text:
#1 http://4-ch.net/dqn/kareha.pl/1213916710/
#2 http://4-ch.net/dqn/kareha.pl/1250275007/
#3 http://4-ch.net/dqn/kareha.pl/1292544745/
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#11.5 http://4-ch.net/dqn/kareha.pl/1367260120/
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fat thread edition
key lime yogurt, yeah boyeeeeeeeee
not a nazi, but please deport all moslems
also jews pls move back to israel and dont be around white people
niggers must be brougth back to afrika and banned from entering europe and usa
The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi was too unrealistic for me
I mean, when have you ever met a woman with the mental capacity for depression(憂鬱)? That requires a working theory of mind and an IQ above 95, both of which are something no woman has ever possessed in the entire history.
stop trying to act like you can speak for everyone you control freak
>>7 Whoops sorry you're right, I did mean to type "probably most users here". I sincerely apologise, I hate when people make assumptions!
>Was that the quickest Current Thought thread we've had?
yeah and also the shittiest, but this one will probably break that record. go on boys, let's impress me with your boundless cretinism.
>>9 I did mean it, it is a peeve when people make assumptions about my values and beliefs and then I was guilty of it myself. But it's hard not to condescend to you (´・ω・`)
it's funny for some neckbeard who saves weeb emojis like "(´・ω・`)" to think they have the high ground on anything in life
excuse me this is a neckbeard safe space. please take your neckbeard-shaming somewhere else.
>>12 It's a plug-in on my phone, two taps on the keypad. Girls think they're cute when I text them. Maybe when I hit puberty I'll grow a beard, but for now my life is pretty banging thanks XD
The shobon predates you, it outranks you, and it is certainly more worthy of a seat at the table. The text itself that makes up the shobon shall be seated before you and fed of wine and steak to your scrapped bones and curdled milk. To say another is below you for speaking the shobon when it is itself above you is delusional.
Drop and give before the (`・ω・´)
> I fucking hate weeaboos, kaomoji, AA art, intentionally poorly translated 2ch copypasta, anime, and anyone who doesn't hold a politically correct opinion
one of these things is not like the others.
I used to be into dumb shit like anime, and actually /o/ (the auto board) was my first intro to image boards, and then I got into world4ch's /lounge/ and /prog/, and eventually 4-ch and so on, but then I grew up and stopped liking dumb shit like anime. Weeb shit was a dumb phase in my life. I'm glad I'm over that, and I hope you can get over it too. I'm just disappointed that there are still plenty of people who are into this tripe. I want to convert you away from that garbage.
I'm not new, I'm just different now.
I changed dramatically in college. If you had a good education, you'd change too.
I hope that one day you too, poor plebeian, can stop enjoying things that are fun and become a joyless, proselytizing cunt like me. I really wish people would stop liking things that I dislike! Btw I'm not new, I've been here all summer.
Have you even been to college, dude? If you had you'd totally understand. It's like, totally life-changing, dude.
Ha! College is for plebs. Let me tell you why I'm superior for NOT going to college. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll go back to watching misogynistic anime. Why don't women love me?
So guys, how many of these videos are you featured in?
Also I hate to break it to you, honey, but if you went to college in America then you did not have a "good education", unless you went to one of a small handful of extremely elite institutions(you didn't). At best, you took on tens of thousands of dollars in debt to attend a glorified adult babysitting program where they taught you the basic literacy skills that people in the rest of the developed world(I use this term extremely loosely when referring to America) learned for free in what you'd call 'high school'. At worst, you took on tens of thousands of dollars in debt for the privilege of being brainwashed into a useful idiot for the political zeitgeist.
That feeling you're experiencing right now, where you're desperately trying to convince yourself and everyone around you that that was tens of thousands of dollars well spent, is called "post-purchase rationalization".
tl;dr: allahu akbar, death to america and death to whatever you are
imagine thinking you're superior for not having an education lmao
we're reaching levels of cognitive dissonance that shouldn't even be possible
That education evidently didn't teach you that internalizing and regurgitating internet colloquialisms rots your brain
Imagine being so brainwashed you think paying $60,000 a semester in order to learn how to read since you didn't in high school because you were busy being shot at every day by school shooters or beaten by fascist police for scratching your eyebrow during the bi-hourly recital of the pledge of allegiance is an "education", lol.
>regurgitating internet colloquialisms
lol you have no sense of self-awareness, mr. ancient 2ch memes
"I'll shit up the board complaining about how shit the board is, that will surely make me some friends,"
I'm not here to make friends, I'm here to help you convert to the right path instead of this dumb nerd shit.
I'll try to contact BPS to get this guy banned. Wish me luck!
Usually people just go to a different website if they want to interact with different people.
Yeah, try and silence people if you dislike them. Great idea. Maybe it's good to surround yourself with people who aren't exactly like you. Ever thought about that?
You do know it's possible to disagree with people without arguing or getting all butthurt about it, right? Instead, people hurl insults and then call someone a troll.
Apparently anyone who isn't into the EXACT same stuff as you is a troll. Great logic there.
There is something seriously wrong with the board culture here.
Someone said they were planning on killing themselves. So I said they shouldn't do it and made some heartfelt posts trying to talk them down from it. I don't know if it was effective or not.
Now people are calling me a troll because they don't agree with me on everything under the sun. The absolute state of social media.
woe is me!
if you don't pretend that everything is fine and act like political issues that affect daily life don't exist, then you're a troll!
I guess there are millions of trolls out there, since there are millions of people who actually care about politics instead of just ignoring things
Why do you say that? Because I mention political issues and you don't like it? Guess what? Not everyone will have the same opinions in life. Get over it.
No, because it's an anonymous board and I don't know exactly which posts you make. What I do know, however, is that you've filled this thread with shit. These rants of yours are an irrational overreaction to whatever it is you feel angered by and I am concerned for your mental well-being.
I seriously hope so. I really hope he's the only one unhinged and miserable enough to be doing this to himself.
>you've filled this thread with shit
Yeah dude, telling someone who talks about their suicidal thoughts that they should keep on living is "filling this thread with shit", apparently. Have some empathy. I also think that, being an anonymous site, people have a tendency to confuse which posts are made by which people. So you see my political posts and think that's me, but you don't get that I also make innocuous posts too.
>irrational overreaction to whatever it is you feel angered by
America has serious problems right now. It doesn't make sense to be calm when everything's going down the shitter. Additionally, I think you're overestimating how "angry" I am. And I'm going to assume that you're not American, since if you were, you'd know what it's like here right now.
>I am concerned for your mental well-being.
So you're insulting me and then calling me the troll? Do you not see the hypocrisy here?
Can't we just get along? Enough of this already.
Posting about anything that isn't memes or anime is "unhinged" apparently. Sorry for caring about more in life than escapism. Whatever. I'm done with this site.
I want to help you get better. The first step is getting you banned so you stop tormenting yourself on this site!
Sorry for caring about more in life than escapi-
____ clik ∧_∧
/ / | | + ◇⊂(・ω・ ) Oh boy. Time to reset the thread.
l 二 | | | /  ̄ ̄旦 ̄ ̄/|
\_ヽ__|| ./_____//
|;;;;;;;;;;|;;;;;;;;;| |l─────‐l|'
dunno about you but i see plenty of people posting about things that aren't ancient 2ch memes or AA art or whatever it is got this guy all riled up
in fact i see a thread just a bit further down the board where people were talking about self-produced electronic music and producing a collaborative album and such, until some joker came in and started screeching about how much he hates AA art or whatever
Most of the previous posts read like pretty much any other website.
You fine folks ever moan when you jack off? I never used to but recently I have and it just makes me hornier.
ye i was purposely being a bit overdramatic when i said "solemn vigil" or whatever, but still, eternal september isn't just a meme, it's a reminder that things like "netiquette" once existed and were thought of as important, and also a reminder to newcomers to LURK MORE before shitting up a board by not being familiar with the culture and the written and unwritten rules
and i still maintain that we need such reminders now more than ever
Ughh wine wine wine wine all we ever talk about at this wine-tasting club is WINE! Don't you alcoholic losers have anything better to do than talk about wine? Why don't you care about the political climate in Iceland right now? Newsflash you drunken reprobates: politics MATTER and if you don't want to spend time here at the wine club talking about what's going down in Iceland right now you're part of the problem! Have some empathy!
I'm NOT THE ONLY ONE
Is he gone?
>>49 only when i have something in my ass, and then it's kinda involuntary
captcha: buttine
Who knew all it took was some good ol' talk about gentle self-caressing to fix this thread.
buncha lefty pencilneck faggots
Eternal suffering.
hang out with all the boys learn science technology
reminds me of the time my grandmother called me on the phone in shock and said
"omg, did you know the village people are gay???"
and i'm just left here wondering how it's possible for a 75 year old woman to be so simultaneously savvy and out of touch
also my captcha is "quore", autocomplete says i've had "quoreness" as a captcha before. what is a quore? is quoreness the platonic ideal of quoredom?
The spider rejected my dead fly offering...
Am I gay
this song will answer your question around the 2:05 mark https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeG3SEltM5M
Kim Dong-un
Linel Hamten
Oh no, I'm stupid.
I sure want instagram followers for my nonexistent account
I love you Natalie
fuck off andrew how did you get my new number? i told you to stop calling, don't make me get the police involved AGAIN
What's a guy gotta do to get a job around here?
when I was younger I cared way too much about useless shit
What is the comfiest right-wing state in America?
2b's twobies
captcha: nier
Hi my name is squeeks and you were all a mistake
Every single last one of you
good morning weathercuck
You fuckin' bet. It rained last night, I'll let that fresh hunk of weather fuck my lawn all green and lush again no question.
>>82 You're not Squeeks, Squeeks wears a poop hat, where's your poop hat?
Okay don't answer the question in the question thread then, lord it over the rest of us that you read books,
>>86 I wasted time reading a shit book instead of dealing with more pressing matters, was that not a suitable answer?
I enjoy hearing about the spread and evolution of net slang across language barriers. For example I remember a Spanish-speaking friend telling me the story of how crossdressers came to be called "little rags" on Spanish-language imageboards. They took the word "trapo", literally meaning "cloth" and punning on the English netslang "trap". That was seen as too 'masculine' so the diminutive -ito was added, ending in "trapito".
i don't knowhow to do any of those things and i have an iq of 85 but please give me a job
i am not bilignual, in fact i barely speak english
Big ups yeongrak! https://djmag.com/content/premiere-yeongrak-definitfinitfinitely-xoxe' nuff respect
You invoked nihilism to say you don't believe in procrastination
function invocation
for (int age = 20; age <= 85; age++) {
Every DQN knows it's not a hat. The rest of the head and body are vestigial.
I have clinical depression and it's uncureable and it is normal to live with that
This is the bastard internet.
my new "unlimited data" plan is slow as shit
what good is it if everything takes forever to laod
capitalism is gross
consumerism is disgusting
modern western life is the death of culture and purpose
I feel so uncomfortable with the way the world is
it's not supposed to be like this
I refuse to accept this way of life
aids and cancer
islam is the answer


