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With the new Pokémon: Detective Pikachu trailer being released and the recent announcement of the new games, Pokémon Sword, and Pokémon Shield, Pokémon has lately been the most talked topic among many people.Read More »
Through the Dragon's Eye – based on a true story
Through the Dragon's Eye is one of those edutainment serials schools would put on to shut kids up, whilst the medium itself would attempt to deliver educational supplements to children through a safe and accessible kid's fantasy world. They were harmless, ineffective, and a little boring. Upon revisiting the show, I expected a paint by numbers fantasy adventure where the children have to solve grammar-related riddles. What I got was a tale of apocalypse.Read More »
A Doll's House Comes to The Progress Theatre: A Review
In this play directed by Adrian Tang, the word that comes best to mind is uncomfortable. Whether it it's the strange age gap between the protagonist and her husband (that had every woman in the audience visibly cringing when they touched each other) or the awkward pauses in the action, the play does well to encapsulate the entrapping awfulness of the 19th century for women.Read More »
Famous Henrik Ibsen Play Comes to Reading
With A Doll's House coming to the Progress Theatre as soon as the 11th of March, I sat down with the Director and Producer, Adrian Tang, to ask him more about what we can expect from this play.Read More »
I Had Completed 45/50 Hours of The Red Award Without Realising: Why You Should Participate in The Red Award
I saw the Red Award advertised several times whilst I was in my first year at university and thought it looked immensely challenging due to the 50 hours you must complete. However, little did I know that since researching into the award I had already completed 45 hours. I did not know that my job at Tesco's already accounted for 35 hours of the award and I had no idea that being part of a committee in a society accounted for 10 hours of volunteering!» >Read More »
Remade, Rebooted, Reimagined: the video game nostalgia craze
From Resident Evil to Spyro to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare to Dark Souls and, most infamously of all, Skyrim, it seems as if every popular game released within the last 25 years is getting rereleased and reimagined in some way. This phenomenon really started last console generation, with games such as Shadow of the Colossus, the Tomb Raider trilogy, and the Prince of Persia trilogy receiving HD remasters for the PS3 and Xbox 360.Read More »
Budget to Enjoy Life More
I like being in control of my life and I hope you do too. Money and consuming are the things that we could, and in my opinion, should control. For many of you, budgeting might be scary, or too mathematical, or boring, but it doesn't have to be.Read More »
Short story by Laura CutmoreRead More »


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WIN a Free Stall Package Valued at $350 at The Olive Tree Market
Did you know that the 10th Anniversary of The Olive Tree Market falls on their October 6th market? We are super excited about this milestone and have lots of special happenings to share in the coming months!
From Olive Tree: In celebration of our 10th Anniversary, The Olive Tree Market is excited to welcome the next generation of artists and makers to our creative community!
We are happy to announce that The Olive Tree Market is launching a Startup Stall Package, valued at $350, which will be awarded to a new emerging artist/ designer every month for 12 months!
This is fantastic opportunity for emerging creatives to share their work on a large-scale platform, gain industry recognition, and kickstart their career in the creative arts.
Successful applications must meet the criteria below:
- It must be your first time at any market
- You are super talented, and in the emerging stages, of your artistic career
- You must be under 30
The Startup Stall Package will include:
- One free 3 x 3m stall (including Public Liability Insurance) at The Olive Tree Market.
- 1 x Marquee + white canopy
- 1 x Table to assist in displaying your work
- Posts across our social media channels, including our Instagram (with over 25,000 followers!) and Facebook.
- A dedicated blog post on our website
- Various other media, including a press release about you!
- Guidance on preparing for the market
- Advice on how to display your work, merchandising and stall presentation
Sound exciting?! Does this sound like you, or someone you think is super creative and just needs a little encouragement! Then we want to hear from you!
Applications are now open for the October 6th Olive Tree Market Stall Startup Package!
How to Apply:
Please title your email Stall Start-up Application+ Your Name/ Business Name.
Your application must include the following:
- Name, email address, contact phone number and full postal address;
- A detailed description of your products/artworks/practice. Also feel free to include your artist statement, if you have one. We will also use this information for media opportunities.
- Tell us why your application should be considered for the Olive Tree Market Young Emerging Artist Stall Startup. This can be short, sharp and sweet!
- Your vision for your stall set up. Make sure to include ideas you have for merchandising and presentation of your work. Better still, create a stall mock-up for us, which will give us a strong idea of what your work would look like at The Olive Tree Market
- 5-10 good quality images of your products/artworks. Please take time to send us well lit, high quality images of your work/ products.
- Any links to social media, including Instagram, Facebook and website if applicable.
We can't wait to see the work of the next generation of Olive Tree creatives!
Send your application via email to email@example.com

subset: commoncrawl


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As the election heats-up, we need your help to keep our momentum going in 2018!
Come meet our team for coffee @CraneCoffee and door-knocking.
Not up for walking? Stop by and help with other needs:
—> Phone Banking
—> Data Entry
—> Letter Writing
The coffee is on us! ☕


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Aurora HDR 2018 Coming Soon. Windows Version to Be Released
Macphun has announced that the next version of Aurora HDR is soon to be released (in September) and it will feature some significant changes, including a new interface design, and more importantly, for the first time, a Windows version.
Here are some highlights from the press release:
Aurora HDR, co-developed with the renowned HDR photographer Trey Ratcliff, made the complex task of HDR editing effortless and unintimidating. Aurora HDR became the industry standard for HDR photo editing on Mac and reached 1.7 million downloads since its launch in November 2015.
In less than 2 years over 100 million photos have been edited in Aurora HDR and 72% of current users have made Aurora HDR their primary HDR photo editor, switching from other software. Today, Aurora HDR is the go-to editing software for such well-known photographers as Trey Ratcliff, Serge Ramelli, Captain Kimo and many others.
"Since the launch of Aurora HDR, Macphun has released more than 10 updates containing tons of new features and improved performance," commented Trey Ratcliff. "Today, I'm very excited to announce the launch of Aurora HDR 2018. It's completely new, significantly faster and has even more powerful tools. Plus the BIG news is that it's now available for Microsoft Windows as well. It's truly the best HDR software for both Mac and PCs", concluded Ratcliff.
Here are some of the new features scheduled for the new version:
- Lens Correction Tool - The new Lens Correction filter easily fixes all kinds of lens distortion, from barrel and pincushion to chromatic aberration and vignetting.
- New User Interface - Redesigned from scratch, the modern and responsive user interface brings a powerful, yet joyful experience to HDR photo editing.
- Speed improvements - Up to 4x improvement in RAW image processing, and up to 200% faster merging and masking performance means that Aurora HDR 2018 is dramatically faster than the last version.
- Cross-platform version - Aurora HDR 2018 will be available both for Mac and PC users with interchangeable files, enabling mixed-computer households to share the same product key.
Availability: Aurora HDR 2018 will be available for pre-order on September 12, and released on September 28.
Pricing: Mixed-computer households can share the same product key for Mac and PC that can be activated on 5 devices.
- Current users of Aurora HDR may upgrade at a special pre-order price of $49
- New users can purchase Aurora HDR 2018 at a special pre-order price of $89
- A collection of bonuses will also be included with every purchase.
Retail price:
- $59 for current Aurora HDR users
- $99 for new users
For more details, and to be notified when pre-orders are available visit the Macphun website.


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The Justice Department's Hurricane-Strength Misconduct
The first was Assistant United States Attorney Salvador Perricone, a high-ranking supervisory attorney in the Louisiana U.S. Attorney's Office. Even worse, anonymous postings were also made about the case by the First Assistant United States Attorney Jan Mann, the chief assistant to United States Attorney in Louisiana Jim Letten. At an initial hearing called by the judge about the leak allegations, Mann sat in the courtroom and remained silent as her boss, Jim Letten, stood up and told Judge Engelhardt that neither he nor Jan Mann had any knowledge or involvement in these leaks and the anonymous blog postings.
The judge ordered the Justice Department to investigate the matter "to discern the source of the leaks" and Perricone's contacts with other government employees and to file a report with the judge. That report was "supervised, compiled, written and submitted" by Jan Mann, the anonymous blogger, who claimed in the report that no one "associated with the government" was the source of leaks. She failed to reveal her involvement or her knowledge of Perricone's activities.
When Perricone was examined under oath over his anonymous postings by the judge at a hearing, Mann was actually there representing the government. She not only failed again to reveal her knowledge of and participation in the blogging, but she "objected on the record to certain questions asked of Perricone."
Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Magner testified that Mann's husband, who is also an assistant U.S. attorney in the same office, was anonymous blogger Perricone's "best friend." They spent a great deal of time together and Magner found it "very difficult" to believe that Mann would not know about Perricone's anonymous blogging. Mann was only discovered as being one of the other anonymous bloggers after another lawsuit was filed against her in federal court in November identifying her.
Judge Engelhardt essentially called both AUSAs liars, saying that "no one, especially this Court, could reasonably find it credible that Perricone and former First AUSA Mann, while posting under the same nola.com articles, and responding to and echoing each other's posts, were unaware of the identity of the other."
In further proceedings before the judge, the U.S. attorney tried to shift responsibility for DOJ's internal investigation to the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) at DOJ. Letten issued a press release saying that because the matter was under review by OPR, he would not release any further information about his lawyers' misbehavior.
So what was the response of OPR to this unethical, unlawful, and potentially perjurious behavior by DOJ employees, which Judge Engelhardt says "might also constitute prosecutable criminal conduct?"
Apparently nothing.
Placing the investigation in the hands of OPR "seems useless," Judge Engelhardt noted in his opinion:
First of all, having the DOJ investigate itself will likely only yield a delayed yet unconvincing result in which no confidence can rest. If no wrongdoing is uncovered, it will come as a surprise to no one given the conflict of interest existing between the investigator and the investigated. Moreover, the Perricone matter has been under investigation for eight months (since March), and yet it comes as a complete surprise to everyone at DOJ and the U.S. Attorney's Office that another "poster" exists, especially one maintaining as high a position in the U.S. Attorney's Office. It is difficult to imagine how this could possibly have been missed by OPR, and surely raises concerns about the capabilities and adequacy of DOJ's investigatory techniques as exercised through OPR.
Judge Engelhardt pointed out the incongruity of this entire situation. Posting anonymous online comments "might be unprofessional and unethical, but not criminal." But activities of DOJ employees the court was looking at also included "apparent false testimony/statements (by commission or omission), suborning false testimony, and making false statement to a federal judge. … Ironically, the defendants in this case have been accused and convicted of counts involving conduct designed to 'cover up' or obscure material facts." Yet the DOJ lawyers involved seem to have engaged in the same behavior.


