text:
Late one evening not long ago, I had left the TV tuned to the David Letterman show while I finished up some writing. As the former president of two different public universities – one in the United States and one in Canada – imagine my shock when I heard the following: "I'm dumb, I went to a state college." Let me repeat that: "I'm dumb," said Mr. Letterman, " I went to a state college."
Not only was I shocked that this very successful and clever performer would characterize himself as "dumb," but, more important, I was offended on behalf of the thousands and thousands of talented young people I have been privileged to see graduate from such institutions of public higher education over the years. I was offended by Mr. Letterman's apparent assumption that only "dumb" students would choose to attend what to him were clearly second-rate institutions….. despite the fact that our nation's system of public higher education includes such prestigious institutions as UC-Berkeley, William and Mary, the University of Illinois and, closer to home, UMass Amherst and a number of the SUNY campuses.
Given my surprise that Mr. Letterman would make such a public and all-inclusive condemnation of our nation's system of public higher education, I did a bit of research on his background. On closer examination, it appears that the distinction Mr. Letterman was making was between a "state college" – his alma mater, Ball State - and the public institution in Indiana he had hoped to attend if his grades had been better, Indiana University…. a distinction not unlike that between the California State System and the universities comprising the University of California System like UC-Berkeley.
However, as a sound bite, it certainly could be interpreted that Mr. Letterman was making a sweeping – and negative – generalization about all of public higher education in this country. While I would be the first to acknowledge that there are, indeed, wide variations in quality across our some 1700 public institutions of higher education, I would also submit that the overall level of quality is remarkable given the continued disinvestment we have seen in public colleges and universities across most of our nation in recent years.
A recent article in the Chronicle of Higher Education with the provocative title, "A Machiavellian Guide to Destroying Public Universities in 12 Easy Steps," puts it this way - Step 1: "Denigrate public education…to the point that no one would dare ask for increased support. This will assure that public universities are relegated to second-rate status with inferior facilities and loads of part-time faculty members, and will forever have a negative stigma placed on them relative to private universities."
Clearly, this is not a path we wish to follow, given that some 70% of all undergraduate students in this country attend such public institutions of higher education. And yet, as states feel the continuing impact of a struggling economy, support for most public colleges and universities has decreased in a major way, leading to unprecedented increases in tuition and fees to fill the gap. In fact, tuition and fees have increased more than 70% over the last ten years. A 2012 National Science Board Report indicated that per student state funding at the 101 major public research universities dropped an average of 20% between 2010 and 2012; ten states had decreases ranging from 30 to 48%. Indeed, Ohio State, Penn State and the University of Michigan now receive less than 7% of their funding from their states, and California has cut the support of its universities some 50% since 1980… all this at a time when post-secondary education has become increasingly important to a robust and internationally-competitive workforce. This free-fall of disinvestment must stop. Unless there is a recommitment to supporting our nation's public colleges and universities, quality, indeed, will suffer: we will continue to see more crowded classrooms, less robust programs of study, decreased diversity in our student population and even more massive student debt upon graduation.
We must, as a nation, strive to retain our well-deserved reputation for quality in our publicly-supported system of higher education. Notwithstanding careless remarks to the contrary, we have much to be proud of: excellent and dedicated professors who provide high- quality educational opportunities to our students. Continued disinvestment will put such quality at risk. We need to reinvest in our nation's future; reinvest in our most precious resource- our young people. In one voice, we need to convey our commitment to public higher education to our elected officials. This is a public policy issue certainly deserving of our attention and our passionate advocacy.
Dr. Karen Hitchcock, Special Advisor in the consulting firm, Park Strategies, LLC, was President of the University at Albany, State University of New York, from 1996-2004, after which she went on to lead Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Dr. Hitchcock has received honorary degrees from Albany Medical College and from her alma mater, St. Lawrence University. She has served on numerous regional and national committees and task forces dealing with issues in higher education, research and economic development. While at both the University at Albany and Queen's University, she co-hosted the popular WAMC program, "The Best of our Knowledge".
The views expressed by commentators are solely those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of this station or its management.


text:
Dry weather till Nov 21: MeT
Srinagar, Nov 16: Minimum temperatures across Jammu and Kashmir dropped on Friday with Leh being the coldest at minus 8.1, as the Met forecast a dry spell to continue till November 21.
The minimum temperatures are likely to fall during this period, Sonam Lotus, Director of MET office said.
The Ladakh region was the coldest recording the second lowest temperature as well, in Kargil at minus 6.6, besides Leh.
In the valley, Gulmarg at minus 5.5 was the lowest, with 4.1 degrees Celsius in Pahalgam and Srinagar at 3.4
In the Jammu region, Katra recorded 9.0, Jammu was at 8.8, Batote 4.1, Bannihal 5.4 and Bhaderwah 2.4 as the night's lowest temperatures.
Top militant 'commander' Zakir Musa killed in Tral
Srinagar, May 23: Kashmir Valley's most wanted militant 'commander', Zakir Musa, who headed the Al Qaeda affiliate Ansar Gazwatul Hind (AGH), was killed on Thursday by government forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district.
Informed sources said the forces started a cordon and search operation in Dadsara village of Tral area following information about the presence of two militants there.
"The trapped militants were persuaded to surrender. Instead they hurled grenades and started a gunfight, triggering an encounter," a source said.
One of the dead was identified as Zakir Musa.
As the news about the killing of top militant, widespread protests were being witnessed in different parts of the valley in reaction to the killing.
Zakir Musa, a close associate of Burhan Wani who was killed in 2017, was a militant of Hizbul Mujahideen who succeeded Burhan and later headed the Al Qaeda affiliate. He had taken to militancy in 2013.
Zakir Rashid Bhat, his real name, was an engineering student in Chandigarh who abandoned education and joined militancy.
He was born in Noorpora village of Tral area. His father, Abdul Rashid Bhat, is a senior engineer working for the Jammu and Kashmir government.
After Burhan Wani's death, Zakir Musa threatened to behead Kashmiri separatist leaders of the Hurriyat Conference for calling Kashmir a political dispute instead of a religious struggle to establish an Islamic state.
Authorities have suspended mobile Internet services across Kashmir valley as a precautionary measure.
Authorities have ordered closure of all schools and colleges in the Kashmir Valley on Friday.
Hope Modi thinks positive for Kashmir: Omar
Srinagar, May 23: National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah Thursday congratulated Narendra Modi for being reelected as Prime Minister of the country and hoped that Modi will soften his stand on Kashmir and start dialogue with Pakistan.
Omar appealed Modi to change his style of work in the new government and take all the people of the country along.
"Country has reelected Narendra Modi again as Prime Minister despite opposition parties having tried hard during elections to defeat BJP and NDA. We also tried hard in Kashmir and won three seats. We would have won the Ladakh seat also but Congress conspired and helped BJP win the seat," Omar said in a presser after NC's grand show in Kashmir.
Omar said that Kashmiri people have suffered a lot during the five year rule of BJP, but hoped that Modi will soften his stand and start taking measures which will help give the people of Kashmir relief.
"Jammu and Kashmir people have hopes that Modi will think positive for Kashmir and start dialogue with Pakistan and take internal measures which will give relief to people here," he said.
"Strict policy was used against Kashmiris in the last five years. We hope the new government will ease out the strict policy. We hope the border trade is resumed," he said.
Omar blamed the Congress for hatching a conspiracy and fielding two candidates (one of them proxy) in the Ladakh constituency which led to the vote division.
"Had Congress not conspired, the BJP would have lost Ladakh seat. Congress by fielding two candidates betrayed the people of Kargil. And people should seek answers from the party," he said.
Claiming that nothing is going to change under BJP's rule in next five years, Omar said the people of J&K want that the Centre should initiate a dialogue with Pakistan.
"We saw the beginning yesterday as foreign ministers of both the countries stood with each other and talked. If steps like resuming border trade are taken, people will have a sigh of relief. I appeal BJP to lessen the hardships of people of Kashmir in its their five year long tenure," he said.
Dismayed by the performance of the opposition in the elections, Omar said questioning Balakot air strikes and the Congress' "chowkhidar chor hi" slogan might have cost them the polls.
"Post-Balakot opposition lost most of its steam. There are many issues we can discuss on. Whether 'Chowkidar chor hai' was the right slogan, whether it was right to focus on Rafale. Whether or not we presented rural distress, unemployment, economic slowdown properly. Should we have questioned Pulwama instead of Balakot. They say 'Once the horse has bolted what's the point of closing the stable door?' If the horse comes in hand after 5 years, fine, else it will go ahead," he said.
When asked whether BJP's stand on special status of J&K helped them to get majority, Omar said, "We saw that their statements on Article 370 equally helped them. This danger should not be taken easy by us and we will have to fight with our full power to save the state's special status," he said. The NC vice president said the party chose its candidates who can speak over issues confronting Kashmiris. "Akbar sahab sometimes utters something wrong but he is known for strongly taking up the issues of the people. We need such people in parliament. Masoodi sahab also has a good knowledge of Law and the judgment he passed on Article 35-A and Article 370 is still being quoted by people," he said
Glee and glum surround pol parties in Srinagar
Srinagar, May 23: The cheers of'Farooq sahib Zindabad, Nara-e-takbeer Allahu Akbar' Thursday reverberated the National Conference's party headquarters here as Farooq Abdullah made way into the office.
He was showered with candies as workers struggled to shake hands with him, all trying their best to congratulate the 83-year-old patron for winning the Srinagar Parliamentary Elections.
The festivity was expected as Farooq recorded his fourth win in the Lok Sabha elections in his 42-year-long political career that began in 1980.
Thursday's was a massive win for Farooq, who defeated PDP's Aga Syed Mohsin by a huge margin of almost 70,000 votes.
While the male workers encircled Farooq and other party-leaders accompanying him, the female began singing Kashmiri songs praising the leader and announcing his success.
Farooq was accompanied by party vice-president Omar Abdullah, and senior leaders including Ali Sagar, Nasir Aslam Wani and Abdul Rahim Rather as they all made their way to begin the press conference announcing their win and the way forward.
Seeing their party winning all the three Lok Sabha seats from Kashmir, the workers had decorated the office and the alley leading to it with garlands and buntings carrying the party symbol.
A similar scene was witnessed at the BJP office here, whose leaders and workers went a bit too far in celebrating the party's success across India.
While BJP had not made any mark in the Lok Sabha seats in Kashmir, its workers were ecstatic outside the party office in Jawahar Nagar here, jumping in joy, burning firecrackers (which as a matter of fact are banned in Srinagar) and offering sweets to each other.
Their ruckus bothered the passersby, who were annoyed of them blocking the road.
At PDP's office, on the other hand, gloom permeated the air.
A handful of workers surrounded PDP leaders Khurshid Alam, Noor Mohammad and Muntazir Mohuiddin as they all were glued to the television set seeing their party's downfall.
"It is a done deal. Farooq has won it in Srinagar and Anantnag too is out of our hands now," one of the workers was seen telling others.
As the clock ticked and the PDP losses, especially in the Anantnag parliamentary seat became clear, the workers stood up in silence and left the place one by one.
The J&K Congress had kept their office in Srinagar closed. Its president GA Mir, who was all confident of a win in Anantnag, lost to NC's Hasnain Masoodi with a margin of around 9800 votes.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
I've always had a weakness for rugged men who work with their hands. They're straightforward, sexy, and undeniably male. Bring on the ripped, faded jeans and the flannel shirt opened to reveal a tanned, muscular chest. When I tried to decide what occupation to give my hero in Alpha in Disguise, my latest release, I had to make it fit in the shared world of the Black Hills Wolves series. The Black Hills are pretty rugged, so I made Ogden the pack's lumberjack. When tough, kickass Lara breezes in from Yellowstone to fulfil her destiny, she needs a rugged alpha. Can she unleash the beast within him?
Alpha in Disguise by Afton Locke
Unleash the alpha!
Release Date: 6 March 2015
Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Alpha-Disguise-Black-Hills-Wolves-ebook/dp/B00T2EWPOE/
Stay tuned for reviews and more: http://www.aftonlocke.com/AlphaDisguise.html
Watch the Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/hTD9k5APKhA
Read the entire Black Hills Wolves series: https://www.facebook.com/BlackHillsWolvesSeries
When her mother is shot by a rancher, Lara Wolfe becomes the last Dominant of Yellowstone's Lamar Canyon pack. Her mother's dying wish sends her to South Dakota's Black Hills to find her mate, but Lara would rather continue her mission—saving her pack.
When Ogden Woods, lumber supplier for the Tao pack, offers the newcomer a place to stay, an explosive attraction reveals they're mates. Afraid of unleashing his inner Dominant and a secret that could get him exiled, he'll do anything to avoid mating.
Although he begs Lara to stay in Los Lobos where she'll be safe, she can't turn her back on her pack. As her mate, Ogden is bound to protect her, but following her means risking his home and his very life. Are they willing to pay the price?
Excerpt (explicit)
Alpha in Disguise - Copyright © Afton Locke, 2015
"Ogden, I came to say good-bye."
"Damn." His tanned face turned pale. "Let's go inside and discuss it."
Realizing he was fighting to keep his mate, her heart fluttered in her chest. They stepped into his office and closed the door. The room had his stamp all over it.
Bits of wood, tools, dusty papers, and rags littered the worktable, and the air smelled woody and masculine.
But he didn't seem to have conversation on his mind. Instead, his strong arms slipped around her.
"Don't go," he whispered in her hair.
His woodsy scent, mixed with his lust, made her dizzy. Her fingers dug into the back of his coarse cotton shirt. Against her will, her nails clawed the fabric, pulling it out of his jeans. They eyed each other, two predators circling a kill.
"Convince me," she whispered.
In reply, his mouth surged against hers, the force knocking her back against his file cabinets. His tongue breached her mouth, claiming her so fast her breath faltered. While she tangled her fingers in his tousled chestnut hair, broad hands squeezed her breasts, bringing her nipples to rock-hard points. With her heart thundering in her ears, she unbuttoned her shirt before he could rip the buttons off this one, too.
Panting hard, he paused to ask, "When can you conceive?"
"D-during the full moon," she replied, struggling for her own breath. "It's safe now."
He jerked down the zipper of her jeans and spun her around. "Then hang on!"
As she bent over and grabbed the two nearest metal handles, her swollen breasts tumbled out of her bra. Hot moisture flooded her core. No matter how many penises she allowed inside her, for whatever reasons, she vowed she would only remember his.
"Just this once," she gasped as he tugged down her jeans. "I can't stay."
"It doesn't work that way," he ground out as he grabbed her hips, keeping her immobile. "You're my mate, and you're going to stay here where you belong."
The slippery head of his cock brushed her buttocks, scorching her sensitive skin before he plunged it home. He filled her cunt with the force of a sledgehammer, making her cry out. Any doubts she had about the man being a Dominant evaporated.
"You're no Omega, Ogden Woods." Her voice cracked as he pulled out and plunged back in. "You're a Dominant in an Omega's clothing. Why?"
Coming Soon
Deeper Than Perfect - Musa Publishing - 1970s time-travel - August 2015
Where readers can find me
Web site: http://www.aftonlocke.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/aftonlocke
Newsletter: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thelovechronicle/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/Afton_Locke
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/aftonlocke/


