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Doctor Labyrinth, like most people who read a great deal and who have too much time on their hands, had become convinced that our civilization was going the way of Rome. He saw, I think, the same cracks forming that had sundered the ancient world, the world of Greece and Rome; and it was his conviction that presently our world, our society, would pass away as theirs did, and a period of darkness would follow.
It's great. It's nourishing escapism and fine food for thought. No matter how preposterous the plot, the story remains curiously human and we are at home in its atmosphere. It is Philip Marlowe as android against a forbidding urban background, both seductive and repellent, that Marlowe would well have understood. We are off balance yet mesmerized by a world we intuitively understand but which is still somehow completely alien.
Physicists tell us that human beings are not very good at determining what is real. That thought leaps out as the central message of Philip K. Dick's (PKD) seminal story Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, the basis of the Blade Runner films of 1982 and 2017.
The title and plot stray far from the original writing. The core message, however, remains the same. And it is a message that transcends, like much of PKD's work, the science fiction genre in which he found his voice.
The novel is set in post-apocalypse San Francisco, following a global nuclear whose radiation has rendered Most animal species are endangered or extinct. In this dystopian world simply owning an animal becomes a sign of status and empathy towards the vanishing animals with whom we once shared the planet.
The main plot of the book like the original film, follows the movements of Deckard (Harrison Ford), a PI/bounty hunter whose job is to retire six escaped Nexus-6 model androids, who look and act like humans, the only difference being their limited lifespan (about which they have learned) and their lack of human empathy, which can be detected by asking a series of question while testing the reactions of their retinas for signs of empathy.
Blade Runner 2049 takes place thirty years after the events of the first film. Now a new blade runner, the LAPD Officer K (Ryan Gosling), uncovers a secret that might plunge the remainder of society into chaos. K must find Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), a former LAPD blade runner who has been missing for 30 years.
A central question posed by the story and both films remains: who is actually more human, the androids or the human beings and how can this be ultimately determined?
"The position of writer's like myself in America is very lowly."
Philip K. Dick
And that was true. PKD struggled against the convention that sci-fi was not serious and against his own poverty-stricken paranoia for years. There is something of Dostoevsky in his suffering, much of it self-induced. He never made much money until Hollywood came calling near the end of his life and began optioning his books, making him a wealthy man. He wrote 44 novels.
Now, in hindsight, it seems easy to see that this amphetamine-popping genius was something of a predictor of the future. See not only the two Blade Runners but Minority Report, Total Recall and A Scanner Darkly.
PKD was obsessed with portraying the uncertainty of reality, what is real, what is unreal. This led to his famous statement in 1977 before an audience in France: "We're living in a computer programmed reality."
The stunned audience gasped. The fellow had gone quite mad. That was in 1977. (PKD died in 1982, the year Blade Runner appeared and made him famous worldwide.)
Now, of course, anyone who is paying attention is familiar with Swedish philosopher's Nick Bostrum's theory which says that we are almost certainly living in a computer simulation. From this "It follows that the belief that there is a significant chance that we will one day become posthumans who run ancestor-simulations is false unless we are currently living in a simulation." And his further assertion that with artificial intelligence we are like children playing with a bomb."
We are just pixels . . .
Rutger Hauer
He played Roy Batty in Blade Runner 1982, a seminal film that built on older classics like Metropolis and Things to Come in fundamental ways, using the present to illuminate a far distant future. The role made Rutger Hauer famous beyond his native Holland and is with Soldier of Orange, one of his two finest performances. It was an unforgettable role that he relished, having turned down the lead role in Das Boot, the WWII submarine movie that made Jurgen Prochnau a worldwide star.
Here is what he had to tell me about that seminal moment in the film where he reaches out his hand to save Deckard (Harrison Ford) from falling to his death, the exhausted replicant, on the edge of death, proving his empathy. It is one of the great scenes in cinema.
Q: "One of the great Hollywood stories is about how you modified the monologue at the end of Blade Runner. Would you talk about that?"
"I did work on it to make a simpler version. That's very much part of my talent. I tend to like what is not written what is usually not filmed. In Roy's last words there was a page of like 300 words or something. It was a really looooong speech. But I thought after four big opera-style deaths we needed to go very quickly or the audience would see the end coming. And that ruins everything. . . So I cut all the lines except two—it was after midnight when we were shooting. I thought what if I could wrap up the character in one sentence. I chopped it down to: 'I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I've watched c-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhäuser Gate. All those … moments will be lost in time, like tears…in rain.'
I cut 40 or 50 lines—but what I really wrote was the silence of the scene. For me to sit there at four in the morning on one of the last days on the shoot, well this was me and Roy fighting for our big moment . . . and for the line to travel for all those years into people like a fucking arrow. I'm so happy that it meant something. It was fun you know. I danced through that movie. . . This movie really liberated me because as an actor I felt I was really in the right place with the right director and I worked hard to do some crazy, funny, excellent work."
Q: "Definitely. Are we all living in a virtual reality?"
"Sure, sure. What the fuck else are we? Come on though. We aren't even virtual, really. We are just pixels . . ."
It's taught me to be nicer to electronics.
Ryan Gosling on Blade Runner 2049
It is rare that a movie based on a book equals the primary material. It is still rarer for a film sequel to rival or even surpass the original. See Godfather II. Blade Runner 2049 is a stunning film.
In the new Blade Runner movie, it's Gosling's turn to take over from Harrison Ford. In the role of Officer K, Gosling is a new "blade runner" assigned – like Deckard before him – to terminate rogue "replicants," artificially engineered beings virtually indistinguishable from humans. Unsettled by his duties, Officer K seeks out Deckard, who had vanished in the original, thirty years before.
Gosling was as enthralled by the story as audiences surely will be. Fans of the first film will be demanding and those demands, for the overwhelming majority will be fulfilled.
Gosling says, "Everyone involved, including me, knew that this film would come under intense scrutiny and there was that pressure to live up to the ambitions and standard set by the original Blade Runner. Also, for me personally, Blade Runner was one of those key films that fed my love for movies. So when you enter a universe that you know from childhood, that's something very special. When you're lucky enough to experience that it makes you all the more determined that you invest yourself into your work with total dedication and love."
"[Blade Runner] was one of the first films that I saw that I didn't know how to feel when it was over," Gosling says. "The line between heroes and villains was so blurred. It's not a hero's journey in any way. When I was a kid that was the storyline I had seen. Thematically, there's just so much there — it was rich, it was melancholy, it was romantic. It's so special. So many other things have stolen ideas from it, but they could never steal its soul. I felt lucky to enter that world."
How did he approach the complex character of Officer K?
"I thought it was such a compelling character," says Gosling. "As massive as the world is, as massive as this film is, interesting as it is conceptually, there are these very intimate, personal, emotional storylines as well. So it's operating on this kind of amazing scale, and this character, there's such a complicated journey that he goes on. And it's just amazing to me that the film could honor the original in the way that it did, and the storylines, and the questions, and the themes, and yet still accommodate this very different character and a story that felt totally enmeshed in the DNA of the original. And yet it still felt original in its own right."
Director Denis Villeneuve contributed his own perspective to the universe first created by Ridley Scott, evoking a neon nightmare of glittering Los Angeles sprawl. There's that Metropolis influence, too. Blade Runner 2049 distinguishes Villeneuve – who put this together since making Arrival – as a director of rare accomplishment, perhaps unsurpassed in his deft feel for our times.
About him, Gosling says: "It was an incredibly inspiring experience. It was a bold choice to let Denis make this film and he went on to create that world and commit to that vision. He was able to ground it and make this world his own. They were more than just sets. They were monuments to how far he was willing to make that world real and it inspired us to go as far as we could into that world."
Early on in filming, before Ford's first day, Gosling said the director told him to imagine Ford in the corner during every scene. "I'd always be asking if Harrison would be happy or not," Gosling says. "And I wasn't quite sure in my mind what he thought, and then when he arrived, it was such a relief, because he just rolled up his sleeves and got right to work. I think we just sat around a table pretty soon after he arrived and just started working. He was such a wonderful partner, and so gracious, that it really felt like the movie finally began."
Gosling continues: "The great thing is that you hang out with him and you realize that all those iconic moments from his films that you love are his — like "I love you," "I know" from Star Wars, or shooting the guy in Indiana Jones. He's just like that all the time. Normally I'd say there are hundreds of ways to play any scene. Unless you work with Harrison and you realize there's only one great way and he's already figured it out."
The standard focus on the weird nature of reality, memory and the difficulties of empathy pervade this epic. Future angst hangs in a pall.
Says Gosling: "The futuristic setting is a spectacle itself and so massive on a conceptual level and the world is both beautiful and a nightmare. All these characters are isolated by technology which was meant to help them but in the end, has isolated everyone from each other and everyone is scrambling for a connection and scraps of love. It was interesting in a film to be able to visit that worst-case scenario and I hope that your world can eventually escape that fate."
Blade Runner 2049 is a ride well worth taking. It is one vision of a terrifyingly convincing path into the future whilst remaining faithful to the previous literary and movie material. This beautifully constructed blockbuster falls on its feet as it considers the nature of perception, its superficial aspects, and its deeper running currents. Denis Villeneuve's movie explores both potentials in astonishing fashion creating something monumental.
PKD would be proud.
BY Will Richardsson


