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The influences and consequences of being digitally connected and/or disconnected to travellers
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Technological progress and tourism have worked in tandem for many years. Connectivity is the vehicle that drove the goal of technologically enhanced tourism experiences forward. This study, through an exploratory qualitative research identifies the factors that boost and/or distract travellers from obtaining a digitally enhanced tourism experience. Four factors can boost and/or distract travellers from being connected: (1) hardware and software, (2) needs and contexts, (3) openness to usage, and (4) supply and provision of connectivity. The research also analyses the positive and/or negative consequences that arise from being connected or disconnected. A Connected/Disconnected Consequences Model illustrates five forms of positive and/or negative consequences: (1) availability, (2) communication, (3) information obtainability, (4) time consumption, and (5) supporting experiences. A better understanding of the role and consequence of connectivity during the trip can enhance traveller experience.
KeywordsConnectivity During-trip stage Unplugging Selective unplugging Social Wi-Fi
1 Introduction
The tourism sector is often considered to be an information intense industry (Fotis et al. 2012). Therefore, it is important to understand how technology, together with online connectivity, has fundamentally reshaped the distribution of information (Buhalis and Law 2008) and the way people experience their travel (Neuhofer et al. 2014). For this reason, several researchers and developers have undertaken the challenge to discover or produce a piece of work to fuse technology with tourist experiences (e.g. Wang et al. 2012; Berger and Paris 2013; Hannam et al. 2014; Neuhofer et al. 2015; Wang et al. 2014; Paris et al. 2015). Connectivity has become such a crucial technological development that innovative projects like Facebook's solar powered drone (see: http://www.internet.org) or Google's balloon powered technology (see: http://www.google.com/loon) are being developed to deliver connectivity even in the most remote areas around the world.
Try and visualise a traveller who is about to embark on a journey. As he makes his way to the airport, he listens to music on Spotify, keeps socially updated on Facebook, and completes the online check-in for the flight. He boards the flight with a boarding pass that was retrieved on a smartwatch, arrives at the destination, and books a ride with Uber to the city centre. After checking-in at the hotel, the visitor selects and books a restaurant through TripAdvisor, and then navigates to it using Google Maps. Once the food arrives, he captures a photo and uploads it on Instagram and Facebook, shares his location and writes a short insight on Twitter, chats on WhatsApp and reviews the restaurant on TripAdvisor. Google Now, suggests a list of attractions in the vicinity that he might want to visit. Once in the recommended attraction, he opens Periscope and shares a live stream of the view with people from all around the world. Current technology allow for all these activities to be performed effectively and efficiently. Although this, by no means, represents how all travellers use technology, it illustrates functional possibilities that users can potentially operate.
The ever-increasing body of work on how information and communication technologies (ICTs) influence travellers during their trip has often focused on how digital media, software, and devices can increase communication, gather information, co-create, and improve experiences (e.g. Buhalis and Amaranggana 2013; Buhalis and Foerste 2013, 2015; Wang and Fesenmaier 2013; Lamsfus et al. 2015). On the opposite end of the spectrum, there is also emerging research on the induced experiences and tensions resulting from disconnection or unplugging from technology (e.g. Pearce and Gretzel 2012; Paris et al. 2015; Germann Molz and Paris 2015).
This study aims to explore the factors that boost or distract the use of connectivity during a trip and the subsequent positive and/or negative consequences of being connected and/or disconnected. The outcomes of these findings offer strategic implications for tourism marketers, and a different perspective for researchers.
2 Literature review
2.1 Online content and tourism experiences
The accumulation of information and online content shapes the tourism experience in three different stages: pre-trip, during-trip, and post-trip (Hjalager and Jensen 2012). The events that occur before the trip (e.g. planning), during (e.g. at destination) and after the trip (e.g. recollection) make up one's individual subjective evaluation and undergoing of a travel experience (Tung and Ritchie 2011). During the planning process, tourists use information search to obtain ideas, seek for alternatives, and help avoid places that does not interest them (Xiang and Gretzel 2010). Through reading online reviews, travellers gain a clearer picture of what to expect, increase their confidence in decision making and reduce the risk of satisfaction disconfirmation (Xiang and Gretzel 2010; Jun et al. 2012). At the post-trip stage travellers socialise, communicate, share experiences, help others, and reconstruct their memories of the trip by using social media (Jun et al. 2012; Wu and Pearce 2016). In doing so, travellers enter a mental imagery process that has the potential to modify their satisfaction level of their previous trip (Jun et al. 2012).
2.2 Connectivity and technology enhanced experiences
Online communication is increasingly challenging the traditional view where tourists manage to disconnect themselves from their home and move into a potentially rewarding, life-changing or challenging space (Pearce 2011). This notion of movement between two distant worlds has been substituted with the idea of 'digital elasticity' (Pearce 2011). Contemporary travellers explore the identity and the world of others while remaining electronically connected with their home world (Pearce and Gretzel 2012). The idea of disconnection whilst travelling has given way to the contemporary travellers' world where they paradoxically make systematic efforts to keep in touch with friends and family (White and White 2007). Constant connectivity enhances the sense of obligation for travellers to retain the same level of presence, attention, and intimacy with their friends and relatives (Pearce and Gretzel 2012; Germann Molz and Paris 2015). As a result of increased use of technology, tasks which were previously fulfilled in the pre-trip and post-trip stages are now being fulfilled during the consumption stage (Wang and Fesenmaier 2013; Wang et al. 2014). The pre-consumption stage has been shortened as travellers tend to plan less and thus become less rigid and more spontaneous. Travellers are more open to change when an activity becomes unsatisfactory and plan alternatives on the spot. The post-trip consumption has become less necessary since experiences are already being shared live on social networks during the consumption stage (Wang et al. 2014; Tussyadiah 2014).
Memorable travel experiences increase the likelihood and the variety of content that travellers are willing to publish on social media (Minazzi and Mauri 2015). As social posts start to become a new form of postcards, the reaction of other users to the content uploaded can shape the travel experience of the uploader. Indeed, Kim et al.'s (2013) research shows a significant relationship between social-media enabled communication and emotion. Travellers arguably have a more enjoyable and memorable experience if they acquire positive emotional support and encouragement on social media during their trip.
In addition to social interaction, connected travellers can also shape their experiences through co-creation with service providers. Neuhofer et al. (2014) through the 'experience hierarchy matrix' argue that different levels of utilisation of technology create different degrees of impact on the tourist experience. At the lower level of the matrix, where use of technology is scarce, travellers have no option but to interact or get involved in creating their experiences. Conversely, higher up in the matrix, travellers co-create their experiences with service providers, the tourist consumer and other consumers. At the peak of the matrix, technology becomes a catalyst and an integral part of the travel experience rather than being merely a supporting tool.
If technology-empowered experiences through co-creation is the goal (Neuhofer et al. 2014), then connectivity is the vehicle that can drive this goal forward. Other enablers of technology enhanced experiences, such as hardware and software (Neuhofer et al. 2015), often depend on connectivity to fully maximise their functionalities. The internet allows users to obtain information, share experiences through content and communication, and co-create experiences (Wang et al. 2014; Minazzi and Mauri 2015; Neuhofer et al. 2015). Whereas ubiquitous and reliable 3G/4G networks are amongst the most widely adopted solutions for connectivity, they are expensive when used abroad. As a result, Wi-Fi, even with its limitations (i.e. lack of coverage), is often the preferred method of connection (Gass and Diot 2010). Wi-Fi can provide intermittent high bursts of data retrieval at a low or free cost, while roaming offers continuous connectivity with low data rates and relatively high costs (Gass and Diot 2010).
Increasingly, the provision of free Wi-Fi is being integrated with social logins (see http://www.fusionwifi.com; http://www.purplewifi.net). Through social logins users manage account registrations and passwords more efficiently and reduce the burden of "password fatigue" where users need to manage multiple accounts across different websites and/or services. This service, termed as Social Wi-Fi, provides users with the ability to seamlessly gain access to connectivity, and also provides valuable social data for organisations. At the same time, mining of personal data also raises privacy and security issues (Bonneau et al. 2009; Wang et al. 2012; Gafni and Nissim 2014). Third party applications are able to gain access to data which is already available on the user's profile: access to basic information (e.g. user name or email address), personal information (e.g. gender, nationality, residence, friend list), created content (e.g. images, videos, status updates), data from potentially non-consenting users (e.g. friends), and the writing permissions for RPs to share content on the users' social network (Vapen et al. 2015). Nonetheless, users' concerns about loss of privacy and security vulnerability of social logins are often a consequence of poor understanding of how the system works (Gafni and Nissim 2014). While there is increasing literature on social logins (e.g. Sun et al. 2013; Vapen et al. 2015), there is a significant lack of research on Social Wi-Fi, and especially travellers' perception of this connectivity enabler.
2.3 Disconnection and unplugging
The inability to connect online can be either one's own personal decision, or a result of inadequate infrastructure (Paris et al. 2015).The absence of highly familiar sensory inputs and disconnection creates technology-induced tensions to some (Pearce and Gretzel 2012) but a relief for others (Germann Molz and Paris 2015). Pearce and Gretzel (2012) established four types of technology-induced tensions in dead zones areas: (1) social communication tension, (2) work communication tension, (3) security escape tension, and (4) immediacy connectedness tension. Technological dead zones create 'social communication tension' as travellers are unable to meet the typical social expectation to be continuously connected and in constant communication. At the same time, dead zone areas give the traveller a break from this continuous need to be online. The fact that one cannot receive or send communication in dead zone areas offers a good justification for the lack of virtual interaction.
