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Jazz Vespers at St. John's returns
Jazz Vespers will take place Saturday evening at 7 p.m. in the chapel of St. John's Lutheran Church, 200 W. Innes St. Themed "When the Saints Go Marching In," this "hour of worshipful music" will feature musicians Diana Tuffin and the Joe Robinson Band.
The event is free and the public is invited. The Rev. Rhodes Woolly is senior pastor of St. John's, and Rob Durocher is minister of music.
Closing weekend for 'Proposals'
CONCORD — "Proposals" by Neil Simon, rated PG, is the story of romantic entanglements in the summer of 1953. Burt, mid-50s and convalescing from a second heart attack, anticipates the arrival of the ex-wife he still loves. Daughter Josie has just broken her engagement to a Harvard law student and pines for his buddy Ray, an aspiring writer with whom she once had a brief fling. Clemma, the black housekeeper at the center of the action casts a astute eye on the complications while facing with her own unresolved past.
Final performances are Friday and Saturday Feb 6, 7 at 8 p.m. and a Sunday matinee on Feb. 8 at 2:30 p.m.
Old Courthouse Theatre is located at 49 Spring St. NW in Concord. Call 704-788-2405 or visit www.oldcourthousetheatre.org/ for ticket information.
Call for vendors at Earth Day Jam
The fourth annual Earth Day Jam will be held April 17-19. Earth Jam is a music and arts festival directly benefitting LandTrust for Central North Carolina and raises money to fund environmental projects in the community.
A musical lineup of 20+ top regional performing artists is planned as well as fun activities, games for kids and the whole family, food from local farms, beverages from local breweries and vineyards. It will be held at Dark Before Dawn Farm in Salisbury.
The Earth Day Jam showcases environmental education organizations and projects providing opportunities that promote areas such as, sustainable farming, local food, conscious environmental choices, alternative energy and energy conservation, protection of resources, and natural healing.
'Becky's New Car' tickets on sale now
Lee Street theatre present a Center for Faith & the Arts' St. Thomas Players production of "Becky's New Car" by Stephen Dietz.
Becky Foster is stuck in a mid-life rut, but when an opportunity presents itself, she puts the pedal to the metal and takes the audience along for the ride of a lifetime.
Performance dates are Feb. 19-21 and 26-28 at 7:30 p.m. with a Feb. 22, 2:30 p.m. matinee. Tickets are $15 + tax at www.leestreet.org/tickets or 704-310-5507.
All performances will be in the Lee Street Theater & Performing Arts Center at the Tom & Martha Smith Event Center. 329 N. Lee St.
Mooresville Art winners announced
Mooresville — Mooresville Arts second juried exhibit winners are Anne Harknesss, Lawayne Kimbro and Judith Brown. The exhibit is shown at the Mooresville Visual Arts Depot in historical downtown Mooresville Tuesday-Saturday from noon until 5 p.m. Admission is free.
The winning artists works were selected from 104 entries by juror Keith Bryan, art instructor at UNC Charlotte in the Art and Art History Department.
Call to participate in the 19th annual multicultural festival
Lexington — Lexington's Recreation and Parks Department will host the 19th Annual Multicultural Festival on May 2 at Finch Park, rain or shine. Vendors in food, art, crafts and merchandise are invited to participate, as well as live entertainment.
The Multicultural Festival is a one-day event that celebrates diverse cultures, starting with the Parade of Nations and featuring five International villages: African American, Asian, European, Latino, and Native American, plus Children's International Village with free amusements. New this year the Music Emporium will be making percussion instruments around the World from reuse materials.
Dr. Paul Murphy presents 'Jazz and Spirituals'
Using music of George Gershwin, Duke Ellington and Cole Porter, Paul Murphy's performance on Feb. 19 will be framed with conversation as he develops parallels between jazz, spirituals and popular music as he plays the piano and saxophone. His program emphasizes the power of music, especially the juxtaposition of joy and pain. Paul's daughter Anna, an accomplished vocalist on her own, will enrich the program with Caribbean vocals.
Paul graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in 1991 with a B.A. in music composition and theory. He has a master of divinity from Duke Divinity School and has a doctor of ministry from Hood Theological Seminary.
He has been a professional musician since 1983 and has performed alongside Carl Anderson, George Winston, and Lou Rawls. He studied with Roger Hannay, Stephen Jaffe, T.J. Anderson, Scott Lindroth and with Pulitzer Prize-winning composers Ellen Taft Zwilich and Louis Andriessen. He was coached by Tony Bennett.
He is a veteran of the US Army and served as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne. He currently lives in Southern Pines with his family.
The presentation, hosted by The English Speaking Union Salisbury Branch, will be at 6:30 p.m. at the Country Club of Salisbury. Reservations for the Thursday, Feb. 19 dinner and show, open to all, are $32 each. RSVP to Toni Iossi at 704-212-2114.
Read more: Arts & entertainment news, Feb. 5-11


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Re: Thomas McCubbin - Missouri
In reply to:
Re: Thomas McCubbin - Missouri
Melissa Koch 7/05/12
Melissa .. I too am a descendent of Thomas McCubbin. David McCubbin (his youngest son) was my great grandfather. Thomas married Emily RUPE on 8 Sept. 1864(not Reese)I have the marriage certificate. Emily'smaiden name was Atterberry she was the daughter of James & Mary Atterberry. in the 1860 census she and two of her children (James and Mary E) are shown living with them. I have all th birth, death and marriage certificates to prove this history .. however, sadly it is as far back as I can verify.
Thomas is "believed" to be the first born son of David McCubbin and Louisa Jane Gum (they married 19 July 1834 in Green County, Kentucky) there is no record of Louisa past that date and nowhere is there to be found a birth certificate for Thomas. I have been researching this for over 20 years and am at my wits end. if I can give you any help you can e mail me at email@example.com (I live in Las Vegas) and if you find ANY verification of Thomas parents please let me know.

subset: commoncrawl


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Trempealeau County (WQOW) – Incumbent candidate Richard Anderson beats challenger Terrence Daffinson for Trempealeau County Sheriff.
With all precincts reporting, Anderson finishes with 57 percent of the vote. Daffinson had 43 percent.
Anderson beat Daffinson four years ago by just six votes.
The winner will face an Independent Tim Hovell in November.
5545 Highway 93, Eau Claire, WI 54701
(715) 835-1881
News Tips: (715)-831-1824 or firstname.lastname@example.com


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Open a template
Motion templates—shown in the Compositions category in the Project Browser sidebar—are premade, royalty-free projects that you can customize. Each template contains graphics, text objects, and backgrounds.
You can also create custom templates for commonly used shots that you regularly create. For example, if you make titles for a news program, you can create templates for the opening title, interstitial graphics, bumpers, and other repetitious shots.
Create a project from a composition template
You can open a composition template from the Project Browser.
Open Motion, or if it's already open, Choose File > New (or press Command-N).
In the Project Browser, select a category from the Compositions section in the sidebar.
The compositions for that category appear in the middle of the browser.
Click a composition to see its basic properties (resolution, duration, and frame rate) and an animated preview on the right.
To create a project from the selected composition, click Open a Copy.
A new project opens in the Motion workspace. You can customize the project by editing the text or exchanging the graphic elements with your own. The changes you make to projects created using compositions do not overwrite the source template files.
Create a composition template from scratch
You can also build a custom template from scratch. Custom templates are standard Motion projects saved in a special way.
With a standard Motion project open, Choose File > Publish Template.
A save dialog appears.
Enter a name for the template and choose a category from the Category pop-up menu.
To create a custom category, choose New Category from the Category pop-up menu, enter a descriptive name, then click Create.
Choose New Theme from the Theme pop-up menu, enter a descriptive name, then click Create.
If you want the template project to retain media in the Media list that isn't present in the composition, select "Include unused media."
If you want a preview of the template to appear in the Project Browser, select Save Preview Movie.
Note: If you want to add the template to a Final Cut Pro project, select the "Publish as Final Cut Generator" checkbox. For more information, see Final Cut Pro templates overview.
Click Publish.
The template is now available in the Project Browser, in the Compositions category you chose in step 2.


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Maternity Clothes: Oh yes, I am definitely feeling VERY pregnant these days & no matter what I wear, there is no hiding this belly! I shared some of my maternity fashion favorites in this post, these basics have saved me all winter & I will definitely be going back to them in future pregnancies. I have also had my eye on a couple more Asos dresses for a few events coming up in the next few months, including our family maternity photos! The brand of the dress above is Joie, it is non-maternity from TJ Maxx last year!
Best Moment This Week: Celebrating a long, holiday weekend with my little family!! I had to take off Friday to watch Waverly & we already had off Monday, a little extra rest and time together was very much needed & appreciated! :)
Miss Anything: Maybe not pregnancy-related, but warm weather. We had a little glimpse of it last weekend but it quickly turned cold again & I am O for over it! At this point in my pregnancy with Waverly (which was two months later in the year), the weather was warm enough for daily walks & it was so helpful with staying active! Let's just say that after a long winter of hibernating inside, me & my toddler sidekick are due for some time outdoors!
Movement: I have started noticed patterns in her movement now, she is mostly awake right after I eat breakfast & then again later in the afternoons, but is usually always sleeping when I go to sleep at night. Is it too much to hope this might be how our future will look like come June?! Probably. ;)
Cravings: I still love & hate food all at the same time! In happy news, I can finally drink coffee again!! I have still been going with decaf., but it's nice to have one in the mornings again after so long.
Queasy or Sick: Feeling good, really good, & so thankful!
Looking Forward To: Other than the holiday, we had a big weekend; Waverly Maye is officially transitioned to her big girl bed & I am beyond proud of her! It went way better than I ever could I have hoped for, I will be sure to post details soon! Now that big sister has officially passed down her crib to little sister (she woke up the first morning & said my baby sister slept in my crib, right?!), I am excited to be one step closer to finishing the nursery. I can't wait to get more done in the next few weeks!


