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Passing through the four stages of our grief with lightning speed, Wall Street became Fall Street, then Wail Street, and now Bail Street.
But there's never enough money to satisfy these self-proclaimed victims. Late last week, the Wall Street Journal's Robert Frank reported, in "Wealthy Are Afraid They'll Run Out of Money":
According to a new survey from American Express Publishing and the Harrison Group, nearly half of respondents with incomes of $250,000 or more agreed with the statement that "I worry that at some point I could run out of money." That's up from about a third in April.
Fully 69 percent agreed with the statement that "The recent real estate and banking crisis has affected my sense of financial security."
Of course, $250,000 is only "Obama wealthy." And running out of money "at some point" is a long time horizon. Yet the survey suggests that even high-income earners are cutting back their spending for fear of what the financial future might bring. Fully two-thirds say that they are "looking closely at every spending category to see where I can save."
Now it's time for others to look closely. Who will lose the blame game? Setting up today's scheduled grilling of ex-Lehman's ex-CEO Richard Fuld by Henry Waxman's House committee, this morning's Wall Street Journal peers into the what exactly happened at the bankrupt investment bank's HQ on Avenue of the Americas.
We were fooled, yes, but we won't get Fuld again — assuming he even shows up. As of late last week, Waxman was still stonewalled on his September 18 request for Fuld's and Lehman's e-mails and memos. Check out the PDF of Waxman's scathing September 26 letter to Fuld.
But others already have some details on who and what moved in Lehman's bowels.
In "The Two Faces of Lehman's Fall: Private Talks of Raising Capital Belied Firm's Public Optimism," Carrick Mollenkamp, Susanne Craig, Jeffrey McCracken, and Jon Hilsenrath reveal inside dealings and double-talk at the investment bank's HQ.
That story's just a biopsy. There's enough blood and garbage on the Street to keep crime-scene investigators enthused for years. Is there a forensic proctologist in the house?
For one thing, despite this weeper from the WSJ — 'The Lehman Stock Slide Hits Home: Employees Face $10 Billion in Losses' — Fuld and others have stashed cash where the sunshine laws don't shine.
There's a big difference between money on paper and cash in the wallet. Yes, the value of Fuld's stock cache has bottomed out. But Fuld cashed in for more than $50 million during only two days of insider sales of Lehman stock before it began its last precipitous slide in 2007, according to SEC records (see illustration above).
Wonder if Waxman will bring up that profit-taking with Fuld later today. As Reuters noted yesterday:
Waxman has a reputation for raking high-profile corporate executives over the coals as cameras roll.
Fuld is scheduled to appear before the committee on Monday in what would be his first public appearance since Lehman filed for bankruptcy
Don't expect that hearing to be televised, so instead of browsing porn, watch Lehman's jerkoff CEO on the live stream on C-SPAN.
But first . . .
Reuters: 'British commander says war in Afghanistan cannot be won'
Bloomberg: 'Fuld May Blame Confidence Crisis for Lehman's Fall at Hearing'
Agence France Presse: 'JPMorgan blamed for Lehman collapse in court documents: report'
Wall Street Journal: 'Bailout's Bid to Limit Executive Pay Will Be Tough to Realize'
N.Y. Times: 'Full of Doubts, U.S. Shoppers Cut Spending'
Reuters: 'Spermicide Coke, stale chips research wins Ig Nobels'
House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: 'Chairman Waxman Announces Hearings on Financial Meltdown'
Oct. 6: Lehman bankruptcy and AIG bailout, Day One
Oct. 7: Lehman bankruptcy and AIG bailout, Day Two
Oct. 16: Regulation of hedge funds
Oct. 22: Breakdown of credit rating agencies
Oct. 23: Role of federal regulators
Washington Post: 'Artful Dodging Trumps Open Evasion, Studies Show: Palin Criticized After Avoiding Questions'
IOL (South Africa): 'Racism: the elephant in the US polling booth'
L.A. Times: 'Frank talk of Obama and race in Virginia'
BBC: 'Saudi cleric favours one-eye veil'
Wall Street Journal: 'The Lehman Stock Slide Hits Home: Employees Face $10 Billion in Losses'
Haaretz: 'Israeli investment bankers find Wall St. tumble ruins Rosh Hashanah'
N.Y. Times: '11 Die as U.S. Force Raids House in Iraqi City and Man Detonates a Suicide Vest'
IRIN: 'IRAQ: Move to allow doctors to carry guns provokes mixed reaction'
L.A. Times: 'Mishaps mark John McCain's record as naval aviator'
BBC: 'Somalia is 'most ignored tragedy'
Washington Post: 'Registration Gains Favor Democrats: Voter Rolls Swelling in Key States'
New York: 'Wall Street, Fall 2009: Things look grim at the moment, but where will we be a year from now? That depends on who's president.'
BBC: 'Two Black Hawks down in Baghdad'
Caucasian Knot (Moscow): 'Authorities in Ingushetia terrorize the population'
BBC: ' "Milkshake murderer" loses appeal'
N.Y. Times: 'Microwaved Chicken Isn't Necessarily Cooked Chicken'
Wall Street Journal: 'China to Allow Short Selling on Trial Basis'
The Age (Australia): 'OJ Simpson isolated in jail "for his own safety" '
N.Y. Daily News: 'Friends of Mayor Bloomberg make contributions to a third party'
Jurist: 'Fraud charges laid against USAID subcontractor in Afghanistan'
China Digital Times: 'Chinese Cities Wake up to a New Superfood: Yak Milk'
N.Y. Post: 'SUIT SLAMS DONUT-COP "CRULLER-TY" '
N.Y. Daily News: 'Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie seem happy together in NYC'


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According to a study published this month by researchers at University College London, children who experience the absence of a parent by age 7 have an increased risk of abusing both tobacco and alcohol in their pre-adolescence. The researchers also concluded that engaging in such risky health behaviors as a pre-adolescent may severely impact a child's health down the line, as well as increase the chances of developing a dependency on tobacco or alcohol.
While the link is clear between childhood hardship and substance abuse during adolescence and later years, a lack of research existed regarding childhood hardship and such risky behavior before adolescence, by age 11.
Adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs, are what psychologists use as an umbrella term for any traumatic events during childhood that have long-lasting, negative effects on overall well-being later in life. These can include but are not limited to, the death of a parent, the incarceration of a parent, physical abuse, mental abuse, emotional abuse, or even parental divorce. Separate studies have shown that ACEs are directly linked to adolescent alcohol abuse, as well as to tobacco use during adolescence and adulthood. The alcohol-related study showed that "Adverse childhood experiences are strongly related to ever drinking alcohol and to alcohol initiation in early and mid-adolescence," and the tobacco-related study showed that "Smoking was strongly associated with adverse childhood experiences."
Details of the Study
The University College London collected data on 10,940 children who by age seven either had one or both parents die, or were separated from one or both parents. The subjects were a part of the larger Millenium Cohort Study, currently underway in the United Kingdom, which monitors 19,000 children for a wide range of behaviors.
According to the University College Londo study, children who experienced the absence of a parent were over 80% more likely to use tobacco and were 46% more likely to use alcohol by age 11. Children who experienced the death of (as opposed to the separation from) a parent were less likely to have consumed alcohol, but among those who had consumed alcohol, were more likely to drink enough to be drunk. However you want to look at these statistics, the conclusion of the study is impossible to argue with: "Children who experience parental absence should be supported in early life in order to prevent smoking and alcohol initiation."
In addition to parental absence increasing the risk for early substance abuse, the researchers came to two other important conclusions. Once pre-adolescent substance abuse occurs, the chances of adverse health effects and the chances of developing a substance dependency both go up. These conclusions are based on already-established evidence of these effects later in life.
Early smoking has been proven to increase the chances for lung cancer. Alcohol consumption prior to age 13 has been proven to increase the chances for alcohol dependence later in life. Why would it not be the same for pre-adolescents? The University College London researchers believe it is the same for them.
Attachment Theory (and how it applies)
Developed by John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth, attachment theory essentially states that a child with an emotional and physical attachment to his or her caregivers can give that child "a sense of stability and security necessary to take risks, branch out, and grow and develop as a personality." Working in reverse, this can also mean that without such an attachment, "a great deal of developmental energy is expended in the search for stability and security." Basically, children without strong parental bonds tend to be more fearful, more anxious, and more susceptible to stress.
Children without such attachment to their caregivers may also be more susceptible to substance abuse, which is parallel with the University College London study. Some doctors firmly believe that parental absence is a ripe ground for addiction. This is exemplified by the work of Dr. Ondina Hatvany in the case of 'Becky.'
Her name has been changed, but Becky is one of countless people without parental attachments who developed an early substance abuse problem. Hatvany says, "I believe that because Becky had not experienced the regulatory effect that secure attachment would have provided, she had to get creative. She had to find a substitute to help her regulate; alcohol became that substitute."
Pre-Adolescent Tobacco Use
According to the Surgeon General, tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the US. An astonishing 20% of all deaths, preventable or not, are caused by tobacco. Every day in America, nearly 4,000 people under age 18 smoke their first cigarette. More than four out of five everyday tobacco users begin using before graduating high school, and 99% of everyday tobacco users begin before age 25.
If discovering that one out of five tobacco users will die because of it doesn't speak loudly enough, consider that tobacco-related injury and illness makes up 75% of all the money spent on healthcare in America. (This is well over a trillion dollars).
Cigars, cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, hookahs, vapor pens and chewing tobacco all hold the same risk. Nicotine is the active ingredient in all of these forms of tobacco use, which is known as one of the most addictive substances known to man. Nicotine reaches the brain within 10 seconds of consumption, and immediately releases adrenaline, creating pleasure and a buzz.
According to Kids Health, children "might be drawn to smoking and chewing tobacco for any number of reasons — to look cool, act older, lose weight, seem tough, or feel independent." The same logic applies to alcohol use, and furthermore, both tobacco use and alcohol use among children may be affected by the media. (This is discussed below, in the 'Pre-Adolescent Substance Abuse and the Media section).
Pre-Adolescent Alcohol Use
Alcohol is the most prevalent substance abused worldwide. This fact is the same for full-grown adults as it is for pre-adolescents. A national survey revealed that the majority of people in the US who regularly abuse alcohol began doing so early on. In fact, 75% of high school seniors have been drunk. 25% of seniors had binge drank in the last week. Every single day, 8,000 American children try alcohol for the first time. Over 20% of children use alcohol by age 13.
However, alcohol affects children differently than it does adults. Psychologist Linda Spear of Binghamton University believes pre-adolescents and adolescents are more vulnerable to alcohol's pleasurable effects than adults are. Also, she believes children are less apt to notice the sedative effects of alcohol, and therefore are more likely to drink until blacked out.
Spear's theory is reinforced by a Canadian study performed by Éduc'alcool, which states that alcohol abuse is a form of thrill-seeking often used by young people. The pre-adolescent/adolescent brain is not fully developed, and consequences are not often fully considered at that age. According to Éduc'alcool, "Adolescents like intensity, excitement and arousal… Adolescence is a time when sex, drugs, very loud music and other high-stimulation experiences take on great appeal." The study goes on to conclude that due to this combination of brain underdevelopment and desire for thrill, pre-adolescents and adolescents are much more susceptible to alcohol abuse than are teenagers and those older.
Risk of Bullying or Being Bullied
It is worth noting that according to a study published by the National Library of Medicine, both the perpetration of bullying and the victimization of being bullied increase for pre-adolescents who use alcohol. Over 175,000 Georgia students, from 6th to 12th grade, were studied to determine the link between early alcohol use and bullying/being bullied.
The results show that 24.4% of students studied reported bullying, as either perpetrator or victim, and of those students, nearly all had used alcohol in the last month. "Pre-teen alcohol use initiation was significantly associated with both bullying perpetration and victimization relative to non-drinkers," concluded the researchers. Victims of bullies are up to nine times more likely to commit suicide, and bullies themselves have been shown to usually have some adverse health issues.
Pre-Adolescent Substance Abuse and the Media
Each year, the tobacco industry spends $3.6 billion on advertising, and the alcohol industry spends $2 billion. Although these amounts change, they are actually low-end estimates. (The American Academy of Pediatrics, or AAP, believes the number to be $25 billion for tobacco, alcohol and prescription drugs combined). Although both industries deny any advertising geared toward children, "research documents that cigarette and alcohol advertising and promotional campaigns are especially appealing and attractive to teenagers and children," according to the American Public Health Association.
In 1991, when tobacco could still be advertised in the media, 93.6% of children could identify Joe Camel, the cartoon mascot for Camel cigarettes. Only 57.7% of adults were able to identify the mascot. (91.3% of six-year-olds were able to identify Joe Camel at the time, the same percentage of six-year-olds who were then able to identify Mickey Mouse).
The AAP published a study in 2010 regarding tobacco and alcohol advertising and its effect on children. According to the study, up to 30% of tobacco and alcohol use among children can be attributed to advertising. The most heavily advertised cigarette brands are the most popular, and the same goes for alcohol brands. Although tobacco ads have long been removed from television, it is estimated that children see up to 2,000 ads for alcohol annually.
Perhaps the most shocking fact regarding children and substance advertising has to do with the comparison between youth-oriented magazine ads and adult-oriented magazine ads. "Teen-oriented magazines contain 48% more advertising for beer, 20% more advertising for hard liquor, and 92% more advertising for sweet alcoholic drinks than do magazines aimed at adults of legal drinking age."
In Conclusion
Not all families can stay together forever. Death occurs, divorces happen, and sometimes parents just don't stick around. However, what can be prevented is the abuse of alcohol and tobacco by children. Obviously, not every seven year old who has an absent parent will abuse drugs. However, after seeing that these children are at greater risk than others to do so, education and intervention needs to happen at a young age.
"Early uptake of risky health behaviors is a feasible mechanism through which disparities in disease outcomes may emerge," wrote one of the researchers in the University College London study. "Early life may be an important time to intervene in order to prevent the uptake of risky behaviors."

