text:
Client Code of Conduct
1. Summary
The Client Code of Conduct outlines the behaviour that the Library expects from its clients and visitors in all public spaces, both online and on site. It is related to the Library's Policy on the Use of the State Library Under Library Regulation 2010, which outlines the use of libraries and library material and allows for the exclusion of those who breach the Regulation throughout the Library's premises.
2. Policy statement
Client Code of Conduct
The State Library is committed to providing a welcoming and safe environment for research, study and learning. For your safety and for the security of the Library's collections and buildings, a number of surveillance cameras have been placed in public areas.
This code outlines the conduct we expect from clients and visitors, both on site and when interacting with the State Library online. It is based on Library Regulation 2010 made under the Library Act 1939 (NSW).
Your responsibilities
- Treat other clients and Library staff with courtesy and respect showing regard for their needs, sensitivities and rights. Unsociable behaviour, including harassing clients or staff, or using offensive language is not acceptable.
- Children under the age of 12 must be in the company of an adult or Library staff member at all times.
- Leave the Library when requested at closing time and during emergency procedures, or if directed to do so.
- Inform Library staff immediately if you become aware of any risk or potential risk to people or property.
- When copying Library materials and sharing material online, you are responsible for observing the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968 with respect to materials in copyright.
Bags and belongings
The following bag restrictions apply:
- Governor Marie Bashir Reading Room – Bags larger than 30cm x 35cm x 30cm are not permitted. Clients may apply for an exemption for laptop bags.
- Mitchell Library Reading Room – Bags are permitted with no size restriction.
- Special Collections Area (in the Mitchell Library Reading Room) – No bags permitted.
- All other areas – Bags are permitted with no size restriction.
- Library staff have the right to inspect your equipment, folders, bags or property as you enter or leave the reading rooms.
- Belongings are not to be left unattended. Any items left unattended will be removed by Security staff.
- The Library is not responsible for any loss or damage that may occur to personal belongings.
- Bags or belongings must not be placed where they may put clients or staff at risk of injury.
- Lockers are available for hire for the storage of your bags and belongings.
Food and drinks, smoking
The following food and drink restrictions apply:
- Governor Marie Bashir Reading Room – No food or drink permitted.
- Mitchell Library Reading Room – Bottled water only permitted.
- Special Collections Area (in Mitchell Library Reading Room) – No food or drink permitted.
- Exhibition Galleries – No food or drink permitted.
- Verandah – Covered drinks and snack food permitted.
Smoking, including the use of vaporizers, is not permitted on Library premises.
- Acceptable levels of dress and personal cleanliness must be met, in the interests of other clients using the Library.
- Footwear must be worn.
Quiet environment
- A quiet environment for study must be maintained in the reading rooms.
- Disruptive behaviour and excessive noise are not acceptable in any public space in the Library.
- Switch your mobile phone to silent when in the reading rooms. Talking on your mobile phone is not permitted in these areas.
- Headphones are to be used when listening to music or other multimedia. The volume must be at a level that cannot be heard by other clients or staff.
- Group discussions and mobile phone conversations may be conducted in the study rooms, but must be kept at an acceptable level that does not disturb other clients.
Library equipment and material
- Damaging or misuse of Library equipment, facilities or furniture is not acceptable. This includes disconnecting Library equipment or using it for any purpose other than its intended use.
- Library equipment is strictly for the use of Library materials only. You are not permitted to use Library equipment with personal items including microfilms and CD ROMs.
- Damaging Library material in any way, such as marking, cutting or tampering with security tags, is not permitted. Special Collections material must be handled according to our guidelines.
- Hiding or removing Library material from the reading rooms is not permitted.
Personal devices
- Power is provided at tables in the reading rooms and Verandah area for the use of personal devices such as laptop computers.
- Personal devices should not be left unattended. Any items left unattended will be removed by Security staff.
- The Library accepts no responsibility for any loss or damage that may occur to personal devices.
- It is your responsibility to ensure that any personal devices used in the Library are appropriately maintained and safe to use.
- Power cables must not be placed where they may put clients or staff at risk of injury.
Internet usage
- You are not permitted to access, download or print pornographic or offensive material. You must comply with the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Enforcement Act 1995 (NSW).
- Internet usage must be in accordance with our Internet usage policy which details conditions of use.
Library website and social media accounts
- Participation in the interactive sections of the Library's website must be in accordance with the Website Terms of Use.
- When interacting with the Library on social media sites you may be agreeing to terms and conditions of third parties that govern your access to and use of those platforms. It is your responsibility to ensure that you comply with any third party terms and conditions.
- If the Library becomes aware that you are breaching the terms and conditions of a third party provider, the Library reserves the right to take action as appropriate, including (i) removing offending content from the Library's account, where possible, and (ii) reporting you to the relevant authority, including the third party provider.
- The Library is not responsible for, nor endorses, any content that is contributed to either the Library's website or any third party website. Please read the website disclaimer for more information.
- Removal of any content from the Library's social media accounts and website, as well as the decision to exit from a social media account, is at all times within the discretion of the Library.
Photography and filming
- Permission from Library staff is required before taking professional photographs or filming in the reading rooms and exhibition areas. Flash photography is not permitted.
- Identifiable images of people cannot be included in your photographs or films, without their permission.
Clients who do not comply with Library Regulation 2010 and the Client Code of Conduct may be directed to leave the Library and/or be excluded from interacting on the Library's website. Serious breaches of the Regulation may result in an exclusion and/or termination of your website user account.
3. Legislative and Policy Framework
Most relevant legislation
- Copyright Act 1968 (Cth)
- Library Act 1939
- Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998
- State Record Act 1998
- Work Health & Safety Act 2011
Related and/or most relevant State Library policies
- Policy on the Use of the State Library Under Library Regulation 2010
- Internet Usage Policy
- Website Registered Users Terms of Use
- Privacy Management Plan
- Security Systems Surveillance Policy
- Smoke Free Workplace Policy
- Staff Code of Conduct
4. Responsibilities
Executive Committee members are responsible for leading the implementation of this policy including its conformity to legislative and other compliance requirements, communicating this policy to managers and supervisors and other relevant activities regarding specific policy implementation.
Managers and supervisors are responsible for managing processes relevant to this policy and communicating this policy to staff.
Staff are responsible for understanding and complying with this policy.
5. Records and privacy management
Formal records are made of security incidents or a client or visitor's refusal to cooperate with staff enforcing the Client Code of Conduct and Library Regulation 2010.
The Library will maintain records of incident and investigation reports in accordance with the requirements of the State Records Act 1998 and the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 and the Library's Privacy Management Plan.
Incident and investigation reports and related information are treated as confidential and limited to authorised staff. The Library may disclose personal information in instances where another Act or law authorises us to do so.
Further information about privacy.
6. Approval
This policy was approved by NSW State Librarian & CE on 19 January 2016 for submission to the Library Council of New South Wales for immediate implementation.
Change to bag restriction was approved by the Executive Committee on 24 July 2018.
7. Implementation
This policy is implemented on 19 January 2016.
Implementation of this policy requires uploading of the policy on to the Library's website and the development of a handout for staff to give to clients as needed.
8. History
This policy replaces the Client Code of Conduct version 2.0.
9. Related Policy
This policy is related to the Policy on the Use of the State Library Under Library Regulation 2010.
10. Prepared by
Digital Strategy & Policy Partner
13 January 2016
We welcome your feedback on this policy. You can complete the online feedback form or pick up a feedback form at the Library.


text:
Doing and Undergoing: Art Installations Unveiled At Last ☆
Does it seem as if art is pleasantly hanging above, protruding towards, and enveloping you lately? This
semester the college has been temporarily transformed into a gallery as part of Teachers College's 125th anniversary! Amongst the hidden stairwells, basement corners, and foyer walls, 22 art sites have been installed across 4 buildings to showcase TC's history through artistic means. For the past year co-curators Richard Jochum and Robert Gero have dedicated their attention to designing the exhibition to properly reflect the TC principle that acting or doing alone is not enough. A principle instilled through the teachings of John Dewey, American philosopher and TC professor from 1904-1930, this concept is frequently revisited and thriving in courses today. Each art installation was individually selected by the co-curators which epitomizes a sense of true engagement, of undergoing. The opening reception for the Doing and Undergoing exhibition was then held on Tuesday, October 15th in Grace Dodge Hall, a vibrant evening attended by Columbia University staff, students, alumni, and friends.
During opening speeches given at the reception, Dr. Judith Burton remarked that if anyone had perused the college halls in the preceding weeks, they "would think the artist Banksy had been at work in TC." Though unique to our school setting, Dr. Burton related how this exhibition is similar to the work currently being conducted by student artists in Harlem, Miami, and even African schools, where art is used as a medium for philosophical engagement. In striving to do and undergo ourselves, she emphasized that "we have to see the world in which we live as a broader canvas for the arts," as art enriches life and "teaches us to see things through new eyes."
A brief teaser trailer for the exhibition followed the speeches of Dr. Burton and Dr. Jochum, and even included an interview with Professor Emeritus Dr. Maxine Greene, as she was recently led on a preview tour. Greatly touched by the insight of the installations, Dr. Greene expressed Doing and Undergoing as breaking "with the taken-for-granted view or perception of what college is like," her remarks filling the room with heightened excitement for the tours to begin. Yet the teaser trailer also served as an introduction to the audio-video guide created to lead visitors through the labyrinth of the school. The guide was presented as a narrative experience far more engaging than tracing your route with the aid of a campus map could be. Use of the guide was greatly encouraged for to receive a more enriching experience.
After being led on a tour by the audio-visual guide myself, I can now whole-heartedly concur with Dr. Greene, as this exhibition strips away the boundaries and expectations of a traditional museum outing. As you follow the fictitious persona of a school girl dressed as if from the days when Teachers College's was founded, tracing her footsteps to observe her reactions to the art installations as you experience them in person, you are immersed in a real time academic setting. Streams of students emerging from class pass by as you view the installations, catching snippets of lectures through open classroom doors that juxtapose the present of TC academia with the past being explored in your audio guide. Directions are whispered in your ear, telling you which staircase to climb next or which corner to turn. For around nearly every turn is an unexpected sight meant to challenge your perceptions.
Several of the installations directly challenge your physical senses, while others ask you to review personal
intellectual institutions. Katherine Daniels' installation SNAFU, for instance, laces rainbow strips of vinyl through the retired elevator shaft in Thompson Hall. An imitation of the stained glass panes found throughout the college, the elevator shaft is transformed from a metal cage to a playful prism. On the southern landing between the second and third floors of Horace Mann, Gina Ruggori's trumpe l'oeil painting, titled Tunnel Plume, similarly engages our visual receptiveness. Do you see the dual illusion created by her imitation of the natural world? Does the illusion evoke deeper connotations or unearth old memories?
In contrast, other installations ask us to reflect on our engagement with our society and environment. Vikki Michalios's Beanstalk Garden, located in the basement between Zankel and Macy Hall, is a collection of terrariums nestled within the college's infrastructure. Blending art with horticulture and sustainable technology, her installation prompts us to consider how natural resources and agriculture are managed in the modern world. Moving from the basement of Zankel to the rafters of Thompson Hall, Monika Wuhrer's "Your Presence Leads to Conflict" installation atop the former running track of what is now the third floor office space simultaneously evokes images of violence and the prospect of peace. Three punching bags suspended above the retired foot path bear quotations questioning the prospect of resolution when facing aggression. What does the stillness of the immobilized bags signify to you? You can personally investigate these questions and many more by taking a tour of the exhibition yourself!
Doing and Undergoing will be open daily from 10 AM to 8 PM, now through December 15th with the exception of Thanksgiving weekend. The audio-video guides are available for borrowing from the Gottesman Library circulation desk, which serves as the starting and concluding point for the exhibition. The audio-video guide can also be downloaded to any mobile device via this link. Those who dare to brave the winding basement passages of TC via their own navigational intuition can find a map of the exhibition here, or may borrow one from Gottesman library. The Art and Arts Education department is also offering guided tours led by graduate students, which can be booked, free of charge, via this link. This collaborative exhibition was made possible by the Provost Investment Fund, a seed fund for the realization of faculty dreams.
By Alyssa Foster
Arts & Humanities Writer

