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This is a repost of my article in the Leicester Mercury. I wanted to repost it here so I could fix the messed up text. When they copied and pasted it they lost all the formatting and most importantly the scientific notation. I've fixed it below."Trust Boots" is the tagline that has been offered by the high street pharmacist since 2005. According to Boots' 2006 Corporate Responsibility Strategy, "Everything we do that builds trust is good for our business; anything which could compromise it, a risk we can't afford to take." So have Boots shown themselves to be worthy of our trust?
On the shelves of their pharmacy on Gallowtree Gate in Leicester you will find a small section devoted to homeopathy. Many people I meet are confused about exactly what homeopathy is – some thinking it is simply a type of herbal or natural medicine.
Allow me to explain.
The first principle of homeopathy is what they call the "law of similars". Homeopaths look for a chemical that produces a similar symptom to the disease they aim to treat. For instance, caffeine causes you to stay awake, so homeopaths may decide to use this in a remedy to treat insomnia. Another example is hay fever. Hay fever causes runny eyes and so do onions – so some homeopaths will treat hay fever with a preparation of onions. I realise that all this may sound a little bit unconventional, but please bear with me – in a moment it's going to sound even more so.
Turning a chemical such as onion juice into a homeopathic preparation involves a process of "dilution" and "succussion". To create the centesimal or "C" remedies they sell at Boots, the homeopath takes one drop of the chemical and mixes it with 99 drops of water (dilution). In centuries past, this was then banged against a leather covered board or book, often a bible, although in modern times the shaking is often done by machine. This shaking is called "succussion". This is now a 1C homeopathic preparation. It contains 99% water and 1% "active ingredient".
To turn this into a 2C remedy, the process is repeated. One drop of the solution is taken from the 1C remedy is mixed with 99 drops of water and then shaken. The 2C remedy now contains 99.99% water and 0.01% "active ingredient". Repeat the process again to create a 3C remedy at 0.0001%, and so on. Homeopaths believe that the higher the level of dilution, the more powerful the remedy.
Many homeopaths will use the solution directly, but Boots and many others prefer to sell homeopathy as pills - or pillules as they call them. One pillule is meant to contain the equivalent of one drop of homeopathic solution.
We can calculate approximately how many molecules of "active ingredient" get into the one drop that makes it into the pillule. A drop of water contains about 1,700,000,000,000,000,000,000 molecules. Scientists write this as 1.7x1021. That's a 17 with 20 zeros after it. Boots sell remedies at 6C and 30C. A 6C remedy will contain around 0.0000000001% "active" ingredient – which works out at about 1.7 billion molecules of active ingredient. But what about when we dilute this further? By the time you get to 10C, there are only 17 molecules of active ingredient left. And at 11C, you only have about a one chance in 6 of finding a single molecule.
The branch of Boots on Gallowtree Gate in Leicester display a guide, provided by the manufacturer, that states a Bryonia 30C remedy "Relieves the symptoms of a dry painful cough, pressure and dehydration headaches" and that a Kali Bich 30C remedy "Soothes the symptoms of sinusitis".
30C. I already explained that at 11C, you only have about a one in 6 chance of finding a single molecule of active ingredient. At 12C, there is only about one chance in 600 that you will find a molecule and at 13C just one chance in 60,000. By the time you get to 30C, you have more chance of winning the National Lottery jackpot five weeks in a row than you do of finding a single molecule of active ingredient.
Or think about it this way: how much water would you need to contain one molecule of active ingredient at 30C dilution? According to my calculations, the body of water would weigh 5 billion times more than the planet you are standing on. If you want that in pillule form, you'd need to buy 6x1038 pillules (a 6 with 38 zeros after it). At Boots' retail prices, that would cost you 35 trillion trillion trillion pounds. That's a rather expensive molecule.
These pills do not contain any active ingredient.
To my way of thinking, homeopathy is entirely implausible, but science is incredibly open-minded to seemingly implausible ideas. Ideas such as Einstein's theory of general relativity and quantum theory are utterly bizarre, but once they were demonstrated to be true with fair tests then scientists accepted them.
Testing for a pill is essentially simple. Take a large number of people with a particular disease and randomly divide them into two groups. Give one group the pills you want to test and the other group some placebo pills that don't contain anything. Neither the patient nor the researchers working with them can know which patients were given which pill. After an agreed period of time count how many people in each group got better.
So what do the trials show? Actually, that's a little complicated. Some of the poor quality trials where the patients were told which drug they were getting, or had very small sample sizes showed an effect. But those effects could easily be down to the placebo effect or random variation due to the small sample sizes.
But when the experiments are done properly with larger numbers of patients, the vast majority do not show homeopathy to be any better than a placebo. A quick search of Cochrane articles leads us to reviews of homeopathy for the treatment of dementia, chronic asthma and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. They all end in similar conclusions: "No evidence that homeopathy is effective in treating dementia", "Until stronger evidence exists for the use of homeopathy in the treatment of asthma, we are unable to make recommendations about homeopathic treatment." and "Overall the results of this review found no evidence of effectiveness for homeopathy for the global symptoms, core symptoms or related outcomes of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder."
But what do they tell you in Boots? When I popped into their Oadby branch and asked about homeopathic treatment, the pharmacist tried to politely steer me away from the homeopathic remedies citing the lack of evidence. Fair enough.
But a pharmacist at the Gallowtree Gate branch was not so off putting. Despite a couple of points in the conversation where I felt she certainly gave the impression that she did not believe in homeopathy, she was still happy to say things that I would never expect to come out of the mouth of professional pharmacist, by explaining that homeopaths "don't just treat the condition, they look at the whole person" and "If you want absolutely spot on accurate treatment you need to see someone who is a qualified homeopath."
Boots' professional standards director Paul Bennett was asked about homeopathy at a parliamentary science and technology sub-committee on the 25th October: "Do they work beyond the placebo effect?" He replied, "I have no evidence before me that they are efficacious and we look very much for the evidence to support that."
I think it's unlikely that Boots don't know where to look for medical evidence. So what we're being told by Boots' professional standards director is that they've looked around, found evidence - but he hasn't found any that show homeopathy to work.
He was asked to clarify with the line, "You sell them, but you don't believe they are efficacious?" He replied, "It's about consumer choice for us."
If it is about consumer choice, I personally believe that Boots should be ensuring that their consumers are properly informed to make a choice. Their labels should clearly state "the best evidence shows that these products work no better than placebos." But their labels don't say that. The information on their shelves makes claims such as "Relieves the symptoms of a dry painful cough." Selling this quackery may well be about consumer choice. Making these claims of efficacy is most certainly not.
Is this likely to lead you to "Trust Boots"?


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Texas Megachurch Donates More Than Six Tons of Food to Struggling Food Pantry
A Texas megachurch recently gave more than 12,500 pounds of food and personal care items to a community food bank that was in desperate need of donations.
Robby Gordon, community pastor for local outreach at Bent Tree Bible Fellowship in Carrollton, Texas, told The Christian Post the church collects food each quarter for one of five different area food banks. Gordon says it was a "privilege" and "blessing" for the church to be able to provide in such a big way this fall.
"Bent Tree wants to be a church that isn't just in the city, but for the city, and that's something that we've tried to instill in the people that make up Bent Tree. It's been incredible to sit back and watch how Christ, working in and through them, has made such a tremendous impact at [Frisco Family Services]," said Gordon.
Frisco Family Services (FFS), a community organization that helps the homeless, hungry and others who have urgent needs, sent out a newsletter, which Gordon provided to CP, on Oct. 15 saying the shelves of its food pantry were "almost empty" and that it needed to collect 60,000 pounds of food in October. Bent Tree had already been collecting food for about a month at that time, which Gordon attributed in a statement to God's perfect timing.
Not only was Bent Tree's donation the largest FFS has received all year, according to Gordon, it was also the largest collected in the church's 38-year existence. The church's previous record was set in November 2012 when it brought in 10,000 pounds of food.
"I think the biggest thing is that we truly want to be a church that, if we were gone, our community would mourn," said Gordon.
FFS says the food donated by Bent Tree will provide 248 families of four with three square meals a day for an entire week, according to a press release.
"The drive will help our nonprofit 'get ahead of the demand' particularly during the holidays," said Melanie Perkins, development director at FFS, in a statement. "It almost leaves me speechless that someone is willing to give us that much food. It's very needed and we're just very honored that they chose to give it to us and to the Frisco community."
Bent Tree began in 1975 with just 15 families. Today the nondenominational church it is attended by more than 4,000 people.

subset: commoncrawl


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IESBA Code of Ethics translated into Spanish
14 May 2012
The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) has announced the availability of a Spanish translation of the Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants, which is produced by the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA).
The single, Spanish translation is the result of a collaborative effort by several IFAC member bodies and can be downloaded free of charge for personal use from the IFAC website.
Click for IFAC press release (link to IFAC website).


