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Dragon Fruit Smoothie with Guava
Exotic fruits of dragon fruit and guava, blended with strawberries for a surprisingly delicate and mildly sweet smoothie
Dragon Fruit Smoothie
Dragon fruit, also know as Pitaya is as intimidating as a unicorn in steel armor – so cute and unusual, but why the spiky protrusions? And as with most things in nature, something that's so vibrant on the outside will usually be pungent or piquant on the inside. Except for dragon fruit. At first glance, it seemed a perfect fruit for a quirky smoothie, with traditional fruits to round out what had to be crazy, loopy flavor. And a dragon fruit smoothie with guava and strawberries sounded pretty divine.
With my first slice of red dragon fruit (we'll talk about the white version in a bit), I prepared to pucker at its sourness or pass out from the sweetness. But a few bites in, no surprises, no quirks, just a surprisingly mild, dense fruit with crunchy seeds like a Kiwi.
All that show and flare on the outside leads to a lovely fruit you could add a top any cereal or yogurt. So we brought in the guava to give the dragon fruit a contrast, along with very ripe strawberries for a tangy sweetness.
Dragon Fruit Health Benefits
The result is a not-too-sweet, very creamy smoothie that packs on a heck of an antioxidant punch. And that's where dragon fruit reveals its secrets. It's the flavor she comes armed with, but rather a host of health benefits that range from a healthy dose of vitamin C, vitamin B, and calcium.
However, the seeds hold the real health benefits, no surprise there. They contain lycopene, the same compound found in tomatoes that are good for the heart. Add in the omega-3 fatty acids, and a dragon fruit smoothie sounds like a good idea for fuel in the morning or post-workout.
Katherine even found a study showing the fruit has anti-aging properties and she thinks it would make a great base for a face mask. Between you and me, she doesn't need it. But I'll ask her to post the beauty recipe if she likes the results. Here's a full list of health benefits.
As part of our culinary tour of Baja, I was surprised to find out that dragon fruit is indigenous to Mexico's deserts as a member of the cactus family and is easy to find in fruit stands.
Now the question is, will you be able to find the red dragon fruit locally?
You'll probably have a bit of challenge. Katherine and I live in Atlanta and have our pick of international markets to get hard-to-find produce. However, it took nine phone calls to track down the red version finally.
The good news is that white dragon fruit was readily available everywhere we looked. The flesh is white with same tiny black, edible seeds.
A smoothie made with dragon fruit won't have the same fuchsia vibrancy, but we have some suggestions and alternatives below to help you achieve the same lovely smoothie.
There's also a pink and yellow version, but those also have a white or light flesh with black seeds, too.
Suggestions and Alternatives
- Red dragon fruit is harder to find than white, so you can use white dragon fruit instead.
- If you prefer a thicker smoothie or want to make a smoothie bowl, add one ripe banana.
Other Baja Mexico Recipes
- Black Bean and Corn Salad [with Avocado]
- Baja Shrimp Tacos with Sweet Corn Salsa
- Mexican Fruit Salad [with Lime Chili Dressing]
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Dragonfruit Smoothie
A healthy recipe for a dragon fruit smoothie, with guava and strawberries.
Dragon Fruit and Guava Smoothie
- 1 whole red dragon fruit quality
- 1/2 cup guava juice quality
- 1/2 cup strawberries quality
- 1 tbs. agave quality
- 1/4 cup cold water
- 5 ice cubes
Instructions for Dragon fruit smoothies
Peel and dice one large red dragon fruit and add to blender.
Add 1/2 cup guava juice and 1/2 cup sliced strawberries.
Add two tbs. agave, 1/4 cup cold water, and five ice cubes.
Blend on medium high until smooth for about three minutes.
36 Comments
I don't think I've ever had Dragon fruit. I would love to try it someday. I bet it is awesome in this smoothie.
This smoothie sounds amazing and I love the combo of dragon fruit and guava, it totally makes me remember my childhood.
I've always wanted to try dragin fruit, and have NEVER found one!! I'll keep this in mind in case I do!
I love finding new smoothie recipes! I will have to give this a try.
I have never tried dragonfruit but I've been super curious too! This smoothie looks delicious so I'll keep my eye out for one now!
I like dragon fruit because it's really refreshing! And I think it's a lovely addition to any smoothie especially during the summer! This one's a must try! The combination with guava makes me curious about the taste. I'm sure it's amazing though and it's packed with a lot of health benefits too!
This looks like a perfect smoothie. I love mine not too sweet, and I'm interested in trying dragonfruit. Beautiful color, too.
This sounds amazing! It's so colorful and pretty. I haven't had dragon fruit in a smoothie.
That truly is a gorgeous color and to find it in nature is an awesome thing. I will check my local Whole Foods and Trader Joes to see if I can locate it!
I love dragon fruit/pitaya and definitely had my fair share of pitaya smoothies when I lived in Bali for two months. I'll have to make this for a little memory jolt. 😉
Dragonfruit is awesome, it does taste like a kiwi, not too sweet and not sour at all. I just love it! I love that you paired it with guava for this smoothie recipe. I can't believe I never thought of that before!
I had no idea dragonfruit was so good for you. The smoothie looks amazing!
I have actually never tried dragon fruit before but I adore guava. Guava reminds me of my Maderian/Portuguese heritage as they are a big fan of Guava out there x
This looks so good! I have had dragonfruit a few times and really enjoyed it. I really love guava though. My dad used to bring home guava juice and it just reminds me of childhood
I love dragonfruit. This looks like it would taste absolutely amazing!
I recently tried Dragon Fruit for the first time and it was quite unique! It's a beautiful fruit & sounds like the perfect ingredient for a smoothie.
Gosh, I'm not sure I've ever seen a dragon fruit, let alone know where to buy it….but, hey that smoothie looks really good.
I had a pitaya smoothie earlier this week. It is sold almost everywhere here in Los Angeles. I love how pink the smoothie gets. Didn't know about all the health benefits! I'm excited to have another one now.
wow! I actually have never made anything with real guava before! this looks just delicious and colorful. I love it.
Oh wow this looks so good! I haven't ever tried dragon fruit so this sounds like an exotic treat. I can't wait to try it with my kids and see what we all think.
I don't think I have ever seen dragon fruitin Colorado but i really want to get some because i think my kids would have a blast with it, this smoothie looks delicious!
Wow that looks so delicious and so refreshing. I've never tried Dragon Fruit or Guava! I will have to give this a try!
Dragon Fruit is always so intimidating when I come across it. For some reason it has never crossed my mind that I can throw it in a smoothie. Great idea!! I may have to try out this recipe because that guava sounds amaaaazing. 🙂
i love trying new smoothies. this looks like a good one to try for sure!
I actually want to try this! I never really had dragonfruit before my local grocery store has it all the time!
My daughter loves dragon fruit – more for the name and look than anything! But this smoothie looks delish! We will need to try it.
Great recipe! The idea of dragonfruit is always so much better than what I actually try to do with it at home. My eight year old daughter is always picking up interesting produce while we shop and would love to try this!
This looks really good and fresh. I tried dragon fruit recently and noticed that it tastes a lot like whatever you happen to pair it with.
- Pingback: Super Smoothie Recipes


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, Berlin, Germany, Feb 24 – Wes Anderson's "Isle of Dogs", an animated movie with political bite, and a controversial dramatisation of Norway's 2011 massacre of teenagers by a neo-Nazi gunman led the award favourites Saturday at the Berlin film festival.
The Berlinale, Europe's first major cinema showcase of the year, will hand out its coveted Golden and Silver Bear top prizes at a gala ceremony starting at 1800 GMT.
A six-member jury headed by German director Tom Tykwer ("Run Lola Run", Netflix series "Babylon Berlin") will choose among 19 contenders from around the world.
Anderson's "Isle of Dogs" opened the festival on February 15, delighting audiences with an all-star cast voicing a pack of pooches expelled from a fictional Japanese city by a corrupt, fear-mongering mayor.
Britain's Guardian called the movie "hugely enjoyable", showing an "indefatigably fertile imagination letting rip in inimitable style – and packing an eco-themed, antibigotry message as well".
The picture led an international critics' poll at the Berlinale published by industry magazine Screen.
Reviewers were also impressed with the gut-wrenching drama "U-July 22" about the mass murder of 69 mainly teenage victims on the Norwegian island of Utoya by far-right militant Anders Behring Breivik.
The film, featuring in a chilling single 72-minute take, recounts the carnage in real time with fictionalised characters.
It premiered just days after one of the worst school shootings in US history, killing 17 in Florida.
The movie sparked a heated debate among viewers, victims' families and survivors about whether it was too soon — or even necessary at all — to reenact Norway's most traumatic tragedy since World War II on screen.
However, US website Indiewire said the "almost unbearably harrowing recreation" in Erik Poppe's movie honoured the victims while rallying societies to do more to protect their young.
"Movies have the power to re-sensitise us to violence, restoring some terrible shape to the mass horrors we've negligently allowed to become abstractions," it said.
– 'Blind faith in authority' –
Acclaimed Filipino director Lav Diaz, who scooped the top prize in Venice two years ago with "The Woman Who Left", won admirers for his new picture, "Season of the Devil".
The four-hour-long folk musical, filmed in black and white, depicts the suffering unleashed on rural communities by a sadistic government-backed militia under Ferdinand Marcos in the late 1970s.
Film industry bible Variety said the opus also served as a searing critique of the current regime by exposing its origins.
"In its firm, direct rhetorical stand against martial law… (the film) damns the current leadership of President Rodrigo Duterte, under whose rule extrajudicial killings have soared in the country," it said.
Another subtly political movie also resonated strongly, a biopic about Russian-Jewish writer Sergei Dovlatov grappling with Soviet-era state censorship.
"This is not only a look back," said the daily Berliner Zeitung about Alexey German Jr.'s "Dovlatov".
"The societal deformation and the blind faith in authority seen here also have much to say about today's Russia."
– #MeToo cast shadow –
Audiences swooned over a rare Paraguayan film export, "The Heiresses" by Marcelo Martinessi, about a middle-aged lesbian couple forced to sell their belongings to pay off mounting debts.
"The relative scarcity of female-centric queer cinema from South America should guarantee continuing interest from festival programmers," the Hollywood Reporter wrote.
Germany's "Transit" with a mysterious tale of refugees in Nazi-occupied Europe transposed to the present day, and "Museum" from Mexico starring Gael Garcia Bernal about a daring heist of priceless relics, also earned praise.
The final day of the competition brought one last critical hit with "In the Aisles", starring Sandra Hueller of "Toni Erdmann" fame and Franz Rogowski as a couple of lost souls in east Germany set adrift after reunification.
The #MeToo movement also cast a long shadow over the Berlinale, with several topical films screened and a raft of industry initiatives launched to combat sexual misconduct.
Last year, a tender Hungarian love story set in a slaughterhouse, "On Body and Soul", captured the Golden Bear. It is now nominated for best foreign language film at next month's Academy Awards.

