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AECOM, October 2018
Decisions in construction are historically based on subjective experiences instead of hard data. However, as the industry increasingly adapts to new technologies that drive productivity, boost safety, identify and address problems, automate low-level tasks and compile fact-based best practices this precedent is beginning to shift. But, only when this information is turned into actionable insights. Managing the data AEC professionals generate over the course of a construction project is a monumental task – a task that is becoming increasingly insurmountable as drones, robots, smart tags and intelligent devices communicating via the Internet of Things (IoT) add to the deluge.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning are essential to extracting actionable information from this swelling ocean of data. AECOM is developing an AI-powered web-and-mobile platform, called Capture, that brings 100-percent accuracy to conventionally cumbersome, time consuming and subjective project management processes. Along with the technology platform, Capture includes a systematic process to capture and analyze construction progress over the entire course of the project.
Read the article and watch the video >
News Coverage


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Doctors said the baby's blood refused to clot, leading to her death.
Earlier surgeons had said baby Rebeca Martinez was doing well after a complex 11-hour operation carried out by a team of 18 people on Friday.
Born with the head of an undeveloped conjoined twin fused to the top of her skull, it was regarded as highly unusual for her to survive beyond birth.
In the delicate operation, surgeons had to cut off undeveloped tissue, clip the veins and arteries and close Rebeca's skull using a bone graft from another part of her body.
"She was too little to resist the surgery," the baby's mother Maria Gisela Hiciano told the Associated Press news agency from the hospital in Santo Domingo where surgery took place.
The team was led by Jorge Lazareff, who successfully separated Guatemalan conjoined twins in 2002.
'Parasitic twins'
A spokesman for the charity Cure International - which is meeting the estimated $100,000 cost of surgery - earlier said that as the surgeons came out of the theatre they had unanimously said the operation was a "great success".
But one of the lead brain surgeons, Benjamin Rivera, told AP the infant had lost a lot of blood in the operation and had many transfusions, but that her blood would not clot.
"In that case, you can't do anything. This is the worst
complication that can happen in this kind of surgery," he said.
Rebeca, who was born in mid-December, was only the eighth documented case in the world of a condition known as parasitic twins. The other seven all died before birth.
Her second head had a partially-developed brain, ears, eyes and lips, and if it had continued to grow it would have prevented Rebeca's brain from developing.
The features on the second head reportedly moved when Rebeca was being fed.
Dr Lazareff, the director of Paediatric Neurosurgery at UCLA's Mattel Children's Hospital, said the head on top had been growing faster than the lower one.

subset: commoncrawl


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Critters of the River Brigade in Lighting Delivery
An Otter Falls Easter Egg Hunt never went so wrong!
This full story is sold exclusively through Peacock Books and Wildlife Art and Lisa's Books in Rochester, Minnesota. The Story Preview Edition™ may be released online through outside vendors (a book that includes a few pages of the story, some of the illustrations, and trivia for the story and series, and author bio, links).
Pre-Order now and book will be delivered by or on release date April 17, 2019
Book Series: Critters of the River Brigade
Book Number in Series: 1
Edition: 1
Author: Lisa Loucks Christenson
Illustrator: Lisa Loucks Christenson
Medium: Original Pastel Illustrations
Cover Illustration, Book Design: Lisa Loucks Christenson
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Fly Up Books™ imprint of Loucks Studios, Inc.
Release: April 17, 2019
Genre: Wildlife Adventure Fiction™
Ages: 0 and Up,
Children's Picture Book


text:
How much does shipping cost?
We are glad to bring our customers great value and service. That's why we provide fast shipping from our Fulfillment Center in California by UPS and USPS.
What countries are you delivering to?
As of now, we're delivering to the United States only.
How can I track my parcel?
Once your parcel has left our Fulfillment Center, you will receive an email with a tracking number to monitor your parcel movements.
Can you ship my order to a business address?
Yes, you can write your business address in your order details if it's more convenient to you.
Can you ship my order to a PO Box address?
Yes, you can select delivery to a PO Box if it's more convenient to you.
Can you ship my order to APO or FPO military addresses?
Yes, we ship anywhere in the United States, and to all US territories and military APO/FPO addresses.
What happens to my parcel if it is delivered while I'm not there?
Depending on the destination and the package size, your parcel will be left in your mailbox or on your porch, or it may be left with a neighbour.
Payment & Security
Your payment information is processed securely. We do not store credit card details nor have access to your credit card information.
I ordered this keyboard because it matches my setup perfectly. Just plugin the keyboard and it works! This keyboard has many great LED functions and does all the things promised. The buttons have a deep travel which I personally like most. But has a softer noise than most mechanical gaming keyboards. That is why I love it! This keyboard does not support "Aura Sync'' which would have been even more fantastic if it does, but nevertheless for this price it is an amazing product. I recommend buying it.
I am not a gamer, so I don't need anything too complicated, but I do spend a lot of time on the keyboard and value a responsive, nice to the touch keyboard. I really wanted a keyboard that didn't require so much real estate on the desk, and more importantly, was also backlit, which is a feature my eyes cannot live without any more. This keyboard not only meets those requirements but it also feels incredibly solid. It is relatively heavy, which along with its design, makes it stay put on the desk no matter what.
It hits everything I want. The price is reasonable. The look is crisp, clean, and neat. Even the logo is minimalist and not obnoxious. The base is heavy and not going to move on you. Easily the heaviest keyboard I have owned. It has backlighting that can be controlled with variety and can even be turned off completely.
One minor annoyance is that the key switches are sometimes easy to pull out, and sometimes incredibly difficult. It can vary from one key to the next. Every key switch position might be difficult or hard to pull out depending on variances with each cutout or switch.
Semi mechanical keyboard. I'm quite satisfied with the way it feels, however the letters printed on the keyboard are barely visible without backlight
It's a really cheap option if you want to get a nice keyboard. But of course it won't be as good as the expensive ones so i guess it's worth the price!
The space key makes a little too much noise but apart from that the keyboard is very beautiful and classy, and remains very pleasant to touch.
Item came in good condition and the quality is just like those expensive keyboards! Just that this is WAY cheaper
This keyboard is solid, heavy duty, and a worthy keyboard for gaming, writing, or anything else in-between.
All in all very happy with the build quality, mechanical switches, sound, lighting, heavy metal base, etc.
Great typing experience with good audible keystrokes but not annoying, perfect balance I would say.
So far so good. All keys and backlight options are functioning properly. Great deal for this price.
This keyboard is cool! It looks like mechanics, but it's a membrane.
I've had my keyboard for a few days now and it feels awesome! :D
Looks nice and solid!


