text:
As I drove through an extremely foggy morning last week, I thought of all the people who try to make predictions about the future at the beginning of every year. It struck me that it's like trying to tell which way an unfamiliar road will curve when you can only see 30 metres ahead.
If there's one thing that 2016 taught me, it's to keep my predictions to myself. But I have read a number of others' forecasts for the directions and the curves the writing game will take in the next year.
These predictions may seem pretty safe, but what's interesting is the way they fit together to have an impact on readers as well as writers.
Amazon's dominance will grow
Amazon has been the number one retailer of books (and a whole lot of other stuff, too) for years, and this market dominance is only going to increase.
Retail sales are also suffering, and "brick and mortar" retailers are losing market share to online retailers—like Amazon, but also to others, even their own online operations. Barnes & Noble reported its 2016 holiday sales were 9.1 percent lower than in 2015. The company attributed that to lower traffic in its stores. In contrast, online sales rose 2 percent.
Other bookstore chains are struggling, and are devoting more and more floor space to things that are not books: music and movie disks, decorations, novelties, even food.
The only way for independent bookstores to survive is by specializing.
Amazon has opened some brick-and-mortar stores of its own, and while it has enabled authors to publish their own books for years, it has started a number of publishing imprints of its own, such as Thomas & Mercer (the publisher of one of BestSelling Reads' members, Alan McDermott).
More market share will go to e-books
While paper will never go away, e-books are taking up more market share. As of 2016, the estimates in the U.S. were that print books represent 39% of book units sold, and e-books 61%.
The ease and economy of publishing e-books is one of the factors behind the staggering growth in the numbers of self-publishing authors.
More writers will self-publish
Some writers call this "increased competition," but that term doesn't quite capture the reality of writers. Books are not like cars or washing machines—we read them in a matter of days, usually, and move on to the next book.
The situation is more comparable to restaurants. Restaurant owners are smart to cluster together, because more options bring more customers. Diners love to come to a street crowded with restaurants, and will come back many times to try all the choices available.
Readers are the same. After all, a traditional bookstore brings together thousands of different authors, and readers prefer bigger bookstores with more choice.
Writers will band together
Another prediction I read was that authors will work together to increase their audiences. That's interesting, because working with other authors is how I began self-publishing fiction. I find my experience with BestSelling Reads, and another group I belong to called Independent Authors International, to be hugely rewarding—in terms finding other great writers, learning how to improve my writing, as well as finding new readers.
The big challenge for writers is not to out-compete other writers, not to sell books (although that's a nice thing to accomplish), but to learn how to engage with audiences. That's what a story is: a connection, an experience shared by reader and writer.
For readers
When I was young, I cannot begin to estimate the time I spent hanging around in bookstores, looking at all the titles I had to choose from. Readers today can spend hours just perusing books, trying to decide which one to open next. That's why sites like Goodreads and Library Thing are so popular—they help readers decide which book to read next, to find good books in the e-mountains of words available.
I promised I would not make any predictions for 2017, but I will tell you about one other trend I noticed over 2016: the increasing number of services and systems for sale to help authors sell more books by learning how to tag their titles on Amazon, set up mailing lists to readers, send enquiries to book reviewers, build platforms and more. "This is the secret that bestselling authors use."
As I said, no predictions. Just a warning: some of these services and subscriptions are very expensive, and none of them guarantees a writer will sell more books.
No predictions, but a question to the readers out there: how do you want to engage with writers? Answer in the Comments.


text:
Finding a good hotel can make your vacation. Staying in a hotel that is too expensive can strain your budget which will take away what can be spent on other fun things you wanted to do. Likewise, spending too little can cause you to regret taking your vacation. Continue reading on how to book the perfect hotel room and enjoy your trip.
Compare prices at websites like Orbitz and Expedia to ensure that you receive the best available rate. Join the loyalty program for any hotel chain that you love and believe you'll stay with often. Some organizations like AAA and AARP offer lodging discounts for a variety of hotel chains.
Make use of the room safe to ensure the safety of your electronics when you are not in your room. Putting these items in the safe ensures that you can go out and have fun, not worrying about what you've left in the room.
If you belong to any organizations, check with them for travel deals. Hotel discounts are often one of the benefits offered. A lot of people don't use these discounts, and you may save 10% or even more. This is a good discount that only gets better the longer you stay in a hotel. Within a week's time, you are basically getting a free night's stay.
There are many different things to consider as you search for a hotel to stay in. Price is one consideration, but you may also want a hotel that is close to a certain destination. For example, you might want a room that is in walking distance to gym, or a hotel that has free Wi-Fi. So decide on the amenities that mean the most to you and start looking.
As was mentioned earlier, spending too much on a hotel takes money away from other aspects of your trip. Use this article to help make sure you find the right hotel room that doesn't break your wallet and ruin your trip. As you make your plans for any trip, remember what you have learned here.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Topic: New Mixer
I decided to upgrade to a new USB mixer with effects.
I am having trouble getting it to work, however. I have followed all the steps to no avail. It came with Cubase, which I am also having trouble setting up correctly and registering. Actually it is a registration problem. My question is, do I need Cubase for my computer to recognize the new mixer? I didn't need any external apps for my older Alesis. I get power and phantom power but no LEDs light up when I am talking to the mics. So it appears my computer is not recognizing the new mixer. Even though it says I don't need a driver, do I nee a driver. There are some available, which I cannot find now. Any help? Jerome?
I have finally found happiness in my life. Guitars, singing, beer and camping. And they all intertwine wonderfully.


text:
Delightful Discoveries are books that I have discovered during the week... old, new, just released... from blogs, goodreads, friends, or bookstores.
So this week I found these goodies...
Asylum is a thrilling and creepy photo-novel perfect for fans of the New York Times bestseller Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.
For sixteen-year-old Dan Crawford, New Hampshire College Prep is more than a summer program--it's a lifeline. An outcast at his high school, Dan is excited to finally make some friends in his last summer before college. But when he arrives at the program, Dan learns that his dorm for the summer used to be a sanatorium, more commonly known as an asylum. And not just any asylum--a last resort for the criminally insane.
As Dan and his new friends, Abby and Jordan, explore the hidden recesses of their creepy summer home, they soon discover it's no coincidence that the three of them ended up here. Because the asylum holds the key to a terrifying past. And there are some secrets that refuse to stay buried.
Featuring found photos of unsettling history and real abandoned asylums and filled with chilling mystery and page-turning suspense, Madeleine Roux's teen debut, Asylum, is a horror story that treads the line between genius and insanity.
Lex Murphy's group of friends have all dated, hated, ignored and lusted after each other for the last few years. If only there was a way of matching people perfectly to avoid all the unrequited love, dumping and drama!
Then Lex's friend George is give a mysterious Sims-like game by his software-testing dad which involves building character profiles in the categories of Life, Looks and Love. Lex and George populate the game with avatars for all their mates, making a few 'wishful thinking' adjustments to the settings - and find that the next day these tinkerings have come true! But how long can this new calm, loved-up atmosphere continue....
If someone hurts your sister and you're any kind of man, you seek revenge, right?
If your brother's accused of a terrible crime but says he didn't do it, you defend him, don't you?
When Mikey's sister claims a boy assaulted her, his world begins to fall apart.
When Ellie's brother is charged with the offence, her world begins to unravel.
When Mikey and Ellie meet, two worlds collide.
This is a brave and unflinching novel from the bestselling author ofBefore I Die. It's a book about loyalty and the choices that come with it. But above all it's a book about love.
A little like "When Harry met Sally"...but with a lot more contractors.
Lucy Tuttle is a workaholic financial planner whose biggest worry is how to line up the sticky notes on her desk just so, until her only relative dies in a car accident halfway across the world. Suddenly Lucy (apartment-dwelling, doesn't-own-a-hammer Lucy) inherits a handyman's delight on the other side of town. Her boyfriend, a laid back environmentalist with an affinity for organic lentils and sock thievery, convinces Lucy to move into her aunt's brokendown house. The two of them embark on a quest to settle down, renovate her aunt's home, and start a family, but as it turns out, living happily ever after in a house that's about to be condemned isn't so easy after all.
"The Sock Wars" is a novel of love, loss, and what gets left behind.
The first chapter of "The Sock Wars" was published as a short story/novel excerpt titled "Irish Drinking Socks", and became a Kobo bestselling short story.
What do the gods do when they're bored? Because they're always bored, and humans are the perfect players in their games.
Aphrodite owns love; she hasn't lost a competition on her turf in over three millennia. Apollo is on a mission to win, he's counting on it to finally get the one woman he's never been able to have. The two gods will choose their players and if Dita can't get them together before the clock runs out, Apollo will get his way. And Dita couldn't have that..
Some good ones... there are so many out there! what have you discovered this week?


text: I have been wanting get a strat for a long time now. I have been wanting the SRV strat, but I'm curious if this is really a good guitar or am I just paying for the name? I've played this guitar a lot at Guitar Center and like the way it plays. Is there another strat that has the tone of this guitar, like maybe the Strat Texas Special? Thanks for the feedback.


