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The city of Riverside, Calif., has adopted the Clean and Green Sustainable Riverside Action Plan, a result of meetings by the city's Clean and Green Task Force, established by Riverside Mayor Ronald Loveridge in 2005. The group, made up of city staff and citizens, promotes sustainability and use of city resources in reaching certain goals.
Noting state and federal regulations and Riverside's General Plan for 2025, the Action Plan addresses seven broad categories, including energy, greenhouse gas emissions, waste reduction, urban design, urban nature, transportation and water.
Each action item will provide direct and indirect benefits to Riverside and embrace improved air quality, reduction of traffic congestion and increased accessibility and use of parks and open space, according to the city.
'This plan is imperative to moving forward with the necessary steps we all must take as a community to ensure the environmental safety and sustainability of Riverside today and well into the future,' says Loveridge.
Highlights of the Clean and Green Sustainable Riverside Action Plan include the adoption and implementation of a policy to increase the use of renewable energy to meet 33% of the city's electric load by 2020, promotion of Riverside as a solar city, and implementation of programs for residential and commercial customers that will increase solar generation in the city to 1 MW by 2015 and 3 MW by 2020.
Additionally, the plan would implement a climate action strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 7% of the 1990 city baseline by 2012.


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Desert light….
By far, I have found it best to be on these desert trails shortly after sunrise, or within the first hour thereafter….
…the light is more pleasant and provides for greater character in the subjects found along the way.
Two Sundays ago found me hiking south on the Black Canyon Trail from the Bumble Bee trailhead. I have hiked this stretch of the trail once before…on a sweetly cloudy day in July of last year.
I didn't go as far with this present hike, as the day's heat was growing more oppressive and casting something of an ugly hue on everything that caught my eye.
I didn't get out hiking in the earlier part of Spring, and have therefore missed the rich greenness that all of these wild grasses and flowers must have added to the area.
I love the pearl-like clusters of the creosote or grease-wood bushes…especially when the morning light is behind them.
The desert, overall, wasn't especially attractive on this particular morning, but when I stopped along the trail to look more closely, I found plenty to admire.
All of these images are from the first two and a half hours heading out on the trail.
And in the photo below, a glance skyward brings a reminder of what can happen if one tarries too long…..
desert deja vu
I've only been hiking about two dozen times since I moved back to Arizona almost two years ago, and all of the hikes have been on different trails…or on different sections of the same larger trail…with very little overlap of covering those sections, and on only one occasion, hiking the exact same trail. When I was hiking in Utah, I covered many of the trails several times, five or six times, and even more than ten times on another two trails…they were compelling locations with easy and quick access, short drives from the house, where minutes later I would find myself in the woods…alone, or with very little company.
You might remember from various earlier posts that I've hiked several segments of the Black Canyon Trail…and on some of those occasions, I went past the "formal" or designated section's length and continued onward for another mile or two onto the next section….this is some of the "overlap" that I mentioned above.
When I found myself about 100 yards to the left of the location on the trail where I made this photograph, I had an overwhelming sense, a physical knowing, that I had been there before. It actually caused me to stop and turn in slow circles looking for something that was familiar…some landscape feature that was significant and placed somewhere in my memory. I found nothing…there was nothing that I recognized…and I can usually recall sections of most trails that I've hiked, both here and in Utah…the stuff just gets cataloged away, mental images…. Anyway, I "felt" that I had been here before…and I've never "felt" that way before when out hiking. Yes, certainly, I've visually recognized and absolutely "known" where I was out on hikes that I had made before…but this is the first time that I "felt" or physically "sensed" that I was somewhere where I had been previously…but didn't visually recognize….so it was odd…strange…made me wonder about juju and voodoo and other related and unrelated things.
Maybe it was a physical memory as a trauma response to the last time that I was at this location…at the spot right there in this image. I had hiked north to this point…and then went off trail to go exploring in what looked like the chute or body of a rock-lined water-course and water fall…the point that you can see immediately to the right of the large light-colored rock that is just left of center in the image. I went off trail…something that I don't do unless I leave a note saying that I'm going to do it…something that maybe I shouldn't do, shouldn't have done…something like that. But…I did…bush-whacked it right through the desert and climbed over the associated boulders and scree, balanced on shifting rocks with my full back-pack…and then there was a buzzing and flying creature screaming into and around my face, darting at my eyes, nearly clinging to my glasses with wings flashing and whining face-close and loud…my hands swatting at the winged-beast, trying not to knock the glasses off my face…and finally, the bastard landed next to the outer corner of my right eye and JABBED its stinger into my face flesh and then its poison or toxin lightning-darted and ran and flew through the nerves and up into my scalp, Real Lightning Darts, not any of that fake shit you see on TV or read about in pulp magazines…but the real stuff, right through the muscles and upward…screaming WOW WOW WOW!!!!!
So…after I steadied myself, assessed the minimal damage to my confidence that I was really somewhere that I should have been…realized that my eye wasn't going to blow-up…realized that I could still see…with just a little bit of blur…I sat on a rock, had a bit of water, and then continued my explorations….cautiously…listening….watching. There were no hissing and rattling snakes or attacking Gila Monsters…no circling round of buzzards aloft overhead…and no banjo-playing hill-billies…..just a dried desert waterway that hadn't been visited by any creatures that would have left tracks since the last rainfall. After looking around in the wash and making a few photographs, I climbed back up the hill to an area close to where I made this image, and then continued up the trail, still heading northward, the same direction I was going before stepping off the trail to go exploring and getting my face stung.
I think my spirit of adventure had been abated somewhat…and I didn't actually continue very far up the trail. I had already gone more than a mile past what I had planned, so I did a 180 and then started back to the truck.
In my post-event analysis of this experience of "feeling" that I had been there before without actually recognizing it, I think that this must have been where I turned around…where my body decided for me that it was time to go home…that my still hyper-alert mind had probably cataloged the whole surroundings and then recognized them before my conscious mind did when I returned to the place while hiking south from a different trail-head….some seven months later.
So…that's the photograph…that's the place…that's my little bit of desert deja vu.
I hope it was fun for you, too. 🙂
Black Canyon Trail north from Emery Henderson Trail-head
Sunday morning, November first of this present year, eight minutes into the hike…the desert looked like…well, the desert as I have come to know it. This stretch of the Sonora Desert has become rather familiar. I've been on this trail eight times now and have covered more than 40 of its 70-plus miles…and this stretch is the furthest south that I have been. There might be still one more track south of this trail-head, but being familiar with the area south of here, I doubt that I'll head in that direction.
The early twists and turns of the trail, and the crossing and re-crossing of dry water-ways or creek-beds had brought me up a slight rise and pressed on toward a flatter plain that would soon give way to other and more declivities and inclines as I progressed northward. I had seen this particular Saguaro from further back and wondered if the trail would take me anywhere near it. If one were "looking for a sign" when lost out here in this desert wild, that someone might be tempted to view this as some kind of guide, or not…. I found it to be a significant landmark that, when coming from the other direction a few hours later, told me that I was very close to the end of my excursion.
I've seen mistletoe several times, but don't know that I've ever posted any images of it. Here it is in it's context…
…and here it is again, but in a closer view.
The living and the dead of the eternal desert….
An old-school trail marker, faded by severe summer suns….
The trail was actually quite a bit lower than the surrounding desert in the below photo. I thought it provided a nice shrub-height perspective.
I thought there would be more to this section of the trail than there actually was. I came to the end much sooner than I thought I would and then stood there mid-trail thinking, "Is that all…really?" It felt much too early to head back to the truck and I wasn't inclined to marching further on the already familiar track, so I headed off-trail to explore a couple of the minor peaks in the area. After reaching the top of one, I turned north and found a pleasant-enough view of the desert beyond…the trail toward the middle of the image is the one that would take me up toward the trail-head at Table Mesa Road.
