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When, on December 10th, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani returned to Kabul from Islamabad, he was greeted by a Taliban attack that killed more than fifty people
Why has security in Afghanistan deteriorated so much over the past year? Former Defense Department officials David Sedney and Barnett Rubin join Judy Woodruff to discuss.
Cultural, diplomatic, and economic exchange has proliferated between India and the Middle East since ancient times. This engagement has continued into the modern era. India has maintained a strong relationship with Egypt, particularly since both countries became the founders of the Non-Aligned Movement during the Cold War. India also maintains bilateral relations with Iraq, Iran, Syria, and the Gulf states, dating back to when the area was known as the Fertile Crescent and when the Arab spice trade dominated the region.
2015 will be remembered for bold initiatives at the bilateral, plurilateral and multilateral level
Three of the most exciting initiatives have emerged on the sidelines of the official deliberations, and Indians have played a prominent role in all of them
CIC Associate Director Barnett Rubin spoke on November 24 at the Carnegie Council along with Ahmed Rashid on Af-Pak, Taliban and Daesh. View the full video of the dialogue below:
The recent series of dastardly and heinous attacks in places as dispersed as Baghdad, Beirut, Bamako, Kabul and Paris by myriad terrorist outfits ranging from the Taliban to Islamic State and al-Qaeda hold several important lessons for international efforts to counter terrorism.
On Monday November 23rd, CIC and the United States Institute for Peace (USIP) hosted a panel to discuss a new CIC report on China's One-Belt-One-Road initiative (OBOR), its impact on Afghanistan and Pakistan, and how it relates to United States efforts in the broader region.
Ideological and religious differences will continue to limit ISIL's ability to recruit from Afghan Taliban.
Successive Afghan leaders have dreamed of turning their country into a "land bridge" or a "roundabout" of regional trade and cooperation.
Instead, their country -- metaphorically called "the heart of Asia" for its location at the center of Asia's landmass -- has attracted terrorists and covert wars clouding the country's future and raising questions over its very survival as a nation state.
A series of Chinese-financed infrastructure, energy, and transport projects has now raised hopes that the investments will help in establishing lasting peace in Afghanistan.
An examination of Afghan society in conflict, from the 1978 communist coup to the fall of Najibullah, the last Soviet-installed president, in 1992. This edition, revised by the author, reflects developments since then and includes material on the Taliban and Osama bin Laden. Drawing on two decades of research, Barnett Rubin provides an account of the nature of the old regime, the rise and fall of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan, and the troubled Mujahidin resistance.
At the London Conference on Afghanistan held on January 28, 2010, the government of Afghanistan and the international community stated that regionally owned and steered initiatives stood the best chance of success. President Karzai and President Obama echoed that theme during the former's May 2010 visit to Washington – their joint statement "underscored the importance of regional cooperation in promoting regional security and in combating illicit financial, criminal, and terrorist networks."


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I'll be hosting the second (and final) online mirror of Eyes That Do Not See IX on Monday, February 26th, 2018 starting at 9 PM Eastern time. I expect the tournament to last between 90 minutes and 2 hours.
I'll most likely be sending out a link to a Skype for Business meeting request for the tournament. Basically I'll be sharing my screen and you'll use the chat to buzz.
To sign up, shoot me an e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.com.
There will be a limit of 10 players for this tournament.
Field (10 out of 10 players): (2/25/18)
Nick Collins
Jakob Meyers
Will Alston
Chinmay Kansara
Taylor Harvey
Tracy Mirkin
Jeremy Tsai
Jordan Brownstein
Ryan Humphrey
Peter Schmidt

subset: commoncrawl


text: Useful Suggestions on How to Slash Your School Facility's Electricity Bills 20 September 2016 Categories: , Blog The use of electricity in many Australian schools is commonplace. However, the biggest challenge for many school facility managers is ensuring that electricity is used as efficiently as possible. An energy-efficient school facility is a source of pride for any energy-savvy manager. If you manage a school facility, here's some expert advice on what you can do to cut your electricity bills. Lighting For any school facility, good lighting is essential in both indoor and outdoor settings. Read More


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Keep Your Body Strong And Healthy With These Nutrition TipsEveryone is busy these days. Eating while on the move makes it tough to ensure you are eating well, even though it is cheap and easy. You can easily incorporate nutrition into your daily routine when you know the right tricks. These helpful tips can help give you a few ideas.
Try to avoid packing your kids lunch with unhealthy beverages. Skip putting in a soda, some sugary juice, electrolyte beverages or energy drinks. Instead, provide them with either water, milk or soymilk. Make sure your kids enjoys these kinds of beverages, so that they don't try to purchase unhealthy drinks at school.
Instead of depriving yourself of your favorite foods, take an approach that replaces those foods with similar ones that provide better or more complete nutrition. You need to know the nutritional facts about the food you eat so you can make sure you are getting what you need. Recently, restaurants have begun providing a nutrition guide. This makes it easier to make smart choices.
When choosing high-protein foods, which are also, low fat, it is important how you prepare it. Some cooking methods can turn a potentially healthy, low-fat protein into a high-fat meal. Grill or bake your proteins for the lowest fat content. If you fry or add heavy sauces, your low-fat protein is no longer low-fat.
Dark, leafy green vegetables might be the very best foods to select, when you try to add better nutrition to your diet. These vegetables, such as spinach, kale and exotic lettuces, are packed with beneficial vitamins and nutrients, as well as, being completely free of unhealthy ingredients. By incorporating them into a healthy diet, the savvy dieter will get plenty of healthy nutrition.
http://www.purevolume.com/listeners/kylishpro3straney/posts/6499129/Do+You+Remember+The+Right+Qualities+When+Acquiring+An+Item%3F have recommended that a stress-free life will increase the overall health of any person. Meditating and stretching are methods that can easily be implemented to a daily routine. This can help reduce pain associated with muscle tension. side effects of collagen cream will improve a person's overall well-being.
Use cauliflower instead of potatoes. Boil cauliflower in a pot on the stove until very tender. Then, the cauliflower in a mixer or food processor with butter, light sour cream, salt and pepper, and blend until it reaches a smooth texture similar to mashed potatoes. It has far fewer carbohydrates and calories, as well as more nutrients and vitamins.
A great nutritional tip is to eat healthier sandwiches. Stick to whole wheat bread and go with lean meats such as tuna, chicken, or turkey. Also try to use light or fat-free condiments. Avoid meats that are high in fat such as pastrami and stay away from unhealthy condiments.
Always be aware of your sugar intake. Many times people will drink juice thinking it's a nutritional choice, when really it can be filled with sugar. Some juices actually contain more sugar then a can of pop. Read the food labels of everything you eat, and if it has a lot of sugar, skip it.
Avoid using hydrogenated oils for cooking, and watch out for them in packaged foods. These oils provide no nourishment for your skin or your body. In fact, they actually interfere with "good" oils (olive oil, sunflower oil, flax seed oil, fish oil) ability to nourish your skin, hair, nails and entire body!
Be aware that your parents may have taught you bad dietary habits. Many people enjoy their soul food or cultural menus, but neglect to realize that these foods may be rich in fats, oils, and empty calories. Review your recipes and try to remove excess oil, butter, frying, and the like. You will improve your diet while retaining your heritage.
Fresh fruit has its place in a healthy diet. While fruits do contain sugars, (that is why they taste so good!) click the up coming web site are the most natural, least complex sugars available. They digest better and have fewer negative impacts than processed or entirely artificial sweeteners. This natural sugar makes fresh fruit a great snack option for providing a quick energy boost.
Bring your own snacks or meals for family outings. It is the easiest way to keep your family eating healthy while you are out. Keep your clean fruit in a bowl, so it is easy for the kids to reach into the refrigerator and grab an apple or orange, whenever they feel the need to snack.
When you are at the grocery store, look at the nutrition facts of the foods that you buy. Try to purchase foods that have a low content of saturated fat. Reducing the amount of saturated fat in your diet will help to restore a thin body structure, and help you lose weight.
Vegetables like celery and lettuce have high fiber content. Fiber content is good for your bowel system because it provides roughage, indigestible material that passes through the body and helps things pass through. They also have very low calorie content due to the nature of their stem and leaf like qualities. The plants have very low sugar content, and are great for losing weight.
When trying to diet, an easier way to do it is to add fruit and vegetables rather than trying to remove other foods. Nutritionists recommend 5-9 servings of plants every day, which will get your body the vitamins it needs and satisfy hunger that might otherwise have been filled with fast food.
When you have that sugar craving after working out, don't ignore it. It's important to eat some sugar immediately, along with a form of protein (like a protein shake). Sugar aids your body in moving the protein efficiently to the muscle groups you just worked, helping you strengthen your muscles.
If you are in the process of trying to eat well and you cheat you should not allow yourself to be too discouraged and stop doing the best that you can to cut down. What you should do is think of it as a learning experience and just try your best not to let it happen too often.
Now that things that may have previously been unknown have been discovered, and the mystery has been taken out of one's body, they can treat themselves to the proper nutrition that one has learned. The right nutrition can make one feel much better about themselves and what they are doing.