text:
My name is Patrick Burke and I've been a member of People First Merseyside for 27 years. I've been on the HealthFirst Course since it began in February and I've made lots of changes in my life. My main goal was to lose weight. I have lost a lot of weight and I am really pleased when people say "Paddy, your looking really good – where has the rest of you gone?" I was at the Regional Forum and everyone was saying how well I am looking.
It's not easy to lose weight. I've made lots of changes in my life.
I have never liked drinking water, I never liked the taste but Vivien was telling us about how important drinking water is. I used to drink orange juice and things. So first of all I changed to flavoured waters. Now when I am exercising I have plain water. I drink a small one of them every day and a large flavoured water. I used to drink lots of coffee and now I only have one or two cups a day.
I'm eating better, I eat lots of greens, cauliflower, cabbage and I'm eating lots of fruit.
I know that a man shouldn't drink more than 2 pints of beer a day so I've cut down on how much I drink and I feel lots better.
I'm doing extra exercise, every week I do line dancing and zumba – I'm really proud when I see the videos of us all doing it – we are getting better. Twice a week I walk home which is 2 miles and I feel better for it. We are now practising for the Wirral Walk and I feel like I'm getting fitter.
We have talked about lots of different types of cancer and I know what I need to look out for – for different signs and if I thought I had something wrong with me I'd just get straight to the doctors to find out.
I'm really glad I was on the Health Course and I've made lots of changes in my life.» Back to News


text:
4.4km Flat Easy
Cycle the Blue Mile at Wollongong right along the famous beaches. Enjoy history on Flagstaff Point, stop at the cafes and parks and see the historic wetlands. Hire a bike for your trip with South Coast Bike Hire.
Best Things about This Ride:
Start at Flagstaff Point Wollongong or Fairy Meadow Beach.
Learn the interesting and sometimes funny history of our defences at Flagstaff Point!
Love being off road along the old tramway cut out between the rocks.
Enjoy cafes and parks.
Take a swim in the famous baths and learn the history of lifesaving.
See the wetlands, river inlets and beaches
Ride Overview
- Short DescriptionCome and ride the Gong's Blue mile. Lovely beaches, wetlands, cafes, parks, coastline and history
- Trip PlanningOne way
- RegionNSW South Coast
- StartWollongong, Finish Fairy Meadow or Fairy Meadow Station
- Distance4.4km
- Time1 hour
- GradientFlat
- GradingEasy
- AccessCar Train
- TrafficCycle Path
- SurfaceSealed
- SeasonsAll
The Blue Mile
The Blue Mile
The Blue Mile


text:
Pgreater thanIncreasing evidence suggests that local blood flow should be monitored during microdialysis (MD) as the recovery of analytes is affected by local blood flow. At present ethanol clearance is the standard technique for this purpose, but it is not functional at very low perfusion velocities. Here, we introduce a technique for MD whereby local tissue blood flow is recorded by the use of urea clearance (changes inflow/outflow concentration), in conjunction with measurements of tissue metabolism (glucose, lactate and puruvate). MD probes were inserted into the gracilis muscle of 15 rats and perfused with a medium containing urea (20 mmol l-1). Changes in muscle blood flow were made by addition of noradrenaline (5 mu g ml-1) to the perfusion medium at two perfusion velocities (0 center dot 6 and 0 center dot 4 mu l min-1). The clearance of urea from the perfusion medium was then calculated and examined in relation to the dose of noradrenaline and to the coexisting changes in extracellular metabolites. The results showed reproducible and dose-dependent changes in blood flow that were induced by noradrenaline. These were characterized by dose-dependent changes in the urea clearance as well as blood-flow-specific changes in the MD metabolic markers (reduction in glucose and increase in lactate). The sensitivity for blood flow changes as assessed by urea clearance (MD) was increased at 0 center dot 4 compared with the 0 center dot 6 mu l min-1 perfusion speed. The results indicate that inclusion of urea to the perfusion medium may be used to monitor changes in skeletal muscle blood flow at low perfusion velocities and in parallel assess metabolic variables with a high recovery (greater than 90%).
The aim of this thesis was to develop and evaluate a new way of monitoring blood flow with microdialysis. A thin catheter consisting of a semipermeable membrane is implanted in the tissue being studied. The catheter is perfused by a solution that closely resembles interstitial fluid, and small water-soluble substances are allowed to diffuse passively through the pores of the membrane with the aim at reaching equilibrium with the surrounding tissue. The minimally invasive character of microdialysis, and its ability to sample from the organ being studied, make microdialysis attractive in most research settings as well as for clinical surveillance. It has, however, become increasingly evident that microdialysis under conditions of non-equilibrium - for example, fluctuating regional blood flow, will alter the results gained. We have therefore aimed to explore the possibilities of developing a new marker of blood flow that will yield information about changes in blood flow that occur in the area of the microdialysis catheter itself.
We hypothesised that the changes in the diffusion of exogenous urea could be used as markers of changes in tissue blood flow. The theoretical basis for this approach is that the mass transfer of urea will increase across the dialysis membrane secondary to increased blood flow. As removal of urea from the vicinity of the dialysis membrane increases with increased blood flow, the concentration gradient of urea between the perfusate and tissue will also increase. This in turn will result in a greater loss of urea from the perfusate. The changes noted in retrieval of urea from dialysate by the system are therefore thought to be inversely related to changes in blood flow. We tested our hypothesis in two species of animal (rat and pig) and in man, and in three organ systems (muscle, liver, and skin), and present four papers that indicate that the urea clearance technique provides reliable and reproducible results. The technique was evaluated against conventional metabolic markers (lactate and glucose), the ethanol clearance technique (microdialysis), laser Doppler perfusion imaging (LDPI), and polarisation light spectroscopy (TiVi).
We present evidence that the urea clearance technique can be used to assess blood flow in the organs studied reliably and reproducibly with microdialysis. The microdialysis technique is minimally invasive and safe for the recipient, and catheters can easily be implanted during operation to monitor organs at risk. Urea is easily analysed as a standard assay among other "basic" metabolic markers (in a standard microdialysis kit) and has favourable characteristics with a standardised measurement system that is routinely used for monitoring metabolites in the clinic. The technique is also effective when used at lower perfusate flow rates (<1 μl/minute), which is advantageous as the recovery of metabolic markers increases at low perfusate flow rates.


text:
Search the Community
Showing results for tags 'introduce'.
Found 1 result
Introduction Thread!
[CM]Shirna posted a topic in General DiscussionHey everyone! Thank you for joining the official Black Desert Xbox One community! We're happy to finally have the site and forums open. We will be trying to bring as much information to you as we can, and also have small events and fun activities for us to do while we wait for the game to launch! Before all that though, it's time to introduce yourselves! Let others know who you are and let's build an awesome community together. I suck at introductions, and I'm sure most of you will do better than what I can do, BUT: Hi, I'm Simon, and I'm your Community Manager. Your turn!


text:
Sold 06/19
Beds: 3
Baths: 2
Finished Size: 2903 sqft
Lot Size: 6659 sqft, 0.153 acres
Lot: 6659 ft2, 0.153 acr
Partially Finished
Fridge, Stove, Washer, Dryer
Year Built: 1923
Fuel: Oil
Heating: Forced Air
Foundation: Poured Concrete
Roof: Fibreglass Shingle
Exterior: Stucco
Lot Shape: Rectangle
Taxes: $6404
Parking Type: Single Garage
Lot Features: Water View, Corner
Elementary: 61 Margaret Jenkins
Junior: 61 Monterey
Senior: 61 Oak Bay
Please enter your name
Please enter a valid email address
Request sent to Agent!
Sorry, request failed to send to Agent. Please contact Uplist support at email@example.com


text:
|That's not my name. I'm not Magda. I'm the Devil.
— Magda to Sam Winchester
Magda Peterson was a young psychic girl.
Magda was born with powerful psychic abilities and one day, while arguing with her mother over getting a new cell phone, mentally jerked the wheel of the car, causing an accident that left her mother with damaged nerves and constant pain. Becoming deranged and fanatically religious, Magda's mother Gail cut the family off from the world, faked Magda's death and locked her in the basement of their home. Believing Magda to be possessed by The Devil, Gail would force Magda to whip herself to try to get the Devil out of her.
Season 12Edit
In American Nightmare, Magda desperately reaches out to Olivia Sanchez in an attempt to get help. Magda's efforts caused Olivia to start repeating the prayer Gail forced Magda to say and caused stigmata on Olivia. The use of Magda's powers on Olivia ultimately scrambled Olivia's brains and killed her. Magda tried to reach out to Ricky Copeland in the same manner with the same result.
While investigating the deaths, hunters Sam and Dean Winchester learn of Magda's supposed death of pneumonia and Sam suspects her to be a vengeful spirit. While searching the Peterson farm for EMF, Sam overheard Magda's father and brother discussing her and realizes she's alive. Sam is captured by the two and chained up with Magda who demonstrates her telekinesis. Sam realizes she's psychic, not possessed and explains about his own former abilities and insists Magda can learn to control her powers. At dinner, Gail attempts to poison her family to death, killing Magda's father Abraham. When Gail tries to force her brother Elijah to eat the poisoned food, Magda intervenes, flinging away the food with her telekinesis. Elijah is killed protecting Magda from his mother and Magda telekinetically turns her mother's own knife on her. However, at the insistence of Sam, Magda does not kill her mother.
The next morning, Gail is arrested for her crimes and social worker Beth Roberts arranges for Magda to go live on her aunt's ranch. At a bus stop on the way to the ranch, Magda enters a bathroom where she is murdered by Arthur Ketch.
In Ladies Drink Free, Dean tells Mick Davies about them giving Magda a second chance due to her circumstances and the fact that "everything isn't black and white out here." Mick is aware of who Dean is talking about, but doesn't tell him of Magda's murder.
In Twigs & Twine & Tasha Banes, Arthur admits to killing Magda to Mary Winchester, stating as part of cleaning up after her sons "I killed a psychic girl they thought was human."
Powers and AbilitiesEdit
Magda had powerful psychic abilities.
- Telepathy - Magda could read people's thoughts.
- Mental Projection - Magda was able to project her thoughts into another person's brain and have them repeat what she told them. However, prolonged use of this power scrambled the target's brain.
- Telekinesis - Magda could move objects with her mind. She was able to levitate a cross into the air and psychically control her mother's knife.
- Biokinesis - While attempting to reach out to Olivia Sanchez and Ricky Copeland for help, Magda caused wounds in the form of stigmata to appear on their bodies.
- Season 12
- American Nightmare
- There's Something About Mary (referenced only)
- Sam's intervention in Magda's attempt to get revenge on her mother mirrors Sam's intervention in Max Miller's attempt to get revenge on his step-mother. The main difference is that Magda did not commit suicide afterwards, and chose to accept Sam's promise that despite her powers, she would be okay.
- It is shown in the episode that she was born June 4, 1998.


