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DATELINE January 23, 2017
I FORGOT THAT BURGER JOINT ON "REVITALIZED" OCEAN STREET. Last week I wrote about the unmitigated mess that Ocean Street (and all our other Santa Cruz entrances) have become. Then I wrote about how our City Planning Department shovels out the muck about making Ocean Street vibrant, and revitalized. All the while inviting and encouraging such buck's up franchises like Dunkin Donuts to open massive new outlets. I forgot that IN THE SAME NEW BUILDING on Ocean Street they're allowing HabitBurger Grill to add another franchise/joint. From their website… "The first Habit Burger Grill opened in Santa Barbara, California in 1969 and has since grown to more than 150 restaurants in 16 markets throughout California, Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, Utah, Virginia and Washington. More information is available at www.habitburger.com. Check out their grills, their architecture, their burgers, uniforms…everything!!!
Once again, this is the City of Santa Cruz's idea of how to beautify our Ocean street entrance. More facts from Wikipedia… The Habit Burger Grill was founded in November 15, 1969 in Goleta, California as a family-owned business.[4] In 2007, it was purchased by KarpReilly, a private equity firm that began to rapidly expand the chain, including franchising. Multiple newspapers reported in 2013 that Habit Burger LLC, the parent company to the chain, was planning an IPO. On November 19, 2014 the company raised $83.7 million in an initial public offering (IPO). And this is supposed to re-vitalize Ocean Street???
SANTA CRUZ WOMEN'S PROTEST PARADE NUMBERS. Chris Krohn was there and he says 10,000, Tony Russomano has the Sentinel saying 8,000, Jodi Frediani has it at 16,000. Nobody really, really knows and someone said it was definitely the biggest protest/crowd/march Santa Cruz has ever created….any evidence otherwise???
FLOODS, THE TANNERY, ARTISTS AND HOMELESS. Reading about the San Lorenzo River flooding again I remembered all the reasons so many of us fought creating and building The Tannery. Santa Cruz can't get it together to provide adequate shelter for our homeless yet we build affordable housing for people who dabble in art. We ignore the flooding San Lorenzo river and build The Tannery in that flood plain. Why do art hobbyists deserve housing and not teachers, nurses, students, and especially day workers. Throughout history artists have always made art under impossible conditions. Many times those very conditions are what push them to make art. Santa Cruz made a serious error when they made The Tannery exclusivly for art hobbyists.
LAND WATCH MONTEREY VICTORY. This is taken directly from Landwatch Monterey's newsletter of Monday January 16. It's about The Monterey Downs Development being defeated.
The California Coastal Commission voted 9-0 last Thursday to deny the proposed 26-unit Rancho Roberto subdivision in North Monterey County. LandWatch first opposed the project at the County level in 2005, alongside Friends, Artists, and Neighbors of Elkhorn Slough (FANS) which had opposed the project since 1999. FANS appealed the Monterey County Board of Supervisors' 2005 approval to the Commission in the public interest, and kept a vigilant eye on the project for the last 11 years. Download our letter submitted to the Coastal Commission.
Testifying on behalf of LandWatch, former Executive Director Gary Patton, urged the Coastal Commission to deny the project. Testifying on behalf of FANS, Mari Kloeppel, and legal counsel Molly Erickson, also expressed strong objections to the project, describing FANS' sustained opposition over 17 years, the on-the-ground impacts of critical overdraft and citing applicable North County Land Use Plan policies.
GIRL SCOUTS MARCH IN TRUMP'S PARADE. Lee Quarnstrom sent this article "Girl Scouts Defend Their Involvement in Donald Trump Inauguration" check it out… See, it's not just the cookies!!! Or the uniforms!!!
Gillian Greensite is a long time local activist, a member of Save Our Big Trees and the Santa Cruz chapter of IDA, International Dark Sky Association http://darksky.org Plus she's an avid ocean swimmer, hiker and lover of all things wild).
This Santa Cruz city council life is serious business. Seven council members can seriously affect the everyday lives of the people who live, work, and play in our "ecological hotspot," vulnerably located near the thirty-sixth parallel, north of the equator. The city council can intervene to make things better or to make life worse for our residents. We often do both.
At the outset of this column, I take a moment to remember the words of the former editor at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Joseph Pulitzer. Around 1902 he said it was his business to "afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted." Pulitzer was talking about journalism, but somehow city councils also might pay close attention to those words. I know I will.
The city council frequently offends one group as they go ahead, at any given meeting and support the economic and social interests of another interest group. My intentions are to represent those who either currently have no representation, or who feel like their issues are going unheard, while the interests of "the comfortable" go to the head of the line because somehow they've figured out how to get their agenda item near the top of the list. No, it's not magic. It is the stuff of politics, and one thing I have come to learn in this town is that the squeaky wheel does get the grease. So take heart, our agenda items will be moving up the ladder soon.
The goal of open government is perhaps one of our nation's most laudable achievements, but also a work in progress. Open government means that elected representatives ought to provide residents with a transparent process, one that is understandable and easy to use. As your city councilmember, my goal is to hear more from the public, not less; provide you with more services, not fewer; and to hopefully place you, the (under represented?) residents, front and center in co-creating a healthy and sustaining civic relationship.
Shall we get started?
WOW! This weekend saw two big marches descend upon downtown Santa Cruz. On Friday I marched with a thousand UCSC students from campus to the town clock. A "General Strike" was called for by the "General Strike Committee of Santa Cruz" for January 20th, the day of the presidential inauguration. It became a day of protest and teach-ins throughout Santa Cruz. When students and staff arrived at the Town Clock they were met by over a thousand "townies." A loudspeaker was placed atop an old Toyota pick-up and the first teach-in commenced at the intersection of Pacific, Front, and Mission streets. Everyone sat down on the asphalt for an hour to hear from UCSC professor, T.J. Demos and community activist, Ernestina Saldana. Both recounted the "trumposities" that will be visited upon us Californians during the next four years beyond what we already can see: cuts to the Affordable Care Act, calls for deportations, and attacks on iconic figures like civil rights marcher and US Rep., John Lewis from Georgia.
The following day, Saturday, more than 10,000 (yes, you read that right: ten thousand) marched slowly down Pacific Avenue to protest the Donald Trump presidency. The Woman's March carried out here and in cities around the world was a major push back on the misogynist, homophobic and racist language and actions the incoming President has unleashed on the American people over the past year.
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~Chris Krohn is a father, writer, activist, former Santa Cruz City Councilmember (1998-2002) ex-Santa Cruz City Mayor (2001-2002) an employee of UCSC. And newly re-elected to the Santa Cruz City Council.
Probably the weather or the political climate but nary a word from Becky this week.
~Becky Steinbruner is a 30+ year resident of Aptos. She has fought for water, fire, emergency preparedness, and for road repair. She ran for Second District County Supervisor in 2016 on a shoestring and got nearly 20% of the votes).
From Gary's "We Live In A Political World" website…Thursday, January 19, 2017
This column is stimulated, in fact, by a column in the January 5, 2017 edition of The New York Times. That column, by Robert Leonard, the news director for two radio stations in Tennessee, was titled, "Why Rural America Voted for Trump." Mostly, the column describes a number of reasons that rural residents might resent city residents, specifying both tax allocation issues and perceived cultural differences.
Leonard, who says he is a pretty liberal Democrat, was having a hard time understanding why his friends and neighbors seemed to be so willing to vote for Donald Trump. None of them were fascists, racists, misogynists, or otherwise deplorable, at least not visibly so, so what could possibly be motivating them? Here is how Leonard describes his enlightenment: For me, it took a 2015 pre-caucus stop in Pella by J. C. Watts, a Baptist minister raised in the small town of Eufaula, Okla., who was a Republican congressman from 1995 to 2003, to begin to understand my neighbors — and most likely other rural Americans as well. "The difference between Republicans and Democrats is that Republicans believe people are fundamentally bad, while Democrats see people as fundamentally good," said Mr. Watts, who was in the area to campaign for Senator Rand Paul. "We are born bad," he said and added that children did not need to be taught to behave badly — they are born knowing how to do that.
"We teach them how to be good," he said. "We become good by being reborn — born again." [Watts] continued: "Democrats believe that we are born good, that we create God, not that he created us. If we are our own God, as the Democrats say, then we need to look at something else to blame when things go wrong — not us."
Leonard's column doesn't really go much further with this kind of theological differentiation, which hypothesizes that the different political parties are made different by their different approaches to God. What you get from Leonard on this topic is what you have just read, right here, and I personally don't find the argument very convincing. In fact, I don't really get the point that Reverend Watts is trying to make in that last sentence. To me, his statement seems contradictory on its face. If Democrats (supposedly as opposed to Republicans) believe that they ARE God, then when things go wrong, who else could those Democrats possibly blame but themselves?
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~Gary is a former Santa Cruz County Supervisor (20 years) and an attorney for indivuduals and community groups on land use and environmental issues. The opinions expressed are Mr. Patton's. You can read his blog at www.gapatton.net )
CLASSICAL DeCINZO. Water, Water everywhere..or nowhere? Scroll below and see DeCinzo's take on the problem!!!
EAGAN'S DEEP COVER. See Eagan's " Worm's eye view" down a few pages. As always, at TimEagan.com you will find his most recent Deep Cover, the latest installment from the archives of Subconscious Comics, and the ever entertaining Eaganblog.
LISA JENSEN LINKS. Lisa too, is missing this week but you should always check out her Good Times review of the week and Check out her Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com). Lisa has been writing film reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.
20th CENTURY WOMEN. Annette Bening, Elle Fanning, Billy Crudup, and Greta Gerwig do award winning roles in this very independent, off kilter story of a "family" group trying to exist in Santa Barbara in 1979. Bening deserves every possible acting award for her role as a mom trying her damndest to raise her son while surrounded by rapidly aging girls. It's not an easy film to follow and takes wtists turns and flashbacks with little or no warning…but go see it. You'll be completely intrigued by it.
FOUNDER. Michael Keaton is just about the only reason to see this McDonald's Burger saga. Founder is probably President Trump's favorite movie, both he and Roy Kroc bought and fought their way to the top by every hook and crooked means they could think of. Roy Kroc bought the rights to McDonalds from the McDonald brothers. He then screwed them out of every deal they made with him. Keaton plays this part perfectly. Laura Dern is in this for about three minutes, a must for Keaton fans., maybe his best role yet.
ELLE. This French (subtitled) film is a cinema masterpiece. Especially because Isabelle Huppert plays the lead role. Isabelle deserves any and all awards she's up for. She plays the CEO of a Video Game production company that produces very kinky films. Elle too is a very kinky film. Isabelle is strong, puzzling, full of angst, guilt, hatred, and even more strong. Just go see Elle, it's a shocking and amazingly well done movie.
MANCHESTER BY THE SEA. Casey Affleck single handidly sustains this deep, emotional film. It's on the way to several awards and should win them all. It's an intelligent, beautifically acted in depth portrait of people going through trauma and relationships. Along with Affleck there's Michelle Williams, Gretchen Mol, even Mathew Broderick in a bit part and especially the 16 year old Lucas Hedges. It's a cold and unrelenting film that demands your attention especially since you've gone through tragedies too. I'm going again, there's just so much to watch and think about.
ARRIVAL. Amy Adams has always been an excellent actor and she's even better in this pretty sophisticated science fiction spellbinder. 11 alien speceships hover around earth just a few feet above ground while Amy and Jeremy Renner attempt to communicate with them. It's a thoughtful film and it'll make you wonder just how would anybody relate to aliens (and vice versa) Like the Trump victory the world is in a state of shock over these visitors. No killings, violence or cheap cliches…a fine film. I forgot to add that like so many Special effects films nowadays it is photographed in a very dark style. (Saves money I guess)
