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My priest, who is a very good young priest, begins every homily with a joke; and some of them are pretty good. He always gets a hearty laugh from those of us in the pews. Here is my transcription of the joke he told us this morning in honor of the Lenten season that has just begun.
Back in the day, Catholics would live in neighborhoods surrounding their parish in what were called Catholic ghettos. In one of these ghettos filled with the Catholic faithful there lived a man who was not Catholic, but a Methodist. This posed no problem at all since he got along quite well with all of the Catholics and they felt the same about him.
But then came the first Friday of Lent. Late in the afternoon the sound of big juicy steak was heard as it sizzled after landing on a hot grill. Before long, everyone in the neighborhood began to smell the alluring scent of steak emanating from the Methodist's backyard. As the tempting smell traveled throughout the neighborhood, the Catholics were just dying to get their hands on a big juicy steak. But it was Lent, after all, so they persevered through the temptation.
This went on for many years until one Lent the Catholics had had enough. They loved their Methodist neighbor, but this was just too much! They decided the only way out was to pray for the Methodist's conversion. So they prayed and prayed, novena after novena, until one day the Methodist said "You know, I like you people and hanging out with you. I might as well worship with you on Sunday too". So a Catholic he became. The priest blessing him with holy water said, "A Methodist you were born and a Methodist you were raised, but now you are a Catholic!" And the people rejoiced and praised God.
Well, the next Lent rolled around and on that first Friday the sound of a steak hitting the grill was once again heard. Perplexed, the others in the neighborhood wanted to see what was going on. As they looked through a hole in the fence they could see the newly christened Catholic sprinkling holy water on his steak saying, "A cow you were born and a cow you were raised, but now you are a fish!"
Oh, it made me and most everyone in the congregation laugh anyway. It's probably one of those jokes, like most jokes, that are far better when heard in person. But have you ever noticed how priests are some of the best joke tellers? Must be one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit to those who are ordained.
On another sad but humorous note, you haven't lived until see a guy use the holy water font to wet his hair so he can comb it. In the communion line this morning there was a guy in front of me – dark hair, Hispanic, early 40s, smelling of cigarettes, and wearing blue jeans, a jean jacket, and sun glasses. As we approached the Blessed Sacrament we passed by a holy water font next to one of the entrances. As we walked by he reached into the font, cupped his hand, scooped out some holy water, and then proceeded to wet his hair as he combed it down. The sight caught me so off guard and it seemed so out of context (for it was), that I could do nothing but laugh.
Of course, this is not the proper way to approach communion and certainly is not how the holy water font is "supposed" to be used; but there is something I find very admirable about this guy. It was obvious by the way he was dressed and his mannerisms, that he had not been to Mass in a very long time; and I can only assume that he is using this Lenten season to get his life back on track. And for that I rejoice and the angels sing for joy. What he did was done so innocently and unknowingly. I'd like to think that God laughs at such innocent things as using a holy water font to comb one's hair.
This reminds me of one of Fr. Corapi's stories of a lady who worked in a salon. A devout Catholic, she had brown scapulars patched throughout her barber's chair and her spray bottle was filled with holy water! I guess the only difference is that she did know what she was doing – using her spiritual weapons at every opportunity – but the guy at my parish this moning, innocently, did not. Who knows? Maybe he'll unwittingly bless many a people today with his sanctified hair!
I am sure there are many humorous strories revolving around the use of holy water. I bet a priest could tell you all kinds of good stories. I can only imagine the uses that some ardent and deadly serious Catholics could come up with for holy water. I wonder if there has ever been a swimming pool filled with holy water? Or a cup of coffee made with the holy stuff? I wonder if any Catholic has actually attempted to bathe in holy water – although, I can't readily imagine how that would work. Imagine the possibilities! In fact, I wish I was more broad-minded in my use of holy water. You know, I've often wanted to seal my envelopes with a sponge dipped in holy water. I'm not sure why, but I sometimes have that urge. Now you know too much about me.


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If your visit to the Classic Rotary Phones Forum was enjoyable or helpful, you may
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My Grandfather was from Switzerland . He was born outside of Bern. He became a US citizen around 1904.
Welcome! As you see we are some other from Europe too.
Ill be flying through Zurich next month. Hope we can help, and you can provide some insight into Swiss phones and the Swiss phone system.
It appears you are already afflicted with Phoneitis. Everyone here has this incurable, progresive disease. The only treatment is more phones!

subset: commoncrawl


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One of my new favorite places to open recently is Can Can Wonderland. Something odd I've learned about myself is that I love mini-golf. So does my partner. We just totally get a kick out of the silliness of it and the weirder the better. Plus if you can add a cocktail to the mix which adds giggles all the better.
Can Can Wonderland has weirdness and silliness in spades. They have VERY creative drinks and the course its self is just phenomenal. Add two performance stages, a "boardwalk" with some of the oldest and coolest pinball machines and games I've ever seen and picnic tables and you've got a really fun place to spend some time. I went for my first visit during the day so I got to avoid a big crowd or wait. Which is good cuz let's face it: some of the those holes don't come in under par.
The only thing for me that is disappointing is the menu as they offer almost nothing that is vegan. I had emailed ahead of my visit and was told they were "working on it." And I hope this is the case. They have many options for vegetarians if you don't mind diary and they do offer a few "hot dog" options using the local makers of vegan products but the person working wasn't even sure if the popcorn could be made vegan and that was a bit of a bummer. That said we had a couple of drinks and played one of the most fun courses of mini-golf in my life.


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Re: The future of the CBC is in the spotlight, Nov. 19
Along with the Star, I believe that the CBC is Canada's last public bastion of civilized thought, national unity, political discourse, social progress and cultural expression. Is it any wonder then that both institutions are fairly reviled by the neo-conservatives running our country?
The CBC is dying the death of a thousand cuts and, if we do nothing to halt this butchery, we are doomed to become the dumbed-down constituency this government craves. After all, an uninformed, unenlightened citizenry is just what these ideologues want, citizens who are like mushrooms, kept in the dark and fed a steady diet of manure.
History shows us that when autocratic governments come to the fore, the first casualties are the intellectuals and purveyors of liberal thought: the teachers, doctors, authors, journalists, and radio and television institutions.
In light of this government's attacks on the CBC, their muzzling of scientists, their disdain for the Star, the ownership of Canadian media by two largely right-leaning corporations, not to mention the defunding or dismantling of myriad government agencies devoted to literacy, women's and aboriginal concerns, environmental agencies, et cetera, we should be very concerned.
A strong, well-funded CBC, is crucial to the unity and growth of Canada as a nation of thoughtful, well-informed, compassionate people. Let us not sit idly by as our CBC is rendered impotent or destroyed entirely.
Jonathan O'Mara, Whitby


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A 67-year-old Bolingbrook man was injured in an eight-vehicle crash involving an Illinois State Trooper's vehicle Tuesday morning.
State police are investigating the crash that occurred just after 10:20 a.m. Tuesday at the southbound Interstate 294 exit at 95th Street, according to a news release.
It was not immediately clear how the crash occurred, but four people were injured, including a trooper. A 28-year-old Oak Lawn woman, 67-year-old Bolingbrook man and 51-year-old woman were also injured, the news release stated.
A 37-year-old woman, 31-year-old Elmhurst man, 48-year-old Orland Park man and unknown driver were involved in the crash but not injured.


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Networking & Connectivity
Not much to see here, Windows 8 builds upon Windows 7, so features like Home Groups, Direct Access and other core networking features are built into it and work just like they would in its predecessor. Windows 8 does add some improvements when using mobile broadband which I was unable to test. For persons who are under a contract with a carrier using a Windows 8 device with built in broadband mobile chip such as 4G or 3G, Windows 8's new Metered Internet will conveniently help you to manage your band width allotment. The ability to be notified of usage over a period of time is really something I am sure a lot of users will appreciate especially mobile warriors. Windows 8 works intelligently with Metered Internet, for instance, drivers from Windows Update (which tend to be large) are not downloaded when you are using it. Microsoft is working closely with carriers to integrate with the Windows 8 Modern experience to deliver notifications that help users to manage their band width allotments effectively. So, the great thing about this is, you won't get any surprises when that 5 GB bandwidth cap runs out before the end of the month, easy access to notifications are available through the Network bar when you click on the Notification icon. A feature I have never seen in Windows before called Airplane mode appears in the 'Change PC Settings' of Wireless tab, this allows you configure your machine and turn of services that should not be active when on an aero plane.


