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Category — Detoxification
My Homemade Kombucha Recipe
After 7 years of spending way too much money on GT Dave's Kombucha (which is delicious, but in Hawaii is almost $5 per bottle), I decided to take the plunge and started brewing kombucha myself. Kombucha offers an extensive list of health benefits including but not limited to hormone balance, cancer prevention, detoxification support, and even improvements to bone and tooth quality. I personally drank it through both pregnancies to prevent nausea (which I never had, thank goodness!) and when not pregnant would drink it for the week prior to my period to prevent migraines and PMS during that time. At $5 a bottle that really adds up! To be brutally honest, I was resistant to brewing my own kombucha because in my mind the next step after entering the world of home fermentation is Birkenstocks and hairy armpits (not that there's anything wrong with either of those things!) but I realized I was being ridiculous and my resistance was costing me money that could instead be spent on practical, important items like stilettos and waxing (okay, now I'm really being ridiculous but I'm too hopped up on coffee and homemade kombucha today to have a filter and I'm perceiving myself as funnier than I actually am). But back to the point – making kombucha at home was shockingly easy to do and my very first batch (pictured above) turned out well so I wanted to share the recipe with all of you who may also be skeptical of home brewing. Here's what you do:
- Find a SCOBY (the starter – stands for Symbiotic Colony of Bacteria and Yeast). I recommend checking on Craigslist.org for someone in your area (just type in "SCOBY" or "Kombucha") or contacting your local Weston Price chapter leader. If you can't get a SCOBY from either of these places, you can get them on Amazon, but this tends to be the most expensive option. I found someone through Craigslist here on the North Shore of Oahu (relatively far from me) who referred me to their friend in Waimanalo (close to me) who was nice enough to meet up and gave me a free SCOBY. Here's what they look like: While it may seem a little disturbing to meet up with a total stranger and leave with a ziplock baggie full of something that looks like an alien organ suspended in a solution of brown liquid, it is totally worth it.
- Get a half gallon glass jar (or gallon, or any size glass container really, but my recipe is for a half gallon because that's the biggest jar I have), fill it with purified water, and then dump that water into a pot and bring it to a boil. Stir in approximately 3/4 cup sugar, but don't dump it in all at once or it might boil over. White sugar is actually the best (and cheapest) but you can use any type of sugar you have on hand – white sugar, brown sugar, organic sugar, I've even heard of people using molasses. The sugar is just to feed the fermentation so the bacteria and yeast should eat most (if not all) of it anyway. Just don't use honey since it has antibacterial properties.
- Remove solution from heat and add 2 black tea bags (any type of black tea, I used plain old Lipton's because I had it in the cabinet but since then have started using organic black tea from Vitacost). Steep for 10 minutes to brew a strong tea. (You can also use an equivalent amount of loose tea, you just have to strain it and that's 5 seconds I'd rather spend doing something else.)
- Cool to room temp. If you're in a hurry you can throw in a few ice cubes and put it in the fridge to cool faster, just make sure you stir well to avoid any "hot spots" that might kill the bacteria in the SCOBY.
- Once the solution is cool enough, add your SCOBY along with 1-2 cups of kombucha from a prior brew (use storebought kombucha if you didn't get liquid with your first SCOBY, or if storebought isn't available add 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar to make the tea acidic enough for fermentation) and cover loosely with a cheesecloth or other breathe-able cloth (I used a thin dishcloth, but Gerber diaper cloths work well also) and secure with a rubber band. Place this in an area where the temp is around or slightly warmer than room temp (between 74 and 84 degrees F) and leave it alone. Here's how my first brew looked:
- Depending on how sour or bubbly you like your kombucha, you can let it brew for a minimum of 3 days up to a month. My first brew I fermented for 5 days (it was sour and tasty, but not too bubbly), my second brew I fermented for 2 weeks (more sour and tasty, and more bubbly) and my third brew is in the works now. You can check the fermentation process by gently dipping a clean spoon into the mix and tasting to check how sour and bubbly it is. Also, one of the fun things to notice as your kombucha is brewing is that the SCOBY "mother" produces a "daughter" which starts out as a thin, clear film on the top and eventually turns into a perfect little disc the exact shape of the top of your brewing container. Mine looked like this:
- Once the kombucha has fermented to your liking, you can pour off what you want to drink and store it in the fridge until you're ready to enjoy it! Be sure to reserve at least 1-2 cups of your brew as the starter for the next batch, which you can store at room temp if you're going to use it in the next few days or in the fridge if it's going to be a while before your next batch. You can drink the kombucha straight, or add juice or fruit for flavoring. It is sweet on its own so doesn't require additional sweetener but I find that it mellows nicely when you add something tart for balance, such as lemon juice or frozen berries (but I personally don't recommend adding these to the fermentation unless you really know what you're doing – I would wait until your brew is complete to add them to the final product).
Obviously, after 3 batches at home I don't consider myself a kombucha expert but I did want to share this info with you to let you know that you don't have to be an expert to make your own! For more practical tips, I recommend visiting the SustainabiliTEA site on kombucha. I did not read the entire site (yet), but what I did read was very helpful and concise and explains some important issues such as how to avoid and detect mold.
TURD IN THE PUNCHBOWL ALERT: For the sake of full disclosure, I must confess that the frozen berry mix used in the beautiful picture of the finished kombucha at the beginning of this blog is the very same organic antioxidant mix that was recently recalled from Costco for containing pomegranate seeds from Turkey that were giving people Hepatitis A!!! Luckily I only used it once to flavor that particular glass of kombucha. I didn't like the flavor (maybe my body could innately taste the Hepatitis A – but more realistically it's because I didn't like the flavor of the variety of cherries used in the mix) so it stayed in my freezer untouched until it ended up on the news. Now it's still in my freezer until I can take it back to Costco and exchange it for something with a little less communicable disease. I don't have any hepatitis symptoms and thankfully my kids and husband didn't have any of the berry mix, but just to be safe I'm taking milk thistle herb (for liver support) and eating lots of coconut oil (for its anti-viral activity). In the future I will try to stick to flavoring my kombucha with fresh fruit that I have washed myself.
June 5, 2013 9 Comments
Natural Tips for Jet Lag
Last weekend I had the privilege of flying to Iowa to speak at the Iowa City Yoga Festival, which was quite a fabulous occasion. It was my very first overnight trip away from Mr. Milk (boo-hoo) so I made it as short as possible by arriving Friday afternoon and leaving at 6 AM on Monday. Quite a fast trip to get used to a 5 hour time change! In addition to this, I happened to be finishing my first trimester of incubation for baby #2 (that is a whole separate story, but I blame my husband's Hawaiian ancestry which is biochemically driven to procreate despite all barrier methods of birth control used). Thankfully I have not had any pregnancy symptoms – which is partially why I felt like one of those ladies from the "I Didn't Know I was Pregnant" show when the ultrasound showed a fully formed little creature doing the Team America "It's Me" dance (warning – bad word at the 11th second!) and we had just figured out I was pregnant a couple weeks earlier. But I digress.
The point of this blog is to share with you the fact that despite traveling over 5 time zones and lecturing 4 hours a day within the first day of landing AND being pregnant I did not experience any jet lag! Many people take melatonin to help them adjust their sleep-wake cycles while traveling but that was not an option for me since due to the pregnancy (melatonin works with pituitary gland hormones). It actually surprised me how quickly I adjusted to the time difference, so I wanted to share with you what I did.
- I made myself stay awake until a normal bed time on my arrival day. Truthfully this wasn't hard to do, since 10:00 in Iowa is 5:00 in Hawaii but I had flown all night on the red eye so was a little tired. The way I got around this was to stay busy. I ran a few errands, had a late lunch with my two little nieces who are really hilarious and were giving (loud) social commentary regarding other people at the restaurant (they are 4 and 8 years old), went to a meeting with the other speakers, swam in the hotel pool with my nieces for a long enough time that the chlorine burned my eyeballs (not necessarily recommended), and then ordered in Thai food. Basically, do anything you can to stay happily awake, which means avoiding hanging out in your hotel bed watching TV at all costs!
- I drank a ridiculous amount of water. One of my errands mentioned above was to buy 2 gallons of water at the local store, enough for me to drink a full gallon for each day of lecturing. I didn't quite make that amount, and drank closer to 3/4 of a gallon each day, but I do think that this made the most significant impact for me in adjusting to the time difference.
- I took 1 or 2 warm baths each day. Maybe this had nothing to do with it, but I feel like it really made a difference because I've traveled a lot and tried to drink water and done well but never have I felt this good. And no, it wasn't a pregnancy hormone high – I was 14 weeks pregnant with the Little Mister (he's in the late stages of weaning so I have to stop calling him Mr. Milk – maybe Mr. Muscles can be his new name since he's a meaty little boy) when I left Iowa to move to Hawaii and I was 14 weeks pregnant when flying back to Iowa (the state requires that of me I guess) and this trip was definitely different as far as fatigue. So, you can throw this point out if you want but I really think that there's something to soaking in a tub of warm water that helps you adjust to the magnetic field of the time zone that you're in. Either that, or the hydrotherapy of the bath helped me detox and feel great, or the bath was just relaxing and refreshing enough to get rid of any fatigue that would have set in.
So there you have it. Not exactly rocket science but I find that the simple things seem to make the most difference! And in this case it sure made a crazy weekend into an enjoyable experience. Oh, and how did Mr. Muscles do with my absence, you ask? As you can see from the photo below – taken on Friday while I was still traveling – he really had a miserably hard time with it.
October 14, 2011 1 Comment
Man Meat: Foods to Increase Testosterone
I realized today that I've been writing so much lately about pregnancy, babies, and women's health that I better balance it out and write about something manly lest this become a girls only blog! Here are a few foods that balance testosterone levels and help to keep a manly man the way nature intended – you guessed it – manly.
- Butter: Yes, I am famous for going on and on about the health benefits of butter and allowing my toddler to eat slices of butter like they're candy but there's a reason for that. Butter from healthy cows that have been fed grass instead of grain is rich in CLA (conjugated linoleic acid), the only trans fat found in nature and one of the most manly fatty acids out there. In fact, if you take a break from reading this blog and do a search on CLA I bet you will come upon a host of bodybuilding websites, and what is more manly than a bunch of overly tan men, greased up with Crisco, dancing around on a stage and posing in tiny underpants? But back to butter. It contains CLA, which helps to balance levels of insulin, estrogen, and testosterone. And this is why it's a popular supplement for bodybuilders. Butter also contains activated vitamin A, which is necessary for production of testosterone.
- Grassfed beef: This is another great source of CLA and also a wonderful way to get plenty of protein and zinc – two precursors needed for testosterone production. Please note that I am making a distinction here between grassfed meat and butter and regular commercial meat and butter. Sadly, commercial cows are raised in feedlots, fed grain that lowers their levels of CLA (cows get CLA from the fermentation of grass in their gut done by bacteria that are killed off when feedlot cows are fed grain and antibiotics), and in some cases are even given doses of synthetic estrogen to make them grow faster and produce more milk. These factors end up having the opposite effect on testosterone and they are the reason that foods containing saturated fat have such a bad reputation these days.
- White button mushrooms: Aromatase is an enzyme that turns androgens (man hormones) into estrogens (lady hormones). This is most important in the development of hormone dependent cancers, which is why foods that have anti-aromatase activity are heavily studied so that drug companies can figure out how to make drugs with the same activity. White button mushrooms are one of the foods that you will find in these studies, though I suspect that most mushrooms have the same benefits (white buttons are just the cheapest, so probably they are the easiest to study in large amounts – that is purely my speculation though). If you're going to go off the deep end on eating mushrooms, make sure that you cook them first (in grassfed butter!). Eating raw mushrooms in large amounts can expose you to a toxin inherent in mushrooms which is broken down when they are exposed to heat.
- Cruciferous vegetables: This includes broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, bok choy, radish, turnip, and watercress. Cruciferous vegetables contain sulfur-based compounds including one called I3C (indole-3-carbinol) that help to balance hormone levels and detoxify excess estrogen. These compounds are widely studied for their anti-cancer effects, and when I worked in a clinic we used to give men a supplement containing these sulfur-based compounds to help them with urinary frequency problems. Some of them came back reporting an increase in function in the "love area", which I'm guessing would be due to a balancing of their testosterone levels!
- Pumpkin seeds: Rich in zinc (another important nutrient for balancing hormone levels), pumpkin seeds also contain phytochemicals that are especially nourishing to the prostate. The two studies I read found that pumpkin seed oil effectively reduced prostate size in cases of BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia – also known as an enlarged prostate) that were caused by hormone imbalance. And for all you coconut lovers out there – I found a study from Cuba that showed coconut oil to have the same benefits on BPH!
