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Frequently Asked Questions
Find the answer all of your questions
About Us
African Canadian Christian Network. ACCN is a network of churches partnering with communities, governments, institutions and others to improve life outcomes for Black youth and their families.
Since 2006, ACCN has been working in communities across the GTA to help Black youth lead lives free from violence. The organization grew out of a partnership between the Ontario government and Black churches in Toronto in response to what the media termed the "summer of the gun." That year 52 of the 78 homicides involved Black youth. With $3 million in funding from the Ontario government, ACCN supported 67 anti-violence projects that engaged community groups and churches in helping approximately 172,00 Black youth and families in Neighborhood improvement areas.
ACCN is currently undertaking the following programs: Scholarships: Through an innovative partnership with more than 20 of the leading independent schools in the GTA, ACCN has been securing scholarships and financial aid for high achieving Black youth. To date, more than 120 youth from diverse backgrounds have benefited from more than $18 million in scholarships and financial aid. Each year, ACCN invites families with high achieving students to take advantage of these funding opportunities. STEM+: To address the drastic under- representation of Black youth in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math ( STEM), ACCN has partnered with First Robotics Canada and created Canada's first Black robotics team with a groups of youth from various areas across the GTA. Parenting: With funding from the Ontario government under the Ontario Black Youth Action Plan, ACCN is preparing to launch a Parent-to-Parent program to help families learn from each other about how to raise successful children.
ACCN welcomes volunteers especially those with skills and knowledge to support and mentor youth in the areas of education, justice and employment. For information on volunteer opportunities, please call 416-615-0182 or send an email to firstname.lastname@example.com
ACCN is a network of churches that serves individuals of any or no faith
ISP Questions
Entry grades vary by schools. Some schools offer Financial Aid and Scholarships from grade 5, while most offer the same at starting at grade 7.
A Call For Applications is extended once a year at the beginning of the academic school year, for entry for the following school year. Apart from the annual cycle, a Call For Applications can be issued whenever ACCN forges a new school partnership, or when an existing school offers additional Financial Aid. Current applications can be found by downloading the application and supporting material.
Some of the independent schools have religious affiliations, others do not.
ACCN welcomes volunteers especially those with skills and knowledge to support and mentor youth in the areas of education, justice and employment. For information on volunteer opportunities, please call 416-615-0182 or send an email to email@example.com
Robotics is the study of robots. It includes the design, construction, operation and use of robots as well as the computer systems to control them. Robotics is an interdisciplinary branch of engineering and science that includes mechanical engineering, electronics engineering, computer science, and others. Robotics deals with the design, construction, operation, and use of robots, as well as computer systems for their control, sensory feedback, and information processing.
ACCN's Robotics team Techtronix was created as a fun way to expose black youth to Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM)⸺an area in which they are greatly underrepresented. In 2017/2018, this ward winning team was the first black community team to enter an First Robotics Competition. Involvement whets their appetite for STEM studies and careers and the wealth building job of the future. Additionally, the students learn skills like, coding, CAD (Computer-Aided Design) modelling software, machining, collaboration, strategic planning and so much more.
ACCN Techtronix is made up of students from grades 9 – 12.
ACCN's recruitment starts at the beginning of the academic school year. Training for coding, CAD modelling software, fundraising, et al, starts in preparation for the robot building season that kicks off in January.
This program enables parents of Black youth to help each other to stay motivated, increase their knowledge of resources related to their children's well-being, advocate for their children and navigate the school system. ACCN is collaborating with the Ontario National Association of Black School Educators (ONABSE) and Generation Chosen, a Jane?finch youth group to develop the program
The Parent2Parent program provides mentoring for parents through Circle Families; As Community Parent Education Program and an Online Parenting Support Community.
This is a peer mentoring program for parents by parents - the proverbial 'village' . Parents who have achieved success in raising Black children have the opportunity to share their experience with others seeking strategies, needing moral support or direct assistance e.g. a companion to attend parent-teacher interviews or Court hearings.
The Parent 2 Parent program is funded by the Government of Ontario under the Ontario Black Youth Action Plan ( OBYAP).


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Gene & Carol managed to time their I Do's after the storm. Arriving in the inlet we were surprised to find so much extra sand everywhere. Evidently they had removed all the sand from the parking lot and pushed it onto the beach. There had not been enough time for it to wear away or be moved probably because the parking lot was the site for Corvette Weekend preparations had to made for the event. Despite the obstacles we were able to find the perfect flat spot to declare their love for each other -with the dog in tow. She was so cute it was her first time on sand and there was a little confusion for her because she sunk every time she took a step. After their ceremony some laughs and a few tears they were ready for pictures!
Carol wore a wedding gown for her nuptials which made for some great Boardwalk shots! The nice thing about off season and the boardwalk is there are quite a few places to take your one of a kind pictures for those special memories from you day. Not the ordinary wedding shots! Many people I marry have a connection to the boardwalk or the beach that usually involves their favorite vacation memory or the spot where they got engaged. It is so nice when they can integrate that into their ceremony spot and their day. Full circle.
Photo credit Dennis McDonough

subset: commoncrawl


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Drexel University Gifts
Drexel University Gifts feature a selection of flags, banners, pennants, and tailgating gifts! Each item page offers the recommended accessory which combined with the item results in a unique gift idea for the sports fan! These Drexel University Gifts are team and league Officially Licensed which ensures top quality, authentic logos and insignia, and genuine colors.
Drexel University Flag$45.95
American 3x5 Flag - Embroidered$28.95
Drexel Dragons Large Flag$29.95
Logo March Madness Banner Flag$29.95
Drexel Dragons 2x3 ft. Flag$22.95
Drexel Dragons Small Golf Cart Flag$18.95
Drexel University House Flag$31.95
Drexel Dragons Banner Flag$18.95
Drexel DU Dragons Car Flag$14.95
Drexel University Garden Banner$14.95
Drexel DU Dragons College Pennant$5.95
NCAA League Logo Pennant$5.95
March Madness College Basketball Tournament Pennant$5.95
Drexel University Team Banner$27.95


text: jackson 1 Report post Posted June 26, 2007 My brother is off to work in the states, working two weeks on two weeks off by the looks of it. what over there is considerably cheaper and what american treats can he take home for me? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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WBUR News
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Salvadoran Man Who Lived In Everett Extradited To Spain To Face Trial In Connection To 1989 Murders04:46Play
A man who lived in Everett and worked in a candy factory was extradited Wednesday to Spain to face trial.
The charges stem from infamous murders more than 25 years ago.
Prosecutors say Inocente Orlando Montano Morales plotted the murders of six Jesuit Priests in El Salvador in 1989. He was a colonel in the Salvadoran Army at the time.
WBUR's David Boeri joined All Things Considered to discuss.
This segment aired on November 29, 2017.
David Boeri Senior Reporter
Now retired, David Boeri was a senior reporter at WBUR.
+Join the discussion
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What is the difference between handmade premium cigars and those produced by machines? This answer varies depending on who you ask, but in most cases handmade cigars are typically more expensive than those that are mass produced, often using more and better quality tobacco, mature leaves and the expert touch of a cigar maker who knows what they are doing.
Handmade premium cigars are usually made with longer fillers. These fillers run the length of the cigar, as opposed to just the beginning or a few select parts, typically found with a machine made cigar.
The makeup of the filler is critical to the taste experience, the filler affects both the draw and the rate at which it burns – ensuring a better taste experience as you smoke your stick.
Some believe a hand-rolled cigar is better as the human hands are more apt to roll it without bunches, while others put their trust more in an automated process. Believing automation ensure more consistency in the manufacturing process.
Another visible difference between the two is the type of caps that cover the end of the cigar. Often, the caps on machine-made cigars are pointed while those that are handmade tend to be smooth to the touch.
In terms of handmade premium cigar and machine-made cigars, there is also a type that falls in the middle. Some cigars are made with a machine during the initial production process but are then rolled by hand before they are completed.
Great Premium Cigars We Recommend
- Black and Mild this brand is one of the best selling machine-made cigars in the world. Created in the U.S. using pipe tobacco and rolled in a homogenized binder, they use golden Virginia and black Cavendish tobacco. Full of flavor and varying in both shape and size, Black and Mild Cigars come in many different flavors including Apple, Mild and Mild Wine.
- Garcia y Vega Premium Cigar: First created in 1882, these cigars have provided smokers with a mild, smooth taste every time. The aged filler tobacco and select natural leaf wrapper are perfect for a daily smoke.
- If you're looking for a great hand-crafted premium cigar taste, look no further than a famous Chicago Gangster. Named after Al Capone, these cigars are known for their mild, sweet taste packed in a small size. Variations include the Al Capone Jamaican Blaze and Al Capone Slim.
If you read our blog posts you'll understand there is no "knock your socks off" best premium cigar – the selection process is always somewhat determined by your budget and level of sophistication.


