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The Essential Laws of Options Explained
Understanding The Value of a Good Office Your office is an invaluable part of your small business. Remember that your office is actually a part of your company's overall business plan. As you may imagine, though, finding a good office can be a real challenge. There are thousands of offices to choose from, and no two are ever identical. It's paramount that you find an office that works for your specific company. Take the time to consider our own needs before you actually sign an office lease. To get started, you'll want to consider your budget. Unfortunately, a good office can be very expensive. It's also a good idea to look at flexibility. As you are no doubt aware, the future cannot be predicted. At any given point in time, the economy could hit a recession. If you are going through a recession, you may have less revenue. You may be tempted to downsize and move to a smaller office. If you are committed to a multi-year lease, though, this will not be an option. This means that your best option will be to pursue a month-by-month lease. When you have flexibility, it will be easier for you to adjust to your current situation. If you're serious about growing your company, it only makes sense to invest in a London office.
The Beginner's Guide to Services
If you're going to be renting an office in London, you'll want to think about what it is that you actually need. You need an office that can integrate with everything you company needs to run. Begin by looking at your communications network. As you are no doubt aware, communication plays an invaluable role in the modern business world. The next step in the process is to think about how your office is furnished. As you are no doubt aware, you will be spending a great deal of time in your office. If you expect your workers to be productive, it's important to have an office that's comfortable and relaxing. The last step is to think about your branding. As you are no doubt aware, your company is unlike any other. By investing in London office space, you can improve your company.
Short Course on Services – What You Should Know
Eventually, you may need to rent a serviced office. There are several ways in which a serviced office is different than a regular office. To get started, you'll want to consider flexibility. If you have a serviced office, you may be able to get by with a month-to-month lease. This means that it will be relatively easy for you to stay flexible. While a serviced office will usually be more expensive than a standard office, you will only pay for the features that you use. Never forget that a good London office is a vital part of your small business.


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Brunei Darussalam recorded the total trade increased in May by 12 point 5 per cent year-on-year. According to International Merchandise Trade statistics released by Department of Economic Planning and Development, DEPD, the total trade in May 2018 increased to 1,203 point 8 million dollar compared to 1,070 point 5 million dollar in May 2017.
According to the statistics, the total exports fell by 0 point 6 per cent year-on-year to 722 point 2 million dollar from 726 point 8 million dollar in May 2017 which was mainly attributed to the decrease in the export of Chemicals. However, the decrease was moderated by the increase in exports of Crude Oil and Liquefied Natural Gas LNG by 8 point 1 and 3 point 7 percent year-on-year, respectively.
The total imports of goods increased by 40 point 1 per cent year-on-year from 343 point 7 million dollar in May 2017 to 481 point 6 million dollar in May 2018. Meanwhile, the top five contributors of imports were Machinery and Transport Equipment, Manufactured Goods, Food, Miscellaneous Manufactured Articles and Chemicals.
In May 2018, the biggest export markets were Japan with 31 point 9 percent followed by Taiwan 17 point 3 percent, India 16 point 6 percent, Australia 12 point 8 percent and others.
Meanwhile imports by country of origin, the highest share came from China with 35 point 8 percent, followed by Malaysia 14 point 6 percent, Singapore 11 point 9 percent and others.
Source: Radio Television Brunei

subset: commoncrawl


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HC Gujarat Selection & Waiting list
High Court of Gujarat published English Stenographer (Grade – II) Selection & Waiting List, on the establishment of the High Court of Gujarat. You can view Selection & Waiting List for above said posts by following link.
Post Details
- Name of Posts: English Stenographer (Grade - II) (Advt. No.:No. RC/B/1304/2017)
HCG English Stenographer
- View English Stenographer List
- Selection list: Click here
- Waiting list: Click here


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ROCK SPRINGS — Jeremy Main is no stranger to the game of basketball. With 10 years of basketball coaching experience, Main will serve as the Rock Springs High School Boys Basketball Head Coach this season.
The Tigers begin the season next week with a tournament on the road in the Riverton Invitational.
Behind the Man With the Clipboard
Main, a Utah native, met his wife at Brigham Young University. After marrying her, the young couple decided to move the family to Illinois. Main attended Northern Illinois University and after finishing school began teaching with his wife in Chicago public schools.
When you don't see Main in the gym, he's more than likely out on the lake with his family. The family likes being outdoors and his children are very active.
One reason Main took the Tigers' coaching position was to move closer to family and have a more relaxed lifestyle compared to Chicago.
Coaching Experience
In terms of coaching experience, Main has a strong résumé. Main has coached football for 11 years, basketball for 10 years and has also trained athletes as a strength and conditioning coach.
Rock Springs High School
sports coverage is brought to you by these amazing sponsors:
Main comes from a coaching family. His father was a coach himself which sparked Main's interest in coaching at a young age. Often he would spend his weekends at games and watching game film.
The decision to get into coaching was heavily influenced by not only his father, but other great coaches throughout his lifetime.
"I had great coaches," Main said. "They were role models to me. They were mentors to me."
Changing the Culture
Back in Chicago, Main had taken on coaching a new school in class 8A, the highest in Illinois. The school was beat up on in almost every sport and viewed as the "stepsister" to everyone else.
After arriving, it took nearly five years for the school to find the "glass slipper" that eventually changed the sports culture. The football program has made the state championship the last four years and the girls basketball team has been ranked highly over previous years.
"It took some time. Over the course of time we became the team that nobody wanted to schedule for homecoming because we were highly competitive. I felt like the things we did in the weight room, the culture the coaches had and wanted to build allowed it to get to that point," Main said.
It is no secret that the Tigers have struggled to keep a head coach around. Since 2015, the Tigers have had four head coaches, including Main.
Main came into the coaching job well aware of the lack of retention of previous coaches but viewed it as an opportunity. By doing the right thing in the class room, weight room and being a consistent coach, the results on the court will take care of itself.
"I love an underdog story," Main said. "…I want to be a part of building the culture and program. I'm going to be the same coach to every kid. Whether you're a varsity starter or you're the last guy coming off the JV bench, I'm going to be that same coach. It should be about the kids and not anybody else."
Defining Success
Everyone has different definitions of what success looks like. For coach Main, it's more about improving and progressing.
"I define success as improving upon the lot you are given," Main said. "If we can build relationships and make these guys understand that basketball is a platform to make you better in other aspects (of life), that's going to be success."
Coach Main has been impressed with several things since arriving in Rock Springs which have kickstarted the efforts to find the success the team is looking for.
"I've been impressed with the guys' ability to be coachable and be respectful. We have an athletic bunch, an experienced bunch. They have a good head on their shoulders," Main said.
The Tigers have a core group of nine seniors this year, some of which have played varsity since their Freshmen year. Regardless, Main will look to make his players better on and off the court.
"I get the most enjoyment out of being on the court. If I can use this leadership position as a coach to influence young men to make them better, then that's where I want to be," Main said.


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Celeste Lilore talks about the upcoming New York Green Festival, which will take place April 20th – 21st, 2013 at the Javits Center!
You are here: Home / Archives for 2013
Green Festival Returns to NYC!
April 9, 2013 By Pat Lynch, Editor-in-Chief & Kat Ball, Associate Editor-in-Chief
Filed Under: World Tagged With: 2013, apparel, apparel magazine, april, attend, Celeste Lilore, clothes, clothing, earth day, eco-friendly, environment, event, featured organization, green, Green America, green business competition, green festival, green gestivals, javits center, Media Partner, New York, new york city, new york green festival, pat lynch, restore, restore clothing, riverkeeper program, socially conscious, speak up, women1994
Edison Awards Recognizes Innovation!
December 4, 2012 By Pat Lynch, Editor-in-Chief & Kat Ball, Associate Editor-in-Chief
Sandra Bates talks about the upcoming Edison Awards and how innovators can get involved in this incredible event.
Filed Under: World Tagged With: 2013, april, attend, author, chicago, chicago cultural center, edison, event, featured organization, illinois, innovate, innovation, innovator, Media Partner, pat lynch, speak up, speakup, the edison awards, The Social Innovation Imperative, thomas edison, women1994