I'm still adjusting to this desert hiking and have to admit that I'm sometimes disappointed in the landscapes and panoramas…sometimes they seem so featureless…or plain…. Someone once said that it's not what we look at, but what we see that's important…so I press myself to look more closely in my search for beauty out here…I try to look at things with a fascinated, scientific mind sometimes, framing things within contexts of what I've read and learned about this type of landscape.
And when looking much closer, I find cliffs and canyons covered in lichen….not literal cliffs and canyons, of course, but ground-level rocks that are covered in the moisture-dependent and fragile, yet enduring yellow lichen that appears with more frequency than one would expect out here.
I notice, too, the varieties of plant life and the slope and angles of the land as it rises and falls in its relationship with, among other things, the comings and goings of water, the sculpting that occurs from the drainage and collecting of its seasonal rains…and then I wonder at how it looked when it was born, this volcano-riddled desert…..
From the top of another hill, I looked south and over the desert that pressed against roads and homes and saw the distant ridges that were clothed in the mists of commerce and civilization…smog…and was touched by the irony of this kind of "beauty" being the result of something so inherently unappealing.
When I was taking a biology class in college several years ago, one of our assignments was to conduct a field study or observation of the plants growing on one slope and compare them with the vegetation found living on an opposite hillside. I had recollections of that experience when I was climbing the hill in the above image. I had just been on a different slope that was only dirt and rock with very little of anything growing there and no evidence of animal-life, and then visited this particular slope that was covered with wild grasses and Jojoba shrubs, desert trees and cacti, and had wild burro and rabbit droppings, as well as lizards and chipmunk/squirrel type creatures scurrying about….what a difference there was to be seen in the opposite extremes of the lay of the land……when looking closer.
I don't know the name of the tree in the above image, but it provided an uncommon and inviting shade as I was descending the last hilltop of my afternoon explorations.
And lastly, an image that presents the contrast of near and far in the Arizona Sonora Desert…not very compelling when viewed from a distance, in my opinion, but strikingly beautiful and fascinating when experienced up close and personal.
"The Walking Dead" Saguaro…..
I'm not a great fan of popular culture, but this one was too fitting to deny….
I've never seen a Saguaro cactus in such a state of decay…upright…
…so it came to me that it must be a zombie Saguaro…escaped from the set of The Walking Dead TV series….just hanging-out in the Sonora Desert, just off the Black Canyon Trail……
Or not…..
Hillside Saguaros and Waves of Mountains
Looking east from near the headwaters of the mostly dry Cottonwood Creek, north and west of Lake Pleasant, Arizona.
Beyond Bumble Bee
For the past several years, I have used the website "Weather Underground" to follow the temperatures and weather patterns in the places I have lived…and to even look back nostalgically at places where I used to live to see how things are going there, as well. Two weeks ago I was watching the temps for Black Canyon City and hoping the high temperatures for the coming weekend would be lower than they were a couple of weeks earlier when I was out in the murderous heat and so desperately needed a Coke after my hike. I was in luck…the high for this past Sunday was supposed to be under 100 degrees, which meant that I could get out on the trail around 6:00 or 6:30 in the morning, have a nice long hike, and still make it back to the truck before the heat became too ugly.
This first image is of the Bradshaw Mountains, looking northwest at 6:25 am. The larger trees in the foreground are a variety of Palo Verde. During drought conditions, the trees lose their leaves and are still able to perform photosynthesis through the chlorophyll in the "bark" or exterior covering of all of the branches and trunk…. You can also see several Saguaro cacti in the background….
Most of my hiking in recent months has been along the Black Canyon Trail. I've been out six times and have covered nearly half of the 78 mile long trail. If you care to look at a map, find Interstate 17 (I-17) going north from the Carefree Highway at the extreme north end of Phoenix, and imagine a trail running in the desert just west of the interstate and east of the mountains further west…and follow that space northward for about 80 winding and curving miles up toward the Prescott National Forest. The portion of trail featured in this post is what can be found heading north from Bumble Bee Road, about 25 miles north of Phoenix.
This second image is primarily of the "Pancake Prickly Pear" cacti and the dried wild grasses common to this area.
If you've ever driven that same interstate north from Phoenix and remember seeing a rest-stop sign for "Sunset Point," and you stopped to look west at the huge, folding and flowing mountains, this hike took place on the stretch of trail just west from that Point. The first part of the hike was mainly in the shade, as the trail followed the contours of the west facing side of the hills and was situated far enough below the ridge-line that I was out of the sun for quite a while.
It's been a while since I shared multiple photos as single images, instead of presenting them in the "gallery" form, but I thought the photographs from this hike would be easier to appreciate in this larger form…so here they are, placed in chronological order and covering the first two and a half hours of the hike. There will be a couple of other posts in which I share groups of photos from particular stopping-places along the trail.
These "desert hills" and mountains are quite different than the ones I hiked for the last few years, but they are still inviting…and tempting me to go off-trail to explore the draws and ridges that we can see off in the distance. I won't likely do that until the temperatures are much lower, however, just in case some "unplanned" event occurs and I'm out there for longer than I had planned to be.
In the below photo, you can see an unpaved portion of Bumble Bee Road in the lower right corner, a couple of hiking trails further in the distance, and then a section of what might be the Agua Fria River bed in the area just left of center.
I had knelt to take some closer shots of Prickly Pear cactus fruit and saw this single piece of bone lying nearby. A quick search of the area failed to reveal any other bones, so this one must have been carried away and left here when the predator or scavenger was finished with it.
At just past 7:30 am, the sun was sufficiently over the ridge to highlight the shrubs and grasses along the trail in the next photo. This one, right here, is where peace comes out on the desert's trail, to me anyway…I love this image, this piece and the broader whole that it represents…the light, the smell, the quiet whisper of the morning breeze among the branches and grass, the un-nameable feeling that comes with being right here…is wonderful, and compelling, and alluring, and causes me to go out into the unpleasant heat that I know is quickly approaching, so that I can be here on a trail like this one.
I would prefer temperatures in the 60s or 70s, but it was far from ugly-hot when I stopped to make this next photo. At only 7:45 am, it was still rather nice for desert hiking.
My only companions for the day were two mountain-bike riders who passed me on their way out and back in again…and the occasional cow, a couple of dozen lizards, multitudes of desert birds, and a single rabbit…
Lines of demarcation, thine and mine, in the images above and below, but I was and am thankful that there was a gate or opening that allowed passage…so many places we'd like to go, it seems, have fences around them…. At 8:10 in the morning, I wondered how many mornings and afternoons these fence and gate posts have seen….their colors and textures speak of years…decades, even.
The photograph below shows another view of an image that you have likely already seen…but I wanted to share it again within the context of the hike, moving from place to place, with the morning green of the desert hills and mountains, and the richer green, like a ribbon of life that thrives along a desert waterway, a sometimey waterway that likely runs below ground for most of the year, but rises again with the various seasons' rains and floods.
I usually become aware of the Gambel's Quail when they burst from the underbrush as I pass too close to their hiding place, but I happened to spot this silent sentry as she sat alone in the tree some 20 or 30 yards off-trail. Even at this distance you can tell that this one is a female, as her head is missing the distinct color pattern that is common to the male.
And lastly, several blooms on a Graham's Pincushion cactus. I found several of these along the trail and, upon first seeing them, thought they were headbands that some hiker had lost along the way…they were so very bright, so vibrant in the middle of all the earth-tone, desert colors that surrounded me, they just seemed so unnatural and out of place. And if you're interested, the flat, paddle-like leaves around this cactus belong to the Jojoba plant….
So…that was most of the hike, on the way out, anyway…and minus a couple of detours that I will share later. Thank you for visiting…and I hope you have a nice week.
mid-winter green in the desert hills
I made this image a couple of weeks ago…on the day that happened to be one year exactly since I had taken my last hike in the Wasatch Mountains near Salt Lake City, Utah. Oh, how the scenery has changed in that passing of time!!
low clouds on the desert hills
I meant to hit "preview," but hit "publish," so here it is anyway…all images made along the Carefree Highway yesterday morning….