Ladies – I know the focus of this blog was more on men, but keep in mind that testosterone levels are important for women too! In fact, testosterone is the single most important hormone related to sex drive for women. So you may want to re-read this blog with that in mind :).
July 6, 2011 2 Comments
The Many Benefits of Raspberry Leaf Tea
It seems like I have a freakish amount of friends and relatives who are pregnant or are looking to get pregnant soon. Either the government is adding something to the water or the people I know are just happy and want to bring another life into the world to share their happiness! In honor of all of you, I wanted to post some fun facts about raspberry leaf tea that I've learned either from research or from personal experience. And no, you don't have to drop lemons into your glass of tea from a height of 10 feet as seen in the above photo to enjoy the benefits.
Pre-pregnancy benefits
- Has been used for centuries as an herbal remedy to increase fertility. If druids drank it, then so can you.
- Strengthens the uterine wall while relaxing smooth muscle in the uterus, which improves chances of implantation and prevents miscarriage (basically the bizarro opposite effect of gin).
- Full of vitamins, minerals, and plant compounds that help the body to detoxify extra hormones that may impede conception.
Pregnancy benefits
- Hugely miraculous and amazing remedy for morning sickness (according to reports from friends – I did not try raspberry leaf tea myself for this as I did not realize I was pregnant for the 4 days during early pregnancy that I was vomiting and thought I had stomach flu but actually had a parasite known as Mr. Milk).
- Provides vitamins and minerals including A, B complex, iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, and potassium in an easily absorbable form to help baby grow while keeping mom nourished.
- Many women also report that it reduces leg cramps and swelling associated with late pregnancy.
Labor benefits
- Has been shown to concentrate the effects of contractions to make them more effective. From personal experience, I drank 1-2 quarts daily of raspberry leaf tea during my last 2 months of pregnancy and had a great labor (8 hours labor at home, 30 minutes in hospital, 10 minutes of pushing). I can't say it was just the tea – I think laboring at home helped a lot because I could run around like a crazy person with each contraction rather than being confined to a small hospital room and Mr. Milk was only 5 1/2 pounds at birth (yay for being a small Filipino mom!) – but I do think it helped.
- May be especially helpful for women who are planning a VBAC (vaginal birth after Cesarean) because of its ability to tone uterine muscles (since the uterus was cut open during the C-section).
- Many reports I have read from midwives say that the tea especially helps to shorten the second stage of labor (the pushing stage – from complete dilation of the cervix until the baby is born). I have also heard from midwives that women who drink the tea later in pregnancy tend to have extremely strong membranes protecting the baby. I would attest to this, since my water never broke on its own – the midwife actually had to break it when I got to the hospital since it didn't break even as the baby was emerging – and I think the fact that this membrane remained intact was the only reason that Mr. Milk was not born in the bathroom at home or in the car on the way to the hospital.
Nursing benefits
- Has been reported to "bring in rich milk", most likely due to its mineral content.
- Helps to balance postpartum hormones to prevent the drastic change in hormones that causes many women to experience postpartum depression.
Even if you don't want to get pregnant benefits
- Has been shown to reduce menstrual cramps and may help to regulate the flow of menstruation due to its effects on the uterus.
- Helps to detoxify excess hormones which is very helpful during times of hormonal shift such as menopause or in the second half of the menstrual cycle (the two weeks before starting your period, which is when most women experience PMS).
Benefits for menfolk (also known as dudes but since this is a blog about herbs I thought to use midieval terms like "menfolk" and if possible I will throw the most despised of all renaissance terms – "m'lady" – in here somewhere)
- In herbal terms, it's a "nourishing reproductive tonic" for men, which is just a fancy way of saying it helps your junk work better.
- Its ability to detoxify extra hormones is helpful for men also since they are bombarded with artificial estrogens on a daily basis from commercial meat and milk, plastics, food additives, and chemical fumes (especially if they are in the construction business). These extra estrogens, along with too much unresolved stress over a lifetime, are major culprits in the phenomenon known as "andropause" or male menopause, which is characterized by a drastic drop in testosterone levels.
- May also help with diarrhea, which if you've ever been kind enough to clean the bathroom at a location shared by several college age men who drink beer, you will see that diarrhea is apparently something that needs to be helped.
The nice thing about raspberry leaf tea is that it is a balanced food so it's safe for virtually everyone at every stage of life (I even saw one article about giving it to children with stomach aches) and you can't really overdose on it. Herbal experts and midwives recommend between 1 cup daily all the way up to a gallon daily during pregnancy with no side effects. I did a little bit of research on PubMed and only came up with 2 research articles on raspberry leaf tea, but neither of them found any negative side effects and the articles I saw on other research sites only found unwanted side effects when specific active ingredients were taken out of the tea and used in ridiculously huge doses. Drinking the tea in its whole state is supposed to be "self-regulating", meaning the active ingredients balance each other out.
To make the tea, I suggest 1 Tablespoon of bulk tea per cup of hot water. Or you can just buy tea bags and follow the brewing instructions. I also like to use the bulk tea to make sun tea (since I am too lazy to boil water, which is why I specialize in nutrition and not delivering babies). I just take a handful (mind you a small, half-Filipino handful so if you have big hands ask a half-Filipino neighbor to do your measuring for you) of bulk tea leaves and throw it into a half gallon Mason jar, fill it with water, put on a lid to keep out bugs, and set it outside in the sun to brew to desired darkness (also known as, set it out and forget about it for several hours until my husband comes home and asks me why I left jars filled with dirt and leaves and is that urine? on the back porch) like so:
Then I just keep it in the fridge and have iced tea to sip on whenever the mood hits. So drink up, m'lady!
NOTE: This blog is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified healthcare practitioner. All information contained in this blog is the opinion of Jessica Forbes and is not to be interpreted as medical advice.
October 8, 2010 79 Comments
Gin – Is it Really Bad for You?
I am asked often about gin and whether it is worse for you than other types of alcohol or not. Sometimes this question comes my way at parties, other times it comes my way after a friend has purchased a Costco sized jug of Bombay Sapphire and is calling me to defend their purchase to their roommates. The question came my way again this week through my "Ask Jessica" service (which has been a great success, thank you all!). I thought I'd post the response here for all of you to enjoy also – then maybe my friends will start calling YOU instead of me after a Costco liquor spree!
Q: Is it true that gin is bad for your lady parts?
A: I really had to break out the chemistry research to answer this question! There are many, many varying opinions out there on gin – some say it is just an alcohol that is no more harmful than vodka while others say it is the worst type of alcohol to ingest.
In looking at the science behind the question, I found that while gin is (obviously) a type of hard liquor that contains ethanol and is therefore not good in general for "lady parts", the fact that it is distilled from juniper berries (among other plant compounds) may be the reason it has gained the reputation for being bad for fertility. Juniper berries have been used for centuries as a traditional remedy most commonly indicated for kidney ailments. Intake of juniper berry extracts, however, is strongly contraindicated during pregnancy or for those who are looking to get pregnant. The fact that gin is distilled from juniper and is rich in "terpenes" (an active ingredient in juniper berries as well as other compounds in gin and also what gives gin its unique flavor) is probably why it has been linked to female reproductive problems.
In combing through the research surrounding juniper berry and terpenes, I found the following information):
- Juniper berry extracts, particularly terpenes, increase uterine tone (meaning they make the muscles of the uterus contract), which may lead to loss of pregnancy or in someone who is not already pregnant, may make it more difficult for an embryo to implant. This quality alone is what probably gives gin martinis the right to bear the catchy nickname of "infertilitinis".
- One study I found reported that when juniper berry extract was fed to rats (I did not read the entire study to see exactly how much was fed, though it was probably a very large amount), it was 60-70% effective at keeping those rats from becoming pregnant by not allowing embryos to implant. Another rat study also found that large amounts of gin caused pregnant rats to miscarry. The reason scientists study rats so much is that their biochemistry is very similar to humans, so these rat studies do apply.
- Another study also showed that juniper extract has the ability to affect production of certain types of estrogen (the study I read highlighted estradiol, a potent estrogen that encourages cells to divide), which was found to be helpful in some ways for estrogen receptor positive breast cancer cells but may not be helpful for "lady parts" in general. Estrogen levels are also not a good thing to tamper with during pregnancy or the pre-conception period.
The bottom line is that gin is alcohol, which should be avoided anyway during pregnancy or when a woman is trying to get pregnant. The presence of juniper berry and terpenes would make it even more important to avoid gin during this period. But, in moderation (1-2 drinks containing gin per week), I did not find any research that indicated that non-pregnant lady parts would be affected in the long run. However, using scientific reasoning and the fact that gin may cause contraction of the uterus, a woman who suffers from strong uterine cramps around the time of her menstrual period and who also drinks gin may want to stop doing so and see if the cramps subside.
Here are some references for studies, should you be the scientific type who would like to look more into the subject:
- Newall CA, Anderson LA, Phillipson JD, eds. Herbal Medicines: a Guide for Health-Care Professionals . London, England: The Pharmaceutical Press; 1996.
- Ernst E. Herbal medicinal products during pregnancy: are they safe? BJOG . 2002;109:227-235.
- Agrawal OP, et al. Planta Medica 1980;SUPPL:98-101.
- Prakash AO, et al. ACTA Europaea Fertilitatis. 1985;16(6):441-448.
- Prakash AO. International Journal of Crude Drug Research 1986;24(Mar):16-24.
- David T. Zava, PhD et al. Estrogen and Progestin Bioactivity of Foods, Herbs, and Spices; Aeron Biotechnology, San Leandro, California 94577; and Cancer Research Division, California Public Health Foundation, Berkeley, California.
And should you be the SUPER scientific nerdy type (which I know you are), Nature.com offers a bunch of structural drawings of terpenes for your enjoyment.
October 7, 2010 4 Comments
New Mattresses and Off-gassing
My husband and I bought a new Serta mattress earlier this week, a replacement under warranty for our former Serta mattress that behaved more like a papasan chair. While researching which mattress would be the best replacement, I came across all kinds of info on new mattresses and off-gassing of harmful chemicals from the foam (especially memory foam, apparently) and fire retardants. There are all kinds of opinions and scary stories out there ranging from everything from multiple chemical sensitivities to SIDS.
I try to not be an alarmist, but I must admit that reading this info made me wary of our new and exciting purchase – especially with the recent law mandating that all new mattresses be doused in fire retardants during manufacturing, unless you can get your doctor to write a prescription for a fire retardant-free mattress. I started wondering if I should just forget about the Serta and opt for an all-natural, foam-free mattress. However, I could feel my Filipino ancestors shaming me from beyond the grave for even thinking of questioning the benefit of a FREE brand new mattress. (Mind you, I am not making ethnic generalizations – my Filipino grandma once haggled so intensely over a 25 cent item at a flea market that the vendor ended up just giving it to her for free. Getting free stuff runs in my genes and I am sure she is not the first one to inherit it.)
I decided to proceed with the Serta replacement and took the following precautions to make our slumber as non-toxic as possible:
- First and foremost, I took the plastic wrapping off the mattress as soon as we got home and opened the window in our bedroom. I'm in Iowa and it is still relatively freezing so I closed the door to the bedroom while the window was open. We also live on a farm so I wasn't about to leave the mattress outside as temptation for neighborhood mice and raccoons. We brought the mattress home in the early afternoon and I left the window open until about an hour before bedtime. Some websites said to do this for 24 hours, since the first 24 hours is the time of the most off-gassing, but we were too impatient.
- I invited a friend over and we both put on clean socks and walked all over the mattress (with the window still open). I read about this online – apparently walking on the bed squeezes the air out of the foam and draws new air in, which accelerates the rate of off-gassing and gets the chemicals out of the mattress and into the air.
- I put all the plants in the house in the bedroom for 24 hours. NASA has done studies on using house plants to purify the air in space shuttles so I figure they're good enough for me and my mattress. Fast growing plants such as spider plants are especially good at purifying VOC's (Volatile Organic Chemicals) out of the air. My husband thought our bedroom looked like Jurassic Park but that's what he gets for marrying a crazy nutritionist.
I must admit that I have no chemical sensitivities or serious health concerns, so if you are someone who does, the above three precautions may not be enough for you and you may need to look into chemical free bedding. However, my husband and I love our new mattress and I feel good knowing that the surge in off-gassing that occurs with brand new mattresses happened in a controlled manner instead of into us while we're dreaming!
March 18, 2009 16 Comments