While dead zone areas might create work anxiety, at the same time this disconnection provides a relief from responsibilities as it creates a compelling excuse to not pay attention to work communication. The inability to for travellers to report their well-being to others provokes a security tension to some. On the other hand, being disconnected arouses a sense of adventure, spontaneity, and freedom to truly escape from society. Technological dead zones encourage travellers to focus on the moment and to stimulate skills that technology might typically replace. Pearce and Gretzel (2012) argue that the need to find one's own entertainment and immediate presence in unplugged areas were challenging to some but also rewarding to others.
Induced anxiety from disconnection might be related to the perceived need of staying online, as well as the level of addiction to the internet (Paris et al. 2015). The constant need to check and think about new notifications is often a consequence of smart devices (Harwood 2014). While it is hard to argue against the convenience that internet brings to modern life, a high proportion of the population have developed an addiction to it (Ko et al. 2005). Addicted users might not only feel higher anxiety or distress than typical travellers because of disconnection, but they might also find their denied mobility as unacceptable (Hannam et al. 2014).
Ultimately, the level of reaction towards being unplugged depends on the original intent of the trip, the perceived need of staying connected and the level of control and choice over the disconnection (Paris et al. 2015). In practice, Paris et al. (2015) argue that there might be marketing potential for disconnection as long as it is the travellers' choice to be unplugged. If the traveller is originally aware that he/she will be in a dead zone area, or desire to be in a dead zone area, then the level of anxiety will drop because of the awareness and the preparation which is done beforehand to deal with the eventual disconnection. Arguably, while networking technologies create ways of being virtually together, it also creates new desires for distance and new ways of disconnecting (Germann Molz and Paris 2015). Indeed, Dickinson et al.'s (2016) study on travellers staying in campsites shows that tourists are not constantly connected, and up to 50 percent of them have some desire to disconnect.
3 Methodology
The nature of the study involves issues that need to be explored profoundly. For this reason, an exploratory qualitative research was carried out by conducting face-to-face semi-structured interviews. The primary research utilised a purposive sample since it represents an effective method for a pre-determined criteria for the selection of participants (Bryman 2008).
Pre-determined set of questions to guide the interview
1. How much value do you place on social media and internet in your life?
2. How reliant on connectivity are you during your trip?
3. What are the activities for which you opt to use connectivity during your trip?
4. Can you list an experience where you desired or required to be online but it was not available?
5. Can you list experiences where you desired or required connectivity and it was available?
6. If any, what are the main positives of being connected on your tourist experiences?
7. If any, what are the main negatives of being connected on your tourist experiences?
8. What is your attitude or feeling towards Wi-Fi services that use social logins?
9. How would your holiday have been different if you had no connectivity at all?
This study required participants who have an affinity for engagement with technology, connectivity and travelling and thus can be termed as 'informal experts' because of their experiences (Line et al. 2011). The term 'informal experts' does not relate to expertise and formal knowledge from a professional point of view, but rather, it focuses on personal interest and the interviewees' good grasp of the range of functionalities of online connectivity and mobility devices (Line et al. 2011). Respondents who have formerly used the internet and technology during their tourist experience had to be identified, as only these users were capable to describe such experiences (Neuhofer et al. 2015). Therefore, the pre-defined criteria consisted of two main factors: first, the informant must be a technology-savvy user who owns a smartphone and is regularly active on the internet and social media. Second, the respondent must have travelled within the last twelve months in order to be able to share his/her related experiences.
The sixteen participants who accepted to participate in the study were interviewed between 26th of May and 8th of June 2015. Three pilot interviews were conducted in the UK prior to executing the final interviews in Malta to minimise ambiguities and confusions in the research. The participants of the pilot interview were asked to be as critical as possible and outline any questions which seemed ambiguous or not understandable. As a result, some of the pre-defined questions had to be redeveloped to be clearer for the interviewees.
Sample profile
To safeguard the credibility of the findings and interpretations, rigorous and prolonged engagement with the data was conducted through a qualitative thematic approach. This researchers utilised Braun and Clarke's (2006) six phase guide for thematic analysis. In the first phase, familiarisation with data involved transcription of text from the interviews. This phase also included continuous reading and re-reading of the transcriptions to form the initial analysis of the data. In the second phase, initial codes were generated to gain a deeper understanding of the data collected. Descriptive coding was conducted on QSR NVivo 10. The third phase included the search for themes by identifying codes that were related to each other. The fourth phase of the analysis consisted of a review of the themes. To ensure raw data was accurately supported and represented in these themes, the data was interpreted again. In the fifth phase, themes were defined and named, while ensuring that they do not become too diverse or too complex. The sixth and final phase involved the first analysis and write-up of the report.
4 Findings
4.1 Factors influencing a connectivity enhanced experience
4.1.1 Hardware and software
"I use my mobile phone pretty much every time, so first thing in the morning and the last thing I use at night. I get quite fidgety when I'm out and it's not working. (…) I use Facebook—I need to keep in touch with my world. Google Maps, TripAdvisor if I need to find a restaurant or museum and want to make sure that the place I go is well rated. For transport, bus schedules, train schedules" (Victoria).
"If you have Wi-Fi you can always do something, unless your mobile dies without battery" (James).
4.1.2 Needs and contexts
Different desires and contexts produce different non-technological factors that can either increase or distract the need for users to have a connectivity enhanced experience. This study highlights three types of contexts that have influenced the need for connectivity for the respondents of this study: (1) solo-accompanied travel, (2) familiarity–unfamiliarity of the destination, and (3) purpose of trip. Effectively the impact of these influences on the use of connectivity will depend on the traveller's personal characteristics, interests, culture and previous experiences.
"I will need internet if I am travelling alone for example because I am quite afraid when I am travelling so I might need the help of the internet to find my way through stations" (John).
Conversely, accompanied travellers obtained this sense of relief through the collective presence of a group of people. Indeed, respondents who travelled with friends and/or family did not need connectivity to feel safer since they were either dependent on other people or felt less stressed because they were not alone. Similarly, some maintained that travelling with a guided tour subsided the need of connectivity—especially when it comes to assistance with navigation and information. Therefore, solo and accompanied travellers value and use connectivity differently because of their different needs and contexts.
(2) Familiarity–unfamiliarity of the destination: Participants report that the level of familiarity with the destination influenced the role of connectivity on a tourist experience. Familiarity includes factors such as: knowledge of spoken language, previous experiences in the destination, and prior preparation. Tacitly, the stronger the participants were equipped with these three factors, the less connectivity they required. Conversely, without this knowledge, the internet became the tool which assisted travellers to enhance their experience in a destination. Through rapid information search and availability of rich content in multiple languages, connectivity becomes a great asset for travellers who need to become increasingly familiar with the destination.
"Well, I think it's quite important to have Wi-Fi somewhere, but it depends where you are. I think when you are in a city trip for example, it's quite cool when you have Wi-Fi because you can check for restaurants or sights or bus times. I think when I'm away and lying on the beach I don't need it too much" (Samantha);
"For example if the holiday, you aim to go on holiday, on a retreat or just to be away from your everyday life, you would probably need much less connectivity and hope to find much less connectivity there than at other destinations!" (Mary).
4.1.3 Openness to usage
The level of openness to use connectivity during travelling heavily influences the possibility of internet enhanced experiences. Different participants had different perspectives on the level of escape they wanted from their travels. Connectivity, being such an integral part of everyday life, has become comparable to an essential item in a suitcase to some, but to others it has also become an emotional and behavioural baggage. Those who perceive connectivity as a means to enhance their experience or a way to keep some connection to the life they are temporarily leaving, are more likely to practice an internet enhanced experience than those who desire to escape from home—both physically and virtually. The study has observed three particular voluntary approaches to connectivity: (1) actively connected, (2) selective unplugging, and (3) self-imposed total disconnection.
"I don't post photos or status normally, but, when I travel well it's the time to brag you know [laughs] so I quite often upload photo, but that's also for my family, I want to share my experience—like real time experience with my family and friends as well" (Jessica).
"When I am on vacation I normally decide not to see any emails; still I search the internet, check the news, log on my Facebook, Twitter, but not emails—so that at least I don't see what work is coming for me when I return home" (George).
"When I was in a bar, I was looking at places where we could go, and then I just realised, why not just enjoy the moment and I will look up places before sleeping. You have to be conscious to stop doing that sort of thing, because I do it without wanting to. I'm conscious that sometimes I use it too much" (James);
"In normal life you check your Facebook all the time, even if you don't have any alert you just check if you have any notification, so, that kind of habit you actually bring to your holiday as well, so when I'm in holiday I just think, like okay, let's not check—maybe later when I finish this route, when I finish this museum" (Jessica).
Selective unplugging becomes an increasingly important approach as travellers start to recognise the side effects of being completely connected online. The need for selectively disconnecting from aspects of connectivity stems from a conscious effort to stop the overdependence of technology and to enrich the physical and emotional experience in a destination. Nonetheless, as certain functionalities and abilities of connectivity are able to complement travel experience, travellers are still open to be connected at certain moments or for specific features. In this approach, travellers strive to find a balance between connection and disconnection in the type of usage and consumption.
