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Consumer Affairs
By Andrew Tracy
Casino Royale
Dir. Martin Campbell, U.S., Columbia Pictures
Ah, Bond. The place where cultural inquiry and unapologetic shilling can meet and hold hands. There's no other movie series—sorry, "franchise" —whose self-conscious styling as a product (and the products it so prominently places within its films) I regard with more affection. The crassness mixes so fully with the craftsmanship that to separate them would negate the whole. Perhaps the Bond films' greatest accomplishment is that they allow us to view capitalism with nostalgia, even as it continues to ravage us in ever more vicious forms. The entrepreneurship of Broccoli and Saltzman, their tailoring of their property to fit in anywhere in the global market, now has an air of quaintness about it, just like Bond's own unforgivable sexism and sometimes violent misogyny (am I the only one who smiles when Connery strangles a girl with her bikini top in Diamonds Are Forever?). Having pioneered the bigger-n'-better blockbuster strategy that later beat them at their own game, the Bond films have been placed in the curious yet profitable position of invoking their own tradition even as they promise the spectre (or SPECTRE) of novelty with each new installment. It's the mercenary nakedness of it all that makes it so appealing—that and the genuine qualities of personalization and character that have advertently and inadvertently found their way into the films.
For all the media talk with every new Bond installment about how Bond is both unchangeable (as character) and interchangeable (as actor)—a cozy situation whereby the writer can pose as ironic cultural vivisectionist even as he fulfills his editor's mandate of pushing this week's mega-movie—it's a growing interest in Bond-as-character and actor-as-Bond that has sustained him into an era where any other twenty mainstream action movies can lay claim to the same blow-'em-up "thrills." The series' need for novelty means Bond can have no history—or at least none that can't be easily forgotten with the next film—and yet with each new actor, we obsessively search for those defining characteristics cast upon this supposedly blank slate.
This is not only a game played by aficionados but a deadly serious consideration on the part of the producers. The tone and scope of the series depends to a decisive degree upon the bearing and intrinsic qualities of the actor embodying Bond; thus the films are largely cut to the measure of the supposedly negligible lead. Connery couldn't have played Lazenby's vulnerable and imperiled Bond in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Moore couldn't have pulled off Dalton's necessarily grim toughness in The Living Daylights or Licence to Kill, and Dalton would have shot himself before doing Moonraker. As to Brosnan, he will always occupy a wistful could-have-been place in the Bond pantheon—an actor whose desire to do good work was always handicapped by his weak-willed acceptance of wherever the producers' wind happened to be blowing. That the second-generation production team decided to junk him even after the record profits of Die Another Day (the one with the ice palace and invisible car) reflects the kind of enlightened capitalist consciousness that has always prevailed in the Bond series: the knowledge that the best kind of disposable product always has a defining edge to it.
From that standpoint, Casino Royale and Daniel Craig are the best choices the Bond franchise could have made at this time. It may seem cynical to interpret a film's attempt at emotional involvement and narrative intensity—for an astonishingly long amount of screen time without the benefit of action scenes—as good business sense, but the setpiece mentality of the Bond series has always encouraged a compartmentalized appraisal of its virtues. That Casino Royale features the only truly romantic Bond story since OHMSS has as much weight as its spectacular, non-CGI aided foot chase through a construction site: both are there to invoke tradition and freshness simultaneously, in an effort to distinguish the latest Bond from its competitors. And we wouldn't have the considerable virtues, and pleasures, of both if not for the commercial canniness underlying their presence.
Craig, meanwhile, is the canniest move of all, and his presence greatly conditions the film that surrounds him. Not to sound like a pressbook, but Craig is absolute dynamite. He has the inimitable coldness and toughness which the vastly underrated Dalton brought to the part, and yet his thoroughly intimidating bulk (caressed by the camera with more attention than any of the impressive female physiognomies on display) paradoxically increases his vulnerability: this Bond gets hurt, both in action and in love. His doomed romance with Vesper Lynd—played by Eva Green with an appeal largely absent from her roles as balloon-breasted prop in The Dreamers and Kingdom of Heaven—has a poignancy in spite, or perhaps because of, its foreordained conclusion, evident even to those who haven't read the book which the film so faithfully adapts. (It's amusing that the highest praise for literary fidelity in the cinema is extended to those films that adhere closest to the formulaic moneyspinners virtually written as films-to-be.) Craig brings the aura of believability that is absolutely crucial to the kind of fantasy this is. As Bond has from the beginning been removed from any political specificity in the interests of commercial appeal, we require at least the feeling that Bond is playing for high stakes within a politically divided world—and those divisions are always far more important than the moral ones. That Craig's ruthlessness doesn't register as a "reimagining" of Bond only points up how he accentuates the reptilian aspects of the character that have always been present, and which have more than a little to do with his ongoing popularity.
That consistency, thankfully, extends to the behind-camera team as well. Martin Campbell, sensibly brought back after a string of hacks diluted his fine work on GoldenEye, succumbs somewhat to the rattle-cam and quick-cut style that's become the unfortunate norm, but his action scenes, inventively choreographed within claustrophobic locations, still retain a pleasing clarity of line. Campbell's regular cinematographer Phil Meheux, meanwhile, provides a beautiful and seductive sheen, particularly in the gorgeously shot black-and-white opening scenes which turn an office building into a glass labyrinth. One hopes that Campbell's return heralds a reversion to the in-house production team tradition that sustained the series prior to the Brosnan years; but such faux-artisanal sentimentalities have little traction against the calculated money-mindedness that brought in Chris Cornell to provide another indistinguishable slab of droning modern rock for Casino Royale's theme song (if it weren't an oxymoron to patent anonymity, Cornell would hold worldwide rights).
As with any Bond review, this has been more of a consumer report than anything else. But it's another of the Bond series' great pleasures that (attempted) seriousness can mesh so well with capitulation to formula. Casino Royale's ultimate cultural significance is that its all-around accomplishment gives yet another boost to the longevity of its likely unending series; and as the promise of sustained and continued pleasure, guilty or not, is Bond's greatest contribution to this world where pleasures are increasingly transitory, that's hardly a minor accomplishment.


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Venford Brook
It was only a few weeks ago that I wrote about a visit to Venford Falls. In the blog post I told you how I attempted to improve on an image of the falls that was in my portfolio. Though the area around the falls was lush and green, the lack of rain had made it look a bit dry. So while the image was good, and a little different from the image of last year, I wasn't sure it was any better.
Back to the Falls...Again
If you read that blog post and saw the images you may have thought there would be little point in returning so soon and at the same time of year. However, not only did I want to take an image of the falls after a rainfall, but I also wanted to explore the area around the falls a bit more.
Fortunately, as is the way in the UK, I didn't really have to wait to long for the next downpour of rain and soon I was heading back to Venford Falls. With the ground being a bit wetter the walk down the steep hillside tot the falls was a little treacherous, but I was happy to see the green on the rocks was looking, well, rather moist!
So looking at the 3 images it's still hard to say which is better. My most recent image improves the image from the 9th of May thanks to the rainfall, but I'm not sure it's better than the image from 2016. I prefer the size and placement of the foreground rock in the most recent image, but I still prefer the look and clarity of the pool from the 2016 image. Honestly, I still think there is room for improvement so I may just have to go back and try again!
Just before I move on to Venford Brook, there was another shot that I wanted to take on this visit.
As you can see this is a much wider angle of the falls adding some trees and sky to the top of the composition. I'm not sure these elements add too much to the image, but they do provide a better sense of scale and place. What do you think?
Venford Brook
With my waterfall shots in the bag, I decided that I was going to follow the brook downstream to see if there was more to shoot than just the falls. I was happy to find that I didn't have to wonder to far to find something interesting.
The brook had carved an interesting flow down the moss covered rocks and I thought it might make for an interesting intimate landscape image. This kind of landscape photography isn't normally something I go for. I'm normally a big vista type of photographer, but sometimes you see something and you know you need to make an image from it.
If you've read the shooting details of those images you will have noticed that I shot the images of the brook using ISO 400. With this type of shot it's easy just to extend the exposure as long as you can but with water in rivers and streams, 0.5 seconds is just about right. So raising my ISO shortened my exposure time without any noticeable loss of image quality.
I was glad that I'd spent the time doing a bit of exploring around Venford. While the falls are very attractive and make for great photographs, it's important not to get too attached to a specific location, particularly if there are good images to be had just downstream!
So what did you think of the images of the waterfalls? Do you have a favourite? Do you take intimate landscapes? Let me know in the comments.

