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Mission Statement:
"Cultivating future civic and economic leaders of Jefferson Parish and the surrounding community through philanthropic initiatives, education, and leadership development opportunities."
Business Development:
JCYP gives young professionals many opportunities to improve their business skills through seminars, committee involvement, lunch and learns, and other educational opportunities.
Community Involvement:
JCYP provides many volunteer and philanthropy opportunities in the community throughout the year.
Young Professionals have the opportunity to attend both JCYP and Jefferson Chamber events, which include chamber breakfasts, business card exchanges, signature events and any of the Jefferson Chamber's 100 other events.
JCYP events are open to any young professional in their 20's and 30's in the greater New Orleans region.


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Why Journeyman is orders of magnitude better than Quantum leap
*SPOILER ALERT*. Some plot details are spoiled below.
Each week, a man travels erratically through time, helping people and correcting large and small goofs in the course of fate. I wasn't a big fan when it was called Quantum Leap, so I didn't think it would appeal to me any better now that the formula is called Journeyman. The moment I knew I was hooked was when Dan (the Journeyman) was talking with his wife, they started kissing, then started throwing off their clothes and climbing under the covers in bed, at which point Dan disappears in a wavering point of light. This is not your father's time travel fantasy. You've come a long way since Voyagers!, baby.
Let me count the ways:
7. Although his time travelling is unreliable, we know that Dr. Samuel Beckett has a vague idea of what makes him leap because he was trying to do it. Dan has no control over his time travel and no idea why it is happening to him. So there's more and better long-term mystery.
6. The Quantum Leap process caused problems with Sam's memory, so he became a sort of blank slate everyman trying to solve problems. Dan's travels frequently put him in situations from his past, and cause repercussions in his modern life. Why were you late for work? How will your wife react if/when she finds out you're uncontrollably zipping backwards and forwards in time? How will you explain it to your son when he sees daddy disappear in a wavering point of light? Sam has a nice long-term goal of trying to get back to his own life, but he never has to deal with modern complications on the job or with his family in between leaps like Dan does.
5. Romance. Sam leaps in and out of romantic stories occasionally, but Journeyman's adventures put a constant strain on his marriage. Which makes it all the better when Dan talks it through with his wife and they decide this won't come between them. (Even though it keeps coming between them in every episode, and even though they have romantic rivals who seem to be circling like wolves or tempting like vixens.)
4. Sam always leapt out of situations at the ends of episodes, creating a cliffhanger as he tried to figure out what was going on. Did he ever leap while hastily taking clothes off and jumping in bed with his wife? Did he ever got shot in his home, then leap away from a situation that he knew he would have to leap back to later?
3. Sam enters other people's bodies like a demonic possession. Although we as viewers see him as Scott Bakula, he will inevitably look into a mirror at some point early in every episode and see the face or body of the person he has inhabited. Quantum Leap deserves some points for forcing Sam to act in character as a woman or a child or an oppressed minority. But it can cause interesting complications for a time traveler who stays in his own body. "You look really tired," says your boss when you appear in front of him looking five years older. Or you can interview the father who abandoned your family, or decide whether to let your late girlfriend ravish you in the past when you show up at your old apartment.
2. Sam's holographic guide sidekick Al serves as a narrative device to dump exposition about history, and was apparently meant to serve as comic relief when people walked through him or when he slapped the beeping, boinking remote control pda that fed him info. When Journeyman attempts humor, it either works or it doesn't fail that spectacularly. When Dan wants to find out history of a situation, he has to research it himself and figure out how things are "supposed" to go. Usually Dan cheats by looking it up on the web when he gets back to his modern life...but at least we don't have to suffer with Al.
Also notice that Sam gets constant reminders and corrections by Al about whether he's on the right track. Dan usually stumbles through the past watching it go wrong, sometimes causing it to go wrong, and has to make several attempts to put things right. In one episode, Dan changes something in the past that makes it so his son was never born, but a daughter was born instead. His wife, stuck in modern "normal" time but knowing that he can travel back, objects to the idea of erasing their daughter just so he can have a hypothetical son that she has never known.
1. Sam's mentor/guide on Quantum Leap is a hologram named Al (played by Dean Stockwell). Dan's mentor/guide on Journeyman is Livia (played by Moon Bloodgood), an old girlfriend who he would have married if she hadn't apparently died. Having her as a guide causes more tension among the regular characters and, more importantly, gives us frequent chances to see Moon Bloodgood.
So why did Quantum Leap last five years and Journeyman only one? Who knows. With any luck, some cable channel will pick it up and order new episodes.

subset: commoncrawl


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or make 4 interest-free payments of fortnightly with
Perfect for those important meetings that you just need to impress!
- 25mm Laminate worktop.
- Stylish chrome & black steel base
- Square 2mm PVC edging. Shark nose edging (optional - ask for a quote)
- Cable management and Power/ Data / AVI built in boxes available on request.
5 years on Frame
Require a CUSTOM SIZE? Email us or Call us for a Fast Quote on 1300 735 310 today.
Note: This is a custom made boardroom table and takes 3-4 weeks for production and delivery. This product is shipped flat-packed in a box and requires assembly. Our worktops do not come with pre-drilled holes to ensure a strong and lasting fix to the frame. An electric screwdriver is required to assemble this desk - contact us for a quote on installation.
Posted by Rod on 9th Feb 2015
Very happy with our choice of table and it suits our office nicely. The only gripe I had was that when ordering, we were not informed that we had to assemble the table ourselves and that it did not come complete with all the screws required to mount the table top to the legs! Even IKEA gives you all the screws! When I challenged this the company responded very well and sent over an installer. I am so glad I didn't have to do it myself - there were no place markings for the screw positions and he didn't have the right screws either so he redrilled new mounting positions in the legs themselves to mount it. I would have been hard for me to get the positioning correct as a beginner and could have spoiled the nice table top.
I do recommend the table but get installation support unless you have experience.


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Posts Tagged 'eeepc'
Easy Computing
After much thought over the last few months, I bought myself an Eee PC 1000H. It's tiny, shiny black, clad in a nice neoprene cover and it works. My specs of a small sized machine that slips into a shoulder bag; enables wordprocessing, browsing, emailing; and looks [Read More]


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Comparing banking in the 1950s to today, we find giant changes that surely would have astonished the bankers of that earlier time. What's the biggest and most important one?
You might nominate the shrinkage in the total number of U.S. banks from over 13,200 in 1955 to only about 5,300 now — a 60% reduction. Or you might say the rise of interstate banking, or digital technology going from zero to ubiquitous, or the growth of financial derivatives into hundreds of trillions of dollars, or even air conditioning making banking facilities a lot more pleasant.
You might point out that the whole banking industry's total assets were only $209 billion in 1955, less than one-tenth the assets of today's JPMorgan Chase, compared with $15 trillion now. Or that total banking system equity was $15 billion, less than 1% of the $1.7 trillion it is now. Of course, there have been six decades of inflation and economic growth. The nominal GDP of the U.S. was $426 billion in 1955, compared with $17.9 trillion in 2015. So banking assets were 49% of GDP in 1955, compared with 83% of GDP now.
But I propose that the biggest banking change during the last 60 years is none of these. It is instead the dramatic shift to real estate finance and thus real estate risk, as the dominant factor in the balance sheet of the entire banking system. It is the evolution of the banking system from being principally business banks to being principally real estate banks.
In 1955, commercial and industrial loans were 40% of total banking loans and real estate loans only 25%. The great banking transition set in after 1984. The share of C&I loans kept falling, down to about 20% of total loans, while real estate loans rose to about 50%, with a bubble-induced peak of 60% in 2009. In this remarkable long-term shift, the share of real estate loans doubled, while the share of commercial and industrial loans dropped in half. The lines crossed in 1987, three decades ago, and never met again, despite the real estate lending busts of the early 1990s and of 2007-9.
The long-term transition to concentration in real estate would have greatly surprised the authors of the original National Banking Act of 1864, which prohibited national banks from making any real estate loans at all. This was loosened slightly 1913 by the Federal Reserve Act and significantly in 1927 by the McFadden Act — in time for the ill-fated real estate boom of the late 1920s.
The real estate concentration is even more pronounced for smaller banks. For the 4,700 banks with assets of less than $1 billion, real estate loans are 75% of all loans, about the same as their bubble-era peak of 76%.
Moreover, in another dramatic change from the 1950s, the securities portfolio of the banking system has also become heavily concentrated in real estate risk. Real estate securities reached 74% of total banking system securities at the height of the housing bubble. They have since moderated, to 60%, but that is still high.
In terms of both their lending and securities portfolios, we find that commercial banks have become basically real estate banks.
Needless to say, this matters a lot for understanding the riskiness of the banking system. The assets underlying real estate loans and securities are by definition illiquid. The prices of these assets are volatile and subject to enthusiastic run-ups and panicked, unexpected drops. When highly leveraged on bank balance sheets, real estate over banking's long history has been the most reliable and recurring source of busts and panics.
A good example is the frequency of commercial bank failures in 2007-12 relative to their increasing ratio of real estate loans to total loans at the outset of the crisis in December 2007. From the first quartile, in which real estate loans are less than 57% of loans, to the third quartile, in which they are over 72%, the frequency of failure triples, and failures are nine times as great for the highest ratio quartile as for the lowest. In the fourth quartile, real estate loans exceeded 83% of loans, and the failure rate is over 13%, which represents 60% of all the failures in the aftermath of the bubble. The 50% of banks with the highest real estate loan ratios accounted for 82% of the failures.
Central to the riskiness of leveraged real estate is the risk of real estate prices falling rapidly from high levels — and right now those prices are again very high. The Comptroller of the Currency's current "Risk Perspective" cites rapid growth in commercial real estate loans, "accompanied by weaker underwriting standards" and "concentration risk."
The predominance of real estate finance in banking's aggregate banking balance sheet makes that risk far more important to the stability of the banking system than the bankers of the 1950s could ever have imagined.
Alex J. Pollock is a distinguished senior fellow at the R Street Institute in Washington. He entered international banking in 1969 and was president and CEO of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago 1991-2004.


