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When installing any new hardware, choosing the best way to connect digital signage is vital. Screens are often in disparate places and the connection that you choose will affect how it will perform. So that you set yours up right first time here's a run down of the options available.
Professional digital signage media players rely on HDMI to connect to a large format display. This has several distinct advantages – foremost the delivery of 1080p and 4K content. Bear in mind that according to HDMI 1.4 specifications, in order for an HDMI cable to be considered 'high-speed', it must be able to pass 3,840 x 2,160 pixels at up to 30 frames per second, and 4,096 x 2,160 at 24 frames per second. What this means is that even the cheapest high-speed HDMI cable can pass the maximum resolution possible with the current generation of Ultra HD 4K displays – so don't waste cash on expensive cabling.
DisplayPort supports audio and means that businesses can use laptops and PCs to feed large format displays. Higher refresh rates and resolutions than standard DVI mean it delivers better content quality, as well as 4k at 60mhz. Because it's a single lead running from the back of a PC, it's possible to get multi-screen cables that offer up to four outputs from a single input. For a series of digital screens this is a good, inexpensive and high quality option.
Find out ASUS can help you with your digital signage needs
Mini-PCs and Micro PCs are a becoming a firm favourite for deploying single screen large format displays and digital single installations. Units such as the ASUS Chromebit are cheap, easy to maintain, and require no external routing of wiring. They do require a strong WI-FI signal, however, in order to feed an control content. The disadvantages of this method are obvious – if the area into which you're broadcasting has a weak or intermittent WI-FI signal then you'll need to boost it or look a alternative options.
USB cables won't transfer audio and video from a PC or media player. But you can broadcast digital signage content using a USB stick, so long as your display has an on-board media player. This can be a good solution for businesses that require a single large format display, running independently in a specific area. For example, business receptions and hotel foyers can run signage content on a loop, without requiring cabling to and from the display.
MHL is a relatively unknown and undervalued connection technology, but its potential for digital signage is huge. In essence, it connects a phone or tablet device directly to a large format display. One end of an MHL cable will plug into the micro USB port on your phone or tablet, while the other will plug into an HDMI port on a large format display and your phone's screen will then be mirrored on the external screen. This is a great option for small businesses where costs and complications can be kept low. If you're planning on running a network of displays, however, it isn't a feasible choice.
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The National League Division 2 West Fixtures for 2018/19 have now been released.
Tumble RFC will kick off the new campaign with an away fixture at Tycroes RFC on Saturday, 1st September.
In Round Two the Magpies welcome local rivals Pontyberem RFC to Parc y Mynydd Mawr for a Cwm Gwendraeth derby before travelling to Loughor RFC in Round Three.
The Magpies are scheduled to complete the season away to Penclawdd RFC on 30th March 2019.
A full list of fixtures can be found at the following link: http://www.wru.wales/downloads/2_West(2).pdf
Ymlaen Y Piod
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subset: commoncrawl


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I bought my dress (its a Davids Bridal dress) and I swear to you, since that day, I have seen it in every commercial of theirs, every ad and even at two bridal shows I've attended. My co-worker showed me pics from her cousin's wedding (recently married) and she said to me, "isn't this your dress?".
I've just had to let it go. There is always that slight chance that someone else will wear the dress, but they are not you and your wedding will still be unique and special, regardless of how many people have worn that dress. I had a little dress regret initially because of this, but Im over it now.


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Madeleine Baranger, 2008/
Ms. Baranger is considered one of the most important figures in psychoanalysis in both Argentina and Uruguay. She has a reputation as an expert, not only in psychoanalysis from the scientific perspective, but also in the field of analytic training. Based on her rich clinical experience with her patients, Ms. Baranger continues to revisit and develop her scientific contributions to psychoanalysis, in particular the Theory of the Analytic Field, which she started to develop with her husband, Willy Baranger (a recipient of a Sigourney Award in 1993). This theory is a seminal psychoanalytic contribution.


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Sephira's first Halloween participating in pumpkin carvings and trick or treating! Well...we actually did the gutting of the pumpkin since she had absolutely no interest in sticking her fingers in the "goo".
For Halloween night she dressed up as a dinosaur. We originally had not planned to take her trick or treating, but she was too interested in all that was going on outside so we met up with a neighbor who also has a one year old, and a three year old, and went around two blocks with them. Sephira was fascinated with knocking on the door and receiving candy. She will show the "knocking" sign anytime she hears the sound now, and for three days she drug her stash of goodies around the house, inventorying every piece.
Our little dinosaur! Roar!


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If you've listed your Bainbridge Island home for sale this summer, no matter what your future plans may be, they won't get under way until Job One is accomplished: turning your front yard 'Home For Sale' sign into one that reads 'Sold!' That's why the last thing you need is to inadvertently hinder the sale yourself. There are a few traps that sellers can easily avoid, so if you plan to list your home for sale in town this summer, it's important to be aware of two of the most common ones:
Hanging Around
Real estate is at least partially an emotional affair. When the seller is right there hovering during a showing, his house remains just that – his. You want your potential buyers to linger — spend time imagining themselves in the place — rather than feeling like they are intruding on someone else's turf. So relax; let your agent point to the special features you think should be highlighted. You'll be free to take an hour or two for errands in town.
Limiting Showings
It only takes that one prospect to fall in love with your home and make a successful sale. But if that one party isn't able to see your property, everyone misses out. The key is for your place to be available during the time when they are free to be out searching the area's homes for sale — and that may be Tuesday morning or Saturday afternoon. The more serious you are about selling, the less stringent your requirements for advance notice should be.
Of course, your agent will always agree to a reasonable set of hours. For instance, any time Monday through Friday from 9am to 3pm with an hour's notice; weekends between 10am - 5pm with two hours' notice. The fact is, truly determined sellers very rarely require 24 or 48 hours' notice. Those can be effective deal-squelchers!
Selling homes on Bainbridge Island — working with you to attract top dollar for your property — is what I'm good at. Call anytime to discuss how we can work together to get that 'Sold!' sign planted in your front yard!


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I am a busy bee today--doing homework, cleaning the apartment, finishing my Halloween costume--but I just wanted to leave you with a quick little post. I came across Heather Palmer's Etsy store today. It's full of beautifully organic glass bowls in bright colors. All are handmade and completely unique. These pieces are truly show-stoppers and would look great as a centerpiece on a dining or coffee table. My favorite happens to be this small red "nest" which is listed as $60. I think it would make a great gift (hint hint, family) for any occasion, but with December fast approaching it would be perfect for a special Christmas/Hanukkah/Winter Solstice/Festivus present.
This summer I took a trip out to the Brooklyn Flea Market and happened to meet the lovely lady behind Moontree Press. Now Martha Stewart has featured Moontree on her blog and the Moontree etsy store seems to be flourishing! Hooray! My recent favorite is the letterpress ornaments on offer for a mere $10. Wouldn't these be a fabulous gift tag for the holidays, where you could write a loving personal message which could then be hung on the tree? Or, since they are printed in fun patterns and in a gorgeous gray, it could be hung up for any holiday!
0 comments Labels: brooklyn , holiday , letterpress , NYC , papergoods
While I have known about the super-awesome wedding website "Utterly Engaged" for a while, I just discovered their beautiful e-magazine. It's awesome! I love the photo styling and the ideas. These bouquets made me positively drool. Whether or not you have a wedding (or even a party) on the horizon, check out the site here and the e-mag here.
0 comments Labels: flowers , inspiration , magazines , photography , websites , wedding
I love Improv Everywhere! A hilarious group that organizes fun public events--surprise wedding receptions for people getting married at city hall, no pants rides on the subway, invisible dog walking parties--they always manage to come up with something funny and surprising to make people's day. Their latest endeavor was the grocery store musical: six people, including store clerks, randomly break into song about "squishing fruit together" in a store in Queens. Love it! Turns out they are all professional Broadway actors and the song is hilarious.
Check out more at their fabulous, and informative, website here. (I highly recommend you join their mailing list here).
0 comments Labels: fun , improv everywhere , music , NYC
Brooke, the mastermind behind the fabulous blog inchmark, always has the best ideas! My most recent favorite is this candygram she featured--a tasty and friendly birthday "card". How much would your eyes light up if you got this little beauty in the mail? Just another something to smile about on a Monday . . .
0 comments Labels: blogs , bright colors , delicious , inchmark , inspiration , packaging
I really need an extra day for this weekend. Do you agree? It seems like there just isn't enough time to get everything done . . . .
So, to help face the day, I am posting one of my favorite "pick me up" YouTube videos. What's better than a bunch of silly boys dancing about to a cute song at the beach? Guaranteed smiles!
p.s. I love their beach toys! That raft is a-mazing!
(Original YouTube posting here.)
0 comments Labels: fun , smile , youtube
Yesterday I read Flavorwire's great interview of graphic book cover designer Rodrigo Corral. I am sure you have seen his stuff on show-stopping covers like Junot Diaz' Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao and James Frey's Million Little Pieces. Incredible.
I felt I had to share some of his other great designs, as featured on the fabulous website The Book Cover Archive. Check out Rodrigo's page here and the Archive's super cool blog here.
0 comments Labels: blogs , books , bright colors , graphic design , inspiration , websites
As an avid reader of the wonderful Oh Joy! Blog and a big fan of the Oh Joy! paper products, I was very happy to hear that Oh Joy! is teaming up with Chronicle Books to produce an office collection! Love it!
The best part of the story is the adorable launch party complete with, GASP, a photobooth! The resulting shots are awesome and making me want to have a launch party just to have one!
0 comments Labels: blogs , inspiration , papergoods , parties , photobooth
Despite the fact that my closet overflows with packing tubes and folders of prints I have bought over the years, I am pretty tempted but these three lovelies. Wouldn't they look fabulous in simple black frames all in a row? Yum!
From top to bottom:
Meal Without Wine, Keep Calm Gallery, $29.51
The holidays are fast approaching . . . these could be a great gift!
1 comments Labels: art , bright colors , cheap , graphic design , print , typography , wishlist
It often seems hard to find a unique, romantic present . . . not anymore! The madebyjulene shop on Etsy features some delightful typographic paper-cuts featuring amorous phrases and reasonable prices. Even better? For a bit more, Julene will customize the paper-cut with a phrase of your choosing! Check out Julene's shop here and her website here (for personalized orders and more information).
0 comments Labels: etsy , gifts , love , paper , typography
There are some truly gorgeous products on offer over at the great online shop "Bird". But my favorites by far are the simple, elegant gold rings in offer. While pretty pricey, I can't help but stare dreamily at that smokey quartz and gold number---beautiful. Check out the jewelry goodness here and some other great stuff here.
P.S. Have a good weekend!
0 comments Labels: expensive , jewelry , wishlist
I have to run all over town today so I thought I would leave you with a quick drool-worthy wishlist item and be on my way. As usual 20x200 has some beautiful work on offer, particularly by Joseph O. Holmes (I twittered about his taxi cab shot which I absolutely LOVE). In this shot, I really like the way this fashionista becomes a beacon in yellow amidst the dark asphalt and how the high rise windows twinkle as the sun sets. Available in 8" x 10", 11" x 14", 16" x 20", and 24" x 30" there is surely a size to fit your budget. Check them out here and check out more prints on offer here.
0 comments Labels: 20x200 , art , inspiration , NYC , photography , wishlist
There have been some really great do-it-yourself projects over at the lovely blog How About Orange. I particularly love the idea of using recycled magazines and newspapers (duh, I did it a lot here) to make fun new things. Check out the cool business card holder project here and sweet handmade bow project here.
Now go forth and create!
0 comments Labels: blogs , DIY , recycled , the obsessive imagist
I just discovered an incredible Etsy shop featuring beautiful unique designs for lovely, hand-printed, 100% linen textiles: elisabethbentz! Everything in the store is handmade and reasonably priced. Wouldn't they make a great house-warming or holiday gift? Check out the goodness here.
There is some truly exquisite hand-drawn and uniquely designed calligraphy over at neither snow. I absolutely love the fact that they offer reasonable prices and even will set you up with vintage stamps to perfectly suit your style. Amazing! How great would it be to have neither snow do all your wedding invites? Drool . . .
Check out the absolute loveliness here.
(Thanks to Oh Joy! for the great heads up. Check her post out here.)
0 comments Labels: handmade , papergoods , typography , vintage , wedding , wishlist
Last week I went up on my rooftop with the BF since the fog + sunset was creating this beautiful atmospheric glow all along the horizon. I ended up snapping about 50 of these cityscape "abstractions". Having just spent 7 months organizing the Georgia O'Keeffe: Abstraction show at the Whitney, I was very happy to have an opportunity to try out some abstractions of my own!
See my Flickr "Abstractions" set here.
0 comments Labels: abstract , bright colors , museums , my portfolio , NYC , photography


