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I'm happy to present my interview with Ellie Eden. Her book Letting Evil In.
(blurb and excerpt below)
* * *
Hi Ellie, Thanks for stopping by to talk a little about your writing! Let's jump right in. Tell me a little about the characters and the conflict in Letting Evil In.
Letting Evil In is a romantic suspense novel partly based on real life and the chaos caused by internet affairs. I found it fascinating and frightening that a laptop is a wide open window into your home. All sorts of people can come creeping in–people you would never, ever normally encounter.
My heroine, Kristi, gets caught in the fallout of her husband's internet affair with Nara, a young Brazilian drug dealer. Kristi leads a happy life in the mostly safe suburbs of Livingston NJ. She loves her husband, Michael and their teenage son, and six-year-old twins.
Michael, the unfaithful husband, isn't quite as content. He spends the cold New Jersey winter in hot Brazilian chat rooms.
Nara, the Brazilian girl, who Michael goes to Rio to meet, is self centered, poverty-stricken but upbeat and gloriously wild. The guy she really fancies, Azul, the Harley-riding drug dealer with the cold blue wolf's eyes was fun to write about and definitely hot.
Kristi and her teenage son go to Rio in search of the vanished Michael and she turns to Tony, an Italian-Brazilian federal agent, for help. I fell in love with Tony, the sexy federal agent. He's the hero and every girl's dream, but is he too good to be true?
The ruthless drug lord, O Dentista, is someone I never want to meet. I would tell you here why he is called that but its too creepy. Lets keep the interview on a less nightmarish note!
Kristi's young son is kidnapped in Rio. She finds herself alone in a strange and dangerous city with no one she can trust. A great situation for a heroine to land in!
Where's the story set? How much influence did the setting have on the atmosphere/characters/development of the story?
Letting Evil In is set in Livingston, New Jersey and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I thought the contrast between the two cities and the contrast between the two main female characters would be fun to write and read about.
Rio is a marvelous place for a suspenseful book as it has awful slums, beautiful romantic beaches, wild rainforest, and even a spooky gothic cemetery. Once I saw the creepy mausoleums, I knew I had to include them in the plot.
Were your characters difficult to write, or did they seem to spring easily from your mind to the page?
For some weird reason it was easier to write about the bad guys. I really loved writing about Nara and her world. I loved her casual and quirky attitude to life. The other main characters slipped into their roles. I identified with Kristi as she feels let down and hurt by her unfaithful husband and starts to fall for the sexy and sweet Tony.
Tell us a little bit about the heroine and hero and the challenges threatening their love.
Kristi and Tony come from very different backgrounds. She has led a sheltered life in suburban Livingston, NJ. Tony is Italian-Brazilian and comes from an enormously wealthy, politically corrupt family in Brazil. Kristi does not want to fall for Tony and he certainly doesn't want the problems of falling for a beautiful American woman with children and an unfaithful and missing husband.
What are some of your favorite characteristics of a good alpha hero? Do you have one from a book or movie you particularly like?
I like the strong silent type. And I like him good-looking and well built. Also a caring man, someone thoughtful. And tough of course, you can rely on him in a scary situation. Its fun if the two people don't quite know what the other is thinking or wanting but the writer and reader can guess.
What are some of your favorite characteristics of a good heroine? Do you have one from a book or movie you particularly like?
I like a beautiful and determined heroine. It helps if she is somewhat rash and so gets into dangerous situations.
When did you begin writing and why?
I started writing in elementary school. I had this great story about a house where the four winds wailed. I wasn't sure about the rest of the plot. Just the winds wailing!
What is your writing process like?
I research a lot. I think it enriches the plot to add a lot of interesting background facts.
Do you enjoy research? Or is research a necessary evil?
I love research. Almost anything becomes interesting once you begin to research it.
Do you have a favorite genre? Is it the same genre you prefer to write?
Romantic suspense and thrillers. Also travel books about bad vacations.
Do you have a favorite author who introduced you to the genre?
Daphne du Maurier
What do readers have to look forward to in the future from Ellie Eden?
I've writing a Dystopian book and enjoying researching for that world.
Thanks again for stopping by, Ellie! Readers can discover more about Ellie Eden here:
Letting Evil In
Ellie Eden
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Length: Novel
Page Count: 368
Price: 4.99
Release Date: 4-18-2014
When Michael goes on a photographic assignment to Brazil and fails to return, Kristi and her son fly to Rio de Janeiro, desperate to find him. Instead she finds that during the cold New Jersey winter, her husband has spent his time in steamy chat rooms with Nara, a young woman desperate for attention and involved in the Rio drug world.
As she searches for Michael in exotic but crime-ridden Rio, Kristi finds herself way out of her league. She turns to Italian-Brazilian Federal Agent Tony Lamazzo for help. As the harsh truth of her marriage brings a dose of reality to her life, she finds the temptation of getting closer to the strong, capable—and totally hot—Tony difficult to resist. She's in Brazil on the Day of Dead, a day when Brazilians go wild. Why shouldn't she go wild with Tony, for just one night, before returning home to start the new life alone she'll have to learn to make for herself?
But when her son vanishes too, Kristi doesn't know where to turn. Michael's affair with drug-dealing Nara has exposed them all to the murderous wrath of a ruthless drug lord, and while she longs to trust Tony, she can't trust his powerful and politically corrupt family. But in the dangerous slums and rainforests of Brazil, the danger mounts for both Kristi and her son, and a cold-blooded enemy has an agenda of his own. If she trusts Tony, she might save her son. Or it might just get them all killed…
Buy Letting Evil In here:
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An Excerpt from Letting Evil In
Chapter Two
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
16th October
Hips swaying, Nara made her way along the oceanfront mosaic pavement. The Girl from Ipanema, that's who she was. Tall and tanned and young and lovely—and with some bombshell news. She couldn't wait to see Lucina's face when she dropped it on her. Her friend would be envious out of her mind. Right in the middle of the pavement, she did a happy twirl.
"Hey! How's it going, kitten!" A muscled guy in a low-rider swimsuit jumped out of the way and grinned at her.
Nara giggled. She loved it here, down by the ocean. The sea sparkling. The palms swaying. And the people so beautiful. Ipanema was the best. She and Lucina were headed for Posto 9 where the cool, beautiful people hung out. As long as you had a cute bikini, no one knew if you were filthy rich or dirt poor. You could fake being anyone on the beach. The better you looked, the better you could fake it.
She walked closer to Lucina and lowered her voice. "Hey, check out that guy behind us."
Lucina half turned. "Yeah. Cute. Works out at Muscle Beach, I've seen him before. Why?"
"He's following us." Flicking her long hair, Nara looked back and smiled sweetly. Muscle Beach Guy grinned and walked faster to catch up. Nara waited until he almost reached them and then gave him the finger.
Muscle Beach Guy slowed down a beat.
Nara giggled. "He thought he had it made there for one bright minute."
"You're one mean bitch." Lucina giggled too.
"You got it! Guys like that just want one thing." Nara said.
They hopped over the hot sand and lay down, sharing Lucina's sarong. Nara hugged herself in anticipation. Lucina would just die when she heard her news. This morning she'd checked her email at the youth center, and her dreams were about to come true. Putting her nose right up to her friend's nose she announced, "The American's come to visit me!"
"There's no way!" Lucina looked wide-eyed at her friend.
"He's here! In a hotel at Copa!"
"How old is he?"
"If only. I bet he's forty. And married."
Nara glared at her friend. "He's not. He's twenty-five and divorced. And a hunk. He sent me a photo."
"Bet he sent an old picture. Bet he's fat. All Americans get fat."
"Can you imagine? When are you going to meet with him? What are you going to wear?"
Nara frowned. Lucina was reading her mind. She was meeting the American tomorrow and she had nothing sexy to wear. She had to look good.
She scanned the beach. Marcelo should be here soon. She couldn't wait to tell him about the American. Her thirteen-year-old brother would be so excited. Little Mosquito. She'd named him that when he was two years old because he was always buzzing around her, so cute with his skinny legs and bare bottom.
"Where you going to say you live?" Lucina asked.
Nara winced. Since her mother kicked her out four nights ago, she'd been sleeping in the piss-damp alley behind the voodoo store. There was no way she could go back home, her mom's new boyfriend was always drunk and on the make. "Maybe I'll say I'm a college student."
Lucina nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah. And your mom and dad live in Sao Paulo."
"Yeah. And they're very strict."
Lucina began to giggle. "Religious! Yeah!"
Nara nodded seriously. That was good. That would make the American respect her. Maybe he would even marry her. And then he could adopt Marcelo. And they'd all go and live in sunny, filled-with-money California.
She tried to plan it all. Who would have guessed when she joined that Brazil Singles chat room she would link up with an American? Who could have imagined he would come to Rio! This absolutely had to work. She had to look her best. She was pretty with her long dark hair, latte-colored skin and slightly slanted hazel eyes. Very pretty. Lots of guys told her that. Plus she had the smallest, cutest waist and curvy butt. Men only like young women and already she was eighteen, so right now was her once-in-a-lifetime chance to get to America, the land of dreams come true.
A rich smell of grilling steak wafted over from the street stalls. She jumped up. "Let's go find Marcelo and score something to eat."
They dodged the tanned bodies and beach umbrellas and started down Avenida Atlantica. Arms swinging at her sides, Nara grabbed an orange from a street vendor's stall. A black Harley with two riders roared up alongside them and came to a halt, engine revving.
"It's Marcelo!" Lucina squealed. She gave Nara's arm a hard squeeze.
Nara winced. "What?"
"Shut up," Lucina whispered. "Who's the guy with him?"
Nara took a close look. The guy with Marcelo had the right look—tight black T-shirt, tight black jeans, and a leather jacket—and he had the bluest eyes she'd ever seen. Blue, blue wolf's eyes, cold and wary, watching. Sexy as hell.
Marcelo jumped off the bike. "Thanks, man."
Revving loudly, the blue-eyed biker looked Nara and Lucina up and down. Then he grinned slowly and rode off in a cloud of exhaust fumes.
"Ooh," Lucina said. "I'm just going to die right now out of passion and love. Did you see him?"
Nara nodded. She'd seen him, and he was smoldering hot.
"Did you see the skull on his Harley handlebars?" Lucina clapped her hands. "Glowing eyes. Cool, huh? So little Mosquito, who's your friend?"
"Sergio. But they call him Azul. 'Cause his eyes are so blue, yeah?" Marcelo lowered his voice. "He's a banger for O Dentista."
Nara's eyes widened. She'd heard of O Dentista, a big time drug lord who pulled out the teeth before he chain sawed off the heads.
"Look what Azul gave me." With a move of his wrist, Marcelo flicked a six-inch switchblade open and shut. "How do you like it?" He stabbed at Lucina's bare belly.
Lucina shrieked and jumped back.
Marcelo roared with laughter. "It's fly, huh? Azul's going to let me do a delivery for him."
Nara frowned. "Drug runners end up dead. You don't want to do that."
"Sure I'll do it. For fifty reais I'd do anything."
"You got it. For half your fifty reais I'll help you." Paulo, a Rastafarian-looking teen, swaggered up. Marcelo spun the open knife, his hand just missing the sharp blade. Nara winced. Around Paulo, Marcelo always played the cool guy. Paulo was tough, like a stray dog ready to bite if you looked weak. Lots of the favela kids were like that. She wished Marcelo lived somewhere safe. Her little brother was the only person she cared about.
"Hey, Little Mosquito, you won't believe it. The American's right here in Rio." Nara beamed at the astonished look on Marcelo's face. "I'm meeting him tomorrow."
Marcelo grinned. "No way. Hey, we can sell coke to the American. He'll love a Columbian snow bomb."
Lucina ruffled Marcelo's jagged hair. "I want to meet that hot Azul guy."
Nara snorted. "Get serious." She turned to Marcelo. "Did Azul give you any coke to move?"
Marcelo shook his head. "Maybe next time."
Nara looked thoughtful. "If he gives you some, I'll help." There were only two ways she could make money. One was to find a rich guy. The other was to deal drugs. Could be she was about to do both. She had a happy feeling her whole life was about to change. But first she had one more thing to do. She had to make sure of the American's love. She needed a love potion. It would be hard to get money to pay for it, but it would be worth it.
* * *