PASSENGERS. Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt do as best they can in this spaceship drama about waking up too soon (90 years too soon) on a 120 year voyage to another planet to find a home away from earth. For obvious reasons it has to be love at first sight after Chris wakes Jennifer up early but "Hollywood level" problems arise and the plot goes lower and more predictable. Nothing here you haven't seen before.
PATRIOT'S DAY. Mark Wahlberg, J.K Simmons, Michelle Monaghan and the ever popular Kevin Bacon plus a weird John Goodman with odd looking dark eyebrows, all add up to a saga revolving around the Boston Marathon bombing and how the cops found the perpetrators.It's almost an advertisement for the Boston Police and their speed in shooting the last bomber while he was hiding in a boat in someone's back yard. There isn't a point to this docudrama, and Wahlberg's role is all fictional. But you'll definitely stay awake all through it.
LION. A true story of a little 5 year old boy getting lost in India. At last we get to see Dev Patel portray somebody serious and he does an excellent job. It's a very cornball plot that you can guess every turn and twist, but still just because it's India you do stay tuned in all the way through. Rooney Mara is his girlfriend for part of the plot and Nicole Kidman is the Australian wife who adopts him. It's 100% feelgood and there are much better films out and around now, but it does have a certain charm.
HIDDEN FIGURES. A syrupy, Hollywoody much- altered story of three Black American women who did spectacular mathematical and technical work at NASA while fighting against a lot of racial and female prejudice. All to launch John Glenn into orbit. It's both a cute and painful story at the same time. It's a contender and still lacks something that could have made it a classic. It almost outdrew Star Wars on opening weekend!
LA LA LAND. It all depends on how much you remember the glorious and very bright and brilliant days of the Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Betty Grable, even Barbara Striesand, Judy Garland, and especially Ginger Rogers musicals. La La Land works very hard to convince us that the world hasn't changed since those days and tries earnestly to recreate the innocence, and obvious genius of those performers. Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone make La La Land fun and happy to a degree, but it's not the same. The music and songs aren't anywhere near as good and the photography of today's LA doesn't add much either, besides that Stone and Gosling are not professional dancers or singers like all of above. It's like having Eddie Redmayne play Tarzan.
LIVE BY NIGHT. Ben Affleck both stars in and directed this 1920's gangster re-hash. He shouldn't have done ether one. I couldn't stop from thinking James Cagney, Humphrey Bogart, Edward G. Robinson, and George Raft, plus Ann Dvorak, Merle Oberon, Lauren Bacall, and dozens more molls would show up…they didn't, darn it. The plot is twisted and pointless and would take pages to even provide an out line. The great old cars are used in wonderful shots (pun). Why in this day and age these films of killing and hatred make as much money as they do is beyond me.
SILENCE. Martin Scorsese has been consumed with the need to portray faith, despair, and tensions of religion in every one of his films. Here he has two Catholic Jesuit Portuguese priests in 17th century Japan searching for a lost brother priest. Adam Driver, Adam Garfield and later Liam Neeson are deeply involved in the roles. You'll need to be seriously religious especially Christian or Buddhist to enjoy this slow moving twisted exercise in faith. I didn't like it. Too long (almost three hours) and too twisted and hard to follow, I wouldn't advise seeing it. Raging Bull, Taxi Driver, Good Fellas, and many of his other films were much better and more understandable and universal.
ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY. We can only guess that now that the Star Wars movie property is Walt Disney Property it would change, but not like this latest mess. Instead of being more cute, cuddly and cartoonish (like traditional Disney films)…Rogue One is darker, colder, meaner and full of war and killing. It has none of the charm, humor, humanity, mystery, history, tradition or fun quirkieness that the original Star Wars films brought us. The plot is tripe stuff about stealing Death Star plans. Darth Vader is back and James Earl Jones voice is too, but he looks thinner and smaller. The biggest afult for me is that it was filmed so dark it's hard to see details, or look anywhere besides center screen. No great intricate space ships stay in view long enough to enjoy the fantasy. The acting is ok but there's not much screen time for it to happen. Big disapointment.
FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM. The first Harry Potter spinoff from J.K. Rowling, and it's only the first of four more FBeast movies planned!! Eddie Redmayne and Colin Farrell are the only actors we know of. In this very dark, depressing, beast filled mistake. Set in New York City in 1926 it lacks any semblence of the charm, magic, character or even cuteness of Harry Potter's world of Hogwarts and vicinity. Special effects produced beast like snakes, octopii, Dragons, Hydras, and more than 85 different types according to Rowland's book. Redmayne and Farrell aren't given a chance to be likable or empathetic. You probably catch my drift…don't go.
SLEEPLESS. Jamie Foxx plays a Las Vegas cop who operates undercover in this very bad re-hash, violent, senseless, bloody, meaningless, pointless mess. Michelle Monaghan and Dermot Mulroney are in it too. Only the weird, young and poorly oriented could find anything worth seeing in this waste of time, money and special effects.
UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE. Each and every Tuesday from 7:00-8:00 p.m. I host Universal Grapevine on KZSC 88.1 fm. or on your computer, (live only or archived for two weeks… (See next paragraph) and go to WWW.KZSC.ORG. Environmentalist Grey Hayes opens the program January 24 listing and discussing environmental issues in the county. Then former newspaper reporter and author Steve Shender talks about his new Hawaii book, "Once There Was Fire" (Kamehameha and friends). January 31 has UCSC Professor Linda Burman-Hall informing us about the 2017 season of The Santa Cruz Baroque festival and their Feb.4th concert. Sexpert, author, lecturer, and performer Susie Bright guests on Feb. 7 talking about lots of things. Feb.14 has author Dave Evans sharing ideas from his new book, "Designing Your Life". On March 7 Newton and Helen Harrison talk about their book, " The Time of The Force Majeure". Do remember, any and all suggestions for future programs are more than welcome so tune in, and keep listening. Email me always and only at firstname.lastname@example.com
After the week we've had, I think we need something like this. I know I do. These two are so cute, it's almost painful 🙂 |
NEW UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE ARCHIVE FEATURE. Stuff changes at KZSC a lot. If you missed either of the last two weeks of Universal Grapevine broadcasts go here… http://www.radiofreeamerica.com/dj/bruce-bratton You have to listen to about 4 minutes of that week's KPFA news first, then Grapevine happens.
UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE ARCHIVES. In case you missed some of the great people I've interviewed in the last 9 years here's a chronological list of some past broadcasts. Such a wide range of folks such as Nikki Silva, Michael Warren, Tom Noddy, UCSC Chancellor George Blumenthal, Anita Monga, Mark Wainer, Judy Johnson, Wendy Mayer-Lochtefeld, Rachel Goodman, George Newell, Tubten Pende, Gina Marie Hayes, Rebecca Ronay-Hazleton, Miriam Ellis, Deb Mc Arthur, The Great Morgani on Street performing, and Paul Whitworth on Krapps Last Tape. Jodi McGraw on Sandhills, Bruce Daniels on area water problems. Mike Pappas on the Olive Connection, Sandy Lydon on County History. Paul Johnston on political organizing, Rick Longinotti on De-Sal. Dan Haifley on Monterey Bay Sanctuary, Dan Harder on Santa Cruz City Museum. Sara Wilbourne on Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre. Brian Spencer on SEE Theatre Co. Paula Kenyon and Karen Massaro on MAH and Big Creek Pottery. Carolyn Burke on Edith Piaf. Peggy Dolgenos on Cruzio. Julie James on Jewel Theatre Company. Then there's Pat Matejcek on environment, Nancy Abrams and Joel Primack on the Universe plus Nina Simon from MAH, Rob Slawinski, Gary Bascou, Judge Paul Burdick, John Brown Childs, Ellen Kimmel, Don Williams, Kinan Valdez, Ellen Murtha, John Leopold, Karen Kefauver, Chip Lord, Judy Bouley, Rob Sean Wilson, Ann Simonton, Lori Rivera, Sayaka Yabuki, Chris Kinney, Celia and Peter Scott, Chris Krohn, David Swanger, Chelsea Juarez…and that's just since January 2011.
"The revolution is not an apple that falls when it is ripe. You have to make it fall", Che Guevara
"If I can't dance, I don't want to be part of your revolution", Emma Goldman
"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable", John F. Kennedy
COLUMN COMMUNICATIONS. Subscriptions: Click and enter the box in the upper right hand corner of each Column. You'll get a weekly email notice the instant the column goes online. (Anywhere from Monday afternoon through Thursday or sometimes as late as Friday!) Always free and confidential. Even I don't know who subscribes!!
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SAN ANTONIO – The Texas State Teachers Association is urging state officials to slow down the reopening of campuses, as back to school season is just around the corner.
With districts considering a wide array of options for the upcoming school year, the Texas State Teachers Association President Noel Candelaria says schools must reopen with caution to prevent another spike in COVID-19 cases.
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Masks will be mandatory in many Texas schools when they reopen this fall, TEA says
In a statement, Candelaria said, "millions of lives are at stake, beginning with our children, our educators, their families and communities."
He cited Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's swift reopenings of bars, restaurants and gyms as the cause of the uptick in cases and hospitalizations, and warned: "we can't afford to let that happen in our schools."
San Antonio-area school districts' tentative start dates for 2020-2021 school year
Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath and state leaders have deemed it safe for schools to reopen in August. At the end of June, local school districts were still locking down calendars for the 2020-21 school year.
Candelaria has said no school campuses should reopen until the pandemic begins to subside.
The TSTA is also asking for safety protocols, including requiring face coverings for students and staff, to be put in place. Regular testing should be conducted and social distancing must be strictly enforced in classrooms, TSTA says.
According to guidelines released by TEA on Tuesday, masks will be required to be worn by students, teachers and staff. Social distancing in classrooms are being recommended in classrooms where its possible.
TEA officials are allowing parents to decide if their children can learn in the classroom or in a virtual setting.
Even as back to school season nears, it won't seem the same as any other year. Faced with challenges, districts are considering smaller class sizes, campus mask policies and the expectation that a typical week might include some remote learning.
Some local school districts will have variations of intersessions and virtual learning. For example, the San Antonio Independent School District approved a revised 2020-21 school calendar that adds three weeks of intersession, and IDEA Public Schools will give the option for face-to-face instruction or an online-only format.
Abbott told KPRC, KSAT's sister station in Houston, that classrooms are "the best setting" for children. He added that if there's an outbreak, schools have the flexibility "to provide enhanced online distanced learning."
STAAR testing will return to Texas public schools in 2020-21 school year
The authority to close schools due to health matters, according to the Texas Education Agency, lies with local health officials, the Texas Department of State Health Services and Abbott.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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I am currently experiencing the missing toolbox in Visual Studio 2017 Professional.
I have followed the instructions, pinned to to top of the reporting forum, found here: https://www.telerik.com/forums/missing-telerik-menu-in-vs2017.
I have
(1) Closed all visual studio instances
(2) Downloaded the Duplicate Extension finder
(3) Opened the command prompt as Admin
(4) Ran the Duplicate Extension Finder tool with the -delete option
(5) Started Visual Studio 2017 again, as Admin
(6) Opened the Tools-> Extensions and Updates
(7) Disables all Telerik and Kendo extension entries
(8) Restarted Visual Studio 2017 as Admin
(9) Opened the Tools->Extensions and Updates
(10) Enabled all Telerik and Kendo extension entries
(11) Exited and restarted Visual Studio 2017.
And the problem still exists. The toolbox is not present when I open the report page.
I have since uninstalled the Reporting component using the Tools -> Extensions and Updates, and also used the Progress Control Panel to uninstall the Telerik Reporting component, demos and Visual Studio 2015 and 2017 extensions, and reinstalled them. I have run theDuplicate Extension Finder to remove and duplicate extensions (there weren't any this time around.)
But still...nothing. It still isn't showing.
I can see the ReportingToolbox.22.214.171.1249.pkgdef file under C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2017\Professional\Common7\IDE\Extensions\Telerik
I have attached an image from that file. The file references the D drive as that is where I have Telerik Reporting installed (corporate environment, no space on C). The file Telerik.Reporting.dll does exist in that location.
Is there something I can do to manually force the install of the Telerik Reporting toolbox?


