text:
Read more: "2013 Smart Guide: 10 ideas that will shape the year"
Dig deeper, look closer and think harder – these are the goals of New Scientist's in-depth articles. Each one is perfect for saving in your favourite read-it-later app and curling up in front of a glowing tablet for a good long read.
These are our editors' picks of our best features of the year, and all are prime examples of the amazing breadth of big ideas that were ripe for the tackling in 2012. When you have finished digesting these readable meals, visit our in-depth articles archive if you're hungry for more.
Richard Webb: "You might not have heard of the algorithm that runs the world." I certainly hadn't, or that its mathematical foundations are starting to look a little wobbly. An eye-opening examination of how seemingly abstruse mathematics is in fact deeply embedded in modern life: "The algorithm that runs the world"
Sally Adee: Gastric bypass surgery is the best surgery you're not getting, said Dr Oz on his popular medical advice show in the US. Because of enthusiasm from people like him, this operation has become massively popular – but by whimsically hacking at our stomach, might we might be messing with a system far more complicated than anyone really understands? Samantha Murphy had the surgery and began to realise that losing 45 kilograms could come with some profound neurological trade-offs: "Change your stomach, change your brain"
Michael Le Page: Nowadays most people either haven't heard of the 1970 book The Limits to Growth, or believe – wrongly – that the research it was based on has been discredited. But the main message of Limits is perhaps more relevant than ever – that a delayed response to mounting environmental problems leads to catastrophe further down the line: "Boom and doom: Revisiting prophecies of collapse"
Richard Fisher: This is a simple story about a scientific mystery. Strange rumbles, whistles and blasts have been reported all over the world for centuries. In New York state, they are called "Seneca guns"; in the Italian Apennines they are described as brontidi, which means thunder-like; in Japan they are yan; and along the coast of Belgium they are called mistpouffers – or fog belches. Yet the cause is often unexplained – what on Earth could be behind them? "Mystery booms: The source of a worldwide sonic enigma"
Valerie Jamieson: It's been a sensational year for particle physics, but the Higgs boson isn't the only fascinating particle in town. Meet 11 more particles that change our understanding of the subatomic world: "11 particles for 11 physics puzzles"
David Robson: What is the secret of the legendary "flow state" that seems to mark out genius in everyone from piano virtuosos to tennis champions? With the latest brain stimulation techniques, it may soon be within everyone's reach, and Sally Adee writes with panache as she describes her own use of the technology during a terrifying marksmanship training session. This has everything I want to read in a story – drama, a revolutionary idea and some practical advice for anyone to try at home: "Zap your brain into the zone: Fast track to pure focus"
Graham Lawton: The writer of this article, Christopher Kemp, is a self-confessed lover of marginalia – nooks and crannies of science that are often overlooked. But as this beautifully written story reveals, those nooks and crannies often contain rich and fascinating material. Material, in fact, like ambergris: "Heaven scent: The grey gold from a sperm whale's gut"
Ben Crystall: Many people may remember the wonder material Starlite from an episode of BBC TV's Tomorrow's World – it seemed to have a miraculous ability to withstand fire and heat. So what happened to it? In this feature Richard Fisher uncovers the strange tale of Starlite and its eccentric inventor Maurice Ward, and on the way reveals fascinating details about Ward and his creation. And though Ward is dead, the story may not be over – it now looks like Starlite could get a second chance… "The power of cool: Whatever became of Starlite?"
Clare Wilson: I enjoyed working on this feature the most this year because to me it truly represents the future of medicine. New Scientist often predicts that some new medicine or technology will be available in five years' time. When it comes to using gene therapies or stem cell therapies on babies in the womb – the subject of this feature – the timeline is probably more uncertain, yet I don't see how anyone can doubt that some day it will happen: "Fetal healing: Curing congenital diseases in the womb"
If you would like to reuse any content from New Scientist, either in print or online, please contact the syndication department first for permission. New Scientist does not own rights to photos, but there are a variety of licensing options available for use of articles and graphics we own the copyright to.
All comments should respect the New Scientist House Rules. If you think a particular comment breaks these rules then please use the "Report" link in that comment to report it to us.
If you are having a technical problem posting a comment, please contact technical support.
In-depth 2012: The best long reads of the year
This article
In-depth 2012: The best long reads of the year
can be opened in url
In-depth 2012: The best long reads of the year


text:
A couple of interesting news articles that directly influence our study. Remember, part of the piint of doing this is not to prove a connection, but examine the possible connection between Media violence and real life violence.
First up – primary school children are copying "video Game Violence" in the playground. It covers a range of issues, but it is important to separate some of the statements. Read The Guardian article.
The teachers fear that by spending hours alone playing the games, children could become anti-social and slow to develop speaking and listening skills. Many pupils arrive at school exhausted having played the games until the early hours of the morning, they said.
Now, are the games directly responsible for effecting children to become anti-social, and retarding basic soft skills? Or is the lack of sleep causing this? Just because we see a correlation, does not mean it is a direct connection.
And coverage from The Sun and The Daily Mail on the 14 year old who murdered his mother. Lots of focus on his love of Violent Games, Videos and Coronation Street. What's to blame…?
'It must have had an impact because any normal thinking person wouldn't have done what he did unless he got something imprinted in his brain from what he watched
Both articles make lists of the films he watched, but tend to skip past naming specific games. Interestingly, The Evil Dead is implicated – the original film was one of the films classified as a "Video Nasty" in the 80's, and was only available as an edited version for about 20 years.
Both articles imply a copycat effect – ie people consume the media and then try to act it out. This could be a blurring of the lines between reality and fantasy, but that would be an assumption. If the fantasy world is being confused with the real world, that would be an separate psychological issue.
We also have an implication of desensitization – if children consume lots of violent media, they are more likely to be able to commit it. There are arguments against this, mainly that the desensitization would only apply to media violence – however, if someone is confused about the difference between fact and fiction…?

subset: commoncrawl


text:
For other groups of people, conventional laboratory HIV or hep C testing may be more suitable. For more information on other testing services, call the NSW Sexual Health Link on 1800 451 624, or if you have a doctor you normally see, you could ask him or her about HIV testing.
Download our information sheets to find out more how this program can help you.


text:
Pursuing New Opportunities: Creating an Entrepreneurial Vision for Regional Development
March 2006
Development District Association of Appalachia
Annual Conference
March 12-14, 2006
Arlington, Virginia
Today, change is the norm, and it is critical that local development districts (LDDs) embrace creative thinking and adaptability. As administrative costs continue to rise, districts must examine ways to improve operational standards and increase organizational efficiency. Yet districts cannot lose sight of their primary mission: to provide support and services to member governments and citizens for the betterment of their regions.
How districts are to walk this increasingly narrow tightrope of fiscal control and programmatic vision can keep LDD executive directors up at night as they try to develop strategies to squeeze more out of increasingly limited administrative funds. This conference will help encourage LDDs to think "entrepreneurially" from both inside and outside of the organization. Conference sessions will challenge districts to see themselves as catalysts whose mission is to help foster thriving, active communities; and present ideas and strategies to help districts think creatively to improve their management standards and overall operational effectiveness.
As part of this discussion, grantseeking and fundraising educator David Bauer will share funding strategies and advice on how districts can be effective entrepreneurial organizations. As participants in DDAA-sponsored satellite telecasts know, Mr. Bauer is a dynamic communicator with exceptional knowledge of grantsmanship and fundraising.
The 2006 Development District Association of Appalachia conference also marks the start of a new partnership with the National Association of Development Organizations' annual Washington Policy Conference. This partnership will help Appalachian districts reduce their conference time and travel costs as well as help strengthen the quality of both events. Highlights of this partnership include the opportunity to attend a performance of the widely acclaimed play Shear Madness at the Kennedy Center, and a session featuring Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist David Broder of the Washington Post. Mr. Broder can also be seen as a regular commentator on CNN's Inside Politics as well as on PBS's Washington Week. In addition, he has made numerous appearances on NBC's Meet the Press. Mr. Broder is a real expert on the Washington political scene, and his presentation will be a "can't miss" for conference participants!


text:
"I don't really have time to say goodbye. Not many even know I'm leaving. Not many even care. And certainly no one knows where I'm truly headed because not even I know that."
"Go Quiet. Shut it all down, Love."
"'Cept the music."
"Yes, of course."
"Ya know who visited me today in my Dreams? Twice."
"What'd he say this time?"
"Wes Go!"


text:
Introducing our Alabama "Sweet Home" state outline print!
I hear your skies are pretty blue.
Keep reading for more info on the full collection:
Everyone has that one wall in their house that just stares at them, right? Looking embarrassingly naked...but you're just not sure what to put there?
Well, we feel ya.
So we designed these premade gallery walls to save your sad + naked walls! Each set comes with one 11x14 print and four coordinating 5x7 prints - and they're all themed to fit your state.
For Alabama, you get:
–11x14 print featuring the camellia, Alabama's state flower
–5x7 print featuring the Yellowhammer, Alabama's state bird
–5x7 print featuring the Tarpon, Alabama's state fish
–5x7 print featuring our Alabama "sweet home" design
–5x7 print featuring our "heart of dixie" Alabama watercolor design
And, here's the best part, you can grab them framed OR unframed.
Double whammy- You can choose the color you like best!
The choice is yours, friend.
Like what you see? We have more where that came from.
See similar products here!
–These babies are all archival quality giclee prints
–You can purchase each print from the Alabama collection individually, too. Grab each one here:
–Check out each states' beautiful florals! They're all right here
Prints - 2-5 business days
Pillows - 5-7 business days
Mugs - 2-5 business days
All items are packaged securely and shipped affordably.
Priority and Expedited shipping is available upon request.
Items may ship separately.