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Do you aspire to explore the world on your own wheels? While you were unstoppable when on the wheels on Indian roads, a foreign land may not accept your Indian driving license without a legal and necessary permit. Most of the countries have the facility of giving a car or two-wheeler on rent but only after you show them an International driving permit.
If you wish to drive abroad you must apply for an International Driver's Permit or an International Driving License. A valid International DL can be used for driving two-wheelers as well.
What is an International Driving License or International Driving Permit?
IDP or International DL is a document that is approved by the UN/United Nations and is issued to vacationers travelling to foreign countries permitting them to drive in the foreign land. It is nothing but a translation of your own Indian driving license into the language which is acceptable and understandable by a foreign authority. International DL states that you are a valid DL holder and are fit to drive.
The validity of an IDP or International DL is mostly a year from the date of its issue, after which it expires. To know more visit https://www.acko.com/driving-license/international-driving-license
Eligibility to get International Driving License
Not everyone can get an International DL. Though various countries may levy a different fee to issue IDL, but most of the countries hold a similar eligibility criterion that includes:
- The applicant should be above 18 years of age.
- The applicant should possess a valid Driving license.
- The applicant should submit the required official form which must be issued by the concerned authority along with the 3 passport-sized photographs.
- Only Indian citizens can apply for the International DL through an Indian transport authority.
Process to Apply for an International Driving License
It is not so cumbersome to get an International DL. The individual must specify which country he wishes to drive in to apply for an international DL. This will provide the driver a driving license permit in that particular country only. The process of application for International DL is as below:
- To apply for an International DL, the applicant must visit the nearest RTO of his city
- Ask for the Form for the Issue of International Driving Permit or Form 4.
- The applicant must carry all the required documents
- The applicant must pay a fee to get International DL
- The International DL will be issued to the applicant after a complete processing of his application. This process can take 3 to 4 working days or more.
International Driving License Form details
The Form for the Issue of International Driving Permit or Form 4 will require you to fill in the following details:
- The full name of the applicant
- The address of the applicant
- Driving License number
- The country which the applicant is travelling
The list of documents required for International Driving License:
The applicants need to submit the following list of documents along with the Form 4 or Form for the Issue of International Driving Permit as mentioned below:
- A copy of his valid driver's license
- A copy of passport and visa
- The copy of air tickets
- A compulsory medical certificate as required and stated in the application form.
- Application fee of Rs. 500/-(The fees have been revised for IDL in Jan'17 from Rs. 500/- to Rs. 1000/-)
- 5 passport sized photographs
- A citizenship certificate or certified proof of Indian citizenship.
- A copy of address proof.
- A copy of age proof.
Renewal of International Driving License
An International DL is normally valid for a year and IDL cannot be renewed.

subset: commoncrawl


text: Age Guardians must be over the age of 21 Occupation All our Guardians must be in full time employment. We do not accept students and we will request a reference from your employer. Character Reference We only accept the most reliable, socially responsible individuals that are trusted to take good care of the buildings they live in. We meet and interview every guardian we take on.close


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I don't know about you, but two years ago I realized that there is really nothing wrong or difficult about employing yourself and becoming your own boss. People who have talked to me regarding being a worker at home ask just one thing. "Isn't it risky to have work-at-home jobs?" What I've always told them is that I don't think you can consider it "risky" to make thousand of dollars doing tasks for only a few hours a day. It usually strikes them with awe that working from home can be so lucrative.
Working at home can actually mean three things—you are permanently employed by a company, you are a freelancer, or you have your own business. For the mean time, let us concentrate on the first two types since we all know that running a personal business is much more risky and that you need more than a couple of dollars to start.
The Concept of Working from Home
Previously, the concept of work-at-home jobs was simply an idea. I saw one episode of the Simpson's when Homer was actually working at home in front of his computer doing some nuclear power plant monitoring stuff. Even though I was just about 12 years old back then, the idea of working at home struck me with amazement. I told myself that someday, I want to have that kind of a job and the good thing is, after graduating from college, I am just like Homer. Dream come true, huh!
But where are we really right now when it comes to home-based jobs? Work-at-home setup developed because of the widespread use of the internet. Today, many companies have realized that setting up employment opportunities in cyberspace is far cheaper than hiring people. At the same time, people who are really eager to earn a living are very optimistic in getting this one of a kind career format. If you will ask me, most careers to earn that I have observed online are related to either Search Engine Optimization (SEO) or Academic Writing. In any case, you will not run out of opportunities among these branches since they are really very lucrative.
Examples of Work at Home Jobs
The main purpose of SEO writing is to make a particular web page popular among search engines like Yahoo, Google and AOL. In order to do this, the weba pages must have relevant articles based on what people are searching for. Of course, there is a specific technique on how to initiate this pattern but let us reserve that information for a separate discussion. Usually, companies that hire SEO writers have their own sets of words and URLs that they want you to integrate into the articles that you write. They can pay you either per article or per word depending on the agreement.
Academic Writing
The field of Academic writing jobs concentrates on one thing, to help students who would like to avail themselves to writing services for their research papers, theses and essays. For some people, this may seem inappropriate since it refutes the very notion of learning. However, not all individuals have this mindset and there is a huge market for academic writing not only those coming from student populations but also from professionals. If you want to have this kind of a job, you must have the talents necessary for building research papers.
Getting Started with Being Your Own Boss
That's great, so how do I get started?
There are only a few requirements to have a work-at-home job, specifically in the field of online freelance writing. First, try to clarify with yourself what aspects of writing you are capable of; can you write generic articles or are you better suited to scholarly writing? Second, it is important that you maintain a professional attitude if you want to have a regular work load. Submitting quality papers, beating deadlines, and having a good rapport with your clients are all essential. Lastly, make sure that you have a reliable work-at-home office. A decent computer system, fast broadband internet connection, and a working phone (in some cases you need this apart from e-mail accounts) are all essetial elements to your success as your own boss.
Now that you know some details about working at home, why don't you start looking for opportunities on the net? For sure, it won't take a whole day to stumble upon those great paying home career opportunities.


