text:
Head Office
1 Furze Hill House
Shipston on Stour
Main Switchboard: 0843 289 7787
Main Fax: 01608 661196
Email: email@example.com
Morris Conferencing is a long established independent conference venues finding and planning company. We help organisations of all sizes find the perfect venue for their conferences, meetings and events. We will also give you free expert advice on the best way to plan your event.
The charms of Hellaby Hall are utilised to the full in business and for conferences. Rarely can a hotel offer the kitchen, cellar, pantry, bakery,for all your training conference seminars ;these meeting rooms provide a stimulating setting. For wedding receptions or other celebrations, Hellaby Hall is the perfect venue. We believe it is our role to ensure your special occasion is just the way you want it to be. The hotel has a number of rooms, which are licensed, as venues to perform civil wedding ceremonies.
Call 0843 289 7787 now, successful conferences cost less with Morris!
Copyright 2012 by Morris Conferencing. All Rights Reserves.
Company reg number 3976769


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An excellent and robust drinker, perfect for reducing day to day watering.
Stable design on 3 metal legs, plastic body & bowl allows for tonics/wormers etc to be added if needed.
Put a clove of garlic in the body of the drinker to keep the water sweet!
Perfect for holidays or weekends away.
In very long heavy frosts you can place the rubber bung on the tube at night and fill the red bowl with warm water in the morning.
78 cm high / Holds 30 liters of water
Works on Gravity, as your birds drink the water the bowl is automatical filled through the red tube.
You must make sure this drinker on level ground for it to work correctly .
Place on solid ground for example: on a sold concrete floor / flat pallet /sold wood or patio slabs.
Make sure the handle is very tight to make a good vacuum in the drinker body .
Place the bung over the base of the tube when filling and move to the side when the drinker is in use.
Replacement bungs, rubber seals, handles and bowls are always available to purchase from us direct.
The drinker is very easy to put together and comes in two main parts.
The legs are made from cut sheet metal so take care as they have sharp edges.
Unfold the legs and clip together and place on sold ground.
Push the plastic body of the drinker down into the legs.
Screw in the handle and place the red water bowl at the bottom.
78cm high.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Rogers NHL
by: BAMTECH LLC • 3.5K
All Android applications categories
by: BAMTECH LLC • 3.5K
- You can get an in-depth look at every series during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, including upcoming schedule, game results and more. Check out the new Playoffs tab.
- Tilt your phone or tablet to landscape to see the Stanley Cup Playoffs bracket view.
- Customize your default tab when the app opens
- As always, we love hearing from you. Write us at email@example.com
**** NHL® App Features ****
• Watch the Free Games of the Week or access your NHL.TV subscription to watch every out-of-market game live and on-demand*
• Leaguewide scoreboard with a new scoring summary carousel and inline video highlights
• Team homepages with individual team scoreboards and complete information such as schedules, news, team statistical leaders, tickets, official merchandise, rosters and social media (phones only)
• Support material design guidelines
• See select key plays and pivotal moments with in-game highlights
• Listen to Home, Away and alternate language (where available) radio broadcasts (no blackout restrictions)
• Live game simulation with active game clock, up-to-the-moment shift changes, boxscores and play-by-play
• Breaking news, schedules, rosters and player stats for every team
• Sortable statistics
• League and Division standings
• Customize the NHL® App home screen to feature your designated favorite team (smartphones only)
• Video library archive, searchable by player, team or keyword
• Customizable push notifications for game start, game end, in-game video highlights, lead changes, goals, team and league news and more
• Video and audio electronic programming guides
• Closed captioning for live video
*All live and on-demand games are subject to blackouts and other restrictions.
You agree to accept the NHL Terms of Service by downloading or using the NHL® App.
If you consent to receive push notifications, you will receive game information, news updates, and other information on your device from the NHL, based on your account settings and preferences, which may be customized on a team or League level. You may withdraw your consent to receive push notifications at any time by disabling the notification or alert type within the Settings section of the App. NHL Interactive CyberEnterprises, LLC, 1185 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036 | NHL.com.
NHL and the NHL Shield are registered trademarks and NHL.TV are trademarks of the National Hockey League. NHL and NHL team marks are the property of the NHL and its teams. © NHL 2016. All Rights Reserved.
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text:
PrivateVPN Обзор
Наше резюме
This secure, fast, and reliable VPN, is a favorite among subscribers!
Our Score
- Servers in over 50 contries and expanding all the time
- Super fast connections make it perfect for streaming
- Unblocks BBC iPlayer Amazon Prime and Netflix US
- 24/7 Live Chat Support get help anytime!
- Zero logs policy and military grade encryption
PrivateVPN is an established VPN service based in Sweden. It is a secure service with a bespoke client that can be used on up to six devices simultaneously. It is a zero logs VPN service that has 100+ servers in 56 countries around the world. That is a huge amount of servers that it in the middle of increasing regularly.
The website is informative, and doesn't make any bold claims about being "the fastest VPN in the world". This is a refreshing change from the vast majority of VPNs on the market who often lie through their teeth about non-existent privacy levels and connection speeds. PrivateVPN's custom VPN client is now available for all popular OS platforms. The service also boasts of impressive 98.8% uptime, a 30-day money back guarantee, and 24/7 customer support. With so much on offer, PrivateVPN looks highly promising. Let's dive in head first and take a closer look!
- 30-day money back guarantee
- Servers in 56 countries
- Strong OpenVPN encryption
- Zero logs
- 24/7 customer support
- Not much
Pricing & Plans
PrivateVPN doesn't mess around with splitting its VPN service into various plans, which is good. However, the VPN is priced slightly cheaper for people that decide to commit for longer periods of time: rewarding customer loyalty with a discount.
Also, a big plus is the fact that PrivateVPN offers a highly generous seven-day money back guarantee. This is much better than many VPNs on the market. Although subscribers do have to initially outlay the subscription fee, the no quibbles guarantee means that people get a chance to try the service risk-free. In addition, the VPN has a 30-day money back guarantee and a 7-day free trial.
PrivateVPN operates servers in 56 countries. Those locations include five cities in the US (including West and East coast), the UK, all over Europe (including the Netherlands and Switzerland). Plus: Brazil, Australia, Canada, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, and Russia. The only places that don't really get a look-in are Africa, the Middle East, and China. As such, if these locations are of particular interest to you, I suggest you look elsewhere.
Subscribers may connect up to six devices to PrivateVPN at once. This is truly outstanding and very few VPNs on the market offer more. With this is mind, PrivateVPN can be considered a highly useful VPN for large families that have VPN requirements on a number of phones, tablets, and laptops, both at home and when out and about using public WiFi.
Lots of VPN protocols are supported including OpenVPN, which is the most secure VPN protocol on the market and our recommended protocol here at BestVPN.com. Available protocols include OpenVPN (UDP and TCP), L2TP, PPTP, IPSec, IKEv2, HTTP Proxy, and SOCKS5. This is an impressive amount of choice, all of which can all be toggled within the client.
The PrivateVPN software is well designed and has a kill switch to cut the internet should the VPN connection be lost. This is a useful feature that allows its subscribers to guarantee that they don't accidentally leak their web traffic to their ISP. In addition, users can specify software to be included in the kill switch feature. The killswitch is WFP based and has two layers of security: kill switch and application kill. This gives customers the choice to use application kill only if they prefer. It is a tried and tested killswitch that we can vouch for.
In addition, port forwarding is also supported by PrivateVPN. Though you will need to check its server list or communicate with them directly to figure out which server or servers have the features necessary to set up a particular device.
HQN servers
High-Quality Network servers are available on the PrivateVPN network. PrivateVPN say that it aims "to purchase Internet capacity directly from the IP transit provider". These tier-1 servers allows PrivateVPN to have no middlemen in its network which it says allows it to deliver better connections speeds. Please check the connection speeds section of the review for speed test results.
Remote control
For real technophobes, a remote installation feature is available. When implemented, it will allow a PrivateVPN customer support technician to remotely take over a subscriber's machine momentarily to help them set up the VPN. This shouldn't be necessary, because the VPN is very easy to set up. However, the feature is an excellent addition that certainly can be considered a selling point that sets it apart from its competitors. The feature is also available for general maintenance and is handled with TeamViewer remote support software. PrivateVPN even provides a guide for getting remote control set up in its resources area.
PrivateVPN is based in Sweden. Due to the fact that Sweden has data retention laws, this is far from ideal, so let's take a closer look. In 2008, the Swedish parliament passed an incredibly controversial law that permits the Swedish government to monitor all internet traffic, without a warrant.
The law was set up under the auspices of national security (to monitor for terrorist communications). Thankfully, in 2009 that FRA law was updated to include political oversight. In 2010 'technical difficulties' were cited for the law's apparent implementation failure – and it is unclear if the intelligence agency that was set up to monitor the internet traffic – is doing its job in an unsupervised manner.
In addition, in 2009 Sweden passed an anti-copyright piracy law called IPRED. IPRED permits copyright holders to make Swedish ISPs reveal the personal information of users under suspicion of sharing copyrighted files (with a warrant). This led to a sharp rise in VPN subscribers in Sweden itself (no doubt many of which subscribed to PrivateVPN).
Next, in March 2012, Sweden passed a mandatory data retention (MDR) law that forces ISPs to retain all data for six months. This includes login times, email logs and websites visited. In 2014, the European Court of Justice decided that MDR was unlawful citing human rights. Then in December 2016, the EU Court of Justice once more found that blanket surveillance was unlawful. The rulings mean that, if challenged, data retention laws in Sweden could be overturned.
Despite all of this, PrivateVPN actually explained to me directly that the reason it stays in Sweden is that it has full access to the data center where they own all the hardware and even control the router. For that reason, PrivateVPN is able to be extremely confident about its zero-logs claim.
Zero logs
Although Sweden is not the most ideal place for a VPN company to be based. The good news is that it doesn't keep any logs whatsoever. As such, if it is asked to comply with an investigation (using a warrant) PrivateVPN can't actually provide anything at all about its subscribers to the authorities. In fact, this has occurred in the past and it had to tell the authorities that it had nothing.
I asked PrivateVPN directly about how it gets around local data retention laws and IPRED and it told me that IPRED applies only to ISPs and that it is not bound to keep any logs. The firm was also honest enough to admit to me that they have been coming under pressure "we're getting complaints" its representative told me, but because it has "no such information about our customers" it can't help with any investigations.
In addition, PrivateVPN informed me that it has a 100% record of providing privacy for its clients. I asked it the following question: has anybody ever got into trouble for piracy – or anything else – using your service? And it gave me the decisive reply: "No, never".
All things considered, it would appear that subscribers are indeed safe using PrivateVPN. Its zero logs policy is watertight, and its privacy policy, which includes never sharing data with third parties, is highly commendable. As such, we give PrivateVPN a thumbs up for privacy. Also positive: the VPN told me that if anything did ever happen to compromise their operations in Sweden, it would move out of the country.
On the technical front, the encryption used by PrivateVPN for OpenVPN connections is fantastic with an AES-256 cipher, an RSA-2048 handshake, and HMAC SHA256 data auth used. 2048-bit DHE keys provide Perfect Forward Secrecy.
In addition, a number of other encryption protocols are available natively in the PrivateVPN client. PPTP is among those, but because it is no longer strong enough to protect users' privacy, we strongly recommend against it. Instead, we encourage you to select one of the others (preferably OpenVPN). Available protocols are OpenVPN (UDP and TCP), L2TP, PPTP, IPSec, IKEv2, HTTP Proxy, and SOCKS5.
Although no DNS leak protection is built into its clients, PrivateVPN does handle DNS requests via its own servers. In order to set this up, users need to set their DNS settings manually. This is very easy to do, and the PrivateVPN team has both guides and a great customer service team available to walk you through the process.
PrivateVPN also IPv6 Leak Protection and DNS Leak Protection, which makes it an all-round great option for privacy and security.
The website
The PrivateVPN website looks really tidy. It is presented in a lush purple color scheme that is easy on the eye and the more I used it the more it impressed me. In addition, the not overly boastful website lays out a lot of information clearly. It is also frank about encryption: disclosing details about its implementation in its features list. With some VPNs, getting this information can be like getting blood from a stone. This is not the case with PrivateVPN. The information is always a click away, which makes the company come across as trustworthy. This is a website that many VPN providers could learn from.
A Support section of the website is packed with guides for setting up everything a user might be interested in. The different protocols and OS versions all have excellent, clearly stated, setup guides. So whether it is SSTP or OpenVPN on Android, Windows, iOS or Linux, it has got you covered.
In addition, PrivateVPN has setup guides for routers including DD-WRT, Tomato routers, and many others. Overall, I was really impressed with the setup guides and FAQ section, and this is most definitely a highly valuable resource for its subscribers.
PrivateVPN also has a blog section that alerts users to any upgrades on the service (such as new servers). The Blog is split into three separate areas: VPN Client, VPN Service, and Website. Each section has a lot of useful blogs that appear to be well written. This is a valuable form of communication with its subscribers that I would strongly recommend subscribers to keep a watchful eye on for valuable information.
Finally, the website is available in English, Dutch, German and Swedish.
PrivateVPN has 24/7 support, which is handled via emails and a live chat feature on its website. I tried the live chat feature at the weekend and found it to be unavailable. However, it did prompt me to send a message which was answered in good time. I suspect therefore that while the chat feature is not 24/7, they do have support staff working around the clock.
To be absolutely certain, I tried the live chat again on Monday morning (during European working hours) and found it to be up and running. The representative was friendly and did his best to answer all my questions. In conclusion, I suspect that live chat is probably only available in European daylight hours. As such, if you live elsewhere you will have to communicate via email (which isn't really a problem because they answer quickly).
The Process
Signing Up
Signing up is as easy as with any of the other VPNs that I have ever used. Subscribers can pay with a credit card, PayPal or Stripe. In addition, people can choose to pay with Bitcoins for added anonymity and privacy levels if they wish. Minimal details are required (an email account), and PrivateVPN does not keep any logs that connect the payment to the users IP Address.
The PrivateVPN Windows Client
PrivateVPN definitely attempts to make everything as simple possible as it can for its subscribers. The VPN software is nice and easy to use on both the versions that I tested (Windows and Android clients). In addition, PrivateVPN is packed with encryption protocol options and excellent privacy features to keep its subscribers secure.
The Windows client is straightforward and not particularly feature packed. It does, however, give users the ability to toggle lots of protocol options. DNS leak protection is now featured in the app, which is awesome.
The PrivateVPN client does have a kill switch called "Connection Guard" (which prevents internet traffic entering or leaving the PC unless the VPN is connected). In addition, the kill switch allows you to select specific software – which is a nice touch.
Overall the client was superb and certainly as good as any other that I have ever used in terms of ease of use and functionality. It even has an auto-connect feature that will reconnect your VPN in sequence with the killswitch should the connection
Performance (Speed, DNS, WebRTC and IPv6 Tests)
Tests were performed using our top of the range scientific speed test system. Download speeds average at 30.1 Mbit/s which is very fast and compares favorably to top of the range VPNs on the market. Burst speeds (Max download speeds) top off at 150.5, which although not the fastest of all is incredibly fast. Considering the price of this VPN it is monstrously fast. In fact, I don't think it is possible to get better speed to cost ratio than you get with PrivateVPN.
As you can see in the screenshot above, PrivateVPN's connection speeds constantly behave in a range with the fastest VPNs in the world.
PrivateVPN also passed all DNS leak and WebRTC leak tests, which is great news for their subscribers.
Using PrivateVPN I was also able to stream content from both US Netflix and BBC iPlayer. So, PrivateVPN gets a streaming gold star from me.
Other Platforms
I don't have a Mac, so I was unable to test this software personally. However, I did do a little research and it would appear that it is a similar client to those provided by other VPN companies. The firm provides setup guides for its Mac and iOS clients and I can only assume from my experience with the Windows and Mac clients that they are just as well designed. Certainly, I have no reason to suspect otherwise from the research that I did.
PrivateVPN offers full GUI apps for Windows, Mac OS / OSX, Android, and iOS. It also offers setup guides for getting it working on Linux with the third party OpenVPN software (command line prompt installation in the console). You will also need curl to be installed to get it working.
Detailed guides are available for every single platform, and it even has guides for setting it up on a variety of routers. This is a great plus as it helps non-techy people to be able to get the VPN working on any device. Also, due to the fact that subscribers are permitted to install the VPN on six devices, these guides are bound to come in very useful.
The Android app
The Android app can be used with Android 4.0.3 and above. It is available on the Google Play store or can be downloaded as an .apk file.
The app is a brand new addition (January 2017) to the PrivateVPN family (before users had to use third-party OpenVPN software). Just like the desktop app, the Android app is intuitively designed and works well. Also good news, I detected no DNS leaks when using the software.
PrivateVPN Conclusion
- Helpful customer service
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Strong encryption (with Perfect Forward Secrecy)
- HTTPS Proxy and SOCKS5
- Excellent mobile apps
- 100+ servers in 56 countries (and growing)
- Six simultaneous connections
- Fast connections
- Works with US Netflix and iPlayer (at date tested)
- Killswitch and auto-connect features
- DNS leak protection
- Website available in English, German, Dutch, and Swedish
I wasn't so sure about
- Nothing
I hated
- Nothing
PrivateVPN is a VPN that has been around for a number of years. In that time it has established a top-notch service. Subscribers get access to a tier 1 network of servers placed in excellent locations around the world. Speeds fared well across the servers, with only slight drops between slowest average connection speed without a VPN and highest average speeds with.
Privacy with the VPN is great, and the zero logs policy speaks for itself. Encryption is also strong, and the ability to toggle between UDP and TCP in the client is fantastic. Availability of HTTP Proxy, SOCKS5, and port forwarding, is also a huge benefit. Finally, the auto-reconnect and killswitch features are a nice addition.
With servers located in excellent locations around the world, my overall impression of PrivateVPN is that it is an excellent VPN service that is worth the money it asks (particularly if you sign up for a year). Thanks to its seven-day trial and 30-day money back guarantee anybody can do this risk-free to make sure it works well for them.


