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Applications for our 2019 Overseas Manager Exchanges close on 8 February. This year we have four exchanges up for grabs; one to the US, sponsored by Civic Financial Service, one to Canada (British Columbia) and two to Australia (Queensland and New South Wales), sponsored by JLT.
One of our 2018 recipients, Marianne Cavanagh, Principal Advisor, Corporate, Whanganui District Council reflects on her exchange to Western Downs Regional Council, Queensland, Australia.
"I had the pleasure of joining Western Downs Regional Council, which is based in the town of Dalby. The Council covers the size equivalent to that of our North Island with over 700 staff across six towns.
The Executive team and elected officials have their work cut out for them with a fair amount of travel and I was impressed with the level of staff engagement. Each monthly Council meeting is held in a different town in the region, which is a great way to encourage a sense of community – despite the distance. At each meeting the Executive team don their aprons and cook breakfast for the town's depot staff – those looking after the roads, water, parks and open spaces, including the local dingo catcher.
On my first night I attended a wonderful community event in the town of Chinchialla called One Long Table. This was similar to a festival of cultures with food stalls, entertainment, and literally one long table down the main street to bring people together.
The main issue impacting Western Downs Regional Council when I was there was water – or lack of it. Forty percent of the region was in drought, stock were hungry, vegetation sparse, and rivers and creeks were dry. This also has an impact on town beatification. The Council recently received consent from the State Government to drill a bore to access artisan water – for town supply and further development opportunities. Meanwhile they look for other beautification initiatives that don't rely on water including seating and shade areas, sculptures and lighting.
My time with Western Downs Regional Council was simply amazing. The Council operates so differently to ours in New Zealand – partially due to different Government regulations. Their proactive stance with regards to economic development was inspiring and I have brought home many ideas to share with my colleagues. What I didn't expect was to make lifelong friends – my exchange partner Jodie and her family have become part of ours and plans are underway for family holidays already – next stop Bledisloe Cup!"

subset: commoncrawl


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If you're looking for a contemporary glass coffee table, that will match any interior and provide functionality as well as looking tasteful and appealing, the Slender Pin Knee Coffee Table is the perfect fit.
Available in bespoke, made to order, sizes this table is guaranteed to fulfill your exacting specifications.
Give your guests something to talk about with a custom coloured glass top. Choose from striking black, frosted or coloured glass. The conical columns are also available in a choice of finishes. Select the ideal one for your home from matt nickel, minimalist white or bright chrome.
Build your table with ease by screwing the columns into the pre-bonded bosses. These are fixed to the glass with our UV bonding technique. Fast, effective and designed for a lifetime of use. Your table won't let you down.
The contemporary coffee table design is a creation of our British team of designers. Our glass furniture is built in the United Kingdom and always complies with BS EN 12150-2:2004 (previously BS 6206).
If you have any questions with regard to a Custom Slender Pin Knee Table or for any of our other Glass Furniture products then please do not hesitate to contact us.
|Key Dimensions
|This table stands at 450mm tall.
|Installation/Delivery Details and Lead Times
|TFA (follow provided instructions)
|Lead Times
|Made from stock components allow seven days
|Lead Time Variants
Custom Slender Pin Knee Table
- Brand: Futureglass
- Product Code: Custom Slender Pin Knee Table
- Availability: In Stock
- Ex Tax: £199.75
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Tags: Glass coffee table, glass coffee tables, Glass furniture Contemporary coffee table, contemporary coffee tables, home, rectangle, barrel, oval, dining, custom


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Casino Games | SKYCITY Hamilton
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Salon 8 offers you all your favourite Table Games, in an intimate, private environment where you can relax and play in complete comfort and luxury.
We believe great service is paramount which is why we have a highly experienced team of multi-lingual VIP hosts who are there to look after you exclusively.
Platinum and VIP Black membership and access by other SKYCITY customers to Salon 8 is by invitation only.
Salon 8 Service
- 24 hour access to Salon 8*
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- Invitations to functions, events, offers and promotions exclusive to SKYCITY Premier Rewards Platinum and VIP Black Table Games cardholders..
*Excluding Christmas Day, Good Friday and between 3am and 1pm on Anzac Day.


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Where do you travel?
Monday, August 26 2019
Over many ups and downs, Vietnam foreign relations constantly expand towards international diversification and multilateralism; normalize and gradually establish a framework of long-term stable relationships with all country over the world.
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Product Description The Bahco BAH4212146T 4212 Pruning Saw has a curved blade, perfect for pruning above shoulder height.All teeth are set aggressive on pull stroke and the strong beech-wood handle has a hook for hanging the saw. This blade is fileable with the following dimensions:Blade Length: 360mm (14 inch).Weight: 0.28kg. Note: Replacement blades are available.Bahco is a pan-European market leading brand of a wide range of professional hand-held tools such as: handsaws, combination spanners, socket spanners, screwdrivers, adjustable wrenches, cutters, files, bandsaws, pruning tools, holesaws, hacksaw frames and blades. Professional craftsmen around the globe use their tools and have done so since 1886 when they first began manufacturing saws under the brand "fisk-och-krok" ("Fish and Hook"). Later in 1888 one of the company's founders, J.P. Johansson invented the pipe wrench and then in 1892 the adjustable wrench. That spirit of inNovation continues to flourish within their company. Bahco is SNA Europe's (a fully owned subsidiary of Snap-on Incorporated; NYSE: SNA) flagship brand and is distributed in all continents. Box Contains 1 x Bahco BAH4212146T 4212 Pruning Saw 360mm / 14 inch
Bahco 4212146T Pruning Saw 360mm / 14 inch B0001IX70G
Bahco 4212146T Pruning Saw 360mm / 14 inch B0001IX70G
- Product Code: B0001IX70G
- Availability: In Stock
- £133.19


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NEW YORK — After seven games in three countries and about a month away from home, the Rangers are thrilled to return to the friendly confines of Madison Square Garden.
NEW YORK — After seven games in three countries and about a month away from home, the Rangers are thrilled to return to the friendly confines of Madison Square Garden.
Friendly? Most definitely. Familiar? Not so much.
The Rangers will become the last of the NHL's 30 teams to play their home opener when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday night. The reason they were away for so long was the first stage of a three-part renovation project to transform the Garden.
"I checked it out earlier this summer, so I had a little idea of where I was going," forward Brandon Dubinsky said. "Some guys got locked out and didn't know where they were going, but we'll get it figured out."
The so-called "World's Most Famous Arena" is getting a facelift. The project won't be finished for two years, meaning the Rangers are in line for more long journeys when the arena shuts down the next two summers for more construction. Instead of being shipped off to play home games on unfamiliar grounds the Rangers, and the Knicks – when the lockout ends – will play around the work.
The Rangers got their first look at what has been done since they left in April, and the instant reviews were good. The dressing rooms are new – even for the visitors – as is the entire lower bowl of seats that are way more comfortable and a much darker shade than the familiar teal.
"It's awesome in here," Rangers captain Ryan Callahan said Wednesday after a rare practice at MSG. "There is so much more space, it's high-tech now, and I think it's a lot more fan-friendly, too – a little bit more access to us and things like that.
"We're excited to be back home."
They should be well received, too, when the refurbished arena welcomes a sold-out crowd on Thursday. The Rangers went 3-2-2 during the long trek, despite visiting tough places such as Vancouver. The Rangers also had "road" games in Sweden against Los Angeles and Anaheim, so the Rangers won't have to venture to California during the season.
Nearly one quarter of their road games are behind them, and the Rangers will have to play only five games the rest of the season outside of the Eastern time zone. The Toronto game kicks off a six-game homestand, and that isn't even the longest of the season. New York will be home for a seven straight in March as the playoff drive is really heating up.
"It feels different. Good different, though," goalie Henrik Lundqvist said. "Everybody is excited to be back home and getting ready for a lot of home games here coming up."


