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"Thank you for the time you spent with me compiling the list I needed to generate leads for my team. You have certainly been an integral partner in helping us re-invent ourselves. Thanks again!"
Steve B. - Passaic. NJ
Moving from the individual health insurance market to the final expense insurance market, I did not have a clue how to find the people to call and what "filters" as you call them, to use. Thanks for consulting with me and helping me successfully transition into this new market."
James N. - Houston, TX
Thanks for all the help! I have already told 3 other LO's about your great service and mortgage leads. Keep up the good work!"
Tony N. - Philadelphia, PA
"Thanks for the Diabetic leads and the dialer you set up for me is fantastic!"
Judy S. - San Diego, CA
"Hey Al, my office has closed 4 deals this week from the FHA mortgage list we bought from you... please call me later to run a count for our next order. Thanks for your expertise and if results continue like this, we will be a client for a long time!"
Nick D. - New York, NY
"We really appreciate the time you spent with us regarding the mortgage trigger leads Al and it was certainly time well spent. We have had very good results and look forward to your continued good advice moving forward"
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It's not the cutting, it's the uncertainty.
That's the lament these days from governors and mayors awaiting the outcome of federal budget negotiations.
They know they're likely to take a hit; they just don't know how bad it's going to be.
"How do you budget for the unknown?" wonders Ed Long, the county executive in Fairfax County, Va. "Our worst fear is that by [the federal government] not acting, the economy is going to get worse going forward."
If President Obama and Congress aren't able to reach a budget deal by the end of the year, automatic spending cuts, known as sequestration, are set to take effect across most federal programs. Domestic programs, aside from entitlements, would be cut by 8.2 percent, or $38 billion this fiscal year.
A lot of that money is sent out to states and local governments in the form of grants for housing, community development and energy programs, among many other things.
Governors and mayors are therefore bracing for significant cuts in aid from Washington, but they're made nervous by not having any idea how things will play out.
A new budget deal might include cuts that would affect them more deeply than sequestration. But lack of action could hurt the economy and cut the tax revenues they're able to collect on their own.
"There's a pretty high frustration level among state officials with the uncertainty," says Scott Pattison, executive director of the National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO).
"From a state perspective, the fiscal cliff is a royal pain, but what we're really worried about is going forward over the long term," he says.
No Longer So Generous
The federal government has been pretty generous to states and localities in recent years. The 2009 stimulus package gave states roughly $135 billion to help patch holes in budgets that had been eaten away by the Great Recession. Even more money flowed down through states to fund education, Medicaid and other programs.
There have been extensions of some of the stimulus money, but that's all dried up at this point. States and, especially, local governments, have laid off hundreds of thousands of workers over the past four years.
Now, the regular flow of money they get from Washington is under threat. Lots of grant programs would be cut if sequestration takes effect.
"The federal government has a $4 trillion target for federal deficit reduction over 10 years," says Tracy Gordon, a public finance expert at the Brookings Institution. "There's no way, if they reach that target, that it's not going to affect states and localities."
Making Do With Less
Gordon points out that states are having a hard time doing any kind of long-term planning, because they don't know what the future flow of money from the feds is going to look like. Many federal programs that states and localities depend on are now at risk.
Here's an obscure one: payments in lieu of taxes. The federal government offers "PILT" money to counties, particularly out West, because it owns so much of the land, and federal property can't be taxed.
For some Western counties, PILT makes up 60 or 70 percent of their entire budgets. That funding is currently on track to be cut by 7.6 percent.
"As far as what we can tax and then adding that PILT in, not getting that PILT would be pretty devastating to us," says Barbara Steele, county clerk in Elmore County, Idaho, which is home to 1.4 million acres of public land.
Not All Bad News
If there isn't any budget deal in Washington, it's not all bad news for states. Most of the money they get from the federal government — which comes in the form of Medicaid dollars — isn't subject to sequestration.
"In some ways, having a deal would be worse, if it means big changes to programs like Medicaid that are exempt from sequester," Gordon says.
Also, expiration of various federal tax cuts would help bring in money to state coffers. Many states link their tax codes to federal law, so increases in income and estate taxes, and the expiration of various tax credits would mean more revenue for more than half the states, according to the Pew Center on the States.
What's bothering state and local officials more than any specific program cuts or revenue increases, however, is the suspense.
The Anxiety Of Waiting
Many of them are just a few weeks away from crafting budgets that will determine their own spending levels for the next fiscal year, which generally begins July 1 at the state level.
The big thing that's out there right now is that nobody knows how to deal with the unknown.
Without knowing what numbers they can plug into their budgets, some are already crafting budgets that are more conservative than they might otherwise need to be. Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick this month cut his state's budget by $500 million, largely due to the federal machinations.
The longer the negotiations in Washington drag out, the more likely states and localities are to cut their spending levels, regardless of what actions the feds ultimately take.
"The big thing that's out there right now is that nobody knows how to deal with the unknown," says Long, the Fairfax County, Va., executive.
'Paralyzing' The Economy
Fairfax County is a suburban area just outside Washington. As such, it's home to an unusually high concentration of government workers and contractors.
Long says that uncertainty about federal spending is already hurting his county's economy. Employers are "paralyzed" not knowing what the federal government is going to do, he says. As a result, commercial real estate development, which grew at 8 percent in the county this year, is forecast to be flat next year.
Given its proximity to Washington, Fairfax is an extreme case. States and localities across the country, though, are worried about how the federal stalemate will affect the economy as a whole.
"The revenue impacts of a possible recession will amount to a heck of a lot more money to states than the budget cuts," says Pattison, the NASBO executive director.
That's why state and local officials are rooting as loudly as anyone for Obama and Congress to make a deal as soon as they can.
"Once the federal government makes their decisions, trust me, it's going to take months before you get the details of what that's going to mean for states and localities," Long says.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

subset: commoncrawl


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We realise that any gas appliance poses a possible threat to your safety and those nearby. When taking your call our experienced and customer friendly Sales team will explain the best steps to take if you think there are gas leaks.
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Target and Ulta Beauty Announce Brands and First Locations Ahead of Highly Anticipated August Launch
An unparalleled, curated beauty experience with expertly trained consultants, Ulta Beauty at Target will launch in more than 100 Target stores and Target.com
MINNEAPOLIS, MN and BOLINGBROOK, IL – July 21, 2021 – Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) and Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ: ULTA) today shared details about the highly anticipated Ulta Beauty at Target, slated to begin rolling out in more than 100 Target stores nationwide and online with more than 50 specially curated prestige brands this August. The differentiated retail concept pairs Ulta Beauty's industry authority with Target's beloved experience, bringing a one-of-a-kind beauty experience to millions of guests. The companies are planning for these experiential "shop-in-shops" to reach a total of 800 Target stores across the country in the coming years.
"As the retail and beauty industries continue to evolve, we take pride in being leaders that continually redefine and elevate guest experiences. Ulta Beauty at Target reflects our commitment to drive the industry forward and keep our guests meaningfully engaged," said Kecia Steelman, chief operating officer, Ulta Beauty. "Our dynamic teams have worked together to create a disruptive, exciting way to discover prestige beauty with a thoughtfully curated assortment and knowledgeable, approachable experts to serve as beauty gurus."
The two trusted retailers partnered to create an industry-first shopping destination based on their expertise in beauty, curation and guest-centric experiences. The Ulta Beauty at Target assortment of prestige brands includes, but is not limited to, the following: Anastasia Beverly Hills, Ariana Grande, bareMinerals, Bumble and bumble, Clinique, Drybar, IT Cosmetics, Jack Black, Juvia's Place, MAC Cosmetics, Madison Reed, Morphe, PATTERN, Philosophy, Smashbox, St. Tropez, Sunday Riley, Tarte, The Ordinary, Too Faced, TULA Skincare, Ulta Beauty Collection and Urban Decay, among others. The full list of brands, including some that are exclusive to Ulta Beauty, can be found on A Bullseye View.
"Ulta Beauty at Target is unmatched in the industry, bringing guests the opportunity to discover new prestige brands while they shop Target's incredible beauty assortment. This unique partnership is another way we continue to elevate the guest experience across our multi-category business to drive traffic and preference as we meet guests' needs in innovative ways," said Christina Hennington, executive vice president and chief growth officer, Target. "With two powerhouse retailers, our collective brand love, loyalty and omnichannel expertise will inspire guests and raise the bar for the beauty shopping experience."
First Ulta Beauty at Target Store Locations and Online Experience
The Ulta Beauty at Target locations will be found in Target stores across the country, complementing Ulta Beauty's existing store footprint and making prestige beauty more accessible than ever before. The list of more than 100 locations at launch can be found here Ulta.com/Target, with additional locations to follow in the coming years. Bringing the experience further to life, Ulta Beauty-trained team members will provide guests with industry-leading beauty expertise to guide product discovery and selection. Each "shop-in-shop" will be prominently placed near the existing Target beauty section and will feature specialized displays, discovery zones, as well as on-trend, seasonally relevant offerings.
The immersive experience will also live on Target.com and in the Target app with an elevated look and feel. Guests who shop Ulta Beauty at Target will benefit from rewards from both Target Circle and Ultamate Rewards. Those shopping online will enjoy free shipping for qualifying orders and Target's industry leading, same-day fulfillment services, Drive Up, Order Pickup and same-day delivery with Shipt at participating store locations.
Forward‑Looking Statements
Statements in this release regarding additional Target stores that will include Ulta Beauty at Target are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause the actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include the companies' ability to reach agreement on future store locations and the design and operation of the "shop-in-shops." In addition, other important risks and uncertainties for Target are described in its public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC), including risk factors contained in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 30, 2021. Other important risks and uncertainties for Ulta Beauty are detailed in its public filings with the SEC, including risk factors contained in its Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the fiscal year ended January 30, 2021. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and neither Target nor Ulta Beauty undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement.
About Target
Minneapolis-based Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) serves guests at more than 1,900 stores and at Target.com. Since 1946, Target has given 5 percent of its profit to communities, which today equals millions of dollars a week. For the latest store count or for more information, visit Target.com/Pressroom. For a behind-the-scenes look at Target, visit Target.com/abullseyeview or follow @TargetNews on Twitter.
About Ulta Beauty
Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ: ULTA) is the largest U.S. beauty retailer and the premier beauty destination for cosmetics, fragrance, skin care products, hair care products and salon services. Since 1990, the Company has brought together all things beauty, all in one place with more than 25,000 products from approximately 500 well-established and emerging beauty brands across all categories and price points, including Ulta Beauty's own private label. Ulta Beauty also offers a full-service salon in every store featuring hair, skin, brow, and make-up services. Ulta Beauty operates retail stores across 50 states and also distributes its products through its website, which includes a collection of tips, tutorials and social content. For more information, visit www.ulta.com.
SOURCE: Target Corporation & Ulta Beauty