text:
Chloe Ferry has become the fifth Celebrity Big Brother housemate to be evicted from the house tonight (January 20) after a head-to-head nominations task saw her join Kim Woodburn, Jedward and Coleen Nolan in facing the public vote.
We already knew Kim was one of four housemates up for eviction but the other three with their fate in the public's hands were revealed earlier on tonight, with Coleen soon being confirmed as safe by host Emma Willis just before the show's first episode finished.
Chloe, Coleen, Jedward and Kim all had to face the public vote after the housemates in their superheroes and sidekick guises faced off against each other in a typical prisoner's dilemma-like scenario.
Today's nominations process saw each of the housemates go up against their (unseen) partners in the superhero task where the four up for nomination were essentially betrayed when their partners pushed the button to save themselves.
The fallout from the task played out well into the night, with housemates questioning whether they thought the other would push, leading to Stacy clashing with Jedward, Nicola weighing in on Stacy's "struggle with her own decisions" and, most surprisingly, Kim actually being quite level-headed about Calum's quick decision to make sure she faced the public vote instead of him.
"That young man has done nothing to me," Kim told Jessica Cunningham when she was later asked if she was okay. "He has been charm itself, he's young, he's got a career. And he knows I wouldn't mind."
Tonight's live show will also see one housemate receive eternal immunity from eviction until the final... and that same housemate will then choose another to receive eternal nominations too.
Celebrity Big Brother continues on Channel 5.
Don't forget to vote for your favourite TV shows in this year's National Television Awards! Shortlist voting closes at 12 midday on Wednesday, January 25.
Want up-to-the-minute entertainment and tech news? Just hit 'Like' on our Digital Spy Facebook page and 'Follow' on our @digitalspy Twitter account and you're all set.


text:
Bone mineral density measurement in children and adolescents: Novelties in measurement programs
Novelties in measurement programs
Speed of measurement by densitometric techniques in children is of great importance, because it is hard to keep children motionless during the performance. However, utilization of speeding up measurement as fan beam technique has still some disadvantages enforcing the needs of its further evaluation and cross-calibration. For accurate determination of bone mineral accrual in growing subjects with the use of DXA correction of all magnification errors is needed. Children with growth abnormalities often show deficient BMD for chronological age. That might be a reflection of growth irregularities rather than poor bone mineralization. Taking on account body size deficit, improves significantly the assessment of bone status in children. In the newest software for DXA appeared the possibility of adjusting body size using three-step assessment: height for age, BMC for height and bone area for height. Moreover, incorporation of the variable standard deviations in DXA pediatric reference data results in more accurate assessment of pedi- atric skeletal health; what is especially ortant during pubertal growth spurt. The other prospective technical improvements are related to incorporation of reference ranges for subcranial BMD and normalization of skeletal status with the use of muscle mass adjustment.


text:
Usually I love following the traditions: I believe in keeping the proportions and following the procedures even if new technologies can simplify everything: after all, I am not looking for the "correct" and perfect ways, I just need my food to taste like in the childhood. But sometimes, when life sends you a good set of ingredients, I feel like experimenting (anyway, there was no lasagna in my childhood). This time my inspiration was the autumn – keeping in mind that in English climate autumn vegetables must be the tastiest. So, actually, the queen of the autumn, pumpkin, seems like a perfect stuffing balanced with new tomatoes and some potatoes. Alternatively, pumpkin can be replaced with aubergines. The nature is smart, and apparently all autumn veggies tend to combine perfectly with each other.
Pumpkin Potato Lasagna
Potatoes__________ 500 grams
Pumpkin__________ 300 grams
Tomato pasta______ 3 tablespoons
Scamorza Cheese___350 grams
Brie Cheese________150 grams
Lasagna sheets
Parmesan ____100 grams
For sauce
Butter ______ 40 grams
Flour _______40 grams
Milk ________600 ml
Nutmeg _____a pinch
1. Cut onion and fry till golden, add cut potatoes and diced pumpkin and cook on the low heat for 10 minutes. Add tomato pasta, mix well and cook until ready. Add salt, paper, and rosemary to taste.
2. For the béchamel sauce melt the butter in a pot with thick bottom, add flour, mix it and fry for several minutes constantly mixing so that flour won't stick to the bottom. Add warm milk, mix well, cook on low flame till it boils, after add salt, nutmeg, cover with the lid and cook for 10-15 minutes (till it becomes dense). Note: for lasagna the sauce shall be not as dense as you would cook otherwise.
3. Grease a baking dish, cover the bottom with béchamel, lay the first layer of lasagna sheets (it's better if they don't overlap), cover with béchamel, spread vegetable mix, add salt and pepper to taste, and slices of cheese. Repeat layers till all ingredients are used, cover with lasagna sheets, béchamel, sprinkle with parmesan. Bake on 180C (350F) for 45 minutes.


text:
Listen: Jake Owen Releases An 'American Country Love Song'
It's always nice when a song does exactly as it says on the tin and Jake Owen's American Country Love Song does exactly that. The new track from the country star follows previous 2015 hit Real Life.
Whilst Real Life saw Owen opt for a more a pop-centric sound, American Country Love Song shifts back to a country-focus. The mid-tempo track is an immediately likeable slice of feel-good country in which Owen manages to channel that much-loved roughish charisma. The track and Real Life are set to feature on the singer's latest album, due for release this Summer.
Listen to American Country Love Song below. Buy on iTunes.


text:
We've all been a little sluggish this week. I blame the birthday hangover. Too much sugar and celebration and not enough leafy greens and rest.
But boy did we have fun!
The day started with Birthday Donuts! Chocolate and Maple and Lemon, oh my! I laughed while watching the Boy run in laps around the living room on a sugar buzz to end all sugar buzzes. After a failed attempt at a nap (I know, what with the donuts, I was a little delusional with that one), the family started to gather at our little apartment.
There were presents and cards and lots of laughter. He got lots of animals and books and two trains. We moved the party to Red Robin for chicken fingers and fries and more conversation and laughter. At one point I was trying to keep my dad from getting restless and voluble with the slacker wait staff and said, "Dad, your blood pressure doesn't need this fight." To which he responded, "What blood pressure? That's what I take PILLS for!" I had to laugh at that logic. We take medication so that we can lose our tempers in good conscious!
My mom made my favorite cake (what? it's fair! They had to CUT him out of my body! I get my favorite cake on his birthday. It's cake! He doesn't know the difference) and we had candles and singing and cake and ice cream and MORE presents (books and a big red Clifford dog that the Boy has refused to be parted from since his birthday).
Anyway, everyone hugged the Boy and headed home and we set about trying to settle him down for the night. I was rocking him in the rocking chair and wondering how many times I've rocked him to settle him for sleep in the past three years. And then the more I thought about it the more I realized that I could probably come up with a reasonable round number. Are you curious? Here it is: 2, 711 times. Not counting extra cuddles for sick days (or nights) or teething cuddles.
And you know, there are probably some women out there who would say, "What a waste of TIME!" But I wouldn't trade a minute of it for anything. It was important to me from the beginning and it's still important to me. I know my days are numbered. I know one day he's going to look at me and say, "No, Mama. Don't need a cuddle." And I'll smile and say, "What a big boy." And then tuck him in and go and have a good cry. But for now...for now I'm enjoying my Boy.
Here. You enjoy him too!
Birthday Hangover...I mean, recap.Posted by M on 15 July 2011
We've all been a little sluggish this week. I blame the birthday hangover. Too much sugar and celebration and not enough leafy greens and rest.
Labels: The Boy
2 comments:
- Cel and JP said...
You do birthday right, my friend. I'm taking notes over here.
Happy Birthday, big guy!
And Happy Mama's day to you :)
- July 15, 2011 at 12:24 PM
- Brett said...
Yeah for an awesome birthday! And I'm oh so curious what your Mom's awesome cake recipe is that ranks so high on your cake-dar (haha... just came up with that) that it's your favorite.
- July 15, 2011 at 1:58 PM


text:
There is no reason that your entry and interior door handles need to be ordinary. Choose, instead, to make a bold statement with your door hardware.
Residences and commercial projects are open to statement making details that include door and cabinet hardware. For example, businesses can elect to have custom entry door handles created in the form of their logo or product that will certainly make a design statement as customers and clients enter the building. We designed and created this set of bespoke door handles for a wine cellar. Anyone who approaches these doors to enter will certainly know they are about to enjoy a delicious glass of wine!
And the St. Regis in Kauai celebrates the cultural history of their beautiful surroundings with these custom door handles.
Not just for entry doors, cabinet and drawer hardware can also make a design statement. Styles that reflect a hobby, favorite sport or other passion such as flowers or animals, will add details with a personal touch.
Interior designes and architects know the value of detail in the design of any building or room and door handles and knobs are an easy to way insert those details into a project.
To view our statement making collection of architectural hardware visit our site at www.martinpierce.com.
Designers can visit the showroom located at:
5433 W. Washington Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90016
Tel: 323-939-5929


text:
Master in Cognitive Neuroscience of Language – BCBL
Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language
The Master's program aims to provide specialized, comprehensive and rigorous training in the Cognitive Neuroscience of Language. The Master's program includes core courses (theoretical and methodological), advanced elective courses, and a research-based project at the end of the program. Students learn from the world-class scientists at the Basque Center on Cognition, Brain, and Language.
The Master's program is aimed at university graduates with various degrees who are interested in the Cognitive Neuroscience of Language, including previous training in psychology or linguistics, as well as language-oriented training in cognitive science, computer science, or mathematics. The duration of the program is one academic year with 60 ECTS credits. Students will develop research skills through the mentorship of experts and by completing a Master's Research Project at the end of the program. The language of instruction is English. Selecting the appropriate Masters program is the best way to start a successful research career, and in fact, several of our current PhD students began their research careers in our Masters program
For more information about the master's program, visit http://www.bcbl.eu/2014/12/master-in-cognitive-neuroscience-of-language-2/
For more information about the BCBL, visit www.bcbl.eu
Application Process
Details of application requirements can be found at: http://www.bcbl.eu/2014/12/master-in-cognitive-neuroscience-of-language-2/
Application Periods
- Application sent by mail to firstname.lastname@example.com by FEBRUARY 25.
- Notification of the Master's admissions board's decision: MARCH 25.
- Admitted students should confirm their intention to participate in the program by APRIL 15.
-Pre-enrollment must be submitted ONLINE along with the confirmation of participation.
- Application sent by mail to email@example.com by APRIL 1, until JUNE 30.
- Notification of the Master's admissions board's decision: Rolling admissions. Applications received by APRIL 15 will receive notification by MAY 15.
- Admitted students should confirm their intention to participate within two weeks of being accepted into the program.
- Pre-enrollment must be submitted ONLINE along with the confirmation of participation.