text:
Claudia Rosas Interior Design
graphicdesign.media | Fri, 02/23/2018 - 01:28
Brief from client
Client wants to change her logo to be her own name. She's interested in something modern and clean and to have a memorable icon. We discussed having maybe her initials and hopefully have something that could relate to interior design.
3 Comments
Shawali | Fri, 02/23/2018 - 11:19
This is definitely the best of the 3. By a long shot.
But it's far from being over.
The good: that symbol turned into a patter is a pretty cool idea.
The bad: these terrible dirty and dull colours. Right now, they are ruining the whole thing.
Also, the regular/bold thing and the subtext that has as much importance as the wordmark. Just keep things simple.
Keep it up, you are onto something cool here.


text:
Interesting comments from my esteemed colleagues on the Chilcot inquiry. Sounds like Blair's questioners would make excellent Democratic senators from red states.
I continue to be, I must say, alarmed by invocations like the PM's that 9-11 changed everything to such an extent. What he's really trying to say without exactly saying it is that 9-11 justified anything. The way leaders -- Bush and Cheney and our gang mostly, but Blair, too -- took post-9-11 fear and manipulated it into a war of aggression was just...well, sick seems to be the word of the day. A shameful thing to watch then, and appalling to continue to hear such rationales today.


text:
|at Torres del Paine, Patagonia (Jan2012)
Curiosity or interest…there's that inner drive luring us to go places and see things, to go beyond our fence and see what's out there. Pictures, books and stories inspire us, travel completes us. We have that urge to be out there, on site, to see things with our own eyes; to touch it, feel it, experience and live all of it. And so we travel, we tour, we walk the beaten path…
The appeal of traveling is there in all of us. We read articles on some unknown place and then daydream of this far away land. We watch adventure movies, like Indiana Jones and weird places that Indi had visited, and smile at the idea of us being there… or imagine trips that include crossing a monkey-bridge in Sarawak, dodging snakes in Rajasthan, street-dancing in Rio de Janiero, or chasing the gray wolves in the Alaskan outback. Yes, we all have the inner yearning- the desire that drives us to explore, to venture out…
The challenge of traveling, however, requires us to spend our hard-earned fortune. The rich and famous can easily book a hotel in Monte Carlo, and spend millions in a week or so. But for most of us, the middle and budget-income travelers, it's already hurting us to spend some dough for an airline ticket to Singapore. On the good side, budget and promo fares are wide-spread nowadays, and the infra-structure that supports cheap tour is taking its rightful place. Promo airfares, multi-day train tickets, cheap buses, backpacking inns, student international discount cards, among other things, are very popular takes for the pocket-strained tourists.
Backpacking is the answer to battle the high cost of traveling. Or at least make travelling a little bit more affordable. Backpackers go for the budget-types; street eats over air-conditioned restos, dorm inns versus star-rated hotels, economy bus and boat trips versus first-class. Tours involving third party agencies are generally more expensive, so setting your own tour, buying your own ticket and riding your public bus saves you the much needed cash. The most expensive part of the backpacking trip is the plane fare, but the rest can be easily controlled.
Backpacking is also, a lot of times, more exciting as sometimes you don't know what new things you will discover, or what new culture you'll experience. It's an adventure in itself knowing sometimes that you're guessing your way around. Pre-arranged tours would normally limit your exposure and experience. Backpacking gives you flexibility unlike the rigidity of a group tour, it allows you to pick what you'll see or do, to spend only on things you think worth spending for, to mingle with quality time, or to walk the off-the-beaten track.
The other goot point is the chance for more 'intimate' traveling. Some backpackers would normally spend more time in a place, giving him/her the freedom to really enjoy it, or to be more intimate with ones surrounding and taste the real culture compared to just being ushered by the mega-phone freak tourist guides. Extreme versions of wanderers have the luxury to spend a bum-time when they travel. No rush, no deadlines. Some just travel until they run out of cash, then work for a measly-income job for them to buy a fare home, or to continue with the next trip.
Backpacking Essentials
You can't go visiting places without your good 'ol reliable backpack. Size of course would depend on where you plan to go and what you plan to do. A lazy 2-week tour around South Island New Zealand for example, may only need a mid-sized pack with capacity of 20-25liters. (Backpack capacity is normally measured in volume. Just imagine fitting in three (4) pieces of gallon-size water containers, that's close to a 20Li pack.).
Good features include; adjustable padded shoulder straps, locking hip-belt - useful for big packs, lots of zip-able pockets, side-pockets are ideal to hold the cold-&-moist water or energy drink bottles, optional sternum (chest) strap useful for quick movements (eg. running away from muggers), extendable camel pouch to hold extra stuff bag or cheap supermarket plastic goodies – or a place to stow your smelly shoes.
Shoes and Sandals
A pair of rubber shoes or trainers is your best bet when moving around cities and parks. The cushioning design of most sports shoes prevents foot ache for long-day walks and strolls. Plus you can always do a good side trip with it, say, jogging along the coastal road, hiking a well-developed national park, or even playing tennis with a new found stranger-friend. Trail and hiking shoes are also popular. Trail shoes are sort of a hybrid version as it has the feature of hiking shoes but has the comfort (almost) of your regular trainers.
Hiking shoes and boots are normally brought along if your itinerary includes some serious trail stomping. I normally bring a pair of trail shoes and light boots.
A pair of sandals may be useful if you're aiming for some tropical get-away.
City slicking will just probably require you to bring a couple of worn-out filthy earth-colored cotton shirts, and maybe one polyester-based T (for hiking or running). Some folks just normally wash their Ts every other 3 days (with one alternate), then as soon as they get fed up wearing the same set of shirt, they'll buy a cheap 2$ souvenir shirt from the tourist-loaded market-by-night streets. Packing light is a mantra of backpacking!
Of course it would be inevitable to bring those fleece jaks if you're in a winter tour. A couple of pairs, plus a waterproof jacket are normally enough to get comfort.
Jeans and corduroy can survive the stress and test of a backpacking tour. One of my old favorite pair is still intact, and it had survived a month trip in Africa - without a single wash! That same pair I used in Pakistan for 3 weeks. Light-colored slacks normally retain dirt more than jeans, so maong or dark-colored corduroy are the top choices. Later in my trips, I'd switched to brown-colored cargo pants (think Dockers, but the cheap versions). I realized traveling with extra side pockets helped a lot (think passport, maps, hotel lists and even printed local phrases, even a pen). Quick-dry non-cotton trekking pants with detachable 'legs' are also good bet, plus you can use them in hikes. For tropical countries, bring along a poncho.
Books & Maps
Guidebooks had become a traveler's sidearm. Maps and hotel list, as well as a list of useful local phrases, are the most useful set of info that you need to put your hands on. In longer trip, you may photocopy or tear out relevant guidebook pages (and paste them back later), or simply print free info from the internet. Guidebooks would normally cost you an extra 50$, plus it's an added weight and volume in your small pack – competing for space with other potential books-for-the-bored. Just bring 1 or 2 books, you may have a chance to swap them later on, some backpacking inns have a 'library' accepting book exchange.
Survival Gizmos
Swiss knife, head torch, medicine packs, lighter, water bottle. Traveling sometimes involves enduring a 15-hour bus-then-train-then-boat trip, and if you forgot to pack those munchies in your packs, at least buy canned goods in the local bus-stop stores – that's when a can opener comes in handy. That goes the same if you got fed up with the local food (or got stuck in a room, trying to avoid a stalker), you may simply buy some bread and some de lata delights – and presto, dinner by the bed!
Torch (flashlight) is a very useful item, not only for night hiking and camping, but also for emergencies. It's normal to have brownouts in not-so-progressive out-of-the-map towns. In fact, some far-off villages, near your target scenic waterfalls or view areas, do not have electricity. Better ready than blind.
Carrying water at all times is a good traveling habit. Sip a bit every so often, even when just sitting in the train. A liter-bottle should normally suffice. Add a bottle if you're planning a long hike.
You should know your health status very well to be able to decide what goes in your med-pack. Bring along tabs of paracetamol, water purifiers, and anti-diarrhea. Other items may include: anti-histamine, multi-vitamins, anti-malaria, etc.
Papers, Money, Cards
Passport, 1 or 2 International Credit or ATM cards may come in handy (in big cities at least), and cash. International med-cards are of great help if the worst is to come. Of course, it would be paranoid-but-wise to get short-term travel insurance. And probably some medical papers if you have special health case. Important phone numbers kept in your wallet.
Other Gear
Out-of-the-country backpacking is not all about being brave and gung-ho! You can't just pack your gear now, and leave tomorrow. (Well, you can but…) Traveling requires a great deal of planning. You have to determine the right amount of gear and supplies you need to pack along with you. Winter country visits would mean extra thick clothes, mittens, balaclava, boots, and even sleeping bags. Beach tours padded in your trip could mean extra items such as sun-blocks (which is better bought on-site), sunhats, eyewear, and some good in-fashion boardshorts.
