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I've been listening to Podcasts for quite a while now but it's only been somewhat recently in which I started listening to the majority of these mostly through recommendations.
ZM's Fletch, Vaughan & Megan
These three do the morning show on ZM which I always listen to if I'm rarely up at that hour. Since I'm usually not I just listen to the podcast. It's become part of my routine listening to it before bed. It's funny, it sometimes has parts that make you cringe and you always learn something new thanks to Vaughan's fact of the day.
Ladies who Lunch
I discovered this podcast from the NZbloggers chat on Twitter some weeks ago and I'm enjoying it. It's hosted by Ingrid Nilsen & Cat Valdes who are American YouTubers. Each episode they talk about topics such as friendships, relationships, sexuality and feminism. There are also some listener letters relating to the topics that get talked about as well. I enjoy hearing these two talk about topics which don't really get talked about that often.
Ctrl Alt Delete
Started by British blogger Emma Gannon the podcast has the same name as her first book which I am currently reading and loving. In each episode Emma interviews a different person who uses social media in an interesting way and made something out of it. She's interviewed author Elizabeth Gilbert, YouTubers Zoella & Tanya Burr as well as many other interesting people. Each episode is engaging and I'm always inspired to do something creative while listening.
Design Life
I've mentioned this podcast before and how much I enjoy it. It's hosted by Charli & Femke who are designers from New Zealand. Charli lives in London while Femke lives in Amsterdam. They mostly talk about design and side projects which I find interesting, particularly side projects as you are currently reading one of mine. I think listening to this podcast is what led to me starting making a go on YouTube, braving the camera and having fun with the editing.
Riverhead Books/Magic Lessons
Hosted by Elizabeth Gilbert this is season one of Magic Lessons, season two is on a different podcast altogether titled 'Magic Lessons' while this one is under Riverhead Books. Anyway Elizabeth calls up people who have written in to her and they talk about creativity, losing it and getting it back. The next episode after it is usually her calling one of her friends, fellow authors and such, and talking about the previous person. It's less confusing than it sounds. It's just a big conversation about creativity which I enjoy.
What podcasts do you like to listen to?


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Discover a fishing village
Join us on a guided walking tour to the quaint old fishing village of Svinøya adjacent to the Lofoten town of Svolvær.
- Guided walk through the small historic fishing village of Svinøya.
- Learn about the history of the village and the Lofoten fishery.
- Visit an art gallery dedicated to the iconic Lofoten painter Gunnar Berg.
- Taste locally produced stockfish, and bring it home!
The town of Svolvær has been a thriving fishing community since 1828 and maintains that tradition today. On this excursion, we explore the town´s oldest quarter on the adjacent small island of Svinøya. The fisheries industry is still of major importance to the region. The Lofoten cod fishery has always been the basis of existence for the people who live here. Wandering among the `rorbuer´ (fishermen's huts) and iconic stock fish racks you easily immerse yourself in the atmosphere. On Svinøya you view the sea on one side and a spectacular mountain backdrop on the other.
We also visit a gallery dedicated to the local 19th century artist Gunnar Berg, who tragically died at the age of 30 and was known for his paintings of Lofoten. Here we taste locally dried and cured stock fish. You also receive at small complimentary portion of stockfish to take back home. We then pass by a renowned local fish restaurant and typical Lofoten fish processing plant before heading back across the bridge to Svolvær town centre.
Practical information
- Disembarking port: Svolvær
- Embarking port: Svolvær
- Southbound or Northbound: Southbound
- Approximate arrival/departure times: 18:45 - 20:15
- Available period: 01 September - 08 April
- Meals on the trip: A taste of stock fish
- Clothes/Footwear: Hiking shoes, warm and windproof clothing
- Note: Not available 23-25 & 31 December

subset: commoncrawl


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Breaking the habit of being myself.
One full week post-hand break and I am continuing in the practice of being a Righty (right-handed), since my left hand - my dominant hand - is out of commission. A book on my shelf titled "Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself" (Dispenza, 2012) speaks volumes to me in those few words. In the repeated act of using my right hand to brush my teeth, type, eat, and essentially do everything else each day during this past week, I experience the discomfort and unease of the non-habituality of right-handedness. I am aware of how each action with my right hand is strengthening the habit of its use. I can almost feel my brain rewiring its circuitry and creating grooves for these actions to make them easier and more automatic. And, in subtle ways, it does feel like it's getting easier. I'm feeling a teeny bit less resistant and more at home with the inconvenience of it. As stated in the book,
"...change will probably entail a bit of discomfort, some inconvenience, a break from a predictable routine, and a period of not knowing."
The self awareness I have been gifted through meditation and mind-body practices are being put to good use during this time, helping me to notice the ways I can easily get stuck in upset, when I'm pushing myself too hard and when it all feels like too much and I need to let go and retreat.


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Watsons offers a precision engineering service with exceptional in-house facilities, with a flexible approach and on-site efficiency ensure a timely response to the constantly changing and developing requirements of modern day projects.
Operating from our modern premises in Hoyland, Barnsley, the company manufactures precision sheet metal products, components and fabrications for customers in a wide range of industries including the medical, aerospace and surveillance sectors.
Our experience and technical expertise means we are suited to a wide range of projects. We have a dedicated team of engineers, designers and skilled trades to support our client's projects.
These technologies allow our fabrication capabilities to include:
- Milling
- Threading
- Die cutting
- PEM studding
- CNC punching
- Bending and forming parts


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We are pleased to announce our private client teams were named as the best in their sector at the Legal Business Awards 2016 held in November last year.
The awards are the leading celebration for the UK's thriving law community and are hosted by Legal Week in association with The City of London Law Society.
We fought off elite competition from the UK's legal community to win an award which recognises work across areas of law such as family, contentious probate, personal tax and will, trusts and estates.
Our submission was based on a number of our high profile cases, including our success at the Supreme Court in 2015, when partner and head of our family law team in Manchester, Ros Bever, helped secure victory for two ex-wives, making legal history in the process.
The landmark case saw a unanimous ruling to set aside original financial settlements because both husbands' had been dishonest about their assets in their divorce proceedings.
The cases gained over 200 media hits including coverage in all of the national newspapers and from the major broadcaster.
The submission also featured Paula Myers successful Court battle on behalf of a woman fighting to keep a share of her deceased partner's property and how the result showed the need for co-habitation laws to be brought into the 21st century.
Published: 31/01/2017
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New Tax, Trusts and Estates Solicitor For Irwin Mitchell Private Wealth's Sheffield Office
Specialist Private Wealth Lawyers Instructed To Resolve Trust Company Issues - Including Clients Of Universal Wealth Preservation
Ubbi v Ubbi: 'Vital To Update Wills After Every Major Life Event', Lawyers Warn
Buzz Aldrin Suing Family For Misuse Of Finances: 'LPA Abuse On The Rise', Warn Lawyers
Three Irwin Mitchell Private Wealth Lawyers Named In Latest Who's Who Legal: Private Client 2017 Rankings
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We have changed our name but we will continue to provide the highest standard of service to businesses and individuals delivered by the same people.
For more information about the merger, please visit the About Us page.