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Whisked away on our very last European summer holiday for 2018, we escaped to the blissfully peaceful island of Lefkada in Greece. Being one of the quieter Greek Islands compared to that of its highly touristic counterparts such as Santorini and Mykonos, Lefkada was everything we hoped for on our final relaxing summer getaway.
We ventured out to some truly spectacular sites, such as the famous beach Porto Katsiki (which Mel kept mispronouncing as Port Tzatziki HAHA) and the rural villages tucked away up in the hills. Authentic Greek food was also aplenty, and we're pretty sure we indulged in a baked feta and tzatziki plate at just about every cafe we visited. Our trip ended quite brilliantly with a stunning fireworks display on the shores of a sandy beach and a vibrant boat party upon turquoise blue seas.
To get a taste of our dreamy holiday, you can watch our vlog here. However, if you're just after some pretty pictures, scroll down to find our photo diary below. Unlike our regular photo diaries, this collective has been created using a mixture of phone photos and Canon DLSR. The reason for this is we have recently been gifted the Nokia 8 Sirocco and decided to give its multimedia facilities a little test run; as you can tell, the colour in the photos actually turned out quite fantastically (only mild Photoshop retouching has been used to up the contrast on all photos).


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An Alternative Sukhumvit Perspective
Bangkok's not an adventure, more of a military exercise.
An early experience of this was when I hadn't got my mind set into gear. What do I mean? You know when you get those bucket loads of totally inexcusable behaviour that you have to simply brush off like water off a duck's back. So you're happily settled on your perch in the German Biergarten, and a guy comes to sit right beside you. No problem you think. Within seconds you're faced with a choice, inhale his secondary smoke or move on, but how many times might you have to do this during the afternoon. The alternative is to say something. It's against the law this westerner readily admits and accepts, but he's still going to go ahead and light up. It's at this stage I can frankly admit that my brain is re-confirming that I am not blessed with a physic to match my mouth, otherwise I would hate to think of the consequences that might have followed. What God damned right do these do these smokers have in this era of political correctness to blow smoke in my face? Is smoking a problem? No, not really, it's just that I've gone out of my way to discourage my sister from ever visiting me again, with her revolving cuckoo clock antics. And of course there's a fat chance that I will be returning any day soon to the the Battersea Power Station that she calls home.
Whilst walking back to my hotel there's total bedlam. Somebody's been mugged, a woman's being raped, and a tourist has just been shot and murdered. Thankfully the Police are on had, and they've got their priorities right again. In the thick of it they are fining a litter lout for dropping his bus ticket on the pavement!
When was the last time you engaged, had eyeball to eyeball contact with a Thai man? I only say this as I suddenly realised my sub conscious goes out of its way from having any visual contact with the male species of Thailand, but completely contradictory engaging nearly every other woman that walks by.
10% service and 7% VAT is something I think you've been worn down to accept. I refuse to pay staff wages and the establishments taxes, but I made an exception having travelled all the way to Duke's Express. I will not pass comment on their hamburgers. But what I did feel distinctly uneasy about was the supercilious and pretentious atmosphere of the diners eating in that environment. How the other half lives, and when you look around you'd wonder if they were from the same continent let alone the same country. As nobody seems to cook or eat at home this is where you find them after work. White, angular face features, tall, stick like, slim and nearly everyone a clothes horse. But soulless, high falutin', all their snobbery reminds me of the Sloane Rangers of the Chelsea set. Imagine trying to date one of those hi-so's, and even if she turns out to be genuine what about her friends, family and parents!
Soi 8 Sportsman by the way includes all their ++'s in their menu prices, perhaps you'd be kind enough to mention this 17.7% difference on those which like to include it as an after thought?
Great news for breakfast lovers, Coffee @ 8 has returned, the whole premises has been refurbished. What an oasis this little cafe is – great cappuccino, fabulous croissants, extremely pleasant atmosphere, and best of all, good-looking attentive staff.
Now just coming out of there, which is right up at the top of the soi, I ventured down to take a look and see what kind of turnout Loita's could muster at 9:30 AM, as they say the early bird catches the early worm. I was blown away, even at this hour there was a whole parade / bevy on duty, all decked up in their regulation attire they really looked the business. Some very attractive ladies, and at the end of this sub-soi they all had a very friendly disposition. I strongly recommend you pay them a visit, as it would make for a great group photograph. <They spot me at 10 metres or more and have made it clear they're not comfortable with cameras and I respect that – Stick>
Tilac Gogo looking around this week is it me, or are the girls there definitely getting older. I mean is the average getting higher, in fact should an average age be set, and if it's breached then the oldest ones should simply be asked to walk the plank. Let me put this another way, there were no girls as such working there – only women. All out of wedlock, with a flock of children under their wings to support. <Am in there often and can confirm that you're blind. There are some aged under 20 and many in their early 20s – Stick>
Baccara on the other hand was a completely different kettle of fish, the top floor had all the atmosphere that was sorely lacking in Tilac. Plus of course some of the best looking girls in Bangkok, well worth forking out the additional satang for.
Queens Park Plaza has never been reviewed if I'm not wrong, give it a whirl sometime.
In Nana Plaza, Mandarin is a lot friendlier downstairs, better looking upstairs but as hard as nails, and for some reason those tall looking girls seemed to be devoid of only having half an arse.
PlaySchool is way past its prime, but still one of the front runners in the Plaza, very pleasant girl from Korat sitting on the bar outside that I talked to.
Rainbow 4 – what can I say still number 1 in the plaza. A dilemma, take the average looking waitress that seems to have a crush on you, or one of the stunners, guaranteed performance over looks, life's never been easy. The girl with the biggest tits also came over to talk to me, until she appreciated my problem of having small hands. But the winner of the evening was a girl blessed with fabulous tits, unfortunately either she was a little too mao or that she was a little bit ting tong, just perfect and made my whole trip worthwhile. Sorely tempted over this one – check her out.
Onto to the disco at the Ambassador's Hotel. Climax or maybe that was the group that was playing, nothing worse than dead music is live music.
Thermae the night before had been a disaster, so I thought I'd check it out. Dark, very dark, so God knows what you'd end up with, mine was from a hen's night out that more or less tried to sit on my face. I thought she's never needed the toilet, having promised I'd stay I got the hell out of there.
Four days and three nights to soak up what Sukhumvit had to offer, it is at least a year since I was last up, no watch, mobile phone or schedules to hand, I just simply let it flow. Talking of which it's been so long since I last had a legitimate date mobile phones hadn't been invented. In fact Alexander Graham Bell was still putting his finishing touches to the land line version.
Question – what is the mobile phone etiquette on one's first date. In fact do you turn yours off, and what's more expect your partner to reciprocate ? So far so good, all you've got to do know is to persuade your date's friends, family and the rest of the village who's joined you on this chaperoning exercise to do the same.
I know it's silly to postulate this, but there couldn't be any other reason for two bar girls having a huge fight outside of money?
Walking down the mid section of Soi 4 (Nana) I was surprised by just how many girls were working on the street, I mean this is ground zero whereby they can easily avail themselves in countless different establishments. So the question that came to me was why do freelancers really have to freelance?
Gulliver's at 2:00 PM, total head count 2 customers.
Mamasans – is there a factory cloning these identical dragons out on a ready to go basis?
Just some random thoughts I jotted down whilst I was up there.
Stickman's thoughts:
A very nice collection of thoughts. A few photos to accompany the thoughts could have really made this!