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There is nothing new under the sun, at least when it comes to latkes. Just a quick look online will yield so many variations on this theme that your head will spin faster than a driedel. I certainly don't claim that my sweet and savory latke variations will take you to places (or heights) unknown. But they are delicious, easy, and freeze well – so if you aren't morally or nutritionally opposed to fried food, keep reading.
Hanukkah is minor, but fun holiday in the Jewish calendar. It celebrates the victory of the Jews, led by the Maccabee family, over the Syrians about 150 years before the birth of Jesus. Chanukah has turned into a gift and food fest – at least in the U.S. – as it stands near (although not always close) to Christmas when the Jewish/lunar calendar is superimposed on the Western secular/solar calendar. As for the true meaning of the holiday, I leave that to others. This post is all about the food, with a minor detour for a short spelling lesson.
Because the holiday name is Hebrew, there are many transliterations that work in English. Besides Hanukkah and Chanukah, it is also spelled Hanukah, and Chanuka. In fact, some crazy folks have tracked the use of 16 different spellings in 2012 and 20 in 2011, for example. I spelled it Chanukah last year, so I've decided to switch to Hanukkah just for variety.
Traditionally, Hanukkah foods are cooked in oil to celebrate a miracle that is said to have occurred after the Jews rededicated the Temple, which had been desecrated during the fighting. The small amount of oil in the lamp of the Temple's ceremonial menorah (candelabra) was only sufficient for one day, but miraculously lasted for 8 days.
In my family, the traditional celebratory fried food is latkes or fried potato pancakes. My tried-and-true recipe is simple. In my Hanukkah post last year, I went through that recipe step-by-step. This year, as part of a Hanukkah blog party sponsored by Leah of Cook Kosher and Miriam of Overtime Cook, I'm doing sweet and savory latke variations. The party includes cookbook giveaways too! So after my recipes, check out the giveaway details and links to other party participants' Hanukkah-themed treats.
"Basic" Potato Latkes
- 2 eggs
- ½ small onion (less than ¼cup)
- 1 teaspoon salt and pepper to taste (I use Kosher salt)
- 2 tablespoons of flour or matzo meal (I used matzo meal for these variations)
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- 3 cups Yukon gold or small red potatoes, measured after grating
- Canola oil (about ½ cup) – for frying
My 3 variations:
- Sweet and white potato with parsnips
- Zucchini and potato with dill, and
- Potato with shallots and apple (yes, I really did put apples inside my latkes)
Except where specifically noted below, I followed the same preparation steps for the variations as I did for the original recipe. Here are the ingredients and notes for each variation:
Sweet Potato, White Potato and Parsnip Latkes
- 2 eggs
- ½ small onion (less than ¼ cup)
- 1 teaspoon salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons matzo meal
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup of grated Yukon gold or red skinned white potatoes
- 1 cup of grated sweet potatoes
- 1 cup of grated parsnips
The parsnips should be rinsed and pressed out, along with the sweet and red bliss potatoes.
Zucchini and Potato Latkes with Dill
- 2 eggs
- ½ small onion (less than ¼ cup)
- 1 teaspoon salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
- 4 tablespoons matzo meal
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill, finely chopped
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- 1½ cups of grated zucchini
- 1½ cups of grated Yukon gold or red skinned white potatoes
The dill goes in with the egg, onion, matzo meal mixture. The grated zucchini, which should be rinsed and pressed out with the potatoes, is quite moist, so I doubled the matzo meal (or flour); the result is a latke that is moister and less crunchy.
Potato Latkes with Shallots and Apple
- ½ cup shallots, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 cup of Granny Smith apple (approximately 1 medium apple), sliced into thin slices and then into thirds
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon salt and freshly ground pepper to taste (oops. forgot the pepper in the picture)
- 2 tablespoons matzo meal
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- 3 cups of grated Yukon gold or red skinned white potatoes
Cook the shallots (milder botanical cousins of onions) in the butter on a low-medium heat for 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the shallots turn transparent. Then add the apple pieces, raise the heat to medium, and continue cooking for approximately 5 more minutes, stirring occasionally, until they soften. Add the mixture to the egg, onion, and matzo meal mixture.
Each of the variations hits a different flavor and texture "note." My taste-tester-in-chief liked them all. His personal favorite among them was the zucchini and potato with dill, which is a lighter than the others.
I couldn't pick a favorite – it's kind of like asking me which child I like prefer. So instead of choosing, I'll celebrate Hannukah with all of them, and the traditional all-potato latkes too.
Happy Hanukkah!
The giveaway cookbooks are:
- 2 copies of Susie Fishbein's new Kosher By Design Cooking Coach (sponsored by Artscroll)
- 2 copies of Leah Schapira's Fresh and Easy Kosher Cooking (sponsored by Artscroll)
- 2 copies of Esther Deutch's CHIC Made Simple (sponsored by the author)
How to enter: Leave a comment on this post telling us your favorite idea for a latke variation. It doesn't have to be one you've tried – just let your imagination run wild.
The giveaway ends at 11:59 PM on Sunday, December 16th. Limit one entry per person per blog participating in the Hannukah blog party, so visit the other blogs for extra chances to win! Prizes can only be shipped within the US. Entries must be accompanied by a valid email address in order to qualify.
Hanukkah Blog Party Recipe Links
- Jamie from Joy of Kosher made Zucchini Latkes with Tzatziki
- Daniel from Peikes Cookbook made Potato and Fennel Latkes Fried in Duck Fat With Chinese Five Spice Apple Sauce
- Susan from The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen made Squash and Potato Latkes
- Samantha from The Little Ferraro Kitchen made Ruby Red Beet Latkes with Cumin
- Nechamah from TIforOA Food Ideas madeHealthy Oatmeal Latkes
- Liz from The Lemon Bowl made Traditional Potato Latkes
- Yosef from This American Bite made Latkes & Brisket on Rye
- Melanie from From Fast Food to Fresh Food made (I Can't Believe They're Crispy!) Baked Latkes
- Laura from Mother Would Know made Three Variations of Sweet and Savory Latkes
- Sarah from Crispy Bits and Burnt Ends made Kimchee Latkes
- Shulie from Food Wanderings made Baked Panko Sweet Potato Leek Latkes
Donuts and Desserts:
- Miriam from Overtime Cook made Shortcut Cannoli with Chocolate Mousse Filling
- Leah from Cook Kosher made 5 Minute Donuts
- Estee from The Kosher Scoop made Tropical Fruit Fritters
- Melinda from Kitchen-Tested made Sweet Steamed Buns
- Amy from What Jew Wanna Eat made Homemade Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Gelt
- Avidan from Baking It Up As I Go Along made Orange Olive Oil Cake
- Tali from More Quiche Please made Glazed Chocolate Donut Holes
- Amital from Organized Jewish Home made Mom's Sour Cream Sugar Cookies
- Princess Lea from The Frumanista made Túrógombóc
- Stephanie and Jessica from The Kosher Foodies made Beignets
- Gigi from Gigi's Kitchen made Bunuelos: Mini Powdered Cheese Donuts
- Esther from Esther O Designs made Edible Menorahs
- Patti from No Bacon Here made Hanukkah Oreo Balls
- Shoshana from Couldn't Be Parve made Churros con Chocolate
- Shaindy from My Happily Hectic Life made Inside Out Apple Crisp
- Eve from Gluten Free Nosh made Gluten-Free Hanukkah Sugar Cookies
- The Gluten Free maven made Gluten Free Vegan Cake Donuts
- Amy from Baking and Mistaking made Mini Cream-Filled French Beignets
- Sarah from Food, Words, Photos made Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
- Victoria from Itsy Bitsy Balebusta made Pure Vanilla Donuts
- Vicky and Ruth from May I Have That Recipe made Dulce de Leche and Eggnog cream filled mini sufganiot
- Dena from Oh You Cook made Poached Pears in Pomegranate Sauce
- Michele from Kosher Treif Cooking made Tiramisu Cheessecake
- Sharon from FashionIsha made Sparkly Chanukah Cookies
Appetizers, Soups, Sauces, Drinks and other Hanukkah Food
- Laura from Pragmatic Attic made Caramel Spice Applesauce
- Jessie from Bread and Butter made Honey Spiced Hanukkah Martini
- G6 from Guess Who's Coming 2 Dinner made Sweet Potato Leek Soup
- Claire from I Love Soup made Sweet Potato, Coconut & Lemongrass Soup
- Jennifer from Juanita's Cocina made Kugel
- Liz from Kosher Like Me made Ready, Stuff Roll!
- Shelley from The Kosher Home made Hanukkah Crafts and Printable


