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How Can You Sterilize Sand?
To sterilize sand, spread it in metal baking sheets a maximum of 4 inches thick, cover it in foil and bake it in the oven at 200 degrees Fahrenheit until the center of the sand reaches between 180 and 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Adjust the oven to maintain the temperature for 30 minutes. Keep covered until use.
Fill the baking dishes
Purchase the required amount of washed sand. If reusing sand, rake and remove any debris before baking. Place the sand in a metal baking dish. Spread the sand to a maximum height of 4 inches. Cover the pan with aluminum foil.
Bake the sand
Place the foil-covered pans in an oven set to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Insert a meat thermometer through the foil into the sand. Begin timing the process when the sand temperature reaches 180 degrees Fahrenheit. Maintain the temperature between 180 and 200 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes. Do not allow the temperature of the soil to exceed 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Provide ventilation, as the sand gives off an odor as it is heating.
Cool the sand
Remove the pans from the oven and place them in a safe place to cool. Leave the pans covered, and cool to room temperature. Do not remove the covers until you are ready to use the sand.


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New FW version 2.25 offers several new functions for IP intercoms, SIP Audio products and access control units. We have chosen the most interesting ones for you below.
Automatic e-mail sent if an unexpected event occurs
If SIP registration fails, the device spontaneously restarts or a security switch is activated, the IP intercom or access control unit can send the administrator an informative e-mail about the given event. If the security switch is activated, the e-mail also includes a sequence of images.
Support for virtual ONVIF outputs
We have prepared a new event called OnvifVirtualOutputChange in the Automation section, which you can use when connecting an IP intercom or SIP audio device with a video-monitoring system, for example. If the camera senses any movement in the prohibited area, the VMS system sends an ONVIF command to the given virtual output of the 2N® SIP Speaker Horn unit, which plays a warning message and discourages the potential offender from carrying through his actions.
Cancellation of licence for the G.729 codec
The G.729 codec is now available in all 2N audio devices without the need for a licence! The system administrator can now use this codec without any additional fees, the greatest advantage of which is saving on bandwidth for audio communication between 2N IP intercoms and third-party audio systems.
Alphanumeric dialling from the display
It is common in some countries for individual buildings in a complex of apartment buildings to be identified with letters and the individual flats to be subsequently identified with numbers. This is why we now offer the option of alphanumeric dialling of specific flats from the touch display module for the 2N® IP Verso and 2N® LTE Verso, where the visitor can select the building and subsequently the number of the flat (e.g. A105, C421, etc.).
In order to ensure the correct functioning of IP intercoms and access control units with 2N® Access Commander software, the new version 1.11.1 must be installed.

subset: commoncrawl


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Best time to go to South Aegean Islands
Summer sun is pretty much a given in the South Aegean Islands. Rhodes boasts more days of sunshine than any other Greek Island – a massive 300 a year – and the average temperature in July and August is 28°C. Over on Kos, you'll rarely see the mercury dipping below 30 in the summer, and in the spring and autumn, temperatures are still comfortably in the mid-20s. The island gets most of its rain in the winter, too, so summers are nice and dry. Temperatures on Santorini and Mykonos tend to hit the 30°C mark in the summer, but sea breezes tend to take the edge off the heat, especially in the afternoons. Things are a bit cooler in spring and autumn, so they're great times to visit if you want to sightsee rather than sunbathe.


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Increase Cellphone Reception in Your Vehicle
Cellphone coverage has improved dramatically over the last few years, but there are still many parts of America which have poor coverage. Even in areas where coverage is good, it is not uncommon for the demand for cellphone signals to exceed the capacity offered by the nearest tower, resulting in dropped calls. There are several things that you can do to increase the quality of the cellphone signal in your car.
The simplest way to improve your cellphone signal is to keep your phone charged at all times. If your battery power is low, then it is harder for your phone to find a signal. Purchase a phone charger for your car, and plug your phone in when it is not in use. If you have a poor signal even when your phone is fully charged, place your phone in a holder near a window, with the phone standing upwards, rather than lying flat or at an odd angle. In areas with a weak signal, simply positioning the antenna correctly is enough to make the difference between the phone working or showing a no signal icon.
Another option is to purchase an external antenna or signal booster. Modern boosters are easy to install in your car and increase your cellphone's signal quality by as much as a factor of 12.
These simple steps can help you to reduce the number of dropped calls and signal issues you encounter in your car. If you continue to encounter problems with your signal, contact your mobile service provider for advice. Remember that some networks have limited coverage of the country. If you travel a lot, investing in more than one phone on different networks is a good idea.


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For many, being able to read a dog's body language on the fly is very hard. But you can't always bring your book or your posters with you wherever you and your pooch go.
Thanks to technology, I was able to develop an app called Dog Decoder, ready to use right when you need it. This was an outgrowth of my passion to help owners understand the nature of dogs. The app is colorfully and lovingly illustrated by Lili Chin of Doggie Drawings. You definitely know Lili's work as the illustrator of choice for Dr. Sophia Yin's posters on The Body Language of Fear, How to Greet a Dog and What to Avoid, as well as in Dr. Yin's workbook and books. Our developer, Jeff Belsey, is a Webby Award winning developer who helped bring this product together. As you can see below, not only does the Dog Decoder talk about familiar situations to all dog owners and caregivers, but it also breaks down each body language point in a simple, easy to follow fashion and it's all on your own smartphone, iPad or tablet.
This app is for all people who love and work with dogs – veterinarians and their staff, rescue/shelter workers, breeders, teachers, parents, groomers, dog day care centers and trainers – to have an on the spot teaching tool in the palm of their hands.
Our mission for this app is to teach people how to understand what dogs are trying so hard to tell us. If people can realize when their dog is stressed, excited or afraid, fewer people will be bitten and fewer dogs will end up in shelters and re-homed again and again or worse, euthanized.
It is also our mission to have the app in all shelters, vet hospitals, elementary school curricula, children's educational programs and dog training associations, etc., worldwide in the name of humane education and safety between humans and dogs.
It has been endorsed by the President of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, John Ciribassi, DVM and many others. Dr. Sophia Yin was also very excited about the app.
Our app was featured on The Hallmark Channel on The Home and Family Show for the Stop the 77 campaign about dog bite prevention.
Dog Decoder is available through iTunes, as well as on Google Play.
What are people saying about Dog Decoder?
John Ciribassi, DVM Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Behaviorists: I really like the app. Very simple, easy to use, accurate and the drawings are great. The format where you see the situation then an explanation then a description of the body posture with labels is a great progression for learning. There is also a quiz section that tests your knowledge.
Marjorie: It's like having a trainer in your pocket.
Glenda: The subtlety of reading dog body language is clearly explained in this app. This is information everybody should have in their lexicon of meaning…great for kids, a must for parents and essential for dog lovers. Presented in an easily understood and simply accessed form. Check it out!
Nancy Kay, DVM: I love this app! With simplicity and a fabulous sense of humor, Dog Decoder provides wonderful guidance in the interpretation of canine body language. Not only does our understanding of canine communication support the dog, it also may go a long way in the prevention of injuries inflicted by dogs. Kudos to the creators of this app.
Clinical Animal Behavior Service-UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine: This is great for kids and good for adults who want to understand their pet.


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So you have a shiny and expensive bit of tech in your marketing stack. Are you getting the full value from it?
I liken marketing technology such as a marketing automation system, be that Marketo, Hubspot, Pardot or others much like air-planes or luxury jets. Now to get the most out of them you most definitely need a pilot's licence and to get this you'll need training, with this you can start to go places; because without that licence you're just going to be sat on the tarmac in a nice looking jet. So you're parked up in your jet, maybe it includes some nice seats, beautiful interior hey even a private bar, which is great but it's not the full value.
What you need is to get some training to fly so you can go places, I mean really go places with your marketing tech and if your team doesn't have the experience or knowledge to really use the tools at hand… Well your marketing budget is paying for a super jet to sit on the tarmac.
The other option is to contract a pilot who can do the work for you ?
Always happy to talk PPC and your digital marketing.
©2021 James Hume