text:
A Brief History
I became involved with photography in 1976. In 1982 I had an exhibit of my personal work – landscapes and portraits of punk rockers – at the Chrysler Museum and local galleries.
Wade Studios began in 1984 with commercial assignments for the Chrysler, Virginia Opera, WTKR, Tidewater Virginian and Commonwealth magazines, and numerous ad agencies in Hampton Roads. Around 1988 the focus shifted from commercial to a more interpersonal one. During the nineties the business grew to two studios (Virginia Beach & Chesapeake) and expanded almost entirely into weddings, high school seniors, families, and children's portraiture.
Today my emphasis in photography is divided between teaching and mentoring new photographers, shooting a few select weddings, stylized portraits, and the Reenactor Project.
Teaching & Mentoring
Classes – Group & Personal
I've lectured at Regent University, Picture This!, the Hampton Roads Digital Shutter Bugs, among other groups. I've taught a few workshops on lighting for portraiture. And I have several photographers that I'm helping from people who simply want to learn how to use their camera better, to entrepreneurs wanting to start a career in photography.
If you'd be interested in having me speak to your group, host or attend a workshop, learn camera basics, contact me for availability and rates.
If you're getting ready to begin a career in photography, and need some help from someone who has a background in photography as a career, and has a securities license, and worked for the last four years with a Fortune 100 company helping entrepreneurs and small business owners reach out – let's have coffee and chat.
The Reenactor Project
The project began in 2016 when Nathan Richardson, a friend and fellow writer, asked me to create a portrait of his reenactment of Frederick Douglass. Considering the era in which Douglass lived, and the work that Victory Will did at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival using a tintype approach for her portraits of celebrities, I decided that we'd try to replicate that look in some of the work.
Shortly after that session I was able to work with a group of Medieval and Renaissance reenactors. Since the project began I've worked with 11th century vikings, Templar knights from the 12th century, 14th century Germanic mercenaries, Mongolian scribes, rug merchants, barons and baronesses, Colonial soldiers from France, Great Britain, and the colonies, a young Confederate soldier, soldiers representing the New Soviet Man, Germans from the Third Reich, American doughboys and sailors from WWII, as well as Canadian and English members of the Allies.
It's been quite fun, educational, and it's only just beginning.
Next Steps…
If you'd like to discuss a session, learn more about one on one mentoring or professional mentoring, future classes, or have me speak to your group, then email me at email@example.com or call me at 757.961.6619


text:
BeYOUtiful Bride offers bridal hair and makeup in New Jersey and the Tri-State Area.
Read a few love notes from a handful of our happy brides:
Jess and her team are true professionals…
"What a pleasure it was working with Jess on my wedding day. Having 11 bridesmaids plus myself may have seem daunting, but Jess and her team are true professionals and flawlessly made my bridesmaids and I beautiful and on schedule! Prior to my wedding the communication line was always open, and she laid everything out for me and made sure everyone was on the same page. Feeling beautiful on your wedding day is important and the BeYOUtiful bride team went above and beyond to make it happen. I recommend Jess and her team to any bride who wants professionalism and a high level talent for both hair and makeup on her wedding day.
I could not have imagined my day without her…
"I could not have asked for a more professional hairstylist. Jess was so easy to talk to and made sure I was 100% happy with every part of the experience. From the trial to the reminders to being prompt and on time the day of the wedding. She did it with such ease which made me relax and enjoy the experience. My girls adored her and have asked for her information. I, with pleasure, recommend Jess to all brides, bridesmaids and mothers of…. I could not have imagined my day without her! Thank you Jess!"
Our hair stayed perfectly in place all night…
"I got married this past December, and words cannot express how truly blessed I was to have Jess be a part of my wedding as my hair stylist. Jess came highly recommended and exceeded my expectations! She was prompt, professional and amazingly talented! Jess really took the time with me during my trial to test out a few different looks in which she made me feel confident that I was picking the right style. She was caring, knowledgeable and gave great insights. Jess created an event schedule for the morning of my wedding. It really helped put me at ease, and kept our morning on track. She also provided me with a list of tips to give to my girls on how to properly prep their hair the night before. All the girls in my bridal party looked absolutely beautiful and she was able to achieve any style they requested. Our hair stayed perfectly in place all night and looked phenomenal in the pictures! Jess went above and beyond and I felt like she treated my wedding day as if it were her own. Thank you for helping to create the wedding hair of my dreams and making me feel like a princess on my special day!"
She is exceptionally talented…
"I cannot say enough wonderful things about Jess! When I went for my hair trial, I had a bunch of ideas but was not certain on exactly what I wanted. Although I gave her very little to go on, Jess created the absolute perfect hairstyle for my wedding. She is exceptionally talented and has a way of bringing out the beauty in every person's hair that she does. The day of my wedding Jess was a rock star. She arrived early and got started right away. She did different hairstyles for each bridesmaid, from blow outs to elaborate up-dos, each looking more beautiful than the next. My hair the day of the wedding came out even better than the trial and stayed throughout the entire night. I may have used an entire box of her bobby pins, but not a single curl moved! Jess was professional, timely, and really easy to talk to. My day would not have been the same without her. Thank you Jess!"
She is professional, flexible, and always available…
"During the time of my wedding, Jess Ferrara was recommended to me by a stylist at the salon I was using. I wanted my hair and makeup trials to be easy, fun, and I wanted to feel like whoever I chose, would make me look not just beautiful, but like myself. Jess did all of those things, and more. From our very first meeting, Jess made me feel comfortable, she understood what I was trying to achieve, and she does it in a way that is honest. Looking back now, this is really important. Just as important, she listens. She has a way of letting you give her total control, and trusting her so much with one of the most important things on your special day; she is calming, and the day of my wedding, she was my voice of reason in that room getting ready with the other girls and moms. Almost like no one else is there. I'm not even sure if she realizes this amazing quality she has. I was extremely happy with not only my hair, but my makeup as well. The moms, and bridesmaids all looked beautiful as well, and I know they were so happy with everything Jess and her team did. The pictures will do Jess's work more than justice; that you will be able to see for yourself. I'm excited that I can tell you about Jess as a person, and what an integral part of my wedding she played. She is professional, flexible, and always available to help with questions, or advice for your special day. To say I highly recommend Jess is an understatement! Oh, and needless to say, Jess is now my permanent stylist!"


text:
Recent Volatility Leads Traders Down Under
Even risk-averse currency traders can long the iShares MSCI Australia Index Fund.
Stocks were mixed Wednesday as those traders and investors who are still around seemed to take a step back to digest the FOMC's statement on rates. Stocks traded higher from the start of the session and then trended lower throughout the day. But mediocre volume prevents us from drawing any real conclusions from the price action.
Bonds followed the same pattern as stocks, with selling accelerating after the Fed announcement. The 10-year Treasury yield closed above 3.58% for a second day.
Commodities were firmly higher despite the late-day rally by the dollar (make a note of that); the oil pit responded bullishly to inventory data out yesterday morning, enabling crude to close above short-term resistance; gold rallied right along with oil for the day, but was unable to overtake its short-term resistance.
The US Dollar Index traded lower for most of the session Wednesday, but rallied after the 2:15 statement to end nearly unchanged.
Overnight and early morning: Asian markets were mostly lower overnight while European markets are down across the board so far this morning. S&P futures are indicating a lower open for US equities (as of 8 a.m. EST). The US Dollar Index is trading higher by over 1% early this morning. Oil and gold are both trading sharply lower this morning in reaction to the higher greenback.
Earnings: FedEx (FDX) -- although their pre-announcement should already be baked in the price; Research in Motion (RIMM); Oracle (ORCL); and Nike (NKE).
Market internals:
(Figures are rounded)
Critical Market Components:
S&P 500: support for the S&P is at its ascending 75-day moving average (currently at 1072.54); the next meaningful resistance is 1139 which is a convergence of Fibonacci levels; seems as if the market is content to end the year around current levels -- nobody wants to make any waves.
NASDAQ: the critical level on a weekly closing basis is 2211.95; support below that is the lower edge of a rising wedge that has developed at 2188; next resistance on a confirmed breakout is 2231.02 -- a 61.8% retracement of the 2008-09 bear market; NASDAQ and semis are market leaders right now.
Dow Jones Industrials: support at rising trend line at around 10,300; resistance for the Dow on a weekly closing basis is 10,507.59; 9,712 is next target on the downside on any break of support; the Dow was lifted by energy and tech Wednesday.
10-Year US Treasury Yield: no changes here; horizontal line support remains at 3.554%; resistance remains in the 3.78% to 3.88% range -- the wave iii of 5 yield projection.
Commodity ETF (DBC): support at the 80-day moving average at 23.30; substantial resistance at 25; commodities again marched to the beat of their own drum Wednesday as the complex rallied and held onto its gain despite afternoon strength in the dollar.
US Dollar Index (DXY): short-term support at previous resistance of 76.58; next short-term target is the October high of 77.47; the intermediate-term target is the 80 to 81 area; the DXY traded lower early in yesterday's session and then rallied back up to near breakeven by the end of the day -- still very bullish action.
Semiconductor Index (SOX): recaptured the 339 level for a day; that level will be key going into the weekend; support at the weekly uptrend line at around 320; a breakout above the 339 weekly resistance would lead to an upside target of 379 to 385.
- 1
- 2
The information on this website solely reflects the analysis of or opinion about the performance of securities and financial markets by the writers whose articles appear on the site. The views expressed by the writers are not necessarily the views of Minyanville Media, Inc. or members of its management. Nothing contained on the website is intended to constitute a recommendation or advice addressed to an individual investor or category of investors to purchase, sell or hold any security, or to take any action with respect to the prospective movement of the securities markets or to solicit the purchase or sale of any security. Any investment decisions must be made by the reader either individually or in consultation with his or her investment professional. Minyanville writers and staff may trade or hold positions in securities that are discussed in articles appearing on the website. Writers of articles are required to disclose whether they have a position in any stock or fund discussed in an article, but are not permitted to disclose the size or direction of the position. Nothing on this website is intended to solicit business of any kind for a writer's business or fund. Minyanville management and staff as well as contributing writers will not respond to emails or other communications requesting investment advice.
Copyright 2011 Minyanville Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Daily Recap Newsletter
entertainment, education and
smart market commentary.