text:
After two of the biggest shopping days of the year Black Friday and Cyber-Monday respectively I figured it was probably important to make sure you save your receipts. You may throw them in your wallet, purse or in a shoebox under your bed somewhere. With Shoeboxed you can save all your receipts in one place online. Shoeboxed aims to make it easy to keep track of your own personal shopping history by offering an online repository with sprinkles of social candy to make sharing it easy to share some of your personal shopping history.
Launched just off the campus of Duke University by a group of recent grads and current students Shoeboxed looks to help you keep track of and organize your receipts. Users can have receipts automatically sent to a Shoeboxed email address, add receipts manually or scan receipts into the system. Once your receipts are in Shoeboxed the system helps to organize them so that users have a more clear picture of what they are buying. In addition, users can share their shopping history with others within the community thus acting as a bit of a social shopping recommendation tool.
I am not a big 'receipt saver' but I could see how Shoeboxed could become a valuable tool for referencing my purchasing history if I adopted the system. Obviously, your bank account is also a valuable record of purchase history but unfortunately it is not granular enough to keep track of exactly what was purchased for every transaction -- so it falls short.
I think that the recommendations aspect of Shoeboxed is very interesting as it displays what others in the community are buying (as shown in the screen-shot above) and it reminds me a little bit of StumbleUpon which recommends Web sites. eBay purchased StumbleUpon, so it is completely possible for them to rollout a similar eBay-centric version of this feature.
Aside for the Shoeboxed product itself, I found some videos of the Shoeboxed work environment that really convey the startup energy this team brings to the office everyday. Check out some of the videos which showcase some animation fun, their office, slamming energy drinks and other startup related tasks.
|Add Somewhat Frank Product Demos to your page

subset: commoncrawl


text:
6/10 Good
18 July 2017
Apartment close to city
Checking in the apartment was a hazzle. No check-in instructions until we requested. We arrived around 4pm, but no real person to greet us. When we received the set of instructions, it felt like a treasure hunt from that point onwards. From one lockbox to another coded mailbox. When we got to the lockbox, it was empty. Had to call and waited for another 30minutes out in the cold. No heater in one of the bedrooms. No hangers in the wardrobe. The bed was too soft. Location is ok. Carpark is big.
Verified traveller
5-night trip
Verified Wotif guest review