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A Post-Workout Meditation All Athletes Must Try
The breath is just as essential for athletes as it is for yogis. Spend a few minutes with your breath to rebalance after exercise.
Get full access to Outside Learn, our online education hub featuring in-depth yoga, fitness, & nutrition courses, when you sign up for Outside+.
The breath is just as essential for athletes as it is for yogis. Use this practice to spend a few minutes with your breath and rebalance after a workout.
Every morning when I prepare for my Ashtanga yoga practice, I unroll my mat and I take my hands together in front of my heart. Before I begin I set an intention, and for the next two hours I am focused as I float between some postures and as I struggle through some others. Before the final resting pose, I sit in meditation to feel the effects of the practice on my body. For 25 deep inhales and exhales I allow all my efforts and sweat to settle, and for a brief moment I rest in the beautiful stillness of meditation.
For those who prefer cycling, running, and boxing to yoga, the breath is still essential for endurance and calm. In many ways, our workouts become a sort of meditation as we bring our breath and the fullness of our ability into a pushup, a sprint, or a stretch. In this short practice with Jamie Zimmerman, M.D., you'll have a chance to spend a few minutes simply breathing after your workout. As you cool down, notice the brilliance of your breath, which carries you through deep physical work, and also nurtures you back to equilibrium.
Explore more Yoga practices perfect for athletes
Guided Post-Workout Meditation Video
Sonima.com is a new wellness website dedicated to helping people improve their lives through yoga, workouts, guided meditations, healthy recipes, pain prevention techniques, and life advice. Our balanced approach to wellness integrates traditional wisdom and modern insights to support vibrant and meaningful living.
More from Sonima.com
The Total Body Partner Workout
Everything You Need to Know About Meditation Posture
Seane Corn on Personal Transformation and Social Justice


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Fight Back Against Your Traffic Violation
At Martin & Reed, LLC, we provide aggressive and professional representation to drivers in Colorado charged with serious and minor traffic violations.
Our Approach In Your Case
Our Greeley traffic offense attorneys approach each case with an open mind, listening to your side of it and asking questions about the arrest, how the police behaved, what evidence was gathered and how your rights may been have been violated.
We want to know what you want from the case, and we invite you to work with us to chart a strategy that will result in the most positive outcome possible. Very often, we succeed in having a case dismissed on evidentiary grounds. We file and litigate motions to suppress illegally obtained evidence in every traffic case we handle through trial.
We listen to our clients. Sometimes a case doesn't get to the trial stage. When our client wants a plea bargain, i.e., negotiating for a lesser charge and diminished penalty — including taking alcohol classes or doing community service — we work tirelessly to get the best deal possible.
Advocates For Common Traffic Offenses
Our lawyers have represented clients in countless arrest scenarios. The cases we see most frequently include:
- DUI or DWAI charges
- Speeding
- Vehicular assault or homicide
- Reckless driving
- Fleeing and eluding the police
- Running a red light
- Driving under suspension or revocation
Your driver's license may be in jeopardy if you are facing a traffic charge. We will move quickly to protect your driving privileges. Generally, you only have seven days from your arrest to request an administrative hearing to protect your driver's license. In license revocation situations, we go to the administrative hearing at the DMV with you and stand by your side.
Contact Us
Have you been pulled over by the police? Get experienced help. We will advocate for you and help you find a solution that works for your needs. Call 970-573-5187 for our Greeley office or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.


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The internet is a scary place — that's a scientific fact. Too often we've reported on online hookups that go from hot to hellish, and they have even resulted in death. And while these extremes are rare, there are a number of other bad outcomes that can and do happen when people decide to have a quick tryst from a website or app.
The safest thing to do is just avoid it altogether, but it seems clear that semi-anonymous hook-ups aren't disappearing any time too soon. So with that in mind, here are six tips for staying safe and sane when you get the urge for digital cruising:
1. Shed the shame
The number one problem when it comes to hooking up online is the shame factor. All too often guys compartmentalize their lives so that acting out on lust and desire is relegated to that "dirty little secret" part of the self. Just look at how many "headless torso" profiles are out there. Try putting your best face forward. We are who we are, and sexual desire is a part of being human. When you're out in the open, you'll tend to make better decisions that more accurately reflect the whole you, and in turn put yourself in safer situations.
2. Communicate
This can be tough. Spontaneity can be very sexy, and being asked "so what are you into?" can be a bit of a drag. But look at the situation objectively — you're about to meet someone you don't know and get very intimate very quickly. You'll do yourself a favor by opening up lines of communication. "I only play safe." "I'm positive." "Do you have any toys?" "When were you last tested?" These are all entirely appropriate questions during the chatting stage, and how the other person reacts to honest talk may speak volumes about whether you actually want to meet in the flesh.
3. Try the truth(ish)
There is nothing worse than showing up for a hookup and having to do a double-take when the guy who answers the door looks absolutely nothing like his photos. Look, anyone who's playing the field online is going to engage in some amount of deception. We try to present the best possible image of ourselves, it only makes sense. But be reasonable. A photo from eleven months ago when you were ten pounds lighter? Go for it. Saying you're 29 when you're 31? Unnecessary, but hey we aren't going to judge. Using a photo taken during the last millennium? Please.
4. Meet in public
Not enough guys actually do this one, and we get that it's a bit harder when it's 2 a.m. (which isn't a great idea to begin with), but meeting in public will do more than just give you an "out" if you need one. When you meet in public, it'll feel very "real." And that's a good thing, because it is real.
5. Talk first
A 10-minute conversation will tell you so much about a person, and you owe it to yourself to make sure that you aren't dealing with someone crazy. It doesn't have to be a deep conversation, but just by chatting a bit you'll pick up on body language, chemistry and overall sanity. Your pants can wait a few minutes to come off.
5. Don't be afraid to bail
If something feels wrong, trust your instincts. Let your analytical mind be louder than your horniness. Bailing can be super awkward (less so if you meet in public), but there is absolutely no need to feel obligated when negotiating hooking up. The sex may be casual, but the decision to have it certainly isn't. A simple, "I'm sorry, but I need to leave" will do. You don't owe this person anything.
6. Stock up
This is so easy. Just bring condoms with you, and never rely on the other person to supply them. When things escalate and you realize they don't have any on hand, you won't ever have to have that "should I or shouldn't I?" moment.
Related Stories:
The Queerty Guide To Hooking Up Online
Bathhouses And Beyond: A Brief History Of Gay Cruising
Nude Pic Etiquette: Five Tasteful Tips To Photographing Your Junk
The Seven Most Annoying Grindr Guys And Two Who Might Change Your Life


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The Philippine Journal of Systematic Biology has published "A Special Tribute to Dr. Benito Tan" – please see their webpage for the articles. It includes an article by Ho Boon-Chuan Ho and James R. Shevock entitled, "A tribute to Benito C. Tan (1946–2016), distinguished muscologist".
"Benito's interest in Asian mosses brought him back to Asia where he took up the position of Associate Professor in Botany in the National University of Singapore (NUS) from 1998 to 2007."
He is fondly remembered by us all.
Thanks to Adrian Loo for the alert.


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Ambient – Melomania #5
February 28, 2017
On this podcast, we strive to listen carefully to music and examine how and why it's made, but sometimes, music just isn't meant to be noticed. This is ambient music. Think hold music, Muzak, and even the pop and classic rock they play in grocery stores—the kind of music that people label as "soulless" or "brainwashing." Even though it seems like just another corporate invention to get people to buy more stuff, there's actually a whole history of serious composers who saw value in this idea of what Brian Eno called music that's "as ignorable as it is interesting." Long story short: there's a lot more to it than you would think.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download


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You are probably reading the title and thinking, what has No Monday do with New Labels Only? Well, the brand of the watch is called No Monday! Talk about a name that stands out from the crowd!
So today is Monday, and I had to wait for a couple of days to release this post today. I wanted to see if my No Monday watch did make my Monday, a No Monday!
Where is No Monday from?
This is my second watch from Hong Kong, the previous one was Klasse 14. When I saw the name of the brand, I did find it a bit strange but why No Monday?
The creators of the No Monday watch wanted to create a watch to remind people that when the weekend excitement ends, it does not mean it is the end of our excitement.
Yes we have to go to work but sometime we fall into an endless routine throughout the weekdays and we leave no time to enjoy ourselves. We should not wait until the weekend to kick back and relax and to enjoy our life. We should be doing this everyday!
That is why No Monday!
The 460 Silver Brush, Silver Dial, Black Strap
The name of the watch is definitely a mouth full!
For this post, I did not get a chance to choose the watch and I only found out when it arrived. So what do I think of it?
My Monday with No Monday
The packaging is definitely different. It is not your standard square box but it is a long rectangular slim Pine Green colour. It is also wrapped around a little piece of string to make look that extra special.
So I opened the box and I took my time too, just to appreciate that little piece of string. But did the watch jump at me? To be very honest, no! This is not to say that the watch is not good-looking, it is just the simplicity and design of the watch is not intended to jump at you!
When creating the No Monday timepieces, the design philosophy is to create a "simple" and "harmonious" timepiece, and with a small dose of seriousness.
Do I love the watch?
I have to say that when I first saw the watch, I did find it quite hard to appreciate its unique design. The crown is on top of the 12 hour marker and it was a bit tricky to adjust the time.
However it slowly grew on me and by the end of the day I was really loving it and was trying to show it off to people. Its simple genuine leather strap along with its quiet Japanese quartz movement did actually made my Monday that little better and special!
For some reason every time I look at the watch, it gives me a calm and relax feeling. The watch itself is designed with a great admiration for harmony in geometry, colours and simplicity in contrast and sophistication. Maybe that's why the relax feeling!
The No Monday watch is definitely serene watch and is definitely made for those who seek for a slight but affordable difference in their time piece.
If you are into big and bold statement watches, the 460 No Monday watch is definitely not for you but do visit No Monday 12 Windows collection, if you are seeking a simple yet bold watch.
Overall, the 460 No Monday watch has definitely surprised me. I started my Monday with a doubt in my mind about the watch but by 7:27PM exactly, I knew this watch was something special to have.
Would I recommend the 460 No Monday watch? Yes, but do not be surprised if the watch slowly creeps its way to your heart.
Do visit http://www.nomonday.hk/ to see different colours of the 460 No Monday Watch collection and also do browse around for more simple yet harmonious watches.
Watch the unboxing video of No Monday 460 here:
I would love to know your views and opinion on the 460 No Monday and if you would to have this watch? Do let me know in the comment below!
For more New Labels, Like us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest,Bloglovin and Google +@Newlabelsonly