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Ask the Winemaker - What are you looking for when you taste wine?/
I recently started something at the winery that I call "Wine School." It's basically a monthly tasting class for our customers that's designed to be an educational exploration of wines. The first class, titled "How to drink like a winemaker" hoped to answer a question I get a lot in the tasting room...
What are you looking for when you taste wine?
In my view, as a winemaker, it's my job to make the best possible wine from any given fruit. And there are so many variables, that I don't think I could go through them in a class setting, or a blog for that matter. But this is what I told the class.
Primarily, I'm looking to avoid problems/faults. I think/worry a lot about things like volatile acidity (a precursor of spoilage), S02 levels (not too high, not too low) Brettanomyces in the winery and TCA - the compound that can cause "corked" wine.
All of these problems can be mitigated with proper cleaning and attention, so developing a protocol that works is important.
After that, I'm focusing on this term called "balance." There are many components, but the big five to me are Acidity, Alcohol, Sugar, Tannin, and something I call a wine's "Timeline."
The first four of these components can be controlled for in the cellar or selected for in the vineyard. Acidity and Alcohol levels are best "picked" in the timing of harvest, but can also be nudged if necessary during fermentation. Sugar content is determined by fermentation success. Tannin stems mostly from things like skin contact time, maceration techniques, barrel selection, aging and varietal differences. The idea here is that wines are best when nothing is standing out more than another. This idea of balance is also highly subjective. Some like acidity and tannin more than others, some certainly like higher alcohol wines more than others.
Which leaves us with a wine's "Timeline". A good definition would be: The experience of drinking a wine over time. It can be broken down into Nose, Attack, Mid Palette and Finish. Nose is how fragrant, interesting a wine smells. Attack is the initial flavors that hit your mouth on that first sip. Mid Palette, to me, is the feeling and taste of a wine as it's swirled around in your mouth. Finish is the quality and length of the flavors after spit or swallow.
Some wines have all of these components in spades, some lack one or two. In our class we tasted two young Malbecs out of the barrel from two different vineyards. One was very strong, except it sort of dipped during the Mid Palette. The other wasn't as dynamic, but was more consistent throughout the experience, only to drop off a little at the end.
This is where blending comes in. We blended the two together and I watched as lightbulbs started going off around the table. Sometimes with wine, I explained, 1+1 can equal 3. Sometimes 1+1= -2. In this case, it was additive. The end result, which I told them will be pretty close to what the final product is like when I blend it this summer, has all the components you want in a wine. And one taster said it was like he was drinking two wines at the same time.
My hope, of course, is that these flavors mesh into a more consistent final product. And I imagine they will with time. If it does, it'll certainly be what I'm looking for.


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What is AzPOLST?
When you are seriously ill, making sure your loved ones and doctors know what kinds of medical treatment you want as you approach the end of your life is very important. Arizona Provider Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (AzPOLST) can help do just that.
AzPOLST is a form that clearly states what kinds of medical treatment patients want toward the end of their lives. Printed on bright pink paper, and signed by both a patient and physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant, AzPOLST helps give seriously-ill patients more control over their care.
AzPOLST also helps you talk with your healthcare team and your loved ones about your choices. In this way, AzPOLST can help reduce patient and family suffering, and make sure that your wishes are known and honored.
Arizona EMS support AzPOLST
End-of-life care is improving in Arizona, thanks to the hard work and dedication of EMS representatives who led the recent adoption of a new protocol by the Arizona Department of Health Services Emergency Medical Services Council. The Council newly revised its Do Not Resuscitate Status/Advance Directives/Healthcare Power of Attorney Status: Adult & Pediatric protocol to include honoring MOST, MOLST, or POLST directives. EMS representatives spent months working with an end-of-life task force, reviewing national models and collecting evidence-based practices. The protocol adoption is a first for Arizona and demonstrates tremendous progress in the state's approach to end-of-life care.
The task force is led by Sandy Severson, Vice President of Care Improvement at Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association (AzHHA), and is part of a statewide coalition known as Thoughtful Life Conversations. The coalition is leading work to empower Arizonans to make their life wishes and care directives known and to equip their healthcare teams with resources to honor them. As an advocate for policies that promote patients and their families having the most control over their end-of-life care, AzHHA is leading the development and adoption of AzPOLST. EMS providers are contributing to this effort, as well, and are integrally involved in the rollout of legal safeguards for Arizonans' end-of-life wishes.
For more information visit: www.azpolst.org.


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In an announcement Nov. 28, the U.S. Supreme Court denied review of Graves Law, which had been challenged by the Association for the American Justice (AAJ) in September. Graves Law prohibits states from imposing vicarious liability onto non-negligent rental and leasing companies.
Graves Law Denied Review by Supreme Court
Written by ed4208 December 30, 2011 — Leave a Comment
Posted in Uncategorized


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Bioelectronics integrates principles of electrical engineering and materials science to biology, medicine and ultimately health. Soft bioelectronics focus on designing and manufacturing electronic devices with mechanical properties close to those of the host biological tissue so that long-term reliability and minimal perturbation are induced in vivo and/or truly wearable systems become possible. We illustrate the potential of this soft technology with examples ranging from prosthetic tactile skins to soft multimodal neural implants.
Biography: Prof. Stéphanie P. Lacour holds the Bertarelli Foundation Chair in Neuroprosthetic Technology at the School of Engineering at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne. She received her PhD in Electrical Engineering from INSA de Lyon, France, and completed postdoctoral research at Princeton University (USA) and the University of Cambridge (UK). Since January 2017, she is full professor in Microengineering and Bioengineering at EPFL. She is a co-founding member of EPFL Center for Neuroprosthetics, http://cnp.epfl.ch. She is the recipient of the 2006 MIT TR35, the 2011 Zonta award, the 2014 WEF Young Scientist, and she was selected as one of the 2015 World Economic Forum Young Global Leaders.