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Baroness Chalker of Wallasey: My Lords, I am aware of that appreciation. However, it is always nice to receive from the noble Lord the thanks of the specialist committee in Kuwait. While the ICRC is the key organisation for dealing with detainees, we are watching most carefully how the committee is getting on. I shall be talking with the committee tomorrow in Geneva. I am glad to say that there are some signs, for example, by their attendance at the Tripartite Commission and initial responses on 127 files, that Iraq is perhaps beginning to co-operate. Let us hope that that process continues.
Lord Avebury: My Lords, I welcome everything that has being done on behalf of the Kuwaiti detainees. Will the Minister consider referring to the ICRC the question of 1 million Iraqis, allegedly of Persian ancestry, who were expelled to Iran between 1980-90 and of the representatives of those families who, according to the UN rapporteur, Max van der Stoel, have been detained ever since as hostages in southern Iraq?
Baroness Chalker of Wallasey: My Lords, I shall certainly look into what the noble Lord has said.
Lord Wright of Richmond: My Lords, can the Minister give an assurance that the Government continue to support the ICRC, not only in the very important work that it is carrying out in Iraq and Kuwait, but also in such so-called "forgotten areas" of the world, such as Afghanistan and Liberia?
Baroness Chalker of Wallasey: My Lords, I can give the noble Lord, Lord Wright of Richmond, that assurance. I shall discuss those very matters tomorrow.
Lord Rea: My Lords, I have a question which is peripheral to the one on the Order Paper but, nevertheless, relevant to it. Can the Minister throw any further light on newspaper reports which appeared today which seem to show that there has been a coup attempt in Iraq, and that the son of Saddam Hussein has been seriously wounded and is now in hospital in Amman, Jordan?
Baroness Chalker of Wallasey: My Lords, I can give no confirmation or denial about those reports at this time. But, needless to say, I am as interested as the noble Lord in the matter.
Lord Molloy: My Lords, is the Minister aware that there is a feeling in Kuwait that the pressure exerted by the International Red Cross and all supporting governments and Parliaments, including our own, is beginning to have an effect? Surely that pressure must be maintained. Ultimately, I feel sure that the free world will show that it cannot be treated in such a way by an evil dictator.
Baroness Chalker of Wallasey: My Lords, I thoroughly agree with the noble Lord.
Baroness Blackstone: My Lords, as Iraq has attended the last two meetings of the Tripartite Commissionsomething I believe that the UN special rapporteur on Iraq has very much welcomed as a new developmentcan the Minister tell the House whether Iraq was asked to give an explanation at those meetings about the continued imprisonment of 600 or more Kuwaitis? Further, are there any plans to put pressure on the Iraqis in the context of the commission meetings?
Baroness Chalker of Wallasey: My Lords, I cannot give the noble Baroness an exact answer; but I hardly think that such meetings would have taken place without those matters being raised. They are part of the work of the Tripartite Commission. Certainly, one of the things that has happened is that the Tripartite Commission has been successful in cutting away some of the procedural undergrowth. That is how the new technical sub-committee has been able to speed up its work. It means that the committee will be able to take account of things that previously it could not.
Viscount Chandos asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Blatch): My Lords, the Government share the wide regret at the financial difficulties of Barings and will study any views from the inquiry which has been commissioned by my right honourable friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Charity trustees are already under important duties of care in relation to the safe custody of their charities' property. The Government are not persuaded that new legislation to prohibit a charity from owning a bank would be appropriate.
Viscount Chandos: My Lords, I thank the Minister for her Answer. However, does she agree that day-to-day banking supervision can and should only be the protection of last resort, with proper accountability
Baroness Blatch: My Lords, it would be quite inappropriate for me to speculate on any of the noble Viscount's points. As he knows, a review of all such matters is taking place at present. It is absolutely certain that the trustees do have a duty of care in such matters. As regards the underlying premise of the Question, Barings started off as a bank and set up a foundation over 200 years after its establishment as a bank. The idea of putting legislation in place which would prevent a bank from setting up a charitable foundation would simply not be sensible.
Viscount St. Davids: My Lords, does my noble friend agree that the matter that needs to be addressed is whether it is desirable for a bank to be owned by any single shareholder or group of shareholders who may not be able to increase the capital of the bank in a manner which is commensurate with the risks that the bank enters into? In the case of Barings, the risk was probably entered into involuntarily.
Baroness Blatch: My Lords, I am not able to say how Barings entered into that risk. All I know is that the trustees of the charitable foundation acted properly and were wholly unaware of the tragedy that was about to befall them. However, the relationship as regards the charitable foundation, the bank, the proper management of the bankwhich I believe is what is at stakeand the proper relationships and line management that operate at any given time is really what is at issue. I hope that that will be looked at during the course of the investigations.
Lord Ashburton: My Lords, I declare an interest. I am the current chairman of the council of the Baring Foundation, which has indeed been grievously wounded by the collapse of Barings. I was also chairman of Barings plc up until 1989 and a non-executive director of Barings until last year. Do the Government agree that to lead a Question on shareholder responsibilities with an apparent assertion that the trustees of a charity are less capable than others of keeping pressure on management to do what they should doto produce income by managing the asset welland, furthermore, to use the Baring Foundation as an example, when several of us on the council have had, and have, intimate knowledge of Barings business and management, is less than convincing?
Baroness Blatch: My Lords, first of all, I note the noble Lord's involvement in these matters. I think the whole House will share the regret that this generous charitable foundation should have fallen so tragically. There is a criticism of the Baring trustees implicit in this Question. I would like to think that we could distance ourselves from that and say that the trustees of any charity have a duty to maximise income, to invest
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: My Lords, without in any way wishing to comment further on the efficacy or otherwise of the actions of the trustees of the Baring Foundation, does not the Minister agree that, as regards the public, the real scandal in recent weeks has been that the senior management of Barings have paid themselves £105 million in bonuses for profits in 1994 which are not there, whereas the Baring Foundation has had to notify its recipient charities that the money is not available for them?
Baroness Blatch: My Lords, I shall make no comment on the point that was made by the noble Lord. I do not wish to speculate on any outcome of any inquiry about the behaviour of Barings in this matter.
Lord Jenkins of Putney: My Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that nothing that has been said so far has removed the need for the Question that was originally raised by the noble Viscount, Lord Chandos?
Baroness Blatch: My Lords, I remind the House of the Question, which invites the Government to consider the possibility of introducing legislation,
As it relates to Barings, I am simply saying that Barings was a bank for 200 years before it set up a charitable foundation. It has been extremely generous to the charitable sector. We all regret the downfall of Barings Bank, but that is not an argument for putting in place legislation to prevent any bank from setting up a charitable foundation.
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Credit unions offer many benefits over regular banks, such as lower interest rates on loans and higher interest rates on savings accounts, according to Bank Rate. They also tend to offer low- or no-fee checking accounts and lower minimum balances.Continue Reading
Because credit unions are nonprofit institutions, they're able to pass their profits on to their members rather than to shareholders. They belong to a large network of credit unions, giving customers a wider range of shared branches and ATMs to use than regular banks, states Bank Rate, with 30,000 credit union ATMs located throughout the United States in 2015, according to U.S. News and World Report.
Credit unions tend to be smaller than regular banks, giving banking a more personal feel, states U.S. News and World Report. Credit unions earn a higher customer satisfaction rating than regular banks in customer surveys, reports Bank Rate,
In addition, credit unions participate in the financial education and training of their members, volunteers and the public, particularly youth, which is one of the seven cooperative principles for credit unions, according to the Credit Union National Association. They offer informative seminars for their members on financial topics such as identity theft and credit management, states U.S. News and World Report.Learn more about Credit & Lending