subset: commoncrawl


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Divine healing codes are a quantum tool used for healing. In other words, they change reality on a quantum level. The basic premise of divine healing codes is that numbers are nature's way of communicating and that everything can be explained with numbers. For example, the Fibonacci sequence of numbers is a geometrical proportion that is found everywhere in nature, from how flowers grow to the shape of the universe.
This is your invitation to soar into your greatness and your power to transform the way the world envisions and creates the future.
Use this Subconscious Mind Programming Affirmation Technique daily to activate the success mechanism you naturally have within you!
Scientists are now able to explain the complexities of the human brain and body in ways they've never done before. Read this article to see 3 ways that science explains how the law of attraction works.
This timeless audio by Neville Goddard is a reminder to "Live in the End." "The eternal body of man is the imagination." - Neville Goddard
In order to give more energy to the thoughts that you would like see come into manifestation, without adding too much resistance, or detachment, use the following 4 step process!
'How often do you hear someone say, "Well, you can't have it all."? Why not? Set your ideal. Define your prosperity. Establish your goals.' -Leslie Fieger
In this video, Kim Velez, licensed mental health counselor and life coach, gives you tips on how to change your STORY to change your LIFE!
In this video, Jenny Kennedy, Intuitive Healer shares her story of manifesting her perfect home using a powerful tool to let go and trust the Universe knows best!
Well-being and contentment are a part of our essential nature! Use these 3 ways to fully understand the secret to manifesting ultimate happiness!
Success begins as an idea created originally in purely imaginary terms. To understand how to use the law of attraction to manifest success, read more of Leslie Fieger's post!
In this video, Jenny Kennedy, Intuitive Healer, will give you a powerful tool to magnify your manifesting power!
Read Neville Goddard's teaching entitled "Consciousness is the Only Reality".
This law of attraction exercise is perfect to shift your mindset into a place of manifesting by teaching your subconscious mind to believe it's already yours!


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News from Passman & Kaplan: Passman & Kaplan Founding Principal Edward H. Passman will be speaking at the Federal Circuit Bar Association's United States Merit Systems Protection Board Summit, scheduled to occur in Washington, DC on May 19, 2019. Mr. Passman will appear in the panel discussion, "Settlements Under Executive Order 13839". This panel will be discussing the ramifications of Executive Order 13839 (previously analyzed in this blog) on settlement negotiations in proceedings before the MSPB. For more information on the Summit, check out the Federal Circuit Bar Association's website.
News from Congress: Congressional Accountability Act Amendments
News from Congress: On December 21, 2018, the President signed Pub.L. 115-397. Pub.L. 115-397 made major revisions to the Congressional Accountability Act (CAA), which governs discrimination claims for most legislative branch employees.
News from Congress: Furlough Back Pay Pre-Approved
News from Congress: On January 16, 2019, the President signed S.24, the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 into law. S.24 contains important provisions for federal employees subject to the present partial government shutdown, as well as for employees affected by future appropriations lapse furloughs.
News from the Federal Circuit: New Adverse Action Decisions
News from the Federal Circuit: Although the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) is currently shut down and without quorum, its chief reviewing court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, has continued deciding federal sector adverse action cases. Federal Circuit decisions of interest issued since the shutdown began include the following:
Developments at OPM: Guidance on Furlough and Use-or-Lose Leave
Developments at OPM: On January 10, 2019, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued new guidance to clarify the effects of the ongoing furlough on federal employees' use-or-lose annual leave.
News from the Courts: Discrimination Complaint Reinstated
News from the Courts: On August 11, 2017, a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued its revised opinion in Ortiz-Diaz v. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, No. 15-5008. Reversing its own prior decision, the panel reinstated portions of Mr. Ortiz-Diaz's EEO complaint.
Developments at OPM: Proposed Rule on Administrative Leave
Developments at OPM: On July 13, 2017, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) published a Proposed Rule in the Federal Register (82 Fed.Reg. 32,263-32,281). The Proposed Rule implements recent legislation modifying the legal structure for administrative leave for federal employees.
Developments at the EEOC: Final Federal Sector Disability Rule
Developments at the EEOC: On January 3, 2017, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) published a Final Rule in the Federal Register, 82 Fed.Reg. 654-681. The Final Rule clarifies the federal government's obligations as a model employer of disabled individuals.
News from the White House: Changes in "Administrative Leave" Rules, etc.
News from the White House: On December 23, 2016, President Obama signed S. 2943, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (NDAA). This law contained several important changes in the law relevant to federal employees, specifically in three areas: administrative leave, negative paper trails, and buyouts for DoD employees.
Should federal agency employees be worried about their jobs?
Can civil employees be fired for their political leanings or scientific pursuits?


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Home Category: International
Although Ohio State's diversity is one of its greatest assets, it is one of the things that students individually do not capitalize enough on. Sure, it's easy enough to acknowledge the fact that one of your classmates is from China, or the girl in your dorm is from Somalia, but do we actually know what it means? International students make up nearly 6,200 students in […]Read more


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Katherine Lee Bates, author of "America the Beautiful", was born in Falmouth on Cape Cod on August 12, 1832.
Her poem was inspired by a trip to Colorado in 1893. After a visit to Pikes Peak she wrote her impression of what she experienced and felt in her heart. "America the Beautiful" is a lasting and famous tribute to America and its wonders.
In 1957 Patti Page had a # 3 hit song on the Billboard charts, Old Cape Cod.
Henry David Thoreau, author of "Walden", traversed much of Cape Cod during several visits from 1849 to 1857. He wrote of his ramblings in an essay aptly titled,"Cape Cod."
Woods Hole on Cape Cod is iternationally known for its institutions of marine research. Ships travel the world to better study the sea and the living things that inhabit it.


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Hey guys,
Recently whilst in Dubai I actually stumbled across the Fenty Beauty range while I was in Sephora, Dubai mall. So I decided to invest, get my shade matched and do a review video when I cam back to London. Well now that review video has finally gone live on my Youtube Channel which is linked below! Please let me know what you thought /think about the Fenty foundation, if you have tried it or if it works or doesn't work for you.
Don't forget to subscribe, like and turn on your notifications! Don't be stranger 🙂


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Let's move Miami forward, together.
Members support the work that we do by helping fund our campaigns and advocacy. We are advocating for a new era of mobility in Miami — and we're doing it like no other organization ever has.
Your Transit Alliance membership is an investment in a future where we can move safer, faster and happier. Join us and other Miamians in demanding better transit, walkable streets and bikeable neighborhoods.
- Transit Alliance Sticker
- Access to our Member Forum
You will receive your sticker within 2 weeks
All merchandise are one-time gifts
- Transit Alliance Metal Pin
- Access to our Member Forum
You will receive your pin in 4-6 weeks
All merchandise are one-time gifts
- Transit Alliance Tote Bag by BAGGU
- Access to our Member Forum
You will receive your tote in 5-7 weeks
All merchandise are one-time gifts
Members are our go-to volunteers, so consider becoming a member first.
We have a limited number of complimentary one-year memberships available for volunteers who donate their time at least three times in a year.
We put out open calls for volunteers a few times each year.
Have you donated to us recently?
We are reaching out to all of our recent donors about your membership options. If you haven't heard from us, please send us an e-mail.
More perks are on the way!
We just launched our membership program, and are working to add more benefits over time as we grow. Existing members will have access to new perks as they are rolled out.


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Macau-based casino operator Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd, a strategic partner of Société des Bains de Mer, in which it holds a five-percent stake, is acquiring an estimated five-percent stake in US-based firm Wynn Resorts Ltd. As a result, Monegasque citizen Steve Wynn, will effectively have no financial holding in the company that bears his name.
According to Wynn Resorts, Galaxy Entertainment "has agreed to purchase 5.3 million primary shares of Wynn Resorts at a price of US$175 [€142] a share, resulting in US$927.5 million [€750 million] of gross proceeds to Wynn Resorts."
Galaxy Entertainment Vice-Chairman Francis Lui Yiu Tung said in a prepared statement included in the release: "This is a unique opportunity to acquire an investment in a globally recognised entertainment corporation with exceptionally high quality assets and a significant development pipeline."
Wynn Resorts said in a later press release on Thursday, March 22, that it intends to "use the net proceeds from that [sale] to repay amounts to be borrowed under the 364-day term loan facility contemplated by the commitment letters that the company entered into on March 9, 2018, with an affiliate of Deutsche Bank Securities in an aggregate principal amount of up to US$800 million [€647 million]."
Wynn Resorts also announced on Thursday that "two long-term institutional investors, both of whom are currently investors in Wynn Resorts, have agreed to purchase the remaining eight million shares held by founder and former Wynn Resorts CEO Steve Wynn, thus demonstrating their confidence in the long-term strength of the company".
The firm added, "The two sales, combined with previous sales by Mr Wynn, effectively eliminate his ownership in Wynn Resorts."