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TAG | credit cards
POS Breaches Threaten Holiday Shopping Season
No comments · Posted by lance in Security Breaches
The point of sales (POS) breaches at Hilton, and Starwood before that, suggest that a group of hackers is specifically targeting hotels, probably because most travelers have above average income. It should also make us brace for a likely wave of further POS breaches in many other businesses during the holiday shopping season.
It really makes me wish that more merchants accepted secure payment tools like Apple Pay, or even that more than a small fraction accepted the new chip and signature cards.
Hilton Data Breach Focuses Attention On Growing POS Malware Threat
Lance Cottrell is the Founder and Chief Scientist of Anonymizer. Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.
Stolen Credit Card website hacked
1 Comment · Posted by lance in Computer Security, Financial Institutions, hacking, Identity Theft, Security Breaches, Stupidity
Vendor of Stolen Bank Cards Hacked — Krebs on Security
Brian Krebs has an interesting blog post on how all of the credit card information was stolen by a hacker from a website that sells stolen credit cards.
This is in the "don't know whether to laugh or cry" department.
credit cards · hacking · identity · identity theft · security · security breaches · stupidity


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Today is National Orgasm Day - no, really - and we don't think it's right to celebrate it alone. So why not join us in enjoying these classic funny quotes about sex? It will only take a few minutes... if you're lucky.
SEE ALSO: 18 Funny Quotes About Friendship
Photo gallery
See Gallery


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I believe health care needs to be directed away from large multi-level health systems streamlined to be money-making business enterprises with huge profits and, instead – the focus needs to fall back on you, the patient, and your health needs. I choose to challenge the industry-wide standard of a 15 minute health care visit. Health and wellness is a journey, what I call "being the best version of yourself" – and this cannot be contained within such a short allotment of time.
1 Peter 4:10
April 12, 2018
April 10, 2018
Copyright by Kathryn Bycura 2018. All rights reserved.


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|» Products
|» Light Poles
|» Road Side Light Poles
Since introduction, we are an acclaimed manufacturer and supplier of a broad array of Road Side Light Poles, which is admired for its high useful value. The offered pole light is developed utilizing superlative grade basic material and innovative techniques. Carefully manufactured and creatively designed, these poles are erected for lighting purpose at parks, roads, lawns and other places. In order to ensure quality, these are checked entirely by competent professionals. Aside from this, our Road Side Light Poles are available at affordable prices with us.
Key Features:


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Premium Fire Tables – Water Features - Hardware – Fire Glass – Burners
100% manufactured in the USA, the Cannon Box Scupper has a no-nonsense simple design, with focus on fabrication and weldment detail. All corners are rounded and polished for a seamless modern take on the classic cannon scupper.
- Creates a natural, broken flow of water.
- Seamless walls, rounded and high polished.
- Fully T.I.G welded and sanded down inside and out for full or partial exposure.
- Custom mounting options available.


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Lunch Specials
Italy inspired pizza
Awesome Wings
Join us this weekend at Alligator Ron's 4th Annual WingsFest in Davie hosted by The Official Doc Reno Fan page! Live music, wings & beer - what better way is there to spend a Saturday? 🍻
Info & tickets: https://ihr.fm/2JjrMU2
Sponsored by: Line-X of Central Miami Bru's Room Sports Grill SCCU Members' Watchdog30652800_10156175303058771_4813703923957915139_n
Yes,I find Bob @Dolphins com.
We would like to thank Brus Room for their sponsorship in our 8th Annual Charity Poker Tournament on 3/25/18. We appreciate you. #Givingback2018. For all the customers and supporters of Brus Room we will give you a free Re-Buy with each Buy-In when purchased on line at tylermclellanfoundation.org28515977_10215400417986933_4678532094532058065_o
This Friday @ 8pm! Limited Time Tapping Event - Join us as we tap Funky Buddha's "Florida Rebuilds" Key Lime Blonde Ale!
Event Locations: Bird Road, Coconut Creek, Deerfield Beach, Delray Beach and Pembroke Pines Only.
"Florida Rebuilds is a crisp, blonde ale with key lime juice added as an ode to the resilient spirit of the keys. At 5% ABV and brewed with tropical-tinged citra hops, this sessionable ale is also evocative of the land we all know and love.
Funky Buddha and Brown Distributing will be donating 100% of the proceeds from this beer to CORE, which will provide funding to children and families of the service industry affected by Hurricane Irma in the Florida Keys." For more information please visit www.FunkyBuddhaBrewery.com/FloridaRebuilds22853433_1698280446850378_2300131258251259153_n
Join us at our Delray Beach Location this Saturday for a FREE Sampling of Hollywood Brewing's "Locals Only Lager" from 8:30pm to 10:30pm. Buy a pint of LOL and keep the glass! Halloween Party All Day - Costume contest at 11pm where the winner will receive a $50 Bar Tab!22815303_1693598530651903_6096714038720268103_n
Are you ready for some great Saturday College Football!? Stop by your favorite location and join in on the action with us! Be sure to come by early and make sure you get a spot for your team. Hope to see you soon!
3:30pm - Florida State vs UM
3:30pm - LSU vs. Florida
4:00pm - Ohio State vs. Maryland
8:00pm - UCF vs. Cincinnati22221625_1674811462530610_7996343767064681570_n
Come join us for some Thursday Night Football! Week 5 - New England Patriots @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 8:25pm. We hope to see you tonight!22281562_1673247672686989_5556300479509106935_n
Open at 9am this Sunday! Come join as the Miami Dolphins take on the New Orleans Saints in London! We will be serving up Breakfast-esque items from 9am - 1pm so come hungry...and thirsty! #HangoverBurger #BreakfastQuesadilla #BreakfastHoagie #SteakEggAndCheeseWrap #WakeAndBakePizza22140971_1667906353221121_2314233694748418197_n
Are you ready for some great Saturday College Football!? Stop by your favorite location and join in on the action with us! Be sure to come by early and make sure you get a spot for your team!22046152_1667905959887827_3212122991417405873_n
Come join us for some Thursday Night Football! Week 4 - Chicago Bears @ Green Bay Packers at 8:25pm. We hope to see you tonight! Don't forget that we will be open at 9am on Sunday for the Dolphins vs. Saints game played in London! Breakfast-esque items to be available and more details to follow!22089512_1666829009995522_1805457665292342104_n
Come join us for some Thursday Night Football! Week 3 - Los Angeles Rams @ San Francisco 49ers at 8:25pm. We hope you can come hang out with us tonight so come treat yourselves after a long week!21617744_1659908007354289_8118314963076357445_n
Come join us tonight for some Thursday Night Football! Week 2 - Houston Texans @ Cincinnati Bengals at 8:25pm. We hope you and your families are recovering from the aftermath of Hurricane Irma and can come hang out with us tonight! We have plenty of cold drinks and hot food so come treat yourselves after a long week! #Boynton #CoconutCreek #CoralSprings #Deerfield #Delray #PembrokePines #RoyalPalm are all open!21752027_1653304668014623_6806599982210019850_n
We are OPEN in the following locations and times: Open until 2am at #CoralSprings #DeerfieldBeach #PembrokePines #CoconutCreek.....11pm Last Call at #BoyntonBeach #RoyalPalm #DelrayBeach. Come by and see us we have hot food and cold drinks! We hope everyone has made it through the best as possible as this major Hurricane Irma came barreling through...Please stay safe and aware out there! Hope we can help you get through the days ahead while many are without power still. We may not have phone or internet in some locations and if the internet is down we will be doing cash only for the day. Hope to see you soon!21742942_1652447191433704_2594521453590175020_n
We are OPEN in the following locations: #BoyntonBeach, #RoyalPalm, #CoconutCreek, #CoralSprings, #PembrokePines. We have power and will be open today until the 8pm Curfew. Come by and see us we have hot food and cold drinks! We hope everyone has made it through the best as possible as this major Hurricane Irma came barreling through...Please stay safe out there! Hope we can help you get through the days ahead while many are without power still. We may not have phone or internet in some locations and if the internet is down we will be doing cash only for the day. Hope to see you soon!21731241_1651429371535486_8342687117817932874_n
For the safety of our staff, our loyal customers, friends and family we will be closed starting Friday, September 8th. We are keeping a close eye on Hurricane Irma and will let you know when you will be able to get the best food in South Florida again! Please stay safe and we are hoping for the best for everyone.
With Love,
-Your Bru's Room Family21430444_1646272748717815_7077807329990246110_n
Are you ready for some great Saturday College Football!? Stop by your favorite location and join in on the action with us! Be sure to come by early and make sure you get a spot for your team!21151423_1641822099162880_2355853745830709945_n
Join us tonight for the last night of the NFL Preseason - Philadelphia Eagles @ New York Jets at 7pm and the Seattle Seahawks @ Oakland Raiders at 10pm! Only 7 days left until the regular season kicks off! We hope you can make it tonight! If not be sure to order in with the #DeliveryDudes #BrusRoomDelivery #BrusRoomToGo #Wellington #RoyalPalm #Boynton #Delray #DeerfieldBeach #CoconutCreek #CoralSprings #PembrokePines #BirdRoad21230978_1640486742629749_8289325967717156450_n
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Our commitment to diversity and inclusion
At Bru's Room, accessibility, diversity and inclusion are important values that affect everything we do. Whether you use a screen reader, voice recognition software or another kind of assistive technology, we want www.brusroom.com to be accessible to you and easy to navigate.
Accomplishing accessibility goals
We set our web accessibility standards high and are working to achieve them. Our team is dedicated to ensure our site meets all laws and guidelines and creates a useable experience for all customers. We are continuously educating ourselves and learning through training sessions with advocacy groups, industry partners and more.
How our site has changed and is changing
Here are some of the things we've done and are continuing to do to make our site easy to use for everyone:
Improving site structure
We're working to edit the pages of www.brusroom.com to include appropriate headings, lists, paragraphs and other formatting for better usability with assistive technology.
Adding text equivalents
We're adding alternative text, captions and transcripts to images and videos so users who can't see or hear have a text equivalent to interact with.
Building for full keyboard access
We are developing new pages with keyboard accessibility in mind so that users can easily tab through a page to find the content they need.
Creating site consistency
We are creating templates for our site to ensure consistency. Once you're familiar with how our pages and menus work, you can expect similar functionality across the site, each time you visit.
If you cannot access any information or item on our website, please call (954) 794-7715 or email firstname.lastname@example.com for assistance.