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Megan Holiday Returns To KITS
Entercom Alternative "Alt 105.3" KITS San Francisco has announced that Megan Holiday will return to the station as midday host.
Holiday, who has hosted nights at sister 106.7 KROQ Los Angeles since March 2016, started her career at KITS with time as night and midday host and morning co-host between 2010 and 2013 during its time as "Live 105".
Entercom, the #1 creator of live, original, local audio content in the United States, announced the return of Megan Holiday to KITS-FM. Holiday will be the midday host of the Bay Area's Alternative ALT 105.3, effective June 4. She was most recently the evening host of Entercom's KROQ in Los Angeles.
"Megan is well known in The Bay Area and we know our listeners will be happy to hear her back on the air," said Gregory Nemitz, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, Entercom San Francisco. "She's passionate and energetic and we're looking forward to her return to KITS."
"?I am beyond thrilled to be back on air in the Bay," added Megan. "I am so lucky to work with such an incredibly talented group of people and I am so excited about the fresh sound of ALT 105.3. But most importantly… GO WARRIORS!"
Megan started her career at KITS in 2010 at night and hosted various day parts throughout her time at the station.


text:
Duck Beach Wedding | Sanderling Resort
Duck Beach Wedding | Sanderling Resort
Outer Banks Destination Wedding
Ashley and Jason were married this summer at the Sanderling Resort in Duck, NC. They had a small intimate wedding with just themselves attending. Dr. Dave Keller performed the ceremony on the beach.
It had rained earlier and we had a gorgeous sky, even a rainbow! Ashley had a simple dress, which worked perfect for their ceremony. She even made the star fish on the back herself!
Thanks for having me!


text:
TengKun Environmental is a professional manufacturer, supplier of Black-color-litter-bag, we provide Black-color-litter-bag OEM & ODM wholesale, Black-color-litter-bag price and more questions, please contact us and follow our Facebook , We will respond in a timely manner, we are not the lowest price of Black-color-litter-bag, but we will provide you with better service.
Found 1 products
View: ListShowcase
Min. Order: 10000 piece
Heavy Duty Large Size Garbage bags mainly used in the kitchen,living room,hotel,bedroom,garden and other garbage storage.
We will get you a fast free quote and schedule your job on the day and time that works best for you.


text:
Details:Type color size set contents
Adopt a chrome-plated
Screw the M10 positive screw
Left 1 set (2 pieces)
* As well as genuine mirror convex adopted.
Notes:Always please check.
Cannot be mounted on vehicles due to safety regulations, was made in 1/1 0/2007 (2007).
If you encounter any problems attached to the vehicle that we posted the model name in the product title and compatible models, 1/1 0/2007 (2007) we disclaim any responsibility. Please note that.
Requirements:For mounting bolt
YAMAHA car 10 mm if → 10 mm 10 mm and converting regular negadapta → 10 mm 10 mm conversion reverse threaded adapter required
If the YAMAHA drive 8 mm → 10 mm 8 mm conversions plus negadapta and → 10 mm 8 mm conversion reverse threaded adapter required
Other vehicle manufacturers
8 mm-10 mm 8 mm that transform positive screw adapter required
* YAMAHA car other vehicles also use the reverse threaded. Please check ago ordering.
Even if there is interference with the brake master please respond with adapter, etc..
Please purchase us order screen if necessary.
* Not received order from the request section.
Mounting method:Development knowledge and experience working please done!
So now your mirror and replacement is an easy task. Tighten nut is a basic task, just to loosen, in personal use and damaged goods if you replace it will void your warranty, so no confidence in those who are near you for please ask to the bike shop.
Compatible models:Suitable for a wide range of models
Because generic products are available on many of its models. Listed models in body-side mounting bolt says 8 mm, and 10 mm.
Please once again, bolt says confirmation before placing an order.
Suggest replacing the model examples
Ape 50 Zoomer Live Dio ZX XR50 Motard Monkey Gorilla Little Cub Bite Giorno
Giorno Crea Crea Scoopy Bite Magna 50 Lead 50 shary CF50 CL50 Solo
DAX50-DAX50 ST50 ST70 JAZZ Gyro X Gyro Up Gyro Canopy
Broad 50 Cubina Broad 90 Lead 90 Ape100 Lead 100 XR100 Motard
Spacy 100 Spacy 125 PS250 Foresight SE FORZA Z Forza X
Fusion SE Fusion X HELIX Sliver Wing 400 Sliver Wing 600
FTR223 FTR250 SL230 XL230 CL400 CB400SS level GB250 Clubman
JADE HORNET Bros CB400Super Four CB750 CB1000Super Four CB1300Super Four
YB-1 VOX Vino BJ JOG ZR JOG Z-JOG ZII JOGaprio
GEAR GEAR C BW 'S 50 BW' S100 Grand Axis 100 Cygnus X SR Cygnus 125
Majesty 125 FI Majesty 250 Majesty C Grand Majesty 250
Grand Majesty 400 current Majesty Maxam-TMAX
TW200 TW225 Serow 225W Serow 250 250Tricker Lanza BRONCO r'nessa GX250
GX400 XS250 XS400 RZ250 RZ350 RD250 RD400 SRV250S jheel XJR400R
SR400 SR500 XJR1200 XJR1300 XV250 Virago Drag Star 250 XS650SP
KSR50 KSR80 KSR-II KSR110 Eliminator 125 Z200 ESTRELLA RS Custom D Tracker
250TR Epsilon 250 KLX250 BALIUS BALIUS-II Z250FT Z250LTZEPHYR400
ZEPHYRχ ZRX400 ZRXIZEPHYR750 RZEPHYR1100 RS ZRX1100 ZRX1200
Street Magic colada 50S GS50 Vanvan 75 Vanvan 90 Vanvan 200 GSX250FX
Volty 250 SB Glasto Tracker Big Boy ST250E tempting Bandit250
Bandit400 GSX 400 Impulse INAZUMA400 Sky Wave 250 Sky Wave 400 Type S (non-SS)
* Cannot be attached to vehicles because of safety regulations, was made in 1/1 0/2007 (2007).
* Regarding the vehicle 1/1/2007 is installed on all of the above models, the law revision mounting illegal and.