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SANTA FE, N.M. — Santa Fe, the capital city of New Mexico and cultural trend setter, has been struggling with the surge of short-term rentals through the Internet.
The city of 70,000 people capped the number of short-term rentals in residential neighborhoods at 400 and each unit can be rented no more than 17 times a year.
But as in other towns and cities, the restrictions have been widely ignored. One analysis indicated at least 1,000 additional units were being rented though Airbnb, HomeAway, Craigslist, and other popular Internet sites, reported the Santa Fe New Mexican. They do not pay taxes, part of which are used to pay off debt on the city's convention center and to promote tourism. Nor do they undergo annual inspections by city staff.
With the genie out of the bottle, the city planning staff thinks it's unreasonable to try to completely clamp down now. The staff proposed instead to allow another 600 units in residential areas — but step up enforcement.
The New Mexican reports opinions all over the map, including people who don't' want to see their neighbours becoming de facto motel operators.
Very strange case of breaking and entering
HAILEY, Idaho — Just after midnight, on New Year's Eve, a family near Hailey — about 16 kilometres from the Sun Valley ski area — awoke to a clatter in the basement of the ranch-style house.
It was an elk, announced the father after investigation. The children, ages four and six, were put into a room, and the wildlife officers and sheriff's deputies who soon arrived devised a strategy. The only way for the elk to get out was to go up the stairs, through the house and out the door. Appropriating mattresses, they created a corridor, both to protect themselves and to guide the elk.
The frightened elk didn't take the hint very well. Five times they tried and the elk, scared out of its wits, did nothing. Shoot the thing and drag it out?
Finally, the elk bolted up the stairs and out the door. Authorities told the Idaho Mountain Express that the elk destroyed rugs and furniture, mostly because of glass shards and urine.
So far, it's the snowiest winter in five years in the Sun Valley area, and elk have been descending to the valley bottom. Some 13 elk have died from eating poisonous yew plants in the Hailey Cemetery and other locations.
Enough grizzlies to start hunting them?
BOZEMAN, Mont. — Strictly by the numbers, grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem have been doing well. Good enough to remove protections from the Endangered Species Act? Well, that's a point to be discussed, explained the Bozeman Daily Chronicle.
In 1975, when the species was listed for protection under the Endangered Species Act, there were just 150 grizzlies in Yellowstone National Park and adjacent areas. At last count, there were 717. Another large population can be found along the Continental Divide in northern Montana, plus smaller populations at several other locations in Idaho, Montana and Washington state.
At least in Yellowstone, the government considers the recovery a success and has proposed to delist the species from protection.
Environmental groups, however, see a less certain future for grizzlies. The grizzly are what is called "opportunistic omnivores," meaning they eat whatever they can find, some 250 types of food from moths to pine cones to elk calves, depending upon the time of year and the food availability.
Whitebark pine trees can be found in cold, high-elevation places in western North America, their seeds providing high-calorie meals for grizzly bears putting on weight to survive hibernation.
The species of tree, however, also became a candidate for endangered species listing in 2011, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said the whitebark pine is in "an overall long-term pattern of decline across the range." Warming temperatures have been implicated.
The upshot? Researchers, explained the Daily Chronicle, have been shifting their diet from whitebark pine to what Frank van Manen, leader of the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team, called "animal matter."
Bonnie Rice, of the Sierra Club, said more meat-eating by grizzlies will cause them to kill more livestock or elk, a big-game hunting species. That puts the grizzly in conflict with the numero uno predator of the food chain: humans.
Wildlife managers in Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana are more eager than anyone to see a delisting proposal. "States and communities have little incentive to support species recovery if success does not end ESA constraints and return species to state management," said a letter sent by the three states to the federal wildlife agency last August.
Ken McDonald, of the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, said delisting would gives states more management flexibility — including the ability to hunt. McDonald told the Daily Chronicle that wildlife managers hope hunting would teach the bears to stay away from high-conflict areas.
Electrical co-op defends move into broadband
TAOS, N.M. — There's controversy in Taos, where electrical provider Kit Carson Electric — a member of a family of rural electrical co-operatives in Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming — has strained finances.
Kit Carson is asking for a rate increase, but critics think the co-operative has lost sight of its core mission. In addition to distributing electricity, in years past it got into the business of selling propane. More recently, it has been installing broadband cable.
Luis Reyes, chief executive of the co-op, told the Taos News that electric ratepayers have put $2.6 million into the fiber-optic network so far, and it could take $7 or $8 million more to finish. He insists that the rate increase is in no way related to the broadband initiative.
The federal government awarded Kit Carson a $4 million grant and a $19 million loan in 2010 as part of the recovery stimulus to build the fiber-optic network across its service area, which includes several ski areas: Taos Ski Valley, Red River, and Angel Fire.
Reyes is bullish on the broadband, which he described as a major economic driver for the region. He argued that the co-op is the only entity making real progress in economic development. And with most of the project subsidized by the federal government, he said the network is a can't-miss investment that could revolutionize the local economy. He expects it to be in the black by mid-2017.


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My goal is to always live in a city that has a Chinatown. I'm not one to pass up mediocre Chinese-American delivery. Cheap, salty, mysterious. But if I have the time and someone willing to make the journey I'll hit up the non-English speaking sector of any city with enough immigrants to create one. And that's what we did on a breezy, Monday afternoon. It seems far living in a densely populated, busy city, but truth be told a 35 minute ride on Chicago's Red Line is just enough to build that deep anticipation you need to get the most out of an authentic meal. The longer the train ride, the more interesting and memorable it proves to be, in particular if you can stomach riding without headphones and have a cohort to commiserate. So journeying from the Northside of Lakeview past Lincoln Park, the Loop and South Loop to emerge at the Cermak-Chinatown stop did not disappoint. Similar to New York City, except a bit cleaner and with more space, you no longer speak the native language, let alone read it; you're wandering around like an amnesic idiot, sticking out like a very hungry, sore thumb. Amidst the wandering we stumble into what looks like an enclosed, yet outdoor mall. There are dentists, doctors, lawyers, store-fronts, and restaurants galore. Based on the dim sum sign, we wisely chose Shui Wah.
Upon entering you're welcomed by 5 or 6 eager Chinese employees, quickly overwhelming you with what should be simple questions. "2? Table for 2? Dine in? To go?" Ahh, yes? Funnily enough we were sat near the only other white people in the dim sum house. It's a good sign if the majority of diners are actually Chinese. You won't find the same at Panda Express. So we sat, were greeted by a friendly waitress asking what kind of tea we wanted. Another easy but somehow overwhelming question with so many potential responses. I think I muttered jasmine and we were quickly gifted with a pot full of piping hot tea. We slurped as we grazed the menu we did not understand.
We decided on 5 items all from different categories, 2 of which we were familiar. The first food to be delivered was a scrumptious bowl of Chinese porridge. It was a murky white, thick mixture of short grain white rice, some sort of meat (crossing my fingers no dogs or cats were harmed in the making of my meal), and topped off with this delicious, orange, tangy hot sauce. It sounds like nothing. In fact, it probably sounds disgusting. It's not particularly inspiring to look at, but I've found the best surprises in this life are when you're blessed with substance over style. So many people, places and things are providing a heavy dose of the opposite.
Soon we were bombarded with a crash-course of incredible dim sum. Sticky rice is already a favorite. Wrapped in bamboo leaves, steamed, served piping hot, sticky rice is served with tender chunks of pork and chop sticks. It's all you need. Another delightful surprise. We consumed shrimp and vegetable dumplings in about 12 seconds and moved on to a shrimp bread ball, consisting of shrimp, tangy bbq sauce, and surrounded by the softest, whitest, pillow-like squishy dough. It was sweet, the insides were salty. Again, delectable.
If I'm remembering correctly our bill was 18 American dollars. For two, 5 food items, porridge leftovers in a doggie bag, pot of tea, tax, 18 bucks. Can't. Be. Beat. Loved it.
We walked around, window shopped in some really random stores and left with a bright, refreshing Sprite with cut up kiwi and strawberry. Our conversation on the train ride back consisted of re-living each joy-filled bite. I enjoyed the leftover porridge immensely, that night I believe.
If you can't travel, at least broaden your mind by exploring foods. The rewards far exceed any potential risks.
Awkwardly use chop sticks. Slurp your tea. Fit a whole dim sum dumpling in your mouth. Enjoy