Mother Isadora's Voodoo Store was in the basement of a crumbling tenement building at the entrance to Rocinha favela. Nara found the hot, musty smell of the building familiar and comforting; she'd slept there in the alley many times when her mother kicked her out of the house. She loved the store's dark corners and shelves filled with shimmering little bottles, the devil dolls with their empty eyes, the spooky white skulls, and the painted statues of the saints.
From the room inside, the dark room where Mother Isadora cast her spells and called up the magic of the invisibles, she could hear a woman sobbing and the murmur of Mother Isadora's soothing voice. She checked out the stuff on the shelves. She needed a powerful love potion. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. A real live American. Better to be safe than sorry.
She picked up a flower-patterned sachet with a fascinating name: Love-me-long Powder. Yes, she'd try some of that. And another sachet labeled Lilith Feminine Power—Assert Your Power in Matters of Love and Sex. She'd take them both. A Chase-me, no-more-rivalbracelet was tempting too. The tag promised that it worked extremely fast. Longingly she fingered the yellow and black beads.
Mother Isadora came in, so beautiful, so tall and slender, dressed in a filmy, long white dress and smiling her sweet, calm smile. "Nara. I haven't seen you for a while. What can I help you with, my child?"
Nara cleared her throat nervously. Mother Isadora always affected her like that. "I want to buy these love potions."
The priestess looked at the sachets and raised her eyebrows. "You seem very nervous, my child. Is this something that is important to you?"
Nara nodded. "It is my whole future, Mother Isadora."
The priestess nodded. "I can say a powerful prayer for you. Would you like that?"
Nara blushed. "I don't have much money for an offering, Mother Isadora."
"I will accept a ten reais offering. The prayer and the sachets."
It would be worth it, Nara thought. Totally worth it. She nodded her agreement.
Mother Isadora led the way into a darkened room. Nara looked around, wide eyed. She'd never been into this inner sanctum before. Statues of the invisibles surrounded her. On a red velvet altar, red candles flickered, and wisps of blue smoke and the sweet smell of incense and herbs filled the room.
"I will say a prayer to Pomba Gira, the protector of women. That's her statue over there." Mother Isadora pointed to the small statue of a beautiful gypsy-looking woman dressed in a flared red dress. Pomba Gira's eyebrows were arched and she smiled devilishly.
Chanting softly, Mother Isadora arranged red roses, fully blown but still beautiful. "Pomba Gira loves roses," she said. "She is a goddess for the independent women of today. Women who do not rely on men. Women who choose their own lovers. Women who work for their own financial security and do as they please."
Nervously, Nora nodded again. She wasn't sure where this was all going. Actually, she didn't want to work. She wanted to marry the wealthy American and never, ever work again. Maybe this Pomba Gira was the wrong goddess for her. But she didn't dare interrupt Mother Isadora who seemed to be on a roll. The thick smoke made her dizzy and the room spun slowly.
"Who is this man you wish?" Mother Isadora asked.
"An American," Nara whispered. "He's an American."
Mother Isadora nodded. She thought for a minute and then lifted up her hands and began to chant: "Hear me, my queen Pomba Gira Maria Padilha of the Seven Crossroads, Mistress of the Night. Go wherever the American is. Don't let him rest, don't let him be cheerful, don't let him feel pleasure, until he talks to your faithful servant, Nara."
Nara was amazed, delighted, at the prayer. Head bent, she murmured in agreement.
"Hear me, Pomba Gira," Mother Isadora said. "I ask you to bring this American to your servant, Nara. Move air. Transform fire. Move air. Transform fire. The wheel turns. The wheel turns. It brings the American to your servant, Nara. He won't desire another woman. He will be happy only at Nara's side. He will ask her to never let him go. He will want Nara and will not stop thinking about her. It is and it will be."
Nara kept her head bent. It sounded good. Very good.
"Hail Pomba Gira," Mother Isadora continued, her voice growing louder. "Hail Seven Skirts. Defender of women. My kind and glorious princess, know your strength and your power. I ask the following: I ask that this man's body burn with desire for your servant, Nara. He will be blind for other women; they will not give him pleasure. Your servant, Nara, is the only one who will have this power. Hail Pomba Gira, I know you are already blowing Nara's name into the American's ears and he will not eat, sleep, or do anything unless he is with her. We trust the power of the Seven Crossroads and will continue spreading this powerful prayer. Like this it is, so it will be."
Mother Isadora took a deep breath. The very candles seemed to shudder. Nara could almost feel the goddess in the room. Wow! What a prayer. That was totally worth ten reais. The American would be hers.
"If the goddess grants your desire, make sure you reward her." Mother Isadora said. "Wear red in her honor. Keep a red rose in your room. Never, never make her mad or neglect her. This is a powerful goddess. See Pomba Gira's one hand is up bestowing her favor, and the other is down, denying it." Mother Isadora gave a low chuckle. "My child, if this man treats you badly make sure you come and tell me. See the switchblade in Pomba Gira's high-heeled shoe? The goddess is the switchblade sister who will defend you."
Nara nodded, her head spinning triumphantly. "Thank you Mother Isadora. Thank you."
As she walked out into the urine-smelling street, she could feel the aura of the goddess protecting her. Almost, she could swear, she could smell red roses.
* * *
Brimming with anticipation, Nara strolled into the hotel lobby. The Copacabana Rio Palace was cool, right on Avenida Atlantica overlooking Copacabana Beach. She checked out her reflection in the gleaming mirrors and reassured herself she looked hot. With the help of Lucina's clothes, she'd put together a sexy college-girl look; cut off denim shorts, a tight striped white and blue T-shirt, and high-heeled sandals. She couldn't wait for the American to appear.
In the mirror, she noted the concierge watching her. She didn't like the way he looked at her as though she had no right to be there. As though she had done something wrong, or was about to. Maybe he could tell she'd spent the night under cardboard in the alley. She was tempted to give him the finger but decided probably better not. As nonchalantly as possible, she sat down on a leather sofa near the door.
The elevator door opened and the American came out. She recognized him immediately from his photo. He was older than she thought he'd be, more like thirty-five, but tall and fit. She liked the way his blond hair fell over one eye. He wore designer jeans and had a thin leather jacket slung over his shoulder. He carried a black backpack and a leather camera case. He looked wealthy. And sophisticated. She tried not to look too excited though she felt like jumping up and down. He hurried over to her, smiling boyishly.
"Nara! I'm here. You're here. I can't believe it." He looked her up and down and kissed her cheek. She stood self-consciously waiting for him to tell her she was beautiful, but he didn't.
When he opened the door to the suite, she tried not to look impressed. Everything was so pretty, the blue and cream flowered quilt, the paintings of palm trees, and the view of the ocean. Suddenly she felt sick.
"So. How was the flight?" She fidgeted with her T-shirt. Did her clothes look right?
"OK. Long." He looked tense. "The plane food was awful. Shall we get something from room service?"
"Sure." She was hungry, as usual, so room service sounded great. Michael ordered two cheeseburgers and two beers. They ate in silence. She caught herself gulping her food and tried to chew slowly. She wished he'd bought a few more beers. She could hardly swallow.
"I absolutely have to have a shower. I never realized Brazil was so hot." He picked up his backpack and made his way to the bathroom.
She sat on the edge of the bed biting her nails. Why had he taken his backpack into the bathroom with him? Maybe he thought she was going to steal his stuff. She picked up the New York newspaper he'd left on the bed and looked at the advertisements of beautiful girls wearing great gear. When she got to America, maybe she could be a model like that.
Michael came out of the shower wearing only a white towel wrapped around his waist. Her first thought was he could use a tan. But if he was pale because he spent so much time working and making money, that was probably a good thing. Everyone in Rio had tans, but not too many had money like Michael.
"Want to shower?"
She wasn't sure how to take that either. Did he think she smelled sweaty? Closing the bathroom door, she took off her clothes and sniffed under her arms. She thought she smelled fine, but just in case, she smoothed on some Brazilian nut lotion from a fancy little bottle on the vanity counter. She admired her reflection in the wall-to-wall mirror. It looked so cool the way she was tanned all over except for the paler skin where her bikini had been. Yeah, she looked good enough to eat, smooth skin all shaved and waxed, a really thorough Brazilian wax job, done rather roughly by Lucina. Agonizing at the time, but worth it. She wrapped a fluffy white towel around her body. She wished Lucina could see her now.
Michael was sitting on the bed typing away on his computer. He slammed down the cover and smiled. "Come over here."
A rush of jealousy ripped through her. He couldn't even wait for her to shower without emailing someone. Who? "Are you emailing home?"
"Yeah. Just letting my work know I've arrived."
I bet, she thought. What if he had a girlfriend at home? He said he was divorced. But maybe he was still in touch with his ex-wife. Never mind, she told herself. Make sure he has such a good time he never wants to see the bitch again.
Smiling sideways, she slid between the cool sheets. Her heart raced. Michael kissed her gently and stroked her. Then he kissed her harder and stroked her some more. But there was a problem—his pica wasn't hard. Why didn't he find her sexy?
He moved away. "I don't know what's wrong with me. This has never happened before."
"Maybe you're tired."
"Yeah. Jet lag. I guess it's jet lag."
She tried to look understanding. She'd never known a tourist with jet lag like that before. Particularly on a first date. Michael downed a bottle of beer from the bar fridge, and then he fell fast asleep.
Miserable, she lay there. If there was one thing she knew, it was that she'd never get this guy to take her to the U.S. if she couldn't even get him to fuck her. Moving over to the far end of the bed, she touched herself forlornly. She felt soft, silky, smooth. Why didn't Michael think so? She pictured that hot guy on the Harley coming burning up into the hotel and into the room. What was his name again? Azul. Yeah that was right. The guy with the blue, blue eyes. And the expression of a wolf. Ooh, yes. And the hard body. Azul wouldn't have all sorts of hang-ups in bed. Azul would think she was soft, silky, smooth. He'd be right down there into it. It would be wild. His body, her body. Azul coming into her again and again. She stroked herself faster. Fuck, it was Friday night. She wasn't going to just lie here, playing with herself. Quietly she slid out of bed and pulled on her clothes.
Michael opened his eyes as she was slipping on her sandals. "Where you going?"
"To get some smokes. I'll be back soon."
On the street, Samba music drifted down from an overhead balcony and her step quickened to the rhythm. Like some sort of wish come true, a motorbike revved up behind her. She whirled around to see Azul, all leather jacket, tight jeans, and blue, blue eyes grinning at her. "Yo, baby. Want to go for a ride."
"Let's do it." Hopping up on the seat behind him, she wrapped her arms around his waist. As the bike headed into the tunnel, she pressed against Azul's hard back and took a deep breath of the leather jacket. He smelled so good, like leather and sweat. The roar of the engine vibrated through her, and she clenched her thighs tight against his body. She could feel his ripped abs under her hands. The dark in the tunnel whirled by on either side. Unexpectedly, Azul grabbed her hand and pressed it down on his groin. Momentarily losing her balance, she grabbed at it. The bulge down there felt hard too.
"Easy," he said. "It's all yours baby."
They roared up a winding road to a small high-rise building. For a moment Nara hesitated. She should tell him she had to go back. Michael would start wondering what had happened to her. But hey, she was really having fun. And Azul was the guy who knew O Dentista, the big boss guy, and could get all the coke. Maybe she could persuade him to make her a dealer.
She followed him into his apartment, stepping over clothes and beer cans, and looked around eagerly. His place was cool, with a big caramel-colored sofa and a huge TV screen only someone dealing loads of coke could afford. Azul headed for the kitchen and came back with a beer in one hand and a rolled joint in the other. She could see the gun tucked into the waistband of his jeans. Oh, fuck. How hot was that? Sitting down on the sofa, she took a deep draw of the joint, coughed, and then gulped the cold beer.
"Hey, save some for me." He pressed his lips up to hers, and she giggled as the cold beer trickled from her mouth to his. Then his hands ran over her body, and she gasped in pleasure as he pinched her nipples hard. Eyes closed, she let him push her back on the bed and wiggled as he pulled down her shorts. Lifting her legs and separating them, he licked her and then turned her over. With his body curved around hers from behind, he stroked her until she was writhing in sensation. Then he rammed into her. Thrills ripped through her. This was just like she'd imagined it. If Michael was wondering where she was, well she didn't care.