text:
On budget policy, the Iraq War, health care, and climate change, the principles of Zero-Sum Freedom and Exceptionalism have blinded Republicans to facts, and with often disastrous consequences. (More)
Dangerous Convictions, Part II: Two Principles, Four Cases
This week Morning Feature considers Tom Allen's new book Dangerous Convictions: What's Really Wrong with the U.S. Congress. Yesterday we began with common explanations for the breakdown in Congress, and why Allen believes the true answer lies in the parties' very different worldviews. Today we see specific examples in budget policy, the Iraq War, health care, and climate change. Tomorrow we'll conclude with what Allen proposes to enable Congress to function again.
Note: Tom Allen represented Maine's 1st District in the U.S. House for twelve years. He graduated from Bowdoin College, was a Rhodes scholar at Oxford with former President Bill Clinton, and graduated from Harvard Law School. He served on the staffs of Maine Governor Kenneth Curtis and Sen. Edmund Muskie and, after practicing law, was elected to the City Council of Portland, Maine. In 1996 he was elected to Congress, where he served on the House Energy and Commerce and House Budget Committees, chaired the House Affordable Medicines Task Force, and served on the House Oceans Caucus. After his unsuccessful 2008 challenge against incumbent Sen. Susan Collins, Allen was appointed president and CEO of the Association of American Publishers.
Our Exceptional Nation and Exceptional People
Yesterday we saw one key to the Republican worldview: their Zero-Sum Freedom principle. This focuses solely on negative liberty (absence of interference) and ignores positive liberty (presence of opportunity), thus "more government" always means "less freedom."
Allen identifies another key Republican principle, that of Exceptionalism. Most of us have heard discussions about American Exceptionalism, the notion that the U.S. has a unique and specific world mission to spread liberty and democracy. Allen argues that Republicans also embrace individual exceptionalism, whose clearest expression may be this letter from Austrian School economist Ludwig von Mises to Ayn Rand, where Mises states:
You have the courage to tell the masses what no politician told them: you are inferior and all the improvements in your conditions which you simply take for granted you owe to the effort of men who are better than you.
By this principle, innovation and improvement are the product of exceptional individuals and they deserve the rewards of their individual exceptionalism. The fact that many of these individuals were born into privilege does not disprove individual exceptionalism. Instead, it proves that individual exceptionalism is often inherited.
"Tax cuts pay for themselves"
The Exceptionalism principle, Allen argues, is the basis for Republican memes of "job creators" and "makers vs. takers." Combine it with the Zero-Sum Freedom principle and you get the Republican theory of supply-side economics and their unshakeable belief that "tax cuts pay for themselves." In that theory, reduced regulations and tax cuts – especially for the wealthy – liberate those exceptional individuals to innovate and produce the technological improvements and economic growth that benefit the rest of us.
While serving on the House Budget Committee, Allen heard that argument often. Republicans argued that despite clear evidence to the contrary. And further evidence that tax cuts do not pay for themselves has emerged since the Bush era, yet in 2011 Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) said:
My view, and I think most of the people in my party don't believe that you should ever have to offset a tax cut.
Small wonder that, during one Budget Committee hearing, Allen wrote "Wonderland" in his notes. He also argues that the 2001 and 2003 Bush tax cuts were among the most devastating policy decisions in recent history, especially combined with the Bush administration's other budget (and life) buster….
"We'll be welcomed as liberators"
Allen was shocked when he learned that the National Security Council never met to discuss the decision to invade Iraq. Instead, President Bush made the decision on his own, with input from Vice President Cheney, based on intelligence reports that, in the words of the Downing Street Memo, "were being fixed around the policy."
Meanwhile, Vice President Cheney boldly declared "We'll be welcomed as liberators," a phrase Allen describes as "a triumph of wishful thinking." The vice president was not alone in his belief. Allen took part in a discussion between Sens. Kyl and Chuck Hagel as they returned from a European defense conference. "We've shown what we can do in Afghanistan. Now we'll show the Iraqis. Pretty soon, these countries will learn they just can't have these kinds of weapons," Allen recalls Sen. Kyl saying. Hagel replied, "I disagree, Jon. It's more complicated than that. There are always unintended consequences."
Hagel was not alone in arguing for caution. Secretary of State Colin Powell told the president "When you hit [Iraq], it's like crystal glass. It's going to shatter. There will be no government. There will be civil disorder." In Hard Lessons: The Iraq Reconstruction Experience, Special Inspector General Stuart Bowden found the State Department had concluded:
[I]nvading Iraq and replacing its totalitarian regime would require a U.S. commitment of enormous scope, carried out over a period of years, engaging everything from Iraq's judiciary to its electrical grid.
The Bush administration rejected that view, "convinced that by limiting the military's post-war role in Iraq, the United States could avoid the 'culture of dependency' that had taken root in other post-conflict interventions," Bowden found. Acting on unshakeable principles, the president ordered an invasion without sufficient force to protect the Iraqi people when their government was dismantled … and unleashed a civil war that killed over 4,486 Americans and at least 100,000 Iraqis.
"Let me tell you what we're not going to do"
Allen highlights that phrase "culture of dependency" because it echoes the Zero-Sum Freedom that principle Republicans argue so insistently. And when they don't, right wing zealots like Michelle Malkin howl that "big-government Republicans show appalling indifference to the dire market disruptions and culture of dependency that Obamacare schemes have wrought."
Allen had left government by the time the Affordable Care Act made its slow and tortured way through Congress. He had been involved in health care policy during his time in the House, working to give senior citizens more affordable access to prescription medications. His work led to the Bush-era Medicare Part D, although Allen was disappointed that bill did not allow the government to bargain with drug companies for better prices. So he wasn't surprised when conspiracy theories about "death panels" and populist cries of "Keep your government hands off my Medicare!" erupted in 2009. These memes merely echoed the Zero-Sum Freedom principle that he had witnessed for 12 years in the House.
More dismaying, for Allen, was Republicans' refusal to engage the detailed facts about health care policy. He cites this July 2012 Chris Wallace interview with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Fox News Sunday. Asked how Republicans would cover the 30 million Americans without health insurance, Sen. McConnell replied "that's not the issue." Wallace pressed on:
WALLACE: You don't think the 30 million people who are uninsured is an issue?
MCCONNELL: Let me tell you what we're not going to do. We're not going to turn the American health care system into a western European system.
Allen writes:
It would be hard to find a clearer contemporary example of how ideological principles devalue people. Tens of millions of uninsured are "not the issue" because a libertarian ideology has no room for their problems and no respect for "western European" systems that provide near-universal coverage at lower cost and with better health outcomes than our own system.
What Republicans fought and are still fighting to avoid, in Republican messaging guru Frank Luntz's terms, was "a government takeover" of health care. Never mind that the Affordable Care Act did not propose any such thing. When pressed to explain why his argument bore no relation to the facts, Luntz replied "I'm not a policy person. I'm a language person."
"Government can't control the weather"
Luntz does not limit his ideological blindness to health care. Consider his 2003 memo on climate change:
The scientific debate is closing [against us] but not yet closed. There is still a window of opportunity to challenge the science. Voters believe that there is no consensus about global warming within the scientific community. Should the public come to believe that the scientific issues are settled, their views about global warming will change accordingly. Therefore, you need to continue to make the lack of scientific certainty a primary issue in the debate.
A decade later. despite clear evidence that manmade climate change is real, Republicans still insist that, as Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) put it this week, "government can't control the weather."
Some of that, Allen argues, is Republican fealty to supporters in the fossil fuel industry. But it is compounded by their ideology As Cato Institute founder Ed Crane argued, "global-warming theories give the government more control of the economy."
Simply, Republicans recognize that climate change, if it is real, will require government action. But "more government" means "less freedom," always, as a matter of principle. Thus, because its only solution would be intolerable, climate change cannot be real – and scientists whose evidence supports it must be attacked as ideologues who want to "impose socialistic, globalist control over nations, businesses, and your lifestyle" – all summarized in Sen. Rubio's blithe "government can't control the weather."
There are real-world costs – financial as well as in opportunity, lives, and the habitability of entire regions of our planet – for these "dangerous convictions." Those costs are too horrific to ignore, and we cannot simply nod and accept that Republicans believe what they say, regardless of evidence. We must find our way through that to a government that can function in Realworldia … and tomorrow we'll discuss how to do that.
Happy Friday!


text:
Route-12 is a working guide for healing wounded hearts and confronting the addictions and afflictions that may assail us; emphasizing self understanding, personal responsibility, and the unfailing love of Jesus Christ.
This program will:
- Use Scripture to provide an understanding of the 12-Steps within a Biblical Context.
- Reaffirm and develop the intimate presence of God allowing Him to guide the affairs of our lives.
- Offer tools to restore the power and fruit of the Holy Spirit within us.
- Provide a workable formula for safely confronting the past.
- Help build meaningful relationships with others by creating a safe environment to share your life experiences.
- Model a peer-driven sponsorship/discipleship method to help teach us how to mentor in a healthy and productive manner.
We meet at the Basement on Wednesdays at 7PM to 9PM. Contact us:
Red Bernhard: (231) 645-0814
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
im Rez: (405) 517-3111


