text: Lichfield District Safer Neighbourhood Panel If you live in Lichfield District, you can join an independent panel that has been set up by Matthew Ellis, the Police and Crime Commissioner, to influence policing at the most local level in their communities. Safer Neighbourhood Panels are made up of local residents and some local councillors who meet regularly with their area's policing commander. Their aim is to shape local policing and community safety and shine the spotlight on the work carried out by the police to ensure greater transparency and help build public confidence. They examine the impact of policing, community resolutions and restorative justice on their communities. Panel members receive training to help them carry out their role so that they can be involved in innovative work such as examining body camera footage captured during stop and searches. The Safer Neighbourhood Panels follow the success of the Ethics, Transparency and Audit Panel (ETAP). The ETAP was established as an overarching panel for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent as part of the Commissioner's ambition to make policing in Staffordshire the most open, transparent and ethical in the country. Local residents are central to the panels and anyone interested should contact Jan Matthews, the Lichfield District Safer Neighbourhood Co-ordinator on 01543 5004004 or email email@example.com. Downloads Results SNP Mystery Shopper PDF - 688 KB May 23rd FINAL LSNP minutes PDF - 1048 KB 2 Aug 2016 minutes PDF - 915 KB


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U.S. Department of Education Funding
Grant Opportunities
January 12, 2016
Investing in Innovation Fund (i3)
The Investing in Innovation Fund, established under section 14007 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), provides funding to support (1) local educational agencies (LEAs) and (2) nonprofit organizations in partnership with (a) one or more LEAs or (b) a consortium of schools. The purpose of this program is to provide competitive grants to applicants with a record of improving student achievement and attainment in order to expand the implementation of, and investment in, innovative practices that are demonstrated to have an impact on improving student achievement or student growth, closing achievement gaps, decreasing dropout rates, increasing high school graduation rates, or increasing college enrollment and completion rates.
These grants will (1) allow eligible entities to expand and develop innovative practices that can serve as models of best practices, (2) allow eligible entities to work in partnership with the private sector and the philanthropic community, and (3) identify and document best practices that can be shared and taken to scale based on demonstrated success.
Arts in Education Model Dissemination and Demonstration Grants
The program supports the enhancement, expansion, documentation, evaluation, and dissemination of innovative, cohesive models that demonstrate effectiveness in:
• Integrating into and strengthening arts in the core elementary and middle school curricula;
• Strengthening arts instruction in those grades; and
• Improving students' academic performance, including their skills in creating, performing, and responding to the arts.
Grants are designed to enable LEAs and organizations with arts expertise to further create and develop materials for the replication or adaptation of current comprehensive approaches for integrating a range of arts disciplines-such as music, dance, theater, and visual arts, including folk arts-into the elementary and middle school curricula.
Funds must be used in elementary and/or middle schools to:
• Develop programs designed to expand arts integration into the core curricula, improve arts instruction and academic performance;
• Develop materials designed to help replicate or adapt arts programs;
• Document and assess the results and benefits of arts programs; and
• Develop products and services that can be used to replicate arts programs in other settings.
Applicants must describe an existing set of strategies for integrating the arts into the regular elementary and middle school curricula, which could then successfully be implemented, expanded, documented, evaluated, and disseminated.
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Contribute to the National Art Education Foundation (NAEF)
NAEF helps provide professional development for art educators, classroom supplies for innovative projects, curriculum development for art classrooms, and ground-breaking research in visual arts education.Support the Foundation

subset: commoncrawl


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Chief FHA Underwriter
As Chief FHA Underwriter, Duncan S. Mendelsohn oversees the FHA pipeline and underwriting department at Dwight Capital. In addition to developing and implementing FHA underwriting processes at Dwight Capital, Duncan and his credit team provide guidance during the loan origination stage and upon engagement, they manage each transaction through to successful loan closing.
Holding a license as an FHA underwriter, Duncan has underwritten approximately $750MM in closed FHA transactions across the United States. These transactions have included multiple product types such as multifamily and healthcare, market-rate and affordable, as well as existing and new construction. Prior to joining Dwight Capital, Duncan served as Vice President and Senior FHA Underwriter at Capital One (formerly Beech Street Capital). There he assisted in the creation and implementation of policies and procedures in the FHA Underwriting Department, and was a voting member of the FHA Credit Committee. Duncan began his career as a transaction manager at Metropolitan Funding Corp. where he was in charge of managing accounts, coordinating loan sizing, and underwriting and closing for approximately $500MM in FHA transactions.
Duncan graduated Magna Cum Laude from Vanderbilt University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and Financial Economics. In addition to his academic achievements, Duncan has engaged in various philanthropic pursuits, most recently as a member of the Board of Directors of The Water Trust, an international development non-profit organization providing clean water and sanitation services to East Africa.


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Rio Guadalupe 203
Baths: 2
Occupancy: 8 Guests
Smoking: No
Boat Access: No
|Peak Season
May 1st - Sept 15th
|Off Season
Sept 16th - April 30th
|Weekend: $500
|Weekend: $350
|Weeknight: $400
|Weeknight: $300
|Cleaning Fee: $150*
Availability Calendar
Rio Guadalupe Rules
The master bedroom has a brand new king sized Tulo memory foam mattress. The second bedroom has a brand new queen sized pillow top mattress. The third bedroom has a twin trundle daybed. ( 2 twin mattresses). There is also a queen sized air mattress with built-in pump on the premises. It could be used in the third bedroom (There is room for that plus the 1 twin daybed, to sleep 3. ) It could also be used in the living room at night, but warn that there are no blinds on the sliding door off the living room balcony.). I think that arrangement would work for young kids only.


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August 24, 2016
Experian Facing Congressional Scrutiny over Sale of Info to ID Thieves
Oct. 31, 2013
Large data brokers are facing increasing scrutiny over several recent high-profile security breaches that have put personally identifiable information, including financial details and information consumers use to establish knowledge-based authentication questions, at risk. Experian—not hacked, but found to have sold information directly to identity thieves—has received a written demand from U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-W.V.) for information about how it collects, stores and shares consumers' personal data.
Rockefeller, as chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, has had his eye on data brokers like Experian (and LexisNexis and Dun & Bradstreet, which were caught up in another recent breach) since well before the recent spate of intrusions.
"The committee's investigation has focused to date on how companies including Experian collect and sell consumer information for marketing purposes, while the information Experian reportedly sold to identity thieves—such as Social Security numbers and banking information—appears to be data Experian collects and sells for risk assessment activities," Sen. Rockefeller wrote in the letter to Experian President Donald Robert. "However, if these recent news accounts are accurate, they raise serious questions about whether Experian as a company has appropriate practices in place for vetting its customers and sharing sensitive consumer data with them, regardless of the particular line of business."
Earlier this month, Experian announced a partnership with antifraud technology provider 41 st Parameter to strengthen the fraud-fighting capabilities it can offer to companies that purchase its consumer data for risk management.
Another recent breach , this one at popular software provider Adobe, is worse than originally thought. The company, which originally reported that 3 million records had been compromised in the attack, confirmed this week that the total number of affected consumers is closer to 38 million.


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Clip Art of a White Businessman Pointing the Finger
Business Clip Art © Djart
Royalty free business styled clip art of a white businessman pointing the finger. This people stock business image #237 was designed by djart. Please note: this image is protected by copyright law and may not be used without buying a license. To acquire the license simply click on the 'Download Digital File' button.


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Don't miss our latest publication: Guide on good practice in energy efficiency for Central and South Eastern Europe
The Horizon 2020 Work Programme 2018-2020 for Energy Efficiency was officially adopted on 27 October 2017. The total budget for the Energy Efficiency Calls amounts to approximately €212 million for 2018 and 2019.
The Horizon 2020 Energy Efficiency call 2018-2020 provides support for innovation through:
and focuses on six areas:
Heating & Cooling
Innovative Financing
On 25 January 2018, the new call for proposals for the Secure, Clean and Efficient Energy topics of the Horizon 2020 EU funding programme has been launched. Access the Participant Portal here.
It is also available in print in both hand-out (A4) and poster (A0) formats. Order it for free by providing your details through our contact form.
Take a look at the presentations and recordings of this year's Horizon 2020 Energy Info Days in order to know more about the new energy funding opportunities for 2018-2019.
In the field of energy, the Horizon 2020 Energy Challenge is designed to support the transition to a secure, clean and efficient energy system for Europe and the Work Programme 2016-2017 for 'Secure, clean and efficient energy' is split into four main areas: Energy-efficiency; Competitive Low Carbon Energy; Smart Cities & Communities; and SME Instrument.
Some activities build on the experience of the Intelligent Energy Europe (IEE) Programme; the previous funding scheme that came to an end in 2013. The latest IEE projects will run until 2017.


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Bamboo Fibre Platter - Block
Design @ Home
This product is currently sold out.
Design@Home brings you on trend home décor & accessories at competitive pricing. This biodegradable bamboo fibre platter is perfect for all your kitchen needs!
Made from 65% bamboo fibre, 15% corn powder and 20% melamine
Dimensions: 40.5x31cm(WxD)
Auckland $5
North Island $10
South Island $15
Click & Collect from North Shore Distribution Centre – Free
Please note items may take 5-7 working days to be ready for collection
If for any reason you are not completely satisfied with any product, please return it to us in its original condition (unworn with packaging/labels attached) within 14 days of receipt, with proof of purchase. We will happily exchange your purchase. Please be aware any delivery fee incurred is non-refundable.