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Doomsday predictions suggest that the world will end due to a religious rapture, the collision of Earth with an interstellar object, solar flares that incinerate the planet, floods, the realignment of the Earth's magnetic poles, poisonous cyanogen gas from the tail of Halley's Comet and black holes engulfing the planet. One of the more recent doomsday predictions, Y2K, caused the U.S. government to spend $108.8 billion in preventative measures.
Another popular doomsday prediction stated that the end of the world would be brought about when a rogue planet called Nibiru collided with the Earth. The date of impact would be December 21, 2012, which coincided with the end of one of the great cycles of the Maya calendar.
In 1954, Dorothy Martin said that she had been receiving messages from aliens from the planet Clarion. Martin announced that the messages bespoke of a world-ending flood that would bring about the end of civilization and that the only way to avoid the end of the world was to be saved by the aliens and their spaceships.
In 1910, members of Chicago's Yerkes Observatory warned the public that the tail of Halley's Comet was made of poisonous gas and when it passed by Earth on May 18, untold numbers of people would be killed.


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The easiest way to print 3x5 index cards is to purchase sheets of heavy paper that are perforated in 3x5 blocks. Another option is to print the information on large labels, then stick the labels on individual index cards.
Most printers cannot print directly onto individual 3x5 index cards. The cards are too small to be pulled through the printer, and oftentimes the font in the document itself cannot be easily formatted to print on a single card. There are ways to work around the issue.
One of the easiest ways to print 3x5 index cards is for the consumer to purchase printer-sized sheets of perforated index cards. Then all he or she has to do is find a template that allows formatting of the document or information into blocks of text that fit on the 3x5 space. Normally the package of paper has information as to what template should be used. A good rule of thumb is to print a test page on a plain sheet of copy paper to ensure the document is formatted correctly.
Another way to get information onto 3x5 index cards is to use a sheet of labels. The most appropriate label size for index cards is 2" x 4". Once the information has been printed onto the labels, the user simply has to apply the label to an index card.


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If you are in such category where you have to turn your phone upside down before you use BBM, there is a
solution for you. Just follow the below simple steps to get it done:
- Visit Google play store and download this software called Set Orientation.
- Run and install it.
- Then click on Set Orientation and your BBM will be normal.
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Check the victim for unresponsiveness. If the person is not responsive and not breathing or not breathing normally. Call 911 and return to the victim. In most locations, the emergency dispatcher can assist you with CPR instructions.
.If the victim is still not breathing normally, coughing or moving, begin chest compressions. Push down
in the center of the chest 2 inches 30 times. Pump hard and fast at the
rate of at least 100/minute, faster than once per secon
Tilt the head back and lift the chin. Pinch nose and cover the mouth with yours and blow until you see the chest rise. Give 2 breaths. Each breath should take 1 second.
CONTINUE WITH 30 PUMPS AND 2 BREATHS UNTIL HELP ARRIVES NOTE: This ratio is the same for one-person & two-person CPR. In two-person CPR the person pumping the chest stops while the other gives mouth-to-mouth breathing.
What complications can occur?
What about checking for a pulse?
Proud partner of the Lance Armstrong Foundation
Performing CPR properly can mean the difference between life and death. CPR, which stands for
cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is an emergency procedure done when someone's breathing or
heartbeat has stopped. CPR techniques vary depending on the age or size of the patient.
Those who are certified or trained in CPR are ideally the ones who should perform the
procedure, notes MedlinePlus. People should not rely on reading information online or in
books as adequate training to administer CPR.
Survey the area. Although it is best to begin CPR as quickly as possible, the person who is about
to perform CPR needs to ensure that he will be safe while performing the procedure. This may
include looking for traffic, fires or other potential dangers.
Determine if CPR is necessary. Ask loudly if the person who looks to be in trouble is OK or gently
shake the person to check responsiveness. Listen, look and feel for breathing. CPR is necessary
only when a person is not breathing or circulating blood adequately, explains KidsH
Call 911. If two people are present, one can begin CPR immediately while the other
calls 911 for help. If only one person is present, however, that person should call
911 before beginning CPR if he has immediate access to a telephone or administer
CPR for approximately 1 to 2 minutes and then call 911.
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Position the unresponsive person appropriately. Place the person on her back on
a firm surface, such as the ground. Open her airway by lifting her chin and tilting
her head upward.
Begin rescue breathing. Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation in adults requires pinching
the nostrils and giving two breaths into the mouth, while mouth-to-nose rescue
breathing in adults requires breaths delivered through the nostrils. Mouth-to-nose
rescue breathing is useful when the mouth is injured or cannot be opened. If the
victim is an infant, rescue breathing can also be administered through the mouth
and nostrils simultaneously if the CPR performer's mouth is large enough to cover
both. Give one rescue breath and watch to see if the victim's chest rises. If it does,
give a second rescue breath. If the victim's chest doesn't rise, reposition the head
or check to see if something is blocking the air passage and try again. Only trained
professionals should attempt rescue breathing. Those uncomfortable with their
skills in this area may consider performing only chest compressions until emergency
help arrives, suggests the Mayo Clinic.
Begin chest compressions. This should be done only when the person is
unconscious and does not have normal breathing, coughing or movement,
explains MedlinePlus. For adult patients, the person performing the CPR
should place the heel of her dominant hand between and slightly below the
victim's nipples, and place the other hand on top of that hand. Position shoulders
directly above the hands and keep arms straight. Use body weight to push the
chest down about 2 inches, and continue pushing at a rate of 100 compressions
a minute. For child patients, use a similar process but use one hand to compress
the chest about 1/3 to 1/2 of the depth of the chest. For infants, two fingers should
be used in lieu of hands and the infant's chest should be pushed approximately
1/3 to 1/2 the depth of the chest, according to the University of Maryland Medical
Step 7
Return to rescue breathing after approximately 30 compressions. Give two more
rescue breaths, then return to perform 30 additional chest compressions.
Repeat as needed.
Administer a shock to adult or child patients using an automatic external
defibrillator if possible. Those not trained to use a defibrillator may receive
instructions and guidance from a 911 operator. After administering one shock,
resume chest compressions for 2 minutes before administering a second shock.
Automatic external defibrillators should not be used on children younger than
1, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Continue the CPR process until emergency medical personnel arrives or until
the victim regains consciousness or movement.
Provide information to the appropriate health care professionals. Explain how the
victim was found and how long the CPR was performed, as well as any other
information that may be relevant to treatment.
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Posts Tagged 'Kid Friendly'
#Recipe: Fool Proof Zucchini Bread
read the rest of this entry »
Easy Halloween Classroom Treat Ideas For Teachers
I decided to put together a list of things that would be fun, and seem fairly easy, for teachers to make with their students. If you have any that you would like to add, please leave a comment below with your link. Remember, we are looking for simple, kid friendly ideas. read the rest of this entry »
#Recipe Scrumptious and Easy Mashed Potato Pancakes
I am a little late getting this Potato Pancake recipe post up. When I posted my photo to Instagram, it should have gone up the next day. Sadly, I became sick and did not do much else other than sleep. I apologize for making you wait but trust me, it was worth it!
Leftovers are not usually a thing in our home. I already seem to cook for an army of boys and they don't leave anything behind. I always seem to make way more mashed potatoes than I need, for 6 people. While I am not a big fan of regular pancakes, I love potato pancakes but, I have never tried to make them before. Wait, probably because there are never any left over. Well, I lucked out. The boys graciously left me a ton so, my attempt at it was born.
I am so glad that I decided to go ahead and do these. They are absolutely delicious. The chives are an amazing flavor in these. If you love baked potatoes, you will love these Potato Pancakes. It is a quick and easy breakfast to throw together. I don't recommend making these in advance. They are best served fresh and slightly crispy. If left in the fridge over night, they lose the crisp. If you don't mind that, by all means, cook ahead!
The kids can definitely get involved making these too. Royal loves to flip the breakfast. Whether it's pancakes or french toast, he always gets in there and wants to do it. Hopefully he will grow up to have the same love for cooking, and baking, as I do.
If you have an questions, or requests, please feel free to leave a comment below. Also, if you give them a try, please come back and tell me what you think. read the rest of this entry »
Super Simple & Quick Kid Friendly Snacks
Being a mom of these crazy boys, I am always looking for fast, simple and cheap lunch recipes. Snacks are a big deal for us. I also like to find a way to use up any left overs from the night before. I am usually pretty good at coming up with new things for dinner but, sometimes I just run out of ideas, or don't have a lot of time.
Here are a few ideas for you.
Tortilla Roll Ups – Spread cream cheese and a couple slices of deli meat onto a flour tortilla… roll it up and eat! I like mine with honey ham. You can eat it burrito style or slice it up into pinwheels.
Vanilla Fruit Salad – Very easy! Fill a salad bowl with large squares of fresh fruit. Whatever kind you like or what is on sale! Pour a carton of Vanilla Yogurt (it has to be vanilla flavored!) over the fruit for a sauce. That's it!
Traditional Pudding Pops – Prepare a box of instant pudding just like it says on the box. Pour it into popcycle molds and pop it in the freezer. We like Chocolate best but, there are so many kinds of pudding available so, have fun with it! The cheesecake was delicious also!