subset: commoncrawl


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£45 Click to Register and start any time
"Self care includes both self care and self management. Self care is about individuals taking responsibility for their own health and wellbeing. Self management is about individuals making the most of their lives and coping with difficulties and making the most of what they have. It includes managing and minimising the way conditions limit individuals' lives as well as what they can do to feel happy and fulfilled to make the most of their lives despite the condition" Skills for Health (2008)
For self care to be a successful strategy it needs to be promoted by healthcare professionals, who also need to offer support to individuals. Healthcare professional must work to create an environment for self care, which starts with recognising the importance of self care activities at all stages of the care planning process. Healthcare professionals can also provide support and resources to assist individuals in managing these activities. Example include: Patient education, self care skills training, health and social care information, care plan approach, self diagnostic tools, self monitoring devices, peer support networks and home adaptations.
The module looks at the four elements of supporting self care: Skills, Tools, Advice and Networks (STAN)
On completion of this course learners will be able to:
Sections within the module include:
On completion of this course you will be able to download a College certificate.
Approximately 1 - 2 hours. The length of time taken depends entirely on how quickly you can study and absorb the material. You can proceed as quickly or slowly as you like.
This module is aimed at the Healthcare professionals and support workers as well as community nurses.
There are no specific entry requirements for this course.


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One of Britain's most remarkable stately homes, and best kept heritage secrets, was saved for the nation yesterday by an 11th hour intervention from the Prince of Wales.
Dumfries House, a Palladian mansion with a "jaw dropping" collection of 18th century furniture, was due to be put on the market on Tuesday, and its contents were to be auctioned next month.
But a group brought together by the Prince has at the last minute secured the property for £45 million in a move described as "one of the great heritage saves of modern times".
It will be purchased by an independent charity, The Art Fund, before being handed over to a trust that will for the first time open the notoriously secret property to the public.
David Barrie, the director of the charity, said the Prince had "descended from the clouds" two weeks ago when it looked like the attempt to retain the home and its rare contents was doomed.
A range of charities and heritage bodies contributed £25 million to the rescue package, but the sale was secured with a £ 20 million cheque from the Prince's Charities Foundation. The sum covers the purchase of the house, its Rococo furniture and 2,000 acres of land near Cumnock, Ayrshire, as well as the creation of the trust that will run it as a visitor attraction.
The contents of the Adam-designed home, which has been described as an 18th century time capsule, include one of the greatest collections of Thomas Chippendale furniture, which was attracting huge interest from potential buyers around the world.
The 21-bedroom property - with seven bedrooms for servants - was put on the market by the former Formula 1 racing driver Johnny Bute, who has been described as Britain's most reluctant aristocrat.
He prefers not to use his title, the 7th Marquis of Bute, and won the Le Mans 24-hour race in 1988 while competing as Johnny Dumfries.
One of Scotland's richest men, Lord Bute said the sale was necessary in order to "restructure family finances" and devolve assets to the next generation. His ancestral home is Mount Stuart on the Isle of Bute and he said Dumfries House - which was the home of his grandmother, Eileen, Dowager Marchioness of Bute, until her death in 1993 - was "not considered central to Bute family heritage". Its value lies in the fact that the building itself and its contents have been kept unchanged for 250 years. The furniture was commissioned for the rooms, and the collection is in perfect condition.
Lord Bute welcomed the deal and the formation of the trust that will run it - the Great Steward's Dumfries House Trust - and praised the Prince for his intervention.
Mark Leishman, the Prince's deputy private secretary, said Prince Charles was "very relieved" that the house has been saved, and grateful to all those who have worked on the deal.
He added: "The Prince was aware of the story of the house over the recent years and was determined to do something to save it for the nation, first of all because of its historic significance and extraordinary contents. Almost as important is the fact that the house and its contents will become a driver for the economic regeneration of this part of south-west Scotland."
Mr Barrie said the group that concluded the deal was responsible for "one of the most amazing heritage saves in living memory".
He added: "It is the most astonishing jewel casket, a 1750s Adam house that has hardly ever been lived in with a completely intact suite of furniture including this incredible group of early Chippendale furniture as well as wonderful work by his contemparies in Edinburgh.
"It has always been an astonishing secret because although it has been sitting there for 250 years it is effectively unknown to the general public.
"Entering the house is like stepping back in time, it is like a lightning flash illuminating all that the very best taste and money could buy during the period of the Scottish Enlightenment.
"But the public have never seen it, even furniture experts have never been in it, and people's jaws will drop when they walk through its doors next year.
"Last Thursday we were left with just the weekend to conclude the extremely complex negotiations and we have been working day and night to make it happen at the 11th hour and the 59th minute and the 59th second."
The house - which was to be sold by Savills, and the furniture, which was to be auctioned by Christie's - were commissioned by the 5th Earl of Dumfries in the 1750s and its contents have barely changed since an 1803 inventory.
They include Axminster carpets, George II steel fireplace furniture and eight George II four-poster beds.
A Chippendale rosewood breakfront bookcase, which cost £47 in 1759, was expected to fetch between £2 million and £4 million at auction. The property was designed by the Adam brothers, John, Robert and James, and in addition to the Chippendale pieces, it contains work by three Edinburgh furniture makers, William Mathie, Alexander Peter and Francis Brodie.
The £25 million contribution came from The Monument Trust (£9 million), The National Heritage Memorial Fund (£7 million), The Scottish Executive (£5 million), The Art Fund (£2.25 million), The Garfield Weston Foundation (£1 million); Sir Siegmund Warburg's Voluntary Settlement (£250,000), and the Dunard Fund (£125,000).
Marcus Binney, president of SAVE Britain's Heritage, which launched the campaign, said the dispersal of one of the finest collections of great furniture in the UK had been averted at the last moment thanks to the Prince.
Alex Salmond, the First Minister, said he was delighted at the outcome of the bid, and hoped the project could boost tourism in that part of Scotland.
He added: "The house and its exquisite furniture collection are internationally acclaimed, a world-class product of the Scottish Enlightenment. I want them to become a showcase for a newly confident Scotland."
Publishers wishing to reproduce photographs on this page should phone 44 (0) 207 931 2921 or email firstname.lastname@example.com


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Location is key
Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
Location is everything. I purchased this for my aunt [located in the valley in Towanda, PA] who has an unobstructed line to a TV tower 6 miles away, and installed outside under first floor eaves at the corner of a porch. Picture quality is excellent. Antenna could not pick up any of the signals about 30 and 40 miles away, however, and I suspect that the only chance of reception of those signals would require mounting the antenna very high over her house. I tried this antenna first in my house in Binghamton NY where I live within 5 miles of several TV towers, I could only get one signal from this antenna, as opposed to two I can get from the same location, same TV, using a pair of old rabbit ears. So it depends on your location, terrain. Product seems sturdy and is easy to install.
Pros: Easy to install, Reception good where signal was strong, less so where signal was weak and obstructed by terrain.


