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America's Top Stores
Consumer Reports Reveals Retailer Ratings
By Consumer Reports
>posted: 42 DAYS AGO
This article is the archived version of a report that appears in the July 2010 Consumer Reports magazine.
Last year shoppers spent $405 billion at Walmart, the world's largest retailer. But according to a new study by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, they might be better off if they switch stores.
(Reader Score – out of 100*)
1. Costco (85)
2. Dillard's (82)
3. Kohl's (81)
4. JCPenney (80)
5. Target (79)
6. Sam's Club (78)
7. Sears (77)
8. Macy's (77)
9. Meijer (77)
10. Walmart (73)
11. Kmart (72)
Here's a store-by-store look at the retailers in the survey:
414 warehouses in 40 states. $50 yearly fee. Costco has a wide range of goods but not a lot in each category. Private-label Kirkland Signature products are claimed to be at least as good as national brands, and all of Costco's merchandise comes with a money-back guarantee.
How to Save
Costco doesn't accept manufacturers' coupons but sometimes distributes its own. Instant rebates are fairly common. Customers with an Executive membership ($100) qualify for 2 percent back on purchases, up to a top rebate of $500 per year. (You'd need to spend $2,500 to recoup the extra $50.)
320 stores in 29 states. Slightly more upscale than Macy's and slightly less so than Nordstrom, Dillard's is trying to become a bit fancier. It claims it's the only chain with a "text to buy" option, letting customers instantly order products advertised in magazines.
How to Save
Join the store's rewards program, which lets you earn Dillard's Shopping Passes good for 10 percent off a day's purchases. Dillard's cardholders earn points; spend $750 during the calendar year to earn a discounted shopping day. If card spending tops $2,000, you qualify for free shipping on four orders.
1,067 stores nationwide. The product mix is about 56 percent national brands, 44 percent exclusive brands (Tony Hawk, Food Network, and others).
How to Save
Kohl's cardholders receive an extra 15 to 30 percent off all merchandise. Spend $600 a year and qualify for "pick a day" savings six times a year. If you sign up for e-mail alerts, you save on your next in-store or online order. Occasional promotions give $10 in "Kohl's Cash" for each $50 spent in a single purchase.
More than 1,000 stores nationwide. Style and quality at a smart price is JCPenney's mantra. Private label and brands made only for JCPenney include Cindy Crawford Style and Joe by Joseph Abboud. JCPenney claims to have one of the largest apparel and home-furnishings sites on the Internet (www.jcp.com). It has been trying to revamp its image and "show that we are not just looking to sell merchandise. We are looking to sell an experience," says Mike Boylson, chief marketing officer.
How to Save
Sign up for mobile alerts about coupons, giveaways, and events. Check JCPenney's online outlet for breaking price markdowns of 75 percent or more on clearance merchandise.
596 clubs nationwide. $40 annual fee. Sam's Club has a limited choice of products in many categories, plus a revolving mix of oddball items (even grandfather clocks). Services include tire installation, optical store, health insurance, and roadside assistance. Experts say merchandise isn't as glitzy as at Costco.
How to Save
Upgrade to a Sam's Club Plus Membership ($100 per year) to save an extra $350 in services and benefits such as prescription drugs and express shipping. The enhanced membership has a money-back guarantee if you're not satisfied with the savings.
Nationwide, 929 full-line and 1,200 specialty stores (including appliance showrooms and home-décor centers). Sears sells a wide range of appliances (one in two homes in the U.S. owns a Kenmore product), tools, electronics, apparel, lawn equipment, and auto products, and makes more than 12 million service calls a year. Brands include Craftsman, Kenmore, and DieHard. Another exclusive label: Lands' End.
How to Save
Look for the "deal of the day" via the Sears website, Facebook, Twitter, or e-mail alert. If you find a lower price on the same item at a local store, Sears will match the price and give you 10 percent of the difference. (Take in the competitor's ad within 14 days).
800 stores nationwide. One of a dwindling number of traditional department stores, Macy's tries to stand apart from competitors with events such as the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and tie-ins with TV shows including "Project Runway." Exclusive and store brands reinforce its "Only at Macy's" campaign. Among the options: the Martha Stewart Collection and Queen by Queen Latifah.
How to Save
Open a Macy's charge account and get a 15 percent discount on the day you're approved and the next day. Cardholders also qualify for exclusive sales and coupons.
190 stores in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky. Meijer (pronounced my-er) takes credit for the one-stop-shopping concept, and stores have expanded to include fresh produce and meat, a pharmacy, electronics, garden centers, and apparel.
How to Save
Know the lingo. Meijer recently boiled down discounts to three types. Prices on "Everyday Best Price" items have been cut drastically; "sale" items are cheaper for a limited time; "price drop" items are marked down for longer than a typical sale item. Use a Meijer credit card and save 5 cents a gallon at the retailer's gas stations. Check the website for daily "Big Steals."
1,750 stores nationwide, including 240 Super Targets with a supermarket. The company has unveiled a prototype of a regular store with more fresh foods. "Tar-zhay" is credited with bringing younger, wealthier customers to discount retailing. Stores are stylish, TV ads are trendy, and exclusive lines are by youth-oriented designers. The company boasts of an easy-to-shop layout.
How to Save
Sign up for text or e-mail alerts and receive coupons, deals, and weekly ad reminders. Check Target's website for daily specials and clearance items (30 to 70 percent off). Open a Target REDcard charge account and receive 10 percent off a day's purchases. For every $1,000 spent at Target (or 10 prescriptions filled), cardholders qualify for a day of shopping with an extra 10 percent off.
Nationwide, 803 standard stores and 2,747 supercenters. Supercenters add a supermarket and, usually, restaurants, portrait studio, pharmacy, hair salon, employment agency, tire and lube express, and vision center. Walmart.com sells more than 1 million products, which can be shipped free to your local store for pickup. Unlike most chains, Walmart has an everyday-low-price strategy, with bigger bargains on "price rollback" items.
How to Save
Check the website or sign up for e-mail alerts for information on new price rollbacks and special offers.
About 1,300 stores nationwide, including standard stores, 24-hour Kmart Super Centers (supermarket, restaurants, and other services), and Big Kmarts, which fall in between. Kmart emerged from bankruptcy in 2003 and was bought by Sears, so it sells Sears brands and has similar services. Experts say the company still lacks an identity.
How to Save
Unemployed? Apply online for Kmart's Smart Assist savings card, which offers 20 percent off more than 1,500 items for six months. Join the Shop Your Way program (also good at Sears and Lands' End) for bonus coupons and 1 percent back on all purchases. E-mail alerts tell about other discounts.
More from Consumer Reports
· Air Conditioner Reviews
· Best Gas Grills
· Digital Camera Reviews
*Ratings are based on the experiences of 30,666 Consumer Reports readers who told us about 56,922 trips to 11 retailers from April 2008 to April 2009. Results might not reflect experiences of the U.S. population. Reader score reflects overall satisfaction. A score of 100 would mean all respondents were completely satisfied; 80 means they were very satisfied on average; 60, fairly well satisfied. Differences of fewer than 3 points aren't meaningful. Displayed scores are rounded; stores are listed in order of precise overall score.
To see how your favorite stores fared in terms of value, service, checkout and returns, subscribe to ConsumerReports.org.
2005-2010 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc
Surprise! American Icons That Aren't Really American
What's more American than enjoying a cold bottle of Budweiser while your kids enjoy their Good Humor ice cream? It sounds so 'American,' right? Wrong. These two good ol' standbys are not American — or at least not U.S. owned.
Whether they never were American or were simply bought by foreigners, WalletPop's freelance writer Carol Vinzant takes a look at 13 iconic American brands, companies and products that are currently owned abroad.
(iStock Photo)
- Related:
- Full Story
Retail Stores Closing Doors
Our Latest Roundup for 2010
posted: 13 DAYS 3 HOURS AGO
Carl De Souza, AFP, Getty Images
Announcements continue to roll in from retailers that have decided to close stores, slow expansion plans or cease operations altogether.
From Christopher & Banks to the ESPN Zone, we update our ongoing roundup with the latest news from 2010. Read on to see which retailers are closing (at least some) of their doors.
Are any of these your favorites?
Announced: June 16, 2010
Walt Disney Co. closed its ESPN Zone restaurants in New York; Baltimore; Washington, DC; Las Vegas; and Chicago. With about 150 employees per ESPN Zone location, the closures leave approximately 1,000 workers jobless. Additionally, approximately 200,000 square feet in retail space is about to hit the market, according to CoStar information. Disney blamed the poor economy for the closures.
Announced: May 28, 2010
The Chicago Tribune reports that Movado Group Inc., the Swiss watchmaker and jeweler, plans to close its money-losing retail division by the end of June in a move to turn around the company. It will close all 27 U.S. stores. The company said it doesn't intend to run any store closing or liquidation sales, a move to protect its brand name.
Announced: May 8, 2010
A 37-store network of Dollar Store outlets in Washington and Oregon announced they will be closing, just weeks after the parent company filed for bankruptcy in late March.
Announced: May 5, 2010
In its May 5th earnings call, Kenneth Cole CFO David Edelman noted that it closed three stores since the beginning of the year and expects to close a total of five to 10 stores by year-end.
Announced: April 30, 2010
During a company-wide conference call on April 30, it was announced that all U.S. Hollywood Video, Movie Gallery, and Game Crazy stores would begin the liquidation process in May 2010. Stores will stay open for up to six weeks after liquidation begins. The fate of the company's Canadian stores was sealed on June 8, 2010, as they also entered liquidation. This is an update from Movie Gallery's February bankruptcy announcement where it originally said they were not going out of business.
Announced: April 26, 2010
Magic Brands, owner of Fuddruckers, said it will use a Chapter 11 bankruptcy "to terminate certain Fuddruckers leases and will close 24 corporate-owned Fuddruckers restaurants by April 30, 2010."
Announced: April 15, 2010
Christopher & Banks Corporation is a Minneapolis-based specialty retailer of women's clothing. As of April 15, 2010, the Company operates 799 stores in 46 states. The company currently plans to open approximately 10 new stores and close 25 existing stores in fiscal 2011.
Announced: April 8, 2010
The Kroger Co. is closing 20 in-store medical clinics operated by The Little Clinic chain, and plans to revamp the business model for the convenient care chain in which it made an $86 million investment in 2008.
Announced: March 30, 2010
Charming Shoppes, Inc., the plus-size specialty retailer with up to 2,121 stores nationwide — including Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug, and Catherines chains — announced plans that it would close 100 to 120 of its branches in fiscal 2010.
Announced: March 30, 2010
The Atlanta-based retailer of greeting cards and gifts is closing all 43 stores. In March, Hilco purchased the company's retail and other assets in a bankruptcy court-approved auction for $7.4 million. Everything in the stores, according to bankruptcy court filings posted Tuesday, will be liquidated.
Announced: March 29, 2010
According to CoStar Retail Group, SuperValu is divesting itself of the bigg's grocery store line, closing five underperforming locations and selling the rest to Remke Markets. The supermarket owner said in a statement that it would close four stores in a Ohio and one in Kentucky. Remke is set to acquire the remaining six bigg's stores. The divestiture is SuperValu's second in 2010. The company recently announced the sale of its Shaw's locations in Connecticut.
Announced: March 15, 2010
A leading sporting goods company in the U.S., the company said it anticipates opening 30 new stores during fiscal 2011, expanding 20 high performing stores and closing about 10-15 underperforming stores.
Announced: March 2010
According to a San Diego Business Journal report, Leap Wireless cut 180 jobs and shuttered 27 Cricket stores nationwide. The flat-rate carrier said the restructuring reflects its changing priorities for the year. Leap spokesman Greg Lund told FierceWireless that 90 of the job cuts were corporate positions and 90 were "field positions." Leap has around 4,200 total corporate employees and now has 242 company-owned stores.
Announced: March 15, 2010
84 Lumber, the industry's largest privately held chain of lumberyards, closed 10 stores in 10 states on March 15 due to declining housing starts. The Eighty Four, Pa.-based company now operates 289 stores in 34 states, with 2009 revenues of $1.35 billion. In 2008, the company posted sales of $2.1 billion with 335 locations.
Announced: March 12, 2010
In a March 2010 press release, Ann Taylor updated expectations related to the store closure component of its strategic restructuring program. Under the program, the Company closed 60 stores in fiscal 2008, 42 stores in fiscal 2009, and expects to close approximately 72 stores in fiscal 2010, for a total of approximately 174 store closures under the 3-year program. Of these, approximately half are expected to be Ann Taylor stores and half are expected to be LOFT stores.
Announced: February 24, 2010
For the full year of 2010, Blockbuster expects to close a range of 500 to 545 underperforming domestic company-owned stores. Of these, Blockbuster has already closed 253 stores in January 2010 and has identified approximately 150 other stores that are expected to be closed in April 2010. The Company then expects to close approximately 75 to 125 more stores throughout the remaining portion of 2010
Announced: February 10, 2010
Jones Apparel plans on closing 165 of its specialty retail stores in 2010. While the company declined to say which of its stores would be closed, they indicated that the mall-based retail locations would be closed to allow increased focus on their outlet stores. In 2009, Jones Apparel closed 100 mall-based retail stores which has produced positive results for the parent company of Nine West, Anne Klein, Bandolino and Easy Spirit.
Announced: January 18, 2010
In a January press release about disappointing holiday sales, Borders Group, Inc. reiterated its decision to close 182 Waldenbooks Specialty Retail stores. According to CoStar's Retail News Roundup, Borders has been "whittling down its Waldenbooks chain since 2001, closing an average of 66 stores per year through 2007. In 2008, 112 stores were closed."
Announced: March 3, 2010
In 2010, Foot Locker plans to consolidate its Foot Locker, Lady Foot Locker, Kid Foot Locker and Footaction operations under one management structure. As part of this initiative, it closed 106 underproductive stores during the first quarter and eliminated 120 corporate positions. The company also closed 179 stores in 2009.
Announced: February 2, 2010
Movie Gallery filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February. While not going out of business, the restructuring called for the immediate liquidation and closure of approximately 760 stores. After these initial closings, the company operates 1,906 stores in the U.S., including 1,111 Movie Gallery, 545 Hollywood Video and 250 Game Crazy locations. The company anticipates additional store closings during the Chapter 11 process.
Announced: March, 10 2010
The company expects to open approximately 30 new stores and close approximately 30 stores in fiscal 2011.
Announced: January 26, 2010
Due to the recession and lingering housing crisis, Home Depot announced it would lay off 1,000 employees company-wide. In addition, it decided to close three pilot stores: a clearance center in Austell, Ga., a hurricane recovery store in Waveland, Miss. and a small-format store in Wilson, N.C. The company said there were no plans to close any of the chain's flagship "orange box" stores. It remains the largest home improvement store in the U.S. with 1,976 stores.
Announced: February 2, 2010
The Walking Company filed a reorganization plan under which the company intends to keep 207 of its 214 current store locations open. This was a turnaround from its original plan, announced in Dec. 2009, to close 90 of its underperforming locations.
Announced: January 14, 2010
The skin-care products company filed for bankruptcy in July 2009. But, according to the BNET Retail Blog, Crabtree & Evelyn will actually emerge from the bankruptcy — something that is unusual in the retail arena. In the end, the company will only need to close 35 of its 126 stores.
Announced: January 25, 2010
Boise, ID-based Albertsons LLC is in the process of closing 11 underperforming stores. Specifically, the grocery retailer is closing eight stores in Florida, as well as three stores in Colorado. This latest round of closures will leave Albertsons with 22 stores in Colorado and 20 in Florida; as well as more than 180 stores in Arizona, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Texas. (Note: Albertsons LLC is not affiliated with Supervalu, which operates 463 Albertsons stores.) (Source: CoStar Retail News Roundup)
