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When Rainforest Expeditions started, no one knew where ecotourism would take us. In fact, ecotourism itself had yet to be truly defined and venturing into it was like taking a big step into uncharted rainforest. We did know, however, that if other people could be as excited as us about flocks of macaws, Giant Otters, and the Amazon rainforest, we had a fair chance at success.
The journey has been as exciting as it has been educational and has given us insight into every aspect of ecotourism. Most of all, we have discovered that ecotourism can actually work to improve the lives of local people and protect biodiversity at the same time. This fact makes us proud to be one of the top ecotourism companies in Peru and is also why we like to sponsor posts on our blog about ecotourism and sustainable tourism initiatives in other parts of the globe. If we can help protect biodiversity in the Peruvian Amazon by working with local communities, so can people in places like Nepal, Indonesia, and Uganda.
Liz Paipay (Photo credit:Perunature)
Native Girl (Photo credit: Perunature)
Ecotourism Supports Nature Preservation and Traditional Culturesby Will Weber, co-Founder and Director ofJOURNEYS International
While Rainforest Expeditions offers a superb experience of the Peruvian, Amazon, visitors who have enjoyed Tambopata and the local hospitality of Posada Amazonas can find similar exploration pleasures in the natural areas of Asia and Africa. Why have these kinds of experiences, collectively referred to as ecotourism, emerged in so many corners of the world? In other places, as in Peru, it first seemed incomprehensible to local people living a subsistence life at the forest's edge that foreign travelers would pay to see tiny birds, chaotic rainforest and the wildlife that threatens their crops and animals. But the realization that tourists bring money, medicine, education, jobs and other opportunities in their wake is changing attitudes and ultimately preserving natural ecosystems. Here are just a few examples fromJOURNEYS Internationaltrips around world where ecotourism models similar to Tambopata Research Center and Posadas Amazonas are enriching the lives of local communities, attracting travelers and preserving nature.
Uganda and Rwanda
Mountain Gorillas are endangered and confined to a shrinking habitat on the forested slopes of volcanoes on the borders of Uganda, Rwanda and The Congo. Through education, anti-poaching regulations, and encouragement of revenue-generating tourism the gorillas are being saved and thousands of people are experiencing better living standards. Revenue sharing splits the $500-750/day permit fees the governments charges to visitors. Some goes to the national government, while a significant portion goes to local communities at the edge of the parks where the gorillas live to pay for schools, clinics and community projects. Hundreds of people are employed as guides and guards, thousands work as tourist drivers and hospitality workers in the lodges and camps that serve tourists attracted by the gorillas and other features of the rich rainforest habitats.Learn more about gorilla tracking and peruse JOURNEYS FAQs.
Indonesia and East Malaysia
The Orangutan, the great red ape, is increasingly threatened with extinction in its natural habitats of Sumatra and Borneo. Ecotourism facilities like Camp Leakey in Indonesia and Sukau Rainforest Lodge in Borneo, East Malaysia, host international visitors, but also focus local and international attention on the value of saving rare species and their habitat. Aiding in the rehabilitation of injured and captive animals, the sites allow a close-up encounter for nature lovers, which in turn generates revenue and publicity to expand local education and habitat conservation efforts.
Nepal features exceptional natural, cultural, climatic and geographic diversity in a tiny country, but it also has a rapidly expanding population and dysfunctional government that threaten to overwhelm unique natural environments and the rare species they contain. Fortunately, naturalists andtrekkersseeking the rare animals of the high Himalayas and the rich lowland jungles have drawn attention to the natural wealth of Nepal and enabled the creation of a system of national parks and reserves which is resisting environmental impoverishment because tens of thousands of international tourists are paying millions of dollars with an expectation nature will be preserved. AroundMount Everest, the Snow Leopard is returning as their prey, species like Himalayan Tahr, Blue Sheep and Musk Deer, benefit from park protection. InChitwan National Parkdozens of nature camps and lodges ranging from budget to luxury host visitors hoping to catch a glimpse of tigers, leopards, one-horned rhinoceros and the hundreds of species of birds occurring here. Poachers and timber rustlers are clearly acting against the economic interests of the thousands of people benefiting from environmentally sensitive tourism.
Your trips to these areas and many others helps to preserve the wildest and rarest habitats on our planet. For more details about trips to the areas mentioned and others, seewww.JOURNEYS.travel.
Related articles
- How To Submit A Guest Blog Post To Rainforest Expeditions (perunature.com)


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I had been meaning to make apple prints with Bode ever since apples started falling mid-summer from our backyard tree. Well, the last of the apples finally fell last week, and so I knew the time had come that we needed to get this project done!
One of my favorite memories I have when I was a kid was making potato prints, and I remember doing them on white polyester fabric that had a thicker spongy quality. For this project too, I thought printing on fabric would make the end result a little more special than paper that one would typically think to use. Also the paint absorbs into the fabric to some degree making it less likely to smear and a neater choice overall. I had muslin lying around the house, so I mounted the fabric on foam core board, pulling it taut, and duck-taping it to the back of the board.
The materials we used were:
- apples sliced in half horizontally and vertically
- trays (the ones found in frozen food meals work great)
- folded paper towels to line the trays
- paint in the colors of apples (Green, Yellow, and Red)
- fabric-covered foam core
- Corn-cob holders (*these were great for picking up the apples, otherwise it gets messy quickly!)
Bode had fun dipping the apples and pressing them down on the fabric. At first I directed him to keep each apple into only one color paint and not mix them, but by the end I encouraged him to experiment, and the last print turned out to be my favorite with all the colors mixed.
Apple Print Number #1
Apple Print #2
Apple Print #3: My fave...