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In a surprise to absolutely no one, European champions Spain came out tops in FIFA's final 2008 rankings. How could it have been otherwise in a year in which La Seleccion won all of their matches?
It's official -- Spain were pretty darn good this year
The world's governing football authority made the announcement at its headquarters in Zurich on Wednesday, Dec. 17, honoring what has to be considered one of the most dominant national squads in the history of the sport.
Despite having gone 44 years without a major title, the Spaniards made short work of the competition at this summer's European Championship in Austria and Switzerland. The only blemish on their record, if one wants to call it that, was their victory on penalties over Italy.
Otherwise the team won all its matches in regulation time -- both at the Euro 2008 and in qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
No fewer than nine of its players were selected for the Euro 2008 team of the tournament, including all four of the squad's regular starting midfielders and the competition's top goal-getter, striker David Villa.
Such was Spain's dominance that even Fifa's notoriously obscure mathematical formula for determining world rankings could not be thrown off track.
Spain earned 1663 points, almost three hundred better than 1381 racked up by second-placed Germany -- the team Spain beat in the final in Vienna to earn the Euro 2008 title.
Satisfied bridesmaids
Germany's young and old had a lot to celebrate, too
Germany fell short in that title match -- the game wasn't as close as the 1-nil final scoreline would usually imply -- but team potentates are still happy with the squad's 2008 performance.
In his end-of-the-year statement last week, the president of the German Football Association (DFB), Theo Zwanziger, said Germany had enjoyed a successful 2008, pointing out that his organized had invested in the future by building 1,000 new playing fields.
With Germany also well on their way to qualifying for the next World Cup, the only dark cloud on the horizon was the nasty public spat between national coach Joachim Loew and veteran midfielders Michael Ballack and Torsten Frings.
This autumn, after Frings was left out of the lineup for a couple of Germany's matches, Ballack publically accused Loew of lacking respect for older players. All parties insist the conflict has been resolved, which is probably true -- for now.
Risers and fallers
Turkey's fans can cheer the fact that their team is in the top 10
The Netherlands, which also had a strong Euro 2008, were ranked third, just behind Germany and above 2006 World Cup winners Italy, who mounted an uninspired campaign this summer in Switzerland and Austria.
Turkey also managed to crack the top ten, overtaking traditional soccer powers France, Portugal and the Czech Republic. Croatia and Russia are at seventh and ninth respectively, reflecting their good Euro 2008 performances.
The highest-ranked non-European team is Brazil in fifth -- a position that almost amounts to insult for the once-mighty Selecao. Still, Brazil football fanatics can take solace in the fact that the squad is still one place above hated rivals Argentina.
Cameroon are best-rated team outside Europe and South America, checking in at number 14 on Fifa's list.
Germany coach Joachim Loew has admitted to dissenting voices in the national team squad but still feels the Euro 2008 finalists can look back "positively overall" on the year. (14.12.2008)
Germany's national team coach Joachim Loew said it was mission accomplished as his side took a four-point lead in their World Cup qualifying group thanks to 1-0 win over Wales. (16.10.2008)