It sometimes involves a plan on when to buy new items or supply, or when to jettison some (e.g. sending back home your winter gear as you move on to a tropical or sub-tropical climate).
Planning and Prep
The internet has tons of data to offer regarding places to visit, city maps, transportation schedules, etc. It's better to have some tentative plans and use that as guide, rather than not have any plans at all. What's good about a backpacking trip is that, you are very flexible in your itinerary (unlike the poor platoon of elderly tourists we normally see being shooed in the tourist bus). But being flexible doesn't necessarily mean plan-less and careless. It pays to have some sort of plan, and just change them as needed. Just surf and browse thru those websites and you'll end up having a pile of info-sheets beside your office work-papers. Just don't mix them and be careless sending a map of Kathmandu to your old lady boss, she might think that's a honeymoon invite.
If you're traveling to some hard-currency countries with lots of internet café in every towns and cities, you may opt to just plan for the first 2 or 3 days, then surf the web every time you hop in a new place. That's a good idea especially if you plan to send emails and Jpegs to friends every now and then. And sometimes you'd meet co-travelers and you may simply ask for onward trip info, or better yet, find a 'co-traveling friend' to ease up planning, and of course, to put an end to your boring, lonely trips.
Long trips would require you to properly plan for what gizmos you should stuff in your bags. Check the weather and season and bring your battle gear appropriately. But always try to pack light, test if you can comfortably move around fast with all your stuff, if you're struggling, throw away other items, don't be too paranoid. A 15-kg pack is a heavy pack (unless you are into mountaineering tour).
You may also need to plan on when to acquire new things (souvenirs, additional gear), and when to dispose them. I met this Swiss guy in Queenstown NZ, and he was telling me how warm El Nido was. He just came from Thai after El Nido, and just recently hopped in the freezing NZ. I asked how he's managing his pack size, he simply said he just bought this (-while modeling it) thick Down jacket here (and other hefty souvenirs), and was planning to send them home before his warm-weather South American trip. Good if you have extra hundreds of dollar donation to FedEx.
If you're cheap, you may just need to carry everything with you. I recall bringing my laptop on top of Mt Daedun in Korea because I was not able to leave behind or send home my extra stuff. That was my extra weight and punishment for my piss-poor planning. ;)
Tolerance and travel lifestyles
Living that dream-trip will test your utmost tolerance to a lot of things. Personal hygiene, food, room comforts. Examples, say how about no bathing for 1 week? ;) We Filipinos are used to taking a bath daily, even twice daily. Well if you're in the winter trails of Annapurna in Nepal, or bus-hopping your way around some parts of Europe during the winter or early spring seasons, I think you'd consider bathing every other day (or even every other 3 days) as an acceptable change of pattern, even when hot shower is available. Food? Don't think that if you can eat balut (- a steamed 12-day old duck egg), you can be tolerant in other stuff. The Fear Factor types could be the normal chow-bits for the locals. Accommodation? Ever tried a mini-&-mickey room in the remote village near Mt Bromo? Just knowing that they are about and watching, or hear them gnawing on your bed, might already freak you out.
Hikers and campers have distinct advantages over other tourists. If you have been camping in dirt and mud, drinking river water, sleeping without tent, eating experimentally-cooked camp food, taking a dump in invisible toilets, and other camping stunts, you probably have acquired a good level of tolerance to survive rat-&-roach-infested 4th-world hotels, sticky and stinking economy-class train seats, fully packed refugee-class ship decks, and other normal amenities of cheap-traveling life. It may help to try the back-country with a few outdoor friends before you venture out.
"Only the paranoid survives"
Backpacking is sometimes dangerous as you have very limited protection. It would be a big lost not to try visiting beyond the boundaries of the safe world, but you have to be careful. Hundreds of stories are in your daily news as proof of crime and misfortunes for the unwary traveler.
Good personal security is all about proper planning, right mindset, and lots of luck. Martial arts? Hmm, you may only need that for a quick 10-second burst of adrenalin to fight your way out of a bad encounter. But what you really need is a good sensing capability, to know when to evade, run or hide -- especially if you are traveling alone. There are few travel trade bits that may help you lessen the risk…
Some counter-measure tips;
- Split up money to 3 or 4 different places (2 in separate pocket, 1 or 2 in the bag).
- Keep a photocopy of passport/visa and cards in the pack or pad-locked hotel room.
- Keep a low profile. Backpackers are mostly dirty-&-poor looking anyway. Blend in with the crowd so as not stick up like a sore thumb. Your bunny-ear headband may look cute if you're in Osaka, but may not be cool in Kabul;
- Sometimes it helps to bring personal padlock for your room or pack. Just don't lose the key, sling it in your string necklace.
- Wear dark sunglasses so you can un-provokingly 'read' strangers eyes and movements; Also useful for ogling at local women's fashion.
- Bring some common sense and avoid dangerous places (drinking places with a few tourists, or dark alleys and parks);
- And be always cautious and doubtful of strangers and locals. Crimes and scams haunt the unsuspecting tourist.
- Get a map, orient yourself, and know the entry and exit points of each place you plan to visit. Oh, and get a compass as well, it helps. (Tip: most maps are north-oriented, i.e., when you hold it across your face, the top part is the north. Pinpoint your location in the map, and try to remember general directions. Maps normally have a 'compass dial' icon, helpful if it's not north-oriented).
Local Travel
Philippines has a lot to offer when it comes to tour and travel. Be it a cultural tour like the Ati-atihan festival; religious tour like Sinakulo, historical-architectural such as the splendor of Vigan, or even simple visit to a white beach in Palawan. A good travel exercise is a short trip around Batad (Banawe) or Sagada area. Other more elaborate trips may include several points and stops. Let's see some sample tours.
A 5-day Northwest Luzon itinerary could include:
Day1: Bus trip to Alaminos, overnight stay in one of the Hundred Islands
Day2: Bus trip to La Union, try Surf Boarding, stay overnight.
Day3: Bus trip to Vigan, tour around the city, stay overnight.
Day4: Bus trip to Baguio, tour around the city, stay overnight.
Day5: Bus trip back to Manila.
A 12-day West-to-East Visayan- Southeastern Luzon tour may look like this:
Day1: Ro-ro Ride to Boracay
Day2: Boracay.
Day3: Bus trip to Iloilo, stay overnight.
Day4: Ferry to Bacolod, stay overnight.
Day5: Bus to Cebu, stay 2 nights.
Day7: Ferry to Bohol, stay overnight.
Day8: Ferry to Biliran, then Sorsogon.
Day9: Bus to Legaspi, whale-watching in Donsol, visit Albay.
Day11: Bus to Naga, then Daet, try Surf Boarding.
Day12: Back to real life – back to Manila.
The challenge in Philippines of course, is the reliability of boat and bus schedules, so you may need to pad extra days in your itinerary. Especially if you are traveling during monsoon as bad weather can easily discourage boatmen from venturing out the open sea.
Traveling within Philippines is the cheapest start of backpacking, but if you plan to ride boats and Ro-ro's, be sure to have plenty of time to spare.
Neighbors Abroad
The next cheaper option is to travel to neighboring countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, or Hong Kong. Easier to move around ASEAN countries as you don't have to hassle yourself to get a visa. Going abroad will most likely require you to spend lots of pesos for a plane ride. But with the promos available nowadays, flying to HK or Singapore, or Bangkok is as cheap as spending a weekend in Davao or Boracay. Just hook up with your favorite travel agent so you always get updates on the good news, or invest time in the internet rather than watching corny soap opera TV shows.
Route planning could be time-extensive, but this is actually the fun part. A sample cheap trip may include a local plane ride to Zamboanga, followed by a boat trip to Kota Kinabalu (Malaysia), then on to Brunei, back to mainland Malaysia, then up north to Thailand. Or go northwards then west. A friend of mine traveled for 6 months from Hong Kong, to mainland China, to Central Asia, then Tibet, Nepal then south to India. Now that's traveling, if you can spend your Lolo's treasure for the trip, and can quit your job, sure why not.
Far and Beyond
Other extreme options are the year-long inter-continental travels, Or, a few months of Sabbatical tour around European countries, across Mediterranean territories (Northern Africa and Southern Europe and the Middle East), South American frog-hopping tour from Peru to Argentina, or even a Polynesian-type of sea-escapade around the Pacific Islands of Micronesia, Solomon, Fiji and Tahiti.
The better option for the working class is to travel for 3-4 weeks (up to maximum allowable vacation leaves), and given the short period, it would be wise to just visit 1 or 2 adjacent countries. One month is actually just right to scratch the surface of a big country, visiting more than one territory would mean sprint-touring the favorite sites. It's really your choice whether you want to skim thru lots of places, or visit a few special ones with quality time. Traveling alone will give you this much flexibility.
Only time and money can limit our creativity in setting up the travel itinerary. The world is ours to see and explore, but it's how we set aside our time and resources that will make this really happen.


