text:
(CNN) — A social services worker and a hospital nurse were in a North Carolina jail after a deputy spotted their 11-year-old foster child shivering and handcuffed to the front porch — with a dead chicken around his neck, authorities said Saturday.
The boy and four adopted children in the home south of Monroe were taken away Friday and are in the custody of an outside agency, according to Union County Sheriff Eddie Cathey.
Dorian Lee Harper and Wanda Sue Larson, both 57, face charges of intentional child abuse inflicting serious injury, false imprisonment, and cruelty to animals, officials said.
Larson also faces charges of willful failure to discharge her duty as a public official. She's a supervisor with the Union County Department of Social Services.
The department "strives to help families support themselves and to provide care and protection for children, the disabled, and the elderly," says its website.
"We're very familiar with [Wanda Sue Larson]," Cathey told CNN. "My agents have worked with her often. She handles a lot of the social services cases out here throughout all of Union County. We're shocked."
When asked about Larson's arrest, Brett Vines, public information officer for Union County, told HLN, "We can't comment as the incident is under investigation."
HLN, the sister network of CNN, has been unable to determine whether Larson and Harper have legal representation.
They are expected to appear in court on Monday morning.
The boy on the porch appears to be the only one of the children to be neglected, said Cathey. "The five children all will undergo medical evaluations to determine if they were mistreated."
"The 11-year-old, we believe, had been handcuffed there in the morning time," the sheriff said. "We learned that this particular child is handcuffed pretty regularly. It's unclear if the other children received similar discipline."
The discovery came Friday when a Union County deputy responding to a complaint about an animal next door saw the boy on the porch.
The child was secured to the front porch at the ankle by what appeared to be a pair of handcuffs, according to the Union County Sheriff's Office. A dead chicken hung around his neck.
Moments later, authorities said, Harper appeared on the porch and asked the deputy why he was there.
A child inside the house opened the front door, letting out several large dogs. The dogs chased the deputy back to his patrol car.
When additional officers arrived at the house, authorities searched the residence. They removed five children, ages 8, 9, 11, 13 and 14, from the home.
Harper reportedly lived at the residence with Larson. They had adopted four of the children and were serving as foster parents for the 11-year-old found on the porch.
The four adopted children were found to be in good condition, said sheriff's Capt. Ronnie Whitaker. Two are siblings. The boy on the porch is not related to the others, officials said.
All of the children are home schooled, authorities said.
Cathey said Harper and Larson claim to be married, but that has not been confirmed.
The house sits on 30 acres, with animals "running around," including horses, chickens, geese, dogs and llamas. About 95% of the animals appeared to be healthy and well-fed, according to the sheriff.
Authorities have no previous records of calls to the home, according to Whitaker.
The sheriff's office said Larson was not present at the time of Friday's incident, but she is accused of being complicit in alleged ongoing mistreatment.
Neighbor Jeanette Wallace, 62, said animals often were loose outside the suspects' home. "Exotic animals. It wasn't your normal cat-and-dog-type farm," she said. "I tried going over there to tell them about their animals, but they never answered."
"The sheriff's (deputies) were out here one time before trying to round up their animals," according to Wallace. "We were all running around chasing after them. It was a sight."
Harper is being held under a $500,000 secured bond. Larson's bond is set at $525,000.
Harper is a emergency room nurse at CMC-Union in Monroe, according to spokeswoman Teri Mitchell Porter. He has been placed on administrative leave, she said.
Monroe is approximately 25 miles southeast of Charlotte.
CNN's Marlena Baldacci, Phil Gast and Rick Martin contributed to this report.


text:
I'm putting together an adventure where the PCs are on a time limit. As such, travel times become quite important and I want to make sure that I've understood the different means of travel beforehand.
In a fantasy setting, when would PCs traveling overland choose to walk instead of riding?
I'm essentially looking for two types of circumstances:
- Circumstances that would make mounted travel less desirable than travel on foot.
- Circumstances that would make mounted travel unavailable.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Afghan Convert to Christianity to be Executed within Days
An Afghan aid worker is facing execution within three days for converting to Christianity.
Said Musa, 45, was told by a judge that he would be hanged within days unless he reconverts to Islam.
But the father of six has refused to renounce his faith, telling the Sunday Times, "My body is theirs to do what they want with. Only God can decide if my spirit goes to hell."
He also claimed he was tortured and sexually abused by prison guards and inmates.
Musa has been held in prison since May last year, after a local TV network broadcast secret images of Afghan Christians being baptized by westerners. The broadcast caused outrage as protesters demanded the expulsion of those who appeared in the footage.
He sought asylum at the German Embassy but was arrested by authorities after calls by the deputy secretary of the Afghan parliament, Abdul Sattar Khawasi, for the public execution of the alleged converts, sparking a nationwide manhunt.
The case sparked international outcry from human rights groups, which pointed out that Afghanistan is a signatory of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The document declares the right to freedom of religion, including the freedom to change religion or belief. However, under Islamic, or sharia law, conversion to another religion is considered a crime.
Defense lawyers have refused to represent Musa unless he reconverts, while others have dropped his case after being threatened.
Musa, who lost his left leg in a landmine explosion in the 1990s, worked as a physiotherapist for the Red Cross for 15 years while assisting in the treatment of fellow amputees.
The situation for Christians in Afghanistan, ranked third on Open Doors' World Watch List of countries where Christian persecution is most severe, has deteriorated over the past year with a major crackdown by the government on Muslim background believers.


text:
Moving from a small town or suburb to a large city can be an intimidating proposition. Here are a few tips to help make your move as painless as possible.
Research before you move. It's important to understand the culture you're joining. Do research online and find out about school systems, neighborhoods, parking, weather, public transportation, and laws that are native to that area. If you can, visit a city before moving and connect with someone who's lived there before.
Have a plan. There are a lot of steps to go through before you start packing the moving truck. Find housing before you leave, or at least know where you'll stay while you look for a home. Never sign a lease on an apartment that you haven't seen. If you can't get there, find a friend or an employer to check for you. Have a job waiting for you, or if that's not possible, know what you'll do for money in the first few weeks of living there. Try to line up things like driver's licenses, car insurance, renter's insurance, and parking passes ahead of time as well.
Get involved. Meeting people in a big city can be daunting. Don't expect the neighbors to knock your door down with a casserole when you arrive: city life is often too noisy and hectic. Take the initiative. If there are things you liked to do in your town, find ways to do those things in the city. Try new things. Volunteer. Big cities offer so many opportunities to engage other people, so find what you like.
Mind your wallet. City life is expensive. Everything costs more: food, insurance, clothes, rent. There are also a lot more ways to get ripped off, whether legally or criminally. Be careful how you spend, and know where your money is going.


text:
Recommended Airport Transfer companies in the Algarve
Faro Airport Transfers from Faro airport to any of the resorts on the Algarve coast (Albufeira, Lagos, Carvoeiro, Alvor, Praia da Rocha, Vilamoura, Tavira, Montegordo, Montechoro…) and Costa de la Luz (Spain) as well as other destinations at your request. It is also provided Algarve Golf Transfers and Local Transfers.
All transfers are provided by fully licensed Taxis and Minibuses, where all drivers speak excellent English. Vehicles are fully air-conditioned for your comfort.
Don't worry if your flight is delayed. All arrival times are checked to pick you up on time.
We are happy to know you're spending your holidays in the Algarve!!!


text:
Equal Love = Equal Share for Our Daughters [ Serbian]
This PSA talks about love toward daughters and is in Serbian language.
Video Transcript
Daughter: So many memories in this house…
Daughter: We would always fight over the cake; but, in the end, because of that cake we would love each other even more.
Daughter: I hope that my mom and dad have baked my favorite cake for me.
Daughter: I knew they wouldn't forget my favorite cake.
Daughter: I didn't need this present from them to know that they love me and treat me the same as my brother because I already know that. However, I have an equal right to the property and I will accept it.
Daughter: I will do the same thing for my children.


text:
It saddens our hearts to inform you that our friend Don Cashmore, "Cash" Passed away on Monday, May 23, 2011 In Memory of "Cash"
Don Cashmore of New London died unexpectedly on Monday, May 23, 2011 at age 64 , following complications from heart surgery. Cash was born on August 15, 1946, in Chicago, IL, son of Floyd and Marie (Gingras) Cashmore. He graduated from Taft High School where he was a top athlete, in 1963. He was a proud veteran of the Viet Nam war having served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He owned and operated Cash's Little Shoppe of Bait in New London for 17 years, where he enjoyed spending quality time with his "groupies." He championed many causes including the Crandon Mine debate and the Mourning Dove issue.
He is survived by four sisters, Kathryn (Ralph) Brensike, Rio, WI; Joanne Cashmore, Rio, WI; Darlene Wass, Rolling Meadows, IL; and Lori (Andrew) DeKock, Adams, TN; special friend, Julie Blohm, New London; and Cash's faithful volunteers, Toni, Cara, Ann, Johnny, Josh, Betsy, Ian, Shawn, Tasha, Dalton, Mathew and Marcus . He is further survived by numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. He is preceded in death by a brother, John Lukits and a sister, Karen Smith.
Funeral services were held on Friday, May 27, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at Cline & Hanson Funeral Home, New London, with a celebration of Cash's life following at the Wolf River Pavilion. Full military honors were at 12 noon at the Wolf River Pavilion. Visitation was held at the funeral home on Friday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. Cash's Little Shoppe of Bait was closed on Friday in his honor and reopened on Saturday with normal business hours.