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Which sex is the worst about washing up? Why is it so important? We've got the dirty truth on how and when to wash your hands.
Frequently Asked Questions About Female Urinary Incontinence
- What is urinary incontinence?
Urinary incontinence is the accidental leakage of urine. There are four types of urinary incontinence. One of the most common is stress urinary incontinence, in which you leak urine when lifting objects, coughing, laughing, sneezing, or exercising. Another common type, urge urinary incontinence, (also called overactive bladder) is the sudden urge to urinate followed by an involuntary loss of urine. It's thought that most women have mixed incontinence -- a mix of stress and urge incontinence. Less common than these is overflow incontinence, where your bladder doesn't empty fully and you frequently dribble urine. Overflow urinary incontinence can be caused by diabetes nerve damage, medications, uterine or vaginal wall prolapse, or other conditions.
- Is female urinary incontinence inevitable with age?
Although female urinary incontinence does occur more often in older women, you can take steps to minimize or even avoid the problem. Maintain a normal weight -- a body mass index (BMI) of below 25 -- since being overweight strains the pelvic floor. If you're carrying an extra 50 pounds or more, you are at higher risk for female urinary incontinence. Cigarette smoking also raises your risk, because chronic smoking tends to lead to chronic coughs, which can also weaken pelvic floor muscles.
- Don't many women "leak" a little from time to time?
You're right: many women -- young and old -- have a little leakage now and then. If it happens infrequently, it's not a problem. But when female urinary incontinence becomes a bother to you (or those you live with), or when it interferes with exercise, sexual intimacy, or socializing, it's time to ask your doctor for an evaluation and then to explore treatment options. Ignoring the problem of urinary incontinence won't make it go away; it may only make you feel isolated or depressed. Talk to your doctor and get help.
- Can what I drink cause urinary incontinence?
There are many causes for urinary incontinence. But one may surprise you: drinking too many fluids. Though we're all taught that drinking lots of water is healthy, overdoing it can actually lead to problems. Unless you're an extreme athlete, keep your daily fluid intake (of all types of drinks) to about 50 or 60 ounces -- more if you're exercising or in hot weather. And since caffeine increases the flow of urine from the body and is a muscle stimulant to boot, try limiting or avoiding caffeinated drinks if you have urinary incontinence. Be sure to talk to your doctor before any major changes in your fluid intake.
- Can female urinary incontinence be cured?
In the early stages, female urinary incontinence is often reversible with simple lifestyle changes. Talk to your doctor about reducing caffeine intake or getting off medications that may aggravate the condition, such as some high blood pressure drugs. Certain medical procedures may also help female urinary incontinence. Retropubic suspension uses surgical thread to support the bladder neck. The sling procedure is a natural or synthetic strap to support the urethra.
Performing Kegel exercises, where you contract vaginal muscles, may help. Vaginal estrogen may also reduce leakage.
WebMD Medical Reference
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Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Matchbox Shrines -- Times Two
I had the good fortune to teach my Matchbox Shrine workshop not once, but twice in the past week. The first workshop was offered in Salem as the capstone to a multi-week class entitled Circle of Life and led by Elizabeth Hartshorn of Full Circle Counseling. Ten eager participants gathered and created ten beautiful little shrines, many commemorating what they had been learning and focusing on during their Circle of Life sessions. Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera with me and I was unable to record the impressive row of shrines that were created in JUST OVER AN HOUR! This group was on a tight deadline due to an opening check-in and a farewell at the end of their session, so rather than the usual two or three hours I like to allow for creating a shrine, they did their creations in a little over an hour. Amazing!
My second opportunity occurred last Saturday, when I taught my Matchbox Shrine class at the DIY Lounge at collage on Alberta. It was one of our first sunny days in a long string of rainy, cold, bleak days and all five registrants showed up! We had three glorious hours to create two little shrines and once again, I marvel at the creative ideas that took shape in just a few hours time. Here are photos of the creativity that flourished last Saturday afternoon in a delightful little art store on N.E. Alberta in Portland:
Posted by Dayna Collins at 3:59 PM 3 comments:
Labels: Workshops
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Mexico Post Script
I forgot to share a very exciting part of staying with my grandkids last week: my gifts! From Mexico! I spoke to my daughter a couple of days into her Mexico trip and told her that if she were out and about and happened to come across any milagros, I would love for her to get me a few. She started to laugh because just the night before she had come across a bright yellow star STUDDED with little milagros and she had already bought it for me as a thank you gift!
I told, in that case, I would love for her to look for saints or nichos. My dear daughter brought back both:
Thanks, Melissa, I love my gifts . . . and I love your kiddos!
Posted by Dayna Collins at 5:55 PM No comments:
I was fortunate to take a one-day workshop recently, led by Susan G. Wooldridge, author of two poetry books: Poemcrazy: Freeing Your Life With Words and Foolsgold: Making Something from Nothing and Freeing Your Creative Process. The workshop was hosted by Diane Havnen-Smith at her wonderful Innerstandings Studio, where every need was taken care of by Diane: a welcoming ceremony in her little cedar house, morning treats, a delicious lunch, afternoon snack, and a closing ceremony back in the little cedar house.
During the day, Susan led us in a variety of writing exercises, always preceded with unique prompts and ideas to get us started. One of my favorites was her use of "writing tickets." These are colorful tickets, each with a word taped on the back, and stored in a special little bag. She handed us each a handful of these tickets and were told to choose from these words to get us started in writing a simple poem. I went home and created my own little bag of words:
In addition to word tickets, she had us choosing words from poetry books, and pages torn from the dictionary. At other times she had us looking at images from postcards, or tromping around in the backyard gathering items for little matchbox shrines. She had us starting our poems by completing phrases:
I am
I am not
I love
I used to be
Etc., the list of beginnings was long
In one exercise she had use Awake/Asleep as a starting point and here is what I wrote:
Awake, I dutifully peel grapefruit and bananas, eating fruits that prolong my life.
Asleep, I eat lightly salted vinegar potato chips and dark chocolate covered almonds.
Awake, I live in a tiny yardless one-bedroom condo, the sound of sirens and cars steady outside my window.
Asleep, I keep discovering doors to rooms I never knew existed, an attic filled with old leather chests and suitcases.
Awake, I travel to the coast and stay at the Chelan in Neskowin, an hour and a half round trip.
Asleep, I'm on a plane to Italy, wearing a well-worn backpack, the straps covered in layers of silver duct tape.
Awake, I water my trailing ivy and the spidery almost leafless ficus benjamina.
Asleep, I have to push aside the palm branches just to get to my front door, the smell of hibiscus in the distance.
Awake, I balance work and classes with family, and reading, and laundry, and never-ending lists.
Asleep, I linger in bed, overstuffed pillows dropping onto my face, my green chenille robe draped across the foot of the bed.
Awake, my alarm rings.
Asleep, I dream.
Posted by Dayna Collins at 4:07 PM 1 comment:
Labels: Workshops
Nanny For a Week
I spent last week in Washington, in a little community part way between Olympia and Tacoma, babysitting two of my adorable grandkids: Luke, 3-1/2, and Ella, 22 months. Their Mom was vacationing in Mexico and their Dad was working, so I was the nanny for the week. What a delightful job! While I was there, I attended a Pampered Chef party at the home of one of Melissa's friends, then another day I met that same friend at the Olympia Children's Museum for a morning of play. Of course, there was also a trip to Chuck E. Cheese and swimming lessons at the YMCA. I'm a little out of shape for all of this, but I managed. For the long days of chasing and caring for two little ones, I needed fuel, which came in the way of home-made chai tea soy lattes:
Throughout the week, Luke and I worked on a two-page spread in my visual journal, my "special book." Luke chose paint and painted two pages, then selected collage items to glue down. He went back over the top of some of the images and added more paint. He didn't want to tell a story or add words, but I added a quote by him: "I love you Bammy, you're so cute, I want to keep you forever." Ahhhhh . . . .
On Thursday, Hubby came up with Oliver, and it didn't take long for Oliver to become friends with Bella, one of our granddogs:
Posted by Dayna Collins at 3:17 PM 1 comment:
Labels: Family
Friday, April 4, 2008
The Artist's Way Week Thirteen: Recovering a Sense of Faith
Little fledglings start to come.
Dayna's nesting like a mum.
Fledglings stretch and ask for more.
Dayna feeds them at their core.
Fledglings fly with fears in eye.
Dayna smiles and waves good-bye.
Thank you our beautiful Dayna.
Tuesday night was the final gathering of our Creative Cluster and it was a bittersweet time. The ladies were excited for the celebration of thirteen weeks together, but equally sad to see it all come to an end. After our usual check-in, each woman presented her final project, an idea I "borrowed" from my friend and mentor Gretchin Lair: the "Omega Project." This is a project that reflects an interest in something they have done during the past 13 weeks, something each woman wanted to explore in greater depth, or just an art project that was fun and enjoyable. The women's projects were fantabulous and amazing. Here is a gallery of their work:
This is a photo of a mosaic table "K" made (sorry for the flash!):
"B" took a sculpture class in Portland and created this work of art:
"S" designed a "gaudy" box:
"L" had her soon-to-be mother-in-law help her sew this lovely little dress:
"A" started an altered book in memory of a special friend:
And "B" created this lovely and very personal shrine:
We concluded the evening by eating Stone Soup. I provided a savory broth and the "stone," while each of the ladies contributed two ingredients for the pot. We had lots of carrots, as well as cabbage, celery, scallions, red kidney beans, green chilies, and orzo. I provided a hearty loaf of Dakota Bread from Great Harvest Bakery and presto! a wonderful feast.
During our final closing, there were tears and words of gratitude, a sense of accomplishment and connection. Well done. As a parting gift, I gave each woman a bundle of colored pencils tied with a ribbon and a quote from Maya Angelou: You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have. I also included a quote of mine: BE BOLD! In addition to the pencils, I gave each woman a mini Lingam. Each week during our check-in, whoever was speaking held a special rock in her hand. I had found this special rock in New York City at the little shop Tibet Arts and Crafts. When I purchased the Lingam, a description came with it and I share it here:
Lingams are sacred stones from the holy Narmada River, In India. Characteristic markings make the Lingam unique. They are naturally formed from cryptocrystalline Quartz minerals. They are said to contain the loftiest vibration, and great healing power. Lingams symbolize creation, and perfect balance of Male and Female energy. The body of the Lingam represents the Male energy knowledge and the markings represent the Female energy wisdom.
On a trip to Sedona several months after purchasing the large Lingam, I found a basket of itty bitty Lingams and carefully selected a couple dozen to use as parting gifts in my Creative Clusters.
Post Script: I asked each of the women to share comments about their experience and I share some of those here:
I liked sharing feelings and the creative crafts. I can't think of anything that could be improved. Every detail was perfect. Your gift of small and thoughtful kindnesses touched my heart.
I liked the "ritual" of the short check-in, then long, the reading . . . it focused me, helped me to let go of the day. Of course, I liked the art projects, and the warmth, humor, and laughter of the group.
This group saved my life and brought about rebirth. I loved being with wonderful creative women! Dayna was calm, supportive, reassuring, and a great artist! The only thing that could be improved upon was that it would go on forever.
I liked the women, thinking different from my everyday life; and thinking of being an artist was new and freeing.
I liked writing after our art projects and I liked taking pieces of the centerpiece home each week.
Posted by Dayna Collins at 9:42 AM 1 comment:
Labels: The Artist's Way
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Two Poops and a Pee
Saturday morning we got up and started our walk by heading east on Marine Drive to the beginning of a wonderful bicycle and walking path that goes for miles and miles. The entrance to the walkway is located at the east end of the Gleason Boat Launch, and the sign posted at the walkway indicates it is Broughton Beach - sounds so east coast beachy! As soon as we arrived at the path, we veered off, and headed for the beach that runs along the Columbia River. Oliver was in doggy heaven! We let him off his leash and he frolicked and ran and scared himself into little leaps, all the while sniffing and snorting his way along the tide line. While he and Hubby were scampering along, I was in my own heaven: collecting the detritus of the river and of humans. Using a doggy poop bag, I collected shells and agates, and all sizes and shapes of beach glass rubbed smooth by the rocks and river. Because the Columbia is a notorious spot to drink, there were lots of rusted bottle caps, along with bits of odd-shaped plastic rings and unidentifiable doodads - lovely. By the end of our walk, my doggy bag was filled to the brim with small pieces of bleached driftwood, rusty bits, beach glass, and a beachcomber's collection of shells.
As we neared the end of the beach, we spotted about eight people and 12 dogs, all who had just arrived. The humans were carrying steaming cups of Starbucks liquids, and the dogs were sniffing each other, some swimming in the river. Oliver was intrigued, if not a little overwhelmed. He chose an older, slower dog to sniff and greet, while the younger more confident dogs moved on down the beach.
Oh, yes, Oliver treated us to two poops and a pee. It was a good day indeed.
The entrance to the beach:
A happy Oliver:
Oliver in action:
Always a beachcomber:
The booty:
Posted by Dayna Collins at 9:38 PM 1 comment:
Labels: The Adventures of Oliver
I'm a Star!
I was on AM Northwest this morning! I didn't tell too many people in advance, because, well, the idea of my friends watching made me nervous. However, now that it is over and I didn't flub my words or fall down, I feel safe letting you all have a peek. Just click here for a link to KATU (Channel 2). When you get to their site, look for "Matchbox Shrines" and you'll find me. It's about a five minute clip. Oh, and here is a photo of KATU's "green room."
Posted by Dayna Collins at 9:17 PM 2 comments:
Labels: Television
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Your Spine is Your Lifeline to Every Function in Your Body.
The bones of the spine (vertebrae) are like 24-26 donuts stacked on each other. They protect the spinal cord. We are constantly bombarded with stress. This stress causes these vertebrae to mis-align and interfere with the function of the nerve system (vertebral subluxation). This affects the function of the whole body and keeps people from living the quality life they are capable of.
We at Schumacher Family Chiropractic know how important the correction of vertebral subluxation is and we are committed to giving the highest quality care possible at affordable fees. Our goal is to enhance the life of all the families in our community. We do this through providing only chiropractic care. The highest quality chiropractic service is our single goal in our offices and we have been providing that service for over 15 years. We would be honored for the opportunity to serve your family.
Call today for a free consultation (712) 235-6040