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Canada is such a large country it's hard to decide where to spend your holiday. 10 provinces with varied interesting destinations to choose from. Historic sites, water and winter sports, shopping and just plain sightseeing, are some of the ways to spend your Canadian holiday.
The Eastern provinces have historic sites dating back thousands of years. The Middle provinces with wide open farm land, modern cities, and awesome mountains offer the tourist many days of exploring. Finally the west coast of Canada has resort and recreational spots for skiing and winter sports.
So choosing your Canadian holiday should very easy, just choose what you like to do the best. Wonder around the historic sites in Newfoundland. Be sure to see the capital city, St Johns. Cabot Tower, Signal Hill, and the Basilica of St John the Baptist, are just a few of the unique places to visit. Prince Edward Island makes a memorable holiday destination, with the Province House National Historic site.
In comparison to spending your Canada holiday in the east, the central province of Alberta offers a varied array of destinations. Calgary with the Calgary Stampede Rodeo, it's an exciting event everyone should experience once it their lives. Be sure to stop by the Edmonton Mall with its' 100 restaurants and 800 stores.
Finally, in the westernmost part of Canada you'll find British Columbia, with the modern city of Vancouver, and recreational spots for winter sports, such as Whistler Mountain, Baniff National Park and Jasper National Park. Where many of the events of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games were held. In the northern part of British Columbia you'll find traditional native villages, giving you the opportunity to experience the native culture of the area.
A Canadian holiday is an opportunity to see and do what you like best. So visit our country, you'll never forget it.
If traveling from the USA remember as of Jan. 23, 2007, a new American law, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), requires anyone, including US citizens, entering or re-entering the United States by air to have a passport or a NEXUS card when used at a NEXUS kiosk at designated airports.
By June 1, 2009, anyone, including US citizens, entering or re-entering the United States by land and sea will need to have a passport or other appropriate, secure document.
Visit the U.S. Department of State website frequently for international travel updates.
International visitors to Canada (not US citizens or US permanent residents) must carry a valid passport and, if required, a visa. Citizens from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Mexico, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia and others do not require a visa to enter Canada.
I am a retired lady, living in Alabama. I love to travel and crochet. I taught myself to crochet when I was 14. My home is filled with my work. Flying is my favorite way to travel. I love the rush of plane on taking off and landing. I have tried my hand at writing ever since I read my first book. I thought I can do this.


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Health Reporter Sets Up Crowdsourcing Site For Medical Care
KQED's Lisa Aliferis finds price differences within the same state, based on facility and insurance status. In other consumer news, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force says that Vitamin D tests may not be necessary, even though they are growing in popularity.
The Washington Post:
One Reporter Is Crowdsourcing The Price Of Health Care
Trying to shop around for the best deal on health care services can be maddening. So Lisa Aliferis, a health care reporter for KQED News in San Francisco, came up with a simple idea: ask people what charges they're actually seeing on their bills and try to make sense of the madness. ... insurers and patients rarely pay the listed price. Aliferis — in a partnership with KPCC, a public radio station in Los Angeles, and Clearhealthcosts.com, a health transparency startup — tried to capture information of actual prices that people, who reported the information anonymously, were seeing on their medical bills — breaking down what the insurers were charged and what people actually paid. She found big price differences within the same state, based on facility and insurance status. (Millman, 11/24)
Vitamin D Tests Aren't Needed For Everyone, Federal Panel Says
Should you get a blood test to see if you're deficient in vitamin D? It sounds like such a good idea, seeing as how most people don't get enough sunshine to make vitamin D themselves. And the tests are becoming increasingly popular. But there are problems with making vitamin D tests a standard part of preventive medicine, a federal panel said. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force said Monday there's not enough evidence of benefits or harms to recommend vitamin D testing for all. (Shute, 11/24)


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Right from the start, let's dispel a myth: There is no "normal" when it comes to sexual desire.
In fact, some researchers have argued that the current cultural fascination with libido—and stuff that may help or hurt it—is fueled by drug makers hoping to increase consumer concern about non-existent disorders.
(Boost your confidence in bed and fall in love with your body with the life-changing reset in Love Your Age!)
"Although it is illegal for pharmaceutical companies to market drugs prior to regulatory approval, there are no restrictions on marketing diseases," say the authors of a 2016 paper in the Journal of Medical Ethics. They argue that "hypoactive sexual desire disorder"—the clinical term for low libido—is basically an "invention" of the drug industry. (Here are 8 times it's totally normal to have a low libido.)
That may be a bit of an overstatement. While there's no medical definition of "healthy" when it comes to your libido, there's little doubt that some people experience a stronger sex drive than others—and that certain lifestyle or health factors may cause an individual's libido to heat up or cool down.
What are those factors? Here are six of them.
You're taking these meds.
Many types of medications—from blood pressure drugs to athlete's foot treatments—can lower your levels of testosterone, according to the International Society for Sexual Medicine. Many studies have linked "low T" to reduced libido in both men and women, and so drugs that knock down your testosterone levels may also kill your sex drive. Susan Davis, PhD, a professor of women's health at Australia's Monash University, adds antidepressants and other mood-altering drugs to the list of meds that may be decreasing your libido.
MORE: 5 Common Meds That Could Be Killing Your Sex Drive
You're not watching your weight.
Some research has linked obesity with a drop in sexual desire, Davis says. Excess body weight may lower circulating levels of testosterone, which could explain the decrease in libido, say the authors of a 2011 study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine. Drop 5% of your body weight, and you can expect a significant jump in sexual desire, their study shows.
Jump-start your weight loss with these tricks to burn more calories on your walk:
Your nest is full.
For women aged 35 to 47—the ages researchers term the "late-reproductive years"—living with children is associated with a drop in libido, according to a study from the University of Pennsylvania. Why? The authors only speculate, but they say parenting-related stress could have a dampening effect on sexual desire. More research backs up the ties between stress and a loss of libido among men—but especially among women. (Treat yourself to one of these 15 stress relief gifts!)
You're exercising close to bedtime.
Lack of sleep can decrease your body's production of testosterone, which, again, could be a drag on your libido. Too little sleep can also contribute to low mood or depression, which may also knock down your sex drive, Davis says. While exercise promotes good sleep, exercising within four hours of your bedtime may be keeping you up at night. But there are lots of things you can do—including eating earlier and cutting back on alcohol—to ensure you sleep better tonight.
MORE: 12 Foolproof Natural Sleep Remedies That Experts Swear By
You're not getting enough vitamin D.
Several studies have shown depression causes a drop in libido among both men and women. While depression has many causes and correlates, research has shown too-little vitamin D—a common nutrient shortfall—can promote depression, perhaps by throwing off the brain's levels of feel-good hormones. (Here are 5 signs you're not getting enough vitamin D.) While there's no study that shows taking a vitamin D supplement will improve your sex drive, Austrian and German researchers have found men who get more of the vitamin have higher levels of testosterone. And again, higher T levels are associated with improved libido.
Your relationship is on the rocks.
OK, so this isn't such a little thing. But Monash's Davis says two of the "most critical" contributors to a strong libido are either a good relationship or a new relationship. If you're unhappy with your partner or the state of your relationship, there's probably nothing you can do that's going to fire up your desire for him or her. Consider these 4 ways you could be accidentally sabotaging your relationship.
MORE: 7 Little Things You Can Do During Sex To Boost Your Bond With Your Partner


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It was fourteen wedding seasons ago, 2006, when I started
prepping for what would be my first wedding.
An industry which was in the middle of change from the old to the new. Absolutely something I wanted no part in whatsoever. In fact I shot the wedding for what I hoped would be a fun learning experience. I researched, practiced, and supplemented my gear. Then the day came. And I had an absolute blast—I was in love. I started to put the word out, and before you know it, well, all this happened. I'm eternally grateful for everyone who's chosen me to shoot their event. Really I am. It means the world, especially with today's countless options available.
As long as you'll have me, here's to fourteen more seasons!


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Hulu gains on YouTube, MySpace
One month shy of its 1-year-March anniversary, video site Hulu joined the top five top video sites in February, showing some 353 million videos, says researcher ComScore Media Metrix.
Google's YouTube still reigns at No. 1, with 5.3 billion videos showcased, followed by 462 million for Fox Interactive's MySpace and 353 million from Yahoo, ComScore says.
Hulu is in fourth place, followed by Microsoft with 259 million. In comScore's survey, Hulu had the largest boost in viewers, growing 42% from January to February.
Forrás: http://blogs.usatoday.com/technologylive/2009/03/hulu-gains-on-y.html


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Villa Russiz
Supplier/Importer: Wilson Daniels
Region: Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
Appellation: Collio
Villa Russiz has long been regarded as one of the finest wineries in Friuli, as well as one of the most philanthropic in the world. The estate was founded in 1869 by French-born Count Théodor de La Tour, who brought to the region the finest clones he could find from his native country, selecting classic varietals most suitable for Collio's unique terroir. His vineyards were the first in the region to be planted with authentic French rootstock — Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Cabernets, Pinot Noir and Riesling. The count was a brilliant agriculturalist in advance of his times and grafted European vines onto American rootstock to counteract certain vine diseases, such as phylloxera, that were destroying European vineyards.
While the count was breaking new ground with his vineyards and winemaking, his wife, Countess Elvine de La Tour, was equally tireless in her philanthropic endeavors: the care of orphaned and homeless young girls. The work she initiated was carried on in the 20th century, and after World War I the estate was donated to the Italian state to be maintained as a non-profit organization, Foundation Villa Russiz. A home on the estate grounds for disadvantaged and orphaned children is funded by the sale of the estate's wines. Les Enfants IGT is a wine produced as a testament to their commitment to the children of Italy.
Collio D.O.C. is a narrow region at the eastern edge of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, in Italy's northeast corner. It is bordered by Slovenia to the east, Austria to the north and the Adriatic Sea to the south. Much of the region is mountainous ("Collio" means "hillsides"), but the south-facing hillsides are protected from harsh north winds by the Julian Alps, while the cool sea breezes waft over vineyards bathed in Mediterranean sunlight. The soil is a particular type of marl known as "ponca," which is clay that is rich in limestone and sandstone; it has proven to be excellent for vines, providing minerals that enhance the aromatics of the wines. The microclimate of the area, combined with the ideal soil composition and south-facing hillsides interlaced with terraced vineyards, make Collio a unique terroir for the production of extraordinary wines, just as Count de la Tour envisioned nearly 150 years ago.


