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I remember the first time Mauritius fell onto my radar. It was by way of Instagram of course – my number 1 source for travel inspiration. My jaw dropped as my eyes scanned the ethereal azure waters and volcanic mountain backdrop – it looked like a hidden paradise only found in fantasy films. It actually
Africa, Blog, Destinations
South Africa's Cape Winelands Will Take Your Breath Away
The most common response I've gotten from people when telling them about my tipsy adventures in the Cape Winelands is "South Africa has vineyards?" Not only does South Africa have vineyards, but they are some of the most stunning I've ever seen—and the wine is pretty amazing (not that I'm an expert or anything). Our
Africa, Blog, Destinations, Hotels, Sustainable Tourism
Sustainable Luxury Hotel Review: Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa
After spending the first few days of our Cape Town vacay in an Airbnb apartment in the Bellvue area, my friends and I went our separate ways. Jannae and Coribbia ventured off to do a 2-day safari, while I opted for some solo time. I was curious to see what luxury in Cape Town looked
Africa, Blog, Destinations, Travel Tips
How to Beat the Crowds at Table Mountain National Park
Visiting Table Mountain National Park is one of those things you just kinda have to do in Cape Town, South Africa. Is it crowded, yes. Is it touristy, yes. Is it worth it, hell yeah! Sure you could get there, see that line, and have second thoughts like we did. But, a little knowledge beforehand
Africa, Blog, Destinations, Travel Guides
6 Things to do Along South Africa's Cape Peninsula
Rarely do I ever do tours when I travel, but my friends and I have done quite a few in South Africa and we've loved each one. Jannae and Coribbia signed us up for the Baz Bus 1 Day Cape Peninsula Tour and let me tell you—we managed to experience a whole lot of sightseeing
Africa, Blog, Destinations
Best Coffee in the World is in South Africa | Video
Are you a coffee lover? I'm not. Yes, you read correctly. I hate coffee. So why am I writing about the best coffee on the planet? Because I care about you and you probably care about coffee (judging by all the passionate coffee comments on my YouTube video). If you've been keeping up with my adventures


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Amos Oz, Acclaimed Israeli Author, Dies At 79
The Israeli novelist Amos Oz died today at age 79. He's one of Israel's most widely read authors with books translated into dozens of languages. He was also an advocate for Israeli-Palestinian peace. NPR's Daniel Estrin has this remembrance from Jerusalem.
DANIEL ESTRIN, BYLINE: Amos Oz published a lot of fiction, but his most celebrated book is about himself, "A Tale Of Love And Darkness." Natalie Portman directed and starred in a film based on the book. It tells the story of Israel through the story of his upbringing. Oz was born in Jerusalem in 1939. He told NPR in 2004 that he grew up surrounded by literature.
AMOS OZ: The whole of Jerusalem was sitting and writing day and night. So this was the air I breathed, really. Bookshelves, lines and lines and lines of books in languages I couldn't read - these were the landscapes of my childhood.
ESTRIN: In his book, he describes the night in 1947 when the news broke that the United Nations had voted to partition Palestine into two states, Jewish and Arab.
OZ: It was a burst of excitement, fear, hope, almost messianic fervor. But then five or six hours later, the fighting began between Israeli Jews and Palestinian Arabs, the same fighting that has not seized until this very day.
ESTRIN: He wrote several dozen books in Hebrew, won international literary prizes and was rumored to be on the shortlist for a Nobel Prize. In Israel, his novels are beloved. His political writing is more controversial. He wanted to see a Palestinian state alongside Israel. His book of essays about fanaticism in Israel called "Dear Zealots: Letters From A Divided Land" was published in English last month. In an interview I did with Amos Oz in 2013 for Tablet Magazine's podcast, I asked him if he was optimistic about seeing peace in his lifetime.
OZ: I don't know if I'm optimistic about my own life expectancy. I don't know how much I still have to live. But I believe that peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians is unavoidable. How soon it will happen I don't know. It's difficult to be a prophet in the land of the prophets. It's too much competition in the prophecy business around here. But it's unavoidable, and it will come.
ESTRIN: His family said he died Friday of cancer. Israeli President Reuven Rivlin called Amos Oz a literary giant. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Jerusalem. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

subset: commoncrawl


text: DescriptionThis SATA cable by Delock complies with the latest standard and supports a data transfer rate of up to 6 Gb/s. It enables you to extend the SATA interface and can be used for connection of your devices with SATA 7 pin port. Furthermore the SATA 6 Gb/s interface is downwards compatible to the former SATA versions, whereas you can only achieve the respective transfer speed.


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Vegas is one of the clubs that give the 'Baixo Augusta' neighborhood its special flair.
If you haven't decided yet where to go after Christmas, insidesaopaulo prepared a quick guide to introduce some parties around the city. Some are expensive and some and quite cheap. It's up to you. It's important to remember that these places are pretty much requested for local on this occasion. So, hurry up and buy your ticket before it ends! Merry Christmas in advance and have plenty of fun!!!
Pink Elephant
What's up: French DJ Mitch Lj and circus presentation
Where: Rua Gumercindo Saraiva, 289 — Itaim Bibi
When: December 24th at 11h45pm.
Phone: (11) 2769-2003
How much: R$ 100 women and R$ 250 men.
What's up: Techno Christmas and house by the DJs Vic Flacksbaun, Adriana Recchi, Davis, Gabo, TechJun, Oscar Bueno e Glaucia ++.
Where: Alameda Olga, 170 — Barra Funda
When: December 25th at 0h01am.
Phone: (11) 3667-8334
How much: R$ 30 women and R$ 60 men.
Teatro Mars
What's up: Samba-Rock (pretty cool) by Sambasonics, Os Opalas, Clube do Balanço, Sambasoul and Saga.
Where: Rua João Passaláqua, 80 — Bela Vista
When: December 25th at 0h01am.
Phone: (11) 3105-8950
How much: R$ 20 women and R$ 25 men.
Buddha Bar
What's up: The American DJ sandy Rivera will be playing house and the singer Fran will be on the stage for a pocket show with Lucky leading the pick ups (house).
Where: Avenida Chedid Jafet, 131 — Vila Olímpia
When: December 25th at 0h30am.
Phone: (11) 3044-6181
How much: R$ 100 women and R$ 250 men.
The Week
What's up: DJ João Neto, Renato Cecin and Paulo Pacheco on the pick ups.
Where: Rua Guaicurus, 324 — Lapa
When: December 25th at 1am.
Phone: (11) 3868-9944
How much: (in advance) R$ 45 men and R$ 65 women.
What's up: Rock and electronic Christmas by DJ Teko, Thiago Salvioni, Pil Marques, Rodrigo Moretti, Julião, Nilsão, Carol e Isadora.
Where: Rua Augusta, 765 — Consolação
When: December 25th at 1am.
Phone: (11) 3231-3705
How much: R$ 35
Asia 70
What's up: Open Bar party including Vodka, Japanese Sake, Whisk and Beer. Dj Ronaldo Gasparian (house and flashbacks) and VJ Fukuda.
Where: Praça Procópio Ferreira — Brooklin.
When: December 25th at 1h30am.
Phone: (11) 5506-4903.
How much: R$ 90 women and R$ 180 men.