subset: commoncrawl


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A Chilling Cosplay
Rate This
Language Mandarin
|Director Wang Guangli
Country ChinaHong Kong
|Release date 29 October 2013 (2013-10-29) (China)7 November 2013 (2013-11-07) (Hong Kong)
197 c murder a chilling cosplay movie review cantonese ver
A Chilling Cosplay is a 2013 Chinese-Hong Kong crime thriller film directed by Wang Guangli and starring Simon Yam, Vivian Hsu, Ying Er and Yuan Hong.
- 197 c murder a chilling cosplay movie review cantonese ver
- Vivian hsu stripped in a chilling cosplay
- Plot
- Cast
- References
Vivian hsu stripped in a chilling cosplay
During a period of time, two cases of murder occurred in the community. The victims include a young woman, whose corpse is said to have been frozen by the murderer using a special technique and being dressed up in a costume afterwards before being discarded like a mere doll. Police Captain Fang Youwei (Simon Yam) and his partner Yan Xiaotong (Ying Er), alongside newly recruited officer Xiao Kai (Yuan Hong) investigate this case. They find out that the two victims were college classmates ten years ago, and also stayed in the same Cosplay club. Fang approaches Zhou Jin (Vivian Hsu), who was classmates with the two victims. The appearance of Zhou lends the case a new direction and she seems to be the next target of the murderer.
The murderer hides in the shadow sharpening his blade, grinning in his hatred towards the 3 women. He has waited years to seek merciless revenge. In the era of moral turpitude, everything is fearless, life is worthless.
ReferencesA Chilling Cosplay Wikipedia
Chengdu, I Love You IMDb Chengdu, I Love You themoviedb.org


text:
Shanghai Suzy
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Regular price $19.95
Unit price
The ultimate cult lipstick, Miss Leah is a pink-based nude that complements all skin tones. Perfect for everyday wear.
The 'Satin Luxe' formula have a balm-like feel with a satin finish. They are infused with avocado oil, jojoba seed oil and shea butter for the most comfortable wear and application. They glide on smoothly and are a pleasure to wear day to day, especially in Winter when lips can be dry.
Formula: Satin Luxe, Fragrance: Strawberry Candy
Vegan & Cruelty-Free, proudly made in Melbourne!
PRO application tip: Apply one or two base coats directly from the bullet, then finish with a final coating applied with a lip brush.
Ingredients: Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Cera, Ozokerite, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Ethylhexyl Palmitate (RSPO certified), Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Silica, Petrolatum, Jojoba Esters (Simmondsia Chinensis), Copernicia Cerifera (Carnuba) Cera, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Aroma (Flavour), Tocopheryl Acetate, BHA, Saccharin, Linalool. May contain: Alumina, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, CI 15850 (Red 6 Lake, Red 7 Lake), CI 17200 (Red 33 Lake), CI 19140 (Yellow 5 Lake), CI 42090 (Blue 1 Lake), CI 45380 (Red 21 Lake), CI 45410 (Red 27 Lake, Red 28 Lake), CI 77000 (Aluminum Powder), CI 77019 (Mica), CI 77491 (Iron Oxide), CI 77492 (Iron Oxide), CI 77499 (Iron Oxide), CI 77861 (Tin Oxide), CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide).


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Dubai's Emaar reveals plan to launch digital currency
By: Sam Bridge / Arabian Business
SOURCE: Arabian Business - Dubai's Emaar reveals plan to launch digital currency
Mohamed Alabbar says an initial coin offering in Europe will be considered within 12 months of the launch of the blockchain platform
Dubai-based Emaar Group has announced plans to leverage blockchain technology to offer the Emaar community token for customers and partners by the end of this year.
The announcement is part of Emaar's focus on innovation, it said in a statement.
The Emaar community token will allow the company's customers and stakeholders to reap the value of a full referral and loyalty system across the entire group, opening the Emaar experience potentially to billions of internet users.
This will be among the first referral and loyalty tokens in the world giving access to an existing operational ecosystem of close to $10 billion, and an initial coin offering in Europe (ICO) will be considered within 12 months of the internal operational launch of the platform, the statement said.
Swiss-based Lykke is leading the technology build of Emaar's community token based on the Ethereum blockchain and the ERC20 token framework.
The token will be transferable across the entire global Emaar ecosystem, including real estate, malls, hospitality, entertainment, facilities management and online shopping.
Mohamed Alabbar, chairman of Emaar Properties, said: "We continuously strive to expand our reach, strengthen our growth and extend the Emaar experience. We have embraced the digital world even as we continue to build the most advanced and innovative physical structures and we use both to delight and benefit our customers and stakeholders globally. The Emaar community token marks a significant leap in our digital transformation journey."
Richard Olsen, founder and CEO of Lykke, added: "We have developed cutting edge technology infrastructure with mass-market usability to support our core belief that all mobile and internet users should be able to participate in economic activity, regardless of size of contribution.
Source: arabianbusiness.com