text:
Avatar debuts new song!
Another new song has surfaced from Avatar's upcoming Feathers & Flesh LP!
The LP comes out on May 13, and can be pre-ordered through their official website. They just premiered, "The Eagle Has Landed" through Revolver Magazine, and you can check it out below.
Don't forget too that you can very soon see Avatar liveo n tour with Wilson and Sunflower Dead. The tour begins on May 2, just after the band performs at Fort Rock and Welcome To Rockville!
Further information can be found here! Be sure to check it out!
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What's this?
These are just some of the happenings in the music world. There will always be something that Immortal Music did not cover, but here are just some events.
April 2020

subset: commoncrawl


text:
County clerks are making it their top priority in 2019 to encourage Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the state Legislature to double the reimbursement rate given to county-run departments of motor vehicle offices.
The state's payment of 12.7 percent of DMV costs to counties hasn't changed since 1999, and the state Association of County Clerks said it will push hard during the next legislative session for an increase to 25 percent reimbursement.
Clerks say processing enhanced driver's licenses and the federal government's new Real ID requirement, which calls for customers to provide additional documents that must be scanned by DMV employees, makes a reimbursement hike imperative.
"All (clerks) want to do is break even. We think it's a very legitimate ask," said Oswego County Clerk Mike Backus, who is also co-chairman of the association's legislative committee. "We're doing much more at the point of sale than in years past."
Backus said Oswego County's DMV is unusual because it makes money. That clerk's office has contracts with car dealerships in outlying counties to process vehicle registrations, which brings in about $2 million a year.
But Backus said most county DMVs are like Rensselaer County, which saw revenue drop in October from about $115,000, to $92,000. Overall, the clerk's office is down more than $100,000 in revenue this year, much of which is due to the DMV spending more time serving fewer clients, said Greg DeJulio, Rensselaer County deputy clerk.
In Albany County, the DMV is directly run by the state, so it does not have to worry about the county reimbursement rate.
Dutchess County Clerk Bradford Kendall said his DMV's workload has increased 27 percent, and that county legislature has approved hiring three more DMV employees. Also, "between increased volume and increased complexity, wait times have increased," Kendall said.
Rensselaer County Clerk Frank Merola said customers doing online transactions directly with the state siphons money away from local DMVs. But now more staff time is needed to process enhanced driver's licenses and Real IDs, the new federal requirement that makes identification stricter and more secure.
By October 2020, all U.S. citizens will have to have a driver's license meeting so-called Real ID standards in order to board an airplane.
The requirements call for a person to provide records that show a Social Security Number, as well as provide an original birth certificate, and a marriage license or divorce record that proves name change.
While providing documentation for a simple driver's license renewal is new, the cost is no different for a license with Real ID standards, which is $12.
However, many opt for getting an enhanced driver's license from New York state, which has the same documentation requirements as Real ID, but costs $30 more, or $42.50. The enhanced license allows people to cross the border on land or sea in Canada, Mexico and some Caribbean nations without needing a passport.
To run through a scenario of what documents you need if getting a new or renewed driver's license, go to dmv.ny.gov/which-id-right-me.
The Real ID was a federal requirement passed in 2005 based on a recommendation by the 9/11 Commission to strengthen U.S. borders. New driver's licenses will have to be issued under the new Real ID standard if one wants to board an airplane domestically after October 2020. The Real ID and enhanced driver's licenses require the same proofs of identification, like a marriage certificate, original birth certificate and Social Security card. But New York's enhanced driver's license is $30 more, and allows a person to travel by car or boat between Mexico, Canada and some Caribbean nations without needing a passport.
The difficulty for DMV staff has been in explaining to frustrated customers that they need to prove their identities again and return with documents —even though they've had a driver's license for decades. The staff then have to scan in all the records while the customer waits.
The reduction in Rensselaer County's clerk revenue, which has also been compounded by less money coming in from real estate transactions, recently caused the the clerk's office to stop providing online access for free. It now costs $10 a day if you want to do research with the Rensselaer clerk's office remotely.
"(The DMV) is the worst I've ever seen it in 30 years," Merola said. "On top of it we don't get the money we need to do the job."
Legislation to increase the state's share of county DMV costs has only been approved in years past by a Republican-controlled state Senate. And now the entire Legislature is Democrat-controlled.
Morris Peters with the state Division of the Budget said he couldn't comment on the clerks' DMV demands because it's too early to know what specifically will be Gov. Andrew Cuomo's 2019 spending plan, which will be released sometime in January.
Schenectady County Clerk John Woodward said he believes that many of the legislators from New York City — where the DMV is directly run by the state — do not understand financial and other pressures facing county-run DMVs.
"There are 57 upstate counties that run a DMV. Some of it is 'Please understand, we're doing these things for good purposes,'" Woodward said. "Even if they would increase the percentage a little bit, it would be helpful."


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I am really lucky to be supported by so many friends and colleagues in my community. From my church to my children's school, to my track club Atlanta Track Club Elite, everyone offers support and a smile. Sometimes a high five comes with a giggle as it seems so improbable to be successful at high jump at this age. I agree! Many have been inspired to try something new -- something they never thought they could get back to, or step up and try. That's the purpose of sharing my journey. I was so thrilled to see this update printed by my local magazine, The East Cobber. Thanks to this great bunch of editors for following my progress!
Julia Curran-Villarreal is a three-time USA W55 national masters high jump champion. After a 35-year break from her favorite high school sport of track & field, Julia returned to competition in 2013 at the age of 53. Follow her journey on @juliajumping on Instagram and @juliacurran on Twitter.
August 2019


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We have a joint postdoc opening between the MecaWet lab @ PMMH and the Folding, Sliding and Stretching lab @ LPS in the area of controllable multi-component elastic structures, with a focus on experiments. The goal is to design materials whose stiffness may be dynamically adjusted and to explore their use to rigidify morphable 3D structures.
Description: By embedding channels within an elastomer we have recently developed structures that change shape under applied pressure. However, their softness hinders applications to large scales. Adding a more rigid component can rigidify the structure, but in a non-linear fashion. The project consists of designing and prototyping multi-component elastic materials with tunable rigidity. The general idea is to control the relative contributions of compliant and stiff components with a third active phase. The goal is to rationalize the fundamental aspects of the problem, to produce bulk materials and to design morphable / rigidizable structures. This multidisciplinary project is at the interface between structural mechanics, fluid dynamics, soft robotics and nonlinear physics.
Profile: Candidates should have recently obtained or are about to obtain a Ph.D. in Physics, Mechanical/Civil/Aerospace Engineering, or related disciplines. The project is primarily experimental but also includes some theory and numerical computations. On the experimental side, expertise in rapid prototyping, micro-fabrication, material science, and/or mechanical testing is welcome. In addition, an appreciation for scaling analysis, theory and computation is a plus.
Hosting teams: The successful candidate will participate in a collaboration between two laboratories who study problems in fluid and solid mechanics in conjunction with other disciplines: non-linear physics, instabilities, out-of-equilibrium statistical physics, multi-scaled phenomena, geomorphology, planetology… Their research involves a combination of laboratory experiments, theory and numerical simulations.
Although the project is fundamental in nature, we envision applications for medical equipment and, more generally in applied science.
The laboratories are both located in the Latin Quarter, in the center of Paris, which offers state-of-the-art facilities and a unique scientific environment.
Funding: Funding for one year is available (through an ANR grant) and we expect the candidate to help us find additional funding for a second year.
More details on our scientific activities can be found here:
https://blog.espci.fr/jbico/recherche/ for the MecaWet lab @ PMMH
www.lps.ens.fr/~foldingslidingstretchinglab/ for the Folding, Sliding and Stretching lab @ LPS
Applications received by January 15, 2018 will receive equal consideration.