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This vegan chocolate mousse is simple, completely dairy-free, and made out of avocados! It takes only 10 minutes to whip up and will look beautiful for a special occasion dinner.
Ideal for people who keep a Dairy-free, Gluten-free, Vegan, Paleo, Refined sugar-free and mostly Healthy diets.
- Typically a classical mousse will be made of egg whites, whipped cream and paired with chocolate, caramel, fruit, or other flavors.
- But this is not the case, as we are going to make a VEGAN chocolate mousse, and as with anything homemade vegan, we are going to use raw vegan ingredients and whip up the mousse in a matter of minutes.
- Even though this vegan chocolate mousse texture is creamy and light, and isn't firm as a traditional mousse, it still tastes very good, if not better! Plus it's VEGAN!
Halve and pit the avocados, and scoop them into a food processor or blender.
Add about 5 tablespoons of milk, other ingredients, except dried lavender, and blend until very smooth and creamy. Add more milk if needed. (Don't pour the milk at once, add it little by little as needed).
Taste if enough sweetness, add more agave syrup if needed.
Spoon into glasses and decorate with dried lavender. Vegan chocolate avocado mousse is ready to enjoy!
For a thicker consistency refrigerate overnight until well chilled.
Tips and Variations
You can make the following modifications:
- Only with avocado as a base - raw, wholesome, natural, and utterly decadent taste!
- Using only 5 avocados and 1 banana - the mousse will have a sweeter taste due to the banana.
- Using only vanilla extract (means without lavender extract) - more cleaner and lighter taste, and very delish!
Serving Suggestions
- Fresh berries for serving (YUM!) - raspberries, strawberries, blueberries
- To top up - Whipped cream or coconut cream
- With white or dark chocolate shavings
- Pair the chocolate mousse with plain biscuits, just spread a spoonful on top of the biscuit/cookie and enjoy!
Common Recipe Questions
Does vegan avocado chocolate mousse need to be refrigerated?
After blending all the ingredients you can serve it right away, but for better resultS, refrigerate it for few hours, especially if you used room temperature avocados. Keeping it in the fridge helps to preserve the light, fluffy texture of the mousse.
Keep this mousse refrigerated and in an airtight container, but no more than 2-3 days. You can also freeze it for up to a month.
Easy Vegan Dessert Recipes
- Easy Thumbprint Cookies With Jam (Vegan, Gluten Free, Dairy Free)
- Almond Cranberry Tart (Gluten-Free, Vegan, Dairy-Free)
- Chocolate Covered Almond Cookies (Vegan | Gluten Free)
I would appreciate it so much if you left a comment about this recipe below! Subscribe to join the TYB newsletter and receive free recipes straight to your inbox! Let's connect via Facebook, IG & Pinterest!
Vegan Avocado Chocolate Mousse
- 6 ripe and cold avocado, (from the fridge)
- ½ teaspoon lavender extract
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 5 high-quality raw cocoa powder
- 6-7 tablespoon Almond milk or any non-dairy milk
- 4 tablespoon agave syrup
- Pinch of salt
- 2 tablespoon dried lavender, for garnish
- Halve and pit the avocados, and scoop them into a food processor or blender.
- Add about 5 tablespoons of milk, other ingredients, except dried lavender, and blend until very smooth and creamy. Add more milk if needed.
- Taste if enough sweetness, add more agave syrup if needed.
- Spoon into glasses and decorate with dried lavender and serve!
Note: Nutrition information is estimated and varies based on products used.
Full Nutrition Disclaimer can be found here.


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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links to help support our free community. This 100% free to you, and keeps the lights on for us!
Coming soon: Pop Television – Miami Vice!
Be on the lookout for Pop! Crockett and Tubbs from Miami Vice!
A Miami Vice Pop! 2-Pack is exclusive to Books-A-Million.


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TV presenter Stephen Mulhern told Sunday Brunch viewers he found social distancing tough while filming his new ITV show 'In For a Penny' in Torquay.
The game show host told Tim Lovejoy and Simon Rimmer how the show is 'different' than it would have been because of the social distancing guidelines.
"We started filming it last week in Torquay and obviously it's a different show now, because of social distancing," he said.
"We're all so tactile and when someone wins a grand I want to give them a hug, so we have had to change a couple of the games, but weirdly it still works a treat!"
He went on to explain they have brand new games and that the show is "really funny".
The presenter said: "So basically I go around the country and if you have a penny on the street you can play a series of games to win £1000.
"We'll even go to a petrol station, and say if you put in £37, if you can within two pumps land it on £37 perfect we will pay for your petrol.
"We have brand new games and the team on the show are just amazing. They're really good games and it's just a really funny show."
But filming didn't start well for the presenter who has appeared on everything from Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway to Catchphrase.
He told his Twitter followers that he forgot to pack a razor - and the fresh-faced presenter posted a picture of a plastic disposable shaving kit which he had to get from his hotel's reception this morning.
The star of 'In For A Penny' said: "Morning all, so we start filming the new series of 'In For A Penny' today and we are in Torquay! I've just got to breakfast and been told 'The Krankies' live here....Can my day get any better?"
Stephen isn't the only celebrity that's having fun in the South West.
Celebrity couple Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash spent their holidays in Sidmouth with their baby boy Rex.
Stacey described her break as "the most magical weekend down by the sea".
Stacey's other sons, Zachary, 12, and Leighton, eight, did not join the star on the trip, but she revealed she was already planning how to bring them back and possibly stay in a caravan.
Stacey also had a bit of a blip in Devon - and thought she would have to make a two-hour return trip to take back pebbles which she collected from the beach.
The Loose Women star was in Sidmouth enjoying the weekend's sunny weather and excitedly shared a number of snaps, including fossil collecting at a beach.
On August 2 the family went to hunt for pebbles on the shore and Stacey excitedly brought them back to share with her followers.
But after uploading the 'fossil haul' to her Instagram stories, many fans warned her she may be breaking the law and could even be arrested for taking the rocks.
She then uploaded another video, nervously laughing and telling Joe that they would have to drive two hours back to the beach to return the stones, to avoid the "pebble police".
But later she explained that she called the local heritage coast centre to check that she would not be arrested for taking fossils.
She said: "Just called the local heritage coast centre and they said where we were fossil hunting it is 100 per cent ok to say some home, as long as you don't have a wheelbarrow full or find a massive one."


