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Looking for a first step toward building a successful career in technology? Microsoft Technology Associate is the way to differentiate technology competency and explore academic and career options.
Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) is an introductory Microsoft certification for individuals considering a career in technology. MTA certification addresses a wide spectrum of fundamental technical concepts, assesses and validates your core technical knowledge, and enhances your technical credibility.
Microsoft and Certiport team up to bring you this entry-level credential that validates essential technology knowledge. MTA makes it easy for schools to deliver technology education through a simple, convenient, and affordable suite of entry-level certification exams.
The MTA certification program is good for educators and students, as well as their institutions. Educators are empowered with easy-to-use Internet-based testing, students get the opportunity to earn a Microsoft certification right in the classroom, and institutions stand out as innovative technology curriculum providers. More...
I'm not in academics.
Frequently asked questions
The following questions specifically address Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) certifications. Q. Is MTA a required prerequisite for MCSA or MCSD? A. No, MTA is not required. MTA is for people new to technology, who need to validate their knowledge of fundamental concepts before moving on to more advanced certifications, such as MCSA and MCSD.
Q. How many exams do I need to pass to earn an MTA certification? A. To earn an MTA certification, you need to pass one exam.
Q. Will MTA certifications expire? A. No, MTA certifications do not expire.
Q. What do I get when I earn an MTA certification? A. Earning an MTA certification helps prove your knowledge of fundamental technology concepts. Having a validated certification from Microsoft can help you launch a successful career.
Q. Where can I take my MTA certification exam? A. If you are a student, find out whether your school is set up as a Certiport testing center and is signed up to administer MTA certification exams. If it is, your teacher or a proctor can deliver your exam to you. If your school is not signed up to administer MTA certification exams, an administrator or teacher at your school can contact Certiport at www.certiport.com. If you're not affiliated with an academic institution, you can take MTA exams at a Pearson VUE test center. To register for an exam, select an exam and then click the schedule button.
Q. How does the MTA certification fit into the overall Microsoft Certification Program? A. The MTA certification provides the foundational knowledge necessary to pursue Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA) or Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD) certifications. The MTA certification creates a new entry point to help those who are new to IT to jump start their careers If you already have an in-depth understanding of and hands-on experience with Microsoft technologies, you might want to start with an MCSA certification or an MCSD certification. Find out more about Microsoft Certifications.
Q. I'm an instructor. How do I integrate MTA Certification Exam Review Kits into the curriculum that I'm already teaching? A. The Exam Review Kits were created in a modular format so that they can be adapted for a variety of teaching scenarios. Each kit includes 20 lessons based on the topics covered in the associated MTA certification exam. You can select which lessons to use in your classroom, based on the curriculum you are already teaching.
Visit the Certification overview or Exam policies and FAQ pages for answers to general questions regarding Microsoft Certification or the exams.
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Sikorsky Newfoundland -NTSB Report March 12, 2009
On March 12, 2009, about 0926 ADT, Atlantic Daylight Time, a Sikorsky S-92A helicopter, Canadian registry C-GZCH, operated by Cougar Helicopters, impacted the waters of the North Atlantic about 28 miles east of Cape Spear near St. John's, Newfoundland. There were two pilots and 16 passengers on board the helicopter. One passenger survived with serious injuries, but the other occupants were fatally injured. The helicopter was en route from St. John's International Airport (CYYT) to an offshore oil platform in the Hibernia oil field. The pilot made a MAYDAY call due to a mechanical difficulty, and was returning to St. John's at the time of the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and the sea state had 3 – 5 meter swells. An instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed.
The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Canada. Any further information may be obtained from:
Transportation Safety Board of Canada
Place du Centre
200 Promenade du Portage, 4th Floor
Gatineau, Quebec

subset: commoncrawl


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Scott McCuaig has retired from his role as president, co-chief operating officer and director of broker-dealer Stifel, Nicolaus & Co. effective April 1.
The move was announced by parent company Stifel Financial Corp. on Monday. McCuaig is also retiring from his role as senior vice president and director of Stifel Financial Corp., as well as all other roles with Stifel Financial subsidiaries and affiliates.
McCuaig's decision was announced internally a year ago, said Stifel Chairman, President and Chief Executive Ronald J. Kruszewski. During that time, Stifel has moved to transition his responsibilities, Kruszewski said.
"I always respect when people can exit this business with grace and time to enjoy life," Kruszweskisaid Monday.
He will be replaced by James M. Zemlyak, who will continue in his current role as chief financial officer of the holding company, Kruszewski said, while taking on overall responsibility for the broker-dealer business. Allen Brautigam has been promoted to director of branches from his previous regional director role.
McCuaig assumed the president and co-chief operating officer in 2002 after first joining the firm as head of its private client group in 1998. Before that, he served in various roles at Robert W. Baird & Co. including managing director, director of marketing, regional sales manager and board member.
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Enchanted Woodland Birthday Party
My sweet little girl turned 4 this past February and to celebrate we hosted an Enchanted Woodland party for her. While she adores everything unicorn, I felt a mainly unicorn themed party would be limiting, so we went with an enchanted woodland which allowed me to work in unicorns and much more!
This was Sofie's first real party (her last one was when she turned one and that was more for us than her) so I wanted it to be special – magical. I wanted the party to absolutely delight her and all of our guests, both kids and adults. Yes, if I do something I like to do it right. Every element needed to enhance the theme.
Let's start with décor
I was going for magical, so first off, I wanted to make the room feel as much like a forest as I could. As soon as I had landed on the theme I knew I wanted to get forest themed wall decals to stick on our 2 sets of large sliding glass doors. I found exactly what I needed at Designed Designer on Etsy. Actually, he customized an order of trees for me since I only needed 5 and let me pick bunnies, an owl, grass and mushrooms from his other designs to add on. They were perfect! Actually, we left a couple birds on the doors because we love them so much.
I wanted something balloon like but did not want balloons. Etsy to the rescue again, the pom poms from Sevyn Designs were perfect. I customized the colors to be forest like, light blue for rivers, green for the forest and then red and yellow for flowers and brightness. Red also happens to be Sofie's favorite color so I was sure to work it in wherever I could. We hung them around the party space and they definitely made it feel like a party – a sophisticated yet playful party. I also ordered their smaller flowers in red and yellow to attach to some branches I found in my driveway – they looked divine. So nice that they are still in our dining room. Their pom poms would really make a great addition to any party (birthday, wedding, baby shower…) or even as bedroom décor. How darling would they be hung over your child's bed?
Sevyn Designs also makes banners, and they made me a "Happy 4th Birthday Sofie" banner which hung over her cake. It too as perfect. They even made sure to make "Sofie" in its own section so we could hang it in her room or playhouse afterwards.
While looking for supplies for the kid craft I found a shop that makes moss letters and had the shopkeeper, Teresa, make me "Sofie". We didn't really need them for the party, but I loved the idea so much I splurged.
Beyond that we added little touches were we could, like the tiny squirrels (place card holders from when we hosted Thanksgiving) adorning our kitchen island where we had all of the food.
The right birthday cake should fit right in…
Sofie had requested chocolate cupcakes for her party. I am pretty good at decorating cakes but am limited when it comes to cupcakes. So I went online to see how I might embellish our homemade cupcakes. I found a shop on Etsy (yes, this was an Etsy party!) that made My Little Pony fondant figures! I emailed to ask if she could do Princess Celestia, my daughter's favorite pony. It would be the first one the artist, Laura, had ever made but she assured me I would love it – so while not cheap I went ahead. It was going to be very special. I was extra pleased when she said she would make it out of polymer so that my daughter could actually keep it forever after the party! It was suddenly much more worth it. To get the detailed required the sculpture would be too large to sit on a cupcake, so I made an 8 inch cake to be the top of the cupcake tower to place her on. Laura crafted a fondant cloud for Princess Celestia to sit on so she didn't touch the food. She also crafted an amazing Happy Birthday plaque with rainbow for me and coordinated cupcake toppers with butterflies, ladybugs and flowers. Instead of describing how lovely everything was, let me just show you…
If you are in the market for cake décor, check out Laura's shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/KrazyKoolCakeDesigns
The Welcome
Besides feasting on the party décor as they walked through the door, kids were presented with a choice of fairy wings or elf vests as they arrived. I think a fun touch to help everyone get into the theme, whether they opted to wear anything or not.
They were then guided over to the kid craft, which helped break the ice between guests who didn't know each other that well or kids who were a little shy to start.
Activity – Craft
Every kid party needs some kind of activity. Since Sofie is the crafting type, I landed on building Fairy & Elf Houses as the activity. It was a huge hit and resulted in engaged kids (and parents) and delightful little houses that each child could take home. It was worthy of its own write-up, so for more details, please read, Kid Craft – Constructing Fairy and Elf Houses.
Besides the craft the kids were allowed free play with Sofie's toys, each other and even out had fun out in our small yard where they climbed on walls, drew with chalk, played with the cardboard castle Sofie had gotten for Christmas, and met our backyard chickens.
The ever important food & drinks
Food is always at the heart of any of our gatherings. We like to feed people and feed them well! It makes everyone happy and can add to the warmth of a party. Our menu consisted of tea party food (since fairies love tea parties), fairy sandwiches and anything else we could think of that one might eat living in an chanted forest. We also tried to make everything small, just one or two bites and not require utensils. Fairies eat small food and it was simpler for kid sand adults to just use their fingers.
This was our enchanted menu:
- Currant Scones
- Raspberry Bars
- Bagels & Lox
- Ham and Gruyere Croissants
- Mushroom Flatbread
- Elf Bread (Nutella and Sprinkles Sandwiches)
- Fairy Bread (Cream Cheese, Jam and Sprinkles Sandwiches)
- Fairy Pillows (Mochi. Flavors: Red Bean, Chocolate)
- Berries & Twigs (Blueberries, Strawberries and Pretzel Sticks)
- Forest Mash (Olive Tapenade, served with bread)
- Unicorn Delights (Veggie platter with hummus dip)
- Evergreen Tree Bark (Mini Chicken Fingers)
- Forest Snails (Cheese and Spinach Tortilla Rolls)
- Cheese platter with cornichons and crackers
Each item was labeled with the most adorable woodland place cards made by Deep Blue Sea on Etsy. If you need any type of party table décor or cards, please check out her shop. Her work is stellar and she is super easy to work with.
To drink we served hot tea, coffee, mimosas, juice, lemonade and water. Be sure to make your beverage station as self-serve as possible. You want to mingle not be stuck in the kitchen.
And lastly…favor bags
I had looked around online and found favor bags can be quite expensive. Then I stumbled upon the RubyLane Moments Etsy site and found I could get both muslin bags and mini-notebooks custom stamped with each child's name on them for the same price as purchasing a cloth bag elsewhere. I was sold. I wanted to go with a reusable bag and was going to have to spend some money to do so…this way I got way more! And Anna was very accommodating and easy to work with.
- Muslin bags customized with child's name and a unicorn or owl stamp from RubyLane Moments on Etsy
- Custom made mini-notebooks customized with child's name and unicorn or owl stamp (From RubyLane Moments on Etsy
- A woodland creature finger puppet one of a Barn Owl, Spotted Owl or Hedgehog from Acme Party Box Company (these were pricy but so cute!
- A twig colored pencil from Acme Party Box Company
- A pack of 5 mini-seed bombs, customized with Black Eyed Susan seeds, red ribbon and flower by The Big Rock Paper Company on Etsy
- A woodland themed Thank You tag from Deep Blue Sea Designs on Etsy
We placed them in a basket near the door so everyone was sure to grab theirs on the way out, whether we were there or not. And it worked! Everyone left with their favor.
I hope you've been inspired by some of these ideas for your own party! I would love to hear if you do. This was sure was fun to throw and most importantly, Sofie loved it.
Comments4 Responses to "Enchanted Woodland Birthday Party"
What a lovely post and fantastic idea for a themed party! Your daughter is so lucky to have such a well thought out party. The food sounds delicious too!
Wow! I am enchanted and totally inspired by your creativity, Jeannie. Lucky me to have discovered you through the Palo Alto farm share–I have a beautiful Hawthorne Urban Farm egg crate that I'm holding on to–reminds me of those yummy eggs I ate. Hope to meet you some day and share some dahlias from our garden with you.