Announced: January 11, 2010
In January, Bloomberg reported that Wal-Mart Store's Inc. said it was closing 10 "financially underperforming" Sam's Club locations in the U.S. However, the company also said it has plans to add six more stores this year. Wal-Mart operated 605 Sam's Club stores as of Oct. 31, 2009.
Announced: February 8, 2010
Disney is in the process of liquidating and shuttering 24 U.S. and 3 Canada Disney Store locations. As of October 2009, there were 340 total locations. The closures are part of an effort to revamp its existing stores to be interactive and more in keeping with the "Magic Kingdom" theme park feel. (Source: CoStar Retail News Roundup)
Announced: March 15, 2010
The fashion retailer announced that it will close the majority of underperforming stores in the U.S. and sell its Nicole Farhi business as part of a restructuring plan. The total of U.S. stores to be shuttered is numbered at 17, but F.C.U.K. has not released the specific location of those stores.
Announced: March 10, 2010
In its 4Q 2009 conference call, the company announced that due to geographic overlap caused by its 2006 acquisition of the AfterHours Formalwear chain, the company has identified 145 stores that it would likely close.
Announced: March 9, 2010
Specialty apparel retailer, American Eagle Outfitters is shuttering its MARTIN + OSA brand, including its 28 stores and online business. The company expects to conclude the liquidation of the MARTIN + OSA stores by the end of this July. The company opened the first MARTIN + OSA stores, which carried sportswear and casual apparel for men and women age 25 to 40, in fall 2006.
Announced: March 11, 2010
Williams Sonoma CFO Sharon McCollam said that the specialty retailer intends to shutter an undisclosed number of stores in large, multi-store markets during the next three years.
Announced: January 5, 2010
Macy's said it is closing five stores as part of its ongoing effort to weed out underperforming locations amid opening new ones. Following these store closures, Macy's will operate 849 stores, comprised of 809 Macy's and 40 Bloomingdale's stores.
Announced: January 7, 2010
Trans World Entertainment Corp. continues to whittle down its store fleet. By the end of January, it planned to have closed 161 stores during the prior 12 months. This follows 101 store closures in fiscal 2008. Following this latest closure effort, Trans World would be left with 553 stores. Trans World hit a peak store count of 1,091 in 2006, following its acquisition of Musicland. The majority of Trans World's stores are F.Y.E., but its portfolio also includes Saturday Matinee, Coconuts, Spec's and Wherehouse Music. According to CoStar Tenant, the typical F.Y.E. store is 3,000 square feet and located in an enclosed mall. (Source: CoStar Retail News Roundup)
We need your input for an upcoming WalletPop feature …
Tell us which pharmacy/drug store you love (or hate) and why.
Your submission will be considered for inclusion in our article!
2010-03-29 14:52:13
EPA to seek employee participation in chemical safety inspections (HQ)
Source: US EPA – Environmental Protection Agency
Jun. 24, 2010
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released interim guidance that would provide greater transparency in the agency's chemical safety inspections process. Under the interim guidance, EPA inspectors will offer employees and employee representatives the opportunity to participate in chemical safety inspections. In addition, EPA will request that state and local agencies adopt similar procedures under the Risk Management Program. EPA believes that close involvement of employees and employee representatives in inspections is effective and better protects workers and the adjacent communities.
The interim guidance pertains to inspections conducted by EPA under the agency's Risk Management Program (RMP). Through this program, EPA seeks to reduce the risks to surrounding communities that arise from the management, use or storage of certain hazardous chemicals. Owners and operators of covered facilities must develop a risk management plan, which includes facility plans for the prevention and response to chemical accidents. Under the Clean Air Act, the Chemical Accident Prevention Provisions require facilities that produce, handle, process, distribute, or store certain chemicals to develop a Risk Management Program, prepare a risk management plan, and submit the plan to EPA.
EPA expects to issue final guidance on participation of employees and employee representative in RMP inspections later this year.
More information on EPA's interim guidance and RMP: http://www.epa.gov/oem/content/rmp/index.htm
More information on the Chemical Accident Prevention Provisions: http://www.epa.gov/oem/content/lawsregs/rmpover.htm
North American industrial pollution profile released
Source: GLOBE-Net
Jul. 14, 2010
Taking Stock Online, released today by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation, provides the latest integrated North American data and most comprehensive picture of industrial pollution across North America.
It documents reported releases and transfers of 5.7 billion kilograms of toxic pollutants in 2006 from industrial facilities in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
The North American picture is incomplete however, as a combination of national reporting exemptions for certain sectors and pollutants and incomplete reporting by some facilities reveal significant gaps in the portrait of how much pollution is generated and managed by North American industry.
Taking Stock Online, presents the latest integrated data set from North America's pollutant release and transfer registers (PRTRs) and features an integrated, multi-year database covering over 500 toxic substances and almost 100 major industrial sectors reporting to the PRTRs of Canada, Mexico and the United States.
The site also features new tools to assist in data analysis, including a tool to explore data on pollutants transferred across national borders.
The CEC's Taking Stock Online site is updated annually and allows users to:
- Explore information on industrial pollutant releases and transfers;
- Generate reports in a variety of formats including pie charts and spreadsheets;
- Create maps and view them using Google Earth;
- Analyze PRTR data with respect to other information such as watersheds, rivers and lakes, and population centers using geospatial data from the North American Environmental Atlas.
Different reporting requirements reveal gaps
Top industrial sectors reporting releases and transfers in North America included metal mining and activities related to the oil and gas extraction sector; fossil-fuel power plants; chemicals manufacturing; and primary metals manufacturing. Reporting requirements vary by country for some sectors and pollutants, revealing important gaps in the tracking of industrial pollution at a North American level-for example:
The oil and gas extraction sector is exempt from reporting under the US Toxics Release Inventory (TRI), as is hydrogen sulfide (the pollutant reported in largest proportions by this same sector in Canada). In Mexico, the reporting threshold for this pollutant is lower than in Canada and the United States, but zero hydrogen sulfide emissions were reported by the oil and gas extraction sector in 2006.
Some of the toxic pollutants reported in the greatest volume in Canada and the United States, such as carbon disulfide, zinc compounds, methanol, and hydrochloric acid, are exempt from the Mexican reporting system (RETC). As a result, once these pollutants are transferred across the border-for example when zinc is transferred from the United States to Mexico for disposal or recycling-they cannot be tracked.
Data for the public wastewater treatment sector offer a clear example of inconsistencies among national reporting requirements, and under-reporting: this sector accounted for 84% of all reported Canadian discharges to water in 2006; in the United States, the public wastewater treatment sector is exempt from TRI reporting; and in Mexico, although facilities discharging to national water bodies are required to report to RETC, very few wastewater treatment plants did so in 2006.
Progress is being made by governments to close these gaps-such as removing exemptions for sectors and adding substances subject to PRTR reporting.
For example, Canada's National Pollutant Release Inventory removed the exemption for disposal of mining tailings and waste rock, which should result in an increase in reporting by Canadian mines next year. Considering the data reported in 2006 by US metal mines, this step is potentially significant for better understanding industries' releases and handling of pollutants of particular concern.
Metal mines in the states of Alaska, Nevada, Utah and Arizona, for example, reported releases to land-often in waste piles or uncovered areas-of millions of kilograms of heavy metals including lead and mercury compounds, both of which are persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic pollutants.
Today's release of online PRTR data and analytical tools will be complemented with further analyses and information in the CEC's Taking Stock report to be released later this year. It will feature a special analysis of North American industrial pollutant releases to water, with a more detailed look at the sources and amounts as well as their potential impacts on the environment. Last year's Taking Stock report provided an in-depth look at pollutant reporting from North American's petroleum industry.
Paris challenge shows electric car's power
The electric Citroen Berlingo arrived in Paris after a 13,565 km journey that began in Shanghai two months ago.
Wed, Jul 14 2010 at 6:51 AM EST
EMMISSIONS-FREE: With European emissions rules tightening, many carmakers are pushing electric technology, and electric models from major carmakers are going on sale later this year. (Photo: jupiterimages)
PARIS – Driving into the chic Place Vendome in central Paris, lined with up market jewelers and exclusive hotels, a small orange van looked out of place on Tuesday evening amid the sleek luxury cars.
The Citroen Berlingo was remarkable not just for its diminutive size and striking color. It was arriving in the French capital after a journey of 13,565 km, that began in Shanghai two months ago. Powered by electric batteries.
The electric vehicle odyssey was masterminded by electric sports carmaker Venturi, which has a partnership with French carmaker PSA Peugeot Citroen to supply the rather more down-to-earth "Berlingo Electric First."
Venturi, based in the tiny principality of Monaco, famous for its lavish casinos, and the Grand Prix that sees sportscars racing through its winding streets, makes the futuristic Fetish electric sports car, which sells for $381,200.
The Shanghai-Paris trip was the brainchild of two teachers, Xavier Chevrin and Geraldine Gabin, looking for an unusual adventure, and one that would not rely on petrol.
Chevrin had already crossed Papua New Guinea from south to north on foot, and traveled from Santa Fe to Los Angeles on horseback.
Venturi agreed to provide the car, but CEO Gildo Pallanca Pastor was adamant the little van should make the trip alone, without a support car, to dispel some of the doubts about electric cars.
With European emissions rules tightening, many carmakers are pushing electric technology, and electric models from major carmakers are going on sale later this year in Europe.
But drivers are skeptical about the limited range of an electric car between charges, and worried they will find themselves stranded far from a power socket.
Chevrin and Gabin, who set off from Shanghai on May 3 and suffered just one flat tire during the trip, never found themselves stuck with nowhere to charge up, but found it trickier in Western China and Kazakhstan, Chevrin said.
Finding the right voltage for a quick, 6-7 hour charge was a challenge sometimes, he said. They paid for the electricity they used, and a full charge usually cost around three euros.
Although the car, which is powered by nickel sodium chloride batteries, could in theory cover up to 500 km on a single charge, the 400 km that the pair covered most days, on sometimes badly surfaced roads, "was more than enough," Chevrin said.
Their record was 430 kilometers between charges, as they entered the Gobi desert region.
The Berlingo the pair drove had an enhanced battery pack — the vans Venturi and Citroen are supplying to companies will have a range of 120 km.
Venturi and Citroen will supply 1,500 of the electric vehicles to various European companies for their fleets. France's La Poste has ordered 250 and deliveries will start at the end of August, Pallanca Pastor said.
Asked if the two groups might consider extending their partnership, Pallanca Pastor, who bought Venturi in 2001, said "it's very possible we could do something later … we have a partnership agreement that could be extended."
For the time being, increasing electric vehicle volumes is key, he said. "The more we move toward more significant volumes, the more we can offset our investments." Peugeot and Citroen are due to introduce the Peugeot iOn and Citroen C-Zero electric cars, both based on partner Mitsubishi's iMiEV to Europe later this year.
Venturi also has plans to show an electric vehicle destined for Antarctica at the Paris Auto Show later this year, and is also considering a presence in China.
The next big challenge for Venturi is in the United States — Pallanca Pastor, who raced for 12 years, and is himself a world speed record holder for driving on ice — is going for an electric vehicle speed record.
A Venturi electric vehicle will in August attempt to exceed 500 km per hour.
And Pallanca Pastor said there may be more adventures.
"The success of this epic journey makes us want to do something more."
10 of the smallest homes in the world
A truly 'eco' abode
Tumbleweed Houses
My Note –
I like this one and the concept –
although the one above is very, very cute.
– cricketdiane
Single Hauz
Like an inhabitable billboard, the Single Hauz – by Poland's front architects – proposes cantilevering domestic living space from a central mast. The house can then be installed above a variety of ground conditions, from the middle of a meadow to an urban core.
Personally… I'd put it in a lake.
[Images: The Single Hauz by front architects].
The cool thing is that I've actually spent the last 11 months of my life staring up at some of the Herculean billboard structures out here in Los Angeles; they tower over intersections on streets from Venice to Sepulveda and often seem as large as houses.
But how much weight could a billboard carry?
[Image: The Single Hauz by front architects].
Could you build a house up there?
Could you use the mast-and-cantilever model for other types of architectural structures, whether those are single-family houses – whole cul-de-sacs lined with modernist billboard homes! – or even restaurants and public libraries?
The Single Hauz shows how beautiful the effect could be.
[Image: The Single Hauz by front architects].
For more projects by front architects, check out their website (though I couldn't find any information in English).
(With huge thanks to a commenter named munditia, who first pointed out this project to me).
Posted Friday, August 24, 2007 • 35 comment(s)
From Tumbleweed Homes –
117 square feet
Ready made: $49,997 Build it yourself: $21,250
The Lusby
The Lusby is popular for its downstairs bedroom with extra loft sleeping above. The kitchen/main room has vaulted ceilings which make this tiny house feel much larger than it really is. The outside can be finished with board and baton siding, cedar plank (shown above) or corrugated aluminum (see Tarleton). The roof is covered with corrugated aluminum – and yes, you can hear the rain. The interior is completely finished in pine with stainless steel counters. The bathroom has a full shower, toilet and sink.
Living Room
The "living room" is shared with the kitchen, and is warmed by the stainless steel fireplace. The open ceiling above makes the space feel very roomy. The entry to the living room is flanked by two full size closets perfect for storing clothes.
The custom built kitchenette runs the length of the living room and features a sink, 2 burner stove top, and refrigerator. Below the sink, there is a small water heater.
Can I add a dishwasher or laundry to the kitchen?
The kitchen is too small to add any more appliances.
The main downstairs bedroom is a little less than 4′ wide. It is great for sleeping one person, but a tight fit for two people. The loft can also be used for sleeping and comfortably fits a queen sized mattress. Because the loft is open, a conventional mattress can be easily put inside. At its peak, the loft height is 3′-8″.
The Lusby is our only house on wheels that features a full bathroom with shower, toilet and hand sink. The small water heater allows one to take a warm 5 minute shower. The toilet is a low flush RV toilet designed to conserve water. You can easily substitute a composting toilet.
Efficient and Warm
The Lusby features a stainless steel fireplace which keeps this house warm in temperatures -35 F. Because of its small size, its 16R insulation is sufficient to keep this house warm in the harshest of climates of the continental US and Southern Canada. Heading north of Southern Canada? You can easily install a larger heater, or second heater. All four walls, the floor and the roof are insulated using polystyrene foam board which can withstand the rigors of road travel.
Can I add air conditioning?
Yes, a small ceiling a/c unit can be added to keep the house cool in any climate within the US.
This house is built on an 7′ x 18′ utility trailer. See spec sheet.
To learn more about utility trailers, read this…
Here is a list of stores that sell the trailer needed to build the Lusby.
Do I have to build it on a trailer?
Because of its tiny size, it doesn't meet the minimum size standards required for houses on a foundation. That said, it can be built as a shed (without a kitchen) on a foundation.
Learn more: Connecting to utilities, Purchasing a house, Building a house