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August 4 (The Guardian) – Twelve years after Stephenie Meyer put Midnight Sun, her telling of the Twilight saga from vampire Edward Cullen's perspective, "on hold indefinitely", the novel has finally been published – and is already topping book charts.
Meyer scrapped plans for the book in 2008 after a draft of her manuscript leaked on the internet, saying at the time that "what happened was a huge violation of my rights as an author, not to mention me as a human being", and that she was setting the manuscript to one side.
After releasing a gender-swapped version of the story, in which vegetarian vampire Edward and human teenager and love interest Bella were replaced by Edythe Cullen and Beau Swan, Meyer announced in May that she would finally publish Midnight Sun on 4 August.
One million hardbacks have already been printed in the US, while in the UK, publisher Atom Books has printed 300,000 copies, and is anticipating a "huge" first week of UK sales.
"Midnight Sun was always going to be a big deal," said publisher James Garbutt. "Fans had been able to read a few chapters years ago, so they'd had a taster of what is to come but wanted more. Now, more than a decade after that leak, they get to hear Edward's full story. At a time when bookshops have only fairly recently reopened, we hope this will be a really significant publication for retailers."
At Waterstones, children's buyer Florentyna Martin said the book had been an immediate bestseller. "Meyer's lasting impact on a generation of readers is palpable again today with the release of Midnight Sun, bringing with it the opportunity to re-explore the original series or dive in for the first time. Today is unquestionably buzzing with excitement."
With the novel already topping Amazon's UK charts – and just pipped to the top spot in the US by Fox News host Sean Hannity's polemic Live Free Or Die, a look at how "the future of American freedom rests on Donald Trump's re-election" – Meyer told the New York Times that "real reason the book took so long to write is because this was just a huge, pain-in-the-butt book to write".
"I think the part that people won't expect is: Edward is a very anxious character. Writing him made me more anxious, and that's one of the reasons it was hard to be in that story," Meyer said. "His anxiety combined with mine was potent. He starts off fairly confident, but boy does he get broken down by the end. Bella really breaks him into pieces. I think he comes across in Twilight being very strong and so super sure of himself, when that never was really actually the case."
Meyer added that she would not be telling the rest of the series from Edward's perspective, because "the experience of writing this book was not a super pleasant one" to undergo. "This is it for Edward," she said.


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We know the application procedure for research degrees can be a little confusing, so here we break down what happens once you have made your application, right the way through to your first day at the IoPPN:
I have submitted my application, what happens next?
Your online application is assessed by the Health Schools Admissions Team against the King's eligibility criteria. If you meet the standard required, they notify the relevant departmental admissions tutor.
If you meet the criteria, the next person to contact you should be the admissions tutor. If you do not meet the criteria, the admissions team will notify you.
The admissions tutor will assess your online application and if they think you have the relevant experience and qualifications to study for a PhD or MD(Res), they will contact you to arrange an interview.
Even if you have already been interviewed by your supervisors, it is likely that the admissions tutor will want to meet with you. Interviews differ between departments in terms of format and interviewers so any specific questions should be directed to the admissions tutor.
We aim for admissions tutors to interview applicants approximately 2-4 weeks after the online application is made. If you have not heard from anyone 6 weeks after making your application, please contact the PGR Education Support Team.
Please see the application pages for contact details of all admissions tutors.
After you have been interviewed, the admissions tutor will make a recommendation to either accept or reject the application. If your application is rejected at this stage, you will be notified by the Health Schools Admissions Team. If you are successful at interview, your project approval form will now be reviewed.
In some departments, the project approval form is reviewed in conjunction with the organisation of the interview and you may discuss your project form at the interview. Any comments or requests for amendments will usually come to you via the PGR Education Support Team and you should amend your project form and return it to them for further review as soon as possible.
The review process can take anything from 2 days - 6 weeks, depending on the nature of the research project and the availability of suitable academics to review the project.
Only once your project approval form has been approved by the Chair of the relevant progress sub-committee and the Head of Department, can an unconditional offer of a place be made.
You will be notified by email to check your online application, where you will then be able to view and download your offer letter. You will also be sent a hard copy of the offer letter through the post.
You will need to meet the conditions as set out on your offer, before we can give you an unconditional offer. Please notify the admissions team and the PGR Education Support Team of your English Language test results, funding outcome or other requested information, as soon as possible. Once admissions confirm your conditions, you will be sent another letter, confirming your unconditional offer.
A few weeks before you are due to start your PhD, you will be sent an email asking you to complete our online enrolment task. The task will not take more than 10 minutes or so to complete and asks you to confirm some personal details and visa information, if required. Completing this online task will speed up the face to face registration process.
To register formally on your PhD programme, you will need to come to the Institute in person. You will be notified when you need to come and register when you complete the online enrolment task. If you are not able to come on the day requested, you must contact the PGR Education Support Team as soon as possible to arrange another time.
To find out what you need to bring with you and to confirm the date of registration, please see the Enrolment and Registration webpage.
For each intake, the Institute holds an half day induction session for all new students. These induction events aim to provide new students with helpful information and guidance about the Institute itself, student life and an introduction to what is required in terms of your PhD.
You will be sent an email shortly before and/or after you register formally as a student, inviting you to these events. You can find more information on the Induction events webpage.
King's College London also hold College wide induction events, including events specifically for international students. For more information, please see the New To Kings webpage. Please note that induction events for the October intake are sometimes held in late September.
Enrolment / Registration: Yes! You must complete the online task and register face to face in order to formally register as a student. If you do not complete the online enrolment task prior to registration, you will need to complete it with a member of staff on the day of registration.
Induction: Is not compulsory but we highly recommend you attend the events. They are a great chance to meet the other new PhD students and will provide you with lots of useful information. If you cannot attend both the Institute and the College events, we would encourage you to attend at least the Institute events.
Once you have been given an unconditional offer, the admissions team will process a CAS number for you to make a visa application. This CAS number will be stored in your application area of myApplication, but you should also receive an email notifying you of this.
Please be aware that visa applications can take anything from 2 days to 4 weeks to process, on average. It is therefore important that you complete your application in plenty of time, so that you are able to attend the enrolment, registration and induction events.
You can contact the admissions team at any time to check on the progress of your CAS number.
If you have any problems with your Visa application, please let the PGR Education Support Team know as soon as possible.
There are a number of accommodation options for Postgraduate students, whether it be a King's residence, intercollegiate halls or private residences. There are no King's residence halls on the Denmark Hill campus, but all campus' are a bus ride away from each other.
For more information on accommodation options and help in finding something suitable, whether that be for you alone or for you and your family, please see the Kings Accommodation webpages.
For any queries on enrolment, registration or induction events please contact the PGR Education Support Team.


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History will be made in Washington, DC between March 13 and 16 when Iraq Veterans Against the War will conduct "Winter Soldier" Hearings at which active duty members of the military, veterans, members of military families and others will testify about the real conditions on the ground in Iraq, the impact the occupation has had and is having on both members of the military and their families, and on the Iraqis.
U.S. Labor Against the War encourages its affiliates, members and supporters to organize opportunities for the widest possible audience to view these hearings.
Set up viewing opportunities in union halls, schools, churches and other public facilities; invite members and their families to attend. Organize discussions following the broadcasts.
Distribute information to members about how to tune in to the hearings.
Encourage members to organize viewing parties in their homes and invite neighbors and friends.
Show the hearings during lunch on video monitors and laptops at work where possible.
Show video clips from the hearings at union and labor council meetings and labor events.
Organize "town hall" style events where portions of the hearings can be presented; invite local members of IVAW and Veterans for Peace to comment and lead discussions. Invite members of Congress to attend and respond to what they see and publicly pledge to vote against any new funding for the occupation (other than for the safe withdrawal of all troops).
A satellite feed will be available. Please contact your local cable company to ask that their community/public access station broadcast the hearings. Both Free Speech TV (DishNetwork Channel 9415) and Link TV (DishNetwork Channel 9411 / DirectTV Channel 375) will broadcast a portion of the hearings (Mar 14-15)
Streaming video coverage of the entire hearings will be available on the IVAW website.
IVAW has produced a short video to explain the origin of the Winter Soldier Hearings during the Vietnam War and why IVAW has organized these new hearings.
Here is the tentative schedule of the hearings:
Winter Soldier Schedule – all times are Eastern time zone (Schedule subject to change)
Thursday, March 13 Streaming video only
7:00PM-9:00PM Winter Soldier and the legacy of GI Resistance
Friday, March 14 Satellite TV, internet video, internet audio, radio
9:00AM – 10:45AM Rules of Engagement: Part One
11:00AM – 12:30PM The Crisis in Veterans' Heathcare
2:00PM – 3:30PM Corporate Pillaging and Military Contractors
4:00PM – 6:00PM Rules of Engagement: Part Two
7:00PM – 8:30PM Aims of the Global War on Terror: the Political, Legal, and Economic Context of Iraq and Afghanistan
Saturday, March 15 Satellite TV, internet video, internet audio, radio
9:00AM – 10:30AM Divide To Conquer: Gender and Sexuality in the Military
11:00AM – 1:00PM Racism and War: the Dehumanization of the Enemy: Part One
2:00PM – 3:30PM Racism and War: the Dehumanization of the Enemy: Part Two
4:00PM – 6PM Civilian Testimony: The Cost of War in Iraq and Afghanistan
7:00PM – 8:30PM The Cost of the War at Home
Sunday, March 16 Internet video, internet audio, radio
10:00AM – 1:00PM The Breakdown of the Military
2:00PM – 3:15PM The Future of GI Resistance