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Pollarded sessile oak (Quercus petraea) trees, UK
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Top 5 personalities people love to hate
India is an amazing country with few people who love to hate few personalities but cannot ignore them. People love to read about them and find every possible way to diagnose these personalities achievements and also become successful in their own terms to point out all negative things that could ever occur in their mind.
So here is a list of top 5 people who are loved to be hated yet their success overpowers the rest: COUNTING BACKWARDS
5. Sachin Tendulkar: Yes, you read it right, Sachin is hated by many cricket lovers. The man who is considered to be the best batsman of our era, the man who has scored 100 international centuries, the man who has highest run to his name and etc etc is usually hated to be the most preferred man for any team by big stalwarts of cricket. He is hated if cannot score a century in every match. He is usually referred not as match winner and a person who always played for his own records.People find it difficult to absorb the way this little man is compared GOD of cricket. Well, guys give me a break, I am still not able to understand the reason for being hated. Is it the success that he has acquired through his hard work or is it because you have not been able to achieve a single dream of your own?
4. M S Dhoni: So, Dhoni is just a lucky guy who just got massive success by chance only. He is good for nothing. He is hated for being the most successful Indian Cricket Captain ever. It is hard to accept that he is the next living legend of Indian team yet he remains grounded who stands firm about his opinions and acts according to his guts. No one is able to accept how could he act out of box when he should do what normal people think yet becomes successful. It is all luck by chance, I believe! His calmness and temperament is something which has created jealousy to many. He hit sixes at will whereas others wait for a bad ball to do so. Therefore, it's all luck man! India is blessed to have such a player yet many needs to realize the same.
3. Chetan Bhagat: How can someone just write a book with no experience and just get famous without any reason. He is just a mediocre writer and uses simple language with simple story yet he is famous and earning millions! People find it hard to believe that there are so many great writers but no one is as famous as Chetan Bhagat with bollywood also following his books by making movies. People fail to understand the impact of his books which is most common in our life. He is hated to be successful with just few books to his name. People hate to refer his his books to someone else but they would have bought and read it many times themselves because the way he connected with each one. He has brought change to reading habits of our generation (atleast more people have started reading books!) but his simplicity and "connect" factor is something people don't like to accept.
2. Narendra Modi : The list would have been incomplete without Narendra Modi. He is probably the most hated person for many reason unknown at present. He came from Gujrat where riots happened during his tenure as Chief Minister. He is a person who listen to his heart and speaks volumes about India. He is hated for being a pro growth person. He is often referred as person behind Gujrat riots even when Supreme Court have given a clean chit. He is hated because everyone under him has to work (literally work! can you imagine government people actually working?). He is hated for marketing India across globe and redifing India. Well people are not ready to accept the fact that India itself has so much potential and Modi is just unravelling it. People love to be under an illusion that India is good for nothing and Modi is preaching false to world. Well, people wake up and smell coffee 🙂
1. Shahrukh Khan: The more you hate Sharukh Khan, the more you are adding to his bottle of popularity. Shahrukh Khan only overacts where he has never shown any acting skills. He is loud and smart. He is the best choice for any director anytime. People hate him because of his amazing sense of humour. He hardly takes anything as he believes in giving back with his own style. He is hated as he is a self-made man who was nothing but a common man like us who has achieved so much which no other actor would ever be able to achieve in future. He is hated for showing the passion and enthusiasm all the time at an age where he should take rest and do films with old man's role. SRK amazing personality still works like magic for all girls. Every boyfriend or husband hate him as he is most loved and often compared for showing their love like SRK does! If not all girls atleast all guys hate him as they have to sacrifice cricket whenever he is on TV 🙁
People who hate all above are mostly frustrated and annoyed with their life where they could not achieve anything with their smart brains but still working as an employee to earn their living. People would still continue to underestimate their achievements and hardwork. The love they get speaks volumes of their achievements, accolades and popularity for being smart yet grounded who have taken India's name to world.
Hit like or share your opinion. I am eagerly waiting for them 😉