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The New Technology and Research ("New Science") is emerging…
7 faces, with 12 edges is the form of the heart [evolving a 5th chamber] study of the "Unseen" with the phi (Golden ratio) growing the form(s) as it is a dynamic asymmetrical vortex energy. You see all the platonic forms and the chesterhedron form within this heart-based energy. Frank also found in his research, of the "chesterhedron", the Earth's Heart and the dynamics of the energy flow at the poles… (My perspective is the so called new science is the returning acceptance of the ancient wisdom and knowledge that exists in alchemy and natural philosophy when spirit and science where united as in holistic research. The occulted knowledge shall become common and part of the Absolute Data Exchange.)
Frank Chester: Pyramids and Pylons Lecture part 3 of 5
www.absolute-data-exchange.com / link to original article


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Probiotics are good bacteria that exist naturally throughout your body, particularly in your intestines. These healthy microorganisms maintain a reciprocal relationship, gaining nourishment from your body, while promoting the proper balance of good and bad bacteria. Although probiotics are naturally occurring, side effects may occur that make you feel sick. Side effects are generally minimal and mild, however long-term effects of supplemental probiotics remain unknown as of 2011.
Probiotics are live microorganisms that are similar to the microorganisms living naturally in your intestines. Microflora occur naturally in your gut, including microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and yeasts. The healthy bacteria normally make up about 85 to 90 percent of the bacteria in your gut, with bad bacteria comprising the remainder. Use of antibiotics kills the good bacteria along with the bad. While probiotics provide the opportunity to restore the balance of good bacteria, you are also introducing new bacteria to your system, which may yield side effects.
Research shows probiotics are effective supplements for a host of conditions, restoring good bacteria to the body while minimizing the harmful effects of the bad bacteria, yeasts and fungi. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine indicates research is ongoing regarding the efficacy of probiotics for use in treating urinary tract infections, irritable bowel syndrome, bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections, inflammatory bowel disease and periodontal infections. Research is also promising for use of probiotics to treat skin infections and eczema. MayoClinic.com suggests more evidence is required on use of probiotics, but research as of 2011 is encouraging.
Common Side Effects
Probiotics are living microorganisms, carrying with them inherent unpredictability in how they might interact with you as their host and the other indigenous microbiotica presently in your gastrointestinal tract. Mild symptoms are experienced by some, particularly if probiotics are not introduced incrementally, including gastrointestinal upset, such as gas, abdominal pain and bloating. For some, inactive ingredients in the probiotic supplement, such as plant or mineral materials, may not be tolerated by users. You may also experience an allergic reaction to probiotics, making you feel ill.
Illness from Probiotics
Theoretically probiotics could make you sick, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, or NCMA. Probiotic supplements introduce bacteria into your system, which could contribute to illness, particularly if you have a compromised immune system. The NCMA also warns that probiotics may also prompt unhealthy metabolic activities, gene transfer or overstimulation of the immune system. Probiotics are not recommended for use if you have severe pancreatitis as they may increase your chances of mortality from this illness, according to a study published in the "Lancet" in February 2008.
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Probiotics
- "The Lancet"; Probiotic Prophylaxis in Predicted Severe Acute Pancreatitis: a Randomised, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial; Marc G.H. Besselink M.D.; February 2008
- Pharmacy Times; Antibiotics, Probiotics, and Microflora; Ross Pelton, R.Ph., Ph.D., C.C.N.; 2005


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Midlo Track Team Wins Big at Regional Meet
Riley Townsend, Midlo Scoop Staff
February 16, 2018
The Midlothian High School track team was let out of school early on Thursday, February 8th for their Class 4 regional meet. Only the most talented runners from across the state qualify to compete in this post-season invitational. Max Etka, Clay Robb, Ian Gray, Thomas Gray, Andrew Steenkamer, Doug Mc...
Homecoming Royalty Takes the Throne
Emily Gundel, Maddie Burke, and BJ Beckwith
October 18, 2017
During a very exciting and spirited pep rally on Friday 13, 2017, the homecoming court was announced. Princes included: freshmen Shane Nalls, Zach Vanderslice, and Miles Brown; sophomores Jocarlo Whitehead, John Williams, and Juan Melchor; juniors Neil Richburg, Will Pomeroy, and Antorious Goode; and seniors BJ Beckwith, Tre...
Seniors Secure Win in Rowdy Homecoming Pep Rally
Ashley Manheim, Zoe Kopidis, and Sophie King
October 17, 2017
On Friday, October 13, 2017, waves of students poured into the Midlothian High School gym with excitement lighting up their faces, as the much-anticipated first pep rally of the 2017-2018 school year kicked off. Large seas of green (freshmen), red (sophomores), blue (juniors), and white (seniors) crowded ...
FBLA Sweeps States
Lara Ann Douglas, Staff Writer
April 19, 2017
Thirty three of Midlo's top finishers in the FBLA Regional competition traveled to Reston, Virginia, to compete in the State Competition on April 7th and 8th. With fifteen top five winners, Midlothian High School was recognized as an Honor Chapter at the state awards ceremony. First through fourth...
Success at DECA SLC
Ashley Manheim, Staff Writer
March 7, 2017
On March 3 - March 5, 2017, qualifying DECA members traveled to Virginia Beach to compete in the DECA State Leadership Conference (SLC). Participating students include: Andrew Stanfield, Katherine Wroblewski, Tyler Schrimpsher, Devin McCombs, Jason Li, Bethany Crisp, Jack Stid, Jay Gonzalez, Ven...
A Dapper DECA DLC
Ashley Manheim, Staff Writer
January 12, 2017
On Friday, January 6, 2017, Midlo's DECA students definitely dressed to impress for their yearly DECA District Level Conference (DLC) held at ECPI Technical College. The students' energy and determination was palpable to marketing teacher and DECA club sponsor, Mrs. Carolyn Manheim, who exclaims, "My DECA...


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Hey guys!
So whilst I'm writing up my review for the Nars Sheer Glow foundation, I thought it would be awesome to give you all my thoughts on the Iconic London Sculpt and Boost Eyebrow Cushion!
I've been testing this product out for a while now and feel like I can give you my honest opinion. I would like to add that I was kindly gifted this product by the brand as I often work with them but I can assure you that won't be affecting my opinion as this post is nor sponsored or paid.
So, the brow cushion is claimed to be a 'game changer' as I personally have not seen anything like it on the market, so I was super intrigued by this product. The product itself, is situated in the sponge, and when pressed down, liquid product is dispensed. It's quite interesting really as the liquid is very rich and pigmented, so the idea is that you are able to create defined but also natural looking brows as the product can mimic individual hairs.
Here are some swatches of the product, I did some basic swatches and some in the shape of brows to show you how buildable the product is and just for fun!
The Sculpt and Boost Eyebrow cushion has the following important details that need to be noted:
- Retails for £26.99
- Limited edition product
- Can be purchased on the Iconic London website (CLICK HERE) or Cult Beauty (CLICK HERE)
- Comes in 3 shades: Fair, Medium (I use this shade) and Deep
- VEGAN and cruelty free
- Supposed to mimic micro blading effect
- Waterproof and smudge proof formula
- Includes 2 shades in each individual compact along with a double ended brush with a spooly and thin brush and a mirror.
- Contains Vitamin E to stimulate brow growth
Below, I'm going to list what I personally feel are the pros and cons of the product, so here goes:
- Sleek gold packaging, looks luxurious
- Highly pigmented and rich colour, so not much product is needed for me personally
- Comes in 3 shades, so there is something for everyone
- The formula is vegan and cruelty free! So for all my ladies looking for one step closer to halal makeup, this is great for you, and my ladies who just want guilt free makeup, this is also fabulous for you!
- There is a dark defining shade, and a lighter shading shade in each compact.
- The brush is so good and travel friendly! I LOVE how thin the brow brush is, you can create amazingly thin hair strokes.
- Waterproof and smudge proof formula so lasts all day, but not hard to take off with a makeup remover (I think this is amazing). For all my women who wear a hijab, you'll know the struggle of half your eyebrow rubbing off onto your scarf.
- Dries down in just the right amount of time
- Quite expensive for a brow product. With that being said, Iconic ALWAYS do offers on their website, for example, the other day they had a £10 off offer on a £20 spend, so technically you could get the compact for £16.99, cheaper than the ABH dip brow pomade.
- Packaging can be a hassle to open and close
- May potentially dry out quicker if not taken care of properly
- The outer packaging can get a little mucky with fingerprints, but nothing that can't be wiped off.
Upon first looking at this product I was like, what? How does it work? So I've included their short step-by-step guide taken directly from their website with my mini comments, incase you're a beginner.
Step 1 – Use the brush end of the applicator to brush your natural eyebrows into place (and take of any excess dirt)
Step 2 – Bounce the angled brush end into the cushion to apply the product (don't push down too hard because then you'll end up dispensing too much)
Step 3 – Working in the direction of the hair growth, apply short-light brush strokes of colour to create your desired effect, working the lighter shade towards the front and the darker shade towards the tail of your brow for a customised effect
Step 4 – The quick-drying formulation allows you to re-apply and build up the intensity and fullness where needed (this is very true)
Step 5 – Remove with an oil-based makeup remover (works fine with normal soap, and normal makeup remover, I have tried and tested!)
Overall, I REALLY like this product. You can create sharp brows if you want, or natural brows due to the buildable intensity. I have personally moved away from Instagram brows, so I don't reach for my ABH dip brow pomade as much as I used to (but that still is a good product, shame they upped the price). I would certainly repurchase this!
Hope you guys liked this review, and I'm always so grateful for your feedback. Be sure to follow my social medias, Instagram: @styledinsepia and Pinterest: @styledinsepia!
Lots of love,
Iqra x


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19 Jun 2015
The Panel with Kevin Milne and Niki Bezzant (Part 1)
Topics - We talk to Susan Baldacci in the US about the latest shooting tragedy. This time at a church in Charleston. Will JetStar succeed where other regional flight operators failed? Aviation commentator Peter Clark tells us what he thinks.