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For pre-owned machinery all dimensions, speeds and performance capacities quoted are approximate and the Seller makes no representation that they are accurate. The Buyer must rely entirely upon inspection of the goods and the results of their own enquiries.
BEHRINGER HBP650A Double Column Automatic Horizontal Bandsaw, 650mm Capacity
KASTO Twin A4 Double Column Automatic Bandsaw, 400mm Capacity
HYD-MECH H10A 10" / 254mm Twin Pillar Automatic Horizontal Bandsaw
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Comet TF1800
Current Balun 1.8Kw (1.3-500Mhz)
This is a High Grade Japanese Manufactured 50 Ohm Current Balun that will handle up to 1800watts .
It is designed to fit in the 50 ohm co-axial feed line to the antenna. It is suitable for any 50 ohm impedance antenna, including beams, dipoles, verticals etc.
The TF-1800 is best fitted at the antenna end of the coax feeder cable, where it can help reduce unwanted currents and radiation from the cable. The Comet current balun also helps maintain the clean radiation pattern of an antenna.
The fitting of this balun can provide a significant reduction in radiation from the coax and thus help reduce TVI and other local interference.
- TF 1800 - High grade current balun
- Frequency range - 1.3-500Mhz
- Power - up to 1800 watts
- Impedance - 50Ohms
- VSWR - Less than 1:5
- Max length - 326mm
- Weight - 450g
- Connector - SO239 type
More from Comet: All Comet | All Comet Baluns


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Cabot's Premium Woodcare Brands is a business within DuluxGroup that manufactures and supplies timber finishes for both consumer and professional users. Its commercial flooring product brands include Intergrain Enviropro, Feast Watson and Toby. Read below to learn about the feature and benefits of their coating products.
Intergrain Enviropro's water based Endure range of commercial timber flooring finishes are high performance, environmentally responsible coatings designed to enhance the natural beauty of timber floors.
Features and benefits include:
- Better wear resistance
- Safer for your health – no masks or respirators required
- Better colour development
- Low Odour
- Easy application
- No need for householders to vacate premises
Proudly Australian – researched, developed and tested for Australian conditions.
Freecall: 1800 248 780 | Web: www.intergrainenviropro.com.au
Established in 1922 with the aim of enhancing and promoting the natural beauty of wood, Feast Watson has grown and become a nationally recognised name in commercial timber flooring finishes for the professional. Its range includes:
- Enviromax water based flooring finishes
- Maxithane and PolyU solvent based flooring finishes
- Maxiprime, Maxibuild Primer and Quickstep solvent based sealers
- Tung Oil and Alkathane oil based flooring finishes
- Extensive range of premium timber Prooftint Stains and Liming Solutions allowing the contractor to achieve an exact colour match or a custom shade.
Freecall: 1800 252 502 | Web: www.feastwatsoncommercial.com.au
Toby is a specialist timber floor coating brand with more than 25 years experience in the Australian market. Toby has a wide range of timber flooring finishes that are reliable and easy to apply. Its range includes:
- Aquamax water based flooring finishes
- Rapid Seal and GF Barrier Seal solvent based sealers
- Tung Oil and UMO oil based flooring finishes
- Unithane and Lustapol solvent based flooring finishes
Make the switch from Toby Unithane Gloss to Toby Unithane Crystal Clear Gloss. It is safer to use as it is xylene free and achieves a quality finish that highlights the natural grain of the timber.
Freecall: 1800 073 530 | Web: www.toby.com.au


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Bowl of fresh fruit slices with kiwi and strawberries.
fresh • fruit • slices • berries • strawberries • blueberries


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Commercial Roll-Up Door Repair
While both commercial and residential garage doors have the same basic purpose, they often need different kinds of attention when maintenance is the topic at hand. The demands of an industrial environment mean that commercial doors are frequently larger and more heavy-duty than the garage doors found attached to an average neighborhood home. Commercial roll-up doors can branch off into a few different types, such as service doors, fire doors, counter doors, and rolling grilles. The type of doors a business owner chooses depends on the particular needs of that location, and these doors require service from professionals who are familiar with them.
The Problem
Realizing that your garage door system doesn't function up to your standards can be a concerning situation, but it's important to know that converting a commercial garage door into one that better fits your needs doesn't mean you have to tear down your existing door. In many cases, professionally installed replacement hardware is all it takes to get business moving like it should be. A few helpful upgrades to consider for your commercial door include:
- Utilizing corrosion-proof components that won't break down in harsh climates
- Equipping your garage door with a 3 inch track as opposed to a 2 inch track
- Switching from a hollow shaft to a solid shaft for garages using torsion springs
- Taking advantage of feature-rich garage door openers
- Having double end hinges and long stem rollers installed
Shapes and Styles
Commercial garage doors come in many styles, materials and shapes, but so do the applications that they are applied to. Doors are installed on jambs made of wood, concrete and steel. In areas where wind, rain and moisture are a problem, you may need to upgrade the seals and weather stripping.
Below you will find some guidelines for inspecting your commercial doors:
- Check for damage to the hood that may cause binding between the hood and the door curtain.
- Check the guide assembly for damages. The guides must form a groove that holds the door curtain in place as it moves up and down the assembly. The guides must be equally spaced from the top to the bottom so that the curtain and the bottom bar have free movement. Check all the hardware and fasteners and ensure that they are securely fastened to the jamb and to the wall above the jamb. Make sure everything is properly tightened.
- Inspect both the curtain and the bottom bar. Ensure that they are not bent or damaged. Trucks with extended rear lifts or other obstructions may cause damage to the outside of the door. Hi lo equipment and hand pallet trucks may have caused damage to the inside.
- Perform a simple "performance evaluation". Check the balance of the door. Use two hands to roll the door up and down. When the door is nearly open it should move rapidly into the hood. If it doesn't, you need to call a trained technician.
- Roll-up doors should be inspected on an annual basis.
- Fire doors should be inspected at least once a year.
At AmeriServ, we aim to be the company you will want to call on for all of your garage door related issues. We provide products and equipment from all major manufacturers, and can service whatever make or model of door system is installed in your home. Whether you need an expert for Genie, Chamberlain, Liftmaster, Stanley, Linear, Clopay, or other types of products, we've got you covered.
About Our Techs
AmeriServ has been actively performing commercial garage door repair and installation in metro Atlanta and north Georgia for years. Our technicians have both classroom and field experience, and we believe that helping them to continue their industry education is the best way to provide you with services that you can rely on.
If you hold your garage door technicians up to a high standard, you will be glad to know that we do the very same thing. We require all of our employees to be screened and thoroughly checked out so you can be confident in the technician arriving at your door. At AmeriServ, we pride our team members in their abilities to provide fast, efficient services without up-selling you or using overly complicated language. We want you to be on board with the work that we do, and that means helping you learn how to take care of your commercial door when we're not here. For garage door technicians you can truly count on, call AmeriServ today!


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UKIP's mayoral candidate for the 2016 elections will be selected in the coming days and weeks. Breitbart London has speculated on the runners and riders for the contest, and has contacted all the candidates to ask them why they'd be best for the position.
This response is from lawyer and long-standing party activist Elizabeth Jones. The answers follow:
Breitbart London (BL): What makes you the best person to represent UKIP in London in 2016?
I am a private sector London family solicitor and therefore am exposed to the needs of the electorate on daily basis and more than any other candidate. The difficulties with regard to housing, cost of living, childcare, transport and employment that faces many Londoners of all nationalities and all faiths. Furthermore, not only have I been made all too aware of the shortfalls of London life as a result of my employment, but more to the point I am expected to do something about it.
I am a regular guest in a growing network of BME TV and radio stations in the capital and I have appeared on BBC Arabic TV, Oleg Gazetesi Turkish TV, Atejah Iraqi TV, Alherra U.S. based, Arab TV and Radio Ben TV for ex-pat Africans and Voice of Africa Radio and have developed many contacts within the international population that now comprises London – more so than any other candidate.
I am an avid consumer of the arts and I am a regular theatre, concert and opera goer and particularly enjoy this time of year because of the Proms; a unique musical festival. The arts employ at least 80,000 in London and brings in an income of about £3.2 billion. As potential Mayor of London I will want to make this experience even more pleasurable for the consumer and do what I can to facilitate London nightlife.
London must aspire to acquire the fastest broadband infrastructure in the world! Bring on 5G! It's all about the economy…


text: What do I have to do to get them? I have 31 stars with Mario and Yoshi, I have unlocked the door for the 2nd Bowser fight and I have gone on the Ghost hunt by beating the big Boo in the courtyard and leaping in the lamp/cage thing. I'm having trouble in that are because the camera is inflexible in this level so could someone tell me what I need to do to get Luigi and, in turn, Wario? Thanks in advance


