text:
Narrow by
Business Stage
- Strategy & Planning (503) Apply Strategy & Planning filter
- Marketing, Public Relations & Sales (466) Apply Marketing, Public Relations & Sales filter
- Operations (287) Apply Operations filter
- Accounting & Cash Flow (256) Apply Accounting & Cash Flow filter
- Human Resources (209) Apply Human Resources filter
- Technology (195) Apply Technology filter
- Legal Issues (140) Apply Legal Issues filter
- Customer Relations (116) Apply Customer Relations filter
- Financing/Capital (111) Apply Financing/Capital filter
- Business Plans/Startup Assistance (87) Apply Business Plans/Startup Assistance filter
- Tax Planning (80) Apply Tax Planning filter
- Other (45) Apply Other filter
- Buying or Selling a Business (21) Apply Buying or Selling a Business filter
- Product Development & Manufacturing (8) Apply Product Development & Manufacturing filter
- Government Regulations & Contracting (7) Apply Government Regulations & Contracting filter
- International Trade (7) Apply International Trade filter
- Franchising (5) Apply Franchising filter
- Blog Post (459) Apply Blog Post filter
- Recorded Webinar (373) Apply Recorded Webinar filter
- Article (139) Apply Article filter
- eGuide (30) Apply eGuide filter
- Infographic (29) Apply Infographic filter
- Template (27) Apply Template filter
- Checklist (24) Apply Checklist filter
- Course on Demand (24) Apply Course on Demand filter
- Video (15) Apply Video filter
- Podcast (9) Apply Podcast filter
- Live Webinar (4) Apply Live Webinar filter
- National Event (4) Apply National Event filter
Entrepreneur Type
- Women Entrepreneurs (22) Apply Women Entrepreneurs filter
- Solopreneur/Freelancer (18) Apply Solopreneur/Freelancer filter
- Young Entrepreneurs (10) Apply Young Entrepreneurs filter
- Minority Entrepreneurs (5) Apply Minority Entrepreneurs filter
- Veteran Entrepreneurs (4) Apply Veteran Entrepreneurs filter
- Encore (50+) Entrepreneurs (2) Apply Encore (50+) Entrepreneurs filter
- Retail & Wholesale Trade (33) Apply Retail & Wholesale Trade filter
- Accommodation & Food Services (14) Apply Accommodation & Food Services filter
- Other (8) Apply Other filter
- Nonprofit, Public and Professional Organizations (6) Apply Nonprofit, Public and Professional Organizations filter
- Arts, Entertainment & Recreation (5) Apply Arts, Entertainment & Recreation filter
- Health Care & Social Assistance (5) Apply Health Care & Social Assistance filter
- Manufacturing & Industrial (5) Apply Manufacturing & Industrial filter
- Professional & Business Services (5) Apply Professional & Business Services filter
- Real Estate, Rental & Leasing (5) Apply Real Estate, Rental & Leasing filter
- Home or Personal Maintenance Services (4) Apply Home or Personal Maintenance Services filter
- Technical & Scientific Services (4) Apply Technical & Scientific Services filter
- Agriculture, Farming, Fishing & Hunting (2) Apply Agriculture, Farming, Fishing & Hunting filter
- Transportation & Warehousing (2) Apply Transportation & Warehousing filter
7 Cash Flow Pitfalls of Seasonal Businesses
Do you have a seasonal business? Here are 7 cash flow pitfalls that can help you avoid critical money flow problems throughout the year.
8 Tips on Managing Your Business Assets Wisely
Your small business' physical assets make up a sizable portion of the value of your company. That's why you must ensure that you manage assets correctly.
10 Tips for Better Small Business Bookkeeping
No matter how you feel about bookkeeping, it's one of those tasks no business owner can avoid forever. Read these ten tips to make small business bookkeeping easier.
Defining the Series LLC
The series LLC consists of divisions (somewhat like mini-LLCs) under a single master or parent LLC. What purposes do series LLCs serve? Read more
Connect with Customers Through Video
Join this webinar for best practices for connecting with customers through video, integrate video into your online strategy and produce videos on a budget. Read more
Customer Payment Trends are Changing. Are You?
In this month's infographic, "How Customers Want to Pay: Is Your Small Business Keeping Up," we delve into the customer payment trends now facing small businesses.
Accountants Versus Bookkeepers — What You Should Know
As a small business, cash flow management is critical to your day to day operations (and peace of mind). But, what help do you need? an accountant or bookkeeper?
How to Use Public Speaking to Grow Your Business
Why is public speaking an effective marketing tool for small business owners? It helps build your brand and your reputation as an expert. Read more benefits.
10 Ways to Improve Collections and Cash Flow
Improved collections means improved cash flow for your small business. This article gives ten suggestions to get paid more quickly. Read more
Small Businesses Seek Cash Flow, Find Roadblocks
Does your business have the cash flow it needs? Almost three-fourths of small and midsize businesses need access to more cash. Learn how to ensure you have enough cash for growth.
How to Set Up and Maintain a Budget for Your Small Business
Want to make sure you are spending wisely on your business? This article will show you how to set up and maintain a budget to keep you on track.


text:
The "Mad Max" franchise has had a hardcore fan base since the original film was released in 1979.
The second and third sequels came out in 1981 and 1985, respectively. It took another 30 years for the fourth, "Mad Max: Fury Road," to hit theaters. It premiered in May 2015.
The release gave a jolt of energy to the franchise and sparked a new generation of "Mad Max" superfans.
Thousands of them recently joined together for an annual four-day event they called Wasteland Weekend.
Held in the Mojave Desert of California, the weekend gave fans a chance to celebrate the film and even build their own post-apocalyptic world.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
I have a small confession to make…
As well as being an astrophysicist, over the last few years I've been writing, and trying to sell, science fiction stories. I've always written as a hobby to some extent but have only recently been attempting to do this commercially. As is usually the case with these things, the going has been long and hard but, at the start of this year, I started to sell stories to various short fiction markets and have now got four such stories in press. These are mostly in anthologies, of which more later, but I've also managed to sell a story to the major US pulp magazine Analog. As you might expect, my writing tends to be in the 'hard SF' direction, focusing on real or realistic science, which is just the kind of thing that Analog publishes.
The reason I'm bringing this up now is that the first of these four stories is now out in print in the Footprints anthology, edited by Jay Lake and Eric T Reynolds, and you can all buy it from Amazon.
Buy several, you know you want to!
I'll now return you to your normally scheduled Herschel updates.


text:
Difficulty = if I can do it, you can (based on the: 'can I do it scale'!)
I've been experimenting with dialogue box design just lately for two reasons:
- I wanted a more intuitive box for the others in my team to be able to enter data based on a workflow rather than the standard straight down approach and to provide check and drop-down boxes for some of the fields.
- the second reason was for the need to enter data quickly in just two fields, on a table that had loads of fields, the two fields would have been at the top and near the bottom respectively on a normal dialogue and so was a pain tabbing all the way down.
A little research (mainly reading Nathan Woodrow's blog posts on the subject – don't be put off by the Python stuff, use the link in his post to the original – you'll get the idea). This shows how to link (called binding) the bits (text boxes etc.) on a form to the fields in a table (this bit is the most important 'cause it don't work if you don't get it right!).
What you need.
To design a form you will need QT. If you download and update your installation (MS Windows – I don't know how this works on a MAC or Linux) using OSGeo4W network installer, it is an option in the 'advanced' section – if it isn't installed, go through the setup process and select the options to install QT.
I don't propose to go through QT in depth but show the main bits – on starting you will see the start page. You will invariably select the default or open an existing form – if you already design forms then don't go any further unless you want to feedback (welcomed) on my instructions.
Designing your first form
Selecting the default gives you this:
On the left you will see all the 'widgets' that can be added to a form (drag them onto a form) – here I have added 'Label' and 'Line Edit' widgets. The panels on the right are all the properties associated with the selected widget (or form, if you haven't got a widget selected) so the content changes depending on what you have selected.
You will add as many widgets as you want and arrange them how you want, you can make the dialogue box bigger or smaller etc. etc. – have a play. Once you have done, or if you want to come back to it, save the file – it creates a '.UI' file which can be opened next time you start QT.
The important bit – linking to a layer!
To use the form with your layer (I'm using a single table that I created for this example) in QGIS you have to link the 'Line Edit' widget to a field in your table.
If you look in the 'Object Inspector' panel, on the right, select the widget, it will be highlighted in the panel, you will see it is called 'lineEdit', double click this and it highlights blue (on mine), you change the 'lineEdit' text to the name of the field in your table – it must be spelt correctly and be the same case as your field name.
To change the label text, you need to select the label on the form and look in the 'Property Editor' on the right. Scroll down to the 'QLabel' part and look for the 'text' property (the first on that part of the panel). Click into the property and change the value – it changes on the form.
That's it! You've created a custom form. Save your edits.
Testing it in QGIS
Go into QGIS and open your layer. Open the layer properties and go to 'Fields'.
You should be familiar with this if you use QGIS. For a 'lineEdit' widget you don't need to change anything – in the next episode I will go over using drop-downs and check boxes, for now though you can leave things as they are.
So the field I am linking to is the 'maptext' field so I call my 'lineEdit' widget 'maptext'.
I've changed the label so that users will understand what the input is…you get the picture.
Linking the form to the layer.
We now need to tell QGIS to use the '.UI' form when editing or displaying the information in a form.
Use the 'Attribute editor layout' drop down and specify 'Provide UI-file'.
Another box will appear asking for the path to the 'UI' file.
Select the '…' button and navigate to where you saved the 'UI' file and select it -you've now told QGIS to use this form for this layer.
How does it work?
In a map, add a feature to the layer or, if it is an existing layer, use the 'identify' button and click on an existing feature, up will come the dialogue you created – here I'm adding a feature.
Note: the dialogue will open at the size of the last dialogue you opened in QGIS so if it is not big enough, expand it by selecting the bottom right corner – I find this a particularly annoying trait as I would expect the dialogue to open at the size I designed!
So I've added a feature, the dialogue appeared, I enter the text as shown, clicked OK.
For this example, I've labelled the features with the field into which this text is inserted and also show the table – the text I typed into the dialogue is in the field in the correct record – this way, even if you have 100 fields in your table, you can design a quick data capture form and include only those fields for which you want to enter data.
Trouble Shooting
Dialogue doesn't appear:
- check you have told QGIS to use a custom dialogue
- check you have specified the correct path to the correct 'UI' file
Data not going into the table:
- check that the 'lineEdit' widget is called and spelt exactly the same as the field name into which you want the information – this is the most likely cause of data not going into the table.
- check you have the correct layer selected in the 'Layers' panel
- I don't know – double-check everything!
BTW: you can keep QT open with the form showing whilst you test it in QGIS, just make changes to the form or add new stuff, save the form, overwriting the previous, and it will appear with the changes as soon as you inspect or add a feature in QGIS.
I hope you found this useful. Next time (soon) I will go into using other widgets but for now, getting these basics sorted will help you get used to the process…have fun!


