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Lanier Technical College
2019 - 2020
Catalog and Student Handbook
Telephone Directory
Location Maps
Catalog Home
General Information
Academic Regulations
Campus Facilities
Course Descriptions
Financial Information
General Code of Behavior
Program Descriptions
Student Affairs
<< return to Catalog Home Page
Federal Pell Grant
The Pell Grant is a federal grant funded by the U.S. Department of Education. Students who demonstrate financial need, who are enrolled in a Pell eligible program and have not received a bachelor's degree may qualify for this grant. Most short-term certificate programs do not meet the program length requirements as established by the U.S. Department of Education and therefore do not meet the definition of a Pell eligible program. Most diploma and all associate degree programs are Pell eligible programs. Pell awards are payable in three equal installments to be disbursed at the beginning of the 5th week of the term. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form in order to determine eligibility. This aid does not have to be repaid provided the recipient meets all
federal requirements
Special Admissions students are not eligible for federal financial aid benefits.
Pell Grant awards are based on a student's enrollment status, cost of attendance, program of study and degree of financial need. Student's registered for classes during Part of Term 3 which begins during the second half of the semester will receive those Pell funds after the drop/add period for Part of Term 3 as required by the U.S. Department of Education.
Every year, Federal regulations require all post-secondary institutions to complete verifications on a select number of their Free Applications for Federal Student Aid (
) applicants. The students are selected by either the U.S. Department of Education or Lanier Technical College.
Students who withdraw from the college before the end of the 6th week of the semester will have their Pell award pro-rated. Students who have their award recalculated may owe back a significant portion of their Pell Grant disbursement. Holds may be placed on student accounts for any unpaid balances owed to the college. Holds may prevent registration, receipt of transcripts, and graduation.
Pell funds are available for use at the bookstore approximately one week prior to the beginning of the term.
Selective Service registration is required for financial aid eligibility. Males who failed to register who can demonstrate extenuating circumstances that resulted in their failure to register may file an appeal with the College. Appeals will be reviewed by the Financial Aid Review Committee once each term. Please contact the Financial Aid Office for the Selective Service Appeal form and the deadline date for filing the appeal. The Financial Aid Review Committee's decision is final and cannot be appealed with U.S. Department of Education.
All Associate Degree and most Diploma programs at Lanier Technical College are Pell eligible. The following certificate programs are also Pell eligible:
Cosmetic Esthetician
Healthcare Assistant


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Date(s) - 13/06/2018
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
seaside community hub
Need help using your computer or using the Internet?
Then come along to our FREE Training Drop-Ins every Wednesday and Thursday afternoon from 2-4pm.
Just bring along your laptop or tablet and receive one-to-one help. Some of the things we can help include the following however when you arrive just tell one of the volunteers what you would like to learn each week.
- Setting up email addresses.
- Applying jobs or benefits online.
- Using social media.
- .. and anything else you can think of!
FREE wifi is available and you can purchase a nice cup of tea/coffee with biscuit for just £1 so even if you don't need any help you're always welcome to come and work on your computer and just shout if you need help.
No need to book – just drop-in when you can!
We are also looking for more volunteers so if you're able to help for an afternoon once a week then please let us know.
This project has been funded by Devonshire West Big Local and will run from January to June 2018.

subset: commoncrawl


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By now, I'm sure many of you have seen Chipotle's newest video release, the Scarecrow. The video, released about a week ago, uses vivid imagery to decry "factory farming." Better still, there is an accompanying video game!
I like to eat at Chipotle, but this video comes across as a bit disingenuous. The restaurant is now a multinational operation with 1400 stores. Some of the images are downright misleading (e.g., chickens are not given growth hormones), and others are merely suggestive (e.g., that Chipotle is fundamentally different than other restaurant chains, when in many important respects it is not).
I had a hard time distilling my thoughts on the matter, but fortunately the blogger (and hog farmer) Diana Prichard did all the hard work f in a series of thoughtful posts on the issue (part 1, part 2, part 3 is forthcoming).
Her conclusion in part 2 was brilliant.
Why did it matter so much? Because Chipotle has exalted itself as an ethical corporation among the throngs of unethical corporations, but in The Scarecrow Chipotle sits atop a high horse of its own creation mocking the same qualities in others that its own behavior embodies. I don't know about you, but I call that hypocrisy of the worst kind.
I chose the pictures in this post deliberately because green washing and transparency is a theme The Scarecrow broaches repeatedly. The Scarecrow stares at a factory wall painted to look like a farm, peers behind broken boards of an "all natural" poultry billboard to see a chicken being injected with… something. [Choptle's corporate spokesperson] himself told me that they're interested in transparency in the food system, and argued they're "not the ones championing "ag gag" laws that make it illegal to document what happens in our food system."* Yet at the same time Chipotle is engaging in behavior we could easily coin "ethics washing."
By elevating itself as an ethical company, but then turning around and only acting ethically when it benefits them Chipotle is ethics washing their own company and products. It would be more ethical to market their stores in such a way that is not blatantly inaccurate slander of farmers, but that won't sell as many burritos so they have no interest. Not only is Chipotle misleading consumers on issues of agriculture and the food system, they're misleading consumers on their own company's principles and standards of conduct. Chipotle's Scarecrow paints "a world of pure imagination," indeed — one in which Chipotle is far more morally astute than they really are.


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May 13 Pemberton BC Championship Round 3
June 19, 2007
Round 3 at Pemberton, just down the road from famous Whistler Mountain, started off well for Brady, but unfortunately his race day ended early this week. The track was rough and dusty, as there was over 400 riders and the watering system was not adequate with the sun and wind.
In the first 250F moto, he started mid-pack and patiently made pass after pass on his way to the front, picking great lines along the way, and won the 22 min. moto in convincing fashion. Next up was the 450 class, and Brady got a great holeshot, and was pulling away from the strongest field of pros yet this series, but fell over at the end of the second lap, and while he was picking up his bike, got hit hard from behind, destroying his Pro Circuit exhaust and causing him to DNF in that class.
Another nice holeshot started off Moto 2 in the 250F class, but Brady crashed in corner 2 and got run over and jammed his thumb. He tried to get up and ride, but it hurt too much to continue. We are hopeful to still make it to Hangtown for Round 1 of the AMA National Series this weekend.


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Order this great item from Yaer in minutes and receive prompt, reliable shipping direct to your home.
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Floating unicorn is a super lovely animal shape swim ring, feels very slippery, so that your hand is very comfortable, bright colors, the material is very thick, not easy to damage, it can be used as a swim ring, you can also do your child's Toys can also be a small bed, it is worth you to buy.
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Children under 12 years of age are required to be accompanied by an adult.


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Tomorrow, October 5, the Joint Committee on Judiciary will hear several important firearm-related bills, including legislation requiring micro-stamping. For a full listing of all bills on the committee agenda, click here.
Senate Bill 835, sponsored by state Senator Anthony Petruccelli (D-East Boston), would require an electronic database system to be used by those who sell, rent or lease firearms to record detailed information about the purchaser of a firearm or ammunition. S.835 would also mandate that all semi-automatic firearms manufactured or delivered to any licensed dealer in Massachusetts would be capable of micro-stamping ammunition. This bill would vastly increase the cost of these firearms and will likely result in firearms manufacturers not selling these firearms in Massachusetts.
Micro-stamping is unproven technology, is easily circumvented by criminals, and will be very costly to gun owners. Please contact members of the Joint Committee on Judiciary TODAY and urge them to oppose S.835. Contact information for this committee can be found here.


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Ang Lee and Vienna Teng @ KFOG, San Francisco
"It's a Taiwan morning," he said, after we introduced ourselves as having Taiwanese roots.
I'm back home now, and all of my house guests are still sleeping. Vienna and I agree that we really enjoy the stillness and productivity afforded by early mornings and late evenings. If only there was a practical way to mostly exist during those times.
[smugmug url="http://photos.echeng.com/hack/feed.mg?Type=gallery&Data=9180506_Vjw6R&format=rss200" imagecount="100" start="1" num="100" thumbsize="Th" link="lightbox" captions="true" sort="true" size="L"]


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A tech posse, that is. And, like all good posses, they have a clubhouse. As part of the President's bid for re-election, his campaign opened a Technology Field Office in San Francisco. The idea is to recruit tech-savvy volunteers, who would rather build apps and help maintain websites than cold call potential voters. There's really no exact plan as to what is going to happen in the space that will give volunteers access to technology-building tools, which I believe are computers, Mountain Dew, beef jerky, and high-speed Internet (not necessarily in that order).
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the office might "host mini-hackathons to develop new campaign apps. Maybe it will be something else. They're open to new possibilities. If it works [in San Francisco], though, the campaign is ready to launch similar Tech posts elsewhere."


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|June 2007, about a year after I installed the feeder.
|After resetting. The feeder was pretty wobbly on the pole.
|Self-evidently inadequate.
|Thar be poles here!
Stay tuned for Part 2, in which I actually get to the point.
|The Wily Forest Cat lies in wait for his prey, after having hidden all the remotes.