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Ferns lose to US
The Football Ferns' were outscored but not outclassed in their 3-1 loss to the United States in Denver on Saturday. Two goals from Julie Ertz had the hosts in front at halftime at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, but Hannah Wilkinson hit back with 15 minutes remaining to set up a tense finish, only for Alex Morgan to then restore her side's two-goal lead five minutes later. Wilkinson has now scored the Ferns' last three goals against the US, who are ranked No 1 in the world.


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Creative Invoice Template Free
Invoice templates at invoice examples
Creative Invoice Template Free For generating the most effective effect on their customers, businesses must have professionally designed bill. The bill may be your income deal's last part that will get listed within the customer's mind. Is not it pleasant to shut the discounts utilizing an outstanding, expertly- intended account?
A well made bill is in building the standing of your enterprise, prompting the consumer to be in your costs quickly and to request your companies again, thus assisting your business grow essential. When doubting the power of the invoice, the consumer can take to be in your fee and that can significantly affect your profit. That you don't need to get overwhelmed by this occupation of invoicing, as you can simply access a template that will accommodate your form of sector or enterprise. Choosing the proper theme helps keeping a lot of money and time.
First of all, you need to be able to recognize the essentials of a theme that is great. Certain capabilities are typical to most statements. For instance, it's to have the name of its handle and the organization, together with the contact data of the customer. It always explains the kind of solutions offered for giving them along with the price decided. Often, organizations include their logo inside the invoice and, depending on business' character, they could note the transaction conditions and the break down of products or services provided.
Having produced of that which you involve, a concept, it gets more easy to control your options. Generally, software applications provide templates, but these could be rather pricey, specifically for small enterprises. You can also buy individual templates online. For doing your business the Web provides a good portion of valuable tools. You may also get account templates totally free.
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Featured Artist Exhibit
This month long exhibit features the work of Juli Janovicz, Rich Keller, and Laura Zielinski. The Brick Gallery located inside the Lemon Street Gallery will have expanded exhibit space for these artists. Juli Janovicz seeks to capture the essence between what is seen and what can't be explained in her paintings. Laura Zielinski is a chemist who has designed a wonderful product line that includes essential oils, soap, creams and more. Rich Keller showcases his insightful paintings.
Starts: August 30, 2017
Ends: September 24, 2017
Event Times: Regular gallery hours: Wednesday 11-6pm, Thursday 11-8pm, Friday and Saturday 11-6pm and Sunday 11-4pm
Ticket Information: Free
URL: www.lemonstreetgallery.org
Additional Contact Information:
Beth Dary
Location of this event
Lemon Street Gallery
4601 Sheridan Rd
Kenosha, WI 53140
Phone: 262-605-4745
Accessibility: Restrooms are not wheelchair accessible.
Email: email@example.com
Web site: www.lemonstreetgallery.org
Description:Lemon Street Gallery & Artspace, Inc. is a nonprofit visual arts exhibit and education center managed by artists. Housed in a historic building near Lake Michigan, Lemon Street displays ongoing exhibits featuring the work of artist members and special exhibits open to visual artists nationally. Quality instructional classes in a wide variety of mediums are offered throughout the year.


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International Decommissioning Range
Targeted at the unique and extensive activities involved at the end of field life in the rapidly evolving Oil and Gas decommissioning sector, this new range of digital learning courses provides the essential knowledge and change in mindset required to appreciate the fundamentals of decommissioning.
Active Shooter
Most active shooter incidents are over before law enforcement arrives, so the choices that you make in the first 10 minutes are critical for your chances of survival.
Environmental Range
Travel Risk Awareness Bundle
Safe Cargo Handling Bundle
The Atlas Safe Cargo Handling bundle has been created to provide safety guidance and best practice to workers involved in packing, handling, unpacking and transporting cargo whether it be by sea or by air. The bundle comprises three complimentary digital learning courses, starting with an overview of Safe Cargo Handling (30mins) followed by more specific courses on Dangerous Goods by Air (55mins) and Dangerous Goods by Sea (60mins). This 145minute bundle is £100


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- 4
- 2
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Stunning, Spacious Queenslander *
IMPORTANT MESSAGE: If you would like to view this property, you must register. If there are no registrations, the inspection will not take place. Register now, at www.disher.com.au/1964422
This amazing home with its abundance of space has it all. The upper level boasts a modern kitchen and adjoining dining area, with access to the spacious covered deck and manicured lawns, are an entertainers delight. The lounge opens onto a front verandah which is also accessible from one of the bedrooms. Both bedrooms on the upper level are of generous size and have built in robes. The sun room, which stretches the length of both bedrooms, is the ideal place to enjoy a quiet moment. Downstairs you will enjoy two large rooms and a study. The internal laundry area also has a second bathroom attached.
Being so close to the Brisbane CBD you will enjoy ease of access to all local amenities in Toowong, Paddington and Ashgrove. Enjoy an easy commute to the city, walk to the local State School and explore Mount Coo-tha and its amazing Botanic Gardens.


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Loyalty Service Awards 2015
1,680 Years' Combined Long Service Celebrated at Staff Loyalty Awards
Long serving Greenhalgh's staff who work within the bakery and shops across the North West of England have been praised for their dedication at a special awards event held at Rivington Hall Barn, Horwich, Bolton on Wednesday 23rd September 2015.
The 62 staff have achieved an impressive 1,680 years' service between them.
Each person has achieved either 20, 30 or 40 years' continuous service.
David Smart Managing Director thanked each of these individuals personally for the dedication they have shown to the Company upon presenting them with their Company award.


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Tandridge Heights Care Home in Oxted, Surrey
Tandridge Heights is a modern, purpose-built 75-bed residential care home in Surrey, and is located in the heart of Oxted.
We offer outstanding personalised 24 hour nursing care and residential dementia care, as well as short-term breaks for respite and intermediate care.
Our residential home has a wonderful home-like feel with furnishings designed with older people in mind, from the sofas and chairs in the living rooms, through to our spacious en-suite bedrooms and beyond, to our landscaped and sensory gardens. In addition to these facilities, residents and their family and friends have a coffee area, hair salon and cosy corners to relax and enjoy the views of our gardens. Throughout the home there is a range of communal and dining facilities to suit people who enjoy socializing as well as those who prefer quieter activities. Resident's also have access to Wi-Fi throughout the home that they can use as they wish.
Our invitation extends to those looking for a nursing and care home, be it now or for the future, short or longer term. Come visit us where you can see for yourself the type of care home we are and meet with our dedicated team who make a difference to our residents' lives, in providing first class nursing, companionship, activities and 'home-from-home' care.
Life at Tandridge Heights Memorial Care Home
Ensuring that we deliver high quality care to those we support isn't our only priority here – we also want to offer excitement and, most importantly, to ensure that everyone feels at home. That is why we employ trained staff who are committed to delivering a stimulating activities programme and nutritious cuisine, which are supplemented by services and facilities that are designed to make life here as pleasant as possible.


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Today I am sharing this cute little dresser with you. A friend asked me to paint a dresser for her grand baby that was born last November on the night of the Super Moon. Okay, I can paint (furniture) but I don't consider myself an artistic painter so this is what I came up with.
Scroll down below, click further to see how I did it. So easy that you can do it too! Just don't tell anyone that you really didn't paint it-we'll keep that between you and me!
My friend had very few requests: it had to be navy and match the baby's bedding. I pretty much had free reign on the rest.
Here is the picture she sent to me. You can find the same bedding Here.
Adorable, right?
*Please note that this post contains affiliate links.You may click on the product pics to take you to the sources. See full disclosure below*
I'll tell you a little secret, I bought this dresser for only $12.99. Sounds great, right? Well it needed a bit of work to make it stable so I brought out my favorite little helpers, these Irwin Quick Clamps! (I included a link below the pic) Aren't they lovely? Looks like surgery going on here! Felt like it too!
I sanded the heck out of the dresser with my new Dewalt 1/4 sheet Orbital Sander:
I am in love with this sander and actually recently replaced my original sander with the exact same one (original was about 20yrs old!).
Now I have a blank slate to work on. On a side note, I feel like it's always better to go ahead and sand down furniture instead of just painting over the existing finish. You never know whats under the surface and it's better to have something more stable for the new paint to adhere to, just my opinion.
I then wiped it down with a 3M 10132 Tack Cloth to get all of the remaining residue off. You'd be surprised at how much is still on there unseen by the naked eye!
So I searched online and found a great poster and ordered it in an engineering print. My plan was to decoupage it onto the dresser. I had done it before with much success like on my Martin Luther King Pallet Project but I will be honest with you that this one turned out to be a project fail! I'm sharing the embarrassing pic to show you that it's not always the glamorous results the are shared with the final product... Ugggghhhhhhhh!!!!
Sometimes we just have to pick up the pieces and go back to the drawing board and that's exactly what I did here. I cursed a little but scraped every bit of the print off of the drawers! NO fun!
This time I ordered a poster print from Zazzle.com.
It's not the exact of the original print that I had planned but I actually think it looks more like what I think the Super Moon looks like. Perhaps it was meant to be until this...the poster arrived damaged! So frustrating! I quickly emailed the company and sent the the following picture and they quickly overnighted me a replacement. I was thrilled at the customer service.
The next step was a repeat. I measured the drawer fronts and added and extra two inches to each side. I then cut the poster into strips and layed it out on top of the drawers and adhered them with ModPodge.
It now has an amazing sheen that looks polished and ready for baby boy! The icing of the cake was these beautiful glass knobs that I found at Hobby Lobby. They look just like the moon!
Some more pretty pictures.
I left no stone unturned and painted the back, drawer insides and bottom. While doing so I discovered a little secret underneath - names of the previous owners with dates of the makeovers. I love it when a furniture piece reveals a bit of its history!
Thank you for allowing me to share my Navy Super Moon Decoupaged Dresser.
I hope my friend's grand baby enjoys it for many years to come!
Happy Treasure Hunting!


