text:
"In the old days, it used to be said that the Twentieth Century Motor trademark was as good as the karat mark on gold. I don't know what it was that the Starnes heirs thought, if they thought at all, but I suppose that like all social planners and like savages, they thought that this trademark was a magic stamp which did the trick by some sort of voodoo power and that it would keep them rich, as it had kept their father. Well, when our customers began to see that we never delivered an order on time and never put out a motor that didn't have something wrong with it – the magic stamp began to work the other way around: people wouldn't take a motor as a gift, if it was marked Twentieth Century. And it came to where our only customers were men who never paid and never meant to pay their bills. But Gerald Starnes, doped by his own publicity, got huffy and went around, with an air of moral superiority, demanding that businessmen place orders with us, not because our motors were good, but because we needed the orders so badly."
Having published the first of the two sections from Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand) that inspired me, it was only appropriate that my next post be about the second section from this epic of a book, that has left such a deep impression on me.
To be honest, it was very difficult for me to go through this part of the book the first time around; for the sole reason that the time spent reading this section was one where I was totally repulsed by the description given in the pages.
Now one might say that 'repulse' is too strong a word to be used in the context of a particular section of a book. Alas, that was the exact emotion that I experienced while going deeper into the pages. When one starts imagining the kind of transition that envelopes an organization, where people outdo each other to do the worst they can, hiding their own ability and… staking their claim on other's; the plot leaves a huge lump in one's throat which stays there, much to his/ her discomfort. Any system that rewards non-performers at the cost of performers is bound to fail, or develop cracks from within, sooner or later; should we consider a time period of 5 yrs, or one which spans 50.
Not to take anything away from the books and articles that I have read (and learnt from) over the years, but, this section taught me more about the essence of people management and understanding and managing (the right kind of) people's expectations in the 2 days that were spent reading this section, than all the time I had spent reading about Reward, Recognition and Training (Winning anyone?!) and rest all jazz that HBR and other fabulous (albeit random!) sources line up in my mailbox every day around noon or later.
Of all the things that I am grateful for, the one thing that this section helped me with most, was to learn to Let Go… of learning (laying to rest parts of myself – perceivably good or harmful, that do not serve me in the long run), situations and people.
Trust you too will find something relevant to take back from this section, each and every time you read this.
p.s.: Feel free to bookmark, for all those times you may wish to revisit this.
Cheers, Monce
(An answer that still eludes me: How did Ayn Rand know all that she did? And what experiences did she undergo to learn the same? )
The Story of The Twentieth Century Motor Company from 'Atlas Shrugged'
"Well, there was something that happened at that plant where I worked for twenty years. It was when the old man died and his heirs took over. There were three of them, two sons and a daughter, and they brought a new plan to run the factory. They let us vote on it, too, and everybody – almost everybody – voted for it. We didn't know. We thought it was good. No, that's not true, either. We thought that we were supposed to think it was good. The plan was that everybody in the factory would work according to his ability, but would be paid according to his need.
"We voted for that plan at a big meeting, with all of us present, six thousand of us, everybody that worked in the factory. The Starnes heirs made long speeches about it, and it wasn't too clear, but nobody asked any questions. None of us knew just how the plan would work, but every one of us thought that the next fellow knew it. And if anybody had doubts, he felt guilty and kept his mouth shut – because they made it sound like anyone who'd oppose the plan was a child-killer at heart and less than a human being. They told us that this plan would achieve a noble ideal. Well, how were we to know otherwise? Hadn't we heard it all our lives – from our parents and our schoolteachers and our ministers, and in every newspaper we ever read and every movie and every public speech? Hadn't we always been told that this was righteous and just? Well, maybe there's some excuse for what we did at that meeting. Still, we voted for the plan – and what we got, we had it coming to us. You know, ma'am, we are marked men, in a way, those of us who lived through the four years of that plan in the Twentieth Century factory. What is it that hell is supposed to be? Evil – plain, naked, smirking evil, isn't it? Well, that's what we saw and helped to make – and I think we're damned, every one of us, and maybe we'll never be forgiven …
"Do you know how it worked, that plan, and what it did to people? Try pouring water into a tank where there's a pipe at the bottom draining it out faster than you pour it, and each bucket you bring breaks that pipe an inch wider, and the harder you work the more is demanded of you, and you stand slinging buckets forty hours a week, then forthy-eight, then fifty-six – for your neighbor's supper – for his wife's operation – for his child's measles – for his mother's wheel chair – for his uncle's shirt – for his nephew's schooling – for the baby next door – for the baby to be born – for anyone anywhere around you – it's theirs to receive, from diapers to dentures – and yours to work, from sunup to sundown, month after month, year after year, with nothing to show for it but your sweat, with nothing in sight for you but their pleasure, for the whole of your life, without rest, without hope, without end … From each according to his ability, to each according to his need …
"We're all one big family, they told us, we're all in this together. But you don't all stand working an acetylene torch ten hours a day – together, and you don't all get a bellyache – together. What's whose ability and which of whose needs comes first? When it's all one pot, you can't let any man decide what his own needs are, can you? If you did, he might claim that he needs a yacht – and if his feelings are all you have to go by, he might prove it, too. Why not? If it's not right for me to own a car until I've worked myself into a hospital ward, earning a car for every loafer and every naked savage on earth – why can't he demand a yacht from me, too, if I still have the ability not to have collapsed? No? He can't? Then why can he demand that I go without cream for my coffee until he's replastered his living room? … Oh well … Well, anyway, it was decided that nobody had the right to judge his own need or ability. We voted on it. Yes, ma'am, we voted on it in a public meeting twice a year. How else could it be done? Do you care to think what would happen at such a meeting? It took us just one meeting to discover that we had become beggars – rotten, whining, sniveling beggars, all of us, because no man could claim his pay as his rightful earning, he had no rights and no earnings, his work didn't belong to him, it belonged to 'the family', and they owed him nothing in return, and the only claim he had on them was his 'need' – so he had to beg in public for relief from his needs, like any lousy moocher, listing all his troubles and miseries, down to his patched drawers and his wife's head colds, hoping that 'the family' would throw him the alms. He had to claim miseries, because it's miseries, not work, that had become the coin of the realm – so it turned into a contest between six thousand panhandlers, each claiming that his need was worse than his brother's. How else could it be done? Do you care to guess what happened, what sort of men kept quiet, feeling shame, and what sort got away with the jackpot?
"But that wasn't all. There was something else that we discovered at the same meeting. The factory's production had fallen by forty percent, in that first half year, so it was decided that somebody hadn't delivered 'according to his ability.' Who? How would you tell it? 'The family' voted on that, too. We voted which men were the best, and these men were sentenced to work overtime each night for the next six months. Overtime without pay – because you weren't paid by time and you weren't paid by work, only by need.
"Do I have to tell you what happened after that – and into what sort of creatures we all started turning, we who had once been humans? We began to hide whatever ability we had, to slow down and watch like hawks that we never worked any faster or better than the next fellow. What else could we do, when we knew that if we did our best for 'the family,' it's not thanks or rewards that we'd get, but punishment? We knew that for every stinker who'd ruin a batch of motors and cost the company money – either through his sloppiness, because he didn't have to care, or through plain incompetence – it's we who'd have to pay with our nights and our Sundays. So we did our best to be no good.
"There was one young boy who started out, full of fire for the noble ideal, a bright kid without any schooling, but with a wonderful head on his shoulders. The first year, he figured out a work process that saved us thousands of man-hours. He gave it to 'the family,' didn't ask anything for it, either, couldn't ask, but that was all right with him. It was for the ideal, he said. But when he found himself voted as one of our ablest and sentenced to night work, because we hadn't gotten enough from him, he shut his mouth and his brain. You can bet he didn't come up with any ideas, the second year.
"What was it they'd always told us about the vicious competition of the profit system, where men had to compete for who'd do a better job than his fellows? Vicious, wasn't it? Well, they should have seen what it was like when we all had to compete with one another for who'd do the worst job possible. There's no surer way to destroy a man than to force him into a spot where he has to aim at not doing his best, where he has to struggle to do a bad job, day after day. That will finish him quicker than drink or idleness or pulling stick-ups for a living. But there was nothing else for us to do except to fake unfitness. The one accusation we feared was to be suspected of ability. Ability was like a mortgage on you that you could never pay off. And what was there to work for? You knew that your basic pittance would be given to you anyway, whether you worked or not – your 'housing and feeding allowance,' it was called – and above that pittance, you had no chance to get anything, no matter how hard you tried. You couldn't count on buying a new suit of clothes next year – they might give you a 'clothing allowance' or they might not, according to whether nobody broke a leg, needed an operation or gave birth to more babies. And if there wasn't enough money for new suits for everybody, then you couldn't get yours, either.
"There was one man who'd worked hard all his life, because he'd always wanted to send his son through college. Well, the boy graduated from high school in the second year of the plan – but 'the family' wouldn't give the father any 'allowance' for the college. They said his son couldn't go to college, until we had enough to send everybody's sons to college – and that we first had to send everybody's children through high school, and we didn't even have enough for that. The father died the following year, in a knife fight with somebody in a saloon, a fight over nothing in particular – such fights were beginning to happen among us all the time.
"Then there was an old guy, a widower with no family, who had one hobby: phonograph records. I guess that was all he ever got out of life. In the old days, he used to skip lunch just to buy himself some new recording of classical music. Well, they didn't give him any 'allowance' for records – 'personal luxury' they called it. But at the same meeting, Millie Bush, somebody's daughter, a mean, ugly little eight year old, was voted a pair of gold braces for her buck teeth – this was 'medical need' because the staff psychologist had said that the poor girl would get an inferiority complex if her teeth weren't straightened out. The old guy who loved music, turned to drink, instead. He got so you never saw him fully conscious any more. But it seems like there was one thing he couldn't forget. One night, he came staggering down the street, saw Millie Bush, swung his fist and knocked all her teeth out. Every one of them.
"Drink, of course, was what we all turned to, some more, some less. Don't ask how we got the money for it. When all the decent pleasures are forbidden, there's always ways to get the rotten ones. You don't break into grocery stores after dark and you don't pick your fellow's pockets to buy classical symphonies or fishing tackle, but if it's to get stinking drunk and forget – you do. Fishing tackle? Hunting guns? Snapshot cameras? Hobbies? There wasn't any 'amusement allowance' for anybody. 'Amusement' was the first thing they dropped. Aren't you supposed to be ashamed to object when anybody asks you to give up anything, if it's something that gave you pleasure? Even our 'tobacco allowance' was cut to where we got two packs of cigarettes a month – and this, they told us, was because the money had to go into the babies' milk fund. Babies was the only item of production that didn't fall, but rose and kept on rising – because people had nothing else to do, I guess, and because they didn't have to care, the baby wasn't their burden, it was 'the family's.' In fact, the best chance you had of getting a raise and breathing easier for a while was a 'baby allowance.' Either that or a major disease.
"It didn't take us long to see how it all worked out. Any man who tried to play straight, had to refuse himself everything. He lost his taste for any pleasure, he hated to smoke a nickel's worth of tobacco or chew a stick of gum, worrying whether somebody had more need for that nickel. He felt ashamed of every mouthful of food he swallowed, wondering whose weary nights of overtime had paid for it, knowing that his food was not his by right, miserably wishing to be cheated rather than to cheat, to be a sucker, but not a blood-sucker. He wouldn't marry, he wouldn't help his folks back home, he wouldn't put an extra burden on 'the family.' Besides, if he still had some sort of sense of responsibility, he couldn't marry or bring children into the world, when he could plan nothing, promise nothing, count on nothing. But the shiftless and irresponsible had a field day of it. They bred babies, they got girls into trouble, they dragged in every worthless relative they had from all over the country, every unmarried pregnant sister, for an extra 'disability allowance,' they got more sicknesses than any doctor could disprove, they ruined their clothing, their furniture, their homes – what the hell, 'the family' was paying for it! They found more ways of getting in 'need' than the rest of us could ever imagine – they developed a special skill for it, which was the only ability they showed.