text:
A Strategy Guide To CSS Custom Properties
CSS Custom Properties (sometimes known as 'CSS variables') are now supported in all modern browsers, and people are starting to use them in production. This is great, but they're different from variables in preprocessors, and I've already seen many examples of people using them without considering what advantages they offer.
Custom properties have a huge potential to change how we write and structure CSS and to a lesser extent, how we use JavaScript to interact with UI components. I'm not going to focus on the syntax and how they work (for that I recommend you read "It's Time To Start Using Custom Properties"). Instead, I want to take a deeper look at strategies for getting the most out of CSS Custom Properties.
How Are They Similar To Variables In Preprocessors?
Custom Properties are a little bit like variables in preprocessors but have some important differences. The first and most obvious difference is the syntax.
With SCSS
we use a dollar symbol to denote a variable:
$smashing-red: #d33a2c;
In Less we use an @
@smashing-red: #d33a2c;
Custom properties follow a similar conventions and use a --
:root { --smashing-red: #d33a2c; }
.smashing-text {
color: var(--smashing-red);
One important difference between custom properties and variables in preprocessors is that custom properties have a different syntax for assigning a value and retrieving that value. When retrieving the value of a custom property we use the var()
The next most obvious difference is in the name. They are called 'custom properties' because they really are CSS properties. In preprocessors, you can declare and use variables almost anywhere, including outside declaration blocks, in media rules, or even as part of a selector.
$breakpoint: 800px;
$smashing-red: #d33a2c;
$smashing-things: ".smashing-text, .cats";
@media screen and (min-width: $breakpoint) {
#{$smashing-things} {
color: $smashing-red;
Most of the examples above would be invalid using custom properties.
Custom properties have the same rules about where they can be used as normal CSS properties. It's far better to think of them as dynamic properties than variables. That means they can only be used inside a declaration block, or in other words, custom properties are tied to a selector. This can be the :root
selector, or any other valid selector.
:root { --smashing-red: #d33a2c; }
@media screen and (min-width: 800px) {
.smashing-text, .cats {
--margin-left: 1em;
You can retrieve the value of a custom property anywhere you would otherwise use a value in a property declaration. This means they can be used as a single value, as part of a shorthand statement or even inside calc()
.smashing-text, .cats {
color: var(--smashing-red);
margin: 0 var(--margin-horizontal);
padding: calc(var(--margin-horizontal) / 2)
However, they cannot be used in media queries, or selectors including :nth-child()
There is probably a lot more you want to know about the syntax and how custom properties work, such as how to use fallback values and can you assign variables to other variables (yes), but this basic introduction should be enough to understand the rest of the concepts in this article. For more information on the specifics of how custom properties work, you can read "It's Time To Start Using Custom Properties" written by Serg Hospodarets.
Dynamic Vs. Static
Cosmetic differences aside, the most significant difference between variables in preprocessors and custom properties is how they are scoped. We can refer to variables as either statically or dynamically scoped. Variables in preprocessors are static, whereas custom properties are dynamic.
Where CSS is concerned, static means that you can update the value of a variable at different points in the compilation process, but this cannot change the value of the code that came before it.
$background: blue;
.blue {
background: $background;
$background: red;
.red {
background: $background;
results in:
.blue {
background: blue;
.red {
background: red;
Once this is rendered to CSS, the variables are gone. This means that we could potentially read an .scss
file and determine its output without knowing anything about the HTML, browser or other inputs. This is not the case with custom properties.
Preprocessors do have a kind of "block scope" where variables can be temporarily changed inside a selector, function or mixin. This changes the value of a variable inside the block, but it's still static. This is tied to the block, not the selector. In the example below, the variable $background
is changed inside the .example
block. It changes back to the initial value outside the block, even if we use the same selector.
$background: red;
.example {
$background: blue;
background: $background;
.example {
background: $background;
This will result in:
.example {
background: blue;
.example {
background: red;
Custom properties work differently. Where custom properties are concerned, dynamically scoped means they are subject to inheritance and the cascade. The property is tied to a selector and if the value changes, this affects all matching DOM elements just like any other CSS property.
This is great because you can change the value of a custom property inside a media query, with a pseudo selector such as hover, or even with JavaScript.
a {
--link-color: black;
a:focus {
--link-color: tomato;
@media screen and (min-width: 600px) {
a {
--link-color: blue;
a {
color: var(--link-color);
We don't have to change where the custom property is used — we change the value of the custom property with CSS. This means using the same custom property, we can have different values in different places or context on the same page.
Global Vs. Local
In addition to being static or dynamic, variables can also be either global or local. If you write JavaScript, you will be familiar with this. Variables can either be applied to everything inside an application, or their scope can be limited to specific functions or blocks of code.
CSS is similar. We have some things that are applied globally and some things that are more local. Brand colors, vertical spacing, and typography are all examples of things you might want to be applied globally and consistently across your website or application. We also have local things. For example, a button component might have a small and large variant. You wouldn't want the sizes from these buttons to be applied to all input elements or even every element on the page.
This is something we are familiar with in CSS. We've developed design systems, naming conventions and JavaScript libraries, all to help with isolating local components and global design elements. Custom properties provide new options for dealing with this old problem.
CSS Custom Properties are by default locally scoped to the specific selectors we apply them to. So they are kinda like local variables. However, custom properties are also inherited, so in many situations they behave like global variables — especially when applied to the :root
selector. This means that we need to be thoughtful about how to use them.
So many examples show custom properties being applied to the :root
element and although, this is fine for a demo, it can result in a messy global scope and unintended issues with inheritance. Luckily, we've already learned these lessons.
Global Variables Tend To Be Static
There are a few small exceptions, but generally speaking, most global things in CSS are also static.
Global variables like brand colors, typography and spacing don't tend to change much from one component to the next. When they do change, this tends to be a global rebranding or some other significant change that rarely happens on a mature product. It still makes sense for these things to be variables, they are used in many places, and variables help with consistency. But it doesn't make sense for them to be dynamic. The value of these variables does not change in any dynamic way.
For this reason, I strongly recommend using preprocessors for global (static) variables. This not only ensures that they are always static, but it visually denotes them within the code. This can make CSS a whole lot more readable and easier to maintain.
Local Static Variables Are OK (Sometimes)
You might think given the strong stance on global variables being static, that by reflection, all local variables might need to be dynamic. While it's true that local variables do tend to be dynamic, this is nowhere near as strong as the tendency for a global variable to be static.
Locally static variables are perfectly OK in many situations. I use preprocessors variables in component files mostly as a developer convenience.
Consider the classic example of a button component with multiple size variations.
My scss
might look something like this:
$button-sml: 1em;
$button-med: 1.5em;
$button-lrg: 2em;
.btn {
// Visual styles
.btn-sml {
font-size: $button-sml;
.btn-med {
font-size: $button-med;
.btn-lrg {
font-size: $button-lrg;
Obviously, this example would make more sense if I was using the variables multiple times or deriving margin and padding values from the size variables. However, the ability to quickly prototype different sizes might be a sufficient reason.
Because most static variables are global, I like to differentiate static variables that are used only inside a component. To do this, you can prefix these variables with the component name, or you could use another prefix such as c-variable-name
for component or l-variable-name
for local. You can use whatever prefix you want, or you can prefix global variables. Whatever you choose, it's helpful to differentiate especially if converting an existing codebase to use custom properties.
When To Use Custom Properties
If it is alright to use static variables inside components, when should we use custom properties? Converting existing preprocessor variables to custom properties usually makes little sense. After all, the reason for custom properties is completely different. Custom properties make sense when we have CSS properties that change relative to a condition in the DOM — especially a dynamic condition such as :focus
, :hover
, media queries or with JavaScript.
I suspect we will always use some form of static variables, although we might need fewer in future, as custom properties offer new ways to organise logic and code. Until then, I think in most situations we are going to be working with a combination of preprocessor variables and custom properties.
It's helpful to know that we can assign static variables to custom properties. Whether they are global or local, it makes sense in many situations to convert static variables, to locally dynamic custom properties.
Note: Did you know that $var
is valid value for a custom property? Recent versions of Sass recognize this, and therefore we need to interpolate variables assigned to custom properties, like this: #{$var}
. This tells Sass you want to output the value of the variable, rather than just $var
in the stylesheet. This is only needed for situations like custom properties, where variable names can also be a valid CSS.
If we take the button example above and decide all buttons should use the small variation on mobile devices, regardless of the class applied in the HTML, this is now a more dynamic situation. For this, we should use custom properties.
$button-sml: 1em;
$button-med: 1.5em;
$button-lrg: 2em;
.btn {
--button-size: #{$button-sml};
@media screen and (min-width: 600px) {
.btn-med {
--button-size: #{$button-med};
.btn-lrg {
--button-size: #{$button-lrg};
.btn {
font-size: var(--button-size);
Here I create a single custom property: --button-size
. This custom property is initially scoped to all button elements using the btn
class. I then change the value of --button-size
above 600px for the classes btn-med
and btn-lrg
. Finally, I apply this custom property to all button elements in one place.
Don't Be Too Clever
The dynamic nature of custom properties allows us to create some clever and complicated components.
With the introduction of preprocessors, many of us created libraries with clever abstractions using mixins and custom functions. In limited cases, examples like this are still useful today, but for the most part, the longer I work with preprocessors the fewer features I use. Today, I use preprocessors almost exclusively for static variables.
Custom properties will not (and should not) be immune from this type of experimentation, and I look forward to seeing many clever examples. But in the long run, readable and maintainable code will always win over clever abstractions (at least in production).
I read an excellent article on this topic on the Free Code Camp Medium recently. It was written by Bill Sourour and is called "Don't Do It At Runtime. Do It At Design Time." Rather than paraphrasing his arguments, I'll let you read it.
One key difference between preprocessor variables and custom properties is that custom properties work at runtime. This means things that might have been borderline acceptable, in terms of complexity, with preprocessors might not be a good idea with custom properties.
One example that illustrated this for me recently was this:
:root {
--font-scale: 1.2;
--font-size-1: calc(var(--font-scale) * var(--font-size-2));
--font-size-2: calc(var(--font-scale) * var(--font-size-3));
--font-size-3: calc(var(--font-scale) * var(--font-size-4));
--font-size-4: 1rem;
This generates a modular scale. A modular scale is a series of numbers that relate to each other using a ratio. They are often used in web design and development to set font-sizes or spacing.
In this example, each custom property is determined using calc()
, by taking the value of the previous custom property and multiplying this by the ratio. Doing this, we can get the next number in the scale.
This means the ratios are calculated at run-time and you can change them by updating only the value of the --font-scale
property. For example:
@media screen and (min-width: 800px) {
:root {
--font-scale: 1.33;
This is clever, concise and much quicker than calculating all the values again should you want to change the scale. It's also something I would not do in production code.
Although the above example is useful for prototyping, in production, I'd much prefer to see something like this:
:root {
--font-size-1: 1.728rem;
--font-size-2: 1.44rem;
--font-size-3: 1.2em;
--font-size-4: 1em;
@media screen and (min-width: 800px) {
:root {
--font-size-1: 2.369rem;
--font-size-2: 1.777rem;
--font-size-3: 1.333rem;
--font-size-4: 1rem;
Similar to the example in Bill's article, I find it helpful to see what the actual values are. We read code many more times than we write it and global values such as font scales change infrequently in production.
The above example is still not perfect. It violates the rule from earlier that global values should be static. I'd much prefer to use preprocessor variables and convert them to locally dynamic custom properties using the techniques demonstrated earlier.
It is also important to avoid situations where we go from using one custom property to a different custom property. This can happen when we name properties like this.
Change The Value Not The Variable
Change the value not the variable is one of the most important strategies for using custom properties effectively.
As a general rule, you should never change which custom property is used for any single purpose. It's easy to do because this is exactly how we do things with preprocessors, but it makes little sense with custom properties.
In this example, we have two custom properties that are used on an example component. I switch from using the value of --font-size-small
to --font-size-large
depending on the screen size.
:root {
--font-size-small: 1.2em;
--font-size-large: 2em;
.example {