subset: commoncrawl


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50+ age appropriate chores that will teach your children important life skills like responsibility, confidence, discipline and respect – whilst also helping you keep a clean house!
I remember when my kids first asked to unpack the dishwasher and I didn't think they were capable. I had images of chipped crockery, dropped glasses, etc… but they were eager, so I let them give it a go, and how wrong I was! Not only were my children capable, but they enjoyed it too!
Encouraging your children to complete chores and jobs around the house is actually incredibly beneficial for the development of your kids – and why pass up the opportunity for extra help?! Here's a list I've put together of age appropriate chores for kids. Feel free to adapt the lists to what you think will fit best with you and your child/children's capabilities.
Benefits of the Kids Helping Around the House
There are many benefits to encouraging the children to help out around the house and complete certain chores. Here are just a few reasons why you should get them involved:
- TEACHES THEM IMPORTANT LIFE SKILLS – I think this is one of the most important lessons. Without chores, my kids would have no idea how to keep a room tidy or how to clean up after themselves. It teaches them to become more self reliant and makes their progression into adulthood a lot easier!
- TEACHES THEM TO WORK WELL WITH OTHERS – When everyone is required to pitch in around the house, it teaches kids the real value of teamwork and working well with others. It teaches them to listen, follow instructions and be a team player.
- TEACHES THEM RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCIPLINE – By assigning them a task and giving them a responsibility, they quickly learn a lot about following rules and taking ownership for certain jobs.
- TEACHES THEM RESPECT – If children are never exposed to how much work goes in to keeping a clean and tidy house, they will never know how much you do for them! By giving them a few of your small tasks, they will grow to appreciate your hard work.
- KEEPS THEM OCCUPIED – When your kids are bored, anything (even chores) can seem entertaining! Don't set them too many chores so that they resent them, but give them a job every now and then to keep them busy.
- IMPROVES THEIR WORK ETHIC AND CREATES HABITS – By creating a list of chores that they are responsible for each week, it trains them to form good habits. Even implementing a pocket money system will assist them in developing a pleasant work ethic. Here is a blog post I did a while ago about why I give my kids pocket money.
- GIVES THEM SELF-CONFIDENCE/PURPOSE – The satisfaction of completing a chore gives children a boost of confidence. They tend to feel more capable and like an important contributor to the family.
When my kids were young & how it's shaped them today
I gave my kids responsibilities around the home at a young age and I have to tell you, I am very proud and appreciative of the help they give me today now that my youngest is 12 and twins 14. We do have a few sibling arguments in our house (more so now they are older), but I can easily say we have never had any arguments over household tasks.
CHECK OUT: my huge range of Kids Printable Charts that help with setting routines, chores, and much more!
Here are a few of the highlights I want to share:
PACKING AWAY TOYS – My kids have been helping me to pack up the toys from the moment they could crawl. We would sing a packing up song (that we made up ourselves) as we were tidying up the toys: "we are packing up the toys, we are packing up the toys, packing packing packing up, packing up the toys". It made it fun and joyful. I also made sure their rooms were tidy before going to bed. When they were little I helped, but as they got older this become a task they completed themselves.
Today, being teens and tweens, they don't have toys like they used to. However, if they do leave something around the house, I do not pick it up. I call for them (to stop what they are doing, because that's annoying and I like to annoy them sometimes – I pick my timing well, like when they are relaxing or talking to friends), and get them to pick up the item they have left laying around. That annoying factor helps them to learn to do it next time without having to be prompted. Other times if they are hanging around me, I just need to look them in the eye, then eyeball the item, and they know exactly what needs to be done.
READ MORE: How To Get Kids To Clean Up Their Toys
MADE THEIR BED FROM A YOUNG AGE – As much as I would've loved to have straightened the kids' beds after they made them when they were younger (they were lumpy), I resisted because they had put in the effort and for that I am grateful. I also didn't have time, and it was one less thing I had to do. From a young age I didn't need to remind them to make their bed as it was listed on their daily routine chart.
Today, the kids always make their beds before they go to school, I don't even have to ask. The girls make their beds beautifully, my son not so much. But as I mentioned above, I am just happy he has at least made it.
this bedspread was purchased from Target last season
UNPACK THE DISHWASHER – This has been a regular routine since the kids were 5 years old. After the kids eat their breakfast, they unpack the dishwasher. Each child has their own responsibility. Child #1 unpacks the top, Child #2 unpacks the bottom, Child #3 unpacks the cutlery.
Today it is rotated daily, because they are all older and just as capable as each other. I have a tasks to-do chart that indicates who does what task on what day. We have used this chart for years, and the kids rarely refer to it now as they just do the jobs. There is no fighting, the kids realise that it's a contribution to household tasks and realise that it helps me out. Miss 12 has been a bit slower in the mornings lately, so she has set her alarm clock 5 minutes earlier to ensure this task is completed before she goes to school.
I found this photo from 2013 my youngest 8 years old, she is now 12 (pictured below).
RESPECT – My kids have grown to be very respectful and I am extremely grateful that they are growing up to be such considerate human beings. If they see me at the washing line, they will come and help, or if they see me sorting the washing, they will help out. In particular, my Mr 14 has been doing the dishes while I am cooking dinner, and on the weekends when I am pottering around the house, he asks me if there is anything that he can help with before he sits down for a marathon session on his Xbox.
- Put dirty clothes directly into laundry
- Help sort dirty clothes into darks, colours and white piles
- Put salt and pepper on table
- Help dust
- Help feed the pet
- Pick up toys
- Make bed, remember it can be perfectly imperfect
- Tidy bedroom
- Tidy toy room
- Get the mail
- Help wash the car
- Help fold tea towels
- All of above, plus:
- Put dirty clothes into correct laundry sorting basket
- Use a handheld stick vac to clean small floor areas
- Unpack dishwasher
- Feed the pet
- Help put away groceries
- Help fold washing
- Dusting
- Wipe bathroom sink
- Set the table
- Water plants
- Clean inside of car
- Sweep outside patio and driveway
- Answer the telephone
- Help pack lunchboxes
- All of above, plus:
- Peg washing on the line
- Take washing off line
- Fold washing
- Put away their own washing
- Put rubbish in the outside bin
- Put out the bin on collection day
- Tidy bathroom
- Help with cooking dinner
- Pull weeds from garden
- Run own shower or bath
- Load and turn on washing machine
- Change sheets on bed
- Clean toilet
- Clean bathroom
- Clean mirrors
- Vacuum
- Cook simple meals
- Clean car
- Clean the fridge
- Clean and declutter kitchen bench
- Wash the dishes
- Make and pack own lunches
- Clean pool
- Pick up pet business in backyard
- Take pet for a walk
- Baking for lunchbox
- Ironing
READ MORE: Favourite Board Games To Play With The Kids
VISUAL CHARTS FOR KIDS: I have a large variety of instantly downloadable chore, responsibility and reward charts in my shop. These are an excellent way to keep your children motivated and stop them from forgetting important tasks.


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Laws around data security have been tightened recently. It was always the case to be careful with personal information and that we discussed with our clients how we kept this information safe, but now the bar was set even higher. Corporate Holland woke up…
Duty to inform
One thing in particular that woke up Dutch companies is the "Duty to inform". If you suspect that data that you manage has been leaked of sent to the wrong person, you owe it to inform the owner of the data about this. In particular personal information. Perfectly understandable of course. You use your client's information to approach the market, and when something goes wrong, you inform your client. In my mind, that's normal in any business relation.
Everybody wants ISO
Then, we received a request from one of our clients to sign an addition to our existing contract. In the addition we would declare that we're ISO certified. But we aren't. I contacted this client to ask why we needed to sign this, and to tell him that we can't sign. "For extra security", was the explanation. And: "we won't be the only ones who'll be asking this, so you should get it together!".
ISO economy
We like to grant our clients' wishes, so we decided to get ISO certified. Can't be that hard, I thought. Soon enough, it became clear that a whole new economy has grown around ISO certifications. Driven by granting business to each other. Only an accredited agency can perform an audit. These agencies have a standard formula for how many DAYS the audit will take, regardless of the complexity of the business. Just for reading our case, a consultant needs 1 WHOLE DAY. How smart are these consultants was my first thought…Then, I found out that passing the audit was very slim if we didn't use a consultant to get prepared for the audit. And you can guess, these consultants aren't cheap!
ISO mandatory? Hell no!
My unease grew and I decided to call the Ministry of Economic Affairs. I needed some back ground and wanted to find out if some compensation was available for companies that were required to get certified to adhere to the law. But no, they were very clear: The regulations may have been adjusted, but the market itself determines if an ISO audit should be requested. So, are we just making it difficult for ourselves? Can't we just as easily make our own agreements on procedures and processes and how we interact?
Now what?
I've resigned myself with the fact that the ISO Mob rules and we've started our certification. It will be a long road full of ups and downs, as I've been assured by several of the specialized agencies that want to help me to get ready. They also assure me that that certification will be there at the end of the road. You will all hear me shout it out when we get that certification. We will support ISO with all our might and will blacken all those that haven't been certified yet. And so, we will too help the ISO economy thrive.


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marriage to a wonderful man and time to myself have kept me content for
the most part. My obsession with New York is still an issue, but mainly
for the the magazine industry that I'd like to get into rather than the
place itself. I've been thinking about my "big picture goals" as Julie Morgenstern
puts it and one of them is to begin my own Christian magazine for
single and career women. Therefore, in looking at ways to achieve my
goal, really, I don't need to work at a major magazine in NY
(although, I'd love to). There are three major magazines in the
Philadelphia area that I can work with and I'd like to do whatever I
can to pursue one of them. I'm learning to modify my goals to make them
work for my location and my marriage. Living in New York is no longer
realistic and I need to let go of that dream – mainly because my
husband hates New York and all things mass transit. But
it is realistic for me to consider living in a suburban area with
access to New York City: my husband will be content in the suburbs and
I'd be more than happy to work in my favorite city in the world.
Modifying my goals is something I will consistently need to do,
especially when I have kids. (!!!)
new apartment about two minutes from the train station and 10 minutes
from the hubby's job. It's quite convenient. The location saves both of
us gas, parking fees, sleep and all sorts of other assorted things.
It's a bit pricey but well worth it when we think of why we made this
move. We spend a lot of time together now – just enough to satisfy the
both of us – are able to do the things that we want to do and have a
life we enjoy. I can honestly say that I enjoy my life now. Things
don't always work out the way I want and sure I get sad about things,
but I haven't been depressed in some time. But external circumstances
are working in my favor and I tend to perk up when external
circumstances are status quo.
overcome fear. I'm trying to take risks – as small as picking up the
phone and calling for an appointment with a doctor I've never seen. I'm
trying to organize a group in the Philadelphia area of young media
professionals. The main chapter is in NY (of course) but there are
small chapters around the country and I'm spearheading Philly's! I've
prepared myself for major turnover since I'm so close to NY but I'll
never know if it will work if I don't try. (My lame attempt at social
don't know many blogspot pages with three-column layouts but that's
what I'll shoot for. In the meantime, I've updated the "Resources"
The Madonna concert at Madison Square Garden last week was simply
excellent. I enjoyed myself despite walking through torrential
downpours to get there.


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Navratra Special at Pride Plaza Aerocity
The exclusive Indian Hospitality brand, Pride Plaza has successfully marked its footprints amongst the International Hotels in the country. Retaining the true essence of Indian Hospitality Pride Plaza provides international quality services with a warm Indian touch. The hospitable staff, chivalrous service, the food & presentation along with the alluring Architecture & interiors truly reflects the Indian cultural opulence to its core.
With the onset of festive season, the hotel offers an exclusive deal for all its guests who dine at Cafe Pride between 1st October 2016 to 1oth October 2016.
Where – Cafe Pride
Date – 1st October 2016 – 10th October 2016
Offer – Badam Milk along with Fruit Platter along with Navratra Thali @ rs 999/-
Quote – Pankaj Mathur , GM, Pride Plaza Hotel, Aerocity
" With the festive season enthralling the entire nation, Pride Plaza being truly Indian and a traditionally luxurious hotel is celebrating the spirit of this navratra season with great enthusiasm and fervour. Pride Plaza is offering the guests a special, extravagantly made navratra thali at exclusive prices."