text:
What is numeracy in an Australian context?
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Cooperative group problem solving is a deductive reasoning activity where the solution cannot be found without everyone's contribution. This approach has the potential to benefit all students in a class, both mathematically and socially.
In the activities presented in this book, students work in groups of four and receive four cards, each with a different clue about the problem. Without showing their cards to each other, each member reads aloud their clue. The group is also given solving cards or other manipulative materials.
The activities cover all three strands of the mathematics curriculum with interesting and fun problems such as Find my street number, Sneaky shapes, Favourite zoo animals, Recognising coins, On time, Bedroom furniture.
There are comprehensive teacher notes (with a particular focus on the mathematical vocabulary associated with the topic), parallel tasks provided where possible, and answers given.
The clue cards are written simply and are suitable for young students.
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Costa Rica: Central Valley
Central Valley Hotels
Pacuare Lodge
Tucked away deep in the heart of Costa Rica's most pristine rainforest environment, on the banks of the Pacuare River, lies the Pacuare Jungle Lodge, a product of Aventuras Naturales. Surrounded by nature in its purest and most primitive state, here you will experience that most coveted of travelers' rewards, an opportunity to savor the spirit of a place.
The bungalows and main lodge were designed and constructed to blend with the surrounding environment, affecting minimal impact, and has been recognized by the World Tourism Organization as one of only sixty-five examples throughout the world of good practice in sustainability and ecotourism. Pacuare Lodge is also one of National Geographic's Unique Lodges of the world. Lanterns and candles provide light, as there is no electricity at the lodge. No trees were cut to build the bungalows and main lodge. Lumber was purchased from a sustainable reforestation project operated by small farmers. The roofs are made from palm leaves installed by Cabecar Indians, who live in the area, using their traditional style. The most popular way to access the Pacuare Lodge is by raft. This is one of the most exciting features of the lodge. Guests raft in on class II & III rapids and raft out on class III & IV rapids.
Jaguar Villa
Perched on the bank of the Pacuare River with a privileged view of the pristine waterway and the surrounding tropical foliage, the Jaguar Villa is the most luxurious site on the property. It was designed to give guests the full experience of being in a tropical rainforest without sacrificing any comforts. A simple yet elegant ambiance combines tasteful details such as hardwood floors and teak furniture with ample open areas for admiring the surrounding nature, including a private terrace complete with a spring-fed pool overlooking the river. The sounds of running water and the songs of birds and tree frogs mix with the colors and aromas of the rain forest to create the unforgettable sensory experience of a stay in the Jaguar Villa! The suite also features a spacious master bedroom with a king-size bed and sitting area, two luxurious bathrooms, each with two showers – internal and outdoor, and a tub in the master bathroom overlooking the river and jungle. A safe deposit box, bathrobes and telephone communication with the main lodge is also provided.
Canopy Suite
The Canopy Suite is elegantly furnished and holds a king-size, canopy bed with a Simmons Beauty Rest mattress. The bungalow has a high, thatched roof, plantation teak floors and wide screened windows that let the breeze through and provide a 180-degree rainforest view. The adjacent covered deck has a hammock and a rattan sofa, and the entire suite opens onto a sundeck with a small stone swimming pool fed by spring water. A private suspension bridge leads from the deck to a platform high in a massive rainforest tree that affords a vertiginous view of the Pacuare River and surrounding jungle. On any given morning or evening, you can spot dozens of bird species in the nearby treetops from that aerial perch. The soothing sound of running water complements the birdsong and tree frog chirps. The Suite also includes a spacious stone bathroom with a solar heated shower, sustainable design and materials and offers complete seclusion.
Linda Vista
This charming bungalow is perched on a lushly forested ridge with an unforgettable view of the Pacuare River and surrounding rainforest. It has an elegant décor that complements the exuberant natural surroundings, with polished hardwood floors and sloping cane ceilings. The bright and spacious Linda Vista Suites are the Pacuare Lodge's premier accommodations. The suites offer a level of luxury that belies their remote location – a king-size bed with Simmons Beauty Rest mattress, Egyptian cotton sheets, leather chairs, a spacious private bathroom with indoor and outdoor solar heated showers, a private deck and terrace with hammock, and a private dipping pool fed by spring water. Each bungalow was built with special attention to the hillside's topography so that guests enjoy gorgeous views of the river and forest from every area – the bedroom, living room, bathroom, deck and pool. The screened windows and sliding doors let in plenty of light and tropical breezes…
Each Linda Vista Suite also has a room safe, bathrobes and a telephone to communicate with the main building, as well as an innovative Eco-Concierge, who helps guest with tour reservations, general information and any specific needs. We are certain that the comfort of the Linda Vista Suites, coupled with the lodge's excellent food and service, offer the most luxurious lodging experience available in the heart of a tropical rain forest.
River View Deluxe
Retreat into tranquil luxury and design. Your spacious palm-thatched River View Deluxe Suite includes a private terrace that opens on to stunning views of the Pacuare River and the surrounding jungle. Your suite features a canopy king size bed with crisp 300-thread Egyptian cotton linens and superior Beautyrest mattress®, exquisite décor, natural design with hardwood flooring, open terrace with hammock and a waterfront deck. A fully tiled ensuite bathroom offers a nearly 180 degree view of the rainforest and the Pacuare River. Nearby, an alfresco heated shower lets you experience the seclusion and beauty of the rainforest. Take a deep breath. Relax. Unwind.
River Suite
The spacious palm-thatched River Suites include a private terrace with hammock that opens on to landscaped native bush gardens and a stunning view of a massive wall of thick rainforest that cascades down a mountainside opposite the Pacuare River. A luxuriously appointed canopy king size bed or two canopy full size beds with crisp 300-thread Egyptian cotton linens, and superior Beautyrest mattress® caters to a serene, restful night's sleep. A fully tiled ensuite bathroom offers a nearly 360º view of the jungle. Nearby, a private alfresco heated shower lets you soak up the quiet sounds and invigorating scents of the rainforest.