text:
Compliance Consultant (contract)
Newedge USA, LLC
Responsible for oversight of all activities to ensure compliance with applicable Patroit Act, rules and regulations. In addition to relevant baning, domestic and foreign exchanges and regulators, and NULI's internal procedures.
- Perform in-depth KYC profile review and determine KYC renewal profiles and requirements of existing clients.
- Ensure KYC renewal profile package is complete in accordance with firm's information and documentation requirements.
- Revuew background screening results for derogatory information.
- Maintain accurate database tracking regarding the requests for KYC renewals as well as logging KYCs on a daily basis.
- Update KYC Document Management database with KYC renewal information.
- Prepare and submit reports to management on status of KYC renewals.
- Work with the various sales teams and sales management staff.
- Other duties or projects, as assigned.


text:
Book direct and Save
This 300 year old renovated cottage is situated on the bank of the Aille River, located right in the centre of Doolin. This is a perfect spot for your stop over or extended stay in the area, where you will experience a warm friendly atmosphere in our old world surrounding. Visit the sights around Doolin or just chill out by the river during the day…. then relax by the turf fire or check out the traditional music in the local pubs.
Certificate of excellence 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 & 2010 by TripAdvisor.
Voted 'Best Hostel in Ireland' 2008 & runner up 2009, 2010 by Hostelworld guest reviews.
Voted 'Best Independent Hostel' in Ireland by the IHH 2009, 2010 & 2011 and 'Best IHH Village Hostel' in Ireland 2009, 2010 & 2011.
Camping is also available with full use of hostel facilities. So make Aille River Hostel your home when staying in Doolin.


text:
A classic punk rock theme, if there is such a thing. "I don't need a.." fill in the blanks. Reminds me of the Buzzcocks more raucous material. Crashing guitars and a lyric that celebrates alienation from freakin' everything. It's very positive.
"Don't Need A" (download mp3)
from "Lost Art"
(Jade Tree)
"Don't Need A" (play)
Need more!


text:
The firm has broad experience and knowledge of the Costa Rican legal system and has established alliances with various law firms throughout Central America in order to provide a comprehensive consultancy service for both national and international corporate clients who are carrying out activities in the region.
The company's attorneys complement their professional performance with regular participation in seminars and conferences to keep up to date in the constantly changing legal environment.
They also participate actively in various business groups and conciliation and arbitration centers, as well as in both national and international legal organizations including: the Conciliation and Arbitration Center of the Costa Rican Chamber of Commerce, the Costa Rican Chamber of Commerce's Center for Conflict Resolution, the Engineers and Architects Association's Conflict Resolution Center, the Costa Rican Doctors and Surgeons Association's ACR Center, the Conflict Resolution Center Regarding Property, the International Chamber of Commerce CCI Costa Rica and the Inter-American Bar Association. Welcome to IABLF!


text: What Does Tile Flooring Mean? Persons don't must be worried about altering the flooring to get a lengthy time frame with cork. In this case, you need to choose flooring made of cherry and maple, the 2 hardest wood that may endure any kind of scratch or discoloration. The key reason why some people prevent this kind of flooring is the fact that it is not just a good sound-absorbent. Laminate floor is one of many cheapest basement floor selections, as it has benefits, also it will come in the…Read More


text:
Ms. Pac-Man Reviews (Genesis)
Published by
Developed by
Also For
Critic Score
100 point score based on reviews from various critics.
User Score
5 point score based on user ratings.
User Reviews
There are no reviews for the Genesis release of this game. You can use the links below to write your own review or read reviews for the other platforms of this game.
Our Users Say
|User Score
|How well the game mechanics work (player controls, game action, interface, etc.)
|The quality of the art, or the quality/speed of the drawing routines
|Personal Slant
|How much you personally like the game, regardless of other attributes
|Sound / Music
|The quality of the sound effects and/or music composition
|Story / Presentation
|The main creative ideas in the game and how well they're executed
|Overall User Score (17 votes)
Critic ReviewsMobyRanks are listed below. You can read here for more information about MobyRank.
Sega-16.com (Aug 14, 2004)
My family had some friends come over last weekend and we played this game like it was going out of style. Our friends were absolutely amazed by it. I leave you with this, if you are looking for an exact arcade port, this is pretty close, even though more precise ports exist for other consoles of course due to emulation and newer technology. The cool thing is, this is NOT a direct arcade port, its BETTER. There, I said it. I know some of you guys with Pac-Man fever may try to track me down for saying such a thing but its true. Try it and you will agree.
Power Play (Feb, 1992)
Logischerweise kann das einfache Spielkonzept mit der Komplexität moderner Geschicklichkeitsspiele nicht mithalten, trotzdem hat mich das Modul überzeugt. Entweder man liebt's oder man ignoriert's - das Prädikat "Beste Ms. Pac-Man-Variante aller Zeiten." ist der Tengen-Adaption allerdings nicht zu nehmen.
Mean Machines (Feb, 1996)
You can get used to the controls, but it's still a compromise.
Joystick (French) (Apr, 1992)
Très lassant pour ceux qui connaissent peu ou pas Pac-Man (si ils existent), hyper génialement extraordinaire pour ceux qui dépensaient, il y a dix ans de cela, des sommes indécentes dans la borne, Pac Man est un jeu qui ne devrait pas être noté car deux chiffres ne peuvent traduire plus d'une décennie d'existence, plus de dix années de bons et loyaux services, même si, et je me répère, Pac-Man n'est pas et n'a jamais été ma tasse de thé.
The Video Game Critic (May 03, 2006)
Ms. Pac-Man's directional movements are extremely touchy and unforgiving to say the least. Almost every time you die, it's because the defective controls sent you off in the wrong direction. The Genesis controller is definitely no substitute for a good joystick. There's another issue regarding the two-player simultaneous play. Since all the mazes (except mini) scroll up and down, when the players spread out, one tends to scroll off and is forced to play "blind". Despite its flaws, there are some terrific variations in this cartridge that you won't find elsewhere. The new mazes are well designed, and the boost option allows you to be super aggressive and clear out each maze in a hurry. But if you ever wondered why this cartridge never made much of a splash, now you know.


text:
four months of being a mum
Sunday, 24 January 2016
6 comments
It also gets a lot easier, my son is 1 and 3 months now, and over the past year just watching him take his baby steps learning certainly makes up for all the tough times!ReplyDeleteReplies
Thanks so much Sainab for your reassurance. The changes do make up for the hard times. xDelete
Ah Charlotte, he is so gorgeous! Yes, being a mum is the hardest job in the world, but it's also the best job ever! life is never the same after, but the little luxuries will start to slip back in... Lunch with friends, date nights, being able to have a bath on your own and close the bathroom door!ReplyDelete
You are doing brilliantly!
Em xxReplies
Thanks so much Emma :-) xxxDelete
He's such a cutie. Being a mum is the most wonderful thing and also the hardest thing. And you've wised up to just relaxing in to it and taking little moments for yourself. That's absolutely the best thing to do. Life just happens at a slower pace (which is just as well, when you don't get quite as much sleep as before) xReplyDeleteReplies
Thanks Rachel, I trust your opinion completely. Everything does happen at a slower pace this is my biggest adjustment as i'm quite a fan of fast living! xDelete