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Giving Chase by Lauren Dane
FTC Disclosure: The publisher, author, book tour company has provided me with a copy of this book for review or I have purchased it with my own funds. The opinions I share are mine and not influenced by the publisher, author, or book tour company if received for review.
Series: Chase Brothers #1
Published by Carina Press Genres: Contemporary
Source: Publisher
Maggie has always been the overlooked Wright sister. All through high school and beyond, her beautiful sister had overshadowed her, making her feel invisible. She's stunned when Sheriff Shane Chase, one of the four gorgeous Chase brothers, takes an interest in her and asks her out. But Shane has issues from the devastating blow dealt to him by his ex-fiancé, so when he realizes that Maggie is someone he could come to truly care for he dumps her as quickly and as coldly as he can manage. Shane's mistake is just the opportunity his brother Kyle has been waiting for. When Kyle realizes that Shane is not going to apologize or try to make things right with Maggie, he quickly seizes his chance. He has wanted Maggie from the start but had been willing to step aside because he thought that Maggie would be what Shane's wounded heart needed. Now that Shane's messed up, he's decided to go after what he's wanted. Maggie's hesitant to go out with Shane's brother, not to mention a little shocked that another Chase brother is interested in her but decides to give him a chance. As time passes Maggie discovers that she was dating the wrong Chase brother the first time around. Maggie and Kyle's relationship deepens and they begin to fall in love. But another man is obsessed with Maggie and his anger has slowly built from watching her date Shane and when he sees that she and Kyle are getting serious, his rage explodes. Can Kyle protect the woman he's come to love?
I've long been a fan of Lauren Dane, grabbing whatever she writes as quickly as I can. In my opinion Giving Chase has to be the absolute best book she has ever written. Maggie is a heroine who is spunky and independent while Kyle is just the kind of to-die-for hero that I love to read about. Lauren Dane has crafted not only the sensuous passion between them, but also the deepening emotional bonds, in such a way that I became enthralled. Add to this the knowledge that each of Kyle's three yummy brothers are slated to have books of their own and Giving Chase is a book that should be on the top of every romance lovers list.


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Events for June 20, 2019
Events Search and Views Navigation
All Day
56th IMCL Conference on A Healthy City for All
Welcome to the 56th IMCL (International Making Cities Livable) Conference on "A Healthy City for ALL"! We rejoice that many cities now are becoming more healthy, by making great improvements in walkability, bikeability, public transit, and access to community, nature and healthy food. We will hear from some of the best models around the world.…Find out more »
6:00 pm
Twende Solar: Base Camp Brewing Elemental Fundraiser Party
Save the date for this exciting night! More details to come.Find out more »


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Part of our work at the Writing Center includes responding to "Quick Questions" asked by writers from within and beyond the DePaul community. By posting the questions from writers and answers crafted by our tutors, we hope you just might discover the answer to a question you have always wanted (or never thought) to ask!
How do you cite a source within a source? I found info in an online article that had info from another article and was unsure if I only cited where they got the info from or if I site both sources. Ex An online articles that uses a quote from a USA today article
Hi —-,
Thank you for submitting your question to the UCWbL's Quick Question service. All citation styles encourage the avoidance of using indirect citations (citations through a secondary source), so if you can find the original article and cite it directly, try to do so. That said, sometimes citing a source within a source is inescapable if the target source is not accessible or if using a quote from a secondary source serves some rhetorical or analytical purpose.
Each citation style asks for a different approach to citing from a secondary source, but the idea is essentially the same: make sure the original author is somehow credited. This means that in-text citations from secondary sources should include the name of the author of the primary source as well as a variation of the MLA's phrase "qtd. in ('quoted in') before the indirect source you cite in your parenthetical reference" (MLA Style, sec. 6.4.7). Of course, be mindful of the citation style you are using—APA uses "as cited in" and Chicago Turabian spells out "quoted in"—even though the approaches of each style to this situation are generally the same.
MLA Style encourages the use of the abbreviation "qtd. in ('quoted in') before the indirect source you cite in your parenthetical reference" (qtd. in Tutor, 1).
Typically, you will only include the secondary source in your reference list, although Chicago asks that writers also include the primary source as referenced by the secondary source (Turabian, sec. 17.10).
For more information, you can access the citation style guides I've referenced here at your public library or follow the links included below. Thank you again for your interest in our Quick Question service. I hope that this explanation of citing sources within sources was helpful to you! As always, if you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Writing Center.
Additional Resources:
Williams College Library on MLA Style: http://library.williams.edu/citing/styles/mla.php
Purdue OWL on APA Style:


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Termite Facts and Control/
Learn about the various termite facts that are useful for control, and find out how you can get professional pest control.Read More
Learn about the various termite facts that are useful for control, and find out how you can get professional pest control.Read More
Here our 9 termite facts that you need more. Contact us today to get rid of termites today!Read More
What is a drywood termite? Learn about the facts and behaviours of these pests, and learn how you can get rid of them in your home.Read More
What are the facts about the Formosan Subterranean Termite? Find out in this latest blog post from Big Time Pest Control, and learn about getting rid of termites today!Read More
Learn the various signs that indicate that you have a termite infestation in your home, and see how you can get a pest control specialist today.Read More
Read about the various causes of a termite infestation, and contact Big Time Pest Control for professional pest control services.Read More
What are the ways that you can protect your home against a termite infestation? Find out this and how you can get pest control services if you have an infestation.Read More
What is the difference between flying ants and termites? Learn what the differences are in Big Time Pest Control's latest post.Read More
The Western subterranean termites, Western drywood termites, and the Pacific dampwood termites are 3 types of Northern California Termites.Read More
Learn more about termites, the signs of having them, and the effects that they have on your home and well-being.Read More
We examine the proactive and reactive approaches to applying pest control to your homel, and how each approach will effect your well being and health.Read More
Read a simple approach for preventing and exterminating termites that is both friendly and reliable, but will keep them from returning.Read More
I often get the question... "Do you service my city?". The answer is probably YES! Big Time Pest Control Provides Pest Control in 16 Counties in Northern California. How is that possible for a local and family owned business? It is simple: great service, techs that care, an awesome staff, and a strong desire to serve our community.
Big Time Pest Control prides itself on excellent service for Termite and Pest Control including: ants, spiders, mice...Read More
Big Time Pest Control provides Pest and Termite Control Service for all of Northern California and the North Coast.
19905 Hirsch Ct., Anderson, CA 96007
530 242 8830
1805 2nd St., Unit C, Eureka, CA 95501
707 442 7378


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A large part of successful leadership is being able to empower people to "do their best". Visionary leaders understand the importance of delegating important work to employees for the purpose of building self-efficacy on teams, and the development of a cultural approach to performance improvement.
Self-efficacy is most commonly defined as an individual's belief in his or her capacity to execute behaviors necessary to produce specific performance objectives. It reflects confidence in the ability to exert control over one's own motivation, behavior, and social environment. This is different than self-confidence in that speaks to one's belief in his or her self-worth and likelihood of succeeding in a given task.
The concept of self-efficacy helps shed light on how people look at trying new experiences in a profound way. It is also an approach to organizing teams that offers managers of people a framework to establish ever-rising standards of behavior and success in organizations.
Leaders with pronounced self-efficacy seem to have a higher level of "commitment" to completing tasks once they take them on, compared to people who find themselves lower on that scale. When leading people in organizations, it is not enough to have self-confidence in one's technical abilities to achieve success.
According to renowned leadership coach Richard Seaman, adopting an "approach" behavior, seeking challenges and persevering with tasks are all qualities of high achievers and people who have high self-efficacy. Below are some examples of how to do this:
Below is a list of ways leaders can increase self-efficacy in organizations:
Improve training and professional development practices
Improve leadership and mentoring practices
Display confidence in your colleagues regularly
Systematize coaching strategies
Recruit employees with high self-efficacy
This has a direct relationship to how people see themselves, in terms of their self confidence and belief that they can accomplish certain things. At the same time, the opposite can also be true.
In Albert Bandura's book Self Efficacy: The Exercise of Control, the author tries to illustrate the points noted above by examining the efforts by minority groups to encourage "pride in racial characteristics," as demonstrated in the term "Black is Beautiful." When a person's "belief" in one's self and one's self worth are knocked down consistently from different corners, a that person's self-efficacy can fall.
Interestingly, there are some that argue that past performance has an influence on self image. So, some people with low self-efficacy, who tend to avoid new challenges, give up easily or become anxious with tasks, may actually harbor some of those "insecure" feelings because of some outside stimuli that contributed to a lowering of self image.
From a practical standpoint, these levels of "security" vs. "insecurity" often serve as the barometer for how people might approach new experiences in the workplace. So, it stands to reason that if one of your employees has been given consistent negative feedback for how she delivers PowerPoint presentations, that stimulus is going to help foster anxiety within her the next time she has to present in front of executives in your organization.
As a leader, I've had to learn from a number of experiences that "self doubt" is the quickest way to get other people to believe that you can't do something. A healthy belief in one's abilities or self-worth helps set the stage for the adoption of a more confident approach to tackling problems.
Of course, overconfidence (the over toggling of self-efficacy) needs to be monitored and taken into consideration when evaluating employee ability and performance. The Delta between a person's expected performance and his actual performance is where overconfidence can be an indication of whether self-efficacy has spilled over into the territory of overconfidence, which can negatively impact performance.
But, establishing a culture of leadership where appropriate praise for achievement and constant ratcheting up of expectations can positively support the self-efficacy of individuals in an organization, and help overall performance of the group.


