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Bottleless water coolers is the UK's specialist provider of plumbed water coolers. We were founded in January 2009 as a joint venture between The Water Cooler Company and The Water Delivery Company – two of the UK's leading water cooler providers to industry.
We established a separate niche website for water coolers in recognition that customers need specific advice on suitable solutions and detailed information on the wide variety of cooler options available.
Bottlelesswatercoolers.co.uk offers customers Europe's widest range of chiller available on a rental or a purchase basis, backed up by a European network of fully trained EPDWCA engineers. Our national coverage enables us to provide customers with installation, sanitisation and general maintenance solutions across the UK. Within Europe our established relationships with national suppliers, through the EDWCA, enables us to install and service almost any water coolers.
Our company links also allow us to provide a full range of bottleless water coolers, drinking water fountains and hot water boilers if customers require a wider drinking water solution – for more details on these options please either email firstname.lastname@example.com or call us on 0845 500 4455.
A little bit about our business
We are family run business established on the basis of a genuine enthusiasm for drinking water fountains, and continue to stand by that ethos today. We realise the importance of after sales care and customer support for a water fountains, and have always made it a priority of our. Where other companies may pass you on somewhere else, we do all our customer service in house and guarantee to be available to talk to on the phone during office hours. The purchase, installation and ongoing maintenance of drinking water facilities is a long term consideration for our customers, and we strive to ensure that we are able to provide it with as much expertise and friendliness as possible.
Established in January 2003, we now operate out of our 6,000 sq. foot warehouse in Wimbledon, South-West London, at which customers are more than welcome to drop by to see our product range and meet our engineers. We of course do the majority of our installation work at client sites.
Six Things you Can Expect from Our Company
1. Our stock items will be dispatched on the day of ordering (if before 2pm), on a next working day service that arrives on time 99 percent of the time.
2. A friendly, helpful and knowledgeable person answering your call at any time in office hours to help solve any problems with your order or answer any questions you may have.
3. Full manufacturer warranty of all bottleless water coolers.
4. All customer support is done in house and we don't pass you on
5. Safe online shopping guaranteed by the Google checkout shopping cart system for payment
6. Hassle-free transactions and excellent customer serviceGoogle+


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Rice, Pea and Corn Salad
Recipe taken from wlr's Build-Your-Own Delish Diet Plan
This quick and easy rice salad can be made ahead for a healthy take-to-work lunch, for just 300 calories and 2.8 of your 5-a-day. It also works great as a side salad for a BBQ or picnic - simply double (or quadruple) the recipe!
- Recipe makes: 1 serving
- Prep time:
15 mins
- Calories: 300
per serving
- 90g cooked rice
- ¼ cucumber
- 4 radishes
- 2 cherry tomatoes
- 50g frozen peas
- 50g frozen sweetcorn
- 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp lemon juice
Want to try different ingredients?
You can add this recipe to My Recipes in WLR and swap ingredients to make it perfect for you . . .
- Cook the rice according to pack instructions.
- Wash and chop the cucumber, radishes and tomatoes.
- Whilst the rice is still hot, stir in the peas and sweetcorn and leave to cool while you prepare the dressing.
- Put the oil, and lemon juice into a screw top jar, season to taste, put on the lid and shake to combine the ingredients.
- Pour the dressing over the rice, add the chopped vegetables and toss gently. Keep refrigerated in an airtight container until needed.
|Calories (kcal)
|Carbohydrate (g)
|Fat (g)
|Protein (g)
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More Calorie Counted Recipes for Salads
You'll find hundreds more super salad recipes to tempt you in WLR, plus you can use the tools to easily calculate the calories in your own fresh favourites, give it a try!
Lose weight while eating real, lovely, healthy food
This recipe is just one of the 30 delicious dinners in wlr's new book... Featuring quick-and-easy, calorie counted meals - there's ideas for scrummy breakfasts and luscious lunches too! Discover how to eat well and lose weight

subset: commoncrawl


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30 m.
All levels
Ah Jeronimo… The most famous dive site in our bay!
The cave of Jeronimo starts very shallow. The cave has a big entrance, from 2 meters to the bottom that is around 18 meters. Here, we begin our dive at the cave entrance, it is only a short swim inside before you are able to surface and look around. And, well, it is difficult to explain the view that awaits you!! Stalactites in abundance!! Jeronimo is one of those places that reminds you how lucky you are to be able to observe such an untouched environment. After taking in the view we restart our diving looking around inside the cave underwater. As we emerge back into the light, and outside of the cave, the landscape that awaits you is a classic Mediterranean sea view of crystalline blue. Here, we can stay close to the wall and look for moray eels hiding or descend a little to the bottom where the rocks hide groupers and octopuses.
The Sun Room is a beautiful place. If conditions permit we can dive it as a o...View more
Cala Molins and Cala Carbo situated on the northern line of Mallorca, are 2 b...View more
Just a short cruise past Cap de Pinar we find Luis´s Arch. The view from the ...View more


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"Working with Coach Shalynne has been wonderful!! Her dedication to her client's success is truly motivational. She goes the extra mile to help with your goals and never judges when you back slide a little. I couldn't go through this journey without her!"
— C. Conerly
"I started to notice a friend from church losing weight and talking with Coach Shalynne! I immediately was drawn into the conversation because I was desperate to lose weight and be healthy. I have always had a weight problem so I've tried many different things. I started the program at beginning of July and I have lost 55lbs. Woohoo! Coach Shalynne was with me the whole way encouraging me, supporting me in whatever way possible. Coach Shalynne was very accessible whether it was text, Facebook, phone call or in person. Coach Shalynne has helped me achieve my fitness goals."
— R. Anna
"I couldn't believe how much came in the (5-Day Detox) program. I thought it was just 5 days of recipes. I was so wrong! The handbooks, meal plans, and the live coaching and 24-7 support from Health Coach Shalynne was so wonderful. Plus, there were other bonuses too. I definitely got my money's worth."
— T. Pitts
"When Coach Shalynne told me about her 5-Day Detox, I said, "I want to do that!" And, I'm so glad I did. I loved the recipes and I will be using them time and time again."
—M. Scott
Health Coach Shalynne recently presented her "Healthy at Work" program onsite at Redondo Transportation.
"Thank you so much for your time and advice today. (M)y people definitely appreciated all your knowledge."
— Cesar Redondo Eishlev
"I learned a lot about nutrition and food preparation under Coach Shalynne. She is very helpful and encouraging!"
—M. Bibou
"I loved the recipes and I loved the way it took away all that bloated feeling that I had. Plus, the (5-Day) detox reduced my sugar cravings."
— S. Hwozdik
Last summer I decided I needed to start getting healthy and change my eating habits…once again! At 45 years old that isn't easy to do. So, I was so blessed when Shalynne reached out to me and offered to help me not only reach my goals but come up with a plan to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Since then I have lost 25 pounds, am feeling better than I have in years, and am well on my way to achieving the goals that I had set for myself.
I have known Shalynne for over a decade and that is one of the things I love most about her—she reaches out and gives 100% of herself to those who need help getting over and identifying the hurdles that are blocking them from attaining the fullness of life they are pursuing.
By personally living out a healthy lifestyle daily before you by posting exercise, diet, and motivational videos, Shalynne blazes a trail that anyone can follow if they're willing to. I personally love that she focuses not only on taking care of your body by eating right and exercising but she also feeds your mind and spirit with encouraging words and truth.
Thank you Shalynne for all that you've done and are doing to help me become a healthier me!
-E. Curiak


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Fitbit's kid-focused Fitbit Ace is now on sale. The device resembles the Fitbit Alta HR and is designed for children age 8 and older. The tracker counts steps and also gives prompts to move.
The tracker also monitors active minute and sleep goals, and offers celebratory messages and badges, and challenges for the whole family. It comes with an adjustable, showerproof wristband available in two vibrant colours and up to 5 days battery life.
"Fitbit Ace opens up a direct line of communication across the family to help parents and their children understand how physical activity impacts overall wellbeing and health," said Dr. Ryan Rhodes, exercise psychologist, Director of the Behavioural Medicine Lab (BMED) at the University of Victoria, and member of the Fitbit Advisory Panel. "When parents have insight into their kids' activity, they are better positioned to then promote less screen-time and more physical activity in a fun and motivating way."
The device comes with built-in parental controls. Parental consent is required to create an account for kids, and Fitbit's family account allows parents to approve who their children connect with, and view activity and progress. Parents can help manage what stats their kid sees in the app to only include what motivates them most. Kids have access to appropriate stats for their age, including steps, active minutes and sleep; it won't highlight calorie intake, weight and body fat/BMI, or public social features.
The tracker features:
- Tracks their activity and sleep: Helps develop healthy habits by trackingsteps, active minutes and sleep; goals default to international health guidelines for activity (60 minutes)v and sleep (9 hours).
- Reminds them to move: Reduces sedentary time with personalized reminders to move each hour.
- Motivates and rewards them for moving: Encourages kids to build healthy habits with daily or weekend challenges and collectible badge rewards. Kids (and parents) can see their stats, badges earned, progress toward their goals, and more in the Fitbit app.
- Family account: Brings families together and keeps everyone engaged with added motivation and accountability; parents can view their kid's activity, and manage what stats they see in the app.
The Fitbit Ace is available today at global retail partner stores worldwide, including major North American retailers Amazon, Best Buy, Kohl's, and Target. The device is also available for sale at Fitbit.com and major online retailers for $99.95 (USD) in power purple and electric blue. Find it at Amazon here.


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Even Superman needs earbuds, right? I can't think of when or why, but hey… if you can, just post it in the comments.
We humans, however, do need cheap earbuds that we don't mind losing, but that get the job done. If we can show our nerd side while doing it, all the better! Grab these from Amazon with Prime/Free shipping and make your next commute SUPER.