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Robee's Falafel - San Jose
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Cuisines: Mediterranean, Greek, Wraps, Salads
Address: 87 N San Pedro St ; San Jose CA, 95110
Big hit at our office. Loved the food


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Energy Data
Expanding the energy efficiency toolbox through green banks
There are many tried-and-true tools in the energy efficiency toolbox. Programs in the utility sector that offer customers a variety of rebates, incentives, and technical services totaled more than $7 billion in 2014. In the private market, energy service performance contracts totaled more than $4 billion. And state energy offices loaned more than $74 million in revolving loans.
Making sense of commercial-sector energy use data
Commercial-sector energy use in the US increased by 63% from 1979 to 2012, rising from total source energy use of 10.6 quads in 1979 to a peak of 18.4 quads in 2008 before declining to 17.4 quads in 2012. This growth can largely be attributed to a corresponding increase in commercial building floor area, which grew by 70% over the same period. But that is only part of the story. As the graph below illustrates, as floor area has trended upward over time, energy use per square foot has gone up and down, peaking in the 1999-2003 period but declining since then.
This Earth Day, let's look at how much energy we've been using.
Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970, and that got us thinking about how households used energy back then. What did they use it for? Do we follow the same conventional wisdom for saving energy in our homes today, even though there are some obvious differences in the types of devices we use now? We were curious to dig in and see how energy use has changed over the past 35+ years, and how that change shapes our efforts to conserve.
We're tracking major US energy efficiency metrics on a new webpage. Check out how 2015 measures up.
Ever wondered just how much energy we consume to power our economy? To keep our buildings working, machines humming, and wheels running? Are we really energy smart as a country?
Highlighting big savers in energy efficiency
Electric energy efficiency programs have grown substantially in the last ten years. As they've grown, leaders have emerged. In our new report, Big Savers: Experiences and Recent History of Program Administrators Achieving High Levels of Energy Savings, we showcase 14 of these leaders. The report is not an exhaustive review of every leading utility or program administrator, nor is it a ranking system. Instead, we tell the story of these 14 through analysis of performance data and discussions with program managers.
Untangling the energy-use knot in cities
"How much energy do cities use?" We get that question a lot. The answer is, excepting a few cities, we generally don't know. Only a handful of cities publish their energy use, and while the Energy Information Administration collects and reports a lot of great data on state- and utility-level energy consumption, they do not report city-level data.
For low-cost savings that benefit ratepayers and the planet alike, utilities embrace efficiency
Much like the proverbial 'juice' by which it's often referred, electricity can go a long way for those who make a habit of squeezing every last drop of what they have. When everyone adopts this mindset, we all win, freeing up resources to dedicate to other critical needs. That's the commonsense approach the utility sector has increasingly recognized and embraced over the years, harnessing efficiency to avoid or defer costs such as developing new energy supplies, building transmission infrastructure, and complying with environmental rules.
Looking for small business energy efficiency program data, designs, strategies, and more
There are over 25 million small enterprises that form the backbone of our national economy. They are critical to the health of local economies, generating well over half of net new private-sector jobs, according to the US Small Business Administration. Many are home-based firms with few employees, but many also occupy commercial retail space. The small business sector uses over 30% of all commercial space, more than 20 billion square feet of buildings to be heated, cooled, and lit up.
New studies are showing what we already know: energy efficiency keeps electricity affordable and reduces environmental compliances costs
Multiple studies looking at spending and savings across programs, over time and in multiple states, all show the same thing: energy efficiency is highly cost effective. Put another way, it keeps electricity affordable by meeting demand and environmental regulations at a lower cost than if we generated new power, including from clean energy resources.
Electricity savings from coast to coast
We tend to talk about energy savings in two ways. There is the total annual impact of savings, made up of layers of savings from programs implemented in the past but still saving energy today, and there are incremental savings, or savings attributed to new programs implemented in a given year. At ACEEE, we track incremental savings within our State Energy Efficiency Scorecard.
Monthly Archive
- August 2017 (7)
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- April 2017 (5)
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- January 2017 (5)
- December 2016 (6)
- November 2016 (6)
- October 2016 (3)
- September 2016 (6)
- Behavior & Human Dimensions (83)
- Economics & Finance (6)
- Energy Efficiency Programs (411)
- Market Transformation (72)
- National Policy (714)
- State Policy (445)
- Local Policy (132)
- Residential (272)
- Commercial (230)
- Industrial (324)
- Transportation (271)


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Untitled Cruise Ship MOW
Miri, a pretty dance instructor who's more of a homebody, begrudgingly agrees to sub in on a cruise ship to help her sister out, even though she'd prefer to stay at home. Miri's first student on the ship is Clint, an outgoing bachelor who's on the way with his family to his sister's wedding in the Bahamas.
Opposites don't attract at first, and Miri begins to think she made the wrong choice in going on this trip. Things go from bad to worse when Miri is paired with Clint on a day trip, and the two unlikely passengers get left behind. They're forced to work together to get to the next port and catch the ship again.
As their journey brings unexpected challenges, Miri has to embrace a side of herself she's never really known before, and vice versa for Clint. By the time they get back on the cruise, Miri not only has embraced her adventurous side, she may have also found the love of her life.


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2nd in charge of Mathematics, Shiplake College, Shiplake, Henley-on-Thames
Closing date:
Start date: 1 September 2018
Contract type: Full Time
Contract term: Permanent
Suitable for NQTs: Yes
This is a superb opportunity for someone who has a degree in Mathematics or closely related subject, to join our dynamic and innovative school, rated 'Excellent' in all ISI inspection categories. The role would suit an enthusiastic and pedagogically creative teacher. The right candidate will be excited about teaching dynamic lessons, aimed at encouraging and ensuring inclusion of all pupils, whatever their ability.
Mathematics is one of the most popular A Level subjects at Shiplake, with the most able also opting to study Further Mathematics. At GCSE we encourage those with a particular aptitude for the subject to take Additional Mathematics GCSE as well as IGCSE Mathematics. Our focussed diagnostic approach to testing allows us to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of pupils, which informs our approach to teaching and curriculum planning.
The right candidate will answer 'Yes' to the following questions:
· Are you passionate about teaching and learning?
· Do students leave your lessons inspired and enthused?
· Do you have high expectations of pupils, and the drive to help them achieve their potential?
· Do you have experience of teaching both GCSE and A Level?
· Would you enjoy working as part of a dynamic and professional team of teachers and support staff?
Shiplake College provides the following:
· Exceptional education delivered by a dedicated team of teachers and support staff with first-rate resources.
· The opportunity to become involved with a busy and varied co-curricular programme available to students.
· A beautiful working environment located on the bank of the River Thames, free lunch and evening meal when on duty, contributory teachers' pension scheme, gym facilities and open-air swimming pool during summer months.
· Excellent peer support and professional development opportunities.
· Inclusive and thriving community spirit.
· Accommodation on site (for selected staff).
Ambitious NQTs are welcome to apply alongside those with more experience.
Informal pre-application discussions and visits are welcome; please call Moya Flynn on 01189 405218. A job/person specification and an application form may be obtained from www.shiplake.org.uk/vacancies
Closing Date: Monday 26 February at 10.00am
Interviews: Thursday 8 and Friday 9 March
About Shiplake College
Shiplake College is an independent day and boarding school for boys aged 11-18 and girls aged 16-18, situated in 45 acres of beautiful Oxfordshire countryside, just 2.5 miles upstream from Henley-on-Thames. Shiplake offers an o...
Contact Shiplake College
Thanks for your interest in this role.
Simply fill in the form below to ask any questions, request a call, or schedule a school visit.
This field is required


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$49, Members (sign in for member pricing; to become a member, click here.)
$109, Non-members
Note: This is an online class, taken remotely. Internet access is required. If you are not able to attend the live class, you will be able to watch a recording for one week following the live event.
Registration for this class has closed.
The internet and online marketing have exploded over the last decade, giving authors extraordinary opportunities to build communities of readers and drive book sales. Yet the vast array of options and platforms for marketing online leave many authors paralyzed and confused. In this class we will:
About the instructor:
Shennandoah Goodson is Director of Marketing and Business Development for Connor Creative Co. In her many years as a PR and Marketing consultant, Shennandoah has worked with numerous authors and publishers to build successful book marketing campaigns and author platforms. A writer herself, Shennandoah is passionate about writing and books and loves empowering authors to take ownership of their book's success.
REGISTRATION BY MAIL: If your browser has difficulty with our website store, or if you prefer to mail in a check, click HERE for a class registration form. The document provides instructions on where to mail it.
NOTE: Once a purchase has been made, tickets are not refundable and registration cannot be transferred to a different class or event. No exceptions will be made. If you purchase a ticket and then find you cannot attend, someone else can attend in your stead. Simply contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com or 512-499-8914 and let us know so that we can update the class roster. For policies, please visit our Classes page.
This project is supported in part by the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department. Visit Austin at NowPlayingAustin.com.
Writers' League of Texas classes and workshops are also funded in part by the Texas Commission on the Arts - Investing in a Creative Texas. For more information, go to www.arts.texas.gov.
Website Design by: Site Street and Graphic Granola