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by Lewis Loflin
Introduction The Torah ("Old Testament" to Christians), in Numbers, chapter 23, verses 18 through 19 gives a "parable" or teaching that "G-d is not a man nor the son of man that He should be capable of lying." Similarly, the fifteenth chapter of the First book of Samuel, verse 29 states: "And also the Glory of Israel will not lie nor repent; for G-d is not a man, that He should repent." Keeping this in mind when viewing the below is vital to your final decision concerning Jesus. Does he really fit the criteria of someone who never lied? You have the opportunity to be the judge. But, please remember, your eternal salvation is at stake.
Conflicting Accounts
(1) According to Mark, chapter 8, verse 12, Jesus says: "In truth, no sign shall be given (by me) to this generation (which refers to the generation of Jews who rejected his claims)." John chapter 12 verse 37 (cf. Acts chapter 2 verse 22) says, in evident contradiction, that Jesus gave "many signs" to this same disbelieving generation of Jews.
(2) Mark, chapter 6, verse 5 says that Jesus "could do no miracle" on at least one occasion. The word is could (not would) which means it was not possible for Jesus to perform a miracle at that time. But Mark, chapter 10, verse 27 says just the opposite, that "with God all things are possible." Hence, Jesus is eliminated as a god.
(3) In John, chapter 5, verse 31, Jesus supposedly says: "If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true." But a little later he reportedly exclaims: "Even if I bear witness of myself, yet my witness is true (John 8:14)." Furthermore, to make matters even more confused and conflicted, this passage was added to the Christian Bible in the sixth century. It is first found in a paper called "Liber Appologeticus" in the fourth century. It is noted that the words are sixth century additions to the original text. The footnote in the Jerusalem Bible, a Catholic translation, says these words are "not in any of the early Greek manuscripts or in the earliest manuscripts of the Vulgate itself." It is interesting that the Catholic church, who originally added this verse would admit now that it a spurious addition to the Greek Testament!
(4) It is supposedly the Last Supper. John, chapter 13, verse 36 has Peter ask Jesus: "Where are you going?" Then John, chapter 14, verse 5 has Thomas say to him: "We know not where you are going." But John, chapter 16, verse 5, has Jesus reply: "None of you are asking me where I'm going!" Because Peter asked Jesus where he was going, it is very clear that Jesus has deliberately lied.
(5) In John, chapter 7, verse 38, Jesus reportedly says: "Scripture said: 'From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water'." There is no such passage in the Hebrew Tanach or anything resembling it.
(6) Matthew 2:23 says that: "He came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, he shall be called a Nazarene." There is no mention of this in the Ketuvim (the prophets). This narrated prophecy does not even exist! In the Old Testament (King James Version), the words "Nazareth" and "Nazarene" do not ever appear!
(7) John 17:12 mentions a "son of perdition" and says the "scriptures are being fulfilled." There is no reference, however, to a "son of perdition" in the Tanach.
(8) Jesus says that it was Zechariah, son of Berechiah, who was killed in the Temple courtyard (Matthew 23:35). Apparently Jesus didn't read the Bible very closely or he would have known it was another Zechariah, whose father was Jehoiada, who was killed there (II Chronicles 24:2-22).
(9) Regarding Jesus' stepfather, was he Joseph son of Jacob son of Mattan son of Eliezer (Matthew 1:15-16) or Joseph son of Eli son of Mattat son of Levi (Luke 3:23-24)? And how can both sets of genealogical tables validly include Shealtiel and Zerubabbel (Matthew 1:12; Luke 3:27), given that both of these men are descendants of Jeconiah (1 Chronicles 3:16-19), of whom G-d has said: "No man of his seed shall prosper, sitting on the throne of David or ruling any more in Judah" (Jeremiah 22-30)?
(10) Was John the Baptist Elijah, as Jesus claimed (Matthew 11:14)? If so, why did John himself deny it (John 1:21)? Would "Elijah" have been so unsure of Jesus' messianic identity (Luke 7:19-20)? And where in our Scriptures is it written that Elijah would be mistreated, as Jesus claimed (Mark 9:13)? Don't our Scriptures indicate, to the contrary, that Elijah will be successful in his mission of restoring harmony among the people (Malachai 4:5-6)? Moreover, Mark 9:11-13 and Mark 6:16 declares that: "Elijah has come" and "It is John who I beheaded." There is no indication from the Tanach that Elijah would be beheaded. I refer you, once again, to Malachai 4:5-6.
(11) Who's to judge the sinner? According to Jesus in John, chapter 5, verse 22: "For the Father judges no man but has committed all judgment to the Son" (meaning Jesus himself). But, then Jesus contradicts himself; "I judge no man" (John 8:15) and "I did not come to judge the world (John 12:47)." So who did? Listen to Jesus this time: "You (disciples) shall judge the twelve tribes of Israel" (Matthew 19:28). Unfortunately, this contradicts Jesus' original warning to them: "Not to judge, lest you be judged (Matthew 7:1)."
(12) Paul says. "It is shameful for a man to wear his hair long" (I Corinthians 11:14). Glaringly, this is the only way Jesus is ever pictured.
(13) "Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God" (Matthew 5:8). Yet, Jesus asserted the contrary; that he "did not come to bring peace on earth, but a sword" in Matthew, chapter 10, verse 34.
(14) John, chapter 14, verse 9 says: "he who has seen me (in reference to Jesus) has seen the Father." This would include his mother, disciples, and others. However, the Torah teacher that "He who has seen the face of G-d shall die (Exodus 33:20)." This Torah verse amounts to eternal damnation in fundamentalist Christian theology. (Note: Even in our times, thousands of Christians claim to have seen Jesus.)
(15) According to Acts 7:53 and Galations 3:19, the Holy Torah was given to the Jewish people by "angels." But, according to Exodus 20:1, it was given to Moses by G-d: "And G-d spoke all these words."
(16) Acts 7:14 says that 75 souls went down to Egypt. Yet, Genesis 46:27 it says "threescore and ten" (70) went down to Egypt.
(17) Jesus tells Peter to buy a sword (Luke 22:36). Peter reportedly uses his sword to cut off the ear of a Temple guard (John 18:10; Matthew 26:52-53). But Jesus, even though he urged Peter to buy a sword, criticizes Peter: "All those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword (Matthew 26:52)."
(18) Continuing with Matthew 26, we find in verses 17 through 20 that the Last Supper was a Passover Seder. On the contrary, we find in John 19:14 that it was the preparation day for the Passover.
(19) Hebrews, chapter 9, verse 22 says: "Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin." But, the Bible, in Isaiah, chapter 43, verses 23 through 25 teaches just the opposite; "You (Israelites) have not honored me (G-d) with your (blood) sacrifices. (Nevertheless) I will forgive your sins." And Hosea, chapter 14, verse 2 says G-d accepts "words" of thanks (prayer in place of sacrifices).
(20) Romans, chapter 10, verse 13: "For whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." But Matthew, chapter 7, verse 21 says "Not everybody who says to me (Jesus), Lord, Lord, shall enter the Kingdom." Thus, we learn that Jesus is not G-d or an emissary of G-d.
(21) It is claimed in Ecclesians 1:4 that the earth does abideth forever. In II Peter 3:10, the opposite is stated.
(22) Further, why does John 8:14 say that: "If Jesus bears witness of himself his witness is true if John 5:31 says "If Jesus bears witness of himself his witness is not true?"
(23) According to Matthew 17:11 and Mark 9:2, Jesus led Peter, James, and John up a high mountain after six days. Or was it eight days in accordance to Luke 9:28?
(24) The claim is made that Jesus "justified" the sinner (Romans 4:5; Romans 15:9). But, the Bible in Proverbs 17, verse 15 teaches that "He who justifies the sinner is an abomination to G-d."
If there is any area in which the Christian Bible's imperfections and errancy is most apparent, it is that of inconsistencies and contradictions. The book is a veritable miasma of contradictory assertions and obvious disagreements, which is to be expected in any writing formulated over approximately 1,500 years by 40 or 50 different writers, few of whom seemed to be precisely concerned with what the others had penned.
In fact the writers were just never there.


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I was born in 1980 in Poland, so as a child I witnessed great political and cultural changes in my country.
My first teacher was my own father - in my opinion - a man gifted in almost every field of art.
He introduced me to photography. Not only to photography.
I've started to capture pictures using simple russian analog camera in my mid twenties.
Just to make some nice pictures of my girlfriend. Just to show how I see her. Just for fun I think.
It uses light. I see that as fascinating feature. There's a great mistery of light in nature.
I like women. It's not such a suprise.
Because women are emotions for men. Temples of love and fertility. And they are tempting seeds of evil - sometimes.
Although, I think, I have a little soul of photojournalist in me too.
Just that what I touch with my sight.
Sensuality is touch. Most basic instinct and primal need.
Even if you touch just through your eyes.
Sally Mann, Mecuro B. Cotto, Fox Harvard.
Usually it's rather spontaneous.
Mid-format Kiev, couple others analog cameras and digital SLR Nikon.
I'm pretty impressed by effects on analog 6x6 film.
It is a lot softer than it used to be. People, that I was lucky to meet, change my photography.
It changes constantly.
It's usefull like every kind of contact with other people and their work.
I'm just glad that someone likes my work. I have no big expectations, but I hope that Sensual Photography will grow like oak tree for a very long time.
Be happy ;-)
Maybe Sensual Photography needs a little more options that build community. More contact options.
More of common projects, maybe.