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Cortland County is named for Pierre Van Cortlandt, who was the first Lieutenant Governor of New York.
Created: April 8, 1808
County Seat:
Cortland 1808 – present
County Courthouse – Cortland
Location: 25 Court Street / Greenbush Street
Built: 1922 – 1923
Style: Classical Revival
Architect: James Riely Gordon
Contractor: A E Stephens Corporation.
Description: The building faces north and is a three story gray colored limestone structure. The building forms a "T" shape. The north front has a projecting center section with three rectangular entrances on the first story, and there are six columns on the second and third stories with recessed windows. On the center of the roof is a large round dome with thin columns, gold roof and small cupola at the top.
Note: The previous courthouse was a red coloured brick structure built in 1836 and was destroyed by fire in 1924.
County Administration – Cortland
Location: 60 Central Avenue / Greenbush Street
Built: 1892 – 1893
Style: Schoolhouse
Architect: Unknown
Contractor: Unknown
Description: The building faces south and is a three story red colored brick structure. The building was the Cortland Central School. An addition was constructed in 1923. The building was remodeled in 1930.
N – Onondaga County
E – Madison County and Chenango County
S – Broome County and Tioga County
W – Tompkins County and Cayuga County
Photos taken 2010


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Gary Pollard Jr.February 14, 1982 ~ May 16, 2016 (age 34)
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Gary Pollard Jr. was born February 14th, 1982, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Gary Sr. and Florence Pollard. He accepted Jesus Christ at an early age. He had a big heart and was very generous, loving to help others. He loved trying new things and travelling. Loved much by his family and friends.


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January is a depressing month, even more so when it's at the beginning of a recession. This city and it's people need something to smile about again and we need you to help make it happen.
Free Art Friday is a relatively new art movement that's rapidly gaining in popularity around the World. Artists create a painting, sketch, sculpture or installation and leave it on the street. The piece can then be picked up by anyone and claim it as their own. Finders are encouraged to email the artist and tell them how and where they found it. We're asking all painters, photographers, illustrators, sculptures, graffiti artists, taggers, cartoonists or any visual artist to contribute a small piece of work that will be hung/placed/or left on the streets of Dublin on Friday 23rd January for anyone to take away.
Click here to get involved.


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February 14, 2013 8:16 am
Wilde gives a new definition to the good. Dorian Gray's problem, despite the fact all his sin is transmited to a painting, art reminds him of the good, and this reminding is enough to be in discord with himself. I don't feel, as some suggest, that Dorian regreted his wish of eternal youth and beauty, but the images of the painting, art itself, drove him crazy – his self doubt. The art showed his inauthentic life, how his feelings and actions were not in harmony. In De Profundis Wilde talks about Jesus' criticism of the Pharasee for studying, but not living what they know – they have no feeling for life, they are souless driviling intellects. Dorian`s cognizance of his own inauthentic soulless profanatory abject self did him in, he died killing the reminder of his splintered self, and of the frustrations of being an aesthetically induced schizopherenic. Wotton's warning was that conscience makes egoists of us all. Is it the dualistic nature of conscience that drives Dorian to kill himself, not regret? In the end he desires to do good, but is it? Can he? Is he? Wilde, the master of Paradox, leaves some poignant questions, if not eschatological questions, availab.le to be thought upon. Wilde is highlighting the importance of art as truth and art as a mirror, but in the end who is the mirror? Art makes reality, as far as reality is a truth anyway, a perception of truth and reality that is more meaningful than these nonexistant abstracts. But then there is sin to ponder on, is it real? Wilde would say so.


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The millennial generation has voiced its disappointment in today's world leaders. When quizzed in the 2018 Deloitte Millennial Survey on the positive vs negative impact made on themselves and the world by specific groups, a staggering 71 per cent of millennials thought that political leaders left a less than desirable impression.
With diminishing trust in public figures, millennials want to know that they themselves are making a positive difference in their world. And with a big chunk of their time spent at work, they want to know that their employers share these values. They are looking to their employers for reassurance and stability.
This generational shift is a major concern for all kinds of businesses. For many established businesses, usually set up by the older generation of business leaders, this is creating a gap in workplace values. But it's a concern which is especially prevalent in the SME community, whose members largely lack the funds necessary to invest in meeting the challenges.
So as an SME in 2018, what can you do to ensure your millennial employees are focused, engaged and loyal to your business? This is the first of two articles in which I'll show you how to do that.
The days are gone where businesses only focus on making a profit and getting out to market – if a business does not see their employees as an asset they will fail, crippled by lack of productivity and unsustainably high staff turnover. No matter how good your product or service is, it is only as good as your people and you should treat them accordingly.
The new generation of workers understand this, which is why 57 per cent of millennials say that positive workplace culture is at the top of their list when choosing a company to work for. We've all seen the offices in Silicon Valley in the US – casual, relaxed yet impressively productive alongside a new type of management style focused on reward and engagement. Millennials, in an ideal world, are looking for something similar.
In addition, millennials are looking for some greater purpose in the company they choose to work for. So whether it's aligning your company core values with a progressive cause or acknowledging what's important to your employees, consider how your company can make a positive difference. This could be achieved through a charity bike ride or bake sale, or even by getting involved in your local community.
Whatever measures you take, accept that the modern employee is not likely to commit to 20 or even 10 years of service with you. Nor will they necessarily work a 12-hour day. You therefore need measures in place to mitigate the impacts of a short tenure, while harnessing those highly ambitious and motivated younger staff who will go above and beyond when needed.
It is more difficult for SMEs to guarantee swift progression upwards, as structures within a business are often more lean. SMEs need to be creative about career progression, letting employees know where they are going and how you will help them get there, through investment in training and development or allowing involvement in projects outside of their remit.
Also, SMEs need to install processes and standards to help them attract and retain highly skilled employees, or face losing them to large corporates with significant budgets to spend on catering for their needs. That should help you understand how to attract good millennials to your company. In my next article I'll try and teach you how to retain them, then harness their talents for the future success of your business.
Jenna Paulin, Director, The HR Dept
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- This event has passed.
Dayton Oregon District Tragedy Fund Public Forums
September 16, 2019 @ 10:00 am - 11:30 am
One event on September 16, 2019 at 6:00 pm
Give your feedback about the Draft Final Protocol for the distribution of the Dayton Oregon District Tragedy Fund assets.
Members of the community are invited to attend two public forums to share their comments about the Draft Final Protocol for the disbursement of the Dayton Oregon District Tragedy Fund's assets. The sessions will be held on Monday, September 16, 2019, at Sinclair Community College (444 West Third Street, Building 12). The times are 10-11:30 a.m. and 6-7:30 p.m.
Download the Draft Final Protocol » https://www.daytonfoundation.org/oregondistributions.html
Parking is available under Building 12 and will be free of charge. Also, a sign language interpreter will be present at both sessions.
If you are unable to attend either session but wish to provide comments on the Draft Protocol, email [email protected] by noon, September 20.


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As we are about to celebrate our 20 th Anniversary in serving you with quality services, we welcome you to explore our passion for health and people.
Cool Blue Pure Drinking Water is produced by Super Meals Limited, a Tanzanian Registered company which began its operations in 1998.
Super Meals Limited is the first Company in Tanzania to come out with modern technology in production of purified drinking water under the brand name Cool Blue Pure Drinking Water which is produced under Latest Technology Filtration Systems and bottled in hygienic conditions. We continuously innovate to meet the changing advanced quality demands.
Cool Blue Pure Drinking Water has been implementing ISO 9001 standards for a quality management system since 2006 which has helped us to be more efficient and has improved customer satisfaction.
We have 20 years of experience in Manufacturing and Supplying of Pure Drinking Water of various sizes to Homes, Banks, Corporate Offices and Whole Sellers. We have a wide range of bottle sizes ranging from 500ml, 1.5litres, 10litres, 15.5litres and our office solution, 18.9litres.