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In this episode we discuss early voting data, how to analyze it, what we are seeing this cycle compared to other historical trends. We also talk about some polling that was released and our general thoughts on where voter opinion is going.
Segment #1: What Does our Latest Ballot Return Report Show
- Ballot Report: 701,062 ballots returned
- Democrats have a lead of 28,584 ballots returned.
- What are campaigns doing right now with 11 days to go?
Segment #2: Where Do We Think the Election is Going for GOP Candidates
- Is Donald Trump improving or sinking?
- Are U.S. Senate Republican candidates going to survive?
- What impact will lower Republican turnout have on legislative races in Colorado and the statewide ballot initiatives?
Segment #3: Thoughts About What the GOP Will Look Like After the Election
- Is it Trump's Party?
- Where do moderate Republicans go?
- Will there be any backlash from the losses?


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We introduce drive-amplitude-modulation atomic force microscopy as a dynamic mode with outstanding performance in all environments from vacuum to liquids. As with frequency modulation, the new mode follows a feedback scheme with two nested loops: The first keeps the cantilever oscillation amplitude constant by regulating the driving force, and the second uses the driving force as the feedback variable for topography. Additionally, a phase-locked loop can be used as a parallel feedback allowing separation of the conservative and nonconservative interactions. We describe the basis of this mode and present some examples of its performance in three different environments. Drive-amplutide modulation is a very stable, intuitive and easy to use mode that is free of the feedback instability associated with the noncontact-to-contact transition that occurs in the frequency-modulation mode.
Dynamic atomic force microscopy (dAFM) [1–2] is a powerful yet versatile tool capable of operating in environments ranging from ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) to liquids [3–4], and imaging samples ranging from stiff inorganic materials [5] to soft biological matter [6], with nanoscale resolution. Amplitude-modulation AFM (AM-AFM) [7] and in particular its large-amplitude version, commonly known as tapping mode [8], is the most extended dAFM mode, but it has limitations: Its application to the vacuum environment is very difficult because of the long scanning times imposed by the high quality factor Q of the cantilevers in vacuum, which present a settling time given by τcl = Q/(πf 0). Frequency-modulation AFM (FM-AFM, also known as noncontact AFM) [9] is the classical alternative to AM allowing atomic resolution in UHV chambers [10] at higher scanning rates. FM-AFM has recently been extended to operate in other media with lower Q, with remarkable success [11]. However, FM-AFM has a well-known drawback: The transition from noncontact to contact causes an instability in the feedback control [12], which is particularly important for inhomogeneous surfaces in which, for example, the adhesion changes abruptly. The curve in Fig. 1 represents a typical curve of the tip–sample force versus distance in a vacuum or air environment. The FM feedback maintains the frequency shift, which is closely related to the force gradient, to infer the topography of the sample [13]. Since the frequency shift changes its sign (Fig. 1), stable feedback is only possible on a branch of the force curve where it is monotonic. For the case of AM, the transition between the contact and noncontact regimes can introduce bistabilities [14–15] but, as a general rule, AM can operate with similar feedback conditions in both regimes. In liquid, the absence of significant van der Waals forces results in a monotonic interaction [4] and the feedback in both FM and AM is often perfectly stable. However biological samples, such as viruses, tend to contaminate the tip and introduce attractive interactions causing FM to become unstable. As we shall see, in these cases imaging biological samples with FM is impractical. In an attempt to overcome this control instability, we have developed the method presented herein. In addition to the conservative interactions depicted in Fig. 1, there exist nonconservative or dissipative forces, that subtract energy from the oscillation [16–17]. The dissipation generally grows monotonically [18] as the tip approaches the sample surface (Fig. 1). However, the precise dependence of the dissipation on the tip–sample distance depends on the detailed atomic configuration of the tip involved in the experiment [19].
In this work we present a new AFM scanning mode, which we have called "drive amplitude modulation" (DAM-AFM) [20] and which takes advantage of the aformentioned monotonicity of the dissipation to obtain stable images in all environments from vacuum to liquids. Moreover, DAM has a similar settling time to FM, and consequently the scanning time is also very similar. The paper begins by describing the basics features of DAM and comparing them with AM and FM, following by a discussion of some experimental results in vacuum and liquids.
Fig. 2 portrays the functional schemes for the three different AFM modes under consideration. The standard representation of a feedback loop and the corresponding icon used to simplify the different diagrams is shown in Fig. 2. For the case of AM (Fig. 2) a harmonic driving force with constant amplitude at (or near to) the free resonance frequency f 0 of the cantilever is used. The oscillation amplitude A is the controlled input for the topography feedback, and the scanner position in the z-direction (perpendicular to the sample surface plane, and which is closely related with the tip–sample distance) is the regulated variable; the variation of the phase is recorded in the phase image, which is used as a spectroscopic image. In FM (Fig. 2) three feedback loops are used; two nested loops for the topography and one additional loop working in parallel to keep the oscillation amplitude constant by adjusting the amplitude of the driving force. A phase-locked loop (PLL) tracks the effective resonance frequency of the cantilever as it varies as a consequence of the tip–sample interaction. In FM, the position of the scanner in the z-direction is adjusted to keep the frequency shift constant and generates a topography image. This topography image is usually interpreted as a map of constant force gradient. The amplitude of the driving force, which is controlled in the parallel feedback loop, represents the dissipation. Fig. 2 shows the functional scheme for DAM. As in FM, two nested feedback loops give the topography in DAM. The first loop adjusts the driving force in order to maintain the oscillation amplitude. The driving force needed to sustain this oscillation amplitude is related to the energy dissipated in the system. By adjustment of the position of the scanner in the z-direction the driving force is kept constant at the setpoint value. A PLL, which tracks the effect resonance frequency, can operate as parallel feedback loop in DAM. Topography images in DAM represent maps of constant dissipation. The frequency shift controlled by the PLL provides a spectroscopic image. We note that a PLL can also be implemented in AM. In this configuration the topography images in both AM and DAM have a similar meaning. Strictly speaking DAM can work with or without a PLL. In either case, the scanning speed in vacuum is comparable to that in FM. Nevertheless, while omission of the PLL simplifies the acquisition setup, the topography images, as in AM, reflect both conservative and nonconservative forces.
Notice that, as reflected in the schemes, in both FM and DAM the amplitude A and frequency f of the driving force
are modified by feedback loops that work with characteristic times τ1 and τ2 (not necessarily the same for frequency or amplitude) that depend on the details of the experimental setup but, as we will show, can be pushed well below the transient time of the free driven cantilever τcl. What defines the difference between these two modes is which of the feedback loops working on this driving signal (amplitude for DAM or frequency for FM) is used as the process variable for the topography feedback.
All of the experiments described in this work have been carried out with Nanotec Electronica (http://www.nanotec.es) microscopes controlled with the SPM software package WSxM [21]. However, this mode can be easily implemented in other commercial systems. Nanosensors PPP-NCH and Olympus OMCL-RC type probes were used for the experiments in vacuum and in liquid, respectively. For the sake of completeness, in Supporting Information File 1 we also include images taken with other cantilever types. The stiffness values for each cantilever were obtained in an air environment by using Sader's expression [22].
The experimental setup consists of a home-made high-vacuum chamber with a base pressure of 10−6 mbar, equipped with an AFM head. The vacuum is achieved by using a conventional combination of a dry mechanical pump plus a turbopump. In order to avoid vibrations from the turbopump affecting the measurements, the microscope head is suspended by three viton cords. The quality factor of the cantilevers saturates at pressures below 10−3 mbar, and hence the dynamics of the cantilevers are similar to what is typically observed in UHV chambers at room temperature (the values of the Q factor in UHV operation are commonly between 8000 and 25000). All the experiments were carried out at room temperature.
Fig. 3–d portrays four topography images of a calibration grid taken in AM, FM and DAM acquired in both the attractive and repulsive regimes, respectively. Fig. 3–h shows the corresponding error signals: Amplitude, frequency shift, and dissipation for the two DAM cases, respectively. We have chosen this sample because its surface conditions are similar to those found in many samples of technological interest, and which in many cases are difficult to scan in vacuum by using a conventional mode. Scanning with DAM overcomes these difficulties. Fig. 3 (AM) shows clear traces of instabilities as expected for AM images acquired at high Q for which the settling time is τ cl ≈ 17 ms, making this mode too slow for vacuum applications. In order to achieve higher scan rates the settling time can be reduced by increasing the tip–sample dissipation (diminishing the Q), which implies a large amplitude reduction and therefore higher applied forces during imaging. The frequency shift setpoint for Fig. 3 (FM) is negative indicating that the topography image was taken in the attractive/noncontact regime (as is the usual case in FM). Imaging in FM at low amplitude was unstable because of the high adhesion observed on the surface: The interaction passes from being attractive to repulsive. To avoid this effect, we have to increase the feedback gain resulting in the appearance of high-frequency components in the error signal. In order to stabilize the system we used the tip safe option in the WSxM software, which prevents tip–sample crashes by withdrawing the tip when the oscillation amplitude of the cantilever drops below a given threshold. As usual we tried to optimize the scanning conditions for the chosen amplitude; nevertheless we could not reduce the high-frequency artifacts observed in the image. Fig. 3 and Fig. 3 (DAM) were acquired by using dissipation setpoints of 1.2 pW and 4.5 pW, respectively, with the PLL enabled, as calculated following the expression [23–24]
where P 0 is the power dissipation caused by internal friction in the freely oscillating cantilever given by
Stable imaging in DAM does not require tip safe or any other kind of precaution. Acquiring images in DAM is easy and direct. It is also possible to select the optimum cantilever oscillation amplitude for each experiment, ranging from less than 1 nm up to tens of nanometers at high scan speeds.
It is known from control theory [25] that a feedback loop can modify the differential equation that describes the dynamic of a plant (in the present case, the plant is the cantilever). As a consequence, the new transient time can be reduced arbitrarily by changing the feedback gains. This is conveniently illustrated in Fig. 4 (see a more detailed discussion in Supporting Information File 2). This figure portrays a MATLAB simulation in which a perturbation (Fig. 4) is applied to a free cantilever with Q = 15000. The response of the cantilever without any feedback shows the expected transient with a settling time of τcl = Q/(πf 0) (Fig. 4). Fig. 4 displays the response of the cantilever with the amplitude and the frequency feedback loops enabled. Notice that the shape of the perturbation is a step function for both cases. However, for the open-loop case the perturbation is a sudden change in the amplitude of the driving force, whereas for the closed-loop configuration the perturbation is a sudden change in the amplitude setpoint. As shown in the charts, the response time in the second configuration is dramatically reduced with respect to the open-loop configuration.
The second consideration, closely related to the previous one, is the energy balance. Assuming a free cantilever at resonance, the power that has to be provided to the cantilever to achieve a given amplitude is inversely proportional to Q (Eq. 2). The implication is that keeping the cantilever at resonance in air requires r-times more power than in vacuum (being that r = Qvac/Qair). This r factor is about 20 for the cantilevers used in this work, but it can be much higher. Fig. 5 shows the total dissipation and the frequency shift (simultaneously acquired) as a function of the z-scanner position for experiments, in both vacuum (a,b) and air (c,d). As expected, the power required to sustain the cantilever oscillation is much higher for the in air case than for the in vacuum case. In addition, the charts are experimental illustrations of the force and dissipation trends shown in Fig. 1. The onset of both frequency shift and dissipation depends on the cantilever oscillation amplitude for obvious reasons: As the amplitude grows the tip finds the sample surface at a lower z-scanner position. When the tip approaches the surface it encounters a potential well that is the combination of the harmonic potential of the cantilever plus the surface potential. In order to maintain the oscillation we have to provide a total energy to the cantilever that is high enough that the tip is not trapped by the surface potential. Since the system is not conservative this total energy varies with time.
The energy dissipated by a cantilever over one period in vacuum is, as a consequence of the tip–sample interaction, on the order of 10−20 J (see, for instance, [26]). The energy required to force a cantilever to oscillate in vacuum with an amplitude of 10 nm is about the same as the energy loss per oscillation period. In air the energy required by the cantilever to maintain a stable free oscillation is 20 times higher, so the energy loss due to the tip–sample interaction is usually negligible. As a general rule, in order to enhance the sensitivity, the cantilever oscillation amplitude should be comparable to the selected interaction length [1–2]. Since in AM the energy pumped into the cantilever is fixed, the tip gets easily trapped in the sample potential and the image becomes unstable. This effect is particularly relevant in vacuum. In air and liquids the cantilever dissipation originated by the environment is much higher than the dissipation due to tip–sample interaction. Thus, the energy required by the cantilever to maintain a stable oscillation amplitude is so high that the effect described above becomes irrelevant (Supporting Information File 3 contains experimental data of the instabilities when using conventional AM in vacuum).
In addition to the grid sample we imaged a number of surfaces of technological and fundamental relevance using DAM (Supporting Information File 1 includes a variety of images taken in different environments). Fig. 6 shows a silicon substrate on which several motives have been fabricated by means of a conventional e-beam lithography technique. The preparation of these samples involves several steps including deposition and lift-off of a polymer layer. This layer is, in many cases, very difficult to remove completely, leaving the sample contaminated. During scanning in FM in vacuum, the tip easily passes from the attractive to the repulsive regime, in which it is contaminated by the polymer.
Low quality factors are common when imaging in liquids due to the viscous hydrodynamic loading between the cantilever and the environment. This friction in some cases induces an overdamped dynamic of the cantilever, making it very difficult to apply low forces in AM, which are necessary to obtain stable virus images [27], for example. Since the demonstration of true atomic resolution in liquids by Fukuma et al. [11] using FM [28], this mode has attracted the attention of the AFM community in attempts to image biological samples with high resolution. FM is able to overcome the limitations of AM making it possible to obtain high-quality images of the viruses and other biological samples [29–30]. However, FM is only stable while the tip is clean and the conservative interaction is repulsive, but once the tip becomes contaminated, which is very common when measuring biological samples under physiological conditions, the interaction curve is not monotonic, resulting in instabilities in the FM feedback.
Fig. 7 shows the dependence of the frequency shift and the dissipation for a clean AFM tip immersed in a buffer solution. Both magnitudes grow monotonically with the tip–sample distance. Fig. 7 shows this dependence again with the same tip but this time contaminated after scanning a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) substrate with viruses adsorbed on it. While the dissipation is still monotonic, the frequency shift is not. This type of frequency-shift dependence makes scanning the surface impractical with FM. However, this is not an issue for DAM. Fig. 7 displays an in-liquid DAM topography in which a ϕ29 bacteriophage [31] adsorbed on a HOPG surface can be seen. Fig. 7 shows a height profile along the green line drawn in Fig. 7. Notice that the virus topography exhibits the nominal height for ϕ29 [32] implicating that the applied force is very low. By using Sader's expression [33] the applied force can be calculated from the frequency-shift data. This value is nearly 100 pN, which is remarkable taking into account the relative high stiffness of the cantilever (0.6 N/m). In this case, DAM prevails over AM because the adhesion (attractive forces) on the virus is always lower than on the substrate, as can be easily verified by performing force versus distance curves [30]. Scanning in AM implies fixing a total energy for the cantilever that is high enough to enable scanning of the substrate without being trapped by the attractive forces, but this energy is also high enough to damage the virus. In DAM the energy is automatically adapted at each point of the image to optimize the image conditions.
We have discussed the effects of the amplitude feedback on the transient times and energy balance, concluding that DAM is a suitable method for imaging in different environments ranging from vacuum to liquids and is useful for a variety of applications. DAM operation avoids the feedback instabilities associated with the transition between noncontact and intermittent-contact regimes. This feature translates to stable scanning of heterogeneous samples of technological relevance that are cumbersome to scan in vacuum, and which can be different to the standard samples used in UHV fundamental surface-science studies, e.g., atomically flat single crystals. Using DAM in liquids we have already been able to obtain true atomic resolution on a mica surface (see Supporting Information File 1) but atomic resolution in vacuum remains a challenge. DAM can also improve magnetic force imaging since it allows operating at smaller tip–sample distances than the conventional modes. Finally, since DAM reduces the settling time, it may be useful for high-speed scanning in air under ambient conditions.
DAM images of relevant technological samples.
Dynamic response in DAM-AFM.
Handling instabilities with AM and DAM.
The authors want to thank Pablo Ares and Dr. Jaime Colchero for stimulating discussions and Nanotec Electrónica SL for technical support. The authors acknowledge funding by the Spanish government grants MAT2010-20843-C02-02, PLE2009-0065, Consolider CSD2010-00024 and CAM project and the Comunidad de Madrid No. S2009/MAT-1467. M. J. gives thanks for the JdC contract.
This article is part of the Thematic Series "Noncontact atomic force microscopy".
PubMed Central Canada is a service of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) working in partnership with the National Research Council's national science library in cooperation with the National Center for Biotechnology Information at the U.S. National Library of Medicine(NCBI/NLM). It includes content provided to the PubMed Central International archive by participating publishers.