text:
"A loving home is a piece of heaven on earth"
This recipe for Lemon and Poppy Seed melts is delicious! These would be the perfect sweet for a baby or wedding shower, tea party, or hostess gift. Once again, you can find this recipe in my always dependable Better Homes and Gardens Cookie Cookbook.
Prep: 20 minutes Bake: 7-9 minutes Chill: 4-24 hours Oven: 375
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon poppy seed
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1 egg yolk
1 tablespoon milk
2 teaspoons finely shredded lemon peel
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sifted powdered sugar
Yellow edible glitter (optional)
1. In a medium mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add granulated sugar, poppy seed, and baking soda; beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in egg yolk, milk, lemon peel, and vanilla until combined. Beat in as much flour as you can with the mixer. Using a wooden spoon, stir in any remaining flour.
2. Divide dough in half. Shape each half into a 9-inch long roll. Wrap in plastic wrap or waxed paper. Chill in the refrigerator for 4-24 hours. Using a sharp knife, cut dough into 1/2 inch slices. Place slices 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
3. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 7-9 minutes or until edges are firm and bottoms are light brown. Place powdered sugar in a plastic bag. If desired, add edible glitter to powdered sugar. While still warm, transfer several at a time to the bag. Gently shake until coated. Transfer cookies to a wire rack; cool. When completely cool, gently shake cookies again in powdered sugar.
4. Enjoy these delicious treats with your cup of tea!!!!!


text:
High-efficiency clothes washers (HEWs) can reduce water use in a laundromat by more than 50%. Most coin-op washers are vertical-axis and have a Water Factor (WF) rating of 9.5 to 12; using 32 to 38 gallons per load (132.5 L to 170.29 L). Recent federal standards require vertical-axis machuines to have a WF of 9.5 or lower (lower WF rating equates to less water use). As the older model machines are replaced, all washers in laundromats will become significantly more efficient. The advent and use of newer machines with better efficiency will garner even greater water and energy savings. More information on water use and energy use ratings can be found at the EnergyStar website.
Click here for the latest Energy Star Specifications for Residential and Commercial Clothes Washers.
While many laundromats include a few large capacity horizontal-axis washers (Water Factor ratings of 3.5 to 6), these are usually a small minority of the machines installed in most facilities. Newer HEW models have a Water Factor rating of 3 to 6; using as little as 9 gallons per load. The majority of HEWs are horizontal-axis and front loading, although there are a few models of h-axis washers that have top loading capabilities.
Water savings projections require frequency of use estimates, and this is difficult data to obtain unless the business owner/operator regularly records accurate "coin counts". These machines are often owned and maintained by contracted vendors known as 'route operators', where the laundromat owner receives a portion of the machines' gross revenues. It is often difficult to obtain accurate "coin counts" from small businesses that operate on a cash basis. Often the projected water savings have to be based on industry estimates of 6 loads per machine per day. A simple savings projection might be as follows:
A successful water conservation strategy requires participation and cooperation from both the laundromat owner (who pays the water bills) and the route operator (who owns the machines). The Laundromat owner wants to reduce water and wastewater costs, but does not want to lose customers because of their preference for top loading machines. The route operator does not want to lose revenue due to customer preference for top loaders, and does not want to increase capitol investments due to the higher cost of high-efficiency washers. To date, the purchase price of HEWs is often $400 or more than a traditional washer of the same capacity. The business interests of both parties must be satisfied for the utility to garner participation in its water conservation program.
Replacing traditional vertical-axis top loaders with front loading HEWs requires special promotion, education and instruction for the users. Some user dissatisfaction stems from improper usage: too much detergent and softener, improper loading, and underestimating the washer capacity. Users often complain of having to stoop down to load and unload the laundry; this can be easily resolved by installing the machines atop pedestals. Water utilities initiating washer replacements in this market should consider the merits of providing assistance to help the laundromat owners overcome customer reluctance towards using the HEWs.
In the past, manufacturers were unable to design a vertical-axis washer with a Water Factor rating below 9.2. Recently, manufacturers have designed and manufactured an innovative type of vertical axis washer (using impellers in the wash drum) that has proven to be very effective at lower water volumes while garnering high customer satisfaction. This allows consumers who prefer the convenience of top loaders to be as water efficient as the users of front loading machines. The newest generation of vertical-axis washers may solve some of the resistance to the use of efficient washers - time will tell.
Coin-operated clothes washers (sometimes free washers) are often found in common areas multi-family buildings and apartment complexes. These types of multi-user laundry facilities can also be found at college dormitories, motels, detention facilities, homeless shelters, family shelters, hostels, RV parks, campgrounds, mobile home parks, truck stops, etc. Common area clothes washing facilities provide excellent opportunities for water conservation because the frequency of use for each clothes washer is much greater than in-home machines. While an in-home machines average only 6 to 8 loads per week, common area machines often wash 20 to 50 loads per week per clothes washer.
Most coin-op washers have a Water Factor rating of 12 to 14 (top loaders); using 35 to 45 gallons per load (132.5 L to 170.3 L). Newer water efficient models have a Water Factor rating of 4 to 8; using as little as 15 gallons per load (56.8 L). Water savings projections require frequency of use estimates, and this is difficult data to obtain unless the building owner regularly records accurate "coin counts". It is seldom the property owner actually owns the clothes washers located in the common areas. These machines are most often owned by vendors known as 'route operators'; where the property owner receives a portion of the machines' gross revenues. Any effort to replace the machines with more efficient models requires the cooperation of both the property owner and the route operator that owns the machines. The impediments to success are similar to laundromats, see above.
There is conflicting research on the potential water savings offered by providing common area washing machines rather than in-apartment unit clothes washers. A study sponsored by the Multi-housing Laundry Association found water savings associated with this practice. The National Multi-Family Submetering and Allocation Billing Program study also looked at this same issue with a much larger sample size and found no water savings associated with common area laundry facilities.
It is reasonable to presume the convenience of in-unit clothes washers probably increases the overall frequency of loads washed per resident, but the magnitude of the effect on water use is uncertain. Recent research reveals the residents wash fewer loads on the premise, resulting in reduced on-site water use, but no one knows how often clothes are washed off-site (at laundromats, fluff & fold services, etc.). Anecdotal evidence suggest, where in-home washers are not present and only common area washers are available, residents use off-site facilities to wash as much as half of all laundry. Eliminating in-unit washers certainly saves on-site water, and probably reduces overall water use; but the quantity overall water saved is uncertain. Water utilities should be wary of promoting common area clothes washers to achieve net water savings, for some of the gross water savings at the building site might only be supplanted by and increase water consumption at a different location within the utility's service district.
Replacing single load washers with multi-loads washers might offer additional water savings in both coin-op laundries and common area laundry facilities. Multi-load washers are named such because the machine capacity is 2 to 4 times larger (25 to 50 pounds of clothes/load) (11.3 kg to 22.7 kg) compared to the typical coin-op top loading washer (12 to 14 pounds clothes/load) (5.4 kg to 6.4 kg); hence the clothes washer can wash multiple loads at once. These large capacity machines incorporate horizontal-axis drums and other water efficiency features. In general, multi-load washers can wash clothes with up to half of the water used by the traditional coin-op top-loader.
A multi-load clothes washer study conducted in San Diego found substantial evidence that replacing traditional top loading washers with multi-loaders can provide substantial water savings. The study indicates there are several factors that will greatly affect savings, including: overcoming customer customers' initial hesitation to use the "new" machines, educating customers on the proper use (filling the wash drum and using proper amounts of detergent and softeners), and improving the customers' perceived value of the additional charges to use the multi-load washers. The best results appear when the vast majority of single loaders are replaced with multi-loaders; forcing the customers to become accustomed to the proper use of the multi-loaders. As with residential studies, most consumers say they prefer top-loaders when they have little or no experience using front loader washers. After becoming more familiar with the advantages of front loading washers, the bias often disappears.
Brown, A. (2009) Laundries Water Efficiency (Options Report, Yarra Valley Water, Melbourne Australia)
Sullivan, G et al (2008) PG and E Commercial Laundry Program Measurement and Evaluation
CUWCC (2006) Potential Best Management Practices (PBMP) Report – On-Premise Laundries
WMI (2006) Assessment of Water Savings for Commercial Clothes Washers
Riesenberger, J. and J. Koeller (2005) Commercial Laundry Facilities


text:
Media Services
Whatever your video production needs may be, SoCal Entertainment and Media can help.
With experience in all aspects of production, we can offer diverse and quality production services.
Based in Southern California's Orange County, we are happy to assist you with your project, event, or production.
Commercials | Infomercials | Training Videos | Sales & Marketing | Weddings | Private Events | Corporate Events | Theater | Concerts | Live Performances | Script Writing | Photography | Editing | Video Presentations | Custom Services & More
We can provide assistance in all aspects of production from pre-production services like script writing to on-the-fly live productions to state-of-the-art post-production editing and scoring.
Past Clients Include:
American Performance Commodities
City of Angels Saxophone Quartet
City of Huntington Beach
Colangelo Auto Repair and Classics
Crystal Cathedral Concerts
Fran-Am Race Team
LA Fashion Show
Management Recruiters, Inc.
Mater Dei High School
OC Motor Heads
Pegasus School
Ruby's Diner
St. Augsburg College
Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach


text:
Congress has passed a bill extending the Homebuyer Tax Credit closing deadline to September 30, 2010. This is a huge win for REALTORS® and homebuyers, and the National Association of Realtors [NAR] worked closely with members of Congress to make it happen.
The extension applies only to transactions that had ratified contracts in place as of April 30, 2010, and have not yet closed. There will be no gap between June 30 and the date the President signs the bill into law.
Additionally, Congress has extended the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) through September 30th. The bill is retroactive and will cover the lapse period from June 1, 2010, to the date the law is enacted. NAR will continue to work with Congress on the NFIP Reform bill, and we will keep you posted on those efforts.
For additional information on both the tax credit deadline and the NFIP, visit Realtor.org/Government_Affairs.