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Hugh Hefner On Writing, Voice and Magazine Success
In the August 1964 Writer's Digest, former WD Editor Kirk Polking profiled Playboy and its 38-year-old founder, Hugh Hefner, who had celebrated the first decade of his ground-breaking publication the year before. On Sept. 27, 2017, the pioneering publisher passed away at 91 years old. In his memory, here are some of the best quote's from Polking's piece:
On the Playboy Bunny
Searching for a way to personalize his magazine idea, Hefner hunted around for some kind of symbol: "I started thinking in terms of an animal. The rabbit had a kind of sex connotation and putting him in a tuxedo at the same time, gave him a touch of sophistication. I thought it would be a humorous and a charming symbol. Shakespeare suggested, 'What's in a name?' I suspect there's a good deal in it. We came very close to calling the magazine Stag Party—the notion being that we could change the concept of Stag Party and it would be on the emphasis of entertainment for men. We almost went to press with that title on it and the rabbit at that point was going to be a stag. … Changing the title at the very last minute, almost at the moment we were on press, sounds as if it were a kind of haphazard operation to begin with, and in simple truth, it was. There are many things about Playboy, particularly in those beginning years, that should break every rule in the game, and we have no business sitting here talking today."
On Finding New Voices
"We are concerned," says Hefner, "by the tendency among some magazines today to place less emphasis on the non-established, non-agency-represented newcomer. As far as I'm concerned, this is the future of writing. The short story form has been hurt badly enough, both by some strange things that have happened inside of it in the last 30 years, and by the good talent being drawn off into advertising and television, that I think it's beholden upon us and others in the field to do everything possible to motivate new people to sit down and write."
On the Playboy Ethos
"Everybody else was telling me what we were standing for and I felt I'd rather be damned for the things I really believe, than for somebody else's notion of what Playboy represents. … It isn't a matter of being pure pleasure-bent or Hedonists by any means. It is a matter really of objecting rather strenuously to the Puritan aspects in our American heritage in which you have a tendency to feel guilty about pleasure, quite literally—not only sex, but also even the accumulation of wealth. We are a beautiful guilt-ridden society in which we think the material benefits are great, but there's something wrong with the fact that we think so. I think that's nonsense. I don't suggest living for today is the only answer. I suggest that the wise man lives for today and tomorrow. A phrase I have used often in the past is that a person should work hard and play hard too. Life is more than simply a vale of tears and is to be enjoyed. You get one time around and if you don't make the most of it you have no one to blame but yourself."
On Magazine Success and Staying Relevant
Hefner things it is possible for the casual reader who may have been drawn into the book originally by the girls and jokes to "graduate" into the fiction and articles and get hooked on those and stay with him. "People usually talk about the girls," he says, "but obviously we didn't invent girls. We may have bent them in the middle and put staples in their navels, but they've been here a long time. The real reason for Playboy's success is that there has been a tremendous shift in attitude between this and the last generation—it seems to me—a tremendous difference—and a great gulf in point of view exists between those two generations that are only 23 years apart. … We were the first magazine to give a voice to this new attitude and it is that, I think that makes the magazine successful. … Magazines are very much like people in many ways. It's possible to get hardening of the arteries, to get old and die. Playboy, in its essence, is a very contemporary book. If the staff that I have and if I, myself, do not remain contemporary and of the times in our point of view, then obviously we will be replaced in the future by someone who is."
Tyler Moss is the managing editor of Writer's Digest. Follow him on Twitter @tjmoss11.


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text:
FAIRBORN, OHIO–It's field trip season at last for the Wooster Geologists. Several geology classes have now been out in Ohio, taking advantage of windows of spectacular weather. Today was one of those days for 25 students in the Sedimentology & Stratigraphy class. We returned to the Oakes Quarry Park exposures in southwestern Ohio (N 39.81472°, W 83.99471°). Three years ago here in April it was 37°F and raining. This year the conditions were perfect. We studied outcrops of the Brassfield Formation (Early Silurian, Llandovery) in the old quarry walls. The students measured stratigraphic columns of these fossiliferous biosparites as part of an exercise, and then explored the glacially-truncated top of the unit.
The Brassfield is intensely fossiliferous. Large portions of it are virtually made of crinoid fragments. In the random view above you can see columnals, as well as a few calyx plates. This is why this unit is very popular among my echinodermologist friends at Ohio State.
Kevin Komara, Brian Merritt and Dan Misinay (Team Football) are here contemplating the quarry wall, planning how to measure their sections.
One of our Teaching Assistants, Sarah Bender, is here pointing out one of the many thin intercalated clay units in the Brassfield biosparites.
Fellow Californian Michael Williams directed the action. No, actually he's doing the time-honored technique of following a measured unit with his finger as he finds a place he can safely climb to it and the units above. He is holding one of our measuring tools, a Jacob's Staff. Why do we call them "Jacob's Staffs"? Read Genesis 30:25-43. (Yes, today's students are mystified by Biblical references.)
Here's Rachel Wetzel, giving me a heart attack. Don't worry, insurance companies and parents, she's fine.
Rachel is again on the left. Team Ultimate Frisbee (Meredith Mann and Mae Kemsley) are in the front, and Sharron Ostermann is above. This is the recommended way to get to the top of the exposure!
We carried our lunches in "to go" boxes from the dining hall. Our Teaching Assistants Sarah Bender and Kaitlin Starr enjoyed a sunny picnic on the rocks.
The top level of the quarry was cleared of soil and brush many years ago to expose a glacially truncated and polished surface of the Brassfield. Looking for glacial grooves and fossils here are (from the left) Tom Dickinson, Jeff Gunderson (another Californian!), Andrew Conaway, and Luke Kosowatz (who seems to also be making a little pile of rocks as a memorial to a great day).
One of the many corals we found in the top of the Brassfield was this halysitid ("chain coral"), an indicator fossil for the Late Ordovician and Silurian.
Everyone returned safely to Wooster with their completed stratigraphic columns, lithological descriptions, and a few fossils. Thank you to Mark Livengood, our bus driver. Good luck to the other field trip groups later this month!


text:
When he stands in front of a mirror, the offbeat Ryan Moore can't decide whether he is the reincarnation of Bobby Jones or a refugee from a bad-pants convention.
At the Masters, in a tribute to Jones and his 1930 Grand Slam, Moore looked positively stunning when he dressed like a gentleman golfer from an earlier era. At other times, though, he looks like a rejected skateboard fanatic from 2010.
That's an 80-year time frame from which Moore chooses his wardrobe. We never know how he will dress himself for the golf course. It's part of his charm.
Imagine my surprise when my phone rings and the voice on other end says calmly, "This is Ryan Moore."
Okay, I'll be honest. I was expecting his call. I had requested information about Moore's golf shoes and was told golf's No. 1 time traveler would contact me himself.
My first thought: "What's up with the far-out shoes, man? Did you mug Spock on your last trip to outer space, or what?"
My actual words: "Ryan, please tell me about your new shoes. They look comfortable."
Moore, winner of the 2009 Wyndham Championship on the PGA Tour, is wearing TRUE golf shoes (www.truelinkswear.com). Every round. Exclusively.
Here's what I think: "I'd rather play barefoot than wear these shoes."
Here's what I say: "Great shoes, Ryan. They look like fun. They fit your personality."
Moore must be reading my mind, because he quickly starts talking about barefoot golf.
"It's a barefoot walking type of technology," he says. "It's proven to be better for your body and your feet. The shoes are much flatter to the ground. Right away, they put you like you would stand barefoot. You get the same feeling and sensation as barefoot. You are so much more aware of your balance and your footwork."
Sounds like barefoot boy Sam Snead, who should be meaningful to a golf history student such as Moore. As a youth, Snead played barefoot. Even as a pro, he occasionally would remove his shoes on the course.
Moore's TRUE shoes have no spikes. Instead they are made with large rubber protrusions on the sole. How has that affected our uncommon hero?
"It's a much flatter, wider tread," he says, insisting the traction it provides is as good or better than contemporary cleats or spikes. "There is much more tread on the ground.
"At the end of the round, I don't even take them off. I'll end up leaving them on and not even realize it. That's the beauty of it – I put them on at the beginning of the day, wear them around, just show up at the golf course and go play."
I ask Moore about rain and moisture.
"They're waterproof," he explains. "I haven't had an issue yet. It doesn't matter how wet the course is. I've played in a torrential downpour a couple of times."
The shoe is lightweight (11 ounces, with a sole thickness of 2.5 mm) and is worn by at least one heavyweight. The retail price is $159.
What I want to say: "Ryan, you wouldn't lay a sales job on me, would you? It sounds to me like you've got something to peddle."
What I do say: "Ryan, you are a high-profile guy. People pay attention to you. Did you accept part ownership in the company?"
The short answer is yes, although it seems clear Moore truly has an affection for the True shoe.
"You know me," says the 27-year-old golfer who already has rejected several lucrative endorsements because he didn't want to be tied to a single brand. "I would never ever use anything or wear anything that wasn't a great product."
Who am I to argue with a retro golfer who often wears a necktie and button-down shirt when he plays the grand old game?


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That-them-there hound dawg. It's just Hudson, that's all. Our 90-pound, horse-ish Basset Hound. A blog about him? Thought you were more of a cat person, Molly? I am. But he's pretty funny.
Drove out to middle-of-nowhere Jasper, Alabama to get him five years ago. (When we lived near Birmingham.) He was in a red barn at the end of a dirt road and was one of two dozen ready for adoption. That means there were a bunch of baby Bassets not ready. Hound dogs everywhere. (I know, I know, he's not a "rescue" dog.)
And when we brought him home, we had this underground electric fence installed around our property. (Sigh, property.) And he wore this collar that beeped a warning if he got too close, and then would shock him if he got too too close. And being desperate to follow me on a walk or to steal a neighbor's Auburn or Alabama football garden gnome - or some such thing - he'd often charge right through it, howling. Dumb dog. (Too bad the fence didn't keep deer out. Once a deer ran up and "hoofed" him. As if Hudson were a threat.)
Fast forward to present-day life in California, and nothing much has changed. He's still escaping. At times, I feel like a cowgirl, "herding" him back into the house. That's when we know he got out. Otherwise we get a late-night knock on the door. "This your dog?" (Um, no?)
That Hudson. Eats entire loaves of bread in a single bound. His body elongates like Gumby to reach stuff on counters. And the backyard is like a dragon's lair, but instead of skeletal remains, you'll find pizza boxes, banana peels, and chewed-on cat food cans. Once I found an unwrapped, empty, half-pound box of See's Candies upstairs. Some of the brown paper "cups" were missing, too. A website said to feed him burnt toast to help move things along. He swallowed four pieces whole.
So not only does he love our food, but loves our couch. Even if every seat is occupied - doesn't matter. He'll stand there and stare down a two-inch section of open space, until someone catches on that he wants up. And then he gets all psyched-up for "the jump," which he doesn't always make. Same thing with getting down. We often find him in half-on-half-off limbo.
And when we take Hudson places, we become instant celebrities. So droopy and pathetic. People eat it up. And his massive front paws - standing at "first position" - get tons of attention. Folks are forever mimicking his stance with their own arms and hands.
And when Hudson meets a fellow canine at the park, it's always a little awkward. Dog owners get kind of weird and say things like, "My dog's name is Henry, what's your dog's name?" You can forget about meeting the fellow human attached to the dog. (Though, nice when I'm not much for social interaction.) Or sometimes they speak for their dog. "I'm Fifi. Wanna be my friend?" At this point I feel like I'm playing make-believe. What's next, we have them push each other on the swings?
So I could go on and on about Hudson's dream sequences and cranky-old-man noises. And the whole stick of butter I once found in his mouth and how he smells like corn chips. But I'll stop for now and think about which animal oddity God enjoyed creating most - my Cornish Rex cats (R.I.P. Willaby) or Hudson the hound dog?