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When I was a kid I used to love making cookies with my grandma. Wearing an apron, hands dirty with flour and sugar… It was so much fun! You can arrange something like that, too, and make these sweet treats looking like dresses with your daughter or granddaughter. They'd be great for a birthday party, baby shower or anything else like that. There's nothing difficult in making them, you only need sugar wafer cookies, ½ cup frosting to match the cookie color, pearl or white decorator candies, a serrated knife and a pastry bag. Head over to handmadecharlotte.com for the recipe and enjoy!
Fabulous DIY Sugar Wafer Dress Cookies To Make With Kids
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Pretty DIY Big Huge Pink Bow For Girls
All girls love to play with dolls, but what your daughter will say if you make a real doll costume for her? We are sure that she'll like it! So today we show you how you can make huge bow for doll look. You will need fabric, scissors, pins, needle and thread. First, cut out your pieces, two rectangles and fuse interfacing to them. Then fold your large piece in half, hot dog style, and sew it up. You'll want to leave a 5″ or wider opening in the middle of the piece. Use a 1/2″ seam allowance. Then turn it and press. Make sure to fold in the opening and press it, too. The rest of the tutorial is here.
Soothing Yet Playful Baby's Nursery With Pink And Peach Accents
Hey there, dear readers! We've got such a lovely nursery design to show you today! It's a professional project for baby Schuyler, who is 17 months now. The room has great natural light, so the main idea was to stay in a light, almost white color scheme and fill the space with colorful accents for a bit of contrast. My first thought was that it's a parents' bedroom redesigned for a little one to live there too, but in fact the bed here is a lounge for Schuyler to read, play and cuddle with her favorite people. Such a nice idea, huh? The room feels modern, fun and unique, and we really love its personal touches like the sweet Labradoodle rocker as a miniature of the family's real pet. Enjoy the photos and get inspired!
DIY Hello Kitty Party Headband For Your Kids
Hello Kitty theme is a very cool theme for birthday party cause every kid loves cute Hello Kitty! So let's start to create awesome headbands for your daughter and her guests. For making this headband you'll need pink and white felt, headband, marker, scissors, hot glue and Hello Kitty bow and ear template. First print off and cut out the Hello Kitty bow and ear template. Next, trace the pieces on the felt and cut them out. Lay out your ears and then put your headband on top, making sure to keep them lined up evenly. Then add hot glue around the edges and fold into place. The rest of the tutorial is here.
Fluffy DIY Shaggy Dog For Your Kids
This puppy is really cute, so if you aren't ready for a real one, make this shaggy dog for your kids now! You will need soft fluffy wool yarn, pom pom makers, various sized store-bought pom poms, felt, scissors and quick-drying fabric glue. First make 2 large and 1 smaller pom pom using your yarn and pom pom makers. The two large pom poms will be the "head" and "body" pieces, and the smaller one will eventually be the "snout". Select one of these and wrap a long piece of yarn around a generous portion of the pom pom to tie it off. Hold the pom pom by the tuft you've just created and trim around the back of the pom pom to clean up the wool ends. Next steps of the instruction are here.
Sweet DIY Cherry Blossom Patterns To Practice Motor Skills
Today's craft allows your kid to practice fine motor skills and pattern activity. It's spring-inspired, so right now is the perfect time to do that! Here's the list of supplies that you need for this project: pink tissue paper, green felt, hole punch and a few twigs from the yard. Begin with cutting small leaves from a sheet of green felt. Then with a hole punch make holes in each leaf. There your kid might need a little help, because felt material requires quite a lot of hand strength to punch a hole. Visit sugaraunts.com to see the next steps of the tutorial and finish them. Enjoy!
Cute DIY Ballet Tutu For Little Girls
There are so many ways to make a ballet tutu and we found a new one! So if your girl likes to dance and wants to be a ballerina, continue reading. For this project you'll need 1/2 inch elastic, sharp scissors or a rotary cutter and mat, sewing machine with a 90/14 universal needle, coordinating thread, round bowl or large can and 5 yards of tulle for a child-size tutu. Measure around your ballerina's waist and subtract 2 inches from that number. Cut a strip of elastic to this measurement. To create the waistband, overlap a 1/2 inch on the ends of the elastic and sew them together using a 90/14 needle and a medium zigzag stitch. The rest of the tutorial read here.
Awesome Nest Rocker's Padded Playhouse For Kids' Indoor Fun
When I was little, I used to love to build things: a teepee of sorts, a fort from pillows, etc. It was so much fun! In modern world our kids are so drawn to electronic devices, they spend less time just playing with each other or on their own, using their imagination. Germany's Nest Rocker has created these brilliant padded playhouses that might get your children pretty excited of the things they can create with it: a playhouse, a couch, etc. It's completely easy to join these pads together using velcro fasteners to build a perfect little indoor cubby. Looking at the pictures below it's obvious that kids love this so much! Be sure to check out!
Funny DIY Bubble Wrap Rainy Cloud For A Nursery
This craft is totally amazing and so cute! You don't need many details and too much time to create this décor element for your kids' room. For this craft you will need old bubble wrap, paint (white, black and blue), paper (two large sheets of white), wool or string, contrasting paper or pens, stapler, old plastic bags for stuffing and a little glue. Start with printing grey cloud. Just put lots of white and a little black onto bubble wrap and using paint brushes cover the whole sheet of bubble wrap. Then press it down onto the white paper and carefully peel it off. Next steps of the instruction are here.
Calm Yet Creative Woodland Themed Baby Nursery Design
We love discovering new and fresh kid's rooms themes, and today we've got a perfect woodland nursery design to share. It's a bit rustic, a bit boho, a bit vintage with a mix of soft organic and handmade pieces. The designers, mom and dad of a tot, started planning the room style with this woodland wallpaper. Then they added some key furniture pieces and filled the space with a few, well considered pieces, which fit into the theme. The space turned out to be really calm, warm and at the same time imaginative and creative, which is great for a baby. Take a closer look to the photos of this space and get inspired!
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One of the biggest fears that "Star Wars" fans have for "Star Wars: Episode VII" is that it will follow in the footsteps of the CGI-heavy prequels.
However, new leaked set photos by TMZ have shown that the new film helmed by J.J. Abrams may be returning to the original trilogy's practical effects roots.
More than 40 photos put out by TMZ show different sets at the Abu Dhabi filming location for the film.
Most fans have concluded that the set stands in for Tatooine, Luke Skywalker's home planet.
Here are a few of the images below. You can check out all of the images on TMZ HERE.
According to TMZ, this monstrous puppet takes five men to operate showing that the production may be going more practical with effects rather than relying on CGI. For fans, this is the most telling leaked image.
Previously, J.J. Abrams' was seen on set with another giant puppet creature when he announced a chance for fans to be in the new film.
Below is what seems to be an engine like set piece. It looks vaguely familiar to an engine that powered the pod races from 1999's "Star Wars: Episode 1 -The Phantom Menace."
Finally, this leaked photo shows a hooded cast member (a Jedi, perhaps?) standing in front of a giant building and what looks to be rusted out landspeeder, one similar to what Luke drove in "Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope."
To see more of TMZ's leaked set photos from "Star Wars: Episode VII" click HERE.