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Anyone who knows me or has been following our blog for any length of time knows that I love to find ways to save money. I wouldn't exactly call it a passion, but it's definitely a hobby.
For me, saving money is an issue of stewardship. You see, my husband and I started out our married life in debt. Four kids later and struggling to live off one income, we decided our current lifestyle wasn't working. Don't get me wrong....we didn't live exorbitantly. There were no fancy cars or European vacations. However, we were still living outside of our means and under an uncomfortable load of debt. We simply weren't being good stewards of what God had given us.
Several years of belt-tightening and making hard financial decisions taught us a lot of life lessons and, eventually, we were able to live a debt-free lifestyle.
Probably the biggest lesson we learned through this was how to be intentional with all of our purchases -- from sandwich baggies to vehicles, we have learned to evaluate each purchase, consider whether it is really necessary, shop for the best price, and put it in context of our larger financial goals.
Christmas gift-giving is no exception!
So, here are my 8 Simple Money-Savings Hacks for Debt-Free Christmas Gift Giving.
Make a budget and stick to it.
We use the envelope system for budgeting. (For a simple explanation of the envelope system, see this article on Dave Ramsey's blog.) A certain amount from each paycheck goes into an envelope for Christmas. The money accumulates in the envelope year-round (beginning in January) and we do not tap into the cash for anything other than Christmas presents.
The benefit of this system is that we know exactly how much we have to spend on Christmas and can plan accordingly. Even when purchasing online with a credit card, we are very disciplined to take the money out of the Christmas envelope, deposit it into our checking account, and then pay off that amount from the credit card so that no balance accrues.
Once the money is gone, Christmas spending is over!
I am much more careful and thoughtful with my Christmas purchases when I know I that have a certain dollar amount for each person. And it is much easier to reject all the marketing tricks that retailers begin employing in October to grab more of the consumers' holiday dollars!
If you don't use the envelope system, you could set aside a certain amount from your tax return for the following Christmas. The point is to have a certain dollar amount physically set aside (in an envelope, savings club account, etc) that is designated for Christmas. Commit to only spend that much money, no matter what -- even if you find an "amazing" Black Friday deal that would put you over budget.
Be organized.
This means lists. Even if you aren't a list kind of gal, you need a list. And check it more than twice! Keep lists of people you are buying for, ideas for the kids/spouse, gift wrap items you need (don't forget extra tape!), items needed for DIY gifts, and even special ingredients for holiday baking.
Staying organized helps you avoid last-minutes trips to the store for all those little, but important things you forgot. These trips cost far more than many people realize.
First, they cost you time and gas. Second, studies consistently show that stores use tricks to entice shoppers to spend more money. And it works. How many times have you gone into the store for a loaf of bread and a gallon of milk only to end up buying 5 more things?
Fewer trips to the store mean saving more money.
Having a thorough list and sticking to it has a much bigger advantage, though, and it goes hand-in-hand with sticking to a budget. Making (and using!) a thorough list means more intentional gift giving. You have already considered all the proposed gift ideas for each person on your list, done your "homework" of researching the best price (I usually do this from home in the comfort of my jammies in front of the computer!) and decided on the best option(s) for each person before you even go shopping.
For the kids, I like to consider the ideas they have given me (along with any I have come up with on my own) in the context of
If my child wants a cute and cuddly stuffed animal they saw in the Toys R Us catalog, but previous stuffed animals have just collected dust in his/her bedroom before eventually being donated to a thrift store, then why would I purchase another one? I want to use my dollars wisely and not encourage consumerism in my child.
Now, please let me put this into perspective. The goal here is not to make a huge deal about finding the "perfect" Christmas present or making my child's Christmas "complete" by giving the best gifts possible. The goal is simply stewardship. Remember, we want to use the resources God has granted wisely. It's not about simply buying a set number or gifts or spending a certain amount of money on each child because it's Christmas and that's one of the ways we celebrate. Instead, it's about being thoughtful and intentional all the ways we spend money, including gift giving.
Start early.
Start planning your Christmas shopping well in advance. This includes the earlier points of making a budget and being organized. Don't wait until a couple of weeks before Christmas to decide how much to spend (ideally, this should be done the previous January when you set up your annual budget) or what you're going to buy for each person.
For the immediate family, keep a running list all year long. Every time someone mentions something they'd really like to have, write it down. A couple of months before Christmas have the kids begin working on their Christmas lists. I usually aim to be done with the majority of my shopping by Thanksgiving so I can enjoy the holidays more.
The earlier you start shopping, the more time you have to shop around (either on the Internet or in physical stores) for the best price, wait for an item to go on sale, look for extra percent-off coupons, etc. Last-minute shoppers get the fewest bargains because they've run out of the time and need the item now, regardless of the price.
Also, some stores will honor price adjustments for previous purchases within so many days. So, for example, if you determine that you've found the best price on an item and purchase it at Kohl's Department Store, and then it goes on sale the following week, they will honor the sale price and give you a refund for the difference! LifeHacker has a complete list of stores that honor price drops.
Never pay full price.
*These links are not paid referral links or endorsements. Sisters with a System does not receive any compensation through these links. These are simply resources we have used in the past to save money.*
As I said before, the benefit of starting early is having more time to find the best bargain. This applies not only to shopping around for the best price, but also looking for discounts.
For online purchases, always check websites like Retail Me Not or Coupon Cabin for a promo code before making a purchase. You can also check the store's website for current coupon codes or printable coupons (for in-store purchases).
Honey is another site I've recently begun using. Simply set up a free account, add Honey to your Chrome extension and it automatically looks for promo codes to add to your cart when you shop online. Although I haven't been using it for long, it has already popped up several times on Amazon with money savings on my purchases!
Buy throughout the year.
One of the benefits of having a Christmas envelope is that the money is available throughout the year if you find a good deal.
I frequently do some Christmas shopping in the Spring at the annual Teach Them Diligently homeschool conference where I'm sure to find good books, Lamplighter Theater audio dramas and other items that are staples in my Christmas gift-giving.
Buy off season.
Budgeting and saving money includes all the extras like gift wrap, bows, gift tags, etc. Those things can really add up!
The absolute best time to purchase gift wrap, trimmings, ornaments, and other seasonal items is right after Christmas when these items are marked down 75 to 90% off! If you have the storage space, this is the perfect time to stock up on these items for next year's gift giving. This includes tins, cellophane baggies, and labels for homemade food gifts.
Also, many times you can find wrapping paper in non-traditional Christmas colors (like purple and green) and patterns that can be used for other gift giving throughout the year. Tara and I usually stock up on wrapping paper for birthdays right after Christmas for just a few bucks!
Buying off season can also apply to gifts. Ornaments, decorations, and other generic gifts can be purchased and put back for gift-giving to neighbors, teachers, the mailman, etc. or as additions to next year's gift baskets.
DIY gifts and giftwrap.
If you don't have the space or desire to store wrapping paper until next year, you can still save money on paper by making your own. The Dollar Tree has plain white paper. Have the kids customize it with paints or stamps (finger-painted hand prints are especially fun for toddlers!). Or, leave it white and tie a colorful ribbon around the package.
You can also make your own gift tags. We have saved cards from previous years and cut out the pictures for DIY gift tags. Or, use "scraps" and embellishments from other crafting projects (scrapbooking, card-making, etc.)
Think outside the box with gift giving.
Gifts don't have to come from a store and be wrapped neatly in a package. Here are some unique ideas:
Buy used.
Did I hear an audible gasp at this suggestion? Okay, I'm going to admit it and on the Internet for all eyes to see: I have bought my children used items as gifts before.
Before you give a shudder of disgust, let me explain. We're not talking about underwear from Goodwill, here! (Um, my apologies to anyone who has ever actually bought underwear from Goodwill.)
When all my kiddos were little (think the 5 and under crowd), I would occasionally find really nice, barely used toys at garage sales. Money was very tight back then, and it occurred to me that I could purchase the item, sanitize it with bleach when we got home, hide it until Christmas or the child's birthday and they would never know or care that it didn't come new from a store. I once found a Fisher Price Little People farm set (barn, animals, farmer, tractor, etc) for a fraction of the cost of a new one.
As the kids got older, we found other gently used items that would be out of our price range if purchased new. For example, we once bought a huge box of Thomas the Train tracks and trains on Craigslist for the same price we'd paid for a new starter set from Toys R Us.
Ebay is another great place to look for secondhand gifts, especially refurbished electronics (iPods, iPhones, etc.). Often you can get these with a warranty, just the same as you would a new product. When deciding if an item should be purchased used vs. new, I will ask myself, is it important that this item be new, or will we get just as much use and enjoyment if we purchase it used? Sometimes, purchasing new really is the better option. For example, if the cost savings of purchasing a used item is minimal or if it significantly extends the life or usability of the item by purchasing new, then we definitely purchase new.
There is also a used bookstore nearby that purchases books for store credit. I have taken in books we no longer want or need and traded them for gently used books to give as gifts. (Most of our American Girl books were purchased this way.)
Not only do we sometimes save money on gift-giving in this way, but it also teaches the kids from a young age that we don't need the latest and greatest of everything. Now, as my teens have income of their own to spend, they have learned to be very careful with it. In fact, many times, their first instincts are to look for it used first. (Except underwear!)
I hope you've found a couple of new ways to save money this Christmas! If you have any new ideas, I would love to hear them.
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In partnership with Singapore Tourism Board, District 1 Yoga is excited to be part of Singapore Food Festival 2018 to bring back one of our iconic event, Beer Yoga & Citylights.
This time, we will be pairing with Trouble Brewing to bring you SFF branded beers as a festival collectible! Stay tune!
BeerYoga is the marriage of two great loves – beer and yoga. Both are centuries-old therapies for body, mind and soul. The joy of drinking beer and the mindfulness of yoga complement each other and make for an energizing experience. We take the philosophies of yoga and pair it with the pleasure of beer-drinking to reach your highest level of consciousness.
What: You will enjoy an hour of energising flow by a fully certified & lively host with lots of Beer Salutations under the influence of alcohol.
Who: For beer lovers who like yoga. For yogis who like beer. If you sometimes feel like an icy cold beer would help you to unwind after a long day in the office, a new exercise trend is here to help you to take your inner calm to the next level.
Cost: $29 for 1 hour of Beer Yoga, which includes a FREE bottle of Beer!
*Please kindly note that we do not provide yoga mats and attendees are required to bring their own mats.
Kindly bring along a towel and a bottle of water too, to keep yourself hydrated.
Please note that you need to be 18years old and above to attend this event.


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On 12 Apr 2016, I sent a petition to Railway Board regarding acute dismay in Unreserved Compartments of several railway stations and unreserved passengers attempting to squat on reserved compartments also. The original petition (MORLY/E/2016/08250) is shown below:
Dear Team, I have a suggestion to prevent mobbing of Unreserved Compartments when the train enters the station. Similar to bus stations in Tirumala/Tirupathi we can have the passengers to wait in closed halls. When the train comes we can ask them to queue up and board the train in UR compartments in order. Benefits: 1) Mobbing of UR compartments is avoided 2) UR passengers would be discouraged from entering reserved compartments. 3) Pocket picking, eve teasing, Bag Lifting and related menace due to mobbing can be avoided. 4) Stampede situations at the entrance of UR compartments is virtually eliminated. I would hence suggest this idea to Railway Board. Thanks and Regards, Deepak Vasudevan
The response from Railway Board is enclosed below:


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Kick-off: 1230, 27/04/2019
Stadium: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
TV: Sky Sports
Tottenham vs West Ham
Tottenham only just managed to break down Brighton's stubborn defence in midweek but will be hoping for a more open encounter versus West Ham.
The visitors have nothing significant at stake and like to play good football whenever possible, so everything points towards an entertaining London derby.
We reckon 87/100 for Spurs to win and over 2.5 goals in the game is the way to go with our opening Tottenham vs West Ham prediction.
A Look At Tottenham Hotspur's Betting Odds
Tottenham seemed on course for a first goalless draw in 68 games until Christian Eriksen fired in a superb 88th-minute strike to end Brighton's brave resistance.
That fourth straight success at their stunning new stadium gave Spurs some welcome breathing space in the race for a top-four finish.
"If we are capable of winning the next three games in the Premier League, then we will be third," said Mauricio Pochettino. "I think that is the key, thinking about ourselves."
No away team has managed to hit the target at this venue yet, but Huddersfield did have a couple of late chances recently and Spurs may well be a touch distracted by Tuesday's Champions League trip to Ajax here.
Looking at the Tottenham vs West Ham odds, that makes 8/5 for a home win and both teams to score take the eye.
Last Tottenham line-up: Lloris, Trippier, Rose, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Wanyama, Alli, Eriksen, Moura, Son, Llorente.
Tottenham's injury list shows no sign of shortening, with Serge Aurier (hamstring), Erik Lamela (hamstring), Moussa Sissoko (groin), Harry Winks (groin) and Harry Kane (ankle) all still out.
A Look At West Ham United's Betting Odds
West Ham played well in defeat when going down 2-1 at Manchester United and then ended a run of three consecutive losses with an eventful 2-2 draw against Leicester on home turf.
The Hammers led twice through Michail Antonio and Lucas Perez – who also had a goal wrongly disallowed for offside – but were pegged back by Jamie Vardy and a stoppage-time effort from Harvey Barnes.
A mid-table finish is now on the cards, but Antonio insists there are no thoughts of shutting up shop for the season.
He said: "All you can do is go out there and give your best to try and get three points from every game, then we'll see where we finish.
"We have got to keep going, keep pushing and try to give something to the fans until the end of the season."
The feeling is that United can be competitive here, but 15/2 for Spurs to have the edge in class and shade it 2-1 is still added to our Tottenham vs West Ham betting tips.
Last West Ham line-up: Fabianski, Balbuena, Zabaleta, Ogbonna, Masuaku, Anderson, Snodgrass, Noble, Antonio, Rice, Arnautovic.
West Ham can welcome back Manuel Lanzini (groin), Javier Hernandez (ear infection) and Aaron Cresswell (knee).
Samir Nasri (calf) is due back next week, while Carlos Sanchez is close to returning from a long-term knee injury, but Winston Reid (knee), Andy Carroll (ankle) and Andriy Yarmolenko (Achilles) remain sidelined.
Additional stats
Last result:
TOTTENHAM 1-0 Brighton – Christian Eriksen
WEST HAM 2-2 Leicester – Jamie Vardy, Harvey Barnes
Head-to-head: West Ham 1-3 Tottenham, West Ham 0-1 Tottenham, Tottenham 1-1 West Ham, Tottenham 2-3 West Ham, West Ham 2-3 Tottenham
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A Primer for Star Wars Newbies
You've never watched any Star Wars movies, but you want to see what they are about, but you have no idea where to start. Check out this primer for Star Wars newbies like yourself!
Details for the 2019 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival & Epcot International Festival of the Holidays
New details are now available for two Guest-favorite festivals at Epcot: the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival and the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays. The 2019 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival will run Aug. 29-Nov. 23, 2019 making it the longest Food & Wine Festival in the park's history at 87 days! The festival's Eat to the Beat Concert Series will run Aug. 29-Nov. 19 and will feature a lineup of pop, rock, R&B, country, Christian, swing, and Latin artists. (NOTE: The concert series will conclude a few days earlier than the festival in order to set the stage for the return of the park's beloved Candlelight Processional). This year's festival will continue its…
Crown Collection: Upscale Experiences & Personalized Services Available Now
Are you looking to enhance your next Disney vacation? Walt Disney World Resort is introducing Crown Collection by Disney, bringing together a suite of upscale experiences and personalized services tailored to those wishing to make their most extravagant Disney dreams come true. This collection of offerings makes it easier than ever for you to explore the most exclusive Walt Disney World experiences. Crown Collection by Disney includes: VIP Tour Services Led by highly trained VIP Tour Guides, these tours include door-to-door pickup, access to favorite attractions, planning assistance at all restaurants, as well as special viewing for parades, live stage shows and select nighttime spectaculars. Disney Signature Services Guests with confirmed reservations…
Additional Dates for Disney After Hours
Many of you know that Disney After Hours is pretty amazing with little-to-no wait time for favorite attractions and experiences at Magic Kingdom Park, Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park and Disney's Hollywood Studios. Additional Disney After Hours dates are now available at Disney's Animal Kingdom and Disney's Hollywood Studios.
More 'Cars' Fun at Disney's Hollywood Studios
When Lightning McQueen's Racing Academy came into Disney's Hollywood Studios on March 31, 2019, the world of Disney•Pixar's "Cars" unfolded all around guests, and the fun and excitement now extend beyond the show into the courtyard outside Sunset Showcase, with special entertainment, photo ops, and more. Piston Cup Champion Cruz Ramirez is stopping by to meet and take photos with all her fans, and DJ, the ultimate party on wheels, has hit the open road and made his way east, bringing his own incredible music mix to liven things up. Several times daily, things kick into gear for "DJ's Ready! Set! Party Time!" as Lightning McQueen's Pit Crew arrives on the scene, getting…
'Disney's Walk Around the World' Bricks Retired at the Magic Kingdom
Exciting improvements are being made to how you come and go at all four Walt Disney World Resort theme parks.


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[Role Play]Hotel
What the outside looks like
A special guest room.
What the inside looks like
This hotel was built in the 1800s. Sure it looks new, but it's actually pretty old.
Anyone is allowed in the hotel. Either if you're on vacation, if you need a place to stay, or if you're just visiting. You're welcomed 100%!
And... the hotel is free! No need to worry about money. :D
The outside has a security system so only people who don't have any weapons can come in. If you have weapons, the metal detector will signal and the security will drag you out.
The special guest room is for the first person who checks in. Once that person leaves the next person to check in recently gets it. Not the 2nd person who checks in, no, they get a different room. It's the very next recent person. Get it? Up to 10 people maximum.
The inside room is just a regular hotel room. Up to 6 people maximum.
Alright, the hotel has a outdoor pool in the back.
In the inside however, there's a spa.
We are not responsible for facial damage or skin damage.
We also have a food court containing all restaurants. Fast food restaurants, regular restaurants, etc. Eat whatever you want for free!
For breakfast, we recommend eating at IHOP AKA International House of Pancakes.
For lunch, we recommend eating at fast food restaurants.
For dinner, we recommend eating at regular restaurants.
That's all! Have fun!
This account is only for my purpose, sorry:(
i wish i could go there!
you got no jams


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I set up my London-based mosaic business in 2005 and currently combine designing and making mosaics for private clients with a number of on-going collaborations in schools throughout the capital and COADI, a school for children with autism in Barcelona.
A few years ago I spent two months living and working in the magnificent Rock Garden in Chandigarh, India under the watchful eye of world-renowned outsider artist Nek Chand.
I trained as a theatre designer at Motley Design School and am also fluent in German and Italian with a degree in Modern Languages from King's College Cambridge. Five years living in Rome inspired my love of mosaic.
I frequently work on commissions both in London and abroad that include decorative panels for interiors and exteriors, kitchen and bathroom splash-backs, tables and countertops, floor details, mirrors, garden planters and signage.
Each commission is individually priced according to design, materials and time.
Over the last ten years I have collaborated on mosaic projects with over 30 primary schools and return annually to several of them to create a legacy piece for the children in their final year.
Each project is tailored to each school's individual needs with unique designs created through collaboration with pupils and staff.


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Joy Graybeal was working at the Steelton mill when her back started hurting. Nobody, including her doctors, thought it unusual that a woman working full time and raising two grandchildren would have aches and pains.
She was receiving treatment for her back pain when on Mother's Day 2015, she suffered chest pain so severe that her grandchildren called an ambulance. After testing, doctors discovered the source of her pain: Stage 4 lung cancer. The tumors in her lungs had been pressing on the nerves in her back.
Since then, she's endured plenty of treatment. There's been chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapy. She's also been selected for a clinical trial at the University of Pennsylvania that is currently on hold.
As she waits for that to get back on track, hopefully in March, she is undergoing more chemotherapy, battling the tumors that are growing again.
She is alone now in her Carsonville home. The grandchildren went to live with their mother when Joy became too weak to care for them. She doesn't go out much, she said. She has lost so much weight that she constantly feels cold. Stepping out into the winter weather simply isn't appealing.
Truth be told, she said, she's often depressed. This isn't how she envisioned her life at 56, said the mother of four and grandmother of 16.
"I did all the things I was supposed to do, raised my kids, worked, took in other kids. Now I kind of feel like I'm getting (pooped) on," she said.
One ray of sunshine in her life is the help she is getting from Vicki's Angel Foundation. For a while, Joy said, she wasn't too concerned about money. She had disability from her job and was getting by. But that's dried up now, and she is dependent on Social Security disability, which isn't quite enough.
Through her doctors, Andrews and Patel Associates, she sought help from Vicki's Angel Foundation. She received gift cards for gas so she can drive back and forth to treatment. The foundation also filled the propane tank at her home to keep her warm and cozy inside.
Joy said she was surprised by how quickly the foundation stepped into help. It was a whole lot easier than dealing with government red tape, she said.
Easing worries about money is a blessing to Joy and others battling cancer. The financial devastation cancer can cause is something most people don't think about.
"I never realized how bad cancer is, not just for me," Joy said. "It affects your whole family."
"People with cancer need little things," she said. "Make a meal, shovel their snow. Just be there to listen. And donate financially if you can."
"Vicki's Angels is a wonderful organization," Joy said. "They are just outstanding."
-written by Nancy Eshelman


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Office betting pools have always seemed like innocent fun and a great way to meet people at the office. Apparently though, they were also a misdemeanor or felony offense that could have been punished with up to a $5,000 fine or one year in jail. However, a new law has now changed small-scale office betting from a felony offense to an infraction that carries maximum fine of $500. Read more…
views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of CalvinAyre.com
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It's that time of year again - the names have been drawn for the office Kris Kringle, the budget has been set and you have days to find a unique gift that will earn you brownie points and make you look like the best gift giver among the group. Lucky for you, our Kris Kringle ideas are a range of gifts that are unique, fun and all under $50! Don't give boring kris kringle gifts when you can find presents like a brewery tour with beer tasting, treetop ropes course with ziplining or plenty of other amazing experiences. Success! Remember cheap kris kringle ideas don't have to be boring, instead find christmas gifts that are truly exciting.
One of the funnest times during Christmas is getting the office, friends or family together for a group kris kringle! It's the best way to get into the festive season whilst rewarding each other without having to break the bank. When it comes to this tradition, it's only natural you feel competitive to come up with the one of the best kris kringle gifts that will award you the best gift giver this year. That's why we've curated a range of kris kringle ideas that definitely go above and beyond your typical christmas gifts all within budget.
You might be wondering what kris kringle actually is. Also known as secret santa, it involves getting a group of people together (in the office, school, friends, family etc.) and everyone randomly draws names of who they are going to get a gift for during christmas time. You can't tell anyone who you got, there is an agreed budget and a date is set to exchange the gifts. As you can see the kris kringle rules are pretty simple - select a name, find a present within the budget and reveal the presents on the date.
When you're looking for kris kringle gift ideas or secret santa gift ideas, you want to find something that isn't boring or going to disappoint the recipient. Anyone can buy a candle and wrap it up for kris kringle but wouldn't you rather come up with amazing kris kringle ideas that'll blow them away? Our range of ideas are all about gifting differently and instead give a fun, unique experience all within budget… nothing over $50. Imagine their face when they receive a kris kringle that will send them on a virtual reality experience, a high ropes course or on a cruise. These are actually the type of gifts people want to receive and are the perfect office kris kringle ideas too.
If you're looking for ways to make Kris Kringle interesting this year, we've got some great suggestions. Firstly, it's about coming up with funny kris kringle ideas that will make them laugh but also be a gift they'll enjoy like a break room experience. Secondly, why not wrap up your kris kringle or secret santa gifts in a disguise. Since a RedBalloon experience comes in a voucher, why not through the recipient off by wrapping it in a giant box! It'll definitely keep things interesting when it comes to opening all the kris kringle gifts. Thirdly, why not make your kris kringle themed that instead of giving typical gifts, you can only give each other an experience...it'll be a fun and exciting way to mix things up this year!
Find exciting, fun and affordable kris kringle ideas at RedBalloon and take your gift-giving to the next level. When you gift an experience, you'll surprise and delight the recipient with a present they would actually enjoy rather than just getting another novelty gift for kris kringle.