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Will offer split union?
Some Council 82 members say the deal is so bad they should start a new union
ALBANY -- The labor contract the Cuomo administration is offering to a statewide law enforcement union has prompted an uprising, with some members saying the deal is so bad they should vote no and then start their own separate negotiating unit.
It's unclear whether the contract offered to Council 82's 1,160 law enforcement members will pass or not, or whether it will spark a mass defection to a new union, a process known as decertification, but union members and others are watching closely to see how the debate plays out.
That's because the Cuomo administration has put a big bet on the deal it's offered to Council 82, saying they hope it will be a template for contracts with much larger state employee unions, including the Public Employees Federation and the Civil Service Employees Association.
Those two unions, which represent roughly 120,000 state employees, have already distanced themselves from the contract offered to Council 82, which includes retroactive raises but no increases for the next three years. It also calls for higher health care premiums.
The lack of raises and increases in health care costs are just a few of the problems that dissident union members have.
"This proposed Council 82 sell out contract is financial cancer!" reads a flier that went out last week to Council 82's Agency Law Enforcement Services members. They include police who work in the State Park System, on State University campuses, for the Department of Environmental Conservation and forest rangers.
"We can do better, so join me," urges the four-page flier, which lists Manuel Vilar, a Long Island-based Park police sergeant, as a contact.
Additionally, the flier asks members to abandon Council 82 and instead join a new entity, dubbed the Police Benevolent Association of New York State, which according to the text would be led by Dan DeFedericis, the now-retired president of the state troopers PBA.
Neither Vilar nor DeFedericis could be reached on Monday.
But Troy Caupain, a park police captain and president of the local that represents those officers, said he hears a lot of complaints about how the lack of raises and high health care costs are viewed as a step back.
"This contract is absolutely horrendous for us, and that's why there is a push for the no vote and to sit down and right our own ship," he said.
In addition to a three-year pay freeze, the deal also would eliminate "step," or longevity-based increases, and it would limit the amount of unused sick time that a retiree could cash in on to help pay for their health insurance.
On the other hand, the deal could provide thousands of dollars in back pay by finalizing the arbitration over past raises that has dragged on for years.
The union has been without a contract since 2005.
"We're dealing with a perfect storm here," said one Council 82 member who didn't want to be named who believes the deal will pass by a narrow margin.
The Cuomo administration earlier this month announced they had reached an agreement with Council 82, and ballots were sent out to members for ratification. The vote is expected to run through May 10.
Cuomo spokesman Josh Vlasto said the administration remains optimistic about the vote, and stressed that internal debates over contract proposals are nothing new.
"Of course there are going to be members for and against any agreement. It's part of the political process of approving such a contract," Vlasto said.
Cuomo's bargaining team of Todd Snyder, a managing director at Rothschild Inc., and Joseph Bress, former head of the Governor's Office of Employee Relations, are negotiating with PEF and CSEA as well as Council 82. The PEF and CSEA contracts expired April 1.
The governor said he needs to save $450 million in workforce costs from this year's budget. If he can't get that through labor concessions, he would begin laying off up to 9,800 state employees.
Council 82's members did get a bit of encouraging news: The administration said the limit on applying unused sick time to one's health insurance costs in retirement wouldn't kick in until Oct. 1.
The proposed Council 82 contract would lower from 200 to 50 the number of unused sick days that could be used to offset insurance costs. That could prompt some union members who are eligible for retirement to do so by October in order to ensure they have lower health premiums.
"There are a lot of guys at the end of their careers and they've been saving their sick time," Caupain said.
More Information
Reach Karlin at 454-5758 or email@example.com


text: Season three of the Emmy award-winning "The Man in the High Castle," finds Juliana Crain grappling with her destiny after seeking safety in the Neutral Zone. Realizing that their fates are intertwined, she works with Trade Minister Tagomi to interpret the mystery of the last remaining films. Meanwhile, Obergruppenfuhrer John Smith learns of a shocking and ambitious new Nazi program that has personal and global ramifications. Alexa Davalos, Rufus Sewell, Chelah Horsdal and Isa Hackett came to BUILD to discuss the latest season of the Amazon Prime series.


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Cambridge Audio unveils three new Bluetooth-powered speakers
Audio company Cambridge Audio recently announced three new Bluetooth speakers that are somewhat pricey but should still win over music listeners. The Go, Go Radio and Bluetone 100 will all be available later this year, as the wireless speaker market becomes even more competitive.
The Go is designed to instantly stream music from smartphones, tablets, and computers, with 18 hours of playback per charge. It includes NFC technology for one-touch Bluetooth pairing to smartphones and other devices. The Go Radio includes the same specifications but also includes an FM Radio with 3 pre-sets and LED digital display. The Bluetone 100 features 100 Watt amplification and a working range up to 105 feet, with 180 degree sound dispersion.
The Cambridge Audio Go will be released in September with a $179.99 MSRP; the Go Radio will be available in November for $199.99 MSRP; and the Bluetone 100 will be available in September with a $299.99 MSRP.


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Truth or Scare: The Keystone Pipeline
WASHINGTON -- Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05) stood up against the Keystone Pipeline ahead of another ill-advised vote to approve it.
Below is a video and transcript of the speech.
Thank you Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, a new Congress, but the sights are familiar.
The same rhetoric with no regard for the truth.
Ahead of another ill-advised vote to approve the Keystone Pipeline, the same myths are being spread, pitting environmental protection against job creation.
Winston Churchill once said, "The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is."
Let us separate myths from reality.
It's time to decide: Truth or Scare.
Approval of the Keystone Pipeline will have very little impact in the way of job creation, but a detrimental impact on the environment and hinder our promise of a clean energy future.
That's the truth.
My question is why are we ignoring these facts and voting once again to approve the Keystone Pipeline, which would carry one of the dirtiest energy sources on the planet?
Perhaps it has something to do with the many myths associated with this project.
Pipeline proponents are quick to point to the creation of jobs as the primary reason for the project's approval; however, the facts don't match up.
According to the only independent analysis, by Cornell University's Global Labor Institute, these claims are not accurate. TransCanada's job claims are complete fabrications.
The Cornell Report concludes that Keystone will not be a major source of jobs, nor will it play any substantial role at all in putting Americans back to work.
The State Department says Keystone would only create 35 permanent jobs and 1,950 construction jobs for two years.
Most of the jobs created by this project will be non-local and temporary.
In reality, we can and should be creating jobs by improving our existing infrastructure and investing in clean energy, education and research.
In fact, Keystone would make it much harder for the United States to invest in clean energy jobs and address global climate change.
Our best bet at a clean energy economy lies far, far away from tar sands.
That's the truth.
Proponents of the pipeline claim that Keystone will bring down gas prices for Americans.
But in reality, prices at Midwestern pumps could actually increase.
According to its own documents, TransCanada expects the pipeline to increase gas prices in the Midwest up to 15 cents per gallon.
Currently, a surplus of gas in the region means that our prices stay stable. If the pipeline is built, oil companies will be able to send their product to the Gulf Coast for export, which will reduce this surplus and drive up costs for Midwestern consumers.
That's the truth.
On top of all of this, let's not forget, TransCanada is the same company that operates the existing Keystone pipeline which spilled a dozen times in the first year of operation.
The 12th spill released 21,000 gallons of oil in North Dakota, contaminating the soil and water.
Across the country, about 3.2 million gallons of oil spill from pipelines every year.
These spills pose a great threat to American drinking water, especially when you consider the proposed project route would cross 1,073 surface water bodies and affect 383 acres of wetlands.
Most Americans understand that oil spills in the past have had severe environmental impacts, but any Keystone spill would be truly catastrophic.
That's the truth.
In the end, Keystone brings a whole lot of environmental risk and very little reward.
It's time we stop perpetuating the myths. It's time we heed the warnings. It's time we decide: Truth or Scare.
Thank you and I yield back.