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From 'White summer' to 'One Black Rat', we have mixed 19 'Blues' tunes around the theme of 'Colours'. It has Ray Charles, Taj Mahal , Memphis Minnie, The Yardbirds and many more.
soulwalking: Lowell Fulson's first single for the label was 'Reconsider Baby,' recorded in Dallas under Stan Lewis's supervision with a sax section that included David 'Fathead' Newman on tenor and Leroy Cooper on baritone.
CD Baby : Over the years John Dee Holeman's musical and dancing skills were sharpened in local competitions at house parties, cornshuckings, woodcuttings, and other rural recreations.
The Wrld of Marion-Net : By now in 1955, Joe Liggins realizes what all the pioneer R & B performers see – the new rock and roll audience is a whole lot younger and they relate to the younger performers. By 1956 it is the music of teenage America and any of the older R & B performers that can still make it big in the music field are few and far between (Fats Domino and Ray Charles being notable exceptions).
Music Maker : Albert White's uncle, the legendary Piano Red, noticed that Albert was actually playing self-made chords on a ukulele at the age of nine. Red sent Albert to take lessons from his guitarist,
Southern Music : Minnie was as tough a drinker and blues singer as any man. She returned to Memphis in the 20s where, accompanied by her guitarist, second husband Kansas Joe McCoy, she was discovered on Beale Street by Columbia Records in 1929.
http://www.nps.gov/history/delta/blues/people/jim_jackson.htm : Jim Jackson's recorded material is firmly rooted in nineteenth-century style and structure. Certainly his guitar-strumming technique distinguishes him from younger finger-picking contemporaries like Furry Lewis, Robert Wilkins, and Tampa Red.
Wikipedia : Dick Justice's "Cocaine" is a verse-for-verse cover of the Jordan track of the same name recorded two years earlier. The song "Brownskin Blues" is also stylistically akin the much of Jordan's work but stands on its own as a Justice original. As Jordan hailed from around Lynchburg, Virginia it is perhaps worth speculating that the two may have been associates.
Document Records : In addition to recordings made under his own name Sam Price became a house pianist for Decca and appeared on records with many well known blues and jazz singers. His solid, imaginative blues, jazz, boogie-woogie and swing based piano accompaniments were vital ingredients to the success of many recordings.
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3' x 5' Outdoor Message Flags for Impactful Storefront Advertising
3' x 5' Outdoor Message Flags for Use Outside Businesses and Building Entryways
Are you a store owner looking for a way to advertise to patrons from outside your establishment? With the help of our 3' x 5' outdoor message flags, customers can receive notices regarding your company without ever having to come inside. The bright red, white, and blue design of these banners can be seen even from far distances and will have an impressive impact on advertising. Our outdoor message flags are made from durable nylon and are double-hemmed as well as quadruple stitched to withstand harsh elements. Each banner contains two grommets for added stability as well as a 2" canvas header for additional protection. The large, bold screen printed lettering conveniently shows the reverse image on the back surface for visibility to passersby on either side.
What phrases are available on your message flags? Statements of "welcome", "sale", "open", "grand opening", and "open house" can be purchased on our site. This selection of phrases is widely used in retail stores, small businesses, restaurants, and even in real estate companies for showing homes. We also have telescoping flagpoles that come with an American flag and will have a commanding presence outside any home or business. The poles are constructed from aluminum, can extend up to 20' high, and have a PVC sleeve for ground insertion. American themed banners are also sold separately without the pole!
Having vivid outdoor signage is bound to attract a large customer base to your establishment. Posters, flyers, and other print ads are not as effective as a large banner with vibrant text hanging outside your store. Create impactful advertising with the help of this signage, and watch customers flock to your business. Displays2go has a large catalog of high-quality advertising signs to create more foot traffic to your store. Shop online today to take advantage of quick shipping and low prices!


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Website https://twitter.com/aceatnd University of Notre Dame's Alliance for Catholic Education
The Alliance for Catholic Education responds to the needs of the Church's educational mission through service to children in elementary and secondary schools and strives to sustain, strengthen, and transform Catholic schools.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Director for the Catholic School Advantage campaign reports to the Coordinator, Pastoral Formation and Administration and is responsible for developing a comprehensive strategic plan, establishing milestones, and overseeing implementation of the campaign's efforts to double the percentage of Latino students in K-12 Catholic schools over the next decade. Specific responsibilities include:
- Leading the strategic design and implementation of national initiatives to advance the campaign.
- Working closely with ACE's Director of University/School partnerships (who builds relationships with bishops and pastors, the key ecclesial stakeholders of the campaign) to coordinate strategic planning and implementation initiatives.
- Recruiting and forming talented team members and coordinating a diverse set of initiatives that effectively engages units across ACE.
- Providing leadership and oversight for a team (local and off-site) dedicated to setting and meeting ambitious goals.
- Driving the business strategy and client relationship management for the campaign, determining scope of services, costs, budgeting, and other contractual arrangements. This includes the cultivation of close relationships with diocesan superintendents, principals, diocesan and parish Hispanic ministers and development directors.
- Evaluating the progress of various interventions and initiatives to ensure quality control and to maximize impact through high-leverage activities.
- Developing and implementing strategies to generate the resources (human and financial) necessary to support the activities of the campaign.
- Overseeing marketing and communications needs for the campaign and work with internal and external communications leaders to generate effective public relations, a vital web presence, and other ambitious communications efforts of national, regional, and local scope.
- Serving as the primary investigator for grants received by the campaign.
- Implementing special projects as assigned by the Coordinator, Pastoral Formation and Administration and/or the Director, Institute for Educational Initiatives
Qualifications: Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to serve as an effective team leader. Ability to problem-solve and multi-task in a deadline-driven environment. Excellent written and oral communication skills. Outstanding organizational skills, with exceptional attention to detail. Passionate commitment to the mission of Catholic education. Experience with business operations, strategic planning, management, and marketing are preferred. Knowledge of Catholic institutions and Catholic education is preferred. Fluency in Spanish is strongly preferred. Experience working with Hispanic populations is strongly preferred.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Padre José Corpora, CSC at firstname.lastname@example.com.
To apply go to jobs.nd.edu, search postings, scroll down to Director, Catholic School Advantage Campaign