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Scroll Down for all the information on our Totally Stampalicious Design Team Call!
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What if you could control a machine with thought alone?
That simple question has birthed untold dark sci-fi fantasies of cyborgs run amok, from Star Trek's galaxy-threatening Borg to the time-traveling Terminator to Darth Vader himself.
Justin Sanchez
For Justin Sanchez, though, the question is just his day job.
"It's funny. I'll get home from work and my wife will say, 'What did you do today?' And I'll tell her: 'Well, I put 100 electrodes in someone's brain and then they controlled a robotic arm just by thinking about it,'" Sanchez says, laughing. "I realize that what we do is really out-there."
Sanchez's work is far from fantasy, though. Thanks to $3.3 million in grants from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Sanchez's team of programmers, neuroscientists, and engineers in Coral Gables is closer than ever to grafting a thought-controlled robotic arm onto a human being.
"We all set crazy personal goals, but I hope to get a patient in Miami implanted with a working device in the next year or two," he says. "We're that close."
The man behind Miami's headlong rush toward a cyborg future is an incredible mashup himself — a rock-band-fronting, surfing, multidisciplinary genius who could easily pass for one of the younger lab assistants in the advanced tech space he commands on the University of Miami campus.
A Magic City native, the 43-year-old Sanchez decided early on that if he wanted to learn how to meld robotics and human brains, he would need to master a staggering variety of subjects.
So after earning a degree in engineering from the University of Florida, he picked up a master's and PhD in biomechanics — all while learning complex computer programming on the side.
"When students come to me and say they want to do neuroprosthetics, I say, 'Great. Are you an expert in mechanical and electrical engineering? How about computer programming? What about neurophysiology and neuroscience?'" Sanchez says. "You really need them all to do this work."
At UF, Sanchez built software that can read the brain's electrical signals on a minute level and then translate those patterns into controls of a robotic arm.
A number of paralyzed patients hooked up to electrodes in lab settings have been able to move mechanical arms using their brains alone.
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The new challenge at UM, where Sanchez took over the Neuroprosthetics Research Group in 2010, is fine-tuning both the software and the hardware to work in the real world. The military is putting millions into the work, hoping that someday wounded soldiers will regain a normal life through Sanchez's robo-arms.
But what happens when the machines turn on us? Sanchez says sci-fi or not, he and his team are acutely aware of the ethics that come with melding people and computers.
"Any new technology can be abused, so we just try to steer the research and the process in the right direction," he says. "But the potential these neuroprostheses have to improve quality of life for paralyzed patients is just enormous if it's done right."
Tony & Jessica Goldman | Agustina Woodgate >>


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'Green bottle' academic not hanging around
Musical controversy
A fiercely intense debate about the nature of scholarship, sparked by the discovery of a fragment of English folk song, has taken a new twist this week with the disappearance of the Canadian scholar who has been a chief protagonist. Dr. Brett Shatner, the musicologist who has been taking his European counterparts to task for their alleged lack of intellectual rigour, was reported missing from his Don Mills, Ontario, residence last Friday.
This sudden vanishing act (Shatner was due to deliver a lecture in North York, Ontario, this morning) brings to a climax a story that began in September. The song that sparked academic acrimony is an unlikely bone of contention: the English ditty
Ten Green Bottles
, a variant of which is well known in North America as
100 Bottles of Beer on the Wall
. In all previously known versions of the English song the verses count down to "no green bottles" from the figure 10, thus:
"Ten green bottles hanging on the wall
Ten green bottles hanging on the wall
And if one green bottle should accidentally fall
There'd be nine green bottles hanging on the wall . . ."
However, in September, 1998, a French scholar, Pierre d'Ouidlede, announced the discovery of a page of poetry manuscript, apparently dating from the late 14th century, containing what seems to be an early version. Allowing for changes in language between the Chaucerian age and our own, the scheme of the song seems unmistakably the same:
"Syxthene boetell gryne
Yhangen, Yhangen
Yhangen, Yhangen
Syxthene boetell gryne
Doonfal won
Syxthene boetell gryne
Yhangen, Yhangen
An . . ."
Frustratingly, the manuscript breaks off at that point. Nevertheless, musicologists were immediately abuzz at discovering that one of the best-known songs in the English language was some five centuries older than previously thought.
Speaking on the highbrow BBC Radio 3 in November, 1998, Prof. Peter Muddelwheat of the University of Thatcham in southern England declared: "It may be one of our silliest songs, but it is sublimely silly, and I personally am thrilled to think of the like of Chaucer's pilgrims passing the time [by singing it] . . . Obviously there were verses between this and [the verse beginning] 'Ten green bottles' . . . and the unlikelihood that it would have started at a random number such as 16 strongly suggests there are other verses out there waiting to be found."
Shatner, a freelance musicologist and philosopher from Toronto, heard the broadcast while visiting London for a symposium. To the Canadian, the English professor's words were a red rag to a bull -- to which animal's droppings he allegedly alluded in the e-mail he immediately fired to Muddelwheat's office.
The exact contents of that communication have not been made public, but a slightly more restrained version of the same argument was published in The Daily Telegraph a few days later. Wrote Shatner: "It is a profound shock to see the depths to which British scholarship seems to have sunk. If it is "obvious" to Prof. Muddelwheat that verses exist for which there is no material evidence, then he should perhaps change his professional title to 'clairvoyant' rather than 'musicologist.' "
Muddelwheat responded in a letter printed in the Telegraph two days later: "I am not sure what standards apply in Canada," he wrote, "but in Great Britain we have been around long enough to have the confidence to approach questions of scholarship with a certain degree of common sense . . . it is particularly sad that Mr. [sic] Shatner seems unable to distinguish between informal remarks made in a radio broadcast and the very different disciplines of academic publication. Perhaps in his country scholarship does not go back beyond the invention of wireless." The Telegraph allowed one more letter, a reply from Shatner, before declaring the correspondence closed. Repeating his point that deductions must be based on evidence ("It is this that separates the scholar from the layman"), Shatner asserted that there was no exact correspondence between the mediaeval verse and the modern song: "It is a gigantic leap of faith to say they are one and the same. It is, for a musicologist, an unpardonable act to assume the existence of material that links separate entities."
If the Telegraph thought it had quashed the debate, it was mistaken. Three weeks later, in another British publication, Lucas's Curios, Mr. E. C. Poswaithe claimed that he had done extensive research into the song
Ten Green Bottles
while at university in the early 1950s. He had, he said, proved to his own satisfaction that the song originated in the London underworld of the 1830s.
"Sir Robert Peel's 1829 Metropolitan Police Act had made life much less comfortable for the criminal classes. The bane of their life were the officers of the law known by various popular names: 'bobbies' and 'peelers' in honour of their founder and, on account of their green uniforms and curved helmets, giving them in profile a resemblance to a string bean, 'the Bow Street Runners.'
"To the criminal world, however, they were almost universally known as 'greenbottles' and, since they were responsible for the hanging of many a felon, what could be more satisfying than the thought of 10 greenbottles hanging on a wall?" To those who put forward alternative derivations, Poswaithe said he had a simple answer. "If these are glass bottles, why should they be 'hanging' rather than 'standing' on a wall -- the latter situation would not only be more logical but more likely to precipitate the destructive series of tumbles the song catalogues incrementally." The matter might have rested there had not Postwaithe gone on to suggest that the discovery of the "lost verse" might be a hoax.
The hitherto silent d'Ouidlede made his first and so far only contribution to the controversy in the January, 1999, issue of Lucas's Curios. "While I cannot comment on the opinions expressed by my colleagues . . . I can assure everyone that the manuscript is entirely genuine. It was found in the collection of a 19th-century Spanish curator, Don Valliparque, and has been authenticated by a number of experts." The magazine carried a photographic reproduction of the fragment.
Anyone hoping for a final word from Shatner is, for the time being anyway, likely to be disappointed. This morning he was due to appear at the North York Centre for Advanced Thought in suburban Toronto to present a paper titled "After the colon: the words before the colon considered in context." However, a spokesman at the Centre, situated above Spice - Wings, confirmed that the lecture had been cancelled as Shatner has been officially reported as missing. Neighbours at his Don Mills residence say he was last seen on Friday, heading in the direction of Hamilton, Ontario.


