text:
Markets went down this week then back up on news that, um, ok there wasn't any significant news they just went down then up. What's next? Who knows. More volatility, almost certainly. Perhaps a modest correction, perhaps not. I believe the market continues to want to go up, but we have to get clear of this period of uncertainty over Greece, liquidity, the fed and employment numbers. The fed is watching employee pay closely - when average hourly earnings start to go up, so will interest rates. So far average wages are not going up. Meanwhile US investors continue to take money out of the market and foreign investors pour money in even as it continues to be near record levels.
Jobs are being created all over the world. Spain is recovering at a record rate, but their unemployment remains above 20%. They have elections coming up in a couple months, so I think it's too little too late for their current government. In the US unemployment dropped to 5.4%, however I must consider this number suspect on a couple grounds: 1) the labor participation rate continues to be under 2/3 at 62.7%, and wages still haven't budged; these two numbers certainly make it appear it's no problem hiring people. And we lost 50,000 jobs in mining and oil so far this year, which doesn't bode well for the economy going forwards. imho the unemployment numbers are lipstick on a pig. The fed is believed to watch average wages more than unemployment, lending credence to the view that they don't really trust the unemployment numbers either.
Fed Chairman Yellen said this week that equity market valuations are "generally quite high" and there are "potential dangers." Yah. A whole bunch of us have been thinking that for some time. Don't worry, no one listens to the Fed about stocks. Greenspan famously talked about "irrational exuberance" and it took four more years for the dot com bubble to burst. Meanwhile the NASDAQ had quadrupled.
The UK had elections and although the polls said it was too close to call and so close that no one would be able to form a government and parliament would be hung, in fact the liberal democrats were crushed and labor did poorly. In Scotland the Scottish National Party basically completely wiped out the labor party. David Cameron's conservatives perhaps won half the seats and may be able to govern without an alliance. The message seemed to be more freedom - more for Scotland, more distance between the UK and Europe, fewer immigrants, smaller and less intrusive government. UK elections have had a history of foretelling US elections, so I find this shift to more conservative and nationalistic policies gratifying.
Bill Gross, the reigning king of bonds, says our super cycle in stocks and bonds is ending. The unconventional money policies that have fueled markets are running out, says Gross. "The attempt by global central banks to cure a debt crisis with more debt doesn't have much further to run." Bill is 70 now and sensing his own mortality and comparing the markets future to his own. Warren Buffet agrees, saying he'd love to short government bonds as he sees their prices inevitably declining and taking stock market prices down with them. Carl Icahn gave a talk over the weekend saying, "I'm very concerned about the market. I think that you have a situation where this market keeps going up ... and yet a lot of the economic news isn't all that good, and also more importantly, earnings aren't good. What's even more dangerous than the actual stock market is the high-yield market. Junk bonds." When the Fed raises rates, junk bonds are going to collapse.
The interest rate on German bonds has fallen to the point where people are now paying the German government to hold their money. Who does this? In a world with a growing economy and with tech companies inventing new things seemingly daily, is the best use for your money to pay someone else to hold it? One might think this is an illusion, that somehow people aren't actually buying these negative interest bonds. One would be right. This is almost purely an artifact of Super Mario buying German bonds. In the graph below we see German bond outstanding volume in blue, and the outstanding volume minus the bonds bought by the ECB in red. Whatever you may thing about the markets, the truth is we're standing on the sidelines watching a high stakes game being played by the central banks and the various governments, with fallout affecting stock markets everywhere.
China's stock markets doubled last year, a very impressive performance by any measure. However it's hard to see how this can continue. Half the listed companies in Shanghai have a P/E over 40, and 10% have a P/E over 100. Here in the US where we fear our markets are overvalued the historic average P/E is about 16.5 and currently about 20. As China seemingly slips into recession, with raw material consumption down, hiring down, wages down, exports down and property companies defaulting on loans, the stock market continues to climb - this is clearly unsustainable in the long run. Meanwhile China's central bank cut interest rates further, which will goose their markets further. We're living in interesting times.
China says they're building up their military to avoid a repeat of WW II, when the Japanese occupied much of China and were rather harsh. I see this as ridiculous; China was fragmented in the 30s and 40s and unified today; Japan is a nation with a declining population and has no intent or hope of occupying major portions of China. Well, whatever the rational, China is following that Roman edict: Si vis pacem, para bellum.
NATO is holding major exercises in the baltic sea, apparently sending a message to Putin that invading NATO countries will not be tolerated. Ukraine is apparently gearing up for a major offensive.
North Korea tested a submarine launched ballistic missile capable of holding a nuclear warhead and reaching the US mainland. They have further to go before deployment, but their goal and determination are clear. In the US we have a long history of feeling protected by the oceans; that's about over.
In a recent poll it was found that 44% of German executives surveyed think that Greece should leave the eurozone of its own accord. A further 13% think Greece should be actively ejected from the monetary union.
Nokia, Microsoft's Finland phone company, is selling their high definition mapping software. Car companies need this for self-driving cars. Daimler (Mercedes), Volkswagen and BMW have joined together to bid about $800 million for the software. Uber, the silicon valley taxi company, has apparently offered $3 billion. We haven't heard from Apple yet, but Apple is worth more than Daimler, Volkswagen, Renault, Peugeot, Fiat Chrysler, Ford and General Motors put together. The car companies don't want silicon valley to own the next generation of their dash boards and the data that gets generated, but I don't see how they can realistically compete.
Coming soon to a water table near you: fracking. Fracking involved injecting millions of gallons of stuff into the ground to loosen up the trapped oil. Federal law says frackers don't have to tell you what they're injecting, but whatever it is last year a leak killed 70,000 fish in Ohio. Some people near frackers have wells, and the water they pull up to drink can be lit on fire. What's in your water? Here's some of the chemicals frackers use: Methanol, benzene, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, diesel fuel, kerosene, lead, hydrogen fluoride, naphthalene, sulfuric acid, formaldehyde. Yummy. If you catch your teenagers pouring a glass of water then walking around sniffing it, be afraid.
Global Warming Watch: We just passed 400ppm CO2 in the atmosphere, which for climate changers is one of the signs of the apocalypse. And the National Academy of Sciences says as the world gets richer and hotter, little Korean and Chinese window air conditioners are going to destroy the planet. It took a meteor a 10 miles across to kill off the dinosaurs, but we're going to kill off everything with a couple billion little air conditioners. I don't believe in any of this: 1) the world is not getting hotter in any hurry; 2) I don't believe the world has the resources to lift 5 billion people into the middle class; and 3) I think a huge war is a lot more likely than a few billion people getting air conditioning.


text:
Meghan Elizabeth Photography
Calgary Wedding Photographer
Canmore Wedding Photographer
Banff Wedding Photographer
Lifestyle & Portrait Photographer
Call: 403.922.7488
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Prices & Packages
All packages include USB of full resolution images, custom gallery app (like this) and complimentary engagement session.
Based in Calgary, serving the Rocky Mountains and beyond.
Full day packages start at $2900
Please contact me for details, a full price list, or custom package.
All Prices subject to 5% GST
Extra charges may apply to locations outside Calgary