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Scanning in a sewing pattern piece with my ScannCut
Hi all,
I have done a test to see if I can scan in a manufactured pattern piece used for cutting out a hat that I will make for myself hopefully sometime this winter.
Here is a picture of what the hat will look like when finished. This picture is not the best but hopefully will give an idea.
I wanted to post several up several of the pictures in but when I really looked at them I felt I should not due to the name of the manufacturing company logo. Therefore I will only post pictures of what it looked liked after I scanned it in to my scanncut.
This is how my pattern piece looked after it was scanned in. I will tell you this: My scanncut will not scan in the 12×24 mat. With that said I used my scanncut photo mat 12×12 to scan this piece in. You can get that mat separately and it is used to scan in photoes or designs that you have created yourself or what you have printed out from your home printer. With that said I can cut designs with the 12×24 mat. I can make them the full 12×24 size or make them smaller like any of the other 12×12 mat and resize the design.
Here is the picture of the pattern piece the band of the hat.
Once the pattern piece is scanned in you will have to manipulate to have it cut out as one piece.
Here is what it will look like once you have unified the wordage and the little notch areas.
or at best remove all the writing by deleting it out one by one. will take awhile to do so I did not do it as this is just an example as what can be done.
Here it is what it looks like when using the unified process with the scanncut.
then once it is unified you can move it around as one piece.
with all this said and shown. I have not done a test cut of this as of yet. I am going to try it out on a larger piece of card stock for test purposes only. I will more then likely not cut out this hat using my scanncut because the pieces are really to big for my mats. However I can cut out the crown of the hat lining because that is smaller and should work ok.
Here is how it looks once it is ready to cut. I should be able to just cut out around the pattern using fabric. It should just cut out the rectangle and not cut out the wordage.
Well we will see as I will try it out on paper first. this is just an experiment for me. I wanted to just show what can be a possibility with the scan n cut.
You can cut fabric of smaller size patterns like doll cloths and or make your own patterns. I would also think you could make a newborn baby outfit with scanning in that pattern.
Just to give an idea here of what can be done with the Scanncut.
Your HSN friend,
Great Job! That's Awesome.
HI everyone,
Finally getting back to this post about scanning in a pattern with the snc.
As we know that is what I am showing you all in the pictures above.
Now I did not do a cut of this with my scanncut because it would have literally cut out the writing that is shown on the pattern meaning if I used fabric or paper it would have really cut out all the words and would have ruined the fabric if that is what I was using so I had it draw out the pattern instead.
I just used a piece of scrap card stock.
In the picture I am about to post here you will see the pattern piece in purple and you will also see my own pattern creation that I used with the scanncut to make my china tea cup case. those pattern pieces are made with white printer copy paper. You could also use tissue paper and then it would have the feel of a manufactured tissue pattern.
Here is what I made with the pattern I created.
With that said yes you can create your own patterns and or make the pattern piece right inside your scan n cut and then just cut out the fabric.
As for manufactured patterns!!! I need to go back to the drawing board no bun intended. I am sure there is a trick to this that I have not learned yet but if and when I do I will more then likely share that here.
Your HSN friend,
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QUIZ 1: PREPOSITION (June 7th, 2011)
QUIZ 2: RELATIVE CLAUSE (June 7th, 2011
She is a girl…………hair is red and beautiful
It is a wild cat………….hunts and kills many mice
You are an amazing girl…………my father is really proud
That is a headmaster…………is in charge of the whole school
That is my aunt………..husband is very handsome
QUIZ 3: ADJECTIVE ING AND ED (June 16th, 2011)
Where is the correct one?
1. He is such a monotonous speaker. I was (bored/boring) stiff (answer: bored)
2. Most sequels are (disappointed/disappointing) (answer:
3. I had such a (tired/tiring) day(answer:
4. Everyone is very (excited/exciting) about the news (answer:
5. That lamp produces a very (pleased/pleasing) effect(answer:
6. The whole school was (saddened /saddening) by the tragic event. (answer:
7. I do not like watching (depressed/depressing) films on my own. (answer:
8. I was (amazed /amazing) when she told me she has got divorce. (answer:
9. He is such a (bored/boring) guy. He only talks about himself(answer:
10. It was a very (interested/interesting) situation. (answer:
QUIZ 4: PRESENT TENSE (June 25th, 2011)
Where is the correct one?
- He (walks/walk) slowly everyday…..Answer: walks
- They (does/do) not (run/runs) everyday…..Answer:
- (Does/do) she (sleep/sleeps) well every night? …..Answer:
- (Does/do) I (swim/swims) every week? …..Answer:
- (Is/am/are) you a professional nurse? …..Answer:
- We (Is/am/are) mine paramedics…..Answer:
- She often (Is/am/are/watch/watches) cinema…..Answer:
- (Do/does/is/am/are) not she a veterinarian? …..Answer:
- I sometimes (drive/drives/is/am/are) a car…..Answer:
- You (is/am/are/do/does) not smile every time…..Answer:
QUIZ 5: PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE (July 4th, 2011)
Where is the correct one?
- He is (reading/being) a nursing book now…..answer: reading
- They are (examining/being) in hero right now…..Answer:
- (is/am/are) she (sleeping/being) well at this moment? …..Answer:
- (is/am/are) I (giving/being) sick now? …..Answer:
- (Is/am/are) you (be/being) a professional nurse now? …..Answer:
- We (Is/am/are) (having/being) mine paramedics at the moment…..Answer:
- She (Is/am/are) (watching/being) at cinema now…..Answer:
- (Do/does/is/am/are) not she (injecting/being) voltaren at this time? …..Answer:
- I am (driving/being) a car at this moment…..Answer:
- You (is/am/are) not (smiling/being) now…..Answer:
QUIZ 5: PRESENT PERFECT TENSE (July 25th, 2011)
Where is the correct one?
- 1. She (has/have) (studied/been) to Banti…..Answer: has, been
- 2. They (has/have) not lost their keys….answer:
- 3. (has/have) you (had/been) at restaurant?…..answer:
- 4. (has/have) she (had/been) breakfast?…answer:
- 5. (has/have) not he (watched/been) a movie? …answer:
- 6. You (has/have) already (finished/been) your homework. …answer:
- 7. I (has/have) just (got/been) a new patient. …answer:
- 8. We (has/have) (accepted/been) our salary. …answer:
- 9. He (has/have) (required/been) a head department…answer:
- 10. I am home right now. I have (been/gone) to Bali…answer:
QUIZ 6: PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE (August 17th, 2011)
Where is the correct one? Distinguish between Present perfect and present perfect continuous tense.
- 1. Your stomach look full because you have (had /been having) breakfast.
- 2. Have you have (been / been being) at restaurant since 5 am?
- 3. Has she (just lost / been losing) his wallet recently?
- 4. Has not he (finished / been finishing) his homework?
- 5. You have (studied / been studying) nursing for 2 years.
- 6. We have (learnt /been learning) a new case lately.
QUIZ 7: COMPARISON (October 9th, 2011)
Where is the correct one?
- D is……… (more expensive than, as expensive as, the expensivest) answer;…………..
- C is……….B (the most expensive, as expensive as, more expensive than) answer;……..
- B is…….…A (the most expensive, as expensive as, more expensive than) answer;……..
- D is……….(the most expensive, as expensive as, more expensive than) answer;……..
Thank You for Your Participation


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This unit of study focuses on the management of chronic conditions in the community and highlights the role that nurses play in supporting people who are living with such conditions. Central to the unit is self-management of chronic conditions and the principles and practices that support such management. The most common chronic conditions in Australia will be identified, their risk factors highlighted, and prevention strategies and management options explored. The unit recognises that chronic pain is a debilitating syndrome that many people live with and need to manage. Many people frequently manage multiple chronic conditions and at times need additional support, care and therapy. The management of common chronic co-morbidities will be covered in this unit. The unit also recognises that for effective management of chronic conditions there is a need for strategies across multiple settings from home to acute care and sometimes to residential care, and for multiple modalities including rehabilitation and complementary therapies. Strategic discharge planning is recognized as an integral component in chronic conditions management. The role of nurses in multidisciplinary teams is investigated. The provision of spiritual caring by nurses for people living with chronic conditions is included in this unit of study. A lifespan approach is taken when discussing the occurrence of chronic conditions in the community. The overall framework of the unit of study is one of a person-centred approach to the management of chronic conditions. The chronic model of care is the healthcare approach.
13x2-hr lectures, 8x2-hr tutorials, 3x2-hr clinical labs, and clinical placement (80-hrs)
Student assessment (100%) conducted throughout the semester, as advised within the relevant unit of study outline
36 Year 1 credit points including NURS2006
Semester 2
24 Aug 2020


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Throughout the 1920's Erte, the legendary father of Art Deco, was known for elaborate, dazzling designs that grew wildly popular across the world of theater and art. We've added an island twist for a bit of fun in 'Erte Palm.'
People love our cotton lawn shirts because of its performance in high temperatures and humid climates. Our signature and proprietary fabric is incredibly light weight without being sheer, crease resistant and has a subtle luster.


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- October 16, 2017
- 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Namaste Hall
California Institute of Integral Studies
1453 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
Fundraiser for the CIIS Alumni Scholarship Fund
$5 -$10 Suggested Donation
About the film
Documentary film by CIIS alumni Alan Baiss & Joseh Garcia with the original music score created by Joseh Garcia. The filmmakers will be present and available for Q&A after the film.
Discover how to flourish as a transitional being in an evolving universe.
Conscious is a one hour film inspired by the work of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother featuring interviews with Brian Thomas Swimme, Stanislav Grof, Michael Murphy, Sean Kelly, Aster Patel and many more. Journey with esteemed visionaries as they delve into science, the arts, love, and divinity to unveil our most profound human potential.
With beautiful imagery, inspiring music, and the wisdom of respected scholars, the documentary film Conscious unveils a deeper spiritual meaning in our radically changing world. Is crisis pushing us toward a leap in consciousness? Can we live from a deeper inner truth? Can we participate in the evolution of our own consciousness?
This exciting, entertaining, and meaningful film invites the viewer to consider our place in the unfolding universe and the role each of us can play.
Suggested Donation: $10 Supports the CIIS Alumni Scholarship Fund
The DVD, the Book, and the CD featuring the original soundtrack will be available for purchase after the showing.
Alan Baiss (ICP '92) worked for many years in private practice as a psychotherapist until significant personal events lead to a redirection in his life and he began producing documentary films. His earlier film, INTEGRAL CONSCIOUSNESS: Sri Aurobindo's Yoga and how Haridas Chaudhuri brought it to the West has become a reference for the history of CIIS, its founder, Haridas Chaudhuri, and Integral Yoga.
Joseh Garcia (EWP '11) worked as a psychotherapist in Brazil and maintains an active music career. He has held concerts in France, Canada, the United States, and Brazil, and has worked in cooperation with leading artists, such as Grammy nominated Silvia Nakkach. In 2011 he released the EP Bossa a Trois produced by France's Daniel Masson (Buddha-Bar). Joseh's involvement with Conscious is a natural extension of his long-time interest in consciousness studies.


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Subtotal: $0.00
Carl's Jr.
Choose the product options first
In 1989, Carl's Jr. became the first fast-food chain to allow customers to use their ATM cards to make purchases. Not only can customers buy a Western Bacon Cheeseburger and fries to go without using cash, they can get cash back out of their account.
Onion rings, bacon, American cheese and tasty barbecue sauce combine to make a manly gut-grinder that can be thoroughly enjoyed during the grilling season, or any time of the year if you use an indoor grill. The sandwich was introduced in 1983, and has since become so successful that it has spawned variations, from a junior version to the monstrous double, both of which are included here. While any barbecue sauce you use for this recipe will work just fine, track down some Bulls-Eye Hickory Smoke flavor barbecue sauce if you want the closest cloned results. This recipe makes one sandwich. Double, triple, and quadruple it as needed based on current hunger requirements.
This recipe also includes clones for the Junior Western Bacon Cheeseburger and the Double Western Bacon Cheeseburger.
Source: "More Top Secret Recipes" by Todd Wilbur.