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How to Workout ANYWHERE - NO fitness equipment
fitfortwotvPublished: July 7, 20161 views
Published: July 7, 2016
Exercise Routine No Equipment.
Marta & Brock share an exercise program designed to boost your heart rate and make you sweat! You can do these simple, yet effective activities right in your home with no equipment. They've even got a catchy slogan to help you remember the sequence!
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In the silence of the night
When the snow lies soft and still
You can see a magic light
And hear the ring of Christmas bells
Though the night seems long and dark
It is the earth just gone to sleep
The stars that dot the sky above
Hold you in their precious keep
So close your eyes and come with me
The Christmas bells will lead you home.
Now with song we fill the night
While magic dances in the light
To wish you now and all the year
The joy that comes with Christmas cheer
Hear our voices fill the air
To drive the winter's cold away
And so our hearts with all will share
The love that comes with Christmas Day
The love that comes with Christmas Day
The Christmas bells will bring you home!
Lyrics taken from http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/l/loreena_mckennitt/the_christmas_bells_carol.html


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the Liwubi Island 里务比岛
recommendation by fang
Located in the middle-south of the Lugu Lake, is a small heaven of the migratory birds. In the middle of the island there is a temple called Liwubi Temple and on the top of the island you'll see a white tower. The Liwubi Island is one of the most important three islands of the Lugu Lake, and the temple has made the island the Holy Land of the Tibetan Buddhism of that region.


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Dave and Juliet Pokorny have had quite a year.
Not only have the Sonoma residents produced 11 individual story-sharing contests under the banner of their monthly West Side Stories series (now in its seventh season), they also produced October's massive Wine Country Spoken Word Fest, bringing storytellers and poets and writers from all over the country.
And they're not done yet.
Having awarded 12 winners since January, West Side Stories now has one more little thing to do before calling it a year.
"Now we have to crown a champion," says Dave Pokorny. "We have been gathering the first Wednesday of every month for the last seven years, to tell stories and listen to our friends, our neighbors, our teachers, our doctors, and even total strangers. Everybody's got a story."
West Side Stories is held at Sonoma Portworks in Petaluma, where the event has sold out every month since almost the beginning. Each year, the winners from the previous 11 months, including those who tied, are invited to participate in a year-ending event called the West Side Stories Grand Slam, held at the Mystic Theatre. Thirteen tellers relating 13 true stories.
"Some are hilarious," says Juliet. "Some are exciting, and some heart-wrenching."
In the early years, the Grand Slam was always held at Sonoma Portworks, but demand has grown so much that, the last two years, the event has routinely sold out the Mystic's 450 available seats. For the 2017 Grand Slam, the theme that each teller will be preparing a story for is "When We Were Young."
Dave Pokorny will be hosting the show. From the 13 performers, a story-telling champion will be selected by audience vote.
The 13 tellers for 2017 are as follows:
Brandon Spars (winner of the 2016 Grand Slam)
Ray Engan – January 2017 winner (theme: New Beginnings)
Peter Dietrick – February 2017 winner (theme: Second Best)
Bill Reading – March 2017 winner (theme: Passive Aggressive)
Jabez Churchill and Jeff Hannon – April 2017 winners, tied (theme: Drawing a Blank)
Churchill also won in May, 2017 (theme: Awfully Nice)
Jessica Morrell – June 2017 winner (theme: Uninvited Guest)
David Pastran – July 2017 winner (theme: After Hours)
Jon Lehre – August and September 2017 winner (August theme: Fish Out of Water; September theme: Not the Sharpest Tool in the Shed)
Cara Wadsen and Angie Funtanilla – Tied for October 2017 (theme: Random Acts of Kindness)
Andy Sewell – November 2017 winner (Last Resort)
"Wild Card" – (There's ALWAYS a wild card) Yet to be chosen
What: Thirteen local story tellers relating true, first-person tales, with no notes, in front of a live audience.
When: Wednesday, Dec. 6, 7:30 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.)
Where: The Mystic Theatre, 21 Petaluma Blvd.
How much? $22 in advance, $25 day of show.
How to purchase tickets: Visit davepokornypresents.com


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Soon after the release of Windows Vista in 2007, Windows XP, well into its 6th year and had a market share of over 75%. Buoyed by its reliability and impeccable hardware/software compatibility, the buggy and unwieldy usurper aptly named Vista eventually turned out to be a visitor –pun intended—in the OS arena.
Fast forward to 2015, ironically 6 years since the release of the true heir to the Windows XP legacy and the market share now stands at over 50% in favor of Windows 7. In a market saturated with different flavors of Microsoft operating systems, the total count tallies at well over 80% in favor of Microsoft with the newest flagship of the Microsoft franchise Windows 10 trailing in 4th place behind 8.1, XP and 7.
A question one might ask is why did Windows Vista and Windows 8 flop where Windows 7 excelled? (And Windows 10 most probably will). The answer is simple. As humans we are creatures of habit. We prefer that which is familiar. Same applies to operating systems. Windows XP did not attempt to reinvent the wheel but rather simply improved upon its predecessors Windows Me, 2000, 98, 95 and those before.
The same rules applied across the platforms only progressively pimped up to keep up with the times.One only had to boot up their computer, key in a password if applicable and the desktop would appear, right as rain. On the bottom left corner of the screen was the Start Button which would open up to show a catalogue of all the computer programs. Click and go. Plain and simple. From there one could do just about anything the PC had to offer.
Windows Vista was no different only the issues that plagued it had nothing to do with GUI (Graphical User Interface) and more to do with under-the-hood hardware/software compatibility, stringent security and performance issues that eventually sunk that titanic.
As for Windows 8, the introduction of Metro was its undoing. Coupled with the absence of the vital Start Button, die-hard Windows users found themselves alienated from their operating system of choice. The Metro Start screen was a half-baked concept that felt like an entirely different operating system meshed with the Windows of old. That with other major bugs and for a moment there, Windows 8 was facing an early grave had Microsoft not salvaged their ego with the release of Windows 8.1 that strove to right the wrongs in Windows 8. And superbly so. Microsoft also bowed to community pressure and returned the Start Button and with the option to boot directly to desktop, old-timers not yet sold to the Windows 8 tiles were brought back to the fold. They could simply ignore this mostly touch-friendly Start menu mouse-pushers had no real use for.
In comes Windows 10, undoubtedly a culmination of countless lessons learnt over the various reincarnations of the Windows operating system. On a cosmetic level, the Windows 10 design presents the familiar Windows look reminiscent of Windows 7 and its predecessors while at the same time fusing in Windows tile elements introduced in Windows 8 and 8.1. The nightmare that was the Start Screen in Windows 8 now makes a cameo appearance in the Start Menu or within the desktop solving this bipolar OS issue that had plagued traditional Windows fanatics a good chunk of whom use desktop computers. Installing the Windows Phone/Tablet-geared Windows 8.1 on a desktop just didn't feel right.
Windows 10 blends eye-catching aesthetics with intuitive functionality. This isn't the resource hog that Vista was or the flop that was Windows 8. Granted a few glitches come up here and there but that is nothing Windows Update won't fix in the coming weeks and months. Detractors will have to concede that Microsoft is still the bad boy of operating systems and will continue to carve up the largest share of the market for the foreseeable future.
Editor's note: When Steve Jobs released the iPad back in 2010, he proclaimed the beginning of a new computing era in which dinasour PCs would give way to a new wave of hand-held computing devices aka tablets. But we all know Jobs wasn't all that right. The PC still rules and still is the most productivity computing tool out there. And we Love it.
Sydney Mugerwa, a self-taught computer nerd will bring back the "PC love" to Dignited over the coming year. When he's not fixing what's not broken with his laptop, Sydney can be found writing poetry or reading classic literature. Follow him on Twitter @IamARegular