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Stop by Chick-fil-A (Memorial Blvd location only) on June 3rd from 2-6pm for their first ever slide event - 1,000 Slides For $1,000 benefitting Special Kids. This is a free event. Food, face painting, bounce house and balloon artist will be on available.
DETAILS: 1,000 slides for $1,000.
WHERE: Chick-fil-a
2116 Memorial Blvd.,
Murfreesboro, TN 37129
WHEN: 2-6pm


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Porch Repaint front door Install light fixtures currently in foyer and living room Add recessed light directly above door Foyer Redo coat closet shelves Fix front door seal Install light fixture Living room Fill-in cracked hardwoods Install light fixture currently in dining room Affix shatter-proof mirror to cover fireplace opening Family room Remove in-wall speakers and patch wall Repair gas starter replace recessed lights and cans with LEDs Clean chimney Kitchen Replace cabinet handles (but not knobs) Repaint cabinets Make all pendant lights over island equal length Dining room Remove drapes & patch wall Remove chair rail and patch wall Install light fixture Master bedroom Paint air grates to match walls Install new closet doors Add proper relief drain pipe to steam shower Fix / replace bathroom window Refinish master bath cabinets Remove bath mirror and replace with two large vertical mirrors. repair and paint wall Add overhead light Secondary bedrooms Paint air grates to match walls Repair closet door Lock and insulate attic door Add overhead lighting Exterior Add a deck from family room (23x15, with diagonal pergola) Gutter cleaning and fix downspout behind AC units Repair loose bricks supporting concrete patio Repair leaking front faucet/hose bib Install lights in soffit above deck Other repaint hallway, living, foyer, dining, bedrooms and baths, including all trim Replace all doorknobs and hardware Toilet paper roll on wall of powder room Replace laundry room door and storage door Weather seal basement windows and doors Insulate basement stairs door Anchor powder room vanity Fix improper wire splices Water heater repairs Repair inoperative outlets Encapsulate asbestos tape Fix dryer vent
You can attach a link to this document to an event in your Calendar, a task in your To Do list or an Address. Check the boxes below for the data you want to
bring into the event's or task's description, and then click "Select text to copy" to have the next event or task you create or edit have the document text and link.


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"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer".
INSIGHT: God created the world with words. He created us in His own image. Thus words are the very foundation of our relationship with God. Remember life and death are in the power of the tongue.
PRAYER: Lord as I confess Jesus as Lord, let those words bring me into a deeper relationship with You. May my words be Your words and acceptable in Your sight. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Charlie Goodman


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The Kandy District Hockey Association, which held their AGM fourteen days ago, elected a hockey promoting committee and are all out to bring the game back to the position where it was in the early days. The new committee need to start thinking for themselves - they will have to develop an analytical approach if they want to succeed consistently at the highest level. It is high time Kandy hockey began a revival. They are hoping to start with the inter-club league, knockouts and sevens tournament. The new committee comprises R. Maheswaran was once again elected as president, vice presidents - H. Marikar, P. Kumara, D. Herath, S. Dissanayake, G. G. Dharmaratne, secretary - M. A. M. Ashraf, asst. secretary - N. Paraneetharan, treasurer - A. B. Godigamuwa and Asst. Treasurer - R. T. R. Raheem.
The game of hockey has a long history in Kandy. Hockey was first played in Kandy in 1907 when the Indian Raj-put Regiment were housed at the Kandy Military Barracks, now called Police Barracks. At that time St. Anthony's College was housed at the present St. Sylvester's College premises. The students used Barracks grounds present Police grounds for all their sports. Antonian schoolboys seeing the Indians playing hockey, they were drawn to the game and tried their hand at knocking the ball about with a borrowed stick. Gradually, more and more boys found the glamour of the game irresistible and, in a matter of few months, threw down the gauntlet and soon found themselves at grips with the Indian Military men. Glancing through some old records, the first "Bully Off" in Kandy was in 1907 at the Bogambara grounds, when the Kandy Sports Club packed with Europeans and the Industrial School Team met they too were with Europeans. These two clubs played hockey regularly and had opposition from the Regiments stationed in Kandy. Then somewhere in 1910, a new club was formed, the Kandy Rovers SC. They had the Vanlangenberg brothers Hugh and Lloyd, Wicky and Percy, all first class players. In addition, they had Edwin Boulton, a teacher at Kingswood College, and H. John Gaye a teacher at St. Anthony's College.
In 1909 hockey 'died' with Charlie Hamilton's death, who was a little 10-year-old prodigy from St. Anthony's, who played as a centre-half. This lionhearted midget had learnt the game the hard way, in the company of the Indian stalwarts. That year, a team from Kandy went down to Colombo to play matches against Colombo Municipal Council and Bloomfield C & AC in the last week of October 1901. The first match ended 1-1 draw and the second match Kandy won. The hero of these two games was Charlie Hamilton, whose display had evoked repeated rounds of applause. The anti-climax of this was that, following the teams return to Kandy, Hamilton suddenly took ill and died on 5th November 1909. After which, the game too, died a natural death.
Once again in 1926, Kandy SC, with Europeans, started a tournament. Special mention must be made of the Kandy SC Secretary John Jackson Smale, some stalwarts such as Hamer, Trailm Mclaughlanm, the Bengan brothers, B. and R., Trinity teacher K.R. Pilcher (Oxford Blue), and Strefield (English County player). There was a Big Match between the Upcountry and Low Country in August, with the teams composed of all Europeans.
It was in the mid-1930's that the game was revived due to the keenness of people like P.T. Rajan, M.S. Jainudeen K.V.D. Paul and J.O. Mendis. At that time only a hand full of clubs showed interest. As the years rolled by hockey flourished in Kandy. During the World War, a large number of clubs and schools including foreign teams played in Kandy. Hockey in Kandy was well organized with local tournaments in full swing. By 1940 hockey in Kandy was well organized with tournaments in full swing. As years rolled by hockey flourished in Kandy with several schools in and around taking to the game. During World War II, a large number of clubs and schools, including foreign teams, played in Kandy. In the early days, there were tournaments such as PT Rajan Trophy, MS Jainudeen Cup for the League runners-up, 7-a-side Tournament for the KPMM Seyed Ahamed Challenge Cup and the VHL Anthonisz Challenge Cup for the Knockout tournament. The teams during that period were St. Anthony's College known as "Hotspurs", Trinity College known as "Rabbits", Indian Students Hostel, Kingswood College, Kandy Rovers SC, Young Stars SC, and Imperial Motor Garage Hockey Club.
Now, where does Kandy actually stand, at one time being the top-ranked Sri Lanka Hockey Association? Kandy officials are now learning the art of patient build-up. The hit and miss tactics of the past and the all-out counter-attacks are no longer preferred. The Kandy hockey committee has been regrouped in a structured way. They are all-out to an improvement in the game in all aspects.


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March 6 - "A simple cliché". - Okay, so this is one that Brenda and I came up with last night during dinner. Not the best picture in the community and not the most difficult cliché to figure out, but it is on the lighter side.
This photo was added to the new Metaphortography community as part of that project. See how the community is progressing by clicking here.


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Our Mission…
Our mission is to leverage our unique expertise and provide science based solutions to our clients and partners while supporting the sustainability of programs of the River Institute.
Our Story…
RiverLabs is the Applied Research and Technical Services branch of the River Institute, a not-for-profit research institute aimed at understanding the complex dynamics which face aquatic ecosystems and promoting science through education and involvement. RiverLabs leverages the more than 20 years of environmental and technical expertise, to solve problems for clients.
RiverLabs, along with our network of partners, strives to work with industrial clients to improve efficiency, maintain quality and test innovative ideas and solutions. Although we often focus on environmental issues, we can adapt our approach to a wide range of sectors.
Having a respect for the world we live in is core to our philosophy. That is why we are dedicated to ensuring that for all of our projects we strive to leave the planet just a little bit better than it was when we started.
In the Media…
Applied Research Staff
Louis Savard
Program Leader
ext. 301
lsavard [at] riverlabs.ca
Mark MacDougall
Project Coordinator
ext. 302
mmacdougall [at] riverlabs.ca
Natasha Pozega
Research Assistant
ext. 305
npozega [at] riverlabs.ca
Technical Services Staff
Crystal Martell
Quality Assurance Officer
Biosafety Officer
ext. 227
services [at] riverlabs.ca
Luc St. Pierre
Laboratory Coordinator
ext. 239
services [at] riverlabs.ca
Find Out More…
Are you interested in learning how RiverLabs can help ? Click the contact us button and we'll get back to you quickly!