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Human capital management (HCM) transforms the traditional administrative functions of human resources (HR) departments—recruiting, training, payroll, compensation, and performance management—into opportunities to drive engagement, productivity, and business value. HCM considers the workforce as more than just a cost of doing business; it is a core business asset whose value can be maximized through strategic investment and management—just like any other asset.
Create tomorrow, today with the industry leading Human Capital Management Solution (1:03)
The term HCM can refer both to a business strategy and a set of modern IT applications and other technologies that are used to implement that strategy. Though sometimes used interchangeably, the terms related HR, HRMS, and HRIS do have subtle distinctions:
Refers to a set of traditional employee management functions that includes hiring, job and position management, HR compliance, and reporting.
Encompasses the same processes, but also includes workforce rewards and talent and workforce management
Looks at the strategic management of talent throughout the talent lifecycle. It includes sourcing and recruiting candidates, goal and performance management, learning and career development, talent review, and succession management.
Refers to all HR functions that manage any monetary or nonmonetary rewards including compensation, benefits, or payroll.
Involves all HR functions that are related to positive and negative time management including time and labor and absence management.
Refers to the set of applications and other technologies that support and automate HR processes throughout the employee lifecycle. While the terms HCM and HRMS are often used synonymously, HCM puts particular emphasis on the strategic approach to managing employees.
Originally referred to keeping administrative employee records. It has been largely replaced by the term HRMS. In practice, HRMS and HRIS are virtually interchangeable terms.
A complete HCM solution connects all HR processes, including recruiting, global HR, compensation, benefits, talent management, learning, workforce planning, work-life solutions, time tracking, and payroll.
With HCM solutions, businesses can make smarter and faster decisions, deliver a best-in-class employee experience, and leverage embedded cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and chatbots to automate workflows, improve efficiency, and engage quickly.
Simplify your HRIS systems and manage your entire workforce with a single, global system of record.
Enable organizations to manage the entire talent lifecycle—from effectively sourcing and recruiting to onboarding new hires, managing goals and performance, rewarding for performance, providing continuous learning, developing careers and conducting talent reviews and planning for best-fit successors—all while keeping employees engaged.
Control labor costs, reduce manual processes, and simplify compliance for all of your employees, globally.
Attract and retain the right talent and drive value through a differentiated workforce rewards strategy. Maximize the accuracy of payroll and compensation data using modern and innovative technology.
HCM (human capital management) software is an integrated suite of technologies that can help businesses manage their employees, from hire to retire. HR software applications are referred to as:
HCM software supports a range of HR functions, including recruiting and talent management, payroll, and benefits administration. These integrated modules include your organization's capabilities to manage the complete employee experience.
HCM software can be run and accessed in the cloud or on-premises at your company's location. By leveraging cloud-based HCM software, businesses can significantly reduce maintenance costs, increase access, improve employee experience, and bolster the security of employee records.
Additionally, HCM software manages employee data in a database. Leading HCM cloud software providers offer advanced analytics, helping employers gain insights into the best way to manage their employees.
The term "human capital" was first used in the 1950s and 60s as computing began to accelerate the automation that had begun in the industrial age. Economists and business people began to see employees not as replaceable units completing routine tasks, but as knowledge workers with specific skills and talents that could fuel business growth.
Not surprisingly, the term returned to prominence with the rise of the internet in the late 1990s. New technologies were rapidly automating a whole new set of business processes. While the internet changed the how employers and managers worked and collaborated. All of this change meant that workforce leaders had to transform how they went about attracting, retaining, and engaging talent in an evolving set of job roles.
This decade could be called The Golden Age of HCM. New digital technologies are enabling HR leaders to provide a more engaging and personalized employee experience at scale. At the same time, emerging technologies, such as data automation, predictive analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI), have added new innovations for understanding, managing, incenting, and engaging the workforce. And HR leaders have a whole new set of tools that can maximize the value of their workforce, from intelligent, social-driven recruiting and personalized retention practices to highly optimized compensation.
The cloud and software-as-a-service (SaaS) delivery models are quickly becoming the new normal for HCM technologies. The cloud approach accelerates deployment, turns variable capital expenses into fixed and transparent operating expenses, lowers IT costs, and drives agility by speeding and simplify upgrade paths.
Although there are many SaaS HCM providers, they are not all alike. In evaluating vendors and solutions, businesses need to ask key questions as they consider not just the HCM capabilities they want today, but the ones they will need in the future.
Clearly, technology is disrupting the world of work as we know it. New technologies are changing business strategies, eliminating job roles, and creating new work opportunities. But while traditional hierarchical structures are changing, the workforce is transforming as well—into flatter, more agile networks of teams, becoming more mobile, global, and diverse. HCM too, is evolving rapidly. Expect to see accelerating adoption of already-familiar technologies, such as SaaS and mobile, as well as leading-edge technologies, from machine learning to AI.


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MAINE BLUE blu Bag Reusable Shopper Tote
Our #1 seller! The blu Bag Reusable Shopper bag has become an everyday lifestyle essential for people everywhere. Designed to serve as the perfect shopper for market runs, our range of patterns and colors are also purchased as fun fashion tote bags and packable travel 'spares'.
• 100% polyester
• 19 x 24 inches – 1 bag holds the contents of 3 single-use plastic bags
• strong - carries up to 50 lbs
• machine wash; dries quickly
• compact size stashes everywhere
• min 6
✦ FREE BB-DISPLAY36 Display Box upon request with a minimum purchase of 36 bags. Click here to order:
Interested in a custom design to promote your business or mission? Contact firstname.lastname@example.com.
Part of our sustainable blu Collection benefiting Ocean Conservancy. We donate 5 cents for every blu Bag sold.


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Luxury Country Fern Artificial Vertical Garden / Green Wall 100cm x 100cm UV Resistant
- In Stock
- Fast Tracked Delivery
✔ Tested Durable Materials
✔ Natural UV-Resistant Colours
✔ Safely Non-Toxic & Eco-Friendly
✔ Easy Setup Pre-Assembled 1x1m Snap-Lock Design
✔ Hand Made, Quality Assured
✔ Advanced RealTex Technology
This item is out of stock and will be back on Mid July 2024
Estimated delivery between July 20 and July 23.
Starting Today Wow Your Guests with This Luxury Country Fern Wall Panel
Why Settle for Boring Walls When You Can Have a Stunning Faux Plant Wall?
It's proven. Visually stimulating walls can improve your mood, energy, and productivity while ugly or boring walls can contribute to your feelings of boredom, dissatisfaction, and even sadness, as found by studies conducted by the Journal of Environmental Psychology.
As Abraham Maslow once said, "the environment must be rich in motives which lend interest to activity and invite the child to conduct their own experiences". This applies to people of all ages.
With our Country Fern artificial vertical garden, upon entering the space you are instantly transported to a serene oasis away from the stresses and worries of everyday life. Breathe the fresh air infused with the healthy green foliage and hear the birds chirping softly in the distance. Your eyes are drawn to the stunning bright wall – a riot of colour & texture. The leaves are so realistic you feel yourself wanting to reach out and touch them.
With your new Country Fern green wall, you'll get:
- Ease & Timesaving: low-maintenance yet stunning, these elegant panels free you from pruning, watering, fertilizing, pests, or correct placement/light/electricity costs. Ready to shine right out of the box. No waiting months or years, and no invasive growth. Enjoy extra moments with your loved ones or focus on what matters most. Greenery also boosts productivity, as shown by the University of Exeter. Ideal for salons, studios, offices, eateries, and more. Make life simply beautiful.
- Privacy: Nosy neighbours hate these panels. Create a cost-effective sense of privacy and seclusion with this panel's dense and full leaf structure. It's like your own secret Zen Garden only moments away! Whether it's an iron fence in your backyard to cover a pool area, or on your porch to prevent awkward eye contact with strangers and block distracting headlights from cars.
- A cleaner, quieter, more liveable space: No more pesky bugs, mess, harsh pesticides, or unwanted intruders in your green haven. This enchanting panel ensures a serene and secure outdoor experience. Use it to hide clutter and eyesores such as cables, storage bins, power stations, etc. It can even help muffle sound such as voices or from a pool cleaner.
- An enhanced sense of luxury: Hedges have long been a symbol of elegance and grandeur. Elevate your surroundings with this timeless accent of nature-inspired art. Add a sense of authenticity, originality, and sophistication with its handcrafted design. No one piece is the same, just as nature intended.
- Joy: Its evergreen, graceful charm brings life and adventure to your space, rain or shine. Unlike real plants and flowers, ours have a perfect bloom all year. Enjoy the positive vibes it radiates, boosting you and your guest's mood and well-being. Why not enjoy the ambience with a drink or two?
- Safety from harm: Does your furry friend like to chew on things? Do you or your loved ones have allergies? According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, 30% of all allergy sufferers experience allergic reactions to pollen, trees, grasses, weeds, and ivy. Rest easy knowing these materials are non-toxic, non-poisonous, allergen-free, and don't attract critters.
- Boost well-being and live sustainably: Houseplants can add to global warming through greenhouse energy use and transport emissions. Fake plants need less care, last longer, and have a smaller carbon footprint. Choose green, save the Earth, and feel good about your eco-smart choice. You'll feel a sense of personal satisfaction and pride knowing you are playing a part in preserving the planet for yourself and future generations.
Details of the Luxury Country Fern Artificial Vertical Garden / Green Wall 100cm x 100cm UV Resistant
- Dimensions: At a bold 1m tall and 1m wide, these panels stand proud. The panel rests flush against a wall at 9cm depth while the longest stems of this exotic panel extend up to 25cm for a natural, diverse, realistic look.
- Weight: With a dense leafy design, each panel weighs 4kg. Flex your muscle, ask a friend and share the task, or inquire about our install services. Teamwork will make the lifting lighter and brighter.
- Materials: These panels are made of RealTex plastic with embedded UV Resistance, ensuring no cracks or fading of the leaves. They are weatherproof, so no worries about hail, rain, or wind. The stems are secured with cable ties so won't fly off even in strong winds. Indoor or outdoor use certified.
- Design: This tall, vibrant wall bursts with life. Ferns, grasses, and hedge leaves mingle, while yellow flowers add a sunny touch. Purple-tipped leaves make a bold statement, and tiny white flowers peek out shyly. This artificial garden brings colour and joy to all who pass by. It comes pre-assembled and attached to the backing made by hand by our talented artists – just fluff the leaves and grasses out and you're ready to go. Tip: painting the installation surface/wall can add depth and enhance visual appeal.
- DIY Customisability: Canvas-like panels inspire creativity. Easy-to-attach lattice structure for walls or fences. Add/remove stems for diverse looks. Enjoy endless DIY fun and a unique, beautiful design. Worried about overlap? Just trim with shears for sections, or regular scissors for precision. Seamless, no gap, neat fit!
- Assembly: Clips on the edge of the lattice, positioned precisely to connect seamlessly. Feel the satisfying click as you snap these sturdy parts together, backed by the strong grip of cable ties. If your hands like a soft touch, wear gloves to press the pegs in with ease. Best results when you click them together first then hang (use a hard floor). Want a simple fix? Use just cable ties – no need to click together. Or, ask us for a quote and we'll set it up for you.
- Cleaning: Cleanable with a quick swipe of a damp cloth and our Artificial Plant Cleaner. Give yourself a quick feeling of accomplishment.
- Installation: Easy to attach, no stress. Use a staple gun, nails, screwed from our kit, cable ties (black ones in the box – to blend), or wall hooks + Velcro straps. Works on most materials. Simple setup, quick transformation, no fuss.
- Storage: Not using them in between events? Effortlessly roll it up and tuck it away beneath your bed, marvelling at its ability to retain its plush, cosy charm without ever losing its delightful shape or fullness – a true space-saving wonder!
- Disposal: Worried about waste? Save cuttings for fun décor like centrepieces. Or, bring them back to our showroom to recycle. Be eco-smart and creative too!
- Goes Well With: Mix and match with other fake greenery or real plants for added realism. Create a lush, diverse look that feels just like nature. Stunningly paired with balloons or lovely floral decoration and a cool neon sign for a memorable backdrop. This piece shines on its own, snug in a frame, linked side-by-side, or cut up for a flowing, trailing vibe. It can also be paired with RGB lights at night to add a fun texture to an intimate hue. Statues placed nearby add an artistic touch and a sense of elegance. Inquire today, let us help you craft the perfect scene!
- Use cases: Super versatile! Brighten bathrooms, jazz up backdrops, dress up fences, adorn events, glam up pool areas, cozy backyards, Tiki bars, even reptile homes! Let your space bloom with endless green magic.
- Technology: Made using the most advanced fake plant manufacturing techniques to look as real as synthetic materials possibly can.
- Packaging: Packaged snug and secure in a sturdy box to ensure your product arrives undamaged while in transit, ready to reveal the greatness inside.
Sceptical about artificial foliage? We'll be honest – these panels use fake leaves. It might not look 100% real if you're looking at it from 5cm away but from a distance you won't be able to tell. In fact, you'll want to go closer to make sure! A common response we always get from customers is how these panels exceeded their expectations. Compliments from guests are guaranteed. The only downside is you'll have to tell them it's fake!
As renowned interior designer and television personality Nate Berkus once said "Incorporating greenery whether it's through a hedge or just plants placed throughout your space can transform any environment. It brings texture, and a sense of balance that makes a space feel more inviting and complete".
As the largest Artificial Plants supplier in Australia, we've satisfied thousands of customers and hundreds with this exact Country Fern mixed foliage panel. But don't just take our word for it – take a look at our testimonials under this description. Ready to finally transform your space? Hurry, as a major supplier our stock tends to disappear overnight. Buy now and secure your project!
Product Specifications
- Size:
- Height: 100cm
- Width: 100cm
- Depth: 9 - 25cm
- Weight: 4kg
- Material: RealTex Plastic
- UV Resistance: Yes
- Usage: Indoor/Outdoor
- Type: Wall Panel
Quotes can be obtained for custom artificial plants by emailing email@example.com
Once you confirm you order we will process your order in real time to the courier. Estimated Delivery Times are based on dispatch from Melbourne.