"God help us, ma'am! Do you see what we saw? We saw that we'd been given a law to live by, a moral law, they called it, which punished those who observed it – for observing it. The more you tried to live up to it, the more you suffered; the more you cheated it, the bigger reward you got. Your honesty was like a tool left at the mercy of the next man's dishonesty. The honest ones paid, the dishonest collected. The honest lost, the dishonest won. How long could men stay good under this sort of a law of goodness? We were a pretty decent bunch of fellows when we started. There weren't many chiselers among us. We knew our jobs and we were proud of it and we worked for the best factory in the country, where old man Starnes hired nothing but the pick of the country's labor. Within one year under the new plan, there wasn't an honest man left among us. That was the evil, the sort of hell-horror evil that preachers used to scare you with, but you never thought to see alive. Not that the plan encouraged a few bastards, but that it turned decent people into bastards, and there was nothing else that it could do – and it was called a moral ideal!
"What was it we were supposed to work for? For the love of our brothers? What brothers? For the bums, the loafers, the moochers we saw all around us? And whether they were cheating or plain incompetent, whether they were unwilling or unable – what difference did that make to us? If we were tied for life to the level of their unfitness, faked or real, how long could we care to go on? We had no way of knowing their ability, we had no way of controlling their needs – all we knew was that we were beasts of burden struggling blindly in some sort of place that was half-hospital, half-stockyards – a place geared to nothing but disability, disaster, disease – beasts put there for the relief of whatever whoever chose to say was whichever's need.
"Love of our brothers? That's when we learned to hate our brothers for the first time in our lives. We began to hate them for every meal they swallowed, for every small pleasure they enjoyed, for one man's new shirt, for another's wife's hat, for an outing with their family, for a paint job on their house – it was taken from us, it was paid for by our privations, our denials, our hunger. We began to spy on one another, each hoping to catch the others lying about their needs, so as to cut their 'allowance' at the next meeting. We began to have stool pigeons who informed on people, who reported that somebody had bootlegged a turkey to his family on some Sunday – which he'd paid for by gambling, most likely. We began to meddle into one another's lives. We provoked family quarrels, to get somebody's relatives thrown out. Any time we saw a man starting to go steady with a girl, we made life miserable for him. We broke up many engagements. We didn't want anyone to marry, we didn't want any more dependents to feed.
"In the old days, we used to celebrate if somebody had a baby, we used to chip in and help him out with the hospital bills, if he happened to be hard-pressed for the moment. Now, if a baby was born, we didn't speak to the parents for weeks. Babies, to us, had become what locusts were to farmers. In the old days, we used to help a man out if he had a bad illness in the family. Now – well, I'll tell you about just one case. It was the mother of a man who had been with us for fifteen years. She was a kindly old lady, cheerful and wise, she knew us all by our first names and we all liked her – we used to like her. One day, she slipped on the cellar stairs and fell and broke her hip. We knew what that meant at her age. The staff doctor said that she'd have to be sent to a hospital in town, for expensive treatments that would take a long time. The old lady died the night before she was to leave for town. They never established the cause of death. No, I don't know whether she was murdered. Nobody said that. Nobody would talk about it at all. All I know is that I – and that's what I can't forget! – I, too, had caught myself wishing that she would die. This – may God forgive us! – was the brotherhood, the security, the abundance that the plan was supposed to achieve for us!
"Was there any reason why this sort of horror would ever be preached by anybody? Was there anybody who got any profit from it? There was. The Starnes heirs. I hope you're not going to remind me that they'd sacrificed a fortune and turned the factory over to us as a gift. We were fooled by that one, too. Yes, they gave up the factory. But profit, ma'am, depends on what it is that you're after. And what the Starnes heirs were after, no money on earth could buy. Money is too clean and innocent for that.
"Eric Starnes, the youngest – he was a jellyfish that didn't have the guts to be after anything in particular. He got himself voted as the Director of our Public Relations Department, which didn't do anything, except that he had a staff for the not doing of anything, so he didn't have to bother sticking around the office. The pay he got – well, I shouldn't call it 'pay,' none of us was 'paid' – the alms voted to him was fairly modest, about ten times what I got, but that wasn't riches, Eric didn't care for money – he wouldn't have known what to do with it. He spent his time hanging around among us, showing how chummy he was and democratic. He wanted to be loved, it seems. The way he went about it was to keep reminding us that he had given us the factory. We couldn't stand him.
"Gerald Starnes was our Director of Production. We never learned just what the size of his rake-off – his alms – had been. It would have taken a staff of accountants to figure that out, and a staff of engineers to trace the way it was piped, directly or indirectly, into his office. None of it was supposed to be for him – it was all for company expenses. Gerald had three cars, four secretaries, five telephones, and he used to throw champagne and caviar parties that no tax-paying tycoon in the country could have afforded. He spent more money in one year than his father had earned in profits in the last two years of his life. We saw a hundred pound stack – a hundred pounds, we weighed them – of magazines in Gerald's office, full of stories about our factory and our noble plan, with big pictures of Gerald Starnes, calling him a great social crusader. Gerald liked to come into the shops at night, dressed in his formal clothes, flashing diamond cuff links the size of a nickel and shaking cigar ashes all over. Any cheap show-off who's got nothing to parade but his cash, is bad enough – except that he makes no bones about the cash being his, and you're free to gape at him or not, as you wish, and mostly you don't. But when a bastard like Gerald Starnes puts on an act and keeps spouting that he doesn't care for material wealth, that he's only serving 'the family,' that all the lushness is not for himself, but for our sake and for the common good, because it's necessary to keep up the prestige of the company and of the noble plan in the eyes of the public – then that's when you learn to hate the creature as you've never hated anything human.
"But his sister Ivy was worse. She really did not care for material wealth. The alms she got was no bigger than ours, and she went about in scuffed, flat-heeled shoes and shirtwaists – just to show how selfless she was. She was our Director of Distribution. She was the lady in charge of our needs. She was the one who held us by the throat. Of course, distribution was supposed to be decided by voting – by the voice of the people. But when the people are six thousand howling voices, trying to decide without yardstick, rhyme or reason, when there are no rules to the game and each can demand anything, but has a right to nothing, when everybody holds power over everybody's life except his own – then it turns out, as it did, that the voice of the people is Ivy Starnes. By the end of the second year, we dropped the pretense of the 'family meetings' – in the name of 'production efficiency and time economy,' one meeting used to take ten days – and all the petitions of need were simply sent to Miss Starnes' office. No, not sent. They had to be recited to her in person by every petitioner. Then she made up a distribution list, which she read to us for our vote of approval at a meeting that lasted three-quarters of an hour. We voted approval. There was a ten-minute period on the agenda for discussion and objections. We made no objections. We knew better by that time. Nobody can divide a factory's income among thousands of people, without some sort of a gauge to measure people's value. Her gauge was bootlicking. Selfless? In her father's time, all of his money wouldn't have given him a chance to speak to his lousiest wiper and get away with it, as she spoke to our best skilled workers and their wives. She had pale eyes that looked fishy, cold and dead. And if you ever want to see pure evil, you should have seen the way her eyes glinted when she watched some man who'd talked back to her once and who'd just heard his name on the list of those getting nothing above basic pittance. And when you saw it, you saw the real motive of any person who's ever preached the slogan: 'From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.'
"This was the whole secret of it. At first, I kept wondering how it could be possible that the educated, the cultured, the famous men of the world could make a mistake of this size and preach, as righteousness, this sort of abomination – when five minutes of thought should have told them what would happen if somebody tried to practice what they preached. Now I know they didn't do it by any kind of mistake. Mistakes of this size are never made innocently. If men fall for some vicious piece of insanity, when they have no way to make it work and no possible reason to explain their choice – it's because they have a reason that they do not wish to tell. And we weren't so innocent, either, when we voted for that plan at the end of the first meeting. We didn't do it just because we believed that the drippy, old guff they spewed was good. We had another reason, but the guff helped us to hide it from our neighbors and from ourselves. The guff gave us a chance to pass off as virtue something that we'd be ashamed to admit otherwise. There wasn't a man voting for it who didn't think that under a setup of this kind he'd muscle in on the profits of the men abler than himself. There wasn't a man rich and smart enough but that he didn't think that somebody was richer and smarter, and this plan would give him a share of his better's wealth and brain. But while he was thinking that he'd get unearned benefits from the men above, he forgot about the men below who'd get unearned benefits, too. He forgot about all his inferiors who'd rush to drain him just as he hoped to drain his superiors. The worker who liked the idea that his need entitled him to a limousine like his boss's, forgot that every bum and beggar on earth would come howling that their need entitled them to an icebox like his own.That was our real motive when we voted – that was the truth of it – but we didn't like to think it, so the less we liked it, the louder we yelled about our love for the common good.
"Well, we got what we asked for. By the time we saw what it was that we'd asked for, it was too late. We were trapped, with no place to go. The best men among us left the factory in the first week of the plan. We lost our best engineers, superintendents, foremen and highest-skilled workers. A man of self-respect doesn't turn into a milch cow for anybody. Some able fellows tried to stick it out, but they couldn't take it for long. We kept losing our men, they kept escaping from the factory like from a pesthole – till we had nothing left except the men of need, but none of the men of ability.
"And the few of us who were still any good, but stayed on, were only those who had been there too long. In the old days, nobody ever quit the Twentieth Century – and, somehow, we couldn't make ourselves believe it was gone. After a while, we couldn't quit, because no other employer would have us – for which I can't blame him. Nobody would deal with us in any way, no respectable person or firm. All the small shops, where we traded, started moving out of Starnesville fast – till we had nothing left but saloons, gambling joints and crooks who sold us trash at gouging prices. The alms we got kept falling, but the cost of our living went up. The list of the factory's needy kept stretching, but the list of its customers shrank. There was less and less income to divide among more and more people. In the old days, it used to be said that the Twentieth Century Motor trademark was as good as the karat mark on gold. I don't know what it was that the Starnes heirs thought, if they thought at all, but I suppose that like all social planners and like savages, they thought that this trademark was a magic stamp which did the trick by some sort of voodoo power and that it would keep them rich, as it had kept their father. Well, when our customers began to see that we never delivered an order on time and never put out a motor that didn't have something wrong with it – the magic stamp began to work the other way around: people wouldn't take a motor as a gift, if it was marked Twentieth Century. And it came to where our only customers were men who never paid and never meant to pay their bills. But Gerald Starnes, doped by his own publicity, got huffy and went around, with an air of moral superiority, demanding that businessmen place orders with us, not because our motors were good, but because we needed the orders so badly.
"By that time a village half-wit could see what generations of professors had pretended not to notice. What good would our need do to a power plant when its generators stopped because of our defective engines? What good would it do to a man caught on an operating table when the electric light went out? What good would it do to the passengers of a plane when its motor failed in mid-air? And if they bought our product, not because of its merit, but because of our need, would that be the good, the right, the moral thing to do for the owner of that power plant, the surgeon in that hospital, the maker of that plane?
"Yet this was the moral law that the professors and leaders and thinkers had wanted to establish all over the earth. If this is what it did in a single small town where we all knew one another, do you care to think what it would do on a world scale? Do you care to imagine what it would be like, if you had to live and to work, when you're tied to all the disasters and all the malingering of the globe? to work – and whenever any men failed anywhere, it's you who would have to make up for it. To work – with no chance to rise, with your meals and your clothes and your home and your pleasure depending on any swindle, any famine, any pestilence anywhere on earth. To work – with no chance for an extra ration, till the Cambodians have been fed and the Patagonians have been sent through college. To work – on a blank check held by every creature born, by men whom you'll never see, whose needs you'll never know, whose ability or laziness or sloppiness or fraud you have no way to learn and no right to question – just to work and work and work – and leave it up to the Ivys and the Geralds of the world to decide whose stomach will consume the effort, the dreams and the days of your life. And thisis the moral law to accept? This – a moral ideal?
"Well, we tried it – and we learned. Our agony took four years, from our first meeting to our last, and it ended the only way it could end: in bankruptcy. At our last meeting, Ivy Starnes was the one who tried to brazen it out. She made a short, nasty, snippy little speech in which she said that the plan had failed because the rest of the country had not accepted it, that a single community could not succeed in the midst of a selfish, greedy world – and that the plan was a noble ideal, but human nature was not good enough for it. A young boy – the one who had been punished for giving us a useful idea in our first year – got up, as we all sat silent, and walked straight to Ivy Starnes on the platform. He said nothing. He spat in her face. That was the end of the noble plan and of the Twentieth Century".
(All rights for reproduced text belong with 'Atlas Shrugged')


