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Here are some of my pictures & just random thoughts & things!
Isn't my baby cute?! He looks so happy and serene. Smiling. 😀
It's that peaceful, calm kind of sleepiness but not exhaustion or fatigue.
This is where he waits for me to come upstairs to my room. Two of my dogs love to stay in bed all day and they would if I was up there. I don't stay in my room all day and sometimes when I'm downstairs they go up to the top of the stairs and bark and growl for me to come up!
Lol Lazy bums.
They want to be in bed but only with me! It's so cute! This is Woody in the picture. He was really sleepy and just waited there for me to come up.
This little baby crawled onto my hand and then I was faced with a difficult dilemma. Do I put him/her outside in the tree where it's kind of cold or just let him roam the floors in work(which I'm certain my manager and boss wouldn't appreciate!).
There's only one ant that I saw so it wasn't like infested. I'm not sure if there's easy access to food outside for an ant. But in a store or something there may be microscopic
crumbs around. But inside, an insect has a good chance of being crushed by people who have no regard for their lives. I don't judge those people, which is like just about everyone in the world except for me. But I can't bear the thought of a living sentient being, no matter how small or icky or ugly or scary or disgusting, or repulsive, no matter the species, human, insect, reptile, animal…being killed or injured. I really find it heartbreaking. So when I can, I help them to the best of my ability. I'm not in people's faces with it or all sanctimonious about it like some pro-life people. That really annoys me when people act like their morals are above other people's. I have been accused of this on occasion, especially by my sister who thinks I'm a snob, but it's not true. I put the cute little ant in the tree outside in the crunchy leaves, hoping s/he would find food and warmth. ❤
Recently I was out with my mom and took this picture. I love it! To most/many people, it may just appear to be a really bad picture. To me, it is symbolic of a few things.
I love taking pictures of things that represent something to me even if they just appear to be meaningless. I never liked the idea of a creator/artist/writer/poet…anyone who takes pictures or anything, explaining the work or photo. I love when readers/viewers try to interpret it but I think it's great if the creator leaves it to them and usually doesn't explain its meaning. Occasionally I share my pictures and tell what purpose I find in them.
But often I like to leave it to the viewers. I love the abstract & mystery. And it can symbolize different things to different people, which I love!
It's beginning to look a lot like Halloween!
I love all the innocent looking Halloween decor! The ghosts, the pumpkins, the vampires and minions dressed up, the little monsters and scary houses set up in people's windows. I love the cute stuff! Some of the stuff I have seen is, in my opinion, going a bit overboard! Like something that appears to be a person, hanging off a tree! A person appearing to be crushed in a garage door or have a gunshot wound to the head! Aaahh! That has my heart racing and not in a good way! I always feel so much compassion for people who have found suicide/homicide/accident victims. I can just imagine what it must be like for them to have to see that after seeing the real thing. ❤
Flash backs & panic attacks and nightmares and everything else!
I love haunted attractions but the "dead people" though they have fake blood and gashes all over them, don't actually look truly dead and they're usually walking around so obviously aren't dead or resembling true dead persons! (there hasn't been a real zombie apocalypse yet that I know of!)
To me, there is nothing at all fun about seeing a dead body or something that accurately resembles one.
If I was decorating I would be more thoughtful and mindful about what I put in public but I understand it's Halloween and that's just what some people consider fun.
I saw people get into arguments over this before, certain decorations or displays being repulsive and people were saying some people are thoughtless and callous and others saying people need to lighten up that it's just for fun (when I was little I saw a real homicide victim {a very young woman} covered in blood dead on the ground, where I used to play, I was too young [or stupid] to completely grasp the full seriousness of it but I can tell you it wasn't fun to find that! [I never knew her but I still think of her all these years later.]) and I try to be understanding, accepting, tolerant, or just at least as civil as possible about all sides of any issue or topic even if I disagree. I do some things too that people don't like. No one is going to be perfect to everyone, we all have different concepts of perfect but that's ok.
Isn't this a pretty picture?! It's my picture! But I edited it to make it look a bit more dramatic in a way. I love editing my pictures! It's more creative and fun than just snapping a picture and sharing it. On my photobucket account, I usually share both the edited and the original because I like all my pictures. I never try to pretend my pictures aren't edited to some degree. Most are(except for pictures of myself, sometimes they have effects but that's all). They usually look better with effects than the original ones, sometimes I just make the colors pop or make the picture brighter or fade or blur out certain parts for a foggy or nostalgic look.
Here's an example of two pictures that are the same but one is edited. They still look very much the same but the original is dull while the edited pops in color. Sometimes an original pic does no justice to the real thing and I edit it and it looks more similar to the real thing. Like the sky sometimes is so bright and beautiful and I take a picture and it's all dull looking and I edit it to bring out the colors and it looks more like the real sky than the original pic!
Original version:
Edited version:
I got skills! lol jk I really don't but hope to one day! This isn't a good picture but I still like it.
We have all these big monopoly pieces all around in this one place in Center City. Is this just a Philadelphia thing or do they have this in other places as well? I love how we can see the reflection of the sky in the windows here. I blurred it a bit so the people in my pics can't be clearly seen since they don't even know they're in my pics!
That church way over there has the rainbow flag outside to show their love for lgbtq people. Way to go! ❤
I don't think people necessarily should be thanked for supporting equality since it's a basic thing we're supposed to do just like we're not supposed to kill or be a racist or at least not act on it in vicious ways. I'm not going to thank someone for not killing me or for supporting a woman's right to vote or for supporting interratical marriage, it's not a luxary or gift, it's a basic right or basic equality but still good to express support so people know. Especially in a place where they are often known for or thought of as being discriminatory.
I think in some ways heterosexism is worse than homophobia because it's less obvious and may be overlooked but the impact still devestating, where homophobia is more obvious and can be called out and addressed more easily. Heterosexism is basically the idea of overlooking anything other than heterosexuality, like asking a woman we just meet "do you have a boyfriend?" just assuming she is romantically attracted to men. And in all the commercials and extras in movies, just showing heterosexuality. It's good to show things other than just heterosexuality in basic everyday contexts in movies like, people walking by holding hands and things. It's good to have movies & tv shows where the main topic is relating to lgbtq people but also just showing it in subtle ways.
Everyone should feel included in society.
I saw on tv recently a teenage girl who was born with what is considered a boy's body. She was thrilled because her parents allowed her to get hormone therapy to have her body become more physically female.
They gave her a surprise package and when she unwrapped it, it was something she been wanting, permission to get the therapy.
My dad (who is against homosexuality and transgenderism and anything other than what he is or claims to be) was appalled and saying offensive things and things like how can they let a child do that. And my mom who is not a homo/transphobe but still not as completely understanding of transgender issues as I am, said what if the girl changes her mind and decides she should have stayed a boy or how she was first. I'm not easily offended but I was here. Like, how can a person's gender identity just change?! It can't!! We know as long as we remember what we are! I never once thought "maybe I'm a boy!" Transgender people aren't confused, except maybe because of things society tries to put on them. That little girl knows what she is and always has. She's a GIRL! Even though her body is what is typically considered a boy's.
A t-girl is no less of a woman than I am. It's not our body that makes us what we are, male, female, both, neither, it's our gender identity. I am a woman because my gender identity is that of a woman's. We don't choose our gender identity or sexual orientation, just choose how to act on it. But anyway so what if it were a choice? It's not hurting anyone!
Some people say not to be against gay or trans people because they cannot help it! I know they have loving intentions saying that but it's rude! It's like saying it's still not good but it's ok because they can't help it.
I can just imagine the loneliness many trans. people and their familes must feel. Many parents who allow their children to express their gender identity even if it does not match their sexual identity, are vilified for it. But I support them and if I had a child who turned out to be transgender, I would let him/her express it at whatever age s/he wanted. People say they will be bullied and scarred over it and it's most likely true but if I tried to force my kid to be something s/he is not, that would scar her and hurt her too. I would prefer someone else to hurt my child than my own self! And I have nothing against lgbtq people or them expressing it however they want.
Also, I'm not a "politically correct" control freak who obsesses over language or words. I don't like offending people, not usually because of what they may thjnk about me but because I truly care not to offend. And I don't use terms that are blatant insults. But if someone isn't trying to be vicious but says something that isn't "politically correct," I won't go all apeshit. Intentions usually matter more, in my opinion, than what appears to be. It's great to be thoughtful but we don't have to be controlling and obsessed with how people talk.
This isn't an angry rant! lol I'm not angry. I'm just sharing my opinions and stuff.
A t-woman was murdererd recently by a person with a history of hurting transgender people. And my love & compassion go out to all affected by that. ❤
"In my household, being gay was, and is, no big deal. When my brother came out, we hugged him, said we loved him, and that was that. Just for the record, we don't feel that there is anything alternative about our family values. I don't consider my[self] just an ally to the LGBT community. I consider myself your family. If anyone, ever, tried to hurt you, I'm gonna give them hell. There are people who've said that I'm being brave for being openly supportive of gay marriage, gay adoption…with all due respect, I humbly dissent. I'm not being brave. I'm being a decent human being…" ~ Anne Hathaway
I agree. When I was in college and at a pflag event, there were parents of lgbtq kids who gave a speech about supporting their kids and all lgbtq people and people started cheering and they asked everyone to stop, saying it's not something to thank them for, that they are merely doing what is right, what is basic. ❤
"Never lie, steal, cheat, or drink. But if you must lie, lie in the arms of the one you love. If you must steal, steal away from bad company. If you must cheat, cheat death. And if you must drink, drink in the moments that take your breath away."
I love the sentiment. I don't see anything wrong with adults drinking alcoholic things as long as they are responsible about it. 😀 Like not drinking themselves to death or operating machines/vehicles or anything while intoxicated! And not getting angry and pushing people because that can accidentally kill someone! Alcohol itself isn't usually a problem, it's how we handle it.
I suspect the "drink" is referring to alcohol because most of us have to drink, I think. Unless maybe we have an iv drip. I don't know why this quote says not to drink it but I like how it says drink in the moments that take our breath away! sweet!
And this is me! ❤
I feel as if I just rambled through this whole thing which wasn't my intention! lol I was just sharing my pictures and the thoughts came to me! Hopefully they are coherent!
Lots of love to you!!
xoxo Kim