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PORTSMOUTH — Coolcore, a leader in cooling innovation, announced the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued it a patent for its material innovation.
PORTSMOUTH — Coolcore, a leader in cooling innovation, announced the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued it a patent for its material innovation.
The patent covers the manufacturing of any chemical-free cooling fabric that transfers moisture away from the skin, while regulating the movement and evaporation of that moisture throughout the fabric.
"This milestone achievement comes after four long years that culminated with testing and validation from the world-renowned Hohenstein Institute," said Coolcore Chief Technology Officer and founder Dennis Ackroyd. "With our relentless testing and solid results, Coolcore will set the worldwide standard in performance fabric cooling."
Coolcore said its material is the only innovation that delivers three distinct functions — wicking, moisture circulation and regulated evaporation — to reduce the fabric's surface temperature up to 30 percent. In addition to cooling benefits, the material is significantly drier due to its non-cling, non-saturated nature, and because it is chemical-free, the cooling benefit never washes out, Coolcore stated.
Coolcore, headquartered in Portsmouth, is the first U.S. company to obtain the Hohenstein Quality Label "Innovative Technology" for the textile sector. This testing utilized Hohenstein's new cooling test, the "WATson," which has been submitted to the universal standard testing authorities as the first test that measures a fabric's ability to not only manage moisture, but also measure the cooling power of a fabric.
"Coolcore has invented an entirely new category of chemical-free cooling fabrics and the opportunities for our material innovation are virtually unlimited," said Justin Cupps, president of Coolcore. "Having a chemical-free way to keep people cooler and drier longer, and, ultimately, more comfortable, represents the next generation of fabric innovation."
Coolcore's distribution channels include partnerships with consumer brands, Dr. Cool Recovery-On-The-Go wraps launching this September, and Coolcore-branded apparel, launching next spring.
For information about Coolcore, visit www.coolcore.com.


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DavosWinter2019: Preparations for the measurement campaign in the district of Wolfgang von Davos. Before the containers can be set up with the measuring equipment, the terrain must first be cleared of snow and ice.
Photo: Annett Skupin, TROPOS
In the coming two months, Swiss and German atmospheric researchers will study in Davos clouds, precipitation and snow to learn more about these processes in the Alps. A tethered balloon from ETH Zürich (left in picture) and a lidar measuring container from TROPOS in Leipzig (right in picture) will be used among other equipment. Photo: Annett Skupin, TROPOS


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Time is a funny thing.
So why is it, that so much of our life is spent in the distracted everyday things that won't matter from one minute to the next?Read More
Time is a funny thing.
So why is it, that so much of our life is spent in the distracted everyday things that won't matter from one minute to the next?Read More
While in hiding, the Eagle will pluck out its old feathers until it is completely bare. Next, it will knock its own beak off by banging it against a rock. The Eagle then waits until a new beak and set of feathers grow.Read More
The enemy will be relentless at trying to stop you. You "choose" every day not to give up. You "choose" every day to have hope.Read More
Like you, it is our desire at K&K Worldwide Media, to reach the lost in a world where many want to either want to destroy or kill us. However, there are many out there that are open to the gospel as well as some who will eventually come to realize that they need the Jesus that today they hate.Read More
Imagine you are sitting in a dark room. You can't see anything except for a small flame right in the middle of the room. The flame is barely seen; it could be mistaken for an ember. You want to be able to see what is around you, you want to feel the warmth of the flame. How do you go about this?
Simple: You fuel it.Read More
Do your fears paralyze you?
Recently, I was riding in the passanger seat of my husband, Ashton's, truck. I saw a spider on the dash board and I did the only logical thing, curl up in a tiny ball in my seat and freeze. Ashton said, "Just get the shoe and kill it." By the time I got the shoe I could not find the spider anywhere so I climbed in the back seat. It was then that Ashton made a very good point.Read More
Let me first take this time to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving, for it is truly a time of giving thanks to our Heavenly Father and the giver of all things!
I remember as a boy loving it when we would have Hymn singings or as some would say in our north Georgia town of Rome, GA "having a sangin' " My favorite song out of the old Broadman Hymnal was Hymn # 100 which was Make Me a BlessingRead More
Do you put limitations on yourself?
Are you looking for a new job, battling addiction, studying for a big exam? Have you recently lost a loved one? Maybe you have a big goal you would like to set for yourself.Whatever your mountain may be, do you have doubts? Have you counted yourself out because you know there is no way you can accomplish that big goal or break free from the addiction, find joy after losing a loved one? Guess what, you may be right. You can't do it, but guess who can – YOUR God.Read More
Did you know that creating and cultivating a positive life starts with a positive mind, which starts the second you wake up in the morning? Your thoughts have a direct impact on the outcome of your day.Read More
Would you like to have a power in you that can move mountains?Read More
The Lone Cypress is a 250-year-old tree standing as an advertisement for the rugged individual.While the battle has been intense and many of us have battle scars, God has kept us, God is faithful.
Read More
The bible says that we are to "Go into all the World and preach the gospel."
Jesus reiterated this when He said to go first into Jerusalem (our local church and community) then to Judea (regional) to Samaria (reach out to the unlovely) and then to the utter most parts of the world.Read More
It was wonderful seeing everyone at the recent NRB Convention and Exposition held in Nashville, TN over the first weekend in March.Read More
In sports we often talk of offense and defense concerning the various plays of a game. We also need to consider the same in our daily spiritual walk.Read More
On a Sunday night in Lynchburg, VA as we at K&K are preparing for yet more snow, we churned through the channels just before bed to see what might jump out at us and low and behold, the Oscars was on ABC.Read More


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Designed by England International, Phil Ringer, he has taken all of the best attributes of the current crop of models on the market, and has produced what is possibly The Ultimate Pellet Pump!
Utilising metal in place of some of the plastic parts, which have been prone to failing in the past, this pump is designed to perform and not break.
It will sink Next Generation 6mm pellets with just a single pump!
Mega strong.
Easy to use. see the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=lSZYT_VWxUQ
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The Xiaomi Redmi Note 4, when judged as a stand-alone device, is an excellent smartphone. It probably has more bang for your buck than most of its competitors, making the Note 4 a worthy purchase.
The Redmi Note 4's Snapdragon 625, which we consider to be the ultimate mid-range chipset for this generation, provides excellent performance with great power efficiency and thermal properties. The battery life of this phone is jaw-dropping, the MIUI experience is smooth, and the camera does well in all occasions. All these goodies come in a sturdy metal body, which adds to the already great value of the Redmi Note 4.
But the Redmi Note 4 with Snapdragon is not alone in its series. It is a sequel to the Redmi Note 3 Snapdragon 650 edition, which may have been plagued with modem issues, but exceeded all expectations for performance and squashed the competition. There is also the Redmi Note 4 with Helio X20, which has a more premium all-metal design and faster all-round performance. And our guest of honor is no match for the high bar set by its predecessors.
Our first suggestion would be the Helio-powered Redmi Note 4. It's the better-looking part of the duo, and offers double the processing and graphical performance. If you have the option to choose between the models, get this one. You'll lose a few hours of battery endurance, but the earned benefits outweigh those by a lot.
There is also the older Redmi Note 3 with Snapdragon 650. It has the same plastic-metal concoction for a design, but offers better performance and impressive battery life, too. Oh, and it's probably cheaper now.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (MediaTek) Xiaomi Redmi Note 3
Meizu's M5 Note has a much better all-metal design, great battery life and very capable camera. It lacks in performance, but makes up for that with its buttery-smooth Flyme experience and clean interface filled with various tweaks and gestures.
Lenovo's K6 Note and Moto G4 are a great pair of 5.5" devices by a popular manufacturer with strong after-market support. They may be not as powerful, but they are available globally.
Lenovo K6 Note Motorola Moto G4
The Lenovo P2 is powered by the Redmi Note 4's Snapdragon 625 chipset, but may tempt you with its 5.5" Super AMOLED screen. Its key feature is actually the large 5,100 mAh battery, which combined with the Snapdragon 625 chipset, secured it the record-breaking 149h Endurance rating in our battery life chart.
The Samsung Galaxy J7 Prime is a good alternative for the Redmi Note 4. It can't offer the same performance or the huge battery capacity, but it does better with design and selfies. It comes with a TouchWiz, too, which may tip the scales.
We nicknamed the vivo V5 Plus 'the bokeh king' and it's a selfie photography ace. It has a modern design with an all-metal body and subtle antenna bands, and the same Snapdragon 625 chip with 4GB of RAM. But, its high price might keep it it from achieving greatness.
There is nothing really wrong with the Redmi Note 4 Snapdragon edition. It's a very capable smartphone, with good design, superb battery life, leading mid-range chipset, and an effective camera. MIUI's popularity is growing, as is its functionality. We should have liked the Note 4 right away, but the existence of the faster and all-metal Helio model is standing in the way of our warm recommendation. Though if you reside in one of the official Xiaomi markets, your choice might be limited by the Note model Xiaomi has decided to offer there. In this case, the Redmi Note 4 is certainly worth a look.
Special thanks to HonorBuy for providing the review unit.