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"Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders… Let me walk upon the waters… Wherever You would call me!" We scream it at the top of our lungs and maybe even dare to raise our hands when the music picks up and we're feeling extra confident. For me, when I sing this song I think of myself as a missionary, sitting in the dirt, talking and laughing with a village mama. When my mind goes here, every other part of me wants to join my mind in that place, with that person, whoever she is.
Sitting in the dirt is my comfort zone.
I have always wanted to be in the nations. I remember having a conversation with my mom a couple years ago, wondering why she thought my desire to be a missionary was "just a phase." To my surprise, not everyone wanted to spend their life in a mud hut drinking water from the nearby river.
When I think about a situation that actually requires dependency on the Spirit and trust in a God who is never going to let me down, I think of white suburbia. The two groups of people that intimidate me most are rich white businessmen dressed in suits and stunning sorority girls that have their lives put together and buy clothes at stores other than Mountain Thrift. I don't know what it is, but these are the people that make me feel wildly inadequate and insecure.
This summer, I was planning on doing something extravagant. I signed up for a mission trip to Papua New Guinea, one of my favorite nations. I was stoked to be in the country I spent so much in time in last year, the country where God confirmed relentlessly that it was my destiny to bring His Good News to the ends of the earth for the rest of my life. I would finally be doing overseas ministry with my best friend and sister. It was a dream come true!
After one of the team meetings, I was sitting in my car and God subtly whispered that it wasn't time for me to go back. I thought I misheard – God adores Papua New Guinea! I know I am called to be a missionary! He tells me in His Word to GO, and make disciples. This just doesn't make sense.
But I knew it was Him.
He assured me that I would be back, but not now. In my spontaneous and green-lighted nature, I was off to researching the next possible trip. I signed up to go to Nepal a few weeks later, where I would be a photojournalist for a team going into one of the darkest nations in the world. I could not think of a more ideal place to shine the light of Christ. Furthermore, this was me stepping into what God has shared with me about introducing Jesus to people in the most spiritually oppressive places of the world.
Until God said it wasn't my time yet.
What the heck, God! I cannot wrap my mind around Him sometimes. It's a good thing I don't have to. I decided to sit back for a while and sit with Jesus until He illuminated the next step, as He always does.
I sat in this place of wondering for quite some time. Friends and family applauded Lauren, my sister and leader of the trip to Papua New Guinea, for being so willing to abandon her summer and go share the Gospel with another nation. And rightfully so, that girl is awesome and so obedient to her Father. Then the question came, "Sarah, what are you doing this summer?" I have no idea. Awkward pause. "Oh, I'm sure you'll figure something out!" Nice.
I wanted to go to another country. God wanted me to go to a country club.
Honestly, the thought of staying in America made me feel inferior. But I realized, I wouldn't feel so inadequate if I was convinced that every single person needs the Gospel just as much as the next. I wouldn't feel inadequate working at a country club this summer if I didn't think it was a position inferior to hopping on a plane and spending my days in an impoverished village. I wouldn't feel inadequate if I didn't think the lost and lonely overseas were more valuable than the lost and lonely in my hometown.
Something needed to change in my thinking.
As I have been crying out for God to take me where my trust is without borders, I have actually been crying out for God to call me into privileged suburbia where most drive BMW's and most are blind to their need for God. He is calling me to the very place that makes me roll my eyes with a lack of compassion and blindness myself. See, it is really easy to share the Gospel with a starving child who would never judge you. For me, it is one of the hardest things to share the Gospel with a man wearing a suit making over 6 figures a year with the perfect car, perfect house, and everything he physically needs. Why is this?
God has been stirring me up with these questions and thoughts over the past year, and I feel like the truth of the equal value of His children is finally beginning to solidify in my thinking. I know He wants to make this concrete though, and that's why so many doors opened up to the job I have this summer. I will be working at an extremely classy country club as a poolside waitress – serving rich white businessmen and working alongside a staff of sorority girls. The perfect mission field, according to God.
Everyone is starving, whether they live in an impoverished nation or not, whether their bellies are bloated or not. People are starving for truth and love – which I happen to carry because of the Holy Spirit inside of me. Who am I to say who gets to receive it or not? Why would I choose for God which body He makes a temple? God deeply desires all men to be saved, not just the impoverished. The reality is, everyone without their Savior is dying, whether they have money or food or not. Everyone needs the Bread of Life.


text: In Boyberry we provide the best quality drinks at the best price, and a great assortment of local, imported, and even gluten free beers. We have a space where you can feel comfortable, and our team will find some of the nicest guys, who are not only prepared to get a drink, but they are great guys you can chat with. In our bar we also have a cloakroom to leave your belongings and to be comfortable around the place.


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Our Upcoming Events
In addition to our online courses, PaTRAM orchestrates events all over the world.
Latest Online Courses
Introduction to Musicianship I
Classes held spring and fall annually
Students will gain a solid foundation in sight reading and fundamental music theory by learning to identify and notate Key signatures, Melodic and Harmonic intervals, Rhythmic motives, and Meters. The certification exam is given at the end of the course.
Score Analysis for the Conductor (NEW)
Available now
A conductor's competency depends on a broad skill set. An often neglected and bypassed skill is the ability to analyze and prepare a score for performance.
Recent News
Purchase Our Latest CD
On April 26th, 2019 Reference Recordings released PaTRAM's new CD, "The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom"
Composed by Kurt Sander and superbly performed by the PaTRAM Institute Singers, this landmark album is an English-language recording of Orthodox choral music. It is the first and only complete setting of the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom in English. The new HDCD quality & SACD 5.0 (Super Audio Recording) release was recorded by the multi-Grammy winning SoundMirror in Chicago, Illinois under the baton of highly-esteemed conductor Peter Jermihov and is distributed by multi-Grammy recording company, Reference Recordings. PaTRAM's twice Grammy nominated co-founders, Alex and Katya Lukianov, were Executive Producers of the CD.
The Story of PaTRAM
Watch the full-length documentary about the vision of PaTRAM.


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A customer wrote us recently questioning whether blogging really matters for his business. Here's an excerpt of his concern:
I am questioning whether or not a blog really matters for my business. I've been blogging for a long time, and I must confess, I don't get business that way. I run a small web design agency, and I don't think my customers will find me by searching for blog posts that I write.
The likelihood of a decision maker finding one of my blog posts and following my blog and buying my expensive web design and SEO packages from this interaction are much lower, in my view, than my chances with outbound prospecting – which I already know how to do.
I already know how to blog fairly well, too, and I know the time and effort it takes for me to write a good blog post. It's 2-4 hours per post. I've just done a dozen of those, to a targeted audience, and I only built a really small list, and sold almost no product.
With web design, when I look at the likelihood of getting clients through blogging, and the likelihood of getting clients through outbound prospecting, I see my website as nothing more than sales collateral for my prospecting campaign. I feel like putting the time and energy into blogging on this domain would dilute my prospecting efforts, and take away from the time I could be practicing my craft, and delivering on my services.
After spending six years blogging all the time, it feels strange for me to turn my back on it — but I just haven't gotten good results, and I see a better path to getting clients by spending my time on outbound prospecting instead.
Am I way off base here? Somebody talk me out of it, because I really do like blogging, I just haven't gotten the results to merit the time I've put into it.
All businesses need one thing: access to customers.
A blog is simply one way to reach customers. Our blog (The Sparkline) happens to account for ~35% of all new leads for Fizzle as a business. Many (I'd say the majority) of our Founder Stories guests rely on blogging for customer leads. Lots of other Fizzler-run businesses rely on blogging for a big chunk of customer leads.
But blogging isn't a silver bullet, and it isn't your only choice.
In the Fizzle Roadmap, Stage 5 (Audience), we talk about "audience channels." There are many ways to grow an audience and find customers. Content marketing (blogging, podcasting, making videos) is one channel. The others are: hustle & sell, established platforms, advertising & sponsorships and partnerships & affiliates. There are several others we don't even mention, like press and walk-by traffic (for in-person businesses).
If blogging hasn't been working for you, there are three likely causes: 1) your blog posts and topic (or the way you're writing about it) aren't interesting or useful to people, 2) you haven't been promoting your blog posts effectively, or 3) blogging isn't the right channel for reaching your target audience.
There's no shame in deciding blogging isn't for you, but make sure you have another plan for reaching customers. Also keep in mind that the reasons why blogging has failed you so far may also apply to other channels.


