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My new and slightly overdue chart is a busy affair where only one song sits still. That would be the song at the top. I simply can't get enough of "Waiting For The Feeling" by Bright Light Bright Light or the essential album from which it comes, Make Me Believe In Hope (read my previous post right here). And I'm very anxious to hear Jeronimo's full album that contains its title song "One Kiss". I often look for songs that are mood-changers, and "One Kiss" is a breezy, fun ode to new love that moves up to #2 on my chart. Also rising up a place is the first of three featured songs from the amazing electronica dance compilation This Beat Is Poptronik Volume One. Tao Hypah's "Celeb" moves up to #3. Give a listen to this one, and bop your way into bliss 😉
While his gal Quigley's "Inkblot Game" continues to climb up to #16 on this chart, FrankMusik (under his Vincent Did It alias) pairs up with his lovely on "Notice Me". This song is a grower, thanks to Vince's artistic production and Quigley's exuberant vocals, and moves up to #4. Listen to this one below.
Also entering the Top 5 is "Only The Horses" by Scissor Sisters, currently touring their Magic Hour album. I'm thinking about checking out their concert next week, so if you've seen them let me know what you think to help make my decision 🙂 Watch their performance of "Only The Horses" from The Voice UK at the top of this post.
There are more Poptronik performers to be had within the Top 10, with Adam Tyler's "Music Freak" rising to #6, and "How It Feels To Be A Man", a quiet kind of anthem of sorts by Latvian singer Markus Riva, moves up to #9. The trifecta of Foster The People's Mark Foster, DJ A-Trak, and New Zealand's Kimbra, currently on release with her own album Vows, rounds out the songs on the rise within the Top 10 with the free download of "Warrior".
I won't leave the Top 10 without remarking on a very high debut. That of course comes from Texas duo DATABOY, whose "Dreams Are Gold" is my new summer jam and crashes the chart at #8. Read all about it right here. The second highest debut on the chart, at #21, also belongs to these lads, from their free download Summer Now EP. "Lotion" will transport you to a beautiful beach somewhere warm enough where DATABOY won't let you get sunburned 🙂 Listen to both songs below.
You can view the full chart using the link under ***BILL'S PERSONAL CHART*** to the right, or you can click right here. You can hear all of the songs on the chart or watch their videos by clicking on the pics on the chart page. Any free downloads that are identified are sanctioned by the performer.
There are five other fast risers on the chart. "All Our Love" by Gentlemen Hall jumps 19-14, while the fastest riser, "Secret Fear" by Daniel Bedingfield is right behind, climbing 22-15. Moving up four places each are "Collecting Sunlight" by Andreas Moe at #19 (official single is out June 26 – watch him perform an acoustic version below), River Tiber's jazzy "These Are Centuries" at #20, and Poptronik performer Monti Montañez with "Turn Up The Radio" at #22.
There are two other debuts which complete this week's blog post. RAC stands for Remix Artist Collective, three producer/DJ's who create their own music and remix that of others, and you can find out more about them at http://www.rac.fm. Penguin Prison has joined up with them for the free download of "Hollywood" which bows at #23. Listen below.
Lastly but hardly least, when Darren Hayes picks a song recorded by someone else to sing, it's usually a wise choice. I've actually owned the vinyl single of "Talk Talk Talk" since last Fall, and I've decided to chart his vibrant and faithful cover of Madonna's "Angel", the 45's B-side, after continual play on my iTouch. "Angel", at #28, accompanies "Stupid Mistake", which moves up to #11. Listen below – and why shouldn't pop radio play it?? The song would fit like a glove.


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How to Get Rid of Those Annoyed Features in Your HDB
How to Get Rid of Those Annoyed Features in Your HDB
HDB such as those in Bukit Batok are affordable, comfortable and convenient. However, things immediately become less attractive when you start observing the general, cookie-cutter layout in newer builds of BTO units. Not to mention, there is the challenge of dealing with unattractive architecture and awkward structures too. We would like to show you the 5 most annoying features that you can probably find in your new HDB home and of course the possible ways to get rid of it.
1. Asymmetrical Walkway Entrances
It is perfectly understandable if you are annoyed by these asymmetrical walkways in newer BTO flats. While they may seem just fine to the unpracticed eye, being framed on only one side creates a perceivable difference in depth along the corridor. Having said that, this may not be a bad problem to have. With a low structural beam above, keeping both sides flushed is likely to result in a corridor entrance that is as rigid-looking as it is narrow. The solution is by adding a touch of colour with a wall painting, or have a snug dining area at the far end of the corridor. In any case, fill up the space as best as you can without making it feel too confined.
2. Boxed-In Living Rooms
Most of us would like to have a roomy area for rest and relaxation after all day work. Somehow, in smaller new-build HDBs, you will probably find a modest space after moving in. Both ends of your living room will either be filled up by furniture or a TV console, which leaves you with about a meter and a half of in-between space to play around with. Depending on where they are placed, the Consumer Unit and bomb shelter will worsen your living room problem. But that is not even the worst part. These structures cannot be mended, which means that you will have to live with them. The solution is that unless you absolutely need them, if not you should avoid building additional storage structures along the sides of your living room as they will smaller an already-compact space.
3. Walls That Are Way Too Short
There is nothing quite as frustrating as decorating around a short wall. On one hand, it is hard to make these structures look good, but on the other hand leaving them untouched is too much of a waste. You are most likely to find this problem in newer BTO flats where the front or rear, depending on orientation, wall is shorter than its opposite number. As a result of the difference in scale, it can be difficult to visually balance both ends of the living room. This shortcoming is even more visible if you have long furniture that exceed the length of the wall. And even if you succeed in right-sizing your living room seats, chances are it will look like you are squeezing too much into a tiny space. The solution is that it may be a bit heretical, but consider using the living room purely as a sitting area or study. This way, you would not have to worry about sofas that are all too long or underwhelming feature walls.
4. These Awkwardly-Positioned Niches
Mostly found at the rear walls of living rooms and bedrooms, they are in fact a 'necessary evil', according to Schemacraft's Managing Director Martin Ngo. "The vertical ends of these recesses are support pillars, which are built along the perimeter of the building. As for the horizontal sections that run across the room, these are strengthening beams that prevent the concrete floor slabs (of upper floors) from sagging," says Martin. Despite their importance, it does not change the fact that these recesses present an immovable obstacle when it comes to space-planning. On top of preventing furniture from being placed flushed against a wall, they also spoil the aesthetic appeal of otherwise smooth planes with an unsightly break. The solution is by painting the inside of these awkward recesses with an accent colour to create visual interest or maximize available space by building overhead shelves or displays within them.
5. Tiny, Zoned-Off Service Yards
These useful backrooms have shrunk in size across the years, and it is now harder to get the laundry done in them due to how tight they are. More importantly, their boxed-up design does the kitchen-yard space no favours as it makes the entire area seem even smaller than it actually is. The solution is to remove the sliding door entrance as well as windows provided that you are okay with cooking fumes stinking up your fresh laundry.

subset: commoncrawl


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Gorgeous Flowers for purchase in Barcelona
Flowers are in season all year, there is not a day that goes by where a giving or receiving flowers would not be suitable. These beautiful flower shops offer and range of different flowers perfect for any occasion. These flowers are picked everyday fresh and expect nothing but the best quality, smell and color from these flower shops.
Flores Navarro
Flores Navarro is a home owned flower shop. This place is perfect if you are looking to support your local flower shop and find amazing flower arrangement for any occasion. Affordable, beautiful and personalized this place truly is the perfect local flower shop.
Flores Barcelona Laura Flores
Flowers have this ability to light up any room and person. Bring that positivity in with these flowers from local flower shops here in Barcelona. Especially picked and perfectly placed, these arrangements will take your breath away and you'll truly feel the love that went into them. A flower cannot blossom without sunshine, and Laura truly puts the sunshine in these flowers.
Mercat de la Concepcio
Not only a food market, this Mercat offers a beautiful selection of flowers ranging from all colors and sizes. This location is perfect to pick up flowers or to just simple walk by and enjoy the smell of the flowers.