subset: commoncrawl


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About Real Christmas Trees
Each Christmas season, millions of trees are purchased from lots and tree farms across the world. Few realize that the use of decorated trees as the centerpiece of this joyous celebration is a relatively recent tradition in America. Most historians agree that the first decorated Christmas trees appeared in the U.S. in the mid 1800s. These trees were cut from natural stands of timber that surrounded the population centers of the time. As with most human tradition, the use of decorated Christmas trees evolved over the subsequent 150-year period to the production and distribution system that we know today.
The trees that grace our homes each year at Christmas are not newcomers to planet Earth. Most have been our neighbors for centuries, predating even the very first Christmas. So, where did these trees come from? How did we find them? Where do they grow? How do we grow more? And do we use them for things other than Christmas trees?
The answers to these questions and more can be found in the
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Although frequently taken for granted, trees share our lives in a most intimate way. They give us oxygen to breathe. Their wood insulates us from the cold, and protects us from the heat. They have helped us to build abacuses and accordions, barns and bridges, couches and carrousels, cisterns and sanctuaries. They have given us ships to sail the oceans and aircraft to fly the skies. Their paper helps us to teach and learn, to conjugate and congratulate, to dream and draw. And trees are a source of perfumes and medicines, solvents and polymers.
But this unavoidable relationship between humanity and trees is not as one-sided as it may seem. For our share, we propagate and cultivate. We classify and clone. In truth, the trees in our custody and care have flourished. Specific cultivars and varieties can be seen far beyond their natural ranges. And the abundance of individual plants has increased too. On the average, three new seedlings are planted for each tree harvested. In fact, some of the trees we grow are sterile hybrids. If not propagated by man, they would exist only once in nature.
Since we humans share so much else with trees, is it not fitting that we share Christmas too?
Written by Clarke J. Gernon, Sr., Shady Pond Tree Farm
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News | April 17, 2013
NASA Mars Orbiters Have New Project Managers
Dan Johnston is the new project manager for NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, and David Lehman is now project manager for NASA's Mars Odyssey.
Johnston has worked on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter mission from its inception in 2000, through launch in 2005 and during operations in Mars orbit since 2006. He was the mission's design manager during development. Later roles have included mission manager and, since 2010, deputy project manager.
Johnston, a Louisiana native, earned a master's degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas, Austin, worked in private-industry support of NASA space shuttle mission operations, and joined JPL in 1989. He lives in La Crescenta, Calif.
The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has returned more data than all other Mars missions combined, observing Mars' surface, subsurface and atmosphere in unprecedented detail and radically expanding our knowledge of the Red Planet.
"The project's major challenge is to balance the science that the mission is continuing with the needs for serving as a communication relay for rovers," Johnston said. "Keeping the orbiter in service is our number-one priority."
Lehman managed NASA's twin-spacecraft Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) Project from its inception in 2006 through the 2012 completion of its work orbiting Earth's moon.
Lehman's career has taken him from undersea to deep space. Before joining JPL in 1980, he was a U.S. Navy submarine officer. At JPL, his accomplishments have included managing NASA's Deep Space 1 Project, which tested 12 innovative technologies, such as ion propulsion and autonomous navigation, on its way to an asteroid flyby. Lehman holds a master's degree in electrical engineering from Colorado State University, Fort Collins. The New Mexico native now lives in Pasadena, Calif.
Mars Odyssey has been orbiting the Red Planet since 2001, began systematic science observations there in early 2002, and broke the previous record for longest-working Mars spacecraft in December 2010. The mission's longevity enables continued science, including the monitoring of seasonal changes on Mars from year to year, in addition to communication-relay service for Mars rovers.
Lehman said, "Odyssey is a major asset for NASA's Mars Program both for its science and as a relay. There is a lot of work being done by a lean team to keep it running smoothly."
JPL, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, manages the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and Mars Odyssey for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington. Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver, built both orbiters and partners with JPL in spacecraft operations for both missions.
For more information about the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, visit http://www.nasa.gov/mro . For more about Mars Odyssey, visit http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/odyssey .
News Media ContactJia-Rui Cook/Guy Webster 818-354-0850/354-6278
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
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In-depth analysis on Stratum Protocol and its known vulnerabilities
As mentioned in a previous article, Overt-AsicBoost allows to change 2 bits, the so called "version-rolling", in the nVersion field of bitcoin block header.
Recently Slush Pool announced through its website the release of mining service specification to use Stratum Protocol and in the meantime proposed as BIP the Stratum Protocol Extensions.
Stratum Protocol is essentially the getwork protocol evolution, created to support polled mining. In the past, with getwork, the block header was passed from the server to the client, without any transactions. The only way to modify the block was through the nonce value. The maximum that client could do was to try all the nonce values requesting more work from the server.
"Stratum Protocol was originally designed for lightweight Bitcoin client called Electrum. After its implementation, developers figured out how the protocol requirements are quite similar for bitcoin mining, so they started to reuse it as-is.
Technically Stratum is a line-based protocol using plain TCP socket, with payload encoded as JSON-RPC messages. That's all. Client simply opens TCP socket and writes requests to the server in the form of JSON messages finished by the newline character \n. Every line received by the client is again a valid JSON-RPC fragment containing the response.
There are good reasons for such solution: it is very easy to implement and very easy to debug, because both sides are talking in human-readable format. The protocol is unlike many other solutions easily extensible without messing up the backwards compatibility. As a bonus, JSON is widely supported on all platforms and current miners already have JSON libraries included. So packing and unpacking of the message is really simple and convenient."
Before of all, Stratum Protocol is a solution of HTTP situation:
HTTP was designed for web site browsing where clients ask servers for specific content, which means that in mining sector, HTTP communication is driven by miners asking for new mining jobs available to the pool servers.
In reality, between pool and miners, it is obviously that pool servers know much better what each individual miner should be doing or when miners need new mining jobs, without they spend time requesting news like it happens with HTTP, with Stratum Protocol it is possible control the communication in a more efficient way, swapping the role.
Secondly, Stratum Protocol is a solution for NTime rolling:
Technically for every received job from the server, a miner can modify only ntime and nonce. Usually, large miners can run through all possible values of the two fields in search of the solution. If a miner runs out of unique possibilities, they have to send a new request. Newer and faster miners make this easier to do by the month and bandwidth usage for a pool increases dramatically. Stratum solves this by giving the miners a few more fields which seriously increase the total possible solutions to a block.
The Third advantage is on Long-Polling:
When pools came into the game, people found out that they must decide between short polling intervals (=higher network load, lower stale ratio) and intervals, which don't overload network and servers, but lead to a much higher ratio of rejected shares. And long polling pattern was the answer. Long polling is a great way to achieve real-time updates using standard web technologies.
Always for the same reason as per HTTP, the standard web technologies create a lot of inefficiency as miners are requesting data that simply isn't there and servers have to maintain those connections as well for as long as mining happens.
The solution for such issues is related to the previous point about driving load by the server and not by thousands of (sometimes) strangely implemented miners, who are aggressively trying to reach the server.
Curious is the theory of "Hardening Stratum, the Bitcoin Pool Mining Protocol" , wrote and showed by Ruben Recabarren, famous Penetration Tester and SANS employee, where Stratum Protocol vulnerabilities are analyzed and solutions are created.
In particular way, the pool and the miners communicate over the Stratum protocol, to assign jobs and submit results (shares), Recabarren shows three kind of possible attacks building an "Adversary Model":
- Eavesdrop attack;
- Recover ISP Logs;
- Inject and modify the Stratum communications of victim miners.
Analyzing the attacks above, Ruben worked on two passive attacks called: StrapTap, where adversary can capture and access all Stratum packet information and ISP Logs, where adversary can only access packet time.
The solution required to get stronger Stratum Protocol has to consider:
Security: Protect against Stratum attacks and be resilient to attacks
Efficiency: Encryption of all Stratum Packets is inefficient & insecure
Adaptability: Minimal modifications to the Stratum Protocol
So, here we are with Bedrock, a secure and efficient extension of the Stratum protocol, introduced by Recabarren. Bedrock seeks to prevent adversaries from inferring the hashrates of miners, and to efficiently authenticate Stratum messages. Bedrock has 3 components, each addressing different Stratum vulnerabilities. The first component authenticates and obfuscates the job assignment and share submission messages. The second component secures the share difficulty notifications, and the third component secures the pool's inference of the miner's capabilities.
Slush Pool, the third biggest pool for hashrate distribution, strongly supports AsicBoost and Stratum Protocol Extensions, with the objective to reduce Bitcoin Mining costs and time and achieve fastly the block reward.
Remember, this block reward gained from the pool is proportionately distributed to each member of the pool based on each miner's hash contribution, it doesn't matter which individual miner mines the block.


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E. Armata, a fourth-generation family-run fruit and vegetable wholesaler located in the Hunts Point terminal market in the Bronx, NY, has been in business for over 100 years. Today, it is a tenant of major significance on the market and for its retail, wholesale and foodservice customers throughout the tri-state region.
Chris Armata, president of the company, told The Produce News that the major renovation project the firm started last April was completed in November.
"This was a major gutting and rebuilding from the ground up," said Armata. "And we started this project months before it was announced that Hunts Point had negotiated a seven-year lease extension with the city of New York. We undertook this project because we feel strongly that we need to supply our growers, shippers and customers with a facility that matches the quality of our produce and our service."
E. Armata has 21 units in rows A and C on the market, and a separate building adjacent to the market that is used for warehousing and tomato repacking. Its warehouse and refrigeration space alone accounts for over 60,000-square-feet.
Two years ago, E. Armata purchased the adjacent Albee Tomato Co. units 118, 119 and 120 on row A, increasing the company's unbroken chain from unit 111 to 120 on the row. E. Armata's four units on row C were renovated seven years ago.
"Like our previous units, the units on row A were very old, and so we decided to gut them completely and build a brand new facility from the ground up," said Armata. "We installed the most organized, efficient, temperature-controlled and spotless environment. The warehouses are sparkling clean and we feature a cold chain-compliant design to keep produce at the proper temperature."
He explained that the rear of the store has insulated and sealed doors, so when product is received it goes directly into the refrigerated facility.
The new warehouse features location markers and numbered doors and aisles to maintain total efficiency for its shippers and employees so that customers are serviced quickly and efficiently.
The multiple warehouses now feature state-of-the-art refrigeration and real-time inventory control.
"Our tomato repacking facility is impressive," Armata added. "It allows customers to pick the color and size of the specific tomato they desire. We are pleased and eager to present our expanded facilities to our customers as testament to our continued standard of excellence."
The company's new technology features traceability, truck routing and prompt delivery to ensure that produce is delivered fresh and in a timely manner from start to finish.
"We are also able to give our customers emailed bills as well as receive bills through our speedy accounting team," Armata noted.
Family owned and operated, E. Armata Inc. works directly with grower-shippers, and sells to smaller grocers, institutional and restaurant suppliers, wholesalers and larger retailers.
The Armata family is long established in the produce industry. It began in the late 1890s when Erasmo Armata operated at the fruit auction in lower Manhattan, eventually expanding it to the Washington Street Market. The company was among the early produce firms to move into the Hunts Point market when it opened in 1967.
In addition to Chris Armata, family members now working in the business include his brother, Paul Armata, vice president; Chris Armata's sons, Nicholas and Michael Armata, both sales representatives; and his daughter, Chelsea Armata, who handles human resources.
In the midst of this major renovation and rebuild project, E. Armata also paid special attention to bringing its website, www.earmata.com, up to date. The newly designed sight is easy to maneuver, and it provides a direct link to the company's YouTube video at http://youtu.be/xFP9uxTzwd8, which can also be linked to directly through the company's website.
The video features comments from the Armata family as well as some key staff members, and the enthusiasm shows through. But Armata said the enthusiasm is being expressed even by its customers when they see the newly built facility.
"Our customers' and other business associates' jaws drop when they see this newly renovated and rebuilt facility," said Armata. "It really speaks to who we are and how we feel about what we do. We handle the best fresh produce available in the world, and our facility reflects how precious it must be handled for the sake of growers, distributors, customers and end-users alike.
"In addition to our family staff members, we have an outstanding team who deserve a tremendous amount of credit for our success in the past and looking forward into our future," he added.


