text:
I was in the cabin making biscuits at the time (no, that is not a euphemism for anything - I was actually making biscuits), so clearly the incident was solely her father's fault. While we had been very conscientious about putting a life jacket on her when were out on the boat, we had not been requiring it when she was simply standing on the wooden dock with one of us. We should have known better, though, because A is not a graceful, coordinated sort of child. She frequently smacks her head on door frames and recently, somehow injured herself WHILE STRAPPED IN HER CAR SEAT.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Parents of the year, right here
I was in the cabin making biscuits at the time (no, that is not a euphemism for anything - I was actually making biscuits), so clearly the incident was solely her father's fault. While we had been very conscientious about putting a life jacket on her when were out on the boat, we had not been requiring it when she was simply standing on the wooden dock with one of us. We should have known better, though, because A is not a graceful, coordinated sort of child. She frequently smacks her head on door frames and recently, somehow injured herself WHILE STRAPPED IN HER CAR SEAT.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Star Light, Star Bright
"I always used to make the same wish," I told my daughter. It was true. I made the same wish from 1998 to 2005. Every birthday cake, every fountain, every star in the sky.
"What did you wish for, Mommy?" She looked up at me expectantly.
"Don't you know, goober?" I looked back at her and smiled. "I wished for you.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
The funniest thing I saw while on vacation
If you are here for a massage (nudge nudge, wink wink), don't even think about coming through the front door with the respectable people.
Friday, August 21, 2009
I'll be in the cabinet
I'm curious to see if our newer adoptee, Gretchen, will dig the water. Having met hundreds of Boxers during my ten-year adventure in rescue, I can attest to the fact that most of them do not care for water and do not swim. As my friend Dave says, "My Boxer swims like an anvil." They are very muscular and hence, don't float well at all. The front end is much heavier than the back, making it harder for them to keep their heads above water. Nonetheless, a few of them do like water and having seen Gretchen in action with the sprinkler in the back yard, I think she may just give the lake a try. We'll see. I told P I might get her a doggie life jacket and he looked at me like I was already aboard the crazy train.
Speaking of Gretchen, she did a number on me last night. I took the kid to the county fair for a few hours after work. Styx was playing later in the evening but we weren't staying for that. We had a great time hitting the rides, eating junk, and visiting the exhibits. A nice 4H mom let A come into a stall and pet her daughter's horse. We also met a man with cerebral palsy who makes greeting cards (using a pen attached to a contraption on his head), so we bought a couple. A was curious about him and the man's mom was kind enough to explain his condition to my daughter. I think she is just getting to the age where she realizes that not everyone is born with the same abilities and opportunities, that it is a blessing just to have working hands and limbs. Honestly, he was less afflicted than many of the aging Styx fans who were at the fair last night.
But getting back to the dog . . . it was dark when we got home and I let the dogs out right away. I unpacked our gear and then opened the back door to let them back in. Gretchen hopped up on the deck and then deposited a squirrel's head directly in front of the door. It took me a moment just to realize what I was looking at. It was like one of those "what's wrong with this picture?" games where you find objects that don't make sense within that frame of reference. Like a cat wearing sneakers and a top hat. When I realized it was the head of a squirrel, I felt a wave of nausea pass through me. My stomach sent a message to my brain along the lines of, "You were already pushing your luck by sending down cotton candy directly after the cheese curds. Do not put me over the edge by looking at bloody dead things."
I closed the door and tried to figure out what to do. P was at work and wasn't answering his cell phone. I called my friend Kathy so that she could come and get it, but she was all, "I live two hours away blah blah blah." I really need to find some friends who are more dedicated.
Eventually I got in touch with my other half and informed him that he needed to deal with a dead squirrel when he got home. My assumption was that Gretchen had killed the squirrel, but she did not have any blood on her. I didn't venture out into the yard with a flashlight to find the body, though I assumed it must be out there somewhere. He checked this morning after the sun came up and found another squirrel part, but not the whole body. We have no idea how these gruesome remnants ended up in our little yard, but I guess Gretchen was not the culprit. Granted, she would definitely kill a squirrel if she got the chance, but I doubt she would behead it and all that jazz. She caught several birds this summer and typically she seems more keen on torturing the animals than killing and dismembering them.
Anyway, I need some bleach to scrub the image of that little grey head out of my brain. It's gonna take more than a few vodka cranberries while I'm on vacation, but I'll give it my best shot.
I'll leave you with this little ditty from Passion Pit. I've been grooving to their tunes on my iPod for the past few weeks (the video is almost a year old but I guess I don't get out much).
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Power knee! Arms up!
When P and I still lived in Virginia, I used to attend step aerobics classes that were held in the community center of our apartment complex. The majority of the people who lived in the complex were stationed at Fort Belvoir. Most of the time, I was the only white girl in the class. The racial difference didn't bother me at all, but let me just say that those girls could rock a beat. I had to count the steps (sometimes aloud) to keep up whereas the women of color had natural rhythm. But, I loved the class nonetheless.
When we moved away, I started taking step classes at the Y as soon as we were settled in. I met a 72-year-old lady in the class, who became my first friend after the move. Not only was she 72, she was also a chain smoker (until later, when a doctor slapped a patch on her and told her to knock it off), but that goes to show you that the class was not all that tough. Eventually, though, a baby came along and our gym membership was dropped (kids, they ain't cheap). So, I hadn't taken a class in years when my neighbor invited me to her gym. I was game, but wary.
The instructor (let's just call her Satan's concubine), kicked my ass with her boot camp-style routines. Yesterday was the third class I attended and it was actually a different instructor than the first two times, but with their rock-hard abs and perky attitudes, they are pretty much interchangeable. The second one actually CHEWED GUM through the entire workout, while I gasped for air like a dying lake trout.
One second we were doing double-squats and the next we were doing some elaborate step routine that includes something called the "six point tap." I cannot, as it turns out, count to six. We finished the hour by doing unspeakable things to our abdominal muscles. I'm fairly certain that many of the moves we were required to do . . . are specifically and explicitly banned under the terms of the Geneva Convention.
The kicker is that it seems as though, when I hop on the scale the morning after class, my weight should have dropped significantly. By double digits even. But alas, usually I've even managed to gain a half pound. I guess I'm just lucky that way.
I'll keep it up as long as my neighbor continues to let me be a guest under her gym membership. And I'll continue to take the instructor's name in vain. Seriously, though, one more "get lower!" on the squats and I'm keying her car on my way out.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
All kinds of random
I lost a follower after that last post. I guess the dead bunnies pushed someone over the edge. I'll try to keep my posts in the realm of sunshine and rainbows and (blissfully unabused) puppy dogs henceforth. I know you are on the edge of your seat wondering how my weekend went, so here goes.
I took the kid to Weight Watchers with me yesterday morning. I chickened out and did not weigh in (I am a Lifetime member so technically I only have to weigh in once a month). Between the state fair and a bit of a medical issue I am battling . . . let's just say I did the scale a favor by not getting up there. After the meeting we grabbed some breakfast, then purchased our county fair tickets (to be used on Thursday), and then headed to a pet expo. Normally I would be working at a pet expo but our rescue opted not to participate in this one.
We spent quite a bit of time watching an agility demonstration. It reminded me how much I miss competing since Lucy died. I'm hoping to get Gretchen into agility, but she needs a solid foundation of obedience under her belt first (if she wore a belt, I mean). We'll get there. A lot of the rescues have "spin the wheel" games for a buck, so the kid spun every wheel she could find. She won a totebag, a popcorn ball (why is it that a popcorn ball sounds like it would be the yummiest thing ever and then you get it home and it tastes like a wad of dryer lint?), and some play-doh (thanks, Basset Hound rescue!)
The event organizers had a couple of rides set up outside in the parking lot, so I indulged the kid. One of the ride operators told me he had been standing there since 8 a.m. and that we were his first customers (it was around 11:30 a.m.). I told him that it seemed like there were a lot of kids inside the expo and he replied that he thought parents were scooting their kids out the side door so that they couldn't see the rides. I am sure I had other uses for the $7 I spent but I'm of the "they're only young once" school of thought. They also had one of those tall slides where you climb up and then fly down on a burlap sack. Since they had no other customers, they gave the kid a freebie after her first trip down.
"You know, they had one of these at the state fair and they wouldn't let my daughter ride because she's too short," I told the tattooed, text-messaging kid who was overseeing the slide.
He shrugged. "Oh yeah, we don't care here." Good to know. Seriously though, it does bug me when my daughter is deemed too short for stuff where it's hard to see how that one inch will somehow result in certain death if she does climb aboard. Meanwhile, some freakishly tall two-year-old might come along and be able to ride, but won't know not to stand up, flail his arms outside the car, etc.
After we left the pet expo, we grabbed some lunch and a birthday card for one of A's friends. On the way home, A mentioned that one of her toys is "expensive." I wasn't sure if she knew what the word meant, so I asked her. "What does expensive mean, sweetie?"
She replied, "Expensive means that when you break it, you have to tell your mom."
"You're right!" I responded.
Later in the afternoon, we attended her friend's fifth birthday party. We knew most of the kids there, as they are A's friends from church. The party was held in a park so that the kids could wear themselves out at the playground. As parents that is, of course, the goal.
Sunday was pretty uneventful. We went to church and then I came home and made lunch. After lunch, P said that he would take the kid somewhere so that I could have some time to myself. After checking his forehead to ensure that he did not have a fever, I took him up on the offer. I packed up my bike and drove to a local trail. Say what you will about my Craigslist bike, but it gets the job done. The weather was a little iffy and it seemed I was riding into the wind no matter what direction I was going, but it was a good ride nonetheless.