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Table of Contents
(front cover)
Complete Comprehensive Plan (one document to allow for content/text search)
Comprehensive Plan Map Series (CPMS)
Web version of Comprehensive Plan is the most up-to-date version.
Future Land Use Maps
Comprehensive Plan related links
Comprehensive Plan related documents
Free viewers are required for some of the attached documents.
They can be downloaded by clicking on the icons below.
©2018 City of Coral Gables. All Rights Reserved. Website Created by Vision Internet


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Printed and framed by DJ Schwend, Auburn, WA, for herself, as mementos of a great journey
"Displayed together, these photos remind me of some of the experiences and sheer visual excitement of that amazing time."
"These three images are from Bali, where I basically wandered around dazzled for a month. I was totally taken with the people there, so friendly, so nice, so generous. I met the little girl and her brother while beachcombing. They were looking for a specific kind of shell for their mom, for a necklace, I think, and walked along with me. She kept picking up beautiful things and putting them in my bag.
"On my last day in Bali, a man whose family I'd spent one memorable night with (we found, killed and cremated a poisonous snake and drank headache-inducing agave palm wine) offered to drive my friend and me to the airport—an eight-hour trip for him! He showed us the entire northwest coast we hadn't seen, including the only place in Bali that these wonderful boats are found. The Muslim fishermen love their jobs, love their boats and decorate them beautifully.
"The beautiful umbrellas are typically seen shielding statues of gods in the island's 26,000 Hindu temples, but these two flanked a dock on volcanic Lake Beratan in the island's rarely visited interior.
"Displayed together, these photos remind me of some of the experiences and sheer visual excitement of that amazing time."
—As told to Will Jackson


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How do I setup an area talkgroup
Our repeater is in an area known as the ARKLATEX. Locally we have setup a talkgroup on our Mototrbo system calling it the ARKLATEX Talkgroup 31229. How do we get that registered with Brandmeister for other ARKLATEX users?
Mike Hughes, Ph.D. - N9GI


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By Dave Cain, NetApp
Cisco, NetApp and Red Hat have collaborated to release new validated design and deployment guides for the Red Hat Enterprise Linux OpenStack platform on FlexPod.
FlexPod is a pre-validated infrastructure that brings together compute, storage, network and software components to simplify and accelerate data center builds and application rollouts. In addition, the Co-operative Support Program extended by Cisco, NetApp and Red Hat provides direct access to technical experts who work across vendor organizations to provide enterprise-class support.
In this design, OpenStack Block Storage (Cinder) is provided by a highly available, scale-out NetApp FAS system, and the OpenStack Object Storage Service (Swift) is powered by an enterprise-class E-Series storage system. Note: These guides are intended for IT professionals and system integrators who are building out enterprise private clouds or IaaS public cloud services.
For an overview, check out this video of my presentation with Eric Railine at the OpenStack Summit in Vancouver in May 2015.
You must be registered user to add a comment. If you are a registered user, sign in to leave a comment. If you are not a registered user, please register for the NetApp Community to leave a comment.


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Tribulus Terrestris
Are you the type who is very conscious about your body? Always at the gym and eating healthy foods but still having a hard time getting your body toned? Maybe, because you are lacking the energy to push your performance. Sometimes, a proper work out even if partnered with a healthy diet is not enough. You can use supplements like Tribulus Terrestris to help your body to bulk up.
Tribulus terrestris is a plant from Ayurveda that is full with very sharp vines wherein the roots, leaves and fruits are used by people to make supplement and medicines to treat several ailments. Tribulus terrestris is also called as "devil's weed" because if you consume the fruit that is full of sharp vines, may cause your lungs to collapse.
This supplement increases testosterone levels, lean mass and provokes the circulation of nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is a gas that assists blood vessels to enlarge and bring oxygen to muscles that are working.
Work out junkies, body builders and athletes often look for supplements that may help them achieve their so called "body goals" to give them an advantage over their opponents in a natural and safest way without using anabolic steroids.
Tribulus terresteris is amazingly popular due to its very powerful testosterone boosting properties. There are many benefits that this supplement has and it is related with increasing testosterone levels. Here are some benefits of tribulus terrestris on body building:
Acts as a great pre-work out supplement
Pre-work out supplements intend to enhance and increase energy levels including mental focus but is full of harmful ingredients like caffeine that makes you awake at night especially if you take it in large amount, which is not good if you are working out. So you should go for the safe and natural supplement like tribulus terrestris; body builders take this supplement 30 minutes before they work out for optimum performance.
Aids in fat loss
Since tribulus terrestris increases energy, it means you can exercise for longer hours so you can burn more calories.
Can upgrade strength levels
Because of the right amount of testosterone, it helps the muscle to function and generate more power. The more power they trigger, the more forceful they become.
Increases Libido
The real deal is that we should not keep our libido low not only because it can put an end to some people's relationships, but can also be unfavorable to our body and nobody wants that. Low libido means low testosterone count.
Boosting testosterone
Obviously, the tribulus has the power to increase natural testosterone in just a matter of days while taking it.
Increased muscle mass
If there are higher levels of testosterone found in the body, the more muscle mass the person will be having. Testosterone does not only assist the new muscle that is growing, but also aids the muscle tissue that is injured and it also allows the body to create increased lean muscle mass.
Tribulus terrestris is a very safe and natural supplement that you can take as long as you follow the right amount of dosage. Talk to your doctor to determine the right dosage, eat healthy foods, and work out properly so that you can have a safe and healthy muscularly toned body.


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One of great beauty, charm, and stubborness! She is outgoing very intelligent and gets bored easily with one thing. Has to have some one that can keep up with her mind and compete with her stubborness. She loves all animals and creatures no matter how big or small. Very into family.
She Cassittea'd (charmed) a Brown Recluse into a Butterfly net just to take it for a ride in her battry powered Corvette, across the yard to save it time.
by Mommy 4 life February 03, 2010
buy the domain for your travel site


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First impressions are lasting, and BE YOUR B.E.S.T. will help teens put their best foot forward as polished young adults.
Washington, DC (PRWEB) December 17, 2015
Angela G. Solomon, Esq., founder of Success School™, will host an interactive half-day seminar, BE YOUR B.E.S.T., for teens at The City Club of Washington. The seminar will teach boys and girls, ages 13-18, social skills and business etiquette to be confident and comfortable in social and business settings. The seminar will focus on topics such as ethics, anti-bullying, peer pressure, verbal and nonverbal communication skills, and social media best practices. The seminar will be held at The City Club of Washington, 555 13th Street, NW, on Saturday, January 23, 2016; 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The cost of the seminar is $97.00 per person ($125.00 after January 9, 2016), and includes lunch, a workbook, and a certificate of completion. To register for the event, visit http://www.eventbrite.com/e/be-your-best-business-etiquette-and-social-skills-for-teens-seminar-tickets-19923524799.
According to Dr. Laurence Steinberg, a professor of psychology at Temple University and author of "Age of Opportunity: Lessons From the New Science of Adolescence," one of the most notable demographic trends of the last two decades has been the delayed entry of young people into adulthood. According to a large-scale national study conducted since the late 1970s, it has taken longer for each successive generation to finish school, establish financial independence, marry and have children. Studies reveal adolescence to be a period of heightened "plasticity" during which the brain is highly influenced by experience. As a result, adolescence is both a time of opportunity and vulnerability, a time when much is learned, especially about the social world.
The BE YOUR B.E.S.T. seminar will prepare teens for the social world, personally and professionally. With a strong emphasis on improving communication skills, each participant is expected to learn how to be more confident and socially intelligent. "First impressions are lasting, and BE YOUR B.E.S.T. will help teens put their best foot forward as polished young adults. Whether it is establishing new friendships, eating dinner at a formal restaurant on prom night, pitching a business idea, or interviewing for their first job, BE YOUR B.E.S.T. will give teens real-world skills needed to successfully handle situations with poise and grace," says Angela Solomon.
About Angela G. Solomon, Esq.
For the past 20 years, Angela and her husband have been building a successful and lucrative business in direct sales/network marketing. They have been featured in Success from Home magazine six times and have been judges twice on the NBC television show, The Celebrity Apprentice. Angela created Success School™ in 2015 offering various courses and services to help women entrepreneurs succeed in business. Angela is also a business attorney and the mother of three teen boys, whom she taught at an early age to be "professional in public".
For more information about Angela G. Solomon, Esq. and Success School™ visit http://www.asuccessschool.com.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AngelaGSolomon
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AngelaGSolomon


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Mission Work
As you may know we support Mission Partners who work overseas.
Our Mission Fund supporting our Mission Partners is running very low and we need support.
The Farnham Royal PCC (who administer the fund) decided that we should have an appeal this Sunday.
We have prepared special gift aid envelopes that can be used at all three churches this Sunday.
Please help if you can as our Mission Partners rely on their partnered churches for their income.
There are small brown envelopes available in all three churches.
Any donation large or small is always gratefully accepted.