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George Morris, a 1960 Olympic show jumping medalist and longtime equestrian coach and trainer, has received a lifetime ban for sexual misconduct
Caitlyn Fischer was crushed by her horse seven weeks after another equestrian competitor, Olivia Inglis, died
The historic parade is an amalgamation of the London cart horse parade, founded in 1885, and the London van horse parade, founded in 1904Gallery
The British Equestrian Federation was undermined by bullying, elitism and self-interest among its member bodies, according to a report
Allegations of bullying, elitism and corruption will be investigated as part of an independent review commissioned by the British Equestrian Federation
From Freddie Hunt to Chris Eubank Jr, the offspring of sports stars often end up competing, too. Is the name a help or a hindrance?
Rodeo has remained a sport dominated by white men, but the two-year-old team whose members met in Maryland is inspiring girls as they seek victory
Branding mountains is absurd – leave nature to itselfCarole CadwalladrWe used to lumber our peaks with the names of imperial bureacrats. Now, it seems, we name them after luxury goods
Big Star, described by Nick Skelton as 'the best horse I am ever likely to have', won a jump-off to help his 58-year-old partner claim individual gold in the showjumping
British quartet deflated after error-strewn rounds put Olympic champions out of contention in team showjumping
Charlotte Dujardin has won the individual dressage competition at the Rio Olympics, repeating her London 2012 triumph and earning Great Britain's 16th gold medal of the 2016 Games


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Cruise Nation are delighted to bring you our great range of Amsterdam Cruise & Stay Holidays. These packages all feature a cruise sailing from the port of Amsterdam. This means that Cruise Nation bring you massive choice on cruise lines to sail with throughout the year. Our Amsterdam Smart Packages feature FREE stays in one of many handpicked hotels which are all centrally located in Pisa providing you with the ideal base from which to explore all that this exciting destination has to offer.
With our Pisa Cruise & Stay packages, your flights will always be included. We also offer flights from a number of regional airports throughout the UK giving you much greater flexibility and making your holiday experience as smooth as possible.
From cycling along the city's canals to exploring the centre's twisting lanes by foot, Amsterdam is one of Europe's easiest cities to traverse. With historic buildings, colourful markets, artistic masterpieces, quirky cafes and Michelin-starred restaurants hiding around every corner, you'll never be short on great things to see and do in the city.
Discover the history of Amsterdam for yourself, from the city's strange "tulip fever" of the 17th century to the sobering story of Anne Frank during the Second World War. Find out more about two of the world's most famous Dutch artists - Rembrandt and Van Gogh - or catch a jazz performance at Concertegebouw to see current and future star performers in action. If you want a quiet spot to relax, without leaving the city, head for Amsterdam's most famous green space – the tranquil Vondelpark.
Once your feet have had enough of exploring, head to one of Amsterdam's many bars for a well-earned drink. Choose from a traditional "bruin cafe" or a swanky cocktail joint housed in a 17th-century building.
Your trip to Amsterdam wouldn't be complete without a night out in one of the city's world-famous clubs. There's a venue for every musical taste, from house and club to current pop and, with some clubs operating a 24 hour licence, you can dance all day and all night if you feel like it.


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QREncoder (bg.peternikolow.qrencoder) is a Mac OS X software application that has been discovered and submitted by users of iBoostUp. The latest version that our iBoostUp users have reported seeing on their systems is QREncoder 6.
Publisher Description:
Thanks for the great feedback and the thousands of downloads of the
QREncoder per day.
This version fixes all known issues from previous versions.
A QR code (abbreviated from Quick Response code) is a specific matrix barcode (or two-dimensional code) that is readable by dedicated QR barcode readers and camera telephones. The code consists of black modules arranged in a square pattern on a white background. The information encoded may be text, URL, or other data.
With QREncoder you can encode:
* an email address
* a http address
* a phone number
* a SMS message
* a free format text
* finally paste support
* calendar event
* geolocation event
* WIFI network settings
* contact information
* error correction - L, M, Q and H modes
* full unicode support
More from Peter Nikolow: SEOggestor, PDF417Encoder, ITF14Encoder, PharmaCodeEncoder, Code39Encoder, UPCEncoder, Code128Encoder, SEOAuditor, SEOPingler, EANEncoder
For more infomation on QREncoder please click here, or to find updates and downloads of QREncoder please click here.
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Secret army base locations were revealed when fitness tracking data company Strava published a heat map visualisation of its users' athletic activity last year.
Nathan Ruser, a member of the Institute for United Conflict Analysts, pointed out how examining remote areas on the map which display a high concentration of exercise could give away the location of secret bases and military operations.
The map, first made public in November, displayed what he suggested was a Turkish patrol north of Manbij in Syria, a Russian operating area in Khmeimim and a potential regular jogging route in mountainous terrain.
Strava released their global heatmap. 13 trillion GPS points from their users (turning off data sharing is an option). https://t.co/hA6jcxfBQI … It looks very pretty, but not amazing for Op-Sec. US Bases are clearly identifiable and mappable pic.twitter.com/rBgGnOzasq
— Nathan Ruser (@Nrg8000) January 27, 2018
Strava is a platform for sharing exercise data with like-minded people across the world, and calls itself 'the social network for athletes'. It tracks activity through a smartphone or wearable's GPS, recording metrics which can be uploaded to its publicly visible site and app.
Although many military bases and other operations are visible online through Google Maps and other satellite mapping services, Strava's data highlights how people move around known military areas and certain nearby routes they may exercises along.
The data cannot be used to identify users individually, but it is possible to use Strava without sharing the data publicly.
The company said in a statement the information had already been made public when the user chose to upload it, and that the map did not including data from user-defined privacy zones.
"Our global heatmap represents an aggregated and anonymised view of over a billion activities uploaded to our platform. It excludes activities that have been marked as private and user-defined privacy zones," it said.
If soldiers use the app like normal people do, by turning it on tracking when they go to do exercise, it could be especially dangerous. This particular track looks like it logs a regular jogging route. I shouldn't be able to establish any Pattern of life info from this far away pic.twitter.com/Rf5mpAKme2
— Nathan Ruser (@Nrg8000) January 27, 2018
"We take the safety of our community seriously and are committed to working with military and government officials to address sensitive areas that might appear."
"This incident serves to highlight a distinct lack of operational security employed by various government organisations around the world," said Tom Bonner, senior manager of threat research EMEA at cyber security firm Cylance.
Access to personal communication devices with geolocation services should be banned in sensitive/restricted locations, and broader assessments and awareness training undertaken by employers to understand and mitigate the potential risk posed by these types of services."


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Two new mods are now available for Fallout 4 that come in the form of letting players add more resources through an ESM so that it's less work and will not inflate the size of other mods, while the second mod comes in as a script tool for Fallout 4.
The first mod on this list comes in by Kinggath, which allows players to create detailed, living places with little effort. The goal behind this mod is so that every settlement looks unique and like an "awesome Fallout city", which rewards players with upgrades, perks and other special things through each step of the game.
The description for this mod sits below.
Allows you to build zone objects that tell the settlers what type of buildings to create in different areas of your settlement and they will do so. Includes a progression system, a more interesting settler needs system, and rewards to help settlements matter more.
Breaking the mod down even further, the mod offers a plethora of items and resources for anyone to add their own stuff to the mod. Seeing that this mod is an ESM, other mods are said to set this as a "Master File" and therefore make pure use of some of the objects in the mod Sim Settlements.
A video below by Kinggath shows the mod in action.
You can get this mod by heading over to NexusMods.
The next and last mod on this list is Markdf's Skyrim SE/Fallout 4 Script Cleaner Tool, which is a free and open source tool. The mod comes with ReSaver and can read/write Skyrim SE, Skyrim LE and Fallout 4 save-files. While the mod can provide useful information, the mod can also edit script data and can terminate threads.
It's worth noting that Java is required as well as Mod Organizer for managing your mods and save-game directories. But with that said, more information regarding this mod can be found by heading over to Markdf's Skyrim SE NexusMods page, or by watching a video by JamesMc.
This mod is currently available over on NexusMods.
Fallout 4 is out now for PC, Xbox One and PS4.