Now if you'll excuse me, I've received an invitation to play Hullabaloo and I'm feeling lucky.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
What the hell, people
Did you catch the recent story about the young Petland* employee who drowned two rabbits in the back room? She posted a photo of herself on Facebook clutching two wet, dead Peter Cottontails. I thought kids today were using Facebook to talk about their genitalia and to chronicle their alcohol consumption through lurid photographs, not to boast about animal abuse. I suppose the good news is that the general public was mostly appalled when this story broke. You don't have to be an animal lover to know that drowning a living creature is simply beyond the pale. If she doesn't receive jail (lockup, brig, up the river) time, I'll be very surprised and disappointed. I'll bet her parents are swelling with pride right about now.
As a rescue volunteer, I don't see a lot of blatant animal abuse. A lot of general neglect, failure to provide veterinary care . . . that sort of thing. If you've ever been afraid of volunteering for a shelter or rescue because you don't think your heart can take it, fret not. You will seldom be exposed to outright atrocities. The animals are fine, in fact - it's dealing with the kind without fur that can be challenging at times. If nothing else, a stint in rescue or shelter work will arm you with stories to tell for the rest of your life. We have two young Boxers in our rescue right now who are heartworm positive. We are in the process of treating them. As part of the diagnosis process, veterinarians generally run a set of chest x-rays to get an idea of how bad the infestation in the heart is. When the x-rays on these two dogs came back, it turned out that one of them had been SHOT in the past. Literally! Pellets in his chest and everything. Just when you think you've heard everything, eh?
My fellow rescue volunteers and I would go insane if not for
*I am surprised that people still frequent (and purchase from) places like Petland. How many anecdotal tales does it take, mes amis? Sick animals, puppy mill pups (and Petland does buy from puppy mills, no matter what they say), and a no-return policy to ensure you are stuck with your sick dog until your bank account is fully drained. Our rescue has taken in several dogs originally purchased from Petland. The dogs are sometimes poorly bred and are ALWAYS from puppy mills. If you purchase a purebred dog from a reputable breeder and then need to return the dog later for some reason, the breeder will always take the dog back. If you try to return a dog to Petland, they'll point to your contract and then advise you not to let the door hit you on your way out. If your carpet is yearning for urine and you want a puppy, please buy one from a reputable breeder. We now return you to your regularly scheduled broadcasting.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
The Fair
We attended the state fair yesterday.
The good:
- Deep-fried Oreos. I don't know what the Weight Watchers points were for these, but I'm thinking triple digits. One of those "if you have to ask you can't afford it" sort of things.
- The poignant moment when we were viewing the Budweiser Clydesdales. One of the horses let down his wiener to pee, and I mean to tell you this thing was the size of my forearm. Our adorable little sprite pointed at the horse's junk and yelled, "He's got a penis just like you, Daddy!" I couldn't tell if my husband was having a moment of pride or mortification, but he did leave the exhibit toute de suite.
- Let's hear it for swings you don't have to push. (At what age to they learn to pump, fer cryin' out loud? My arms seriously want to know.)
- Meeting a bunch of fellow rescue people at Buca di Beppo for dinner.
- Watching my child slide out of a pig's butt. You don't get that kind of entertainment just anywhere, people.
- Freeloading off good friends who make a really spectacular breakfast. If you know Dave and Lynn, I highly recommend their house for freeloading. They do not provide valet parking, however, and that was a bit of a downer.
- Rain at the fair. Precipitation at the fair should be illegal. We were carrying umbrellas and when it stopped raining I pulled out a nylon tote that I bought from a church fundraiser. I figured I could carry our soggy umbrellas (and any other fair-related stuff we picked up during the course of the day) in the tote. As soon as I pulled out the bag, however, it caught the wind and went flying. I chased it and then gracefully fell just as I caught it (and by "gracefully" I mean "with arms and legs akimbo and with my purse in a puddle"). I spent the next hour scraping mud off my leg. "I feel pretty, oh, so pretty, I feel pretty and witty and bright! And I pity any girl who isn't me tonight . . . "
- Being served chicken at Buca di Beppo even after explicitly explaining to the server that I am a vegetarian.
- Paying six bucks for a Mike's Hard Cranberry. :::wiping tear from eye:::
- Buca's not comping the dead animal flesh they served me.
- Whatever I'm going to weigh when I step on the scale tomorrow morning.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Love a Mystery? (Nah, me neither)
Yesterday I took the kid to a street festival downtown and she wanted a cookie, so I bought one for her. She took one bite, realized it was a "healthy" cookie, and spat out the bits still in her mouth (onto my plate, which I appreciated oh so much). Not wanting it to go to waste, I took a bite myself. Now, I've learned not just to plow into stuff willy-nilly. I take a bite and wait to see what happens. The first bite seemed okay so I took another. I felt the familiar burning on my tongue and immediate abandoned the cookie. It took two plastic cups of white wine to numb my tongue sufficiently. The good news is that the cookie had a label.
Here is the list of ingredients from the cookie-from-hell:
- organic whole wheat pastry flour
- organic oats
- heath bits
- organic sucanat (suca what?)
- soy grits (kiss my!)
- turbinado sugar (I think that's made up)
- organic soy nuts
- soy protein
- flax seed
- salt
- baking soda
- baking powder
Whatever the case, I do feel like I am getting closer. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to pack for the state fair, where I'll be eating sugar-coated deep-fried sugar on a stick (or something pretty close to it).
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
I'll tell ya one thing: she ain't shy
During our drive back from our vacation in Virginia last month, we stopped at a Burger King in the middle of nowhere. Aside from our little clan, all of the other patrons appeared to be construction and utility workers who were wolfing down a quick lunch before heading back to their respective job sites. We had been in the car for hours and apparently the lack of social interaction was taking a toll on my daughter. As we were tossing out our garbage and preparing to leave, the kid headed back to the front of the restaurant and started chatting up some of the men who were in line. Picture a sea of steel-toed work boots and one wee pair of pink flip-flops from Old Navy.
"Okay, let's go!" I said loudly, as P and I were inching towards the exit. I could hear her telling them her name, advising them that she has a Barbie princess movie, and informing her new friends that her aunt had painted her toenails. Basically, she seemed pretty determined to impart enough information that would facilitate any random stranger's ability to kidnap her. Again, I'm not giving her her social security number until her wedding day.
Earlier in our vacation, she stopped to chat with a homeless man during our outing to Old Town Alexandria. I didn't want to pull her away immediately because I didn't want her to think she can't be friendly and talk to folks as the whim hits her. And I didn't want HIM to think that I didn't want my daughter chatting him up just because he's homeless. So, I let her go for a minute or two.
Her: Hi, what are you doing?
Him: I'm peeling a peach. (There was a farmers' market going on across the way.)
Her: Why are you peeling a peach?
Him: I don't like the fuzz.
Her: You don't like the fuzz?
Me: Okay, leave the man alone now.
For the most part, people are generally tolerant of a chatty child. Adults who talk to strangers sometimes end up with restraining orders, but most people are pretty happy to talk to a kid. A couple months ago, we attended a picnic with my old therapy dog group. A was the only kid there - not that she minded. The picnic was held at the home of one of our members, and we had a bunch of dogs running around in the large, fenced yard. As we were leaving, A stopped to chat with my friend Barb while I gathered Giddy and Gretchen and leashed them. When I got to the gate, Barb filled me in on what my child had been telling her. A, with much sympathy in her voice, told my friend: "You are really going to miss me when I leave. You are going to be so sad!"
Can you imagine having so much confidence in yourself that each time you leave a particular location, you believe that anyone still present after your departure will crumble into utter despair? I saw Barb a few days after that and she reported that while she hadn't yet needed therapy, she came pretty close.
On Friday evening, I took the kid to the park after dinner. The park in our neighborhood is about a mile away, so I usually pull her there in a wagon. She loves the park, but she loves it even more if there are people there. We got to the park and there were two families already swinging and sliding and whatnot. Eureka! The only catch was that the kids were younger, 2 1/2 or so (they were the same approximate height as my kid, but two years younger). These youngsters seemed unable to provide the level of interaction my daughter requires so she went for the next best thing: their parents. She found one couple sitting on a bench and would not give them any peace, so eventually I picked her up and carried her back to her wagon.
So, what to do with all of this outgoingness? (that's a word, I'm sure of it) Well, I've contacted a local children's theater to get the scoop. Most of the children they cast in their productions are closer to 10. However, they do have a Christmas production for which younger kids are needed. So, I'm half-tempted to let her audition later this year. If not, we'll plan to get her started on the road to fame and fortune when she gets a few years older.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Schtuff I've Never Done
- Had sex in any sort of unusual location, at least not that I can recall. (Hi Mom!)
- Drank a beer. (And why would I when the humble grape has given us something so spectacular and perfect?)
- Had a cup of coffee. (People who absolutely cannot function without coffee in the morning do irritate me a bit. There, I've said it.)
- Had a pedicure.
Most people think I'm joking when I say I've never had a pedicure. I have to confess that I do keep my toenails painted at all times (usually in a shade that's best left to streetwalkers). If you ever spot me with naked toenails you can rest assured that I've just hatched out of a pod and that the aliens have taken the real me away. Won't they be surprised when they implant an alien spawn in my womb only to find that it no worky.
Why have I never had a pedicure? In my mind, having a pedicure is akin to saying, "Hey there! I'm pretty important. So important, in fact, that I'd like to pay you to get down on your knees and touch the grodiest part of me." I just can't get my brain around that. It's not that I think my feet are the worst out there. I don't even hate them. I save that kind of rancor for my thighs. It's just that it seems awfully . . . self-indulgent, I guess.
I have a similar roadblock when it comes to massages. I have had a couple of massages as a result of gift cards that could not be used in any other way (And if you know me, you know that unused gift card = does. not. compute). When I get a massage, I imagine that the masseuse (massage therapist?) is thinking: "I don't have enough hands to cover this expanse of flesh." It's hard to relax when you're convinced that the massage person is pretty sure that you're Jabba the Hutt.
Can anyone convince me of the merits of getting a pedicure? Give it your best shot, ladies.