text:
From the SPGB Pamphlet named Marxian Economics: An Introduction.
IF IT weren't for the money, most of us would stop work tomorrow. After all, wages are the common means of getting work out of men and women. You can hear some of them call it "bloody slavery". They are not trying to be accurate-only to express their feelings.
There is very little real slavery in the world today. It is a very old-fashioned and inefficient system of getting work out of people. The big empires of the past were built up on slave labour; and there was a brief flare-up of it again in America when the virgin land of the new continent was being opened up to agriculture. The slave was caught or bought, like a horse or a machine; and he was fed or flogged when necessary in order to get the maximum of work out of him. Slaves were not really regarded as people: they were denied citizenship; and their owners usually had power of life and death over them. But the quality of work they could do was generally very low; and there is a snag to owning slaves: they have to be fed and housed even when there is no work for them to do.
Although there has always been a certain amount of it, getting work out of people for wages is fairly new as a universal system. Almost everywhere in the world the slave empires were overthrown by the much less highly organised system of feudalism. The feudal serf was a "free" man owning his own bit of land; but to protect themselves from attack serfs clustered round the strong-arm men, the lords of the manor; and they paid for their "protection" by working on the land or fighting the battles of their lords. In the time that was left over, they were able to work their own strips of land. A tenth of what they produced was demanded from them by a highly organised church, which operated in league with the lords to prevent serfs from running away. It is debatable, therefore, whether serfs were much better off than slaves.
With the rise of capitalism, however, the serfs were gradually freed entirely-by having even their strips of land taken from them. They were no longer forced to work for anybody-except by the pressure of starvation. As it was, they offered themselves for work eagerly, even desperately at times, for there was no other way of getting food, clothing and shelter, except by wages. At last, in capitalism, the system of buying and selling became universal. Everything was for sale. Anything could be bought. The problem for the great mass of humanity was that they had nothing left to sell except their ability to work.
Most of us feel we have the right to live. The trouble is that hardly any of us have got "private means". We can only get the means to live by "selling ourselves". It is rather like prostitution; but we have no choice. Because of this, a lot of workers talk about the "right to work" almost as though it were the same thing as the right to live. They take part in marches and demonstrations when jobs are scarce, insisting upon their right to work. They feel offended if they are told that they are demanding the right to prostitute themselves. Actually, of course, workers have no legal right to work. Nor will they ever have. All they possess is a commodity-the ability to work. Millions of people throughout the world own nothing else.
This is what distinguishes them as a separate economic class, the working class. They constitute about ninety per cent of the civilized population of the world. Of course, in the more advanced countries they may own their own house and their own car; but economically their class is determined by the fact that they have to prostitute themselves throughout their useful lives in order to keep these things and live from day to day.
Obviously, if workers are sellers of the ability to work, there must also be a class of buyers. Occasionally and briefly, one worker may buy the services of another to do a job; but as he only has his wages with which to pay wages it cannot be general. Only those who possess the wealth which can be worked upon to produce more wealth, can really afford to pay wages. But why should anyone want to hire us - especially if they already have the wealth, and we have none? Why should anyone pay us wages for the use of our mental and physical energy? There can only be one reason: to increase their wealth further by our work. And not only that: to increase it by more than the cost of our wages.
Wealth used in this way to make more wealth is called capital; and those who use it in this way are called capitalists. So the bulk of humanity is divided into two classes: sellers and buyers of labour power; workers and capitalists.
So wages are really the price paid for our ability to work. The very existence of wages proves the division into classes, wherever it is found. Every week or every month our pay packet or cheque reminds us of the fact that we belong to the class which can only secure the right to live by offering themselves for work by prostituting themselves to those who find it convenient to buy their abilities-the world's capitalists.
Such a situation inevitably produces conflict. In buying and selling, the seller always tries to raise the price, while the buyer tries to reduce it. There is no let-up. And the very point of conflict is the wage packet itself. The quickest and surest way for the capitalist to increase his profits is by cutting wages. And yet the worker's wage is his only means of living, so that he has no choice but to struggle-not only to raise his wages, but to prevent them being depressed.


text:
Consider volunteering at PSC. All of our coaches are furnished with necessary supplies and best of all, the coaches pick the days they want to practice. We also need assistant coaches and team moms. Prior experience not required and we will help you with any questions you may have. Plus you get to have the joy of volunteering and spending time with your child. Please email email@example.com or call 916-613-7170 and leave a voice message and we will be happy to help you get started!
Join us on Facebook and keep up to date with all the news
At different times throughout the year PSC will offer free clinics set up and run by our coaches to allow all children the opportunity to get comfortable kicking the soccer ball and going through a soccer related obstacle course and get direction from our coaches. Our Next Free fun days are scheduled for May 20 and June 24, 2017 from 9 am until 1pm at Nielsen Park.
We are proud members of the Sacramento Youth Soccer League. Please check out their website for more soccer information!
Parkway Soccer Club is committed to you and your players having the best experience possible. If you have any problems with any PSC staff or just have a question, fill out this form and let us know.
Parkway Soccer Club
Parkway Soccer Club © Copyright


text:
Editor's note: Nina is currently a resident of Parma Heights. Her family reached out to us to share their story and is asking the community for prayers of support. By JT Aguila My wife... Read more
Parma Heights – The city will host a Hazardous Waste Collection event this Saturday, July 8 at the Service Garage, 6140 Pearl Road. Residents can also take part in a Community Shred event f... Read more
Book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart, Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim This fast-paced farce promises to have you rolling on the floor with laughter. Forum combines the ancient comed... Read more
PARMA HEIGHTS – The Cassidy Theatre continues to undergo a major transformation both inside and out. The theatre's two community rooms have been completely renovated using a $50,000 grant th... Read more
Parma Heights – Bryan L. Miller was sworn-in as the city's newest Patrolman by Mayor Michael P. Byrne at the start of Monday night's City Council Meeting (May 22). He begins his new positio... Read more
Parma Heights – This year marks the 150th anniversary of the annual joint celebration involving Parma-South Presbyterian Church and the City of Parma Heights. This 150th anniversary is tho... Read more
Parma Heights – It's official. Two students have been selected as winners in the City's Arbor Day Poster Contest especially for students in grades 3-5. Theme of the poster contest was "Why... Read more
Parma Heights — The Cassidy Theatre will present a special event, entitled, Aloha Hawaii, Our 50th State, featuring performers from Manivic's Hawaiian Dance Company in Parma Heights. ... Read more
Parma Heights – ABC Rental, 6514 Pearl Road, will celebrate its 50th anniversary in the city on June 1, 2017. A special Parma Area Chamber of Commerce "Business After Hours" event will be he... Read more
Parma Heights – The City is planning its second Sustainable Gardening Seminar of the spring season at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 3, 2017 in Council Chambers at Parma Heights City Hall, 6281 Pe... Read more


text:
Microsoft Corp. says it had struck a deal with Universal Music Group aimed at allowing the company to do more with a feature of its Zune portable music player that lets people share songs over a wireless connection.
Under the deal, Universal will receive a payment for every Zune player sold, in exchange for which Universal will provide more access to artists and rights to music.
Continue to read full post….
Universal, Zune


text:
Monday, November 15, 2010
A Cat may look at a King
4 comments:
Hey are you from the States? I ask because you spelled centre with an re rather than an er and I like that in a blogger. Initially I thought you were talking about Durham, North Carolina but now that I've clicked on the link I see you're a gal who resides across the pond.ReplyDelete
Now I shall read all of your posts with a kick-ass British accent.
Anyway, look at you inspiring college boys the world over to drop trou! (I would have run away as soon as the button on the waistband was accessed.)
Ginger, you need to turn down the heat! Those boys might have gotten burned even in the cold weather! I am glad you didn't use a zoom lens, Honey!ReplyDelete
that lineup of young men looks like a nice buffet. U are such a chicken.ReplyDelete
Hey Cardiogirl- Thanks for stopping by. I'm in the UK though not of the UK. And It's thanks to my spellcheck for the spelling or is it me? Cause my laptop is so frigging American :-p even though I chose UK-English in the setting.ReplyDelete
@Mom - Heat turned down to simmer. Don't want be accused of eating them overdone brit boys do I?
@Lucid - yeah I am :-p. Now I regret not being bold enough to ask them to take a pix with me. next time...


text:
Exhibition Reflections
Just before our holiday begins it is time to reflect on the exhibition process and see where we are at so far. Ideas have changed, been refined and begun to change into solutions. For your homework you need to write a blog post about your exhibition problem and group. Think about what your problem is, why you think it is important, what ideas you have for solutions and what you might do next. These can be ideas you are going to use and some that you might not. Include them all in your blog post they may help other people think of new ideas too.
Comments are closed.


text:
May 2 • Cornelius, NC
May 4 • Raleigh, NC
May 5 • Raleigh, NC
May 7 • Denver, CO
May 9 • Fort Worth, TX
May 15 • Indianapolis, IN
May 16 • Cheyenne, WY
May 22 • Grapevine, TX
May 23 • Concord, NC
May 24 • Concord, NC
June 12 • Austin, TX
June 13 • Independence, MO
June 20 • Naples, FL
June 22 • Elkhart, IN
June 23 • Las Vegas, NV
June 24 • Las Vegas, NV
June 25 • Las Vegas, NV
June 27 • Winston-Salem, NC
Looking for a professional motivational keynote speaker who can add life to your next event? Looking to throw in a bit of clean humor with an inspiring message? Hire North America's funniest motivational speaker, Steve Gilliland, and make your event memorable. Steve is an iconic speaker, brilliant comedian and a member of the Speaker Hall of Fame. He has impacted countless lives with his words of wisdom and is regarded as one of the all-time best in the speaking industry. Steve can be heard regularly on SiriusXM Radio's Laugh USA and has been seen on numerous media outlets, including ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC, as a contributing expert on the topics of personal development and positive thinking. His books Enjoy The Ride and Making a Difference have gotten him significant recognition around the globe. If you are looking for a master storyteller, inspirational business speaker and someone who adds life to events merely by his presence, hire motivational speaker Steve Gilliland today!
None of these attributes can truly be achieved without one key ingredient: inspiration. As a top-rated professional speaker, Steve Gilliland has dedicated his life to inspiring people through laughter and motivational presentations, exuding an influence that is bound to move even the most skeptical audience members.
A member of the Speaker Hall of Fame, Steve Gilliland is one of the most in-demand and top-rated speakers in the world. Recognized as a master storyteller and brilliant comedian, he can be heard daily on SiriusXM Radio's Laugh USA. With an appeal that transcends barriers of age, culture and occupation—plus an interactive and entertaining style—Steve shows audiences how to open doors to success in their careers, their relationships and their lives....


text:
Present in traditional houses as well as in modern homes, in stores, restaurants or in martial art dojos, kamidana is a place dedicated to kami, the Shinto gods.
Kami-dana means "god-shelf", and as the name suggests, it is a shelf placed high on the wall, displaying sacred objects, a shimenawa twisted rice straw rope, sometimes some offerings such as food, water, sake, and shrubs of sakaki, an evergreen sacred tree.
Click on photo for higher resolution:
If you want to license my photos for commercial use, please contact me
EXIF Info:
Yesterday's Japan Photo:
Matsuyama Castle guards


text:
It's July, which means it's usually quite hot outside and that means spending time indoors is an appealing prospect. Best Buy's Hot July Black Friday sale discounts a lot of stuff both in stores and online. For Friday and Saturday only, you can snag either a blue or red 3DS XL for $170, a variety of original 3DS models for $120-$130, Assassin's Creed III for $20, a PS3 with Uncharted 3 for $220, a 30 with Darksiders II and Batman: Arkham City for $300, Black Ops II for the Wii U for $20, or Tomb Raider for $30.
Other deals include Battlefield 3: Premium Edition for $30, Bioshock Infinite for $40, Steel Diver in its seemingly bi-weekly price at $5, Crosswords Plus for $5, and in a must-have for Kirby fans, Kibry's Dream Collection: SE with an artbook and music CD for a mere $8. Beyond those sales, you've got Metro: Last Light for $40, Nintendo Land for $8, Dead Island Riptide for $30 and a slew of gaming accessories are discounted as well. Basic 360 pads are $40, while transforming d-pad chrome ones are $45. A Roxi game capturing tool is $100, while a variety of gaming eyewear is on sole from $35 to $100 depending on the frames. This is a surprisingly diverse sale, with some great savings available for the Kirby games and AC III. If you've waited this long for TR, you can probably wait for it to drop a bit further down to $20.