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Steve and I weren't home to enjoy the white Christmas that Dallas received, but we were still blessed with abundant snow during our visit to family in Wisconsin. There was nearly a foot of snow, draping homes and fences and evergreens more beautifully than I had seen in years. We woke up each morning with a breathtaking view of perfect white, and I couldn't help but feel more at home than ever. I didn't always associate snow with good things. I grew up with the expectation that a snowy winter simply meant lots of "hard physical labor." One year as a joke, my dad gave us snow shovels as Christmas presents and said, "Take these for a spin!" (He wasn't really joking) I can remember many winters during my childhood and teenage years where it was bitterly co… Read more »
Thursday, December 27, 2012
A New Perspective on Snow
Posted by Anna Rose Bain at 5:32 PM 1 comments
Labels: Anna Rose Bain, Christmas, Midwest, new year, plein air painting, snow, snow painting, tree painting, winter, winter adornments, winter landscape, winter oil painting, winter painting, winter plein air, Wisconsin
Friday, December 7, 2012
Impressionism and the Seeds of Modern Art - The Musee d'Orsay
While in Paris last month, I got to visit the Musee d'Orsay for the very first time. I was a little bummed that photography was not allowed, but it forced me to really take note of the paintings that stood out to me, and actually helped me enjoy the viewing experience even more. Here is the one picture we got from inside the museum: I enjoyed this collection very much, as many of the pieces I've become familiar with over the years could be found here, one after another! To name just a few: Whistler's " Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1 " (no, it wasn't destroyed by Mr. Bean!), Van Gogh's " Bedroom ," Manet's controversial "Luncheon on the Grass" and "Olympia" (who I wrote about here ), Coubet's " Origin of the World "… Read more »
Impressionism and the Seeds of Modern Art - The Musee d'Orsay
Posted by Anna Rose Bain at 9:38 AM 3 comments


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Online Community of Zenith Builders and Flyers
Views: 434
I've done the the mod as Stated. I used Jim Olsen's mod. It is solid and complete. I've also posted the plans here on the forum. Not a weekend project but well worth the effort.
Do you have a link to the plans?
I posted them on the forums awhile back. Do a search see if they pop up. Otherwise just let me know and I'll send you a copy.
I have a friend who has done this on his newly completed HD. Works a treat and looks great too.
A few years ago I asked Zenith via email if I could convert my 601 HDS to the spring gear. They answered that I could not because the 601 HDS was not engineered to accept a spring gear. I unfortunately did not save the email so I can not link it.


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PepsiCo extends innovation fund to educational institutions
PepsiCo's recycling branch has announced plans to expand its college and university eco-innovations programme through its Zero Impact Fund, where educational institutions can receive up to $10,000 from PepsiCo to support sustainable initiatives.
Eligible colleges and universities will have the opportunity to submit sustainability project proposals to PepsiCo Recycling that present tangible environmental, economic and social impacts. The proposals will also need to demonstrate the ingenuity, scalability and evident student community support for the proposed project to receive funding.
PepsiCo recycling programme director Meagan Smith said: "Great ideas can from anyone, and we want to empower our college partners by giving them the right resources to lead by example… We hope that they're able to implement small, but impactful sustainability initiatives that inspire other universities to do the same."
Schools will have until 1 November 2016 to submit proposals to the PepsiCo recycling website after which a committee will evaluate them based upon the above criteria. Selected institutions will be notified on 23 November and will receive funding starting from January 2017.
Since 2010, PepsiCo Recycling has partnered with over 100 colleges and universities to support campus recycling programmes, providing more than $70,000. The company also offers resources to university waste reduction and campus community efforts.
Waste and water
The pledge follows PepsiCo's recent water stewardship efforts, which have led to a 26% reduction in operational water usage since 2006, exceeding its previously established 20% goal. Around 3.2bn litres of water were saved last year alone, despite growing manufacturing operations.
However, with previous sustainability reports highlighting the need to improve waste management standards at the company, PepsiCo Recycling will be hoping that innovative methods submitted to the Zero Impact Fund can translate across internal operations.
PepsiCo's latest CSR efforts signify the importance of both water and waste management. With the 16-19 September marking the Marine Conservation Society's (MCS) Great British Beach Clean, the relationship between waste and water will be examined further.
MCS will team with Children's University Scotland (CUS) and the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) to encourage local school children to attend a beach clean at Portobello Beach in Edinburgh.
RZSS will act as an educational platform, and will extend its Wild about Scotland insight programme to the children that attend. The campaign will aim to teach the children about the importance of conserving Scottish wildlife, which is in need of support from both the public and private sectors.
Alex Baldwin & Matt Mace
© Faversham House Ltd 2023 edie news articles may be copied or forwarded for individual use only. No other reproduction or distribution is permitted without prior written consent.


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The first patient has been enrolled and treated in the HeartLight EAS US pivotal trial, designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the HeartLight Endoscopic Ablation System (EAS) (CardioFocus) in treating symptomatic atrial fibrillation by creating electrical isolation of the pulmonary veins.
According to a company release, the 48-year-old patient had suffered with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation for three years and underwent successful pulmonary vein isolation at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, USA. All four pulmonary veins were isolated on the very first attempt using only visual guidance during the approximately two-hour procedure.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) approval for HeartLight EAS in December 2011, enabling the initiation of the trial.
The HeartLight EAS is the first catheter ablation system to incorporate an endoscope for direct visualisation of a beating heart, in real time and without radiation. It includes a compliant, dynamically adjustable balloon catheter designed for improved contact with the pulmonary vein ostium (opening) irrespective of individual patient anatomy, and utilises laser energy for more efficient, durable and precise ablation.
"The visually-guided HeartLight EAS is unique in cardiac catheter ablation and offers a promising new treatment option for drug-refractory atrial fibrillation. For the first time, physicians can see within a beating heart to more precisely deliver ablation energy and confirm contiguous lesion placement, which we believe may lead to improved patient outcomes," said Vivek Y Reddy, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and principal investigator of the trial. "The system has been used with great clinical success in Europe, with recent published data supporting the high rate of both acute and durable pulmonary vein isolation enabled by the device. We are optimistic that we will be able to achieve similar results in this trial."
The prospective trial will randomise the HeartLight EAS against the NaviStar Thermocool Catheter (Biosense Webster). Only a single ablation procedure with the HeartLight EAS will be permitted, while repeat ablation may be performed with the Thermocool system. In total, the trial will randomise an estimated 350 patients at up to 25 sites in the USA and follow them for one year post-procedure.
The primary outcome measures will assess both safety and freedom from documented, symptomatic atrial fibrillation. The results will be used as the basis for CardioFocus's Premarket Approval (PMA) filing with the FDA for HeartLight EAS. In addition to Mount Sinai, Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Research Foundation in Austin, Texas is also currently enrolling patients.
"Catheter ablation offers a minimally invasive, interventional treatment option for millions of people with drug-refractory atrial fibrillation. However, traditional systems have demonstrated limited durable pulmonary vein isolation and compromised long-term efficacy after only a single procedure," said Andrea Natale, Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Research Foundation and trial co-principal investigator. "We are excited to be involved in evaluating this ground-breaking catheter ablation option that has the potential to improve upon the current standard of care."
The HeartLight EAS technology is currently available at sites throughout Europe for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. More information on the trial is available at https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01456000.


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|Le Reveil des Albigeois
From Pat Deveney's database:
Reveil des Albigeois, Le.
A journal devoted to explaining the fine points of Neo-Gnosticism to those interested and to proselytizing for the Eglise Gnostique de France. The neo-Gnostic, neo-Cathar, neo-Albigensian, and neo-Manichaean strains of French Golden Age occultism intermingled in this journal can all be traced back to Jules Doinel (1842-1903), a former Jesuit seminarian who became an archivist and municipal librarian. Through his archival work he developed an affinity for the Cathars and was favored in 1889 with a vision of the Eon Jesus who consecrated him bishop. He deepened his knowledge of the Cathars and their doctrines at the Paris home of Marie, Countess of Caithness and Duchess of Medina Pomar, during pendulum-seances with the spirits of martyred Cathars and with the Gnostic Helene-Sophia herself. Lady Caithness (1830-1895) was one of the focal points of French occultism of the period and believed, inter alia, that she was the reincarnation of Mary Stuart and that 1881 marked the beginning of a new world era. She published L'Aurore du Jour. She was a friend and early supporter of H.P. Blavatsky and organized one of the competing Theosophical Societies in France, but her brand of Theosophy was decidedly more Western and Christian than that of her friend, and the circle that gathered around her tended to favor the same, in contrast to the more orthodox Theosophical view of the time. Some of her group (Abbé Roca, "Alber Jhouney" (Albert Jounet, 1863-1923), Rene Caillie, et al.), founded the catholicizing L'Etoile, Revue mensuelle: Kabbale messianique, Socialisme chretien, Spiritualisme experimental, Litterature et Art, to which Doinel contributed, in the hope of developing an occidental occultism without recourse to the East; some, including Doinel himself, went over completely to Gnosticism. In 1890 Doinel founded his Gnostic Church and proclaimed himself Patriarch Valentinian (and, in 1893, Primate of the Albigensians), announcing the new dispensation in Papus's L'Initiation. Most of the current wave of French occultists joined -- Papus (Gerard Encausse), Louis-Sophrone Fugairon (1846- ), Paul Sedir (Yvon Le Loup), Lucien Chamuel (Mauchel), Leonce-Eugene Fabre des Essarts (1848-1899)—and the church was closely allied with Papus's Martinist Order. After this simple (by the standards of the time) beginning, things got complicated. Doinel awakened to his error, rejoined the Catholic Church, and denounced Gnosticism in a scathing book entitled Lucifer Demasque written under the pseudonym Jean Kostka (a Jesuit saint) -- though he later sought re-admittance to the Gnostics—leaving the Gnostic Church under the control of Fabre des Essarts. In 1907, Jean Bricaud (1881-1934), one of Fabre des Essarts' episcopal creations, broke with his master and, with Papus and Fugairon and others, began their own Eglise Catholique Gnostique—a more "Catholic"-appearing organization with strong ties to the Martinist Order. At the Conference Maçonnique et Spiritualiste Internationale held in Paris in 1908, this congeries of groups (then known as the Eglise Gnostique Universelle) was associated with the Swedenborgian Rite and the Rites of Memphis and Misraim (all under the control of Theodor Reuss, and all forming the foundation of the O.T.O., the Ordo Templi Orientis). One result was the founding of yet another journal, La Gnose, this time by Rene Guenon ("Palingenius," as he was known as a Gnostic bishop), as the Organe de l'Eglise gnostique universelle. This allowed Guenon a forum in which to publish his most important early works. The subsequent history of these neo-Gnostics is the history of the various branches of the O.T.O., each of which claimed apostolic-descent from one or the other branches of the Gnostic Church. The letters of Deodat Roche, the enthusiastic and poetical assistant of Dr. Fugairon, on the travails of publishing Le Reveil des Albigeois can be found now in Jean-Pierre Bonnerot, "Deodat Roche et l'Eglise Gnostique: Les Eveques du Paraclet et la Restauration de l'Eglise Gnostique," Cahiers des etudes Cathares, now online at ezooccult.net/IMG/deodat.pdf .
|Reveil Des Albigeois V1 N1 1900 Jan
|Reveil Des Albigeois V1 N2 1900 Feb
|Reveil Des Albigeois V1 N4 1900 Apr
|Reveil Des Albigeois V1 N5 1900 May
|Reveil Des Albigeois V1 N6 1900 Jun
|Reveil Des Albigeois V1 N7 1900 Jul
|Reveil Des Albigeois V1 N8 1900 Aug
|Reveil Des Albigeois V1 N9 1900 Nov
|Reveil Des Albigeois V1 N10 1900 Dec