font-size: var(--font-size-small);
@media screen and (min-width: 800px) {
.example {
font-size: var(--font-size-large);
A better way to do this would be to define a single custom property scoped to the component. Then using a media query, or any other selector, change its value.
.example {
--example-font-size: 1.2em;
@media screen and (min-width: 800px) {
.example {
--example-font-size: 2em;
Finally, in a single place, I use the value of this custom property:
.example {
font-size: var(--example-font-size);
In this example and others before it, media queries have only been used to change the value of custom properties. You might also notice there is only one place where the var()
statement is used, and regular CSS properties are updated.
This separation between variable declarations and property declarations is intentional. There are many reasons for this, but the benefits are most obvious when thinking about responsive design.
Responsive Design With Custom Properties
One of the difficulties with responsive design when it relies heavily on media queries is that the no matter how you organize your CSS, styles relating to a particular component become fragmented across the stylesheet.
It can be very difficult to know what CSS properties are going to change. Still, CSS Custom Properties can help us organize some of the logic related to responsive design and make working with media queries a lot easier.
If It Changes, It's A Variable
Properties that change using media queries are inherently dynamic and custom properties provide the means to express dynamic values in CSS. This means that if you are using a media query to change any CSS property, you should place this value in a custom property.
You can then move this, along with all the media rules, hover states or any dynamic selectors that define how the value changes, to the top of the document.
Separate Logic From Design
When done correctly, separation of logic and design means that media queries are only used to change the value of custom properties. It means all the logic related to responsive design should be at the top of the document, and wherever we see a var()
statement in our CSS, we immediately know that this property that changes. With traditional methods of writing CSS, there was no way of knowing this at a glance.
Many of us got very good at reading and interpreting CSS at a glance while tracking in our head which properties changed in different situations. I'm tired of this, and I don't want to do this anymore! Custom properties now provide a link between logic and its implementation, so we don't need to track this, and that is incredibly useful!
The Logic Fold
The idea of declaring variables at the top of a document or function is not a new idea. It's something we do in most languages, and it's now something we can do in CSS as well. Writing CSS in this way creates a clear visual distinction between CSS at the top of the document and below. I need a way to differentiate these sections when I talk about them and the idea of a "logic fold" is a metaphor I've started using.
Above the fold contains all preprocessor variables and custom properties. This includes all the different values a custom property can have. It should be easy to trace how a custom property changes.
CSS below the fold is straightforward and highly declarative and easy to read. It feels like CSS before media queries and other necessary complexities of modern CSS.
Take a look at a really simple example of a six column flexbox grid system:
.row {
--row-display: block;
@media screen and (min-width: 600px) {
.row {
--row-display: flex;
The --row-display
custom property is initially set to block
. Above 600px the display mode is set to flex.
Below the fold might look like this:
.row {
display: var(--row-display);
flex-direction: row;
flex-wrap: nowrap;
.col-1, .col-2, .col-3,
.col-4, .col-5, .col-6 {
flex-grow: 0;
flex-shrink: 0;
.col-1 { flex-basis: 16.66%; }
.col-2 { flex-basis: 33.33%; }
.col-3 { flex-basis: 50%; }
.col-4 { flex-basis: 66.66%; }
.col-5 { flex-basis: 83.33%; }
.col-6 { flex-basis: 100%; }
We immediately know --row-display
is a value that changes. Initially, it will be block
, so the flex values will be ignored.
This example is fairly simple, but if we expanded it to include a flexible width column that fills the remaining space, it's likely flex-grow
, flex-shrink
and flex-basis
values would need to be converted to custom properties. You can try this or take a look at a more detailed example here.
Custom Properties For Theming
I've mostly argued against using custom properties for global dynamic variables and hopefully implied that attaching custom properties to the :root
selector is in many cases considered harmful. But every rule has an exception, and for custom properties, it's theming.
Limited use of global custom properties can make theming a whole lot easier.
Theming generally refers to letting users customize the UI in some way. This could be something like changing colors on a profile page. Or it might be something more localized. For example, you can choose the color of a note in the Google Keep application.
Theming usually involves compiling a separate stylesheet to override a default value with user preferences, or compiling a different stylesheet for each user. Both of these can be difficult and have an impact on performance.
With custom properties, we don't need to compile a different stylesheet; we only need to update the value of properties according to the user's preferences. Since they are inherited values, if we do this on the root element they can be used anywhere in our application.
Capitalize Global Dynamic Properties
Custom properties are case sensitive and since most custom properties will be local, if you are using global dynamic properties, it can make sense to capitalize them.
:root {
--THEME-COLOR: var(--user-theme-color, #d33a2c);
Capitalization of variables often signifies global constants. For us, this is going to signify that the property is set elsewhere in the application and that we should probably not change it locally.
Avoid Directly Setting Global Dynamic Properties
Custom properties accept a fallback value. It can be a useful to avoid directly overwriting the value of a global custom properties and keep user values separate. We can use the fallback value to do this.
The example above sets the value of --THEME-COLOR
to the value of --user-theme-color
if it exists. If --user-theme-color
is not set, the value of #d33a2c
will be used. This way, we don't need to provide a fallback every time we use --THEME-COLOR
You might expect in the example below that the background will be set to green
. However, the value of --user-theme-color
has not been set on the root element, so the value of --THEME-COLOR
has not changed.
:root {
--THEME-COLOR: var(--user-theme-color, #d33a2c);
body {
--user-theme-color: green;
background: var(--THEME-COLOR);
Indirectly setting global dynamic properties like this protects them from being overwritten locally and ensures user settings are always inherited from the root element. This is a useful convention to safeguard your theme values and avoid unintended inheritance.
If we do want to expose specific properties to inheritance, we can replace the :root
selector with a *
* {
--THEME-COLOR: var(--user-theme-color, #d33a2c);
body {
--user-theme-color: green;
background: var(--THEME-COLOR);
Now the value of --THEME-COLOR
is recalculated for every element and therefore the local value of --user-theme-color
can be used. In other words, the background color in this example will be green
You can see some more detailed examples of this pattern in the section on Manipulating Color With Custom Properties.
Updating Custom Properties With JavaScript
If you want to set custom properties using JavaScript there is a fairly simple API and it looks like this:
const elm = document.documentElement;
elm.style.setProperty('--USER-THEME-COLOR', 'tomato');
Here I'm setting the value of --USER-THEME-COLOR
on the document element, or in other words, the :root
element where it will be inherited by all elements.
This is not a new API; it's the same JavaScript method for updating styles on an element. These are inline styles so they will have a higher specificity than regular CSS.
This means it's easy to apply local customizations:
.note {
--note-color: #eaeaea;
.note {
background: var(--note-color);
Here I set a default value for --note-color
and scope this to the .note
component. I keep the variable declaration separate from the property declaration, even in this simple example.
const elm = document.querySelector('#note-uid');
elm.style.setProperty('--note-color', 'yellow');
I then target a specific instance of a .note
element and change the value of the --note-color
custom property for that element only. This will now have higher specificity than the default value.
You can see how this works with this example using React. These user preferences could be saved in local storage or, perhaps in the case of a larger application, in a database.
Manipulating Color With Custom Properties
In addition to hex values and named colors, CSS has colors functions such as rgb()
and hsl()
. These allow us to specify individual components of a color such as the hue or lightness. Custom properties can be used in conjunction with color functions.
:root {
--hue: 25;
body {
background: hsl(var(--hue), 80%, 50%);
This is useful, but some of the most widely used features of preprocessors are advanced color functions that allow us to manipulate color using functions like lighten, darken or desaturate:
darken($base-color, 10%);
lighten($base-color, 10%);
desaturate($base-color, 20%);
It would be useful to have some of these features in browsers. They are coming, but until we have native color modification functions in CSS, custom properties could fill some of that gap.
We've seen that custom properties can be used inside existing color functions like rgb()
and hsl()
but they can also be used in calc()
. This means that we can convert a real number to a percentage by multiplying it, e.g. calc(50 * 1%)
= 50%
:root {
--lightness: 50;
body {
background: hsl(25, 80%, calc(var(--lightness) * 1%));
The reason we want to store the lightness value as a real number is so that we can manipulate it with calc
before converting it to a percentage. For example, if I want to darken a color by 20%
, I can multiply its lightness by 0.8
. We can make this a little easier to read by separating the lightness calculation into a locally scoped custom property:
:root {
--lightness: 50;
body {
--lightness: calc(var(--lightness * 0.8));
background: hsl(25, 80%, calc(var(--lightness) * 1%));
We could even abstract away more of the calculations and create something like color modification functions in CSS using custom properties. This example is likely too complex for most practical cases of theming, but it demonstrates the full power of dynamic custom properties.
Simplify Theming
One of the advantages of using custom properties is the ability to simplify theming. The application doesn't need to be aware of how custom properties are used. Instead, we use JavaScript or server-side code to set the value of custom properties. How these values are used is determined by the stylesheets.
This means once again that we are able to separate logic from design. If you have a technical design team, authors can update stylesheets and decide how to apply custom properties without changing a single line of JavaScript or backend code.
Custom properties also allow as to move some of the complexity of theming into the CSS and this complexity can have a negative impact on the maintainability of your CSS, so remember to keep it simple wherever possible.
Using Custom Properties Today
Even if you're supporting IE10 and 11, you can start using custom properties today. Most of the examples in this article have to do with how we write and structure CSS. The benefits are significant in terms of maintainability, however, most of the examples only reduce what could otherwise be done with more complex code.
I use a tool called postcss-css-variables to convert most of the features of custom properties into a static representation of the same code. Other similar tools ignore custom properties inside media queries or complex selectors, treating custom properties much like preprocessor variables.
Loading The Correct Stylesheet
There are many ways you can use postCSS. I use a gulp
process to compile separate stylesheets for newer and older browsers. A simplified version of my gulp
task looks like this:
import gulp from "gulp";
import sass from "gulp-sass";
import postcss from "gulp-postcss";
import rename from "gulp-rename";
import cssvariables from "postcss-css-variables";
import autoprefixer from "autoprefixer";
import cssnano from "cssnano";
gulp.task("css-no-vars", () =>
.pipe(sass().on("error", sass.logError))
.pipe(postcss([cssvariables(), cssnano()]))
.pipe(rename({ extname: ".no-vars.css" }))
gulp.task("css", () =>
.pipe(sass().on("error", sass.logError))
.pipe(rename({ extname: ".css" }))
This results in two CSS files: a regular one with custom properties (styles.css
) and one for older browsers (styles.no-vars.css
). I want IE10 and 11 to be served styles.no-vars.css
and other browsers to get the regular CSS file.
Normally, I'd advocate using feature queries but IE11 doesn't support feature queries and we've used custom properties so extensively that serving a different stylesheet makes sense in this case.
Intelligently serving a different stylesheet and avoiding a flash of unstyled content is not a simple task. If you don't need the dynamic features of custom properties, you could consider serving all browser styles.no-vars.css
and using custom properties simply as a development tool.
If you want to take full advantage of all the dynamic features of custom properties, I suggest using a critical CSS technique. Following these techniques, the main stylesheet is loaded asynchronously while the critical CSS is rendered inline. Your page header might look something like this:
<style> /* inlined critical CSS */ </style>
<script> loadCSS('non-critical.css'); </script>
We can extend this to load either styles.css
or styles.no-vars.css
depending on whether the browser supports custom properties. We can detect support like this:
if ( window.CSS && CSS.supports('color', 'var(--test)') ) {
} else {
If you've been struggling to organize CSS efficiently, have difficulty with responsive components, want to implement client-side theming, or just want to start off on the right foot with custom properties, this guide should tell you everything you need to know.
It comes down to understanding the difference between dynamic and static variables in CSS as well as a few simple rules:
- Separate logic from design;
- If a CSS property changes, consider using a custom property;
- Change the value of custom properties, not which custom property is used;
- Global variables are usually static.
If you follow these conventions, you will find that working with custom properties is a whole lot easier than you think. This might even change how you approach CSS in general.
Other Resources
- "It's Time To Start Using Custom Properties," Serg Hospodarets
A general introduction to the syntax and the features of custom properties. - "Pragmatic, Practical, And Progressive Theming With Custom Properties," Harry Roberts
More useful information on theming. - Custom Properties Collection, Mike Riethmuller on CodePen
A number of different examples you can experiment with.
Further Reading
- A Few Ways CSS Is Easier To Write In 2023
- The Path To Awesome CSS Easing With The linear() Function
- Gradients, Blend Modes, And A Really Cool Hover Effect
- Revealing Images With CSS Mask Animations