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Una herramienta GRATUITA diseñada para ayudarle a administrar y hablar con sus clientes en su sitio web, Facebook, Telegram y Viber
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Ahora, por favor revise la bandeja de entrada de su correo electrónico, le enviamos las instruciones para instalar JivoChat. Vamos! Vamos! Vamos!
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Yes. We use cookies to personalize your experience on the JivoChat Service (such as dynamically generating content on webpages specifically designed for you), to assist you in using the JivoChat Service (such as saving time by not having to reenter your name each time you use the JivoChat Service), to allow us to statistically monitor how you are using the JivoChat Service so that we can improve our offerings, and to target certain advertisements to your browser which may be of interest to you or to determine the popularity of certain content. By using cookies and page tags together, we are able to improve the JivoChat Service and measure the effectiveness of our advertising and marketing campaigns.
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Oral-B and Crest 3D donate $500K to Shakira's Pies Descalzos Foundation
CARTAGENA, Colombia — This week, Procter & Gamble's Oral-B and Crest 3D White brands announced a donation of $500,000 to benefit the Pies Descalzos Foundation, which was founded by recording artist and 3D White Global Ambassador Shakira.
From left to right: Isabella Grueso, communications associate director P&G Colombia; Shakira; Juan Carlos Trujillo, GM P&G Colombia; Juan Carlos Restrepo, Oral-B brand manager Colombia (Photo: Business Wire)
Shakira, who is a native of Barranquilla, Colombia, founded the foundation to help ensure that every child can exercise their right to receive a quality education. The Pies Descalzos Foundation schools demonstrate a sustainable, replicable education model, which provides quality education to the most vulnerable people and communities.
The donation will go toward various Foundation projects, one of which is a new school built in Lomas de Peyé in Cartagena, Colombia, the sixth school developed by the Pies Descalzos Foundation. The 3D White donation will help with costs accrued towards the overall structure of the school as well as helping to finalize key details necessary towards its completion. The more than 14,000 square meters Lomas de Peyé school will boast 55 classrooms offering early childhood, primary and secondary education as well as technical training skills in specialized classrooms for older students. It will include a library, auditorium, administrative offices, cafeteria and sports facilities. Colombian architect Giancarlo Mazzanti has developed the designs. He based his proposal on the concepts of sustainability and bioclimatic design to ensure the welfare of all the generations that go to the Lomas de Peyé school.
"We are honored and humbled to be able to provide support for such a worthy cause," stated Wayne Randall, global VP of oral care for P&G. "Knowing that this school will help many children in need gives new meaning to the smiles they are sure to share as they learn to read, write and experience the benefits of education throughout their lives."
Lomas de Peyé is a community comprised of 11 neighborhoods and more than 58,000 inhabitants. It is an area that faces significant poverty, rootlessness, lack of access to public services and low connection to the sewer system. Currently, there are only 4 schools serving the area. The new Pies Descalzos Foundation school will impact more than 1,700 children and their families by providing a quality education, nutrition, income-generating projects and counseling. The school itself will be located in an intersection between the Swamp of the Virgin and the Mountain of La Popa, on land donated by the municipality. The project is also a proposal for ecological improvement. The School will be an environmental barrier that seeks to stop the urban sprawl. Like all of The Foundation schools, the expectation is that the architectural design becomes a landmark of urban planning and social impact, generating positive impact to the entire city.
"To have the support of a global brand like Oral-B and Crest 3D White is so important and gratifying," stated Shakira. "To know that I'm partnered with such great people, with such a strong social conscience makes it all worth it. Brands like Oral-B and Crest 3D White send an important message that supporting communities in need is vital, and I'm thrilled to be their Ambassador. I can't thank 3D White enough for their generous donation."
Revlon appoints global presidents, COO exits
NEW YORK — Revlon announced on Tuesday several executive moves, including the departure of Chris Elshaw, Revlon's EVP and COO, effective immediately.
"After 12 years with the company I felt it was time to seek a new challenge. I've very much enjoyed working with my colleagues and business partners to develop our business around the world, and I am proud of the many achievements during my time at Revlon. I wish the team well in the next stage of their journey," Elshaw said.
Revlon also announced the appointment of Gianni Pieraccioni as its EVP and global president of the Revlon consumer division and Sennen Pamich as its EVP and global president of the Revlon professional division.
Gianni most recently served as EVP, chief commercial officer for Alitalia. Prior to Alitalia, he held several general management, marketing and commercial positions of increasing scope and seniority within the consumer and luxury goods industry, including at Procter & Gamble, PepsiCo, Johnson & Johnson, Sector Group, Binda Group and Averna Group.
Sennen most recently served as SVP, Revlon Pro Brands — United States and Canada. Sennen joined The Colomer Group in January 2010, and before that he held several senior management, commercial and marketing positions of increasing scope and responsibility at P&G, J&J and Bulgari Perfumes and Cosmetics.
"Both Gianni and Sennen have significant experience and demonstrated success in leading global businesses. Gianni brings to our Revlon donsumer division broad international, as well as domestic, experience, as he worked in Italy, Spain, the United States and Brazil and had country, regional and global responsibilities in his previous positions. Sennen brings a global vision to his new role in our Revlon professional division, having held senior management, sales and marketing positions in the United States, Asia and Europe. These appointments are designed to strengthen our leadership team and to better support and focus our efforts to develop each of our consumer and professional divisions," said Lorenzo Delpani, Revlon's president and CEO.
Hair care brand Joico launches e-commerce platform with a twist
LOS ANGELES — Hair care brand Joico has teamed up with beauty online retail solution Loxa Beauty to bring stylists, consumers and products together through an online shopping platform.
The beauty industry was rooted in the ability to experience products in-store through the five senses, but that notion is changing and evolving into a virtual beauty counter. Through this partnership, beginning mid-March, Joico will maintain its position as salon/stylist expert, while making its products directly accessible to consumers.
Unlike traditional e-commerce platforms, Loxa Beauty incorporates a salon/stylist into the checkout process by awarding commission for individual online sales.
"This partnership marks yet another monumental moment for the brand, and we are thrilled to be a part of this exhilarating journey," said Sara Jones, GM at Joico. "As a brand, we believe the connection between consumers and the professional salon world is the foundation of our industry, and Loxa Beauty empowers this connection on a broader scale. Finally, there's a website that offers everything the beauty enthused consumer desires, and we are excited for this opportunity to deepen our connection with our customers."
Additional resources have been designed for salons/stylists on Loxa Beauty, including a mobile tool used to send personalized HairScription recommendations to their clients. Salons/stylists can choose from more than 3,000 options, including Joico products, to recommend the product that is unique to their client's needs.
"Loxa Beauty was created to extend the salon shopping experience beyond the stylists' chair," stated Janell Shaffer, founder of Loxa Beauty. "This revolutionary platform bridges the gap between the salons/stylists, clients and professional beauty products. By awarding a commission on every sale, we are able to keep the stylist at the center of the shopping experience. Our goal was to partner with brands that understand the importance of this connection, which is why we worked diligently to ensure Joico was present."
Consumers can join Loxa Beauty to receive content, special offers and buy Joico product, while professional salons/stylists can benefit from Loxa Professional through their personal salon/stylist listing and account. With a salon/stylist listing and account, a salon/stylist is eligible for compensation — completing the circle between professionals, consumers/clients and the online shopping experience.


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So there used to be a vegan store (Karmavore), conveniently located just steps from our home. They sold all sorts of hard to find vegan specialty items from food to personal care to clothing. I loved going in there, finding foods I thought could never be made vegan (hello Dandies!) and discovering things I didn't even know I needed 😉 … Over time, my favourite little store evolved to include an in-house bakery (with their own vegan baker) and a deli counter. And then it evolved again, focusing on food service and dropping the retail side all together 🙁
Fortunately, there is an independent grocery store across the street, and they began to provide several of the foods we once could find only at Karmavore… But not everything… No white chocolate and none of the parmesan sprinkles that I had become addicted to sprinkling on pretty much everything… As my last bottle dwindled, I read the label to find that it contained just three ingredients. And after a few trial and errors, I cracked the code, and produced something almost identical to those parmesan sprinkles I had been buying… Actually, I feel kind of silly even posting this, because the recipe is THAT easy.
I'm not going to claim that this is a replication of true parmesan (obviously it's not). But if you're missing something a little cheesy to sprinkle over your pasta or dinner, it does the trick. I also love it on popcorn, risotto, potatoes… like I said, pretty much everything.
Vegan Parmesan Sprinkles
Recipe Type: condiment
Makes: 3/4 cup
- 6 tbsp (53g) Walnut Pieces 1
- 6 tbsp (33g) Nutritional Yeast
- 1/2 tsp Salt
Place all the ingredients in a food processor and pulse until it reaches desired consistency. I like mine with a few visible walnut crumbs (for texture).
1. I've found that the nuts can be replaced with raw hemp seeds, for a nut-free version that is equally as good.


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BEc CA
Richard is a chartered accountant and has a Bachelor of Economics degree with more than 25 years of experience in funds management and finance in Australia and Asia. Prior to forming AAP Capital, Richard was a Managing Director, Head of Asset Finance for Developed Asia and a member of the Australian executive team for Nomura Australia. Richard has also worked at Westpac, Macquarie Bank and KPMG.


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Ever wondered how you can add a hint in Anki, for the time when you just can't remember an answer? It's rather simple with some basic CSS and JavaScript
Anki 2.1 is the upcoming version of the popular spaced repetition software. If you want to write plugins, you might want to have the option to run Anki 2.1 from source for debugging purposes. Here I will outline, how I set up my system to build and run Anki from source.
You can style your cards in Anki with CSS, that's nothing new. But we can also use some not so obvious CSS to add visual cues to help us remember stuff on our cards.
VSCode has become a powerful editor for Python. Here I share my setup, to develop Anki addons using VSCode.
Anki uses a SQLite database to keep track of your reviews and cards. I always wanted to use R to create some graphs and visualize my learning process. Here is some code, to get you started as well!
Tired of copying and pasting various CSS snippets across multiple cards? By using the CSS
@include, you can share the same CSS file across multiple cards.
You'll most likely have a general idea of a "pixel". But what happens to a pixel when we try to scale up a complete image? Do we get a big pixel? And what size does a pixel have? We will have a basic look and try to get a more accurate idea of pixels. We will also learn, that some manipulations are required in order to magnify or rotate pictures.
Have you ever seen a dialog, asking you for a bit depth when saving an image? Here we will take a short stroll into the storage of image information and see, how a computer needs to transform information in order to store it on disc. We will talk about artifacts and problems that could arise, if no appropriate bit depth is chosen. Finally, we will check out histograms to assess the quality of an image.
Often times you are interested in features of a certain color. We will look at how to extract the different aspects of color models in ImageJ and see how we can use the Color Threshold option to select features based on their visual appearance.
When you start working with digital images, some fundamentals should be known. Here we will take a look at color spaces and models — ways to represent and break up the "contents" of a color. This knowledge can come in handy, when you want to do automatic feature detection in an image. Maybe you are interested in red precipitates or want to distinguish a purple cell from a green one? Or maybe you are just interested in some basics about images without complicated formulas.


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Tagplay now supports Facebook live videos
Earlier this year, Facebook launched a new feature where users can broadcast live video on its platform. This new feature has been quite popular, especially among publishers and brands.
Tagplay now supports live video and brands, publishers and other Facebook users can now automatically post their Facebook live videos to their websites and displays.
With Tagplay, companies can integrate their social media and website strategy. All brands on social media have now become publishers that post original content or curated content from others that relates to their fans. The website is still companies' front on the internet and has to be kept updated with relevant information and content. This information and other content is now first posted on social media because of the convenience and reach, and with Tagplay they can share it to other channels, e.g. their website.
Companies have been using Facebook live video for marketing purposes with e.g. live streaming events, product launches and openings, behind the scenes, Q&A, tutorials and contests. Facebook's newest algorithm gives more preference to video that's live than video that's not and therefore it's a great way for marketers to get organic reach on Facebook.
Companies have also been using Facebook live videos to live stream events to their employees through groups on Facebook or through Facebook's new collaborative tool, Facebook Workplace. With Tagplay, workplaces can now automatically showcase these videos and other content on their company's website, intranet or information displays in the company.
Blog post was also published on www.northstack.is


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Some photos from Instagram this week.
Saw this in Sarawat, Jeddah. I think it's cool. =) I've seen some people who are fond of doodling doing this on their guitars or other instruments, but it was my first time to see one in a shop.
#Singapore 's Chinatown street. Still wondering how I took this shot. 😂🛩📸 🇸🇬 #wonders #photography #sia
A photo posted by Gilian (@islesgilian) on
Next is a throwback from a Singapore trip. This post made me want to travel again.
Check out Singapore Trip posts here
Above is Steakhouse's Soup of the Day. The waiter was just too excited to reveal it to us and I had mixed emotions upon hearing LUGAW. Of course, I like Lugaw, and I'm happy it has been added to their Soup of the Day list. A part of me though was thinking that I'd rather have Lugaw at home, I felt I wanted to be served something different instead. haha I guess I was looking for something unique coming from one of Jeddah's finest restaurants, but hey, LUGAW is something unique to the rest of the nationalities here. So, I ate it quietly and was just thankful for its recognition as Soup of the Day. haha =)
Chic and iconic French dining experience @laylasgourmet #jeddah
A photo posted by Gilian (@islesgilian) on
Layla's Gourmet. I visited Layla's last week. It was indeed an experience. Had I not seen other ladies in their abayas, I'd think I were in France having an evening coffee and cake.
Check out more restaurants in Jeddah
All this time I was thinking that the silver wedding celebration of my friend would be next week. It just dawned on me yesterday that it is actually THIS Friday already. I need to prepare. =)
*I'm actually just trying out how to embed Instagram posts on a WordPress post without a plugin. =) It's pretty easy.
Click here to know HOW TO EMBED INSTAGRAM PHOTOS TO YOUR WORDPRESS POST.