text:
Welcome to Lux Riverside Hotel & Apartment
Welcome to Lux Riverside Hotel & Apartment
Lux Riverside Hotel & Apartment offers comfortable and elegant accommodation for your pleasant stay. The ideal hotel in Phnom Penh, located in the heart of the vibrant and most touristic street Sisowath Quay along the riverside of Tonle Sap and Mekong River.
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The hotel is suitable for all business and tourist travellers. The hotel provides services such as business centre, Free Wi-Fi Internet access throughout the hotel, and attentive services from our professional staff.
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Phone: +855 88 888 0968

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Bluetooth® handsfree phone - audio settings
It is possible to adjust the call volume, audio system volume and ring signal volume.
Phone call volume
The phone call volume can only be changed during a call. Use the steering wheel keypad or turn the VOL control.
Audio system volume
Providing there is no ongoing call taking place, the audio system volume is controlled as usual by turning VOL.
If an audio source is active on receipt of an incoming call then it is muted automatically.
Ring signal volume
The ring signal volume can be changed by pressing the SOUND button, turning TUNE to Ringtone volume and pressing OK/MENU. Adjust the ring signal volume by turning TUNE and save the setting with OK/MENU.
Ring signals
The handsfree-function's built-in ring signal is used for incoming calls.
For certain mobile phones the connected mobile phone's ring signal is not switched off, and is then used at the same time as the handsfree system's built-in signal.


text:
Farzad Kamangar's mother gave the following message to a memorial gathering in Germany: 'Greetings to freedom loving people across the world that have supported us and raised our voices across the world. Today, as always, I ask you, I beg you to think of the political prisoners. Don't let other mothers suffer. It is enough. Don't let them lose their beloved. I lost my Farzad but I don't want any other family to lose their beloved. I ask all mothers, students, people to think of the liberation of our loved ones enchained. The regime has still not handed over Farzad's body. But Farzad is not dead. He is alive and can be seen in the millions worldwide who have not left us alone and will not leave us alone.
To listen to the message click here or see the below:
A cousin of Farzad Kamangar living in Germany says the mothers of the five executed have still not seen their bodies to say goodbye to them. She says 19 members of the Kamangar family have been executed by the regime.
Farzad Kamangar's brave lawyer, Khalil Bahramian, has been arrested for speaking to the press about the fact that he and others should not have been executed.
At least nine people were executed in one week in the Islamic Republic of Iran. 5 in Rasht (four men and one woman) on Monday, two in Zahedan and two in Ahvaz. There is also the imminent executions of several others in the coming weeks according to the International Committee against Executions.