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When your experience Doc Able's Auto Clinic technician changes your oil, he will also inspect your air filter. You shouldn't need a new air filter at every oil change, but you will need to change it regularly. Heed your technician's auto advice if they tell you to change your air filter.
An air filter does what its name implies: it filters stuff out of the air. Air is drawn into your engine through the filter because your engine needs air to burn fuel. If the filter weren't there, a lot of dust and debris would come into the vehicle engine with the air when you are driving around Evanston. That dust and debris would get hot, burn and produce all kinds of ash and gumminess that would eventually clog up your engine.
Drop in an air filter and voilá! Problem solved.
But air filters themselves get clogged up with all the junk they clean out of the Evanston air. This doesn't allow the junk into the vehicle engine, but it does block up the airflow. A blocked airflow will reduce engine efficiency.
Evanston residents who get a charge out of the feeling of power in their engine might consider upgrading their air filter. Talk to your friendly and knowledgeable Doc Able's Auto Clinic service advisor. Premium air filters have been proven to increase horsepower and torque. So with the cost of a premium air filter, you can increase the horsepower in your engine — there's no cheaper way to do that!
It's also one of the simplest elements of routine preventive maintenance – and it protects against damage to expensive vehicle electronic systems. No Evanston resident should have an excuse to drive around Illinois roads and highways with a dirty air filter.
Doc Able's Auto Clinic, Inc.
936 Chicago Avenue
Evanston, Illinois 60202


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Secret Tombs:
By solving the puzzle at each tomb you will get a treasure map.
If you complete all of them you get the "Intellectually Superior" achievement.
Tomb Of The Unworthy
Coordinates: 53N 712478, UTM 3416188
Reward: Mountain Village Relic Map
Once you have the Climbing Axe, travel to the Mountain Village and return to the Tomb of the Unworthy at the base of the waterfall.
Light the torch when you enter the tomb with either the pot or some flint. Burn the bodies on the mesh platform and push of the extra weight. Wait for the lift to rise and then climb to the treasure chest at the top.
Halls Of Ascension Tomb
Coordinates: 53N 712501, UTM 3416206
Reward: Mountain Village GPS Cache Map
Once you have the Flint and Rope Arrows, travel to the Overlook camp in the Mountain village, where you looked for the rescue plane's smoke signal. Use the rope arrow to reach the upper route on the north ledge then use it again to reach the tomb.
There is an open window on the left and a suspended platform in the center. Use the crank to close the shutters on the left and then turn the center crank to raise the platform. When the second shutter opens a strong gust of wind will move the platform; get on the platform before it does. Jump to the wooden board and hang on to the ledge. Move along the ledges to reach the treasure chest.
Well Of Tears
Coordinates: 53N 712580, UTM 3416067
Reward: Shantytown Relic Map
Once you have the Rope Arrows, travel to the Helicopter Hill camp in Shantytown.
In the town there is a building painted with white murals and armed with traps. Go through the floor and you will drop down on the path to the tomb.
Throw all the yellow canisters inside the tomb onto the hanging platform above. When it's down, stand on it and remove the canisters. Get off the platform and then use the upper ledge to jump to the raising platform. Quickly jump to the left ledge to reach the treasure chest.
Chamber Of Judgement
Coordinates: 53N 712616, UTM 3416053
Reward: Shantytown GPS Cache Map
Once you have the Climbing Axe and Rope Arrows, travel to the Windmill camp in Shantytown.
Go to the southern part of town and find the caves to the east, below the gondola station. Slide down the surface to reach the ledges. Once you've climbed the ledges, follow the right passage and it leads to the tomb.
Throw all the yellow canisters inside the tomb onto the raised part of the seesaw. Jump to one, then use a rope arrow on the other. Jump to the rock wall by using the seesaw then climb to reach a ladder. The ladder leads up to the treasure chest.
Stormguard Sanctum
Coordinates: 53N 712635, UTM 3416007
Reward: Summit Forest Relic Map
Once you have the Fire Arrows, travel to the Hunting Lodge camp in the Summit Forest.
Go north beyond the bridge and you will find the tomb entrance with a lamppost next to it.
Explode the gas with a fire arrow, cross it, then use another arrow to blow up the crates on the ledge. Climb up the rock wall to reach the treasure chest.
Temple Of The Handmaidens
Coordinates: 53N 712485, UTM 3415986
Reward: Shipwreck Beach GPS Cache Map
Once you have the Rope Ascender and Climbing Axe, travel to the Survivor's camp at Shipwreck Beach.
Go the the zipline to the north and you'll reach a barricade. Use the rope ascender to break the barricade, then continue through the cave to reach the tomb.
Use the crank to raise a platform and release the buoy. Follow the buoy as it moves by climbing the left ledge. When the bouy releases a turning pole, use the pole to jump the gap and then use a rope arrow on the white beam below. Wait for the buoy to continue and then push the beam. Once it lines up, jump to the bar to reach the rock wall that leads to the treasure chest.
The Flooded Vault
Coordinates: 53N 712521, UTM 3415962
Reward: Shipwreck Beach Relic Map
Once you have the Climbing Axe and Prying Axe, travel to the Cliffside Bunker at Shipwreck Beach.
The tomb entrance is in a narrow passage near the top of the climbing path that leads to the bunker. Press the button up the stairs first and then press the button beside the door to enter the tomb.
Inside you will see electricity in the water and a floating platform. Release the platform by lighting the anchor rope, then shoot the wooden barrier on the right with a gun. Shoot a rope arrow through the barrier and pull the platform towards the steps, then use another rope arrow to pull on the beam at the far end of the room to raise the generator. Moving the plaform underneath the generator will make the water safe so you can cross it and reach the treasure chest.
Treasure map locations:
Search the 14 locations to find all the treasure maps, which reveal the locations of all relics, GPS caches and documents on your map. Buying the Tier III Survival skill "Cartography" will reveal all treasure map locations on your map.
Costal Forest
Coordinates: 53N 712382, UTM 3416112
1: On the eastern area of the map there is a broken bridge near a waterfall. To reach the waterfall, find the rock ledge with a wooden plank. Jump from there to the beam on the bridge and the treasure map will be on the crate at the next platform.
Mountain Temple
Coordinates: 53N 712430, UTM 3416148
2: After climbing the ladder you will face a large decayed building. Take the left path to reach the waterfall and then dive down into the water to find a secret cave, with the treasure map inside on top of a crate.
Base Exterior
Coordinates: 53N 712390, UTM 3416289
3: At the Radio Tower camp, use the zipline to the east to reach the building below. You will land near a burning trashcan; the treasure map is right behind it.
Mountain Village
4: Complete the Tomb of the Unworthy to unlock the corresponding treasure map.
5: Complete the Halls of Ascension to unlock the corresponding treasure map.
6: Complete the Well of Tears to unlock the corresponding treasure map.
7: Complete the Chamber of Judgement to unlock the corresponding treasure map.
Shipwreck Beach
8: Complete the Temple Of The Handmaiden to unlock the corresponding treasure map.
9: Complete The Flooded Vault to unlock the corresponding treasure map.
Geothermal Caverns
Coordinates: 53N 712708, UTM 3416013
10: At the location is a tall wooden scaffolding, climb it to find the treasure map at the top.
Cliffside Bunker
Coordinates: 53N 712561, UTM 3415929
11: Use the rope ascender on the wall behind the big cannon to destroy the wall. The treasure map is inside on top of some sand bags.
Summit Forest
12: Complete the Stormguard Sanctum to unlock the corresponding treasure map.
Research Base
Coordinates: 53N 712433, UTM 3416048
13: On the top left corner of a big pile of boxes is a small opening big enough to crawl through. The treasure map is right behind the boxes.
Chasm Shrine
Coordinates: 53N 712594, UTM 3416259
14: The map is on the second floor, jump up and you can find it lying on a table.
"Chatterbox" Achievement Hint:
There are seven moments during the story when you can talk to your friends. If you listen to everything they have to say you unlock the "Chatterbox" achievement, miss one word and you can't get it on that playthrough.
1: Before you search for 50 pieces of salvage, talk to Whitman.
2: After you've found 50 pieces of salvage, talk to Whitman again.
3: After helping Roth against the wolves, talk to Roth.
4: When you receive the rope arrows, talk to Roth before using the zipline.
5: Upon reaching Shipwreck Beach, talk to your friends Sam, Reyes and Jonah.
6: Before going to the Endurance to help Alex, talk to Whitman, Sam, Jonah and Reyes at the beach camp.
7: After you've gone to the Endurance, talk to Whitman, Reyes and Jonah.