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Live in the heart of a new community with opportunity in every direction. Discover the quiet of the countryside on your doorstep and the buzz of the city within your sights.
Life at Countesswells
The Location
Master Plan
Choice of homes
Sign up and be the first to hear the story of Countesswells as it unfolds:
Click here to get in touch
Prime Four content is used with the express permission of Drum Property Group
For more information on Prime Four, please visit www.primefour.co.uk
Countesswells Development Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Stewart Milne Group
Registered Address: Osprey House, Mosscroft Avenue, Westhill Business Park, Westhill, Aberdeen, AB32 6JQ
Terms & Conditions


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ANDY Preece knows only another committed performance from Bury will be good enough at struggling Macclesfield tomorrow.
The Shakers took a priceless point with a battling show at leaders Hartlepool last Friday.
But manager Preece says: "There's such a fight to stay in the league that teams at the bottom haven't been doing too badly.
"Macclesfield had a good result and that will have given them confidence, but sometimes when you're struggling, it's hard to play in front of your own fans."
With Chris Billy injured, Preece must decide whether to leave Martyn Forrest in his starting line up for Bury's first ever competitive match at the Moss Rose, or bring back Terry Dunfield after dropping the former Manchester City midfielder last week.
Bury's Colin Woodthorpe will be hoping David Smith gets his chance as the Silkmen's midfielder was best man at his ex-Stockport County team-mate's wedding.
Macc's midweek win over Leyton Orient took them to fifth from bottom.
Meanwhile, Bury's inactivity since their Friday night draw against Hartlepool has seen them slip to sixth from top of the table.
Macclesfield are likely to be unchanged, with Matthew Tipton's three goals in two games keeping out Neil Ross, who has yet to score since his é30,000 move from Stockport.
Bury won the October encounter at Gigg Lane with goals from Preece and Danny Swailes, Macc managing a Kyle Lightbourne consolation.
LAST SEASON : Different divisions.
Matthew Tipton (Macc): Hit a double in their midweek win, and looking to continue his goalscoring exploits.
Colin Cramb (Bury): Looked dangerous since returning to Gigg Lane.
PREDICTION: Macc 1 Bury 1.


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How Your Body Fights Back When You Diet
Newsgem January 8, 2018 0 COMMENTS
The scientific evidence is clear as can be that cutting calories simply doesn't lead to long-term weight loss or health gains.
We suspect most dieters have realized this by now too. And yet, here they are again, setting the same weight loss goal this year that they set last year.
The only people who don't seem to appreciate this are people who have never dieted. It's particularly hard for them to believe because it doesn't square with their own eating experiences.
Take Nicky, for instance. She eats sensibly much of the time, with some junk food here and there, but it doesn't really seem to affect her weight. She's not a dieter. She is Naturally Thin Nicky, and it's not surprising that she believes what she sees with her own eyes and feels in her own body. Nevertheless, Nicky has it wrong.
The long, strange history of dieting fads
We are researchers who have been studying why diets fail for a long time. We have seen that diet failure is the norm. We have also studied the stigma that heavy people face, and witnessed the blame game that happens when dieters can't keep the weight off. From a scientific perspective, we understand that dieting sets up an unfair fight. But many Nickys we've encountered — on the street, in the audience when we give talks, and even fellow scientists — get confused when we say dieting doesn't work, because it doesn't square with their own observations.


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Ingenious is the abstract board game by Reiner Knizia, the world renowned award winning game designer, played on a hexagonal board. A very simple abstract game but filled with complex strategies due to the hexagonal pieces and board and the multi-coloured scoring pieces.
In Ingenious players place tiles on the hexagonal board. Each tile consists of two joined hexagonal pieces with a coloured symbol on each hex. Players place each tile on the board, looking to score points by placing similar symbols next to one another and using the placement of the tiles to block other players.
At the end of a game of Ingenious, players score all pieces and the player who has the highest score on his lowest-scored symbol set is the winner. A simply ingenious game that provides for hours of fun.
Designed by: Reiner Knizia
Published by: KOSMOS
Genres: Abstract
Ages: 8 and up
Players: 1 to 4
Playing Time: 45 minutes
Year: 2017


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Todays post has a simple question and that is WHY?
A couple of days ago a friend introduced me to someone who said he had some properties that he was renting out. One property in particluar caught my eye as it was a gorgeous house and a bargain at just £500 a month. Now after looking around the area we decided to arrange a viewing and take it from there.
This man said he wanted £250 as a deposit so I spent the past couple of days scrabbling around to come up with it and finally succeeded.
So that was Friday and since then the man in question has disappeared, and after doing a land registry search it transpires that he doesn't even own the house!!!
So he was a conman!!!!!
I got my hopes up about moving into a bigger and nicer place and this man just took advantage. The stupid thing was he did it on hiw own doorstep as he has (supposedly) a garage on the same street as I work, so a visit may be due to tell him what a horrible person I think he is.
I am soo upset at the whole turn of events and the thought that someone could do this to someone else. From now on though if we want to move I shall be going through an agency only, that way we have some security at least.
On a different note I am waiting for the postie to arrive! She should have my felting material, or at least I hope so seeing as she was supposed to re-deliver it on Saturday and never did. If she doesn't have it then I am dreading the hour long journey to go and get it from the sorting office.
I hope you are having a better Tuesday than I am.
Tuesday, 6 April 2010
3 comments:
- Anonymous6 April 2010 at 11:01
Sorry to hear this has happened - what a horrible person!ReplyDelete
I hope you material turns up as a bit of a cheer up1
Aww, I'm sorry to hear that. I'm a firm believer that horrible people will get what's coming to them.ReplyDelete
I hope the rest of your week turns out fantabulous. :)
So sorry to hear this, I hope Jill is right and such a horrid person gets his just deserts. Hopefully this place was not right for you, and you will now find somewhere better still soon.ReplyDelete
best of luck
Bags of Swank by SimJaTa
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Case Scenario is proud to announce an exclusive collaboration with Linda Farrow for their 10-year anniversary.
This iPhone 5 case is the result of a collaboration celebrating expert craftsmanship, and a strong symbol of timeless luxury. Made from patent snake leather and 24 carat gold plated metal, no doubt we put together and excellence at another level.


