places but also of murders, unsolved mysteries, myths and legends. Is your stomach strong enough for tales of disease and of public executions? On your tour, you will even have the chance to taste, as well as smell, medieval Stockholm as your guide brings the past back to life.Sensible, comfortable walking shoes are a must and remember to wrap-up extra warm between November and March. The haunting don't stop for bad weather and neither do we. Parental discretion is advised for children under the ages of 8.
Viking History Tour from Stockholm
ItineraryThis is a typical itinerary for this productStop At: Jarlabanke Runestones, TabyAn old Viking site known as Jarlabankes bro – The entrance way to the Rune KingdomDuration: 20 minutesStop At: Hokeriet, VallentunaGranby with its foundations from an old settlement (400–500 AD). Here we find the biggest rock carving in Sweden – Granbyhällen.Duration: 45 minutes
Stockholm and Old Town Food-Tasting Walking Tour
Meet your guide outside Östermalms Saluhall, Stockholm's oldest food market. Many of its family-run food businesses have passed down through the generations, and the market's interior remains little changed from centuries ago, with its woodcarvings still intact. Sample some tasty modern versions of traditional Swedish meatballs that are healthier than their counterparts, and then walk through Stureplan, Stockholm's most exclusive square, to discover a part of the city often missed by visitors. Continue to Kungsgatan and dive into K25, an edgy, urban food court beloved by young locals. Sample some of the scrumptious seafood delicacies on offer here, washed down with a glass of white wine.Next comes Chokladfabriken, one of Stockholm's favorite chocolate cafés. Try its popular hot chocolate made from 65% cocoa, dark Venezuela Criollo beans and cardamom. One sip and you'll see why the locals rave about it!Continue to Hötorgshallen market to explore its tempting stalls, piled high with fresh produce and Swedish delicacies. Follow your guide to the P&B Delikatesser stand to sample a range of homemade products, such as cloudberry jam, chocolate-coated liquorice and natural truffles.Next, visit Husmans Deli to try its prize-winning artisan cheeses before heading for cured meat specialists, Fagel & Vilt. Swedes love cured game and have a particular penchant for smoked reindeer and elk salami. Try an assortment of the flavor-packed meats accompanied by the strong Swedish beer, Norrlands Guld, and some mouth-watering seasonal fruit from Lisbeth Janson Frukt & Grönt.From here, stroll to Gamla Stan (Old Town), admiring the colorful houses lining its cobbled lanes as you walk. After visiting a candy store to try a scrumptious Swedish candy stick, enjoy your final tasting at Under Kastajen, a popular purveyor of traditional breads. Dunk a kanelbullar (cinnamon roll) in your coffee here to enjoy your very own fika — the much-loved national ritual of a coffee break combined with a sweet treat!Your tour comes to an end after your fika when you say goodbye to your guide.
Arlanda Airport Shared Departure Transfer
Travel from any of the Stockholm stops listed to Arlanda International Airport.Your transfer will be confirmed instantaneously and you will be provided with a travel voucher to present to the driver.Transfer services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.It's that easy!
City Sightseeing Stockholm Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
Stockholm is famous for being one of Europe's most well preserved Medieval cities and it boasts countless of memorable landmarks and attractions. On-board a City Sightseeing bus, you will be able to enjoy panoramic views of these from the bus' open-top deck, plus you'll be able to learn all about them from the recorded multilingual commentary!With 19 tour stops along the bus route, you can hop-off and explore sights including the Royal Swedish Opera; built in the 18th century, it has been the host to many famous opera performances and is one of the cities most striking buildings. As you travel over to Skeppsholmen, passengers can enjoy 360-degree views of the Baltic Sea surrounding the Blasieholmen Bridge – remember to bring your camera, the views are breath-taking!Hop-off and have some fun at attractions including the famous Ice Bar, or visit the Abba Museum at Stop 12, a fascinating attraction dedicated to the iconic group, including several contemporary exhibitions that explore their work and achievements! Another ultimate museum experience along the route is the Skansen, it was the world's first ever open-air museum, so it's well worth being explored!Another of Stockholm's most impressive areas is the Gamla Stan – Old Town – where you can admire the colourful buildings and cobbled streets and get a real feel for the culture of the city.Tour Stops - 1 Strömgatan/The Royal Opera2 Riddarholmskyrkan3 Old Town (west)/Kornhamnstorg4 Viking Line/Stadsgården5 Fjällgatan6 Medborgarplatsen7 Old Town (east)/Räntmästaretrappan8 Royal Palace/Slottet9 Kungsträdgården10 Strandvägen11 Vasamuseet12 ABBA The Museum/Gröna Lund13 Skansen14 Historiska Museet - Frihamnen/Cruise berth15 Stureplan16 Kungsgatan/Hötorget17 ICE Bar18 Centralstationen19 City HallCombine your ticket with a boat tour and enjoy more sightseeing, including Royal Palace, Skeppsholmen and Vasamuseet. A full loop of the boat tour takes roughly 1 hour, or you can hop-on and hop-off at any of the 8 stops along the boat route!Please be advised that the boat tour only operates between May and September. The bus tour operates all year round.


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A man who murdered his former girlfriend before dumping her body in a Western Sydney river has been jailed for a maximum of 18 years.
Khanh Thanh Ly pleaded guilty to murder after he was found standing over the naked body of Miming Listiyani, 27, in the shallow water near Cabarita Wharf in April 2016.
The pair had been dating for about two years and had met at a Sydney hotel to exchange some personal items following the break-up.
Ly, a friend of executed Bali Nine drug smuggler Myuran Sukumaran, could not explain how the meeting ended the way it did, at a Supreme Court sentence hearing last year.
The 37-year-old's memories of the night in 2016 are "fragmented, incoherent and sporadic", the court heard.
Ly said he recalled trying to get off Ms Listiyani before "falling and just seeing black and tasting blood".
He was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, with the court hearing his mental health and its impact on his offending behaviour would be a key issue in sentencing.
Acting Justice Jane Mathews today told the court she had rarely come across a case where the offender was as remorseful and devastated.
"I am satisfied had he not suffered from PTSD, the offences would not have occurred," Judge Mathews said.
"This offence was completely out of character for this offender".
"I have rarely come across a case where the offender is as remorseful and devastated by his actions as this one.
She went on to say that his family and friends can attest to the "extent of bewilderment, regret and sorrow for what he has done".
Ly's uncle said he was "a broken man".
To the family of Ms Listiyani, Judge Mathews said : "You've lost a beautiful much-loved and highly valued person who was central to your lives. You will no-doubt think the sentence is completely inadequate."
Ly will be eligible for parole in 13 years.
© Nine Digital Pty Ltd 2019


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Baby Seals
Picture of the Day 02.02.2016
Spent the Day traveling back north from Kaikoura to Picton. That's where I caught the ferry to Wellington. I will spend the night here before moving on to Auckland tomorrow. So nothing really interesting happened, it was just a day of traveling. Ok well something interesting happened. We stopped at a seal colony and saw those really cute baby seals.


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Federico Elli (PGA of Italy) laid yet more groundwork at the 9th BlackSeaRama Vivacom Pro-Am in Bulgaria, with an outstanding four-under par 68 around the notoriously challenging Thracian Cliffs Golf & Spa Resort.
The Italian's second round play gives him a two-shot lead at six-under par (137) for the tournament and a buffer heading into the final round at the Gary Player-designed BlackSeaRama Golf & Villas.
Also making a charge is Peter Gustafsson (PGA of Spain) who carded a three-under 69 for a four-under total (139) and every chance of moving into the lead.
Overnight co-leader, Ulas Karatas (PGA of Turkey), didn't manage to keep up the pace with a one-over 73 but is still very much in the mix and one-under (142) for the tournament with his Brother, Bulent Karatas (PGA of Turkey), just one further stroke behind on even par (143).
In the teams it was Adam Sagar (PGA of Spain) and his amateurs Konstantin Belov, Todor Chakov and Dimitar Georgiev, that kept their lead with 85 points (-13) in their second round for a two-round total of 172 (-28).
Joining them in first position is Gustafsson and his amateurs, Krasimir Balakov, Lubomir Tushev and Andon Tushev, after their 87 points (-15) – the highest points score of the day – moved them two places up the leaderboard with one round to play.
For Full Round 02 Scores Visit http://eur.pe/2017BlackSeaRama
For more information visit the Tournament Hub Page (http://eur.pe/2017BlackSeaRama) or proam.blacksearama.com, follow @PGAsofEurope on Twitter and search the hashtag '#BlackSeaRama', or like the PGAs of Europe Facebook Page.
For more information on BlackSeaRama Golf & Villas visit www.BlackSeaRama.com.