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Fracking is draining water from US areas suffering major shortages – report
February 10, 2014 by admin
Filed under Water Quality
Some of the most drought-ravaged areas of the US are also heavily targeted for oil and gas development using hydraulic fracturing – a practice that exacerbates water shortages – according to a new report.
Three-quarters of the nearly 40,000 oil and gas wells drilled in the US since 2011 were located in areas of the country facing water scarcity, according to research by the Ceres investor network. Over half of those new wells were in areas experiencing drought conditions.
Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, in those wells required the use of 97 billion gallons of water, Ceres found.
"Hydraulic fracturing is increasing competitive pressures for water in some of the country's most water-stressed and drought-ridden regions," said Mindy Lubber, president of the Ceres green investors' network.
Lubber warned that the fracking boom across the US puts the industry on a "collision course" with other water users.
Fracking is the highly controversial process of injecting water, sand, and various chemicals into layers of rock, in hopes of releasing oil and gas deep underground. Fracking in a single well can take millions of gallons of freshwater. Much of the drilling has occurred in areas mired in multi-year droughts.
Half of the 97 billion gallons of water used since 2011 for fracking have gone to wells in Texas, a state in the midst of a severe, years-long drought. Meanwhile, oil and gas production through fracking is on track to double in the state over the next five years, the Guardian reported.
The report also found that rural communities in the Lone Star State are being hit hard by the fracking bonanza occurring especially in the Eagle Ford Shale in south Texas.
"Shale producers are having significant impacts at the county level, especially in smaller rural counties with limited water infrastructure capacity," the report said. "With water use requirements for shale producers in the Eagle Ford already high and expected to double in the coming 10 years, these rural counties can expect severe water stress challenges in the years ahead."
Levels of vital aquifers that serve local communities near Eagle Ford have dropped by up to 300 feet in the last few years.
Many small communities in areas of heavy fracking in Texas are in dire need of water, as supplies have run out in some places or will dry up soon in others. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality says 29 communities across the state could run out of water in 90 days, and that many reservoirs in west Texas are at around 25 percent capacity.
In December, the San Antonio Express-News found that fracking was using more water than previously thought. The newspaper reported that in 2012, the industry used around 43,770 acre-feet of water in 3,522 Eagle Ford fracking wells – about the same usage of 153,000 San Antonio households.
"The oil and gas boom is requiring more water than we have," Hugh Fitzsimons, a Dimmit County rancher and a director of the Wintergarden Groundwater Conservation District, told the Express-News. "Period."
A separate study published this week found that the industry does a very poor job recycling fracking water in Texas. Researchers at
the University of Texas' Bureau of Economic Geology found that 92 percent of water used in 2011 to frack Barnett Shale in north central Texas was "consumed," and not recycled. Only about five percent of all water used for fracking in that area has been reused or recycled in the "past few years."
Other states do not fare well in the Ceres report, either. In Colorado, 97 percent of wells were in areas strapped for water, as demand for fracking water in the state is expected to double to six billion gallons – twice the annual use of the city of Boulder – by 2015.
In California, 96 percent of new wells were located in areas where competition for water is high. A drought emergency for the entire state – which has traditionally dealt with water-sharing and access problems – was declared last month.
The report found similar high percentages of wells built in other states – such as New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming – where water shortages exist.
"It's a wake-up call," said Prof. James Famiglietti, a hydrologist at the University of California, Irvine, according to the Guardian. "We understand as a country that we need more energy but it is time to have a conversation about what impacts there are, and do our best to try to minimize any damage."
Could fracking ruin Germany's beer?
May 25, 2013 by admin
Filed under Water Quality
The country's brewers want Berlin to hefe-weizen up and reconsider a proposed fracking law
Water, malt, hops. For centuries, German law prohibited any other substances from going into the nation's beers (this was before they knew about yeast).
Yet now, the country's brewers fret that their brews could wind up containing a host of unknown chemicals should the government move ahead with a proposed fracking law.
The Brauer-Bund beer association has asked the government to forestall proposed fracking legislation until it can ensure the practice won't contaminate groundwater used for brewing. The group is concerned that hydraulic fracturing, which involves blasting water and a slurry of undisclosed chemicals into the ground to obtain natural gas from shale deposits, could pollute the private wells used by many of the nation's brewers.
"You cannot be sure that the water won't be polluted by chemicals so we have urged the government to carry out more research before it goes ahead with a fracking law," a spokesperson for the group told the Telegraph.
With fracking becoming a more popular method of energy extraction worldwide, German Chancellor Angela Merkel's government has been working on legislation to expand the practice. The country currently allows test drilling in some places, just not near reservoirs of drinking water and other sensitive areas.
However, the brewers worry that the legislation won't go far enough in protecting their water, which, if sullied, could inadvertently result in the violation of a centuries-old beer purity law, called the Reinheitsgebot.
That law, passed way back in the 15th century, is technically no longer on the books; a European court struck it down in the 1980s. Yet many brewers still consider it a source of pride to adhere to those ancient guidelines, hence the association's fear that fracking would endanger their "absolutely pure beer."
Germany, home to some 1,250 breweries and 5,000 different brands of beer, isn't alone. American breweries have also expressed concern that fracking could taint their ales and lagers.
That's because, purity laws aside, brewers are water fanatics. Homebrewers will go to incredible lengths to reproduce the mineral content of water supplies from certain brewing regions in attempts to clone world-famous beers. Should mysterious chemicals seep into the mix, it could completely throw off the chemical processes involved in brewing, and thus dramatically alter a beer's taste and appearance.
And if you thought it was just beer snobs who are up in arms about this, think again. Brauer-Bund represents AB InBev, makers of Budweiser and other drinks of dubious quality. If Budweiser is concerned about how fracking might make its beer taste, imagine how craft brewers must feel?
Fracking could pollute coastal water sources
May 25, 2013 by admin
Filed under Toxic Spills, Water Quality
Sophomore Jasmine Ruddy is from Morehead City, one of many coastal communities that could be directly affected by a bill to fast-track hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, in North Carolina.
"That makes me really nervous for the health of my family who is still living there and drinks the tap water every day," said Ruddy, an environmental health sciences major and a member of UNC's environmental affairs committee of student government.
Fracking retrieves natural gas by pumping a mixture of water and chemicals into shale rock formations.
Proponents of the process say it taps into an otherwise inaccessible energy source that could reduce oil dependency.
But critics of the bill claim fracking uses too much water and could pollute drinking sources, especially in coastal areas suitable for waste deposits.
The bill, which passed the N.C. Senate and is currently in a House committee, would lift a ban on depositing industrial waste in deep wells and permit fracking starting in March 2015.
Rep. Chuck McGrady, R-Henderson, said the state should establish more regulations before fracking begins.
"That's not to say that I am totally opposed to fracking," he said. "It's just to say we should take a go-slow approach."
McGrady said there are still unanswered questions about how to safely dispose of the chemical waste.
An April 2012 report by the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources found that fracking can be done safely with more research and the proper regulations.
Richard Whisnant, UNC School of Government professor and former environmental lawyer, said many legislators and residents do not understand the complications of regulating a new industry.
"We can't cut and paste regulations from other states," he said. "The state ought to take whatever measures it can take to put a good regulatory structure in place."
He said the process should not be rushed.
"I don't see that the resource itself is going anywhere," he said.
But Rep. Pricey Harrison, D-Guilford, a member of the House environment committee, said fracking should not be attempted in the state.
"I don't have a lot of confidence that we're going to be able to establish a safe structure for fracking," she said.
She said if the deep well ban is lifted, the chemical waste from fracking could imperil drinking sources.
"It can be a real problem for public health issues," she said. "We ended that practice 40 years ago because we knew once you put poison in the aquifers you're never getting that back."
Rep. Verla Insko, D-Orange, said fracking would create only short-term positions for N.C. residents.
Most long-term jobs would remain with out-of-state companies, she said.
She said depositing waste on the coast could slow tourism.
"There's a danger of people thinking they're coming to a place that's polluted," she said.
Contact the desk editor at email@example.com.
New Tools for Tracing Fracking Impacts
May 25, 2013 by admin
Filed under Water Quality
Comments Off on New Tools for Tracing Fracking Impacts
Sherlock Holmes used a magnifying glass to trace a fingerprint to its source. Andrew Barron favors miniscule rust particles, millions of gallons of water and a magnet.
Researchers in the Rice University chemistry professor's laboratory have developed nanoparticles that will flow with the fluid used to hydraulically fracture oil and gas wells, slip through rocks and travel wherever the water ends up — in a holding pond at the surface, a tanker on the highway or, in a worst-case scenario, a nearby drinking water well.
The particles, which can bear unique magnetic signatures tailored to each fracking company that uses them, have the potential to clarify the troubled debate over whether and how oil and gas extraction damages water supplies.
"Whether you are Matt Damon or the president of Halliburton, for different reasons you should be interested in this," Barron said in a lounge off his laboratory on the Houston, Texas campus early this year. "If you're worried about the environment, then for once you might be able to find out if they've really done it and who did it. If you're Halliburton, maybe this is a way of saying, 'You're right, someone contaminated your water. But it wasn't us. It was that guy.'"
Finding conclusive evidence of contaminated groundwater from oil and gas drilling broadly, and fracking-influenced fluids in particular, is a complicated task. Many of the signals of drilling-related pollution like methane, salts and metals can occur and vary naturally; most regions lack robust studies of baseline water quality that can account for fluctuations over space and time.
Scientists and some industry and environmental organizations are seeking more certain and sensitive ways to pinpoint problems or rule them out. Their efforts include testing manufactured tracers, like Barron's, that can flag pollution if it occurs, identifying natural indicators that reveal proof of a substance's origin near the surface or deep underground, and developing practices to better monitor for changes before and after drilling.
Some oil and gas companies are willing to look closer for signs of contamination because a clean record under tight scrutiny will give the public much more confidence that drilling is done safely, said Andrew Place, the interim executive director of the new Center for Sustainable Shale Development and corporate director of energy and environmental policy at EQT Corp.
The standards developed by the center, a partnership between industry, charitable foundations and environmental groups, will require companies seeking certification to monitor surface and groundwater around their well sites regularly to demonstrate that their drilling and fracking operations have not caused an impact, instead of responding only if a homeowner raises a complaint.
"All of us want assurance, and the data to back it up, that these operations can be done without groundwater impacts," he said. "No one's served by not knowing the answer to that question."
Scientists looking for natural tracers find them at the intersection of several key questions: What are hallmark signs of the water that flows back from a gas-bearing rock formation like the Marcellus Shale after it is fractured, or "fracked," with a high-pressure mixture of water, sand and chemicals? What is the range of natural variability for elements that occur in a region's groundwater? And what does it look like when the first type of fluid, called "flowback" or "formation water," comes in contact with the second?
"It's hard to tease out the contamination signal from the natural variability," Syracuse University hydrologist Laura Lautz said. "It's even harder to do that when you don't have the baseline water quality data."
Lautz is part of a team of Syracuse scientists working on Project SWIFT (for "shale-water interaction forensic tools"), an effort to study New York groundwater before Marcellus Shale development begins in the state. They are trying to determine the most potent combination of elements that can distinguish potential contamination from briny shale development waters from pollution caused by shallow saline aquifers, legacy pollution or salted roads. The team has found that studying the quantity and relative concentrations of chloride, bromide and iodide together can be a "very, very powerful" indicator of Marcellus formation water compared to other salt waters, she said.
The problem is that too few people test for them.
Neither bromide nor iodide is included in the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's recommended list of basic pre-drill water test parameters and they are not among the constituents analyzed during DEP's standard test for post-drilling water contamination investigations. They are also rarely included in historical data sets for regional groundwater.
While Project SWIFT is promoting bromide and iodide as useful forensic tools, the researchers are also investigating if combinations of other, more commonly tested parameters like chloride, calcium and strontium can be revealing, Lautz said. "If you include the combination of those variables, can they be as powerful as knowing one really key variable like iodide?" Lautz asked. "I think there is some potential there."
Other scientists have isolated more esoteric natural fingerprints to add precision to their analysis.
Researchers at Duke University study isotopes in water, dissolved salt and gasses for tell-tale signs of formation water or the provenance of methane bubbling at the surface. They have also found promising signals in ratios of elements to help track the sources of fluid or gas.
The strongest indicators come from using tools in combination, said Avner Vengosh, a professor of earth and ocean sciences at Duke.
"The basic chemistry of the water can tell you a lot," he said, especially distinctive ratios of chloride, sodium, bromide, barium and sulfate. "We are trying to develop more novel tools that give more perspective."
Unlike regulators, who generally gauge impacts based on whether substances in drinking water rise above advisory limits set for safety or taste, researchers are looking for subtler indicators.
It is "absolutely" possible to have detectable contamination without any chemical parameters in the water rising above safe drinking water limits, Vengosh said.
"Good monitoring systems actually identify it at that point," then track any changes, he said. "The way to do monitoring is to be able to identify it in the early stages before it becomes dangerous."
While some researchers are finding that signs in the water reveal its contamination, others hope to tag the contaminant then engineer a way to trace it.
The process developed by Barron and his colleagues requires running water through a membrane system to concentrate enough of the rust particles to identify them. The collected particles are then sorted in a magnetic separator and analyzed to find the distinctive signature that distinguishes one company's tracer particle from another.
The process will be tested by an oil and gas company working with the researchers to determine how long after the particles are first injected underground they can still be detected in the water that returns to the surface.
The "limiting factor is time," he said of both his and other proposed benign tracer technologies. "The longer you are away from the time of injection, the longer it's going to take you to sample enough water to get the small amount of material that would tell you whether it's there or not."
It is not a simple process, he said, but it holds the promise of providing more certain answers among murky clues. It also offers a new way to diagnose problems and fix them.
"The important thing shouldn't be the blame game," he said. "It should be finding out the source and making sure it doesn't happen again."
Original Article here: http://bit.ly/16Muta4
Copyright Associated Press
ReThink Review: Gasland — Is Your Tap Water Flammable?
January 4, 2011 by admin
Filed under Toxic Spills
A man holds a lighter up to a running faucet, only to have the water burst into a fireball that comes perilously close to engulfing the man's torso in flames. This has become the iconic image of Josh Fox's documentary examining the dangers of natural gas extraction, Gasland, and for good reason — it's such a stark, dramatic illustration of the damage energy companies are willing to inflict on both the environment and human lives as they attempt to extract natural gas using the controversial method known as hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking." See the trailer for Gasland below.
Fracking, which was first developed by Halliburton (who else?) over 50 years ago, involves drilling a deep, L-shaped well (in the case of horizontal fracking) into an area believed to contain natural gas, then pumping in millions of gallons of water, sand, and chemicals (known as fracking fluid) to crack the earth around the gas deposit, allowing the gas to escape so it can be captured closer to the surface. However, natural gas as well as the toxic chemicals found in fracking fluid can make their way into aquifers used to supply drinking water, effectively poisoning wells and making tap water combustible.
See my ReThink Review of Gasland below, as well as my conversation with Cenk Uygur of the Young Turks (and MSNBC!) about the dangerous chemicals found in fracking fluid, the energy industry's response to Gasland, and the connections between fracking, the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, and peak oil.
As I mentioned in my review, the natural gas industry has responded to Gasland by launching a website called Energy In Depth to debunk its claims. But what's interesting is what is admitted through this website if one actually reads it, like the fact that fracking has never been regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act — something which might have happened in 2004 if a study by Bush's EPA hadn't concluded that there was no evidence that fracking polluted water supplies, yet conducted no water tests that would have found such evidence. Or if Dick Cheney's 2005 energy policy had re-classified fracked wells as injection wells.
It also may be true that only 1% of fracking fluid contains the dozens of dangerous chemicals — like arsenic, asbestos, barium, cadmium, chromium, cyanide, lead, mercury, chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzene, dioxin, polychlorinated biphenyls, toluene, trichloroethylene, xylene, radium 226-228, uranium, etc. — that can be found on energyindepth.org (if you look hard enough, like on page 2-13 through 2-16). But when you consider the fact that each frack uses 3-8 million gallons of fracking fluid, and that wells are commonly fracked dozens of times (and maybe even upwards of 300 times), that 1% adds up to millions of gallons of chemicals, much of which is never recovered for treatment.
In an interview with the New York Times, Fox promised a response to Energy in Depth's attacks on Gasland, which you can find here. But perhaps the clearest response by the energy industry is their reluctance to respond to what would seem like a simple request by Fox:
I've been asking the industry since the movie has been out there, "If you've got a town where there's more than 100 wells, and everything's going fine, and you don't have these issues, take me there."
Gasland is now available on DVD and Netflix. To find out more about Gasland, visit gaslandthemovie.com.
You can also find out more about the FRAC Act and efforts to prevent fracking in the Marcellus Shale formation that runs under parts of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, Kentucky, Maryland and Tennessee by visiting MarcellusProtest.org.
For more ReThink Reviews, visit ReThinkReviews.net
To subscribe to ReThink Reviews on YouTube, go here.
Follow Jonathan Kim on Twitter:


text:
How far through their Halloween stash are your kids? These parents tricked their children into thinking they'd scoffed all their spooky sweets and the reactions are priceless.
While, obviously it's bad to lie to your children 'n' stuff, these really did make us laugh.
The pranks were filmed and submitted by brave parents to US chat show Jimmy Kimmel Live as part of an annual tradition they run on the show. Rather them than us!
Oh to live in a world where candy was this important to you…
Can you believe the last little girl? There are no words!
Where to next?
Meet the sleepiet meerkat known to man
21 retro chocolate bars that need to be brought back immediately


text:
Having a theme to a wedding is so important. As a couple you want this to be an amazing day and the best way to get started with your wedding planning is to decide on a theme for the wedding. Even for those couples who would rather keep things casual and simple, it's always important to consider different wedding themes and find one that is most suited to their personalities and style. There are a few wedding themes that are especially popular and if nothing else will at least help you come up with some ideas of your own.
One of the most popular wedding themes is the fairytale theme. This is what every little girl dreams to have on her wedding day, with her prince charming and beautiful white wedding dress. The bride can dress up in a beautiful princess ball gown style wedding dress and the groom in his dashing tux. Switch up the standard stretch limo for a ride in a horse drawn carriage to make the fairytale dream complete.
Tropical weddings are always popular and this is a theme that seems to only continue growing in popularity. Especially for couples who plan on getting married over the winter months, the idea of getting away somewhere exotic for their wedding is wonderful. There are lots of wonderful locations for destination weddings including the Caribbean, Costa Rica and the Dominican. It's a great idea because you can have the wedding ceremony and then relax and enjoy the company of friends and family on the white sand beaches.
These are the places that most people plan to go to on their honeymoon anyway, so why not make it easier on yourself and get married in the same place? There are other wedding themes that you may enjoy more, such as the Valentine's Day theme. Valentine's Day is such a romantic holiday and the perfect way to incorporate extra romance into your most special day. You can have heart shaped centerpieces and focus on red and pink colors.
It's not about impressing other people or about going by other people's standards after all. It's completely up to each couple and what they think is going to make that day most special for them. Hiring a wedding planner is often the safest bet, as they're going to be able to make sure that everything goes through just how you want it to. Once you've decided on a theme you'll find planning your wedding much easier because you can just base all the other details around it.


text:
Friday, September 22, 2017
A Future Now Past
A Future Now Past
4 song EP
A Future Now Past Website
Is rock dead? Not yet, it seems. This trio out of the Southeast kicks it into high gear and rips it out old school style without apology or remorse. It's a blend of smart power pop and reckless abandon that makes you wish for the early 70s and the wild west of rock music. Nothing really new or groundbreaking, to be honest, but fun to listen to.
If you dig Cheap Trick, KISS, or early Aerosmith, then this is your band for the new age of rock and roll. Pick up that air guitar and turn it up.
MISH MASH Mandate: Cheapest Trick
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)


text:
£4.99 'Yellow Metal Tip' item 01
£4.99 'Black Metal Tip' item 02
£3.99 Lock Mate Key 'Chrome' item 03
£2.99 Lock Mate Key 'Black Stop Lock' item 04
Disc Lock Reminder Review
Ade-Leeds UK
Tim from UK
Richie from Ireland
Keith from Birmingham, UK
Dave from Kent UK
Levi from Auckland, New Zealand
Special Offer!
100% fool proof!
Stops you putting your bike key in.
Saving... riding off with your disc lock still on
Saving... possibly HUNDREDS of pounds
Saving... your 'Bikers Pride'
This handy motorcycle accessory will fit all standard slot ignitions. When you are riding, the reminder locks into your key fob, attached to your bike keys. On selected items Buy 1 Get 1 Free! plus P&P.
Lock Mate Key disc lock reminder would make a great addition to your motorcycle accessories and pay for itself many times over.
MCN Review.......read more!


text:
Last Tuesday June 2 Christie's Hong Kong magnificent jewelry sale sold many impressive diamond jewelry pieces. The auction that was held in Asia set a new record for three pieces of jewelry of which one was a breathtaking necklace mixed with colorless diamonds and red rubies. The necklace which contains smaller and larger colorless diamonds was sold for 13 million USD. Around 2 million USD more than Christie's auction house has estimated (estimated between 7 to 11 million). The 13 million USD price sets world auction record for any ruby necklace to a much higher bar.
The necklace contained colorless diamonds in the shapes round and pear. The pear shaped diamonds were framed in between two rows of red rubies. Auction house Christie's describes the design of this magnificent necklace a brilliant cut diamond lattice-work. Even the shackle of the necklace was filled with loose colorless diamonds. The "pigeon blood" rubies in the necklace ranged from 7.02 carat to 1.10 carat shaped as oval and cushion. In addition, the diamond necklace is made from 18-karat white gold.
Overall, the Christie's auction in Hong Kong had a total of nearly 117.9 million USD. Which is a total number so high for a jewelry auction in Asia that it is now the most valuable jewelry auction of all time in the Asian market.