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Cary News
MaxPoint opens London headquarters
MaxPoint, a Morrisville company that provides online targeted advertising technology, announced Tuesday that it has established a European headquarters in London.
The office will help the company expand operations throughout Europe and serve as a hub for the region.
MaxPoint has created the digital equivalent of ZIP codes by dividing geographic regions into thousands of neighborhoods.
By analyzing billions of data points – including sales data from thousands of brick-and-mortar stores as well as a wealth of online and social media data – the company can identify neighborhoods that are fertile grounds for a particular product or service. It can also specify which retailers have stores nearby.
MaxPoint was founded in 2007. The company is set this summer to move into a new Duke Realty office building under construction at Perimeter Park.
MaxPoint is leasing 42,000 square feet in the building, quadruple its existing space.


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I did a really quick print and cut card for my son's 6th birthday and just wanted to share. I used My Scrap Chick's Zoom Zoom file. This isn't a print and cut file, but I layered all the colored pieces, grouped them and then cut with my Cameo. Super easy! It's takes a little time to layer the pieces, but easy to do!
I did a little inking and added some white dots and a few buttons and done!


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Postage/Shipping Rates
Postage within the UK:
Any UK order over £50 will be free of postage charges.
- This includes all mainland, Highlands & Islands, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, BFPO and Northern Ireland locations.
- Orders Under 2kg*
- £2.85
- Standard 2nd class post.
- Non-tracked
- Orders 2kg* to 15kg*
- £5.95
- Best carrier choice.
- Tracked service.**
International Postage:
- Our site can calculate postage up to 2kg* for the countries listed below.
- If your country is not listed or your order is over 2kg - please let us know your requirements and we'll quote you with the full price of the order and postage.
- Europe (according to royal mail!):
- Countries included: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Hungary, Iceland, Irish Republic, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vatican City State.
- 0 - 500g : £5.60
- 501g - 1kg : £8.35
- 1.01kg 1.5kg : 10.95
- 1.51kg - 2kg : £13.45
- International Zone 1:
- Countries included: United States, Canada, Brazil, Chili, China, Egypt, Hong Kong, Japan, Argentina, South Africa, India.
- 0 - 500g : £7.80
- 501g - 1kg : £13.05
- 1.01kg 1.5kg : £16.35
- 1.51kg - 2kg : £19.75
- International Zone 2:
- Countries included: Australia, Christmas Island, Fiji, Kiribati, New Zealand, Singapore, Tonga, Cocos Islands, French Polynesia.
- 0 - 500g : £8.55
- 501g - 1kg : £14.00
- 1.01kg 1.5kg : £17.70
- 1.51kg - 2kg : £21.50
* Please note:
We add a small amount of "weight" to all products to enable the postage to calculate properly and to include the product packaging, and shipping packing/materials. This means an order where the products weigh 1.9k may show in the shopping basket as the 2k and over rate - this will be because the product packaging (cone, spool, etc) and the shipping packaging will have pushed the weight to a higher level than the products alone.
** Parcels addressed to Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man will be tracked up to acceptance into the territory.
** Parcels addressed to a BFPO address will only be tracked up to handover to the BFPO UK address and must conform to BFPO addressing guidelines detailed on the BFPO website . No restricted materials can be sent to BFPO addresses.


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Hi!I add a new barn to my property. I want to install the LED power saving lamps. I hope it will help to reduce the energy consumption.Also, I'm thinking about the rest lighting. Currently I use HPS in other structures. I want to upgrade it and change for the LED.
What can you suggest?
I tried searching from Covoco but I couldn't find anything about it ! I will be greatful if you point me in the right direction.
Any help wll be appreciated. Thank you
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#Fundlaunch is your quick summary of notable fund launches for startups. This segment includes announcements on funds launched by GHV Accelerator, Vodafone and GSMA
GHV Accelerator Partners with World Innovation Labs (WiL) and Makoto Takano to Launch a Rs 350Cr Startup Fund
Green House Ventures (GHV) Accelerator has tied up with the World Innovation Labs (WiL) and Makoto Takano, ex-President of PIMCO Japan Ltd., to together launch a Rs 350 crore fund for Indian startups. Makoto Takano would be joining GHV's board.
The fund will invest between $2.5 million to $5 million (Rs 17- Rs 33 crore) in each startup in Series A range, starting early 2017. Read More
Vodafone Launches Rs 90 Lakh Fund to support innovative mobile solutions from organisations
Vodafone Foundation, the CSR arm of Vodafone Group, in partnership with NASSCOM Foundation announced grants worth Rs 90 lakhs to support emerging and innovative mobile solutions.
Both Vodafone and NASSCOM are inviting applications for the Mobile for Good awards. Vodafone Foundation will also provide structured mentoring, monitoring and impact valuation support from partner institutions for winning projects. Read More
GSMA Announces Launch of Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund
GSMA, a trade group that represents network operators using GSM technology for their networks, has announced the launch of GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund to support innovative startups in Africa and emerging Asian markets (India is not included).
The fund is open for applications up till 18th September. It will help identify startups with the greatest potential for growth and provide them with funding in the range of £100,000 and £250,000, and mobile-focused mentoring and technical assistance. Read More
Image Source: Youtube


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Downtime at mines, construction sites, on wind turbines, drilling rigs, and in steel mills and manufacturing plants have one thing in common: it can be expensive. It's especially problematic when hydraulic hose fails without warning. That poses a hazard to workers and surrounding machinery, not to mention the costs related to repair, cleanup, and lost production.
To improve uptime and productivity and lower operating costs, engineers at Gates Corp., Denver, Colo., developed a system that warns of impending hose failure. Called the Hose Diagnostic & Monitoring System, or HDMS, it lets equipment operators avoid breakdowns and keep hydraulic systems up and running. By estimating how close a hose is to the end of its life and, when appropriate, issuing a warning, HDMS alerts maintenance technicians to replace an assembly before it fails.
Previously, one of the only ways to gauge the health of a hose was by an imprecise visual check. "In essence, HDMS performs a daily inspection of the hose from the inside out and provides information that helps avoid catastrophic failures," says Joe Skovrinski, a condition-monitoring engineer with Gates.
"Building diagnostic capabilities into our hose and performing predictive maintenance helps users better understand how equipment is actually being used and, thus, operate it more efficiently," he adds.
HDMS is intended for high-value equipment, processes where unexpected downtime is costly, and where spills pose an environmental risk. Examples range from hydraulic safety valves on oil rigs to ag equipment, where farmers may have a narrow window to harvest crops. Hydraulic brake failure in a wind turbine can let the blades spin out of control and possibly self-destruct. And in mines, not only is lost production costly, oil spills demand cleanup and environmental remediation. "It's lost money that will never be recovered," says Skovrinski.
HDMS can help make equipment safer, reduce warranty costs, and let users build on existing diagnostics and predictive-maintenance programs.
For example, says Skovrinski, Liebherr Machine is using the device as a data logger rather than just for hose life prediction on its machines. "We also have a data logging capability you can invoke and watch almost in real-time pressure and temperature readings," Skovrinski says.
HDMS basics
HDMS consists of a network of sensors, controller (ECU), and software that monitors hydraulic-system operations and gauges its effect on the hose. Four pressure-temperature transducers in the hydraulic circuits send data to the ECU. Pressure range is 0 to 8000 psig and temperature range is –40° to 250°F. It's usually not the pressure, per se, but pulsations, the spike, and release of pressure that shorten hose life, explains Skovrinski. Gates defines a spike as a pressure surge of at least 133% of working pressure followed by a decrease of at least 50% from the peak value. Rapid pressure fluctuations are common in hydraulic circuits, so HDMS collects pressure data at a 50-Hz rate.
Temperature can also have a significant effect on hose life, says Skovrinski. Experience shows that temperatures within 20% of a hose's upper or lower limits amplify the negative effects of pressure spikes on hose compounds. The temperature transducers take readings once per second.
Calculating life
Transducers transmit data via 4- to 20-mA signals to the ECU over wire lengths of up to 7 m. The ECU, developed by Gates and manufactured by sister company Schrader Electronics, Belfast, Northern Ireland, stores and crunches the data. The heart of its life-prediction software is an algorithm based on the SAE J1927 Standard. But years of test data and simulations have led Gates engineers to refine the calculations to better match actual results.
In essence, here is how it works. For hydraulic hose operating within specifications, at moderate temperatures, and with no pressure spikes that exceed the 133% point, life will diminish at a linear rate over time from 100% to failure at 0%. The Gates algorithm takes into consideration the detrimental effects of pressure spikes and temperature extremes on this baseline, and predicts a decrease in estimated hose life based on the cumulative impact of these factors.
How well does it predict hose failure? It's accurate to within about ±10%, says Skovrinski. So by setting a limit, say at 20% of remaining estimated hose life available, HDMS will issue alerts as life approaches that 20% mark within ±10%. The OEM or user can specify at what point in the hose's remaining life the warning is issued. For instance, the limit could be more conservative when failures cannot be tolerated.
The HDMS works with most types of Gates hydraulic hose, despite differences in reinforcement, temperature rating, and operating pressure range. "That's significant because this algorithm works across our entire range. We're not limited to a specific type of hose," says Skovrinski.
It also warns of out-of-spec conditions, such as overpressures or excessive temperatures, as well as failure of sensors or the ECU. However, the device does not monitor for damage caused by abrasion, physical abuse, climate, or other external conditions.
The basic HDMS indicates fault conditions through an LED display. Technicians can connect a laptop PC to the ECU to download more detailed data. In the most-sophisticated version, the ECU connects to a GPS or cell-phone transmitter to automatically relay data and warning signals to a ground station, where data can be picked up by a remote PC, Internet, or telephone SMS. Updates are sent once every 24 hr via a cellular call or satellite link. Alarms, however, are sent every 5 min until acknowledged.
System setup
A menu-driven configuration program lets technicians specify parameters required by the cumulative-damage algorithm, such as number and types of hoses, their locations, and when before a failure to issue warnings.
Transducers are generally placed in the most heavily taxed circuits, such as lines subject to high-frequency cycling, shock and impact loads, and pressure extremes. Each transducer can monitor up to six different hoses in a single hydraulic circuit, provided all lines see similar pressure spikes and temperatures. The types and sizes of hose in the circuit are specified during setup, and the software applies appropriate damage algorithms to each.
It is built for mobile and stationary applications. Sensors are rated for ambient temperatures to 250° F and carry an IP-67 rating (for pressure wash downs). The ECU handles ambient temperature to 185° F and has an IP-65 rating (spillage and dust/dirt protection). Cabling uses Deutsch connectors, designed for harsh environments where dust, dirt, moisture, salt spray, and vibration can contaminate or damage electrical connections and equipment. It runs on 8- to 30-Vdc power.
Mobile-equipment manufacturers and dealers in the U.S. and Europe are evaluating HDMS for new designs and as an aftermarket option. It's also being tested on stationary equipment. Skovrinski also says that, in response to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, many in the offshore industry are evaluating the device for their equipment auditing processes.
For details, contact Joe Skovrinski at (303) 744-4143, or visit www.gates.com or www.schraderelectronics.com.
RFID for field identification
Predicting impending hose failure is critical in hydraulics, but it's not the whole story when it comes to proactive maintenance. Technicians need to know details about replacement hose — type, size, length, and end fittings — to quickly repair and return equipment to service.
Identifying hose isn't always easy. Hose might endure years of dirt, abrasion, and weathering that obscure external markings. Or it might be painted or mounted in an inaccessible location that makes the markings difficult to read.
Gates now uses RFID (radio-frequency-identification) tags on hose assemblies to speed and simplify identification. This gives operators and maintenance personnel instant access to hose-assembly information, letting them quickly make a new assembly or order replacement parts.
The tag attaches to the hose and stores information about the assembly. Gates technicians or fleet managers maintain a database that stores the tag's identity and hose specs. Should an assembly require service, maintenance personnel scan the tag and call up information from the database. Operators can update and add hose information via the handheld device. Data in the PDA and main database are synchronized regularly.
According to Gates engineers, RFID offers advantages beyond speedy turnaround. A simple, comprehensive hose tracking and identification system lets suppliers monitor quality and inventory. RFID provides information that ties hoses being built to how they're used, potentially permitting more-informed hose selection that results in even less downtime.