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If you have been building a niche site alongside me you will be happy to know that we are on the final step. After this update, you will have completed your niche site!
Of course, the fun is not over yet. My next updates will be all about link building as having a great keyword and a good site is just one part of building a successful niche site.
But let's not get ahead of ourselves. First of all, we need to complete our home page!
If you haven't read my other niche site case study updates, you can find them all here. They will help you build your own niche site and follow the progress of my own, new niche sites.
Step 7: Write the home page
A home page is a very important part of a site. Many people click on the home page when they visit a website. It is often the most visited page on a site.
For our niche sites, it probably won't be. We will be guiding most traffic to our buying guide. However, it still plays an important part and many people will still click on it.
There are two things you need to take into account when designing and writing your home page:
- It needs to look somewhat professional and definitely trustworthy. You want people to trust your advice.
- It needs to be designed to best past around link juice.
Link juice is an expression that is often used when talking about how links benefit a site and I think it's a good way to describe it. You can think of every external link coming in to your website as juice.
Now, most of this juice will go to your buying guide but a lot will go to your home page. It's important to think about how to best spread around this juice for maximum benefit. Basically, you want this juice to flow through your entire site so that every external link to your site has maximum benefit to every article on your niche site.
The way link juice flows through your site is via internal links, that is links between the pages on your site. Your home page should be designed and written to include internal links to spread your link juice around in the best way possible.
Now the best links are links in text.
This means I do not suggest you have a standard blog like home page which has a list of posts. The best way to spread around the link juice is to have a static home page which is text. You then put links to your important pages in the text.
I suggest you follow a formula similar to this for your home page:
- Start with an introduction to the site. Who you are, what your site is about, why you love your niche.
- Have different sections where each section introduces your main buying guide.
- Introduce other articles/reviews on your site where you would especially like to pass on some link juice.
Now at this point, you probably only have one buying guide. This is fine. You can edit the home page to have more sections when you have more buying guides.
For now, I suggest writing some short product reviews to fill in the space. For example:
- Introduction to site
- Section about your main product which links to your buying guide
- "Top 3 Juicer Reviews" or whatever your product is with a short review of each product which then links to your full review (that you wrote in the last update).
You can also consider adding elements like a YouTube video about your product – just don't include one from a competitor!
Social Media
There is just one more thing you might want to consider at this point – setting up social media accounts.
Now, I would never bother having active social media accounts for a niche site, but it is easy to set up some accounts that look active. Why do this?
Well for one reason, each account will have at least one link to your site. This is an easy way to get some links.
It also makes your niche site look more legitimate and does supply some social signals for your site which is a ranking factor in Google.
The good news is that it is very easy to set up some social media accounts which look active. This is what we do:
- Set up Facebook and Twitter accounts. Theme them to be similar to your niche site. Fill in about information, upload profile and cover images and link to your site.
- Use Fiverr to get some followers for your account. It's easy to find jobs that will give you 500 or 1000 followers or likes. They are not likely to be quality ones and I would never do this for a site where you want active social media followers but it works well for this purpose.
- Set up plugins (a free example is "Next Scripts: Social Networks Auto-Poster" but there are plenty more) to auto tweet and post new posts to Facebook.
Once you have done this, you are done! YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR FIRST NICHE SITE!
Congratulations! Do something to celebrate and let me know in the comments below 🙂
Our niche sites
Since I wrote this update at the same time as my last one, there is nothing new to report!
Time and money spent on step 7
Time Spent: 1 hour per site
This step is easy and costs nothing.
Find all niche site case study 2 updates here.
I am going away for 6 weeks over the Australian summer. This means that there will be no new updates until I return to Melbourne. Sign up for the newsletter so you hear as soon as they are published! I look forward to sharing all my link building tips with you next year.
You can read step 8, all about link building and more posts on my case studies and niche sites here.
Want to build your own niche site? Join our FREE newsletter with access to exclusive subscriber resourcesI would love to hear your thoughts below about writing your home page! Any questions? Have you completed your first niche site?
Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking on one of my links then I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my site.


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Food and Beverages Offer
Avail 15% off on food and beverages at our in-house restaurant during your blissful stay!
Shri Radha Brij Vasundhara Resort & Spa, A Luxury Resort in Mathura
Aanyor, Parikrama Marg, District Mathura, Govardhan, Uttar Pradesh 281502, India
Step away from the mundane and come discover a timeless realm of extraordinary experiences. Housing a range of cottages and suites decked in premium interiors and elegant colours, which creates a rapturous abode for our guests.
Escape with us for a divine experience! With the Danghati Temple close to the resort and tourist destinations like Barsana, Mathura, and Vrindavan just 21 km away, it is no wonder that Shri Radha Brij Vasundhara Resort & Spa is a pristine eco-sanctuary, for everyone.
Govardhan's finest luxury experience
Luxury Cottage
The luxury cottages, each in its own modern seclusion, is the final word in architectural charm, luxury, and the ensuing dissolution. With its very own view of the lawn, a private courtyard, and regal interiors that exude the splendors of regal luxury, set yourself free and relish exotic brilliance. Indulge yourself in the warmth of the morning sun, ponder all through the noon, and soothe your nerves as the evening breeze gently caresses you.
Suite Cottage
A premium suite crafted with light colours and graceful interiors, offering you a rapturous abode. The Suite Cottage offers blissful serenity bliss to the guests- a place which is calm, serene and away from the crowds; service which is discreet and caring; accommodation which spacious and built keeping in mind the regional sensibilities.
Family Cottage
Offering two bedrooms and a spacious living room, these magnificent cottages are crafted to suit your family retreat. Traditionally styled and luxuriously comfortable, these are an exclusive cluster of luxurious cottages nestling amidst the lush foliage at the resort and each room is distinguished by its generous proportions and warm sense of coziness.
Matki | A Multi-Cuisine Restaurant in Mathura
Treat your tastebuds to a luxurious journey. From gratifying flavours to aromatic spices to decadent finishes, Shri Radha Brij Vasundhara's gourmet destination- Matki, invites you to celebrate India's most exquisite tastes. The gracefully designed, fine dining ambience of the multi-cuisine restaurant in Mathura is fringed with serene panoramic views of nature, creating a magical and romantic atmosphere.
Baithak- Event Halls in Mathura
Our resort in Mathura offers modern event hall designed to suit various kinds of corporate events and meetings. We provide comprehensive personal and business services at our Conference Hall. The hall is well furnished with state-of-the-art communication systems and presentation facilities.
We take the stress out of organising destination weddings in Mathura with a complete suite of services that can be customised according to your vision. Imagine aromatic floral mandaps set on verdant green lawns, themed sangeet nights with colour and verve, lavish receptions that soak in the colours of Braj's natural beauty.