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This event has expired.
Sean Grealy
Hofstra University, '16
Sean is a graduate of the NY Alpha Omega Chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at Hofstra University. While in college, he helped spearhead to effort to bring the Fraternity to Hofstra and served as colony President during 2015. He currently serves as the Chapter advisor at Hofstra. Sean majored in Exercise Science and had minors in Psychology and Community Health. He also served as a Senior Resident Assistant, JNF Caravan for Democracy Fellow, and President of the Newman Club. He volunteered on service trips both domestic and abroad each year in college as part of his commitment to helping his fellow man, both physically and spiritually.
Currently, Sean is pursuing a Masters of Arts in Catholic Philosophical Studies at St. Joseph's Seminary as part of his discernment of Catholic priesthood. Throughout college, Sean was involved with his faith, and as he further developed his spirituality, he wanted to confront the possibility of dedicating his life to the Church. His studies now have helped him develop critical thinking, reasoning, and self-discipline that will surely help in all aspects of life, regardless of what career path he follows.
Stephen Hollander - Foundation
Kansas State University, '82
Stephen has been a Trustee of Phi Kappa Theta Foundation since 2001 and has severed as president and treasurer. His service to the National Fraternity began in 1979 when he was first elected to the Fraternity Board as an undergraduate trustee and served as board secretary. He was re-elected to the Fraternity Board in 1985 and served three four-year terms serving as chairman, president and treasurer. In 2010 Steve was recognized with the Fraternity's Distinguished Service Award.
Steve resides in Saint Charles, Missouri with his wife LynnThey have three children Shannon, an actress residing in Los Angeles; Christine, an early childhood educator residing in St. Louis; Michael, a soon to be law school graduate.
Following graduation from Kansas State University, with a Bachelor of Architecture degree, Steve practiced in Austin, Texas for six years before returning home to Saint Charles. In 1990 Steve established his architectural firm S.J. Hollander Architect. His firm provides architectural services for projects ranging from automotive dealerships, financial institutions, medical office buildings, retail centers, restaurants, senior living facilities and custom residential homes having an annual construction value of 30 million.
Steve is a member of the American Institute of Architects, the Saint Charles Chamber of Commerce, serves as a planning and zoning commissioner for the City of Saint Charles and has served on the parish council for Saint Peter parish since 2003.
Matt Runkle
Matt is a brother of the Massachusetts Lambda Chapter at WPI, where he graduated in 2011 with a degree in Computer Science. He serves as the Chapter Adviser and board of trustees executive of the Aquinas Association, MA Lambda's alumni board and housing corporation. He also serves as the Northeast Province representative on the Peer Accountability Committee.
Professionally, Matt is a senior security consultant at a Boston-area software security firm, where he explains how attackers can compromise applications and the steps developers can take to protect themselves. He recently graduated NYU with a Master's in Cybersecurity and is pursuing his CISSP certification.
Lane Velayo
Honorary Initiate, 'A
Lane Velayo, CAE is the Executive Director for the Indiana Music Educators Association leading this state-wide association of music educator professionals in professional development, advocacy and education initiatives. Lane is an active volunteer for Arts and Education related causes, acting as an advisor for the Ohio Omicron Chapter of Phi Kappa Theta and as a regional advisor for chapters of Alpha Kappa Psi. Lane was recently elected as President- elect for the Indiana Society of Association Executives and presents at local, regional and national levels on issues of non- profit management, volunteer/alumni development and other association-related topics. Lane is a proud graduate of the University of Cincinnati.
Robert Riggs, CAE - Staff Liaison
Robert Riggs has been serving as the Executive Vice President since April of 2007. In his role as the EVP, Brother Riggs has been responsible for the implementation of Phi Kappa Theta's Strategic Plan since its inception. Brother Riggs has worked with thousands of members over his nine years on Phi Kappa Theta's professional staff.


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Cory Cotter Wins Goldwater Scholarship
UW-Madison Astronomy major Cory Cotter is one of the UW students to win a 2017 Goldwater Scholarship. Congratulations, Cory!
Apr.12.2017 | Continue Reading »
Amy Barger Wins Kellett Award
Congratulations, Amy, on a 2017 Kellett Award for her seminal contributions to our understanding of galaxy formation and black hole growth.
Apr.03.2017 | Continue Reading »
WHAM Sky Survey: Public Release
The first all-sky kinematic survey of ionized gas in the Milky Way is now available for download to the community.
Mar.17.2017 | Continue Reading »
Congratulations DK, 2017 Chambliss Award Winner
Madison Graduate student Dhanesh Krishnarao was awarded a 2017 Chambliss Award for exemplary research presented in a poster at the 229th AAS meeting in Grapevine, TX. Congratulations!
Jan.31.2017 | Continue Reading »
Star Tracker Guides Rocket to Success
The Wisconsin-built Star Tracker 5000 did it again: it guided the Polar Night Nitric Oxide or PolarNOx payload atop a Black Brant IX sounding rocket for a successful observation of Earth's atmosphere, launching from Alaska.
Jan.31.2017 | Continue Reading »


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The current litigation landscape for professionals in Hong Kong is relatively benign: but is this the lull before the storm?
Patrick Perry, a specialist in professional liability claims, explores the recent trends in claims against professionals in Hong Kong, and considers what the future may hold. Particular areas of concern for accountants, barristers, brokers, lawyers, surveyors, and construction professionals are considered.
Litigation Trends – High Court actions
Number of High Court Actions (HCA)
Accurate records are kept of all actions commenced in the Hong Kong High Court, which deals with claims of over HK$1 million. The graph above shows the number of claims begun by writ each year over the last 15 years. This data covers all claims, not just those against professionals, but gives an indication of the general litigation trends.
As can be seen, over the last 15 years, there has been a substantial decrease in the number of claims per year (of over 75%). Over the last 5 years, the number of claims has slowly increased, but remains well below historic levels.
To view the full article please click here.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.


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Jiangsu World Group Invests $25M in Nebraska Manufacturing
In welcoming scores of Chinese and American business leaders to Omaha, Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts said that he believes the state's relationship with China will grow.
"In China, we see the middle classes are increasing tremendously," Ricketts said on Friday. "That presents opportunities for us to expand the relationship. In Nebraska, we think long term."
"That's actually one of the things that is very similar between the Nebraska culture and Chinese culture — emphasis on long term. That's why I think the relationship with China will grow," he said.
The governor said that China is the state's second largest trade partner outside of North America and one of the fastest-growing: "Nebraska exported $1.3 billion of products last year to China," he said.
Elaborating on the state government's effort to improve education, regulation and the tax system, Ricketts invited business leaders to consider investing in the state.
"We seek those Chinese companies who look to invest in Nebraska to help them to grow their business in the US, help them to leverage our regulatory and tax environment, our central location and the shared culture value," Ricketts said.
Compared to other states such as Texas or California, Chinese direct investment in Nebraska is relatively small. The notable Chinese investments include a $3 million investment in shipping and logistics by Easyway International of Xi'an, Shaanxi province, and a $25 million investment in Worldlawn Power Equipment by Jiangsu World Group from Zhenjiang, Jiangsu province.
To attract more business from China, Ricketts visited China twice since he took office in 2015, with the last trip in November 2016. Ricketts said that he took more than 70 businesspeople with him.
During the last trip, Ricketts and Shaanxi province's governor Hu Heping formalized Nebraska and Shaanxi province's relationship as sister states.
"Basically, we had investment summits in Shanghai and Xi'an. We tried to connect business leaders together to see where we can find those relationships and where to invest."
"We visited Jiangsu World Group. They make lawnmowers in Nebraska and farming equipment in China; it's a kind of a natural relationship there."
He also witnessed Nebraska's Preferred Popcorn extend its relationship with its Chinese partner Zhong Liang Tian Run Trading Inc to sell an additional 10 million pounds of Nebraska popcorn to China.
Nebraska is strong in agriculture, and Ricketts said that's where Nebraska and China can grow the relationship the most.
"That's why when we were in China last fall, we broke ground on a demonstration Nebraska farm in Yangling. The idea is to show what technology and processes we have in agriculture to Chinese farmers and see how they may be able to use that."
Ricketts said that Nebraska is the largest irrigable state in the US, and 80 percent of center pivot irrigation equipment is made in the state. "China might take advantage of that technology," he said.
Ricketts had taken his family to China for sightseeing before he became governor, and said his favorite city is Xi'an.
"China is a beautiful country with friendly people. I love history, and China has history more than anyplace else. I love going to Xi'an to see terracotta soldiers and the first Qin Dynasty. I am a history buff, and I love to learn what people did a long time ago," Ricketts said of his impression of China.