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Ahhh… I thoroughly love these pants from Gap. They fit perfectly, and boy are they comfy. I just feel like I could wear these everyday of my life. I need them in every color. I am NOT joking, guys. They should call these the perfect khakis. Hold on…..nope, they are called the "broken-in straight khakis", which unfortunately, aren't as fancily named. (sigh) This week's batch of posts all have a piece of green clothing! Honestly, I didn't plan it. It just happened. I think green is fast becoming my favorite color. Green is also the color of money… so maybe my sudden affinity for this color means I will get more "green" in my pockets. WHAT?! Cha-Ching! By the way, you've seen this peplum top before. It's no big deal, but I love the way it makes my waist look smaller.
Here's to high hopes, slim waists, and fat pockets.
PS: If you aren't following me… you're missing out! Don't worry, we can fix that. @nchanel on Twitter and Instagram


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Does the Exposed Skin Care range really work?
If you suffer from blemishes, blocked pores or acne, you are always in the market for a skincare product or an acne treatment that promises to give you healthy and clear skin.
This is the promise given by the Exposed Skin Care range pf products – that you will have clear skin in 30 days – guaranteed!
Exposed Skin Care state that 98% of people who use their range of acne treatment skincare products have clearer skin and 96% say that their skin tone is also improved. These are fabulous results, which must be true, given that they offer a 1 year money back guarantee if you are not happy with your results.
So let's take a look at why the Exposed Skin Care products are so good, what products they actually sell, the ingredients and any deals that they offer you.
Check out the Exposed Skin Care Webiste
Why are the Exposed Skin Care products so good?
First of all, the team at Exposed Skin Care state that their range is better than other acne treatment systems, because of the ingredients in their products.
This is fair enough, so let's look at their main ingredients and the effects they can have on your skin.
- Benzoyl Peroxide: This antibacterial ingredient is well known for treating mild to moderate acne, as it kills the bacteria on your skin (and in your pores) that can cause acne.
- Salicyclic Acid: An alpha hydroxy acid that exfoliates inside your pores, rather than on the surface of your skin. Salicylic acid works by loosening the debris that has gotten into your pores, clearing this debris away and allowing your natural sebum to freely bathe your pores once again. So it is perfect for unclogging your pores.
- Glycolic Acid: Another alpha hydroxy acid, glycolic acid works by exfoliating the surface of your skin, removing the layer of dead skin cells, debris and dirt that can make your skin look dull and tired and lead to blocked pores and acne.
- Tea Tree Oil: Originating from the paperbark tree in Australia, tea tree oil has been used by Indigenous Australians for many years as a medicinal oil. It is a very reliable antiseptic and has been used to treat cuts and abrasions, psoriasis, acne, dandruff and skin infections. It has antibacterial, anti-fungal and antiviral properties and is thought to boost your immune system.
- Azelaic Acid: Naturally present in your skin, azelaic acid is well known for treating rosacea, flaky skin, acne and hyper-pigmentation. Azelaic acid has antibacterial properties, helping to reduce the growth of bacteria in pores and hair follicles, reduces inflammation and also exfoliates your skin, removing dead skin cells and other debris.
It is also useful for treating age spots,freckles and melasma, evening out your skin tone, because it interferes with the production of melanin. The combination of glycolic acid and azelaic acid has a two pronged effect on your skin – decreasing the amount of melanin and exfoliating the discolored skin cells. This is why these ingredients are ideal for evening out your skin tone and reducing hyper-pigmentation problems.
The Exposed Skin Care range of products works in three ways to help give you clear skin forever.
First, their products remove oil and impurities from the surface of your skin using gentle facial cleansers.
Second, they unclog your pores and clear out all of the debris. Third, they enter your pores and kill the bacteria that can cause acne.
So the Exposed Skin Care range of products is designed to both treat and prevent acne from ever recurring again. As well as the ingredients mentioned above, you will also come across green tea, which is chocked full of antioxidants, passion flower, which soothes your skin and reduces redness, and licorice root, which reduces inflammation and improves your skin tone.
Let's look at some of the Exposed Skin Care range
If you haven't already investigated the Exposed Skin Care range of acne treatment products, let's pick out a few that might be suitable for your skin.
Acne Treatment Serum: This serum contains 3.5% benzoyl peroxide, green tree extract and tea tree oil. It helps to prevent new acne and whiteheads from forming by killing the acne bacteria, healing your skin and promoting new cellular growth.
Clear Pore Serum: With Salicylic acid that penetrates your pores, green tea and licorice root, your blocked pores are cleared, your skin is healed and any redness or inflammation is minimized. Your skin is re-balanced and the antioxidants help to repair the damage to your skin.
Microderm Scrub: With corumdum crystals to remove dead skin cells, green tea extract to heal and protect your skin and passion flower to reduce inflammation and redness, this is an ideal scrub to keep your skin looking healthy and clear.
Moisture Complex: This oil free gel locks in moisture and re-balances your skin. It contains pumpkin seeds to calm your irritated skin, green tea extract (full of antioxidants) and caffeine to reduce redness, giving you clear and healthy skin.
Facial Cleanser: This rich and gentle cleanser is soap free, non-comedogenic (doesn't block your pores) and hypoallergenic. It contains salicylic acid, pro-vitamin B5 (that regulates the production of oil in your skin) and sage extract to detoxify your skin. This cleanser removes the oil and dirt from your skin and pores, kills acne forming bacteria and does not contain any harsh, toxic chemicals.
Exposed Skin Care Deals and Offers
The Exposed Skin Care range offers you a number of different offers, helping you to save money and achieve clear skin at the same time.
Get Clear Skin and $25 OFF
If you have tried the Proactiv acne treatments and have found that they were not suitable or any other skincare product to treat acne, if you send the empty bottles to Exposed Skin Care, they will give you a $25 credit on your account.
All you need to do is to order an Exposed Sin Care Kit, send in your empty bottles and you will receive the $25 credit.
Exposed Skin Care for FREE for 1 year
This is a fabulous offer and all you need to do is to send your before and after photos to Exposed Skin Care. If they decide to sue your photos in their promotions, you will receive 1 year of their products for free.
This is a great offer for simply using their acne treatment products, resulting in clear and healthy skin AND free products!
Purchase an Exposed Kit and save up to 53%
If you buy an acne treatment kit, you will save yourself a lot of money compared to purchasing one or two products individually. There are 3 different kits: Basic, Expanded and Ultimate, all containing full size products.
Basic Kit: In this kit you receive a facial cleanser, clearing tonic, acne treatment serum, clear pore serum and a derm-x facial cloth for skin renewing exfoliation. This kit currently costs $49.95, which is a 40% saving on the $85 it costs to buy each of these items separately.
Expanded Kit: This kit contains everything in the Basic Kit, as well as the moisture complex. This kit costs $59.95, a 50% saving on the $120 to buy each product individually.
Ultimate Kit: Here you have everything in the Expanded Kit, as well as the microderm scrub, clarifying mask and their probiotic complex. This kit comes in at $94.95, saving you 53% on the original $204.
They even have a travel kit that contains the facial cleanser, clearing tonic, acne treatment serum and clear pore serum for a tiny $29.95, which lasts you for 30 days.
If you suffer from acne or skin blemishes, there is no time like the present to fix your skin. Check out the Exposed Skin Care acne treatment range of products and look forward to healthy, clear skin in 30 days – or your money back from Exposed.
Check out the Exposed Skin Care Webiste
Check out my Top 10 Hyaluronic Acid Serums for maximum hydration of your skin.