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|By Avatar thoyrn
|More from Avatar thoyrn
|No update page
|The Adventure of Thoyrn
|General information
4 books
Spirit Realm City: a city in the Spirit World; home to humans spirits and crossbreeds who are discriminated against dearly and decide to rebel against the system and the main location in Book Three: Rebellion.
Republic City: the city home to Avatar Thoyrn and a major location throughout the series.
Yu Dao: originally the first Fire Nation colony and the oldest city in the United Republic. This city is where Avatar Thoyrn finds Crimsa Morika, a newcomer who is there for student loans for a prep school in Republic City and is found by Avatar Thoyrn who gets her to be his firebending teacher.
The Northern Water Tribe: the home of Princess Galadriel, great grand daughter of former Chief Eska.
The Plant Province: was once the obscure and unknown foggy swamp tribe although once it had been recognized several Water Tribe citizens decided to continue colonizing the land building well outside the swamp although the swamp is now the capital where the banyan grove tree is now the home of the ruler with a lavish palace made entirely out of plants.
Omashu: the city where Avatar Thoyrn was discovered to be the Avatar at age six and where Thoyrn had lived his early childhood and had returned to Republic City prior to discovery of his being the Avatar.
Ba Sing Se: the capital city of the Earth Democracy, home to the Earth Chancellor himself and a dangerous coup of shadowbenders.
Lotus City: is a city that was built by the White Lotus many years ago and serves as their headquarters. The city is divided into 13 major districts; one for the United Republic, four for the main bending arts and eight for the sub skill colonies. Instead of having a regular police force, they are policed by White Lotus sentries and the most White Lotus members come out of this city. Children in this city are taught Pai Sho and all White Lotus traditions from a young age and as a result they have the most Grand Lotuses in the world.
Protagonists and Allies
Team Avatar
- Avatar Thoyrn: the current Avatar (well Avatar-in-training) born in Republic City to a wealthy earthbender and his mother, a firebender and former pro-bending champion. Thoyrn keeps his Avatar identity a secret and trains in airbending from Master Jinora twice a week after school so he can live a normal life he goes to school (Asami Sato High School) he has a part-time job at a shopping mall and does what he can to live life like a normal teenager.
- Celina: a transfer student from the Southern Water Tribe where she is the rightful princess, but due to her parents' divorce, she, her older brother, and her grandmother moved to Republic City where her mother runs Ummi's Computer Co. Celina and her family move a lot because of her mother's business. Celina is a skilled pro-bender. When she transfers to Avatar Thoyrn's school, she joins Avatar Thoyrn's pro-bending team and later joins Team Avatar. Celina is responsible for Thoyrn's waterbending training. She has a crush on Thoyrn.
- Jun: Jun is Avatar Thoyrn's best friend and a skilled firebender and a member of Avatar Thoyrn's pro-bending team. He later joins Team Avatar.
- Chang and Fang: are twin brothers, an earthbender and a non-bender, who are two of Thoyrn's best friends, second and third to Jun. Fang is slightly jealous of his brother's bending abilities, although he is a skilled archer and never misses a target, being a descendant of Longshot and Smellerbee.
- Crimsa Morika: a firebender native to the Fire Nation. She is the only notable member of Team Avatar with a disability: Crimsa needs braces on her legs to walk and is missing part of her left arm. Crimsa got this disability when her city was seeming attacked a barbarian tribe of bloodbenders, when in reality she was attacked by energybenders who tried to remove her from existence. She is responsible for Thoyrn's firebending training. As a way to overcome her disability she uses jet propulsion to transport her self through long distances due to her trouble walking. She is also a lesbian and not afraid to show it.
- Una: is an airbender and descendant of Avatar Aang and the youngest of ten siblings. She learns airbending with Thoyrn with her great-grand mother as their instructor. She is a member of Team Avatar, who temporarily turns on the team when she reveals her shadowbending abilities, but later rejoins the group.
- Drip: Drip is an immigrant to Republic City from the Northern Water Tribe. she is introduced in book two energy. Drip lives with her sister and grandmother, whom she hates with a burning passion because she was the only person in her family who tried to help rescue her family from their burning mansion when barbarians attacked her village when she was eight. Drip used to be a waterbender until one of the supposed barbarians took away her bending. Ever since then Drip has kept herself on emotional lockdown as according to her her mother's betrothal necklace is the only family she has left.
- Masou: Masso is a plantbender born from a very wealthy family that ruled one of the plant colonies that surrounds the Foggy Swamp and is given many luxuries with being wealthy but doesn't care about money or power; she still wants independence from the Water Tribe because she wants to one day go on the internet and buy something made in the Earth Kingdom. Her dream is to be a mover star one day and joins Team Avatar to escape her overbearing servants whom contrast to her neglectful parents of whom she has given up on earning their love let alone their trust.
- Dola: Dola is Avatar Thoyrn's spirit animal; a winged mountain liger. Dola is loyal and brave and she always does what she finds is right and is a loyal companion to Thoyrn.
- Hota: Hota is Celina's pet squirrel-rabbit she bought at a pet store in Yu Dao when she was four. Hota is a mischievous and curious pet always getting himself into trouble. Despite his mischievous manner, he is a loyal companion and best friend to Celina.
- Princess Galadriel: Princess Galadriel is half spirit and half human or "halfbreed". Her father is chief of the Northern Water Tribe. Galadriel is the most powerful waterbender in the world and is the military general of the ice brigade soldiers. Being only fourteen years old, she is the youngest military general in the world, as well as one of the most successful. Galadriel doesn't want to be looked at like a helpless stuffy daddy's girl princess and often escapes that image and leaves to Republic City with her koala otter on a supposed military leave in order to seem normal. She had always gone to public schools, but was given special treatment which Galadriel cannot stand; she even says, "I eat and sleep like everyone else, what makes me so different?!" showing she doesn't really want to be a princess, but she wants to be a rockstar. She is introduced in Book Three: Rebellion.
- Master Jinora: Jinora, introduced in the Legend of Korra as an 11-year-old girl with strong spiritual connections and abilities, is now Avatar Thoryn's airbending teacher and spiritual trainer. She is now 98 years old and great-grandmother to Una. She is very calm and knowledgeable of spiritual matters and resides on Air Temple Island in Republic City, but later moves to a new air temple in the mountains of Spirit Realm City.
- Chief Seiko: is the human chief of the Northern Water Tribe and father to Princess Galadriel. He is seen as no more than a figurehead to the citizens of the South. Here, the queen holds much more power in government, even though they are always equal with all citizens no matter what their gender, saying they have gender equality, but the queen is a spirit, so she is automatically more powerful than her husband although she loves him with all her heart. Seiko means success in Japanese and that is his only goal for his people and he expects nothing less of Galadriel. Although he is an overbearing father, he still loves his family very, very dearly and makes them his top priority.
- Teiko Rida: is a crossbreed native to Spirit Realm City. Teiko Rida means resistance leader in Japanese because Teiko is the leader of the crossbreed rebellion of Book Three: Rebellion. Although Teiko is a crossbreed, she is still considered one of the most beautiful women in all of Spirit Realm City. Teiko may be the leader of a rebellion, but Teiko still has the responsibility to her job at a minimum wage a coffee shop in the Western River borough (a crossbreed ghetto of Spirit Realm City) named Teiko's Tea and Coffee, which she her parents run she is leading the rebellion. Teiko is also highly skilled with her magical abilities and her firebending abilities of which she is considered a prodigy. Teiko believes in equality among all the people of both worlds ever since her crossbreed father was mugged by human oppressors and began a quest to make Spirit Realm City equal as it once was.
Villains and enemies
- Raivolka: is the major antagonist of book two energy and the most powerful energybender in the world. Raivolka is a true sadist but only to his enemies and very self-centered but has true concern for his allies and friends. Raivolka believes he is the most superior human being on the planet. Raivolka is over twenty thousand years old. Due to the fact that he is an energybender when he begins to grows old he finds a strong bender of considerable age. They should be who he can detect of being able to live to be over one hundred and forty. Raivolka will then use energybending to drain them of their life and their strength. He will live all the years they have lived times five. He will also live the amount of years they could have lived times ten. Raivolka is the mastermind who figured out how to bend the energy in other things besides people. Raivolka also learned how to bend energy in everything possible which is why he is leader.
- Mayor Akuno Kyoi: is mayor of Spirit Realm City and the main villain in Book Three: Rebellion. Akuno is very conceited and believes she is perfect in all ways as well as the thought that she is unstoppable. Akuno is very prejudiced to the crossbreed citizens of Spirit Realm City and uses their power to her advantage. Akuno also wants to take close the spirit portals and restore humanity to a "pure" existence. She believes what she is doing would bring peace to the world as it has brought peace to her extent while enslaving crossbreeds whom rebel for the right reasons and are forbidden to use their abilities on humans or spirits in the city limits so she can take them down one by one to create a new world where she rules with an iron fist and nobody is brave enough to stand against her will. "Akuno Kyoi" means "evil menace" in Japanese, which is just what Akuno Kyoi is. Akuno is a firebending master with the ability to create both blue and white fire and has the ability to heatbend as well as generate lightning.
- Elder Shana: is the major antagonist of Book One: Nations and she is the vengeful overarching leader of the Air Nomads and is the very person who wants revenge on all the other nations for not aiding her people and trying to kill all of her people. Shana is vengeful, short-tempered and believes she has to destroy all of the other nations in order to live in a perfect world. Shana rules with a very oppressive iron fist and is possibly one of the most corrupted leaders of all time and will stop at nothing until she gets the revenge she believes the other nations deserve.
- Teiko Rida: is a crossbreed native to Spirit Realm City. Teiko Rida means resistance leader in Japanese because Teiko is the leader of the crossbreed rebellion of Book Three: Rebellion. Teiko has shown to be passionate of what she believes in and will happily use dark tactics to get what she wants. She also highly skilled with her spirit abilities and her waterbending abilities of which she is considered a prodigy. Teiko believes in equality among all the people of both worlds ever since her crossbreed father was mugged by human oppressors and began a quest to make Spirit Realm City equal as it once was. however after book three her darker intentions are realized when she is book four: shadows main antagonist.
- Combustion Baroness Bukon: is the secondary antagonist of Book Three: Rebellion. "Bukon" means "tyrant" in Japanese and that is exactly what she is. Bukon overthrew the newly instated prime minister of the Combustion county, who just happened to be her sister who has always been her mortal enemy until the Avatar came to free her nation of slaves. Bukon is a highly skilled combustionbender, who stops at nothing to get what she wants.
- Mitsuki Fukushu: is the secondary antagonist of Book Two: Energy. Mitsuki at first acts as if she is an ally to Team Avatar but quickly betrays the team revealing who she really is. Mitsuki may be a non-bender but that doesn't stop her from trying to destroy the team being one of the best long-range weapons master save for archery and has the highest skill with swords and knives. Mitsuki is the leader of the "new order" group who is supposed to be the energybender resistance but really want to use this opportunity to take the world as their own.
- Secretary Hiro shiro: is the secretary of communications in the United Republic and is the secondary antagonist of Book One who wants to use the opportunity of the Air Nomad war to take control of the president and enforces very harsh laws on all the airbenders living in the United Republic by stripping them of all their technology and many necessities and is very racist against people who aren't of Ba Sing Se descent and is an amazing earthbender and has the extremely rare ability of bonebending and idolizes Councilman Tarrlok seeing him as a role model and is really a fugitive from Ba Sing Se taking upon a false identity and is a major enemy of the Earth Kingdom who was sentenced to death for his heinous crimes.
- Kaya and Sohan: are the secondary antagonists of Book Five: People. Kaya is an armless waterbender and Sohan is a legless waterbender. Both of them use water tendrils as prosthesis for their missing limbs. The two of them are engaged and plan on getting married. Due to each of them only having one set of limbs each they typically fight as a pair using their tendrils to bind themselves together using the limbs they each have. Kaya is a bloodbender and Sohan is a spiritbender.
- Grand Secretariat Ling Du Tong: Ling is the secondary antagonist of Book Four: Shadows. Ling is a very sadistic and aggressive woman who will use ruthless underhanded tactic to accomplish her goals and has no problem letting people starve and die. She has no issues with the suffering in the Lower Ring and enforces it, being the grand secretariat of the city. She uses the Dai Li in even worse ways than Earth Queen Hou-Ting, Princess Azula and Long Feng combined.
- Hanbai Wu: is the primary antagonist of Book Five: People. Hanbai is a blind earthbender who uses seismic sense on a level superior to even Toph Beifong herself. He leads a criminal rebellion of disabled benders who want to create more of them and do not believe the able-bodied should have bending. Hanbai an extremely dangerous fighter with his abilities with chi-blocking, mixed martial arts and weapons similar to Mai from Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Book One: Nations
Book One: Nations is the first book in the series. Book One deals with the return of the Air Nomads, who are in a civil war with the Air Nation. The Air Nomads no longer want to be the other nations' servants and want sovereignty and independence and have no problem conquering along with enforcing spirituality to the conquered. Along with this, there are problems in the United Republic senate on whether or not to act against the crisis, leaving it all up to Thoyrn.
Book Two: Energy
Book Two: Energy is the second book in the series of the Adventure of Thoyrn. Book Two deals with the attacks of supposed barbarian tribes who reveal themselves as the "originals" as the first benders who have lived in the shadows for over twenty thousand years and want to take down all the separated and non-unified nations and create global unity but is Thoyrn ready to stand up and put everything at risk just to defeat the society's evil leader Raivolka and with the help of his friends and allies Thoyrn realizes he is not alone. Along with the chaos of the energybender conspiracy, the Fire Nation's resistance to the energybenders are taking over the nation and transforming and corrupting the government making the energybenders seem okay causing is a civil war between the supporters of their resistance that may become a complete distraction to Thoyrn's real problem.
Book Three: Rebellion
Book Three: Rebellion deals with rebellion of most sub-skill element benders who want to be seen as equal to "primary benders" as they call the major four elements. but those aren't the only rebellions in the world as Thoyrn realizes when he visits the Spirit World for the first time. ever since Avatar Korra left the spirit portals open people had moved into and built settlements in the Spirit World most notably spirit realm city. in the Spirit World marriage between humans and spirits is common and they give birth to a new species that is half human and half spirit the many people call "halfbreeds" who are discriminated against dearly in the Spirit World and are forced to live as lower class citizens and are viewed as monsters and they are feed up with and are ready to rebel against the system.
Book Four: Shadows
Book Four: Shadows deals with Teiko Rita who has now gained control of spirit realm city and spirit realm center and has started to conquer other regions of the Spirit World modernizing it and also expelling humans from it to restore the Spirit World to what it was before humans "ruined" it as well as purge the material world and remains of the Spirit World of the remaining crossbreeds and spirits in order to create a super army that will take the material world by storm.
Book Five: People
Book Five: People is the final installment of the adventure of Thoyrn, where he has to defeat a society of disabled benders. The United Republic government has recently proposed a bill that will bar the disabled citizens from being able to hold any rights and power that an able bodied bender could. So they revolt. The revolution is made up of Blind Earthbenders, paralyzed Firebenders, deaf Airbenders and Waterbenders missing limbs who want to be realized as able bodied and given their rightful opportunities and to do so, they want to exterminate all able bodied benders in order to be the equals they desire and will destroy anybody who stands in their way no matter what the sacrifice is.
Fire, Air, Water, Earth I've watched documentaries and movers about Avatar Korra's adventures and how she did many remarkable things in order to bring peace to the world. Like how she had defeated the Anti-Bending Revolution. Or how she had defeated Vaatu and Dark Avatar Unalaq during the Harmonic Convergence and ended the war of the Water Tribes. And with the help of her friends, after leaving the spirit portals open, many people had moved into the Spirit World where she had founded Spirit Realm City. The city that served as the new bridge between the two worlds after she renounced the role. Spirit Realm City was a city where humans and spirits lived together in peace and harmony. But as all good things must come to an end, Avatar Korra's time in this world has come to an end and the search for the new Avatar has begun.
Book One: Nations
- Chapter 1: The Brand New Avatar
- Chapter 2: A New Master
- Chapter 3: The Dancing Dragon
- Chapter 4: The Assault
- Chapter 5: Return of the Air Nomads, Part 1
- Chapter 6: Return of the Air Nomads, Part 2
- Chapter 7: Death of a Master
- Chapter 8: Crimsa
- Chapter 9: The Evil Elder, Part 1
- Chapter 10: The Evil Elder, Part 2
- Chapter 11: The Battle
- Chapter 12: Chakras
- Chapter 13: Origin of the Air Acolytes
- Chapter 14: Disguised
- Chapter 15: The Question
- Chapter 16: The Answer
Book Two: Energy
- Chapter One: Focused Minds
- Chapter Two: The Test
- Chapter Three: Barbarians
- Chapter Four: Severed
- Chapter Five: Raivolka
- Chapter Six: Drip
- Chapter Seven: Blank
- Chapter Eight: The Spirit of Energy
- Chapter Nine: Corrupted
- Chapter Ten: Competition
- Chapter Eleven: Legends, Part One
- Chapter Twelve: Legends, Part Two
- Chapter Thirteen: The Backstory
- Chapter Fourteen: The Ruins
- Chapter Fifteen: The Final Battle, Part One
- Chapter Sixteen: The Final Battle, Part Two
Book Three: Rebellion
- Chapter One: Sub Skill
- Chapter Two: Elements
- Chapter Three: The Republic City Portal
- Chapter Four: Spirit Realm City, Part One
- Chapter Five: Spirit Realm City, Part Two
- Chapter Six: The Uprising
- Chapter Seven: Plant heiress
- Chapter Eight: The Ball
- Chapter Nine: The Ally
- Chapter Ten: The Enemy
- Chapter Eleven: Return to the north
- Chapter Twelve: The Princess
- Chapter Thirteen: Welcome to the Turning Point
- Chapter Fourteen: Battle for Spirit Realm City
- Chapter Fifteen: President Turned Lunatic
- Chapter Sixteen: The New Way of Doing Things
Book Four: Shadows
- Chapter One: Welcome to Ba Sing Se
- Chapter Two: The Earth Chancellor
- Chapter Three: Secrets and Lies
- Chapter Four: Betrayal
- Chapter Five: Revealed
- Chapter Six: Spirits and crossbreeds
- Chapter Seven: A bad omen
- Chapter Eight: The toxic environment
- Chapter Nine: The Secret Meeting
- Chapter Ten: in the shadows
- Chapter Eleven: The Coup
- Chapter Twelve: The President
- Chapter Thirteen: Escape the Prison
- Chapter Fourteen: Into the War Part One, Readying the forces
- Chapter Fifteen: Into the War Part Two, Teiko's troops
- Chapter Sixteen: Out of the War Part One, Teiko's game
- Chapter Seventeen: Out of the War Part Two, The Avatar's Victory
Book Five: People
- Chapter One: Back on Your Feet
- Chapter Two: Another Day for an Adventure
- Chapter Three: The Visit
- Chapter Four: Equality Among The People
- Chapter Five: Kaya and Sohan
- Chapter Six: More than the Surface
- Chapter Seven: Under the Wilds
- Chapter Eight: Crimsa Alone
- Chapter Nine: You Think You Know a Person
- Chapter Ten: Drastic Measures Call for Drastic Actions
- Chapter Eleven: Who Knows What You May Find
See more
For the collective works of the author, go here.