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Thinking about getting the NFL Game Pass but can't deal with the blackouts?
If you're living in the U.S, then you probably already know that the U.S version of Game Pass (Domestic) still subjects you to blackout rules. In fact, the U.S Game Pass won't even allow you to watch any Live or On-Demand games! On the other hand, there's the International version of Game Pass (International) which doesn't come with these restrictions. To be honest, we found the International version to be much better compared to the Domestic version. It includes everything you'll ever need to catch every single live game easily with tools such as the NFL RedZone and NFL Network 24/7.
In retrospect, the Game Pass (International) seems to be designed for non U.S residents. Since the NFL games aren't available through their local television stations, NFL is able to provide greater value in those regions.
Just like how it is for NBA's League Pass, the international version is always better!
There's a huge difference between the NFL Game Pass available in the U.S and other countries. The most obvious one as mentioned above, would be the ZERO blackouts on the international version. Not to mention, the Game Pass prices and features are also vastly different! Take a look at the screenshots we took for both versions below.
If you're located in the U.S and headed over to NFL's Game Pass page, you will find that a subscription is going to cost you $99.99. However the most noticeable thing here is the feature statement which says "Access live out-of-market Preseason games, replays of every game, the NFL Films Archive, and much more". I'm sure you'd noticed that there is not a single mention of Live or On-Demand access to these games which means that you'll only be able to access them the moment the day's games concludes. Basically you're watching a "replay" rather than actually being "Live". Bummer!
Note: The NFL Domestic Game Pass is only available in the United States, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Antigua and any U.S territories (including Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the US Virgin Islands, and Guam).
If you're outside of the U.S and it's territories and headed back to NFL's Game Pass page, you'll find that the page looks different. The international version comes with Live or On-Demand access, the NFL Red Zone, and NFL Network 24/7!
On top of that, you'll notice the pricing to also be different. It's more than the $99 Domestic Game Pass charges, but you'll get the features you really need for some proper football!.
Now, as it turns out, even prices for the NFL International Game Pass differs from country to country. In the example image above, we're viewing the page from India which we found to be the cheapest place to purchase the International Game Pass.
Time to hop on a plane and see the difference in other countries!
After some testing, here are the differences we found in prices:
|Blackout Restrictions
|USA and Territories
|Very Restricted – NFL U.S Game Pass Faqs
|● Live Preseason Games
● Replays (Every Game)
● NFL Films Archive
|UK and Ireland (Game Pass Europe)
|Restricted – NFL Europe Game Pass Faqs
|● Live or On-Demand Games (subjected to blackout)
● NFL Network Live 24/7
● NFL RedZone
● NFL Films Archive
|France, Romania, Switzerland and Norway (Game Pass Europe)
|No Restrictions – NFL Europe Game Pass FAQs
|● Live or On-Demand Games
● NFL Network Live 24/7
● NFL RedZone
● NFL Films Archive
|$199.99 – $269.99
|Australia, Mexico, Philippines and South Africa
|No Restrictions
|● Live or On-Demand Games
● NFL Network Live 24/7
● NFL RedZone
● NFL Films Archive
|Hong Kong and Japan
|No Restrictions
|● Live or On-Demand Games
● NFL Network Live 24/7
● NFL RedZone
● NFL Films Archive
|Egypt, Indonesia, India, Malaysia and Pakistan
|No Restrictions
|● Live or On-Demand Games
● NFL Network Live 24/7
● NFL RedZone
● NFL Films Archive
|Canada (DAZN)
|No Restrictions
|● Live or On-Demand Games
● NFL Network Live 24/7
● NFL RedZone
● NFL Films Archive
|$20/month (Introductory Price)
From the table above, the U.S version as well as U.K and Ireland, will all be subjected to blackouts with their versions of GamePass. However on the international side, you'll get all Preseason and Regular season games Live or On-Demand plus Playoffs, Super Bowl and NFL RedZone and NFL Network.
Note: NFL RedZone is a Sunday game-day exclusive show that covers every touchdown from every game through the week.
Note: NFL Network is a special show dedicated to American football. It covers content such as off-season developments and news, trades, analysis, the NFL draft, training camps, preseason games, and more.
With the prices ranging from as low as $125 to almost $270, you'll have to be really picky about which country you'd want to get this season's NFL Game Pass. Luckily, we've checked out the cheapest of them all and have found that Egypt, Indonesia, India, Malaysia and Pakistan offers the cheapest NFL Game Pass available!
You might be asking at this point, "Did we really just sent someone across 19 countries just to test NFL Game Pass?". No, of course we didn't, we've got a better way. By using our VPN servers located in over 44 countries, we were able to change our devices IP address to that of those countries. As a result, we'd virtually appear to be in another country.
When you visit the NFL Game Pass website, they will first check your IP address so they can determine your location. If you have a United States IP address, you will be served the U.S version. However, if you were using our VPN and changed your IP address to one that's outside of the United States (i.e. India, etc.), you will then be served the International version instead.
So first things first, you'll need to use a VPN to connect to another country outside of the U.S.
1) Sign Up for a free My Private Network account.
2) Install our VPN on any device that you'll be using to watch the NFL games.
The steps here are for users that already have an existing Game Pass subscription and would simply like to avoid blackout. This usually applies to Canada, UK, and Ireland subscribers. Unfortunately, Domestic Game Pass (U.S) subscribers will not be able to bypass blackouts because that version doesn't include the Live or On-Demand feature.
1) Once you've setup our VPN service on your device, you'll need to connect to any country server outside of the U.S and Territories, Canada, UK, and Ireland.
Note: We recommend to choose a country closest to you to avoid a slower internet connection. For example, if you're from the UK, you should connect to France (FRA) or Netherlands (NLD).
2) Depending on the device you're using, you'll see some sort of notification that you're connected to our VPN. To confirm this, kindly visit our IP Address Checker and see if the IP address is the correct one. If you're connecting to France (FRA), you should see an IP address from France.
3) Now, Login to your NFL Game Pass account and start enjoying the full blackout-free access to NFL games.
The steps here are for users that do not have an active Game Pass subscription. You will learn how to save up to 30% on a new Game Pass subscription by using our VPN.
1) Firstly, connect to our India (IND) servers.
Note: Besides India, you may also connect to our Egypt (EGY), Indonesia (IDN), Malaysia (MYS), or Pakistan (PAK) servers as these are the countries with the cheapest available rates for Game Pass.
2) Then head over to the NFL's Game Pass subscription page. You will see the price to be at $124.99 in USD$, but you can change it to any other supported currency by clicking on the currency drop-down menu from the top-right corner.
3) Ensure that you've selected the Free Trial option.
Note: You might as well take the trial and enjoy an added 7-days free.
4) Click the "Start Free Trial" button to proceed with your order.
5) In the following page, you may either use your existing NFL account or click on the "Create Account to use Game Pass" link to make a new one. Kindly fill up the relevant information and enter your real billing address as designated by your payment card.
Note: Paying with your own credit card, even if it's not Indian, should not be a problem.
6) Once you're ready, click on "Continue" to confirm your purchase.
7) That's it, you're done! You should now be able to watch any live games while connected to our VPN.
Note: Whilst you needed to connect to India (India) for the cheaper rates, you may not want to do so when streaming live games. As India is physically further away from the U.S, it'll take a longer time for the connection to get there which makes your overall internet connection slower. Hence, once you're done with the cheaper Game Pass purchase, we suggest that you connect to another country closer to you. For example, Mexico (Mex) would be a good choice since you're presumably located in the U.S.
VPNs aren't just for bypassing sports blackouts. In actual fact, VPNs do much more important things for you online. To demonstrate, when you connect to a My Private Network VPN server, all of your internet traffic gets pushed through our private servers whilst encrypting every single bit of data. This makes it incredibly difficult for anyone attempting to see your online activity – even for the most experienced hackers.
More critically, if you ever use public Wi-Fi, it's vital to connect to a VPN first so that everyone using that Wi-Fi can't see your traffic information. Obviously, doing any kinds of online transactions such as banking or payments is a BIG No-No when in public Wi-Fi. Using a VPN when ever you connect to the internet will significantly boost your online privacy and help protect you against hackers or other bad guys on the internet.
Don't Have a VPN yet? Give our Free Trial a go by clicking the button below for 3 full days of unlimited access to both our VPN and MyTelly services.
If you don't like it, we'll give you your money back! And if you have any questions, we have an awesome support team waiting to answer them! Feel free to comment below, email, tweet, or hit us up on Facebook!


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"Un'American ti Parla" is my new weekly column for the Italian food blog Scatti di Gusto. Check out my post on the American Academy in Rome's Rome Sustainable Food Project (in Italian) here.
A Roma, La Cucina Sostenibile Americana
3 Comments
Congratulations – blog looks beautiful – this is when I wish my Italian literacy was more prolific!
the program is fantastic and has reshaped conviviality at the Academy. kudos for bringing it to an italian readership.
one important correction: Bernabei is not a biodynamic farmer…true biodynamic agriculture follows rigorous principles set down by Rudolf Steiner.
cf. http://www.biodinamica.org/


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Dr. Amit Pandya is a Professor of Dermatology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. He serves as Director of the Pigmentary Disorders Clinic in the Department of Dermatology. Dr. Pandya received his medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. He completed residencies in internal medicine at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas and in dermatology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Dr. Pandya's chief clinical and research interests are vitiligo, melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, cultural competence, diversity in dermatology, outcome measures, evidence-based medicine and clinical research design and analysis.
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Bikini? Check. Sandals and beach bag? Check. A selection of books? Check. Stylish and chic reading glasses? Check!
Whether your dream holiday is sunbathing on the beach in St Tropez, adventurous safari trips in Kenya, fifty laps in the pool followed by organic dining at a spa resort or backpacking in New Delhi, you will need at least one compelling, just-can't-put-it-down page turner.
An ever growing trend of fashionable reading glasses has blossomed into the perfect marriage with the nation's mission of finding that gripping holiday pleaser.
If you love to bare all on the beach, but hate to bear your specs then substitute embarrassing eyewear for raunchy reading glasses. Join the fashion trend of the season and be seen in cool and funky reading glasses this summer!
Reading Glasses for Fashion and Fiction
Reading has never really been labelled as "glamorous" or "sexy". But things are changing. With so many fashionable and seemingly "un-bookish" celebrity icons such as Victoria Beckham, Katie Price and Britney Spears hitting the book charts with ground-breaking best sellers, reading has become more accessible and more fashionable.
Celebrities have always led the way in the most iconic fashion statements and this is applicable across the globe. The Paparazzi have snapped celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston, Demi Moore, Cheryl Cole, Chloe Sevigny, Hilary Duff and Paula Abdul all sporting fashionable reading glasses.
But this 'Geek Chic' look isn't just for girls. The likes of Johnny Depp, Kanye West, Elton John, Gary Barlow and Gok Wan have helped to inspire a new trend in men's fashion everywhere.
Reading Glasses Complete with Protection
Holiday reading can sometimes mean squinting in a struggle with the much-loved rays of the sun. So do you sacrifice clear vision for a pair of shades? Or vice versa?
The solution to this holiday dilemma exists in the form of the 'Sun Reader'. Fashionable book worms need not scratch their heads as reading sunglasses can provide readers with improved vision and UV sun protection all in one go. Problem solved – in impeccable style and glamour too!
Sexy Styles at Sight Station…
Sight Station offer a wide range of 'ready to wear' reading sunglasses that come complete with UV protection for all your holiday reads. We stock a wide selection of gorgeous designs for men and women at attractive prices to suit your budget.
Get eye-catching reading glasses at eye-catching prices at Sight Station. Call us on 01782 813000 or shop online now.
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Fireside Lodge Hickory Round Log Pub Table
This Hickory log pub table, which available in 3 sizes, is perfect in any game room, kitchen nook or any dining area with a rustic theme or motif.
You have a choice of wood on the table top - choose between the traditional hickory, rustic maple, rustic alder or espresso table top.
You also have a choice of table top finish. The standard finish is a clear-coat lacquer, however you can upgrade to the "Armor Finish" made from an oil-based urethane applied in a 3 step process. The "Armor Finish" is a satin finish, which is extra-durable and helps prevent scratching and denting similar to a finish you would find on hardwood flooring.
Matching optional bar stool and/or bar chairs are also available - see below.
See "Additional Images" thumbnails above for example photos of table top wood choices.
This piece of rustic log furniture is handcrafted from the finest kiln-dried hickory logs. The workmanship on this heirloom piece of rustic furniture features mortise and tenon construction.
This manufacturer offers a lifetime warranty on all their rustic log furniture.
Approx. dimensions:
32" diameter x 42"h - 100 lbs
36" diameter x 42"h - 105 lbs
40" diameter x 42"h - 110 lbs
This item is generally delivered within 4-5 weeks and as with most of our rustic furniture, shipping is free within the lower 48 states.