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WORCESTER, Mass. – Rhode Island College's Gabriel Paiz (North Providence, R.I.) scored the game-winning goal on an assist from Dennis Vazquez (Providence, R.I.) in the 54th minute to lead the Anchormen to a 1-0 win over the host, Worcester State University, in a Tuesday evening matchup at Coughlin Field.
October 10, 2017
Coughlin Field
Score: Rhode Island College 1, Worcester State 0
Records: Rhode Island College (6-5-1) | Worcester State (6-5)
Worcester State and Rhode Island College traded shots in the first 10 minutes of play, however, neither was on goal. The Lancers' Manassah Konadu (Worcester, Mass.) registered the first shot on net in the 11th minute which was saved by the Anchormen's goalie, Charlie Tashjian (West Warwick, R.I.). The Anchormen didn't see their first shot on net until the 28th minute when Kossivi Dogbey (Providence, R.I.) fired a shot off. The score remained 0-0 at the half, as Konadu and Dogbey's shots were the only shots on net in the half.
The Anchormen were the first and only to reach the scoreboard in the second half when Paiz gave Rhode Island College the game-winner. Vazquez sent a through-ball to Paiz who then kicked the ball past Henri Guilmette (Franklin, Mass.) for the 1-0 edge. Worcester State fought back with four shots and a corner kick in the last 15 minutes of play, but were unable to take the lead away from the Anchormen.
- Paiz scored his first goal of the season in the win, while Vazquez registered his third helper of the season.
- Vazquez and Derek Delahoz (Central Falls, R.I.) led the Anchormen with three shots apiece.
- Worcester State's offense was led by Bryan Brasil (Williamsburg, Mass.) and Andre Ipojuca (Saugus, Mass.) who tallied three and two shots, respectively.
- Rhode Island College's Tashjian earned his sixth win in goal, stopping three shots on net.
- Guilmette was tabbed the loss for the Blue and Gold as he also made three saves this evening.
- Worcester State held the advantage in shots (12-10) and corner kicks (5-1).
The Lancers host Becker on Thursday (Oct. 12) in a 7 p.m. non-conference tilt.
Follow Worcester State Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube


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Portrait photography from one of Colorado's most talented and upcoming fine art nature photographers. Utilizing years of experience in the arts to bring you a one of a kind portrait experience. Photography is such a competitive market and being from the Denver area originally, a photography mecca, I am kept at the top of my game to bring you some of the best quality photography and artistry available.
Fun, and relaxed I excel at capturing the best facets of my client's personalities.
As a nature photographer, I enjoy a less rigid portrait style. Even though I can do poses, I do not feel that these generic and rigid poses brings out the true personality of each individual, often I prefer to have our subjects (especially children) feel that they are free to be themselves (in many cases candid portraits are best). Though poses may be the most flattering for an individuals appearance, they do not show whether the person maybe an outgoing individual or shy, or perhaps a studious person, and that is my goal in portraits. Every attempt will be made to photograph you in the standard poses, but I truly want everyone to be having fun and at ease during the session. So if you enjoy skating, DO NOT leave your skateboard at home.
Prior to the actual portrait session there will be a brief consultation to go over locations and wardrobe requirements, our personal recommendation is something that you will feel most comfortable in or clothing that reflects tastes and personalities the most, even if that means metal t shirts (metal is my favorite genre of music), but for group shots, similar clothing styles and color would be desirable.
Our 1 1/2 hour sessions occur outdoors at select locations on Colorado's Western Slope, employing some of the country's most spectacular scenery. The Western Slope includes the Montrose region.
Portrait sessions are available along the I-70 corridor from Vail to Denver for $75 per hour drive time.
Indoor portraits are available if you have a location you would love to be photographed in. The historic schoolhouse in Battlement Mesa is a highly recommended location for indoor and outdoor shoots, I can set an appointment for the usage of the site for a $50 donation to the Grand Valley Historical Society.
A portrait session is for up to 4 people. Additional people are $20 per person.
After the portrait session is completed we will set up a time to go over the photos taken. This is an in-depth period where your favorite photos will be chosen for printing and framing.
Portrait session fee does not include the actual prints and framing. Prints and framing are additional, see below for details. Portrait session fees are for the time involved in the taking and processing of photos. I am an artist with many years of photography experience including formal education, shooting with high end camera equipment.
Post processing is tailored to each and every session, reflecting the individual and attire chosen and the photographers vision. Because of this, all post processing is done in house and will never be outsourced to a 3rd party, it takes a little longer to complete, but it guarantees a quality image that the photographers have total control over and clients demand.
I am currently upgrading my print packages to give you a top of the line 21st century offering, unique and unforgettable
Whether it's a large birthday party or any other milestone in your life that you want to record, or perhaps you are a business needing photos of events or banquets, Perhaps you are hosting a small convention, I can fulfill those needs.
$200 an hour with a 2 hour minimum time frame
$50 an hour for an assistant photographer with the same time minimum
Basic post production (color correction, contrast, exposure correction) included
Online proofing within 24 to 48 hours (depending on length and size of event). Large number of photos takes a significant amount of time to transfer and upload, especially high resolution photos.
unrestricted marketing license (Photographers still hold onto the copyright), high resolution images will be delivered with a flash drive providing greater versatility and reliability. We do not deliver anything on a CD or DVD, they do not live up to my standards of reliability.
$100 an hour full post production on select photos (includes removal of objects, adding objects to a photo, localized adjustments), full post production involves my complete processing workflow starting in Lightroom CC and ending in Photoshop CC
Weddings are not available for shooting as of yet, I have plans in the near future to expand to include weddings so keep checking back.


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Sunday, 17 July 2011
Cheese & Onion Pie with Red Pepper
1 comment:
- Mario said...
Hi and greetings from sunny California. Thanks so much for the visit and the comment on my blog.
Your garden flowers are gorgeous. I saw them on your other blog. Just beeeyoutiful! Your garden, a cup of coffee and my watercolors and I would be as a happy hungry boy with a slice of chocolate cake.
Your comment triggered an idea. You said that your husband washes his socks in the bidet. Great comment by the way. Very entertaining. But here's my idea. Why don't you write a book on "100 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Bidet" or "Thinking Outside the Bidet: 100 Novel Uses". I think it would be great Bathroom reading. You know us Americans, it would be a hit. Especially at airport bookstores. Well, its an idea! Again, thanks for stopping by. I always value your thoughts and comments.
- 19 July 2011 at 06:37


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Testosterone and Depression: Low T and Depression are more Closely related than You'd Think
This may come as a surprise, but low testosterone and depression seem to come together.
Low testosterone is linked to depression, and depression is linked to low testosterone. Got either one of them and it's very likely that the other one will eventually follow. And what's even more remarkable, testosterone seems to somewhat cure depression (of course there's plenty of other big time factors to take in consideration, but testosterone does some crazy things so…).
Here's what I'm talking about:
The Relationship between Depression and Low Testosterone
Scientists have never been that sure about what actually causes depression.
And quite frankly that's not a thing easily measured in science, as depression really is a complex "disease".
You can get depressed if a close relative or a friend passes away, if you don't know what to do in life, if you're single and can't find a partner, after a divorce, etc. there's gazillion of ways to end up depressed and most of them are a result of an emotional roller coaster.
But emotions and feelings aside, there seems to be some other causes to depression too, and this may explain why some men just get depressed without even knowing why.
And it seems to be testosterone, more accurately, the lack of it.
a) This study found out that when men become more older, their testosterone levels tend to decrease, which brings along the symptoms of depression and irritability. Might be that those grumpy old guys are just low testosterone wrecks?
b) This review study found similar results, men with low testosterone were much more likely to be depressed than men on the higher end of the spectrum.
c) This study found out that the age related testosterone decline may not be an inevitable part of the aging process, as I've said multiple times before. The researchers stated that it's most often a direct causation of obesity and depression.
And if you're not buying that, then take a look at these results:
d) This review study which examined 7 different studies, found out that testosterone replacement therapy has some strong anti-depressant like benefits. In other words, depressed men who get more testosterone into their serum, end up being much more happier.
e) This study conducted back in 2012 examined the reasons why testosterone relieves the symptoms of depression. The researchers used an animal model to find out that testosterone positively affects hippocampus, a part of the brain linked to memory and stress processing.
So as a take home message from those studies, we can conclude that low testosterone may worsen the feelings of depression, or even cause it, and that increases in serum testosterone usually come with depression relieving benefits.
These results really make SSRI's and other depression medications look bad, as most of them are linked to lowered free testosterone levels, which in theory would lead to even deeper depression.
There's clearly a strong link between low testosterone and depression. Which to me is not a surprise…
…I've personally felt the mood enhancing benenits that come with increased testosterone levels, and it's not only general happiness that comes with T, motivation and determination are also some quite strong "side effects" that I've noted on a personal levels.
With that being said, depression is a complex condition and I'm no expert in it. All I can say is that testosterone might help relieve the symptoms.
Ali Kuoppala
Latest posts by Ali Kuoppala (see all)
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- Stupidly Simple Diet and Exercise Program to Get Lean and Put on Some Muscle Mass in 2018 - 15/01/2018
- Fenugreek and Testosterone: Closer Look at One of the Most Popular Testosterone Herbs - 02/06/2017
1 Comment
I remember I used to have 4.32ng of testosterone, which is actually not "low", but it IS low, very. Then I got to 7.81ng (and I hope I got some more) and guess what? I still tend to have depressions for many reasons like feeling rejected, having terrible economy issues, etc…But the positive thing is that, in just 30 minutes, the depression passes away like a big shit.
It's like "Begone, vile depression! Testosterone…ATTACK!". Testosterone really helps depression, it even helps when you're still in a very depressive environment.