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Country's early sexa rule, laws are more loyal to their peer groups. In Norway, the lovers cannot be blamed if they are on the same level "age and development". But who is considered to be peers? Though in Austria and Portugal and can officially have sex with 14 years old, but if one of the kids had already turned 16, he was charged that he took advantage of the immaturity and naivety of the partner. The meticulous Germans and in matters of intimate life took the trouble to break it down. In Germany teenagers can legitimately indulge in sexual pleasures from the age of 14. However, if one partner has crossed the 18-year mark, the better for him to look at those older than 16 (otherwise he will be accused of coercion and the use situation). Before buying the sex, offer him compensation, 18-year-old worth a look in the passport of the object of desire for such intentions in respect of persons under the age of 16 can and to plant. And absolutely no chance with teenagers, if you've just turned 21 the year: the partner must be at least 16, otherwise you are guaranteed to be accused of "exploitation insufficiently sexually self-determined personality". And here in Finland an intimate relationship to 16 years will not consider violence, if there Continue reading
Interesting facts about North Korea
— North Korean legalize.
In the DPRK, the cultivation of hemp and the future use of its derivatives is not considered a crime. Many local residents regularly smoke marijuana. If the arrival in this country was simple and accessible to foreigners, then it would immediately rushed a lot of fans of weed. It is noteworthy that the dissemination and use of hard drugs in North Korea is punishable by death.
— Deserters from the United States.
Not only the North Koreans in search of a better life and escape to South Korea and China. In 1962, in North Korea left six American military, leaving at home their families and friends. Now Americans live in North Korea together and participate in different outreach programs. By the way, in 1966, four defectors changed his mind and attempted to leave the DPRK, ask for help to the Embassy of the USSR. The Soviet Embassy refused them — the Americans and remained in North Korea. Some of them have arranged their personal lives and feel pretty good.
— Capture the American vessel.
Still, North Korea remains the only country in the world, seized a military ship of the USA. In 1968 North Korean intelligence found in the inland waters of the American ship, after which Continue reading


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- The Conference Agenda
- Gabriel Andraos
Workflow automation in Bayesialab with applications to time series analysis
- Debashish Banerjee
BBN modeling – machine learning derivatives in FMCG, hot rolling mills, polymer extrusion, paper and corrugation industry
- Debashish Banerjee
BBN modeling in predicting cancer using AURA analysis
- Olivier Cussenot
Bayesian Networks and Integrative Semiotic Models in Precision Medicine
- Ajith Govind
Credit Card Fraud and Anomaly Detection using Bayesian and Neural Networks
- Bart Jansen
Stroke Triage with Limited Information
- Joanna Jaworska
Bayesian integrated testing strategy (ITS) for skin sensitization potency assessment
- Jacqueline MacDonald Gibson
Bayesian Network Models for Predicting Health Risks of Arsenic in Drinking Water
- Christophe Simon
Modelling epistemic and aleatory uncertainty in Bayesian network for dependability analysis
- Marie Thomas
Evaluating the link between microbiome and cosmetic clinical signs with PLS and Bayesian approaches
- Alta de Waal
Spatially Discrete Probability Maps for Anti-Poaching Efforts
- Philippe Weber
Bayesian Networks Application to the Dependability and the Control of Dynamic Systems
- Steven Wilson
The Social Graph: Using Bayesian Networks to Identify Spatial Population Structuring Among Caribou in Subarctic Canada
Presentation on September 28-29, 2017, at the 5th Annual BayesiaLab Conference:
BBN modeling – machine learning derivatives in FMCG, hot rolling mills, polymer extrusion, paper and corrugation industry
Debashish Banerjee, CEO—Blackstone Synergy Consulting Group Limited, Nairobi – 00604, Kenya
The derivatives of the process industries are on multiple domains of thermodynamics, vibration, flow rates, pump dynamics and thermometry in the realm of mechanical engineering; the elements of harmonics profiling, the instrumentation networks, the PLC algorithms, the power profile and finally the quantum of electrical noise in the systems that intervene with the fundamental design of the process and thereby attribute to the structuring of the causal links and the influence nodes in the parametric determinants and finally the key elements in the process engineering models that drive productivity, yield and quality derivatives in the processing.
An integration of multiple domains in the BBN modeling have helped create insights into the process through the invoking of the influence clusters and generating trouble-shooting modes in the process with high degree of real time fidelity of data and resolution of interpretations leading to decision matrices with a phenomenal accuracy rate of 77-80% accuracy bandwidth.
The validation of the BBN derivatives on data drawn in from the case studies has revealed clusters of parametric influence through effective variable nodes. These are revealing to the interested domain experts since in several cases, the dominant domain understanding have been challenged by the results of the BBN models.
The underlying learning from the BBN modeling on a selection of process industries is essentially that of unraveling causal links with a high degree of accuracy; no necessarily in synchronization with the respective industry conventions and therefore has tremendous commercial value in creating detailed process automation logic.


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Maca Gluten-Free Bread
- TypeBreads
- DifficultyEasy
- FlavorSavory
- Estimated Time4 Hours 12 Minutes
- ServedRoom Temperature
- 5 tablespoons of Maca Powder
- 3/4 cups of Flax (seeds + 5 tbsp ground flax)
- 1/2 cup of Almond (raw, unpeeled)
- 1 cup of Sunflower (seeds)
- 1 1/2 cups of Oats
- 2 teaspoons of Salt
- 1 3/4 cups of Water (warm)
- 5 tablespoons of Coconut oil
If you are searching for a breakfast option that is easy, delicious, and packed with nutrients, this gluten-free maca bread is for you. Instead of flour, it contains oats along with a richness of nuts and seeds, such as flax and sunflower, which provide lots of fiber and essential nutrients, necessary for a healthy digestion. In addition, energy-boosting maca will get you ready for the upcoming day and keep you active for longer.
- Preheat the oven to 360°F (185°C)
- In a large bowl, add all dry ingredients and mix well.(5 minutes)
- In a glass, mix the warm water with the coconut oil and pour into the dry mixture.(1 minute)
- Mix it thoroughly, shape it into a ball, cover it with a clean kitchen towel, and set aside for at least one hour, until the liquid is completely absorbed.(1 hour)
- Lightly oil the bread pan, transfer the dough, and bake for 60 minutes.(1 hour)
- Take it out of the oven, let it cool in the pan for an hour, then take it out on a cutting board and let it stand overnight (cutting it when it's warm will make it crumble).
Even though this bread is delicious on its own, you can top it with homemade roasted red pepper hummus with sacha inchi and fresh cucumber slices for extra nutrition. Or, to satisfy your sweet tooth, you can spread some exotic goldenberry jam on it and enjoy!


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Gordon Philipson
I was born in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1939. I obtained a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from Queens University in Canada in 1964, and an MS and PhD in Engineering from Case Institute of Technology in 1968, following which I joined Shell Oil Company. In 1994, I joined IBM in Paris, retiring in 1998. My wife Ellen and I, whom I married in 1966, have two sons, Michael and Christopher, and four grandchildren, Aidan, Joseph Emma and Nicholas. We live in Lakeway, Texas.
My formal studies in art began in 1998, at the Glassell School of Art, of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
Artist Statement
My paintings are the result of a strong visual experience. Painting an experience is a way for me to preserve and personalize it. I try to isolate on those aspects of the overall visual experience which resonate with me and to convey that in the paintings. My paintings are generally done in studio, from my own digital photographs. I often use the computer to improve the composition in some way, as one might with film using a darkroom, though digital imaging affords far more creative flexibility. When I am happy with the result, I create a drawing outline on watercolor paper based on the photograph. I then create the Watercolor painting.


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Barely a day after actor Rose McGowan's Twitter account was suspended for violating its terms and policies, actors and activists are calling on the users to boycott the microblogging site.
Twitter had revoked the "Screamed" actor's page, which has now been reinstated, for flouting its set of rules for 12 hours after she posted a series of tweets accusing actor Ben Affleck of lying about his knowledge of media mogul Harvey Weinstein's history of sexual misconduct.
According to The Guardian, #WomenBoycottTwitter started trending at midnight in New York and was to go up till today.
Actor Mark Ruffalo tweeted in support of the hashtag, saying, "Tomorrow I follow the Women. #WomenBoycottTwitter."
Tomorrow I follow the Women. #WomenBoycottTwitter
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) October 13, 2017
Fashion model Chrissy Teigen wrote, "My mentions since posting #WomenBoycottTwitter three minutes ago #thisiswhy."
My mentions since posting #WomenBoycottTwitter 3 minutes ago #thisiswhy pic.twitter.com/c1GKSmBu32— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) October 13, 2017
"Tomorrow (Friday the 13th) will be the first day in over 10 years that I won't tweet. Join me. #WomenBoycottTwitter," wrote McGowan's "Charmed" co-star Alyssa Milano.
Tomorrow (Friday the 13th) will be the first day in over 10 years that I won't tweet. Join me. #WomenBoycottTwitter pic.twitter.com/xoEt5Bwj5s— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) October 13, 2017
While Anna Paquin tweeted, "#IStandWithRose .@rosemcgowan and all the other victims. #WomenBoycottTwitter tomorrow."
#IStandWithRose .@rosemcgowan and all the other victims. #WomenBoycottTwitter tomorrow. https://t.co/XTXtFMv2CM— Anna Paquin (@AnnaPaquin) October 13, 2017
Twitter Safety, a sister concern of the social media giant, however, clarified saying McGowan's account was "temporarily locked because one of her Tweets included a private phone number, which violates our Terms of Service".
The thread further read, "The Tweet was removed and her account has been unlocked. We will be clearer about these policies and decisions in the future."
The microblogging site said it proudly empowers and supports the voices on its platform.
"We stand with the brave women and men who use Twitter to share their stories, and will work hard every day to improve our processes to protect those voices," it added.
McGowan is one of the eight women who reached settlements with Weinstein in multiple sexual harassment allegations, according to The New York Times expose, following an incident in a hotel room during the Sundance Film Festival in 1997.
Since the article came out, the actor has raised her voice against Weinstein.