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What if this year your New Years Resolution was not a number on the scale or how many miles you are going to run, or any goal with a number in it? What if this year were dedicated simply to loving you more? Taking care of you, nurturing you. A year dedicated to self-care. That's it, simply being good to you, whatever that means for you. Sounds too good to be true?
So what does self-care mean to you? Perhaps it's dedicating time for your Yoga practice, or meditation, journaling, a bubble bath, a walk, or a ski? Maybe planting things that grow bring you joy, or learning to sail, or building a wood strip canoe. Making sure there is some "play money" available so you can attend a few of your favorite social outings: theater, concerts, dinner out, or a movie. Or set aside some time and join a book club, Bunco group, birthday club, etc. I don't know what brings your heart JOY. Only you can answer that questions, in doing so, you will find that "guru" (aka teacher) within yourself.
Saying no. Sometimes creating space for things we do want in our lives, like that nice meal out at our favorite restaurant once in a while or travel bucks or time for the people who bring us love and nurturing & joy; adding to our self-care, we have to say 'No' along the way. From time spent in certain places and with certain people, to budgeting for the things that really matter to us. Filling your life how you want it is not selfish, it's called living your life how you want to live it. I call that honoring your True Self. Bramacharya, or the right use of energy.
Now how you are going to fuel your body in a nurturing manner? There are tons of ways to "eat clean". Recipes are abundant on 'Pinterest', follow my boards for inspiration. Join a cooking club, buy some cookbooks. I've found Whole 30 and Paleo to work great for my body's needs, but we're all constructed differently and have different needs, tastes, preferences, etc. Choose something that works for you, and remember this journey is about nurturing you, not what your kids want. Most likely an adult body will not respond well to mac 'n cheese. If you do not require your kids to eat what you make, it may be necessary to cook for yourself separately. Again, self-care, it's ok to take time to prepare yourself a meal that nurtures you. I started out in this fashion, making 2 dinners. One for the adults, another for the kids, but found myself growing tired of all the cooking and dishes. I also decided adding some diversity to my kids' palates is good for them, so we occasionally have some contentious conversations regarding eating our vegetables. I think this is pretty commonplace as I remember it well as a child. I think you just keep at it, and eventually they become less picky. My 8-year-old is coming around, the 5-year-old is still a work in progress. Rome was not built in a day.
When you are cared for inside and out, your basic needs are met. This allows you to move beyond basic survival and evolve into the creative, intelligent, capable being that you are. I call this effect "filling your cup" when our cup is full, our physiological needs are met and we can move beyond basic needs and onto to Self-transcendence. This is where we find actualization in giving to some higher goal outside oneself, in altruism and spirituality. This completely ties to Patanjali's 8 limbed path and our ultimate goal as Yogi's, which is Samadhi, or enlightenment.
So this year, if it brings me JOY & I feel Self LOVE from the activity, food, expenditure, then I'm going for it. (Within reason of course, I'm also keeping that Yama called 'Satya' or 'Truth' in perspective. 😉 How about you?
2017=It's about LOVING YOU!
Wishing you so much BLISS + LIGHT + WARMTH as you ring in the New Year, it blows your slipper socks off! Peace, LOVE & Namaste Yogis,