"If I'm travelling, like, around with my backpack then I don't use internet—I don't like (using) it. There is some point in the year where I really need to be disconnected" (Sarah).
Self-imposed total disconnection removes any technological anxieties from the trip experience and enables travellers to fully immerse themselves in the destination. Participants with this approach desired to wander around the destination without the assistance or distractions of connectivity. As a result, travellers feel closer to their new environment and their inner senses. Consequently, this approach to connectivity thoroughly reduces the opportunity for an internet enhanced experience.
4.1.4 Provision and supply of connectivity
"Yeah I use Wi-Fi wherever it is: the hotel, hostel or restaurant or coffee shop. I am not trying to use the 3G that I have because it costs money and I don't want to spend money when there is Wi-Fi" (Sarah).
With the proliferation of social network users and the consumers' increasing requirement for provision of connectivity, it is not surprising that organisations are starting to fuse the two together and offer 'Social Wi-Fi'. The term Social Wi-Fi can be defined as the integration of social logins with the accessibility and provision of Wi-Fi.
"I think using my social account it is way faster and easier and I don't need to figure out a new password which I'm going to forget in the next few days" (Tom);
"Social Wi-Fi was faster, more reliable and I think it's more user friendly as well because it's just one click and you're done" (Joanne);
"Social Wi-Fi is just easier and faster, you don't have to put your name and email and all you data, you just log in, ok, and you are done" (Emily).
"Especially abroad, who knows, it could be the most popular service abroad, but to me, I have no knowledge of them, so my leniency to give them my information would be super high not too" (Ryan);
"Yeah, first of all it depends on the organisation and secondly if they would use this information for a good reason. Yeah I think it depends on the situation and the company: Mainly who will use my information?" (Tom).
"…you just press one button and it's all there for you and there's this whole integrated system that recognises a lot of your habits, somehow, and your behavioural patterns so that can come in handy and it might also provide a lot of unsolicited benefits to the other business" (Mary).
This study identifies four factors that influenced the willingness of the participants to connect to Social Wi-Fi: (1) users' attitude towards privacy, (2) availability of substitutes, (3) perceived value of connectivity, and (4) perceived reputation of supplier. The stronger perceived value of connectivity and reputation of supplier, the more likely participants were willing to connect to Social Wi-Fi. Conversely, the stronger the care for privacy and the availability of substitutes, the less likely were respondents open to use Social Wi-Fi.
4.2 Consequences of connection and disconnection
4.2.1 Availability
"I recall one time when I needed to login to my remote connection at work because something was wrong, and I found a Wi-Fi connection (…) It made me more comfortable knowing that I can control, for example my PC at work, and my mind was at rest that I can access it whenever I want" (John).
"Ten years ago no one expected you to be available. And now when you don't answer a WhatsApp message within some hours, it's like are you alive? So not sure if this is good or bad" (Samantha).
"And I'm going to worry, is my girlfriend going to text me on the chat app or my family going to chat with me and then I disappear, so I'm quite worried that people are going to worry about me. I don't know I'm addicted to social media sometimes" (Jack).
4.2.2 Communication
"We are always with our mobile phones in our hands, it's annoying, because, people are speaking with people that they are not there, and then when they are with those people, they are speaking to us" (Kate).
"I experienced snow for the first time so I wanted to share it with my boyfriend, so I switched on Skype and I could see his reaction and he could see mine live" (Joanne).
4.2.3 Information obtainability
"The amount of information that you can get at every moment, every time, in whatever situation. You make the most of the experience, you do not miss anything… While when you don't have internet, you are a bit lost, and you wander around" (Emily).
"Internet makes you plan everything and check in advance, you can even like see the menu of the restaurant, and pick before you go there, and maybe that is not really good for the experiences. (…) Maybe somehow it is even better when there is no connectivity because you can explore yourself. Because when you have Wi-Fi you go for what you need, and that's it. Maybe you see more of a place if sometimes you don't have internet" (Samantha).
4.2.4 Time consumption
"I would be walking like I'm a resident there—like I already know what's happening—so that (connectivity) saved me time" (Ryan).
4.2.5 Supporting experiences
Online connectivity is able to support users on information, entertainment, and communication requirements. Connectivity provide travellers a sense of security in knowing that any needs can be addressed instantly. Minazzi and Mauri (2015) discussed how tourists reduce the perception of risk through the availability of online information and enrich their experiences with instant decisions using mobility devices. This reduces the conventional stress that arises from temporarily living in a different and unknown environment, often with its different culture, language, norms, especially when visiting for the first time. However, this can also become detrimental when travellers over-depend on it, as connectivity is inconvenient and stressful when it is unavailable. While connectivity has the ability to aid and increase the personal development of travellers, it can also cage the traveller in his/her own online world and miss out on potential learning experiences.
"If anything I'd be a bit, not dissatisfied, like be how unfortunate. I'd feel like I missed out on something you know, having internet would have made it a bit better the holiday experience. Even though you don't do much, even if you don't post or anything, even just receiving data, it would have complemented the holiday" (Ryan);
"Not necessarily an advantage at time because it might distracts you, however, overall I think it's a plus because it's a service that is available there and you never know what you might need off the internet" (Mary).
Figure 2 illustrates how the five forms of consequences can potentially feature positive and/or negative attributes for both connection and disconnection. The consequences of being (dis)connected depend on the level of control over the decision to have connection or disconnection, the openness for usage and the context of the traveller. The positives from being disconnected are amplified if the disconnection is the traveller's own personal decision through blocking access to connectivity or knowingly travelling in unplugged areas. The negatives will intensify if the disconnection was not a personal decision made by the traveller but was imposed on him/her. The negative consequences of both connection and disconnection can be reduced if the traveller is able (and is allowed to) strike a balance between both approaches. Being connected did not necessarily make the participants unsociable or unable to enjoy the immediate presence or companionship. The respondents' degree of control over the use and duration of connection or disconnection played a huge role in augmenting or decreasing the negative consequences. Selective unplugging was often the respondents' preferred attitude towards connectivity in order to strike a balance between the online and offline world.
5 Conclusion
Connection and disconnection have often been studied exclusively in their own respective worlds. In doing so, researchers often ignored the fact that travellers have to commonly adjust between the two states of connections during their travels rather than be completely connected or disconnected. Additionally, the influence of technology has often been observed solely from a software and/or device point of view (e.g. smartphones and wearable technologies) (e.g. Wang and Fesenmaier 2013; Dickinson et al. 2014; Tussyadiah 2014; Wang et al. 2014) but rarely have they specifically concentrated on the main factor that maximises their functionalities: connectivity.
This research aimed to fill this literature gap by understanding the factors that boost or discourage connectivity enhanced experiences and the positive and negative consequences of being connected and/or disconnected. The accumulation of these influences was classified in four main factors: (1) hardware and software, (2) needs and contexts, (3) openness to usage, and (4) supply and provision of connectivity. Travellers' openness to usage is arguably the most influential factor in being connected or disconnected. Without the desire to obtain connectivity all the other factors that can enable internet connection become futile. Conversely, hardware, software, provision of connectivity become crucial supporting tools when the user desires to be active online during the trip. Subsequently, the research also presented a number of multifaceted experiential consequences of being connected and/or disconnected. The findings suggest that the consequences of being (dis)connected largely depend on the level of control over the decision to be connected or disconnected, the willingness to use connectivity, the context of the traveller, and the travellers' volitional balance between the two opposite states of connectivity.
The research has identified three different approaches to connectivity. Through the novel approach of focusing on both connection and disconnection, the study introduced the concept of "selective unplugging" where travellers attempt to strike a balance on the usage and dependence on the internet and its supporting tools. Alternatively, travellers might opt to be 'actively connected' throughout their trip, or even practice a 'self-imposed total disconnection'. As a result, businesses seeking to satisfy their customers' needs should attempt to understand the desires of their target markets, and ensure that they are equipped with the appropriate infrastructure. As Paris et al. (2015) also argue, marketing potential exists for both the provision of connection and disconnection. There are numerous examples of organisations and businesses promoting themselves as Wi-Fi friendly, but at the same time, there are also existing places and businesses that promote the fact that they do not provide any connection. One example is Visit Wales' witty marketing campaign whereby they promoted areas of "outstandingly bad mobile reception" (Brand Arcade 2010).
- 1.
the extent to which 'selective unplugging' approach is utilised by travellers,
- 2.
the factors that influence the degree to which 'selective unplugging' approach is used,
- 3.
the role of Social Wi-Fi in the context of travel and tourism.
As technology enhanced experiences, co-creation, and smart destinations continue to emerge and grow (e.g. Buhalis and Amaranggana 2013; Neuhofer et al. 2014, 2015; Buhalis and Foerste 2015), both academics and marketers need to ensure there is appropriate level of infrastructure. Effectively, destinations and organisations need to ensure their telecommunications infrastructure is capable to address the ever expanding needs of the market.
The research work disclosed in this publication is partially funded by the Master it! Scholarship Scheme (Malta). This Scholarship is part-financed by the European Union—European Social Fund (ESF) under Operational Programme II—Cohesion Policy 2007–2013; "Empowering People for More Jobs and a Better Quality Of Life".
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Copyright information
Open AccessThis article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.