text:
SOPHIA is a European Commission-funded project aiming at the better utilisation of Europe's photovoltaic energy research infrastructure.
Key among its objectives is the provision of access free of charge to this research infrastructure ("Transnational Access activities"). Money from the Commission will also be used to improve the facilities (through "Joint Research Activities") and to cover the cost of bringing the infrastructure owners together to share best practice and to co-ordinate their work ("Networking Activities").
"User groups" are eligible to use a SOPHIA facility if the group leader and the majority of the members of his/her group work in an institution established in an EU Member State or Associated State (Norway, Switzerland, Israel, Iceland, Croatia, Turkey). The majority of group members should come from outside the SOPHIA network. Furthermore, the user group leader and the majority of the users must work in a country other than the country(ies) where the legal entity(ies) operating the infrastructure is(are) established. And crucially, only user groups that are entitled to disseminate the foreground they generate during their work at the facility may access it free of charge. Calls for proposals to access the infrastructure will be issued every six months. This will happen six times in the four-year project, beginning in July 2011.
The infrastructures accessible through the project are given in the diagram below. They are sorted into two groups. The research infrastructure in the TNA01 group consists of advanced equipment for characterising innovative materials and experimenting on them, and of computing resources for modelling the mechanical, thermal and optical properties of complex cells (e.g. multi-junctions) in various environments. The infrastructures in the TNA02 group consist of testing and monitoring facilities for predicting, assessing and certifying the performance and reliability of PV and CPV modules. Common standards for comparing the performance of modules will be developed within the SOPHIA project.
The research infrastructure within the SOPHIA project, accessible to European researchers for free through the SOPHIA project's transnational access programme.
Further details on Networking Activities and Joint Research Activities are given below.
Networking activities
The project's Networking Activities are in the following areas:
Managing the selection of applications for transnational access and any associated administration.
The partners in SOPHIA will divide into expert groups covering a particular technology. The activities of these expert groups are given below. The identity of the partner leading each group is given in brackets. More details (including of the other SOPHIA partners in each group) are available in this presentation. A single report integrating the individual yearly reports written by these groups covering their work will be available each year. A "PV infrastructure strategic vision" will be ready by the end of the project, drawing conclusions from the annual report and looking at the long-term prospects of the SOPHIA collaboration: attention will be given to the money needed to sustain the partnership, how to widen it within Europe and internationally. SOPHIA partners will also set aside time to provide an input to EERA-PV's work programme in 2012.
- Si materials (ISE-IWES)
The expert group will initialise, develop and supervise activities such as:
- Overview actual feedstock sources and expected development in this area
- Assessment of related critical material parameters,
- Availability and further adaptation and improvement of characterisation techniques,
- Develop and establish control route for impact on solar cell level including process dependence.
- Organic material (RISOE-DTU)
Partners involved will participate on the definition of the technology roadmap of OPV technology, focusing on basic research on materials and device development, including encapsulation. The inputs of partners will come through participation in international conferences, compiling research carried out at national level, and active participation in European networks. Activities can be subdivided into topics on:
- Basic research –materials development; characterization methods; theory
- Processing methods
- Market introduction and deployment.
- Thin films (HZB)
Experts in analysis by photons and neutrons will discuss current analytical questions in thin film PV technology, especially concerning calibration, traceability, the spectral response of multi-junction modules and pre-conditioning procedures.
- Concentrator PV (ISE-IWES)
The expert group will draft a technology roadmap, focusing on energy prediction with CPV using multi-junction solar cells and the reliability of electronic and mechanical parts in CPV systems.
- Cell modelling (Jülich)
The experts will report on:
- Device modelling including of organic solar cells
- Performance predictions
- Modelling of coherent optics and electronic quantum transport
- Lifetime prediction (ECN)
The expert group will maintain a database of research infrastructure for accelerated ageing tests and develop and establish new test methodologies as draft working proposals for IEC TC82, WG2.
- Module and System performance (JRC)
The expert group will supervise work on:
- Energy yield prediction: standardized procedures for PV-modules and systems
- Recycling of modules and BOS components
- Qualification of BOS components (fuses, overvoltage protection devices, cables, supports)
The experts will report on:
- additional constraints arising from the integration in buildings of PV: temperature, thermo-mechanical constraints, architectural aesthetics, hazards, fires
- Specific methods for performance prediction, including when necessary multi-functional aspects (visual, thermal and electrical)
- Definition and harmonisation of criteria for bi-facial modules
- Strategic vision implementation (CEA-INES)
Every year the different leaders of the expert groups above will meet to share their main results before releasing their consolidated annual report. These inputs will ultimately be combined into a "PV infrastructure strategic vision".
The aim of this Networking Activity is to ensure the reliability of the activities performed by each research infrastructure. This will be done through:
- Organisation of networking laboratory seminars and workshops to create initial consensus on the tasks that follow
- General criteria for laboratory work and equipment management
- Development of common database (having as its aim to be a repository for data that will improve LCA calculations for existing PV products and processes) on
- the characteristics of the solar spectrum at different locations
- the results of accelerated testing procedures and degradation phenomena in solar modules gathered from round-robin tests on defined pre-described samples
- the properties of materials being tested or used in the project
- the criteria and methodologies for assessing the environmental impacts of PV technologies, according to standard protocols (ISO14040 series).
- Development of common testing procedures: guidelines and proposals to international standardisation committees:
The SOPHIA project will pay for, at least in part, three different kinds of researcher mobility:
- Senior researchers employed by one SOPHIA partner go to the site of another SOPHIA partner for the purpose of performing SOPHIA-related work.
- Junior researchers from one partner travel to the site of another to receive training in an area where that partner has a particular expertise.
- Researchers outside SOPHIA will be invited to get to know the research infrastructure in the project.
This is the Activity in which EUREC Agency is most involved. It will involve the creation and maintenance of SOPHIA's website, which will be the first port of call for people seeking information on SOPHIA in general or on a particular task related to the project.
The Activity will also cover outreach by the project to non-SOPHIA organisations, where it is EUREC's responsibility to bring the opportunities to use SOPHIA's research infrastructure to the attention of the wider PV community.
Two public conferences will be held that target regional competitiveness clusters (known in France as "Pôles de compétitivité"). A competitiveness cluster is a region where large- and small-scale industries all active in a particular sector can be found at high concentration. The first of these meetings will be held halfway through the project – the second at the end.
Opportunities will be provided by EUREC Agency for senior researchers from the SOPHIA consortium to provide lectures and presentations on the project in different European Master courses.
Joint research activities
Publicly-available accelerated lifetime-testing protocols or standards do not exist, making the PV industry heavily dependent on tests defined by the standards IEC61215, 61646, and 61730. These standards are inadequate as they allow manufacturers to offer warranties up to only 20 years. The competitiveness of PV could be steeply increased if warranties could be offered for 30 or 40 years.
This activity will
- List of required and available testing at the various partners
- Define test samples and a test procedure
- Review the test criteria for interconnect and encapsulation quality
- Perform ageing experiments on test samples
- Describe new test methodologies for lifetime prediction
- Model and verify new test methodologies
Tests for accurately predicting the energy output and power of PV modules will be devised. Using these tests, SOPHIA hopes to achieve accuracies of 5% in the yearly output of modules. These will particularly focus on modules using novel materials (esp. thin-films, back-contacted cells and the multi-junction devices used in CPV) and BIPV, and on the behaviour of modules at low irradiance and the temperature-dependence of their output.
This activity will
- Compare and contrast current tests
- Subject novel technologies to these tests at different locations (flash-testing and testing by outdoor installation), populating a shared database containing irradiance data and comparing to measured output from the module, with ultimate aim of being able to offer reliable and comparable IV-characterisation
Work done under this heading will include:
- (Si): Silicon with a purity that is less than "solar-grade" could become an important feedstock for the silicon-based PV industry. Less pure silicon, such as UMG, must be characterised. This will be carried out using imaging techniques. The specification of solar-grade silicon will be further developed through analysis of its crystallographic structure. The accuracy with which it is possible characterise these materials will be assessed. SOPHIA will work with standardisation committees to ensure that existing standards are updated or new ones created that reflect the new differentiations in material made possible through the characterisation techniques.
- (Organic): common protocols for screening materials for active layers and contacts for both small molecule and polymer-based devices will be develop – so will methods to predict OPV performance and lifetime
- (Thin films and TCOs): A best-practice guide for the characterisation of TCO quality will be produced looking at such indicators as surface structure, electro-optical properties, light-scattering and its relation to cell performance, the difficulty in growing subsequent layers and the stability of the TCO material. A common procedure for characterising multi-junction cells as a function of the irradiance spectrum they are exposed to will be agreed. Spectroscopic X-ray characterization methods will be used to characterise thin-film absorber, buffer and window materials in terms of bulk and surface composition and electronic properties. Attempts will be made to link them to device parameters like efficiency, VOC, JSC and FF. EPR will also be used for characterisation.
This activity aims to enhance the reliability, efficiency and applicability of the available models and software tools level and to allow the merging of cell, module and system modelling by defined harmonised interfaces between each level. If these models can be developed, the cost and complexity of real-life experiments can be avoided.