text:
Some time ago, I made a post about Offbeat Bride--a great resource for those of us who like to operate outside of the traditional. Well, the site's founder has started a new blog community called Offbeat Mama for moms of the same nature. And my blog post on fairy mailboxes has been reposted there.
So go check it out along with all other great articles on being an Offbeat Mama including fashion remixes for moms to be and handling holidays when your Pagan.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Offbeat Mama!
Labels: blog, children, fairies, fairy, ideas, links, offbeat bride, offbeat mama
No comments:
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Top 10 Things You Need to Know About Airbnb Taxes
Patrick Gilfether
Apps like Airbnb have opened the short-term rental economy to millions. However, running a successful and sustainable rental business requires some learning! Stride covers the 10 things you need to know when it comes to your Airbnb taxes so your rental business can thrive!
1. Understand the 14-day Rule
You won't owe any taxes on your Airbnb income if the following two points are true:
You rented your property for 14 days or less and
You used this property yourself for the greater of either 14 days or at least 10% of the total days you rented it to others at fair market value.
For example, Patrick rented his ski cabin out for 10 days this year. He also occupied the cabin for 14 days. Patrick does not owe taxes on his rental income.
Keep in mind though that if you qualify for the 14-day rule and don't owe taxes on your rental income, you won't be able to deduct any expenses associated with renting it.
2. Keep Records of Occupancy
You'll want to keep excellent records of who's using your property and when, regardless of your tax situation. If you qualify for the 14-day exemption then you'll need to have thorough records of the dates you rented the property to guests, as well as the dates you occupied it yourself.
If you do intend to exceed that 14-day limit, you'll need to know the number of days the property was rented so that you can accurately calculate the percentage of time that the property was used for personal reasons versus business reasons. Knowing your property's percentage of business use will help you calculate your deduction for big tickets items like rent, bills, and insurance.
3. Document Your Business Expenses and Mileage
Even if you don't expect to exceed the 14-day limit, tracking your expenses will still help you to know exactly how much money you're making and spending on your rental business. If you're not already, you can use the Stride Tax app to track your rental-related mileage and expenses for free.
Unsure which miles you can deduct? You can deduct any mileage which you can directly attribute to your property rental business. In order to safely claim mileage, you should be able to show a business purpose for the trip.
For example, travel to a property to clean it before a guest arrives is deductible. Travel to get lunch or return home afterwards probably isn't. Unless, of course, you're having a lunch with a prospective investor or you're heading home to do your accounting.
4. Deduct A Percentage of Your Rent and Bills
If you exceed the 14-day limit, then you can deduct a portion of the expenses associated with maintaining your property. Big ticket examples include property taxes, insurance, utilities, WiFi, and even rent!
You'll need to be careful to only deduct the portion directly attributable to your business. To do so, use your records of personal and guest occupancy of the property to calculate your business percentage.
For example, if you rent your whole ski cabin out for six months of the year, and occupy the property yourself for the other six months, then you can claim 50% of the above expenses for the year as a deduction!
5. Calculate the Percentage of Your Property That's Being Rented
If you rent a room in your home while you also continue to occupy it, figuring out the portion of your expenses attributable to your business involves an extra step.
Similar to the previous example, you'll begin by calculating your property's business percentage based on the rate of guest occupancy. Once you have calculated a rate of occupancy, you'll multiply this percentage by the amount of space that's being rented out.
Consider that same ski cabin again. This time, imagine you occupy the cabin all year, but you also rent out two of four bedrooms for six months of the year. We can take our same rate of occupancy (6 ÷ 12 = 50%) and multiply it by the proportion of space occupied (2 of 4 rooms = 50%). Multiplying these two numbers gives us a deductible business percentage of 25%. You can also perform a similar calculation using square footage.
6. Differentiate Between Home Repairs and Improvements
As a rental host, you should deduct a business percentage of the repairs you need to make to your property. Keep in mind that the IRS will expect you to handle repairs to your property separately from improvements.
So, what's the difference? Repairs include anything which allows the property to remain functional, without adding value. In everyday language, this means fixing broken things. Hiring a plumber to fix your dripping faucet or a handyman to replace a cracked window pane is a repair.
On the other hand, projects like adding a new deck or remodeling your study into a rental bedroom are considered property improvements. Property improvements must be capitalized–meaning they're deducted over the course of several years–or added in to the tax basis of your property. Don't worry though, by using Form 4562 you'll be able to deduct depreciation on your tax returns for years to come.
The IRS states that any expense undertaken to better, restore, or adapt a property falls under the category of improvements. A good rule of thumb is that if you need a building permit, it's probably an improvement! Examples include:
New front porch
Remodeled kitchen
Restoring a house after a casualty loss, e.g. repairing a roof after it was damaged in a storm
Restoring a house to a specific historical condition (which may also qualify you for hefty tax credits!)
Converting an office to a bedroom
Converting a garage to an in-law suite
7. Understand "Substantial" Services
The kinds of services you provide to your guests will influence how you will file your taxes. Most hosts will only provide "insubstantial services" and should thus claim their earnings from Airbnb as passive income from short-term rentals using Form 1040 Schedule E.
However, if you have 1) established an LLC to hold and operate rental property, or 2) you provide certain "substantial services" to your guests, you'll want to claim your income as active business income using a Form 1040 Schedule C.
Insubstantial Services
Heating and A/C
Water and Gas
Cleaning of common areas
Trash collection
Payment of HOA dues
Substantial Services
Cleaning of the rental portion of the property while occupied (e.g. linen service)
Concierge and trip planning services
Tours and outings
Meals and entertainment
Hotel or Bed-and-Breakfast like services.
8. Get Your Tax Documentation
Airbnb will issue a 1099-K if you completed more than 200 transactions totaling $20,000 in gross income for the tax year. If that doesn't describe you, don't worry! They've got you covered with all the income documentation you'll need either way.
Regardless of whether you receive a 1099-K, you can view an annual summary of your earnings on the Airbnb website. Your summary will reflect the number of reservations, nights of occupancy, gross earnings, deductible fees, and total payout. This information can safely be used as income documentation in lieu of a 1099-K.
9. Collect Occupancy Taxes
Occupancy taxes are a tax levied by a state or locality on short-term rentals. They vary on the city, county, and state level, so it is important to understand your local laws.
In many popular cities (like New York City, San Francisco, and Portland), Airbnb will automatically withhold and pay occupancy taxes on your behalf. However, they do not yet provide this service in all cities. In these cases, you may be expected to collect and pay occupancy taxes independently. The good news, however, is that if you do have to collect and pay occupancy taxes, you can claim them as a deduction in your Stride Tax app.
10. Pay Your Quarterly Taxes
If you have not already filled out and filed a form W-9 with Airbnb, they may withhold up to 28% of your gross income for taxes. If, on the other hand, you did file a W-9, then taxes aren't being paid on your behalf and you'll be expected to make quarterly estimated tax payments on your Airbnb income. To file quarterly Airbnb taxes, you'll need to file Form 1040-ES .


text:
Recruiting Services
AGC provides qualified staffing solutions.
At ACG we know that recruiting is a crucial part of developing and maintaining an effective, cutting-edge team, which in turn impacts our customers. ACG has invested in our recruiting services so we can acquire & retain the best qualified talent. To assemble and retain the most effective team, we use a proven approach to hiring the best candidates.
Our Recruiting team has over 10 years' experience hiring professionals from the commercial, government, and military veteran workforce. We leverage the latest recruiting tools, social media and referrals to deliver the best qualified candidates.
Our Applicant Tracking System (ATS) automated recruiting tool manages all qualified candidates allowing us to keep an organized database to quickly find, recruit and train.


text:
In order to repair customers' tapes and salvage their footage very often the magnetic material on the reels must be transferred to an undamaged cassette.
Inevitably technology marches ever forward and new 8mm, Hi8 and Digital8 videotapes are no longer being produced, making it a challenge to find the parts we need to continue working with the formats as we have in the past.
If you have some tapes that you have transferred to a different medium and are contemplating throwing them away or looking for a way to recycle them, please consider selling them to us instead. Your unwanted videotapes can be put to good use by helping to salvage other people's priceless footage!
Our pricing offer varies by quantity and condition, so if you're interested please don't hesitate to contact us, we'll be thrilled to hear from you!


text:
It goes without saying that the Utah trip was a great success. We saw some amazing sites and beautiful vistas, ate some awesome meals, and took some challenging hikes. On a personal level, it was the beginning of our relationship. Pearl and I forged a bond that continues to grow as I type this. It was our first adventure and we would just be getting started. The prospect of future travels and explorations together excites us both to this day.
Our Utah trip wasn't even over as we began tossing around ideas on the way home. Sitting in the Dallas airport during something like a 15-hour overnight layover we started "Kayaking" plane tickets for the next trip. But where? Was it time to go big? Time to take it to the next level and just maybe leave the country?
Our attention that night quickly took us to Europe. Iceland specifically. Iceland was a country that always interested us both and, with a little late night airport research and googling, we were finding affordable airfare to Reykjavik. The next morning we took our next trip idea and jumped on our plane back to the east coast.
Over the next couple of months during the busy holiday season we started getting very serious about the whole Iceland trip. Airfare was remaining affordable. We bought guidebooks, language guides, and even a National Geographic Adventure map of the country. Things appeared to be coming together. But…what usually happens…we began thinking and talking. Iceland is such a beautiful, enchanting place with fjords, wilderness, coastlines, seaside villages, the northern lights. It was a great idea. But we wanted to see as much as possible during our two weeks. We wanted to take in different cultures, cities, languages, foods. We wanted to experience as much as possible. Be immersed in as much as we could take in during our time off. Iceland's location was just a little too limiting. It was just one place. An amazing place. A place we want to visit in the future. But for our first trip to Europe together, we wanted to see and experience it. And with all due respect to Iceland, we weren't sure it would be accomplished there. So Iceland was out! (For now). Our research was taking us on that traditional Alps route of Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and Italy.
Airfares were looking great for a mid-winter trip to Europe. The guide books were arriving and yes even another National Geographic Adventure map. This one of Central Europe. As we entered the busy holiday season and entered the new year we started checking things off of our list. We found great tickets to Zurich. Check! Our Eurail Passes were purchased. Check! Our route was finalized. Check! We made all our lodging reservations. Check! We were ready to go! Our route would take us to Zurich via Aire Lingus with layovers in Dublin and London. From Zurich we would travel to Konstanz, Germany. Then on to Innsbruck, Austria. Ljubljana, Slovenia and Trieste, Italy, before returning to Zurich.
So there it is, the beginning of our next adventure. We look forward to sharing all of our experiences and tips we learned. It was a true learning experience for the both of us. Over the next several weeks we will take you along on what was, for us, an epic trip.


text:
A Community of Soul Sisters Makes All the Difference
When I put in my application for The Haven Retreat, I really had no intention of attending. The idea of driving myself to the mountains of Utah and meeting a bunch of other women like me terrified me. It was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do, but I am thankful every single day I was given the opportunity.
Because of The Haven Retreat and The Younique Foundation, I no longer feel alone, guilty, or ashamed of what happened to me. I was given the tools I needed to help myself heal. Best of all, I met 6 beautiful soul sisters that will be with me for the rest of my life. Anytime I'm feeling alone, all I have to do is talk to them and I instantly feel better.
-Michelle, Survivor