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Cities of East Asia
Tailor-Made Journey
Cities of East Asia
Cities of East Asia
Visit Beijing, Seoul, Tokyo and Shanghai on this tour of Asia's cities
This unique itinerary takes you to some of the Orient's magnificent and iconic cities, combining three fascinating countries in one outstanding journey. Explore the illustrious capital of China, Beijing, visiting the iconic Great Wall and the Forbidden City. Flying on to Seoul, the capital of South Korea, where ancient meets modern, glittering skyscrapers jostle for position amongst traditional temples, markets and palaces. In Tokyo, discover the energetic and futuristic capital of Japan, before ending your tour in the vibrant city of Shanghai, China's largest city.
Locations you will be visiting
Beijing, China
Discover the sights and traditions for Beijing with this handy destination guide.
3 Days
Discover the sights and traditions for Seoul with this handy destination guide.
3 Days
Discover Japan's dazzling capital - where ancient meets modern
3 Days
Shanghai, China
Discover the sights and traditions for Shanghai with this handy destination guide.
3 Days
Cities of East Asia
14 day Tour Itinerary
An overview of your trip
DAY 1 UK to Beijing
You will take a scheduled flight from the UK to Beijing.
- Transport: Airplane
DAY 2 Arrive Beijing
Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to your accommodation.
DAY 3 Beijing City Tour
In the morning you will visit the Temple of Heaven, where the Ming and Qing emperors worshipped the god of heaven and prayed for good harvests for the year, and you can observe the tradition of Tai Chi practiced in the courtyard. Continue to Tiananmen Square, the largest square in the world, and visit the Forbidden City which served as the grand imperial palace for centuries. Your final stop of the day will be at the Hutongs, for a personal insight into the everyday life of traditional Beijing citizens.
- Meals included: Breakfast
DAY 4 Great Wall
Today visit the Great Wall at Mutianyu, a post along the wall offering breathtaking views in a less crowded atmosphere. Mutianyu was built in the mid-6th century and its rich history can be seen in its unique structure. This will be followed by an opportunity for photographs at the Birds Nest Stadium and Water Cube, venues for the memorable 2008 Olympic Games.
- Meals included: Breakfast
DAY 5 Fly to Seoul
In the morning visit the Summer Palace, which includes a magnificent collection of lakes, gardens, palaces and scenic views. Afterwards, enjoy a relaxing boat ride on the beautiful Kunming Lake, before transferring to the airport for your flight to Seoul.
- Meals included: Breakfast
- Transport: Airplane
DAY 6 Seoul City Tour
Enjoy a morning tour of this bustling city. Pass by the Blue House, explore the Gyeongbokgung Palace and see the Royal Guard changing ceremony. Visit the National Folk Museum and the Insadong shopping district. Afternoon is at leisure.
- Meals included: Breakfast
DAY 7 DMZ Tour
Enjoy a fascinating morning tour to the DMZ. This is one of the most unusual tourist destinations in the world. This visit is a real eye-opening experience and it will leave you with a dramatic sense of the tremendous tragedy of separated families, the division of the peninsula and the hopes for reunification. The rest of the day is at leisure.
- Meals included: Breakfast
DAY 8 Fly to Tokyo
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Tokyo. Take a shuttle transfer upon arrival, the rest of the day is at leisure.
- Meals included: Breakfast
- Transport: Airplane
DAY 9 Tokyo City Tour
This morning, after breakfast, you will join a Tokyo Morning Tour. Enjoy a panorama of Tokyo from the main observation platform at the Tokyo Tower, a communications and Observation tower which stands at a height of 332.9 metres. Visit the Meiji Shrine, a Shinto shrine located in Shibuya and drive past Akasaka Guest House and the National Diet Building. Visit the Imperial Palace East Garden (or Imperial Palace Plaza and Double Bridge, Monday, Friday and when the garden is closed) and drive through the Ginza shopping district. Tour ends in Ginza, and the rest of the day is at leisure.
- Meals included: Breakfast
DAY 10 Tokyo
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure to explore this magical capital city on your own, or perhaps treat yourself to one of the many excursions or cultural experiences available.
- Meals included: Breakfast
DAY 11 Fly to Shanghai
Fly to Shanghai where you will be transferred to your accommodation.
- Meals included: Breakfast
- Transport: Airplane
DAY 12 Shanghai City Tour
The first attraction will be the Yu Yuan Gardens followed by the Jade Buddha Temple. The centuries old Yu Yuan Gardens is home to beautiful pavilions, walkways, streams, courtyards and flowers. The Jade Buddha Temple, is where large, intricate sculptures of Buddha reside. After viewing the Shanghai Museum, visit the waterfront attraction of the Bund to admire Shanghai as a modern metropolis. Later, on top of the Shanghai world financial centre, you can enjoy a breathtaking bird's eye view of the whole city.
- Meals included: Breakfast
DAY 13 Zhujiajiao
Today will start with a visit to Zhujiajiao, an ancient water town with a history of over 1,700 years, known as the Pearl Stream. After, you can expect to see the Ming and Qing Dynasty bridges, two ancient and historic buildings, and the Ma Family Garden before heading back to Shanghai. Afternoon at leisure.
- Meals included: Breakfast
DAY 14 Fly to UK
Transfer to the airport for your flight to the UK.
- Meals included: Breakfast
- Transport: Airplane
Optional Extras - Cultural Experiences
There is some free time in your itinerary for you to explore on your own, or treat yourself to an excursion. Use the links below to create a to-do list, or, if you'd prefer us to book you onto one of these or any other excursions, please let us know when booking your tour.
China: Kung Fu Show in Beijing
A dynamic kung-fu show in Beijing
China: Beijing Opera
Delight at a performance of traditional Beijing Opera
Japan: Tokyo Tsukiji Outer Fish Market
Visit the Tsukiji Outer market and enjoy a fresh sushi breakfast from one of the many restaurants or food stands.
Japan: Tokyo Sumo Experience & Chanko Lunch
Be a sumo wrestler for a day! Learn from the Sumo wrestlers about the history, practice and the tournaments. Try on a Sumo costume and challenge a Sumo wrestler to a match. Enjoy the traditional and symbolic meal Chanko-nabe.
Sample Accommodation
Your holiday details
China: Cities of East Asia
What's included:
- International and domestic flights in economy class
- 3★ and 4★ accommodation based on twin share
- Transfers
- Tours as stated
- Meals as specified
- Airport taxes
- Tips
- Personal Spending
- Travel Insurance
- China visa and fees
Price from £4,099
Single room supplement from £895
(sole passenger prices on request)
Land only from £3,299
(excludes international flights)
Prices and products are subject to availability at the time of booking.
The deposit for these arrangements is £300 per person. Balance is due 12 weeks before departure.
When making an enquiry or reservation we will request your contact details, however no payment will be required at this stage. We will contact you for payment details and to confirm your booking, your details and the details of those travelling with you along with any extras you'd like to add.
Extend your holiday with a stopover
Stopovers Tailor Made Beach
Dubai Stopover
Dubai, the ultimate stopover destination for shopping and relaxation
Stopovers Tailor Made Beach
Phuket Stopover
Phuket is the ideal place to relax before or after a tour of Asia
Stopovers Tailor Made City
Singapore Stopover
Singapore, where traditional culture meets modern life
Stopovers Tailor Made Beach
Bali Stopover
A four day stopover on a paradise isle


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Barrel-Aging Beer
This Month In Beer: November
Page 2 of 2Barrel-aging can add complexity to beer by either the direct impact of the wood (vanilla from the oak), imparting flavor from prior contents (bourbon), secondary fermentation from special yeast or bacteria (Brettanomyces, Lactobacillus and others), or items put in the barrel (cherries) adding a new dimension of flavor. The Boulevard Quad is fairly unique in that it has three of these processes in play.
The third beer, the Fernet Aged Porter is a totally unique collaboration between the Odell Brewing Company and Leopold Brothers Distillery. It's a big porter (clocking in at 9.8%) with 50% of the beer aged in Fernet barrels. Fernet is an aromatic liqueur that with an interesting range of herbs and spices that is quite popular in Argentina.
The barrel-aged component of the porter takes the roasted and smooth porter character and shifts it into a remarkable herbaceous and woody territory. It's got a solid woody, vanilla character and even shows a bit of dark fruit and licorice in the creamy finish. This is an utterly remarkable beer with great barrel character, and its herbaceous liqueur quality should redefine how you think about beer.
The Oak Aged Yeti from Great Divide is the final beer of this list and it's a big, big beer. While not actually barrel-aged, this is an Imperial Stout aged on oak chips that give it a huge woody character. When you pour this beer, the head is practically brown, and on the nose it's a mix of smoke and dark chocolate, with a hint of oak in the background. On first taste, it's amazingly earthy and woody with a core of vanilla and a smooth, smoky finish. It's big and rich, with a definite warming character due to its 9.5% ABV. The Yeti series of beers are well known for their sheer immensity, and this beer is no exception. Get it if you can, but be sure to gather some friends for the experience.


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Pleasant Hill Lake is an 850-acre unlimited horsepower lake surrounded by 1350 acres of land. Hundreds of thousands of guests come to Pleasant Hill Lake Park every year to enjoy recreational activities such as camping, log cabins, marina, boating, fishing, hiking, hunting, picnicking, swimming, and kayaking.
Pleasant Hill Lake is located in the heart of Mohican Country just outside the village of Perrysville, Ohio. Various activities and special themed events are offered every weekend from the end of April to mid-October to educate and entertain our guests. Check our events schedule for more details.
Tourism Award of Excellence
Since 1938, the park has been part of the history of this community. The Tourism Award of Excellence-winning park boasts family-friendly events and naturalist programs in season. The park offers newly renovated full hook-up camping facilities, deluxe log cabins, Adventure Kids Camps, Movies at the Lake, Live musical entertainment, Osprey Tours, fireworks, kayaking programs, and more
Voted #1 Best Campground in 2018
Voted Best Campground Finalist in 2019, 2020, 2021 & 2022
Adam Miller


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Enable Flagging – This turns on and off the flagging feature. See the Flagging section of this manual to learn more.
Flag properties window – This is area where the flag label, color and hotkey are set. To set up a new flag, click on the plus button near the bottom of the window, this will add a new row. Click in the cell of the Flag column and type in a name for the flag, then choose a color by clicking on the color chip in the Color column and finally click in the cell of the Hotkey column to input a hotkey for the flag.
NOTE: The flag hotkeys, like the multi-view hotkeys, are global hotkeys and will interrupt code window hotkeys if they are like hotkeys.
By checking "Notes" for a flag, a Note window will open when you activate that flag to allow you to insert a note into the flagged instance. Check "Organizer" and/or "Sorter" to automatically add the flagged instance to the Movie Organizer and/or the Sorter.
Delete a flag by selecting a row and clicking on the minus button.
This is a Sportscode Elite function only.