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TwitReview: Baywatch delivers the laughs while having a serious plot and not taking itself too serious. Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron work well as a comedy duo. Grade: 3.5 stars out of 5
They are the elite of the elite. They are Baywatch, protecting the bay and those who visit. Solving crimes while saving lives.
Baywatch comes to the big screen and continues the new trend in Hollywood taking an existing franchise and making it "modern" while keeping the feel and love for the original source material intact. The humor is fast and fun while the plot is so simple it literally could have come from an episode of the original show (it's NBC run or the Syndicated run).
Who plays who?:
- Dwayne Johnson is Mitch Buchannon (played by David Hasselhoff in the original series)
- Zac Efron is Matt Brody (played by David Charvet in the original series)
- Alexandra Daddario is Summer Quinn (played by Nicole Eggert in the original series)
- Kelly Rohrbach is CJ Parker (played by Pamela Anderson in the original series)
- Ilfenesh Hadera is Stephanie Holden (played by Alexandra Paul in the original series)
- Jon Bass is Ronnie Greenbaum (not in the original series at all)
What's the story?:
Drugs are washing up on the bay and the police can't seem to locate who the new player in town is. Baywatch on the other hand, tackles cases like this on the beach on a daily basis. Why call the cops when you can call a lifeguard?!
How's the humor? Did the trailers/commercials show all the best parts?
The jokes are more situational in humor but there are blatant jokes that will make you laugh. The long-running joke is Mitch Buchannon calling Matt Brody by any other name outside of his own. Lots of boy band references in this process. Jon Bass really steals the show with his "lost puppy" act toward Kelly Rohrbach's CJ Parker. She notices him and lets on that she knows who he is and he can't seem to find the words to speak anything to her. Check out his dance moves when they are on-screen!
And the best part is that the trailers and commercials did not give away all the best parts.
Do I need to have seen any of the episodes of the TV series to understand what is happening?:
You're good if you've never seen any episodes of the TV series. This is a reboot so you're meeting the characters for the first time and following along for the ride. BUT if you'd like to see any of the TV series for reference, I'm sure there are clips on YouTube.
There are two notable cameo appearances in Baywatch – (highlight to see who shows up) David Hasselhof reprises his role of TV's Mitch Buchannon as he is the mentor of Dwayne Johnson's Mitch Buchannon and Pamela Anderson reprises her role of CJ Parker who has been teaching the Baywatch Hawaii staff for the past 20 years.
Overall ratings:
Rated R for language and ball sacks. Run time is just at two hours.


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There are affordable small sedans that look sporty. There are affordable small sedans that feel sporty. Then there are affordable small sedans that absolutely embarrass high-dollar sports cars.
Two tiny performers own this category of pocket rockets: the Subaru Impreza WRX and the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo. Both offer four doors, insane acceleration, and actual racetrack performance. Both run great in snow and rain, because of their all-wheel-drive. These little cars don't just rocket off the line, they can hold their own on the racetrack with sports cars that cost significantly more.
Mitsubishi's pocket rocket, the Evolution (or Evo), is based on an economy four-door sedan, the Lancer. With the newest Evo, Mitsubishi engineers hit the sweet spot for the thrill seeker who wants to save money and gain extra practicality.
The Evo is a powerful sports car, with significant upgrades from the typical Mitsubishi Lancer. These upgrades include a sporty body design, beefed up chassis and suspension, as well as a turbo-charged engine, all-wheel-drive, and larger brakes. Thanks to all of that, the Evo can hit 60 miles per hour in five seconds flat. In addition to that raw acceleration, it's a car that can truly hold turns and brake on any racecourse. Not bad for $35,000—especially when you consider that you can drive your weekend racecar to pick the kids up from school.
The Evo is a highly coveted entry-level racer with high-end sports car performance. Within the Evo family, buyers can choose the GSR package, which includes manual transmission, Bluetooth capability, iPod input, and an optional navigation system, or, for an extra $3,000, buyers can get your hands on the MR edition.
We recently tested the MR edition Evo with twin-clutch Sportronic Shift transmission and Brembo brakes. Equipped as such, this little car truly competes with (and in many cases defeats) traditional sports cars that cost twice as much.
The Evo's acceleration is lightning quick. We had no problem beating almost every contender we matched at stoplights, including many more expensive sports cars. The paddle shifters on the steering wheel are a great touch for a sport driving experience. These are the shifters that have become the norm in many $75k to $150k sports cars. I found in traffic and in the city that leaving the shifting to the automatic system was simpler, and I received fewer comfort complaints from passengers. The steering was also tight and accurate.
Safety features on both trim levels include side/curtain airbags, stability control, and traction control, electronic brake force distribution, and tire pressure monitoring.
The Evo is not a luxury-sport sedan, like an Infiniti or BMW, but as a true four-door sports car, its performance embarrasses many of those sedans, while costing tens of thousands of dollars less.
We're all recovering from the Great Recession. Many who can now afford a new car are looking to really make a frugal choice. Mitsubishi's Evo is a heart-pounding reminder that the thrills of the road can still be attained for a reasonable price.
© 2013 John Dickerson and John Kehlenbeck, Horsepower Auto Reviews


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Platinum Games have long been known for creating some of the best action titles in gaming. Previously the studio has only worked under contract or with external publishers for it's games, but that is all set to change with the studio's latest announcement.
Chief game designer, Hideki Kamiya took to the company blog to reveal the new title, under the working name of Project G.G. In the post, Kamiya states that it will be "an all-new, all-original project" for the studio and that "unlike any of the games we've made so far, it's going to be a 100% PlatinumGames title. For everything from its setting and characters, to its game design and story, to how it's promoted – PlatinumGames is in full control."
No longer beholden to publisher desires, this new title will see PlatinumGames free to go as wild as they like with the design, which should be interesting, considering their previous body of work,
Details are scarce, but the studio released a brief teaser trailer which looks heavily inspired by the likes of Ultraman and Pacific Rim. Platinum have long been one of my favourite developers, so I'm excited to see what they do with the new found creative freedom. That dog better survive though...


text: Nepal has been blessed by nature. It is so beautiful. Numbers prove that tourists love that about Nepal. The most places visited in Nepal by tourists are National Parks and Wildlife Reserves, followed by Pashupati Area and Lumbini (excluding Indian tourists for both of these religious sites). Here are the most visited places by tourists […]CONTINUE READING