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Log house plans can be used to live in all year long, or for a great vacation spot. At The Plan Collection, we have a variety of both small vacation lodges, and large log homes that you've always dreamed of.
Plan #153-1532 is a beautiful example of something right in between. With three bedrooms, each with plenty of closet space, and two full bathrooms, this plan is fully capable of year long residency. However, with a small footprint facilitated by open design and few cumbersome extras, this set of log home plans is inexpensive enough to be a perfect get-a-way in your favorite resort town.
This is one of my favorite log house plans for several reasons. One of the best features about this set of plans is the wrap around front porch. With a section left uncovered, you can choose to stay in the shade or relax in the sun. The large full masonry fireplace is a great architectural statement and a beautiful anchor to the home.
Another great feature is the open great room area, with adjoining kitchen and dining room. This space is perfect for sharing light throughout the house and creating a bright locale for entertainment. Though the main rooms are open to each other, the designer has done an excellent job in giving privacy to each bedroom.
Perhaps my favorite feature of all is the master suite loft. The upper floor houses the master suite with walk in closet and private bathroom. There is also an open loft that can serve as an extension of the master suite or can allow others to enjoy the elevated space.
To see this and other great Log Home Plans, Log Cabins, and beautiful Vacation Homes, check out our different home plan styles and their respective libraries. Need more information? Call or email us about your questions and we'll be happy to help.
Dutch Colonial Homes: Practical, Beautiful, Rich in History
Four-Bedroom House Plans: The Once and Future Home
Split Bedroom Layout? 6 Reasons Why You Should Consider It for Your New Home
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Can We Talk About the Silicon Valley?
Finding a tech job in the Silicon Valley isn't for the faint of heart. But if you are Latino, the odds are not in your favor. When the nation's biggest technology companies began releasing their diversity numbers, Latinos remained one of the most underrepresented groups, making up only three percent of all employees.
That's why Laura Gomez, whose company uses algorithms to create inclusive hiring practices, is speaking out.
By relying less on college names or last names, and more on relevant skills and technical expertise, her company, Atipica, offers a way to bring diversity to the tech world. "It's more about recognizing patterns and behavior, whether they're implicit", she explains.
Born in Guanajuato, Mexico, Laura entered the U.S. at age ten along with her parents, who were were undocumented at the time. Her family settled in Redwood City, California, where she excelled in the classroom. But after school ended some days, Laura drove with her mother to Marine County—one of the wealthiest zip codes in the U.S. Together, they mounted winding staircases inside three and five million-dollar-homes, where they spent evenings wiping marble counter tops and scrubbing toilets. It was an unpleasant reality that her classmates never knew. "It's not easy to watch your mom scrub toilets", she says.
With a strong knack for math, Laura was encouraged by teachers to pursue a career in engineering or computer science. Then, at only seventeen, she accepted a summer internship at Hewlett Packard in the Bay Area. In the same year, she was admitted to U.C. Berkeley, Harvard, and Stanford. She opted for Berkeley, and eventually choose courses in economics and sociology.
After college, Laura found her way into tech coincidentally, eventual landing gigs at YouTube, (before it was acquired by Google) and Twitter. But even after graduating from U.C. Berkeley, and after working at prestigious tech firms, Laura found the job market relatively unfriendly to not only herself, but also to her peers of Latino-Americans who were similarly accomplished, but were often weeded out of hiring pools. It wasn't until a few years ago, when the nation's top tech companies began releasing their diversity numbers, that Laura could confirm her hypothesis. Out of the over 240,000 employees working at leading tech companies like Facebook and Twitter, fewer than 10,000 were Latino.
"People feel uncomfortable talking about race in Silicon Valley because we're in California", she explains. "We're supposed to be so liberal."
Tired of reading the statistics, Laura launched Atipica in early 2015. The company aims to eliminate hiring criteria that disqualify qualified minority applicants, with software that gets recruiters to focus more on the concrete skills that a candidate possesses, and less on his or her last name or gender. With features in the Wall Street Journal, the Huffington Post, and USA Today, the company also secured enough investment capital to secure its foreseeable future.
"I want to see more girls like me in 20 years" she has said. "For me, it's really about giving back and encouraging those who are intimidated by the tech industry to enter."
So while getting hired at Google may not get easier right away, thanks to Laura, Latino applicants can at least give it a shot.


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Cooperation Chicago
Building Chicago's Worker Co-op Ecosystem
Illinois Worker Cooperative Alliance
John Marshall Law School Business Enterprise Law Clinic
This report examines the challenges and opportunities of worker cooperatives in the Chicagoland region. The paper discusses the need for worker cooperative development in Chicago, the current barriers cooperatives face to operating, and potential suggestions for local policy aimed at creating policies which would enable worker cooperatives to thrive.
Go to the GEO front page
Publication Date:
Friday, September 21, 2018
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Movement Pages
Recent Issues
- 4: Sociocracy / Dynamic Governance -NEW!
- 3: Cuban Worker Co-ops
- 2: Building Regional Solidarity Economy Networks
- 1: Expanding the Reach of Food Co-ops
- 18: The Southern Cooperative Movement
- 17: Scaling-Up the Cooperative Movement
- 16: Intentional Communities and Solidarity Economics
- 15: Advancing the Development of Worker Co-ops-ADWC 2013
- 14: The Anniversary Issue
- 13: The Frank Lindenfeld Memorial
- 12: International Year of the Cooperative
- 11: Lessons for Today from "Black Like Me"
- 10: Occupy! Connect! Create!
- 9: Collective Action: Research, Practice and Theory
- 8: Worker Cooperative Development Models
- 7: The Cooperative Advantage
- 6: Inter-cooperation is Key
- 5: Education For Economic Liberation
- 4: Land, Food, Childcare, Laundry, and a Book
- 3: Worker Cooperative Replication
- 2: Strengthening the Movement
- 1: Grassroots Democracy In Action


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Apollo is an aluminium casted stool.
Liquid aluminium is poured in a circular sand imprint. After it reaches the top, extra aluminium is slowly added to form a drop shape. Instead of overflowing, the surface tension hold the metal and creates a natural radius around the plate.
As the mould is open the top cools faster that the heart of the piece. This generates random reliefs over the surface, making each stool a one-off piece.


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The Max Cure Foundation (MCF) Junior Board is a dynamic group of teenage philanthropists and young professionals and who share an interest in becoming emerging leaders and making a difference in the fight against childhood cancer. Working with the Junior Board is a unique opportunity to expand your leadership influence, cultivate new skills, network with new friends and have an impact on the childhood cancer community. While the number of open seats on the actual Junior Board is limited each year, we also have many ways to get involved through our Committees as a member of our Junior Board Council. Please contact us to learn more by emailing email@example.com or calling us at 201-569-5595. If you are ready to get started, just fill out the application form here and one of our team members will be in touch shortly.
The Junior Board strives to promote the mission of MCF through educational, fundraising and service initiatives. Our two largest goals are to raise money to support low-income and military families who have a child with cancer and advance childhood cancer research funding. In addition to fundraising initiatives to support our programs, we also coordinate service projects that allow us to contribute our time to make a difference. Projects could include collecting toys and clothes to bring to children being treated at our partner hospitals, advocating for change to local and national legislations, and educating the community about childhood cancer related issues.
Recruiting for the Junior Board happens each December when we accept applications for new Board Members. As we get to know each candidate's interests and time availability, our goal is to find the best fit for you at this time. We hope that you will share some of your energy, time, and talents with the Junior Board of MCF!
What's in it for you?
Board Requirements
Fill out the application today and make a difference tomorrow!


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09 September, 2015
Festival of Voice Competition
I am thrilled to have won the Audience Price at the Glenarm Festival of Voice Competition 2015. I had the most invaluable experience working with the coaches of the opera stars during the festival and to come home with an award was the cherry on top! Thank you to everyone who came and supported me and congratulations to my fellow finalists for their fantastic performances!!


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Ponthafren Association is a registered charity, catering for people who experience mental health issues, those who may be socially isolated or excluded, or those who may just wish to make new friends or gain new skills. We serve the community in and around the very rural area of North Powys.
The Association offers centres where people can relax, chat and have a chance to participate in a wide range of workshops, activities and courses if they wish. In-house support is available and the association can signpost to other organisations and specialist support services.


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|Sighting Report
|Occurred : 4/14/2008 21:00 (Entered as : 04/14/08 21:00)
Reported: 5/20/2008 9:55:29 AM 09:55
Posted: 6/12/2008
Location: Miami, FL
Shape: Light
Duration:4 minutes
|Bright light traveling northeast to southeast, speeding up, turned red, disappeared for a few moments. . .
Approximately 9:05 p.m. we were observing the sky in the northwest, towards Miami International Airport and had noticed no planes had taken off. A bright white light appeared and moved from the northwest to the southeast. There was a haziness around the white light. It first moved very slowly and very bright. As it moved closer it went farther up. As it continued heading toward the south east, the bright white light began to dim as it went higher up, the glow changed from white to bright red. It then disappeared for and one could not find it, but then, it appeared again, but very dim, barely visible, continuing southeast. The movement was zig zag, there was no noise. No planes were in the vicinity at the time. It is a cloudless, clear night.