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Hebrew Study Abroad
As a "melting pot" of numerous and varied cultures brought over by Jews immigrating to it, Israel has had extensive experience with intensive instruction of Hebrew to speakers of other languages. With the massive influx of new immigrants to the new Jewish state from Europe and from other countries in the Middle East and from Africa, as well as from the Americas, the government felt that it was necessary to provide regular, intensive instruction of the language, and to do so all over the country - from the cities to the smaller towns and villages, as well as in the kibbutzim. These intensive Hebrew language schools were named ulpanim (singular ulpan). Although their primary function has been to teach adult immigrants to Israel the basic skills of speaking, writing, reading and listening, they also incorporate a strong component of culture. And even though they were initially introduced as vehicles for facilitating speedy integration of immigrants to Israeli society, their target population later expanded into the foreign student body. Today, every major ulpan, primarily at the university but in other locations as well (ulpanim run by the Jewish Agency, by municipal authorities, by kibbutzim, and numerous private ones) has a significant number of foreign students among it clientele.
Here are sample impressions from visits in a number of Israeli ulpanim (intensive Hebrew school) conducted in Israel by Shmuel Bolozky in January 2007 and May 2008, with some help from Noemi Schwarz and Benjamin Hary.
- Address: Ulpan Akiva, P. O. B. 6086, Netanya 42160, Israel
- Phone: 972-9-835-2312/3
- Fax: 972-9-8652919
- Website: http://www.ulpan-akiva.org.il
- E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
This ulpan is not associated with any university; it is a private non-profit institute that has been operating from the early 1950s, under the academic supervision of the Israeli Ministry of Education, but with its own Board of Trustees and a general manager. Its clientele ranges from new immigrants to tourists to foreign students, all learning together happily and harmoniously according to proficiency level, regardless of age. It is unique in that, like the famous Middlebury College, it functions as a "boarding school," where any student who does not insist on commuting is given the opportunity to live there 24/7, eating and sleeping there kibbutz-style, and to enjoy a variety of cultural activities and experiences well beyond the classroom, all designed to enrich and reinforce his/her proficiency in Hebrew. A typical session lasts 25 days, and costs $2,900, board and lodging included, but universities sending their students there can negotiate up to a 35% discount. Students coming for longer periods have other opportunities for stipends that may be available to them through certain funding institutions.
Strong points:
- Opportunity for total immersion, enriched by cultural activities and experiences that promote proficiency.
- Emphasis on oral proficiency, although other proficiencies are covered as well.
- A relaxed, supportive atmosphere, with opportunities to interact with students from other backgrounds and culture - mostly in Hebrew.
- Although the facilities are old, complete renovation is planned. They even include a swimming pool and gym. The ulpan is located close to the beach.
Emeq Ha-Yarden Ulpan
Located at the Tsemach Regional Council of the Jordan Valley, this ulpan is typical of intensive Hebrew schools established and run by the Israeli government and its Ministry of Education. Students (mostly new immigrants, but overseas students and tourists as well) commute to campus, either from their residence in an urban center like Tiberias, or - more commonly - from rooms assigned to them in neighboring kibbutzim. Oral proficiency is at the center of instruction, but at the same time, teachers skillfully incorporate writing, reading and listening, while still maintaining the emphasis on oral communication. The international atmosphere in class is very pleasant, and students enjoy considerable individual attention. Typical sessions are 5 months long. The tuition is reasonable, and some fellowships may be available. The somewhat-secluded location allows concentration on the language without too many distractions.
The Tel Aviv University Ulpan, http://www.telavivuniv.org/ulpan.aspx
There are two streams at the Tel Aviv University Ulpan: one for overseas students visiting TAU for a limited period to study Hebrew, the other a preparatory program for new students registered for some regular university course of studies, who need to acquire basic skills that would allow them to take university courses in Hebrew (new immigrants, native Israelis requiring remedial Hebrew, and overseas students who are registered for any mainstream courses). The ulpan is located in a huge dorm complex right next to campus, which constitutes an island of tranquility in the heart of Tel Aviv, with easy access to everything this exciting city has to offer. The dorm space is large enough to allow overseas students to share rooms with Israeli students - a real linguistic advantage. The preparatory classes Bolozky attended were taught by very professional teachers (TAU is one of the only campuses in which research in applied linguistics is conducted), and he reports that the level of the students, in all types of proficiency, was amazing. Courses are available during each semester, as well as in the summer and during the winter break, and tuition ranges between $450-1500, depending on length of course.
Ben-Gurion University Ulpan, http://web2.bgu.ac.il/CISP/
Located in the "capital of the Negev," Be'er Sheva, south of which is mostly desert, Ben-Gurion University is Israel's fastest growing university, where many departments enjoy international acclaim and reputation. It is also considered to be one of Israel's most pleasant and most welcoming campuses. As in other campuses in Israel, courses are available during each semester, as well as in the summer and during the winter break, but except for the summer, classes are smaller, and students consequently get closer individual attention. They are also more likely to share dorm rooms with Israelis, which clearly contributes to improved oral proficiency. There are less outside distractions in a city like Be'er Sheva, which may also - inadvertently - result in more attention being paid to one's studies. At the same time, there is a special unit in the Overseas Student Program that provides a myriad of social and entertainment activities all year long, ranging from folk dancing and visits to shows, to extensive trips, even jeep tours of the desert and visits to Bedouin attractions. As in other ulpanim, Bolozky reports that he was very impressed with the students' level of proficiency; the results were invariably good, regardless of the various teaching methodologies actually used by individual teachers.
The Hebrew University's Ulpan, http://overseas.huji.ac.il/academics.asp?cat=24&in=0
The HU ulpan is part of the Overseas Students Program at the Rothberg International School. It is a large program, with the 5-week summer ulpan alone hosting 800 students, and its teachers are very experienced and highly professional. Bolozky reports that the students observed there were probably the most proficient of all the ones he met during his visits. The HU ulpan has also been developing sophisticated Internet-based instructional programs available to everyone, which students use mostly on their own, including movies with related comprehension and grammar drills. They completed a set of listening comprehension CDs with accompanying workbooks, which emphasize the role of intonation and cultural cues, as well as interviews with authors, some adapted plays, etc. There are many afternoon and evening programs, as in other ulpanim, and overseas students have the option of residing with Israeli students if they wish to.
The University of Haifa's Ulpan, http://overseas.haifa.ac.il/programs.asp?dict_id1=3&a=a1
The University of Haifa Ulpan provides an excellent opportunity for total immersion in the language, and foreign students are strongly encouraged to share rooms with Israeli ones at the residence halls. The Overseas Students courses are open to Israelis, and foreign students can take any general course if their Hebrew proficiency is adequate which promotes collaboration and sharing between Israeli and foreign students (e.g., in a typical arrangement, an Israeli student takes lecture notes, an American teammate summarizes or translates assigned articles in English). Since there is no meal plan, Israeli and foreign students cook their meals together in the dorm, which further promotes the interaction between them. Strong emphasis is put on community service. The program is particularly anxious to tailor its offerings in language and culture to the specific needs of different student groups (e.g., heritage speakers are given intensive, two week training to prepare them for integration in regular Hebrew classes appropriate for their level), and efforts are made to enhance the cohesion of the class in both academics and social activities. The instructors are keen on maintaining a careful balance between skill, grammar and content, without concentrating on one at the expense of the other. Whereas in some other ulpanim, the more experienced teachers stay during the year, and substitute ones fill in at the intensive summer ulpan, the University of Haifa places its best and most experienced instructors in the summer setting. There is also interaction with learners of other languages, such as Arabic (which is one of the strengths of the University of Haifa foreign language program), and some of the foreign language and cultural experiences are shared. There are special events planned, and the educational/cultural trips are often led by Hebrew teachers who are also certified tourist guides.
Ulpan Etzion, Jerusalem, http://www.jafi.org.il/aliyah/abscenters/abscentlist/ulpanetzion/index.asp
Ulpan Etzion is the first intensive Hebrew teaching program established by the State of Israel (1949), to facilitate the integration of new immigrants, residents as well as non-residents; most of them are academics, or students planning to study in Israel. New immigrants admitted into the program are fully supported by the Israeli government. The ulpan is located in the Baq`a neighborhood of Jerusalem. Students are divided into four levels (A-D), and lessons are held for five hours a day, five days a week for a period of five months. All four proficiency areas are addressed in class, but the mix of students from different backgrounds, and the fact that some of them already work in the community, assures a high level of oral proficiency. Extra-curricular and cultural activities also contribute to better proficiency and social integration.
For a description of various ulpanim in Jerusalem, see Morris Rosenthal's survey at http://www.fonerbooks.com/ulpan.htm.
Ulpan Ma`ale, Tel Aviv
Like Ulpan Etzion, this is a government-supported program, with a five-month program, mostly for new immigrants, but non-immigrants may enroll as well (some fees apply to the latter). Immersion, with strong emphasis on oral proficiency, is again a strong asset here, as is the interaction with a multi-cultural and multi-lingual student community which, in addition to the cultural benefits, also forces the students to communicate only in Hebrew. The ulpan is located in southern Tel Aviv, in the Hatikva neighborhood, adjacent to the colorful, exciting Hatikva market, and enjoys other advantages offered by the City of Tel Aviv-Yafo.
The above are just a few of the numerous ulpanim you will find in Israel; the sampling above, although somewhat representative, is just "drop in the sea," and reflects accidental opportunities that arose while we visited Israel. There has been no intention on our part to either exclude or over-privilege any programs, and we will try to add to the list when we have had an opportunity to visit additional ones.
As already noted above, in a country established to absorb Jewish immigrants from all over the world, the teaching of Hebrew has always been regarded a priority, and has enjoyed considerable state support. To suit the needs of immigrants, ulpanim have been opened in some of the most remote areas, regardless of size of settlement. This tradition has also benefited the universities. But teaching style at the various ulpanim is not uniform. At the major universities, the goals tend to be more academic than they are in non-university ulpanim, where greater emphasis is placed on pragmatic use of the language. Particular ulpanim tend to use a set of textbooks that had been prepared by veteran teachers for their respective institutions, and other teachers are instructed to use the same. They do, however, supplement the textbooks with current materials drawn from newspapers and the Internet, with recordings of authentic language materials, with video clips and movies, etc. In other institutions there tends to be greater variety of teaching materials. The attention given to the four different types of proficiency is not always uniform, and occasionally instruction is geared towards systematic covering of grammatical topics rather than to general proficiency goals. Nevertheless, regardless of methodology and specific approach, the level of proficiency reached is always higher than what is ever achieved when taking similar courses in the US "to some extent because of the better quality of instruction, but mostly because the opportunity for using language outside of the classroom" does the trick. On the whole, differences in style of instruction and pedagogical approach are less important than the effort made by each individual learner to apply himself/herself to actively use the language. It is therefore highly recommended that you make every effort to enroll in an intensive language program abroad.
Thus, when choosing an intensive overseas foreign language program, students should pay particular attention to:
- The total number of hours of daily instruction; the larger the number, the greater the immersion.
- The likelihood of the target language being the sole medium of instruction and communication, within the classroom and beyond (at the dorm, in the community, etc.).
- Opportunities for cultural exposure: communal activities, educational trips, visits to museums and other cultural institutions; viewing films in the target language and attending performances (theatrical, musical, etc.), volunteering for community work, etc. These not only increase cultural awareness and understanding, but also provide additional opportunities to communicate in the language.
- Checking evaluations, if any are available, of the quality of instruction at a specific institution, and in particular, comparing data on actual performance of past students, before entering the program and on exiting it. The most reliable information would be from external evaluations, particularly when provided by recognized testing bodies, but internal data can be valuable as well. Regardless of the methodology used, what ultimately matters is progress in proficiency.