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Social and Political Technology, Exitocracy, Futurism, Transhumanism, Accelerationism, and Republican Neoreaction (RNx)
Saturday, February 18, 2017
How to be a homo sapien on Earth
Step 1: ruthlessly, or not so ruthlessly, pursue your self-interest at the expense of society, the environment, and others. Don't go out of your way to hurt people, just don't care.
Step 2: lie to yourself compulsively. Believe that you are a moral person. Delude yourself anyway you can.
Step 3: loudly and obnoxiously virtue signal how committed to the current fashionable ape morality you are, whether it be jihad, righteousness, equality, or the god emperor. Just loudly pretend to conform to the ape morals of your society, whatever they are.
Step 4: repeat steps 1 through 3 starting with no 1. forever until the day you die. Lack any sense of self-reflection of how stupid and hypocritical you look.
Obviously liberals are better at doing no. 3 than no. 2 and conservatives are better at no. 2 than no. 3. Politicians excel at all of these points. That's why they're in charge.
Once you accept that higher level reasoning processes are just a post hoc justification for appetites, 2, then it tends to follow that morals are a lie we tell ourselves and others. Right now when other people virtue signal, most people assume that these statements are representative of real behavior or character. We know that revealed preference constantly contradicts people's statements about what they want. This is so much so, that the economic system of communism does not work because surveys cannot be relied upon to accurately determine what goods people need. A whole theory, the economic calculation theory, explains this. Moldbug talks at length about how patchwork is preferable because it is based on the revealed preferences of immigration rather than the virtue signaling of voting. All of NRx is based on this understanding that revealed preference is a better indicator of human choice than virtue signaling.
Why would it be any different for people's morals?
Morality can be conceived — with no loss of predictive power, as a three step process that humans go through again and again to rationalize their actions. Does it actually exist? Prove to me that any humans are actually moral.
It is a pretty strong red pill to accept that equality is nothing but a political formula. Can we finally move on to stronger medicine and accept that morality itself is also unreal? Or is that just too much?
The damning proof that morality is unreal is that all three of these actions constitute the pursuit of self-interest. It is in your interest to lie to yourself compulsively. It is in your interest to virtue signal. And of course, it is in your interest to do what is in your interest.
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Sustainable Excellence: The Must-Read Book
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Sustainable Excellence: The Must-Read Book
NEWSROOM: Korngold Consulting LLC
CONTENT: Blog
A new book, Sustainable Excellence, shows that for companies to deliver lasting value for investors, they must create strategies that include solutions to the biggest social and environmental challenges of the twenty-first century. You might wonder though. Aren't social and environmental concerns for NGOs or governments to worry about? Aren't companies supposed to build shareholder value?
the availability and prices of the natural resources that businesses use
the new era of "radical transparency" with real-time scrutiny and mobilization by individuals and NGOs, and
major new market opportunities in developing countries
Korngold Consulting LLC assists corporations in building fully integrated, high-impact CSR strategies, including leadership development through nonprofit board service. Korngold Consulting trains and places business executives on nonprofit boards, and consults to nonprofit boards and leaders to strengthen governance for financial and strategic success.


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Meet Vincent Van Goghmino
Vincent Van Gogh's "Starry Night" is one of the most famous paintings in human history. And one domino artist spent hours creating it in dominoes.
And yes, she did knock them over.
Made by domino fan FlippyCat, the replica took two attempts. The first attempt was ruined when a screw dropped off her video recording rig. The second attempt was nearly ruined no fewer than twice, as you can see in the video. It took eleven hours to set this all up, and several months of planning to figure out when each domino needed to go on a grid.
But the overall effect is worth it. It literally looks just like the painting, both before and after it tumbles. Check out her fan page for more videos!


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Nail art isn't just for your hands. Toes can get in on the action too, especially now that it's warming up! Encourage your clients to celebrate the return of the sun by sporting open-toed shoes with nail art to boot.
Read more
Orly introduces their longer-lasting polish at ISSELB15.
While on set for George Lopez's latest project, Schuetz prepped, cleaned, and buffed the star.
Elsbeth Schuetz shares her tips on transitioning clients from summer to fall nail colors.
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AUSTWELL – Tom LaDuke and Jill Pruetz stood at the top of the observation deck, peering out across the water through binoculars at two white shapes standing at the edge of a distant marsh.
"That's them. Can you see them?" LaDuke asked, gesturing with his binoculars.
Aransas National Wildlife Refuge is a federal park far off the beaten path just outside of the small town of Austwell.
You have to drive down twisting, turning roads, passing through towns time seems to have forgotten and stray farther from gas stations than most people like to get to the gates of the park.
Every year, more than 70,000 people make the trip. Some are there for the scenery; most are looking for the whooping cranes.
LaDuke and Pruetz have come to spend the Christmas holidays with Pruetz's parents in Yoakum. LaDuke came from Pennsylvania and Pruetz from Iowa.
The pair took advantage of their one free day in Texas to make the trek from Yoakum down to Aransas to see what everyone else comes there to see during this time of year – the whooping cranes.
Aransas is the winter home of the last naturally migrating flock of whooping cranes in the United States.
They're one of the rarest species of birds in America and, with the average bird measuring just below 5 feet tall, one of the tallest.
The birds mate for life and travel alone, in couples or small family units. The flock has been migrating between Aransas and Wood Buffalo National Park in the Northwest Territories of Canada since the Ice Ages.
In 1941, only 15 members of the flock remained. During the ensuing decades, the whooping cranes at Aransas have become one of the endangered species success stories.
This year, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge whooping crane coordinator Tom Stehn said they are seeing the largest flock on record, expecting as many as 285 birds to reach Texas over the course of the season.
"This really is one of the pre-eminent places for birding," LaDuke said, gazing around appreciatively from the observation deck.
Ohio natives Kim and Ralph Rehchamp agreed.
"It's the middle of nowhere, but it's something different that you can't see anywhere else," Kim Rehchamp said while her husband studied a park map.
The federal park charges a nominal fee to guests – it costs $3 for one person to enter the park and $5 for a car of people – because, more than anything, park employees want people there, learning about nature, learning about the cranes.
Aransas gets visitors from all over the world, educational program director Tonya Nix said.
Aransas National Wildlife Refuge Outdoor Recreational Planner Bernice Jackson agreed.
"The support of our visitors is essential to the refuge," Jackson said. While visitors pay only a nominal fee on entering the park, Jackson said they learn to appreciate the refuge and the wildlife it protects by visiting.
"Folks bring their kids and grandkids. This is a legacy that the American people leave to their children and grandchildren," Jackson said.


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You are viewing an Email identified as a Scam, It has the Subject "Batteries transport solutions" and it was received in one of Scamdex's honeypot email accounts on Sun, 12 Jun 2016 17:55:47 -0700 (PDT) and has been classified as a Generic Scam. The sender was "Nora(Ms)" <email@example.com>, although that address was probably spoofed. It is recommended that you do not attempt to contact any persons or organizations referenced in this email, as you will expose yourself to scammers and, at the very least, you will be added to their email address lists for spam purposes.
To Whom It May Concer
To Whom It May Concer
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217-244-6863 (fax)
Motorist Assistance
Monday - Friday
8:30am - 5:00pm
Location Information
1201 W. University Avenue,
Urbana, IL 61801 (MC-241)
Due to declining usage and easier access to online payment, the Parking Department has removed the following citation payment drop boxes– C03, C07, ES10, E20, ES18, ES26, ES25, D05, D15, ES06, FS22, FS02, F27. The remaining fine boxes are located at B04, AS01, B18, D10, E15, E24, and F11. The removal of the underutilized drop boxes allows the Parking Department to further streamline operations, which will make for more efficient use of your parking dollars. If questions or concerns, please provide your feedback to firstname.lastname@example.com.