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CLEARWATER, Fla. -- It was never Craig Biggio's ambition to become the most versatile middle-of-the-diamond player in baseball history. Some things in life you don't plan. They just evolve. Like reality shows. And Jennifer Lopez marriages.
No one sets out to be an All-Star catcher, then an All-Star second baseman and then, at age 37, a center fielder in a ballpark with its own hill and flag pole in center field. You never saw Yogi Berra or Johnny Bench try anything that wild. There's a reason for that.
It wasn't Craig Biggio's dream to become not just the first Houston Astro in history, but the first player in history, to be a regular at all three of those positions. In fact, in retrospect, he's still wondering how he ever survived the move from catcher to Mazeroski-ville 11 years ago.
"I would never say this when I was still playing second," Biggio says now. "But going from catcher to second base was like telling me I'm going to be the president of Wal Mart tomorrow. That's how out of place I felt. So this is just another challenge. I'm excited about it."
When it comes to the art of playing center field, he knows nobody is sitting around this spring saying, "Boy, he reminds me of Andruw Jones." But Biggio can't imagine any way this could be tougher than that other move he made 11 years ago.
"That was one of the hardest things I ever had to do in my life," he says. "I can't express how difficult that was. I was a catcher my whole life. Then I had to learn a new position in the big leagues. And everything about it was so different.
"As a catcher, everything goes away from you. As a second baseman, everything is coming at you. So you're in the field, and you've got to concentrate every second: 'Who's up? Fast guy? Slow guy? If a ball is in the gap, where do I go?' Cutoffs. Relays. Turning the double play. I had to learn all that. It took me 2½-3 years until I actually got comfortable, where I didn't have to think about it, where it was second nature."
But what Biggio wants now, and what he wanted then, was to remain an Astro. So his motto now, like his motto then, hasn't changed: You do what you've gotta do.
Eleven years ago, his manager at the time, Art Howe, was looking for ways to save his leadoff man's legs from the burden of squatting 200 times a night. And it also wasn't exactly a complete coincidence that the Astros had just traded a kid center fielder named Kenny Lofton to Cleveland for hotshot catching prospect Eddie Taubensee.
Now, it's the unforeseen arrival of a gentleman named Jeff Kent that has thrown Biggio's life into its current state of upheaval. When Kent essentially knocked on the Astros' door this winter and volunteered to start driving in his regularly scheduled 100 runs a year in Texas, the Astros found it easier to send Biggio a road map to the outfield than to tell Kent there was a "no vacancy" sign at second base.
The big question at the time was whether Biggio would play left field or center. But luckily for Biggio, the Astros -- being the upstanding democratic institution they are -- gave him a vote.
"He wanted to play center field," says manager Jimy Williams. "He'd played out there before. I know it's been a few years. But the majority of games he's played in the outfield in his career, he's played in center field."
Except "majority" is a relative term for a guy who has been in the outfield 64 games in his career -- 39 of them in center field. Except for a few lineup emergencies, he hasn't played more than a game here or an inning there in the outfield since 1990 -- when he was 24. And he hasn't started a real game in center field since July 26, 1990.
"I know that was a long time ago," Biggio says. "But at least it's not like it's a whole new experience."
How much those 111 fly balls he ran down 13 years ago will help him is a question no one can answer yet. But the Astros already know this is no ordinary athlete.
We are talking about the only player ever to make the All-Star team as both a catcher and a second baseman. So now, for his next trick, can he become the second player in the last eight decades to go from being a regular at second base one year to a regular in center field the next?
Well, says the only other man to try it, it's harder than it looks.
"It's not easy," says Tigers coach Juan Samuel -- whom the Phillies tried to turn into a center fielder, with disastrous results, in 1989. "My advice to him would be: Get your rest. There's a lot of ground to cover out there."
Samuel spent the first two months of that '89 season playing center for the Phillies, then played another 84 games out there for the Mets after being traded in midseason for Lenny Dykstra. The Mets then dealt him the next winter to the Dodgers, who moved him back to second base. And that was that.
But his experience trying to make this same move might offer some insight into the adventures Biggio will face this year. So here is what Samuel recalls, in his recurring center-field nightmares, as being the biggest pitfalls:
Knowing your limits: "I found myself trying to catch everything," Samuel says. "I was going 100 miles an hour out there. ... I think the only triple Alan Ashby ever got (at least in '89), I gave him. I dove for a line drive, and I wasn't even close to it. But I was just trying to catch everything."
Taking charge: "When I was playing second base, I was always good at going back on fly balls," Samuel says. "But in center field, it's about knowing who you're playing with, and knowing which balls other guys could get. One of the toughest things about going to the outfield is that, if you're a middle infielder, if you're not camped under a fly ball, they call you off. But as a center fielder, you're in charge.
"What happened to me was, I'd call some balls too early and then I didn't get there. I thought, with my speed, I could get there. Then I'd think, 'Oh, crap.' "
Too much thinking: "I used to think a lot about my hitting out there," Samuel laughs. "I didn't want to, but I had too much time to think. Now, we tell guys, 'Don't take your hitting out there,' but guys still do it. And I found myself doing it a lot, instead of anticipating situations. In other words, I got surprised a lot."
In the long run: "After a while, I could feel my legs getting weak," Samuel recalls, "just from running back and forth (from the dugout). Then, one day in spring training, somebody hit a line drive to right-center field. It went by the right fielder, and I tried to kick it in gear, and I pulled my hamstring. I could see that coming.
"You've got to run at second base, too, but this is different. That's a lot of short, quick steps. This is more running. You have to back up everybody -- balls hit to the right fielder, balls hit to the left fielder. You've got to back up both of them. You're constantly doing something. That's why I say, 'Get your rest' -- all the running. A few times, I ran a ball down in the gap. Then I'd have to run all the way in, and I was the leadoff guy the next inning. I got back and said, 'Hold on. I need a break.' "
So does any or all of that stuff apply to Biggio and his new excellent adventure? Of course. But that doesn't mean he can't handle it.
Judgment: "It looks to me like he can read the ball instinctively," Williams says. "And he's not afraid to live on the edge a little bit. That's the way good athletes are. He doesn't fear failure, even though it's out there."
Taking charge: "Oh, he'll take charge," says GM Gerry Hunsicker. "This is probably the first time since Cesar Cedeno (who left Houston after 1981) that the Astros have had a center fielder who will take charge of the outfield. I think he'll be very aggressive out there, and he'll communicate with the guys on the wings."
Thinking time: "I'm ready for that now," Biggio says. "I'm 37 years old. I'm going into my 16th season. In baseball, there's always a lot of thinking. I'm coming from the infield. There was a lot of thinking there. At second base, I ran the infield. That was my job. I'm a little older now. So maybe it's good there's not as much thinking.
"There's still thinking involved. It's just not at the same level there was in the infield. But I make myself think about every situation: 'OK, there's a fast guy up. Is there a guy on first? Is there a guy on third? When should I try to throw a guy out at third?' There are a lot of different situations I'm trying to think about. I've got pretty much the whole aspect of the outfield to think about."
The running: "Yeah, it's a long run," Biggio chuckles. "I've noticed that already. It's definitely a lot longer going out there. But I knew in the offseason I'd be doing this. I've prepared my legs, and I've prepared my body. I was running 15-20 miles a week, knowing I'd be doing this."
Maybe the biggest difference, though, between Samuel and Biggio is this: Samuel admits he never wanted to move in the first place, and all he could think about all year was what it would take to get back to second base. Biggio is at a different stage in his career, with clearly different priorities.
To help ease the move to center at his age, he coaxed a one-year, $4-million extension out of owner Drayton McLane that leaves him signed through 2004. And his main selling point was that he wanted to retire an Astro.
"It's baseball, and I love the game," Biggio says. "The game is everything to me. I've had an opportunity to spend the last 16 years playing it here, and this last contract was not about the money. It was about staying here, finishing my career here. Not many people get to play their whole career in one organization. I want to do that.
"When you remember Kirby Puckett, you think of the Minnesota Twins. When you remember Robin Yount, you think of the Milwaukee Brewers. When you remember Don Mattingly, you think of the Yankees. It's an honor to have played my whole career for one team. It's a good thing for baseball when that happens. I wish it happened more."
Well, the script is now all laid out for it to happen here. But for it to happen successfully, Biggio has to make this move work -- and he has to hit.
He hasn't batted.300 since 1998. His on-base percentage -- which was .415 in 1997 -- slid to just .330 last year. He stole 50 bases in 1998, but since tearing his ACL and MCL in 2000, he has swiped only 23 total over the past two seasons.
Nevertheless, he has a chance to be the right man in the right place at the right time -- because, Hunsicker says, "We've been looking for a center fielder for 20 years."
Since the Cedeno era, they've run through Terry Puhl, Tony Scott, Omar Moreno, Jerry Mumphrey, Billy Hatcher, Gerald Young, Steve Finley, Derek Bell, Brian Hunter, Richard Hidalgo and Lance Berkman. Now it's Biggio's turn.
"In the infield, I was used to catching balls in the palm of my glove," Biggio says. "Now I'm in the outfield with this big glove, and I'm still catching them in my palm. But you know what? As long as it stays in there, I don't care."
And given their alternatives, as long as their new center fielder doesn't re-enact the Juan Samuel Story, the Houston Astros won't care, either.
Jayson Stark is a senior writer for ESPN.com.