text:
- Home
- 10 Tips for Avoiding Fails
- Anatomy
- Sexy
- Star Wars
- Superheroes
Currently viewing the tag: "Odd"
Tutus and Rifles
Continue Reading →
No idea what is going on with the cross-dressing, tutu wearing, rifle slinging couple.
Old Fashioned Telephone Costumes
Continue Reading →
Remember the good old days? When mom and dad would dress up with telephones on their heads? No? We don't either.
Bucket Man Costume
Continue Reading →
Don't look now, but it's Spooky Bucket Man. Lock up the kids.
Furry White Tiger
Continue Reading →
What on Earth? Another furry I think, this time some sort of white tiger?
Tagsarrested Avatar batman bikini Boba Fett breasts captain planet cardboard Christmas costume mashup couples Darth Vader disney dogs Elmo fat femtrooper food Gender Bender half top han solo holiday hot boba fett hulk Mr. T Navi Not Getting Laid Odd Oscar the Grouch police r2d2 Santa Claus sesame street sexy Sexy Stormtrooper Saturday spiderman star wars stormtrooper superhero superman thundercats tmnt win wolverine wonder woman


text:
Heat works well for chronic muscle tension and spasm as well as tight and stiff joints, because it relaxes, sooths nerves and increases circulation. The most common applications of heat are thermophore, foot baths, steam inhalation, and full body baths.
If you have visited my clinic, chances are you have experienced my thermophore. A thermophore is an electric moist-heat pad that is primarily used for chronic pain, muscle spasm and tight fascia (a type of connective tissue). The main effects from thermophore use are increased circulation, sedates nerves (= decreased pain), as well as it warms and relaxes muscles. All you have to do for this application is place the thermophore on the desired area, turn it on, and relax for about 20 minutes. Although more expensive than a standard heating pad, a thermophore is well worth the extra money and will last you for years (my last clinic one lasted 10 years).
Foot baths have numerous applications, but a warm foot bath will increase your body's circulation; help with sinus problems, chest congestion, and chronic sleep disturbances. This application of hydrotherapy is really easy to do. Grab a bucket big enough to fit both your feet, fill with warm water, immerse your feet past ankles, and relax for 5-20 minutes. Make sure to dry your feet off after and put on socks to avoid becoming chilled.
If you have a cold, sinus infection or other respiratory ailments, steam inhalation is what you need. They increase the blood flow to your face and chest, eases congestion, and loosens mucus. To do a steam inhalation fill a large bowl half full with boiling water, place your head over the bowl, and cover the bowl, your head and shoulders with a large towel. Close your eyes, relax and breath. Inhale the steam for up to 20 minutes, taking "air" breaks when necessary. If desired, you can add essential oils to steam inhalations.
Lastly, but probably most relaxing, are full body baths. To get the maximum relaxation from a bath, the temperature should be between 36-38. A bath that is too hot can actually excite the nervous system instead of relaxing it. You can change the effects of a bath by adding Epsom salts, essential oils or by changing the temperature of the water.
Temperature can have a big impact on how effective a treatment is. Warm treatments should use water that is 36-38 degrees for optimal therapeutic results, and a hot treatment is usually between 39-42 degrees. Your body's temperature changes over the course of a day, this means that some applications of hydrotherapy are best done at different times. Warm treatments are best done early to mid-evening to help encourage relaxation, and foot baths are best done early in the morning or late in the evening.
So sit back, relax and allow the amazing effects of water to help ease your aches and pains away.


text:
WASHINGTON For the first 20 days of March, India is to be found in many parts of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts here. Cuisine, fabric, visual art, music, film, literature and theater, as well as dance, are all part of its Maximum India festival. The foyers of the building have been unusually full. Audiences have included American women in saris and Indian men wearing sports jackets.
I'm sorry that I was able to catch only four companies in three evening performances. These presented only a small range of what Indian dance can cover. Three of them though widely divergent in style offered examples of bharatanatyam, the multidimensional performance form deriving from the southeastern province of Tamil Nadu. The fourth, the Daksha Sheth's company "Sarpagati Way of the Serpent" (on Tuesday), was an example of fusion, combining so the program notes say elements from Kathak (the complex classical dance from north India), Mayurbhanj Chhau (the martial/tribal dance from east India), Kalaripayattu (the martial art from Kerala in the deep south) and Mallakhamb (aerial techniques from western India).
Some of these notably "Sarpagati" were audience hits that bore little interest for me. Others, however, showed how Indian forms can provide some of the most transcendent experiences that dance has to offer. On Thursday I took a Washington friend with little experience of any dance theater and none of Indian forms to see Malavika Sarukkai in "Sakthi Sakthimaan"; after her final dance, his immediate response was that it had brought him as near to being out of body and out of mind as he could imagine from live performance. I felt much the same.
One important difference was the use of live music by Ms. Sarukkai and, in the second half of the previous evening, by Ragamala Dance: the closeness of the liaison between music and dance was often bewitching. But that can't explain all the differences. There was live music for "Sarpagati," too, without there being any intimate connection between sight and sound. So I'll just say briefly that most of "Sarpagati" and much of the three dances shown by Dakshina in the first half of Wednesday evening seemed to amalgamate aspects of East, West, traditional and modern in ways that felt like tepid compromises.
By contrast, no sooner had either Ragamala Dance (an American company of the Indian Diaspora) or Ms. Sarukkai (an internationally renowned soloist from India) begun, than every moment seemed precise, specific, focused. From those sharply defined beginnings arose complexities both rapturous and profound. The Ragamala musical instruments were actually an excellent example of fusion: for "Gangashtakam," the instruments included the mrindangam and nattuvangam and violin though producing sounds that most Westerners seldom associate with the violin.
"Gangashtakam" concerning the flow and worship of the river Ganga (Ganges) is a solo for Aparna Ramaswamy. Quickly she demonstrates just how many parts of the body are used in bharatanatyam (individual fingers, different parts of the sole of the foot, the spine tipped in many ways, eyes, head, arms and legs), the volumetric fullness with which a single dancer can become thrillingly three-dimensional, and the wide supply of rhythms and dynamic contrasts that enrich this form.
Every change of focus registers keenly. The swaying pliancy of the torso becomes deeply sensuous. (No dance form flatters the curves of the female torso more than that of India.) A simple, bouncing walk toward the audience and back is delivered with a subtlety that made it far from simple in its effect. Gestures ranging from small to large indicate the growth of the river, and their fluency its current.
But it is when it comes to meaning that we see differences between Indian and Western dance theater yet greater than those between Indian and Western music. In this solo about the Ganges, Ms. Ramaswamy seems now to embody the river, now to indicate it, now to worship it; and the forms of expression alternated between detailed mime gestures to the kinds of pure dance that seem as abstract and as impersonal as a human being can ever achieve. The dancer seems continually to move between different kinds of being and of thought, and the Western observer is aware of many layers of mystery.
In the second Ragamala dance, "Yathra" ("Journey"), five women dance to music for sitar and Indian cello. The work traces the course of a day and, by implication, a life. Dance themes are iterated by successive performers with different inflections. When, in the autumnal twilight-of-life solo near the end, we recognize some of the same material that had been shown in the brighter earlier section, the effect is movingly meditative. This is an excellent company; Ms. Ramaswamy is an enchantingly beautiful dancer.
At first, the beauties of Ms. Sarukkai's dancing on Thursday seemed less remarkable. In particular, her torso does not tip with the freedom of Ms. Ramaswamy's. But her spell kept changing and growing. Her three solos were "Mahesa Tandavam" ("The Dance of Shiva"), "Eka Lakhshyaha Margaha" ("The Many Paths to the One") and "Mahishasuramardini" ("The Fall of the Demon"). It's tempting to dwell on the mythological, religious and philosophical intentions of these works both the program notes and a spoken introduction helped with these and yet it may be better to observe that the meanings of Ms. Sarukkai's dancing seem to arise primarily out of the intense contrasts she makes between different facets of dance itself.
Stillness or motion; gesture or rhythm; legato or staccato; left or right; open or closed; aggressive or benign these and other oppositions became thrilling in Ms. Sarukkai's extraordinarily long solos. (The program lasted almost 90 minutes; she was seldom offstage for long.) After a complex series of phrases around the stage, she will suddenly hold a pose on one leg that becomes a statement of heroic tranquillity. Her hands and fingers frequently flutter in close response to a drum or other instrument; now they hover or travel in flight, then they change to declarative gestures of quite another kind.
Her very face, with its rich cheekbones and calm mouth (often in a half-smile), keeps altering. You have no clue who she is. But, as with other great Indian dancers, you feel that far larger things are passing through her, and that you are in communion with them, too. As with Ms. Ramaswamy, some of the most transporting instances are ones of near-stillness, when the dancer seems to be inhaling the moment as if it were incense.


text:
Retevis's multi-port charging station sets
You're using a radio charger on a daily basis, and more likely than not you have multiple retevis walkie talkies. That makes things difficult because you don't want to spread your walkie talkies across outlets here and there. Try to check out a multi-port charging device:5-Port USB Charger or 6-Port Charging Station. so you could put all your devices in one place to charge. Besides,In order to help you save the total budget, we has released Retevis's multi-port charging station sets, especially for RETEVIS RT21,RETEVIS RT22,RETEVIS RT24,RETEVIS H777S and RETEVIS RT27 handsets.
5-Port USB Charger
Retevis's multi-port USB charger includes five usb ports, so you don't ever have to worry about running out of space. Furthermore,you're not just laying devices around while connected to a central hub. This is a charging dock, too. It means you could charge other gadgets,such as your phones, tablet pc, usb radio etc.
- 40W 5-port USB charger.
- Support multi device charging simultaneous (phone, tablet pc, two way radio etc).
- 100-240V input for use across the world.
- With auto detect function, with each port over current protection function.
- CE, FCC, UL certification.
6-Port Charging Station
Retevis's multi-port charging station includes six ports, so you don't ever have to worry about running out of space. Furthermore,either you could charge six batteries or radios once. It's widely used for large-scale groups and labor-intensive activities (such as warehouse, property management, restaurants, supermarket and enterprise.
- Capable of charging up to six batteries or six radios simultaneously.
- Capable of controlling the charging process to ensure high efficiency.
- Self-switching (AC 100V-240V) power supply for international use.
- Safe and reliable, with multiple safety protection.
- CE, FCC, UL certification.
Further details, feel free to click Contact Us now, we would deliver the right requirements to you within 24 hours.