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NEA HIN Celebrates 25th Anniversary at the RA
Be sure to visit the Expo this year to help the National Education Association Health Information Network (NEA HIN) celebrate its 25th Anniversary. You'll find their booth in the Hall of Health where you can take a spin of the Wheel of Wellness and sign a giant anniversary card for NEA's health organization.
NEA HIN may be one of our association's best-kept secrets. The organization works behind the scenes to make our schools healthier, safer places to work and to learn.
It all started at the 1986 RA, after AIDS had emerged as a major health issue. One of the most insidious aspects of the disease was that the cause was unknown, and fear surrounding it and those who contracted it was intense. Ryan White, a 13-year-old public school student, became a symbol of the intolerance and fear. When Ryan, a hemophiliac, contracted AIDS from a blood transfusion, he was banned from school.
That's when NEA delegates took action.
They passed a New Business Item to educate members and students about HIV/AIDS and established NEA HIN as a 501(C) (3) organization charged with promoting the health of public education employees and students.
After bringing national recognition to NEA for our educational work about HIV/AIDS, NEA HIN began to offer additional programs and services. Over its 25 years of service, it has continually evolved and expanded to meet the changing health and safety needs of our schools and students.
Just this past year, NEA HIN:
- Worked with partners to feed 10,000 students breakfast in 83 schools with high percentages of students on free or reduced lunch via the Breakfast in the Classroom program;
- Partnered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to create a new food allergy resource for school employees and helped inform new CDC guidelines for pre-K through 12 schools. Once approved, those guidelines will be sent to every school district in the nation;
- Expanded work on indoor environmental quality, providing guidance and training to educators in 22 school districts.
"NEA HIN is proud to have helped improve the well-being of children and hard-working teachers and education support professionals across the nation," said NEA HIN Executive Director Jerry Newberry. "We are grateful for the support and leadership of our partners, the NEA HIN Board members, NEA President Dennis Van Roekel, and most importantly, the members of the NEA across the country. NEA HIN stands ready to meet the most pressing health and safety challenges in schools."
NEA HIN partners with for-profit, government, and non-profit entities to implement its programs. It also accepts individual donations directly or through making a donation.
2012 NEA Expo Slideshow


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Train Macon → Milan
Duration 5h25 - From שח134
- Departure station : Macon loche tgv ( )
- Arrival station : Milano p garibal (Piazza Sigmund Freud 20124 Milan)
Macon, the beauty of Burgundy is waiting for you The lovely city of Macon, known as Matisco when it was founded back to the 2nd century BC, is located in Burgundy (Southwestern part of France). It offers an impressive cultural heritage and provides beautiful landscapes. Learn more about Macon
Fashionable Milan might have shortcomings—but it's worth the trip
Milan, the second largest city in Italy Milan is a main Italian city and regarded as the fashion capital of Europe. Milan is also an transport hub for Italy. The city has an important stake in the finance, commerce, media and sport of Italy. Two of its football teams, Inter Milan and Milan AC, are known throughout the world. Milan is located in the north west of Italy and is home to a number of museums, designers factory shops, churches and other landmarks. Those who love street style would love the Navigli area. In Piazza XXIV Maggio, shoppers will find brands such Custo-Barcellona, Diesel, Miss Sixteen, Gas and Fornarina, alongside second-hand clothes shops, handmade clothes and accessory stores made from silk and other precious materials. The main railway stations of Milan are Milan Centrale and Milan Porta Garibaldi. The two stations are about 1.5 kilometres away from each other. Learn more about Milan
Book your journey from Macon to Milan From שח134
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Personnel Team provides a range of services including recruitment and policy, pay and pensions, occupation health and welfare and equal opportunities and has a number of professionally qualified staff and also clerical and administrative positions.
Attendance Management
As a 24hr emergency service it is essential that we have sufficient resources in the right place at the right time to ensure that this service can be maintained. Our attendance management section ensures that this is the case and deploys our firefighters to different locations as and when required. There are a number of clerical and administrative positions within this team.
Health and Safety
Firefighters use a wide range of equipment and are exposed to a number of different risks in their everyday work. Our Health Safety Department has professionally qualified staff to provide advice, undertake risk assessments, research issues as they arise and ensure that safe working practices are adopted across the workforce.
Firefighters are constantly training to ensure that they have the skills to do the job safely and that those skills are updated as new equipment and techniques are developed. Our other staff undertake training and development as required for their roles.
We have our own dedicated training and development team with professionally qualified staff and clerical and admin roles as well as a training centre in Croxteth where training is delivered not only to our own staff but also to commercial companies.
Estates and Building Management
We have 26 Fire Stations across the region, our Headquarters building in Bootie, Safety Training Centre in Croxteth and our Mobilising and Command, Control in Derby Road. Our Estates and Building Management Team plan all building work, assess repairs and manage the work done by external contractors.
Catering and Cleaning
A number of our establishments have catering staff and all our fire stations and other buildings have cleaning staff.
We employ a number of couriers to distribute mail and equipment between all of our Fire Stations, Headquarters and other buildings.
We have a procurement function with professional qualified employees who purchase everything that is required to equip a modern Fire and Rescue service from Fire appliances, firefighting equipment to uniform. They also manage all contracts from suppliers for all other requirements the Service has - from utilities to stationery. There are also administrative and clerical positions within the team.
We also have a large stores facility at headquarters from where items are distributed around the Services.
Strategic Planning and Management Information
The Service gathers a lot of information about the incidents we attend. It is vital that we collate, analyse and utilise this information to its maximum potential to allow us to identify trends and plan our resources and responses accordingly.
As a public service we also have to produce statistics to Central Government, Audit Commission and others agencies about how we perform in various areas.
Our corporate research team undertakes this role and has a large number of staff undertaking a range of analytical, data input and research roles.
Corporate Communications
There is a lot of media interest in what the Fire Service does and incidents that we attend and also need to publicise our fire safety initiatives as widely as possible. Like any organisation we need to communicate effectively with all of our staff and we have a website to provide information to the public.
Our communications department manages this and is staffed by professionally qualified staff as well as some admin and clerical roles.
Mobilising and Communications Centre (MACC)
MACC receive all 999 calls from members of the public reporting emergencies and other incidents. They are responsible for mobilising our fire appliances go to the correct address and maintain radio contact with crews to establish whether further resources are required. The need to know where all appliances are at all times so that they can respond to any situation as quickly as possible. MACC is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and MACC staff work similar shifts to firefighters.
We employ a wide range of Community Fire Safety Advocates to help achieve our aim of a fire safe community. Whilst our firefighters can carry out the majority of Home Risk Assessments there are communities and areas that require more resources and a targeted approach and as a result we have Bi-lingual Advocates, Older Persons Advocates, Disability Advocates, Arson Reduction Advocates, Deaf Advocates and District Advocates to assist with this work.
Marine Rescue Unit
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service took over responsibility for the Marine Rescue Unit (formerly know as Mersey Inshore Rescue Service) in 2005. Based on the famous Princes Landing Stage, at the Pier Head, a continuous 24-hour a day, 365 days a year service is maintained, providing a rapid and effective rescue service for all river users.
Admin and Clerical Positions
In addition to the specific roles highlighted above we have a number of secretarial, Data Input, Word Processor Operator, Reception, admin and clerical positions across many of our departments.
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text:
Postnasal drip occurs when mucus from the nasal passages and sinuses drains into the throat. If the mucus becomes thick, postnasal drip can cause problems such as a sore throat, laryngitis, a cough, bad breath, hoarseness, and sometimes wheezing.
A problem caused by postnasal drip often improves on its own, but if it lingers, it may need treatment with medicines.
Last Revised:
September 12, 2012
Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine & Donald R. Mintz, MD - Otolaryngology
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
To learn more visit Healthwise.org
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text:
After completing arguably its toughest stretch of the season, Maryland returns to Comcast Center Tuesday night for its final regular season ACC bout with Wake Forest at 7 p.m. on the Raycom Sports Network. Four of the Terrapins' final five games are at home, where they are 4-1 in ACC play.
Watch: Raycom Sports Network – Tom Werme (Play-by-Play), Dan Bonner (Analyst)
Listen: Terrapin Sports Radio Network – Johnny Holliday (Play-by-Play), Chris Knoche (Analyst), Walt Williams (Sideline); Sirius 108/XM 192
• Maryland has defeated Wake Forest in seven consecutive games dating back to 2011, which is tied for the longest stretch in the history of the series. The Terps hold a 69-56 advantage in the all-time series against Wake Forest, including a 38-18 mark at home.
• The Terrapins are three days removed from a heartbreaking loss to No. 8 Duke, as Charles Mitchell's game-winning bid rimmed out with less than two seconds remaining. Maryland held Duke – the nation's best 3-point shooting team – to just five 3-pointers on 20.8 percent shooting.
• After picking up three fouls and being held scoreless in the first half against Duke, junior Dez Wells roared back to score 17 points in the second frame. Wells is averaging 9.8 points on 53 percent shooting in the second half this season – compared to just 5.3 points on 43 percent shooting in the first.
• Head coach Mark Turgeon credited freshman center Damonte Dodd for his role in Maryland's second half comeback against Duke. Dodd played all seven of his minutes in the second half, and did well altering shots inside with his length.
• The Terrapins found success inside against Duke, outscoring the Blue Devils 40-24 in the paint. It is Maryland's highest point total in the paint in ACC play this season.
Maryland Falls to Duke in Heartbreaker
Jake Layman scored 18 points, Dez Wells added 17 and Charles Mitchell tallied 12 as Maryland fell to No. 8 Duke in a heartbreaker 69-67 on Saturday night. Wells had all 17 of his points in the second half for Maryland (14-12, 6-7).
Parker gave Duke the lead for good when his one-handed dunk over Damonte Dodd made it 68-67 with about 1:15 remaining.
Wells missed a jumper over Rodney Hood with about 50 seconds left. Duke milked the shot clock before Amile Jefferson missed a jumper that failed to draw iron, giving the Terrapins the ball.
The teams traded timeouts with 18.8 seconds left before Maryland worked the ball inside to Mitchell. He had one hook shot blocked by Parker with about 7 seconds left, and another shot tantalizingly bounced twice on the rim but would not fall through.
Scouting Wake Forest
Wake Forest (14-11, 4-8 ACC) has lost five consecutive games since opening conference play with four wins in seven games. The Demon Deacons most recently lost at home to Florida State, 67-60. They are 1-6 on the road, with the lone win coming at Virginia Tech.
The Deacons are exceptional at getting to the free throw line, leading the ACC in free throw attempts (656) and ranking second in free throws made (420) depsite shooting just 64 percent (14th in ACC). It presents an interesting matchup for Maryland, who is last in the league with nearly 20 personal fouls per game.
Codi Miller-McIntyre leads Wake Forest with 14.2 points per game, while Devin Thomas (the younger brother of Maryland's Alyssa Thomas) is averaging a team-best 7.8 rebounds.
Second Half Performer
Junior Dez Wells continued to display his ability to take over games in the second half, scoring all 17 of his points against Duke in the latter frame. In the two other contests he was held scoreless in the first half this season, he responded with second half outbursts of 17 points and 21 against Notre Dame and Miami, respectively. Take a closer look at Wells' splits:
1st Half 2nd Half
Avg. Points 5.3 9.8
FG Made 46 84
Not So Demon Deacons
Maryland has defeated Wake Forest in seven consecutive meetings – tied for the longest stretch in series history since the Terps took seven straight during a span from 2000-02.
The Terrapins have been dominant throughout the win streak, winning by an average margin of 16.7 points. The pair of teams met three times in 2013, with Maryland winning by double-digits in every meeting.
Included among the victories was a lopsided 86-60 win in Comcast Center on Feb. 2, 2013. Six Maryland players scored in double-figures for the Terrapins for the first time since 2011, led by 13 points from Logan Aronhalt.
The inaugual ACC meeting between the teams was on Dec. 5, 1953, when Wake Forest came away with a 71-54 victory in Winston-Salem. Maryland got revenge in the first ACC game at home, defeating the Deamon Deacons, 74-53.