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When your love life tends to get boring, there are various types of dating games that you and your girlfriend can play to rekindle the fire in your relationship. In fact, a lot of couples found dating games very therapeutic and effective in enhancing their love life. Playing dating games is not that complicated. You can easily develop or invent one yourself. These games can be very essential in spurring excitement back into your love life. A lot of couples attest to the effectiveness of dating games in stimulating stagnant relationships especially those of estranged partners.
There are no rules in making an effective dating game. As pointed out earlier, you can create your own and maximize it for your relationship's advantage. Here are some unique dating games that can inspire you in making one by yourself.
- Who's Got Balls?
This dating game is very simple. The rules are similar to a basketball game. The goal is to gain the highest core in just a minute. Players can score points by shooting a ball or any material that resembles one on a basket. Well, you really do not need to use a real basketball court to play this game. A pail or an empty canister would perfectly do. The idea is to have fun and not be too technical about it. So what is the catch? The catch is, the winner can do whatever he or she wants with his or her partner. Anything as long as it is good clean fun but well, that is also optional.
- Name that Tune or Strip
Here is an exciting game that will spice up your bland sexual life. The dating game is familiar with that popular TV game show "Name that Tune". However, this version has a twist, and a rather sexy one. The player who fails to name a particular tune gets to strip one article of her clothing. All you will need for this is an iPod player set in random and a bottle of champagne for that extra oomph.
These are only some of the awesome dating games that you can play. For more ideas, check out various resources online.


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Michel Roux is a master craftsman. He is also a poet among patissiers. During the most recent series of Professional Masterchef he was tasting an incredibly baroque rose and raspberry macaroon. Having taken a measured bite, he smiled serenely and said to his fellow-judges: 'There weren't enough roses in his garden today, don't you think?' Not only was this the gentlest of criticism, it also spoke of a zen-like mastery and an aesthetic all in one. A fine palate was talking, one capable of assessing with the utmost accuracy the optimum flavour of a rose macaroon.
Pitch-perfect palate is counterbalanced in Michel Roux by delicacy of touch. Watch Roux make pastry on his eighties cookery show and you'll see his fingers mix flour, butter and egg with the same lightness a pianist would require to play one of the dreamier preludes by Chopin. Watching this clip on youtube after seeing the Masterchef episode mentioned above was all the encouragement I needed to buy Roux's Pastry without delay. Using the recipes in his book won't necessarily make you into a master patissier, but they will certainly extend your patisserie skills. And learning, of course tasting, your way through the different types of pastry– sablée, foncée, brisée, sucrée and so on–is a delight that needs no justification.


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Dr. Jahn,
I heard a coach say that you can apply an anti-inflammatory ointment such as a hemorrhoid cream right on the outside of your throat at your larynx and this will reduce vocal fold swelling! Can this be true????
Dear Allan,
Although this is incorrect, it is not as bizarre as it sounds – at first.
Hemorrhoid remedies such as Preparation H contain witchhazel, which is an astringent. This means that it reduces inflammation and swollen tissue.
Preparation H has been used by plastic surgeons as a cream to apply over the face to reduce inflammation, and Tucks, which is a moistened towelette used for inflamed hemorrhoids, has been used by some to reduce swelling of the eye lids.
Here is the problem, however. Laryngitis, or swelling of he vocal folds, is an internal problem, at some distance from the surface skin covering the neck.
There is no anatomic way that applying an astringent to the outside of your neck will reduce internal inflammation of the larynx.
Unless there is some indirect effect, such as a reflex or shared innervation, that most of us are not aware of, I would have to disagree with your coach.
Anthony F. Jahn, MD, FACS, FRCS(C)
Dr. Jahn welcomes your questions. You can send these to firstname.lastname@example.com
This discussion is for general information and not to be construed as specific medical advice that you should obtain from your own physician.


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We all want our homes to look and feel the best it can be, that is why we don't hesitate to invest in it and make it better. One of the best home improvement we can do is to install an air conditioning unit at home, which can obviously make our home cooler. Aside from this benefit though, air conditioning unit has a lot still to offer. If you have hesitations and if you are thinking of spending your money on other things, here are the benefits you get when you install an air conditioning unit in your home.
Improves air Quality
Aside from making the air cooler, did you know that air conditioning unit also improves the quality of air? Yes, it does. This is because before air conditioning unit makes the cooler air, it first sucks the air in the room first and filters it. This makes the air cleaner afterward, which can only be true if your air conditioning unit's filter is also cleaned and maintained. This would decrease allergic attacks because allergens and pollutants get filtered out in the air system inside your house.
Fewer Insects and Parasites
After the improved air quality, another benefit that comes from installing an air conditioning unit in your home is that you would have fewer insects and parasites. The cooler air discourages these pests from infesting in your home, and your pets would be happier because they will not get tick and flea as easier as before.
Better Sleep
I know you have experienced tossing and turning on your bed and you can't manage to sleep because the temperature of your room is hot and you can't stop sweating. Sleep is one of the best aspects of life, and better not place good sleep in the hands of the moody temperature outside. Better always have the cool temperature you deserve to have a good night sleep.
Better Security
Another consequential benefit of installing an air conditioning at your home is better security. To solve the hot temperature of your home, you will tend to open your windows and doors to let the fresh air come in. While this is not dangerous in itself, you are opening yourself from potential robbers. You can never be too sure, and you will sure sometimes forget about closing your windows and doors, better remove this risk by installing an air conditioning unit.
Protects your Furniture
Another benefit of having colder air by installing an air conditioning unit is that you are protecting and prolonging the life of your furniture. Moisture is always present in a room that has a hot temperature. And this moisture can get into your furniture over time, which can cause warping and molds.
Here are the benefits of installing an air conditioning unit at your home, which are improved air quality, fewer insects and parasites, better sleep, better security, and it protects your furniture. If you are astonished by these benefits, contact ac installation to have one.


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Hugo Rivas | BURBUJA
60 inches in diameter | oil on canvas
About Hugo Rivas
Born in El Salvador in 1986, Hugo Rivas studied art at the University of El Salvador (2010) and Theology at El Instituto Cuadrangular de El Salvador (2012). Rivas uses his this background to create dream-like portraits, which draw on themes such as nature and imagination. His work has been featured in several solo and group exhibitions, such as MARTE Museum of El Salvador (2010) and Casa Turqesa Art Space in Miami (2012).
In 2013, Rivas was recognized by the National Collection of El Salvador for his participation in the Don Bosco University Art Gallery Collection.
We ship within the United States via Fedex or by specialty fine art crating. Please contact us for a quote.


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Andrew Napolitano: Donald Trump Has to 'Fear the Intelligence Community'
Looking to Trump's situation now with the intelligence community, Napolitano, who is the Fox News senior judicial analyst and a Ron Paul Institute Advisory Board member, states:
Now the president is confronted with this problem, Neil: Will the intelligence community truthfully and accurately tell the president what they know about threats to the United States, or do they not trust the president and will they keep vital information from him? "They" [being] the same people who leaked this stuff about General Flynn.Watch Napolitano's short and powerful interview here:
UPDATE: Napolitano discussed the intelligence community threat to Trump more in a new video commentary. In the commentary, Napolitano declares:
There are obviously elements in the United States government, in the intelligence community, that want to frustrate Donald Trump. They want to frustrate his presidency because he is a threat to their power center, because he knows that they wish them ill and they have caused him harm, and now they are striking back.Napolitano concludes his commentary with this advice for Trump: "There are elements in the government — executive branch of the government that works for you, Mr. President — that you need to get rid of."
Watch Napolitano's video commentary here:
Copyright © 2017 by RonPaul Institute. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is gladly granted, provided full credit and a live link are given.
Please donate to the Ron Paul Institute
Please donate to the Ron Paul Institute


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Here are the photos from a recent photoshoot with Emma and Victor. They live near a fantastic stately home and grounds in Milton Keynes, so we went for a short walk taking in these great views.
The couple are a joy to photograph, with big smiles and loads of personality. I hope that you like looking through them.
As always, please get in touch to discuss your photographic requirements.


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How to Manage Pests
UC Pest Management Guidelines
Mormon Cricket
Scientific Name: Anabrus simplex
(Reviewed 1/17, updated 1/17)
In this Guideline:
Description of the Pest
Mormon crickets are not true crickets but more closely related to katydids and longhorned grasshoppers. They pass the winter as eggs in the soil, preferring barren, sandy soil in sunny locations. Eggs hatch in the first warm days of spring and the crickets pass through seven nymphal stages in about 75 to 100 days. Mature adult female crickets lay eggs throughout the summer, but the eggs don't hatch until the following spring.
Adults are about 1 inch, heavy-bodied, and tan colored. The wings are small and useless; these insects do not fly. The antennae are as long as the body, and the female has a sword-shaped ovipositor also as long as the body. Mormon crickets are active only during the warm, sunny part of the day and seek shelter at night or in cloudy or rainy weather. When they are half grown, they begin migrating from their rangeland breeding grounds. The migrations occur at air temperatures of 65 to 95°F and when winds are less than 25 mile per hour.
They can be a pest of the Low Desert areas.
Mormon crickets become pests very sporadically (about once or twice in a decade) when numbers build to high levels and they migrate over large areas. If an alfalfa field is in the path of a migration, Mormon crickets can cause severe damage by devouring the plants.
Management of Mormon crickets centers on preventing invasions of fields with barriers or insecticide baits.
Cultural Control
Because these insects cannot fly, linear barriers of 10-inch strips of 28- to 30-gauge galvanized iron, held on edge with stakes driven into the ground may stop swarms. Soil pits or water traps may be made at intervals to catch crickets halted by the barrier.
Organically Acceptable Methods
Cultural controls are acceptable for use on an organically certified crop.
Monitoring and Treatment Decisions
Treatments on the border of the field may be effective at limiting invasion of migrating populations of this pest; baits work well for this purpose. Check with your county agricultural commissioner regarding the current registration of baits to control Mormon crickets in alfalfa fields.
UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines:
Insects and Mites
L. D. Godfrey, Entomology, UC Davis
Acknowledgment for contributions to Insects and Mites:D. R. Haviland, UC Cooperative Extension, Kern County
M. Rethwisch, UC Cooperative Extension, Riverside County (Blythe)
C. G. Summers, Entomology, Kearney Agricultural Center