text:
Welcome to The Beach House. Views, views, views! Sensational full beach views, the ocean expanse beyond and the coastline to the north east are enjoyed from the verandah, open plan living area and front bedroom. River valley and national park views are enjoyed from the back pergola and sunroom.The third bedroom is a large separate guest cabin, making it a great rental for two families, or 2-3 couples. In summer, enjoy hot lazy days in the popular surf, on the patrolled swimming beach, or watch it all from the air-conditioned comfort of the beach house. Throughout the year, enjoy walks through the surrounding national park, and koala spotting - often in the back garden! On winter weekends, you can watch the storms roll-in while you're warm and cosy infront of the wood-burning fire. With a large garden, the property enjoys all day sun and shelter from prevailing winds. Vehicle not required as the beach, pub, cafe and general store are a casual stroll from the front door.
PETS WELCOME subject to owners approval please note there are no fences.
Proudly brought to you by Great Ocean Road Holidays
- Open plan living with combustion fire, lounge, wall mounted Tv, Dvd. - Fully functional kitchen with dishwasher & microwave - 6 seater dining. - Front deck with ocean views and 2 seats- Back courtyard with valley views and 8 seat setting
Bedroom 1: Queen bed with ocean views Bedroom 2: 1 x set of bunks, Bungalow: Queen bed,


text:
- By David Jablonski Staff Writer
The World Cup begins Thursday in Russia without the United States for the first time since 1986.
» WORLD CUP COVERAGE: Cincinnati in running to host 2026 games
While TV viewership in the USA for the tournament soared from 3,273,000 in 2010 to to 4,557,000 in 2014, those numbers could plummet this year because of the absence of the Americans. Soccer may be more popular than ever in this country — witness the rise of FC Cincinnati — but the non-soccer fans who would have tuned into to watch the United States will have a hard time generating passion for the 2018 World Cup.
» LOOKING BACK: Fans gather in Dayton to watch 2014 World Cup
For die-hard fans, though, the World Cup remains the biggest and best sporting event in the world, and there are plenty of reasons to watch. Coaches and fans from around the area were asked last week two questions by email: Who do they want to win the World Cup, and who do they think will win?
Here are their answers:
Eric Golz, Dayton women's soccer coach
Who he wants to win: "We are all very disappointed that the U.S. did not qualify as it is a missed opportunity for the growth of our game in this country and the development of the players at the world level. With the U.S. out of the tournament, I reluctantly have to root for England. Our staff here at Dayton includes three Americans, one from Ireland and one from England. England is the only one of those countries that qualified, so in an effort to support my assistant Dean Ward, I will be cheering for England."
Who he thinks will win: "Germany. World-class talent at every position. Very well-coached and organized. They have the resolve and mentality to rise to the occasion in biggest moments."
Dennis Currier, Dayton men's soccer coach
Who he wants to win and who he thinks will win: "I will be rooting for and predicting Brazil will win the World Cup. They have the best attacking team in the tournament, and I have always enjoyed watching them play — the most exciting style in the world."
Patrick Ferguson, Wright State women's soccer coach
Who he wants to win: "I would be rooting for any of the African countries to win, though they never seem to have the defensive discipline to do so."
Who he thinks will win: "I actually think Brazil or Germany has the best chance of winning."
Dwight Burgess, Wittenberg men's soccer coach
Who he wants to win: "I am rooting for a couple of different things: England as that's my heritage; Argentina for Messi's sake; and of course, any underdog such as Iceland from 2014!"
Who he thinks will win: "European teams tend to win the Cups played in Europe, so you can't look past the big boys like Germany, Italy or Spain, but I'm going with Argentina!"
Nick Roberts, Urbana University men's soccer coach
Who he wants to win: "Although I am now a USA citizen, I was born in England. Usually I follow both (USA and England). I even went to the 2006 World Cup in Germany following the USA. But it could be the usual painful experience for England fans — great promise, but always buckle under pressure, or go out on a PK shootout. … So I am bracing for a painful experience!"
Who he thinks will win: "Germany, I think will win. They are always there in the last eight or four. Won it in 2014. Robotic, efficient, well engineered. They will be the favorites. They got a mixture of youth and experience with a coach that has been there and done it. If not Germany, I think it will be Spain or Brazil. The most talented group on paper is Belgium, but some very big egos will likely spell trouble for them, especially for some major players likely to sit on the bench. England is talented but very young, and it almost feels like they are 'bloodin' this group for future tournaments, so Germany will be my pick. They know how to win tournaments, and that history of success is something that helps immensely."
Brett Faro, Cedarville University men's soccer coach
Who he wants to win: "I do not have a specific team I am cheering for. Id love to see a few of the underdogs do well like Iceland or Egypt. I would also love to see (Lionel) Messi finally win a World Cup with Argentina. I am primarily looking forward to the high level of play and hopefully some great matchups."
Who he thinks will win: "I think Spain and Germany right now are both extremely talented and have a high chance to win. There are a few others out there like Brazil, France, and Argentina, but I think Spain and Germany both have quality national team programs and a good mix of youth and veterans in their squads that give them a good chance to win."
Shane Latham, Catholic Central boys soccer coach
Who he wants to win: "I will be rooting for England with their Tottenham Hotspur contingent of five players."
Who he thinks will win: "I think Germany will repeat as World Cup winners with Brazil, Argentina, Spain and France the main challengers."
Michael Muncy, president of the Dayton chapter of the U.S. soccer fan club, American Outlaws
Who he wants to win: "I'm still super disappointed that the U.S. didn't make it to this World Cup. So since I'm a huge Manchester United supporter, I'll be following England. Many of the guys who play for Manchester United or in the English Premier League will be playing for them. Just because I'm rooting for them doesn't mean that I think they'll win it."
Who he thinks will win: "I think there are three teams who could win: Brazil, Germany or Spain. If I was to bet on one, I would pick Brazil. Brazil is a young talented team with guys like Fred, Gabriel Jesus and of course Neymar. They'll be hard to stop."
Neal Bucher, University of Dayton graduate
Who he wants to win: "Big Liverpool FC fan so I am pulling for Egypt, Senegal, and England. Brazil has two Liverpool players, but I can't bring myself to pull for a powerhouse when it comes to the World Cup."
Who he thinks will win: "Germany and Spain have ton of experience and are the most recent winners. I think Spain bounces back from 2014 and wins this year."
Kyle Young, University of Dayton graduate
Who he wants to win: "My wife Samantha was a high school goalie at Simon Kenton High School in Northern Kentucky. She has enjoyed watching (Thibaut) Courtois in goal, so she will be cheering on Belgium. I have enjoyed watching Premier League side Huddersfield Town on Saturday mornings at Yellow Cab Tavern in downtown Dayton, so I will be cheering on their players for Australia and Denmark."
Alex Maloney, Springfield Catholic Central graduate
Who he wants to win: "I'll likely be following/rooting for Belgium if I had to choose a team. During the (English Premier League) season, I follow Chelsea FC, whose best player is a Belgian named Eden Hazard. In fact, after Chelsea won the EPL in 2015, my wife and I named our new dog 'Hazard.' Also, their keeper, Thibaut Courtois, is the Chelsea keeper. I won't get as invested in Belgium as I would for the U.S., but it is still fun to follow a team through the tournament. While it will be disappointing to not see the U.S. playing, it is still fun to watch. For many soccer fans, watching the (European Championships) two years after the World Cup is just as fun as watching the World Cup."
Andy Foreman, Beavercreek
Who he wants to win: "In this year's World Cup, I'll most likely be rooting for Spain. They've got a very underrated group of forwards and will look to prove a point. I'll also be rooting for Egypt. They are my dark-horse nation in the tournament, only because of their star forward, Mo Salah. I think that they can easily make it out of their group."
Who he thinks will win: "I think the favorite to win it all would be reigning champs Germany or Brazil. However, I could see Belgium winning also. The Golden Boot winner could be anyone, but the favorites are obviously going to be Messi, Ronaldo andNeymar with an outside chance that Salah could win it if his nation makes it deep enough into the tournament."
Matt Murray, University of Dayton graduate
Who he wants to win: "I'm a big soccer fan and will be following it starting (Thursday). I will be rooting for England as they seem to be that hard-luck team in each major tournament. They were the Cubs before the Cubs won the World Series. Plus, I watch a lot of EPL and know and follow their entire team. Unfortunately for them, I have them losing to Poland in the round of 16."
Who he thinks will win: "I have Spain and Germany in the finals with Spain winning it all. They have probably the best goalkeeper in the world and a great defense."