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What is citizenship? Why does it matter? Is it membership in a political community? Do countries assume a "property right" in their citizens? The United States assumes a "property right" in its citizens. This includes using them as instruments of foreign policy. This includes treating them as "cows to be milked" (taxed). In the words of one former U.S. citizen living in Canada:
To Canadians, it's about a foreign state suddenly asserting an unusual extra-jurisdictional tax and penalty claim on hundreds of thousands of law abiding Canadian resident citizens. This is not based upon US-based assets or earnings, but simply upon birthplace – a kind of indentured serfdom. In fact, a challenge in explaining this to to most other people in Canada is how wrong, illogical and immoral it all sounds.
Nobody really knows what citizenship means. Citizenship is defined by both citizens and governments to suit their respective interests.
The U.S. is a country where citizenship (or lack thereof) has been important. Slavery (indentured serfdom) was important to the early economy of the United States. Eventually a second civil war (the first being the American Revolution which was really a war between the Loyalists and the Patriots) was fought to end slavery. A principal purpose of the 14th amendment of the U.S. constitution was to guarantee citizenship to African American slaves. It reads:
"All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States…"
The 14th amendment guaranteed "citizenship". This guarantee of "citizenship" was considered to be a "shield" from the potential abuses of "non-citizenship". The Obama government is now using the 14th amendment guarantee of citizenship as a "sword" against U.S. citizens living abroad. What was once a "shield" in the hands of a citizen, has now become a "sword" in the hands of the government.
A guarantee of citizenship does NOT mean that all citizens are created equally. As is well known, the African American community was subjected to a form of "second class" citizenship. This necessitated legislative intervention, including the Civil Rights Act of the 1960s. The "second class" citizenship of U.S. citizens of African American descent gradually evolved into the "First class citizenship" which U.S. citizens of Anglo Saxon descent presumed.
The point is that:
1. Although, citizenship is guaranteed by the 14th Amendment
2. There are, as a matter of practice, different classes of citizenship.
U.S. citizens living outside the United States are "second class" citizens of the United States. U.S. citizens living outside the United States are also "second class" citizens in their country of residence. (This is the result of U.S. government policy toward their expats. Therefore, U.S. citizens living outside the United States are "second class" citizens the world over. Is it any wonder that renunciations of U.S. citizenship are on the rise?
"Second Class" U.S. Citizenship For U.S. Citizens Living Outside The United States
U.S. citizens living outside the United States have no political representation. U.S. citizens living outside the United States receive no benefits from the U.S. government. Yet they are required to:
1. Pay taxes on their world income; and
2. Comply with all provisions of the U.S. tax code (all 72,000 pages) and reporting requirements.
These requirements exist (and are enforced) even though citizens receive no benefits in return. This strongly reinforces the view that the U.S. views its citizens as the property of the U.S. government.
It's important to recognize that paying tax and complying with the tax code are two separate requirements. It would be logically possible (still bad policy) to require U.S. citizens to pay tax on their world income. That does NOT mean that the tax they pay must be calculated in the same way that it is calculated for U.S. residents. This principle justifies the foreign tax credit and the FEIE (Foreign Earned Income Exclusion). These are not enough. It is compliance with the current tax code (irrespective of the idea of citizenship-based taxation) that makes life for U.S. citizens abroad impossible and turns them into "second class" citizens. There are approximately one million U.S. citizens living in Canada (many of who are also Canadian citizens). The demands of the U.S. tax code are in many ways incompatible with the tax laws of Canada. It is therefore, impossible for U.S. citizens in Canada, to live and invest in the same way that non-U.S. citizens can. For example a mutual fund is a PFIC (tax cancer). Assuming you accept the validity of citizenship-based taxation (only the terrorist state of Eritrea and the U.S. do), that doesn't mean that dual citizens in Canada should be taxed the same way as U.S. residents. Why should the fact of U.S. citizenship become a disability in your country of residence?
Toward a more tolerable form of citizenship-based taxation
Why not simply charge U.S. citizens living outside the U.S. a fee for retaining U.S. citizenship? This would be more rational and more fair. It would also clarify the purpose of the tax. I.e. U.S. citizens living outside the United States would then be paying for an "option" to return to the United States. It would be recognized as nothing more than a tax on U.S. citizenship. Fairness aside, it would be simple. It would NOT require the services and fees of the "cross border professionals". It would be more honest. The cost of U.S. citizenship would be clear.
U.S. citizens living abroad are "second class" U.S. citizens because …
– U.S. citizens abroad receive NO benefits from the U.S. government. U.S. citizens living in the United States do receive benefits. Therefore, U.S. citizens living abroad are "second class" U.S. citizens. They receive no benefits, but are required to meet all the obligations.
– U.S. citizens living abroad have little voice in the U.S. political process. They are clearly subjected to "Taxation without representation". An interesting example is the move to end the FEIE without input form U.S. citizens living outside the U.S.
– Pursuant to provisions in the Patriot Act it is almost impossible for a U.S. citizen who lives abroad to open a bank account in the U.S.
In Summary: U.S. citizens living outside the United States have become disabled from enjoying the benefits of " First Class Citizenship" in the United States. The U.S. government refers to them as "tax cheats". They are urged to "come clean". In its zeal to attack its citizens living abroad, Congress has enacted FATCA: the neutron bomb of the world financial system, the "Berlin Wall of the United States", and legislation of such arrogance that it is united the world against the United States.
U.S./Canada dual citizens living in Canada are "second class" Canadian citizens because …
Citizenship-based taxation, FATCA and FBAR impose financial, social and political disabilities on U.S. citizens living in Canada.
Financial – Some Examples:
Citizenship-based Taxation: By taxing U.S. citizens living in Canada, the United States is really saying to Canada: You pay for the them, and we will claim part of their money in the form of taxation. This is because we have a "property interest" in U.S. citizens. This is unfair. For example, Canada provides health care to its residents. Clearly Canada taxes its citizens to pay for such services. If people are forced to empty their retirement accounts as part of the great IRS "Shake Down", Canada will suffer.
FATCA has been described as the single greatest act of U.S. imperialism since the Philippines. The costs that FATCA is putting on Canadian financial institutions are enormous. These costs are borne by Canadian society. Furthermore, a complete group of Canadian citizens (those who are also U.S. citizens) are at risk of not being allowed to get basic banking services.
Social – Some Examples:
Mr. FBAR is the biggest culprit here. He unleashes clear privacy issues. A U.S. citizen is required to report all his foreign financial accounts and keep those records for five years. This responsibility is triggered by a U.S. citizen having "signing authority" over a bank account (including the Trust Accounts of professionals). This is a very dangerous situation. The "record keeping" requirement forces U.S. citizens to (upon demand) turn over to the U.S. government complete banking records for certain accounts. For example, what if a U.S. citizen were the financial agent for a Canadian politician in an election campaign? The U.S. government could demand access to the account information which would identify contributors. Those employers who are knowledgeable will NOT allow U.S. citizens to have signing authority over business bank accounts. This affects the employment prospects of U.S. citizens abroad.
Political – U.S. citizens are the soldiers left in the Trojan Horse who will do damage to any country they go to.
In summary …
FBAR, FATCA and citizenship-based based taxation guarantee "second class" citizenship for U.S. citizens living outside the United States. They are "second class" citizens from the perspective of the U.S. government and from the perspective of their country of residence. A recent commentator suggested that:
"If FATCA proceeds, Canadians of American origin will be second class citizens in their country of citizenship and residence"
"Second class citizenship in both the U.S. and the country of residence is a current reality for U.S. citizens living abroad.
Some concluding thoughts …
Likewise, I hope you can understand how distressing it is for those of us who have chosen to live our lives and pay taxes outside of the U.S. to be called "tax cheats," "tax evaders" or "traitors." As you can see from the few stories above, we are responsible, law-abiding, contributing and tax paying individuals. These stories are representative of millions around the world–some whose only link to U.S. was to have a parent who was born there.
In addition to the intrusion of IRS into our lives, spouses and children are also affected. In some cases, so are employers or charitable organizations if we have financial signing authority where we work or volunteer. This puts marriages, careers and volunteer work at risk, along with education and disability savings plans for our Canadian born children.
I hope you will take many of this comments to heart in understanding the impact this is having on people who have had no ties with US for years, decades or, in some cases, never.
We all feel like we are in the middle of a nightmare. We just want to wake up and find that it's over.
Can this be understood by anybody in the United States? I suspect the answer is NO. As I commented on another post:
It's as though (in general) there are two groups of people: those who are living the nightmare and those who aren't.


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Located in the heart of Bloomington's downtown historic district, Fountain Square is an ideal mid-1800s venue for those seeking a unique and impressionable space to host an event.
At this time, Fountain Square will not be accepting any new reservations. Once the COVID-19 situation improves, reservations will open back up. In the meantime, please stay posted.
Monday – Saturday 7am – 9pm • Sunday 12pm – 7pm
101 W. Kirkwood Ave • Bloomington, IN • 812.332.0053
Monday – Saturday 7am – 9pm
Sunday 12pm – 7pm
101 W. Kirkwood Ave
Bloomington, IN
We have used Fountain Square and the Ballroom for multiple events, and I love the space. Everyone that works there is very helpful. I have been to the Ballroom for wedding receptions as well as fundraisers. Beautiful downtown building. – Bridgett D.


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Seattle Reign FC midfielder Kim Little, who set a single-season National Women's Soccer League record for goals, was voted the league's 2014 MVP, the team announced Thursday.
Little, 24, led Seattle and the NWSL with 16 goals in 23 games, a record for the fledgling NWSL in its second year of existence. Little also tied for second in the league with seven assists, trailing Seattle teammate Jess Fishlock by one.
A native of Scotland and a former member of the Arsenal women's team, Little was named the league's Player of the Month three times this season — another NWSL record — and notched four two-goal games during the 2014 campaign.
"Kim Little blows me away," Reign team captain Keelin Winters said in the team's announcement. "I think she blows everyone away. I give her the ball with the utmost confidence that she is going to do something good with it and create something for us."
Little also scored in six-consecutive games May 10 through June 7 as she helped Seattle rally into this Sunday's NWSL championship game at Starfire Stadium in Tukwila. After finishing the 2013 season in last place, the 16-2-6 Reign will match up with FC Kansas City (12-7-5) in the title match.
Visit seattlepi.com for more Seattle Reign FC news. Contact sports editor Nick Eaton at firstname.lastname@example.com or @njeaton.


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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (RNS)—If Billy Graham was "America's pastor," as so many headlines pronounced following his death, who was Billy Graham's pastor?
It turns out Graham in his later years increasingly came to rely on the services of Don Wilton, the pastor of First Baptist Church in Spartanburg, S.C.
Wilton was Graham's pastor 10 years and his friend 25 years.
He also was the man Graham chose to preside over his burial March 2 in a memorial prayer garden near the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte.
The friendship, encouragement, counsel and support Wilton offered as pastor was one of the ways Graham modeled what he believed it meant to live a Christian life.
Billy Graham believed in the church
To Graham, a Christian was not just someone who believes in Jesus' sacrificial death and resurrection, but also someone who faithfully attends church and submits to the spiritual leadership of a local pastor.
"Mr. Graham believed strongly that God, through Jesus Christ, instituted the local New Testament church," Wilton said in an interview a few days before the funeral.
"He had a deep and profound understanding of that. And he told me many times, 'Don, if I could, I would want every person who ever responded in every crusade to become a functional integral part of a local New Testament church under the authority of that pastor and that body of Christ.'"
At least once a week, Wilton drove to Graham's mountaintop home in Montreat, N.C., a nearly 90-minute drive. There, the two would have lunch—Graham loved anything barbecued—sit on the porch overlooking Black Mountain, watch the dogs play or spend time in prayer.
'He needed that'
Grant Wacker, professor emeritus of Christian history at Duke Divinity School, said the relationship was good for Graham after decades of conducting crusades across the world that took him away from home for nine months a year.
"As soon as he was in a position where he was not traveling, he reached out and embraced a caring local pastor," Wacker said. "And he needed that."
Graham and his wife, Ruth, first invited Wilton to their home in 1993, after watching him preach a sermon his church broadcast on TV each Sunday. The two became fast friends and Wilton an occasional guest at the mountain house.
In 2008, as Graham turned 90 and became increasingly frail and confined to his home, he decided to switch his formal membership from First Baptist Church in Dallas, which he rarely attended, to Spartanburg.
Although he didn't attend in person—Graham was concerned about creating "a disturbance"—he relied on Wilton for prayer, study and spiritual counsel.
At first, Wilton said, he would share with Graham his notes for the Sunday sermons.
"Talk about putting the fear of the Lord in me," Wilton quipped.
'He shared his life with me'
But as time went on, their meetings took on more of an intimate talk about matters spiritual, but also personal.
"He shared his life with me and as he progressively began to enter the advancing years of old age, it was an unspeakable joy to be able to hold his hand and to minister to him and to be with him continually and be loved by him," Wilton said.
Graham began talking about dying about 15 years ago, Wilton said. That included planning his funeral and burial. Graham picked a passage from Galatians 6:14—"May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ"—as the Scripture text for Wilton's message.
His conviction that he would meet Jesus made dying easier. For Graham, Wilton said, "death had lost its sting."
A native of South Africa, with a lilting accent, Wilton, 64, received his master's in biblical studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, later earning a Ph.D., and teaching at the seminary. He left for Spartanburg in 1993, and met Graham shortly after assuming the position of senior pastor.
Habits of devotion
Wilton described Graham as a man of grace and humility who took an active interest in the affairs of the world. As Graham lost his hearing and his eyesight failed, he increasingly relied on others to bring the world to him. His final years were spent in near confinement. He had not left his mountaintop home in years—not even for doctor's appointments.
In his final years, Graham hewed ever more closely to the habits and practices he believed ought to govern Christian life. Those included personal devotions, prayer, Bible study, discipleship in the form of a group or a mentor, and learning the word of God through the preaching and teaching of a local pastor.
There was one other habit Graham insisted on. After each visit, as Wilton got up to leave, Graham prayed for him.
"He placed his hand on my shoulder or my head and asked God to watch over me," Wilton said. "I'm the one who ended up with the blessings."
We seek to inform, inspire and challenge you to live like Jesus. Click to learn more about Following Jesus.
If we achieved our goal—or didn't—we'd love to hear from you. Send an email to Eric Black, our editor. Maximum length for publication is 250 words.