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Ancient Strengthening Technique - Chapter 1022-1024
AST 1022 –Holy Bracelet, Working Together Silently, Buddha Swordplay
This day, Mo Hongluo stayed at the Qing Clan. Having not met for so many years, they had a lot to talk about but Qing Shui had his own plans. The Buddha Sect at the Central Continent was divided into nine sect or nine gates and the Buddha Sword Sect was one of it.
At the Eastern Victory divine Continent, he had previously stayed at the Golden Buddha Temple. There, he had a flash of realization, being able to improve his strength. Being at the Golden Buddha Temple, he knew the basic situation of the Buddha Sect.
The Abbot at the Golden Buddha Temple told him about some things regarding the Buddha Sect. Of course, it was just some minor problems, such as the Buddha Sect and Nine Sect not being very united, but were unanimous about external things.
Buddha Sword Sect!
This was the Sect in which Huoyun Peng was. The Master was someone of the Huoyun Sect and Huoyun Peng was the fifth son of the Master. Qing Shui was not sure about other things aside from that and so he would have to head to the Demon Gate once again.
After cultivating for a night, Qing Shui, Huoyun Liu-Li, Mo Hongluo and Qing Yu rushed to Demon Gate on the second day.
While on the way, Mo Hongluo carried Qing Yu, a few little items and some toys and snacks to bribe the naughty girl. Many people of the Qing Clan had received gifts from Mo Hongluo. Everyone had one, but the one Qing Yi received was the most expensive.
Golden Silk Cicada Wings Dress were something precious. Even if Qing Shui could find it, the item was not easily available. Yet Huoyun Liu-Li actually received a Golden SIlk Cicada Wings Dress. It was clear that the quality given to Huoyun Liu-Li was good.
It is not that Mo Hongluo did not love his daughter. It was a type of appreciation. Liu-Li has what she has today because of Qing Shui. Mo Hongluo knew everything now and Qing Yi was Qing Shui's Mother.
Qing Yi wanted to give it to Huoyun Liu-Li, but how would Huoyun Liu-Li accept it. She pulled Qing Yi to the room to change into it. She had already seen Qing Yi as her mother long ago and had given everything to Qing Shui. A man that she loved deeply, loved everything about him including those close to him. Shi Qingzhuang, Mingyue Gelou, and the others were like sisters to her. She had been in the Qing Clan for many years already and felt this it was a warm and comforting place.
"Grandmother, you are really beautiful. As beautiful as Mother." Qing Yu chuckled, letting out a sharp and clear laughter.
Qing Shui laughed. This girl could really "flatter" someone. Perhaps it was not considered as flattering. As long as she saw a good looking woman, the girl would not forget to compliment them. She knew that when she complimented them, she would be able to get a benefit.
"You sneaky girl, come tell Grandmother how am I pretty." Mo Hongluo liked the little girl.
Unknowingly, they had reached the Demon Gate. This time, the Golden Scaled Dragon Elephant flew above Demon Gate. Many people from Demon Gate were shocked and envious after seeing the huge and powerful Golden Scaled Dragon Elephant.
Even some Elders of the Elder Association from Demon Gate would be shocked. That was because some of them felt that the strength of the Golden Scaled Dragon Elephant was very scary. Some could even tell the level of strength that the Golden Scaled Dragon Elephant had. If the mounts of this youth people was already that strong, exactly how strong could that youth be?
An ordinary mount usually would not be stronger than their Master. It was not impossible, but it was very rare.
A few elders from Demon Gate were caught up in pondering. They had a little over five thousand stars strength and were the strongest of the Elder Association from Demon Gate. However, a few of them realized that even with a few of them combining their strengths, they could not bring down such a strong Dragon Elephant.
The reason why he flew over was that Mo Hongluo had asked Qing Shui to do so. At Demon Gate, Mo Hongluo was being called Mo Hongxiu. Only those of Demon Gate Elder Association and those from the Demon Clan knew that she was Mo Hongluo.
No matter what it was, the Master of the Demon Gate pampered this daughter the most. Therefore, nobody had dared to say anything to Mo Hongluo.
Landing at a spacious and empty place, Qing Shui then put away the Golden Scaled Dragon Elephant. The figure of an old man who was far away earlier already appeared there. Seeing the few people that arrived, the elders behind them smiled with joy.
Mo Hongluo called out excitedly. Seeing his daughter being the happiest she has been in so many years, he naturally was happy as well.
"You must be Liu-Li," the old man thought about Huoyun Liu-Li for a short while before saying. His voice was very benevolent. With the saying, love the house and its crow, perhaps Liu-Li was Hongluo's daughter.[TL notes: Love the house and its crow: This is a Chinese idiom that means that you love everything about a person including his shortcomings. It is an analogy of how a person loved a house so much that he ending loving the crows that were there too.
The old man did not have many children but there was a significant number of them, he even had a significant number of grandchildren. However, he looked upon the one before him differently.
"Liu-Li greets Grandfather before!" Huoyun Liu-Li said to the old man in a lukewarm tone.
The old man laughed and he knew what she meant. After all, the old man had restricted Mo Hongluo's freedom. There were something that had no explanation and there could not be an answer to it.
"Alright, you have grown so much. This is for you. Consider this as a gift for meeting you for the first time. Take it as something to make up for what I have done." the old man handed over what looked like a bracelet to Huoyun Liu-Li.
Qing Shui was shocked by the amount of Spiritual Qi on it. He was stunned right as his Heavenly Vision Technique swept across it.
Holy Bracelet!
It would increase the cultivation speed of a cultivator by ten times!
Strong and heaven defying, Qing Shui knew about the existence of such sacred objects long ago. He knew about it when he found out about the Spirit Concentrating Pill that could increase by six times. Later, he also saw this item as Mu Qing had one of the Holy Bracelet.
The Holy Bracelet was the most basic of all the sacred objects. However, it had a special use. If a useless person has the Holy Bracelet in his hands, cultivating ten times the speed would turn him into quite a genius.
The effect of the Holy Bracelet differed from one to another. The Holy Bracelet that the old man gave to Liu-Li was the most basic one and increased ten times of the cultivating speed. Mu Qing's one enabled her to increase her cultivation speed by twelve times.. However, even the version that increased cultivation speed by ten times was already a heaven defying object. Qing Shui did not understand as to why the old man gave it to Liu-Li. Demon Gate was incomparably wealthy and had ample treasures, but it was not to the point where they could afford to give a Holy Bracelet to everyone.Mo Zitong would definitely had one and was definitely much better than this. There should be other good items he had, if not he would not be able to have two thousand stars strength given his age.
Qing Shui looked at Mo Hongluo and could already be certain that her aptitude was not exceptionally good. Adding to her problems that she had over the years, her strength had already stopped at its peak. If she could accomplish her desire, she could perhaps make a breakthrough within a short span. She had already used the necessary Medicinal Pills and other items in her body and it was just that her mood had suppressed a significant portion of her strength.
"Grandfather, this is the Holy Bracelet!" Huoyun Liu-Li looked at the old man.
"Yes! Do you like it?" the old man laughed while looking at Huoyun Liu-Li
"She does like it, but it is too precious." Qing Shui shook his head.
"Grandfather owes you this. No matter what it is, you are my granddaughter. You calling me Grandfather is already much better than this bracelet." the old man smiled.
"Liu-Li, take it. This is Grandfather's token of regard." Qing Shui laughed. He could actually tell what it meant. Besides, in the future, they could not draw a clear line with Demon Gate and would need the help of them.
"Thank you, Grandfather!" Huoyun Liu-Li thanked him and looked at the exquisite bracelet in his hands. A bright ray shone and Spiritual Qi radiated on the surface of it. However, once it recognized the Master, it would look like an ordinary bracelet.
Sacred objects. Some sacred objects were terrifying, just like how Qing Shui obtained the Arhat Rosary Beads. Unless a Master dies, then the next person cannot become its Master.
The Holy Bracelet did not go as far as that. As long as the one who received it erases the imprint on it and with some refining, it would be very simple.
"Little girl, this is for you!"
The old man took a Longevity Lock out and handed it to Qing Yu. It was unknown how many Longevity Locks Qing Yu received already, but this piece was made with silver essence containing high Spiritual Qi and had the effect of anti-poison.
This was a token of regard from the old man. Qing Yu pouted her lip while taking it. To a child, this item would be more attractive if it were something they could eat.
A few people walked in from the manor Qing Shui was at. This was where Mo Hongluo lived. In the past, people would generally not leave this manor. Those that were previously imprisoned would be imprisoned here.
The time used up to rush back during the whole journey was about half a day. It was now time for another meal. Not long after he entered the room, a few people brought in some fragrant dishes.
Everyone chatted while eating, the atmosphere was rather relaxed. Everyone would generally look ahead. At least Demon Gate and the Qing Clan were united. Huoyun Liu-Li was relaxed as well since she was able to settle her problems, as well as acknowledging her Mother and Demon Gate.
Although they acknowledged each other, it did not mean that they had to always be together. The old man loved his daughter dearly and might have loved his granddaughter, he might even notice the presence of Qing Shui, who was negligible. The wisdom of an elderly was sharp.
"Old Master, what is the situation at the Buddha Sect Nine Gate now? I heard that the Masters of the Buddha Sect Nine Gate is not as united as before." Qing Shui asked while eating.
The old man was not baffled by it. He then laughed, "The Buddha Sect seems to not be united on the surface, but if anything were to happen, they are very united. For example, if someone were to kill one from either Sect, they are intimately interdependent and will definitely interfere."
Qing Shui did know about it and hence did not expect that he would only have to face the Buddha Sword Sect.
"Old Master, how is the Huoyun Clan of Buddha Sword Sect?"
"Very strong, the Buddha Sect Nine Gate are all strong. If they were to battle with Demon Gate, Demon Gate will not be an opponent of the Buddha Sect. However, even if they won, there will be many casualties. Additionally, if there were a few experts among Demon Gate that sneakily attacked, it could lead them to be under pressure and therefore this was the balance that has been maintained all the while." the old man answered Qing Shui without being baffled about Qing Shui's questions.
Hearing that, Qing Shui laughed. The great sects had sent people that had the same apprehension as them. It is no wonder that as long as anyone from a Clan or Sect became an immortal, the rest could too. If an expert viewed them as an enemy and a few of them gets killed, if they would ran when the expert had arrived, they would sneak an attack on the elites of the younger generation from the Sect. If they do continue on as such, the sect might end up in a state where opinions differed, leading to a point of no return.
Qing Shui did not ask again. He knew what to do. With such a strong Sect, he could only use his martial skills as there was no other way to do it. Hence, he stopped asking, however the old man laughed and said
"Buddha Sword Sect is one of the Buddha Sect Nine Gate. Their Sword Art is known as the Buddha Swordplay. The teachings of Buddhism are very profound and legend says it was very strong as well. Even though I do not believe in Buddhism, the Buddha Swordplay was certainly strong. Their Sword Art has a profound power and was one that was incisive, firm, able to jolt opponents back at a fast speed. The main Sword art of Buddha Sword Sect is the Buddha Swordplay."
Qing Shui listened quietly. The old man had said what the opponent would not want to get their moves being meddled with. Qing Shui could not understand the thinking of the old man and did not know what he was thinking.
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AST 1023 –Buddha Sect's Test, The Powerful Golden Scaled Dragon Elephant
"Qing Shui, I know you will go to the Buddha Sword Sect, but I want to know how confident you are in winning against them."
The old man looked at Qing Shui and spoke again. Demon Gate had no choice back then. They have no other way to persuade the almighty Buddha Sect to allow his daughter and their son to marry, so the Demon Gate could only restrain their daughter in their home and prevent her from going outside. If she was found roaming anywhere near Huoyun Peng, the Buddha Sect would use any means to break them apart, resulting in a bad ending.
"I'm not sure. I haven't pinned down the exact strength of the Buddha Sect yet. But one thing's for sure –I can't go back now." Qing Shui said with a smile.
"Oh, the members of the Buddha Sect have their eyes on you?" The old man's eye glinted with curiosity.
"Yes. Or to be precise, they have their eyes on Liu-Li. Grandfather, please don't involve Demon Gate in this matter. I have plans of my own to deal with them." Qing Shui said after pondering for awhile.
"Qing Shui, to be honest, I don't know what you will use to deal with them, but I have a feeling that you will end this. I know it's odd. You're definitely not a reckless person to be able to stand where you are now, so I will believe you. But no matter what I do, you and I are already on the same page." The old man laughed, as he shook his head softly.
Qing Shui already knew about it from the moment he met Mo Hongluo. If it wasn't the case, the old man wouldn't have allowed Qing Shui to meet Mo Hongluo and reveal her true identity, not unless Qing Shui has sufficient capability to do so. But he knew he wasn't powerful enough, so no one would know what happen if things had gone to the unintended path.
"If that's the case, then grandfather should never interfere, even if it's for your daughter's sake. Let me and Liu-Li handle things from her, trust me."
The old man could only muster a sigh and nodded: "The Huoyun Clan has prospered for many generations. Huoyun Peng is the fifth son, but his family isn't well-liked. However, he was born in the Buddha Sect, so those old fools will never let him marry anyone from Demon Gate. Even if you depend on martial skills alone, it will be quite difficult to defeat them."
"I will handle the members of the Huoyun Clan slowly, but if someone from Buddha Sect decides to interfere, I will make sure they will never be able to go back alive. I will see how long the Huoyun Clan can endure. Also, I've discussed with Hongluo and Liu-Li already. We don't expect anything else except to take away Huoyun Peng from the Buddha Sect." Qing Shui smiled.
Qing Shui had a feeling that it would be difficult to make the Huoyun Clan to officially allow Mo Hongluo into their family with a happy celebration. He agreed that using his martial skills alone would be useless in this situation, so he had no choice but to pursue the alternatives –give a brief reunion to the Huoyun Clan and bring back Huoyun Peng. The alternative seemed possible if he managed to put a lot of effort into it.
After spending a day in Demon Gate, Qing Shui and Huoyun Liu-Li decided to go back home. Qing Shui held Qing Yu in his arms while Huoyun Liu-Li stood beside him as the Golden Scaled Dragon Elephant calmly flew towards Fair Wind City.
"Liu-Li, we can free your father soon. When he's finally out, we can let your parents buy a house near blacksmith store, what do you think?" Qing Shui tightened his forehead as he asked Liu-Li.
"Ah, Qing Shui, I'm thinking the same thing too. The blacksmith store is my home, and they will always be my parents who are close to my heart like my biological parents. If they can stay at the same house, that'd be great," said Huoyun Liu-Li excitingly.
Qing Shui knew that the Central Continent wasn't a viable option for Huoyun Peng and Mo Hongluo to stay anymore, so he decided to let them stay in the Hundred Miles City. Moreover, Mo Hongluo was quite grateful to Liu-Li's foster parents, so that would be great if they could meet each other from time to time.
However, he could also allow Mo Hongluo, Huoyun Peng, and Liu-Li's foster parents to stay at the Heavenly Palace. Even so, Liu-Li's foster parents would not bear to part with their blacksmith store, so that was why he suggested her biological parents live in the Hundred Miles City instead. Liu-Li must be happy at the thought that she could be a daughter to both her biological parents and foster parents.
Suddenly, Qing Shui could feel a disturbance of aura from a distant sky. He looked at the direction of the aura with his sharp eyes and saw two small black dots approaching in a fast motion.
"They've come!"
Qing Shui remained calm and circulated the Qi of the Ancient Strengthening Technique right away. He then slowly enveloped his Qi around his little girl and Huoyun Liu-Li to give them some protection.
Swiftshadow Dragons!
A demonic beast with the dragon bloodline.
The Swiftshadow Dragons weren't especially large. Their wings were able to extend to about 30 meters long. Their ferocious dragon heads were atrocious and fierce, and they were extremely fast as well. Their bodies were rigid and sharp, so their damage resistance must be strong in that regard. With the bloodline of a dragon, their battle prowess should not be underestimated too.
Unfortunately for them, the Golden Scaled Dragon Elephant was here today. His demonic beast also has the same dragon bloodline, and the power of the elephant was vastly superior to that of the two Swiftshadow Dragons combined.
If the elephant wasn't a tamed mount, the Swiftshadow Dragons would have run away already!
There were two old men, each mounting on a Swiftshadow Dragon. They were wearing golden monk robes, but their hands were wielding long swords instead. Those were the signature attire of the members of the Buddha Sword Sect.
The old men had a benevolent appearance when they appeared, but quickly tighten their forehead when they saw the giant stature of the Golden Scaled Dragon Elephant. They could sense the dreadfulness of the demonic beast, a power too terrifying to contend against. Meanwhile, Qing Shui made a quick observation on those men quietly and calmly.
They have the power equivalent to 5000 stars!
The Buddha Sword Sect was a powerful existence, and their powers were considered one of the strongest in the five continents. They also had the largest amount of skillful cultivators under their sect. Qing Shui quickly commanded his Golden Scaled Dragon Elephant to stop, so that he could talk to them.
"Why are you blocking our path?" Qing Shui said calmly. At the same time, the Swiftshadow Dragons were twitching their bodies with uneasiness.
"You must be Qing Shui, and the woman beside you is Huoyun Liu-Li, correct?" The old man on the left scowled, as he asked with a murmuring voice.
"You were following us?" Qing Shui raised his eyebrows and said coldly at the elderly men.
He already knew they were following them, but kept quiet about it until they decided to show themselves. He knew the Buddha Sect would come for Huoyun Liu-Li, so he was determined to silence the Buddha Sect from speaking out their grievance.
"You only have to answer my question with a 'yes' or 'no'. Why do you insist on talking nonsense?" The old man on the right said angrily, as he stared at Qing Shui with contempt eyes.
Qing Shui was shocked for a moment. He didn't think that these benevolent-looking elders would act so harsh on him. It's undeniable that the Buddha Sect was strong, but these two members seemed abnormally arrogant. Perhaps they were too used to being high and mighty, and being showered with nothing but flatteries from the underlings.
"Are all members of the Buddha Sect as disgusting as you?" Qing Shui remained calm, undisturbed by the words of the old man.