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I am disabled. My name is Steven Mills from Tallapoosa, Georgia.
I went to a scheduled seminar last summer to only be lead and told that in order to get the important info I would need to obtain to be successful I had to pay another 1,500 dollars for another seminar. The night before the seminar I suffered from a seizure and was left in an unhealthy and unpleasant physical condition. I have had seizures since 2004 or 2005. Although they were never this severe and damaging to my memory and way of thinking.
My friend is typing this text for me now because I can not form the thoughts and words necessary. I was unable to attend the seminar because truthfully I was without memory of it at first until someone from Armando's team at the office started calling me to find out why I had missed the seminar that morning. A male by the name of Michael called and me and my brother spoke with him and explained to him of my suffering from that seizure and the poor health condition I was suffering from. This Michael person told me and my brother that he would like to check into just refunding my $1,500 for the seminar that I was unable to attend and is very highly unlikely that I will ever be capable of attending and benefitting from any of Armando's seminars.
Michael called from phone number (210)933-6499 and told me and my brother that he would contact us again in a couple of days when he was able to work out the issues. Neither, me nor my brother have heard from Michael since then after3-4 months now. We have left numerous messages for him to contact one of us yet he refuses to do so. I would just like to have my money returned and I will be content.
I do not wish to involve an attorney, but if I am not contacted within the next 10 days which will expire on Feb.17th, I will have no other option but to notify the attorney and ask that he follow pursuit along with the attorney and defendants in Texas have done and file suit. Please don't allow this situation to grow into this type of problem. Thanking you in advance for your time and consideration, I remain.
Respectfully, Steven Mills My contact number is as follows. 678-246-6243
Product or Service Mentioned: Armando Montelongo Seminar.
Reason of review: Return, Exchange or Cancellation Policy.
I am also disabled. I paid for seminars of over $30.000.00.
I was promised my first transaction before the end of the week. This never happened. Now I am so far in debt.
That I am about to lose my home. Please help me
DEADLINE APPROACHING: For those of you who have been financially harmed by purchasing the Armando Montelongo Seminars, you have a limited time opening to join the RICO Act Lawsuit. It doesn't cost a penny to join.
The Lawyers are taking the case on a Contingency to help you the victim of Armando's sales tactics and lack of services. Please visit this website www.flippinrefund.weebly.com - private - and join the forces today to help yourself get your life back. Come join the forces that are in this case already. You have everything to gain and the legal support to get you through.
The deadline to get into this case is August 31, 2017.
Please share this post with anyone that you know that needs help. #emergentlaw #chriswimmer #sernaandassociates
I sent a letter and never heard back as well. What do I need to do to file?


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Meticulous Nature Tattoos by Zach Crisp
These bird and floral tattoos are executed with the detailed precision of one in tune with nature.
A quick scroll through the Instagram account of Zach Crisp will immediately bring to your attention his incredible love of nature. Dispersed among the gorgeous images of his equally gorgeous tattoos are beautiful nature scenes, which may for example take the form of a skink snake curled up with her eggs, or a teeny tiny frog taking a rest on Zach's hand.
Zach's existence is clearly very intertwined with nature, and this close appreciation and examination of nature elements is VERY present in his tattoos. His art is clearly executed with one who has studied animals and plants very closely, as can be seen in his ability to communicate such fine detail through his art.
Zach Crisp tattoos out of Golden Spiral Studios, In Greensboro, North Carolina. As a Northwest Coaster, I have to admit that I'm pretty floored by the similarities in Crisp's natural backyard to mine. If you're like me and want to take a trip asap to visit Crisp in North Carolina, make sure you make an appointment at least three months in advance.
Take a city break with these Illustrative Nature Tattoos by AnK
All images from Instagram.


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If you are human, this word probably doesn't stir up any feelings in you other than a bit of curiosity. If you are a frog or toad, however, this word produces an instinctive horror, a deep, dark terror from tales of long ago. This word sends shivers down your spine, causes your cold blood to run even colder, and makes you hop away and hide. This word is what your nightmares are made of, and you pray that the word never becomes popular again.
Exactly why is this word so scary if you happen to be a frog or toad? According to Merriam-Webster spanghew means, "to throw violently into the air; especially, to throw (a frog) into the air from the end of a stick." Yes, believe it or not, that is the real definition of spanghew. Now, spanghew can be defined more generally as "to throw or jerk violently" and used in a sentence like this: "The horse spanghewed its rider." Usually though it's definition involves amphibians. Where did this word come from? Well, "spang" comes from the Scottish word that means "to spring, leap, or throw." However, no one is quite sure where "hew" came from.
I did a Google search on the word and found a paragraph in an 1846 book called A Glossary of North Country Words, with Their Etymology, and Affinity to Other Languages: And Occasional Notices of Local Customs and Popular Superstitions, Volume 2 by John Trotter Brockett and William Edward Brockett. In this book, there is a paragraph about how one goes about spanghewing. Apparently, a person would place a long wooden board on a stepping stone, place the frog or toad on one end of the board, and then, with a club, strike the free end of the board sending the creature flying through the air to its doom. I'm not even sure what else to say after that, except to offer my apologies to frogs and toads everywhere.
I found a very short video of someone giving the definition and a sentence using the word:
Disclaimer: No frogs or toads were harmed in the writing of this post, and I definitely do not condone spanghewing any creature. 🙂
~ Kayla


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On Saturday 6th of January I participate in an eye opening Hakathon. Design Jam and General Assembly paired up to organise the first London Design Jam. The crowd was a good mix of GA alumni, graphic designers, UX designers, developers, project managers, and one doctor.
After spending some time mingling over coffee and breakfast we discovered the brief and the purpose of this design jam. This is really what I want to talk about in this post. Design Jam helped me to discover a new perspective in my design and I wanted to share that experience.
Make the world a better place with simple design.
The Hakathon theme was: "Designing for the visually impaired". We had 2 briefs to choose from:
- How to facilitate the access and navigation in public transport for the visually impaired.
- How to help the visually impaired to re-orientate themselves.
We were a team of 5, Jane a Front-end Developer, Shanon a Graphic Designer, Tom Woodel a UX Designer and Instructor at General Assembly, richard picot a UX Designer at Blippar, and me (UX Designer and UXDI Instructor at General Assembly — at the time).
We chose the second brief: " How to help the visually impaired to re-orientate themselves."
Research and Ideation
Because of lack of time we relied on our own experiences, Alastair Somerville from Acuity Design, and the internet to do our research on visually impaired challenges.
We started by watching a video from the famous Tommy Edison "How Blind People Cross The Street Alone"
This video was really insightful, highlighting obvious challenges. Additionally, we were able to Skype call with Alastair Somerville from Acuity Design. The key insights were:
- Audio plays a huge part in assisting the blind, but be careful not to overwhelm the user. A solution that requires headphones poses the risk of disconnecting them from the environment.
- Haptic feedback is great, but can easily be missed.
- "Enhance and enable the experience, don't be the experience." People should still feel independent.
- Support the journey.
- Avoid busy UI.
Finally, a few of us had known visually impaired people and we knew from our experiences that they do not wish to be assisted but more supported in specific situations.
Finding "The Idea"
We ran a mini design studio where we had to come up with 8 designs in 10 minutes. At the end of these 10 minutes we came up with a lot of really interesting ideas. However, the more we discussed, the more we realised that we wanted to keep Alastair Somerville's key insights at the heart of our designs.
We then took the decision to create an app with minimal UI and that would work with a screen reader and audio plays. After putting all our ideas on the wall we decided to keep only the ones that were relevant to Alastair's key insights. Once this was done, we had a better vision of where we were going and we were able to write our design hypothesis.
Design Hypothesis:
We aim to help visually-impaired people find their way on their own by informing them where they are and where they have been.
Design and Testing
Now that we had our vision we needed to prioritise our features. We opted for a minimal UI design composed of three buttons. The image below shows the three buttons and their functionality.
In Front of Me: This button will state what is in front of you and straight ahead if you carry on in this direction.
Take a Look Around: This button will state what is around you using clock face direction. It will also mention if there is a street or a road to cross to inform the user of potential danger.
Where I Have Been: We designed this button to enable the user to retrace their steps. This would be especially useful if the user ends up in an area with poor or no cell signal.
Signal Lost Notification: As the app relies on signal or wifi, if the user loses signal we will send them a notification. Then, if the user needs to check where they are and where they have been they can. The app would save 12 hours of data to retrace the user steps. This would be useful to the user to allow them to know where they are, and eventually where they lost their way.
Testing — Paper Prototype
We created a quick paper prototype that included all of our functions. To test it, we had to blindfold our user and one person of our team acted as the screen reader. We created a script for the screen reader, which forced us to think of a logical way to deliver the information.
The concept we wanted to test was "How do the visually impaired reorient themselves on a known route?" For example, you and I going to our local bank. Because it isn't a route that we often take, on our way we have a doubt. We then look around us to make sure we are going the correct way. We often look for landmarks, street names, or shops that would trigger our memory. The visually impaired are not able to "look around", that is why we imagined this app.
We set up the testing scenario to match our concept. We tested in General Assembly Design Campus and we tested people familiar with the building, some from the morning and others from months ago.
All our testers were blindfolded, and to recreate a feeling of disorientation we span them around for a few second.
Testing Scenario:
"You are in Classroom 2, and you are heading to the front desk. You are not sure which direction you are facing and want to find out."
Test Findings:
- Distance in steps were more relevant in an immediate context and everyone could relate to them.
- The button "Straight Ahead" was misunderstood as instruction and people started walking. We changed it for "In Front of Me", which end up being more successful.
- Some people misunderstood the purpose of the app, they were waiting for confirmation of direction. However, we really aimed for the app to support the user journey and not be the journey. We realised that the app would need some on boarding or explanation when first activated to avoid frustration.
- Be more to the point on "Around Me": Users feedback was that the Around Me functionality was quite long, so we needed to be more to the point and choose our landmarks.
- Repeating information: Users tried to find a way to repeat some information. We need to add a functionality to help them do that.
Prototype and Future Considerations
We chose to call our app MyWay for two reasons. Firstly, the obvious one it helps our user to find their way. Secondly, users are reorienting themselves on their own. They are doing it their way. The app is only a reassurance, it does not assist them every step of the way.
Please have a look at the video above to discover our prototype.
Future Considerations
We did this project in 8 hours. If we had more time, here are some changes that we would make.
- Smart updates when the user moves or turns during directions.
- Find a way to repeat information when requested.
- Bringing the technology inside using Magnetic Field Based Location Technology.
- Increase user base to include cyclists and people with Alzheimer's.