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Carla Mink
Emily Cowl in Black Waffle
$ 108.00
Made in Portland, OR by in-house designer Carla Mink
The perfect cowl in a super soft black waffle sweater knit. It's super versatile. We just love that you can tuck it into a skirt or wear it out with denim.
- 3/4 sleeve
- Cowl-Neck drape in the front won't fall open and show all your business
- Looks great tucked or untucked, with slight a-line flare at the hem
- Wear it as a fall 3/4 sleeve blouse, or a base layer in the colder months
Our model wears a size 4 and is 6' tall. She's wearing a small in this top.
Color: Black
Fabric: Rayon/acrylic/spandex
Care: Hand wash cold and hang to dry
stitched up in Portland, OR. We pay livable wages to all our employees and contractors and use deadstock fabric. We maintain an extremely low carbon footprint only using carbon getting the fabric to Portland and driving the fabric and styles to our local sew-house. All pattern making and production are within 4.2 miles of our retail location.
Shipping & Return Policy
Shipping Policy for Orders in the U.S.
- Free standard shipping on all orders in the U.S. over $150!
- U.S. orders between $0 and $150 will be charged a shipping fee.
All orders will be shipped by the next business day and are shipped USPS first class. It takes 3-5 business days, depending on your location.
USPS Express Mail is available at a flat rate of $29. Express Mail orders will be delivered within 1-2 days in most cases.
Remember: NO SALES TAX!
Shipping Policy for Orders Outside the U.S.
We ship internationally to the following territories:
- Canada
- Western and Northwestern Europe
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Singapore
- Hong Kong
- Japan
International orders will be charged a flat fee of $50. We use USPS AirMail Parcel Post, which delivers within 4-10 business days in most cases. USPS Priority Express International is available for a flat rate of $65. Orders shipped via Express Mail will be delivered within 3-5 days in most cases. Please note that delivery times can vary, as the time it takes to clear customs differs from country to country.
Customs: Please note that you will be responsible for all duties, tariffs, and taxes charged by your own country. All transactions will be in U.S. dollars.
International customers who refuse delivery of their orders will be responsible for the original shipping costs, any duties, taxes and/or customs charges that are incurred on the package, and the cost of returning the package to Mink, along with a 20% restocking fee.
Return Policy
We want you to be 100% satisfied with your order, and understand that you may need to return things from time to time. In those cases, items must be postmarked within 14 days of delivery and must be unworn and unused. Items must be in perfect condition with all tags intact. All purchases of foundations, accessories, and "On Sale" items are final. This includes all FLASH sale offers as well.
How to return an item: Place the sales ticket inside the original box with the items to be returned. Repackage the items and ship the box to:
3418 SE Hawthorne Blvd.
Portland OR 97214
Once we receive your return package, we will issue a store credit or refund your credit card, whichever you prefer, within 2-3 business days. Please allow 1-2 billing cycles for the refund to appear on your credit card statement. Shipping and handling charges are non-refundable, and we are unable to accept COD packages.
Questions? Email us at email@example.com or call us at 503-232-3500. We're here to help you!


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So, funny story…
During update of our SharePoint 2013 QA machine, as a routine before saving a template I run CCleaner to cleanup the disk after installing updates and what not.
Got a strange report from my QA: using IE10 from the server can load the site, but any menu they try to use (such as the site settings) give out this error:
(An error has occurred with the date fetch. Please refresh the page and try again).
So, refreshing, closing and reopening the browser, clearing cache, even resetting IE to factory settings – nothing worked!
Other browsers worked just fine, as well as IE from another machine.
Opening JS debugger pointed me to window.localStorage that caused this error, and as I didn't want to disable it I found that clearing the browser cache is the right solution, only I didn't do it properly…
Notice the first checkbox "Preserve Favorites website data" that is checked by default?
Well, the SharePoint site I was working with is set as a trusted site and my guess is that clearing the cache with this setting on skipped it.
Once I cleared this checkbox and deleted my cache everything went back to normal.
Just to be sure, I run CCleaner again – sure enough the problem immediately occurred.
Running clear cache again – fixed it immediately.
So, there you have it… good luck


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Ozark Softscape's Dan(i) Bunten-coded 8-bit multiplayer masterpiece, M.U.L.E., is now available in an updated, online playable version. The best part? This has the official blessing of the Bunten family. Fans of this site probably need no introduction to this semi-real-time economic strategy game, but for the rest of you, now is a great time to see what all the fuss is about. Check it out here. There are clients for Windows, Mac, and even Linux. The full game is free!
Cool! And don't forget my MULE episode of "Matt Chat!" :)
Boy, have I ever come a long way!
Wow, thanks Bill, I would have probably missed this! A fantastic remake!
"Elegance has the disadvantage that hard work is needed to achieve it and a good education to appreciate it."
-- Dijkstra


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about us
We are a full-service design studio located in Tampa, Florida.
We specialize in innovative and communicative environments for individuals and small to medium sized businesses looking to develop successful design strategies for both print media and the world wide web
Conceptualization, planning, modeling, and execution of media content delivery. We intend to create a web site at your request according to your specifications…
We also provide IT support for small businesses with 10 to 100 employees.
if WE don't take care of YOU, someone else will
The Write Type Design Studio
PO Box 7123
Tampa, Florida 33673-7123
p. 813-267-5597
Comments or questions are welcome.