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What I Learned About Choice Through Spark Schools
This essay comes to LearnED from freelance writer and video producer Jana Sweeney. She has been sharing impactful stories about humanitarian projects for over 20 years. Jana is based in Nigeria.
This week I have been thinking a lot about the importance of choice. As Westerners we often take choice for granted and forget that in many places choice is a luxury—especially in the developing world.
I recently had the good fortune to visit SPARK Bramley. SPARK is an affordable education model in Johannesburg, South Africa. They are a network of primary schools focusing on achieving high academic standards but with low costs.
As an American, I didn't realize that all South African public/government schools are fee based. The quality of school your child attends depends on how much you can pay.
At many of the schools the outcomes are dismal with children often falling way behind academically. Even for the most devoted of teachers, classroom size and limited resources make proper education nearly impossible.
The founders and supporters of SPARK decided that something needed to be done and have opened eight schools since 2013.
A Day in the Life of Expanded Learning Opportunities
What is remarkable about these schools is that the focus on improving education has been so significant that these are not just schools for low income families. Middle and upper income families are applying for enrollment as well, even though the school is just a couple miles from Alexandra Township, one of the poorest communities in South Africa.
I understand why after just a day at the school.
The school is disciplined and academically demanding, but joyful and caring at the same time. As students wait for school to start, they gather in school yard for SPARKs Fly, a morning assembly—but unlike anything I've ever seen.
The staff plays music to keep the kids entertained (and probably to help burn off a little energy before the day starts). As the music played not only did kids dance, but teachers, administrators and staff came dancing out of their office.
Teachers then lead brain warm ups and a recitation of the school creed.
As the kids moved into the classroom the difference continues with teachers facilitating student led activities. The teachers are in constant motion, encouraging activities, praising, helping and engaging on every level.
There is also daily time at the Learning Lab with a heavy focus on the use of technology ensuring that children who graduate from SPARK will be ready for challenges of the 21st century.
Parents Making Choices for Children
When I spoke with parents, they kept emphasizing how grateful they were for this choice—that they were able to make decisions for their children and not just have to accept the only school they can afford.
The children at SPARK come from a wide range of backgrounds, but I wasn't able to tell the children of CEOs from the children of domestic workers. The families at SPARK are encouraged to be a support network for each other and they are.
A Model for Africa and Beyond
I have lived and traveled extensively in the developing world and seen the struggles of the education system. In fact, I currently live in Nigeria which faces the same educational struggles as much of Africa.
Schools with no air conditioning in unbearable heat, crumbling buildings, one teacher to 40 kids—sometimes of different age groups in the same class, children who come to school too hungry or too ill to concentrate.
SPARK has changed all that. The teachers are so actively engaged they know if a child is struggling, or hungry or having other problems and they work with the family to come up with a solution. They are passionate and committed to the betterment of their students, but also to the betterment of the educational system in South Africa.
When I asked one teacher what she wanted for her students future she said "I want them to put South Africa on the map."
If what I saw is any indication, SPARK is already doing that and the children attending the schools are going to be part of the change South Africa and other African countries desperately need.
A Parent and a Teacher, In Their Own Words
Olga Masingi is a parent of a student at SPARK. Here, she explains how learning at the school is so special:
Banele Nghlengetwa is a teacher at SPARK Schools. Here, she's asked about why she teaches. Her answer: "What isn't there to love about teaching?"
Essay author Jana Sweeney.
The Pearson Affordable Learning Fund is proud to be an investor in Spark Schools.
Cover photograph: Copyright 2016 Charles Meadows.


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Lake Grapevine Runners and Walkers held another successful race last weekend, the annual Bold in the Cold. The weather in Texas can be very unpredictable and past races have ranged from bitterly cold to unseasonably warm. This year, Mother Nature cooperated fully and we had a fantastic day for running with temperatures in the 40s and it was also overcast.
This year's race added a half marathon to the traditional 15K and 5K, in honor of the club's upcoming 15th anniversary. Entry to the half was only $35, an amazing price for this distance, and the 400 available entries sold out early, as predicted. There were over 1000 registered runners for the three races combined, with many entries coming in the days before the race thanks to the predicted good weather.
In addition to the traditional T-shirt, finishers received a beanie hat which will come in very useful in the cold weeks to come while training outside. The medal newly designed for the half marathon finishers had a great incorporation of the event logo.
Hot chocolate was provided by the organizers of the Hot Chocolate 15K race series to the participants, and also water and fruit was available at the finish line. There was great feedback from race participants on the event's organization, course, and finisher items. The Bold in the Cold has gotten better and had more participation each year and this year definitely continued the trend. We are looking forward to next year's race already!


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Public Office is a trust don't abuse it
Nigerian Financial Intelligence UnitEconomic and Financial Crimes CommissionIndependent Corrupt Practices and Other Related OffencesThe Technical Unit on Governance and Anti-Corruption ReformsBureau of Public Procurement Nigerian Police Force
Conflict of Interest - A public officer shall not put himself in a position where his personal interest conflicts with his duties and responsibilities.
Restriction on Specified Officers - A public officer shall not:(a) receive or be paid the emoluments of any public office at the same time as he receives or is paid emoluments of any other public office; or(b) except where he is not employed on full time basis, engage or participate in the management or running of any private business, profession or trade; but nothing in this sub-paragraph shall prevent a public officer from engaging in farming.
Prohibition of Foreign Accounts - The President, Vice President, Governor, Deputy Governor, Ministers of the Government of the Federation and Commissioners of the Governments of the States, members of the National Assembly and the Houses of Assembly of the States, and such other public officers or persons as the National Assembly may by law prescribe shall not maintain or operate a bank account in any country outside Nigeria.
Click here to view more codes
Code of Conduct
Whistle Blowers
Contact Us


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Inclusive Nursery Environments
Why We Should Encourage Expression and Creativity
Creativity is a form of expression and, above all, a state of mind. It's a demonstration of our intelligence and a way of understanding the world around us. Fostering creativity in children is a way of preparing them to adapt, to invent different solutions, to tackle simple or even complex situations, to solve problems, to negotiate and to explore.
← Previous Story How to Help Young Children Settle Into a New Nursery


text: Ian C. Williams is a poet and photographer often caught wearing coffee, drinking tweed, and confusing common verbs. His work has been published in Yorick Magazine, The Gap-Toothed Madness, and Dirty Chai, among others. He received the 2014 Florence Kahn Memorial Award from the NFSPS for his chapbook, House of Bones. He lives with his wife in West Virginia, where he is working on a full-length project.