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ORONO — Vendula Pribylova had two first-period goals and dished out three assists, Carly Jackson and Jillian Flynn combined for a 13-save shutout as the University of Maine women's hockey team cruised to its second straight 8-0 victory over Sacred Heart on Saturday.
The Black Bears (4-0) swept their second straight series after opening the season with a pair of wins over Quinnipiac last weekend.
Celine Tedenby had a goal and two assists for Maine, which got goals from seven players. Alyson Matteau and Ida Press each contributed two assists.
The Pioneers dropped to 2-2.
ST. JOSEPH'S 10, ALBERTUS MAGNUS 0: Brett Mattos had two goals and an assist and Jonathan Brackett and Jesse Ramirez added two goals apiece to help power the Monks (14-0, 10-0 Great Northeast Athletic) past the Falcons (4-5-4, 3-2-4) at New Haven, Connecticut.
Kuma Onyejose had a goal and two assists, and Ryan Buonaiuto, Rory Twomey and Thomas Hennessey also scored.
Blake Mullen and David Walbridge both saw time in goal for St. Joseph's, combining for four saves as the Monks recorded their seventh straight shutout.
UNE 3, NICHOLS 2: Colby Obrecht scored 1:45 into the second overtime period to send the Nor'easters (5-9, 2-3 CCC) past the Bison (10-4-1, 2-3-1) at Biddeford.
Flynn Willsea scored twice for UNE, putting the Nor'easters ahead 2-1 in the 54th minute before Gregory Giglio countered for Nichols just five minutes later.
Jonathan Ingram opened the scoring for Nichols in the fourth minute. Willsea answered in the 11th.
Nathan Delesdernier stopped nine shots for UNE.
BOWDOIN 1, HAMILTON 1: Moctar Niang scored the tying goal with an assist from Ryan Houseman in the 51st minute as the Polar Bears (7-3-1, 3-2-1 NESCAC) battled to a draw with the Colonels (7-5-1, 3-4-1) at Clinton, New York.
Chris Kingston stopped 12 shots for Bowdoin.
AMHERST 3, COLBY 0: Sebastian Derby scored 17:12 into the game, Fikayo Ajayi added a goal and an assist, and the Mammoths (7-3-1, 4-3-1 NESCAC) beat the Mules (5-5-2, 2-4-2) at Amherst, Massachusetts.
Ajayi scored in the 33rd minute, then set up Luke Nguyen in the 62nd.
USM 0, UMASS-DARTMOUTH 0: Charlie Mull had three saves for the Huskies (2-10-2, 1-4-1 Little East) and Jacob Castro was not challenged for the Corsairs (1-9-3, 1-3-3) as the teams settled for a scoreless tie at Dartmouth, Massachusetts.
ST. JOSEPH'S 1, JOHNSON & WALES 0: Haley DaGraca scored five minutes into overtime to lift the Monks (12-2, 9-2 GNAC) past the Wildcats (11-7-1, 8-3) at Providence, Rhode Island.
Adia Grogran made eight saves for the shutout as St. Joseph's recorded its fourth straight victory.
USM 1, UMASS-DARTMOUTH 0: Alexandria Allain scored from Emma Cost in the eighth minute, and the Huskies (11-3, 4-2 Little East) held on to beat the Corsairs (5-6-5, 2-2-3) at Gorham for their fourth straight win.
Taylor Canastra made two saves for Southern Maine.
UNE 5, NICHOLS 0: Caroline Wilson and Elizabeth Sullivan scored less than a minute apart late in the first half to set the Nor'easters (6-6-1, 4-1 Commonwealth Coast) on their way to a win over the Bison (3-10-1, 0-6) at Biddeford.
Peighton Barker, Erica Dimmick and Delaney Mullen each scored a second-half goal.
HAMILTON 2, BOWDOIN 0: Cat Gambino scored from Alex Fontana 1:44 into the game and the Colonels (6-3-3, 4-3-2 NESCAC) held on to beat the Polar Bears (5-5-2, 1-5-1) at Clinton, New York.
Fontana then set up Kayleigh Harris in the 36th minute.
Penny Rocchio had nine saves for Bowdoin.
AMHERST 3, COLBY 0: Kim Zhou scored in the 10th minute and the Mammoths (10-1-1, 6-1-1 NESCAC) went on to beat the Mules (4-6-1, 1-6-1) at Amherst, Massachusetts.
Navva Sedigh added a goal in the 73rd minute and Cassie Chin scored in the 89th.
Shannon Gray made nine saves for Colby.
USM 4, WESTFIELD STATE 1: Dorina Sirois scored twice in a span of 2:07 to cap a run of four unanswered second-half goals that pushed Southern Maine (7-7, 5-3 Little East) past the Owls (6-9, 4-5) at Gorham.
Westfield State's Collen Fellows scored the only goal of the first half.
Abbie Staples tied the game for Southern Maine with an unassisted goal 8:54 into the second and then set up Lili Kien on a give-and-go 3:53 later for the go-ahead goal.
Lindsay Pych needed to make just two saves for the Huskies.
ST. JOSEPH'S 7, JOHNSON & WALES 1: Libby Pomerleau scored three goals and Samantha Silva had two as the Monks (14-1, 6-0 GNAC) rolled to their sixth straight victory, defeating the Wildcats (3-10, 1-5) in Providence, Rhode Island.
Arianna Kahler contributed three assists for the Monks.
UNE 6, ROGER WILLIAMS 1: Kendra MacDonald scored three goals, Sydney Liptak added two, and the Nor'easters (8-7, 7-1 CCC) built a 5-0 halftime lead en route to a win over the Hawks (6-8, 3-5) at Biddeford.
Reanna Boulay also scored for UNE, while Kersey Boulay had three assists.
BOWDOIN 3, HAMILTON 2: Emma Stevens scored three times in the first half, putting the Polar Bears ahead for good at 26:21, and Bowdoin (10-2, 5-2 NESCAC) beat the Colonels (10-3, 6-3) at Utica, New York.
Stevens put the Polar Bears ahead 1:06 into the game with an assist from Manveer Sandhu. Hamilton tied it seven minutes later, but Stevens responded with a goal assisted by Abby Bashaw.
Michaela Giuttari scored at 17:14 into the first half for the Colonels to make it 2-2, but Stevens put in her go-ahead goal nine minutes later.
AMHERST 2, COLBY 1: Franny Daniels scored from Laura Schwartzman 4:02 into overtime to lift the Mammoths (8-4, 4-4 NESCAC) over the Mules (6-7, 2-7) at Amherst, Massachusetts.
Colby took a 1-0 lead at the 57:46 mark when Georgia Cassidy scored from Delaney Keithley, but Amherst tied it 10 minutes later on Schwartzman's unassisted goal.
Riley Whitmyer made 11 saves for the Mules.
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Little League: Some towns calling it quits for 2020, others are setting up summer alternatives
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You do your best for 18 years and then pack him up and off he goes to college. At home, you learn how to fit back into your own life which is still full, but now of course, minus one. After a few weeks, the drama wears off and friends stop asking how your child is doing and how you're doing, and you're left with a new normal that with time becomes, well, normal.
Of course, you're still a phone call, text or plane ride away and would give the shirt off your back if you needed to, assuming that by now with this extra free time you've culled the stretched out and dingy bras and these days only wear pretty ones.
You try to be cool and certainly you don't go posting about your child in college because surely, you're now over it and focusing on your other child or work or home or family or, heaven forbid, yourself even. Not to mention that no one is still waxing on about their child once he's moved out; instead they've confidently released theirs into the world, as you should have.
But you, you've got a soufflé in the oven, and you keep opening the door to check on it assuming it will still rise like you've planned. Funny thing with soufflés, though, they rise if you leave them alone. Preheat your oven, fold in your best ingredients, and turn your creation over to time without double and triple checking its progress, and you'll more often than not yield a beautiful result.
You had months to indulge yourself and your friends leading up to it all, with baccalaureate, graduation, last suppers and then the packing, road trip and dorm move in. The social media posts practically wrote themselves! And then, it's all done and whoosh! A light goes out and you are silent.
This isn't like taxes where you push and push to complete them and then drop them in the mail just before the deadline and now get to look forward to a refund coming back. You do get returns, but they aren't necessarily enormous, nor are they promised, but they do come and in unpredictable spurts.
So, you keep your texts to a minimum and try to schedule weekly Facetime chats to check in on him, and all is rolling along routinely. You get occasional updates on dorm life, roommates, how the food allowance is working out, and how classes are going. You've largely parked your helicopter, but it's there should you need to take it out for a spin.
Instinctively, you never miss a chance to keep mothering from afar peppering him with questions – did you get your flu shot yet? Since that class is difficult, why don't you go to tutoring? Do you have everything you need?
However, nothing floods you back to the height of mothering quite like the text, "I have a fever and I feel awful." You picture the doom roof is leaking and a dank 40 something degree drizzle is seeping in, there are no blankets and your child sits on the floor curled up in a ball, a sink full of dirty dishes nearby, with nothing to sip on and no one to care. That was earlier this month at 5:09 p.m., minus the roof leak and child curled up visual.
It is in these instances that the powerful on-a-mission-mother-mode returns full throttle. My boy was sick so instinctively I set up soup central in my dining room and polled three sets of Manhattan friends who would know where to get great chicken soup delivered. Stat. I got several good suggestions, but these places only made matzah ball or consommé. I pressed on to locate that bowl chock full of chicken breast and carrots and celery and noodles, the healer of the infirmed, its steam alone that cures what ails you.
I kept looking and calling and Googling and found a place which led me to a dead-end but then another place and another and we were there. The young girl on the phone was super nice and I told her I was calling from Georgia and my son was sick, hence the urgency. She sensed I needed some mothering too and ladled up a big dose for me and him. She was my stand in as the mama bear standing over the stove in a stained apron stirring porridge, and who knows, she might have even missed hers. She assured me this was good soup, really good. I trusted her.
I had to order online which I promptly did, getting him a quart of chicken noodle and two Ginger ales. This was 6:42 p.m. I included my number in the online order because my son sounded pitiful and besides, I wasn't leaving soup central until it was in his hands, so I might as well continue to be the point person. At 6:53 p.m. the soup delivery guy called me from the dorm lobby, and I called my son in turn who went down the elevator to get it.
At 6:58 p.m. I got his text, "thanks so much. very warm and comforting."
My work was done.
It was 16 minutes from order to door that the soup made it into his hands. $21.96 with tax and gratuity, a pittance for peace of mind. I felt soothed getting the call and now knowing he'd be able to hunker down with this quart of magic and sip Ginger ale.
Hale and hearty: that's him now and that's me. But let me let you in on something: it's the soup, too. I'd recommend this place in a New York minute. Same with getting to care for someone who needs me.
Like a mama bear, I will always deliver.
Family Game Night: Here is the Ultimate List of Games
My College Freshman Went To The ER: What This Mom Learned
College Care Packages: Best Places to Order
Susan Greco is an Atlanta native and mom of two teen boys, a college freshman and high school junior. A marketing and communications professional, Susan recently started her own blog, Hindsight, about life's choices and our connections with one another, which you can find at www.susangreco.blog. She loves cooking for friends, traveling, growing flowers and tomatoes, and considers it a great day if she's laughed out loud, had a really good cup of coffee or made time to go for a run. High energy, high hopes, and vivid details fill her up, and she adores playing around with words to paint the pictures she sees and wants to share.
She and her architect husband stay busy renovating their 160-year-old Victorian home in Decatur, Ga., where they live with their sons, dog and two orange tabbies. Follow Susan on Facebook and Instagram.