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Allcool London offer project based installations, planned preventative maintenance and breakdown services that cover all aspects of mechanical and electrical services including Coils.
What do we Offer?
Allcool London can design, manufacture, Install and maintain all heating and cooling coils. We work with a wide range of coils including LPHW, Steam coils, HPHW, chilled water and DX coils.
These coils can all be built in situ for access is limited, this will alleviate the need for cranes, road closures or building works to get access to the existing coils. build all of the above coils in situ where access is limited.


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Creative mixologist Mat Zo is back with a brand new EP. While he may be 'Tracing Steps', it's certainly a step in a new direction of innovation and 'funky beats'. Self-titled track is a blend of upbeat elements of tropical electro-pop, one that is sure be a consideration for a summer anthem. Speaking of summer, I believe a "heat wave" is in order. This spiraling tech tune is full of pool time pleasure with splashes of twists and turns. "Lust" takes a dip into more progressive synthesising sounds; whereas, "Deep Inside" suggests a slow sunset into deeper progressive feels. Also progressive by nature, "Deep Inside" is a tune for multiple house and dance genres.
Ever since his officially debut on the Anjunabeats platforms in the early 2010's, Mat Zo has been a representation of limitless creativity and well to blend elements beyond boundaries. Music is in the ear of the listener and from the heart of an artist...very evident and so Zo-tiful!
Tracing Steps is available for purchase and digital platforms. Check out tour dates here.


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18 February 2010 Edition
More than a game BY MATT TREACY
More football, less fighting please
Whatever about the new rules, the start of the National Football League has already brought a fair deal of controversy. Indeed, the part played in the generally mean-spirited games we have seen so far in Division One, and a few others, by the new rules is far from clear. Managers, however, do tend to prefer blaming the bad behaviour of their charges on rule changes, referees, the presence of television cameras, the decline of the spring potato or lunar eclipses rather than any moral failing on the part of the players themselves - who of course are exemplars of fair play and sportsmanship.
The generally sensible Mickey Harte has claimed that the fact that Tyrone games are being televised means that players are more likely to be sent off and that incidents that take place are more likely to be analysed afterwards with added sentences passed on the basis of the video evidence. He does have a point and certainly the Competitions Control Committee (CCC) does seem to be more sensitive about those incidents that might be seen by the general public than those that take place in merciful obscurity. (Maybe Monaghan ought not complain so much about not being on the box!)
The media too appears to make a big splash over relatively minor spats on the GAA field in comparison, for example, to nasty incidents on the rugby field, some of which are far more malicious and indeed injury causing than anything seen on the football field, but which attract little media moralising. At the same time the rugby authorities are pretty vigorous and consistent in penalising players exposed by video evidence, but only where there has been actual injury or serious intent to cause the same. With the CCC, being from Tyrone, Dublin, Meath or being Paul Galvin seems to outweigh any other consideration!
Having said that there is a ridiculous amount of cynicism and bad sportsmanship that is not only accepted as part of the game but is clearly encouraged by managers, and that cannot be blamed on referees or television. Indeed, refs would need to be clairvoyant at times in order to decide what exactly has gone on, given the amount of dishonesty among senior inter-county players.
All he sees sometimes is a player lying on the ground clutching some part of his anatomy. Unless he has actually seen it he must then decide if the player has been hit, and if so was it retaliation for him hitting another, or maybe he is over-reacting to a slight push or maybe nothing happened to him at all. Of course he can consult his sideline men or umpires, although they are not always the most reliable of witnesses. I saw one linesman last week who seemed to be incapable of deciding which team had put the ball out of play.
It also seems to be the case that every team in Division One is now playing to the same pattern, of dropping as many players behind the ball as possible when the opposition have possession. In fairness this game plan requires phenomenal levels of fitness and is arguably more effective on the slower ground at this time of the year, but it can lead to pretty awful viewing for the spectator.
It also has the potential, when allied to the employment of full-on tactics to impede players, of leading to confrontations of varying degrees of intensity. In fairness, Dublin and Derry did so to one another last Saturday but the only crime that seems to have been perpetrated was the boring of the large attendance. The fact that Derry only scored once in the second half, and twice from play in the whole game may be taken either as a tribute to Dublin's defensive tenacity or a sad comment on the quality of the Bradleyless Derry men. Not that Dublin supporters will mind. Given a choice between winning ugly and looking pretty when being beaten there are few who will opt for the former, especially after the calamities that have befallen in recent years..
Niall Cahalane, a former team mate of current Cork manager Conor Counihan on the All Ireland winning teams of 1989 and 1990, was scathing about last weekend's display between his own county and Kerry. According to him the only attributes required in the game now are physical strength and athleticism. He further claimed that soon it will be impossible to tell the difference between gaelic football and rugby!
I only saw the highlights, so I can't really comment, but it looked like an open enough game with some nice scores, including an excellently worked goal from Paul Kerrigan. There is without doubt an 'edge' to Cork v. Kerry games, as there always has been, and this has been intensified by their far more regular appearances over the past few years. It is more likely than not that they will meet again twice in this year's championship and it may not be pretty.
The pretty game starts in earnest at the weekend with the much anticipated meeting of All Ireland finalists Kilkenny and Tipperary under lights in Thurles. Much will depend, of course, on what sort of teams either fields but it promises to be interesting.