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Free shipping for orders over $100
Welcome to Bekindproduct ! We're delighted to have you here.Looking for a special and personalized gift? Look no further than our personalized shirts! They're ideal for any occasion and are sure to make your loved ones feel extra special.
Halloween Pumpkin Pattern Black And Yellow Hawaiian Shirt HW1586 - This vibrant button-up shirt combines style and comfort, making it the perfect choice for your holiday adventures or casual day.
All of our products are print-on-demand items to good quality standards, please allow a few weeks for delivery.
How long will it take for my order to be delivered?
Every product at our company is printed specifically for you based on your design, size, and color preferences. We don't keep any stock, so your items are made only after you place your order.
Please contact our Customer Support team via email address: firstname.lastname@example.com or our website with images of the errors and your purchase number if the product you received has any of the following issues. When an item is verified to be defective, our store will support you give a refund, resend, or exchange.
To read more information about the shipping and refund policy, please click on "Refund Policy" and "Shipping Policy" at the bottom of our website.


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Nonprofit organizations require financial stability, supported by a reliable portfolio and consistent returns, to fund their mission over the long term. Our team has experience supporting values-driven business models for nonprofits, endowments and foundations, and we make it our mission to further the financial goals of our clients as best we can.
We offer strategic guidance to strengthen your finance office and help your organization manage its assets efficiently. Whether you need assistance with planning, strategy, asset allocation, investment research or stewardship responsibilities, our team works alongside your own to develop plans that are designed to align with your corporate vision and philanthropic endeavors.
Our advisors provide independent research and investment strategies to prudently develop a financial plan designed to support your needs while managing risk. We stay abreast of the latest tax regulations and investment trends, utilizing the bandwidth of our capabilities to help ensure your strategy is as streamlined as possible. In the end, our goal is to offer investment guidance and prudent portfolio management – with your mission in mind.
There is no assurance that any investment strategy will be successful. Investing involves risk and investors may incur a profit or a loss. Asset allocation and diversification do not ensure a profit or protect against a loss.
Please note, changes in tax laws may occur at any time and could have a substantial impact upon each person's situation. While we are familiar with the tax provisions of the issues presented herein, as Financial Advisors, we are not qualified to render advice on tax or legal matters. You should discuss tax or legal matters with the appropriate professional.
Our team has experience supporting values-driven business models for nonprofits, endowments and foundations.


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Presentation showed that combination of behavioral and tech-nological measures can significantly enhance safety on roads
MAN Truck & Bus Middle East, a leading provider of commercial vehicles and buses, recently took part in a 'Road Safety for Commercial Driving' seminar hosted by the Dubai Chamber Sustainability Network. This initiative is the latest step in a range of MAN activities that focus on improving road safety. Their drive to share knowledge stems from the company's drive to support the UAE's Vision 2021 and help improve road safety across the UAE.
The session, hosted by Hans-Joachim Neumann, Head of Training at MAN, placed a special emphasis on the importance of combining behavioral and technological measures to tackle the issue of accidents involving commer-cial vehicles.
On behalf of MAN, he identified supporting the introduction of road transport governance regulations, education for transport operators / enforcement officers and enforcing mandatory vehicle specification standards for new commercial vehicle deliveries as areas which could have a huge impact on improving road safety standards in the United Arab Emirates, but also in the region as a whole
Neumann highlighted that intelligent safety and driver assistance systems as well as on correct load positioning can have a significant impact on making the roads a safer place. Nonetheless, based on MAN's research and experi-ence as a full transport solution provider, it has been discovered that the impact of driver education and training is hugely and commonly underesti-mated, as attendees to the seminar learned.
However, through MAN's ProfiDrive program, it is guaranteed that the func-tions of the vehicle are fully and correctly utilized; driver behaviour and productivity is improved; safety increases; fuel consumption reduces; and engine idle time and usage of breaks are decreased. It became evident that education is an integral part of road safety.
"We are pleased to be able to present to the members of the Dubai Cham-ber of Commerce," said Mr. Franz von Redwitz, Managing Director, MAN Truck & Bus Middle East FZE. "It is crucial to regularly conduct trainings and seminars as vehicle technologies are constantly changing and developing and professional drivers need to be able to adapt in order to ensure safe roads for all."


text: The information being provided by Mid Florida Regional MLS is for the consumer's personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumer may be interested in purchasing. Any information relating to real estate for sale referenced on this web site comes from the Internet Data Exchange (IDX) program of the Mid Florida Regional MLS. The accuracy of all information, regardless of source, including but not limited to open house information, square footages and lot sizes, is deemed reliable but not guaranteed and should be personally verified through personal inspection by and/or with the appropriate professionals. The data contained herein is copyrighted by Mid Florida Regional MLS and is protected by all applicable copyright laws. Copyright © Mid Florida Regional MLS. All rights reserved. Data last updated: at 8:00 AM . |


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Advertisement |
Maria Muldaur (born Maria Grazia Rosa Domenica D'Amato; September 12, 1943 in Greenwich Village, New York) is a folk-blues singer who was part of the American folk music revival in the early 1960s. She recorded the 1974 hit song "Midnight at the Oasis," and continues to record albums in the folk traditions.
Muldaur grew up in New York City, where she attended Hunter College High School.
Muldaur began her career in the early 1960s as Maria D'Amato, performing with John Sebastian, David Grisman, and Stefan Grossman as a member of the Even Dozen Jug Band. She then joined Jim Kweskin & His Jug Band as a featured vocalist and occasional violinist. During this time, she was part of the Greenwich Village scene that included Bob Dylan, and some of her recollections of the period, particularly with respect to Dylan, appear in Martin Scorsese's 2005 documentary film, No Direction Home. She married fellow Jug Band member Geoff Muldaur, and after the Kweskin outfit broke up the two of them produced two albums. She began her solo career when their marriage ended in 1972, but retained her married name.


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USR USB-to-Serial CableOverview & Features Specifications Data Sheet Support Easily connect your computer's USB port to a modem or other serial device The USRobotics USB-to-Serial Cable allows you to use a computer's USB port to connect to the serial port of a modem or other RS232 device. This easy to install six foot cable uses no IRQs, so you can use multiple serial devices without IRQ conflicts. OS Compatibility
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Where is the hottest place on Earth? Temperature records from weather stations give that distinction to El Azizia, Libya, which hit a sweltering 57.8 degrees Celsius (136 F) on September 13, 1922, but there have likely been hotter locations beyond the scattered network of weather stations. This image provides a more complete picture of the Earth's temperature. The image was created from data collected by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA's Aqua satellite, which flies overhead at about 1:30 p.m. local time, close to the hottest part of the day. MODIS records land surface temperatures, which reflect how hot the ground is to the touch. As anyone who has walked barefoot across a sandy beach or a slab of concrete on a summer's day can attest, the land underfoot is hotter than the air at head level. As a result, the temperatures shown here could be as much as 40 degrees Celsius hotter than the air temperatures recorded at weather stations.
This image shows the hottest land surface temperature MODIS recorded at each location on Earth between 2003 and 2005. Not surprisingly, the hottest places, shown in light pink, are barren or sparsely vegetated deserts. These areas dominate northern Africa, southern Asia, Australia, and parts of western North and South America. Densely vegetated areas such as the Amazon and Congo rain forests of South America and Africa and the boreal forests of North America and Eurasia are much cooler, showing up as purple. Cooler yet, in blue, are high elevations like the Tibetan Plateau and mountain ranges. The coldest locations are the ice-capped lands near the North and South Poles. Where is the hottest place on Earth? According to MODIS, the hottest place in 2004 and 2005 was the Lut desert of Iran, which reached 70.7 degrees C (159 degrees F). In 2003, Queensland, Australia, was the hottest place on Earth, with a temperature of 69.3 degrees C (157 degrees F).
Beyond providing interesting trivia, this type of image can help scientists track land cover change. Forests are much cooler than cleared land, so if a forest is cut down, the land surface temperature will go up. This can be seen in the Amazon, where squares of warmer pink intrude into the cool purple along the southern boundary of the forest. In other locations, irrigated crops are cooler than natural vegetation because they have more water to draw upon, and cool themselves through evaporation. This type of land cover-temperature analysis could, therefore, reveal the extent of irrigated agriculture and deforestation world wide.
NASA image created by Jesse Allen, Earth Observatory, using data provided by Steven Running, Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences, University of Montana.