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I've recently been working on a lot of aspects of this year's Stand Up To Cancer campaign. These images featured in the press launch and were widely used across national and regional titles. The theme was centered around rebellion with select celebrities being transformed into their rebel heroes. Kirstie Allsopp turned Queen for a day, Davina McCall portrayed Joan of Arc, Krishnan Guru-Murthy was Jimi Hendrix and comedian Aisling Bea became Princess Leia from Star Wars.
The rest of the imagery, including an OOH campaign will be revealed ahead of the October event. The images got alot of press attention and as portrait photographer thats always very satisfying.


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In this column in the last two weeks, I have looked at the Economy and concluded that 2016 will be a tough year. I will not deserve any awards for saying so because many other commentators and analysts have come to similar conclusions. But if an award must be given, then President Muhammadu Buhari( PMB) is the undisputed winner. First, since he assumed office , he has been consistent in telling Nigerians that our economy was in bad shape and that difficulties lay ahead. This call has intensified by the day rather than abate. In his recent media chat he again harped on the subject of the difficult economy that lies ahead.
The only award that has no obvious winner is that which will go to whoever tells us exactly what must be done to heal the economy and restore it to sanity as quickly as possible. All kinds of ideas are floating in the air and some tentative and experimental measures are being taken, but so far nothing has changed. Or rather nothing has changed for the better. When I started to hear of figures of money stolen and kept abroad by some past political leaders and officials of government and the present government's determination to bring back all the money, I thought perhaps we could make up the oil revenue shortfalls. My hope was buoyed up some months ago, when Comrade governor Adams Oshiomhole announced that a former minister had six billion dollars in his or her account and that it was the Americans that gave him the figures. At that time, I had suggested to a friend that we could hire America's special force, the guys that took out Osama Bin Laden to help us retrieve this large sum in one person's account. Even if we had to pay them one billion dollars to carry out this certainly less dangerous task, it would be worth the while. But it does not look like we are in any real hurry to repatriate these funds. And listening to PMB and watching his mien, we would never try anything extra judicial like trying to cargo Umaru Dikko as we did in 1984. So any hope for quick fixes are forlorn. And yet our businesses have to survive in 2016, especially those who operate in the SME sector. Hence this attempt to proffer a few suggestions
At the close of 2015, many businesses were gasping for breath. And if we must prevent sudden death, the first thing to do in the new year is to rethink the business. What is this business about in the first place? The assumptions on which the business was planned or started, are they still relevant? With the current happenings in the Economy, are those assumptions still justified?What Business results am I expecting this year? Can my current structure- ownership, management and funding deliver the results? Can I deal with the new regulatory regime? Must I really remain in this business? Is this sector growing or declining and why? These questions are relevant, because experience has shown that at times, people act as if they were sentenced to a particular business. Many fail to confront and interrogate the unfolding realities in their line of businesses and feel obliged to keep " suffering and smiling". No way! In the recent past for example, with the subsidy bazaar, many people went into the oil and gas business. But with recent development in both the international and domestic oil markets, the new regulatory frame work from PPRC/DPR/ NNPC and the development in the Forex market, Many players in this business need to rethink their business models and options and take bold steps to align to new trends, if practicable or take a jump to safety when the shore is still visible.
Any business that depends on the importation of anything will face challenges this year, that is if they are not already in distress. In the closing months of 2015, it was difficult to access foreign exchange for import and I am not talking about the 41 products that had been on the restriction list. It is becoming difficult to open letters of credit and harrowing to get those letters confirmed. Businessmen are now queuing up in banks and bank treasurers are now in hot demand, if you understand what I mean. Soon, if things do not change, then consumers of imported products may also be on the queues. Manufacturers are having challenges sourcing imported raw materials and other industrial inputs and stocks are depleting fast.
So it may be helpful to take a close look at the source of your inputs. Can you develop a locally available source? Is it possible to deliberately reduce the import component of your value chain? Can you think of completely running with local inputs only? May be not. But my instinct is that the the businesses with minimum import component will fare better this year
I believe one of the greatest risks any businessman will take this year is to borrow in foreign currency. The Naira is on the downward slope in the parallel market, which actually is the real market today. Since nobody is getting sufficient dollars at the official market, many businessmen are compelled to go to the parallel market to keep their businesses going or to meet maturing obligations. That adds pressure to the price of the dollar. Though the CBN has resisted to date all the pressures to further devalue the Naira officially, the recent visit of the IMF President Madame Largade may have have finally broken the resolve and I predict that an official devaluation will happen soon and that will naturally escalate the depreciation at the parallel market. With the price of crude oil still on the decline, there seems to be no reprieve in sight for the Naira. Therefore any borrowing or commitment made in foreign currency must be speedily extinguished to minimize the present risk of devaluations. Luckily there seems to be plenty of Naira in our banks, perhaps due to the the combined effects of the foreign exchange controls, the inactivation of the domiciliary accounts and the scarcity of foreign exchange in the banks. And this seems to have crashed the interest rates in banks. Thus those who need to borrow should look to the Naira.
The Federal Government plans to spend 6.08 Trillion Naira in 2016. That is huge. We have never spent this kind of money in our Economy in one year before. Against the expectation that with declining National income, expenditure will also decline, the Federal government wants to stimulate the economy to arrest the frightening decline of the GDP that occurred in 2015. So I can see opportunities here for Businessmen to take positions.Are you in construction, services or product supply, there is an opportunity to do business with the Public sector in 2016. You will therefore need to take a close look at the Budget Proposals that PMB has sent to the National Assembly and see where you can play. Dust up your papers and ensure they are current. There seems to be opportunity for many including those who will supply the food to feed the school Children, the books to support the educational renaissance and the medicines to support healthcare. Luckily, it may not be business as usual as the ANTICORRUPTION war may help keep the procurement process better sanctified. Just may be, because in our Country, the more things seem to change the more they remain the same.
Ordinarily, it makes sense to always stay on the right side of the law but in Nigeria, many people find ways to stay either above or below the law. But as can be seen, Nigeria is working hard to hold everyone accountable. It looks to me that we are entering the era where it may become increasingly costly to disobey the rules. One area every businessman must watch out for this year is in the area of taxes and VAT. The government has acute revenue shortfalls from oil and is desperate to find resources to fund the ambitious budget of 6.08 Trillion Naira. It will naturally look towards the Private sector to meet the shortfall and it has become evident that they will adopt aggressive methods. Businesses will be shut down this year because of defaults in paying appropriate taxes or timely remittance of VAT. So take measures to avoid disruption and embarrassment. Secondly, all businesses owners must seek wisdom to enable them comply with regulatory requirements. And should we be dissatisfied with any overbearing regulator, then we may seek legal protection or redress early. The experiences of MTN, Stanbic IBTC, Guinness and others in 2015 give credence to my advice.
Finally should you desire further discussion on this subject you may reach me on my email :firstname.lastname@example.com you may also prepare to attend the forthcoming Business Seminar being arranged by the Sam Ohuabunwa Foundation for Economic Empowerment (SOFEE) on this subject. This will be a testy year for Nigerian Businesses and it will be helpful to seek all the wisdom and understanding to overcome,God helping us.
Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa OFR
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text: Artifact Details Title Performance review Catalog Number 102726446 Type Text Date 1971-1972 Description Likely notes regarding performance review of Gary Myers, though unidentified. Includes typed notes about sales performance, including Northwest region revenue results for 1970 and 1971. Includes handwritten graphs of revenue. Category Personnel Records; Notebooks Collection Title Thomas J. O'Rourke collection Series Title Tymshare : Gary Myers Credit Gift of Tim O'Rourke Lot Number X3105.2005