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Sin City is waiting for you. This is the perfect time of year to escape into a world of fun and fantasy. Las Vegas is the ultimate travel destination. It is loaded with places to shop, restaurants to enjoy, clubs to dance the night away in, bars to meet new people, and attractions to pass the time. After all of that excitement…you will need somewhere to rest your head. Don't worry. Las Vegas also has incredible accommodations. The strip is loaded with larger than life hotels. Including these noteworthy spots.
The MGM Grand Hotel. There is something spectacular about the MGM Grand Hotel. Maybe it is the giant lion statue out front. Or the unmistakable green colour. Or it could have to do with the first class casino, restaurants, and hotel rooms located inside. Still want more? Consider the location. If you want to visit the Las Vegas attractions then consider a stay at the MGM Grand Hotel. It has a fantastic location. Not too far up or down the strip. That means everything is within walking distance. Clubs, bars, casinos, shows…. you name it!
The Venetian Hotel. Las Vegas hotels are all about themes. Just about every hotel located on and off the strip has a specific theme in place. Many incorporate those themed elements with success. But few do it better than the Venetian Hotel. There are gondola rides, replica statues, pillars, and streets. It truly feels like you are stepping into Venice, Italy. Talk about an exciting escape from reality! There is plenty to do inside. Like grabbing a bite to eat at Carlo's Bakery or shopping at Kate Spade. Live luxuriously with a memorable stay at the Venetian Hotel.
The Stratosphere Hotel. Want to visit on a budget? Then remember the Stratosphere hotel. It often has massive discounts on rooms. That does not mean you will regret your stay. This specific hotel is known for delivering thrills. The Stratosphere is actually the tallest freestanding observation tower in the United States. That means you can snag some seriously spectacular views of the Las Vegas strip. That's not all. Thrill seekers can enjoy a number of rides, including Big Shot. Just what is it? Only the highest thrill ride in the entire world. You've been warned!
The Bellagio Hotel. You might be dreaming of something over the top. Elaborate. Stunning. Then be sure to add the Bellagio Hotel to your wish list. It is Italian inspired with gorgeous grounds and massive art pieces located inside. This particular spot is known for its elegant atmosphere. And of course, those iconic fountains. The fountains outside of the Bellagio are not to be missed. This water feature is expertly choreographed to music – and it plays every fifteen to thirty minutes. Be sure to check it out at night. The addition of lights makes this fountain show even more incredible.
There is so much to do in Las Vegas. So, make sure you have somewhere special to stay. Choose one of these hotels to get inspired, have fun, and live like a high roller.