text:
Andrea came home on Sunday. We had a very nice day together:
The first thing we did was baking gingerbreads
...while listening to music...
We made some delicious hot chocolate with cinnamon to drink with the freshly baked gingerbreads.
And so we did!
It was DELICIOUS. But super heavy (milk, chocolate powder, sugar, cinnamon, Milka chocolate, cream...) so we had stomachache after drinking it!
Then we decided to watch "Frozen", because I hadn't seen it yet. I loved it!
Tried to understand my music program and record a cover...
...but got tired and watched "The Grinch".


text:
REVIEW: Joe Lynn Turner – Voodoo, Belfast
Over the past 30 years, rock legend Joe Lynn Turner has been famed for working with the likes of Rainbow and Deep Purple, and on Saturday night he paid a visit to Belfast's hard rock hotspot Voodoo for an intimate evening of music and discussion.
The night was kicked off with support from Cookstown punk rocker Jarlath Cowan, who played a mixture of covers by the likes of The Pogues and Stiff Little Fingers as well as some originals. I was really impressed by his cover of Elvis classic Don't Be Cruel, which had everyone dancing and singing along, as well as the melodic My Name is Hercules and his final song Buckfast, which he tells me usually gets a brilliant reaction when he plays it in his native Cookstown (I'm from Tyrone and this doesn't surprise me!). For someone who's used to playing alongside his band, Jarlath did a fantastic job of warming up the crowd with the help of only his guitar.
Before Joe took to the stage we were asked to write some questions down for him to answer throughout the night, which was a lovely touch to an already intimate gig and something which I think his fans really appreciated. You could tell that most of the people there were lifelong supporters and there was a real excitement amongst the crowd which was difficult not to get wrapped up in as we waited for him to come on. He started the gig off with Rainbow classic Stone Cold, which went down an absolute treat with the crowd. I was surprised at the intimacy of the gig, as it was just Joe on stage with a guitarist, and his vocals were really laid bare. Despite telling us that he was suffering from a cold, his voice was still pretty much on point; impressive when you consider the fact that the guy's 63 years old.
Next up he sang a few classics such as Street of Dreams and King of Dreams which had everyone singing along. He cited Van Morrison is one of his inspirations, telling us that he's a massive fan, and gave us a charming rendition of Moondance. The highlight of the evening for me came with Deep Purple classics Hush, and of course Smoke on the Water; upbeat crowd pleasers that everyone relished in chanting along to.
He finished the night off with ZZ Top anthem Tush, which sounded fantastic even with the lack of a big, live band, much to the crowds delight.
Although, admittedly I didn't exactly fit in to the crowd of 80's hard rockers at Voodoo, I found myself having a brilliant night and really got wrapped up in the atmosphere of the evening. Joe seems like a lovely, genuine guy and had a brilliant rapport with the crowd, although there were a few complaints from fans about the briefness of the gig (Joe was only on stage for an hour and fifteen minutes), and the fact that he didn't play his classic hit I Surrender. He did, however, have a chat with some of his fans and sign quite a few tickets and albums, and they told me he was very friendly and welcoming. After thirty years in the business, Joe Lynn Turner can still provide fans with an exceptional performance and shows us that age is only a number. Meghan Gilleece, GiggingNI.com


text:
Saif al-Arab Gaddafi, the youngest son of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, and three of his grandchildren have been killed in a NATO air strike, a Libyan government spokesman said.
Gaddafi and his wife were in the Tripoli house of his 29-year-old son, Saif al-Arab Gaddafi, when it was hit by at least one missile fired by a NATO warplane late on Saturday, according to Libyan government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim. "The house of Mr Saif al-Arab Gaddafi was attacked tonight with full power. The leader with his wife was there in the house with other friends and relatives.
"The leader himself is in good health, he wasn't harmed," the spokesman said, adding that Gaddafi's wife was also unharmed but other people in the house were injured.
"This was a direct operation to assassinate the leader of this country. This is not permitted by international law. It is not permitted by any moral code or principle.
"What we have now is the law of the jungle," Ibrahim told a news conference.
"We think now it is clear to everyone that what is happening in Libya has nothing to do with the protection of civilians."


text:
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Most of the following thumbnails are from DrawNight with the occasional sketch from meetings and breaks. The subjects are usually very similar as I often find myself trying to understand or attempt to solve the same problems. Generally speaking I don't use these thumbnails to create a painting, however they have been indispensable in regards to studies and inspiration. Time varies on these, easy to lose track :)
6 comments:
You can eat lunch with the cool kids now.ReplyDelete
Dooooood! These are nice! I like the 'paper cut out' feeling some of them have.ReplyDelete
Really nice studies. Composing landscape elements is one of the things I have the most trouble with - I appreciate how seriously great (and effortless) these look.ReplyDelete
Hey Asshat you can keep your blog domains without having them all listed in your profile. ^ ^ReplyDelete
Very cool sketches!
Dillon: You and Jon diesta?! Yes, I've waited my entire life for this.ReplyDelete
Johnny: Sup punk! Was good to see you, even if it was briefly :P Hrm, paper cut out?
emma: EMMA! I missed you at ComicCon :( Noooooooooo. I need to get your book! Thanks for the kind words!
Joshua James: Thanks asshat! I had no idea... kekeke.
Too good man. Those geometric trees take me somewhere else ay :). I love emReplyDelete


text:
This week Larry Ellison again took a shot across the new HP CEO's bow by accusing him of personally overseeing the theft of Oracle software by former SAP subsidiary TomorrowNow. While the companies were hardly close after Oracle acquired Sun and effectively went into competition with HP, these latest attacks seem increasingly personal. They either showcase infirmity in Oracle's chief executive, a desperate need to distract observers from other things, or a desire to change a critical perception surrounding Oracle. We'll leave the first to Larry's psychiatrist, if he has one, and focus on the other two.
Oracle Distraction
There are several things Oracle really doesn't want people talking about right now. The first is Mark Hurd's relationship with Co-President Safra Catz. Charles Phillips, who preceded Hurd in the Oracle office of the CEO, was largely seen as Safra's aid in most things. He clearly deferred to her, and she had the power in the relationship. In addition, Phillips focused largely on sales and marketing while Catz focused on operations, M&A and financial performance. Hurd doesn't like M&A and has been very vocal about that historically. His skill is cost-cutting, which crosses into Catz's roles strongly. He isn't known to work well with superiors, particularly women, and forced out Patty Dunn, the former non-executive chairman of HP's board.
In addition, given Hurd's history at NCR and HP, Oracle employees can expect a series of so-called "studies" that will conclude that salaries are too high and benefits too rich. Over the next three years, if Hurd repeats his past practices at NCR and HP, he will cut both sharply, driving high-performing and highly paid employees out of the company. This is not something Oracle wants anyone talking about either.
One of the common stories behind the SAP litigation is that SAP was moving to provide services to PeopleSoft customers who didn't want to do business with Oracle after Oracle acquired that company. Safra Catz is often quoted at analyst events as saying that Oracle doesn't care about customer satisfaction because Oracle customers can't move. Whether this quote is true or not, Oracle has become the new Computer Associates for many buyers who are avoiding not only Oracle, but any firm they think the company might buy. This is just one more loose thread that Oracle doesn't want anyone to focus on.
Finally, I'm at an analyst event in Boston this week and the common feeling among analysts here is that Oracle still doesn't have a good strategy for the newly combined Sun/Oracle mix, and it is covering up how bad the Sun side of the company is. Oracle clearly would like to have people focused on something else.
Changing Perceptions by Discrediting HP's Board
Ellison just hired a very expensive CEO in a company that arguably already has two. This has not only created issues with people focusing on the excessive executive salaries, but Hurd comes in as tarnished. However, that " tarnish" is directly related to being fired from HP, and if the folks who made that decision can be seen as incompetent, then much of the related stigma from the firing can be mitigated. These constant attacks make it look like HP's board didn't do due diligence properly in hiring a new CEO. The desired conclusion is that they are not competent in hiring people, they probably weren't competent in firing Hurd.
In addition, Ellison keeps referring to the SAP action as a theft of Oracle software, which sounds almost like HP's new CEO was some kind of criminal mastermind behind a burglary. This sounds far worse than Hurd's downplayed mistakes on some expense reports. While both perceptions are largely artificial, SAP's mistake was far less simple, one that came as a result of Oracle alienating a lot of PeopleSoft customers. Hurd's ethical breach was far more severe.
We live on perceptions, and Oracle is creating one that increasingly makes Hurd and Oracle look like victims of questionable practices by HP and its new CEO. If this sounds like politics, it is very similar. It suggests Oracle may have an advisor with that kind of background calling the shots.
Wrapping Up: Looking Behind the Curtain
There are enough reasons for Oracle to provide distractions and enough political advisors running around to suggest the two things came together and are behind Oracle's latest rants. Oracle doesn't want you to think about the company that much because it has some major issues to work through. In the end, this suggests there are questions we should be asking, but aren't. So, unfortunately, maybe Oracle's strategy is working. Ellison may be the CEO equivalent of the Wizard of Oz.