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"Meatless Monday" Recipe of the Week – Beer-Battered Portabella Strips……April 3, 2017 at 5:29 AM | Posted in Meatless Monday | Leave a comment
Tags: Beer-Battered Portabella Strips with Spicy Dipping Sauce, Cayenne pepper, Cooking, Food, Meatless Monday, Mushrooms, recipes, Sauces, Vegetarian
This week's "Meatless Monday" Recipe of the Week is Beer-Battered Portabella Strips with Spicy Dipping Sauce. Meat, what meat? You'll never miss it with this week's recipe! Beer – Battered Portabella Mushrooms along with a Spicy Dipping Sauce. You can find this recipe at one of my favorite recipe sites, CooksRecipes. The Cooks site has recipes that will please all tastes and cuisines. Enjoy and Eat Healthy! http://www.cooksrecipes.com/index.html
Beer-Battered Portabella Strips with Spicy Dipping Sauce
Recipe Ingredients:
3 cups beer or ale
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 quarts mayonnaise
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon lemon zest
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
24 Portabella mushrooms, slice about 3/8-inch thick (about 2.5 ounces each; stems reserved for other use)
Lemon zest, for garnish as needed
Cooking Directions:
1 – Whisk together beer and flour; let sit at least 2 hour
2 – To make sauce, mix mayonnaise, zest, lemon juice, cilantro and cayenne pepper until well combined; reserve.
3 – Dip Portabella strips into reserved beer batter.
4 – Deep fry until crisp and golden brown, about 3 minutes.
5 – Serve with 1/4 cup Spicy Sauce on the side. Garnish with lemon zest, if desired.
Makes 24 servings.
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This NFIRSGram explains when to create an exposure report to accurately document a fire incident in the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS).
Reporting exposure fires is a trouble spot for many fire departments. During fire suppression activities, an exposure is any property that is threatened by the initial property fire, but in NFIRS a reportable exposure is any fire that is caused by another fire. Because of these different definitions, a common reporting error is including on an exposure report an incident where a neighboring property is scorched or the siding is melted, but the property has sustained no fire damage.
When completing an NFIRS report, an exposure is only reported if the initial fire causes another property to catch fire. Reporting melted siding, scorched exterior walls, and water or smoke damage to neighboring properties should not be completed with an exposure report but should instead be documented in the narrative on the initial fire report (e.g., the dollar loss for the nonexposure properties).
An "exposure" is a fire resulting from another fire outside that building, structure, or vehicle, or a fire that extends to an outside property from a building, structure or vehicle. In the case of buildings with internal fire separations, treat the fire spread from one separation to another as an exposure.
In cases where there are multiple ownerships within a building, such as condominiums, and those properties are not separated by fire-rated compartments, then each condominium, apartment or unit is not a separate exposure. For instance, where you have a fleet of vehicles, such as at a state highway department motor pool, you can count all of these items as a single exposure.
When documenting a fire that involves exposures:
In the image above, a fire department has begun to enter the key information for the incident. If this was the initial incident, then in the three-digit field for exposure they would enter 000; if, however, this was an exposure report, then they would enter 001 in the exposure field. When you use the same incident number to identify all of the exposures involved in a fire, they become related together in the system with the exposure number identifying each property involved in the fire.
|Heat source code
|Heat from direct flame, convection currents spreading from another fire.
|Radiated heat from another fire. Excludes heat from exhaust systems of fuel-fired, fuel-powered equipment (12).
|Flying brand, ember, spark. Excludes embers, sparks from a chimney igniting the roof of the same structure (43).
|Conducted heat from another fire.
|Heat spread from another fire, other.
A fire department is dispatched to a reported building fire. Upon arrival, they discover that a detached garage is on fire and that two vehicles parked in the driveway are also on fire. The fire department determines that the fire started in the garage and that the two vehicles, both of which are owned by the homeowner, caught fire due to their proximity to the garage.
The fire department:
A fire department is dispatched to a reported building fire. Upon arrival, they discover a single-story, single-family home on fire, with a neighboring family's home already beginning to exhibit signs of heat damage as the vinyl siding is beginning to melt. The fire department is able to protect the neighboring home, and all the damage that it suffers is the melted siding on the side that faced the fire building.
The fire department:
Have a question about when to create an exposure report? Please contact the NFIRS Support Center: Monday – Friday between 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. ET, at 888-382-3827 or by email at email@example.com.


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Glasgow inch closer to quarter-finals
MATCH REPORT: Glasgow Warriors took a giant leap towards the Champions Cup quarter-finals with a 33-24 bonus-point win over Cardiff Blues at Scotstoun on Sunday.
It took 26 minutes for the first points of the afternoon, and they came to the home side. From an attacking line-out, Glasgow powered towards the try line and Grant Stewart was the man able to force his way over. The conversion in windy conditions was made by Brandon Thomson who judged the kick to perfection.
Minutes later, Glasgow extended the advantage as Ali Price had Scott Cummins on his shoulder and played a simple but effective ball inside for the lock to dive through a gap and over the try line.
But Cardiff showed resolve to score the final points of the first half after a nice one-two pass and then kick from Dan Fish allowed Owen Lane to bundle his way over the try line. TMO took a look at whether Fish was offside, but referee JP Doyle was satisfied and the try was awarded.
A clinical line-out and driving maul from Glasgow meant they scored the first try of the second half, with Chris Fusaro the man dragged over the try line.
Cardiff again hit back as Owen Lane played a cutting final pass to Harri Millard who dived over at the corner, but just two minutes later Oli Kebble would score for the home side and regain the 18-point cushion.
Two further scores from Josh Navidi and Lane set up a grandstand finish at Scotstoun but it wasn't to be for Cardiff who were punished late on with replacement George Horne rounding off the scoring.
Glasgow Warriors now travel to already-qualified Saracens in Round 6 while Cardiff will host Lyon.
The scorers:
For Glasgow Warriors:
Tries: Stewart, Cummings, Fusaro, Kebble, Horne
Cons: Thomson 5
Cardiff Blues:
Tries: Lane 2, Millard, Navidi
Cons: Evans 2
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Tommy Seymour, 13 Nick Grigg, 12 Sam Johnson, 11 DTH van der Merwe, 10 Brandon Thomson, 9 Ali Price, 8 Matt Fagerson, 7 Callum Gibbins (co-captain), 6 Ryan Wilson (co-captain), 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Rob Harley, 3 D'Arcy Rae, 2 Grant Stewart, 1 Oli Kebble.
Replacements: 16 Kevin Bryce, 17 Alex Allan, 18 Petrus du Plessis, 19 Tim Swinson, 20 Chris Fusaro, 21 George Horne, 22 Adam Hastings, 23 Lee Jones.
Cardiff Blues: 15 Dan Fish, 14 Owen Lane, 13 Harri Millard, 12 Willis Halaholo, 11 Tom James, 10 Steve Shingler, 9 Lloyd Williams, 8 Seb Davies, 7 Josh Navidi, 6 Shane Lewis-Hughes, 5 Rory Thornton, 4 George Earle, 3 Dillon Lewis, 2 Matthew Rees (captain), 1 Brad Thyer.
Replacements: 16 Ethan Lewis, 17 Rhys Carre, 18 Scott Andrews, 19 Macauley Cook, 20 Nick Williams, 21 Tomos Williams, 22 Jarrod Evans, 23 Aled Summerhill.
Referee: JP Doyle (England)
Assistant referees: John Meredith (England), Phil Watters (England)
TMO: David Grashoff (England)