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WEDNESDAY SCHOOL: No Wednesday School this week (11/22); Advent wreath making next Wednesday (11/29) – please RSVP at corpuschristicsp.org
THANKSGIVING: Fr West will celebrate Mass for Thanksgiving Day at 10.00am (there is no 8.00am Mass that day).
ADVENT WREATH MAKING: Wednesday, 11/29, 5.30pm. Wednesday School will feature Advent Wreath making for the whole family. Supper & all wreath supplies are provided. Please RSVP so that we may be sure to have adequate supplies!
AN ADVENT FESTIVAL OF LESSONS & CAROLS: 10 December, 5.30pm Prepare ye the way of the Lord! Join us for a prayerful service of carols, hymns, and Biblical prophecies to prepare our hearts in the midst of this busy season to welcome our Lord, who came among us once in great humility and will come again in his glorious majesty.
KEEP IN TOUCH! Sign up for our weekly newsletter!
MASS PROPERS for TRINITY XXIII
Collect of the Day O God our refuge and strength, who art the author of all godliness: be ready, we beseech thee, to hear the devout prayers of thy Church; and grant that those things which we ask faithfully we may obtain effectually; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. R/ Amen.
Lesson Proverbs 31.10-13, 19-20, 30-31 Who can find a good wife? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. She opens her hand to the poor, and reaches out her hands to the needy. Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.
Epistle 1 Thessalonians 5.1-6 As to the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When people say, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as labour pains come upon a woman with child, and there will be no escape. But you are not in darkness, brethren, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all sons of light and sons of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.
Gospel Matthew 25.14-30 At that time: Jesus told his disciples this parable: "A man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he made five talents more. So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. "Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.' "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.' "And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.' "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.' "He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' "But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'"


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"The Fully Appointed"
#820 Westin | Whistler Village
REDUCED: $549,500 | Original Price: $599,000
2 Bed | 2 Bath | 908 SqFt
Marketed Exclusively by Dean Linnell | 604-935-9313
Why We Love It
1. Prime Location: Located in the heart of Whistler Village, you are steps away from all the shops, restaurants & both Whistler and Blackcomb gondolas!
2. Fully Appointed: This 2 bedroom/ 2 bathroom comes fully appointed with everything from a balcony overlooking the courtyard to a gas fireplace, soaker tub and a granite counter top kitchen.
3. Quiet Side: Situated at the end of the 8th floor you are away from all of the noise, allowing you to sit comfortably on the balcony without overhearing noise from the Village Stroll.
View The Floorplan
View The Video Tour
View all 11 images below
(Full screen images. Grab a tablet or laptop.)
Information is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed.


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When "Justified" premiered on FX, a lot of viewers were just excited to see Walton Goggins back on TV after "The Shield." "Justified" quickly earned its own audience and Goggins made guest appearances as the show found its legs. "Justified" returns for season two on Feb. 9 and Boyd Crowder is back full time. I caught up with Goggins at the Fox party for the Television Critics Association in January for the scoop.
Q: Are you back as a featured character this year or the same number of appearances as last year?
WG: No, no, I'm back. It's my show now with Tim. Yeah, it's both of us. I'm signed on for good. It's good.
Q: So how does that change the role and the commitment for you?
WG: Well, the commitment will be I can't do another movie simultaneously. They kind of bought me, I'm there. I think it's going to allow for the relationship between Raylan and Boyd to really take off and become more nuanced and complicated.
Q: Movies aside though, is that what you wanted all along?
WG: It is what I wanted, yeah. I think it's what these two characters deserve.
Q: Are they sort of reflections of each other in a way?
WG: I think so, yeah. I don't think Raylan can really exist without Boyd and Boyd can't really exist without Raylan. They wear a similar hat, even though they look different on the surface.
Q: How soon might we get that confrontation we're waiting to see?
WG: You know what? Sooner than you might expect and not quite the way you might expect.
Q: Well, we might expect it in the first episode and we might be wrong.
WG: You would be wrong but I would say by episode 2.
Q: What is the energy like in those face-off scenes with Olyphant?
WG: They're a dream. He's a dream actor. We just kind of show up and he's so easy and fluid and it's so nice to work with an actor who's so fuckin' confident and carries that ease about him. He continually challenges me. All I have to do is sit and listen to Tim talk and I'm a better actor.
Q: Do you get to carry a gun this year?
WG: Yeah, Boyd might find his way to a six shooter, yeah. I think he may use it too.
Q: Do you prefer the western style standoffs or full out action sequences?
WG: I like the western style quiet standoffs personally. I think there's power in stillness and I like watching behaviors, but after being on "The Shield" for eight years, there's something to that too. I like those volatile kind of angry all over the map emotional scenes as well. It's nice to step back away from that with Boyd though. He's a contemplative dude. He's a very smart guy.
Q: What is it about the southern region that makes the western setup work in modern day?
WG: I think there's still a certain amount of history and mystique that revolves around being from the South, or being from the hills. This occupation has been around for a very long time and it's a very insulated culture. People don't get an opportunity to see inside of that culture very often because it's not really reflected in our art or entertainment, except one dimensionally. So I think that what we're trying to do is really paint it three dimensionally. People are enjoying that, I hope. That's what we're trying to do.
Q: Have you gotten as attached to Boyd as you were to Shane?
WG: I am. Yeah, already. I think that has something to do with age. I quite like the characters that I get to play and I get attached to them much quicker. Boyd is someone unlike any other person that I've played before. It's nice to play that kind of intelligence.
Q: I never got a chance to ask you before, how did you feel about Shane's fate in "The Shield?"
WG: You know what, initially it broke my heart but ultimately it couldn't have gone any other way. I thought it was a genius move by Shawn Ryan. My biggest concern was to have people feel some empathy for Shane after that seven year journey. And they did. I think that's more than I could ever ask for.


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Infinity Lodge
Chamonix as a ski resort speaks for itself. Coupled with an equally thriving summer season, the choice of location for our chalet was simple.
When we found this old traditional Savoyarde farm building with it's incredible location and breathtaking views, we began the long task of renovating it piece by piece to create our own alpine hideaway, 'Infinity Lodge'.
With the help of true French craftsmanship, the result is overwhelming!
We have taken great care to maintain the look of an authentic traditional Sayoyarde farm which was first built in the 1800's. We have used all of the old original wood, beams and pillars throughout the chalet. Antique flagstones make the hallway floor and old oak boards are laid in the bedrooms and living area.
Mile Stone Events
From here, we offer a personalized service customizing holidays specifically for you. We provide superb food and equally luxurious accommodation. Furthermore, if you choose a holiday with us, our staff are both friendly and flexible yet refreshingly unobtrusive.
Corporate Entertaining
Our aim is clear. We want you to share our enthusiasm for the region and the vast array of activities it can offer. For this, we will do our utmost to ensure you enjoy your slice of alpine life!


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Host an Orphan for the Summer Frontier Horizon
Another Summer Hosting Organization US-Russia Global Exchange
Christian Organization serving orphans. Donate your Sky Miles. His Kids Too
Improving the quality of orphan lives. Buy a shirt Life 2 Orphans
Assistance to the orphanages in Ukraine. Many ways to shop to donate. Collect Box Tops and Labels to help An Orphan's Bright Star
Many Worthy Causes DetDom(Orphanage)
Care for the homeless, abandoned and abused Jewish children of Odessa Tikva Children's Home