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by Gus Breiland
We as Americans needed to be resourceful and self-sufficient in the beginning of our history. The corner market, instant access to shopping and food, and $4 coffee are all inventions of our modern lifestyle. If I want it, someone must be making it and I should be able to have it here within 3-5 business days.
The '80's and early '90's were defined by the rise of computers; skilled labor was replaced by overseas mass labor and instant gratification. Today, we continue to see large corporations move their manufacturing overseas, while small manufacturers struggle to remain afloat. We watch our society become less and less capable of existing without the help of others. Changing a tire is a difficult task covered by a little blue button on the rear view mirror.
"Boutique" has entered our Motorcycling culture, too. With the onset of "Orange County Choppers," bike build offs and $40,000+ garage art, bobbing, chopping and motorcycle modification has become a trophy for the wealthy versus neighborhood kids and their weekend projects. We teach our students that manufacturing is for the unclean masses, that life behind a desk is better for you, and to leave the "cuts on the hand and grease under the fingers" to the other guy.
Kevin Baas, a Technology Instructor for Kennedy High School in Bloomington, MN, sees choppers as a chance to teach kids a skill while including them in his passion. There are still those kids who want to understand what it takes to fabricate a part. How to make those parts with their hands and how to put those parts together to make something that not only looks cool, but functions.
For the past 5 years, Kevin has been running the Kennedy Chopper Class. An extracurricular activity where students fabricate and build Choppers, putting their welding, machining and sheet metal skills to the test and putting bikes on the road that never will be factory stock.
Minnesota Motorcycle Monthly sat down with Kevin and Ryan Kaulbars, a student builder.
Ryan walked me around the shop while class was getting ready to let out. He showed me the display case with the trophies that the class bikes have won over the years. In the shop are magazine articles about their class, sponsor metal work signs made by the class, and pictures on the wall that tell you motorcycles are made here. The shop has a wall of welders, a metal casting bench, manual mills and lathes. Hands get dirty, parts get made, teamwork and pride come together to fit up a bike and make custom out of stock and catalog.
This is a "make due" shop, a space where you make it by hand out of necessity, not by choice. Donations drive the project. The bikes start as donated rolling chassis and motors. Sometimes piece meal, sometimes as a whole. Due to liability, the shop's frame jig cannot be used. Thank you litigious society. One less skill taught.
Their first bike started with a frame, front end and an open house for the parents and community to see what Kevin had in store for Kennedy High School. Donnie Smith came by and asked "What do you need?" and Kevin said we're looking for a motor and tranny. It wasn't more than 2 days later that Donnie called and said he talked with S & S and they are going to send a motor. "Thanks Donnie."
A bike can't just be a frame. It needs a motor. With both pieces in place, Kevin had a rolling chassis and parts that could be fabricated to make it a bike. This was the start of the Kennedy Chopper Class and after 5 bikes the Chopper Class has morphed from an after school project to a class on the roster for next year (2007-08).
Kevin: Being a class is going to help allow these kids to work on it during the day instead of losing a talented kid to after school sports, etc…obviously I want the student to go to practice, but it sucks when you have a good kid that you just can't have because they have practice.
The new class will be 18 weeks long instead of a month and a half crunch. This will allow for some extra time to get the bike ready for the Donnie Smith show.
MMM: Is there enough demand where you have to say, No, you can't be in here?
Kevin: Not yet. I did make a prerequisite; they have to take Intro to Manufacturing before they can sign up for the chopper class. That way I know they have had me with basic welding, machine work with Joe (a retired volunteer who helps teach machining in class) and safety. I can trust them when I say, Hey, you have to go weld this piece, or cut that piece out. At least I know they're pretty close to being good at it.
Two bikes were up on workbenches in the classroom. Last year's bike is a rolling chassis. This year's bike had to use last year's motor, as there was no sponsor for a motor this year. The rolling chassis will be sold to finance the next bike; and so the cycle continues. Public schools have only so many resources, and as most Administrators hold classes such as shop, band and orchestra, etc. hostage for more traditional classes, public and private assistance is needed.
Kevin: I travel with these bikes in the summer and that's where I meet a lot of people that say, "Hey I wanna help next year, I want to donate." That's where Sucker Punch came in last year. They saw that first year bike (Kevin points to the wall of pictures) three years ago, that black bike, when I took it to North Carolina. They said "Hey we wanna help you man, wadda need?" And I said "Well, everything?" So they donated a rolling chassis (last year's bike). They sent us the tires, rims, wheels, brakes, forward controls, stock oil bag, stock peanut gas tank, handle bars, risers, a headlight; one of their working man specials they call it.
Paul Cox donated that dish gas tank so we were able to modify that. Crime Scene donated that gas cap so we cut that and welded it. Spartan Frame Works from Tucson, AZ, gave us that cool, riveted front end so we put that on and then we started hand-fabricating stuff. Once the riveted front end got on, everyone said this is what we want to do. The kids came up with all these designs for riveted pieces. The oil tank we built. The rear fender was cut and modified. Struts were made. We made a stainless steel seat pan with brass rivets in it.
That bike kind of came together pretty easy. I don't know, just everybody meshed. This year's bike we went through quite a bit of R&D with trying stuff for 2 weeks and then Nah, this isn't going to work.
MMM: Mostly from cutting stuff that doesn't work?
Kevin: Yeah, like Ryan here had a lot of ideas of molding things in…so we gave him cardboard templates to make up and stuff. We would then start making the metal work and step back and look only to realize that nah, this ain't gonna happen. For the most part it's the student's bike. I don't want to be standing there telling them "No, No, No, you can't, you gotta do this" but it comes to the point where I've built bikes, I know, and when it gets close to crunch time I start telling them "Guys, there's no time…"
Ryan: There were a couple of things where he just did that to us, said there's no time…
Kevin: …and I don't want to shut them down 'cause I love their creativity and all they want to do but realistic wise, I know, you can't. These guys, they're optimistic "No, we can get it done." and I'm like, "It's not going to get done. I know."
Next year's bike is totally different than the last bike…none of them are ever going to be identical and I want to make sure of that. That's why I am really strong on trying to find a mixture of donations. We've got Leroy Thompson's Choppers giving us one of their Ethyl frames that we can build off and they are going to modify it to a big twin motor.
That's got the holes in the down tube and its wicked looking. We also have S&S getting us a motor again; they wanted back in our bike.
During the entire interview, the topic of donations continued to come back to the forefront. Ideally another motor would be donated to get last year's bike up and running. A running bike vs. a rolling chassis means a little more money going back into the Chopper classes' budget. Materials, another Tig welder, an English wheel along with consumables like shield gas, grinders, grinding wheels…manufacturing goods are all items that, besides money, Kennedy Chopper Class could use. There was a CNC mill occupying space waiting for end mills, clamps, and collets. Even something as basic as hand tool sets for the classroom, extra bike parts to draw from when the donations times are tough…if it has to do with bike building, they could probably use it. Anything that reduces the demands on Kevin's budget, makes the class that much more successful.
Reference material such as books like The Art Of The Chopper are useful, as students will draw on that history and those images for future products and design ideas.
Kevin Baas continued to talk about the successes that they have had and the value that the Chopper projects bring to his students.
He is focused on having projects that succeed and that continue to draw attention to the skills that his students are developing. These are important lessons. Manufacturing still exists in the US today and understanding not only how to fabricate, but timing, relying on suppliers to keep their time lines, relying on investors (the public in this case) to come up with the capitol to drive a product from paper to rolling out of a classroom ready to start and ride, are valuable lessons kids need to understand as they develop their plans to become cogs in the machinery called society.
The public can donate anything from cash, to parts, to machinery. It just depends on how you want to support. Kevin also asked me to promote their t-shirts as a fundraiser. They are available in long sleeve ($20) or short ($12), s-xxxl. Add $5 to each shirt you order if you can, it will help pay for supplies that help students create and build.
Contact Kevin Baas for sponsorship opportunities, donations big and small, and T-shirts. He can be reached at email@example.com. The class has a web site at http://www.kennedychopperclass.com/. Otherwise you can send T-shirt purchases to Kennedy High School, C/O Kevin Baas, 9701 Nicollet Ave South, Bloomington, MN 55420. Look for them this summer and next year with a new bike.
Kevin Baas
Builders / Students
Ryan Kaulbars • Jason Conner • Navin Prasad • Preston Dvorak • Logan Ryan • Russell Arlett • Kevin Kirk • Eric Hake
Baas Metal Craft • Little Fish Designs • American Thunder • Twisted Choppers • Pearson Customs • Goblin Millworx • Dumbass Biker • S & S Cycle, Inc. • Biker's Choice • Ghostriders • Klockwerks • Trik Shift • Fab Kevin • Kil • Avon Tyres • Donnie Smith • Nothern Tool • Milwaukee Iron • Beezachoppa Seats • J&D Custom Plating • Broadway Choppers Solutions Machining • Anoka Powerhammer • Sucker Punch Sally's • Hering Kustoms Paint • SE Custom Powdercoating • Leatherneck Motorsports • Kendall Johnson Customs


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Welcome to the Selye International Institute for Advanced Studies- A new institute in the planning and design stage
- Main affiliation: Hungarian Academy of Sciences & Semmelweis Medical Museum, Budapest, Hungary
- Pending affiliations: Harvard University, Karolinska Institute, UCLA, University of California-Irvine, University of Vienna, Universitas Pax et Veritas Foundation (Boston), Selye János Főiskola (Komarno, Slovakia)
- Initiators: Drs. Árpád Somogyi (Berlin/Brussels/Budapest), Sándor Szabó (Boston/Irvine, CA), Yvette Taché (Los Angeles) & Benedek Varga (Budapest)
- Background: Dr. Hans Selye (1907, Vienna – 1982, Montreal) the "father of biologic stress" & discoverer of anti-inflammatory action of steroids, the "Einstein of medical research" spoke 10 languages & established and maintained a globally highly respected international research entity (Institute of Experimental Medicine and Surgery) at the University of Montreal which flourished in part because of the establishment of "Claude Bernard Visiting Professorship" program that brought internationally known scientists, many of them Nobel Laureates, to his institute to help the postgraduate education of his master & PhD students who came from all over the world. His institute assumed the standing of the Institute of Advanced Studies at Princeton University that also included Albert Einstein, & of other similar establishments at Stanford & Harvard Universities as well as at other private & state universities in North America & Western Europe. These institutes served mostly as educational incubators in the interaction of well-known scientists with graduate & postgraduate students who would spend variable amount of time at these establishments.
- Goals: To provide a physical & intellectual environment (a) for the interaction between internationally recognized biomedical scientists & graduate/postgraduate students predominantly from EU countries, without excluding participants from all over the world; (b) to stimulate creativity & originality that, contrary to earlier beliefs, can be developed & enhanced; (c) to emphasize the need of generating "new knowledge" & the continuity of research in basic sciences toward clinical, commercial & industrial applications, using "translational medicine" as a paradigm.
- Governance: Managed by a president & executive director, guided by a Governing Council, composed of internationally highly recognized scientists, educators & engineers as well representatives of affiliate organizations.
- Funding: Initially, from EU & contributing countries (e.g., Germany, Hungary, Austria, Slovakia, Croatia). Subsequently, from tuition & consultation fees as well as royalties from patents & licenses.
- Languages: English (primary), German, French, Hungarian, Slovakian & Serbo-Croatian.
For more information-contact Dr. Sandor Szabo at: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Emilda, 8, likes to come to the community centre in Al-Ghizlanieh, Rural Damascus, to do her homework. "Here I can study better. Even my teachers at school have noticed that, she says. Five years ago, Emilda had to leave her home in Al-Thiablieh in Rural Damascus due to the difficult situation there. During the years, she has been coming to the centre. Emilda's dream is to become a lawyer. She would also like to help people to get better housing in the future. This project is supported by International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Family's bond challenges the cold winter
A strong will and determination that what have helped Nour (8 years) to fight the blood cancer that consumed her slim body. She is a daughter of a physically handicapped father, who cannot move but still embrace his children. She has one brother who is mentally challenged, while his, while his mother has spread all the possible tenderness have worked hard to support her family. The strong friendship between Nour and SARC volunteers has encouraged her to grab the opportunity during winter clothes distribution and invite them at home. The accepted her invitation and paid her a visit to find out that she lives in a… Read More »