text:
Blisters4Africa On your marks. Get Set. Half Marathon. This year we have some EXCLUSIVE places at the Bristol Half Marathon and if you ask nicely YOU could have one! The Half is on Sunday September 15th and there will be 5 Legs4Africa Leggers taking part. Full event details can be found here – Minimum fundraising target £350 – Lots of support, thank … Read More
Open love letter to our Mobilisers
In 2018, 55 people donated £16,592 between them. That's an average of £25 per month each. This means, these 55 super special specimens gifted 1,383 people in Africa with the technology they needed to be able to walk again. We call these people The Mobilisers… We don't know about you, but we thought 2018 was a pretty good year. We … Read More
Introducing our hero, Jonathan Rhoades
Jonathan Rhoades is from Dorset. He is missing his left leg but despite this he has just completed 35km of open water swimming to raise money for Legs4Africa. We think he is an absolute hero and once you've read this we know you will too… 18/11/2018 – 'The Last Swim' "Dear Friends, It has been more than a year … Read More
Swimmer to help provide 250 prosthetic legs to amputees
Fund-raising with flare Legs4Africa has some amazing supporters, they come from all sectors of life, but when amputees support the charity, it is something very special. Jonathan, an amputee due to a boating accident, has challenged himself to do a series of long distance swims, having done a 6 kilometre swim earlier this year, most recently completing a 10 kilometre … Read More
How prosthetic limbs unlock the world of sport for amputees
What makes an athlete? Is it how fast they run? How high they jump?… Or is it that determination that burns within them, forcing them onward, to go further, to run faster, to reach higher? Recently, an American veteran, Kirstie Ennis made a Summit Climb of the Carstensz Pyramid in Indonesia having already climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, all with … Read More
Legs4Africa Ebay Charity Shop – Why not set up your own?
Unlock the value in your attic and change someones life… A few weeks ago I was skipping between different social accounts, twitter, Facebook, email, Messenger, Whatsaap whilst trying to listen to the news, not let my morning eggs burn and attempting to plan what Legs4Africa jobs I had to do for the rest of the week. I was left feeling drained, … Read More
You throw a pretty good party WOMAD
We couldn't have asked for better weather at WOMAD this year. It was our 7th festival of the summer and we were starting to feel the effects of too much party, far too much tie dying and nowhere near enough sleep. We weren't too sure what to expect from this experience which called itself "the worlds festival", but our anticipation arouse … Read More
The L4A Leopards
Dust off those trainers – The L4A Leopards need you! So, I'm writing this as I contemplate my running training plan for the Bristol 10k on Sunday 15th May. I can't say I'm a runner, more of a trundler to be fair. Most of my 10k and half marathon sign ups have been whilst semi drunk or as I stare … Read More
Vesbin around Truro for Legs4Africa
Truro Foyer is a fantastic scheme that helps 16-25 year olds find their feet, by providing housing, education and has a great sense of community. The staff and young people of Lander Court designed and built 'The Vesbin', a bespoke mod styled wheelie-bin trike, complete with comfy seat, mirrors, lights, steering and classic black/white chequers. Turning a wheelie-bin into a … Read More
Port Eliot Festival Success
The vibrant stall, the exciting volunteers and the opportunity to get creative made the Legs4Africa pitch a resounding success at Port Eliot this year. It's been a long time gone, but tie-dye is officially back in fashion; with festival goers pouncing on the opportunity to colour-up their very own iconic Legs4Africa t-shirt. A multitude of techniques and styles where taught … Read More
Running round Truro with a Vesper-wheelie-bin
Zooming around Truro in a mod styled wheelie-bin (or… VESBIN) collecting charitable donations! Sounds great fun, and it's happening on the 11th November in Cornwall's biggest city. The staff and residence of Truro Foyer, part of 'Devon and Cornwall Housing Group' or DCH, have been busily designing and creating the wheelchair-wheelie-bin, a bespoke made money collecting machine where Wayne Cross … Read More
She only went and did it!…
An interview with an L4A Legend Cycling from London to Paris, I think you'll admit, is kinda crazy. Cycling it with one leg and a prosthetic is into the tricky domain which is either genius or insanity… But this is just what Cassie has done. After finishing this arduous task Cassie found a little time in her busy schedule to … Read More
What does it take to cycle from London to Paris?
Cassie, an amputee from South East London Cycles 170 miles to support Amputees in West Africa Cycling 170 miles over three days is a challenge which most people would avoid. Not only does she have a name that might be found in the pages of marvel comics but, Cassie Cava, 23, has stepped up to the challenge with her prosthetic … Read More
Elaine jumps 10,000 ft for more legs!
Great news from our Legs 4 Africa supporter Elaine in the West of Scotland, who has just completed a skydive from 10,000 feet to raise funds for Legs 4 Africa as well as cancer research. Elaine contacted Legs 4 Africa back in February to donate a prosthetic leg belonging to her father, who sadly passed away some weeks before. Her … Read More
Get your leg over (to Africa)
The Charity Legs4Africa is asking for people to donate their old prosthetic legs, so they can be given a new life by amputees in the developing world. Legs4Africa is a small UK charity dedicated to re-using old prosthetic limbs. It collects them from around Britain and then sends them to some of the poorer nations of Africa, where they can … Read More
The Wonderful Mind of Megan Clarke
Megan Clarke is a freelance designer, illustrator, animator, inventor, filmmaker, script writer and wonderful person. She smiles a lot and she makes amazingly special videos of/for amazingly special things. I've only met Megan once and she may not have sensed that I had sensed something very special from her but I would like to make it clear now. Megan has … Read More


text:
2 Peter 3:9 New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
9 The Lord does not delay his promise, as some regard "delay," but he is patient with you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
You'll get this book and many others when you join Bible Gateway Plus. Learn more


text:
Analytics 10 Help, October 2013
Feeds are XML documents used to publish regularly updated Internet content, like blog posts, news articles, and press releases. Use them in Analytics 10 to help view your metrics in the context of world events, company press releases, blog posts, and more.
You can add multiple feeds to the trend graph and then view or hide them individually.
To use feeds, you must be in Annotations viewing mode .
When you select a feed:
RSS feed entries are marked with .
RSS Feeds
When you create your feed, select the Share check box in the RSS dialog. When other users with access to the same profile use the Add RSS Feed dialog, your feed is in the list of selectable feeds.
You can also publish your notes as an RSS feed that other users can add to their trend view.
RSS feeds must use RSS 2.0, Atom 1.0 or later and contain Title and PublicationDate data. Make sure your authenticated RSS feed uses HTTPS, and that the username and password you are entering are correct.
You can code your own feed in XML, but many RSS feed creation tools are available. Ask your webmaster how you can create a feed to add to RSS overlay view. You can also publish your notes as an RSS feed.


text:
You know Google is huge.
Facebook, too.
You probably remember Yahoo.
Amazon is massive, of course.
And oh yeah, eBay!
But we bet you can't name the other 15 biggest Internet Web sites … in order.
We can, thanks to ComScore, which provided us data on December 2012's most popular Web domains in the US.
What it is: Online shopping site.
How it got so big: Walmart's lowest prices anytime, anywhere strategy has taken the nation by storm. It has huge name recognition. So it's no surprise that people are flocking to its website to purchase affordable goods when they can't make it to the retail store.
What it is: Disney-owned web portal featuring content from ABC News, ESPN, and FamilyFun.com.
How it got so big: No one really goes to Go.com. They go to Disney-owned sites, which all have Go.com built into their URLs. It's the legacy of a failed experiment from back in the 1990s, when Disney tried to launch a portal to rival Yahoo, called Go.
What it is: Destination for purchasing Microsoft products, and downloading MS software and updates.
How it got so big: There are a lot of Microsoft Windows-powered computers out there, and most of them come with Microsoft.com bookmarked for customer support and lots of other functions.
What it is: Online destination for Apple products and software.
How it got so big: Apple.com the domain for the Apple Store as well as customer support pages for all Apple products. It's bookmarked as the default homepage on Safari browsers, which are the default browsers in all Apple Internet-connected products - of which there are hundreds of millions.
What it is: Online how-to guide.
How it got so big: eHow's contributors produce a massive amount of content. Most of it is designed to be an answer to a question someone might put into Google, so most of its traffic is sent from Google. Even when Google changed its algorithm a couple of years ago to prevent its content from going to the top of search results, eHow has prevailed.
What it is: Online resource for how-tos and tutorials.
How it got so big: The New York Times acquired About.com back in 2005, and later sold the site to IAC, which owns Ask.com. About.com is like Answers.com and eHow.com - a domain full of content that is supposed to provide answers to questions people might ask Google.
What it is: A Google-powered search engine.
How it got so big: Ask.com started as AskJeeves back in the 1990s. When its parent company, IAC, acquired About.com, Ask was able to add much more content to its site. It's now basically a re-branded version of Google search.
What it is: Online auction and shopping website for items like electronics, apparel, and sporting goods.
How it got so big: eBay has changed the way people look at their old items. Since its inception in 1995, eBay has grown to include major brands, like PayPal, Skype, and Shopping.com.
What it is: Web search engine.
How it got so big: Microsoft has aggressively advertised Bing, and made huge efforts to make the search engine much easier to use, with the addition of things like the social sidebar and improved algorithms. Microsoft also pays other Websites to link to Bing.
What it is: A free, web-based encyclopedia platform.
How it got so big: Wikipedia lets anyone post and edit content on the site, making it a great resource for educational content. Like Answers.com et al, most of its traffic comes from Google because it answers the questions people ask Google.
What it is: The ultimate online shopping destination for electronics, apparel, sporting goods, and even food.
How it got so big: When Amazon first launched, it was nothing more than a few people packing and shipping boxes of books. But it has since grown to shipping everything from french horns to fitness trackers to iPads.
What it is: Platform for uploading, sharing, and watching user-created videos.
How it got so big: Google's purchase of YouTube in 2006 definitely gave the site more street cred. Since then, people have been hooked on watching cat videos and using the site to discover new artists like Justin Bieber, for example.
What it is: Social network to keep in touch with your friends.
How it got so big: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg started Facebook when he was a sophomore at Harvard. The site was initially only open to Harvard students, but later expanded to include other universities, high school students, and eventually, anyone over the age of 13.
What it is: Web search engine.
How it got so big: Google entered a crowded search engine market in the late 1990s, but won because it was the fastest and had a clean design. Now it powers all kinds of products, like Gmail, Google Maps, and Google+. It's the way people navigate the Internet.
Get the latest Google stock price here.
Get the latest Microsoft stock price here.