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Saturday, October 25, 2008
Picky, picky
Last week my husband, my daughter and I had lunch with some friends. I forget why now, but my husband mentioned how we do not force our daughter to eat anything. We simply present food to her and allow her to choose whether and how much to eat. Our friends asked us how we get her to eat things like vegetables, if she doesn't eat them. Well, we've made a commitment to live by the division of responsibility in child feeding (developed by child feeding specialist and RD, Ellyn Satter). These are: 1) Parents are responsible for what, when, and where children eat and 2) Children are responsible for whether and how much. Therefore, it is up to us to purchase, prepare, and serve a variety of healthful foods to our daughter and to trust HER to eat the right amount that she needs.
There are certain food items that our daughter doesn't eat (i.e., broccoli as of late); however, we do not force, push, or coax her to eat them. We offer a food to her, and she makes the decision as to whether or not she'll eat it and how much of it she'll eat. Even though she has turned down broccoli on several occasions, she's also eaten it on others. Sometimes it takes a child (or really anyone) up to 15-20 exposures before he/she will even try a food or try it AND like it. Heck, I used to HATE cottage cheese, but somehow one day I tried it as an adult and actually now like it. Go figure! It's our job to continue giving her the opportunity to try the broccoli. If after the first time she turned down broccoli we did not offer it to her ever again, she'd never really have the opportunity to try it and/or like it. There may be some foods that a child never eats/likes, and that's fine. There are some meals in which our daughter doesn't eat much at all, and that's okay. The beauty of the division of responsibility in feeding is that we do not worry that she's not getting enough nutrients since we know that we offer her a variety of healthful foods and she does eat many of them (just not always broccoli). This allows her to rely on HER internal cues (rather than external cues from us) to determine exactly how much she needs to eat while also being exposed to a variety of healthful foods.
These are difficult concepts for some parents and caregivers to grasp. I think it can be especially difficult depending on how their parents nurtured their feeding relationships or because as parents we often worry about the health and well-being of our children. Personally, practicing these principles has been helpful in relieving some of the pressure during feeding time for us and actually makes our meals much more relaxing and enjoyable, and that's really what I want to encourage in our daughter...a healthful AND enjoyable relationship with food and eating.
Happy Feeding!
Share |
Labels: Child Nutrition
4 comments:
- Itty Bitty said...[Reply to comment]
Wonderful words of advice!ARLOO
- October 26, 2008 at 8:25 AM
- Abigail said...[Reply to comment]
very helpful!
- October 27, 2008 at 9:58 AM
- AshleyH said...[Reply to comment]
I work at a child development center at a Cal state and we follow these same principles and I find it incredibly effective. Alot of our kids are such great healthy eaters.
I just wanted to let you know that I just emailed you about a consultation and I am looking forward to hearing back from you.
- October 29, 2008 at 4:03 PM
- Samantha said...[Reply to comment]
I've been meaning to thank you for posting this! :)
- November 13, 2008 at 5:53 AM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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Gallup Rug Bracelet
During a trip to Gallup, NM I saw hundreds of beautiful Navajo
rugs. I made this pattern after I retured home with my mind filled
with memories of beautiful rugs. Check my other patterns for
A color key (Delica numbers and amounts) is included but of
course you can use any colors you like.
If you need instructions you can find free
classes on my web site. Odd Count Peyote is tused to make
the bracelet.
Technique: Odd Count Peyote Stitch
Beads: Delicas Size 11
Approx Size: 1.75" W x 7" L (+ or - rows to fit)
Pages to Print: 2


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Former Vice President Dick Cheney said that President Barack Obama was "playing the race card" to excuse criticism of his record as president.
"I think they're playing the race card, in my view. Certainly we haven't given up — nor should we give up — the right to criticize an administration and public officials. To say that we criticize, or that I criticize, Barack Obama or Eric Holder because of race, I just think it's obviously not true," Cheney said in a wide-ranging interview with Playboy magazine released on Tuesday. "My view of it is the criticism is merited because of performance — or lack of performance, because of incompetence. It hasn't got anything to do with race."
Cheney likewise thought that the protests in Ferguson and the Black Lives Matter movement that stemmed from it had been wrongly linked to race. "Well [pauses], what I see is disturbing. It's always a tragedy when there is a death involved and so forth. But it seems to me it's a clear-cut case that the officer did what he had to do to defend himself. He was perfectly within his authorities to take action … And I've been disappointed, I guess, in the Obama administration's response. I think there should have been more people who were ready to stand up and say, 'Look, the evidence is pretty overwhelming. The grand jury has reviewed it thoroughly. Here's what we know. This is what happened.' And that we should not sort of throw it all over on the burden of race, or racial inequality or racial discrimination, as being responsible for this particular event," Cheney said.
"I don't think it is about race. I think it is about an individual who conducted himself in a manner that was almost guaranteed to provoke an officer trying to do his duty," Cheney concluded.
Cheney went on to say that Obama had undone some of the legacies of President George W. Bush. "[H]is precipitous withdrawal and refusal to leave any stay-behind forces, to negotiate a Status of Forces Agreement with the Iraqis, was a huge mistake; we are paying a price for it now. He's having to go back in now, and the guy who campaigned on the basis of bring the boys home and get out of Iraq is now redeploying forces to Iraq," he said.
Cheney also called Obama "the worst president in his lifetime," even when stacked up against other liberal presidents. "I look at Barack Obama and I see the worst president in my lifetime, without question — and that's saying something. I used to have significant criticism of Jimmy Carter, but compared to Barack Obama and the damage he is doing to the nation — it's a tragedy, a real tragedy, and we are going to pay a hell of a price just trying to dig out from under his presidency," he said.
The conservative critique that the Obama administration is "playing the race card" is fairly common. After Obama gave a deeply personal speech about race after the death of African-American teen Trayvon Martin in Florida, conservatives were quick to say that Obama was the "first racist in chief" or that Obama was making the death of the unarmed teen "all about race."
(HT Business Insider)


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The Southern Tasmanian Ski Association has conducted a number of major working bees over this summer to ensure that the Mt Mawson Ski Field is in excellent condition for the arrival of snow this winter. The final scheduled working bee is scheduled for this Sunday 23rd April, but it has been decided to change the focus of this weekend's activity so that the normal general band of volunteers will not be required.
The STSA committee met last night, and have agreed to run a low-key working bee this Sunday to address some technical issues. Craig Larsson and Paul Vince will be heading up to install some new stop buttons, a new back up battery, a new counterweight for the Mawson tow, and possibly do some greasing of pulleys. We understand that Ian Stewart is also likely to be on hand to undertake fine tuning of the new Mawson camera system.
The next committee meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday 17th May. At that meeting it is planned to organise one final working bee to test run the tows prior to Winter, and to also conduct refresher training for tow operators. Details will be published on the www.mtmawson.info website.


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By Don Trotter
Water Saving in The Garden
Hello fellow Earthlings, and welcome to the monthly water bill. If there is one thing that confounds gardeners during the warm season, it has to be how thirsty a garden can get and how much water costs these days. In this particular episode we will be discussing some easy-to-follow water-saving practices that will make your gardening much more rewarding at the time of the month when the bills come. So let's take a stroll outside and look for some places where we can save some of that hard-earned cash.
The garden hose is one of the places where we seem to waste a lot of water, either in the garden of washing the car. Check that new hose washers are installed in the female ends of all of your garden hoses to ensure a good seal with hose bibbs and that the attachments you connect to your hose also have new washers to properly seal the male end of your hoses. Leaks in the hose or misshapen hose ends that have been bent need to be repaired or the hose should be replaced. One thing is for certain; cheap garden hoses don't last very long and can be a real pain to coil without kinking. Good garden hoses are available at most garden centers for a reasonable price. You will get years of use from a good rubber garden hose instead of those silly, vinyl snakeskin-looking things. Well-maintained hoses are a good water- saving device.
Irrigation systems are such wonderful labor-saving devices. But we seem to think that the garden isn't properly watered until we see our precious resources running down the street in the gutters. This is not true. It is a good idea to go out into the garden when the irrigation system is on to check that all the sprinklers are facing in the correct direction. This is also a good opportunity to be sure that each sprinkler is working correctly and hasn't been damaged by the lawn mower or some other act of God. A leaky sprinkler can cost a thousand gallons of water a month. If you have a lawn service, make sure your gardener checks the sprinkler system thoroughly at weekly intervals.
I don't water at night. Too many bad things happen when watering is done at this time. Fungi and disease proliferate in these moist, cool hours and you cannot see if your irrigation system is working correctly while you're asleep. The best time of day to begin a watering cycle is around 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. depending on how long it takes for your irrigation system to complete its cycle. The wind is normally calm at this time of day, and you can get a good look at how the system is functioning. Also, if you are making mud after the irrigation system runs, you're watering too much!
Now for my favorite part of water conservation in the garden, MULCH. Yes mulch. A layer of organic matter on top of all exposed soil is the most efficient way to conserve water in the garden while improving the quality of your soil. Mulch insulates the soil from direct weathering and greatly reduces evaporation of water from these exposed soils. As the mulch decomposes it also enhances the fertility of your garden soil and feeds your best garden ally, earthworms. You will find yourself watering less to achieve greater garden success when mulch is on top of your soil.
Soil quality is one of the most critical factors in conserving water. A compacted soil does not accept water very well and runoff does the garden no good. There are several ways to conserve moisture by improving the physical nature of your garden soil. One of the best ways is to improve the ability of your soil to accept water by adding certain minerals that rearrange the magnetic fields in your soil. For compacted soils that are alkaline, calcium and sulfur are very good at this job. These minerals also free up iron so your plants experience fewer problems with yellow leaves. This is a malady known as chlorosis.
In acidic soils, calcium carbonate (lime) is very good at raising pH and freeing up magnesium which is necessary for plant growth. My favorite calcium supplement for soils is fossilized kelp, but gypsum works very well in alkaline soils and hydrated lime is very useful in acidic soils. Adding these minerals to your garden once or twice a year is a very smart way to improve soil permeability and water absorption. Calcium also extends the life of fertilizers, which also saves money.
Following these simple practices can reduce you garden watering by up to 25%. And the money you save can be spent doing unnecessary things like buying food or shoes. Next time we will be discussing com-posting . . . again. See you in the garden!
Got questions? Fax the Doc or e-mail him at email@example.com . Don Trotter's columns appear nationally in environmentally-sensitive publications. Look for his book "Natural Gardening A to Z" coming in July from Hay House Publishing.
Return to the July/August Issue Index page


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Drugmaker: We Found Malaria Vaccine
British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline says it discovered the world's first malaria vaccine, which the pharmaceutical giant said had already cut rates of the disease in African children. Malaria, spread by mosquitos, is the leading cause of death by disease, killing hundreds of thousands of people worldwide each year. The trial for the new drug involved 15,500 children in 7 countries, and found that 18 months after vaccination, children from 5 to 17 months had a 46 percent reduction in clinical malaria—although it was less effective when given to babies ages 6 to 12 weeks. The company is now seeking FDA approval.