text:
Can Drinking Water Help You Lose Weight?
Drinking water can either be an easy solution for your health or it can be a difficult one. Some people love water, some hate the "taste" of it. Whether you are a fan or not, water is an amazing tool that can heal and help our bodies.
It is essential for life!
Why is it Important to Drink Water
We have all heard that water is important for our bodies to be healthy. The average person is 57-60% water. Holy cow, that's a lot of water! When I hear that, it makes sense that when we are not refueling our bodies with water, we don't feel good.
If you think of a plant that hasn't been watered for some time, how does it look? The dirt gets dry and cracked, the leaves get wilted and weak. We are the same way! Our skin gets dry and we fill weak.
Signs you may be dehydrated:
- Aren't urinating as much
- Urine is darker yellow
- Thirst increases
- Dry mouth
- Dry skin
- Tired, fatigued
- Headache
- Dizzy
- Eyes are dry
- Muscle cramps
- Sore joints
Not to be gross, but using the color of urine to know if I am on track with hydration is an easy way to gauge! Or if I feel I have a headache, I know I need to drink more water.
Even more than drinking water for health, drinking water can help us lose weight!
How Does Drinking Water Help Me to Lose Weight?
Drinking more water can help one lose weight in a number of ways.
It may seem backwards, but when we drink more water, our body will let go of excess water that it is retaining. If we are depriving ourselves of water, our body will hold onto whatever it can.
By hydrating ourselves, we are allowing our body to let things flow because it knows that there is plenty.
By drinking enough water we can:
- Raise our metabolism making our body work more efficiently
- Increases the number of calories we burn, especially drinking cold water
- Help to clear out waste from the body
- Reduce our appetite by drinking before a meal
When you wash a dish or pan that has baked-on food, you use lots of water to scrub. The same can be done for our bodies. Use lots of water and the scrubbing is when detoxing takes place on the inside.
Detoxing the body takes out toxins that have camped out inside our bodies and releases them.
This can include things like soda, sugar, alcohol, unhealthy foods and more. Detox can be done by sweating, cutting out toxic habits, drinking water, fasting, and more.
Fasting is one way to detox the body. Make sure if you are under doctor supervision, that you talk to them first before participating in a fast. Because you are detoxing, your body is changing and you want to be safe.
Sometimes the first 1-3 days can be a challenge when doing a detox because our bodies are processing the toxins and changes are being made. This can include headaches, body aches and grumpiness. But after that, most of the challenges become background noise.
To see more on the positive effects of fasting using water, check out "The Science Of Fasting".
Help with Drinking Enough Water
Drinking enough water can make the difference in feeling better, refreshing the body, and even losing weight. You may be wondering "how can I drink more water?"
There are a few simple solutions that can help with drinking enough water each day.
Keeping a self-care chart on your fridge or by your bedside as a reminder may help to keep you on track with your water consumption.
I created a simple chart that not only tracks your water intake, but it includes self-care for a day! You can laminate this and reuse each day, or make copies for personal use.
Glass Water Bottle Silicone Sleeve Leak Proof Lids Time Markings
Something about an encouraging, beautiful or unique water bottle can help to keep us on track to drinking our water each day!
I have water bottles and cups that are my favorites, and help to encourage me to keep drinking!
There are lots of fun water bottles to help keep track of how much you drink! This bottle can hold hot or cold drinks!
There are a number of apps available that are free. Play around and see which one works best with your personality and your personal needs. It should be something that you feel you can integrate into your daily habits.
- Water Tracker App – Keeps track of how much you have drank by entering after each glass.
- Water Reminder App – The obvious . . . it will remind you to get on the ball and chug the water!
Pick a system that works best for you that you know you will stick with!
I Don't Like to Drink Water
My oldest son recently reminded me of when he was younger and how he would tell me that he "didn't like the taste of water". We had a good laugh over that!
Thankfully is now a fantastic water drinker!
Now he carries around a nice water bottle to encourages him to drink, or keeps a big cup of water in his room at home to remind him to drink. If it is fresh and cold, he's more likely to drink it!
Here are other ways to help encourage drinking water if you don't like to:
Sometimes I want a boost to my water. I hear you fellow soda drinkers, it can be a tough switch to go from flavored drinks with caffeine to water.
I have cut out soda from my life, a couple times. I have also had the experience of water giving me energy and brought me back to life!
I have found that my soda stream is the perfect solution! I can flavor my water and have the bubbles I enjoy!
Tea not only is made with water, but it contains antioxidants and offers less caffeine than coffee.
Seems like the perfect solution if you are trying to kick the soda habit and you can still get a little caffeine!
Who would have thought about eating your water! I wouldn't only eat fruits and veggies to stay hydrated, but it is just an additional way to
Here are a few foods that have high water content and can help you stay hydrated.
- Watermelon
- Cucumber
- Grapefruit
- Iceberg lettuce
- Tomatoes
- Celery
- Strawberries
- Broccoli
- Green peppers
- Spinach
- Grapefruit
There are many different ways you can keep water flowing into your body to help you to feel good and lose weight. Try some of these ideas, some may not be a good fit, and see which ones work best for you and stick with it for 30 days. After the 30 days, you will be amazed at your progress . . . . then KEEP GOING!
Take baby steps, give yourself grace, and keep making progress. I will be chugging water right along with you!
Start Over Each Day
Every day is a new day to work on increasing your water intake. I understand in the beginning it can be a challenge to be consistent. However I feel different when I don't drink enough water, and I feel fabulous when I do. That is one reminder!
If you feel you need some extra support to help drink more water each day, joining our Facebook group can help.
I also have an EFT script to help you overcome any issues you may have with drink water in my quick tap post.
My goal is to pick a new tool or two and implement what I have learned. I know how wonderful it feels to be hydrated. That feeling is what I will use to keep moving forward and filling my glass each day!
Not only will I feel better, but I am confident that I will start losing the weight too! Join me!
- 1 Can Drinking Water Help You Lose Weight?
- 1.1 Why is it Important to Drink Water
- 1.2 How Does Drinking Water Help Me to Lose Weight?
- 1.3
- 1.4 Help with Drinking Enough Water
- 1.5 I Don't Like to Drink Water
- 1.6 Start Over Each Day


text: Here is a very clean and highly collectable vintage ROLEX OYSTER PEPETUAL DATEJUST in stainless steel measuring 36mm. This ref. 1601 DATEJUST dates to 1973 and looks much newer, with the steel case being shiny and the full length ROLEX OYSTER bracelet having minimal stretch. This original blue dial really "pops" and is surrounded by a solid, white gold bezel. The automatic winding caliber 1570 ROLEX movement was just cleaned by our ROLEX watch maker and is accurately keeping time. I believe the DATEJUST is going to be a very important collectable piece in the near future, as the other sports models become unaffordable for most.


text:
TNT.tips Blog
SmartPath Video Series
It is our pleasure to provide this software free of charge to help you in your ministry. We're so thankful for our partners who make this possible!
About TntWare
Current Group
Saved Groups
Only one Current Group at a time.
Unlimited number of Saved Groups.
Current group is always current, whether you are in the Contact View, or some other view.
Only relevant when you are in the Groups View.
Can become a Saved Group by creating a new (empty) Saved Group, then adding all of the members of the Current Group.
Press the <Lookup this group> button.
This makes the Saved Group into the Current Group.
Deleting the Current Group removes the contacts from the database permanently.
Deleting a Saved Group simply removes the Saved Group from the list of groups, but has no impact on the contacts.
Read More
Read More > Groups / Saved Groups


text:
Dog Boarding
If you're going on holiday for 2 weeks or just want a night out and want the perfect alternative to putting your beloved dog into a kennel look no further, weather he/she is a puppy, adult or elder they will get the best care possible in a relaxed home environment.
Small Animal Home Visits
I will make visits to your house to check up on your pets. Feeding, cleaning, giving attention and any application of medicine they may be on. This includes Cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, birds and any other furry or scaly pet you may own.
Dog Walking Service
A one hour walk for your pooch is just £10. Additional dogs from the same household are £3 each. If longer walks are required, please contact me for more information and to discuss your dog's needs.
– What Makes Lucy's Pet Care Different? –
Firstly, Lucy's Pet Care is a professional service – this is what I do for a living. So it means that I have lots of time available to look after your animals properly while you're away from them. Secondly, my services are different from hobby pet carers (part-time, errand services, and child-next-door pet care) because:
I am a fully insured and trustworthy pet sitter. With many years experience in caring for pets, I regularly read about things that may present hazards to your pet as well as completing a pet first aid course and am always equipped with a pet first aid kit in case of emergencies. Previously I have volunteered with the Bolton RSPCA branch where I furthered my knowledge with specifically cats and dogs, Regularly visiting Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary to exercise the dogs and did months of work experience at Greenmount Wild Bird Hospital, where I found my love for our local wildlife and learned to health check and administer appropriate treatment and medication.
I achieved a Triple Distinction Level 3 Extended Diploma in Animal Management – as part of this course I studied and carried out the health and husbandry of domestic and exotic mammals. This ranged from farm animals to Primates and Tapirs. I also have the knowledge and ability to care for reptiles, amphibians, fish and small mammals such as rabbits and guinea pigs.
I truly LOVE what I do! More than a profession, pet care is a vocation. I am drawn to the care of animals, and as such, I am a concerned, compassionate care-giver. I have my own pets - Lando my male Netherland Dwarf Rabbit, Padme my female Netherland Dwarf, Faye my Russian Dwarf Hamster and 2 fish tanks one of which is for Goldfish the second is a community tropical tank. Along with Tessa(dog) and Jasmine(cat) who are my families pets that I grew up with.
I truly LOVE what I do! More than a profession, pet sitting is a vocation. I am drawn to the care of animals, and as such, I am a concerned, compassionate care-giver. I have my own pets - a dog called Tessa, a cat called Jasmine, and 2 Russian Dwarf Hamsters named Frodo and Faye. I also have two tropical fish tanks, both with a variety of species.
Unlike the hobby carer (the part-timer, the errand service, or the child-next-door who pet sits for extra cash) Lucy's Pet Care is devoted to provide your pet with the best possible care. I spend a great deal of my time and income on furthering the quality of my services, and making you and your pet happy! As well as feeding, changing water (and bedding when necessary) and exercising animals, I take care of special requirements - such as administering any medicines - something which not all pet care services carry out!
Lucy's Pet Care provides Dog Walking, Dog Boarding, Small Animal House Visits and a range of other pet services in Tottington and the surrounding areas.
Contact Information
284 Tottington Road,
Bury. BL8 1SJ
07511 600208