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Derechos de autor: Yashmin Chebli
Contacto: Email
File: IMG_5111.jpg | Éxitos
Contacto: Email
File: IMG_5111.jpg | Éxitos
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Volcano Discoveries: "One of the most eye-catching guides to the world's volcanoes ever published.
VolcanoAdventures: Our professional team of volcanologists and photographers offers unique travel opportunities: volcano expeditions, photo tours, and relaxed walking & study tours.
The Volcano Adventure Guide: Excellent information and background for anyone wishing to visit active volcanoes safely and enjoyably. The book presents guidelines to visiting 42 different volcanoes around the world.
Derechos de autor: Yashmin Chebli
Contacto: Email
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The term for all fine-grained volcanic products fragmented during explosive eruptions.
Photos from Kamchatka: Kamchatka in Russia's far east is one of world's remotest regions and has an almost unparalleled density of active volcanoes. Look at photos taken during our expeditions from this wonderful corner of the world!
Blue flames of burning sulfur: Ijen volcano in East Java has one of the most impressive sulfur deposits on earth. They are so hot that the sulfur often ignites - a mysterious display at night caught on camera.
Ambrym volcano photos: Ambrym (Vanuatu) is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Its vast caldera has an amazing moonscape and several active vents that contain boiling lava lakes, most famous Marum and Benbow.


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Page 27 of 52
Italian-born chef Marcellino Verzino is not only one of the most charming people in the Valley, but his dishes are some of the most memorable. Housemade pasta, hearty steak and fresh seafood fill the menu, and you can't go wrong with the simple but stunning caprese. For a one-of-a-kind tasting experience, saddle up to the Chef's Island for a four- to six-course menu prepared right before your eyes. marcellinoristorante.com.


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What Is Interconnect? Why Should My Smoke Detectors Be Interconnected/
What is Smoke Detector Interconnect?
Most new building codes require all smoke detectors to be interconnected. An interconnected smoke detector is a smoke detector that talks to the other smoke detectors in your home so that in the event of a fire if one smoke detector detects fire all of the smoke detectors will sound the alarm.
Why should my Smoke Detectors Be Interconnected?
Because in most new home construction interconnected smoke detectors are required by code. It's also safer to have your smoke detectors interconnected because if a fire starts in your basement and you are sound asleep it will alert you in your bedroom faster than a smoke alarm you may not hear in another part of your house giving you and your family more time to escape.
How do I know if my Smoke Detectors are Interconnected?
You can check to see if your traditional smoke detectors are interconnected by removing the smoke detector and checking to see if it has 3 wires in the back. If the smoke detector has 3 wires and all three wires are connected in the electrical box your smoke detector is most likely interconnected. You can also check running a smoke test with smoke detector safe (Smoke in a Can) .
If your smoke detectors are not hardwired or they are not smart smoke detectors they are most likely not interconnected. There are a few exceptions to this but the majority of the time if there is no wiring behind your smoke detector you don't have interconnected smoke detector protection.
If you have interconnected battery powered smoke detectors they should have "wireless symbol" as shown in the picture.
Smart Smoke Detectors are Interconnected
The majority of the new smart smoke detectors out on the market all have smart interconnect functionality built in. Some of the smart smoke detectors even work with other smart home devices like your furnace. Lighting or cameras to keep you safe in the event of a fire. If you are retrofitting your home with new smoke detectors or building a new home smart smoke detectors are a great way to ensure that your new home is interconnected. Even if you don't have the wiring for interconnect functionality, smart smoke detectors will connect wirelessly to each other for interconnect functionality.
Related Post: Nest Protect Smart Smoke Detector Review
Best Interconnected Smart Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors
1. Nest Protect Smoke Detectors
2. One Link Smart Smoke Detector
Both the Nest Protect smoke detectors and the One Link Smart smoke detectors provide interconnectivity between smoke detectors and include all of the smart features that these smoke detectors are known for.
The nest protect integrates well with existing nest devices and within the nest ecosystem. If you already have a nest smart thermostat a nest protect is a great addition to your smart home. The nest protect has built in motion sensors that work with your nest thermostat to provide more accurate home and away settings when you are in your home to help save you energy when you leave your house. The nest protect has both a battery powered and a hardwired version.
How does nest protect interconnect work?
When you set up your smart smoke detectors on your wifi network and program them in the nest app, the interconnect between the nest protect smart smoke detectors is automatically set up. The interconnect feature between the smart smoke detectors is built into the detectors and will function even if your wifi or internet is not working.
Nest Smoke Detectors Interconnected Voice Announcement
Another great feature of the nest protect is that it will announce what room the fire or smoke was detected in with a voice when the alarms are sounded. This can help you orient yourself in the confusing situation of a middle of the night smoke detector. It can also help buy you time to get out of the house or help your family members because you know where the fire is located. When you set up the nest protect smoke detectors, you give each one a name and a location where it is placed to help you in the event of an emergency.
One Link Smart Smoke Detector, A Lot Of Great Features In One Package
The One Link Smart Smoke Detector is the new smart smoke detector the market and will interconnect with most existing hardwired interconnected smoke detectors and with other One Link Smart Smoke Detectors. The One Link Smart Smoke Detector is hardwired and requires a constant power, but it has two great features that are the nest protect does not currently incorporate.
One Link Has Amazon Alexa Built In & A High End Speaker For Streaming Music
The One Link Smoke Detector has a built in high end speaker and Amazon Alexa built right into the smoke alarm. This means that you can use your smoke alarm as a built in streaming sound system and you can use it to control your house with voice using Amazon Alexa.
With the One Link Smoke Detector you don't need a seperate Amazon Alexa device like the echo dot or echo show you can just use your smoke detector and it has all of the same smart features as any other Amazon Alexa device.
If you are building a new house and don't want to have Amazon Echo devices plugged into every room but you want voice control and streaming music in every room, the One Link Smoke Detector is a great value because you would pay much more for 3 seperate devices than if you have them all combined in one. It is ingenious thinking to combine Alexa, Smart Smoke Detector and Speaker all in one clean package but it can be a little pricey with costs typically over $200 for each One Link Smart Smoke Detector Device.
What is Super Interconnect?
Nest Protect Super Interconnect Works With Other Smart Devices To Keep You Safe
The nest protect works with several other smart devices to help keep you safe and can be used to make some of your other smart home devices even smarter.
While not officially a technical term we call the the Nest Protect's connection to other smart home devices "Super Connect" because it is amazing and really what makes it stand apart from some of the other smart home smoke detectors on the market.
The nest protect works with the nest thermostat in the event of a fire or carbon monoxide detection to turn off your furnace to prevent the spread of fire.
This feature has come in handy as I mentioned above to prevent spreading smoke throughout the house if you end up burning something in the oven.
What really impresses me is that it will turn off the HVAC system if it detects carbon monoxide to prevent spreading the deadly, odorless gas throughout your home. Since Faulty furnaces are one of the leading causes of carbon monoxide poisoning, it's also nice to know that if your furnace is the issue at fault the nest protect and nest thermostat can turn off the furnace instead of continuing to pump deadly carbon monoxide into your home.
Nest Protect Works With Nest Cameras
When the nest protect detects fire, smoke or carbon monoxide if you have a nest camera it will automatically begin streaming a live stream of your nest camera to your phone so you can see if there is a fire.
Nest Protect Works With Phillips Hue Light Bulbs
When smoke is detected by the nest protect if you connect your Philips hue bulbs to your nest account your phillips hue bulbs can automatically turn on to alert you of a fire but also to provide you with the lighting you need to escape your home.
You can connect your philips hue bulbs and nest products by logging into your philips hue account here and following the on screen instructions.
What if you don't need a smart smoke detector and just want an interconnected smoke detector?
In 2018 even though smart smoke detectors can be a little pricey they provide an incredible value for the features they provide because they alert you when they aren't working or something is wrong like low batteries.
Why is this important?
because according to the NFPA:
"In reported home fires in which the smoke alarms were present but did not operate, almost half (46%) of the smoke alarms had missing or disconnected batteries. Nuisance alarms were the leading reason for disconnected smoke alarms."
Source: nfpa.org
Almost 50% of smoke alarms that should be working are disconnected or not working and people do nothing about it, because how often do you really think about your smoke detectors?
What's even more frightening is that the NFPA reports:
"Three of every five home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms."
So while smart smoke detectors are a little bit more expensive than a standard smoke detector we believe that it's a worthwhile investment for your safety and the safety of your family.
If you don't want a smart smoke detector but still want an interconnected smoke detector we have a recommended option for both hardwired homes and homes with no wiring.