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Working for a Greener Slope
Park Slope should be a model community for sustainability and responsible stewardship. Meaningful action on climate change and other global issues will have to be taken at the state, national, and international levels, of course, but as concerned citizens, every action we take is important as a message to others. And we can influence our elected leaders' decisions as well.
To this end, the Civic Council focused its 2008 annual forum on sustainability. The Sustainability Committee was formed some two years later. We advocate for responsible use of natural resources in our community and promote better practices for the environment. Our goals are to provide information on sustainability issues, such as reducing energy usage and practical "green" building techniques; encourage practices that reduce waste and increase recycling; raise awareness of sustainability and carbon-footprint issues in our selection of food and other goods; and work with other groups, and provide them with publicity and assistance.
One of our largest activities is the popular Civic Sweep, held in the fall and spring. At our most recent Spring Sweep, held on April 21, our committee partnered with the Forth on Fourth Avenue Committee to emphasize the clean-up of Fourth and Fifth Avenues; we were also joined by MillionTreesNYC, for a tree-care workshop, and GrowNYC, which provided soil testing, a rain-water capture display, healthful food information, and its famous fruit bike mixer.
To help reduce use of plastic bags, we have produced a tote bag as a substitute, paid for by funds from New York Methodist Hospital, to be offered free to new members and at events for $1. We are interested in how other cities have introduced a plastic-bag fee, which reduces plastic bag use and funds municipal projects, with the intent of doing something similar in New York City.
The committee also keeps an eye on the new trees recently planted on Seventh Avenue by MillionTreesNYC, following a Civic Council request two years ago. Over the summer of 2011, we enlisted volunteers to water these new trees in times of drought. Seven merchants and one church signed up. We will accelerate our efforts this summer. Sustainability Committee members have participated in MillionTreesNYC Tree Care workshops at a 10th Street block party and in Manhattan last year.
Also, each January, the Civic Council cosponsors the local Mulchfest Christmas tree recycling program with the Prospect Park Alliance. We collect more than 1,000 trees for mulching and reuse in our tree pits and yards.
Another Sustainability initiative involves the lot at Fourth Avenue and Sackett Street. For many years now, GreenSpace, Community Board 6, and the city's Department of Environmental Protection, supported by the Civic Council, have worked to create a public garden on this long-vacant lot, which provides access to the city's Third Water Tunnel. We hope that this garden will soon become a reality. GreenSpace envisions a native-plantings garden and a site for community events. Judy Janda, a founding member of GreenSpace and a member of the Sustainability Committee, is our liaison on this project.
The committee would also like to get the word out regarding hydrofracking, a serious environmental threat to our drinking water. Last year, the committee composed a letter for Civic Council trustees opposing the practice to send to the governor, the commissioner of the state Department of Environmental Conservation, and elected officials. We are finalizing documents on this dangerous practice for our members and other Brooklyn Brownstone civic associations.
Our newest project involves working with the Park Slope merchants to get them to use sustainable business practices, beginning with local restaurants. By getting a number of our neighborhood restaurants certified, through the Green Restaurant Association, we can list Park Slope as a green dining designation and promote it on various websites and venues.
In the future, we hope to help promote the city's new Bike Share Program with the Civic Council's Livable Streets Committee, educate our community about solar voltaic panels, and help reduce energy consumption through energy audits and installation of energy-efficiency measures.
We are always seeking new members who want to get involved and help the community live more sustainable lives. Meetings are held every third Monday of the month. For more information, e-mail us at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Photo: David Herman


text: Although S-corising functions as a full time gym (requiring a full time membership), there is also a section of screen baseball for enthusiasts dying to get their full in this concrete jungle. A lot more luxurious than coin baseball centers, there are a wide variety of balls and bats as well as an option to play screen-golf. It might be worth the investment if you're putting a whole night into it!


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About a fortnight back, Bilawal Zardari and Rahul Gandhi re-discovered each other, though not much to the world's surprise. There are old family links, a political dynasty with a bloody past and political careers (that are not taking off) in common. The boys are also very young, spent their time studying abroad, and lost a parent to murder.
The parties they come from are also very similar. Both the PPP and the Congress are socialist, like to give popular statements about the poor (without doing much), like to sound secular and pro-minorities because they want their votes (though can't do much for them either) and ruin everything economic.


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H&M offers top quality fashion at low prices for all the family. The global brand aims to deliver hot new trends plus quality basics daily, allowing valued customers to dress their personalities and express their own individual style.
Collections have also featured collaborations with world-renowned designers and celebrities such as Roberto Cavalli, Stella McCartney, Marni, Madonna and Kylie Minogue.
Using your One4all card to pay online at H&M.com
- Select "Pay with Debit/Credit Card"
- Select Visa Electron as the card type
- Enter the Valid Thru number on the front of the card in the Expiry Date box
- Enter the CVV2 number from the back of the card in the Security Code box
- Use your Delivery address as the "Billing Address"
Please note that due to the 5th Anti-Money Laundering Directive that took effect on 10th January 2020, there is a maximum limit of €50 per online transaction using anonymous prepaid cards, including the One4all Gift Card. This limit does not apply to Chip & PIN (Gold) gift cards. Please also note that most websites do not accept multiple payment methods.
For more information see https://www.one4all.ie/5amld-explained
Looking for a gift card to spend at this store?
Why not buy a One4all Gift Card, accepted here and in hundreds of other shops nationwide? It's the perfect gift for any occasion!


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Before she turns out the light at night, my lovely wife reaches for her iPhone 4, does a quick scroll through Twitter and plays a couple of waiting rounds of Words With Friends. And when she wakes up in the morning, she grabs that smartphone again and goes through a similar ritual.
Me, I can't stand looking at a smartphone screen first thing – it hurts my eyes. I keep my iPad on the nightstand, but I seldom fire it up before I pour coffee. I'm amazed at my wife's ability to go digital before caffeinating – she's hardly a techie.
But she's not alone. A new study by handset maker Ericsson finds that 35 percent of smartphone owners hit the apps before they roll out of the sack.
And the study says, smartphone apps are often used to gather news and information and touch base with friends and family first thing in the morning:
To date in 2011, 35 percent of US Android/iPhone users interact with non-voice applications on their smartphones before getting out of bed. The most common activity here is checking Facebook – 18 percent of social networking users log in while their heads are still on the pillow.
Apps for news, weather and even Craigslist are all becoming a part of the morning routine for US smartphone users. After getting out of bed, among those who use such services, 23 percent access the internet via their browsers, and 24 percent check their mail. Facebook also remains important after people get up, with 22 percent of users checking in during the morning.
The survey looked at iPhone and Android smartphone users, but I suspect you'll find similar patterns among owners of BlackBerries and Windows Phone 7 devices.
The survey also found that owning a smartphone changes overall Internet usage. Prior to owning a smartphone, users tended to go online at certain times of day. But that changes dramatically with smartphone ownership, where Internet access is always just a tap away, as this chart shows:
You can download a PDF if the full report here.
If you're a smartphone owner, how has owning one changed your Internet-access behavior? Do you reach for your phone first thing in the morning?
[Spotted at NetworkWorld]


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As a human being we never know about our own capabilities. Very few of us try to protrude our and sometimes others' expectations. This is when a leader emerges. India News has reported many such leaders from various times and from various fields. They represent their community, state, country and obviously the field they come from. Their lifestyle has impacted many others. They are also the cause of buzz in lifestyle news at many times due to this. Many cricket personalities are in such a place. Apart from their game, their lifestyle has secured spaces in Cricket News sections other than Lifestyle sections.
It would be rude if aura of leaders gets reduced only to hot cakes ready to sell in news market. All the glitters kept aside, they try to live a normal life and try to achieve what is expected out of them even under pressure. This is not a bed of roses, as it may seem from a distance. Their listing in achievers exposes them to scrutiny and criticism from all around the world. This is why they make lifestyle news or Cricket news (if these leaders happen to be cricket personality) or India News (if they belong to India).
Every time they perform, new cycle of expectations start. This feels good till they reach a peak. Situation gets worse during and after decadence. Now show time is off. They are ready for the negative criticism thrown in their way. Well no body can ever be ready for that but as the incidents normally go they result in a similar manner. Some quit after reaching such heights to avoid that. Few others just can't decide before it hits them hard. Squelching gets difficult when everybody has the whiff of the activities especially of negative temperament. This is why lifestyle news is being feared of. Lifestyle is difficult to change once adopted. Fall just compels to do the same.
News will always be an integral part of people's lives. They sometimes totally live on it. Being Indians we should always be aware of India News. It will keep us abreast to every activity of importance. Irrelevant can always be neglected. It has proved a success tool for many individuals if they remain cautious of cons of being achievers. Everything said and done we can always enjoy our favorite game on Cricket News for refreshment from hectic schedule of life.
Find India News, Cricket news and other latest lifestyle news on every topic at post.jagran.com.