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Woven intricately out of the ether, Mary Robinette Kowal creates and exhilarating new world of enchantment that will please Jane Austen fans and illusionist fiction fans alike.
In the Regency era, Dorchester countryside, Jane and Melody Ellsworth are as opposite as any two sisters can be.
While Melody is beautiful and charming, Jane is plain and lacks the feminine charms to secure a husband.
Almost a confirmed spinster, Jane possesses other talents that might make her appealing to the right man…..she is a glamourist.
Well accomplished in the art of glamour, Jane captures the imagination of all that she meets….wow people with her skills, but it is Melody the eligible bachelors are fixated on.
Melody is jealous of her older sister, not because of her beauty, but because Jane's glamours are elegant and entrancing….Melody is limited in her knowledge of glamour. Nothing to rival her sisters talents.
Determined to prove her superior assets as a bride, Melody sets out to secure a husband. Content to easily fall into the role of chaperon, Jane lands in the middle of her own courtship.
What follows is a charming romance that Jane Austen herself would be proud of….with the added delicate hints of magic, you have a delightful, intoxicating read.
It was nice to read a fantasy novel where the heroine or hero doesn't save the world! I welcomed the simple plot and familiar landscape of the Regency era. One of the things that I liked best about this novel was the familiar mixture of Austen heroines. Reading Jane was like reading Elinor Dashwood, Elizabeth Bennet, and Anne Elliot all at the same time!
Jane was the 'mother hen' of sorts like Elinor and strong and independent like Elizabeth, and the brooding romantic like Anne. I could identify with many aspects of Jane's character which was exciting as a reader.
While this book has distinct Austen-ish themes, plot, and characters it is NOT an Austen spinoff. I initially thought the glamour element sounded a little out of place for a novel such as this but it wasn't.
I liked that the magic and fantasy elements don't over power the book. Often in fantasy lit the fantastic elements take over the plot, in this it is still about the characters with the magic acting as more of an enhancing element.
In other illusionist fiction that I have read such as The Night Circus, magic and glamour take center stage in the plot. This plot was truly more about sibling rivalry, friendship, and finding true love….it just so happens that the characters make art out of glamours.
The only thing that kept me from giving this book a higher rating was the plot predictability and Jane's happily ever after (HEA). The plot was almost a little too much like an Austen novel. I would have liked to see a little divergence in the plot line besides the magic elements.
While I enjoyed the similarities and the simplistic nature of the conflicts/problems in the story, it was hard to not continue drawing comparisons from Austen's original works. Again this book isn't an Austen reworking, but the influence is glaringly apparent.
I also felt there was a lot of energy put into one aspect of Jane's love story only to have the resolution directed elsewhere, I guess I just saw something else in store for Jane's HEA.
This book is written with a delicate hand, the prose is not as sweeping and elegant as other illusionist/magic books that I have read (The Night Circus or the like), but this book has an enchanting charisma all its own.
If you are looking for a new unique take on old classic romance plots….then look no further. Let Kowal's glamour work it's magic on you and weave an illusion from the ether that surrounds us all…the pursuit of love.
Challenge/Book Summary:
Book: Shades of Milk and Honey (Shades of Milk and Honey #1) by Mary Robinette Kowal
- Paperback, 304 pages
- Published June 7th 2011 by Tom Doherty Associates (first published July 26th 2010)
This book counts toward: NA
- Hosted by: NA
- Books for Challenge Completed: NA
Recommendation: 4 out of 5 (a delectable treat for Austen enthusiasts)
Genre: Fantasy, Historic Fiction, Romance
Memorable lines/quotes:
One must not put trust in novelists…they create worlds to fit their own needs and drive their characters mad in doing it (121)
Without passion there is no art, only technique (192)


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Back Cover
No Answers
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N185rw blue nr inprint on replacement screen when switching on.
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How do you remove the LCD display from the metal bezel cover
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I spilled water on my laptop, now it does not charge at all?
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Is it possible to upgrade processor?
These are some common tools used to work on this device. You might not need every tool for every procedure.
For more information regarding common troubleshooting issues, check out the Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14 Troubleshooting
Background and Identification
The Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14 20FY0002US is an Ultrabook-class convertible laptop released in 2015. It was developed by Lenovo as one of many iterations of the Thinkpad line. The Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14 has a 14-inch screen with 1080p resolution (1920x1080 pixels). Furthermore, it is very portable with dimensions of 13.3" x 9.4" x 0.8" and a weight of 4.2 pounds. Similar to other Yoga models, the Thinkpad Yoga 14 can bend 360 degrees and can be propped up as a stand in "tent mode."
The Yoga 14 shares a functionality with its previous models with the trackpoint pointer, an isometric joystick used as a pointing device. It also has a touch pad, touch screen, and an active digitizer pen.
Despite the laptop's specifications, many users disliked its mediocre battery life and found it too thick to be comfortably used in tablet mode. The Yoga 14 is no longer available for purchase on Lenovo's official website, though it can still be purchased from third party sellers.
Specifications include:
- Intel i5-6200U (2.30GHz) 2GB NVIDIA Ge Force GT 940M
- 8.0GB RAM, 256GB SATA Solid State Drive
- 14-inch Touchscreen (1920x1080) 720p Integrated Webcam
- Trackpoint, Media Card Reader, Bluetooth 4.0
- 3-Cell Battery, Windows 10 Home 64


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Tournament Results - MD and CO
In Brooklyn Park, Maryland, 21 players competed in the November Blast tournament. Meanwhile, in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, 19 children played in the November Rumble.Â
Taking first place in the K-3 section of the Blast with a 4-0 score was Jordan Best, rated 364. In the K-8, Adip Bhargav, rated 1280, also went undefeated at 4-0. The winning team was the Cross Country K-8 school of Baltimore. Free analysis for all the children's games was provided by National Master Arkadiy Frenkel.
Out west in Colorado, Daniel LaBauve (unrated) of Eldorado Elementary won his very first tournament by going 4-0, receiving a provisional rating of 1144! Daniel's performance wasn't quite enough to push his team over the top, despite their top four players scoring 9.0 team points. Mountain View Elementary, a K-3 school, finished just a half-point ahead with 9.5. Summit View Elementary, the host school, was a close third place with 8.0. Two-time U.S. Open champion Michael Mulyar was on hand to analyze the children's games.


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Warm-hearted Eco Salon in Meilahti
Facials, Qi&Body Shiatsu, Ditlaser, Aromatherapy, Body Sugaring, Pedicure
Professional at your service
Individual solutions to relieve disorders and to promote your health
Treatments, natural skin care, guidance and events
The strength of my treatments stems from a therapeutic touch and pure natural cosmetics. It is complemented by peaceful and sensual surroundings which allow you to let it go.
Make your choice from my versatile treatment selection.
My most popular treatments are
- Facial Complete - deep skin cleansing including vaporization, face and decollete mask and massage 90 min 109 €
- Qi & Body Shiatsu 75 min 83 €
- Oriental Head Massage with Facial Press Massage 45 min 62 €
- Brazilian Body Sugaring 30-45 min 65-78 €
- Complete Pedicure – bath, exfoliation, leg mask, nail care, callus removal, foot and leg massage 70 min 78 €
Which one appeals to you? If you would like to know more about my treatments, please contact me by phone, email or visit Amanka. I am happy to help you.
The treatments are done by Maarit Repo, Eco Beauty Therapist and Qi & Body Shiatsu Therapist, Owner at Hoitohuone Amanka.
You are warmly welcome to Amanka.
Practical information
You can book your treatment with
Maarit 040 7050 979
Serial cards
Package of five treatments, 5th treatment -50%. Serial treatments are highly recommended in therapies such as Qi & Body Shiatsu, Aromatherapy and Facial Lymph Massage. The serial card is purchased during the first visit. It is valid for 3 months.
Gift cards
You can buy a gift card for a certain treatment or for a value. A gift card is valid for twelve months.
Purchase via
Phone 040 7050 979 or
Email email@example.com
Mail or email
Pick up from the salon
You can also buy a gift card from the salon. Please contact me in advance for opening hours.
Opening hours
Open by appointment Monday – Friday 9 am – 6 pm, also other bookings are possible by agreement.
Cash, Debit Cards, Visa Electron, Visa, Maestro and Mastercard
Hoitohuone Amanka
Pihlajatie 12-14
00270 Helsinki
040 7050 979
Amanka is located in Meilahti within easy reach of public transportation from various directions. Please see map here. The Salon is easily accessible from the street, there are no steps.


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Osaka students get backing from Warner Music and 20th Century Fox for latest video.
Last year a dance club from Tomioka High School in Osaka Prefecture gained worldwide fame for their '80s themed Bubbly Dance. Although it only won second place in the competition it was designed for, little did the girls know that it was about to open some really big doors for them.
▼ In case you missed it.
On 16 January, Warner Music Japan posted the Tomioka High School Dance Club's follow-up video featuring all of the girls – 72 to be exact – dancing to the theme song for the Hugh Jackman musical The Greatest Showman, which doesn't come out here in Japan until 16 February.
Enjoy it in all its Hollywood-polished glory!
Since the performers are all high school students, the entire video from concept to creation had to be done around their already hectic Japanese curriculum. For one month during winter vacation, the girls learned all of their extremely synchronized moves through rigorous training.
Then a 12-hour shoot that began at 6:30 a.m. in a neighboring prefecture's high school was held involving drone cameras, tracking shots, and all the other trappings of a major production.
The result is great but the only setback is that all of the quick edits kind of diminish the pure talent of the dancers that could be seen in the audience-filmed videos of their Bubbly Dance. But hey, this is just me speaking…
You see, because that's the name of the…song, ahem.
Anyway, much like Hugh Jackman's P.T. Barnum, these girls are skyrocketing from mere students to major entertainers overnight, so it's a fitting combination. Perhaps in the same way our own resident pole-dancer Mr. Sato can do some writhing around to promote Alien: Covenant on Blu-Ray.
▼ Japanese record labels sometimes have an odd habit of blacking out their videos outside of Japan, so just in case, here it is from an alternate source.
Source, top image: YouTube/Warner Music Japan


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Demolition of the former DeMille Middle School site is progressing as workers make way for a new high school that will accommodate about 1,000 students.
The small high school will focus on college and career readiness and will help to alleviate enrollment pressure at other LBUSD high schools, many of which are among the largest high schools in California.
The project is funded by Measure K school bonds, approved in 2008 by 71 percent of local voters. Measure K funds by law can be used only for school renovation and construction.