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Ben has a wall clock in his room, but he didn't wind it one day, so it stopped working. Later that day he left his house, walked to his best friend's place, who has his own, always precise clock, stayed there for a while, then walked back home. When he arrived, he went to his wall clock and adjusted it to show the correct time. How did Ben do it, if he didn't see any other clocks during the day, except for the one at his best friend's place?
Before Ben left his place, he winded his clock. When he went to his friend's place, he noted for how long he stayed there - say X, and at what time he left - say Y. After Ben got back home, he looked at his own wall clock and calculated the time he was outside - say Z. Then he concluded that the time he was walking was Z-X in total, and therefore it took him (Z-X)/2 time to get from his friend's place to his own house. He added Y (the time he left his friend's place) and got Y+(Z-X)/2 - the correct time.


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Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Monday, June 3, 2013
Garden Decor
I love garden decor but most of all I love making garden decor out of stuff that is just taking up room in the garage. Will the chair wasn't but the table was, I found the chair in a second hand store for $8.00.
I still need to spray the table with a clear polyurethane. But I love how it turned out and its going to look so good between the rocking chairs on my front porch.
And my chair planter looks great in the garden next to my Father-n-laws wheel barrel and my cute polka dot boot planters. Now all I need is a garden scarecrow. I think that will be the next thing I work on.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
The loss of a Companion
I know its been a year since my last blog post but a lot has happened in a year. I guess to start I must tell you of the loss of my best friend, my baby, and my companion "Paisley". It all started this time last year she didn't seem to be feeling well and hubby and I were getting ready to go to England.. So I took her to get her checked and the Vet did just about every test and could find a thing. So away we went leaving her with our daughter. She did pretty good but after returning at the end of May she continued to go down hill and by the end of June she had developed a large lump on her hip. It was just about the hardest thing I have ever had to do but on July 4th we took her back into the Vet knowing that it must be cancer. And yes I was right it was bone cancer. Our wonderful Vet knew that this was going to be hard for me but we knew that the best thing to do was put her to sleep. He left as alone with her tell we felt like we could say good bye. But I don't think you can ever say goodbye to such a sweet little girl that she was. We had her for over 14 year and I don't think there could ever be another like her. I miss her so much not a day goes by that I don't wish she was here. Its been very lonely without her. In December I thought I could get a new puppy, I even went and picked her out and took her home on February 7th. But it wasn't good timing my mother-n-law passed away that day and the following week my sisters son-n-law passed from cancer. So the puppy went back and I think it might be awhile tell I try again. I've lost several dogs over the years but Paisley was there went my last child left home and hubby started working nights. She keep me company and followed me everywhere she will be missed for a long time.
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About E3 Scholarship Fund
What We're About: Building Resilience Through Sports & Education
E3 Scholarship Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to help children who struggle at school because their learning styles and needs are not being correctly identified and addressed.
Claire is a 15-year-old child with special needs who struggled with school to the point of walking out. Claire couldn't understand why she tried so hard but was consistently frustrated in the classroom, with teachers and staff at school. Her grades reflected her frustration and further compounded her feeling of failure and desire to give up.
The school wanted to help. Many hours and meetings were spent with teachers and staff. Lots of great advice and learning tools and tricks were applied but the result was the same. Claire continued to under perform, be frustrated, and depressed. Claire was ready to walk out and never return.
Claire's father, E3 Scholarship Fund founder and chairman Charles Tietgen, contacted his life coach, Dr. Ramon Corrales who suggested the Kolbe Y Assessment as a tool to help. Claire completed the Kolbe Y. Dr. Corrales shared her results with her teachers and staff who put his recommendations into practice. Claire's grades and outlook immediately improved, from D's and F's to A's and B's. This new self-knowledge has allowed Claire to be more resilient in all situations.
Kolbe assessments follow students from 4th grade through college. Their Kolbe assists in keeping the child's natural way of learning a priority thus creating desire and enjoyment in learning. In high school, the Kolbe will guide students in selecting a career path that is conducive to their natural, instinctive way of doing things.
E3 Scholarship Fund wants to bring the Kolbe Y Assessment to students and parents, and public and private schools in the U.S.
"Pushing ourselves to grow, to get better, to dive deeper is at the heart of happiness." "Resilience: Hard-won Wisdom For Living A Better Life" by Eric Greitens, Navy SEAL. Greitens firmly believes that resilience can be developed. One of the main missions of E3 Scholarship Fund is to help develop resilience in youth.
Kolbe Y Assessments
E3 Scholarship Fund has an even bigger vision for the future. E3SF is dedicated to finding help and hope for children at school. We believe that when a student receives counseling and the Kolbe Y educational evaluations at school, a custom program can be implemented that allows them to be more resilient in all areas of their lives. At our new E3 Scholarship Fund Kolbe Center, we offer student assessments and parent guides to help discover natural abilities and instinctive talents. By becoming aware of their innate talents, students, parents, and educators will be able to figure out solutions that work for them in their day to day learning environment.
According to Kolbe wisdom, there are four basic instincts that we all revert to when problem-solving. These instincts are not acquired or learned. They are not based on emotions or how we feel. They were given to all of us at birth and are a part of who we are. You cannot change your instincts nor can you measure them. However, we can measure one's conation, which are the actions we take as a result of these instincts.
Simply put, conation is someone's natural, or instinctive, way of doing things.
There are three parts of the mind that determine how a person operates.
- Cognitive: Intelligence, Knowledge: Thinking
- Affective: Personality, Emotions: Feeling
- Conative: Will/Motivation/Instinct, Behavior/Actions: Doing
"Most professionals have subscribed to the belief that
Thinking + Feeling = Action.
As a consequence of this erroneous model, professionals have created learning and performing models based mostly on KNOWLEDGE and EMOTION,
leaving out an extremely important influence on our behavior, INSTINCT, which is triggered by the third part of the mind, the WILL." Dr. Ramon Corrales
The Kolbe measures the Conative (our instinctive actions) part; the unique set of innate strengths and talents every person has which remains unchanged from birth.
There are 4 base instincts described by Kolbe. Fact Finder which is the way we gather and share information. Follow Thru, the way we arrange, organize, and design. Quickstart the way we assess risks, and Implementer, how we handle physical objects. Each person will feel more strongly influenced by one or two of these instincts.
"You're not working at your full potential!"
Teachers and administrators desire to positively impact kids' lives. Students deserve to have a teacher who sincerely believes they possess the ability to be successful. They deserve the chance to develop skills that allow them to be successful in whatever they choose to do after graduation. Research shows that 78% of students have difficulty adjusting to the typical classroom setting where 70%- 80% of teachers teach in a way that only 22% of children naturally learn.
Kolbe's concept is based on the fact that every person is uniquely and perfectly capable of creative problem-solving. Our creative instincts are the source of mental energy that drives us to take specific actions.
E3 Sports Facility is a place where students can come to have fun, all the while working on self-defense skills, exercising, and techniques for developing resilience.
E3 Sports Facility is pleased to offer Juice Plus+ products. Our family doesn't get as many fresh fruits and vegetables for optimal nutrition. We feel great taking the Juice Plus+ capsules and chewables. The Complete protein shakes and bars are delicious, whole food based nutrition.
Self-Confidence Building
E3SF offers an Image & Wellness Advisor, Quali Johnson, as a mentor to help kids with their self-image to boost self-esteem. Quali approaches image from the inside out creating healthy minds. She promotes self-awareness while building self-esteem and empower social changes. Check the calendar for Quali's classes!
E3 Scholarship Fund will be teaming up with a world-class nutritional coach in the near future. Many children are bullied because of their weight. We hope to make healthy nutritional choices fun and easy for children.
We hope you find something here to inspire you.
Our Mission
EMBRACE children and teens who are struggling.
EMPOWER parents, teachers, staff, and students by identifying their striving instincts.
ENCOURAGE youth by celebrating their natural abilities and validating their instinctive strengths.