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Saunasole is made of 100% natural, a unique stone that is over 2 billion years old. Designed primarily for foot massage and removal of dead skin while relaxing in the sauna. Of course, it can also be used in other places!
Stone base with a ball for foot massage.
Dimensions: base 195 x 15 mm, knob 45 x 45/30 mm, 1 set in a box.
Various hot stone therapies have been used in therapeutic work for thousands of years. There is a good reason for this: "Touch of stone" combined with the warmth soothes muscles, body and soul very efficiently. In order to be effective, the stones used in this kind of therapy have to stay warm for a long period of time.
The amazing heat retaining capacity of Finnish soapstone has been known for centuries. Hukka Harmony therapy stones have been crafted from this, over two billion years old, unique natural stone. Soapstone accumulates about 2,5 times as much energy as "traditional", porous stones used for hot stone therapy. Therefore you need a lot less stones for good results.
Purchasing & Delivery
Before You Buy
To avoid disappointment on day of delivery, be sure to measure the area you plan to place your new sauna equipment and compare this with measurements under the product specification tab, before placing your order. Please ensure you measure any doorways (height and width) through which any large sauna equipment must pass to get to its final position. Identify any delivery obstacles and check that the sauna equipment can clear any stairs, low ceilings, sharp corners or elevators. Please note, we use independent couriers to deliver all our products and thus we cannot confirm whether the courier is willing and able to help with delivery beyond the threshold of the property. Should you require any specialist delivery support, please contact us to discuss ahead of your purchase.
- Recorded Next Day Delivery* is available on all marked products for orders to the UK Mainland. The product will be marked as such within the product description ("Order before 2pm to guarantee next day delivery on this item") where this service is offered. The customer must order before 2pm to guarantee receipt of the product Next Day*. * Next Day Delivery guarantees next working day only, for orders within UK Mainland.
- All other products** are subject to 3-10 working days shipping time with tracked and recorded courier. Please note, some of our items are shipped direct from manufacturer. ** Excludes sauna cabins & installations.
- Sauna Cabin delivery times can vary considerably, especially those that are made to order. Please contact us for manufacturing and delivery time estimates for sauna cabins. Where installation for cabins and bespoke installations is requested, this will be completed in the next available time window which may be sometime after the delivery of goods. Please contact us to confirm delivery and installation requirements and timings.
- Expedited Delivery or installation services may be available upon request, but extra charges will apply.
Warranty InformationManufacturers Warranty
A two year manufacturers warranty applies on all products commencing from the point of sale/purchase from Finnmark Ltd.#1: What does this warranty cover?
The warranty covers it covers any defects in material and workmanship under normal use. A warranty claim cannot be made on domestic equipment being installed in a commercial environment.#2: What will we do to correct problems?
In the rare case that a warranty claim is required, Finnmark Ltd provide replacements for any confirmed broken parts of a product. Where this is not possible, Finnmark may offer a replacement but the customer may be required to return the product to Finnmark Ltd or to the manufacturer, at the customers expense. The customer should follow the claims procedure laid out below.#3: How long does the coverage last?
The manufacturers warranty covers all items purchased directly from Finnmark Ltd for 2 years commencing the point of sale/purchase by the customer.#4: What does this warranty not cover?
The following are not covered by the manufacturers warranty:
- Theft or loss of the product.
- Usage of domestic equipment within a commercial environment.
- Damage of a product resulting from negligence.
- Damage of a product resulting from unauthorized modification of the product.
- Damage caused by natural disaster.
- Consequential and indirect damage caused.
To make a warranty claim, the customer is required to:
- Provide all information required by Finnmark to assess the issue.
- Finnmark Ltd may request detailed photographs of the product. For example a heater may require photos of the elements, power supply and drivers to assess what may be required to fix the product.
- Finnmark Ltd will make a judgement based on this information as to what replacement parts may be needed or if the product needs to be returned and replaced.
- Where a replacement is granted, the customer must first return the initial product to Finnmark Ltd or may be required to be sent to the product manufacturer, this will be confirmed by Finnmark Ltd during the claims procedure. The return shall be at the expense of the customer and should be sent via a recorded courier service. Finnmark Ltd holds no liability for items lost or damaged in transit.
All warranty claims are handled in accordance with the laws of the United Kingdom where Finnmark Ltd is based and registered.
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Friday, 24 July 2015
Bach - Alio Modo - Fretwork
Rating: 5/5
Another gem from Fretwork
This is another gem from Fretwork. They have been producing superb recordings for almost 30 years now, and this is among their best, I think.
The music presented here is a programme of transcriptions of some of Bach's keyboard works, some for organ and some for harpsichord. The transcriptions for between three and five viols were made by the brilliant Richard Boothby and work extremely well. Bach himself was an inveterate recycler and transcriber, so this is very much in the composers own idiom, even if a consort of viols isn't something Bach himself would have composed for. The organ pieces especially have a lovely coherent feel here, but it's all terrific stuff and is a very welcome airing for some music which might not otherwise be widely heard.
The playing is, as always, brilliant. Fretwork are simply a world-class ensemble with superb technique, a magnificent sound and a sense of the music and of each other which is a joy. They bring real meaning to every piece in this quite varied programme - it is chamber playing of the highest order.
The only Fretwork disc I have ever been less than keen on was their transcription of The Goldberg Variations, which just didn't quite seem to lend themselves to transcription for viol consort. These Bach pieces, however, lend themselves to it very well and they have been quite superbly transcribed, played and recorded here. The notes are good and the presentation attractive, and this is a really excellent disc all round which I can recommend very warmly indeed.
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Raja Bahrin: Stop polemics over luxury home glut
KUALA TERENGGANU: Everyone should stop the polemic over unsold luxury properties in the country as they are being promoted abroad under the procedures and conditions of Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme.
Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah Raja Ahmad Baharuddin Shah said MM2H is not a new programme as it has been established since 2002.
"There is a confusion…the glut of luxury houses is not being promoted under the Home Ownership Campaign (HOC) but through MM2H…the people need not worry about it as MM2H will not affect house ownership by them.
"The primary focus of the ministry is still on providing affordable homes for Malaysians… this is our commitment," he told reporters after opening a Merdeka @Komuniti programme for Terengganu Chinese community at Kampung Cina last night.
About 400 members of the Chinese community in Terengganu attended the function organised by the Information Department to highlight the National Month celebrations.
On Thursday, Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin, in a statement, clarified that the sales of houses priced more than RM1 million would be carried out under the MM2H campaign and not through HOC.
She said the MM2H programme is open to all foreigners while China and Hong Kong were singled out as the price of properties there are very high.
With the explanation, Raja Bahrin hopes the people would not be easily influenced by propaganda of opposition who are taking the opportunity to create confusion.


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"Minions has its flaws, but you'll be too busy chuckling to notice" – the Radio Times review
Forget the plot and enjoy the rapid-fire gags and slapstick shenanigans as those lovable critters from Despicable Me go solo, says James Luxford
In the 20 years since Pixar kicked off the age of computer-animated movies, there have been a multitude of lovable supporting characters having an impact on audiences. Toy Story had their tiny green aliens, Ice Age had the accident-prone Scrat, but none come close to the popularity of the Minions, the little yellow scene-stealers from the Despicable Me franchise.
Having starred in their own short films and appeared on a variety of merchandise, it was inevitable that the characters would get their own feature-length adventure. But with those few animated spin-offs not quite matching the box-office success of the franchises that spawned them (Puss in Boots from Shrek, those Penguins from Madagascar), can the minuscule helpers make it without Gru?
Minions centres on, well, Minions. Tiny, yellow, excitable beings who have survived for centuries looking for a master to serve. After many false starts, they set up a home for themselves, but soon become depressed and long for a purpose. It's up to three brave, young Minions – Kevin, Stuart and Bob (all voiced, in a manner of speaking, by series co-director Pierre Coffin) – to go out into the world and find the most despicable villain they can to call "boss". Their journey takes them to Swinging Sixties London, and an encounter with a supervillain (Sandra Bullock) who, shockingly, does not have their best interests at heart.
Whether live action or animated, small screen or big, spin-offs all find themselves facing the same hurdle: can you make characters who were great in small doses enjoyable over a longer running time? For Minions, the answer is a hesitant "yes".
As the critters tear their way through the retro-styled London, it becomes clear that most of the plot is merely a set-up for their pratfalls and slapstick shenanigans (think the Three Stooges for under-10s). However, the characters are so lovable and the gags so rapid that you'll be too busy chuckling to notice the flaws.
A mix of hilarious catastrophes (such as Bob encountering the Sword in the Stone and the finale involving a giant Kevin) and clever asides from the human characters is delivered at machine-gun speed. There isn't much point to any of the madness, but that doesn't mean it isn't an enjoyable ride.
There is less for adults to enjoy than in the Despicable Me films, aside from hints at some darker humour that are brief but clever (particularly the cheerful family that the trio catch a ride with, and unwittingly aid in a crime). The 1960s setting also allows for one of the cooler soundtracks of the year, with the Who, the Kinks and Hendrix all making an audio appearance.
The voice cast – or at least those that don't speak Minion – aren't given much to do but make a good impression. Animation debutant Sandra Bullock does a great job voicing the maniacally insecure villain Scarlet Overkill, aided by Mad Men's Jon Hamm as her assistant/husband Herb (a torture scene involving him and our heroes provides one of the film's biggest laughs).
On the whole, Minions may only truly win over younger fans, but an understanding of the characters' strengths and comedy that never lets up means only the hardest hearts will begrudge them this solo romp.
Minions is released in cinemas on Friday 26 June


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Microchipping and registering your pets are two important things you can do to help provide lifetime protection for your pet. Microchipping and registration help Council to identify animals that are lost and reunite them with their owners. Registrations also help us to understand animal populations in the Shire and provide necessary programs for owners.
You can read more about the importance of microchipping and registering your pets below.
Dogs and cats must be microchipped by 12 weeks of age.
A microchip is about the size of a grain of rice and contains a unique number that corresponds with the owners details on a central register. An electronic scanner can pick up the microchip and the details can be used to reunite a pet with its owner.
Microchipping is a standard procedure and can be performed by a vet, animal welfare organisation or any other authorised person.
Animal registration fees are paid once and cover the lifetime of the animal.
Coolamon Shire requires all dogs and cats to be registered with Council once they are six months old.
Assistance animals do not incur registration fees, however still must be registered with Council.
|Registration Type
|Desexed Cat or Dog
|Desexed Cat or Dog (owned by a pensioner)
|Undesexed Cat or Dog
|Undesexed Cat or Dog (owned by a registered breeder)
|Assistance Dogs
|Pound/Shelter animal 50% discount (desexed)
Office of Local Government
New online registration and ability to update registration details;
Council's Administration Building and Chambers are situated at:
55 Cowabbie Street, Coolamon NSW 2701
Phone: 02 6930 1800
Fax: 02 6927 3168
Emergency Phone: 1300 880 045
Postal Address: PO Box 101, Coolamon NSW 2701