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NIKE Survey www.MyNikeVisit-na.com Get Free $10 Nike Gift Card
NIKE Customer Satisfaction Survey
Guys!! Are you searching for the NIKE Survey Customer Satisfaction Survey at www.MyNikeVisit-na.com? and Do you want to perform the NIKE consumer feedback survey or NIKE Guest Feedback? so let me tell you, you have landed at the right post and for your comfort, Here in this post, I have given step by step complete guide for the NIKE survey and NIKE guest feedback at www.MyNikeVisit-na.com.
NIKE Survey Rewards
If you complete Nike Feedback survey, so you have a chance to win the $10 Nike or $5 Converse gift card. So Take the Nike consumer feedback survey by visiting mynikevisit-na.com, selecting your language and entering your unique survey code listed on your receipt.
NIKE Survey Rules and Requirements
✔ Must be redeemed in-person at a Nike or Converse store in the United states
✔ Cannot be joined with any other offer or discount, including employee discounts
✔ Cannot complete more than 2 surveys within 7 days
✔ Not valid on Nike.com or phone orders
✔ Cannot be purchased for cash or applied to previous purchases
✔ Expires 60 days after issued
✔ One time use only
NIKE Survey www.MyNikeVisit-na.com Step by step Guide
➽ First of all shopping at a Nike or Converse store in person, not online or over the phone
➽ Then Save your receipt
➽ Now Go to the Nike Survey official web page, at mynikevisit-na.com,
➽ The Select your preferred language
➽ Now enter the 15 – 20 digit survey entry code found on your receipt
➽ Answer all survey questions genuinely
➽ At the end of Nike Survey, you'll be awarded with a free $10 Nike gift card or $5 Converse gift card
NOTE: You'll require to use your new gift card in the next 60 days or it will expire
NOTE: You'll require to wait at least 7 days before you complete another survey to receive any additional gift cards
About NIKE
Nike, Inc. is an American multinational corporation that is engaged in the design, manufacturing, development, and worldwide marketing and sales of footwear, equipment, apparel, accessories, and services. It was founded in 1964 and headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, in the Portland metropolitan area.
NIKE Customer Service Number
If you have any problem regarding the NIKE Survey, then please contact on this below NIKE customer service number.
Phone: 1 (800) 806-6453
NIKE Near Me Locations
Reference Links:
✔ NIKE survey URL: mynikevisit-na.com,
✔ NIKE Official Site: Nike.com
However, please, comment for us on following comment box. If you are facing any kind of query while going through this article about NIKE Survey. Thanks for visiting our site and stay tuned to our site for new stuff like this.

subset: commoncrawl


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Sitting with bright blue-grey eyes, cheery and smiley.
Small and thin like a tiny bird, she's only a size four and 5'2″.
Her hair is of the lightest brown with blond highlights streaking through.
Pretty, petite, and classy.
Laughing gregariously when something on TV is funny.
Working especially hard sacrificing hours on the weekend and after work.
In a job where she's the one who knows.
Detailed, meticulous, and to the point.
Loving and caring, the one to make all things better.
Practical , knowledgable; she hates being treated unfairly.
Wearing small dark jeans from the Gap and a navy and off-white sweater.
Shopping carefully for the right fabric, cut, and shape.
Telling me everything will be alright.
I'm not sure how I'll ever leave her or live without her.
She is my mother and part of me too.
She is in my soul like buds bursting into bloom, she blooms in me.


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30 GLENWOOD Crescent, Cochrane, Alberta
I just finished uploading this House for sale, 30 GLENWOOD Crescent, Cochrane, Alberta
Welcome to your own piece of paradise right out your back door, huge mature trees, green space and a kids park. Steps away from the Big Hill Springs Creek that runs year round with a bike / walking path system that follows the creek north to the Cochrane park and south to the Bow River path system.30 Glenwood Crescent was built in 1997 and is a great family home that has a good size kitchen with wooden counter tops, pantry and breakfast bar sitting adjoining to the living room with a big bay window looking out onto the green space. There is also a large adjoining dinning / family room at the front entrance of the home.2 bedrooms a 4 pc bath and a master bedroom with a 3 pc ensuite also on the main floor. The lower level has 1 bed room with connected 3 pc bath, media area, family room (room for another bedroom if needed), laundry and storage. Close to schools and minutes away from all amenities. Oversized 20x23 garage. Country living in the Town of Cochrane.


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Living Room Decoration Ideas
Living room is the best place for sitting and associating with family and companions. It is otherwise called relax, parlor or living room. It is the most vital zone as it is situated close to the primary passageway of the home. It must be preferrably very much interiored and kept up room of the house as it is the principle put for visitors gathering. In substantial homes on the off chance that it is the individual parlor of somebody that it may be joined with the room of that individual.
When it is the ideal opportunity for returning home insides individuals by and large get cognizant about the front room insides. Instructions to extraordinarily beautify the parlor. Here are a few tips and thoughts for beautifying the parlor. The primary territories to considered incorporates:
Furniture Arrangement – Furniture must be chosen by the span of the room. On the off chance that the room is huge you can go for substantial size furniture and in the event that it is little go for the little estimated one. Abstain from congestion by filling the stay with a lot of furniture. It is not a need to dependably ocupy the unfilled space it can left empty for some undertakings. The furniture can be orchestrated all on the mat, all off the mat or putting the front part of the sitting furniture on the floor covering.
Colour Schemes – Living room can be given an elegant, stylish and peacefull look by choosing an appropriate color scheme for paint. Red is usually most suited color as it increases the level of energy in the body. Those who are suffering from heart or blood pressure problems can go for blue color for reducing the bp level. Those who want a cohesive and sophisticated look can go for turquoise, jade green and yellow-green colour.
Upholstery Ideas – Go for modular upholstery that can be easily relocated and foldable. You can go for sofa cum bed option. Have designer upholstery of the color easily going with the living room. Choose centre table according to the room space. The arrangement should be in such a way that it remains somewhat far from the wall so that the patches are not made on the wall.
Curtain Styles – The curtains or draperies adds beauty along with blocking sun rays. Designer curtain just transform the look of the room. With the long length draperies from top to bottom height of the room seems larger. Frills added to the curtains makes them more incredible and stylish.
Lighting – Use the hanging lights for room decor purpose. Table lamps can be used placed in the corners of the upholstery. Use ambient lights and assure that the lights you are using is mild not too strong that strikes in someone's eye. Get proper electrical fixtures done in advance so that there is no need to use any extension cords letting to trap in and fall.
Decorating Walls – Make your living room more attractive and fascinating by covering the walls with artwork. One can also place the family pictures in the living room. Designers wallpapers can also be used for giving a designer look.
One can try interior of their home by themselves but those who want professional interior service can search for skilled interior designers or decorators. Try to connect with interior service provider of your area so that you can easily visit and communicate with them.


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Join a Facebook Group Today!
If you're a fan of Facebook, join one of our Official MarineParents.com Facebook groups to connect and share with other recruit and Marine Corps family members. We now have over 61,000 members in all of our Official MarineParents.com Facebook groups.
Click here to continue reading.
Team Marine Parents (TMP) is a group of individuals, generally parents, family and friends of Marines, who participate in athletic events nationwide to support our troops. The mission is to raise funds and awareness of the organization's outreach programs.
This week's featured runner is Erika Devenney. Erika began running to stay healthy, but now has told her Marine that she will commit to running the Marine Corps Marathon every year he stays active duty. Click here to donate and learn more.
This year, 2017, the 42nd Marine Corps Marathon will be held on Sunday, October 22. As a Marine Corps charity partner, Team Marine Parents™ has registered 40 bibs for the October 22nd race. We have already sold 18 of our charity partner bibs, so we only have 22 left. Hurry, and get yours today!
Enrolling for health benefits through the VA is typically a very time-consuming and confusing process. We would recommend that you speak with someone who has already gone through the process, or with a patient service representative (PSR) at the VA before beginning the enrollment process. Remember, you are not alone in this process and there is always some sort of assistance to be provided if you are lost.
The Warrior Reintegration Bag includes a variety of items to accomplish two things: to provide resources to the warrior to aid in recovery, and to provide items to help re-establish their team identity.