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Perhaps due to extensive early voting, which closed last week with 55.6 percent of registered Williamson County voters already pulling the lever, many polls have been slow but steady so far in the early hours of Election Day.
And once voters get to a machine, the process is a quick one.
In addition to the hotly contested presidential election, the U.S. House is on the ballot as well as the Tennessee House. In Fairview, Nolensville and Thompson's Station, municipal government races are on the ballot. Polls are open until 7 p.m.
After the doors were opened at Hunters Bend Elementary School in Franklin, the first voter emerged just three minutes later. By 7:13 the 55 people who had been waiting outside had disappeared, though voters continued to arrive alone and in twos.
At Liberty Elementary School, 600 Liberty Pike in Franklin, 49 percent of 2,865 voters in the precinct voted early. A handful of voters, about 25, trickled in between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m.
"This is slow, slower than usual because of early voting, but steady," Francis Hatcher, an election volunteer there, said.
"Also a lot of times more people come out in the evening."
Matt O'Connel was one of those who came early. He brought his son with him, to show him what it was like.
"I would say I came out more to vote against a person," Matt O'Connel "Stability is the biggest issue for me, I would say, and it is an issue I came out to cast my vote for."
At the People's Church, 828 Murfreesboro Road in Franklin, 57.6 of 5,526 voters had voted early.
"Well over a hundred people voted already," said Jack Stone. Most were there right when the doors open, about 50, but in the two hours since things stayed slow."
Nancy Gardner, a longtime Franklin resident, came out to vote for her candidate.
"For- always for," she said. "Never go against. I came out because it is my obligation to vote, simple as that. It is fundamental. I wouldn't miss an election for all the tea in China. And I love tea."
Brentwood had some busy precincts. Prairie Life Fitness in Cool Springs had almost 200 voters by 8 a.m. Holy Family Catholic Church reached 200 by 9 a.m.
At Church of the Resurrection on Sneed Road in the Grassland area, 250 had voted by 9:30. Official Michael Rolla said he expects 1,000 to come through the doors today.
First Presbyterian Church at Mack Hatcher and Franklin Road also had brisk voter business. Official Ellen Nagy said there had been big surges all morning.
At the Williamson County Election Commission, Chad Gray, administrator of elections, was in the middle of a quick, standing coffee break.
"We have had our normal confusion for the first couple hours, workers and voters confused and everything else, but no crisis that I know of —yet," Chad Gray, administrator of elections for Williamson County, said.
The slow turnout so far could be due to people waiting until their lunch break or to get off work to vote, since the polls are open until 7 p.m. But the record early turnout could also have something to do with it. Before the polls even opened this morning, turnout already had exceeded the total percentage of people who polled (50.2 percent) in 2012, and gotten close to 2008 (59.6 percent).
Not all polls had a slow start. Thompson's Station Church had a line of 80 to 100 people outside when doors opened at 7 a.m.
By just after 8 a.m., 150 people had cast ballots at Walnut Grove Elementary School in the Grassland community.
By comparison, 13 voters were waiting in line when the Independence High School poll opened in Thompson's Station, and by 9 a.m. just 38 had voted. 63% of the 1,068 registered voters at Independence voted early.
In the Triune and Arrington area, voters trickled in and out of the polls from 8 to 9:30 a.m.
At Triune Baptist Church, poll workers said they had voters outside waiting to get at 6:30 a.m. After opening the doors, about 100 voters quickly came through. As of early voting totals, that precinct already had 55 percent – 1,668 of the 2,898 registered – had come to cast their ballot.
Millview Church of Christ had seen about 150 voters by mid morning. 2,214 of the 3,821 registered voters cast early ballots.
Franklin Christian Church, after an early voting total of 58 percent, had witnessed 200 people coming through by mid morning.
Billy Hinton, a voting official at Walnut Grove Elementary School, said that when he early voted, he feared that he hadn't finished the ballot because it was so short.


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You are in Nestlé Malaysia's Site
Growth driven by robust domestic sales
Working towards a waste-free future
Pertandingan Mewarna Famili Sihat Ceria Bersama Nestlé Everyday & Nestlé Koko Krunch
Find out exciting ways to eat and drink healthier, get more active and take better care of yourself and your family. Nestlé supports you to help raise healthier kids!
Amaran tentang skim penipuan di WhatsApp.


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Product Description
AM Landen Canvas Backpack Kid Backpack Travel Daypack Unisex Backpack. Welcome to the Jam Closet Accessories  Our Product AM Landen Unisex Canvas Backpack School Bag Travel Laptop Bag Fine Quality Cotton Canvas Material. Great Designed Medium Capacity Multifunctionâs Backpacks. Good for school, travelling, Camping, weekend bags, causal backpacks etc. We offer varies colors and size options for your choice to fit your needs.   SIZE OPTIONS: MEDIUM WITHOUT LAPTOP SLEEVE: Dimension: 17.2'x11.6'x6.8′, Capacity:7-14 lbs. MEDIUM WITH 15′ LAPTOP SLEEVE: Dimension: 13'x16.5'x5.5 ' with 15' Laptop Sleeve, Capacity: 7-11 lbs. Condition: Brand New Shipping: Standard Shipping: 2-5 business days (Free Shipping) Express Mail: 2 business days (Express mail shipping fee will apply)  Care Tips: Hand Wash. Dry Flat and Please do not Iron.. AM Landen Canvas Backpack Kid Backpack Travel Daypack Unisex Backpack


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Save Money by Refinancing a Mortgage with the Obama Stimulus Plan
Many people want to take advantage of low interest rates and refinance a mortgage but fear they will not be able to due to bad credit. Well, for most people, that is not true. Even with bad credit, an upside down mortgage, or other financial hardships, getting help and approval for a mortgage refinancing is not that difficult. Here are some tips for homeowners looking for bad credit mortgage refinancing options.
While bad credit may end up costing you more in closing costs or interest rates, refinancing can still be beneficial. Especially right now with interest rates being near all time lows. Many mortgage lenders and banks are advertising 5% mortgage rates for typical 30 year fixed rate mortgages. This is a drastic drop from what interest rates were a few years ago. That means that even with the additional costs associated with a bad credit mortgage refinancing, many homeowners will still be able to benefit. Most homeowners with bad credit or other financial problems have interest rates that are much higher than 5% and that is how refinancing, even with bad credit, will help many people.
Also, right now President Obamas Making Home Affordable plan is making refinancing with bad credit a lot easier for millions of people. This housing stimulus plan was designed to assist struggling homeowners in getting an affordable home loan payment, and to help prevent people from losing their home to default or foreclosure. This plan provides money to mortgage lenders and banks who help homeowners. Since this plan is designed to help struggling homeowners, bad credit, upside down mortgages, and other financial problems are not going to stop someone from getting approved for a mortgage refinancing.
While bad credit mortgage refinancing may not be the easiest thing to do, it can be done. Especially these days with the Obama stimulus plan in effect. Take advantage of low interest rates and Government stimulus programs to save your home, a lot of money, or both.
Save Money by Refinancing a Mortgage with the Obama Stimulus Plan
By: MPetroneAbout the AuthorI have been underwriting mortgages for years. Recently, I got into a new business but I still wish to share my advice, tips, and industry inside happenings of the mortgage refinancing industry.For more articles on Mortgage Refinance check out my website(ArticlesBase SC #1722879)