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As recent air quality reports from Toronto Public Health and Public Health Ontario highlight, improvements in the Toronto-area outdoor air quality have come to a standstill of sorts.
With more people moving to major cities in search of jobs and more vehicles entering major thoroughfares, levels of the three main pollutants—nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and particulate matter—are actually rising in some areas, undoing 10 solid years of air quality gains.
Ontario does not bear all the blame here—about 30 percent of introduced outside air pollution in our area makes its way across the border from the United States.
If you suffer from allergies, asthma, or another respiratory condition, or if you have a child or elderly loved one who does, this is definitely not good news. In this case, clean outdoor air is not just a human right. It is a vital health need.
While it may not always be possible to control the quality of the air outside, you retain full ability to control the quality of your indoor air. In this post, we will teach you how to do this in four easy steps!
1. Seal up cracks and leaks, and update insulation
Before you can effect any lasting positive change on the quality of your indoor air, it is first necessary to stop polluted outside air from sneaking in.
This is most common in older spaces that were built to be less airtight than today's new construction. Time and normal wear and tear can cause cracks and leaks in windows, doors, walls, and floors. As well, insulation eventually thin and wear out.
Weatherstripping offers an easy and economical way to reseal leaks and cracks to keep inside air in and outside air out. Adding extra insulation around air ducts, exhaust vents, and other key areas can also help with both inside air purity and energy efficiency.
2. Figure out how to safely ventilate your inside air
In this age of rogue outside air pollutants, figuring out how to ventilate (refresh) your inside air safely can be tricky. The traditional method, of course, is to open windows and doors on nice days while running ceiling and floor fans for extra air movement.
But if your outside air has become particularly toxic due to nearby traffic or industry, this won't work.
Luckily, we have another, even better solution to offer. You can install a heat recovery ventilator that works with your HVAC system to keep your indoor air fresh and pure.
A heat recovery ventilator ensures total isolation between incoming and outgoing air inside your home. Oxygen-poor stale inside air needs to get out so it can be replaced with new oxygen-rich fresh air.
In traditional HVAC systems, it is challenging to keep these two air streams completely separate. But with a heat recovery ventilator installed, these two air streams each have their own dedicated passage, so they never mix.
As a bonus, the heat recovery ventilator will also remove extra moisture (humidity) to keep your home from falling prey to mould or mildew.
3. Ensure your indoor air is filtered for total purity
There are two approaches you can take to ensure the inside air you are breathing in is free from outside air pollutants, toxins, and allergens.
You can choose one or both depending on the amount of outside air pollution in your area and your family's individual health needs.
A HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filtration system can capture and filter out even the tiniest airborne particles with a 99.97 percent effectiveness rate. This makes the HEPA system the world's best filtration system.
If you have a newer energy efficient HVAC system, you may be able to install a whole-home HEPA system to work with your air conditioner, furnace, and heat recovery ventilator.
If you have an older HVAC system that still has some useful life left in it, you may be better served by choosing a portable HEPA filtration unit for individual rooms.
Another fabulous and effective option for purifying your inside air supply is a UV-based purification system.
Like HEPA filtration systems, UV purification systems come in whole-home and portable units depending on your current HVAC system and your family's individual needs.
4. Have your indoor air duct system professionally cleaned and sanitized
Everything we have shared with you here can definitely improve the quality and purity of your inside air supply.
But even all of these tools can only do so much if your air duct system has not been cleaned in some time or (in the case of many older homes) ever.
Like any other area of your home, over time, dust and debris can build up inside your air duct system. This isn't something the average homeowner can clean out.
Our professional indoor air duct cleaning packages take three to five hours (depending on the size of your space) and include a complete vacuuming, deodorizing, and sanitizing as well as additional options depending on your home's needs.
Once you have your indoor air duct system professionally cleaned, the toxins, pollutants, and allergens that were trapped inside your duct system will be gone. You don't have to worry that they are getting pushed through the air vents to aggravate your family's respiratory systems and cause allergies and illness. From now on, a maintenance call, the frequency of which depends on where you life and if you have pets, etc.,) will suffice.
Give Us a Call
Here at Clean Air Solutions Hamilton, we work closely with our sister company, Shipton's Heating & Cooling, to ensure our clients' have the cleanest, freshest, and most energy efficient and affordable inside air.
Give us a call at 905-544-2470 to set up your consultation!


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Help Your Child Learn to Read
Improve Reading Skills
Work on Your Child's
Reading Skills
Get Reading Tips by Grade Level
Find resources and information to help your reader by choosing the appropriate grade level:
Find worksheets and printable activities to help your child expand their reading and writing skills.
Home Activities
Quick and fun activities to do at home or in the car to increase your child's reading knowledge.
How is My Child Performing
in Reading at School?
CMS will test your child's reading 3 times a year using DIBELS, TRC and MAP Growth tests by their school. Results should be given to families. The results will indicate the specific skills your child should learn to become a great reader. Wondering what this means? We help break it down for you.


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Many people find themselves the victims of home invasion and burglary when there were a few simple steps that could have been followed to help prevent it. This doesn't have to be you, as there are a few steps you can take to help secure your home before an intrusion ever occurs.
1. No notes. Thinking about notifying a family member or a service person that you are out of the house? Think again. Nothing says "come on in" to a potential intruder like a note on the door.
2. Find a better hiding spot for keys. You have probably seen it in a few television shows and movies – people who keep spare keys under flower pots, beneath doormats or right on top of the doorframe. Guess where the intruders are going to look first when they need to get into your home! If you must keep spare keys somewhere then find a less conspicuous spot or, better yet, give an extra set to some trustworthy neighbors.
3. Let the light be your friend. If you are going to be out of the house for an extended period of time, there are plenty of things you can do to convey the illusion that someone is home. There are exterior lights that operate on motion that will cast a light on anyone crossing your property, and if that doesn't work there is always television. Leave the television running during shorter trips out or on errands and would-be intruders will certainly think twice before letting themselves in.
4. No need to advertise. Consider closing the drapes or blinds in the areas containing some of your more expensive equipment. No need to tempt intrusion before it even starts. And if you are planning on going on a long trip or vacation, then arrange to have your mail kept or have a neighbor get it for you so it doesn't pile up in one area. Intruders look for these signs and a mailbox full of unread mail is more than enough for any burglar to declare open season on your home.
5. Invest in some security. Home Security Systems let the intruder know that you mean business – not to mention they can also help give you added peace of mind. Monitored home security systems provided by ADT, for example, give you twice the security by not only constantly monitoring your home but letting intruders know, upfront, that your home is being watched. A home security option also might not be as expensive as you think, costing only about a buck per day.
However you decide to secure your home, remember that home security starts with you. Act now and don't wait for the unfortunate event of an intrusion to open your eyes to the importance of home security.