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On Saturday, more than 100 soldiers will meet up at the crack of dawn at Fort McAllister Marina for a day of offshore fishing with some 55 captains from around the area.
From the looks of the forecast, conditions should be just about perfect for what is sure to be a fun, exciting and relaxing day out on the water. For those who have never done it, going offshore can be an incredibly exhilarating experience. The ocean is a blue like no other. The sky goes on forever. Fish seem to glow underwater. Even for someone who doesn't care much for fishing, it can be the experience of a lifetime.
This kind of experience is exactly what the soldiers — all of whom have been wounded in combat — deserve. And an experience of a lifetime is likely exactly what the Fort McAllister Sport Fishing Club is trying to offer. This will be the second annual Wounded Warriors Fishing Rodeo sponsored by the club, and the event is a fantastic way of thanking these soldiers who have given so much.
And the timing of this year's event shouldn't go unnoticed. The event — intentionally or unintentionally — falls on the heels of what possibly is the greatest tragedy to take place on U.S. soil in modern history. While we take time to "never forget" what happened on Sept. 11, 2001, let us also never forget our soldiers who have been fighting the battle that was sparked by the events of that fateful day. The Wounded Warriors Fishing Rodeo serves as a quiet reminder to us all to never forget.
We hope the soldiers, the captains, volunteers and anyone else involved Saturday have a wonderful day. May the weather be fair and the fish be plentiful — just don't bring any bananas on board.
On Saturday, more than 100 soldiers will meet up at the crack of dawn at Fort McAllister Marina for a day of offshore fishing with some 55 captains from around the area.


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Geneva Motor Show: The most mental Porsche since the 918 Spyder has been revealed in the form of the 911 GT3 RS, a road-legal, track-focussed monster that has a spoiler you measure in miles.
It may not have the Carrera GT's supercar looks, but make no mistake about how much faster the 911 GT3 RS is. 0 to 62mph takes 3.3 seconds and 0 to 124mph takes 10.9 seconds. Just a shame Porsche is yet to mention a top speed.
Whereas the Carrera GT needed 7 minutes and 29 seconds to lap the Nürburgring, the 911 GT3 RS can manage it in 7 minutes and 20 seconds. In the world of racing, nine seconds is akin to the gap between dinosaurs and landing on the moon. Even the last RS, the 997, is seven seconds slower.
The 911 GT3 RS owes a great deal of pace to the 4.0-litre six-cylinder that develops 500hp and 460Nm of torque, all of which is fed through a specially developed PDK transmission. Fuel economy is 22.2mpg.
A number of extras enhance the track theme Porsche is going for, including a 'paddle neutral' facility that simulates putting the clutch down in a manual, rear limited slip differential and a 'Pit Speed' button for maintaining a set speed when in the pits.
There's also a complimentary course at the Porsche Experience Centre at Silverstone designed to let you really see what your new purchase can do.
Porsche was happy to bang on about weight saving but in reality the 911 GT3 RS weighs 10kg less than the 911 GT3, even though the roof is made of magnesium and various other parts from carbon fibre. We blame the tyres, the widest ever fitted to a 911 as standard.
Inside it is much the same story as the 911 GT3, which means Alcantara and similar styling but sports seats made from carbon fibre and based on the 918 Spyder and an optional bolted-in roll cage remind you this is no average runaround.
Those who spend their weekends at a track can (and perhaps should) opt for the optional Sport Chrono Package, which includes integrated timers and the Porsche Track Precision app. The app can track lap times using GPS and tell you other things like lateral acceleration and how fast you were going.
You can order the Porsche 911 GT3 RS right now in the UK and Ireland, with the first cars arriving in showrooms from May. Prices start from £131,296.
On the subject, feast your eyes on our review of the softer, comfier Porsche 911 GTS.


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Below is my column in The Hill newspaper on the new disclosures in the prosecution of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. Yesterday, the attorney hired by Judge Emmet Sullivan responded on his behalf to defend his controversial orders in the case to invite third parties to argue the merits of the motion to dismiss as well as raising his option to substitute his own criminal charge of perjury against Flynn. The Justice Department responded with a 45-page filing to a three-judge appeals court panel.
The attention will now focus on the appearance tomorrow of former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein in the Senate. For me, the most pertinent question is why this investigation continued past December and seemed to become to a search for a crime rather than the investigation of any crime or collusion with Russia.
Here is the column:
"Remember … Ambassador, you're not talking to a diplomat, you're talking to a soldier." When President Trump's incoming national security adviser, Michael Flynn, said those words to then-Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, he also spoke to American intelligence agents listening in on the call. For three years, congressional Democrats have assured us Flynn's calls to Kislyak were so disturbing that they set off alarms in the closing days of the Obama administration.
They were right. The newly released transcripts of Flynn's calls are deeply disturbing — not for their evidence of criminality or collusion but for the total absence of such evidence. The transcripts, declassified Friday, strongly support new investigations by both the Justice Department and by Congress, starting with next week's Senate testimony by former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.
It turns out Flynn's calls are not just predictable but even commendable at points. When the Obama administration hit the Russians with sanctions just before leaving office, the incoming Trump administration sought to avoid a major conflict at the very start of its term. Flynn asked the Russian to focus on "common enemies" in order to seek cooperation in the Middle East. The calls covered a variety of issues, including the sanctions.
What was not discussed was any quid pro quo or anything untoward or unlawful. Flynn stated what was already known to be Trump policy in seeking a new path with Russia. Flynn did not offer to remove sanctions but, rather, encouraged the Russians to respond in a reciprocal, commensurate manner if they felt they had to respond.
The calls, and Flynn's identity, were leaked by as many as nine officials as the Obama administration left office — a serious federal crime, given their classified status. The most chilling aspect of the transcripts, however, is the lack of anything chilling in the calls themselves. Flynn is direct with Kislyak in trying to tone down the rhetoric and avoid retaliatory moves. He told Kislyak, "l am a very practical guy, and it's about solutions. It's about very practical solutions that we're — that we need to come up with here." Flynn said he understood the Russians might wish to retaliate for the Obama sanctions but encouraged them not to escalate the conflict just as the Trump administration took office.
Kislyak later spoke with Flynn again and confirmed that Moscow agreed to tone down the conflict in the practical approach laid out by Flynn. The media has focused on Flynn's later denial of discussing sanctions; the transcripts confirm he did indeed discuss sanctions. However, the Justice Department has not sought to dismiss criminal charges against him because he told the truth but because his statements did not meet a key element of materiality for the crime and were the result of troubling actions by high-ranking officials.
The real question is why the FBI continued to investigate Flynn in the absence of any crime or evidence of collusion. In December 2016, investigators had found no evidence of any crime by Flynn. They wanted to shut down the investigation; they were overruled by superiors, including FBI special agent Peter Strzok, Deputy Director Andrew McCabe and Director James Comey. Strzok told the investigators to keep the case alive, and McCabe is described as "cutting off" another high-ranking official who questioned the basis for continuing to investigate Flynn. All three officials were later fired, and all three were later found by career officials to have engaged in serious misconduct as part of the Russia investigation.
Recently disclosed information revealed that Comey and President Obama discussed using the Logan Act as a pretense for a criminal charge. The Logan Act criminalizes private negotiations with foreign governments; it is widely viewed as unconstitutional and has never been used successfully against any U.S. citizen since the earliest days of the Republic. Its use against the incoming national security adviser would have been absurd. Yet, that unconstitutional crime was the only crime Comey could come up with, long before there was a false statement by Flynn regarding his calls.
Not until February 2017 did Comey circumvent long-standing protocols and order an interview with Flynn. Comey later bragged that he "probably wouldn't have … gotten away with it" in other administrations, but he sent "a couple guys over" to question Flynn, who was settling into his new office as national security adviser. We learned recently that Strzok discussed trying to get Flynn to give false or misleading information in that interview, to enable a criminal charge, and that FBI lawyer Lisa Page suggested agents "just casually slip" in a reference to the criminal provision for lying and then get Flynn to slip up on the details.
Flynn did slip up. While investigators said they were not convinced he intentionally lied, he gave a false statement. Later, special counsel Robert Mueller charged Flynn with that false statement, to pressure him into cooperating; Flynn fought the case into virtual bankruptcy but agreed to plead guilty when Mueller threatened to prosecute his son, too.
The newly released transcripts reveal the lack of a foundation for that charge. Courts have held that the materiality requirement for such a charge requires that misstatements be linked to the particular "subject of the investigation." The Justice Department found that the false statement in February 2017 was not material "to any viable counterintelligence investigation — or any investigation, for that matter — initiated by the FBI." In other words, by that time, these FBI officials had no crime under investigation but were, instead, looking for a crime. The question is: Why?
So the transcripts confirm there never was a scintilla of criminal conduct or evidence of collusion against Flynn before or during these calls. Indeed, there was no viable criminal investigation to speak of when Comey sent "a couple guys over" to entrap Flynn; they already had the transcripts and the knowledge that Flynn had done nothing wrong. Nevertheless, facing the release of these transcripts, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) bizarrely maintained that "Flynn posed a severe counterintelligence risk" because he could be blackmailed over his false statement.
Putting aside the lack of prior evidence of criminality, Schiff ignores that there were transcripts to prevent such blackmail. Indeed, in the interview, Flynn indicated he assumed there was a transcript, and leaked media reports indicated that various officials were familiar with the content of the calls. The key to blackmail would have been for the Russians to have information that others did not have.
Ironically, in his calls with Kislyak, Flynn expressly sought a more frank, honest relationship with Russia. He told Kislyak "we have to stop talking past each other on — so that means that we have to understand exactly what it is that we want to try to achieve, okay?" That is a question that should now be directed at the FBI, to understand what it was trying to achieve by continuing an investigation long after it ran out of crimes to investigate.
Jonathan Turley is the Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law at George Washington University. You can find his updates online @JonathanTurley.