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The Exercise Habit
One of the first things I do when I move to a new place is figure out a new workout routine. In Yemen, it was running from bullets. Just kidding, it was swimming laps and doing Crossfit in the hyper-masculine hotel gym with Marines who blasted death metal. Before that, in Washington DC, it was […]Read More


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ChemImage Sensor System's senior scientist will present data Tuesday at Pittcon from development work on a Raman system that could potentially detect and identify explosives.
Nathaniel Gomer's presentation at the New Orleans convention will discuss work on the detection of improvised explosive devices.
The system would be controlled robotically, using molecule vibrations within a chemical system to determine the molecular makeup of a solution or compound.
"It is a great opportunity for me to present the work we have completed to the spectroscopy community during Pittcon 2015 and have the opportunity for discussion and feedback on the project," Gomer said.
The company specializes in sensor manufacture and development that can be used to detect biological, chemical or explosive threats, and has developed several devices in this category that military and security personnel use.
Pittcon, which showcases technology and scientific advances, is organized by the Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy, the Spectroscopy Society of Pittsburgh and the Society for Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh.
Gomer's presentation will be in Room 255 of the Morial Convention Center.


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Board Member & Terms
Our board member terms are as follows:
- Two (2) year terms (Expiring in May 2018)
Paul Campanella, Laurie Dzeidzic, Mike Littier
- Three (3) year terms (Expiring in May 2019)
Terry Schommer, Sophia McKenzie, Stephen Kalmus, Edison Guzman, Alan Michels
Board Members
Paul Campanella (President)
With a dynamic engineering background to guide him, consultant and trainer, Paul Campanella, delivers hands-on executive expertise tempered with managerial and technical skills in the areas of manufacturing, product development, quality systems and general management.
Action Plus Project Management was established in 2005 to help client companies develop sound business and technical practices to improve their competitive positioning and performance in three main areas:
- Strategy Development
- Project Implementation, Prioritization
- Resource Allocation,Team Building
- Project Planning and Execution
- Manufacturing Effectiveness and Efficiency
- Quality Improvement Processes
- Product Design for Manufacturing
- Manufacturing Process Development
- Lean Manufacturing, Quality Systems
Edison Guzman (Vice President)
Owner, A&E Advertising and Web Design – 1997 to Present
Offer the services of Web Site Design, Hosting, SEO, Social Media Marketing, Internet Marketing, Advertising and Marketing Strategy implementation. Over 20 years of experience and business ownership in advertising and web development.
Board Member – Greater Hudson Valley Health System – 2013 to Present
Member – Greater Monroe Chamber of Commerce – 2015 to Present
Member – Goshen Chamber of Commerce – 2015 to Present
Past Board Member – Orange County Chamber of Commerce – 1998 to April 2016
Past Chapter President – SCORE Chapter 465 – 2006 to Present
Assistant District Director – SCORE Mid Hudson Region 2016 to Present
Volunteer to counsel individuals who want to start their own business, as well as existing business owners with business challenges. Through volunteerism, the Orange County NY SCORE chapter helps over individuals, either start or grow their business through counseling, workshops and webinars.
Other Committees: Monroe Clean Sweep committee.
Action in Monroe – Monroe Cheese Festival Committee
Terry Schommer (Appointed to fill a Board Vacancy January 2015)
A Minnesota native, Terry Schommer holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in music from the University of Minnesota, and is a graduate of Goucher College in Baltimore, where she earned a Master of Arts in Arts Administration. During the course of her graduate studies, she spearheaded the first cultural assessment study for and commissioned by Orange County, NY, and co-authored the study with Craig Dreeszen, PhD. Upon graduation, she was retained by Weekend of Chamber Music and served as Communications Director for eight years. She was appointed Managing Director in 2012.
A former staff arts writer for the Times Herald-Record, Ms. Schommer still freelances, and is the owner of Treehouse Arts, an independent consulting business for marketing, publicity and writing for non-profit arts organizations. She also teaches private lessons in her Treehouse Arts Piano Studio in Monroe, where she lives with her husband.
Sophia McKenzie (Appointed to fill a Board Vacancy January 2015)
Sophia McKenzie is a Licensed Master of Social Work and a wellness and Business Coach. She is a graduate of Fordham University having earned a Master of Social Work degree. Sophia is an entrepreneur and owner of Healthy Transitions 4U . She is a creative and strategic change agent with the mission of improving the quality of life for others by empowering them to make a Healthy-‐Transition! Sophia has previously served on boards for Head Start of Rockland and the National Association for Social Workers, NYS Chapter where she served on and chaired several key committees contributing to overall improvement in the organization. Sophia and her husband reside in the Monroe area with their children attending the MW schools.
Stephen Kalmus (Board Member since June 2011, Founding Board Member)
A seasoned veteran of the insurance industry working with Marshall & Sterling, Stephen holds a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration & Finance from Ramapo College of New Jersey.
He is licensed as a property and casualty, as well as life and health insurance broker through the New York State Insurance Department, and is also a graduate of The Hartford School of Insurance.
Stephen serves on the 2012 Sales Advisory Panel for Marshall & Sterling.
Stephen resides in Monroe with his family.
Charles Pakula (Charlie) has been a Monroe resident for over forty years.
He has been self-employed for most of his adult life having a number of different businesses. Most recently Charlie owned and operated the GNC in Federal Plaza until 2013.
In addition to being one of the founders of the Greater Monroe Chamber of Commerce he volunteers and has led a number of civic and Not-for-Profit organizations in the Town of Monroe.
Charlie also serves as a SCORE Counselor, sharing his knowledge of business and entrepreneurship with those starting a new enterprise or striving to grow their current business.
Wayne Cutter has worked for Paychex for over ten years in the Hudson Valley helping over 1,000 businesses streamline their payroll and taxes. He attended Don Bosco Prep and holds a bachelor's degree from Marist College in Organizational Leadership and Communication.
In addition, he is a current board member of the Greater Monroe Chamber of Commerce, award recipient of the Orange County Chamber's Rising Star Award, and an active member of the Monroe Cornerstone Historical Society.
He lives in the Town of Monroe with his family.
His interests are golf and travel.


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The Divine Value Of Women: The Hon. Louis Farrakhan Speaks 9-11-2011Saturday, September 10, 2011Brother Mustafaa
The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan is scheduled to speak at Mosque Maryam in Chicago this Sunday, September 11, 2011 at 10:00 A.M. CDT.
His Subject: "The Divine Value of Women"
The address is to be carried live via webcast @ NOI.org/webcast