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Is the role of the newsroom social media editor dead? A lot of journalists seem to think so, according to this piece by Rob Fishman at Buzzfeed.
Fishman* talked with a lot of industry leaders who noted that "social was no longer peripheral, but core to their strategy. Concentrating authority in a single personage no longer made sense."
They're right, to some extent, but most of the people interviewed in Fishman's piece are from larger news organizations with long-established roles in social media. Coming from a perspective of smaller local newsrooms, I beg to differ. Many news organizations out there still need someone on staff to be thinking about how to use social media effectively and strategically across the entire news organization.
It isn't the social media editor that is dead, but rather the Newsroom Social Media Rockstar Ninja Guru (and thank goodness).
As Fishman notes, many of the early social media editors were able to build quite a name for themselves:
More followers, more about them, more about their "personal brand." Instead of finding a niche within the newsroom, these hires carved one out for themselves, largely outside of existing structures. They became self-appointed spokespeople, faces and names.
The exoticism of social media created a whole class of (mostly young) journalists who suddenly were a big deal – but who were ultimately supposed to be working themselves out of a job. Many instead worked themselves into bigger and better ones (and good on them). ** These days, there are a lot of tasks heaped on the social lead that aren't so glamorous.
Even outside the news industry, the pedestal on which social media ninjas have been placed is slowly sinking. According to this excellent piece by Amber Naslund, the spotlight for social specialists is dimming as they move into the larger machinery of the digital space – and the enthusiasm of the would-be Brand Builders is fading along with it.
There's definitely still a lot of work that needs to be done in many newsrooms when it comes to social media. The evangelization to join social media is no longer a job to be done in most newsrooms. Using social media well isn't enough anymore either. It's become a more widely-held skill to be able to write a good tweet, get response from an engaging Facebook post or set up a new Tumblr to capture a fly-by meme – but it is much more difficult to determine where it fits in the overall picture and long-term goals of the organization.
As my friend Daniel Victor noted, social media editors are not created equal. That title has a lot of different meanings and job duties across the industry – it can range anywhere from the Twitter monkey manning the newsroom accounts 24/7 to a strategist working social in at the highest levels to the Thought Leader/Guru (or some combination therein).
So what do newsrooms really need from the modern social media leader? I say it involves the following:
- Elevate the use of social media across the organization. Help staffers craft and evolve their own social media plans around their jobs – don't just get them on a tool and throw them out on their own. Monitor their use over time, make suggestions and encourage them to grow in their comfort and skills.
- Manage your news brand's social presence – not necessarily with hands on the Tweetdeck all of the time, but driving the overall message.
- Be the evangelist for community engagement in all newsroom endeavors. Make suggestions for how social media, curation, crowdsourcing and UGC fits with particular coverage plans, experiment (or help others experiment) with new tools and offer feedback based on metrics.
- Be the voice of encouragement for using social media, but also the voice of when not to use it.
- Act as the customer service agent – both inside and outside the newsroom. You aren't the ombudsman, but you can certainly help connect someone with the solution to a problem. Be the sounding board and staff researcher for social media issues, be they ethical quandaries, UGC concerns or larger trends in the crossroads of social media and news.
- Craft and/or carry out a social media strategy for the entire news organization – preferably as part of a larger team across the newsroom, sales, marketing, corporate structure and management. Work toward an overall vision for what the various aspects of the organization are trying to do with social media and how they all fit together.
What would you add to this list? Let me know in the comments.
The truth is, most social media editors working in news today aren't being paid to be thought leaders or personal brands — they're being paid to make their newsrooms better. The rest is just gravy (mmm, gravy).
* Full disclosure, Fishman hired me on at Huffington Post two years ago, though we never had the chance to work together.
** I'm not saying the whole Social Rockstar thing isn't great. In fact, it's fantastic and intoxicating. Early on, when I first started in a social role in 2008 at the Cincinnati Enquirer, the social media role gave me a position of visibility in my newsroom and community I didn't have as a web producer. Then, when I moved from Cincinnati to DC for TBD, it gave me that visibility on a much larger scale – it gave me a brand. I was suddenly invited to conferences and asked to speak to classes. People introduced themselves to me at conferences because they recognized my name from Twitter. My name was referenced alongside people who I considered to be famous journalists. That was pretty cool. It was also fleeting.


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Every time I hear something new about the upcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, I get a little bit more excited. For instance, I just learned that Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 will allow players on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 to stream they're gameplay live to the internet so friends and random people alike can watch you play.
"With Call of Duty: Black Ops II, people can live stream their gameplay directly from the game or watch the best players live on YouTube, which is an awesome next step for the eSports community," said YouTube's Sang Kim, head of game partnerships.
Now everyone will be able to watch you get that amazing headshot, or tea bag the player you just knifed in the back. Whatever your playing style, you'll be sure to get numerous comments on YouTube, both good and bad. This live streaming of play is a really cool feature and ushers in the future of eSports.
"With our competitive play and eSports initiatives, we wanted to deliver live streaming capabilities built right into Call of Duty: Black Ops II, because Call of Duty is not only fun and exciting to play, but we believe it will be just as exciting to watch," said Mark Lamia, studio head at Treyarch. "By making the capability of live streaming as accessible as possible to our fans, straight from a player's console without the need for any additional hardware or sophisticated setups, we are empowering our fans to share their multiplayer experiences."
I'll be sure to live stream some of my playing for everyone to watch when I get the game next Tuesday. Are you as excited as I am?


text: Gaurav Bora Bears taken complete control of market in last week; Nifty (-1.2%), Sensex (-1.0%). Mid Cap & Small Cap index lost -4.20% and -3.40% respectively in this week. Banking stocks also didn't spear in this week and Bank Nifty lost -2.70% this week. FIIs sold equities worth 3000 crore and DIIs …Read More »


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Wish Clint Was Here
Not only is Clint an incredible guitar player on this absolutely breathtaking acoustic rendition of Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here," however even his vocals are bone chilling with excellent pitch and pure ease.
Interesting Fact: This was a uncommon case of the Pink Floyd primary songwriters Roger Waters and David Gilmour mutually collaborating on a track – they rarely wrote together
Reflecting the empty and lonely feelings people can eek by way of life experiencing, "Wish You Here" is an ode to the lonesomeness all of us really feel at one point or one other. Ironically although, Clint's insanely lovely take on the ballad somehow comforts with us warm, strong vocals, a professional track and nice guitar work.
Though David Gilmour is really the only one we want to hear sing this track, Clint does an incredible job with spectacular talent, technique and professionalism. Enjoy this and share his talent!
Watch His Superb Cover of Wish You Were Here:


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Your local field office can be a valuable resource to you.
They can tell you the status of your claim.
- Give you estimated benefit amount and date last insured.
- Answer questions regarding Social Security Disability.
- Provide information on other agencies that may be able to assist you.
- Provide you with an earnings statement.
Social Security field offices:
SSA offices are open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9 to 3 and Wednesday from 9 to noon.
Lincoln: 866-592-1755
Grand Island: 877-407-3441
North Platte: 866-830-0668
Scottsbluff: 800-297-4291
Recent Posts


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(image courtesy of kcrollerwarriors.com)
Returning Players:
Captain: Damsel of D'Tension
Co-Captain: Yvette Yerass
Ami Geddon (returning from retirement)
Blonde Force Trauma (formerly A Cute Attack)
Extremely Frank
Jade Lightning
Kay C. Shuffle
Mash Hun
Matron Malice
Miss Ann Vinegar
Sassy B.
Tuff Noogies
* * *
Ami Geddon, though I barely knew ye, I have to say it will be good to have you back, if nothing else, for the chance to get to know you better. As you may know, I came into the roller derby fray relatively recently (2009), and I understand Ami was something of a mainstay with the Susans, so again, good to have her back.
Of course, I immediately scanned the roster for my two personal favorites, Extremely Frank and Kay C. Shuffle, and having seen their names still in print, we can move on, more at ease for the time being. :)
Jade Lightning, thankfully, returns for 2012 as the Susans' star jammer (heh get it?), as well as veterans Enigma, Mash Hun, and Tuff Noogies, among others. Those ladies alone are enough to make you feel good about 2012.
Roxy Rotsalot (transfer from Red River, where she was a founding member)
Trauma (yes, that Trauma; transfer from Cincinnati)
* * *
Well isn't this exciting — the amazing Trauma putting on the black and yellow for the 2012 season after shaking it Denver to the detriment of everyone she came up against. I was immediately impressed with this double threat, and I'm looking forward to meeting Roxy Rotsalot who, as a founding member of Red River, can't exactly be a lightweight in the sport herself.
L Chupacabra
Warden Smitty
* * *
It has been said with some measure of wisdom — although it may not apply in every case — that you can determine a team's mettle by how many rookies are on the roster. The more new faces, the more likely it is that the team is in a state of "rebuilding," so to speak. And even though the Black Eye Susans have lost a handful of ladies to retirement (see below), a grand total of two rookies on the roster doesn't exactly scream "panic" in terms of the upcoming season. And that's good to know — with some of the obvious improvements the Knockouts have made for 2012, the Susans are going to need to rely on their experience, first and foremost, to maintain that competitive edge.
Apparently Retiring:
Dutch Shovin'
Penn Tupanga
Pixie Smash
Strawberry Cutthroat
Whip R. Snapper
* * *
Bubonic Peg stressed to me that anyone not listed on this year's roster had retired; there are no All-Star-only players in 2012. On the Susans' end of it, I don't remember seeing Strawberry Cutthroat after about the second game this year, so although I was sorry to hear it, her retirement didn't take me by surprise. I think I'm most disappointed to lose Thorpedo; she showed an awful lot of promise this past season as a jammer, and the fact that 2011 was her rookie season makes her retirement even more poignant. Not knowing anything about it, I can only hope her decision to leave the sport so early wasn't due to any injury or personal catastrophe.
Pixie Smash hasn't been lost to the world of Kansas City roller derby — you can see her skating with Dead Girl Derby in 2012 as a member of the Shotgun Sheilas, and I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to seeing her skate in Riverside.