text:
Ferguson protesters rally across US for second day
Protests took place across the nation for the second consecutive night in wake of a grand jury declining to indict Ferguson officer Darren Wilson on charges for killing 18-year-old Michael Brown in an August shooting.
Demonstrations in Ferguson quieted down Tuesday night into early Wednesday evening. Guard units protected the Ferguson Police Department, leaving crowd control, arrests and use of tear gas to local officers. In one commercial area Wednesday morning, a soldier was stationed at every few storefronts, and some were on rooftops. In all, 45 people were arrested, most for failure to disperse. Outside police headquarters, one woman was taken into custody after protesters hurled what appeared to be smoke bombs, flares and frozen water bottles at a line of officers. Several other protesters were arrested after defying police instructions to get out of the street or out of the way of police vehicles.
In Oakland, Calif., protesters vandalized police cars, smashed windows at car dealerships, restaurants and convenience stores as well as setting fire to trash in the middle of city streets. A rally that drew thousands in Minneapolis took a turn when a car struck a protester and drove through a pack of others. And in Portland, Ore., police used pepper spray and made arrests after about 300 people disrupted bus and light rail traffic by walking across a Willamette River bridge.
The crowd also shut down two major freeways before police forced the crowds to disperse.
Protesters in Los Angeles crowded U.S. 101 freeway barricading lanes stopping traffic. Police cornered the protesters on an overpass, but one protester managed to toss a barricade off the overpass onto the freeway.
Thousands of people marched in Manhattan gathering in Union Square and holding up traffic on FDR Drive, Williamsburg and Manhattan bridges and the Queens Midtown Tunnel.
NYPD Commissioner William Bratton said police were giving protesters "breathing room."
"As long as they remain nonviolent, and as long as they don't engage in issues that cause fear or create vandalism, we will work with them to allow them to demonstrate," he said.
A car struck a pedestrian early Tuesday afternoon at a rally. The car then continued to burst through the pack of demonstrators. The driver called the police immediately after the incident. The woman suffered minor injuries.
Several hundred people marched down a Cleveland freeway ramp to block rush-hour traffic while protesting the Missouri developments and Saturday's fatal shooting by an officer of 12-year-old Tamir Rice of Cleveland, who had a pellet gun that looked like a real firearm.
"The system wasn't made to protect us," said one of the protesters, 17-year-old Naesha Pierce. "To get justice, the people themselves have to be justice."
Riot police arrested several demonstrators in St. Louis on Interstate 44 near the Edward Jones Dome. Protesters disrupted traffic for several hours before they were dispersed by police with pepper spray.
Several hundred people from historically black schools Morehouse College and Clark Atlanta University in Georgia held peaceful demonstrations. But as the night wore on, some groups split off and tried to block a freeway, and police said some windows were broken.
Police said 21 people were arrested, mostly for failure to disperse when asked, but one person faces a weapons charge.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.


text:
Do you still remember that insane gap to manual on a tiny little rail from Eclat's Natives series featuring Sean Burns? I know you do, well here here is now the filming process how it went before it got pulled. First an icepick, then a crash and later pulled perfectly.
Read more…
Eclat's Sean Burns And The Insane Gap To Manual
Eclat "Natives" Episode 6 – Sean Burns Part 1
And we finally have it. The sixth and final episode of the Natives series from Eclat featuring Sean Burns is here. Eclat started with this searies back in March 2013 with all their pro riders and this is the last one now which is split into two parts. They visited Sean Burns' home town and asked him several questions about his early days and about how damaged his body is – and it is damaged a freaking lot. In between words there is plenty of wild and insane riding with several nasty crashes. Must watch.
Read more…
Eclat In Shanghai Extras – Super 8
Back in 2012 the Eclat team headed to Shanghai on a trip and here is a collection of clip Eclat's team manager Paul Robinson managed to film on a Super 8 camera.
Read more…
The Eclat Unify Seat
The Eclat Unify seat is a seat and seat post combo with alloy inner core providing the strength with injected plastic around it to form an incredibly strong one piece post and seat base. here is a short video showing you the details and if you would like to know more about it, visit Unify's product page.
Read more…
New Eclat Apparel
Eclat has all bunch of new apparel goodies ready for you guys to rock them on. T-shirts, tank tops, zipper hoodies, hats and beanies, just enough to find something the will suit you best. Go and check all these products out.
Eclat 2014 Products Now Online
Eclat dropped the news that their 2014 products are now online, with all the specifications and additional photos. Plenty of hot products they have to offer the world, so hit it and check them out.
Dan Coller welcome to Eclat AM
Eclat added a new member to their AM team in the USA and it is Dan Coller. To make everything official and in style, they dropped this sick welcome to the team edit, which has quite a few bangers. From technical stuff, grind combos and smoothly pulled tricks in the air and tons of style, Dan is a badass and this is a really good proof. Enjoy.
Read more…
Eclat – Phil Demattia Edit
Phil Demattia's latest Eclat web edit was filmed over at The Boneyard indoor skatepark by Will Evans, who also put the thing together. Phil is not your everyday rider, he looks at riding completely different and is a master of crankflips and manuals. This edit will make you go "wow" for several time, so hit with your mouse and see what I am talking about. Seen on TCU.
Read more…
Eclat "Natives" Part 5 – Geoff Slattery
Eclat is back with the fifth episode of the "Natives" series, featuring Geoff Slattery. They visited his hometown, checked where he grew up, the trails he rode and asked him questions about BMX, life and more. All these series are amazing to watch and I am just wondering what will the sixth, the Sean Burns' one, be all about.
Read more…
Eclat – Dillon Lloyd 2013 Edit
After being off the bike for a while due to a really bad crash, Dillon Lloyd is now back and already murdering street spots for his sponsor Eclat. The manual down that rail towards the end was mad. And this is "just a welcome back edit"?
Read more…


text:
L. and I are really trying to raise our kids not to make assumptions around gender and sexual orientation. Whoever they choose to love in their lives is fine by us, as long as they are true to themselves, and happy in their choices. But the rest of the world is really intent on trying to make our kids (and everyone else's) believe that straight is the only way to be. And it really, really pisses me off.
Statistically speaking, 1 in 10 people (and I think this stat is a bit low) is queer. Just think for a second, how much less terrifying, painful and isolating it would be for those 1 in 10 to come out and to be at home in their own skin, if we just stopped indoctrinating everyone that straight is the only choice out there?
"Ooooooooh look at those eyes.... he's going to break all the girl's hearts"
"Fathers, lock up your daughters!"
"All the girls must be after you little man!"
"Want to be my daughter's boyfriend?"
If I had a dollar for everytime someone said this to or about my son, I would be a rich, rich woman.
First of all. My son is two. He's not allowed to date yet, okay? (and besides which, it's just plain weird that we talk about two year olds in such a sexualized manner).
Secondly, he hasn't decided if he's straight yet. When he lets us know, I'll let you know.
Thirdly, whether he's gay or straight or somewhere in between, he's likely going to be breaking everyone's hearts, cause he's so freaking cute.


text:
Apprenticeship in Site Carpentry NVQ Level 2 Diploma
Course Outline:
An apprenticeship is the best way of starting a career in construction. It enables you to learn, work, earn and get qualified all at the same time, by combining college training with on site experience. An apprenticeship framework is based around an NVQ (National Vocational Qualification and Diploma).
These qualifications are developed, approved, and designed to measure your practical skills and job knowledge by assessing your work on-site. Achievement of this qualification provides opportunities to progress to further qualifications and training such as:
Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Wood Occupations – Site Carpentry, Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Occupational Work Supervision. For information on grants, please contact Construction Training Specialists Ltd.
As part of your apprenticeship you will also:
- Work towards your Level 2 Diploma in Site Carpentry
- Work towards your NVQ Level 2 in Site Carpentry
- Work towards your Functional Skills (if required)
- Work towards the Employer Rights and Responsibilities qualification (ERR)
- Work towards your Personal Learning Thinking Skills (PLTS)
Mandatory Units:
(credit value: 10) Units required:
- QCF641 Conforming to General Health, Safety and Welfare in the Workplace
- QCF642 Conforming to Productive Working Practices in the Workplace
- QCF643 Moving, Handling and Storing Resources in the Workplace
Optional Units:
(credit value: 52) Units required: 3
- QCF09Av2 Installing First Fixing Components in the Workplace
- QCF10Av2 Installing Second Fixing Components in the Workplace
- QCF11v2 Erecting Structural Carcassing Components in the Workplace
- QCF12v2 Maintaining Non-structural Carpentry Work in the Workplace
- QCF628v2 Setting Up and Using Transportable Cutting and Shaping Machines in the Workplace
Download our Apprenticeship Prospectus here:


text:
Greener Results
Going green is just as much about your organization's image as it is about the environment. In addition to providing you with tools to reach your goals, we can get you the recognition you deserve.
The push to "go green" has never been stronger. Your customers will appreciate anything that you do to help the environment – all you have to do is let them know about it! Internally, your employees will also value your company's environmental commitments. We will work with your marketing staff to help put the appropriate "spin" on your products and services. In addition, opportunities abound for public recognition and awards through local, state, and federal voluntary programs. Greener Results knows how to help you get credit for your environmental efforts!
- Green Communications
Green CommunicationsEndeavor can be used by anyone in your organization. With the ability to manage user roles, you can have facility managers, management, and top level executives using the same system. Even better, the system is intuitive, making it easy to navigate for employees at all levels.
- Endeavor Showcase
Endeavor ShowcaseEndeavor comes fully loaded with the tools you need to integrate your environmental program, track progress, and qualify success. From waste stream tracking modules, to facility participation indices, there's more cool features than you can shake a stick at.
- Green Tourism Services
Green Tourism ServicesGreener Results provides green consulting services to many clients in the tourism industry and has developed a wide array of services to support the needs of our clients. Greener Results specializes in the development of voluntary environmental programs for the hospitality and tourism industry. Greener Results also administers a green hospitality program for restaurants and hotels in partnership with Virginia Tech. Click here to read more about our Green Tourism Services which include:
- Green Tourism Program Development & Management
- Hospitality Services
- Restaurants
- Education & Training
Greener Results works with seasoned experts in each of our service offerings. Click here to learn more about our Green Tourism team.