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Welcome to Breast Enlargement World
Welcome to Breast Enlargement World
Welcome to breast-enlargement-world.com, the most visited guide on the internet for breast enlargement since 200
In Breast Enlargement World you can find all you need to know about your breasts, the essential rules that must be kept in mind before choosing any breast enlargement method without surgery, including evaluations and comparisons of the best breast enlargement products. You can also discover what men think about the size of breasts.
Jan. 8, 2010. We have been working for a long time to create a very detailed comparative list with the best natural methods to help us women to improve a part so important for us like our breasts and all aspects of breast enlargement. Do you know a woman that doesn't worry about her breasts? No, right? We would all love to show off firm, well-formed breasts.
Reality shows us that men prefer women who have beautiful and well-formed breasts, a high sexual libido, and self-confidence. Thanks to the advances of breast enlargement that have been produced in the field of natural medicine, we are able to offer you natural products to enhance our sexuality.
Are there breast enlargement products that are really effective alternatives to surgery?
The answer is YES. These products offer a natural and safe alternative to the tradition of breast enlargement surgery. The surgery is not only costly, but it can also be dangerous. We can see cases of women everyday on the television with cases of bust deformation or large permanent scars caused by a bad breast enlargement surgery of the affects of anesthetics.
Today, you have the possibility of getting a breast enlargement and enhancement in a natural and safe way thanks to the big advances in herbal medicine and the active beginnings that include these new products. They have no second rate ingredients and are not harmful to your health, as they are composed of natural products and are top quality ingredients for breast enlargemen.
We decided to create our own investigation concerning this subject and sampled a multitude of products verifying that some really work enhancing women's breasts of all different sizes. After seeing the results of these investigations, we recommend these breast enlargement methods that we believe will be able to help the majority of us women. We also learned that many of these products are not completely recommendable for breast enlargement because of their low quality and their poor results.
In response to the great demand for these types of products and the peak of internet-publicity, a multitude of breast enlargement companies have sprung up that commercialize them. This makes it very difficult for a woman to differentiate the good products from those of companies who are only trying to get rich and produce products of poor quality. It does not go unnoticed that a product endorsed by medical testimonies, with a money-back guarantee, quality certificates or customer testimonies is not the same as a product that only claims to have these things but offers nothing. We review only the best breast enlargement companies.
After trying the majority of these products, consumers come to the conclusion that ONLY SOME REALLY WORK.
What should we take into account when the time comes to choose a breast enlargement product?
With a product of such characteristics, it is, in our opinion, fundamental that a money back guarantee is offered clearly and securely. If a company doesn't offer you the possibility of returning your money in the case that you are not satisfied with the results, it is because the company is not sure of the regiment and the effectiveness of its own product. Breast enlargement companies that do not offer a money-back guarantee really cause a great deal of insecurity. Always look for companies that have a money-back guarantee.
It is fundamental to look for products that value endorsements and recommendations from well-respected doctors and professionals from fields relevant to the product. We believe that it is obvious that if doctors and naturopaths recommend a product in its respective consults, that it is because it has really been proven that the breast enlargement product works. Many phrases on web pages appear that say "medically tested" but have no reference of testimony appears about who recommends or has tried the product. Only buy breast enlargement products that have signed testimonies signed by doctors.
With all the web pages that are appearing nowadays and the simplicity of inventing testimonies, in our opinion, the only way to verify the authenticity of testimonies is to have them signed by the people that send them to us. It is very easy to find testimonies "equal or very similar" on different breast enlargement sites. Look for products with real signed testimonies.
It does not go unnoticed that quality and price are usually related. If a product has a "great quality", it cannot have a "reduced price". In these types of products, top quality ingredients are needed to get optimal results, and some ingredients cost money. High quality breast enlargement ingredients cannot be purchased at low prices. We recommend to our readers that they choose precuts with a minimum price that assures the quality. This would be about $50.
You must always look for breast enlargement products that have certificates that assure the freshness and quality of the product in their processing, manufacturing, and past commercialization. Also look for products with GMP, GAP, and ISO certificates. This is the only way that optimal results may be guaranteed. There are breast enlargement products whose web pages talk about components and other information with analysis certificates.
It is essential that a great deal of information about the product be given to the consumers. A complete web page that is full of information can push us toward one product or another. We recommend that you always look for web pages with a lot of information.
With the many different sections of our complete breast enlargement guide, we will try to make it so that all our readers understand that methods and treatments exist that are very effective for improving your bust without the necessity of costly and dangerous surgery. Today breast enlargement products are available on the market of which we sill speak more in depth about with the intention of fully informing you about the characteristics of each one.
The most effective breast enlargement methods that don't require surgery
Breast Enlargement Pills:
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Natural breast enlargement exercises:

subset: commoncrawl


text: Hello everyone! My name is betty I am not from the us but I almost sure I want to study in the French culinary institute in ny. but I am not sure which program to choose. My first thought was to study the professional pastry arts Its a 6 or 9 months. But they Also have the cake techniques & design program Its a 3 or 3.5 months. What is the best? Does anyone participated in the cake techniques & design program? I would love to hear about the 2 programs and to talk with chefs who study there in the past. Thank you very much!


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Luxury Trains
US Rail Vacations North America, United States
US Rail Vacations
For US Rail Vacations, Members of the Club (free to join) benefit from:
- Club discount (2.5%) off any US Rail Vacation journey.
Fay says, "Upscale hotels and your own bedroom in a train - what a fabulous way to explore the vastness of the United States. We begin with a coast to coast crossing, Atlantic to Pacific via lake sides, canyons, plains and mountains, taking time out in New York City, Chicago, Denver and San Francisco."
Superliner Bedroom
The Superliner Bedroom is ideal for two passengers, but can accommodate three (two passengers must share the lower berth). Each room has a large sofa with two individually reclining sections and a reclining easy chair. At night, the sofa converts to a comfortable bed and an upper berth folds down from above. Private, self-enclosed restrooms with toilet, sink and shower. Bedrooms are located on the upper level of double-decker Superliner train cars.
Features: Meals included; large picture window; electrical outlets; climate control; reading lights; garment rack; fold-down table; fresh towels and bed linens; soap and shower amenities; turn-down, coffee, paper, make-up bed; bottled water.
Dimensions: Room - 6'6" x 7'6" (1.83m x 2.13m); Lower Berth 3'4" x 6'3" (0.91m x 1.83m) ; Upper Berth with Ladder 2'4" x 6'2" (0.61m x 1.82m).
Bedroom Options
Superliner Bedroom Suite - two Superliner Bedrooms combined together; designed for 4 passengers but can accommodate up to 6. The suite has two private, self-enclosed toilets and showers.
Superliner Family Bedroom spans the width of the car, with two picture windows. Located on the lower level of Superliner sleeping cars, these bedrooms include two adult-sized berths and two child-sized berths.
Superliner Accessible Bedroom - a lower-level room with space for a wheelchair. The room spans the width of the train and is designed for 2 adults - a passenger with a mobility impairment and a companion.
View a virtual 3D tour or the Amtrak Superliner coach
Great American Majestic Landscapes
New York, Chicago, Denver, Napa Valley, San Francisco
12 days/11 nights
Experience the bright lights and city sites of New York City on a multi-day hop-on/hop-off tour. See Chicago the way you were meant to see it – on a trolley tour! Enjoy admission to the Shedd Aquarium, SkyDeck Chicago, and more with your Chicago CityPASS®*. Take a sightseeing highlight tour of Denver. Arrive in San Francisco and enjoy a day trip to Napa Valley's wine country.
Days 1&2 New York City: Welcome to New York City! Enjoy a multi-day sightseeing tour of one of the world's favorite cities on a hop-on/hop-off double decker bus that includes the Uptown, Downtown, Brooklyn and Bronx loops as well as the night tour. Move at your own pace and experience the sights of New York City with stops including Central Park, Rockefeller Plaza, Theater District and many more! (Overnight in New York City)
Day 3 Overnight aboard AMTRAK®: Transfer on your own and board Amtrak to Chicago. Sit back and relax on the Lake Shore Limited as you head for the mighty Midwest to continue your Great American journey. Travel along the south shore of Lake Michigan, the Mohawk River, and the Erie Canal, following a famous Native American Highway. (Overnight on the train)
Day 4 Chicago: Breeze into the Windy City and explore Chicago with a hop-on / hop-off trolley tour and visit Navy Pier, stroll through Millennium park, shop along Magnificent Mile and more! After a day of exploring, enjoy dinner at the Italian Village Restaurants. (Overnight in Chicago)
Day 5 Chicago: Today, use your Chicago CityPASS to visit some of the most popular attractions in Chicago like the Shedd Aquarium, the Skydeck Chicago (observation deck at Willis Tower), the Field Museum of Natural History, and two sets of choices between 360 Chicago (observation deck at the Hancock Tower) or Museum of Science and Industry and Adler Planetarium or Art Institute of Chicago. (Overnight in Chicago)
Day 6 Overnight aboard AMTRAK: Transfer on your own and board Amtrak to Denver. Enjoy America's majestic landscapes as you travel on the California Zephyr through the plains to Mile High City.
Here is a useful route guide for the California Zephyr.
Experienced travellers say the California Zephyr is one of the most beautiful train trips in all of North America. As you climb through the heart of the Rockies, and further west through the snow-capped Sierra Nevadas, you may find it hard to disagree. (Overnight on the train)
Days 7&8 Denver: Arrive in Denver in the morning and spend the remainder of your day exploring the city at your leisure. On Day 8, your tour of Mile High City includes a visit to City Park, the State Capitol, the Denver Art Museum and more! (Overnights in Denver)
Day 9 Overnight aboard AMTRAK: Today you will board Amtrak in Denver for a relaxing ride to San Francisco. Enjoy the panoramic views outside your window as you travel through the Rocky Mountains and head for the West Coast. (Overnight on the train)
Day 10 San Francisco: Arrive in San Francisco at the Emeryville station where you board the motorcoach transfer for a short trip across the bay to San Francisco. Spend some free time getting to know the "City by the Bay" and see the most photographed bridge in the world, the Golden Gate Bridge. Dinner in one of the waterfront restaurants, the Swiss Louis Italian and Seafood Restaurant, which is located on the famous Pier 39 of San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf. (Overnight in San Francisco)
Day 11 San Francisco & Napa Valley: Enjoy a full day tour of the country's most famous wine growing regions of Napa and Sonoma. (Overnight in San Francisco)
Day 12 San Francisco - journey ends, but your sight-seeing can continue.
Included: One-way Amtrak® from New York City to Chicago on the Lake Shore Limited; Chicago to Denver; Denver to San Francisco on the California Zephyr in upgraded accommodation (3 nights), with meals included; 8 nights hotel accommodation; 3 nights onboard Amtrak; 2 meals included (1 dinner in Chicago, 1 dinner San Francisco); multiple meals included; Chicago CityPASS® includes admission to the following attractions: Shedd Aquarium, SkyDeck Chicago, The Field Museum, and Museum of Science and Adler Planetarium OR Art Institute of Chicago and 360 Chicago; other tours and transfers as mentioned in the itinerary.
Hotels: New York Affinia Manhattan; Chicago Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza; Denver Quality Inn Central Denver; San Francisco Holiday Inn Fisherman's Wharf.
Dates and Prices 2018
2018: Please ask
Price: From USD4,619 per person sharing
America's National Parks
Denver > Grand Junction > Salt Lake City > West Yellowstone > Salt Lake City
9 days/8 nights
Enjoy some of the most splendid landscapes in the world on this train tour from Denver to Salt Lake City that includes 3 spectacular national parks: Yellowstone, Arches and Canyonlands. Begin in Denver with the Rocky Mountain views. Head to Grand Junction on Amtrak's California Zephyr, which is considered one of the most beautiful train trips in North America. Enjoy the lovely views of the snow-capped Sierra Nevadas. Explore the geological wonders featured in two spectacular national parks: Canyonlands and Arches. Spend a day touring West Yellowstone and exploring the quaint Old Faithful Village.
Included: Amtrak® in Coach accommodations from Denver to Grand Junction; Grand Junction to Salt Lake City on the California Zephyr®. 8 nights' hotel accommodation. Park excursions as above. For full details, contact us.
Dates and Prices 2018
Dates: Every day except October to end of March
Prices: From USD$ 1,349pp
Grand Rail Experience
Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Washington DC, Chicago
14 days/13 nights.
Starting off in Chicago, the Grand Rail Experience is tailor-made for anyone who wants to absorb the full cross-country Amtrak experience. Connecting Amtrak's top train routes across the top of the country, the Pacific Coast, Amtrak's southern route known as the Sunset Limited and up through the Nation's Capital. This around-the-country journey is sure to please any train-buff or adventurous sight-seer.
Included: 6 nights hotel accommodation; 7 nights Amtrak accommodation. Seattle hop-on, hop-off trolley tour is seasonal. Seattle CityPASS® will be included in the off-season. The Seattle CityPASS includes admission to the Space Needle, Seattle Aquarium, Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour, EMP Museum or Woodland Park Zoo, and Pacific Science Center or Chihuly Garden and Glass Exhibit. Sightseeing city tour of Los Angeles. Sightseeing city tour of New Orleans. Monuments by Moonlight tour in Washington, DC. For full details, contact us.
Dates and Prices 2018
Dates: Every Monday, Thursday and Saturday throughout the year.
Prices: From USD$ 1,950pp
General Information
Dress Code: Smart casual.
Smoking: There is no smoking permitted anywhere on the train.
Booking & Reservations
All prices are at publicly-quoted rates. We will be happy to answer any questions and make the booking for you - contact us in the UK : +44 (0)1249 890205 or firstname.lastname@example.com Please sign up to our newsletter to be kept informed of interesting trains and special offers.
Join the Luxury Train Club to be kept up to date on developments, or contact us to tell us your interest.
Join Our Mailing List:
And be a Club Member for exclusive offers and luxury train news
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A Useful Guide To Plan Your Journey
Travel AgentsIf you are a travel agent you can book through us too - using World Train Travel.
Booking For Travel Agents
Other Services We Offer
Private Rail Car RentalsPrivate rail cars give you the luxury of time alone with the people who matter most.
Rail ChartersEscorted group train travel, with project and guest management.


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I am so excited to finally get the chance to go to the 4th Annual Natural Hair and Beauty Expo this year. I have never been able to attend in previous years, until NOW. I couldn't wait to share to such an informative event with you all, and trust me it's MORE THAN HAIR to learn about. I've already made my list of vendors I cant wait to shop. I've already viewed some of the vendors' sites that I have never heard of before. I have included all the info you could possibly need to know for this event!! See you there
When: Saturday September 28, 2013
Time: 10am-8pm
Where: Orange County Convention Center (Orlando, Fl)
Tickets: $15 www.Naturalhairandbeautyexpo.com– available until 9/27/13; Tickets can also be purchased at local ticket outlets listed below:
- All Dolled Up Salon 3228 W. State Rd 426 Ste 1008 Oviedo, Fl 32765 – (407) 622-0422
- Queen of Roots 7334 W Sand Lake Rd #120 Orlando, Fl 32819 – (407) 883-1218
- Hair It Iz Natural & Chemical Salon 2535 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr St South St. Petersburg, Fl – (855) 427-4849
Click on the links below to view the………
Young Naturals Zone Schedule
Parents bring your children to the kids zone for workshops all supplies provided. (This is free with paid admission into the expo).
Vendor List
Live Performances
Any of you beauties planning to go to the Natural Hair and Beauty expo??
Natural Girls Rock!!!!


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To install a new bathroom, you need an extra-wide 'wet wall' built of two-by-six or two side-by-side two-by-four walls. Unless you live in a warm climate, do not run pipes in an exterior wall. Make sure your framing accommodates the tub.
Set the shower base by making sure the drain is directly below the opening of the base. Cement an extension to the drainpipe, ensuring it is flush with the floor.
Fit the rubber flange that is provided with the shower over the drain extension using liquid soap as a lubricant and push it far down. Tap it in place using a ¼-inch steel rod and install the drain strainer.
Then, build two-by-four walls for the sides. Do not place the studs more than 16 inches apart. On the plumbing wall, space the studs to allow the placement of the shower faucet, and install horizontal braces to support the showerhead arm and the faucet. Install the faucet and supply pipes.
Cover wood surfaces with backer board and attach the board to the studs with backer board screws. Use ceramic tiles to cover the backer board. Allow the adhesive to set overnight.
Stir a batch of latex-reinforced grout and push into the joints with a grout float. Scrape away most of the excess before wiping with a damp sponge to create consistent grout lines. Caulk all the inside corners.