text: Word of the Day: bluff WordReference.com Online Language Dictionaries Word of the Day February 9, 2016 bluff (verb, noun, adjective) LISTEN Bluffing is an important element of poker. As a verb, bluff means 'to deceive someone by acting as if you are confident.' A bluff is the act of bluffing or, in American English, a person who bluffs (in British English, such a person would be called a bluffer). As an adjective, bluff is used to refer to a direct and honest way of speaking. Example sentences That guy at the bar told me that he is a lawyer but I don't believe him. I think he's bluffing. Her new boyfriend is just a bluff! I don't believe a thing he says. Bruno pretends to know it all but I think his behavior is just a bluff. Mr. Mendes has a bluff way of addressing students and they all like him. Words often used with bluff call someone's bluff: challenge someone to do something they said they could do. Example: "Tom said he could beat anyone at arm wrestling, but Sally called his bluff when she challenged him. She beat him easily!" bluff it out: keep up a pretense to deal with a difficult situation. Example: "The boss didn't believe I was really sick, but I managed to bluff it out and I convinced her in the end." Did you know? Being able to bluff is an important skill in poker, where winning is not so much about the cards you have but your ability to convince your opponents that you can beat them. Other forms bluffness (noun), bluffer (noun), bluffly (adverb), bluffable (adjective) Origin Bluff first appeared as a verb in the mid to late 17th century and comes from the Low German word bluffen, meaning 'to bluster or frighten'; it is similar to the Middle Dutch word bluffen, meaning 'to make a trick at cards.' Other info Bluff is also a very steep cliff. See full definition Learn more about bluff in our forums In other languages Spanish | French | Italian | Portuguese | German | Swedish | Russian | Polish | Romanian | Czech | Greek | Turkish | Chinese | Japanese | Korean | Arabic Please help us make Word of the Day better by answering a few questions Word of the Day is released Monday through Friday. Contact Us | Unsubscribe Copyright © 2015 WordReference.com February 9, 2016 Previous Post Next Post


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Crew Crew Apparel x Rocky The Rottweiler 3/4 Sleeve Raglan T-Shirt (White/Red)
Crew Crew Apparel x Rocky The Rottweiler 3/4 Sleeve Raglan T-Shirt (White/Red)
Symbolizing: Motivation & Discipline
• Hunger through it's posh white teeth & fangs.
• Inquiry & curiosity from it's concrete colored nose.
• Devotion & determination through it's money green eyes.
• Knowledge, intelligence & understanding through it's compassionate pink ears.
• Courage, obedience & protection from it's whetted claws.
• Brilliance, boldness, & confidence with it's rich pigmented fur.
Texture: Soft & Lightweight
• Classified as Poly-cotton blend (50% polyester, 50% combed cotton) material.
• Constructed of high quality, soft, & natural layer for form fitting.
• Customized greatly; Printed & Made in the USA, sweatshop free.
• Capably machine washable; Inside out, tumble dry low heat
• Considered unisex.
• Crew Crew x American Apparel brand 3/4 raglan baseball sleeve tee shirt.


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Deal of the Week
A new promo every week
Try TaqMan® Cells-to-CT™ products and get 50% off the kits this week.*
Use promo code P1290216 (US)/P1290217 (CA). Limit 2 kits per customer.
This is the last in the series, shop now!
*This promotion is open to customers in the US (excluding Puerto Rico) and Canada. Discount will apply to orders received by Life Technologies between June 1, 2015 and June 8, 2015, or until promotional supplies are depleted, whichever comes first. Customer can use the discount only once. Discount only applies to a maximum of 2 kits per customer. Promotion code P1290216 (US)/P1290217 (CA) must be used at the time the order is placed. Discount applies to the list price in effect at the time the order is received by Life Technologies. Cannot be combined with other discounts or promotions. Offer void where prohibited, licensed, or restricted by federal, state, provincial, or local laws or regulation or agency/institutional policy. Other restrictions may apply.
For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.


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- Tous les produits ont été ajoutés à votre panier.
Poppy Collar
Poppy Collar
Wilderdog's dog collars are made of awesomely durable rock climbing rope.
The collars are adjustable. Size medium is for 13"-19", and size large measures 15"-24" around. The collar is 1" in width. These rope collars are made for medium sized dogs and larger.
Please measure your dogs before ordering! To find the most accurate size, measure around your dog's neck where the collar would sit, making sure to leave room to slide at least two fingers comfortably under the collar. If your dog is between sizes, we would advise to go with the medium, as there would be less excess rope.
Wilderdog collars are made and assembled in the US of A and are backed by a lifetime warranty.


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Kansas Museum Opening Up Its Planes
In an action almost unprecedented among air museums, the Kansas Aviation Museum will be allowing visitors to get inside eight of its historic airplanes on Saturday, June 21. At the fourth annual �Play on a Plane Day,� those who come to the museum at 3350 S. George Washington Boulevard in Wichita, Kan., will be able to get inside a KC-135 Stratotanker (which Boeing originally called the 717), T-33, F-84, Learjet 23, Boeing 727 and 737 and a Beech Queen Air. While some museums have special events that allow visitors to �cross the ropes� and get close to airplanes on display, almost none open up their airplanes and allow the public inside.
Visitors to the Kansas Aviation Museum repeatedly ask whether they can go inside the planes on the museum�s ramp, according to Kaitlin Whelan, a museum spokesperson. The museum doesn�t have the funds to monitor guests who go inside the planes, Whelan said, so this is the only chance during the year for the public to go inside. �All the upkeep of the planes, and restoration, is really expensive,� Whelan said. Volunteers will be at each plane Saturday to explain its historical significance, Whelan said. Regular admission costs apply, with discounts for seniors and military. �Although we call our city the Air Capital of the world, many don�t grasp Wichita�s historical significance in aviation,� she said. �All the planes in our museum have a story that helps us understand our city and state�s deep roots in aviation.�


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LEGO Minifig Alarm Clock
LEGO can be one of the better investments for your little one whenever he/she yearns for a new toy, since a whole bag of colorful bricks can always be used over and over again to create a new "toy", depending on the kind of imagination you have. Enter the LEGO Minifig Alarm Clock that is pretty self-explanatory actually, where it comes in the form of a LEGO minifig complete with a digital clock that has been embedded into the minifig's stomach. You will have to be on the Dark Side this time around since you can only choose from Stormtrooper or Darth Vader designs at $29.99 a pop. You can be sure that Darth Vader will use the power of the Force to help you get out of bed during those cold mornings when you prefer to snuggle under the blanket. As for the Stormtrooper, imagine that he is zapping your ears with some sort of aural laser to keep those sleepy eyelids open! Measuring 8″ tall, this would make for the perfect nightstand companion.


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The Free year Hosting offer comes from known Premium Web-hosting service provider JumpLine and you can rest assured you are into good hands while looking to kick-start your Website.
1) 10GB Storage.
2) 100GB Bandwidth (monthly)
3) Daily Backups
4) Powered By Plesk 9.5 Control panel.
5) 140+ Applications
6) Ability to Host up to 10 Domains


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Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited (ASTRI) was set up by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in 2000 with the mission of enhancing Hong Kong's competitiveness in technology-based industries through applied research.
ASTRI's core R&D competence in various areas is organised under seven Technology Divisions, namely Mixed Signal Systems IC, Advanced Digital Systems, Electronics Components, Intelligent Sensing Technology System, Intelligent Software and Systems, Security and Data Sciences, and Communications Technologies. Our R&D strategic focus covers five areas of applications: financial technologies, intelligent manufacturing, next generation network, health technologies, and smart city. These, together with the Hong Kong branch of the Chinese National Engineering Research Centre (CNERC), form our '5+1' R&D strategy.
ASTRI was designated as the Research and Development Centre for Information and Communications Technologies by the Innovation and Technology Commission.
The State Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) authorised ASTRI to establish the first Hong Kong Branch of the Chinese National Engineering Research Centre (CNERC). Working closely with Southeast University in Nanjing, the centre focuses its R&D efforts on Application Specific Integrated Circuit Systems.
With over a decade's experience in successfully driving customer-focused R&D, ASTRI has built a rich portfolio of intellectual properties and nurtured a large number of talented researchers for the various industries and sectors.
filed in the Mainland, the U.S. and other countries
PhD degree
Master's degree
ASTRI has been successful in creating social value and generating economic impact by transferring new technologies to businesses and enterprises in Greater China including Hong Kong and the Mainland, and other parts of the region.