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Buy Garcinia Cambogia Extract in Tan An Vietnam
Buy Garcinia Cambogia in Tan An Vietnam
There's no doubt in my thoughts that one of the most popular weight loss device in Tan An Vietnam today is Garcinia Cambogia. It has been in everyone's perspective for a year or so. Last fall Dr. Oz introduced it to be one of the newest advanced findings in the field of weight loss.
Ever since, garcinia's road to fame started. After a year the world went nuts and now you see it everywhere. Everybody in Tan An Vietnam is discussing it. Stars have actually confessed to using it to enhance their weight loss initiatives.
Yet with the popularity there consistently comes the unwanted side effects such as scammer.
Buy online Garcinia Cambogia in Tan An Vietnam
Ideal Garcinia Cambogia Extract Capsule in Tan An Vietnam
The short answer is no. As a result of its appeal opportunist, deceitful folks in Tan An Vietnam attempt to make a quick profit on the innocent public. There have actually been a variety of merchants closed down since they were selling artificial garcinia products.
I really hope you have not succumbed to their methods. There are a few ways to learn if the capsules that you are taking into consideration acquiring cost the money or otherwise.
To start with you have to inspect the country origins. I directly keep away from products made in Asia. The production and security atmosphere is a joke. I considerably rather pay a little more if I recognize that the garcinia that I'm acquiring was made in an FDA-approved research laboratory.
Following you should take a look at the substances list. The most convenient method for scammers to cut corners is by adding fillers and binders into the mix, and obviously omitting the crucial stuff that helps you slim down.
In addition, fillers and binders could have serious side effects. Exactly what you should understand is that during the scientific trial the physicians utilized Pure Garcinia Cambogia and the volunteers managed to drop weight without any type of side effects whatsoever. This is why it is essential to just take pure and quality items in Tan An Vietnam.
Buy online Garcinia Cambogia in Tan An Vietnam
Dr Oz Suggested Garcinia Cambogia Extract for Weight Loss
Whether you're a veteran viewer, someone that merely delicately kips down, and even if you haven't ever before watched his program, chances are you've familiarized by this factor that Dr. Oz advises garcinia cambogia.
Since he initially advised the therapy in fall of last year, the procedure has actually increased from loved one obscurity to become one of the most popular products on the diet regimen and workout market in Tan An Vietnam.
Last but not least check out the HCA material. It should be at the very least 60 %. If it's lower than that you will certainly be struggling to see substantial results. In the research they used 50 % HCA Garcinia Cambogia extract.
The HCA, as in Hydroxycitric Acid, is the element that really assists you slim down. This is the substance which informs your brain to really feel fuller and rather than keeping the fat deposits, to start burning it.
Also Dr. Oz highlighted on his program that you ought to take pure items. If you discover the video clip you can see it for yourself.
Buy online Garcinia Cambogia in Tan An Vietnam
Where to buy Garcinia Cambogia extract in Tan An Vietnam?
I do not suggest you buy it from the street edge. There are way much better ways, such as the web.
I've been trying and testing lots of Garcinia Cambogia products. however the one which provided me the very best outcomes was Pure Garcinia Cambogia. It's the very best alternative online.
The maker of Pure Garcinia Cambogia prides itself on offering the best product at a cost effective cost. Pure Garcinia Cambogia is a pure product and 100 % natural. It also contains 60 % HCA. It is the highest rated item amongst them all.
Just what are you awaiting? Do you wish to drop a couple of gown sizes effortlessly? Pure Garcinia Cambogia is the option for you.
Buy online Garcinia Cambogia in Tan An Vietnam
Garcinia Cambogia Extract Benefits for Weight Loss
So, exactly how and why has Dr. Oz pertain to recommend this item? Permit's have a look.
The Magical Fruit:
Garcinia cambogia is the scientific name for a fruit which is referred to as Gambooge. The fruit has either a yellowish-green or deeper green color to it and is shaped like a cross between a squash and a fruit.
Utilized in many meals– consisting of curry– the fruit can be found in Africa, India, and the Far East and has been revealed to add to healthy red blood cells, among other points. Additionally, the higher HCA material of the fruit, when correctly drawn out, can additionally supply a dietary increase.
100% natural:
The market today is swamped with items which are laboratory-tested and refined, which is all well and good, but also for some, particularly those with a sight of healtHCAre and fitness which is much more alternative and green in attributes, this can be off-putting.
Therefore, the truth that Dr. Oz recommends garcinia cambogia may be considereded as both an indicator of and a reaction to the development in the natural activity in dietary and nutrition circles. As an extract from a fruit, garcinia cambogia is as all-natural as it acquires, and can for that reason both aid you burn fat and adhere to a natural or green diet regimen and way of living.
Fat Buster:
In addition to all of this, garcinia cambogia extract is an efficient fat deposits buster. The supplement, properly prepared, manages to metabolize cells in such a way regarding aid burn excess fat cells.
An Appetizing Selection:
In addition, the supplement comes close to dieting from a different viewpoint, working as a diet supplement. Garcinia cambogia works as a cravings suppressant, implying that you'll have the ability to really feel complete while eating less.
Obviously, this could prove to be a great benefit when wanting to successfully start a diet plan program.
Buy online Garcinia Cambogia in Tan An Vietnam


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The night before my birthday, Andrew brought home flowers for me and a cute container that I can use for all my organizing endeavors going on at home recently. :)
On the morning of my birthday we headed to the city. I got to eat at my favorite lunch spot and do some shopping, but the highlight of my day was going to Clark Planetarium and seeing a show in the dome. This may sound a little silly if you don't know me well, but I am fascinated about space and the universe. I've been to the Houston Space Center and spent an entire day there just soaking it all in. For some reason, learning about space has always captured my attention. Since I had never been to Clark Planetarium, I figured it was time to explore my local "space center" so it couldn't have worked out better for me to spend part of my birthday there. :)
On the moon...
When we got home that night, a present from Andrew was waiting for me on the doorstep. The other present he bought me came the next day. He got me a KitchenAid glass mixing bowl and Coach shoes!
For the most part though, I spent my birthday enjoying all the cards, Facebook messages, phone calls and texts from family and friends. I felt so loved and that is the best feeling ever. :)


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Enjambre's Imperfecto Extraño
September 27, 2017
"Julián [Navejas] originally wanted to make an album with two guitars and less synths," says Enjambre guitarist Javier Mejia about recording the 'Imperfecto Extraño' album. "It ended up the opposite."
The Real & Raw Gavin DeGraw
September 7, 2017
"Right now, everything feels so fake and plastic," says singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw. "I want to be the guy who wipes off the makeup and reveals the true bone structure."
'The Nashville Sound' of Jason Isbell
September 4, 2017
"I think people have a responsibility to speak their minds in this day and age," says singer-songwriter Jason Isbell.
J.D. McPherson's Undivided Heart & Soul
September 1, 2017
"When you're limited to the equipment you have access to, you can accomplish some interesting things," says singer-songwriter J.D. McPherson about recording at the legendary RCA Studio B in Nashville.
Why Sleeping with Sirens is Now Age Appropriate
August 28, 2017
"I feel like it's my responsibility to make a record that's more mature . . . for my sake," says Sleeping with Sirens singer-keyboardist Kellin Quinn. "I don't want to feel like an impostor."
Lætitia Sadier Once Again Finds Herself Collaborating
August 23, 2017
"It's about achieving things through others," says Lætitia Sadier about her approach to music.
Midnight Oil: Rediscovering the Music
August 13, 2017
"Often when you're in the middle of doing something, you don't realize what you've got," says Midnight Oil guitarist Jim Moginie about reissuing the band's back catalog.
Greta Van Fleet Hits the Highway
August 10, 2017
"We really honed our craft playing bar rooms to 50 or 60 people every weekend," says Greta Van Fleet bassist Sam Kiszka. "We never thought this fun hobby would turn into this career."
Concert Recaps
A Feel-Good Finale: Day 4 Lollapalooza 2017
August 7, 2017
Asked to jump, sing, raise their middle fingers, get down on the ground and clap, the crowd at Lollapalooza showed it was up for pretty much everything on the final day of the Chicago music fest.
Concert Recaps
From alternative rock to rap, bands and DJs from around the globe descended on Lollapalooza. If you couldn't find something you liked on Day 3, you shouldn't have invested in that wristband.


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I am a big believer in have a few solid recipes that you can rely on during the week and this soup is definitely one of those! It's hella hearty, super detoxifying, loaded with beneficial vibes and healing properties.
It's also a very simple and easy recipe, that you can make with any of your favorite veggies. See below and enjoy!
3-4 cups of your favorite vegetables, I used: sweet potato, carrot, celery, asparagus, red pepper, mushrooms, zucchini, sweet onion and avocado for topping. You can't go wrong with any vegetable!
1 tablespoon of miso, I love the Miso Master brand, they have awesome varieties, all organic and non GMO and they have low sodium options, I buy the mellow white miso, here is a link to their products, you can find them at most whole foods too! https://www.great-eastern-sun.com/shop/miso-master-
1-2 tablespoons of hemp seeds
1-2 tablespoons of nutritional yeast
1-2 tablespoons of pumpkin seeds (optional)
1 teaspoon of garlic powder
S & P to taste
1/4 cup of Wild Brine, (optional but AMAZING health benefits)
Start by boiling some water in a pot, I'd say 5 cups, maybe more, maybe less depending how you like your soup. Place your steamer basket in the pot and then place your vegetables in the basket, let them for 15-20 or until tender. Remove the basket. Save the water from your steamed vegetables, turn the burner off, add in the miso, garlic powder and S&P, if most of your water has been absorbed then add in some more water. Whisk the miso until it's dissolved, it's important to make sure the water isn't too hot and the burner is off so that it doesn't destroy the enzymes and minerals in the miso. Place the veggies in a bowl, pour the miso broth over them and then top with your hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds and avocado!
Hemp seeds are the staple superfood in this dish. These seeds are a gift! By definition these seed are: "Considered a complete protein, hemp seed delivers 5 grams of protein in a 2 Tbsp serving, making them a great addition to vegan and vegetarian diets. Hemp is truly a super food providing a perfect balance of omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids in each serving. These fatty acids promote heart health, lower triglycerides, work to reduce inflammation, promote brain health, and support the immune system. Low in carbohydrates, hemp seeds are ideal for those following the paleo diet or who need to be carb conscious for their health."
This dish is stacked with so many beneficial ingredients and is great was to maintain your health or to get it back on track!


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Is it really a sign of the times that Town are having to step up penalties for throwing things at matches?
That anyone sees fit to chuck anything at all at a player is unbelievable.
So it's sad that this mindless activity is apparently on the increase. The club is absolutely within reason to threaten to turf out culprits for good.
Perhaps the most ludicrous thing is that it seems to be Town fans pelting their own heroes, not away fans attacking the enemy.
Your ancestors might have pelted the local ne'er-do-well in the village stocks with a rotten cabbage in the middle ages.
But that's where this mentality belongs.
You don't throw things at the theatre, the cinema or a pop concert - rock stars simply stick their noses in the air and walk offstage when this happens nowadays.
So why do some lowlifes think it's fair game at the football?
Those boys are doing a job. Only the figments of the Fantasy XI in your head get everything right all the time.
You wouldn't expect to risk injury for a miscalculation on a balance sheet or mixing your cement too stiff at your workplace, would you?
It's not even as if Town are doing appallingly. We're still brilliantly placed in the league and, spectacularly, up for the FA Cup.
Peter Jackson says repeatedly that he's happy with the way things are going.
And we've no reason to proclaim that these are anything other than good, solid times for Town.
Throwing things is much, much worse than just babyishly pitiful "chucking your teddy out of the pram" behaviour.
It's potentially Wounding With Intent or Grievous Bodily Harm - both of which carry far heavier penalties than being barred from the footie.
Spare a thought
CHRISTMAS should be a time for peace and happiness spent in the bosom of a loving family.
Sadly our front page today carries the stories of two young men for whose families Christmas will never be the same again.
Ashley Uttley was 19 and on his way to celebrate his engagement.
Stephen Grimes was 35 and had been married only three months.
Some time over the festivities of the next few days, spare a thought for the pain their loved ones are going through.