text:
Documentaries & Drama: The D&D Story
Dungeons & Dragons is the most famous roleplaying game in the world, and when a group of people decided to make a documentary about it in preparation for the 40th anniversary there was a good deal of support.
How much support? The Kickstarter for Dungeons & Dragons: A Documentary brought in $195,480. Things seemed to be going well.
Then, last year, there was a falling out between the producers. Followed by an announcement that two of the producers would be doing a documentary, on the same subject as the original, called The Great Kingdom. The Kickstarter for The Great Kingdom has 4 days left at this point and has only raised roughly half of the money required to hit the campaign's goal.
Why? Many reasons, I'm sure, but one of them is likely the lawsuit.
A number of sites have provided extensive coverage of the details as they came to light (such as The Verge and the very prolific Michael Tresca over a Examiner.com, but the legal issues boil down to an accusation that the producers who have split away are using material they have no rights to in the production of this unrelated film.
The producers of The Great Kingdom claim to have used nothing but their own work:
We started from scratch, raising private funds and some of our own to get us to this point. We knew there was an amazing story to tell. And like any complicated story, there will always be room for different interpretations.
But their former partners disagree, in an update to backers:
We would never object to competition, our position is that they have wrongfully attempted to use the assets of this film in their own, competing documentary.
The sad part is that this all comes after a settlement that was reached when the relationships within the original company went awry, and is exactly the sort of thing that can happen when a business falls apart… and it will always, always be worse if those involved either haven't agreed upon a contractual relationship or (more commonly, maybe) paid attention to their contractual responsibilities to one another.
The sad part is that for such a relatively small industry, there is a history of intense disagreements and legal disputes in the roleplaying games community.
In any case, check out the Examiner.com piece for some more quotes on the legal rumble, and remember that part of preparing to go into business with someone is having a plan for what happens in the worst case scenario.


text:
If you're looking for a clan please introduce yourself here and make sure you include the following:
- system (ps2, xbox, pc)
- how clanleaders can contact you eg.: e-mail, IM,..
- keep the following in mind:
Originally Posted by J-Hood
To everyone
I deleted over 30+ posts of this thread that had nothing to do with the original intention of the thread. This thread is for posting your info only. If you want that people to join your clan you contact him/her via PM/e-mail or whatever manner he/she has listed. Everything else does not belong in here. No chit chat no ok, I'll contact you, no nothing. This is in order to keep this thread clean. I'll be monitoring this thread closely so that the clan leaders looking for recruits can find them easely.
Oh and don't respond with an ok that's useless too
Thanks for your cooperation,


text:
Compulsory education
In the German-speaking and multilingual cantons, basic education objectives have been harmonized by adoption of the 'Lehrplan 21' curriculum, creating significant advantages for businesses, schools and the general population.
Harmonization and objective-setting
The 'Lehrplan 21' curriculum is a welcome step in education policy as far as the business world is concerned. For the first time, the German-speaking and multilingual cantons have a national frame of reference. By defining in detail the competencies to be acquired by pupils, Lehrplan 21 makes a decisive and necessary contribution to clarifying what compulsory schooling is intended to achieve and setting the relevant objectives. By doing so, it also provides guidance in the creation of teaching materials and training of teachers as well as to the areas of education that follow.
Focus on competencies: mapping the requirements of the labour market
Lehrplan 21 sets out clear performance objectives in the form of competencies. This focus on skills not only emphasizes the gaining of knowledge, but goes one step further by considering how such knowledge is applied in a variety of situations. This practice-based, real-life approach has proven its worth in vocational education and training, where it is widely accepted.
Business needs a transparent and efficient nexus between lower and upper-secondary levels
The harmonized educational goals of Lehrplan 21 allow VET schools and host companies to build on a common foundation and thus provide efficient training. The harmonization efforts make it easier to recruit trainees from different cantonal school systems and help make their training at upper-secondary level more efficient and consistent.
Vocational focus: the way forward for the economy
As well as imparting academic skills, a smooth, successful transition to upper-secondary level is one of the main aims of compulsory schooling. Providing every pupil with high-quality vocational and educational choices is a crucial factor in guiding them onto the educational track that best matches their abilities, aptitudes and preferences.
Strengthening the MINT subjects
The business world has a great need for skilled labour in the MINT areas (mathematics, information technology, natural sciences, technology). Greater attention must therefore be placed on promoting these subjects. Appropriate concepts, teaching and learning materials that draw on the educational objectives of Lehrplan 21 can be developed and used.


text:
Click here to learn more!
Please join us for webinar series in honor of Autism Awareness Month from your computer, tablet or smartphone! If you have any questions, please call (732) 262-8020.
Everything You Need to Know About ABA Insurance Benefits and Eligibility
Wednesday, April 23, 7:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Presented by Laura Schueller, Office Manager, Above & Beyond Learning Group
With extensive experience on the subject including everything from getting started with verifying benefits to securing insurance authorizations, Ms. Schueller will focus on what individuals should know when it comes to utilizing insurance to pay for ABA services.
Click here to register!
Transitioning Youth with Autism and Co-Occurring Behavioral Health Issues
Thursday, April 24, 7:00-8:00pm
Presented by Lucille Esralew, Ph.D., NADD-CC, CDP, Clinical Administrator, SCCAT & S-COPE, Trinitas Regional Medical Center
This webinar will be an overview of the behavioral, mental health & service systems challenges that can accompany the transition of individuals on the spectrum from adolescence to young adulthood.
Click here to register!
The Many Faces of Autism; Differential Diagnosis and Sibling Monitoring
Tuesday, April 29,12:00-1:00 p.m.
Presented by Sarah B. Woldoff, Ph.D., Director of Autism Services, The Center for Neurological and Neurodevelopmental Health
This webinar will cover the differential diagnosis, early signs and symptoms, evaluation, and sibling monitoring once you have a child diagnosed.
Click here to register!
Developing Friendships
Monday, May 5, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Presented by Christen Russell, MS, BCBA, Clinical Manager, Above & Beyond Learning Group
This webinar will include models for facilitating friendships for children & adolescents. Tools for improving social skills, affective behavior, verbal communication, & nonverbal communication will be addressed.
Click here to register!
Space is limited! Only the first 100 attendees logged on will be able to view that evening's session.
All webinar presentations will be archived at: www.autismfamilyservicesnj.org within a week of completed presentations.Tweet


text:
Mediterranean Sea, Arctic Sunrise - crew of the Arctic Sunrise confiscate a length of illegal driftnet from the Italian fishing vessel Diomede II.
Moving through Greek Ionian waters towards Sicily, the ArcticSunrise passed a small drifting boat. Its crew had tried to stop their boatfrom being identified by covering its name and registration number; notsomething you'd think of doing unless you were obviously up to no good!
Known as "walls of death", driftnetscatch everything that crosses their path, including protectedspecies such as whales, dolphins and turtles. They've been banned for years bythe United Nations, the European Union, the International Conservation ofAtlantic Tunas (ICCAT) and the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean. Of course, for bans to be effective they have to be enforced. Despite the European Commissionproposing laws to blacklist fishing vessels involved in illegal practices, Italy and other Member Statesare trying to water these down. Although the authorities confiscate hundreds ofkilometres of illegal driftnet every year, fleets from Italy and otherMediterranean countries are still fishing illegally.
And the problem isn't restricted to the Mediterranean. At the same time as the crew of the ArcticSunrise are busy Defending Our Mediterranean, on the other side of the worldthe crew of the Esperanza are busy Defending Our Pacific. They've been bearing witness and taking action against purse seine and longlinevessels. They've been doing their own bit of turtle rescuing, as well asfreeing lots of other marine life from inevitable death on the longlines. Andthey're also finding that international laws are being regularly floutedbecause little is being done to enforce them.
That's why we're calling for a globalnetwork of marine reserves, covering 40 percent of our seas and oceans,including the Mediterranean and the Pacific:
We've followedthe Diomede II back home to itsharbour in Sicily, where it is being met by the coastguard – we've asked for the driftnets still onboard to be confiscated. Quite some homecoming for the pirates (though probably not the sort they were hoping for!).
And,in the meantime, while it was too late to do anything for the tuna trapped in the driftnet we confiscated, the baby turtle managed to make it out alive! So we're happy to say that, somewhere in the Mediterranean,there's at least one baby turtle who's had the chance to head back home, too.
Updated, 8 May 2008: We're happy to
report that the coastguard has confiscated the Diomede II's
driftnets! It was a long day for the crew of the Arctic Sunrise -
and they'll keep on going; fishing out the Pirates of the
Mediterranean and denouncing, exposing and stopping illegal
If you want other baby turtles to have the chance to escape the driftnets and make it home, we need your help! And, if we want fish tomorrow, we need marine reserves today. Add your name to the call to protect the world's oceans.
We don't accept money from governments or corporations -- and our financial independence is what allows us to pressure both. We rely on over 2 million people worldwide who give whatever they can. Please join us.


text:
H&M Autumn 2014 women collection is playful yet sophisticated spirit of the 21st century Bohemian look with effortless, charming and always ready for the night. The return of the slip dress as a wardrobe staple, held on thin straps and worn on its own or for layering. Lace appears elsewhere for insets and borders. Pieces adopted from menswear add the sleekness of tailoring through blazers, or the attitude of leather biker jackets.
A drapped top with matching trousers is the new suit. The exposed shoulder is a focus, both with off-the-shoulder and one shoulder looks. A new width in trousers, often trimmed with tuxedo details for permanent night-time elegance. Silk crepe and chiffon for the most delicate slip dresses. Leather, either patent with a glossy shine, distressed and worn-looking, or metallic. Fake fur, patchworked together, velvet, for tops, dress and an evening take on the trackpant. Fine cashmere gives both softness and transparency in tanks, sweaters and dresses.
The men collection is about the wardrobe of the modern mod, mixing Parisian cool with the attitude of London and the sleekness of New York. The pieces are worn with a rebellious attitude, with updated biker and wool city coats. Leather adds rock'n'roll spirit, from a black leather biker to leather trousers, while classics have new youthful energy, especially the check flannel shirt worn untucked. Staples are given a fresh update, such as the elongated bomber that extends to mid-thigh. Padded outdoor pieces add a sense of urban protection, while zips add sharp detail. The three-button blazer with skinny lapels works everywhere, from day to night. Crewneck sweaters in mohair blends add a contrasting texture, while tailored trackpants are the trouser choice. Zips as both functional and decorative items, traditional tailoring techniques, such as jet or welt pockets, hybrid garments fuse together the classics of menswear.
Leather for the new urban outlook.
Wool for 21st century updates traditional garments.
Cotton for the sharpest shirts.
Nylon and padded fabrics for future-now feel.
Mohair blends for texture.
A strict colour palette for the city, focused on black, greys and whites.
Sequin and stone embroidery, laced knits, cord and grosgrain details, asymmetric hems, intricate patchwork effects.
Pointed boots with either a low or high heel come in metallic or patchworked leather, mules, caps trimmed with fake fur.