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Yanine Krohn
Whether providing representation in a simple divorce or a highly contested child custody matter, Yanine dedicates herself to securing superior results for every client. In addition to be an assertive and zealous advocate for her clients, she brings an unmatched compassion and sensitivity to meet her clients' needs.
Yanine has devoted her career to helping families and children in difficult legal situations. She enjoys assisting her clients resolve a wide range of issues relating to family law. Yanine has experience with all phases of litigation, including case evaluation, management, discovery, advocacy, settlement, and trial.
In addition to her trial work, Yanine has successfully litigated matters before the Texas First Court of Appeals. Despite the varied complexity of issues that may arise, Yanine's goal is always the same – to navigate clients through legal journey effectively and efficiently.
Yanine is originally from El Paso and is fluent in Spanish. Through practicing in an area as diverse as the Greater Houston area, Yanine understands the importance of communicating directly with her Spanish-speaking clients to help them navigate through their family law matters. Yanine is committed to helping her community and regularly volunteers as a family law expert with the Houston Bar Association LegalLine.
- J.D., Texas Southern University, Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Dean's List
- B.A., University of Texas at San Antonio
- Texas
- Spanish
Training and Certifications
- Guardianship Ad Litem Certification, State Bar of Texas
- AOP Certified Entity, Office of the Attorney General of the State of Texas
Professional Memberships
- Member, State Bar of Texas, Family Law Section
- Member, Houston Latina Family Lawyers


text: THE NFU has published a poll this morning showing that, wait for it… consumers want more British food in restaurants and supermarkets. According to the poll, 86% of shoppers are "as likely" or "more likely" to want to buy more traceable food that has been produced on British farms. What's more, 78% "agree" or…Read more


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Chris and I have been married for almost 6 years. We have a 18 month old little girl and three wonderful dogs. Riley, Rorey
and Abby our Yorkie.
My husband decided he wanted a Gordon over 6 years ago after seeing one for the first time on a camping trip. He fell
in love and of course It took us almost 18 months before we found Riley. Riley and Abby got along great, but we felt Riley
would be happier with a girl more his size. Amazingly 6 months later, we found Rorey.
We enjoyed our pair so much, we couldn't pass up the opportunity to let them breed. Now 5 years later we are proud to
say we have successfully raised 46 healthy puppies which of whom have gone and are going to 46 fantastic families.
We have a great love for the breed and we believe that in breeding our Gordon's we are bettering the breed by putting
the "birdie" back into the "beauty".
Payton Jane Coats Web Site


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Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo offers a variety of activities to our guests, both inside the hotel and outside in the breathtaking gardens. There's no better way to enjoy them than in Japan's traditional garment, the kimono. We've gathered a variety of colorful attire in which our guests from overseas are sure to enjoy dressing up. Wearing a kimono while dining, taking photographs over the red Benkei Bridge, and taking part in the tea ceremony at a registered cultural asset will all guarantee memories of Japan that last a lifetime.
A kimono expert from Hakubi Kyoto Kimono Institute will visit your hotel room to assist you with the fitting.
Weekdays only, fitting from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm
Kimonos can be returned the next morning, allowing guests to enjoy dinner. Please make reservations for the fitting by 3:00 pm, one week in advance.
For guests staying at the hotel (In-house guests only):
Womens informal kimono fitting: 20,000 yen
Womens formal kimono fitting: 25,000 yen
Mens kimono and haori coat fitting: 20,000 yen
*The kimono will be worn over a T-shirt.
*Kimonos may not be available in certain sizes.
*Groups may be composed of up to 6 women and/or 2 men.
For larger groups , please consult with us.
1. Lending of kimono set
2. Fitting by Hakubi Kyoto Kimono Insititute
3. English language garden tour (30 min.)
4. Snapshot photo present (please pick up upon check-out)
5. Late kimono return the next morning. You can wear the kimono outside the hotel to dine or watch kabuki if you like.
Optional plans:
Option 1:
Tea ceremony experience at a registered national asset, teahouse Zangetsu:
For groups of 1-5 staying guests: 40,000 yen per group
For groups of 6 or more staying guests: 8,000 yen per person
*Guests who are not staying, eating, or attending any events can also experience our tea ceremony at 20,000 per person.
(English explanation and interpreting is provided.)
Option 2:
Photography by a professional cameraman
Option 3:
Dine on fresh sushi from the sushi counter:
Sit at the sushi counter and observe as our experienced sushi chef uses masterful technique to create the finest sushi for you.
15,000 yen per person
Other options:
The hotel concierge can recommend a variety of activities to suit your needs. Inquire about cultural experiences, dining, or nearby activities.
Fittings supervised by a specialist from Hakubi Kyoto Kimono Institute
A kimono expert from Hakubi Kyoto Kimono Institute, a group who have refined the art of kimono-wearing since their founding in 1969, will assist you in donning your kimono. The skills of these most traditional practitioners of the art will arrange a kimono that's sure to perfectly commemorate your visit to Japan.


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Point & Click Old School Test
- Totally rewriting the engine to be 2.5D - s o rendered backgrounds with some 3D objects in the foreground, midground etc Converted a million things behind the scenes to work with the new 2.5D system that allows me to mix 2D and 3D elements in ways I never could before - very exciting - all the while keeping performance high for low spec machines and mobile devices!! Added an object viewer so you c... Continue reading
- Point & Click Old School Test V1.1 12 Jan 2018 - Version 1.1 CLICK HERE TO CHECK IT OUT Added Items Added FULLSCREEN BUTTON Added some more scenes etc Added New mouseover text and new system Figured loads of behind the scenes stuff out!! Exported using WEB ASSEMBLY - testing All feedback & ideas appreciated Continue reading
- Point & Click Old School test - CLICK HERE TO CHECK IT OUT This is just a test game (using Unity WEBGL) for an Engine I am making to create 2D/3D Rendered Point & Click games 'old school' style and for those of you who like that kind of thing - I need some feedback ;-) It's very BASIC currently just some mouseovers and stuff but it will expand! First does it run OK on your older computers? Some... Continue reading


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December 6, 2016
Science Daily/AAA
Drivers who miss one to two hours of sleep nearly double their risk for a crash, new research concludes. Drivers who sleep slightly less -- between four and five hours -- have the same risk of crashing that is associated with driving over the legal limit for alcohol.
Drivers missing 2-3 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period more than quadrupled their risk of a crash compared to drivers getting the recommended seven hours of sleep. This is the same crash risk the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration associates with driving over the legal limit for alcohol.
Credit: AAA
"You cannot miss sleep and still expect to be able to safely function behind the wheel," said Dr. David Yang, executive director for the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. "Our new research shows that a driver who has slept for less than five hours has a crash risk comparable to someone driving drunk."
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety's report, Acute Sleep Deprivation and Risk of Motor Vehicle Crash Involvement, reveals that drivers missing 2-3 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period more than quadrupled their risk of a crash compared to drivers getting the recommended seven hours of sleep. This is the same crash risk the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration associates with driving over the legal limit for alcohol.
The AAA Foundation report found that in a 24-hour period, crash risk for sleep-deprived drivers increased steadily when compared to drivers who slept the recommended seven hours or more:
• Six to seven hours of sleep: 1.3 times the crash risk
• Five to six hours of sleep: 1.9 times the crash risk
• Four to five hours of sleep: 4.3 times the crash risk
• Less than four hours of sleep: 11.5 times the crash risk
While 97 percent of drivers told the AAA Foundation they view drowsy driving as a completely unacceptable behavior that is a serious threat to their safety, nearly one in three admit that at least once in the past month they drove when they were so tired they had a hard time keeping their eyes open.
"Managing a healthy work-life balance can be difficult and far too often we sacrifice our sleep as a result," said Jake Nelson, director of Traffic Safety Advocacy and Research for AAA. "Failing to maintain a healthy sleep schedule could mean putting yourself or others on the road at risk."
Symptoms of drowsy driving can include having trouble keeping eyes open, drifting from lanes or not remembering the last few miles driven. However, more than half of drivers involved in fatigue-related crashes experienced no symptoms before falling asleep behind the wheel. AAA urges drivers to not rely on their bodies to provide warning signs of fatigue and should instead prioritize getting plenty of sleep (at least seven hours) in their daily schedules. For longer trips, drivers should also:
• Travel at times when normally awake
• Schedule a break every two hours or every 100 miles
• Avoid heavy foods
• Travel with an alert passenger and take turns driving
• Avoid medications that cause drowsiness or other impairment
The AAA Foundation report is based on the analysis of a representative sample of 7,234 drivers involved in 4,571 crashes. All data is from the NHTSA's National Motor Vehicle Crash Causation Survey which comprised a representative sample of police-reported crashes that involved at least one vehicle that was towed from the scene and resulted in emergency medical services being dispatched to the scene.


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A Girl in a Shop with Darbin Orvar
This week we chat with Linn from Darbin Orvar. Her work features a ton of different mediums and techniques including woodworking, leather, sewing, 3D printing and more. She also has one heck of a work ethic. At the time of this recording she was just a few weeks away to giving birth to her son August...and she was still going strong. She's since given birth and introduced August to the world on her YouTube channel over the Christmas break.