text:
In this file photo taken on February 1, 2017, Venezuelan soldiers drive a Russian-made tank during a military parade in Caracas. AFP / JUAN BARRETO
Kremlin says Venezuela's Maduro due in Moscow soon for talks
Venezuela's opposition says Norway-mediated dialogue with Maduro 'finished'
Trump confirms death of Al-Qaeda heir Hamza bin Laden
Your feedback is important to us!
We invite all our readers to share with us their views and comments about this article.
Disclaimer: Comments submitted by third parties on this site are the sole responsibility of the individual(s) whose content is submitted. The Daily Star accepts no responsibility for the content of comment(s), including, without limitation, any error, omission or inaccuracy therein. Please note that your email address will NOT appear on the site.
Alert: If you are facing problems with posting comments, please note that you must verify your email with Disqus prior to posting a comment. follow this link to make sure your account meets the requirements. (http://bit.ly/vDisqus)
The White House Friday warned Russia and other countries backing President Nicolas Maduro against sending troops and military equipment to Venezuela, saying the United States would view such actions as a "direct threat" to the region's security. After two Russian air force planes carrying nearly 100 military personnel landed outside of Caracas Saturday, U.S. officials prepared a list of possible responses -- including sanctions -- for U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Trump's envoy on Venezuela said. The United States and most other Western countries support Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, who invoked the constitution in January to declare himself interim president, arguing that Maduro's 2018 re-election was illegitimate.Russia has said it sent "specialists" to Venezuela under a military cooperation deal but insisted they posed no threat to regional stability, brushing aside Trump's threat.Oil provides 90 percent of export revenue for Venezuela.
Kremlin says Venezuela's Maduro due in Moscow soon for talks
Venezuela's opposition says Norway-mediated dialogue with Maduro 'finished'
Trump confirms death of Al-Qaeda heir Hamza bin Laden


text:
Of course all of this becomes more complicated as
the Germans get their own throwback and what would they do if they knew what
that the British know etc… The first chapter was rather well plotted with the
revelation of the German throwback in, for the author, a typically technical
Again, all of this sticks to realistic. While reading this, I always felt that
Williams had a good feel for the big personalities like Churchill and Hitler.
Hitler shouldn't have invaded the Soviet Union, shouldn't have persecuted the
Slavs in the Soviet Union's satellite states.
But even with a guy from the future telling you Hitler it's a bad idea, it just
means that Hitler is going to invade Russia better.
Same with Churchill. Most of his biggest mistakes are rectified, but his
Pro-Greek heart still gets him to send British troops to Greece in time
to get kicked out by the Germans.
However, the biggest problem of this book is that while it is a rather
realistic and at times technical appraisal of the "what ifs"
involved, character takes a major backseat. I cannot emphasis how much
character takes a backseat to everything. In the entire book, there isn't even
a physical description of Don Erlang, the main character. Most of the other
characters are walking dictionaries or encyclopedias of information that show
up, divulge their information, and then put themselves on a shelf somewhere
ready for their next paragraph. Much of the book is also fleshed out by anonymous
characters. Where someone like Harry Turtledove would have given such
characters back-story and personality, Williams gives them a job to do as
an anonymous bomber pilot, tank commander, infantryman, marine, submariner,
ship captain etc... who show up, do something and die or live, either way you
never hear from them again. Mostly to show off the new equipment in action that
Don Erlang gets the British to develop.
Another complaint of mine is the names of things. I found the tank names
confusing because there were real world equivalents, even if they had nothing
to do with the equipment described by Williams. I personally would have found
completely different names would have been preferable, like all the tanks names
beginning after D or something.
Another thing that kind of
bothered me, was the Holocaust. I can't seem to recall if Williams
actually addressed the Holocaust and I'm unsure if he ignored it, or
some decision, that I missed, was made to delay it till after the war.
I just don't think any amount of historical foresight would have
dissuaded Hitler from his "Final Solution".
In total, a rather realistic, aside from the obvious, "what if"
scenario of WWII, that clearly shows the author's bias towards the
technical and politcal aspects of his story, as opposed to character.
Probably an interesting read for
the initiated but will definitely be a snore for the average history
layman. Which equates to most of the population of the world.


text:
A Peek Inside Our Boat (Turned Tiny Home)
Figuring out how to furnish a tiny, floating space has been a bit of a challenge. But I think we've done a pretty good job of turning this boat into a home. The Catalina Wine Mixer is still a work in progress (and someday we may do some legit remodeling) but we think she's the prettiest place we've ever lived.
A Peek Inside Our Boat (Turned Tiny Home)
The first thing you'll see when you step aboard is the mid-deck. It's kind of like our front door and foyer rolled into one. You can access the bow, fly bridge, and main salon from here. We also use this space as Brian's office AND our dining room!
Brian's desk transitions into a dining table. We could probably fit eight people here, but six is more comfortable.
The fly bridge sits above our the mid-deck. It's a great spot for reading and naps. It's also where you'll find the steering wheel and navigation equipment.
Our living room furniture is super versatile. The top of our coffee table lifts up, making it easy to eat or work from the couch, which happens to pull out into a full sized-bed.
We love Netflix. And Bravo. Thankfully, the boat came with a TV (and VCR!) in the main salon. Indy's bed also fits perfectly in the corner.
My office sits between the kitchen and our entertainment console.
Our kitchen is tiny! And we haven't really done anything with it yet. We have a refrigerator and freezer, microwave, cooktop, sink and coffee maker. No oven. No dishwasher.
The engine room is below the main salon. Just lift the floorboards and you find a whole new world.
Our bedroom came complete with a built-in bed (it sits on top of our water tanks) and two very small closets. We also have an ensuite bathroom!
Like I said. The closets are tiny.
Our shower is surprisingly roomy. But you can't get too comfortable in there - the water heater only heats up about 15 minutes' worth of hot water at a time.
And that's our boat-turned-tiny-house! Not pictured: our 2nd bathroom and bedroom. We currently use the other bedroom as a storage space for our food, laundry, and linens.
There are tons of perks to living aboard (and living tiny), but I've found having less STUFF to worry about to be the most liberating. We were able to redecorate the boat in just a couple of hours (thanks, Target!) and our shopping list was pretty small. I'm excited to see how our home continues to evolve!


text:
thanks, Rubiao...... for bringing this article to my attention elsewhere on this site.
ILAN STAVANS: Why did you become a writer?
FELIPE ALFAU: I am not a professional writer. Only by necessity have I ever received payment for my work. Dalkey Archive Press offered money for my two novels but I refused to accept it. For my poems I received $500 because I needed to pay the monthly payment here, in the retirement home. The truth is, I was never interested in writing, nor did I ever dream of making a living at my craft. I hate full-time authors. I hate intellectuals that make a living from abstractions and evasions. The art of writing has turned into an excess. Today, literature is a waste. It should be abolished, at least in the form we know: as a money-making endeavor.
IS: How do you think writers should support themselves?
FA: I am not sure, but certainly not by selling their books as jewelry.
IS: Yet I know you first submitted "Locos" to a New York publisher for financial reasons. You wrote it in English because you needed money.
FA: Who doesn't? And when I got a job, a stable job, I took the manuscript back. It was scheduled for publication under the title "Madrilenos." I changed my mind and asked the editor to return the text.
IS: Had it been accepted?
FA: Yes. It was already in galley form.
IS: And you took it back?
FA: I didn't need the money anymore. I had a wife and a daughter, and enough to support them.
refreshingInteresting excerpt -- refreshing to see a writer who writes purely for the love of the craft. I would love to read the entire interview.
yeah...Alfau's political opinions are a little disturbing...I have been wanting to get my hands on some of his books, his writing sounds fascinating and innovative despite the questionable politics. I guess sometimes greatness comes with a facade of bigotry and totalitarianism... Pound, Eliot, Mishima etc. etc.
ShameIt's too bad he died (unnoticed) a few years ago. His first book Locos is an absolute gem and sort of a prequel to his other book (some characters overlap). Luckily it comes complete with instructions on how to read it just so there is no confusion. Every minute since I finished Chromos the book rises tremendously in my memory. Very recommended reading if you get the chance. And Locos is a great place to start because it is short and sweet. Oh so sweet!
I agree with that -- I don't know much about this writer but I googled him after reading this article and learned that he's as famous for his loud-mouthed racist opinions as for his writing. I wish we could find a writer with cojones who isn't also a jerk in real life -- still, his work sounds interesting and I'm going to keep an open mind and check his stuff out, for what it's worth.
I regret that I didn't know much about Alfau when I posted this. He seems to indicate later in that interview (which is linked to my post) that he had racist views when he was much younger and that he changed later. Maybe I want to believe that because his outlook on getting published was so liberating to me when I read it. I eagerly accepted his word that he is not anti-semite and attributed his statement about Blacks to being very ignorant in his youth, but I certainly glossed over his complaint about "all the immigrants."


text:
Computer games and moving images.
Morphopolis is a computer game for phones, tablets and PCs. A hidden object adventure, the game takes the player on a journey of transformation and discovery as they search for items hidden within the luscious environments and solve logical visual puzzles.
"Rarely, if ever, are we to witness a game with the visual finesse of Morphopolis" – Chris Priestman, Pocket Gamer.
The game was developed with Dan Walters (Micro Macro Games) and aims to appeal to a broad audience through it's visual aesthetic.
More information and trailer video at: www.mcro.org/morphopolis
Level architectural design and concept with 3D modelling.
Calvino Noir is a computer game for Playstation, PC and mobile devices created by Dan Walters.
Following the visual language of Film Noir, the narrative and game play unfolds within a smoky and shadowy urban environment. The player explores the game environment through architectural sections with the game designed and built in 3D models.
"Plays like art in motion." – Megan Logan, Wired.
Levels were developed through freehand sketching before being modelled in Sketchup and imported into the game editor for post-production of lighting and environmental effects.
More information and trailer video at: www.mcro.org/calvinonoir
Haiku Adventure is an original adventure puzzle game with a distinctive visual style and magical realist narrative. The game is being crafted in celebration of the traditions of ukiyo-e woodblock prints and haiku poetry.
More information at Small Island Games.
One day game jam at Arch Creatives in Leamington Spa. Artwork created for Micro Macro Games with Adam Kalopsidiotis.