"Scram!" Qing Shui's voice rang out like a thunderous roar that echoed into those old men's ears. There was a hint of Lion's Roar in his voice, which was infused with the Qi from the Nature's Energy and the State of Immovable as Mountains. His voice has the ability to frighten his enemies as well.
The Lion's Roar was a mastery technique that actually existed, which was simply a roar that had been infused with spiritual energy. However, because of Qing Shui's powerful spiritual energy, his voice could even ring inside their head besides ringing inside their ears.
Their expression changed after knowing how hard it was to deal with this young man. The old man on the left then spoke out in a soft tone, "Let us take away the woman beside you, and the Buddha Sect will not make things difficult for you."
Qing Shui sensed a hint of determination in their words, as if he would let them off lightly once they made him think he had gained the upper hand of the situation. Their decision was made with reluctance like they were being forced to slice off a piece of their meat and hand them on a silver platter to this young man.
"Should I be thankful that you're giving me a choice to live?" Qing Shui revealed a fake smile while facing those old men.
"You, you…. The Buddha Sect doesn't want to exterminate people needlessly. The woman beside you is a member of our Buddha Sect." One of the old men choked after he was shocked by Qing Shui's words.
"Oh, I see. You're going to exterminate those who stand in your way!"
Qing Shui released an aura of coercion towards those old men immediately. So what if they were from the Buddha Sect? He decided to change his mind –if they have a death wish, who was he to stop himself from granting their wish?
He allowed his little girl to lean on his chest as he held her in his arms, while the Golden Scaled Dragon Elephant casually made its way towards his opponents!
The old men went pale instantly. They were always treated with respect and honor wherever they went due to their background as members of the Buddha Sect. No one would dare disobey their orders like that.
They were ordered specifically to only probe Qing Shui today, but because of their tendency to act recklessly, they had inadvertently forced themselves into a sticky situation.
The Golden Scaled Dragon Elephant let out a rumbling roar. Qing Shui had already put up a noise barrier around himself, so that Qing Yu would not be deafened by his demonic beast's penetrating cry.
Vajra Subdues Demons!
The Golden Scaled Dragon Elephant used its debuffing ability once more. When Qing Shui sensed the power of the old men, he curled a smile. The power of the two elderly men had been decreased by 10%, almost to the amount of 500 stars.
Diamond Sword Qi!
A ray of subtle golden aura locked onto the old men instantly.
"Hmm, the Diamond Sword Qi had turned golden. Two targets…."
Qing Shui was surprised, but smiled nonetheless. The Diamond Sword Qi was used to decrease the speed of these two opponents by 20%, prohibiting them from evading the next attack. In this situation, only the tough could confront toughness with equal strength.
Instantaneous Diamond Evasion!
Ferocious Diamond Attack!
Qing Shui held Qing Yu tightly in his arms while holding Liu-Li tightly with the other arm, as the Golden Scaled Dragon Elephant rammed towards the enemies. While being struck with absolute fright as the group of old men stared at the incoming demonic beast with a pale expression, the Golden Scaled Dragon Elephant was able to bash one of them away towards the air. The Swiftshadow Dragon that was standing at the front line was rammed into a pile of minced meat, a clear outcome of the great disparity between his power and that of the demonic beast.
The old fool's blood splattered everywhere as the other shocked old man quickly went to catch his wounded partner and fled instantly without leaving a trace behind.
Qing Shui did not pursue them, nor attack them. This was just the beginning and if he was right on his money those old men would surely come back for Huoyun Liu-Li, who was standing next to Qing Shui with a calm demeanor.
"Were you scared?"
"I will fear nothing as long as I stand beside you." Huoyun Liu-Li tightened her grip on Qing Shui's hand and smiled.
That dimpled smile was as beautiful as a blooming flower. He glanced at her breathtaking and seductive eyes and moved forward to kiss her luscious lips. Qing Shui could feel a momentary tension on his face, before she quickly leaped on him and hugged him tightly.
The Golden Scaled Dragon Elephant continued to soar towards the direction of Fair Wind City. It was when Qing Shui felt a tug on his clothes that he realized Qing Yu was looking at them with a pouting expression.
Huoyun Liu-Li was instantly flushed red, as her eyes were shrouded in a layer of mist. Qing Shui felt an itch in his heart when he saw her expression. This woman had unintentionally enticed him with her deadly, yet seductive mannerism.
She was the epitome of his adoration and passion!
Both Qing Shui and Huoyun Liu-Li pecked on Qing Yu's dainty face at the same time, causing the little girl to giggle with amusement.
"Liu-Li, the Holy Bracelet your grandfather has given you can increase your speed of cultivation by ten times. If you take the Spirit Concentrating Pill at the same time, your cultivation will progress even faster. Take heed of your cultivation so you can go to the other four continents as soon as possible. In the meantime, I will gain a foothold for you first." Qing Shui said with a smile.
"Mm, Sister Chen has gone to the four continents, so everyone is worried. I will definitely make it there one day." Once she was done speaking, Huoyun Liu-Li turned to look at her little girl in Qing Shui's arms with a frown on her forehead.
"Don't worry about this little kid. There are bound to be someone left in the Qing Clan, so she will have a good start ahead of us. If the remaining members of the Qing Clan can't make it to the four continents this time, they will eventually reach that level of power in the future. Once the children grow older, they will not cling onto us like this anymore." Qing Shui comforted Huoyun Liu-Li, as he knew she could not bear to part with Qing Yu.
Huoyun Liu-Li thought about it and laughed, "I will need a longer period of time to cultivate despite the rate of my cultivation. You're right, our kids will no longer cling to us once they grow older and independent."
After they went back to the Qing Residence in Fair Wind City, Qing Shui did not stop to rest but went ahead to lay a few Nine Palace Eight Trigrams Formations around the Qing Clan's manor. This formation was by far the best and trusted formation he had ever tried. At any rate, it would be impossible for anyone in the five continents to break the Nine Palace Eight Trigrams Formation he had put up in the past solely with brute force.
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AST 1024 –Buddha Sword Sect's Decision, Huoyun Peng's Resolution
After Qing Shui had laid a formation around the Qing Residence, he became more relieved. The old men from the Buddha Sword Sect had gone back, but they would never give up that easily. The Buddha Sect has never encountered such behavior towards them after all. As for Demon Gate, Qing Shui wasn't worried. They could go against the Buddha Sect with equal force, as they were also powerful in that context. He didn't have to concern himself with their ability to fight, and he had a feeling that he might need their help one day as well.
Buddha Sword Sect!
The Buddha Sword Sect was located at the Buddha Mountain, which was an impressive mountain region that had several statues carved naturally into the image of a Buddha. Throughout the mountain, the Buddha statues stood upright like a sword jabbed onto the ground. The scenery of these statues was quite life-like, and it was very enthralling.
The Buddha Sword Sect was one of the nine divisions of the Buddha Sect that sat right on this Buddha Mountain they were viewing. The distances between each of the sects from the Nine divisions of Buddha Sect, or the Nine Sects, were quite close. The general headquarters of the Buddha Sect was located in the middle, with the other nine divisions surrounding it. The Buddha Sword Sect was located somewhere among these nine surroundings.
The headquarters of the Buddha Sect was actually formed by the Elders of the respective nine divisions. The commander of the headquarters was the Grand Elder, who had absolute power over the headquarters itself. The other nine divisions were controlled by their respective division lords and the sect lords. This was the information Qing Shui had received from the old man of Demon Gate. The Buddha Sect was just an abbreviation for the Nine divisions of Buddha Sect.
The headquarters of the Buddha Sect were superior when compared to the Nine divisions of Buddha Sect in title. All the nine divisions were comprised of powerful martial cultivators, and those from headquarters were constantly reaping benefits for their own divisions. Usually, they would not interact with each other except during the moment of crisis. The Elder Association from the headquarters would join forces to eradicate the crisis, and it was only in the Elder Association that the respective Elders from the nine divisions would interact with each other for various matters.
The selection of the Grand Elder was based on the martial prowess and the wisdom of the candidates that could be selected from one of the lords from the nine divisions. The Grand Elder has the absolute power, so everyone from the nine divisions would dream of being the Grand Elder of the Buddha Sect, as they could reap greater benefits for their own divisions.
At that moment, two people appeared inside a grand hall in the Buddha Sword Sect. One of them was pale as a white sheet of paper, and these two were the Elders assigned to intercept Qing Shui, but they were forced to escape back to the Buddha Sword Sect.
There weren't a lot of people in the grand hall. Besides the two of them, there was the leader wearing a yellow silk robe sitting on a high perch with a calm composure. And beside this leader stood another old man who was peering his eyes. He could be easily neglected, as he didn't stand out as much as the leader in an extravagant robe.
"What's the meaning of this?" The leader looked at those old men, where one of them was wounded, while the other was fine. His aura was obscure, seemingly unstable.
"Sect lord, that kid was domineering. Most importantly, his demonic beast was very powerful, we couldn't even win against it…." The unharmed one explained in a low voice.
"Both of you are already considered among the best in the five continents, and yet you can't defeat his beast mount. It seems that his demonic beast has surpassed the power of 10,000 stars. Even so, it can only unleash about 5,500 stars. But that doesn't mean both of you don't have that kind of power as well." The sect Lord said calmly and slowly.
"Sect lord, that demonic beast was able to debuff 10% of our powers. We could only unleash the power less than 4,400 stars." One of the old men explained in a trembling voice.
"Debuff 10% of your power? So he's using this trick against you. Did he really think that he could go against us using only a demonic beast with debuffing skill?" The sect lord wrinkled a frown, his face was plastered with a disdain expression.
"That's enough. You may leave. Go tend to your wounds!"
"Thank you sect lord!"
Two of the Elders descended and left the hall.
"Third Uncle, what do you think?" The sect lord stood up and turned to ask an elderly man who stood beside him with a respectful gesture.
"This young man doesn't seem to fear our Buddha Sword Sect. Do you think a young man such as he who possesses a powerful demonic beast will be dumb enough to use one demonic beast against us?" The elderly man said calmly, almost as if he was muttering to himself.
"I know that, of course. Does Demon Gate want to make things ugly for our Buddha Sword Sect that badly?" said the sect lord bewildered.
"Why did Demon Gate want a war against us as soon as this kid arrived? The key lies within this young man." The elderly man known as Third Uncle slowly opened his eyes that were as clear as unpolluted water.
"Third Uncle, the child of both Peng 'er and Mo Hongluo cannot be left alive in this world. If this goes out, the other divisions of the Buddha Sect will never allow it." The sect lord shook his head, seemingly in disbelief of the current situation.
It has been 30 years since then. He thought everything was settled after forcing his son to sever his relationship with Demon Gate, but he didn't expect that they had a child together and that child would come back, possibly to take vengeance on the Buddha Sword Sect. He couldn't allow them to find them openly like this, and he couldn't let this matter get blown out of proportion.
"If the other sect divisions can't allow such atrocity to continue, why don't we let them handle the situation?"
"Do you think they will?" The sect lord asked as he glanced towards his Third Uncle.
"Regardless, she is still Peng 'er's daughter. I can understand why it will be inconvenient for you to do this task. Let the other sect divisions or Elders do it. This matter concerns the reputation of the Buddha Sect, which is why they will most likely accept this task." After he was done, his slowly closed his eyes and walked out of the grand hall.
In a similar secluded courtyard within the Buddha Sword Sect, one man wearing a brown robe was training focusing on his sword moves. He looked like a handsome middle-aged man with straight brows and clear eyes, but there was an unchanging bitterness and an indescribable emotion in his expression.
30 years ago, he came here on his own will to cultivate and cleanse his heart and desires. He continued to do so as an ascetic monk, much like the others in the Buddha Sect.
He had been trying his best to forget his past within these 30 years. Back then, he felt confined in his own life, but as he grew up, he was finally able to understand a lot of things. He didn't want to push the Huoyun Clan into the pits of abyss because of him, so he could only endure a lot of things thrown at him.
This man spent most of his time on penance, indulged in spiritual training, and practicing his flow of Qi, all for the sake of paralyzing himself. He had given all his love to a woman, despite the short passion both of them shared together. Even so, he would never be able to love another woman –a decision he had made 30 years ago. He couldn't care less about the world outside and continued to cultivate with diligence every single day.
Huoyun Peng has strong talents, this was evident by his accomplishment in breaking through Martial Emperor in just 15 years time. When he became a Martial Emperor, he wasn't 40 years old yet. His father –Huoyun Lie –gave him the best medicinal pills and treasures immediately after that, which came as a complete surprise to him.
After another 20 years, he became one of the top martial cultivators amongst the five continents with the power of 5000 stars. However, he was aware that this level of power would not yield any changes to his life, so he decided he would go to the other four continents during the next activation of the waypoint.
Perhaps he could extend his powers there, and perhaps after ten years, he would be more than capable of meeting her again. If that could be done, he would go and look for his daughter.
The more he thought about it, the more infatuated he had become. He had been restraining himself from thinking about those things, but he couldn't help it once he was calm and the world around him was silent. The days he spent with his love were happy and wonderful, including the time when his daughter was born….
Just then, a beautiful yet mature-looking woman came into the courtyard. She had a slender figure with well-developed features. This woman approached Huoyun Peng who was daydreaming with a sword in her hand.
"Brother Peng!"
"Lian Jing, didn't I say this before? Don't look for me anymore. It's been 30 years, why won't you give up?" Huoyun Peng swiveled his head towards the woman with a full figure. His expression was that of an unhappy man.
"I know you like her, and I never once think that I can replace her position in your heart. But she's not with you anymore, so let me take care of you, alright? I don't need anything, I just want to stay by your side. Once you find someone you like, I will leave right away." Lian Jing said calmly while looking at Huoyun Peng.
"Lian Jing, my heart belongs to her and no one else. Don't waste your time on me anymore. I'm an ascetic monk now. If you truly want me to be happy, then please find someone you like. That way, everyone will be happy."
"Brother Peng, your heart only contains Hongluo so you cannot accept anyone else. But you have taken over my heart, can you understand…." Lian Jing's voice faded as she spoke her words, but Huoyun Peng could still hear her every word clearly.
Lian Jing had waited for Huoyun Peng for 30 years. He gave her a bitter smile, realizing that she could essentially understand the feeling of waiting for their loved one for a long period of time. He lifted up his head to look at the mature woman who grew up from a young lady to a grown woman with a well-developed figure. There was no complaint she would utter, nor feelings of dissatisfaction she would show to him as she waited for him patiently for these past 30 years.
For Huoyun Peng, she was willing to wait no matter how long it was!
Both of them were the type of people who could not tolerate unreasonable things in life, otherwise, they wouldn't become what they were today. However, both of them would do anything for the one they loved without regrets, with the difference being Huoyun Peng for Mo Hongluo and Lian Jing for Huoyun Peng.
In a blink of an eye, two days had passed. Qing Shui had been staying at the manor ever since he came back, getting a visit once from Ming Xian. His wounds had completely healed, but Qing Shui urged him not to come visit for the next few days and told him a gist of the situation with the Buddha Sect.
Qing Shui was the one who fully cured Ming Xian, and the Ming Clan owed him a huge debt of gratitude because of that. This was what Qing Shui wanted, and he finally got it. This kind of influence required a bit of involvement on his part.
On the third day, Qing Shui guided his family members on their training at the courtyard while playing with Qing Yu and Qing Long in between his guidance. Qing Long couldn't walk yet, so he could only hold him in his arms.
Huoyun Liu-Li had already started her cultivation, but was required to wear the Holy Bracelet whenever she was cultivating her skills. If she wasn't cultivating, she would lend her bracelet to those who were practicing their cultivation, which was why some members of the Qing Clan would cultivate throughout the whole night, particularly Qing Bei.
Roar roar….
A distinct beast roar could be heard from afar. Qing Shui looked up to the far horizon and saw dozens of black dots coming to the residence's direction. His vision was superb, so he was able to see a group of Swiftshadow Dragons despite the black dots being far away.
Even though he couldn't get a clear sense of the power of these Swiftshadow Dragons, he had a feeling that these people are far more powerful than the two from before. Qing Shui turned to Zhu Qing and handed her Qing Long from his arms.
"Qing 'er, hold tightly on our son. Take care of the other children for me too."
"Qing Shui, be careful!" Zhu Qing said in a worried tone.
"Don't worry. Everything will be fine." Qing Shui smiled and then knelt down to face Qing Yu.
"My girl, stay here and play with aunty. You have to be good and listen to her!"
Zhu Qing bent down and picked up Qing Yu with her other arm. At the same time, the other members of the Qing Clan came out rushing towards Qing Shui. Even those who were in the middle of their training came to observe the situation.
Qing Shui once again gave orders to not leave the residence and stay within the formation layout. As long as they remained inside, nothing will happen to them.
Qing Shui went out, called his Golden Scaled Dragon Elephant and flew to the air. By the time he stood in the sky, he could see those people coming from afar very clearly. Qing Shui couldn't help but felt surprised when he saw the faces of the incoming visitors.
Ten men, each riding on a Swiftshadow Dragon were swiftly coming towards his direction. The ten Swiftshadow Dragons had wings extended that measured to about 80 meters or more, blocking the sun's ray from shining the ground below. The heads of these dragons were ferocious, emitting a fierce aura slightly lesser than that of his Golden Scaled Dragon Elephant. However, there were two Swiftshadow Dragons that were somewhat on par with the fierce aura of his demonic beast.
If you would like to unlock some [Portraits of Beauties] for the flavor as well as wish to support us, please consider pledging ->