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Massive Savings on Bulk Balloons – Wholesale Deals Await!
Looking for the best deals on bulk balloons? Look no further! At Kole Imports, we offer a wide selection of wholesale balloons at unbeatable prices.
Whether you're planning a party, event, or any other occasion, buying balloons in bulk is a cost-effective and convenient option. With our wholesale deals, you can save money while still getting high-quality balloons. Shop now and take advantage of our bulk balloon sale!
Pertinent Points
- Buying balloons in bulk can save you money while still providing high-quality balloons.
- Kole Imports offers a wide selection of wholesale balloons at unbeatable prices.
- Whether you're planning a party or event, buying balloons in bulk is a cost-effective and convenient option.
- Take advantage of our bulk balloon sale to get the best deals on bulk balloons.
- Shop now and make your next occasion unforgettable with our affordable wholesale balloons.
Why Purchase Balloons in Bulk?
Purchasing balloons in bulk offers several advantages. Firstly, it is cost-effective. Buying in bulk allows you to get a lower price per balloon compared to buying them individually. This means you can save money and stay within your budget, whether you're planning a small party or a large event. By taking advantage of the wholesale deals available, you can get the most value for your money without compromising on the quality of the balloons.
Secondly, buying balloons in bulk saves time and effort. Instead of going through the hassle of buying balloons separately, purchasing them in bulk means you have a large quantity of balloons ready for any occasion. Whether you're decorating a venue, setting up a balloon arch, or creating balloon centerpieces, having a bulk supply of balloons ensures that you have enough to meet your needs. This eliminates the need for last-minute trips to the store or the inconvenience of running out of balloons during your event.
Finally, bulk balloons ensure consistency. When you need a balloons for sale in bulk specific color or design for a party or event, buying in bulk ensures that all your balloons match perfectly. This is especially important for themed parties or corporate events where brand colors need to be coordinated. With a bulk purchase, you can rest assured that every balloon will be of the same color and design, creating a cohesive and visually appealing atmosphere.
Balloon Types: Choosing the Right Balloons for Your Needs
When it comes to choosing balloons for different occasions, it's important to consider the various types available and their suitability for your specific needs. Here, we explore the different types of balloons and provide guidance on selecting the right ones for your event.
Latex Balloons
Latex balloons are the most common type and come in a wide range of sizes and colors. They are versatile and ideal for general parties and events. Whether you're decorating a birthday party or a corporate gathering, latex balloons offer a vibrant and cost-effective option.
Foil Balloons
For special occasions like birthdays or anniversaries, foil balloons are a popular choice. These balloons are made of metallic polyester film and come in unique shapes and designs. From adorable animals to elegant numbers, foil balloons can add an extra touch of celebration to your event.
Specialized Balloons
If you're looking for something more unique and specialized, there are other balloon options available. LED balloons, for instance, are perfect for creating a magical atmosphere with their glowing effect. Water balloons, on the other hand, are great for outdoor activities and water-themed events.
When choosing the right balloons for your event, it's crucial to consider the theme, purpose, and venue. Whether you opt for latex balloons, foil balloons, or specialized options, each type has its own charm and suitability for different occasions. Selecting the perfect balloons will contribute to creating a memorable and visually stunning atmosphere.
Balloons for sale in bulk
Looking to buy balloons in bulk? Look no further than Kole Imports! We offer a wide range of wholesale balloons at unbeatable prices. Whether you're planning a party, event, or any other occasion, buying balloons in bulk is a cost-effective and convenient option.
Our wholesale balloons come in various sizes, colors, and designs, ensuring that you'll find the perfect balloons to suit your needs. Whether you need latex balloons, foil balloons, or specialized balloons, we have it all.
By purchasing balloons in bulk from us, you'll not only save money but also get high-quality products. We understand the importance of providing affordable options without compromising on quality.
With our competitive prices, you can buy balloons in bulk cheap without sacrificing the look and feel of your event. Our balloons are durable, vibrant, and guaranteed to bring joy to any celebration.
Take advantage of our bulk balloon sale and shop now to elevate your next event with our fantastic selection of balloons!
Balloon Type | Benefits |
Latex Balloons | Perfect for general parties and events, available in various sizes and colors. |
Foil Balloons | Ideal for special occasions like birthdays or anniversaries, with unique shapes and designs. |
Specialized Balloons | Choose from LED balloons, water balloons, and more, for specific purposes and themes. |
Inflators and Accessories: Everything You Need for Balloon Setup
When it comes to setting up balloons for your event, we have you covered with our range of balloon inflators and accessories. Whether you're inflating latex balloons or foil balloons, our selection of high-quality inflators and accessories will make the process easy and convenient.
Here are some of the essential items you'll find in our collection:
- Balloon pumps: Our balloon pumps are designed for quick and efficient inflation of latex balloons. They are lightweight, portable, and easy to use, making them perfect for both small gatherings and larger events.
- Helium tanks: If you're using foil balloons or want your latex balloons to float, our helium tanks are a must-have. These tanks provide a convenient and reliable source of helium, ensuring your balloons stay buoyant throughout your event.
- Ribbon spools: Add a decorative touch to your balloons with our ribbon spools. Available in various colors, these ribbons can be easily tied to your balloons for a beautiful presentation.
- Balloon weights: Keep your balloons in place with our balloon weights. These weights are designed to hold down your balloons, preventing them from floating away. They come in different styles and colors to match your event theme.
With the right tools at your disposal, you can create stunning balloon displays that will impress your guests and add a touch of fun to any occasion. Browse our collection of inflators and accessories to find everything you need for your balloon setup.
Inflators and Accessories | Description |
Balloon pumps | Lightweight and portable pumps for quick inflation of latex balloons. |
Helium tanks | Convenient and reliable tanks for inflating foil balloons and creating floating latex balloons. |
Ribbon spools | Colorful ribbons for adding a decorative touch to your balloons. |
Balloon weights | Weights to keep your balloons in place and prevent them from floating away. |
Custom Balloon Printing Services
Make your event truly unique with our custom balloon printing services at Kole Imports. We offer personalized balloons that can be customized with a custom message, logo, or design. Whether it's a birthday, wedding, corporate event, or promotional campaign, our custom printed balloons are the perfect way to make a lasting impression.
With our custom balloon printing services, you can create balloons that reflect your style and meet your specific needs. Add a personal touch to your celebration with balloons that feature the guest of honor's name or a special message. For businesses, branded balloons are a powerful marketing tool that helps increase brand visibility and leave a memorable impact on potential customers.
Our commitment to quality ensures that the custom printed balloons we produce are top-notch. We use advanced printing techniques and high-quality materials to ensure vibrant colors, sharp images, and long-lasting results. Your custom printed balloons will stand out and create a visually stunning display that adds excitement and joy to any occasion.
Our team of experts is ready to assist you throughout the custom balloon printing process. We'll guide you through design options, provide recommendations, and ensure that your balloons meet your expectations. With our attention to detail and dedication to customer satisfaction, you can trust us to deliver an exceptional custom balloon printing experience.
Contact us today to learn more about our custom balloon printing services and how we can help bring your vision to life. Let us help you create memories that will last a lifetime with our personalized and branded balloons.
Specialized Balloons: High Altitude and Advertising Options
At Kole Imports, we understand that different occasions require different types of balloons. That's why we offer a range of specialized balloons to meet your unique needs. Whether you're conducting a scientific experiment, capturing aerial photography, or looking to promote your business or event, our specialized balloons have got you covered.
High Altitude Balloons
Our high altitude balloons are designed to withstand extreme conditions and reach great heights. Perfect for scientific experiments or aerial photography, these balloons are made with durable materials and are equipped to handle the demanding environments they encounter. With our high altitude balloons, you can capture breathtaking views and gather valuable data from above.
Advertising Balloons
If you're looking for an eye-catching way to promote your business or event, our advertising balloons are the perfect solution. These balloons can be customized with your branding, logo, or message, making them a unique and attention-grabbing marketing tool. Whether you want to attract customers to your store or create a memorable event experience, our advertising balloons will make a lasting impression.
Explore our range of specialized balloons to find the perfect option for your high altitude experiments or creative advertising needs. With our high-quality products and competitive prices, Kole Imports is your go-to source for specialized balloons. Take your event or project to new heights with our high altitude balloons or make a statement with our eye-catching advertising balloons. Shop now and elevate your balloons to a whole new level!
How to Buy Balloons in Bulk Cheap
When it comes to purchasing balloons in bulk, finding affordable options is essential. Here are some expert tips to help you buy balloons in bulk cheap:
- Compare prices: Take the time to research different suppliers and compare prices. Look for wholesalers who offer competitive rates for bulk orders. Remember, the cheapest option may not always guarantee the best quality, so strike a balance between affordability and value.
- Take advantage of sales and discounts: Keep an eye out for sales, promotions, and discounts offered by balloon suppliers. Sign up for newsletters or follow them on social media to stay updated on any special offers. This way, you can save even more on your bulk balloon purchase.
- Buy in large quantities: Most wholesalers offer better discounts for larger orders. Consider buying a higher volume of balloons to secure a lower price per unit. If you have storage space, this can be a cost-effective option in the long run.
- Consider seasonal and clearance sales: Seasonal sales or clearance events can be a great opportunity to snag balloons at discounted prices. These sales typically offer significant markdowns on excess or out-of-season inventory. Keep an eye out for these opportunities to make the most of your budget.
- Avoid unnecessary add-ons: Stick to the basics when buying balloons in bulk. Avoid unnecessary add-ons like specialized packaging or additional accessories that can increase the overall cost. Focus on getting the balloons you need without any unnecessary extras.
- Shop online: Online shopping often offers better deals, as online retailers have lower overhead costs compared to physical stores. Take advantage of the convenience and savings by purchasing your bulk balloons from reputable online suppliers.
- Consider group orders: Coordinate with friends, colleagues, or fellow event planners to place a joint order for bulk balloons. By pooling your resources, you can benefit from higher volume discounts and share the cost. This is particularly useful for smaller events or personal celebrations.
- Plan ahead: Last-minute purchases can be costly. Plan your events well in advance and purchase your balloons ahead of time. This will give you enough time to compare prices, find the best deals, and take advantage of any pre-order discounts offered by suppliers.
By following these tips, you can make a cost-effective balloon purchase in bulk without compromising on quality. With a little research and strategic planning, you can find affordable bulk balloons that perfectly suit your needs and budget.
Tips for Buying Balloons in Bulk Cheap |
Compare prices |
Take advantage of sales and discounts |
Buy in large quantities |
Consider seasonal and clearance sales |
Avoid unnecessary add-ons |
Shop online |
Consider group orders |
Plan ahead |
Kole Imports: Your Trusted Source for Wholesale Balloons
When it comes to buying wholesale balloons, Kole Imports is the name you can trust. With years of experience in the industry, we are dedicated to providing high-quality balloons at competitive prices. Our extensive selection, excellent customer service, and fast shipping make us the preferred choice for many customers.
Whether you need balloons for a small party or a large event, Kole Imports is here to meet all your wholesale balloon needs. We understand the importance of having reliable and affordable balloons, which is why we strive to offer the best products and services to our customers.
When you choose Kole Imports as your balloon supplier, you can expect:
- High-quality balloons: We source our balloons from trusted manufacturers, ensuring that they meet the highest standards of quality and durability.
- Competitive prices: We offer wholesale prices on all our balloons, allowing you to save money without compromising on quality.
- Wide selection: Our extensive inventory includes a variety of balloons in different sizes, colors, and designs, catering to all types of occasions and themes.
- Excellent customer service: Our knowledgeable and friendly team is always ready to assist you with any inquiries or concerns you may have.
- Fast shipping: We understand the importance of timely delivery, and we strive to process and ship orders quickly, ensuring that your balloons arrive on time for your event.
At Kole Imports, we take pride in being a reliable and trustworthy wholesale balloon supplier. We are committed to providing our customers with the best products and services, helping them create memorable events and experiences.
Why Choose Kole Imports for Wholesale Balloons? | Benefits of Choosing Kole Imports |
High-quality balloons | Ensures durability and longevity |
Competitive prices | Saves you money without compromising on quality |
Wide selection | Caters to all occasions and themes |
Excellent customer service | Knowledgeable and friendly team |
Fast shipping | Ensures timely delivery |
Success Stories: Customers' Experiences with Bulk Balloon Purchases
At Kole Imports, we take pride in our satisfied customers who have experienced the benefits of purchasing balloons in bulk. Don't just take our word for it – let our customers' testimonials speak for themselves. Read on to discover their experiences with their bulk balloon purchases and why they are thrilled with the value, quality, and customer service they received.
"I recently purchased balloons in bulk from Kole Imports for my daughter's birthday party, and I couldn't be happier. The balloons were of excellent quality, and the vibrant colors added a festive touch to the celebration. The price was unbeatable, and I was amazed by the variety of designs they had available. The customer service was exceptional, and my order arrived promptly. I highly recommend Kole Imports for all your bulk balloon needs!" – Sarah H.
"As an event planner, I frequently need a large quantity of balloons for my clients' parties and corporate events. Kole Imports has become my go-to source for bulk balloon purchases. The selection they offer is incredible, with options to suit any theme or color scheme. The quality of their balloons is top-notch, and I always receive compliments from my clients. The pricing is very competitive, and I appreciate the savings I get from buying in bulk. The customer service team is always helpful and responsive, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free experience. I can't recommend Kole Imports enough!" – David M.
"I run a retail store, and balloons are a popular item among our customers. Kole Imports has been a reliable supplier for us when it comes to purchasing balloons in bulk. Their competitive pricing has allowed us to maximize our profits while offering high-quality products to our customers. The ease of ordering and fast shipping have made our business operations more efficient. Our customers are delighted with the variety of designs we can offer, and we have received numerous positive reviews about the balloons we sell. Thank you, Kole Imports, for being a trusted partner in our success!" – Jennifer T.
"I recently hosted a large outdoor event and needed balloons in bulk to create an impressive visual impact. Kole Imports exceeded my expectations with their range of high-quality balloons. The selection of vibrant colors and elegant designs allowed me to create eye-catching displays that wowed my guests. The durability of the balloons was remarkable, even in windy conditions. The whole process of purchasing in bulk was seamless, and the pricing was very reasonable. Kole Imports has definitely gained a loyal customer in me!" – Daniel S.
These success stories and testimonials from our satisfied customers are a testament to the value, reliability, and exceptional service Kole Imports provides in their bulk balloon sales. Join our community of happy customers and experience the benefits of purchasing balloons in bulk from Kole Imports today!
Join the Community: Stay Updated on Balloon Deals and Designs
Stay informed and connected with the vibrant balloon community by joining our mailing list or following us on social media. By becoming a part of our community, you'll be the first to know about exciting new balloon designs, exclusive balloon deals, and upcoming promotions. Our extensive network ensures that you have access to the latest trends, innovative ideas, and inspiring balloon displays.
Joining the community not only gives you the opportunity to stay updated on all things balloons but also allows you to connect with fellow balloon enthusiasts from around the world. Share ideas, showcase your own balloon creations, and participate in discussions that will further fuel your creativity and passion for balloons.
Don't miss out on the chance to be at the forefront of the balloon industry. Be part of our growing balloon community today and unlock endless possibilities for stunning balloon decorations and memorable events!
In conclusion, purchasing balloons in bulk is a smart and cost-effective choice for all your party and event needs. Whether you're hosting a birthday celebration, a wedding reception, or a corporate event, buying balloons in bulk ensures that you have an ample supply of high-quality balloons at a great price.
At Kole Imports, we are committed to providing our customers with the best wholesale balloon experience. With our wide selection of balloons in various sizes, colors, and designs, you can find the perfect balloons to match your event's theme. Our competitive prices and excellent customer service make us the go-to source for wholesale balloons.
To make your next event truly unforgettable, take advantage of our bulk balloon sale. By shopping with us, you can save money while still getting top-notch balloons that will impress your guests. Whether you need latex balloons, foil balloons, or specialized balloons, we have everything you need to create stunning balloon displays.
So don't settle for ordinary party decorations. Choose Kole Imports for all your bulk balloon needs, and let us help you make your next event a success. Shop now and experience the convenience and value of buying balloons in bulk!