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Less than two weeks before this year's National Puerto Rican Day Parade celebration, a new Harvard University study estimates 4,645 Puerto Ricans died from the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria. As Boricuas prepare to celebrate our culture and mourn the lives lost, it may also be time to seriously reevaluate Puerto Rico's political status. As […]
Posts Tagged 'Puerto Rican'
Commonwealth Failed: It's Time for Puerto Ricans to Make the Ultimate Political Decision in the Aftermath of Hurricane Maria
June 8th, 2018 No Comments
My Puerto Rican DNA Results
January 13th, 2018 No Comments
As a Puerto Rican, I have known for decades that my ethnic makeup consisted of a mix of Spanish, Taino, and African ancestry. However, I did not know the actual makeup of my Puerto Rican blood until now. In December I sent away for my DNA results from Ancestry.com. The company noted results would be […]


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From fathers to brothers to lovers, Hetty Chidwick runs through some smart ideas for Christmas presents for the men in your life
Land Rover Explore outdoor phone
Finally a phone to drop into puddles, endure freezing temperatures and take camping without fear of a dead battery. With the extra battery and full protective armour it weighs a ton, but is a true go-anywhere, do-anything piece of kit – on all scores, just like the car from which it borrows its name and branding.
Land Rover Explore outdoor phone, £599 – click here to buy.
A driving loafer with some traction
As the musical sound of coughs and sneezes fills the office, I'm reminded that most homes do not have wall-to-wall carpet (especially not in the bathroom. Hopefully not in the bathroom). On that note, it's wise to have something snuggly to slip your feet into after a hard day of being exposed to a plethora of other people's germs.
But why settle for simply slippers? Hugs&Co. know that you can't always buy the car of your dreams, but you can buy part of it and hide it under your feet. To that end they've produced the TS1 model, a British driving loafer with a sole made entirely from up cycled tyre material. One thing's for sure, you won't be slipping on a stray copy of Country Life in these bad boys (so much traction).
TS1 Model British Driving Loafer in slate grey by Hugs&Co. for £150, find at www.hugsandco.com.
Liberty Achilles print dressing gown
Made from Liberty London cotton, this soft dressing gown with its bold abstract circle print is perfect for lounging around the house on a cold winter's day.
Liberty Achilles print dressing gown, £185 – click here to buy.
Skiing cufflinks by Oliver Brown
Made in England with a variety of different designs – from tennis to these lovely skiing ones.
Skiing cufflinks by Oliver Brown, £25 – click here to buy.
Nova pocket square by Geoff Stocker
Bring an explosion of colour to any suit.
Nova pocket square by Geoff Stocker, £45 – click here to buy.
Tropical feather boxer shorts from Pandora's boxers
For the man who has everything – except a really fun pair of boxers.
Tropical feather boxer shorts from Pandora's boxers, £24 – click here to buy.
Mens Fairisle Patterned Christmas Sweater by Glenmuir
Made in the UK from Italian spun merino wool, this Glenmuir jumper is a wonderful gift for a golf lover – or anyone who wants to swap their snowman monstrocity with a classier version.
Mens Fairisle Patterned Christmas Sweater by Glenmuir, £50 – click here to buy.
Handmade leather washbag forom Man Gun Bear
The ultimate gift for men who like to travel in style. And also for those who just love the name 'Man Gun Bear'.
Handmade leather washbag forom Man Gun Bear, £149 – click here to buy.
Regency collection with bowl, Truefitt & Hill
The Double Wire Razor and Brush stand with bowl, a stylish edition to any bathroom.
Regency collection with bowl, Truefitt & Hill, £170 – click here to buy.
Pheasamt-and-vine oven gloves
Avoid burning in style – why not add the matching tea towel and apron for a smart kitchen set.
Pheasamt-and-vine oven gloves, £25 – click here to buy.
Sinatra tan and pale-blue suede belt by Elliot Rhodes
A casual belt to make a change from his usual brown and black numbers.
Sinatra tan and pale-blue suede belt by Elliot Rhodes, £135 – click here to buy.
Asprey's backgammon set
An English saddle leather backgammon board, with precision dice, counters, dice cups and a doubling cube.
Asprey's backgammon set, £3,200 – click here to buy.
Lighthouse cocktail shaker by Asprey
A gorgeous hallmarked sterling silver cocktail shaker with yellow and black enamel detail.
Lighthouse cocktail shaker by Asprey, £8,250 – click here to buy.


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Like a Pointer Sisters hit, the 80s is all over this one and it appears very much of that time. Though, also like the Pointer Sisters, that's not necessarily a bad thing. The original 50s/60s elements still shine though here and those later upper storey additions could be superb, if only that slapped on white paint and tile was perhaps stripped off every surface. Such contemplations fuel hope that a far more thoughtful refurb could make this already wild residence, something worth jumping for.
9 Albert Jones Ct, Eaglemont VIC
June 29, 2017 | Archives


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Feature in Carats and Cake!
We are thrilled to announce that one of our weddings have been featured in Carats and Cake!
We loved working with the gorgeous Bride who happens to be the owner of Flower Girl Los Angeles, our favorite florist in Southern California!
Here are some of our favorite images from the wedding!
Flowers by Flower Girl Los Angeles. Photos by Maui Maka Photography. Makeup and Hair by Cynthia Rose for Kipona Aloha. Location Hui No'eau Makawao, Hawaii.


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Electrophysiology at Smidt Heart Institute
What we do
The program, part of the Cedars-Sinai Smidt Heart Institute, manages and treat all conditions related to irregular heartbeats, known as cardiac arrhythmia. The program specializes in implantable medical devices, as well as medications and catheter-based ablation.
Getting There
Validated parking for the Cedars-Sinai Smidt Heart Institute is available at the Advanced Health Sciences Pavilion at a reduced fee of $5 for outpatient visits.
Check-in desk is A3600 - Heart Institute A Reception


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- You are in:
- Homepage >
- Lifestyle >
- Poker >
- Poker games
Do You Want to Play Garena Texas Holdem?
If you're a poker lover, chances are you're looking for ways to play from home using your internet connection. The good news is that the Garena Texas Holdem game is now available. By downloading and installing the Garena platform you're able to chat with players from all over the world and take part in multiplayer, real-time games. This is a great alternative if you're looking to play from home for fun, or just looking to polish your poker skills. Let's see how to get access?
You'll need to visit this link http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/soft/745509/ to download Garena 2.4, which is a freeware program that allows players to network with each other online. Once you've downloaded the file and installed the program, your anti-virus program may ask if you want to block or unblock the application. It will need to be unblocked to work, so go ahead and unblock it.
Once this is done you'll see the login panel, and you either need to enter your existing username and password or set up an account.Once you've logged in you'll have access to a list of games on the left hand side of the screen, and all you need to do now is choose the game you want to play (Texas Holdem) and the area you live in. A list of open game rooms will then appear and you can join as and when you choose.
If you've chosen a room and joined you'll have to confirm some settings for the game you've chosen, just navigate to the settings section, choose the game you want to play and set the direction. Once you've found this, click the Apply button and then OK to confirm.
Keep in mind that once you've done this for a specific game you won't need to do it again next time you want to play. You'll be able to see all games in the room you've chosen now, and you can even start your own by clicking the 'create game' button. It's easier than you think to play Garena Texas Holdem online, so why not give it a try?


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Join the National Park Service for the annual Lotus and Water Lily Festival at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens on July 21-22, 2018 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Celebrate the internationally loved lotuses and water lilies during peak bloom.
- See cultural performances from Latin, Asian and African origins.
- Play fun games, enjoy arts and crafts and dance to music from around the world.
This FREE festival celebrates nature, culture and community at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, a one-of-a-kind destination in Anacostia Park. Celebrate the centennial of Anacostia Park with us at D.C.'s hidden oasis during the Year of the Anacostia.
The Lotus and Water Lily Festival is an annual event that celebrates global culture in the wild wetlands of Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens. At this free family fun celebration, visitors enjoy cultural exhibitors, hands-on activities, traditional Latin, Asian and African performances and the spectacular lotus and water lilies in full bloom!
Volunteer at this event:
Join the Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Garden for the park's signature summer event - The Water Lily & Lotus Cultural Festival. We'll have music, cultural arts and crafts, and live animal exhibit for kids. The lotus will be in full bloom and we'll need volunteers to work shifts throughout the day. Please bring your water bottle. Snacks and Lunch are NOTprovided.
Positions May Include:
Assisting National Park Service staff with set-up or breakdown, prior or post event, (i.e. setting up chairs, setting up a stage, moving coolers full of water, cleaning up trash)
Staffing the Welcoming Tent (i.e. being friendly, greeting attendees, answering questions)
Riding the shuttle bus to inform visitors about event
Key Requirements:
Able to stand for long periods of time
Stay for duration of shift, which is 2.5 hours
Be friendly and informative to visitors


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Apply the budget function in a business unit (Free Preview)
NQF Level 04
Credits 5
This unit standard is intended for managers of small businesses and junior managers of business units in larger organisations. The term business unit in this unit standard implies a small business, cost center, section or department.
Junior managers include, but are not limited to team leaders, supervisors, first line managers and section heads. The position is term is used to describe the first level of management in an organisation at which an employee has other employees reporting to him/her.
Unit standard range:
- For the purpose of this unit standard the term business unit is used to mean a cost center, department or small business.
- Expenditure includes, but is not limited to payments, commissions payable, claims, management expenses and remuneration.
- Explaining the concept of budgeting in a business unit.
- Analysing the budget needs of a business unit.
- Presenting and justifying a proposed budget for a business unit.
- Monitoring and controlling actual expenses and revenue against projected expenses and revenue.