text:
Scholarship essay is not a piece of cake for some students. The preparation of excellent essay requires more than simply knowledge of the core subject. You have to impress the committee with your own story, no matter how the subject sounds. While writing an essay regarding Napoleon's wars, for instance, the skills in literature (the writer may support his words by the distinguished authors' quotes), grammar (grammar mistakes influence the overall grade and impressions), geography (the author can point at the most known Napoleon's movements in a more curious way) and other supporting aspects may raise your chance to win the day. Play the same trick regarding your scholarship essay as well: implement the skills from different areas of your expertise to prove you are the one who deserves the scholarship.
To write a successful essay, the author should obey a list of generally accepted rules. Of course, it's not about writing a hundred-paged diploma, but even small essays have to respond to the problem stated in the topic. It is usually in the form of the question, but there are times when original professors offer some dilemma or dogma to test it like hypothesis. Year after year, students face more tricky and complicated topics, so there is no way to complete the papers quick and dirty. Earlier, most probably the professor would ask a student to write few words about Bonaparte's first Italian campaign in general. However, today there is a higher chance of receiving some task like, "Do you agree with David Chandler's image of Napoleon? Prove your answer comparing historical and literary facts." Sounds more complicated, doesn't it?
Focus on what is crucial for essay's content. First and foremost, it is critical to state the question once more, just before (or within) the first paragraph. Next, write a brief introduction. The problem statement of the essay is like a major web-site keyword: repeat it few times throughout your text. The introduction should state the problem in general, the types of researches that were conducted for your paper (any surveys, polls, focus groups), the basic follow-up questions which appeared during your research). Imagine that you're preparing the reader by grabbing his attention in the most original way you could think of. Try to make a potential reader thirsty for more information ahead. Remember: the best essays are not only those grammatically correct, but those which are unique and innovative at the same time.
Mind that you have to show that at least 50% of the essay is based on your experience, opinions and overall knowledge in the subject. To do this, use trivial phrases like: "To my mind…", "In my opinion…", "From my point of view…" and so on. I.e., you may have visited fewer history museum during your life. Add something valuable from your memories to highlight the essential ideas.
The next few paragraphs (usually, second and third) are directed towards the descriptive text: the author has to describe the processes that lead to the answer. It may include descriptions of battles, their outcomes, number of sacrifices, consequences analysis, etc. Only facts based on the data gathered must appear in these sections.
Be slick as a whistle: an essay should not look like the annual "Apple" financial report or one of Lucas Arts' scenarios. Often, the best size of the essay is considered to be 1-2 pages.
Finally, the writer has to match all of the claims from the previous paragraphs with his/her own conclusions, forecasts and speculations. The last paragraph should sound the most persuasive and confident, so that the reader (most probably, your professor) will stop hesitating whether the work deserves an A or… an A+.
To sum up, here are the core elements of any essay:
- Title and author's name
- Introduction (problem statement)
- Subject description (general overview)
- Research results and facts (detailed description of the most critical issues)
- Quotations
- Works cited and references
- Personal thoughts
- Conclusions
Most of the time, MLA format is desired (rarely, APA).
Each essay adds up to the overall score. That's why, despite its size, it's still a valuable educational element. For some reasons, students sometimes lack time to prepare a perfect essay. According to their needs, more and more academic writing services appear. All a tired student has to do is simply fill the order form mentioning all his requirements. Writing professionals will in turn make a go of any academic subject easily and effectively.


text:
or pick up chocolate-dipped strawberries
for your dinner party.
41 Throckmorton
Ave, 415.380.0410,
roasted bone marrow, hamachi crudo,
smoked trout salad
and the El Paseo short
rib. 17 Throckmorton
Ave, 415.388.0741,
steak or veggie-filled
burritos with gluten-free and vegetarian
options. 493 Miller
Ave, 415.381.3278,
DIPSEA CAFE Comfort
This longtime breakfast
spot has been serving up
tasty pancakes and egg
dishes with homemade
biscuits since 1986. Try
a biscuit with a poached
egg, with sausage — or
just plain butter. Lunch
specialties include
BLTs, tuna melts and
generous Cobb salads.
The restaurant now
offers Greek-inspired
dinners. 200 Shoreline
Hwy, 415.381.0298,
FRANTOIORISTORANTEITALIANO ItalianKnown for its in-houseolive press, superiorolive oil and excellentItalian cuisine, this spotis a great location for anintimate dinner, largegroups and anythingin between. Ownedby Roberto Zecca andchef Duilio Valenti,both from Milano; thekitchen uses local andorganic ingredients. Forspecial occasions andprivate parties, reservethe olive-press room.The popular weekdayhappy hour starts at4:30 p.m. 152 ShorelineHwy, 415.289.5777,frantoio.com
HARMONY Chinese
Dishes here are an
infusion of many
flavors. The barbecue
pork bun is filled with
house-made roasted
meat in a savory sauce,
and fresh mussels are
accented with red chili
and Thai basil. Pair
your pick with wine,
beer or tea. Strawberry
Village, 415.381.5300,
CHOPS American This
historic establishment was given new
life in 2010 when it
was purchased by local
musician/restaura-teur Sammy Hagar
and celebrity chef
Tyler Florence. The
menu speaks to the
restaurant's elegance,
with offerings like
RESTAURAN T Mexican
Both the Mill Valley and
Fairfax locations offer
"healthy Mexican food"
like grilled chicken,
INDIA PALACE Indian
Known as "that great
restaurant in the
Travelodge," India
Palace is a favorite
among the takeout
crowd; eating on
site is also a treat.
707 Redwood Hwy,
415.388.3350, india
• IL FORNAIO Italian
Sausalito's Larry Mindel hit
a home run with this upscale
Italian restaurant franchise.
Besides the award-winning
breads, pizzas and pastas,
the menu offers a variety of
salads and noncarb entrées.
223 Corte Madera Town Ctr,
415.927.4400, ilfornaio.com
French Known for
authentic French
pastries and coffee
served in a bowl, La
Boulange — especially
its outdoor area — is
always crowded. Stop
by for lunch and enjoy
an open-faced sandwich at one of the
indoor, picnic-style
tables. Strawberry
Village, 415.381.1260,
Mexican Joe's serves
up regular fare such as
tasty fish tacos, burritos
and enchiladas as well
as more unusual items
like Mexican pizza, tofu
salad and crab tostadas.
Colorful interior and
(usually) quick service
make this a fun, easy
stop. If there are too
many unsupervised
kids for a peaceful meal,
takeout is easy too. 382
Miller Ave, 415.383.8164
LA GINESTRA Italian A
favorite family spot for
over 30 years; getting a
table or booth here can
take awhile. While this
old-school Italian eatery
is known for traditional
pastas, veal dishes,
pizzas and dry martinis,
the familiar wait staff is
also part of the attraction. 127 Throckmorton
Ave, 415.388.0224
FOOD Mexican This
closet-size eatery off
the highway is treasured by regulars for
its friendly service
and authentic Mexican


text:
Free Guided Tours
Offered at noon and 2:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and most Saturdays. Please call 312.915.7600 to inquire about Saturday tours.
Group Tours
Guided group tours are free with museum admission. All group tours must be booked at least two weeks in advance, and paid for two weeks ahead of time. Due to staff limitations, tours are only available during the regularly scheduled museum hours. To schedule an exclusive docent-led tour, please email email@example.com or call 312.915.7635.
LUMA is wheelchair accessible. Tours are available for visitors with disabilities. Please see above for guidelines.


text:
Home of the Mattie and Bogey Series
Book two in the series. The next time Mattie visits her grandmother Nana, she brings her dog Tucker. Bogey isn't quite sure what he thinks of the big Labrador retriever, but before long, he finds out that dogs can be true-blue friends, even if you're a cat!
Copyright © Jean Hunt 2016


text:
James Sutherland, CEO of Cricket Australia, is hoping that the ICC Test Championship, due to start from next year, will give the home team freedom to schedule day-night Tests without the approval of their opponent.
The current ICC Playing Conditions stipulate that a home nation can only host a day-night Test match "with the agreement of the Visiting Board". This new hope comes from the problems so far for Cricket Australia in convincing the BCCI to play a day-night test when the Indian team tours the country later this year.
Sutherland was quoted saying that, "I think personally the home country should have the right to schedule matches as it sees fit and start them at whatever time of day they want,"
"The Adelaide Test match in the day-night format has been a huge success. It's been a great story in terms of attendances, crowds, and atmosphere but also television audiences. It's also the way of the future. India may or may not come around to that idea for this tour but I still believe it's the way of the future. I think everyone in world cricket knows that"
He further said, "It hasn't really got to a stage where there's agreement or regulation around the table at ICC level for the home countries to be able to schedule that. We're hoping there will be some sort of regulation in there (the Test Championship) that will allow home teams to fixture at least one day-night Test match."


text:
First things first, the super big hits! Ok, I didn't buy this case for the hits, but I was a bit surprised I didn't get an auto. Topps has been very good to me in the past. In fact, I bought a retail case of 2008 Topps Mayo Football a few years back and pulled a good number of sp autos. It also would have been nice to pull a serialed jersey or patch...again, not disappointed, just the way it is.
These are the 71 Topps minis, 1 per pack and there were 50 in the set. I got the entire set, not sure about a second set.
Quick note on the blue, 3 per pack and got 324 of them. I am a bit short of a set but I didn't get many doubles.
There are a few inserts I didn't bother with as they are the normal useless Topps bloat. So there you have it. I am thinking of busting a few more of these because they are so cheap and you do get a couple low numbered cards. I may put together a couple blue sets and then sell the hand collated base sets. If you see anything you want, make me an offer.