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As long as the pain holds steady, Maggie Bristow can function.
She can dress herself; she can tie her shoes and brush her hair. She can make a meal. She can walk more than 30 steps without the pain in her hips crippling her.
But even then, the 51-year-old Ottawa woman can't bear to have her arms or legs touched, and when the pain spikes, it feels as if someone has peeled away her skin, and every nerve ending is exposed. She can't even stand to have clothes on.
"When it gets really bad, you question your continuing existence," Bristow says. "You feel useless."
She shifts in her wheelchair, lifting one hip slightly. She grimaces, briefly closing her eyes.
Bristow has fibromyalgia and spinal stenosis, a narrowing in the spaces in the spine. The former administrative assistant can no longer work because of the pain. She receives a disability pension of less than $10,000 a year.
The pension doesn't cover all of her medications. It doesn't cover the acupuncture or therapeutic massage that can sometimes make the pain more bearable.
It started with a dull ache in her lower back, a pressure that made it feel as if someone were sitting on it. Then the pain moved into her neck, her legs, her arms, hips and jaw. New places just started hurting. "The latest is the shoulders and chest," she says. "My chest feels like a knife is being jabbed into it repeatedly."
She sleeps propped up, on a hospital bed. She hasn't slept on her back for more than 10 years. It sometimes feels as if her back is broken into a million pieces. "Just breathing makes it hurt more."
There are days she feels sore everywhere except her head. "You know how everything hurts when you have the flu? Take that and multiply it a few times," she says. "It doesn't ever stop."
She has tried Tylenol 3s, oxycodone, morphine and Dilaudid. Nothing worked.
"It was like popping Lifesavers."
The medicines she takes now are helping control the pain, but they make her thirsty all the time and play havoc with her digestive system.
"The worst part is you can't see pain, everyone wonders, 'What's wrong with you? Why aren't you working? Why are you in a wheelchair? is she faking?'"
"If you don't have pain then you have no idea what it feels like."


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Yes, based on our indications for use, Dexcom will need to replace your current receiver with the age-appropriate receiver – the new Dexcom G4 PLATINUM Pediatric Receiver.*
* At the initial launch of the Dexcom G4 PLATINUM Pediatric CGM System, this will be based on inventory available.
If you are ready to take the next step, the process is simple. Provide us with a few details and we will contact you to begin your order.


text: MSC Jay drops his new uptempo track "Take You There" with help from R&B crooner, "Rell" of Roc-a-Fella Records. The energetic bass-heavy track produced by Mr. Hanky (Lil Duval – "Smile B*tch") embodies a nostalgic sample harkening back to the mid-eighties. Representing the "Geechie Gullah" culture established around the island of St. Helena, South Carolina, MSC Jay is poised to leave his unique mark on the music industry while shedding light on his indigenous heritage.


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What Does Adderall Do to People With ADHD?
All people with ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder) have at least one of two behavioral problems: an inability to focus or maintain attention and unusual symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity. Doctors frequently treat the condition with Adderall, a name-brand medication containing the active ingredients dextroamphetamine and amphetamine. In combination, these two stimulants work by making certain changes in the brain's chemical balance.
Adderall Essentials
Adderall comes in two basic forms: standard Adderall and an extended release product called Adderall XR. Both of these medications contain dextroamphetamine and amphetamine. Along with Ritalin, these two forms of Adderall are among the most widely prescribed ADHD treatments.
Brain Effects
What does Adderall do? As stimulants, dextroamphetamine and amphetamine have one primary effect on the human body: speeding up the normal rate of activity inside the central nervous system, including both your brain and spinal cord. Part of this effect is an increase in the brain levels of certain chemicals, known as neurotransmitters. Specifically, dextroamphetamine and amphetamine boost the levels of the chemicals dopamine and norepinephrine. The increase in norepinephrine mainly produces a physical effect (e.g., heart rate and blood pressure elevation). However, the increase in dopamine produces a relatively weak pleasurable sensation and substantially improves the ability to focus and pay attention.
Therapeutic Benefits
The change in the brain's dopamine levels helps explain how a stimulant medication actually produces a calming effect in children and adults with ADHD. In order to produce Adderall's benefits without triggering unwanted side effects, doctors must work carefully to prescribe the proper dose. Once the minimum effective dose is established, patients can typically continue to take the medication for extended periods of time without experiencing any long-term problems.
Does the Medication Increase Addiction Risks?
You may wonder if the continued use of powerful stimulants has any impact on the chances of developing problems with stimulant addiction. If patients take the medication as prescribed by their doctors, research indicates that the answer to this question is no. However, the situation changes in people who consume excessive amounts of Adderall or take the medication in any amount without a prescription. Individuals in both of these groups significantly increase their chances of developing a diagnosable condition called 'stimulant use disorder', which includes both stimulant abuse and stimulant addiction.
"Dextroamphetamine and Amphetamine" – MedlinePlus: U.S. National Library of Medicine
"Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder" – National Institute of Mental Health
"Will ADHD Medication Change My Child's Brain?" – Child Mind Institute
Choose a better life. Choose recovery.


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Adorned with an intricate bee motif this Olivia Burton ring is a statement piece. Pair with your favourite daytime looks to give your outfits a stylish finish. With it's quaint and understated design this pendant will bring a stylish touch to your daily looks, wear alone for a more minimal look or layer with other necklaces for more of a statement look.
Olivia Burton's beautiful designs are inspired by nature and the intricate detail of vintage fabric and painting techniques.
- Brand
- Olivia Burton
- Material
- Rhodium plated
Delivery & Returns
At Ernest Jones we provide the following range of delivery options:
- Free Standard Delivery available on orders over £100.
- Free Next Day Delivery available on selected orders over £499.
- Free Click & Collect to any Ernest Jones store in the UK.
For more Delivery Information click here.
Returns policy: you can return items to us by post or in store within 30 days for a full refund or exchange.*
*We cannot refund or exchange pierced jewellery, e.g. earrings, if they have been removed from the original sealed packaging due to hygiene reasons.
Help Centre
There are a number of different ways to contact us if you need help or advice with your purchase.
How to contact us


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Fiona Hamersley Chambers
Fiona has a Masters of Science in Environmental Change and Management from Oxford University and a Masters in Environmental Design from the University of Calgary. Spending many of her formative years in First Nations territory sparked her life-long interest in Ethnobotany. She has taught Environmental Studies at the University of Victoria since 1999, and currently divides her time between teaching, running a small organic farm and nursery in Metchosin, writing books and academic papers, working as a naturalist, and raising two energetic boys.


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The Black Alliance for Peace (BAP) has helped kick off a new effort demanding candidates for office provide their position on war and militarization. It's called Anti-war Autumn and it's designed to demonstrate public opposition to the permanent war agenda of the duopoly. Use the hashtag, #AntiwarAutumn, on social media to help this campaign gain traction.
A series of actions and events have been planned during this Anti-war Autumn, including BAP launching the U.S. Out of Africa!: Shut Down AFRICOM campaign to draw attention to the increased normalization of war and militarism on the African continent. Please sign our petition to the Congressional Black Caucus and U.S. House of Representatives Armed Services Committee. Can you help us get to 1,000 signatures this week by sharing the link with your friends?
This campaign has already generated diverse media coverage, with a number of members of BAP's Research and Africa teams giving interviews and/or publishing pieces in Black Agenda Report, the iMixWhatiLike! online show, Resumen, Sputnik International, Sputnik Radio's "By Any Means Necessary", WPFW's "Voices with Vision" radio program, Sputnik Radio's "The Critical Hour", the "Amandla" Canadian community radio program, WPFW's "AfricaNow!" radio program, The Washington Informer, and others.
BAP also continued our effort at building solidarity with peoples and nations in the crosshairs of U.S. imperialism on October 7. That day marked the 17th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in the U.S. empire's so-called "War on Terror". BAP member Jose Monzon delivered a statement at an anti-war rally in New York City called by the Committee to Stop FBI Repression NYC, International Action Center, International League of Peoples' Struggles, and People's Power Assemblies NYC.
BAP National Organizer Ajamu Baraka recently told Black Agenda Report Radio it is vitally important to give voice to Black folks' long-held opposition to U.S. militarism abroad. A Black peace movement is necessary, "so we can determine our friends from our enemies, so we don't allow our young people to be marched off to fight for the interests of the 1 percent against other poor and oppressed people around the world."
Please also attend these events:
Join supporters from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on October 20 at a candlelight vigil and rally for Yemen at the Saudi Embassy, 866 Second Ave., between 46th and 47th streets, in New York City.
BAP Coordinating Committee members Jaribu Hill and Ajamu Baraka will join esteemed revolutionaries as jurists at the International Tribunal on U.S. Colonial Crimes on Puerto Rico, being held October 27 in New York City.
Join Ajamu Baraka and representatives from the Black Is Back Coalition and the United National Antiwar Coalition for a panel discussion to "End the Wars at Home and Abroad" October 31 in New York City.
Now that Trump's military parade is canceled due to mass pressure, BAP is helping organize Peace Congress: End All U.S. Wars at Home and Abroad, being held November 10 in Washington, D.C.
Join BAP Coordinating Committee members Margaret Kimberley and Ajamu Baraka at the First International Conference Against U.S./NATO Military Bases, being held November 16-18 in Dublin, Ireland.
BAP Coordinating Committee member Jaribu Hill has been organizing the Southern Human Rights Organizers' Conference (SHROC) for 22 years. Join her and activists from the Global South Dec. 7-9 in Atlanta. Register by October 31 for the early-bird price. Book the hotel with the group rate by November 13.
No compromise.
No retreat.
Struggle to win,
Ajamu, Jaribu, Margaret, Netfa, Paul, Vanessa and YahNé
Coordinating Committee
Black Alliance for Peace
P.S. Help us organize our people against the U.S. empire by contributing today.
Photo credit: Joe Lombardo, UNAC