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Authority under budget, Nature Nate's ahead of schedule, USPS contentious, manufacturing week, and WWALS water trails: all packed into a brief meeting last Tuesday of the Valdosta-Lowndes Development Authority.
CPA Tom Davis said the Development Authority is under budget but tax collection is also slow, with no new funds expected until January.
Existing Industry Coordinator Stan Crance announced that Nature Nate's is beyond projections, now up to 25 jobs and $3 million capital investment and needs more parking. They'd also like to move their postal mail delivery from a downtown post office box to a local mailbox. But Nature Nate's is the only tenant of Miller Business Park, and USPS requires central box units for any business park. This would require modifying the roundabout "just in case any other businesses were to locate out there". Some Development Authority board members found this USPS requirement to be a contentious situation, "worse than Continue reading


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One life, one heart, one ascension. This, in truth, is the reality of the experience you are having in the Now Moment, there is only one ascension. You are all connected to each other, there is no separation. You are One. There is only One and it is the God Source. It is the All; it is the Divine Mind, the Divine Heart, the Divine Oneness of eternal Creation.
There are many ways to meditate, and it was a wonderful discovery when I learned this. One of the most powerful forms of meditation for me is what I have called Stopping Meditation. The reason this is so powerful for me is that it can be done anywhere, and it takes very little time. Therefore, it is perfect for busy people "on the go."
There are many people who find it extremely difficult to sit in silent meditation. For them, it may seem as if the "art of meditation" is something that is lost to them. I felt this way for a long time, because I am an impatient person by nature, and sitting in silent meditation was not a thing I tolerated well. Then someone introduced me to Walking Meditation, and everything changed for me around the idea of "meditation." Suddenly, it was something I could do.
The first in a series of three essays by Neale on the art of meditation. Here Neale discusses Sitting Meditation. The series was written in response to a emailed question from a reader about how best to approach her "inner self."
A 15 minute meditation that can assist in creating more connection to the energy of this new moon time. My friend, Kelly Beard has honored me by inviting me to lead meditations on special teleconferences, such as her Solstice and Equinox calls. The Taurus New Moon call on May 6 landed on Beltaine, the cross-quarter between the seasons. I wanted to share it for this new moon tomorrow.
Leaving Western
Canada, I travelled across the country by air to arrive in Toronto, on
the eastern side of Canada. Canada certainly is a very big country, and
the east is very different to the west. Being in the Rockies and the
National Parks is like being in Paradise, with the Mountains, the
Forests and the Rivers and Lakes. The Eastern part of the country is
To be fully awake and enlightened simply means to
be fully present in the moment of now. To be present is the simplest
thing. It is your natural state.
I want so much for you, for us, that we might reach a true connection to the light and love that is there for us. And for this very purpose, I am offering today a meditation that came to me during this last week.
I have recorded the meditation below for you. I hope it will lift you up into the love and energy that is there for you. Go to HartTracks for your MP3 download. As with the other tracks on that page, donations are appreciated but not necessary.
Welcome! & Good
Evening! To all My Beautiful Beings of Light. Another Message is being
shared; it is delightful to see you reading again. Thank you for
Beloved God, we open our hearts to You and to each other and ask You, God, to infuse us with Your Love, to expand our hearts and consciousness, to join us together and make us truly one heart tonight through which You pour Your amazing Love, this Love which we are as well.
A basic dynamic of energy is that we attract who we are--the more positive energy we give off, the more positive connections we'll magnetize to us. Ditto for negativity. It works like this: Love attracts love. Grumpiness attracts grumpiness. Passion attracts passion. Rage attracts rage. The explanation? This human form of ours is a subtle energy transmitter. We're constantly sending out signals which others on similar frequencies pick up on, and gravitate towards--an instinctual call we may not be aware of. Why opportunities do or don't show up in our lives is a function of this.
A Kryon meditation through David Brown
Come into your bodies. Allow Mother Earth to support your bodies, sink into the floor and allow yourselves to sit on a cloud somewhere looking over Mother Earth. You have a list in your hands of all the beautiful experiences you have had here on earth. Maybe you want to experience ecstasy, bliss, joy and love, wildness and passion, so whatever's on your list is on your list.
Today is a day for angel energy. And not just the sweet, lovely angels who sing, but also the strong, muscular angels who open the portals.


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What is Granite?
Granite has become the leading choice for kitchen and bathroom countertops. But what exactly is granite? If you're like me, you haven't had the opportunity to investigate the origin of this rock. When I took the time to research this mystery, I was fascinated!
Granite is a natural stone that took Mother Nature millions of years to create and exists in just about every region of the world. Forces deep within the earth, combined with compression of various minerals under varying conditions create infinite unique patterns. No two patterns of granite are the same. Each is a unique piece of art created by nature. It's antibacterial and can be highly polished, making it ideal for kitchens, entryways, and bathrooms.
How Is Granite Created?
Granite is a hard igneous stone that is formed over millions of years by volcanic activity. Mag-MA (said in my best Austin Powers voice) flows from volcanic activity and slowly cools over millions of years. During the process, magma combines with various minerals, including hornblende, feldspar, mica, and quartz to create its "crystal appearance". The elements are compressed by forces deep within the earth's surface. As softer earthen material surrounding granite deposits erode over time, hard granite became exposed creating quarries of granite.
Once granite is harvested, it is cut and polished to expose its brilliant beauty. Different geographic locations create infinite varieties of colors and combined with its hardness and durability, granite is ideal for home beautification. It's the ideal stone for kitchen counters, bathroom counters, vanity counters, outdoor countertops, and entryway flooring. There are two primary finishes of granite. It can be highly polished to a brilliant shine or "flamed" to create a finish that is not quite as shiny. Flamed exposes the granite's surface placing more prominence on the minerals that contribute to its unique texture.
Where Does It Come From?
I learned that 90% of granite material is imported from Brazil. They also import from Italy, Spain, China, and India. Brazil supplies the majority of the granite slabs while the majority of the marble originates out of Italy. Onyx also comes out of Italy. Marble also comes from Spain. China has a unique supply of brown granite popular among homeowners.
It takes a total of about 30 days for the rock to go from where it has been for an eternity to the doorstep of the wholesaler. It takes about 24-48 hours to slice one huge block into individual slabs with gang saws. It then takes about 2 days to apply the resin and cure it in the oven. The remainder of the time is spent getting it to market.
Is your deepest kitchen desire to have beautiful granite countertops? Check out how kitchenCRATE can make your granite dreams come true in 7 days for under $15,000 along with other additional beautiful kitchen upgrades. Just click here to schedule your phone consultation using our online scheduling system. Or feel free to call us direct during business hours at (888) 995-7996!


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If you are aware with online dating then you might know, there are a bundle of adult swingers dating some like minded people through sex personals, but unfortunately there are some disruptive people also hanging on adult dating sites. You have to prevent certain cautions in order to make your online experience unforgettable. If at any occurrence, you feel UN-easy or anxious you can terminate the procedure on such adult dating sites.
The activities have been performed by adult swingers are not that much accepted by few group of people who are still following some ancient thoughts and tradition. But as per my point of view each of us have own way to enjoy our life as far as undue harm concern.
Adult Swingers Enjoying Couple Swapping
When adult couples fully go for partner swapping or indulge in sex with each others partner in full awareness and conformity. The personals that are performing such activity known as adult swingers. And such sex scene between swingers take place is called as swinger sex. Find Adult Singles Online Dating Websites.
Meet Like Minded People at Adult Swingers Club
Mostly people are very much aware such sexual practice as adult swingers lifestyle. The reasons behind performing such activities are as simple as that sometimes; sexual indulgence could not be possible in a single sex relationship. Therefore according to many adult couples, swinging convey some sort of positive change in their married relationship.
Adult Swingers – New Prospect of Future Rapport
if you are a beginner to adult swingers lifestyle then you should be aware with the basics that it is not compulsory that you will face one to one hook up, they enjoy variety of sex combination to indulge. Their interest and practices includes, twosome, threesome sometimes foursome as well.
Many couples enjoy group sex at which are being held at some farm house private home or at resorts which have been built up just for such activities. Many singles are also joining couples to enjoy casual encounter at sexxpersonals, these single personals are known as single swingers.
Nowadays, engaging in to such adult swingers fun activity no longer a difficult task. You can join swinger clubs in your region or can stay updated by adult dating site that where such activity will going to be held. Once you be at sex club you can be observer for initial stage until you be comfortable and familiar with the partner swapping environment. But as per my observation no body like to be just spectator when you actually can play such exciting game with other couples who are hot and attractive.
Since you are beginner you can join premium adult swingers club which will guide you and will provide full introduction to adult swingers club.