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The Las Vegas gunman used "bump stocks'' to turn at least a dozen rifles into something akin to automatic weapons, as well as remote video cameras to alert him when police were closing in on his firing positions, according to law enforcement officials.
One of the cameras was placed on a room service food cart just outside Stephen Paddock's hotel room door, in what officials said was an apparent effort to get an early warning when police were about to break in. At least one other camera was positioned inside the room, apparently for the same reason, officials said.
People familiar with the investigation said the cameras were linked to a tablet device that allowed the gunman to "watch his back" for first responders while firing down on the concert crowd from his 32nd-story suite, killing 58 people and injuring more than 500 others.
[Police say Las Vegas gunman planned 'extensively']
The cameras and weaponry speak to what officials said Tuesday was a remarkable amount of planning and preparation by the shooter to increase the lethality of his attack. He may have used the cameras to ensure he was not captured alive, according to people familiar with the investigation.
When a SWAT team burst into his room, they found him dead on the floor, apparently having shot himself in the mouth with a silver, black-handled revolver.
Officials revealed more details of the 23-gun arsenal Paddock brought up to Room 32-135 of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. He hauled them in suitcases and apparently was stealthy enough that hotel staff members never spotted the weapons and stacks of ammunition magazines.
Detectives believe he used a hammer to break out two windows in the large suite, then moved between the openings, alternating weapons as he alternated windows, according to people familiar with the investigation.
After the attack, investigators found another 19 guns at the shooter's home in Mesquite, Nev. Authorities say the weapons purchases appear to have been legal, some acquired at local stores near his home and others bought at chain retailers such as Cabela's.
ATF officials said Tuesday evening that 12 of the guns recovered in Las Vegas had "bump fire'' stocks — devices which make semi-automatic weapons fire almost as fast as fully automatic weapons. Investigators are still working to determine how many guns in his arsenal he used.
Agents from the FBI's headquarters were in Las Vegas to help collect evidence, some of which would be sent back to FBI labs for further testing and evaluation, Clark County Sheriff Joseph Lombardo said.
The arsenal included AR-15-type rifles, as well as an AK-47-type weapon, according to officials. Some of the weapons were mounted on bipods. At least one had a scope.
Photos obtained by local Boston affiliate Fox 25 show an AR-15-type rifle on the floor of the hotel room. The weapon has a bump- or slide-fire modification, said Cody Wilson, director of Defense Distributed, which primarily sells a gunmaking machine.
Bump-fire stocks, first made by the company Slide Fire, are legal modifications to the lower receiver of rifles that simulate automatic fire. The modified stock harnesses the energy from recoil, forcing the firing mechanism to move faster than originally designed, according to the Trace, a nonprofit website that examines gun violence in the United States. Numerous videos online, including from Slide Fire, demonstrate the mechanics.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives decided in 2010 that bump stocks do not violate federal firearms laws.
The modified rifle with the bump-fire mechanism included a high-capacity magazine that could hold between 60 and 100 rounds, an EOTech-brand holographic sight and a forward hand grip — a key accessory that allows a shooter to push the rifle away from the body to bounce, or bump, the weapon into the trigger finger.
Those components used together in a weapon suggest a desire to quickly shoot a lot of automatic-like fire into masses of people without much concern for accuracy, as the recoil from simulated automatic fire would make it difficult to hit specific targets at long range. The concert stage was between 400 and 500 yards from the hotel.
"He obviously tried this out before he was in the hotel room," Wilson said. He added that his initial conclusion from audio of the gunfire pointed to a bump modification on at least one weapon. The fire rate was inconsistent with a weapon originally designed to fire automatically, Wilson said.
[How the Las Vegas shooting unfolded]
Another photographed weapon, however, shows a meticulous collection of accessories indicating that the shooter also readied himself for precision fire.
An AR-15-type weapon is shown mounted with a magnification scope commonly used for hunting, which assists in focusing on individual targets for single shots. The bipod legs at the front of the weapon would have been used to steady the rifle on hard surfaces, such as a table, a move that could have provided distance from the window that would help conceal smoke and gunfire flashes.
That weapon did not appear to have been modified beyond the accessories, Wilson said.
Las Vegas officials have opened an internal investigation into how the photos of the crime scene became public.
Lombardo said authorities have recovered .223-caliber weapons — associated with AR-15-style rifles — as well as at least one .308 rifle — a caliber common for hunting game. Lombardo was unsure whether any of the weapons were originally designed as automatic, or whether any illegal modifications were used on other weapons.
Other controversial yet legal modifications can simulate automatic fire, such as attachable cranks, gunmetal versions of a jack-in-the-box handle that attach to the weapon and strike the trigger faster than a finger can. A crank can be bought online for as little as $40.
Modifications such as the bump stock and crank do not technically qualify adapted rifles as automatic weapons or machine guns, which are legal but difficult to obtain and highly regulated in the United States. Those weapons are commonly found at gun shows and firing ranges, including one near Las Vegas that allows customers to shoot military-grade weapons.
The high number of firearms found at the hotel suggest a concern for overheating rifle barrels. The barrels can reach several hundred degrees, turning orange and even blue as rounds travel thousands of feet per second through them. In one crime-scene photo published by the Daily Mail, the gunman appears to be wearing a glove on his left hand, probably for holding a smoking-hot barrel.


text: Recipe# 4117531 Mar 19 95caloriesperslice Almond Bread, Homemade Almond Bread Without Eggs by Tarla Dalal 3 reviews A loaf without wheat? Unbelievable but true, and absolutely awesome too. Behold the Almond Bread made with Almond Milk. This recipe is a better option for those that don't have eggs as in the recipe Almond Flax Bread with Eggs . This .... Add to Cookbook Add to Shopping List Upload a Photo View Reviews Received Recipe #41175 Almond Bread, Homemade Almond Bread Without Eggs You are not signed in. To add recipes to your cookbooks requires you to Sign In to your account Select the cookbook to add this recipe to Not signed in My Page My Recipes My Photos My Cookbooks My Reviews My Reviews Received


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OAXUSA.com is special place devoted to U.S. and Latino citizens to find, share, and connect with one another online. The site has many friendly features including a Community where you can create a profile to post your photos, videos, status updates, and communicate directly with friends and family. In the free Classifieds section of OAXUSA you can buy, sell, or barter for goods and services, find rentals, jobs, and more… and because OAXUSA is focused specifically on the Latin community, our Classified Ads are among the most relevant listings you'll find on the web. Deals are special offers from local businesses - such as discounts, coupons, and advertisements –targeted to OAXUSA community members.
OAXUSA is the American Dream of Raul Colmenares, a Oaxacan national who moved to Los Angeles when he was just 10 years old. Through hard work and dedication his vision of creating OAXUSA.com has become a reality.
Raul and the rest of the OAXUSA team invite you to come in, take a look around, and "find, share, and connect"!


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Politico recently ran a feature on Republican presidential frontrunner Jeb Bush's problem with talk radio. The piece mentions Laura Ingraham, who said there would be no difference between Hillary Clinton and Jeb Bush, and called for them to run on a ticket together, "Clush 2016." But it goes deeper into the complicated relationship that talk radio king Rush Limbaugh has with Jeb.
The Right Frequency describes the complicated relationship between Limbaugh and the Bush family. The book describes how Limbaugh endorsed Pat Buchanan's primary challenge to George H.W. Bush in 1992. Limbaugh actually tore into Buchanan in the 1996 Republican presidential primary. In 2000, Limbaugh wholeheartedly supported George. W. Bush in the Republican primary against John McCain.
From Politico:
Bush, who's all but officially announced he's running for president, has said he would want to run a "joyful" campaign. He's said he would want to have "adult conversations." It's phrasing that hints at his general distaste for conservative talk radio. Some Bush allies privately refer to some of the medium's leaders as "warlords"—a description meant to convey the unreasonable, unrealistic and pugilistic agenda of those who thrive off of conflict. Bush, on the other hand, believes a winning Republican campaign a decade and a half into the 21st century must promote inclusion and optimism, not discontent and fear. People think he's too moderate in part because Limbaugh and the Limbaugh-like are saying he is. So here, almost a year before the 2016 Iowa caucuses, the primaries have started already—the fundraising and positioning of the so-called invisible primary, but a visible one, too, or at least an audible one. Call it the Rush primary.
Every Republican politician of a certain consequence over the last quarter-century has had to make a decision about how to engage with Limbaugh and the many others who populate America's most redward airwaves. Bush right now isn't talking about this because (1) it's so early in the campaign the campaign can't even technically be called a campaign and (2) that would be unwise. Limbaugh and his imitative competitors don't need additional oxygen. But based on conversations with strategists and advisers connected to Bush, consultants, show hosts and industry watchers—and what he's done over the past month—Bush won't ignore talk radio.
If there is in fact a Rush primary, Bush, headstrong and self-assured, thinks he can win that one, too.
To learn more about Limbaugh's complicated relationship with the Bush family, read The Right Frequency.