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Krav Maga Class – training for a safer life
Krav Maga Class is your entry point for learning Krav Maga. In each class, you will be taught, experiment and use the principles of Krav Maga in key self-defense situations.
Class Design
The class design proposed delivers a fun, informative, challenging and in-depth learning experience.
The objective is clear -Give you the ability and the mindset to avoid and recognize danger. Then if in case of need utilize only the appropriate technique and level of force.
Rather different from a fitness class objectives, you learn self-defense by working with different people, following a curriculum that is based on years of trial and error and continues to be updated every year.
What was simple and easy with a partner requires adaptation to and with the next one, however, because of the practice, you will break a sweat and get your physical levels higher.
We will cover:
- what are the behaviors dealing with the most common threats and attacks.
- the basics of striking with our upper and lower body limbs
- the defenses against grabs, chokes, and strikes
- how to deal if you fall and how to come up from there
As a result of continually repeating and evolving under direction, you are able to know what you are doing and why.
To test your training, the techniques will be done in several scenarios ( weather permitting outside), plus adding in the practice very controlled approach to hand to hand combat.
All done in a safe environment suitable for all people to learn.
Most of all remember Krav Maga from the FEKM is made for common people.
What to wear
You should wear tracksuit bottoms, a white t-shirt and a pair of trainers, bring water and the set of minimal material ( groin guard, gum shield, and boxing gloves after the 3rd week).
We look forward to meeting you!
|1st August 2019
|19:30 - 20:30
|Morris Plains


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Regular Expression Bits and Pieces
A regular expression is normally delimited by two slashes ("/").
Everything between the slashes is a pattern to match. Patterns can
be made up of the following Atoms:
- Ordinary characters: a-z, A-Z, 0-9 and some punctuation. These
match themselves.
- The "." character, which matches everything except the newline.
- A bracket list of characters, such as [AaGgCcTtNn], [A-F0-9], or
[^A-Z] (the last means anything BUT A-Z).
- Certain predefined character sets:
- \d
- The digits [0-9]
- \w
- A word character [A-Za-z_0-9]
- \s
- White space [ \t\n\r]
- A non-digit
- A non-word
- Non-whitespace
- Anchors:
- ^
- Matches the beginning of the string
- $
- Matches the end of the string
- \b
- Matches a word boundary (between a \w and a \W)
/g..t/matches "gaat", "goat", and "gotta get a goat" (twice)
/g[gatc][gatc]t/matches "gaat", "gttt", "gatt", and
"gotta get an agatt" (once)
/\d\d\d-\d\d\d\d/matches 376-8380, and 5128-8181, but not
/^\d\d\d-\d\d\d\d/matches 376-8380 and 376-83801, but not
/^\d\d\d-\d\d\d\d$/only matches telephone numbers.
/\bcat/matches "cat", "catsup" and "more catsup please"
but not "scat".
/\bcat\b/only text containing the word "cat".
By default, an atom matches once. This can be modified by following
the atom with a quantifier:
- ?
- atom matches zero or exactly once
- *
- atom matches zero or more times
- +
- atom matches one or more times
- {3}
- atom matches exactly three times
- {2,4}
- atom matches between two and four times, inclusive
- {4,}
- atom matches at least four times
/goa?t/matches "goat" and "got". Also any text that contains these words.
/g.+t/matches "goat", "goot", and "grant", among others.
/g.*t/matches "gt", "goat", "goot", and "grant", among others.
/^\d{3}-\d{4}$/matches US telephone numbers (no extra text allowed).
- Design a pattern to recognize an email address.
- Design a pattern to recognize the id portion of a sequence in a FASTA file


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Poor Florida. The state that is home to Disney World, key lime pie and the Daytona 500 hasn't had much to crow about when it comes to real estate in recent years. Sorry to break it to Sunshine Staters, but they shouldn't be expecting a rebound anytime soon either. That's according to Local Market Monitor (LMM), a Cary, N.C.-based real estate research firm that crunched the numbers for our list of the best and worst cities for home values in 2011. One list includes the 10 cities where home values are expected to rise the most in 2011, and the other the 10 cities where they are expected to fall the most.
Since interest rates have fallen dramatically this year, many homeowners have been able to lower their housing expenses by refinancing in to a loan with a better rate. According to a recent survey of refinance lenders, "Over 50% of applicants surveyed said that they saved over $1,000 a year from finding a more affordable home loan."
LMM tracks 315 American real estate markets, assessing values and applying Investment Suitability ratings based on multiple factors. For the Forbes lists, LMM President Ingo Winzer and his researchers started with a U.S. Census-defined list of Metropolitan Statistical Areas with populations of 500,000 residents or more. They then analyzed key economic factors that directly affect housing markets: unemployment and job growth rates, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. LMM tracks real estate markets' valuations based on the theory that markets go through cycles. "We see a predictable pathway that home prices follow," explains Winzer. "If you know where in the cycle a market is, you can make some predictions about where it will go in the next one, two, three years."
Assessing the progression of those market cycles means comparing average "actual" home prices to equilibrium home prices–meaning where prices should be in the absence of market distortions that result from speculation and mismatches between population growth and new home construction. Another tool is peak-to-trough analyses, which factors in the number of single-family and multi-family housing permits active in each city, as recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau. The result is a Top 10 list made up of cities boasting an outlook for job growth and rebounding economies in 2011. Not surprisingly then, Washington D.C. (No. 7), and its nearby hubs make this list, thanks to a steady supply of government jobs.
Southern California touts the most metros on the Top 10 list. San Jose (No. 1), Santa Ana (No. 2) and San Diego (No. 5) offer housing markets where property prices are expected to rise steadily over the next three years. Los Angeles didn't crack the top 10, but this sprawling metropolis does offer the prospect of appreciation, despite a building boom and bust that was similar to Florida's. "The big difference between Florida and Southern California … is people are moving into Southern California, but they're not moving to Florida," asserts Winzer. "It was speculative retirement and vacation condos–things that were bought by people not living there and now not moving there, wanting to sell their empty condos because they can't rent them out." It did not hurt that rates on California mortgages fell to 4% on fixed 30-year loans.
Unfortunately for these snowbirds, seven Florida cities land on the Bottom 10 list. Deltona-Daytona Beach, Lakeland and Orlando take the top three spots. Expect further home price drops in all of these markets over the next two years, leveling out by 2014. A lack of jobs–the construction industry had a huge job market presence here–coupled with a deluge of homes on the market, both from owners and banks, means these markets will take a long time to recover.
Many Western states are in the same bind as Florida, thanks to building boom and busts centered around retirement and vacation home speculation. Arizona metros like Tucson (No.8) and Nevada's Las Vegas (No.5) likely have a few years to go before prices stop dropping.
Yahoo! Buzz"In general they're attractive markets for retirement, and eventually they'll recover … but over the next five years or so they're going to have a tough time filling all the empty pieces of real estate built there," says the LMM president.
What does all of this news mean for you, the homeowner? If you are living in a market that's still depreciating in value and intend to stay in that market, don't panic and sell your home. Wait it out instead. However, if you live in one of these depreciating markets and already plan on scramming in the next few years, do it now–it's probably going to get worse before it gets better. Just don't plan on your property selling quickly, since these markets are suffering from an abundance of inventory. If you've had hopes of setting up new digs in one of these rebounding markets, do it now. Prices are only going to go up. The article was written by Morgan Brennan for Forbes.


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Learn how our campus is a leading globally connected university.
Internationalize your UMD experience through a myriad of innovative and exciting global opportunities here and abroad.
Explore our extensive campus resources to support your global engagement.
Contribute to the development and enhancement of our global partnerships.
See where Maryland's students and faculty are engaged around the world.
UMD: A Globally Connected University
Bangladesh and other countries that rely heavily upon aquacultural exports are making changes essential for the sustainability and continued growth of their industries through Good Aquacultural Practices (GAqP). In Bangladesh, 85 percent of fish and shrimp–the country's third largest export–is grown in aquaculture farms. And authorities in Bangladesh have even gone one step further in advancing their position in the industry by adopting an international approach to the implementation of GAqP. UMD's Joint Institute for food Safety and Applied Nutrition (JIFSAN) has partnered with the Bangladesh Fish and Shrimp Foundation (BSFF) to establish a collaborative training center. The new Aquaculture and Aquatic Food Safety Center (AAFSC) will aim to offer food safety training to all who are involved in the industry at every step of the supply chain, from production through marketing. In addition to concerns for the microbiological safety of its products, new food safety challenges face the industry with the use of pesticides, antibiotics, and hormones in aquaculture production. The JIFSAN/BSFF partnership will advance farmers' critical understanding of the regulations for use of all chemicals and compliance with these rules in their day-to-day activities.
Learn more about JIFSAN.