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Bella Thorne has never been shy about her sexuality, and that doesn't seem to be changing anytime soon. The actress, who revealed that she's bisexual last year, opened up about what it's like to date men and women in an interview with StyleCaster, and she gets super candid about the struggles when it comes to dating other girls.
"It's so hard," the former Disney star told StyleCaster. "I can't tell if a girl is trying to be best friends with me or if she wants to get with me or if she just wants social media followers."
"I don't want to make a move, and then you be like, 'Whoa, girl. Not what I was thinking, I don't roll that way.' Then it's so awkward," she told StyleCaster. "So I end up usually dating more guys, because with guys, I know if a guy's hitting me up. They're not just texting me to be my bestie. I know they want something, of some sort."
RELATED: Bella Thorne Sits Nude on a Chair for New Photo Shoot
Regardless of whether she's interested in a guy or a girl, Thorne tries to be straightforward about whether or not she likes someone. "If I like somebody, they know," she said. "It doesn't matter if you're a guy or a girl. I'm always, like, 'Yo, I literally would get with you. I will tell you right now. I don't want to make this awkward, but you are so hot. Please, come up on me. I want to take you on a date.'"
Thorne who has been linked to Tyler Posey and Charlie Puth, is definitely interested in dating not just casual hook ups. "I want a relationship," she revealed. Whether it's a guy or a girl, sounds like Thorne knows what she's looking for.


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Laura V.
Studio Vocal Coach
Piano Lessons
Voice Lessons
I have been singing, acting and teaching music for over 20 years. I grew up in Argentina where I studied acting and singing, and where I toured with theatre groups and choirs. I graduated in Vocal Instruction from the Music Academy of Basel, Switzerland. In Europe I had the opportunity to study classical, jazz, latin, and broadway voice with many top instructors. Since I moved to California 2002, I continued to perform, record and teach music. I enjoy sharing my experience of music with students of all ages.
Teaching Philosophy
What takes place in a typical lesson
After evaluating the student's goals, style and level, I begin to customize a training program with exercises that incorporate the above areas (under "philosophy"). Every voice is different and every singer has specific goals, challenges and strengths. In a typical lesson, after a warm-up, I encourage students to select some of their various favorite songs. It can be pop, rock classical, Broadway songs, Blues, and most other genres. This will allow the student to grow musically while enjoying the journey. From their selection, I choose the ones that will enhance their strengths through practice and address their challenges as well. Through feedback, explanations, examples and emphasizing correct breathing, just to name a few, students improve their awareness and with practice can move on to the next higher levels. There is so much more learning involved such as improving range, flexibility, transitioning between chest and head voice, mixed voice, developing tonal memory, runs and riffs, and more.
To build confidence when performing or for auditioning, I tap into Acting and imagery techniques to expand the experience of interpreting a song and give suggestions on performance and enhancements. I provide my experience in acting; my studio and microphone settings to give the student ample practice before their performance or audition or even throughout various lessons in general. They can hear how they will sound professionally which gives them great feedback. The goal is not only confidence but to have all the correct pitches in place, at the same time sound relaxed, strong, clear and with a voice that sounds natural.
How long does it take to become great
Regular practice performing the assigned exercises is extremely important in order to develop muscle coordination and memory. I encourage my students to record the voice lessons, listen and practice. There are many factors that can determine one person to advance faster than another. Achieving results is not a direct line in singing. It is important to take the process as a continuing journey into learning and discovery. Reaching the desired coordination takes time and the process cannot be rushed. You shall see improvements from the first lessons, but the bigger results will happen in their own time, not on a deadline.
Singing Programs
Posture, body mapping.
Exercises for breath control and coordination, improve tone quality, pitch,range, and diction.
Vocal Health. Warm up routines. Relaxation and visualization.
Basic elements of Sight-reading. Developing tonal memory.
Ear training: singing and recognizing different Intervals, major and minor scales and triads.
Understanding and hearing different time signatures. Developing rhythm and timing.
Transitioning between chest and head voice smoothly.
Vocal Dynamics: volume and energy levels.
Essential Vocal Harmonies: Harmonizing on thirds/ sixths.
Work song: applying dynamics and stylistic tools.
Advanced technical exercises to improve range and flexibility. Mixed head voice.
Advanced Dynamics: straight tones and vibrato.
Sight-reading on different keys.
Improvising on different modes. Pentatonic scales and runs. Apply improvisation to add personal touch in your song.
Developing auditioning and performing skills.
Developing an artistic persona and a strong message.
Photos and Videos
vocal jazz1998 - 2002Music Academy of BASEL, SWITZERLAND
Languages Spoken
- EnglishProfessional Proficiency
- SpanishFluent/Native Proficiency
- GermanLimited Proficiency
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CIAS Booz-Allen-Hamilton Scholarship in Computer Security
Booz-Allen-Hamilton has awarded CIAS in the Computer Science department scholarship funds to be awarded to Freshmen and Sophomore students who are interested in pursuing a cyber security or information assurance degree or concentration. It will provide up to four $1000 scholarships for selected qualified students.
Scholarship Guidelines
2. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 on a scale of 4.0.
3. Must have two letters of recommendation.
4. Must be a U.S. citizen.
Recipients will be selected by an officially recognized scholarship committee of the College of Sciences, or its successor. The Scholarship is contingent upon availability of funds and the recipient successfully maintaining all minimum criteria. The Scholarship shall be split equally between the Fall and Spring Semesters.
How to apply
Fill out the Application and submit it to the address below by the application deadline. Letters of recommendation should also be sent to the address below..
All application materials must be received by the Scholarship Committee in the Department of Computer Science by March 1, 2018.
Applicants will be reviewed by the Award Committee. Successful applicants will be notified by email or mail.
For more information or to apply for this scholarship please contact:
Attn: Scholarships
Department of Computer Science
The University of Texas at San Antonio
One UTSA Circle
San Antonio, TX 78249
210-458-4436, 210-458-4437 (fax)


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Configuring and using virtual nodes (vnodes)
A description of virtual nodes (vnodes) and using them in different types of datacenters. Also steps for disabling vnodes.
Virtual nodes simplify many tasks in Cassandra, such as eliminating the need to determine the partition range (calculate and assign tokens), rebalancing the cluster when adding or removing nodes, and replacing dead nodes. For a complete description of virtual nodes and how they work, see About virtual nodes, and the Virtual nodes in Cassandra 1.2 blog.
Guidelines for using virtual nodes
In the cassandra.yaml file, uncomment num_tokens and leave the initial_token parameter unset. Guidelines for using virtual nodes include:
- Determining the num_tokens value:
The recommended initial value for num_tokens is 256. For more guidance, see Setting up virtual nodes.
- Migrating existing clusters:
To upgrade existing clusters to vnodes, see Enabling virtual nodes on an existing production cluster.
- Using vnodes in a mixed architecture deployment:Cassandra supports using virtual node-enabled and non-virtual node datacenters. For example, a single cluster with:
- A cassandra-only datacenter running OLTP.
- A analytics datacenter without vnodes
- A search datacenter with vnodes.
Disabling vnodes
In the cassandra.yaml file, set num_tokens to
num_tokens: 1The location of the cassandra.yaml file depends on the type of installation:
Package installations /etc/dse/cassandra/cassandra.yaml Tarball installations install_location/resources/cassandra/conf/cassandra.yaml
- Uncomment the initial_token property and set it to 1 or to the value of a generated token for a multi-node cluster.


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a terrible act of murder was committed near Roanoke, Virginia on Wednesday, August 24, 2015.
This murder was committed while the victims were on live local television. Shortly thereafter, the murderer uploaded the shooting from his own point of view to his Facebook and Twitter accounts.
That's right, this scumbag recorded his murderous act and uploaded it.
I won't link to the videos, as I think many of us have seen them, and honestly, I don't want contribute to the pain being felt by the friends and loved ones of the murder victims - Alison Parker and Adam Ward - and the survivor, Vicki Gardner. I am also not interested in debating the merits of gun control here, nor racism or whatever else you want to try to blame for this act other than the scumbag who did the killing.
Like me, I hope you are filled with best wishes and sympathy those who loved Mr. Ward and Ms. Parker, and wish Ms. Gardner a speedy recovery.
Before I go further, let me state this very clearly - the victims are in no way responsible for anything that happened. 100% of the blame goes on the scumbag killer. And no, I will not name him, as I don't want to contribute to his notoriety.
I've seen a lot of people second guessing the situation, and claiming that if any of the three had been armed, they might have survived, etc. I don't know about that, and honestly, it's not what stood out to me.
These people didn't see this coming, not at all.
First, they were in a quiet, sparsely populated semi-rural area in the early morning. Not a place most people would expect violence to occur. I bet most of us wouldn't have been on any special alert for anything bad to happen (if you're honest with yourself, anyway).
Second, all three were focused on each other - Ms. Parker and Mr. Ward due to the nature of their jobs, and Ms. Gardner because she's being interviewed and is focused on the process of that.
It's especially striking as the perp walked up to them, brandished and then lowered his weapon once, before finally raising it again and firing - there seemed to be some time to react before he actually fires. If anybody had been engaged in situational awareness at all, it's possible that one or more of the victims could have responded in some way.
We'll never know, of course, and it's very possible that nothing they could have done would have changed the outcome.
For me, the lesson from Virginia isn't about carrying (or not carrying) weapons, or anything in the terms of physical resistance to an attack, really - it's the lesson of situtional awareness.
It's unreasonable to expect any of the three would be engaged in being hyper-aware of their surroundings. The cameraman is not aware of anything he doesn't see through his lens. The reporter is focused on giving a good interview for the camera. The interviewee is focused on trying to get her points across to the live audience.
The scumbag killer knows all this, and takes supreme advantage of it.
I can't help but think if there were a third person - a helper of sorts, maybe - for the news crew, that maybe, just maybe, the scumbag murderer's approach may have been noted, and maybe the alarm raised.
Not saying it would have saved anybody for sure, because that's impossible to know. I just can't help thinking that maybe they'd had a better chance, is all. I'm sure for people in the business, they'll say that's impractical due to the cost, and that's also something we have to consider, too.
This isn't the first - or only - assault on a reporter in the field, this is just one of the worst. A helper on the team, maybe even someone with self defense and/or martial arts training, might help alleviate the danger for reporters just doing their jobs.
It also occurred to me that there's a big lesson here for those of us who teach self defense.
We martial artists tend to spend a lot of time on the physical aspects - dealing with physical attacks, hurting the bad guy, and escaping. I think we could - and should - spend a lot more of our time on situation awareness training if we claim to be serious about self defense.
We can't just stay focused on punching and kicking (or shooting, if we teach people to carry firearms in self defense where it's legal to do so).
I'm sure in the coming days there will be more lessons to learn.
Right now, I'm sickened and appalled that any human being could conceive, plan, and carry through on such an evil act, much less record it for the world to see from his point of view and share it.
I'll leave it to others to make their political and social points in the wake of this tragedy.