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Staring at A Woman's Assets is a Form of a Compliment
|Voting Style:
|Point System:
|7 Point
|6 years ago
|Post Voting Period
|3,191 times
|Debate No:
First round cases, 2nd and 3rd is refutations. By the way, this isn't serious so have as much fun as you please.
Observation: Assets are defined as breasts(chest) or a$$(and anything in the vicinity thereof)
So my basic idea is that if I stare at a woman's chest or cute, perky a$$ (yes the description was necessary), it is due to the fact that i take interest in how well sculpted they are. It means I acknowledge the fact that the woman is gifted and I should not be punished for recognizing that fact. Why must a woman be angry if I am stating (through my stare) "holy smokes, you, ma'am, have something that is to be envied by other women." Is it bad if i find a woman appealing? Does the woman prefer i think her to be my ugly, sagging 70-year old neighbor? Of course not, women generally are flattered b complients, so why not be flattered by another compliment. Heck, if I run away with my legs crossed, my hands cupped, and me peeking over my shoulder at the woman's great chest repeating "DOWN DAMN IT", understand that means the woman is sexually attractive. (the situation was for dramatic effect).
Anyways, I await my opponent's reply. Good luck :).
I'll start off by refuting my opponent's observations:
Assets: breasts(chest) or a$$(and anything in the vicinity thereof)
Now, my opponent's entire case was based on how women should appreciate people staring at her assets because they should take it as a form of compliment on their body.
This is where I differentiate my case from my opponent's. PRO's case is that ALL women should appreciate this staring, but what he doesn't realize, is that he is throwing a blanket statement over women, and generalizing all of them. This is a fallacy.
While I agree that some women might appreciate men staring at assets (i.e. hookers), I disagree with my opponent based on the fact that not all women take staring as a form of compliment.
I will outline our burden of proofs.
PRO must prove that all women will appreciate staring of the assets. This was shown through the resolution title "Staring at A Woman's Assets is a Form of a Compliment", and through his statement: "So my basic idea is that if I stare at a woman's chest...", the underlined portion indicating that this should apply to any woman.
As CON I will negate the case by agreeing that some women take it as a form of compliment, but not ALL women. Pro states that ALL women appreciate staring, I will state that not all women appreciate staring.
Now to start my case:
1.a) Some women do not appreciate staring
This is obvious. Not all women appreciate people staring because it feels as if she is being violated by some pervert. This is a personal opinion. Some women appreciate this feeling, others do not. Therefore, not all women should take it as a form of compliment.
1.b) Rape Victims
Imagine you are a woman. You were just raped. It was the most horrifying experience of your life. Now you're standing on a bus, and hundreds of people are staring at your chest. Again, this would make you largely uncomfortable, and not take that staring as a compliment.
Furthermore, building on PRO's failed logic, he says that staring is a compliment to the women's body. Now let's take that a step further. Is raping a woman supposed to be a compliment to her body as well, that she is sexually attractive? Should that woman take the rape as a compliment? This clearly shows PRO's faulty logic. Obviously, no woman would take the rape as a compliment.
2. Some women are shy of their bodies
Another obvious one. Not all women appreciate their body types. Now PRO might say: "Who wouldn't like it if they had a smokin body?". Well, building on my first idea, a smoking body attracts attention. Some people are just naturally shy, and don't appreciate unwanted attention. This is a fact. So if a shy woman had a smoking body, would she not hate it? It would attract unwanted attention and stares, and this would be the last thing she wants. Therefore, not all women appreciate stares.
I clearly showed the flawed logic of PRO in 1b) and explained why some women will not take staring as a form of compliment 1a) and 2. Therefore, I have fulfilled my BOP and Pro has not.
To you, PRO.
I'll run through Con's presentation, move to Pro, then weigh the cases.
Con Arguments
No refutation was rovided towards my observation. In fact the only refutation provided was through his own case(his points clash with mine). Note, however, he provides his refutation to the observation he made, not to my case.
The BoP's outlined by Con only outline what women already do, not what they should do (what I am arguing). Thus I outline these BoPs:
PRO: must prove that all women SHOULD appreciate staring of the assets. This was shown through the resolution title "Staring at A Woman's Assets is a Form of a Compliment", and through his statement: "So my basic idea is that if I stare at a woman'schest...", the underlined portion indicating that this should apply to any woman. (this was a spin on what the Con provided)
CON: must prove that staring at a woman's assets is not always a compliment. (I never stated women appreciate staring, I stated they like compliments[I was speaking of verbal compliments], so staring can be another form of a compliment.)
1.a) So my opponent establishes some women don't like staring, which i clearly establish in my case. this only speaks of what women already do, not what they should do. so this point can be turned for the Pro.
1.b) My opponent states rape victims have a right not to take staring as a compliment. First off, if a women is raped, i doubt the next thing she will think is "I will use a bus". But anyways, there is a HUGE leap the Con is making from staring to rape. Staring is enjoying what one sees, not infringing upon that women's right. Rape is violently overriding that woman's right, causing physical harm to that woman. No way would I agree rape is a compliment, because it induces PAIN, staring does not.
2) Can be simply solved by wearing non revealing clothes. Shy people(in the extent my opponent gives) tend to be reserved not only in speech, but in visual presentation as well, so this would not be a problem. Other than that, it causes no harm, thus I maintain that I am correct.
Drop the flawed logic point, I already have already refuted it, Con has outlined a weak BoP stating women don't like staring, so upholding this only means he is upholding that this resolution exists, because women don't like staring.
Pro Case
Let the audience note that my case remains unrefuted by opponent. Furthermore my opponent's case was dropped, so this extends on the fact that the Pro case reains unrefuted. Thus, I extend the Pro case.
The audience can clearly denote that I am winning since:
1)My case goes unrefuted
2)My opponent's case was properly refuted
3)The true BoP for the Pro was upheld
4)Con did not uphold the true BoP, only one that acknowledges what the resolution already understood.
First off, I would like to say, that I clearly did refute your argument. In fact, I think I did a good job, as a result of your extreme lack of analysis in your observation. Please note that PRO merely asked questions, and did not expand on those. All PRO did in the first round was re-iterate the resolution title, using different wording.
Also, as I stated in my CON analysis, PRO himself stated that all women appreciate staring, and that is what he must prove, lest there be a contradiction in his case.
Reconstruction of My Points:
I will flow through my opponent's layout, then analyze.
First I do concede to the idea that my opponent provided refutation. But, the only point he gave was that i must prove all women WILL enjoy staring. This is an impossible burden to uphold as i will prove under the BoP part.
Burden Of Proof Analysis
Con: My opponent's BoP is that staring SHOULD not be a form of a compliment (He must refute the ideology of the resolution) The "contradiction" my opponent outlined is false. I stated women like compliments. Since the intentions of staring are not harmful and in fact praising, staring SHOULD also be a compliment.
Pro:This is an impossible BoP to uphold since 1)Both Pro and Con acknowledge not all women enjoy staring. 2)The Pro's burden is outlined as should since Pro achieves to set a general idea is a good thing. Similar to the moral stating one SHOULD not kill, not one WILL not kill. It provides an ideology, not foretells actions. You drop Con's BoP on the grounds that it is an impossible BoP to achieve. Pro's, on the other hand, provides a fairer ground, while my opponent's deceitfully tries to set unreachable goals for the Pro. As for the whole "should" rant, my opponent rambles on about useless analogies (ie: I should become the tallest basketball player alive). Yet from his analogies, we understand that Con clearly does not know what should means so I will give him a definition:
Should- indicating one must act rightly, accordingly
Again I am not here to state that women WILL like staring, I am here to state that women SHOULD like staring. I guess my opponent should read my points better.
The "all women appreciate staring" was dropped so no backing to his BoP.
Reconstruction Of Points
Contention 1a) Dropped point on all women like staring. The remainder does not take away from my stance that women should enjoy staring.
Contention 1b)The "faulty logic" my opponent provides can clearly be refuted since 1)Rape is an outright violation of the right to security. Feeling unsafe and being unsafe are two completely different things. And either way i state that women should not feel unsafe because of staring. Furthermore, my opponent does not clarify as to how it causes mental trauma. 2)Rape harms both physically and Severely mentally. Staring does induce physical pain,nor severe mental pain. No extesive evidence exists yet for Con to use, so accept this as a valid point agreed on both my Pro ad Con. 3)The sexual nature of staring does not go to the point of physical ineraction.
Contention 2)Again I say SHOULD. This, contrary to what Con believes should meant(he should look at the definition I gave), means if they don't want to, they don't have to do so. But they recognize that this is one way to prevent the staring if they feel uncomfortable. I also stated this might not be a problem for some people since it would fit their expression. So, contrary to what Con believes (as we can tell by now is obviously flawed), I do not limit the freedom of expression, because I offer a solution to being uncomfortable, I do not enforce it.
I clearly uphold my BoP (the fair/proper one) and continue to show how my stance is unrefuted as well as correct.
So what we are left with here is a misinterpretation by Con, a flawed perception of should by Con, an impossible BoP by Con, flawed logic by Con, and refutations by Con that were dropped. Pro on the other hand is upholding his BoP, is standing with a reaffirmed case, and is providing a better logic.
Due to all this, I urge a Pro ballot.
Let me first start off by pointing out that PRO made no points to prove his case, that Staring at a Woman's Assets is a form of compliment. In the first round, he stated his stance, but did not argue to back that up. He merely refuted my arguments, but however well his refutations were, it is not sufficient enough to allow him to win the round.
Next, let me show you that PRO is changing the resolution of the debate. As the title of this debate clearly shows, the resolution is: Resolved: Staring at a woman's assets is a form of compliment. PRO tries to twist this into: Resolved: Staring at a woman's assets should be taken as a compliment. These are clearly not the same, and the first resolution should be taken because that is clearly definied in the title.
As I described, PRO still has not fulfilled his burden of proof. He has not proven that staring at a woman's assets is a form of a compliment, he tried to prove that women should take staring as a form of compliment but that is not the resolution. The resolution is that staring is a form of compliment, meaning it is taken universally as a form of compliment, meaning that everyone, all women, take staring as a form of compliment, not should take it as a form of compliment. It is like saying "Saying thank you is a form of politeness". It is accepted world wide as a form of politeness, hence the is. If it was not, it should be "Saying thank you should be a form of politeness." It is not my fault PRO wanted to set such a high BOP for himself. He must prove that staring at a woman's assets is accepted world wide as a compliment, because of the "is". With the is, there is no doubt that it is accepted as a compliment. Again, PRO is arguing that it should be a compliment, when the resolution is: it is a compliment.
Reconstruction of Points
Contention 1a)
In accordance to the title of this debate, I clearly proved that some women do not appreciate staring and as a result, do not take it as a compliment. Pro must prove that staring is a compliment not should be taken as a compliment, meaning that it is accepted as a compliment world wide.
Hence, I win on this point, as it was dropped by PRO.
Contention 1b)
PRO argues that my logic is flawed, since Rape violates rights and Staring does not, and as such, rape is not a compliment and staring is. Staring is also a violation of rights as it classifies as sexual harassment. Therefore, your argument is invalid. As staring violates rights, it is not classified as a compliment as you say, and therefore, I win on this point as PRO concedes that staring is not a compliment.
Contention 2
Again, this resolution is IS, meaning that staring is a form of compliment not staring should be taken as a form of compliment. Therefore, PRO drops this point, and I win on this one as well.
PRO clearly did not uphold his BOP.
1. He did not make any arguments to support his case.
2. He refuted my points based on the resolution of should be taken as compliment, not is a compliment when he made the debate himself. Therefore, he cannot argue that I am setting an impossible BOP for him.
In the end, all my points are left standing, and because PRO did not generate any arguments, he has nothing to support his side of the case.
As such, I have won this debate.
|Agreed with before the debate:
|0 points
|Agreed with after the debate:
|0 points
|Who had better conduct:
|1 point
|Had better spelling and grammar:
|1 point
|Made more convincing arguments:
|3 points
|Used the most reliable sources:
|2 points
|Total points awarded:


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I am sure you remember Derek's partnership with TIA Girl Club to empower tweens. Now Derek is giving away two girl boxes and two boy boxes via his Instagram account.
If you are interested, be sure to read the instructions and what you have to do on his post below so you will be included in the giveaway. It's for US residents ONLY.


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Letter to the Editor:
For years, we have seen in other countries where their governments are able to arrest someone and hold them as long as they want without letting the arrested person talk to a lawyer, or indeed talk to anyone. These people just disappear. It is sad to say that this is now the law in the United States. Our government has declared Martial law here. They don't call it that, but that's what it is.
The Senate and the House of Representatives have both passed S1867. Part of it allows the U.S. military to arrest ANYONE in this country and detain him or her as long as they want without formal charges and without trial. For more information on this, get on the Internet and use Google (or any other search engine) and type in "S 1867." You will find a lot of information about this bill.
At one time, the sixth amendment to the U.S. Constitution clearly gave citizens the right to a "speedy and public trial." This bill takes that right away. It takes away our right to any trial, or even a phone call. With any luck, this law can be repealed.
We know President Obama supports this, he signed the law. We deserve to know where the Republican presidential candidates stand on this issue.
James Dupont
Berkeley Springs, WV
Comment on this letter through The Grapevine blog.
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May 18, 2015
Media Contact: David Barnes
Planning & Community Development Department
KIRKLAND, Wash. – Thanks to a grant awarded by the Washington State Department of Commerce, the City of Kirkland, in partnership with Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center (PPRC), will be conducting outreach to neighborhoods and businesses about a solar purchasing program. Solarize Kirkland is designed to encourage a group purchase, or "bulk buy," of solar arrays and the campaign aims to help Kirkland residents and businesses achieve an affordable and successful solar installation. The program provides a reduced cost and easy installation of solar panels on homes, businesses, and multi-family units. The City will host two informational workshops for home and business owners and property managers: July 16 and August 11, from 7 to 9 p.m., at Kirkland City Hall, Council Chambers, 123 Fifth Avenue. Two other workshops will be held in September, but are not yet scheduled.
This type of program has been widely successful in many locations including Seattle, Snohomish County, and more broadly on a national scale, from Portland to New York – with savings as much as 20% on average when compared to acquiring solar systems independently.
Solarized Kirkland is also in partnership with Puget Sound Energy, NW Sustainable Energy for Economic Development (SEED) and Solarize Washington.(05.18.15)