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I can't believe we are already in October, the last month has completely whizzed by. It's crazy to think that three weeks ago I was still in Iceland, when so much has happened since then!
I moved back to Sheffield two and a half weeks ago, it's my second home so it's great to be back. Moving back to a city I already knew was reassuring – I know all the bus routes, the good restaurants and how to get to class without looking at a map. That's the easy part.
I came back the week before Freshers Week, as I had secured a job at the University as an Information Assistant. I had a key role in being a point of call on campus to help new students settle in and make the week go smoothly at the Student's Union, and answer questions regarding anything and everything! I did get some odd questions. It was full on at times and quite tiring, but extremely rewarding. My uniform involved a bright orange t-shirt, which meant that I was very noticeable on campus and you could spot me from miles away. The leaflet distributors avoided me, but anyone who had an issue came straight to me. The Intro Week Team did embrace the orange, with the mentality that 'Orange is the New Black.' Some people did laugh at me when I walked to university one day though because of my uniform, that was a bit harsh. After having been away from Sheffield because of my Year Abroad, it was great to get stuck in with events on campus and feel like I belonged again.
Although I have now finished as an Intro Week Assistant, I have been welcomed back to continue with my job as a Student Mentor at a local school one morning a week. I really loved being a part of this Outreach Scheme two years ago, so I am pleased to be doing it again.
Moving into my new accommodation was rather tricky… I stored all my belongings at James' house over the summer, before I moved back into Student Accommodation two weeks ago, while I had my car over the summer. I guess we could have got a taxi, but we managed to schlep all my belongings in various boxes and bags down from Crookes on the bus (yes, the bus!), to my new flat near the campus. We did manage it in two runs, so we were quite pleased with that but I wouldn't recommend doing it.
There have been quite a few things wrong with my room: broken window, broken shower curtain, bathroom floor needs ripping up and tiling again as it isn't stuck down properly, a sick patch (ew!) hadn't been cleaned on the floor next to my bed… I could go on. After a lot of nagging though, I am settling into my new abode quite nicely and it's great living a two minute walk from my Department, having my own en-suite again and bills all-inclusive!
The first week back to lectures has been overwhelming, as we have been bombarded with information and the teachers have given us no reason to ease us in; already I've had to prepare presentations, start my reading, get to grips with tricky translations and more. We were even given tips on how to do well on our final examinations in June 2016 on Monday. Not like it is nine months away or anything…
Despite studying during my Year Abroad, I was not expected to study near as much I have to in Sheffield, so it has been a shock to the system somewhat with all these responsibilities and most days I have had to have a siesta for 2 hours in the afternoon and go to bed at 10pm to fight away the exhaustion! You can differentiate the final years from the Freshers easily; the Freshers are all bright-eyed and eager to start their studies, while the final years are already stressed, exhausted and have probably moved into the library.
Many Freshers have come up to me to chat as I look young and they presume I am in my first year too and they are looking to make friends. When I give them the bad news that I am in fact in my 4th year, they either look horrified and walk away from me, or say 'oh, you're so old!' I have never been called 'old' by an 18 year old before, but it has happened many times this week and I am so confused. I am still mistaken at times for 12 or 13, so I am in this very strange space right now. I still try to chat with them but there just seems to be this barrier which separates us, as they are nervous to be chatting to someone 'so old.' I went away for a year and now I am in this whole new category of person that I need to come to terms with.
With all this stress and pressure, I have started going to an Ashtanga Yoga class with the Yoga Society on Tuesday evenings. I love yoga as it is so relaxing and this is something I am trying to stick to weekly from now on as I know it is good for me! Plus, I have never gone to a yoga class for £2.50 (so cheap!). After five years of yoga practice, I was amazed when I managed to do Crow Pose for the first time this week! I thought I would never manage it. I'm going to try and practice it every so often so I don't lose it.
In order to go through with my 'Post-Year Abroad Resolution,' to explore more of the UK and do things of interest at home and not just places abroad, I have signed up to some events organised by the university. Next Sunday, I am going to the Harry Potter Studios! I am so excited to go, however it is a 4-hour drive each way in one day, and I am going to be exhausted. I also have a full day of work training the day before, so I need to prioritise my workload that I need to prepare for the following week. Stress. But it is so worth it.
Throughout the semester, I have also booked to visit Alnwick Castle one day, do a day course Certificate in Emergency First Aid in the Workplace for my CV, and a short 4-week course in British Sign Language with my housemates, to break up from all the studying. It's a good idea in some respects, but I worry of all that extra study time I am going to miss. Then again, I forget sometimes that I also have to live.
I still have posts I am uploading weekly of my incredible trip to Iceland to share with you. I hope you enjoy them. I will also be updating regarding my final year at university and the occasional fun activity I partake in (*cries*).
Anyway, I have to go, as I'm off to the Jewish Society Friday Night Dinner now (which I have sorely missed for the year that I have been away!).
So, I'll say Shabbat Shalom, and will post very soon.


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Fast rising business social media startup Hearsay Social heads for the stratosphere
Posted by Cheryl Ross on September 9, 2013 · Leave a Comment
Most community managers would agree that by the time a social network has raised $30 million in Series C funding, it's clearly doing something very right. And since that's just the amount that social startup Hearsay Social has just raised, the intrepid community manager will be curious to find out just what it's doing that's so right. Launched in 2009 by co-founders Steve Garrity, now its CEO, and Starbucks board of directors member Clara Shih, Hearsay Social is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices in New York. Its mission? To help businesses not only achieve regulatory compliance, but build strong relationships with customers and enhance brand presence across all of the major social networks, including Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, foursquare and Google+. Early on, the emphasis was on helping businesses raise the social media presence of their local branches, but it's evolved into what it calls a "social selling platform" as well. A dual approach If there are any community managers out there who are a little baffled by this term, essentially Hearsay Social now helps salespeople to keep their social media presence in dynamic shape by finding relevant content and tracking the "social signals" of others in their network. As…
Category slider, Social Media · Tags Community managers, Hearsay, social networks
INTERVIEW: Facebook of Latvia, With More Members than Population, Starts New Businesses
Posted by Roy Weissman on August 15, 2013 · Leave a Comment
What does a company do to grow when it has 100% of its market and doesn't want lose its employees? It starts new businesses. With over 2 million members in a country of 2 million people The Draugiem Group needed new ideas to grow. They chose to offer employees seed money to start new businesses rather than lose them to another company. It has helped Draugiem grow into a $27 million dollar company with offices worldwide. We spoke with Davis Siksnans, the man in charge of Draugiem's new ventures. You can listen to Davis's Interview here and read it below: Roy: My name is Roy Weissman from MediaJobs.com. We provide job seekers the strategic insight into their job search. Today we're speaking with Davis Siksnans from Draugiem Group in Latvia, who has a very unique business model. The Draugiem Group is an umbrella organization that houses the national social media platform of Latvia, and currently incubates 16 startups. So Davis, you guys have a pretty interesting business. You're the Facebook of Latvia, but you're many more things than that. So maybe you can give us a little bit of a sense or a history of how this all evolved, and…
Category e-commerce Media News, Podcasts, slider, Social Media · Tags draugiem group, Facebook, Social Media, start up
MyFitnessPal: the social startup that helps users get healthy and lose weight. Lots of it.
Posted by Cheryl Ross on August 12, 2013 · Leave a Comment
The average social media manager can probably only dream of such a happening. After bootstrapping for eight long years, you suddenly bag $18 million from top-end investors in your fist funding round. But for weight loss and fitness social platform MyFitnessPal, this is no daydream. It really has walked away with said sum, courtesy of an investment round led by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, with participation from Accel Partners. Weight loss by social media Intrigued social media managers will doubtless like to know how this bounty was bestowed upon a firm that had funded itself for the best part of a decade. There's a clue in the number of registered users: 40 million, and climbing at a rate of 1.5 million a month. And there's another clue in the amount of weight they've lost between them: 100 million pounds so far. That's about the same as 200+ Statues of Liberty or 5,000 elephants. Co-founder Mike Lee, who launched MyFitnessPal with his brother Albert back in 2005, said that funding was becoming a necessity because their to-do list of features they want to include on the platform has been expanding well beyond their ability to keep up with it (and…
Category slider, Social Media · Tags MyFitnessPal, Social Media, weight
Timehop raises $3 million in Series A to help people remember and reconnect with old friends
Posted by Cheryl Ross on August 1, 2013 · Leave a Comment
New York-based startup Timehop, which began life in 2011 under the name "4SquareAnd7YearsAgo", has just raised an additional $3 million in funding, taking its total to a princely $4.12 million. The latest round was led by its existing investor, Spark Capital, with participation from O'Reilly Alphatech Ventures. If you're a social media manager or community manager who hasn't heard of Timehop, listen up. From now to then Timehop has morphed into a mobile-first social media platform which pulls status updates posted on your social networks from a year or more ago. Users are reminded of friends they were in contact with this day last year, friends they might have now lost contact with. And it just lets you reminisce about the thoughts and preoccupations that were exercising your mind that day. Simple and gentle but, as social media managers will probably appreciate, strangely compelling and addictive, too. According to the startup's CEO Jonathan Wegener, the new money will be put to use in expanding the existing seven-strong team and to focus more intently on mobile app development. He describes Timehop like this: "The big, long-term vision is to be a place to reminisce online. Basically in this world, all social…
Category slider, Social Media · Tags Jonathan Wegener, Series A, Timehop
Potluck aims to turn lurkers into sharers with new iPhone app
Posted by Cheryl Ross on July 24, 2013 · Leave a Comment
Social media managers and community managers will be familiar with an unwavering pattern: only a small proportion of their community members actively create. Now Potluck, a new link-sharing service, aims to break through this, converting "lurkers" into creators, thanks to the launch of an iPhone app. From lurker to sharer? The brainchild of the team who brought you Branch, the social conversation platform, its co-founder and CEO, Josh Miller, describes the aim like this: "There's a rule on the Internet that 1 percent are going to create, 9 percent are going to curate, and 90 percent are going to be lurkers. So by definition, we're working uphill. But I actually think the iOS app is a big part of why we think we'll be able to overcome it, at least to some extent. [Mobile] feels like a much more intimate environment." With Potluck, users can post, share links, take part in conversations about what they (or others) just shared and find friends. The more skeptical social media manager might now be wondering what's so unique about Potluck, especially as there are other link-sharing services out there (Digg and Reddit amongst them). Potluck explores whether an app's ease-of-use design can entice…
Category slider, Social Media · Tags Potluck