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Cesnik Quintino & Salinas
Av. Paulista, 1776 – 18° andar
Bela Vista – CEP: 01310-200
São Paulo, Brazil
Tel: 55 (11) 3660-0300
Fax: 55 (11) 3660-0447
Web: www.cqs.adv.br
Fábio de Sá Cesnik specialises in entertainment, cultural and audiovisual production. He is a specialist in third sector law with wide-ranging experience working with associations, institutes, and domestic and international foundations operating in the fields of culture, sport, education, social assistance, healthcare, accessibility, environmental, social development, and community.
Cesnik Quintino & Salinas:
Founded in 1999, Cesnik Quintino e Salinas Advogados is a law firm, with a focus on Intellectual Property Law, Business Enterprises Law, Corporate Law, Tax Incentives and NonProfit Law.
Our practice involves litigation, consultancy and business planning for the entertainment, media and technology sectors. Our main clients include media and communication groups; culture, entertainment and sports investors; audiovisual, musical and editorial production companies; distributors of content to multiplatforms; advertisement agencies; telecommunication companies; and nonprofit organizations in general.
Due to the dedication, talent and entrepreneurship of our professionals, our firm has gained a reputation as a high standards law firm. For the last two consecutive years (2011 and 2012), our firm has been nominated by the leading law firm guide Chambers and Partners as the best Law Firm in Latin American for the Entertainment Sector.
What We Do
We provide innovative solutions for contemporary legal issues faced by private and nonprofit organizations in Brazil and overseas.
We link our legal expertise with a deep knowledge of business models and practices of the entertainment and media industries. The strategic legal solutions we provide to our clients are deep-rooted in the way these.
International Practice
We assist Brazilian corporations internationally, as well as foreign companies in Brazil in various types of transactions, including transactions for the funding of international audiovisual co-productions.


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SquareOne Villages has been awarded a Housing Improvement Plan (HIP) grant by Lane County for the construction of Cottage Village in Cottage Grove, Oregon. The grant of $500,000 will provide for all of the infrastructure costs and for construction of approximately half of the 13 tiny homes ranging from 192 to 288 square feet each. The Cottage Village Coalition (CVC), a group of local citizens, has been working for nearly three years on the project. A grant from Meyer Memorial Trust enabled the group to purchase the property for the project in 2016. Two additional grants of $100,000 each from the Presbyterian Women's Association and the Edwards Mother Earth Foundation along with the HIP grant and other fund raising efforts have now raised nearly 80% of the projected costs of the $1.3 million dollar project. CVC Chair Bruce Kelsh said of the grant, "Our group has been working long and hard to achieve this vision. We couldn't be more excited by this affirmation of our work by our county leaders."
Cottage Village Awarded $500,000 Grant
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Donerry B&W are Don & Cherry who met, fell in love at first sight and want to show to the world that two people from different backgrounds, races, colours, continents and cultures can come together and be one when LOVE makes all things possible. Donerry B&W are YouTube Vloggers, fashion designers,photographers, social media read more
All Cosmetics
All cosmetics, perfumes
FM GROUPPrice: $13.50
About FM GROUP FM GROUP was started in 2004 in Wroclaw, Poland by Mr Artur Trawiński. Due to the popularity of its perfumes and dynamic leadership, it has become an international success story. Today, FM GROUP products are known and appreciated on six continents. Over 600,000 Business Partners cooperate with read more


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Explosion In Manhattan Injures More Than Two Dozen People
An explosion in Manhattan has injured at least 29 people, according to officials in New York City. None of the injuries appear life-threatening, police say.
Mayor Bill de Blasio says initial investigations suggest the explosion, on West 23rd Street in New York City's Chelsea neighborhood, was an "intentional act," but that there is "no evidence at this point" of a connection to terrorism.
Police are also investigating "a second potential device" several blocks away, on West 27th Street, de Blasio says. The NYPD is warning residents on West 27th St, between 6th and 7th Avenues, to stay away from their windows as they "clear the suspicious package."
At a press conference Saturday night, the mayor cautioned that the investigation was still in the early stages and there was little that authorities could definitively say about the explosion. But he said there was no specific and credible terror threat against New York City.
The explosion occurred around 8:30 p.m. Eastern time. The New York Police Department's bomb squad and counterterrorism units responded to the scene, along with other officers and emergency medical services.
The NYPD's counterterrorism department tweeted out a photo that appears to show a mangled dumpster, calling it an "update" on the 23rd Street explosion. At the press conference, de Blasio would not confirm the specific site of the explosion's origin, but did say it appeared to be outdoors.
NYPD Commissioner James O'Neill said at the press conference that evidence did not suggest the explosion was caused by "any natural gas cause," and he said the location is being treated as a crime scene.
President Obama has been briefed on the situation, according to a White House official.
Journalist Josh Marshall lives across the street from the site of the explosion but wasn't there when it happened. He wrote in a post on his site, Talking Points Memo, that a large building at the location described by authorities has been the site of "low-intensity construction" for months.
The street is not normally the site of heavy foot traffic, he says.
This is a breaking news story. As often happens in situations like these, some information reported early may turn out to be inaccurate. We'll move quickly to correct the record and we'll only point to the best information we have at the time.


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Gurdaspur eye camp tragedy: Blind toll rises to 23; doctor arrested
The Batala police on Friday arrested Dr Vivek Arora and coordinator Manjit Joshi for negligence in performing eye operation at Ghuman village in Gurdaspur. Punjab eye surgery botch-up: Lack of vision hurts healthcare in India | WATCH A VICTIM NARRATE HIS ACCOUNT HEREchandigarh Updated: Dec 06, 2014 00:03 IST
The number of patients who went totally or partially blind in the Gurdaspur eye camp tragedy has risen to 23, even as the district police on Friday arrested Jalandhar-based doctor Vivek Arora and camp coordinator Manjit Joshi.
Besides the duo, the police booked SKM Netra Chikitsalya, the Mathura (Uttar Pradesh)-based non-government organisation (NGO) that had conducted the camp from October 31 to November 4.
Dr Arora had performed as many as 157 cataract surgeries on poor, elderly patients hailing from Tanda in Hoshiarpur district, Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur, Gaggomahal in Amritsar, and villages around Ghuman in Gurdaspur's Batala subdivision.
Also Read: NHRC issues notice to Punjab on 16 losing eyesight
Twenty of the victims are undergoing treatment at the eye hospital of Government Medical College, Amritsar. Deputy commissioner Ravi Bhagat said the toll could reach 35.
Meanwhile, it has come to light that the surgeries were performed at Guru Nanak Multi-specialty Hospital here in unhygienic conditions in an operating theatre (OT) meant for general surgeries. What's worse, the hospital did not have permission from the district health authorities to hold the eye camp since it lacked an eye operating theatre.
On the basis of reports from its officials, the Punjab health department will take action against Dr Arora, Joshi, office-bearers of the NGO, and the Ghuman hospital administration, said principal secretary, health, Vini Mahajan.
The patients have now been admitted in Dr Ram Lal Eye and ENT Hospital at Majitha Road in Amritsar. (Sameer Sehgal/HT Photo)
Batala senior superintendent of police (SSP) Manminder Singh said a case under sections 269 (negligent act to spread infection dangerous to life), 270 (malignant act likely to spread infection), 326-A (voluntarily causing hurt by acid etc), 336 (act endangering life and safety of people), 337 (causing hurt by endangering life and safety), and 338 (causing grievous hurt) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) had been registered against Dr Arora, Joshi and others. However, the hospital owner, Sukhdev Singh Bedi, is yet to be booked.
Under standard conditions, a maximum of 25 eye operations can be performed in a day in a specialised OT. Dr Arora and his team conducted 49 in seven hours in the lone general-surgery OT, all without mandatory permission from the office of the Gurdaspur civil surgeon.
The lone OT also did not even have requisite lighting for eye surgeries. "A specialised OT and hygienic conditions to avoid post-operative infection are a must for eye surgeries. The hospital had neither," said health services department eye specialist Dr Rakesh Gupta, who was at Ghuman.
First Published: Dec 05, 2014 16:06 IST