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Multimodal Literacies examines the changing face of literacy in our networked worlds, exploring contemporary literacy shapes, sites and practices. The course invites diverse theoretical and pedagogical perspectives on multimodal literacies, and contemplates 'new basics' in 21st century literacy education.
Multimodality, (New) Media Ecologies, and Materials
Over the past quarter century, we have witnessed revolutionary sociotechnical transformations in media environments and everyday communicative practices. This course examines the opportunities of 'multimodality' and new media tools, asking what and how we know is reshaped, re-mediated and altered by emerging affordances of cultural production.
These sociotechnical shifts/innovations have, in diverse ways, outpaced formal schooling systems: the challenge to education to theorize these new environments has become a regular part of curriculum development and teacher education. Though cultural and linguistic pluralism are respected (and new media in principle welcomed) in the Ontario curriculum, the complex structures of educational institutions continue to channel student populations into a framework of expectations predicated on modernist, 20th Century ideals (a framework grounded in print-literacy and propositional knowledge), as well as standardized forms of assessments demanding compliance to these traditional literacy modes.
At the same time, contemporary school children are born into a society where digital devices and multimodal media are increasingly central to the question of what it means to be 'literate' today. Indeed, more and more of our time is spent working, learning, and playing with media (online and off), and it's increasingly important that we understand the epistemologies and practices that are re-shaped and re-understood through the use of emerging (multimodal) tools and media forms.
The stakes of our discussions go beyond innovation and educational practice to address critical questions about participation, equality, and democracy — and the creative capacity of anyone — in an increasingly networked society.
Course Aims
- Explore theories and practices of multimodality: from multiliteracies and social semiotics perspectives to post-humanist and new materialist orientations to learning through inquiry/making.
- Investigate contemporary issues surrounding technology and changing forms of textuality.
- Critically examine the affordances and opportunities of new media, multimodal tools, and mobile networks for literacy practices, considering issues such as access, authority & authorship, distributed cognition, serious play, gaming, identity, and participation in emerging critical/creative cultural practices .
- Consider pedagogical possibilities for contemporary multimodal literacies.
Instructional Philosophy: This is a collaborative course. You are also encouraged to shape and share your contribution to our course in the direction of your particular teaching, learning and research interests. We will explore multimodality and multimodal literacies through critical engagements with texts/cultural artefacts AND through 'hands-on' creative production and design (i.e., learning through production pedagogies). Your regular and responsible participation in real and virtual class discussions/critiques is essential to this course.
Required Texts: All materials are available through this website, or in open source publishing online, including journal articles, e-books, social media sites, and streaming video.


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Our LED Atmosphere Lights instantly set the mood of your car! Simply plug into your cigarette lighter/12v socket and pick your color! Adjust the lights to the sound of your music, or just use them independently. These lights will make any car the life of the party!
- 4 LED Light Strips
- 9 LEDs in Each Strip
- Adjustable Brightness
- Easy To Control Remote
We understand that buying things online can be scary because of companies not standing by their products. We use extensive quality control & only sell top-notch products. If you're unhappy with your purchase for any reason, please contact our support team & we'll make it right. Guaranteed.


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Adath Emanu-El offers classes and programs for our youngest learners
to our most senior members
The ECC (Early Childhood Center) welcomes little learners for the
school year and summer camp sessions.
We have a vibrant religious school with classes from
Kindergarten through Confirmation.
Wednesday evening at Adath is the place to be for all
8th through 10th graders 8th and 9th grades
can choose from an array of electives.
The Confirmation class meets weekly with Rabbi David.
There are also social action and community service options.
Adult Education Programs (Life Long Learning)
Offers courses and trips. Classes held in the evenings, daytime and on weekends.


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Welcome and let's make your project sound satisfy!
Hello there!
The Satisfacsound creates fresh and original music in a variety of genres for media, with a focus on uplifting, inspiring and corporate music. You'll just purchase our music only on AudioJungle, because we are exclusive author. Besides that, we also providing services composing custom music for your projects. Just email me for a quote!
For VideoHive Authors:
You are welcome to download and use previews of my music for use in your VideoHive projects, just link me in and I'll do the same for you.
To Buyers:
Thank you for believing Satisfacsound , we are proud to be part of your success! Feel free to send a link to your project and enjoy the free promotion on this page!
Don't forget to rate our track


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For the most up-to-date information on clubs and activities, be sure to join the Flathead Homeschool Facebook group and request access to the online group for the homeschool community.
Blacktail Mountain Homeschool Ski Packages
Blacktail Mountain often offers homeschool ski dates and packages. Check their website for current year offerings.
Flathead Homeschool Cross Country team
Six weeks usually beginning in April
Contact Stacy Gwinn for more infomration at firstname.lastname@example.com
Hockaday Art Classes
Hockaday Museum of Art offers art classes for our homeschool community. You can find out more information on their website.
Ice Skating
Homeschooler's Ice State is on Fridays from 10 a.m. – noon at the Stumptown Ice Den in Whitefish. Current Prices are $3.00 if you have your own skates or $5.00 if you need to rent them. Under age 5 is free! Look for information in the local Facebook/online group. Check the calendar at www.stumptowniceden.org for the schedule. Ice Skating is fun!
Homeschool Bowling Days
First Friday of the month
Pick's Bowling Center in Bigfork
1:30 – 3:30pm
Check the Facebook Group for more information
Swimming Lessions
The Summit in Kalispell offers homeschool swimming lessons at different times than other lessons, for all ages.
Check their website or call them at (406) 751-4141


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Something Tells Me It's All Happening At The San Diego Zoo
An expansive, family friendly venue where conservation and education take center stage
September 1, 2017
Watch a mother langur nurse her tiny baby while battling the half-fatal advances of her teenagers. See a dog lounging with her best friend who happens to be a cheetah. Soar above the treetops in a basket that conveys you across the entire campus and sets you down safely by a store where you can buy useful fanny-packs.
All of these things and more can be accomplished at the San Diego Zoo (http://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/). This attraction is one of a whole slew of museums, gardens, performances and exhibitions for people of all interests to enjoy in Balboa Park (https://www.balboapark.org/).
The Zoo is an expansive, family friendly venue where conservation and education take center stage (along with the occasional penguin). There are tons of animals to see, though they might not be organized in any apparent format. If you see everything (and I doubt you will, in one visit) you can also enjoy a number of diverse restaurants, take a ride in a double-decker zoo bus, shop at an even greater number of diverse stores for the treasures of zoo souvenirs, and yes, fly in an aerial "Skyfari"® car from the far end of the zoo back towards the entrance/exit.
The San Diego Zoo also hosts "experiences" that can be arranged in advance such as catered parties, behind-the-scenes tours, workshop photography classes, "encounters" with the animals and with the people who maintain their health and habitats... and many more. In addition to the zoo campus, the zoo runs a separate Safari Park (http://sdzsafaripark.org/) where guests can hitch a zipline or ride in a safari van across an 1800 acre haven for endangered animals of over 300 species which stroll in security and (as far as is possible) freedom.
Finally, you can feel good knowing that your admission fee is going to support an organization dedicated to the health of the animals and of their worldwide populations. The San Diego Zoo breeds such rare creatures as giant pandas (all of which are leased from China) and nearly-extinct rhinoceros , as well as maintaining a vibrant Wildlife Conservancy Program (http://www.endextinction.org/) that allows ordinary people anywhere in the world to help conserve the earth's populations of animals that are threatened with extinction.
People can adopt an animal, donate a few cents a month or an old vehicle, or spread the word across the Internet by sending a themed e-card or pledging various concrete deeds on Facebook (conserving resources, purchasing products made without harming animals, working towards clean energy implementation, picking up litter, etc.)
The San Diego zoo works genuinely in the realms of intangible education and physical preservation to keep the world's biodiversity healthy, and you can support their noble mission while having a fun family excursion by visiting their Zoo and their Safari Park!