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Kleptocracy, from the Greek words "thief" and "government", is a term created in the XIX century in reference to the Spanish politic of that time. It became particularly popular in the second half of the successive century thanks to Mobutu Sese Seko, dictator of Zaire.
According to his biographer, Michela Wrong, it's almost unique that an African president did so little for the economy of his country starting from an enormous potential of natural resources. Actually, Mobutu did something: but for his own bank account, enriched to the detriment of public funds.
Carlos Hank González, a Mexican politician and business man between the Fifties and the Nineties, used to say: "a politician who is poor is a poor politician". If we take a look around, it seems that he had many acolytes. Not without reason, González's nickname was "the professor"…
Among his aware or unaware disciples there is Slobodan Milošević. He is more famous for the genocide of 8 thousand Muslims in Srebrenica, Bosnia, but he was remarkable also from the kleptocracy point of view. Western media say that he accumulated something like 11 billion dollars, embezzled from the treasury of a Serbia on the brink of collapse.
We remember the last days of Saddam Hussein, hidden in a hovel. But when he was in charge he used to live in very luxurious presidential palaces, while the economy of Iraq was very fragile for anybody else – except for the few oligarchs who managed oil and hydrocarbons.
Ferdinand Marcos did something more to lift the Philippines, kleptocracy and the population of the archipelago were increasing at a higher rate than economy, though, to have visible improvements. The next governments retrieved 648 million dollars from a patrimony of (stolen) billions. A part of it was used for the legendary shoes collection of Marcos' wife, Imelda.
Known for being eccentric, Idi Amin Dada ran Uganda for eight years without any logic. He resorted to kleptocracy even before becoming president, smuggling gold and ivory to get influence and power.
Like father like son, Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier followed the footsteps of his dad François "Papa Doc" to lead Haiti and his public finances without transparency (euphemism), also thanks to his control on the tobacco monopoly.
On top of the rank of kleptocracy we find Suharto, dictator of Indonesia. Transparency International, a NGO which study cases of corruption, estimates that Suharto, in his thirty years of domination, robbed something like 35 billion dollars to his own country. His wife, Madame Tien, was called "Tien percent", a wordplay about bribing percentages on domestic businesses.
Of course corruption is not an exclusive of dictatorship, like the examples we saw. Otherwise the news wouldn't be filled with scandals, on a daily basis: from Brazil (Lula and Dilma Rousseff) to South Korea (Park Geun-hye), from the United States (Halliburton and the Bush family for the rebuilding of Iraq) to Italy (a well-oiled system which involved any major Party).
We shouldn't be pessimistic about kleptocracy though. As the Macedonian writer Ljupka Cvetanova said, "there are honest politicians. They haven't won the elections yet".
If you like the articles you read, we ask you a little help to carry on the profession in which we believe. Beyond stereotypes, journalism can still offer an "essential service", when it's free from bonds. And we are convinced that we can count on you to all remain free: we from bosses, you from pop-ups which bother the reading. We like to imagine that it's like you're offering us the coffee we'll drink tomorrow morning to have the energy to keep writing, more, better and further from our borders. 🙂 Thank you ❤ P.S. We don't exclude, in the future, smaller and bigger rewards for our donors (but now we have to settle after the Covid-19 punch). Good luck to everyone.
Categories: Stereotype-in-English, Uncategorized