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LocoCycle has been announced as an Xbox One launch title.
Twisted Pixel's upcoming digital download will be available at launch for Xbox One and at a later date on Xbox 360.
The announcement is accompanied by a new trailer, which introduces the game's characters and high-speed gameplay.
LocoCycle follows a karate-trained motorcycle named I.R.I.S, who, after becoming self-aware, embarks on a cross-country journey for freedom with her South American engineer.
Like fellow launch day release Forza Motorsport 5, the Xbox-exclusive will run at 60 frames-per-second in 1080p.
LocoCycle will be demonstrated at next week's E3 gaming expo.
Previous Twisted Pixel games include Splosion Man, Comic Jumper and Ms Splosion Man.
The Austin-based studio, which was purchased by Microsoft in 2011, also produced Kinect title The Gunstringer.
> Read Digital Spy's The Gunstringer review
Screenshot gallery - view LocoCycle images below:LocoCycle


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I read an awesome quote from Albert Einstein recently that said, "No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness it was created from."
I immediately thought about the church's approach to porn addiction. Hundreds and hundreds of years of sexual suppression and now they are trying to solve the problem they created without having to change. I see organizations and people focusing all of their "healing" energies on teaching people how to have "great" sex in their marriages or develop greater and greater technological and social tools of control and all of the while changing nothing but the language they use to describe the issue. They're still scared of their desires, their bodies, and the other.
I am shocked everyday when I listen to Christian podcasts and read Christian blogs and books at how much energy is put into trying to figure out what is a sin and what isn't. It's mind-blowing. I was listening to a podcast the other day and it was as if the guys on there have a vending machine they have to run everything through before they can talk about it - put the "thing" in the coin slaught and see if it comes out as "sin" or "not a sin". All the while they seem to be completely missing out on the idea that everytime they label another thing like that, they are articulating a very specific theology - they are saying "this is what God is like." It takes the idea of grace and reduces it to the function of a garnish on your plate at Applebees. Like if all of the guys on the show agree that this is indeed a "sin", oh crap……we're in trouble. It's as if Jesus never lived a day on this earth.
Dietrich Beonhoffer wrote in his letters from prison, just before he was executed by the Nazis, about what he called a "religionless Christianity". He was saying that he had come to see that God had been reduced to a psychological crutch for people unconsciously invested in staying in pain and in power more than in real freedom and transformation. He talked about an extreme Christianity that allowed such freedom that we could live without looking over our shoulders constantly, thinking God was there with a ledger, ready to mark down if we had sinned again.
If this is you - trying to figure out what is a sin or what isn't, know this: you are trying to solve the problem you find inside yourself without having to change. And I'm not talking about changing your behavior or desires. I am talking about truly confronting what it is you are medicating with all of that behavior. The answer is to walk straight into the pain you are medicating. Point your face toward the storm you feel in your body and take one painful step at a time. Start with therapy. And please - if you utter the phrase, "I wonder if that was a sin?" - either with your mouth or in your mind, please answer it this way: It is finished. System complete. Doesn't matter.
Now, ask the deeper question: what do you want for your life?


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Doing whatever a spider can!
The second reboot of our beloved Spider-Man character from Sony has finally swung into theaters with Tom Holland as the new, young, and fresh take on Peter Parker. Only this time, he is part of a much larger family: The Avengers.
Sort of. Spider-Man: Homecoming takes place a couple of months after the events of Captain America: Civil War (with a very funny intro made by Peter Parker himself as he video blogs how he came into the action of that movie), with the excitement still reeling from hanging with The Avengers and an amazing suit given by Tony Stark, Peter is back home in New York attending high school by day and being a hero at night. Anxiously awaiting another mission from Tony, Peter seeks to find what he can do on the "ground level" as much as he can.
This is where Homecoming separates itself from the other previous versions of Spider-Man. While Tobey McGuire and Andrew Garfield has their moments of "figuring out" how to be Spider-Man, Tom Holland's take is so honest and true to the comics it brings a whole new side to the character. This Spider-Man is just a kid, 15 years old for that matter, and he's dealing with drama at school, senior crushes, popularity, and also trying to be a superhero. He has no idea what he is doing, and he's very clumsy at executing his actions.
As Spider-Man finds small ways to help out the city and its people, he eventually stumbles upon larger threats that really put the city in danger. From the beginning of the movie we are introduced to Michael Keaton's Vulture, who is very intimidating and villainous; Keaton brings his A-game as usual which makes him very pleasant to watch on screen. With him being the major player around this crime syndicate selling alien weapons, Peter is hell bent on stopping him, without Tony's permission to prove that he can be part of the team.
The action that takes place throughout the movie is pretty exhilarating to watch. With Spider-Man now being so young, tiny, and flexible, he's all over the place; along with his funny comments talking crap to the bad guys. However, he's still so new at crime fighting, he makes plenty of mistakes; even with his Jarvis-like spider suit that Tony provides him that even has an "instant kill" mode in it. Some of his mistakes are saved by his heroic actions, and other almost end up catastrophic, which eventually leads Iron Man to intervene.
With Peter feeling like he is failing as Spider-Man, and seeing the Vulture continuing to run his crime business, he again gives his life to prove that he can truly be the Spider-Man for his city. The story alone is great; it feels like a coming of age sense and a growing experience for the young man. With a large supporting cast like Robert Downey Jr., Jon Favreau, Michael Keaton, Donald Glover, and of course Peter's hilarious classmates, there is a lot of really fun faces to watch on screen. Another pleasant note is that the movie is very funny, with lots of jokes and even some crude humor that will make it even more entertaining.
With Spider-Man: Homecoming finally out, and it being a new gateway into a whole new world with the MCU, it is so relieving and fun to see that we have the Spider-Man we deserve. We are hopefully in for a treat as Sony and Marvel continue to make this deal and leave Spidey in the MCU for the foreseeable future; however, with recent announcements that Sony's spin-off movies Venom and Silver Sable and Black Cat movie NOT taking place in the MCU and instead being in it's own universe, how is this all going to play out? Only time will tell, but hopefully with the success of this movie they can all share one home someday.
Overall, Spider-Man: Homecoming is fantastic. It succeeds all expectations, opens up a great first chapter in the hero's life, it is entertaining and hilarious, and gives us a true incarnation of Spider-Man that we've always hoped for. Stan Lee should be proud to see his baby back on the big screen.
What did you think of the movie? Let us know in the comments below!
Final Score: 9/10
By the end of the movie, Vulture is defeated and Spider-Man is almost made an official Avenger, but decides to stay in New York. In the post-credit scene, Vulture is in prison and speaks to one of the arms dealer he met with earlier in the film who happens to have a scorpion tattoo on his neck. His face is also heavily scarred and damage, and wants to plot against Spider-Man. Could this be our new villain in a sequel? The Scorpion would be a fun adversary, but maybe as a secondary plot.