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Christian counseling is:
- a safe and confidential atmosphere where you can find support, insight, direction, and Biblical guidance.
- a covenant between counselor and client to pursue change or growth in the life of the client.
- the process of becoming healthier emotionally, spiritually, physically and relationally by applying God's truth to life's difficulties and problems.
Counseling is often helpful with the following types of events or issues:
Navigating life transitions
Spiritual renewal
Grief and loss
Resolving relationship struggles
Alleviating anxiety
Family problems
Parenting concerns
Getting rid of unhealthy or destructive habits
Conquering depression
Marital conflict
Managing anger
Healing past hurts
For a free initial consultation, please call (540) 437-7767.


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By Car
Albany is easily reached by car. If you are travelling form Perth there are a number of routes you can take, the shortest takes around 5 hours.
There are a number of car hire companies that operate in Albany. For help with arranging care hire then please contact the Albany visitor centre on (08) 98419290 or by emailing firstname.lastname@example.com


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School of Choice Application
Non-Resident Applications
The Cherry Creek School District allows its resident students to apply for enrollment in the Cherry Creek school/program of their choice. You may request that your child attend a Cherry Creek school outside your assigned attendance area. The School of Choice application for 2014-2015 school year will be available January 1st - February 1st on the district website. Please note that there will be NO PAPER FORMS available. Check the Cherry Creek website for complete details.
Families living out the of the Cherry Creek School District attendance area will be able to apply as a non-resident for school year 2014-2015. Non-Resident Applications will be available on the Cherry Creek website starting April 1, 2014.
You are now leaving the Cherry Creek School District (CCSD) portal. Please note that CCSD does not control nor can it guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, completeness, or appropriateness of any content contained on web sites and/or pages outside of the official CCSD portal. The information or opinions contained on these web sites and/or pages do not necessarily represent the views of the CCSD.
With access to the internet comes the availability of material that may not be of educational value or appropriate for students. While at school, CCSD has taken precautions to restrict access to inappropriate or harmful web sites. However, on the internet it is impossible to control all materials and limit all access to information that has no educational value. CCSD firmly believes that the valuable information and the interaction available on the internet far outweigh the possibility that users may procure material that is not consistent with the educational goals of CCSD.


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Take the next step in your accounting career with AAT Level 3
AAT accounting courses offer you an accredited route into accountancy if you have little or no experience. Choosing an online training course in accounting allows you to gain a professional qualification from home and around your current commitments.
If you have completed the AAT level 2 course, or are experienced at working in an accounting role, our AAT Level 3 online course will help you progress your career by teaching you more advanced and complex accounting skills. Once you have finished your training and gained the AAT Level 3 Diploma, you'll be equipped
All our AAT courses now come with a free Xero Advisor Certification short course. Learn the basics of this industry-leading online accounting software and improve your employability even further. With a 61% increase in the past year of accountancy job listings on reed.co.uk requiring knowledge of Xero in the specification, you can get ahead of the competition with this bonus qualification!
*For full terms and conditions of all offers please click here.
Get AAT qualified with learning that works from AVADO
At AVADO, we create inspiring learning experiences that are all about your success. With our 26 years' experience and exceptional AAT pass rates, an AAT course with us gives you the best chance to pass
Great teachers and inspiring content
Your own dedicated tutor, hand-picked for their expertise, is available by phone or email. Access a range of engaging content including videos, quizzes and live classes.
Support every step of the way as you learn with others
Your tutor and community team are here for you whenever you need them. And, because you learn online with other students, you'll never be short of inspiration and motivation!
An online platform built around you
Designed to work on your mobile and featuring bite-sized content so that you can learn as you go. Learn at your own pace but with structured milestones to keep you on track.
Affordable price plans
Payment packages to suit your budget with a flexible range of monthly instalment options.
An award-winning provider you can trust
Winner of two AAT 2016 Awards including Best Use of E-learning and PQ Magazine Editor's Choice Award 2017.
With 6,000 AAT students qualifying with us each year, we know this is learning that works. Enquire now to find out how it can work for you.
The AAT Advanced Diploma in Accounting (Level 3) will build on the skills you developed in the Level 2 course, introducing you to more complex, specialist areas of accounting. Topics covered include accounts preparation, as well as costs and revenues.
We translate the syllabus that the AAT sets into a combination of activities, classes, and other content to ensure you get the best learning experience possible.
The AAT Level 3 qualification consists of six units:
1. Advanced Bookkeeping
Be able to use a sub-divided accounting system to prepare trial balances and reconciliations, comprise the valuation of inventory, prepare accounts for irrecoverable debts and understand the disposal of non-current assets.
2. Final Accounts Preparation
Learn how to prepare accounts for different business types, record changes in the structure of a partnership and prepare final accounts from incomplete records.
3. Indirect Tax
Discover further elements to VAT legislation governing costs and learn how to prepare a VAT tax return.
4. Management Accounting: Costing
Be able to prepare budget accounts for company costs (materials, labour and expenses) and learn how to forecast for company revenues considering break-even and limiting factors.
5. Ethics for Accountants
Discover more about the ethical guidelines within
6. Spreadsheets for Accounting
Learn how to create advanced spreadsheets for accounting using appropriate formulas and formatting.
Also included in your course is a free Xero Advisor Certification short course. You will learn the basics of using Xero's cloud-based accounting software, giving your CV another edge in a competitive job market.
During the
Our programme has been designed with these synoptic assessments in mind so you know you'll be fully prepared before you sit them. Along with advice from your tutor, you can decide when you're ready to take your exams. In fact we're so confident that we offer you a Pass Guarantee: follow the milestones on the campus and if you don't pass your synoptic exam first-time we'll give you free tutor support for a resit.*
Key course information:
- Accredited by the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT)
- Level 3 qualification - comparable to an A-level qualification
- Four computer-based exams and one synoptic assessment, all taken at an external test centre
- Typically complete within 12 months
- Free Xero Advisor certification
Your course includes everything you need to succeed:
- 24-hour access to your online campus, accessible on mobile and tablet
- Five online units with a hard copy book to support each one
- Xero Advisor certification short course for learning the basics of Xero online accounting software
- Dedicated tutor and community team to support you throughout the course
- Regular online live classes with your tutor and classmates
- Revision classes, assignment marking and feedback to help you improve
- Pass Guarantee – hit the milestones and get free tutor support for a resit if you don't pass a synoptic exam first-time*
- Free access to AVADO's premium Career Development Hub
- Free NUS card – the definitive student discount card with a range of exclusive discounts
We believe you shouldn't have to pay extra essentials like revision and assignment marking. That's why we include everything above in the price. The only additional costs are your AAT membership and exam fees, which you are required to pay directly to the AAT.
In order to
The following entry requirements also apply:
- You must be over the age of 18 or have a third-party payee for any financial agreement
- You must have a solid grasp of the English language (IELTS 5.5 or equivalent if English is not your first language)
- You must have access to a computer or other internet enabled device and a reliable Internet connection, plus basic computer skills
- You must be able to attend all exams at an AAT Approved centre. Students outside the UK will incur an additional cost for international postage of textbooks
AAT Level 3 Advanced Diploma will develop your accounting career by teaching you advanced accounting skills and knowledge. The qualification will also make you eligible for AAT Bookkeeper (AATQB) status, which will allow you to pursue a career as a freelance bookkeeper. Having this qualification on your CV will give you an edge in proving to potential employers your continued commitment to the accounting profession.
The next step in the full AAT pathway is the Professional Diploma in Accounting (Level 4), the final qualification in the series. Once you complete the full pathway, you will have in-depth knowledge of advanced accounting processes and will also be eligible to become an AAT Full Member (MAAT).
Here are a couple of roles you'll be eligible for after gaining this
|Finance Officer
|Assistant Accountant
*Average UK salary data from Totaljobs Salary Checker, April 2017
All our AAT courses are delivered through our
Your VLC features:
- Inspiring bite-size learning content, including videos and quizzes
- Frequent live online classes with your tutor, tailored to your group's needs and recorded so you can catch up whenever you like
- Learn as a group, with structured milestones to keep you on track
- Regular learning checks and practice tests so you know how you are progressing
- Proactive tutor support – monitoring your progress and reaching out if you need support
Want to see for yourself? Check out the video below for a guided tour of the AAT campus:
The Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) are the UK's leading professional body for Accounting and Finance employees and a globally
AAT Accounting qualifications are highly valued by employers, as they demonstrate that you have practical skills that you'll need to manage cash flow, budgets, and finances effectively, as well as the commitment and dedication to succeed in an accountancy role.
Once you complete the Professional Diploma (Level 4) AAT qualification you can become a full AAT Member and put the letters MAAT after your name, giving you professional recognition of your qualifications.
The AAT qualification pathway can also be the stepping stone to chartered accountant status with one of the main British Chartered Accountancy bodies, including the ACCA. You won't need a degree and will even qualify for some exemptions from the ACCA qualification first papers.
All our AAT courses have rich assets including videos, animations and recorded lessons. See below for an example of a recorded lesson on Financial Statements which you can watch here for free.