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Ghost Sightings at the Tower of London
If there is one place that's likely to be haunted, it's the Tower of London. With its blood-drenched history of murdered kings and headless queens, languishing prisoners and brutal tortures, it seems somewhat inevitable that this historic fortress would acquire a reputation for being one of the most haunted places in the world. Now a major tourist attraction, the Tower is over nine hundred years old, with its most ancient parts dating back to the reign of William the Conqueror, and ever since those days it has provided the setting for some of the most pivotal events in England's past.
The Tower's supernatural side has mainly been experienced by the sentries and their families who have lived and worked there down the ages. Countless reports have been filed detailing strange and inexplicable phenomena. Disembodied footsteps ascend and descend the winding staircases, while shadowy figures flit across gloomy chambers and down long narrow corridors. Foul smells emanate from unidentifiable sources. People are followed by unseen yet sinister presences. Sudden knocks and raps burst forth on ancient doors, while ghostly voices mutter and whisper from behind age-old walls. Anguished screams are said to still ring out from the vault beneath the White Tower, the oldest part of the fortress. It was within this vault where the dreaded torture chamber once stood, and where so many poor unfortunates suffered on the rack and other fiendish contraptions.
Between the 14th and 18th centuries, scores of Tower prisoners were publicly executed on nearby Tower Hill, their remains brought back to the fortress for burial within the Tower chapel, St Peter ad Vincula. One night during the Second World War, a young soldier was witness to an unnerving vision seemingly redolent of those bygone times. He was guarding the Main Gate when he suddenly noticed an oddly dressed group of figures slowly emerge out of the darkness. They were approaching from where the old scaffold once stood, and he could see that they were carrying what looked like a hurdle. When he commanded them to halt they ignored him, and as they drew near, the soldier could see that the figures were wearing medieval clothing and that on the hurdle was a decapitated body. Before the soldier could recover his senses, the whole ghastly procession had faded into the night.
Secrets of the Bloody Tower
The minor towers which punctuate the walls of the fortress all have their own grisly little histories. In 1471 Henry VI was stabbed to death in the Wakefield Tower, while only a few years later, the Bowyer Tower provided the doleful backdrop for the Duke of Clarence's untimely demise, where he was supposedly drowned in a butt of Malmsey wine. However it's arguably the Bloody Tower that has the blackest history of them all. Built in the 13th century, this tower was originally called the Garden Tower, but owing to its dark past, eventually acquired the more ominous appellation of Bloody Tower. The erstwhile prison for many of England's most illustrious names, including Archbishop Cranmer, detained here in 1553. Bishops Ridley and Latimer were held here also, and the celebrated Elizabethan explorer Sir Walter Raleigh spent many years incarcerated within its gloomy confines. In 1585 the 8th Earl of Northumberland committed suicide in the Bloody Tower. Sir Thomas Overbury painfully succumbed to slow poison there, and the notorious Judge Jeffreys drank himself to death whilst locked up within its walls.
Naturally the Bloody Tower is a hotspot for hauntings. Raleigh's ghost has allegedly been seen about his old confines, as well as in the Byward Tower, while in August 1970 a tourist noticed a mysterious young woman, who she described as having long hair and wearing a black velvet dress and gold pendant. Yet it's the mysterious fate of the uncrowned Edward V and his younger brother, Richard of York, the so-called "Princes in the Tower", that has given rise to the Bloody Tower's most famous ghost story. When their father Edward IV died in 1483, the two boys were sent to the Tower on the orders of their uncle Richard of Gloucester. Housed in an upper chamber of the Bloody Tower, they were frequently witnessed playing in the grounds, then occasionally glimpsed at the windows of their prison, until around July of 1483, they were never seen alive again.
Nobody knows exactly what became of the Princes in the Tower, although it's generally believed they were murdered in their beds, most likely smothered or stabbed. Richard of Gloucester is the prime suspect. After the disappearance of his nephews, he was subsequently crowned King Richard III, although his guilt is still not conclusive. In 1674 a couple of skeletons were discovered under a staircase in the White Tower and upon examination, it was agreed that they were the earthly remains of Edward and his brother. Ever since the late 15th century there have been reports of their ghosts. One particular account dating from the First World War tells how the daughter of a yeoman warder, whose family lived in the Bloody Tower, encountered two boys in old-fashioned clothing sitting on her bed. They had gone when the girl returned with her parents, although an icy chill pervaded the room.
Odd Occurrences in the Martin Tower
Another tower with a reputation for weird phenomena is the Martin Tower. Standing at the north east corner of the inner wall, the Martin Tower held a number of famous prisoners, including the Gunpowder plotter Ambrose Rookwood, and Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland, who was also imprisoned on suspicion of being involved with the conspiracy to blow up Parliament and the King. The earl's ghost supposedly haunts an area known as Northumberland's Walk, and was sighted by several sentries in the late 1800s.
In 1817 the Martin Tower was home to the Keeper of the Crown Jewels, Edmund Lenthal Swifte. One October night, Swifte and his family were enjoying supper when Swifte's wife suddenly gasped "Good God, what is that?" According to Swifte's own account in an 1860 edition of 'Notes and Queries', a bizarre manifestation, resembling a glass cylinder filled with a swirling white and pale blue liquid, had suddenly materialized above the table. The strange apparition circled around the table before making for Swifte's wife, who screamed: "Oh, Christ! it has seized me." Swifte took up his chair and swung it at the apparition which promptly vanished.
The Martin Tower was also the location of another odd occurrence in the January of 1816. A sentry on guard at the tower was suddenly confronted by a huge black apparation which lumbered out from a door way. He told Edmund Lenthal Swifte that it resembled a giant bear, and that he had lunged at the 'grizzly' phantom with his bayonet, only to have the weapon pass straight through it and embed itself in the oaken door behind. According to Swifte, the sentry had been unconscious when he was discovered, and was in a fearful state afterwards. He expired from shock some days later.
Headless Ladies
A number of stately ladies lost their heads on Tower Green, including Queens Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, the second and fifth wives of King Henry VIII respectively. Lady Jane Grey was still a teenager when she was beheaded on 12 February 1554. The so-called 'Nine Days Queen' had been executed on the orders of Mary I for high treason. Her young body was consequently interred in the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula, although her ghost was allegedly witnessed by a guard in 1957, slowly materializing on the battlements of the Salt Tower soon after midnight. He deduced it was the young queen's spirit as the date he saw the apparition was 12 February.
'Spectre Stricken' was the pseudonym for the English cleric and spiritualist William Stainton Moses, and it is in his Ghostly Visitors (1882), where the earliest account of a very dramatic, and somewhat fanciful, haunting in the Tower's chapel originates. One dark night a captain noticed an eerie light emanating from an upper window and ordered a sentry to investigate. The man got a ladder, positioned it against the chapel's wall, and climbed up. Arriving at the window he peered in, immediately taken aback by the astonishing vision which greeted him. A group of men and women in Tudor garb slowly perambulated within the chapel, and at the head of the procession was a woman who resembled Anne Boleyn. The awestruck sentry watched in amazement before the vision vanished when the whole chapel was suddenly plunged into darkness.
Anne Boleyn's ghost must qualify as one of the most well-travelled spectres in England, numbering Hampton Court Palace, Windsor Castle, Blickling Hall and Hever Castle, among its many haunts. But it would appear to be the Tower where her spirit has made the most appearances. In 1817, a sentry at the White Tower died from a heart attack after encountering Anne's ghost on a staircase. The long-dead Tudor Queen was supposedly seen in 1933 as well, when a guard was menaced by a headless woman in Tudor dress. Due to the spot having a spooky reputation, this guard was merely reprimanded.
One of the eeriest of Anne's appearances occurred on a night in 1864. A young sentry noticed a strange mist near the Queen's House – the building where the ill-fated consort spent her last days on Earth. As he watched, a mysterious female figure, clad in old fashioned Tudor dress, slowly emerged from the mist. The sentry called out a challenge and the form turned to face him. He recoiled in horror, plunging his bayonet into the figure before passing out. Later he stated that the figure had no head, and that his weapon went straight through it. The sentry was accused before a court-martial, witnessed by a young Field Marshal Lord Grenfell, of being drunk and disorderly, however his story was corroborated by soldiers who observed the strange proceedings from a window in the Bloody Tower.
Finally the Queen's House itself also has its fair share of supernatural happenings. Besides Anne Boleyn, many other famous historical personalities have been held here over the centuries, including Deputy Fuhrer Rudolf Hess. The house was built in the early 1500s for Henry VIII but later became the official residence of the Tower Governor. In 1978, a guest at the house reported hearing eerie religious chanting around midnight. She enquired about it the next day and was told that no one was playing music at that hour. It is the Lennox Room however, which gives the building its sinister reputation. This room was once the prison of Lady Arbella Stuart, cousin of King James I. She was held here until her death in 1615, where it's said that she died insane. Apparently this room is noticeably colder than the others in the house and in 1994, the then Governor's wife was suddenly thrown from it by a violent unseen force. Women are warned not to spend the night in here alone for those that do have often awoken with an intense feeling of being strangled. Some have speculated that the room's malevolent presence is none other than the ghost of Lady Arbella herself.
Photo Credits:
"Tower of London" by Samspade79
Licensed under CC-BY-SA-3.0 via Wikimedia Commons –
"London Tower" by Dirk Ingo Franke
Licensed under CC-BY-SA-3.0 via Wikimedia Commons –
"London Tower" by Dirk Ingo Franke
Licensed under CC-BY-SA-3.0 via Wikimedia Commons –
"Chapel Royal of St. Peter ad Vincula" by Samuel Taylor Geer
Licensed under CC-BY-SA-4.0 via Wikimedia Commons –
"London tower green" by Dirk Ingo Franke
Licensed under CC-BY-SA-3.0 via Wikimedia Commons –
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Thank you for your interest in becoming part of the Mob Armor Team. We are honored by your trust and loyalty to our brand and line of products. As off-roaders, we understand that the equipment you choose is a highly personal decision.
As you can imagine we receive hundreds of requests (no exaggeration) for product or monetary sponsorship each year, the overwhelming volume and management of these sponsorship requests has taken our energy and focus away from other equally important areas of the company.
For this reason, Mob Armor has chosen to adopt the philosophy that we will seek out and find the rising stars in our community. As drivers, we keep our ears to the ground and have insight into nearly every form of motorsports. As such, sponsorship will be determined through various recommendations and thorough research by our marketing staff.
We offer a "grassroots" sponsorship program that may be of interest to you. Please fill out and submit the form for review and we will get back to you at our earliest convenience.