text:
Coversure Insurance Services
Coversure Insurance Services is a group of independent insurance intermediaries throughout the United Kingdom that generates £100 million in annual sales. A local franchise holder manages and owns each of its more than 90 branch offices. The company delivers sales development, compliance, accounting, and IT services to the franchises. Since its founding more than 30 years ago, Coversure has grown rapidly while maintaining its commitment to provide high-quality, good-value insurance to UK residents across the country.
The insurance company needed to provide a centrally managed IT system to support the requirements of approximately one hundred separate businesses. Every franchise had its own distinct customer base and had to be able to operate independently to best serve its clientele. Franchise owners needed to focus on its customers rather than becoming distracted by the technical intricacies of maintaining accurate, secure data and upgrading computer systems to keep pace with business demands.
- Centralized data management, relieving users from operational burdens
- Easy, real-time access to critical business information
- Support for five-fold business expansion
- Database Management
IT Director
Coversure Insurance Services


text:
Creating is my joy and teaching is my passion.
Payette Still discovered her artistic abilities at a very young age. As a youth she blossomed in the performing arts realm, eventually opening her own dance studio. However, Payette has always painted as a way to express the many facets of life that inspire. Her style and technique is a mixture of oils and mixed media on large canvas Many of her sold pieces decorate the walls of prestigious establishments and private collectors .
Community is an important part of her creative process which is why she also host art sessions. The idea is to teach potential artist basic fundamentals and open the door of artistic expression. Art has the ability to improve ones outlook in life without being evasive because it allows self-expression.
Her newest exploration is using precious stones & painting murals. To see her precious stone collection click here.


text:
Beehive Cupcake Cake
Happy Bee Day! This sweet-as-honey idea uses a baker's dozen cupcakes to create a bright yellow beehive cake with chocolate bee toppers.
Get the Beehive Cupcake Cake Recipe!
What You'll Need:
- Your favorite cupcake recipe
- Butter Cream Frosting recipe
- Cake board
- Disposable piping bags
- Round decorating tips in large and small sizes
- Black food coloring pen
- Candy melts in yellow and white
- Gel food coloring in lemon yellow, chocolate brown, and bright green
Bake cupcakes according to recipe instructions and let cool completely. For the beehive, you'll need 13 cupcakes. If desired, decorate the extra cupcakes as shown in the above image to place around the beehive.
Arrange 13 cupcakes into a beehive shape on the cake board, leaving room for a door. Prepare the buttercream Frosting. Apply a dot of Buttercream to the bottom outer edge of each cupcake to keep them in place.
Using a disposable piping bag fitted with a large round decorating tip, pipe strands of yellow buttercream in a side-to-side motion, working from the top of the beehive to the bottom.
Once you've covered the beehive in yellow frosting, cover up any missed spots with the excess frosting and outline the final shape of the cake.
To make the chocolate bee toppers, use a black food coloring pen to draw stripes and eyes onto yellow candy melts. Set aside.
Fill a disposable piping bag with melted white candy melts and snip the tip of the bag to create a small opening. Pipe wings onto a waxed paper-lined cookie sheet (they will look like open hearts).
While the wings are still soft, place the accented yellow candy melts onto each set of wings. Place the tray of bees in the freezer to set for 3 minutes.
Remove the bee toppers from the freezer and add them to the cake board around the beehive and as toppers on the additional cupcakes.
Optional: Tint additional frosting with brown food coloring gel, place into a disposable piping bag, snip the end, and pipe a couple of tree branches onto the cake board. Add leaves with a specialty decorating tip. Use white frosting and a small round decorating tip to pipe a birthday message.
Get the Beehive Cupcake Cake Recipe!
Melissa is the founder of My Cake School, an instructional website for all things relating to cake and cake decorating. Through hundreds of video and blog tutorials, she loves to share techniques, ideas, and advice with decorators of all skill levels. No matter what the occasion, everything is better with cake! Connect with Melissa on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and the My Cake School blog.


text:
The Evil Within 2 - Review (PS4)
The Evil Within 2 is a tried and true survival horror experience evoking the one two punch of action and horror of Resident Evil 4, the atmosphere of Silent Hill, and the strange open world endeavors of 2009's Wolfenstein. I had qualms going into the sequel to Shinji Mikami's fever dream of a first game since was no longer directing and only serving as producer, though many might see that as a good sign as the first game was a mixed bag to critics and fans. The poor controls and performance issues of The Evil Within drew many players away that were seeking a true successor to RE4 while masochists like myself stayed until the very end and enjoyed the hell out of it even though it had significant issues. The Evil Within 2 makes up for everything that was wrong with its predecessor but loses a little something in the scuffle during the eighteen hour playthrough.
Sebastian Castellanos makes his return as the main protagonist of The Evil Within 2, drinking away his personal demons while trying to find info on the mysterious Mobius organization responsible for the incident at Beacon Hospital, where he was induced into a strange Matrix-like machine called STEM that allows a psycho's delusional horrors of the mind to come to life. It isn't until a familiar and betraying face working for Mobius returns to tell Sebastian that his long thought dead daughter is still alive and is being used as the core to one of these STEM machines, playing host to an entire town of other people strapped into STEM, called Union. Mobius makes a deal with Sebastian: Get the girl, wipe away the debt. Nah, that's from Bioshock: Infinite but it's basically the same mission with the same predictable plot twists you might expect from a B horror movie. Sebastian needs to enter STEM once again to confront his fears and save his daughter while also trying to stay one step ahead of Mobius.
The story is definitely more coherent than its predecessor and still heavily influenced by the 90s Jennifer Lopez flick The Cell where our protagonists enter a serial killer's mind using advanced technology only to be hunted by his mental constructs. However, instead of outlandish visuals and high brow metaphors, the execution is just as silly as the concept, especially when the evil organization, Mobius, is basically Umbrella with a worse name. Seriously, they even have the same goals of world domination that Umbrella has. Mobious's sole intent is to hook everyone into STEM as a singular controllable consciousness because evil organization is evil. Sebastian's mission to save his daughter is familiar among publisher Bethesda's repertoire lately but grounds the game enough to warrant this sequel.
The voice acting is well done for the most part and there are some really touching moments in the Third Act that really drive the nail through the heart but most of Sebastain's dialogue through the first two acts is comprised of "What the…." or "Whaaaaaaat?" There was a chapter close to the beginning where he said "What the" a few times in a row and it's like 'Guy, you've been through this before and last time was so much worse and messed up. Why are you surprised by any of this, Sebastian?' Sebastian's ignorance is almost endearing even if it does wane on me a little bit. The rest of the characters you meet are pretty one note and your typical cardboard cutouts of the standard video game military team. You got the smart guy, the hacker, the psychologist, and the tough guy. The villains are pretty good though and what I like most is that there isn't a main villain. Each act plays service to its own villian, providing some good variety up until the end.
From the get go, The Evil Within 2's character movement is immediately better than the first game. Where the first felt sluggish and unresponsive, Sebastian is quicker and responds better to player input this time around. Sebastian's apparently been working on his cardio as his sprint is much more useful now in that he doesn't get tired nearly as fast as he did before. Seriously, he ran out of stamina so fast in the first game where it was nearly pointless. The strange thing however is that developer Tango Gameworks still haven't been able to get the shooting right in either of these games. Something about the shooting just doesn't feel good and headshots are more frustrating to get right so I often just go for the legs or chest. There were many moments where shots wouldn't register at all on enemies or interactive objects such as exploding barrels. One vivid instance happened when I unloaded an entire magazine into a barrel and nothing happened so I just let the enemies kill me so I could restart from the last save.
Alternatively, I went for stealth in nearly every situation I could, which is vastly improved this time around with its own skill tree dedicated to enhanced abilities like faster movement while crouching and an awesome ability that allows Sebastian to run straight to an enemy for a timed stealth attack. Of course this same skill tree also enhances your other abilities like shooting and health but I upgraded the stealth as quickly as possible as it makes Sebastian an overpowered beast, which has its downsides because it becomes rather easy to cheese enemies. After a certain amount of time hiding in a bush or behind a wall, they give up and you can just try stealth killing them again. The new cover mechanic is also incredibly wonky and rarely worked like I wanted it to so I had to be patient with it.
The sound design is excellent, however. When a gun fires, you feel that powerful kickback especially with shotguns and sniper rifles, which gets the bass a boomin' through the headphones or speakers. The groans and screams enemies make while searching for you is stress inducing and there are some enemies whose sounds send a chill up the spine indicating a tough impending fight.
The most interesting aspect of this game is the open world variety they've added in the town of Union. Instead of just following a linear path through Union, Sebastian can take on sidequests acquired by talking to various Mobius agents throughout the town and from what I noticed, you can complete these quests at your own pace as long as you don't proceed further into the story. And the quests aren't just meaningless either. Completing them will grant you certain weapons or ammo that you'd otherwise not find in the main missions and resource gathering during these side missions allows you to build towards making Sebastian stronger for what lies ahead in the main story. Union also brings back memories of Silent Hill in making the environments around you feel alive and almost claustrophobic, like the town itself is trying to envelope you in its madness.
What I love most about The Evil Within 2 is how it pays homage to the first game, taking special care to make sure that fans would feel right at home. There are so many easter eggs and references to the first game that kept bringing a smile to my face and a Third Act boss rush that had me fist pumping until the end.
Here's the biggest problem with the game: its aesthetics. The first game was just downright gruesome and gory with insane looking environments and memorable enemies while the second is rather clean and some areas are so brightly lit that you wouldn't need a flashlight. For a horror game, The Evil Within 2 is rather tame in the horror department and never felt creepy because of its design, only because of its combat. A lot of the enemy design is fantastic and some of the stronger enemies make you want to keep away from engaging them but the environments are so tonally different from the grotesque nature of their inhabitants. The newly developed STEM Engine, powered by id Tech, that Tango Gameworks is using is gorgeous and such a significant step up graphically from its predecessor to where I wish they would remake the first game with the same engine.
At the end of the day, there's no other survival horror games like The Evil Within 2 these days. It pays close attention to the mistakes of the past while also paving the way for future iterations. If only it had kept some of the unique designs of the first game and improved the combat, The Evil Within 2 could have been possibly have been even better than Resident Evil 4.