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Please see below for a glossary of commonly used financial terms.
Asset backed securities (ABS) – debt securities backed by a pool of assets, which can range from loans and mortgages to credit card receivables. Residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) and commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) are common types of ABS.
Breakeven rate - the difference between the yield on a conventional (fixed rate) bond and that of an inflation-linked investment of comparable maturity and credit quality. If you think inflation will be greater than the breakeven rate, you would buy an inflation-linked security and sell a conventional security. If you think inflation will be less than the breakeven rate, you would sell the inflation linked security and buy the conventional security.
Callable bonds - bonds where the issuing entity has the power to 'call' (i.e. buy back) the bond, usually on specific dates or within a specified timeframe. The issuer may want to call a bond in order to re-borrow at a lower rate by issuing a new bond (this has been a common tactic in the ongoing environment of low interest rates). Bonds can also be 'puttable', which gives the bond holder (investor) the option to 'put' the bond back by selling it back to the issuer. Puttable bonds are less common.
Certificates of deposit (CDs) – negotiable savings certificates for fixed-term deposits, paying a fixed or variable rate of interest until maturity, usually at a higher rate than a savings account. CDs are liquid and offer a high level of capital protection, and are often appropriate instruments for cash funds.
Covered bonds – corporate bonds secured both against the issuer and a collateralised pool of assets, such as mortgages or loans. Covered bonds offer an extra layer of protection compared with corporate bonds, as in the event of default or insolvency investors have a claim on the pool of assets as well as the issuer.
Duration – the sensitivity of a bond's price to changes in interest rates. If rates increase, a 'short' duration portfolio will experience less of a price decline than a 'long' duration portfolio. If rates fall, a 'short' duration portfolio will experience less of a price increase than a 'long' duration portfolio. To put it another way, if rates increase by 1%, the price of a bond with a 10-year duration will lose 10%, but a bond with a 5-year duration will lose only 5%. A bond with -5-year duration will rise in price by 5%.
Floating rate notes (FRNs) - bonds issued with a variable coupon that is reset quarterly, thereby offering inflation and interest rate protection. Coupons of sterling FRNs are referenced against 3-month LIBOR and carry low interest rate.
High yield bonds – bonds rated below investment grade (BBB- or lower). These bonds offer higher yields to compensate investors for taking additional risk. However, ratings are not the only measure of risk, and some high yield bonds may offer attractive risk/return profiles for active investors who can conduct their own research and analysis.
Investment grade bonds - bonds rated BBB and higher. These bonds offer lower yields than those of high yield bonds, reflecting their relatively lower risk. However, ratings are not the only measure of risk, and investment grade bonds may not always offer an attractive risk/return profile.
Index linked bonds – securities with coupons linked to inflation, and are usually issued by governments. Unlike conventional bonds, they provide protection against inflation, which can be a key risk for investors with long-term liabilities.
MBS and RMBS - 'Mortgage Backed Securities' and 'Residential Mortgage Backed Securities'. These are securities whose cashflows derive from a pool of mortgages.
Treasury bills (T-bills) – zero coupon debt instruments issued by governments, T-bills are offered at a discount to their par (face) value. The investor receives the difference between the purchase price of the security and par value when the bill matures.
Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (TIPS) – index linked bonds issued by the US government.
Unrated corporate bonds – bonds which are not rated by any of the ratings agencies. This is not necessarily a reflection of their riskiness – there a many reasons why an issuer may choose not to pay an agency to rate its bonds. Unrated bonds will not appear in bond indices, and may offer attractive, off-benchmark opportunities to active investors who are able to conduct their own research and analysis.
Weighted Average Life - a measure which shows how long (in years) it takes to receive half the amount of the outstanding (unpaid) principal of a fixed income security (or portfolio). WAL is calculated by multiplying the total cashflows for each future year by the number of years until they are paid (i.e. cashflows for the first year ahead are multiplied by 1, those for the second year ahead are multiplied by 2, etc.). This value is then divided by the simple sum of the future cashflows.
Weighted Average Maturity - a measure of the maturity of the portfolio, calculated by taking the time to maturity (time outstanding) of each individual asset in the portfolio, multiplied by the weight (percentage holding) of that asset in the portfolio.
Yield curve – a graph that plots the yields of bonds from the shortest-maturity to the longest-maturity. It is also known as the 'term structure of interest rates'. A 'normal' yield curve slopes upward as maturities increase, as investors in longer-dated bonds demand a higher yield in return for higher interest rate risk. An 'inverted' yield curve occurs when investors believe that economic growth will slow, reflecting the risk of future interest rate cuts.
Fund Management Fee ("FMF") – an"all-in fee" that RLAM will be introducing into the Funds to replace the current list of expenses which are paid out of the Funds. The FMF will be the only charge in the Funds (excluding Transaction Costs).
The FMFs will be fully disclosed in the Prospectus, replacing the current Management Fee.
Ongoing Charges Figure("OCF") - total of the costs borne by the Funds (excl. Transaction Costs), expressed as a percentage. The OCF number is published in the KIIDs, EMT and Cost and Charges sheets, and are used by investors to understand the total costs they will be paying through the Funds.
Transaction Costs - the costs of trading, which the Funds pay when securities are bought and sold. These costs can include broker taxes, bid/ offer spreads and "market slippage", which is the change in the price of the security between when the trade is placed and the trade is actually executed.
KIID - the Key Investor Information Document, which is a regulatory document in a standardised format. The KIID includes information on the Fund's objectives, risks, historic performance and the OCF, as well as other required info and disclosures.
The KIIDs for all of the Royal London Funds are available at www.rlam.co.uk
EMT - the European MiFID Template. It is a regulatory document which has been introduced as part of the new MiFID II regulations. The document includes information on the OCFs, Transaction Costs and Target Markets.
The EMT is primarily for the use of RLAM's third party Fund Distributors, such as platform and IFAs.
The full EMT is available at www.rlam.co.uk
Cost & Charges Sheet - a regulatory document that was recently introduced as part of the new MiFID II regulations. The Cost and Charges sheet includes information on the OCFs and Transaction Costs.
All of the Cost and Charges sheets are available at www.rlam.co.uk
© 2019 Royal London Asset Management.All Rights Reserved.


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Festivals on Lake Harriet
During the winter, we get an extra 1,439 acres of land in Minneapolis that is less accessible in the summer months. When our 13 lakes freeze they can be used as extra space to walk your dogs, cross country ski, and fly a kite. The last activity probably seems a little odd, but the Minneapolis Park Board has been sponsoring the Kite Festival on Lake Harriet for the past 17 years.
Walking across the lake yesterday you could see dozens of kites, ranging in size from a small children's kite to a giant flying shark. Below the kites were over a dozen small huts. The colorful and creative art shanty's were put up last weekend and will remain a few more weeks. The organization sponsoring the annual event says they "transforms a frozen lake surface into a creative community space that is part art gallery, part art residency and part social experiment." These engaging shanty's were playful and fun, drawing in attendees to help knit scarves attached to one shanty or race little ducks down from the second level of another. The atmosphere was lively with people milling about, entering the shanty's, flying kites, and even playing a game of "mother may I."
One of the characteristics of Minnesota and the Twin Cities in particular is the cities do not shut down during winter. Almost every city has some sort of winter festival encouraging people to gather outside for a few hours. The metro area has something nearly every weekend to reduce the cabin fever that tends to set in after a long winter. Back home in Nebraska we just waited out the cold, which usually ends about 3 to 4 weeks ahead of Minnesota.
I have always wondered what the difference is between states and why some let the weather deter them while others embrace it. Is it cultural differences, city size, or length of seasons? If you are raised to go outside in the winter, that is likely what you will do when you grow up. If the cold weather lasts longer, you are less likely to settle for staying inside until it passes. It also helps if you are in a bigger city that has more activities to offer. In Rochester, they only have one major outdoor festival each winter. Regardless, it is more interesting living in a city that does not let weather determine what they do. Instead they embrace it and go fly a kite.


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Amateur gay male clips
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Posted on January 4th, 2019 by WorldFree4u.lol
Ratings: 92% liked this film
Genre(s): Action
Released On: December 23, 2016
Directed By: Preetham Gubbi
Movie Star Cast: Malavika Mohanan, Malavika Wales, Prithvi, Prakash Raj, Madhoo
Synopsis: Naanu Mattu Varalakshmi is a 2016 Indian Kannada action motocross film written and directed by Preetham Gubbi and produced by Jayanna – Bhogendra. It stars Prithvi, the grandson of veteran musician G. K. Venkatesh in his debut, and Malavika Mohanan making her Kannada debut, in the lead roles. Main Hoon Zakhmi Khiladi 2018 Full Movie In Hindi Dubbed Free Download 720P HD
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Auto Repair in Manheim Township, PA
Manheim Township, PA
The community of Manheim Township, PA, is located in Lancaster County, bordering the city of Lancaster to the south. It covers nearly 24 square miles of land, home to a population of almost 40,000 people.
Manheim Township was settled and incorporated in 1729. Living today by the motto of "A Healthy Community," it does not have its own zip code. Residents share postal designations with the neighboring municipalities of Lititz, Lancaster and Leola. The unincorporated community of Neffsville is located within Manheim Township as well. Several notable films have been filmed in the area, including Home, Corporate Affairs and Beloved. Other points of interest in Manheim Township include Landis Valley Museum, the Oregon Mill Complex and Shreiner Farm.
Every driver in Manheim Township is well covered in terms of vehicle care. M & T Universal Tech has been performing reputable service and repairs on a full range of makes and models since 2001. Well aware it can be stressful to bring your vehicle to a shop for repairs, we're committed to delivering precise workmanship along with a relaxing customer experience. We look forward to meeting you at our location in nearby Lancaster, where saving you money keeps us in business!
A Few Words from Our Customers
Jamie T. from Lancaster
I've had only excellent customer service and vehicle service with M&T Universal Tech and I would highly recommend them for repairs or maintenance.
Damon A. from Lancaster
The quality of work is excellent. They give you a fair price. I have never had any problems with any of the repairs I have had them work on.