subset: commoncrawl


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The doctors strike continues in Kenya, but at least no one has yet ended up behind bars.
According to this morning's Nairobi-based Daily Nation, eight union officials could go to jail on Friday for disobeying court orders demanding an end to the two-month dispute.
Yesterday, at a hearing in which officials of the Kenya Medical Practitioners', Pharmacists' and Dentists' Union requested a review of their suspended one-month prison sentence, a judge at the Employment and Labour Relations Court said she would deliver her ruling on Friday as she extended the suspended sentence by a further 72 hours.
The union says it has attempted to comply with court directions ever since the original jail sentence was suspended for five days last week. But union members had voted to continue the strike.
Doctors have accused the government of taking advantage of the impending jail sentences to frustrate talks to end the strike.
South Africa's ruling ANC undermined by disunity
South Africa's ruling party is under severe strain. So says the ANC's deputy president, Cyril Ramaphosa, in an article in this morning's BusinessDay.
Ramaphosa says the party is being undermined by disunity, mistrust and organisational weakness.
He told supporters last night that internal ANC processes have been infiltrated by individuals and companies seeking preferential access to state business.
Ramaphosa is seen as one of the frontrunners to replace Jacob Zuma, who is scheduled to step down as the party's leader in December and end his second term as president in 2019.
South Africa faces border crisis
BusinessDay's editorial is critical of South Africa's migration policy, saying the country has a border crisis of its own.
Yesterday Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba urged the hospitality industry to prioritise South African citizens when looking for new workers.
South Africa's migration policy is a mess, the editorial claims. Immigration of skilled people is inordinately difficult and despite government claims that scarce skills are welcome, in practise this has seldom been true.
A bigger problem lies at the other end of the spectrum, says BusinessDay, where millions of unskilled people from the region are drawn to South Africa, mostly in search of economic opportunity.
A badly administered and widely abused policy on refugees has enabled hundreds of thousands of people without a legitimate claim to stay in the system for years, establishing themselves in jobs and setting up microbusinesses, the paper says.
Closing the borders is hardly an option. A new initiative is urgently needed, it concludes.
Turkey told to free UN judge held after failed coup
Turkey has been told off by the UN, according to the main story in regional paper the East African.
A United Nations court yesterday called on Ankara to free a judge caught up in the country's post-coup crackdown, saying the man's imprisonment violates his diplomatic immunity and the principle of judicial independence.
Aydin Sefa Akay, who is both a UN judge and diplomat, is one of the 40,000 Turkish officials who have been remanded in custody for alleged connections to last July's failed military coup.
In an order issued on Tuesday, UN court president Theodor Meron said Turkey should cease all proceedings against Akay and free him by 14 February in time for him to assume his duties in a case involving a Rwandan genocide suspect.
According to Turkey's Hurriyet newspaper, Akay was arrested for having a messaging application that was allegedly used by many of the plotters on his mobile phone.
More clashes near South Sudan city
The East African also reports more fighting around South Sudan's second-largest city, Malakal, yesterday.
The clashes have been confirmed by both rebels and government officials, the latest twist in the struggle for the capital of the oil-producing Upper Nile region.
UN observers said Malakal, on the banks of the White Nile near the country's northern border with Sudan, was largely deserted after civilians fled the fighting.
No casualty figures have been released.
To read Paul Myers's blog from the Africa Cup of Nations 2017 click here


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"I am directing the City Manager to develop a framework for operating agreements which would allow for TNCs to return to San Antonio during a pilot period. This framework will be brought to Council for review the second week of August and action thereafter. I have asked Councilman Treviño to be the Council representative during this process.
It is important that we get this issue resolved soon, and I do not want the work to stop during the month of July.
Safety will still be a top priority for all of us, and that won't change."
Subscribe now to get the latest news delivered right to your inbox.


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In an earlier post we looked at converting an image to 16 bit 5:6:5 format for direct copying to framebuffer. The obvious drawback of that approach is the requirement on the image size to exactly match the display/framebuffer size (or the width at least).
Modifying the PPM reading code to read into an image object in memory (I chose to use the struct fb_image from linux/fb.h as teh image object) and combining that with the familiar framebuffer drawing code (put_pixel_RGB565 from part 6)Make sure you have a 24 bit PPM image file to start with - convert one from for example PNG using pngtopnm (any bit depth source file should do) - and make sure the image fits the screen (no bounds checking in the code). Then compile and run:
... int read_ppm(char *fpath, struct fb_image *image) { ... image->data = malloc(width * height * bytes_per_pixel); ... // store pixel in memory unsigned int pix_offset = (y * width + x ) * bytes_per_pixel; *((unsigned short *)(image->data + pix_offset)) = rgb565; ... void draw(struct fb_image *image) { int y; int x; unsigned char rgb[3]; for (y = 0; y < image->height; y++) { for (x = 0; x < image->width; x++) { // get pixel from image unsigned int img_pix_offset = (y * image->width + x) * 2; unsigned short c = *(unsigned short *)(image->data + img_pix_offset); // plot pixel to screen unsigned int fb_pix_offset = x * 2 + y * finfo.line_length; *((unsigned short*)(fbp + fb_pix_offset)) = c; } } } ... int main(int argc, char* argv[]) { // read the image file int ret = read_ppm(argv[1], &image); if (ret != 0) { printf("Reading image failed.\n"); return ret; } ...
gcc -O2 -o ppmtofbimg ppmtofbimg.c ./ppmtofbimg test24.ppm
Full source and a test image (test24.ppm) in GitHub.


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Photos of Clare in Suffolk in England, United Kingdom of Great
suffolk, clare, old photo of market hill.
Clare is a town on the River Stour in the county of Suffolk in the East Anglian area of England.
There is a totally new addition to this website with thousands of contemporary
and old photos of Churches - church photos
England>>>>>> >Ireland> >>>>>>Scotland
Wales>>>>> Isle of Man>>>>>>Channel Islands
>Film and Movie Stars >>>> Home>>>>>> >About
>Privacy Policy>>>>>
Copyright Statement
suffolk, clare, old photo of the high street


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Are You Wearing The Right Perfume?
Charles University in Prague has identified that your personal odour can affect the perfume you wear. So, what might smell incredible on the small pieces or card may not smell quite the same when it mingles with your body chemistry.
There have been vast studies made by psychologists regarding smell. If we smell something which we perceive as smelling good, we associate it with good. If it smells bad, it can have the opposite effect. This is why perfume selection is so important. It can either attract or repel people and experiences in your life.
For example, you are more likely to be hired during a job interview if the smell you are exhibiting is good. You are also more likely to be asked out on a date. When it comes to major life opportunities, such as these, it's easy to appreciate just how important perfume selection can be.
So, how do you know when you go out and spend a hundred or more dollars on a gorgeous looking bottle of perfume, that it's right for you? Sure, the bottle might entice you, maybe it's the smell, the brand or something else that lures you in. Unfortunately, there no exact science to it and it really comes down to a process of elimination.
Firstly, when you head to a perfume counter be aware that the smells can be overwhelming. That in itself can be confusing. You should make the initial selection based on several variables. Think about what type of smells you like around you. If you burn candles or incense, what scent appeals to you? What type of perfume had you worn in the past and what response has it had? Most of us have a preference toward citrus, floral, musk, etc. Ask the customer service staff to direct you to the family of scents which appeal to you and begin your selection.
If you want to try several perfumes, test them on the cards provided, write names on each and take a walk outside. This reduces the overpowering smell which comes from many perfume retailers. You should be able to eliminate several scents immediately. They might be too floral, musky or whatever else that turns you off. After you narrow your selection down to a two possible candidates; it's time to test how they perform with your body chemistry.
Chandler Burr, New York Times perfume critic, suggests that perfumes evolve on your skin over time. There are three stages, which can take as long as 5 hours to be fully appreciated. The first stage occurs within moments of spraying in on. The scent hasn't had an enormous time to mix with your chemistry and can smell much like it does when it comes out of the bottle.
After around 5 hours is really when you will know how the perfume will actually smell, if you choose to wear it. Most women don't continually apply perfume so, after this duration, is how it will smell on you and be perceived by others.
If you have others around you, ask if they like the scent. Partners are usually an excellent source of feedback. Take everything into account and then make a selection. Investing a few hours into choosing the right perfume is minuscule when you think of the amount of time you'll be wearing it. Many women choose a scent and become known for their smell, which lasts a lifetime.
Image source: http://cs620324.vk.me/v620324355/b684/VLYBFxWeEEU.jpg