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Broken Water's music is nothing if not varied. "Wasted" is the third single that we've heard off of the Olympia-based band's forthcoming experiment, Wrought, which is due out next week, and it manages to both complement and contradict our first introduction to their new work. The song follows the record's opening track "High-Lo," which we premiered last month, and while "High-Lo" is deeply indebted to washed-out shoegaze aesthetics, "Wasted" is a snarling homage to early grunge. Listen below.
(via Impose)
Wrought is out 3/24 via Night-People.
via Stereogum


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Five easy ways to know if you're making the right decision
Recently I've been finding it very difficult to make decisions about things. It can be anything from attending a social event, how many times to publish blog posts on here or something more trivial like which moisturiser to use. I can get myself quite worked up about the smallest things, overthinking it all. In the past I've always been quite decisive and confident in my decisions. When I make a decision or set my mind on something, I want instant results.
However it's the bit that comes before that I've been pondering recently. When it comes down to it all, is there really any such thing as a 'right' decision? Maybe not. I believe there are other alternative, parallel realities (bear with me here) where we've made different choices. Did you know it's been scientifically proven that alternate universes exist? So, with this in mind, I've found a few things that have given me some reassurance when feeling indecisive and hopefully they'll help you too.
5 ways to tell if you're making the right decision
1.If it feels good do it! Whenever you decide to do something, ultimately it should make you feel good and not just because you've 'decided' to do it. However not all situations are so easy. For example, one morning you might really want to just stay home and not go to work. The idea of staying at home makes you feel good but in the long-term. Although it's probably not a good idea and you'll feel guilty for not going in, which doesn't make you feel good. So the key here is to change your thoughts about the situation. Taking this example, accept that going to work is what you're going to have to do that day. But talk yourself into a good feeling place about it. Think of the positive things about going to work. Whether it's seeing people you get on well with, or treating yourself to a cup of coffee that day. The little things make the biggest difference.
2. You don't have to struggle for it. Speaking from experience, whenever I try and rush a decision, the outcome is never great. Give yourself time to think things through or 'sleep on it' as they say. Most of us aren't in situations where we need to make split second decisions very often. Make the most of that and trust that the decision will be made for you when the timing is right.
3. Trust your gut. When something feels inherently uncomfortable in our lives, it means it's not right for us. I will often try and convince myself that I should do something or a particular situation is right for me. When in reality there's something else much better on its way for me. Going back to the job analogy, last year I was convinced I wanted a particular job, went for a trial day (luckily I had that chance) and actually really disliked it. I could have taken the job as I didn't have any other options (I thoughts I wanted) at that time but I trusted my gut and turned it down. I contemplated not going for an interview in the job I'm in now but had this feeling I should just give it a go. Turns out I really liked the sound of the job, got offered it and it's the perfect place for me to be at this point in my life.
"I have friends who know me better than I know myself sometimes so I really respect their opinions."
4. You don't regret the decision for more than five minutes. It is possible to change your mind about something once you've made a choice. Thank goodness. I do this all the time when ordering food at a restaurant! If you make a decision in the heat of a moment and you not only feel bad about it straight after but a few days later, you might want to rethink your choice. Obviously if it's something like a bad break up, you might feel bad for a lot longer than that but the pros of your decisions should always outweigh the cons.
5. The people closest to you agree with your choice. They say we're a reflection of the five (I think) people we're closest to. Do your family and friends agree or disagree with you on the whole? Every culture or family dynamic is different but if my parents really, really disagreed with a choice I was making, it would definitely make me think twice about it. While sometimes only you know what's best for you, I have friends who know me better than I know myself sometimes so really respect their opinions. Next time you're unsure of something, ask someone close to you what their advice for you would be.
And if you follow these five tips above and all else fails, remember there is no wrong decision here. Mistakes are always made and it might feel like you're going off track but we're part of a bigger picture. It's time to stop trying to micro-manage our lives and enjoy it!
I hope you've found these tips useful. Are you good at making decisions? I'd love to hear what tips you have on how to make the right decision for you. If you like this more chatty style of writing, check out this post of mine.


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Made to shine
These gloss square labels are a talented bunch. They consistently stick to paper, glass and plastic and therefore they're ideal for corporate branding, but are also perfect for product labels, wedding address labels and bonbonnieres labels just to name a few.
Label Features
- Permanent adhesive sticks to multiple surfaces like glass, metal, paper and plastic
- Sticks well to any even surface
- Professional gloss material
Design your label
- Upload your own images or PDF
- Create from a blank template or select one of the predesign templates
- Add your logo, slogan or latest business promotion


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Prep Time
Cook Time
1 tablespoon of peanut oil
700 grams (25 oz) chicken tenderloins
400 ml (14 fl oz) can of coconut milk
1 tablespoon of fish sauce
Juice of half a lime
100 grams (3.5 oz) enoki mushrooms
150 grams (5 oz) snow peas (mangetout), halved
1/2 red capsicum (pepper) sliced
Making this paste is quick and easy and will add an amazing depth of flavour to your next curry.
Green Curry Paste
2 cloves of garlic
1 stalk of lemongrass (white part only) halved
2 shallots (green stems removed)
Pinch of cumin
Zest of a whole lime
1 cm piece of ginger
Small bunch of coriander (cilantro) including stems
1 long green chilli, membrane and seeds removed
1-2 tablespoons of grapeseed oil
Pairs well with …..
Steamed rice
Hints and Tips
This is a mild curry but if you like it hotter add an extra chilli to the paste.
To prepare the paste place all ingredients (except oil) in a food processor and blend. Add the oil and blend until paste like consistency.
Heat a wok on the stove at a medium-high heat. Add the peanut oil and chicken and cook until chicken is brown (you may need to do this in batches)
Once chicken is brown, add the curry paste and coat chicken well and cook for a further 2 minutes on medium-high heat.
Add the coconut milk, fish sauce and lime juice.
Simmer on a low heat for about 10 minutes.
Add the mushrooms, snow peas and capsicum and simmer again for about 2 minutes.


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This resource has not yet been reviewed.
Being new to curriki.org, I found this video/tutorial to be very helpful. I am now confident that I can move through the site to find things as well as edit and add material.
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Caring for an elderly family member who is in the middle stages of Alzheimer's disease can be incredibly intimidating. There is so much going on and there can be so much for you to keep up with on a daily basis. Keeping your cool is one of the best ways for you to handle what pops up as it arises.
Stay Calm and Use a Calm Speaking Voice
It might feel like you need to shout and yell, and you can definitely do that when you're on your own. But when you're talking to your elderly family member, you need to stay calm and use a calm voice. That helps your elderly family member to stay calm as well and can keep the situation from blowing up into one that is out of your control entirely.
Reassure Your Senior Often
Alzheimer's disease brings a lot of changes to your caregiving journey and to your aging family member. Those changes can be terrifying for her and as such, she might be seeking a lot more reassurance than she ever has before. Take the time to remember that this is scary for her and offer reassurance as often as you can.
Written Cues and Reminders Can Help
Many caregivers think that at this stage, nothing much can help. If your elderly family member is still able to read, however, you might be surprised to find that written lists, cues, and reminders can be a big help. Try leaving a note on the kitchen counter that reminds your aging family member where she is, what day it is, and what is going on that day. You might be happily surprised to find her referring to it often.
Educate Yourself so You Know What to Expect
The more that you as a caregiver know and understand about these middle stages of Alzheimer's disease the more prepared you can be for those changes. Do as much reading as possible and consider joining a support group. You'll get much-needed support and learn so very much.
Make sure that you mention changes to your elderly family member's doctor as soon as you notice them. The smallest changes in health or behavior can be a sign that something else is going on.
If You Or An Aging Loved One Are Considering Hiring Professional Caregivers in Delray Beach, FL, Please Contact The Caring Staff at Assisting Hands Home Care at 561-829-3080 Today.
Latest posts by mramirez (see all)
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Working and living abroad: an inside look at one family's journey
Many people dream of living and working abroad, surrounded by a culture different from their own, connecting with expats from around the world, and perhaps even learning a new language, but few turn this dream into a reality.
At GetYourGuide, the majority of our employees have moved from abroad to join our European offices. In the hallways, you hear the constant exchange of advice on how to find the right neighborhood, open a bank account, get health insurance, and more. While many may dream of working abroad, it's these hurdles that deter hopefuls from ever making the move.
On January 10th, in Seattle's Pike Place Market Studio, join our meetup to hear from GetYourGuide's Senior UX Researcher, Marcos Nunes-Ueno, and his wife, Jessica Nunes-Ueno, on how they overcame these hurdles and moved their family from Seattle to Berlin in 2018.
They will share their experience from job hunt to arrival, what went well, what could have gone better, and why 2019 is the year to finally turn the expat dream into reality.
Seats at the meetup are limited, so be sure to register via the link. And don't forget to visit our Meetup page to stay up to date on all upcoming events.
Date & Time:
Thu, Jan 10, 2019
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm PST
Pike Place Market Studio
1922 Post Alley, Seattle, WA 98101