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To receive daily, prophetic emails from The Elijah List to your inbox CLICK HERE
From the desk of Steve Shultz:
I love this article by my friend James Maloney. But I don't love it only because he is my friend. No, I love this article because I walked this out in real life... the walk of faith filled... and I mean FILLED... WITH "TEARS OF HOPE."
It was almost 10 years ago when the most bizarre symptoms took a hold of me, and I began to lose both appetite and weight until I was literally skin and bones with no strength in my body. It took years for the doctors to discover the infection in my body that caused this.
Until then, I cried out to the Lord day and night, VERY OFTEN WITH LITERAL TEARS of HOPE. We bought Christian signs that said, "HOPE," on them and placed them throughout the house to remind us, my wife and myself, "to keep holding on to hope with trust – that God would come through. HE DID. Finally after multiple scans, the doctors found the infection hiding in my sinuses that has since required four separate surgeries.
It was the doctors who found the infection, but I truly believe it was God who answered my TEARS OF HOPE to show the doctors where to scan. (I MUST be honest – GOD HAD TOLD ME TWO YEARS EARLIER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS IN MY SINUSES AND I DIDN'T TAKE IT SERIOUSLY BECAUSE I HAD NO SINUS SYMPTOMS! DUMB! DUMB! DUMB! When God speaks we should listen!!!!)
Look at these quotes by James Maloney:
Nehemiah 9:27 tells us Israel cried out unto the Lord in the time of their troubles. He heard them from Heaven and, according to His abundant mercies, gave them deliverers. A similar passage is found in Exodus 3:7-8, and Judges 10:16 says He could "no longer endure the misery of Israel."
Maybe we haven't received our complete answers from God because we aren't desperate enough yet. That may sound contrary to some of you, but Luke 18:7 says the Lord avenges those who "cry out day and night."
You may need to rush this article out to a BUNCH of your friends who are really going through dark days right now. They need HOPE and you can help them.
Enjoy! And thanks for forwarding this to your friends! They can subscribe just below...
Steve Shultz, Founder and Publisher
The Elijah List & Breaking Christian News
P.S. – Oh, and a Quick Note to our readers: To have daily, encouraging prophetic emails from The Elijah List sent to your inbox, just CLICK HERE or go to: http://elijahlist.com/subscribe. PLUS: HEY! Please EXPLORE our more than 4,000 Christian Prophetic books, CDs, and gifts at: elijahshopper.com.
Intro: Continuing on the theme of my previous article (read on The Elijah List) concerning appointed times of visitation, peace, and promise – and the winds of change that precede them (for further insight into these concepts, check out The Crown Prince Anointing by Dr. Ron Cottle and my brother-in-law, David Alsobrook) – I wanted to continue in the same stream of teaching and share a bit about the importance of hope.
The Importance of Tears
And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13
We have probably all heard many messages on faith, how important it is to please our God, to see the supernatural expression manifest in our lives. It is of utmost importance, cultivating our measure of faith. Equally, I daresay most of us have also had outstanding teaching presented on the importance of love. Love is the ultimate articulation of all theological concepts in the Bible. That's how important faith and love are.
But of these three that abide – faith, hope and love – perhaps hope is something that has not been as fully addressed. Where would we be without hope? You know, most of us live daily in the midst of pressuring conflict – it's a worldwide pandemic from which none of us are immune. However, I believe it's important we don't lose our focus on our families and communities – the two greatest vehicles for expressing faith and love. Hope keeps us focused as deliverers for the hurts and needs of humanity around us. If we have no hope, how can we talk to them about faith and love?
So, this tells me the Lord is raising up deliverers – people like you and me who have a spiritual unction of not only faith and love, but a gift of hope as well. "'Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned; for she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins'" (Isaiah 40:2).
Nehemiah 9:27 tells us Israel cried out unto the Lord in the time of their troubles. He heard them from Heaven and, according to His abundant mercies, gave them deliverers. A similar passage is found in Exodus 3:7-8, and Judges 10:16 says He could "no longer endure the misery of Israel."
God is never far from the predicaments of mankind, and I want us to notice that the Lord doesn't just hear our prayers – He hears our cries! (Photo by Jennifer Page "Washed in His Love" via elijahshopper.com)
I think crying out when we are in anguish is a healthy emotion that prefaces the winds of change we outlined last month (read on The Elijah List). I've said it elsewhere, but it bears repeating: It's one thing to pray over a need; it's quite another to weep over it! Here's something to consider: Maybe we haven't received our complete answers from God because we aren't desperate enough yet. That may sound contrary to some of you, but Luke 18:7 says the Lord avenges those who "cry out day and night."
Not all tears are a sign of weakness. In this day of "power teaching" and "dominion living," I think we still can have tears that are heartfelt, yet hopeful. You should read Psalm 56; it talks about God storing our tears in a bottle. Those of us who give a place to godly sorrow, those of a broken, contrite heart (see Psalm 51:17) – I think there is a blessing that can come from holy mourning; it can be a focused type of love, full of compassion and mercy, that brings about breakthroughs. For our situations, for other's, even for the Lord's.
We don't often think of the Lord's sorrow, but if we are capable of tears, how much more so the Lord? God was hurt when man sinned, but He never stopped loving man, even in his sin. And God's "hurt love" is healed every time one of His own obey Him! One of the words in the Bible for "sobbing" means to snort with anger, to sigh in distress, to groan – a noisy sound made by breathing forcefully through the nostrils. To make an abrupt noise. This isn't a foreign concept in the Bible – read Psalm 6:6-7.
The Importance of Hope
We all can quote Hebrews 11:1, but I want to point out that hope is just as significant as faith in that verse. That's not to undermine the significance of faith by any means – everything starts with our believing in the trustworthiness of God's promises in His Word. But I think perhaps modern Christian society has downplayed the importance of hope. Now, look, wishful thinking is not the Biblical definition of hope. Folks out there "hoping" for a healing to take place are not in true faith. That can be the equivalent of saying, "I don't really believe God will answer my prayer, but I sure hope so anyway." So disappointment, despair, and depression set in because the prayer isn't answered.
The kind of hope I'm sharing is the kind found in Romans 8:24 – the kind that saves. The kind that brings rest (see Psalm 16:9). The kind that causes us to rejoice (see Romans 5:2). The kind that even resurrects the dead (see Acts 23:6). Taken in this light, Hebrews 11:1 means that faith brings the spiritual promises of God into natural reality if we keep hope alive. (Photo via Pixabay)
The Greek word elpis is translated "hope" (Strong's #1680). It means to have an expectation, or to "welcome" something. To expect something that is certain. Hope means to anticipate something with pleasure and excitement. The cognate elpizo means to "actively wait for God's fulfillment about the faith He has inbirthed through the power of His love" (Strong's #1679). Faith, hope, and love abide – they dwell, persist, linger, maintain, remain; they keep on keeping on.
Paul talks about Abraham, the father of faith, in Romans 4, declaring he "contrary to hope, in hope believed." He didn't cast away his confidence (see Hebrews 10:35). When all hope was gone, he kept hoping on. This is talking about perseverance, tenacity, continuance. The staying power of hope. We can't let our hope fail just because we don't see a manifestation immediately.
Hope feeds faith. This is why we're told to hold fast the "confession of our hope without wavering" in Hebrews 10:23, and this is why Hebrews 6:12 puts "faith and patience" together. Just like Abraham who patiently endured, we likewise will obtain the promise (see Hebrews 6:15). In other words, how we arrogate the promises of God is by persisting in hope, even if hope is gone. Again, hope feeds faith. It's important!
Like Abraham in Romans 4:19, who did not "consider his own body," we need to have the grit and determination to keep our hope thriving, so that we don't discuss the "deadness" of our own circumstances. We need to be firmly persuaded and not shaken off from our hope!
Now, believe me, I'm not laying on some "works trip" here. I recognize that these principles – tears and hope – are galvanized by the Holy Spirit, just as with any other spiritual matter. But my point is, we need to cooperate with the Spirit, being led by Him in our times of intercession – the "groanings which cannot be uttered" (Romans 8:26). We need to work with Him in order to keep our hope in faith vibrant and active, upbeat and full of life, and then we will see the manifestation of God's love toward us.
Our God calls things that don't exist as if they did (see Romans 4:17) – He has full faith in Himself, and while it is vitally important to ask for His gift of faith concerning our circumstances, we also need to cultivate an overwhelming sense of hope in God's faithfulness. By speaking the fulfillment of these promises from God, our hope can feed our faith. (Photo via Pixabay)
Even when it seems that hope is lost, by nevertheless continuing to hope, we can receive the things we are hoping for according to God's wisdom and timing! If this sounds circular and cyclical, it is. I'm not saying it isn't a struggle – some of us feel pressed on all sides by the circumstances that face us daily. But, just as Proverbs 4:20-22 states, "My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh." Our circumstances don't make this promise any less valid – as long as we have tears of hope.
The importance of tears of hope cannot be overstated. It is this mentality – this way of life – that teaches us to wait for it. A word we all hate in the flesh. Wait. But waiting on the Lord means to wrap ourselves up in His ways, His Word, His thoughts on what is important to Him – to quiet our own raging minds and emotions – to hold steadfast in the hope of faith.
It's not sitting back, doing nothing but mope (moping is not hoping), and expect God to manifest His promises apart from any effort on our part. Waiting is not passive, it is active. In the flesh, no one likes this concept, because it makes us responsible for seeing the manifestation of promises – the day of visitation we need so desperately. But again, just because we don't like it, doesn't make it any less of a truth.
Keep your focus – your hope – on what God has promised by faith. "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses" (1 Timothy 6:12).
It is my desire "that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises... This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek" (Hebrews 6:11-20).
Keep hope alive!
James Maloney, President
Voice of the Dove Company International
Email: email@example.com
Website: voiceofthedovecompany.com
James Maloney has been in full-time ministry over forty years as president of Voice of the Dove Company International. A well-respected prophetic voice, James' ministry expression is marked by a powerful sign-and-wonder flow, heavily geared toward healing for the mind, soul, and body. He is the author of The Dancing Hand of God, The Panoramic Seer, Overwhelmed by the Spirit, Aletheia Eleutheroo, The Wounded Cry, Invisible Wounds, and The Lord in the Fires, as well as the compiler of the best-selling Ladies of Gold series.
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Explore battleships, tanks and aircrafts at the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial ParkLearn more
Travel less than 1 mile to the Mobile Civic Center, hosting a variety of concerts and performancesLearn more
Dine in the surrounding area and set sail at Mobile Alabama Cruise Terminal, just 1 mile awayLearn more
65 Government Street
0.1 miles W from hotel
12401 Bellingrath Garden Road
23.8 miles S from hotel
2703 Battleship Parkway
5.7 miles E from hotel
355 Government Street
0.4 miles from hotel
150 South Royal
0.5 miles SE from hotel
5151 Museum Drive
12.2 miles W from hotel
109 Bienville Blvd.
38.6 miles S from hotel
34745 State Hwy. 225
12.5 miles E from hotel
I-10 Theodore Dawes Road
14.3 miles SW from hotel
51 Bienville Blvd
37.1 miles S from hotel
Dauphin Island
30 miles S from hotel
4850 Museum Drive
12 miles from hotel
Magnolia Grove includes creeks, marshland, and lakes, with each of the 54 holes carved from a thick forest of hardwood and pine.
Hours: Daylight until 30 minutes before sunset
Greens fees apply
Rentals and Lessons
Driving range
First built in 1947, Lakewood Golf Club showcases fairways lined with 200-year-old oaks and a dramatic signature hole, the 14th on the Azalea course.
Hours: Daylight to 30 minutes before sunset
Greens fees apply
Rentals and Lessons
Driving range
Mobile –Tensaw Delta
Airboat Eco-Tours
Phone: +1 251-370-7089
Bay City Conventions & tours
Phone: +1 251-479-9970
Tour of 65 acres of gardens
Bellingrath Gardens and Home
Phone: +1 251-973-2217
Indian Mound
Delta Safaris
Phone: +1 877411723274
Swamps of Mobile-Tensaw Delta
Delta Safaris
Phone: +1 877411723274
Downtown Mobile and Mobile River
Gulf Coast Ducks
Phone: +1 251-802-8687
0.3 miles
Phone: +1 251-208-6883
The entire family will enjoy the interactive science exhibits and big screen films.
0.5 miles
Phone: +1 251-208-7569
A comprehensive historical perspective of Mobile and celebration of its diversity.
1.8 miles
Phone: +1 251-432-1281
Historical District of Homes in Old Mobile.
23 miles
Phone: +1 251-973-2217
Tour spectacular gardens or experience a delightful river cruise.