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Admission School of Law
The five year integrated programmes in Law are designed by incorporating the latest developments in the field of Law and are at par with the standards of legal education, imparted at the best international Universities.
All programmes offered are approved by the Bar Council of India. ( BCI:D:1026/ 2017 (LE/Std. 17/18/19.06.2017) )
The School of Law believes in imparting knowledge oriented learning with practical training that will give students the cutting edge in the competitive world.
Programmes Offered
- B.A., LL.B. (Hons)
- B.Com., LL.B. (Hons)
Minimum eligibility is a pass in 12th (10+2) standard examination from any Government recognized board with minimum 45% marks (40% for SC/ST students).
- Candidates who have cleared CLAT-2020 / LSAT-India 2020 with a minimum 45% aggregate will be given preference during admission.
- Candidates without the above test scores can also apply for direct admission.
Candidates can apply Online or Offline to Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr. Sagunthala R&D Institute of Science and Technology. Application fee: Rs.300/-
Offline Application:
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- Welcome to Daytrotter
- Drugzzz
- Farm Kid
- Slime Queen
- Only You
You're either being brought down or you're being spoiled, when it comes to the standard operating procedure of an Elim Bolt song. You're either a pawn getting knocked around, or you're higher than a kite. One could even lead into the other, bleeding seamlessly from this side to that, covering it all before crashing right back down to normal, sustainable levels. The moods that this Charleston, South Carolina, band cast are ones that you'd find infecting folks on lazy, hot summer days and when the bottles are starting to get a little more hollow than you'd like them to be. These people are stricken by something like a lack of ambition, but it goes deeper than that. They're tired. They just want to lie around. They'd like to call out for their drugs from that position, in an exasperated and slightly maniacal way. Everything's gotten screwed up a little and lead singer Johnnie Matthews takes us into the kitchen, with all the cats. He takes us into all of these drowsy corners, where we're bound to bump into some curious people and even more curious puddles of emotional residue, glomming to the floorboards and ceiling fans like taffy and spiderwebs. The streetlights are glowing with a peculiar radiance, swinging dangerously and making everyone feel a little on edge. Matthews sings with a bit of Win Butler in him, giving that jittery life to these tales of sinking suspicions and dampened expectations.


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Sayyed Nasrallah to Speak Friday in a Solidarity-with-Yemen Ceremony
Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah is to deliver a speech Friday during a ceremony held by Hezbollah in solidarity with the people of Yemen to denounce the Saudi-US aggression on Yemen.Sayyed Nasrallah
The ceremony, entitled "Solidarity, Loyalty & Righteous Cry in Face of Tyrant Rule", will be held in Sayyed Shohadaa complex in Beirut's southern suburb (Dahiyeh) at five o'clock in the afternoon (Beirut Time) as the aggression on Yemen entered its fourth week with hundreds of civilians been killed so far and more others injured.
Sayyed Nasrallah lashed out at Saudi Arabia in an interview with the Syrian Al-Ikhbariyya TV a week ago saying a "definite defeat" was awaiting the Saudi-led war on Yemen, while a "definite victory" will be awaiting the Yemeni people.
Source: Al Manar TV


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Sports News of Friday, 28 July 2017
Source: starrfmonline.com
CHAN Black Stars coach, Maxwell Konadu has dismissed fears by Burkina Faso football enthusiasts, that the 2018 CHAN qualifier against our Northern neighbours on August 11 will be a difficult match for the team, at the Stade du 4-Août in Ouagadougou.
The Black Stars defeated the Hawks of Togo by 2-1 in a friendly in Lome on July 8.
The technical team invited 28-players on Monday and are busy trying to establish a formidable squad for the two-legged CHAN qualifier against Burkina Faso next month.
In all, the team has played eight friendly matches without defeat and have banged in 24 goals and conceded only 6. Two of the games were against the national teams A of Benin and The Gambia respectively but Coach Konadu is confident of a win.
"I think with the way preparation has started we just hope we get the best out of these boys to do magic in Burkina Faso. We are just calling for your support and your prayers" he told Starr Sports.
Countries have been grouped in five zones – West A, West B, Central Zone, Central East and Southern.
Kenya, who fight for qualification from Central East Zone, are hosts of the next championship and thus automatically qualify for the biennial showpiece contested by players based in their home country leagues.


text: If you are someone who is getting credit card offers on a daily basis then you know at least what they look like and that some of them have better rates than others over the long term. Because you get an offer though, it does not mean that you will actually get the card. Most… Continue reading Demystifying the Credit Card Jungle


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It's easy to get in a cooking rut, and often it just takes a little photo inspiration to lace up your apron again with gusto!
I've mentioned a dozen times that Ian and I eat pretty healthy during the weeknights (but don't you dare judge me on how much cheesy pizza I consume on Friday nights in my yoga pants). Here are two very easy weeknight dinners that I put together recently that were quick and healthy.
Baked Mediterranean Tilapia with Sauteed Mushrooms and Salad
I like serving fish on Monday nights -- such a light way to start the week after our weekend splurging. I picked up our fish from Earthfare. Their prices aren't much higher (if at all, especially during sales) than a typical grocery store, but the quality is great.
For the salad, I tossed arugula with diced avocado, sliced white onion, walnuts, and feta cheese. I swirled together a simple vinaigrette in a small mason jar (clean baby food jars work great, too) using red wine vinegar, blood orange olive oil, a little sea salt, and fresh pepper.
To make the fish, I just sprayed an 8x8 glass dish with cooking spray, laid down the fish, and then topped the fish with sliced black olives, artichoke hearts, a drizzle of olive oil, oregano, and cannelini beans. I baked it until the fish flaked easily with a fork -- maybe 20-25 minutes.
I sauteed the mushrooms (cremini taste SO much better than normal white mushrooms -- worth the small extra cost) with olive oil, fresh rosemary, and sea salt.
Finished off with a lemon wedge, this meal was ready to go!
We loved every bit of it. This type of meal is a staple for us.
Grilled Steak with Mashed White Beans and Strawberry Salad
Man, I love it when we do grilled steak, grilled chicken, grilled anything -- it's a chance for me to kick back inside and just focus on the sides while Ian does the heavy lifting.
We like to keep our steaks simple - a little S&P and olive oil rubdown before going on a hot grill.
The salad was an easy mix of spring greens, white onion, sliced strawberries, and goat cheese with balsamic vinaigrette. I made the vinaigrette using the small mason jar technique above (if you can even call it a technique -- so simple!) and mixed olive oil with balsamic vinegar, a pinch of sugar, and a little squirt of dijon mustard.
Mashed white beans may be no substitute in your eyes for mashed potatoes, but I'll go so far as to say that I prefer them to their potato counterpart! I cook my cannelini beans a right long time, drain them, add back in some olive oil, and mash well. This time I added in some white onion and rosemary before mashing, and the result was heavenly.