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Case Study | Meet Phil
Compliance Director
Phil's position is to ensure his direct sales contact center understands and complies with the sales disclosure laws of the products being sold through his contact center. The wide array of products along with limited rep training can sometimes allow false misrepresentations of product costs or central characteristics, or misrepresentation of refund or cancellation policies.
By deploying a voice call to text conversion and analytics engine, Phil can gain quick access to calls in data form on a product or client basis to monitor calls that do and do not include required compliance phrases. For example, "Was there a confirmation of proper contract length on every sales call?", "Were customers advised on shipping fees and total order cost?", "Did anyone miss including the regulatory language for the continuity offer?", and countless others. Now Phil and his teams can have complete visibility to all calls and reinforce compliance quickly at a fraction of the costs versus most call monitoring platforms.


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The State Fair always gets a good crowd, but exactly how many people go each day? Here are this year's attendance figures, along with a few from previous years. The all-time busiest day at the fair was the second Saturday in 2010, when 234,384 people packed the grounds.
Thursday, Aug. 23: 103,738, compared with 101,658 last year and 119,145 in 2010. The 2010 crowd set the record for first-day attendance.
Friday, Aug. 24: 117,040, compared with 123,735 last year and 132,738 in 2010. The 2010 crowd set the record for second-day attendance.
Saturday, Aug. 25: 152,646, compared with 177,166 last year and 175,621 in 2010. The record for third-day attendance was set in 1998, when 202,126 people came to the fair.
Sunday, Aug. 26: 185,485, compared with 171,689 last year and 165,784 in 2010. The record for fourth-day attendance was set in 1994, when 209,969 people came to the fair.
Monday, Aug. 27: 133,781, compared with 124,538 last year and 113,637 in 2010. The record for fifth-day attendance was set in 1994, when 143,998 people came to the fair.Source: Minnesota State Fair
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Teresa Palmer has confirmed her recent marriage to Mark Webber by sharing pictures of the couple's big day online.
The Warm Bodies star announced her engagement in August (13) shortly before confirming her baby news, and reports suggested the pair exchanged vows in Mexico in the days before Christmas (25Dec13).
Palmer has now opened up about the nuptials, and shared pictures of her wedding day with fans by posting them on Twitter.com.
The snaps, which will also be published in Who magazine, were posted alongside a number of 'thank you' notes to all those who helped put the wedding together.
The actress adds in a message posted on Instagram.com, "To these special people who impact our lives everyday, we thank you so much. To our best friends, parents and siblings who joined us in Mexico for our wedding, we love you - thank you for all of it... To my maid of honour... for helping with designing my dress, creating our wedding album... to my bridesmaids and bestest (sic) friends... you are my sisters... And of course this goes without saying - thank you (Mark Webber) - my home... Ok I'm done!"


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Hearing from you, our customers, helps us remember that our products are more than a book, a poem or a backpack. They're part of a special memory. Perhaps your baby's first Christmas, your child's birthday or their first day at school. Helping to ensure these memories are magical for you and your children is what drives us.
Here's what some of our customers had to say:
Hi, my book arrived & my grandaughter is over the moon, now she is important (she thinks) Thanks – Lyn
Thanks so much, we're really really happy with our order and it arrived earlier than expected (and just in time for our little baby's first day at day care). – Carolyn
I would like to express my very grateful thanks and appreciation with your prompt delivery and information re production and delivery of my order. I found the parcel at my front door this morning and just in time as the birthday party is tomorrow. As usual, you have come to the party with a great product and excellent delivery. Many thanks – Robyn
I received my order, thank you. I just wanted to say thank you for keeping me updated with the process and delivery. The person I had this gift made for was very happy and impressed. You helped me make someone special feel loved. – Lynne
I would just like to extend my gratitude at not only receiving my items in a reasonable amount of time, but also the amount of care that went into the packaging of my Christmas decorations was fantastic! It meant that I received all of my order in one piece! Thank you very much for looking after my things and actually taking care in delivering my order. – Diana
I was really unsure about ordering the personalised story books for my grandchildren. So many other offers have been built up only to disappoint. The books arrived today. I am so happy with them. They are really first class publications. I can hardly wait for my precious little ones to open their gifts. THANK YOU for these unique quality books. – Martha
Seldom in the current climate do I encounter customer service such as yours. I will be using your company again due to your outstanding customer service. I will also ensure friends and relatives know how brilliant your company is. – Lianne
Learn more:


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Linda Farrow 482 C2 Aviator Sunglasses
Linda Farrow 482 C2 Aviator Sunglasses
White Gold
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56mm lens width
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17mm bridge width
140mm temple length
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Xbox Live Arcade launched with the Xbox 360 back in November 2005. At first it was populated with retro arcade games and modest (but awesome) new titles like Geometry Wars. But four and a half years later we've got first-person shooters like Battlefield 1943 and enormous efforts like Shadow Complex that continually raise our expectations of what a downloadable game can deliver. So XBLA games are getting bigger and more sophisticated -- but are they getting "better?" Downloadable games were new territory for consoles back in 2005, so as developers learn the ropes of what does and doesn't work are the fruits of their labors getting sweeter?
For kicks and wiggles we put together the following InfoVisualizerz so we could see the trend of XBLA review scores at a glance. We've charted both IGN's reviews and the general press scores, going back to the launch of the service.
So we can see here that XBLA review scores have hovered around the mid-7s to the mid-6s. The average score was 7.42 in 2005, but to be fair that only takes into account two months' worth of releases. Interestingly, the average scores fall from there for both IGN and the general press through 2008. The scores jumped back up again in 2009, the year that Battlefield 1943, Shadow Complex, and 'Splosion Man arrived.
The amount of games released on XBLA has increased exponentially each year:
10 in 2005
27 in 2006
63 in 2007
74 in 2008
111 in 2009
So even though certain titles have come out and impressed the socks off of everyone, it seems there are enough mediocre games being released to drag the average review scores down. With an average score of 7.26 for 2010 so far, it would seem that we're off to a good start this year.
What are your thoughts on XBLA? Has the quality of games improved or diminished over the years? Let us know in the comments below.


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Our Champagne Sisters @TravelingFlute & #ChampagneChat joined the one & only @Mr_Pasadena himself to host a FAAAAAAAAAAABULOUS #WW #TweetUp at @ToroPasadena! (if you are wondering what a #TweetUp is *CLINK!* HERE & scroll to the bottom) Here are our photos tweeted during the Toro Sushi Bar & Lounge event! Keep in mind that these are photos taken on a mobile phone & tweeted to our audience live as the experience unfolded, so won't be as big, bright & clear as our usual photos.
Our girl @TravelingFlute, showed that sharing is caring when she when she brought a bottle of 2004 Limited Edition Belle Epoque Perrier Jouet to share with the guests.
It didn't take long to *pop that cork!*
Immediately, flutes were filled to pass around & *CLINK!*
The fun began at 5pm sharp with Happy Hour drinks, and delicious nibbles! A full menu was also available.
More people arrived...
And so, more flutes were filled...
Suddenly, sakebombs were lined up!!
Smiling folks everywhere :)
New friendships made...
Old friends revisted!
A wonderful # WW was had by all!
*CLINK!* to the tweeps who came out for the fun:
Toro Sushi Bar Lounge
#Eat #Drink #Socialize
Twitter: @ToroSushiBar @ToroPasadena
Facebook: Toro Sushi Bar Lounge
Phone: 909.983.8676 / 626.792.8676
Website: www.ToroSushi.comWant us to host a tweetup like this for your restaurant? Want us to do a restaurant review like this latest one: *CLINK!* HERE? Easily accomplished! Email us with your details, let's chat & we can set it up: email@example.com
#Sushi Caterer for SD @Chargers!


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Media that is "DRM Free" means having the ability to download files at your convenience, store them on all your devices, or share them with a friend or colleague as you would a print book or DVD.
In celebration of Day Against DRM, on Tuesday, May 3, O'Reilly will be having a site-wide sale on books and training videos. This sale only comes around once a year and you won't want to miss it, trust us. Get your list together of things you want to learn and sign up to be notified when the sale goes live.