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Interior designer Nicola Scannell Design knows the benefits of home staging.
Home staging, also known as property dressing, has many benefits, as interior designer Nicola Scannell who built and designed this new build home in Cookham, Berks knows. The bungalow that was there is now replaced by a large modern home with all the luxuries of contemporary countryside living. This rooms in this spacious house transformed once furniture was in situ. The rooms had atmosphere and energy and lay-out was clearly visible as to how to use each area of the house.
I love working with interior designers and collaborating with ideas to see their project come to its final stage of how they envisage the house. I have worked with Nicola Scannell Design a few times and was very excited to see Nicola's latest project, a new build near Maidenhead. This house did not disappoint. It is beautiful.
As you enter the house, the eye is taken to the garden, creating a feeling of the outside coming to the inside and that of space and the natural environment. The house is located near the river Thames in Cookham, so the brief was to keep the furniture in keeping with the natural world. I avoided the use of too much chromes and instead wanted to use our more natural elements, e.g. woods and ceramics, and add colour with the cushions and textiles.
This house is a new build with attention to detail. All the benefits of the latest design – from large bio folding doors over 6m long in the kitchen overlooking a wonderful and 'wild' garden (which is how I love them, perfect for den building and getting little hands dirty!) to the latest in built tech systems so not one lead or cable is to be seen. The colours on the walls are from Little Green Company and are beautiful tones. The bedrooms all spacious and most have ensuite. The master has a walk in wardrobe too.
So the house is not only beautiful and a joy to work with, as is Nicola, but its only 40 minutes from London and Cross Rail will be coming soon, so its going to be a short train ride into town. All the benefits of countryside living, with the links to London making it an easy commute.
Photography by Photos by Pennie


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Unions press G20 to take new tack
Pound Sterling - UK Markets
The CBI has called on the chancellor to use the Budget for 'confidence building' measures to boost jobs, investment and competitiveness. The UK's cumulative deficit for the fiscal year so far is £75.2bn, raising the chance annual government borrowing will exceed its own £77bn forecast. CBI deputy chief John Cridland said the public finance outlook was "alarming". Last month the CBI predicted that the government will have to borrow £100bn more than anticipated during the recession.
US Dollar - US Markets
Details have been released of a $500bn US Treasury plan to encourage private investors to buy up toxic debts. The 'Public-Private Investment Programme' will purchase the troubled mortgages and securities that have been at the root of the credit crisis from banks.
It will initially provide financing for $500bn of toxic assets, with the potential to expand up to $1tn. The plan is due to be formally launched later today.
The US Treasury's plan to help banks offload their soured loans has promoted broad Dollar-selling and the Pound has hit a one-month high against the greenback. The Dollar is also down further against the Euro.
Euro - European Markets
European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet has said his bank can cut interest rates further but that its deposit rate is already at a very low level. Trichet added it could also use more non-conventional measures to help the troubled banking system. "As regards the future rate of our main refinancing operations, presently at 1.5 percent, I said clearly that we could decrease it again," Trichet said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal.
Other Currencies - Highlights
The New Zealand Dollar has spiked up to new multi-month highs of against the Japanese Yen and the US Dollar during Monday's early trading. Against the Euro, the Kiwi is now trading near a new multi-week high.
The Australian Dollar too has staged a strong rally against its major opponents on Monday morning. The Aussie jumped to a new multi-month high against the Yen and a 10-week high against its US equivalent. At the time of writing, the Aussie is also advancing towards a multi-day high against the Euro.


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A year gone by. Another on the way just like the last. Sometimes it makes me wonder, what is so great about the dawn of a new year. You did things you do every year, gotten drunk or may be if you had money, you took a vacation or two. People die and more babies…
Month: December 2016
Tamil drama, then and now
It is not often that I go to watch a drama on stage. Whenever I go, I find it refreshing. It is a good change of pace from usual high strung superhero movies and sloppy rom-coms that are way too common in the recent times.
When I met an Austrian in Margazhi music festival in Chennai
Though I have been living in Chennai for the past five years, Margazhi music festival was not something I look forward to. After my father's desperate attempts to train me in classical music failed, partly due to my disinterest and my inability to follow, I kept my distance from this music for the past 23 years….
On a Chinese food trail
When I think about Chinese cuisine two things pop to my head – fried rice and noodles.They are the most popular of the Chinese cuisine and has become a part of most of the country's food culture.
Margazhi in Chennai
In Chennai Tamil month Margazhi is a season of classical music and everything traditional. You will find Mylapore mamis in colourful kanchivaram sarees, girls in pattu paavadai chattai and men in veshti and kurtha hopping from one sabha to next to listen to their favourite singer's katcheri.
Belgium's Comic strip culture
When someone says they have been to Belgium, the first thing people ask is 'Where are the chocolates?' Or 'So, did you try Belgian beer?' More often than not a culture that lends unique flavour to the country is forgotten. It is the comics strip culture.
My first Ramen
After reading so much about Japan and its cuisine, it is only natural that I wanted to taste it. Thankfully there was enough Japanese restaurants in South Indian state Chennai and to my knowledge many have cropped up in the last few years alone. This sudden boom is not without reason. Chennai is renowned as…
Be my guest, SRK
I was watching a video campaign by the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing called "Be My Guest". The video features Shah Rukh Khan charming people of Dubai in several of his avatars – a waiter, jogger and helper at a shoe shop. This is surely a brilliant marketing move to invite people to…
The Iron Lady's final journey
It was surreal to watch the funeral procession of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa from the terrace of my office building in Anna Salai. The fact that she is no more was just beginning to sink in and there she was in a glass coffin surrounded by flowers, followed by police and her ardent…
A tribute to our very own Iron lady, J Jayalalithaa
J Jayalalithaa – the most courageous, strongest and resilient Chief Minister Tamil Nadu ever had. She passed away on December 5, 2016 at the age of 68 in Apollo hospitals, Chennai. I knew it was coming, signs were there. Yet when the news stares at you on the white sheet of paper, it hits you…
A trip down the memory lane to spring of your times
Cherry trees are in full bloom. Evening breeze disperses pale pink petals on to streets. It is a signal that spring has arrived. Looking at it, a teenage girl smiles, with her head in clouds. She is already planning a lunch menu in her head for a date with her boyfriend under the cherry tree. It is sometime…
Samurai: yesteryear warriors and relics in modern times
Samurai. Swordsmen of ancient Japan clad in kimono with their long hair usually tied up. With katana (Japanese sword) swinging from their left waist, they look majestic. I had always held fascination for these yesteryear valiant warriors who disappeared in modern Japan. Apart from literature and museums, there is no samurai in sight either in…


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A team of 30 Sri Lankan Police Officers participated in a comprehensive training programme on Industrial Security at the National Industrial Security Academy (NISA) in Hyderabad, India, the Indian High Commission said today.
NISA, an Academy of international repute, was founded in 1990 and it has been recognized as "Center of Excellence in Industrial Security". NISA is renowned for producing well-trained personnel in the field of Industrial and Critical Infrastructural Security and Management, Aviation Security and Disaster Management and has helped to develop professionals imbibed with highest standards of physical and mental fitness, in-depth knowledge and skills.
The training programme was fully-funded by the Government of India, with a sponsorship of over 5 Million Sri Lankan Rupees. The 30 officers, ranging from ranks of Chief Inspector of Police, Inspector of Police and Sub-inspector of Police, participated in the programme. Besides lectures conducted by subject matter experts, the participants also had first-hand exposure to the latest gadgets used in the field.
Several other training programmes such as Crime Scene Management and CCTV Analysis, Expert Testimony on Criminal Trial, Forensic Science, Cyber Forensics, VIP Security, Traffic Management and a seminar on Financial Crimes, have been organised by India for Sri Lanka's Police Force this year.