text: HunnyBunnys owner Julie has been a seamstress for 30 years. She began making fleece BuggyWraps for her daughter and now makes them in a variety of cuddly fleeces, complete with satin ribbon 'taggies' which babies love. Upon request from her clients, Julie has added mini taggie comforters, onesies, adorable cotton dresses and mummy-sized fleece sofa wraps for when you want to be as comfy as your little one.Read more


text: Program: Sierra Nevada StrategiesResource managers use a variety of tools in hydropower relicensing to determine impacts from flow prescriptions on sensitive aquatic species. For the Foothill yellow-legged frog (Rana boylii), instream flow modeling is one tool that can be used to assess habitat suitability for egg mass and tadpole life stages. Several instream flow modeling methods are commonly used (e.g., one-dimensional habitat modeling, two-dimensional hydrodynamic models, and expert habitat mapping) and all modeling techniques require that habitat suitability be defined for each target species and lifestage. The models and criteria typically focus on three key characteristics of instream aquatic habitats – water depth, water velocity, and substrate – but may include habitat conditions. This study compares commonly used methods of defining habitat suitability criteria and applying those to instream flow models for R. boylii in the Sierra Nevada of California. First, regional habitat suitability criteria (HSC) are developed using standard univariate and multivariate techniques, and the predictive performance and transferability of different HSC methods are evaluated. Second, three of the most commonly used instream flow assessment techniques are evaluated: (1) one-dimensional habitat modeling, (2) two-dimensional hydrodynamic modeling, and (3) expert habitat mapping (judgement-based mapping by species experts). A comparison table is provided to aid resource managers in selecting the most appropriate habitat assessment method for R. boylii given the specific conditions of a hydropower relicensing project. Lastly, this project provides a compilation of recent literature and reports on basic ecology of R. boylii and effects of river regulation. This compilation is presented on a new website, hosted by the USDA Forest, Pacific Southwest Research Station and includes maps, a bibliography with abstracts, and tabular and narrative summaries: (http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/topics/wildlife/herp/rana_boylii/) Website: http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/topics/wildlife/herp/rana_boylii/Project Contact: Sarah M YarnellJeffrey F. Mount Collaborators: Ryan PeekSarah M YarnellJeffrey F. Mount Sponsors: California Energy Commission, Public Interest Energy Research ProgramNational Fish and Wildlife FoundationU.S. Forest Service Publications Habitat Models for the Foothill yellow-legged frog (Rana boylii) in the Sierra Nevada of California Yarnell, S. M., Bondi C., Lind A. J., & Peek R. A. (2011). Habitat Models for the Foothill yellow-legged frog (Rana boylii) in the Sierra Nevada of California. 139. Transferability of habitat suitability criteria for a stream breeding frog (Rana boylii) in the Sierra Nevada, California Bondi, C., Yarnell S. M., & Lind A. J. (2013). Transferability of habitat suitability criteria for a stream breeding frog (Rana boylii) in the Sierra Nevada, California. Herpetological Conservation and Biology. 8(1), 88-103.


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Registered to Vote from Abroad?
State registration deadlines are approaching quickly.
If you have not registered to vote in the U.S. Mid-Term Elections on November 6, 2018, Register TODAY!
Register and Request Your Ballot: To register to vote by absentee ballot, you may use the Federal Voting Assistance Program's online voting assistant to guide you through the registration process.
- Go to FVAP under Voters Start Here and complete the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) online, or use the fillable form.
- Return the FPCA to your U.S. board of elections per the instructions on the website. FVAP.gov will tell you if your state allows the FPCA to be returned electronically or if you must submit a paper copy with original signature. If you must return a paper version, please see below for mailing options.
- Receive and Complete Your Ballot: States are required to send out ballots 45 days before a regular election for federal office. For most states, you can confirm your registration and ballot delivery online.
- Return Your Voted Ballot: Some states allow you to return your completed ballot by email or fax. If your state requires you to return paper voting forms or ballots to local election officials, you can use international mail, a courier service such as FedEx or DHL, or you may also drop off completed voting materials during regular business hours at the consular entrance to U.S. Embassy Athens on Kokkali until Friday, October 12. Place your materials in the postage paid return envelope (available under "Election Materials" on the FVAP homepage) and address it to your U.S. board of elections.
New this year – email to fax service by FVAP! – the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) will provide an email-to-fax conversion service for voters who have difficulty sending election materials to States that do not accept emailed documents. Get more information here.
Researching the Candidates and Issues: Online Resources. Check out the FVAP links page for helpful resources that will aid your research of candidates and issues. Non-partisan information about candidates, their voting records, and their positions on issues are widely available and easy to obtain online. You can also read national and hometown newspapers online, or search the internet to locate articles and information. For information about election dates and deadlines, subscribe to FVAP's Voting Alerts (email@example.com). FVAP also shares Voting Alerts via Facebook and Twitter.
Learn more at the Federal Voting Assistance Program's (FVAP) website, FVAP.gov.
If you have any questions about registering to vote overseas, please contact us at email@example.com
Remember, your vote counts!


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Merced County residents rally on national day of support for undocumented immigrants
More than 100 Merced County residents on Saturday called for reunification of immigrant parents separated from their children during a march and rally in Merced.
Joining with hundreds of thousands protesters across the national Saturday, advocates, local community organizations and faith leaders called on lawmakers to oppose President Donald Trump's immigration policies.
Specifically, they pointed to the suffering of detained asylum seekers from war-torn Central and South American countries who recently were separated from their children as part of ramped up federal immigration enforcement.
"This is not a Republican problem or a Democratic problem; it is a human kindness problem," said the Rev. Twyla Reece of Unity of Merced. "It shouldn't matter what your political beliefs are, we should be here to take care of each other, each and every one."
Trump and U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions' in April instituted a "zero-tolerance" policy that turned first-time misdemeanors for entering the United States, even for asylum, into federal prosecution.
After public outrage at the family separation, Trump signed an executive order ending that specific effect of his policies. But the administration didn't provide guidance on what would happen to those children already separated from their parents.
"What's happening to these children is immoral, but it's very damaging psychologically and physically," said Salvador Sandoval, a Merced County physician. "The separation of families is something traumatic that could affect them for the rest of their lives."
The supporters gathered Saturday morning at the corner of G Street and Olive Avenue in Merced and started marching along the sidewalk of Olive Avenue. The hour-long march headed west to M Street and turned south, arriving at the World War II Memorial in Court House Park.
There, local and visiting activists and other residents heard fiery speeches calling for family reunifications.
"This is wrong," said Virginia Madueno, a former mayor of Riverbank and congressional candidate. "To see those children, it's wrong. As a mother I'm going to tell you right now I can't even imagine what is going through the minds of these mothers ... these children."
Madueno decried the politics festering in the national immigration debate, calling the separation of families "a moral issue." She also urged the crowd to do more than march.
"You are here united today because you are pissed off," Madueno said. "That is not enough. You need to vote."
Several speakers stressed the importance of registering and voting for candidates who would confront Trump's immigration policies through the November election, which could change the makeup of both houses of Congress.
Activists also talked about pushing Merced County officials to cancel contracts with the GEO Group, one of the two largest private prison contractors in the country, due to a history of alleged mistreatment of undocumented immigrants.
The organization has an in-custody treatment program and non-residential reentry programs in Merced and Los Banos with the Merced County Probation Department that provide former inmates programs to reintegrate into the community and lower recidivism after incarceration, according to the group's website.
Americans for Immigrant Justice reported GEO Group has been accused of sexually assaulting, denying legal assistance and giving substandard medical care to undocumented immigrants, according to the Miami Herald.
GEO Group officials strongly denied the allegations to the Tampa Bay Times, according to the Herald.
Other speakers at the rally in Merced expressed their anger and sadness after hearing, reading about or seeing the struggles of undocumented immigrants under Trump's policies.
"The sheer dumb luck of being born on the north side of a man-made line granted me a paper I did nothing to deserve," said Quetzalli Haro, a representative of Youth Leadership Initiative in Merced. "I am tired of seeing people with this paper treat others that don't have it as less."
Haro and others also blasted Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a federal agency commonly known as ICE.
Livingston City Council member Alex McCabe spoke about Livingston's "Sanctuary City" law that gives local protection to undocumented immigrants from ICE and federal authorities. He called for citizens to push their city councils and Merced County supervisors to adopt similar "sanctuary" laws.
"When we talk about keeping families together, you need to keep your local family together," McCabe said.


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In Defense of YouTube
Much has been said in the media over the last few years about screen time, and in particular the content available to children on YouTube. Leaving aside the arguments about whether or not screen time is good for kids, I'd like to talk specifically about YouTube.
My son is four years old (and one month, as he will tell anyone) and he adores counting. He likes to count the number of steps on our stairs at home, the number of papers in a pile on the printer, and every other object we encounter in our daily lives. "There are five red apples," he announces randomly at the grocery store. Strangers love this. They coo over him and applaud my parenting and how well I must have taught him for his counting, colors, and letters to be so advanced for his age.
The truth is: I have taught him nothing. Never once have I sat down and instructed him on how to count or how to recognize the color red. He learned all of these things, from A to Z, by watching YouTube.
I'll be the first to admit that there's a lot of odd and questionable videos on YouTube, especially what's marketed to kids. There is also content that encourages materialism and consumption. But for every Spider-man and Elsa video, there is a Fortnite Dancing compilation that surprises and delights.
As with much of life, YouTube is what we make it. For many of our students, it is an educational tool, helping them to delve deep into their interests and connect with others who are passionate on the same subject. Other times it is a source of humor, or entertainment, or simply curiosity.
Just last week when I was attempting to print a particularly finicky piece of marketing material for Alpine Valley School, where did I turn for instruction? YouTube. A friendly stranger from Grand Rapids walked me through the instructions step by step and I was able to tackle the problem that had been plaguing me for hours. The only real question I was left with was why I didn't turn to YouTube sooner!
Students at Alpine Valley School have no limits placed upon their viewing time. They are free to pursue their interests, however they manifest, and wherever they lead. Of course, there are limits on the content that anyone can consume at school (it must meet societal norms) but there will be no adult standing over their shoulder and telling them that they really ought to be doing something educational. YouTube has as much educational potential as any other media. It is the way our children will be learning in the future and we embrace it at Alpine Valley School.