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Print Industry Leaders Set to Exhibit at EFI Connect 2005
Thursday, May 12, 2005
Press release from the issuing companyFOSTER CITY, Calif.--May 11, 2005-- EFI, the world leader in digital imaging and print management solutions for commercial and enterprise printing, today announced a line-up of 20 well-known industry leaders as exhibitors at the sixth annual Connect conference to provide additional resources to the hundreds of attendees expected at the industry's largest user conference. Connect 2005 is taking place June 12-15th at the historic Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida. As the Platinum Sponsor, Xerox Corporation will have the largest exhibit area showcase and will host a session titled "How to Improve Your Profitability in the New Business of Printing." They are also sponsoring a luncheon panel discussion on Monday, June 13th, with several printers speaking alongside technology experts in the areas of MIS systems, digital printing, workflow integration and color calibration. The Gold Sponsor of Connect 2005 is Adobe Systems, and Canon U.S.A. holds the Silver Sponsor title. All Connect attendees will also have the opportunity to see the latest products and solutions from these prominent industry sponsors: Atlas Software USA; Exact Software; FRx Software, a Microsoft company and a part of Microsoft Business Solutions; Heidelberg USA; I S Development Group; Komori America Corp.; Konica Minolta; MAN Roland; Matrix Scale Service Inc.; Mitsubishi Imaging (MPM), Inc.; National Association for Printing Leadership; Pageflex; Ricoh Corporation; SmartLinc; Tecco GmbH; and Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. WhatTheyThink.com, the leading online printing industry news source, is also a sponsor of Connect, and will be providing coverage from the show floor. "This year's Connect conference has again attracted a prestigious group of leading companies as sponsors, and we're especially pleased to have Xerox at the Platinum level," said Marc Olin, Vice President/General Manager, EFI Commercial Print Systems. "Our customers will be able to gather first-hand knowledge about these vendors and their products, and learn how they may integrate with their print MIS systems and other solutions from EFI." The exhibit area is just one of the educational benefits of attending Connect. The four-day conference will offer participants an information-packed, interactive opportunity to discuss industry trends, test drive the latest EFI software, exchange ideas, and attend a broad range of educational and keynote sessions. New this year is a focused educational track for each printer specialization, including an "On-demand/Digital" track for PrintSmith(TM) solution users considering digital printing; a "Commercial" track offering sessions specific to Hagen(TM), Logic(TM) and PSI(TM) users; and a "Profit" track highlighting best practices and ideas for all phases of print management and production. In addition to more than 140 break-out sessions, Connect attendees will enjoy several keynote speakers, including headliner Captain James Lovell of the Apollo 13 mission, and print luminaries Bill Farquharson and Andrew D. Paparozzi. Connect 2005 will also provide plenty of hands-on demos and the chance for attendees to enjoy relaxed networking opportunities in one of the most popular resort locales in the world. The conference registration fee is $895. For the special PrintSmith agenda, the fee is $695. For more information and to register, visit www.efi.com/connect05/.
Industry News
Copyright © 2018 WhatTheyThink. All Rights Reserved


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Eight New Providers Join Orange Regional Medical Group
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Orange Regional Medical Group
Orange Regional Medical Group is pleased to announce the addition of seven new physicians, and one new physician's assistant, to its team of expert and compassionate providers. These new providers will deliver patient services within various specialty departments.
Nauman Ahmad, MD joins the team as a Pediatric Hospitalist. Dr. Ahmad received his medical degree from Nishtar Medical College, Pakistan. He completed his Pediatrics Residency at Columbia University Medical Center, in N.Y.
Krassimir Atanassov, MD joins the Surgery Department as a Trauma Surgeon. Dr. Atanassov received his medical degree from Medical University, Sofia in Bulgaria. He completed his General Surgery Residency at Staten Island University Hospital, in N.Y.
Nelli Gluzman, MD has been added to the team as a Pediatric Hospitalist. Dr. Gluzman received her medical degree from New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, in Old Westbury, N.Y. She completed her Pediatrics Residency at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, in N.J.
Sukhdeep Kaur, MD, CMD has joined the Nursing Home Acute Care Services Department. Dr. Kaur received her medical degree from Maulana Azad Medical College, in India. She completed her Internal Medicine Residency at New York Medical College, in N.Y.
Cleveland Lewis, MD has joined the Surgery Department as a Thoracic Surgeon. Dr. Lewis will also be serving as Assistant Director of the Surgical Residency program. Dr. Lewis received his medical degree and completed his Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency at Duke University School of Medicine, in N.C.
Anjana Poonthota, MD joins the teamas a Pediatric Hospitalist. Dr. Poonthota received her medical degree from Guntur Medical College, NTR University of Health Sciences, India. She completed her Pediatrics Residency at Albany Medical Center, in N.Y.
Tahira Mirza, MD has joined the Surgery Department as a Trauma Surgeon. Dr. Mirza received her medical degree from Rawalpindi Medical College, University of the Punjab, Pakistan. She completed her General Surgery Residency at North Oakland Medical Centers, an affiliate of Wayne State University, in M.I.
Tricia Harvey, PA-C joins the Urgent Care team as a physician's assistant. Ms. Harvey received her Physician Assistant degree from Pace University-Lenox Hill Hospital, in N.Y.
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You are here
Doing things differently can unlock happiness
In this life, happiness is not a given but it is an idea so well propagated that everyone I know is either holding out for or working towards that fountain of never-ending joy. People are as busy trying to define happiness as they are trying to find it, also.
"Happiness is that feeling that comes over you when you know life is good and you can't help but smile. It's the opposite of sadness. Happiness is a sense of well-being, joy, or contentment. When people are successful, or safe, or lucky, they feel happiness," says vocabulary.com
Joy is considered a different concept altogether. People are joyful for varied reasons in a lifetime. There is joy at every accomplishment in education, the joy of falling in love, the joy at graduation, the birth of a child, getting a new car or a bigger house. But happiness is a little more elusive than this short-lived delight.
I had much time to contemplate on this in the past two weeks of feeling low-spirited and lethargic.
I've come to accept, with less guilt now, that tiredness is a major trigger for the undoing of my wellbeing. And so, at the end of an eight-month period in which the non-profit CreateBetterMinds was established and the real work begun, I flatlined. Kaput. Zilch. Nada. You could get very little from me for about two weeks.
Of course this was deepened by the fact that once again, the thieves in my community of Edward Trace, Moruga—a village where I am related to 95 per cent of the residents—decided that I had too much and not considering that I work extremely hard, with no idea how much it takes to work most days, the criminals broke into my home.
Despite all of that, I have been actively pursuing my peace of mind. I have come to realise from the moment my home became everybody's "shoplifting" centre that people's thievery is not about my shortcomings. It is their failing and I live in a community of broken stories from which I have been absent working on my mission of building capacity for mental health in T&T and the region.
So once again I ended up in what I have long considered my "zones of nothingness."
It's tough to be happy there. It's a barren, joyless chasm of despair but in the midst of it I am determined more now to find ways to consider my happiness. But, am I happy? What's the empirical evidence?
"Happiness scores go up when people break habits and behave differently," says Ben C Fletcher in Psychology Today. "Happiness is the consequence of what we do and how we behave. So when a person who is unhappy shifts their focus and does something different they help themselves to become happier."
So I found my depressed self reaching out to more people in the last week than I have in the last month. In the midst of my despair, I reached out to someone more despairing than I was; in the midst of grudging taking my medication I took opportunity to emphasise to a few people on different occasions, while peer counselling, how important it is to follow the entire care regime including taking meds.
I realised giving and caring are zones where I touch happy. And so, as Fletcher writes, "Happiness is the consequence of what we do and how we behave," after satisfying my desire to remain isolated I took my own advice and shifted focus. I engaged my son in a walk on the Queen's Park Savannah. It was so exhilarating being with a fresh, bright, young mind.
Fletcher believes that when "a person who is unhappy shifts their focus and does something different they help themselves to become happier." I considered that depression and unhappiness are totally different things but I also deliberated on the fact that they both have elements of sadness and despair and I determined to change what I do.
I recalled something I read in Time Magazine's 2017 special edition on Can money buy happiness? The lesson is: "Doing things can bring us more joy than having things. Our preoccupation with stuff obscures an important truth: the things that don't last create the most lasting happiness. (time.com/4856954/can-money-buy-you-happiness/)
The lesson is, in the midst of the struggle, "trying to think yourself happier is difficult; happiness comes when you change what you do."
• Caroline C Ravello is a strategic communications and media professional and a public health practitioner. She holds an MA with Merit in Mass Communications (University of Leicesster) and is a Master of Public Health With Distinction (The UWI).
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The purpose of this post is to let readers of theo-blogology know my future plans for school, life, and blogging. After winter quarter I will officially be done with my degree from Fuller. It has been a good, but difficult road for both my wife and I, as well as our bank account. That being said, instead of applying to PhD programs this fall, Megan and I have decided to wait until next fall to apply. I am quite burned out from being on the quarter system and going to grad school for two years year around, and Megan has had a very hard time living in the Los Angeles area and finding work. So, we are going to move back up to Spokane, WA, where she is from and we both went to schoool, (I am going to finish my last quarter from a distance and also take one of my courses at Gonzaga University), and work for the next year or so until I, hopefully, am accepted to a PhD program.
We really need a nice break and some time to relax. We also need time to focus on our marriage. When we first moved to Fuller we had only been married for a week - it was a major transition. We simply need time to focus on each other. I think this time will be extremely beneficial for each of us individually and for our marriage, and it will prepare us well for moving across the country and starting a PhD program.
During this time, I will work, study for the GRE, and study for my own general enjoyment - I might also try to publish a paper or present at a conference. I have a great relationship with many of the professors at Whitworth University, so it should be an excellent theological community to be around. But because I will not be in a formal academic setting, I plan to bring much of my thoughts to the blogosphere. My plan is to start blogging on a regular basis starting mid-January. I hope everyone has an excellent Christmas and I look forward to many fruitful discussions.