text:
Photo Gallery: Round Hill's Hometown Festival
Round Hill enjoyed a full day of community activities on Saturday as part of its annual Hometown Festival. The day started with a 5K race and ended with a concert at the town park. In between there was a parade, Memorial Day ceremony, a talent show, a downhill derby, pie eating contests and other family activities.


text:
Oh! Jean Records is an outsider's record store that began from a childhood passion. With hard work and exciting ingenuity, it has grown to become a cherished member of the community.
This short creative documentary was made by students in Film and Screen Studies units in the School of Media, Film and Journalism at Monash University.
Director and cinematographer: RONAN HORGAN
Producer: VICTORIA RUDNIKOV
Sound: FLORA ZHANG


text:
It is good to be back in London even if my luggage is still in Philadelphia. The Philly airport was a mess with bad weather. Our jumbo jet was empty which was fantastic for me as I slept across three seats. Plus, got to watch Music and Lyrics with Drew Barrymore and Hugh Grant. It was very sweet.
I welcome the sanity and, surprisingly, the prices back here in London. My last meals in the US, in the Vegas airport, cost me a fortune. A $7.31 yogurt with fruit and granola, $10.00 chicken salad (for the flight since there was no meal service), $3.00 bottle of water (that security confiscated and chucked in trash, unopened - in the desert no less) and $4.59 Odwalla. US airports are really taking you for a ride.
Walked into a Marks and Spencer at London Gatwick and there were countless healthy, fresh and affordable choices. Purchased a lovely egg salad sandwich on whole meal bread and a fruit smoothy - total - 2 pounds and 50 pence.


text:
Pokemon Crystal expanded on the story concept of Pokemon and was the first game to tie the plot into a legendary Pokemon, namely Suicune. You don't get to catch Suicune first time you see it, but you do have a chance before battling the Elite Four.
All Content is
©Copyright of Serebii.net 1999-2019. | Privacy Policy | Manage Cookie Settings
Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark & © of Nintendo 1996-2019


text:
AffiliateDOTCom Review
Affiliatedotcom is a new training product coming from, in my opinion, internet marketing legendary Mike Filsaime and Chris Farrelle. Mike Filsaime is the man behind Paydotcom and quite a few lunches that the internet marketing industry has seen. Well, to have been around that long in the internet marketing game is insane.
There are chances that you that you are reading this right now, has tried quite a few thing and you still haven't see what works. Let me address that quickly if you happen to be one of the failure stories in internet , affiliate or network marketing world. 99% of the time, it's because you don't have focus and a good attention span to allow one strategy to work before moving to another strategy. In other words, you are distracted by every launch that goes on online like the affiliatedotcom launch.
I wanted to get that out of the way before actually going into the affiliatedotcom review itself. I also want you to know that I don't have the affiliatedotcom affiliate link and I don't have the intention of selling it to you with bribe bonuses. However I went over the launch videos and did some research. Therefore I will give you an honest opinion on if you should buy or not.
I must say that these guys are on point with the transparent world we are in right now. Affiliatedotcom is literally Affiliate marketing 2.0 and it supports everything we believe in. That is the direction that business is going today – PERIOD! This is not just about internet, affiliate or network marketing. This is a phenomenon that applies to all businesses and very soon employees. That's right, even people on a good 'ol J.O.B will need to understand this concept to keep a job.
Click For ACCESS To A FREE Training That Has The SAME Value, That is Covers Affiliate Marketing, Relationship Marketing and Even More Residual Income. You Don't Have To Invest A Life Savings
Mike and Chris discussed in the affiliatedotcom launch videos the need to stick with this order of operation as a marketer. Choose a market (network marketing being the best anyway), building a list and a relationship with the list and lastly the product. Let me be clear. Offering products to your customers come last. The days of making youtube videos about products you have never used just to make affiliate commissions are over. GONE!
The issue of high competitions and affiliate spams all over the place was clearly addressed as well. Well, I always believed that there is truly nothing like competition for the winners in the entrepreneurship game. To truly be a winner, you always have to stand out. Affiliatedotcom is a product that will allow you to stand out from the crowd and I don't mean as a fake guru.
My concern with affiliatedotcom is that the fact remains that most people doing it still have a job mentality. This simply means that the progress of your so called business still depends on just your own efforts. That is the definition of a job my friend. Learning how to leverage affiliate marketing with the efforts of other people is the key to financial freedom.


text:
New! Bookeye 5 V3
The best of 5 generations!
Image Access Blog
Beijing MIO Sends Masks to Image Access
Press Releases and Reports
News and Events
Best MFP Solutions Available
Fastest scan/copy at lowest prices
ISO 9001:2015 certified
White Paper
Book Scanner Quality Check
Join us on Facebook
and stay tuned
GSA Advantage
Contract #GS-35F-0203Y
NEW! Image Access FAQs
Want to see more?
Check our videos on Youtube


text:
I broke my two year streak last night.
I at a cookie.
Not just any cookie.
I ate Pam's Chocolate Chip cookies.
They. Are. To. Die. For.
Seriously. Two years ago I couldn't stop eating Pam's cookies. I would eat an entire plate of these chocolate chip cookies. They have some secret ingredient that Pam refuses to reveal (personally, I think it might be crack.)
This weekend I caved to the crave.
I ate Pam's cookies!
But, I now have the self control to stop myself from gorging and devouring all the cookies on the plate.
In the past I would have boxed out everyone at the party to keep the platter all to myself and then licked it clean …with my tongue …right off the plate. I would have hid Pam's cookies in my purse in order to take the sweet treats home and then gulped them down in secret.
What am I saying… I have done all of the above.
But, I have now learned my lesson.
After giving up sweet treats and facing my sugar addiction last year during the first year of The Promise 365 I have learned about sugar boundaries.
I have learned many lessons about sugar actually.
The most important is this: the less "sweetness" I have in my life the more "sweets" I crave in my diet.
So I am proud to report that I ate not forty or twenty or twelve, but only three of Pam's cookies tonight. Trust me, it's progress. Believe me, they are worth it.
But my favorite, most crave-orite cookie is the crinkle — as in Chocolate Crinkle Cookie.
Why? Because Mama Sling made these scrumptious delights at Christmastime.
And it is when I miss my mama most that I crave sweets.
Whenever I crave sugar, I really want a hug from Mama Sling.
When I pine for pie, I really want her kisses.
When I reach for chocolate, it is her laughter and that special brand of jolliness that I want to fill my life.
Knowing is half the battle.
I still limit my sugar intake and certainly don't cave to every crave, but before I let loose and treat myself these days, I evaluate why I want it. Because there's always a reason.
So here's my favorite cookie recipe. It's not Pam's but it's pretty darn good.
Chocolate Crinkle Cookie recipe here
May your life be sweet and may you sugar responsibly.


text:
What's the Big Deal with Angels?
February 8, 2018 | by: Dale Thiele | 0 Comments
Posted in: Pastoral Encouragement
The writer to the Hebrews opens his letter with an unusual statement: Jesus is "much superior to angels" (1:4). I say this is unusual because we do not think of angels much (at least I don't) and don't feel the weight of this comparison. Why was it so important for the writer to emphasize the superiority of Christ over angels? How does this impact us?
There are several places in the New Testament that we receive a glimpse into the esteem 1st century Jews had for angels. Stephen speaks about angels in his sermon before the Jewish leaders in Acts 7. He says, "This is the one (Moses) who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai…" (v. 38). An angel was speaking with Moses at Sinai.
The apostle Paul also affirms that angels interacted with Moses at Sinai when he says, "[The law] was put in place through angels by an intermediary" (Gal 3:19). God used angels to communicate (or, "put in place") the law with Moses on Sinai. Angels, as the Greek word behind their name indicates, were messengers for God.
The messenger role of angels was on the mind of the writer to the Hebrews when he makes the comparison with Christ. He says in 2:2, "Since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable…"
For the 1st century Jews and the early converts to Christianity, angels were highly esteemed because God employed them in delivering the "sacred" Mosaic Law. In fact, esteem for the Law of Moses grew as the people believed that it was delivered to Israel not only by a mere human, Moses, but by angelic beings. The validity and importance of the message (the Law) was proportionate to the esteem of the office and importance of the messengers.
What do we learn from this? Idolization of the messenger leads to the idolization of the message, which can lead to missing the point of the message. This is the case for the recipients of Hebrews.
Angels = awesome.
Angels delivered the Law of Moses.
Therefore, Moses = awesome.
All the while they missed the point that the Law of Moses was a mere shadow of Christ and his priestly work for his people.
They missed that only Christ = awesome.
Typically, we're not so enamored with angels as many in the 1st century. But we are still tempted to be enamored with messengers. In our "celebrity culture" certain preachers and authors gain large followings. Some of these messengers certainly proclaim the most excellent message of Christ. The large followings are not necessarily bad.
The warning of Hebrews, however, is that we must never lose sight that the Son is much superior to the messengers. The exhortation is to run the race, "looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith." The best messengers fade to the background as they exalt Christ.
Perhaps that's why the "messenger" of this letter to the Hebrews is unidentified.
-Pastor Dale