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Demeyere - The best materials
The best materials
The Demeyere cookware is carefully crafted in the finest stainless steel, also used in surgery. The best quality stainless steel, 18/10 or SAE 304, is an alloy containing 18% chrome, 10% nickel(*) and 72% iron. Stainless steel does not only show high resistance to corrosion, it is also a very strong material which resists deformation and which is health safe.
Stainless steel, however, is a bad thermal conductor, which makes it an ideal isolating and energy saving material for the bodies of cooking pots and pans used for recipes with a lot of water, but due to which it is not recommended for the base. Due to the lack of optimal heat conducting, a regular stainless steel base shows many temperature differences, which makes good cooking and baking - without burning - difficult to achieve. Therefore, a heat conducting base is attached underneath the stainless steel base. The heat conducting material makes sure that the warmth is spread evenly, before it gets in touch with the stainless steel of the pan itself and thus, with the food.
Demeyere uses cupper for its Inductoseal base and pure aluminium for the Inductobase and the 7-PlyMaterial. Both materials are good thermal conductors (cupper somewhat better than aluminium) and make sure that the cooking utensile heats fast and evenly. The heat conducting layer must be thick enough. The better the heat conduction, the thinner the layer. A cupper base may therefore be thinner than a pure aluminium base. Besides stainless steel, cupper and aluminium Demeyere also uses silver. The special Inductoseal sandwich base contains silver for the attachment of the different layers. (*) All our products are suitable to use in case of nickel allergy.
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has a potent, supernatural prescription for depression—His Word!
Hebrews 4:12 says, "The word of God is living and powerful, and sharper
than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and
spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and
intents of the heart" (NKJV). The Word will not only diagnose our
condition, it will also prescribe a potent treatment program that drives
depression out of our lives and sets us free! God's Word is the
ultimate antidepressant.
plan for dealing with depression is very different from the world's
plan. The world wants us to reopen our wounds and recall every injustice
from the past. The Word tells us to focus on the Healer.
When depression tries to come upon you, determine to look at Jesus—not
at your distress. When you focus on God and His Word, the cause of your
depression becomes irrelevant. God's answer is the same: "For though we
walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons
of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down
strongholds" (2 Cor. 10:3-4).
has many causes—in both the spiritual and the natural realms.
Spiritually speaking, generational curses in a bloodline can predispose
members of certain families to suffer from depression. In the physical
realm, medical treatments, chemical or hormonal imbalances, fatigue, and
just plain stress can be the culprits. Additionally, unresolved
emotional issues or abuse can bring overwhelming sadness, anger and the
inability to function normally.
bottom line is: Depression is a supernatural spirit of destruction
straight from the devil, and as such, needs to be treated like an enemy.
We must take a strong stand against it and refuse to give it any power
in our lives.
stems from an underlying root of unbelief—unbelief in God's care,
goodness, faithfulness, presence in your life or ability to get you out
of seemingly "impossible" situations.
is more than simply harmful to you; it is sin. In Mark 16:14, Jesus
rebuked the disciples' "unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did
not believe." We cannot afford to make excuses or convince ourselves we
have a right to be depressed. Instead, we need to take the supernatural
prescription God has provided.
saints of old had to do the same thing. The Bible indicates in 1 Kings
18 and 19 that Elijah was at the pinnacle of his "career" as God's
prophet. Yet, at the end of chapter 19, he has plummeted from his
highest high to his lowest low, sinking into a deep, suicidal
Elijah began to
look at his circumstances and feel very sorry for himself. This opened
the door to destruction and caused him to cry out to God, "I've had
enough….Take away my life. I've got to die sometime, and it might as
well be now" (1 Kin. 19:4, The Living Bible).
focused on the past and on the unfair treatment he had received from
Jezebel. He forgot about the amazing things God had done in his life and
now found himself hiding in a cave, alone and depressed.
love God's response to Elijah: "Then He said, 'Go out, and stand on the
mountain before the Lord.' And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great
and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces
before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an
earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the
earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a
still small voice" (1 Kin. 19:11-12, NKJV).
came to Elijah and spoke in a still, small voice—the voice of the
Spirit. When depression comes to your door, don't open it! Listen to
what God says to your spirit.
He did for Elijah, God will give you a truth that will take you through
despair. Freedom occurs as you listen to His quiet voice. "'You shall
know the truth, and the truth shall make you free'" (John 8:32). When
you find yourself physically and emotionally exhausted, His gentle
Spirit will remind you of His faithfulness—past, present and future.
David struggled with depression throughout his life. Sometimes it was
self-induced, brought on by his own sin. On one such occasion, he said,
"For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing; my strength
fails because of my iniquity" (Ps. 31:10).
At other times David's despair was the result of his enemies' treatment of him. This was the case in 1 Samuel 30.
David became king of Israel, he and his 600 men were on the run from
both King Saul and the Amalekites. They took up residency at a place
called Ziklag (which means "overwhelming despair").
after David and his men had been away, they returned to discover that
the Amalekites had attacked the city, set fire to it, and taken their
wives and children captive. "Now David was greatly distressed, for the
people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was
grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David
strengthened himself in the Lord his God" (1 Sam. 30:6).
was one of the worst days of David's life. All seemed lost. There was
no one around who could help him or lift him up out of the horrible pit
he was in.
That's what
depression does. It isolates us from others and steals our joy. David
cried out, "I am desolate and afflicted. The troubles of my heart have
enlarged; bring me out of my distresses!" (Ps. 25:16-17) Yet, in the
midst of his despair, David took God's prescription for his depressed
state and "encouraged himself."
did he do this? Listen to Psalm 25:5-6: "On You I wait all the day.
Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercies and Your lovingkindnesses, for
they are from of old."
David spoke of God's faithfulness to him, he was literally speaking his
deliverance from the depression and oppression threatening to destroy
him. In Psalm 32:3 he wrote, "When I kept silent, my bones grew old."
David knew the importance of speaking the Word in order to walk in
How can you
"strengthen yourself in the Lord" when depressing thoughts and
circumstances rise against you? Read the Word and say what it says.
Refuse to speak negatively. Instead, agree with the Word.
does the Word say about you? That you are more than a conqueror…that
you can do all things through Christ…that you always triumph through
Christ…that all things will work together for your good…and so much
more! (See Rom. 8:37; Phil. 4:13; 1 Cor. 15:57; Rom. 8:28). Revelation
12:11 confirms that we overcome "by the blood of the Lamb and by the
word of [our] testimony."
was the Word of God that spoke to David's heart! It was the spiritual
"secret weapon" that set him free from the overwhelming circumstances of
Ziklag. If you read the rest of 1 Samuel 30, you'll see that David
gained a mighty victory—he rescued his wives and children, and
recovered all the spoil that had been taken!
is another Old Testament prophet who dealt with depressing thoughts and
situations. For 37 years, he preached to the unrepentant Israelites.
They had turned away from God to worshiping idols, and Jeremiah was
called to confront them. His heart was broken for Israel's sins and the
judgment of God that was coming upon the people (see Jer. 8:21-9:1).
Jeremiah used the supernatural weapon of the Word to resist depression:
"Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy
and rejoicing of my heart" (Jer. 15:16). He was set free from the
depression and filled with joy.
did Jeremiah get his joy? He ate God's Word! When we are attacked by
depression, we need to take our "faith pills." We need to "eat" God's
Word—to read it, meditate on it and speak it.
circumstances pile up, simply "eat" more Word. Unlike a traditional
prescription, there are no adverse side effects from the Word and you
can take it as often as needed!
truth will not only set you free from depression, despair and
hopelessness; it will give you joy in their place. Jesus said, "'These
things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that
your joy may be full'" (John 15:11). He promises us a double portion of
joy—His and ours!
What is
the source of your joy? Circumstances? Money? Health? Your spouse? Your
job? No, the Word is to be the source of our joy, and God's supernatural
double-portion joy will defeat depression every time!
is of a supernatural origin. Therefore it's going to take the
supernatural—a greater truth and stronger anointing—to gain the
victory and keep depression out of your life. Here are some important
steps to take.
If you've allowed unbelief into your heart, causing you to become
depressed, the first thing you must do is repent. Accept God's
forgiveness and ask Him to give you faith in place of your unbelief.
Then you can claim with the psalmist: "I acknowledged my sin to You, and
my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, 'I will confess my
transgressions to the Lord,' and You forgave the iniquity of my sin"
(Ps. 32:5).
Speak your deliverance by speaking God's Word.
You must refuse to speak the negative, doubt-filled lies the enemy
tries to get you to agree with, and instead agree with God's Word—out
Accept the Word above your circumstances.
As you look to Jesus and the Word, not your troubles and trials, you'll
find the victory you need. The Bible tells us He is our Deliverer. As
the psalmist declared: "He sent from above, He took me; He drew me out
of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who
hated me, for they were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day
of my calamity, but the Lord was my support" (Ps. 18:16-18).
Make a choice to rejoice.
As you "eat" the Word, God will replace your depression and despair
with peace and joy. Make Psalm 103:2 your daily confession: "I will
bless the Lord and not forget the glorious things He does for me" (The
Living Bible).
Have you ever noticed that depression and anxiety often come at night?
God in His mercy has given us a nighttime prescription in Psalm 4:4,7-8:
"Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still….I will both
lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in
safety" (NKJV). You can go to bed and have sweet dreams; you can lay
your head down and not be depressed.
about when you wake up? Have you ever faced discouragement in the
morning? God has written a prescription for that too! Psalm 5 is your
morning dose of the Word: "Give heed to the voice of my cry, my King and
my God, for to You I will pray. My voice You shall hear in the morning,
O Lord; in the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up"
(Ps. 5:2-3).
Morning, noon
and night, you can take your supernatural antidepressant. As you focus
on God's Word, listen to the Spirit's voice and allow Jesus to give you a
double portion of joy, you can walk in victory over every spirit of
depression that tries to disable you or sidetrack your life! God's
prescription for joy will keep you depression-free!
Marilyn Hickey
is founder and president of Marilyn Hickey Ministries in Denver. She is
an anointed teacher and author whose ministry reaches the world through
television, books and crusades.