text: Anti-fur advocates have come a long way since the days of slinging red paint on the fluffy-clad fashion elite. Instead, they now count some key luxury fashion players as their advocates. In just the past nine months, Gucci, Michael Kors, Versace, and the entire Yoox Net-A-Porter universe, not to mention InStyle editor-in-chief Laura Brown, have all committed to being fur-free, many of whom have expressed a deep interest and dedication to sustainability. But brands aren't exactly eschewing fur as an aesthetic choice, as some animal rights advocates would hope. Instead, they're switching to lavish faux fur options — cue up Burberry's giant happy rainbow cape.


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Back to All Events
Earlier Event: April 17Free Write Fridays
Later Event: April 21It Could Happen to You, ages 15-17
To the expressive, shy, curious, weird, introverted, extroverted, brilliant, imaginative young writer: welcome home. You have found your people.
(804) 250-5022
The Byrd Theater
Chop Suey Books
Big Secret
Belmont Food Shop
The Frontier Project
Sandra Cox
Sarah Gross
Stephen McMaster
Kristen Green
Paige Goodpasture
Heather Nygren
Kristi and Adam Austin
Carol White
Sarah Gross


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Do not be intimidated by the long list of ingredients and methods, it isn't as hard as it looks. I was recipe hopping as usual and when I saw that all the ingredients are lying in the pantry, why not? ;)
The streusel topping is a winner! The apple filling is good as well. I'm not too sure about the crust but the streusel is amazing!
The streusel topping is a winner! The apple filling is good as well. I'm not too sure about the crust but the streusel is amazing!
Recipe adapted from Dessert First
a) Filling:
- 3 large apples, approximately 800g
- 50g butter
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp plain flour
- 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 cups plain flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 100g butter, softened
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2/3 cup + 2 tbsp plain flour
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 100g chilled butter, diced
- Preheat oven to 175°C. Peel, core, and chop the apples in 1/2-inch cubes. Set aside in a bowl.
- Melt butter in a pan over medium heat. Add the apples and sauté for about 8 minutes until the apples are semi-soft.
- Add sugar, lemon juice, flour, and cinnamon to the apples and stir to combine. Cook until mixture begins to bubble, then turn heat to low and cook for another 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Allow filling to cool.
- Line a 9 by 9 inch pan with aluminum foil, leaving enough to hang over the edge and act as handles to remove bars after baking. Grease foil.
- Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl and set aside. In a stand mixer, cream butter and sugar together on medium speed for several minutes until light and fluffy.
- Add egg and mix to combine. Add flour mixture and mix to combine.
- Pour the dough into the prepared pan and gently press into the bottom of the pan and about 1/4" up the sides, making sure it is level. Set pan aside while you make the streusel.
- In a stand mixer, combine sugar, flour, and salt and mix to combine. Add butter and mix until crumbly and the butter pieces are very small.
- Spread cooled apple filling evenly over the crust, leaving about 3/4" between the pan sides and the filling. Sprinkle the streusel evenly over the filling.
- Bake for about 35 minutes until the top layer is golden. Cool completely on wire rack before removing. Cut into bars.
Apple cinnamon filling
Pressing the crust onto the bottom of pan
In goes the filling.
Fresh out of oven.
I'm stubborn and impatient. I'm the one who opens the oven before time is up and always eager to pop it in my mouth and slice it up for serving immediately out of oven instead of allowing it to cool.
Which usually results in less beautiful presentation during slicing. :(
Which usually results in less beautiful presentation during slicing. :(


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Utensils & Gifts
We offer a selection of quality eco-friendly products, many of which carry an important environmental message by discouraging the use of disposable eating utensils, dishes, and grocery bags.
Did you know that every year, 6 million tons of non-durable plastics are discarded worldwide? While on the go, plastic forks, knives, spoons, glasses, and dishes may be convenient, but we can't ignore what happens after they're tossed in the trash. Sadly, 85% of the plastic we discard isn't recycled but goes to landfills. And that's not the end of the story, as 8.8 million tons of plastic end up in our oceans each year, placing hundreds of marine species at risk of extinction.
Disposable wood and paper products aren't the answer either if you take into account the millions of trees that are sacrificed for single-use products, and the pollutants that go into their manufacture. It is estimated that over 25 million mature trees (over 20 years old) are cut yearly to make disposable chopsticks. As for things like paper plates, the impact of the paper products industry on global forests and their biodiversity, in addition to the heavy carbon footprint of manufacturing, packaging, and transport, should truly cause us to reflect on our daily choices.
More than ever, we must each do our part to protect Mother Earth.
Through simple lifestyle changes and a heightened awareness about our environmental footprint, we can make a positive difference today, and improve the future prospects for our children and grandchildren.
We hope to encourage people to do more than just recycle, by avoiding disposable products altogether. Let's carry our own eating utensils, bowl, and reusable utility or grocery bag as we can head out each day, confident that we won't add to the enormous amount of trash that humanity is generating at this point in time. In fact, most Tzu Chi volunteers do so, then sleep better at night, knowing that they're doing their part to protect the planet and the wellbeing of future generations.
ECO-Friendly Products
Stationery & Gifts