text:
Decorative Glitter Snowflakes
- Description
- Features
- Specifications
Description :
Celebrate winter indoors with these sparkly, glitter-covered snowflake wall decals. Decorating is easy: just peel and stick! Apply to any flat surface, and just peel away when you want to move it somewhere else. Fully reusable and repositionable! Pair these decorative snowflakes with any of our other holiday designs, or just sprinkle them throughout your home to celebrate the season everywhere. This product is brought to you by Asian Paints, a company that has a 75-year long rich legacy of making your homes a beautiful place to stay.
Features :
- This merchandise is officially licensed to Asian Paints Ltd.
- This sticker comes in 2 sheets of size 46 cm (W) and 26 cm (H)
- Fade resistant high quality stickers printed in HP certified Latex Ink
- All surface stickers - apply it on your walls, doors, cupboards, glass and any other non-porous surfaces Adhesion remains good regardless of the surface
- Easy and fun application process - get together as a family or allow your kids to take the lead in peeling and sticking the wall sticker in their own special way!
Specifications :
- Package Weight (in grams): 150
- Item Height (in Ft.): n/a
- Item Width (in Ft.): n/a
- Number of Pieces: 1
- Colour Name: Multicolour
- Material: Vinyl
- Care Instruction: In case of a freshly painted wall, please leave a gap of 10 days before applying the wall sticker
- Package Length: 29.8 cm
- Package Height: 10.2 cm


text:
A party dream to fulfill… maybe this year? Nothing makes a New Year's greeting more glamorous than a tower of splashing champagne. Peace, Joy, Cheer! Also makes a nice alternative to those running fashionably late with holiday cards.
Beautifully printed with Studio partner, Conveyor Arts in New Jersey, on 100# uncoated paper.
5x7" with uncoated orange-gold envelopes.
Ships November 15th! Pre-order now.


text:
Adult Stuff Promos
As we lead up to the April 5th release of my book Adult Stuff, I've been creating a series of quotes with graphics to help promote the book on social media. What started out as a silly idea, has turned into some A-Ok design work.
Not too bad for an out of practice ex-designer. More to come as the date nears!


text:
Episode 3 Guests
Gene Grant
Chief Executive Officer, VRBex
Gene Grant - CEO, VRBex
Mr. Grant has a twenty-eight year career in financial services and a lifelong entrepreneurial edge. Most recently a Managing Director at the global bank BBVA, Gene has balanced a career that included senior roles at global banks, seven years as a senior member of a specialist derivatives consultancy, and a period as a floor trader on the New York Futures Exchange. As an entrepreneur, Gene started his first business at the age of 14, received a patent at 21, and at 29 he founded and listed an early stage company on the AIM division of the London Stock Exchange.
David Powell
Chief Operating Officer, VRBex
David Powell - COO, VRBex
Mr. Powell has over thirty years working in financial services and has participated in multiple company start-ups as well as the merger and integration of numerous acquired financial institutions during the span of his career. One of his most recent roles was as Executive Committee Member of BBVA Compass Bank ($86 billion in assets and 31st largest bank in the US) and Co-Head of the US Corporate & Investment Bank Division.


text:
Posted in Missouri March 03, 2018
There's An Awesome Rock Ranch Hiding In Missouri And You'll Want To Visit
Did you know you can dig for sparkling natural treasures right here in Missouri? The Show Me State is home to many different types of rocks and minerals. In the the northernmost corner of eastern Missouri is a little mine where visitors can bring home glittery geodes. Find out how to become an archaeologist for the day at Sheffler Rock Shop.
Here is a map to help you find this awesome rock ranch!
Have you been to Sheffler Rock Shop and Geode Mine? Tell us about your experience in the comments below.


text:
A snowy morning at the ski house.
When I walk downstairs in my après
tights and giant sized sweater I don't know what to expect. I know there is a man in the house but I don't know what kind of man he will be. I don't know I'm going fall in love in with him.
Barry jumps up from his chair to shake my hand. He is that kind of gentleman. He explains the bandages on his right hand - a motorcycle accident. I barely hear what he is saying because I'm mesmerized by his beauty - his pale blue eyes, his tan, weathered skin, and a little tuft of dark hair peaking out of his ski hat. Oh, oh my. I watch him sip his beer gingerly with his good hand. He smiles often.
Why am I standing in this kitchen? Was I going to make dinner? Who cares about dinner with Barry sitting at the kitchen table? I grab a beer, forget about dinner, and with my three friends bombard him with questions.
When Barry was ten his mother dropped him off in the Redwoods to camp for the weekend - alone. She trusted me, he tells us. He is a mountaineer, a guide, a skier, a climber, a man who doesn't want kids. He's 41 and he's sure of it, even as we ask him how he can be so sure. He can. He is. He asks us how we feel about marriage, children, all of it.
When the A-framed ski chalet gets cold he tends to the fire and soon we are warm again. Although sitting next Barry I don't need the fire to keep me warm. I stay in my chair for the rest of my life listening to his husky yet soft-spoken voice while he talks about relationships and life. I want to know everything about him right now. He wants a life partner, he wants to get married, but dating is difficult because of the kids issue. He is up front about this on the first or second date. "I don't want to waste their time." I imagine their disappointment.
Barry just met us and yet on his way out he envelopes each one of us with his strong arms in the most amazing hug. He squeezes me gently and lingers for a moment longer than any other stranger I just met would. He smiles when he says good-bye. He loved meeting us. I believe him. I loved meeting him too.
Barry is a man. A type of man that I did not know existed on this planet until now. I wonder why I had to travel 3,000 miles to meet him and if I'll ever know anyone like him again.
Barry guides men and women up the most challenging mountains on the planet. He pushes them to their physical and mental limits because they pay him to do so. When they are tired and broken, panting, sweating, shaky, and are sure they can't take another step forward, Barry is there.
He stands next to them, holds them, tells them that, yes, they can keep going if they dig deep enough inside themselves. Eventually they will find that place of inner strength and they will believe what he says. He will wait until they do. Then he will watch them go forward on their own always trailing closely behind in case they fall.
I want a man like Barry close to me always to catch me if I fall.


text:
Canmake Mermaid Skin Gel UV Sunscreen SPF50+ PA++++ 40g
Regular price $12.00
Mermaid Skin Gel UV has a watery texture and does not feel rough or sticky on skin. So it is recommended for those who prefer a light, refreshing sunscreen.
This moisturizing sunscreen gel features 85% of beautifying ingredients and UV protection.
Powerful, yet delectably moist skincare UV gel!
- Skincare gel with 85% beautifying ingredients.
- Splash it on like a facial lotion - also serves as a make-up base. After using face wash, this is all you need for complete skincare and UV protection.
- Serves as a moisturizing make-up base with UV protection. Infuses your skin with moisture, helping your foundation to sit better and last longer.
- Gel breaks down into a watery texture as you smooth it over your skin.
- Easy portable tube format, perfect for carrying out and reapplying when you are out and about.
- UV Protection: SPF 50+ / PA++++
- Target area: face and body
- Contents: 40g
- Made in: Japan
More from this brand
Customer Reviews
Customer Reviews
Really good
Love this product. Very happy with this transaction.


text:
Not Your Grandma's Novel: Things That Happened Before the Earthquake
When you think of an Italian, I'd have to assume that 'sensual' is one of the first words that comes to mind. Stereotype or not, from the passion they feel for their cuisine to the rapid fire, gesticulation-heavy manner in which they speak, to the tender way in which Paolo treated Lizzie in the chef d'oeuvre The Lizzie McGuire Movie (kidding about the last one, Paolo was a jerk), it's difficult to dispute that they simply seem to feel more deeply than the rest of us (at the very least, more deeply than my Anglo-Saxon ancestors do, though the bar there is low). The point of this rambling and potentially slightly offensive opening paragraph: I shouldn't have been surprised that The Things That Happened Before the Earthquake was a deeply emotional, and, at times, carnal novel. It was written by an Italian, about Italians, so, ovviamente, it's going to be Italian, but, despite that, certain parts made this emotionally distant WASP squirm a bit in her seat.
The first thing you should know? The Things That Happened Before the Earthquake, set in the 1990s, follows an overly ambitious and gullible filmmaker patriarch who moves his family from Rome to LA (mere weeks after the Rodney King riots), convinced he's got a hit on his hands. His teenage daughter, Eugenia, furious at being uprooted from life in Rome—where Communism is all the rage, and she's just starting to get into it—struggles to find her footing in the Los Angeles scene. Eugenia's chosen response to her outcast status is seemingly to have sex with everyone around her, particularly the dangerous and brooding types. But these scenes aren't without purpose—each character that Eugenia intertwines herself with (literally, lol) teaches her something about what it means to be an American in the 1990s. Each personality is different, all of them, together, forming a complete picture of California during one of its most tumultuous times in history. I may not be selling the book particularly well, but I can assure you it's different from anything else you'll read this year. Pick it up if you're not spending Christmas at Grandma's house.


text:
St Chloe's Edge
£52 per metre
This fabric magnifies the charm of the wild flowers, leaves and the curling tendrils found alongside the woodland and Common land near to Susie's Gloucestershire home.
St Chloe's Edge is a single colour fabric printed digitally in the UK, from hand-drawn sketches by Susie Hetherington.
This design is available in three colourways; Steely Blue on natural linen, and Pencil Grey and Drift Glass Green on bleached linen. Our base cloth is a linen union from Scotland; (51% linen /49% cotton).
Usable fabric width: 138cm
Pattern repeat: Half drop
Repeat height: 229mm
Repeat width: 137mm
Suitable for soft furnishings and light, occasional upholstery. Dry Clean Only.
All fabrics are printed to order.
Please allow 12-18 working days for delivery.
Custom colourways may be possible on large orders; please email your enquiry.
Also available in ready-made cushion covers depending on current stock.