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We are super excited to be launching our exclusive Christmas collection in store on December 4th. This year we have added more wreath designs and a fabulous extra large wreath brimming with seasonal foliage as well as eucalyptus, mistletoe and herbs.
Christmas Bouquets
Our Christmas bouquets are hugely popular prices start from £20 and are available to pre-order. Local deliveries will be taking place daily including Christmas Eve.
Christmas Centre pieces
We also have a beautiful selection of Christmas arrangements to include glassware, alternatively bring in your own vessels and we will create a stunning arrangement just for you.
Christmas Launch December 4th.
Join us, Flowermaiden at the Bow Street Centre for Guisborough's late night Christmas shopping extravaganza. This is one shop not to miss out. Each visitor will get a lucky Golden Envelope, containing a prize but we are also giving away 5 stunning prizes – will you be a Winner!!
The Santa Scramble…
Help! Santa has lost not one but two of his reindeers and the only way to find them is to work out which reindeer is missing. The missing reindeers names are jumbled up can you solve the mystery… Santa has left a sack of presents for all the helpers that solve the mystery of the missing reindeer. Please help save Christmas…


text: Blue Moon at the Factory Date: Thursday, July 30, 2015 - 7:00am Blue Moon at the Factory to kick off the music festival. Che's Uber Lounge (original funk/latin/soul from CoosBay) Rhythm Village (w african drum and dance ensemble) El Nuevo Combo Azul (Port Orford dance band). At the Cheese Factory, 7 p.m. Langlois Oregon Donations, potluck & dancing shoes Read more about Blue Moon at the Factory


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|Thank you for your interest in advertising on Influenza Virus Net. The website is active since October 2010 and the site's traffic grows day by day. The visitors of Influenza Virus Net are professionals, doctors and researchers, as well as students, patients, regulatory affairs officers, government policy officers, and everyone else interested in flu.
|Influenza Virus Net is run by a policy officer in the clinical vaccine trial assessment procedure in the Netherlands. He has a scientific background in molecular biology and immunology. The website is a non-governmental, personal initiative and is aimed to provide comprehensive and accurate information about influenza, clinical trials and research news.


text: Craig Hiett of AAMCO Transmission/Meineke Mufflers has started a Customer Loyalty Program for Kiwanis Club members. A percentage of each Kiwanis Club member's auto repair bill will be returned to the Club's Foundation. John Barnes has Customer Loyalty Program cards which you may pick up and use or you may just stop into either shop and mention your Kiwanis membership. Please consider picking up a card today.


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Cocaine addicted individuals may continue their habit despite unfavorable consequences like imprisonment or loss of relationships because their brain circuits responsible for predicting emotional loss are impaired, according to a study conducted at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and published today in The Journal of Neuroscience.
The study focuses on the difference between a likely reward (or loss) related to a given behavior and a person's ability to predict that outcome, a measurement known as Reward Prediction Error, or RPE. Such RPE signaling is believed to drive learning in humans, which guides future behavior. After learning from an experience, we can, in the best case, change our behavior without having to go through it again, and thus maximize rewards and avert expected losses. Past research has determined that prediction of actual reward or loss is managed by shifting levels of the nerve signaling chemical dopamine produced by nerve cells in the midbrain, where changes in dopamine levels accompany unexpected gains and losses.
The Mount Sinai study recorded the brain activity of 75 subjects (50 cocaine users and 25 healthy controls) using EEG, a test that detects electrical activity in the brain, while subjects played a gambling game. Each person had to predict whether or not they would win or lose money on each trial.
Results showed that the group of the 50 cocaine users had impaired loss prediction signaling, meaning they failed to trigger RPE signals in response to worse-than-expected outcomes compared to the 25 healthy people comprising the control group. The results offer insights into the compromised ability of addicted individuals to learn from unfavorable outcomes, potentially resulting in continued drug use and relapse, even after encountering numerous losses.
"We found that people who were addicted to cocaine have impaired loss prediction signaling in the brain," said Muhammad Parvaz, PhD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the lead author of the study. "This study shows that individuals with substance use disorder have difficulty computing the difference between expected versus unexpected outcomes, which is critical for learning and future decision making. This impairment might underlie disadvantageous decision making in these individuals."
Next, the study looked at individual differences among the 50 cocaine users. Half of the subjects had used cocaine within 72 hours of the study and the other half had abstained for at least 72 hours. The cocaine addicted individuals with the more recent use had higher electrical activity associated with the brain's reward circuit when they had an unpredicted compared to a predicted win, a pattern that was similar to the 25 healthy controls. The cocaine users who had abstained for at least 72 hours did not show this higher activity in response to an unpredicted win. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that in addiction the drug is taken to normalize a certain brain function, which in this case is RPE signaling of better-than-expected outcomes.
"This is the first time a study has targeted the prediction of both gains and losses in drug addiction, showing that deficits in prediction error signaling in cocaine addicted individuals are modulated by recent cocaine use," said principal investigator Rita Goldstein, PhD, Chief of Neuropsychoimaging of Addiction and Related Conditions, Chief of the Brain Imaging Center, and Professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience at the Icahn School of Medicine. "Direction of results supports the self-medication hypothesis in drug addiction whereby drug self-administration improves response to reward in drug addicted individuals. The reductions in prediction of loss across all cocaine addicted individuals included in this study are also of great interest; they could become important markers that can be used to predict susceptibility for addiction or relapse or to develop targeted interventions to improve outcome in this devastating, chronically relapsing disorder."
Collaborators include New York University, Stony Brook University and Nevada State College.
The study was supported by grants from the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institute on Mental Health.
About the Mount Sinai Health System:
The Mount Sinai Health System is an integrated health system committed to providing distinguished care, conducting transformative research, and advancing biomedical education. Structured around seven member hospital campuses and a single medical school, the Health System has an extensive ambulatory network and a range of inpatient and outpatient services--from community?based facilities to tertiary and quaternary care.
The System includes approximately 6,600 primary and specialty care physicians, 12?minority?owned free?standing ambulatory surgery centers, over 45 ambulatory practices throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, and Long Island, as well as 31 affiliated community health centers. Physicians are affiliated with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, which is ranked among the top 20 medical schools both in National Institutes of Health funding and by U.S. News & World Report.
For more information, visit http://www.mountsinai.org, or find Mount Sinai on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.