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Putting old T-Shirts to Work
November 30, 2008 · Print This Article
Filed under: Tips
Old, stained tired t-shirts are relegated to the rag pile in my house. I use them for cleaning, painting or anything that makes a mess. I came across a new use for these neglected tees today and that is to turn them into twine to support garden plants.
To assemble t-shirt twine, simply start at the bottom and cut a continual spiral all the way up. You can vary the width depending on what your project is.
The knit of the tees gives alot of stretch for tying and additionally for the plants while growing. Making your own twine saves resources as well a trip to the store. Finally, once the season is by, 100% cotton t-shirt material can be tossed into the compost bin.
Putting old T-Shirts to Work originally presented on Green Daily on Sun, 30 Nov 2008 13:24:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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[Source] Kelly Leahy


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Up to date kitchen with hardwood floors. Newly painted thru-out. Tiled bath floors. Backs up to woods. Garage with property - Gas fireplace in living room. Close to everything location - move right in.
Listing information
- Year Built: 2003
- Status: Sold
- Fireplaces: 1
- Foreclosure: No
- Estimated Annual Taxes: $4,684
- School District: Mohonasen-Draper (Rotterdam)
- Property ID: 104006432
- Beds: 2
- Total Rooms: 5
- Parking Type Description: Detached 1 car
- Total Square Footage: 1,265 ($126.40 per sq. foot)
- Association Fee: $198
- Style: Condominium
- Baths: 2 (Full: 2 3/4: 0 1/2: 0 Other: 0)
- Stories: 0
- New Construction: No
- Lot Area: 0.40
- County: Schenectady
Age Description Actual
Amenities Built-In Cabinets, Ceramic Tile, Vaulted Ceiling, Walk-In Closet, Wall to Wall Carpet, Wood Floors
Appliances Dishwasher, Disposal, Microwave, Range W Oven, Refrigerator, Washer Dryer
Basement Slab
Condition Excellent
Cooling Type Central Air
Exterior Vinyl
Exterior Features Deck, Porch
Garage Description Detached
General Taxes Description Actual
Handicap Access No
Heat Fuel Natural Gas
Heat System Hot Air
HO Association Yes
HOA Includes Exterior Maintenance, Insurance, Lawn Care, Snow Removal, Trash Removal
Interior Features Cable Hook-Up, Garage Door Opener
Living Room Fireplace Type Gas Fireplace
Lot Description Landscaped, Treed/Wooded
Master Bedroom Second Floor
Other General Taxes - 2369, Possession - Arranged, School Taxes - 2315, Tax Id Section - 59.13, Tax Identification Block - 1, Tax Identification Lot - 48, Total Woodstoves - 0
Roof Asphalt Shingle
School Taxes Description Actual
Sewer Public
Survey Call LBO/LAG
Total Taxes Description Actual
Water Public
Bathroom - Full Bath 2nd Level
Bathroom - Full Bath 2nd Level
Bedroom 2nd Level
Bedroom 2nd Level
Kitchen 2nd Level
Living Room 2nd Level
OFFICE DEN 2nd Level
Listed by Tom Marks of Coldwell Banker Prime Properties 518-370-2100


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Big 12 Media Preseason Poll announced. What are the five things that matter about the media's choices for the Big 12's finish?
– All the Big 12 Team Previews
Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews
– To no surprise whatsoever, Oklahoma is the overwhelming favorite to win the Big 12 title again getting 24 first place votes with TCU getting two, and no one else getting a single nod for the top spot.
– There's a relatively big divide between the haves and have-nots with Oklahoma getting 258 points, TCU 222, and Oklahoma State 202. It quickly drops off with Baylor getting 156 points and Texas 151. Only one voter picked Kansas to finish out of last place.
– TCU is the only team in the Big 12 without a returning starting quarterback, but it's still picked second. Why? The defense returns loaded and, apparently, the voters don't quite believe yet in Oklahoma State with its loaded offense. The biggest snub? Kansas State, who's picked eighth despite returning a tremendous defense and now having options at quarterback.
– TCU was picked to win the Big 12 last season with Baylor and Oklahoma picked two and three, respectively. The last time Oklahoma wasn't picked in the preseason top three of the conference – or in the top two of the Big 12 South? 1999.
– Who'll actually going to win the Big 12 and what's the order going to be? Check out the CFN preseason Big 12 picks for every team and every game.
2016 Big 12 Football Media Preseason Poll
1. Oklahoma (24) 258
3. Oklahoma State 202
4. Baylor 156
5. Texas 151
6. Texas Tech 141
7. West Virginia 126
8. Kansas State 88
9. Iowa State 59
10. Kansas 27


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Under 14s needed for England team
The Angling Trust are looking for talented youngsters with a view of entering an under 14s team in to the World Championships in the near future.
International youth manager Steve Sanders will be holding a coaching day at popular southern fishery Gold Valley Lakes on Thursday 11th August fished to international rules.
There are only 20 places available on a first come first served basis. In order to take part the juniors must have Angling Trust membership (this is free to juniors). For more information and to book in, contact Sandra Drew on 01159 061301.