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Up Close: Vacation in Marrakech, Fes, & A Berber Village, Come Travel to Morocco With Us.
Traveling to Morocco guarantees one of the best vacation experiences of a lifetime. The people of Morocco are extremely hospitable and will guarantee a comfortable and fascinating travel adventure from the moment you step foot in the Maghreb. Moroccans by nature are open minded and willing to engage in conversation of all sorts. The current King Mohamed VI has made a political and social effort to ensure that Morocco is not seen as just another Muslim country. The Kingdom of Morocco, al-Mamlaka al-Maġribiyya, (in Arabic) has evolved immensely during previous years and is THE place to travel. Morocco has a rich agricultural tradition with it being a primary source for jobs and survival for the Moroccan people, especially the Berbers in the South and Atlas Mountain regions. It is also a country of cataclysmic beauty and contradiction. Morocco offers the widest variety of landscape and adventure for its size. Morocco has something for every one who desires a real Morocco Travel experience. From lush waterfalls at the foot of Cascades D'Ouzoud to a dry, mystical Sahara, a place to ski, Okamiden, just north of Marrakech and the seaside resorts of Agadir and Essaouira – Morocco Travel has it all.
The mélange of Arabic speaking Moroccans with Berbers (85% of the population and the original inhabitants) along with the influx of foreigners ranging from French to British, Americans to Swiss has enabled this moderate Muslim country to continue the footprint it left years ago after King Hassan II turned away Hitler when he came for its Jews during WW II. The King told Hitler and his army that "Morocco had no Jews, only Moroccan citizens." The Maghreb owns a place in everyone's heart that has once traveled to this distant land filled with daunting sunrises and blazing pink sunsets. Morocco is a country where you can easily get lost – in yourself and in time. When traveling to Morocco it is important to consider a variety of tour options that enable you to discover the REAL Morocco.
The Imperial city of Marrakech boasts gardens, palaces and souks, while the city of Fes lays claim to the oldest working medina in the world. When visiting Morocco, must see Imperial cities are Marrakech and Fes. Marrakech has an upbeat energy that will make your Moroccan travel exploration one of a kind. Fes will take you back centuries in time and invoke a feeling as if you have discovered the origins of man as he first began creating his craft. Fes is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the oldest working medinas in the world.
Traveling to the Sahara Desert of Merzouga, in Morocco promises one of the most striking mystical Moroccan travel journeys. With its deep teal blue skies at night and its range of starlit to desolate and quiet skies, the view above the Erg Chebbi dunes forces you to see for miles across the golden rolling hills of sand and engages your every sense. Another way to discover the real Morocco is spend a day visiting a Berber village, exploring its Kasbahs and local culture while having lunch with an old world Moroccan family. Eating couscous with the Berbers and learning about their nomadic, indigenous culture will leave you with a memorable Moroccan travel experience that you shall treasure forever. The Berbers are a zen-like group of people who, as Nomads, originally inhabited all of Morocco before the dynasties fell upon them and Islam swooped down to ask them to bow. The Berbers, highly motivated, intelligent and nomadic, were the mountain czars.
By rugged hand and through all seasons the Berbers worked in the fields by day and cooked by night while educating their children with the goal to preserve their ancient customs and spiritual traditions.Morocco, a land of Arabs, Berbers, Foreigners and a mélange of those who are Muslim, Jewish, Christian and Agnostic have lived together for centuries with the goal to encourage collaboration and the spirit of peace and hospitality. Even as Morocco and its King Mohamed VI are gradually becoming more Westernized the Kingdom of the Maghreb and it's people are fully alive, open to innovation, to evolving in effort to create a NEW Morocco. Moroccans however remain the same with their penchant for Moroccan food, craft, conversation, work and most of all an unconditional amount of genuine hospitality.
For more information about a Berber Village Cultural Tour
For more information about Travel and Tours to Morocco plus highlights on Moroccan culture visit Morocco's Imperial Cities, Seaside Resorts, Sahara Desert, Berber villages, A Taste of Morocco, Magical Kasbahs, Ruins & Waterfalls, Absolute Morocco, The Best of Marrakech, Fes, and Ouarzazate.
Vacation in Marrakech, Vacation in Fes, Berber Village Cultural Tour, Travel Erg Chebbi Dunes, Travel Merzouga, Travel Cascades D'Ouzoud, Travel Essaouria, Travel Agadir, Travel Okamiden, Morocco Travel, Tours to Morocco, Morocco Vacations, Morocco Holidays
Travel Exploration specializes in Morocco Travel. We provide Tours and travel opportunities to Morocco for the independent traveler and tailor-made tours for families and groups with a distinctly unique flavor. From Morocco's Seven Imperial Cities, to the Magical Sahara Travel Exploration offers a captivating experience that will inspire you. At Travel Exploration we guarantee that you will discover the best of Morocco! Google on call Travel Exploration at 1 (800) 787-8806 or 1 (917)703-2078 or (212) 661-4898-960 and let's book a tour to Morocco for you today.
Tags: Berber Village Cultural Tour, Morocco Holidays, Morocco Travel, Morocco Vacations, Tours to Morocco, Travel Agadir, Travel Cascades D'Ouzoud, Travel Erg Chebbi Dunes, Travel Essaouria, Travel Merzouga, Travel Okamiden, Vacation in Fes, Vacation in Marrakech