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The vertical relationship is at the peak of the Triangle. You want to maintain a healthy relationship with your Creator because that's is the source of your life, power and wellbeing. Once this is intact, every other relationships becomes a flow). A man who does not understand the love of Jesus Christ for His Church will not be able to love his wife unconditionally as expected. Also, the woman who does not understand the submission of the Church to Jesus Christ, will find it difficult to submit to her husband. The same applies to relate with children, family and friends.
(Relationship with your spouse is the second most important, most precious and valuable one because your spouse is an inseparable part of you; your partner in this journey of life and the one who watches your blindspots). As long as I am concerned, It is better to remain single than to marry someone you can't trust or rely on. This is very important.
A healthy marriage breeds healthy community
Your relationship with your child or children is very important especially for them because it has a trickling down effect on future generations and the society as a whole. Children learn more by imitation, meaning that they get to copy how you relate with your spouse (as a parent, you are your children's first and strongest role model and ally). A child's behaviour can be traced directly to the parents and family they come from. As Next Minute Leaders™, your children will replicate what they see in the lives of the parents and close family members, and of course, take it to the next level. This is why it's very important to train up your child "in the way it should go"- King Solomon
This is a very important and delicate relationship to manage. It's delicate because this is your family – they knew your challenges, weaknesses and have been there for you from infancy. They played a major role in your upbringing. I'm talking about your parents, siblings, inlaws, and family members. It very important because you have to keep the relationship healthy and respectful even if don't accept their counsels or disagree with them.
I refer to them as extended family because once you're married, your nuclear family structure changes to: you, spouse and children
Keep it clean, friendly and resourceful.
Special Credits to: Chukwuemeka E. (Le Baron) for the background image


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Landmark agreement for Swansea extreme activities attraction
Swansea plans for one of the UK's most eye-catching tourist attractions took a major step forwards today.
A heads of terms for a development agreement was signed by senior figures at Swansea Council and New Zealand-based Skyline Enterprises.
It forms the basis for how the two organisations will work together to bring about the creation of a high-quality leisure development on Kilvey Hill.
It will feature a cable car from the hilltop to the riverbank Hafod Copperworks site, luge tracks, ziplines, hilltop food and drink facilities, chairlift and terminal buildings such as a ticket office and reception area.
Council leader Rob Stewart said: "This is a landmark moment for Swansea; this agreement confirms how determined we are to bring world-class attractions and businesses here.
"We are determined to enhance Swansea for the benefit of both the people who live and work here and for our visitors."
Skyline chief executive Geoff McDonald said: "We are thrilled to have formalised our strong working relationship with the council with this agreement.
"We see huge potential in bringing Skyline to Europe for the first time - to Kilvey Hill's ideal natural location overlooking the vast and beautiful Swansea Bay."
Elements of the agreement include that:
Skyline will
- Fund the development
- Communicate and interact with the local community before work starts
- Use local contractors and labour where possible
- Lease the land from the council
The council will
- Undertake pre-development work such as arranging service provision to the site.
- Acquire any necessary private sector land - or the rights to it
Today's activity saw Geoff McDonald and Skyline general manager Danny Luke meet senior councillors and council officers. Discussions included matters relating to tourism, planning, highways and employment.
On Friday (June 8) they are due to meet a number of Kilvey Hill landowners and Welsh Government officials.
Before then they are due to meet potential development consultants such as architects, landscape specialists, quantity surveyors and structural engineers.
Cllr Robert Francis-Davies, the council's cabinet member for investment, regeneration and tourism, said: "The heads of terms agreement is really significant; it paves the way for work being carried out on site to take this exciting project from the drawing board to reality.
"Skyline will complement the city's incredible regeneration plans which will also include a 3,500-capacity digital arena, a digital business village, a new-look, improved Castle Square and a people-friendly Kingsway.
"The company's decision to work with us is a great vote of confidence in Swansea as a tourist destination and builds on the superb work being done through the City Deal and our status as Wales' city of culture."
Cllr Stewart said: "Kilvey Hill has huge potential to be transformed into a great visitor destination. Bringing this project to Swansea will also attract additional investment and benefit local businesses by generating more spending and supply chain opportunities."
The scheme would further build on plans to regenerate the River Tawe corridor, including Penderyn Distillery expanding their business into the former Hafod Morfa copperworks site.
Skyline run two world-class resorts featuring cable car rides and other attractions in New Zealand, as well as luge rides in Canada, South Korea and Singapore. The cable car attraction set for Swansea would be the company's first combined gondola and luge operation outside New Zealand.
Representatives of the company have previously visited Swansea twice to check out the potential of turning Kilvey Hill into a tourism hotspot, capable of attracting tens of thousands of visitors a year. The most recent visit included meetings with the council and major local businesses. Skyline directors gave the go-ahead to begin detailed design and legal discussions last year.
Photo Council leader Rob Stewart, second right, and chief executive Phil Roberts, right, with Skyline chief executive Geoff McDonald, second left, and general manager Danny Luke in the shadow of Kilvey Hill as they sign the heads of terms agreement.


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G5200 BlendMax is a high-quality blender created using the latest German technologies. It has a spacious 1.75L jar and variable speed control, as well as many additional nice functions.
KCASA KC-COFF20 Portable Coffee Maker Review
KCASA KC-COFF20 is a portable manual coffee maker that you can use both in the kitchen and outdoors, as well as easily travel with.
AUGIENB SVJ-1000 Sous Vide Precision Cooker Review
AUGIENB SVJ-1000 is a 800W sous vide precision cooker with beautiful design and very accurate controls.
Biolomix Pro Premium D5200 Food Processor Review
Biolomix Pro Premium D5200 is a food processor that can be used as blender, mixer, juicer and more.
Digoo DG-FT2103 Cooking Thermometer Review
Do you feel frustrated when inviting friends over for BBQ, worrying the meat will be somewhat raw or rather overcooked? Digoo engineers think they've found a solution: DG-FT2103 Bluetooth Cooking Thermometer will show you exactly when meat is ready.
MIUK Kitty Coffee Spoon Review
MIUK is a creative coffee/tea spoon with nice and fresh design, made of stainless steel.
KCASA KC-TP500 Food Thermometer Review
KCASA KC-TP500 is a high performing instant read pen shaped food thermometer very useful for cooking BBQ and meat, steaks etc.
KCASA Electric Water Dispenser Review
This electric water dispenser is an easy-to-use, affordable solution for your kitchen or a small office.
Sama Doyo Cup Warmer Review
Sama Doyo Cup Warmer could be a nice gift to make a cold day more positive with a cup of a hot tea or coffee.
KCASA KC-MT15 Electric Lighter Review
KCASA KC-MT15 is a portable USB-charging electronic lighter with durable and windproof/splashproof design.


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FLT Driver
£10.50 per hour
Day Shift
Temporary to permanent
The role is for a FLT Driver production environment. You will be working in a sheet metal and fabrication shop to move parts for the shop floor.
Key role and responsibilities for this role;
• The role is for a FLT Driver you will be working on a Counterbalance and Reach truck and will be moving goods around the shop floor.
• Responsible for loading and unloading HGV's for delivery
• Managing parts in and out of the shop floor into the stores area
• You will be required to be responsible and reactive as needed
Minimum requirements for this role;
• Must have an in-date reach and counter balance license
• Confident FLT driver with proven experience on a shop floor
If you want to hear more about this role, please send us your CV by clicking 'apply now'!


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Dormie Club, located minutes north of the Village of Pinehurst, is a single membership private golf club. Nestled amongst nearly 1100 acres of sandy, rolling and wooded terrain, Dormie is the first Coore & Crenshaw course in the state. After several months of walking the property the preliminary routing was uncovered in the winter of 2007. The golf course was finished in January of 2010 and opened for play Memorial Day Weekend.
The golf course sits in a 310 acre window of the property and has no paved surfaces within the boundary of the course. Dormie reflects a return to classic architecture of the past and evokes a natural, rustic feel. The areas that surround the fairways are filled with sandy soil, pine straw, native grasses and fescues. Firm and fast playing conditions will allow for a variety of shots to be played into and around the greens.
Have you heard the buzz about Dormie Club?
Since allowing limited outside play by golf package groups earlier this year Dormie Club is more popular than ever and has been added to quite a few Bucket Lists including Matt Ginella, Senior Travel Editor for Golf Digest.


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Greek Isles
Collected by Austin
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m.Mpotsari 6, Οία 847 02, Greece
For one of the best views and best meals in Santorini, try Red Bicycle. Located at the tip of Oia on the northern part of the island, the restaurant is housed in a 19th-century Santorini mansion with a 180-degree view of the famed sunset and the...
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Oia 847 02, Greece
This little private church is probably the most photographed stop in Oia. Our rented house was right next to it but lower on the steps so we could see lots of people getting lots of photos. Married couples would take their photos next to it,...
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Thera 847 00, Greece
A popular excursion in Santorini is a visit to the famous volcano - its massive explosion 3,600 years ago created the unique crescent shape of today's island. Take a 30-45 minute ride on a sailing boat or schooner through the caldera. Then hike...
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Delphi 330 54, Greece
Located at the foot of Mount Parnassus, Delphi was the Pan-Hellenic site of the most famous oracle of ancient Greece. It was the center of the world during its time. Delphi lies in a lush, hidden valley surrounded by craggy mountains—a pastoral...
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Nafplion, Greece
If you research "pretty seaside towns in Greece", Nafplio often pops up on the search. Located in the eastern Peloponnese, Nafplio boasts narrow, bougainvillea-covered streets, rich-hued neoclassical mansions, wrought-iron balconies and...
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Kalabaka 422 00, Greece
Meteora means "suspended in air" in Greek. The town of Meteora, about a 5-hour drive north of Athens in Thessaly, Greece, is home to a UNESCO World Heritage site: six Greek Orthodox monasteries built on enormous rock pinnacles that rise up to...
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Megalochori 847 00, Greece
If you want to get away from the crowds in Santorini, try Megalochori - one of the prettiest, quietest little villages on the island. The town's location further inland, away from the caldera cliffs, removes it from the typical tourist itinerary....
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Two islands in the caldera were formed about 440 years ago, Palea Kameni (Old Burnt Island) and Nea Kameni (Young Burnt Island), and visiting them is one of the most fascinating experiences on Santorini. Charter boats leave Old Fira Port at...