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So the Knicks put together a package wherein marketing experts told him he could earn as much as 2 billion, that's right—BILLION with a "B."
As in what Halliburton made during the first hour of the Iraq War.
As in what Elin Woods hopes to get in the divorce.
As in how much you could make by starting your own Scientology like religion.
As in what 4,445 teachers make in one year.
They even recruited James Gandolfini and Edie Falco to shoot a short bit where Tony Soprano, now in witness protection, needs a place to stay for a friend of his—LeBron James. Carmela suggests Madison Square Garden, home of the hapless New York Knickerbockers.
First, let's ignore the debate that any athlete is worth $2 billion. Let's just tell ourselves that he revitalizes the organization which results in new hires and helps local businesses. Yeah, let's just lie to ourselves that our country has not become the last days of the Roman Empire and worships athletes to a point more unhealthy than Madonna's worship of all things British. Cool?
The Sopranos skit had me thinking about cold-blooded killers in the NBA. Players that look for and will even invent ways to feel slighted by the competition. Guys that, unlike LeBron, will hold onto the ball at the end of the game and not take a crazy three pointer because they actually want to shoot the free throws to put the victory on ice. Competitors who would literally rather drink sulfuric acid and die than accept a loss.
Players who aren't concerned with playing Paula Abdul and choreographing dances with teammates. Or acting out cute little skits before games that are more appropriate for Lakers' girls or team mascots than "franchise" players.
Like Kobe. D-Wade. Reggie Miller. Larry Bird. And the most cold-blooded killer of all time—Michael Jordan, who once took apart Voshon Lenard because he had the audacity to waive off an extra defender that was coming to help slow him down M.J.
But LeBron? He wants to have a good time. He wants to be liked. He wants to be the NBA's first billionaire athlete. He's as much about branding himself as a product as he is closing out a playoff game. He wants to be recognized as a global entertainment icon as much as an all-time NBA legend.
So if you're one of those NBA markets who is in the "LeBron sweepstakes" and you don't have a basketball assassin—Chicago, New Jersey, even Cleveland—you may get Bron Bron. You may sell out season tickets. And you will sell a hell of a lot of jerseys.
But what you won't do is win championships. Unless you sign Dwayne Wade or trade for Kobe.
Because LeBron—he ain't no killer.


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This handbook is designed as a quick and ready reference of weed control practices used in various cropping systems or sites/situations in Utah, Montana and Wyoming. Because chemical regulation of plant growth is complex and requires considerable knowledge, a large portion of the text is devoted to registered uses of herbicides, crop desiccants, and some plant growth regulators.
This handbook may be useful to producers, company field representatives, commercial spray applicators, consultants and herbicide dealers.


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Regional M&A deal values drop by 59% in Q1 2010 over Q1 2009
Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) deal values announced in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region dropped by 59% to US$6.5Bn in Q1 2010 compared to deals worth US$15.8Bn announced in Q1 2009. According to Ernst & Young's MENA M&A update, the number of announced deals dropped by 16% from 91 in Q1 2009 to 76 in Q1 of this year.
But there were improvements over the previous quarter
The total number of M&A announced deals in Q1 2010 increased by six, from 70 announced deals in Q4 2009 to 76, while announced deal value jumped by 30% from US$5Bn in Q4 2009 to US$6.5Bn in Q1 2010.
Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Jordan are the most active
Egypt (10 deals), followed by Saudi Arabia (8 deals), Qatar and Jordan (each with 4 deals) are the key target countries for domestic deals announced in Q1 2010 in terms of the number of transactions.
In terms of total disclosed deal value in the region, Qatar attracted 39% of M&A activity with deals valued at US$1,083.5Mn, followed by Lebanon with US$450Mn and Saudi Arabia with US$381.4Mn.
Phil Gandier, Head of Transaction Advisory Services at Ernst & Young Middle East says: "The M&A activity levels in Egypt reflect the potential and great vibrancy within its economy, which will continue to be maintained in the coming quarters. Saudi Arabia was the largest recipient of M&A fund inflows with approximately 35% (US$102Mn) of total inbound deals value going to it, closely followed by Lebanon (US$100Mn) and Oman (US$49.3Mn)."
Top deals
Abu Dhabi based International Petroleum Investment Company's acquisition of a 5.2% stake in Barclays Plc for US$1.94Bn was the largest deal in Q1 2010. The second largest deal was Barwa Real Estate Company's acquisition of the entire share capital of Qatar Real Estate Investment Company for US$862Mn. M1/ Mikati Group's 13.95% stake acquisition of Bank Audi SAL - Audi Saradar Group from EFG-Hermes Holding Company for US$450Mn came in third place.
Banking and real estate lead deal count
In terms of the number of announced deals, the most attractive sectors for domestic transactions in Q1 2010 include Transportation (7 deals), Asset Management (4 deals) and Chemicals (3 deals). In terms of disclosed deal value in Q1 2010, Banking & Capital markets (US$916.2Mn) was the most sought after sector in the MENA region, followed by Real Estate (US$887Mn) and Asset Management (US$383.2Mn).
"The region is traditionally known for the predominance of financial and real estate companies in M&A activity. Industrial and core sectors remain contenders for either government divestment or global expansion. Inbound investments in the MENA region were largely made in the Banking & Capital markets sector (US$100Mn) followed by Media & Entertainment (US$70Mn) and Insurance (US$49.3Mn)," concluded Phil.
Top Headlines
- Yemen Central Bank headquarters to relocate from Sanaa to Aden
- Show me the money: Lebanon addresses bank transfer delay problems
- Swiss Leaks revisited: Strong Egyptian presence in banking scandal
- Saudi market plans IPO in 2018
- Understanding the ripple effect: 8 reasons the US economy has slowed down in Q1 of 2015
- Disclosed M&A deal value slides from US$15.64 billion in Q3 2008 to $7.14 billion in Q3 2009: Ernst & Young
- MENA M&A deal values drop 15% in H1 2010 to US$18.5 billion compared to H1 2009
- Oman to add US$6 billion in Islamic assets, says Ernst & Young
- Global real estate investment activity increases in Q1 2011
- MENA's leading funds maintain top ranks in Q1 2011: Zawya


text:
1871 · Athens
by [Carnesville Lodge]
Athens: Printed at the Banner Job Office, 1871. Wraps. Good. Approx. 7" x 5" stitched, blue, printed wraps. 8 pages. Light foxing to blue outer wraps. Small hole front wrap (no loss of content). Light scattered foxing to contents. Not in OCLC. (Inventory #: 8249)


text:
SafeCLDating.com is another dating verification scam that tries to trick people into thinking they are some sort of CraigsList dating safety site that does background checks on people before you meet them. This whole thing is a complete lie and there is no type of dating verification service offered by CraigsList.com. Don't enter your credit card info on http://user.SafeCLDating.com or you ill get a bill of $38.68 per month until you cancel the charges. Read the full scam report below.
Quick Info On The Scammer
- Name: Jenni M.
- Email Addresses: email@example.com, email@example.com, firstname.lastname@example.com
- Scam Site: W4mPersonal.com and loads a framed page from http://cladmin.camgirlaffiliate.com. You Get billed $38.68 if you entered your credit card info on the site.
1st Email
From: email@example.com
To: firstname.lastname@example.com
"Finally, somebody normal ive had really
shitty luck on cl with guys ive met…..anyhow, I just dont
want that to happen again…I left my cell # on that new cl safety thingy…this is it http://link.safecldating.com
right when you get it call my cell numbr so we can make some plans for tonight, and so you can hear my sexy voice…lol
i'm really hoping you pass, otherwise ill feel stupid that i wasted a lot of time writing to god knows who! Looking forward to getting
together…please dont forget to bring protection cuz I kinda dont like it without it…
ttys jenni
Sent from my iPhone"
2nd Email
From: email@example.com
To: firstname.lastname@example.com
"Finally, somebody normal ;))… i have had really
crappy luck on cl with guys i have met…..anyway, I just don't
want that to happen anymore…I left my numbr on that new cl safety thingy…this is it http://user.safecldating.com
as soon as you get it call me so that we can make plans tonight, and so that you can hear my sexy voice…lol
you better pass, otherwise ill feel like dumb that i spent all this time writing to god knows who! Looking forward to getting
together…by the way bring protection becuz I sorta dont like it in me without that…
ttyl:) jenni
Sent from my iPhone"
Credit Card Charges You Get Billed
- $38.68
Owner Of SafeCLDating.com
- Name: Anonymous Customer
- Address: 0850-00056 Zona 15 Panama Panama
- Phone +507.65995877
- Email: email@example.com
Where To File Complaints
- Hosting company: Contact email@example.com or call 1-949-202-5305 to report abuse/spam.
- Domain registrar: Contact Internet.BS.
- Report it to us: Send us any info you have on a scammer and we will post it!
Do You Want To Meet Real Girls?
Try these honest and real dating sites to meet legitimate local women.