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Thinking about doing business with our dealership?
Used 2016 VolvoS60 T5 AWD Inscription Platinum SedanSteingold Volvo Cars | Pawtucket, RI
- Stock: 4785
- Odometer
- 35,646 miles
- Fuel Economy
- 20.0/29.0 mpg City/Hwy
- Exterior Color
- Onyx Black Metallic
- Interior Color
- Off-Black Sport Leather Seats
- Body/Seating
- Sedan/5 seats
- Transmission
- 6 speed automatic
- Drivetrain
- All-Wheel Drive
- Engine
- 2.5L I-5 cyl
Highlighted Features
- Navigation system
- Lane departure
- Speed limit sign recognition
- Distance pacing cruise control
- Leather upholstery
- Automatic temperature control
- Emergency communication system
- Power moonroof
Detailed Specifications
Dealer Notes
*Calculated from original in-service date.
Excellent Condition! 2016 S60 T5 AWD Inscription Platinum - Turbo 5 Cylinder Engine - All Wheel Drive - Platinum Trim Level - Volvo Sensus Connect System w/ 3G Internet & Volvo On-Call Emergency Support - Onyx Black Metallic Paint - Off-Black Sport Leather Seats - Climate Package - Heated Front/Rear Seats - Heated Steering Wheel - Volvo Navigation System w/ Real-Time Traffic and Voice-Activation - Premium Harman/Kardon Surround Sound Stereo System - Automatic Sunroof - New Active Digital Display Cluster - Convenience Package - Keyless Drive/Entry - Homelink Garage Door Opener - Power Folding Mirrors - Rear Parking Camera - Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) w/ Front/Rear Park Assist Sensors - Technology Package - Adaptive Cruise Control - Lane Departure Warning - Collision Warning - Driver Alert Control - Premium 18" Diamond Cut Alloy Rims - Linear Walnut Wood Inlays - Dual Active Bi-Xenon Headlights - For more information regarding this vehicle, contact our Sales Team at (888) 449-9006. They'll be more than happy to help. And as always; Drive Safe.
Assembled with the most discerning driver in mind. A turbocharger is also included as an economical means of increasing performance. This 4 door, 5 passenger sedan still has fewer than 40,000 miles! Volvo prioritized handling and performance with features such as: delay-off headlights, automatic dimming door mirrors, and power front seats. Smooth gearshifts are achieved thanks to the 2.5 liter 5 cylinder engine, and for added security, dynamic Stability Control supplements the drivetrain.
Our sales staff will help you find the vehicle that you've been searching for. We'd be happy to answer any questions that you may have. Please don't hesitate to give us a call.
KBB.com Consumer Reviews
- 5.0
The Sure-footed Swede
By RtDK on Thursday, March 24, 2016I have owned this car, certified pre-owned, since 8,800 miles (approx.). I've put a little over 5,000 miles on it since, and I can't say much of anything negative about it. Ember Black Pearl metallic paint is a WONDERFUL color. If there is anything I would improve, it would be the dashboard. There is an area around the central air vent that's missing an aluminum ring around it (compare it to the outer air vents), and I wouldn't mind having the dashboard wrapped in stitched leather. (It's soft-touch plastic.) Mercs, Jags, Lexuses and Audis probably have marginally-better attention to the finer details. That being said, short of a few niggles on the interior, there is absolutely NO shortage of comfort. The leather and seats are soft, sumptuous and supportive enough for the average sport driver, though those dedicated to the art would likely prefer a REAR-wheel drive car. The rear seat room is a little tight so I wouldn't recommend it for VERY long hauls. You better not mind frequent trips to the grocery store because of its small trunk. And if you get the Sport Package, be prepared to feel the imperfections in the road. On the flip side, with the sport suspension, it corners every bit like a BMW or a Cadillac. It's a beautiful, stylish and unique car that's a fantastic alternative to the more common German choices. It feels put together like a drum, and projected reliability (and experienced, in my case, so far) is excellent. Fuel economy is terrific (I only fill up about once a month AND it takes Regular gas), and it's a wonderful value if you're buying CPO. For the same price as a mid-range Camry or Accord, you can buy this beautiful, efficient and stylish full-on luxury car, fully-loaded, fast and fun. And its base engine is equal or superior to the competitors' offerings in both power and efficiency. Highly, HIGHLY recommended.
- 5.0
By DAN on Tuesday, September 12, 2017This car is incredible. AWD, tons of low torque, most comfortable seat in a car. Drives like a sports car and seats 5. Safest vehicle in its category. I have now owned it for 1 year and had no issues. CPO vehicle. I could not ask for more.
- 5.0
Just the Perfect Car for My Needs!
By NedM on Sunday, December 03, 2017Bought as a CPO 2 years ago with 6800 miles. Only problem was a gas cap gasket. Plenty of power, especially off the line. It has the BLiS, convenience pkg, nav, weather pkg...about all I need/want. Only complaint is steering is a little firmer than Audi A4 which I shopped it against. The overall value was clearly in the S60s favor. Bumper - bumper warranty coverage for 100k mi, no deductible (75 for Audi) & regular gas vs Audi premium were other value factors. Very, very pleassed and proud of the car.
"Certified by Volvo" Warranty - 5 Years/Unlimited Miles
At Steingold Volvo Cars, we're committed to
providing a
premium ownership experience for our customers, so we've decided
to do
something very special. Nearly all Pre-Owned vehicles listed in our
inventory now include the "Certified by Volvo"
Warranty (5 Years/Unlimited Miles)! This
comprehensive warranty will keep you covered for five years (from the original
in-service date) and an unlimited amount of miles! This award-winning program
offers the strongest warranty in the industry and requires a detailed
inspection to meet our stringent set of standards. Plus, it's upgradeable up to 10 years. We also include complimentary roadside assistance and a zero deductible for all warranty visits.
"Steingold Certified" Vehicle Inspection Process
At Steingold Volvo Cars, we pride ourselves in repeat business as our loyal customers are the heart of our operation. That's why we go a step further when inspecting our Pre-Owned vehicles. Our Certified Inspection process ensures every aspect of the vehicle you purchase has been thoroughly checked by one of our Volvo Factory Trained Technicians. We also have absolutely no restrictions to their suggestions. It's very simple. If our technicians think something needs to be replaced or repaired, it gets done. Period. We follow a multi-point safety inspection process to make certain you get a vehicle you can count on. And remember, if a vehicle passes our Certified Inspection Process, it will most certainly pass yours.
Complimentary Factory Scheduled Maintenance
To further enhance your ownership experience, all Pre-Owned Volvo models sold at Steingold Volvo will include Complimentary Factory Scheduled Maintenance for the first three years or 36,000 miles. This means that your first three services (10,000 miles, 20,000 miles, and 30,000 miles) will be performed at no charge. But keep in mind, if the vehicle you're purchasing has already had these services performed, you can add even more maintenance coverage with our VIP Prepaid Maintenance Plans.
No Salesmen or Commissions - Just Owners
As a single location, family-owned and operated dealership, we pride ourselves in the fact that our customers deal direct with the owners. Virtually all dealerships have sales-driven employees who care only for themselves. If you're looking for a simple, straight-forward car-buying experience with an extremely competitive price and product knowledge to match, you'll quickly find that our dealership delivers everything you're looking for.
To read actual Steingold Volvo Cars customer reviews and experiences, click here.
Personal Tutorial With In-Depth Demonstration
After your purchase has been made, our team will sit with you and your family for an in-depth vehicle demonstration and tutorial. It can be very overwhelming when learning about a new vehicle, but with our extensive knowledge and low-key manner, our team will explain every feature of your new vehicle and demonstrate in detail. We'll even pair your Bluetooth devices.
Stress-Free Registration/DMV Service
One of the most stressful parts of purchasing a vehicle is the DMV registration process shortly afterwards. Most dealerships carelessly send you to the DMV with confusing documents and endless paperwork, leaving you on your own to battle long lines at your local DMV. At Steingold Volvo, we will personally handle all registration procedures, regardless of what state you reside. That means there will be no trips to the DMV. Period. We'll even contact your insurance company and make sure the vehicle is added to your policy. In short, we make your car-buying experience as simple as possible.
Complimentary Loaner Vehicles & UBER Rides
As a courtesy to our customers, we always offer complimentary loaner vehicles or UBER rides for service visits. Just keep in mind that our loaner vehicles are extremely popular and we always recommend reserving a vehicle prior to your service visit. If no loaners or UBER rides are available, our on-site shuttle service will get you where you need to be.
Complimentary Car Wash
To further enhance your
experience, all service visits will
include a complimentary car wash. Our team will hand-wash the exterior
of your
vehicle and vacuum the interior rugs. It's a simple way to show our
appreciation to our


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Secure Employee ID Solutions
Legend ID is a full-service identity management and security solutions integrator, serving our valued customers in the Pacific Northwest region. For 3 decades Legend ID has specialized in design and implementation of custom ID systems, backed by our team of factory trained, on-site service technicians and dedicated customer support representatives.
Whether your organization is looking to deploy a traditional ID and security system, or is looking to migrate to contactless smart cards or Near Field Communications (NFC), our staff of identity management experts is here to help you achieve your identity management goals.
- Full line of enterprise desktop ID printers
- Best-of-breed card design and production software
- Distributed web-based ID badging solution
- Contactless smart cards and smart card consulting
- Biometric, signature, and other assorted digital capture solutions
- Factory certified ribbons, topcoats, and secure laminates
- Blank or printed cards
- Lanyards, clips, and ID badge accessories


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The Asian Development Bank's Principal Energy Specialist, Sohail Hasnie, explains how a clear-air revolution starts with electric vehicles, but the transition won't be an easy one.
About 15 years ago, the unthinkable happened (almost) overnight.
Particulate pollution in Dhaka, one of Asia's most polluted megacities, suddenly dropped by 30%–40%. The bluish haze disappeared, and the air was again breathable. All this happened almost immediately in 2003 after the Bangladesh government banned smoke-belching gasoline tricycles, the city's top pollution source, and replaced them with new vehicles running on compressed natural gas.
Those of us living in similarly congested cities dream that this will happen to us. The statistics on urban air pollution and its impact on our health are shocking. Dhaka's experience shows that the future can bring dramatic changes in urban air quality in Asia, thanks to innovation in the energy and transport sectors.
Transport accounts for most of the world's oil consumption, and about 40% of coal is used for generating electricity. The combination of the two is the main cause of poor air quality in our cities. The problem historically has been that there were no viable alternatives to filling our cars with petrol, or burning coal to keep the lights on.
First, coal is slowly dying. Building and operating coal power plants has become more expensive than solar power in many countries. And solar prices only continue to drop. Second, the electric car has arrived. India and China are working to ensure 100% of new vehicle sales are electric by 2030. Soon, electric vehicles will be cheaper to purchase than gasoline-powered cars. Their operating costs are already 80% lower. Third, lithium-ion cells are becoming much more affordable. Once retrofitting old cars to battery power becomes a mainstream option, we won't all have to be able afford a Tesla to own an electric car. Finally, solar panels will sit on almost all of our rooftops, either as a mandatory requirement or as a cheap source of power. One in three Australian households already has rooftop solar – and that has happened in just the last five years.
Innovations in technology and energy will bring dramatic changes to the air quality of Asia's cities, but the transition won't be easy.
These four factors are now forcing the private sector — even oil companies — to invest heavily in solar power and electric vehicles. Our cities may soon be free of both air and noise pollution, but the transition will not be easy.
The revolution will start with broad public awareness of how clean energy can end urban pollution. This is a must to overcome the loud, if dwindling, number of skeptics.
Electric cars are a policy choice to address pollution, not traffic. With the electric car, the number of vehicles on the roads will go up slowly. That should drop in the long term as artificial intelligence takes over driving, and groups of autonomous cars running in sync create tomorrow's trams and buses. There will be less demand for car parks, with more spaces available in inner cities.
Apartments could soon start "packaging" free unlimited charging for electric vehicles as part of the rental. This costs property owners $5–$7 a day, or at most, $150 a month – and is free if using rooftop solar.
There's great opportunity to build pay-as-you-charge stations for EV charging (and discharging, to buy back people's electricity generated at home). Batteries can be sold for homes on a lease-to-own basis, or packaged as part of a new house, something that's becoming common in Australia.
The electric car revolution is so disruptive that it looks set to create a multi-billion-dollar market in south-east Asia, a new hub for electric-vehicle manufacturing. Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam are poised to employ millions of workers to "make electric".
Let's stop trying to solve today's problems with yesterday's tools. We should instead leapfrog to solutions based on readily available technology to build pollution-free cities in Asia. Once we embrace electric vehicles and solar power, retail demand for coal and oil will drop dramatically. Fossil fuels should stay where they belong: underground.
This is an extract from Modus Asia edition, Q2 2018
16 August 2019
News & opinion
15 August 2019
News & opinion
6 August 2019
Press release