text:
Coming up: Memorial Day
One of the most important days of the year both from a fund raising standpoint and recognition of our fallen comrades, is Memorial Day. A time to remember all of our fallen brothers sisters of all wars.
If you have yet to sign up to help with poppy distribution, please do so at the April Post meeting, or by email to Bob Crawford or Commander Denton. We have four locations to staff: QFC Westgate in Edmonds, QFC Speedway in Mukilteo, Fred Meyer in North Lynnwood and Central Market in Miil Creek. This year all locations will operate on Friday and Saturday of Memorial Day weekend.
On Memorial Day itself, Monday, May 28, we will gather at Edmonds Memorial Cemetery for our usual Flag ceremony and at which time we will especially honor our fallen from the recent conflicts in the Persian Gulf region and all who have died in post 9/11 service.


text:
If you are anything like me, you like to get value for money when you buy something. Whether it is for groceries, electronics or flights abroad, I tend to shop around and select the best deal. For most of us, this is just a reality of living within financial limits. Language learning is no different. Today I am going to share some tips for saving money on your quest to linguistic glory.
Continue reading How to save $$$ when learning a new language


text:
Welcome to Paradise in this upscale luxury condo with THE prime location at North Coast Village! Bright and sunny downstairs corner unit with large grassy area at the water's edge overlooking the Pacific, just steps from the soft, sandy beach. As one of only two ground level D cottages with corner windows and a southern exposure, you are ensured of a continuous supply of sunlight and unobstructed views of both the ocean and the Oceanside Pier. The only sound you will hear is ocean surf in every room, as you savor your slice of beach heaven with spectacular ocean views. With the recent remodel, this is now the nicest beachfront cottage at North Coast Village!
The $50k + remodel includes: High-end kitchen with top-of-the-line stainless steel appliances, custom cherry cabinets and stunning granite counter tops, Travertine tile flooring throughout, beautiful new carpeting in both bedrooms, crown molding, new lighting and remodeled bathrooms, and all new furnishings. The removal of an existing wall completely opens up the living area and the installation of a large, additional oceanfront window provides extra sunlight and even more unobstructed ocean views, while further differentiating this condo from the vast majority of older units at North Coast Village.
The living room has a gas fireplace with granite surround and cherry wood mantle, a 50-inch flat screen TV with Blu Ray player. The dining area has seating for six people. The bright and sunny master bedroom has a king bed, amazing ocean views, a 42-inch flat screen TV with blu ray player, a private vanity area and a full en suite bath with custom tiled shower. The second bedroom has tropical garden views, queen bed and twin bunk beds, cable TV, custom-built wood cabinetry and a beautifully remodeled, full hallway bath with Travertine tile.
The beautiful outdoor patio boasts some of the best views at the complex, with incredible ocean breezes and spectacular sunsets. The lawn area off of the patio is chained off to the left of the condo, affording much more privacy and less foot traffic.
The condo is beautifully furnished and fully-loaded with all kitchen appliances and utensils, linens, towels, Pack-n-Play, beach towels, beach toys, beach chairs and umbrella provided for your use. Wireless internet is also provided for your convenience. Common laundry facility and a reserved security parking space are located in the building next door. Oceanfront Paradise is waiting for you!


text:
Liquid Cool is the action-packed and funny, debut cyberpunk detective series!
It's cyberpunk reimagined—science fiction meets the detective thriller in an ever-rainy world of colossal skyscrapers. Hovercars fly above in the dark, bustling skies and gray people walk below on the grimy, flashy streets of this "neon jungle." Metropolis isn't a bad place, but it isn't a good one either. Uber-governments and megacorporations fight for control of the super-city, but so does crime.
We were introduced to Liquid Cool, in the prequel short, These Mean Streets, Darkly. We met an average woman, Carol—hardworking and decent in every way—only to have her daughter kidnapped by the psycho cyborg Red Rabbit. Can Police Central find the girl in time—alive? And is it really another senseless act of random violence in the fifty-million-plus supercity?
This story continues…and there are so many more. For the first time, we meet Cruz, our private eye (and unlikely hero), in a supercity with a million victims and perpetrators. Welcome to the high-tech, low-life world of Liquid Cool.
But watch out for tech-tricksters, analog hustlers, and digital gangsters—psychos, samurais, and cyborgs aplenty—they may want your money, or your life, more than you do.
Get Your Copy of LIQUID COOL Right Now and Prepare to be Thrilled with Mystery, Action, and Laughs! And don't get shot by a laser-pistol-packing cyber-punk on your way to the digital store.
"Lots of shooting, lots of crazy maniacs, lots of action and fun!"
"I loved this book. It takes place in the future, and what a weird future."
"A funny, intelligent (and sometimes crazy) main character…playing detective"
"Cool and Smooth."
"I had a hard time putting this book down to do things like sleeping and eating."


text:
Welcome to Electronic Universe
On the 24th February 2018 we will be closing the store. Visit us for massive savings and offers throughout all of our departments, from Appliances and Hi-Fi systems to cables and adapters. The prices in-store will be lower than those advertised on this website.
You can also find some of our other products on our Amazon.co.uk or eBay stores.
If you have any questions about the products or wish to purchase any of them, please call us on 01462 436622 or visit us in-store. We only provide a collect in-store for purchases from this website.
Check out The Comet article about our store closing by clicking the picture below


text:
I'm New
What to Expect
Worship Services
Becoming a Christian
Our Beliefs
Our Team
Small Groups
First Baptist Kids
FBH Youth
Music Ministry
Weekly Handout
Progress Ledger
Member Portal
Jeff's Blog
We're Goin' All In!
Here for You
This Is Love
Get Connected to a Community Group!
Lately, you have heard a huge push for community groups to be started here at First Hammond. Why, though? Why do the ministerial staff and deacons so strongly agree that community groups are a vital part of our church? Why are we asking people to open their homes, to teach a community group, or even just be a part of a community group? Well, I brought in the big guns for this question. Thom Rainer, president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources, writes the following in his article The Importance of Launching New Groups:
"During my church consulting days, I could quickly assess a church's multiplication mentality by asking just one question: How often do you start new groups (or classes)? I would ask the question because I'd seen over and over again a close relationship between the churches that were growing and those who constantly launched new groups. The churches working hard to launch new small groups and Sunday School classes on a regular basis were continually connecting new people and building believers who were passionate about what the Lord was doing through His Church. Thus, they were growing.
The principle is obvious: If you want to connect new people in church, you must launch new groups."
Here is what I need you to get. Community Groups are a God-given, Christ-magnifying tool in our work of the Great Commission. This is the reason they are so important to our church! Not only will we see people come to know the saving grace of Jesus through community groups, but we will see people come to walk daily in the saving grace of Jesus. Some of you may say that you've outgrown community groups or that you're too old for them. Allow me to graciously correct that philosophy with the words of Paul. "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1.6, ESV). Brother or Sister, you're not complete.
I urge you, just as Peter, "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen" (2 Peter 3.18, ESV). Come, grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus through community groups. We have a place for you!
Thom Rainer's full article can be found at his website http://thomrainer.com/2013/05/the-importance-of-launching-new-groups/


text:
order by popularity | order by alphabet
Related Information for Ally Rhodes Ally Rhodes is a 17 year old youtube sensation that puts her heart and soul online for everyone to see in her songs. She recently signed with Published Integriti as a songwriter. As a result she is co-writing with several published songwriters in Nashville. She landed a co-write (Down and Dirty) on Danielle Bollinger's new "In Both Worlds" EP. She also wrote or co-wrote every song on her new self titled EP. Her taste in music is very diverse from Eminem to John Mayer,.. read more


text:
Aubree Broyles, Victoria, earned a place on the Deans Honor Roll at Fort Hays State University for the spring 2013 semester.
The list includes undergraduate students only. To be eligible, students must have enrolled in 12 or more credit hours and have a minimum grade-point average of 3.6 for the semester. Full-time on-campus and FHSU Virtual College students are eligible.
Broyles is a sophomore majoring in graphic design.


text: Mountain Lake Apartments in Stone Mountain, GA offers easy access to international dining, shopping, museums, Stone Mountain Park, Patillo Soccer Park, and more. Conveniently located near MARTA Transportations, I-285 , I-20 and Stone Mountain Hwy, makes Mountain Lake just minutes from downtown Atlanta. The Dekalb County, Georgia apartment rentals of Mountain Lake include total electric 1, 2 & 3 bedroom garden style homes and townhouses. These massive floor plans reach up to 1468 square feet. Call today!