text:
Perfect for social media campaigns and blogs. Web photos (up to .5 MP). 1 Seat.
Learn More
Build a high res library or promote your brand. Up to Large (2.5-4.5 MP). 5 Seats.
Learn More
Get more high res photos and more. Up to Large (2.5-4.5 MP). 25 Seats.
Learn More
ft, within, 150, signage, boats, pier, platform, inside, one hundred fifty, vessel, craft, vehicle, foot, boat
no boats within 150 ft of pier signage


text:
Our Assistance:
Water damages can easily occur from a range of many options within a house or even company. It can appear from a leaks dishwasher, or even washing appliance; possibly a leaky roof top as well as beating rain. Water damage may drench your wall surfaces, carpets, furniture as well as extra.
Water Destruction Tampa experienced in water destruction repair, and will suggest the really top along with fastest way to take out all water, and also fix the damaged home or firm expertly. Throughout our actions restoring defective residences and also organizations everyday, Water Damage Tampa has learnt that prompt actions is necessary along with any kind of amount of water destruction.
Our Site:
33771 Emergency Fire and Smoke Removal Florida
Concerning Us:
As a Clean up Service issuer, Water Damages Tampa provides you with the greatest water damage services in Tampa along with qualified and also trained professionals who are suitable to help you appear out of water problems, floods, mildew damage, fire as well as smoke problems.
As a certified, guaranteed, and also insured firm, (who practice an internal quality assurance system) we could assure 100% fulfillment to all consumer we manage. We function together with all insurance businesses, offering immediate billing and also the details/record plan which usually adjusters expect from a specialist repair corporation.


text:
There is a big list of the things that come in tin canes and we use them abundantly like the canned food, cold drinks, cheese, cream, paint etc. These can are of almost all sizes small, big, thin and … Read More
8 DIY Old Tin Can Decoration
We can make our earth safe and green by producing less trash and garbage and that can be done by recycling most of the items lout of junk. Do take an initiative step and start reusing the useless home … Read More


text:
The First Year of American Heritage - V. VI #1-6
1958 · New York
New York: American Heritage, 1958. Very Good. Very good Some browning. Cover lightly foxed with rubbing. Please Note: This book has been transferred to Between the Covers from another database and might not be described to our usual standards. Please inquire for more detailed condition information. (Inventory #: 125536)


text:
Yes Gawd for the industry wearing House Of Chapple, if y'all haven't heard that's the new trend! Kandi Burrus (Housewives of ATL) and D. Woods (Danity Kane, Making the Band), were spotted at TI's 32nd birthday party this past Saturday posing for the paparazzi in none other than the House Of Chapple. You too can have HOC by logging on to our shop at www.houseofchapple.com.
Kandi Burruss stepped out in House of Chapple's $79.99 Classic Fit Extra-Long Neon, Pink,& Black Paisley Print Dress.


text:
CodePlexProject Hosting for Open Source Software
Which download is more important? do i use the 184.108.40.206 or the mftoolkit-25679 ?
I'm using Tahoe-II board running on .net micro framework with an xbee and another xbee on a XBIB-U board.
Please tell me which download to focus on -> the 126.96.36.199 or the mftoolkit-25679 ?
and which folder to focus on
I am having the same issue..i have the latest version of library but no exmples to start with? Any help or notes available for the zigbee for the Uframework
Can we please have some code samples on how to use the MFToolKit XBee library on the Tahoe-II development board?
Yes, some samples would be great. I figured a lot of this out a couple years back but now none of the code I wrote at the time works with the latest version. Would love to see some examples of how we're supposed to be using this library properly.
Are you sure you want to delete this post? You will not be able to recover it later.
Are you sure you want to delete this thread? You will not be able to recover it later.


text:
Rancho Relaxo - Lotus House
House, Crescent Head
Rated 5 out of 5 stars 1 review
From $355 per night {{quote.pricing.message}} Total {{quote.pricing.price | format:'currency':'short'}} for
Min 3 - 7 nights stay
This delightfully renovated dairy cottage sleeps up to 13 people including:
5 Bedrooms
4.5 bathrooms
Cosy fireplace
Fully fitted kitchen with dishwasher & microwave
Outdoor shower & outdoor bath
Large covered deck with BBQ & bar overlooking the lagoon
Indoor & outdoor dining tables
Digital TV, Video, Blue-ray DVD & Sound System
Entertainment: 4x TVS, 4x DVD players, Stereo
Cooking: Barbeque, Cooking Facilities, Microwave, Dishwasher
Linen: Linen Not Supplied, Ironing Facilities, Towels Not Supplied
Activities: Swimming Pool, Tennis Court
Comfort: Open Fireplace, Ceiling fans & Heaters
Laundry: Washing Machine
Bedroom 1 - double bed with spa ensuite
Bedroom 2 - 3 single beds bunk with trundle
Bedroom 3 - two single beds or king
Bedroom 4 - queen bed with ensuite
Bedroom 5 - queen bed with ensuite
Bedrooms 2 & 3 & share a bathroom
There is also a fold out double sofa bed in the living room that 2 guests can sleep on.
Summer & Easter School Holidays
$2,650 per week 7 night minimum stay
July School Holidays
$2,200 per week 7 night minimum stay
September School Holidays
$2400.00 per week 7 night mininum stay
All other times of the year
$1,800 per week or $850 for 3 nights 3 night minimum stay
7 min drive to Crescent Head town
20 min drive to Kempsey Pacific Highway turn off
45 min drive to Port Macquarie
60 min drive to Coffs Harbour
2 Car Spaces
Rating snapshot
Average customer ratings
No reviews have been submitted for this property.
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Have a question?
Feel free to send a message to the owner/manager if you have any specific needs, or if you require additional information before you can commit to a booking request.
Select request booking to access the quote calculator and to check availability.
Enter your check in and check out dates to see availability and a total price.
- Available
- Unavailable


text:
"Wake me up when September ends" ~ Green Day
I can hardly believe it is September already. In one sense August flew by. It feels like my wife and I just arrived home from celebrating our fourth anniversary yesterday (when in fact it was back on August 6 that we returned from Niagara Falls Ontario).
If you ever get a chance to visit Niagara Falls I highly recommend it. The Falls are absolutely breathtaking. We celebrated our anniversary by having dinner in the Skylon Tower. At the top it has a rotating restaurant so that in the span of one hour we can see all of Niagara Falls. In the picture to your left we can see that we had a great view of the falls themselves. There are a quadrillion things to do and see in Niagara Falls, but our highlights were 1) when we did "Maid of the Mist", which is a boat that takes you right to the brim of the falls; 2) Bird Kingdom which is a giant bird aviary filled with tropical birds (yes, flying about freely); 3) Marineland, which was one of those things my wife and I always wanted to do as children, but for whatever reason never got to do it, like pet the Beluga's or get splashed by killer whales (see the pictures).
But as soon as we returned home, it was back to the coal mines (figuratively speaking). So while in one sense August flew by, in another sense it feels like it lasted forever. That can be attributed to the crazy amount of things I managed to accomplish or had piled on my plate. But I won't bore you with all of those details. Suffice it to say, I think September is going to be just as busy as August, if not more so.
- Tony Campolo is coming to town. I've been selling tickets for the event and look forward to working a table there as well.
- Project X – a youth event featuring such groups as Kutless and Fireflight and Brad Buser as the speaker – is immediately following Tony Campolo on my calendar. I'm on Project-X's committee and so things are already in over-drive there.
- Our church is starting a youth-geared service which has been – up to this point anyways – mostly in my hands. I will be teaming up with two other guys and our wives to make this happen.
These things are aside from my already too busy work schedule and ministry/school plans. Too much, no?
Anyways, I have a few interesting topics that have caught my eye this past month and look forward to posting on them, starting with any article tomorrow explaining why I believe "myth" is an unhelpful biblical category and why we should stop using it. I've also recently had – yet another – run in with a KJV only advocate. But this time – since I've moved – my books are out of storage and I was able to reply respectfully but intellectually (not that I hadn't responded intellectually before, but now I can back up what I've read by actually citing sources). And I have a fascinating interview with Ken Stewart, author of Ten Myths About Calvinism. The interview will soon be published.
Lots going on. Never a dull moment!


text:
We all belong to a variety of communities. A neighborhood, workplace, service organization, hobbyist group, church, political organization, or even an online group are examples of communities to which we might belong.
Some communities thrive, fueled by the enthusiasm of its members. Others struggle, maintaining an existence based on history, necessity, or mild interest. Whenever I notice this difference between two of my communities, I find myself asking what makes one so much different than the other?
For a while in my life, I belonged to a church that really seemed to have it all together. To uncover its secrets, I called a staff person to talk about this community's success. Here were our conclusions.
- The community has a powerful sense of purpose that encourages action. Members understand it, rally around it, and live it.
- Members take charge. They want to be involved. There are ample opportunities to be involved. They get involved.
- Gatherings are intentionally joyful and celebratory. They are fun to attend.
- When faced with challenges, the community continually asks itself how it can learn and become better by working through the challenge.
- The fear of "What will others think?" is rare.
- There's plenty of straight talk about what is going on in the community.
- It stays focused outwardly, rather than inwardly.
Imagine implementing these ideals in your community or organization. It could unlock some amazing results.
Image credit: KittyKat3756


text:
Should Robert Parker Have Listened to Disraeli?
Is the leading wine critic's latest fusillade a storm in a wine glass or a taste of things to come?
"Never explain, never complain," said the 19th-century British prime minister Benjamin Disraeli. His words hold true today. Publish an article or wine review and there are readers who won't necessarily like what you write. The solution is to develop a thick skin, believe in what you write, and know that if everyone had the same opinion the world would be a boring place.
Over the past 30 years, the world's most famous wine critic, Robert Parker, has largely adhered to Disraeli's advice: publishing articles and reviews, writing books, and letting his work do the talking.
Inevitably, such success means Parker is an easy target for many to attack. There are certainly many Parker haters out there who like to Bob bash. To them, I would say, get out more. While you may not admire his success and you may not enjoy the wine style he is famous for liking, bear in mind that any decent wine critic reviews a wine based on quality parameters such as balance, length, intensity, complexity and ageability. If Parker had been marking wines based on the sweetness of fruit, level of alcohol and proportion of new oak, as some suggest, he would have faded into obscurity long ago.
Whatever your thoughts on Parker, he ignored Disraeli on January 18, publishing a diatribe that he predicted would be the source of "firestorms." Clearly, he was sick of his critics, and instead of taking the "high road" – which he says is his usual inclination – seemed to be in the mood for a fight. I sincerely hope he's ready for an outpouring of vitriole, as such columns are fuel to a wine forum's fire. And from personal experience, those forum comments can be pretty blistering.
Read the article in full on Wine Searcher.