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The palatial setting of Villa d'Este is surrounded by a spectacular terraced garden, in the late-Renaissance Mannerist and Baroque style, which took advantage of the dramatic slope but required innovations in bringing a sufficient water supply, which was employed in cascades, water tanks, troughs and pools, water jets and impressive concentration of fountains, water games. This masterpiece of the Italian Garden is included in the UNESCO world heritage list.
Reviving Roman techniques of hydraulic engineering to supply water to a sequence of fountains, the cardinal created a fantasy garden whose architectural elements and water features had an enormous influence on European landscape design and their garden planning and water features such as fountains, nymphs, grottoes, plays of water and music were much copied in the next two centuries, in European gardens from Portugal to Poland to St. Petersburg. The result is one of the series of great 17th century villas with water-play structures in the hills surrounding the Roman Campagna, such as the Villas Aldobrandini and Torlonia in Frascati; the Villa Lante and the Villa Farnese at Caprarola.
- Painter, architect, archaeologist and Classical scholar Pirro Ligorio was commissioned to lay out the gardens for the villa, with the assistance of Tommaso Chiruchi (he had worked on the fountains at Villa Lante) of Bologna, one of the most skilled hydraulic engineers of the sixteenth century. In the technical designs for the fountains, Chiruchi was assisted by Claude Venard, a Frenchman who was a manufacturer of hydraulic organs.
- From 1605 Cardinal Alessandro d'Estegave the go-ahead to a new progam of interventions. He restored and repaired the vegetation and the waterworks and created a new series of innovations to the layout of the garden and the decorations of the fountains.
- From 1660 – 61, works on 2 fountains were carried out involving Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
- In the eighteenth century the villa and its gardens passed to the House of Habsburg after Ercole III d'Este bequeathed it to his daughter Maria Beatrice, married to Grand Duke Ferdinand of Habsburg. The gardens were slowly abandoned and The hydraulics fell into disuse and ruin, and many of the collection of ancient sculptures, enlarged under Cardinal Ippolito d'Este, were disassembled and scattered to other sites. This picturesque state of decay continued, without interruption, until the middle of the 19th century. It was recorded by Carl Blechen and other painters.
- In 1851, Cardinal Gustav von Hohelohe, Prince of Hohenlohe-Schillingfürst, obtained the villa, in enfiteusi, from the Dukes of Modena. To pull the complex back from its state of ruin, he launched a series of works. Between 1867 and 1882, the villa once again became a cultural point of reference.
The garden has been celebrated in poetry, painting and music:
- The musician Franz Liszt (1811 – 1886), who evoked the garden in his Les Jeux d'Eaux à la Villa d'Este and composed Giochi d'acqua a Villa d'Este for piano while a guest here, gave one of his last concerts here in 1879.
- Jean Garrigue's volume of poems A Water Walk by Villa d'Este (1959) continues a long tradition of poetry inspired by the gardens.
- Kenneth Anger filmed Eaux d'artifice among the water features of the garden.
Villa d'Este's fame and glory as one of the finest gardens of the Renaissance was established by its extraordinary system of fountains. It has 51 fountains and nymphaeums, 398 spouts, 364 water jets, 64 waterfalls and 220 basins, all fed by 875 m. of canals, channels and cascades, and all working entirely by the force of gravity, without pumps.
The gardens, now part of the Grandi Giardini Italiani, fall away in a series of terraces. The garden plan is laid out on a central axis with subsidiary cross-axes, refreshed by some 500 jets in fountains, pools and water troughs. Originally supplied with water by the Rivellese spring (which supplied a cistern under the villa's courtyard), it is now supplied with water by the nearby Aniene River, which is partly diverted through the town, a distance of a kilometer.
The Vialone, a large, 200 m. long terrace that lies between the villa and the gardens, was constructed between 1568 and 1569. It has a panoramic view of the gardens and countryside beyond and the Cardinals used the space for fireworks, games, spectacles and festivities. Originally shaded by two rows of elm trees (except for the space directly in front of the villa, left empty to preserve the view), the terrace is enclosed at one end by the Fountain of Europa and, at the other, by the Cenacolo, an immense loggia and belvedere, in the form of a triumphal arch, that provided shade beneath in summer, as well as commanding viewpoints of the scenery. Its interior, originally intended to be decorated with stucco decoration, gilding and frescoes, was never finished.
The double loggia in the center of the terrace, made with travertine stone from 1566–1577, is attached to the facade of the villa. Two stairways provide access to the ceremonial salons on the lower floor. Its upper level, created as a terrace for the Cardinal's apartments, contains a Nymphaeum (grotto) where the Fountain of Leda is located. The original statuary of the fountain, depicting Jupiter and Leda transformed into a swan and four children (Elena, Clytemnestra, Castor and Pollux), was sold in the 18th century and is now in the Galleria Borghese in Rome. The original fountain featured a novel hydraulic trick – water spouting from a vase held by Leda struck a metal disk, causing flashes of light to reflect on the walls of the grotto. The statuary has been replaced by headless statue of Minerva, found in the garden of the Palazzo Manni in Tivoli.
The Fountain of the Tripod, a copy (the original is now in the Louvre) of an ancient Roman fountain in the center of the Vialone, has only been there since 1930. It consists of a marble basin supported by a central column and three pilasters. The Fountain of the Sea Horses, the original fountain on the site, was moved, by Ippolito, from Hadrian's Villa to his garden. It is now in the Vatican Museum.
The Fountain of Europa, at the northeast end at the top of the garden, was begun by Ippolito but was not finished until 1671. Its design, copying that of the Grand Loggia, consists of a triumphal arch with two orders (Corinthian and Doric) of columns. The large empty niche in the center once held a sculpture Europa Embracing the Bull which is now in the VIlla Albani in Rome.
From Fountain of the Tripod, two ramps lead down to the upper garden and, at either end, there are symmetrical double flights of stairs. The shaded Cardinal's Walk, attached to the retaining wall of the terrace, leads from one side of the garden to the other, passing by several grottos which are built into the retaining wall. The Grotto of Igea and Aesculpius, at the southeast end of the walk, just below the Fountain of Europa, is decorated with tartar flakes, mosaics and colored fragments of sea shells, and a small portion of the original fresco. It originally held two statues. The statue of Aesculpius, the God of Medicine, is now found in the Louvre while that of Igea, the daughter of Auesculpius and the Goddess of Healing, is now in the Vatican Museum.
The Loggia of Pandora, in the middle of the Cardinal's Walk, just below the center of the Villa, is covered, with arcades looking out at the garden. It contains a nymphaeum built into the wall and, originally, was decorated with mosaics and with two statues of Minerva and a statue of Pandora carrying a vase (actually a concealed fountain pouring out water) of water (symbolizing the evils of the world). The statues were sold in the 18th century. The staue of Pandora and one of the Minervas are now in the Capitoline Museum. In the 19th century, the nymphaeum was converted into a Christian chapel, a favorite place of the composer Franz Liszt, who dedicated two pieces of music to the chapel.
The Fountain of the Bicchierone, one of two fountains created for the villa by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, was made between 1660 and 1661 on a commission from Cardinal Rinaldo I d'Este. The basin of the fountain, in the form of a large shell which reaches up to the level of the terrace, has a toothed Bicchierone (cup or chalice) in the center, from which water sprays upwards. Bernini supervised the building of the fountain and, following its inauguration in May 1661, had the height of the spouting water reduced, to avoid blocking the view from the Loggia of Pandora. Though not part of the original design of the garden, the fountain became a link between the architecture of the palace and the garden.
The Loggetta of the Cardinal, a small ballustraded terrace between the Fountain of the Biccherone and the garden, was said to be the Cardinal's favorite spot for reading and discussing poetry and art, and watching the construction of the garden around him. Surrounded by high laurel hedges and stone benches, it originally had a large statue (now found in the Louvre), installed shortly after the Cardinal's death, of Hercules with the boy Achilles in his arms, overlooking the garden below. It was one of three statues of Hercules, in central positions along the central axis, that were all visible when seen from the bottom the garden, aligned with the loggia of the villa at the top.
The Grotto of Diana, at the end of the Cardinal's Walk, below the Gran Loggia, is a large underground vaulted chamber decorated from 1570-72 by Paolo Caladrino. It is completely covered with mosaics of mythological scenes, with images of fish, dragons, dolphins, pelicans and other animals, as well as the eagles and apples of the d'Este family. The rustic fountain, its central feature, has a statue of the goddess Diana in a large niche decorated with stucco reliefs of landscapes, the sea and a ship. Sold in the 18th century, all of these statues are now in the Capitoline Museum in Rome. Some of the original 16th century majolica floor tiles can still be seen.
A walkway, below the Loggetta of the Cardinal, traverses the garden and passes by three grottoes. The Grotto of Hercules, in the center, is covered by the Loggetta of the Cardinal. Beneath it is a cistern and some of the hydraulic machinery for the fountains below. The grotto once had stucco reliefs of either animals or the labors of Hercules and a statue of Hercules in repose (now in the Vatican Museum).
The Grotto of Pomona, similar in design to the Grotto of Hercules, has some of its original mosaic decoration still visible. The water from a white marble mask (found when the fountain was restored in 2002) pours into a fountain.
The Oval Fountain (Fontana dell'Ovato) one of the first and among the most famous fountains in the garden, was designed by Pirro Ligorio as a water theater, spraying water in variety of forms. Begun in 1565 and finished in 1570, it was made by fountain engineers Tomasso de Como and Curzio Maccarono, with sculpture by Raffaello Sangallo. A massive stone basin, set against the semicircular back wall, cascades water into the fountain and sprays it into the air while water jets into the basin, from vases in the hands of statues of Nereids, and also sprays in fan shapes from vases in niches in the semicircular wall behind the fountain.
An artificial mountain, rising above the fountain, symbolizes the Tiburtine landscape. The mountain is pierced by three grottoes, each pouring forth water, and is decorated with statues representing the Sibyl Albunesa with her son Melicerte, by Gillis van den Vliete (1568), and statues representing rivers Erculaneo and Anio, by Giovanni Malanca (1566), all of which pour water into the Oval Fountain.
An upper walkway, above the fountain, leads past past the ring of basins and cascades. The Grotto of Venus, the fountain's own grotto, was designed by Pirro Ligorio and built in 1565–68. It served as a meeting place for guests on hot summer days. A figure of Venus, similar to the Capitoline Venus, and two putti , the original statues of the grotto, are no longer there but traces of the monochrome murals of grotesque figures, tiles and sculpted grotto walls still remain.
The fountain on a side wall, framed within a Doric, contains a sculpture of a sleeping nymph in a grotto guarded by d'Este heraldic eagles, with a bas-relief framed in apple boughs that links the villa to the Garden of the Hesperides.
Flanking the central axis are symmetrical double flights of stairs that lead to the next garden terrace. The Grotto of Diana, richly decorated with frescoes and pebble mosaic, is on one side. Water rom the central Fontana del Bicchierone ("Fountain of the Great Cup"), planned by Bernini in 1660, issues from a seemingly natural rock into a scrolling shell-like cup.
To descend to the next level, there are stairs at either end. La Rometta ("the little Rome"), an elaborate fountain complex, is at the far left. The boat, with an obelisk mast, symbolizes the Tiburtina island in the Tiber, below the statue of Rome Triumphant.
The water jets of the Hundred Fountains (Cento Fontane), on the next level, fill the full length of a long rustic trough. The Fontana dell'Ovato ends the cross-vista. A visitor may walk behind the water through the rusticated arcade of the concave nymphaeum, which is peopled by marble nymphas by Giambattista della Porta. Above the nymphaeum, the sculpture of Pegasus recalls to the visitor the fountain of Hippocrene on Parnassus, haunt of the Muses.
The 16th-century Fontana di Diana Efesina (Fountain of Diana of Ephesus) has water flowing from her numerous breasts, symbolizing fertility and abundance, both of nature and of intellect.
The central Fontana dei Draghi (Fountain of the Dragons), dominating the central perspective of the gardens, was erected for a visit in 1572 of Pope Gregory XIII whose coat-of-arms features a dragon. It unites the terrace to the next. The sound of this fountain was in contrast to a nearby Uccellario with artificial birds. Central stairs lead down a wooded slope to three rectangular fishponds set on the cross-axis at the lowest point of the gardens. It is terminated, at the right, by the water organ (now brought back into use) and Fountain of Neptune (belonging to the 20th century restorations).
The very formal Fountain of the Owl, at the southwest part of the garden, below the Fountain of Rometta and the Fountain of Proserpina, was built between 1565 and 1569 by Giovanni del Duca, These 3 fountains have terraces connected by stairways, with nymphaeums placed beneath the terraces. Placed on a terrace surrounded by walls with niches, it crowned with the white eagles and lily symbols of the d'Este.
The fountain, covered with polychrome tiles, has the coat of arms of the d'Este, held by two angels, at the top, above the niche flanked by Ionic columns. Though the architectural elements are intact, the statues of two youths holding a goatskin which poured water into a basin held by three satyrs are missing or were destroyed. The sculpture in the niche, believed lost, was rediscovered during a renovation in 2001–02, hidden under mineral deposits and earth.
This fountain also produced music, thanks to Its ingenious automaton made by the French organ maker Luc Leclerc, installed in 1566, before the Fountain of the Organ on the other side of the garden. It featured wenty painted bronze birds placed in the niche, posed on two metal olive branches. Each bird sang an individual song, produced by piped water and air. A mechanical owl appeared, and the birds stopped singing; then, at the end of the performance, all the birds sang together. This musical feature was admired and copied in other European gardens, and functioned until the end of the 17th century. It needed constant repair due the action of the water on its delicate mechanism, and by the 19th century were completely ruined. The decorative elements of the fountain were completely restored in the 19030s, and restored again in 2001-2002, [21]
During the restoration work of 2001–02, the workers found some of the original mechanism that produced the bird songs, including the wind chamber, the tubes that moved the air and water, and the machinery that made the owl move. Using modern materials, Leonardo Lombardi was able to make a new version of the old machinery so the birds can sing and move again.
The series of terraces above terraces and the imposing constructions in the hanging cliffs of the "Valle gaudente" bring to mind the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world plus, the addition of water (including an aqueduct tunneling beneath the city) evokes the engineering skill of the Romans. Its landscape, art and history (which includes the important ruins of ancient villas such as the magnificent Villa Adriana) as well as a zone rich in caves and waterfalls (which display the unending battle between water and stone) is generally considered within the larger and, altogether extraordinary, context of Tivoli itself.
Villa d' Este: Piazza Trento, 5, 00019 Tivoli, RM, Italy. Tel: 0039 0412719036. Fax: 0039 0412770747. E-mail: email@example.com. Website: www.villadestetivoli.info.
Open 8.30 AM – 6.45 PM (May to August), 8:30 AM – 4 PM (January, November, December), 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM (February), 8:30 AM – 5:15 PM (March), 8:30 AM – 6:30 PM (April), 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM (October) and 8:30 AM – 6:15 PM (September). Admission: € 8.00. The visitor can take pictures without any physical contact with the cultural heritage and he cannot use either flash or tripod.
How to Get There:
- Taking the blue regional COTRAL busRoma Tivoli-Via Prenestina at the bus terminal just outside Ponte Mammolo station of metro line B; the stop Largo Nazioni Unite is about 100m far from the entrance of the Villa.
- Taking the urban train line FL2 (Roma-Pescara Line) from Tiburtina stationto Tivoli station (Stazione Tivoli), then, local bus CAT number 1 or 4/ to Piazza Garibaldi stop; the stop is in Tivoli's main square in front of the Villa.