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Facilities Helpingnetworks in Dublin
Our facilities are located in the Centre of Dublin, located near transportation public and feature the following services:
- Room coworking with 11 posts equipped (optional portable)
- Meeting room with capacity 6 people.
- Tea/coffee room and dining table.
- WiFi.
- Projection equipment and multimedia classroom.
- Access to building common area.
- Printer and scanner.
- Possibility of courses/events in weekend.
You can visit us in 23 of Mountjoy Square, Dublin 1.


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This lively entertainment includes your favorite western songs, cowboy poetry, tall tails, Arizona history and more.
To top things off Dusty is quite the ham and loves to hang out with folks and do tricks.
When your group is ready for the best in western entertainment with this duo you'll
Be Happy In The Saddle.
From your mobile device tap this number to call me
This upcoming winter season of 2019/20 in Oldtown Scottsdale will be our 19th year.
Come join us every Saturday afternoon November through April - 1pm - 4pm.
Street shows have been enjoyed by people from all around the world.
Bring your camera's and a big YeeHaw!!!!
Be in the Rusty Spur Saloon by 3:30pm to
enjoy our weekly cameo appearance.
That's right
"A horse walks into a bar"
Plan to take plenty of pictures of your friends and family with Dusty
Dusty's tricks and so much more.
Copyright © 2019 The Singing Cowboy - All Rights Reserved.


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Introduction: Fishing Rod Hanging Storage Rack
I needed an economical way to get my fishing rods up off the floor. I saw this design elsewhere online and decided to try it. Mine is a bit different and more simple which equals more better! Only one cut for me and some basic measuring and you're done.
You can store 16 rods with this design.
You will need 2 2x4's whatever length you want and at least 16 J hooks for hanging pvc pipe. Buy the 10 pack contractor packs to save money. I used 2" because that's what the home center had.
Also need a tape measure
Some wood screws ( I used stinger style sheet rock screws because I have a bunch)
A Kreg pocket hole jig or another way to drill deep through the 4" side
A power drill
Some drill bits to match your screws
Teacher Notes
Teachers! Did you use this instructable in your classroom?
Add a Teacher Note to share how you incorporated it into your lesson.
Step 1: Decide on the Width of Your Rack
My rack is 48" wide. I cut an 8' interior 2x4 in half. It has 8 J-hooks on each board spaced 12" apart. There are 2 singles on each end and the rest are paired. I decided to mount them on the wide side of the board so I could get 2 screws in each J hook for a good strong mount and use pocket holes to get a usable mounting system to attach to the ceiling. If you don't have a Kreg pocket hole jig, you need one. I bought a cheaper branded set but it was pure junk. Kreg is well worth it.
Step 2: Drill Holes for Mounting
I used my pocket hole jig to drill mounting holes. I made more than I eventually used. I mounted the J hooks with stinger screws but any wood screw could be used.
Be sure to pre drill the holes for each end J hook to keep from splitting the board. Learned this the hard way. You can ore drill the others as well but that's why I like stinger screws...
Step 3: Mount to Your Ceiling
I used 1 1/2" pocket hole screws to mount to my garage ceiling, which ended up 48" apart. My super light rod just barely fits but it gets additional support by resting on the reel of another rod. As I said you can store up to 16 poles laid out this way. With a longer board or a tighter layout, you could get more hooks on it.
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That is a pretty nice set up. I'm looking at different set ups for myself and the family stash of rods and reels. I need room for 3 different sizes, 2 different styles and 3 different types. We really are only missing thumb casters and fly rods, lol


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The Word on the Water Floating Bookshop
Ask anyone what their favourite smell is, and 90% of the time they'll say it's old books. (For the other 10% it's either freshly baked bread or the aftershave of a long-dead but beloved relative.) Everyone loves old books, even people who've only managed half a Ben Elton paperback on holiday since 1999, like my mother. Who doesn't like rifling through a box of possible treasures, well-thumbed by untold readers before them? It has a whiff of that pre-digital charm that is so hard to come by nowadays.
So, imagine how tickled I was to find the Word on the Water, a floating bookshop that's popped up (bobbed up?) on London's waterways.
After drifting from bank to bank in Camden, Angel and Hackney, it's finally found a permanent mooring outside Paddington station. There's a wood-burning stove, a harem of
sea canal-faring moggies and a rooftop stage for alfresco poetry slams.
Of course, the stock is always changing, but there's a selection to float every boat, including children's fiction. I picked up a volume of letters from Evelyn Waugh and Geisha by Lesley Downer for a very reasonable £4.50.
The Word on the Water can now be found permanently moored outside Paddington underground station. They don't have a website, but more information and their opening hours can be found on their Facebook page and Twitter account.
Author: Emily Gibson
Emily is an urban adventurer, blogger and
glutton foodie on an epic quest to uncover the best things to eat, drink and do in London. She lives in East London and loves ceviche, cycling and magic shows. Lifelong nemeses include beetroot, beards and wine served in tumblers.