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Liberty Industrial hold the relevant licences to take on any type of demolition or asbestos removal project, with unrestricted demolition, asbestos removal and explosives licences in most states and territories throughout Australia.
As holders of an Unrestricted Demolition Licence we are licenced to demolish buildings and structures of any scale or complexity. Our Class A Friable Asbestos Removal Licence permits us to undertake any type of asbestos removal works in house.
Liberty Industrial is also licenced to carry out controlled explosive demolitions. Such works are subject to strict legislative and regulatory compliance and Liberty Industrial are one of only a handful of specialist contractors licenced to carry out explosive demolitions in Australia.


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Manuel Pellegrini is envious of Leicester City's good luck on the injury front after David Silva was added to Manchester City's list of walking wounded.
City were beaten 3-1 by Leicester at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday and are now down to fourth in the Premier League, six points behind table-topping Leicester ahead of next weekend's crucial trip to second-placed Tottenham.
To compound their woes, Silva left the field with an ankle injury that makes him doubtful for Spurs. He joins a lengthy injury list which, even for a club of City's resources, is damaging as they fight on in four competitions.
Pellegrini said: "Yes (it is stretched) because we have seven players injured at the moment in the same positions – two centre-backs, (Vincent) Kompany and (Eliaquim) Mangala – and in attack – (Kevin) De Bruyne, (Jesus) Navas, (Wilfried) Bony, (Samir) Nasri and now Silva. That makes it more difficult.
"Let's hope we can recover in the next few days. We didn't have the usual energy. We've been using only 14 (outfield) players in a very important month."
Leicester have just the league to focus on and, with few injury problems at present, could have a clear advantage in the title race.
Pellegrini said: "I think it is important for Leicester that they are always able to play with the same team and they haven't got too many injuries at this moment.
"Going forward they have an advantage, but I don't think that will be the only thing they need from now to the end of the season."
Pellegrini has warned that his side cannot afford to drop points at Tottenham on a key weekend when Leicester also travel to third-placed Arsenal.
He said: "We must recover as soon as we can after this defeat. We must have a very strong mentality and try to prepare for the game against Tottenham in the best way we can.
"It is another team that is fighting for the title and we need three more points here at home. At the same time Leicester are playing at Arsenal, the two other teams fighting for the title, but we we must win against Tottenham.
"In the way we are playing the season in every competition, every game is like a final, but it is very important just to focus on Tottenham now."


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This script is from Matt's Script Archive, and is one of the most widely used form-to-email...Majordomo Subscription Form
Configure our script that allows visitors to subscribe or un subscribe to your majordomo mailing...Perlfect Search Tool
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Adding reCAPTCHA to your Datarealm Forms In order to limit the amount of spam submitted through...


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Video Gallery
See University Village in motion
Click on the video below to learn why a Continuing Life® retirement community like University Village Thousand Oaks is so different from any other option you'll find.
Learn more about the lifestyle and ideal location of University Village.
At University Village, we want to help you have a healthy and happy lifestyle - see how we do it!
Discover what there is to love about University Village.
Maintenance-free living at University Village provides more time for the activities Craig and Jennifer Zobelein love. And with access to long-term care, they have the confidence to make the world their stage.
Robert and Jan Holstrom have found a lot to love about University Village. As a vibrant couple with no plans to slow down, they now have more time for the things that make them happy.
At University Village, Peggy Waters has found everything she was looking for, and more. For the same cost of homeownership, she feels like she's given up nothing and gained so much.
Take an aerial ride of the University Village campus by clicking on the video below.


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He wears khaki and loves nothing more than harassing dangerous reptiles – after four years, Australia could have found its successor to
Steve Irwin.
Corey Wild (catchphrase: Wild by name, wild by nature) is being touted as the new Crocodile Hunter after Irwin died from a stingray barb.
In his amateur home videos the wildlife guru is seen kissing cobras at his crocodile park in Cairns, north Queensland.
And while Irwin wrestled his first croc aged nine, Wild milked the venom of a deadly brown snake when he was 12.
But the 33-year-old, whose real name is Corey Smits, tries his best to avoid Irwinâs âcrikeyâ catchphrase, preferring the less sophisticated âWoooaaar!â.
He also still has a fair way to go to overtake the legend with a Facebook following of 212 compared with Irwinâs 200,000 fans. However, that could all change with reports that British producers want to market Wild as Crocodile Hunter 2.
But some Australians have reacted cooly to the suggestion. One internet forum commenter wrote: âSteve would be rolling in his grave.â
Despite the obvious similarities Wild claims heâs following his own path.
He said: âHeâs an inspiration to me. Iâm not trying to replace Steve Irwin. I just hope his legacy lives on.â


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Hobby Lobby and me & my BIG ideas have teamed up again to bring you this fun heart-shaped holiday decor by mambi Design Team member Candi Billman. Using mambi products and a heart-shaped piece found at Hobby Lobby, Candi created the perfect Valentine's display piece of sisterly love.
About this project, Candi writes:
"I wanted to create a little wall decor using a photo of me and my big sis. I picked up this heart-shaped chip decor at Hobby Lobby thought it perfect for the season. I thought to add this rare photo of us together and happy (ha!) as we were never the closest back then. Today, we are the best of friends and I don't know what I would do without her by my side. This wall mount project of her and I is a great way to show I love her."
Candi's steps to this project:
- Squeeze out some Quick Dry Tacky Adhesive onto the heart and spread it around to the edges with a small foam brush.
- Lay the back side of your patterned paper (12x12) down on to the glue and press down all over. Set aside and let it dry for several minutes.
- Lay the heart face down and with one hand hold the heart in place. The second hand will life the excess paper against the heart and tear the paper. There will be rough/torn edges. It won't look perfect.
- Take your piece of sandpaper and finish the edges by rubbing the sandpaper on the edges around the perimeter of the heart. The 'extra' paper will fall off and your heart will now have a rough, yet clean look.
- Take a small foam brush and paint around the edges with red acrylic paint. Set aside and let it dry for several minutes.
- Take any size heart punch and punch out several hearts and adhere them to the left side of the heart. Cut out a heart-shaped photo and adhere that to the heart.
- Finish the project off with some stickers and embellishments.


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Our Initiatives
Dartmouth-Hitchcock was named the 2018 recipient of the Foundation's inaugural Honoring Excellence in Patient Safety & Quality Improvement Award at the Foundation's Annual Meeting.
Hospitals throughout New Hampshire provided more than $540 million dollars in community benefits, going above and beyond their mission of delivering high quality, affordable healthcare to their patients.
Since 2011, New Hampshire hospitals have avoided over 5,200 patient harm events and saved over $42.2 million in healthcare costs under the Partnership for Patients initiative.
Elliot Health System was named the 2018 recipient for the Noah Lord Award for Patient & Family Engagement at the Foundation's Annual Meeting.
The Foundation has served as the leading resource for advance care and end of life care planning, including POLST, for patients and their families, medical providers, hospitals and health systems throughout the state.
Isaac Hirschfeld, RN, BSN, a registered nurse at Elliot Health System, was recognized as the 2018 recipient of the Clint M. Jones New Hampshire Nursing Award.
Recent News
- Now Accepting Nominations for the 2019 Noah Lord Patient & Family Engagement Award
- FHC Seeking Health Care Coalition Exercise and Training Officer
- Jessica Morris, Hanover Terrace Health & Rehabilitation Center, Named 2019 Clint Jones Nursing Award Recipient
- Governor Sununu Proclaims April 16th Healthcare Decisions Day in New Hampshire
- 2019 Antimicrobial Stewardship Symposium: Culturing Stewardship Together
20 Year Anniversary Report (2016)
Advance Care Planning Guide (2017)
Barriers to Care Report (2017)
Community Health Needs & Benefits Report (2017)
Economic Impact of Hospital Systems (2014)
Falls Prevention Program Issue Brief (2017)
Patient Transitions & Care Coordination (2016)
Featured Story
20th Anniversary Celebration
Video: The Foundation Celebrates its 20th Anniversary. Hear the stories our partners have to share.