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I woke up in a super pumped mood because the SUN WAS SHINING this morning!! The cherry blossoms are starting to make their debut and life is good here in Kitsilano. Already in a happy, feel good mood because of my lazy Sunday sun stoke, I checked my email while eating breakfast and drinking a good ol' cuppa joe (one of my favourite morning routines, especially on Sunday). I was blown away by an email I received. A wonderful lady who has recently started reading my blog sent me a message. She asked if she could donate 100 pairs of socks for us sock ladies to hand out. ONE HUNDRED PAIRS!! That is 1000 TOES!!! I honestly shed a few happy tears. I was awe struck. I wrote on my list of goals we'd be handing out 200 pairs of socks this challenge, not knowing where they would be coming from, and now I'm sure we're pretty far past that. I'm sitting here just stuck for words.
I sent an email back, in shock, THANKING her and asking where abouts I can pick them up. Even more blown away with her response – she is shipping them to me from California. And the best part: the 'sock shopping' is her reward for achieving her weekly goals. This couldn't get any better!! THANK YOU! I am still blown away with complete gratitude and amazement. There are so many good people in this world! I feel so blessed to have so many in my life. Thank you for bringing teary eyes to my wonderful day and for helping keep 1000 toes warm and dry! Amazing.
After receiving this heart smiling message, I ventured downtown to meet Mandy at the Outdoor Adventure Show. The whole time I was in awe of how beautiful this city is. Smiles were everywhere on this sunny, crisp Sunday morning. On the way, I stopped for a super big bear hug from JC's awesome mom, who we all call Mar because she's just that awesome!! Thanks Mar for yet another great start to my day!
Mandy asked me last week if I wanted to go to this Adventure Show which was being held at the convention centre downtown. Without knowing much about it, and being the yes girl that I am, I was in. Another crazy vision board story for you – I was helping close the store at lululemon last night and had finished my section so was just taking a brain break and gazing at the community board. I looked down and noticed some free coupons to the Adventure Show. Score! How random is that! And the best part is, the ticket read at the very bottom: Your adventure starts HERE! Exactly the same sentence in the same font that's on my vision board. Things are starting to happen!
I love it. Doing what you love, saying yes, and just going with the flow. I loved the vibe at the event today. Lots of outdoorsy families, happy and energetic people all there to feel inspired and to share their passions. We fit right in! I'm finding that the more I'm saying yes to things that just feel right, the better and better life just keeps on getting. Wonderful people, amazing experiences and more new hobbies and adventures to try.
This exact picture of Mt. Kilimanjaro is on my vision board too. Next year we're going to hike that thing, right Mandy??! Just to help us put it out there, we got a picture for proof! The more I put myself out there and follow what feels good the more crazy adventures seem to make it onto my never ending list. Life just keeps getting better and better. I'm learning an optimum balance of staying grounded and calm, working hard and enjoying as much as life has to offer. There is so much out there to EN-JOY!!! Whatever puts you IN JOY, do THAT!
Smile with your heart!
Is it just me, or did this city get ten times more exciting since the Olympics? Granville Street was closed off today for a St. Patrick's Day Celebration. How awesome is that!!!


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Playing dayz like a boss, after repairing the sedan for HOURS…
Than we picked up a random guy up to north west airfield where we got shot at, drove away.
got ourselves a tent and a little camp. 🙂
(random guy broke its legs after jumping out of the car, and we drove away becouse we didnt care.)


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Know your rights with utilities
What You Need to Know
- Everyone is entitled to switch their gas and electricity supplier to find the best deal. Be sure to do so see our energywatch approved switching sevice.
- Always switch online. Doorstep salesmen and telesales will almost never offer you the best deal available to you.
- Check out individual quotes as well as those for duel supply deals. It can often work out cheaper.
- Consider fitting a Water meter to pay for the water you use rather than a single fixed price.
- Always check the accuracy of an estimated bill, and inform your supplier of any inaccuracies.
- If you think your bill is wrong, or you have been mis-sold a contract, complain to your supplier, and if you are unhappy with their response, take your complaint to the Energy Ombudsman.
- See what free energy grants and energy efficiency offers you might be entitled to.
Why our rights matter on utilities?
Your utilities bills are likely to be the single most expensive expenditure in your household budget apart from your mortgage or your rent. You would therefore think that most people would be inclined to scrutinise their utilities bills closely to make sure they are paying the right amount, and also ensure they are on the best value deal.
However this is not the case with many of us simply extending our existing utilities contracts because we are either too busy or two lazy to spend some time looking into the details. This can be a costly approach, because since the privitasation of the utilities markets, the consumers have a great deal of choice and rights in how we use the markets and how we are billed by our providers.
Picking up on these rights is important, for the simple reason that it can save each of us a huge amount of money if we engage with the energy market efficiently.
Changing Providers
The current energy market for electricity and gas suppliers allows utilities companies to directly compete against each other for business all over the country. This means that you can now use Scottish Power in London, and Southern and Scottish Energy in Wales.
It also means that different providers offer a whole host of different introductory offers to try and lure your business. This in turn means that we should all be looking into switching our energy provider every time our contract comes up for renewal.
Energy Companies rely on the fact that people are too lazy to switch to increase bills for longstanding customers by stealth. Don't fall into this trap.
If you are particularly keen to stay with your current provider (and remembers switching provider will not interrupt your service in any way), research the best deal available to you, and then contact your current provider and tell them what you have found. Once they know you are thinking of moving, they may well try to match, or even better, the offer you have found.
The best place to start looking for the best value deals is online, and nowhere offers a better range of deals than our own comparison pages to get you started. It is however always advisable to make use of at least three different comparison sites before making your decision, as you will on occasion find different deals on different comparison sites.
The Golden Rule of Switching – Always Online
Some Utilities companies still use the very outmoded concepts of telephone sales, or even door-to-door sales to try to attract new customers. The advice with both these methods is never to sign up to anything.
Remember, the people who you are speaking to are salespeople and it is their job to try and make as much money out of you as possible. The likelihood of them offering you the best deal you can get is miniscule.
As a rule, the best available prices are always available online, either through comparison sites or on the providers own website. If you are not comfortable buying online, research prices there and then ring up customer services and tell them what you want. Avoid getting into the situation where they are selling you a package, and you should be fine.
The Duel Suppliers Myth
Most gas and electricity suppliers' offer both services and many of their most attractive packages will be duel packages. It can seem simpler and easier to have the same company providing both services, and in some cases it is the most cost effective option available.
But this is not the case every time, so avoid getting lulled into just searching for duel packages, but check out the best individual prices as well. Focus on the overall cost of your utilities, rather than the convenience of only having one bill, and you can save a lot. Remember, provided you are paying by direct debit, it doesn't make any difference to you if you are paying one bill or two.
The Water Exception
Sad to say there is still one utility where the old fashioned monopolies still remain, and that is with water. Your water provider is still determined by where in the UK you live and the price you have to pay is fixed by them.
There are however still ways that you can save money on your bills. If you still pay a fixed rate water bill, then look into the cost effectiveness of having a water meter installed. These measure the amount of water you use and charge you by this amount. All water companies are obliged to fit these for free if you request one. If you are not sure whether you will save money, there is a simple rule of thumb you can follow.
If there are more bedrooms in your house than people, then you will almost certainly save money. If there aren't, you may well be better sticking to fixed rate.
Many water companies also provide water-saving gadgets which can reduce your bills. Check out your provider to see what you can get your hands on.
Estimated Billing:
Many utilities will bill you based on an estimated reading, rather than coming to your house to check the meter every month. This might be because your meter is located in the house and you were out at work or away, or simply that they don't have the manpower to check all of their customers every month.
If you have received an estimated bill, always check that the estimate is close to your actual usage. If they have significantly overestimated, you should contact them immediately with an accurate reading, and they should refund you some money, or at the very least promise to cut your next bill.
It might be tempting if they have underestimated to enjoy saving a few pounds, but this will only catch up with you later on, when they do read the meter and you receive a much larger bill to cover your excess use. It's wisest to tell your supplier about underestimates too, or you could suffer for it in the long run.
Mis-selling and Inaccurate Bills:
If you think you have been mis-sold an energy contract, or if you have received a bill which is way above what you are usually charged, or even from a company who don't supply you, don't worry. Both of these instances are far from unusual, and there is a tried and tested process in place to get your money back.
The first step is to make a formal complaint to your energy provider. You should give them up to eight weeks to respond to your claim, and of course you can engage in a dialogue with them if you think it will be possible to reach a resolution.
If that approach doesn't get a satisfactory resolution, your next step is to contact the Energy Ombudsman.
They offer simple online complaints process, which will independently assess your complaint and decide what action needs to be taken. You can make a complaint to the Energy Ombudsman here, but remember to contact your supplier first.
There are plenty of examples of people being awarded hundreds if not thousands of pounds, so it is well worth contacting them if you think you have grounds to.
Energy Grants and free Energy Efficiency
The Government also offers a range of grants to help you if you are struggling with the cost of your energy bills. This includes help with bills, and a range of free energy efficiency products to help reduce bills. Some of the most popular offers include:
- Free energy efficient Boilers and Insulation
- Winter Fuel Payments – an annual grant of up to £300 available to anyone born before 5 January 1953.
- Cold Weather Payments – made to older people and those on certain benefits if the temperature is below 0°C for more than seven consecutive days.
- Warm Home Discount – energy suppliers are required to help vulnerable people pay their bills to the tune of £140 a year.
- Energy Fund Schemes – many big energy suppliers operate schemes to help those who have built up large arears in their energy bills.
To find out what you might be entitled to, run your details through the Governments Energy Grants Calculator.
Further Reading
- For more tips and advice on your utilities bills, check out our wide range of guides.
- TO find out more about how you can save money on your energy bills, visit the Energy Saving Trust website.
- Rememeber to compare prices with UK Net Guide's energywatch approved sevice (its provided by Energylinx)
- To learn more about the Energy Ombudsman service works, visit their website.