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A bleeding gum is our body's way to tell us that our current oral hygiene routine isn't coping with the bacteria under the gums. This can occur for many reasons, including old fillings that are a bacteria trap, crowded teeth that make it hard for you to clean, and medical conditions and medications.
In some cases there may be active gum disease that is causing irreversible damage. If left unchecked, teeth can feel 'loose' and eventually will be lost.
Perhaps more important than the dental effects, active gum disease can lead to more serious health concerns, including:
The great news is that you don't have to live with this problem. By having healthy gums that don't bleed gives us the best chance to keep our teeth functioning pain-free for life and reduces health complications.
We investigate all causes of gums bleeding, and offer tips to aid in your daily cleaning routine. Treatment may be required to get you back on track for good dental health and prevent this from recurring.
📍 Hawthorn & Richmond
⭐ Helping you discover your most beautiful smile
💎 30 years of collective experience
☎ For appointments 👇
43 Clifton St, Richmond VIC 3121
Contact No:
9428 2424
Trading Hours:
Monday to Friday: 8:00am to 5:00pm,
late nights appointments available
Saturday: 8:00am to 1:00pm
Copyright by Richmond Smiles Dental 2019. All rights reserved.


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The Gables of Blackfoot
Call (208) 785-2506Directions
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Gables Assisted Living & Memory Care serves all of Southeast Idaho and Northern Utah. We specialize in elderly care, serving individuals 65+


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Regular price
Orchira's black onyx and white pearl double sided earring studs. Designed with a large black onyx round bead and a smaller white cultured pearl, can be worn either way. A stunning modern interpretation of the classic Coco Chanel style of elegance. Just have a look at the model image, these earrings look so stylish!!


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Air hostess, maids, cops, nurse, students, teachers, secretaries. Women sexy at work
Explicit sex scenes with videos of hot chicks making love and pleasuring themselves. Hot ass ready to be taken. Wet pussy.
Additional fantaisies: mature, asians, blondes, redhead, threesome, bondage, pantyhose, secretaries, housewives, amateurs...
No nasty pop ups, no traps, no BS


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We care passionately about every customer we help
Linda Jones
Partner and Head of Family Law, Rugby
We care passionately about every customer we help
Linda Jones
Partner and Head of Family Law, Rugby
We pride ourselves on our close working relationships with our corporate customers
Alison McCormack
Partner and CEO
In my experience, this is perhaps the most important but very rarely asked question. The first question is almost always - how can we bring our baby home? This is not surprising, given that creating life through surrogacy, often in cases where parents have been advised that they cannot conceive naturally for medical reasons, is a dream come true. As soon as the baby is born, the immediate focus is on bringing the baby home and once the immigration hurdles have been passed the legalities of parenthood via surrogacy are somewhat overlooked.
Under English law, the surrogate mother is the legal parent, even if there is no genetic link to the child. If she is married, then her husband or civil partner is regarded the second parent of the child. Therefore, it is imperative that an application for a Parental Order is made so that you are recognised as the child's legal parents and have parental responsibility for your child. Parental responsibility means having all the rights, duties, powers, responsibilities which by law a parent has in order to make appropriate decisions in relation to the upbringing of a child, such as decisions in respect of education, medical treatment and religion.
A parental order application can be made by two applicants who are married, civil partners or living as partners in an enduring family relationship. In a recent Court decision, a single parent was refused an Order. The Court will then need to be satisfied with the following matters:
1. Your application is made within 6 months of your child being born. However, there has been a recent decision of the Court which suggests that this is no longer the case and you can still make an application after this time;
2. There is a genetic connection between at least one of you and the child;
3. The surrogate mother consents to you having a Parental Order and she understands the implications of you having an Order;
4. The surrogate has received payment for reasonable expenses only;
5. At the time of making the application, the child's home is with you and either or both of you are domicile in the UK.
If you would like to discuss your personal circumstances, please contact me.
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For the last several weeks, gun control has been the number one hot button issue the left has desperately been pushing, all due to the horrific shooting at a Parkland, Florida high school that left 17 people dead.
Time and time again we hear liberals demand strict gun laws and ignore the fact that a person bent on murdering innocent people or terrorizing citizens will find a way, regardless of whether or not guns are banned or "controlled."
A prime example of this is the serial bombings happening in Texas. The fifth of these package bombs exploded at a FedEx distribution center near San Antonio, Texas.
Here's what was in the bomb:
Trending: Parents Deliver 20-Yr-Old Anarchist To Pittsburg Police After Amazon Co-Worker ID's Him [VIDEO]
The Free Beacon is reporting:
Officials did not say if the latest incident was the work of what Austin police believe could be a serial bomber responsible for the four earlier devices that killed two people and injured four others.
The blast at the FedEx facility in Schertz, northeast of San Antonio, was the fifth in the state in the last 18 days. If it is linked to the others, it would be the first outside the Austin area and the first that involves a commercial parcel service.
"We are investigating it as being possibly related to our open investigation," FBI spokeswoman Michelle Lee told the Austin American-Statesman newspaper. "We can't know for sure until we have an opportunity to look at the evidence itself."
The package, filled with nails and metal shrapnel, exploded shortly after midnight local time at the facility, about 65 miles south of Austin, the San Antonio Fire Department said on Twitter.
The company described it as a FedEx Ground sorting facility. About 75 people were working at the facility at the time, fire officials said.
As if that isn't terrifying enough, officials are also investigating a
hazardous materials incident at an Austin FedEx facility, though at this time there's nothing concrete to connect it to the recent bombings.
The first three bombs were packages that were dropped off at homes located in residential neighborhoods in Austin. The fourth went off on Sunday evening on the city's west side. Authorities stated this particular device was detonated by a trip wire and was a much more advanced bomb than the previous ones.
This has led authorities to believe the individual or group involved in these incidents are highly trained in explosives.
One has to wonder where all the progressives are at right now, because they really should be holding rallies to demand making bombs be made illegal.
Bombs are the preferred method of mayhem in this case and as such they should be banned and bomb control laws passed. Right?
The bottom line here is that if someone really wants to do damage, they will find a way. The problem is human evil and until that becomes the focus of solutions to prevent these situations, nothing is going to change.


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A few items remaining from my collection. Not spectacular but maybe the item you fancied but "not at that price". As usual I am open to offers.
AICO extension tube set for Minolta/Sony A mount. 13mm, 21mm & 31mm. Used once or twice before I picked up a great Sony 100 macro. No box or paperwork. £15 delivered in the UK.
Minolta AF 35-70 f4 Macro. A great little lens still capable of putting newer lenses to shame. With lens hood and both caps. Clean glass with no fungus or scratches and very little dust. Great condition, smooth action and snappy aperture. Some minor scuffing as you might expect. No box or paperwork. £30 delivered in the UK with tracking.
Konica Minolta AF 17-35 f2.8-f4 D. Acquired from our very own DK. Worked well on my A99 and a good performer. With lens hood and both caps. Clean glass with no fungus or scratches and no dust I can see. Great condition with some minor marks on the hood. Smooth action and snappy aperture. No box or paperwork. Most going for around £180 on eBay. £120 delivered in the UK with insured tracking.
Sony Zeiss DT 16-80 f3.5-4.5. This was the workhorse on my A77 and a fairly decent lens. Boxed with all paperwork, pouch, lens hood and both caps. In great condition with clean glass, snappy aperture with a few scuffs on the hood. It does have the play in the extended lens barrel which many users reported, not sure if that puts anyone off. Seem to be going quite cheap on eBay at around £130. Will accept £100 delivered in the UK with insured tracking. For an extra £20 I'll include a genuine Sony/Zeiss 62mm circular polariser which I used on it.
But here's the grab a bucket deal. Buy all the above for £220 delivered in the UK with insured tracking (reduced from £285).
By all means reply on here, PM or email me (mgriach at yahoo.co.uk) if interested or even have a counter offer, I won't be offended. (I'm sure Barry will vouch for me )


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Discover Brazil
BRAZIL is a land of magnificent beaches, vast rain forests and fun-filled cities. It has an amazing variety of natural and cultural wonders. As the world's largest country in the tropics, the sights and sounds boggle the imagination. Indeed, what your mind conceives, you can experience in Brazil.
The islands of Fernando de Noronha, Itacare and even Ilha Grande and Ilha do Mel, the last two still unspoiled; the coastline is pristine and dotted like a diamond necklace along the emerald sea, and the colonial towns of Ouro Preto or Olinda are gems to explore and tour through their winding streets. Brasilia is the capital, modern and exciting; Salvador is colorful and widely known as the "Land of Happiness"; São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro — both cities are spectacular, exquisite to behold and absolutely unforgettable.
Among the popular sights the Iguassu Falls, which lie on the border of Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina, stands out and so does the
Brazilian Pantanal.
The Iguassu Falls are a masterpiece of nature's artistry, where rainbows dance through the mist of nearly 300 cascading waterfalls. The Pantantal is a wildlife sanctuary and home of the savannahs.
Whether you are romantic, adventurous, religious, outgoing… Brazil has it all. From ecology to gastronomy… you can go fishing in the Araguaia River, horseback-riding and bird-watching, in the Pantanal; observe the animals in their natural habitat in the Amazon; or simply relax in


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Jump to navigation
COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Advisory: Due to the potential risk of coronavirus (COVID-19) we ask that patients who are acutely ill or have a fever > 100.4 please refer to the CDC recommendations at cdc.gov. Click here for more information.
To All Patients: Please be assured we are taking every possible precaution for your safety. Considering spring is upon us, we encourage you to be vigilant with your regular medications. Additionally, we are continuing to administer allergy injections and biologics during normal injection times in order to minimize disruption of care. Beginning this week we are offering telemedicine services for return office visits, please call the office to find out more details.


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Bloomberg reported that Federal Reserve chairman Ben S. Bernanke called for maintaining accommodation even as the minutes of policy makers' June meeting showed them debating whether to stop bond buying by the Fed in 2013.
Bloomberg quoted Bernanke as saying, "Highly accommodative monetary policy for the foreseeable future is what's needed in the U.S. economy," Bernanke in response to a question after a speech in Cambridge, MA.
The article also said minutes of the June 18-19 gathering showing that about half of the 19 participants in the Federal Open Market Committee wanted to halt $85 billion in monthly bond purchases by year end.
To read the full Bloomberg article click here.
To read the FOMC minutes released July 10, 2013 click here.