text:
Meth Treatment in Kentucky
Meth Rehab Services will help assist you in finding help for methamphetamine addiction and rehabilitation in the state of Kentucky. Our certified counselors will guide you and your family in this important moment in finding a meth treatment in Kentucky.
Methamphetamine has destroyed a lot of families, relationships and lives in Kentucky. There are still well over 1 million people in the United States who are in need of rehabilitation for methamphetamine addiction.
But there is hope as many individuals with a methamphetamine addiction got their lives back after attending a meth rehab center.
Drug Rehab Services philosophy is to give honest, caring and knowledgeable advice, support and referrals according to your unique circumstance.
Our mission is to achieve a drug-free world.
Our goal is to help drug addicts and families find a rehab.
Methamphetamine overview in Kentucky
Meth is the most rapidly emerging drug threat in the state, in particular in the rural areas of Kentucky. The level of meth production, distribution, abuse, and violence has raised dramatically and is spreading across Kentucky from west to east.
Mexican criminal groups are the main transporters and wholesale distributors of Mexico-produced meth and methamphetamine produced in the state of California and southwestern states. The recent rise of locally produced meth may have eclipsed the amount of Mexico-produced meth transported into Kentucky. The number of meth labs seized increased dramatically from the year of 1998 through 2001, exceeding the capacity of local law enforcement agencies to adequately conduct investigations and clean up the hazardous chemicals associated with meth production. The Birch reduction method, also known as the Nazi method, is the most common meth production method used in the state of Kentucky. Local independent Caucasian distributors and criminal groups dominate the retail distribution of meth in the state of Kentucky. Methamphetamine sales usually are pre-arranged and occur in bars, restaurants, private vehicles, and residences.
Methamphetamine is attracting a new user population in the state of Kentucky. Once regarded as an adult drug, meth is increasingly popular among adolescents because of the heightened physical and mental effects it produces. Young individuals at rave parties are using it to raise and prolong their energy levels. Young women are attracted to meth because of its purported ability to promote weight loss.
Meth can be taken orally, snorted, smoked, or injected.
A large variety of organizations are involved in the distribution of methamphetamine, from prison gangs and motorcycle gangs to street gangs, traditional organized crime operations, and impromptu small networks made up of meth users. Because of the ease of synthesis from over-the-counter medicines, clandestine production is very usual. The government of North Korea has supposedly been linked to the production and distribution of methamphetamine, and allegedly plays a role in distribution networks throughout Asia as well as those in Australia and North America.
Black Market
In the U.S., illegal methamphetamine comes in several forms, with an average price of $150 per gram of pure drug. Usually, it is found as a colorless crystalline solid, sold on the street under the term crystal meth and a variety of other names. It is also sold as a less pure crystalline powder called crank, or in crystalline rock form. Colorful flavored pills containing methamphetamine and caffeine are known as yaba (Thai for "crazy medicine"). At its most impure, it is sold as a crumbly brown or off-white rock generally referred to as "peanut butter crank. Methamphetamine discovered on the street is seldom pure, but adulterated with chemicals that were used to synthesize it. It might be diluted or "cut" with non-psychoactive drugs like inositol.
Medical use
Methamphetamine is medically used under the brand name Desoxyn for the following conditions:
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
- Extreme obesity
- Narcolepsy
- Decongestant
Because of its social stigma, Desoxyn is not usually prescribed for ADHD unless other stimulants, like methylphenidate (Ritalin®), dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine®) or mixed amphetamines (Adderall®) have failed.
Meth treatment admissions per 100,000 citizens (2003): 17
The number of addiction treatment admissions for meth abuse increased 42 percent from fiscal year of 1998 through fiscal year 2000, more than for any other drug.
Methamphetamine is a drastically increasing menace in Kentucky, especially in the rural areas of the state where local production of the drug is rampant. During 2004, a record 571 labs were seized by DEA, state and local authorities, in comparison to 371 in 2002 and just 104 in 2000. Likewise, during 2003, 696 citizens sought treatment for meth addiction, or approximately 2.2% of all individuals seeking drug abuse treatment. This is a raise from 2002, when 455 individuals sought treatment for meth abuse, and from 2000 when only 250 did.
The Combat Meth Act, signed by President Bush on March 9, 2006, gives minimum standards for retailers across the nation that sell substances containing ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. The law limits sales to 3.6 grams of the base ingredient (the pure ephedrine or pseudoephedrine) daily and 9 grams monthly, and requires that buyers provide identification and sign a sales log. Also, sellers must keep these substances behind the counter or in a locked case and register on-line with the U.S. Attorney General. Additionally to the federal minimums, Kentucky state law requires that buyers of these substances be at least 18 years old and stipulates that sellers must be pharmacists or pharmacy technicians.


text:
Mike and I did Musselman 70.3 as our first 70.3 back in 2013. Last year we raced the Mini Mussel Sprint Tri. This year, we did both! Only a select few crazies sign up for the DoubleMussel (a little less than 100 people).
We went to packet pickup on Friday night in Geneva and then went back home to finish getting ready for the double race weekend. Two people racing two triathlons in one weekend requires a lot of stuff!
Saturday morning we woke up around 5:40am so that we could get to the race site around 7:30am. Luckily, the sprint starts at 9am! We got to Seneca Lake State Park easily and as we were walking our stuff over to the transition area, we saw our friend Greg in the parking lot. He was also doing the DoubleMussel so our transition areas were all close to each other.
I love the personal touch!
We got body marked and then went into transition to set up. As we were setting up, I saw the Unexpected Runner (another Double-Musseler)! It's always great to see her at local races.
Us with Mark
After setting up our stuff and using the port-a-potties (and seeing Jenelle in transition), we checked our transition areas one last time. As we were doing so, we saw our friend, Sarah! She was there to spectate while our friend Mark raced the Mini. It was a pleasant surprise to see them there!
The Double-Musselers!
We dropped off our stuff at our friends' tri club's tent (they are nice enough to let us use their space even though we aren't members) and got our wetsuits on. Mike was in the first wave at 9am and I was in the second wave at 9:05am. We made the long-ish walk over to the swim start and wished each other luck.
Both Jenelle and our friend Kirsten joked that they were going to hold onto my feet during the swim! Right before 9am they let our wave start making the long walk toward the swim start. Mike's wave was in the water for a really long time! As I was walking toward the buoys for the swim start, I scrapped my foot on the rocks (or Zebra mussels, who knows). Luckily, it didn't start to bother me until after the race!
Mike's wave went off and then my wave went to go tread water for a few minutes. A little after 9:05am, we were off!
Swim Leg (.47 miles) - Jamie: 12:12, Mike: 10:53
The swim went relatively smoothly. I didn't have to fight with anyone for space and got into a rhythm right away. The swim is in a channel so we are never really out in the open water of the lake for very long. I caught up to men from the first wave before making the turn around the one "turn" buoy of the swim.
The channel is a bit weedy, but it didn't seem too bad this year. I did have some weeds stuck to my hands for a few seconds, though. This swim is so short that before I knew it, it was almost over! I could see the buoys for the swim exit and just kept swimming until my hands hit the bottom of the boat launch a couple of times and then popped out of the water.
I ran out of the water and toward transition. I was a bit surprised at how slow (for me) my swim was, but I didn't let it bother me. I was 2nd out of the water for my age group, so all things considered I did pretty well! I fumbled with my watch (I hit stop instead of lap) as I crossed the transition mat.
Transition 1 - Jamie: 1:45, Mike: 1:35
The run through the "swim in" is really long. Then we had to run all the way back down to our transition area. Luckily, I didn't have to run too far with my bike to leave transition. I got my stuff off as quickly as I could, grabbed my bike and ran out of there.
Bike Leg (16 miles) - Jamie: 55:15 (17.37 MPH), Mike: 46:20 (20.71 MPH)
After running to the mount line, I got on my bike. I heard a woman say, "6th female" and that felt pretty good even though I knew it wouldn't last for long! Normally, I don't like the beginning of the bike course. It isn't too hilly but it is a gradual incline and I always feel like I am going really slow.
Luckily, this year we had a tailwind! Even though some of my first miles were slower than I would have liked, I was alright with it since we were doing the DoubleMussel anyway. Jenelle (Miss Speedy) passed me around mile 2!
I saw a lot of USAT Officials out on the bike course (later when I asked Mike if he saw any, he said no) so I made sure to not draft at all. After 6 miles, our friend Kirsten passed me. I wish I was as speedy as she is on the bike!
Finally, we turned off of this stretch of road and started the nice downhill portion of the course. It was nice to not have to pedal for a few seconds! I made the turn at the bottom of the hill and started to head back toward the transition area. Along this stretch of the course our friend, Greg, passed me.
I made it to the two-way traffic section of the course and started to think about the run. My fastest mile was mile 15 at 20.8mph, not bad for me! I made the turn back into Seneca Lake State Park and rode back toward transition. I dismounted my bike at the dismount line and ran back into transition.
Transition 2 - Jamie: 2:28, Mike: 1:59
Mike in transition
I really struggled with this part of the race. It was really difficult to run over the transition's surface with my bike shoes on. It was grassy and had some stones throughout and I was slipping all over the place. I made a mental note to take my shoes off before running through transition for the 70.3.
I finally got back to my transition area and got my running stuff on. I tried to be as quick as possible since I knew I had a slower transition due to running so far with my bike and over the horrible surface.
Run Leg (3.1 miles) - Jamie: 26:10 (8:26 pace), Mike: 24:09 (7:46 pace)
As I ran out of transition I may have taken off too fast. I didn't want to "race" the sprint because of the 70.3 on Sunday and when I saw that my first mile was 7:40 - I knew I had to back off. I saw Mike about a mile into my run and we cheered each other on. I saw other friends finishing up their runs and I just wanted my race to be almost over too!
I went through the one aid station on the course and then ran toward the small loop and ran back toward the finish. After going through the aid station again, I passed our friend Mark. As I went by him he cheered me on. I saw a few more friends running toward the turn around.
I slowed down the second and third miles (8:17 and 8:33 pace, respectively) because I didn't want to sabotage Sunday's race. I also knew I wasn't going to place in my age group so there wasn't really a point to running all out.
Yes, I passed him!
Finally, I saw Mike and our friends on the sidelines cheering me on. I was so happy to cross the finish line and get race #1 of the weekend under my belt! (The run course may have actually been 3.2 miles, which matches up with the pace on the results page, but I counted it as what it was advertised as - 3.1 miles)
Finishing Times - Jamie: 1:37:50, Mike: 1:24:56
Everyone after the race
Mike had a great race and finished a little over one minute slower than his time last year! He came in 5th (out of 20) in his age group, a great start to the weekend! I came in 12th (out of 41) in my age group and I was happy with how I raced. After getting some food and hanging out for a bit, we went to our hotel so that we could take showers and start relaxing/recovering for the next race of the weekend - Musselman 70.3!


text:
Stephani Moretti fucking a cock and Jazmyn is fucking the same one also! They just take turns riding on his dick!
Presented by: Bang Bros
Niches: Reality Pron, gonzo, bang bus, co-ed, milf, cream pie, interracial, ebony, Asian, Latina.
Best known for: Amauter Porn, Gonzo, Bang Bus, Big Tits, Cream Pie, anal!