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Monday May 20, 2019; 11:28 pm EDT
One-step potting
Larger seeds — such as those of broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, eggplants, marigolds, peppers, tomatoes and zinnias — can be direct seeded into the containers in which they will grow until they are ready to be transplanted into the garden. This eliminates the shock associated with transplanting. Direct seeding requires more space initially, but these large seeds do not require the tender care essential in germinating small seeds.
They will germinate easily providing you keep the rooting medium moist but not wet.
The container size you select for direct seeding will depend on the rate of growth of the species and the size you want the plant at transplant time. For most vegetable transplants and most flowering plants, three- to four-inch pots will be adequate.
However, to produce tomato plants or pepper plants with fruit already well formed by the time you transplant them in the garden, you need two stages. To produce such plants, direct seed into three-inch pots. When the plants are eight to 10 inches tall, transplant them into six- to 10-inch pots. Transplant them before the roots circle the inside walls of the three-inch pots.
To start all these larger seeds, fill the three-inch pots with commercial potting medium such as Pro-Mix, Sunshine Mix, Metro Mix or Farfard Mix to the top edge of each pot. Unless the seed packet indicates that seed germination is 100 percent, which is highly unlikely, place at least two seeds in the middle of each pot and press them in the soil lightly with your fingers. If you are using seeds that you stored from previous years, sow at least three seeds in each pot. As seeds age, germination is reduced.
Irrigate each pot thoroughly until excess water drains from the bottom.
Seeds of broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, Chinese cabbage, kohlrabi, pak choi and lettuce germinate best at temperatures of 65 to 70 degrees. Sow them in March to be tall enough to transplant into the garden in early to mid-April while temperatures are cool. To prevent sunscald, acclimate the plants by placing them in trays outdoors under light shade for at least a week before transplanting them to the garden.
Seeds of tomatoes and peppers germinate best at temperatures near 80 degrees. Soon after the seeds have geminated, place them in full sun. Never allow them to dry out.
Because seeds of peppers, both hot and sweet, are slow to germinate, they should be sown in March
Like tomatoes, seeds of calendula, gazania, gaillardia, marigold, sunflowers and zinnia germinate rapidly and their seedlings develop rapidly. Delay starting these seeds until five or six weeks before you plan to transplant them into the garden.
If you wish to grow your plants organically, blend any of the potting mixes with one-third by volume compost such as crab or lobster waste compost, which will provide all the nutrients the plants need until they are ready to be transplanted into the garden. Otherwise, within six weeks of germination, you will need to initiate a liquid fertilizer program.


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Value Added: Andrew Friedman quit the legal high life. Now he's on a high.
I know Andrew H. Friedman from my previous life covering the business of sports.
Friedman was a partner and tax expert at the law firm Covington & Burling in Washington. He spent half his time counseling the leagues for the four major U.S. sports -- baseball, hockey, football and basketball -- and often walked me through the intricacies of how football stadiums were depreciated or how various states taxed visiting baseball players.
It was complicated stuff. But Friedman had a good gig. He was the go-to tax lawyer for the sports industry. He had access to the best sports tickets. Attended all-star games, playoff games and Super Bowls. Schmoozed with league commissioners, players, coaches and team owners. To top it off, partners at Covington bring in more than $1 million a year.
At the top of his profession, he could have cruised for the next decade or more (he is 54, same as me), making lots of money, attending elite sporting events and basking in the admiration of his peers.
"I got to live vicariously," said Friedman, who lives in leafy McLean.
But a dormant entrepreneurial gene burst forth two years ago, and Friedman decided to go out on his own. He quit Covington (on good terms, he insists) after 28 years and reinvented himself.
I am fascinated by people who have the guts to walk away from something they know and love (especially earning that kind of money) and to try something different. I don't have that gene, but entrepreneurs like Friedman do it every day.
He now gives speeches for up to $12,000 a day -- plus expenses -- to investors and financial firms on how Washington's laws and regulations affect their investments.
He gave more than 200 speeches last year, which by my calculation would net him around $2 million.
"I'm an entrepreneur now," said Friedman, a frugal guy who drives a Jeep Wrangler.
Quitting wasn't that hard. He was already giving speeches, and requests kept coming.
"It really stemmed from the demand that arose as more people saw me speaking. The demand built on itself. I realized I was having far more fun speaking and answering questions than I was practicing law, which by then I'd been doing for a while and had little more to accomplish."


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Strong Arm Steady
In Search of Stoney Jackson - Stones Throw
FILTER Grade: 84%
By Jeremy Moehlmann on March 18, 2010
Give a man a beat and he'll rap for a day. Give three men their pick of two hundred Madlib beats and a guest roster of hip-hop stalwarts and you've got Strong Arm Steady. Solid, workmanlike rhymes abound, but a shortage of mind-blowing moments is tempered by the absence of mediocrity. There's room for improvement—just not enough to pass this up.


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8 a.m. thru 5 p.m. EST 305.757.0555
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I am self taught and live in London on the edge of a forest. A couple of years ago I decided to pick up a graphite pencil which led to the medium of coloured pencils. I love the control pencils give from heavy dashes to fine lines, shading and tonal work. I enjoy recreating pictures from my own photographs.
Within my family there are skilful artists and gardeners who encourage, support and share their knowledge.
My favourite subjects to draw are usually found in nature with a helping hand from a creative human.
January 2018,
updated pictures January 2019