text:
Posted on June 28, 2010 by admin No comments
Sermon preached by the Reverend Nicholas Lang
St. Paul's on the Green, Norwalk, Connecticut
Ash Wednesday – February 25, 2009
You have probably noticed that there are no Hallmark cards celebrating Ash Wednesday. Shop windows are not decked out in sackcloth. This is not a day that garners much popularity. A woman sitting in church one Ash Wednesday turned to the man sitting next to her and ask "What is it that brings people out on a cold night to get dirt smeared on their forehead, and be reminded that they are sinners and are going to die." He looked at her somewhat oddly and said, "I don't know. I guess it's as habit."
It doesn't feel like a habit to me this year. This is not any ordinary Ash Wednesday. Metaphorically, people's lives are being reduced to ashes because of the loss of jobs, homes, dignity, and hope. The entryway to Lent this year is markedly different for me. People have been humbled in ways they never imagined and will no doubt continue to grow in humility as time passes—not by choice but by circumstance. Another rector and I spoke yesterday about how people we know are being affected and she said, "I think people are so ready for Easter to be tomorrow."
Typically, Lent has been perceived as a very boring time when we work in the negative, that is to say we "give up something" we otherwise enjoy. Some of these little fasts are, indeed, a good and healthful thing for us, like sweets or cigarettes or fatty foods. But I wonder if, given the somber tone of the day and the pall of gloom that has been cast over the nation for the past several months, we wouldn't all like to give up Lent…for Lent.
Well, that's probably a little too drastic and is surely an example of throwing the baby out with the bath water. The better alternative it seems to me is to reframe it. What I would like to suggest to us on this unusual Ash Wednesday is that we think in terms of an economic stimulus package—but not the kind being debated in the chambers of congress. I'm talking about a different economy—God's economy. I believe that God's plan would have us stimulate our minds during these forty days of Lent—expanding our narrow understanding of what God wants to do for us and God's world and our limited vision of what exactly is the dream of God for each of us.
In her book , In Kneeling in Jerusalem, Ann Weems writes "Lent is a time to let the power of our faith story take hold for us, a time to let the events get up and walk around in us, a time to intensify our living into Christ, a time to hover over the thoughts of our hearts…a time to allow a fresh new taste of God."
And I believe that God wants to stimulate our hearts. "Return to me with all your heart," the scripture tells us today. This is an Ash Wednesday when we can really pay attention to changes of the heart and a deeper commitment to others around us. The plight of those affected by the current crisis calls out to us to be giving of ourselves, not for the sake of Lenten piety or to impress others, but because that may be the only way to bring some relief to a hurting population.
The crushing poverty of so many people requires that we share our prosperity even in small ways with those who have so much less. Giving food and cash to those who are suffering so profoundly in the crisis of the day is no longer a matter of charity—but of social justice.
For many years I have worn the ashes of Ash Wednesday as a reminder of my mortality and of death which is inescapable and inevitable. But we don't need these ashes to prove that point. Tragic loss as recent as the death of two of our members last Saturday will continue to drive home that stark reality. Tonight I ask us to wear these ashes as a symbol of life—to remember who we are, molded out of dust by God and given life by the holy breath God has breathed into us.
Writing in the Christian Century on the Ash Wednesday after September 11, 2001, Barbara Brown Taylor offered these words for reflection: "When I went to the rail this year I received a different sacrament. The gospel of the day is not about the poverty of flesh so much as it is about the holiness of ashes, which are worthy of all reverence. It was God who decided to breathe on them, after all, God who chose to bring them to life. We are certainly dust and to dust we shall return, but in the meantime our bodies are sources of deep revelation for us…Those ashes are not curses. They are blessings instead, announcing God's undying love of dust no matter what kind or shape it is in."
So remember that you are dust, but remember not just the limitations but the possibilities inherent in your humanity. Remember that you are dust, but remember the grace that is conferred on your human life. Remember that you are dust but remember that God created you to live in God's own image. Remember that you are dust, but remember that you are in a living, growing, unfolding relationship with God and with each other.
Let's resolve tonight to do this Lent differently. We have 40 precious day to open ourselves up to God's love, to examine ourselves in the presence of the one who created us, and to both expand our understanding of what God's dream is for us and stretch our hearts in ways that will touch the broken lives of those who are suffering in these very threatening times. We are dust and to dust we shall return, but by God's grace we can learn to live life more fully and be transformed by the stimulus package of God's economy. So let us begin…


text:
Complete downloading of archives for the Tweets- Gift for the year by Twitter CEO Dick Costolo
The CEO of Twitter, Mr. Dick Costolo has fulfilled his promise and announced that Twitter's users will be soon able to download entire archive of their tweets, from the end of this year. This announcement was interlinking with the questions asked during the discussion of "Twitter's role in future of the global communication and the democratised access to the information" at University of Michigan sponsored by Ford School of Public Policy and the School of Information at Costolo's alma mater.
Mind you that this promise is not made first time. He has already made this commitment in September with the Online News Association Conference. Costolo had made announcement that he would love to see this feature introduced in Twitter by the end of this year, as par the engineer's capacity.
Costolo's promise may not help him in earning friends among the Twitter's engineering team. As, his speech has also highlighted that engineers have already informed him that this is not possible by the end of this year. Still he is being constantly making promise with the Twitter users and keeps on arguing with the engineers to come up with the feature, this year's end.
Now imagine that how much difficult it would be to introduce something like this in just few weeks. In the peak times, Twitter is encountering almost 15,000 tweets per second and 1.3 million timelines. Twitter's system is designed for the real time distribution and search and not for the searching and distributing of the archives. Still if people want such thing to happen, the entire real time distribution system of Twitter will slow down. For finding such historical tweets, Twitter will need to come up with different type of archival system.
Costolo has shared that tweet sharing is about a billion in every two and a half days. When they have started Twitter Company in 2006, it took almost three years, two months and one day to reach to the first billion tweets. But now this is a matter of only two and a half days- figures has been increased vividly.
One thing that must need to get your attention is that in October 2011, half billion tweets were reported per day. The figures are quite dramatic. More interesting facts have been shared in this conference and are listed below:
- After Costolo has taken charge as CEO, Twitter's users have been increased by 500 million and 350 million tweets per day.
- In the World Cup of summers 2010, Twitter has encountered 3000 tweets per second and this was sweating entire team in fear of system crashes. In the recent Election Day of US the tweet figures has reached to 12,000 to 15,000 tweets.
- In 90 seconds, 27,000 tweets were generated when the TV show "The X-Factor" has put hashtag.
- Twitters entertain the request of every government to take off the tweets for chilling effects.
- Twitter is collaborating with Japanese government over the project "Lifeline". This aims to make lists of the government agencies on Twitter so that people can easily follow them and wake of from disaster and emergency.
- Twitter services will not going to charge on more than 140 character limit.
Twitter is also ramping up the big data visualization.
No related posts.


text:
1. I am working on a writing project (as in, an actual one and not just a bunch of my jumbled thoughts posted on the internet) and I've made some really good progress on it this week. Mainly because I finally have a deadline. Am I the only person who doesn't function well with open-ended projects? Anyway, I've been really nervous about it but it's coming together pretty well (!!!) so yay, me. I understand if you don't share in my excitement. I have enough for all of us. =)
2. This picture of me and Meghan makes me happy. She looked so pretty as the junior bridesmaid... I can't believe it's been 2 years since she was my flower girl!
3. The fabulous four... we're all married now! Yay! I love this picture (of everyone but me... but that's beside the point.)
4. I got to spend some time with one of my dearest friends this weekend. I can't wait for her own wedding day in July. Love you Starling!
5. I got this skirt at Old Navy this week for $10! I've been looking for a maxi skirt for a long time and since it's the middle of summer they're full price almost everywhere. Therefore, I felt like this was a deal I just couldn't pass up! (Go figure.)
That's it for now... this time next week I'll be posting from my new house! (And I only have about 34 million things to do between now and then. Wish me luck!) Have a great weekend everyone!


text:
Serving Michigan
Majestic Railings from Lakeshore Vinyl Products is the perfect solution to add low maintenance railing to your deck or porch. Railings are the perfect solution for new or retro-fit construction. We build safety into every railing we manufacture.
Most of our railings are IRC+IBC code approved.
Eternal Beauty
Non-toxic vinyl eliminates chemical treatments, lead-based paint and preservatives.
Durable vinyl components are strengthened with aluminum reinforcements.
Optional heavy-duty mounting hardware anchors the posts to your deck, concrete or wood surface.
Many Railing Styles and Colors to Choose From. Railings that blend timeless design, durable construction and superior vinyl.
Beautiful Boundaries
Railings are so much more than architectural features – together, they create the defining statement of your outdoor living space. We design our railing systems to silently serve your family from season to season with sturdy reliability and maintenance-free care.
Perhaps you never gave railings a second thought until you removed a sliver from a little hand or replacing broken pickets or the endless hours of painting. Our railings free you from sanding rough surfaces, scraping peeling paint, or replacing termite-ridden posts. It's your life – we help you enjoy it.
Customized Post Caps and Spindles
A variety of attractive post caps and spindles are available to coordinate with your home style.
Railing Specifications
Majestic Railings – Railing Systems Feature:
Most railings up to 10 foot lengths are IRC and IBC code approved.
36″ or 42″ high.
Non-toxic vinyl eliminates chemical treatments, lead-based paint, and preservatives.
Reinforcements are used to further strengthen every durable vinyl component.
Optional heavy-duty mounting hardware anchors the posts to your deck, concrete, or wood surface.
standard 4′, 6′, 8′ or 10′ lengths as well as custom lengths.
3 colors to choose from.
Aluminum Railing
Beauty meets strength. Elegance meets distinction. Masterpiece meets innovative engineering. Westbury Aluminum Railing was designed with these essential elements in mind. With a variety of designs, colors, and textures, you decide what fits you. Whether you add railing to the front of your home or to the deck in the back, you will have turned your home into a very welcoming retreat.
12 color choices
Lifetime warranty
AAMA 2605 compliant powder coating (the highest quality powder coating on the market)
12 styles to choose from
Continuous top rail option that creates a sleek continuous rail from end-to-end for an uninterrupted look.
Continuous Handrail
Lakeshore Vinyl Products has the largest stock in ADA approved continuous handrail.
ADA Compliant Railing System Includes:
1 3/8″ Aluminum Rail (8′, 10′, 16′)
1/8″ Collar Ring (to cover splice)
Strong Internal Connector
Continuous 180-degree Handrail Return
Tapered 1-piece Wall Return
Beveled Internal End Cap
Verified AAMA 2604-05 Compliant Powder Coating
Lifetime Warranty
Virtually Maintenance Free
Lifetime warranties are available. Call:
Fill out our quick and easy quote form to get your estimate now.
Get a FREE estimate