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When he came out ahead of that storm and managed to keep about 100nm to his closest pursuer, Guichard, on the faster and bigger Spindrift trimaran, I thought that all he had to do was to control that advantage and with a bit of luck, the faster boat would not be able to catch him before the finish. But that would not make Peyron style, so he just kept pushing like a kid and finished with an advantage of 180nm!!!!
Peyron showed not only that he is a great sailor (we all knew that) but that at 55 he his still in shape and has an incredible endurance. I believe he won the race on the first days on that big storm, that he described as "hellish conditions". Alone on that multihull he, and all the younger skippers on similar boats, did not sleep practically for 48 hours. He said that the only time he tried to close the eyes at the wheel and have a brief nap, he woke up alarmed with the boat high on the air on the way to a capsize. He says he got some more grey hair with that :-) How can a 55 year old guy have the same endurance as a 30 year old guy? That one beats me, unless Peyron is a very special man, one of a kind and I believe that is the case.
He did not only beat them all as he beat the race record for almost 2 hours (7 days, 15 hours, 8 minutes, 32 seconds). I believe it was for doing this that he pushed like a mad man on the last 500nm when he had the race already controlled. He did not only want to win, he wanted the race record too. Crazy man, it is too much for a 55 year old guy, except that he did not know that, so it had no importance at all. LOL
The funny thing is that he was only racing that trimaran by accident: Not finding any competitive boat, and that means that the sponsors did not believe him to be still competitive at the highest level, Peyron that likes to race, was going to make the race, for the fun of it, on a very old and small trimaran, on the Route class, this one:
Armel Le Cleash, another top younger racer, was entering the race on a competitive trimaran sponsored by the ones that had sponsored Peyron for years, Banque Populaire. Then Armel hurt badly an arm...and they had to look around for someone able to sail the big trimaran solo in a competitive way...and the best option seemed to be old Peyron. So almost without preparation here he goes from a small old slow tiny catamaran to a huge fast one, sailing the Route du Rhum on a competitive boat...and the rest is history ;-)
Une incroyable arrivée de Loïck Peyron ! by routedurhum


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Pug is all set for a new adventure. Accompanied by Running Footman Will, Running Footman Liam and Lady Miranda, he visits the local safari park, even though he is a little scared of lions.
Here they make some new friends, but also encounter danger. Can Pug save the day- and overcome his fear of lions?
Quirky and charming, 'Safari Pug' is the third adventure for our Puggy hero and his devoted owner. The story is full of gentle humour and the wonderful illustrations throughout add to the comedy. Pug has an amazing range of expressions, making him a very endearing character.
The large, clear font makes this an appealing choice as an early chapter book, yet the vocabulary offers a pleasing level of challenge. Good triumphs over bad and Pug is safe and ready for his next adventure. I wonder what that will be... (Something piratical- it says at the end of the book!)
Safari Pug: The dog Who Walked on the Wild Side
Laura James, illustrated by Eglantine Ceulemans
Bloomsbury ISBN: 978-1408866405
You can read a review of Pug's first adventure here.


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If you have recently upgraded from Word 2003 it would be difficult to find things you could do by clicking the menus. It took some time for me to find the "change case" option and was surprised to find it was right in front of me all the time.
First let me tell you the easier and faster way.
Type or copy-paste following sentence in Word 2007:
the quick brown dog jumped over the lazy dog.
Selecting it and one press of Shift+F3 changes it to
The quick brown dog jumped over the lazy dog.
Another press of Shift+F3 changes it to
Now remove the full-stop (dot) at the end and repeat the Shift+F3 again you will also get the title case conversion like:
The Quick Brown Dog Jumped Over The Lazy Dog
That was short-cut method. The usual way to do the same thing is either by menu or toolbar. As you know there is no menu in Word 2007, you can use the toolbar in the home 'ribbon'
The procedure:
1. Select the text you'd like to change
2. Click the Change Case button in the Font section of the Home ribbon (the button has an upper case and lower case A)
3. You have a variety of options from which to choose. For example, you can choose lowercase, uppercase or toggle case (as shown in figure)
4. Select the option you want
Your text will change to match your selection.


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He killed the bear that attacked him. But it was still latched to his leg
A 36-year-old New Mexico man was out walking his dogs near the town of Raton when a bear attacked, according to the Associated Press.
"When he saw me, he pinned his ears down and immediately made a big charge at me," Bridger Petrini told KRQE.
He was able to shoot the bear during the attack, which killed it, according to the Ruidoso News.
But just because the bear was shot doesn't mean it let go of him.
"Somehow or another, he had bitten down on my calf muscle," Petrini told KRQE. "It had basically twisted it over his bottom jaw, and then he died with his teeth locked, and so I wasn't able to get away from him."
Petrini told the television station that authorities had to saw the bear's head off to move the animal off of him.
He received serious injuries from the attack — including a bite to the back of his knee — and was airlifted to the University of New Mexico Hospital, according to a news release from the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.
"Bears are unpredictable," the agency warned in the release, and people should be aware of them, especially during the summer when bears are out looking for food.
If you see a bear, here are some ways to protect yourself, according to the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish:
"Stop, and back away slowly while facing the bear. Avoid direct eye contact, as the bear may consider that a threat. Do not run. Make yourself appear large by holding out your jacket. If you have small children, pick them up so they don't run.Give the bear plenty of room to escape, so it doesn't feel threatened or trapped. If a black bear attacks you, fight back using anything at your disposal, such as rocks, sticks, binoculars or even your bare hands. Aim for the bear's nose and eyes.If the bear has not seen you, stay calm and slowly move away, making noise so the bear knows you are there. Never get between a mother bear and her cubs."


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From The Washington Post:
Experts agree that to create conditions to boost economic growth, we must focus on a region's expertise. Well, in the greater Washington region's efforts to find clusters that define its identity and create a competitive advantage, it might be short-changing an industry that is very much part of the equation: advocacy.
Advocacy encompasses trade associations, social science research organizations, lobbying groups, philanthropic groups and firms. It employs more than 117,000 people in our region, according to data gathered by the Stephen Fuller Institute at George Mason University. It is one of our region's dominant economic clusters, with twice as many professionals as in our healthcare industry and three times as many as in media.
Over the last two years, advocacy was one of only two economic clusters that enjoyed job growth in the greater Washington region faster than national averages, according to the Fuller Institute. If this industry is so important, why it is not more widely celebrated or viewed as a regional economic asset?
The industry is misunderstood, albeit with some justification, and suffering from a negative association with the process of government, according to Ivan Adler, a principal at McCormick Group. He says most people don't really know what advocacy is, believing that it "is just buying influence for wealthy corporate interests."
Rich Gold, leader of the public policy and regulation group at Holland & Knight, attributed the misconceptions to a broad societal distrust of intermediaries — whether a hedge fund manager or a car salesman. He says for many outsiders, using intermediaries creates a fear that power is being used for self-interest, with these fears being justified through media coverage of the actions of small numbers of "bad apples."
Being good at advocacy may in itself create negativity. Stewart Verdery, founder of Monument Policy Group, observed that because being proximate to government provides an avenue for professional and entrepreneurial success, this creates a perception that our region's professionals have a standard of living "unfairly detached from" the rest of America. Shows like "House of Cards" and "Veep" create an impression of Washingtonians that is out of touch with the daily realities of American life. It's because of this negativity surrounding advocacy and its close relationship with government that so many people snub the industry as a source of job creation and growth.
However, advocacy is not just about corporate interests — it speaks for every significant social and economic issue facing our citizens.
"If you have a job, own a home, or a car or even have a pet, you have somebody in Washington representing your interests," Adler says. "And this is a good thing and a right granted to us by the First Amendment."
Let's not forget that lobbying also creates opportunities for the creation of businesses in other industry clusters that benefit from proximity to lobbyists. Information technology, software, media and hospitality industries here all gain significant economic benefit from this accessibility.
Yes, I agree that if we want to grow as a region, we must continue to diversify — a good plan if we don't want to be overly reliant on federal government spending. Like Pittsburgh or Detroit before us, we know that as our local industry changes, we must look elsewhere for economic opportunities.
However, let's all take a deep breath here. Government itself is not going to disappear. The need to influence policy makers through advocacy will remain. We would be wise to separate our opinions of the entire industry of advocacy from the proven benefits it brings to our region's economy and power.


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Some of the well-known associations in golf may be the most noteworthy businesses of them all – in terms of making money, growing the game and influencing the industry.
There certainly aren't many organizations with more clout in the sport than the professional tours, which make millions of dollars from corporate sponsorships and television deals while also activating player-development and charitable initiatives. Other noteworthy trade associations in this category provide vital education, information and advocacy to their nationwide, and often global, membership.
The First Tee, meanwhile, is more than a player development program; it's more about providing youth with educational programs that build character, instill life lessons and promote healthy choices – all through the game of golf.
Another diverse bunch, there are seven associations in the NGF GOLF 100.
The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America is the professional association for almost 18,000 member men and women who manage and maintain the sport's most…View Company
Founded in 1950, the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) is the world's leading professional golf organization for women and has a diverse and storied membership…View Company
National Golf Course Owners Association
The National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) is the leading authority on the business of golf course ownership and management, providing information and education to…View Company
PGA of America
The PGA of America is one of the world's largest sports organizations, comprised of almost 29,000 men and women golf Professionals who are recognized experts…View Company
The PGA TOUR is the world's biggest, richest and most powerful platform in professional golf, a $2 billion business that oversees far more than the…View Company
The First Tee
The First Tee has been golf's most influential youth development program over the past two decades, offering both golf and life lessons to kids. The…View Company
The USGA celebrates, serves and advances the game of golf, and has been committed to the best interests of the game since its founding more…View Company