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Name: K. Satya Harish
Education: INDIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT RAIPUR, (Finance and Marketing), B.Tech Electronics and Communication
Work experience: Programmer Analyst Trainee at Cognizant Technology Solutions
Hobbies: I am a strong believer of the Austrian School of thought in economics. Coordinator of Finatix – the Finance club of IIM Raipur. I keep myself abreast with the latest terminology in Finance domain and also interested in writing articles for finance and marketing blogs.
Articles Written on MBASkool:
Linkedin: in.linkedin.com/pub/satya-k/34/696/9/


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USA Cabinet Store Columbia, MD
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That's right.
It's Day #2 of this fabulous bloghop hosted by Cortney Pearson and Theresa Paolo. Today we get to showcase a 300-350 word excerpt from a shelved project. It was hard to choose! I have so many favorites from Shadow Watchers:
That's one striking excerpt. I want more!ReplyDelete
Your book sounds exciting, I'd love to know more!ReplyDelete
Ohh, THAT'S how you write a story! That was just too beautiful for words, Morgan!ReplyDelete
I want to know more about him. That first paragraph had me hooked.ReplyDelete
Woah! this is awesome.."just the thought about how his voice had rolled against my body" meeeow. hehehe. I want to read this story so bad! When can I? Seriously!
Wow what an intense scene!ReplyDelete
I felt every bit of that! Do not reshelve this!ReplyDelete
After I read the first paragraph I stopped looked up and said, "Holy sh&*! This is amazing. Your writing flows beautifully I didn't want the end to come. You can't shelf this. Or you can but it needs to be on a shelf in a bookstore :)ReplyDelete
Such a tease! I want to know what happens next! (And before, for that matter.) Holy cow, are you talented. Write more, please.ReplyDelete
Excellent. Loved it. I agree with Theresa, this needs to be on a shelf in a bookstore, along with the rest!ReplyDelete
That was awesome! I want to know what happens next. Great setting, mood, and intensity.ReplyDelete
Very intriguing. This really made me want to read more. Well done.ReplyDelete
That was intense! "Just the thought about how his voice had rolled against my body instead of inside my head made my cheeks flush with heat." Yeah, me, too :) I wish I knew even more about what's going on here. Completely intrigued!ReplyDelete
Oooh this makes me miss Shadow Watchers SO BAD!!!! Arggggh!ReplyDelete
It's cute. Love the description. It really sucks me in.ReplyDelete
I loved your descriptions and the language! It makes me want to read more.ReplyDelete
great piece full of anticipation!ReplyDelete
Morgan, I'm serious--this story STILL makes me swoon! Maybe come back to it? Pretty please? :-pReplyDelete
Definitely felt the connection between them--great job!ReplyDelete
Wow Morgan. Your writing is phenomenal. I felt and envisioned the whole thing with such ease. Really awesome job.ReplyDelete
You big meanie! Why'd you have to stop there?!! Loved it, of course. Way to go, lady!ReplyDelete
Great job Morgan! It certainly makes me want to read more!ReplyDelete


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Thursday, May 11, 2017
13 comments:
LOL! It never fails when my house is a mess, someone calls calling!
Wishing you a very nice Mother's Day weekend.
- May 12, 2017 at 6:02 AM
- Simply Linda said...
LOLOL. Thanks for the giggles. TO Mildred," Sweet friend, I bet your house is never a mess, giggling."
- May 12, 2017 at 6:46 AM
- Beth Cotell said...
I hate it when the doorbell rings!!!
- May 12, 2017 at 7:57 AM
- Kerin said...
Isn't that the truth??!!
Have a great weekend, and wonderful Mother's Day!
- May 12, 2017 at 8:06 AM
- BCAUSEHELIVES.blogspot.com said...
I confess, I have done something similar at times...lol Happy Mother's Day.
- May 12, 2017 at 8:50 AM
- Sally said...
Too funny except I could be deemed guilty at times. :)
Happy Mother's Day weekend, Mari! I hope you're showered with lots of love, hugs and kisses.
- May 12, 2017 at 10:16 AM
- Jenny said...
Haaahahaha I KNOW people who actually do this! As for me? If the doorbell rings and I'm not expecting anybody? I ignore it. People who know me and need to come inside, can text or call. Haaahaha so make an appointment already. Happy Mother's Day, Mari! xoxo
- May 12, 2017 at 11:09 AM
- Terri D said...
I think we have all done something similar to this...I know I have! LOL
- May 12, 2017 at 1:43 PM
- Saleslady371 said...
Ha! This tickles me too!
Happy Mother's Day.
- May 12, 2017 at 3:44 PM
- Cherdecor said...
I do this when the Jehovah's Witness come to the door!
- May 12, 2017 at 7:27 PM
- Dianna said...
hahaha. love it.
- May 12, 2017 at 7:38 PM
- Ceil said...
Yep. Been there, done that! (and checked the driveway for a car too!)
Happy Mother's Day my friend!
- May 14, 2017 at 10:26 AM
- Laura said...
So true!! Except my dogs and kids usually give us away...
- May 15, 2017 at 11:31 AM


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Fleet graphics are the movers and shakers of the sign industry. There's no more cost effective advertising you can undertake than putting your message where it can be seen more times in a day for no recurring costs.
Our colorful banners are a very effective and affordable signage option. A banner provides a flexible, portable way to put your message in many places. The versatility of our full color banners, whether displayed horizontally, vertically, indoors or out, make them the ideal choice for just about any message you wish to convey.
A business card is sometimes the first and only impression you get to make. Your business cards reflect your business, its attitude, and a level of professionalism; make it a good one.
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Whether it's one sign or hundreds of signs, put your name in front of prospective customers with eye-catching and attractive real estate, yard, or site signs.


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2015 Gas Gas EC Accessories
- A selection of trick bits and parts that to suit your model.
Quick and easy to mount. Includes all fittings.
Saves undoing the screws on the top of the forks to release air pressure build up.
Genuine GasGas Frame guards with ties for 2012, 2013, 2014 EC250 and EC300.
Simply push into the end of your spindle and tighten the allen bolt up from the inside. The puller helps to reduce the time spent messing around trying to get the wheel spindle out. All that is needed is a little pull and twist!
This air filter cover is a must for washing the inside of the airbox whilst washing the bike. Simply remove the air filter, fit the cover and wash away! This new version fits and seals even better with a stepped lip that prevents it slipping out of place when fitted.
These Gas Gas spacers can be used to raise your handlebars by 3.5mm at a time. There is enough thread on EC clamps to take a total of 3 per side (some bikes already have 1 or 2 fitted).
L/H SWITCH WITH SEPARATE STARTER BUTTON-JUST PLUG IN. ONLY 19MM WIDE.NO INDICATOR- Wired and ready to plug straight in.
This kit is supplied in a nylon bag that is ideal to keep with the bike until you need it. The kit includes the following:
- 1.63m inner cable to suit throttle cables
- 1.63mm inner cable to suit clutch cables
- Solderless nipples
- Various fittings as shown in photo
Remember, replace the cable with an original fitment item as soon as you can!