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Situated nearly 70 kilometers away from Da Nang and belonging to the territory of Duy Phu commune, Duy Xuyen district, Quang Nam province, My Son Sanctuary is a cluster of Champa temples with extremely unique architecture. Forgotten for centuries, this vestige of an extinct Asian civilization had not been discovered until 1885. In 1999, it was recognized by the UNESCO as a world cultural heritage site. If you love exploring and learning about ancient cultures, this place is worth checking out.
Visiting My Son relics
My Son, the religious and political capital of the Champa Kingdom, is a complex of Hindu temples. It is located in Duy Phu commune, Duy Xuyen district, Quang Nam province, about 20 kilometers west of Tra Kieu, 45 kilometers west of Hoi An city, 68 kilometers southwest of, and 145 kilometers south of ancient capital of Hue. This complex stretches in a valley with a diameter of about 2km, surrounded by hills and mountains. This used to be a worship place as well as burial site of the kings and royal princes of the ancient Champa dynasties. In 1999, My Son relic site of Vietnam was recognized by the UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage.
To start the journey to discover the most mysterious sanctuary in Vietnam, you just need a motorbike or a car. If you are in Hoi An, start at Hung Vuong Street and go straight along National Highway 1A for about 50km. Normally, it only takes backpackers nearly 2 hours to arrive. The price of renting a motorbike is about 150,000 – 200,000 VND/day. Be mindful that you should fill up the gas tank and check the weather forecast before going.
Bearing the mark of a long-standing history
My Son Sanctuary was constructed between the 4th and the 14th century. The first temple was dedicated to King Bhadravarman who founded the first king lineage of Amaravati at the end of the 4th century, assimilated with the god Siva and became a cult of god – king and royal ancestors. This is a cluster of many temples of the Champa kingdom, located in a small valley with a diameter of about 2 km, surrounded by mountains and hills.
Featured architecture in My Son
It is a historical complex of more than 70 temples and towers with many architectural styles and sculptures representing for each historical period of the Champa kingdom. There remain 6 styles of architecture: ancient style, Hoa Lai, Dong Duong, My Son, PoNagar style and the style of Binh Dinh people. Most of the architectural works and sculptures in My Son were influenced by Hinduism.
Sculptural techniques of the Cham people rarely appear in other regions' art. The towers all have pyramidal structure – symbol of the divine Meru and the residence of the Hindu gods. The gates usually head east to receive sunlight. The outside of the wall was decorated with S-shaped leaf patterns that connect with each other. The decorations are sandstone sculptures of Makara (mythical beast with sharped fangs and long trunk), Apsara dancer, lion, elephant, Garuda bird and prayer statues. Up to now, there is no study pointing out the adhesive used to stick the decorations on the constructions. Cham sculpture art highlights the intense vitality of people with their inner spirit – joy, calm and anguish at different moments. Each historical period has its own mark with different architectural features. My Son Sanctuary in Quang Nam is not only a masterpiece of Champa architecture but also of Southeast Asian culture.
The over view of My Son relics
The whole sanctuary consists of two hills, facing each other in the East – West direction and right at the intersection of a stream. The stream branches are the natural boundary dividing this place into four areas A, B, C, D. This division matches feng shui elements while avoiding the situation of tearing apart the overall architecture. The center of the relics is the main tower (Kalan) and many small sub-towers surrounding. The main tower has two doors in the east-west direction. At each door, there are 8 steps to go up and some arches. On each arch, there is a miniature tower. According to the remaining documents, this is the tallest tower in My Son with a height of 24 meters. The bottom of the tower is square with 10 meters long each side. In the tower, Cham people worshiped a large set of Linga – Yoni (now there is only one Yoni stone pedestal). The upper part of the tower has 3 floors getting smaller towards the tower top that was made of sandstone. On each floor, there is a fake door with a human figure standing under the arch. The two fake doors are two overlapping arches, decorated with very sophisticated patterns.
Time and wars had devastated the relics. But the ruins still remain a mysterious beauty with the unique architecture of Champa people. It raises the curiosity of both domestic and foreign tourists to come and explore. Children under 15 years old are free to visit (including the fee for tram ride to the monument and watch the cultural performance). The local guides are very friendly, enthusiastic and hospitable. They have national pride, so the information they give you will be very different from what provided by a group guide.
My Son Sanctuary is not only impressing with its own architecture, but also imbued with the culture of the Cham people with gentle and flexible Champa dances. The main ritual dance is the sacred dance towards the gods in the temples and towers. The image of female Cham dancers wearing candles, water, fruits, betel nut and areca on their heads to celebrate is very lively. Or the stage dance – Apsara – with its flexibility and smoothness highlights the beauty and curves of Cham women. These dances easily touch the hearts of tourists coming to My Son. In addition, this place also holds other unique artistic activities such as folk performing arts, fire-biting dances, ritual dances, water team dances, etc. Surely, visitors will not be disappointed here. This place is also a destination that attracts photographers who love the mystery and uniqueness of the relics as well as backpackers who love to learn and explore or stop by to take some souvenir photos with friends and relatives.
In the nearby area of My Son ruins, there are a few places you should visit such as Tra Kieu Church, Our Lady of Tra Kieu, Sa Huynh Culture Museum – Champa.
Additionally, do not forget to enjoy delicious, nutritious and dirt-cheap specialties here: banh bot loc, Tam Ky chicken rice, Quang Nam green eel porridge, banh to, Quang noodles… with family and friends. You will definitely want to come back. Take my words for that.
Ticket price
For foreign tourists: 150.000 VND/person (including entry and service fees)
For domestic tourist: 100.000 VND/person (including entry and service fees)
Kate festival
If you come on the occasion that the festival is taking place, your trip will become much more enjoyable. At the beginning of the festival, Cham religious dignitaries perform rituals to pray for peace at the tower according to an immemorial custom. Following that, traditional rituals such as vestments, palanquin processions, water and Kate processions, etc. are held. There are also Cham ethnic musical instrument performances and Cham dance performances by local artists, etc. The festival is an opportunity for local people and both domestic and foreign tourists to gain more knowledge about this place as well as contribute to maintaining and protecting artistic values art of the ancient Cham culture.
The thousand-year-old road
The road was discovered by an Indian expert during the excavation and restoration of the K tower in the core area of My Son complex. Up to 8m wide, the road is led by 2 parallel walls buried nearly 1m in the ground. As written in some documents, this was the first gate and only used by kings, members of the royal family and the most noble dignitaries of Champa to go to the central temples and towers to make offerings to the gods and organize ceremonies. After excavating, the experts were amazed at the magnificence of this road with its ingenious leading wall system, specific materials such as terracotta and special adhesive. Thanks to this interesting discovery, the long-standing historical, architectural, cultural and artistic values that the ancients have created in the whole complex were enriched.
Magical Apsara dance
Inspired by Apsara stone statues (Yang Naitri dancer) in bas-reliefs or sandstone statues, flexible Apsara dance shows the perfect natural beauty of women. This smooth dance is performed at mass art festivals and even professional stages. In Kate festival, the magical dance – "soul of the rock" dance will allure you and make you lost in the ancient Cham culture with the images of girls with curved bamboo shoots, seductive breasts and curves in bright and sparkling costumes. In the sound of Paranung drums and Sarainai trumpets, the dance is even more beautiful and flexible that will glamor audiences.


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Would you like to be part of the Northern Ireland Civil Service but are concerned about how you will do on the aptitude tests? Not sure what these evaluations are, or how they work?
You have nothing to worry about. On our platform, we offer an aptitude test practice for the NICS so that you can become familiar with the assessment format and style and get an excellent score.
Go one step further and get that boost that makes you stand out from the crowd. At Psychometriq we have created specific tests to help you improve your performance in the Northern Ireland Civil Service aptitude test.
What will I encounter on the Northern Ireland Civil Service aptitude test?
These aptitude tests are not focused on discovering your technical knowledge, but on identifying your psychological preparedness for working at the company.
The following are some of the assessments you will usually be given:
a. Numerical reasoning test: Uses common mathematical operations, such as arithmetic problems, graphs, unit conversions and estimates; similar to those you would face at work.
b. Verbal reasoning test: Provides textual information, which you must analyze to draw a logical conclusion and select the right option.
c. Logical reasoning test: Used in order to identify your cognitive and reasoning capacity.
Situational judgment test: Here, you will be given hypothetical situations in the workplace so that you can demonstrate how you would react and demonstrate whether you could adapt to the requirements of the position.
Go one step further and get that boost that makes you stand out from the crowd. At Psychometriq we have created specific tests to help you improve your performance in the Northern Ireland Civil Service aptitude test.
Why should I try the aptitude test practice for the Northern Ireland Civil Service?
If you are wondering how our practice for the aptitude test can serve you, we have the answer below:
a. You will be well-familiarized with the vocabulary, dynamics, and modality of the aptitude tests.
b. You will learn how to manage your time better and get through the exam quickly and efficiently.
c. You will feel more relaxed under pressure since you have done it all before.
Not convinced? Try a free aptitude test by registering for our newsletter.