text:
What the hell people!
No pun intended but the whole entire gun control debate is such a loaded gun from top to bottom. If you tell people you're against gun control, they'll just start frisbeeing pictures of dead people at you until you die of a thousand paper cuts. If you tell people you're for gun control, they'll pull a gun on you and challenge you to defend yourself with the gun that you just voluntarily gave up. I mean, I'm pretty torn on the whole debate myself. On the one hand, if a dude with a gun broke into my home, I'd definitely like to have a gun to defend myself with. On the other hand, I'm not sure how comfortable I am with a crazy dude whose nickname in high school was 'Banana Bread Brian' being able to get a gun as easily as I can.
Despite my own inability to pick a side, some students at University of Texas at Austin have taken a staunch stand against the school's new campus carry rules. How are they protesting? By carrying around dildos under the banner of the 'Cocks Not Glocks' campaign.
Read more here


text:
- Oral presentation
- Open Access
HTLV-1 infection of Humanized SCID mice recapitulates Adult T-cell Leukemia/Lymphoma (ATLL) development
© Banerjee et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2009
- Published: 24 September 2009
- Cancer Stem Cell
- Human Stem Cell
- Viral Reservoir
- Proviral Integration
- Tax1 Expression
Human T-lymphotropic virus type-1 (HTLV-1) is the etiologic agent of Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL), an aggressive CD4+/CD25+T cell malignancy. The early molecular events induced by HTLV-1 infection as well as the role of various viral genes in the induction of leukemia remain unclear, predominantly due to the lack of an animal model that recapitulates ATLL development. We have previously demonstrated that HTLV-1 is capable of infecting human hematopoietic progenitor and stem cells (CD34+HP/HSCs) and that infection of CD34+HPCs has dramatically different biological effects in comparison to infection of mature T lymphocytes. To determine if HTLV-1 infection of CD34+HP/HSCs recapitulates leukemogenesis in vivo, human hematopoiesis was reconstituted in NOD/SCID mice by injection of human CD34+HPCs infected ex vivo with HTLV-1. Humanized NOD/SCID (HU-SCID) mice infected with HTLV-1 (HTLV-1-HU-SCID) consistently developed CD4+CD25+T cell lymphomas with clinical characteristics associated with ATLL at ~10 weeks post-reconstitution and show significantly elevated levels of HTLV-1 infected human CD4+T cells in the thymus, mesenteric lymph node, spleen and peripheral blood. Lymphoma cells successfully engrafted in naïve NOD/SCID mice when injected into the peritoneal cavity and maintain the expression of viral proteins, gp46env and p19gag. Moreover these infected mice showed hyperproliferation of infected human stem cells (CD34+CD38-) in the bone marrow suggesting that HP/HSCs represents viral reservoir target cells which maintain HTLV-1 infection for extended periods of time in vivo. We speculate that HTLV-1 infection of hematopoietic stem cells establishes a virally-infected ''cancer stem cell'' which subsequently gives rise ATL in patients. Notably, CD34+HPCs isolated from HTLV-1 infected patient PBL demonstrate proviral integrations, suggesting that these cells harbor infection in humans. CD34+HPCs transduced with a lentivirus vector expressing the HTLV-1 Tax gene (Tax1) also results in CD4+/CD25+T cell leukemia/lymphoma in HU-SCID mice, suggesting that Tax1 expression is sufficient for lymphomagenesis. HTLV-1 infection of humanized NOD/SCID mice represents a novel in vivo model which recapitulates viral lymphomagenesis and provides a compelling system to investigate and characterize molecular events in human stem cells in the initiation and progression to ATLL.
Authors' Affiliations
This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd.


text:
Wow! If I had a dusting cloth to run over my blog right now it would probably come out quite dirty..
So sorry blog followers… if you're still out there..
It's been quite awhile since I've blogged.
I'm not going to do some 2013 promise though to write more blogs.. because you know what.. I'm human and I probably won't keep up with it as much as I should, but I am going to try.
How was your Christmas? Did you have a great time with family and eat tons of wonderful food?
Mine was really nice.. we had some new additions to our family that joined us, which made it really nice, and had, in general, a very lazy Christmas day.
My hubby surprised me with this little gem..
Wasn't sure if I was going to actually use it all that much, but I'm REALLY loving it now.
Still need to add more books and magazines to it to actually use the 'reader' part of it, but I'm loving the games..
Words with Friends and Diner Dash are my new addictions.
Beyond that, not much new here.
Hope you are doing well and will stick around with me for 2013!!
Happy New Year!


text:
off the pedestal
I've been away from this space for a while. Yes, I was busy, but raise your hand if you think the word "busy" is meaningless. That's not what I'm writing about today.
Instead, it has taken nearly a decade for me to learn that my creative rhythm (and my career as a whole) has two equal parts:
1. Exploration, experimentation and outreach
2. Production, focus and introspection
I continually move back and forth between the two. Sometimes it happens within a single day or week. In other cases, I go into one mode for months at a time – and that's exactly where I've been. Space #2: working, thinking and producing.
I used to fret about this perpetual opposition, but I've learned that it's entirely natural. I'm not going to apologize for anything – what I do, which projects I choose, or how I operate. To be blunt, I don't care what my career looks like from the outside.
Instead, I value relationships, experiences, improvement, learning, humility, failure, strength, and satisfaction. That's what matters, and the last several months have overflowed with all of the above.
I've also learned another huge and highly liberating lesson in recent weeks. Maybe it sounds familiar to you, too.
When you're lucky enough to build a career around a talent and deep love, it can take you in some unexpected directions – namely, you often use your skills in ways that don't uphold the fantasy. Maybe you apply your drive to real-world problems instead of fiction. You sweat through stuff that won't hang in a gallery or live between book covers. But that quiet, behind-the-scenes work isn't any less valuable.
The soft-focus version of creativity worships sleek offices, inspirational mornings, curated lives and clothes and spaces, and the idea that art is 100% pure. It's tucked up on a pedestal, safe from the grit of money and time, confusion and exhaustion. If you work (and I mean really work) to pursue a craft, you know the difference between reality and the romantic cultural filters.
Don't get me wrong; I love that everyone is creating and sharing such gorgeous images. Glossy blogs, pins, articles and photos provide endless inspiration and a stimulating daily escape. They celebrate the everyday beauty in this world. Elevating only camera-ready creativity to a mental (and public) pedestal is problematic, though, because it can diminish the joy that lies in everything else you do. You know, all your other work.
I used to think that I was failing if I didn't have an independent side project on the go. But the past several months of focused production have revealed that it's all creative. It's all valuable. I truly love what I do – from technical, corporate writing to journalism to editing and everything in between. It's honestly a joy and a privilege. Each project feeds the next and teaches me something startling and new.
Where have I been? Learning to lose the soft focus, and if you're worried about how your art "looks," I encourage you to do the same.
Work how you want. Live how you want. Creativity and true satisfaction can flourish in the most unexpected places.
2 Responses so far. Add Your Own.
Love hearing from you! Thank you for sharing these thoughts…they're going to stick with me today as I work.
Thanks, Megan! You exemplify this attitude in your own work as well.


text:
Artist's description:
From an ongoing project titled 'Polarised Soul', 'The Before And After' was shot in 2015 with a vintage Polaroid Image Elite (also known as a Spectra) camera, using expired PZ600 UV+ film by The Impossible Project. This is not a digitally manipulated image...the effect was created entirely with the film, in the camera. The original Polaroid photograph has been scanned to create prints.
From time to time I release small editions of photographs from another, very personal, strand of my work. This strand incorporates themes of sensuality and sexuality, intimacy and objectification, voyeurism and fetishism, fluid moralities and new paradigms. The images are deliberately lo-fi, raw and visceral. Often darkly conceptual, sometimes darkly erotic. These images deal in the convergence, divergence and intersection of perception and reality, with an uncompromising aesthetic and a blurring of lines between intimacy and detachment.
The edition size is 7. Printed on gallery-quality fine art paper with a wide border for mounting/framing. Signed and numbered on the front in the border, and coming with a certificate of authenticity.
Sold unmounted/unframed. Please get in touch if you wish to discuss mounting and framing options.
Also available as a 20x16 inch print from an edition of 10, and a 40x32 inch print from an edition of 3. Please contact me for pricing and availability of these.
Materials used:
Gallery-quality archival fine art photographic paper
Featured by our Editors:
The Before And After - 1/7 - 30x24in Unmounted (2015)
Photograph by Justice Hyde
- Photograph on Paper
- From a limited edition of 7
- Size: 34 x 28 x 0.1 in (unframed) / 30 x 24 in (actual image size)
- Signed and numbered certificate of authenticity
- Style: Photorealistic
This artwork is sold by Justice Hyde from United Kingdom


text:
Drink Time: Enjoy The Under-Rated Apple Martini
This is a cocktail with a kick and addictively delicious. I have to say it is enormously useful as a quick shot of party spirit before you go to someone else's party. I always feel better the next day, having a stiff drink before and water (sparkling rather than still but, hey, let's live a little) during a party. Although it is a sour apple martini, at home I refer it only as Kryptonite. The lurid green is quite something. I've given quantities per glass simply because it's better made up glass by glass and you can hand them round to your guests as they request them. I wouldn't want to make these for a huge roomful of people, but they are perfect as a way of helping those who've hot-footed from the office and are weary with the working day unwind at the beginning of a dinner party.
In a martini glass, combine the vodka or gin over lots of ice, and add the liqueur and syrup.
Slice a segment of apple removing any core. Cut a nick in the bottom of the slice horizontally, and slip it onto the edge of the glass.
1 shot vodka or gin
1 shot sour apple liqueur
1/2 shot Monin Green Apple syrup
Granny Smith apple slice, for garnish