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Posted on Tue, Jan 29, 2019
Dr. Gary Chapman – author, speaker, pastor, and counselo
Video Talks by Dr. Gary Chapman followed by Class Discussion
Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. in the Upper Room, starting February 6th
Dr. Gary Chapman – author, speaker, pastor, and counselor – has a passion for people and for helping them
form lasting relationships. He is the best-selling author of The Five Love Languages series. Gary travels the world presenting seminars, and his radio programs air on more than 400 stations. To learn more about his ministry, visit 5lovelanguages.com We're gathering to learn together about how to
create the marriage we've always wanted. It's for those married or those planning for marriage.
We'll view, listen and discuss the following topics:
February 6th - Session One – "Communication 101"
February 13th – Session Two - "Understanding and
Expressing Love"
February 20th – Session Three – "Initiating Positive
February 27th – Session Four – "Making Sex a Mutual
March 6th – Session Five – "How to Share the Things that Bug You" Pass the word in the community. These sessions are life-changing! For more information or to register for the class, contact Pastor Bob at (928) 699-7592 or the church office at (928) 699-2715. Childcare
will be provided upon request.
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Buffalo router flashing red light
> > I've got a Buffalo WLAR-L11-L (802.11b, 4-port hub, NAT box)
> > Is there any way back from here or do I now have a lemon with a
> > flashing red light?
> I don't know the problem, but try the reset procedure.
Which is? I've tried power-off-on. There's also an INIT button on the
of the unit, but no detail in the doc as to how to use it. Any ideas?
I have a D-Link, so I don't know how to reset yours.
Go to thier website and look for support.
Mine has a hole on the back that you put a paperclip in and push for 30
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Station d'accueil Vantec Piano 101 : accueillante ? — 59Hardware.net
.. faire pour développer des supports de stockage externes compatibles avec la technologie révolutionnaire Thunderbolt : Les MiniStation. Les disques externes Buffalo Ministation intègrent soit un SSD soit un disque dur magnétique pour répondre à tous .
What's In.. Charlie Lim's Incase Backpack — The Straits Times
Buffalo MiniStation: Thunderbolt 1TBI have a couple of these to store instrument samples and projects. It doesn't need any external power and runs off Thunderbolt or USB 3.0, so it's incredibly portable.


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Still with the dropper? Yes, I'm continuing my series using Dr. Ph. Martin's concentrated watercolors. Sketching with the "eye dropper" that comes with the set of watercolors is just so much fun.
For these paintings I do a quick watercolor sketch, then use a larger flat brush to pull some of the Martin's paint from the sketch to form a background, and then charge in other colors. Recently Watercolor Artist Magazine notified me that they will publish some of these pieces along with a narrative in their "Creativity Workshop." So watch for the article this summer!
When in the midst of a series I wake up each morning inspired to paint–a good feeling.


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The new shredders will operate in the Zhejihang, Jiangsu and Xinjiang provinces.
"We are very proud that high-profile waste incineration companies in China are relying on our proven shredding technology, which is based on powerful and tailored knife designs and open cutting tables. These distinct technical advantages benefit customers who need a robust, high-capacity shredder for continuous use at a high run rate, even with hard and abrasive materials," says Ou Zeng, Metso's sales manager for waste recycling products in China.
During the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020), China has decided to strengthen its efforts to improve the quality of the environment and enhance environmental governance. Goals for waste treatment are 95 percent for urban areas and 90 percent for rural areas. Efforts will also focus on enhancing infrastructure, with sewage treatment available in all counties and major towns by 2020.
An extensive range of services supports Metso shredders in China
Currently, more than 70 Metso waste shredders are in operation in China. Globally, more than 800 Metso shredders are contributing to waste recycling processes.
The comprehensive waste recycling product range, covering pre- and fine-shredding technologies, is supported by an extensive scope of services from Metso. For example, customers can benefit from parts services to maximize value by having the right parts at the right time. Metso also offers field service agreements that can be tailored to the customer's needs. With Metso's preventive maintenance services, the target is to improve the performance of the installed equipment.
Metso is a world-leading industrial company offering equipment and services for the sustainable processing and flow of natural resources in the mining, aggregates, recycling and process industries. With our unique knowledge and innovative solutions, we help our customers improve their operational efficiency, reduce risks and increase profitability. Metso is listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki in Finland and had sales of about EUR 2.7 billion in 2017. Metso employs over 12,000 people in more than 50 countries.Click here for more information about Metso CorporationClick here for related news about waste shreddersSearch for waste shredder manufacturers in our equipment guide
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Metso specializes in the design and manufacture of scrap and waste processing equipment which operate in steelworks, scrap yards and waste handling plants.