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We had originally planned to leave Arusha late morning to arrive in Karatu by lunchtime. It's always nice to arrive with half a day to get oriented for the residents and for me to make my rounds greeting everyone once again as I return home. Leonard was flying in from the Serengeti, though, and wouldn't be arriving until noontime so we decided to stick around town a bit later than usual so I could introduce the others to him and for Susan to meet the person who had helped plan her short safari for after we were finished at FAME. Besides, I had to get the rear door of the Land Cruiser fixed before we left town on our way to Karatu, as it would be tremendously more difficult to get the work done there. Everyone, save Johannes, was up quite early as the girls had apparently awakened at 3:30 am and were up talking all night, and I had decided to get up early to work on my blog which is a labor of love. Johannes was quite happy to snooze away, and rightly so, as it was going to be a very slow morning as we were planning to have breakfast before heading out for the day. Breakfast is usually a fairly big affair here, I'm sure mostly related to my visiting, and this morning was no different. We had huge bowls of cut fresh fruit that included pineapple, mangos and watermelon along with sweet bananas from Kilimanjaro, scramble eggs, toast and pancakes, all of which more than satisfied our hunger that morning and could have been our only meal of the day.
After breakfast, we went out to meet Jones to take the car to someone who would fix the back door. I left the others along main road in Arusha so they could walk around a bit of the town while I drove with Jones to find the repair shop where they were going to get the back door open and, hopefully, provide the necessary repairs so that it would open. The "shop" was down a back street and consisted of a group of men standing along the side of the road working on various and a sundry types of vehicles in every state of disrepair, but each vehicle with the expectation that they would have their lives extended at least for a few extra years. We waited for one of the fundi (or specialists) to be free and come by to take at look at the back door. I was very thankful that it didn't just pop open to make me feel foolish, but it didn't, and the fundi had to get into the back seats of the Land Cruiser, that are separated from the boot by bars like those in police car, and reach through to unscrew a plate at the door latch and then reach inside to release the door. If there had been luggage back there like there was in October when I drove everyone to the airport, it would never have been possible. Once open with the door latch exposed, he cleaned out all of the dirt that had collected and lubricated the hell out of the mechanism so that it would last us for some time…hopefully.
Having the back door finally open and fixed, I dropped Jones off at the nearest corner (again, to disappear into the foot traffic on the street) and went to pick up the others who had been wandering around downtown Arusha. Leonard was arriving and was at the Arusha Coffee Lodge and I wasn't sure whether he needed a ride home or not. As usual, the communications were a bit faulty and Pendo told me to go ahead to the Lodge to pick him up, but when I got there after traveling all the way across town at the height of traffic, we found out that he still needed to have lunch with some safari guests and wouldn't need a ride home regardless. These events I believe are somehow connected to Africa Time and it's due to the style of communication here which is very laid back and mostly on a "need to know" basis, so extraneous information that may cause someone to worry is not shared unless it is necessary. We drove back across town to pick up our luggage and say goodbye to Pendo, then drove all the way back to the Coffee Lodge to say goodbye to Leonard and take care of some last minute business.
So, having originally planned to be in Karatu by lunchtime, and then by 5pm, we ended up finally arriving here as the sun was setting sometime around 6:30pm. We drove straight to the Raynes House, found Alex for our keys and began to move our things in and get settled. Thankfully, there were dinners for all of us as we were all starving having had our last meal at breakfast and just made the long drive here. We were all quite happy to be here finally, probably most of all the residents who were probably anxious to finally see that FAME really existed and they would indeed have someplace to spend the next month. I guess having found out otherwise and being stranded in Northern Tanzania wouldn't be the worst thing to happen to someone, as this really is a paradise when it comes down to it. Now, though, it was a paradise with an amazing medical center ready and waiting for the new neurology team to begin their work.
We were planning to go out to Happy Day, our local pub as Wednesday nights are the night for all the volunteers in town to meet, for a beer after dinner, but first, there was a patient for us to see who had apparently come in a day or so before and was apparently in the ICU. The only problem, though, is that FAME does not have an ICU, or at least they had never had one before and I was completely unaware that there had been any changes in my absence. The reason there are no ICUs here, is that there are no ventilators here other than those used for surgery and there is really no way to have a patient on chronic ventilation should they end up needing that. This is really a distinction in many African countries regarding initiating this type of care, as you cannot sustain it. This was an eleven-year-old Maasai boy who had complained of headache for several days, then began having seizures at home where he remained for two days before he was brought to the FAME. He was given diazepam that stopped his seizures, but shortly after stopped breathing and was put on a ventilator. That had been done the day before as had a CT scan that was concerning for meningitis. He hadn't been tapped yet, but was on the proper antibiotics and acyclovir to cover for herpes meningitis, but hadn't perked up. In fact, he was very much devastated as he had fixed and dilated pupils, no oculocephalic responses, no gag and no response to pain. I spoke with his father to tell him that we were very concerned that he had suffered a major brain injury and very likely would not improve or survive, but we would re-evaluate him the following morning. It was not a very uplifting first experience for everyone, and especially not for Susan, who bore the brunt of the care for this child on her shoulders as there was little I could do to help her with things other than to agree with her assessments. We would evaluate the child again in the morning so we felt that going out for that beer after this experience would actually be quite therapeutic for us all.


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Zyra's website //// Sport //// Health //// Site Index
Runners Need
the running specialists
If you like to run, you'll love the Runners Need website. You're lucky you've found this page, as you can shop from home while you're on your running machine!
Runners Need:
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The company was established in 1982 and prides itself on giving friendly and knowledgeable service to runners of all standards.
We have 10 stores in London and 13 throughout the UK and Ireland, all offering video gait analysis technology to analyse customers' running action and recommend the right pair of running shoes.
Our staff are all runners themselves and are employed for their technical product knowledge and their running experience, which enables them to offer advice on areas such as training, injuries and nutrition".
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Link Here To Go To The Place!
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If the links and banners on this page work, that's good! Otherwise, here's some help


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The OpenDocument XML.org web site is not longer accepting new posts. Information on this page is preserved for legacy purposes only. For current information on ODF, please see the OASIS OpenDocument Technical Committee.
Tutorial: Expand the editing capabilities of OpenOffice with XSLT
Resource: Submitted by carolgeyer on Wed, 2007-10-10 12:37.
This IBM Developerworks tutorial from Jonathan Levin, shows you how to use OpenOffice's import/export filters
to open your XML data as though it's just a plain document. From there,
users can edit the document much more naturally and then save it back
to its native format. You can also use this feature to easily turn your
documents into XML data.
- Login to post comments
- 5076 reads