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Traditional products
Tinos is a farmers' island. Barley, oats, and wheat are cultivated, as well as olives and figs. The orchards are full of trees, particularly lemon and orange ones, while the island is well reputed for its white wine varieties Askathari and Aspropotamisio.
Animal husbandry involves sheep, cows, pigs, poultry and, of course, pigeons.
Delicious cheese (the famous round or ball cheese, boiled cheese and an unsalted soft cheese called "myzithra") and mouthwatering meat products (such as sausages, sissera or syglina, and louzes) prove the island's farming tradition, as well as its special cuisine.
Local cuisine
Fresh fish, tomato dried in the sun, local cheese and meat treats and "froutalia" (an omelet with potatoes and sausages) await you at the island's tavernas. Some typically Tinian products are syglina and louzes.
Chopped pork boils in salt and then it is kept in clay containers: that is the sissera or syglina, while louzes is meat from the pig's ribs, matured for a week in sweet dark red wine and then put inside the large intestine of the pig. When dry, it is consumed in thin slices.
Of all the sweet delights with which the locals treat themselves and the visitors, we should definitely refer to "lychnarakia" (it means: little oil lamps), an Easter sweet made with mizithra cheese, cinnamon, orange and/or vanilla.
Its Santorinian version is also known and called "melitinia".
Visitgreece.gr is the official tourism web site for Greece, run by the Greek National Tourism Organisation, where you'll find information on the main tourist destinations, such as cities, beaches, as well as activities, events and much more!
All content included on this site consists intellectual property of GNTO and you are not allowed to reproduce the whole or part of this work in any way.
For information please contact: email@example.com. All Rights Reserved. GNTO © 2020.


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ES/NQ Ten Day 60 minute chart
Support and Resistance Key. White Lines: multi price levels and trend lines, Yellow Lines: daily chart major price points, Solid Green/Red Lines: prior day high and lows, Dotted Green/Red lines: pivot points, Light Blue Lines: prior unfilled gaps. Does not include overnight highs and lows. Price Points to watch.
- 1954.75
- 1950
- 1938.75
- 1935.75
- 1929.25
- 1924.75
Pre Market Thoughts - 15 Minute Daily Range TradeThe night before I form a hypothesis of how I will approach the day if the market gaps up or down. Preparing the night before takes out emotion considering a trade. To be successful in trading master ONE setup before tackling another. Study it, own it and turn off the computer after the trade. To help traders I will give my thoughts on the 15 minute range. To fade the High/Low of the range or go with the break.
15 Minute Range Goal: One trade a day on the first break of the 15 minute range. 2 point stop and 2 point target if fading against the trend and 2.25 target if going with the trend. If price trades 1.75 points automatically move stop to entry. With study, discipline and devotion to one setup you can build your success rate to 65% plus over time.
How to succeed:
- One day at a time devoting yourself to the same setup day after day.Think, sleep and eat your setup.
- Skill is developed by hours and hours of working on your craft. Small advantages hammered out day by day.
- Everyday write 3 things you learned from your setup.
- An oak tree will not fall by hitting it at 20 different locations but by hitting it at the same spot day after day.
- Dont be afraid to make a decision. Dont be afraid to fail and have a losing trade. You will not be perfect.
- Previous Day Price: Closed above, below or between the five minute 5 and 60 SMA
- Was the previous day a Breakout day, continuation day or flat
- Volume Today: is the early volume strong pushing through a support and resistance zone. Is volume average and price bumping up to a support or resistance zone.
- Early Trading pattern: Is the trend strong or weak. Is the first 5 minute candle red or green. What is the volume on that candle.
- Ticks Today: Strong, weak, supporting a BO/BD or diverging supporting a fade.
- Support / Resistance points.
Trend Thoughts:
- Longer Term remains in a bullish up trend
- ES - 15 MINUTE RANGE THOUGHTS(SV-Strong Volume through Support or Resistance, V-Volume, Negative/Positive=opening price)
Break of the 15 minute Range HIGHAverage VFavorStrong VFavorUp Gap Positive & filled gap:-Consolidation with 5sma support favor BOBOBOUp Gap Positive & gap not filled:FadeBOUp Gap Negative & filled gap:-Consolidation with 5sma support favor BOFade/BOFade/BOUp Gap Negative & gap not filled:-Consolidation with 5sma support favor BOFadeFade/BOUp Gap Straight Up, 3 green 5 minute candles with SV: Long on break of 30 minute range or break of Narrow range candle long.3 Green 5 minute candles with Average Volume into Resistance = Fade or wait for 30 minute rangeFlat opening & positive:BOBOFlat opening & negative:-Consolidation with 5sma support favor BOFadeFade/BODown Gap Positive & filled gap:BOBODown Gap Positive & gap not filled:FadeBODown Gap Negative & filled gap:-Strong V bounce off support favor BOFadeFade/BODown Gap Negative & gap not filled:-Strong V bounce off support favor BOFadeFade/BOBreak of the 15 minute Range LOWAverage VFavorStrong VFavorUp Gap Positive & filled gap:FadeFadeUp Gap Positive & gap not filled:FadeFadeUp Gap Negative & filled gap:-Super Strong V & 15 minute full red down candle BDFadeFade/BDUp Gap Negative & gap not filled:-Super Strong V & 15 minute full down red candle BDFadeFade/BDDown Gap Straight Down, 3 red 5 minute candles with SV: Short on break of 30 minute range or Fade if at support with first test3 Red 5 minute candles with Average Volume into Resistance = Fade or wait until 30 minute range.Flat opening & positive:FadeFadeFlat opening & negative:FadeFadeDown Gap Positive & filled gap:FadeFadeDown Gap Positive & gap not filled:FadeFadeDown Gap Negative & filled gap:FadeFadeDown Gap Negative & gap not filled:-Strong Volume with support Fade, if room to support BDFadeFade/ BD
(2 point Stop with a 2.25 exit goal. Stop to even at 1.75 points, enter in first 5 minutes or pass)
- Gap Fade Short: Fade off 1955 Area
- Gap Fade Long: Fade off 1943 area
- Gap GO Long: Pass
- Gap GO Short: Pass
* You don't have to trade everyday. If the conditions don't feel right or if you're unsure of the current days trading environment then PASS on the trade. Missed money is better than lost money. Day trading and the stock market is not a "war" that you must win at all cost. Trading should be fun, wait for only the good setups. Follow your rules, stick to your stops, and know that everyday the market presents a new chess board.