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|Project by Jim B
|posted 05-31-2015 08:29 PM
|1023 views
|0 times favorited
|1 comment
I sold the first cutting board I made and the guy who bought it said he would be interested in something smaller too. This is what I came up with, nothing fancy just cherry strips laminated together with Titebond III then run through the planer. Since it is so short I left the two outer strips 20" long so I could safely plane it then trimmed them after. Finished with Howards Cutting Board Oil.
1 comment so far
#1 posted 06-01-2015 01:40 PM
Half way there. Really need to cut again and rotate strips to make it an end grain cutting board. Otherwise they just won't hold up.
-- Directions are just the Manufacturer's "opinion" on how something should be assembled. ----Mike, Waukesha, WI
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Cast-iron Skillet Corn BreadFrom kimichka25 9 years ago
- 1 C. flour shopping list
- 4 Tbs. baking powder shopping list
- 1 tsp. salt shopping list
- 1C. cornmeal shopping list
- 2 eggs, beaten shopping list
- 1/4 C. bacon drippings shopping list
- 1 C milk shopping list
- 3 Tbs. sugar shopping list
How to make it
- Preheat oven to 425 Degrees.
- Grease the bottom and side of a cast-iron skillet, then put it in the oven while you make the batter.
- Sift flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl.
- Add the cornmeal and blend with a spoon.
- Add the eggs, drippings, milk and sugar.
- Lightly stir until blended.
- Remove skillet from the oven and pour in the batter.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick poked into the center comes out clean.
- Variation: For jalapeno cheese cornbread, Add 3/4 C. grated cheddar cheese and 1 small can of diced jalapenos (drained)
People Who Like This Dish 6
Reviews & Comments 1
The Cookkimichka25 Any Town, USA, CA
The Rating2 people
Here in Alabama, cornbread not cooked in a skillet is called a muffin, fritter or cake. \0
Jeffhot_it_up in Columbiana loved it
The Groups
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Member Favorites: 6
Masuda (増田)Masuda is the manager of Ohanabatake, a Western style tea house, often seen wearing a bandana and apron. Both Kurosaki, Riko, and a number of characters refer to him as "Master". Despite his cordial demeanor and tendency to tease Kurosaki about his relationship with Teru, the Master can be surprising frightening; Kurosaki admits that the Master is far scarier than he is. He is fully aware of Kurosaki's activities as DAISY and has watched over Kurosaki, even before either of them became acquainted with Souchirou Kurebayashi.
(Source: Wikipedia)
Voice ActorsNo voice actors have been added to this character. Help improve our database by searching for a voice actor, and adding this character to their roles here.


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Quick-Setting Jelly Desserts
It appears, looking at my blog stats, that I get more traffic to the site when I post food ideas, than when I rant. Today, therefore, I must come up with some foodie inspiration for students and impecunious cooks everywhere. You'll have to give me a chance to think up something, but I'll be right back ... honest!
Meanwhile, you might like my quick-setting jelly dessert suggestions. The jelly will set much quicker if you do it this way:-
- Buy jelly sachets (optional - yoghourt or a can of fruit. NOT canned pineapple or kiwi-fruit)
- Dissolve jelly crystals in microwavable jug in MINIMUM boiling water (I microwave the boiling solution for half a minute to hurry it up).
- Now add icecubes, stirring as you go to help dissolve.
- After 6 icecubes, it begins to set, and dissolution slows down. At that point, make up to a pint with cold water or yogurt - you'll need to whisk it in - or canned fruit. (Hint, don't go on adding icecubes when they struggle to dissolve. And remember - a pint is the upper limit, including the melted icecubes!)
- Refrigerate.


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Ondine Ash LuLu Stripe Cushion
Sold Out
Product Details
Ondine Ash LuLu Stripe Cushion
The Lulu stripe cushion is made from a jacquard fabric that is woven on century old jacquard handlooms in a mill in Rajasthan. The craftsmen skilfully work the looms to produce this beautiful fabric.
The cushion pad is made in a small UK factory in East Sussex using ethically sourced RDS (responsible down standard) certified feathers.
52cm x 52cm.
Black and Off White
60% Cotton, 40% Acrylic
Tassel is removable, please remove before washing.
Ondine Ash was raised by the river Dart in Devon, before moving to London at the age of 21 to work in the fashion industry. After fourteen years working as a fashion buyer, Ondine's curiosity to know where and by whom products are made from seed to garment drove her to set up her own brand that focuses on transparency and a movement away from fast, throw-away fashions. Today, she uses her knowledge of international sourcing and manufacturing to produce goods that are made fairly and responsibly.


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Though it's hard to believe, summer is right around the corner! June through August is the perfect time for students to expand their musical horizons. It can be challenging to practice by yourself for three months – participating in a summer program helps to keep students motivated, while enjoying all the good things summer has to offer! Listed below are a variety of opportunities across MA and New England for students in middle school and high school. There are many more programs located across the country, and abroad – more resources are listed below the table.
|Regional Summer Programs
|Program Name
|Area of Focus
|Age Range
|Atlantic Brass Quintet Seminar
|Somerville, MA
|Brass Quintet
|HS and up
|Berklee/Boston Conservatory Brass Program
|Boston, MA
|Brass Comprehensive
|ages 15 and up
|Berkshire Summer Music Brass
|Great Barrington, MA
|Brass Comprehensive
|HS and up
|Boston University Tanglewood Institute
|Lenox, MA
|ages 14-19
|Camp Jobey at Boston College
|Chestnut Hill, MA
|Brass Comprehensive
|ages 11-18
|Greenwood Music Camp
|Cummington, MA
|ages 10-18
|Hornithology Ensemble
|Foxborough, MA
|Horn Ensemble
|MS and up
|NEC Festival Youth Orchestra
|Boston, MA
|ages 13-18
|Rivers Conservatory
|Weston, MA
|grades 3-12
|WCMS Wind and Brass Fest
|Winchester, MA
|ages 9-12
|Apple Hill Center
|Nelson, NH
|Chamber Music
|age 12 and up
|Encore Coda
|Sweden, ME
|grades 3-11
|Kendall Betts Horn Camp
|Lyman, NH
|age 14 and up
|Killington Music Festival
|Killington, VT
|Chamber Music
|HS and up
|Kinhaven Music School
|Weston, VT
|grade 4 and up
|New England Music Camp
|Sydney, ME
|ages 11-18
|Summer Youth Music School
|Durham, NH
|grades 6-12
To explore more on your own, there are excellent lists here, and here.