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After conquering the challenges that the terrains in the Northeast present, one is guaranteed to come across some fine food and refined music. For those who have been living under a rock, the Northeast has always been upheld as the bedrock of music, especially western music. Nagaland's Hornbill Festival leads this cohort.
Every year in December, Kohima decks up to host the biggest domestic rock fest. The other leader is the multi-genre NH7 Weekender, which will be touching down in Shillong on October 27.
The Hornbill International Rock Festival in Kohima hosts several local and international rock bands
Featuring the likes of Steve Vai, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Vishal Bhardwaj, Indian Ocean, Carnatic musician TM Krishna, The Ram Sampath Experience and more, it remains one of the most anticipated fests in the Indian calendar.
Shine A Light — Voice of the Silent Hills is held in the high-altitude town of Sohra in Meghalaya
But apart from these two fests, the region has got a lot of (good) music in its soul. It might be largely unheard and underappreciated, but it's there. Unfortunately the geographical remoteness of the region hampers this musical prowess. Even for Hornbill, despite its huge success in terms of turnout and enthusiasm, sponsorship still is a concern.
Indie music lovers converge in Ziro
Over the Rainbow
The region buzzes with an assortment of musical talent that more than meets the ear. One such event is the Ziro Festival of Music (ZFM) in Arunachal Pradesh that kick-starts on September 28. Artists and the Apatani tribesmen join in to produce an extended weekend that showcases the best of independent music. The line-up this year varies from Israel's Alaska Snack Time to Nagaland's Alobo Naga, from Gujarat's as we keep searching to Mumbai's Burudu. The festival has been well supported by the state government and is expecting footfalls of around 6,000. Anup Kutty, co-founder of ZFM and guitarist for Delhi-based rock band Menwhopause, however, rues the hesitance of sponsors to invest in the event. "Even after six years, funding is hard to come by, with most corporates citing distance from the mainland as a deterrent, without realising that it's the very point of the festival."
A 12-hour drive from Ziro will take you to Dambuk, a quaint village known for its orange orchards — and the Orange Festival of Adventure and Music every December. Claiming to be the country's first adventure and music fest, its fourth edition is slated for December 15-18. Backed by the Arunachal Tourism Department, it was headlined by Swedish metal guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen last year. Formed in 2014, the event also hosts a number of adventure and motorsports events. "Our event is pan-India but we do try to give special representation to the Northeast," says Abu Tayeng, director of the Orange fest. "With support from the Arunachal Tourism Department and ticket sales, the revenue generation was pretty good." The basic idea of having this festival is to put Dambuk on the world map. Till 2015, this village had no electricity, mobile connectivity coming even later. Transportation is still an issue. Come summer, one has to choose between a chopper or an elephant ride to reach Dambuk. But that has not deterred the organisers. With the Incredible India campaign pitching in, the festival gets an audience of about 4,000.
The Orange fest in Dambuk is a blend of music, art and adventure
Influences of the Korean Wave and other South Asian countries are evident in the region's music. It is commonplace to come across covers of legendary and popular acts like The Rolling Stones, Beatles, Hoobastank and Coldplay, along with bootlegged concert videos often smuggled through Myanmar.
Manipur was one of the early states in the region to embrace Western pop culture in the early '70s.
In sync with this western influence, Akhu Chingangbam conceptualised Where Have All the Flowers Gone? when Seeger died in 2014. Projecting itself as a completely independent event, Akhu points out that the last edition saw a gathering of more than 10,000. "For us, it's an art and music event focusing on indigenous Manipuri culture and the environment around us. Funds would definitely help but then we will have to compromise a lot."
The onset of the two-day festival is marked by a handful of social activities in connection with environmental protection and preservation of the region's culture.
For Pure Music
The quirkily hot-panted Lou Majaw has always endorsed the potential of the region through his music as well as politically charged opinions. "We have many so-called music festivals all over the country but I have yet to see a fest that is purely about music. What's the point in mixing everything? If it's a western music fest, let it be… if it's a cultural fest, let it be. But it has to be pure, just for the respect of the art," says the 70-year-old.
In the mid-70s, Majaw formed The Great Society, considered one the greatest rock bands of the country. Although global acts — from the Scorpions, Firehouse and White Lion to Mr Big and MLTR — have performed in the region in the past, the northeastern festivals serve primarily as a platform for up-and-coming bands and singers to showcase their talent. Trek to the high-altitude town of Sohra in Meghalaya in December, and misty weather welcomes its audience. The calm is distinctively captured in the Shine a Light Music Festival: Voice of the Silent Hills, through its variations from folk to country, rock to reggae, grunge, and metal or any form of independent/ original performing music. A gathering of bands from across the country over three days in a 60-acre venue, the event provides an opportunity for interaction, exchange and learning, and encouragement for new musical buds. "We are a little low-profile and never really wanted to be a commercial event. We are just a group of like-minded people making some good music," says Rocky Gogoi, co-founder of the festival. Over the last three years, the fest had participants like The Soulmate, Angie Swan (US), Jean Davoisne (France), Still Waters, Khayal Groova, White Mug, Da Primitive Future, Plague Throat and Lucid Recess.
Where Have All The Flowers Gone? in Manipur is inspired by the work of the late American folk singer Pete Seeger
The challenge to arrange funds by bridging the geographical inaccessibility remains. "Arranging funds is a lot tougher than what it sounds. Unfortunately, sponsors are not too interested when we say Cherrapunji," rues Gogoi. "Names might not be as big as they are supposed to be, but their music speaks a lot.
So I think our fest hits the right note," he adds. Also hitting the high notes is The Euphony Rock Contest in Guwahati, founded in 2009 by Eastern Fare Music Foundation, a collaborative artist retreat for emerging professionals and celebrated artists. "As a performance and community-based festival, we are giving a platform to small-time bands of the Northeast that are exceptionally good. We are not into hosting big names but providing a platform to the up-and-coming talent of the region," says Jim Ankan Deka, founder of the Euphony fest.
Rather than a large-scale festival with hot-shot names and massive crowds, this festival serves as a musical interaction among musicians of different stature and genres.
Shine A Light is a platform for musicians to celebrate rock 'n' roll
The annual Hornbill Rock Contest offers a handsome purse of Rs 10 lakh to winners and has included a music residency with UK musicians handpicked by the British Council as part of their Folk Nations initiative. But not everyone is impressed by the commercialisation.
"The amount of money that went into a festival in Guwahati was huge, but why it was even conducted was beyond me. Thousands were left homeless due to floods when we had people dishing out crores in the name of a festival. It's a shame. It's not a festival, it's a farce-tival," says Majaw.
Home to myriad influences and preferences, the Northeast has an illustrious musical reputation. "The Northeast has much more to offer than what we see or read in the newspapers about insurgency and violence. Slowly but definitely, we are catching up," says Tayeng of the Orange fest. Political unrest and natural disasters aside, try hitting the unmapped roads of northeast India if Justin Bieber's "blah blah Despacito" and Ed Sheeran's much-hyped gig in November are not your poison.
Monday, 04 Dec, 2023
- Digital View
- Print View
- Wealth Edition
- 3-1: Modi's Guarantee Stamped on Heartland
BJP records massive win in MP, ejects Cong govts in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh; southern comfort for Grand Old Party with victory in Telangana. Prime Minister Narendra Modi stamped his electoral authority on the heartland ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls as the BJP wrested Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh from the Congress while retaining Madhya Pradesh with a two thirds majority.Blackstone set to Sell India ARC to Former Exec
Blackstone, the world's largest alternative assets manager, is exiting the distressed assets space in India by selling its controlling interest in a high-profile, six-year-old joint venture that includes Tata group, HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank. Mathew Cyriac, former PE co-head for Blackstone India, has emerged as frontrunner to buy a controlling 51% in IARC, said people in the know.Singhania, Nawaz Discuss Settlement
Settlement talks have commenced between Raymond Group chairman Gautam Singhania and his wife Nawaz Modi following their separation, legal sources close to the couple said.


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The first and only eMeeting capable of sustaining a team's momentum between their live meetings
GREENSBORO, N.C. — ProductiveTeams.com now offers an always available online connection that lets user groups or individuals communicate privately among themselves whenever they want. These meetings are not live, so there's no need to schedule meetings in advance or for anyone to stop what they're doing to participate.
ProductiveTeams eMeetings complement real-time emeetings. Live emeetings offer personal contact and are good for immediate impact or feedback which is important when kicking off something new or making sure everyone has the same understanding of an issue.
PT eMeetings are designed for activities that continue over time such as leading or coordinating projects or processes. They support ongoing collaboration among members of a group or team and are often used for informing, educating and mentoring individuals or groups. They can be used effectively to simplify and organize working relationships.
ProductiveTeams reports that groups that use both live emeetings and PT eMeetings are able to get more work done faster. This is especially true for groups whose members come from different disciplines, departments, organizations, or nations.
Peter Lindsay, president of Whetstone Leadership, reports that since he started using ProductiveTeams eMeetings, "our live meetings are shorter, less frequent and more productive. We can devote more time to useful discussion because we handle reporting, updating, action items and other routine business in our eMeetings."
ProductiveTeams eMeetings
Users will recognize the familiar email look, but email's frustrations have been eliminated. Instead of creating multiple copies of messages or files and sending them to everyone over the email system, content posted in these eMeetings is not sent anywhere. Group members sign in whenever it is personally convenient to read what other members have posted. They can contribute to the group's discussion by submitting messages or files of their own.
Larry Allen, the inventor and co-founder of ProductiveTeams.com says, "Unlike traditional real-time emeetings which are scheduled events that usually last an hour or two, PT eMeetings can last for weeks, months or years depending on the needs of those using them."
"They are private. Only those invited to join can see or access them. Spam, privacy leaks, distribution lists, inbox clutter, and the risk of virus and spyware attacks common to email are gone forever. And there's no chance of losing, accidentally deleting or sending messages or files to the wrong person."
"The unique email-style," Allen explained, "lets groups communicate easily and conveniently among themselves. It gives users time to think before they respond or add their own ideas. There's no clutter or confusion. Everything posted in an eMeeting is directly relevant to the work the group is doing."
A Private Communications System
ProductiveTeams eMeetings are housed in a self-contained communications system called a ProductiveTeams TeamLink Center.
Each TeamLink Center is a centralized operations hub with its own fully-dedicated web site and database. It provides security, user registration, fee processing, a user directory, and efficient information processing and management for all eMeetings. Because each has its own independent database, users have the added assurance of knowing that all content in their eMeetings always stays safely under their own direct control.
Each TeamLink Center can support an unlimited number of people organized into any number of eMeeting combinations.
It takes just a few minutes to create a TeamLink Center at ProductiveTeams
Mitch Scott, the president of ProductiveTeams.com explains, "This unique structure allows users to connect their personal world by setting up an eMeeting for each of the individuals or groups with whom they communicate regularly. They can easily move from one group discussion to another just by clicking each meeting's name in their eMeeting Inbox. It's an amazingly easy way for people to communicate with their most important work associates and to coordinate all of their key activities right from their own computer. "
"Since only one copy of a message or file is needed, it's easy to edit, update or replace one if necessary. All group members are affirmatively notified and have immediate access to updates. PT eMeeting owners who want to make a file or message available to more than one group can easily copy it to other meetings. Actually, that gives members of those other meetings access to the original copy of the file. This assures that anyone that has access to a file also immediately sees any updates."
"Travelers never need to call back to the office," Scott continued, "to get someone to locate and send them an urgently needed file if it is kept in a ProductiveTeams eMeeting. That's because any group member can quickly and easily access all information stored in their personalized eMeeting file library no matter where they are."
"Because so much work can be done so easily in eMeetings, users report that they are able to reduce travel and save time away from their primary work for live emeetings. Saving the cost of just one trip can pay for one person's monthly user fee for several years."
What's the Cost?
ProductiveTeams.com does not charge for creating and using TeamLink Centers or eMeetings. There is no software to buy and no need to install anything on a user's computer.
A monthly fee of $9.95 or less-from 33 to less than 16 cents per day-gives users unlimited 24/7 access to all the eMeetings they have been invited to or are hosting themselves.
New users can use ProductiveTeams eMeetings for up to one month without obligation. If they cancel their subscription within 30 days and they are not charged.
More information is available at www.ProductiveTeams.com and a live online demonstration can be scheduled by sending a request to email@example.com.
ProductiveTeams, Inc., P.O. Box 399, Colfax, NC 27235, 336-931-0099.
[tags]ProductiveTeams eMeetings, TeamLink Centers, online collaboration[/tags]