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(JTA) – A pro-Palestinian website has published the names and photos of 100 Israeli Air Force pilots said to be on active duty.
The list appears on the website of the Free Palestine Movement. It also provides dates of birth and identity numbers of the pilots.
The movement's website states it received the data "anonymously" along with a statement that reads in part, the pilots "have chosen to harness their skills in the spreading of mass destruction over towns and villages throughout Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon. State protection renders them immune."
The statement recommends foreign governments prosecute the people on the list for "war crimes … The well-being of Israel is temporary and can be undermined."
An IDF spokesperson said in an announcement, "This publication, which is full of errors, is another attempt to undermine Israel's right to defend itself."
Names and photos of Israel air force pilots are subject to military censorship in Israel.
In parallel moves, the Hezbollah-affiliated news site almoqawama.org was hacked Thursday. It briefly featured pictures of Israeli flags and a text calling Imad Mughniyah a "scumbag."
Mughniyah, a senior Hezbollah commander, was killed in an explosion in Damascus in 2008.
Earlier this week, an Internet group called Remember Emad released what it said was a collection of credit card records, Facebook passwords, images of bank checks and email addresses belonging to Israelis.
The group wrote in a statement that its members had obtained the information by breaking into the computers of Webgate, an Israeli data storage and management firm.


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I am a sucker for optical doodads, and usually anything that is heavy and comes in a small package. That said, I've never been a huge proponent of large or bulky spotting equipment. Sure, there are advantages to them, but for the kind of shooting I usually do and am involved in, they are a bit more than necessary. Most times, another rifle scope of similar magnification and quality will do, especially if it is mounted to someone else's rifle, who can tell what I'm doing wrong.
I do have a small field spotter, it works very well for what I need, and it has a handy reticle for making corrective calls a "breeze". Other than that, the scope on my rifle, and a good rangefinder, I have never felt much of a need for more. Once again I was forced to challenge my own prejudice regarding equipment, when a friend handed me a small package with the instructions to "try it out".
As I opened up the box which I had been told contained a spotting scope from Sig Sauer Electro-Optics,I thought for sure that I had the wrong package. But further investigation revealed it was indeed a spotter, just a more compact one than I had expected. It was the new Oscar 3, which is a handheld 10-20X image stabilizing scope.
Perhaps some of you are thinking the same as I did, "what good is a handheld spotter at 20X?" but having been surprised by Sig Sauer on more than one occasion, I decided to save my judgement until after a good field testing. I took it straight to the roof, and began scanning the neighborhood for hostile looking deviants. Like many other quality optics, the view and resolution through the Oscar were very clean, and bright. The warm sunshine that bathed the neighborhood made for crystal clear recognition of tiny minutia on a wide variety of prospective targets. There was of course, one pending issue. The problem that I had first imagined the second I heard "20X handheld spotter" and that of course was the inability for a wobbly twerp like me to hold still long enough to do any good while spotting. Even with my best efforts, it was difficult to hold still enough to read license plates at the end of the street, I could see the characters, and almost tell what they were. But the shaking caused by the slightest breeze, or perhaps even the beating of my heart, made it just barely beyond the grasp of my eyes.
The time had come to test the core function of this handy little scope, I reached with my index finger across the top of the Oscar, and engaged the stabilization function. I was amazed as the auto induced jitters quickly disappeared, and the picture I had struggled to see just a second earlier, suddenly became a floating image. A clear image, centered between my eye and the object that reflected it. No longer did I have to concentrate on holding still, instead I could focus my attention on interpreting the images. The license plates that I couldn't read, were now steady and clean, not only could I read the plate numbers, but the state identified on it.
I had quickly become less skeptical about this little scope, and couldn't wait to get it into a real field shooting position to see what it can really do. Easily operated, the Oscar has an adjustable zoom from 10-20X on the ocular end, and the focus is done by turning the objective end of the scope. The switch on top of the unit turns on the stabilization.
Fast forward a few days, and I found myself surrounded by hundreds of miles of Utah's west desert. Myself and a few friends had made our way up the steep edge of a rocky ridge, overlooking a seemingly unending sage brush flat. Our quarry that day was any number of jackrabbits who called the sagebrush home. We had already spotted several, and knew they were out there, hiding among the brush. Their color matching almost perfectly the plants and ground that they inhabited. So many times one would spot a rabbit, and until it moved, you could never be sure what exactly it was.
It was time to put the Oscar to work, laying down in tumbleweeds and rocks to look through my rifle scope was just too cumbersome, at least to spot the rabbits. My rangefinder was handy, but with only 8X, it made target investigation a little tedious. The Oscar's ability to zoom in to as much as 20X, and its image stabilization would be perfect for picking out the slightest movement. The quick nature of engaging rabbits made for some challenging transitions from a spotting to a shooting position. But one after another, we found the jackrabbits, sneaking about through the brush. Some of them were quite close, others were as far as three or four hundred yards away. The fate of the former was quite "dispersed" no thanks to my SRS, who has grown quite a taste for large rodents.
As the rabbit population either "aired out", or burrowed furiously out of sight, and I sat there picking the rocks and tumbleweed stickers from my elbows, I continued to test the Oscar. Taking pictures of a nearby cattle herd through it, as well as scanning the surrounding area. The only gripe if any I might have about this little scope, is that when engaged, if you look really hard at some things, you can almost see a "boiling" impression. An effect I assume must come from whatever tech Sig uses to stabilize the image, I didn't find it to be a detrimental factor, nor did it impede my ability to spot my targets.
I've taken the Oscar from the hot dry desert, and its mirage laden plains, to the snow covered tops of the rocky mountain's peaks. The Oscar 3 from Sig Sauer has certainly proven itself to be very valuable in my opinion. I think I would even trade a good set of binoculars for it. As a hunter, I think it would be a very valuable tool to inspect potential targets. And also as a hunter, I can greatly appreciate the compact size and weight it comes in. Giving me an on the go kind of spotter, quick to deploy and keep tabs on a moving target. All while providing an outstanding image with which to judge by.
I wonder if, even with the image stabilization, would it be worth it to add a coarse reticle to the Oscar. To provide corrective calls and range/size estimations. I suppose that would be a question for the engineers at Sig.
As for me, I plan on keeping this little handful of help as close as possible, for as long as I can. It has already proved to be a valuable tool to keep in my pack, and I intend on using it thoroughly as this season comes in.
Sig Sauer Electro Optics Oscar 3
I am a sucker for optical doodads, and usually anything that is heavy and comes in a small package. That said, I've never been a huge proponent of large or bulky spotting equipment. Sure, there are advantages to them, but for the kind of shooting I usually do and am involved in, they are a bit more than necessary. Most times, another rifle scope of similar magnification and quality will do, especially if it is mounted to someone else's rifle, who can tell what I'm doing wrong.