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What is Sacred Datura Poisoning?
The reason for the toxicity of the sacred datura is because the plant has up to 64 alkaloids, dominated mostly by atropine and scopolamine. All parts of the plant contain the toxins, and they can produce hallucinogenic and other effects from the toxic alkaloids in the seeds. Although the plant is not attractive to your horse due to the strong odor and unpleasant taste, sometimes the seeds can be mixed in with the other forage and can be eaten accidentally.
This is a very pretty but potent and very toxic plant for your horse, with poisoning occurring within 30 – 60 minutes after eating.
Symptoms of Sacred Datura Poisoning in Horses
- Confusion and agitation
- Muscular tremors
- Severe seizures
- Temperature fluctuations can vary going from hot and cold constantly
- Colic and gastrointestinal pain
- Bloating of the abdomen
- Muscle twitches and spasms
- Dry mouth and excessive thirst
- Sensitivity to the light
- Rapid heart beat
- Impaired vision
There is only one type of poisoning caused by this plant but it is fast acting, and can be deadly.
- The sacred datura plant is a member of the deadly nightshade family of plants which are called deadly for a reason, they can harm your horse
- The plant is a native from India
- Sacred datura is also known as jimson weed, most varieties of this plant have a strong odor which usually makes it unattractive to your horse
Causes of Sacred Datura Poisoning in Horses
- Usually your horse will ignore this unpleasant smelling plant but if he is very hungry he just may experiment and try it out
- Poisoning can occur when seeds from the plant are mixed with grain in livestock feed and especially if it is mixed in the hay
- Check your source of hay as to what toxic plants are most prolific in the area where it was made
- The toxicity is caused by tropane alkaloids
Diagnosis of Sacred Datura Poisoning in Horses
The moment you notice anything out of the ordinary in your horse's behavior, alert your veterinarian. It may be that your equine has inadvertently eaten some datura plant or seeds. Removing your horse and housing him in the stable is best where you and your veterinarian can have easy access to him. Because the toxin is fast acting, the specialist is your first port of call. They will be able to diagnose what is wrong and provide supportive care for your pet. Make sure you show the specialist where your horse was grazing, especially if you are not familiar with the toxic plants. Knowing what the plant is will assist with the treatment and recovery options.
Your veterinarian is your best contact and rather than wait and see how your horse is affected. The veterinarian will take note of the clinical signs, such as ocular changes, gastrointestinal pain and muscle spasms. He may take blood and urine samples but will make the decision based on your horse's present condition and the timeliness of the need for treatment.
Treatment of Sacred Datura Poisoning in Horses
The first thing to do is to prevent any further contact with the plant for your horse. Remove any plant material in the mouth and flush the mouth with copious amounts of water. If necessary, your horse will be transported to a large animal hospital. Your veterinarian may suggest gastric lavage, or activated charcoal which may help decrease the absorption of the toxin into the system. Your horse may need oxygen if he is having respiratory problems. It is important that the atropine toxin which accumulates in the kidneys is eliminated, so catheterization may be necessary if your horse is not urinating.
In most cases, with prompt treatment the prognosis is good. Your horse should return to his normal happy self within 36 hours. Needless to say, your next priority is clearing this noxious weed out of the pasture. Try to ensure the seeds are not split open to remain in the paddock as they are very potent and may be eaten inadvertently by your horse. If the seeds are mixed into hay, they remain a potent source of poison for your horse.
Worried about the cost of Sacred Datura Poisoning treatment?
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Recovery of Sacred Datura Poisoning in Horses
With speedy treatment and plenty of care, the prognosis for your horse making a full recovery is very good. It may take several days before your horse returns to normal but with plenty of rest and good solid feed, he will soon be out and moving about again. A horse owner learns the visual clues from their horse if they are observant and get to know the little quirks in your horse's personality. The quicker you spot anything wrong the better, as time can be an important ally in the recovery process.
Pasture management against toxic plants getting a foothold is vital, as prevention is a lot less stressful and more economical than experiencing a poisoning event. Pasture management is essential, as is knowing what the poisonous plants are in your area and the symptoms that go with them. An awareness and knowledge of potentially noxious trees and plants are the two best tools to ensure your horse leads a long healthy life.


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Inside of every critic there is a regretful fan struggling against the permanence of publicly stated professional opinions. For all the differences that supposedly exist between critics and "regular people," the only one that really matters is that critics are required by paycheck to take a snapshot of their feelings about a particular piece of art at a particular moment in time, and then pretend that this is how they will feel forever. In reality, there's always that one review (only one if you're lucky) you'd write differently with the benefit of hindsight. Personally speaking, I'm grateful that most of the publications I wrote for before The A.V. Club are either defunct or have bad search engines. I have opinions from my past that I'd cross the street to avoid being associated with.
One review I'm fine standing behind is my take on Radiohead's The King Of Limbs, which was turned in three days after the record was released on Friday, Feb. 18, and posted on The A.V. Club just eight days after the album's existence was announced to the world via the band's website. Even with the quick turnaround, my Kings Of Limbs review lagged behind the discussion that raged online in social and professional media seemingly from the very moment download codes starting appearing in the inboxes of Radiohead fans. Coverage of The King Of Limbs played out like breaking news—by the end of the day Friday, after tens of thousands of people had already given their yays or nays on the record on Facebook and Twitter, reviews started appearing in major publications like Esquire and NME. Regardless of whether the evaluations were positive or negative, it was incredible to me that so many people had already formulated opinions they felt comfortable putting out there for public consumption. Had they really given enough time to The King Of Limbs to truly "get" the album?
As both a music fan and a critic, I'm naturally of two minds on this question. As a fan, I have gut reactions like anybody else, and I'm just as liable to shoot my mouth off on an artist I might have only given a moment's notice. The proliferation of social media didn't invent this kind of casual acceptance or dismissal—it merely allowed people to broadcast it to whoever might be paying attention. So, while it might annoy me as a Radiohead fan when somebody "mehs" The King Of Limbs after only playing it once, I recognize that I do this all the time with artists plenty of other people take seriously. Likewise, I've enthused about an album on Twitter after only hearing a couple of songs, only to demur a week or so later after several more listens.
Your opinions as a music fan tend to be instinctual and emotional—in contrast to the self-conscious, intellectual aesthetics of the critic—and you're under no obligations to justify them beyond your own whims. Besides, there's a lot of music out there; it can seem like a chore to spend extra time with something that seems unappealing at first contact when there are so many other choices. But one of the many great things about being a music fan is that you have an open invitation to revisit any artist whenever you feel like it; somebody that didn't strike your fancy today might end up being a new obsession a year from now.
Gut reactions only become a problem when people convince themselves that a cursory listen renders any further investigation moot. This is especially fatal for an album like The King Of Limbs, a purposefully difficult listen that takes time to ingratiate itself. The rewards are considerable for patient listeners, but there are more obstacles than ever preventing listeners from engaging with the sorts of "grower" records that Radiohead has banked its career on. This includes (I fear) the echo-chamber of social media, a forum better suited for glibness than thoughtfulness, where directing a tossed-off zinger at a popular institution like Radiohead is considered fresher and funnier than singing the same old praises.
Don't worry—I'm not about to launch into another tired screed about "the death of the album" or the short attention spans of the iTunes generation. If anybody has an audience that's still willing to put in the time to make sense of a curveball like The King Of Limbs, it's the band that actually put out The King Of Limbs. As New York magazine pop music critic Nitsuh Abebe wrote of Radiohead last week:
No other band makes so many fans turn quite so studiously patient and open-minded. It's as if the world has agreed that this is the one flagship group everyone will turn to for that experience—the band people will enjoy taking seriously, approaching slowly, and pondering as art rather than entertainment. The whole concept of "serious listening" has somehow become this one act's brand. How improbable is that?
What if "serious listening" is supposed to be part of your job description? How can you do your job as a critic without coming late to the party on records like The King Of Limbs or Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, another blue-chip album that was made available to critics and the public simultaneously? In the rush to stay relevant in the discussion about "important" records, do critics sacrifice some of the perspective that they're supposed to provide for readers?
Those were some of the questions I posed to one of America's best-known music critics, Greg Kot of the Chicago Tribune and the public radio show Sound Opinions, in a recent e-mail. Kot's two-and-a-half-star review of The King Of Limbs appeared on the Tribune's website Saturday night, and though I thought it was thorough and well thought-out (while disagreeing with the final verdict), I was curious about whether Kot had any misgivings about commenting on the record so quickly. Turns out he did, and not just for the Radiohead album. "I always wish I had more time to listen to a piece of music before reviewing it," he wrote. "As one editor once told me, it's like a jazz solo, no overdubs. Sometimes I want the overdub."
For Kot, "A good piece of criticism should both educate and illuminate, in addition to entertain, and that's something that can't be done in a day, let alone a few hours. It's exciting to see people weighing in on the Radiohead album immediately after hearing it for the first time, but that's not really criticism—it's more like a first impression."
Like Kot, I come from a newspaper background, so I'm accustomed to the tight deadlines that require banging out a concert review within minutes of the final encore. At least with album reviews, writers typically have weeks or even months to ruminate before writing anything. (Promo copies for Baltimore indie-rock duo Wye Oak's forthcoming Civilian went out in December, which I predict will help that very fine record do well with critics.) But the tricky thing about music writing—and part of what makes it the trickiest form of arts writing, in my opinion—is that a good piece of music should elicit varying responses over spans of time and in all sorts of environments. Unlike books, movies, or TV shows, songs are supposed to be experienced many, many times. It's unlikely you've read any book outside of a small handful of favorites more than once, and you probably haven't read those favorites dozens of times. It's possible you've given your favorite movie 100 viewings, but that still pales in comparison to how often you're exposed to a hit pop song or a deathless golden oldie on the radio. Music by nature is a slow burn, parsing out its charms in small increments over the course of weeks, years, even decades. Music can be the focus of your attention, but it often fades into the background, only to re-emerge when you least expect it and reveal a whole other dimension. No other art form weaves its way into the fabric of your life like music, and this inevitably shapes our feelings about it.
Along with time, context and environment play big parts in how we appreciate music, and as a critic you have to take that into account. An album might be best experienced on headphones, or it might demand to be played at 11 on stereo speakers. Discussing music critically means understanding that music can be good in different ways. It's like food—you might love Thai cuisine, but that doesn't make Polish cuisine bad because it doesn't have the same flavors. It's up to you to figure out how the artist is attempting to be "good" in order to measure whether the music succeeds by that standard, and that takes time and consideration.
I think about this a lot when writing the monthly This Was Pop column with my colleague Genevieve Koski. When regarding something like Far East Movement's "Like A G6," one of the biggest dance-pop hits of 2010, it's foolhardy to dissect the lyrics or gauge how "innovative" the music is. This is a song that's intended to be blasted in bars and dance clubs for large groups of drunken singles, and in that context, "Like A G6" works does nearly as well as The King Of Limbs does for stationary, contemplative Radiohead fans.
Kot was so articulate on this point I'll just quote him at length:
For me, writing about a piece of recorded music is about listening, thinking, and listening some more, over a span of days in different contexts: over PC or laptop speakers, in the car driving around, on headphones, over a good stereo, on the kitchen boombox or iPod while washing dishes. As the context changes, you get new information, new angles into the music, and you eventually get a perspective on the album's language. It's a question of decoding that language for yourself, and then informing the reader about your findings. The job isn't to have a definitive, be-all-end-all take on what a particular piece of music sounds like or what it means, but about offering an informed perspective on it. There is no one "right" opinion. But every great piece of music needs a great listener to "get it" and the better a piece of music is, the more perspectives it invites. You hope to be one of those "great" listeners, and raise the level of discussion about art/music/culture among your readers. I feel like I'm learning how to do that job—being a better listener—every time I try to distill thoughts, feelings, impressions of something as abstract as music into something as concrete as a review.
I ended up listening to The King Of Limbs about a dozen times on Friday and Saturday before I started writing my review on Sunday. That Friday morning I listened to it three times, including two listens in my car on a drive from Milwaukee to Chicago. The first listen was on my work computer at home at 8 a.m. It left me cold; The King Of Limbs played at medium volume on Mac speakers sounds like an Ethernet cable making sweet love to a modem. My opinion of the record improved considerably when I burned the files on a blank CD and listened to them in my car. Not only is my car (or any car, really) my favorite place to hear music (because you're surrounded by speakers and you can play it louder than any place else), but taking in The King Of Limbs while hurtling forward at rapid speeds started to shift my perspective on the record.
By the time I got to Chicago about an hour and a half later, I decided that I really liked The Kings Of Limbs, and subsequent listens would be about investigating why, exactly. In my review, I likened hearing The King Of Limbs to the sensations of "fumbling into motion" and "being in a car crash." Would I have written that if I hadn't been driving when I formulated my opinion of the record? Hard to say, but that's what The King Of Limbs evoked for me during the time that I was writing about the record. Ask me how I feel about it in six months, and I might write an entirely different review.