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My name is Al Dea, and I'm the Founder of MBASchooled and an MBA Graduate from the University of North Carolina (UNC Kenan-Flagler)
Over the past two years, I have had hundreds of conversations with prospective students, current MBA students, MBA graduates, friends, and family. I realized I had a gained plenty of insightful knowledge about various aspects of the MBA experience.
I decided it would be a great idea to share these conversations with a wider audience so people could benefit from the collective knowledge that we all have to share, and thus, MBASchooled was born. As time goes on, I hope to build a thorough and exhaustive collection of content on various topics related to the MBA experience, such as admissions, academics, recruiting, career advice, and so much more.
My hope is that you'll find this information useful, insightful, and thoughtful. Furthermore, if you'd like to contribute to a post, podcast, article, etc, please feel free to e-mail me using the contact information below. Happy reading!
Contact Us: MBASchooled at gmail dot com


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Welcome to AncestralHeroes.com
Ancestral Heroes, Your Ancestors, Fathers, Mothers, Grandfathers, Grandmothers, Uncles, Aunts, Friends, Who Served in the Civil War, Revolutionary War, War of 1812, World War I, World War II, Korean Conflict, Vietnam War, Gulf War.... and defended our freedom.
Letourneau, Raymond A.
Raymond A. Letourneau, 19, ship's cook third class, U. S. N., who went through training at the Naval Training Station here following his enlistment last December, was killed in the train wreck in North Carolina last Thursday the Navy Department informed his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond E. Letourneau of Providence, Saturday night. He was serving on the U. S. S. Biddle and was paying a surprise Christmas visit to his home, the first in a year since he enlisted. His parents did not know he was coming home until informed of his death.
Newport Mercury And Weekly News, Newport, RI 24 Dec 1943
Ancestral Heroes is a genealogy site compiled of biographies, obituaries, articles and information on military war heroes. Compilation, design, artwork and concept covered by copyright. Copyright ©2007-2015, All rights reserved. Contact me. Privacy Policy.


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Source: Facebook
Although I haven't had someone close to me commit suicide I have seen the devastating effects it has on families. Growing up in a small country town, I was all too aware of many young people who ended their lives.
Suicide is the biggest killer of Australians aged 15 to 44 years (ABS 2013)
After losing his father to suicide Gavin Larkin wanted to create a world where suicide didn't exist.
Ambitious? Absolutely. Optimistic? Definitely. Inspirational? I think so.
He created a movement called #ruokday in 2009 with a vision and passion for getting people to reconnect with others and to perhaps prevent someone from committing suicide like his father did.
Gavin died in 2011 from cancer at age 42. His one dream was to see this vision of #ruokday a reality. Now in 2013 R U OK Day is bigger than ever. It has a huge social media presence through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn. The Twitter page has over 10.000 followers. Its website has a wealth of resources and information. The movement has many sponsors and celebrities on board.
It's all about having "regular, meaningful conversations". Too often we get so swept up with work, family and life and we may not notice that someone is struggling. Today is to make a point of talking to that person. Today is also about making every day an R U OK Day. Just a phone call could make a huge difference in someone's life. What a great example of Socially Good Media.


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Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Less common or rare
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
To prevent reinfection or spreading of the infection to other people, good health habits are required. These include the following:
Keep this medicine away from the eyes. If you accidentally get some in your eyes, flush them thoroughly with water at once.
Permethrin lotion which is used to treat lice, comes in a container that holds only one treatment. Use as much of the medicine as you need and discard any remaining lotion properly.
For the treatment of head lice (1% lotion):
Head lice can be easily transferred from one person to another by direct contact with clothing, hats, scarves, bedding, towels, washcloths, hairbrushes and combs, or hairs from infected persons. Therefore, all members of your household should be examined for head lice and should receive treatment if they are found to be infected. If you have any questions about this, check with your doctor.
For the treatment of scabies (5% cream):
The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.
Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.
Keep out of the reach of children.
Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.
Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of topical permethrin in children with use in other age groups.
Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of topical permethrin in the elderly with use in other age groups.
|Pregnancy Category
|All Trimesters
|Animal studies have revealed no evidence of harm to the fetus, however, there are no adequate studies in pregnant women OR animal studies have shown an adverse effect, but adequate studies in pregnant women have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus.
Studies in women suggest that this medication poses minimal risk to the infant when used during breastfeeding.
Drug Interactions
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.
Other Interactions
Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.
Other Medical Problems
The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of topical permethrin. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have other medical problems, especially:
Permethrin 1% lotion is used to treat head lice infections. It acts by destroying both the lice and their eggs. The 5% cream is used to treat scabies infections by destroying the mites which cause scabies.


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As of November 2015, some good software for recording podcasts include Propaganda, ePodcast Producer and Audacity. Propaganda lets users arrange the audio clips in a podcast by dragging and dropping the audio files. It supports a wide range of editing functions, including cropping, mixing and track splitting.
ePodcast Producer allows users to edit voice tracks and music tracks separately and apply effects to any of them. Once finished, users can upload their audio files and publish their podcasts directly from this software.
Audacity is compatible with Windows, Mac OSX and Linux. It supports editing features that include cropping, mixing, cross fading and noise reduction. In addition, it supports a wide range of audio file formats, including WAV, AIFF, AU, OGG and MP3.


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Express Entry is a simplified, fast and efficient immigration selection system offering Canadian employers direct access to hire qualified skilled workers where no Canadians are available.
Immigration Attorney Colin Singer, an experienced international recruiter, can help Canadian businesses source top talent through Global Recruiters of Montreal, an in-house recruitment enterprise.
What are the benefits of Express Entry?
- Select pre-screened skilled immigrants
- No government fees
- Fast processing
Express Entry: A Two- Step Process
Step 1: Candidates submit an online express entry profile
Candidates who meet minimum entry criteria, express interest to acquire permanent residence by submitting an online profile to the Express Entry Pool. Their profile and qualifications including age, education, language proficiencies, work experience and other factors are given points under a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), measuring their human capital contribution to Canada.
Candidates without a job offer or provincial nomination must also submit an employment profile with the Canada Job Bank which can be accessed by Canadian employers.
Step 2: Canadian employers, provincial and federal governments select candidates
Approved employers are invited to hire pre-screened candidates from the Express Entry Pool where no Canadians are available. Hired candidates are offered invitations by the federal government to apply for permanent residence. Invitations are issued during periodic draws throughout the year.
Candidates receiving an invitation must submit a full application within 90 days.
A candidate's profile remains in the Express Entry Pool for 12 months. Successful applicants and their accompanying dependants are processed within six months.
How we can help:
We provide Canadian employers with unparalleled recruitment and immigration legal services to bring approved candidates to Canada in the shortest time possible. Employers in a wide range of industries can directly benefit from our unique position as one of Canada's leading online immigration firms to meet both their recruitment and immigration requirements.
Our extensive client base comprises of highly qualified professionals with the pre-screened transferable skills and experience required to succeed in Canada. We also structure exclusive recruitment assignments to actively source the top talent employers require.
Interested employers who want help finding qualified applicants for immediate employment in a specific industry can submit a request here for further information.
- Immigration.ca news articles – A daily news source outlining the latest developments in immigration, employment and the economy with commentaries by Attorney Colin Singer.
- At Global Recruiters of Montreal we are dedicated to developing long-term strategic alliances with client companies and candidates alike. We strictly adhere to our guiding principles of honesty, integrity and confidentiality.
- Follow us on social media for the latest developments.