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The products and services mentioned below were selected independent of sales and advertising. However, Simplemost may receive a small commission from the purchase of any products or services through an affiliate link to the retailer's website.
Few things are more frustrating than trying to untangle computer cords. If you have ever struggled to wrap up a clunky laptop cord while trying to work on-the-go, you know firsthand how annoying it can be.
Luckily, there is a product that easily solves this issue for Mac users. The FuseReel Side-Winder MacBook Charger Organizermakes it simple to wind and unwind your computer cord without causing damage to the delicate fibers within.
You simply insert your charger into the FuseReel Side-Winder and crank the cord around the case until it is safely contained in the organizer. The Side-Winder is lightweight and easily portable, so once your cord is wound up, you can simply slip it into your laptop case.
At $20.99, this is an inexpensive fix for a near-daily irritation. And with 325 reviews and a customer review rating of almost five stars, you can rest assured that this will be an effective solution.
If you are looking for tools to keep your other cords organized (such as your earphone cords or your phone charger), look no further than these cable organizers. You can get a six-packon Amazon for just $8.99, and they come in fun, funky colors that will make it easy and stylish to keep your cords from getting knotted or damaged.
Or try this purrfect solution for keeping your device cords organized.
Simply wind the cords around one of these adorable kitties and you will have a simple and sophisticated way to manage annoying cords.
At $5.99 on Amazon, these cute cats would also make the perfect stocking stuffer for a tween or teenager who is always struggling with knotted headphone cords, or as a fun gift to throw into the pile for an office White Elephant party!
This story originally appeared on Simplemost. Checkout Simplemost for other great tips and ideas to make the most out of life.