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For Bumbershoot 2016, things were set up a little differently from previous years. Instead of taking place on Labor Day, the festival took place in the 3 days leading up to the holiday. At least part of the reason for this is to help festival attendees who had to work the next day (the day after the holiday). It's also difficult to ignore the fact that the festival likely saved thousands of dollars by not having to pay their employees time and a half to have them work on a holiday that is set aside for employees' rights.
Though it had been raining all week, the weather had mostly cleared up by the time the first band hit the stage Friday afternoon. The first group was Seattle-based hip hop outfit, Cosmos. The group won the EMP's most recent Sound Off! battle of the bands competition. They have a unique approach to hip hop – infusing electronic beats with orchestral instruments like a saxophone. The crowd was a bit on the small side as it was the first day of the festival, but that did not stop the band from rocking their set. The frontman wore what is now his signature outfit – a NASA jumpsuit. He worked the stage and encouraged fans to dance and sing along as the instruments emanated through the speakers.
There were so many great local acts peppered throughout the entire weekend, but some of the best performed on Saturday, including the SMI favorite Fly Moon Royalty. They are a lovely band with one of the most charismatic frontwomen in the local scene. Adra Boo's powerful voice could have easily filled a much larger space than the KEXP stage had to offer. Some other awesome local acts to hit the stage on Friday were Naked Giants, DoNormaal and Chastity Belt. Any of these bands would have been equally suited for Memorial Stadium in lieu of Tyler, The Creator, who hurled insults and a slew of foul language at the audience his entire set.
If there was an award for "most majestic," that would to go St. Lucia frontman Jean-Phillip Grobler. Not much can top the wind blowing in his hair while the backlit stage made him appear as though he was glowing. He took a brief break from being majestic and climbed into the crowd to sing as he wandered, grinning from ear to ear, through the throngs of people. He is an excellent entertainer, and kept the audience engaged throughout the set as he danced around on stage.
Another solid entertainer was Josh Tillman – also known as Father John Misty. The audience was anxious for his appearance, and screamed when he finally walked over to his microphone. Before he was known as Father John Misty, he was the drummer for Fleet Foxes for four years, and it appears that he is making up for all those years behind the kit by being a larger than life entertainer. He almost seemed to be a little too cool to be at Bumbershoot. He confidently strutted around on stage, donned in all black attire and impenetrable black sunglasses. The best word to describe his presence on stage is seductive. He seduces the audience with his calculated movements, which are timed perfectly to emphasize the lyrics. His rich voice boomed through Memorial Stadium, wooing the crowd, which swayed along to the music.
One of the most underrated performances of the evening was by Zella Day. She was the second to last female artist to perform that evening, and her set was fabulous. Her electronic infused pop was the energy boost needed to power through the rest of the evening's festivities. Strong electronic pop performers always make for a solid music festival addition, especially for attendees who love to dance. She performed a few of her popular hits, including "The Outlaw Josey Wales" and "East Of Eden." She even performed a couple of new songs, titled "Tigre" and "Man On The Moon." The audience danced and sang along to Zella Day's set, which seemed to end much too soon.
Overall, the first day of Bumbershooet was pretty successful from a lineup standpoint. The festival grounds were pretty sparse though, even in the evening when the headlining bands hit their respective stages. This was likely due in part to the fact that the festival kicked off on a Friday before a holiday weekend, and it's possible that fans had to work before hitting the festival. As long as they continue to offer a solid lineup, including a strong showing by local artists, then they should be able to pull in more fans even during the weekday.


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Use historic interior decorating styles to study, play around with, and produce individual, wealthy, fashionable interiors.. or study on for a bit of European interior decorating style history and philosophy! My sister is improved at decorating than I am, but possibly I can impress her with some of your excellent concepts right here. There are some shirts, which have longer hemlines that provides space to your belly and sufficient space to support your upper body element. At famed shoe designer Christian Louboutin's desert property in Aswân, Egypt, a bed is draped with an embroidered suzani from Uzbekistan. I hope you have enjoyed these Teenage Girl Area Decor Concepts and if you try any of them, please share them with us!! Bookshelves, i have 3 in my oddly shaped living space (helps to make the space make sense) but they are full of books. Following this tradition, dwelling decorating designs have now turned into residence decorating fashions, and style houses launch 'home' collections at least when a year.
The black-and-white pattern sofa in this contemporary living area is complemented by pops of bold pink accents. There are so many remarkable videos and tutorials accessible on the net, you will never be short on concepts. If you commit practically as considerably time in your room as I do in mine, they will all be effectively worth it! I like interior decorating and attempting new things so I can use some of this suggestions. I was consumed with suggestions and discovered myself practicing my piping expertise every day.
A trend can remain in fashion for years and even just after that, it only wants a handful of changes, such as a different lamp or a new set of throw pillows to update the trend to a present style. In designer Christopher Coffin's living space, antique Louis Vuitton suitcases are stacked neatly beneath a table acquired from the estate of notable skin specialist Georgette Klinger. You will be surprised at how several ideas for buffet food tables you can come up with by simply searching about your home! Brighten up your decor with the vivid color and whimsical contemporary design of these microfiber tulip chairs. This style-inspired bedroom features a metallic textured wall adorned with magazine artwork, providing the area an urban, glam feel.
This is set to continue by way of the subsequent year, and you will do well to add one of these cool lighting fixtures to the living space. I was seeking though my fashion archives and realized this was the great time to pay respects to the lady who I have generally looked up to! On Decoist we function all sorts of suggestions to make your bathrooms, bedrooms, kitchens or offices look prettier. Designer Phillip Silver selected watermelon pink and burnt orange hues that were prevalent in Yves Saint Laurent's 1966 Rive Gauche line for the furnishings in the San Francisco Decorator Showcase 2015 living space. Living space furnishings placed around the perimeter of a space does not encourage conversation and can build a cold feeling or ambience. Excellent area décor tips, specially for these like me who have no decorating genius at all. Off the living area, a spacious formal dining room is the fantastic spot for hosting extravagant dinner parties.
By sending a remittance and descriptions buying, they ordered and received by mail corsets, umbrellas, hats, shoes and quite a few other essential fashion items. After reading your ten interior decorating mistakes, I started to have a diverse perspective looking towards my kitchen, my area and the entire expanse of my household. The colors in this area evoke sweet summertime for me. They are delightfully fresh and clean. If you have a ledge like this in your house or are a decorator with some additional suggestions, please comment under to share with us your resolution for this decor dilemma. This fashion-inspired bedroom characteristics a metallic textured wall adorned with magazine art, giving the space an urban glam feel.


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74.6 million unique websites depend upon WordPress to stay up and running every day, with six new posts being uploaded to the site every second. If you are one of the millions that uses WordPress to manage your website, then you know how much time and effort go into maintaining a successful website.
While we hope that hacks and system failures will not become an issue, the reality is that malicious actors are out there, and user errors occur with even the most tech-savvy employees. Are you prepared for when something goes wrong? Having a backup solution for your WordPress site is similar to buying health insurance: you hope you won't need to use it, but when you do, you're glad you have it.
Know Your Backup Options
Any web designer or IT staff person worth their salt knows the importance of having a backup system in place for a website, but how do you know which of the many available options is best for you? There are numerous ways to perform a full backup for a website, but generally these processes be divided into three main categories:
- Relying on the web host for backup. Web hosting companies will often offer backup services as part of a package, and it can be tempting to pay a fee and consider the matter handled. Before you put your mind at ease, ensure you understand the fine print: will the service backup your actual site, or the server on which it is run? How often is the site backed up, and how long does the host maintain archives? If files are kept for only a few days, then a breach that takes a few days to detect and address can leave critical data vulnerable. If the webhosting service isn't WordPress specific, then you may find yourself dealing with the arduous chore of reformatting all of the backed-up information.
- Run manual backups yourself. It is possible to sit down, copy all the content of your website, and save it to another location in case something goes wrong. You will need to be prepared to spend a lot of time, and perform this task regularly to be effective. Automated services remove the costs of the time spent, as well as protecting you from human error.
- Entrust your web maintenance to the people who do it best. There are numerous automated backup services available out there, offering a wide range of packages from weekly backups to ongoing backups and comprehensive website maintenance plans. These services free you up to spend your time doing what you love, without worrying about whether your site is safe.
Comprehensive WordPress Backup and Maintenance
Cinch is proud to offer a WordPress Backup service that automatically performs a daily backup of your website, while maintaining a secure, 30-day archive. In addition to the content, Cinch will also back up any WordPress themes or plug-ins, as well as any multimedia uploads, to make getting your site up and running again is easy and stress-free. For websites processing transactions or that involve frequent updating throughout the day, real-time backups are available as an add-on service.


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Bethesda, MD | January 3, 2013 – Offit Kurman welcomes new principal Glenn Jones to its Litigation Practice Group. Mr. Jones has extensive experience with complex federal and state investigations and litigation in matters related to healthcare fraud and abuse, the False Claims Act, white collar crime, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and regulatory and compliance issues. He also has experience in matters involving allegations of healthcare fraud, violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute, commodities, securities and accounting fraud, mail and wire fraud, and money laundering. "I decided to join Offit Kurman because they have presented me the opportunity to develop a government investigations and white collar criminal defense practice that is lean and efficient," Jones stated. "With the firm's support, I plan to help our clients negotiate the increased government regulatory landscape in health care, life sciences, financial services and other industries." "We could not be more pleased that Glenn has joined Offit Kurman. Not only is he a top flight litigator but he brings an expertise and much needed depth in representing the Firm's clients who need advise in dealing with government investigations," said Tim Lynch, Offit Kurman's Managing Principle of Legal Affairs. Jones is based out of the firm's Bethesda office. Offit Kurman, celebrating its 25th anniversary, is one of the fastest-growing, full-service law firms in the mid-Atlantic region. With offices serving Washington DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Virginia, Frederick MD and Wilmington, we are well positioned to meet the legal needs of dynamic businesses and the people who own and operate them. At Offit Kurman, we are our clients' most trusted legal advisors, the professionals who help them to maximize and protect their business value and individual wealth. In every interaction, we consistently maintain our clients' trust and confidence by remaining focused on their objectives to help them achieve their goals.
Ann Cabiness Business Development Manager Offit Kurman 4800 Montgomery Lane, 9th Floor Bethesda, MD 20814 240.507.1719 firstname.lastname@example.com ###


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Tomorrow (November 18) at 10 AM, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation will vote on the Local Community Radio Act of 2009 (S 592) -- a bill that would allow for the creation of hundreds more Low Power FM (LPFM) stations in towns and cities across the country. We're glad that the Senate has taken up the legislation, as it has already made it through two key House committees and looks to pass out of the full House very soon.
Low Power FM stations are 100-watt "micro-broadcasters" that have a range of about 5-7 miles. In today's super-consolidated commercial radio market, these small stations can go a long way towards giving people in local communities a voice on the public airwaves. From civic debate to public safety, LPFMs provide an important platform for a range of community-oriented programming. And they're great for local and independent musicians who probably have little chance -- no matter how talented they might be -- of getting played on their neighborhood commercial station.
As this legislation has made its way through Congress, it's been amazing to see musicians like Indigo Girls, Nicole Atkins, Vijay Iyer, Erin McKeown, Saul Williams and more talk about the need for quality local radio. You can check out a slew of video testimonials from these artists and more at our I Support Community Radio page.
We're feeling good about the chances of expanding community radio through passage of the Local Community Radio Act, and we're glad that the FCC has stood by its original plan to license LPFMs in more American towns and cities (once the bill is passed). We'll be watching developments closely, so stay tuned.