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What is Fascism?
George Orwell
Tribune, 24 March 1944
["As I Please" was a regular column in Tribune from December 1943 to February 1945 and again from November 1946 to April 1947. This article is Orwell's 24 March 1944 "As I Please" column. The present title was not Orwell's, but was rather applied to the article by Alexander S. Peak.]
OF ALL the unanswered questions of our time, perhaps the most important is: 'What is Fascism?'
One of the social survey organizations in America recently asked this question of a hundred different people, and got answers ranging from 'pure democracy' to 'pure diabolism'. In this country if you ask the average thinking person to define Fascism, he usually answers by pointing to the German and Italian régimes. But this is very unsatisfactory, because even the major Fascist states differ from one another a good deal in structure and ideology.
It is not easy, for instance, to fit Germany and Japan into the same framework, and it is even harder with some of the small states which are describable as Fascist. It is usually assumed, for instance, that Fascism is inherently warlike, that it thrives in an atmosphere of war hysteria and can only solve its economic problems by means of war preparation or foreign conquests. But clearly this is not true of, say, Portugal or the various South American dictatorships. Or again, antisemitism is supposed to be one of the distinguishing marks of Fascism; but some Fascist movements are not antisemitic. Learned controversies, reverberating for years on end in American magazines, have not even been able to determine whether or not Fascism is a form of capitalism. But still, when we apply the term 'Fascism' to Germany or Japan or Mussolini's Italy, we know broadly what we mean. It is in internal politics that this word has lost the last vestige of meaning. For if you examine the press you will find that there is almost no set of people—certainly no political party or organized body of any kind—which has not been denounced as Fascist during the past ten years. Here I am not speaking of the verbal use of the term 'Fascist'. I am speaking of what I have seen in print. I have seen the words 'Fascist in sympathy', or 'of Fascist tendency', or just plain 'Fascist', applied in all seriousness to the following bodies of people:
Conservatives: All Conservatives, appeasers or anti-appeasers, are held to be subjectively pro-Fascist. British rule in India and the Colonies is held to be indistinguishable from Nazism. Organizations of what one might call a patriotic and traditional type are labelled crypto-Fascist or 'Fascist-minded'. Examples are the Boy Scouts, the Metropolitan Police, M.I.5, the British Legion. Key phrase: 'The public schools are breeding-grounds of Fascism'.
Socialists: Defenders of old-style capitalism (example, Sir Ernest Benn) maintain that Socialism and Fascism are the same thing. Some Catholic journalists maintain that Socialists have been the principal collaborators in the Nazi-occupied countries. The same accusation is made from a different angle by the Communist party during its ultra-Left phases. In the period 1930–35 the Daily Worker habitually referred to the Labour Party as the Labour Fascists. This is echoed by other Left extremists such as Anarchists. Some Indian Nationalists consider the British trade unions to be Fascist organizations.
Communists: A considerable school of thought (examples, Rauschning, Peter Drucker, James Burnham, F. A. Voigt) refuses to recognize a difference between the Nazi and Soviet régimes, and holds that all Fascists and Communists are aiming at approximately the same thing and are even to some extent the same people. Leaders in The Times (pre-war) have referred to the U.S.S.R. as a 'Fascist country'. Again from a different angle this is echoed by Anarchists and Trotskyists.
Trotskyists: Communists charge the Trotskyists proper, i.e. Trotsky's own organization, with being a crypto-Fascist organization in Nazi pay. This was widely believed on the Left during the Popular Front period. In their ultra-Right phases the Communists tend to apply the same accusation to all factions to the Left of themselves, e.g. Common Wealth or the I.L.P.
Catholics: Outside its own ranks, the Catholic Church is almost universally regarded as pro-Fascist, both objectively and subjectively;
War resisters: Pacifists and others who are anti-war are frequently accused not only of making things easier for the Axis, but of becoming tinged with pro-Fascist feeling.
Supporters of the war: War resisters usually base their case on the claim that British imperialism is worse than Nazism, and tend to apply the term 'Fascist' to anyone who wishes for a military victory. The supporters of the People's Convention came near to claiming that willingness to resist a Nazi invasion was a sign of Fascist sympathies. The Home Guard was denounced as a Fascist organization as soon as it appeared. In addition, the whole of the Left tends to equate militarism with Fascism. Politically conscious private soldiers nearly always refer to their officers as 'Fascist-minded' or 'natural Fascists'. Battle-schools, spit and polish, saluting of officers are all considered conducive to Fascism. Before the war, joining the Territorials was regarded as a sign of Fascist tendencies. Conscription and a professional army are both denounced as Fascist phenomena.
Nationalists: Nationalism is universally regarded as inherently Fascist, but this is held only to apply to such national movements as the speaker happens to disapprove of. Arab nationalism, Polish nationalism, Finnish nationalism, the Indian Congress Party, the Muslim League, Zionism, and the I.R.A. are all described as Fascist but not by the same people.
It will be seen that, as used, the word 'Fascism' is almost entirely meaningless. In conversation, of course, it is used even more wildly than in print. I have heard it applied to farmers, shopkeepers, Social Credit, corporal punishment, fox-hunting, bull-fighting, the 1922 Committee, the 1941 Committee, Kipling, Gandhi, Chiang Kai-Shek, homosexuality, Priestley's broadcasts, Youth Hostels, astrology, women, dogs and I do not know what else.
Yet underneath all this mess there does lie a kind of buried meaning. To begin with, it is clear that there are very great differences, some of them easy to point out and not easy to explain away, between the régimes called Fascist and those called democratic. Secondly, if 'Fascist' means 'in sympathy with Hitler', some of the accusations I have listed above are obviously very much more justified than others. Thirdly, even the people who recklessly fling the word 'Fascist' in every direction attach at any rate an emotional significance to it. By 'Fascism' they mean, roughly speaking, something cruel, unscrupulous, arrogant, obscurantist, anti-liberal and anti-working-class. Except for the relatively small number of Fascist sympathizers, almost any English person would accept 'bully' as a synonym for 'Fascist'. That is about as near to a definition as this much-abused word has come.
But Fascism is also a political and economic system. Why, then, cannot we have a clear and generally accepted definition of it? Alas! we shall not get one—not yet, anyway. To say why would take too long, but basically it is because it is impossible to define Fascism satisfactorily without making admissions which neither the Fascists themselves, nor the Conservatives, nor Socialists of any colour, are willing to make. All one can do for the moment is to use the word with a certain amount of circumspection and not, as is usually done, degrade it to the level of a swearword.
A Reflection on Orwell and the Meaning of Fascism (2011) by Alexander S. Peak
Fascism exists. So, then, what is it?
In the article above, Orwell asks this very same question. He concludes, not that people should cease using the term, or regard it as meaningless, but rather that people should try t apply the term without using it simply with the intent to smear others. Fair enough, but this hardly provides a definition.
Fascism is not the only term that can be confusing, or that has been applied in a variety of contradictory ways. The terms liberal and conservative, in fact, are often just as confusing
I tend to like to apply traditional meanings to terms. Thus, when I use the term liberal, I usually mean the individualistic ideology that favours limited government, laissez-faire economic policies, free trade, and peace—essentially a limited-government libertarianism. I tend to put quotation marks around the term when I instead refer to what is often incorrectly described as liberalism in these united states—although I admit that there are times when I have failed to include the quotation marks. I tend to use the term conservative to describe that ideology in support of or not strongly opposed to traditional forms of hierarchy such as fuedalism, collusions of church and state, mercantilism and neomercantilism, &c.
So, I am naturally inclined to consider something fascist if I think Mussolini, the founder of Fascism, would recognise it as fascistic.
It is often stated, correctly, that although all communists are socialists, but that not all socialists are communists. Likewise, while not all socialists are fascists, all fascists are socialists. Mussolini recognised himself to be a socialist, after all, and thus this claim seems reasonable enough.
Orwell is correct that fascism is not necessarily antisemitic or racist. Nazism, however, which is a form of fascism, definitely is antisemitic. So, while a person cannot say, "I cannot be a fascist because I am not antisemitic or racist," a person can correctly say, "I cannot be a Nazi because I am not antisemitic or racist."
Fascism is right-wing. But, that merely begs the question: What does it mean to be right-wing? I define the x-axis of the political spectrum on ethical grounds. If one believes that individuals have a natural, inalienable right to individual sovereignty (also called self-ownership) and that therefore it is a violation of one's natural rights to initiate force or fraud against the individual or her justly-acquired property, then I put you on the left. Libertarianism, therefore, would fall on the far left, and anarcho-libertarianism would fall on the far, far left. The right-wing, by contrast, would hold that there is nothing unethical about using aggression to achieve one's goals, either, according to such people, since humans do not possess natural rights or because respecting human rights is unimportant. Fascists, believing that the individual is worthless outside of his usefulness to the state, would necessarily fall on the far, far right. That's not to say that they are the only group to fall on the far right. Those I have labelled omniarchists would also fall on the far right.
Fascism is militaristic and nationalistic. But this, too, may need some explanation, for two different things are invariably labelled nationalism at different times. The belief that one's own government should be supported whether it does what is right or what is wrong is often described as nationalism, and it is definitely a bad thing. It is blind love of the state, and is typically entwined with the vague yet unyielding belief that "my country and people" are somehow better than "your country and people." Thus, this form of nationalism is inherently collectivist, for it ignores that every individual is different, and that one cannot honestly provide a valid critique of a person based solely on that person's place of origin. Again, this form of nationalism is bad, and it is the form of nationalism that fascists tend to exhibit. The other thing that is often referred to as nationalism can be either good or bad, but actually tends to be good. This is the desire of oppressed peoples to throw off the rulership of others and to start running their own governments independently of said others. Although this is sometimes referred to as "nationalism," it has no inherent connection to nationalism in the previous sense nor to fascism.
Fascist states tend to promote a top-down economic structure often described as corporatism or guild socialism. It can be debated just how much statist intervention and command an economy requires before its economic system can be labelled fascist, but it seems quite clear that fascists have a complete distrust of the unfettered market, which they incorrectly regard as unstable and chaotic.
A fascist state will also tend to be monarchical, although not all monarchies are necessarily fascist. One can loosely say that the stronger a dictator's stranglehold over his or her subjects, the more likely the state he or she leads is a fascist one.
The fascist state will always try to control education through a system of government-funded schools. This is because the fascist state requires a certain degree of control over the attitudes and beliefs of its subjects in order to retain power. For the same reason, the fascist state will try to control, either through censorship or through direct take-over, media content.
When the word Fascist is capitalised, it refers to the ideology of the Fascist Party (except, perhaps, when it is the first word in a sentence). When the term fascist is lower-case, it refers to a broader philosophy. Thus, while Nazism and Fascism are two different things, Nazism is nevertheless a form of fascism. Further, it would be, in my opinion, horribly incorrect to say that all fascists are "in sympathy with Hitler" or "in sympathy with Mussolini." One can be a fascist—i.e., be nationalistic, militaristic, anti-individualistic, opposed to free markets, and in support of strong leaders and government-run schooling—and still regard Hilter and Mussolini as flawed.
Finally, it is important to note that one can be said to be moving in the direction of, or embracing, fascism without actually having become fascist. If one wants greater governmental control over businesses, increased military funding, higher taxes, and the like, one is certainly then showing a fascistic tendency—but whether the person showing this fascistic tendency shows enough of it to actually constitute a fascist can, of course, be debatable. For example, let's say an individualist anarchist decides that she wants to become a minarchist—that is to say, she wishes to start supporting a government with extremely-limited powers. Perhaps the only thing she wishes for this government to do is, to a strictly limited extent, provide for national and internal defence. Well, then, I think we would have to conclude objectively that, although she has moved in a fascistic direction, she still would not constitute a fascist.
With all this said, should we be upset when someone uses the term fascist simply to mean authoritarian or even simply ultraviolent? I think not. Sure, using it to mean ultraviolent gives the term an extremely loose meaning, but, I can at least understand what the person is getting at by using the term in such a way. Any initiation of force against the innocent, after all, tends toward the same disregard for individual rights that fascism exhibits. So, if that is ultimately how you choose to employ it, I figure it's no skin off my back.
Orwell's article copyright © The Estate of Eric Blair
Peak's reflection copyleft 2011