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WASHINGTON, DC -There's nothing ambiguous about the modern office complex in the basement of the Department of Health and Human Service's Hubert Humphrey Building. A sign right by the elevator in the main lobby clearly says, "Secretary's Emergency Operating Center, Room 3B-10," and bears a downward-pointing arrow. A magazine rack in the operating center's vestibule, which is equipped to function as an air-lock, is loaded with literature on civil defense. The complex contains meeting rooms, dormitories, a radio room, an infirmary, a well-stocked kitchen and a private office for the Secretary of Health and Human Services, which is decorated with photographs of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and a long shot of a mushroom cloud. Room 313-10 has been built for service in a nuclear war.
Of course, no one is counting on Room 313-10, which is located just one-and-a-half miles from the White House, to survive a full-scale nuclear attack. While some theorists speculate that, in a war, the Soviet Union would deliberately spare Washington from attack so that American leaders would survive to negotiate and, if appropriate, surrender, the more general assumption is that a nuclear war would see Washington rapidly transformed from the functioning capital of a powerful nation to a radioactive parking lot. The government has therefore been planning for many years for what it calls "continuity of government" during and following a nuclear war.
In 1955, President Dwight Eisenhower led 15,000 federal officials to secret encampments outside Washington during a national civil defense drill. While reports were coming in of more than five million Americans "killed" by enemy bombs, Eisenhower went on national television and radio to announce, "We are here to determine whether or not the Government is prepared in time of emergency to continue the function of government so that there will be no interruption in the business that must be carried on." Newspapers all over the country carried front-page photos of the President conferring with top aides in a tent.
Today's continuity of government program is far less visible, but it retains the Eisenhower-era legacy of the "Federal Relocation Arc," a network of emergency operating centers within several hours drive of Washington for the use of what are now called "Category A" agencies during a nuclear war.
Category A federal agencies are those considered to have "essential, uninterruptible" functions to perform during the "pre-attack, trans-attack and immediate post-attack periods." This distinguishes them from Category B agencies, which have roles to play in "post-attack reconstitution as soon as conditions permit," and the relatively expendable Category C agencies, which "are to defer reconstitution until directed by appropriate authority."
Category A agencies, with their high priority nuclear war roles, number about three dozen, including every Cabinet department and such independent agencies as the General Services Administration, the post-nuclear attack responsibilities of which include "printing and making available, on a decentralized basis, a Federal Register of Presidential Proclamations," and the Environmental Protection Agency, which will be responsible for "diagnosis of quality problems and hazards in the environment which would impede the survival and recovery efforts of the nation."
To promote the survival of federal officials assigned to supervise the survival of the country, every Category A agency is required to have three emergency executive teams. Team A, generally headed by the chief of the organization, would remain at the organization's normal headquarters, but not necessarily in its members' normal offices. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) A team, for example, would report to Room 313-210. (Reflecting the standards of an earlier day, Room 313-210 is equipped with a 30-bed men's dormitory for the executive team members and a 4-bed women's dormitory for the team's secretaries. Current plans are to partition the "men's" dormitory as needed during a nuclear war.) Team A would continue to run its agency until and unless it was destroyed.
Team B would report in a period of extreme international crisis to Mount Weather, a vast underground complex 80 miles west of Washington near the town of Paris, Virginia. It would take over when Team A was destroyed. Team C would report to its agency's own secret relocation site somewhere in the Federal Relocation Arc. It would back up Team B. (Outside Washington, the regional offices of Category A agencies are required to have two emergency teams, one to stay at headquarters and one to proceed to one of six underground Federal Regional Centers scattered around the country.)
Every emergency team member throughout the government has already been issued a Federal Employee Emergency Card, which carries the bearer's photo and blood type, and the message, "The person described on this card has essential emergency duties with the federal government. Request full assistance and unrestricted movement be afforded the person to whom this card is issued."
But each agency is still responsible for getting its own team members into position. One alerting system, typical of most Category A agencies, is described in the DHHS Emergency Management Team Member's Handbook. It sets up a four-level telephone chain, whereby each team member, upon receiving telephoned word of an alert, passes the alert on to several others. The lowest level alert, the handbook notes, is a "communications watch," which is "the normal or near normal preparedness posture of DHHS." Next up the ladder is an "initial alert," following which Band C team members are to fill their car gas tanks or make emergency carpool arrangements. An "advanced alert" obliges team members to cancel travel plans and "assemble a personal kit of subsistence and survival items." An "attack warning" means it's too late to do much of anything.
Like most agencies' emergency instructions, the DHHS handbook advises team members, upon receiving an advanced alert, to "make arrangements for your family's protection and safety." The Treasury Department has arranged accommodations for its team members' families in a "low risk" area, and the Federal Reserve System will allow team members to bring their families along to its relocation sites, but most agencies have made no plans for families at all. "I consider it a weakness in the program," said Richard Pidgeon, the Commerce Department's Emergency Coordinator. "Team members are supposed to make their own arrangements: If I have to go, honey, take the kids and go up to Aunt Bessie's.' I think that's asking a hell of a lot."
So do many team members. A 1978 survey of 534 emergency team members in six departments conducted by the General Accounting Office found that, while more than 80 percent said they probably would report to their emergency duty stations, 76 percent said that improving emergency provisions for their families would increase the likelihood of their reporting. "There's a 50-50 chance I'd go," says one high-ranking official who has been assigned to Mount Weather. "And if I do go I'll probably take my family with me. What are the guards going to do? I don't think they'd capture me and take me inside. They could turn us all away, but that misses the whole point of the thing."
The GAO survey pointed up other problems as well, including inadequate supplies and protection systems at many C Team sites and the fact that less than half of the emergency team members surveyed said they felt prepared to carry out their emergency duties. Continuity of government planners, the report noted, have "an unenviable task, considering that many people, both in and out of government, believe that (1) a nuclear war will probably not occur and (2) if it does, they most likely will not survive."
The task remains unenviable, and some officials involved in it still do not view their assignments optimistically. "I'm on the team that goes home and drinks gin and tonic until the bomb drops," said one emergency planner who asked not to be identified. But most planners in the area perform their tasks diligently. The lengthy emergency procedures manual of the Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration, for example, notes that emergency team leaders are responsible for stockpiling vital records at their relocation sites so they will be accessible after a nuclear attack, and provides detailed suggestions for packing such records: "Books, manuals...and similar type printed matter should be wrapped in protective paper and appropriately marked. (Experience has revealed that unprotected records not wrapped and sealed are often damaged by dust and moisture.)"
In recent months, the pace of continuity of government planning has quickened. "We take our cue from the White House and the Federal Emergency Agency," said Buford Macklin, emergency coordinator for the Department of Housing and Urban Development. "Now, after at least a six-year hiatus, this Administration is giving every indication it will take this very seriously."
In fact, increased concern over continuity of government planning began under President Carter. In 1980, a secret continuity of government study was undertaken at the direction of the National Security Council, and its results were incorporated in Presidential Directive 58, issued by Carter in August, 1980, in tandem with Presidential Directive 59, which made explicit a shift in American strategic doctrine toward the idea of "limited" and/or extended nuclear warfare. PD-58 is highly classified, but former FEMA director John Macy, Jr. characterized it as "providing more effective ways to assure survival of government leadership in a nuclear crisis."
One concern of emergency planners and, presumably, of PD-58 is the status of the Federal Relocation Arc. "The National Arc concept was developed and facilities constructed in the late 50's and early 60's and was designed to meet the threat to continuity of government from attack by foreign bombers carrying nuclear weapons," says a recent FEMA document. "There is great concern in FEMA today about the ability of these facilities to perform the function for which they were constructed or, indeed, even to survive the threats facing the United States in the 80's and 90's."
"The program started in 1954," said John J. Policastro, head of FEMA's Continuity of Government division. "Wouldn't it be prudent to assume that Russia has found out where the facilities are and has targeted them?"
The Arc's centerpiece is Mount Weather, a huge underground facility, equipped with dormitories, sophisticated computers, a reservoir and a permanently-staffed hospital, that was designed to shelter more than 1,000 top officials from a nuclear blast. But, said Policastro, an enemy "can dig out anything they want now" with modern nuclear weapons.
"Do you scrap something like Mount Weather?" he asked. "Its capital costs are amortized, and it might survive an attack. The operating costs of a place like that are pretty cheap...Maybe, at some point, when you have sufficient alternatives, you close it."
FEMA officials would not disclose details of the alternatives envisioned by PD-58, but they indicated that the government may be moving toward a more decentralized program, building on federal employees who already work outside Washington and the Federal Regional Reconstitution Area concept, under which federal regional offices have designated small towns and cities possessing no important military or industrial targets as potential governmental centers following a nuclear attack.
"Weapons are getting smaller and more accurate," said one FEMA planner. "There are more places to hide now than there were ten years ago. You can go and pick little towns all over the country. If you disperse your people, you can make it quite difficult for the Russians to knock out your leadership."
Primary consideration, of course, has already been given to saving the life of the President or, failing that, at least one of the Constitutionally-designated Presidential successors. FEMA has designed, and the White House administers, a Central Locator System for keeping tabs on the whereabouts of all those in line for the Presidency. "In peacetime," said Keith Peterson of FEMA's tests and exercises division, "we can tell you if a particular successor is in town or out of town on a given day. During a period of increasing tension, we can escalate the reporting requirements so we know when they're in their office, or at home, or in their car, or even when they go down the hall."
The Central Locator System came into play on the occasion of President Reagan's State of the Union message last February. When it became apparent that every one of the Presidential successors intended to be in the Capitol to hear it, Secretary of Education T.H. Bell, low man on the succession totem pole, was ordered to stay away.
The Cabinet secretaries, who make up the bulk of the Presidential successors, are assigned to their departments' A teams for periods of international crisis. If an attack warning comes in, they are to be picked up by military helicopters and flown out of Washington. Similarly, the President is to be picked up by helicopter at the White House and flown to Andrews Air Force Base to board the National Emergency Airborne Command Post, a windowless, $250 million edition of the 747. He can cruise above the ensuing nuclear attack in his airplane or land to take shelter in one of more than 80 underground hiding places around the country.
"The President has choices," said William D. Baird, FEMA's assistant associate director for national security plans and preparedness. "He can go up. He can go down. Or he might want to stay right in the White House, as the act of a leader."
The Vice President by then, of course, would already be out of town.


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Marti, 23 mai, incepând cu ora 18.00 (sala Cinema), va avea loc evenimentul intitulat: Abracadabra: An anti-lecture. An illustrated spoken digression on a lesser-known history of film culture & technologies of reverie.
Invitat: David Ellis, film curator/ performer
Eveniment susținut de Close-Up Film Centre, London/ DIM Cinema Vancouver Canada. Evenimentul va fi prezentat în limba engleză și se adresează studenților și cadrelor didactice ale facultății, precum și altor persoane interesate.
David Ellis
Short Bio:
London-based curator/performer and serial digresser David Ellis received early training in 1976 under legendary dancer/teacher Lindsay Kemp(mentor to David Bowie) introducing him to key elements of improvised live-art. In 1993 he founded Puzzleclub a platform for cross-disciplinary art forms with BBC writer Hattie Naylor in parallel with his increasingly regular detours throughout Eastern Central Europe where he ferreted for it's 'lesser-known,neglected histories '. Here he adopted the self-assigned role of 'rogue cultural attache without portfolio' representing Index-on-censorship, Institute of Contemporary Art, Anthology Films Archives New York,The Horse Hospital and various underground experimental film collectives.
Between 1993-2004 Ellis worked with Lithuanian artists/ filmmakers eschewing institutional inertia by curating ad-hoc film screenings off the officially designated map.
This curatorial /activism on the periphery is leavened by his work as an actor/supporting artist for mainstream Film/TV and as Drama facilitator.In 2014 in tandem with former prisoner Dean Stalham he founded Made Corrections initiating a program of rehabilitation through art in Juvenile Correctional Facilities in both Kaunas,Lithuania and Buzius,Romania.
In 2016 he curated VHS in Off-World / Dubbing as Subversion at the Close-up Film Centre,London as a homage to Romanian film curator/critic Irina Margareta Nistor.
Ellis is currently acting as co-curator alongside Monica Sebestyen the Director/Owner of Cinema Arta in Cluj both of who are equally committed to it's reopening in 2018.