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Category: Life Skills
A Session With Dr. Curtis Jasper!
When a dear friend introduced me to what Dr. Curtis Jasper was doing, I was very inspired by what I saw. However, being the curmudgeon and skeptic I am, I went deeper. I talked to friends and friends of friends about him, always starting the conversation with the same question I ask about all men on the verge of impressing me:
"Is he who he says he is?"
I Have A File On You!
If you are a Friend, Lover, or Person Of Interest, I have a dossier on you. If I found you…interesting!
40/40 Vision: A Retrospective.
At 40 years old I am putting forward the lessons and wisdom that have brought me success, so that I don't lose sight of them! Looking at life with 40/40 vision ->
Ed Latimore: Boxer, Writer, & Physicist Is Going To Die Anyway!
So for now life is boxing, physics, chess, & Jadakiss!
To say that Ed Latimore is just a champion heavyweight boxer, and physicist is an understatement! He's an avid writer, author, and prolific voice both online and offline. Continue reading
Musashi Taught Me That Japanese Wood Is The Same.
Miyamoto Musashi (宮本 武蔵, c. 1584 – June 13, 1645), was born Shinmen Takezō, then also went on to become called Miyamoto Bennosuke, and also by his Buddhist name Niten Dōraku. In the year 1644, he penned what is the one and the only primer that a man: preparing for the hot war of open and honest violence, the cold-hearted subterfuge of corporate warfare, the battlefield of modern-day social dynamics, or simply focusing on how to become a better man will ever need.
Collectively, there are several books that can accomplish the same goal, but they are loose branches strewn on the ground. Musashi offers us the entire tree, chopped, bundled, bathed in oil, and ready to be set alight.
Musashi, codifying sucess since 1644! ->
When Revolution Calls, How Will You Answer?
Revolution is not the willingness to kill or die, it's the willingness to win at all costs. Part of the cost is the willingness to learn tactics that are not fun, sexy, or cool in an effort to be valuable when your civil protests lead to a state and government crackdown.
You ready?
Sub Rosa Nigrum
I'm a part of a discreet, less than formal group of people who enjoy thinking, learning about, and studying the human condition through the lens of critical thinking. We really enjoy learning what makes people tick!
Right now we are delving into a classic! Dale Carnegie wrote, "How to Win Friends and Influence People".
It's a book that was something more than one of my mentors read and reviewed with me, as well as something I've seen on the bookshelf of every successful businessman I have ever done business with, and on the coffee table of every social butterfly I've ever befriended. Still, interestingly enough, it's spoken of with hushed and whispered voices. So much so, that the people I am discussing the book with elected to keep it Sub Rosa, but I am here to lift the veil! ->


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Technical Program
The preliminary program is available!
Select a symposia topic link below to download a pdf file of the session detail.
Or you can use the Itinerary Planner feature to view abstracts and create a customized schedule to ensure that you won't miss an important presentation.
For a quick overview of the program and activities, download the latest brochure!
The American Ceramic Society and The American Ceramic Society's
Engineering Ceramics Division planned a fantastic technical program for
the 2009 conference. Make your plans to attend this conference today!
The 2009 technical program is comprised of 11 symposia and 4 focused sessions as follows:
Plenary Session: Find out more about the plenary session speakers and the topics they will present.