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Learning & Coaching as Change Enablers
Are change behaviors supported at the level of the individual?
This module explains how learning & training programs and organizational coaching (sometimes known as 'mentoring') are a vital part of helping individuals affected by change initiatives to adopt new behaviors, adapt to the shifting circumstances and remain engaged. The module shows how the journey that individuals undergo during a change initiative is sometimes conceptualized as a 'change curve', and how learning programs and coaching can assist those people to progress along the curve. Factors to consider when creating learning and coaching programs are also explored.
Every Change Activation Toolkit module features
Tools &
This module will activate your organization to:
- This module can be used to help organization members understand what features of an organization interact to form the emerging property of its culture, and prompt them to recognize these varied features in their organization.
- To clarify the distinction between change initiatives that consider an organization's culture and those that attempt to influence it.
- This module can be shown to senior leaders who are ambitious to promote cultural change within an organization, and to demonstrate the ongoing commitment and support required from those leaders to achieve sustained cultural change.
- This module gives a clear example of how a change team would alter their approach to a change initiative based on the cultural differences between two otherwise similar organizations.
- Members of multinational organizations can use the module to demonstrate the need to adapt and customize a change implementation plan to local conditions, due to national cultural differences.
- The module can act as a primer to a cultural inventorying assessment and thus demonstrate the need to understand the nature of the organization's unique culture.
Learning objectives
This module will empower your teams and individuals to:
- understand the importance of organizational coaching programs throughout change initiatives
- learn a coherent and popular model for structured coaching that can be employed both during change as well as during general management
- understand that informal and peer-based learning programs can be more effective than formal classroom-based learning programs
- learn techniques for fostering a spirit of collaborative learning
This module is ideal for use at this stage of change implementation:
Pre-implementation During Implementation Post-implementation
This module will boost engagement levels during the following change methodology stages:
Change Management Methodology Stage / phase AIM (Accelerated Implementation Methodology) Develop Reinforcement Strategy Kurt Lewin's Three Stage Change Model Change: Involve people in the process
Refreeze: Provide support and training
Refreeze: Develop ways to sustain the change
Prosci Enterprise Change Management Model Implementation: Create change management plan Prosci Change Management Levers Coaching lever
Training lever
Bridges Leading Transition Model for Change The Neutral Zone: Provide learning opportunities Beckhard and Harris Change Management Process Empowering others John Kotter Eight Step Model for Change Incorporating Changes into the Culture ADKAR Model for Change Management Ability The Change Leader's Roadmap model Phase VIII – Celebrate and Integrate the New State Kubler Ross Change Curve Model Acceptance
LaMarsh Change Management Model Sustain the Change People Centered Implementation (PCI) Model Sustained Personal Performance Viral Change Roadmap Model Sustain General Electric Change Acceleration Process (CAP) Mobilizing Commitment
Making change last
Preview the Change Activation Toolkit
Schedule a demo or email us at email@example.com for more details


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MILWAUKEE – When you start the season at historically bad paces -- 9-29 through 38 games and 18-46 through 64 --, well, then a .500 stretch over 48 games qualifies as a surge, particularly when it includes nine wins in the past 13 games.
And, so, your surging Braves will go for their 10th win in 14 games tonight and a 4-1 start to their 10-game trip when they face the Brewers in the second game of a four-game series at Miller Park, and rookie pitcher Tyrell Jenkins will look to continue the promising start to his career.
Jenkins is 1-1 with a 3.81 ERA in his first five starts, including a 1.59 ERA in four starts outside of Coors Field. Tonight he'll face veteran right-hander Willy Peralta (4-7, 6.68).
Jenkins' overall numbers (1-2, 4.33 ERA in nine games including four relief appearances) are skewed by the terrible day he had at Coors Field on July 24, where he gave up seven runs, eight hits and three homers in 3 1/3 innings. In his other four starts, he's allowed 15 hits, four earned runs and one homer in 22 2/3 innings.
In two games since the loss at Denver, Jenkins is 1-0 with an 0.75 ERA and .175 opponents' average, albeit with more walks (eight) than strikeouts (six) in 12 innings of those home games against the Phillies and Pirates. He's the first to say, the walks need to be reduced. He's working on that.
Jenkins lasted six innings in each of his past two starts despite issuing four walks in each. He gave up just one (unearned) run and four hits against the Phillies and one run and three hits against the Pirates, with the Braves winning both games. This will be his first time facing Milwauee.
For the Brewers, Peralta has struggled this season at Miller Park, where he has has a 7.79 ERA and .379 opponents' average in seven starts and has served up eight homers in 34 2/3 innings.
Peralta hasn't made it through six innings in any of his past six starts, going 2-3 with a 6.60 ERA and .341 opponents' average in that stretch. But it should be noted, one of his only two wins in that span was a May 26 win at Atlanta in which he limited the Braves to two runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings.
In fact, he's always pitched well against the Braves, posting a 2-1 record and sparkling 1.65 ERA in five starts including one in each of the past five seasons. In May 2015 he gave up one hit in four scoreless innings of a start in Atlanta. Then again, this is a largely different Braves team.
He hasn't faced the Braves with Matt Kemp in their lineup: Kemp is 7-for-14 with a homer against Peralta. Freddie Freeman is 3-for-10 with a homer against Peralta, and Jeff Francoeur (2-for-3) is the only other Brave with multiple hits against him.
• Streaking Inciarte: Braves center fielder Ender Inciarte will try to extend his hitting streak to 20 games tonight. He's gone 28-for-76 (.368) during his career-best 19-game streak with a double, a homer, 26 singles, five walks, four RBIs, 14 runs and a .402 OBP, and the Braves are 10-9 in that span.
• Big addition: In 20 games since the All-Star break – 13 of those with the Padres – Braves newcomer Matt Kemp has hit .288 (23-for-80) with five doubles, eight homers, 16 RBIs and a .650 slugging percentage. In his past three games, he's 5-for-13 (.385) with a double, a homer and four RBIs.
Oh, by the way, I'm hearing a lot fewer people question the Olivera-for-Kemp trade than I did four days ago.
• Progress under Snitker: The Braves are 24-24 with a 3.89 ERA, 198 runs scored and 45 homers in 48 games going back to June 15, including 9-4 with a 3.25 ERA, .295 BA, 64 runs and 11 homers in their past 13 games.
After going 9-28 before the firing of manager Fredi Gonzalez, the Braves are 33-42 since Brian Snitker took over as interim manager on May 17. Part of that is a bit tough to explain: They had 11 homers in 37 games with Gonzalez managing and have 61 homers in 75 games under Snitker.
• Etc.
A.J. Pierzynski's home run Monday was just his second this season, but his fourth in 17 career games at Miller Park, where the 39-year-old catcher has hit .350 (21-for-60) with seven extra-base hits and a .600 slugging percentage….
Nick Markakis homerd Monday and has a .357 career average (15-for-42) with nine extra-base hits (eight doubles) and a .619 slugging percentage in 10 games at the Milwaukee ballpark.
• Rock fans of a certain age might be aware that Violent Femmes came from Milwaukee, but did you know Jerry Harrison of Talking Heads (and Modern Lovers) is also from there (or here, since I'm in Milwaukee)? And so, here's the mighty Talking Heads (with Bernie Worrell on keyboards, no less) and trippy mastermind David Byrne doing one of their many great songs.
"LIFE DURING WARTIME" by Talking Heads
Heard of a van that is loaded with weapons,
Packed up and ready to go
Heard of some grave sites, out by the highway,
A place where nobody knows
The sound of gunfire, off in the distance,
I'm getting used to it now
Lived in a brownstone, lived in a ghetto,
I've lived all over this town
This ain't no party, this ain't no disco,
This ain't no fooling around
No time for dancing, or lovey dovey,
I ain't got time for that now
Transmit the message, to the receiver,
Hope for an answer some day
I got three passports, a couple of visas,
You don't even know my real name
High on a hillside, the trucks are loading,
Everything's ready to roll
I sleep in the daytime, I work in the nighttime,
I might not ever get home
This ain't no party, this ain't no disco,
This ain't no fooling around
This ain't no Mudd Club, or C. B. G. B.,
I ain't got time for that now
Heard about Houston? Heard about Detroit?
Heard about Pittsburgh, P. A.?
You oughta know not to stand by the window
Somebody see you up there
I got some groceries, some peanut butter,
To last a couple of days
But I ain't got no speakers, ain't got no headphones,
Ain't got no records to play
Why stay in college? Why go to night school?
Gonna be different this time
Can't write a letter, can't send no postcard,
I ain't got time for that now
Trouble in transit, got through the roadblock,
We blended in with the crowd
We got computers, we're tapping phone lines,
I know that that ain't allowed
We dress like students, we dress like housewives,
Or in a suit and a tie
I changed my hairstyle, so many times now,
I don't know what I look like!
You make me shiver, I feel so tender,
We make a pretty good team
Don't get exhausted, I'll do some driving,
You ought to get you some sleep
Burned all my notebooks, what good are notebooks?
They won't help me survive
My chest is aching, burns like a furnace,
The burning keeps me alive