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Winter is the coldest season, but this does not mean that women cannot be stylish. There are plenty of clothes that can be worn in order to make you feel warm and pretty. Well, a pea coat is one classical item that must be in every woman's closet. When it comes on what to wear with this type of coat, great news. It is a versatile piece of clothing that is perfect for elegant and casual outfits. But, you must also take into account the shoes, not only the clothes. Boots are perfect, as long as they are elegant or casual. Even a versatile item such the pea coat cannot be worn on every occasion, so that sport outfits should not be paired with a wool pea coat.
How to choose the right pea coat?
If you want to wear a pea coat as much as possible, you should make the right choice. Well, the first thing you should do is to choose the right size. It is possible not to find the perfect coat and then you must adjust it. But, in order to have the right coat, you should choose an online store that has great return policies. Online stores are great, especially for busy people, because you don't have to take into account the schedule and you don't have to wait in line.
So, since it is a versatile item, no matter that we speak about men coat or women coat, you must choose one that is made from wool. Not only that it will keep you warm, but the quality of the material will be important for the coat's appearance. The color is important and people generally choose dark colors and shades, but if you will choose pink, blue or even red, you will be able to think about the spring in the middle of the winter, right?
So, choose a store that is trustworthy because you will be able to find here a pea coat that you will wear for years to come. And, if you make the right choice you will be able to find the coat at a reduced price.


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That special, once-a-year, mark-your-calendar event is right around the corner.
Valentine's Day is a holiday marked by an annual ritual that takes place between 5 and 8 p.m. the evening before: a long line of men standing in line at the local supermarket or drugstore holding the last of the boxes of Whitman's Samplers, a random bouquet of flowers and some sappy greeting card covered in cutesy red hearts and lots of glitter.
Guys — we can do better.
They say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach? Well, the way to a woman's heart is through the kitchen range, when a sumptuous dinner is all prepared, waiting for one's better half to arrive home, freed from the entire burden of menu planning, shopping, cooking and, of course, cleaning up.
That, my fellow U.S. males, will produce far better results than any "romantic" gifts purchased just minutes before the evening begins.
Even better: Flowers and candy sent to the office during the day, so your beloved's co-workers get to admire your thoughtfulness — then a scrumptious dinner upon her arrival home. If romance were a sport (and who says it isn't?), that's the equivalent of not just an interception, but a pick-six romp all the way to the end zone.
Touchdown dance afterwards is optional.
A Simple, Yet Savory Approach
Question is, what to prepare for that special dinner to be savored à deux?
We can rule out vegetarian options right off the bat. For proof, consider this "special Valentine's meal" recommended by a prominent vegan chef: Cream of mushroom soup with shiitake chips; sweet potato and mushroom cannelloni; carrot and rye berry salad; spinach and hominy enchiladas; topped off with chilled avocado and lime juice "ice creme."
If that's what someone told me was being prepared for dinner, my question would be, "So what's the main course?"
Here's a way better idea, as described in The New York Times article titled, "Meat and Potatoes Made Magical."
"Instead of going to a crowded restaurant, you can easily pull off the simple luxury of steak and potatoes at home," the article began, "and use the money you save by splurging on an expensive, top-quality cut like ribeye, tenderloin or strip steak."
You can tell right there that the article was written by a guy, although what the writer didn't mention is although you're being thrifty with the "let's-stay-at-home" approach, that is not how you present the idea to your mate.
Back to the meal.
The recommendation was for what was called "the most succulent steak, richly marbled and very tasty: ribeye" (or in French, côte de boeuf, if that's a turn on for that someone special).
Now, some preparation specifics.
Purchase one large, two-inch thick steak at the butcher shop or service counter, rather than two separate pieces. The larger piece will make for a juicier, more flavorful steak.
Next, cover the meat with "generous dashes" of salt and pepper, some sliced garlic and chopped rosemary, allowing time for the beef to absorb the seasonings (the garlic and rosemary are removed prior to cooking).
Brown both sides of the steak in a "scorching hot cast-iron pan" on the stovetop. Then place the pan in a 400-degree oven to roast until the interior reaches 120 degrees F, which the article stated will take about 8 to 10 minutes.
Let the steak rest for 10 minutes or so before slicing into wide strips, across the grain.
That takes care of the steak. And for the ultimate complement: baby potatoes. As the article explained, just boil the potatoes in heavily salted water (about 10 minutes), then toss them with butter, garlic, parsley and lemon zest.
Simple as that, yet sure to accomplish the desired effect.
Oh, yes: Don't forget to open a nice bottle of wine.
In fact, for the prefect evening, why not start with the wine?
Editor's Note: The opinions in this commentary are those of Dan Murphy, a veteran journalist and commentator. For those of you who only eat pork, watch for JoAnn Alumbaugh's commentary this week for a pork alternative that's just as delicious as this one.


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Why are you a British MP?
Because of the free flats, free phones, free flights, and don't mention Free Derry, please
Why is an avowed enemy of the United Kingdom accepting over £800,000 of its money, and living in a flat in the United Kingdom?
Because the repressed people of Ireland need someone in England to represent their needs. Even though I never set foot in Parliament to represent their needs
Are the House of Commons free wines as good as people say they are?
Ask Martin, he's our freedom-fighting, bottle-opening deputy chief-of staff
What are you doing living in London, if you never attend the House?
I'm representing my Belfast constituents, by not representing them
Why does nobody in Ireland except you want a United Ireland?
We have lots of dumb Americans to send us money if we keep going on about it
Don't Americans know that there can never be a United Ireland, any more than there can ever be peace between Arabs and Jews?
You're talking about people that believe in a 'roadmap to peace' in Israel, i.e. after 2,000 years of fighting the USA waves its magic wand, and it all ends. They're the same idiots that believe in a United Ireland
What about 'Give Ireland back to the Irish'?
Everyone in Ireland is either Irish or of Irish descent, Ireland already belongs to the Irish
The Provisional IRA is an illegal organisation in the Republic of Ireland. Why is that, if you're Ireland's saviours?
Because we're drugs dealers, bank robbers, kneecappers and murderers. I got so sick of my own people hating me, I went to stay in a nice Georgian flat in London. For free
Some people are saying that the Provisional IRA are just a bunch of cheap extortionists, cowards that can't fight like men but use terrorism to get where you are today. Is this true?
If that was true I would be in Belgravia today, sipping wine paid for by the British government, while watching the news about the latest UK government expenses claims scandal. Which I am
What would Michael Collins and Eamonn de Valera say about you living like an English lord, and accepting money and flats from the British government?
They'd have me shot as a traitor. Even though I'm not. That's why I live in England half the time, and ever since the 1970s, when I was flown to London for secret peace talks with the Brits, I've been living like an English lord and accepting money and flats from the British government
When will you be taking your seat in the House of Lords as Lord Adams of Toutbridge?
As soon as I can get a better flat and expenses allowance. How am I supposed to survive on £800,000 a year in London?
If the British are so evil and repressive, why do so many Irish people prefer to live in Britain than in Ireland?
Well, they might meet me and my pals in Ireland, at least the British don't car bomb their own people
Is the Republican movement now a joke?
As long as I lead it, yes
How much do you want for this interview?
£800,000, used English notes
When are you retiring?


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detail of a larger piece
It really makes me pause when I think of a painting in this way. I'm usually, so focused on the surface and how it looks that it didn't occur to me about this underlying tapestry of layers. As the artist of a multilayered piece, I am the only one who really knows the mystery of what lies under the surface of my artwork. In the end, its my job to bring all that to surface and let it shine and tell its story.
I've been reusing old panels. the paintings that I made in the beginning of my encaustic learning. I'm finding, because they hold the story of the beginnings they make the paintings so much deeper and richer. Its not about starting over with these, its about building on the roots that are already there. I didn't white them out or scrape them back.. I just built upon them.
All of this is making me think of how it relates to us as individuals. We all hold an amazing tapestry that we have created through our lifetime. How do we bring to life and let shine the beautiful multicolored layering that lies under the surface of each of us? We, as the artists of our lives, need to think about how bring all this beauty within, tell its multifaceted story and let it shine, baby... Let it shine!
Happy Friday everyone... hit the button and see some amazing artwork.
PS.. we're still working on layers in class. I really don't have anything to show yet. Stay tuned... I'm getting closer.