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With an attractive walnut finish, this traditional-style wooden curtain pole is easy to fit, if required, can be cut to size. The curtain pole has a bulb end finial, and with various lengths, with a diameter of 35mm.
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Confetti Star Chocolate Lollipops
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*March 24: AL KALLIS, Illustrator, Art Director, Designer, Filmmaker. Al Kallis is one of the founders of IHOP, International House of Pancakes. A member of The Art Students League in New York City, Kallis also attended the Art Center School of Los Angeles. A professional illustrator and art director, Kallis' clients included Universal Pictures, 20th Century Fox, American International Pictures and Capitol Records. As a documentary filmmaker, Kallis produced numerous foundation films. The Making of Amber Waves received the American Film Festival's Blue Ribbon Award and is in the National Archives. Other documentaries include, Art Colonies in America, how the art colony movement shaped a uniquely American artistic aesthetic, The Incredible Dream, a history of the Hebrew University, The Family Place about the Julia Ann Singer Center for damaged children, Winning, a documentary on the Westside Center for Independent Living, Friends Forever, the story of the Jewish Big Brothers organization and Partners, a Rockefeller supported project documenting geo-political activists from around the world. A lifetime member of Variety International, he has also served on the board of The Beverly Hills Maple Center, is a founding member of the Los Angeles Children's Museum and in 2013 received the Young Musicians Foundation Humanitarian Award. *The talk will be held in Burns 211 located in the Burns Fine Arts Center and will start at 12:15pm.
KaleidoLA: The Speaker Series of the Department of Art & Art History provides a context to explore a 'kaleidoscopic' range of interdisciplinary and intersecting experiences and pathways in the art world and Los Angeles. The speaker series features presentations and workshops by a spectrum of emerging and veteran practitioners, as well as, recent alumni within studio arts, art history, and beyond. In addition to addressing issues that are pertinent to our young artists today.
Friday, March 24, 2017 at 12:15pm to 1:15pm
Burns Fine Arts Center, Burns 211
College of Communication & Fine Arts, Art History, Studio Arts
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Connecting with the Angeles National Forest @ Chilao Campground
How do we connect with nature?We jump on in and embrace the unfamiliar. We took our first camping trip of the year at Chilao campground up Highway 2. And, as usual, it took TEAM WORK! Jeremy and Journy arrived early to secure a site, and Jess and Sonja collected the kids and the gear and we headed up the mountain.
We've discovered that Chilao tends to clear out every morning and then fill up again starting around 10 am. So, by that stroke of luck we got a great site with tall conifer trees, that circled a perfect rocky hill between us and the other side of the campground. This was important for our end-of-evening game of student-invented tag. How do you connect with nature? You play in it. You hide in the dark, you run after your friends, in the dark, and you use your headlamp to help you navigate the un-even terrain. You heighten your awareness of yourself and nature by using all your senses to explore the natural world.
The first day we busted out of our "van ride up" and "tent set up mode" to hit the trail. We found a nearby trail to travel which warmed us up for the next day's peak exploration up Mt. Waterman. We were met with some extraordinary views!
Mt. Waterman was a great hike, and the second time for at least three participants. We trekked about 8 miles round trip, and got about 8 minutes of sun perfectly timed to thawus out during lunch. Nothing like chilly weather to motivate you back onto the trail. We headed back into camp around 5 pm, and got the fire and dinner going.
The first night was cloudy, but the second night the clouds cleared and we were able to look at the moon through our telescope. Then we each took a turn setting up the telescope and focusing it on the celestial entity we wanted to explore. The night sky was amazing, and a bit misleading, as just after we slipped off to sleep fierce winds blew into camp and we got to 'embrace' the movement of air at a pace that was definitely trying. Having not slept well because our rain flaps flapped at our doors all night long, we all pitched in to help clean out our site, pack our tents, and kitchen, and gear and head down the mountain. Every kid stepped up to help, and took breaks when needed with freezing fingers and runny noses (why do our noses run in the cold?) and every kid stepped up to help without being asked. It was a well organized machine in the face of windy adversity, and just goes to show that the challenges we face from the natural world can also be our best teachers, and can provide opportunities to help us meet our best selves.
We connect with Mother Earth because she provides the lessons, the resources and the love we need to challenge ourselves, to relax, to play, and to use all our senses.
We'll be back soon.
Thanks to Lead Mentor Jeremy for the great photos, and Lead Mentor Jess for the amazing shot of Grandmother Moon!
Thanks to the kids who took the leap to come along, and their parents who took the leap to trust us. Thanks to everyone who donates to make this all happen, and thanks to nature for being the best teacher, EVAH!
Click below to see more pictures and a stunning shot of the moon!Read more
Nature is Restorative, and Trees are Talking!
When WYLD first got the garden going at Carver, our idea was a way to reach the kids in order to hand out forms and recruit them for he weekend forays into the natural zones around Los Angeles. We also knew gardening and understanding where one's food comes from was important, but there were other benefits we did not foresee right away. What we found was that on a campus that is mostly asphalt, the garden also served as a calm environment where kids could relax, and they visibly did so. We also found that the connections the youth made from the garden to the walking trails were deep and exponential. We were sold on the gardening program. And while WYLD is definitely vested in kids learning the flora and fauna of the natural spaces we visit, and the history of the native people who live and used thrive here, we also know that some benefits don't need to be extrinsically taught. Here is an article further supporting what many already know, about Nature as 'Therapy."
"…more than 50% of people live in urban areas (increasing to >70% by 2050). Increased urbanization is associated with increased levels of mental illness, particularly anxiety and depression. Growing up in a rural setting correlates with a less acute stress response, and exposure to greenspace significantly correlates to a positive effect on well-being in a large two-decade study. Images and sounds of a natural environment can decrease stress in people exposed to negative stimuli. A large survey of mental health and neighborhood greenspace in Wisconsin showed significant correlation between the availability of nature and lower levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. There are many studies showing a similar relationship between nature exposure, relaxation, and well-being. But how does exposure to green space help us relax and unwind, exactly?"
Find out HERE.
And as we modern humans work to regain our understanding and connections with nature, we found this article on how trees talk, and how we can hear them. As we work to heal our relationship with nature, and each other, we like the idea of learning from the trees, who are the very givers of the air we breath.
"I want to change the way you think about forests. You see, underground there is this other world, a world of infinite biological pathways that connect trees and allow them to communicate and allow the forest to behave as though it's a single organism. It might remind you of a sort of intelligence."
Learn more about this network of roots and fungi HERE.
Happy Nature Walking. See you out under a tree!
Fossil Finding at Latigo Canyon
We had fun exploring the past in the Santa Monica mountains last month! In fact, we've headed out with two groups to this site thus far, and we'll be back for more. We especially love having expert guidance from two USC students took us on a paleontological and geological trek back into the Miocene epoch to find fish and other sea-dwelling crawlers back when the Santa Monica mountains were still the ocean floor.
Slide show HERE!
Where? Latigo Canyon in the Santa Monica Mountains just West of Kanan Dr. Drive about 7 miles from PCH on Latigo Canyon, park in the dirt lot on the left, and walk 2 miles to the fire road. Head west on the fire road to the easy-to-find dirt plateau just up the road, have some lunch, and then get your hand lens out and start exploring the crumbly hill along the trail. You won't be disappointed!!!!
Next up, we tie it all together with a trip to the Palos Verdes tide pools to explore the present ocean-dwellers and see if we can identify any similarities.
And stay tuned for upcoming Leadership projects the kids are coming up with help solve problems they have identified. :)
Saturday's Upcoming Hike in the Santa Monica Mountains 1/6/18
Our first adventure of the new year is a leadership hike with our first-ever round of WYLD participants who are now tenth graders, with long-time parent volunteer Lizz! If we have time we'll be checking out the Lake Shrine on Sunset and finding tacos on PCH!
Where: Santa Ynez Canyon Trail, from the trail head at 17461 Vereda de la Montura rd in Pacific Palisades.
When: Saturday, 9 am to 6 pm
What: We'll be taking the Santa Ynez Canyon trail to Sunset Rock for lunch, and on to Eagle Rock for desert. :)
Who: WYLD Junior Rangers in training.
Focus: Map and navigation; Flora, Fauna and Natural History; Leave No Trace principles.
Want to do this hike on your own? Here is a link to Hikespeak that gives lots of details. Parking is free, and so is this hike.
FLORA, FAUNA, and NATURAL HISTORY
Flora: Manzanita Shrub (Little Apple, in Spanish); Habitat: Chaparral, rocky slopes and ridges; Flowers November to February, but who knows what is going on with this crazy weather. Berries were/are used for food and tea.
Two Types:
Eastwood Manzanita: Has hairs covering terminal parts (ends, for any kids reading) of its branches and leaves.
Bigberry Manzanita:More tree-like than Eastwood, and bigger leaves and berries.
Did you know that Los Angeles is only one of two major metropolises in the world that has lions within it's boarders? It's true. Mumbai in India in the only other one. The most famous L.A. Puma is P-45, a large male that prefers to on the meat of pigmy goats of the rich and famous. Also true. Read up on S.M. Mountain pumas HERE! And here's an interesting, more lengthy article from the New Yorker on our very own P-45.
First Peoples
Native American Indians have lived in the Santa Monica Mountains and surrounding area for over 10,000 years. Though of different languages and tribes, they lived a similar lifestyle based on the abundant food and materials provided by the environment. They fished in the ocean, hunted rabbits and deer in the canyons, and gathered acorns from the oak woodlands. Prosperous and industrious, the tribes who inhabited the mountains lived in the center of a network of commerce that extended up and down the coast, west to the Channel Islands, and inland to Arizona. Today we know the descendants of these people as the Chumash in the western and the Tongva in the eastern portions of the mountains. (Info from the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy).
Geology of the Santa Monica Mountains
- The Santa Monica Mountains are a geological unit of the Transverse Mountain Ranges of Southern California.
- The Santa Monica Mountains are a part of the only east-west belt of mountains in California and one of only two in North America so oriented.
- The Santa Monica Range is a broad anticline that has been severely ruptured by faulting and intruded by sills and dikes.
- The Santa Monica range is bisected by the flow of water that flows through Malibu Canyon.
- Malibu Creek is thought to have flowed in its present course before the mountains existed.
- The main fault of the Santa Monica Mountains is the Malibu Coast Faultt.
- The Santa Monica Mountain Range is a result of the interactions between the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate.
- The Pacific Plate's crust is oceanic and composed of basalt, which is denser than continental crust.
- The Pacific Plate subducts under the North American Plate.
- The Pacific Plate moves north, and the North American Plate moves south; a strike slip plate boundary.
- The area where the two plates slip past each other is called the San Andreas Fault.
- Geologic maps help us understand the geology of the mountains.
- Geologic profiles provide a view at what might be beneath the ground.
- Other geology resources.
- (source csun.edu)
Have fun LEAVING NO TRACE!Read more
Inaugural Sister Schools Trip, Delphinus Science School
By Sonja Williams July, 2017. WYLD partnered up with Delphinus School of Natural History's Marine Biology day camp for a week of science, exploring, adventuring and socializing. We set up camp at Cero Alto Campground in the Los Padres National Forest and commuted each morning to the Morro Bay Marina to meet up with the other campers, aged 6 to 13. This was an amazing trip on so many levels.
We arrived Sunday night after spending a few hours at El Capitan State Beach for lunch, and John Sanders, Delphinus' camp director, met us at camp to get our exploring juices going with a telescope. After setting up tents and inviting him to dinner, he invited us to look closely at the moon. Thanks John for the telescope, we'll be hunting stars all year in the Angeles Forest!
The first two days we kayaked through the estuary and hung out on the sand spit dunes all day meeting from a distance, sea otters, sea lions, turkey vultures, cormorants, and all manner of mud-flat dwelling gastropods, oysters, and hermit crabs. The great thing about the way John runs his camp is that he gives the kids a lot of free time to explore and come up with questions. The kids learned a lot, and they got to socialize with kids from the Morro Bay area and hang out, as kids are want to do, during summer vacation. It was a very special week. WYLD girls rose to the fore as leaders the first day out when John paired them with the younger kids to lead in kayaking and exploring the dunes. As a result, the little kids really glommed on to our girls, especially Dryam, and sat on their laps, held their hands, and constantly asked for them. Kids were given lots of time to swim in the ocean, dig in the sand, explore the sea shore and marvel at the big and little animals we encountered. They got to nap on the beach, chat in the dunes, and even collected drift wood and built an "Open House" for us all to sit in. The Open House, they explained, is a place that is open to EVERYONE! Then, on an overcast beach on Thursday afternoon, the girls circled up inside this Open House with most of the other campers and initiated a "one thing you're grateful for," conversation, complete with talking stone. The little kids sat on the big kids' laps, and WYLD girls directed the show. No adult had a dry eye, and John took lots of great pictures!
After working up an appetite playing, learning, and exploring, WYLD board member and friend Julie Ward led the girls in cooking dinner every night with the help of intern and sous-chef Sandra, with an emphasis on plant-based foods, which is Julie's specialty. The girls learned to experiment with spices, how to chop veggies, and how to season and make sauces and garnishes. We even cooked an entire meal of potatoes, yams, and onions directly in the fire - the very definition of hot mess. We ate like queens and learned a lot about proper diet, nutrition, and how to make healthy food taste super delicious. Every morning we would wake up, make our lunches, prepare the herbal sun tea to brew while we were out, and head out to camp by 8:00 am. I think sun tea will become a WYLD staple on all over night trips from now on, thanks Julie! Good thing we have a garden for growing herbs!
Wednesday night we veered from plant-based treats after dinner to that good ol' camping tradition: S'mores. This was a first for many, and the glee was palpable. And since we like firsts, Thursday night we headed 3 miles up the mountain from our campsite to watch the sun set over the bay and Morro Rock, our home away from home. On the descent, headlamps aglow, we met some of the mountain's night-dwelling organisms: 1 tarantula; way too many scorpions; and 1 beautiful, brown-banded California King snake. The next morning we washed away the creepy crawlies by going whale watching. Humpback whales sure know how to entertain, and we learned smell pretty bad as well. Who knew? Finally, not finally, it was time to go home, and it was a bitter-sweet goodbye to our new friends from Morro Bay, and our fearless leader John. We hugged it out at the beach, went back to camp, and then spent the last night exploring the town of Morro Bay, being goofy, reveling in our new perspectives on the ocean and ourselves, talking, and eating an ice cream cone, of course! We promised we'd be back, and we plan to...
The Bridge to SOMEWHERE
TEN MILES! 11 years old! In point of fact one of the main purposes of WYLD's mission is to foster the abilities of the kids we adventure with. We do this by NOT underestimating them. Often times our young adventurers are underestimated in school, by society, and by themselves. A ten mile path along a mountain stream with a destination to a bridge that goes nowhere, is the world's best provider of "yes you can!" We provide the cheerleading and the ride, but the kids do the work. If you hike five miles into a place without roads, you must hike five miles back out again. If you are tired when you start back out after lunch and think you can't make it, you soon realize that after a mile your energy returns and it won't be 5 miles of torture. This lesson of 'will', provided under the watchful eye of several Desert Big Horn sheep, delves deeper than chapter three, paragraph four of one's history text book. You learn something about yourself. You gain a tool for your tool box. The swimming hole of a mountain stream on a hot Saturday afternoon is the perfect playground to learn social skills and test out one's humor while frolicking with one's peers. No console or screen required. The granite rock striations that wallpaper one's path are the perfect introduction to the mysteries of earth's forces and phenomenon, and one's place in a big, big world. Learning that big horn sheep live only an hour from where you live adds a bit of wonder to daily life, and piques one's interest for "what else?" When you sit down under a tree in the shade with no one else's agenda to follow you learn a bit of independence and you get to be quiet. Or not. Last Saturday the 'Bridge or Bust' crew was led by one of WYLD's most dedicated guides, a young man who holds a huge passion for the wilderness and all it's potential to foster one's ability, and a man who does NOT underestimate the abilities of his charges. WYLD is guided by the mentors that guide the youth. We all chip in, but an important part of the equation to 'ability fostering' is having the youth see themselves in their guides and mentors. One of our goals in the coming year is to increase the number of capable young guides on staff so that we can increase programming and get more youth in touch with their potential, their abilities and the natural wonders of flora, fauna, and themselves. The educational gap, and I would argue the disparity gap, we see in schools in particular, can be filled most efficiently with experiences. Experiences are our true teachers, and from that tool box we can access what we need to get where we want to be. We don't lack experiences because we are incapable of having them. The ability is there. Sometimes we just need a ride. To somewhere.
Photo by Cassie Rivkin. Guiding by Jeremy Rogers.Read more
Saturday, October 14th, BRIDGE TO NOWHERE
WYLD is starting the fall hiking season off adventurously with our annual hike to the BRIDGE TO NOWHERE!We recommend this 10 mile round trip hike along the East Fork of the San Gabriel River, home to Desert Big Horn Sheep, and we bet you'll see some, along with lots of river crossings, desert flora, and fauna, and if you're lucky - Mountain Lion or Bear tracks. But don't worry, the mega fauna are shy and this trail is popular in the day time, so chances of seeing an actual bear or mountain are slim to none.
Mountains: The San Gabriels
Trail: East Fork Trail, which follows the East Fork of the San Gabriel River
Forest information: The Sheep Mountain Wilderness, and Angeles National Forest.
Parking: You will need an "adventure Pass" for parking, obtainable at any ranger station, and many nearby gas stations, and REI, etc. Also, the lot fills up quickly, so the earlier you get there, the better.
This hike is worthwhile even if you don't make it to the bridge. There are lots of places to have lunch, and even pan for gold.
Want to know more about how to get there? This site has lots of great details: https://modernhiker.com/hike/hiking-the-east-fork-of-san-gabriel-river-to-the-bridge-to-nowhere/
Here is some fascinating history of why the bridge goes, well, NOWHERE, and why so many people think this destination is somewhere! http://www.weirdus.com/states/california/roadside_oddities/bridge_to_nowhere/index.php
Want help us help urban youth get out and into the WYLDS of nature? You can donate at www.wyld.org and THANKS!!
FOR PARENTS and PARTICIPANTS:
1. You've turned in all forms and your story, RIGHT? Ok, let's get hiking!
- Meet in front of Carver at 7 am. We will return at 7 pm.
- Please remember to bring a healthy lunch and snacks, and remember no candy, gum, soda or electronics, except cameras or phones in 'airplane' mode for pictures.
- Wear a HAT, Shorts, bring a sweatshirt, and comfy shoes that can get dirty. We like running-type shoes.
- Bring a school-type backpack with a pen and pencil, but no other school supplies needed.
We can't wait to adventure with you!!!!!
Please contact us with questions at any time. email@example.com
Thank You!
"I love the program at WYLD because it is a great way for kids to get into the outdoors and into the world." - Dryam Berry, Carver Middle School Student
San Luis Obispo Delphinus Science Camp Forms!!
Click on the links below for the San Luis Obispo Science Camp forms!! You can turn in the forms at the Carver M.S. main office by July 19, or take a picture of the filled out forms and e-mail them to email@example.com by Thursday, July 20!!
Medical forms: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_WoQtfwTPhCZ1E2TllvTWhVdDg/view?usp=sharing
Liability form: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6f43B2ZvsyzU1RnX2VsQ1NSeVU/view?usp=sharing
Delphinus School Registration and Consent form: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzMa1QAlsg6TSmtWOWtPU3poLVE/view?usp=sharing
Haga clic sobre los enlaces abajo para las formas del campamento de ciencia en San Luis Obispo!! Puede entregar las formas por julio 19 a la oficina principal de Carver, o puede tomar una foto de las formas rellenadas y mandarlas por correo electrónico a firstname.lastname@example.com el 20 de julio.
Formas médicas: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-TCdwX-YwUrUlh0VnZqZTlxUkk/view?usp=sharing
Forma de responsabilidad: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6f43B2ZvsyzSEx4NTZWdndCc0k/view?usp=sharing
Formas de Registración y Consentimiento de la Escuela Delphinus: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzMa1QAlsg6TUTE3SExvWXNsQzA/view?usp=sharing
LAX VAN Rental.... New Rockstar Sponsor gets WYLD Moving... literally! ;)
Thanks LAX Van Rental for helping to solve the major problem in getting youth outdoors... transportation!!!
Thanks for getting us MOVING!!!
"According to Outsiders [Foundation Study], the primary reasons why more young people aren't spending time outdoors include indoor technologies; time management issues; ... and the lack of transportation."