text:
Decided to do the foundation work of your house? You can avoid a whole lot of trouble if you ensure a solid footing. For that, you need to know the perfect curing time.
How long should a concrete slab cure before framing?
To get the perfect finish out of your concrete slab, we suggest waiting 7-12 days. But depending on some conditions, it could also take up to 28 days. There are many factors that are involved here. Temperature, type of concrete mix used, size of the concrete are some essential factors.
Is it still confusing to you? Don't worry! We've prepared a comprehensive discussion to clear all your doubts.
Let's check out the facts!
Why Does Concrete Slab Need Cure Time?
Structural integrity is first and foremost when you want to do your foundation work. That's where curing comes in.
Your newly poured concrete slab needs to cure for plenty of reasons. Whether you're building your house's foundation or installing siding to your concrete, it needs time.
Let's check them out!
Reason 1: Lasting Strength & Longevity
Curing helps in keeping your concrete from cracks till it's strong enough to resist cracking. The longer you cure your concrete, the stronger it will be. Plus, the more robust the concrete is, the longer it will last.
Reason 2: Retain Moisture & Water Tightness
Moisture plays a part in helping the concrete gain strength. It's highly recommended to maintain the perfect balance of water in the concrete. You can do it through spraying, fogging, pondering, or by using coverings and place forms.
Reason 3: Ensure Dryness
Curing allows the concrete to dry out and remain strong. Wet concrete is ineffective. As a result, proper drying is required. It can be sped up by live streaming.
These are the reasons why you should cure the concrete for a proper amount of time. Once the slab is cured, only then can you start framing. Otherwise, the concrete might crack, or else the foundation could sink because of the weight.
How Long Should You Wait for Concrete Slab to Cure?
It's imperative that you wait at least seven days before you start framing. But proper curing takes up to a month. Your concrete curing process could also take more or less time than that.
That's why you should consider a few things before jumping into the project. Check the following factors before you start-
Factor 1: Type of Concrete Mixture
The cement mix has a lot to do with curing time. You have many options when it comes to selecting a good concrete mixture. That's why check if you've used a traditional or rapid cement mixture.
Traditional cement mixtures take up to two days to cure, depending on factors. Rapid curing mixture takes two to four hours to cure. Here, less amount of time has no impact on strength. Ultimately, it's a faster and better option.
You also should check if there are accelerants present in your mixture. Because accelerants might cure your slab faster. But you'll get much weaker concrete.
Factor 2: Size of Concrete Slab
Depending on the size of your concrete slab, the cure time could vary. Broad and more extensive concrete takes a longer time to cure. In reverse, a concrete with a thin layer could take just 2 days.
But you won't have to worry about curing while installing cement boards in your bathroom. Don't confuse a cement board with a concrete slab.
Factor 3: Water Amount in Your Concrete Mixture
The water amount or level in the concrete mixture is another super important deciding factor. A high ratio of water will take a long time to cure. But the concrete will be stronger.
On the other hand, a watery cement mixture can cause other problems. If the water amount is a lot, the excess water could evaporate after curing. That's why check the amount of water before and after you pour the cement mixture.
Factor 4: Temperature and Weather Conditions
Variations in temperature are not a significant problem unless admixtures are used. Using admixture can change the setting time at various temperatures. Under normal conditions, the concrete temperature is to be above 5 degrees Celsius.
High temperatures mean excessive loss of moisture. For that reason, the cure time will be less. You can use windscreens, watering, and retardants to keep the water in.
The biggest worry in the cold season is maintaining a temperature that's above 10 degrees Celsius. You can use heated enclosures, curing compounds, or insulating blankets to maintain the temperature.
Factor 5: Maintaining Moisture and Applying Sealant
You already know that retaining moisture in the cement is essential. But retaining moisture means more curing time. Applying a sealant is necessary in order to maintain moisture. Use a sealant to concrete only when it is absolutely dry.
Here are some of the recommended sealants for concrete-
|Product 1
|Product 2
But, you must apply sealant right after removing the forms.
Confused as to what forms mean?
They are actually the moulds that hold your concrete in place till it dries partially. These left-in-place forms protect against moisture loss. Forms are left in place as long as the construction schedule allows.
These were all the deciding factors of curing time. Keep all of these in mind while estimating the curing time.
6 Tips to Speed up Cure Time
Eager to frame the concrete for your foundation? We have prepared a list of things you can do to speed up the curing-
- Use an HVAC system in an enclosed space to reduce humidity in the air.
- Avoid the use of sealants and admixtures. They retain moisture and lead to a longer cure time.
- Apply cure additives for faster curing.
- Have a perfect balance of water and moisture. Less water can result in more drying time.
- Use slightly warm water to hasten the curing. But do not use boiling water.
- The use of Calcium Chloride in the cement mix will accelerate the cement hydration.
These were all the tips you need to remember if you want to speed up curing. Besides, your local concrete companies can answer all curing-related queries.
Question: Is it okay if it rains just after the concrete is poured?
Answer: No. Rain on newly laid concrete can damage the surface and jeopardize the floated finish. Worse, it can result in overall weak concrete. You should take the necessary precautions to cover it up.
Question: What should I do if the concrete is too watery?
Answer: You have two options. You can dump that load and make a new load of concrete. Another option will be to pour a load of concrete with a proper slump above the wet concrete.
Question: How long should I wait before watering my concrete?
Answer: You should at least wait five hours before watering the concrete slab. If it's a hot and sunny day, wait for two hours before watering. You should wet the concrete five to ten times a day during the first week.
Final Words
That's everything we had regarding how long a concrete slab cure before framing. You now have a clear understanding of the curing time.
Hope our guidelines helped. Good luck with your construction project!