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SMSF Audit Fee Schedule
Our fees are extremely competitive and based on the assets held by the fund.
We are flexible and can arrange a pricing model that best meets your business needs.
We will beat all quotes for volume engagements!
*The below fees are for funds prepared with accounting software packages (ie. BGL). *Additional charges will be incurred in instances of identified breaches of the SIS Act & in some instances occur on a time basis for complex issues.
Ready to find out more?
Contact us to discuss your audit requirements


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For Cisco Context services within CVP Call Studio, is there a way to access the lastUpdate date time for a POD? I do not see a field for it within the read pod container, nor within the raw JSON returned by the read POD or customer lookup elements. I see that it exists within the POD fieldsets, and that it can be accessed via JAVA from custom API or web apps, but I do not see any way to access it from within CVP Call Studio.
Anyone have any idea how to get this information? The idea is to look at the last customer interaction on an inbound call, and if that interaction is within the last hour, ask the customer if they are calling about that interaction (email/chat/voice, etc) and then prioritize the cal based on an existing interaction as well as pass the POD ID of that interaction to the agent for context information.
So for anyone who wants to know the answer, this is a bug in CVP Call Studio. There is a fix out for 11.5 and one coming for 11.6. The Date and Time of the POD will show up in the JSON and Element data.
Have fun everyone


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Certain investors, ordinarily those with impressive riches and experience, have prepared access to credit capital through training known as securities-backed lending. Regardless of whether through a private bank or another money-related establishment, securities-backed lending and credit extensions can be especially valuable for those participating in substantial buys every once in a while, for example, purchasing real estate properties or procuring private working organizations.
It contrasts with securities lending, in which a financier loans securities to dealers with the end goal of short-offering those stocks or different resources. Securities-upheld lending referred to likewise as securities-based lending rather utilizes the securities as the guarantee to secure credits to investors.
What Is a Securities-Backed Loan?
A securities-sponsored loan is a liability collateralized by an investor's portfolio of qualified securities, for example, stocks and bonds. The borrower funds securities into an account on which the bank has a lien, and the moneylender will regularly make accessible loan assets running from 50 percent to 95 percent of the securities' reasonable worth.
The correct sum relies on the particular fundamental resources in the portfolio and the level of enhancement. For instance, a loan broker may support all the more financing against a portfolio of U.S. Treasury notes than a portfolio that holds a solitary, concentrated stock position.
The Lending Process in real life
At the point when the borrower wishes to get to the loan assets, he or she composes a check against the credit extension or submits directions to wire assets to a ledger. As the estimation of the fundamental guarantee changes, the credit limit of the account vacillates, which may make it essential to fund extra security either as money or by saving different stocks and securities already excluded in the collateral.
The borrower can likewise reimburse a few, or the more significant part of an excellent credit adjust. If not done inside a specific timeframe known as a "cure period," which could go from two days up to 30 days, the loan broker will trade the securities that go about as collateral by offering them.
Qualified borrowers can incorporate people, joint investors, and revocable living trusts in which the trustee, trusted, and the recipient is indistinguishable. Contingent on the money related organization, lending can go from $100,000 to $5,000,000 or potentially more for high-total assets people. These lending have terms that are custom fitted to the borrower with short and halfway spans; five years is typical.
Advantages for Investors
Securities-sponsored lending has a few advantages. They can offer the borrower generously bring down financing costs and lessened risk concerning choices like an edge credit, in spite of the fact that regardless they contain more severe risk that different types of lending. Furthermore, they offer more prominent adaptability in reimbursement and give a cure period to meet requests for the extra guarantee. It contrasts with the instantaneousness necessity for paying back an edge loan.
The financing cost on a securities-sponsored credit is frequently given a premium over the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR).
This spread fluctuates be that as it may, commonly, the more significant an investor's portfolio esteem, the lower the loan fee. In specific cases, a moneylender may bring down the financing cost on a securities-backed credit if permitted to put a "wealth of alert" lien on an investor's land property or properties. It may likewise enable the investor to deduct the loan's enthusiasm on her assessment form. A few securities-sponsored credits likewise offer an interest just installment include.
The Risky Business of Securities-Backed Loans
Regardless of their points of interest, securities-sponsored lending accompanies certain risks. Indeed, even a steady organization with verifiable stock-value solidness can surrender to a troublesome financial condition and see its offer value tumble. Whenever value and settled wage markets perform ineffectively, which usually occurs in cycles, the market estimation of numerous benefits can hit levels already unfathomable.
Unless the borrower has a great deal of surplus liquidity outside of the securities backing the credit, or the securities backing the loan comprise altogether of benefits, for example, here and now U.S. Treasury charges, this can bring about the bank bringing in the investor's guarantee. It could trigger limited liquidation of the borrower's property at ugly costs. The borrower has now had the choice to purchase and hold detracted from him, and he doesn't have the decision of sitting tight for the market to recoup.
Another risk with securities-upheld lending is that the loan broker may never again feel great with particular security filling in as the guarantee. For instance, envision that you hold a vast square of stock in what was in the past a very much regarded organization, for example, Eastman Kodak. As digital cameras disintegrated the organization's benefits, the bank may have concluded that it would never again acknowledge Eastman Kodak as the guarantee.
You would have needed to either offer your Eastman Kodak shares and put the cash in something that was worthy for the moneylender's guarantee needs, or you would have expected to invest extra funding to the secured account that held your collateral to abstain from having your credit extension decreased or crossed out. To relieve different kinds of risk, securities-backed lending likewise has imperative confinement: The borrower can't utilize the cash to pay down edge liability or to put resources into different securities.


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Sharp MX-4110N Copier, MX4110N Full-Color Document System
The Sharp MX-4110N Copier assures to serve as a powerhouse performer at any workplace setting with its dynamic designing. This Sharp MX4110 Copier features a fantastic workflow mechanism that is versatile enough to serve as a multi-tasker and reduces the work-pressure to enhance productivity. The MX4110N Full-Color Document System nicely blends a touch-screen menu with advanced features to deliver a high-precision output that boasts of providing a real-time image preview with intuitive flick. The Sharp MX-4110N Copier has a huge display screen measuring 10.1" and a highly customizable home screen to perform excellent functions at a refined pace.
This powerful MFP is equipped with a front panel USB port as well as Gigabit Ethernet networking for easy and quick information transfer from network devices. It comes with integrated black-and-white fax and internet fax functionality. The MX4110N Color Document System ranks high on technology by using the latest Sharp OSA® Development Platform and second-generation micro-fine toner technology in its design.


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Considerations when choosing an aerial photographic supplier Deadlines to meet?
Businesses are constantly working towards deadlines, when aerial photography is used as a marketing tool for commercial property or organisations this is can play an important role in choosing the Aerial Photography Company to supply your images.
When sourcing a supplier for your aerial photographic needs you must ensure that you make your deadlines clear to the company. If an aerial photographic company has a large amount of work to complete and knows that it will be unable to provide the necessary service then they should advise you that they will be unlikely to meet the deadline.
One of the largest problems in the UK is the weather. The weather will not only affect the operation from an aviation perspective, but also and to a greater extent from a photographic perspective. This is the most likely reason for an aerial photographic company to miss a deadline! Although a supplier cant change the weather they must be able to react quickly, having full time professional pilots and their own aircraft is one way of achieving this.
The type of aerial photography required will also dictate the level of influence the weather has. For example oblique aerial photography of a large area will require good horizontal visibility, usually above 10 kilometres. However, if it is event aerial photography then the work will normally be completed providing the weather minima is above the pilots and aircrafts flying minima. Often large events will be over several days so the supplier should carefully select the day when the weather is at its best to enable the best event photography to be completed.
When a deadline is close it is of up most important to ensure good communication between the supplier and client. It may be possible for the client to accept photography in not perfect conditions, e.g. with cloud shadow. If this is the case then there will be more chance of the supplier meeting the deadline and more chance of a satisfied customer. Construction photography is one area where this maybe possible. The construction industry often uses progress photography to show a large developments taking shape and therefore the timing tends to be more important than perfect conditions/
Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com
Keith McGregor is a partner of Strawberrysoup, a web design agency with offices in Chichester and Bournemouth. Strawberrysoup specialise in creative web design, content managed websites, search engine optimisation, search engine marketing and graphic design
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Forklift Hire Swindon
Forklift hire Swindon services you can trust
With satisfied industrial customers in Swindon and throughout the SN1 area, Solution MHE is the ideal choice for any business looking to hire forklifts in Swindon and reap incredible savings!??Solution MHE?has been providing?forklift rental for over 17 years in areas like?Bristol,?Swindon,?Cheltenham,?Gloucester,?Stroud, Bath and Weston Super-Mare.
For companies who need to rent forklift trucks in Swindon and similar handling vehicles, Solution MHE boasts some of the most competitive rates available anywhere in the south-west. Whether you need your equipment for a short-term job or for an extended period, you won't find better forklift hire prices anywhere in Swindon.
We stock an extensive range of forklifts and handling vehicles for rental in Swindon and around, including electric, gas, and diesel models, both new and used.
We specialise in Narrow Aisle Forklifts – one of Europe's favourite brands for compact warehouse spaces.
Forklift Hire Swindon: Comprehensive forklift specialists
For businesses in Swindon, Chippenham and Oxford with an existing fleet of forklifts for hire, MHE also offers professional and convenient forklift maintenance, repair, and servicing, helping you keep your operation moving and minimise downtime. If you have an in-house mechanic, or one you prefer going to, we also offer spare parts for forklift trucks through sourcing, supply, and even manufacturing.
Our short-term forklifts for hire in Swindon are perfect for small businesses, as well as larger companies who have a sudden influx of work. We offer excellent rates on our full range of vehicles, as well as the flexibility to extend your rental period should the need arise midway through. If you need forklifts for rental in Swindon and similar vehicles for several years, then one of our long-term forklift rental packages will have you covered.
Aside from simply dropping off and picking up your handling vehicle, Solution MHE is able to offer a comprehensive array of services and support for businesses of any size and niche. From custom servicing and fleet management tools to operator training and much more, we'll be able to accommodate for all your forklift needs in a convenient and cost-effective manner.
Why hire?
There are many reasons why businesses choose to hire forklifts in Swindon rather than buy them outright. Rental carries no hefty, upfront costs, whether long-term or short term. There's greater flexibility, as rental provides businesses with a wide selection of models for different needs, which can be exchanged midway through any given project. When hiring forklifts, you'll never have to worry about maintenance, as this is the owner's responsibility. Finally, there are fewer health and safety concerns, as every rental company is required to maintain their vehicles, and abide by safety regulations.
If you're in need of a cheap, professional, and reliable forklift hire Swindon service and the SN1 area, call us now to see what we can do for you.?Solution MHE?is also the leading forklift sales provider in?Bristol,?Swindon,?Cheltenham,?Gloucester,?Stroud, Bath and Weston Super-Mare.