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What does BF mean?
BF means Big Fat
Particularly in Chat Abbreviations
What is the abbreviation for Big Fat?
Comments having BF
national bf day to remind me how alone I am love it
As a gf or bf, u see a total different side of each other that no one else sees n that's why no one can truly understand ur relationship
I don't want a relationship where y'all just bf and gf, gotta be bestfriends aswell, a team, have each other's back 100% YASSS
pretending not to care about how many national bf day posts you see
If I was Hillary camp, I would be worried whatever FBI found is bad enough 2 justify this breaking 11 days BF election #Comey
when ur ex attacks her new bf
Best Buy BF Ad is Up.
my bf is out of town for 10 days which, if I give myself 8 hours for sleep a night, means i can watch shrek 101 times
Sorry your white BF says "racist against white people," plz break up with him and spend the holidays with me
;BF;kdfjas;KCBFJs;kfbjeF;WEIUFIBEWMore Comments with BF...
Breaking news 2 wks BF election involving scandal & Gloria Allred: Sound Familiar?
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Infinite Warfare is getting off easy. Should be getting more hate but isn't because battlefield1 is so good and everyone is playing BF.
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See Pics: @AnushkaSharma makes BF Virat's birthday special, accompanies him to Rajkot! - #virushka @imVkohli
What a dumb costume by Hillary Duff's bf. Someone else's culture is not a "costume."
I watch @AnarchYxNinja1 sometimes. Helps me get better at the BF engine games.
This Woman Accidentally Rear-Ended a Cop Car While Taking a Topless Selfie for Her BFLess...
Most popular questions people look for before coming to this page
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BF stands for "Big Fat".
How to abbreviate "Big Fat"?
"Big Fat" can be abbreviated as BF.
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The meaning of BF abbreviation is "Big Fat".
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One of the definitions of BF is "Big Fat".
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BF as abbreviation means "Big Fat".
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The most common shorthand of "Big Fat" is BF.
Abbreviations or Slang with similar meaning
- BFGW - Big Fat Gypsy Wedding
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From 3-D playing cards and movie posters to virtual fitting rooms and vehicle test drives, augmented reality (AR) is emerging as a more accessible, innovative marketing tool.
Because more than half of shoppers use their smartphones to research purchases, AR offers new and improved ways for retailers to build relationships and engage with their customers—both inside and outside stores. In addition to creating a more engaging user experience, AR provides data that empowers brands to better understand what is resonating with consumers, and to tailor their marketing efforts accordingly.
Early examples of AR have proven successful for many brands, but barriers to widespread adoption among consumers are still present. So how does AR avoid fizzling out like so many marketing tech trends that came before it? (Sorry, QR code, but we're looking at you.)
Executing an innovative and successful AR marketing campaign doesn't have to be complicated. For retail marketers considering experimenting with AR, here are a few simple tips to keep in mind.
1. Make it relevant
For marketers and brands considering making AR part of their strategy, it's critical to understand what types of AR content are relevant to their users.
Within a user's live environment, AR technology has the ability to deliver 2-D and 3-D imagery, video, and animation via a mobile device. For example:
- Conde Nast Traveler added an AR feature to its iPhone app that helped travelers discover nearby attractions simply by scanning the area around them with their iPhone camera.
- The ice cream gurus at Ben & Jerry's added an AR feature within the brand's "Scoop of Happiness" app that allowed users to learn more about their ice cream flavor of choice by simply scanning the lid.
By tapping into the insights that AR provides—based on where, when, and how their audience is engaging with their content—retail marketers can better understand what content resonates with the user, then tailor their messaging and marketing efforts.
Take the first step (it's free).
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- Mat Sweezey's List of 103 Marketing Thought Leaders, by Category [Opinion]


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Cardio, (or cardiovascular activity as it's formally known) is movement of large muscle groups which increases the heart and breathing rate.
Cardio is important for many reasons such as helping with weight loss, improving circulation and keeping disease at bay, but it also helps keep your heart healthy and strong. The heart is a muscle, and just like any other muscle in your body, it needs to be strengthened.
The British Heart Foundation recommend around 150 minutes per week of activity which raises your heart rate and respiration, and have recently launched a 10 minute to change your life campaign promoting the importance of even small bouts of exercise, it all adds up!
Should I do more cardio than weights?
This is one of the biggest questions we are asked and the short answer is....it all depends on you!
There should always be a balance of both resistance and cardio movements in your exercise programme, but the ratio of each will depend entirely on your goals and ability level.
If you are on a muscle building programme, just ensure that you are staying active enough by adding some short bouts of cardio into your programme, making sure you raise your heart rate and keep it raised at a sustained level over a period of time.
How often should I do cardio?
There's no set guidelines, but for beginners just think little and often. Aim for around 15-20 minutes of moderate activity a day and for those more seasoned gym bunnies, in addition to moderate daily activity, make at least 1 session a week more intense meaning less rest periods and you feeling more out of breath and sweaty (always seek medical advice if you are unsure what level of exercise you can do).
What types of cardio are there?
As long as you are repetitively moving your body for long enough to raise (and then keep) your heart rate up, you are doing cardio.
Running, walking, jogging, swimming, circuit training, jumping, skipping, boxing and dancing are all forms of popular cardio exercise.
We love hopping on our Maxi Climber or Versa Climber for an amazing cardio workout at home or at the gym.
Check out the Nike Run Club for some amazing running groups you can join, Psycle for some hard core indoor cycling or our very own app P4 Body for some circuits you can do at home!
Can I still do cardio if I have an injury or illness?
Providing that you've been given the all clear by a medical professional, you can certainly do some forms of cardio even with injury or illness.
It would be advised to take it very easy with gentle walking or swimming to begin with and if you've suffered any heart condition, wear a heart rate monitor at all times to ensure you stay within the safe levels.
For previous injuries, keep cardio to low impact types meaning one foot is always on the floor and all movement is maintained with perfect form and control.
If you would like some more advice about safe and effective types of cardio you can do right away, click the button below and contact us.
November 2018
- Nov 9, 2018 Ways to Burn Fat Without a Gym
October 2018
- Oct 5, 2018 Drinking Enough Water - Health and Hydration
June 2018
- Jun 5, 2018 Cardio- Are You Doing Enough?
May 2018
- May 15, 2018 What To Do When You Hit a Workout Plateau
November 2017
- Nov 30, 2017 Top 3 Healthy Coffee Alternatives
- Nov 3, 2017 The Benefits of Using TRX Straps
October 2017
- Oct 27, 2017 Health Hero - Nicole From Zom Therapies
- Oct 11, 2017 Top 5 P4 Body Healthy Snacks
September 2017
- Sep 27, 2017 How to be Extra Prepared for Your Workout!
- Sep 22, 2017 How to Get Back into Fitness After Pregnancy
- Sep 15, 2017 How to Feel More Confident
- Sep 8, 2017 Feel Awesome This Autumn!
- Sep 1, 2017 How to Create a Home Gym - Without Breaking the Bank
August 2017
- Aug 24, 2017 Beetroot and Goji Berry Breakfast bowl
- Aug 19, 2017 Ways to Workout While on Holiday
July 2017
- Jul 19, 2017 Healthy Eating? Time to Get Tough at the Tills
June 2017
- Jun 22, 2017 Healthy Breakfast Balls
May 2017
- May 30, 2017 7 Ways You Can Be More Healthy
April 2017
- Apr 6, 2017 5 Reasons Why Home Workouts Are Best
March 2017
- Mar 22, 2017 6 Ways You Can Get Fit When You Hate Exercise
February 2017
- Feb 6, 2017 Sweet Potato Pancakes
January 2017
- Jan 15, 2017 Top 5 Reasons Why You've Stopped Losing Weight
December 2016
- Dec 6, 2016 Linda's Top Swiss Ball Exercises
November 2016
- Nov 24, 2016 Health Hero - Nicky From Nicky For Life
October 2016
- Oct 10, 2016 How To Stay Motivated To Workout
August 2016
- Aug 15, 2016 Health Hero - Natalia Bojanic


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Born in Milan in 1966 Francesco Rota is a true veteran of Italian design. In the course of his long and extremely productive professional career he has had the opportunity to work for the biggest manufacturers of designer products like Driade, Fiat, Frag, Knoll International, Moroso, Paola Lenti, Versus, L'Oreal Paris. Lapalma, KME and viagra on plants others. Unlike most of his colleagues, Rota does not limit his work within only one field. The secret to his long-lasting success lies in the wide scope of his interests: from product design of furniture and lighting, to exhibition projects, showrooms, offices, residential interiors,
events. Rota is looking for inspiration in classic simplicity and his work is an online pharmacy canada viagra actual style practice – the products he creates have elegant and pure forms unaffected by time and fashion. For two decades of hard work Rota has been recognized by both the public and the critics. His Milan studio was awarded two Compasso D'Oro awards for "Linea" chaise-longue and "Island" system, as well as Interior Design Best of the Year Awards 2014 for the Cloud upholstered furniture modular composition. His long-term collaboration with Paola Lenti has been extremely productive. The Move sofa, designed for her brand, received the Red Dot Design Award last year and in the beginning of this year – the special German Design Award. Francesco Rota's creative activity motivated his to share his skills. Since 2004 he has been lecturing in a master's programme in Istituto Europeo di Design in collaboration with Magis. In 2013 he embarked on a new challenge – he also appointed creative director of Lapalma. This made his say that despite the difficult times, his aims to strengthen the brand's positions in the most demanding world markets – Germany, Japan and USA.