text:
Endless contours of rocky, limestone cliffs hiding caves and secret beaches. Pillars of orange rock jutting from the turquoise sea. Open stretches of blonde sand with a single trail of footprints and barely a soul in sight.
Though hardly a well kept secret, it's no surprise that the stunning thread of coastline that makes up the Algarve region is home to some of the best beaches in Portugal.
Visiting just before the start of the high season, we were still able to find stretches of beach where it was just us, alone on our own slice of paradise. Hours were spent exploring every nook and hideaway of the clifftops between Lagos and Faro, dozing on the beach to the sound of the gentle waves and gorging on incredible seafood dishes. If the water had not been quite so icy, we may have never left.
This is our guide to the very best places to visit and things to do in the Algarve – where to find the best beaches, our favourite rustic small towns, what to do there, and where to stay in the region.
** This post includes affiliate links and any purchases made through these links will earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you. **
Things To Do In The Algarve
We used Lagos as our base for our visit to the Algarve, though we really didn't spend all that much time in the town itself.
Besides stuffing yourself stupid with plates of moreish garlic prawns, spending an afternoon exploring the cliffs and bays between the town and Ponta da Piedade is one of the best things to do in Lagos and a wonderful way to enjoy the final hours of sunlight.
The town centre is a hive of tourist activity with restaurants and shops buzzing throughout the day.
We tried out a few of the local specialities: cataplana, a tomatoey seafood stew, Piri Piri chicken and fish with rice, but the dish we came back to time and again was the fried shrimp at Adega da Marinha. This casual cafeteria-meets-sports-bar set up is nothing fancy, but their seafood specialities are great value for money.
Sitting beside the marina with a glass of refreshing vino verde in hand, devouring fresh prawns in a rich garlic, lemon and ginger sauce, we felt there were few better ways to kick off a trip to the Portuguese coast.
If you are looking for a base for your trip, Lagos is one of the best places to stay in the Algarve. There are good bus and train connections to nearby towns and beaches, or if you have a car, most highlights in the region are within an easy 90-minute drive. The beaches alongside the town are also some of the most beautiful in the region.
Lagos also boasts an excellent selection of accommodation to choose from with locally run guesthouses and hotels to suit any budget. Search for rates and availability here.
For a more homey experience, Airbnb is another great option. We stayed at a wonderful apartment near the old town for a very reasonable rate. Check rates and availability here.
New to Airbnb? Sign up here and receive up to $30 off when you make your first booking.
Marinha has a reputation as being the best beach in the Algarve and, unsurprisingly, it was the busiest one we visited.
Even in the hours of dwindling sunlight when most of the shore was cast in shadow people were continuously making their way down the long staircase to the beach.
There's no doubt, Praia da Marinha is one of the prettiest beaches in the region with rugged sandstone pillars dotted dramatically across the sand, but we'd recommend visiting first thing in the morning if you want to avoid the crowds and enjoy the beach bathed in sunshine rather than shade.
The beach is accessible by car but there are no food services here.
A visit to the mesmerising Benagil Cave is easily one of the best things to do in the Algarve. Benagil Beach itself is nice enough, but the main attraction here is the massive cave beach hidden around the corner.
Bobbing along the cliff wall and getting that first glimpse of the secluded beach as you round the bend was definitely a highlight of our trip to the Algarve. Two archways enter the cave and lead up onto the beach with the only light shining through a hole in the sandstone ceiling which creates a halo of sunlight on the sand.
If you're a decent swimmer, getting to the cave is pretty straightforward. Facing the ocean, head to the far left of the beach and the cave is just a short swim around the cliff – around 200 m depending on the tide. Low tide is the best time to go when the cave beach has plenty of sand exposed and the water is calmer. High tide is also manageable but the waves can get a little sloshy leading onto the beach. We would not recommend attempting the swim in big swell and always keep an eye out for boats while in the water.
If you're not keen on swimming, boat tours are offered directly from the beach for around €25, or you can combine Benagil Cave as part of a longer boat tour along the Algarve coast. Check here for prices and reservations.
Parking here can get pretty tight in the area so arrive early. Otherwise, the beach is serviced by the public bus and there are several restaurants nearby.
The pretty stretch of beaches surrounding Praia do Vau is beautifully serene with a healthy supply of cafes and restaurants. The clifftop walk westward from Vau is a must with coastal arches, concealed caves and pretty turquoise bays making it one of the best places in the Algarve to explore.
The main beach at Vau is where most people stop, lay out their towels and settle in for the day, but if you continue along there are some much quieter beaches to be found. Around the first cliff you'll reach Barranco das Canas and further along is the tiny Boiäo.
When we visited on a Saturday in May, Vau was quite busy, but further along there were only a handful of colourful umbrellas to mark our neighbours on the beach.
Vau is accessible via the main parking area behind it. Barranco das Canas can be reached through the adjacent dirt parking area and for Boiäo just continue walking along the beach.
Silves is a quaint and peaceful town of whitewashed walls and cobbled streets that makes a perfect half-day trip. The town is relatively quiet during the day, but you'll find a number of charming cafes serving up fresh orange juice and the Portuguese favourite, torta de nata (custard tarts).
The red-walled fortress atop the hill though is the main thing to do in Silves. From here you can walk the walls and be rewarded with views over the countryside freckled with olive trees. Entrance fee is €2.80.
Silves is accessible by bus and train although the train station is 2 km out of town with a rather unpleasant walk along the highway.
This little red lighthouse just outside of Lagos is the perfect place to watch the sunset after a day spent lolling on the Algarve's sun-kissed shores. Follow the long staircase down to the water or soak up the last rays of sun from the clifftops.
The point is accessible by car or you can walk the lovely 3 km trail that weaves along the clifftops from Lagos.
Standing on the edge of the cliffs, wind lashing your face and no sign of land or life anywhere across the water, it's not hard to believe that navigators once stood here imagining that the horizon signified the edge of the Earth.
At the tip of Sagres Point is the fortress where Henry the Navigator devised much of his plans for explorations to the west. There isn't a whole lot to see inside but from the clifftops and fortress walls, there are views to the once believed edge of the Earth and across to Cape St. Vincent. Entrance fee is €3.
Cape St Vincent is the most south-westerly point of Europe, and as the German hot dog stand reminds you, this is the last stop before America. Walk out along the clifftops and watch the waves that have travelled across the Atlantic collide with the jagged coastline or the windsurfers artfully glide through the whitewash.
Between Sagres Point and Cape St Vincent there is a small protected beach that makes a popular surf spot in the Algarve. A few surf schools in the area rent out boards.
Both areas are accessible by car and there is a cafe and food trucks available at Cape St Vincent.
We didn't visit windswept Bordeira on the Algarve's west to swim, but we did soak it up from the boardwalk that runs south along the headland. Between clumps of yellow flowers, the walkway leads to the edge of the cliff where waves crash violently against the rocks.
The sea here is quite rough, but the river outlet at the southern end has calm waters perfect for swimming.
After a scenic drive through the forest followed by a potholed nightmare beside the wetlands, we emerged at the northern tip of Amoreira.
Tucked away in the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coastal Natural Park, the backdrop of rugged black rocks, choppy seas and ocean mist hanging heavy in the air was a stark contrast to the idyllic shores and orange cliffs where we had spent the previous days on the Algarve's east. However, the wide swathe of silver shore and a slackening breeze made this isolated beach just as inviting.
The river outlet is accessed via a car park and boardwalk at the southern end of Amoreira. There is also a carpark at the northern end and a café a serving food and drinks.
Faro's old town is a sleepy little place of rambling laneways dressed in bougainvillaea and plazas fringed in fragrant orange trees.
In the high season Faro is likely a little more lively, but in the quieter months, it's mostly used as a jumping off point for other regions in the Algarve.
Faro has the main airport in the Algarve and has great bus and train connections within the region and to major centres around Portugal including Lisbon and Porto.
We were based in Lagos during our time in the Algarve and stayed at a lovely Airbnb apartment with a great location and excellent self-catering facilities. Check rates and availability here.
New to Airbnb? Sign up here and receive up to $30 off when you make your first booking!
In the summer, Lagos is known as somewhat of a party town, but that doesn't mean you can't also find some quiet accommodation as well. Whether you're searching for a cosy guesthouse or a bustling hostel, Lagos has some excellent places to stay. Some options that look particularly nice:
Boutique Tag Hostel. With a lovely location right by the water, friendly staff and thoughtful touches sprinkled throughout the property, it's no surprise that travellers rave about their stay here. An airy rooftop terrace and communal kitchen also make this a great place to stay. Dorm rooms and private rooms are available. Search for rates and availability here.
Olive Hostel Lagos. Located right in the old town of Lagos, visitors love the homey vibes at the hostel, alongside the morning yoga and free welcome drinks which sound like an excellent bonus to us. A guest kitchen is also on offer with both dormitory and private rooms available. Search for rates and availability here.
Due to it's proximity to the airport, Faro is another popular place to be based. Search for rates and availability in Faro here.
There are good bus and train connections between the main towns and beaches of the Algarve. Hubs in Faro and Lagos also have good connections to Lisbon and international services running to Seville in Spain.
Train services are run by Cambios de Portugal and buses are primarily operated by Eva Transportes.
Hiring a car is a far more convenient way to explore the Algarve and can often be the most economical option, especially if there are two or more people. Particularly when visiting the Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina where bus services are infrequent and won't take you right to the coast, a car will give you the freedom to explore these pretty coastal roads and isolated beaches without having to rely on a bus schedule.
Several major car rental agencies operate out of Lagos and Faro airport while local operators often give more competitive rates. Search car rental options here.