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If you have a property for sale in San Francisco, USA, you will know that there is a housing crisis in the city, considered to be one of the best places to live in the world.
Home prices have been rising very fast – which is good news for you if you want to sell your apartment in San Francisco, USA quickly, but not so much for those looking for a place to stay in the city. Consider this – a one-bedroom apartment rents for over $3,500 a month in the San Francisco Bay Area! This is as high as you get, even higher than most areas in London and New York.
There are many reasons why home prices here are so high. It could be because there is a severe supply – demand mismatch, with the demand by far exceeding the supply of housing stock. The highly restricting zoning and environmental laws have made it very difficult for people to build new homes in this city.
Add to this, the greed of the landlords – who unfailingly take advantage of the situation and raise rents every year. The demand for high end housing is very high and this has jacked up home prices for the rest of the market.
While San Francisco is home to many millionaires and billionaires of the tech industry, who can afford the high home prices here, things are not so easy for a vast majority of tech workers. They certainly earn a good income, compared to the rest of the US population, but that's nowhere close to enough to live a comfortable life in San Francisco, one of the world's most expensive cities.
This has led to a number of tech workers living in impossible conditions, with 10 to 12 people sharing a small apartment, or some even living in trucks or boats, unable to afford the high cost of housing here.
It is practically impossible for middle income families to buy a house in San Francisco, USA online because an average property for sale here costs $1.158 million – which is far beyond what most people can afford.
What has the local administration done to fix the housing crisis in the area? Well, there is a lot of talk on what needs to be done, but there haven't really been any concrete steps taken so far.
Everyone seems to have an opinion on how to fix the problem, but there doesn't seem to be any agreement among the concerned parties. The Bay Area Council Economic Institute released a report on what needs to be done to solve the housing crisis in San Francisco area. The recommendations are simple – increase the housing stock in the city.
Clearly, the only way to reduce home prices is to substantially increase the number of homes in the San Francisco Bay area. But this is easily said than done as there are many restrictions against any new real estate development in San Francisco and getting a building permit takes several months. So, there are no easy solutions to the problem.


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Tag Archives: #The-Dark-Knight
Batman has been the most featured superhero of our time from blockbuster movies, TV shows, Video games, Cartoons and in millions of comics worldwide so we had to add this poster boy comic legend to our collection. Not the typical Batman image you are likely to see as we wanted to focus mainly on Batman's mask which really sets him apart from all superheros as its shaped like a bat but we wanted to create a depth within the details of the material so it didn't look like a flat piece of material. The highlight for me while creating the etching was the eyes because they look so deep set within hes mask that gives him a menacing and fearsome appearance and the way hes cloak drapes down around hes neck, as we was able to create the folds in the material. See more pics here.


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McIlroy v Donald battle still on as Warren joins big two at top of Dubai leaderboard
There's some storm brewing here in the desert with Rory McIlroy and Luke Donald disputing the halfway lead with Marc Warren in the DP World Tour Championship.
McIlroy defied an overnight bout of sickness to post a 67 for an 11-under-par total of 133.
Ten minutes later, Donald struck a trademark nine iron to 4ft for a birdie at the last to tie the world No 1.
Share the joy: Rory McIroy is in a three-way tie at the top of the leaderboard
DP World Tour Championship
Then Warren tapped in for a par to make this season finale an England-Scotland-Northern Ireland affair at the top after 36 holes.
Next come the South Africans Branden Grace and former Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen.
How easy it would have been for McIlroy to come here and take his foot off the pedal, with the Race to Dubai already sewn up, but no-one got to be the world's best player thinking like that.
Indeed, McIlroy handed out a warning to everyone else seeking to deny him making it a notable double here on Sunday.
'I came here as motivated as I have been all season and I am determined to end the season with a bang and win here in the desert,' he said.
There didn't appear much chance of that when he looked like he was coming down with a sickness bug on Thursday night.
A cup of lemon tea from girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki and a couple of pills, however, and he was feeling much better on Friday.
Where he wants to be: Luke Donald has a share of the lead at the DP World Tour Championship
Driving the ball imperiously, he gave himself a host of chances in another accomplished round.
'I feel this course gives me a good advantage if I'm driving it well because I can clear a lot of the fairway bunkers,' he explained.
'I missed a couple of short putts on the front nine but I've got to be happy tied for the lead going into the weekend.'
Like McIlroy, Donald has just two rounds of his season left to play and enters the final 36 holes with the same focus.
Winner last week in Japan, Donald said: 'I've got 36 holes to go and I really want to sign off with a victory.'
Donald doesn't have the length off the tee that gives McIlroy his advantage but counters that very handily with iron shots like the beauty he played at the last.
As for Warren, he had a golden opportunity to win the Scottish Open on home soil in July and is intent on showing what he has learned from that experience, when he was two ahead with three to play only to lose out in a sudden death play-off to Indian Jeev Milkha Singh.
Making a splash: Marc Warren is on 11 under after a 65 on Friday at the Earth Course
All those nervous hopefuls preparing to take part on Saturday in that nerve-wracking experience known as the European Tour's Qualifying School can take great heart from the sight of South African Grace so high up the leaderboard. This time last year, he was one of them.
'It's one of those hard weeks where you don't care if you win it or finish 30th, as long as you secure your card for next year, so good luck to all the guys,' he said.
As it happens, Grace finished 11th before embarking on a season that, as he puts it, is 'beyond a dream.'
Not only has the 24-year-old won no fewer than four times, he is in a great position in this event going into the weekend, and will play with Donald on Saturday.
'I guess you could come here with the attitude of freewheeling and enjoying it but I came here with a couple of goals for the last event and I'm determined to pull them off,' he said.
In contention: South African Branden Grace is just one shot off the leaders
'Obviously I can't win the Race to Dubai as Rory has already done that but I could finish second and I want to try for that.
'Then there's obviously lots of world ranking points at stake and I want to push for as many of those as I can.'
No question about the most remarkable round of the day. Sergio Garcia had nine birdies and two eagles on his card, which was just the amount of gains he needed to shoot the European Tour's first-ever round of 59.
Even with a couple of tees pushed forward, what a remarkable achievement that would have been on a course measuring around 7,400 yards.
Up and down: Sergio Garcia had an eventful day as he fired a 64 in his second round
Alas for the gifted Spaniard, there were not only a couple of bogeys coming home but a potentially very costly triple at the 16th that leaves him four adrift of the leaders.
'I don't think I have ever had a roller-coaster round quite like that, with so much going on during the back nine,' said Garcia, who eventually signed for a 64 that tied the course record.
The 32-year-old is playing for just the second time since having laser eye surgery and certainly had his eye in on Friday.
There are plenty of gifted shot-makers lurking just off the lead, like former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel on nine under and Justin Rose and Nicolas Colsaerts on eight.
Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter, however, are a distant eight and nine shots adrift after rounds of 74 and 70 respectively.
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KIEV — Ukraine just completed parliamentary elections that, while imperfect, were credible, free and competitive. They fully reflected the will of the Ukrainian people.
Now Ukraine's parliament must work to further our democracy and usher in needed reforms — work that will include listening to voices that are critical of our political progress.
Those voices haven't been shy.
On the eve of our Oct. 28 national parliamentary elections, a number of world leaders made statements questioning the health of Ukraine's democracy. As soon as the polls had closed, and in the days afterward, more concerns were voiced.
But let me offer a few facts that suggest the dire predictions about our elections were premature and overly negative.
First, an important facet of any democracy is openness, and Ukraine actually asked for international scrutiny. The government invited in election observers, and by Election Day, there were nearly 4,000 on the ground, in addition to tens of thousands of domestic observers. No matter how one ultimately felt about the campaign and how it was waged, one cannot suggest that Ukraine shrank from tough, honest scrutiny.
Meanwhile, voters and members of Ukrainian political parties could file complaints against perceived election abuses, and international election assessments found that the authorities processed those complaints in a timely way. Cases were often won by the complainants.
Second, everyone agrees that we had a calm and orderly Election Day. The voting process and vote counting were well-organized with only minor problems, and was "assessed positively" by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in no fewer than 96 percent of the polling stations it observed. And the 34,000 webcams installed in our precincts showed no systemic violations.
Results from 90 percent of precincts were reported within 24 hours. Importantly, the proportional vote results announced for the national parties corresponded directly with pre-election and exit-polling data, as well as the parallel vote tabulation done by the opposition. Save for a handful of districts that will see a re-vote, we can say with certainty that the choice a citizen made in the voting booth was the choice that was recorded.
Finally, election assessments have concluded that the contest was competitive. Monitoring of TV news reports in the immediate run-up to the vote showed that opposition parties received more than 65 percent of the coverage, though concerns have been expressed about a dearth of reporting over the entirety of the election period. Print media coverage of the government was often highly critical, and our Internet and social media has remained uncensored and among the freest in the world.
The election's results reflected an electorate that had real choices in front of it. The opposition parties were elected to over 40 percent of the national party list seats and will be well-represented in the new parliament.
All this is not to suggest that the parliamentary elections were flawless. No election is. The problems that have been uncovered in five of the first-past-the-post districts, for example, are unacceptable, and the results are being thrown out. Still, we're talking about roughly 10,000 votes out of 21 million cast.
This government is prepared and willing to respond to constructive criticism, and as a young democracy, we recognize that there's more work to do to strengthen the entirety of the election process. But I absolutely believe, alongside many international observers who saw the vote firsthand, that the reality turned out to be much better than some of the negative predictions.
Election by election, Ukraine is becoming a more serious democracy; its institutions are growing stronger. That trajectory is clear.
We are a strong partner for the United States and Europe, with a clear commitment to the NATO partnership and a desire to become a full member of the European Union.
That's not going to change.
Kostyantyn Gryshchenko is foreign minister of Ukraine.