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Tag Archives: Anne Almasy
The 30 Most Influential Wedding & Portrait Photographers by Mike Allebach
Check out the people who are most influential as portrait and wedding photography teachers or behind the scenes. I created this list because there are many people who aren't flashy and are doing a lot of work behind the scenes to make our photography industry better. Most of them have never been on Creative Live. Their work and passion for teaching others is truly amazing. Visit their websites. Take time to look at their work. Support what they do.
- Anne Almasy – Currently the industry's most viral wedding blogger. She changed the way print magazines approach adveritising of same-sex weddings. #FunkyGoGoGirl
- Carla Ten Eyck – Ten Eyck Tuesdays & teacher at Inspire. Actually she does a lot of inspiring these days.
- Chris Becker – [b] Founder of www.photogrefers.com and shooter of 10 bazillion weddings* (*estimate).
- Craig Lamere – Amazing portraits. Ammmaaaazzing pooorrrtraaaiitts!!!!
- Dane Sanders – Author. Speaker. Always Fast Trackin'.
- David A Williams – It's been said they he has the most meaningful workshop on photography. Whose presentation on portraiture will make you cry…
- David Hobby – The guy who changed the speedlight industry forever! The original strobist. We'd all be shooting natural light without him.
- Gregory Heisler – 50 portraits. The man. The myth. The legend. And the book that every photographer should own.
- Huy Nguyen – Unscripted and absolutely fearless. He showed us how. (And then gave us all awards for being super bad ass)
- Jaleel King – Has wheels, will travel. We were inspired. We cried when he told us how to make lemonade. He taught us how to be unstoppable in the face of any circumstance.
- Jamie Swanson – Founder of ModernTog. Viral blog posts. Teaching photographers how to make it rain.
- Jason Groupp – He loves NYC. He rocks WPPI. He made the bow-tie a thing again.
- Jen Bebb – A dreamer. An asker of "What Ifs"
- Jennifer Rozenbaum – Intimate. Daring. Feminine. Boudoir Teacher.
- Jeremy Cowart – Founder of Help-Portrait & Ok Do This. Humanitarian. All around awesome guy.
- Joe McNally – What hasn't this National Geographic photographer done? 50 countries, 2 bazillion assignments. Small light wizard.
- Kara Wahlgren – The author, ghostwriter and editor of many of the most viral wedding photography articles you share…shhh.
- Kirk Mastin – He made a little something called Mastin Labs. Buy it.
- Lena Hyde – Do you Design Aglow? Yeah, that's her.
- Melissa Niu – Framed Show. The most important photo show on youtube.
- Michael Zhang – The wizard of oz behind PetaPixel.
- Mimika Cooney – Have you watched MimikaTV lately?
- Neil van Niekerk – Neil goes on tangents. He's a blogging & education machine.
- Renee Robyn – Mad photo skillz. Black latex & leather. If you haven't seen her etherial work, check it.
- Ryan Brenizer – He's a noun, verb and adjective. Have you Brenizered lately?
- Sam Hurd – It's ****in Sam Hurd. Breakin lenses and taking names. He could turn aluminum foil, saran wrap and duct tape into a 4×5 camera. Then he'd probably use it to take pictures of the president.
- Spencer Boerup – Kickstarter project Mag Mod man. He also showed us how to make mad money in portraits sales with The Salesographer.
- Trevor Dayley – Teacher and writer for Fstoppers
- Von Wong – Fire. Fire. Fire. hehe
- Zack Arias – One Light, One Workshop, One BadAss Photographer
I am personally thankful for all these photographer do and how they share their wealth of knowledge.
Did I miss your favorite person? Tell me in the comments below who I missed and what influential thing they did to move your photo business forward!
———————-Update 2.1.14 —————–
So many people are wondering why their favorite photographer didn't make the cut. These are the people who are inspiring ME now or who have moved me in my career most recently. They are also people I see inspiring you lately!
Like I wonder where I'd be without David Hobby's strobist.com. Or who the industry would be without Zack Arias & Jason Groupp. I encourage you to write your list in the comments below.
Mike Allebach: Founded Brandsmash as a marketing resource for small business owners with his mantra "Your story changes everything." Communications & Marketing Director turned Business owner he hosts BrandsmashTV. Hailed by a Rock n Roll Bride as "the Original Tattooed Bride Photographer" Mike Allebach crafted one of the most distinct niches in photography. Mike's Brandsmash Stories & Wedding Photos have been featured in over 100 blogs, newspapers & magazines.
In 2014 he started BrandsmashTV and Brandsmash Workshops to teach small business owners social media, storytelling, branding & marketing. See him teach in person at Brandsmash's Marketing Workshop Philadelphia on January 26, at Inspire Photo Retreats in Massachusetts, February 12 or at the WPPI Expo in Las Vegas on March 6.
Sign up for Brandsmash Business Tips and a chance at a WPPI Conference Pass!
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Small Success, Big Fulfillment | Anne Almasy
Coach Taylor said it best: "Success is not a goal. It's a by-product."
He was, of course, paraphrasing Eleanor Roosevelt's wise words on happiness, but for a small business owner, success and happiness may be one and the same. Personally, I'd call it "fulfillment."
For me, success is a feeling. I may look at someone else's nice home, big income, or killer wardrobe and think, "Wow, they're successful." But I know that my life could mirror theirs, fancy-for-fancy, and I'd still be scrambling to catch up because I wouldn't feel fulfilled.
2013 brought me several beautiful moments of success — perhaps not successes by anyone else's standards, but successes nonetheless, because I knew I was doing exactly what I was meant to be doing. In honor of the new year, these are my top five most fulfilling moments of 2013, the experiences that made me feel truly, irrevocably successful in life, love, and work.
5. I didn't get a tattoo. Silly, I know. I entered my 30′s CERTAIN I was finally ready to get my tattoo. But as the past couple of years inched by, I've struggled with finding the right artist, choosing exactly where my tattoo would go, and finalizing precisely what it would say or be. One day, in my car, I heard a beautiful NPR piece discussing our tendency to underestimate how much we change as we grow older. According to the study, any given age we tend to believe we've finally become who we will be (more or less) for the rest of our lives. But the truth is, we change constantly throughout our lives. Ask a person how different they are from the person they were ten years ago, and regardless of their current age, they will invariable say, "I'm a completely different person now!" Finally accepting that I'm still changing allowed me to just drop the whole tattoo thing — for now. In the meantime, I'll be pinning them on Pinterest.
4. I fell in love with photographing families. When I finished photo school, the first thing I did was burn the family portrait I'd been required to include in my portfolio — that's how utterly atrocious it was. (Honestly, I wish I still had it just so I could show you. You would probably vomit.) But this year, as the Christmas cards started rolling in with photos of the beautiful families I've photographed throughout the year, I realized: I LOVE to photograph families, and I'm finally, at last, pretty okay at it. I'm so thankful to the hundreds of families who have allowed me to learn from them over the years. I never knew I could love wrangling toddlers and exhausted parents — but I do!
3. I outsourced 80% of my editing. This was my 2013 New Year's resolution, and I'm proud to say I stuck to it. I brought my co-tographer Erin Schopf in to edit for me, and her hard work every week has kept me on track, improved my finished product, and given me more time to do what I love: make pictures!
2. I stayed married. In 2014 I will celebrate my 10th wedding anniversary with my husband. If you're married, you know that every year you are married is a year that you fought for. Some years are blissfully smooth and easy, and some years are so damn hard you really do wonder how you'll ever make it. Thankfully, 2013 was one of the smooth years for Dan and me, but we've had other years that were incredibly challenging. I am immensely thankful for his unwavering commitment to us as a team, and his constant, active love for me. I'm sure we could survive without one another, but I honestly wouldn't want to.
1. I followed my gut. I've never been scared of confrontation, per se, but I don't seek it out either. So I'm not sure what I thought would happen when I decided it was a good idea to post, live on the internet, a letter I'd written about something I believed so strongly, it simply couldn't go unsaid. The chaos that followed felt unravelling at times, but I know so much more now than I did before about myself, my industry, and the world around me. Most importantly, I am convinced ever more deeply in my soul that we are all in this together. In the aftermath, I spoke with two people whose business prowess, creative agility, and social understanding I have tremendous respect for. I asked if they had just one piece of advice they would mind sharing with my frazzled, overwhelmed, caught-offguard self. After a thoughtful moment, they responded in sync, "Follow your gut." As life takes me down new paths and I find myself in unfamiliar places again and again, that simple wisdom remains the most valuable.
As I hit restart and begin fresh with a brand new year ahead of me, I reject success as a goal, and instead strive for greater compassion, renewed creativity, and strengthened friendships. This may not result in more money or more things, but I do not doubt the resulting fulfillment. And that? Right there? That's success. 2014 is going to be a year rich with success; it is already a year big on fulfillment.
Happy New Year!
Post Originally Featured here: http://annealmasy.com/success-fulfillment-2013/
Anne Almasy
Anne Almasy is a lifelong photographer, accent-free southerner, avid reader of inexcellent literature, and music lover (all kinds). She prefers whiskey over wine, cats over dogs, and flat shoes over heels — because you never know when you might need to run for your life.
A graduate of Hallmark Institute of Photography, Anne is a Wedding Photojournalist Association multiple-award winner, and her wedding images have been featured in various renown print publications including The Knot, Southern Weddings, Rock 'n' Roll Bride, and Brides, as well as blogs Offbeat Bride and Style Me Pretty.
With a thriving portrait and wedding photography business in Atlanta, Georgia, Anne was launched onto the national scene in 2013 when she blogged her open letter to a wedding publication, protesting their refusal to run her ad featuring a same-sex couple. Her subsequent essay, "Resolution," a call for couples to focus on what really matters on their wedding day, remains viral, with close to a million views.
Anne is a contributing blogger for Huffington Post, with a growing body of work promoting progressive family values and positive body image.
She lives in Atlanta with her husband and one struggling bonsai.
Join Anne at her Brandsmash Marketing Workshop on January 26. More info here.


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The Shebeest Women's Daisy Short is a compression short for road biking. An 8" inseam covers the leg with a 3" Sheband cuff with soft grip, so it won't ride up nor squeeze the leg too tight. The Shelastic 2.0 Chamois cushions for a full day of riding.
So sorry, but only 4 items are allowed for comparison, so we're comparing the first 4. I blame the gnomes and so should you.
Would you like to compare the products you have selected now?