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Karate Tips: Gankaku – Commentary
Awesome Tip: Gankaku – Commentary
Gankaku is considered an advanced Shotokan kata but is usually studied at the first degree black belt level. It focuses a lot on balance, poise and grace with its dynamic and beautiful movements, and is well-suited to an athletic practitioner. This video explains the key points of the kata.
Get More Karate Tips Here: Karate


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By Elizabeth L. Robbins
Sunday, November 11, 2007
BAGHDAD -- As the veterans of World War II pass too quickly into history, their ranks are being replaced by a new "greatest generation." The war on terrorism is creating veterans at a rate not seen in decades.
Yet the military is much smaller now than during World War II, leading some analysts to posit that a rift exists between soldiers and citizens and that those making sacrifices on the battle front are disconnected from the society whose freedoms they defend. The American people are oblivious to the war, they claim, as well as to the men and women who are fighting it. Some have even suggested that the only way to close the gap is to return to conscription.
But these observers of the social scene have never served in Iraq.
Those of us overseas know that "support the troops" is more than a slogan. Here we are besieged by what my master sergeant calls "paper love," the cards, letters, posters and other gestures of support sent by people across America. The paper love is often accompanied by packages of snacks and comfort items. Some mail comes from family members, but even more is sent by private citizens and troop support organizations. The war has inspired a remarkable level of civic involvement that goes largely unnoticed -- except by those of us in the field or recovering stateside.
All of us are volunteers. We're in Iraq because we want to serve. We are well educated and physically fit and could have pursued a variety of other life options. But, to paraphrase Defense Secretary Robert Gates, we are driven by the romantic and optimistic ideal that we can improve the world. We are seeing real progress on the ground, and we are helping Iraq to change.
Idealism, however, does not diminish our longing for home or the pain of missing family. It does not dispel all fear and doubt, and it does not heal our wounded or fallen friends. So when we are feeling disheartened, we open the care packages and read the letters.
"Thank you for helping to protect our country . . . we admire your courage!" writes a child from Congregation Beth Am in Buffalo Grove, Ill.
"Thank you! Enjoy the coffee!" writes Starbucks of Gig Harbor, Wash.
"May the Lord give you safety and watch over you," writes Millie from the Yellow Ribbon Support Center of Cincinnati.
"Happy Thanksgiving!" writes Brownie Troop 250 from Christ Lutheran Church of Valencia, Calif.
Cynics might think these expressions of goodwill from strangers are hokey, but they are tacked on the walls of nearly every workspace, living area and hospital ward in Iraq.
This past May, a young soldier received several hundred tributes drawn by children at McNair Elementary School in Herndon, Va., where his mother does volunteer work. He taped them up along a hallway at Multi-National Force-Iraq headquarters, forming the letters T-H-A-N-K Y-O-U.
Members of our coalition partners' armed forces congregated in the hallway looking at the posters with wonder. They asked passersby, "American children send these to you? They are so beautiful!" Some shook their heads and confessed that they were stunned at the support we enjoy from our people back home.
Contrast this with a September statement by Gen. Sir Richard Dannatt, chief of the general staff of the British army: "In America, the appreciation for the armed forces is outstanding, and, frankly, I would like to be able to mirror some of that here. In the States, many companies offer military discounts for serving soldiers, sports teams give out free tickets, people in the street shake the hand of men in uniform."
We have come a long way from the dark days during Vietnam, when people would spit on our men and women in uniform. Those of us serving today have great faith in the American people, and apparently the feeling is mutual. It is comforting that today's veterans will return to civilian life remembering the warmth and support of Americans living comfortably back home while they served in difficult circumstances overseas.
So thank you from us future veterans. Thanks for saying thanks.
Elizabeth L. Robbins, an Army major, deployed in May in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The views expressed here are her own.
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To send messages to U.S. troops or for information on how to send care packages, visithttp://www.mnf-iraq.com,http://www.americasupportsyou.milorwww.militaryhomefront.dod.mil(click on "site map" and then "support for our troops").
View all comments that have been posted about this article.


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You've probably heard the term SAP here and there, maybe you even know a bit more about it, but you're still unsure about what is SAP.
In order to avoid immediate confusion let's start by saying that SAP is both a company and software.
SAP is the acronym of a German multinational software development corporation's name, and they specialize in the development of enterprise related software. Most of their software is preceded with the company's acronym, so "SAP software" actually references to more than one solution, but most people consider SAP to be their enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions.
The company was founded under the name "Systemanalyse und Programmentwicklung" (System, Analysis and Program Development) in 1972 by five IBM ex-engineers, but the acronym was later changed to stand for "Systeme, Anwendungen und Produkte in der Datenverarbeitung" which means Systems, Applications and Products in Data Processing. As of now it is the largest business software provider in the world, and it owns most of the market share of large companies around the globe.
Even though it's such a large company it's still common among small and medium enterprises to hear the question, what is SAP?
This happens because SAP is still making its way into the small and midsize enterprise (SME) market. Despite the fact that they have dedicated a hefty amount of resources during the last decade to develop solutions for small and midsize enterprises (SMEs), as well as help partners promote these, the stigma that SAP is an expensive solution that only large corporations can afford lingers on.
This is a misconception that SAP and most of its partners have been trying to steadily change throughout the years. As a matter of fact, right now they are constantly working to keep innovating and providing the best solutions for large companies, but they know the future of business lies within the SMEs market.
Before moving on, we just mentioned that SAP works along partners, and this is a key aspect of their business model. Only official partners are allowed to distribute the SME's solutions developed by SAP, even SAP doesn't only handles deals with large companies directly.
Which leads us to their ERP solutions.
SAP offers ERP solutions for companies of any size operating in any industries; these are SAP ERP 6.0 for corporations, SAP All-In-One for mid-size to large companies, SAP Business One for small and midsize enterprises and SAP Business One in Cloud for microenterprises.
Although SAP ERP 6.0 and SAP Business One in Cloud have a clearly defined segment, its common to find people asking which is the difference between SAP Business One and SAP All-In-One (A1). The main difference between both is that SAP Business One is designed to cover the needs that all industries have, and it can be expanded via add-ons developed through SAP's SDK to cover specific industry needs and more, while A1 is a slightly more complex solution developed to cover all the needs a company might present per industry. In many cases that is not enough information to perceive the difference between both solutions, in which case just think about its monetary cost; SAP Business One can be implemented with an investment of a few thousand dollars, while most, if not all A1 projects, have a cost of over $1,000,000 US dollars. So, if you're not willing to spend a million dollars or more, go for SAP Business One, otherwise evaluate both solutions, as you might prefer B1 instead of A1 depending on your situation.
We have covered the basics of what is SAP in this text; if you want to learn more about SAP's products, our products, or read articles that will help you improve your business's performance, we encourage you to go back to the education section of our site.
For the full recap on SAP, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAP_SE


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Here's a photo of two of my most flowery African violets together. All I do is water them and they grow like weeds and flower like flowers. It's amazing!
Here's the bird's eye view of the pinky one of the African violets - it's so gorgeous in person that it looks FAKE.
Here's me on St. Patrick's Day (I used one of my effects to make me look less weird). My amigos at BBI gave me the hat! Happy St. Patrick's Day to me.
Saturday, March 20, 2010 - I've already spent a good portion of this morning looking for Tom Skilling's detailed explanation of the meaning of EQUINOX. And I can't find it!!!!!!!!!
Equinox means equal nights. It does NOT mean equal days and equal nights. The equal nights part means that at one particular moment/second/nanosecond in time, the nights in the Southern hemisphere and the Northern hemisphere are EQUAL in length. That's what it means.
Back in the old days, I used to say that the vernal equinox meant that in the springtime, the days and nights were of equal length. They are close, but not equal. Equal means the same. Not approximate. That's what the = (equal sign) means. hahaaa Okay, I'll get off my soapbox now.
Maybe I'm a little bit crabby because my right eye has been bothering me ALL week. Okay, all month. I'm slowly going crazy....back in hell again. It's a nightmare. Very uncomfortable. Very annoying. Very blurry. And to top it all off, I saw two of my ophthamologists last week. Apparently, no one heard me say, "my eye stings, I have dull pain and it's blurry." Yeah, but your pressures are good. GIVE ME A BREAK!
.....and to top it all off, my flowers are getting covered with 3 inches of snow.
Ain't life grand! ~djb


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Inside Roborace Episode 6: Robocar Goes Racing
Episode 6 of inside Roborace sees Robocar prototypes Devbot 1 and 2 take to the track for the first time in the world's very first driverless car race. The video series documenting the Roborace autonomous vehicle racing championship's progress shows highlights of the historic achievement as well as behind the scenes at progress so far. Check out the video above for exclusive footage including Roborace's worst racing incident so far!


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So the summer is nearly over, but don't get too downhearted because and our autumn classes begin again on 4 September, and that's sure to put a spring in your step! We've got lots of classes in aerial disciplines, including silks, hoop, rope and trapeze – as well as a general introductory class for absolute beginners. There's also an introductory acrobatics class, partner acrobatics, juggling and handstands – but not at the same time – and lots more.
On Saturdays youth circus is back with sessions for kids and young people aged 6 to 18, as well as a gentle class for younger children and parents together. So take a look at our classes page where you're sure to find something that's just right for you.


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West Chicago Creek near Idaho Springs, CO - Virtual Tour/
West Chicago Creek Campground
Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest \ Clear Creek Ranger District
West Chicago Creek Campground sits at an elevation of 9,600 feet in an aspen and lodgepole pine forest along its namesake creek. Mount Evans makes a majestic backdrop for campers who come here for the excellent hiking and fishing.
This small campground is suited for RV and tent camping. Each site contains a tent pad, picnic table, charcoal grill and fire ring. Other amenities include a vault toilet, water spigot and trash dumpster. There are no RV hook-ups. Firewood is available for sale during peak season at the campground. West Chicago Creek is generally open from mid-May to the end of September. 5 of the 16 campsites are first-come-first-served. Others may be reserved at least 4 days in advance or up to 6 months in advance of your arrival on Recreation.gov.
Enjoy our virtual tour of West Chicago Creek and read about more camping near Idaho Springs, CO: Clear Creek Ranger District


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Puerto Penasco,
2 beds | 2 baths | 1422 sqft
Property Description
The Sonoran Sky is our premier resort, with underground parking; 4 swimming pools (including a heated swim up bar); La Cantina Sports Bar; Tiki Bar; state of the art fitness center with view of the Sea; Banquet room; playground and bbq area (on 3rd floor); onsite concierge and more! This condo has a jacuzzi tub in the master bath, a large island kitchen with stainless appliances, a 400 sq ft terrace in addition to the 1422 sq ft of interior living space! $539,900.00 Unfurnished $559,900.00 Furnished Assumable Developer Loan Available @5.9% 2% Transfer fee of $9,798.00 Mo. Pymt. $2,785.27
Last Updated: August - 06 - 2019
Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Monday 23rd of September 2019 02:07 PM


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I have a confession to make. I've never really liked Halloween. I'm just not the person to get excited about dressing up as someone or something else. When I became a food allergy mom, that dislike for Halloween intensified because of all the reasons we know so well (our kids feeling excluded, worried about a reaction, etc. etc). So I was honestly not looking forward to blogging about Halloween. But, then it came to me! Why not research unique non-food Halloween treat ideas? This is something I can get excited about!
We've been doing the Teal Pumpkin Project for about 3 or 4 years now. Our usual go-to for giveaways have always been glow sticks. These have been a hit, especially if kids come after dark and they can put them on right away. This year, I thought I would check out other unique options and share them with you. Believe me, if you think outside the box, you can find some really neat things! Check out what I found here:
Now that you have a tonne of ideas about what to hand out for your non-food treats, you might want to decide WHERE to get your treats. While I was researching, I found that certain stores had more unique non-food treats and better prices than others. Click below to check out which stores I went to and how they all rate based on PRICE, UNIQUENESS and QUALITY of non-food treats.
What about you? What non-food Halloween treats do you give out? Share in the comments below!