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Wahoo Fitness is changing the way the world works out – and having a blast doing it! We are looking for smart, passionate people to join the Wahooligan team. Think you're a good fit? Send your resume and a cover letter letting us know why you're excited about Wahoo and what you're passionate about to [email protected].
See below for some of the current sales/marketing positions for our growing Wahooligan family. Live outside of our headquarters city of Atlanta, Georgia? Head to the Wahoo website to see all of our exciting open positions with some international openings as well.
As Product Manager – Gym Software, you will help define and manage our software targeted at fitness club applications. This extends from increasing the profitability of existing products to developing new products concepts. You must possess a unique blend of business and technical savvy; a big-picture vision, and the drive to make that vision a reality. You must enjoy spending time in the market to understand fitness club opportunities and challenges, and use this knowledge to build out our software portfolio.
- Manage the entire product line life cycle from strategic planning to tactical activities
- Specifying market requirements by conducting market research supported by visits to customers and non-customers
- Work closely with engineering to define product release requirements
- Developing and implementing a company-wide go-to-market plan, working with all departments to execute.
- Work with product marketing to define go-to-market strategy, product positioning, key benefits, and target customers
- Serve as the internal and external evangelist for our fitness club software offerings
- Bachelors degree in Engineering/Computer Science or related experience
- 3-5 years software product management experience
- Understanding of wearable technology and wireless connectivity
- Intelligent, self motivated team player
- Willingness to learn and react quickly
- Display a strong work ethic and passion for success
The position requires up to 25% travel
Location: Atlanta, GA US
Additional Skills
Public Speaking, Research, Writing, Microsoft Office, MAC, iOS, and Android, Bluetooth, and WiFi technology
- Seamlessly execute marketing and communications plans
- Create polished marketing/sales materials to communicate our value proposition. Collateral could include sales presentations, product sheets, instruction guides, point of sales materials, and event materials
- Develop all digital materials (web, advertising, video) with designer/agency
- Develop/curate web content for product (blogs, expert articles, etc.)
- Work with PR agency to ensure product coverage in key outlets
- Help to develop and refine product messaging and positioning
- Track product performance, revenue, and key marketing/media metrics
- Analyze market and competition, including trends and new entrants
- Conduct market research using qualitative and quantitative methods
- College degree
- 2-4 years of Product Marketing experience
- Demonstrated strong analytical and strategic thinking skills
- Experience developing offline marketing and sales collateral, point of sale materials
- Experience in developing digital/web/mobile marketing assets
- Experience working with graphic designers and/or advertising agencies
- Proven ability to effectively manage multiple projects in a dynamic environment
- Interpersonal savvy, collaborator, effective in communication internally and externally.
- Tactical agility and attention to details, pragmatic
- Ability to take initiative, perseverance
- Entrepreneurial spirit and passion for fitness technology
Location: Atlanta, GA US
As Business Development Manager –OEMs, your primary responsibilities are:
- Prospect for potential OEM clients and build a robust pipeline of opportunities with fitness equipment manufactures and other OEMs in the gym/ fitness club market
- Use market knowledge and competitive intelligence to develop the Wahoo's unique selling propositions and differentiators
- Cultivate relationships with OEM decision makers in engineering, marketing and management leading to a successful design-in decision by the OEM
- Overcome objections and resolve technical issues leading to placement of volume production orders for Wahoo OEM offerings
- Collaborate with product management to ensure features and capabilities of Wahoo OEM offerings continue to evolve to address changing customer needs
- Use CRM to manage selling process and customer pipeline details
- Develop a sales plan and forecast, tracking performance against business plan targets
- Maintain positive relationships with all Wahoo OEM customers
- Bachelors degree in electrical engineering or related field
- 3-5 years OEM business development experience
- Understanding of wearable technology and mobile device connectivity
- Demonstrated success in building client base and revenue
- Intelligent, self motivated team player
- Willingness to learn and react quickly to changing customer landscape
- Display a strong work ethic and passion for success
The position requires up to 50% travel
Location: Atlanta, GA US
Additional Skills
Public Speaking, Research, Writing, Microsoft Office, MAC, iOS, and Android, Bluetooth, and WiFi technology


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I have a post all drafted up on my laptop, but no internet. So I am
writing an email over 3G on my kindle, and trying to post that to the
Only you guys commenting will let me know if it worked.
So comment!
Comment FOR SCIENCE!
I am about to go and forage in Cantho. Floating markets at silly
buggers am tomorrow.
I need to work out the chances of accommodation in Phu Quoc on what
will happen to be new years' eve.
Could be fun!
Take care, all.


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West Midlands NHS 111 is taken over by ambulance service
West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) has taken over the running of the NHS 111 helpline from NHS Direct across most of the West Midlands.
WMAS will run the project for Birmingham, Solihull, the Black Country, Shropshire, Herefordshire, Coventry and Warwickshire.
An NHS commissioners' report in April 2013 found the NHS Direct service in some areas was "unacceptably low".
It said some centres were struggling to cope with the number of calls.
Shropshire's service was withdrawn in March, with calls being diverted to a local provider Shropdoc.
'Significant issues'
In Worcestershire, the NHS Direct-run line was withdrawn in April - a month after it started - amid concerns for patient safety.
In July, Dr Robert Morley, from the Birmingham Local Medical committee, said the 111 service had been a "disaster" in the city.
At the time, the regional project director for NHS 111 in the West Midlands, Wayne Bartlett, said the testing phase "encountered some significant operational and technical issues on implementation".
On Tuesday, the chief executive of WMAS, Anthony Marsh, said WMAS had expertise in running complex clinical call handling operations, which "will allow us to bring real improvements to the 111 service".
The NHS Direct 0845 46 47 telephone number will be switched off at the end of November in the West Midlands and callers will be advised to end the call and re-dial 111.


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I haven't slept in a long time and my brain is a garbage incapable of functioning.
My brain is octo cowtown/meta-fuck-animal
Austin and I have a priz boo problem.
I found someone I know on a priz boo pen pal website, and when asked how I knew that person it ended in the sentence, "But who makes it out of adolescence without becoming involved in an attempted murder AMIRITE?"


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Illuminations Founder, Soniyaa Kiran Punjabi shares how sound healing and meditation affects your life and its amazing benefits in READ Magazine June 2016 issue.
Featured in the May 2016 of Good Magazine, UAE, Soniyaa Kiran Punjabi
guides readers on the 6 important steps to finding your passion!
Check out this article from Cheryl Parsons on The National's Friday Weekend supplement on the art of silence - why practicing silence and stilling the mind is important and how we can go about doing it featuring Soniyaa Kiran Punjabi, Founder of Illuminations.
Founder of Illuminations, Soniyaa Kiran Punjabi, featured in the helloindoarabia September 2015 Issue. Learn more about her story, her beginnings with Illuminations, and the journey so far...with a touch of glamour! Click Below to Download the Feature!
Our founder SoniyaaKiran Punjabi won the Young Female Achiever in Business Award at the ITP Ahlan Masala Awards 2014 (Judges Choice)
Find out about Timeouts review on Meditation classes at Illuminations and its wide range benefits!
The story of Shaima and how she was helped at Illuminations!
Learn more about Dubai's #1 Wellness Center as reviewed by Andrea host of UAE's first online TV show.
Meet the Founder of Illuminations and learn how mindfulness and balance can lead to success.
Access the Powerful Area of the Subconscious Mind through Hypnotherapy to Heal Your Issues.