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An iGive member has listed this organization:Search for a Specific Cause
Advent Lutheran Church
West Chester, Pennsylvania
Cause Description:
Advent Lutheran Church's mission is to worship God, invite everyone to Jesus Christ, nurture each other in love hope and faith and serve others with the compassion of Christ
To support Advent Lutheran Church with a free iGive account, click here!
Fundraising for Advent Lutheran Church has never been easier. Shop online at iGive.com, and up to 26% of each purchase is donated to your favorite cause. It's free for you and your cause. And with 1907 participating stores, there's something for everyone in the family.
iGive.com is the easy way to volunteer for Advent Lutheran Church. Your everyday purchases at 1907 name-brand stores mean serious donations! You'll find everything from books, CDs, DVDs, electronics, airline tickets, and groceries, to gifts, shoes, office supplies, iPods, and much more. Spend nothing extra - in fact you'll often save money with exclusive coupons, free shipping specials, and sales only available for iGive members. It's simple, it's free, and it's fast.
It's your money - make it go twice as far starting today.
Folks just like you have helped list over 35,000 causes and charities at iGive.com, including Advent Lutheran Church. Now you can join too (it's free!) to help them raise money, every time you shop online!
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Some business owners face an unfortunate reality – external circumstances force them to sell their company before they otherwise would. Divorce, family emergencies, poor health, and financial instability all create the need for a quick exit or liquidation. The majority, however, get to choose their time. We've written extensively on the subject of timing the sale of a company, and we firmly believe that company and market factors outweigh personal factors when it comes to making this decision. That said, personal factors can't be ignored.
Most business owners invest a substantial amount of time and money into their companies, to the point that they become an extension of themselves. To some, selling means giving up part of who they are. So, how do you know if you are ready?
You find yourself saying "If someone offered me __________________, I'd sell it to them tomorrow". This is a telltale sign that you're ready to sell, and now it's all about negotiating the right number. If you find yourself saying this, it's time to take the next step. At the very least, test the waters to determine how close you can get to your number.
You know exactly what you would do tomorrow if you didn't have to show up to work – and you can afford to do it. Financial planning is critical to readiness. When you sell, you receive a lump sum in exchange for the annual income your company generates. Does the sale price combined with your retirement savings allow you to live the life you want for the next 20-30 years?
You love what you do but you hate the burden of ownership. Selling your company doesn't always mean retiring. In some industries, corporate buyers and passive investors buy companies that have owners willing to continue running the business for them. This allows you to keep doing what you enjoy without the stress and extra hours required of an owner. If this is not an option, selling can give you the means to pursue a second career.
You don't have a passion for your business anymore. If you are not passionate about what you do, your business will begin to suffer. Things might not be noticeable at first but over time your business performance will decline, making a successful sale, on your terms, much harder to accomplish. If your passion is gone, you probably need to start exploring your exit opportunities now to ensure full value for all your years of hard work.
Your personal goals changed, and owning a company no longer helps you accomplish them. What you want today may be very different from what you wanted 30 years ago. This is perfectly normal, and if you're unable to obtain the work-life balance you desire then it's probably time to sell. Whether your new goals involve travel, relocation, or just a return to a 40-hour work week, make a change now before you begin to lose motivation, thus hurting your chances to go out on top.


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Residential Parking Zone (RPZ) vehicle permits and passes expire on October 1st of each year. If you are a current permit-holder and your information is unchanged, you may request a renewal by completing and submitting the form below.
Note: Permits cannot be issued to vehicles with outstanding parking citations. You can
check for and pay citations online.


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These pages are in beta, which means they're new and we may still be working on them. Your feedback helps us make things better.
Find out about volunteering as a Special Constable.
Special Constables are volunteers who work closely with regular officers to help police their communities. They have the same powers as a regular police officer and wear the same uniform. They are initially posted to our neighbourhood and prevention teams, or our response and patrol teams, and are expected to deal with a range of incidents appropriately and safely.
Being a Special Constable is a challenging and rewarding role. We are looking for people who can empathise with others and listen to their needs. They need to be willing to commit their time to Hampshire Constabulary in order to help protect their community.
To become a Special Constable, you must:
- be at least 18 years old
- meet the required medical and fitness standards
- be willing to give a minimum of 16 hours every month on a voluntary basis.
Visit the College of Policing website for more detailed eligibility criteria.
The training phase takes several months and can be very time consuming. There is an expectation that candidates will commit to attend all of the training course dates they are given. The course is split into two parts:
The first part is called Gateway. It is made up of a series of 11 workshops and workbooks. Vetting and medical checks will be completed and verified during this phase. At the end, all candidates are required to pass an exam.
The second phase, foundation training, takes place over seven weekends or at evening sessions during the week. It involves practical operational skills. On completion of Foundation Training, trainee Special Constable received their uniform and warrant card and are sworn in as a Special Constable. They are then assigned a station and allocated a regular Police Officer as a tutor constable.
Training takes place at the Support and Training Headquarters at Netley, however candidates and trainee Special Constables on the Isle of Wight will do most of their training on the Island.
Employee Supported Policing
Employee Supported Policing (ESP) is a partnership scheme in which employers in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight allow their staff to train and patrol as Special Constables. ESP Special Constables are required to carry out a total of 200 hours per year plus training. Employers are asked to provide paid leave for some or all of these hours. In most cases, patrols areas are relevant to the employer's industry sector. For example, recruits from the retail industry patrol high streets and shopping centres.
Allowing staff to become Special Constables offers huge benefits to organisations in terms of staff development – benefits that could not be bought commercially. Transferable skills include communicating and negotiating effectively, staying calm under pressure, problem solving, decision making, team building, leadership and management and responsibility.
There are two main ways staff can be recruited as ESP Special Constables:
- internal recruitment, with the support of Hampshire Constabulary
- the employer signs up to a written Memorandum of Understanding with a member of the ESP team. An ESP co-ordinator is then nominated to act as a point of contact between the employer and the force, responsible for driving awareness and the recruitment process.
These two methods work best together. Hampshire Constabulary provides a postal application system, staff and line management information packs and recruitment days on the employer's premises for interested staff. All the employer has to do is to actively market the scheme to staff and managers and then support staff through the application process and when on duty part time.
It is also possible for existing Special Constables to be brought into the ESP scheme.
We require that people interested in becoming a Special Constable attend a recruitment event so we can provide more information on the role, recruitment process and the training commitment. You'll be able to get answers from current Special Constables and other members of our team. These events are advertised here when they are available.
Further information
If you need further information about being a Special Constable please e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com


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The Concept
The concept for COOLHOUSE Collection comes from the first certified Passive House in Australasia, designed and built by Jessop Architects. COOLHOUSE uses these low energy practices to deliver a quality home in excess of current New Zealand building code standards. We have specifically modelled our designs to suit the New Zealand climate, specifications vary depending on location. They are healthy, warm and comfortable, low energy and durable. Architecturally designed by award-winning architect Darren Jessop, these homes feature clean lines and functional living spaces that make them beautiful too.
COOLHOUSE is currently building in the upper north region of greater Auckland, throughout the Coromandel and in the greater Christchurch area. Coolhouse can build nationwide, pending builder availability.
Low Energy Benefits
COOLHOUSE harnesses green, sustainable practices and combines them with international performance standards.
It has superior strength and uses superior insulation properties to ensure no mould or mildew, resulting in a cleaner, healthier living environment.
A COOLHOUSE maintains temperature more easily than a traditional house that meets the building code.
The COOLHOUSE building envelope means the insulation properties will not break down and will insulate to 100% of its value for the life of the building. Ongoing energy consumption is reduced, decreasing the household's impact on the environment and returns considerable cost savings on energy bills.
Construction Techniques
COOLHOUSE utilises modern construction processes and partners it with passive house technologies to deliver a fast and efficient building model.
Wool insulation in external walls-R 4.8
Wool insulation in ceiling-R 6.2
Airtightness describes how non-draughty the building structure is. Contrary to previous belief, it is now considered hugely important to achieve an airtight building envelope. Draughts are not only uncomfortable but can contribute to significant heat losses. Constructing an airtight building envelope improves sound protection and saves energy by ensuring that the ventilation system operates most efficiently.The airtight envelope is achieved by wrapping the whole building with 'Intello' variable humidity airtightness membrane (building paper). This includes placing membrane along all the connections between various building elements i.e between walls/window and walls/ceilings, taping all joins in the membrane and taping around all services that protrude through it.
Available Build Types
Passive House
A passive house (Passivhaus) is a well insulated, virtually airtight building that is primarily heated by passive gain. This means that the building's interior climate can be maintained at a comfortable level without active heating and cooling systems – the house heats and cools itself, hence 'passive'.
The Passivhaus standard requires that the building fulfills the following requirements:
– The building must be designed to have an annual heating demand as calculated with the Passivehaus planning package of not more than 15 kWh/m per year in heating and 15 kWh/m per year cooling energy OR with a peak heat load of 10W/m.
– Total primary energy consumption (primary energy for heating, hot water and electricity) must not be more than 120 kWh/m per year.
Low Energy
A low energy house is well insulated and energy efficient, just not as airtight as a Passive House. You won't have the official Passive House Certification but will still enjoy a healthy, warm, dry home.
The term 'low-energy home' refers to the following:
– A building with an annual heating demand in the range of 20 kWh/m to 40 kWh/m per annum.
– The building must not leak more than 1.5 times the house volume in air per hour (n50 ≤ 1.5 / hour), at 50 PA (N/m.) as established by a Blower Door Test. (NZ Building Code achieves approx. 7/hour)
NZBZ Standard
An NZBC standard home is built to the level of specification outlined by the NZ Building Code 2004. We still incorporate a higher level of spec in these homes and they contain the following as a standard:
– Double glazed windows and aluminium Joinery
– HRV home ventilation system


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ARNBC is committed to preserving the anonymity of all visitors to www.arnbc.ca. ARNBC tracks user behavior through information collected in our server logs. We do not track information that identifies particular users, only information that tracks general usage trends on the ARNBC site.
ARNBC may use cookies to help users transfer information to various parts of the site. Cookies expire at the end of each session. We do not collect or store any personal information using cookies.
Provincial Infection Prevention and Control Strategic FrameworkThe B.C. Ministry of Health and the Provincial Infection Control Network of B.C. is currently seeking input to inform the creation of a new provincial infection prevention and control (IPC) strategic framework. ARNBC will have the opportunity to inform this work by bringing forward the expertise of registered nurses and nurse practitioners across the province.
As your professional association, ARNBC is committed to ensuring nurses have the ability to influence and inform provincial policy. If you are interested in contributing to ARNBC's response, please email us by October 9th, 2017.