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On June 14, 2018, Boston Advanced Energy held its stakeholder breakfast at Holland & Knight. The event brought AEG's stakeholder members together to discuss the topics of Smart Buildings and Grid Modernization.
Jim Hunt is the Senior Vice President for Regulatory Affairs & Chief Communications Officer at Eversource Energy, the largest utility in New England, servicing water, gas and electricity in three large states and committed to working with the state and its communities for the reduction of carbon emissions and the ensured reliability and resiliency of the grid. In this podcast, Hunt highlights the importance of public-private partnerships in the energy transition and the ways in which this model optimizes grid modernization and energy efficiency efforts and investments for the company. Hunt offers insight into the importance of leveraging their unique customer relations in implementing demand response programs, distributed energy storage and EV charging networks. He says that such efforts are essential in addressing the challenges of peak demand and fossil fuel reliance, increasing the deployment of renewables and smart technology, and reducing costs in the system.
Advanced Energy Group is a stakeholder member-supported organization committed to developing and delivering advanced energy policies and solutions in key cities. Stakeholder sessions are by invitation only. For details of our programming please visit:
Event Calendar | Podcasts | Videos | LinkedIn | Twitter


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Dumpster diving for Democrats.
I have to admit to something. I maybe, sort of, dumpster dived. Dove? Dumpster dove? Regardless. I found something in the trash, and I took it. Not only did I take it, I hung it up. In my window. So, the local Democratic campaign office is located a few buildings down from my own. So close that we share a dumpster. And by Democratic I mean OBAMA. Of course, after the election ended, they had nothing to do with all of their paraphernalia except toss it. Signs, pamphlets, more signs, more pamphlets. The area dumpster became sort of the mecca for all things Democratic.
As I was tossing my own trash into the receptacle, I saw it: a perfectly good Obama/Biden vinyl yard sign. Like, untouched. Perfect condition. Just, like, hanging out. All, "Take me!" So, duh, I took it.
AND NOW IT'S HANGING IN MY WINDOW. In the cat office. It is now my show of patriotism. I am officially supporting the president-elect. Nevermind that I yanked it from the trash.


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Segment makes it easy to send your data to Nudgespot (and lots of other destinations). Once you've tracked your data through our open source libraries we'll translate and route your data to Nudgespot in the format they understand. Learn more about how to use Nudgespot with Segment.
Getting Started
When you toggle on Nudgespot in Segment, this is what happens:
- Our CDN is updated within 5-10 minutes.
- If you are using Nudgespot for the first time, sign up and choose the 'Segment' option under Destinations on their 'Getting Started with Nudgespot' page.
- Once you reach the Segment onboarding page, click on the 'Enable with Segment' option.
- If you are already using Nudgespot, go to the 'Settings' page and click on the 'Enable with Segment' button.
Nudgespot is supported on mobile, web browsers and on the server side.
The first thing you'll want to do is to identify your users so Nudgespot knows who they are. You'll use the
identify method to accomplish this - identify takes the unique user Id of a user, first name, and any other traits you know about them.
Server Side
When you call
identify from any of Nudgespot's server-side libraries, they'll create or update the users in Nudgespot with the traits provided.
You will see the traits appear as properties on any events you track.
When you use Nudgespot, it's important that you
identify a user before you call
track. A
track without an
identify won't create a user.
Nudgespot is a communication tool you can use to communicate with your users after you
track their action (or inaction). The more events you
track, the better Nudgespot will work for you.
The Segment
track method maps events and event properties directly to Nudgespot events and event properties.
Sending Data from Nudgespot
Nudgespot supports sending email events to other tools on the Segment platform. These events will be sent as
track calls to the other destinations you've turned on. To enable this feature, enter in your Write Key when setting up your account.
When will I see data from my mobile app?
If you already have an app deployed with the Segment source, and you just turned on Nudgespot, it will take up to an hour for all your mobile users to refresh their Segment settings cache, and learn about the new service that you want to send to. After the settings cache refreshes, our source will automatically start sending data to Nudgespot.
You can send computed traits and audiences generated through Segment Personas to this destination as a user property. To learn more about Personas, reach out for a demo.
For user-property destinations, an identify call will be sent to the destination for each user being added and removed. The property name will be the snake_cased version of the audience name you provide with a true/false value. For example, when a user first completes an order in the last 30 days, we will send an identify call with the property
order_completed_last_30days: true, and when this user no longer satisfies we will set that value to
When the audience is first created an identify call is sent for every user in the audience. Subsequent syncs will only send updates for those users which were added or removed since the last sync.
Supported Sources and Connection Modes
|📱 Device-based
|☁ Cloud-based
To learn more about about Connection Modes and what dictates which we support, see here.
Segment lets you change these destination settings via your Segment dashboard without having to touch any code.
Server-side API Key
Your Server-side API Key can be found in your Nudgespot dashboard under Settings
Javascript API Key
Your Javascript API Key can be found in your Nudgespot dashboard under Settings


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Resentment. The dictionary definition basically sums up the experience of resentment as a perceived mistreatment or unfair situation that results in bitter indignation. I think of it more as a slow burn of ill-will towards another - often without much conscious thought about why I have this feeling.
The capacity to resent people and circumstances does NOT show up on any resiliency skill list. Mutual Aid societies like AA have been clear about the toxicity of resentment for decades. According to their literature, someone who has a substance use disorder cannot bear up under the weight of resentment without falling prey to relapse.
Other recovery writings have talked at length about resentment and its ties to expectations. Expectations, particularly ones we have for others, provide fertile soil for growing resentments. It's an over-statement to say that we should have NO expectations for others but it is important to pay attention to times when we have unrealistic expectations of others that cause us and them harm.
Think about this: our resentment can be more harmful than the unfairness of the situation we obsess over. How has your resentment hurt you? Others?
Overall, resentment is not particularly healthy if we do not treat it appropriately and swiftly. What exactly does that mean? Tomorrow we will talk about that! In the meantime, consider your own experience with resentment.
Are you struggling with feeling like you have been treated unfairly?
Can you identify your bitter indignation over this belief?
Does it feel an awful lot like resentment?
Tomorrow we will chat about it