text:
Get Clean With Us in 7 Days: Innovations in Green Automotive Technology
General description
In addition to some lectures we are looking forward to offer workshops and practical views with outstanding factory visits and expert talks. Whether global player or hidden champion, our hand selected tech companies are keen to guide you through the secrets of their latest innovations.
Stuttgart is not only a beautiful city and the birthplace of your dearly beloved Mercedes or Porsche. It features the best and finest world leaders in technology and is worth a visit for every future scientist and engineer. Discover this gem of Germany with its beauty, vibrant history and unique people.
Anything else to say? For sure - we've put all our passion into preparing an unforgettable cultural program for day and night as well. Join us and go through an amazing adventure with us!
Information for applicants
- Selection criteria:
- Take time to write your motivational letter and express your interest or even passion in the topic, country or any of our activities. Don't forget to introduce and convince us about yourself. How will you contribute to make this week unforgettable?
Practical arrangements
All of the following are covered by the event fee:
- Lodging:
- We have organized an accommodation in a house that will only belong to our group.
- Meals:
- 3 meals a day, at least one warm.
- Transportation:
- public transport, walking, coach


text:
An Elm We Lost
Shade moves in the grass
Poet Marvin Bell
Narrator Todd Boss
An Elm We Lost
On it we wrote a little essay
about who loved who.
Shade moves in the grass, never still,
and they still do.
Marvin Bell
Poem ©2009 Marvin Bell, all rights reserved. Used by permission of the author. Film ©2010 Motionpoems, Inc., all rights reserved.


text:
hoverfly eristalis sunflower plant macro view pollination yellow petals flower with fly shallow depth field
|navigate by keyword : agriculture background beautiful beauty bee beeswax bloom blooming blossom bright close closeup color colorful colors countryside ecology entomology environment farming field flight flora floral flower fly flying fresh garden honey honeybee idyll image insect leaf macro natural nature nectar petal petals pistil plant pollen pollinate pollinating pollination seed spring stamen summer sunflower sunny wild wildlife yellow
|Hoverfly Eristalis on sunflower plant macro view pollination. Yellow petals flower with fly. Shallow depth of field, selective focus photo
Stockphotos.ro (c) 2019. All stock photos are provided by Dreamstime and are copyrighted by their respective owners.


text:
Through his blog The Paprika Project, Irish-born Colm FitzGerald, who now lives in Hungary, likes to share Hungary's rich culture and natural beauty with the world. He recently met winemaker Roland Borbély at the Gallay Winery: Roland Borbély, the man with the plan! Beautiful morning in sunny Nyékládháza, Hungary with the whole Borbély family. Tucked away in a rural valley near Miskolc, Gallay is producing exceptional wines in an uncompromising style. Roland is championing Pinot Blanc, Zenit, Kékfrankos and Zweigelt grown on the clay and ancient limestone of the Bükk foothills. The results speak for themselves: elegant, balanced and age worthy wines that are unique yet very, very likable. @hunvino @bluedanubewine #gallay #hungary #bükk #wine #miskolc #bluedanubewine #winelover The Bistronauta White is a funny, flying astronaut on a bistro corkscrew. It's a fruity blend of 60% Pinot blanc and 40% Zenit — a Hungarian crossing of the native Ezerjó and the Slovenian grape Bouvier. Aged in stainless steel and neutral oak barrels, the wine is fresh, very aromatic, and easy going. A great "bistro wine" and very likable indeed! Follow Colm Fitzgerald and the Paprika Project on Instagram .
Tag: Colm FitzGerald
#WineWednesday Spotlight #32: Füleky Pallas Late Harvest
Contributed by Colm FitzGerald. Colm was born in Ireland, grew up in Southern California and now lives in Hungary. He's passionate about exploring new cultures and off the tourist-trail destinations. His blog, The Paprika Project was born from the idea of sharing Hungary's rich culture and natural beauty with the world. Learn more about The Paprika Project in our blog. Füleky Pallas Tokaji Late Harvest 2012 Made from overripe shriveled grapes creating a sweet, but balanced wine. A great introduction for those new to Hungarian dessert wines. Sticky sweet, but with acidity, with hints of butterscotch and ripe fruit. I never understood what people meant when they said a wine had the taste or smell of "cut straw" or "cut grass". Now I know. Long finish of residual sweetness. Delicious. You can read about Colm's full visit to the Füleky estate here.
The Life and Wines of Samuel Tinon
Enjoy a day tasting with Samuel Tinon in Tokaj! Writing and all photos by Colm FitzGerald of The Paprika Project. I'm sitting across the table from Samuel Tinon at his home in Olaszliszka, a tiny village in Hungary's mystical Tokaj Wine Region. He is of medium height and build. His hair is graying and he wears rectangular glasses. Behind him, his Vizsla is curled up on a velvet armchair. To my left, a white rabbit sits on another, matching chair. Rain is coming down in waves of heavy showers and Samuel is very pleased; rain in Tokaj has been scant this summer. Together with my wife Anita, we're sampling his wine at a long wooden dining table. Samuel is spontaneous, animated, talkative and passionate; the things I love most about the French. He speaks in concepts and rarely has simple answers to my questions. While he talks about Tokaj's fascinating history I swirl his dry Szamorodni around in my glass and take in the dream-like scene around me: the dog and the rabbit, the sound of rain, Samuel's French accented English and his cozy home. I then take a sip of the golden wine. It is amazingly complex and unlike … Continue reading The Life and Wines of Samuel Tinon
Tokaj Perfection: Sampling Füleky Estate's Liquid Gold
Here is Colm FitzGerald's, editor of The Paprika Project, visit to Füleky in Tokaj, Hungary; sure to make you want to go and try these fine wines! The steady putt of the riverboat's engine put me at ease. It was my first time navigating a boat that didn't have an outboard engine and I was nervous—all alone with the small craft's wheel in my hands. I was in north-east Hungary, cruising along the Bodrog River in the famous Tokaj wine region. On the top deck, the other passengers—my wife Anita, the captain, his wife and Hajnalka Szabo and György Brezovcsik from the Füleky Winery—soaked up the early summer sun. The captain, a fit tanned man in his 60's, handed over the wheel moments earlier. Soon, I was completely at ease captaining the boat. Thick cottonwood trees lined either side of the slow moving brown-green river, cool air blew into the open cabin and an egret swooped across the water ahead. Aside from the occasional pair of rowers sliding past in their sculls, we were all alone. Serene, beautiful and meditative—it was the perfect way to spend a June afternoon. Before our river cruise, Hajnalka and György (we'll call him Gyuri … Continue reading Tokaj Perfection: Sampling Füleky Estate's Liquid Gold
Get to know "The Paprika Project"
"The Paprika Project" is American Colm FitzGeralds' blog about his experiences as an expat living in Hungary. We had the pleasure of meeting him recently and think you will enjoy his unique perspectives on Hungarian culture, including wine of course! The blog is also very helpful if you are planning to travel throughout Hungary. Allow Colm to introduce himself and learn more about "The Paprika Project": I vividly remember my first trip to Hungary. It was 2005; I was living in Ireland at the time and my Hungarian girlfriend had invited me to meet her family. Knowing next to nothing about this central European country, I was instantly captivated. Culturally, linguistically and historically—everything was waiting to be discovered. I remember lying in her parents' garden— cool grass beneath me, warm sun on my face and chest. After 6 months in Ireland, sunny weather was a blessing in itself. It was springtime and flowers of every color adorned the green, hilly landscape. During those ten days in Hungary I discovered a whole new world: the unique Magyar people and language; a tumultuous history of invasions, occupations and uprisings; a food culture bordering on obsession; and an intimacy with the land and … Continue reading Get to know "The Paprika Project"


text:
neighborhood: Williamsburg, Brooklyn
location: Adjacent to the McCarren Park Pool at the corner of Lorimer St. and Bayard St.
public transit / subway: G subway to Nassau / L subway to Bedford
hours of operation: dawn to dusk
open dates: year-round, anytime but no lights
helmets: not required
cost: free
surface: concrete, sidewalk pour
staff on premises? no
year opened: 2009
external links: http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/mccarrenpark
description: This small skate plaza in Williamsburg has a really nice ledge feature, one quarterpipe and some steep banks with grindable lip. Open whenever you feel like skating. No proper lights.
nearby attractions: McCarren Park aka "hipster beach", the main drag of Bedford Ave. and KCDC are right nearby. Also the park is just a few blocks from the skatepot under the BQE


text:
My next kitchen gadget review: Sous Vide. Does anyone have one of these? My husband bought this for me two years ago for Christmas and I returned it because it seemed just weird to me. What did I find under the tree this year? A Sous Vide!
"Once limited to the pros, sous vide (pronounced sue-veed) is a cooking technique that utilizes precise temperature control to deliver consistent, restaurant-quality results. High-end restaurants have been using sous vide cooking for years to cook food to the exact level of doneness desired, every time. The technique recently became popular for home cooks with the availability of affordable and easy-to-use sous vide precision cooking equipment like the Anova Sous Vide Precision Cooker."
So, I gave it a try this time. It's very easy to use. You attach the device, with a clamp, to a large pot filled with water. Plug it in. Set the temp where you want it (the app gives you a guide and recipes to follow). The water heats up. Seal the meat in a bag using a vacuum sealer or place it in a glass container. The meat can cook for hours and the Sous Vide will hold it at the desired temperature. When you're ready to eat, simply finish the meat by searing it in a pan or grilling it on the BBQ for a crispy exterior layer.
It's a pretty amazing device and it tastes amazing too!