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- Culinary Courses Yacht Chef
- >
- Level 2 Award in Food Allergen Awareness in Catering (RQF)
Level 2 Award in Food Allergen Awareness in Catering (RQF)
The qualification is aimed at food handlers and other staff involved in food preparation and service who work within the catering industry.
This qualification is supported by Allergy UK, who regard it as suitable staff training for catering outlets that wish to apply for their Allergy Aware Scheme.
The qualification is designed to provide knowledge and understanding of food allergens and foods that commonly cause intolerances, their characteristics and effects, the importance of effectively communicating information regarding allergenic ingredients to customers, and how staff can minimise the risk of cross-contamination from allergenic ingredients.
Duration: 4 hours
Schedule: 1 sessions
Date: Every month
Time: from - TBC
Price: 275€
Location: Barcelona City Center/ One Ocean Port Vell


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Simplyhealth offers free Fitbit Flex on Simply Cash Plan
The UK's leading health cash plan provider, Simplyhealth, is offering a free Fitbit Flex throughout April for new customers who join its Simply Cash Plan at Level 3 or Level 4. The offer is only open to those who purchase a health cash plan on the Simplyhealth website, www.simplyhealth.co.uk.
According to a Simplyhealth study , over half (56%) of people asked say they have changed the way in which they manage their health since using their device. Also nearly three quarters (71%) of those surveyed agree that wearable technology is the future and that everyone will use it at some point.
While almost half (48%) of those got their device because they wanted to measure their health or fitness, surprisingly 12% of men admitted they got their device because it looked good.
Our study found that three quarters (77%) of wearable technology owners believe their device helps them to feel more responsible for their health. We know people want to take more control of their everyday health and a health plan can support this. Whether it's a trip to the opticians for an eye test, a check-up at the dentist or access to an online GP consultation, our customers can have greater responsibility for their healthcare.
With a free Fitbit Flex on new plans, customers can start claiming and put their new device to good use straight away.
The Simply Cash Plan Level 3 starts at £23.71 and Level 4 is from £35.64 a month. The health plan helps families look after their everyday health with cash back towards cover for trips to the dentist, an optician, physiotherapist and access to online GP consultations. The plan also offers free cover for up to four children aged under 18 and living at home.
Claiming on the health plan is simple. Customers just need to pay for their appointment, complete a claim form online or post it back to Simplyhealth along with a receipt. The money will be back in your bank account within a few days, up to annual limits.
Simplyhealth supports people with their everyday health through health cash plans, dental plans, mobility products and daily living aids. Its roots are in the hospital funds set up in the Victorian era to help working people save for their medical care. With no shareholders it exists solely to serving its customers and supporting charitable causes. To find out more visit www.simplyhealth.co.uk or call 0800 197 6999.


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It seems that Canon is really on fire today with the announcements. Along with the PowerShot G7 X Mark III and the G5 X Mark II, the company is also announcing the Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM lens. If you've already bought the Canon EOS RP full frame camera, this lens could be a pretty neat addition to your kit.
The new Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM was rumored back in February, along with five other lenses. It covers a wide-angle to super-telephoto range, which makes it a pretty versatile piece of gear. It could be ideal for those of you who travel often because you can carry one lens and cover all sorts of shooting situations with it. The downside is that it's not very fast, so you may struggle when shooting in low light. But you can't have all, I guess. Not for under $1,000 at least.
The Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM packs optical image stabilization, which compensates for up to five stops of camera shake. So, this should help you get sharp photos when shooting handheld. The dynamic IS also benefits video recording, and better compensates for footage shot while walking or moving.
This lens features a Nano USM autofocus motor, so the AF is quick, quiet, and precise. There's also a customizable control ring, which can be configured to adjust a variety of exposure settings, including aperture, ISO, and exposure compensation.
Here are the full specs:
|Focal Length
|24 to 240mm
|Maximum Aperture
|f/4 to 6.3
|Lens Mount
|Canon RF
|Format Compatibility
|Minimum Focus Distance
|1.64′ / 50 cm
|Focus Type
|Image Stabilization
|Filter Size
|72 mm (Front)
|Dimensions (ø x L)
|3.2 x 4.8″ / 81.28 x 121.92 mm
|1.65 lb / 751.26 g
The Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM is available for preorders and it costs $899. The shipping details aren't known yet, but my guess is that it will start in August, just like the two new Canon cameras.


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For most companies, having a successful PPC (pay-per- click) search advertising strategy is critical. There are thousands of businesses in the U.S. alone where it's the only marketing they do. With so much at stake, marketers must be able to accurately track PPC ad activity to optimize performance. Most companies are able to do this for online conversions like web form downloads, but what happens if a lead picks up the phone and calls you?
Presented by Hanapin Marketing and DialogTech, this guide introduces you to call tracking and explains how call tracking can benefit your PPC marketing. The guide also includes tips on how to use call tracking data to optimize your PPC search ad campaigns.
In this Whitepaper we'll discuss:
- What call tracking is and why it matters
- When you need call tracking for PPC and when you might not
- Metrics to watch to optimize your campaigns
- Tracking phone leads through the sales cycle


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- 23/10/2023
- 0 comments
We offer unique travel and lifestyle experiences with integrity and authenticity be it cultural tours, trekking, adventure, bird watching, textile tours, rafting, eco-tourism and wellness tours. All travel experiences, events and incentives absolutely customized to our clientele's needs.Read More
Bhutan is a small Himalayan Kingdom wedged between its neighboring state of India and China. A country size of the Switzerland is home to just over 790,000 people. Its primeval history prior to the unification and conception of modern day Bhutan is filled with series of Tibetan Buddhist saints travelling across the valley preaching Buddhism. The era marked the genesis of a deeply rooted Buddhist nation.
Its subsequent consolidation of the land under single authority was marked with the construction of gigantic fortresses on ridges overlooking the valley across different region. The presence of fortresses across the valley symbolizes the recognition of a central authority and solidarity. Barring its negligible barter trade and religion inspired cultural exchange with Tibet and India; Bhutan lived through a period of self-imposed isolation until the mid-20th century. This extended period of isolation impervious to globalization has aided in the preservation of its unique heritage.Read More