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Awards Ceremony | McGill Dobson Cup 2019 powered by National Bank
The McGill Dobson Cup powered by National Bank and hosted by the McGill Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship, is McGill's flagship annual startup competition.
On April 4, 2019 join us as we celebrate the 11th Edition of the McGill Dobson Cup powered by National Bank where we will also award over $150,000 in seed funding to the most promising McGill startups across 4 Tracks. We will be awarding prize money to the top 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place winners in each of the 4 Tracks below:
- Health Sciences Track 2019 Finalists
- Social Enterprise Track 2019 Finalists
- Small Medium Enterprise Track 2019 Finalists
- Innovation Driven Enterprise Track 2019 Finalists
More information on the McGill Dobson Cup powered by National Bank can be found on https://mcgill.ca/dobsoncup
More information to follow!


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Working with MHN
The Provider Portal offers information and resources to support ease and efficiency in working with our MHN. In this section you will find our Practitioner Manual, EAP Corner, Clinical Operations Practices and more. Please review this information carefully and check back often for updates. Again, welcome to the MHN Provider Portal. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact MHN for assistance.You can reach your Regional Representative here Regional Rep List or you can email email@example.com for assistance.


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Big Story
Separate names with a comma.
Discussion in 'Spider-Man' started by spider1420, Jul 21, 2012.
How do you set the systems clock to december to get the suits?
System ---> Date & Time
It's all the way on the right (and once on that panel, the top left box on the 2012 GUI).
It should go without saying that you should be disconnected from Xbox Live to do this.
For the PS3, the is a similar setting (again, remain physically disconnected from PSN ... like disconnect the cable from your machine). I forgot where the System Date is set on the PS3, but it is there. The PS3 has an internal battery, so you cannot set your system to its launch date by disconnecting the power supply (like you can with the older white 360).
There are at least 4 you can get right now without needing to change your dates.


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You can access your saved and recently viewed vehicles in this menu.
Please adjust the options below so we can estimate the most accurate monthly payments. This calculator is intended solely for general informational purposes and is provided as a rough estimate based on the information provided by the user. Your actual monthly payment will vary depending on final amount financed, your actual credit profile, income and the loan term lender allows.
When it's time to get that vehicle of yours serviced, then bring it to the MCJ Auto Sales service center. We do it all from oil changes to major engine and transmission work. Our team of experts will not only get your service done right, but they will also have you back out on the road before you know it. We will treat your vehicle as if it were our own, and we will always give you an honest estimate with trustworthy results. You can schedule your service appointment right now by clicking the link that we have for you below. We look forward to hearing from you.
We can take care of any make or model right here in Orlando. Our team of experts has experience providing service to a huge variety of brands. Regardless of the technology employed in your vehicle, or the country of origin, our team can figure out your service issue and have you back on the road in no time. We can't wait to help you and your vehicle here in Orlando. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us right away!
MCJ Auto Sales
7224 E. Colonial Dr.
Orlando, FL 32807
Get directions


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Have you ever laughed out loud as you sat back to watch an online video
Well, be prepared to laugh even louder when you realize how the power of video marketing can skyrocket your profits to another level!
From The Desk Of: PLR with Sam
Dear Fellow Entrepreneur,
You don't need me to tell you how the popularity of online videos has gone through the roof with videos of every possible description being available for the general public to view at their leisure.
Whilst it would be fair to say that the majority of these videos are uploaded by people who would just like to share their experiences and favourite music and movie clips etc, there is a growing band of internet marketers who are realizing that with the correct knowledge, these online videos can be the equivalent of gold dust to their online business.
Let's take a look at YouTube which is the most well-known of these video sharing websites. Did you know that many people now use YouTube as their preferred search engine?
When they look for something online it is sites such as YouTube that they use because they would much rather have the answer to their query in video format as opposed to text.
What's more, carry out a Google search and the chances are that you will see a YouTube video on the subject on the first page of the search results!
Please stop and think about what I am saying here for one minute. It is possible to put a video together in a very short space of time, direct that video back to whatever you please and start to see a flood of traffic from that video in a very short space of time.
You don't need to have any video making skills or expensive equipment in order to make these videos. You can start off with software which is already installed on your computer and instantly be in the enviable position of being able to put up videos in any niches which will generate so much traffic, the only way that you will be able to stop it is to remove the video from YouTube.
Admittedly for the newbie, it can all be slightly overwhelming but there is a guide which will tell you everything that you will ever need to know about this ground breaking method in easy to follow steps that absolutely anyone will be able to understand.
"The Newbies Guide to Video Marketing Genius" is such a comprehensive guide that after reading it you will know the exact steps that have to be taken in order to become a video marketing genius.
Your days of worrying about how to generate online traffic will be a thing of the past and the opportunities in which you can use this new found knowledge will be endless.
Nothing has been overlooked regarding video marketing with the result that you will be referring to this guide time and time again as it dawns on you that it is something that really is very special indeed.
Here's just some of what's covered…
Introduction to video marketing
What makes your videos great?
How to make a video
Show your video to the world
Video marketing tactics
Much, much more
Just $7
Thanks for Reading
PLR with Sam
PS. The information contained in this guide will have an amazing effect on your online business due to the enormous amounts of online traffic that you will be able to generate at will.
PPS. Please don't think that becoming a video marketing genius is only possible if you are an arty type. Nothing could be further from the truth because it is something that anybody can do!


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Got a big appetite? This easy French cassoulet will serve up to six people! This dish is ready in about an hour, it has sausages, chicken and bacon!
chicken thigh
Indonesian bami goreng
Bami Goreng is the Indonesian version of Lo Mein and means "fried noodles". This Indonesian recipe for 4 people, ready in 25 minutes.
Butter lettuce salad with chicken thighs
Make a big impression with this butter lettuce salad with chicken thighs. Recipe for 2, ready in 25 minutes.


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You will be asked to answer six voluntary questions about yourself, complete up to four tasks, and assess your experience completing each task.
Our goal is to see how easy or difficult you find IRS.gov to use. We want to know how easy we have made it for people to use the site. There are no right or wrong answers.


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5 Goals The Hatchery Can Help You Keep In 2018
NEW YEAR, NEW YOU - or so they say! Goals are great and everything, but we all know that actually accomplishing them is a totally different story. Here's how The Hatchery can help you crush your goals in 2018:
As we say at The Hatchery, we like to get s*** done! We realize that isn't exactly easy when you're trying to crush your goals from home. Here, you won't find any dirty dishes or loads of laundry to distract you. Well, except for your own coffee cup, but somehow that seems way more manageable than the 4 your spouse has randomly left all over your living room or the two stinky sippy cups you've been putting off cracking open.
Our point is that when you're at home, it's way more likely for a half-hour task to turn into a 3 hour task thanks to our brain's tendency towards distraction. Leave the household chores at home, come in, put some headphones on, and we can almost guarantee that the work you thought would take you from 8AM-5PM can be crushed much sooner! Who doesn't want more free time or the time to get even more accomplished? Let us give you the gift of productivity.
Raise your hand if those goals you set at the beginning of 2017 are still sitting neatly in a notebook with just a couple satisfying check marks to show off your achievements! Um, hi, us too - guilty as charged!
We know that accountability is one of the keys when it comes to actually achieving the goals we set in place. That's why we have a public goal board for our community that we update each Monday. Writing down your goals is great, but having it on display for a group of like-minded individuals is even better. Not only will you see it each time you walk by, but other members will too. Our community will celebrate you when something is crossed off, encourage you through the process of achievement if you need it, and connect you with other members if we can tell you're needing their expertise to move forward.
We're not going to get you out of bed each morning, but we can check in on your tasks as much as you need us too, and we can almost guarantee that you'll find some accountability buddies to check in with you as you work through your list of goals! #TeamworkMakesTheDreamWork
Ohhhh networking. That word either makes your eyes light up (Amanda) or makes your eyes roll to the back of your head (Raigan)! If you fall into that second category it may be because you have the impression that networking is all about putting on your social media worthy persona - maybe you feel like networking is all about being the perfect, most impressive version of yourself and we can definitely see why that would make your eyes roll!
Here at The Hatchery, we have a very different perspective on networking that even the most introverted among us can benefit from. Networking isn't about passing a business card and expecting to make a sale - it's about being your authentic self and attracting business through just being you. We want you to be able to build yourself up as an individual people know, like, and trust enough to do business with. What better way to do that than through a community who is already here to seek out those kinds of connections? The pressure of selling yourself in one sentence is totally off here - we just want you to be here, get involved, and naturally build your network by just being you.
Self Care
Some of you may be laughing at this goal because come on, who actually has the time to fit in some "me time" to their day?! Well, we hate to be the bearers of bad news here but you 100% have that time - you're just not maximizing it to its fullest potential. Wouldn't it feel good to schedule in time for yourself instead of going a million miles a minute and hitting the burnout wall halfway through Thursday? Spoiler alert: you are not superhuman and if you're not taking the time to refuel yourself, you're going to hit that wall every. single. time.
We have hit that wall so many times that self-care is one of the major foundations of the kinds of events we choose to host in our space. Whether it's yoga, coaching, nutrition, or our Mindful Morning classes we've made it a point to host events that fill your cup right from your workspace. It's not so hard to schedule an hour of your week for yourself when the classes are right by you and are (often!) already rolled into your monthly membership. Plus, all that accountability stuff we just talked about? You better believe this is one area we'll fight to keep you accountable since it's the foundation of all of your success!
Most small businesses fail because they get caught up working in their business, not on their business. Does the phrase "Jack of all trades, master of none" sound familiar to you? That's probably because none of us are actually supposed to know how to do everything. So stop trying. Part of this is a scarcity mindset, part of it is the fear of giving up control, and part of it is just not knowing what to delegate. It's hard to do, but you have to know what your time is worth
Do you really suck at creating your social media or keeping track of your business finances? HIRE IT OUT. I know, you probably just rolled your eyes and said "That would be awesome if money grew on trees!" Let us break it down for you: If you make a product that you sell for $50 and it takes you 2 hours to make it, that's $25/hour. You still have to advertise your product and your company. It takes you 3 hours to map out and create your social media for the week. That's 12 hours a month. If your time is worth $25/hour then that's $300/month that you're spending on creating your social media. If you hired this out to someone who is a baller at social media, they could realistically accomplish this in half the time. Which would mean that is half the cost. Oh, and since this is their wheelhouse, they will probably do a much better job and save you even more money.
Our goal is to help get you acquainted with different members and learn what they do. We're not trying to sell their services to you, but we want you to feel comfortable enough to strike up a conversation. Learn what they do and potentially collaborate with them. This can do two things - you can utilize their services or you can learn how they delegate parts of their business to be able to work on what they do best. Either way, we can almost guarantee you'll find a way to outsource that one thing in your business you just HATE doing - after all, you didn't start this entrepreneurship gig just to hate your job.