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Space Women - African American Woman Astronauts
Three Veterans Plus Two Rookies
Mae Jemison, Stephanie Wilson, and Joan Higginbotham are part of a very small group that many hope will become much larger over the coming decades. They are the only three African American women astronauts who have traveled into space. Jemison flew on the Space Shuttle mission STS-47, which began September 12, 1992. Wilson has three Shuttle flights to her credit: STS-121 (July 4, 2006), STS-120 (October 23, 2007), and STS-131 (April 5, 2010). Higginbotham flew on Shuttle mission STS-116, starting December 9, 2006.
Astronaut Yvonne Cagle is awaiting her first space mission, as is astronaut candidate Jeanette J. Epps.
Mae Jemison
Jemison, the oldest of these astronauts, was born in 1956, when schools were still segregated by law in the US. She graduated from high school in 1973 when she was just 16, and from there went on to a mind-boggling number of achievements. In addition to being an astronaut, she has a medical degree, bachelor's degrees in chemical engineering and African American studies, and speaks fluently in Russian, Swahili, Japanese, and English. She also served in the Peace Corps as a medical officer, and in 1987 became one of only 15 people out of over 2,000 to be accepted into NASA's astronaut corps. On her 1992 mission, she was the science mission specialist and logged over 190 hours in space, the first African American woman to complete a space mission.
Stephanie Wilson
Wilson trained as an engineer, receiving degrees from Harvard and the University of Texas. Her career took her to the Martin Marietta Astronautics Group as a Loads and Dynamics engineer on the Titan IV rocket, and to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. After being accepted into the astronaut corps in 1996, Wilson worked in Mission Control prior to her three Space Shuttle missions.
Joan Higginbotham
Higginbotham also trained as an engineer at Southern Illinois University, and the Florida Institute of Technology. She worked at the Kennedy Space Center as a Shuttle payload engineer from 1987 to 1996, the year she was selected as an astronaut candidate. During her mission on STS-116, she logged more than 308 hours in space. Her main task was operating the Space Station Remote Manipulator System. She has since gone to work in the private sector.
The Past…
Because educational opportunities for women and African Americans opened up greatly during the 1970s and 1980s, the number of future African American woman astronauts is expected to continue to increase, as these women gain the training and experience necessary to qualify for one of the few slots available in NASA's astronaut training program.
Though America may never see another space program to rival the Apollo program of the 1960s and early 70s, that has much to do with the course of history and with new economic realities. The Obama administration is interested in pursuing partnerships that will allow for far more flexibility in meeting space goals than the Apollo program, which was a product of a different time with different geopolitical realities.
… And The Future
The future of space flight programs will likely include more in the way of public-private partnerships, US-foreign partnerships, and hybrid manned-robot programs to meet NASA's and the country's goals. There are no doubt places in those programs for the young women of today who are busy pursuing engineering studies and making their own contributions to America's scientific knowledge base. The day is coming when African American women astronauts will be no more of a novelty than white male astronauts are today.