text: One cold day in the middle of winter, I caught a great shot of my friend, artist Kathleen Frost, who occupied the studio across the hall. She had very little heat and was bundled up, gloves and all. She would paint all day like this. I rushed back to my studio to paint her in miniature, on copper. It was one of my earliest miniatures, and it sold right away to a collector who admired Frost.


text: My granddaughter came over last Saturday and I set up the shabby chic cottage dollhouse for her. The house is not finished yet, (no stairs or porch), but that didn't deter her from having a great time decorating the inside. I have boxes and drawers full of furniture, people and miscellaneous minis, and she had a blast picking out what she wanted to use.


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Early bird gets the worm and the early photographer the best shot. Join us on a Prague morning photo tour to experience the awakening of the city.
Aperture Tours offer private photography tours in Paris, Berlin, London, Melbourne, Milan, Singapore, Sydney, Verona and Venice. Come join us and discover your camera and our cities and make sure you take away stunning images.


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Todd Duffee returned to the Octagon after a two year absence in style tonight at UFC 181, knocking out Anthony Hamilton in 33 seconds.
Round One:
Duffee with a right hand to start. Hamilton looks for a takedown, but nothing doing.
They start to exchange in close and Duffee is getting the better of it. Then he lands a powerful right to the temple and Hamilton collapses in on himself and then his face bounces off the canvas.
Duffee follows up on the mat and this one is all over – Duffee gets a huge knockout victory to mark his comeback with only 33 seconds on the clock.
So, Duffee reminds everyone why he was a hotly tipped prospect a few years ago when he burst into the UFC with the joint fastest KO in history (7 seconds), and tonight proves that was no fluke.


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Through many of our partners we can offer our clients the unique opportunity to become gain residency and citizenship in Tax Friendly locations.
Services we deliver to our immigration investors
Our partners ensure your comprehensive understanding of immigrant program benefits, requirements, and processes. You can trust us to:
Discuss investment opportunities and provide detailed answers in understandable terms.
Support and guide qualified investors through the investment and green card process.
Recommend experienced immigration attorneys who specialize in investor visas.
Coordinate the immigration process to maximize your chances of receiving visa approval.
Diligently manage your investment so that it delivers income and long-term growth
Our partners also offer secure investments that also qualify you for permanent residence status in various.
We are committed to the following:
Identifying, developing and managing real estate projects within our approved geographic area.
Offering secure investments by structuring projects without debt, keeping the investment free of mortgage payments and bank loans.
Growing your wealth through secure monthly rental income.
Generating profits for long-term investors.
Providing economic analysis into market trends and current conditions.
Delivering monthly, quarterly, and annual financial and project progress reports.
Conducting the best administrative and regulatory practices.
Contact Us
Singapore Headquarters
3 Raffles Place
#07-01 Bharat Building
Singapore 048617
Office Hours
9.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m. + 8 hours UTC/GMT
Monday through to Saturday including public holidays
New York, Miami, Bangkok, Dubai, Sydney, Hong Kong
Shayne Heffernan
Latest posts by Shayne Heffernan (see all)
- ASEAN Market Preview - April 19, 2017
- Meet Model Hody Yim - April 19, 2017
- ISIS Continues Chemical Weapon Attacks on Muslims - April 19, 2017


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Blue Oceans, Sustainable Seafood, Humans and the Sea -- Steam Leadership Series
Date: 5/2/2016; 54 minutes
Experts from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, NOAA and UC San Diego capture the imaginations of high school students interested in green technology as they demonstrate how their research helps to protect and preserve the ocean. Ralph Keeling and Stephen Mayfield keynote on CO2 emissions and algae biotechnology, followed by Chef Rob Ruiz, Noelle Bowlin of NOAA and Jessica Blanton of Scripps on their careers in studying and serving sustainable fish. (#30649)
related programs


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Amazed by Lonestar
It's not every day I get an email from Australia.
Krystal found my previous wedding print online and ended up requesting her own wedding song print to give to her hubby on their anniversary. I've been getting a few requests for these, so keep an eye out for some future song prints that will be available for purchase. Can't wait? Send me an email and request your own song you'd like to have on display!


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Murder She Wrote Inspired Cocktail: Cabot Cove Punch
#HappyHourClub Punch With Tito's Vodka + St-Germain
- 1 bunch of Basil (garnish)
- 2 pints of blackberries (or container), rinsed
- 1 bottle of Trader Joe's Sparking Clementine Flavored Juice
- 1 bottle of Trader Joe's Sparkling Pomegranate Flavored Juice
- 1 bottle of Trader Joe's Limeade
- 1 cup elderflower liqueur, such as St-Germain
- 2 cups Tito's Vodka
- 1 bag of ice (preferably make your own at home with filtered water)
- Divide the blackberries into half and place one pint to the side for garnishing. Next, mash together 8 ounces of blackberries. Now line a large punch bowl with the muddled blackberries.
- Stir in your juices one at a time, to avoid any mishaps. Pour the elderflower liqueur and vodka into the bowl and be sure to taste. If you prefer your drinks stronger, add in the second cup. Just be mindful that punches usually pack a punch.
- To serve, line glasses with 1 basil leaf and a single blackberry ahead of time.
- It's important to note, when doing a punch it's really easy to drink so be sure to get a cab or cut yourself off after 1. Vodka tends to have a bad habit of sneaking up on people.