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Sunday, March 11, 2007
The actual origins of Roman Catholicism date back to around the fourth century A.D. Over the course of many centuries since then, numerous rituals and traditions have been added thus causing it to gradually become the worldwide religion that it is today. Each of these man-made traditions themselves, have "morphed" from their original ideas over many hundreds of years. We will briefly review several Roman Catholic traditions, and compare them to God's Holy Word, The Bible.
The Mass and Transubstantiation
Roman Catholic Tradition: The Mass is the core belief of Roman Catholics. During the Mass, Christ is mistakenly "offered up for sacrifice" over and over, which is in direct contradiction to God's Word. This is summed up in the idea of Transubstantiation: the belief that the wafer and the wine used in communion, are somehow mystically transformed into the literal body and blood of Christ during every Mass, thus attempting to renew His sacrifice as often as a Mass is performed.
God's Biblical Truth: Jesus was only sacrificed ONCE for all eternity! "But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God..." (Hebrews 10:12)
"Nor yet that he should offer himself often... For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself." (Hebrews 9:25-26)
"So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many..." (Hebrews 9:28) "...we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." (Hebrews 10:10)
"Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself." (Hebrews 7:27)
Salvation Through Good Works
Roman Catholic Tradition: Belief that doing good deeds automatically gets one into Heaven.
God's Biblical Truth: We cannot do anything on our own strength to rid ourselves of sins. It is only trusting in the blood of Jesus Christ (shed ONCE for all time on Calvary), that can make us free from sin. "...the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." (1 John 1:7)
The Lord says that our works by themselves, are dead. "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Hebrews 9:14)
Furthermore, Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
Veneration (Worship) of Mary
Roman Catholic Tradition: Roman Catholics regard Mary as the 'Queen of Heaven'. She is considered by them to be divine like the Godhead (Father, Son, and Holy Ghost), and is venerated and prayed to for intercession and salvation.
God's Biblical Truth: It is ONLY Jesus Christ who makes intercession for us! "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." (Hebrews 7:25)
It is ONLY Jesus Christ who can save us! "...Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead... Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:10-12)
The Lord Himself says we need to look ONLY to Him for salvation! "...there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Savior; there is none beside me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else." (Isaiah 45:21-22)
Finally, Jesus said, "...I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6) Without Him, there isn't any access to the Father!
Prayers to Deceased "Saints"
Roman Catholic Tradition: Prayers are made to innumerable dead "Saints" for certain things. For example, 'Pray to "Saint" Anthony when you lose something, to "Saint" Jude for dire needs, etc'.
God's Biblical Truth: We are to pray to our Heavenly Father in Jesus' name. "...Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you." (John 16:23)
Praying to anyone besides the Lord is idolatry. "I am the LORD thy God... Thou shalt have no other gods before me." (Exodus 20:2-3)
Confession of Sins to a Man
Roman Catholic Tradition: People go before a priest and confess their sins, so they will supposedly be forgiven. The priest is claimed to be the mediator between sinful humans and a righteous God.
God's Biblical Truth: Jesus Christ is the ONLY mediator. "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all..." (1 Timothy 2:5-6)
ONLY Jesus Christ can take our sins away. "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation (atonement, appeasement) for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2:1-2)
The Rosary
Roman Catholic Tradition: The Rosary is a series of rote prayers done in homage to Mary and is believed to 'pardon' one's sins and to help get dead people out of 'Purgatory'.
God's Biblical Truth: Prayer beads, including the Rosary, are a product of paganism. (Muslims and Hindus also use prayer beads.) Jesus taught, "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them..." (Matthew 6:7-8)
Statues, Icons, and Images
Roman Catholic Tradition: Statues or images of Jesus, Mary, angels, etc. are considered sacred and are often kissed, touched, or knelt in front of.
God's Biblical Truth: All of the above, including statues of 'Jesus', is idolatry. "Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the Lord your God." (Leviticus 26:1)
"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image... Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them..." (Exodus 20:4-5)
Roman Catholic Tradition: Unbiblical belief that a dead person's soul needs further purging of sins before being allowed into Heaven. Roman Catholics believe that the soul is purified in fire to remove the effects of sin. Through the prayers of the living and the ceremony of the Mass, the deceased is supposed to reach Heaven over the course of time. The Council of Trent "officially" defined this tradition in the 16th century.
God's Biblical Truth: This false teaching literally has damnable effects, for it suggests that people can eventually get into Heaven without having first repented of their sins and turned their lives over to the Savior. If the idea of Purgatory were true, then Jesus Christ's one-time sacrifice on Calvary would be both pointless and unnecessary, since we would be able to reach Heaven without Him. Jesus however, taught that the only way to the Father was through Him (John 14:6). He also instructed us that not everyone goes to Heaven, "...Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3) and "...Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3:5)
The tradition of Purgatory also suggests that Jesus' death on the cross is insufficient in freeing us from the effects of our sins after we die. The Bible however, states that, "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." (John 8:36) and "...their sins and iniquities will I remember no more." (Hebrews 10:17) This means free of all of our sins and their effects for all eternity!
Furthermore, Jesus only spoke of Heaven and Hell when He taught, "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth: they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." (John 5:28-29) The Bible teaches that those who have been born-again will have their names written in the Book of Life and will be in Heaven. Likewise, those who are not in the Book of Life, will be cast into Hell. It's either one or the other; there isn't any other destination.
In Conclusion
These are just a few of the MANY unbiblical traditions of Roman Catholicism. Jesus Christ had a strong opinion about religious traditions created by men. He proclaimed, "...Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, THIS PEOPLE HONOURETH ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR FROM ME. HOWBEIT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING FOR DOCTRINES THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men... Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition." (Mark 7:6-9) Jesus also spoke about the truth of God's Word and our need to apply it to our lives. He said, "He that is of God heareth God's words..." (John 8:47) and "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31-32) God's truths don't evolve over centuries. His Gospel is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (See Heb. 13:8) Don't be deceived. There are a lot of nice, church-going religious people who have missed Heaven and ended up in Hell because they stubbornly held on to their man-made traditions, instead of God's truth as revealed in The Bible. You don't have to be one of these unfortunate people. We respectfully and sincerely urge you to repent of your sins and surrender your life to Jesus Christ today...
Posted by Lady4emmanuel Servant of God at 8:50 AM
1 comment:
My inaugural address at the Great White Throne Judgment of the Dead, after I have raptured out billions! The Secret Rapture soon, by my hand!
Read My Inaugural Address
My Site=http://www.angelfire.com/crazy/spaceman
Your jaw will drop!
- March 12, 2007 at 3:35 PM
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NEW SMYRNA BEACH — Artists in residence at the Atlantic Center for the Arts are displaying their works this week at the facility.
Sculptor James Surls, Splendora, Texas, has drawings and sculpture on exhibit, and playwright Romulus Linney, New York City, has added his books. Jazz musician Charlie Haden, Los Angeles, has contributed recordings.
The exhibits are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and from 2 to 5 p.m. Sundays. There is no admission charge to the center, 1414 Art Center Ave.


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Our librarian Jan reviews two of the latest additions to our Postal Lending Library.
The Skies I'm Under: the rain and shine of parenting a child with complex disabilities by Rachel Wright
2015 Born At The Right Time Publishing
L6663 in the library
Beautifully written, this book tells the story of Rachel and her husband as they come to terms with life bringing up their adored son Sam. He was born in 2005 and diagnosed with Hypoxic Ischemaemic Encephalopathy which means he has Cerebral Palsy, seizures and has to be tube fed. Some days are good, some days are bad but with the support of friends and family, their faith and their enduring courage they tell their story. Other mums and dads reading it will feel they are not alone and if any of our supporters wanted to read an account of the realities of life with a disabled child, this book would tell them.
The Brain's Way of Healing: stories of remarkable recoveries and discoveries by Norman Doidge
2016 Penguin Books
L6660 in the library
Ever heard of neuroplasticity or neurofeedback being used to repair the brain? There are lots of accounts in this book where people have had a great deal of success using these techniques. Although many of the examples do centre around conditions experienced in adulthood there is information of how it can be used for ADD, ADHD, Epilepsy and traumatic brain injury. At a time when more and more is being discovered about how the brain heals itself, this is a very inspiring book.
You can find out more about our library and sign up to be a member on our library pages.


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Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Well, my Unbiased from Knitty is finally finished :-) This was such an easy bag pattern, a one that would look heaps different with every yarn choice. I made this one to the measurements on the pattern, and it makes it a really good size for holding knitting projects with straight knitting needles.
I think I'll make another one, but next time make it deeper, for a more slouchy kinda bag. The good thing about this pattern, is that it can be made to any size just by adjusting the dimensions of your 4 diagonal pieces.
One of the current projects over on the Sexy Knitters Club blog is Rusted Root. After sorting through my stash (really, I am trying hard to de-stash!) I found some black Sean Sheep Bonza 8 ply, that I thought would work good. I love the look of the puff sleeves on the pattern, but thought I may change them to an ordinary cap sleeve...I'll be wearing it layered over other clothes, so maybe the puffy will be too much. With changing the sleeves, I got to thinking that it might be possible to make it, by just using a basic top down raglan. I looked through some stitch pattern books to see if I had a similar leaf pattern for the lacy insert, and I found what I think is the exact one!! :-D How cool is that!?!
...ok!, time to put my pattern adapting to the test :-)
Labels: knitting, rusted root, SKC, wardrobe refashion
2 comments:
- picperfic said...
my daughter made me that unbiased bag out of some sari silk, it is my favourite bag but it really could be a bit deeper. I am thinking about making it out of some Rowan Denim, it's horrid to work with but such fun to wash and see it shrink into shape and it goes so lovely and soft.
- Queen Frogger said...
I am making unbiased at the moment with some sari silk, which is nice but sheds like mad!
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Making meatballs at Ouzo Bay
At Ouzo Bay, executive chef Michael Everd, a Baltimore native, carries on the meatball's Greek heritage with keftedes sto fourno, meatballs made with 100 percent ground lamb and spices like cumin, oregano and garlic. He finishes the molded balls with tomato sauce and feta cheese.
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