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I am loving life!
Yes, my life is good. Great job, wonderful family, nice apartment, good friends, what more could a girl ask for, really? I'm even loving life single.
Now before anyone thinks I've flipped my lid or I'm painting a dream here, let me explain. No, I'm not always a little ray of sunshine. Some days are overcast in my heart and soul, grief is still an uninvited guest in my life. Not every shift is full of fun, laughter and dancing with the residents. Sometimes I work 16 hours straight, come home to take a 5 hour nap and go back and do it all over again. It isn't what happens in life, it is our response that makes or breaks us, and I'm not breaking.
Grief has invaded my life and I'm learning to live with it. An uninvited intruder that creeps up behind me in the shower, or when I'm in the middle of a great book and suddenly I'm missing mom and crying for a short spell. Rather than let it pitch a tent I go look over a video on my phone I have saved of her with one of my grandsons. I can hear her voice there, see her and smile. I'll look at her picture, go hug the memory bear made from her pajamas, dry my tears, pray for a bit, then move on. I find myself missing her at odd times that make no sense, then other days it will be when I want to pick her brain about a resident or experience at work. Instead I have to stop and think "what would mom do?" and laugh when the answer, "get your shit together" comes to me. #GYST is our rallying cry in the family, mom's verbal cattle prod to each of us when we were wallowing in self pity or confusion over life.
The positive side of grief, and yes there is one, are the wonderful memories. So many people I know do not have this gift. Their relationship with their parents wasn't what it could have been for one reason or another. But our mom was awesome! We were all close to her. Many of the grandchildren also had solid relationships with her. Those wonderful memories are actually a healing balm on this raw wound in my heart. I have so many treasured recollections that I'm wealthy in that regard. To know that while she was here she fiercely loved us and was our greatest cheer leader is a gift.
Lately I've found a new therapy not just for when grief strikes, but for life in general. BUBBLES! Mom used to love them, she'd buy them for herself and sit on the deck and blow bubbles now and then. Whenever I spy them in the store I smile and think of her. Well last week while shopping I decided to not just smile and remember, I bought a bunch. After I got home and settled for the evening I took my bubbles out on The Perch (my balcony) and spent time making colorful soap orbs to blow across the landscape. It was fantastic!!! So yesterday I bought more, because as summer winds down they will be harder to find. Feeling funky? Blow some bubbles. Down and depressed? Blow bubbles. Happy and you know it? Heck yes, blow some bubbles! Simple, inexpensive and when others see them floating by it makes them smile too.
Now to address the single aspect. Once again someone asked me how I stand being single and why haven't I worked on finding a new mate. SERIOUSLY??? I have zero desire right now to be in a relationship. I'm working insane hours some weeks, really crazy ones. My job is interacting with people. All. Day. Long. As an introvert that means when I'm clocking out of work, I'm FINISHED with being in social situations. My batteries are blinking the empty lights. At that moment the need to be alone to recharge is critical. I have a very difficult time being in a social situation after work, of any kind. My filter is broken by then and there is zero tolerance left for anything remotely rude, unkind, stupid, mean….all of those are likely to get a less than sweet reaction from me. My residents I care for all of have dementia/Alzheimer's. Their brains are broken, they have no filters left (hence I have to have mine in good working order), and they need someone to help them with everything from remembering where their room is, to dressing in something that matches, cleaning up incontinence accidents, or answering for the 18th time in 5 minutes why they are here, or where their walker is, or what time is it. They need lots of love and patience, understanding, tolerance and kindness. I'm tapped out when I clock out. I LOVE WHAT I DO!!! Loving the hearts that are still whole that are attached to brains that are broken isn't for sissies, but it is one of the most rewarding careers you'll ever find. I get lots of hugs, kisses, smiles and appreciation from my sweet old souls. But when I'm done for the day, I am D.O.N.E. The thought of having to come home and nurture a relationship with a significant other is simply not something I'd look forward too. He'd have to be someone who could grasp that I need peace and quiet, a good book or crochet project, a glass of wine and to be the one loved on. My off days are the days I'd have for that and those days are for my kids and grandkids, cleaning my apartment, laundry, health coaching, catching up on sleep, etc. I'll stick to owning a cat, all she needs is clean litter, water, food and occasional head scratching (which can be done for hours while reading a book). And while I dearly love this little fur ball, I'm not at all sure I'll have another because I feel bad that I don't have a lot of time for her and she is often here alone from 6:30am – 11:30pm. Believe it or not, I am happy and not lacking or missing being in a relationship. I'm alone, but not one bit lonely! I already was married to the love of my life, and while not perfect I felt it was a great ride. But it is part of my past and I'm in a new chapter of this book of life, one I get to pen all by myself!
Well, this nice apartment isn't going to clean itself so I guess I best be getting to it. I dropped the cleaning lady because it was money I couldn't really spend right now so I have some dusting, vacuuming, toilets to scrub and floors to be mopped. Y'all go blow some bubbles and enjoy your weekend!


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Dutch Passion created Voodoo Feminized Cannabis Seeds by crossing two very different Thai strains in 1997. This witchy new hybrid was soon known for its refreshing fragrance and extremely large trichomes. Yields are high, the Sativa is strong and the colour is a robust, golden tone. Add Voodoo Feminized to your collection to let powerful Mambo takes complete control of your senses!
Dutch Passion Maintains Strict Quality Control
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Voodoo is a Potent Sativa
Dutch Passion Voodoo Feminized's parents are variations on the classic Thai theme. Strains from this Asian region are known for their pure Sativa qualities, but they don't get tall and stringy like many Sativas from other areas. These short, stocky structures have a reputation for large, resinous trichomes that vary from earthy brown to dusty green. The overall effect is a golden colour. Flavours are described as earthy and spicy with an organic scent. This is an easy strain with beneficial, uplifting effects. Once Voodoo Feminized casts her spell on you, you'll never want to stray!
Order Dutch Passion Voodoo Feminized Cannabis Seeds> now!
The Gorilla would never lead you astray! We hope you enjoy these entertaining descriptions, but we also want to be upfront about your order. You will receive a set of collectible cannabis seeds, but they will not look like the Voodoo Feminized description you see above. Please don't attempt to cultivate or germinate your new seeds. It's against the law in the UK, and we don't want to see any harm come to our junior monkeys!
- Outdoor?
- Flowering Outdoors?
- 1st week of Oct
- Flowering Time?
- 7 weeks
- THC notes?
- 8.2%
- Minimal
No longer want the cannabis seeds you ordered? No problem!
Simply return them in their sealed breeder pack in the same condition you received it within 7 days, and we will issue you a refund lickety-split. Just follow these easy instructions:
- Do not crack that pack! Gorilla Seeds cheerfully accepts returns as long as the seeds are still in their original, unopened breeder pack.
- Login to your Gorilla Seeds account & cancel your order within 7 days of receiving your order. Please let us know the reason for the return in the space provided.
- Pack them up. Place your unwanted cannabis seeds, your contact information & your RA number in a padded mailer.
- Seal the mailer. really well so the cannabis seeds can't escape en route. The Gorilla can't do anything with an empty envelope.
- Put your return address on the outside of the mailer just in case it decides to go rogue along the way. That increases the chances of getting your seeds back if they don't make it to Gorilla Seeds - we don't issue refunds for returns that don't make it to our address.
- Ship them back. Mail your package to Gorilla Seeds at the following address. Please use trackable mail and pay for enough postage - we're not responsible for any returns that get lost in transit, and we don't pay for insufficient postage when we pick up our mail. Sorry guys - that's just the way it works.
We will make every effort to process your return in a timely manner once it arrives at Gorilla Seeds, usually within 3 to 4 days. During busy times of the year, it might take slightly longer.
Gorilla Returns
PO Box 456
Weston Super Mare
NB: Don't forget that Gorilla Seeds sells all cannabis seeds as collectible items to comply with UK law. Read the disclaimer for more info on the law. That means we can not & will not discuss anything illegal including germination, cultivation, growing, sprouting, harvesting, curing and using cannabis. Any communication, including return requests, that mention anything of a criminal nature will be immediately deleted without any response whatsoever. Just saying.
Can't wait to get your hands on your new cannabis seeds?
The Gorilla feels you! That's why we specialize in fast international delivery to make sure you're never left twiddling your thumbs and staring at the door.
99% of all orders ship out using trackable Royal Post mail within 48 business hours after payment is received, but your actual delivery timeframe depends on your location. Here's what you can expect once your order is dispatched:
- UK Orders Arrive in 1 to 2 Business Days
- European Orders Arrive Within 14 Business Days
- The Rest of the World Take 25 Days or Less to Get There
Unfortunately, Gorilla Seeds has no pull when it comes to how long it takes for packages to pass through customs in each country. Those blokes play by their own rules. To find out where your weed seeds are at any point in time, enter your order number and email address on our order tracking page.


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Because some days need a little Social D.
Sooner or later they all will be gone; Why don't they stay young?Books, Music, Art, Movies
So Alphaville's "Forever Young" came up on my random playlist yesterday on my walk home from work. This song always sends shivers down my spine where I hear it. But it also puts a smile on my face.
It reminds me of a boyfriend from when I was around 18 or 19, Gary was his name. We had a very short, fun, but complicated relationship. I cared about him very much but, being a young male, he was kind of an asshole to me.
This song reminds me of our first date. It was a warm summer evening and we stood on the front porch of my parent's home and chatted for an hour about everything. One of the things we chatted about was music. He mentioned to me that this was his favorite song. I believe I heard the song for the first time the night before at the party we met at, and I had to agree that it was a good song (probably made a little better by the good company). That evening was a very wonderful uncomplicated evening between us. It's a good memory.
The reason why this song sends shivers down my spine is because about a year after this memory happened Gary died in a horrific car wreck. I find it very ironic that this was his favorite song.
Cultivate LoveLife, Thoughts and Opinions
This morning, my friend Marisa shared on Twitter this fascinating article (written in 2013 at the Atlantic) about love. It's title is "There's No Such Thing As Everlasting Love." But I think the title is a bit misleading. Instead, the article is about the fact that romantic love is impossible to sustain, scientifically speaking. The focus of the article is a scientist named, Barbara Frederickson, who wrote the book Love 2.0. She suggests that our definition of love is wrong, that we actually experience moments of love all the time, and that maybe we should focus more on those moments. Focusing on those moments can bring happiness and joy to a person's life.
She also suggests that love can be cultivated. I'll let the Atlantic explain the study that she did and the results (it does so better than I can). But the thing that jumped out at me is that she tested her theory by using a Buddhist form of meditation that I am very familiar with, Mettā, translated in English as lovingkindness meditation. I've talked about my experience with this on my blog before. My experience with this seemed miraculous, frankly. But it's really very practical.
It's easy to do and you don't have to be Buddhist to do this. Find a comfortable chair and about ten minutes to yourself (or even 5). Say these phrases in your head over and over:
May you be happy
May you be healthy
May you be safe
May you live with ease.
Start with yourself. Yep, just say the phrases to yourself. Then move on to someone you care about. Think about that person and say the phrases to them. Then think about someone you know who is in pain. Say the phrases to them. Think about someone you might be having difficulty with. Say the phrases to them. Think about someone you see often but don't have a relationship with, like the cashier at the grocery story. Say the phrases to them. End the meditation by sending the phrases to all beings.
If your mind wanders don't worry about it (it will wander) just come back to focusing on the phrases.
There are countless guided meditations of this out there. Google "Metta Guided Meditations." Choose one and follow along to get a feel for how it's done. Here is one by Gil Fronsdale, whom I like.
I am going to try something. Using my "I wonder what will happen if" principle : I am going to try doing Metta meditation three days a week. I wonder what will happen? Maybe I will write a blog post about it in a month and let you know.
I would encourage you to try it as well! If nothing else, you will have a few relaxing moments to yourself. If you do try it, I'd love to hear about your experience!
Happy Valentine's Day!
Sunday Runday – running playlist A – GHealth and Fitness
Here are some of my favorite running songs. What are yours?
- Age of Consent by New Order.
- Baba O'Riley
- Breaking Point (by Chicharones)
- Cause You Can (Birdmonster)
- Dancing With Myself
- Disco Partizani (Shantel)
- Eraser (No Age)
- GDFR (Flo Rida)
- Genesis (Grimes)
- The Great Divide (The Mowglis)
A return to vinylLife
I remember the first record I ever bought. It was the 45 single of "The Tide Is High" by Blondie. I remember the day I bought it at the Spokane Valley Mall when I was out with my friends for the day, hanging out. I was in 6th grade. I remember standing in the record store and staring at the cover and thinking that Blondie was the coolest woman on the planet. I played the record to death. And others, too. It was the beginning of a beautiful relationship with music and records.
I sold my record collection in my grandmother's estate sale. I'd become a born-again Christian and didn't think having them was wholesome. So I sold them for a song. Yes, including my beloved "The Tide Is High" 45. I have regretted doing this many millions of times. It hurts even now, just thinking about it.