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The MAAS program welcomes applicants who have some background in the region and in their proposed concentration.Though not required, appropriate work or life experience in the region are helpful and at least two years of prior Arabic study is recommended. Successful MAAS candidates have strong analytic capabilities, an excellent academic record, high standardized test scores, and a commitment to a future career related to the region.
The MAAS program admits students for the fall term only. Applications are assessed without regard to race, sex, religion, sexual orientation or national origin.
To be considered, applicants must submit the following:
- The Graduate School of Arts & Sciences online application form
- Transcripts
Applicants are required to upload to the application system unofficial transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended. Do not send electronic or paper copies of your transcripts before receiving an offer of admission. Review the unofficial transcript requirements for additional details and FAQs.
- Statement of Purpose
The statement of purpose should address any or all of the following: your motivation for applying for this program of study at CCAS, previous academic background, prior experience in the Arab world, and/or what you hope to achieve from the MAAS program.
- Résumé or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- MAAS Supplemental Data Sheet
- Supplemental Essay
This should be a well-written, scholarly essay analyzing what you consider to be a significant situation, issue, or development in the society, politics, economics, modern history, or culture of the Arab world. The essay should not exceed 750 typed words, not including any references or bibliography.
- Three letters of recommendation (submitted through the online application system)
At least two letters should be from professors who have taught you. The MAAS program recommends that you submit no more than one letter from a language professor.
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Score
All applicants are required to take the GRE unless undergraduate work was completed in a language other than English. The GRE code for Georgetown is 5244.
- TOEFL/IELTS Score (International applicants only)
All international students are required to submit the TOEFL (minimum score: 100 iBT) or IELTS (minimum score: 7.5).
Please Note: Those applying to a dual MAAS/PhD or MAAS/JD program must apply separately to both programs.
Any application materials submitted in hard copy, such as transcripts or recommendation letters, should be directed to the Graduate School —not the MAAS program— at the following address:Georgetown University
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Graduate Admissions, Box 571004
3520 Prospect Street, N.W., Room CB-207
Washington, DC 20057-1004
Please note it is the applicant's responsibility to be sure all required materials have been received by the Graduate School by the application deadline. You may verify receipt of any material by contacting the Office of Graduate Admissions at (202) 687-5568 or via email at firstname.lastname@example.com.
For additional questions, please contact Kelli Harris, Assistant Director of Academic Programs, at (202) 687-8957.
- For Scholarship Consideration: January 15
- Final Deadline: April 1
The application deadline for prioritized consideration for scholarships is January 15th and the final deadline is April 1st.
For questions or information about the online application, please contact the Office of Graduate Admissions.


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So, what happens when your daily routine becomes stagnant and repetitive? You do the same thing day after day with zero fulfillment; you hate your job but stick around because well, you need your job. When you're a creative spirit, you need stimulation; something that keeps you inspired, but how do you find inspiration in your daily routine? If you look, inspiration is all around; sometimes it takes getting out of your routine and keeping your eyes open.
Related: 5 Steps to Believing in Yourself
Now doing freelance work, I find myself stuck behind the computer for hours on end writing and editing, and sometimes I'm yearning for inspiration. It's easy to feel uninspired, especially when you're not surrounded by other [creative] people, but I've discovered five ways you can find inspiration daily, and I'm sharing them with you below.
Take a Trip
Disrupt your surroundings and habits. Get out of your office and your home, and explore the world; take a trip to another country or another state. I always get the greatest inspiration when I explore a different culture; get into their lifestyle, food, and fashion.
If you're not able to get on a plane or train—get in your car and explore. Take a trip to a museum or park you've never been too. It's about disrupting your daily routine and habits; you gain the greatest inspiration in a change of scenery—embrace it!
Create a Vision Board
I'm a big proponent of having a vision for your life. Many times we're just going with the flow and hoping things work out. Get clear about what you want your life to look like, and begin by creating a vision board for yourself. Grab old magazines and cut out everything that gets your attention; choose words and images that inspire you and make you feel good. If you don't have the means to buy the supplies, create a digital vision board; sites like Pinterest and Canva allow you to create digital boards that you can access through your phone or PC.
In the past, I had multiple boards and journals; now I am using this Passion Planner that has a roadmap for each of my goals for the year. As I plan my day and month, I'm able to see the roadmap to my vision and the steps I need to take to achieve it. If you're trying to jumpstart your vision and a traditional journal isn't working, grab a Passion Planner!
Read, Listen, and See
As someone who doesn't have a tribe or yet surrounded by the insiders, I like to pull inspiration from them. Many of those who we are inspired by have podcasts or books, and I like to listen to and read them daily. You can find inspiration in the simplest things and by the story of others, so read and listen to what they're saying. Also, read a new book or listen to music from someone you've never heard of. Similar to taking a trip; get out of your house and do something you've never done before. Inspiration is all around you—be open to it.
Get Back to You
Have you ever watched children play and notice how their imagination just runs rampant? What did you enjoy doing most when you were a kid? Get back to that! It may seem juvenile to do some of the things you did as a child, but I will tell you; it will bring you back to a place where you were able to be clear. As children, you don't notice how much inspiration is around you. When you have clarity, you're able to soak up the inspiration that's around.
Plan Daily Creative Sessions
Our days are hectic, and our minds are full with what needs to get done, and how we need to do it. Allow yourself time to brain dump; set aside [quiet] time to write down all your ideas and the strategies you need to create to bring them to fruition. Visually seeing your goals written down will help you get motivated and inspired.
It's important to keep things and people around who inspire you daily. And for some that will not be easy, but it's doable even if you're on your journey alone. What are some of the things that bring you inspiration? I'd love to hear about them, share it with me below or tweet me! Continue to Live Your Life in Style and always Be Inspired.