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Sharpening the blades of your food processor is one of the most important things you can do to ensure that it continues to work well for years. It is important to sharpen the blades on your food processor because dull blades require more force, leading to injury or poor performance when trying to chop ingredients. In this article, we will discuss three methods of sharpening food processor blades that you may find helpful for maintaining your appliance in top shape!
This article presents you with an overview of how to utilize your food processor's blades. But, first, what causes the blades on your food processor to become blunt?
Why do the Blades Get Blunt?
Do you clean your food processor right after usage? If not, this might be the reason. Food particles accumulate on the blades and blunt them over time. The blade will eventually rust due to uncleanliness.
Blades are meant to slice through food items, but they will not be able to sharpen the same way over time. There can be many reasons why this happens – blades could get chipped or bent while in use. Sometimes the blade would even crack and need replacement. Whatever the case is, it important to sharpen them regularly for optimal performance.
Also Check: Best Food Processor under 100
Methods of Sharpening food Processor blades
Below we have explained 3 easy ways to sharpen your food processor blades.
1: Using Blade Sharpener Tools
Some of the equipment includes auto sharpener gadgets and sandstone. Because they are simple to use, you may buy them and sharpen your processor without assistance. Don't be concerned about the bend; these instruments can sharpen it effectively. If you're clueless about how to utilize them, keep reading.
Step one: Unhook the blade.
As usual, the blade will be connected to its mechanical foundation with a hook. It's not a good idea to sharpen the blade while it's connected to its base. First, remove the blade from the hilt. Carefully push and point a screwdriver toward the screw off, which is located on the blade's edge from the middle.
Step two: Abrade process of the sharpener
One thing to note before using the sharpener is that the figure's safety must be considered. Because of the spin machine in the middle of the blade, it is possible to spin it. Use anti-spin plastic support to keep the blade in place. Tap it carefully since it can't spin together with your other thumb.
Don't try to sharpen the blade by pressing too much on it. It's necessary to sharpen one side of the blade simultaneously, so sharpen each part for around ten seconds. It would help if you rubbed it every time you change the order, which will make it repetitive. Rub each edge at least four times minimum. Of course, repeat the process for all other sharp edges of the same knife.
Step three: Cleanup and reassemble
After sharpening both sides, you should clean up the mess made during this process. You can use aluminum foil or a kitchen towel. Put the blade back on its hilt, assemble everything, and it's ready to be used again!
2: Using rock salt to make it sharp
Salt is usually used to sharpen steel knives. You can use salt for sharpening your food processor blades too! Only a few people know that we don't need special tools to sharpen the blade with rock salt and water.
Step One: With appropriate safety equipment, mix one tablespoon of coarse rock salt and two cups of warm water in a bowl.
Step two: Immerse the blades into the salt water mixture for about three minutes. Make sure that you sharpen both edges of each blade if they are present!
Step three: Remove them from the solution and rinse with warm water to remove any remaining particles. Dry immediately by wiping it down with paper towels.
Step four: Put the blades back to their hilt, sharpen them and enjoy your fresh-cut food!
Using Ceramic Stones or Steel Rods to sharpen Food Processor Blades
This is one of the most traditional methods for sharpening knives and blades in general. It may take a bit longer than other suggested techniques, but it's still worth it.
3: Using a Knife Sharpener Stone
A knife sharpener is a simple tool that has two sides: one for sharpeners and another to hone the blade. It'll sharpen your blades in no time!
Step One: Put the food processor blade on top of both surfaces with its back facing down (so you'll sharpen only the edge, not other parts of the blade).
Step Two: Pull it down on both surfaces as you sharpen each edge.
Step Three: Repeat this process for all blades and sharpen them at least four times! The minimum, that is! You can do more if you want your food processor to work well. It'll improve its performance by over-sharpening it.
Step Four: After you sharpen it well, put your blades back to their hilt.
Final Verdict
These are the best three methods for sharpening food processor blades without assistance! If done correctly, they'll sharpen and restore your blade's quality in no time. You can even apply them while using a knife or some other kitchen equipment.
There are many alternative methods for sharpening food processor blades, but these are the cheapest and most efficient ones! Also Read is it safe to put ice in a food processor?


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Shops gutted as fire in Karachi's Nazimabad market defused
KARACHI: A massive fire that broke out at a cloth market in Nazimabad area been doused by firefighters on Monday after several hours of struggle. Several shops and pushcarts were destroyed in the fire that erupted in Chawla market in
Illegal construction underway on nine-storey building in Nazimabad
KARACHI: Rampant illegal constructions continue unabated across Karachi as the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) turns a blind eye amid the declining writ of local authorities. Illegal constructions are being done in Nazimabad, North Nazimabad, New Karachi, Liaquatabad, Landhi, Jamshed
Woman killed as tanker overturns in Nazimabad
KARACHI: A woman was killed and four others were severely injured on Thursday morning after a speeding tanker overturned on Shahrah-e-Noor in Nazimabad area of Karachi. According to the reports, the tanker hit a motorcyclist and then rammed into a