text:
MOVIE: ***1/2 (out of 5)
BLU-RAY EXPERIENCE: ***1/2 (out of 5)
Vin Diesel as DOMINIC TORETTO
Paul Walker as BRIAN O'CONNER
Dwayne Johnson as HOBBS
Jordana Brewster as MIA
Michelle Rodriguez as LETTY
Tyrese Gibson as ROMAN
Sung Kang as HAN
Gal Gadot as GISELE
Ludacris as TEJ
Luke Evans as SHAW
Elsa Pataky as ELENA
Gina Carano as RILEY
Studio: Universal
Directed by: Justin Lin
For me, the "Fast & Furious" franchise is like the acting career of Justin Timberlake. I wasn't particularly wild about where it started, but I do like where it's going. Who knows, in a couple more films, I might be a die-hard fan.
You see, I was never wild about the original trilogy. The first film was fine, but far too macho and muscle-flexing for my tastes. The second film was terrible, which is what happens when someone like Tyrese Gibson takes the lead hero reigns from someone like Vin Diesel. "Tokyo Drift," which is the greatest departure for the franchise, was downright awful and an embarrassment, in my opinion.
Heck, even when "Fast & Furious" came out four years ago, I wasn't wild about it. I liked the return of the "original parts," but Justin Lin still had some growing up to do in terms of storytelling and maturing from an adolescent fantasy film. The series didn't really start to gel until "Fast Five," when it pretty much abandoned the outlaw street racing angle and decided to become a bizarre spy flick.
"Fast & Furious 6" is easily the best of the franchise and the most fun. Also, unlike "Fast Five," its leaps in logic feel more genre related than just dumb decisions by dumb characters.
And then there's the action. I can't dispute the awesomeness of the safe chase at the end of "Fast Five," but things were stepped up quite a bit in "Fast & Furious 6" with a one-two punch of solid action set pieces, one including a tank and the other including a plane.
This installment of the franchise picks up at the end of "Fast Five." Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) tracks down Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) and convinces him to help take down an international arms dealer name Shaw (Luke Evans). The bait for this is the revelation that Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) is still alive. Toretto assembles his team, and they go on a high-octane European race to take this guy down.
In a strange way, the things that would hold back a movie like this seem to be the greatest assets to it. There's an almost unmanageable number of characters in the film, but this works in its favor because there's very little time to reflect on how two-dimensional they are, with the focus shifting so much. There are a few diversions, including Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker) having to track down a former bad guy in jail, but I can excuse that, considering director Justin Lin was obviously kowtowing to the fans with that little bit.
There are the same problems in the film that bothered me when I saw it in the theater. The street racing sequences is painfully forced, just to get the shots of scantily-clad ladies dancing by cool cars. (Don't get me wrong. I'm a big fan of scantily-clad ladies, but these scenes are just getting old.) Some of the acting is terrible, particularly from our would-be Wonder Woman Gal Gadot, whom I've never liked in the franchise beyond her being easy on the eyes.
At least the acting vacuum of Tyrese Gibson is buffered with comic relief, and that makes things work.
In the end, "Fast & Furious 6" is a great action film and a lot of fun. It's fast food cinema, or should I say fast and furious food cinema?
The Blu-ray comes with an extended cut of the film, which has the same running time but features more graphic sound and a few scraps of dialogue. Exclusive Blu-ray features include the featurettes "Take Control," "Hand to Hand Fury," "Gearhead's Delight," "The Flip Car" and "Planes, Tanks, and Automobiles."
Features also included on the DVD comprise deleted scenes, feature commentary with Lin and two featurettes: "On the Set with Vin" and "The Making of Fast & Furious 6."
There's also a bittersweet sneak peek at "Fast & Furious 7," which has been forever altered due to the untimely death of Paul Walker. I'm not sure how this will work into the final film, but being that it takes place at Han's funeral, it's a bit rough to watch Walker and Gibson's characters comment on how there has already been too much death. That's sad to watch now.


text:
Sculpture in Light and Sound
Sarah Beth Goncarova is an artist whose visually striking, resonant works explore the balance between the natural and technological landscape. Her art ranges from experiential sculptural installation, using optoelectronics, haptics, and sound, to social practice art, painting, and time-based performance. Trained as a musician, sculptor and architect, she has broadened her scope into such fields as robotics and cytology. Goncarova challenges the conventional role of art in 21st century society, recasting the artist as visionary and innovator.
Combining natural materials with sensors and circuitry, Goncarova skillfully creates magical worlds of light, shadow, sound and silence. Her fantastical environments reveal themselves to the curious, offering a plethora of sensory delights, leading to moving reflections on our primordial relationship between inner and outer landscapes.
For her installation "Cherry Blossom" she built a life-sized cherry blossom tree that senses and amplifies the viewer's heartbeat through pulses of sound and light. For her jellyfish project, Goncarova created colorful hypnotic dances of swimming robotic jellyfish, redefining code as choreography. Her newest piece, "A Beacon for Pollinators Lost and Confused" will be installed October 2016. "Beacon" will in effect a homing device for pollinators affected by Colony Collapse Disorder.
This artist's constant experimentation with new technology and her visionary sense of beauty makes her work awe-inspiring to experience, engaging us visually and viscerally. Moreover, through co-opting technologies of male-dominated fields such as animatronics and artificial intelligence, she questions the absence of women in technology and reasserts women's place in innovation in the 21st century. Art enrichment workshops to introduce young artists (grades 5-7) to beginning electronics through art installation are currently under development.
Goncarova received a BFA in Sculpture and Extended Media from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a Masters in Architecture from the University of Maryland. Her paintings and sculptural installations have been exhibited at venues such as the Museo de Arte in Sinaloa, Mexico, the Espaco Cultural Sérgio Porto in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, the LuXun Academy of Fine Arts in Shenyang, China, and the A.I.R. Gallery at the DUMBO Art Center in Brooklyn, NY.
For inquiries about commissioning an installation, the art enrichment workshop or scheduling a studio visit, please write us at studio at goncarova dot com. For purchase information for paintings or sculptures, please visit: saatchionline.com/goncarova, barnebys.com, ugallery.com/goncarova, or works.io


text:
Cogglesford Watermill, in East Road, Sleaford, will be open this Sunday, August 13, for a milling day.
The mill which has been producing flour since the early 18th century will be open to visitors from 11am to 4pm.
Visitors will be able to see the water wheels turn the grain to produce wholemeal flour.
There will also be the chance to take home a bag of Cogglesford Watermill's very own flour on sale in the shop.
For details, visit www.cogglesfordwatermill.co.uk


text:
A Wild Tea Party is available for collaborations and affiliations with vintage or vintage inspired labels, as well as lifestyle and beauty brands. Please get in touch with me to discuss how we can work together to promote your business, or to access my media kit.
You can find me here:
Email: email@example.com
Instagram: awildteaparty
Facebook: A Wild Tea Party
Alternatively, let me know you love a post by leaving a comment. I love receiving your feedback.