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The Usual Suspects
Gio Washington-Wright's L.A. Studio Musicians Tribute Site
Team LAStudioMusicians
LOC Soundtrack Personnel
Adam Schroeder
Alan Estes
Alan Kaplan
Alan Steinberger
Alex Acuna
Alex Iles
Allen Fogle
Amy Sanchez
Amy Tatum
Andy Martin 1
Andy Martin 2
Annie Bosler
Barry Perkins
Becky Martin Murillo
Belinda Broughton
Ben Jaber
Ben Lulich
Ben Smolen
Bernie Dresel
Bill Booth
Bill Liston
Bill Reichenbach
Bob McChesney
Bob O'Donnell
Bob Sanders
Bob Sheppard
Bob Summers
Bobby Shew
Brad Dutz
Brad Warnaar
Brandon Fields
Brian Kilgore
Brian O'Connor Memorial
Brian Scanlon
Bruce Dukov
Bruce Fowler
Bruce Otto Memorial
Carl Saunders
Chad Smith
Charley Davis
Charlie Loper
Charlie Morillas
Chris Bleth
Chris Tedesco
Chuck Findley Lead
Chuck Findley Solos
Clayton Haslop
Craig Gosnell
Craig Ware
Damian Montano
Dan Fornero
Dan Greco
Dan Higgins 1
Dan Higgins 2
Dan Higgins Lead
Dan Kelley
Dan Savant
Dave Everson
David Duke
David Shostac
David Washburn
David Weiss Memorial
Dennis Farias
Dick Mitchell
Dick Nash
Donald Foster
Donald Williams
Doug Tornquist
Doug Webb
Dustin McKinney
Dylan Hart
Emil Richards
Endre Granat
Eric Marienthal
Ernie Watts
Francisco Torres
Fred Greene
Fred Selden
Gary Bovyer
Gary Foster
Gary Grant Lead
Gary Grant Solos
Gary Gray
Gary Herbig
Gene Cipriano
George Bohanon
George Doering
George Graham Memorial
George Thatcher
Geri Rotella
Gina Luciani
Gloria Chen
Gordon Goodwin
Greg Goodall
Greg Huckins
Heather Clark
James Thatcher
Jay Mason
Jeff Bunnell
Jeff Driskill
Jenni Olson
Jenny Kim
The Best Of Jerry Hey
Jerry Hey Arrangements 1
Jerry Hey Arrangements 2
Jerry Hey On Film
Jerry Hey Horn Demos
Jerry Hey Lead
Jerry Hey Solos
Jerry Hey 1
Jerry Hey 2
Jerry Hey 3
Jerry Hey 4
Jerry Hey 5
Jessica Pearlman Fields
Jim Self
Joe Davis Memorial
Joe Meyer
Joel Derouin
Joel Peskin
John Mitchell
John Reynolds
John "J.R." Robinson
John Steinmetz
John Van Houten
John Yoakum
Jon Lewis
Judith Farmer
Julie Long
Justin Hageman
Ken Munday
Kevin Garren
Kim Richmond
Kurt Snyder
Larry Hall
Larry Williams
Laura Brenes
Laura Dickinson
Leslie Reed
Louise DiTullio
Luis Conte
Malcolm McNab
Marissa Benedict
Mark Adams
Marty Krystall
M.B. Gordy
Mike Englander
Mike Lang
Mike Vaccaro
Nick Lane
Oscar Brashear
Paul Salvo
Paulinho DaCosta
Pete Christlieb
Phil Ayling
Phil O'Connor
Phil Teele
Phil Yao
Ralph Grierson
Ralph Williams
Randy Kerber
Reggie Young
Rich Bullock
Rick Baptist
Rick Todd
Rob Frear
Rob Lockart
Rob Schaer
Robert Shulgold
Robert Zimmitti
Ron Stout
Rose Corrigan
Rusty Higgins
Sal Lozano
Sara Andon
Steve Becknell
Steve Holtman
Steve Kujala
Steve Schaeffer
Stuart Clark
Terry Harrington
Tom Luer
Tom Ranier
Tom Scott
Wade Culbreath
Walter Rodriguez
Warren Luening Memorial
Wayne Bergeron
Wayne Bergeron On Film
Wayne Bergeron Scream
Wayne Bergeron Solos
Winston Byrd
Pop Saxophone Solos
Pop Trombone -Tuba Solos
Pop Trumpet Solos
Tommy Johnson Memorial
Vinnie Colaiuta
Gina Luciani, a Miyazawa Emerging Artist, is described as One of those amazing young flutists who has all the musical bases covered by Jim Walker and A leading flutist of her generation, who embodies the essence of intelligent, energetic and sophisticated musicality, by Laurel Ann Maurer. An avid freelance musician in Southern California, Gina performs frequently in solo, chamber, and orchestral settings and can be heard on many recordings.
Ms. Luciani has performed as a soloist with the Colburn Contemporary Players, Utah Valley Symphony, Long Beach Mozart Festival, and the Salt Lake Symphony. This past summer, she was a featured soloist in the Miyazawas showcase entitled Rising Stars at the National Flute Convention held in Las Vegas. She was a featured soloist with the Colburn Chamber Music Society and a guest artist for the Utah Youth Orchestras and Ensembles' Alumni Recital Series and the Sundays Live Series at LACMA, which was broadcast on KUSC. In addition, she has performed with many legendary artists such as James Newton Howard, Kenneth Cooper, Mike Garson, Ronald Leonard, and Jim Walker.
Gina is the piccoloist of the YMF Debut Orchestra. She has also been the principal flutist of the Colburn Orchestra, Colburn Outreach Orchestra, University of Southern California Thornton Symphony, and the Utah Chamber Chorale, flutist of the American Youth Symphony and USC Thornton Edge (formely known as the Thornton Contemporary Music Ensemble), and in 2012, Gina had the honor of performing in the orchestra for the opening concert of the Piatigorsky International Cello Festival.
Gina was the Top Prize Winner of the San Diego Flute Guilds Artist Gold Competition, winner of the UMTA Young Artist Competition, the Utah Valley Symphony's Young Artist Competition, and Grand Prize Winner of the Long Beach Mozart Festival Concerto Competition. She was awarded the Fe Bland and Santa Barbara Foundation Award of Merit for two consecutive years and she was a two-time winner of both the Utah Flute Associations Sonata Night and Concerto Night.
As a freelance musician, Gina has a very diverse career. She has recorded for many films, television shows, and albums. Some of her recent highlights include playing on Kate Nashs new album, Girl Talk, performing with the Wu Tang Clan at the Coachella Music Festival, and appearing on the television show GLEE.
Ms. Luciani is an active chamber musician and has performed extensively with her ensembles throughout Southern California. She performed the world premiere of Emmy-winning composer Stephen Cohns Sea Change for wind quintet. Ginas flute and guitar duo were named Gluck Fellows, and performed fourteen concerts throughout Los Angeles. Her flute and harp duo, The Hyperion Duo, has commissioned multiple new works for their ensemble as firm supporters of new music. Along with performing extensively throughout Southern California on multiple music series, they are currently completing their first album, which will be released in 2014.
Gina received her Bachelor of Music Degree in Flute Performance from the Colburn Conservatory of Music and her Master of Music Degree from the University of Southern California, both under the instruction of Jim Walker.
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Region 10 ESC, in collaboration with the Texas Education Agency has created the Texas Special Education Information Center (SPEDTex). SPEDTex is a resource designed to inform and support parents, teachers, and anyone who is committed to the success of children with disabilities. Please visit the SPEDTex website at www.spedtex.org for more information.
The Education Service Center at Region 20 offers a new Parent Resource webpage. The webpage is full of specific parent resources for all types of topics ranging from academic resources to bullying to financial aid to substance abuse along with specific special education resources and much more.
Navigate Life Texas offers resources for students with disabilities and special health care needs.
Visit the Reddix Center Webpage to see helpful tools for working at home with students diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
The Arc of San Antonio provides a Community Resource Directory listing numerous community resources for children and adults with intellectual and other developmental disabilities. Also, Texas Parent to Parent offers a list of San Antonio and Vicinity Resource Information.
The project Autism Lifeline Links, ALL for short, is a collaborative funded by the Kronkosky charitable foundation, and is a fairly new initiative in the San Antonio and surrounding area. Check out their website including a resource guide developed for people with ASD.
Parent Companion offers a guide for Texas parents and caregivers of children with diagnosed or suspected disabilities from birth to 5 years old.
Click here for information regarding Medicaid Waiver Programs. A Medicaid Waiver offers services that are typically not covered under basic Medicaid coverage. Services may include respite care, attendant care, home modifications, residential options, adaptive aids, camp, specialized therapies, habilitation, and many more.
Respite Care of San Antonio is an organization that offers various respite care opportunities for children and students with special needs including: daycare, mother's day out, and family's day out opportunities. Check out the following link to information on their site-based services and more.
Palo Alto College is offering a unique opportunity for students with intellectual disabilities called Project Access. The program is designed to support student access to post-secondary education that develops skills for gainful employment. Click here for more information including requirements and how to apply.
The Parent Leadership Academy (PLA) is a joint partnership of the Alamo Colleges, the Education Service Center, at Region 20 Family Engagement Program and the San Antonio ISD Family Engagement Department. The PLA offers a series of courses designed to empower parents to have leadership roles in the education of their families, and become active education advocates in the community. Click here for more information about the PLA including course descriptions and application.
The Center on disability and Development with Texas A&M University offers the Parent-Directed Treatment Project. This free, two-hour webinar is available to any caretaker of a child up to 22 years old with Augism Spectrum Disorder. You will be taught how to teach your child new communication skills. This webinar is offered monthly, and you can sign up to receive individualized parent directed treatment. Click here for more information.
Upcoming Events
Don't miss out on Friday Party Nights for children with special needs ages 6-18. These events are sponsored by Special Reach. Click here for more information.
The Reddix Center hosts periodic Table Talks throughout the school year. Table Talks are information sessions over various disability related topics. These sessions are open to all NISD families and staff. Click here for a list of the 2017-2018 Table Talk sessions. Click here for the list in Spanish.
Beginning September 16, 2017 the Arc of San Antonio will host a series of Planning for the Future Workshops. The Planning for the Future Workshops are designed to help self-advocates and parents/caregivers of children/young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities plan for the future. These free events take place on Saturdays from 9 to11am at 6530 Wurzbach Rd. in San Antonio. Click here for dates and topics. Click here for Spanish Language.
The Helotes 4-H Bard Buddies Livestock Show is a unique opportunity for special needs students to experience showing an animal, connect with peers, and learn a little about agriculture. This event will be held Saturday, October 21, 2017 from 10am-1pm at the Helotes 4-H Activity Center. Click here for more information.
The Education Service Center at Region 20 will be offering numerous free training opportunities for parents throughout the 2017-2018 school year. Click here for an English and Spanish version of the brochure.
On October 25, 2017, you can join others at Education Service Center Region 20 for a panel discussion with local mental health officers regarding supporting those with IDD. Click here for more information.
Join the Hill Country IDD Regional Support Team at Region 20 on October 26, 2017 from 1:00-4:00 PM for a presentation on Learning to Deal with the Reality of Mental Health and Behavioral Challenges. Click here for more information.
Join the Hill Country IDD Regional Support Team, the University of Illinois at Chicago, The ARC of Texas and Disability Rights Texas on November 4, 2017 from 9:30-4:30 for their one day workshop designed to help individuals who have disabilities and their family members make "contingency" plans when circumstances change and current arrangements are no longer possible. Click here for more information.