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Welcome to a new Wildcard Wednesday! This past weekend, I was sad to learn of the passing of Gavin MacLeod, a prolific actor of stage and screen best known for his TV work on The Love Boat (from 1977-1986), along with McHale's Navy (from 1962-1964), and as you all know, one of this blog's quintessential favorites, The Mary Tyler Moore Show (from 1970-1977).
In celebration of MacLeod's life and work, I have bumped this week's scheduled entry (for later) and replaced it with a rare chance to appreciate this TV veteran's musical theatre chops, courtesy of an audio — for subscribers who comment below to alert me of their interest — from an April 1973 San Diego production of Gypsy (1959), in which MacLeod, on a hiatus from Murray Slaughter and Mary Tyler Moore, plays Herbie (the role The Odd Couple's Jack Klugman originated on Broadway). This recording is doubly special for sitcom fans because this showing of the great Styne/Sondheim/Laurents classic put MacLeod opposite his friend, Broadway diva and The Mothers-In-Law's own Kaye Ballard — then going by "Kay." (Incidentally, this was the second time Ballard would take on the role that she would forever call her favorite; the first was 11 years prior alongside He & She's Jack Cassidy!) And keeping the sitcom energy going, this production's Louise was none other than Petticoat Junction's Linda Kaye Henning, making for a triumvirate of TV comedy stars having musical comedy fun — and eight times a week.
Now, this recording is not complete (for instance, "You'll Never Get Away From Me" is sadly missing), but it's close to it, and for fans of these memorable performers, it's a real treat. (Also, the audio is untracked, save for a few of the seminal numbers that I took out for easy access.) As a sample, above is Ballard's "Rose's Turn," and in honor of the dearly departed, here they are together with the simply charming "Small World." Enjoy, and smooth sailing, Captain MacLeod!
Another frequent TV personality with notable stage credits also recently passed — Arlene Golonka, best remembered as Millie from Mayberry R.F.D. (from 1968-1971). A good friend of Valerie Harper's, Golonka also appeared with MacLeod on Mary Tyler Moore (and The Love Boat). We celebrate her life and work this week as well.
Come back next week for another Wildcard! And stay tuned Tuesday for more Barney Miller!


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The 4900–4917 SAC305 No Clean Solder Wire is an electronic grade solder wire. It uses the predominant lead-free alloy composition and exceeds J-STD-006C and meets ASTM B 32 purity specifications. It is complemented with a no clean, synthetically refined, splatter-proof resin flux core that is classified as REL0 according to J-STD-004B. This solder is a great alternative to leaded solders.
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Stainless Steel Tools
Made of stainless steel, these tools can be used in sculpting, mold making, and casting, with wax, plaster, plastilina, or moist clay. Similar in design and function as the high carbon steel tools, using the stainless steel tools has one very important distinction – they are rust-resistant.Read More/Less
The tools come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and designs. The palette shaped tools have flexible ends and are generally used in smoothing, mold making, and for mold repairs. Those with heavier stiff or firm ends are used for carving, scraping, and finishing.
Usually each end performs a separate function: serrated edges give texture and substance and remove material; curved or hook ends are used for pulling or scraping; cutting or modeling ends for scraping and carving, and rounded, flat ends for smoothing. The finer steel tools are used for retouching and small detail work.


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Pop Up Stand Kits – The Best Value Exhibition Display Stand?
The exhibition display industry is flooded with display choices for exhibiting and presentations. From banner stands, to modular display systems, the choice is huge. The Pop Up Kit has long been an industry favourite of display stand, but is it still really the best value display stand?
With companies testing nearly every exhibition stand on the market to find the best display for exhibitions, marketing campaigns, events, conferences and presentations, the top selling exhibition stand in the UK continues to be the pop up stand.
The popularity of this type of display kit is down to its versatility and portability. They are quick and easy to assemble and are packed down into a case for easy transportation in the back of a car.
The pop up stand consists of a lightweight frame which literally expands up to create a skeleton frame which then holds the graphic or fabric panels in place. Once the popup stand is assembled with the bars in place, you can hang the graphic panels. Usually these panels are printed to create what looks like a continuous seamless graphic display.
Alternatively fabric panels can be used to create a carpeted wall onto which you can fix your own printed material using Velcro. Either way, the panels are fitted to the back of the stand to create a full all round display.
Value for money from a Pop Up Display Stand?
Pop-Up stand are extremely good value for money. They have a number of features which make them one of the best forms of exhibition equipment you can invest in. You can really make your budget go further when you purchase a quality stand with quality graphics that can be used time and time again. Graphic reprints are simple and affordable and the pop up stand hardware is durable with a 5 year guarantee.
With many of our pop-up systems ideal for attaching integrated accessories such as literature holders, screens and shelves, they can be your one simple answer for all your exhibition needs.
See the range of budget, quality graphic, and fabric stands and all accessories at POD Exhibition Systems.


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Fence Guidelines Brochure
Single Family Residential
Fences cannot exceed six feet (6') in height. A permit is not required for any fence six feet (6') or less in height, on or inside your property line. Refer to the diagram for general information regarding fence height and location. Check your Homes Association and deed restriction before constructing any fence, they may have additional regulations regarding building materials, height and location. Any regulation that exceeds City requirements may be enforced through the Homes Association or deed restrictions.
Multi-family Residential, Commercial and Industrial Properties
Fences can be higher than six feet (6'). A permit is required for fences higher than six feet (6'). Please call Community Development Department at (913) 742-6011 for approval of all fences other than those on single family or duplex lots.
Before constructing a fence in a drainage easement, please contact the Public Work Department at (913) 742-6009.
All fences, regardless of whether or not a permit is required for their construction, that are constructed, repaired, expanded or enlarged, should be constructed only of approved fence materials. Approved fence materials include:
Fence materials shall be approved for exterior use and shall be weather and decay-resistant. The Building Official is authorized to evaluate and determine if the proposed material is satisfactory and complies with the intent of the provisions of this code.
Temporary Fencing
The Building Official is authorized to approve temporary fencing, such as plastic silt fence and safety fencing, for active construction projects. Temporary fencing shall not remain in place longer than is necessary to perform its function.
Additional Requirements
All fences must be double-sided or constructed with the finished side facing the property line.
Shawnee Municipal Codes:
17.60.020 Corner Plots. No hedge, fence (except a transparent fence such as chain link, in which the solid area is not more than five percent of the total area of the fence), or wall over three feet high and no accessory off-street parking space shall be located within the triangular area as prescribed in the parking section of [the Zoning Regulations.]
17.60.030 Fences and walls.