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WFFF's Top 10 Recipes of 2015 + A Year in Review
Woah! 2015, what a babe you were! This past year was chock full o' learning, creative spark and reconnecting to heart things. That plus lots of tahini and coconut. Every year during the week between Christmas and the New Years Day I like to spend some time reflecting, journaling and envisioning the year to come. I sit down and review my accomplishments, experiences and my biggest lessons learned. I set resolutions. And I literally sketch out any heady dreams that have settled into my bones (e.g. I want my house to be zen af SO BAD). Looking back on the blog I'm almost having an out of body experience. I created all of this stuff out of my brain... HOW FREAKING AWESOME IS THAT?! And not only did I make a thing. But you guys actually look at the thing that I make. And good golly am I thankful for you all!
So! Let's take a gander at the top 10 posts you guys loved the most this year!
Top 10 Recipes of 2015
#1 Toasted Berry Coconut Oatmeal
Creamy, toasty and chock full of berry goodness. It's basically a berry crumble in oatmeal form.
#2 Vegan Sweet Potato Mac n Cheese
Plant based comfort food at it's best! It's noodley and creamy-savory deliciousness. I'm so glad you guys love this one as much as I do!
#3 Spring Awakening Strawberry Smoothie Bowl
Tangy sweet springtime goodness. I swear it tastes exactly like strawberry froyo.
#4 Watermelon Coconut Aloe Juice
Seriously, this drink is the BOMB! It's the most hydrating, delicious drink on the planet.
Press in gluten free crust + date sweetened coconut cream filling! Dad approved thus certifiably AWESOME.
#6 Hemp Tahini Date Caramel Bars
Basically a candy bar that can fuel an athlete. These bars are addictive, to say the least!
#7 Vegan & Gluten Free Sour Cherry Spoon Cake
Super decadent. Super easy. Super guilt free! Full of gooey sour cherry pie filling. I miss my sour cherries *sob*
#8 Spicy Basil and Sweet Corn Summer Succotash
Spicy, crisp and fresh! This is the perfect punchy fresh corn salad. I ate it once a week at one point last Summer!
#9 The Yoga Recovery Smoothie Bowl
Seriously the best post workout smoothie bowl! It's feel good food!
#10 Vanilla Coconut Dream Cupcakes
Airy grain free & dairy free buckwheat cupcakes meet vanilla coconut cream frosting. Also they're just so freakin' PRETTY.
All in all, these recipes are a healthy mix of plant based goodness! There's tons of high vibey recipes coming your way in 2016. Get excited!
What do you guys think? What were your favorite recipes from the blog this year?
What I Did in 2015
1. Got more serious about my yoga practice and started teaching again.
2. Made a wedding cake (the pressure! never again...).
3. Spent 7 very difficult, dusty days selling raw coconut water at Floydfest for one of Logan's business side projects.
4. Went to the Northwest Chocolate Festival in Seattle to eat all of the chocolate... for science! Actually more like... for business research!
5. Went paddle boarding on Lake Helena in Montana with Logan and his family.
6. Explored portland, where I met Rachel of Vigor & Sage and drank all the coffee.
7. Took an ashtanga yoga teacher training with David Swenson and Shelley Washington!
8. Shot my first magazine spread (to be published this Spring).
9. Planted a garden using my favorite Southern Exposure seeds & Radical Roots starts. A groundhog ate most of my plant babies later.
10. Picked giant juicy blueberries on top of a mountain.
11. Ate gluten free vegan doughnuts with Logan in NYC (we go every year around Christmas. It's v squishy romantic.)
12. Ate 5x my body weight in avocado toast.
13. Picked & pitted 15 pounds of sour cherries from our pie cherry tree!
14. Made a Montana Huckleberry pie with real huckleberries (it was amaaaaaazing).
15. Saw cartoon-looking snowflakes in Colorado. We visited for Logan's birthday.
16. Mastered basic yoga inversions!
So what's on the horizon for 2016?
I have a feeling that 2016 is going to be a wonderful year for WFFF. There are lots of projects stirring and exciting collaborations coming. I can't tell you in too much detail what's in store for the blog (and for me!) this year. I don't want to jump the gun. So you'll just have to stay tuned!
The Blog: I try to keep a sense of seasonal spontaneity alive when it comes to recipe development, so I can't give too much away! But I CAN tell you that in 2016 the blog will be honing in on deeply nutritious foods, plant based meals, and recipes you can make in under 3o minutes. In 2015 I asked you all what you most wanted to see on the blog. And you've all made it loud and clear that you want easy plant based meals and inspiring desserts. I think I'm up for the challenge!
Personal: In 2016 I'm working on some creative projects that have been in the seed-stage for most of 2015. This year, they're going to begin sprouting! By this I mean I'll be focusing in on poetry and music -- creating, fine tuning and performing both. I also plan to teach as much Yoga as possible, including a donation-only community yoga class. Because giving back feels so good! Other than that, I plan on doing as much photography as possible. Shooting events, weddings and personal work. Busy busy!
And guess WHAT?! Frolic Chocolate is getting it's first packaging run printed in January. HOLY SMOKES.
What are your goals and dreams for 2016? Share in the comments!


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Dennis J. Badagliacco
Morgan Hill, CA
Federal Taxation Committee Vice Chair
NAR has a unique challenge in the area of taxation. We have to protect both our members and the rights of homeowners. As pressures mount, we need to be at the forefront of shaping policy and legislation, not necessarily just reacting to proposals.


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The RONNIE PROPHET Show
Ronnie Prophet Hall of Fame Induction
Ronnie Prophet toured with the legendary country music superstar, GEORGE JONES
Sept. 22 - Nov. 6, 2005
Ronnie is currently tour show dates in Canada, The US, and Scotland.He is currently booking 2009 Dates, now!
Visit Ronnie on MYSPACE at
Ya'll Come Back Now!
View My Guestbook
Sign My Guestbook


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Imagine a living, 6-foot-plus tall Barbie doll with the same relative bust-to-hip ratio and requisite long, flowing blond hair. That's the Inga whom I have seen perform, admire and got to know almost two decades ago.
She is a Swedish bombshell who arrived in Key West on Aug. 5, 1997, looking like a model for haute couture, albeit with more curves. Two days later, she burst onto the local drag scene on stage at the 801 "in a black velvet dress with the butt cheeks cut out." It was quite a debut, and is remembered still.
Born in a small town south of Stockholm, Roger Hultman began acting on stage as a 10-year-old child and became fascinated by the artistic theater crafts of costuming and makeup. By 17 he was head designer and was costuming entire musicals.
The Inga persona was born when Roger "started doing drag at 19. I'm 21 now, so it's two years," Inga said coyly, deep dimple flashing. The conversation was taking place as she sat for a portrait by watercolorist and part-time Key Wester Joan Becker; the setting was Mark "Marco" Schreiber's year-old Rockhouse Masterpieces gallery at Julia and Whitehead streets.
The venue was perfect for an interview; the subject was captive, in full, flouncy, colorful costume, huge hair and full trademark makeup. Over the years Inga has grown considerably bigger and taller. Capitalizing on size, the character has graduated into higher and higher heels and bigger and bigger hair. She's close to 7 feet tall now.
Inga's warm, show-biz personality, sense of humor and immense talent for makeup and costuming have grown right along with her, and now she is a vision to be reckoned with.
After his original drag debut at a place called Stars and Stripes in Gottenberg, Roger took a job with a travel company and, from his early 20s, working with a choreographer; he costumed casts in Spain, Greece and Cyprus, three months at a time, in the spring and fall. They moved among hotels in European tourist towns, two weeks at each hotel. That was when the tropical bug bit — resulting in an affection for "palm trees and heat," Inga explained. "It was great! I did drag in the off-season.
"A friend from Sweden was working here in Key West and I decided I wanted to check it out.
Inga was part of Sushi's original company, the 801 Girls, who included Gugi, Kiley, MaJohn, Mila and RV. She has also appeared at LaTeDa, Epoch, Diva's and KWest and for the last 16 years has been at Aqua.
As the Roger persona, he lives alone with his two dogs, "my bitches, Spencer and Darla." His job title is now show director at Aqua and he works five or six days a week, two or three shows a night. "I love it. I'm happy. It's something I wanted to do and I'm happy I can do it for a living. Michael and Kimball are great people, great bosses." The demanding schedule is mitigated by the fact that he doesn't require a lot of sleep — 1 till 6 a.m., and he always takes a nap from 3 till 5 p.m.
"I'm happy," he said for the third time. The guy really, really is happy.
Inga can be seen nightly at 9 p.m., Thursdays, Fridays at 9 and 11 p.m. and Saturdays at 7, 9 and 11 p.m. ¦


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Integration Steps
Register on OST Platform and get access to your API key and API secret. When you sign-up you will be in sandbox mode by default. It is recommended to test your integrations in sandbox mode.
Follow the quickstart guide to get started with Server Side SDK. Server Side SDK is available in PHP, Ruby, Java and Node.js. If Server Side SDK is not available in your choice of programming language then you can directly use OST Platform API.
Follow Android Wallet SDK and/or iOS Wallet SDK setup guide to integrate it in your mobile application.
You can optionaly follow React Native Wallet SDK.
Ensure you have implemented and tested all the flows.
To move to production environment you need to get in touch with OST Platform team. OST Platform team will enable your production switch and then can you move to production environment using the switch available in OST Platform dashboard.


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"In light of the strong brand momentum, which is reflected in the better than expected first quarter performance, the group has increased its 2016 financial outlook," Adidas said in a statement.
"Management now projects sales to grow at a rate of around 15 percent in 2016," when adjusted for exchange rate fluctuations, whereas Adidas had previously been pencilling in growth of between 10 and 12 percent, the statement said.
"As a result, net income from continuing operations is now forecast to grow at a faster rate than the top line and increase between 15 and 18 percent," compared with an earlier forecast of 10-12 percent, it continued.
In the first three months of the current year, Adidas sales were up 22 percent in currency-adjusted terms at 4.8 billion euros ($5.4 billion).
Underlying or operating profit jumped by 35 percent to 490 million euros and net profit was up 38 percent at350 million euros.
Adidas said it would publish full details of its first-quarter earnings on May 4.