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2014 National Preservation Honor Award
The VRI partnership has been honored with a 2014 Honor Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation as well as the 2011 Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's (ACHP) Chairman's Award for Achievement in Historic Preservation.
The Village Revitalization Initiative partnership created both construction and permanent jobs, generating short-term federal and state income tax revenues and long-term property tax revenues.
The HUD EDI investments played a crucial role in the vitality of communities and reinforce the essential character of Vermont—a crucial effort in maintaining the state's special brand.


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Wednesday, January 13, 2016
The Best and Lightest: 150 Healthy Recipes for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner by Editors of Food Network Magazine Review
Using clever cooking techniques and ingredient swaps, Food Network Magazine's test kitchen chefs have lightened up all the foods you crave. Each crowd-pleasing dish comes in under 500 calories with satisfying—not tiny—portions. With a visual table of contents—complete with icons that indicate vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free dishes—you can quickly find meal ideas for any diet. Plus, each recipe appears with nutritional information and a beautiful photograph, making eating right surprisingly simple and totally fun.
Take a look at what's inside:
Polenta with Fontina and Eggs
Spiced Burgers with Cucumber Yogurt
Potato-Leek Soup with Bacon
Shrimp and Kale Pitas
Spicy Chicken Enchiladas
Chile-Rubbed Steak with Creamed Corn
Three-Cheese Macaroni
Banana-Almond Pudding
Strawberry Corn Cakes
You can purchase on Amazon.
I received a complimentary copy.
Cassandra's Review- I would not have most of the ingredients needed for the recipes on hand, but the book is very easy to understand. I enjoy the illustrations and look forward to trying a few of the great ideas.
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Our reviewers have worn slip-on boots before, but none as comfortable as the Blundstone Thermal 566. This boots, sometimes referred to by their "Romeo" style, are lace-free like the Bogs Classic Ultra Mid, but are much more stylish. So much so that they look good with a pair of jeans when heading to work on a cold winter day. With a high-quality waterproofed leather outer, they provide excellent weather protection for their low cut height, though higher models like the Vasque Snowburban II UltraDry give the utmost protection. The real calling card of the Thermal 566, however, is their unbelievably plush sheepskin footbed that makes you feel like you are walking on pillows. This removable footbed also translates into warmth, and our feet always felt toasty and warm while wearing these boots. With large handles and full weather protection, we still awarded the Bogs Classic Ultra Mid our Top Pick for Ease of Use Award, though this model deserves an honorable mention for outstanding comfort and looks. Learn more about how to pick the best winter boot by reading our Winter Boot Buying Advice Article.
Blundstone Thermal 566 ReviewPrice: $215 List | $209.95 at Amazon
Compare prices at 3 resellers Pros: Plush sheepskin comfort, good fit for a slip on, great traction
Cons: Low flood height, limited usefulness for hiking
Bottom line: The Thermal 566 is a comfortable slip-on boot that is easy to use and stylish.
Shaft Height (from bottom of sole to top of shaft): 7 in
Maximum puddle depth before major leaking: 3.25 in
Manufacturer: Blundstone
Our Verdict
RELATED REVIEW: The Best Winter Boots for Men
Our Analysis and Test Results
Ryan Huetter
Review Editor
November 14, 2017
There are many makers of slip-on style boots, but few rise to the top to provide the kind of fit and comfort we expect, especially sans laces. The Blundstone 566 sets the bar high with an ultra-comfortable, durable leather contender that impressed reviewers with good looks and proven performance.
Performance Comparison
By using Thinsulate insulation in the upper of the Thermal 566, the Blundstone boots can keep the warmth generated by the foot trapped in the boot. With a medium weight merino wool hiking sock, we experienced no cold foot issues when standing around in the snow splitting wood, or when walking to the bus stop to get to the ski area. The sheepskin footbed is not only delightfully comfortable, but it also provides additional insulation between the TPU outsole and your foot. The full leather outer is free of breathable synthetic fibers like we see on the Columbia Bugaboot Plus III Omni, so it does not breathe as well, causing sweaty feet in milder (over 40 deg. F) temperatures.
Water Resistance
The waterproof leather upper on the Thermal 566 sheds snow, slush, and rainwater with ease, and we found no leaking through the leather or along the seam, which joins the sole. The leather requires long-term maintenance in the form of oiling or waxing to keep beading water off. For sloshing through icy puddles, the Blundstone boots performed well, though their Achilles Heel is a low, 3-inch flood height. The low depth to which they can be submerged (before water leaks into the boot) is the lowest in our review, much lower than the Bogs Classic Ultra Mid or The North Face Chilkat 400. This means they are less useful when high top protection is needed.
Fit and Comfort
Ahh, slipping our feet into the soft embrace of the sheepskin lined Thermal 566 makes us think of curling up in front of the fire while the winter storm rages outside. These boots received top marks for their comfort, thanks to the lush footbed and the soft elastic ankle support. These features allowed our feet to easily articulate, and the full grain leather upper has been treated and conditioned so that it is soft and pliable when walking. As a slip-on boot, there are no laces, which means a proper fit quite important. With a variety of different socks, we found an excellent fit, though they just weren't quite as secure as a lace-up boot, like the Salomon X Ultra, when we tried to take it on longer walks.
Ease of Use
The Thermal 566 boot was the second easiest to use in our review, ranking just behind the Bog Classic Ultra Mid. With two tabs to aid in donning the slip-on boot, it was easy to slide our feet in, even when wearing thick wool socks. The tabs are big but not huge, making it possible to operate with gloved hands, though not as easy as the large handles on the Bogs. Stepping out of the Blundstones was a bit more difficult, as the fit is quite secure in the heel, and there is no heel counter to assist, like the one found on the Kamik Nation Plus.
An average performer in the traction department, the Thermal 566 boots earned a 6 in this category, beating models like the Salomon X Ultra and the Columbia Bugaboot. We were able to find purchase in these boots in most snowy and icy conditions but tended to gravitate towards a thicker, more robust sole pattern when conditions were more demanding.
Best Applications
The Thermal 566 insulated boot is a great choice for heading outside to grab wood for the warm fire inside, walking to the corner store in a winter storm, or sloshing through puddles on the way to the office. It takes a simple slip-on leather design, applies cushy features like a sheepskin footbed, and delivers stylish looks for use in mild winter conditions.
At $215, this boot is in the more expensive range and is almost $150 more than our Best Buy winning Kamik Nation Plus. These are high-quality boots made from good materials and will last a long time, so while expensive, they are worth the price you will pay.
This comfortable slip-on boot was our reviewer's favorite for trips around town when the weather was cold and nasty. These boots don't offer the same weather protection as others, but are incredibly comfortable and are easy to slip on for quick trips outside.
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Due to a technical issue service & Sales must be booked through our inquiry form > > > > > > > > >
Santa's Grotto Package
Bespoke Mobile Grotto Package, set up to suit your individual needs.
Packages start from £150
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Unique no queue deals at Square Pegs Charity, North Cross Street, Gosport.
> Make & Take craft
> No Queue
> Small Gift
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This package is ideal for Christmas light switch on, Festivals, summer shows & corporate events. This is a multi-package priced to suit your requirements.
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We offer a range of princess entertainers, the team can offer a quick visit to your event or a full package deal.
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A beautiful winter wonderland scene to fit with any Christmas event.
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Fabulous Horse Racing Game, we have 6 horses in total.
This can be hired with our compere service.
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Mixed glitter tattoo & decorative face techniques.
Pay per hour or per person.
From £50ph


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Tag Archives: sewing room make-over
Like a camel through the eye of a needle
Sometime last year we decided that my sewing room needed a make-over. All of my "bargains" and "good sewing buys" over the years had accumulated to the point where I couldn't find anything. However, while this was both frustrating and annoying, I also knew how … Continue reading


text: Lin Chiling denied Jerry Yan and me: composite really no new network in September new network – in 18, according to Taiwan's "China times" the news, the day before Lin Chiling came to Jerry Yan compound, was C businessman surnamed pursuit, but never a positive response. Today she attended a theater opening, a red dress seems in high spirits, she smiled and said: "these reports life quite exciting, but I really have no side." Lin Chiling smile said nobody wanted to introduce me, will seriously turn the "old friend's contact book". The world is still of concern for the feelings of Lin Chiling, Jerry Yan and businessman, she only replied: "my side really no one person (the person) he is the wrong way? Do you need to navigate?" Asked about the Mid Autumn Festival holiday? She said: "because cousin married, I was at home to help with the children." Friends Hsu Chi, Ruby Lin himself has said his life flash marriage, the next adventure is the flash marriage, she said with a wry smile no person, "(condition) is satisfied I genuinely and sincerely and genuinely and sincerely." She also told the media: "sweet side (not only people genuinely and sincerely), you." The frequency was to marry, also called the "golden 3S lady", the heart will not mind? Lin Chiling once again show high EQ: "as you call me Ling sister, like, do not mind." But Lin Chiling still positive said: "well, I will go to the old friend's contact book, to hear the teachings of everyone, I will do so!" In addition, she also said that he is going to do the film, with Kevin Tsai, s cooperation "eat love" (tentative name).相关的主题文章:


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MM6 Maison Martin Margiela Unzipped High Heel boots
Subtly distressed suede boots with worn leather sidewalls and a tough edge. A pull-tab details the heel and top line. Stacked chunky heel and leather sole. The shaft can be removed to create an ankle bootie with zipper trim.
Leather: Cowhide.
Made in Italy.
Shaft: 16in / 40.5cm
Circumference: 14in / 35.5cm


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portland winter hawks vs seattle thunderbirds Tickets
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Details of Portland Winter Hawks Vs Seattle Thunderbirds and the Ticket Luck value
Junior hockey fans are in for a treat as two famous Western Hockey League teams get ready to face each other in the Portland Winterhawks vs Seattle Thunderbirds game. These two teams have enjoyed some success in their respective pasts and they will be looking to make a serious impact this season as well. A lot will be on the line for both teams this season and that will give an indication of where they go from here. This is your chance to grab Portland Winterhawks vs Seattle Thunderbirds tickets and watch them play live.
The first team in the Portland Winterhawks vs Seattle Thunderbirds are the WHL representatives from Portland. The Winterhawks trace their roots to the year 1951 when the Edmonton Oil Kings were incepted. They played till 1976 and won the Memorial Cup in 1963 as well as in 1966.
The Oilers were then moved to Portland where they began to play as the Portland Winter Hawks. After a short drought, they went on to win Presidents Cup in the year 1982 and followed that up by lifting the Memorial Cup next year. The Winter Hawks then did the league and Memorial Cup double for the first time in their history in 1998. Another rough patch followed that lasted for quite some time. The name of the team was tweaked a little to the Portland Winterhawks and the team ended its long wait for the title in 2013 by being crowned the WHL champions.
Facing the Winterhawks from the other side of the rink will be the Thunderbirds who were founded in 1971 as the Vancouver Nats. The team played for two seasons before moving to Kamloops to start playing as the Kamloops Chiefs. That remained the case for four seasons out of which the Chiefs made it to the playoffs three times.
Their name was then changed to Seattle Breakers and they played under that title till 1985 when they changed their name to the current one. The Thunderbirds have been to the postseason quite a few times since then. They have also made it to the WHL Championship series once but unfortunately could not come out victorious. They have begun to show signs of improvement in the last few seasons and that is something that gives everyone associated with the Thunderbirds a lot of optimism going forward.
The Portland Winterhawks vs Seattle Thunderbirds game is a fascinating encounter between two hockey teams that will be looking to make their mark on the league once again. The stakes are high and that is something both teams will need to realize before going into the encounter. These are exciting times for the fans who will be looking to get their hands on the Portland Winterhawks vs Seattle Thunderbirds tickets to watch their favorite teams play live from the stands.


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For the Diabetic Patient
1) Healthy food pyramid with less simple sugars and trans/saturated fats
2) Regular exercise to maximize weight control
3) Marine lipids for heart health and controlling blood fats
4) Alpha lipoic acid to enhance insulin sensitivity, improve energy and support healthy blood sugar levels. Treats neuropathy.
5) Herbal/mineral supplement to improve sugar metabolism and reduce insulin resistance
6) Multivitamin formulation


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Two religious works that offer hedonistic pleasures returned to Symphony Hall on Thursday night, the start of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra's holiday programming. The concert of excerpts from Handel's "Messiah" and Vivaldi's Gloria repeats tonight. With the chamber chorus in sparkling form, it comes warmly recommended — despite a few quibbles.
For all the musical appeal, the rituals built up around the ASO's Christmas concerts are oddly stiff, with countless artistic and historical inconsistencies and complications. The stage is festive, trimmed with giant green wreaths, tiny icicle lights and long red ribbons. But there's a cold solemnity to the proceedings. In part, this comes from conductor Norman Mackenzie's quiet manner and his reluctance to engage directly with the audience, to put a face and a personality on the evening.
The nature of the celebration is as big a factor. Unlike, say, a performance of Bach's "St. John" Passion or Janacek's "Glagolitic Mass," which the ASO presents as secular entertainments — often revealing the music's deepest humanity in the process — its annual "Messiah" show is cloaked in a churchy and devotional vibe.
Religion in the concert hall has never been a comfortable fit, going back to the creation of "Messiah." In the 1740s, Enlightenment values were on the ascent in England and traditional Anglican Church doctrine faced a rivalry from deism — a belief in God but which favored reason over the supernatural and generally rejected organized religion. Anglican evangelicals, such as Charles Jennens, a noted Shakespeare scholar, took their battle directly to where these lapsed Christians often congregated: not in church but in the theater.
Jennens supplied the "Messiah" libretto, using lines from Scripture that Handel's audiences would have known since childhood, as a reminder of their Anglican identity and as a warning that to stray from doctrine comes with assorted after-life punishments. Handel's three-part oratorio, commenting on the Nativity, Passion, Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus Christ, was first performed at Easter time in 1742, in Dublin's newly opened Great Music Hall. Jonathan Swift, author of "Gulliver's Travels" and Dean of St. Patrick's Cathedral in the Irish capital, disapproved of the work as bordering on sacrilege — sacred texts in the concert hall — and after the London premiere, a year later, ministers formally denounced it. Librettist Jennens initially criticized Handel's music because it was not supportive enough of his missionary aims.
Too secular for some, too doctrinal for others, "Messiah" found its popularity among the sort-of faithful. Transplanted to the Advent season from Passion Week, and with two-thirds of the score cut — two-thirds! — it has held its ground among our most beloved Yuletide traditions, along with Black Friday, Cyber Monday, "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer" and Lenox Square mall's Pink Pig roller coaster.
Mackenzie conducted this amputated "Messiah" as if it indeed held sacred truths. With a scaled-back orchestra, less vibrato from the strings and relatively taut phrasing, Mackenzie's approach drew from period-instrument ideals. Another layer of complication for the modern-instrument ASO: attempting to play this bleeding chunk with a certain "authenticity."
Much of it was convincing. He paced the opening orchestral Sinfonia carefully, cautiously, as if he was searching for deeper answers, and I don't recall ever before hearing the slow introduction offered so meaningfully. He could afford to be humble. At the first chorus, "And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed," the 58-voice chamber choir sang with radiant power but an inviting intimacy. Although the highest sopranos were pale in tone once or twice across the evening, the chorus reached for sublime singing, at their best in the thickest contrapuntal moments. The inner voices, the altos and tenors, blended with otherworldly beauty.
The quartet of vocal soloists was a mixed lot. Tenor Richard Clement, often a satisfying presence, here strained to sing his one aria. Bass Gerard Sundberg, vocally commanding a few years ago, was either slow to warm up — a problem when you get just two numbers to sing — or can no longer vocalize the part. He showed his understanding of the text and affecting communication skills in the recited "For behold, darkness shall cover the earth."
The women were much superior. Mezzo Magdalena Wor (at left), an Atlantan at the start of an international career, has a lot of mystery in her voice. Her sound is rather small, but with thrust and a caramel dark color. She shaped phrases fetchingly and kept the listener hanging on every syllable of the aria "But who may abide."
Curiously, Mackenzie kept the brakes on the aria's B section — on the line "For He is like a refiner's fire" — despite the fact that Handel's "prestissimo" is the composer's fastest-ever marking. With different movements paced about the same — either fast-ish or slow-ish — the cumulative effect was that Mackenzie ignored the composer's sophisticated tempo scheme — yet another contradiction in an otherwise thoughtful interpretation.
"O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion" is enthrallingly operatic, and Wor sang it with vocal intensity and theatrical involvement. That is exactly how Handel — who'd been stung by the collapse of his lifelong Italian opera ambitions before reluctantly turning to English-language oratorio — would have expected it to be sung.
The chorus' charged entrance in "O thou that tellest" was a goosebump moment. Mackenzie conducted another choral highlight, "Glory to God," with extreme articulation and clipped phrasing, an interesting, fresh approach. Soprano Kiera Duffy, lighter and fluttery in voice, offered an angelic "Rejoice greatly." And with the built-in standing ovation of "Hallelujah," the ASO brought "Messiah" home in just under an hour.
They opened the evening with another sacred work that sounds operatic, Vivaldi's Gloria. As in the Handel, Mackenzie had the orchestra reduce its voice, like a singer "marking" his part in a rehearsal, which put the orchestra in a bind. A period-instrument ensemble must play to its upper limits in a big work with chorus and vocal soloists — which lets their instruments sing out to the fullest and boosts the players' adrenaline. But a modern group like the ASO gets to play full out with Mahler and Stravinsky, not masters of the Baroque. In this Vivaldi, more so than in the Handel, the ASO seemed unsure of how much to give, which made everything a little uneasy. The performance was nevertheless superb, especially the trumpets and the continuo players, including harpsichordist Peter Marshall, oboist Elizabeth Koch, cellist Karen Freer and bassoonist Elizabeth Burkhardt.
The chorus' "Et in terra pax" ("And on earth, peace") was at once the most earthy and lofty singing imaginable. Wor's and Duffy's voices didn't quite blend, yet their strengths complemented each other beautifully in the "Laudamus te." Expect the performance to be much more solid on Saturday.