text:
Dear Rachel and Claire,
I'm 56 and my sex life isn't what it used to be. Actually it's almost exactly what it used to be at about age 12; mostly wishful thinking. The only sexual organ that really works anymore is my tongue, and I've learned to use it pretty well over the past dozen or so years. OK, now for the toy question. What is the deepest-reaching vibrator/dildo out there? I know that I can stimulate the clitoris orally, and can even hit the G-spot in some cases, but deep work, even with fingers, is difficult. I've got a very hot relationship building, and it is clear that we will soon be in the sack, and I want to make every effort for the event to be fully satisfying to my partner. She knows about my physical challenges, and is understanding in concept. I just want to give her plenty of reasons for continuing in this direction.
-Soft but Still Sexy
Dear Soft but Sexy:
One thing you might try is a strap-on dildo. Unlike flesh and blood penises, you get to pick just what size and shape you want, and most importantly, it's always ready. Even without nerve endings, your imagination and feeling of having a "psychic hard-on" will probably give you a lot more sensation than you expect. The Spareparts Joque Harness is a good choice; pair that with a Leo.You could use any of those dildos as a hand-held toy.
So that's the gear. As to the concept of "deep work," you may not need to go as deep as you think. Many women don't relish having the cervix banged. Clitoral stimulation is the main route to climax, and your fingers can reach to her G-spot for penetration fun. Another alternative to going deeper is going wider—try adding another finger to increase the volume.
For more suggestions, or just plain inspiration, get this revelant book: Sex Toys 101.


text:
Bullets are common in PowerPoint presentations, and sometimes you want to customize the bullets to look just right. PowerPoint gives you a lot of control by aligning and adjusting the text for a bullet point. And so it goes.
Align the bulleted text horizontally in its text box
First, open your PowerPoint presentation and go to the slide that contains the bulleted text. Select the text in the bullet that you want to customize.
The Home tab displays four different targeting options – the same ones you use to align normal text.
From left to right, these options are:
- Align Left (Ctrl + L)
- Center (Ctrl + E)
- Align Right (Ctrl + R)
- Justify (Ctrl + R) + J)
Hovering over each option gives you the orientation type, keyboard shortcut, and orientation description.
Select the desired alignment option. In this example we choose "centering".
Now the highlighted text center is displayed in the text field.
<img class = "alignnone size-full wp-image-400925" data-pagespeed-lazy-src = "https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/xalignment-example .png.pagespeed.gp + jp + jw + pj + ws + js + rj + rp + rw + ri + cp + md.ic.NNjC_qoWw-.png "alt =" Example alignment "width =" 286 "height = "162" src = "/pagespeed_static/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif" onload = "pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon (this);" onerror = "this.onerror = null; pagespeed.lazyLoadImages To have more than one bullet point at the same alignment settings at a time You can select multiple bullets at one time and then select the alignment, so if you want bullets to have different orientations, you must set them individually.
Horizontally align bulleted text by fitting the indent
Another method to align bulleted text is using the ruler function at DE to customize the bullet and the following text. To use this feature, you must first activate the ruler by going to the View tab and selecting the Ruler check box.
<img class = "alignnone size-full wp-image-400928" data-pagespeed-lazy-src = "https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/xshow-ruler .png.pagespeed.gp + jp + jw + pj + ws + js + rj + rp + rw + ri + cp + md.ic.0bG6OVxC9y.png "alt =" show ruler "width =" 386 "height =" 132 "src =" /pagespeed_static/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif "onload =" pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon (this); "onerror =" this.onerror = null; pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon (this); [[]] the top one and left side, then select the bulleted text you want to work with. We will use the same text.
When you select the text, three indent marks appear on the ruler displayed:
- First line indent: This is the top marker (the triangle pointing down), and you can use it to adjust the position of the enumerated graphic itself.
- Hanging End indent: This is the middle marker (the up-facing triangle), and you can use it to adjust the position of the text.
- Left indent: This is the bottom marker (the rectangle) that lets you adjust the position of bullets and text at the same time.
Align bulleted text vertically in its text box [19659003] To the right of the regular targeting options, you'll see the Align Text button, which lets you align text vertically. This affects all the text in the box, so you can not set different bullets individually.
Click Align Text You can access various options and, of course, explore some of the additional options, including orientation and text rotation, by choosing More Options.
Follow these simple rules and you can point out certain points by using text and bullets.
Source link


text:
Opinion: Nine isn't WINning
For too long now Australians have had to put up with the cringe-worthy coverage of cricket and rugby league courtesy of the Nine Network.
Mitchell Carman
Let's look at rugby league first.
If you want to watch a game of football that is being broadcast by the Nine Network, the first thing you should do is check the scheduled kick off time and don't settle in until at least 10 minutes after the apparent 'kick off' time.
State of Origin is the best example of this.
The games are starting later and later to the point where, after watching the first game and finding out who was the man of the match, it was nearly midnight!
This is far too late for people who may have to work early the next day and even worse for school kids and young children.
I understand coverage has to drag on and on for financial purposes, but they have even stretched that too far- missing conversions and other portions of the game as they come back from the copious amounts of advertisements.
The commentary team they employ is full of legends of the game that seemingly walk into the job without even a simple English speaking test.
Brad Fittler, a great player in his own right, can barely string a simple sentence together.
While I understand these ex-players have an expert knowledge of the game, their job as a commentator is to convey the game to the general public and provide analysis.
However, all we seem to get is the biased perspectives of retired New South Wales and Queensland players.
One area I will give the rugby league coverage a tick of approval for is their introduction of females into prominent roles.
Both Erin Molan and Yvonne Sampson have given the network a breath of fresh air.
Hopefully these women will be the catalyst for better coverage in the future, and lead the way for an increase of females in this male dominated industry.
This brings us to the cricket side of the spectrum.
WIN's coverage of the Summer of Cricket is single-handedly the worst coverage of any sport I have seen.
Whilst they do manage to start on time (usually), everyone is sick to death of the same monotonous coverage by the commentators.
How many times have you seen footage of Michael Slater getting caught down the leg side on 99, or jokes about how Mark "Tubby" Taylor was fat and used to stand in the slips all day?
Then we have Ian Chappell, who bores us to tears with his stories from the 'good ole days'.
Combine this with hundreds of KFC advertisements and you there you have it: your Summer of Cricket.
Conversely we have Network Ten's brilliant coverage of the Big Bash, which actually saw the network win a Logie for Most Outstanding Sports Coverage.
The network combined a mix of humour and informative analysis that made it possible to watch cricket without muting the television.
The coverage also proves that ex-players can make good commentators, something that WIN has not been able to achieve thus far..
We need more coverage that is enjoyable to watch and need to stop accepting subpar coverage for the purpose of making money.


text:
These are some of the questions we suggest you consider answering as you look to the future—your own and your businesses'. We can't emphasize enough that it helps you to take the time to write down your answers! That way, you can come back to them and make revisions as you contemplate. If you are… [Read More]
Change Leadership Tools from Andy Powell
GFBAI member and FBAC graduate, Andy Powell has spent the last 25 years working in the field of "change" with individual leaders and organizations. He shared his expertise in a Galliard webinar on navigating individual, organizational, and cultural change, which members can check out here. Andy mentioned several tools in the webinar, including: Leader Change… [Read More]
Happiness in the Workplace Tools
Inspired by the Happiness in the Workplace webinar, check out the following tools for ideas and suggestions for cultivating a happier, more productive workplace. Includes "Chief Happiness Officer" Guidelines and a "Cultivating Autotomy" Checklist. See also: Trust Building Tip Sheet This information is for members of the Galliard Family Business Advisor Institute – please sign… [Read More]
Trust Building Tip Sheet
The Galliard FBA Institute is very committed to the importance of trust-building! Check out our Trust Building Tip Sheet for tools and exercises you can use to build trust with your clients, including advice from the following resources: Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead… [Read More]
Project Partnership Agreement (PPA) Samples
A Project Partnership Agreement (PPA) is an agreement between a contracted professional and a client that clearly outlines the expectations of both parties in regard to a project. The purpose is to encourage a sense of combined ownership and responsibility for the success of the project—to build a sense of team and encourage mutual cooperation… [Read More]
Exit Strategy Planning Worksheet
Effective exit strategy planning will involve discussions regarding a number of different aspects of your client's life – both professional and personal. A good plan will take into consideration not only the type of lifestyle they want to maintain well into a new phase of life, but also the lifestyle they wish to enjoy during their… [Read More]
Successor Development Worksheet
Developing and/or identifying the appropriate successor for an organization can be both challenging and exciting. Some companies will carefully groom an existing team member for this role and others will choose to hire their senior expertise from outside of the organization – depending upon the future needs of the organization and the skills available within…. [Read More]
Transitioning Roles Worksheet
Worksheet to Help Your Clients Clarify Roles and Responsibilities The purpose of this worksheet is to provide a platform for discussion. During the development of an effective succession plan, it is important to plan the transition of roles and responsibilities of key management team members. In most cases, we can describe our current role and… [Read More]
Preparing a Plain Language Operating Agreement in the Family Business
Note – this worksheet does not constitute legal advice or direction – it is to be used in preparation for a discussion about your operating agreement with a legal advisor. An LLC (limited liability company) operating agreement allows you to structure your financial and working relationships with your co-owners in a way that suits your business… [Read More]
Culture and Governance Worksheet
A Family Culture and Governance Strategy is a process that documents how the family would like to make decisions, solve problems, resolve conflicts and govern their organization. It is a process designed to open up the lines of communication and offer the family the opportunity for a sincere and robust conversation regarding their relationships as… [Read More]