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August 27, 1989.
You might think a surprise release from a member of the biggest hard rock band in the world would be met with a mob of screaming fans.
Mulleted teens and headbanging babes leaning precariously over a hastily assembled barricade, arms out, sharpies in hand…screaming for his signature.
But today would be very different for Guns N' Roses co-founder Izzy Stradlin.
Instead of fanfare and adoration, he was greeted with scrunched noses of disgust and handcuffs, guilty of a public disturbance no one paid tickets to see.
His publicist followed closely behind, pushing his way through the mikes and cameras shoved in his face, blurting out that all Izzy wanted to do was "express himself".
The flight attendants clearly thought otherwise.
If you want to know how it all went sideways, we'll have to hit rewind.
But stick with me.
If you've ever behaved badly in front of your audience, there's a lesson of redemption you can use to bring yourself closer to the customers you've offended.
And actually increase sales.
Even if you haven't been naughty, you can still use the tip I'm about to share to boost your bottom line.
Back to Izzy. 27 years (and one month) ago, the GNR guitarist was on a routine 5 hour flight between Indianapolis and Los Angeles.
Like any hard rocker worth his salt, Izzy tore his way down the first class drink list. And by about an hour and twenty minutes into the flight, it was use the facilities. Which happened to be occupied at the time.
Deciding enough was enough…and that a rock star of his stature simply couldn't wait.
Izzy lit up a smoke, whipped out his snake (on a plane) and peed all over the food prep galley floor
…much to the shock and disgust of the passengers splashed by this unexpected leak.
Which leads me to this question:
If you have, you already know that apologies can only go so far.
Simply Red's lead singer Mick Hucknall recently apologized for sleeping with 3000 groupies.
If that ain't social proof for the extracurricular fun rock stars enjoy, I don't know what is.
Personally, I'm still waiting for Nickelback to apologize for every album they released.
But if you've made your audience cringe or acted like a entitled prick or simply screwed up big time, this is how I remind you that just saying sorry won't cut it.
The truth is that we are all under pressure to perform. We mess up. It's human. But in most cases, when we take bad advice from well intentioned friends, we end up digging a bigger hole.
So is there a way to step away from the hole, turn the ship around and leverage your humanity in a way to earn more respect from your fans?
Yes there is. It's called "reputation management marketing".
The trick is simple: get in front of your mistake as soon as possible so you can get back to making money. If you do it right, you make even see a sales spike.
I help clients "in trouble" write a mea culpa post they can post on Facebook or their blog.
I help them script a humanizing video so they can explain how they're going to make things better.
I then work with them to craft a series of 5 emails that helps them win back their fans.
This package isn't cheap and it isn't for everyone. It's not an SEO move to banish bad ratings from your Yelp, Google Reviews etc pages.
It's strictly a copy play. But it works. Because it's real.
So unless you have an Appetite For Destruction...
... right now might be the perfect time to zip up your pants, take a few deep breaths and wash your hands of the very human mistake you made.
Contact me today to get started.
Your audience will thank you for it.
Your copyjockey at large,
Craig Dave


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Server Status
From Meteoplug Wiki
Please notice, time is given in UTC (GMT). Depending on your geographical location your local time will differ from that. If you are interested, the chart above does give some usefull information about the Meteoplug server status. You can read the chart as follows:
Chart below gives some additional info about physical server status, which might be an indication of overall system health.


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The Argument About DJI
Probably a couple of years or more. IF you're 100% sure that you'll not every want to shoot handheld video it is a different story. The two of those quads are intended for skilled image capture and will definitely cause a stir when they're released to the general public. Well, DJI appears to have the edge inside this department. I'm impressed with everything DJI managed to enter this specific form aspect. Besides all the awesome hardware, in addition, it employs the DJI Go application for iOS or Android, which is a rather robust software package.
Details of DJI
There are all sorts of drones. And as you are probably aware, that also makes it much better than a number of other drones in the marketplace. The drone has the capability to travel at no more than 40 kmph that might just not quite cut it if you anticipate using it for drone racing. Drone racing and standard FPV drones are getting to be extremely popular this year.
The props are made to spread into the right position once the motors begin to spin. Just fold the propellers and you're ready to go. In this instance, only the aircraft is going to be updated. You can't update the aircraft inside this case. This wasn't possible on the boat. Just ensure you don't begin the motors when doing so. The most speed at which the Mavic has the ability to prevent obstacles is 22mph (30kph).
Once more, a massive warm hug and big because of all for being helpful. To start with the size matters. Apologies fordroning on! Zero GPS bracelets, zero transmitters. Stay at exactly the same level height over the ground automatically. Here's the best way to acquire his columns by email.
The Mavic Pro also includes a vision positioning technology which uses GPS and another technology named GLONASS to be able to figure out the location of the drone with rather high precision, whether or not you're using it indoors or outdoors. The Mavic Pro is unquestionably a top recommendation so far as drones as concerned and it is strongly recommended that you receive the package that accompanies the remote if you're able to afford the $999 price tag it includes. The Mavic Pro isn't only much more portable and maneuverable but in addition retains and even expands on a few of the characteristics of the newest drones. The Mavic Pro leaves hardly any reasons to purchase it. The DJI Mavic Pro is this kind of impressive goods and everybody who sees its online reviews are going to be in awe in regard to what the drone can do.
There's no greater way to provide your family and friends a taste of flying, as you stay in full control. I hope you discover that it's useful! You really, really have to practice this thing. In case you aren't in a rush, it's far better to watch for the shipment to stabilize and see whether you may spot the item in physical stores. These two work with the obstacle avoidance system, which lowers the possibility of a collision. They aren't essential to earn a fantastic shot but they are quite valuable.
The remote is compact and simple to hold, and may be used alone, or along by means of your smartphone. Somehow the small controller for the Mavic has the capability to reach a distance of 4.3 miles (7km). It's also more compact than DJI's previous controllers, which aids the entire package stay portable. The comply with mode is an intriguing characteristic of the drone that permits the drone to automatically adhere to a specific subject with no need for you to really control it. Then there's Spotlight mode. Also in regards to the flight parameters DJI appears to be offering much more.
You may use the telephone, the remote, or both together. Charging takes about one hour. If you take advantage of a more compact battery you will often get shorter flight time, while a more compact camera system may lessen image quality. You are considering our first flying camera you may bring everywhere. Video can be shaky in the event the drone is addressing wind, but the gimbal does a superb job overall of addressing any unwanted movement. I will go back, since I need to film the Aurora more and attempt to have an entire piece from it. We just need to examine the Osmo series to achieve that.
At release, Karma proved to be a critical competitor to the present drone leader, DJI. The Karma has a complete set of cool and useful gadgets. Weirdly, it has no follow-me feature. I would pick The Mavic over The Karma because of few reasons.
In regards to flying the Mavic, you've got two options. Simply speaking, the Mavic is poised at turning into a game-changer. Like that's not sufficient, the DJI Mavic also has another terrific feature. The DJI Mavic doesn't arrive with LightBridge.


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When I was eleven, I aimed the Kodak digital camera I got as a birthday present out of the moving car and toward a nearby giraffe, snapping a bunch of photos as I went.
Among the otherwise forgetful photos of ungulates was one picture of a giraffe, its head bending gracefully into the frame against a complete backdrop of wispy green grass, looking straight at the camera. To my eleven-year-old eyes, it was perfect. And, it was completely unexpected, not nearly what I remember seeing though the viewfinder. It felt like a gift from the giraffe.
I no longer have the photograph, but since then a camera has been an integral part of how I see things. I'm forever on the hunt for more surprises and gifts from the simple things in life. These are a few of my favorites.
Mushroom's Edge
A slug sits atop a mushroom in the middle of drying pine needles in Newlands Forest, South Africa.
Stepping Out
From the dark room and into the sunlight, a boy steps out from his rondavel in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
A Midnight Disturbance
A meerkat watches festive guests pass by late after hours during the Zoolights festival in Chicago.
Bug on an Onion Flower
Surprised by the legs on this bug as well as the floral version of onions (which she'd never grown before), Tara snapped this photo in her garden in the Western Cape, South Africa.
Maybe Goodbye
During one of the last, warm days of summer a gull flies into the sunset along Camps Bay Beach, South Africa.
Dinnertime Portrait
An old tortoise munches on coleslaw in the Western Cape, South Africa.


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Sprouts are one of those foods which are proudly placed on health conscious menus as a trophy garnish to an already nutrient packed meal. I never really thought about how they came about, until I researched how to make them. Much to my utter surprise it is ridiculously easy but also immensely exciting to essentially … Continue reading Sprouting; my new love
Tag: noplastic
2017; my year of a thousand tears
Finally, 2017 has come to an end. A year in which I have struggled, a culmination of a dozen endings with no new beginnings, just an expanse of limbo and sadness whilst trying to work out what is the meaning of my life and my next steps forward. Being alone a lot of the year has meant … Continue reading 2017; my year of a thousand tears
Zero Waste Deodorant- recipe and review
I first heard about links between aluminium and breast cancer when I was around 13 years old; I have no idea where I heard this especially back in the early 2000's but somehow this information trickled into my consciousness from somewhere. This resulted in me buying a salt rock deodorant; however through my early teenage … Continue reading Zero Waste Deodorant- recipe and review
When life gives you lemons…
Lemons to me used to be either a zingy ingredient in cooking, or something to have when your throat starts to feel scratchy in the winter months. Little did I know the endless uses there are for this miracle fruit... CLEAN Lemons are now one of my three household cleaning staples, alongside vinegar and bicarbonate … Continue reading When life gives you lemons…
Thoughts on the fashion industry
As September, the month of fashion weeks draws to a close, I am reflecting on my thoughts towards fashion. In my early twenties, this world of glitz and glamour excited me massively. Why is it that it is so immensely appealing to people, myself included? As the fifth most polluting industry in the world, equal … Continue reading Thoughts on the fashion industry
The leaves are changing… Thank goodness
In recent years, the changing of seasons has made me nervous. What was once a linear Spring- Summer- Autumn- Winter transition pattern, is now a zig zag of all four randomly appearing at various points in the year. Although Donald Trump flat out denies that climate change is even a reality, the ever increasing incidences … Continue reading The leaves are changing… Thank goodness
A Happy Zero Waste Birthday
Recently I celebrated my 26th birthday, much to my dismay… Somehow in the blink of an eye I have surpassed my early twenties -_- However, out of all my years of living I think I am most proud of my last year, purely from the perspective of how much more proactive I have become in … Continue reading A Happy Zero Waste Birthday