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Join Eric Siebert from vSphere-land, David Davis from Virtualization Software, Rick Vanover from Veeam and John Troyer from VMware as we countdown the top 25 bloggers based on the results from my annual VMware/virtualization blog survey. This event will be broadcast live via Google Hangouts at 10:00am PST on Thursday March 27th right here on vSphere-land.com so bookmark this page, get the popcorn ready and come back when it starts. If you want to tweet about this event please use the hashtag #TopvBlog2014.
The Top vBlog 2014 Results Show giveaways are brought to you by Veeam:
Veeam is Modern Data Protection—Built for Virtualization and the Cloud. Their customers understand that virtual environments bring unique challenges. That's why more than 73,000 customers chose Veeam to protect over 4 million VMs. Their powerful, easy-to-use and affordable solutions help solve virtualization challenges – making Veeam the perfect fit for the modern datacenter.


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gainsbourg for ever 30 ans / 2021 / Vincent VerSus Sabatier / Resin , ink Serigraphy gold, black and red / 50 x 70
Gainsbourg 30 years
1 450,00 €Prix
You have 15 days to withdraw from the contract. If the work is returned to the artist in the condition in which it was sent within 15 days of receipt, the full amount will be refunded. The return postage costs remain at your expense. If the artwork is damaged in transit, you will have to contact the artist and send it back for an exchange or a refund.


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Our proprietary Operating System (OS), Blackthorn, is specifically written to be robust, fast and reliable. The code is optimised to run at high speed on the 68K/Coldfire processors that are at the heart of many of our high performance control systems. This ensures that we can adapt to customers requirements quickly as we have full control over the development cycle.
Blackthorn also allows the user to develop their own programme to run on our controllers. This allows the user then to tailor all the menu's, storage and IO to suit their own requirements. TRM offer full support in the development providing libraries, compilers, example code and training if required.
MAP and Procut are two such examples of programs that TRM has written to effectively change the use of the same controller. MAP is intended for multi-axis machines processing material in a variety of different ways whereas PROCUT is designed for single axis and twin axis guillotine machines and the data entry required reflects that industry.
For a list of command line commands and file types etc please download our manual:


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LOL! Country Music's 5 Best Comedians
Way back when a sizable chunk of the country music audience really did live on farms and in the hills, comedians shared billings with musical acts and helped rural America poke fun at itself. First the Grand Ole Opry and later the long-running television show Hee Haw made it normal to go from Roy Acuff crying while singing sentimental songs to Minnie Pearl acting the fool without the program losing its course.
To narrow down country music's history of comic relief, The Boot has put together this list of the genre's five greatest comedians after eliminating parody artists and singers of silly songs (Cledus T. Judd, Ray Stevens, Homer & Jethro) and serious stars known in part for their funny bone (June Carter, Reba McEntire, Grandpa Jones). Even by limiting the list to stand-up comedians, we had to skip over some fine candidates, from Hee Haw's Archie Campbell to banjo picker Steve Martin.
Read on for a Top 5 that favors classic Opry stars while offering a taste of good, clean fun from the '70s to today:
- 5
The Duke of Paducah
The pre-War Grand Ole Opry's predominant comedian was once a banjo player billed as Whitey Ford. Eventually, he became Red Foley's comic relief on the Renfro Valley Barn Dance, and in 1942, he became the Ryman regular known for his sign-off "I'm going back to the wagon, boys. These shoes are killing me!"
- 4
Jerry Clower
This former Mississippi State football player and fertilizer salesman caught his break in comedy well past the age of 40. Circumstances gave "The Mouth of Mississippi" a wealth of experience and worldly wisdom once he built a career off grandiose retellings of rural living.
- 3
Jeff Foxworthy
Like bluegrass music, rural comedy has become its own entity apart from country music. Henry Cho and others appear on Grand Ole Opry lineups to this day, but hearing good, clean jokes at any sort of country event has been less of a given since the end of the 1970s. That said, Foxworthy became a celebrity during country music's '90s boom and remains a valuable and visible ally for the genre. His success paved the way for a new crew of country comedians, including Tim Wilson, Bill Engvall and Larry the Cable Guy.
- 2
Rod Brasfield
The first wave of comedic relief for some of country music's earliest stars remains the best, as exemplified by not just the Duke of Paducah and Minnie Pearl but also this onstage and on-air peer. At his peak, Brasfield's country bumpkin character fed perfectly off Pearl's Grinder Switch gossip. Brasfield sometimes performed with a ventriloquist dummy named Bocephus: the source of Hank Williams Jr.'s nickname.
- 1
Minnie Pearl
Despite her family ties to Nashville's upper crust, Sarah Ophelia Colley Cannon connected with common folks as the giddy, gossipy Minnie Pearl. From her trademark hat with its $1.98 pricetag still dangling to her laugh-inducing salutation "How-dee!" she delighted fans onstage, on the radio and on television for close to 50 years.


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- for Pema Yutso
Buddhism can seem a bit dour at times, and indeed Buddhists are often accused of negativism or pessimism. It is true that the inevitability of suffering is of central interest and importance, however, as Sangharakshita has pointed out (in A survey of Buddhism) this interest is actually methodological. We use suffering as a starting point for reflection because it really is universal, and because it is experiential rather than conceptual. So suffering is something that everybody can relate to, and we don't get bogged down in definitions. Suffering also motivates us to change!
But as everybody knows life is not 100% suffering. There are moments of relief, of pleasure, gratification and satisfaction, moments even of grace. We Buddhists harp on about old age, sickness and death, but there is also birth, growth, renewal and wellness at times. The central plank of all Buddhist philosophy - paticca-samuppada in Pali or pratitya-samutpada in Sanskrit - is variously translated as 'dependent arising, or conditioned co-production'. This suggests to me that even though we tend to focus on the passing away aspect of reality, that the arising or coming into being of things is really very important.
Any given event is the result of the collision of an immense, perhaps infinite, number of factors which adhere and coalesce to give a sense of something coming into being. And this means that the coming into being is completely mysterious, that the arising of feelings like, say, anger or grief are not ultimately reducible to a single cause - if we are angry or sad there will have been a number of causes which include a predisposition to that emotion which we can by no means blame on our friend!
The trouble is that we get lulled into a false sense of knowing by the seeming reliability of the world. The laws of physics always apply in the world. So we think we understand what is happening when things fall to the floor - that is gravity, and when you let go of something it falls. The physical fact of gravity is a constant, but we tend to isolate it when we think about events. So we can get trapped by this apparent reliability and fail to observe that most of the event was completely unpredictable. For instance if someone drops our favourite cup and it breaks then our reaction can be completely changed by how we were feeling at the time, or whether we had a good nights sleep the night before, whether the cup was full of liquid etc, etc. One day we might pass over it as an unfortunate accident, and the next it will seem like a major catastrophe. If one person drops our cup we immediately forgive them, if it is someone else we may hold a grudge for years. As predictable as the physical world is, our subjective inner world is unpredictable.
It is good to notice how the process of arising is going on all the time. If you watch it then you can easily see how your attention flits about like a butterfly between the senses, and between objects in any one sensory field. Each time we become aware of an object of the senses - something arises in our minds. If you sit in a room for an hour then not much may change - the furniture doesn't usually spontaneously move or fall apart - but our attention is constantly moving and flicking from one object to the next so that we are constantly changing our focus and something new is arising. We live immersed in a number of sensory fields which present a constant flux of impressions - sights, sounds, smells, touches, tastes, and from the Buddhist point of view thoughts, memories, associations, judgements, and emotions. Each time we take in a mote of sensory data there is a cascade of responses that are mostly out of our control. We do this so many times a second that it seems that, rather than a series of discreet moments, that there is a continuum, and that there is someone watching the play of the senses making 'sense' of of it all. But this is an illusion just the way that 25 frames per second of film images projected onto a screen gives us the impression of smooth movement when watching a film.
It can be a bit depressing to focus on the passing away aspect of reality. Especially when a friend is, for instance coping with the impending death of a parent, or feeling depressed. Yes things are always passing away, yes we ourselves with pass away, but look... every moment something arises, even if only within our own minds. There is so much arising going on! Every moment there is something new in our awareness, and that means that every moment contains the potential for freedom!
Not only this but paticca-samuppada comes in two flavours. In one there is a cycling between opposites - pleasure/pain, birth/death. In the other things build up. A acknowledgement of suffering leads to faith, which leads to joy, which leads to happiness which leads to rapture etc until one thing leads to another and one is liberated. Usually we think of freedom from suffering as a result of removing the causes of suffering. What this second type of paticca-samuppada tells us is that freedom from suffering also arises in dependence on causes. If it did not, then we could never escape from suffering. This is the Buddhist equivalent of "The Good News" - we can help to set up the conditions for the arising of freedom from suffering.
So next time you have a moment, just notice all the many things which are arising in your awareness, or the new things coming into being, and have a little celebration. Although at times that arising seems chaotic and out of control, it is that very arising which means we that we can experience the Deathless state. It is always good to be aware of what we are paying attention to, and to exercise such choice as we have in the matter, and to develop that ability to choose, but there's no law that says that because we are Buddhists we must focus on the depressing aspects of life. Yes, there are those kinds of practices, but it's a matter of appropriateness and applicability. It's OK to focus on the coming into being aspect of the world at times.