text:
Visit our jewellery shop and workshop in the Arts and Craft Centre of Peebles.
Newby Court is Peebles Street of Makers, where you can visit craft shops and workshops.
Enjoy the best local coffee from Deli Beans on Newby Court's New Arts Commision, Master Blacksmith Jim Witson's Wrought Iron Bench.
School Brae Arts and Craft workshops are :
Dunnydeer Porcelain Ceramicist,
La Petit Chambre – interiors
Mandarin Garden Chinese Restaurant
Eating out in Peebles: Delicious Homemade Icecream by Caldwells The Sunflower Restaurant, Cocoa Black Chocolate School and Cafe, The Tontine Hotel.
Drop in to Villeneuve Wine and taste a wee dram of the finest collection of Single Malts, Organic Wine and Artisan Beers.
An evening at the theatre, The Eastgate Theatre.
Peebles is renowned for it's outdoor pursuits. Cycling at Glentress and 7-Stanes and fishing in the River Tweed. The Tweed is famous throughout the world for it's Salmon and Trout.
High Quality Clothing for Country Pursuits Graham McGrath Gentleman's Outfitter.
Golfing, Horse riding and Hill Walking are enjoyed by visitors and enthusiastic locals alike.
Taste Traditional Excellence from Forsyth & Sons Butcher and Baker.
Spa Destination Hotel Stobo Castle the ultimate luxury treat, just ten minutes drive away.
Osso, 1 Star Michelin Star Restaurant.
Holland and Sherry makers of the World's most luxurious cloth.
Nearby Historical Traquair, Innerleithen, Robert Smail's National Trust Functioning Letterpress & Printworks and St Rhonan's Well.
Kailzie Gardens and Neidpath Castle.
We have just finished celebrating the annual Peebles Beltane Festival.
Looking forward to The Peebles Arts Festival 2014.
The Historical Burgh of Peebles and things to do.


text:
Jackson Mac Low: A Few Images
I first met Jackson Mac Low in 1967. We both participated in an anti-war event, blocking the Whitehall Street Induction Center in November of that year. I found myself in a jail cell with Allen Ginsberg, who I had met a couple of years earlier. I asked Allen if he knew Jackson Mac Low, whose poetry I had been avidly reading and researching for the past few months. As we left jail together, Allen pointed to someone walking up the street ahead of us. "There he is," Allen said. I caught up to Jackson and introduced myself. He sent me a copy of The Pronouns, an early, stunningly beautiful serial poem, written as instructions for dancers, (which has been performed many times) that he had published himself, in mimeographed form. It has since been republished a couple of times.
Although at the time I was into some kind of vague, mystical inner vow of poverty, I woke up late and took a taxi to the demonstration which was scheduled at 6 am. When I arrived I pompously explained to the driver I had no money, but felt compelled to join the demonstration. As the cab driver stepped out of the cab irately, a young made strode by. After politely asking what was going on, the man laughingly suggested I get arrested for not paying my cab fare, but then paid it. He turned out to be the Civil Liberties Union lawyer assigned to this case. When a month later I was arrested for burning my draft card in the Oakland Selective Service Station, somehow he got a letter to me at the David Harris Resistance House giving me the time and date of the trial I was supposed to attend. Do not take a taxi all the way, he added. By the way, I came back from Berkeley in late November to attend the trial, only to learn the case was dismissed, since the judge decided we could not really have been blocking the Center at 7 o'clock in the morning before it was open! Another early memory of Jackson is that he was a frequent performer in Charlotte Moorman's avant-garde festivals in the late 60's and early 70's.. I and a number of my friends were also invited to perform in a few of them. An early one took place on the Staten Island Ferry. I found Jackson in a corner on the ferry, playing his music on an instrument he himself had invented.
Jackson Mac Low will surely come to be known as one of the greatest seminal artists of our era. Due to his convictions about forgoing the ego he was different from the avidly self-promoting artists and poets of today. His influence is pervasive but as yet remains largely undocumented and untracked. This is probably one of the reasons for his consistent tendency to carefully date and document his own works, as perhaps he was conscious of this situation, contributing to his relative obscurity, which was at least partly deliberate, and no doubt somewhat frustrating to him. Despite Jackson's ubiquitous presence throughout his life in experimental and avant-garde circles (Fluxus, L=A=N=G=U=A=G=E, etc), Jackson's humility, modesty, and unique ideas, kept him surrounded in mystery; an all the more intriguing figure whose voluminous, yet superb work will offer much for future critics and art historians to unravel. I can't recommend too highly, if you are unfamiliar with Jackson's work, to check out the CD he did with his wife and artistic collaborator, Anne Tardos titled *Open Secrets*


text:
Barclays would need to offer large pay rises to hire relationship managers, if it relaunches its Asian private bank, say headhunters.
The British firm, which sold its Asian wealth unit to OCBC-owned Bank of Singapore just last year, is reportedly now considering basing RMs in Singapore and Hong Kong again. The earliest it could do this is January 2019, when its non-compete agreement with OCBC expires.
At least 15 to 20 RMs would be need initially in both Hong Kong and Singapore to restart Barclays' private bank, says Rahul Sen, a former Merrill Lynch private banker, now head of wealth management at search firm The Omerta Group.
Achieving this level of headcount, which would still place Barclays outside the top-20 largest RM workforces in Asia, is likely to be difficult. "Wealth is growing in Asia, but all private banks here are in growth mode so the job market is competitive," says Sen. "RMs may not want to join Barclays and may face a backlash from clients if they tried."
Barclays would face challenges "regaining trust from RMs and their clients", says Liu San Li, an ex-private banker, now head of banking at search firm IGS Asia in Singapore. "It would need to convince candidates that it's now in it for the long haul, even though it's just sold the wealth business," he adds. "RMs would be concerned about job stability and clients would be concerned about another sale or a rise in the minimum AUM account threshold."
Even if their clients were happy with the move, RMs would only consider joining Barclays if offered more senior roles with "huge jumps" in base pay, adds Liu. This would mean competing with other smaller private banks in Asia (e.g. LGT, VP Bank, EFG, and Safra Sarasin), which are regularly giving new recruits salary increases of 30% to 50%.
"It would take a lot of convincing and money to entice RMs to join a relaunched Barclays. The bank would surely need to pay above market average," says Gary Lai, managing director at recruiters Charterhouse in Singapore. "Barclays would need to cut its margins to offer RMs a significant pay-out and to offer competitive lending rates to clients."
"Size, reputation and product offerings are also key factors for success in private banking, so it would take a lot of investment into a product platform to make Asian bankers and their clients keen to move," adds Lai.
Image credit: Janine Lamontagne, Getty


text:
April was a quieter month. Though, in the middle, I did visit New York City to get some day job work done and took most of a needed break from writing. And because of a weird funk, it took me a while to read non-audiobooks. With May's aggressive travel, maybe time for reading physical copies will be easier to come by. Continue reading
Tag Archives: world building
Reading Recap: March 2019
March seemed to zip by. I went to Seattle for a bit, taking a proper vacation from both day job and from writing. It was nice and a much-needed break from the querying grind. But it left much time for some good reads, which I am pleased to share. Continue reading
Reading Recap: February 2019
Everything happened in February: work stuff, I moved my desk, moved my apartment, got sick, a polar vortex! February 2019 had everything, except for a well enough me to read the normal volume I am used to. But now that the books are put away and the furniture has been arranged, I wanted to share with you the delights and learnings from this second month.
Continue reading
Reading Recap: January 2019
New Year, new reads. My goal this year is read 100 books, and I'm doing pretty well with it, thanks to audiobooks.
Continue reading
Reading Recap: December 2018
Happy New Year! I rounded out my reading some excellent new favorites, bringing my reading total to 80 books. It's why I skipped my once-annual Twelve Days of Reading challenge. That, and I wanted to spend some quality time with friends and family.
Continue reading
Reading Recap: November 2018
One day, I will publish these on the last day of the month, but it is not this month. And it won't be next month either (because New Year's Eve). But I discovered a few new favorites and the foray into audiobooks continues.
Continue reading
Reading Recap: October 2018
October was quite a month. Between my friend's wedding in Italy, Pitch Wars announcements, querying, and a newfound appreciation of audiobooks, I squeezed in reading 8 books.
Continue reading