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I've had my sartorial sights set on a furry jacket in a fun pattern or colour since last year…and look at what finally found its way into my shopping basket at Winners (for only $50!) a few weeks ago!!
Here in Vancouver, we're very fortunate to be able to get away with sweaters and lightweight coats for much of the winter…and even though I'm a big fan of the former, that doesn't mean I don't enjoy having an extra-cozy option to put into rotation every now and again!! 😉
But what have I really been focusing on recently when I'm out shopping?? Tops!! I'm trying very hard to expand my repertoire beyond T-shirts – and those sweaters I favour! – by adding a few more blouses and shirts to my collection. For some reason, they are the one item that I find challenging to purchase…but this polka-dotted, bow-front Zara blouse managed to hit all the right notes!!
And how lucky for me that my new jacket and top work wonderfully well together, too…so of course I simply couldn't resist the opportunity to show off both pieces at once!! 😀


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Is oppression a natural state? How can our choices be constrained and our will still be free?
Is it possible to have a system which doesn't oppress, or is the question more of the nature of *who* gets oppressed?
Personally, I don't believe in an oppression-free state. If you're going to have a system, someone's going to be in control. When control isn't overt, it's covert and therefore more dangerous. When consensus is demanded, you lose the right of dissent. When obedience is required, you lose the right of choice.
What is oppression? When is it necessary? What does your religion say about it?
- Message Board: Read this discussion


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Help batyr give a voice to the elephant in the room and start planning your fundraiser today.
Whether it's a BBQ with your mates, a trivia night, a fun run, an office bake off, a movie night or even an amazing race, fundraising for batyr is a fun and rewarding way to make a difference.
The below kit will arm you with a heap of resources to help you on your way. So open up the links and get the fun started!
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to get in contact with the team at firstname.lastname@example.com


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Diwali in New Jersey
By Lenore Holz
East Indians around the world celebrated the annual Diwali "festival of lights" on November 11, 2015, except in southern India which observed on November 10th. As popular as the American Christmas and with many similarities, this Hindu festival "Deepavali" is the most important celebration of the year for Indians, representing the spiritual victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil, and hope over despair. A pretty great reason to celebrate, don't you think?
The direct translation of "Diwali" or "Dipavali" in Sanskrit is "a row of lamps." Preparations and rituals leading up to the holiday typically last five days, and possibly several weeks, and include tidying up and decorating one's home and workspace, culminating in the night of the darkest new moon between mid-October and mid-November. Diwali will fall on Sunday, October 30 in 2016.
At home, families honor the ancient tradition by lighting candles or lamps, exchanging small gifts, and enjoying a lavish meal with sweets. It can also mean praying, storytelling, and creating colorful works of traditional art. At public gatherings it's an opportunity to dress in one's finest clothes, visit a temple, and light fireworks.
Diwali is an official holiday in India and in some countries with a significant Hindu population, however the some 292,266 Asian Indians living in New Jersey aren't so lucky. According to the 2010 census, Indians comprise only 3.3 percent of the total population of New Jersey, the highest ratio of all US states. These numbers represent almost a 73 percent increase from 2000 when Indian Americans living in New Jersey numbered 169,180.
Different organizations produced at least six major events in New Jersey where the Indian American population is most concentrated, especially Edison and Jersey City. A way to maintain Indian identity in the NJ community, these family-oriented gatherings typically showcase music, vendors, and amazing food, of course.
In Jersey City the Saraswati Cultural Association of New Jersey (SCANJ) held its inaugural Diwali celebration with a day-long street festival at Exchange Place on Saturday, October 25 sponsored in part by the city's Cultural Affairs Department. Anita Chadha founded SCANJ in 1991 with the goal of enriching the local community with Indian culture. Attended by approximately 4,000 the outdoor event featured a stage for performances by Bollywood-style dance troupes with the audience happily dancing along as children burned sparklers. Revelers also enjoyed henna body art, raffles, face painting, and children's activities. Dozens of vendors formed a pop-up bazaar offering a quick bite and Indian-made goods such as candles, costume jewelry, and colorful apparel. Diwali also means shopping for gifts as an expression of love and abundance, as well as honoring Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity.
Some celebrated in style paying $55 a ticket to attend Sparkles 2015, a formal family-friendly "bash" complete with a full course banquet, dancing, and performances at the La Quinta hotel in Secaucus.
Aum Events proclaimed to produce the "best and biggest" Diwali Mela (Mela translates as "gathering") celebration in the tri-state area at the NJ Expo Center in Edison the weekend of November 7th and 8th. Approximately 15,000 attendees enjoyed a dance competition, celebrity performances, and a fashion show, as well as shopping, community connections, and plenty of popular and regional cuisines at 150 vendor booths. They even had fireworks.
In the Downtown Jersey City neighborhood of Paulus Hook the Baishya family of three dimmed the main lights in their highrise condominium, switched on some battery-powered tea lights, and exchanged small gifts to honor each other and celebrate a peaceful Diwali night at home.
Photography by Meenu Jandra.
About the Writer
Lenore Holz landed in Jersey City in July 2001 and hasn't looked back. She helps others solve problems as Brownstone Concierge, crafts organic teas and fresh lemonade as Iced Tea Fusion, and teaches yoga. A self-identifying progressive, Lenore is committed to her community through advocating for the local economy, animals, and keeping Liberty State Park free and green. Lenore can be reached at email@example.com. #SaveLSP


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Welcome to a blog about my not-so-little obsessions, including make up, nail polish, books, music and travelling. :)
Tuesday, 1 March 2011
Jesse's Girl - Confetti
18 comments:
That is beautiful! I just bought Jesse's Girl Fire Fly today. I think you would love that one for layering tooReplyDelete
Uuuu, lep in dober duo-chrome efekt! *ob tem si ponavljam - nobenega laka več na wish listo, nobenega laka več na wish listo...*ReplyDelete
LOL@your new-found Nfu Oh love! I'm so glad you decided to join the flakie fans ;)ReplyDelete
I haven't seen this one over black, and until now I thought I could easily live without it. Then you had to show its duochrome-ness in all it's glory! All I can do is drool :O¨ It looks amazing on you. I can't imagine what flakies would look like on your perfect nails, but I'm sure it would be nail polish heaven!
Savršeno :)))
waw, kako lepi nohtki, barva, oblika, dolžina...res vse:) <3ReplyDelete
Lep je. Sem ga že dala na WL.ReplyDelete
prekrasan <3 ne treba vise nista recReplyDelete
Oh my, that's just perfect. LOVE the duochrome.. really, what a beautiful polish on beautiful nails! ^^ReplyDelete
oh wow *_* so beautifulReplyDelete
love this color. xReplyDelete
p.s. I'm having a giveaway on my blog for a necklace from pie n the sky if you'd like to check it out. :) x
suppper pretty! :DReplyDelete
i bet many ppl wud of complimented u on it ^^
ur hav great nails! :D
ajme ovo je fantastično!!! :-DReplyDelete
Such a stunning colour!ReplyDelete
Thank you everybody! :) Yes, it's a stunner, I agree. I can't get sick of it. :)ReplyDelete
Res nimam kaj drugega dodati ...
I just brought this home, swatched it, and it is a dupe for SH HD DVD.ReplyDelete
Wow, I'm sorry ladies, your two comments slipped right off my radar. :)ReplyDelete
Maestra, hvala za lep kompliment. :) Zdajle ga gledam, da si ga bom kar morala še enkrat nanesti na nohte. :)
Misty, hello, welcome to my blog! Thanks for sharing! Since I can't get SH here, I'm glad I've at least gotten a dupe of it. :D


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A Singular Generation
Honoring the timeless stars of a classic era at the Vienna State Opera
Is it only my imagination, or did everything really used to be different? No one can say. We have lived at a certain time, and at the opera, we've watched all sorts of artistic feats. We weren't watching professionally yet, and thus all the more enthusiastically. There were gods in singer heaven. And if we are honest, they haven't lost their value; on the contrary, they are still at the top. That's not because they are being glorified because of advanced age. Quality is timeless, elusive, it can't be measured, nor can it be pinned down.
Giulietta Simionato came to the Vienna State Opera in 1956 from La Scala in Milan as a trade initiated by director Herbert von Karajan when the Italians finally began to be sung in Vienna in their original language. She was the grande dame of the Italian mezzos, aristocratic, intense, resolute and imperturbable. When she came out on stage the scene belonged to her. A crystal clear voice, concentrated and focused, a tone that was always lean and clear. She had something that one had begun to believe no longer existed. And her expressiveness has no successor. Not Fiorenza Cossotto and not Christa Ludwig, whose plump voices have caused a different kind of furor. Guilietta Simionato passed away this spring in Rome, seven days before her hundredth birthday.
There have been many exceptional Italian baritones. Piero Cappucilli, equipped with a wonderful timbre and an explosive delivery, was, one might say, both the center-forward and the penalty taker (his high B as Ezio in Verdi's Attilla was something to experience, and he obviously enjoyed it too). Tito Gobbi had no competitor in the character roles (Jago, Scarpia). But over the decades there was also the incomparable Giuseppe Taddei. He was, par excellence, an animal of the theater. And a man of principle and conscience. A member of the Italian Resistance, he could only begin his career after 1945.
Above all at the Theater an der Wien; my father told me a lot about that time, the first of countless second careers. Karajan liked him and placed him in the mini-role of Schaunard in the legendary 1963 production of La Bohème with Freni and Raimondi.
Taddei was also omnipresent in Central Europe and taught the people around him how to sing Verdi. He was a stylist without an equal, and in this discipline found only one successor in Renato Bruson. In the mid-1980s he sang Falstaff in Bregenz. And when shortly thereafter Karajan planned the work for the Salzburg Festival, his advisors pushed for Taddei.
But the maestro was skeptical. Was his voice still intact? You couldn't ask someone like Taddei to audition! So Karajan snuck into the back of a box at the Vienna State Opera to listen to Taddei sing a performance of L'elisir d'amore. The next day he was engaged as Falstaff for two Salzburg summers. Years later Taddei told me that a certain Ioan Holender wanted to draw up the contract for this engagement – and to cash a percentage of the earnings. Taddei threw Holender out with no further ado.
He was a great singer who entered listeners' hearts, especially as the Genovese Doge, Simone Boccanegra. But when Holender came to the helm of the State Opera, he was simply ignored. Viennese friends of the opera loved him, a monument for more than half a century. Last June he passed away in Rome, shortly before his 94th birthday.
And in July, Cesare Siepi died – probably completely blind – at 87 in Miami. What a man, what a singer. And above all: what an artist. For Mozart and Verdi he had no rivals. That wonderful bass voice with its smoky timbre, a voice that poured over legato and lines, its dramatic expression and attacca: it was beyond belief. The best Don Giovanni (in the mid-1950s he recorded it for Decca, not once but twice), a wonderful Mephisto and Mephistofeles. He was an ace in every respect.
Actually one shouldn't write such absolutes, but in this case… who can possibly compare? Was Ezio Pinza better than Siepi? No one can say. In the Viennese repertoire, Siepi was certainly a challenge for Nicolai Ghiaurov, six years Siepi's junior. But it would be absolutely senseless to compare the one to the other. They came from completely different worlds. And that is what made the difference so appealing. Siepi was a gentleman from top to toe. It speaks for him that once, before the finale of Don Giovanni, in the "alley" of the State Opera stage, he slapped a stupid singer like Wladimiro Ganzarolli. Cesare Siepi was one of the greatest artists I ever experienced on a stage; he lived for excellence and had little patience for anything else.