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The 24th French Film Festival Pays Tribute to Filipino Cinema
Education USA Fair Is Stopping in Manila This March 1!
Mayday Parade Is Back in the Philippines for Sunnyland Tour 2019
LAUV Asia Tour LIVE in Manila and Cebu This May 2019!
The man behind the popular hit "I Like Me Better" used in Netflix's romantic-comedy film "To All The Boys I've Loved Before", LAUV, is finally going back to the Philippines for his Asia Tour 2019, and it's taking place not just in Manila, but as well as Cebu! Catch Lauv Asia Tour 2019 at Smart Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City and Waterfront Hotel, Cebu this May 20 and 21, 2019.
Michael Learns To Rock Is Back In Manila For STILL Asian Tour 2018
50 million video views and streams, 11 million physical albums, 6 million paid downloads and 30 years later, Micheal Learns To Rock is still out writing melodic songs, recording pop songs and playing instruments as if years haven't passed by and generations haven't changed. With the ever-growing audience from all over the world, they are coming back to the Philippine once again to bring their latest album "Still" LIVE in Laguna, Davao, and Cebu this coming December 2018!
Cebu Farmers Market, Coffee Fest Return to CEFBEX 2018
Apart from the staple spread of unique and innovative F&B products to be presented, this year's Cebu Food and Beverage Expo (CEFBEX) affirms its commitment to the Visayan community, providing a platform that will empower the region's farmers and local food producers. In support of the advocacy of the government to improve the income opportunities of farmers and expand the availability of affordable food supplies for Filipinos, CEFBEX 2018 returns with two signature event highlights that will help realize these noble aspirations. In support of the advocacy of the government to improve the income opportunities of farmers and expand the availability of affordable food supplies for Filipinos, CEFBEX 2018 returns with two signature event highlights that will help realize these noble aspirations.
Cine Europa 2018 Comes to the Philippines Starting September
Cebu Auto Show 2018 Highlights You Should not Miss
2018 Korean Film Festival Features Blockbuster Movies This September
PHILBEX Cebu and Cebu Auto Show 2018 Unlocks the Future of the Region
European Culinary Week 2018: A Gastronomical Discovery in PH
Jellyfish Education Philippines: Upcoming Events this 2018
Business Talk: Doing Business with European Countries
EIGASAI: Japanese Film Festival in Manila is back this 2018
23rd French Film Festival
Shane Filan returns to Manila on February 9 to 11, 2018
Jay Asher Book Signing Tour 2018
9th Cebu Food and Beverages Expo
Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian Signing Tour in PH
Australian Grass Fed Beef on the Menu: Follow the Trail
EIGASAI 2017 in PH: 20 years, 20 films
Lang Leav 'Sad Girls' Book Tour in Manila
Festivals in the Philippines (January)
Mcdonald's Stripes Run in BGC and Taguig
This year, Mcdonald's will let you run for fun and for reading! Happening on November 26 (Saturday) in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig and December 3 (Saturday) in Cebu, Mcdonald's Stripes Run 2016 will make running a lot better as it helps unprivileged Filipino kids learn how to read! Proceeds from the Stripes Run will be donated to 'Ronald McDonald Read to Learn',
International Eucharistic Congress 2016
"Christ in You, the Hope of Glory. The Eucharist, Source and Goal of the Mission" This is the central theme for the 51st International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) to be held in Cebu City from January 24-31, 2016. Photo courtesy of The Manila Bulletin The IEC is held every year as a celebration of the Holy Eucharist, with the Congress leading to a deeper understanding of, and a stronger commitment to, the Eucharistic mystery. Pilgrims from all over the globe will come to Cebu to promote an awareness of the central place of the Eucharist in the life and mission of the Catholic Church. The event will be preceded by a […]
Boyce Avenue Philippine Tour 2016
Sing along with the acoustic jams of YouTube Boyband Sensation Boyce Avenue, as they perform live for a five day-Philippine tour this coming February 2016. Come and hear them perform their popular renditions of the hit songs "Here Without You," "It Will Rain," "A Thousand Years" and many other tracks to get a chance to see them perform on stage. The American Rock band Boyce Avenue became famous for their own acoustic renditions of the popular songs in this generation. The band, formed by the Manzano brothers, became popular for uploading their versions on YouTube, which became a hit to their now millions of fans around the world. Gaining popularity […]
Study International Education Fair 2015
In the future, you must go global and have an international career to be successful . Own that success, INVEST IN YOUR FUTURE TODAY! Studying abroad is not as expensive as you think…. – – Study International will again be bringing to Manila, Cebu and Davao representatives from various institutions from UK, Australia, Canada, Singapore and Malaysia to speak to Filipinos who want to study abroad and get an internationally recognized degree and begin their future abroad. – STUDY INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION FAIR 2015 Global Education = Global Success 26 September, 1:00 – 8:00 PM | MANILA | Dusit Thani Hotel 28 September, 4:00 – 8:00 PM | CEBU | Cebu […]
The 20th French Film Festival Goes to Cebu!
. After being a toast of success in its unveiling in Manila, the 20th French Film Festival opens its doors once again, this time in Cebu! Hundreds are expected due to free admission, to be held at Ayala Center Cebu – Cinema 4 today and tomorrow, June 23 and 24 from 10:30 AM onwards! The ten acclaimed French films brought upon the screen are to be accompanied with English subtitles. Despite the language barriers, the insights on the importance of family, the quest for adventure, the timelessness of romance and the passing of comedy among others transcend cultures and guarantee the Filipino audience with an enjoyable time having their eyes […]
PINOYTUNER presents SUNGHA JUNG PHILIPPINE TOUR 2014 17 AUGUST 2014 SUNDAY 6:00PM SAMSUNG HALL, SM AURA PREMIER Tickets: VIP – Php 5,000.00 (Type: Reserved) Gold – Php 3,800.00 (Type: Reserved) Silver – Php 2,000.00 (Type: Reserved) *VIP TICKETS INCLUDES SIGNED CD AND MEET & GREET OPPORTUNITY WITH THE ARTIST AT 5PM* Sungha Jung: Korean Guitar Boy-Genius Plays August 15 and 17 in Cebu and Manila Drop everything and take heed! Korean guitar boy-genius Sungha Jung, whose previous stops to the country have incited shrieks and squeals of glee from Pinoy fans from all walks of life, will be back for another round of performances. He will grace the stage at […]


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Expose Your Bad Shadow - In a Good Way
Most of us adults were told not to be "bad" as children and we were punished if we were. Yet all adults have an inner teenager who is saddled with responsibility and commitment, and who wants, no needs, to come out and play—to let off steam. Often that teenager has a rebellious streak and is curious about "bad."
Halloween is a perfect time of year to express some of that inner rebellion and shadow side. Perhaps that's why Halloween has taken on huge significance as a holiday. One can dress up and pretend. Our inner teenager gets to scare, play at being a gangster or drug lord like Walter White, or flirt shamelessly.
For many women, aspects of their sexuality are lurking in their shadow. Something about it is forbidden to their socially-sanctioned conscious awareness, so they project these banished thoughts and feelings surrounding their body and sexual relationships onto others. In movies and in tabloidized antics, actresses like Jennifer Lopez and Miley Cyrus wear stripper costumes and perform stripper moves while other women get to express outrage at not only them, but also at their own hidden thoughts and desires. Their normal masks of conformity and composure don't have to be removed.
It's okay for adult women to remove their confining masks and take a little walk on the wild side to let their inner rebellion out and explore their shadow selves in a safe, healthy way, but then they need to know when to be grown up again. The adult who's dressing her young child in sexually explicit Halloween costumes perpetuates the real evil at this time of year. Allowing a young girl to reinforce the already myriad of images she's getting that say explicit exposure is a way to attention and acceptance, is scary.
Not too long after that concert, I sat next to a sedate older gentleman on a plane who was going to see Kid Rock perform soon. I was surprised. He didn't look like he favored high energy, sexually-explicit profane lyrics. This reminded me that we're all just big little kids wanting to play dress up and dress down. This is good. Through exploring our shadow side, appropriately, we have a better awareness and understanding of who we are, we're more whole, and all our relationships benefit, especially the ones with ourselves. Being adults, we can give our inner "bad" selves permission to play, but it's a power we have to use wisely. The health of our young girls—and boys—depends on it.


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Life Principle
COMPASSION – Ability to share another's feelings or ideas
Quote: "No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted." -- Aesop
Spanish: compasión misericordia
Elementary MS/HS
DICTIONARY Oxford Spanish Dictionary
Sign Language for Compassion:
Start with'C' at heart, then '5-hands. Move forward with middle finger slightly bent at knuckle
Sign video for compassion or sympathy
State topic for questions. QFT – Question Formulation Technique
"Our Question Focus for this lesson is about Compassion.
Materials needed: white paper and markers
Allow about 10 minutes
1. Identify open and closed ended questions
2. Change questions: select one question to change from open to
closed-ended and one closed questions to open-ended.
Allow 4-8 minutes.
State lesson plan criteria/guidelines and ask learners to identify 2-3 questions they think are most important.
Allow 10-20 minutes
Group Share Out: Have each group share their rationale for choosing priority questions.
Allow about 10 minutes.
"What are we going to do with these questions?"
(Whole Group Discussion – outcome to align with lesson objectives.)
Sample: What behaviors support Compassion?
Individual and Group Reflection: Ask a topic related question for learners to reflect upon briefly in writing about what they have learned.
Discuss and report in small or whole group.
Sample: "What does Compassion look like for us?"


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Hey all, check this great sketchnote by Timothy Reynolds, who attended a guest talk by Pixar employee Dan Holland at the Milwaukee Art Museum a week or so ago. As always, loving the line art and uber sketchy style!
P.S. Mike is pretty busy working on his Sketchnote Handbook, soon to be released, so if you'd like to be highlighted at the Sketchnote Army, shoot me an email at info AT siriomi DOT com. Thanks!
- Binaebi


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- At Geffner TV, we create and produce online TV shows that inspire people to greatness in their personal and professional lives! Both Jaime Geffner and Steve Geffner, the creators of Geffner TV, have a traditional Hollywood background working in TV production. Most notably, before launching their own production company together, Jaime spent 5 years working as producer for the hit daytime talk show "Dr. Phil", and Steve earned his degree in Radio/TV/Film from Northwestern University before moving to Los Angeles to pursue his career in TV production, getting his first TV production job on the Emmy Award-winning NBC sitcom "Frasier". Having the privilege of creating and producing TV in Hollywood was an amazing experience for both Jaime and Steve Geffner as individuals, and it helped them each develop the skills and expertise they needed to create and produce high-quality online TV shows on their own. The driving force behind Geffner TV is a desire to create positive programming that both gives people hope and encouragement to live their lives to the fullest, and uses the media in the most powerful way possible – to share knowledge and information in an entertaining and valuable way, and to help make this world a better place for all of us to live.
Geffner Productions is the production company owned and operated by husband and wife producing team Steve and Jaime Geffner, who have been married since May 31, 2003. Since they first met and fell in love in early 2001, Steve and Jaime have always dreamed of working together, side by side, in a joint venture that combined the best of each of their talents and abilities. Finally, in 2008, Geffner Productions was created as a way for Steve and Jaime to work together, doing what they both love and are most passionate about. In 2010, Steve and Jaime began producing high-quality online video projects for private clients and large companies, helping on-camera experts and entrepreneurs share their knowledge and expertise, expand their reach, grow their businesses, and get discovered via online video. In 2013, Steve and Jaime launched Geffner TV, the home of their original episodic programming, featuring online TV shows that inspire people to greatness in their personal and professional lives. In 2014, Jaime and Steve expanded their vision and began educating entrepreneurs from all over the world about how to use online video to transform their businesses. Geffner Productions is located in Los Angeles, CA where Steve and Jaime live, along with their awesome and beloved cat, Dick Clark.
Jaime Geffner is an Online Video & TV Producer and the Co-Creator of Geffner Productions, a production company she owns and operates with her husband and producing partner, Steve Geffner. After graduating from UC Santa Barbara with her BA degree, Jaime spent three years working as a voice-over casting director. In 2002, she joined the staff of the "Dr. Phil" Show, where she remained for five seasons, producing nearly 100 shows. In 2007, she left her job at "Dr. Phil" to pursue her dream of creating and producing her own original programming ideas. Since 2008, Jaime has been working full-time as a creator and producer of online video & TV projects for Geffner Productions.
at the Season 4 Dr. Phil wrap party
at the Season 4 Dr. Phil Christmas party
Steve Geffner is an Online Video & TV Producer and the Co-Creator of Geffner Productions, a production company he owns and operates with his wife and producing partner Jaime Geffner. After graduating from Northwestern University with a degree in Radio/TV/Film, Steve spent two years living out one of his childhood dreams by playing minor league professional baseball. He then moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in television production, getting his start working for the Emmy Award-winning NBC sit-com "Frasier", as well as several other network TV pilots and shows. Since 2008, Steve has been working full-time as a creator and producer of online video & TV projects for Geffner Productions.
for Outstanding Comedy Series
David Hyde Pierce and Steve's date (his sister-in-law)