text:
Shane Co.
Round Diamond Vintage Engagement Ring with Milgrain Detail
Shown with Sample Stone
Description & Specifications
Crafted of quality 14 karat white gold, this lovely engagement ring is sure to leave her speechless. Fifty brilliant round diamonds at approximately .13 carat total weight dazzle in this vintage inspired 4mm design. This setting is the perfect backdrop for the center gemstone of your choice.
Item Number: 41077649
Item Number: 41077649
- *Metal FinishPolished
- Metal Type14K White Gold
- Stone ShapeRound
- Stone TypeDiamond
- *Setting TypePave
- Design ShapeVintage
- Design TypeVintage


text:
Wednesday, 27 July 2011
Free Ciaté Lipgloss With Marie Claire!
8 comments
The lipgloss looks fab :) Can't wait for the nail polishes in september xReplyDelete
need this! sounds great, espec because it's not sticky which annoys me so much!ReplyDelete
Beth x
ramz and the flock
this is brilliant especially can;t wait for the nail polish that nude looks lovely :)ReplyDelete
Andrea x
I didn´t know these glosses are that good! I´m definetely gonna pick up a Marie Claire this month and next for the nail polishes!!!ReplyDelete
Lucky girls! Why dont they do this in the U.S!!? :(ReplyDelete
im looking forward to the free nail polish:)xReplyDelete
please take a look at my beauty blog:)
I love this lipgloss! Did you see that the magazine also gives readers a £10 off discount code for ciate.com? It's great, I ordered a nail polish but the downside is postage is £4.95 (you're still saving four pounds though!) xxReplyDelete
Pretty shade, if only we get samples over here too!ReplyDelete
***** Marie *****
$100 Shopbop Gift Card International Giveaway!


text:
A trip down Memory Lane
A trip down Memory Lane
Thinkin' outside the box
Gimme props for my slouch sox
Slick with my rubber bands, who you tryna outfox
13 in this bitch
Timberlands on, shirt clean in this beeyitch
[Verse 1]
Let's revisit for my childhood's sake
The bathroom's where you find me late
Momma knockin' on the door but my timbs in a grimy state
Used that footlocker spray back in '98
Plus a toothbrush, type of a shit that my momma hate
But I ain't know no better
A go-getter blowin nonexistent cheddar
On my motherfuckin' polo sweater
I used to ask a lot of her
The by-product of tryna cop that exotic
Nautica and Ralph Lauren
See my mouth would grin, bout to spend
Poppin' tags at the outlet
Cop an alpha male outfit then
And that's the type of shit that we did
Why I loved it is no mystery, kid
Remember music videos had a world premiere
Remember first day of class rockin new gear
Remember thinkin bout summer through the school year
Take me back to '98
[Verse 2]
That's when Jay knocked it out the ballpark
With that Hard Knock Life
And crossed over and they all got hype
In a carpool or school bus switchin 4 lanes
With my discman screamin out "Money Ain't a Thang"
No Jaguar or Ferrari
You know I had that Black Star, Kweli
Mos Def, Marcus Garvey
They bombarded me with jewels
A conscious rap party
I could hardly keep up, but I did my best
Money, Power, Respect
Rockin The LOX at my fella's spot
How's It Goin Down, Dark and Hell Is Hot
Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood showin' that love
Playin' DMX like I ain't done it enough
A young buck explorin' a foreign feel
Coppin' a rhyme book are they born with that sort of skill?
I used to daydream, nothin' was more than real
Th spittin' with Big Pun, or performin' with Lauryn Hill
Capital Punishment, G Rap flow
So attracted to gutter shit
Comin' back with that other shit
I remember my nigga candidly handed me
Aquemini, like Ant you down with the Dungeon Family?
You goddamn right, Southernplayalistic
Da Art of Storytellin', them others may have missed it
And down south it was proven now
Hear the sounds movin' out
New Orleans, Master P and Juvenile
Back in VA, I ran with my crew
Who? Aaliyah, Missy, Timbaland & Magoo
VA's finest, delivered it hard
Two Up, Two Down
Do you remember?


text:
This girl I work with told me I look older than I actually am, seeing as how I mentioned my 19th birthday is around the corner and she responded with "your only turning 19" and I was a bit confused because I don't think I look much older than a guy turning 19 and yeah she was a cute girl who seems nice but also a bit air headed at times, but I really wanna know whether or not its a compliment or a remark to less than attractive appearance, and I asked someone else and they just said I look more mature, but I'm just bout the laziest person you'll find any insight would be most appreciated.
Is this a bad thing or a good thing?
Have an opinion?
What Girls Said 1
if you're only around 19 then it's gotta be a good thing because you can't look old at that age anyway. it would mean that you look 20, which is like, an age where everyone looks good. kinda hard to explain I guess. if she's an air-head, then it's a compliment.00|00|0
What Guys Said 1
Generally, at your age it's a compliment to tell a guy that he looks older than he is. Appearance has to do not only with physical features, but also with the way you present yourself and carry yourself. If you were a slob and acted really immature, she would probably think you were younger, regardless of your physical features. So it's a compliment that not only do you look older, but probably indicates that she thinks you act older too.00|00|0
Thanks bro
You don't think she might like me?
Sorry I wasn't specific. When I say "it's a compliment that not only do you look older, but probably thinks that you act older too", I was implying that she seems like she could be really into you. When a girl goes out of her way to mention something that impresses her about you, it's a great sign that she's probably interested.
Learn more
Select as Most Helpful Opinion?
You cannot undo this action. The opinion owner is going to be notified and earn 7 XPER points.


text: Microsoft Frontpage is a software program used to build web pages and web sites. It is used by loading the program under Microsoft Windows, and completing templates which combine text and graphics to generate web pages. You may also design pages in Microsoft Word, and import them into Frontpage, or enter html code directly within the Frontpage program.


text:
Redis fails to start on OpenSuse Leap 42.1 after upgrade
tftd asked:
I decided to upgrade a machine running 13.2 to the latest Leap 42.1. I started the process and it did the upgrade. After the reboot everything is working except for the redis server service. I can't start the redis service using:
# service redis start
The status is:
# service redis status
redis.target - Redis target allowing to start/stop all redis@.service instances at once
Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/redis.target; static)
Active: active since Fri 2015-11-20 03:47:07 EET; 1s ago
Although it says it's "active", when I check if the process is running it's actually not:
# ps ax | grep -i redis
20892 pts/0 S+ 0:00 grep -i redis
The only way I can start the redis server is by manually running:
# redis-server /etc/redis/default.conf
which starts the server without any problems.
I've tried to reinstall the redis package and tried to change the vendor from the "official" to "server:database" repository. None of these seem to be fixing the issue.
default.conf file is pretty much the "default" template which only has these changed:
daemonize yes #default is no
bind 127.0.0.1 126.96.36.199 #default is 127.0.0.1
The service files:
Description=Redis target allowing to start/stop all redis@.service instances at once
ExecStart=/usr/sbin/redis-server /etc/redis/%i.conf
#ExecStart=/usr/sbin/openvpn --daemon --suppress-timestamps --writepid /var/run/openvpn/%i.pid --cd /etc/openvpn/ --config %i.conf
#ExecReload=/sbin/killproc -p /var/run/openvpn/%i.pid -HUP /usr/sbin/openvpn
WantedBy=multi-user.target redis.target
Any ideas what has changed from 13.2 to 42.1 and why has the service stopped working? Also I don't seem to recall how I previously had the redis listed in
chkconfig – after the upgrade it's gone from there, although I'm not quite sure that's part of the problem.
My answer:
This is a systemd unit which is capable of instantiating multiple copies of a server with different configurations.
To use it, specify the name of the instance you want to use. For instance, your existing configuration seems to have the name
systemctl enable redis@default
systemctl start redis@default
You will probably have to change the
/etc/redis/default.conf so that it writes the
pidfile in the location that systemd expects.
pidfile /var/run/redis/default.pid
View the full question and answer on Server Fault.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.


text:
A notice has been issued by Gujarat High Court to the developers of a location based augmented reality game known as Pokemon Go. This notice was issued on the basis of PIL that sought a ban on the game in India for allegedly not just hurting the religious sentiments but also as a threat to the national security.
A bench of members that included Justice V M Pancholi and the Chief Justice R Subhash Reddy circulated notices to San Francisco-based game developer, Niantic, Inc.
The PIL by one Alay Dave, out of all the things claimed that the eggs images that appear in the game can also be seen on the places of worship of various religious groups.The claimant has said eggs are regarded as non- vegetarian food, and it is profane to carry any kind of non-vegetarian meal inside a place of the offering of Hindus and Jains.
The lawyer of the petitioner, Nachiket Dave said that people those who play this game are rewarded with points that are in the form of virtual eggs which in general, appear in the worshipping places of many different religious groups. Now finding the eggs in temples of Jains and Hindus is blasphemous, and therefore a ban on the game is sought by his client.
The PIL also proposed the matter of the game being used as monitoring tool which can generate a threat to the security of the nation.An example was quoted in the PIL where the police in Missouri, US resolved a robbery case that was led by the robber with the help of geo-location futures of Pokemon Go.
Also, the PIL raised the issue of infringing the privacy and posing a threat to the life of the person playing the game who walk anywhere in search and to score points.


text:
The Miss Universe 2011 pageant is less than 3 weeks away being held on September 12, 2011 in Sao Paulo, Brazil!
This year's marks the 60th anniversary of the Miss Universe pageant and will have a record 89 contestants competing this year. I was surprised by a nice little shout out -- see below -- from a few of the Miss Universe 2011 delegates attending La Casa Hermosa's Press Conference in Miami, FL.
Remember you can still VOTE for your favorite Miss Universe contestant as a semi-finalist and also be sure to check out "The Most Beautiful Gowns in the House" at La Casa Hermosa!
Follow Miss Universe on Twitter: @theRealMissU
Follow La Casa Hermosa on Twitter: @LaCasaHermosa
-Will the Pageant Guy
This article was written by Will the Pageant Guy
I'm the Guy at thePageantGuy.com