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Product discontinued. Successor model:NF-A15 PWM
Following in the footsteps of the successful NF-P12, the NF-P14 is a highly optimised, premium quality 140mm fan with Vortex-Control Notches for superb quietness and outstanding aerodynamic efficiency. Metal reinforcements, SCD2 technology and Noctua's premium grade SSO-Bearing guarantee exceptional running smoothness and excellent long-term stability. Using the same hole-spacing as common 120mm fans and achieving a superior airflow/noise ratio, the NF-P14 is ideal for upgrading 120mm CPU or case fans.
More information:
NF-P14 Blade Design
More information:
NF-P14 Blade Design
140mm Impeller with Vortex Control Notches
Thanks to its psycho-acoustically optimised nine blade impeller with staggered Vortex-Control Notches, the NF-P14 combines superb quietness with exceptional airflow and static pressure.
Metal Reinforcements
Both the impeller hub and the bearing shell of the NF-P14 are metal reinforced in order to achieve ultimate manufacturing precision, high durability and vibration-free running.
Round frame with 120mm mounting holes
Using a round frame with the same hole-spacing as common 120mm fans and producing more airflow due to its larger diameter, the NF-P14 is a perfect upgrade for 120mm CPU or case fans. Thanks to the supplied adaptors, the NF-P14 also fits common 140mm mounting holes.
3 speed settings for full flexibility
Providing 1200, 900 and 750 rpm speed settings via the supplied Low-Noise and Ultra-Low-Noise Adapters, the NF-P14 FLX (Flexibility) can be fine-tuned for superior airflow or maximum quietness.
Smooth Commutation Drive 2
The latest version of Noctua's advanced SCD drive system ensures superb running smoothness by eliminating torque variations and switching noises.
Noctua's time-tested SSO-Bearing technology has become synonymous with supremely quiet operation and exceptional long-term stability.
FAN Specification
140x140x25 mm
Blade geometry
Rotational speed (+/- 10%)
Rotational speed with L.N.A. (+/- 10%)
Rotational Speed with U.L.N.A. (+/- 10%)
83,7 m³/h
Acoustical noise
19,6 dB(A)
Static pressure
1,29 mm H₂O
Static pressure with L.N.A.
0,77 mm H₂O
Static pressure with U.L.N.A.
0,53 mm H₂O
> 150.000 h
Scope of delivery
- Adaptors for 140mm mounting
6 years
Your opinion matters!
We are excited to invite you to participate in our short website survey. It will only take 5 minutes of your time!


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House & Garden Top Shooter is a liquid version of Shooting Powder. Top Shooter is a flowering booster and is able to generate yields of up to 20%. This amazing bud expander is the absolute best in the field of flowering stimulators. It gives visible results and work brilliantly with all base nutrients. The liquid provides an easy precise application to small and large growers alike.
Product Information
House & Garden Top Shooter forces your plants into starting a new flowering cycle after the regular cycle has stopped, significantly increasing the fruit's total weight. The extra yield after applying this agent will surprise even the most seasoned grower it actually creates a new layer on top of the existing fruit. Output increases of up to 20% can be reached this way.
Dilution Rates
Dilution rate of Top Shooter is 1-2ml/L
Use Top Shooter at the end of the flowering period for the last three weeks.
1ml/L last three weeks before harvest
2ml/L last two weeks before harvest
2ml/L last week before harvest
Only use Top Shooter when your plants are sufficiently healthy, it is a very strong agent that requires a lot from your plant. Always adjust the EC value of your base nutrient to 1.2. Do not use Top Shooter in combination with any other booster.


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Several times I get a phone call from a company- my bank, utility companies etc. Many times they are just cold calling me, but once or twice they were calling for legitimate reasons (ie, something to do with my account).
The problem is, all these companies ask you to confirm your personal details, like date of birth. Now I have no way of knowing if the person calling me is the real company, or some phisher (because even if the call isn't from a blocked number, it's just a number and I have no way of knowing who owns it).
Usually, when they ask me to ask for personal details to prove my identity, I tell them since they called, they should prove their identity.
At this point they usually get irate and warn me they cannot go ahead for security reasons. Now I don't want to miss out on important calls, but neither do I want to give out my personal info to anyone who manages to find my phone number.
Is there a proper way to deal with such calls?


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boys clothes inspiration
February 11th, 2013
My youngest has recently decided he wants nothing to do with button pants–anything other than elastic and it's a fight to get him dressed in the morning. I, on the other hand, want nothing to do with the track pants most boys live in (or "fast pants" as my friend's sons calls them). Fast pants can be stylish, but are usually not; and they are always made of that slimy, synthetic fabric that gets pill-y and gross when you wash it. Picky mother => picky son.
I haven't been sewing much lately, but this pants situation has to be remedied somehow. So I've been looking for pants I can sew for my sons that are comfortable and stylish. There are surprisingly few clothes out there for boys that fit the bill. I discovered the Japanese brand, mol and they seem to get it right. The pants pictured above are my absolute favorite: a little stripe action, a random patch, some fuzzy pockets, and boom! your pants are awesome.
They also have pants with pockets that look like bear paws, which any kid is going to love. Often times children's clothes are just a mini version of boring grown up clothes. But kids are hilarious! and they like to wear hilarious clothes, like snake socks and swan dresses and hoods with teeth and hats with whiskers.
I like the idea of a capri length, comfy, elastic waisted pants with cozy leg warmers attached at the bottom. Is that too weird? There is a pattern in Carefree Clothes for Girls which is exactly what I'm talking about: sweatpants with knitted leg warmers sewn to the bottom. The photo above is a lovely version by Sew Nancy from a few years back. I have been meaning to make this pattern for years–how is my to sew list possibly that long? I even have one leg warmer crocheted.
Help me out here people! Are my children going to look like crazy people or the most stylish kids on the block?


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The 100 Million Dollar Form Redesign: A Responsive Solution
It's not every day a client entrusts us to redesign a $100 million dollar form. But the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society knew they had to do something to fix their donation forms. They were fielding phone calls from people angry because they couldn't give LLS money.
One of the prospective donors was particularly upset, and I empathized with him. I lost my father 2 years ago this month the Leukemia. There wasn't much I could do to help my father fight blood cancer, but one thing I can do is fix a broken user interface.
To guide this endeavor, I wrote a manifesto to address people's frustration with the existing form:
Looking at page 3, On Your Terms, what were our options? Mobile Optimized Sites or Responsive. Learn more about these two strategies.
It was a hard decision. Ideally, we should have probably created a mobile optimized form that had half as many fields, but the organization wasn't ready to ruthlessly edit their form donation yet. And our first version was just a "fast-fix", planned for 30 days from start to launch. No back end code changes, just UI changes. So we went with Responsive, meaning we designed the form to work well on any sized screen, from a desktop browser to a mobile phone.
The forms were developed with:
- jQuery
- CSS3 media queries
And tested on:
- Desktops and Laptops- Firefox, IE, Chrome, Safari
- Apple iPad
- Samsung Galaxy Tab
- Kindle Fire
- Apple iPhone
- Samsung Galaxy III
- Google Nexus
- HTC Window Phone
- BlackBerry Torch
(Thanks to Mudassir for pointing out that my earlier phrasing was incorrect- we didn't target these devices, just tested on them. )
The final result is available at LLS.org, and it can also be accessed by donating to individuals participating in Team and Training and Light The Night.
We're still working on these goals: Fast, Respectful, On Par…, and Helpful, but we're getting there, and this is a big first step.


text: Jacobs Insurance Agency can help make your time on the water relaxed and worry-free! We offer comprehensive boat insurance options that protect you, your friends and family, your watercraft and your boating equipment. The average boat costs less than a dollar a day to insure. You'll enjoy being on the water even more when you aren't worried about your safety, the safety of your passengers, or your investment.


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Foggy Redwoods and Rhododendrons - Kim Reid
12"x 18" giclee print
Kimberley Reid is a professional freelance graphic artist, designer and illustrator in Humboldt County. Her collection contains originals and limited edition prints inspired by the spectacular forests and oceans of Northern California
She has enjoyed watercolor painting and pen and ink design for as long as she can remember. At the beginning of her long graphics career she studied fine arts, art history and graphic design at university while working as a graphic designer and illustrator.
Her interest in the redwood forests of the Pacific Northwest, led to the development of this watercolor collection. A defining characteristic of these works is a feeling of space and depth within the picture whereby the viewer is drawn into the painting. In some of her paintings a loose, big-brushed edge pulls the viewer's eye to the painting center to see the finest details. A love of capturing nature, landscapes and history has inspired all her painting collections.
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