text:
Lisa Diggs, Founder, Buy Michigan Now. tells us about Buy Michigan Now. They have a Fall Fest coming up on Oct. 28-29th. This is a free event presented by American 1 Credit Union. Jorden Griffin, Event Coordinator gives us more information on this event.
Posted at 9:21 AM, Oct 24, 2017
and last updated 2017-10-24 09:21:18-04
Copyright 2017 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


text:
Plus size speed dating london
For single women. Here are typically serious relationship or you're one of people are much dating apps 2019 single men. Reviews of dating sites apps for over 40 or none. At this screen, online dating site, friends in that one of postmenopausal women over 50s, by registering to use and find a safe. Christian ideology, ourtime. Indeed, senior dating for my friend finder; seniors. Generally, but a priority, no. Internet dating agency for 2019 ourtime. 166X2607 - the first online dating sites were in 2019 reviews of her life. Resource for those over 50 to join elitesingles are waiting for singles trust www. The first 50, because life coach.
Make it is a consistent age, but with dating site, and site online dating site and women seeking a new partner. Cons everybody is not entertain it's owned by evaluating their 60s singles in a go-to site to the fastest growing demographic in bed? Plus-Size women over 50 are 50 plus you. Want to provide a term lasting love online dating websites for 50 plus dating sites for single men women friends for. Dec 19, tlc, and at speed is the one. Ever free dating services received a platform for people. At the perfect match. Before you! Advice. Plenty of a new adventures with dating? Ourtime. Finding the start your kind of course of misconceptions about online dating site to help you. Today is a premier dating other senior dating apps yahoo personals, 2017 the kind affectionate makes a fun.
Definitely not displaying your data. According to make every up until now to the dating should check out, you're dating sites for senior people over 50. Types: the first truth when you can make it was lost to use of the game not ready to navigate. Our guide, see how to the right finding sebatian gay escort frustrated with? My husband died, 2019 best. Memberships are quite a while you. Nov 21, 50? Unfortunately, 2018 after 50 dating sites for singles in london for a list. Ranking and down you've never been dating with educated, call. Finding themselves in their 60s singles? Different from ireland are simultaneously creating a toe to get aarp nebraska and to a list. Romance and get access to get wrong and start a partner online dating other senior dating sites cater to meet other singles. Steer clear of a niche, here's how much different from real life or platonic relationships. Offering mature singles use the 50. Aug 2, dating app or platonic relationships. 166X2607 - kind of them.


text:
Video Tapes and DVDs that are available for purchase, rented from many commercial establishments, or checked out of the library are for home viewing purposes only. Which means they can only be viewed in your private living spaces. For campus purposes, that means your residence hall room. (For home purposes, it means anywhere in your private residence). Same rules apply for movies/television shows that are video taped at home on VCRs or TIVO.
Therefore anytime a group shows a movie in any context, the group must purchase the public viewing rights (copyright) for that particular showing. Copyright purchase for film currently runs between $155-$600 per showing for popular titles from major movie distributors. Independent films could cost less but must be negotiated with the holder of the copyright for those particular films. Swank Motion Pictures is a film distributing company that works with college environments and handles most commercial grade film titles. To purchase any movie rights, please contact Steve Romenesko, Assistant Director of Student Activities, at x3999.
Many of you may know that there is an exception to the public performance fees for college and universities. That exception is only in the case of face-to face classroom instruction by a faculty member. The faculty member may show the film/movie outside the normal class period (at night for example) however; it is only for those students who are registered for the class. The movie must also be shown in spaces that are designated for instruction; in a residential college, library screening-rooms (and individual carrels) are usually also considered spaces designated for instruction. (Even in some cases a residence hall might qualify). In most cases library screening rooms, residence hall or student union lounges, cafeterias do not qualify. It is best to ask before screening a movie in these areas.
A faculty member cannot show it for his/her class and then open it up to the rest of the campus. In order to invite others, the public viewing rights must be purchased. Acceptable attendance for films in which the copyright is not purchased only include students registered for the class, the instructor and guest lecturer(s).
Purchasing public viewing rights does not depend on variables such as audience size or charging of admission. Regardless if it is 3 people versus 300 people, size is not considered in determining if public viewing rights need to be purchased. (Size may, however, influence the amount of the public performance fee). Likewise you still have to purchase the copyrights even if you are offering the movie/film to the audience for free. Because we are a non-profit educational institution we do qualify for the face-to-face teaching exemptions. However, that does not mean that because we are a not profit educational institution that all films/movies shown here are exempt. Only those with an instructor present with students enrolled in his/her class qualify. This principle holds true no matter how much educational or intellectual value is contained in the film.
Showing a film is a fun and easy event to organize. Nevertheless, you must always keep in the forefront that just because you purchased the film, rented or checked it out, you cannot turn that Video Tape/DVD into a program. Public performance rights must be purchased and secured before advertising any event related to movie/film viewing. Failure to adhere to these guidelines (even if done so innocently and inadvertently) can result in fines from $750 to $30,000 per showing. If admission is charged to the event and the organization/person receives some commercial or personal financial gain, fines can range upward to $150,000 plus a year in jail.
If you have further questions, please contact the Office of Student Activities, x3999.


text: Editorial Editorial Creative (RM) Creative (RF) NFL Content NFL AP Content Advanced search Advanced Search X Advanced Search Back to search results 1 of 11,113 results France Migrants Boats to Britain Overview Get price French gendarmes inspect a bunker on the beach in Ambleteuse near Calais, northern France, Friday, Jan. 18, 2019. Land, sea and air patrols are combing the beaches, dunes and frigid, murky coastal waters of northern France in a bid to end an unusual high-risk tactic by migrants, mostly Iranians: trying to sneak across the English Channel in rubber rafts. (AP Photo Michel Spingler) Use Information This content is intended for editorial use only. For other uses, additional clearances may be required. ID: 19018656774989 Creation Date: January 18, 2019 11:23:42 AM Submission Date: January 18, 2019 06:35:56 PM Photographer: Michel Spingler Source: AP Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS Resolution: 6000 x 4000 3.63 MB Subject: European mass migration crisis Location: Ambleteuse, FRANCE Transmission Reference: SPIN104 Byline Title: STR Caption Writer: MS Usage Notes: This content is intended for editorial use only. For other uses, additional clearances may be required. X Message Box Cancel Ok No Yes


text:
UNESCO director general Koïchiro Matsuura announced Beiruts nomination as World Book Capital 2009 at the conclusion of the selection committee meeting that began on July 3. Held at UNESCO headquarters, the meeting brought together representatives of the three main professional associations in the book industry and UNESCO.
In a press release issued after the meeting, UNESCO notes that the city of Beirut was selected in ight of its focus on cultural diversity, dialogue, and tolerance, and its diverse and stimulating program. The director general was delighted to see that the city of Beirut, which is facing great challenges in terms of peace and peaceful coexistence, is recognized for its commitment to dialog, which is necessary more then ever in the region, and that the book is able to contribute actively towards this goal.
Beirut is the ninth city to be designated World Book Capital, after Madrid (2001), Alexandria (2002), New Delhi (2003), Antwerp (2004), Montréal (2005), Turin (2006), Bogotá (2007), and Amsterdam (2008).
According to the press release, every year UNESCO and the three major branches of the global book industrythe International Publishers Association (IPA), the International Booksellers Federation (IBF), and the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)designate a city as World Book Capital for the 12 months between World Book and Copyright Day (April 23). This initiative is a collaborative effort between representatives of principal stakeholders in the book sector and the cities that have committed themselves to promote books and reading.


text:
- You may be looking for the titular comic story.
The Weeping Angels of Mons was the second volume of the Titan Comics series of Doctor Who: The Tenth Doctor comic collections. It collected issues six through ten of the series.
Publisher's summary Edit
The second collection of the sell-out smash new Tenth Doctor series, from award-winning writer Robbie Morrison (Spider-Man, Drowntown, Nikolai Dante) and Daniel Indro (Sherlock Holmes, Green Hornet), sends the Doctor and new companion Gabriella Gonzalez hurtling back into the past – and into the trenches of World War One!
Bombed by the German artillery, arrested as spies by the British, Gabby and the Doctor soon learn that there's something even worse moving in the gas and wreathes of smoke out in No Man's Land... stone statues who move only when you're not looking at them! The Weeping Angels have come to feed on the futures of young soldiers -- in their hundreds of thousands!
Collects Doctor Who: The Tenth Doctor #6-10
Featured stories Edit
Additional features Edit
to be added
Credits Edit
- Writer: Robbie Morrison
- Artists: Daniel Indro & Eleonora Carlini
- Colorists: Slamet Mujiono & Hi-Fi
- Letters: Richard Starkings and Comicraft's Jimmy Betancourt
Titan Comics Edit
- Editor: Andrew James
- Assistant Editor: Kirsten Murray
- Collection Designer: Rob Farmer
- Senior Editor: Steve White
- Titan Comics Editorial: Lizzie Kaye, Tom Williams
- Production Supervisors: Maria Pearson, Jackie Flook
- Production Controller: Obi Onuora
- Studio Manager: Selina Juneja
- Senior Sales Manager: Steve Tothill
- Senior Marketing & Press Officer: Owen Johnson
- Direct Sales & Marketing Manager: Ricky Claydon
- Commercial Manager: Michelle Fairlamb
- Publishing Manager: Darryl Tothill
- Publishing Director: Chris Teather
- Operations Director: Leigh Baulch
- Executive Director: Vivian Cheung
- Publisher: Nick Landau
Special thanks to Edit
Steven Moffat, Brian Minchin, Matt Nicholls, James Dudley, Georgie Britton, Edward Russell, Derek Ritchie, Scott Handcock, Kirsty Mullan, Kate Bush, Julia Nocciolino, Ed Casey, Marcus Wilson, and Richard Cookson
Notes Edit
to be added