text:
Circle planting is a method of intensive gardening that produces more food per square foot than traditional planting methods. Cucumbers are ideal vegetables for circle planting because their vining habits allow them to grow upward, eliminating the need for large amounts of garden space. Grow your cucumbers in a circle and you'll have enough to feed your family all summer for about the same amount of space as one tomato plant takes.
Plant cucumbers in a circle late in the spring, after all danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed and drained. Dig a circle in the garden soil about 2 feet across. Dig down 12 inches and remove all thick roots or stones. Mix a 3-inch layer of compost into the soil.
Pound 4-foot wooden stakes into the ground 6 inches inside the edge of the circle. Use at least five stakes to hold the structure steady, and pound them 8 inches into the ground.
Wrap chicken wire around the outside of the stakes to create a tubular structure. Twist the wire ends together to hold the structure intact. You now have a sturdy cage to hold the cucumber vines.
Plant six pairs of cucumber seeds evenly spaced around the outside of the cage. Plant the seeds 1 inch deep and water them thoroughly.
Nip off the weaker of each pair of seeds when they develop their second pair of true leaves. This leaves you with six strong cucumber plants to fill the cage.
Train the vines as they grow by entwining them through the holes in the chicken wire. Weave the vines in and out until the plant grows through the wire by itself.
Prune off the top of the plant when it reaches the top of the cage. This will cause the plant to produce more cucumbers, because it will stop using as much energy in growing vines and leaves and will concentrate on flowers and fruit.
Give the cucumber plants a regular inch of water every week. Don't over-water to produce puddles, but don't let the ground get completely dry. Regular moisture is the key to tasty and impressive cucumber crops.
Things You Will Need
- Shovel
- Compost
- 4-foot stakes
- Mallet
- Chicken wire
- Cucumber seeds
Photo Credits
- Hemera Technologies/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images


text:
Ghostwriting Services
> Do you have knowledge or research which would make a great book?
> Would an article or book enhance your career and take you to the next level?
> Do you need up-to-date content on your web site or blog?
Bil Howard is a professional storyteller and freelance writer who has written several of his own books and novels. He has ghostwritten more than 100 books and more than 500 articles, blog posts, short stories, and product reviews. Check out the published titles by Bil Howard in the left-hand column below.
A Christian Response to Troubled Times
We have watched in horror as Christians around the world are being slaughtered because of their faith. Even though most of us are not in the direct line of fire at this point in history, there is a steady erosion of Christian principles away from the society around us. More unsettling than that, however, governments who had once been founded on or guided by Christian principles are turning to attack the institution of the Church and Christian principles that has once set the social and political standard.
How are Christians to respond to what is taking place in our world? Are there biblical guidelines to help us survive these troubled times? Rest assured, there are. This short book will help guide you in how best to respond to the world around you, continue to speak the truth in love and rest in the understanding that the Creator of the Universe Will Not Be Mocked.
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)


text:
Orange Pop
Winter dressing turns pretty mundane after awhile, especially in the city since the temperatures get so low and you need to be super bundled up all the time. It also doesn't help that the few outerwear I own are all black—I am suddenly craving some variety! However, until I have much more wardrobe space to build up my coat collection, I will have to focus on special accessories and being creative with dressing the lower half of the body since you can really differentiate your look that way. I also have to admit I really love the look of bare legs with a big overcoat on top... so can't wait until the period between winter and spring where that would be possible. In this look, I turned to winter whites and my favorite jeans from the summer brought together with my favorite cashmere sweater—cold weather uniform it is!
Photos by Hoon Kim
Twitter / Instagram / Pinterest / Shop / BlogLovin'
Shop The Look


text:
More Landowners Terminate Easements for Grandpas Knob Wind
Click on link below to read the recently-signed termination agreements
Pittsford Termination of Easements
West Rutland Termination of Easements
vanessa permalinkFebruary 7, 2014 11:56 am
So Eisenberg has filed for termination in Pittsford.
Let's hope that the struggles that are occurring over trying to find enough funding for weatherization in Vermont's homes can be shifted. IMAGINE how many homes we could weatherize if we weren't dumping subsidy dollars into the deep pockets of developers
of Big Wind.
Imagine the carbon emissions that can be absorbed by forest-covered ridges. Learn from Lowell and Save the ones that remain.
Imagine the watersheds' work unhindered if industrial/utility/corporate-scaled developments
aren't allowed to run rampant over our precious high elevation ecosystems.
Imagine the economic recovery that won't be exacerbated when and if flooding like Hurricane Irene occurs, if we don't allow upper elevation development to override common sense. Imagine that natural erosion protection occurs and begins in our forest-covered mountains! and these working processes SAVE us MONEY! SAVE us by absorbing carbon and water-run-off all at once!!!! WOW. NO-BRAINER here: to warrant preserving and protecting and conserving these!!!!!!!
Imagine water quality protection and preservation for Vermont, in the face of our future. and know that upland and lowland watershed process WORK in regard to our water. WATER for the public good.
Imagine Vermont preserving bat and bird populations as part of what we value here. Remember balanced ecosystems (including bats who feast on mosquitos!) function for the the public good's benfit too! We should see our PART in it is to value what functions NATURALLY and preserve it! This is a value beyond what any carpet-bagging developer promises to someone!!!
Imagine no more Vermonters wrangling with the fact that there property is worth LESS for having these turbines imposed. Though this stands to impact all the public good if one suffers this fate!!!!!
Imagine no more families or property owners unable to enjoy the sanctuary of their homes/sole assets as some are indeed impacted in Lowell, Albany, Sheffield, Georgia Mountain,Milton, etc
LEARN FROM what has happened. LEARN FROM LOWELL. AND SHEFFEILD. AND GEORGIA MOUNTAIN! Consider that weatherization for the little guy benefits the public good (co2 savings) more than these grand-scale follies that corporations cannot spell out the co2 savings anymore than they will tell you the $$/environemntal/social impacts of these corporate-welfare projects. Consider that small-scale solutions and small-scale sustainable agriculture and embracing the local control/sense-of-community and to-Vermont-scale (THAT IS: SMALL-scaled) backyard energy solutions can work if we look at these as potential, pivotal shifts!
Keep Vermont solutions to scale! Do renewables right! And thanks to all who stand for the mountains and what these mountains are for Vermont!