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from Empire Online / by Nick de Semlyen
Rust And Bone, Jacques Audiard's follow-up to the acclaimed A Prophet, has recently been unveiled in Cannes (look out for our reaction soon) and today we sat down with its star, Marion Cotillard.
The actress plays a killer-whale trainer named Stéphanie, and in one of the film's finest shots stands in front of the glass wall of a tank, making hand signals while a giant whale mirrors them on the other side. As it turns out, getting that shot in the can was far from easy.
"There were two whales and the first one went kind of mad at me," says Cotillard. "It was the only time I was really scared and freaked out, even though I knew that the glass was totally secure. The whole crew was behind me, so it wasn't the usual show for her, and she screamed at me with her jaws wide open. I got really scared."
The narky sea-beast was hastily shown back to its trailer, and replaced with a more amiable killer whale called Valentin. This, apparently, was just a blip in an otherwise smooth-sailing part of the shoot.
"I was lucky to have a very strong connection right away with the whales," Cotillard continues. "With Valentin, I was able to improvise — I would wave and she would wave back; I decided to tickle her nose and she would make the bubbles. She reacted to everything I proposed to her. It was amazing."
Sadly, she refused to confirm whether Bane will be using irate orca to rain hell on Gotham in The Dark Knight Rises, remaining as tight-lipped about Christopher Nolan's forthcoming trilogy-capper as the rest of its cast.
"I cannot say much, as you know, which is a good thing. I like to go to the movies without any information, then you have surprises. But as you saw from the last trailer, I get to kiss Batman." And how was it? "How was it to kiss Batman?" she smiles, enigmatically, then mock-shudders. "Jeez…"
Or did she say, "Cheese"? Has Batman been eating gouda? SPOILER!
Rust And Bone is out in the UK later in the year, The Dark Knight Rises will be in cinemas July 20.


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Love always
"Your love is nothing I can't fight. Can't sleep with the man who dims my shine!"
Lady GaGa said it best in her song "I Like It Rough" from her The Fame album.
That's the problem with many relationships these days. People have been so conditioned to thinking that being coupled is the most important thing there is to a social existence. Ranked above friendship, a career, even above your own happiness. That last part always had me confused though, think about it- Being with someone is more important than being happy. I must have grown up on too many fairy tales because the two (being coupled and being happy) always used to go hand-in-hand in my books. So when did it happen that happiness was not a side effect of this "relationship" we're trained to desperately seek?
I figure it happened somewhere between puberty and your first kiss. Hormones start raging and then peer classifications start changing from friends to a multi-dimensional grouping including the people who started having sex way too early to those who felt like they'd never have sex at high school because they were religious, unpopular, fat, tall or whatever reason they felt applied to them. The pressure to be aligned with someone especially in a sexual nature becomes ingrained in the minds of the adolescents and they start to adjust their outlook on relationships and what they were looking for in a partner for the sake of being accepted by their peers. This stage in life is understandable for many because during those years we are still trying to carve an identity all our own and it's a teething process. However, some people get stuck in the 'high school' stage of relationships right through the course of their life and I often wondered why.
Now my experiences in high school were totally different because I cared little for my classmates, and I didn't consider them to be my peers in any form shape or fashion. Apart from a uniform, we had very little in common. As isolating as it may sound, I was still relatively popular, however I still used to watch on in amazement at the lengths people went to get accepted by a group of people I felt were none too 'awesome' to begin with. For example, there was this young girl who was in a physically abusive relationship with one of the older 'cool' kids who I just thought was a walking colonic bag but apparently he had a way (and a fist) with the ladies. I say that is utter garbage personally but it is nothing new and far too typical these days. Again, youthful ignorance could be tagged as being responsible.
As an adult I find emotional dependence is the primary cause of people ending up with partners that really are shit. More so than the story about being financially dependent on a person, it's love. Often times people are ashamed to admit they're in love with the person who 'dims their shine' so they make up other excuses which they're less ashamed of, and even wish were true. I've always been of the stance- I rather be happy alone than miserable together- not to say I jump ship at the first sign of trouble, but I do make sure I am well taken care of emotionally and I don't need another person in my life (apart from my friends who I love dearly) to make me feel 'happy' and trust me, it took a few years to get to a point in my life where I can say I'm happy. Sure, shit happens on a daily basis but that's life, knowing I have good friends who have my back and more importantly, being able to stand on my own two as the Hip Hop and R&B artists put it, has given me this sense of calm and level-headedness which comes in quite handy when the world is falling down around you and anarchy is in the streets.
If my readers are to take anything away from what I wrote, let it be this:
1. You're worth more to you than you are to anyone else, value yourself appropriately.
2. Love who you're with, but never be blinded by the feeling to the point you're no longer self-sufficient
3. Spend time developing solid friendships. Lovers will come and go, but your friends will be there to have your back.
4. Learn to be happy alone or you'll never know how to be happy with someone
5. Never mistreat those close to you. The same way you wouldn't want someone mistreating you and
6. What goes around DOES come around, maybe not today, but when that other shoe drops you better pray you're not under it.
Now go on, live, love, and glow!


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Kip Taylor
Kip Taylor is a newish customer of ours and we're very pleased to have met him. He's a thoughtful guy and, as you'll see below, a thoughtful reader. So without further ado, take it away, Kip…
What was the last truly great book you read?
Wow. This is a tough question to start with. I'm in Southern New Hampshire University's MFA in Fiction program, so I've been reading a lot of wonderful books by authors that I've neglected for a long time. I've read my first Hemingway: The Sun Also Rises, Woolf: The Waves, Fitzgerald: Tender is the Night, and Rushdie:Shalimar the Clown. Despite these and others, I have to say that my favorite book of the past year has been Susan Vreeland's Girl in Hyacinth Blue, a book of loosely woven short stories that follows the owners of a Dutch master painting. My favorite author of the year has been Anton Chekov, whose short stories are astonishingly good. It's been a brilliant year of reading for me.
What's your favorite literary genre?
I was originally a pop science fiction and fantasy fan, but I'm finding myself more interested in historical fiction and speculative fiction the older I get. My writing is driving me more towards material with well researched settings that accompany heavy depth of character and carefully crafted prose.
What type of fiction or nonfiction do you absolutely refuse to read?
I really hate horror of most all stripes in the fiction vein. I loved Stoker's Dracula, when I read it a long time ago, but I think that it's likely the extent of my foray into dark, horror pieces. As far as nonfiction, I'm starting to expand, but I've still never read a lot of biographies or memoir, they just don't do it for me, usually, regardless of what I try.
Name your all-time favorite book.
Hmm. Again, difficult, but if I go with my first response, I can't deny the effect that Tolkien's Lord of the Ringshad on me as a young reader. I haven't read the books in a decade and a half, but they still resonate with me.
Name a highly respected book, fiction or nonfiction, you found overrated and unsatisfying.
I know that Kafka is well loved and brilliant, but I read The Trial this year and hated my life for the days that I was reading it. To be fair, it was unfinished and I may have had a bad translation, but I can't envision it being a satisfying read however it might be doctored.
What's your opinion of e-books?
I think that e-books are a good thing for literature and the industry, as they will keep people reading in a world of easy technology, comfort, and convenience. I also love the idea of being able to carry multiple books in a single device that I can stand to stare at for more than a couple of hours. All of this said, I haven't stopped purchasing and reading conventional books. There's something about the tactile nature of holding the texts and turning the pages that connects me to the material more than the digital format. I'm sure the effect is the same when considering the mass change from spoken word to written word storytelling however many centuries ago throughout various cultures. Something is gained, something is lost.
Who's your favorite writer?
I couldn't say for sure, but Virginia Woolf is quite literally intoxicating to me. Her prose, as dense and complex as it can be on the page, makes my brain happy and I love devouring her descriptions and narrative responses to the actions and words of the characters. It's beautiful. I plan to write my term paper next semester on her work; purely an excuse to read as much of her work as I dare.
If you could meet any author, living or dead, who would it be?
As far as living authors, I suppose I'd like to meet Salmon Rushdie. His freedom, breadth, whimsy, and boldness in writing is inspiring to me. As far as dead authors, it would probably be Virginia Woolf. I'm sure I'd waste all of my questioning time trying to convince her to spare her own life.
Who is your favorite fictional character?
I don't have a character that I love over every other that comes to mind. However, of things I've read recently, Remedios the Beauty in Gabriel Garcia Marquez' One Hundred Years of Solitude is a great example of whimsy, dark humor, and just plain quirky writing. She is one of the characters that make the heavier parts of the book palatable. The aspects of her life, from her enlightened and simplistic perspective on life to her supernatural beauty, to her nudism, the fatal effects of her scent on the men in her town and her Biblical ascension into the sky, all of these make her quite memorable. If I cheat and step out of strict literature, I'll choose Hamlet every time.