text:
We are living in a post-apocalyptic renaissance (as opposed to a renaissance post-apocalypse, that would be entirely different). Our culture is completely and totally obsessed with its own demise. The last time we had this much content created about the end of civilization was the late 1970's – when we got zombie movies, tales of post-nuclear society, and a pervasive sense of maudlin resignation all because of a little fuel shortage and a tiny bit of urban decay.
Nowadays, we've moved past that to zombie television shows, post-nuclear video games and… Yeah, not much has changed. Welcome to Skyshine's BEDLAM. Right purty, ain't it?
BEDLAM (apparently it's intended to be shouted like that, at all times) looks like Mad Max, plays a lot like Fire Emblem, and thinks it's the bastard child of Borderlands and FTL. It's the first release from Skyshine games, a small studio made up of programmers and designers with a fairly eclectic background that includes both Darksiders games and the NFL Blitz series.
The setting is nothing new: our heroes are most recently residents of the last human city of Bysantine (misspelling is intentional. I think.) But, being the last city and all, Bysantine kinda sucks. So they're gonna fire up the party wagon, grab a 1000 "innocents" and try to take them to the promised land: a mythical city of peace and harmony known as Aztec City. Only problem is what lies between the departure point and the destination: the long, winding desert of hopelessness and violence known as Bedlam.
Like FTL, the player is given an upgradeable vehicle, in this case the world's greatest Honda Odyssey, and sent off into the endless nowhere. You eventually unlock other vehicles, which in turn unlocks new character classes as well. There are four resources: fuel (crude), food (meat), power cells, and people. Fuel keeps the car going, food keeps people alive, power cells help upgrade the home base or can be spent to use powers in battle. People are… people. Occasionally, they can be traded for the other three resources. Mostly they're just there to be kept alive since that's the point of the game.
But what happens if you run out of crude? You stop in your tracks and die. What about running out of meat? Well, the population starts dropping like a New Year's Eve countdown clock, and it's back to being dead again. Speaking of clocks, there is a game timer that tracks your progress. The longer you play, the tougher it gets – with valuables comes violence. That means each mission's haul needs to be weighed against the growing difficulty. People don't like you driving around and taking their stuff. Not even after the apocalypse.
Again, like its adopted step-cousin FTL, BEDLAM (BEDLAM!!!) is what's called a roguelike. The point of the game isn't necessarily to do well so much as do less bad than the last playthrough. There's no saving halfway in, then going back for a better result. No multiplayer, either. You're on your own out there, partner. Each session takes about 15-20 minutes, so players can start the journey into Bedlam, die, and then be right back in there fairly quickly. Unlike more recent roguelikes, like my beloved Galak-Z for instance, nothing carries over to the next game. You get what you get and you don't get upset.
The aesthetic is all Mad Max, at least on the surface. There's an endless desert, a search for fuel, and a lot of crazed mutants and desperate souls. In reality, though, the game is a much slower affair. Mad Max, for all it's post-gas economy, is a series about speed. Players will not be flooring the gas, leaping from dune to dune with the joie de vivre of a crazed maniac. BEDLAM (BEDLAM!?!?!?!) plods. It drags. The player's vehicle drives like that big trapezoid thing the Jawas used for transporting recovered droids on Tatooine. It rolls across the landscape like a 69-year-old grandfather on I-95, blissfully unaware that his turn signal has been flashing for miles.
This post-apoc-SUV comes fully loaded with space for soldiers, advanced weaponry, and twelve cupholders. Players can spend acquired power cells to upgrade their vehicle: improved crude/meat consumption, faster healing, or cheaper global powers – they can all be yours if the price is… acceptable. This is a nice balance and one of the better inflection points in the game. Do I blow it all now to improve my vehicle's crude consumption, or do I save my "money" and use it on a big ol' alcohol bomb during battle?
As fits the genre, the player will pick a location on the map and then make their way there. The map gives an idea of what might be found at each location, but there's little guarantee of what will actually be seen once your people arrive. Geography is procedurally generated each time, and the encounters the player will… ummmm, encounter are random as well. Somewhat. There just isn't a large enough bank of events to draw from, so once you've seen a few, you've pretty much seen them all. Sometimes there's nothing there, so you'll get nothing but a paragraph of flavor text. Othertimes there will be something, so you'll luck into some much needed resources. Most times you'll end up in a battle. The longer the expedition is out there, the more deadly the fight.
That's a shame. This is the meat of the game: eXploring an unknown, often deadly world, and if it feels like you've seen it all after a few playthroughs there's very little reason to come back. The optional side quests, which are marked on the map with a "!", promise to be little adventures where the player is given a choice and then some sort of result. The idea is that your foolhardy explorers are going off the beaten path to hopefully luck into something that will help them on their journey. That's not how it works in practice, however. It usually ends with a tantalizing but useless quest MacGuffin (a cyborg arm or a strange, maybe magical trinket) the player will never see the end of and a frustratingly small reward – or maybe no reward at all.
Each event pretty much goes like this: the group encounters an abandoned building, cave, etc. The game asks, do you want to push forward, yes or no? No normal human being answers "no," so it's like, "why did you even ask the question?" Depending on the scenario, the player will then either be rebuffed or rewarded. The side quests should be a tease, a test, a piece of cheese dangling just out of reach. Instead, the cheese is usually so rotted out, the player is better off just letting it hang there for a less-eXperienced mouse because each quest further advances the game clock and consumes resources.
So, the combat – the meat of the game. Here's where it feels like XCOM or, my personal fave, Fire Emblem. Players are told they'll be fighting one of four factions: mutants, cyborgs, rogue A.I. (robots), or marauders. Then they can choose their party members. Like XCOM, there are different classes with pre-generated, named characters to be chosen for an early, bloody death. This is actually the cruelest part of the game. You should feel like you're picking through your best and brightest warriors. Instead, it's more like you're the executioner – who wants to die today?
There are the standard options of low damage/high health tanks, low health/high damage glass cannons, and a couple of middle of the road classes. Each adventure begins with four soldiers per class, and you can rename them if you like watching your friends and loved ones die. They will all die, eventually, and that's yet another way to lose the game, but let's not dwell on that too much.
The player sends out teams of up to six, but mostly will want to stick to four, at most, due to the limited number of actions available in battle. I'll explain below. Plus, leaving slots open grants an extra bonus: double the rewards in terms of power cells, crude, or meat if at least one soldier survives. Finding the combination of classes that works for you will be a matter of trial and error, but you'll definitely find some builds better suited to your playstyle than others.
After you pick your squad, they're dropped onto the battlefield. As mentioned, the maps are randomly generated. The enemies and player units are randomly placed. The sniper (called a deadeye) could be lined up to kill everyone in sight without so much as moving. On the other hand, the squad might find itself on the far side of nowhere except for one, soon-to-be-dead sucker surrounded by enemies.
Each side gets two actions per turn. This is very limiting, which also makes it the most interesting part of the game. We're used to each character getting a turn or even a series of turns. Here, not so much. This removes a lot of the benefit in quantity over quality. There's never enough points to move/attack with everyone. You can't just "blow" a move either. Actions are the game's most precious resource, and the game rewards careful thinking. Players should be looking at the range of their enemies. They should be racing for cover to greatly increases the chance that enemies will miss. Correct play involves considering what kinds of baddies are on the battlefield and how to counter them appropriately.
Except the game doesn't exactly reward thinking either. Hang around too long and the "blitz-o-meter" will fill, giving the opposition a "blitz" bonus: a chance to use three actions instead of two and also cover a key unit with a damage-reducing shield for one turn. Each enemy type also gets a special action. A.I.'s can teleport anywhere on the field. Mutants get tougher each turn. Marauders can throw grenades. It sounds all tactical and fun, but the reality is that all of this is there to cover for one glaring issue: the AI doesn't know how to play its own game. Time and again, the enemy will make poor, almost inexplicable decisions that can only be disguised by using its special powers to cheat. A mutie will just casually wander right into a soldier's line of sight for reasons unknown, but not to worry! It'll just take its three-turn round and kill 'em all anyway. Instead of feeling like you're beating an unstoppable enemy or a tactical mastermind, each encounter is like playing a six-year-old in checkers. If he doesn't like the result, he just flips the board over and marches out. Even when you win, you lose.
Player characters get powers as well: +2 to health, shields that reduce damage, and bombs that won't clear the field, exactly, but will make enemies confused and aggressive. Just like grandma. These abilities cost power cells, but so long as there are resources, they can be spent. These special abilities are usually underpowered and overpriced. Players may find a more powerful weapon on one of those aforementioned sidequests – stuff that allows teleportation or makes the crew invisible for a round. However, it's rarely something that will turn the tide of battle and, again, will cost more power cells than the player could ever collect.
Hey, no one said that crossing the great sunburnt desert would be easy. No one said it would be fair, either. Fun? Oh, sometimes it's fun.
When a gunslinger gets up to veteran status and starts grinding enemies into so much hamburger, that's fun. When you defeat a boss in combat and he joins the squad, vomiting yellow, flesh eating bile onto enemies, that's fun. When you watch the game almost unintentionally tell a story of hope and heartbreak… that's what makes these games great. A loss is almost better than a win, y'know, once the player calms down and make sure their mouse still works after it bounced off the wall.
A lot of times, though, BEDLAM (BED… LAM!!!!) is not fun. It feels like something that aimed for fun, but missed. Players aren't making tough decisions, weighing options, and patting themselves on the back for a clever solution. Instead, they're sort of following the meandering path, clicking where the game says to. Sometimes, the game doesn't even bother to pretend to be messing with you. Click a choice to attack someone and it responds, "Nope, pick another option." Really? If you didn't like my choice, game, why'd you bother to ask?
The tactical battles, rather than rewarding intelligent, well thought-out decisions, seem to be best accepted as a random, Russian roulette-style minigame. Sometimes the heroes will win. Most times they won't. The best-laid plans will almost always just get you laid out.
So is it worth the toll to enter BEDLAM (BE… oh, you get the point)? Right now, probably not. Still, it's early in the game's lifecycle, and this is the sort of game we've seen transform over time. It's possible that Skyshine intends to lavish the game with upgrades, add more variety in quest results, improve the AI, etc., though as a new company, they have no track record for us to follow. The good news is, the game is remarkably clean. Not a bug or crash was encountered in all my hours of play.
Perhaps – if this is your kind of genre or your kind of game – you'll want to travel with these fellows and hope for the best. There are the pieces of a great experience here, it's just far too short on resources to be a sure thing for the finish at this juncture.
Sadly, as the long days of travel through Bedlam (and BEDLAM) have taught me, those kinds of relief are often too far and few between.
Note: Skyshine has recently announced a patch for BEDLAM. It looks like they're tweaking the battle system, making it harder in some ways and easier in others, though it's impossible to say how much this will help or hurt things. It does not appear to address some of my larger concerns, but regardless, it's a good sign that they're invested in making their game better.


text:
One of the biggest non-stories at
We tried to track him down and get some coverage of his non-journey for our readers, but like
Turns out the Sports Guy had a pretty miserable (and all too typical) WSOP ME experience. No need to summarize, you can read it here. And since you'll read it here, there's also no need for us to get all "nerd" on you by breaking down the many facets of this article that are wrong and misguided.
Which is a shame. Because typically the Sports Guy is spot-on with his opinions. And had he made any sort of run in the WSOP, it would've made a great story to cover and an even better one to read from his perspective.
Unfortunately though, all we have is this, which just sounds like a bunch of sour grapes and is really a lousy way to end a Friday…except we'll have a


text:
Starting At $17.91
• Size: 2.5 inches x 9 inches
• Fits: Pre-Rolled and Syringe
• Smell Proof, Waterproof
Ask us how we can help grow your business with wholesale pricing and full customization options, including packaging!
Free Shipping on Orders Over $250, within the U.S.
Royal Supply stands behind the quality our products and most importantly the satisfaction of our customers. Learn more about our guarantee below.
Build your brand identity with customized batteries, containers, and cartridges.
Royal Supply produces durable and high quality Mylar Bags which are perfect for storing your Medical or Recreational products. If you are looking for a cost efficient way to store your medical or recreational products, these durable and versatile bags are great substitutes for traditional flower containers. These Mylar Bags are designed to be airtight and moisture resistant to maintain product freshness and reduce odor. We offer different sizes to suit your specific needs. Our Mylar Bags are BPA free and made of FDA-approved material.
100, 1000
Black/Black, Silver/Silver, Black/Clear
There are no reviews yet.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Your Rating
Not that bad
Very Poor
Your Review *
Name *
Email *
CAPTCHA Code*