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Special Reports
Baby doesn't hinder her studies
STOCKTON -- Yarikza Comparán became scared when she discovered she was pregnant during her junior year at Franklin High School.
"I really didn't know what to do, but my mom told me that everything would be fine," said Yarikza, now 18.
Despite weekly hospital visits, being on bedrest for the final month of her high-risk pregnancy, and the stress of balancing both motherhood and school work, her mother's wise words were correct.
"Everything has been really good so far," said Yarikza, whose son, Ángel Isaac, was born on Halloween last year.
Since the birth of her son, Yarikza's academic and career goals have not faltered.
As her parents watched Ángel, Yarikza -- a member of the school's National Honors Society and Circle of Friends, a disability awareness organization -- kept up her grades in school. She graduated from Franklin's International Baccalaureate program May 21, and will begin commuting to University of California, Merced, in the fall.
Rather than change or constrain her future plans, Yarikza said the birth of her son has helped reinforce the importance of pursuing an education and a career. She hopes to go to medical school and become a pediatrician.
"People stereotype that being pregnant at a young age, you're not going to pursue what you want," Yarikza said. "I think you can use it as an encouragement to go more in life and get your goals done."
Yarikza said she has seen other teen moms drop out of school but, she said, "why am I going to give up if I know I can accomplish what I want?"
Sonia Comparán, Yarikza's mother, said she was worried her daughter would drop out of school once she became pregnant.
But, she said in Spanish, Yarikza "wants to continue forward, so we have no other choice by to support her."
The birth of Ángel will not be an obstacle to her daughter's studies, "but rather something that helps her improve herself," said Sonia Comparán, a native of La Palma, Michoacán, México.
Today, Ángel is only seven months old. But in the future, Yarikza said, "I hope he can take into consideration all the work I've done, and strive for a better future for himself."
She said she will support any career path he chooses, "as long as he doesn't give up in his education."
Her advice for other teen moms is similar.
"Don't give up," she said, "because you can use that mistake to strive for a better future."


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Are you interested in becoming a member of LifeGate Church? Then join us for this one night event to meet your Pastors, learn more about your church & find your place in serving. Childcare and dinner are provided. We hope to see you there!
Back to All Events
Earlier Event: May 12Child Dedication
Later Event: May 21Fervent Tour with Priscilla Shirer


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May 11, 1993
Mr. Speaker, Esteemed Knesset:
We are living in a world that has changed. The bipolar balance of terror has collapsed, and its place has not yet been filled by another international structure. We are moving towards a world in which there are processes of economic unification and political confrontation. And even with these confrontations, it is a world with fewer identified enemies and more unidentified problems. These changes present our foreign policy with new challenges, challenges of a world that has changed on a map that has expanded.
Today, Israel's diplomatic globe is beginning to correspond to the geographic globe of our world, both in scope and in atmosphere. Israel now has diplomatic relations with 124 countries, and diplomatic missions in 94 of them. Incidentally, the entire Foreign Ministry staff in Israel and abroad is no more than 900 persons, thus we need not be overly impressed by the number of missions.
Our special relationship with the United States continues to be a mainstay of our foreign policy. This relationship has been enriched by a joint effort and an ongoing dialogue to further the peace process. Relations with the countries of Europe have been strengthened, and our tie with the European Community has been deepened. New horizons have appeared in Asia and the CIS. At the same time, we continue to foster our good relations with Latin America and African countries.
Now that the Cold War has ended, the Israeli-Arab conflict is no longer held in the vise of the inter-bloc struggle; countries in the region can no longer depend on the automatic support of one of the blocs, nor on its money, weapons, or political assistance.
The peace process today reflects the need of all countries in the region to rely increasingly on their own potential and to struggle with the real, existential problems of each respective country.
Changes have also occurred in foreign relations: pure diplomacy is being ecliplsed by economic, scientific and cultural relations. Credit lines, bilateral research and development agreements, integration into economic regions and trade blocs these are the components of world power today, which is not dependent on the size of armies, and not even on diplomatic alliances. It is more a geoeconomic world than a geopolitical one.
The world has not only contracted, it has also opened up. The messages of the new world reverberate on the airwaves and are picked up clearly on television sets. And even tyrannical governments can no longer conceal the truth from their citizens. The world hungers for bread and thirsts for truth. Even the most truculent of Arab leaders know today that saber-rattling will not put breakfast on the table of a young, growing population that increasingly expects concrete answers. It is becoming even more understood that poverty is a breeding ground for religious fundamentalism, and that deprivation is the sire of political revolt. Among our neighbours, the recognition is spreading that Israel is no long their real enemy, and is not even a country that may be described as such. The real threat that many governments in the area face is a home-made threat, not an imported one.
Arab participation in the peace process is an inevitable conclusion that one draws in view of this changed world. The true challenges of the region are the establishment of a new economic order, a solution to the water problems, curbing the arms race, saving the environment, and solving the refugee problem. These challenges cannot be met without regional cooperation, without the understanding that the time has come to turn the Middle East from an area that belonged to its rulers to one that will respond to the needs of the ordinary common man.
In the framework of the bilateral negotiations, past conflicts are being discussed: borders, territories, powers. On our part, we desire to create a respectful relationship with our Palestinian neighbours; so while they live according to their own way of life, we ensure the security of our citizens, as we should and must. There is no need for them to be our laborers, and for us to be their policemen.
In the framework of the multilateral negotiations, we are working to lay the foundations for the establishment of a new Middle East, a Middle East based on economic cooperation and regional security. In the working group on regional economic development, which met last week in Rome, it was decided that the World Bank will prepare a list of proposals for regional projects, from the linking of electricity grids of the countries in the region by the way, they calculated that if the electricity grids of Jordan, Egypt and Israel were linked, we could save those countries $6 billion to the planning of the infrastructure of future transportation. The potential is vast; no wonder it is beginning to fire the imaginations of our interlocutors. It was also decided to hold informal meetings between the official meetings of the working group, in order to broaden the group's conceptual base and expedite its work.
Alongside Israel, representatives of twelve Arab countries are participating in the multilateral talks: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, Yeman, Qatar, and of course, our Palestinian neighbours, and thirty countries from all over the world. This is a highly-integrated and far-reaching political, economic, and planning endeavour, almost unprecedented.
We should not take this lightly. Israel has been provided a real opening for peace and regional cooperation, and we are determined not miss this opportunity. Both we and our neighbours must become accustomed to a new way of thinking; that not of a shattered, anachronistic, backward, and bellicose Middle East, but rather of a Middle East that adapts itself to a new world rhythm, a Middle East that acts according to the inevitable rules of the new era.
From the historical perspective, Mr. Speaker, diplomacy was once regarded as one of the most conservative occupations. Yet the diplomatic apparatus is now required to show its ability to adapt to an international environment that is still in flux. We can no longer build only on past experience, but must adapt ourselves to that which is new in our world. We can no longer build our case on verbal self-defense; we need real architecture.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is aware of this reality and is adjusting its ranks, structure, and goals accordingly. We will of course place the peace process at the focus of our activities, and will work to improve the Ministry's ability to further this goal through research, planning, and international ties. Simultaneous with the promotion of peace, and as an integral part of this effort, we shall place an increased emphasis on expanding the Ministry's economic, scientific, and cultural activities. Trade, science, tourism, cultural, and modern mass communications agreements all of these are central components in the interrelations between countries, and their impact on foreign relations has never been greater. It is our intention to increase our ability to assist the Israeli economy, Israeli companies, and Israeli entrepreneurs, in expanding markets, promoting investments, and locating worthwhile business opportinities. We shall make an effort to recruit and train the best of those who wish to join our ranks. If in the past the Israeli diplomat came across as an explainer of his country, today he must be a promoter of his country's economy. He must be a full partner in the shaping of a new region and of the establishment of new spheres.
We are presently carrying out, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a comprehensive, organizational reform, meant to adapt the Ministry's structure and its training programs to these needs. We know that our success in this mission depends, in the final analysis, on the Ministry's employees themselves and the foreign service is indeed blessed with professional, erudite and experienced staff who work under difficult and demanding conditions. We are determined to further the professional status of our staff members, while emphasizing the welfare of their families, who bear no small share of the hardships that arise in a way of life that requires much mobility. I am convinced that through cooperative efforts the senior executives and the employees we shall succeed in the tasks that await us.