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Liability Limitation & Indemnity
Should any liability arise due to actions by Premier Dog Backpacks representatives, regardless of whether or not any loss, damage, or injury was caused or contributed by Premier Dog Backpacks negligence, such liability will not exceed the amount of $97.
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To the fullest extent permissible by law, Premier Dog Backpacks shall not be responsible or liable to you or any third parties claiming through or under you under any circumstances for any indirect, consequential, special, incidental, punitive, or exemplary damages or losses, arising out of your use or inability to use the product, including but not limited to interruptions or delays, regardless of the type of claim or the nature of the cause of action, even if Premier Dog Backpacks has been advised of the possibility of damage or loss. To the fullest extent permissible by law, Premier Dog Backpacks maximum aggregate liability shall not exceed the amount that you have paid for the goods to which the liability relates.
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In the event industry, challenges are inevitable. Pop Event Planners knows this a bit too well. The event management process takes a lot of dedication, time, and serious planning. Yet, no matter how well you prepare in advance, some things won't go according to plan on the day of your event.
It's tough to plan for every possible situation, but thankfully you don't have to. You just need to know the most common event planning challenges and how to solve them quickly if they pop up at your event.
Here are the 5 most likely event planning problems and solutions:
1. Entertainers Might Be Late
Anything can make entertainers, artists, and speakers arrive a little bit later than expected.
Examples are:
- Traffic
- Delayed flights
- Personal issues
- Emergencies
This is one of the most common problems faced by event organizers, and when it does happen—because it almost certainly will— the most important thing is to stay calm and understand when you need to step in.
The best scenario in this situation? Your main act(s) might have missed the rehearsal, but at least they are here before guests start arriving.
On the other hand—if you're not so lucky— the situation could be that your support band is already playing and the main artist is not there yet.
What do you do? You need to buy some time ASAP. Event planning experts should have a contingency plan to fill up their schedule.
You can let the support artist extend their warm-up show or hire a DJ to play cool jams in the meantime. You could also provide guests with free treats.
Whatever you decide, make sure guests feel that the event is still running smoothly.
Remember: For your plan to work out, you should have your entertainers give you timely prior notice, even if it's just an hour or two. This will give you time to think and act.
2. Your Suppliers Might Make a Mistake
We're all human, and sometimes mistakes happen. That's true of your even vendors, too.
Here are some mistakes your vendors and suppliers may make:
- Your catering might deliver the wrong order
- Suppliers might bring fewer chairs
- Event decorations might not be what you expected
So, what is the best backup plan for these situations?
Improvise! On many occasions, event planning requires seeing the best in what you've got. No extra chairs for your outdoor festival? Find some pillows to match your event's boho vibe. Likewise, you can have a couple of people sit on the stairs or tables. It all depends on how well you manage to cover the situation. Make it look like everything was planned!
Overall, whenever you face such problems, think of any alternatives that will serve the same purpose.
In some cases, your supplier might find a way to solve the problem on time. Next time, touch base with them a few days before the event to make sure everything is on track.
3. The Weather Might Not Be on Your Side
You should always monitor the weather before an event, especially during certain seasons, where rain, snowstorms, or even extremely high temperatures are common.
Even if you do, the weather forecast can sometimes be wrong.
Here are some likely weather issues that may affect your event:
- Rain on a seemingly sunny day
- Heavy wind
- Unexpected snow
So what can you do if it suddenly starts to rain?
Always have a backup plan to bring the outdoors inside. Especially if you are hosting an event in a place where unpredictable weather is common.
You should also be prepared to have specific safety protocols for your guests and provide them with the necessary amenities to make sure they are comfortable despite the circumstances.
The good news? Some people might not care about the rain and they'll keep dancing under the drizzle.
4. Tech Might Not Work Properly
Event technology has become more reliable over the years, but equipment can still glitch out without warning. A/V issues are a common event planning challenge.
Always test your tech beforehand. If it was working during rehearsals and suddenly doesn't work when it's time to go live, you need to have a plan B.
If possible, try to have backup:
- Batteries,
- Microphones,
- And a spare video camera.
Tell the audience to stay calm because luckily, tech issues can be solved quickly.
5. Something Might Go Wrong With Your Ticketing Software
Ticketing is the primary way most events generate revenue. As an event producer, you know you can't afford to have an issue with your ticketing software.
Here are some likely event planning challenges you may encounter that can affect your ticketing:
- Poor internet connection
- Event attendees losing tickets
- Bugs in the ticketing software
To tackle these issues, the first and number one thing you MUST do is to find a trustworthy ticketing partner. This is the best way to avoid any issues during (and before) your event.
Passage's event ticketing platform has your back if something goes wrong. For example, if you are scanning tickets and there's no wifi connection or cellular data, you can use our Offline Mode feature to keep scanning. Offline scanning is also great to speed up the check-in and avoid having a huge crowd waiting at your front door.


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Thālelo Gift Card
- Regular price
- Rs. 750.00
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Free shipping on orders above Rs. 2499
If you are unsure about what to gift a new mom and newborn baby, you can give them the gift of choice with a Thālelo gift card.
Gift cards are delivered by email and contain instructions to redeem them at checkout.
Our gift cards have no additional processing fees.
Please note
- This is a digital gift card
- It is valid for 1 year after purchase and can be redeemed on our online store.
- The code will be sent to the buyer's email ID.
- This gift card is non-refundable and cannot be exchanged for cash in part or full.
- It is valid for a single transaction only.
- This gift code is not valid during sale or in conjunction with any special promotion.
- No extension of the expiry date from the date of issue will be allowed.
- The management retains the right to reject any gift code that has been found in any way unacceptable.
- If a gift card/code is lost we will not be able to provide a replacement.


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Judy Garland was an actress, singer, and vaudevillian from the United States who rose to international renown and acclaim for her distinctive contralto vocal style.
'Pigskin Parade' (1936), 'Broadway Melody of 1938' (1937), 'Thoroughbreds Don't Cry (1937), 'Love Finds Andy Hardy' (1938), Meet Me in St. Louis (1944), The Harvey Girls (1946), Easter Parade (1948), 'A Star Is Born (1954), Judgment at Nuremberg (1961), and 'A Child is Waiting (1961) were among her many successful (1963).
'Dorothy Gale' in 'The Wizard of Oz was her most memorable part (1939). She received an 'Academy Juvenile Award for the former, as well as an 'Academy Juvenile Award' for 'Babes in Arms (1939). She was also nominated for two Academy Awards for the films "A Star Is Born" (1954) and "Judgment at Nuremberg" (1961).
For 'A Star Is Born,' she won a 'Golden Globe' for Best Actress in a Musical. Judy received the 'Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime accomplishment as the first (and youngest) female recipient.
'Gay Purr-ee (voice only-1962),' Everybody Sing' (1938), 'Little Nellie Kelly' (1940), and others were among her unsuccessful films. 'The Wizard of Oz' is her highest-grossing film. 'I Could Go On Singing' was her most recent film (1963).
Judy Garland Movies In Order
The Wizard of Oz is a fictional character created by L. Frank Baum (1939)
After a tornado strikes Kansas, Dorothy Gale, a modest farm girl, finds herself in the beautiful country of Oz. She must enlist the assistance of the Wizard of Oz, who resides in the Emerald City, in order to return home. She meets a scarecrow, a Tin Man, and a fainthearted Lion along the road.
Parade on Easter Sunday (1948)
Don Hewes, a Broadway star, announces his departure from his dancing partner Nadine. He claims to be able to turn any dancer into a hit performer, so he hires a naive chorus girl as his new partner, trying to make his former partner, Nadine, envious.
Related: Harry Potter Movies In Order – Watch The Movies In A Sequence!
For My Gal and I (1942)
Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, and Busby Berkeley feature in For Me and My Gal, a 1942 American musical film directed by Busby Berkeley and starring Judy Garland and Gene Kelly.
Summertime is a wonderful time to be alive (1949)
Robert Z. Leonard directed the 1949 American Technicolor musical film In the Good Old Summertime. Judy Garland, Van Johnson, S.Z. Sakall, Spring Byington, Clinton Sundberg, and others star in the film.
Nuremberg's Final Judgment (1961)
This is a dramatized depiction of the US government's third Nuremberg war crimes trial, which took place after WWII. Four German judges are on trial for crimes against humanity before Chief Trial Judge Dan Haywood. They served under the Nazi dictatorship.
Related: DC Movies In Order – Check Out The DC Movies In Chronological Order!
In St. Louis, I'd like to meet you (1944)
Meet Me in St. Louis is a Christmas musical film about the Smith family's daughters learning about life, love, and the ways of the world as they grow up.
A Star Is Created (1954)
A Star Is Born is a musical love drama film about Norman, a well-known actor who meets Esther, a newbie, and vows to help her advance in her career. However, as he grows older and becomes more alcoholic, his career begins to deteriorate.
I Could Sing Forever (1963)
I Could Go On Singing is a musical drama film directed by Ronald Neame and starring Judy Garland (in her final film appearance) and Dirk Bogarde, released in 1963.
Related: Matrix Movies in Order: Check Out The Chronological Timeline And Release Dates!!
The Timepiece (1945)
The Clock (UK title Under the Clock) is a 1945 American romantic drama film directed by Garland's future husband, Vincente Minnelli, and starring Judy Garland and Robert Walker.
Lily Mars is here to introduce herself (1943)
Presenting Lily Mars is a 1943 American musical comedy film directed by Norman Taurog and produced by Joe Pasternak. It stars Judy Garland and Van Heflin and is based on a novel by Booth.
A Child Is Anticipating (1963)
Abby Mann's 1963 drama picture A Child Is Waiting is based on his 1957 Westinghouse Studio One teleplay of the same name. Stanley Kramer directed and produced the picture.
The Ziegfeld Follies are a show produced by Ziegfeld Productions (1945)
The Ziegfeld Follies is a 1945 American musical comedy film directed by Vincente Minnelli and featuring sequences directed by Lemuel Ayers, Roy Del Ruth, and Robert Lewis.