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Col·lectiu o grup:
Women in Tech Madagascar
Nom entrevistada/es:
Qué fa?:
Founded in 2016, Women in Tech Madagascar (WITM) is led by 8 young women from the ICT sector. Women are opening up a little more to new technologies, but few of them really dare to launch. We will encourage them, through many activities in the future, to pursue the path they have chosen and to assert themselves in the ICT sector.
Their ambition is to help, support and encourage passionate women, while also training and promoting the employment of women in this sector. The group aims to integrate particularly more women in the field of new technologies.


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Two years after signing a long-term lease with the City of North Miami to build a shopping mall, residences, offices and a hotel, the developer of Biscayne Landing wants to buy a portion of the long-troubled project site, The Real Deal has learned.
A June 13 letter sent to city officials by Oleta River Partners principal Michael Tillman, a director of the LeFrak Organization, outlines a proposal that would see Oleta exercise an option to purchase 50 of the 190 undeveloped acres to build a condo tower. The price would be determined by the average of two appraisals obtained by North Miami.
The city approved Biscayne Landing's first incarnation in 2002. Back then, Boca Developers and the Swerdlow Group planned 4,500 high-end condominiums, a hotel, town center, schools and parks on the former Superfund site. Boca bought out Swerdlow in 2006 and revamped the plans to feature a more traditional neighborhood instead of high-rise condos.
Debt-saddled Boca was unable to finish the project after the market crashed and was out of business by 2010. The city attempted to rebid the project several times, even entertaining a developer that proposed an indoor snow skiing resort.
Swerdlow teamed up with the LeFrak Organization in 2012 and formed Oleta. They signed a 200-year lease and agreed to give the city an upfront sum of $17 million, plus $1.5 million in rent, back rent and a small percentage of gross revenue from residential sales, the hotel and other commercial uses.
City Council members are expected to discuss Tillman's request Tuesday. In exchange for allowing Oleta to exercise the purchase option, the developer is offering to cover the cost to remove 194,000 cubic yards of contaminated fill from the property and create a stormwater plan for new construction. Oleta must also get approval from the master condo association of One Fifty One at Biscayne, the only finished residential tower at the site.
In his letter, Tillman suggested buying the 50 acres would allow Oleta to expedite permit approvals for the residential tower. Tillman's letter does not address when the developer plans to build the mall or the hotel. Tillman and Oleta's other partner, Michael Swerdlow, were traveling last week and unavailable for comment.
"Oleta Partners looks forward to exploring ways to move the Biscayne Landing project forward with the City Council of North Miami through a renewed spirit of cooperation by the parties and the shared goal of continued progress and job creation for the City of North Miami," an Oleta spokesperson said in a written statement.
North Miami City Council members Carol Keys and Scott Galvin told TRD they are intrigued by the proposal.
"There is a discussion of letting them exercise a purchase option," Keys said. "I would entertain that if the conditions are met."
The value of the 50 acres should significantly increase if Oleta owns it outright instead of being subject to a 200-year lease with the city, according to Keys.
Galvin said he would like to hear the developer's pitch at a public hearing "so everybody can wrap their heads around it." But his support is also contingent on the city designating the money from the proposed sale to other city projects, like the expansion of the Museum of Contemporary Art. North Miami officials recently unveiled an $18 million plan to double the size of the museum's 23,300-square-foot space to feature more works of art in its collection.
"We don't have the best history of spending our money in the best way," Galvin said. "If we identify legitimate places where the money can be used, I can see us doing this."


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- Earrings
- >
- Stud Earrings
- >
- Glass & Resin Studs
- >
- Iridescent Foil Opal x Teak Wood Stud Earrings
Iridescent Foil Opal x Teak Wood Stud Earrings
per item
These unique, iridescent earrings feature blue-green foil opal cabochons set into teak wood settings on top of antique bronze stud posts.
These faceted cabochons change color as you look at them from different angles - so pretty!
▻ Size: 1/2" (14mm) in diameter
▻ Lead and nickel-free
▻ Handmade in Santa Cruz, CA
To preserve the finish, please do not wear your earrings while showering or swimming.
Please visit BlueButtonBoho's Shop Policies prior to checkout.
4 available


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Gifts for Your Boss, Who You Know Nothing About
Whether you've recently started a new job, you've been given a new boss, or you've had the same boss for years and haven't gotten to know her at all, I think we can all agree that buying gifts for your boss is difficult and stressful. Why? Because this is the one time in your life where buying a fancy candle can completely derail your career. Everyone gives the best gifts to people that they know well—and when you just know basic demographic information on someone (she's in her 40s, she wears shoes, she lives in New York, etc.), it's hard to figure out what they'd actually like or use.
Get her a gift that's expensive and over-the-top and she'll think you're being a suck-up. Get her the wrong gift (like a bottle of wine when she's a recovering alcoholic) and it's embarrassing at best, career-killing at worst. Trying to go jokey almost never works.
All of this gift-related stress makes you wonder whether or not you should even risk getting her a gift at all. Why should you buy your boss something when you're the one that's working for her? I'll tell you why: the more powerful you get, the more people are afraid of you. Nobody gives gifts to people who are in top positions because they're too scared to do it. It's lonely at the top, etc, etc. Imagine how Hillary Clinton feels. She probably hasn't gotten a Christmas gift in 30 years. The point? Get your boss a thoughtful gift and you'll stand out among all of the other idiots you work with. Trust us.
1. Botanist Candle ($44, Leif): I've said it before, I'll say it again. Candles are a great present to give to someone you know nothing about. They're a non-offending gift. No one's gonna hold a candle up after you leave and be like, "Why the hell would she buy me that?" There are so many high-end candles out there with nice packaging (like this one, from Leif), that look like a nice gift without costing you a million dollars. Also, like wine, candles are a highly re-giftable gift. Your boss might not love the smell of whatever candle you give her, but she'll be more than happy to give it to the host of the next dinner party she attends, and that's good enough for you.
Related Stories
2.Everyday Achievements Certificates ($8, Emily McDowell Studio): Good bosses don't just say thank you and give you recognition after big achievements, they tell you you're doing a good job (well, if you actually ARE doing a good job) consistently. Saying "great job" is free, and it goes a long way to making employees feel appreciated without her having to do any heavy lifting on her end. If your boss knows that, then give her these Everyday Achievements Certificates, to help her add more weight to her praise. Conversely, if she's not good at heaping praise and well wishes, gifting her this might give her the hint that she oughta start.
3. Personality Desk Sign ($28, Uncommon Goods): Sheryl Sandberg may want to ban bossy, but your boss wants to own it, kind of like Tina Fey did in her book, Bossypants. She's the boss, she's gonna boss you around, end of story. If you're okay with that (what choice do you have?), get her this desk sign that says so.
4. Today's Plan of Attack Sticky Notes ($6, Knock Knock): One of the easiest, safest gifts to get your boss is decorations and accoutrements for her desk or office. But don't crap out and just go to Staples and buy her a bunch of Post-It notes. She can get that stuff for free in the supply closet. Instead, head over to Knock Knock and get her some office supplies with some personality, like these Today's Plan of Attack Sticky Notes. They're cute, they'll make her feel motivated, and you only had to spend $6 on 'em. Win/win.
5. JOCO Cup ($23): When doing the office life thing, it's important to stay hydrated. Some people drink out of whatever community mugs or glasses available in the office kitchen, some people drink out of those gross waxed paper cups provided by the company, and normal people drink out of their own personal mug or water bottle because, well, those other things I just mentioned are nasty. Help her become a normal office person by gifting her this JOCO Cup. Made out of glass, she'll feel classy drinking out of it (it comes with a removable silicone lid that comes in a variety of colors), whether it's water or coffee. Bonus: the mouth is wide enough to be used as a bowl, if making instant oatmeal every morning is her thing. She'll love it, and you'll look like a hero.
Want more holiday gift suggestions? Check out You're Welcome's 12 Days of Gift Guides.
Amanda Waas is the creator of You're Welcome, a gift guide site for all of life's awkward occasions. Her writing has appeared in Every Day With Rachael Ray, Glamour, Made Man, HiConsumption, AOL's Shelterpop and DIY Life, and various others. Follow her on Twitter, Pinterest, and Facebook and sign up for her succinct, not-annoying weekly e-newsletter for gift suggestions sent right to your inbox.


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Project X Zone is getting a demo in North America as well. The "Imperial Demo" will be available on June 4th via the Nintendo eShop.
Update: Namco Bandai tell us the Imperial demo in North America will be the same as the Lethal Surprise demo in Europe, which takes place in Sakura Wars' Imperial stage.


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Hi Friends!
Have you been seeing crochet pumpkins pop up everywhere and been scared to try one for yourself? I got you, boo! Live this morning on my YouTube channel, you can find my Basic Ribbed Pumpkin video crochet pattern!
Free Basic Ribbed Crochet Pumpkin Video Pattern and Tutorial
In this video, I will show you how to work this pattern from start to finish. If you can half double crochet, you can make this pumpkin, my friend! The trickiest part is the foundation half double crochet stitch, which I will walk you through, as well as share a couple tips I use to make mine!
Here's what you'll need:
- Bulky CYC 6 yarn (Wool Ease Thick & Quick used in the video)
- Hook: 6.5mm / U.S. Size K
- Tapestry Needle
- Scissors
- Stump (a short piece of wood, cinnamon stick, cork, etc)
- Fiber Fill (pillow stuffing)
- Hot Glue Gun or craft/fabric glue (optional)
- Decorative ribbon (optional) – 3/8″ used here
And, just in case you only need the written pattern, you can find that in the description of the video as well!
While you're there, be sure to subscribe so you don't miss a tutorial or pattern video!
And don't forget to tag me on Instagram or Facebook @HooksBooksWanderlust when you share a picture of your new punkies!
Until next time, happy yarning!
Want to stay up to date on all the latest tutorials, patterns, travels, and book reviews? How about exclusive offers and content delivered right to your inbox? Be sure to sign up for my email list and I'll send you monthly recaps about what has been happening on the blog, as well as information I think you might find interesting! I try not to be spammy and you can unsubscribe at any time. Oh, and did I mention the exclusive content? I want to send you my handy Blanket Sizes sheet as a thank you for signing up! Find more info here, or click the button below to sign up now!
© Kristen Caldwell| Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust
All rights reserved. This design, pattern, images and any videos are the property of Kristen Caldwell via La Belle Vie Mais Oui and HooksBooksAndWanderlust.com. This pattern is for personal use. Items made using this pattern can be sold with credit given to Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust. In accordance with U.S. copyright laws, you may not alter, sell, or distribute this pattern in whole or in part, in any way without express written permission from Kristen Caldwell.