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It was just over one week ago that the first set photos for HBO and Damon Lindelof's upcoming Watchmen television series surfaced, featuring Don Johnson suited up as a police officer. However, a whole new batch of photos has since emerged, hinting not only at the grim state of affairs in the gritty Watchmen universe but also the death of a major character from the comic book source material.
The photos, which were shared by /Film, kick off with a newspaper headline declaring Adrian Veidt, aka Ozymandias, dead -- a drastic departure from the character's arc in the comics. This is followed by photos of signs for alien shelters to protect innocent civilians from Veidt's squid-like beast, as well as a shot of a taxi featuring a newly designed American flag.
RELATED: HBO's Watchmen Is Perfectly Timed To Take Aim At Hollywood's Superhero Stories
While the notion of a character such as Ozymandias being killed off in the upcoming series might come as a shock, it certainly falls in line with Lindelof's remarks about the show not being a conventional adaptation of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' seminal 1986 miniseries.
"We have no desire to 'adapt' the twelve issues Mr. [Alan] Moore and Mr. [Dave] Gibbons created thirty years ago," Lindelof wrote. "Those issues are sacred ground and they will not be retread nor recreated nor reproduced nor rebooted. They will however be remixed. Watchmen is canon. But we are not making a 'sequel' either. This story will be set in the world its creators painstakingly built… but in the tradition of the work that inspired it, this new story must be original."
Created by Moore and Gibbons, Watchmen is the story of an alternate history in which superheroes first emerged in the 1940s, drastically altering the course of history over the subsequent decades. Set in 1985, as the United States and the Soviet Union inch ever closer to World War III, the comic centers on the investigation into the murder of the former costumed government agent The Comedian, which leads to the discovery of a deadly conspiracy to defuse the powder keg and bring peace to the world at the expense of millions of lives.
RELATED: HBO's Watchmen Casts Don Johnson, Regina King & More
The upcoming HBO series will be the second time the graphic novel was adapted for the screen, following Zack Snyder's 2009 film. The Watchmen have also been introduced into the main DC Comics continuity in Geoff Johns and Gary Frank's Doomsday Clock, giving the renowned graphic novel's characters even more mainstream exposure ahead of the television series.
While there has been no announced start date for Watchmen, the first season is expected to begin filming this year.


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A Lover's Discourse, by Roland Barthes: Aubade
An experiment with physical typography and story telling. This piece uses coffee grounds as the medium too express the chosen quote. The idea is waking up with the constant reminder of your failures for something you may have given your entire life or tedious attention to. Then to only start the day again and repeat the actions.


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Cartoonist Flynn Nicholls joins merritt to talk bone hurting juice, organizing, and the birth of podcasting.
Flynn is @ICELEVEL on Twitter. You can find more of his work at icelvl.com.
Get Rec'd:
- Flynn rec's Shadowrun Returns
- merritt rec's spending time and/or money on boring things you use everyday
Works Cited:


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Cialdini's "Weapons of Influence"
1. Social Proof - "If everyone is doing it, it must be okay."When we're faced with a decision, we often observe what others are doing, then simply do likewise. The rule of thumb is simple: "If everyone is doing it, it must be okay." Most often, following the lead of others is indeed a safe option. And it's certainly easier than doing a real evaluation. But it can sometimes make us do foolish things. Clever marketers know exactly how to make social proof work to their advantage. Consider the popularity of these forms of social proof:
- Product ratings and reviews
- Customer testimonials
- Best-selling products
- Twitter followers, Facebook likes, +1s
2. Liking - We are more likely to be persuaded by people like usWe are much more likely to be persuaded by people we like. And we tend to like people who:
- We're familiar with
- Are attractive
- Appear to like us
- Are involved in a group effort with us
- Have a sense of humor
3. Reciprocation - We feel a strong impulse to pay favors backWhen someone does us a favor, we feel a strong impulse to pay it back. This adaptive shortcut likely arose early in human evolution, when mutual sharing was necessary for survival. Over centuries, the impulse to repay favors became ingrained. Now, it's hard to resist. Think of the Hare Krishnas, handing out flowers then ask for donations. They understand that if someone accepts a flower - even if he doesn't want it - he'll feel obliged to donate. Fast forward to the Internet age, and witness reciprocation on the web: Free software downloads, samples, whitepapers, advice, etc. Once we've accepted a gift or favor, we feel we should give back. This is especially true where the gift is unexpected, has a real value, or when the giver has apparently gone to some trouble.
4. Scarcity - The shorter the supply, the more desirable the productWhen products are in short supply, they become more desirable. It's easy to see how this rule of thumb arose: When resources are scarce, it's a good idea to stock up. But like all other rules of thumb, it can sometimes lead us astray. A few ways "scarcity" can be employed to boost sales:
- Low stock indicators
- Limited time offers
- Private sales
- Inside knowledge (i.e. scarce information)
5. Obedience to Authority - Putting Authority to positive useRule of thumb: When we're advised to do something by an authority figure, it's usually a good idea to heed their advice. Skilled marketers know how to put "authority" to positive use. They know what the "markers of authority" are in their line of business, and how to look and act like an authority figure. There is, of course, a dark side to this. People will do outlandish things when so ordered by an authority. (Read more about authority.)
6. Commitment and Consistency - Encourage public statementsOnce we have made a public statement on a topic, we feel compelled to act consistently with that statement. Cialdini provides a great example:
- When asked if they'd agree to have a "drive carefully" sign placed on their lawn, 17% said yes.
- When first asked to sign a public-spirited petition, then (two weeks later) asked if they'd agree to the sign, 50% said yes.
Other Persuasion TechniquesOther social scientists have expanded on Cialdini's work. Among the most notable is behavioral economist Dan Ariely. In two remarkable books (Predictably Irrational and The Upside of Irrationality) Ariely describes several additional principles that explain - and can be used to manipulate - our behavior. I'll highlight a few below.
Decision ParalysisWhen asked, people typically say they want lots of choice. But in fact, having too much choice makes it hard to decide. We become paralyzed. Usually, it's better to offer a limited number of options, rather than confusing customers with too much choice.
Divestiture AversionWe place an unrealistically high value on what we already have; we hate having things taken away from us. Winning $20 feels good, but losing $20 feels much worse. One thing we don't like to lose is our ability to buy products at a given price. Though getting a discount on something might feel good, avoiding a price increase will likely be more motivating. (See more examples of loss aversion.)
High Price Equals GoodThis is among the most pervasive of all adaptive shortcuts: We assume that expensive products are better than cheap ones. More surprising is how we convince ourselves this is true. Ariely found:
- When patients were told a pain reliever cost 10 cents per pill, only 50% found that it worked.
- When they were told it cost $2.50 per pill, 100% found that it worked.


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After her tragic suicide, Hollywood celebrity elite Victoria Starfield is ressurected and assigned by a secret supernatural organization called Crowd Control ,to protect five specific children (and her fans) from a slew of demons, serial killers, hellraisers and fallen angels. Her only weapon, 250 feet of razor sharp, flesh splitting barbed wire and an infinite trail of black tears. Call her, Mazscara. WARNING: Mazscara is rated +18 for Graphic Violence, Profanity and Mature Themes.
March 20th, 2016, 10:37 am
User's Comments:
Reply Keenan (Guest), March 22nd, 2016, 10:34 pm
Well done. Excellent. I'm touched.
Post A Comment


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Ryan grew up in the mountains of Colorado. He received his undergraduate degree in Theological Studies from Seattle Pacific University, and moved to the Triangle in 2011
In 2015, he graduated from Duke Divinity School with a Masters of Divinity and now serves as an assisting priest at Holy Trinity.
Ryan is also a full time Pastor at Twin Lakes Retirement Community in Burlington, NC. He assists with our worship services on a regular basis.
Raised outside of the church, Ryan came to Christ in high school and found an immediate sense of calling toward Christian leadership. After moving from church to church, and from state to state, Ryan found a home within the Anglican Church, and ultimately, in the fall of 2012, at Holy Trinity. In his ministry, Ryan dedicates himself to building community through the Gospel.
Ryan lives in Durham with his wife, Averill. Together, they have two daughters, Linnea (2014) and Lila (2017), and one dog named Reno. In his spare time, Ryan enjoys camping and hiking, going to super hero movies, finding and consuming local, craft beer, and drinking copious amounts of Joe Van Gogh coffee.
Contact: email@example.com


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emAlbum is an automated image content manager, created with Perl. emAlbum automatically indexes your folders and images and generates the code needed to display your images online. With emAlbum, you will no longer need to edit and maintain the endless number of HTML pages needed to display your images. emAlbum currently supports .jpg, .gif, .png, .bmp, and .tiff images images and has been tested on Apache, IIS, and Abyss web servers. Check out version 1.3 for improved features and options!Visit publisher site: emAlbum
Listing Details
- Version:
- 1.3
- Filed in:
Scripts / CGI & Perl / Scripts & Programs / Image Galleries
- Publisher:
- Eric Martin Other listings by this publisher
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- License Type:
- Other
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User ReviewsAdd/Edit Your Review
Displaying 1-1 out of 1 reviews
The author,Eric, went "all out" to help solve a install problem. He solved the problem. Not his script... it was my server.


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Comfortable places we can book for you
The best value for money to spend a comfortable night in Pakbeng.
We book for you a recently renovated deluxe room with king bed (for double room). With aircon, WIFI, private en-suite bathroom and large balcony (all upstairs rooms have a beautiful balcony with Mekong view). This is the closest hotel from the pier.
Breakfast and dinner included.
The charm of a private bungalow with balcony along the Mekong.
We book for you a charming bungalow (28 square meters) with ceiling fan, WIFI, private bathroom and private balcony looking over the Mekong.
Breakfast included.
The best value for money to spend a comfortable night in Luang Prabang.
We book for you a 20 sqm room. With queen bed (for double room), aircon, WIFI and private bathroom. This is the closest hotel from the pier.
Breakfast included.
A rigorously selected fleet to offer the greatest comfort during the cruise
All boats that make up our fleet belong to the crew (who lived inside).
After a rigorous selection according to our criteria, we collaborate with the crew to offer you the best experience.
With 40 meters long, 5meters wide and 50 seats (approximately), you can move as you wish. However, concerned about your comfort, we stop booking to 40 passengers.
Lunches on board are prepared the same day with fresh and local ingredients. You will love eating Lao dishes (vegetarians dishes available),
For your safety:
The maintenance of the boats is rigorously followed.
The crew leader and guide are trained for first aid.
All boats are equipped with safety jackets.
A security briefing is done at the beginning of the trip.
For your comfort:
Our crew stay available throughout the cruise to answer of your needs.
Water, tea, coffee and fruits are at will (other drinks available on bar – paying).
Electrical outlets are available on demand.
With more than 45 seats and few sofas, you could rest wherever you want, even take a nap.