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~ The Grand Sorceress' summon ~
At the end of the day, King Henric returned from his hunt together with his guests. They appeared to be in high spirits, smiling and laughing as they reminisced of how their adventure went. They managed to catch two wild boars and a good number of rabbits. The king, especially, made it quite clear to his servants that he was the one who caught the big fat one.
Their hunt got sent to the kitchen, where Adelia cooked it. Under her orders, the servants were quick to prepare the meat just as the nobles wanted. Tonight's meal was going to be a nice juicy boar steak.
While they waited for the servants to prepare their dinner, the guests went to their respective rooms and got ready for the evening. They took a bath and changed their clothes to look more presentable in front of his majesty. The same could not be said about the king though. He was more inclined to spend this time together with his horses, and as such, he insisted on being the one to take them back to the Royal Stable.
"Today was a good day, Pallas! My guests were pleased with the success of the hunt and how well my lovelies behaved!" said King Henric as he pulled his stallion into his stall.
"I'm glad to hear that, your majesty!" said Pallas with a humble tone of voice, but he didn't dare to look away from the ground.
"Since I'm in a good mood today, Pallas, I'll let you have the rest of the night off. I'll handle the grooming for these horses!" said the king as he smiled at the man.
"Your majesty, you are talking about grooming ten horses! It will take at least three hours! What of your guests? Please allow me to aid you, your majesty!" requested Pallas as he heard the king's words.
"Nonsense! It will take two hours tops! They are not that dirty, and I'm a fast groomer too! Besides, those nobles can wait for me until I am done here! So off you go, Pallas, but before you go, bring me some carrots and turnips from the storehouse. They deserve a treat for a job well done, don't you think?" said the king with a big smile on his face.
"As you wish, your majesty!" Pallas replied politely as he finally stood straight.
He did as it was requested of him and after handing over the basket of carrots and turnips, the man bid the king good night and left the Royal Stable in his care. Although this was the first time his majesty did something like this, Pallas was no fool to deny it. He learned over time that it was never a good idea to refuse something a noble or royal decided to offer him. If his rank was high enough, he could attempt to refuse once and then accept upon insistence, but this was not the case.
His home in the Eldenguard capital was nothing more than a tiny room in the servant's quarters of the castle. It was located a level above the castle's prison and not far from the rats' nest, which feasted each day on the grains in the old storeroom. Indeed, it wasn't a luxury, but for one such as him, it was more than enough.
Pallas opened the door using his iron key and cracked it open. In that instant, a big rat ran over his feet and dashed into the hallway, scaring off a young servant girl.
He cursed under his breath and walked inside.
After closing the door behind him, Pallas opened the window to let some fresh air in. If he was lucky enough, the night breeze would bring the scent of the rose garden to his room, if not, he would get the manure scent from the stables.
When Pallas first started this job, the king offered him a better room, but since he didn't know for how long he would be able to keep working as a stable master, he requested this small and humble room. For now, he had no intention of changing it.
The thought of grabbing dinner before going to bed crossed his mind, but then he remembered Adelia. He decided to face her another day, maybe when he had something to offer her as a sacrifice. Thus, Pallas walked up to his bed and laid down in a comfortable position. He felt like he didn't have enough energy to care about such little things anymore. All he wanted to do was to close his eyes and wait for the next day to wake up.
Still, there was something amiss in his life. There was something really strange with the way things went. Normally, Pallas never stayed so long in a town or village, only a few weeks before the full moon settled in and then a few days afterwards. When the rumors of wolves in the forest began to spread, it was time for him to go. He would head off to a nearby village or city before anyone decided to gather up a hunting party. This time, however, it was a bit different. He stayed more than he wanted to. The next full moon would be the second one he would come to witness from this city. Because of this, people were already starting to whisper about demons and wolves in the nearby forest.
Indeed, this city was strange. Pallas didn't know exactly what it was, but he knew how it changed him. Every time he wanted to move and resume his nomadic ways, the pull made it impossible for him to do so. It was somehow able to keep him here. He was like a helpless prey lured in by a dangerous predator that was waiting for the right moment to strike.
If I go too far, I get the strong urge to return, almost as if I'm leaving something behind. Yet, whenever I'm trying to get close to whatever is causing this pull… I feel like it slips away from me, going farther and farther. I can't catch it. thought Pallas with his eyes closed.
His mind was going back and forth between the time he arrived in Eldenguard and the present. These thoughts had been constantly bothering him, ever since he encountered this strange pull.
Maybe I should rest for now… thought Pallas.
Tonight, he decided to let his mind rest. He ignored the surrounding sounds and scent, letting his muscles relax and his bones to rest. The closer he got to a peaceful dream state, the more he felt the daily stress leaving his body.
The hours passed by, and a new day greeted him with its gentle light. The rays of the sun had a perfect aim through the small window. They struck Pallas right in the eyes, making it impossible for him to continue his peaceful dream. He began to move in his small straw bed, leaving his comfortable position. The sounds, the light, the energy of the new morning all came crashing down on him, making it impossible for him to continue his dreams. When he felt like he couldn't take it anymore, he finally woke up.
With a light grumble, he reached up to the window and closed the wooden lid. A dark, cold shadow was finally cast inside the small room, but the rays kept trying to push through. Pallas sat up on his feet and started to stretch his old muscles a bit.
The sun, most of the times, was annoying in the morning, but it helped well when it came to using it as a wake-up call.
Pallas let out a big yawn and looked around his room. He tried to spot if there were any more rats that dared enter during the night. The first week he slept in here, he woke up almost all the time with a rat on his chest or somewhere inside the room. Eventually, he had to do something about it, so he decided to cook every rat that dared trespass. Rat stew, not the best delicacy, but a more "docile" way of saying to the critters he didn't really enjoy their company. Surprisingly, it worked and as long as he was inside his room, the rats were out and didn't dare to enter.
After Pallas did his morning stretches and woke up his numb muscles, he continued his routine with washing up his face, his teeth and then ended it with tidying up his clothes. He had only two pairs of clothes which he dusted and cleaned as best as he could each day. Once a week, he would either go to the river to wash them or do it himself before he went to bed, inside his own room. The maids usually gave him the soap and water he needed for this.
As for his free days, those were usually the times when the king took out all of his horses for a run with various nobles from the kingdom. Since there were no horses to take care of, this usually meant he had no job to do and so, he was free.
Unfortunately for him, the king had no such plans for a while, especially after yesterday's hunt.
"Today will be a good day… to be bored…" said Pallas with a sigh at the end of his words as he walked out of his room.
From there, he headed towards the stables. He wasn't expecting to see anyone at such an early hour. That's why he was surprised when he saw a man clad in a shiny plated armor, leaning on the stable's door. He didn't wear a helmet, but his sword was there, tied to his hip and ready to do his king's bidding.
When he saw Pallas approaching, the man looked up at him with his brown eyes, and a small breeze gently rustled his dark-brown hair. He had a small scar on the left side of his chin, and alongside with his rugged beard made him look strong and dangerous.
"You Pallas?" the man asked with a gruff voice.
Pallas blinked when he heard his name. For a moment there, he was wondering if he got in trouble with the king or some other noble.
"The Grand Sorceress asked you to be brought to her, NOW!" the man stated as he squinted his eyes at Pallas, making it quite clear he would not accept a delay or refusal.
The stable master gulped and then nodded as he let this armored gentleman lead the way to the Grand Sorceress. Pallas couldn't help but think that maybe she was the one who found out about his little secret and now, he was going to face her wrath. If it wasn't this, then he had absolutely no idea why an esteemed person such as herself would wish to speak with a simple commoner like him.
Looking at his armor and weapon, this stranger was most likely a knight, although the way he spoke and his overall presence didn't seem to imply such a thing. Without delay, this man led Pallas to the Ivory Tower.
"This way…" the knight said.
His voice resonated in Pallas' ears with an ominous feeling. If he had known he would meet the Grand Sorceress today, he would have gone into town to buy himself some proper clothes, maybe an entire suit. As he was right now, he smelled of manure and horses like any other stable worker in the city. All in all, Pallas hoped he wasn't going to embarrass himself too much or anger the Grand Sorceress with his appearance.
When they reached the entrance to the Ivory Tower, a pair of huge white doors opened up on their own. No doubt it was through some sort of magic, because he didn't see anyone pushing them. A couple of sorcerers and some mages were chatting on the other side of the room when the distinct scent of manure hit their nose. They grimaced and quickly walked away. When he saw them, Pallas could only apologize with a simple head bow.
On the inside, the tower was quite big. From the ground floor to the next one, they had to use a pair of floating steps. Pallas looked at them with caution and when he saw the knight climbing up on them without any fear in his eyes, he did the same. These strange stairs ran around the interior of the tower all the way to the last floor. Pallas wasn't afraid of falling off them, but if he did, everyone there would know he wasn't a normal human. That's why prayed he didn't.
Although he had been summoned here by the Grand Sorceress, Pallas already began to think about the many bad rumors, which could spread from the servants who saw him enter the Ivory Tower. Most of all, he feared that people would see this as a bad thing or maybe an insult towards the sorceress, especially since he looked so poorly dressed and smelled of manure. He didn't want to cause trouble for others or cast attention upon himself. He didn't actually fear the people themselves. He feared their attitude, the way they looked at him, and the way they acted around him.
Nevertheless, Pallas needed to try to calm himself down a bit before he had a panic attack. He was already sweating badly, and his fingernails were biting into his palms.
To do this, Pallas took a few deep breaths and thought back at the peaceful scenery of the Hanagoya lake, the sunset, the dawn, the calm water of a flowing river, anything which could bring him back to a relaxed state of mind.
"Through there!" said the knight as he stopped in front of a wooden door.
Pallas blinked surprised and looked at the knight who took up a guarding stance on the right side. He looked back and saw an almost endless trail of stairs. He didn't remember climbing all of them though. At most, he thought he was at the second or third floor by now, not at the very top of the Ivory Tower.
He gulped and blamed it on his stressed-out state of mind. He probably forgot how he climbed all the way up here, so without further delay, he opened the door and entered the lair of the Grand Sorceress.
As soon as Pallas stepped inside, the door vanished behind him as if it was never there in the first place. He looked around, but he couldn't see any way out, other than jumping out the window. He could have probably survived the fall, but with some nasty injuries.
With a slow walk, Pallas went deeper into the room. He looked around at all the different things gathered there. To the left, there was an alchemical laboratory, filled with all sort of notes and potions, it even had its own Venus Fly Trap. Right next to it, there were a couple of shelves with crystals carefully placed on them. Each one was of a different shape and glowing in a different color. To the left, there were two lined-up libraries filled with hundreds of books. In the center, there was a round table with all sort of designs and schematics on it, many of them looking as though they were out of this world. The floor and ceiling of this room were engraved with magical glowing symbols and circles, each one of them had a different and specific purpose. However, since he never had the chance to study magic, Pallas couldn't understand what they were meant for. On another note, he didn't see the sorceress anywhere.
Someone else might have tried to stuff his nose in all those books or grab the shiny things around the room, but Pallas knew better than to act like that. It was never a good idea to mess around with a sorcerer's things. For this reason, he did the only thing he could, he walked over to the window and gazed at the view outside.
A gentle breeze carried the smell of the rose garden bellow and caressed his nose. The scent was refreshing and relaxing. It brought him a peace of mind, one could only find while admiring a view from such a height. Speaking of which, from all the way up here, he could see the entire capital. His gaze could reach even farther than that, all the way to the Penhaven Woods and Portnan Forest. Since only a few white clouds floated through the sky, the endless blue offered another chromatic note to the entire scene.
He understood now why the Grand Sorceress took this room as her own, the view alone was amazing. However, considering the height, there was no way a normal wind breeze could bring the scent of the roses all the way up there. Pallas could only guess that such a miracle was achieved through some sort of magic. Then again, most of the things which happened inside this Ivory Tower could only be attributed to the power of magic.
"Enjoying the view?" the Grand Sorceress asked as she suddenly appeared behind the man, holding a book of spells.
Startled, Pallas quickly turned around. His heart was beating so fast in his chest, he feared it would smash its way out. He couldn't even speak. He was somehow stuck between being shocked by her beauty and the fright she just gave him.
The woman was certainly a treat for the eyes. With her jet-black hair and forms depicted by the tight black dress she wore, she made Pallas doubt there were men out there who wouldn't try to stare at her for a moment or two. Then again, he was also quite surprised to see her just standing there. He didn't hear her walking in or even sensed her in any other way, she just appeared there.
"Well?" she asked again as she gently lifted her violet eyes from the heavy book she held in her hands.
"It's a wonderful sight, milady, but may I ask what need you have for this lowly servant?" asked Pallas in a manner with which he hoped to appear as humble and small as possible, not to mention not give any hint of his racing heart.
The sorceress smirked as she placed her book in a nearby bookcase, showing her pink colored lips. She had a faded white skin tone and a beautiful, charming face. Although with a great sense of maturity in her aura, she didn't look past her thirties. Pallas gulped when he saw her. He wanted to straighten his back and push his chest forward, to show he was a strong man. Fortunately, he stopped himself before he did such a foolish thing. In his mind, he was a peasant, a simple mortal unworthy of the Grand Sorceress' gaze. Pallas believed if he dared to do such a thing, he would have certainly met with a harsh punishment.
"You seem tense. Anything wrong?" she asked with a tempting tone of voice, almost as if she was trying to seduce him.
"No, milady…" Pallas said shaking his head, mostly to hide a possible blush, his reaction to her sweet voice.
"I summoned you here for a special mission." she said as she approached the alchemical laboratory.
The tone of her voice was a bit heavier than before, showing the seriousness of the matter. The way she walked also showed an elegance and grace rarely seen in noble ladies. She was undoubtedly one-of-a-kind beauty, or at least, the first of this kind Pallas had ever seen.
I wonder if my scent disgusts her? I do smell like a stable… thought Pallas as she watched the woman keep her distance from him.
So far, the Grand Sorceress didn't show him a disgusted look in her eyes or a grimace on her face.
"What can this lowly servant do for you, milady?" Pallas asked while trying to appear as humble as he could in front of her. He even bowed his head a little.
"You will accompany the Dumveille Kingdom's crown Princess and act as her loyal knight." she said all of a sudden.
The tone of her voice reminded Pallas of an order. It held the same strength as that of a commander, but there was something else there, maybe it was magic, because he didn't feel the need to refuse it. In fact, he felt eager to do it, but from his experience, he knew that such an order could only mean one thing. The princess was most likely going to be attacked, and he was nothing more than a decoy. In short, this meant the end of his little acting career as a stable master. If they were to be attacked, he doubted he could resist the urge to strike back. If this happened, then they would certainly find out about his true power, and he would need to flee from the kingdom. If they were lucky enough, and they weren't going to be attacked, maybe he would have a chance at continuing his job as a stable master.
But something feels strange… Why do I even want to continue working at this castle? Pallas thought as he came to realize this.
He didn't want to flee Dumveille, he wanted to get to the bottom of that strange pull. Unfortunately, this would mean risking getting found out.
"Is something wrong?" asked the sorceress, breaking his line of thoughts and snapping him back to reality.
"No, milady! As you wish! But what of the horses? I'm sure the king…" he tried to ask.
"The king already agreed to it." she said as she cut his words short "I should say though, it wasn't hard to convince him to let his only stable master go. I just had to promise him I would find someone else to fill in the spot, preferably a noble, so the horses wouldn't cause any troubles. Of course, this is until you have finished your mission. Once you leave, the knight who brought you here will guide you to the chambers where a bath and the new outfit awaits you! You will leave in two hours!" the sorceress ordered.
The tone of her voice and the expression in her eyes made Pallas remember how it was to sit in front of a commanding officer. The Grand Sorceress had an incredibly strong presence unless this was the result of a spell. If it wasn't, this proved quite clearly what sort of a powerful person she was.
Pallas had no way out of this one, especially if the king also agreed with it. If he dared to refuse this order, he could easily get executed or sent to the prisons for treason. It would be a mere peasant contesting the wise words of his king. His only choice was to accept the order, but he had the strange feeling that this wouldn't end up well, at least for him.
"As you wish, milady!" Pallas said as he bowed his head to her.
He suddenly felt a brush of air run by him and when he turned around, he saw the wooden door reappear once more in the exact same spot. This was his cue to get out and without asking anything else, he submitted to his fate and walked towards the exit.
The knight with the chipped chin was waiting for him, ready to lead him to his new room to get dressed. When Pallas closed the door behind him, the knight huffed and moved in front of him. He climbed down the tower's long stairs and headed towards the castle.
This won't end well… Pallas thought as he quietly followed the knight.
"Do you really believe this Pallas is going to change anything?" asked the woman with the slit red pupils as she approached the window.
She wore a long white dress and a hood over her head, just like the woman who appeared before Pallas at the stables, the other day. In fact, it could be easily guessed it was the same one.
The Grand Sorceress smiled and then said in a seductive tone while she walked towards the strange woman, "You have nothing to worry about, my dear. After all, I'm never wrong with these things… and even more so when it comes to men. Wasn't it always like this?" She let out a small laugh at the end of her words.
"Won't the others get suspicious of this strange order? Having the king's stable master dressed up as a knight is unheard of!" stated the other.
"True, but as long as the king demands this, it doesn't matter how crazy it sounds, the soldiers and knights will obey his orders. Besides, I tasked only one of them to know the truth of who Pallas actually is. I also gave them a simple, general explanation behind why I requested such a thing. I told them it was in order to test out a certain spell I had placed on him. The knights and soldiers, once told this, will just accept it and let "my crazy experiment" go. King Henric trusts me completely, especially after I told him this was for your own good." she said with a giggle.
The other woman closed her eyes and sighed. She simply couldn't keep up with this woman's plans. The Grand Sorceress was more clever and cunning than usually she let out to be. For all she knew, the sorceress could have actually placed a spell on poor Pallas.
Note from the author: Thank you for reading this chapter, I hope you enjoyed it! The buy links can be found at this link: The Rise of the Werewolf
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Alto Shaam DR-25032 Glass Doors; Right Hand; Inner; Clear; ED-72; -72/P; -72/PL; -72/PR
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Raskin & Mulvaney's Fight Week Stat Chat/
by Eric Raskin and Kieran Mulvaney
Not even a distance of 8,000 miles and 13 time zones could stop HBO Boxing Insiders Eric Raskin and Kieran Mulvaney from keeping alive the most beloved fight week tradition this side of hearing Bob Arum pronounce "Tecate." Though Mulvaney is in Macau, an administrative region of China, and Raskin is back home in the States, they are forging ahead from opposite ends of the earth to give the people the Fight Week Stat Chat. CompuBox crunched all the key numbers regarding Manny Pacquiao and Brandon Rios, and now it's up to Raskin and Mulvaney to figure out what it all means for Saturday's can't-miss slugfest:
Raskin: The last time we did this CompuBox Stat Chat was a month ago for Tim Bradley vs. Juan Manuel Marquez, and you picked the winner of that fight correctly, whereas I did not. So for me, this Stat Chat is all about revenge. Never mind Pacquiao vs. Rios. This is about Raskin vs. Mulvaney. Can you handle the heat I'm about to bring?
Mulvaney: For a guy on a one-fight losing streak, you sure bring the trash talk.
Raskin: Hey, speaking of guys on losing streaks (thanks for the perfect segue set-up, Kieran!), Pacquiao and Rios are both coming off defeats and, particularly for Manny, have their careers on the line Saturday night. As we know, both of these guys are offense-minded, and as the CompuBox stats show, they both throw more punches than the average welterweight. Do you expect them to match their typical high outputs against each other, or might one of them adopt a slower pace?
Read the Complete Compubox Analysis: Pacquiao vs. Rios
Mulvaney: Great question. I think both guys have to do what they do best: Pacquiao darting in and out, showing angles, keeping his opponent on the defensive, and Rios working behind a jab to get his guy in front of him and then try to wear him down with power punches. Which is, of course, why so many folks are salivating over this one.
Raskin: Interesting that you bring up the Rios jab. In his last fight, the rematch with Mike Alvarado, he was generally out-jabbed. And one would think that if Alvarado can out-jab him, then Pacquiao can out-jab him. Do you see the southpaw right jab being a significant part of Pac-Man's game plan?
Mulvaney: I think this gets to the heart of why Rios is going to have a hard time in this fight (he says, foreshadowing his pick). Unless Pacquiao is no longer Pacquiao, Rios isn't going to be able to just barrel forward and work his way inside, as he likes to do. And a large part of the reason for that is that Pacquiao is going to be bouncing on his toes, sticking out that jab, turning Rios, and looking to land that potent left hand of his. Somehow, Rios has to win the battle of the jabs, and that's going to be hard to do.
Raskin: Well, if one was looking for a reason to pick Rios, one might note that his CompuBox numbers are slightly better across the board in fights where he didn't struggle noticeably to make weight. Against Miguel Acosta and Urbano Antillon, he landed at better percentages than against John Murray and Richar Abril. And since this is a welterweight fight, he should make weight with ease. Do you think those numbers mean anything, that he's really better and more accurate when he doesn't strain to make weight, or is it too small a sample size and possibly more about the opposition in question?
Mulvaney: First of all, I do suspect we're going to see a well-conditioned Rios. Based on the patented "eyeball test," he looks healthier than he normally does in fight week: none of that sunken-cheek, dried-out look we're used to. So the weight will likely be good for him. I must say, though, I definitely did a double-take when I saw that Rios' overall figures and percentages are higher than Pacquiao's. I suspect fairly strongly that those figures are skewed against Pacquiao because his last four fights were against Shane Mosley, who did not want to engage; Marquez (twice), who is his nemesis; and Bradley, who is a hard-to-hit slickster. I do expect that a better-conditioned Rios will be a better Rios, that stands to reason. But he has never faced anyone remotely in the class of Pacquiao, and I suspect his numbers will take a hit as a result.
Raskin: Here's the number that stuck out most to me: In his CompuBox-tracked fights, Rios opponents landed 39.5 percent of their power shots. That's not the worst number I've ever seen (I followed Arturo Gatti's career, remember), but it's up there, and it's scary when the opponent is Pacquiao. I don't know how Brandon Rios is going to get out of the way of Pacquiao's laser-fast punches. And that, as much as anything, is why I'm picking Pacquiao by TKO. Earlier in the chat, you hinted very strongly that you'd be picking Pacquiao as well. Knockout or decision?
Mulvaney: I also am picking Pacquiao by TKO. I'm thinking late in the fight, around round 11, because for all the punishment he absorbs, Rios has a rock-hard chin. There's one caveat of course: The last time we saw Manny in a ring, he was taking a long nap, courtesy of that Marquez right hand. Is he still the same fighter he was 12 months ago? Unfortunately, we don't have the figures to tell us that. We'll have to see for ourselves on Saturday night.
Raskin: And I can't wait, because even though we're making the same pick (and therefore I can't exact revenge upon you), this is a guaranteed-action fight for however long it lasts. Here's hoping all parties involved make it to the opening bell without getting kicked in the stomach by Alex Ariza.
Mulvaney: And let us hope also that the Rumble in the Gym won't be the best fight of the weekend. I doubt it will be; I think this main event is guaranteed excitement. As always, my friend, it's been a pleasure. As I'm a day ahead of you here in China, farewell from the future, and until next time.
Raskin: The future? Wow. You just blew my mind. Don't fall off your hoverboard on the way to the fight.