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Hello folks, I am super excited today to be a part of the blog tour for 'The Silent Girls', the latest novel by the lovely and talented Ann Troup. As many of you already know, I love interviewing authors so Ann was kind enough to agree to answer some of my questions. So make yourself a brew, get comfy and have a read.
Hello Ann, thank you so much for agreeing to an interview, I am pleased to welcome you to my blog.
Thank you for having me, I'm very pleased to be here.
So tell me a little bit about yourself, where are you from and what do you write?
I currently live in Devon, but I was born in Gloucester. I'm on the move again this year, so who knows where I will end up? I write women's fiction with psychological/crime elements, or at least that's how my books are categorised. From my personal point of view I just write stories of the kind I like to read. I hope other people will enjoy them too.
What can you tell me about your latest book 'The Silent Girls'?
The Silent Girls is a fairly dark tale that explores the effect of secrets and lies on a community. It is set fifty years after a series of grisly murders which have left a terrible legacy for the residents of the fictional Winfield. The women who were murdered are long dead, but their constant and silent presence has allowed rot and moral decay to flourish in the area. Every character is affected by the past and cannot escape it, even when they think they have discovered the truth.
Where do you find your inspiration for your wonderful books?
This is always such a hard question, it's difficult to pin down a single answer. Each book usually starts with a character who takes shape in my head, I never write about real people as such, but it would be true to say that all my characters stem from people I've met and known - I cherry pick the traits that I find interesting and mould someone new from them. The plots stem from what if situations. For instance The Silent Girls begins with the death of an elderly reclusive woman who devoted her life to caring for her mother and brother. Why would a woman choose to do that? What motivates that level of self-sacrifice? Equally I like to look at situations and surmise the effects they might have on a wider group. How does a community overcome the legacy of a serial killer? Does it ever fully recover? So, in short my inspiration always comes from picturing a situation, populating it with characters and exploring what might happen if… There is always a tiny grain of truth in there somewhere whether it be a set of circumstances, elements of the characters or an actually happening that panned out differently in real life.
What can you tell me about your typical writing day and what your process is?
I'm definitely a planner, I spend a long time working out time lines and plot. When I'm writing I do allow the characters to bring their own twists into the story, but I do stick to the essence of the plan because there's nothing worse than a total re write when you're working to a deadline. I'm horribly undisciplined about my writing day, but usually sit down in the morning, write, break for chores and go back to it throughout the day as new ideas strike me. If I'm on a roll I will write all night sometimes. If I'm stuck I may only get a few hundred words out in a day. It's important to me that writing is always a pleasure, the day it becomes a chore is the day I won't want to do it any more so I always try and make it an enjoyable process.
Do you have your own special Writer's Room?
I have an 'office' (which sounds very grand, but is my daughters old bedroom that has fast become the room of requirement, in that it's where we put everything we don't know what to do with but can't throw away!) I mostly write in there, however as long as I'm comfortable and the muse is present I can write anywhere at home. I'm not someone who can write in public, say in a coffee shop or library - I'm too nosy and would spend way too much time people watching and not writing.
Can you tell me about your journey to publication? How did that all happen?
Some years ago I self-published a book, it was a decent story but wasn't really ready for publication so I took it down and sat on it for a few years - I'm still sitting but it hasn't hatched yet! Self-publishing taught me a lot about what people want from a book and how complicated the publishing process really is - you can't just throw a book out into the world and expect it to fly. I carried on writing but did nothing with it until January last year. I had written The Lost Child and my resolution for 2015 was to pitch it and see what happened, I wanted to go down the route of traditional publishing. So, at the end of January I sent the book to an agent and a publisher, my plan was to send it out to two agents/ publishers at a time and await the rejections. If it hadn't found a home in that year, I would think again, use any feedback as constructive criticism and start again. To my immense surprise and excitement Carina offered on the book within two weeks - on the day I received my contract I received a rejection from the agent. I'm very self-conscious about telling this story because I know that other writers have fought for years to get their chance. I have been immensely lucky and fortunate and am grateful every day for my opportunity.
What can you tell me about your publisher Carina UK an imprint of Harper Collins, and what are they like to work with?
Carina are lovely to work with, the editors are enthusiastic, encouraging but pull no punches when they think something needs work. They are a relatively small imprint, but work tremendously hard to build their authors and will take chances where other imprints might not. Digital first has a fast turnaround and deadlines can be tight, but it's a thrilling challenge and very exciting to know that your book will be out in months not years but that every aspect of the process will receive thorough attention. I came on board with Carina just as Harper Collins took over so it's been interesting to be part of the transition. I visited the HC offices in the News Building last year, which was a brilliant experience - so many books and mine is one of them!
What do your family and loved ones think of your success?
Haha, like most people they think that unless I achieve JK Rowling's sales there hasn't been much success! To be fair, they are very pleased and proud that I'm doing something that I love and enjoy earmarking my royalties for their own ends ;) My wider family are very surprised at how little authors earn per book - friends and family seem to be far more interested in how much money, whereas I am more concerned about how much enjoyment readers get from my books. The other notable comment form friends and family is that if I can do it, so can they - anyone can write a book, right?
Are there any particular career highlights or funny moments you would like to share?
Haha - I did outsell Lee Child's latest book for a day back in September! My funniest, or most embarrassing moment, came last May. I had inadvertently, having not even realised I'd entered, won tickets to Crimefest in Bristol. So off I trotted… being the polite sort I thought I ought to thank the people who had sponsored the tickets, Goldsboro books, so I spent some time waffling rubbish at the man selling the books and expressing my gratitude for the opportunity, blah blah. He was very charming, affable and tolerant of the bonkers blond woman who was taking up his time. It was only when I got home that i clicked that I'd been waffling like an idiot to David Headley - dream agent extraordinaire! Duh! Possibly a badly missed opportunity there… My other funny moment was the lowlight of myself promo - talking about the book during a mammogram. Well, she asked what I did for a living - nothing like trying to flog a book whilst someone is manhandling your boobs! As you can see, my professional writerly persona needs considerable work!
So what's next for Ann Troup? I would love to hear what is coming up for you.
Two more books! I'm currently working on my third for Carina, with a fourth due later this year. So in 2017 I will have four titles out. In the meantime I'm looking forward to meeting up with other authors and you lovely bloggers at various events this year.
Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions Ann, it's been wonderful having you.
Thank you for having me - it's been my pleasure.
Blurb: What if everything you knew was a lie…
This house has a past that won't stay hidden, and it is time for the dead to speak.
Returning to Number 17, Coronation Square, Edie is shocked to find the place she remembers from childhood reeks of mould and decay. After her aunt Dolly's death Edie must clear out the home on a street known for five vicious murders many years ago, but under the dirt and grime of years of neglect lurk dangerous truths.
For in this dark house there is misery, sin and dark secrets that can no longer stay hidden. The truth must come out.
Finding herself dragged back into the horrific murders of the past, Edie must find out what really happened all those years ago. But as Edie uncovers the history of the family she had all but forgotten, she begins to wonder if sometimes it isn't best to leave them buried.
An unforgettable and addictive story, perfect for fans of Lesley Thomson, Diane Chamberlain and Tracy Buchanan.
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B015QM8AP8/ref=x_gr_w_bb?ie=UTF8&tag=x_gr_w_bb_uk-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738
About Ann Troup:
Ann Troup tells tales and can always make something out of nothing (which means she writes books and can create unique things from stuff other people might not glance twice at). She was once awarded 11 out of 10 for a piece of poetry at school – she now holds that teacher entirely responsible for her inclination to write.
Her writing space is known as 'the empty nest', having formerly been her daughters bedroom. She shares this space with ten tons of junk and an elderly Westie, named Rooney, who is her constant companion whether she likes it or not. He likes to contribute to the creative process by going to sleep on top of her paperwork and running away with crucial post-it notes, which have inadvertently become stuck to his fur. She is thinking of renaming him Gremlin.
She lives by the sea in Devon with her husband and said dog. Two children have been known to remember the place that they call home, but mainly when they are in need of a decent roast dinner, it's Christmas or when only Mum will do. She also has extremely decent stepchildren.
In a former incarnation she was psychiatric nurse, an experience which frequently informs her writing. She has also owned a cafe and an art/craft gallery. Now she only makes bacon sandwiches as a sideline, but does continue to dabble with clay, paint, paper, textiles, glue…you name it. Occasionally she may decide to give away some of these creations (you have been warned!).
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/TroupAnn
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anntroupauthor/
Website: https://anntroup.wordpress.com/


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For people who are missing teeth, dental implants usually provide the best replacement solution. An implant is a post that is surgically placed in the jawbone to take the place of a natural tooth root and serves as a foundation for a replacement tooth. Dr. Kooyman has extensive experience in implant dentistry, and stays up to date with continuing education courses. He customizes each step of the implant dentistry treatment plan to fit a patient's individual needs for the most successful outcome. If you would like to learn more about dental implants, contact Signature Dental in Meridian to schedule a consultation today.
Years ago the only options for replacing missing teeth were fixed dental bridges (which affect surrounding teeth) or removable dentures (which can slip out of place). Today, our patients have a more permanent solution in dental implants. Implants have many benefits over other tooth replacement options, including:
In general, anyone who is missing one or more teeth and is in good oral and overall health makes a good candidate for dental implants. At our Meridian and Boise-area practice, we would be happy to evaluate your oral health and discuss your candidacy. Of primary consideration is having sufficient healthy jawbone in the area to receive the implant. However, we can often perform a bone graft procedure prior to implant placement to build up the jawbone if needed. At Signature Dental, we also offer sedation dentistry to help our patients relax through their implant dentistry treatments, making even patients with dental phobia good candidates for the procedure.
The procedure to place dental implants is straightforward and can be completed in three visits to our practice after an initial consultation.
Dr. Kooyman takes great care to customize each implant dentistry treatment plan to fit the needs of the individual patient. Some people will require a bone graft, while others may require additional treatments for optimal results. For these reasons, it is impossible to give an accurate estimate for the cost of dental implants without visiting our practice for a thorough evaluation.
If you are missing one or more teeth and would like to learn more about dental implants, contact our Meridian practice to schedule a consultation. Dr. Kooyman has helped many people from throughout the area, including West Boise and Eagle, smile with confidence by replacing their missing teeth with natural-looking dental implants.
Don't wait another day to have the beautiful smile you've dreamed about.
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- Jim Ross' official Youtube posted an audio clip of himself and former WWE European Champion Sean Waltman. throwing out booking ideas and discussing possible scenarios for WrestleMania 32 in Dallas. Both men agree that the show should be headlined by former WWE and UFC Champion Brock Lesnar. You can see that clip above.
See Also: Sami Callihan On Asking For His NXT Release, How He Gave Notice, Showing WWE What They Had In Him
- Sami Callihan, who has been working Pro Wrestling Guerrilla events since he asked for his WWE release, was interviewed by Another Wrestling Podcast. You can check out the full interview below.
Follow Sean Ross Sapp on Twitter at @SeanRossSapp. Got a news tip or correction? Send it to us by clicking here.