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The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is warning financial institutions of an increase in schemes to recruit individuals to receive and transmit unauthorized electronic funds transfers (EFTs) from deposit accounts to individuals overseas. These funds transfer agents, often referred to as "money mules," are typically solicited on the Internet by criminals who have gained unauthorized access to the online deposit account of a business or consumer. In a typical scenario, the criminal will originate unauthorized EFTs from a victim's account to a money mule's deposit account. The money mule is then instructed to quickly withdraw the funds and wire them overseas after deducting a "commission" (commonly eight to ten percent).
Criminals target online deposit accounts at institutions where business customers can originate EFTs, such as automated clearing house (ACH) and wire transfers, over the Internet. Money mules, however, can be customers at any depository institution where EFTs can be received and funds withdrawn. In some cases, the money mule may be an unknowing accomplice in a fraud scheme. Because EFTs are often made immediately available by the receiving institution, funds may be removed and wire transferred overseas before the fraud is detected. Refer to SA-147-2009 for more information on fraudulent EFT schemes.
Money mule schemes can take many different forms, but most involve receiving unauthorized EFTs into a deposit account and then withdrawing the funds or forwarding them on to another party via another EFT.
The following are common scenarios:
- Online job posting Web sites are used by criminals to locate individuals seeking employment with flexible work hours that can be performed from home. These work-at-home schemes often involve written employment contracts, job descriptions and procedures to legitimize the scam.
- Advance fee scams promising large monetary rewards for acting as a financial intermediary can entice individuals to participate in this activity.
- Mystery shopping jobs may be used that require the employee to assess the performance of money service businesses by completing EFTs and then evaluating the service using customer satisfaction forms.
- Social networking sites may be used to recruit individuals to act as money mules. Criminals conjure up various imaginative stories to befriend and persuade individuals to receive and forward stolen funds.
- Some hesitant or skeptical money mules have been intimidated, harassed and threatened by their criminal "employers" to process the funds transfers quickly and with secrecy.
- The personal identifiable information provided by the money mule might later be used to commit identity theft or account takeover.
The following are examples of events that may indicate money mule account activity:
- A deposit account opened with a minimal deposit soon followed by large EFT deposits.
- Deposit customers who suddenly begin receiving and sending EFTs related to new employment, investments, business opportunities or acquaintances (especially opportunities found on the Internet).
- A newly opened deposit account with an unusual amount of activity, such as account inquiries, or a large dollar amount or high number of incoming EFTs.
- An account that receives incoming EFTs then shortly afterward originates outgoing wire transfers or cash withdrawals approximately eight to ten percent less than the incoming EFTs.
- A foreign exchange student with a J-1 Visa and fraudulent passport opening a student account with a high volume of incoming/outgoing EFT activity.
Money mule activity is essentially electronic money laundering addressed by the Bank Secrecy Act and Anti-Money Laundering Regulations. Strong customer identification, customer due diligence, and high-risk account monitoring procedures are essential for detecting suspicious activity, including money mule accounts. Financial institutions can find additional guidance about customer identification, account monitoring, suspicious activity reporting, and identity theft red flags below:
FDIC Risk Management Manual of Examination Policies – Bank Secrecy Act
FFIEC Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering Examination Manual
FFIEC Identity Theft Red Flags – Interagency Final Regulations and Guidelines
Financial institutions should act promptly when they believe fraudulent or improper activities have occurred, such as those of a money mule. Appropriate actions may include, but are not limited to, filing a Suspicious Activity Report and/or closing the deposit account in accordance with existing, board-approved account closure policies and procedures.
Cyber-fraud incidents and other fraudulent activity may be forwarded to the FDIC's Cyber-Fraud and Financial Crimes Section, 550 17th Street, N.W., Room F-4004, Washington, D.C. 20429, or transmitted electronically to [email protected]. Questions related to federal deposit insurance or consumer issues should be submitted to the FDIC using an online Customer Service Form.
Original notice as posted by the FDIC: Special Alert: SA-185-2009


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Three Sisters Apothecary® Lavender & Chamomile Bath Salt Soak soothes and relaxes the body naturally with a combination of key actives and a powerful blend of mineral rich Ocean and Epsom salts. The heart and soul of our Lavender Salt Soak is our signature Lavender Essential Oil, which contains more than 100 active and beneficial properties. This precious lavender oil is steam-distilled at the peak of oil content from delicate, deep, purple blooms just as they begin to unfurl, harnessing their potency.
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My name is Krista. After earning my teaching certification, I went on to become a pre-school teacher. I loved teaching because I know how important pre-school education is to the development of children. In 2010, my son was only 1 ½ years old when I was forced to retire due to being diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. It started as a lump in my right breast and spread to my spinal cord, liver and right femur. I immediately underwent kyphoplasty surgery to my spine. This was followed by additional surgeries including a procedure to my femur and eventually, a repair of my initial kyphoplasty. I began chemotherapy in November 2010 and I've received chemo intermittently since.
Most recently, in 2017, I had a seizure caused by what doctors discovered to be a massive tumor that spread to my ocular vein. I thought I was going to die. After surgery, I couldn't talk and I could barely move. Two weeks later, I started talking, walking, and was able to move again. After two months of rehabilitation, I'm back to where I was prior to brain surgery.
For 10 years, I've been fighting. I fight for my now 9 year old son, Ethan, and for my husband, Andrew who takes care of me and is my rock. I am inspired by my family and by my faith in God. My son pushes me every day to keep going because I want to spend time with him. Three words that resonate with me are hope, faith, and gratitude. I have hope and faith that everything will get better. I have so much gratitude for my family and all of the people that have been through this with me and perseverance to keep fighting.


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Oof. The Wizards trail the Nets by a score of 56-43 at the end of the first half on Sunday afternoon at the Verizon Center. Washington will need to wake up in the second half if it hopes to end its six-game losing streak.
Here was head coach Flip Saunders before the game: "The one advantage I'm hoping we have is that we've got a lot of college guys, young guys and those guys are used to playing 1 O'clock games."
Yeah, not so much. The Wizards have failed to defend, allowing the Nets to shoot 61 percent from the floor in the first quarter before settling in to finish the half at 56.5 percent. Deron Williams is out with a wrist injury for the Nets, but you almost wouldn't know it the way Jordan Farmar has played. He finished with 11 assists in the first half -- or two more than Washington.
Meanwhile, the Wizards have hit only 45.2 percent of their field goal attempts. John Wall leads the Wizards with 12 points, but he's also missed several bunnies, leaving fast-break points on the table.
Maybe the Wizards will get some coffee in the locker room at halftime.