text:
Yamaha Motor is part of one of the most prestigious motor shows in the world -- the 44th Tokyo Motor Show 2015 – where has brought an orchestra of concept and production models including motorcycles, scooters, electrically power assisted bicycles and Leaning Multi-Wheelers (LMW), as well as a Recreational Off-highway Vehicle (ROV), an automobile and an autonomous motorcycle-riding humanoid.
Visitors to Yamaha's booth will be treated to the company's "growing world of personal mobility" as fused by the Yamaha product development ideal of Jin-Ki Kanno. With around 20 models to showcase -- including six global debuts and one Japan premiere – it's clear why its booth carries the theme: "Resonate.
The Yamaha Motor Product Orchestra." Playing true to the theme, Yamaha's booth features the image of a symphony hall in which Yamaha's mobility products and musical instruments resonate like an orchestra.
Among the concepts in display are the LMW - MWT-9, Sports Ride Concept, Motobot Ver.1, Resonator125 and the YPJ-MTB Concept.
First off, the LMW-MWT-9 is being developed under the concept of a "Cornering Master."
The MWT-9 features a liquid-cooled 4-stroke 3-cylinder 850 cc DOHC engine mounted on its well-styled body. Thanks to twin front wheels and a bank angle maximized by the outward positioned front suspension forks, the MWT-9 boasts of superb cornering ability perfect for twisty roads with different road surfaces and successive tight corners.
On the other hand, the Motobot Ver.1 is an autonomous motorcycle-riding humanoid robot. Yamaha's R&D is aiming to develop a robot that could ride an unmodified motorcycle on a racetrack at speeds of over 200 km/h.
This is not a simple mission, since controlling the complex motions of a motorcycle at high speeds needs a variety of precise and accurate control systems. Yamaha intends to use the technology and expertise from this project to create advanced rider safety and rider-support systems.
Yamaha's Sports Ride Concept, meanwhile, blends the active feeling of riding a motorcycle, or "Live and Ride," into a vehicle with typical sports car proportions.
It also features the iStream process – a Formula One-rooted process developed by Gordon Murray Design Limited for producing lightweight and rigid vehicle structures -- just like the MOTIV that was showcased at the 43rd Tokyo Motor Show 2013.
For this concept, Yamaha paid attention to high-quality details, taking inspiration from the Elementarism art style for its design.
Measuring 3,900 mm in length, 1,720 mm in width and 1,170 mm in height, the Sports Ride Concept weighs around 750 kg and could seat two persons. Notably, the YPJ-MTB Concept is basically an electrically power-assisted mountain bike featuring high-performance bicycle with an electric motor.
This concept is designed for people who love riding bicycles but don't want to worry about the terrain. Riders could use the power derived from the electric motor to adapt to any situation, like when there's a need to have a fast start, accelerate to a higher speed, climb a higher terrain or travel over longer distances.
Powering the YPJ-MTB Concept's 250W brushless electric motor is a large-capacity 400 Wh Lithium-ion battery. This concept also features a multi-function instrument panel. The YPJ-MTB Concept aims to redefine the positioning and functions of electrically power-assisted bicycles from the world of easy bike riding to the realm of sporty recreational riding.
Meanwhile, the Resonator125 concept model offers a sport bike for young individuals who are new to the world of motorcycle riding. It features an instrument panel assembly that uses an innovative device while sitting on a lightweight, slim and compact chassis.
It also sports wood panels on the fuel tank as well as seat cowl with authentic wood grain material. The Resonator125 concept also has engravings on the muffler, fuel tank cap and more – employing techniques used in engraving brass wind instruments. This concept is powered by air-cooled four-stroke 125 cc single-cylinder engine.


text:
Schwarzenegger loves to talk about how concerned he is about climate change. And talk he does — mostly at meaningless press events like the Governors Climate Summit. But when it comes to, you know, actually doing his job, he's decided that he'd rather side with the wingnuts in his party.
A couple of hours ago, he vetoed SB 406 (DeSaulnier), which would have provided funding for the smart growth bill that the Legislature passed last year by allowing regional planning agencies to raise the vehicle license fee by a confiscatory $1. You can read his veto message here: he claims disingenuously that the voters need to do this, which lacks any legal basis.
Earlier in the day, he vetoed Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg's bill to mandate 33% renewable portfolio standards, arguing that he had already mandated this standard via executive order. Once again, he's getting some lousy legal advice: an executive order is not law and can be unilaterally repealed by any future governor (say, Meg Whitman, who thinks that mitigating climate change is just too expensive).
A couple of weeks ago, I asked Schwarzenegger whether he is on the planet's side, or the Tea Partiers. We now know the answer.


text:
Tomorrow is Summer Solstice; we are entering the season of growth and maturation. My internal season has changed, rather like a flower tightly in a bud suddenly popping open I'm experiencing an internal summer. The birds are rejoicing outside and I am brimming with joy and anticipation as I await the arrival of my granddaughter.
It feels like the perfect time for a celebration of who I am becoming and the lessons learned along the way.
When I first heard about my eldest daughter's pregnancy, I had just started this journey. I didn't write about it. There was plenty for me to process. Fear for my daughter bringing a child into the world on her own. Shame also bubbled to the surface, although I quickly moved through this, with the almighty realisation that this shame didn't belong to me. It wasn't shame for my daughter but for what I had put my own parents through several decades ago when I too became unexpectedly pregnant. I become acutely aware of a couple of patterns running deeply along my maternal line. Patterns that I've carried ancestrally, curiosity led me to notice similar patterns going back to my maternal great grandmother and who knows beyond that. I wasn't prepared to place this projection onto my daughter it wasn't my business to do so.
Anyone who has been following my daughters blog https://unconventional-moi.tumblr.com/ will already know that she is an amazing young yet, wise woman.
Likewise with my son, I've needed to totally release him. Cut any cords that were binding us and learn how to transform the duality of fear into love with loving kindness and compassion.
I had no idea back in the autumn when I permitted myself to explore the depths of my inner winter using this blog as a tool for contemplation and enquiry to explore the next phase of my life that this is what my soul would reveal. I've grown, wilder and wiser.
Throughout that process, I have cleared, shed, emptied, removed and let go of many unhealthy patterns; co-dependency, enabling, rescuing and giving way too much of my time and energy and instead replenishing myself with new thoughts, beliefs and possibilities about who I am becoming.
I am grateful for all the experience as amongst them, dotted around there are always precious gifts if we are prepared to seek them providing opportunities to constantly learn and unlearn.
And with this, just like the flower in full bloom, I feel my inner power returning, Rather like I have fine tuned the frequency of a radio and discovering a new station. I feel more alive than I can remember for many years.
Things feel so much clearer almost as if I am looking down on life and can see the dots joining up. I'm learning to use my voice, not suppress it. Asking for what I want rather than deny parts of my existence.
As the sunshine inside radiates outwards I'm beginning to shine like a diamond, embracing each and every facet that totals me.


text:
Five Washington Elementary School sixth-grade students learning the ABCs of free enterprise were recognized May 15 as California state champions in the Stock Market Game, an online finance game that allows players to pick and choose their own stocks using virtual money.
Bringing a fresh perspective to investing, a five-member team from Efrem Lewis' sixth-grade class walked away with a virtual profit of $13,000 from an initial investment of $100,000, veering away from more traditional tech and health care stocks and focusing on smaller, niche companies such as party supply stores and chain restaurants.
"It's imperative that students have access to tools that will help them gain financial literacy," LUSD Superintendent Dr. Gudiel Crosthwaite said. "The Stock Market Game helps students prepare for their future, applying critical thinking and collaborative learning to achieve at the highest level."
Lewis used the Stock Market Game as a supplement to his classroom mathematics curriculum, enhancing the study of fractions, decimals and logical reasoning with a game that played out in real time. Lewis' class formed several teams of five to six students each.
Lewis' students, including the winning team – Aaliyah Jackson, Olivia Valadez, Amaya Padilla, Rebeca Lopez and Dayanara Lopez – had no experience in financial planning. Students not only had to invest wisely but had to work collaboratively through the team members' divergent views to form a consensus.
"This was a great experience for us because we learned about saving money and not just spending it on things you want," Padilla said. "I also liked learning new things about my classmates by what they wanted to invest their money into."
During the six-week game, students spent hours researching publicly owned companies available on the New York Stock Exchange, investing $100,000 of virtual money, monitoring those stocks every week to see how they had fared, then making a decision on how to move forward.
"The Stock Market Game helps students visualize the concept of mathematics," Lewis said. "Picking stocks is not merely numbers on a page and since it was a competition, all of the students wanted to show they could invest their time and money wisely. Honestly, the students did better than I did, and they won't let me forget it."
The Stock Market Game is a product of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) and seeks to prepare students from grades four to 12 for financially independent futures. Every year, more than 600,000 students in 50 states participate in the online competition.


text:
Richardson did not go easy on the party, assailing the Democratic-controlled Congress for its failure to accomplish more and calling on the party to win back people's confidence.
"That begins with proving that we're listening to them," he said.
"Look at the last twelve months. Not only are we still in Iraq, we still have the failure called No Child Left Behind. We still have 9 million children with no health insurance. We're still allowing this president to thumb his nose at the Bill of Rights. We're slipping into a recession," Richardson said. "And we can't even reject an attorney general who refuses to condemn torture."
You know, it's pretty hard to argue with any of that.
Richardson also chose the forum with the Democratic National Committee to attack Obama and Clinton for not committing to a full withdrawal from Iraq.
And, he said other candidates aren't talking about jobs enough. Between that and the recession comments, you can't argue with him for commenting on economic issues.
Obama repeated his claim to be the Democratic candidate who will rise above partisanship. He either still doesn't have enough better policy planks, or else Republicans in Congress haven't beat him about the head enough with 2x4 planks.
Edwards claimed Democrats in Congress have isolated themselves from the people.


text:
Easter was a ton of fun for me! We had a big family dinner so all of my mother-in-laws family came. We had turkey and lots of candies for dinner. We also had an Easter hunt for the little cousins. It was really fun to see and play with them. It's been a few months since we last had a big gathering like this. My mother-in-law got us Easter baskets filled with little gifts and candies. I love her so much for being so sweet. She always does little sweet things like that for us and I am so thankful to be living with her.
How Easter bunny came about was something I cannot comprehend. I only know that Easter is about Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead. I am so grateful for my Savior at this Easter celebration and I know that He died for the sins of the world. But He lives again and He conquered death. I am ashamed that I was too busy chasing the cousins around and eating turkey to seriously reflected on His sacrifice for me. I know that if I were the only one who sinned, He would have saved me and come for me alone. That's how much He loves me and each and everyone of us on Earth. My Savior rocks!! Please take 2 minutes of your precious time to watch the video below. It is so worth it! And if you feel a "burning in your bosom," I invite you to pray sincerely to ask if Jesus Christ is real and if He truly is the Savior of the world.
I have some photos of Easter to share and I will share it in the next post :)