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Rappler's latest stories on Development Bank of the Philippines
'Largest budget support ever': ADB lends PH $1.5 billion vs coronavirus
Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III says the loan will help fund programs to defeat COVID-19 and bridge the higher deficit requirement estimated at P990 billion
Duterte slams Lopez group anew for past DBP loans
President Rodrigo Duterte launches a fresh tirade against the Lopez family, warning he might 'start to dig' up information about how DBP loans obtained by their companies were written off
SC affirms junking of graft case vs DBP, textile firm over Marcos-era behest loans
The Supreme Court Third Division backs the Ombudsman's 2006 decision to dismiss the complaint filed by the Presidential Commission on Good Government
SC: Release P747-M retirement perks of ex-DBP employees
The Supreme Court grants a petition questioning the Commission on Audit's notice of disallowance on the Development Bank of the Philippines' retirement program
Sandiganbayan junks case vs ex-DBP officials over Marcos-era loan
The anti-graft court says the Office of the Solicitor General failed to prove that a P57.39-million loan given to a textile company by the Development Bank of the Philippines was a behest loan
DBP open to unload MRT3 interests
A new owner and operator for Metro Rail Transit Line 3 MRT3 is in the books of the Philippine government This is to give the railway proper upgrade and maintenance
DBP willing to help rebuild Marawi City, says CEO
The state owned financial banking institution continues to grow the financial muscle it needs to achieve its development mandate CEO Cecilia Borromeo says
Former DBP chairman Nañagas acquitted of graft, estafa
The anti graft court upon re examination of the evidence cites a weakness in the graft case and some reasonable doubt in the two estafa cases
Veteran banker Cecilia Borromeo is new DBP chief
Borromeo replaces Gil Buenaventura who has been serving as president and CEO of Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation since July 1 2016
Landbank-DBP merger stopped
Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III says the main rationale behind the decision is that the two institutions serve different functions
Ongpin vows to appeal SEC ruling, slams 'cruel' penalties
I thought that the persecution under the Aquino administration had ended but apparently the remaining minions of the past administration are still determined to get me says Roberto Ongpin
Gil Buenaventura is new RCBC president and CEO
The 63 year old Development Bank of the Philippines chief will replace Lorenzo Tan as RCBC president and CEO starting July 1
Ex-DBP chairman Nañagas convicted of graft, estafa
Th Sandiganbayan says Vitaliano Nañagas II employed deceit when he asked the government to reimburse money he spent on items such as lingerie
DBP employees file plunder complaint vs top execs
UPDATED The senior vice president of DBP calls the plunder complaint filed by some bank employees as full of inaccuracies and a nuisance case
Aquino OKs Landbank-DBP merger
With Landbank as the surviving entity President Benigno Aquino III approves the increase in its capital stock to P200 billion 4 19 billion
China Bank to open 11 branches in December
Retail and banking magnate Henry Sy's China Bank expects to close 2015 with 508 branches including those of China Bank Savings and Planters Development Bank
Groups launch signature drive vs P800M Samar gov't loan
The No to P800 Million Loan Coalition seeks to gather 600 000 signatures in Samar to support its protest against the loan
Sale of Meralco shares didn't happen – Landbank
There is no violation of the Anti Graft Law since the block sale of the bank s Meralco shares did not materialize Landbank says
Ex-Landbank, SSS execs face graft charges over Meralco deal
The deal involved the block sale of SSS Meralco shares for P5 669 billion to Global 5000 a company identified with businessman Roberto V Ongpin
Prioritize public needs over credit ratings, Angara tells gov't
The senator questions the government s priorities in the face of its refusal to lower taxes
Marina mulls fiscal perks for domestic shipbuilders
With the incentives program the government hopes that the Philippines will soon be the largest shipbuilding nation in the world
Davao Sasa project attracts 5 investors
San Miguel ICTSI and Singapore s Portek are among the 5 groups that want to bid for the Davao Sasa modernization project
Ifugao residents protest multi-level parking in Banaue
Local officials say the facility is meant to solve the traffic problem in the tourist area where vehicles usually park on the main road Critics claim there was no prior public consultation on the project
'Invest in PH now' - Gov't, business make pitch to US investors
The conference is part of a high level 3 city trade mission aimed at encouraging US investment in the country
DBP employees file admin, criminal complaint vs top execs
The complaint is based on the 'highly questionable sale' of the bank's P14 3 billion worth of government securities resulting in actual government losses of P717 07 million
ADB, DBP to advise gov't on PPP deal
The Philippine government gets help from Asian Development Bank for the biggest public private partnership deal thus far: the 3 8 billion South Line of North South Railway Project
Abad: GOCC dividends, Treasury gains to fund MRT3 buyout
The government can also borrow money but with the the approval of the Office of the President if GOCC dividends and Treasury gains are not realized Budget Secretary Florencio Abad says
APEC pushes microinsurance for disaster mitigation
With global damage due to calamities reaching 300 billion leaders are now encouraged to invest in microinsurance to strengthen disaster resilience in communities an ADB specialist says
Can Carcar in Cebu pay a P600-M loan for new city center?
Provincial board members point out that the estimated yearly payments for the loan is higher than the debt servicing cap of the city
Firms urge gov't to maintain PPP momentum as 2016 looms
The private sector is gaining confidence in public private partnership projects as the government mulls joining a China led development bank to help narrow the infrastructure gap
GSIS Family Bank up for sale
The sale is expected to be completed by the first half of 2015
Abaya: Gov't to proceed with MRT3 buyout
The journey to the government s takeover of the MRT3 is being opposed but DOTC Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya says the government has Executive Order 126
SC stops COA order vs DBP productivity perks
The High Court issues a TRO on the enforcement of a COA order disallowing the grant of the DBP Governance Forum Productivity Award
JICA, Cebu City unveil P15-M wastewater treatment facility
The Japan International Cooperation Agency shares a patented technology with Cebu City to help effectively manage its sewerage and septic systems
Peeling off the legalese rind
How are prayer and quash used in legal terms? Understand legal jargon in the context of the dismissed graft charges vs businessman Bobby Ongpin
2 Sandigan justices question dismissal of charges vs Ongpin
Anti graft court Associate Justice Herrera argues that the dismissal of the cases constitutes an unwarranted turnaround and a premature appreciation of evidence
Sandiganbayan junks graft raps vs Ongpin, ex-DBP officers
Ongpin was accused of forging behest loan deals with former DBP officials and executives in 2009
ADB: PH to grow below 2014, 2015 targets
The lender says growth will be tempered by rising inflation and interest rates
COA: DBP perks in 2005-06 had no legal basis
The COA ruling covers P151 7 million worth of bonuses and perks given to officials and staff of the government owned corporation between 2005 and 2006
COA to agencies: Return P2.3-B bonuses
UPDATED The Governance Commission for GOCCs responds to the COA order
Court orders arrest of 13 ex-DBP officials
At least 8 of those issued warrants have already posted bail
Ongpin case no impact on Alphaland - exec
Roberto Ongpin s court case has not affect Alphaland s financials
From word war, Ongpin-BSP drama shifts to legal battle
Ongpin files graft charges against BSP Deputy Governor Nestor Espenilla before the Office of the Ombudsman
Ongpin exits PBCom, sells stake to nephew
Ongpin says the move is meant to protect PBCom from any untoward action by monetary officials whom he slammed publicly over their alleged bias toward him
Ongpin to sue BSP deputy gov Espenilla
Ongpin accuses Espenilla of violating the anti graft law after the latter asked the appellate court to freeze his bank accounts
Court freezes Ongpin's bank accounts
The freeze order was made upon the request of the Anti Money Laundering Council
Rappler Newscast | December 6, 2012
Typhoon Pablo international name Bopha wipes out entire town leaving more than 400 people dead hundreds missing and a quarter of a million homeless Lawmakers supporting the Reproductive Health Bill predict it will pass Congress next week 13 officials of the Development Bank of the Philippines are fired over 660 million peso behest loans to a company of Roberto Ongpin
13 DBP officials sacked over P660-M loans to Ongpin grp
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales orders the dismissal from service of 13 officials of state run Development Bank of the Philippines DBP for granting P660 M loans in 2009 that she considered behest or illegal
DBP chief resigns, cites health issues
Does the resignation of Development Bank of the Philippines president and CEO Francisco Popoy F del Rosario have anything to do with his alleged tiff with DBP chairman Jose Nuñez?
Osmeña to resign if can't prove Mike Arroyo behind DBP-Ongpin loan
Sen Sergio Osmeña is 110 confident that former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo had a hand in the over P660 million loans reportedly granted illegally by state run bank to businessman Roberto V Ongpin