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Why the heck are we arguing over what to say this holiday season?????
If you want to say Merry Christmas, go ahead. I love Christmas. I have a Christmas tree in my home. But also, don't pick on people who prefer Happy Holidays. Truthfully, I prefer that one because for me, this season is about everyone coming together in peace.
Happy Holidays doesn't leave anyone out. It's meant for everyone!
It pissed me off that groups picked on companies for wanting to use Happy Holidays in their commercials. Leave them alone! That wish has been around a long, long time and no one is trying to push out Christmas, they're just trying to include everyone.
This is a freaking holiday season… not only Christmas, but Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice and oh yeah, NEW YEARS.
Say Merry Christmas if you want.
Say Happy Holidays if you want.
Say Poo.
I don't care! Just stop picking on each other and stop telling people how to word their good wishes. Your idea of what's right is just that. Yours. It might not be someone else's.
This world is a diverse place full of different people, different religions, different walks of life. Man, can you just imagine what it would be like if everyone just accepted that? Not tolerated it, but accepted?
Think about it. I do. All the time.
To show I'm not a complete humbug here, I'm going to share two lovely bands for you today.
The Autumns. theAutumns.com Click on the music tab and the self titled album for 30 second tracks. Wonderful!
The Decemberists The Decemberists :: Discography I personally love their debut LP, Castoways and Cutouts. Click on the cover to hear clips. Picaresque is good, too. In fact, song 2, We Both Go Down Together, reminds me of early REM.


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With the launch of SPAR in four new countries, combined with a growth of 335 new stores and a sales increase of 5.4% to €35.8 billion, 2018 has been another exceptionally strong year for SPAR.
The third year of our five-year SPAR 'Better Together' strategy delivered again for the organisation, our partners and our customers.
Expansion in store numbers driven by new store openings in both mature and developing markets saw SPAR grow its presence to 7,441,838m2 across 13,112 stores in 48 countries worldwide.
In Western Europe, sales grew by 4.1% to €22.1 billion in the 16 markets where SPAR has a presence across 9,680 stores.
Central and Eastern Europe grew by 15.8% across the 10 countries that SPAR has a presence, generating combined sales of €5.8 billion.
Across the Africa and Middle East region where SPAR has a presence in 15 markets, strong growth of 8.2% was maintained to achieve regional turnover of €5.9 billion.
SPAR now has a presence in seven Asia Pacific countries, with 573 stores and 1,014,675 m² in retail sales area achieving €1.96 billion in sales.
2018 was a hugely positive year for SPAR. Strong performance was underpinned by a multi-format strategy, which has enabled SPAR to defy the negative trends experienced in the wider retail sector and deliver another year of exceptional growth.
The four retail formats provide SPAR Partners with the flexibility required to meet the collective needs of all customers all over the world.
200 - 1000sqm
The local supermarket or neighbourhood store
< 2500sqm
Hypermarket format with up to 50% of the sales surface in non-food
1000 - 2500sqm
The large supermarket aimed at fulfilling the needs of weekly family shopping
< 200sqm
A distinct retail format responding to the convenience needs of today's consumer lifestyles
Future Outlook
As a result of our 'Better Together' strategy, we have made notable progress in the area of international joint buying and procurement. Our strategic objective is to accelerate this progress by further harnessing our international scale, pooling our global resources to reap economies of scale in all areas of our business and uniting our global partners to be and act better together. SPAR's strong growth and expansion has been driven by the responsiveness of our retailers in placing the customer at the heart of everything that we do - a key success factor for the brand's expansion since being founded in 1932.
In addition to capitalizing on the expected growth in the neighbourhood sector in Western Europe, a further two new license agreements have been agreed for the expansion of SPAR in Central and Eastern Europe. In Asia Pacific, growth is anticipated in China with new regional partners having been licensed during 2018 and the commitment from existing partners in this and other markets in the region to further expand the brand's presence. Looking to the future and further afield, plans are at an advanced stage for the expansion of SPAR in South and Central America.
SPAR's continuous compound annual growth of over 5% over the last three years creates a strong platform to build from for the future and indicates that our 'Better Together' strategy is performing well.


text: News Volleyball 03/07/2016 Young squad keeps Turkey invincible in China Stefan Chrtiansky from Slovakia spikes against Turkey's double block Xuancheng, China, July 3, 2016 - Turkey saw off Slovakia in an epic five-set match - 3-2 (25-13, 16-25, 21-25, 25-22, 15-10) in their last Preliminary Round Pool H2 game in FIVB Volleyball World League 2016 on Sunday. Having already secured a ticket to the Group 2 finals, Turkey gave some of their main players some rest, giving a chance to a younger squad to shine. Turkey's Mustafa Koc and Gokhan Gokgoz scored 16 points and 15 points, respectively, to contribute to Turkey's win. Slovakia's Peter Mlynarcik topped the scorers' chart with 19 points.This victory brings Turkey's head-to-head World League record with Slovakia to 3-0.Facing a tough opponent, Slovakia refused to admit inferiority, but did not prevent Turkey from leading by 8-6 at the first technical time-out of the opening set. Following up with a hot pursuit, Turkey collected several consecutive points to race off to 16-10 at the second technical time-out. Slovakia made a number of substitutions at this point, but Turkey stayed in control and finished the set off at 25-13.In the second set the rhythm of the match went in favour of Slovakia. They put on a strong performance in defense to lead by 12-7, improving to 16-9 at the second technical time-out. Turkey never seemed to refocus on this set and Slovakia took advantage of Turkey's unforced errors. Turkey pressed at the end of the set, but some strong blocking put them off balance and Slovakia took the set at 25-16.Impressive spiking performances from Serhat Coskun earned Turkey an 8-7 score at the beginning of the third set. However, Slovakia went out to a 16-14 lead at the second technical time-out and continued to control the frame with tough serving and precision in offense. Turkey managed to save the first set point, but an error gave Slovakia a 25-21 win.Set 4 was a very tight affair as both teams worked hard for every point. The teams traded points and the lead as the set progressed with ties each point from 8 through 12. Slovakia opened up a close lead at 14-12 with imposing Stefan Chrtiansky displaying excellent skill range and ball control. However, Turkey did not give up the chase and leveled up from 19 through 21. It was Turkey that eventually closed the set at 25-22.At the beginning of a thrilling fifth set, Turkey regained their confidence and led by 4-2. Slovakia lost their focus making a series attacking errors, suffering a 6-10 disadvantage. Turkey pulled away and won the set by 15-10 and the match by 3-2. Print this Page News {{item.LocalShortDate}} {{item.Title}} All the News


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First – I LOVE creepy things. Creepy, unique, bizarre, all of that. I love when creators release something that is new and different and that is exactly what Hotdog did with the new Nightmare Heads Gacha at Lootbox!
Lazy Little Elf.
NX-Nardcotix is releasing the Jolly Pajamas for Pocket Gacha – starting tomorrow! (15th).
I am wearing the rare above but there's lots of cutesy patterns too with various animal slippers.
Maybe tomorrow.
The newest round of Collabor88 opened recently – the theme being Chic Gym.
My avy is usually pretty lazy, so today was no exception:


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Watch Night Church Service:- Although not on my agenda tonight, I've done the Holy ghost countdown several times. This is a tradition that was founded by the Methodist in 1740, but gained new meaning in 1862 when President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation to take effect January 1, 1983. Many slaves attended church, waiting in anticipation and confirmation that their freedom would arrive at midnight.
New Year's Dinner: Somewhere on a my table, you will find some type of pork, greens, black-eyed peas, and cornbread among the choices. These items carry a great deal of history for Southerners and humbleness. During the Civil War, Union Soldiers raided homes leaving food that was not considered edible (hog jowls, greens, etc). However, these foods were used to survive, representing struggle and determination. Today, we serve the meal to ensure a prosperous year using the ham hocks to represent plenty of food in your home, greens for money, black-eyed peas for luck, and corn bread for gold. If you're looking for a deeper meaning, hogs are known to only move forward to see resulting in progress.
Clean House and Donate: This is one I've always done never fully understanding why other than it just felt right. This tradition comes from those celebrating the Chinese New Year. One of beliefs is that you must get rid of any bad luck from the old year and make room for the good luck to come into your home in the new year. However, you must do this before New Year's Day, otherwise you may mistakenly toss away your good luck. Likewise, nothing of value (money, jewelry, etc) should leave the house on New Year's Day unless someone has brought something. Another Chinese custom is to give away good luck gifts during the Chinese New Year; red envelopes with money inside.
Laundry Day & other no-nos: Who's doing laundry on a vacation day?? No clothes washing should be done on New Year's Day, otherwise you may wash away a loved one.
New Clothes: Many of us are out shopping, while others are pulling a gently used dress from the closet. Chinese tradition, as well as many others, is to wear new clothes to represent new beginnings. Red is the color of choice to scare away evil, while black should be avoided. On the other hand, it has been said if you wear new clothes into the new year you won't get any new ones.
Men First: I always wondered why it mattered who entered the house first. Scotland brought us "Auld Lang Syne" as well as the "first-footing". Neighbors brought each other coal for the fire or shortbread shortly after midnight. If the neighbor knocking happened to be a tall, dark, and handsome man then luck shall be with you in the new year. In contrast, don't answer the door for any blonde or red-headed women or unattractive men. It could mean bad luck.
There's so many more I found to be interesting and possibly add to or replace my current ones. So, now it's your turn. What New Year's Eve/Day traditions do you observe?
There's so many more I found to be interesting and possibly add to or replace my current ones. So, now it's your turn. What New Year's Eve/Day traditions do you observe?