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Franny's Way (Paperback)
List Price: $11.95
Our Price: $8.20
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On Our Shelves Now
Summer, 1957. The streets of Greenwich Village sizzle with the insistent rhythm of jazz. Accompanied by their grandmother, two teenage sisters from the country visit their married cousin in the city. Soon, the young women have embarked on their own private missions involving love, a forgotten child, and a lost mother. Set against the bustling backdrop of New York at mid-century, FRANNY'S WAY is a sensual, provocative ode to desire, longing, and the bittersweet collision of youth and adulthood. "Boundaries warp and melt in the dense urban heat that pervades FRANNY'S WAY, Richard Nelson's sensitively drawn portrait of love in the age of J D Salinger. The lines between childhood and adulthood blur disorientingly for the three generations of characters gathered in a cramped apartment in Greenwich Village at the height of summer in the 1950s ... Mr Nelson is again exploring a shadowy sexuality with which some theatergoers may not be entirely at ease ... FRANNY'S WAY is a wry, rueful and forgiving look at the ways people turn to one another for solace when they feel they have lost their bearings. Sex, as the interplay among the characters gently and insistently reminds you, may be a primal drive, but it doesn't always follow a straight course. Mr Nelson continues to give compassionate and insightful life to such erotic waywardness." -Ben Brantley, The New York Times ..". one of the deftest achievements of Nelson's taut script is his crafting a dialogue of indirection. Hurts and jealousies roil beneath petty arguments over hogging time in the bathroom. Primal longings for affection well up in comments about the steamy jazz wafting in from a club beneath the window." -Alisa Solomon, Village Voice.


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There's been little news about the planned trip of U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to the UK since Parliament debated it back in February. Originally slated for June, it was pushed back to October, the spring slot filled by Spain's King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia (which was in turn delayed until July). Apparently this is because Trump has told Prime Minister Theresa May that he doesn't wish to visit until it will have the support of the British public – an unlikely scenario given the protests that broke out in London over the winter and the million+ Britons who signed a petition to downgrade the visit from "state" to just "official."
The situation was unlikely to have been made better following remarks Trump made via Twitter after the recent terror attack in London in which he misquoted Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and criticized comments to the public not to be alarmed by increased police presence. US Ambassador to the UK Lewis Lukens followed up by praising Khan for his strong leadership in the wake of the tragic events.
It's probably just as well given the drama that surrounds the Trump administration and the fact that May's invitation was widely decried as premature on both sides of the Atlantic. While the Queen is unlikely to have been moved much one way or the other, Trump has made inflammatory remarks about Diana, the late Princess of Wales, as well as the Duchess of Cambridge, making the chances of a potential meeting between Trump and the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge (not to mention Kate) slim.
Prince Harry hosted former US President @BarackObama at Kensington Palace today. https://t.co/9SWfSRY4FH—
Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) May 27, 2017
The awkwardness of the delay comes on the heels of news that former President Barack Obama was recently in London and met privately with Prince Harry at Kensington Palace. According to the Palace's Twitter account, the two "discussed support for veterans, mental health, conservation, empowering young people and the work of their respective foundations."
Obama, meanwhile, tweeted that it was "good to see my friend Prince Harry." Feeeels…pointed. On both sides.
I had theorized a few months ago that if the visit did go forward Ivanka Trump would be deployed to meet with the Cambridges – a scenario made likelier by her presence during Trump's most recent time in the Middle East and Europe. And while watching Kate and Ivanka could have run the gamut of awkward to hilarious to completely dull, I think we're better appeased by a photo-op between Kate and Letizia this summer.
Speaking of Kate, dates for her tour of Poland and Germany with William in July haven't been announced yet. Given that Prince George's birthday is on the 22nd, I had been assuming it would take place in the first half of the month, but that may be complicated now by the Spanish royal visit. Perhaps the first week of the month? I'd say it's starting to be strange the final dates haven't been announced, but given the recent attacks in England, it could very well be a matter of security.
In any event, a new engagement has been announced for Kate this Friday. It will be her first in almost a month, which has been a little odd given how full her schedule was in April and early May. I'm assuming the family decamped for Norfolk after a long residency in London, but it's just as likely they also managed to sneak out of the UK for a holiday. To make up for the gap in appearances I'm assuming the second half of June and July will be busy before another slow month in August.


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- Worldwide Rank #172,703,750
- Follower/Following Ratio 0.13
- Daily New Followers 0
أحمد أبو آيه Twitter Stats
@01156242184ahm - Tracking أحمد أبو آيه Twitter profile since June 10, 2016
أحمد أبو آيه's story
أحمد أبو آيه, also known as @01156242184ahm has a reasonably significant presence on Twitter and is ranked by us in the 30% percentile for account strength. Active on Twitter since July 2015, أحمد أبو آيه made it to having a respectable 21 Twitter followers and to being ranked 172,703,750 for number of followers among all Twitter users.
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@01156242184ahm has posted 0 tweets in the last 5 days, which translates to an average of 0 tweets per day.
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@01156242184ahm has 21 followers on Twitter.
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A diaper tester's work is never done, it seems. Not only are there new products coming out every few months, but existing products get re-branded, improved, changed, updated and so on. This has now happened for the MoliCare products by Hartmann.
I got a whiff of it last year and already mentioned it when reviewing the Molicare Premium Soft Super Plus through sources from distribution channels and some short contact with the company. According to my info, the transition should have happened by October 2015 latest, but as it turned out, things took a lot longer and more changed than what originally on the table. The actual reasons shall probably be forever their best-kept secret, but in my thinking they probably realized that they had other product changes in the queue and then it dawned on them that it would make a whole lot of sense to do it all at once and get it over with rather than having things trickle out over months. You know, stuff like coming up with a unified package design, product naming, creating sales materials, (re-) certification for medical use and all the annoying little details.
Obviously this can all be a bit confusing, so the Hartmann people have designed a bunch of print products to make the transition easier. They come as info brochures and flyers and have a comprehensive list of all products or, if you already are using one of the products, you can get one of them handy folded leaflets to inform yourself about differences. Most notably there are two things you have to keep an eye on: The naming and the absorbency ratings. The latter has been bumped up from the old five drops system to ten to better accommodate the subtle differences between levels. Still, as our survey had shown, such ratings remain more of a marketing tool/ trick than being representative of what to expect in actual liquid volume. In any case, this should make it easier if they decide to sneak in additional products or change the specs of their products.
The naming is another such thing. In the end it's totally arbitrary just as well, though at least now it's unified – whatever that's worth. You know, as our most recent product review has shown even fancy names can't save a bad product. That and of course everyone still uses their own names. A Tena Slip Maxi is not necessarily comparable to an ID Slip Maxi for instance. I wish someone came up with a standardized rating and naming system. It would make shopping for diapers so much easier.
The product line-up as such is as follows:
Plastic backed products
|MoliCare Super Plus
|MoliCare Slip maxi
Baseline products
|MoliCare Slip extra (plastic)
MoliCare Slip super (plastic)
|MoliCare Slip extra (breathable)
MoliCare Slip super (breathable)
Premium products (breathable)
|MoliCare Premium soft extra
MoliCare Premium soft super
MoliCare Premium soft super plus
|MoliCare Premium Slip extra plus
MoliCare Premium Slip super plus
MoliCare Premium Slip maxi
MoliCare Premium Slip maxi plus (new)
As you can see, on first sight not much has changed, but as is so often the case the devil's in the details. That's why over the next few weeks we are going to give the products a test drive and provide some updates and new articles. Some of this may be a bit redundant and granted, it may look like I'm trying to milk the subject and stretch it out like not enough butter over a whole loaf of bread, but as always I'm trying to provide as complete a picture as I can in the truest sense of the meaning. Editing those pictures takes time since I'm still stuck with my rather crappy camera even more so. At least I managed to do the package shots right away as evidenced in the picture below. Keep an eye out for more things to come…


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Nick Parker
Director, London
Nick has more than 15 years of experience in corporate strategy, management of complex turnarounds, achievement in performance improvement, and leadership of major restructuring programs. He has spent many years in the automotive and industrial business segments, applying a wide range of functional competencies for both global original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and major tier 1 suppliers. Prior to joining AlixPartners, Nick was a principal at Roland Berger Strategy Consultants in London, working across a range of topics from the development of growth strategies through to operational performance improvement in large and complex situations.