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Are You A Blogger?
A word of encouragement
There are essentially 3 types of blogger that exists
The business blogger
The residual income blogger
The personal blogger
The business blogger writes to gain traction for their business within the social sphere, so the currency they are trying to earn is business awareness.
The residual income blogger writes to gain traction for the advertising / affiliate links on their blog so their currency is direct revenue.
The personal blogger writes for the sheer enjoyment of writing and sharing socially and their currency is social engagement.
The Law Of Critical Mass
In each of these, the one thing that is the fundamental law to the success is the law of critical mass, the idea you have to keep pushing, prodding, tweaking and working until your blog starts to gather pace that outstrips the personal effort you have put into it.
So if you are out their blogging, remember to keep on keeping on, it is the diligent who win the blogging race...
How Is Your Blog Doing?
How is your blog going right now?
Are you pushing it along, committing to it and working on it despite all evidence that it is not currently successful?
If you do and your content is well written, useful and relevant, then time and energy are your greatest friends when it comes to your blogs success.


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Bothies, Glens and Greyhounds.
Glen Tanar and the Eastern Cairngorms We spent a few days with our retired rescue Greyhounds Valerie and Michael, in the Eastern Cairngorms enjoying winter sunshine, a perfect Airbnb bothy and country walks in beautiful forests. Follow us on a photographic journey. Photos: Pentax Espio 120 compact with Fuji Superia 400 35mm film and iPhone … More Bothies, Glens and Greyhounds.


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Why Exclusive Apps Will Become Standard for Apple and Android
Apple and Google have been making deals with top app creators, offering prime placement in their app stores for new games in exchange for windows of exclusivity, Wall Street Journal reports.
The deals show the intense level of competition for the most highly anticipated top-tier titles between the two companies as Google's Android operating system continues to gain market share on Apple's once dominant iOS. As you can see from the chart below Apple's market share has dipped steadily, which has hurt its app store. And while Android has had a larger market share than Apple for quite some time, it's only in the last couple of years that any Android phones have held the same prestige as the iPhone. Today Samsung has challenged Apple with top-tier phones.
With Android's huge numbers advantage and an end to the perception that it's a lower-end platform, that means Apple's app store has decidedly lost its status as the place for developers to launch their apps first.
Emily Greer, head of Kongregate, a gaming service owned by retailer GameStop Corp., told the Journal that the contest was like an "arms race" for the best content.
"When people love a game, and it's not available on an alternate platform, they'll change platforms," she told the paper. "The level of attachment a person has to a game can exceed almost anything."
These deals are common in the console world
In the console world game developers making deals to release new titles exclusively on a single platform is a common practice. The most recent high-profile example is Electronic Arts' Titanfall, which was launched exclusively on Microsoft's Xbox One (it has since been released on Xbox 360 and Windows PCs, but not on Sony's competing PlayStation platform).
Having exclusivity on highly desirable titles theoretically lures people to a particular platform, spurring console sales (and maybe even getting someone to switch or buy a second machine). Some titles get an earlier release date on one platform but are eventually released on others; some use the Titanfall model where one platform makes a deal to keep the title away from a rival.
The latter practice worked to a point. While Titanfall did not allow Microsoft to catch up to Sony in the next generation console race, it did help the company move some units. Sony announced recently that it has sold 7 million PS4s while Microsoft -- which has kept Xbox One sales numbers largely a secret -- announced it had shipped 5 million units to retail (not the same as selling them). That's a big gain in about four months over the 3 million the company said it sold in 2013, and Titanfall deserves some of the credit.
Titanfall was the top-selling game in March, according to Cowen analyst Doug Creutz, who said sales of the title were slightly above his estimate of 850,000 unit sales in the U.S. He also estimated that EA would sell "6 [million] to 7 million units of the game worldwide in its first 12 months."
That's good news for Microsoft, which paid an undisclosed sum for exclusivity on the heavily hyped game, but this console war will not be decided by one title.
The number two game in March was Sony's Infamous Second Son, which is exclusive to its PlayStation 4 console.
Exclusivity clearly matters but in many cases it's a back and forth battle that both companies have to play, and that prevents there from being a clear winner. The same is likely to happen in the app world as the idea of content exclusivity becomes more common in the smartphone world.
How big is the app market?
Users spent $16 billion on mobile apps last year, according to a joint study by research firms IHS and App Annie. Videogames accounted for more than 70% of the total, according to App Annie estimates.
That means that roughly every two years smartphone makers have the opportunity to woo customers to switch, and a hot game title can be as powerful as a new feature when it comes to selling people on making a move.
"Videogames are critical applications," Patrick Mork, a former director of global marketing for Google's app store, told the Journal. "Not only is it where people are spending their time and money, they also showcase the power of computing on their devices."
For game developers apps can also be incredibly lucrative, but standing out in the apps stores can be a problem even for well-regarded game companies. If apps don't have enough publicity or demand to show up on the various "top" lists in the stores, they can be virtually invisible. Making a deal that trades exclusivity for placement gives an app a better shot at being successful and breaking out of the pack.
This practice is bad for consumers
While it makes sense for Apple and Google to want exclusive content in general, these deals are bad for consumers. While people might be willing to buy both major consoles, very few people will maintain two smartphones just to have access to a favorite app. That means that people are either locked out from having certain games or at least must wait longer to get them. That might influence their next choice of phone, but overall it's frustrating for anyone used to having apps be platform-agnostic.
On the positive side having guaranteed promotion allows developers to approve bigger budgets and build better games because releasing them becomes less of a risk.
Now that hot apps are a bargaining chip for companies looking to lure people to their smartphones, we're likely to see more exclusivity and a more clear delineation between the offerings in the two major app stores.
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The article Why Exclusive Apps Will Become Standard for Apple and Android originally appeared on Fool.com.Daniel Kline is long Microsoft. The Motley Fool recommends Apple and Google-Class C Shares. The Motley Fool owns shares of Apple, Google-Class C Shares, and Microsoft. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Copyright © 1995 - 2014 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.


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news & events
Stay up-to-date about Cradle to Cradle® developments
1 news item
MK Doors launches Cradle to Cradle Certified door
During the Building Holland event MK Doors launched their new door concept, "MK Mark". It is the first door that complies with all the requirements for passive house and is also Cradle to Cradle Certified. The doors will be on the market by the end of this year. Read the entire article here.


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Winter is a wonderful season for a wedding; the dramatic landscapes make for the perfect backdrop to a memorable celebration. If you need some ideas to inspire your winter wedding planning, keep reading.
Where you decide to tie the knot will depend on a variety of factors, such as your personal taste, the proximity of the venue and its availability. To make the most of the season, you might decide on a venue that allows you to feel connected to the outdoors, so options with a glasshouse or special licensed landmarks might be among those you consider.
Meanwhile, castles are a good choice for added drama and make a spectacular backdrop for memorable wedding photos, or you might choose a venue with roaring open fires to ensure everyone will be warm during the celebration.
Take inspiration from the winter landscape when decorating your venue and creating a theme; you might decide to use bare branches to line the aisle that are twisted together to form an archway, decorated with fairy lights or white uplighters to make the branches look like they're covered in snow. White drapes and dangling crystals also fit in well nicely with a winter wedding theme, symbolising snow and icicles.
Alternatively, you may decide on a Christmassy type of theme for your winter wedding, and use the red and green shades as a basis for your colour scheme. Christmas trees, holly and ivy might all play a part in the decor of your venue, while pine cones decorated with shimmering glitter or diamantes could extend the theme further.
Invitations and programmes
Your invitations, orders of service and other paperwork like thank you cards and place cards might all have a theme to tie in with your decor; snowflakes, a winter wonderland theme and festive colours are all options you could work into the publications.
If you're choosing a Christmas theme for the big day, think about embossing your words on to gold card and using red and green shimmery ribbons to tie invitations in a bow so they resemble wrapped Christmas presents. Alternatively, outlines of baubles can add a subtle hint of your theme if you want something a little more understated.
Another consideration for your winter wedding will be what you wear for your nuptials. The cold season allows for different, warmer textures than the other seasons perhaps call for, so look at faux fur, cashmere and taffeta, which can all help provide insulation while making outfits more interesting at the same time.
You might also need to think about the amount of coverage your attire provides, so browse longer length dresses and options with sleeves to provide extra warmth. Shrugs, elegant gloves and muffs are all extra ways of covering up and keeping warm for your winter wedding.
If you want to enjoy your trip to and from the venue, think about hiring a horse and trap for your transport, complete with some fleecy blankets to keep you warm as you travel. A car is potentially a warmer and more shielded transport choice for your big day, and dark-coloured vehicles can make a real statement against a white background if there is snow on the ground.
A sleigh is another option you could consider, especially if it's due to snow on your big day, and you could opt for a sleigh pulled by horses, huskies or even reindeer!
Ideas for a Winter Wedding
Winter is a wonderful season for a wedding; the dramatic landscapes make for the perfect backdrop to a memorable celebration. If you need some ideas to inspire your winter wedding planning, keep reading.