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A Bulawayo High Court on Thursday released 12 villagers from the troubled Maleme Farm in Matabeleland South province, who were facing charges of kidnapping a worker of a state security agent, Rodney Mashingaidze.
The agent had taken over the farm together with its infrastructure that includes a vocational college, church and lodges.
Vice President Phelekele Mphoko overturned the farm's acquisition after pressure from villagers, civic organizations and political parties in what has been described by some in the region as an example of people power.
Said Mphoko then: "The outcome of the meeting is that if the people, the general community is benefiting from the project then they are a responsibility of the government and then it's decided that the people, the community, should continue with their projects as compared to Ndlovu or Khumalo taking over."
The 12 villagers were accused of kidnapping Mashingaidze's worker but they argued that they were effecting a citizen's arrest after the worker was seen allegedly stealing solar panels from the farm.
However, Thursday judge Nokuthula Moyo found the villagers not guilty after the complainant failed to identify the alleged kidnappers.
We reached their lawyer, Tanaka Muganyi who gave us details of what transpired in court.


text: Mortgages & Home Loans Should You Own Your Home Free and Clear? Being mortgage-free may be tempting, but is it right for your finances? By Aly J. Yale Aly J. Yale Twitter Aly J. Yale is the homebuying, home loans, and mortgages expert for The Balance. With over 10 years of experience as a freelance writer and journalist, Aly has also contributed to online media outlets including Forbes, The Motley Fool, CreditCards.com, and The Simple Dollar, with areas of focus covering real estate, mortgages, and related financial topics. She holds a bachelor's of science in communication from Texas Christian University. learn about our editorial policies Updated on December 5, 2021 Reviewed by Doretha Clemon Reviewed by Doretha Clemon Doretha Clemons, Ph.D., MBA, PMP, has been a corporate IT executive and professor for 34 years. She is an adjunct professor at Connecticut State Colleges & Universities, Maryville University, and Indiana Wesleyan University. She is a Real Estate Investor and principal at Bruised Reed Housing Real Estate Trust, and a State of Connecticut Home Improvement License holder. learn about our financial review board In This Article View All In This Article What to Consider Pros and Cons of Being Mortgage-Free Is Mortgage-Free Right for You? Photo: MoMo Productions/Getty Images As a homeowner, being "free and clear" from a mortgage might seem like the ideal situation. You don't have a mortgage payment, and the home is 100% yours. But is being mortgage-free always beneficial? Is it something you should be aiming to achieve in the long run? Not necessarily. Key Takeaways Paying off your mortgage will free up your finances, but it may drain your savings to pay off your mortgage more aggressively.Stopping interest accrual is a nice perk, but you won't get those interest-cost tax deductions anymore.Before deciding whether or not to pay off your mortgage, consider how close you are to retirement, your savings, your current income, and the broader interest rate environment. What To Consider Before Going Mortgage-Free To determine whether becoming mortgage-free should be your goal, first consider: The terms of your loan Your current mortgage rate vs. market rates Your household income and expenses Your retirement plans The Terms of Your Loan Some mortgage lenders penalize you for paying off your mortgage early. Does your loan have any prepayment penalties attached to it? It's important to understand all terms and conditions that come with your mortgage. If there is a prepayment penalty, you may owe a large chunk of money for paying off your loan ahead of schedule. Prepayment penalties are most common during the early years of your loan. In 2014, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) approved regulations that limit prepayment penalties to the first three years on most mortgages secured on or after January 10, 2014. This limit caps your prepayment penalty at 2% of the prepaid amount for the first two years, and 1% in the third year. By law, you won't pay a prepayment penalty after the third year if you obtained your mortgage on or after January 10, 2014. For example, if you had a 30-year fixed mortgage with a balance of $300,000 and had to pay a 2% prepayment penalty, it would cost you an extra $6,000 just to be mortgage-free. Mortgage Rates What's the interest rate on your current home loan? What are interest rates averaging in the current market? Check Freddie Mac for the most recent rates data so you know what your options are. If rates are lower than what's on your existing loan, you might be able to refinance, lower your rate and monthly payment, and pay off your loan sooner without eating into your savings or investable cash. For example, say you have a $250,000 fixed-rate mortgage you got seven years ago at 6.35%, and your monthly payments are $1,685. Refinancing the mortgage at 4.25% for 30 years would result in a $1,244 monthly payment, saving you $441 per month. You will also need to think about the rate on your loan versus the potential rate of return you could get by investing your money. You may be paying a low interest rate of, say, 3%, but if you could be earning a higher rate of return instead, it may be something to consider. Note Remember, investment returns are never guaranteed. Household Income and Expenses What's the state of your household income and expenses? Do you have an emergency fund established, and have you paid off high-interest debts such as your credit cards or car loans? Will you need to pay for your child's college education soon, or help take care of an elderly parent? Before paying off your mortgage, it's wise to make sure your living situation is stable. That may start with building up an emergency fund, which should be at least three to six months' worth of your living expenses. If you don't have this money saved and instead use it to pay off your mortgage, you could end up in a bind if a financial emergency happens, and you haven't yet replenished your fund. Additionally, if you have large balances on credit cards, consider using any extra money you have to pay those off first. Credit cards often come with high interest rates that can be over 20%, and that adds up fast if you don't pay them off. If your income has increased, and you're financially comfortable, maybe it is a good move to start working toward being mortgage-free. You could make a higher monthly payment toward the principal and shorten the length of the loan. That would allow you to pay off your mortgage sooner and save money on interest over time. Retirement Plans If you aren't retiring within the next few years, you should look at your retirement and investment accounts. What does your current retirement and investment strategy look like? If you haven't started saving for retirement or just don't have much stashed away yet, you might want to be more aggressive with your strategy. Paying off your mortgage loan could be a hindrance. "I like to show my clients the impact compounding interest has on their retirement account," said Elizabeth Windisch, a Denver-based certified financial planner (CFP) and founder of Aspen Wealth Management, Inc. "If you pay off your mortgage early and wait 15 years to put money in your retirement, yes, your mortgage is paid off, but you've lost 15 years on your retirement savings. That's time you lose that you can't get back." Note Experts generally recommend putting at least 15% of your annual, pre-tax income toward retirement. For example, if you were to start a 401(k) with $5,000 and add $300 per month for 30 years at a 7% yearly rate of return, you'd earn $293,547 in interest. However, if you were to choose to pay off your mortgage early and wait 15 years, the same contribution plan would earn $50,333 in interest. If you were to add to your contributions the extra $900 from your paid-off mortgage, your interest earnings would be $173,599 after 15 years. Pros and Cons of Being Mortgage-Free Pros One less monthly household expense No more interest payments on your home loan Ability to save that money Can fully claim profits on the home when you sell Cons No longer eligible for mortgage interest tax deduction Potentially reduces amount you can save while paying off the mortgage May take time to sell and see profits on your home Pros Explained It can be tempting to rid yourself of debt and the monthly payments that come with it. According to 2017 data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the median monthly mortgage payment is $900. Freeing up that kind of money each month is hard to turn down. Doing so introduces other benefits, too: You'll escape interest payments, and you can fully claim any profits on the home once you sell it. Being mortgage-free would also mean one fewer household expense, which could be helpful if you're nearing retirement or living on a fixed income. "If someone is close to retirement—say, five to seven years out—I find that people have a greater peace of mind knowing they have no mortgage when they retire," said Windisch. Cons Explained On the downside, you'd no longer be eligible for the mortgage interest tax deduction. Losing that tax benefit could put you in a higher tax bracket, resulting in bigger tax liabilities on your annual returns. Additionally, paying off your loan early could reduce your savings or the amount of money you have to put toward your retirement, children's college funds, or other goals. Note Depending on your loan's interest rate, Windisch said these investments and accounts might net you more than paying off your loan could save. Finally, another drawback is that while your house is a source of wealth, that wealth isn't liquid. It may take time to sell your home and see the profits, which could be difficult if you face some sort of financial emergency. Is Being Mortgage-Free Right for You? Being a free-and-clear homeowner isn't always the right move. Be sure to take into account your current loan, your income, and your long-term financial plans. If you're not sure what's right for you and your family, talking to a financial planner and/or an investment advisor may help. The advice you get may give you an overall understanding of how best to use the available money you have. If you choose not to be mortgage-free, your monthly mortgage payment will depend on various factors, including your home price, down payment, loan term, property taxes, homeowners insurance, and interest rate on the loan (which is highly dependent on your credit score). Try calculating your monthly mortgage, below. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. "Ability-to-Repay and Qualified Mortgage Rule." Page 13. Horizon Bank. "Should You Pay Off Your Mortgage or Invest?" Fidelity Investments. "How Much Money Should I Save for Retirement?" U.S. Census Bureau. "American Housing Survery (AHS)." Capital One. "Pay Off Your Mortgage Early or Save? How To Decide."


text: Beautiful detailed 22″ X 32″ paper poster titled "MUHAMMAD ALI – THE PEOPLES CHAMPION". Poster has an image of Ali and a butterfly and written within it "Float Like a Butterfly". This poster is from Woody Products, Bklyn, NY and made in 1974. Beautiful bold colors with a velvet feel to it. Very good condition.


text: $750 Ellijay, Ga Getaway-For-Fall Giveaway! – If you've dreamed of spending a weekend among the changing leaves, soaking in the cool breeze, picking apples, hunting for pumpkins, and enjoying a glass of local wine on the patio of an adorable cabin…well, your dreams could come true! This is a weekend in Ellijay like you have never experienced before! The post $750 Ellijay, Ga Getaway-For-Fall Giveaway! appeared first on 365 Atlanta Traveler. http://ow.ly/OMuS50j4h9w