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Historical Tales: 8—Russian - Charles Morris
In the year 1558 a family of wealthy merchants, Stroganof by name, began to barter with the Tartar tribes dwelling east of the Ural Mountains. Ivan IV. had granted to this family the desert districts of the Kama, with great privileges in trade, and the power to levy troops and build forts—at their own expense—as a security against the robbers who crossed the Urals to prey upon their settled neighbors to the west. In return the Stroganofs were privileged to follow their example in a more legal manner, by the brigandage of trade between civilization and barbarism.
These robbers came from the region now known as Siberia, which extends to-day through thousands of miles of width, from the Urals to the Pacific. Before this time we know little about this great expanse of land. It seems to have been peopled by a succession of races, immigrants from the south, each new wave of people driving the older tribes deeper into the frozen regions of the north. Early in the Christian era there came hither a people destitute of iron, but expert in the working of bronze, silver, and gold. They had wide regions of irrigated fields, and a higher civilization than that of those who in time took their place.
People of Turkish origin succeeded these tribes about the eleventh century. They brought with them weapons of iron and made fine pottery. In the thirteenth century, when the great Mongol outbreak took place under Genghis Khan, the Turkish kingdom in Siberia was destroyed and Tartars took their place. Civilization went decidedly down hill. Such was the state of affairs when Russia began to turn eyes of longing towards Siberia.
The busy traders of Novgorod had made their way into Siberia as early as the eleventh century. But this republic fell, and the trade came to an end. In 1555, Khan Ediger, who had made himself a kingdom in Siberia, and whose people had crossed swords with the Russians beyond the Urals, sent envoys to Moscow, who consented to pay to Russia a yearly tribute of a thousand sables, thus acknowledging Russian supremacy.
This tribute showed that there were riches beyond the mountains. The Stroganofs made their way to the barrier of the hills, and it was not long before the trader was followed by the soldier. The invasion of Siberia was due to an event which for the time threatened the total overthrow of the Russian government. A Cossack brigand, Stepan Rozni by name, had long defied the forces of the czar, and gradually gained in strength until he had an army of three hundred thousand men under his command. If he had been a soldier of ability he might have made himself lord of the empire. Being a brigand in grain, he was soon overturned and his forces dispersed.
Among his followers was one Yermak, a chief of the Cossacks of the Don, whom the czar sentenced to death for his love of plunder, but afterwards pardoned. Yermak and his followers soon found the rule of Moscow too stringent for their ideas of personal liberty, and he led a Cossack band to the Stroganof settlements in Perm.
Tradition tells us that the Stroganof of that date did not relish the presence of his unruly guests, with their free ideas of property rights, and suggested to Yermak that Siberia offered a promising field for a ready sword. He would supply him with food and arms if he saw fit to lead an expedition thither.
The suggestion accorded well with Yermak's humor. He at once began to enlist volunteers for the enterprise, adding to his own Cossack band a reinforcement of Russians and Tartars and of German and Polish prisoners of war, until he had sixteen hundred and thirty-six men under his command. With these he crossed the mountains in 1580, and terrified the natives to submission with his fire-arms, a form of weapon new to them. Making their way down the Tura and Taghil Rivers, the adventurers crossed the immense untrodden forests of Tobol, and Kutchum, the Tartar khan, was assailed in his capital town of Ister, near where Tobolsk now stands.
Many battles with the Tartars were fought, Ister was taken, the khan fled to the steppes, and his cousin was made prisoner by the adventurers. Yermak now, having added by his valor a great domain to the Russian empire, purchased the favor of Ivan IV by the present of this new kingdom. He made his way to the Irtish and Obi, opened trade with the rich khanato of Bokbara, south of the desert, and in various ways sought to consolidate the conquest he had made. But misfortune came to the conqueror. One day, being surprised by the Tartars when unprepared, he leaped into the Irtish in full armor and tried to swim its rapid current. The armor he wore had been sent him by the czar, and had served him well in war. It proved too heavy for his powers of swimming, bore him beneath the hungry waters, and brought the career of the victorious brigand to an end. After his death his dismayed followers fled from Siberia, yielding it to Tartar hands again.
Yermak—in his way a rival of Cortez and Pizarro—gained by his conquest the highest fame among the Russian people. They exalted him to the level of a hero, and their church has raised him to the rank of a saint, at whose tomb miracles are performed. As regards the Russian saints, it may here be remarked that they have been constructed, as a rule, from very unsanctified timber, as may be seen from the examples we have heretofore given. Not only the people and the priests but the poets have paid their tribute to Yermak's fame, epic poems having been written about his exploits and his deeds made familiar in popular song.
Though the Cossacks withdrew after Yermak's death, others soon succeeded them. The furs of Siberia formed a rich prize whose allurement could not be ignored, and new bands of hunters and adventurers poured into the country, sustained by regular troops from Moscow. The advance was made through the northern districts to avoid the denser populations of the south. New detachments of troops were sent, who built forts and settled laborers around them, with the duty of supplying the garrisons with food, powder, and arms. By 1650 the Amur was reached and followed to the Pacific Ocean.
It was a brief period in which to conquer a country of such vast extent. But no organized resistance was met, and the land lay almost at the mercy of the invaders. There was vigorous opposition by the tribes, but they were soon subdued. The only effective resistance they met was that of the Chinese, who obliged the Cossacks to quit the Amur, which river they claimed. In 1855 the advance here began again, and the whole course of the river was occupied, with much territory to its south. Siberia, thus conquered by arms, is being made secure for Russia by a trans-continental railroad and hosts of new settlers, and promises in the future to become a land of the greatest prosperity and wealth.


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The world of adults has done a great disservice to the 15-year-olds learning to drive, presenting "driving on the roads" as if it's something CIVILIZED. It ain't. Deep down we all know it's an absolute free-for-all out there. Admit it: The lower levels of driving abilities range from prehistoric to unconscious to chronically-medicated to perfectly blind. Since the ignoramus-class out there now driving refuse to self-improve, we, the smarter and slightly more awake, must take things into our own hands and learn how to avoid THEM. Is it time that somebody who knows, explained the secrets and strategies for how not to become a statistic? It's not just from random dumb luck that many drivers avoid ALL accidents. With dozens of diagrams, the entire book is HAND-DRAWN for ease of understanding. And includes many life-saving insights anybody can share with their closest relations because the world is stupid enough without having some idiot crashing into you or those you love. You will notice right away that the author isn't interested in academic discussion regarding how to drive better by following the normal imperatives. If everybody else followed the laws and made safety their priority, that's one thing, but if they ain't, then that's a whole different animal. Admit it! Learn from it, avoid it. Frankenstein is on the loose, right now, and behind the wheel, coming to a neighborhood near you.