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SIT Comparative Ecology and Conservation
Academic Program
Instruction consists of lectures, seminars, tutorials, research, fieldwork, and independent study; courses are taught in Spanish. Students earn four Scripps courses. On-site orientation and regional fieldtrips included.
- Reviewed by: N. Neiman Auerbach
- Fields of study: Social sciences, environmental studies
- Eligibility: 7.5 cumulative GPA; completion of Spanish 44 at Scripps; course work in environmental studies, ecology, biology or related fields
- Size of the student body: Students are from small private liberal arts colleges and research universities in the US
- Number of program participants: 25
Living Arrangements
Students live in private homes, hotels, and field camps. Meals are taken with the host family or with the group during study tours.
Term Dates
- Fall: Late August to mid-December
- Spring: Late January to mid-May
- Advising Tips: One faculty reference is required for this program.
- Visa Information: The visa for this program is approximately $300. All students must have a passport valid for at least six months after the program's end date to study in another country. Students should apply for a passport as early as possible; in some cases, passport applications may need to be expedited. Students may need one or more visas, in addition to a valid passport. Visa application processes vary widely, and some visa processes are multi-step and complicated. SIT Study Abroad helps students to understand the visa process for each program. The SIT admissions counselor can answer passport and visa-related questions and concerns. Non-US citizens should consult with SIT early to determine the visa requirements based on their country of origin. SIT Study Abroad cannot guarantee visas for its participants, and it is ultimately the student's responsibility to secure the appropriate visa in a timely manner.
- Budget Planning: For budget planning purposes, click here to view the current cost of living comparison between Quito and Los Angeles.
|Previous: Quito


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How Can Social Security Disability Attorney Help?
How Can an Attorney Help with my Claim?
If you are denied in a Social Security Disability or SSI application, it is a good idea to at least talk with an attorney about your claim. When you are turned down, it is often because there was a lack of medical evidence in support of your claim, the Administration did not consider all your impairments, or the Administration failed to apply the correct legal rules.
You have the right to have an attorney represent you at all levels of the administrative process. Statistics have shown that claimants represented by attorneys have been much more successful in obtaining benefits than people who chose to represent themselves. An attorney is able to:
- Gather medical and other evidence
- Analyze your case under Social Security Regulations
- Obtain a copy of your file from the Social Security Administration to ensure that it reflects all your past medical treatment and that all records and documents contained therein are admissible as evidence
- Ask that any prior applications for benefits be reopened
- Protect your right to a fair hearing
- Make any necessary appeals
Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, P.L.L.C. practices exclusively in the area of Social Security Disability and Bankruptcy law. Attorneys at Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, P.L.L.C. will be happy to discuss your case with you, without charge. We are able to work with you at any point in your case, from assisting you with your initial application, filing your request for reconsideration, requesting a hearing before an administrative law judge or filing an appeal with the Appeals Council.
We strongly advise people to contact an attorney as soon as possible – and certainly before requesting a hearing – as a good attorney will need adequate time to prepare the case, review the administrative file and request copies of outstanding medical records in order to effectively and to zealously represent the client at the hearing.
Again, the sooner you contact an attorney, the sooner he or she will be able to take the steps necessary to develop your case. Note, however, if you have already received your notice from Social Security advising you that it has denied your claim, you will have only 60 days to file your appeal. Do not wait until the last minute to contact an attorney, because once this 60-day period has expired you may lose your right to appeal!
Even if you have not yet applied for Social Security benefits, it is a good idea to speak with an attorney before filing your claim. An attorney can give you advice about what you need to do to prove your disability, request copies of your medical records and make sure these records are included in your claim file, request that your treating doctor provide a detailed report of what you can and cannot do because of your impairment, and ensure that any necessary appeals are filed timely.
Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, P.L.L.C. (formally known as Northwest Disability Services) has represented over 30,000 clients at all administrative levels. We have practiced in the area of Social Security Disability law for over 23 years and have the experience necessary to achieve results. Call our office to speak with one of our attorneys. We offer free telephone consultation and can arrange to meet you at one of our many locations. In certain areas, we also offer free in-home consultations.


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All Morgan Hill Unified School District employees are required to complete safety trainings every year. As a new employee you have 30 days from your hire date to complete the three (5) required mandatory trainings. You can access the Keenan SafeSchools training website from a work or home computer. Please work with your immediate supervisor to ensure you have sufficient time to complete the trainings.
1. Using your web browser go to: http://mhu.keenan.safeschools.com/
2. Enter your username. Your username is your MHUSD email address (email@example.com)
3. Once you enter your username, the system will verify who you are. If it is correct, click the "Log Me In" button on that page. If you receive an error message, double-check that you typed your username correctly.
4. Start each course by clicking on the course title. The courses have audio, so be sure to turn up your speakers.
5. You must complete all sections of each course and pass the quizzes with 100% in order to receive full credit.
For questions or assistance, please contact Jazmine Contreras at email@example.com or 408-201-6018. Thanks for making Morgan Hill Unified School District a safer place to work and learn.
Copyright © 2019 | Morgan Hill Unified School District


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That last sentence makes all the difference in whether you'll come out of your downpour unscathed or not. To state the obvious, an umbrella is superior to a parasol, facing sun and rain. What does that have to do with this verse?
Everything, because the word endureth comes from the Greek hypomeno. The first definition is to stay under (behind), i. e. remain. Jesus was saying that as long as you stay under my canopy, you'll be safe.
As I said, an umbrella is only as good as the material it's made from. The question has been asked, can the Church endure in this modern age? The answer is a resounding Yes, not through ourselves, it's because of Him.
If you're struggling today, let me recap His qualifications. Stepping out on nothing, He created the worlds. Taking on everything, He later stepped into the world to save it from sin. Christ has fought everything from sin to satan and overcame.
Every century has asked His followers if their God could carry them through, and we continue to stand. We are covered by a God greater than dynasty and dictator. Philosophy doesn't shake Him, and problems don't trouble Him.
So when that doubting voice whispers in your mind today, "Will you make it?" You can answer without fear, knowing the material your canopy is made from. Before Kevlar, there was Christ! No matter what you will face, or have fought, Jesus is still strong enough to carry you through.
Whether you're facing a scorching drought, or traveling through the storm, He will bring you safely, and securely home! Jesus knew what they would face, that's why He warned us. It's also why, in the warning, He gave us hope. The Lord said, "I have seen the end, and you can make it, as long as you hold my hand." His umbrella is big enough to cover us, and powerful enough to keep us!