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102 Ac Farm, Pigg River Frontage
Penhook : Franklin County : VA
Land Matters, LLC - Wainwright & Co. REALTORS


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Why TrackYourCEUs?
For years TrackYourHours has provided California trainees and interns a simple way to track and document hours for licensure. TYH applies the BBS rules and generates the BBS forms with one click making the licensure process a little easier for thousands of trainees and interns. Over the years we have seen licensed professionals in California experience issues remaining compliant with their CEU requirements. The solution? TrackYourCEUs! Building on the concepts that have m


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South African rock pigeon shooting 2023
Rock pigeons are found in astounding numbers throughout the Free State in South Africa, the Rock Pigeon (or 'African grey Grouse') is a fantastically exciting pigeon to shoot! These flighty erratic rock pigeons dive and twist with displays of acrobatics at speeds of 80 mph, challenging to even the absolute best of game shots. South African rock pigeons are utterly unique, like no other bird you could shoot anywhere else in the World, considered the ultimate challenge in the world of pigeon shooting.
Driven Pigeon Shooting In South Africa rock pigeon numbers peak at Easter, making the last two weeks of March and the first two weeks of April the best time for high volume, driven pigeon shooting in southern Africa.
The southern African Rock Pigeon is not a "game bird", nor is it a Dove, but a pigeon with incredible speed and airborne agility, enabling rock pigeons to out-jinx any situation. South African rock pigeons make driven red Grouse shooting look decidedly easy in comparison!
Popular inhabited regions for South African rock pigeon shooting, are primarily mixed crop farming areas with nearby mountain ranges and cities, these hunting areas are also particularly rich in Upland game birds & waterfowl.
Southern African rock pigeons and mixed Upland game and waterfowl shooting.
Your shooting skills will be tested by rock pigeons shot over sunflower stubble fields, using decoys and walked-up Duck and Snipe in marshlands. The best South African rock pigeon shooting is March and April for high-volume rock pigeon hunts; however, the best Game Bird shooting opportunities are from 1st June to 15th September, which coincides with the open season in the Free State of South Africa.
The absolute best time of year to shoot South African rock pigeons over decoys, combined with Upland game birds and waterfowl, then August and September are prime months.
Wingshooting rock pigeon hunts are social occasions, combining friends and family, ideal group sizes 4 to 8 people. Four Season Rock pigeon shooting holidays can personally bespoke your South African rock pigeon shooting trip to suit any team, however…our most popular wing shooting packages are listed above on the South Africa web page.


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The months long hectic poll campaign for the first phase of Manipur Assembly elections came to an end on Saturday afternoon as the voting in the state would be held on Monday for 38 of the 60 seats in the five districts.
Election Officials said that the Central Armed Police Forces personnel took position in all the 38 poll bound assembly constituencies and the 9,895 polling personnel either reached or were on the way to their designated 1,721 polling stations.
The officials said that as part of a series of measures implemented to execute a Covid-safe election, mandatory sanitisation of the polling stations was done in different parts of the state.
In the first phase, 173 candidates, including 15 women, are contesting the elections and 12,22,713 voters including 6, 29,276 women electorates would decide their electoral fate.
In the over two-months long campaign, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP President J.P. Nadda, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, his Tripura counterpart Biplab Kumar Deb, National People's Party (NPP) supremo Conrad K. Sangma, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, party General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Rajya Sabha Member Jairam Ramesh took part for their respective party candidates.
In the polling, the electoral fate of Chief Minister and BJP candidate N.Biren Singh, his cabinet colleague Thongam Biswajit Singh, NPP candidate and Deputy Chief Minister Yumnam Joykumar Singh, senior BJP leader Thokchom Satyabrata Singh, Congress' Ratankumar Singh, Lokeshwar Singh, Saratchandra Singh, sitting party MLA Akoijam Mirabai Devi are at stake.
Firebrand women leader and Janata Dal (United) candidate Thounaojam Brinda, who was the Additional Superintendent of Police (Headquarters), also contesting in the first phase of polling from the Yaiskul constituency.
The BJP, which had bagged 21 seats in the 60-member assembly in 2017 and wrested the power for the first time, stitching together a coalition government with the support of four NPP MLAs, four Naga People's Front (NPF) members, the lone Trinamool Congress MLA and an Independent member. However, this time the BJP, NPP and the NPF are contesting separately and put-up candidates against each other.
The NPP, the dominant party of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government, has been an ally of the BJP in both the northeastern states (Meghalaya and Manipur) since 2017, has put up 38 candidates while the BJP fielded in all the 60 seats in the Manipur elections.
Congress, which governed the state for 15 consecutive years (2002-2017) and emerged as the single largest party by securing 28 seats in 2017 poll, this time formed a Manipur Progressive Secular Alliance (MPSA) after forging a pre-poll alliance with four Left parties and Janata Dal-Secular, The second phase of polling will be held in 22 seats on March 5. Votes will be counted on March 10.


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We R Memory Keepers Mini Precision Press Stamping Tool Set 2pcs
by We R Memory Keepers
by We R Memory Keepers
Precise stamping every time! Use direct downward pressure for even, perfect stamping.
We R Memory Keepers Mini Precision Press has a 3 x 5 inch stamping surface perfect for tags and card making.
Button corners provide even stamping pressure across the block.
The acrylic block can be used with or without the base allignment press.
The package includes one base stamping surface and acrylic block.