text:
FRIDAY, June 28, 2013 (HealthDay News) -- Vietnam veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are much more likely to develop heart disease, a new study finds.
Researchers looked at 562 middle-aged male twins (340 identical and 222 fraternal) who were veterans of the Vietnam War, and found that nearly 23 percent of the vets with PTSD had heart disease, compared with about 9 percent of the vets without PTSD.
When the researchers compared the 234 twins where one brother had PTSD and the other did not, 22 percent of those with PTSD had heart disease, compared with nearly 13 percent of those without PTSD.
The link between PTSD and heart disease remained strong even after the researchers accounted for lifestyle factors such as smoking, drinking and physical-activity levels, as well as for mental health problems such as depression.
The study was published online June 25 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and appears in the Sept. 10 print issue of the journal. The study was partially funded by the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
"This study suggests a link between PTSD and cardiovascular health," lead researcher Dr. Viola Vaccarino, a professor in the department of medicine at Emory University and chairwoman of the department of epidemiology at the Rollins School of Public Health, said in an institute news release.
"For example, repeated emotional triggers during everyday life in persons with PTSD could affect the heart by causing frequent increases in blood pressure, heart rate and heartbeat rhythm abnormalities that in susceptible individuals could lead to a heart attack," Vaccarino said.
"This study provides further evidence that PTSD may affect physical health," said Dr. Gary Gibbons, director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. "Future research to clarify the mechanisms underlying the link between PTSD and heart disease in Vietnam veterans and other groups will help to guide the development of effective prevention and treatment strategies for people with these serious conditions."
PTSD affects nearly 7.7 million U.S. adults.
More information
The U.S. National Institute of Mental Health has more about post-traumatic stress disorder.


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As longtime readers will know, I analyze charts utilizing a concept I call "symmetry" -- that is, similarity or equality when comparing swings in the same direction. I mostly use this on price but, on occasion, I also apply them to timing -- and that's certainly the case in today's column.
As you'll see in the following examples, time symmetry on daily or weekly charts may point to a big reversal. (This stands in contrast to symmetry in intraday charts, which can indicate a reversal that's short-term in nature.) After we look at these, I'll make my case for the development of a potentially important low in iShares Barclays 20+ Year Treasury Bond (TLT).
But, before we get to that, let's look at our first example: a daily chart of Costco (COST). This past November, time symmetry helped me identify an important turning point in this stock. Notice that this chart shows four equal or similar swings in timing: Three declines lasted 24 trading days, while the other one that lasted 25 sessions.
This symmetry helped me gauge when Costco might bottom and resume the rally within its larger uptrend. I saw that the stock had put in a low 24 trading days from the Oct. 10 high, so I started to watch for my buy triggers, and a beautiful rally transpired in the following couple of weeks.
My second example is in Joy Global (JOY). As this stock underwent a huge decline last July, I noticed that the move looked similar to a few of the other prior pullbacks on the weekly chart, which had lasted between 23 and 27 weeks. Besides this time symmetry, the stock was also testing some key weekly price support. At that time, the most recent low had been made 24 weeks from January 2012 high, so the timing here was very similar to what we'd seen in a couple of the prior downswings. Also note that the 24-week low was then retested 27 weeks after this same key high.
This same tool helped me identify a two-week period when Bidu (BIDU) might terminate its decline. The stock's first low, in late November, was short-lived. But we witnessed a beautiful, tradable rally after the second signal against the time and price parameters. Notice the time symmetry here: This downdraft, and the one immediately prior, each lasted for 16 weeks. You can't make this stuff up! It is certainly worth watching.
We now come to our last example -- a weekly chart of Chevron (CVX). Not all the timing swings are similar here, as you can see. However, many of them lasted between 11 and 13 weeks, or eight to nine weeks. This is information that can really help pin down reversal times, especially when you combine them with my methods of price analysis.
At last we come to the weekly chart of TLT. I'm looking at some rather important time symmetry here, and currently it tells me the fund might already have an important low in place -- or that one is more likely to develop within the next couple of weeks. Note that the timing of the prior declines lasted anywhere from 24 to 28 weeks.
The most recent low in TLT was made 23 weeks down from the July 2012 -- very similar to the 24-to-25-week declines made in the past. Also on the weekly chart, the fund is testing key price support.
Bottom line: Time symmetry tells us that we should stalk the TLT for buy triggers in the next few weeks. If we do see these, we should take them to signal much higher odds for the development of an intermediate-term low; in other words, time will be on our side (video link).
For more information on trades and triggers, please refer here.


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I picked up wave 1 this morning at a local Target.
Quote from: Neal on May 2, 2011, 09:40 PMI picked up wave 1 this morning at a local Target.Ew. You mean, like, more than Winter Soldier and WWII Cap?The rest are horrible.Wave 2 is where it's at.
I received my case of Wave 2 today. As Dressel pointed out, this wave is definitely where it's at.
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text: The Daisy Lane Bundle includes the Daisy Lane Cling Stamp Set and the Medium Daisy Punch. Also available in French.Daisy Lane Cling Stamp SetShow your friends how much you love and support them with a stunning daisy card made using the Daisy Lane Stamp Set.* Quantity: 9 cling stamps (repositional, premium rubber stamps)* Suggested clear blocks (sold separately): b, c, d, g, h* Two-Step Stampin'Medium Daisy PunchThe Medium Daisy Punch is a fun way to add daisies to your projects. * Punched Image: approximately 1-5/8" (4.1 cm)


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Andy Hargreaves, PhD
Dr. Andy Hargreaves is the Thomas More Brennan chair in education at Boston College in the Lynch School of Education. He has authored and edited more than 20 books, including Teaching in the Knowledge Society: Education in the Age of Insecurity, and was the recipient of the 2004 Outstanding Book Award for Curriculum Studies from the American Educational Research Association. Dr. Hargreaves, who completed his PhD in Sociology at the University of Leeds in England, is founding editor-in-chief of the Journal of Educational Change. His research interests include sustainable leadership, professional learning communities, educational change, and the emotions of teaching. He has been awarded visiting professorships and fellowships in Japan, Hong Kong, Spain, England, Canada, and the United States, and his work has been translated into more than a dozen languages. Dr. Hargreaves holds the 2000 Whitworth Award for outstanding contributions to educational research in Canada.
David Berliner, PhD
Dr. David Berliner is Regents Professor of Education in the Mary Lou Fulton College of Education at Arizona State University. Dr. Berliner earned his PhD in Educational Psychology from Stanford University. His observations of extraordinary teachers have had a lasting impact on teacher training, and his research on the psychology of learning in schools has helped teachers nationwide reform teaching strategies to improve education. The American Psychological Association honored Dr. Berliner with the E. L. Thorndike Award in 1995 for lifetime achievements. He is also the recipient of an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. His research focuses on improving conditions for America's schoolchildren by championing teachers and building on the strengths of schools.
Jay McTighe, MEd
Jay McTighe served as director of the Maryland Assessment Consortium and was previously involved with school improvement projects at the Maryland State Department of Education. He earned his master's degree from the University of Maryland and has completed post-graduate studies at The Johns Hopkins University. He also coordinated statewide efforts in Maryland to develop instructional strategies, curriculum models, and assessment procedures to improve the quality of student thinking. He has co-authored a number of books, including Assessing Learning in the Classroom, Assessing Student Outcomes: Performance Assessment Using the Dimensions of Learning Model, and Understanding by Design.
Carol Ann Tomlinson, EdD
Dr. Carol Ann Tomlinson is the William Clay Parrish Jr. professor and chair of educational leadership, foundations, and policy in the Curry School of Education at University of Virginia. An expert on the concept of differentiation, she leads professional development throughout the United States and abroad for teachers seeking to develop more responsive heterogeneous classrooms. Dr. Tomlinson is a reviewer for eight journals and has authored more than 200 articles, books, book chapters, and other professional development materials, including How to Differentiate Instruction in Mixed-Ability Classrooms.
Judy Willis, MD
A board-certified neurologist, Dr. Judy Willis practiced neurology for 15 years before obtaining her teaching credentials and Masters of Education from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Dr. Willis has taught at the elementary, middle, and graduate school levels and currently teaches middle school in Santa Barbara. She has written extensively for educational journals on learning-centered brain research and classroom strategies and has authored two books on the subject: Research-Based Strategies to Ignite Student Learning: Insights from a Neurologist/Classroom Teacher and Brain-Friendly Strategies for the Inclusion Classroom.
Patricia Wolfe, EdD
Dr. Patricia Wolfe is an independent educational consultant and staff development trainer with 20 years of experience in teaching and staff development. She has focused her research on the latest developments in brain research and its implications for teaching and learning. In addition to developing videotapes in the field, Dr. Wolfe is the author of Building the Reading Brain, PreK–3 and Brain Matters: Translating Research into Classroom Practice.