text:
Best Online Casinos 2019
Serious Reviews, Ratings & Rankings
Reviews of Top Canadian Online Casinos For Real Money Gambling.
Welcome to our top rated Canadian casinos for 2019. We ONLY list fully licensed online casinos that are licensed by The Canadian Kahnawake Gaming Commission or the United Kingdom Gambling Commission(UKGC). The gambling sites we list & review are all safe, private, secure, and they all use 128-bit or higher encryption, so you are protected in the best way. The payout percentages are also reviewed monthly by some of the world's largest auditing firms. Read More
Players can use the ratings & reviews here at OnlineCasinos.net to find the best payouts, and some of the best places to play:
18+ ONLY Online Casino Gambling can be addictive. Please play responsibly.
Help Choosing Good Online Casinos
In this section, we will explain in depth some of the most important aspects of choosing an online casino to play at.
This, of course, extends to Canadian, European and UK players because many of the online casinos available to Canadian players are also available to players in Europe and UK, but you will need to check because some European countries such as Spain and Italy also need local licensing.
Security at Online Casinos
Every one of the casinos we review and recommend has passed our security and safety tests. This is paramount to making sure you play at an online casino that can be trusted.If you see an online casino recommended on our website, then you can be sure we have thoroughly tested it, and it is licensed and safe to play.
As mentioned above, players should always check to see that the casino site that you are thinking about playing at is covered by one of these licensee: Canada The Kahnawake Gaming Commission, EU The Malta Lotteries and Gaming Authority, United Kingdom Gambling License (UKGC). These licenses have so many advantages that work in favour of players.
ALL the online casinos listed on OnlineCasinos.net are fully licensed.
The Most Trusted & Officially Gaming Licensees :
Trusted Online Casino Regulators (On Mobile Flip to See) About Licence holders The Kahnawake Gaming Commission (KGC) regulates and licenses online casinos in Canada. See Licence holders United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) Licence and regulate online casinos in the UK , if an online casino has Licence at the UKGC you can be sure its safe and secure to play at . See Licence holders Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) is also safe and trusted located in EU. Most of the top casinos also have a licensee from MGA. See Licence holders
|Trusted Online Casino Regulators (On Mobile Flip to See)
|Licence holders
|The Kahnawake Gaming Commission (KGC) regulates and licenses online casinos in Canada.
|See Licence holders
|United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) Licence and regulate online casinos in the UK , if an online casino has Licence at the UKGC you can be sure its safe and secure to play at .
|See Licence holders
|Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) is also safe and trusted located in EU. Most of the top casinos also have a licensee from MGA.
|See Licence holders
- 10 Steps to Cyber Security
Here is and example of why it is important to only play at online casinos with good licensee like the ones above. This is a formal UK government act to make sure online businesses pass 10 cybersecurity tests. It means that the casino must make sure it has security policies in place to protect the business and the members of the casinos. Employees and members are taught and informed how to act responsibly when playing online. This also means the casino must have state-of-the-art security systems.
- Financial Restrictions
With a casino site licensed by the UKGC, you can guarantee your money is safe. 128 Bit financial grade encryption secures all transactions. Plus, players account balances must be kept in a separate holding account from the casinos own operating accounts. That means should anything happen to the online casino, players are 100% guaranteed to recover all their cash.
- External Third-Party testing
Another important rule that the UKGC forces online casinos with a UKGC license is to allow for third-party external testing of LIVE Dealer Suites as well as Random Number Generators (RNGs). The RNGs are an algorithm that mimics the results of real-life dealers on virtual casino games. They are amazingly accurate, but they also need to undergo stringent testing for both algorithm code worthiness as well as security.
- Best Practises
Lastly, before any casino can get a license with the UKGC, it needs to show that it is serious about responsible gambling. This means advertising places to get help when it comes to online gambling problems by providing links to sites such as Gamble Aware and GamCare who can help people that may or potentially could have a gambling problem. On top of this, the online casino must provide software that allows players to restrict their deposits and ban themselves from playing so they can cool off.
- Protecting Consumer Rights
The UKGC is governed by the British Government. This means that UK consumer laws are forced upon any casino site that wants to operate in the UK under a UKGC license. This is great news for UK players because should there ever be a dispute with an online casino, then the UKGC will act on the casino member's behalf as firstly a mediator, and if the gambling site is found to be guilty of breaking UK consumer rules, then the casino will be fined or even suspended and the player compensated.
Other licensing authorities
If you are playing from other places in the world, then there are other good licensing authorities that have been around to regulate online casinos . HM Government of Gibraltar Gambling authority is also a well-known online casino licensee.
Top 20 Rated Sites 2019:New Casino:
See More Online Casinos Here
Best Online Casinos 2019
Serius Reviews, Guide and Advice
What are Online Casinos?
Online Casinos are gambling sites that run on the internet, and use specialized Canadian gambling software. The most popular gaming software are developed by Netent, Microgaming and Elk Studios all from Canada. Some of the best advantages of playing on the internet, are that gambling sites use software and therefore you do not have to pay tips to the croupier as you would do on land-based casinos. Another advantage is that on many games like slots the payout percentage is higher compared to land based casinos, and that can make a big difference in how much you can win in the long run.
The best gaming sites have a big selection of slot machines, including huge slots jackpots with some of the biggest jackpots going up to 10 Million dollars, and they of cause also have blackjack, video poker, roulette and other poker games.
You will also find that the best Canadian online gambling sites have 100's of exciting bonus slots games like the popular Divine Fortune, Hong Tower, Guns N Roses, Wild Toro. My personal 2019 favorite is the Vegas Diamonds slot machine that can be played at VegasParadise.com, all are multi-line slots with several exciting bonus games.
Another good thing is when you play at online casinos from Canada, they will often offer you a free welcome bonus on your first deposit. Some will have a 100% match bonus, so if you deposit $100, you will get an extra $100 free bonus to play with.
You can see the different bonuses in the above casino chart.
There are 1000's of casinos on the internet, and some are good, and unfortunately, some are not good, so we have made the chart with the most popular and trusted ones, and we have also listed the sites that players and OnlineCasinos.net have voted the best 2019.
The Casino Games
Much of the time many online casinos players will finally choose their online casino because of the games available.
- There are firstly the software companies that design the games:
Some players prefer a mix of software providers at their online casino so they can have a diverse gaming experience, especially when it comes to slots. There are also those that like to stick to their favourite software provider because they like a particular designers perspective if how slots or table games should be played.
Our casino reviews cover every software provider contributing games to an online casino:
- Net Entertainment
- Microgaming
- Evolution Gaming
- Playtech
- NYX Gaming
- Quickspin
- ELK Studios
Most slots players like to have a mix of different software game designers because this offers true diversity.
- Casino Software Providers
Not all online casino game designers have a casino software platform. They instead use a casino software provider they have made a deal with to feature their game. The casino software providers then allow operators to use their casino software platform.
We cover several different software providers:
- Net Entertainment
- Microgaming
- Playtech
Many casino software providers will have games from multiple software developers or they will only feature their own games.
- The variety of games available is important:
If you are purely a Blackjack player, then you will want to find a casino with the widest variety and variation of Blackjack tables, which is usually Microgaming.
For Baccarat and Roulette players the same is true. The choice is usually down to preference. Roulette, Blackjack or Baccarat players are no worried about a huge slots selection. On the other hand, a slots player will want to ensure that he or she has a variety of games available.
Every casino we cover, we give you a list of games available:
- Video Slots
- Progressive Slots
- Classic Slots
- Baccarat
- Blackjack
- Roulette
- Video Poker
- Casino Hold'em
- Texas Hold'em
- Three Card Poker
- Pai Gow Poker
- Caribbean Poker
- Craps
- Red Dog
- Scratch Cards
- Sic Bo
- Bingo
- Keno
Many of these games will come with different variants. We also cover as many of the different variants of each game on an online casino as we can.
For example:
- French Roulette
- European Roulette
- American Roulette
- Multi Wheel Roulette
- Single Deck Blackjack
- Bonus Paid Blackjack
- Speed Baccarat
- Mini Baccarat
- Baccarat No Commision
As you can see, an online casino can mention it has Blackjack, but you should also check on the variants of Blackjack available. To make sure you get a good variety of games at the online casino you want to play at, check out their gaming section or a casino review that covers the games available.
- LIVE Dealer Suites
When it comes to LIVE Casinos, you will be looking for much of the same aspects covered in section c) The variety of games available is important. There are also plenty of other aspects of a LIVE Dealer Suite that you should consider, which we always covered in our LIVE Dealer Casino reviews.
Here are some more things to consider if you want to play LIVE dealer games:
- Software Provider Reputation (Evolution Gaming, Extreme LIVE Dealer, NetEnt, Microgaming)
- Variants of table games available
- Can you play LIVE Dealer games on your mobile device?
- Are there always plenty of tables and dealers available?
- How does the software operate in a LIVE Dealer Suite
- Is the LIVE Dealesuite licensed by the UKGC?
- VIP Tables for high stakes bets
One of the most important points for many LIVE Dealer players is the number of dealers and tables that are available. There is nothing worse than having to wait in a queue to play. In today's competitive online LIVE Dealer Suite industry, no one wants to wait to play.
If you are contemplating a LIVE Dealer Casino, make sure that they have plenty of tables and dealers always opening. You can see if an online casino has enough resources to meet peak demand by looking at the naming convention of their tables games. For instance:
- Blackjack A
- Blackjack B
- Blackjack C
- Blackjack D
- Blackjack E
You can instantly tell from this naming convention that there are plenty of Blackjack tables always opening to meet demand. You can also look for features such as 'Bet Behind' provided by Evolution Gaming. This applies to Blackjack tables that are already full.
Instead of sitting at one of the positions on the Blackjack table, you can bet behind the seated players. This stops the tables from getting full and means there is always a LIVE Dealer game of Blackjack available. Roulette tables don't really suffer from this problem because they can accommodate multiple players.back to menu ↑
Devices You Can Play On
Lucky today many new online casino games are designed with mobile gaming in mind. You should always make sure that your online casino offers support for all your devices.
Consider 2 vital points first:
- Device Type
- Operating Systems Supported
Nearly all modern online casinos today will design either an HTML5 site, which means you can log on and play games from a web browser with no download needed. On the other hand, some online casinos will require you use an app to play on your mobile. Some casinos give you the option to either download or use your browser to play games. Then there are online casinos that will also have an app for your desktop.
- Play games from a web browser
- Play games on a mobile app
- Play games on a desktop app
Today, many online casinos offer all the options above so you can play with an app or web browser depending on your own personal preference. This means there is one feature left to check.
Make sure that you online casino supports your device:
- Desktop
- Laptop
- Smartphone
- Tablet
- iPad
Our casino reviews will always cover in detail every operating system, devices supported, whether the casino offers downloads or browser play and from which devices each option is available!back to menu ↑
Casino Bonuses and VIP Programs
Of course, the next aspect to look out for is the casino bonuses an online casino offers you. We make sure we cover everything you need to consider when choosing which casino offers you the best incentives to play and rewards you the most for your loyalty.
- Welcome Bonuses
- Regular Bonuses
- VIP Bonus offers
Welcome Bonuses usually come in several forms. Mainly this requires you to make your first deposit and you will get a percentage of your deposit on top known as a deposit match. Some online casinos will reward you instantly even without a deposit by giving you free spins, free cash, or free credits just for signing up. Some offer these free spins and credits along with your first deposit.
Welcome Bonuses:
- Free Spins (No deposit or with a deposit)
- Free Credits (No deposit or with a deposit)
- Deposit Match Bonus (First, second, third, fourth, and fifth deposit bonuses)
It is important to make sure that you identify whether your online casino offers decent regular bonuses after you take advantage of the original sign-up and/or Welcome Bonuses.
There is little sense in getting a big Welcome Bonus and then never reaping the benefits of a very good regular bonus program as well as a VIP program that rewards you for your loyalty. The idea is to create longevity and large Welcome Bonuses with scarce loyalty or regular bonuses do not help you do this.
In every casino review we provide, we cover in great detail all bonus offers available to you.
- Customer Services
The fourth important factor to consider when choosing an online casino to play out is making sure you can get in contact with the support team whenever you need it. That means getting in contact quickly, not having to send an email and wait hours for a reply and repeat this process for several days before the problem has been resolved.
- LIVE Chat – this makes it really easy to get in contact with the support team because all you need to do is click a button and wait for the chat window to connect
- 24/7 Support – any decent online casino will be available to you 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. If not, they at least need to keep to UK opening times.
- Phone Numbers – If a casino has LIVE chat, then this is not always needed. However, there may be times when you want to pick up the phone and speak to someone directly
- FAQ – Test the FAQ section of an online casino to see if they supply answers to basic questions such as password resets, account lockouts, responsible gambling, bonus T&Cs, etc…
- Security – You should be asked a set of security questions so the support staff can verify they are speaking with the account owner. Without these checks, you should be very wary
Once again, we make absolutely sure we run several scenarios and tests by contacting customers services. We test their speediness, responses, availability (waiting times), and we make sure that they ask the right security questions when we make requests for support and information.back to menu ↑
So How Are We Different from the Rest?
We like to see ourselves as experts in the online gambling and casino industry simply because our team has been playing as well as reviewing online casinos and games since the very first online casino, Gaming Club, was released back in 1994.
There are few online casino teams that can boast this much experience. We truly believe that we are all-rounders when it comes to covering every corner of the online gambling industry.
Our focus is not just on the online casinos themselves, but also the entire package that comes with being an online casino player.
As you have read, we cover everything:
- Online Casino Reviews
- LIVE Dealer Suite Reviews
- Licensing Authorities
- Device specific Reviews
- Safety and Security
- Great Games
- Exclusive Bonuses & Promotions
- Customer support
Every aspect of testing is covered by our goal, which helps us to fulfil our mission. Without these structures in place, we would not be able to provide such authentic and detailed reviews.
Our Goal
Our goal is not only to be different but to make sure that you are provided with honest and accurate information leaving no stone unturned when it comes to answering any question you may have about playing at an online casino. Without our honest reviews, we would just be another online casino information website, which is not our mission.
Our Mission
To be honest in the reviews we provide so we can guarantee online casino players, new or experienced, can make the right decisions when it comes to choosing a high-quality online casino that suits their playing style and personal situation.
We Leave Nothing Out!
As you can see, we cover every aspect of an online casino experience that you could possibly come across. We do this using expert testing from a team of casino gurus that know the industry inside out. If you are looking for reassurance, then you have come to the right place because we take our reputation seriously!
If you do feel we have missed anything, then we would love to hear from you. Please contact us and give us your feedback and we will act on it.
back to menu ↑
Responsible Gambling Help sites
back to menu ↑
Do you have questions about online casino play? Maybe you want to know if you can play on your mobile? Or you would like to know how to pay money into your casino account?
Online casinos can be confusing for beginners as well as those that already play at an online casino. Sometimes not all facts are there or the FAQ sections on the casinos are a little too helpful with masses of content making it difficult to sift through all the questions and answers as well as other information the casino has to offer.
In this online casino 'FAQ' guide we will cover some of the most common questions most newbies and regular casino players ask us.
We will cover several common areas when it comes to online casino play:
- Signing up for an online casino
- Making your first deposit
- Making withdrawals
- Bonus Codes, Loyalty Points, and VIP Rewards
- Online Casino Games and Betting Requirements
- Software, Safety, Privacy and Technology
Signing Up for An Online Casino
An online casino's main objective is to get you to sign up at the very least. This is regardless of making a deposit. As such, it is extremely easy to sign up for an account without having to submit to much information. You could be online and playing casino games in a matter of minutes.
1. What do I need to become an online casino member?
Initially, all you will need is an email address and to set a password. You will also need to confirm your age and some cases your address depending on which country you are playing from.
2. Do I have to deposit to play the games at the online casino?
3. How old do I need to be to play at an online casino?
4. Do I have to sign up via my desktop or mobile?
Making Your First Deposit
Online casinos make it very easy to deposit money. If they didn't, then the idea of an online casino would immediately be defeated. What is the use of an online casino that you cannot deposit to? Due to this fact, online casinos have very clear deposit FAQ sections that you can refer to.
1. Do I need to send ID to make a deposit?
Usually, most online casinos will require you to send a government form of ID and proof of address. This is a requirement to make sure that all players are over 18 as per the laws of their licencing issuer, which will be the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). This also protects you in case of fraudulent activities financially. Once you have provided the casino with this information, you can start playing for real money.
2. Which currencies can I deposit in?
3. Can I deposit using my cryptocurrencies?
4. Can I deposit using my e-wallet?
5. Can I deposit using a credit card or debit card?
6. I don't have a credit or debit card. How can I make a deposit?
- Pay by phone (UK mobile phone bills can be used)
- Wire transfer or bank transfer (Use your internet banking to wire money to your account)
- Cheque (Although quite outdated, you can deposit by cheque)
- Get a pre-paid credit card (This solves the issue of not having a credit card)
- Trustly, GiroPay, PaySafeCard, iDeal, Sofort, Qiwi, WebMoney, EUteller
Making Withdrawals
An online casino would be useless if it did not give you plenty of ways to withdraw your cash. The only point we would like you to be aware of is that not all deposit methods can be used as withdrawal
1. How do I withdraw my cash?
As you will have already provided ID to play real money games as per the law, you will easily be able to withdraw your cash from an online casino. Just go to the cashier section, click on withdraw, select where you want to withdraw your money to, and the withdrawal will be processed. Easy as 123!
2. What does 'pending or processing time' mean when making a withdrawal?
3. Are all withdrawals methods instant?
E-wallets are usually instant and come with no pending time. This is because the cash will go to an e-wallet where you can dispute any withdrawals there if you wish to. Here is a general list of what to expect from most online casinos in terms of withdrawals.
- Credit Cards (5 working days)
- Debit Cards (5 working days)
- E-Wallets (Instant or 1 working day)
- Bank Transfer (4 to 10 working days)
- Other (3 to 10 working days
- Cryptocurrencies (Instant)
Bonus Codes, Loyalty Points, and VIP Rewards
Casino bonus codes are a great way to begin your online casino experience and to continue playing by adding extra cash and other benefits to your casino play. Do you due diligence and search for regular bonus codes, promotions, VIP rewards, Loyalty points, and welcome bonuses.
1. What is a welcome bonus?
This is your chance to get deposit match on your first deposit made with the casino. Some online casinos offer 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th deposit matches. They will also throw in free spins on slots or free chips to play on table games.
2. What are no deposit bonus codes?
3. What are regular bonuses or promotions?
4. What are loyalty or Reward points?
5. What are VIP Rewards?
6. What is a playthrough amount?
Online Casino Games and Betting Requirement
The best asset an online casino has is its gaming list. Having a decent list of games is going to be one of the deciding factors for any online casino player. You can check the gaming section on the homepage of most online casinos or check one of our reviews if the homepage does not have a list of games.
1. What type of games do online casinos offer?
Most online casinos nowadays offer over 600 games to play. Slots, Blackjack, Roulette, and poker games where you pitch your skills and strategies versus the house are the most popular. Other games include baccarat, craps, keno, instant win scratch cards, featured games, lottery games and more.
2. Do online casinos offer variations of each game?
3. Are the gaming lists the same for mobile and desktop play?
4. What are LIVE dealer suites?
5. What are the betting requirements and limits?
6. What are the payout percentages for each game?
7. What are progressive jackpots?
8. How many gaming developers contribute to each online casino?
Software, Safety, Privacy and Technology
1. Who are the different casino platform providers?
Today most online casinos are an operator connected to a casino platform. The platform is owned by companies such as Playtech, Microgaming, and NetEntertainment for virtual casino platforms. For LIVE dealer suites, Playtech, Evolution Gaming, Microgaming, and Extreme Live Gaming LIVE Dealers. These companies provide the technology to connect via any device as well as to manage casino loyalty rewards.