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The abandoned US Air Force (USAF) base in Tachikawa is a bramble-choked memento from the early days of Japanese/American war and peace. It was annexed by the USA shortly after World War II, in co-operation with the still-active nearby Japan Army (SDF) Base, then abandoned in the 1970's as the Vietnam war came to a close.
Its three huge chimneys are still visible from the exterior, brick-red and lined up like masts on a rudderless ship, slowly sinking deeper into the smothering sea of green jungle. Its airstrip now swims with weeds, and bamboo forests have grown through the foundations where buildings once stood, patrolled by old men on bicycles keeping a watchful eye on the 10-foot perimeter fence.
Storage bunker, one of the few remaining structures on base.
As with the Fuchu Air Base, I've been here before. The first time was some two years ago, in the early days of my haikyo exploration. I must have walked the perimeter circle 4 or 5 times, as dusk fell around me, wondering if I had the chutzpah to scale the fence. At no point was it easy to climb, and at no point in an isolated spot. It got dark, and I became antsy. The guard in the guard box out front didn't leave, except to occasionally drive carefully around the interior, or cycle around the fence. In the end, I gave up. It didn't seem worth it, so I backed off.
Map of the whole base. The central part is now the huge Showa Kinen Park, site of Tokyo`s only full disc golf course. The left oblong, 1km long, is the abandoned base. The right oblong is the still-active SDF base.
The second time, around a year later, I arrived with my chutzpah turned on, knowing what to expect. After circling the base to my desired sport, I just went at it. Over a fence, and in.
After that, my memory's a series of frantic snapshots as I ran around looking for things to shoot. It started to rain, reducing visibility, and that just amped me up further. Roads criss-crossed in every direction, and I knew that the old security guard could use any of them. I didn't doubt I could out-run him if it came to a chase- but I didn't want it to come to a chase.
And so even with the sense of real risk pretty absent, I still ran from cover to shelter like a hunted animal. When taking shelter in buildings, I became acutely aware of my heart thumping, and more worried every second about stepping back out of my new-found safety, and into the open.
This massive bunker hosted me for around 30 minutes, as I planned my next line of attack-
It is pretty huge, covered in ivy, and built to withstand serious punishment. The walls and doors are several feet thick.
Covered in ivy.
The central part of the bunker had probably once been an office, with desks, machinery controls, and grilled windows looking into the hangar-like storage area alongside.
The two doors left and right lead to the hangars.
Filing cabinets belie it was an office.
Empty storage shelves in the bunker's back room
The hangars either side were filled with old equipment. The southern wing (below) had what looks like a lot of air conditioning equipment. The northern wing had chairs and assorted engine parts. In the back was a staircase, going up to the roof.
Of course I clambered over everything to get to it. and up- affording me the best view of the remains of the base anyone's had in years.
Elevator and lift gear in storage.
Looking back towards the entrance, the stairs to be climbed.
Up the stairs.
At the top of the stairs was a small room, smashed in rot and weather, then more stairs, then the roof.
Signalman`s room?
Rickety stair-case.
One of the hazards of haikyo- stairways whose rungs have fallen away. I walked with great care.
On the roof the view was excellent, dominated by the forest, and the three chimneys.
Roof and chimneys.
Roof ruins.
After leaving that sanctuary, again I was on the run, bobbing in and out of the overgrown forest and through clumps of bamboo, head ducking in search of the old dude on his bicycle. I heard there were immense apocalypse-emergency tunnels underneath the old base, perhaps some kind fall-out shelter for Tokyo's elite. I saw a few hatch-like structures emerging above ground, which had no doors of any kind. Could those be the air circulators, for such a massive complex?
This from Wikipedia.
Consolidation resulted in the establishment of the Tachikawa Disaster-Preparedness Base, involving hundreds of miles of tunnels designed to support 5,000 top government members for a year in the event of a catacylsmic disaster. The bunker building is one of only a few remaining structures on the large base lot.
I didn't linger around them.
After a while I got pretty turned around inside. Even seeing the three massive chimneys, that I'd seen clearly from outside, didn't really help orient me.
The guards had buckled a ladder into the chimney flues, so it is possible to climb up inside them.
I climbed up inside one, and again briefly relaxed. What were these chimneys for, remnants of some kind of power plant, or a waste incinerator? Did they cremate bodies here?
Inside the flue.
Looking out.
Looking at the inside of the base of the chimney.
Looking down at the base of the chimney.
Dreaming of the past.
After the towers, dusk was falling and I really thought I was pushing my luck to stay any longer. I wasn't sure any more which way I'd come or which way was out- all the straight grid streets of the base looked equally overgrown, and I'd zig-zagged through so much bamboo I had no idea where my entry climbing fence had been.
I got out my iPhone and pulled up the map feature. Then, working myself up into a lather, I started to run.
Which way was I going? Where was the exit?
Watching the little screen with me inching down an overgrown road, peeking up to check I wasn't slaloming into some obstacle, I felt weirdly like a World of Warcraft character running to his next battle. I ran in a straight line for a few minutes, until at last one of the easiest fences- also closest to the guard's box- emerged, and I plunged for it. At last I hit it, vaulted over the top, and landed on the legal side, out of breath.
An old lady looked at me confusedly. I nodded, and went on my way. So it goes.
The Tachikawa base started life as an Imperial Japanese Army airfield, though that role later morphed to also cater to civilians by the 1920's. In 1929 Japan`s first regularly scheduled commercial air service departed from this base to Osaka, a three hour commute that was in operation for 4 years, until the service was moved to Haneda airport on Tokyo Bay. After 1933 the base returned to being an Army airfield, and remained so until the end of World War II. During the war it was defended by the Shintentai, an anti-aircraft kamikaze group. Near the end of the war Tachikawa was subjected to heavy bombing, and in the aftermath was occupied by the US.
From Wikipedia– Disaster struck Tachikawa on June 18, 1953 when a U.S. Air Force C-124 Globemaster II transport experienced an engine failure on takeoff, crashing shortly after. The accident claimed the lives of 129 people, and was the deadliest air disaster in history at the time. With a runway only 1,500m long, Tachikawa was not adequate for the largest aircraft, and the U.S. decided to extend the runway into the neighboring town of Sunagawa.
The July 8, 1957 Sunagawa Riots resulted in cancellation of the plan. The U.S. instead developed Tama Airfield (the present-day Yokota Air Base) and moved its operations there. By 1969, the U.S. had largely left Tachikawa, and in 1977, after the end of the Vietnam War, it returned the base to Japanese control.
The Japanese government put the land to a variety of uses. The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force established a base there, as did the Japan Coast Guard, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department and the Tokyo Fire Department.


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37% of all teens ages 12-17 have smartphones, up from just 23% in 2011
One in four teens are "cell-mostly" internet users – they mostly go online using their phone
WASHINGTON (March 13, 2013) — Smartphone adoption among American teens has increased substantially and mobile access to the internet is pervasive. One in four teens are "cell-mostly" internet users, who say they mostly go online using their phone and not using some other device such as a desktop or laptop computer.
These are among the new findings from a nationally representative Pew Research Center survey of 802 youth ages 12-17 and their parents that explored technology use. Key findings include:
- 78% of teens now have a cell phone, and almost half (47%) of them own smartphones. That translates into 37% of all teens who have smartphones, up from just 23% in 2011.
- 23% of teens have a tablet computer, a level comparable to the general adult population.
- 95% of teens use the internet.
- 93% of teens have a computer or have access to one at home. Seven in ten (71%) teens with home computer access say the laptop or desktop they use most often is one they share with other family members.
"The nature of teens' internet use has transformed dramatically — from stationary connections tied to shared desktops in the home to always-on connections that move with them throughout the day," said Mary Madden, Senior Researcher for the Pew Research Center's Internet Project and co-author of the report. "In many ways, teens represent the leading edge of mobile connectivity, and the patterns of their technology use often signal future changes in the adult population."
Mobile access to the internet is common among American teens, and the cell phone has become an especially important access point for certain groups:
- 74% teens ages 12-17 say they access the internet on cell phones, tablets and other mobile devices at least occasionally.
- 25% of teens are "cell-mostly" internet users—far more than the 15% of adults who are cell-mostly. Among teen smartphone owners, half are cell-mostly.
- Older girls are especially likely to be cell-mostly internet users; 34% of teen girls ages 14-17 say that they mostly go online using their cell phone, compared with 24% of teen boys ages 14-17. This is notable since boys and girls are equally likely to be smartphone owners.
- Among older teen girls who are smartphone owners, 55% say they use the internet mostly from their phone.
"The shift to mobile internet use changes the ways teens access information and creates new challenges for parents who wish to monitor their children's internet use," said Amanda Lenhart, Senior Researcher and Director of Teens and Technology Initiatives for the Pew Research Center's Internet Project. "Given bandwidth constraints and the fact that many websites are not yet optimized for mobile devices, teens who access content primarily on their cell phone may have to work harder to get important information. On the other hand, for parents who may wish to restrict access to their children's exposure to certain kinds of content online, mobile devices can make it more difficult for parents to use the passive monitoring strategies they tell us they prefer, instead requiring more technical solutions."
The vast majority of those ages 12-17 are internet users. Still, the teens who live in lower-income and lower-education households are still somewhat less likely to use the internet in any capacity—mobile or wired. However, those who fall into lower socioeconomic groups are just as likely and in some cases more likely than those living in higher income and more highly-educated households to use their cell phone as a primary point of access.
- 89% of teens living in households earning less than $30,000 per year use the internet, compared with 99% of teens living in households earning $75,000 or more per year.
- 30% of teens living in households earning less than $30,000 per year are cell-mostly internet users, compared with just 14% of those in households earning $50,000-$74,999 per year and 24% of those living in households earning $75,000 or more per year.
The findings of the study are detailed in a new report called, "Teens and Technology 2013." The report is the second in a series of reports issued by the Pew Research Center in collaboration with the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard. The data are based on a nationally representative phone survey of 802 parents and their 802 teens ages 12-17, conducted between July 26 and September 30, 2012. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish and on landline and cell phones. The margin of error for the full sample is ± 4.5 percentage points.
About the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project
The Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project is one of seven projects that make up the Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan, nonprofit "fact tank" that provides information on the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world. The Project produces reports exploring the impact of the Internet on families, communities, work and home, daily life, education, health care, and civic and political life. The Project aims to be an authoritative source on the evolution of the Internet through surveys that examine how Americans use the Internet and how their activities affect their lives.
About the Berkman Center for Internet & Society
The Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University is a research program founded to recognize, study, and engage the most difficult problems of the digital age and to share in their resolution in ways that advance the public interest. Founded in 1997, through a generous gift from Jack N. and Lillian R. Berkman, the Center is home to an ever-growing community of faculty, fellows, staff, and affiliates. Fundamental to its work is the study of the relationship between digital technologies and democratic values, including civic participation, access to knowledge, and the free flow of information. More information can be found at http://cyber.law.harvard.edu.
Media contacts
Mary Madden: firstname.lastname@example.com/pewresearch-org/internet and 202-419-4515
Amanda Lenhart: email@example.com/pewresearch-org/internet and 202-419-4514