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Johnny Depp and Keith Richards at the premiere of Walt Disney Pictures' "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" at Disneyland (Kevin Winter/Getty)Link
Keith Richards and his wife Patti Hansen arrive at the premiere of Walt Disney Pictures' "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" at Disneyland (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)Link
Johnny Depp and Keith Richards at the premiere of Walt Disney Pictures' "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" at Disneyland (Kevin Winter/Getty)Link
Keith Richards at the premiere of Walt Disney Pictures' "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" at Disneyland (Frazer Harrison/Getty)Link
Johnny Depp and Keith Richards at the premiere of Walt Disney Pictures' "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" at Disneyland (Mario Anzuoni/Reuters)Link
Keith Richards at the premiere of Walt Disney Pictures' "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" at Disneyland (Jason Merritt/Getty)Link
Johnny Depp and Keith Richards at the premiere of Walt Disney Pictures' "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" at Disneyland (Kevin Winter/Getty)Link
arrives at the World Premiere of "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., on Saturday, May 7, 2011. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)Link
Johnny Depp and Keith Richards at the premiere of "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" at Disneyland. (Mario Anzuoni/Reuters)Link
After decades of dark excess, Keith Richards seems wildly out of place at family-friendly Disneyland, but on Saturday, there he was, a rock 'n' roll exile on Main Street USA. "No one is more surprised by all of it than me," the Rolling Stones guitarist said with a wink. "I never expected to work for the Disney organization for a while. I'm still shocked, but, hey, it's all good fun."
Richards first got on board for a cameo in the 2007 film "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" — he played the scoundrel father, Capt. William Teague, to a scoundrel son, Capt. Jack Sparrow. Sparrow is, of course, portrayed by Johnny Depp, whom Richards describes as a "blood on blood" friend, and it's quite apparent they have a jolly good time playing pirate together. "If Johnny says he wants to do something, well, it doesn't take much to get me to show up," Richards said with a rasp of a laugh.
On Saturday, Disneyland was given over to the massive premiere of the fourth movie in the franchise, "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," and with a pared-down cast (Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Bill Nighy and Jonathan Pryce missed the boat — or at least their characters did), Richards was given a surprising amount of spotlight during the six-hour event, which was sort of a pop-culture pep rally. More than 700 fans paid $1,000 each to attend and watch the 3-D film on a six-story outdoor screen, eat dinner, see the stars up close and listen to a concert where Disney performers dressed as buccaneers performed "Billie Jean" and "Poker Face" like wedding singers walking the plank.
Richards, with a big pirate grin, went through it all, shrugging, bowing and staggering, the same bleary ballet that famously inspired much of Depp's on-screen shtick as Sparrow when he was first putting his now-signature character together for the 2003 film "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl." In this new movie, Richards is on screen maybe two minutes, but it's enough time to kill a man, pass on some key knowledge to his offspring and deliver a line that gets one of the biggest laughs in the movie.
"Well, basically, I tell Johnny what to do at one point, and then I get out of there," Richards said on Saturday.
He had just arrived at the theme park in a black SUV and was waiting in a green room where two makeup artists stood by to touch up the Disney Channel starlets and MTV faces who showed up for the all-hands-on-deck media event. It was a different world than a Stones stadium show, but there was one thing Richards recognized. "You can hear 'em screaming already," he said, nodding toward the wall and the thousands of fans beyond who lined the park's sidewalks and already had waited hours for a glimpse of the celebrity parade to the premiere.
"This is so different than what I usually do, and I love to see how's it made, you know, and this is one 3-D with the big cameras and all, and I'm interested in that, and I get to see the latest techniques. And I don't have to really do a lot of work. We did it in London at Pinewood Studios, and it was the usual thing. You get there early, and you wait around a long time. The makeup takes a long time; it's an incredible amount of makeup, and sometimes you're sitting there next to a guy who's getting scales put on. 'Hey, how you doin'?' It's a lot of preparation to do something that will be short, but it's amazing stuff, as you expect."
A few days earlier, Rob Marshall, the director of the new film, said the set crackled with excitement on the day that Richards was scheduled to do his pirate duty. "What an amazing guy; he can't help but be himself, and it was just an honor to have him come in," said the Oscar-nominated filmmaker ("Chicago") who picked up the franchise after the three-film run by Gore Verbinski. "We were in London too, so people were just freaked out that he was coming."
Marshall himself wrote the funny line that Richards delivered (a line went over big at the Saturday night screening), but he brought it to the rock star with some trepidation. "It required him to have some fun with himself, and I wasn't sure how he'd feel about it, but it was great, he loved it," Marshall said. "He is just so self-effacing and funny in general. I told him he was doing some great acting and he said, 'You should see my Hamlet.' "
Marshall made it clear that the whole scene with Richards, which takes place and in and around a scabby old tavern early in the film, was put in to satisfy the star of the franchise.
"He and Johnny have an extraordinary chemistry together, and they really love each other," Marshall said. "When Johnny said to me and to us, 'I want Keith in this one' and what worked out really nicely is that instead of a cameo he's actually really part of the storytelling and he puts the plot in motion in a way. He sends Jack on his quest, and it really brings a smile to your face when you see them on screen together."
Richards only enhanced his real-world desperado aura and rock stature with "Life," the bestselling memoir released in paperback just this month. The publisher — Little, Brown and Co. — paid $7 million for the book of 500-plus pages (which was written with veteran journalist James Fox), and the investment has paid off. Richards said the wave of positive reviews for the book was more than he expected.
"I was blown away, actually. I don't know what I expected, but what we heard back was so strong," Richards said. "There were really good reviews from some really hard critics too, and I was amazed that we were able to get the story across to people and to those critics and they all mostly liked it. I mean, my records don't get such good reviews."
The book's accounts of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll led to a breathless Drudge Report post in October that quoted an unnamed "inside source" and stated that alarmed Disney executives might cut Richards from the film. That only made sense if the Disney leadership and the moviegoing public were somehow unaware that Richards was a demigod of debauchery; perhaps the author of the post was unaware of a similar sort of rumor circulated before the release of the third "Pirates" film. All of it misses the point that Richards was imported into the project to bring a whiff of authentic danger to the amusement-park pirating.
"If there is a pirate soul among us, it's Keith Richards," Marshall said.
Richards walked the same carpet path at the previous "Pirates" premiere, but he said his first trip to the "happiest place on earth" was as paying customer. "I once brought my kids here, back in the '60s. I was a punter then; I rode all the rides," Richards said, although that might be slippery memory considering his first child, Marlon Richards, was born in 1969, and his second, now known as Angela Richards, arrived in 1972. [FOR THE RECORD: An earlier version of this post misstated the name of his daughter.] No matter, Richards was in a good mood on Saturday, and it was time to go meet the screaming masses, who reached out to shakes his hand or pleaded for an autograph. The fact that the youngest of those fans knew more about the Black Eyed Peas than they did "Black and Blue" didn't bother Richards one bit. It actually provided a special sort of satisfaction.
"Not everybody that likes pirate movies necessarily likes rock 'n' roll, right, and so this all gives me another chance to communicate with different people," Richards said. "Now everywhere there's all these young people who know me as Capt. Teague, not as Keith Richards. 'That's Jack Sparrow's dad!' And that's cool, man."
— Geoff Boucher
"Pirates" director Rob Marshall on the joys of Johnny
Keith Richards talks (like a pirate) about pal Depp
"Pirates" king Jerry Bruckheimer gets royal treatment
Depp: "There's a crack in my enthusiasm" for "Pirates 4"
Is the "Pirates" franchise sailing into rough waters?
VOTE: Who should star with Depp in "Lone Ranger"?
Author Tim Powers finds himself aboard "Pirates" ship
Gore Verbinksi and Depp will reunite for "Lone Ranger"


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How many people in the U.S. have a stroke every year?
More than 795,000 Americans have a stroke every year. About three-quarters of these are first strokes and one-quarter are subsequent strokes.1
How many people in the U.S. die from stroke every year?
Stroke kills 130,000 Americans each year. One American dies from stroke every 4 minutes.1
What is the economic impact of stroke in the U.S.?
Stroke costs the U.S. about $38.6 billion each year in medication, services, and lost productivity.1
Are older people at greater risk for stroke?
Stroke risk increases with age. Still, 34 percent of people hospitalized for stroke were under 65 in 2009.1
Who's more likely to die from a stroke: men or women?
Forty percent of stroke deaths occur in males and 60 percent in females.2
What are ischemic strokes?
Ischemic strokes are the most common kind, occurring when a blood clot blocks the blood vessels to the brain. Eighty-seven percent of all strokes are ischemic.2 In an ischemic stroke, 32,000 brain cells die within one second; in one minute, 2 million brain cells die.3
Are there differences in stroke risk based on race?
African-Americans have more than twice the risk of having a first stroke than whites.3
Does stroke lead to permanent disability?
Of people surviving a stroke, 15 to 30 percent become permanently disabled.4,5
What kinds of disabilities happen to older adults after ischemic stroke?
In survivors of ischemic stroke over age 65, 35 percent have symptoms of depression, 30 percent can't walk without assistance, 26 percent are moved to a nursing home, and 19 percent have difficulty speaking or comprehending language.5
Can older people walk again after a stroke?
Seven in 10 stroke sufferers over 65 can walk on their own just six months after the stroke, and 3 in 4 are able to live independently.5
Can strokes be prevented?
Eighty percent of strokes are preventable if patients work with a healthcare provider to reduce risk factors.6
Find Assisted Living Communities to Help With After-Stroke Care
1. "Stroke Facts." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/stroke/facts.htm Last reviewed March 20, 2013.
2. "Stroke Facts." Stroke Awareness Foundation. http://www.strokeinfo.org/signsandsymptoms/stroke-facts/ Accessed March 24, 2013.
3. "Stroke 101 Fact Sheet." National Stroke Association. http://www.stroke.org/site/DocServer/STROKE_101_Fact_Sheet.pdf?docID=4541 Accessed March 24, 2013.
4. "Stroke Facts." St. Anthony's Medical Center. http://www.stanthonysmedcenter.com/neurology_stroke/stroke_facts.asp Accessed March 24, 2013.
5. "Stroke -- Rehabilitation." HeartHealthyWomen.org. http://www.hearthealthywomen.org/cardiovascular-disease/stroke/stroke-page-5.html Accessed March 24, 2013.
6. "Stroke Prevention." National Stroke Association. http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=prevent