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It wasn't until two years after his dad's death that Adrian finally understood his family's place in New Zealand music history. In 1927 Waretini senior – along with his cousin Ana Hato – sang on the first Māori recording to be released in New Zealand, in the process popularising one of the taonga of our musical heritage, 'Pōkarekare Ana'.
This was a revelation in more ways than one. Growing up in Horohoro, southwest of Rotorua, music had never been a feature of Adrian's home life, to the extent that he would only dare sing along to his radio once his parents were fast asleep.
"I didn't even know he could sing," Waretini told the New Zealand Herald. "So when I heard about it – I was about 12 – I couldn't believe it. I didn't even see Dad's record until I was 23, he'd been dead for two years. I just held it in my hands, staring at it. It was one of those really old, thick records [a 78rpm disc] ... I don't think it was ever something he wanted us to get into. Dad always said education would be best for us: 'You eat of that food," he'd say, "it will set you up for a better life'."
in 1981 Waretini became The first artist to top the charts with a song in te reo Māori.
With new-found pride in his family, Adrian eventually changed his name to Deane Waretini Jr and began taking his first steps toward creating a legacy of his own.
Because if his career has repeatedly misfired, Deane Jr can still lay claim to a huge achievement: the first New Zealand artist to top the charts with a song in te reo Māori.
In 1960, he had joined a local Rotorua group. He'd shown up for his audition wanting to play guitar – he had learnt a few chords to impress the girls – but the 14-year-old's dream was foiled when it was pointed out that he didn't own one.
Luckily he knew some songs from the radio and won a spot in the newly dubbed Tremeloes. After 18 months of rehearsals they booked their first gig, a Friday night spot at the 600-capacity venue Ritz. They turned up in second-hand suits, played to an all-but empty room and were pulled off.
Waretini: "I didn't care, I was just happy to have played at all. The fullas didn't get that, they were just pissed off because we'd been booted."
He was living in Christchurch as a gigging/odd-jobbing, father of two when he learned of his father's death. At the funeral he met his cousin and Te Arawa elder, George Tait.
"He became my manager,'' said Waretini,"but he was much more than that. He knew how much my father loved me, but I was a cocky little bugger and people didn't usually take any notice of me because I kept pushing myself forward.
"But George had faith in me and he wanted to keep my father's name alive."
It was Tait who suggested Adrian change his name to Deane Jnr. Not only would it end the constant questions around his relationship to the famous Māori singer, it might get him some gigs.
In 1970, Waretini travelled to Auckland where he finished second in a North Shore-based talent quest before appearing on the "Golden Opportunity" segment of popular television show, Happen Inn. He went on to enter the televised New Faces competition, making the finals, and then recorded his first two singles, 'Troubles in My Life' and 'Melody Butterfly' for the Tony McCarthy Recordings label.
Tait then used his war pension to get the 21-year-old to Australia, where he met former Howard Morrison Quartet singer, Wi Wharekura. Armed with plenty of sage advice, Waretini returned home to work up a showcase act and join promoter Joe Brown's talent stable.
In 1973, he submitted 'Baby I'm Leaving' as a possible theme song for the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, only to lose out to Steve Allen's 'Join Together'.
The following year he returned to Sydney for a two-month stint which saw him performing at South Sydney Junior Leagues Club, the Mandarin Club and the Motor Inn.
Tait then offered Waretini a new song, 'The Bridge'. It was a reworking of 'Il Silencio', an instrumental released by Italian trumpeter Nini Rosso that had become a regular fixture in Prince Tui Teka's setlist.
Waretini made it his closing number, but his initial attempts to record it were stymied by the industry belief that a Māori-language song would never sell.
He would later claim the song's lyrics took him back to his childhood and diving off the bridge in Whakarewarewa to collect the coins tossed by tourists. He also related it to the piles of the Auckland Harbour Bridge and a metaphorical bridging of cultures.
Regardless, "It's a very sad, haunting song," he says. "It's about the piles which are constantly pounded by waves and tides while everyone ignores them ... as a Māori I look at things differently, to me everything is alive and that includes bridge piles."
But it wasn't until 1980 that he got his backing band, The Rising Suns – a blend of The Radars and musicians from the Blind Institute – to record the song in a studio based in a country singer's West Auckland garage. The solo was played by Kevin Furey, Quincy Conserve's trumpet player, who was married to Tait's niece.
In lieu of cash the musicians played for KFC. "We recorded it just as we played it in the hotels," said Waretini, "with heart and soul and feel. We'd been playing it for a few years so we'd ironed out the rubbish, it had a real spirit to it."
He then spent $96 to get a stack of singles pressed on Innovation Records, and sent copies to 1ZB before bombarding them with requests to play it.
This was flax-roots marketing. The track was somehow playlisted at Auckland's Civic Theatre as part of their intermission entertainment and Waretini paid a Queen Street newspaper boy $1 to sell them for 50c each. It worked and music shops began noticing people walking in to ask for "that bridge song".
The momentum saw the local branch of CBS Records reissue it and on 3 April 1981 'The Bridge' took the No.1 spot from John Lennon's 'Woman', and remained in the New Zealand charts for 14 weeks.
Not only was it the first Māori language track to top the charts, beating Tui Teka's 'E Ipo' by 15 months, it was also the first to go gold.
CBS went on to release his debut album, Waretini and three follow-up singles 'Growing Old', 'Ethos', and 'Hope', but none of these releases enjoyed the success of 'The Bridge'.
If the hit opened new opportunities, Waretini became bitter, thinking CBS had taken advantage of him. He says he was given a lump sum, and surrendered all rights to the recording. (Waretini remembers it being $27,000 – but the sales figures suggest income from the song was much lower. The biggest single of the year, 'Counting the Beat', sold 12,500 copies.)
"They gave me a cheque for the lot and I remember I was really frightened, I'd never seen that sort of money. I thought I might go crazy."
However Tait, after refusing a cut, managed to convince him to put the money on his mortgage – but died soon after. Waretini placed their gold record on his coffin. "I learned a lot from George, especially about giving. I'm a bit of a taker, but I think giving is much better, and that song he gave me, well, I think it brings out a sense of pride in the people of New Zealand. It really did bridge the cultural gap."
Without Tait's guidance, Waretini's career quickly faltered.
First, his national Whirlwind tour in late 1981 was cancelled after only two shows, leaving him heavily in debt.
In 1982 he tried to launch a talent quest carrying his name but it too fell apart after disagreements over money. In 1983 he tried touring again, this time focusing on small town hotels, but low turnouts saw his band walk out.
Bankrupt, he went into Reel Vision studio in Manukau City to record a single that he hoped would cover his $17,000 debt. The track, 'Te Ariki, Oh Lord', was arranged by James Tawhai from the Radars, who had recently charted with 'That Lucky Old Sun'.
It didn't work so well, but as ever Waretini was undeterred. Talking to the Auckland Star he said, "Me? I don't worry. I let the other fulla worry. Sure, some people may think I'm a washed-up reject because I owe some turkey money, but I'm proud to be a Māori, proud to be New Zealander and proud to have done what I've done."
He later moved to Christchurch where he became a taxi driver while performing the occasional gig.
His star briefly rose again in 2012 when he starred in a seven-part comedy documentary, Now is the Hour, on Māori Television.
Made by the same team who put together Wayne Anderson – Singer of Songs, the show was a pathos-heavy mockumentary of Waretini's mostly fictional attempt at rekindling his former glory. A follow-up album, Now Is The Hour, spent two weeks in the New Zealand charts, peaking at No.25. The new version of the timeless title track has a rocked-up backing reminiscent of T.Rex.
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text: tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3720866243713310183.post8868676326951761825..comments2023-11-30T17:11:20.273+08:00Comments on Sab The Book Eater: (ARC) Book Review: Walking Disaster by Jamie McGuireIsabelhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3720866243713310183.post-89026047391185464822013-08-06T00:55:23.520+08:002013-08-06T00:55:23.520+08:00So I've been avoiding Beautiful Disaster like ...So I've been avoiding Beautiful Disaster like the plague because I've read some negative reviews. But then, some people just love it so much. The reviews are so polarizing and I don't know whether to read it or not. Sigh. Maybe I'll just have to read it for myself. But, wonderful honest review!Diannehttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3720866243713310183.post-34875392750878894532013-08-05T20:35:31.315+08:002013-08-05T20:35:31.315+08:00I read Beautiful Disaster and I have been tossing ...I read Beautiful Disaster and I have been tossing up to whether or not to read this one to see what his version is like. Now I'm torn! I think I will have to read it anyway :)Melissa Wrayhttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3720866243713310183.post-6701537633635960112013-08-05T07:47:02.514+08:002013-08-05T07:47:02.514+08:00Great review! I've been tempted to read both o...Great review! I've been tempted to read both of these books, but don't know if I want the headache. I'll probably end up reading them anyway.Sassy Sarah Readshttps://email@example.com