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I have two types of clients that present a challenge to me when it comes to social media. One is the client who is so intimidated by the use of social media sites that they come up with every excuse possible to avoid even examining whether they could be of use. The other is the client who sees creating a Facebook page or Twitter account as an end in itself. As if just being on these platforms will result in engagement. They want to be "there" without any thought to why or how.
In the first case, I encourage the organization to start by just exploring how other, similar organizations are using social media before examining how they might use these tools themselves. I urge them not to get anxious about what they should/should not be doing. Just listen and observe first. There's no risk involved and no huge rush to jump in. Those of us who are immersed in it every day forget that there is actually a lot to learn both technically and culturally when it comes to using social media. Move too fast and the uninitiated become overwhelmed and turned off quickly. Take it one step at a time.
Interestingly, the approach I take with the client at the other extreme is similar. I ask them to slow things down. Take a look at the big picture and appreciate what social media can do for your organization from a strategic point of view. How will you use these platforms to meet organizational goals? Why do you need a Facebook page? "Because everyone has one" is not a good answer. You need to set specific goals around what you are trying to achieve. Otherwise, you won't know if your engagement is successful.
Before dismissing social media or leaping in head first, take a look at some of these resources to inform your approach:
Things your organization should consider before social networking – An earlier post from this blog that promotes a thoughtful approach to social media planning.
Top 10 Business Social Media Pitfalls – A post on The Social Roadmap blog by Sam Fiorella that emphasizes the need for a social media plan and points out some common mistakes.
Conquering your fears of social media – a blog post by Todd Heim, an Internet marketing professional who counters many of the basic fears about getting started.
8 Reasons Not to Fear Social Media – A blog post by Aliza Sherman that points to some great resources that can help to reduce the anxiety of wading into social media.
Where do you fall on the social media anxiety scale? Are you quick to adopt every new social media tool that comes along or do you tend to agonize about experimenting to the point of avoidance and inaction?


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On Sept. 16, at about 5:30 pm, the New Mexico State Police investigated a fatal crash on Interstate 40 around mile-post 56, between Gallup and Grants.
The initial investigation indicated a 2013 Ford was traveling east on I-40. The rear passenger tire blew out on the vehicle causing it to enter the dirt embankment where it began to roll.
The female passenger, Michelle M Arnold, 51, of Grants, sustained fatal injuries, and was pronounced deceased on scene by the Office of the Medical Investigator.
The male driver, who will not be identified was 59, and also from Grants. He was airlifted from the scene with unknown injuries.
Alcohol does not appear to be a contributing factor in the crash and seatbelts were properly utilized.
The crash is still under investigation with no additional information currently available.


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Is Grey the New Black?Posted March 5, 2009 in Latest News & Insights
Todays Globe and Mail featured a story about the increased amount of grey hair on Barack Obama's head. 44 days into the job, and apparently the pressure is starting to show. According to the article, US President's age 2 years for every one in office. Such is the downside of high pressure leadership posts.
Now, most of us aren't dealing with challenges on the scale of a massive credit crisis, two wars or what to do about Guantanamo Bay, but with the current economic meltdown, many of us are dealing with our own form of pressure cooker.
Some stress and pressure is good. But excessive stress and pressure can put you into the danger zone of burnout.
The funny thing about pressure is that, when you really look closely at it, much of it is self inflicted. We pressure ourselves to live up to other people's standards, other people's definitions of success, or our own views of what we believe to be important.
I often hear leaders talk about what they "should" be doing and what they "have" to do and, when we explore it more closely, we find that the "shoulds" and the "have to's" are mostly self-inflicted beliefs.
Leadership is difficult at the best of times. During times like this, it can easily become unbearable. Don't make your job harder than it needs to be. Look closely at where you're feeling pressured and ask yourself how real the pressure is. Maybe the world isn't going to end afterall. what do you do to keep pressure in check? Share your tips.
Happy leading!


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Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) registration is for those 3, 4 and 5-year-old students participating in the CGS program. It meets at both class times on Wednesdays (3:45-5:00 PM and 5:45-7:00 PM) and also during the Mothers' Bible Study on Mondays from 8:45-10:15 AM.
This is a Montessori-based religious formation program for children ages 3, 4 and 5. It seeks to create and facilitate a sacred, "hands-on" space for the children called an atrium, in which both the children and their catechists can hear, ponder, and celebrate the essential mysteries of the Christian faith as revealed in the Scriptures and the Liturgy. It is limited to the first 10 children who register.
Year of the Eucharist (Grades 1-5)
This year, religious education for grades 1-5 will focus on developing a deeper understanding of what the Eucharist is, love for Christ who gives himself to us in the Eucharist, and a desire to receive him in the Eucharist.
Edge (Grade 6-7)
Edge is a Catholic middle school youth ministry program. It provides a safe fun place for youth to find solid Catholic community, to get answers to their questions about faith, and, most importantly, to experience Jesus in a profound and personal way. Edge resources speak to the physical, psychological, cognitive, relational, and spiritual maturation of middle school youth. Edge resources make it easier for youth ministers to plan out their semesters of Edge Night, retreats, and to train a team of adults, the Core Team, to assist them in the ministry. The resources present Catholic teaching in a way that young people can understand.
Lifeteen (Grade 8-12)
As a Eucharist-centered movement within the Roman Catholic Church, Life Teen leads teenagers and their families into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church. With the Blessed Virgin Mary as our intercessor and guide, Life Teen seeks to unleash the fullness of the Sacramental power present within the young Church.
First Sacraments
This year, first-grade students will begin preparing for First Communion by learning prayers at home with their parents. There are meetings to help parents facilitate this process along with a prayer booklet that will be handed out at the first meeting.
Those students in 2nd grade will be using a new program, BLESSED, by Dynamic Catholic. To better understand the curriculum, there will be several meetings that both the parents and children will attend. Call Jillian in the office if you have questions or concerns.


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Founder &
Managing Director
Karibu rafiki ~ Welcome friends
I am so pleased you have found us in your search for an African adventure and we are delighted at the opportunity of introducing you to the magic of East Africa. We understand that in your search, there are many options and tour operators to choose from. We pride ourselves on understanding your needs and providing you with personalized service. Our company philosophy is one of quality service and professional attention to each and every client. All Uisso team members are local Tanzanians and, as such, we can best introduce you to the magic and adventures in the beautiful country we grew up in - whether it's a mountain trek, exotic safari, local attraction or beach holiday on the magical beaches of the Indian Ocean. I encourage you to explore our various packages and then contact us with any questions you may have. This is your dream adventure and we want to ensure it's everything you want it to be, whether you are on a shoe string budget or looking for that luxury experience.
Why travel with us,
We pride ourselves in our personalized service. Our company philosophy is one of quality service and professional attention to each and every client
Value for money – whether you're on a budget or have chosen a premium package
100% customer satisfaction guaranteed
Trained and professional English-speaking guides
Exclusively Tanzanian, we believe no one knows Tanzania better than the Tanzanians
Many years of experience with an excellent reputation
Featured Tours
9 days
Tarangire National Park, Sereneti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara National Park
Our Mission
To offer our customers the best, most unforgettable travel experience
of their lives
Our Vision
To become the front-runner in the tourism sector, recognized for excellence among customers, partners and community.
We did a 6 day Kilimanjaro trek and a 2 day safari with Uisso Adventures and both were excellent!! Everything was well planned out, prices were fair, and our guides and crew were wonderful. Both were once in a lifetime experiences and we were thrilled with this local company- Thank you Mosses!
The 4WD-car did an excellent job too and had a lift-up rooftop to get a better overview. We saw a lot of animals, including big hoards of antilopes, hippos, crocodiles, cheetahs hunting and the BIG 5!!! The most amazing aspect were the lodges we stayed in overnight (Simba lodges) and still paid a reasonnable price for the whole trip! All of us enjoyed the trip to a maximum and felt very safe. 100% recommendation, even in green/rainy season!
6 Day Hiking Trip to Kilimanjaro Mountain - highly recommended with Uissos Adventures. Everything worked out perfectly. A big Thank you to Mosses for the organisation. We felt really safe with our guide Joseph - he's great. In total a once in a lifetime adventure!!
I can't thank you enough. The trip was everthing we wanted and more. I appreciate the time you spent helping us plan our itinerary. We managed to fit in everything we wanted to and really enjoyed the time in Zanzibar before we headed home. I would highly recommend Uisso Adventure to anyone that is looking for a well organized adventure.
Jannik Kinnaj
Robert O'Brien


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My husband got a free Crock-Pot from work so I decided to put it to good use and save time on cooking. Plus, I never done pulled pork so really was looking forward to making some myslef. I typically find that most barbeque sauces are either too sweet, too tangy or just lacking flavor so this time I ventured to do it all myslef and make it a low-carb and high-protein meal – Paleo Barbeque Pulled Pork Stew (GF).
Barbeque Sauce Ingredients:
- 2 large tomatoes
- 1 large onion
- 1 tbsp. celery seeds
- 1 tbsp. onion flakes
- 1 tbsp. garlic flakes
- 4 tbsp paprika
- 3 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp. ground mustard seed
- 2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
Stew Ingredients:
- 1 lb. low-sodium chicken broth
- 2.5 lb. pork roast shoulder
- 1 large cauliflower head, cut to floret
- 4 medium zucchini, sliced
Cooking Steps:
- Blend all spices and half of the chicken broth in a high speed blender.
- Place pork on the bottom of the crock-pot, layer cut cauliflower and sliced zucchini. Pore barbeque sauce and leftover broth over the meat and vegetables.
- Cover and cook in the Crock-Pot on high for 5 hours. You can also use Cast-Iron Dutch Oven. If you are using Cast-Iron Dutch Oven then first bring the stew to a boil then cover and cook on low for 5 hours.
- Enjoy!
Svetlana " Free2BFit360″