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|Version 9 (modified by al, 2 years ago) (diff)
BURT Research - System Overview
BurtSharp is a client program to communicate with the Mainboard firmware through a CoAP/UDP-based server to control the BURT robot. BurtSharp provides the ability to monitor and respond to robot state information (position, configuration, fault states, etc.), basic control functions to specify robot behavior, and an interface to provide this functionality to Unity games. The BurtSharp control library is not real-time as it is built on top of Linux, which is not inherently real-time. BurtSharp uses similar communication protocol like ROS. Even though is fast, it is inherently best-effort in many cases and does not provide guarantees about the timing of control operations. ROS utilizes TCP/IP communication which is not reliable to achieve real-time communication over Ethernet. However, BurtSharp uses the Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP) which was developed for devices constrained in terms of processing capabilities and power.
CoAP protocol
CoAP communicates based on Representational State Transfer (REST) architecture and supports four modes of REST which are PUT, GET, POST, and DELETE. A client sends a request with any one of the four modes and the server will respond with a reply in accordance with the request. The CoAP supports two modes: reliable and non-reliable. For instance, we use the reliable mode for activating the robot and non-reliable mode for sending force data. Reliability in CoAP is handled by using Confirmable (CON) messages. For every CON message send to the server, this will be replied by Acknowledge (ACK) packages to the client. In essence, CoAP's job is to define the URI structure (a hierarchy of objects accessible by GET/POST); handle GET/POST requests; handle the ACKs for confirmable transmissions; deal with dropped, reordered, or duplicate packets. MessagePack's job is to encode/decode structured data without resorting to encoding numbers as text.
Software Architecture - Hierarchy
The below software architecture illustrates the hierarchy of the two libraries that the Research Environment consists of. BurtSharp is a client program that communicates and controls the BURT robot, and BurtSharp.UnityInterface is an extension to BurtSharp that allows use of haptic objects and fixtures with Unity. Researchers can use these two libraries to test the control and haptic capabilities and can develop their own research tools.
BurtSharp Message Types
The mainboard control loop runs at 500 Hz, able to do math, send and receive messages in a stable and reliable way. BurtSharp subscribes to mainboard control loop messages. The BurtSharp-CoAP client runs in a separate thread "RunControlCycle()" and executes a callback to form the next control cycle output every time a message is received from the server "OnReceiveServerUpdate()". This is higher reliable than having the replies be completely asynchronous from the mainboard control loop messages. BurtSharp sends one message ("RobotCommand") per control cycle.
- The BurtSharp-CoAP client subscribes to observable resource group packages such as:
- ServerUpdate
- "position": [x, y, z]
- "velocity": [x, y, z]
- "joint_position": [j1, j2, j3]
- "joint_velocities": [j1, j2, j3]
- "timestamp": <u32>
- RobotStatus
- "handedness": u8
- "Outerlink": u8
- "Patient": u8
- "Estop": u8
- ServerUpdate
- The BurtSharp-CoAP client sends asynchronous NON-confirmable PUT requests to the mainboard-server through the "AsyncNonPutRequest" method. These requested messages can be one of the following control modes:
- Cartesian Forces
- Joint Torques
- Cartesian Torques
- Cartesian Forces + Joints Torques
- The BurtSharp-CoAP client subscribes at mainboard fault updates and to observable resource faults information such as:
- MainBoardFault.NotReady
- MainBoardFault.NoCanAtStartup
- MainBoardFault.NoCoapAtStartup
- MainBoardFault.OuterLinkDisconnected
- MainBoardFault.HandednessUnknown
- MainBoardFault.InvalidEepromCrc
- MainBoardFault.EStopPressed
- MainBoardFault.EStopLatched
- MainBoardFault.InitFailed
- MainBoardFault.TorqueLimitJ1
- MainBoardFault.TorqueLimitJ2
- MainBoardFault.TorqueLimitJ3
- MainBoardFault.NotInHomingPositionAtStartup


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Runyan: Boehner Admits He Deserves Anger Over Sandy Aid Delay [VIDEO]
Mystery still surrounds why House Majority Leader John Boehner pulled the $60 billion dollar Sandy disaster relief package from consideration Monday but Congressman Jon Runyan (R) says Boehner told him he "deserves" the firestorm of anger
During an appearance on MSNBC's Hardball on Monday, Runyan told guest host Michael Smirconish Boehner explained to him in a meeting, "I know there's been a lot of frustration, a lot of anger that's been directed at me. And he goes 'I own it. I deserve it.
Smirconish called the delayed vote a "further wounding of the (Republican) party to which Ruyan, after expressing frustration with getting anything done in Congress, said the Sandy aid "is going to happen, why are we delaying it? Let's get it done."
Runyan, who in an earlier statement described his district as "ground zero" for Sandy damage, warned that if the Jersey Shore isn't "close to up and running" when summer arrives the state will take a "huge" economic hit.
The first term Republican said that Governor Chris Christie, who verbally attacked Boehner for delaying a vote on Wednesday describes the Governor as "someone the American people are looking for. Someone that's going to shoot 'em straight" and brings "accountability" to the table to get action.
Runyan told Townsquare Media New Jersey the decision to delay the vote came as a complete shock to even members of Boehner's own party.
Runyan says, he and the entire New Jersey, New York and Connecticut delegations found out at the last minute by Boehner's staff and he says earlier concerns that the package was loaded with pork wasn't the reason why Boehner yanked the measure.
"I think that people just think that we're taking the Senate bill and passing it with all that pork in it and that's not what is happening here. The house has actually amended and changed that bill to make sure that all the stuff in here is Sandy-related." It will also again require Senate consideration.
Runyan says Boehner indicated that he pulled the package because he wasn't happy with the number of votes received on a measure to avert the fiscal cliff. He made similar comments during the Hardball interview.
However, even Runyan himself expresses disappointment in the climate on Capitol Hill. "Here we are again dragging our feet not creating a climate for people to be successful and it's the whole argument we've had here in Washington for the last two years and it's reared it's head again. Right at the last thing and something we know we're gonna do but yet we want to put it off for two weeks. It just doesn't make a lot of sense."
He says following a meeting with Boehner, what he does know right now is "he's promised us that we're going to have a vote Friday on the National Flood Insurance stuff. On the 15th we're gonna have the vote on the rest of it." Runyan says by then the measure would be taken up by the 113th Congress after committee's are repopulated and a new stand-alone bill is dropped, followed by an Amendment by New Jersey Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen.
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy


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Seahawks cornerback Brandon Browner wasn't pleased with the recent comments about PEDs from 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh.
Let's back up. On Tuesday, Harbaugh said he "definitely noticed" the recent problems Seattle's had with performance-enhancing drugs.
"It has no place in an athlete's body," Harbaugh said of PEDs. "We play by the rules. You want to be above reproach, especially when you're good, because you don't want people to come back and say, 'They're winning because they're cheating.' That's always going to be a knee-jerk reaction by people, I've found in my experience ever since I was a little kid."
Unsurprisingly, Harbaugh's comments ruffled more than a few feathers in the Seattle sports community. That's why KJR's Dave "Softy" Mahler brought up the topic Thursday when he spoke to Browner at Seahawks minicamp.
"I don't have anything for it," Browner said (here's the full quote). "At the end of the day we gotta win football games. He's a coach. He's never gonna be out there lined up against me. I wish he would; I'd put my hands around his neck. At the end of the day, I'm about winning football games."
Browner, as Seahawks fans likely remember, is one of the five Seahawks who have been suspended for PEDs since 2010. He got popped in November of the 2012 season, and missed Seattle's final four regular-season games.
Visit seattlepi.com for more Seattle news. Contact sports editor Nick Eaton at firstname.lastname@example.com or @njeaton.


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get into (one's) stride(redirected from got into my stride)
get into (one's) stride
To become comfortable with something. It took a few weeks, but I think I've finally gotten into my stride at my new job. I know that Rob has been struggling a bit since he joined the team, but I'm confident that he'll get into his stride soon enough.
get into one's stride
1. Lit. [for a runner] to reach a comfortable and efficient pace. I got into my stride right away, and that helped win the race. She never got into her stride, and that's why she lost.
2. Fig. to reach one's most efficient and productive rate of doing something. When I get into my stride, I'll be more efficient. Amy will be more efficient when she gets into her stride.
get into your strideBRITISH or
hit your stride
COMMON If you get into your stride or hit your stride, you start to do something well and confidently, after being slower or less certain at the beginning. The Government is getting into its stride and seems, for the moment, to be fulfilling its promises. He's still learning but when he hits his stride, he'll be unstoppable.


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On PacktPub.com (Packt Publishing) there's a recent article from Alfonso Romero that looks at using the combination of NetBeans, VirtualBox and the Turnkey LAMP appliance to set up a development environment.
We will learn how to configure NetBeans, VirtualBox and the Turnkey LAMP Appliance to develop complex PHP applications in a virtual environment. This article explains the process of creating a virtual machine, configuring the NetBeans PHP IDE, and managing a WordPress project with NetBeans in a step wise manner.
He walks you through each step of the way including links to all the software you'll need, screenshots of the VirtualBox setup, and how to setup NetBeans to work with the WordPress installation.