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Some Useful Advice before Buying an Electric Wheelchair
I have known a lot of disabled people who pooh-pooh the use of electric wheelchairs because they look upon it as some kind of weakness to use an electric wheelchair rather than push yourself. I've been disabled for a long time now, it will be 30 years in 2016. So basically I have done it and got the T-shirt. I'm in my late 40s, I don't want life to be a challenge, I don't want to make things difficult for myself, I want to get on with my life, enjoy the things I do and make the best of my disabled life.
The first electric wheelchair I had was called a Myra. It was a superb outdoor wheelchair, it would go anywhere you wanted it to. However, it was totally inappropriate for use indoors. For a start, it had massive front wheels that didn't do the carpet much good. It also had rear wheel steering which meant you had to turn it rather like turning a car. Therefore I only ever used to sit in it when going out. The next chair I had was called the Cheetah and was an indoor/outdoor wheelchair. It was much more suited to my needs, if I wanted to I could stay in it all day indoors and could manoeuvre around the house with no problems whatsoever because it used rear wheel drive and steering which meant you could basically spin it on the spot. The Myra seating was very much like the old NHS wheelchairs, a short back with really no support whatsoever. The Cheetah, on the other hand, used a Recaro rally seat, the same as you would find in a car. Although much better as it gave you a lot of support. It still wasn't perfect because the manufacturers had not taken into account that most people who use wheelchairs need a specialised cushion to sit on. Therefore we had to literally cut a section of the seat belt in order to take my Roho cushion.
In 2000 I decided I needed another power wheelchair, the Cheetah was getting old and starting to malfunction. I chose a wheelchair called a Permobil, a Swedish made wheelchair that is very much at the cutting edge of technology. Permobil wheelchairs do not come cheap, especially when you add on all the extras that are available for these wheelchairs. I have recently replaced my wheelchair once again, this time I have gone for another Permobil after all my old Permobil Chairman gave me nearly 12 years of service without any major problems. It's amazing how technology has come on, my new Permobil is basically the Rolls-Royce of wheelchairs, but you have to bear in mind that I use my wheelchair all day, I don't sit in a manual wheelchair at all, so having a top of the range wheelchair is very important. I now have a Permobil Corpus 500 which is all singing and dancing, believe me, this wheelchair is fantastic. I am able to electrically recline my seat to a 50° angle, this means that not only does it give you excellent pressure relief, but it also enables you to have a little sleep during the day if you wish. The tilt and recline are also very helpful when travelling down very steep slopes, it's not a nice pitching forward when going down steep inclines. I can also electrically operate my backrest, leg rests and also raise my whole seat to eye level with most people, well people who are no taller than about 5'9", or maybe a little higher, I haven't measured it.
My wheelchair is the top of the range when it comes to powered wheelchairs, because of my condition and daily living I have opted for a wheelchair that enables me to do things in comfort. If I want to have a little snooze during the day then I just recline the seat and have 40 winks. If I'm at the pub and want to join in the conversation with other people then rather than having to look up at everyone, I can simply raise the seat on my wheelchair and I'm up there with everyone joining the conversation. Obviously, all this comes at a cost and not everyone is going to be able to afford one of these wheelchairs. Having said this, these functions are available on other powered wheelchairs and cost a fraction of the price of the Permobil. The Invacare Storm electric wheelchair, for instance, can be purchased with all the functions of the Permobil, but at a fraction of the price.
One of my hobbies is fishing which means travelling over rough ground occasionally, this may come in the form of grass gravel or mud. If you're planning an doing the same then choose a wheelchair with suitable wheels. It's no good going for a wheelchair with very small front wheels, or very thin back tyres, these type of wheelchairs will probably not handle rough ground very well and you certainly don't want to be tipping out of your wheelchair because your small front wheel has got caught in a small hole.
If you suffer from stability problems when sitting in a wheelchair then choosing the right upholstery can make all the difference between sitting comfortably and flopping from side to side. Sitting in a wheelchair seat that is contoured will give you stability and therefore make you feel much safer when you are travelling outside going over bumps in the road and pavement. If you are going to drive while sitting in your wheelchair them stability is important, you don't want to be falling from side to side when you are manoeuvring a roundabout for instance, although you would probably be wise to wear a chest strap to give you that extra stability, or have a specially designed seatbelt in your vehicle that doubles up as a restraints and seatbelt. You may find that your legs need support as well, my legs will often splay apart if I haven't got thigh support. The Permobil Corpus 500 has excellent support for your legs, the thigh support can be critically positioned so that your legs are supported and not flopping all over the place. A new wheelchair is always going to feel rather strange really set in it for the first time, this is quite normal so don't panic when you first set in your new wheelchair, just give it a little bit of time and I can almost guarantee that in no time at all your new wheelchair will feel like you've been sitting in it forever.
If your electric wheelchair is going to be your primary chair on a daily basis then you may want to consider how manoeuvrable it is indoors. Bear in mind that rear wheel drive wheelchairs are much less manoeuvrable than front and mid drive wheelchairs. My Permobil users front wheel drive which makes it very easy to manoeuvre into tight spaces. Permobil also manufacture a wheelchair that has the main wheels located almost directly under the sitting position, these wheelchairs are even more manoeuvrable than the front wheel drive chairs. Some people complain that front wheel drive wheelchairs fishtail when you are driving at speed, to a certain extent this is true but this normally only happens when you are getting used to the wheelchair, once you become accustomed to it this won't happen.
There are literally hundreds of electrically powered wheelchairs available nowadays. Technology has come along in leaps and bounds and you don't necessarily have to go to the expense I did to purchase something like a Permobil. The Invacare Storm is an extremely good wheelchair that comes in various models, the Storm 4 is a very powerful wheelchair with a top speed of about 6 miles an hour, it will take you just about anywhere you want to go without you having to worry about batteries running down, and at a third of the price of the Permobil is more affordable.
Wheelchair Vehicle Restraint
If you are intending on driving from your electric wheelchair then make sure that you ask about the relevant restraints systems that will fit your particular type of wheelchair. I can't emphasise how important it is to use the proper wheelchair restraint when driving. I'm sure that I don't need to tell you this but if you were to have an accident and your wheelchair was not secured properly then you would be in serious trouble, your wheelchair would literally get thrown around the car with you still in it, I dread to think what the outcome would be if you were travelling at speed, it's too frightening to think about. And please always use a headrest on your wheelchair when driving, again, if you are to have an accident you could cause yourself a serious neck injury you didn't have a headrest. Even if you have got a headrest already, make sure that it is positioned properly, a headrest that is not in the right position will be virtually useless and will give you no protection in an accident.
Wheelchair Voucher Scheme
You may be eligible for a free wheelchair If you are registered disabled. There are normally two options when entering into the wheelchair voucher scheme, you can either take your pick of the wheelchair that your authority has on its list for the voucher scheme, or you can obtain a voucher which will then enable you to go out and buy a wheelchair of your choice. The amount of money that the voucher is worth can differ greatly depending on where you live in the country. At the time of writing, I believe the vouchers worth about £6000 in Devon. You can take the £6000 and add your own money if the wheelchair you want exceeds the £6000, it's up to you if you go it alone, but remember if you buy the wheelchair yourself that you are responsible for maintenance. If the wheelchair belongs to the authority then they maintain it for you. Check out wheelchair voucher scheme for more information on obtaining a wheelchair
Permobil International website - Storm 4 electric wheelchair - Quickie electric wheelchair