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Third Man On The Mountain (1959 Movies)
Third Man On The Mountain Description
In Disney's Third Man On The Mountain, Rudi Matt, a young kitchen worker, is determined to conquer the Citadel – the jagged, snowcapped peak that claimed his father's life. Encouraged by both a famed English climber and the youth's devoted girlfriend, Rudi goes through a grueling training period before he is ready to face the incredible dangers of the killer mountain.
Key Cast Members:
- Michael Rennie: Captain John Winter
- James MacArthur: Rudi Matt
- Janet Munro: Lizbeth Hempel
- James Donald: Franz Lerner
- Herbert Lom: Emil Saxo
- Laurence Naismith: Teo Zurbriggen
- Lee Patterson: Klaus Wesselhoft
- Walter Fitzgerald: Herr Hempel
- Nora Swinburne: Frau Matt
- Ferdy Mayne: Andreas Krickel


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Jake Lynch
Media Relations
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
From the ocean shore to the backcountry, a diverse list of California's best
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The trails of California are as diverse as the landscape itself. From the bustling urban pathways to the lost-in-the-wild tracks of the backcountry, the vastly different settings and styles of trails in California makes them almost incomparable. So we thought we'd compare them. Certain to spark furious debate from jilted trail fans, we present to you...
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's Top 10 Trails in California
1. Bizz Johnson National Recreation Trail
Arguably the most scenic rail-trail in California, the spectacular 25.4-mile Bizz Johnson was named to RTC's Rail Trail Hall of Fame in 2008.
What makes it so great? The scenery. Just east of the Sierra and Cascade mountain ranges, the craggy canyons and upland forests cycle through four distinct seasons. Carving through the Susan River Canyon, the Bizz Johnson also connects to the terrific trail community of Susanville, which has put much effort into making trail visitors feel welcome.
Trail maps, info: www.traillink.com/trail/bizz-johnson-national-recreation-trail.aspx
2. Iron Horse Regional Trail
Connecting 12 cities in both Alameda and Contra Costa counties outside San Francisco, the Iron Horse Regional Trail is 24.5 miles of urban rail-trail at its very best. Its utility and popularity are set to expand even further with plans to extend the trail to 33 miles.
What makes it so great? Connectivity. The 20-foot-wide trail connects residences, shopping districts and places of employment with schools, public transportation options, parks and other trails systems. TrailLink.com reviews sometimes note who crowded the trail can get. That's because it takes people where they want to go, a sure sign of a terrific urban pathway and an unbeatable justification for more like it.
Trail maps, info: www.traillink.com/trail/iron-horse-regional-trail.aspx
3. Ojai Valley Trail
A favorite among rail-trail enthusiasts, the Ojai Valley Trail extends 9.5 miles through the scenic Ojai Valley. The trail also connects with the Ventura River Trail, which continues south to the shores of the Pacific Ocean.
What makes it so great? The rural serenity. And the bridge. Completed in 2012, the 480-foot bridge over San Antonio Creek, built of rust-colored steel and Brazilian hardwood, looks terrific and saves the trail from the frequent washouts that used to plague it.
Trail maps, info: www.traillink.com/trail/ojai-valley-trail.aspx
4. Monterey Bay Coastal Trail
Winding 18 miles around Monterey Bay and along the Pacific coast, the Monterey Bay Coastal Trail follows a Southern Pacific Railroad line that used to transfer goods between the historic fishing town of Monterey and the rest of northern California.
What makes it so great? The ocean. In addition to its constant blue, shimmering presence, the Pacific flavors almost every attraction along the trail, too. In an area made famous by a number of John Steinbeck novels, the rejuvenated Cannery Row, scenes of its fishing past and present, a number of great seafood restaurants and the Monterey Bay Aquarium all make for a submersing trail experience.
Trail maps, info: www.traillink.com/trail/monterey-peninsula-recreational-trail-(monterey-bay-coastal-trail).aspx
5. Bayshore Bikeway
A long, smooth, palm-tree-lined trail with stunning views of the Pacific, San Diego Bay and the downtown skyline, the 17-mile Bayshore Bikeway also provides easy access to parks, tot play areas and chic cafes.
What makes it so great? The attractions. There's a lot going on around the Bayshore Bikeway. You've got the red-roofed Hotel del Coronado where they filmed Some Like it Hot, you've got the Ferry Landing Marketplace, the Navy SEALs workout spot, the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge, and, of course, the water, to name just a few. So close to a major metropolitan center, the bikeway sure has pulling power.
Trail maps, info: www.traillink.com/trail/bayshore-bikeway-(silver-strand-bikeway).aspx
6. Truckee River Bike Trail
At one end is the smallest place in the world to ever host the Winter Olympics. At the other end is the peerless Lake Tahoe. Connecting them is the 6.8-mile Truckee River Bike Trail which follows the route of a tourist train that operated in the early 1900s.
What makes it so great? Access to the outdoors. Rail-trails are ideal outdoor equalizers because of their typically flat grade and smooth surface. In a mountainous, rugged area marked by the majestic snowcapped Sierra's, the Truckee River Bike Trail makes this stunning wilderness accessible for young families or older folks over their mountain biking days.
Trail maps, info: www.traillink.com/trail/truckee-river-bike-trail.aspx
7. Sacramento River Rail-Trail
The spine of a burgeoning trail system in the city of Redding, the 11-mile Sacramento River Rail-Trail follows the river north out of town to the recreational expanse of Shasta Lake.
What makes it so great? Riverfront revival. Locals say before the trail system the town was "built with its back to the river," and little had been done to restore the waterway after years of mining and excavation. Now, the popular trails have brought renewed appreciation for the river and inspired a symbiotic movement of restoration.
Trail maps, info: www.traillink.com/trail/sacramento-river-rail-trail.aspx
8. Pacific Electric Inland Empire Trail
Though only a few years old already the impressively-named Pacific Electric Inland Empire Trail has become a transportation staple for the booming neighborhoods in the San Bernadino Valley. Fast, flat and smooth, this 18-mile rail-trail connects residential neighborhoods with an array of parks, schools, shopping areas and commercial centers.
What makes it so great? The utility. Another fine demonstration of the great land efficiency of utilizing existing railroad corridors, within its 10-foot width the Pacific Electric provides a critical recreation and transportation avenue for the hundreds of thousands of Californians that live within the trailshed.
Trail maps, info: www.traillink.com/trail/pacific-electric-inland-empire-trail.aspx
9. Modoc Line
Stretching 86 miles through the way-out-there wild country in the state's north east, the Modoc Line is not one for those eager to socialize and people watch. The rough surface and isolation of the Modoc Line make it better suited to ATV's than most bikes, however plans are in the works to improve some sections.
What makes it so great? Big sky. Through remote ranch land and high desert landscapes, the Modoc Line has the character of an ornery outsider seeking refuge from the maddening crowds. You'll find it out here, along with wide open skies and spectacular star gazing, many miles from the nearest city.
Trail maps, info: www.traillink.com/trail/modoc-line.aspx
10. Richmond Greenway
Though only a short trail at three miles long, the Richmond Greenway represents the positive transformation of a railroad corridor that sat unused in the heart of the city of Richmond for more than 25 years. The Richmond Greenway provides 32 new acres of active open space in a densely populated, underserved community with few recreational opportunities and scarce green space.
What makes it so great? The local community. A model of how community organizations can work together to invest local residents in the development of a public space, Richmond Greenway, Urban Tilth, Groundwork Richmond, Rich City Rides and Pogo Park have used free community events, working parties and other engagement strategies to make the Richmond Greenway a genuine gathering place.
Trail maps, info: www.traillink.com/trail/richmond-greenway.aspx
Definitely worth a mention:
El Dorado Trail
Along two different railroad corridors and stretching 28 miles across El Dorado County, the 28-mile El Dorado Trail showcases the unique natural surroundings and the history of the area.
What makes it so great? The views. Atop the breathtaking 100-foot-high railroad trestle that crosses Weber Creek, trail users enjoy a spectacular view of the surrounding California foothills countryside and the endless acres of national forest surrounding Lake Tahoe to the east.
Trail maps, info: www.traillink.com/trail/el-dorado-trail-.aspx
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, a nonprofit organization with more than 100,000 members, is the nation's largest trails organization dedicated to connecting people and communities by creating a nationwide network of public trails, many from former rail lines. Founded in 1986, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's national office is located in Washington, D.C., with regional offices in California, Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania. For more information visit www.railstotrails.org.