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Kristen Jordan picks up a black guy and getting anal fucked
Duration: 12min 30sec Views: 6 755 Submitted: 2 years ago
Description: Kristen Jordan's boyfriend gives green light for her to cruise for black cock. Kristen's cheating hole gets drilled by Rico's monster cock. Her ass is the next on Rico's hit list...
Sponsored by: Dogfart Network


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The ceremony was at a gorgeous church in Annapolis.
I have to say, this was the shortest wedding ceremony that I have ever been to. Right to the point! Kelsey looked absolutely stunning in a princess style dress with tons of bling. I didn't take any pictures of the ceremony because I didn't want to be "that person" (in their wedding photos holding up technology and making clicking noises and in general being obnoxious).
After the ceremony, we headed on over to the reception! It was supposed to be a few blocks away but Todd got us lost so we took the scenic route through downtown Annapolis. The shops looked super cute and I hope we can go back someday!
We got to the parking garage and started walking down the block to the reception when it started pouring rain! It was also extremely windy because there was a tornado warning! We huddled under an overhang while my gallant husband went back out into the rain to get the car. Thanks Todd!!! :)
I had made a framed "Cooper" piece as their wedding gift. I didn't wrap it so it got a bit wet in the rain but fortunately, it didn't get ruined! The photos are from this awesome flickr channel; they have tons of images for each letter of the alphabet! They come square so I had to skew them a bit to get them to 4x6. I sent them to Target to get printed and unfortunately, they came out a tad dark (especially the "C"). Oh well. :)
As for the card, I made that too! It was a lot of fun to make. I used bright pinks and black because those were the wedding colors. For the letters, I had scrapbooking paper that was covered in images of typewriter keys. I cut them out individually to make the letters. The rest of the paper were all scraps I had lying around so the card cost virtually nothing! I kind of like how the envelope and the gift form "Mr & Mrs Cooper" when read together.
And did I mention how gorgeous the flowers were? I love hydrangeas so much...
And Bobby and Ann, our carpool friends.
And Lauren, who was constantly keeping the world updated on every single moment of the night.
And Matt and Krista.
Wait, let's try that one again.
And here is Matt and Krista!
Here's my attractive husband and some more shots of our table.
There was a live band and Todd and I did a little dancing. Not our style too much but it was fun. After sending the bride and groom off in a fancy car to the ringing of bells, we took our lovely favors and headed home.
Sunday morning I was up again bright and early! I couldn't find anyone to go to church with me :( so I finished up all my lesson plans for the week. Later, I headed over to Claudia's baby shower! Of course, I had to make her a card too even though the invite said to bring a baby book in lieu of a card. It's so hard to bring myself to write in a book!
I remembered Claudia telling me awhile ago that she was planning for the baby room to be in pinks and blues with a vintagey flair. I hope she didn't change that because that's what I went for with the card! Once again, I used all papers that I already had so there was no cost whatsoever.
For the gift, I bought a pink fabric covered box for future storage. I filled it with all sorts of bath themed goodies. :) Unfortunately, someone else at the shower got some of the same things that I did. So much for following the rules and scanning those registry papers!
What a fun filled weekend! Now it's time to relax and do some organizing! Unfortunately, the kind of organizing I am about to do will not show any visible results; I will be organizing and sorting files on my external hard drive.
Have a wonderful week everyone! :)


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If Duterte is replaced, everything he has done will be for nothing, Philippines would lose says Former Civil Service Commission Chair
Saludo said that if Vice President Leni Robredo replaces Duterte, all the progress that he has done in the fight against drugs and criminality will be undone and it would be for nothing if he leaves.
"That performance contrasts with the tripling of incidents under then-President Benigno Aquino 3rd, from 324,083 in 2010 to more than 1 million a year in 2013 and 2014, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority." he said.
"Now, imagine if an Aquino-backed leader takes over the presidency, restoring many of his policies and appointees. Would it curb crime?" he added.
Saludo said this would make PH a threat to China.
"No $50 billion in Chinese projects, and no Filipino fishermen back at Scarborough Shoal. Instead, the People's Liberation Army would probably start building military-capable facilities at the disputed lagoon 200 km from Subic." he said.
"Now, if adversaries of Duterte's reforms succeed in taking him out, would the next leaders have the daring, drive and determination to continue his law enforcement, foreign relations, and anti-graft initiatives? Or would they conclude that opponents of change are too tough to beat?" he said.
He said Filipinos would lose if Duterte does.
"Bottomline: If President Duterte loses to the crime syndicates, corrupt officialdom, and Western powers that want him out, backed by defenders of verbal decorum and funeral propriety — so does the Philippines." he said. [source]


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LG Display has confirmed it is set to bring its 15″ OLED TV to the European market this May. U.S. consumers will get a chance to buy it before the summer is over.
The 15EL9500 will be the largest OLED TV ever released, and LG will no doubt see limited sales due to the high price tag of 1,999 Euros (US$2,728).
For your money, you get a 3mm thick display with a response time of 0.001ms and a contrast ratio of 10,000,000:1. It will be capable of 720p HD output and uses 100Hz TruMotion technology. A USB port allows for DivX video playback, MP3 audio playback, and digital photo frame image capabilities.
Read more at the LG Display press release (Austrian) and OLED-Display.net
Matthew's Opinion
LG must be confident this display is going to sell seeing as both Europe and the U.S. will have stock before the end of the summer. Sony has recently pulled out of the Japanese OLED TV market due to a lack of demand for the high-priced TVs. Either LG knows something Sony doesn't, or they are taking a risk releasing early in troubled economies.
LG may have a better time in markets than Sony. The biggest advantage it has is a 15″ screen rather than Sony's diminutive 11″ offering. 15″ is still small, but can be used in a lot more places than an 11″ model. The price is also comparable with Sony's TV which cost $2,222. LG gives you an extra 4″ for just $506. Relatively speaking, that's a good deal.
OLED has a long way to go before it becomes a mainstream TV offering. The price needs to drop drastically, and the size of the screen needs to get a lot bigger. When we start seeing 24″ and larger displays below the $2,000 mark is when consumers will really start taking notice.


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Have been shopping up a storm.
All these (and more) will be available from Cape Cod Designs over the next few months.
As you know, photos are prohibited at these dos.
I risked my life for these.
This beauty is over at my Cape Cod Bloggy already.
Click HERE for details.
I have heaps more coming. Couldn't get everything photographed as my iPhone camera died. I fixed it via a "my iPhone screen is black" online forum last night. Phew.
After my big shop up, I spent yesterday afternoon and evening with my buddy, Linda, from 'The Gong'.
We have been friends since the late 80's, ever since I moved into the nurses quarters in Murwillumbah Hospital, after taking my first job out of Uni as the sole Dietitan at Tweed Heads Hospital. Linda was at one end of the nurses quarters, I was at the other. Boy, we had fun. We both confessed to going back there over the years, to see if was still the same, to catch a glimpse of the verandah, where we had all our French nights....to remember the fun.
Linda has called me 'Holly' for 24 years, as my room back then was rather floral (Holly Hobby). To Linda, and all her friends and family, I am 'Holly'. It was so nice to be 'Holly' again for one special night.
We hadn't seen each other in over 4 years so our reunion was rather loud outside Hall 1. We moved our noise to a gorgeous harbour-side restaurant and spent hours catching up, photographing each other, texting our friends with photos of us, sharing photos of our boys, friends and family, giggling, crying, philosophising. It was good for my soul. What would we do without real friends? Friends who are 'effortless' (stolen your word Loopy)... and loyal, who fiercely protect you, rally your cause and set you on the right course. Miss you in my daily life Linda. You give such great advice.
She'll be reading this saying, "enough, Holly"... and laughing at that very last sentence.
I'm off home today, to my gorgeous boys, who have been texting me saying that they've been good and that they've been doing all their jobs. Bless.
Happy Tuesday!