text:
Without a social strategy
Your website is lonely. Few visitors, and fewer leads. It relies on people already interested in your business, and the odd lucky Google search or referral.
People can find you, if they are looking, but your site is not going to find them.
You need to reach out.
Facebook. Twitter. YouTube. SnapChat. Tumblr. Medium. LinkedIn. Instagram. These services are a seamless part of people's lives. Most devices display a prominent app for one of more of these: but how many contain a shortcut to your website?
So you need to go to where the people are. Show them how amazing your service, your cause, your idea is, on their own turf and terms.
This process is called social strategy, and it can make your website feel useful once more.
Who am I?
Every organisation begins with a purpose, a passion. We call this reason for being a "vision," inscribe it on the company letterhead… and then generally forget about it.
Worse, we tend to see the vision as a static ideal, unchanging as the organisation evolves.
Before you can consider any meaningful strategy, you need to have a firm idea of your identity; and that begins with your vision. Dust it off, update it if necessary, and give it a working purpose. It should be a tool, used to measure every action your organisation takes. Your vision should underpin every proposal and inform every decision, bringing clarity, consistency and integrity to your organisation.
Why does it matter?
You just want to promote your work. Why bother with this vision stuff?
The social space is dynamic, conversational and interactive. In human terms, it's relational, and relationships start with identity. People need to know who they are connecting with, and your vision can help you find an authentic voice.
Consider the manner in which you you talk to your clients, staff and stakeholders. How are these voices consistent with your vision?
Your voice in the social space sets expectations and boundaries in just the same way, and should mirror the desired in-person experience.
Take-home points
- Take some time to reflect on your vision, or to define it if it's implicit.
- Outline how this vision has shaped (or should shape) your organisation's identity.
- Think about how you see your organisation, and how you want others to see it.
You've now outlined who you are, and who you want to be online. In our next article, we'll consider the way you want to speak.


text:
DC'sOffice of Planning will host "office hours" during the launch of the Open Call amendment process to the Comprehensive Plan. Residents will be able to drop by during the stated hours to speak with staff and receive technical assistance on how to prepare a proposed amendment submission. Please note, residents may attend any of the office hours regardless of where they live.
Ward 2 Office Hours for the Comprehensive Plan amendment process will be held Wednesday, April 12, from 9:30 am–12:30 pm, at Georgetown Neighborhood Library. (DC residents may attend Office Hours at any location in the city.)
For more information visit the [PLAN]DC website.
Georgetown Neighborhood Library
3260 R Street NW
(202) 727-0232


text:
A trip to Germany
Ponsse premieres in the international markets in 1974. A massive storm hits Germany, knocking down trees everywhere, and a large amount of foreign equipment is needed for harvesting the trees felled by the storm.
Einari finds this out and hears that the job is well compensated, and goes to check out the logging site with Olavi Kauhanen. Olavi, the loggers and Ponsse travel to Germany. The machine is transported on a pallet to the harbour and by ship to Travemünde, but nobody has remembered to book transportation to the German logging site more than 70 kilometres away. Olli and some other Finnish contractors and their machines wait in the harbour. Because no means of transportation is available, Olli mounts his Ponsse and sets off along the German motorway while the others follow. This is an unusual sight - the forest machines slowly chugging along the edge of the road, one of them actually carrying a Finnish sauna in the load space…