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Hello everyone and welcome back to my blog. I am joining up with Joyce at FromThis Side of the Pond today in continuation of being Greatful this Season. If you haven't joined in before I sure hope you will. We love to meet new people and make new friends. She always comes up with amazing questions to get you to really thinking and sharing what is on your mind and in your heart.
The only thing we ask is to visit new people and leave some blog love in the comments sections so we know who you are. So without further ado let's get started on this weeks questions.
1. What's surprised you most about your life, or about life in general?
----That I could have such incredible children and then have to bury one of them while still living. I have suffered through one of the most unthinkable losses and any parent should ever have to suffer and yet I am still here today to tell the story.
2. Among others, these ten words were added to the Oxford English Dictionary this year...awesomesauce, beer o'clock, brain fart, buttdial, cat cafe (apparently this is a real thing), fatberg (gross-read the definition here), fat shame, hangry,Mx (gender neutral), and skippable.
Your thoughts? In looking over the list, which word do you find most ridiculous? Which word would you never in a million years say out loud? Which word would you be most likely to use in conversation?
-- To be honest I can't believe that they put any of these in the Oxford Dictionary. Just because it is a word that a lot of many people say does not mean that it needs to be put in the dictionary. However, I am guilty of saying awesomesauce, beer o'clock, brain far (I have that a lot), buttdial and skippable. The one's I would obviously never been caught saying is fatburg, cat café, hangry, MX. I would use the term fat shame only in reference to make a point about how derogatory it is.
3. Do you like gravy? Is there a food you'd rather not eat unless it comes with gravy? Do you make your own or buy the canned or store-made variety? Turkey and gravy, sausage gravy, mashed potatoes and gravy, country ham and red eye gravy, biscuits and chocolate gravy, pot roast and gravy...which one on the list is your favorite?
---- Hubby makes a mean dish that includes brown gravy for when we are using hamburger and turkey gravy for when we are using chicken in the dish. He calls it gruel but it is basically meat, bell peppers (variety for color), onions, gravy mix cooked together and then put on a bed of rice. It is quick, easy and delicious.
---- As for me, I love eating sausage with gravy and yes I make my own homemade gravy for it. Unless of course I am not home and then I would use the kind the restaurant has.
4. Do you have a plan? Do you need a plan? Have you ever had a plan fall into a trillion pieces? Explain.
----Every time I make a plan it seems to fall into a trillion pieces. Again this will go back to my late daughter. I had planned with her father to keep her children together and with me so they would be with the family they were familiar with. However, much to my surprise (I don't know why it was a surprise) he decided to team up with the dad and keep me from ever seeing them again. I suppose it is because he wasn't mentally capable of dealing with our daughter when she was a child. It has been over 7 years and I still haven't seen the children.
5. November 19 is National Play Monopoly Day. Do you own the original or some version of the game? Do you enjoy playing Monopoly? How likely is it you'll play a game of Monopoly on November 19th? Ever been to Atlantic City? Ever taken a ride on a railroad? Is parking in your town free? Last thing you took a chance on?
5. November 19 is National Play Monopoly Day. Do you own the original or some version of the game? Do you enjoy playing Monopoly? How likely is it you'll play a game of Monopoly on November 19th? Ever been to Atlantic City? Ever taken a ride on a railroad? Is parking in your town free? Last thing you took a chance on?
----I do not own this game at all. As a matter of fact it drives me insane playing it. I have never been to Atlantic City but would love to go, I want to ride on a railroad but so far haven't and parking isn't free in my town unless it is Sunday. As far as the last thing I took a chance on…..I honestly can't remember. There are things that I just do on autopilot and never think of it as a chance.
6. A song you like that has the word (or some form of the word) thanks in the title, lyrics, or meaning?
6. A song you like that has the word (or some form of the word) thanks in the title, lyrics, or meaning?
----I am going to go with "Thank You for Being A Friend" by the Golden Girls. It was one of my momma's favorite shows and mine as well. The lyrics are perfect for anyone trying to express their friendship.
7. In keeping with this month's theme of gratitude....what is something you're taking for granted that when you stop and think about it, you're grateful for?
7. In keeping with this month's theme of gratitude....what is something you're taking for granted that when you stop and think about it, you're grateful for?
----My husband. I know that sounds silly but honestly, without him sometimes I would lose my mind. Granted I am not the best at showing it and may not say it a lot but I try and tell him daily how thankful I am for him and all he does. Then of course there are times when I just want to ring his damn neck. But I love him and he is a good provider and adores my grandson.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
----So last weekend my daughter went to a "baby shower" and was only supposed to be gone for a couple of hours. We kept the baby so she could go and figured she would be home when she said. Well she didn't come home until like 6 hrs later. I didn't have a problem keeping the baby but I did have a problem with the fact I didn't receive a phone call saying she was staying longer or anything else. It infuriated me because I felt like I was being taken advantage of. So when she got home I told her she was going to have to find a sitter for the next weekend (this past weekend) because we were going out of town.
She asked where and I told her I didn't know yet. Honestly I didn't know. I just wanted to get away for the weekend and spend time with the hubby and soak in a Jacuzzi tub. I haven't been in a tub in over 5 years because our tub it too small to soak in. So I found a hotel in LaGrange about 30 miles from the house. Not too far in case there was an emergency and we wanted to be able to go to church the next morning.
So off we went and then we went to Talon Winery and enjoyed the day of relaxing and wine tasting. It was so amazing with perfect weather. After a bit we decided to head back to the hotel before it got to dark and on the way we stopped and ate dinner.
It was so wonderful and relaxing that we have agreed to try and do this once a month or every other month. It is great to get away and recharge.
So when was the last time you recharged your batteries so to speak? Was it a quick getaway or a longer stay? Don't forget to leave a comment with your blog so that I can visit you as well.


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The moment you hand in your two weeks notice, the company offers you a blank check and an open job description. Sounds nice, doesn't it? It is a true story and it can happen to you. To do so you need to make yourself an indispensable employee. Being indispensable is defined as not subject to being set aside or neglected and absolutely necessary. There are thousands of articles on how to go about becoming an indispensable employee at work.
This blog article has 17 quick tips that if followed diligently can nearly guarantee your rise to the top of the pack. Do you want to be indispensable to your company? If so, keep reading.
- Always look your best.
- "Yes, and…" More popularly used by improvisational comics, the "yes, and" approach can do wonders for your career. To illustrate this concept in an example, if you were asked to find a venue for a company holiday party, you would not just look for one place. You would find 3 potential venues, their pricing, potential food, and entertainment. The "and" takes you and your career to another level.
- Being early to everything and with every project.
- Bring solutions, not just complaints or ideas.
- De-stress before your fire off that email. You know which email I am talking about.
- Allow yourself the ability to understand both sides.
- Be nice.
- Remember that everyone, including your boss, is your customer.
- Take every opportunity you can to present your work and solutions. If there are not many opportunities, make them.
- Talk with others like they are human, because they are. Do not talk down to those below you and do not be afraid to talk to those above you.
- Make it a point to have lunch or coffee with many different types of people inside your company and out. Do not out yourself in one clique. The thoughts and feelings of and towards that group can affect you both positively and negatively.
- Stay neutral if high stress topics like religion and politics arise. Everyone has the right to an opinion.
- Watch your language. This may seem a little outdated but it still holds true with many working professionals. They will appreciate your ability to stay cool and laugh it off.
- Do not procrastinate.
- Show your appreciation. Whether it is bringing in coffee and bagels after the conclusion of a stressful project or sending a simple thank you email, it makes a difference.
- Find your ability to make change in the business. Everyone has the power.
- Smile.
Nobody is perfect, but with a little drive and determination you can implement a majority of these 17 quick tips. You could be filling out that blank check one day, maybe even while sitting in the corner office. The power is within you to change your personal brand. Which tip will you start with first?


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|Pacing the 2011 Minneapolis Marathon
In the next three posts, I'll give some tips for pacing, and some tools on how to adjust your pace. I've ran as a pacer in half a dozen marathons and about two dozen half marathons, so I'll try to use my pacing and racing experience to give examples of how to adjust your pace due to external factors.
Since it's going to be warm here in Minnesota for the next few days, I'll do heat first. Here's a link to the posts on Pacing:
- Pace Yourself Part 1
- Pace Yourself Part 3: Heat
- Pace Yourself Part 4: Hills (coming soon)
- Pace Yourself Part 5: Wind (coming soon)
Run well.


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Smart Security, a joint initiative of IATA and ACI, envisions a future where passengers proceed through security checkpoints with minimal inconvenience, where security resources are allocated based on risk, and where airport facilities are optimized, thus contributing toward an improved journey from curb to airside.
ASQ Participants
ASQ participating airports cover the entire world of air travel. This interactive map shows the spread of airports that use ASQ to help improve the airport experience for all of their passengers. The list of ASQ participating airports can be seen below, if you would like further information, email firstname.lastname@example.com .


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February 15, 2013
Valentine Series Winner
2 comments:
You did a great job with this serie ! Morgan will have a great bundle of sweets !ReplyDelete
Have a great friday dear Iris ! I'm looking forward your email ;-)
- AnonymousSaturday, February 16, 2013
I did the letters to my future husband and now it has become something i look forward to everyday! I think that tomarrow i am going to text a frined i havent in a while. And plus i really loved teh babysitting idea and will be hopefully blessing my parents a lot more with that! And i really enjoyed the singles video! sooooo funny! i did the xoxo nails on tuesday! and cant wait to try some of the recipes! thanks for all the great ideas, Iris!-Follower of ChristReplyDelete
I love hearing from you, dear reader! ♥ Tell me your thoughts, opinions, or anything else you want to say. I promise....I'll respond!
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