text: Cape Town - If there was an award for South Africa's "Tennis Player of the Year" it is a going certainty the voting would heavily favour unassuming, matter-of-fact Raven Klaasen.Hard work and dedication from the age of six and a realistic assessment of the talent at his disposal have vaulted the 34-year-old Klaasen to his current notable achievement - a place for the first time in the prestige ATP World Group Finals at the sumptuous 02 Arena that will be staged in London this week.Though only in the doubles segment with American Rajeev Ram as one of the top eight pairings in the world in 2016, whose supporting status is emphasised by the fact that the corresponding singles winner will receive R23m while the pair annexing the doubles title must share less than R4m between them, it is still from the Cape Town-based player the most notable achievement of any South African tennis exponent in 2016.In keeping with his modest approach to success, Klaasen explains why he decided to stop competing in major singles events some six years ago to concentrate on the doubles - and end up by now fulfilling one of the main remaining ambitions of his career after becoming an Australian Open finalist three years ago."It is enormously competitive for anyone trying to break into the top echelon of the singles," explained Klaasen, "and I was simply not getting there."A lot of my best talents like quick reflexes and speed round the court are suited to doubles," he added, "so I figured after deep contemplation that it would be my best bet to become what is termed a doubles specialist - and it has worked pretty well."And that it undeniably has, with Klaasen and Ram annexing two ATP World Group titles this year and reaching three other finals - and Klaasen becoming the first South African to reach the World Group Finals since Wesley Moodie made it almost a decade ago. In the process, Klaasen squeezed into a ranking among the elite top 10 doubles players in the world for a period this year and currently holds 15th position.Success has not come quickly or easily for the South African doubles Davis Cup stalwart since he first grappled with a sizable adult racquet as a six-year-old at the Bellville Tennis Club near Cape Town, where his parents played and taught him the rudiments of the game.Still featured among the entries in South African veterans tournaments in the country in age groups between the 60s and 70s is the name of Jaco Klaasen, whom Raven Klaasen says played such a pivotal role in his early tennis upbringing.Since then Stefan de Kock and more latterly former South African Davis Cup player Jeff Coetzee have helped hone his tennis and enabled Klaasen to challenge for "the big one" in London in the coming week.Not one of the favourites with Ram, a select grouping that numbers current world number ones, the Frenchmen, Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicholas Mahut; number two Jamie Murray, the brother of Andy, and Brazilian Bruno Soares and the iconic Bob and Mike Bryan, who have won more major doubles tennis titles in recent years than anyone, the South Africa-USA duo are not without a chance on the currently unpredictable and changing doubles court arena.A more realistic and still notable target for Klaasen and Ram might be to qualify from the two-group round robin stage as one of the semi-finalists.Of course, it is the singles section that will arouse most attention among the invariably capacity crowds, with a fascinating pinnacle battle for the year-end world number one ranking between Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic in the offing.Djokovic has been the year's world number one four times, but he surrendered this utopia title two weeks ago to a revitalized, in-form Murray, who will be vying to hold onto his position and become the year-end top of the heap for the first time.Both Murray and Djokovic could end up as world number one for 2016 by winning in London - and no one could ask for a more appetizing and tasty tennis menu headed by this intriguing tit-bit.Not forgetting, of course, the doubles and the progress Klaasen makes among the top combinations in the world in 2016.