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FATCA & CRS – AEOI & IGA | Foreign Account Reporting & U.S. Tax
When it comes to International Tax, it is all about acronyms. Some of the key important acronyms for this post are as follows:
- FATCA – Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act
- CRS – Common Reporting Standard
- AEOI – Automatic Exchange of Information
- IGA – Intergovernmental Agreements
FATCA is a U.S. tax law, that has been expanded to more than 110 countries by way of reciprocal "Intergovernment Agreements," in which parties to the agreement agree to provide information to each other (aka "reciprocity").
The United States has entered into IGAs with many different countries (well-beyond countries in which the IRS has entered into Income Tax Treaties, which is limited to about 60 countries.
CRS is similar to FATCA, but it is not a U.S. Law. And, as of the time this article was authored, the U.S. had still not accepted the CRS. With CRS, Information that is exchanged between different countries is facilitated via AEOI.
In the early stages of FATCA (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act) enforcement, if a US person had unreported foreign accounts, and their bank or Foreign Financial Institution wanted to become compliant they would send the client a FATCA Letter.
Now, with the implementation of CRS (Common Reporting Standard) and an active AEOI rule (Automatic Exchange of Information), there are many more for financial institutions that are both reporting under both FATCA and CRS.
And, even though the United States has not entered into CRS, many of these foreign financial institutions are still sending US persons aka US account holders CRS letters, which could impact getting it to compliance both in the United States and worldwide.
FATCA is the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act. FATCA is an IRS International Tax Law that is designed to reduce offshore tax evasion and tax fraud. FATCA requires U.S. Taxpayers to disclose unreported foreign bank accounts, foreign financial accounts, and foreign income to the IRS.
Otherwise the Taxpayer may be subject to extremely high fines, penalties, and outstanding tax liabilities.
The Common Reporting Standard is similar in concept to FATCA. The idea behind it is to try to limit or reduce international tax evasion by having foreign financial institutions report information regarding account holders to different countries.
Since CRS is not a US law (and has not yet been ratified by the U.S.) it does not specifically involve reporting the information to the US government. But, with that said — many financial institutions that are getting into compliance with FATCA, are also getting into compliance with CRS.
Similar to FATCA, most foreign financial institutions that are complying with CRS will be requesting much of the same information as the institutions that are complying with FATCA. Oftentimes this will include the date of birth, the place of birth, tax identification numbers in the country of tax residence.
Multiple Jurisdictions, Multiple Reporting Dangers
If a person for example is considered a US account holder and have citizenship or permanent residency in multiple different countries, it can become a very big problem, very quickly.
Why? Because some country tax authorities will be receiving multiple reports from both FATCA and CRS. Moreover, as a dual-citizen or multi-jurisdictional resident – a person may be required complete multiple forms involving both FATCA and CRS.
FATCA and CRS Example
Jim is a US resident who also was dual citizenship in China as well as permanent residency in Hong Kong. Jim believes that the foreign financial institution only believes he is a citizen of China, and only has his Chinese name for reporting purposes. But, Jim forgot that when he opened up his accounts and Hong Kong (while he worked in Hong Kong), he utilized a U.S. address because he did not want the Chinese government to know he had the additional foreign accounts in Hong Kong.
As a result, the foreign financial institution in China may only believe Jim is a Chinese or Hong Kong resident with respect to CRS, but in accordance with FATCA, the institution in Hong Kong may believe Jim is a US resident and reports them accordingly to the IRS.
If Jim was audited in the United States and it becomes clear that he was playing a shell game with his different citizenships/residency in order to avoid US tax, it may lead to significantly high fines and penalties under the willfulness standard – if not reckless disregard.
When it comes to reporting, technology is not on the side of individuals seeking to stay distant and removed from offshore reporting. As provided by the OECD "The Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI) portal provides a comprehensive overview of the work the OECD and the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes in the area of the automatic exchange of information, in particular with respect to the Common Reporting Standard."
The following summary is provided by the OECD:
What is AEOI
The automatic exchange of information2 The information which is exchanged automatically is normally collected in the source country on a routine basis, generally through reporting of the payments by the payer (financial institution, employer, etc). Automatic exchange can also be used to transmit other types of useful information such as changes of residence, the purchase or disposition of immovable property, value added tax refunds, etc.
As a result, the tax authority of a taxpayer's country of residence can check its tax records to verify that taxpayers have accurately reported their foreign source income. In addition, information concerning the acquisition of significant assets may be used to evaluate the net worth of an individual, to see if the reported income reasonably supports the transaction. is understood to involve the systematic and periodic transmission of "bulk" taxpayer information by the source country to the residence country concerning various categories of income (e.g. dividends, interest, royalties, salaries, pensions, etc.).
How does AEOI Work?
The process starts with the provision, by a taxpayer, of information regarding his or her identity to a payer or paying agent and/or with the generation of information by the payer or paying agent (first step). According to domestic rules in the source country, payers and paying agents are required to report to the tax authorities information regarding the identity of the non-resident taxpayer as well as payments made to them (second step).
Once the information has been received by the source country tax authorities the information will be consolidated and bundled according to the country of residence (third step). Next, information is transmitted from the source country to the residence with a sufficient level of encryption. Information may be transmitted electronically or by CD ROMs. If the CD ROMs are sent by mail, it must be done via an international registration system where a mail tracking function is in place (fourth step).
The fifth step in the process is the receipt and decryption of the information by the residence country tax authorities. Next, relevant information will be fed into an automatic or manual matching process. The processing and use of the information varies from country to country depending on the risk assessment parameters, processing and technology systems used. The key aspect is to be able to identify the taxpayer and "match" the information with the domestic records. In this respect many countries have developed sophisticated automatic matching systems, allowing them to run all of the information received through a database to identify matches.
This is often followed up by manual matching of the previously unmatched data. Other countries use only a manual matching system (sixth step). Based on the results of the matching process, the tax authorities may commence compliance action against a taxpayer that may not have complied with reporting obligations, or make a specific request for information from the source country to obtain additional information. In addition to using the specific information received, some countries use the information for more general risk assessment (seventh step).
What is the Legal Basis For AEOI?
The legal basis for the automatic exchange of information is generally (1) the exchange of information provision of a double taxation convention based on Article 26 of the OECD or UN Model Convention, (2) Article 6 of the Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters, or (3) for EU member countries, domestic laws implementing EU directives which provide for automatic exchange.
While the treaty law contains the legal basis for automatic exchange including rules on reciprocity some countries require, and others have a policy to require, a special working agreement or memorandum of understanding (MOU) setting forth the terms and conditions of the proposed automatic exchange. Such an MOU typically sets forth the types of information to be exchanged automatically, details about the procedures of sending and receiving information and the appropriate format to use. The OECD has designed a Model Memorandum of Understanding on Automatic Exchange
County Coverage and Income Types
Automatic exchange is widely used both within and outside the European Union (EU) with many non-EU members having extensive automatic exchange relationships. Among the most frequently exchanged income types are: interest, dividends, royalties, income from dependent services and pensions.
All 38 countries (100%) receive information automatically from treaty partners and 33 (85%) of them send information automatically to treaty partners. Denmark, as the country with the largest number of automatic exchange relationships sends information automatically to 70 countries. The charts below give further details on country coverage.
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5132 ALDERFEILD PLACE | West Vancouver North - Upper Caulfeild
Central Location,Cul-de-Sac,Recreation Nearby,Shopping Nearby
BrokerageAngell Hasman & Assoc.Rlty.Ltd
Property Details
Beautiful 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom family home with fabulous ocean and city views. Situated on a large 10,000 square foot lot at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac, this home offers wonderful open plan living and functional layout on two levels, and features a large entertainment sized deck over the views. Just steps to the Caulfeild Shopping Centre and Rockridge School and easy access to Vancouver. A very exclusive opportunity in a desirable family neighbourhood.