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Portfolio - Our Work
We were asked to design this nice little website. The idea was simple. A suggestion a day for people to carry out and as a result if we all do it, the world will be a better place! So we got to it and did a bit of php magic. First of all we made sure it looked really nice. We like what we did with the extremely light weight (in terms of memory) cloud which floats across. It really adds depth. We then made a backend where the user could login and update the suggestion. This wouldn't just update the website, it also instantly and automatically updates the facebook fan page AND the twitter all in one go! Now we're not bragging but that is pretty cool!
Does exactly what I want it to do.... and much more!
Dinos Restaurants WebsiteDescription:
Dinos Restaurants in Glasgow approached us asking for a fully functional restaurant website which was split in two for their two restaurants. The design was to clean, an extension to their brand and specifically "not cheesy". We had various meetings to discuss functionality and design. We can up with a clean look with a hint of Italy and spiced up their logo for the website. We added a CMS system to the website so they could update the menus and content whenever they wanted to.
Really glad I found Stefan from Pretty Klicks. We knew exactly what we were looking for when we decided to get a website for the restaurant and we were really pleased with the finished product as it accomodated all of our requirements. We found Pretty Klicks to be really flexible, even when we changed our mind about something and it turned out to be good value for money aswell. Thankyou very much!!
Ben GoulterDescription:
Ben was look for web design on cheap budget. He wanted a simple website for his photography portfolio with links to all the correct places. He also wanted a backend system where he could ad more galleries.
Pretty klicks' greatest asset is their imagination which they couple with an extensive skill in web design. The results are truly fantastic. Pretty klicks is a great company to work with who settle for nothing less than complete satisfaction.
Contact Details
Use our contact form to reach out to us.
hello [at] prettyklicks.com
Let's chat right now!
If you want help you can talk direct to one of the Pretty Klicks team right now.
Let's chat
Let's chat
Pretty Klicks Ltd © 2010 - 2019


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This country suffers from terrible systemic inequality. Low-income neighborhoods continuously fall by the wayside, and whole swaths of society are simply ignored every single day. While many view education as a way to overcome these obstacles, it seems it's time to ask the question many avoid: Do our inner-city students even have enough safe spaces to connect with brands?
Ask any seasoned marketing executive and the answer you'll hear is a resounding "no."
Living in low-income areas, large portions of inner-city youth grow up without access to the newest commercials, the latest visual merchandising, and the most effective targeted advertising campaigns. Many of these children attend schools without even a single computer, and they quickly fall behind in the latest viral marketing efforts. Students can sometimes go for days without being shown so much as a banner ad for Starbucks or receiving a mailer from Old Navy.
Meanwhile, the average suburban student has more opportunities to interact with major corporations than ever before. When they watch the trailer for the newest Marvel movie, for instance, they don't just see it once—they see it several times a day. If we want to prepare students for a lifetime of brand loyalty, it is crucial that we target them when they are still under 18—but unfortunately, inner-city youth are getting the short end of the stick here.
So, in a country where we believe everyone should be treated equally, how is this okay?
These low-income children have just as much potential to be the most valued consumers for Best Buy, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, or ExxonMobil as any other student. This is America—if we want these kids to stop falling through the cracks, we need to make sure each and every inner-city student has the same opportunities to connect with multibillion-dollar international marketing machines as anyone else.
Our children are the future. It's time we started treating them as such!


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clipped from www.abandonedstuff.com
Friday, July 25, 2008
The shame of being a Conservative MP
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Canada's Copyright party is.....the NDP
clipped from www.p2pnet.net
many of the comments about Bill C-61 on BLOGS all across Canada you can hear people saying that all the parties are the same, and that we need a Canadian Pirate Party. The Pirate Party (Swedish: Piratpartiet) is a political party in Sweden that focus on one issue: reforming of so-called "Intellectual Property" laws such as patent, copyright, trademark and other related laws (also called PCT) to better integrate with a modern technological and participatory society.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Useless doesnt even begin to describe them!!!
clipped from www.canada.com
hat said, one can take virtually any period of our political history and find Saskatchewan opposition voices like Tommy Douglas or M.J. Coldwell or John Diefenbaker who spoke for Saskatchewan interests with eloquence and passion
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Layton slams 'kill-a-unionist-pay-a-fine' deal with Colombia
clipped from www.nupge.ca
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
NDP Launches On-line Petition Against the Text Message Cash Grab
For months the NDP has been running a campaign against the outrageous and unfair charges cell phone customers have to put up with. Canadian cell phone users face higher charges than in Europe or the US.
Today it was reported that in August, Telus Mobility and Bell Mobility will begin charging cell phone users 15 cents for each incoming text message, including spam.
This afternoon, the NDP launched an on-line petition in opposition to this text messaging cash grab and all staff are encouraged to sign the petition and pass it around to your network of contacts. We are hoping to get as many signatures as possible in the first 12 hours.
A Facebook group has also been created.
Thank you.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Pricing carbon: cap & trade vs. carbon tax
My apologies for my lack of postings. For the first time in three years, I actually broke down and took two weeks vacation..but I am back and rested and ready to go again!!!
The Dion Liberals have recently mused about developing a policy for "Carbon Taxes."
To date there are few specifics, but Dion has suggested that increases in consumption taxes would be "offset" by reductions in personal income taxes. Dion has said he will announce details of his plan by mid-June.There is no greater crisis facing the planet then climate change and we welcome the debate.
Jack Layton and the NDP believes the most effective step in reducing greenhouse gasses is to place a price on carbon by establishing a "cap-and-trade" system, not a carbon tax.
After years of inaction on climate change, it's time to take on the big polluters. The NDP's plan will ensure:
- big polluters start paying their fair share;
- effective and measurable targets to reduce pollution are established; and
- revenues from the big polluters are invested in green solutions.
- Cap-and-trade is the international backbone of pollution reduction.
- A flat consumption tax is regressive because it treats all consumers the same, regardless of their ability to pay.
Top 5 worst things about Dion's carbon tax
- Equity
- Low-income and rural Canadians are likely to be disproportionately impacted. A corresponding cut to income tax would not be a progressive answer to this problem.
- Treats corporations and individuals equally in paying for pollution, when the largest responsibility should be on the shoulders of big polluters.
- Efficacy
- There is very little evidence to illustrate how much carbon taxes reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- No new revenue for green solutions
- The Dion carbon tax claims to be revenue neutral.
- Open to government interference
- No details
- To date, there have been no models designed for Canada and the absence of details from Dion are a concern to many working Canadians
Top 5 best features of NDP plan:
- Targets the big polluters
- They are the ones with the power to drive the changes we need towards energy efficiency and cleaner energy.
- Provides greater certainty of results in lowering emissions because the cap is fixed.
- Is a proven method that has already shown real results in reducing greenhouse gas emissions both domestically (used by
Canadaand the to combat acid rain) and internationally (European Union). U.S.
- As a market-based system, it cannot be influenced by the Harper agenda.
- The UN Kyoto Protocol
- John McCain, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama
- Green Budget Coalition
- European Union
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change