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2016 Midnight Terror Haunted House Review
(Click to Enlarge)
Factory of Malum: 13 MinutesBlack Oak Grove: 10 Minutes
* =
Since people move through haunted attractions at different
rates, your time will vary. Note:
The time shown here represents the actual time spent moving
forward through the attraction. Time spent waiting in queue
lines, staging areas, intro scenes, rules rooms and when traffic
jams cause patrons to come to a halt, has been subtracted.
I was really excited to see that Midnight Terror was moving to a larger location this year; boasting 60+ rooms in a giant space seemed like it would be a strategic move for Midnight Terror. While I can see the potential for this larger space, I think Midnight Terror may need a year or two to grow in this larger location.
Let's look at the positives first: Midnight Terror has fantastic makeup and acting. The actors really throw themselves into the scenes (shout out to the girl eating her own vomit from a bowl and regurgitating it - excellent, stomach-turning effect). Similarly, the scare actors working the lines had great makeup and costumes and were quite dedicated to their roles. The actors also did make some solid attempts inside to slow down the pacing and stagger the groups, which is always appreciated.
One of the biggest concerns I have about the current set up is the parking situation. While the parking area is quite spacious, it's also about 10 minutes from the haunted house. During opening night, only one shuttle (really, a yellow school bus) was running at the time. While the shuttle is being advertised as being interactive, it was really just one costumed actor/actress screaming and contorting along the way. It seemed like an unnecessary add on and didn't add much to the ride over.
The haunt itself is quite spacious, with some interesting effects added throughout. Again, I loved the walls with syringes on them such a cool effect! Midnight Terror also makes use of multiple water elements, which is a unique feature. One of my favorite scenes was a post-apocalyptic library with a hangman game on a chalkboard (with the hangman appropriately spelling "goodbye"). However, some of the rooms throughout felt sparse (either through the number of actors or set decor). If Midnight Terror ends up keeping this location, I imagine that the rooms will fill up more as the time goes on.
One of my biggest concerns with this current incantation of Midnight Terror is that it's very tricky to understand the plot behind the haunt. While the haunt begins with a video introducing the story behind the two houses, it was very difficult to hear it amongst the cacophony of haunt sounds. If there is a way to soundproof this room or turn up the volume, it would be greatly beneficial.
A final concern is the ending of the haunt. Last year, Midnight Terror's chainsaw maze was one of my favorite endings to a haunt - the chainsaws were surprising, and the acting was top notch. This year also ends with a chainsaw maze, but there's nothing super frightening about it (in fact, with the layout, it seems that some guests may be able to walk around it completely).
I'm taking this year at Midnight Terror as a reboot, and I'm curious to see how this haunt will change in a year or two. Until then, I have my fingers crossed that Midnight Terror will continue to fill the rooms with characters and props (and up the ante on the chainsaw maze).
To find out more about this
event, visit:


text:
The hidden date for this stamp can be found near the base of the centre block tower.
During the early days of the Second World War Canadian Postal authorities believed that the stamps in use since 1938 should be replaced with a new issue featuring Canada's substantial contribution to war work. A new general issue to last for the duration of the hostilities was designed. Subjects depicting Canada's munitions, war supplies, shipbuilding, agriculture, her importance as a great air-training centre, and as a source of food were chosen for the pictorial stamps.
A view of the Central portion of the Parliament Buildings, at Ottawa. The design incorporates the maple leaf and Union Jack.


text:
Star children
Justin Trudeau with his wife Sophie and son Adrian in Hamburg
Last day in Hamburg came the first of the G20 summit, among whom were Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau. It should say that its exit plane is eclipsed, perhaps, even the emergence of Melania trump dress at Delpozo. The spectacular arrival of a 45-year-old politician made his youngest son, Adrian, who arrived in Germany with his dad and mom.
Justin and his wife Sophie descended the stairs, holding the hand of his 3-year-old boy, which is fun jumping over the steps. When all three were down, the child was again attracted worldwide attention – with a bouquet of flowers in his hands he own and lively posed for photographers, while the parents were busy with greetings.
Justin Trudeau with his wife and son
Photos of the family flew over publications and social media, where it received a lot of feedback. Internet users were fascinated by Adrian Trudeau, here are just some of the comments:
The child is a canadian treasure.Cute baby! He looks just like his father!
Justin Trudeau may like it or not, but I will not argue with the fact that his son is magnificent.
What a lovely family! Your little son, sir, just like you.The media repeatedly discussed uninhibited style of behavior of the Prime Minister of Canada. Admittedly, the arrival of the policy to the G20 summit meet him.
Son Justin Trudeau Adrian
Sophie grégoire with his son Adrian
Source People
Photo Gettyimages.ru


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It would be an understatement to describe the last five years in the mortgage industry as turbulent. Even as the market sluggishly heads toward recovery, lenders are still being besieged on a daily basis with repurchase demands from GSEs, MI companies and third-party investors. And now, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are demanding the repurchase of loans that are not even delinquent!
If you are losing money due to repurchase demands, we can help. In fact, over the past three years we have saved some of the largest banks in America tens of millions of dollars that they otherwise would have paid pursuant to repurchase demands.
RPM handles initial rebuttals, as well as appeals for demands that have been unsuccessfully defended previously, in the following subject areas:
Occupancy issues
Stated and other income issues
Straw borrowers
Appraisal issues
Underwriting issues
False verifications
Employment misrepresentation
Undisclosed debts
Title issues
Below are representative mortgage repurchase demand letters for actual cases that we have successfully defended on behalf of our clients. Please understand that the vast majority of repurchase demands that we receive are highly technical and complex, requiring vast amounts of research and man-hours.
Click Here to view actual mortgage repurchase demand letters that were rescinded through RPMs efforts.
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