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With Christmas and the holiday season coming around fast, it's time to get in the spirit and start planning your upcoming get-togethers and events.
Are you in charge of the planning the office Christmas party or work function, or did you draw the short straw for organising the annual family Christmas dinner?
Here are some helpful ideas to think about when it comes to planning the invitation and your choice of wording.
Will you send an invitation?
Receiving an invitation in the mail (or via email) is slowly becoming a thing of the past, but I think it is still a great idea. It is a small touch that can have a big impact and make everyone feel special … and it is really nice to have something to put on your fridge as a reminder!
If you are sending out Christmas cards it is easy to include the invitation at the same time to save on postage. Otherwise it costs nothing to send a pdf or image via email or message, so the recipient can print it out if they want to.
We have a range of Christmas themed invitations that allow you to easily edit and personalise the text areas. And it is very economical, especially if you email it!
The areas highlighted in blue are all editable. It is easy to edit and when you are happy with the text and have proof-read it, you can save it and either print out the quantity you need or simply send the pdf via email or with a text message.
If you are printing, I would recommend you print on good quality white paper, at least 150gsm with high quality setting so the colours print out well. Alternatively you can take it to your local print shop (like Officeworks) or use a reputable online printer (Vistaprint) and they will print out beautifully.
Christmas Invitation Wording
The invitation wording is pretty important because you want to motivate people to come along and have a good time. Here are a few suggestions that might help:
- Please join us for some Christmas cheer, as we celebrate this special time of year!
- Let's get together for some holiday cheer, since Christmas Day is very near!
- We invite you to celebrate the joys of the season at our wonderful family dinner!
- The weather outside is frightful, but our party will be delightful!
- Please join us on the eve of the new year, as we toast with all the friends we hold dear!
Don't forget to include the date, time, location, RSVP, dress code and any other important details!
If you have any questions or need help, please send me an email and say hi
Party planning books on Amazon
- Cordially Invited: A seasonal guide to celebrations and hosting, perfect for festive planning, crafting and baking in the run up to Christmas!
- Hallowthanksmas: A Holiday Planning Guide for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas
- Christmas Party List: Plan Your Christmas Party: From Food to Gifts and Budget. Make Your List and Check It Twice.
DIY Invitations is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.au


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Acreage Home Designs
We custom-build acreage homes in Brisbane, the Gold Coast & Sunshine Coast areas
"The overall process was very smooth and the team were always thinking in advance. My father, also a builder, was very impressed with the quality. The design is fabulous – we have got what we didn't even know we wanted."
Lea & Anne, Brookwater
Building an Architect Designed Home on Acreage – Where to Begin?
What's the biggest challenge when building an architect designed home on acreage? – Well, some acreage sites are just too good – you have so many options!
There's always more than one great spot you can build on, views in all directions! Sunsets and sunrises to enjoy – where do you start? How do you make sure you'll be living in the best home possible on this special piece of land?
If you are little overawed by the possibilities, and how to get your custom home design right, let us help. Forget the jungle of options – you'll find that once you go through a detailed site appraisal, with our in-house Architect, a clear direction will unfold and you'll have a strong concept that will drive all of your design decisions.
There's a lot to consider! See below for a few of our tips on the main considerations on an acreage site.
We're online 8:00am – 4:00pm, Monday-Friday
The slope of the area you plan to build on will have the biggest effect on your project costs. Most often we underestimate the real slope when just standing on the site. lt's important to get a detailed contour survey first and assess all the options and building locations.
This can have a big impact on cost too. You may need to provide additional fire proofing construction or have an area of trees cleared. Getting a detailed Bushfìre Report that assesses each face of your home independently may cost more up front but can save you a lot in construction costs and lead to the best positioning of your home.
If your acreage property is positioned on an exposed platform or high on a ridge, you will be subject to a higher wind rating. This means you'll need more bracing and engineering. So it's best to find out now before design gets underway.
The slope and distance of tanks need to be considered as well as the capacity you are after and whether you want in ground or above ground tanks. They are a significant cost including pumps, rainwater heads, excavation and plumbing so factor the complete cost in early.
You need to provide vehicle access in your building contract as All Weather Access. That means its your responsibility to ensure the builder and suppliers can access the site throughout construction. You may need to import road base or cut a well-designed road or driveway before construction commences. The length of the driveway and the type of finish can make this another consideration in your acreage home design plans.
This is important to establish early, before designing your home. If there are any vegetation protection zones over your property, there is always time involved in getting a NAL Permit or a change to your building envelope if required. Sometimes its worth going through this process to get your home in the best location and sometimes the constraints of your site leave you with limited choices.
These can vary for rural areas and be important if there are any secondary dwellings on the site. We always check these requirements before design begins.
This Is an important part of your design – including how the site cut is contoured, how water is moving around the house and the best location points to pick up extra ground water. These can be overlooked and left for you to work out after construction. We recommend they be integrated into your storm water damage plan and site works from the start.
The location of sewage and the type of soil around the home need to be considered early. Approvals for plumbing with on-site sewerage can also add weeks to your approval. We're very knowledgeable about the different systems and options available for your site. Some systems are more expensive up front while others have more maintenance costs over the life of the system. We can give you our best advice on all options.
If you need to extend power a long way from the road or if your need to get Energex involved for any installation work to your site, the costs can be significant so get some quotes before you buy or early in the process. You may also need 3 Phase power and allow additional funds for an upgraded meter box and cabling.
Your design and roofline may also need to take into account Solar Power and the extent of panels you require. Allowing for future battery storage can also be planned for.
Of course there's the all-important views! Sometimes your views are to the South or West and you still want an outdoor area to enjoy the winter sun. You might be looking towards the South East and need protection from winds and storms coming in from that direction. Some of these conflicting interests can be easily resolved with good planning & design.
With all the above, an experienced Architect and Builder will manage these site requirements and pick up on the finest features of your site with ease.
Acreage House Plans
The roofing, framing of views, achieving great air-flow, creating protected outdoor living – these can all compliment the unique potential of your new acreage home.
Civic Steel Homes are not just a Builder and we aren't just a Designer.
We're BOTH.
Our talented in-house Architect is also our Licensed Builder and he works with you throughout your project. Its a total one-one-one service with the backup of our Project Managers who each have 20+ years experience. Together, our small team will fine tune all the details for you.
We'll organise all your site reports first – BEFORE design work begins.
We'll complete a thorough architects Design Brief-to understand exactly what you want
We'll develop an outline of all project costs so you know up-front, before you start building – no hidden surprises!
AND We'll pull everything together to give you the best value architecture possible!


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Student Handbook - Student and Family Handbook
The Student and Family Handbook has been developed to help students, families, and administrators understand the policies and procedures established for students. The document is now available online and topics of interest can be navigated using the menu on this page. Please note that the current online document is always the official version - updates may be made at any time as policies and procedures change. Anyone with questions may call the Communications and Community Relations Department at 941-927-4009.
The Student and Family Handbook is developed and reviewed annually by a committee of district administrators, parents, students and school safety personnel and is divided into multiple sections. See the Table of Contents for more information.
Florida Standards for the Arts, Health, Physical Education, Science and Social Studies, as well as the implementation of the Florida Standards for English Language Arts/Reading and Mathematics, are the foundation of curriculum and instruction for all Sarasota County students. The Florida Standards are the culmination of an extended, broad-based effort to fulfill the charge issued by the states to create the next generation of K-12 standards in order to help ensure that all students are college and career ready by the end of high school. The Standards define the knowledge and skills in core content areas that students are expected to master within their K-12 educational careers. This is one of the most important changes in education in the United States in the last 50 years and stands to positively affect students, parents, teachers, communities and the workforce.