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Tuesday, January 21, 2014
~ taking stock - January ~
Making : big plans for our Europe trip - its getting close now - we leave in April
Cooking : easy lemon-y herb-y chicken and potatoes for dinner for the adults and bolognaise for the kids
Drinking : a nice cool sauv blanc
Reading: I'm on a Tim Winton roll - re reading Dirt Music now
Wanting: a new handbag - mine's too big and too heavy
Looking: more relaxed than I have in ages
Playing: pass the pigs and yahtzee - Christmas games
Deciding: on a new camera to take travelling - I want something smaller than the DSLR but still excellent!
Wishing: the summer holidays would last longer
Enjoying: daylight savings
Waiting: for my nephew to arrive (very impatiently)
Liking: slow relaxed starts to our days
Wondering: if 2014 is the year I learn to crochet
Loving: fresh local cherries and apricots - I'm eating them with plain greek yoghurt for breakfast - so good
Pondering: how to make a move back into real general practice - I'm not ready
Considering: a hot chocolate before bed
Watching: the tennis
Hoping: for amazing adventures this year
Marvelling: at the way my son's brain works
Needing: a haircut - and colour
Smelling: the orange and vanilla hand cream I just applied
Wearing: daggy tracky and uggs - its getting cold outside
Following: not nearly as many blogs as I used to - so many blogs are just about selling product now - I don't really like it
Noticing: sore muscles from a stretchy class last night - my first one in a month - gosh it felt good
Thinking: there's only 2 weeks until my baby is in full-time school
Knowing: I'm going to miss him so
Feeling: lucky to live in Australia
Admiring: people with integrity
Sorting: out my office (again)
Buying: new school shoes for everyone
Bookmarking: yummy recipes to try - I'm determined to try a new recipe each week
Disliking: the political scene in Australia at the moment - I really don't want to vote for anyone in our state election soon
Opening: lovely snail mail that arrived while we were at the shack
Giggling: with the girls on IG
Feeling: optimistic
Taking stock is one of Pip's good ideas - do you sit and reflect on your life very often?
Labels: me, now, taking stock
5 comments:
Thinking about returning to GPdom? Such a big ponder!!! xReplyDelete
We are watching the tennis, too! but I will need to go to bed soon (getting old and therefore useless after late nights, hehe).ReplyDelete
As for a smaller camera, D bought me the Fuji X100S and it takes beautiful images. I am still getting used to all the settings and the fixed lens (35mm equivalent, which is a little wider than what I am used to) but it is a great size and fits nicely into my handbag (looks pretty cool, too!) :)
I've heard great things about Dirt Music - love to know what you think when you're done! :)ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJanuary 22, 2014 at 7:24 PM
Such a beautiful post...ReplyDelete
Lovely. :)ReplyDelete
I'm loving the tennis, too (well, other than Aga losing yesterday).
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[Ed. note: the son of the fan in question is six years old]
This morning we gave Troy Percival a bit of a pass because we were not certain that his antics following Sunday's game were directed at a fan. However, several sources informed us that Percival was indeed directing his rant and obscenities at the fan.
To recap: With two outs in the ninth inning, Evan Longoria leaned into the stands to catch a foul ball that was ultimately caught by a fan sitting in the third row. While we understood Longoria's frustration, we thought his reaction was a little over the top.
But what is absolutely inexcusable was the behavior of Percival. Several moments after the final out, Percival gestured toward the fan and yelled at least one obscenity in a fit of rage.
No matter what you feel is the proper etiquette of the fan in that situation, keep in mind that the fan did nothing illegal, and he did not intentionally interfere with the game. It may have been wrong, but it was at worst, an innocent mistake.
Under absolutely no circumstances is it acceptable for a major league baseball player to scream obscenities at a fan.
It is definitely unacceptable to scream obscenities at your own fans.
And it is downright unforgivable to scream obscenities at a fan who is standing with his young son.
While Longoria's actions could be considered, "in the heat of the moment," Percival's came a couple of minutes later and were clearly premeditated.
If Percival is not suspended or at least fined by Major League Baseball or the Tampa Bay Rays it sends the wrong message to the fans and it will leave an ugly taste in our mouth.
And to Mr. Percival: You are an embarrassment. You haven't done squat for this team in almost a year, so don't think your hall-of-fame career has earned you any free passes with us. And last time we checked YOU have cost the Rays a hell of a lot more wins than that one fan.