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If I could be a vegetable, I'd be a pumpkin. It's realistically the only vegetable you can use as a weapon, or in any manner of defense.
"But realistically, we don't have that many problems at QuakeCon. If it was a football convention or something, there would probably be a lot more incidents."john d. carmack
You have to show violence the way it is. If you don't show it realistically, then that's immoral and harmful. If you don't upset people, then that's obscenity.Roman Polanski
Politicians are always realistically maneuvering for the next election. They are obsolete as fundamental problem-solvers.buckminster fuller
Donkey Punch is a very extreme, real-world thriller – it's about characters and events that are based in reality and it pushes them into very dark and extreme situations where they have to do things that they would never have imagined. The film shows all this quite realistically and doesn't pull its punches.Oliver Blackburn
the European bourgeoisie took the momentous steps of co-opting on behalf of both marriage and work the pleasures hitherto pessimistically or perhaps realistically confined, by aristocrats, to the subsidiary realms of the love affair and the hobby.Alain de Botton
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Spanish Colonial-style villa in Hollywood Hills
18 guests · 8 bedrooms · 10.5 baths
Nestled in the Hollywood Hills, Villa di Lorenzo is the private vacation house of your dreams. Just off Hollywood Boulevard, it's prime location makes for a great home base while exploring all that Los Angeles has to offer. With accommodations for eighteen, spacious interiors, and a lush green backyard, Lorenzo is perfect for hosting events, large family vacations, and romantic Hollywood weddings.
Spanish colonial architecture is synonymous with Beverly Hills and Hollywood. The clean bright white exterior creates an elegant contrast with the rich greenery of the hills. Clay tiled roofs, wrought iron fixtures, and archways are Lorenzo's most notable character traits. Inside you'll find a well thought out design theme, perfectly executed in every room. Limestone and French Oak are used throughout the interior. Simplistic, yet ornate, chandeliers decorate the spacious living room, suspended from a beautiful exposed wood ceiling. The kitchen is a chef's dream. Large, bright, and extremely functional, you'll love Lorenzo's state of the art appliances, granite countertops, and streamlined atmosphere.
Outside, in California's consistently ideal climate, you'll love all the green space. Spending a whole afternoon on the patio is easy, take a dip in the infinity pool, a soak in the hot tub, or challenge a friend to a game of ping pong. There's also a five car garage, and if you're hosting an event, there's space for more vehicles in the driveway. Inside, guest will enjoy formal dining areas, a wet bar, an immaculate fireplace, and central air conditioning. Before dinner, head down to the wine cellar to find the perfect pairing for your meal. After, head to the home theatre for a movie night with the family, relax in the sauna, or head out for a night on the town.
Within minutes of Lorenzo's private estate you could find yourself shopping on Rodeo Drive, golfing at Wilson and Harding Golf Course, cruising the beach at Santa Monica Pier, or on a rollercoaster at Universal Studios. In an area so rich with attractions, you're sure to fall in love with Los Angeles, and Villa di Lorenzo is a great place to start.
Copyright © Luxury Retreats. All rights reserved.
Main House
- Bedroom 1: King size bed, Ensuite bathroom with shower/bathtub combo, Television, Desk
- Bedroom 2 - Master: King size bed, Ensuite bathroom with stand-alone shower & bathtub, Dual Vanity, Walk-in Closet, Fireplace, Television, Balcony, Safe, Desk
- Bedroom 3: King size bed, Ensuite bathroom with shower/bathtub combo, Television, Balcony
- Bedroom 4: 2 Queen size beds, Ensuite bathroom with shower/bathtub combo, Walk-in Closet, Television, Desk
- Bedroom 5: Queen size bed, Ensuite bathroom with shower/bathtub combo, Television
- Bedroom 6: 2 Twin size beds, Ensuite bathroom with shower/bathtub combo, Television
Pool House
- Bedroom 7: Queen size bed, Ensuite bathroom with shower/bathtub combo, Television, Desk
- Bedroom 8: King size bed, Ensuite bathroom with stand-alone shower & bathtub, Walk-in Closet, Television
- Fully equipped kitchen with breakfast bar
- Dishwasher
- Espresso Machine
- Formal dining areas
- Television
- Wet bar
- Home Theatre
- Fireplace
- Wi-Fi
- Central air conditioning
- Exercise room
- Washer/Dryer
- Office space
- Pool table
- Sauna
- Wine cellar
- Infinity swimming pool (heating included)
- Hot tub (heating included)
- Barbeque
- Terrace
- Balcony
- Parking
- Sun loungers
- Ping pong table
- Garage
Extra cost (advance notice may be required):
- Villa pre-stocking
- Airport transfer
- Activities and excursions
- Housekeeping
Points of Interest
- 2.4 miles to Hollywood Bowl
- 2.6 miles to The Grove
- 2.7 miles to Hollywood
- 3.6 miles to Rodeo Drive
- 4.4 miles to Universal Studios
- 6.2 miles to Griffith Observatory
- 7.9 miles to Wilson & Harding Golf Course
- 8.7 miles to The Getty Center
- 8.8 miles to Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens
- 15.7 miles to Venice Canals
- 16 miles to Topanga State Park
Beach Access
- 11.8 miles to Santa Monica Beach & Pier
- 13.1 miles to Venice Beach
- 22.8 miles to Malibu Pier
- 8.8 miles to Bob Hope Airport (BUR)
- 11.8 miles to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
- 13.6 miles to Van Nuys Airport (VNY)
Extraordinary homes with five-star everything
Pristine and expertly designed, each Airbnb Luxe home comes with luxury amenities, services, and a dedicated trip designer.
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Every Airbnb Luxe home is personally verified to be in pristine condition.
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Premium, on-demand assistance for any question, at any hour.
Heated infinity pool
Ping pong table
Hot tub
BBQ grill
Sun loungers
Home theater
Wine cellar
Dining area
Pool table
Wet bar
+ 4 more
Air conditioning
Garage parking
Espresso machine
+ 3 more
Los Angeles, CA
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Available Nationwide On DVD April 21st
New York, NY – Wild Eye Releasing has announced the April 21st DVD release of 80s horror homage Blood Slaughter Massacre. Directed by Manny Serrano, the blood soaked love letter stars Matt W. Cody, Mike Roche, Byron M. Howard, Carmela Hayslett and Danielle Lenore as bodies ripe for the slicing in a small town that thought their darkest days were behind them.
Ten years ago, the sleepy suburb of Havenwood was plagued by a string of unsolved murders by a masked maniac remembered only as The Ripper. Now a new series of killings has begun, and teenagers are turning up dead everywhere. Can The Ripper be stopped this time around?[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MOmqo-NYUw[/youtube]
Order Blood Slaughter Massacre on DVD
The DVD release of Blood Slaughter Massacre (SRP $14.95) will exclusively include an audio commentary with the director and crew, deleted and extended scenes, a behind the scenes featurette, trailers and promos, and the Demons of the Night music video by Midnight Flashback.


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Pretty vegetable gardens
Plan A Beautiful Vegetable Garden
beautiful garden design
Who says a kitchen garden can't be beautiful? | Fine Gardening
Vegetable gardens can be as much of a destination as an ornamental garden.
Beautiful Vegetable Gardens on Pinterest | Freezing Strawberries …
french garden design – Google Search
Vegetable Gardens That Look Great
1000 …
Vegetable Gardens That Look Great | Vegetable Garden Gardens and …
This is a beautiful inspirational raised vegetable garden. It's in a small compact space so it wouldn't take up too much yard space (the kids can still …
No Revolution Without Pretty | Garden Rant
planning a vegetable garden | Blooming Oasis
Lower Garden
The Vegetable Garden August 2013 | An Englishman's Garden Adventures
The Vegetable Garden August 2013
vegetable gardening | Stephi Gardens
Vegetable Garden Ideas on Pinterest | Potager Garden Vegetable …
What a beautiful way to plant flowers fruit vegetables and herbs! | Willow Bee Inspired
1000+ ideas about Vegetable Garden Layouts on Pinterest | Garden …
1000+ ideas about Vegetable Garden Layouts on Pinterest | Garden Layouts Vegetable gardening and Gardening
Vegetable Gardens | Decker Rd. Seeds
Raised bed vegetable garden with fruit strawberries sunflowers climbing scarlet runner beans vines
5 Easy Ways to Create a Stunning Vegetable Garden – Sonoma Magazine
Kitchen Garden
Edible Landscaping | Plant Flower Stock Photography …
Pretty Vegetable Garden next to house door along fence with pea trellises lettuce
16 photos of the vegetable garden design types. small vegetable …
Vegetable Garden Designs Australia. french potager ideas
Vegetables in Gardens Stock Photography – Images | Plant Flower …
Beautiful Vegetable Garden Backyard Deck and patio fuirniture rows of colored lettuces chard
Backyard edible gardening | Plant Flower Stock Photography …
Pretty Vegetable garden with flowers stone pathway trellis growing lettuce plants cabbage