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Pubdate: Wed, 17 Jul 2002 Source: Oshawa This Week (CN ON) Copyright: 2002 Oshawa This Week Contact: http://www.durhamregion.com/dr/community/oshawa/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1767 Author: Mike Ruta, Staff Writer FAMILY SUES DURHAM SCHOOL BOARD Lawsuit Claims Wrongful Expulsion; Asks for $250,000 in Damages DURHAM -- An Uxbridge student and his parents are suing the Durham District School Board, five of its trustees and three staff members, seeking $250,000 in damages and the clearing of the pupil's record. At issue is the expulsion of the student, now 18, in January 2001. While he has since been readmitted, the defendants claim he was expelled based on unproven information from Durham Regional Police, and that the board bungled the expulsion hearing, violating the Education Act. Whitby trustees Elizabeth Roy and Doug Ross, Brock-Uxbridge Trustee Nancy Loraine, Oshawa Trustee Kathleen Hopper and Pickering Trustee Jennifer Bridge are named in the suit. As well, the statement of claim filed with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice lists education director Grant Yeo, Uxbridge schools superintendent Bev Freedman and Uxbridge Secondary School principal Peter Morris as defendants. The student and his parents cannot be identified because he was under 18 at the time of the incident. In an interview, the student's mother said the family has been through "hell". She did not deny police caught her son off school property with marijuana during a holiday break, but denies he sold drugs at the school, as Durham Regional Police and the board claim. Sergeant Paul Malik, Durham police spokesman, said Tuesday the teen was given a conditional discharge in the case. The parent said she realized something might be amiss when she read an Uxbridge Times-Journal story about a school board meeting in which a trustee alleged his colleagues violated the Education Act in conducting an illegal expulsion hearing. When she saw that the hearing took place on March 19, 2001, she realized they were talking about her son's case. The issue has been a contentious one amongst trustees. Five trustees formed a committee to conduct an expulsion hearing, and the entire board of trustees later ratified the decision, a course of action sanctioned by the board's lawyer. Two weeks later at a standing committee meeting, Scugog Trustee Martin Demmers argued his colleagues had no authority to form their own committee. Other trustees, including Pickering Trustee Paul Crawford and Oshawa Trustee Cynthia Steffen, supported Trustee Demmers' motion the board solicit a second legal opinion. That motion was defeated. Earlier this year, when board members feuded over a controversial legal bill incurred by some trustees, the trustees involved indicated they sought advice from a lawyer after rejecting the opinion of the board solicitor regarding an expulsion hearing. The parent confirmed some of the trustees involved in the legal bill, and their lawyer, had contacted her about her son's case. In the board's statement of defence, it claims neither the student nor his parents "took any steps in 2001, whatsoever, to appeal and/or review the decision of the trustees. "The defendants plead that the expulsion hearing was properly conducted and the plaintiff's remedies, arising therefrom, if anyone or more of them felt aggrieved, were to immediately appeal or seek judicial review of the decision and that by their failure to do so, they are now estopped by, amongst other things, their delay and laches from advancing any such claim in this honourable court." The statement says the student's arrest "was a continuation of an investigation that was conducted at the school, relating to (the student's) direct involvement in the distribution of narcotics on school property." Alan Farrer, the board's lawyer, said in an interview there are two parallel proceedings, a judicial review and a lawsuit, that will be dealt with at different times. He expected the review to take place sometime this year but estimated the trial likely would not be held this year. Mr. Farrer said it was not appropriate to get into details of the case. However, he acknowledged Mr. Morris was not present at the expulsion hearing. The family claims that's a violation of the Education Act, a claim rejected by Mr. Farrer. - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager


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About a year ago I spoke with the Fiance about making a scary move. This move was to get rid of our iPhone's and switch to the Galaxy. At the time we had both just upgrade to the brand new iPhone Xs, and boy was I excited to pick it up. However, the newness quickly wore off.
Over 10 years ago I went and bought my very first smartphone. At the time the available options were pretty bleak, but I settled on a Motorola. For the life of me I cannot remember the model, but it had the slide up full keyboard that phone companies thought was the future. This phone lasted less than a year. I woke up one morning to a phone that would not make a single phone call. In fact it just said no service. Took it into the Verizon store and got a shrug. I guess the phone was dead and irreparable. So I got another phone. A small rectangular one. 6 months later this one too was dead in the water.
Finally by recommendation I went and bought a Samsung Galaxy S. I had heard many great things from Samsung's new flagship phone and was eager to try it out. It was not long before I had an issue. Less than a month of having the phone my text messages began to wipe themselves once or twice a week. Back to the store I went. They told me to factory reset it, and a few other troubleshooting steps. Another week with the phone proved this not to work. Again, back to the store. They gave me a brand new Galaxy. Problem solved right? Wrong. 3 months later and my speaker died. Handed me over a new phone. This 3rd Galaxy S last about 6 months and it too stopped making phone calls.
I had had enough of Android at this point and purchased my very first iPhone. I believe it was the iPhone 4 that was available at the time. At first I had difficulty adjusting to the new interface. No more widgets or any customizing whatsoever. However, it grew on me and the perk of having a working phone quickly surpassed anything I felt I was missing. I went just under 10 years with some form of iPhone.
So back to the about a year ago. In my hand I had a $1,000 phone that was the latest and greatest from Apple. The problem though, it felt like the exact same phone for a hefty price tag.
So after mulling it over for a week or two and going back and forth we were no closer to making the leap. I kept telling myself well I will lose my continuity between phone and computer, or man I will have to reenter all my passwords, or where will I listen to music from. It finally dawned on me. This is where Apple gets you. They spend an exorbitant amount of money and time on marketing their products to make you feel like you cannot survive without them. The funny part is, I am not even mad about it. It is beyond smart of Apple to do this. Get people addicted to your products and they will never leave. They will keep upgrading for one or two new features you told them they cannot live without.
Well fast forward a couple more weeks, we were driving back from Seattle and saw an AT&T store. I looked over at my fiance and she already knew what I asking. "let's go look," she said.
Well……we did more than looking.
With a BOGO deal of buy one get one free, we really could not pass it up. Specially since the Galaxy phones we were looking at are hundreds cheaper than the iPhone.
Finally we had made the leap and started the breakup with Apple. We had brand new Galaxy S9 phones. So began my dreaded transition. However, it never came. Just like with Apple, Samsung has an app to transfer all data to the new phone. That was it. My new phone was ready to customize to my hearts content!
Now you may be asking what about my music I complained about earlier or the continuity. Well like I also said. I began the breakup, have not completed it. I still use Apple music since the play store had an app for it. The continuity is no longer an issue as well since I now use a Microsoft Surface computer. Between Onedrive and Google I have everything I need for continuity just a few clicks away.
So a year later as I write this and think back to my transition back to a Galaxy phone you may be wondering if I have had any issues. Well I have, but not like before. So far Samsung appears to have stepped up their game with hardware and I have had zero issues with the phone itself. The few software issues I have had were actually caught by Android itself. The new battery monitoring is a lifesaver.
There are a few things I still miss from my iPhone. Not enough at the moment to warrant a switch back, but still worth mentioning. The battery life is not great. Even with a bigger battery, the Galaxy phone does not compare to the iPhone. The Galaxy also requires you to pay a little more attention to app permissions, which I am aware is by design. Where closing apps and restarting your phone is a routine thing on Android, iPhone's never need apps to be forced closed unless the app crashes. In fact doing this without a true problem with the app breaks the IOS software if done too much.
The last thing I miss is Siri. Mostly just my lazy side. Siri did a lot without having to even touch the phone. Set alarms, countdowns, reminders, etc by just asking her. I tried with Bixby to do all this and she keeps asking me to unlock the phone, slightly frustrating.
I do know that I can activate Google's version of a personal assistant. I have yet to do this but will look into it in the near future. Let me know in the comments of your experience with this assistant.
Overall I am very pleased with my Galaxy. It is has come a long way since the original and is definitely worth picking up. For a flagship phone, the price, and the features it offers are second to none.


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Auromere Handmade Ayurvedic Soap - Sandalwood & Tumeric 78g
Auromere Handmade Ayurvedic Soap - Sandalwood & Tumeric 78g
For thousands of generations in India, a simple paste of sandalwood and turmeric has been applied to the facial skin to preserve youth and a flawless complexion. This formula combines the astringent, purifying and cooling properties of sandalwood with the complimentary softening, antiseptic and toning properties of turmeric along with Neem and 21 other Ayurvedic oils and extracts.
Recommended for blemished skin, and for normal to oily, PITTA-KAPHA skin.
Rich in herbal extracts for all types of skin and special skin conditions. All Auromere Ayurvedic soap is handmade and contains pure, wild-crafted Neem and Ayurvedic herbs in a rich and creamy coconut oil base.
100% Biodegradable
All Natural
No artificial fragrances, preservatives, dyes, or bleaches
Coconut oil, Sunflower oil, Purified Water, Alkali, Castor oil, Sandalwood oil, Sesame oil, Sodium Gluconate (salt from Sugar Beets), Hydnocarpus (Cactus) oil, Organic Neem oil, Vitamin E (certified non-GMO), Rice Bran oil, Indian Beech oil, Indian Butter Tree (Madhuca indica) oil, Neem bark, Dhub grass (Cynodon dactylon), Indian Gooseberry (Amla), Turmeric, Peepal (Bodhi tree), Indian Licorice root, Celastrus seed, Corallocarpus epigaeus, Nutgrass, Zedoary, Indian Madder root, Costus, Mung bean, and Fenugreek.