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Summer is actually here, temps are growing and it's defenitely time to move in higher altitudes to find good conditions for climbing!
But first I will give you a quick recap about what happened during this past spring season!
The main reason of my trip in the UK was the CWIF bouldering competition in Sheffield. I got an invitation to represent The Climbing Works gym team aka Team WAD togheter with Rustam Gelmanov, Alex Megos and Melissa Le Neve!
Of course we won the team race being almost unbeatable!...
The Event has been great, good atmosphere, good people and very good boulders. I think I climbed well during the various rounds and managed to get a final 3rd place after Frenchman Tito Calyron and Alex Megos!
After the comp me and the Italian team, Stefano,Riccardo and Marco, we stayed around for a full week of climbing in the Peak District! The weather was decent without much rain. We visited some of the classic gritstone areas and spent a couple of days on the limestone too.
The highlights of the short trip were:
- The Ace 8b in Stanage, super classic by Jerry Moffat
- Mecca 8b+ in Raven Tor, first 8b+ in the UK
- Climbing on the first 8c+ in the world Hubble
Aosta Valley never stop to suprise...
I remember walking between these boulders on a lazy day a few years ago, without giving too much attention about the real quality of the lines...
When we came back this spring, with a more careful eye, we realized the real potential of the area! We kept coming back several times before the heat came in and brushed many great boulders...
Since my friends were more focused on cleaning and climb the moderates I spent my time trying to open some harder projects!
Two of them are real world class problems:
Incidente a Glasgow 8a+
Gabri Moroni - Incidente a Glasgow from rivoli on Vimeo.
Chi Tocca Muore 8a+
Gabriele Moroni_Chi Tocca Muore from rivoli on Vimeo.
After 3years off I decided to come back to the competition world.
I really wanted to see how far I could go with some serious training and see if I still had the right level to climb with the best competitors in the world.
But first I had to be selected in the national team. So I competed at the first Italian Bouldering Cup in Rome.
I had to do all the rounds since I had no points in the national ranking. It was a really tiring day but finally I managed to win the comp and got my spot in the national team!
First World Cup I took part in was held Grindelwald, Switzerland.
Qualifications went well, I was a bit nervous and insecure on the first couple of problems but then I managed to relax my nerves and finally sent all the boulders but one and secured my place in the next round.
The day after was much better mental-side. I was already happy of being in semifinal on my first "come back" competition!
I felt physically good during my climbing but I made some mistakes on the tricky boulders. At the end of the round I finished 3 of the 4 proposed boulders! Not bad.
I was a bit desolated but at the same time glad and proud about how the competition went! I was again in the top 10 competitors and with the extremely high level of the World Cup athletes nowadays I think it was a really good final result!
Next World Cup round was just one week later in Innsbruck, Austria.
There is not much to write about this comp... Because since the warm up for the qualification round I felt in horrible physical shape. No power, not reactive, I had two splits on both the medium fingers so I had to climb with tape on and my skin was sweating so much...
Qualification round was really hard, other guys said one of the hardest in the last years. I was barely able to flash 2 problems and still managed to pass the turn 6th in my group.
This gave me a bit more confidence for the next day. But semifinal was personally a real disaster. I felt worse than the previous day and my skin was completely trashed and wet. I just couldn't stay on the holds and feel the grips.
At the end I topped the first two easy boulders like many others but I had no chance on the last two. I finished my comp in 17th place...
Not a very good result but still in the first 20(semifinal).
Next WC I will take part in will be Laval,France in a bit more than a week! I still have a few more training sessions before leaving so I hope to get into great shape by this important date...
I didn't plan the traditional Franken spring trip this year... due to other obligations, trainings for the competitions and other stuffs.
One day, checking out the last Alex Megos' ascents on the internet, I got the Call!
The desire to climb in the Frankenjura was just too strong that some minutes later I sent a text message to my usual Franken partner Ema... Are you free next week?
Of course he was and we quickly organized the trip togheter with two other good friends, Andrea and Marco!
Since this was their first time in the area, we climbed in different cliffs every day without a real program or projects!
It was a great week and despite the poor weather, we climbed alot and everybody really enjoyed the trip!
This time I couldn't focus on one single project, I wanted to take my friends on the best sectors, so I climbed on "easier" routes from 8b to 8c+ such as Apollofalter 8b/b+, Linie 1 8b/b+, Ronin 8b+/c and Hattori Hanzo 8c+!
Lately I made some two days trips in Arco!
First time this spring was right after the WC in Innsbruck on the journey back home.
As I said before I was a bit pissed off about my performance at the comp so I needed a couple of days on the rock to get back in the right mood.
The two days I spent here both I climbed in Nago. Last year Markus Bock bolted some beautiful short routes on a big boulder just below the main wall.
I already climbed some of his creations last year. One of them was Ghost Rider 8b+, which is a variation of the main line, Warbeast 8c.
This time I quickly sent Warbeast on my second attempt and started trying the hardest route, so far, on the boulder, No Hope Goat Farm 8c+ that Markus opened last winter!
This route starts with a really hard 10moves boulder problem with a very hard clip followed by other 20moves of 8a.
Second day on the route I was feeling good and after a few failed attempts in the first part I managed to pass the hardest part and keep it togheter till the chain!
The next two trips I made to Arco were actually the last two weekends...
First weekend was really warm, so we decided to go climbing in a crag just above Rovereto. I was pretty excited to go there and check out Back Road, a 9a Adam Ondra opened in april.
I spent the day in good company and togheter with Silvio Reffo, despite the warm temps, we were able to find all the betas and do the moves!
The route is amazing. It is about 20meters long but very bouldery at the top. The first part is an already existent 8a+ to a first chain followed by a 12moves sequence of 8a+ boulder with some bad holds and feet.
The next day we went to Narango hoping to find better conditions but the temps were even higher.
I tried a couple of times the last route I was missing there, an 8c/c+ from Cristian Brenna called Natural Present but it was incredibly warm for my tastes so I stopped climbing and saved the energies for the next day training session...
During the week I kept checking the weather forecasts for the weekend as it seemed like temps were going to drop significantly!
So I decided to drive to Arco again and try my chance on the two routes I tried the previous weekend.
Saturday morning I was under Back Road again! Conditions were one million times better than last saturday so I immediately got psyched! After a couple of warmup goes to try the sequences I felt in great shape and ready to give some serious attempts!
Next go was really good and promising. I got to the last boulder but I couldn't get the mono crimp hold right and fell.
After a good 40minutes I gave another attempt climbing perfectly. I got the point where I fell before feeling very good but in an adrenaline rush and having too much confidence I forgot to move a foot on a higher foothold so I got stuck for a few seconds and eventually dropped off without even being really pumped or tired! Probably the biggest punt in my career!...
So I lowered off super pissed off and disappointed.
After a good hour of break I decided to give one last A Muerte go.
I felt more tired but I tried to give my best not wasting too much energies. With no mistakes I got to the crux and everything was dialed perfectly... I was feeling less strong than before but I gave 110% on every move! I got to the point I forgot to move the foot before but this time I couldn't make mistakes and did the last two easier moves to the last jug!! Chain!!
Every thought and stress went away and it was only time to celebrate with friends and get ready to cheer up Italy on the soccer match with England that same night!...
After a good night out, the sunday was defenitely more chilled and relaxed. Woke up late and went to Narango. I was feeling pretty lazy that day but I knew I still had one duty to fulfill if I wanted to go back with all the homeworks done...
So it was time for Natural Present again.
One go to put the draws on and brush the holds. Next go I fell at the last hard move.
Last go best go once again, I climbed efficently and faster than the pump and finished the weekend in the right way...
I was really glad Cristian, who opened the route a few years ago, was there too cheering me and trying his project Cinque Uve 8c!
And thanks as always to all my friends from the area, the best support team I can ever have!
Until next time...


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Meet Barbara Ackerman, whose keen sense of humor and charismatic demeanor work wonders at the Check Out Desk. With countless friends, a contagious laugh, and a wealth of wit, she makes coming to the library – and working at the library – downright fun. Here's what she has to say in the first part of a two-part interview.
Q: How long have you worked at the Princeton Public Library?
A: I began working here part time in September of 1985 and then full time in 1987. I was probably the last person to be hired by the legendary Bob Staples who retired later that fall. So doing the math, I have been working here for 26 years.
Q: What do you like best about working in Lending Services?
A: I love suggesting good books and good movies to customers who ask my opinion, or even by commenting on items they are checking out, like, "Oh this is a fantastic book!" What I really love is when the customer comes back and says, "You were right about that book. It was great, thanks for the tip." That really makes my day. Also I like getting a chuckle or a good laugh out of people and often really try to help them leave with a smile. Sometimes they are leaving with what they came for, and sometimes it's that – and a joke. I enjoy greeting people by their names, and entering their name or getting their reserve book for them without them having to ask. I also like being the font of useless info like Prospect Ave being in the Borough and Township or that the town actually ends before you reach Lake Carnegie or where the closest notary public is. And don't forget about a really good hamburger, reasonably priced.
Q: What was the public library like where you grew up?
A: I grew up in New York City on the Lower East Side in the fifties. I don't remember being especially enthralled by the branch of my local library but I did take books out. I do remember feeling a little nervous, but in those days one's library decorum was different and the place felt a little like church: quiet, reverent, no loud talking or giggling, but sort of peaceful and scary. The place had a nice smell. There was a limit to the number of items you could check out, maybe three per trip.
Stay tuned for more from my conversation with Barbara Ackerman.
Photo by Leticia Braga