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Having the provisions of a divorce agreement modified under Massachusetts law is possible, based on how the separation agreement was written and the circumstances bringing about the request for a modification. Before bringing your modification request to the court, you need to consult with an experienced divorce attorney.
The first thing to realize is that there must be a material change in circumstances to request a modification, such as an employment change, a significant change of residence, or change in income. These changes can affect custody agreements and spousal and child support.
When drafting a separation agreement, there are two types of provisions addressed in the agreement: surviving and merging. Merging provisions are open to modification. Merging provisions are generally child specific issues like custody arrangements, support, and health insurance. Sometimes alimony can be a merging provision. Surviving provisions are generally not open to modification. An example of surviving provision is the division of property.
It is important to speak with an experienced family law attorney about the possibility of modifying an agreement or judgment before you spend time in court. A family law attorney can help you through the maze that you will encounter and help you with making the best decisions, based on what the law says in your particular situation. The attorney can also give you an idea of the likelihood of success.
Once you file a complaint for modification of the agreement, you should realize that it is just the first step and that there may be several other things to consider. The court may require documentation and financial records to support the request and may even issue temporary orders until the matter is resolved. Again, the family law attorney is the person to rely on to help you through this process.
If you have questions or may be considering a modification to your divorce agreement, please contact our North Andover law office to discuss your matter with an experienced family law attorney.


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A record number of French citizens booked vaccine shots Monday after French President Emmanuel Macron said that starting in August, anyone who wants to visit cafes, bars or shopping centers must show a "health pass" that certifies they've been vaccinated or recently tested negative for the coronavirus.
"Get vaccinated!" the president said in a live address to the nation, warning of a new coronavirus surge fueled by the fast-spreading delta variant.
Many French people got the message loud and clear. On Monday, 926,000 people booked their first dose through the online medical platform Doctolib — "an absolute record," the site says. Hundreds of thousands more have continued to book slots on Tuesday.
Vaccination, Macron said, is "the only path to return to normal life." He called it "our collective shield."
The new policy also makes vaccinations or a recent negative test mandatory for:
Macron says France will have to live with the virus
France celebrated the return of indoor dining for restaurants and cafes in June as months of shutdown orders ended and a nightly curfew was eased. The country also reopened its vital tourism industry — but officials said that the return to business as usual relies on people embracing vaccination.
"It's a question of individual responsibility, of a sense of collective spirit," Macron said in his address. "It is also what our freedom depends on, for everyone."
In another change, starting in autumn, tests for the coronavirus will no longer be free unless they're prescribed by a doctor — a strategy meant to nudge people away from relying on repeated negative tests to prove they don't pose a health risk to others.
Macron did not issue any new lockdown orders, instead reiterating that the French public will have to "live with the virus," likely through at least part of 2022.
Less than half of the country is vaccinated
France's new case rate is currently far below the large secondary spike it endured in the spring. But with only around 37% of the country vaccinated, and coronavirus variants prevalent in screening tests, Macron and other officials said a recent rise in cases is a warning the country is again at risk of seeing its health system overwhelmed by new COVID-19 cases.
Many of the new cases are coming from younger people, specifically those between 15 and 44, according to the country's health department.
France has reported more than 5.8 million COVID-19 cases, according to data from Johns Hopkins University, ranked fourth in the world. More than 111,000 people have died from the disease in the country.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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The Best Disney Couple Cosplay Is One Guy
Richard Schaefer is doing the cutest Disney cosplay we've seen in a while. He really shows a lot of devotion too -- in addition to making all the costumes, he dresses up as both princesses and their princes. He does a great job too. Check out even more awesome cosplay and costumes on his Tumblr.


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Our custom designed, license plate frames are the perfect gift for any occasion. They are all created in house and are one of a kinds.
Drive around in style.
These frames are full size frames and give an 11.125" x 4.1875 articulated viewing area.
All of our frames are Dye Sublimated printed with permanent graphics.
* Mounting hardware is not supplied


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Facebook B2B Marketing: Five Steps to Success
- Facebook B2B Marketing: Five Steps to Success
- Steps #2 & #3
- Steps #4 & #5
Facebook marketing and advertising has grown in leaps and bounds. Facebook's 2011 revenue from advertising will approach $4 billion, about double what it was in 2010. What's more, Facebook's revenue is 126 percent what Google's was at the same stage of their growth.
A number of case studies have demonstrated the revenue value and profitability of Facebook marketing. But many of these case studies are business-to-consumer marketing campaigns. What about business-to-business? Can B2B companies succeed with Facebook and other social media marketing?
It's definitely a different game than B2B marketing with Google, and there are some hurdles, but Facebook marketing is a cheap and easy thing to test for your B2B company (perhaps with less than $1,000 of ad spend), so with that in mind, here are five steps to follow to increase your chances of success.
Step #1: Allocate Your Efforts to the Right Social Sites
LinkedIn is favored by more than three times as many B2B purchase decision-makers, compared to Facebook. I worked with a company that secured a $450,000 business deal it would not have had without LinkedIn. Does this mean you shouldn't use Facebook? Facebook provides significant opportunities in terms of its audience size and advertising targeting.
Twitter is much beloved by many social media "gurus." Many of them have had a love-hate relationship with Facebook. They love that Facebook has 750 million users, but they dislike Facebook's privacy issues and frequent changes. But Twitter has nothing like Facebook's advertising platform, and Twitter has, according to some sources, only 20 million active users-when the average B2B company goes looking for relevant contacts and influencers on Twitter, sometimes they don't find a single one.
So my recommendation is to use all three, to a degree. You might allocate 50% of your efforts to LinkedIn, 40% to Facebook, and 10% to LinkedIn. You can adjust this allocation based on what opportunities you find and what results you see in the first month of your marketing efforts.


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The price of oil climbed toward $96 a barrel Tuesday, extending gains as supply concerns outweighed uncertainty about economic growth in the United States and China.
By early afternoon in Europe, benchmark oil for August delivery was up 57 cents to $95.75 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract jumped $1.49 to close at $95.18 on Monday.
Supply risks were increasingly in focus as traders voiced concerns about the escalating civil war in Syria and the temporary closure of two major oil pipelines in Canada due to damage probably caused by heavy flooding.
"The oil markets are still in the grip of fears about an imminent end to the Fed's bond purchasing program and a slowdown in Chinese growth," said a report from Commerzbank in Frankfurt. "All that prevented the price from falling even further were the supply risks."
Oil sank by $4.55 a barrel, or 4.7 percent, on Thursday and Friday after the Federal Reserve spooked investors by signaling the end of a bond-buying program that has boosted the economy.
On Monday, oil dropped as low as $92.67 a barrel because of growing worries that China's decision to clamp down on informal lending could hamper growth in a major energy consuming country.
But it rebounded after Wall Street indexes clawed back losses and then kept climbing Tuesday in Asia and Europe as some markets returned to positive territory. Oil trading is often influenced by stock market trends which can reflect the state of confidence in the economic outlook.
Markets will also be paying attention to a series of U.S. economic indicators to be released later Tuesday, including data on consumer confidence, new-home sales, home prices and orders for durable goods.
Brent crude, which is used to set prices for oil used by many U.S. refineries to make gasoline, was up 39 cents at $101.55.
In other energy futures trading on the Nymex:
— Natural gas gained 0.4 cent to $3.743 per 1,000 cubic feet.
— Heating oil rose 1.27 cents to $2.8657 a gallon.
— Wholesale gasoline added 1.29 cents to $2.74 a gallon.