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In Southern California, we have been blesses with what seems like an endless Summer.As temperature levels look like they will begin to drop soon, we may actually get a fall season, This is the perfect time for you to check on the state of your house and see if you need to invest in some reinforcements to get it ready for the colder days and nights ahead. In fact, a lot of people schedule their annual maintenance with the arrival of fall, because they want to take advantage of the relatively good weather before winter rapidly comes.
Pacific Aire's 'Fall Home Maintenance Checklist
Getting your home ready for fall is a smart way to save money, reduce stress, enjoy peace of mind and just take pleasure in the crisp, breezy weather in the next few months. Check out this fall home maintenance checklist that will help you keep your home safe and cozy throughout the season (and the next).
Check the roof.
Colder seasons bring with them heavy snow, rains and winds—and your roof is most likely the first part of your home to come in contact with these harsh weather elements. It is thus important to have a roof inspection to check if your roof can withstand the potential attacks. Check for holes, gaps in between installations, loose shingles and seals, and invest in sturdier materials if possible.
Seal the gaps between your doors and windows
The smallest gaps around doors, windows, walls and the foundation of your home can already be a welcome sign for pests, bugs and the freezing air to come inside your living spaces. Remember, critters are most likely looking for a place to stay warm and safe. Unless you don't want your home to be a pests' shelter, invest in a thorough inspection and seal the gaps tightly while making sure the rooms are well-ventilated as well.
Assess your HVAC system.
Give your heating, cooling and ventilation units a thorough clean-up. Make sure there is no dust or dirt trapped in their vents and filters that may be obstructing their operation. Look into the HVAC system to see if each component is in good condition. If you detect something, immediately have the problematic part repaired or replaced.
Audit your appliances.
Check your appliances, power systems, machineries and equipment. This practice will not only enable you to detect damage early and avoid costly repairs, but it can also help in ensuring that you are efficient about the use of energy for heating and cooling your home. Using well-maintained, properly working appliances can lower your power bills and help you reduce the carbon footprint of your household, too.


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Please note: As of June 2016, we have expanded our business model to include Kitchen & Bath Renovations in addition to granite and stone repair services. Please contact us for more information or to arrange a Free Consultation
My granite looks brand new again! Thank you Jill & Frank for re-sealing my granite and fixing the bad grout that a prior contractor had done. It now looks perfect! Stephanie S., Raleigh, NC
Just wanted to thank Jill and her team for the professional and quick response in scheduling and completing our granite project . We highly recommend showcase design for any marble or granite project. From sealing to repairs to complete installations Showcase Design is the company of choice for quality , professional, and knowledgeable marble and granite projects. Thank you! – Lou and Janie, Wake Forest, NC
Everything looks wonderful and I am very pleased! You ladies in the office as well as the gentleman that came in and installed everything were fantastic to work with! Thanks! Michele W., Raleigh NC
The Andromeda granite is gorgeous! David and crew were all super and so professional. We talked to David about the granite and we know how to be careful 🙂 Once the kitchen is complete I'll send pics. It really is dynamite! Thanks, Holly, Raleigh, NC
I just wanted to take the opportunity to commend the guys that were here today installing my kitchen granite. It looks so awesome. I am absolutely thrilled with how it turned out. The guys were very thorough and very respectful of my home. They took the time to cover the floors and make sure nothing was marked or damaged during the installation. They cleaned up when they were done and left me very little to do except put the kitchen back together. I would not hesitate to recommend you to anyone needing granite or flooring services. Thank you again for providing me with the kitchen I have always wanted! – Pam R., Raleigh NC
Just a few pictures of the counter and Island tops and backsplash, everything looks great and you guys were awesome to work with. Wish you all a Merry Christmas and a great New Year! Best Regards, Mark and Suzie H., Raleigh, NC
Jill, I had had quite an expensive distressing situation in my kitchen from another contractor, and your company came in and did the job the way it should have been done! KUDOS! I absolutely plan to use Showcase for at least 2 more projects when I recover from this one! Thank You, Susan O. – Raleigh, NC
Thanks for all of your help! We are thrilled with our new kitchen. We have already referred two people to you guys. – Janice R., Raleigh NC
Dear Jill, The door looks great! I am so pleased with the outcome of the entire shower. I told my husband it feels like we are at a resort when I step into my shower. I really appreciate all that you have done. Thank you! – Judy A., Raleigh NC
Jill, Frank and Team,
Your guys did a wonderful job! Was very happy with how neat they were. I will bring the balance to you next week! Thank you so much again! Hopefully I will be doing a granite top in the master bath very soon. – Christopher W., Raleigh NC
Your guys did a wonderful job! Was very happy with how neat they were. I will bring the balance to you next week! Thank you so much again! Hopefully I will be doing a granite top in the master bath very soon. – Christopher W., Raleigh NC
Dear Jill, Over the holidays we heard so many compliments about the kitchen and especially the granite. My sister even said, "I don't really like granite as a general rule, but I LOVE your granite!" I think she had never seen any that blew her away, like I felt when I finally found our "Snow Drift!" I've told my friends and family how great you guys are to work with, how impressed I was with the professionalism of everyone I encountered, and how you genuinely made me feel that you were invested in our complete satisfaction. I'll be happy to recommend Showcase Design at every opportunity! Thanks again for everything, – Sheree Ward
Jill, Frank and Team,
We cannot thank you enough for the amazing job you have done with our contertops! From the start of the process, your professionalism, honesty, and selection, set you scores above your competitors. The expediant and flexible installation was priceless, coupled with a gorgeous end product. We have endless appreciation for your paramount customer service throughout, as well as, the special touch of elegance you have brought to our home! -Best Wishes!! – Mary C., Sanford, NC
We cannot thank you enough for the amazing job you have done with our contertops! From the start of the process, your professionalism, honesty, and selection, set you scores above your competitors. The expediant and flexible installation was priceless, coupled with a gorgeous end product. We have endless appreciation for your paramount customer service throughout, as well as, the special touch of elegance you have brought to our home! -Best Wishes!! – Mary C., Sanford, NC
Jill, My kitchen looks fabulous…I left them alone in the house to do the work when I left to go to work yesterday AM and was quite comfortable in doing that. It looked great and there was no mess left behind. I will recommend you all to everyone I know! – Shelley G., Raleigh NC
My master bathroom vanity could not have come out any nicer. I was worried about an outlet being in the way but Frank got the backsplash cut and installed perfectly!! Thank You Jill, Frank & your wonderful team! – Stefanie S., Apex NC
I just have to say…Frank and his team did a wonderful job of installing our granite! It is so beautiful…AND with no seams–which is impressive! As soon as the plumber installs/hooks up the faucets and dishwasher…I'll forward you the before and after pics! I was amazed at the transformation! It is unbelievable what granite can do for a kitchen! I'm so glad I went with the Starbeach! No regrets there! Frank should be very proud of his (and his teams') work! It is absolutely beautiful…right down to the edging. Thank you for all of your help! You were fabulous! As I had mentioned, I've been searching for just the right granite for over 5 years (no lie)! It's been exhausting! I am just so relieved to have this behind me…so thank you again for your kindness and assistance with it all! I think we should go out for coffee sometime…you are so easy to talk with! – Thank You! Marcy, Raleigh , NC
We are very pleased with everything and can't wait to enjoy it when the house is finished. Thank you so much! – Bethany T. Raleigh, NC
We *love* our granite countertop in our den. Thank you for installing the countertop before our guests arrived. They really thought it looked wonderful, too! Thank you! – Karen Mobley, Raleigh, NC
The seams look good. Thank you for being so concerned about the quality – I just love the counter top and I'm so glad I had the chance to work with you guys. See you soon! Enjoy the cupcakes! – Gina P., Raleigh, NC
David and his crew did a great job with the installation; the fit and finish is terrific, they were extremely careful working around our new stainless steel appliances, they answered all my questions during the installation, and cleaned up when they were finished. I am extremely happy with the results. I also want to thank you for all your time and patience as we struggled to make a final granite selection. Sometimes, there are just too many choices! Thanks again. – Brad Crawford, Sanford, NC


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Got these new booties at Aldo last week! I love them! I'm always really reluctant to buy shoes with a heel but these aren't too high; when you're constantly walking around college and rushing to the bus stop, comfort comes first. I feel like I'm walking on air when I wear these (well, around my house - they haven't seen public daylight yet).
3 DAYS TILL EXAMS BEGIN. I am so doomed. Despite this predicament, I've still managed to go shopping several days, watch and complete a few anime series, blog, and tweet loads about how I should be studying. Did I mention that I've also been sleeping at 6am and waking at 1pm? And no, I didn't pull the all-nighters studying; just picture me in my bed with my laptop laughing my ass off on tumblr and watching shows and of course, eating bad food at bad times. Do you understand now how dooooomed I am!?
I'm literally reading 6/7 books at the same time (novels, plays, poems). Help. It's possibly the worst way to start off the new year.
Hope you're all well,


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Kansas City police are investigating three shooting deaths that occurred within four hours Friday night, bringing the city's steadily rising homicide count to 84 in 2017 — a 50 percent increase over the same period last year.
Police said officers were sent to the 2500 block of Van Brunt Boulevard just after 10 p.m. on a report of a shooting. Officers found a man with an apparent gunshot wound on the front porch of a residence.
The Kansas City Fire Department, which also responded, declared the victim dead at the scene.
Two hours earlier, a man called police to report that his son had been shot at a residence in the 3800 block of East Sixth Street, just south of Independence Avenue in the Northeast area. Officers found the victim with life-threatening injuries. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Witnesses told police the victim was in the front yard around 8:15 p.m. when an unknown person shot him. The motive for the shooting was not known, police said.
Police described the suspect as a slim man in his 20s, about 5-foot-2, wearing a white tank top and a white T-shirt over his face. He was last seen on foot headed east on East Sixth Street, police said.
Another man was fatally shot shortly before 6:30 p.m. inside a vehicle at Avenue Car Wash in the 5700 block of Independence Avenue. Police have not released a motive for the shooting or suspect information.
That shooting occurred a little more than a mile east of the shooting on Sixth Street.
Police ask anyone with information on any of the homicides to call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).
The city's homicide count for this date last year was 56.
Judy L. Thomas: 816-234-4334, @judylthomas
Toriano Porter: 816-234-4779, @torianoporter