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23-minute slide presentation plus Q&A session delivered to sixth form school pupils in Poynton
Delivered 10 February 2020. Posted 12 April 2020
I regularly speak to teenage school pupils, arranged by the charity Speakers for Schools. A recurring topic is the relationship between Christianity and Islam.
My talk evolves over time, and below is the most recent version, delivered at Poynton High School to a sixth form group of religious studies and sociology students.
The age and subject interests of the students led to some good questions.
During my talk I mentioned some other pages on my website.
Triangulating the Abrahamic faiths – measuring the closeness of Judaism, Christianity and Islam
My count of mentions by name in the Quran is on my 2016 page "My reflection on Christmas." I have reproduced the relevant paragraph below.
As a free question for your next pub quiz, ask them "Which prophet is mentioned most often by name in the Quran?" I counted by searching the Tal Itani translation, chosen simply because I have a PDF copy and the counting is not affected by the existence of footnotes. The results were: Moses 136, Abraham 72, Jesus 25, and Muhammad only 12.
A guide to Quran translations into English
I have reviewed two of the books mentioned in the bibliography:
"Islam – Past Present and Future" by Hans Kung
My first presentation recording was done on the spur of the moment, just putting my iPhone 6 on the table and relying on its built in microphone. See my page Lecture: The Quran recognises religious freedom.
Once I found recording presentations worthwhile, I purchased a high quality Sennheiser digital lapel microphone which plugs into the lightning port of my iPhone. That produces a much better recording.
I am happy to share the original PowerPoint slide presentation.
The question and answer session was also recorded. However, I am not publishing the full audio recording for two main reasons:
Instead, I have listened to the Q&A session and, where I regard the questions as being worth sharing, have written down a condensed version of the questions. I have then published the audio of my answers.
During my answer, I briefly mentioned a concept in mathematics called finite fields.
During my answer I mention the book "Homosexuality in Islam: Critical Reflection on Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender Muslims" by Scott Siraj al-Haqq Kugle.
I also mention one of the charities which I support: The Inclusive Mosque Initiative.
During my answer I mention that my "About me" page details my religious history.
I also explain why, taking a very high level view, I believe that "At its heart, Islam is Judaism without a Chosen People, a universalised form of Judaism."
During my answer, I talk about the Salman Rushdie affair which Wikipedia calls The Satanic Verses controversy.
During my answer I mention "The Selfish Gene" by Richard Dawkins.
My views about are set out in more detail on my page "The theory of evolution and religious texts."
For the convenience of readers, I have reproduced below the Q&A session from my talk on 29 November 2019 at The Co-operative Academy of Stoke-on-Trent as they are also interesting and different.
In my reply, I loosely quote a verse of the Quran from memory. I have reproduced it precisely below.
Quran 2:62
VERILY, those who have attained to faith [in this divine writ], as well as those who follow the Jewish faith, and the Christians, and the Sabians - all who believe in God and the Last Day and do righteous deeds - shall have their reward with their Sustainer; and no fear need they have, and neither shall they grieve.
Muhammad Asad translation
I also refer to my website page "Teaching Muslims religious intolerance".
In my answer, I mention the "Thought for the Week" broadcast I gave on BBC Radio Manchester on 25 December 2018. You can read it on my page "Jesus continues to inspire us today".
During my response, I make the comment "I've never met a Mormon who I didn't think was a good person."
You can read the background in the "My comments before starting the presentation" section of my page "Lecture: The Quran recognises religious freedom" which contains the religious freedom lecture I gave at Brigham Young University's London Campus.
In my response, I mention my Thought for the Week broadcast which you can read on my website page "Reflections on the death of Svetlana Alliluyeva".
One of the slides of my presentation also contains the message from the Quran I mention in my answer.
Extract from Slide 21 (of the presentation in Stoke-on-Trent)
AND NO BEARER of burdens shall be made to bear another's burden; and if one weighed down by his load calls upon [another] to help him carry it, nothing thereof may be carried [by that other], even if it he one's near of kin.
Part of Quran 35:18 Muhammad Asad translation
My response mentions additional coverage on my website page Review of "Qur'anic Concepts of the Ethics of Warfare: Challenging the Claims of Islamic Aggressiveness" by Joel Hayward.
In my response I mention the Roman Catholic document "Nostra Aetate".
I also mentioned a particular Roman Catholic doctrine. For more on that I recommend reading the article "What "No Salvation Outside the Church" Means".
In my answer I did not recall the quote precisely enough. While the American general concerned was under the incorrect impression that Christians and Muslims pray to different gods, he did not use the term "Monkey god."
Full details are set out on the Wikipedia page for General William G. Boykin and the quote I recalled incorrectly was actually "I knew that my God was bigger than his. I knew that my God was a real God and his was an idol."
"Weed" is slang for cannabis or marijuana. "Haram" means religiously prohibited in Islam.
I used my answer to get over a wider educational message about how to think about religious questions, before answering the one posed by the pupil.
Follow @Mohammed_Amin


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Piranhas! Piranhas are one of the most well known predators in the world.
The reason Piranhas are in the single species group is because you cvan only house them with
each other. If there are any weaker Piranhas in the group they will be picked on and eventually eaten.
SIZE: Piranhas will grow to a maximum of 30cm.
pH: Piranhas like the pH at 6.5.
TEMPERATURE: Piranhas like the temperature at around 25-27degrees celsius.
LIFESPAN: Piranhas can live for 10-20 years.
TEMPERMENT: Piranhas are aggressive fish and should only be housed with there own kind.
TANK LEVEL: Piranhas swim at all levels of the tank.


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The customer agrees that changes required over and above the estimated work or required to be carried out after acceptance of the draft design will be liable to a separate charge.


text: Confio has changed the way we look at our general insurance and coverage. We had no idea we were so exposed to risk before their review. They combined technical product knowledge with a business acumen that gave us a real insight into our risks and ultimately helped us achieve some peace-of-mind. We would happily recommend Confio to anyone who needs genuine advice and an in-depth review of their insurance cover. Not only do we have more coverage, we saved money too, what more can you ask for.


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Village Court
Village Court
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Canvas Size: 16"x 20"
Click the "Add to Cart" button now. Limited quantities are available so order now if you see a picture that you like.
© Artist: Sung Kim. Licensed By Bentley Licensing Group
I really loved doing this one. Lots of details but I love all the paintings from your company. Always great quality
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APASA Scholarship Awards
The Asian Pacific American Staff Association (APASA) has awarded over $47,000 in scholarships since 1996 to De Anza College students. Current scholarships awarded to De Anza College students include:
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Scholarship Application/Letter of Recommendation Deadline
The deadline to submit the application and letter of recommendation for the 2024 APASA Scholarships is Sunday, April 28, 2024 by 11:59 pm.
For more details about the APASA Scholarships and to apply, visit https://fhda.academicworks.com
For students planning to apply for the scholarship, we strongly recommend to submit your application a few days before the deadline to give your recommender enough time to reply. Once your application is submitted, your recommender will receive an email with the link to submit your recommendation.
* NOTE: Incomplete applications will not be considered. *
For questions about the APASA Scholarship Application, please contact 2023-2024 APASA Scholarship Committee Chair: Phong Lam at email@example.com.
Download: APASA Scholarship Flyer


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Check out our list of all the top early Apple Watch Series 8 deals for Black Friday 2023, featuring all the best savings on Apple Watch 8 45mm, 41mm, GPS, Cellular & more.
BOSTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / November 16, 2023 / Find the best early Apple Watch Series 8 deals for Black Friday, featuring the top savings on Series 8 models with GPS and Cellular connectivity, 45mm and 41mm case sizes, and more. Shop the latest deals by clicking the links listed below.
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Interested in more deals? Click here to shop the entire range of live deals at Walmart right now. Consumer Articles earns commissions from purchases made using the links provided.
The Apple Watch Series 8 incorporates new features like a temperature sensor, Crash Detection, and international roaming. It's available in two case sizes, 41mm and 45mm, and is offered in two models: GPS and Cellular.
For users primarily interested in basic tasks like activity tracking, notifications, calls, and texts, the GPS + Cellular model is a suitable choice. On the other hand, the Cellular model is ideal for those who desire continuous connectivity, even when without their phone.
The choice between the 41mm and 45mm case sizes largely depends on personal preference. Smaller wrists may favor the 41mm case, while larger wrists may find the 45mm case more comfortable. The Apple Watch Series 8 caters to a broad audience, offering a compelling smartwatch experience for all.
Black Friday stands as a major shopping event, with retailers offering substantial discounts on a wide range of products, including beauty essentials, fashion items, kitchen appliances, and more. Black Friday 2023 falls on November 24th, providing shoppers with an extended opportunity to access deals both in physical stores and online. To streamline the online shopping experience, it is advisable to establish accounts on retailer websites and input billing and shipping details in advance, ensuring quicker and more convenient checkouts.
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SOURCE: Consumer Articles