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CCI Solutions Installs Mackie Audio System in Life Church
Four Mackie HD1531 powered 15-inch 3-way loudspeakers are mounted vertically above LCD displays and angled down toward the seating areas.
CCI Solutions, an A/V design firm based in Olympia, Wash., completed an installation at Life Church in nearby Oak Harbor that includes Mackie HD1531 loudspeakers and a Mackie DL1608 digital live mixer with iPad control.
With multiple weekly services hosting a growing membership approaching 900, Life Church recently completed an expansion project that includes a new multi-purpose youth facility. Housed in a geodesic dome, the youth center is designed as a circular worship space with integrated audiovisual system and seating for 150.
"This was an unusual space that presented some unique acoustical challenges," explains Rick Boring, Senior Systems Consultant for CCI Solutions. "The structure had been built several years ago but was never completed, and was uninhabitable. The room itself is circular, so every single interior wall is angled. Configuring it with traditional theater seating would have presented some coverage problems, and the need to go with a curved video screen, which would be expensive."
CCI designed a space with 360-degree seating. A small, slightly elevated stage at the room's hub is built around a single center truss that holds four Mackie HD Series loudspeakers and four LCD displays.
"The youth pastor conducts the service from the center stage, while the rest of the band is on another small stage an alcove off to one side," says Boring. "And depending on how the room is configured, the band alcove can sometimes wind up behind the seating area.
"Placing the speakers in the center was the easiest and most cost-effective way to ensure good, consistent coverage," Boring adds. "Plus, everyone is watching the worship leader on the center stage, and reading the text on the screens above him. Having the sound emanate from the middle of the room simply makes the most sense."
The main loudspeaker cluster consists of four Mackie HD1531 powered 15-inch 3-way systems. The speakers are mounted vertically above the LCD displays and angled down toward the seating areas.
"The Mackie HD1531 offers great sound quality and versatility for the money," Boring says. "With a challenging job like this, where space and budget are important, the HD1531 delivers a tremendous amount of clean output and bandwidth. So when the kids want to rock they can do it —no problem. They're fully powered, so we didn't have to worry about outboard amps, and they've got more than enough low end for this space, so they don't need a sub."
For mixing duties Boring specified a Mackie DL1608 digital live mixer with iPad control. In addition to the band, inputs include a wireless microphone system for the youth pastor, as well as a Denon recording and playback system. The Mackie DL1608 provides outputs for mains as well as monitors, and handles 100-percent of the system DSP.
"The DL1608 is absolutely perfect for a job like this," says Boring. "It's really simple to use, has excellent processing power already onboard, and packs plenty of I/O for its size."
Beneath the four Mackie HD series loudspeakers are four 65-inch LCD displays. Signal is provided by a Mac Mini computer running ProPresenter software. Four separate Xbox 360 consoles are each coupled to the four screens for multi-player sessions.
"We care about these churches and we want to help them communicate their message," Boring concludes. "I worked very closely with Life Church's senior pastor from the very beginning of this project. He's very pleased with the final result and that's exactly what we strive for."
Find more information about Mackie loudspeakers.
Find more information about the Mackie DL1608 16-Channel Live Sound Mixer.
Visit CCI Solutions at www.ccisolutions.com.


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Romantic secret patio
several levels of retaining walls and planters
This patio is actually sunk-in and below the first level of the apartment and comes across as being somewhat dark and closed in. It also has several retaining walls, planters and odd areas that created somewhat of a challenge. We painted the end wall in a metallic paint to allow light to reflect off the wall making the area appear much brighter and larger, then added an iron plaque for character. The sectional sofa was custom designed in an elegant camel color marine vinyl for the seat cushions and a camel print fabric for the back. All of this is complimented with burgundy chenille pillows custom embroidered with the owners initials for that extra special touch, then added a table for two in front of a wall fountain. By staying with neutral colors and conservative fabrics, being careful with the furniture layout, and embracing the unusual planters and walls, we were able to take a small space look sophisticated and make it appear much larger.


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National Geographic : 1917 Oct
the outer border the inscription, "Republica de Paraguay." 501. The ensign of Paraguay is composed of three bars-the upper red, the middle white, the lower blue-running horizontally. In the center on the obverse side appears the national coat-of-arms. On the reverse side, also in the center, is the seal of the Hacienda (Treasury), a circle bearing the inscription, "Paz y Jus ticia" (Peace and Justice), in the center of which is depicted a lion in a vigilant attitude, defending the Phrygian cap-the symbol of liberty-above him on a pike. 502. The national standard and flag of Peru is composed of three vertical stripes, the end ones red and the middle one white. On the latter appears the coat-of-arms with its crest. and surrounded at its base by a laurel branch to the left and a palm to the right, both tied together at their lower ends. This flag was established by the Peruvian Congress which met in 1825 and has never been changed. 503. The merchant flag of Peru is the same as the national ensign, except that the coat-of arms is omitted. 504. The merchant flag of Paraguay has the same colors as the national ensign, the coat of-arms being omitted; in its place appears at the end of the white stripe next to the flag staff the seal of the department having to do with merchant marine matters. 505. The flag of the admiral of the Para guayan. navy is a swallow-tailed banner in the national colors, with a yellow half moon on the end of the white bar nearest the swallow tail. 5o6. In 1912 the Congress of Salvador or dered a return to the original coat-of-arms and flag of Central America as they existed in the days of the "United Provinces of the Center of America." The flag consists of the familiar three horizontal bars, the upper and lower blue and the central one white, with the coat-of-arms of the country in the middle of the white bar. This is the flag for ports and vessels and for government envoys to foreign countries. 507. The merchant flag does not bear the coat-of-arms, but on the middle stripe is in scribed in silver letters, "Dios, Union y Lib ertad." 508. Uruguay has but one flag for its na tional banner and the emblem of its merchant marine. This consists of nine stripes, five white and four blue, white at the top and bot tom. In the upper corner next to the staff is a white canton on which appears a blazing sun. This is known as "El Sol de Mayo" (The Sun of May), symbolizing the awakening of the colony into independent national life. 50g. The escutcheon of Uruguay is an oval crowned with a sun and divided into four quarters. In the upper right-hand division is depicted; on a field of blue, a pair of scales, symbolizing equality and justice; in the upper left-hand division, on a field of silver, the Cerro of Montevideo, as a symbol of power; in the lower right-hand division, on a field of silver, a horse running loose, symbolizing lib erty; and in the left-hand lower quarter, on a blue field, an ox, as a symbol of abundance. The field is inclosed within two branches of olive and laurel joined at the bottom by a bow of azure. 510. The law establishing the coat-of-arms of Salvador says: "The escutcheon of El Sal vador shall be an equilateral triangle. At its base shall appear a cordillera of five volcanoes located on a strip of land appearing to be washed by both seas- in the upper part a rain bow curved above; beneath an arc, a liberty cap radiating light, and in the form of a semi circle an inscription, "15 de Setiembre 1821." Surrounding the triangle and in the form of a circle shall be inscribed in letters of gold, "Republica de El Salvador en la America Central," and at the base of the triangle, "Dios, Union y Libertad." The great seal of the na tion, that of the Secretary of the National Assembly, and that of government representa tives and tribunals of justice bear the same coat-of-arms. 511. The coat-of-arms of Venezuela was established under a decree of 1905. It consists of a shield divided into three parts, the one at the right yellow, with a sheaf of seven heads of wheat. The second section is red, bearing arms and two national flags bound together with a wreath of laurel. The third section occupies the entire lower portion of the shield, is blue, and bears an untamed white horse. The crest of the shield is an emblem of plenty, two cornucopias flowing with fruit. At the lower edge of the shield is a branch of laurel and palm tied together by a ribbon, bearing in gold letters the following inscription: "Inde pendencia-Libertad-5 de Julio de 1811-24 de Marzo de 1854-Dios y Federacion" (Inde pendence-Liberty-God and the Federation). July 5, 1811, was the date of the republic's declaration of independence, and March 24, 1854, the date of the abolition of slavery. THE NAVAL FLAGS OF THE WORLD 514-727 . These flags and pennants, showing all of the flags of command, commission pen nants, jacks, and pilot flags of the navies of the world, are used in the same manner as the corresponding ones of the United States, and the reader is directed to descriptions 49, 50, 51, 53, 54, 58, and 64-68, inclusive, for in formation as to the time, occasion, and manner of their respective use.
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When most people hear the word "drowning," they likely envision the television trope of someone furiously splashing around, screaming for help and thrashing in the water. A heroic lifeguard may race to the scene, throwing a buoy to the struggling swimmer, then hauling him or her back to the shore. Aid is rendered, the near-drowning victim vomits up massive amounts of swallowed water, and everything turns out fine in time for a commercial break.
committed to justice and a fair trial for all


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NFL Flag Football
Go For It Sports has teamed up with the NFL Flag Football to bring this fun and exciting NEW league to the area! Every individual that registers in the league gets an NFL jersey and NFL sponsored flags. The league consists of a 15 minute instructional practice, followed by a game. The league is appropriately broken down into different age groups ranging from 5 years old to 12 years old.
Try out something NEW…call us at 630-242-8440 for more information on when the next league begins and to register!


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How to Set Up Kindle FreeTime on Your Fire Tablet
From the Home screen, tap Apps.
The Apps content library appears.
Tap Kindle FreeTime.
Note: The first time you use the app, it might need to download from the Amazon Appstore for Android.
Tap again to open the app. The setup wizard for Kindle FreeTime begins.
Tap Get Started.
The Parental Controls Password screen appears.
Type a password.
Retype the password (5). Tap Continue (6). After you create the parental controls password, you then set up a profile for the child who will use your Kindle.
You can establish individual profiles for each child, which is particularly useful if your children's age differences are significant. Using multiple profiles, you can provide each child with content appropriate to his or her age group.
Type a child's name here (7).
Choose a gender (8). Tap here to supply a birthdate (9).
The Set Date screen appears.
Swipe in the Set Date columns or tap on the calendar to set a birthdate (10).
Tap Done (11).
The Add Child Profile screen reappears.
Tap in the Tap to set photo box to set an image.
The Select Photo window appears.
Tap a photo.
You are limited to the choices that appear in the Select Photo window.