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I have been a fan of Charles Dowding for a while and been following his work at Homeacres with great interest. He's got a fantastic library of videos on his YouTube channel where he shares his wisdom and praises the NO DIG method (and rightfully so in my humble opinion).
If you're new to "no dig" it's basically a way of growing food without digging up or ploughing the soil, which by the way is a highly employed activity in agriculture, which greatly disturbs the soil, damages the life within it (like earthworms, mycelium, etc.) compacts it and brings all the weed seeds to the surface so they can germinate.
Homeacres is the name of Charles's current where he's been growing and selling produce for 5 years now using the "no dig" method all along while conducting many experiments to demonstrate how "no dig" compares to conventional, digging up the soil.
He does that by planting the same variety and quantity of plants in both dug and un-dug bed and compares the growth and finally the yield from both beds. I've seen the results of many different vegetables and "no dig" always seems to be giving better results.
Homeacres is also a great educational places where Charles teaches a number or courses.
Recently Charles uploaded one of his amazing videos giving a tour of his Homecres garden which is in its fifth season. I highly recommend watching it. It's an amazing learning source and a great inspiration.
I hope you'll enjoy it... (it's a 24 mins long)


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Photography by Francesco Merlini
Togo, June 2019
In a suburb of Lomé, the capital of Togo, on the way from the city centre to the airport, once arrived in a big roundabout, if you take a small street that twists and turned among crumblings buildings and improvised workshops, you'll find yourself in front of a rusty iron gate. On the other side, a big sandy yard with two big metal awnings protect from the scorching sun men, women and kids who, lying and sitting on benches, wait for customers to sell their goods: talismans, charms, skulls, bones, heads, horns, skins, paws, shells, feathers, spines, herbs and living animals. This is not just a market, this is the World's largest voodoo market, the Akodessawa Marche des Feticheurs.
The goods on sale are mainly parts of animals including snakes, chameleons, cats, dogs, turtles, scorpions, crocodiles, rats, monkeys, antelopes, elephants, parrots, owls, hawks, big felines, hyenas, porcupines, starfishes, sheeps, horse, warthogs, baboons, goats, bats, rams, buffalos and fishes, all the constituents for voodoo fetishes, rituals and traditional medications. Other important ingredients are alcoholic beverages and soft drinks but the most important one is the blood, ingredient you'll not find here at the market since it has to be the outcome of a sacrifice that, before every ritual, is essential in order to activate the voodoo power. Voodoo is a practice through which humans try to domesticate nature in order to unfold it, admitting the impossibility of total control. Sacrifice is the necessary tool to start any dialogue with the world of non-humans. While in Christianity blood is evoked as an idea, in voodoo, blood is experienced as a sensitive experience and as such, it must contain within it the vital energy of the victim.
A fetish is made of animal elements mixed with minerals, industrial products like perfume or soda and "ama": herbs, roots, leaves that, in according to their combinations, produce different effects. Components are selected not only because of their power but also in according to their aspect and shape and every "sofo", the voodoo priest, has different recipes that will produce uniques voodoo fetishes. These objects are devices able to create social relationships and consequently to transcend its apparent immanence, incorporating values and powers that are foreign to the human will. A fetish is a fixation of an unique event that gives a new identity to elements that are originally heterogeneous. It can be God, but also human, plant, animal or material. This depends on the ritual and the situation where the fetish, receptor of a set of vital breaths, is activated and strengthened.
All the people who work at the market are from Benin, cradle of the modern voodoo cult, the "Gorovodu" that has spread to all the countries bordering the Gulf of Guinea: Benin, Togo, Nigeria and Ghana. The right to have a stand inside this market is usually inherited from the father and it's not infrequent to see two or three generations of the same family around a stand. Usually the older one is a "sofo" who is teaching to his son or very rarely to his daughter the secrets and the formulas of the cult and of the medicine preparation.
All around the courtyard, wooden signs with the names and the contacts of the voodoo priests and healers of the market, are hung at the entrance of the small metal shacks where clients enter in order to get personal rituals and charms, usually in front of small altars surrounded by bottles and bowls of incomprehensible ingredients.
When a local client or a tourist enters the gate, every dealer starts to scream in order to attract him to his stand, full of voodoo components and sometimes sculptures and handcrafted traditional goods, more suitable for tourists.
We have a quite negative vision of voodoo, fomented by stereotypes and wrong interpretations that, since the colonial period, have been diffused by western people and especially missionaries in order to increase and legitimate the conversions from animism to christianity. Their obsession for raw materials and their value overshadowed the social and invisible values of fetishes, highlighting instead their illusory material character.
Here at the market, everyone explains to me that voodoo offers protection and luck while witchcraft is always accomplished in order to produce evil effects and this is why most voodoo practices aim at seeking protection from it.
As a result of it, even if the 30% the Togolese population converted to Christianity and the 20% is Muslim, almost everyone in the country cures his body and his spirit with traditional voodoo medicine, whose ingredients you can find here, at the Akodessawa market.
Traditional medicine:
Dried chameleons and starfishes together with the heads of parrots are ground into powder and mixed with honey in order to get a medication that, if taken everyday, strengthens intelligence and memory.
Cats and owls, once pulverized and mixed with blood, are used to make vaccinations against witchcraft.
Skins of crocodiles, snakes, lions, leopards and other animals are macerated in liquor in order to get a potion to drink to gain protections against black magic.
Snakes are used generally to protect newborns. Teeth of vipers, once pulverized, are injected in the body in order to get protection from snake bites.
Powder from dried birds used in order to cure stomach diseases.
Dried lizards are used in order to produce love charms.
Spikes of porcupines are used in order to make small scars on the body that protect from witchcraft.
Horns are used during celebrations in order to produce sounds, blowing into them.
Tortoise shells and legs are ground into powder and used to make medications for asthma.


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Today's theme was "relapse!" (imagine a glittery song-and-dance number) with special guests Seal Cough, Bleary Confusion, and starring Blissful Unconsciousness.
I didn't travel this year, so my tragic demise will only be witnessed by the Cats (who couldn't care less and will cheerfully sleep on my head, living or not). I'm done for. Save yourselves.
My favorite gift was an Audubon bat house, courtesy of my parents. They know me well.
Happy holidays everyone, and get your flu shots.


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People React To US Soldiers Smuggling Cocaine Into Florida And Their Comments Do Not Disappoint
Breaking the law is no laughing matter - unless Twitter gets ahold of the news. The social media platform seems to be riddled with opportunists waiting to crack a joke or two, and they are absolutely not disappointing readers with their replies to a news story about US special force soldiers who were caught smuggling large quantities of cocaine from Colombia into the US via a military aircraft, then proceeding to sell it to a distributor in Florida.
According to the original news story posted by Army Times, two now-former Army Green Berets, Master Sgt. Daniel Gould, 36, and Sgt. 1st Class Henry Royer, 35, pleaded guilty in December to two federal charges of conspiracy to traffic cocaine after their plan to smuggle 90 pounds of the drug was busted. The street worth of the cocaine was estimated around 1 million dollars.
Apparently, this was not the first time the duo attempted to smuggle cocaine into the United States, just the first time they were caught. In early 2018, Gould took a personal trip to Cali, Colombia to execute a smuggling plan and Royer followed shortly after with $9,800 cash-in-hand to buy 10 kilos. They successfully smuggled the lot in hollowed-out punching bags and were able to transport it to a distributor in northwest Florida.
READ ALSO: People Are Not Holding Back About Their Feelings On Felons Being Allowed To Vote In Florida As Of Today
As with any good entrepreneurialism, instead of immediately spending the profits they planned to reinvest it towards making more profit, and thus the idea to smuggle 90 pounds into Florida was born. They even lined up a plan to have a military aircraft carry the questionable cargo.
Clearly, things did not go as expected and the two were caught after suspicion arose. They were put on administrative leave while the case was being investigated. They now face up to 10 years in prison, and perhaps worst of all, now that they have been named and shamed the internet will never let them live this down.
Of course, since we are not the subject of this heinous crime we get to sit back in our comfy chairs, not in a jail cell, with our freedoms, and enjoy the comments flooding in.
So the wall needs to be higher than US military planes can fly?
It's only legal for CIA & DEA agents to do this
They confused 'war on drugs' with 'war and drugs'. Could have happened to anyone.
It was a state wide emergency, Florida was getting low on cocaine.
Don't worry! @realDonaldTrump's big, beautiful wall will stop this!! It's going to be 37,000 ft high!
While these two homegrown illicit drug smugglers won't be committing any more crimes for a while, cocaine production will still remain a particularly big problem in areas of South America, meaning it will still find its way to America.
A recent report released in September concluded that the illegal drug industry is at an all-time high and shows no signs of slowing down in the near future. Currently, America is spending over 58 billion a year on the war on drugs alone, and at the rate things seem to be continuing, we can expect to be spending more.
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