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iOS Universal Productivity
Official Conference App for the 2017 Ashford University Teaching & Learning Conference! This conference is completely virtual. Stay up-to-date with speakers, agendas, photos, and more. Give your feedback on presentations and update your social media sites right from the app to let everyone know you are attending!
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- Over 115 stores nationwide
- 30 day change of mind guarantee
- 160 years of value and service
- Official branded packaging
Although we do our best to ensure our pictures and descriptions explain our products as clearly as possible, sometimes you may find that when your item arrives it's not quite as you expected, or you may have simply changed your mind.
Don't worry - we have a 30 day change of mind guarantee on all our items.* All you need to do is send the item back in the post (you have to cover these costs) or pop into your local F.Hinds branch so they can return the goods on your behalf. Products must be returned unused and with all original packaging. You are responsible for ensuring the product is not damaged whilst in your care.
*This excludes personalised, bespoke or specially ordered items. This also excludes any ring sizes outside our standard range; J-S for ladies and R-Z for men.
Your chosen store will contact you once your order is ready for collection. In some circumstances we may supply rings in the nearest size available (especially if more than one ring is ordered) which can be adjusted to fit once the item has been paid for and the branch have confirmed the finger size. Items that need to be specially ordered are not available for this service and must be paid for in full before ordering. The store will hold your order for 1 week and then it will be returned to stock.
Please note the expected dispatch dates stated for each product as this indicates how long it will take us to dispatch your order. Express Delivery is offered for most items but this does not mean the item(s) will be dispatched any sooner than the expected dispatch date. Orders for multiple items will be dispatched together and are therefore collectively subject to the longest dispatch time stated. Parcels may be sent via courier which is a next working day service and requires a signature on delivery.
We offer international delivery within the EU and EAA on jewellery and most watches; sorry we are unable to dispatch heavy or bulky items and some selected ranges outside of the UK. Please be aware that local taxes and fees may be applied and the customer is responsible for paying these. International Delivery is a minimum of 3-5 working days from the expected dispatch date and may be considerably longer for more remote or distant locations.
D For Diamond Silver Diamond Set Star Expandable Baby Bangle - D8517
A beautiful sterling silver D for Diamond baby bangle set with a silver star and a sparkly little diamond accent. Designed as the perfect keepsake, this charming little children's bangle is a sweet and timeless piece of jewellery making it the perfect christening or first birthday gift. Expandable up to 2"/5.5cm so can be adjusted as your child grows. Presented in a fun D for Diamond gift box.


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"The spectacle of modern investment markets has sometimes moved me towards the conclusion that to make the purchase of an investment permanent ... might be a useful remedy for our contemporary evils," Keynes wrote in 1936. "For this would force the investor to direct his mind to the long-term prospects and to those only."
In today's trade-frenzied investment environment, Keynes would be even more dismayed ... certainly shocked at the rapidity at which incoming data is analyzed and acted upon. Commentaries are released almost instantaneously on every market uptick, down-tick and more. What's more, investors experience a persistent showering of new investment options. (The ETF space is no exception -- according to Morgan Stanley, 457 ETFs were launched in 2007 with another 547 planned). It's no wonder investors are often confused.
What then are investors to make of the contemporary investment environment? And, importantly, what are the implications for managing portfolios? The last issue of ETFocus commented on the dangers of a rigid "buy-and-hold" philosophy. This article intends to shed some light on the hazards of myopic, short-term thinking in the context of today's markets.
Shifting Investor Psychology. With a volatile start to 2008 (and the worst year-todate S&P 500 performance since 1939), fear has gripped many investors. In fact, "bear-market" sentiment levels are firmly entrenched both in credit markets and investor behaviour. Asset-backed securities issuance (the epicenter of the current credit revulsion) is down approximately 60% over comparable levels a year ago. Institutional and retail investors have also run for the hills. According to the Investment Company Institute, total US money market mutual fund assets have now increased to USD 3.361 trillion - an increase of approximately USD 1 trillion over last year.
Many markets have seen steep declines since October highs. One high-flying ETF, the iShares FTSE/Xinhua China 25 (NYSE:FXI), is down over 35%. Market headlines are equally pessimistic: "G-7 Says Global Growth May Deteriorate, Market Turmoil to Persist." "Paulson Says Global Economy Faces Serious, Persisting Risk From Markets."
How should we react to such swift changes in the investment outlook, such as now? After all, only a few months ago all seemed rosy. Fourth-quarter earnings growth estimates for the S&P 500 were still hovering around 11.5%. Markets shrugged off mounting evidence of slowing economic growth and appeared completely indifferent to growing credit market risk.
Investors should acknowledge that emotions tend to drive decisions even more through periods of episodic risk. Monumental mistakes are often made during those times. Most often, the best reaction is to do nothing at all. Yet, other times can be great opportunities.
Short-Termism Rampant. During periods of shifting sentiment many market participants tend to over-transact, attempting to "trade" their way out of broad declines -- a sure way to worsen returns even more. In 1998 two researchers, Brad Barber and Terrance Odean, analyzed the trading habits of over 60,000 investors over a six-year period. They concluded that there was a direct correlation between trading volumes and performance: those who traded the most fared the worst. Specifically, the investor group with the highest trading volumes underperformed the index by 500 basis points.
John Bogle, founder of the Vanguard Group, has also published excellent research on the damaging effects of excess churn in portfolios. In a 2005 article in the Financial Analysts Journal, Bogle looked at turnover rates in US equity funds from 1995 to 2004. An alarming trend becomes clear. Rates increased from around 24% in 1945 to 112% in 2004 (see chart above). That implies a decline in the average stock holding period from over 4 years in 1945, to just 11 months in 2004.
Moreover, holding periods of fund holders have also decreased, exacerbating total turnover rates experienced by investors. According to Bogle, during the 1950s, shareholders typically held their funds for 16 years. From that decade, a steady descent in holding periods ensued. By 2002, the figure had dropped precipitously to only just over 3 years.
ETF Investing Immune? We are seeing short-term focused behaviour proliferate in ETF investing as well. Bogle estimates that only about 20% of assets in the more broadly diversified ETFs belong to long term investors. The remainder is held with high-turnover hedge funds, electronic trading programs, and other speculators.
Annual turnover for ETFs often exceeds thousands of percent (turnover for the popular NASDAQ Qubes is reported to exceed 6,000% per annum). State Street's flagship ETF, the "Spider", typically has a daily turnover of more than USD 10 billion ... likely the world's most actively traded security. Fortunately, ETF unitholders are insulated from the tax impact of the trading activities of other shareholders (since they are exchange listed).
Used appropriately however, ETFs can help mitigate many behavioural errors and introduce a more disciplined framework for the implementation and rebalancing process. Holding a diversified basket of securities -- where single company risk is reduced -- can decrease monitoring and trading frequency, and will help investors focus on more important drivers of long term performance such as asset mix. ETFs also achieve instant diversification, remedying another typical investor snare of holding too few stocks (and underestimating the individual stock's beta with the broader market).
Portfolio Defenses and Opportunities. What else can we do to protect portfolios against short-term thinking or our own behavioural errors in the current volatile environment? The first line of defense is maintaining overall diversification. That doesn't mean holding a "batch of lottery tickets" (in the words of fund manager, John Hussman). Rather, holding non-correlated assets with reasonable valuations, a claim on reliable income and those that can maintain their real values in higher inflationary environments is paramount. ETFs are democratizing many areas of investing by providing access to previously unavailable asset classes. As a result, investors are better equipped to build more diversified, lower-volatility portfolios.
We can also shut out the drumbeat of market "noise." Shortsightedness and decision-making biases plague not only individual investors but also investment committees - undoubtedly, to the detriment of long-term performance. The fund industry has become focused on quarterly earnings, shortterm results and tracking-error. But long-term investment returns are much easier to forecast than those based on short horizons. For one, valuations are the best predictor of longerterm returns. Perhaps more surprisingly, most of longer-term returns come from yields and not valuation changes (over twothirds, according to some analysts). Indeed, WisdomTree has launched a whole suite of ETFs based on high-yield or dividend-weighted indices to capture this phenomenon.
The short-term shouldn't be neglected, however. Often, key inflection points offer opportunities -- periods where valuations become compelling or investor psychology reaches such pessimism that one can buy assets cheaply. In fact, the near future may be one of those times. Risk is rapidly being repriced and we are witnessing key sentiment levels deteriorate. For now, a cautious approach is still recommended although buying opportunities will likely present themselves in the next few quarters.
Avoiding performance chasing and sticking to a disciplined, riskfocused investment process is another important recommendation. The emerging field of behavioural finance warns against many of these pitfalls, pertinent also to investment professionals. James Montier, a leading expert in the psychology of investing, classifies these behavioural biases into three groups: (1) "self-deception" biases limit investors from learning from previous mistakes; (2) "heuristic simplification" causes us to make information processing errors; and finally, (3) "social" biases encourage herding behaviour. We will be examining these in more detail in future columns of ETFocus. Needless to say, behavioural biases lead to sub-par investment performance.
Keynesian Insight. 72 years ago Keynes observed that speculation had come to dominate true investing. In today's hyper-active trading environment, Keynes' lament rings all the more true. Finding a balance between focusing on long-term investing and capitalizing on short-term opportunities -- while controlling emotions -- is vital to successful investing.