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ToDo Game
ToDo Game
Family time is important, but in this day and age it's hard to peel everyone off of their technology for more than five minutes. You want to spend time together and you want to make memories, but sometimes life is hard. You're tired. You have enough trouble choosing what's for dinner every night; forget choosing family activities on top of everything else!
I hear you loud and clear. Todo is here to save the day! This game was created to help families minimize screen time and maximize meaningful time together. Each card has a fun, thought provoking activity to complete as a family. Choose to do one activity a week or one a night; there are enough activities to keep your family entertained for ages!
Each deck contains 30 high gloss printed activity cards with unique activities that promote creativity and imagination. Todo is ideal for families with children between the ages of 5-13, but it is great for everyone!


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Incoming freshmen
November | Housing information sent to admitted students. Check your mailbox for a brochure with information about living, learning and thriving on campus.
Dec. 1 | Housing preference form and contract available. You can update your preference form any time before March 1 to be included in the first round of room assignments.
Feb. 1 | Priority deadline to complete housing preference form and contract. Complete your preference form and submit your housing and dining contract to be included in the first round of room assignments.
March 1 | Parking assignments and first round of room assignments available. If you completed your preference form and contract by March 1, you can log into MyHousing to view your room assignment.
May 1 | Deadline to update or complete preference form and contract for second round of assignments. Preference forms and contracts received after May 1 will be assigned to remaining spaces.
June 1 | Second round of room assignments available. Log into MyHousing to view your room assignment.
Aug. 10 | Early move-in.
Aug. 14 | Fall move-in.
Returning students
October | Housing and dining contracts available. Complete a contract online.
Dec. 4 & 5 | Room selection for current residents. Love your current room? Reserve it for next year.
December | Priority housing contract deadline. Come to the Residential Life main office in 0780 Defoe-Graham Hall to select a room.
Feb. 1 | Last day to select a room before assignments begin for incoming students. After March 1, you can visit the Residential Life main office to select a room.
March 1 | Last day returners can cancel room contracts without penalty.
Incoming transfer students
We assign rooms to transfer students on a rolling basis. Simply complete a preference form as soon as you apply. Once you are admitted, submit a housing contract.
Stay up to date
Check the Mizzou Events Calendar for hall opening and closing dates and other important deadlines.