text:
"My biggest tip is to just be yourself, and not be afraid." Wesley Hoffman, founder of Treehouse Networkshop, offers digestible bits of advice like this with a kindly, gentle demeanor, especially when it comes to teaching the lost art of professional networking. Treehouse is an event series in which local professionals of all varieties meet each other over drinks at a new St. Louis hotspot every month. Hoffman founded it when a networking happy hour he planned, aiming for 12 to 15 people, exploded to over 40. "I didn't really have a plan when I first started. It kind of just happened, and it continues to evolve and get better, and more people seem to be interested," says Hoffman. "As long as people are interested, I'll keep doing it." The blog for Treehouse, a robust collection of Hoffman's thoughts, routinely comments on the hopefulness of the human spirit–some posts more consciously than others, with titles such as "Random Acts of Connecting" and "There's No Such Thing As An Irrelevant Person." In one of his latest tweets, Hoffman states: "I was so excited about this last email I put an exclamation point after my name when signing off! #PositiveEnergy."
"I've always been the kind of person who–I was never afraid to walk up to people and ask them a question," he says. Hoffman attended Greenville College in Illinois, pursuing jobs in sales and customer service, beginning with a sales internship in Texas. It was his first experience with cold calling, and led him to a job at the Arch. He worked as a call center rep, taking reservations and answering between 50 and 100 calls per day. "I've had to make so many cold calls in my lifetime that I'm used to–I don't have that fear of rejection anymore. People will hang up on you, people won't want to talk to you–whatever it may be. I guess that's happened so many times that I kind of go into it with an attitude of, 'What do I have to lose?' I think a lot of that comes from my past and working in sales and customer service," he says.
He eventually landed a steady job with Landscape Brands, a manufacturer and distributor of outdoor furnishings, where he worked from age 23 to 28. His old boss is still one of his mentors today. But after five years with the company, Hoffman quit his job with the hope of finding something more creatively satisfying. "Not having a job for a little while, and really having to put myself out there again in a way that I hadn't in a long time was actually really exciting for me. I loved having the opportunity to just have some time to meet with people and figure out what was right for me," he says, thinking back to the previous jobs he'd had. The more he connected with people, the more he discovered he could help with their creative and professional aspirations–or, if he couldn't, he knew someone who could. "I realized there were ways I could help out, even though I didn't have a job at the time," says Hoffman.
Earlier this year he acquired a full-time gig at happyMedium, a digital advertising and design firm on Locust. He wanted to continue the networking efforts he had been making while jobless after becoming employed, "not just for my personal professional network, but to give the opportunity to other people to meet for business and professional reasons. Also for the social aspect of, 'Hey, I want to meet new people and make new friends.'" He's a big believer in karma, particularly within the professional sphere, and will often go beyond the call of duty if it means helping someone achieve a goal. "Why not? Why wouldn't you want to meet new people? Why wouldn't you want to be good? Why wouldn't you want to help someone out?" He recently left to pursue Treehouse full-time. "It's been kind of a long road, I guess … I was reminded of what it means to work hard."
Hoffman grew up on a family farm in Vandalia, Illinois, a little over an hour away from the city across the wide brown Mississippi. His father cared for 1,000 acres of land upon which they raised pigs, cows, horses, goats, catfish, and a donkey, and grew corn, wheat, and soybeans for 25 years. "Farming is hard work. Very hard work. My dad was up and out the door almost every morning before I went to school, and usually didn't come home til after the sun went down. He'd have to get up in the middle of the night sometimes to take care of livestock," Hoffman recounts on his blog. He remembers growing up there–walking around town and knowing everyone he talked to, embracing the intimacy of a small community. "When I was younger, I was like, 'I can't wait to get out of here.' But now as I look back, I appreciate that I spent a lot of my formative years there," he says. "I'm thankful for that upbringing. It taught me a lot–small town, and also living in the big city."
As soon as he turned 16 and got a car, Hoffman constantly drove to St. Louis. "I always felt like I was a little bit of an outsider. I didn't really fit in with the small town." He doesn't know exactly what it was that made him always want to make the constant journey across the river. It started with punk rock music and art, but evolved as he grew older. "I always felt like there was more than what there was in my town. You know?" says Hoffman, as the evening light reflects off his well-groomed strawberry blonde beard. "It opened my eyes–there is so much more of life to experience. You just have to look for it."
Hoffman's wife also grew up in Illinois–Hoffman, a punk rock musician, crossed paths with her again later in life, this time through different rock shows in St. Louis. "She'd come to some of my shows," he remembers. "We reconnected. I just ran into her at a bar and asked her out, and it just kind of evolved from there." He still goes back to see his family–his parents and two sisters live in Vandalia. "It was crazy at times–but it was fun. We had a lot of fun together–we all get along pretty well. They both have kids now," he says of his sisters. "I don't spend a lot of time at my hometown. The main reason I do go back is to see my close family–I'm kind of a family man, even though I don't have any children of my own."
When Hoffman goes back to Vandalia, which he calls "home" in quotation marks on his blog, his father almost always inspects his car. "Most of the time, he takes it for a spin, washes it, and makes sure there's nothing wrong with it. This is Pop's way of showing me and my sisters he loves us," Hoffman recounts in another blog post. "People show love and appreciation through Acts of Service. That's my dad. Always wanting to do something for people to show them he cares."
Hoffman rolls up the sleeve of his right arm, revealing a tattoo he got on his shoulder a few years ago–he has several art pieces tattooed all over his body. "This is for my grandfather," he says. It's a wooden ship's wheel adorned with pink and yellow flowers, the word "Grandfather," written in black cursive, and the dates of his life: 1923 to 2011. "He was a sailor in World War II in the South Pacific. So I've got a ships' wheel with some tropical flowers and the dates of–the years of when he was born and when he passed away," he explains. "I feel like it's just a way to show people a little bit of who you are on the outside," says Hoffman. Depending on who he's talking to, he might wear a long sleeve shirt to cover them up. "I like the idea of breaking down those walls. I think tattoos are becoming more socially acceptable–I would love to live in a world where people would want to get to know me before they judge me based on my tattoos."
Quickly, as can often happen while in conversation with Hoffman, big psychological life questions and speculative answers begin to surface. "I think–and I can be an example of this as well–I think sometimes we want people to perceive us as we want to be perceived, and that's not always who we are–I have to gather my thoughts here for a minute," he says, pausing. "We want everyone to like us, and it's not always going to happen that way. Not everyone is going to be your best friend–it's impossible. It's impossible to please everyone. A lot of times, you're just not going to."
In the wake of the response to the first happy hour, he began thinking of traditional networking and self-promotion events, and how they could evolve into something different. "People want to be accepted. That's why I wanted to create something like Treehouse. This is something for everyone, not just for business people or a certain kind of industry. This is a place where you can be yourself, and you can walk up to people and just say, 'Hey, I'm Wes and this is what I'm into.' And people will accept that."
While Hoffman noticed an abundance of networking events for advertising and creative professionals, he wanted an open networking circle that could also encompass DJ's, hairstylists, bloggers, entrepreneurs, small business owners, freelancers, artists–anyone pursuing an interest and honing their craft in the city. As a result of the event series, he has seen employers hire new talent, jobless professionals find work, new projects form, and much more. "When you think about networking or networking events, you think of, 'Oh, I'm going to meet these people and I'm going to put myself out there.' And that's hard to do. I wanted to change the way people look at networking events, where you're not always going in there saying, 'I'm looking for a job, I'm going to this event where there's going to be a hundred people and I'm gonna find someone who can hire me.' It doesn't always work that way." At Treehouse, Hoffman is intentional to create an environment where participants can be relaxed. "Like, 'Hey, I'm going to meet some new people and see what happens,'" he says.
Hoffman has spent a great deal of time teaching others to pursue their wildest dreams. With his recent departure from happyMedium, he's taking his own advice. "The time is now to follow your passion," Hoffman writes in his latest blog post about his decision. "Take steps towards it. Don't. Look Back."
For more information about Wesley Hoffman and Treehouse Networkshop, visit http://treehousenetworkshop.tumblr.com


text:
Reply to this post with a deck you would like, and ill make it.
All my decks are free! Enjoy
All my decks are free! Enjoy
Elite Duel Academy. Duel, Rise through the dorms, and defeat all duelists that challenge you. Owners are Yugi Moto and Seto Kaiba. Presented by Hakacorps.


text:
The Real Estate Alliance held its inaugural social event at 5th & Mad in New York City on February 17th. Bob Steers, Professor Matt Cypher, and several Steers Center board members joined over 85 Hoyas in the real estate industry to network and hear more about the Real Estate Alliance. The Hoyas in attendance represented various disciplines in real estate—investment banking, development, investment management, brokerage, and law. The event provided a great opportunity for new introductions as well as re-connections among old friends.
Location: 5th and Mad; 7 East 36th Street,
New York, NY
Date: Wednesday, February 17
Hosted by The Steers Center for Global Real Estate and The Georgetown Wall Street Alliance


text:
Just when we thought we'd heard every bizarre thing you can hear about homosexuality from politicians, here comes an epic fail from Texas Governor Rick Perry. Perry actually compared homosexuality to -- ready for it? -- alcoholism. Perry reportedly told the audience at a conference in (of all places) San Francisco: "I may have the genetic coding that I'm inclined to be an alcoholic, but I have the desire not to do that, and I look at the homosexual issue the same way." Erm, what?!
Alcoholism is an insidious and horrifying disease that kills thousands every year; 88,000 deaths are attributed every year to excessive drinking. Alcoholism can destroy your body. Your mind. It can rob you of the capability of making good choices and decisions. It increases domestic violence and stillbirths and birth defects.
It can cause neurological problems, dementia, stroke, and neuropathy. It can cause cancer and liver disease. It can severely affect your employment and family life. Every day, 28 people in the country are killed due to drunk driving accidents.
So far as I know, there is nothing in the "gay gene" that makes someone swerve across the center line and into oncoming traffic.
Now, maybe what he meant was that homosexuality is something that can be managed and controlled with a huge amount of dedication and work -- much like alcoholism can with the lucky ones.
But even if that is so, and it's quite debatable whether it is, why? Why is it necessary? No bad comes from being homosexual. Much bad comes from being alcoholic.
Yes, there are gay men and women who come out during a marriage and break up a family. But there are heterosexual men and women who have affairs and do the same thing -- yet no one is comparing heterosexuality to alcoholism.
If homosexuals can't have children in the "natural" way -- again, who cares? Many heterosexuals can't either. But they use surrogates or adopt and no one is calling them alcoholic.
So, I fail to see how homosexuality is like alcoholism at all -- and I'm pretty sure it says nothing like that in the Bible, if that is your particular anti-gay justification of choice.
To compare homosexuality to alcoholism is a huge insult to the gay population -- nor does it grasp the enormous battle that alcoholics face. Even the mostly Republican audience Perry was speaking to reportedly murmured in embarrassment over his crude and bizarre remark.
Rick Perry believes homosexuality is a "disorder" but it sounds like he has some sort of disorder -- it's called diarrhea of the mouth, and I don't think any amount of Imodium will shut him up!
What do you think about what he says?
Image via Jorge in Brazil/Flickr


text:
EDF Energy, the UK's largest producer of low-carbon electricity.
We're dedicated to building a more sustainable energy future for our customers. As a company, we're also committed to the environment and communities around us. That's why we work in partnership with a number of organisations on various charity projects and environmental initiatives. We also encourage our employees to volunteer and contribute as much as they can, working together to leave the right kind of impression.
Careers and IAG
Max number of students TBC
Timing of sessions: To be confirmed