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Kavita Shah has combined her multi-cultural background (she's of Indian descent and fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, and French) with her wide-ranging musical tastes to create a unique and ambitious sound. She has toured throughout the US, Canada and Europe, including performances at the Jazz Standard, Duc des Lombards, Blue Note, Kennedy Center, Art Basel Miami, Winter Jazz Festival, and Rochester Jazz Festival.
"Breathtakingly beautiful." DOWNBEAT
"Ambitious and daring." JAZZWISE UK
Doors open 30 minutes prior to start time.
Bookings: firstname.lastname@example.com Tickets: http://www.uptownjazzcafe.com/


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In this interactive experience you'll have access to guided tours:
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In today's Southern California pro-wrestling news roundup we have updates from FIST Combat, Bar Wrestling, SoCal Pro, Baja Stars USA, PCW Ultra, Maverick Pro, Bumps & Brewses, Championship Wrestling from Hollywood, and more. Click for today's update.
FIST Combat has added a pre-show match to their June 8 June DOOM event, with Matt Vandagriff facing Koharu Hinata in an intergender match. Hinata was trained by Tajiri and his been wrestling for about four years. She has wrestled for various independent women's promotions in Japan, most notably REINA. This will be her United States debut.
FIST Combat also announced that their monthly event at Jolt'n Joes in La Mesa on June 21 will feature Sabu and Super Genie. Despite the thousands of matches in a nearly 30 year career, this will be Sabu's first time wrestling in the San Diego area.
Fresh off his legal victory over Dr. Chris Amann, WWE's ringside physician, Colt Cabana will be wrestling on the July 14, 2016 Bar Wrestling event, Pinkerton, in Baldwin Park, CA.
SoCal Pro will be moving their bigger events to the Vista Boys and Girls Club in Vista, CA starting with their September 15, 2018 Super Clash event. Super Clash is scheduled to feature a match between Ultimo Dragon and Penta El Zero M. The Oceanside Boys and Girls Club had been the promotion's home for 11 years, however the building had a new floor installed in their gym and no longer wanted wrestling events to be held there. They notified SoCal Pro only a couple weeks before their big anniversary event in April, forcing the promotion to hold the event in a tent outside on the soccer field.
Impact Wrestling Hall of Famer Gail Kim and former WWE ring announcer Lillian Garcia will be doing autograph signings at Frank & Sons Collectables Show on June 9, 2018 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Bayley will be making an appearance at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego at Bldg. 2017 on June 25, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. The event is only open to people with base access and not open to the general public.
Baja Stars USA, despite announcing they were shutting down last month, has already returned and will be back at the Montgomery Waller Rec. Center in San Diego on August 18, 2018.
Matthew Riddle has been added to the June 8, 2018 PCW Ultra event, Opposites Attack, in Wilmington.
Championship Wrestling from Hollywood will soon be airing their weekly program in Hawaii on K5. No start date has been announced.
Bumps and Brewses is hosting a seminar with Al Snow and Bob Holly on June 23, 2018 the OCCW school in Stanton, CA from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. The price is $120 and includes a lunch and a t-shirt. For more information e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com.
Maverick Pro announced an October 13, 2018 event at the Moose Lodge in Burbank.
This week's Southern California pro-wrestling and MMA events:
June 7:
Fight Club OC in Costa Mesa, CA
June 8:
Millennium Pro Wrestling in Moorpark, CA (Free Event)
PCW Ultra presents Opposites Attack in Wilmington, CA
FIST Combat presents June DOOM in San Diego, CA
June 10:
Knokx Pro in Huntington Park, CA (Free Event)
Championship Wrestling From Hollywood TV Taping in Pt. Hueneme, CA (Free Event)


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Disposing of your BBQ in Cambridge is not as simple as throwing it out with the regular trash. When disposed of responsibly, the cast iron and stainless steel metals it's made from, become a valuable resource to be recycled and turned into something new. If you need somewhere to drop off your propane tank, facilities such as PNE Propane and Don Fournier Service Centre may take it back if they have space (just be sure to call ahead).
If you have any damaged or unwanted BBQs that you need to dispose of, Capital Junk can help you responsibly remove and recycle them. We remove gas BBQ's, charcoal grills, electric BBQ's and portable BBQ's. Our Customers have trusted us to properly dispose of their BBQs for over 10 years. Due to our volume-based pricing structure, you only pay for how much space your BBQ would take up in our truck.
Book a no-obligation estimate online with our easy online form
Show us what needs to be removed and we will provide an up-front price every time. Guaranteed.
The backyard, the basement, the attic… Leave it to us and our team will get it all out and sweep the area.
We are passionate recyclers and donate regularly to charity.


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Providing Excellent Music Education in New Westminster Since 1960
"The Music Department at NWSS played a pivotal role in forming my enthusiasm and dedication to music during those formative high school years. The excellent teachers on staff made the learning environment totally communal and ensured that music was something that their students could identify with and always feel a part of. I played percussion in concert band, guitar in jazz band (and even a bit of saxophone in grade 12!), and have many fond memories of great concerts, trips and after school jam sessions."
- Karl Hirzer, Associate Conductor of the Calgary Philharmonic
JAZZ BAND 2019/2020 Auditions
Please note that Jazz Band class has a mandatory co-requisite: Concert Band. Potential jazz students must audition for placement in one of three jazz ansembles: Jazz A, Jazz B, and Jazz C. Jazz A will rehearse on Monday nights from 7 to 9:30 PM; Jazz B will rehearse on Monday and Wednesday mornings at 7 AM; and Jazz C will rehearse on Tuesday and Thursdays at 7 AM. For the audition, students should pick up the assigned piece in the bandroom (Jelly Roll, by Charles Mingus, for Trombones, and Sandu, by Clifford Brown, for all other instruments). Listening to the original recordings is encouraged. Email Mr. Clements at firstname.lastname@example.com if you want a digital copy to practice with over the summer.
Auditions will be held in the first two weeks of school in September. Good luck to all potential jazzers!
Upcoming Events
Make a donation to the music department!
You can donate to any student participating in the bandathon by clicking the above button. On PayPal you will be able to enter the name of the student you want to receive your donation.
Clothing Drive Fundraiser
Any donations will count toward trips in 2020.
Monday to Friday 8am-6pm
Saturday 12-4:30pm
Closed on Sundays & stat holidays
A fundraiser! Drop off unwanted clothing, accessories and other cloth items to Big Brothers Depot in Sapperton and make money for every pound collected in your name!
Tell friends, neighbours, family and others to take their unwanted items to the Big Brothers Depot (15 Braid Street around the back of the building in unit #221- New Westminster) Big Brothers Clothing Donation at ANY TIME DURING THE YEAR. You must drop off during business hours and fill out the donation form, being certain to list "NWSS Music" as the donor recipient as well as the name of the student you want to support. You will get a yellow copy of the donations slip, which you should return to the music department for tracking purposes.
To raise money to be used towards trips! 100% of the profit earned by individual students goes directly into their student accounts to be used towards their spring band/choir trip.
Acceptable Items for Donation (no dirty or soiled items, no housewares/tools/furniture/etc)
Clothing for men, women and children
Accessories (belts, hats, scarves)
Purses, wallets, backpacks and bags
Shoes and boots
Towels, tablecloths, curtains and linens
Under garments, nylons and socks
Blankets, bedding and pillows
Some tips for succesful fundraising with the Clothing Drive
Offer to pick up people's items on a selected date. Ask them to put items outside in bags clearly marked with your name and do a mini clothing drive blitz. Load up your vehicle and deliver the donations yourself!
Don't forget to remind your donors to fill out the donation form indicating your name and NWSS MUSIC.
Check out our new Promo video! Music education is fun for everyone!
Donate to NWSS Music!
Much of our ability to purchase new equipment and instruments, as well as maintain repairs, is realized through donations. We appreciate any support you may be able to offer the NWSS Music department and our students.
Donations can come in all shapes and sizes...
We are ACCEPTING donations of all kinds, whether it be cash or cheque, or used instruments of all sorts.
Our goals are:
- to provide good quality instruments to students who need them;
- to provide scholarships for our students' future studies;
- to make our band and choir trips affordable for everyone.
Gifts large and small are very much appreciated. We currently do not need any pianos, although excellent, high quality pianos might be useful.
Make a gift in honour of your favourite student, teacher or in memory of a loved one – or simply because you love music and the opportunity for students to learn and perform. It's a wonderful way to support the music program which means so much to our students, their families and our community.
Leave a legacy of harmony!
For more information on the many ways you can make a gift, email Miss Proznick (email@example.com) or Mr. Clements (email@example.com)