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Knobby Tire 2018 just wrapped up this past weekend at Great Brook Farm State Park, and it was a blast! Special thank you to this year's Epic Headline Sponsor REQ! This is the first year we have had a Headline Sponsor and REQ is an amazing fit- a local equipment company, Kim and the REQ family focus on going above and beyond for their customers, and they see beyond the everyday chair, supplying equipment for outdoor recreation and sports, as well. This year REQ even brought the TrackZ power assist trail-ready chair to the event! Thanks REQ!
This year, we also had a Stellar Sponsor, Revolutionary Clinics, and 3 Droppin' In Sponsors TerrainHopper USA, Mobile Insulation Co, and North Shore NEMBA. Thanks to all of our sponsors for seeing the value in what we bring to the community and being willing to support our cause!
We also need to thank our long list of volunteers, including our returning volunteers, Laila Soleimani, Jess Doonan, Jonathan Martel, Alexis Wruble, Cathy Tracy, Lisa and Sean Casey. You guys are the rock that Knobby Tire is built upon- thanks for coming back year after year and supporting our cause. Special thank you to Lee Hollenbeck for bringing the cheer, taking the pics, and supplying us this year with delicious ribs and rice and beans! And to Katie Lee- thanks for the cookies- they were delicious, but we still missed you! Thanks to Diane and Ronald DeRoche for taking on the raffle and auction table this year and doing an amazing job. And to our new volunteers, Newton Hausermann and Peter Hausermann (who set the intermediate loop course this year- thank you!), Beth Weaver, Becca Cave, Maria Evgeniadis, Joe Uzzo, Maggie Flynn, Will Greelish, Anna Hausermann, Leah Tinkham, Mikaela Corbett, Britt Light, Nicole Bartlebaugh, Alisa Bjorkman, Margaret Rowold, Victoria Lehr, Felice Mendez, and Brenna Bean - thank you so much for giving your time to make the day a success, and hope to see you back next year!
To our vendors- we wouldn't have been able to pull it off without each of you there with the specialized trail equipment to get people on the trails and educate people on the adaptive equipment out there to make it possible! Crystal and Northeast Passage, thanks so much for being our staple this year and bringing such great trail equipment (and your kids!) to the event! Tyler and GRIT, thanks for squeezing Knobby into your busy schedule and letting people give the Freedom Chair a try on the trails- it was great to have you back! Maverick Square Adaptive Cyclery- you guys were such a great addition to the Knobby Event- we love your focus on adaptive equipment and your knowledge about adjustments and maintenance! Olivia from Spaulding Adaptive- so happy to have you as a part of Knobby Tire this year! Your passion for mountain-biking and adaptive mountain-biking is contagious and we were so lucky to have you a part of the day. Erik Kondo- thanks for bringing in your innovative creations to keep us on the cutting edge of new adaptive equipment. A special thank you to Steve Carlin from DCR and Laila Soleimani from DCR Universal Access- we love the space at Great Brook and love the energy that you bring to the day! And to Thom Parsons for taking the video throughout the day- thanks for taking part and can't wait to see the results! Thanks to Jim Powers for taking most of the pics on this reel!
And to our long list of raffle contributors- make sure to go out and support these fantastic organizations and let them know that you appreciate their support of Knobby Tire and adaptive riding! Back Bay Bicycles, Landry's, Flatbread Somerville, Crimson Bikes, Otto Pizza, Winter Hill Brewing Company, Nate Bibaud and Flat Earth Designs, Donna Laswell, and JRA Cycles. And to the individuals who donated to the raffle/auction, Tom Schneider, Ryan DeRoche, Susanna Callender, Tom and Kelly Spellman, Ronald and Diane DeRoche. You guys rock, and helped us to raise over $800 which will go towards supporting Empower Spinal Cord Injury's Adaptive Sports program!
Clinics! We have to extend a very heart-felt thank you to Karen Eagan who started up our clinic option last year, and continued this year with a Beginner's Basics Mountain Bike Clinic, free to all who attended the ride. Thanks for your passion, your energy behind helping Knobby Tire, and your amazing skills that you pass along to other riders- that's what it is all about- spreading the love. And thanks to Andrea Jones and her Greater Boston NEMBA Kids crew for putting on a Kid's Ride this year with 4 children in attendance- another great addition and we hope to have you back next year!
One of the greatest parts of the day was the joy of having Zoe Norcross, one of our original Knobby Tire organizers, who is home from Ghana where she is a part of the Peace Corps, at the event last weekend! She was part of the vision of Knobby Tire and we were so happy to have her a part of the team again at our 2018 Knobby Tire!
We missed some of our long-time volunteers, but had you in our thoughts throughout the day- Amy Fleischer, Katie Lee, Jerry Garcia, Ed Amo, and the guys from Bike-On, Chris, Dan, Bizzle and Kyle - hope to see you all soon! And to Zach and the Roderick family- missed you, but hope you all are doing well and on the mend in beautiful Florida!
To the event coordinators, for putting in countless hours of preparation, food prep, phone calls, and meetings to make this event a reality. Ryan, it has been such an adventure helping to find your way back on the trails, and I love having the opportunity to work with you on bringing that adventure to others. Kelly, I've had the chance to see your transition into the mountain biking world, watched your love for the sport grow, enjoyed being your riding buddy and spending countless hours with you on the trails, and love working together to bring more people into this mountain biking world that we've found ourselves in. And Lauren, you have been such an integral and valuable new addition to the organizing team! I'm so happy that you stepped up to the challenge and responsibilities of becoming a lead organizer at Knobby- hope we didn't scare you away:).
And as we close the chapter on our 4th Knobby Tire Ride and Roll, we are so proud of the Knobby Tire Family that has grown over the years. This year's Knobby Tire Ride brought in over $5000, which will go towards Empower Spinal Cord Injury's adaptive sports program as we launch the 2nd site of our residential summer program. If you enjoyed yourself at the ride, make sure to tell your friends, neighbors, and acquaintances about it, so we can get more people on the trails, and more people inspired about adaptive mountain biking!
Thank you all for giving a little bit of yourself to help others find their passion.
Until next year-


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Japan is known as one of the most expensive countries in the world—and unfortunately, there's a lot to this reputation.
From the cost of hotels and traditional ryokan in major cities to the fact that all but the simplest meals will set you back thousands of yen, Japan is not a country the most bare-bones travelers can afford to visit, period.
Smart budget travelers, however, can greatly cut their Japan travel costs by keeping a few simple strategies in mind.
Here are my top budget travel tips for Japan, which I'll follow up with an overview of what you can realistically expect to spend on your trip.
Buy a Japan Rail Pass
Allow me to be as clear as possible: If you plan to travel in more than one city in Japan, you need to buy a Japan Rail Pass.
A JR pass, as it's usually known, affords you unlimited* train travel in Japan, including on the super-fast Shinkansen bullet train.
The most important part of the Japan Rail Pass, however, besides being convenient and easy (you simply flash your pass at any JR ticket gate) is its value.
A one-week pass costs only slightly more than a single round-trip between Tokyo and Kyoto; two- and three-week variants provide similarly high ROI.
*There are some exceptions to this rule, such as the Nozomi variant of the Shinkansen, but they're few and far between.
Learn the Many Ways to Eat Cheap in Japan
Japan is home to the best convenience stores in the world, from global favorite 7/11, to homegrown chains like Family Mart and Lawson, which have since spread across Asia.
The bento meal boxes, onigiri rice balls and various snacks sold at Japanese kombini are a delicious way to eat cheap in Japan, but they're not your only choice.
Japanese fast food conglomerates like Yoshinoya offer donburi rice bowls for ¥500 or even less, while you can enjoy a simple sushi meal for under ¥1,000 all over the country, including in Tokyo.
To say nothing of Japanese street food like takoyaki octopus fritters and fried yakisoba noodles, which you can buy with just a few 100-yen coins.
Diversify Your Accommodation
Logic might tell you that the best way to sleep cheap in Japan is to always stay in hostels, as is the case in many parts of Europe, but this is not always true.
For instance, "business hotel" rooms in many cities, including Tokyo, can be had for under $100 per night, which can mean that your per-person accommodation expenditure might be less than you'd pay for a hostel bed.
Additionally, traditional ryokan guest houses have become more expensive as they've become more sought after, but they can be surprisingly affordable choices in smaller cities, such as Asahikawa in Hokkaido and Shikoku island's Kochi city.
Still another option (perhaps the most uniquely Japanese one) is to sleep in a "capsule hotel," which offers a private room…er, pod that's often cheaper than a bed in a hostel.
Load Up on Free Attractions
Many travelers to Japan find themselves disappointed when they realize that some of the country's temples (and there are a lot of temples in Japan) charge entry fees, often ¥500 per person or even higher.
While this is a bummer, Japan is full of free attractions and experiences, including some you might not expect to be free.
Ascending the JR Tower in Sapporo, for example, to enjoy a panorama of Hokkaido's capital, is free.
To be sure, since much of the pleasure of traveling Japan comes from enjoying street life or nature, you might save money be strolling along Osaka's Dotonbori pedestrian street, or hiking the Nakasendo Way in the Japanese Alps, for just a couple of prominent examples.
Take Advantage of Tax-Free Shopping
It might surprise you, since Japan is one of the world's most expensive countries, but it can be one of the cheapest places in the world to buy certain items, namely electronics.
This is because hundreds of items in Japan are available to tourists on a completely tax-free basis, from digital cameras, to computers and beyond.
Conveniently, the tax is deducted at the point of sale (though you do need to present your passport), which saves you from having to wait in line at the airport for a refund, as you have to do in some countries.
Don't Worry Too Much About the Season
Cherry blossom season is the best time to visit Japan, and the most popular, which makes most people think it's inherently unaffordable.
In fact, the problem sakura travelers to Japan usually face is securing accommodation at all, as it can fill up weeks or even months in advance. Of course, while Japan in spring is a revelation, you can enjoy yourself in any season.
Likewise, with the exception of the national "Golden Week" holiday in May, none of Japan's seasonal spectacles raise prices to a prohibitive level—they're already very high, let's be honest.
Leave Room for a Splurge or Two
Even if you're traveling Japan on a shoestring budget (relatively speaking), you should leave some yen for a splurge on the finer things—Japan has more of them, perhaps, than any other country in the world.
You might decide to drop a lot of dough on an experience, such as riding Mario Karts through the center of Tokyo, or on a luxury experience like staying one night at a five-star ryokan in Kanazawa, or dining at one of the (at least) 234 Michelin-starred restaurants in Tokyo.
However you end up spoiling yourself, this should be great motivation to save on daily travel costs in Japan.
These Are Great Tips, But How Much Does Japan Actually Cost?
Generally speaking, the minimum you can expect to spend in Japan is $50 per person, per day—and that's if you're traveling using all the suggestions I've listed above, and as a couple or group of 3-4 that shares a hotel room most days.
You can expect to expect more if you're a single traveler, if you indulge in more than a fancy meal or two or if you choose not to buy a JR pass.
In general, a more realistic target for the cost of travel in Japan might be $100 per person, per day. (Editors note: see how we budget for travel here)
The Bottom Line
Japan is not a cheap destination, no matter how well you plan or budget. You can save a lot of money on your Japan trip, however, if you plan carefully and travel strategically.
From big-picture strategies like ordering a Japan Rail Pass, to day-to-day hacks like eating convenience store bento boxes, smart travelers almost never pay rack rate on anything in Japan.
On the other hand, Japan is filled with priceless experiences and timeless destinations that will impact you far past the point you replenish your bank account.
Robert Schrader is a writer and photographer who's obsessed with Japan. He documents his frequent travel to the country on Japan Starts Here, a new resource he hopes will inspire all your trips to Japan. Make sure to follow Japan Starts Here on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. All images are property of the author.


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Is a Reverse Mortgage Right for You?
While it may seem new to many of us, reverse mortgages have been around for quite some time. The first reverse mortgage was issued in 1961 while in the first stages of development, and the program has undergone many changes since, ultimately developing into a more effective retirement tool.