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Dear Reader,
Today I am interested in taking some notes regarding my observations on the art of translation. To preface these observations I first wish to express a lesson which I have learned through experience and which I am putting into practice in this new line of work. That is, that there is no substitute for experience – direct experience. That is to say, one can talk theory all day, dive into books, and attend classes, but it is all for nothing without experience. As an example, I give you my writing. There was a time, when I fantasized – nay, romanticized about being a writer; and I took notes on books people recommended on the "profession" of writing, and watched how-to videos and writer interviews. Continue reading


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Check This Out…Read what others are saying about us! Check out this great article and pictures from the Ladue-Frontenac Patch. Click here to read the great article and stop by for a delicious breakfast or lunch. Also, be sure to "Like" us on Facebook. We are giving away $30 gift cards to our cafes this Friday…check out our Facebook page for more info!
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MSME Special Fee
Sale Date Ended
Page Views : 380
RIMSR (RANGNEKAR INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES AND RESEARCH), is hosting
an International Conference, "NETWORKING MSMEs ACROSS NATIONS FOR
TECHNOLOGY AND MARKETING" on the 25th and 26th of August 2014 in Bangalore,
in association with the Government of Karnataka, KASSIA, MAIT, AWAKE, and GEORGIA INDO AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, USA.
The venue being "KASSIA Auditorium".
The thrust of the Conference is to help MSMEs build bridges with
international firms to penetrate international markets, and to look out for
high-end technology to modernize their enterprises.
The Conference is being inaugurated by Sri Kaushik Mukherjee, IAS, Chief
Secretary, Government of Karnataka, and he would deliver the Inaugural
Address. Prof. (Dr.) William Lightfoot from Brenau University, Gainesville,
Georgia, USA is delivering the Key-Note Address. As you can find from the
attachment, the topics that are being discussed in the Conference are
extremely relevant to the MSMEs.
Many MSME Associations are participating in the Conference. Therefore, it's a great
opportunity to show-case your enterprise, products & services in the
Souvenir that is being brought out on the occasion. The Souvenir would have
a wide reach, and apparently your enterprise would get that much more


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Oh yes, I must be completely mad, because tonight, I made Mu Shu chicken complete with Mu Shu Pancakes from scratch.
The mu shu madness all started recently while I was dining at P.F. Changs. Near our table, I spotted a waiter filling pancakes to serve to a table. Instantly, I knew I needed to attempt to recreate the dish at home.
Making the Mu Shu Chicken was very easy, and the result was yummy. I highly recommend giving it a shot, and serving it with good quality flour tortillas, such as La Tortilla Factory found at Tom Thumb, or going mad and making your own pancakes.
Making the Mu Shu or Mandarin Pancakes was a huge project, that was tedious, fun, and well worth the effort. A friend of mine described her experience of making gnocci, as a "labor of love", I would describe this as the same.
Mu Shu is always served with hoisin sauce which can be tricky to find kosher. I found some at the Christmas Tree Store, the brand is Joyce Chen, it's very tasty.
We also had Ginger Salad, Steamed Brown Rice, and Asian Asparagus. Our dinner was A-MAZ-ING!
Here is the Mu Shu Recipe and Pics:
Mu Shu Pancakes
makes 20 pancakes
3 C. all purpose flour
1/2 t. salt
1 C. boiling water
1/4 C. cold water
2 T. vegetable oil
1/2 t. sesame oil
Place the flour and the salt in a large bowl, and mix with a fork.
Slowly add the boiling water, stirring slowly as you add it in.
Add the 1/4 C. cold water slowly, and then use your hands to form a stiff dough.
Turn dough out onto a floured surface and knead for 10 minutes until the dough is smooth.
Place the dough back into the bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let rest for 45 minutes. (You can make the Chicken filling during this time.)
After 45 minutes, divide the dough in 4 equal portions.
Take one portion and roll into a 1 1/2 inch wide log. Cut this log into 5 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ball. Repeat with the rest of the dough.
Flatten the ball with your palm. Use a rolling pin and roll until 3 inches in diameter. Repeat with all of the pieces. You should have 20, 3 inch circles.
In a small bowl mix together the two oils.
Take half of the circles and brush with a pastry brush lightly with the oil. Place another circle ontop. You will have 2 circles ontop of eachother, sandwiched with oil. You will have 10 stacks.
Use the rolling pin and roll the stacks of twos together until they are 8 inches in diameter.
Seperate each stack with a paper towel or parchment.
Take a large frying pan, and the pan with 1 tsp. of oil and then use a paper towel to wipe the entire inside, there should be a tiny bit left on the pan.
Heat the pan over medium high heat. Once hot, add a stack and cook about 30 seconds, just until light brown specks start to form on the bottom. Flip the stack over and cook 30 more seconds on the other side, also until the light brown bubble show.
Remove to a plate, let cool a few seconds, and peel apart the stack, you will now have 2 mu shu pancakes. Repeat with the rest of the stacks.
Mu Shu Chicken
3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into very thin pieces
1 8 oz. carton mushrooms, I used baby bellas, cut into matchsticks (julienned)
2 green onion, green part only, chopped
1 (14 oz.) bag, coleslaw cabbage mix, with white cabbage, carrots, and purple cabbage
1/4 t. garlic salt
2 T. vegetable oil
Chicken Marinade:
1/2 t. sugar
2 T. soy sauce
1 T. sherry, I used kosher cooking sherry
1 T. cornstarch
1/2 T. sesame oil
1 T. soy sauce
1/2 T. sherry
1 t. sugar
To marinate the chicken: Place the cut up chicken in a large ziploc baggy. Add the sugar, and mix thoroughly. Add each ingredient one by one in the order listed above, mixing thoroughly in between each time. Squeeze out the excess air, seal, and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
Mix together the ingredients for the sauce in a small bowl and set aside.
Heat a large skillet or wok on high and add 1 T. of the oil. Once the oil is hot, add the chicken and stir fry for 5-10 minutes until the chicken is slightly browned and cooked through. Remove the chicken to a plate.
In the same pan add the other 1 T. oil, and heat on high. Add the mushrooms and the green onions. Cook for a minute or two until the mushrooms give off a little of their liquid. Turn down the heat if they start to burn.
Add the coleslaw mix and stir with the mushrooms until mixed. Add the garlic salt.
Stir fry until the cabbage is soft, about 5 minutes. Return the chicken to the pan, and add the sauce. Stir everything together.
To assemble, take a teaspoonful of hoisin sauce and spread in the center of the pancake. Next, add a generous scoop of the mu shu chicken, and fold up the sides, and then the bottom.
Have a great night!
Pin It


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Frank Ocean streaming 'Channel Orange' (which is now available on iTunes), played Fallon (video)
DOWNLOAD: Frank Ocean – "Sweet Life" (MP3)
We mentioned it in today's What's Going On?, but in case you missed it, Frank Ocean is streaming his new album, Channel Orange, in full on his tumblr. The album was set for a July 17 release date, but Frank put it up on iTunes last night/this morning at midnight, a week ahead of its physical release. You've already heard the ten-minute album track, "Pyramids," and he recently revealed another track, "Sweet Life," which you can download for free above.
It's been a pretty big week or so for Frank Ocean, who in addition to unveiling this great new collection of songs, came out about his sexuality, and made his television debut last night (7/9) on Fallon, performing the track, "Bad Religion." You can watch that performance below.
Frank's tour in support of the new album kicks off this Friday (7/13) and comes to NYC for a sold out show at Terminal 5 on July 26.
Video below…
Frank Ocean: Bad Religion