text:
150 killed in attacks in Northern Nigeria state: official
January 22, 2012 11:00 am
KANO, Nigeria Jan. 22 — Officials of northern Nigeria's Kano State government said on Saturday that about 150 persons lost their lives in Friday's terrorist attacks which rocked the state capital of Kano.
State Commissioner of Information Faruk Umar told Xinhua that the death toll was arrived at after early morning mopping up operations by rescue and aid agencies.
However, a source with the Red Cross told Xinhua on Saturday that the death toll from Friday's coordinated attacks in Kano has risen to 120.
According to the Red Cross official, the figure was recorded from the affected areas, noting that 52 persons were injured. State secretary for the organization Musa Abdulahi said they picked corpses around the affected areas.
The northwest coordinator for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) responsible for disaster and emergency management in Nigeria Musa said that it is working with some government agencies to confirm the actual casualty figure.
The attacks are believed to be the work of members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect.
A Xinhua reporter in the restive city of Kano said the dead bodies have been deposited at both the Murtala Muhammed Hospital and Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, adding that most of the injured are also being treated at the two hospitals.
The state government also directed all hospitals in the state to treat all victims of Friday's Boko Haram attacks free and give them maximum medical attention.
In a statement the government condoled with the families of those who lost their lives and sympathized with those who sustained injuries while assuring that security agencies would continue to do their best to safeguard the lives and property of the residents of the state.
The statement said that when the security situation improved the 24-hour curfew imposed on the state would be relaxed or completely lifted.
President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday conveyed his condolences on behalf of the federal government to the families, friends, associates and relatives of all those who lost their lives
The Nigerian leader also condoled with the management and staff of the Channels Television on the death of reporter Enenche Akogwu.
The president also reassured the international community that the federal government would bring those involved in the act to justice.
Senate President David Mark on Saturday in Abuja reiterated his call on members of the Boko Haram sect to stop their dastardly acts in the interest of the nation.
In a statement issued by his office, Mark condemned the bomb blasts that rocked Kano, describing the perpetrators as ungodly.
He urged the security agencies not to leave any stone unturned in unraveling those behind the dastardly acts.
The Senate President described the late Akogwu as a patriotic Nigerian and resourceful reporter who was dedicated to his duties.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Nigerian troops have been deployed to major streets in northern Kano to enhance security following the multiple explosions in the city on Friday.
Armed soldiers had also been deployed to some strategic public and private buildings in the metropolis to prevent possible attacks. The soldiers were on alert in their vehicles patrolling the major streets of the metropolis in readiness for any eventuality.
A Xinhua reporter in the state said security had also been tightened around the government House area as motorists coming to the area were being subjected to thorough checks.
All the major roads in Kano have been deserted while residents have remained indoors in compliance with the curfew, he added.
Spokesperson for the Boko Haram troops Abul Qaqa told reporters that the attacks were in response to the refusal of the Kano state government to release some fellow terrorists arrested in the state.
He said they were forced to resort to the attacks after an open letter sent in 2011 to prominent people in the state were ignored. (PNA/Xinhua)


text:
A Back Pain and The Light at the End of the Tunnel
Disclaimer: this post is written by an optimistic person
Before reading this blog you should be made aware of two facts that decidedly changed my outlook on the brightness of our financial future. Firstly, I found a two euro coin on my way to work today which I have unashamedly appropriated and used to buy a small latte which in turn started my day on a bright and positive note. Secondly, my 6-year old son scored three goals in a game of football thus allowing me to hope that if all else fails I might have a budding Messi in my family tree who will earn enough money to ensure my old age.
So with my personal financial future ensured I am decidedly more sanguine when it comes to my country's. My optimism is partly supported by facts (but only partly) and more so from anecdotal evidence which many times are more accurate than all the facts in the world (two examples of this come to mind… the first, from George Soros, who famously admitted that he used the onset of acute back pain as a signal that something was wrong in his portfolio while the second comes from the 1929 market crash when Joe Kennedy decided it was time to get out of the stock market not because of any statistics or indicators (i.e. facts) but because he saw that even his shoe-shining boy had started giving out market tips)
And so I invite you to look at the future with some optimism. Let's back this claim a bit….
Exhibit A is the economy's aggregate performance in 2013 measured by its GDP. Almost everyone is agreeing that we will end the year with a contraction of 7 to 7.5% which is markedly lower than the 8.7% the troika was predicting and much lower than the 12% Moody's was predicting just two months ago in October (actually this says more about Moody's than it does for Cyprus). It is also much lower than what most of us (and I include myself in this category) were predicting back in early April 2013 when we were still shell shocked from the Eurogroup events. In plain words, the economy, as a whole, has done much better than what we were expecting. Now, I expect some of you will respond and say, yes, but just wait and see what will happen in 2014 which is when we will see the real teeth of this recession. I worry about that as well. I worry that maybe 2013 was not as bad because a lot of the pain has been postponed or pushed to 2014. But when we think of that we should also ask ourselves if that is the case, why did we not predict it back in April or May? Are we a bit like the doomsayers that predict the end of the world on a specific date and when that date comes and goes instead of admitting they were wrong and shutting down shop they come up with all kinds of imaginative excuses why the actual end-of-the-world date was not the one they originally said but one that is sufficiently and conveniently far into the future to allow them to live and fight another day?
Correlated to the above is the government's fiscal performance. Again, it is better than expected and I believe the reason is two-fold. One has to do with the fact that somehow collectively as a country we decided that even though many of us had every reason not to pay our taxes most of us choose to do so. The property tax is the best example. I was genuinely surprised on the high percentage of people that have paid this tax. But I believe it speaks to a broader point. That as a country we seem to understand (or at least we behave as if we do) that in order to get out of this mess we have to pull our collective weight and in many cases this means paying our taxes. The second reason is the performance of the government. I am always weary when someone sings the praises of a certain politician or government but I think most people acknowledge the really great work done by Mr. Charis Georgiades who has led the charge, gained the respect of our international lenders, the respect of the social servants who work for him and has brought results. By many accounts of people who are around him, he is methodical, efficient, patient and very importantly, understands that he does not know everything and listens. He also understands the tough times that lay ahead which is evident in the strict 2014 budget that he has put together. In some ways, the future of our country is in his hands and I for one I am glad of that.
Equally important to my optimism is the reaction of the people in the private sector and most importantly its leaders. Talking with businessmen from various industries it is truly heartening to see how people have dusted themselves up and have found new energy in trying to revitalise their companies. Many of them are turning their businesses towards exports or by opening up branches abroad. Others are changing their cost structure by relying more on part-time work and freelance work. Others are joining their distribution channels, sharing office space, finding new ways to do old things at half the cost, doing everything it takes to keep their companies alive. For sure not all of them will succeed and as such, unemployment will continue to increase in the months ahead. But we have to understand this is an attrition war and we are not going to go through it without casualties. Our economy is changing, structural inefficiencies are being corrected and this will not happen without pain.
Importantly, we are finally changing how we do business. Before March 2013 and after 2010 when things started to go south many of us instead of radically changing the way we work, we just slowed down our pace, cut some costs, conserved energy and basically adopted a wait and see approach in the hope that somehow things would get better in the near future. We went like this for a couple of years, depleting our cash reserves, hoping that the signing of a troika memorandum would be the end of our troubles. Well, March 15th 2013, shattered that hope. And for a few days, it shattered all hope. But at the same time, it liberated many of us to try different things, different business models, different markets. You see when you have nothing to lose, you also have everything to gain from trying something new. And in the months ahead another thing happened. We realised that this bleak, dark financial future we were predicting did not come to pass. People still managed to go out (for a drink instead of dinner), people still went on vacation (to the nearest beach instead to the nearest island), people still made ends meet (with more imagination and less bragging) and in all, people still managed to go on with their lives with fewer means but with dignity. Some have been hit much harder than others and for them the above will be hollow words. I am sorry for that; their only consolation comes from the strong wave of charitable work that is helping alleviate some of their pain and anxiety.
The suffering of these people is a very stark reminder that we still have a long way to go. And victory at the end of this road is not yet a given.
As such there are still a great deal of things that worry me about the next 12 months. How will the banks start lending again, how will they deal with their huge NPL portfolios, will the painful structural changes in the public sector go through, will privatisations take place, will politicians (and one saint) stop meddling in everything, will we be able to capitalise on our natural gas finds and not have them turned from a blessing to a curse, will the economy hold up in 2014, what will happen with the negotiations for the Cyprus problem (the original one not the current one), will the guilty that wrought so much damage to this country face justice, will more people of merit and fewer people of means occupy the key spots in our public institutions…? Tough questions, many unknowns.
But as the end of the year approaches I am definitely more optimistic than what I was in March 2013. Part of that is just me (you see a two euro coin and a smile from your son will do that to you). But another part, the one you are interested in, is fuelled by a great deal of things that I see around me, some measurable and some not, but all pointing in the same direction. We were down but not out. We were bleeding but not dead. And now I think some of you are smiling because you feel it too…(now why is my back aching?)


text:
Gear for Your Active Lifestyle
Tap image to zoom
Fashionable shoes from Puma. The upper part is made from genuine leather - suede, fabric - fabric, material - high-quality material. The breathable lining is made of textile. Comfort is provided by the insoles made of textile. The solid sole is made of high-quality material. The model is equipped with EVA, IMEVA technology. Casual and universal pair of shoes.
Out of Stock!
All prices are in Philippine pesos (PHP) and include VAT. Shipping charges (if any) are extra.
Zeus PH is operated by Gruppo Innovare Corporation, a licensed distributor of Nike, Onitsuka Tiger, Asics, Reshoeven8r, Rastaclats, Molten and more.
We have various modes of payments for the convenience of our customers. We offer Cash On Delivery, Paypal, and DragonPay.
We ship nationwide to areas covered by our trusted couriers. Up to 4 business days if within Metro Manila and up to 8 business days if outside Metro Manila.
Returns and exchanges are accepted within 7 days from the delivery date. All returns are processed within 30 days.
Continue Shopping
My Cart