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Clarens a hot ticket for Gauteng buyers
Clarens in the eastern Free State is getting a lot of attention from Gauteng buyers, evident in the fact that the 24-unit development, The Paddocks, sold out in six months to a majority of Gauteng residents. And the residential market looks set to continue fulfilling this demand.
This is according to Odette Parris, Pam Golding Properties agent in the area, who said Gauteng buyers form a predominant sector of the Clarens market.
"Located just outside Clarens, the Clarens Golf and Leisure Estate – an exclusive golf estate – is also experiencing ongoing interest due to its status and the fact that it provides residents with secure living in a tranquil and very scenic environment," said Parris. "Vacant stands are popular and we recently concluded sales of erven priced from R275,000 to R340,000 for 700m². Currently available are vacant stands in the price range from R375,000 to R920,000."
The agent said the commercial sector was reinventing itself too, with the popular Roter Haan German restaurant building a new and larger premises off the main street on the corner of Roos and Van Zyl Streets; while the Korporasie restaurant relocated from an old dark building to more spacious premises near the town square.
A new takeaway food outlet and café, located near the entrance to Clarens, recently opened which Parris said fulfilled a gap in the market; while a new hairdressing salon, located in the same block as the popular Post House restaurant, has also been added to the market.
Clarens Xtreme, an adventure centre for quad and mountain biking, abseiling, rock climbing and water rafting enthusiasts, complements the next-door Xtreme Coffee Shop which features a children's entertainment area where they can be supervised and occupied in a secure environment while parents explore the town.
"Due to the busy tourist market there is constant development in the accommodation sector," said Parris. "Almost every property in Clarens has accommodation of some sort, whether it is a renovated, modernised garage or garden cottage, or complete holiday homes leased out as self-catering units."
For the business-minded, Pam Golding Properties is selling guesthouses priced from R3,6m to R4,5m, while it is also marketing a 160m² historic sandstone house; a five-bedroom house 8km from town, perched on solid sandstone rock with scenic views; and a three-bedroom, two-bathroom, red brick home of 240m² and with beautiful, modern finishes.
Photo: Scenic view of Clarens from a luxury five-bedroom home which is priced at R13,76m through Pam Golding Properties. https://goo.gl/xxHndO