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The Good Student's Argument Against Proctoring Software
By: Asia Merrill, Plymouth Voices Editor
The transition to digital learning in 2020 exhausted a population of students and educators alike. Suddenly, issues like Zoom fatigue, lack of participation, lack of engagement, and technological frustration baffled the field of education nearly overnight, and has generated digital versions of everyday necessities: namely, proctoring. Due to the sharp increase of digital learning, according to this poll, "54 percent of institutions were using online or remote proctoring services, while another 23 percent were considering or planning to use them," (Flaherty, 2020). I would be the last to argue against the value of academic integrity. Indeed, a teacher's lack of control over an environment presents a significant risk of cheating. I will, however, be the first to say that digital proctoring software is not the solution.
I titled this article this way because one of the main arguments in favor of the software is that students who don't cheat shouldn't be bothered by the presence of digital proctors. As a student who has genuinely never cheated, I am absolutely bothered. Anxieties around test taking are crushing alone. Being actively watched and potentially flagged for minor behaviors or elements of my environment that I cannot control makes that fear significantly worse. I'm not alone in this. The University of Arizona reportedly believes that students don't mind the digital proctor, but UA student Jackson Hayes, according to this article from The Verge, says, "Every student I know finds this the creepiest thing ever," Hayes says. On his campus, he finds, "the predominant feeling towards Examity is 'Screw this.'"
Enlisting a third party to monitor students presents security concerns and fosters distrust between students and teachers. According to this Slate article, our own Katherine Wolfseifer from the psychology department has publicly voiced her hesitation in using proctoring software: "We have many students from difficult backgrounds who may feel especially self-conscious about a professor seeing their surroundings, and the basic idea is that such extreme surveillance does not build a community of trust in which the student would feel comfortable reaching out to a professor for help". Respondus, for example, relies heavily on facial recognition to flag "events" that may indicate cheating, such as a person missing from the frame, suspicious eye movement, or a different person being on camera. Additionally, it flags background noise, tracks the activity of the device, and even monitors the wifi network being used to take the exam.
Not only is this a huge invasion of privacy, but it creates an unsafe environment for those who live in noisy or troubled homes, have children, or have disabilities that need to be addressed during the time required to take an exam. One student was flagged for involuntary mouth movements, while PoC students with darker skin are repeatedly asked by the software to "turn the lights on". While a professor may not be actively watching every student, they are prompted to check a student's camera feed when "flags" come up, presenting its own problems. Respondus is the most popular digital proctoring software, garnering patronage from a whopping 65% of surveyed institutions. Such software is not immune to data breaches, either. According to this article by The Spectator, "ProctorU confirmed that 440,000 records were stolen and leaked publicly in August. In mid-October, Verificient, the maker of another test proctoring service, ProctorTrack, was hacked and forced to disable the service." While researching for this piece, Firefox even issued me a warning upon going to ProctorU's official website. Additionally, this service in particular accomplishes its goal by having an employee watch students as they take the test, hidden behind a black screen. In response to the security and privacy issues, the University of California, Berkeley, has banned proctoring software altogether.
Aside from the blatant invasion of privacy, it's pretty expensive. Respondus' base tier licensing fee for an institution is nearly $4,000 annually, which only covers about 1,000 seats. Examity and ProctorU bill students independently, which has its own host of ethical issues.
Luckily, with the vaccine for COVID-19 potentially being available for April of this year, proctoring software would ideally become irrelevant, as in-person traditional exams can continue. Or, more appealingly, the elimination of harsh exam practices in favor of more pedagogically appropriate tests of competency that aren't based on ableist, racist traditions.


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Brain Mush? What to Do When You're Feeling Distracted or Unmotivated
When your brain is like a hot pan of scrambled eggs, being creative is almost impossible. Even simple tasks are hard. You start wondering what's wrong with you. Why can't I get out of this rut?
If you're having a hard time finding focus or feeling pulled in a bunch of different directions—welcome to the virtual party. You're not alone.
Times are hard, friends. Here are some of the ways I've been able to get myself through creative ruts and overall feelings of brain mush.
What is brain mush?
Don't you mean brain fog? Probably. But my brain feels like mush. Maybe fog AND mush. I mean, look at their definitions:
Mush: (n) Something soft and spongy or shapeless
(v) to reduce to a crumbly mass
Fog: (n) A state of confusion or bewilderment
If that ain't the truth. Shapeless, crumbly mass in a state of confusion or bewilderment—sounds about right.
Brain fog isn't a medical condition, but it does affect your ability to think and focus; it includes an "inability to concentrate, increased absent-mindedness, and difficulty recalling or retaining information."
(Oh, hello every other week since March 2020).
Brain fog also manifests itself through insomnia, mood changes, and fatigue. It leads to a vicious cyle of anxiety:
I'm not doing enough
Why am I on Twitter again?
I should be doing more.
What did I open this document for?
The question is: how do you get out of this funk?
Tips to find motivation and focus
1. Don't.
Yup, that's right. Don't. If you're barely scraping through your days right now, that's okay. Don't try to get focused. Don't go looking for motivation. Enough is more than enough right now.
Forget your goal to share on social media every day or reach out to 5 new connections. No one is waiting for you to bring your business forward. No one is watching your quiet Instagram feed or rolling their eyes when you don't have something to share on Twitter.
Whatever you do, don't try to get out of your brain mush. Trying will only make it last longer. Don't pressure yourself to perform at your optimal level right now either. Things are heavy enough as it is. So just don't.
2. Rest in the funk.
When's the last time you took a deep breath? Or took an afternoon off?
Unclench your jaw.
Take a breather.
If resting means lying on your couch for 30 minutes, staring at the wall, or going for a short walk, do what you need to do to breathe a little deeper.
3. Go to your happy place.
When I'm somewhere between brain mush and full-fledged anxiety, platforms like Instagram and Twitter aren't my place. Give yourself permission to save socializing for when you're feeling up to it.
Find spaces online that lift you up. I'm sure doctors aren't recommending you scroll your troubles away, but sometimes you just need some numb, mindless scrolling. For me, I feel the most control over what I'm seeing when I'm on Reddit or Pinterest. If you're new to Reddit, here are some of my favorites:
Cuddle up with a good book. Try to avoid business books when you're feeling some kind of way (if you can). Instead, use fiction books as an escape. Here's what I've read so far in 2021:
Beartown by Fredrik Backman (easily one of my favorite books of all time)
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden (also great!)
I'm partway through A Torch Against the Night (sequel to An Ember in the Ashes). Highly recommend!
4. Make time to PLAY.
Don't worry about the novel you hate yourself for not finishing yet. Find something creative to do for FUN.
Experiential designer Maday Martinez recently shared: "Flow takes us fully in the moment making it IMPOSSIBLE to experience stress about the future or worry about the past."
PLAY helps us move out of our funk and enjoy the present. Not sure where to start? Listen to this podcast by The Pineapple Project. (Shout out to my dear friend Julianna at Promosaurs Marketing for the recommendation).
5. Turn off your notifications.
How can you be creative if you're checking your phone every five minutes? When will you find rest if there's a device yelling at you 14 times an hour?
Okay fine, "yelling" is dramatic, but that phone buzz pulls you away from your focus even more than you realize.
Give yourself some peace. Push notifications are ruining our productivity, says Steve Glaveski, founder of Collective Campus: "The average executive touches their phone 2,617 times a day, checks emails 74 times a day, and receives 46 smartphone notifications a day."
That's a lot of distractions. And it takes a toll.
Rachel Bearbower, nonprofit coach at Small Shop Strategies agrees: "When you have notifications popping up every couple of minutes, there's a lot of time wasted each day, just settling back into the work you were doing." (Listen to her debut podcast here).
6. Still feeling stuck? Bring it back to your community.
Before you go spiraling (Whose idea was it to start a business? Why am I even doing this?), bring it back to the people you serve. Sure, maybe you started your Instagram account because you love collecting likes (and looking like you're getting your ish together). But dig deep enough and you'll remember who you're showing up for.
You're not doing this for you. Valery Colli, founder of The Podcast Planners shared a great graphic about how to create content topics. The secret? Bring everything back to your audience. The next time you're stuck and not sure what to create, bring it back to the people who matter most: the people in your community.
Let your brain be mushy
Picture your brain mush as a cozy blanket reminding you to slow down. I mean it: slow down. Set your timer for ten minutes and sit back in your chair. Count your breaths. Sometimes that's the best you can do. Trust it'll pass and get better soon.
How are you doing? Are you feeling the "brain mush" this week? Come say hi on Twitter or Instagram. We'll get through this!