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1.Tour is departing from the meeting point on 2 Matejki Square (Cracow City Tours check in office) at the exact time shown on your ticket. Remember to arrive at the meeting point at least 10 min. before time of deaprture.
2. Ticket purchased in CCT offices need to have receipt attached, which is confirmation of payment. Only ticket with receipt attached entitles to refund.
3. Before boarding the bus it is necessary to present ticket to the tour leader. If you are not sure which bus you should enter please come inside office on Matejki Sq 2 (meeting point office).
4. For a full refund of ticket cancellation must be made a full 24 hours before tour starts. Cancellations made in less than 48 hours before departure are not entitled to a refund.
5. In case of cancellation ticket purchased in CCT offices can be refund only in the same agency.
6. If you need to make a change to your booking (travel date/ time of departure) be aware that you need to incur additional payment in amount of 50% per person.
7. It is not allowed to carry and drink hot drinks, eat (fast food, takeaway), smoke, drink alcohol on the bus.
8.People under the influence of alcohol or drugs can not participate in the tour. Tour leader ot the bus driver are allowed to refuse a person under the influence to participate in the tour.
9. There is no toilet on the bus. In case of feeling unwell please report it immediately to the tour leader or to the bus driver.
10. All damages/dirtiness on the bus caused by customer are followed by financial compensation from the customer on the basis of issued invoice. When visible damage or dirtiness is noticed customer is obliged to pay compensation in amount 100 - 200PLN.
11. Durations of the tours are approx times which depend on conditions in the museums and traffic situation. CCT have no liability for delays caused by any circumstances beyond its reasonable control
12. Supplier keeps the right to cancell any tour even 15 min. before tour starts without giving reason and with full refund of costs.
13. We ask all customers to check and take all their belongings from the bus after the tour. CCT take no responsibility for any items left on the bus.
Thank you for respecting terms and policy of Cracow City Tours Company.
CCT Staff


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Under a deal signed in June, Electrolux began shifting control of its PCs in Europe, the Middle East and Africa to the IBM unit in September. IBM Global Services is taking over the support duties previously performed in-house by Electrolux's IT group.
IBM Global Services is assuming ownership of Electrolux's PC operations and will also administer the company's local area networks in the same geographic regions. Some of IBM's duties under the five-year contract include handling maintenance and deployment of PCs as well as keeping software on the machines up to date. IBM is also staffing a PC helpdesk for Stockholm, Sweden-based Electrolux.
Bottom line: For more info:
What's new:
In Europe and elsewhere, IBM Global Services is taking over the appliance maker's PC operations and its LAN administration.
As Electrolux cuts costs and gains flexibility, the outsourcing deal will also let Big Blue mold the company and its PCs into the IBM vision of on-demand, or utility, computing.
Track the players
Bottom line:
For more info:
Art Cox, Electrolux's vice president of IT, said the company entered into the outsourcing deal mainly as a way to reduce costs and to boost the efficiency of its IT group, which serves a number of Electrolux divisions.
"We looked at the desktop as being nonstrategic to us," Cox said. "We figured since it's not strategic, that we could send it off to a third party. The other reason we did it was to gain some flexibility and to put us in a position where we're standardized across the board. Every PC will be the same. I think if other companies look at (outsourcing)--I think they'll find this is a good approach."
Upfront costs
IBM asserts that such flexibility is something that companies administering PCs in-house may not be able to mirror. IBM executives point out that, based on its contract, Electrolux can quickly add PCs "on demand" for new hires. Whereas it would normally pay upfront to buy new a PC, Electrolux will instead simply adjust the fee it pays IBM. Electrolux can do so because its contract lets it pay IBM based on the number of PCs that IBM is servicing. Under the contract, Electrolux is not required to buy IBM PCs. Electrolux can also vary the number of PCs covered by IBM based on its computing needs, following the on-demand model.
IBM, which first outlined its on-demand strategy a year ago, asserts that companies should be able to treat computing power and data storage like utilities, such as electricity or gas. It has since begun delivering software and services to support the effort.
Electrolux isn't alone in turning to outsourcing. IBM Global Services says that 50 percent of its IT outsourcing contracts include at least some degree of PC management. But the Electrolux deal is an early example of a company allowing IBM to sweep up its PCs in its on-demand vision.
Companies that turn to outsourcing most often do so to cut costs. But they're also more willing to make the move these days because PCs are increasingly seen as less of a strategic business tool and more as a piece of office furniture, said Dean Douglas, vice president of IBM Global Services.
Furniture or not, efficiently managed PCs can boost a company's fortunes by lowering its overall costs, Douglas asserts.
"It becomes another step in the process of trying to rein in the cost of PCs," Douglas said. "PCs are viewed as a commodity. It's not as if you're going to be doing a lot of differentiation based on how you deploy PCs. You do that with the software that's installed on them, so the problem comes down to managing the (PC) itself."
Financial expectations
That is where IBM wants to step in. IBM Global Services will work to spread the same software image--or collection of operating system, driver and application software--across all of the PCs it manages. It will also oversee future software updates and PC replacements, and it promises to take care of these tasks for less money than a company would otherwise spend.
Typically, companies expect to be able to save at least 15 percent to 20 percent before signing on the dotted line, Douglas said.
"I don't think anyone's going to outsource for less than 15 percent savings," Douglas said.
Outsourcing, IBM Global Services says, is also a way to adapt PCs to IBM's on-demand computing environment.
Although the approach is not as immediate as other on-demand techniques such as providing companies with services that allow them to tap IBM's computing power or to automatically boost data storage space, PC outsourcing can allow companies to refresh existing computer hardware on a more rigid schedule or add new PCs quickly for new employees without making large capital expenditures, Douglas said.
In this case, "what on-demand really does is give customers the ability to address their front-end costs," he said. "What you end up with is the PC is not a discrete hardware device, it's a service like a cell phone. People don't think of a cell phone as a hardware device. They think of it as a service."Risks still exist
There are still risks involved with such outsourcing, however.
Companies take a chance on at least some disruption when shifting from one method of managing their PCs to another, especially if communication between the company doing the outsourcing and its contractor is not clear, said Bob Sutherland, an analyst with Technology Business Research.
But "big companies can see (outsourcing) as an opportunity," Sutherland said. The "thinking about PCs has shifted. A few years ago companies were spending $4,000 for a PC, and there wasn't one on every desk. Now it's a game of managing the long-term costs (of PC ownership). There are a lot of hidden costs behind just the price tag of a unit."
Ultimately, Sutherland said, both companies stand to gain, if IBM can manage PCs without losing its shirt and can save its customers some money on their end.
If all goes well for Electrolux, the company can opt to extend its contract with IBM for another two years. It may also consider expanding the arrangement to Australia, North America and South America, Cox said.
Apple is nixing iPhone parenting apps: Here's why: Let's dive into the saga of mobile device management, or MDM, software and why it's causing a showdown between Apple and iOS developers.
What Amazon's one-day shipping means for you: Last week, Amazon announced it will decrease the standard shipping time for Prime members from two days to one. In this Tech Minute, here's how this change will impact your deliveries.


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Easy Camp Funster Tent Jolly Green 2016
Convenient pop-up shelter and smart style make the two-person Funster single wall tents stand out. One large rear vent and mesh door top panel (with zip-closed waterproof curtain) offer excellent ventilation. When unpacked, the integral frame system springs into shape – just fix the supplied guylines and pegs.
- Type of tent: Pop-up tent
- Sleeps people: 2
- Hydrostatic Head: 1500 mm
- Flysheet: 180T 100% polyester PU coated
- Rooms: 1 bedroom
- Poles: Fibreglass 6 mm
- Floor: 100% polyethylene
- Pitching way: Pop-up, all in one
- Pack size: Dia. 65 x 5 cm
- Weight: 1.4 kg