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Old Man Mountain racks are the most versatile racks available. Capable of mounting to full-suspension mountain bikes, gravel bikes, road bikes, fat bikes, and even tri-bikes if that's what you're into.
Tested and trusted in the most extreme environments on earth (we're still trying to get NASA to take them to the moon). Our racks have helped riders traverse Iceland in bitter cold winters, carried the gear of countless GDMBR riders, and circumnavigated the globe. The only remaining question is where will it go with you?
Want to use our rack on a bike that isn't made for racks? Want to swap your rack between multiple bikes? A Fit Kit is all you need.
- Fits up to 29 x 3-inch tires, with room for fenders.
- Front or rear mountable.
- Works with all dropper posts.
- Made from 6061 aluminum the racks are lightweight, stiff, and strong.
- The main rack frame is made of 1/2" (13 mm) diameter tubing for durability, and the pannier rails are 3/8" (10 mm) diameter to fit all panniers.
- The low pannier rail makes it a breeze to load and unload panniers with gear lashed to the deck.
- The deck measures 3.9" x 10.5" (100 mm x 266 mm) The deck includes slots for easily lashing gear in place and holes for mounting a light.
- The dropouts are height adjustable to keep the weight loaded low on the bike and fit a wide range of tire sizes.
- The Divide come standard, eyelet mount ready with optional fit kits available for thru-axle or QR mounting.
- The Divide has a load capacity of 55lbs when eyelet mounted.
- For more adventurous endeavors we offer thru-axle or QR Fit Kits, that mount the rack to the axle and increase the load capacity to a whopping 70 lbs!
- Powder coated a sleek and refined shade of black.
- 960g including all hardware and extenders.
- Made in Taiwan.
- Lifetime warranty!
Part Numbers
Option | UPC | MPN |
Black | 602150476409 | DIV001 |


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Delacon integrates with Google's marketing suite
Google's impressive suite is further enhanced through the integration of Delacon's call tracking solution. If you're using Google Analytics, Google Ads, Tag Manager or DoubleClick, our software seamlessly plugs in for your benefit.
The missing metric
With Delacon's Call Tracking integrated with your Google data, you will be able to change the way you do business. By adding call tracking data to your marketing analysis, you will get the full picture of your campaign performance.
Google Analytics
Powerful, flexible and easy-to-use, Google Analytics, allows businesses to analyze online traffic data within a user-friendly interface. With a greater understanding of web traffic, you can strengthen your marketing initiatives and create higher converting websites.
Google Ads
Regardless of budget, marketers can reach new customers and grow their business using Google's online advertising program. With Google Ads, you can choose where your ad appears, set an appropriate budget and easily measure the impact of your ad.
Google Tag Manager
Google Tag Manager gives marketers the ability to add or update website tags and mobile applications easily whenever they need to. The intuitive interface means that marketers can use the platform without having significant knowledge of IT. Ultimately, Google Tag Manager is free and easy and leaves you with more time and money to spend on your marketing campaigns.
Google DoubleClick
Google promotes DoubleClick as a technology foundation to create, transact, and manage digital advertising for the world's buyers, creators and sellers. It is designed to assist in driving direct sales revenue by seamlessly managing and accelerating digital ad operations on the web. Marketers can also streamline sales and enhance visibility throughout the sales cycle.
Google BigQuery
Delacon uses Google's BigQuery as an enterprise data warehouse, enabling faster-than-ever analysis, robust reports, and instant access to all your valuable insights. You can now use the BigQuery connector via Data Studio to speed up the process of creating, visualising and sharing reports and dashboards with decision makers.


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Dark Void is a new sci-fi action-adventure game that combines an adrenaline-fuelled blend of aerial and on-foot combat set in a parallel universe called "The Void". Players will take on the role of Will; a pilot who while on a routine air cargo flight crashes in the Bermuda triangle leading him to be trapped in the Void. Will soon finds himself swept into a desperate struggle for survival at the head of a group called The Survivors. Trapped in the Void, these resistance fighters are battling to hold off a mysterious alien race that plans to threaten Earth.
Dark Void's unique combination of in-air and on-ground combat creates a thrilling new gameplay dynamic to the third-person shooter experience. Dark Void's unique vertical combat system allows players to dangle from thousand foot drops as they take cover and take out enemies from above and below, bringing a real sense of vulnerability and intensity to the player.
Defying gravity in vertical combat is only half the battle as, Will's endeavours are rewarded with upgrades to his rocket pack allowing fierce in-air combat as gamers fly through the Void at terrifying speeds shooting down anything that gets in their path. Blasting away at massive bosses has never been this much fun as Dark Void offers a unique grip system made up of a variety of grip-based mini-games including skyjacking UFOs mid-flight.
- Sci-Fi Action-Adventure combines aerial and on-foot combat for unparallel 3D third-person shooter experience.
- Gravity-defying vertical combat system where moving up is the only way to bring your enemies down.
- Unique grip system that allows the players to scale walls jumping from surface to surface or hijack UFO's while in mid-air.
- Explosive hover and rocket pack and special in-air moves allow players to fly with reckless abandon while performing hair-raising stunts.
- The Void- a mind-bending parallel world where an evil alien race called, "The Watchers" are waiting...
- Mysterious thought-provoking storyline based on conspiracy theory and strange phenomenon.


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This is the mother of Google Earth/Second Life mashups: GeoGlobe. Writes Josh Knauer in this blog post:
The GeoGlobe takes feeds (currently KML, GeoRSS and RSS) as input and displays them as properly geolocated prims onto the GeoGlobe [in Second Life]. We undertook this project to experiment with how "real world" data can be visualized effectively within the immersive environment that is SL. Far too often, designers/builders in SL rely on old user interaction paradigms for displaying information. We wanted to push the boundaries a bit for how users can interact with feeds of data available on the web by bringing them into SL in the context of a Google Earth-like experience.
Josh is all too right about people often not using Second Life's native advantages (such as object scripting) to the fullest. He was at SciFoo last year, where he gave an impressive demo of the Information Commons, a peer-to-peer model for updating GIS information. This here GeoGlobe is just as impressive, and just what I was looking for as a way of visualizing the locations of Swedish embassies around the world in our upcoming virtual embassy in Second Life. Here I am checking it out:


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Nutritional Supplementation
Warning: Consult your doctor before using any health treatment — including herbal supplements and natural remedies — and tell your doctor if you have a serious medical condition or are taking any medications. The information presented here is in no way intended as substitute for medical counseling.
Patients suffering from herniated discs, bulging discs, degenerated discs, sciatica and chronic low back and neck pain are often found to be deficient in certain vitamins and minerals. Sometimes these deficiencies can either CAUSE and or EXACERBATE the low back or neck pain and prevent or slow down healing. Many patients will show improved healing success, faster healing time and more long lasting results by addressing these deficiencies either through a nutritional eating program or through supplementation or both.
Eat Right for Your Spine
First, lighten up your toxin load. Eliminate alcohol, coffee, cigarettes, refined sugars and saturated fats, all of which act as toxins in the body and are obstacles to your healing process.
Greatly Reduce Sugar Intake. High sugar diets are typically deficient in the nutrients needed to prevent the release of chemical irritants. The average American consumes 100 lbs of sugar each year. Dessert foods are high in omega 6 fatty acids which increase inflammation.
Reduce Stress. Another deterrent to good health is stress, which triggers your body to release stress hormones into your system. Detoxify stressful life situations along with detoxifying your body. Yoga, massage and meditation are simple and effective ways to relieve stress by resetting your physical and mental reactions to the inevitable stress life will bring.
Add Super Foods. Boost healing of your spine at the cellular level with super foods such as:
- Shellfish: crab, shrimp, prawns and oysters
- Dark green vegetables: kale, spinach, collards, asparagus
- Red Fruits and Vegetables: red peppers, beets, stewed or fresh tomatoes, dark berries like blueberries and blackberries
- Black olives
- Red onions and apples
- Flaxseeds, chia seeds
- Beans: navy beans, kidney beans, soy beans etc.
- Cold Water oily fishes: anchovies, herring, sardines, salmon and mackerel
- Winter Squash
- Olive oil
- Fruits, nuts, vegetables and grains
- Clear Water: Keep yourself super-hydrated. Its always important to give your body water necessary for the re-hydration process in the healing of degenerated discs. Ideally, drink 8 10-ounce cups of clear water per day.
Avoid the Following. On the converse, there are foods you are wise to avoid. Nitrates, sugars and fats as these can exacerbate the inflammation and pain associated with back pain. In general its a good idea to avoid.
- Processed foods high in nitrates (hot dogs, sausage, lunch meats)
- Foods high in sugar, saturated and trans fats (deserts, cookies, cakes, fast food)
- Any foods containing high fructose corn syrup (salad dressing, soda)
Every food or drink you put into your body directly impacts your health. Give your body an extra boost of healing power by eating wisely. And while your low back pain or neck pain will not go away with food alone, you can further your bodys innate healing power.
Nutritional Supplements
There are times when your health-care professional may recommend nutritional supplements. This is because it is not always possible to naturally ingest the quality or quantity of nutrients that your body needs to heal and function optimally.
Here are a few supplements that often may be prescribed along with your care plan:
Multi-Vitamin/Mineral: Due to poor soil content and patients not eating enough fruits and vegetables it is often difficult to ingest all the enzymes, nutrients, vitamins and minerals in our diet alone. A high quality multivitamin/multimineral supplement is often recommended as insurance against any deficiencies as well as a source of the necessary nutrients and building blocks to promote and or speed up healing.
Omega-3 (Fish Oil) for Joint Health
Omega-3 fatty acids are found in walnuts, canola and soybean oils, and coldwater fish like salmon and tuna. Fish oil supplements are also a good source of omega-3s — a fat that plays a vital role in maintaining healthy cells throughout the body, including the joints. They also encourage the production of chemicals that help control inflammation in the joints, bloodstream, and tissues.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D may be a helpful dietary supplement for your lower back pain. A lack of vitamin D may be responsible for your lower back pain. According to the Spine Universe website, if you experience chronic musculoskeletal pain, including lower back pain, you may have insufficient levels of vitamin D. When your vitamin D levels are restored through supplementation, your pain may significantly decrease. Before taking vitamin D supplements for your lower back pain, talk with your doctor about possible side effects and proper dosage.
Bromelain: A Natural Anti-inflammatory
When taken on an empty stomach, the enzyme bromelain, found in the pineapple plant, acts as an anti-inflammatory agent — decreasing arthritis joint pain and swelling, and increasing mobility.
Before you take bromelain, however, check your allergies. Allergic reactions may occur in people allergic to pineapples, latex, and honeybees, as well as birch, cypress, and grass pollens.
Devil's Claw: Herbal Relief
The herb devil's claw is a traditional South African medicine used to relieve joint pain and inflammation, back pain, and headache.
Although more research is needed, there is scientific evidence that devils claw can help reduce osteoarthritis joint pain and may work as well as anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen or naproxen. In one study, 227 people with low back pain — or knee or hip osteoarthritis — were treated with devil's claw extract. After eight weeks of taking 60 milligrams daily, from 50% to 70% reported improvements in joint pain, mobility, and flexibility.
Willow Bark
Willow bark may be effective for treating your lower back pain. According to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), willow bark, also known as white willow or Salix alba, contains salicin, which is the phytotherapeutic precursor of acetylsalicylic acid, or aspirin. Willow bark has been used to treat numerous health complaints, including fever, headaches, inflammation, influenza, muscle pain and weight loss. Willow bark acts as an anti-inflammatory by blocking potentially inflammatory prostaglandins. White willow bark is contraindicated, or should not be used, if you have a bleeding disorder, such as hemophilia, or in conjunction with blood-thinning medications. Before taking willow bark for your lower back pain, talk with your doctor about possible side effects and proper dosage.
Turmeric for Joint Pain and Stiffness
The turmeric plant grows in India and Indonesia, and its roots (when ground) serve as the basis for curry seasoning. One of the many active ingredients in turmeric is curcumin; it is used in traditional Chinese medicine and Indian Ayurvedic medicine to treat arthritis. The claims are that turmeric reduces arthritis joint pain, inflammation, and stiffness related to arthritis.
Several studies have shown that turmeric works as an anti-inflammatory and that it modifies the immune system. In a 2006 study, turmeric was more effective at preventing arthritis joint inflammation as opposed to reducing inflammation. A study in 2009 compared extracts of turmeric with extracts of a related plant species, cucurma domestica, containing the same medicinal chemicals as regular turmeric. Researchers found that it worked as well at relieving symptoms of arthritis as 800 milligrams of ibuprofen daily. But definitive studies in humans are lacking, so the benefit of turmeric on arthritis is unclear.
People on blood thinners should use caution when taking turmeric as animal studies indicate it may increase the risk of bleeding. It may also cause stomachache.
Drink Plenty of Water
Daily water intake should be 1 ounce of water for every 2 pounds of your body weight. So if a patient weighs 200 lbs then they should consume 100 ounces of water per day.
The human body is more than 70% water. Water is needed in the function, repair, and growth of all avascular white tissues, including ligaments, cartilages, joints and spinal discs1.
Most patients with musculoskeletal problems are already dehydrated, and patients who age more rapidly than their years are often found to have a body composed of 50% water instead of the 70%2.
Water and Your Discs. There is no direct blood supply to the discs. At 12 to 14 years of age, the spinal discs blood nutrition supply and waste elimination system atrophies.4,5 The intake of at least 64 ounces of water or half the persons body weight in ounces is essential for nutrition delivery and waste elimination for spinal discs, ligaments, joints, and all body functions, that is, it they are to perform at an optimal level.1.6 Each spinal disc nucleus contains 88% water. 4,7 75% of a persons body weight is supported by the discs in the low back. If these discs lose water they will lose height which will subsequently shift the weight load from the discs to the posterior joints ultimately leading to degenerative changes and bone spurring in the spinal canal.
1Balch PA, Balch JF. Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 3rd edition. 2002 Avery New York
2Broody TA. Alkalinize or Die. 1995 Portal Books California
6Markoff KL, Morris JM: The structural components of the intervertebral disc. J Bone and Joint Surgery 1974; 56:141-154
7Saulter F, Oglive-Harris D: Healing in inter-articular fractures and continuous passive motion 1994
Free Reports
Discover How Spinal Decompression is Changing the Way Neck and Back Pain Have Been Treated without Drugs, Pills, Shots, or Surgery.
How Do I Know If I am Eligible For Care?
Call Us Today to Schedule YOUR Consultation!
We treat low back pain, neck pain, sciatica, herniated discs, degenerative or bulging discs, or spinal stenosis with non surgical spinal decompression. Learn more about this safe, comfortable, and affordable low back and neck pain treatment offered by Spinal Decompression Centers of California in West L.A., Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Culver City, Sherman Oaks, Encino, Southbay, Hollywood, Westwood, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Torrence, Glendale, Pasadena, Los Angeles, and San Diego, California; read testimonials and spinal decompression reviews from many satisfied patients.
Call us to schedule a complimentary consultation to determine if you are a candidate for Spinal Decompression and our multi-step Protocol. The doctor will ask you a series of questions such as Where is the pain, when did it begin, what makes it better or worse? Then a thorough examination will be performed in which case the doctor will check your reflexes, blood pressure, balance, gait, skin sensory changes muscle strength and more to determine the cause of your back or neck pain. At this point the doctor may recommend x-rays or an MRI if he feels like further imaging will be necessary to determine the exact cause. After combining all of this information together the doctor will determine if you will make a good candidate for spinal decompression therapy and our multi-step Protocol. If you do qualify for care, your Doctor will explain their recommended plan of action for you. If for some reason you do not qualify for care the doctor will refer you to someone who may better suit your needs.
The information on this site has not been evaluated by the FDA.


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Boothbay Harbor Maine Satellite Dish Deals
We are an authorized Boothbay Harbor Maine satellite retailer
As an authorized Boothbay Harbor ME Dish Network Retailer, A&M Satellite has been selling Dish services for over twenty years. We strive to provide Boothbay Harbor with our expert knowledge of current Satellite promotions, and will strive for customer satisfaction. We know Dish Network and Satellite television products, satellite services and programming. We will save you money on TV!
Call A&M Satellite today and see how you can receive FREE HD. With cable services you may have noticed everything is extra. We can help you lower your Boothbay Harbor Maine cable television bill with crystal clear satellite. We have the satellite receiver to fit your needs.
We offer all satellite model receivers including Hopper 3, Hopper with Sling, Hopper, Hopper Duo, Wally Joey, Wireless Joey, 4K Joey and Super Joey.
Boothbay Harbor ME Satellite To Go
Satellite Dish has some awesome technology like TV on the go with the popular sling adapter. You can now get Satellite on your smart phone, laptop or notebook. Check out Live TV To Go and watch the same TV you watch at home on the go. All your satellite channels, everything on your DVR – all at your fingertips. This feature is available on the new Hopper DVR system with built in Sling. Make sure to ask about the Hopper 3 which includes 16 tuners. You will love having access to all of your Dish channels wherever you are.
The Everything Pack includes Showtime Channels, Startz Channels and Encore Channels. Our satellite sports programming includes ESPN GamePlan, NHL Center Ice, NBA League Pass, ESPN Full Court, MLS Direct Kick and many Pay-Per-View events. We also have many a la carte packages and stations available including the Multi-Sport Pak which carries Fox Sports Network. There is extensive International satellite programming available.
Sometimes Dish Satellite TV can provide Boothbay Harbor Maine satellite installation as soon as the next day!
Whether you are interested in the Satellite HDTV, Dual Tuner, DVR receivers or the lowest programming rate available, we can help you.
We take care of our satellite customers in Boothbay Harbor. ME
Call us for further details and satellite money saving suggestions. We also have knowledge of high speed satellite internet options, DSL and ways to save money with your phone service. We can explain all package options for our Boothbay Harbor customers and set up auto payments for you.
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Satellite in Boothbay Harbor ME vs cable service.
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A&M Satellite is an authorized Boothbay Harbor Maine Satellite Retailer. DISH TV is available in your area of Boothbay Harbor.
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Wasabi (Wasabia japonica Matsumara) is a perennial herb, native to Japan, and belongs to the same plant family as broccoli, cabbage and mustards. In Japan, wasabi is cultivated in fields and mountain streams and the fresh product is prepared by grating the stem of the plant to form a hot, spicy paste that is served with traditional dishes such as sushi, sashimi and soba noodles. Japan produces about 5,000 tonnes of wasabi per annum, in Tokyo's fresh vegetable market it is referred to as 'green gold'.
Commonly referred to as the 'root' of wasabi, fresh wasabi stems provide an outstanding hot, sweet flavour when freshly grated. This is real wasabi at its best!
Tasmania started growing wasabi in 1994, so as to expand their range of high value products that grow in Tasmania's pristine environment. Now in 2008 they have perfected their wasabi industry and are supplying superior quality hydroponic wasabi all around the world.
Each stem has a typical weight of 80-150g and will provide 10-15 average serves. Min. order 500g.