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Browsing tag : Featured
Current reflections on sustainability …Posted on
It feels like a bad dream, like I was having a nightmare after watching a zombie apocalypse movie or something. Empty cities, emblematic monuments left abandoned to the … Read more Current reflections on sustainability …
Tourism sector on alertPosted on
The coronavirus is causing some tourists to stay at home, and in the tourism sector we're starting to consider the potential impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on our … Read more Tourism sector on alert
Data is overratedPosted on
Don't get me wrong, data is valuable, but on its own, it's useless. Analysed data helps us to assimilate knowledge, and gives us a global vision with real … Read more Data is overrated
2020: a new decade for tourismPosted on
We are now entering the era of leisure, in which tourists will make decisions based on memorable and personalised experiences rather than the price People will soon be … Read more 2020: a new decade for tourism
Tourism, gentrification and property speculationPosted on
Do you think you live in a sustainable, culturally vibrant city or neighbourhood full of great possibilities? This is what we're all being sold, but nowadays I have … Read more Tourism, gentrification and property speculation
What are the key factors to creating a smart destination?Posted on
Innovation and technology have changed the profile of the traveller in recent years. This premise is nothing new, and I've spoken about it on many occasions. The hyper-informed … Read more What are the key factors to creating a smart destination?
Keep up with the latest trends or get left behind: how tourism professionals are reacting to digitalisationPosted on
The most etymological meaning of DIGITALISATION is "a process by which many activities routinely carried out by human beings start to be carried out with the use of … Read more Keep up with the latest trends or get left behind: how tourism professionals are reacting to digitalisation
Reflections on cultural tourismPosted on
In the height of the summer, when sun and beach tourism is one of the most popular types of holiday, and the coastlines of all destinations are populated … Read more Reflections on cultural tourism
Circular economy: the key to a sustainable tourism industryPosted on
The future is uncertain by definition, but where do we want to see ourselves in a few years? Because the future is not a gift; it is an … Read more Circular economy: the key to a sustainable tourism industry
Destinations, brand creation and experience marketingPosted on
Experience tourism is currently in vogue, with increasing numbers of industry agents operating in this field. However, although many of them refer to it, it's true that its … Read more Destinations, brand creation and experience marketing


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Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.
2009 April 20
Explanation: When does Mars act like a liquid? Although liquids freeze and evaporate quickly into the thin atmosphere of Mars, persistent winds may make large sand dunes appear to flow and even drip like a liquid. Visible on the above image right are two flat top mesas in southern Mars, where the season is changing from Spring to Summer. A light dome topped hill is also visible on the far left of the image. As winds blow from right to left, flowing sand on and around the hills leaves picturesque streaks. The dark arc-shaped droplets of fine sand are called barchans, and are the interplanetary cousins of similar Earth-based sand forms. Barchans can move intact downwind and can even appear to pass through each other. Over the past few weeks, winds on southern Mars have been kicking up dust and are being watched to see if they escalate into another of Mars' famous planet-scale sand storms.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices
A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.


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We've recently seen a lot of interest around multi-gigabit connectivity. In fact, the Dell'Oro Group, a major analyst firm focused on networking, is actively tracking the nascent multi-gigabit market and forecasts rapid growth over the next few years. Indeed, the introduction of 802.11ax APs in 2018-19 is likely to be a major factor in the acceleration of multi-gigabit connectivity adoption.
Key considerations for multi-gigabit connectivity
However, it is important to emphasize that organizations should carefully determine their multi-gigabit connectivity requirements before purchasing access points and switches. For example, organizations should decide if there is an immediate demand for high wireless throughput and gauge when support for high wireless throughput will be a necessity. Organizations should also determine if there is or will be a high density of wireless users or devices per access point (AP) – and decide when to upgrade to 802.11ac or 802.11ax capable clients. Organizations will also need to determine when multi-gigabit ports are required and if they are needed for all APs or just certain access points in high-density locations.
In addition, organizations should be aware of the hundred-meter limit, as multiple APs dispersed over a large area will end up being connected to multiple switches. This should be weighed against the extra cost for upgraded APs and multi-gigabit access switches. Moreover, organizations with multi-gigabit switches will need to consider a higher capacity upstream to the aggregation and core switches. Depending on the existing cabling, organizations may also have to re-cable their buildings to support higher speeds.
Other considerations to keep in mind are the timing of Wi-Fi upgrades, how rapidly wireless usage is expected to grow and how long will infrastructure will be retained. For example, the life of most enterprise switches is two to three times that of a wireless network. So, organizations will need their switches to last through one or perhaps even two more Wi-Fi upgrades. Put simply, organizations will have to find the right balance between network requirements, cost and the life expectancy of their infrastructure.
** Optrics Inc. is an Authorized Ruckus Networks reseller
The original article can be found here:


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Innovative, Reusable "Replenish" Spray Bottle Could Disrupt Home Cleaning Market
The innovative and refillable Replenish spray bottle could be a truly disruptive product, reducing and reusing first, and recycling later.
We love to tout sustainability in the consumer sector, but of the 60 billion pounds of plastic discarded annually, only 7 percent is recycled—meaning that billions of pounds end up in landfills. That said, recycling shouldn't be our only objective; the other Rs (reduce and reuse) should be our primary targets.
That's where Replenish comes in. The company rightly describes its new spray bottle as a "disruptive" product: Its reusable spray bottle is made of a sturdy, durable PET-1 plastic, meaning you don't have to replace it (though every part of it is recyclable). At the bottom of the bottle is an interchangeable "twist-on concentrate pod." To use it, you simply attach the pod to the bottle, flip it upside down, squeeze the pod until the internal measurement cup is full, and add with water. Each pod contains four bottles' worth of concentrate, and each time you buy a refill, you're not only reducing plastic waste, you're also saving money on packaging.
"When you buy a spray bottle of normal household cleaner," says founder Jason Foster, "you're basically paying for water and plastic. I kept thinking, why are we wasting money and resources shipping water and plastic. Replenish is a drastic reduction on both counts."
An added bonus is that, once stores start carrying it, they can store far more inventory of pods on their shelves—making it a win for consumers, retailers, and the environment. Order yours here.


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Dermikelp® Soothing Face Wash
Dermikelp® Itch Relief Cream 25g
Dermikelp® Itch Relief Cream 50g
Dermikelp® Itch Relief Cream – 100g
Dermikelp® Ointment – 25g
Dermikelp® Itch Relief Lotion 100ml
Dermikelp® Scalp Tonic 100ml
Dermikelp® Body Wash – 200ml
Dermikelp® Nourishing Lotion – 200ml
Dermikelp® Itch Relief Shampoo – 200ml
Dermikelp® Soothing Skin Spray – 100ml
Dermikelp® Conditioner – 200ml
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Credit card fraud is big business, with a big price tag for everyone – and unfortunately on some eCommerce websites it is easy to make a purchase with a stolen credit card without being detected. All online merchants have access to security settings in their credit card processing accounts, which they should discuss with their […]more
Written by our eCommerce experts, the Nexternal eCommerce blog is a vital resource for online retailers who wish to thrive in a competitive eCommerce market. Learn more about the Nexternal eCommerce Platform


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Take out and set side while you do the sauce. Melt the butter in a small bowl then whisk in the cream, vanilla and dark brown sugar. Microwave for about 3 seconds and whisk again. It should be smooth and not gritty. Place the mug/ramekin with the cake onto a small plate. Pour the sticky toffee sauce over your warm cake and serve with or without cream for pouring. I dug a little hole into the centre and poured some cream into there. Oh my word, this was so very good.
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LocationRamsey, MN
7900 Riverdale Drive (Hwy. 10 N.W.)
Ramsey, MN 55303
New 2022 CrossRoads RV Sunset Trail SS331BH
CrossRoads Sunset Trail travel trailer SS331BH highlights:
- Walk-Through Full Bath
- Half Bath
- Dual Entry
- Fireplace
- Kitchen Island
- Outside Camp Kitchen
This travel trailer is packed with convenient features and luxury comforts for a camping trip you won't soon forget. Once you arrive at the campground, put out the power awning and make a quick lunch on the exterior camp kitchen. The kitchen island inside will be the perfect place to cut up all the fixings for the burgers and you can grab the chips from the pantry. The kids will love the private bunkhouse that includes two bunks, a jackknife sofa with a kick, plus a dual entry half bath for convenience. The full walk-through bath will create a front master bedroom you are sure to love. Here, the king bed will provide a great night's rest and there are dual wardrobes for all your clothes. Plus there is a convenient shoe storage and pet station for your trusted loyal friends!
The lightweight Sunset Trail travel trailers by CrossRoads RV include EZ lube axles, laminated sidewalls, secure stance entry steps, plus an exterior convenience center to make each camping trip enjoyable. The gas oven, stainless steel microwave, and refrigerator allow you to cook and store food during your trip to the lake, and the stainless steel farmhouse sink will make clean-up a breeze. These models feature solid wood drawer construction and LED lights for an open and bright living space. You can choose to add many convenient options, such as the optional 50 amp electrical service, a second 13,500 BTU A/C, and a free-standing table and chairs in place of the booth dinette!
- Sunset Package
- Fireplace
- Outside Camp Kitchen
- Electric Front & Rear Stabilizer Jacks
- Secure Stance Step
- Solid Surface Counter Tops
- Theater Seats
- 50 AMP Service / Wire & Brace for 2nd A/C
- 10 cf. 12V Refrigerator
Stock# 1919-21
Interior Color: Steely Grey
|37 ft 6 in
|Ext Width
|8 ft
|Ext Height
|11 ft 2 in
|Interior Color
|Steely Grey
|Hitch Weight
|936 lbs
|Dry Weight
|7671 lbs
|Cargo Capacity
|2175 lbs
|Fresh Water Capacity
|45 gals
|Grey Water Capacity
|60 gals
|Black Water Capacity
|60 gals
|Furnace BTU
|30000 btu
|Number Of Bunks
|Available Beds
|Refrigerator Type
|Refrigerator Size
|10 cu ft
|Cooktop Burners
|Number of Awnings
|LP Tank Capacity
|20 lbs
|Water Heater Capacity
|6 gal
|Water Heater Type
|Gas/Electric DSI
|15000 btu
|TV Info
|LR Key TV
|Awning Info
|Power with LED Lights
|Axle Count
|Number of LP Tanks
|Shower Type
|Electrical Service
|50 amp
Crossroads RV's strong values for production performance is the foundation of our product promise. Since 1996, we have provided solid products and have expanded our distribution base to a national level. We take pride in our lean philosophy of keeping the frills minimal in our organizational structure, yet quality of product, service, value and comfort high for customer satisfaction. Building strong relationships with our dealer community is important to our success. We understand the stronger our dealers, the stronger your satisfaction. We help our dealers' success by maintaining protected territories for each dealer, so they can focus on fulfilling your expectations at a level we require. Located in Topeka, Indiana, we have five manufacturing facilities and employ over 600 people who team together to manufacture our high-quality products.
Pleasureland RV is not responsible for any misprints, typos, or errors found in our website pages. Any price listed excludes sales tax, registration tags, and delivery fees. Manufacturer-provided pictures, specifications and features may be used as needed. Inventory shown may be only a partial listing of the entire inventory. Please contact us at 800-862-8603 for availability as our inventory changes rapidly. All calculated payments are an estimate only and do not constitute a commitment that financing or a specific interest rate or term is available.
Manufacturer and/or stock photographs may be used and may not be representative of the particular unit being viewed. Where an image has a stock image indicator, please confirm specific unit details with your dealer representative.