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Choosing where to go to college is not an easy decision, often because it feels so important. Kids are told that where they go after high school will define how the rest of their life turns out. But writer Kelly Corrigan says that's the big lie society must stop telling.
"The lie is that this is it, that this is a binary moment," said Corrigan, who also hosts the podcast Kelly Corrigan Wonders. "[That] if you get to the University of Stretch Dream Goal, everything will unfold accordingly. And if you don't, you're kind of screwed."
But that's actually not the case, she said.
For starters, Corrigan acknowledges that even thinking about college is a privilege not everyone has. And even for those who are considering it, the financial aspect can be just as stressful as the rest of the application process.
But for those who are applying, this can be a moment of growth, Corrigan argues, and a moment worth celebrating.
The stress of college applications starts long before high school
Corrigan has two kids who are in college now, but before they got there, they went through what she says is "the dumpster fire that is senior fall," while working on their college applications.
The process sends kids through the wringer, making them consider big-picture questions like how the next chapter will be financed, and Corrigan says that forces them to grow. And while parents may want to help, Corrigan argues that they should let their kids take the lead.
Parents do have a role in this process and can help, but to do so they should start thinking about this long before senior fall arrives, Corrigan says, potentially beginning with a decision on how much to talk about college — and even use the word itself when their kids are young.
"I know most parents say the word college way too many times before the fall of their kids' senior year, [and] you can't just take it back with one statement," she said.
If parents have been talking about college and the schools that they went to and where their friends studied, it's nearly impossible for kids not to internalize that to some degree, Corrigan said. And she's speaking from experience.
"I really feel like at some level we blew it, to be totally honest. Because it did come up a lot. It came up too much," she said.
Stepping back and monitoring how much they as parents talk about college can help, Corrigan said. It puts the high schoolers in the driver's seat as they work to navigate what they want.
Deciding what to do after high school requires more questions than 'where do you want to go to college?'
That's an approach that high school counselor Jennifer Kirk agrees with. Kirk works at Upper St. Clair High School just outside of Pittsburgh, Pa., and serves as the board chair for the Pennsylvania School Counselors Association.
Kirk says the thought of post-secondary education – not just a four-year university degree – really begins as early as kindergarten because of how kids are exposed to industries. Teaching at school, medicine at doctor's appointments, and the jobs their parents and parents' friends have are just a few examples.
To break through some of that, she focuses on questions beyond "where do you want to go to college?" and asks about location, the feel of the campus, sports, music and accessibility to a number of other features.
"There has to be heavy self-reflection, because what is wonderful to me is different than your wonderful, is different to my mom or dad's wonderful, is different to my friend's wonderful," Kirk said. "Coaching up a 17 or 18-year-old to have the strength and courage to self-reflect authentically is a big deal."
Parents are invited into these conversations, but the focus is still on the students because "the first major adult thing that they're doing is deciding where they're going to land after high school," Kirk said.
A lot of the stress in this process also stems from students thinking they're going to make the wrong choice, Kirk said. That mentality is a result of society catastrophizing the wrong choice in school, and TV and Hollywood perpetuating unrealistic ideas of what college life is actually like, she said, adding that it's sold as "the best four years of your life."
"It is the next four to six years of your life," Kirk said. "We want them to be great, and then you're going to graduate, ideally, and move into the workforce and live another 50 to 75 years."
And those decades that follow can be great too – and might actually contain the "best years of your life."
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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Top Photo: Brother Benedict and Brother Joris in the brewhouse
at Westvleteren/De Sint-Sixtusabdij van Westvleteren.
The St. Bernardus-Westvleteren story has been the subject of much discussion over the years, even more so recently, as the popularity of both breweries has increased exponentially.
I have visited the brewery at St. Bernardus twice, and have made four visits to Brouwerij Westvleteren/De Sint-Sixtusabdij van Westvleteren. My latest was in December 2009, when I toured the new and old breweries with Br. Joris, the monk in charge of the brewery.
Hence, I think I can shed some light on this interesting subject.
While I'm at it, I'm also going to show you some photos from inside the
breweries at Westvleteren and St. Bernardus.
Photo, above: entrance to secondary fermentation cellar. Above the
entrance it says: "Shhh....Here ripens the Trappist"
Photo, above: Brother Joris in the secondary fermentation cellar.
Brouwerij St. Bernardus opened in 1946 with an arrangement to brew beers under license for the nearby St. Sixtus Abdij (Westvleteren) for commercial sale.
The years immediately after the Second World War were a difficult time for the monks of St. Sixtus, as the brewery and abbey needed major renovations after years of German occupation. The roads around the abbey were also in very bad shape.
Photo, above: spent grain being pumped out of the brewhouse at
Hence, the monks needed money for the renovations, and also to sustain themselves. They decided to make an agreement with Evarist Deconinck, who ran a cheese makery located not far away, among farmland a couple of miles outside the picturesque village of Watou. Ironically, this same cheese makery had been founded and run by the Trappist monks of the Mont de Cats monastery in nearby France, who had fled their country in a time of turmoil. The monks called the farm "Refuge de Notre Dame de St.Bernard," and their primary source of income came from sales of their Abbey cheese. When these monks went back to France, Deconinck took over the farm and cheese makery. Later, the Claus family took over from him. The brewery name, St. Bernardus, comes from the monk's name for the farm.
The original St. Sixtus Abbot 12 (Abt for short) had already been changed from its original formulation when this occurred. Until sometime in the 1930's, the Abt really did have 12% abv. However, it was very difficult to brew, as the high alcohols often killed the yeast. Additionally, the monks did not have the high-tech labs of today, so it wasn't easy to brew high alcohol beers back then. Hence, the beer was reformulated a bit to reduce the alcohol to 11% abv, which still packed a mighty punch.
Photo, above: the three beers of Westvleteren: Blond, 8, and 12.
The first three beers of St. Bernardus-namely, Pater 6, Prior 8, and Abt 12-were pattered after the similarly-named, dark, malty, strong brews of St. Sixtus. To achieve this, the brewmaster from the abbey joined St. Bernardus and brought along all the recipes, the yeast, the equipment and the brewing knowledge.
The open (primary) fermentation room at Westvleteren
Photo, above: close up of one open fermenter in action at Westvleteren.
Note that the beers of Abdij St-Sixtus have been referred to strictly as "Trappist Westvleteren" by the monks for the last decade or so. These beers have no labels today, but such was not always the case. Many bottles did, in fact, have colorful labels until sometime in the 1950's.
Photo, above: old Westvleteren bottles from the 1950's or 1960's. Taken
inside the old brewery at Westvleteren.
You can still find bottles of beer brewed at St. Bernardus with the words "Trappist" and "Westvleteren" and "St. Sixtus" printed on them, at places that carry aged beers, like Bierhuis Kulminator in Antwerp.
These are bottles of Prior 8 brewed at St. Bernardus in the 1970's.
Note the word "Trappist"on the labels.
In the beginning of the 1960's, the son-in-law of Evarist Deconinck, Guy Claus, took over the brewery. Negotiations then began with the monks of St-Sixtus to renew the license. This process was completed in 1962, when St. Bernardus was again granted a license to brew beer for Westvleteren, for a period of 30 years.
In 1992, this arrangement came to an end, and the monks of St. Sixtus decided not to renew the license. The Trappist Abbeys had decided that the term 'Trappistenbier' could only be applied to beers brewed inside the walls of the Trappist Monastery, under the control of monks.
This allowed the monks of St. Sixtus to increase production a bit, as they had opened a new, larger capacity brewery in May, 1990. However, to this day they still produce no more than 4,750 hl (about 4,000 US barrels) per year.
St. Bernardus then entered the marketplace on its own. It has been a great success.
Marco Passarella, Sales Manager of Brouwerij St. Bernardus,
in the brewhouse.
Brouwerij St. Bernardus cuts no corners in the production of its beers. To make very complex, flavorful strong ales takes time. The Abt 12 has an overall production period of over 3 months, from primary fermentation to maturity. This includes 2 months of cold conditioning and a further 2 weeks of warm-conditioning.
Photo, above: the mash tun at Brouwerij St. Bernardus
All the St. Bernardus beers are unfiltered, unpasteurized and bottle-conditioned. All are offered in 33cl and 75cl bottles, and kegs of various sizes. The Abt 12 is also now available in 6 liter (Methuselah) bottles. That would make for a very big tasting, my friends!
This is a sight I'd like to see pulling up to my front door!
Ironically, it is the brews of St. Bernardus that still use the original Westvleteren/St. Sixtus yeast, while Westvleteren has used Westmalle's yeast since the early 1990's. While Abt 12 was originally based on Westvleteren Abt, it has achieved much renown in its own right in the last ten or fifteen years.
Brouwerij St. Bernardus has seen its beer sales increase at a rate of 10 to 15% per annum for several years, and major renovations and expansions are underway at present. Sales doubled from a 2003 level of 8,500 hl to 17,000 hl in 2009. Look for this brewery to continue to grow, and keep lots of beer lovers (like me) happy. See: sintbernardus.be and specialtybeer.com.
Needless to say, the Trappist beers of St-Sixtus/Westvleteren haven't exactly been ignored by beer lovers, either! The Abbey is under construction and renovations as well. See: sintsixtus.be.
Photo, above: me and Brother Joris in the lab at Westvleteren,
about to open a 1969 Westvleteren Abt 12.


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Certain variables, called constant variables, are reserved as ``named constants.'' The consequences are undefined if an attempt is made to assign a value to, or create a binding for a constant variable, except that a `compatible' redefinition of a constant variable using defconstant is permitted; see the macro defconstant.
Keywords, symbols defined by Common Lisp or the implementation as constant (such as nil, t, and pi), and symbols declared as constant using defconstant are constant variables.


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MICHAEL ARRINGTON, TechCrunch
There are many sites that sell customized casino chips (just do a search), but we haven't found any that have an online design tool to allow you to create the chip itself.TheChipLab has take the extra step and has created a very nice Flash tool for designing your own casino-grade chip. The creation tool is very flexible and layer based. It's not as powerful as new online image editor Fauxto, which is also Flash based, but it does the job.
So my question is, why don't CafePress and Zazzle implement Flash tools to help people create customized products as well? Zazzle's Ajax tool is pretty nice and allows some basic resizing and movement of images, plus the addition of text. Imagecafe is stuck in the nineties - their product creation tool has next to no flexibility at all. Neither are anywhere near offering what TheChipLab does.
Adobe has created awesome tools that tiny ecommerce companies like TheChipLab can use to provide a cool service to customers. It's time for the VPs of Product at CafePress and Zazzle to wake up and reinvent their products, too. Adobe has done all of the heavy lifting, all they have to do is implement it.


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My Items
Order on Demand
This is a translucent silicon rubber button pad with 4 buttons orignally inspired by the folks at monome.org. Each button has a hole underneath that accepts either a 3mm or 5mm standard LED. The idea is that you can create a button interface of your choice with the ability to display simple colors under each button. Mainly, we wanted to use our tri-color LEDs to create a full RGB color for each button.
Each button has a conductive circle backing so that a switch can be created with exposed PCB traces. Button force is between 190 and 210grams activation force (nice tactile feel like on your TV remote).
Dimensional Drawing (2x2 section only)


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HHS continues to support state efforts to build Affordable Insurance Exchanges
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today awarded a new round of Affordable Insurance Exchange Establishment Grants to Arkansas, Colorado, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and the District of Columbia. These awards will give states the flexibility and resources needed to create new health insurance marketplaces, known as Exchanges, for their residents.
"States continue to make progress toward building Exchanges that work best for their residents," Secretary Sebelius said. "The resources announced today will ensure states have the assistance they need to continue moving forward."
Because of the Affordable Care Act, consumers and small businesses will have access to Exchanges starting in 2014. The Exchanges are one-stop marketplaces that will provide access to quality, affordable private health insurance choices similar to those offered to members of Congress. Consumers in every state will be able to buy insurance from qualified health plans directly through these marketplaces and may be eligible for tax credits to help pay for their health insurance. These competitive marketplaces promote competition in the insurance marketplace and provide consumers with more insurance choices.
Arkansas, Colorado, Kentucky, Massachusetts, and Minnesota received awards today for Level One Exchange Establishment Grants, one-year grants awarded to states to build Exchanges. The District of Columbia received a Level Two Exchange Establishment Grant today, a multi-year grant awarded to states further along in building their Exchanges.
A total of 49 states, the District of Columbia, and four territories have received grants to begin planning their Exchanges, and 34 states and the District of Columbia have received grants to begin building their Exchanges. To ensure states have the support and time they need to build an Exchange, states may apply for grants through the end of 2014 and may use funds through the initial start-up year.
For a detailed breakdown of Exchange grant awards made to states, including summaries of how states plan on using the awards announced today, visit: http://www.healthcare.gov/news/factsheets/2011/05/exchanges05232011a.html.
For more information on Exchanges, visit: http://www.healthcare.gov/exchanges.