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Sermon: Deacon Vant Washington III - Cultivating Humble Hearts - July 30, 2017
One thing you can say about Matthew is that he's neat. He keeps his apples in ne box, his pears in another, and his oranges in another. There's no mixed fruit, no salads in his gospel. There's a place for everything and everything is in its place
This week's scripture visits Matthew's kingdom box. He's sharing all the saying of Jesus that had to do with the kingdom. He lists them one after another without any dramatic context. It's as if he were saying, "You want kingdom. I'll give you kingdom."
It's Matthew's tendency to work by category that leads so many to think his day job was as an accountant. He is the patron saint of accountants. That makes sense. He likes lists, he likes categories, and he leaves the auditing to us.
But what is all this kingdom stuff about? It's hard for Americans to relate to kings and kingdoms. Our country was born out of the rejection of both ideas. But as Christians we have to engage the idea of the kingdom because it is so central to Christ's mission.
I might add that our own tradition, the episcopal tradition, is hard for some Americans to grasp. Bishops are an old world idea, not a new world idea. Churches in which the congregation makes all the decisions are easier for Americans to relate to. It sounds more democratic to have the congregation be in charge. Bishops strike some as un-American, undemocratic, but that is our tradition. We accept the authority of the Bishop because we have faith in the wisdom and integrity of our church leadership.
Wisdom and integrity are things we all strive for. But Jesus suggests in all this talk about kingdoms that neither wisdom nor integrity come from our individual wills. Quite the contrary, like subjects of a kingdom we are expected to put aside our will and accept the will of God as our guide.
By the way, those traditions that do not have bishops, that organized themselves democratically, also accept that God is ultimately in charge. They must discern God's will as we must discern God's will, and, as we all know, that isn't easy.
It is especially difficult in times of transition. Imagine, if you will, what a change of leadership must mean to those congregations who rule by the vote. Imagine the politics, the hidden agendas, the backroom deals. I don't know how you feel, but politics have grown particularly unsavory lately. How would you like to have the life of the church take on the character of contemporary American politics. No thank you.
For all churches undergoing the kind of transition we are undergoing, it is important not to get into squabbles or begin to campaign for what you believe is what needs to be done. What is important is to begin a deliberate, prayerful process of discernment in which we talk to each other in a spirit of love and compassion.
The kingdom means nothing if God's subjects can't speak to each other with love and respect. And as we speak let us focus on some simple questions that are profoundly important.
First, who are we? How do we define ourselves? Does that definition begin with an acknowledgement that God is in charge, that we are all members of his kingdom? Does that definition take into account the experience of those who fill these pews, does it reflect their struggles for justice as well as their fears for the future? Does it acknowledge that we are American Episcopalians, a proud and worthy tradition?
Second, having defined ourselves, how do we describe the way we do our work? Do we speak justly and compassionately to each other as we plan, as we labor, as we evaluate our successes and failures? Do we pause to pray and listen to what God might have to say about the way we are working? Do we bother to consult our Episcopal traditions to ensure that we're conducting our affairs according the principles and traditions of our Episcopal faith?
If we discover we are working in some way other than what I have described, we have, by our own will, cast ourselves out of the kingdom of God. Why in the world would we do such a thing?
This scripture ends famously with a lot of weeping and gnashing of teeth. Many a hell fire sermon was built on those passages. I will spare you the hell fire, but I will remind you that many congregation experiencing the kind of transition we are experiencing have ended up doing a lot of weeping and a lot of gnashing. Many a rear molar lost a significant portion of its enamel during a church committee meeting in which prayer is forgotten and people seek to impose their wills. I implore you. Save on future dental bills by doing more listening than speaking, by seeking first to understand and second to be understood. Those are critical parts of the kingdom
Finally, let's spend our time worrying less about the past, what may or may have been lost, what dreams we may or may have to surrender, and more time looking at our purpose in the here and now.
What does the Lord require of us at this moment? As always we are being asked to live faithfully, to live compassionately and walk humbly with our God. What does faithful living look like in 2017 at the corner of 4th Avenue South and 9th Street? What does it look like around that corner, down the street and across the world?
What forms should our compassion take? Should we reserve our compassion for those most like ourselves, those we agree with or extend it to those of other faiths, people who may not like us, even those who would do us wrong. As a Black man I can tell you that finding it in your heart to have compassion for those who would deny your very humanity and deprive you of opportunity is no easy task. It is, however, possible and it is not a step away from justice. It is a leap toward justice. That, at least, was the teaching of Dr. Martin Luther King.
And how are we to ensure that as we seek to serve the world we do so humbly, asking not for honor for ourselves but for glory for God. Of all things we must do at this transitional period in the life of our congregation, cultivating humble hearts is the most important. Only when we give the glory to God and put our pride to the side, can we enter the kingdom and stay there, today, tomorrow and on into eternity.


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If your home had been ripped apart by civil war, and your culture and arts almost completely erased, what would you do? For the teachers at Phare Ponleu Selpak, the answer is clear: study these ancient arts, and pass them on to the students.
This January, through workshops and knowledge sharing, our teachers worked to preserve the beautiful Cambodian tradition of Large Shadow Puppet Theatre, or Sbek Thom.
We sat down with one teacher, Ms. Sopheavy, to find out how to make a leather shadow puppet, and why she thinks this art form is important for the next generation of Cambodians.
Sbek Thom: Large Shadow Puppet Theatre
Picture this: you sit with family in friends in a pagoda. It is late at night in a world before electricity. Your surroundings are dark, with only the light of the stars to illuminate your surroundings. The night is filled with the sounds of crickets and other insects. You sit facing a white sheet, a fire burns behind, creating a soft glow. A sound grows into a crescendo: a Cambodian orchestra begins playing. Suddenly behind the sheet, shapes appear. Characters from the Ream Ke, or Ramayana, dancing across the screen. A narrator speaks, telling an epic tale of gods, men and fantastic journeys. This is Sbek Thom Theatre, and the art form that Phare Ponleu Selpak is helping to preserve.
To learn more about the history of this tradition, read our earlier blog post.
Sbek Thom: The Importance of Giant Shadow Puppets
Last November, a few of our teachers travelled to Phnom Penh to study the making of Sbek Thom Puppets with the experts at Kok Thlok. Sopheavy, a dance teacher in our Performing Arts School, joined the training in Phnom Penh to learn how to create her own puppet, and perform a piece of the Ream Ke.
For Sopheavy, learning to make and perform with Sbek Thom is an experience with a unique importance to Cambodians. Carrying on this ancient art form is important for Cambodian national identity, and for the knowledge of the younger generation. In a country where many traditions and ancient art forms are disappearing, Sopheavy is proud to be bringing them back to life.
This month, Sopheavy, along with her fellow teachers, decided to share their new knowledge and skill with the students here in Battambang. She felt that this was an important and logical next step to take after the training in Phnom Penh.
"In Cambodia, this art form has almost completely faded away. We want to preserve it, and to pass this knowledge to the youngest generation."
This art form has yet another significance in a modern Cambodian economy where rural families are getting left behind. In the hands of modern artisans, Sopheavy tells us, Sbek Thom becomes a tool for economic empowerment.
"This process of creating puppets from leather is inexpensive for Cambodians. But if they learn the skill, they can sell the handmade puppets to support their families."
Many of the families in our community struggle to support themselves, and parents sometimes leave their children in Cambodia while they travel to Thailand for work. Through artistic pursuits like Sbek Thom, artisans can support themselves and keep their family together.
How To Make Sbek Thom Puppets
Making a shadow puppet out of leather is a slow, intricate process, one that can last for many days. It begins with the death of a cow. Cattle is common in Cambodia, yet they are valuable animals, not sacrificed lightly. The skin of the cow is cleaned, stretched out, and left to dry in the sun for at least three days. As it dries, a dye made from the Cambodian Kodal plant is applied to the leather.
After three days, the hair is shaved off of the leather and dye is applied once more. Now dried and dyed, it is time to work the leather into the sacred characters. The artist draws the shape of the puppet she wishes to create. This can be a character from the Ream Ke, or anything they wish. Drawn on paper, the illustration is laid atop the leather and pinned in place.
Next, it is time to create the puppet. Using a hammer and nails of various sizes, the shapes of the puppet are hammered out of the leather. Point by point, hour by hour, the character is born from the leather. The last step is to apply paint to draw out the character further, and then attach the puppet to its frame.
The entire process can be finished in 5 days, or longer, depending on how long the leather is left to dry in the sun. But for Sopheavy, she can knock out a beautiful puppet in less than one day.
Promoting The Rebirth of Cambodian Culture: Why Phare Teaches Sbek Thom Creation
As one of the premier art schools in Cambodia, the teachers at Phare Ponleu Selpak feel inspired to preserve and pass down the knowledge of sacred and traditional Cambodian art forms. With this training, we have added Sbek Thom to the list of artistic disciplines that are taught on our campus.
At the end of the training, Sopheavy and her fellow teachers were proud of themselves, and honored to be a part of the continuation of this knowledge.
Our next steps? To use this knowledge to create our own Sbek Thom performances in Battambang, promoting Cambodian culture and bringing together our community. Because of the passion of our teachers and students, we will secure this sacred art for the next generation.
Want to support the rebirth of Cambodian artistic culture? A donation to Phare Ponleu Selpak goes directly to support the education of the children in Battambang in Performing and Visual arts.
**For US tax payers, donations through Give2Asia are tax-exempt according to the guidelines set out on Give2Asia's website.