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IBM earnings beat Street but business-spending worries haunt shares
Even worse, IBM CFO Mark Loughridge used the "s" word -- stabilize -- to describe the enterprise technology markets. He might as well have used that other s-word. Investors, who had bid up IBM shares by $10 in the past two weeks from $117 to $127, wanted more than stabilization from IBM.
Some broader trends may also have weighed against IBM as it tries to expand its lucrative software business, an area Loughridge highlighted as having big margin expansion potential. Virtualization, which allows companies to partition powerful computer servers into a number of virtual computers, is acting as a long-term drag on both the hardware and software licensing market. In hardware, virtualization is picking up steam as it hammers server makers who are used to selling customers more boxes that they know will never hit capacity.
In software, virtualization has allowed for more software-as-a-service offerings to large businesses. While that's great for IBM's services businesses -- software outsourcing is one of its growth centers -- it's lousy for IBM's sales of software licenses, a far more profitable business offering.
IBM highlighted the number of big outsourcing contracts it has nailed down. That's good as long as the customers don't decide to walk, in which case recovery from such a big busted engagement could be costly and time consuming. In fact, the state of Indiana canceled a $1.3 billion services contract with IBM a day after the earnings release. The full contract would have been spread over a number of years, so IBM will not take an immediate revenue hit. But one or two more losses could easily turn momentum around and slow IBM's revenue growth.
Despite these caveats, by almost every metric aside from year-over-year revenue growth, IBM looked sharp. Company-wide gross margins expanded by almost two points and earnings per share leaped by 18 percent year-over-year to $2.40. The company is growing more quickly in the developing world, a good sign as that's where the big economic growth remains in the global economy. Big Blue generated an impressive $3.4 billion in free cash flow, up $1.3 billion from the previous year. Company CEO Sam Palmisano upped earnings guidance to at least $9.85 per share for 2009, a 15 cents per share bump from previous numbers.
IBM claims it posted single-digit market share gains in both hardware and software against competitors such as Sun (JAVA), Oracle (ORCL), Hewlett-Packard (HPQ), and Microsoft (MSFT). Big Blue also improved margins for its services businesses and plans to continue to improve them through $3.5 billion in cost savings expected to be realized over the entirety of 2009. With over $11 billion in cash and the M&A market starting to pop again (witness Google's indication that it wants to start acquiring companies again), IBM indicated that it will probably make more acquisitions.
Add it all up and this is a glass half-full or glass half-empty story. IBM is, as my colleague Peter Cohan wrote, IBM is among the best managed large capitalization companies in the world. However, its shares are no longer cheap and an L-shaped economic recovery could make investors even more wary of profit gains coming primarily from cost cutting.


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Dramaturgie im zeitgenössischen Tanz ist ? positiv gemeint ? ein heißes Eisen. Idealerweise sind Dramaturginnen und Dramaturgen während der Erarbeitung eines Stücks die besten Freunde der Choreografen. more
Sigmund Freud and his bride Martha Bernays, 1885. Photo: Sigmund Freud MuseumThe correspondence between the young Sigmund Freud and his fiancee Martha Bernays stretched over 52 months, from June 1882 until their marriage in September 1886. When Freud met the 20-year-old Martha, a friend of his sisters, in the spring of 1882, ...
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As a Park Scholar at NC State, Leslie Scheunemann '01 had no shortage of interests. She triple-majored in physics, applied mathematics, and chemistry; minored in Japanese; conducted mentored research; studied ethics independently; gave piano recitals; practiced karate; and was engaged in community service. Not only did each of these pursuits help lay the groundwork for Scheunemann's post-collegiate life and work, they made her feel connected to something larger than herself.
Leslie Scheunemann '01 Blends Science and Ethics to Provide Compassionate Patient Care
Mia de los Reyes '16 Researches Galaxies Far, Far Away
This story by Sam Roberson, staff writer for The Technician, was originally published in The Technician on March 17, 2015. The exchange of knowledge through time is characterized by the allusion of "The Great Conversation." In the scientific community, the process of discovery and adding to this "conversation" can at times feel more like a great argument. Mia de los Reyes '16, a junior studying both math and physics, found this was the case when she embarked on a research assignment on galaxy evolution
Read more »
NC State's Standout Scholars
As a high school senior with excellent test scores and top grades, Karli Moore faced a tough choice when it came time to pick a college. It didn't help that she was accepted by every institution she applied to, including Ivy League schools Harvard and Dartmouth.


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Yesterday got a little disorganized after breakfast. I have pics of lunch but none of dinner, which is probably good since the best of food choices weren't made since I didn't eat at home. I vaguely remember potato chips and some sort of danish.... it's a little fuzzy.
It was definitely and iced tea kinda day (this one was slightly sweetened with sugar).
I was also craving something crunchy and these were most satisfying.
This is a tiny dessert plate with 7 crackers on it. :)
A blog about self acceptance, embracing creativity and discovering happiness along the way.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Opps.... a Little Late On Lunch
Posted by BlondeJustice at 7:55 AM
Labels: food journal
2 comments:
- kaseybobasey said...
Lunch looks VERY yummy! Where do you find the organic products you've been using? I'd love to go more organic but I have trouble finding things at my local grocery store! :)
- April 22, 2009 at 9:23 AM
- Olivia said...
Hi Kasey! I should have put this on my post... thanks for reminding me. :)
Nature's Promise is a brand of organic products from a chain of grocery stores called GIANT. I don't believe they are everywhere but I am not sure if they are just Virginia based.
I believe most major grocery stores are trying to come up with their own brand or organics. Check it out. :)
Hope this helps.
- April 22, 2009 at 10:00 AM
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Michael Heinrich Rentz (Nurnberg 1698 - Kuks 1758) - The greatest copper engraver in Bohemian Baroque
The festive opening of Rentz Museum in Kuks happened on 3rd May at 2 pm with the all afternoon program. Partcipated:
Prof. Ignác Antonín Hrdina, O.P. (House Blessing), Geisslers Hofcomoedianten (Kuks Christian Clock performance) Jiří Šerých (Rent's monographer and speaker), Francizska and Stephan Sweerts-Sporck (speakers), Simona Jindráková and Tereza Sedláčková (singers), Ondřej Macek (virginal), Pavel Piekar (linotype exhibition Kuks Etudes), Václav Návrat (composer of Kuks on F.A.G.V.S. Theme and violinist), Jaroslav Tůma (virginal), Marta Töpfer (singer).
Beginning: September 2012
House Reconstraction deadline: March 2014
Musem, theatre stage and hermitages trail opened for public: May 2014
The project aimed to revitalize the listed National Monument in the heart of Kuks # 58 (1704) to faciíitate cultural offers for tourists. The result presents the triple touristic attračtivities based on the local unique history, culture and arts. The living museum houses rare books and copper engravings, period tools, printing press, selection of Rentz's enlarged prints, projections, and workshops for hand-made paper, wood carving, book binding and copper engravings. The second Kuks mystery consists of baroque street theatre and music performances emphesized with newly open street stage (available via webcam) and the third point of the culture heritage triangle marks the trial along the six former hermitages in the neighbouring woods, including Braun's Bethlehem. Michael Heinrich Rentz (Nurnberg 1698 - Kuks 1758), Count of Sporck's Court Engraver fulfilled the same artistic role as famous Matthias Bernard Braun did in Bohemian baroque sculpture. This combination purpously unveils the multi cultural, multi lingual and multi artistic links within the tiny baroque spa in Kuks as the living and inspiring contribution to the Europen cultural heritage.