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GIS users can access a preliminary work map data layer through the following services:
ABFE map layers are available through the following services:
ABFE information in GIS format is also available for download for New Yorkand New Jersey.
GIS shapefiles of data layers are also available for download directly through FEMA's Interactive Best Available Flood Hazard Data Map and the What is my BFE? tool.
Accessibility Needs
People with accessibility needs may call 1-800-427-4661 or use our online form to request and receive assistance in identifying and interpreting the best available flood hazard data for their property.
Other Ways to Access ABFE Maps
Use these map panel indexes to locate and view the ABFE .pdf map panel you need.
Central Region
North Region
South Region
View a summary of changes made to certain ABFE map panels since the original release of the maps on the Advisory Base Flood Elevation Map Panel Updates page.
Learn more about using best available flood hazard data through the Understanding Best Available Flood Hazard Data page!
Hurricane Sandy Road to Recovery: A New York Homeowner's Guide is a FEMA publication available to inform homeowners affected by Sandy of different options and resources available for recovery.
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"C'est Si Bon (Henri Betti)" – Live at Sunflower and I, Cardiff – Oct 1 2017
photo by Mario Janssens
Some years ago, I was sat by the river in Antwerp, playing a little clarinet, when a nice guy called Mario Janssens came by and took a great picture. I think it was used on some tourist info for Antwerp City.
"In My Solitude
This was the last day of our quick tour of the UK – we were just out for a pint at a local pub and there was a folk session going on. We asked if we could play a tune and my mate Peter caught it on his phone.
The Moochers "Lullaby Of The Leaves" at our local bar in Antwerp
Here's a clip of a live concert we did at a local bar a few weeks ago. Me on tenor sax, Piet Verbist on bass, Jonas Boutsen on drums and Robbe Willems on piano.
"An Sibhin" is my local bar in Antwerp, I often go to watch rugby or just have a beer and chat with Tony and the lads. It was real nice to play a concert there!
Getting ready for our UK mini-tour!
Looking forward to playing in the UK in a few weeks – here is the poster for our Cardiff gig.
A whole new web site!
Well, it's been a pretty intense few days of working at the computer, but I am happy to be launching a complete update of www.danmcb.com (and also everything that was on the old Moochers website).
The new site is based on WordPress, and is designed for musicians. That means that I will be able to add new content, like videos and articles, much more easily. I still have a few tweaks to do, and I will add put back the old video content in the next days (but it's all still on my youtube channel, which you can reach via the menu, top right).


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Today's Everyday Fashion: Red Shoes/
What is it about red shoes that make an outfit? Is it the proverbial cherry on top, only it's on the bottom? Or you're an exclamation point and the dot is your red shoes? They are the fire extinguisher of your closet, only they start fires instead of putting them out? Whatever the appeal, I have loved red shoes since I got these 5 years ago. At the time, I had no idea what I would ever wear them with (fashion is a journey, I wasn't always this stylish or confident!). Now I consider red shoes a must and will always keep a pair of red pumps in my closet "in case of emergency." Throw on a pair of red shoes with pretty much anything and you are bound to look chic and sexy! Do you love red shoes? What statement piece do you throw on in a fashion emergency?
Inspiration photo: New York & Company
Shirt: Express, really old
Jeans: Gap, $35
Scarf: H&M, $18
Belt: Forever 21, $8
Shoes: Delicious via Shoe Carnival, $10
Watch: Michael Kors, family gift
Bracelets: Forever 21, $8
ps. If you are a blogger in the Central Florida area - be sure to attend the blogging conference this Saturday! I will be speaking at two of the sessions and hope to see you there! Click here for details.


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Two-Faced Book – Having Two Profiles
Simply put … No – you should not have two Facebook Profiles!
I have seen many people try to do this, and never seen one person do both successfully.
MY PREMISE: The benefit of using Facebook for business is networking, not marketing.
Lots of folks disagree with me here, so please understand this is the platform from which I speak. Direct marketing with social media – i.e. trying to advertise or sell services through Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn – rarely works. Usually it offends people and they defriend, hide, unfollow or disconnect. Trying to sell directly on social media platforms is similar to doing the same at any other face-to-face networking event. It's offensive. People didn't come to the event to become your customer. Read more


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The neophyte therapist is someone who's just starting out as a mental health professional. Someone who constantly questions, analyzes, and self-reflects. What do I do in this situation? Am I doing this right? How do I know if I'm helping this person? The neophyte therapist has not seen it all, despite how jaded the therapist may be after the first clinical internship experience, and is always striving to "figure out" why people are the way they are (of course, there's no one explanation – people are way too complicated for such simplicity).
I'm one of those people. In August 2012 and May 2013, I obtained an M.S.Ed in Counseling and Mental Health Services and an M.Phil.Ed in Professional Counseling, respectively. After passing the National Counseling Exam, now I'm at least two years, 3,000 supervised hours and lots of paperwork and money away from being an Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Pennsylvania. A former supervisor once referred to me (in the nicest way possible) as a "baby therapist," and that's exactly what I am. Currently, I'm employed as full-time therapist at a mental health agency in Philadelphia and serve child, adolescent, and adult clients with a large variety of mental health concerns. With slightly over one year of of post-graduate experience under my belt, I've been learning much more about what it really takes to be an experienced, capable and qualified therapist.
Think of this personal (not professional – see Disclaimer page) blog as my own personal journey navigating the ups and downs of the "real world" as it pertains to therapy, counseling, and other related topics that may come about.