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I first discovered the amazing talent of William McLure while perusing Instagram last summer and was immediately captivated by the photos on his feed. To say his own home is less than stunning would be totally inaccurate. The Birmingham, Alabama based designer/artist clearly decorates with the 'more is more' vibe and I absolutely LOVE it! There are stripes, original artwork, neutral pieces, blue & white, antiques, endless amounts of texture, and so many unique details that make his own home (and his work) truly unique and one of a kind.
His home also doubles as his art studio AND if i'm not mistaken, his home (featured in most of these photos) is a rental! A RENTAL!
This light filled living room is stunning.
A perfectly styled console table with great details
Books and art everywhere!
Gorgeous canopy bed.
The abstract art on either side of the bed has me re-thinking the mirrors in my bedroom and wishing I had more frames on on my walls!
Love this dark corner!
I don't even like red but I love this! Paired with blues, abstract art, and warm brown tones, this living room is quite stunning.
Another pretty corner.....
In addition to his incredible design talent, William's art is also amazing. He showcases his creations throughout his home, and also commissions custom pieces. One day I WILL have something of his in my own space! From abstract to more geometric pieces, I love this style of art. There is so much detail and attention to colour, and many of his neutral pieces can be paired with almost any existing colour scheme in your own home!
One of my favourite pieces....
Love the blue!
Simple black abstract piece.
Another piece I absolutely love!
From what I can see on Instagram William moved into a new RENTAL recently that also looks to be incredibly decorated and filled with tons of unique art! Be sure to follow him on Instagram for more inspiring pictures!


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Our cozy, individually managed Inn "Somer Place B&B" is located at the foot of the Helderberg Nature Reserve in the quiet, safe neighborhood of Somerset West. All of our 5 spacious double rooms and also the large living room are equipped with...
On a private 600 acre estate at the foot of the Hottentots Holland Mountain with outstanding views of False bay and Cape Point, Lalapanzi Lodge offers exclusive accommodation. This stylish vineyard retreat is the perfect place to unwind or use as a base.
Discreetly hidden from public view is this tranquil oasis offering ten, exquisite, large and luxurious rooms for the discerning guest who values great comfort and out-standing hospitality. The refreshing, large swimming pool situated in a lush gar...
The Winelands Villa Guesthouse is located in the beautiful town of Somerset West and perfect for the discerning guest who values privacy, comfort and hospitality. The guesthouse offers ten spacious luxury rooms, all with en suite bathrooms.
Spanish Farm is a special piece of paradise, offering a wonderful peaceful ambiance and typical warm South African hospitality. For many of our guests Spanish Farm in Somerset West is a home away from home and they return year after year.
This 4 star Guest House, with its Cape Dutch charm is a warm and welcoming destination in Somerset West for any traveller.
At Rosenview Guest House on a working wine farm outside Stellenbosch which nestles in the shadow of the Helderberg mountains. The nearest beach is 11 km away, 5 golf courses 10 km, Cape Town only 45 km.
Manor on the Bay is a 12 en-suite room Guest House situated on the sandy white beach of peaceful Gordon's Bay.
This beautiful beach venue is run by the owner, Jackie, who will do her utmost to ensure that each day spent in the guesthouse will be a special one for visitors.
Nestled in the slope of the majestic Hottentots Holland Mountain, Blue Horizon Guest House is surrounded by spectacular views. From breathtaking sunsets across the bay, to the awe-inspiring beauty of the mountains. Blue Horizon Guest House offers ...
Cape Town Guest House Accommodation


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Game of the Year 2013 - Honourable Mentiontions
2013 was a great year for gaming, and while I tried to highlight the absolute best games that I played in the past 12 month, there are some notable titles that unfortunately slipped through the cracks or simply didn't line up with my award categories. As I result, I figured that I would give some of those games the recognition that they rightfully deserve.
Here are my honourable mentions for the best games of 2013. Note that this list excludes any games that either won, or were nominated for an actual game of the year award.
Euro Truck Simulator 2
Let's start this off with a weird one, shall we? I'm not mentioning this game ironically, nor am I just trying to fit in with the surprising number of people who have made 2013 the year of the mundane European job simulators. Euro Truck Simulator 2 was by far the most relaxing game that I played this year. Hitting the open road while listening to British internet radio (shout out to Absolute Radio UK, my station of choice while trucking) turned out to be a great way for me to unwind, and believe me that I needed a lot of time to unwind in this past year.
The Yawhg
The Yawhg is less of a game and more of a series of choose-your-own adventure stories. Simply choose where your character will go on each given day, see what sort of situation arises from that, and make a few decisions along the way. The reason that it makes this list is that the storytelling in this game is pretty incredible, with all sorts of little details cycling back around and affecting your stories later on. While you can definitely play this game on your own, it is best experienced in 4 player multiplayer, where players individual stories slowly begin to cross over each other and intersect in interesting ways. The Yawhg's presentation is also great, featuring some absolutely beautiful art as well as a haunting soundtrack that really fits the game's tone. Just watch the video to get an idea of what I'm talking about.
DMC: Devil May Cry
Let's ignore all of the angry internet comments about how this game isn't true to the original character and all that, DMC is just really fun. The new Dante's attitude makes him a surprisingly likeable character, and the game features some really inventive uses of level design as well as some very entertaining boss battles. Combat felt fast, fluid, and above all, fun. My only real knock against this game was that most of its attempts at social commentary felt extremely forced, and basically didn't present any argument that hasn't already been done to death.
As a big fan of the Metroid series, Guacamelee is a game after my own heart. Drinkbox Studios have successfully merged the classic gameplay of Nintendo's series with a unique take on brawler combat. The result is a game that feels both nostalgic and modern at the same time. The game is incredibly fun, as well as quite humorous and filled with all sorts of bizarre references and internet memes.
Icarus Proudbottom Teaches Typing
Did you enjoy last year's Frog Fractions? If yes then you should definitely check out Icarus Proudbottom Teaches Typing. Made as part of a 30 day game jam, Holy Wow's game is one of the most unique uses of the "typing game" genre. Describing this game without spoiling it is difficult, so you might as well just go and play it yourself since it's free.
Call of Juarez: Gunslinger
Following up the unbelievably awful Call of Juarez: The Cartel, Gunslinger sees the series taking a complete left turn. Not only is this a surprisingly fun arcade-style shooter, but it also boasts some interesting connections between narrative and gameplay. Techland could have opted to make another traditional shooter to continue its series, but instead made a unique game that feels much better than the sum of its parts.
Like game of the year runner up PAYDAY 2, Monaco is a cooperative game about pulling off heists, and it is an incredibly fun experience to have with friends. In addition to the simple but engaging gameplay, it both looks and sounds amazing, with every aspect of the art direction feeding into in an overarching sense of style that really fits the game's theme and mechanics.
Grand Theft Auto V
One of the year's biggest games was also one of its best. I left this off of my game of the year list because, while the game is very good in a lot of respects, it doesn't excel in any one area as much as some of this year's more focused games do. That said, it's still a ton of fun to play, and the storyline is both interesting and superbly acted.
Divinity: Dragon Commander
This is a game that came completely out of left field and impressed a whole lot of people, myself included. Dragon Commander presented an interesting mix of real-time strategy gameplay with Panzer Dragoon style combat, and all of it wrapped up in a Risk-style campaign mode. Not only is the gameplay unique, but the story also tackles just about every real-world social issue that you can think of, and manages to do so in a refreshingly mature way. No game has made me sympathize with politicians more than Divinity: Dragon Commander.