text:
Getting around Oz3 April 2007 by admin
What's the best way of getting around Australia? — Various people
Ah yes, this is something some tourists may not quite think to ask when first planning a visit. Australia is about the size of Continental Western Europe or the main bits of the USA. So assuming you're not limiting yourself to one city while you're here (and yeah, some do just come and visit the Sydney Opera House, climb the bridge, ride a ferry, go to the zoo and the Blue Mountains, and then go home), you'll need to figure out how you're getting around this big brown land.
Your basic choices are: Plane / train / bus / drive / boat. Or walk or bicycle, but we'll skip that for this particular explanation. And yogic flying is generally not recommended due to the distances involved.
Flying used to be very expensive, but airline competition in the last few years means it's no longer necessarily the most pricey way to travel. Qantas and particularly Virgin Blue and Jetstar are now fighting for your airfare dollar, and the cheapest plane tickets are often not much more than the cost of a bus. So if you're not interested in seeing the scenery along the way (apart from clouds and nice views of the cities as you flew in and out), and especially if you're flying between capital cities and in a hurry, this is the way to go. Smaller local airlines cover some of the regional cities.
Note however that the cheapest air tickets are generally non-refundable and non-changeable, so you need to be absolutely certain of when and where you intend to fly. Check all the terms and conditions carefully, like that doozy with Jetstar whereby if you're not checked-in 30 minutes before takeoff, they won't let you board, full stop. Ground transport can also add a bit to the cost (a taxi could be more expensive than a cheap airfare), though most cities have relatively inexpensive airport buses. (Sydney and Brisbane also have airport trains.) Oh, and expect to pay extra for food and drink on Jetstar and Virgin.
Trains and buses continue to be a good option for some trips. Apart from Darwin by train, they generally serve the city centres, which may mean no extra time or money for ground transport. Booking ahead will often get discounts, and passes can be bought for extended bouts of travelling. They also serve the smaller towns, whereas you can generally only get to the bigger cities by plane.
The scenery can be terrific, indeed the (fairly expensive) tourist trains such as The Overland, Ghan and Indian Pacific use this as the drawcard. Sipping champagne while watching the countryside rolling past outside the window sounds pretty civilised to me (as long as the company is good), though they're not known for their speed.
The Melbourne to Sydney and Brisbane XPT trains are a little less salubrious, but still reasonably comfortable, and a little faster. If you're looking for TGV-style very fast trains in Australia though, you'll be disappointed.
Bumping around in a bus (major operators: Greyhound, Firefly) making quick stops for meals at road houses may be a little less comfortable than a train, but you'll get where you're going on the cheap, and buses go to plenty of the smaller towns where planes and trains don't stop.
Driving is also an option. Many overseas backpackers either buy an old car (colloquially known as a "shitbox") for the length of their holiday, or rent cars for particular trips. Obviously this is the way to go if no public transport serves where you're going, and a taxi isn't do-able, or you just want to do things at precisely your own pace.
Visitors from overseas should make sure they have a licence in English or an International Driving Permit. And for gawd sake don't forget we drive on the left, and read up on the fiddly rules for where you're going. (Hook turn, anybody?) If heading out into the bush from a big city, you may want to plan to make the first part of the trip by other means if heavy traffic freaks you out, and if going into the remote areas, take appropriate precautions: food, drink, comms.
The main candidate for travelling by boat is to from the mainland to the northern side of Tasmania. There are various classes of fare (the trip is overnight) and they can take cars on the boat. Avoid of seasick, natch.
So in summary, weigh up your options according to the priorities: destination vs money (some services have travel passes) vs time vs comfort.
PS. Please note: No, there is no bridge to New Zealand. And Uluru is not a day trip from Sydney.


text:
Make donations or payments here to all MissionNext ministries: ExploreNext, TeachNext, The Journey Deepens Retreats, BAMmatch, or Ministry Initiatives for the expansion of the movement internationally.
Support MissionNext (formerly Finishers Project) staff and the movement:
By Credit Card (We accept American Express, Discover, MasterCard and Visa Cards.)
Make a one time donation or payment by credit card
Create a recurring transaction account
Update an existing recurring credit card transaction
Delete an existing recurring credit card transaction
By Check
Make a one time or recurring donation by check
Update a recurring donation by check
Cancel a recurring donation by check
By Phone
If you would prefer to call us with a check or credit card donation, you can reach us at (480) 584-5448.
By Mail
Donations can be sent to:
The Villages, FL 32163-2704
MissionNext can also be contacted via e-mail at: firstname.lastname@example.com
MissionNext also accepts financial donations through checks, money orders and a monthly giving program which allows gifts to be retrieved through electronic transfers. We also accept donations of stock and property and limited gifts-in-kind. These are converted to cash following the accounting standards of our independent auditors.
MissionNext is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Donations are tax deductible.


text:
Nottinghamshire County Council has approved plans to create a smoke free working environment for all its employees from May 2016, as part of its commitment to promote better workplace health for the 8,826 people it employs.
The council's updated Smoke Free Policy means that county council employees will not be permitted to smoke while at work or council business. Staff who currently smoke will be encouraged to leave their cigarettes at home and advice, help and support will be offered to those who wish to give up.
The updated Smoke Free Policy reflects the council's commitment to the Declaration on Tobacco Control, which commits public and private sector organisations to take action against the harm caused by tobacco which improves the health of their staff.


text:
Ask for protection from death or accidents, or ask to
not have mistakes.
physical death
touchy, violent, stubborn, insistent on doing things
they are not necessarily cut out for.
The 3rd decan of Libra is Monkey. It is an armed four-footed male decan ruled by Mercury. (Oct 13-22)
A man adorned with jewels is standing in the forest and frightening away the wild animals.
He is wearing a golden quiver and armor as well as carrying fruit and meat.
He is a bow-carrying kimnara, a half-god with the body of a monkey and the head of a horse.


text:
California historically has used thousands of local (also known as interim) codes to cover services and supplies. National codes, such as Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) and Healthcare Common Procedural Coding System (HCPCS) typically are more general in nature compared to local codes. Some local codes remain in the Medi-Cal Fee for Service Program and exist to describe services found in specialty programs such as the California Perinatal Services Program, 1115 Waiver, and Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT). California Medicaid Management Information System (CA-MMIS) Division is employing a phased-in approach to complete work converting local codes to national codes.
Medi-Cal continues to implement local code to national code conversions. Articles, provider manual updates and frequently asked questions on outstanding code conversions, including those recently implemented, are located on the Medi-Cal Provider website shown under "Resources" below.
HIPAA: Code Conversion


text: I just received my second Fanatec BMW GT2 rim (for a friend) and my Porsche 918 RSR rim. I was curious in comparing the two BMW GT2 rims as sometimes - like with all products - there are un-advertised/un-marketed differences from "identical" model to "identical" model. This is what I discovered... Back of Wheel Material (big center plastic part/cover thing): BMW GT2 Rim A - Smooth, but friction, almost as if there is a super, super thin layer of rubber on top of the plastic. There is resistance when you slide your finger over it. Having a wheel's FFB damper setting raised is a kind of way to think about it. A slightly rubber-y plastic. BMW GT2 Rim B - Smooth, little friction, no rubber feel but just a harder, low resistance feel. Paddle Shifter Shift-Feel and Noise: BMW GT2 Rim A: Shift-Feel: Quite positive and sharper than rim B - Noise: Louder than Rim B BMW GT2 Rim B: Slightly softer, definitely springy and positive but not as "sharp" and positive as Rim A - Noise: Noticeably - but not massively so - quieter than Rim A Paddle Shifter Material and Colour: BMW GT2 Rim A: Feel: Very smooth. Almost no texture-feel. - Colour: very dark grey. Like a light black if you know what I mean. A touch of shine on them. A general more metal look and feel. BMW GT2 Rim B: Feel: Slightly rough/coarse feel, textured. - Colour: grey / dark-ish grey, definitely lighter than Rim A's almost black colour. Hardly a touch of shine. A generally more stone-like look/feel. Quick-Release: BMW GT2 Rim A: Much more force required to slide. About on par with my Porsche 918 RSR rim. BMW GT2 Rim B: Requires quite a noticeably less amount of force to slide. It also has a small amount more play. When Driving (related to quick-release differences???): BMW GT2 Rim A: The wheel is less susceptible to metallic sounds, rattles, etc. Furthermore, when the wheel hits the rotation limit-stoppers while spinning at full speed, the sound is a much softer and dampened sound. It doesn't "hurt" me as much when I hear it compared to rim B. BMW GT2 Rim B: The wheel is more susceptible to loud, metal-on-metal "clanking" sounds during quite strong and sharp FFB moments. Furthermore, when the wheel hits the rotation-limit stoppers while spinning at full speed, there is a quite sharp/"hard" sound. It really sounds like the wheel is hitting the stoppers hard/sharply. - NOTE 1: I did not have the metal quick-release screw installed on any of the wheels. This apparently can really help, especially - I'm guessing - in the BMW Rim B's case. - NOTE 2: Rim B was mostly stored without the plastic screw/pin in place. On the other hand, I believe Rim A was usually stored with the plastic screw/pin in place. So, are the quick release and noise differences due to slightly different designs, or does not using the plastic pin make the quick-release partly loose it's spring-strength after a while? Also, did Rim B loosen-up over time because the metal screw wasn't installed during gameplay while maybe rim As' was? I honestly don't know. A lot of speculation/guessing. Performance According to "RFR Wheel Test" (download link here, click link after "Lien" - top of post #1) Weight: BMW GT2 Rim A: 2140 g ≈ 75.486 oz ≈ 4.718 lbs BMW GT2 Rim B: 2035 g ≈ 71.783 oz ≈ 4.486 lbs Porsche 918 RSR: 1650 g ≈ 58.2021 oz ≈ 3.638 lbs With regards to the Porsche's weight-savings over the BMW, Fanatec claim, "... saves about 30% of weight over the BMW GT2 rim ..." - Porsche 918 RSR weighs about 23% less than BMW Rim A - Porsche 918 RSR weighs about 19% less than BMW Rim B - BMW Rim A is about 30% heavier than the Porsche 918 RSR - BMW Rim B is about 23% heavier than the Porsche 918 RSR Top Speed: BMW GT2 Rim A: 185 RPM BMW GT2 Rim B: 186 RPM Porsche 918 RSR: 187 RPM Acceleration (This is how responsive the FFB will feel, how instant it'll change directions, slow-down, speed-up, how lively and reactive the wheel will behave): BMW GT2 Rim A: 1153 RPM - (1140, 1130, 1169, 1174) BMW GT2 Rim B: 1256 RPM - (1243, 1307, 1247, 1259, 1238, 1242) Porsche 918 RSR: 1887 RPM - (1848, 1952, 1826, 1877, 1934) Latency: Latency on all wheels was almost always either one of two numbers - about 13.75 ms or about 23.75 ms. It was almost always either-or for both wheels (one 26 ms with the BMW Rim A). I tried powering the base off and on to see if I could find out some sort of pattern but I couldn't. Weird. The latency results didn't affect the acceleration results I.E. the quicker acceleration times were not necessarily the lower latency instances. P.S. - If anyone wants to know the purchase and/or shipping dates of the rims, the exact serial numbers, etc., then let me know and I'll take them out of their boxes and check - If anyone wants graph-pictures of the RFR wheel tests, let me know. Just tell me which exact one you want (by the acceleration result listed above) - If enough of you want to see pics of the differences between the two BMW wheels then maybe I'll take some (or maybe a video) if I don't feel lazy, no promises though