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Six years ago, Anthony Cheng left behind a career trajectory that included work as a management consultant and an Internet entrepreneur to join the family business. That business was founded by his mother, Theresa Cheng, more than four decades ago.
"She adapted the model over the years according to what was successful in the industry," said Cheng, who is chief operating officer of APF Travel, Inc., Go Latin Travel and ABC Study Tours, based in Alhambra, Calif. "We have shifted from being an air consolidator in the 1970s and 1980s, to a corporate and government-focused agency in the 1980s and 1990s, to what we are today."
Business Model Today, the Cheng family business includes travel agency, tour operator, wholesaler and air consolidator operations in Latin America.
"We are a travel agency for half of our business, an air consolidator for 20 percent and a tour operator for 30 percent, meaning we sell our packages through other travel agencies," Cheng said.
Client Base About 80 percent of the company's clients are Chinese living in North America, and the other 20 percent reside in China and Taiwan, according to Cheng.
"Our core business right now is sending Chinese travelers to Latin America," said Cheng, noting that the company has been involved with that market for more than 30 years. "We are the only Chinese agency in North America specializing in Mexico, Central America and South America."
Most of the company's clients are affluent, 60 years or older and retired or semi-retired. That reflects the current price and structure of the company's all-inclusive tours, which range from 14 to 30 days in length and visit three to five countries. Average tour price is $4,000.
Innovative Practices The business has branded itself as the leader and expert in travel to Latin America for the Chinese market.
"There is no other agency with our level of knowledge since we constantly personally visit our destinations and improve our tours based on the needs and tastes of our unique clientele," Cheng said. "This is particularly important in Latin America where operations are constantly changing, and efficiency is not what you get in the U.S., Europe or Asia."
The business has also established itself as an official partner with many of the tourism boards in the countries it promotes, an accomplishment that lends credibility to operations in the eyes of clients and gives the company access to additional marketing content and local contacts.
"Last but not least, we have had great air contracts with our partner airlines for decades, and those air prices give us a competitive advantage that others cannot attain," Cheng said.
On the Horizon True to the innovative spirit that has characterized the Cheng family business from the start, plans to expand into new areas are underway. Cheng develops strategic direction for the company together with his sister Regina Cheng-Sheu. Their next idea is a new line of four-day trips to Mexico that are designed to attract a younger audience and enable online sales transactions.
And, in a major directional expansion, the company plans to launch Latin America tour products for the English-speaking market this year. Travelers tight on time are the target market.
"We will launch into the non-Chinese English speaking market for people with very little free time," Cheng said. "We are going to start with South America, and the shortest trip will be five days in Peru. We are positioned well at a point when interest in travel to Latin America is growing fast, and we hope to catch that wave."
Perspective"I am most passionate now about creating high-quality products for our clients," Cheng said. "In the Chinese travel agency and tour operator community, there has always been a focus on low prices at the expense of quality trips, but that trend is shifting. We pride ourselves now on having clients come back from a trip and tell us it was one of the best trips they have ever had."
APF Travel Inc.www.apftravel.com
GoLatin Travelwww.golatin.com


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Almost anybody can have fun doing crafts, and possibly turning them into a career. Whether you sew a quilt, knit baby booties, etc. you can create something to make a great income. It is important to learn as much as possible about your hobby, so begin by reading the content below for some great tips.
If you are doing arts and crafts that have the potential to create a mess, use old newspaper on any surfaces to avoid any damage. After your project is complete, discard the papers and have no worries.
Do you want to locate supplies? A variety of online stores are at your disposal. With a quick search you can find lots of great deals. You could even be lucky enough to receive free shipping of your purchases.
Go easy on kids who are doing arts and crafts. One of the points of these projects is to inspire individuality. If you are pointing out imperfections, then their self confidence will suffer.
Arts and crafts can be done with a lot of different materials and supplies. Plastic bottles or paper plates that would otherwise be thrown away are a great example. You can also use paper towel or toilet paper rolls. Magazines and newspapers are other options. Put your creativity to use on items you normally pitch. You may be surprised with what you come up with.
Keep in mind that arts and crafts with kids are going to be messy. If that stresses you, prepare the area with newspaper in order to keep glue and glitter off your floor and furniture. Use washable materials, such as washable adhesives and markers.
Never scold a child if he or she doesn't get a crafty project "quite right". One of the points of these projects is to inspire individuality. You will not be able to do this if you are constantly pointing out areas in which the wrong thing may have been done.
If reasonably priced arts and crafts pieces elude you, try rummaging through a thrift store. A clever artist can find supplies at many different places. Keep checking local stores on a regular basis to find new merchandise.
If reasonably priced arts and crafts pieces elude you, try rummaging through a thrift store. There are many consignment shops that offer unusual supplies for today's artist. You need to check quite frequently, because the merchandise changes so much that some days will definitely be better than others.
Seek new ideas out on the web. If you want to do a project, there are many sites on the Internet where you can find ideas. No matter who is doing the project or what it consists of, you will undoubtedly find creative infusion online.
Stores specializing in beads offer the necessary supplies to make lovely, custom pieces of jewelry. You can find all sorts of beads, chains and accessories to make beautiful pieces. Current fashion often involves costume jewelry. You can coordinate your wardrobe and save money by crafting your own.
Etsy can be a wonderful location for finding your craft and art supplies. You will find countless items there at great prices. You can even sell your creations on this site once you become able to put together quality original items. Etsy is a pretty good choice if your current or next project requires vintage media.
Focus on one thing at a time. You may want to take on more than one project at a time. But, doing this tends to leave projects unfinished. Take your time and enjoy each project before beginning the next exciting project. This will ensure it gets done.
Keep your supplies organized. Put your stuff away any way you wish. When supplies are organized, you can easily find what is needed for a project. You'll also know what supplies you still have.
If you've got a cloudiness to your mosaic after the mortar is dried, try to wipe the mosaic clean with a rag sprayed with glass cleaner. Mortar powder is difficult to get rid of in other ways, nor do you want the powder messing up any final touches.
If you've got a cloudiness to your mosaic after the mortar is dried, try to wipe the mosaic clean with a rag sprayed with glass cleaner. It can be hard to get the mortar out but you don't want powder to screw up the finish.
Crafting Material
Children love arts and crafts, regardless of their age. Think about what project to start by thinking about the participants. If you need help finding an acceptable project, look online for ideas.
For free crafting material, explore in your kitchen for craft supplies. There are all sorts of arts and crafts gems there. You can use glass jars, tin foil, metal cans and many other objects. Even dried beans and pasta can be crafting material.
Looking for supplies for a new crafting project? Take a look in your kitchen. You are sure to find lots of interesting items there that can be used. Aluminum foil, plastic containers and jars are just a few of them. You can use dried beans and pasta, too.
If you change your mind about your oil painting picture, just paint over it. Oil won't hurt the surface because it's adaptable. In fact, it can provide your new creation with amazing depth and an interesting design.
Make a bird feeder with peanut putter and a pine cone. Simply smear peanut butter on the outside of the pine cone. Roll the sticky pinecone in birdseed. The seeds adhere to the cone, even after drying, so if you hang it from a tree with a string, then you can just enjoy watching birds feast in your yard.
Gather all your needed supplies. There is nothing worse than jumping into something only to realize you cannot finish it. Make a supplies list and buy the items.
Try out a Spirograph to explore the role of patterns in drawing. You can make fun patterns and different shapes while teaching children a physics lesson.
If you are great with art and craft projects, you can use them as gifts. Personalize each to make it more special. Many people like handmade gifts a lot more than those you buy in stores, and it can save you a lot of money.
Use arts and crafts as a way to teach your children. Let them count objects needed, subtract each one when used, read directions and similar things. Not only will they be having fun, but they will be learning.
Etsy is a wonderful site for people who are into arts and crafts. You will be overwhelmed by the amount of crafts you can purchase there. Etsy is a great website that allows you to upload and sell your favorite arts and crafts creations, and can help you finance your hobby.
If you make a lot of crafts, you should buy wholesale. Buying them at major retailers, or specialty shops often means paying through the nose. Going wholesale means you can more supplies for less dollars. Pass the wealth around to your friends, or you can sell your extra supplies.
To let your children learn about the role patterns play in drawings, get out the Spirograph set from your closet or purchase one from a local retailer. This shows children how patterns work.
Never ditch the packaging from products. A lot of it can be reused for different types of craft projects. Get a bin for storing packaging and other items you would normally toss out.
For a great, personalized pet gift, see if your children would like to make a homemade food or water dish. Use plain pet bowls and let your kids decorate them with permanent markers or paint pens. You pet will love their unique bowl.
Consider placing an ad asking for craft supplies. You may be very surprised at what you find out. It's not uncommon to learn that many people want to give away very things you need for free in order to complete your projects.
Look for deals online. Many arts and crafts supplies are for sale on the Internet. A large selection of materials are available for all your arts and crafts projects. You can grab these online supplies at a better price then you'd usually pay locally for them.
Look online for deals. Many craft supplies can be found online. There are many websites to choose from. You might find great prices at different websites.
To enjoy putting together a type of model car with a child, buy one that's appropriate for their motor skills and age. The models that snap together are good for younger kids; the ones that involve painting little pieces and gluing are more suited for kids in middle to high school.
For maximum fun, always consider your child's age and skills before choosing a model car kit to work on together. The models that snap together are good for young children. Leave painting and gluing small pieces for the middle school or high school crowd.
Local retailers often have free craft project pamphlets. Keep an eye out for them while shopping. You should find these pamphlets displayed at eye level. Retailers usually keep all the necessary supplies in the same aisle so you can easily find everything you need.
Clean your brushes. If your paint brushes are too covered in paint, you should soak them in mineral oil for a bit before you wash them. This helps clean the paint out of them and get them back in good shape.
Look to nature when you are in need of inspiration for your arts and crafts projects. Nature provides, specifically with color, a great inspiration. Look out your window and find a color palette for your next project. Find creative inspiration and ideas instantly no matter where you look.
Create items you can use around your home. You can make things to decorate your home, such as flower pots, picture frames or even cushions. And, they also make for great gifts to other people who can also use them.
Organize your supplies by projects. Being organized can help save you time. You could, for instance, keep all your supplies together and dedicate a surface to your arts and crafts so you do not have to thoroughly clean up after each project.
Is knitting something you want to try, but have no idea where to begin? The good news is that there are a lot of different books available that can teach you the basic stitches that you need to know. You can learn all you need about knitting just by reading the instructions and looking at pictures.
You can find some great, inexpensive arts and crafts materials in your kitchen pantry. Glue, paints, raw pasta, rice, empty containers and paper plates can be used to create an original project. The kids can glue the pasta into shapes on the paper plates and top them off with paint detailing.
Crafting can be messy. Things smear, fall and drip when doing arts and crafts activities. This happens naturally when doing arts and crafts. If you plan it right, you can protect your home from these messes, and you won't get upset. If you aren't prepared for a mess, you risk permanently damaging or ruining something you didn't want to.
Now you can make anything that your mind can envision, because of the advice found here. You will get so much more out of your arts and crafts when you take advantage of every one of them. Your skills will grow and your projects will get even better over time.
If you want to create a useful tuffet, check to make sure the cushion is large enough to hold the baby even as they age. Take the time to sew on a pocket so there is a place for toys that can keep the baby entertained while they are on the cushion.