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Property ID : CS799024517
For Sale 3,500,000 THB
Beautifully furnished 1 bedroom, luxury condo for sale at Sea Craze in Koh Takiap.
- 1 Bedroom
- 1 Bathroom
- Open plan living and dining
- Basic fitted kitchen
- Beautifully fully furnished
- Nice deep balcony with pool viiew
The complex includes:
- 24 hour security
- Very large swimming pool
- Fitness room
This good quality condo is located in Koh Takiap, 100 metres to the beach and close to lots of shops and restaurants.
Currency converter


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Book Review: W.H. Auden's Book of Light VerseJanuary 8, 2005
Here's the 2nd book review.
I finished reading W.H. Auden's Book of Light Verse and I found it to be a mixed bag. First some definitions: this book was originally published as part of the Oxford University Press' collection of books of poetry. Commissioned in the 1930s, it is not, simply stated, a book of comedic verse, although many of the pieces are quite humorous.
It is rather a collection of poetry of popular verse, beginning with poems in Middle English ("Sitteth alle stile and herkneth to me ! / the kyng of Alemaignr, bi mi leaute,") and carrying through to Auden's contemporaries ("Spirits of well-shot woodcock, partridge, snipe / Flutter and bear him up the Norfolk sky:"). Representing many forms, from nursery rhymes (the original "Jack and Gill went up the Hill" is in here — Gil, who knew it was Gil?) to elegies to limericks to odes, and many voices (some American, Irish and Scottish, though mostly British) it is a thorough collection.
And therein lies my problem with it. As a collection, I found myself thumbing through, looking at particular pieces and savoring them, and skipping others completely. It is collection which, to me, is often excellent, and occasionally horrible.
One of my favorite pieces (which I have marked since I am sure to read and re-read it) is "The Careless Gallant" by Thomas Jordon. It begins "Let us drink and be merry, dance, joke, and rejoice, / With claret and sherry, thorbo and voice … In frolics dispose your pounds, shillings, and pence / For we shall be nothing a hundred years hence."
Another seemed particularly relevant to our current time. John Gay's "Ode for the New Year" makes fun of King George, and I drew some inspiration from it, so at the end of this review I present my re-interpretation of this poem, titled "Ode for a Second Inauguration." Much of the piece is based on the original John Gay piece — grab the original to compare and see for yourself.
So, in short, a worthwhile piece to add to a poetry collection, but not one to start your library.
An Ode for the Second Inauguration
Written by David Demm, Esq. Poet Laureate
God prosper long our gracious King.
Now sitting on his throne;
Who leads this nation by a string
And governs almost none.
This is the day when, right or wrong,
I, David Demm, Esquire,
Must for my pay recite a song
And strum my venal lyre.
Not he who ruled great Judah's realm,
Eclipsed old Solomon,
Wise wiser that Ours at the helm
(He is the wiser son?).
Since born from wealth, he never felt
The weight of work or toil;
What does he care if tighter belts
Are coin to pay his spoils?
His head with wisdom deep is fraught,
His breast with courage glows;
Alas, how mournful is the thought,
He ever should need foes.
For, in his heart, he likes to win,
Like 'poleon in his saddle.
If not in field, in Washington
He daily sounds to battle.
The Queen, I also pray, God save!
His consort thin and dear;
Who just as he is wise and brave,
Is pious and sincere.
She's courteous, good, and charms all folks,
Loves one as well as t'other;
The far right and the Orthodox,
Alike the unwed mother.
God favor both the princesses
With many happy days
And keep their boyfriend's caresses
Confined to drunken haze.
And keep that special brother Jeb
With harmony and love.
Tallahassee's gracious 'deb'
Please keep as Florida's guv.
Heav'n spread o'er George's family
That broad illustrious glare,
Which shines so flat in ev'ry eye,
And makes them all so stare.
But oh! ev'n Kings must end, of course,
And to their heirs be civil;
We poets, too, on wingéd horse.
Must soon post to the devil.
Then, since I have a brother too,
May he Parnassus rule;
So shall the Crown and Laurel, too,
Descend from Fool to Fool!
Patterned after John Gay's "An Ode for the New Year: Written by Colley Ciber, Esq., Poet Laureate"


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In this workshop we will explore some exciting arm balances and inversions.
If you are new to putting weight in your hands and going upside down we will break it down, step by step, and look at the foundations for a safe and rewarding practice. Going upside down and placing weight through the hands can be scary at first, but we will support each other through a journey to balance and invert.
We will look at some simple anatomy and practical tips to strengthen your body and your practice. You will be able take this knowledge forward into class and home practice.
Benefits of arm balances:
• Increased shoulder girdle and core strength
• Stimulation of wrist bone density
• Improved alignment and shoulder girdle stability
• Increased embodiment and focus
and some kick-ass confidence!
Some of the poses we will explore:
– bakasana and variations (Bakasana – Crane – straight, Kakasana – Crow – bent)
– loloasana & tolasana (pendulum & scale pose)
– eka pada koundinyasana (flying split)
– eka pada galavasana (flying pigeon)
– astavakrasana (eight angle pose)
– adho mukha vrksasana (handstand)
– pincha mayurasana (elbow stand)
– sirsasana (headstand)
Come explore the world from a new perspective and surprise yourself with some new discoveries.
Some yoga experience needed.
Flow class taught as part of the workshop.


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We are the only tree-based canopy tour on U.S. Forest Service Land. You'll experience Oregon at its finest on your 3 hour tour with Crater Lake Zipline. With magnificent views of Upper Klamath Lake, Cascade peaks like Mt. McLoughlin and Pelican Butte and the rim of Crater Lake in the distance it feels like you can see forever. Oh, the beauty! Oh, the thrill! Soak in the views from our ALL tree-based platforms and zing down the hillside on 9 ziplines covering a mile and a half of cable! We have the two longest ziplines in Oregon! Two of our zips are over a quarter mile long each and a few more are not far behind. Plus, you'll conquer two skybridges suspended in the trees, rappel from platform to platform on our special DEUS descent and oh, the finale! You'll exit your tree top adventure with a leap of faith as you step into air and Just. Let. Go!
Follow the link to view the page and book your adventure Now!


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RESIDENTS in eight regions in Tanzania along the path of the crude oil pipeline from Hoima in Uganda to Tanga port will be empowered to participate in the mega project through local content component, the National Assembly heard yesterday.
The Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office (Parliamentary, Coordination, Labour, Employment and People with Disabilities), Ms Jenista Mhagama, said the government is currently undertaking a programme to enable Tanzanians to benefit from the project. Ms Mhagama made the revelation when responding to a question by Msalala MP, Mr Ezekiel Maige (CCM), who sought to know how local residents along the major crude oil pipeline from Uganda to Tanzania will benefit.
"Let me also take this opportunity to urge legislators from the regions where the pipeline will pass through to sensitise their people to take up opportunities to be brought by the planned project," Ms Mhagama told MPs. Adding; "Residents along the path of the proposed pipeline should participate in the local content programme so that they can learn and identify opportunities in the project."
The minister further assured parliamentarians that the Hoima-Tanga crude oil pipeline will create jobs for Tanzanians and play a crucial role in boosting the economy during and after its completion. "The government of Tanzania has undertaken initiatives to enable local people to participate not only in the pipeline project but also other strategic projects being undertaken in various parts of the country," she affirmed.
The oil pipeline from Hoima in Uganda to Chongoleani in Tanzania will pass through Kagera, Geita, Shinyanga, Tabora, Singida, Dodoma and Tanga. Earlier, the Deputy Minister for Energy, Ms Subira Mgalu, said establishment of a factory for assembling and coating pipelines to be used in the project will commence once land acquisition at the planned site is completed.
Ms Mgalu said the planned factory will be set up at Isaka Township in Shinyanga Region, and assured the area MP that the government is finalising processes for acquisition of land.


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Aripov and Medvedev hold talks in Moscow
11/07/2019 09:43
Aripov and Medvedev hold talks in Moscow
11/07/2019 09:43
Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) -- Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov held a meeting with the head of the Russian Government, Dmitry Medvedev, in Moscow on 10 July.
Medvedev said: "We have begun to meet with you often, and this is good, it reflects the dynamics of relations between Russia and Uzbekistan, reflects the course towards tighter economic cooperation, political interaction that was proposed by the presidents and embodied in government decisions. Most recently you hosted me in Tashkent, Urgench, and Khiva. It was a good trip, interesting, useful, with the signing of documents, discussion of issues of strategic interaction. "
"We have agreed with you that you will come to Moscow to look at some modern technologies that are used in our country and are beneficial - in particular, to manage the regions, digitize those or other processes that the state is involved in, which the state manages. And of course, this is a good reason to meet, discuss the current state of affairs. We will discuss how things are going, how the interaction is going on," the Head of the Russian Government said.
"I would like to take this opportunity to convey from the President of our country and from me my regards and best wishes to the President of the friendly Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev. I hope that your short trip will be useful. Once again, I warmly welcome you," he added.
Abdulla Aripov said: "I would like to thank for the hospitality and warm words addressed to Uzbekistan. We, as you noted, recently held the first meeting of the joint commission of the Russian Federation and Uzbekistan at the level of heads of government, discussed almost all areas of our cooperation. "
"Cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Uzbekistan has opened a new page, has received a new impetus thanks to the open and trusting relations of the heads of our states," said Aripov.
"I, too, taking this opportunity, would like to convey the sincere words of welcome of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and you personally, dear Dmitry Anatolyevich. Today we saw what was done in the Moscow region with the use of modern information technologies. The management system for all processes in such a large region as the Moscow Region is impressive, of course," he said.
Aripov noted: "I, of course, saw many such variations and introductions, but what I saw today in the Moscow Region impressed me a lot. And I have a lot of different plans, while I was going to you, I began to build. "
"In addition to the Moscow region, we would like to take this opportunity, dear Dmitry Anatolyevich, to thank the Federal Tax Service of the Russian Federation, you personally for the assistance provided, for making the government decision on assisting Uzbekistan in tax administration and implementing the marking system," he said.
"We constantly feel your attention. Representatives of various authorities of Uzbekistan who work with colleagues from the Russian Federation have never felt such indifference, such understanding, such support from Russia before. We thank you very much for this, "the head of government of Uzbekistan added.
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|Re: Gore Tax Increase
|John Levine (email@example.com)
10 Jan 2005 02:09:55 -0000
>> There are four components to the Federal Universal Service
>> Fund. They are:
>> * Low-Income.
> Golly gee. How ever did these people get telephone service before Al
USF to support low income and high cost have been around forever.
> If the Algore tax is all so wonderful, why is it that in 1977, I had
Let's plug those numbers into the Bureau of Labor Statistics' CPI
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