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Too bad, so sad...MY report is fascinating.
Below I've included some of the most interesting bits of information about my ancestral journey.
I've borrowed freely from the report that the Genographic Project sent me (and fully acknowledge any copyrights they may claim...but, hey, I paid for it).
My Y-chromosome results identify me as a member of haplogroup G (M201).
The genetic markers that define my ancestral history reach back roughly 60,000 years to the first common marker of all non-African men, M168, and follow my lineage to present day, ending with M201, the defining marker of haplogroup G.
(What follows just below is interesting, but pretty technical...read at your own risk of falling asleep...scroll down to the maps if you're in a hurry).
In the Republic of Georgia (Caucasus Mountains south of Russia, north of Turkey) members of G make up as much as 30 percent of the population. Around 14 percent of the men on the island of Sardinia belong to this group, as well as ten percent of the men in north central Italy, eight percent of the men in northern Spain, almost seven percent of the men in Turkey, and lesser percentages in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, the Ukraine, Lebanon, Greece, Hungary, Albania, Croatia, and Ethiopia.
G is still represented in the Middle East-some of these are Arab, some are Jews, many are neither. Across northwestern Europe, only one to three percent of the men belong to haplogroup G.
Small numbers of haplogroup G can also be found in Syria (Arabs), Russia (Adygeans), Uzbekistan (Tartars and Karakalpaks), Mongolia, and western China (Uygurs). Members of haplotype G can also be found in Sicily, Hungary, Austria, Germany, France, Norway, and Sweden. Small numbers of men belonging to haplogroup G can also be found in China, Indonesia, Taiwan, the Philippines, and the Polynesian Islands of the Pacific.
So I fired up Google Maps and created this map of the various places my ancestors were likely to frequent (click on map for larger version). The map actually agrees pretty well with more recent family history which puts my father's family in the Swiss/German geographic zone.
M168: My Earliest Ancestor
Time of Emergence: Roughly 50,000 years ago
Place of Origin: Africa
Climate: Temporary retreat of Ice Age; Africa moves from drought to warmer temperatures and moister conditions
Estimated Number of Homo sapiens: Approximately 10,000
Tools and Skills: Stone tools; earliest evidence of art and advanced conceptual skills
The man who gave rise to the first genetic marker in my lineage probably lived in northeast Africa in the region of the Rift Valley (see the orange balloon on the first map), perhaps in present-day Ethiopia, Kenya, or Tanzania, some 31,000 to 79,000 years ago. Scientists put the most likely date for when he lived at around 50,000 years ago.
His descendants became the only lineage to survive outside of Africa, making him the common ancestor of every non-African man living today.
M89: Moving Through the Middle East
Time of Emergence: 45,000 years ago
Place: Northern Africa or the Middle East
Climate: Middle East: Semi-arid grass plains
Estimated Number of Homo sapiens: Tens of thousands
Tools and Skills: Stone, ivory, wood tools
The next male ancestor in my ancestral lineage is the man who gave rise to M89, a marker found in 90 to 95 percent of all non-Africans. This man was born around 45,000 years ago in northern Africa or the Middle East. While many of the descendants of M89 remained in the Middle East, others continued to follow the great herds of buffalo, antelope, woolly mammoths, and other game through what is now modern-day Iran to the vast steppes of Central Asia.
My ancestors, having migrated north out of Africa into the Middle East, then traveled both east and west along this Central Asian superhighway. A smaller group continued moving north from the Middle East to Anatolia and the Balkans, trading familiar grasslands for forests and high country.
M201: Living in the Fertile Crescent
Time of Emergence: 30,000 years ago
Place of Origin: Middle East or Caucasus Mountains
Climate: Middle East: Semiarid grass plains
Estimated Number of Homo sapiens: Approximately 100,000
Tools and Skills: Stone, ivory, wood tools
My genetic trail continues with a marker that arose around 30,000 years ago, in a man born along the eastern edge of the Middle East, perhaps as far east as the Himalayan foothills in Pakistan or India. He has had relatively few descendants, and members of this clan are rarely present in population frequencies at greater than a few percent.
My ancestors were part of the Neolithic Revolution, the point at which humans changed from nomadic hunter-gatherers to settled agriculturists. Control over their food supply marks a major turning point for the human species: the beginning of civilization.
Instead of small clans of 30 to 50 people constantly moving to follow the seasons and the herds, they began to settle in much larger groups, occupying a single territory.
Larger settled communities spurred the need for trade, writing, and calendars, and pioneered the rise of modern sedentary communities and cities. The early farming successes spawned population booms and encouraged migration throughout much of the Mediterranean world.
My farming ancestors began moving out of the Middle East, through the islands and along the shores of the Mediterranean, through Turkey into the Balkans and the Caucasus Mountains.
It was once thought that the advancing farmers displaced or eliminated the hunter-gatherers of Europe. However DNA studies show that while the spread of agriculture did involve the movement of some people into Europe who had not been there before, for the most part farming was adopted by the existing Europeans. In other words, the culture, rather than the people, spread.
The whole report contains even more detail and I have to say it was well worth the $100 or so that it cost. You can get your own DNA tested and get a report on your ancestral journey at The Genographic Project.


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Charlotte, N.C. (April 22, 2016)- Dentsply Sirona, The Dental Solutions Company™, recently announced that the Sirona YouTube channel has received more than 1 million views since its launch four years ago.
Created in April 2012, Sirona's YouTube channel is yet another means of communication with the dedicated, online consumer base. The site maintains various informative and captivating videos, including product demos, event recaps, panel discussions, clinician interviews, and patient and product testimonials.
According to Andreas Blauig, Dentsply Sirona's corporate social media manager, the video content is well received from viewers because of the educational content that is delivered in a vivid and dynamic package.
"The videos explain complex technological workflows in a simple and intuitive way, provide background information and show emotion- our subscribers enjoy this," Blauig said.
With thousands of subscribers to the global page, as well as different branch sites such as CEREC by Sirona's YouTube page, the company continuously strives for advancement and innovation in all social media outlets.
A new format was recently introduced to the YouTube page for increased viewer satisfaction: super slow motion videos. These slow motion videos capture product presentations in a way that allows viewers and product users to closely observe and follow each step during the videos, which contain impressive detail of the products showcased.
The continuous production of video footage added to the YouTube page provides meaningful and invaluable information to viewers via a platform that is compelling and easily comprehended.
"Achieving such a milestone is truly gratifying for Dentsply Sirona as a global team," said Ingo Zimmer, director of clinical CAD/CAM. "Our organization works diligently to provide superlative content to our viewers and it's incredible to see the level of viewer appreciation through this accomplishment."
As an expression of gratitude to subscribers, the company created a best-of video that can be viewed here.
To view the latest videos, visit www.youtube.com/sironatube and www.youtube.com/cerectube.


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Everybody has those bad habits that they're constantly trying to get rid of but just cant. Whether it be biting your fingernails, always being late, or procrastinating: these small bad habits are extremely annoying but just so hard to get rid of.
I definitely have a ton of bad habits that I just can't seem escape from, but recently I have been trying different ways to get rid of them, and here's some of them.
1. Baby steps- when trying to get rid of a bad habit, don't cut yourself from it all at once, as your body or mind will not be used to completely cutting off the bad habit. Try setting small goals every week that gradually lead to ridding the habit completely.
2. Think of the things that made you start the habit, and get rid of it. Maybe you bite your nails because you are nervous talking to people: so tackle the root of the cause by trying to reduce the stress that you put on yourself when talking to people. Look to the causes of your bad habits and try and solve those first before trying to solve the habits.
Bad habits can annoying to have and solve, but they are to some degree apart of you and makes you different from everybody else.


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Only hotels in Morrisburg are listed below. Find cheap and/or discounted hotel rates in or near Morrisburg, ON for your personal leisure or group travel. Discover the most popular Morrisburg, Ontario hotel and motel rooms. Browse the Morrisburg area hotels to find the perfect lodging! Please use the provided map of the Morrisburg hotels. Group booking? Search Morrisburg Group Hotel Deals
The Morrisburg center is around 16 miles west of Massena International Richards Field Airport and 20 miles northeast of Ogdensburg International Airport.
How should we direct your call?


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Borders volunteers received a belated Christmas present this week in the form of a £1,500 charity donation.
The Borders branch of the Royal Voluntary Service was this year's chosen charity to benefit from Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk MP Calum Kerr's annual charity Christmas card competition.
Featuring the artwork of Eyemouth High School pupil Phillipa Whitten, whose winning design was selected by Borders artist Rob Hain, more than 1,000 copies were distributed around the constituency with the help of sponsorship from several Borders firms.
The money will be used by the Borders branch of the Royal Voluntary Service to help older people to maintain their independence and involvement in their community.
Phillipa and Mr Kerr presented the cheque to volunteers, staff and service users at the charity's Millfield Social Centre in Jedburgh on Monday.
Mr Kerr said: "It was a delight to meet service users and volunteers and to hear first hand about just how vital the service is.
"It offers elderly members of our community improved quality of life by giving them the chance to get out of the house and participate in a wide range of activities.
"I was also very pleased that we've managed to significantly increase the total amount raised.
"Last year, we sent out 700 cards. This year, we managed 1,000, and I'm very grateful to Phillipa for entering the competition and adding her creativity into the mix with an excellent design."
Scottish Borders voluntary service manager Douglas Aitken, who collected the cheque, added: "Donations like this are vital to ensure we can enrich the lives of the elderly who use our services by helping them to stay active and lead fulfilled lives.
"All of this would not be possible without the support and dedication of our volunteers who contribute their time at our social centres and our community transport service that both run across the Scottish Borders."
To find out more about the services and volunteering opportunities available through the Borders RVS, call 01896 754481 or visit firstname.lastname@example.com
Last year the MP's Christmas card raised £1,000 for the Radio Borders Cash for Kids appeal.
Mr Kerr added: "There are many rewarding aspects to this job but having the opportunity to bring together schools, local businesses and a good local cause is foremost among them."