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There are many ways to support the On the Tip of the Toes Foundation. The most direct way is by making a financial contribution, either through a direct donation, by taking part in one of our fundraising activities or by organizing a fundraising event.
However, we also sometimes need volunteers to help us out in the logistics of our fundraising events or else for typical office tasks : translation, graphic desing, data processing, etc.
It is important to know that the volunteers that come on our expeditions are either bloggers/photographers or health care professionals : doctors, nurses and psychosocial workers. All of these must be seasonned outdoor enthusiasts.
Many thanks for considering volunteering for us!


text: Retractable Security Gates are a Practical Solution for the Modern Home's Security Needs Security continues to be one of the top concerns for South African homeowners from all walks of life. In fact, it is one of the main considerations homeowners and tenants take into account when searching for a new neighbourhood and property to move into. While there are practical considerations to take into account when searching for a new home, such as the crime statistics for the neighbourhood, there are a few other things you can do to secure your new home that are completely within your control. One of the relatively easy things you can do to add a nearly impenetrable layer of security to your home is to install retractable security gates. There are many reasons why you would want to invest in these security gates, as opposed to other types. Some homeowners are wary about adding security doors, fretting that they will be too rigid for the setup they have. However, with retractable security gates, you get to maximise the space available by being able to expand or retract the doors. This means there won't be a swinging door you will need to navigate when the door is open, and you can still enjoy free and convenient movement. Why Choose Sequre for Your Retractable Security Gates? These are only a few of the obvious reasons why it makes sense to choose top-quality, durable and affordable retractable security gates for your property. We are your first choice when looking for strong security gates for your property. All retractable security gates available in our range are fully SABS approved. Put simply, it means that any security doors you buy from us were made from the best possible materials. It provides you with even greater peace of mind that there are procedures in place to protect you against substandard quality products. Another reason why we remain at the top of our industry is that we have numerous registered designs and patents in place, which focus on strength. It is just one more indication of our industry leading design capabilities and spirit of innovation with your safety and security in mind. We are proud of our long history of excellent service, and continue to drive innovation in our sector. Retractable Security Gates – Break-In Guarantee When last did you find a company with so much faith in their own products that they guaranteed them for life? If it is broken into, Sequre will replace or repair. That is quite a statement, and one we do not make lightly. With that level of confidence behind our retractable security gates, you can rest assured that you are indeed buying the very best available on the market. We were also one of the first manufacturers of retractable security gates and related security products to offer a seven-year guarantee on the workmanship behind our products, offering our valued clients even greater confidence in the quality and durability of our products. Harnessing more than 15 years of quality manufacturing and installation experience, we remain one of the top manufacturers and installers of retractable security gates in South Africa. As a long-standing member of the Security Association of South Africa (SASA), we uphold and adhere to all SASA's guidelines, protecting you, our customer. If you would like to learn more about our products, discuss your security needs in greater detail, and enjoy a tailored solution to your requirements, then contact us today. We are always at hand to answer any questions you may have to help you make an informed decision before you invest.


text: Share: Comments Print July 21, 2011 at 10:21 AM Waking up in a bar with Hugh Jackman Posted by Moira Macdonald (That headline got your attention, didn't it?) Sometimes, I'm sitting in a screening, scribbling an occasional note and vaguely wondering if I had lunch (this only happens during the not-so-good movies, mind you), and then something insane happens on screen that indicates that this movie, for better or worse, has gone completely off the rails. This happened to me the other day in "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan," which I expected to be a quiet, elegant tale of female friendship set in 19th-century China. (I thought this not unreasonably, as it's based on Lisa See's quiet, elegant novel about female friendship set in 19th-century China.) But the makers of the screen version, in their wisdom, decided to add a contemporary story, and then decided to give it as much screen time (or more?) as the historical story, and then decided to make the contemporary story incredibly dull (well, I assume that was their intent; it was certainly the result), and then decided, perhaps in a moment of extreme desperation, to have Hugh Jackman show up and sing a song. Which is exactly what happens, in a Shanghai nightclub, with Jackman giving it his Broadway best and me wondering, hmm, did I nod off and wake up in a different movie? Come to think of it, a lot of movies could do with having Jackman show up for a song, including most of these summer's blockbusters. But it didn't help much in this case. Seen any off-the-rails moments in a movie lately, when suddenly things just seem crazy? The dinosaurs in "The Tree of Life," for instance (a movie I mostly loved)? The talking dog in "Beginners"? (Actually I loved that one too.) Tom Hanks in his undies in "Larry Crowne"? (Well, not so much.) Comments


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Many thanks to Colin Burbidge for uncovering much of the information here, and to Michael and Judy Moss for informative conversations about their extensive work on the history of the area
In June 1868 the Rev. John Ingle (1823-1901) purchased 2 adjoining parcels of land in Murchington, a hamlet lying on the edge of the sprawling Dartmoor parish of Throwleigh, at a cost of £1900. Together these parcels, being 'Dickers Tenement' and 'Dodds Farm,' represented some 50 acres of woodland, coppice and valuable water meadows, together with a range of farm buildings and cottages. He renamed the property 'St Olaves' after his own medieval parish church on Fore Street, Exeter.
Having acquired St Olaves from the Rev. John Ingle in 1877 there is no evidence that the Rev. William Tucker Arundel Radford actually lived there. Instead, he relied on Ingle's former bailiff, James Lee, and his wife Mary, to look after the property.
On his death in July 1896 all Radford's estate, including his properties, valued at almost £10,000 net at probate, passed to his son, also named William Tucker Arundel Radford (1861-1915).
The St Olaves estate then passed into the hands of the wealthy Sutton family and became their rural retreat from London


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Help us pay the Music royalty and equipment maintenance!
Music licensing is a major part of the yearly expenses of FPS.
The mentality of the recording industry is that if you are brodcasting music, you must be making money off it,
So they really hammer it to us in yearly licensing fees.
Equipment does break down from time to time as well, thus since I'm not independently wealthy, we need a hand from our viewers.
Here is where you can help us to be able to pay the bills and keep airing each week!
Make a one time donation
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Latest News
Ky. mulls ban on novelty lighters
FRANKFORT — Kentucky is the latest state to consider a ban on toy-like novelty lighters blamed for fires that have killed at least two children in the United States.
Maine and Tennessee have already banned the devices, some shaped like tiny dogs, frogs, skateboards, baseball bats, even fire extinguishers. Now lawmakers in several other states are pondering bans of their own, and city governments from Sandy, Ore., to New London, Conn., have instituted local prohibitions.
Some Washington lawmakers have been pushing for a federal ban as well.
Frankfort firefighter Carter Northcutt is among an army of first responders across the country pushing to get the China-made novelties off store shelves and out of the hands of children.
"These things are very attractive to young kids, and I don't want to be responsible in my own mind for a kid getting hurt or killed because I haven't done anything about it," said Northcutt, who enlisted state Rep. Derrick Graham, D-Frankfort, to sponsor a bill to ban them.
Graham, who filed the legislation last week, said he isn't aware of any opposition to the measure.
"It's about protecting our children, the most innocent human beings," Graham said. "I don't see how anybody could be opposed to this."
A tiny motorcycle-shaped lighter was blamed for the deaths of two children in an Arkansas house fire two years ago. An Oregon woman was burned when her child ignited bedding with a Santa lighter.
Legislation to ban the devices is pending in Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Texas and Washington, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Maine Fire Marshal John Dean, past president of the National Association of State Fire Marshals, has been pushing for the bans. He makes his pitches with an assortment of cartoonish lighters as props.
"They look like something that a child would get in a Happy Meal," Dean said. "It is very difficult to tell if it is a toy or a lighter, even for adults."
Dean tells stories about children who have flicked the novelties in checkout lines and singed their eyebrows, and about grown-ups who have mistakenly bought the tiny devices for their children, thinking them to be toys.
"There's no need for them," he insisted. "If you need a lighter, you can get a lighter that looks like a lighter."
The Lighter Association, a Washington-based national trade group, supports laws to ban the novelties.
John Gibson, owner of a California company that distributes novelty lighters, said he has stopped dealing in those that might be mistaken for toys because he expects the bans to continue spreading across the country.
"I decided that, because so many states are talking about banning them, I may as well see the writing on the wall and position my business to stay in business," he said.
Still, Gibson said, novelty lighters are tested for child safety and often have protections that exceed those of regular lighters.
Dean said he is convinced many of the novelty lighters are made with children in mind.
"Why else," he asked, "would they look like toys?"