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KaBOOM! (non-profit organization) Information
Table of Contents ⇨
|Darell Hammond
|Non-profit organization
|Washington, D.C.
Chief Executive Officer
|James Siegal
KaBOOM! is an American non-profit organization that helps communities build playgrounds for children.
Darell Hammond and Dawn Hutchison founded the company KaBOOM! in 1996. [1] They were inspired to start KaBOOM! after reading a story in The Washington Post about two local children who suffocated while playing in an abandoned car because they had nowhere else to play. [2] Hammond had previously helped build several playgrounds for other charitable organizations. Hammond was also partially inspired by his upbringing in the Mooseheart Child City & School, a group home in Mooseheart, Illinois. [3] Hammond previously studied under Dr. John Kretzmann, director of the Assets Based Community Development Institute in the Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. The institute, which focuses on mobilizing struggling communities using resources already at hand, served as a community-build model for KaBOOM! Hammond was also influenced by his participation in the Columbus, Ohio, and Chicago engagements of City Year, an AmeriCorps program seeking to build democracy through citizen service and social entrepreneurship. [4]
Hammond and his friend Dawn Hutchison built their first KaBOOM! community playground in October 1995. The two were contacted by Youth Service America to plan a day of service. Although not yet operating under the KaBOOM! name, they chose to build a playground at Livingston Manor in southeast Washington, D.C. The playground build lasted five days and involved more than 500 volunteers. Inspired by the build, Hammond and Hutchison incorporated KaBOOM! in April 1996. [4] Kimberly-Clark, the corporation behind paper-based consumer products like Kleenex, chose to serve as KaBOOM!'s first funding partner as a way of celebrating their 125th anniversary. Kimberly-Clark partnered with KaBOOM! to build 38 playgrounds in 1997. [5] Hutchison left KaBOOM! that year. [2]
In 1997, KaBOOM! launched the "Let Us Play" campaign, which sought to build, renovate or provide assistance to develop 1,000 community-built playgrounds by the year 2000. [6] Vice President Al Gore and General Colin Powell helped launch the program. By 1999, KaBOOM! had 50 funding partners and was building more than 50 playgrounds a year. [7]
KaBOOM! launched Operation Playground in December 2005, an initiative to build 100 playgrounds in the Gulf Coast areas affected by Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. [8]
In 2003, KaBOOM! began building skateparks under the Eskal8 name. However, this program was discontinued in 2009 when the equipment manufacturer contracted by the organization discontinued the line of products that KaBOOM! volunteers could use. In 2004, KaBOOM! started offering toolkits, training packages and other forms technical assistance to communities seeking to build playgrounds without the charity's direct oversight. Darell Hammond also made the charity's project handbooks, best practices and guidelines available for free on the organization's website. [2]
In 2007, the organization formed the KaBOOM! National Campaign for Play, a program focused specifically on rallying individuals and governments to the KaBOOM! cause. [4]
Partnerships with national business
The Home Depot has been a long-standing partner of KaBOOM! projects. When KaBOOM! became incorporated in 1996, The Home Depot became KaBOOM!'s founding partner, and has been building playgrounds with KaBOOM! every year since. The Home Depot Foundation has supported KaBOOM!'s "1,000 Playgrounds in 1,000 Days" initiative, [9]
In 2005, KaBOOM! and The Home Depot formed a $25 million partnership for the "1,000 playgrounds in 1,000 days" program. The two groups also build sports fields and ice rink projects, as well as playgrounds. [2] In January 2006, First Lady Laura Bush attended Operation Playground's first playground build at the Hancock North Central Elementary School in Kiln, Mississippi. [10]
In 2009, The Home Depot Foundation became the official "Sustainability Partner" of KaBOOM!. The partnership was formed to minimize the environmental impact of playground builds and educate communities on environmentalism and sustainability. Together, KaBOOM! and Home Depot have created procedures for environmental-friendly building titled "Guidelines for Eco-Friendly Service Projects". Organizations and community leaders can utilize the Guide when planning construction or building projects. [11]
Pierre Omidyar, founder and chairman of the Internet auction company eBay, contributed $5 million to KaBOOM! for the establishment of its website and to support the organization's National Campaign for Play, which advocates the importance and health benefits of play to legislators and policy experts. In addition to Home Depot, KaBOOM! has worked in collaboration with such corporations as Target, Fannie Mae and Ben & Jerry's, which created an ice cream flavor "KaBerry KaBOOM" to benefit the organization. [2]
KaBOOM! was featured prominently in an episode of the NBC comedy series Parks and Recreation which aired October 22, 2009. The episode, called " Kaboom", included a subplot in which protagonist Leslie Knope (played by Amy Poehler) becomes so inspired by the energy of a KaBOOM! playground build that she takes proactive steps to build a playground in her own home town. The episode was part of a campaign in which more than 60 television shows on multiple networks spotlighted real-life charities in an effort to encourage volunteerism. [12]
In 2010, KaBOOM! formed a partnership with Amgen, the world's largest biotechnology firm, to build 7 playgrounds across the US and Puerto Rico.
In 2014, KaBOOM! became the official distributor of Rigamajig in collaboration with Heroes Will Rise and Cas Holman.
KaBOOM! partners with Foresters Financial, the MetLife Foundation, Kraft Foods and Dr Pepper Snapple Group. Thanks to the partnership with Foresters alone, KaBOOM! has built more than 140 playgrounds across the U.S. and Canada as of 2017. [13]
Work with presidential administrations
KaBOOM! volunteers have worked closely with presidential administrations to serve domestic relief and education programs. In January 2006, then First Lady Laura Bush gave dedication address for a KaBOOM! playground built at the Hancock North Central Elementary School in Kiln, Mississippi. The project was commissioned after the Hurricane Katrina catastrophe that hit the Gulf Coast region of the United States. [14]
In June 2009, KaBOOM! volunteers worked with United States First Lady Michelle Obama and California First Lady Maria Shriver to build a playground in San Francisco. The playground construction was commissioned under the Obama Administration's summer "United We Serve" initiative. [15]
In 2011, First Lady Michelle Obama inaugurated KaBOOM!'s 2000th playground, in Washington, D.C to commemorate the organization's 15th year anniversary. [16]
KaBOOM! organizers build a playground set during a single day. The process begins about six months before the actual construction, when KaBOOM! seeks a funding partner, searches for an appropriate site and considers the economic needs of the neighborhood. About 10 weeks before the playground build, project managers visit the community and speak to children about what types and colors of playground equipment they prefer. Three different designs are drafted and the community chooses the final one. [17]
A typical playground ranges from between $70,000 and $125,000. KaBOOM! requires its local communities to raise about 10% of the cost, which Darell Hammond described as "a way of engaging the community to solve its own challenges". [2]
Since 2007, the charity has been creating additional online education and training online to give those interested in the cause of play access to industry thought leaders and research. The KaBOOM! Map of Play offers users an online map to add, find and rate local playgrounds. [18]
The organization follows a strict process for designing and building playgrounds. The organization also offers "Do-It-Yourself" planning tools and how-to guides for those interested in building or improving a playground. [19]
Chrysler chairman Robert Nardelli, who previously worked with KaBOOM!, called the charity "one of the best-run nonprofits". [2]
KaBOOM! National Campaign for Play
The KaBOOM! National Campaign for Play program, launched in 2007, is intended to encourage individuals and governments to embrace the KaBOOM! cause. [4] It has two components: the Playmaker Network and Playful City USA. [20] The first of these provides tools and training to individuals to assist them in outreaching to their communities in creating and cleaning play spaces. [21] It also recognizes "Playmakers of the month" for their achievements.
The Playful City USA campaign recognized communities across the country that have made a commitment to play. In 2010, 118 cities were designated Playful City USA communities, representing 36 states. [22]
- ^ "Nonprofit may help create a new play area". Poughkeepsie Journal. Poughkeepsie, New York.
- ^ a b c d e f g Reingold, Jennifer (2008-01-02). "Building playgrounds is serious business". CNNMoney.com. Archived from the original on 2012-10-18. Retrieved 2009-10-29.
- ^ "Doing their best leads to recognition - Two local activists win awards, N.Y. dinner". The Washington Times. Washington, D.C. 1999-03-25.
- ^ a b c d "Our Story". KaBOOM! (Official site). Retrieved 2009-10-28.
- ^ Schoch, Deborah (1997-10-05). "New Place for Kids to Park It; Cooperative Effort Brings Playground to a Grateful Fullerton Neighborhood". Los Angeles Times. p. B3.
- ^ "A fun day's work". Maywood Herald. 2000-08-16.
- ^ "Rundown, dangerous playground transformed". The Washington Times. 1997-04-28.
- ^ "KaBOOM! builds playground: West Elementary site took a day.", Coleman, Leigh. The Sun Herald, December 2005 . Retrieved November 24, 2009.
- ^ "Wanted: 100,000 places to play", Der Bedrosian, Jeanette. USA Today, April 13, 2009.
- ^ "Favre and First Lady/Playground dedication brings them to school". The Sun Herald. Biloxi, Mississippi. 2006-01-27. p. A1.
- ^ "National Partners and Programs", The Home Depot Foundation Official Website . Retrieved November 23, 2009.
- ^ Block, Alex Ben (2009-10-18). "Networks give for volunteerism". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ "KaBOOM! Lake Avenue Park goes from vacant lot to "Playspace" - The Apopka Voice". The Apopka Voice. 2017-04-08. Retrieved 2017-04-20.
- ^ "Mrs. Bush's Remarks after Visiting a Kaboom Playground Build", Press Release issued by the Office of the First Lady, (archive retrieved November 23, 2009)
- ^ "Michelle Obama launches volunteer initiative in San Francisco", Strack, Julie Ann. LA Times, June 23, 2009.
- ^ "First Lady Michelle Obama Helps Non-Profit KaBOOM! Build 2,000th Playground". KaBOOM!. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
- ^ Children help KaBOOM! design a playground in 2009 in Fullerton, CA, a "slide show" at the site of Orangethorpe Learning Center, retrieved December 8, 2013. KaBOOM! and OLC repeated the process in 2016 at another Fullerton park, retrieved April 20, 2017.
- ^ KaBOOM! Map of Play.
- ^ "Cities can learn to build playgrounds, KaBOOM! offers grants for training". The Sun Herald. Biloxi, Mississippi. 2006-12-31. p. A8.
- ^ "KaBOOM! National Campaign for Play". KaBOOM! (Official site).
- ^ "Playmaker Network". KaBOOM! (Official site).
- ^ "2010 Playful City USA Announcement". KaBOOM! (Official site).


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