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It might not be an exaggeration to say our phones are our babies. We use them to store our important data and share them. We use them to communicate with family and friends.
One way we can protect our "baby" is by knowing how to apply a screen protector. Using a protector prevents scratches from general use or accidental falls.
Screen protectors continue to rise in consumer demand, and you wouldn't be a true phone owner without one. If you somehow don't have one, it could be because you have no clue how to install it.
You've come to the right page. You can learn how to do it here.
How to Apply a Screen Protector
Believe it or not, the first thing you want to consider in applying a screen protector is the location. It doesn't have to be any place fancy. Just make sure you're in a spot that doesn't have a lot of dust.
It's not a true requirement, but life might suck if you find a few specks of dust after applying it. Even turning off your air conditioner or fan makes a difference.
You should wash your hands beforehand too. That way, you can ensure an oil- and smudge-free installation.
Clean the Screen
Once you find a great location free from dust and wind, you can clean your screen without reinviting dust. If you have a screen protector kit, most come with a cleaning pad. If you don't have one, any micro-fiber cloth will do.
Avoid other materials for your screen as they may scratch your mobile device. Tissues or paper towels are also a no-no because they can leave particles behind.
If you run into areas that are hard to wipe away with the cloth alone, use a bit of moisture. Breathing on the screen is fine or adding some water to the cloth. However, refrain from using anything with chemicals.
Open the Screen Protector Package
Now is the fun part. You can open your package and figure out how to install it.
It may seem a bit confusing at first, but it's easy. Just make sure you don't remove the protective film until the end.
Some packages may provide stickers that tell you where and when to remove the tape. There are usually two protective films.
As a basic rule of thumb, the film adhesive for the phone is removed and added on the "phone" side. Then, the second film for the outside of the phone that you touch is removed.
Adjust the Screen Protector to Your Mobile Device
Whether you have a tablet, android, or iPhone, screen protectors can be a nightmare if it's not installed the right way. This is one part of the process most people have trouble with.
You want to make sure the screen protector is even on the screen and matches the edges and any buttons. It would be unappealing to the eyes if the protector is crooked.
There's also an increased chance of scratching your phone on the part where it's missed. Keeping the screen protector film on will make adjusting it to your mobile device easier.
Once you achieve the position you like, remove the first film that you apply to the screen (inside). It helps to apply the protector up to down while applying pressure on the outside of the protector until you finish.
Get Rid of Any Bubbles
Sometimes, no matter how well you adjust the screen protector to your mobile device, you may notice some air bubbles. You will see that it's trapped between your phone and the protector.
The good thing is there is a way to get rid of it without starting over. All you have to do is use the plastic squeegee that comes with the package. You should push away bubbles towards the closest edge.
Don't be afraid to use a bit of force. You can move back and forth to clear the bubble, but it's actually more effective to stroke in a single direction.
If you don't have a tool to help release the bubbles, a credit card also works. You know that you are doing it right when you see the bubble getting smaller until it vanishes.
Wipe the Screen Again (Then Again)
You can pat yourself on the back because you're basically done. At this point, you should have one film protector left on the outside of the screen. You can remove the outer film after wiping it.
Doing so will prevent any new particles that may have got on the screen as you worked away. Just a second or two is good. Once you remove the film, there's nothing left to do other than giving your device a final wipe down.
If you inspect your device, it should be transparent and free from dust and fingerprints. Beautiful.
Help When You Need It
When you buy an android or an iPhone, you want to extend the longevity as much as possible. One of the cheapest ways you can do this is by learning how to apply a screen protector.
Although installing a screen protector isn't too complex, it still may not be easy for everyone. If you are looking for a place where you can get a professional to install it for you or get a repair done, contact us.
We have several locations, such as Virginia Beach, and would be more than happy to help you. We are pleased to say we also offer a low price guarantee to all of our customers. We will match or beat any of our competitor's prices.


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Power reserve: 60 h, 21600 variations / hours
Skeleton movement
In 2019 the Swiss watch Manufacture Girard-Perregaux unveils Quasar, revealing a new dimension of this iconic Tourbillon with three bridges movement.
This timepiece is named after the most brilliant of astronomical entities, the quasar. Thus illuminated, this tourbillon with its contemporary spirit enters the light spectrum with a case entirely made of transparent sapphire crystal.
Through these crystalline walls, Calibre GP09400-1035 reveals its openworked construction much like a star viewed with a telescope. This Haute Horlogerie movement draws the eye like a black hole and explodes with light.
Quasar embodies a natural application of the four principles governing the Girard-Perregaux universe. The first is the 1884 patent for three gold bridges visible on the dial side, the unique signature of the Maison. The second is the skeleton work hand-finished in the workshops of La Chaux-de-Fonds. The third is the 2015 birth of the Neo-Tourbillon with Three Bridges. The latter were neither straight nor made of gold, but instead arched, skeletonised and black. The fourth is the use of sapphire serving a function that is more technical than that of mere watch glasses. With the Laureato with Three Sapphire Bridges presented in 2007, crystal corundum had found its place in the very structure of a Fine Watchmaking calibre. These four vectors converge to create Quasar.
Fusion of matter and light
The 46 mm diameter Quasar case is entirely made of sapphire crystal. A chimney-style glass covers the movement bridges like a telluric dome. Its all-of-a-piece caseband features curving sides and angular lugs.
At nearly 3,000 degrees Kelvin, fundamental particles merge under the effect of an incandescent flow of oxygen and dihydrogen. It is from this process that sapphire crystal emerges. It is then cut, machined, drilled, domed and polished using tools made from the hardest material in the universe: diamond.
Weightless core
Calibre GP9400-1035 is a modified version of Calibre 9400, from which the mainplate has been removed. Almost as if this had created a vacuum, the movement finds itself in an almost weightless state. Only physically essential anchoring points remain, as if providing a demonstration of aerial technique.
The bridges visually contribute to Quasar's overall transparency effect. They are made of titanium, sandblasted and then blackened by a PVD treatment. Their shape is so complex in all three dimensions, composed of interior angles, arches, returns and overhangs, that machining them represents a true watchmaking feat.


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As husbands and wives will, from time to time, my wife and I were having the discussion about what would happen in the eventuality that one of us would predecease the other like...tomorrow night.
The usual "would you remarry?" questions were asked and answered. I asked my wife, "If there was a nuclear war tomorrow, and you were the last woman alive on the face of the Earth, would you help procreate the species? Assume there were 10 men that were a mixture of reasonably attractive, and totally repugnant."
My wife asked, "Are you alive or dead?"
"Where I was standing at the moment the war broke out is now a smoking hole," I informed her.
A few moments of consideration.
"Yes, reluctantly, if I were the last woman on the face of the Earth, and the survival of the species depended on it, I'd have to do what was necessary."
I was wandering into the kitchen to refill my drink when I heard this, muttered under her breath:
"...bet your @$$, I'd set myself up as Queen, though."
I'm off to join Sure Happy It's Thursday on a vacation. Maybe, if time and circumstances permit, there will be a post or two from wherever it is we are.
What Kind of Mind Would Paint a Cabbage? - *Note: The events that follow occurred in June 2007, and I wrote about them later that year. This is the first time I've publicly shared this story. For...
3 years ago


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MANIPULATION, a world-premiere play by Victoria E. Calderon about one woman's struggle for freedom and self-discovery, opened last week at Off-Broadway's Cherry Lane Theatre (38 Commerce Street) in Manhattan. Over the Independence Day weekend, Al Pacino and television producer/writer Norman Lear attended the show and posed for a photo afterwards. Check out pictures of the cast and their visitors below!
In MANIPULATION: Cristina seems to have it all - money, position, privilege. So why is she beginning to feel she has no control over her life, mind or body? Drawing on the best traditions of Latin American literature and its potent "magic realism," as well as a little-known Biblical tale, playwright Victoria E. Calderon conjures a provocative and unexpected world where the relationships we all cling to - mother and child, husband and wife - become a swirl of games, deception and surprise. Is Cristina willing to fight for her authenticity and a real place in this world?
The production stars Robert Bogue, Gabriel Furman, Jeremy Stiles Holm, Brendan McMahon, Saundra Santiago, Rafi Silver and Marina Squerciati
MANIPULATION runs through August 21 at Cherry Lane Theatre (38 Commerce Street): Tuesdays-Fridays at 8pm; Saturdays at 2pm and 8pm; and Sundays at 3pm and 7pm (with the following exceptions: no performances on Sunday, June 26; added performance Wednesday, June 22 at 2pm; opening on Tuesday, June 28 at 7pm). Tickets are $68.50. For tickets, visit Telecharge.com or call 212-239-6200 or 800-432-7250 . Tickets may also be purchased at the Cherry Lane box office: Tuesdays-Fridays, 4-8 pm; Saturdays, 12-8 pm; and Sundays, 1-7 pm.
For more information, visit www.manipulationtheplay.com
Photo Credit: Saundra Santiago
Jeremy Stiles Holm, Marina Squerciati, Norman Lear, Saundra Santiago, Robert Bogue; (foreground, l-r): Brendan McMahon, and John-Patrick Driscoll
Brendan McMahon, Rafi Silver, Saundra Santiago, Al Pacino, Jeremy Stiles Holm, and Marina Squerciati
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