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BOSTROM A, O'CONNOR RE, BÖHM G, HANSS D, BODI O, EKSTRÖM F, HALDER P, JESCHKE S, MACK B, QU M, ROSENTRATER L, SANDVE A AND SÆLENSMINDE I. 2012. Causal Thinking and Support for Climate Change Policies: International Survey Findings. Global Environmental Change 22: 210 – 222.
Few comparative international studies describe the climate change policies people are willing to support and the reasons for their support of different policies. Using survey data from 664 economics and business undergraduates in Austria, Bangladesh, Finland, Germany, Norway, and the United States, we explore how perceived risk characteristics and mental models of climate change influence support for policy alternatives. General green policies such as funding research on renewable technologies and planting trees were the overwhelmingly most popular policy alternatives. Around half the students support carbon reduction policies such as requiring higher car fuel efficiency and increasing taxes on fossil fuels. Least popular were engineering alternatives such as fertilizing the oceans and replacing fossil fuels with nuclear power. Variations among nations are generally small. Support for different policy alternatives corresponds with different causal thinking. Those who hold a pollution model of the causes of climate change, tend to blame environmental harms (e.g., air pollution from toxic chemicals), see general green policy alternatives as effective, and support general green policies. Support of carbon reduction strategies is associated with seeing carbon emissions as the cause and reducing carbon emissions as effective solutions. Support of engineering solutions increases with identifying volcanoes among causes and regarding engineering solutions as effective. Although these international students agree that climate change is a threatening problem, their causal thinking correlates with support for different mitigative policy actions, with the most popular ones not necessarily the most effective.
► Business undergraduates in six countries see climate change as a threat and support policies to address it. ► Three distinct patterns of causal thinking emerge that correlate with support for corresponding mitigative policies. ► The three most popular solutions are general "green" policies, the two least popular geoengineering. ► The policy with the second highest "no" votes is increasing taxes on fossil fuels.


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Californians help crop pioneer raise $10m
Californian investors have led a $10 million funding round to underpin global scale-up for a Norwich-based AgriTech pioneer.
Pontifax AgTech has steered the Series A round to help Tropic Biosciences commercialise novel, non genetically modified coffee and banana varieties and expand into other promising crop segments. The round was co-led by Five Seasons Ventures.
The varieties developed by Tropic are said to have enormous potential to promote consumer wellbeing and grower economics, increase crop stability and address unmet nutritional needs within the international coffee and banana industries.
These two segments have a combined market value of more than $50 billion and are said to be critical to more than half a billion people worldwide. Tropic will use the cash to scale extensive greenhouse and field trials and drive regulatory approval processes to the plant varieties.
Based at the John Innes Centre in Norwich, the company employs 17 experienced professionals.
The business was founded by Dr Eyal Maori, the chief scientific officer, CTO Dr Ofir Meir and chief executive Gilad Gershon in 2016.
Lead funder Pontifax, headquartered in Santa Monica, injects growth capital into international food and agricultural tech businesses.


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If you missed Wednesday night's Dot Comedy show in Hollywood, here's a quote from an audience member:
"I got to witness the self-destruction of a famous comedian. Little piece of history right there."
The world-famous Laugh Factory is the home of Dot Comedy. The show is produced by Doron Lion and is rapidly becoming a fertile ground for great comedy. It's a comedian's show and Doron has an eye for talent.
Before we dig in, let's take a step back.
The Laugh Factory opened its doors in 1979. Since then, Jamie Masada has changed the comedy industry. After the Michael Richards incident in 2006, The Laugh Factory banned comedians from using the n-word in their acts. Even Black comedians. Rumor has it comedy giant Damon Wayans was fined for being a n*gger saying n*gger. Please insert irony here. That was a sad day. The n-word is not special. It only describes the suffering of one group. Comedy is born out of tragedy and pain. Telling jokes without the a-word, b-word and c-word is like having sex with yourself. It can be done but it gets old fast.
Mr. Richards had a bad night. He flat-out bombed. But that doesn't make him a racist. It makes him like every comedian who's ever set foot on a stage. Fallible. We may have overreacted to Richard's emotional rant.
So what happened Wednesday night?
The Dot Comedy Show had a killer line up; Eric Andre, Bobby Lee, Dean Delray, TJ Miller and Alex Scott with me as host.
The show was just getting started. Little did we know a hurricane was moving down the Sunset Strip on a collision course with the Laugh Factory. Here are several eyewitness accounts from the eye of the storm.
"Watched him spiral for 45 minutes before I left. Could have been worse, he could have done his act." -- Daniel Kinno
"He took a sh*t on everyone. Might as well have been literally." -- Jenna Marbles
"Glad he stopped by the Improv tonight, otherwise I'd never hear the story about how he 'chainsaw-f*cked' a 'disgusting whore's c*nt.'" -- Late Night With Jimmy Fallon writer Ali Waller
I was enjoying Eric Andre's Bluish routine. I don't mean he's a potty mouthed comic -- his race is Bluish: Black and Jewish. Bobby Lee, a fellow MadTV alum, walked in feeling good and ready to rock the house. We caught up briefly. Bobby was up next and focused. That's when Hurricane Dane struck. He informed Bobby he was going on stage before him. Bobby had a previous engagement and offered to cut his time down. Cook couldn't wait. Diehard MadTV fans in the audience watched Bobby exit the club with grace, confused.
Let me clarify -- it's not uncommon for big name comics to drop in. That's normal at any club. Most will limit their time so as not to be rude to the other comics. Others will hijack the stage all night. This may sound like a dream for an audience member, if it's a comic they love. Generally speaking though, you don't go to a Nascar race to watch Indy cars.
I'm sure you can see where this is going. For the next hour and twenty minutes Dane Cook held court tackling taboo subjects like abortion, sex with multiple women, how famous he is and my personal favorite -- black guys who dance while working out at the gym.
There are two schools of thought on Wednesday night's stream-of-consciousness-show. It's a star's God-given right to do whatever they want inside the walls of the club. Actually that's the only school of thought. Everyone is scared to challenge it because comedians need an audience and pissing off a star can get you banned.
Banning people is part of the Super Duper Star Perks Package, along with syphilis, self loathing and free alcohol.
During the show @nottjmiller tweeted:
F*cking Dane Cook is eating sh*t at the laugh factory. He bumped @bobbyleelive and is being just mean.
People love to hate Dane Cook. I don't know why. Everybody's a critic and contrary to popular belief the best critics are artists. Holding up a mirror to society and ourselves is what we do.
I'm sure some people are jealous of Cook's success. I'm not on that band wagon. I don't think he is a bad guy. Who can make a determination about the character of another human being based on one isolated incident? I can't. Was this a onetime only occurrence? No. Ask Pookey Wigington, host of Chocolate Sundaes Comedy Show at the Laugh Factory. Still, I can't make judgements. I can make observations.
As host of the Dot Comedy show I observed a man who is not conceited. He's convinced. He's also quite generous having recently offered his critics a free trip to Ojai Valley Inn & Spa for "Hydrating facials, doubles tennis and a killer 50-minute Expectant Mother's Massage." His treat since he's "really quite rich," said Cook.
It's not Cook's fault he's rich. We made him that way. He is behaving exactly how he should. He's normal. We are the crazy ones. You can't potty train an old dog after you've let him crap all over the house for 10 years. We made this bed. In the morning we can buy a new mattress, bed frame and sheets, but Wednesday night our only option was to shut up and go to sleep. People who've been getting away with murder their entire lives think they are supposed to get away with murder. Don't take my word for it. Try and regulate Wall Street or campaign finance and see how many times you get called stupid, stupid.
Find me on Facebook.


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Intelligent financial advice and creative consultation require attention and partnership to flourish. This is why PFM forges a close working relationship with each of our clients, ensuring our efforts to empower, mobilize and educate today help to yield sustainable outcomes tomorrow.
PFM's Christine Choi discusses capital investments in port infrastructure in her Guest Viewpoints for Seaports Magazine.
Unlike other types of malicious cybersecurity attacks, ransomware will make itself known.
Learn about ransomware and how PFM is working to keep you safe.
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Easing regulatory burden of submitting payroll paperwork
Any company that does work where federal money is involved is required to pay their workers a locally competitive wage for their job role, and to report that they have done so to the federal agency contracting their services. This research project set out to understand how this process worked and what, if anything, could be done to reduce the burden on companies while improving compliance with the law.
Working closely with two other researchers, we found that a lack of standardization between agencies, difficult to use wage-rate categories for workers, and lack of clear rules, processes and calculations increased the burden on companies. We recommended targeted changes to policy, process and technology that could ease the burden. Some of these recommendations have already been followed, as our research helped spur another phase of work – involving prototyping technology to make identifying wages-rate categories easier for companies to use.


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The Center sponsors and cosponsors a variety of projects and events to bring awareness to educators, catechists, artists and community leaders as to the growing centrality of Cinema in our daily lives, especially its impact on identity and faith formation.
Cinema and Sacrament
This film series explores current topics of faith and culture through the lens of modern Cinema. Screenings are open to the general public. Screenings conclude with a reception and discussion with filmmakers and scholars.
Cinema and Sacrament is sponsored by the LMU Casassa Legacy Society, Center for Religion and Spirituality, College of Communication and Fine Arts, CSJ Center for Reconciliation and Justice, Heritage Association of Retired Faculty and Staff, Marymount Institute for Faith, Culture and the Arts, School of Film and Television, and Women's Leadership Council. For additional information, please contact the CSJ Center at 310.568.6696 or email@example.com.
Los Angeles Religious Education Congress Film Showcase
The Los Angeles Religious Education Congress Film Showcase, presented by the Center with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, is an evening forum at the annual Congress for the exhibition and discussion of Cinematic work rooted in Catholic social teaching, as well as the Catholic intellectual, spiritual, and narrative traditions.
The Congress Film Showcase is sponsored by the LMU School of Film and Television, National Catholic Reporter, Family Theater Productions, Catholics in Media Associates (CIMA), and the Pauline Center for Media Studies. For additional information, contact Assistant Director Michael McNaught at 310.338.5788 or email@example.com.