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Since the company was formed a decade ago, it has been adding interactivity to a number of well-known kingdoms, including George Lucas's intergalactic universe in last year's record-breaking title Star Wars: The Knights of the Old Republic as well as the Dungeons & Dragons mythos within the
Baldur's Gate and
Neverwinter Nights game series. Instead of crafting another real-time sequel, however, Muzyka and Zeschuk decided to revisit a concept that had been churning around in their minds since the company's early days.
"Ten years ago, we thought it would be great to design a game where you could become a martial arts master," says Zeschuk. "But at the time, we didn't feel that there was an adequate technological foundation to build our vision; this was back when the consoles were 16 bit and the graphics were 2D and pixilated." In his opinion, that was hardly enough to support what the company had in mind for its vision of multiple story arcs, rich visuals, and a significant amount of weaponry, magic, and compelling martial arts action. The duo also thought it prudent to wait until the right time in BioWare's history as a company-when it had enough brand recognition to attract players to a universe and story line they knew nothing about-before attempting such a risky endeavor.
Soon after the character creation process, BioWare conducted a number of focus tests on the models to determine their potential success as virtual heroes. "Each important character had a back story and a history, and we revisited these characters, as well as the Followers and primary villains, at various points in development," Swanson notes.
In fact, one of the more challenging aspects of the character creation process was dealing with frequent story changes, particularly during the earlier stages of development. This often affected the characters' back stories, requiring the group to alter, or sometimes completely revise, the models. "In the case of Sagacious Zu, a late revision turned out to be very successful, though it was not the most efficient working method," says Swanson of the character's radical revision.


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A big difference at this convention is the food. It's as someone new has taken over the kitchen or our hosts are paying more for better food and service. The difference is like day and night.
Gotta go to sleep. One picture of my centerpiece from tonight.
Who is this doll?


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Wild Tales (CD-Audio)
A Rock & Roll Life
Random House Audio, 9780385367516
Publication Date: September 17, 2013
Other Editions of This Title:
Digital Audiobook (9/16/2013)
Paperback (9/9/2014)
Hardcover (9/17/2013)
From Graham Nash—the legendary musician and founding member of the iconic bands Crosby, Stills & Nash and The Hollies—comes a candid and riveting autobiography that belongs on the reading list of every classic rock fan.
Graham Nash's songs defined a generation and helped shape the history of rock and roll—he's written over 200 songs, including such classic hits as "Carrie Anne," "On A Carousel," "Simple Man," "Our House," "Marrakesh Express," and "Teach Your Children." From the opening salvos of the British Rock Revolution to the last shudders of Woodstock, he has rocked and rolled wherever music mattered. Now Graham is ready to tell his story: his lower-class childhood in post-war England, his early days in the British Invasion group The Hollies; becoming the lover and muse of Joni Mitchell during the halcyon years, when both produced their most introspective and important work; meeting Stephen Stills and David Crosby and reaching superstardom with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; and his enduring career as a solo musician and political activist. Nash has valuable insights into a world and time many think they know from the outside but few have experienced at its epicenter, and equally wonderful anecdotes about the people around him: the Beatles, the Stones, Hendrix, Cass Elliot, Dylan, and other rock luminaries. From London to Laurel Canyon and beyond, Wild Tales is a revealing look back at an extraordinary life—with all the highs and the lows; the love, the sex, and the jealousy; the politics; the drugs; the insanity—and the sanity—of a magical era of music.
About the Author
GRAHAM NASH is a two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee—once with CSN and once with The Hollies. He was also inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame twice—both as a solo artist and with CSN. And, he is a Grammy award winner. In 2010, Nash was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth for his contributions as a musician and philanthropist. An activist for social and environmental justice, he is also an artist, acclaimed photographer and photography collector. His company Nash Editions' original IRIS 3047 digital printer lives in the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institution in recognition revolutionary accomplishments in the fine arts digital printing world. He lives in Hawaii with his wife, Susan.
Praise For Wild Tales: A Rock & Roll Life…
"There are indeed wild tales to tell...Nash wasn't pulling back on the lurid details." -Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
"Shockingly candid." –Daily Express (UK)
"Though CSN and CSNY made more than their share of beautiful music together and lived in a kind of hippie heaven replete with mansions, money and free love, Nash doesn't hesitate to share the dark side of stardom, too, particularly the drug-fueled ego trips and meltdowns that so often derailed the group....[But] the reader is inclined to believe that the drugs, the women, the accolades and the money were never the point. 'It always comes down to the music,' Nash says. And that's what makes this trip worth taking." –USA Today
"A no-holds-barred, fiercely honest chronicle of the glories, excesses, disappointments, and joys of the rock-and-roll life. . . Nash's tour-de-force tale reveals a soul who is 'a complete slave to the muse of music.'" –Publishers Weekly
"The story of a man's life and his unshakeable passion to express himself through his art. Fans might say the book is long overdue, but it was definitely worth the wait." –Booklist


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Genotyping, gene expression and proteomics applications demand effective disruption of biological samples to ensure high yields of DNA, RNA and protein. The TissueRuptor II system delivers thorough and rapid disruption of samples to fully release biomolecules, and also simultaneously homogenizes samples to facilitate subsequent purification procedures using QIAGEN kits (see table).
The TissueRuptor II is an integral part of QIAGEN's complete solution for sample management — from sample collection to purification and analysis of DNA, RNA and protein. Optimized protocols integrate sample disruption with biomolecule purification, enabling a streamlined, efficient workflow. In addition, a range of automated solutions allow purification and analysis of biomolecules at low to high throughputs.
QIAGEN also provides RNAlater RNA Stabilization Reagent (to stabilize RNA) and Allprotect Tissue Reagent (to stabilize DNA, RNA and protein). Tissues collected in these reagents can also be easily disrupted with the TissueRuptor II.
RNeasy Kits
The TissueRuptor II is a portable device with a TissueRuptor Disposable Probe. The blade of the probe rotates at a high speed, causing simultaneous disruption and homogenization of a sample through a combination of turbulence and mechanical shearing. Samples that can be processed include human, animal and plant tissues (for plant tissues that are more difficult to disrupt, the TissueLyser II is recommended). Disruption at full speed for as little as 30 seconds is usually sufficient to release nucleic acids or proteins from starting material.
After disruption of a sample, the TissueRuptor Disposable Probe can be discarded, and a new probe can be used to disrupt the next sample. Time is saved and cross-contamination is avoided, as there is no need to clean and reuse the same probe. In addition, the TissueRuptor Disposable Probe is transparent, which allows visual monitoring of the sample disruption process.
The TissueRuptor II enables efficient disruption and homogenization of human, plant and animal samples, including clotted blood. Purification of RNA, DNA, total nucleic acids or protein can then be performed using QIAGEN kits.
You are not authorized to download the resource


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1st prize would be if I could get rid of it in the 2 batches listed below, but I might consider offers for individual items after a while.
R5000 for all of the following:
- 60m Roca 10mm Rope (fairly new)
50m Edelrid 10.5mm Rope (Well used. I have only been using it lately for abseiling. I would not lead on it.)
18 x Quickdraws (9 x Petzl, 6 x Clog, 3 x Wild Country)
Set of 14 DMM Nuts + Nut tool (00, 0, 1/2, 3/4. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
Set of 8 Rock Empire Cams (1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
2 x ATC belay devices
1 x figure-of-8
3 x screw-gate biners
1 x 100cm sewn-closed sling (brand-spanking new)
R1000 for all of the following:
- Large Harnass - Petzl Corvus
Adjustable Harnass (Ladies-Specific) - Black Diamond
Size 7 Boreal Spider climbing shoes (New, hasn't done more than 4 or 5 routes)
2 x Chalk Bags
And then a couple of freebies I'll add in with whoever wants it:
- 1 x Auto-locking Biner which I found at the bottom of Chocolate Speedway... I wouldn't risk putting any weight on it.
Size 10-ish Climbing shoes - definitely not new... resoled twice.... just cannot get myself to "throw" them away.
or call me at Zero-8-Two-8-One-9-3-One-3-Six.


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Congratulations to.......
For those who can't quite make out the text in the photo:
Anonymous said...
The egg looks fantastic!!!
I'd like it to be a nice, dark 70% chocolate. As to the delivery? It would have to be my gorgeous partner Bernard!
Well done Christine – I hope you enjoy your egg. Please email me with your address as soon as possible so Hotel Chocolat can post your egg in time for Easter.
Thanks to all the entrants for taking part.


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It was a very crazy Christmas for the ladies of Mob Wives. While I realize they filmed long ago, it's fun to bring their antics into present day. Santa probably didn't leave what he planned for Renee Graziano thanks to her behavior last night. Come to think of it, most of the girls deserved big lumps of coal!
After Natalie Guercio called out Renee's VH1 hire-a-date delicious, all hell broke loose, giving us a story line for last night's episode. We begin with Renee and son AJ dining with his new (?) girlfriend and Michael, Renee's latest love interest. Michael is late. Renee forgives his indiscretions and orders several bottles of wine. Xanax is her issue, so wine is fine. Is that how recovery works?
Michael tries to impress Renee's son with his rapper connections, but AJ isn't biting. When Michael reveals that he has somewhere else to be after this dinner, things go down hill. Renee blames Natalie for introducing Michael to her craziness with Natalie's "delicious smelling" comment. AJ tries to be the voice of reason, but we know it's all for naught. Michael exits (did they even have apps?), and Renee questions the relationship.