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Shara has been working with the didgeridoo since 2012. Using vibration as a healing tool, she clears and balances the chakras and offers intuitive guidance. You will leave the session feeling renewed and balanced!
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What would I do as TAG Heuer CEO?
Two weeks ago I read this article on Quill & Pad where the team went into detail about what they would do if they became CEO of Zenith. It was a entertaining article that got me thinking about other brands, specifically TAG Heuer. I've been critical of them in the past so I thought what would I do if I were in charge?
1. Don't change anything
One of my main complaints about TAG Heuer is the constant changing of brand identity. Us in the watch community have an understanding of what TAG are but an average Joe or Jane might struggle. I want everyone to know what TAG Heuer is about.
My first act as CEO would be to let whatever plan the previous CEO had run their course. Rather than changing the brand focus every six months, for the next two years I'll let those designs play out and see what the market likes,
2. Cut the fat and Re-organize.
It's been amazing two years with me as TAG Heuer CEO. The brand has seen unprecedented growth and I have awarded myself with a large bonus as reward. Now that the brand identity has been stable over the past years, I'm now able to trim the collections down to references I know the market likes.
Without question I'd immediately drop the Men's Link collection. The watches have never worked for me and as CEO I can do what I want. Links be gone! I'm also cutting the number of watches in the Formula ,Aquaracer and Carrera collection. I'm talking 20 references at most per collection. There are currently 52 Formula 1s, 78 Aquaracers and a staggering 116 Carreras. That is too much choice for consumers to wrap their heads around.
The half ceramic and half steel watches in all collection are gone, along with any gold plated watches.
All the Heuer 01 and Heuer 02s will be moved into a new collection called "Innovation". These watches don't look or feel like what a Carrera is and it makes more sense to seperate them. The Carrera collection now consists of classic driving chronographs and a handful of time-only pieces. A new collection imaginatively called 'Heritage' will be created which will focus on heritage re-editions.
3. Consolidation of design
Now that there is a sensible amount of references, it's time to distinguish each collection from each other. The prices of watches will stay in line with the current TAG Heuer collection (I'll let Francois and Thierry in accounting take care of the details), the focus here is making each collection serve a singular purpose.
The Formula 1 collection will be the entry level sports watch, much like the Professional series before it. The focus will be on quartz time only watches and quartz chronographs. The new F1 style of the barrel case and larger 12 hour markers will remain, and all pieces will have the red and green TAG Heuer Logo.
The Aquaracer Collection is the next step up in the TAG Heuer watch hierarchy. With only automatic Aquaracers available, they will be marketed as the budget equivalent of a Rolex Submariner. The new Aquaracer style case will remain, as will the ceramic bezel and applied stencil logo, but every watch will have a sapphire crystal back to display the movements. This makes a great unique selling point for sales assistants upselling customers from the Formula 1 to the Aquaracer.
The Carrera name will again be synonymous with classic driving watches and will the flagship collection. Bastien and his design team will have a lot of work to do as most the Carrera collection did not survive my culling. I'm looking for more modern and stylish watches like the Jack Heuer 81 Chronometer and Caliber 36 Flyback.
The development of all watches under the Innovation collection will be directed by Mr. Jean-Claude Biver. He's allowed to design whatever he wants but he's forbidden from making any press conferences under my tenure. He will be given free reign to design whatever style of watches he would like in the Innovation Collection, but all celebrity endorsements and ambassador deals must be approved by me.
4. Development of the Heritage Line
Now there a solid design brief for the Formula 1, Aquaracer, Carrera and Innovation lines, we can begin to expand the heritage line. The Longines Heritage Collection is going to be our model here but we're going to do it better, because TAG Heuer doesn't crack under pressure.
Our designers have the easiest job here as we'll be sticking directly to the original designs. No date window on the original means no date window in the modern re-edition. 39mm case in 1969 means a 39mm case in 2017. Easy peasy. This goes the same for the movements as well, so we're going to have to find a reliable manual wind chronograph movement.
Hodinkee have proven with the Zenith x Hodinkee chronograph that there is a market for these kinds of watches at a higher price. The margins will be thinner but we'll get a lot of cred on the forums for giving fans of the brand something that they want. Hell, I'll give Jeff Stein a big salary to come onboard as an advisor who can pick which the next years releases.
5. Reduce focus on in-House
This is going to come as a shock to you but I won't be focusing on the development of in-house movements. Unlike Zenith, the history of TAG Heuer is not about creating high end, in-house movements. A Valjoux 72 was good enough for 1969 and ETA movements are good enough for 2017. In the LVMH hierarchy, TAG Heuer is at the bottom level below Zenith. Why split the market for a $5000-$1000 in-house chronographs between two brands under the same company?
I won't stop production of the Heuer-01/02 but I'll restrict their use to the Innovation line. I want the three collections (Formula 1, Aquaracer and Carrera) to form the foundation of the brand and I want them to be affordable. That's not possible when they have an in-house movement inside.
6. Make the Connected Watch good
Sigh. There is little chance that Mr. Biver, who is somehow my subordinate and my boss in this hypothetical scenario, will allow the complete capitulation of the Connected Watch. I believe it to be an ill-fated endeavour but Mr. Biver has managed to get both Intel & Google to don cowbells and it would be foolish to ignore their strengths completely.
Right away, I would stop that asinine trade-in policy. Its misguided attempt to make more money on a product that is unconnected to eternity. It is greedy to charge $1500 for a watch and then 3 years 'offer' them another watch for an extra $1500. Any mention of the phrase 'Connected to Eternity' would be met with a trip to the bottom of Lake Geneva.
My first step is to shrink the gargantuan 46mm case down to something more wearable. How about a 40mm mens and a 36mm ladies? I'll get my Google partners to increase the PPI of the watch (currently 240) to match that of the Apple Watch 2 (326). If I'm asking customers to shell out $1500 for a piece of technology that will be obsolete in 3 years, then they better be getting something good.
By incorporating a heart rate sensor and a GPS tracker, this expensive dongle is now technologically comparable to smartwatches less than half its price. I'll also include a digital library of over 100 of the best TAG Heuer and Heuer dials from the past 50 years. Fancy a Solunar dial on Sundays? Done. A Monza for Mondays? I've got you covered. Restricting choice on a digital medium is madness and this is an easy win for us. We also have a way of monitoring our customers favorite vintage designs which might come handy when we plan our next heritage watch.
All this without increasing the price. Thankfully I've made TAG Heuer an immensely profitable company so we can afford to take a loss on this pet project of the former CEO.