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A strong action for a soft texture
Soothing and suncare
Oil obtained by pressure of Andiroba nuts
Refined to ensure a light odor
Responsible sourcing from Latin America
Protects the skin from insect bites
due to its natural limonoids content
Soothes the sensitive skins
thanks to its triterpenes content
CSR and method
The Andiroba or "Tree of Life" is revered by the inhabitants of the Amazonian forest for its medicinal properties. Its oil is rich in limonoids (particularly andirobin), coumponds which provide the skin with natural protection from insect bites and other parasites.
Andiroba oil is obtained by pressing the kernels of these fruits. The unrefined oil is refined in France using a process developed by experts at Laboratoires Expanscience.
Example of our responsible actions:
- choice of a local partner member of the UEBT (Union for Ethical Biotrade)
- use of the kernels in cosmetic products provides local populations with an additional source of income and helps prevent deforestation as a result.
Know more
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New Booze News: Westland Garryana, Old Forester Birthday Bourbon and More!By Stephanie Moreno
And just like that, August has come to its end. Before we dive into autumn, we'd like to take a look back at the new spirit releases announced this month. Feel free to continue sipping on summer cocktails as you add them to your wish lists. But remember, September is right around the corner—aka Bourbon Heritage Month—so school will be back in session soon.
Westland Garryana 3|1 2018
Garryana 3|1 is named after the Quercus garryana, a species of white oak sourced from the Pacific Northwest. Previous editions married ratios of full-term matured garry oak to traditional oak casks. However, limited supplies forced master distiller Matt Hofmann and blender Shane Armstrong to use a series of vattings and casks finishes for this year's edition.
The distillery starts with a mash bill of five-malt, Washington select, and heavily-peated malted barleys. After distillation, the distillate then matures in Garry oak, new American oak, 1st fill ex-bourbon, 1st fill ex-port and refill ex-Westland casks. Available as of September 2018, only 1,638 bottles will be available in limited distribution nationwide.
Westland Garryana 3|1 2018 / Photo Credit: Westland Distillery
Michter's US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish Bourbon (2018 Edition)
This limited edition whiskey starts with Michter's US*1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. It then finishes its maturation in a secondary barrel for additional aging. The wood for the finishing barrel air-dries for 18 months before it gets toasted, but not charred. This 2018 release is the first release of this product in three years. Its launch, set for September, coincides with Bourbon Heritage Month.
Michter's US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish Bourbon (2018 Edition) / Photo Credit: Michter's
Old Forester Birthday Bourbon 2018
This annual limited edition bourbon is set to release on the 2nd of September, the birthday of founder George Garvin Brown. Master taster Jackie Zykan selected this year's edition, which is the first iteration to be bottled at the new Old Forester Distilling Co. in Louisville. All 120 barrels used in its production were distilled on a single day of production: June 9, 2006.
Aged for 12 years, the barrels were selected from the third floor from the northwest side of two warehouses: 93 from Warehouse J and 27 from Warehouse I. Due to the limited availability of this release, only 2400 six-bottle cases were produced. Notably, this bottling comes in at 101 proof, the highest proof to date for any Birthday Bourbon release.
Old Forester Birthday Bourbon 2018 / Photo Credit: Old Forester
Booker's Bourbon Batch 2018-03 "Kentucky Chew"
Kentucky Chew, named for Booker Noe's signature way of tasting bourbon—coined by a whiskey writer who witnessed this method firsthand—is the third Booker's release for 2018. Fred Noe, Booker's son who selected this batch, also employs the Kentucky Chew method when tasting bourbon. Aged for 6 years, 4 months and 12 days, this Kentucky straight bourbon is bottled uncut and unfiltered at 126.7 proof.
Booker's Bourbon Batch 2018-03 "Kentucky Chew" / Photo Credit: Booker's
Fistful of Bourbon
Released by William Grant & Sons, Fistful of Bourbon is made by blending five straight bourbons sourced from one or more undisclosed sources. The blended American whiskey uses no neutral grain in its composition. Set for a September 2018 release, Texas gets to buy it first before it rolls out to other markets nationally.
Fistful of Bourbon / Photo Credit: William Grant & Sons
Jefferson's Reserve Twin Oak Custom Barrel Bourbon
Jefferson's Reserve collaborated with the Independent Stave Company (ISC), a family-owned cooperage based in Missouri to produce this release. First, ISC produced barrels made from grooved staves as a way to increase the surface area inside the barrel. Then the cooperage toasted the barrels for a period of time before flash charring them. Finally, Jefferson's took 10-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon and finished it in these custom barrels for four months.
Jefferson's Reserve Twin Oak Custom Barrel Bourbon / Photo Credit: Jefferson's Reserve
Balvenie DoubleWood 25 Year
Crafted by malt master David C. Stewart MBE, this release marks the 25th anniversary of The Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year. This 25 year bottling contains distillate which filled barrels in 1993, the same year The 12 Year version made its debut. The whisky matured initially in traditional American oak barrels for 25 years. Then it finished its maturation in Spanish oak ex-oloroso sherry barrels for 3 months. Available beginning August 2018.
Balvenie DoubleWood 25 Year / Photo Credit: The Balvenie
BERTOUX Brandy
This California brandy is made from a blend of 3-7 year old pot-distilled brandies aged in American and French oak barrels. It is blended by renown bartender Jeff Bell (PDT NYC & PDT Hong Kong) and acclaimed sommelier Thomas Pastuszak (The NoMad NYC/LA/Las Vegas), and is designed to be featured in cocktails.
The name BERTOUX is inspired by French inventor Jean Bertoux, who patented a way for a bicycle to accommodate a passenger. Perhaps a Sidecar cocktail is what you should create first. This brandy is set to launch in NYC, LA and San Francisco beginning fall 2018.
BERTOUX Brandy / Photo Credit: BERTOUX Brandy
Avuá Bálsamo Cachaça
Beginning from an unaged cachaça made from four chosen varietals of single-estate sugarcane, the cachaça then ages for up to two years in bálsamo wood. Bálsamo, a burgundy-colored wood, is native to Central and South America and large vertical casks are produced for aging. Released in late summer 2018, this aged cachaça is part of Avuá's Native Wood Aged Collection
Avuá Bálsamo Cachaça / Photo Credit: Avuá Cachaça
Smirnoff Moscow Mule
This ginger and lime infused vodka is a limited edition release from Smirnoff. This flavored vodka pays tribute to the Original Moscow Mule made with Smirnoff Vodka at the Cock 'n' Bull restaurant in 1940s Hollywood. It was there that the president of Smirnoff Vodka sat down with the bar's owner and longtime friend. As luck would have it, he happened to bottle ginger beer in town. To increase sales of both, they decided to join forces and the rest is history.
Smirnoff Moscow Mule / Photo Credit: Smirnoff
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