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Richlands High (RHS) Class of 1987 Alumni List
Help us Update the Richlands High 1987 Class List by adding any names missing from the list below:
Registered Alumni
1987 Class List
- Diane And
- Lisa Breeden
- Richard Brown
- Anita Bryant
- Ronnie Carty
- Sandra Casey
- Charles Casey
- Steve Dawson
- Eugene Goodman
- Lou Harrison
- Yvette Hinkle
- Doug Johnson
- Audrey Lowe
- Caroline Price
- Julie Ratliff
- Todd Richardson
- Robin Mcclanahan Vandyke
- Kimberly Walker
- Jeffrey Whited
Know Richlands High Class of 1987 graduates that are NOT on this List? Help us Update the 1987 Class List by adding missing names.
3 Men and a Baby was the top movie in theaters in 1987, with a lifetime gross of over $167,780,960. Among TV shows in 1987, The Cosby Show was the most popular of the year.
Hit Songs From 1987
Hit Movies From 1987
Hit TV Shows From 1987
Reunions and Richlands High School News
More 1987 alumni from Richlands HS Richlands, VA have posted profiles on Classmates.com®. Click here to register for free at Classmates.com® and view other 1987 alumni.
The Richlands High Richlands, VA class of '87 alumni are listed below. These are former students from Richlands in Richlands, VA who graduated in 1987. Alumni listings below have either been searched for or they registered as members of this directory.
For former Richlands students from VA, you can view the class reunion information that has been posted by other site visitors. In addition, we encourage you to post your profile in the alumni directory, share information about the school activities you were involved with and reconnect with Richlands High School alumni.


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Published on July 20th, 2018 | by bitcoin0
Blockchain phones are calling the future of telecommunications!
When delving deeper into the growth that is already being seen by the telecommunications sector thanks to blockchain — as well as the move toward things like blockchain-powered phones — it is actually an unsurprising number.
Not just phones It is not just phone companies directly who are looking to make the move into blockchain, but rather the entire telecommunications industry.
While HTC and Sirin work on delivering their blockchain phones, the Opera web browser recently launched a built-in cryptocurrency wallet.
IBM, another leader in technology — as well as an emerging force in blockchain technology — is also starting to develop the potential for blockchain in the telecommunications space.
However, being at the forefront with blockchain phones and implementing blockchains to help with security behind the scenes, a number of companies can become leaders in the space.


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The molecular machinery that starts the process by which a biological cell divides into two identical daughter cells apparently worked so well early on that evolution has conserved it across the eons in all forms of life on Earth. Researchers with the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the University of California at Berkeley have shown that the core machinery for initiating DNA replication is the same for all three domains of life – Archaea, Bacteria and Eukarya.
Site – http://www.lbl.gov


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You Are Here: Home / Obituaries / Benedict Leonard (Ben) Lefebvre
LEFEBVRE, Benedict Leonard (Ben) - Passed away peacefully after a courageous struggle with illness, on Thursday, January 24, 2019, at the Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital, (Ben) Benedict Leonard Lefebvre of Tillsonburg and formerly of Langton, in his 77th year. Born in Humboldt, Saskatchewan, son of the late Leonard Lefebvre and the late Mary (Zeagman) Lefebvre. Ben was a dedicated Ambulance Attendant with the Verhoeve Ambulance Service, Langton, for over thirty-five years, and later for Norfolk County E.M.S., Langton. Ben was Past President of the Ontario Belgian Fair Association, Langton; Former Eucharistic Minister and member of the Sacred Heart Church, Langton. Predeceased by his wife Brenda Lee Anne (Goddyn) Lefebvre (Nov. 28, 2016). Loved father and father-in-law of: Ben Lefebvre (Marcia) of London, and their children: Josh, Drew, Jamie; Jeff Lefebvre (Lisa) of Kingston; Shawn Lefebvre (Nancy) of London, and their children: Dakota, Autumn, Noah; loved step-father of: Jennifer Spietaels (Ron Ward) of Tillsonburg, and daughter Madison; Christa Spietaels (Ron Bankes) of Tillsonburg; and Mandy Taylor (Craig) of Simcoe, and children Tessa and Leiah. Survived by a brother Lawrence Lefebvre of Calgary, Alberta; and a sister Lorraine Lefebvre of Maple Ridge, B.C. Friends and relatives were received by the family on Monday, January 28th, 2019 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at the MAURICE J. VERHOEVE FUNERAL HOMES-BURIAL AND CREMATION SERVICES INC. , 40 Queen St., Langton. Parish Prayers, Monday evening at 6:30 p.m. in the Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Tuesday, January 29th, 2019 at 11 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, 24 Albert St., Langton, by Rev. Father Thomas Kuriacko. Interment followed in the Sacred Heart Cemetery, Langton. Memorial donations to the "Heart & Stroke Foundation" or to the "Simcoe & District Humane Society" would be appreciated by the family, and can be made through the funeral home. Personal condolences and favourite memories may be shared at www.verhoevefuneralhomes.com13323790
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Posted by Jeff Loncke (--) On Saturday, February 23, 2019
Lefebvre family - my deepest condolences on Ben's passing. I will always think of Ben as a hard working, good person.
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Not quite 5k but did run for 42 mins and reached 4.82km. Came up with a new plan as I didnt want the laura's music but also enjoy being talked to and knowing the time. So ran while listening to the radio. All was going well until lace came undone and nearly tripped me up. Stopped to do and was worried I wouldn't get going again. Legs were a little bit heavy from the brief stop but carried on.. Knew I was 'in the zone' when I missed the road I normally go down. Felt a good pace when radio gave time. I knew I had bn running for 30 mins and still felt good enough to contine. So on I went. Reached my destination and just a tad disappointed I hadnt reached 5k but did run for 42 mins. Well chuffed. 5k is achievable! Thank you C25k and thank you Laura. To my lovely new community friends thank you for your encouragement. Waiting now for my silver badge. :-))))
Done, done, DONE!!! (week 9 run 3): Not quite 5k... - Couch to 5K
Couch to 5K
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Done, done, DONE!!! (week 9 run 3)


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Do I Have to Sign a Non-Compete to Keep My Job?
As an employee, any number of issues could come up at your job that could threaten your future employment with the company. One issue you may not have considered, until your employer brings it up, is a non-compete agreement. If your employer calls you in to the office one day and asks you to sign a non-compete agreement your first though will likely be "Do I have to sign a non-compete to keep my job?"
First, it helps to clarify what a non-compete agreement is and why your employer would want you to sign one. Also known as "restrictive covenants", a non-compete agreement is an agreement between you and your employer that restricts your future employment in some way. Common restrictions include:
Preventing you from working for a competitor for a specific period of time
·Preventing you from working in the same field within a specific geographic radius of your current employer.
Forbidding you from sharing/using trade secrets of your employer.
Forbidding you from soliciting customers or clients of your employer's should you decide to open your own business.
Non-compete agreements can be enforceable if certain conditions are met and if the restrictions are not unreasonable. Often, and employer will ask a prospective employee to sign a non-compete agreement when the employee is offered a position with the employer. Sometimes, however, an employer will request an existing employee to sign a non-compete agreement. Your employer cannot force you to sign the agreement; however, you could lose your job if you refuse to sign the agreement. It is perfectly legal for an employer to ask you to sign a non-compete agreement at any point in time, though Pennsylvania courts have typically required an employer to provide some type of consideration when an existing employee is asked to sign one. For instance, your employer might offer you a pay raise, a bonus, or a promotion in return for signing the agreement.
Whether or not the agreement is enforceable though may take a back seat to the fact that your employer could terminate your employment for refusing to enter into the agreement. The potential consequences of your refusal to sign a non-compete agreement may depend on whether or not you are at "at will" employee. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania you are an employee "at will" unless you are working under an employment contract. As an at will employee your employer can terminate your employment at any time and for any reason. If you have an employment contract though the terms of the contract may protect you from any negative consequences should you refuse to sign the non-compete agreement.
Ultimately, however, the decision to sign the agreement or not is yours to make. Given the fact that both your current and future employment opportunities will likely be affected by the agreement it is certainly in your best interest to consult with an experienced Pennsylvania employment law attorney regarding the agreement prior to deciding whether or not to sign it.
If you believe you have been discriminated against in the workplace, contact an experienced Conshohocken, Pennsylvania employment law attorney as soon as possible to discuss your options. Contact the employment law attorneys at Curley & Rothman, LLC by calling 610-834-8819 today to schedule your free consultation.


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Should've never mentioned the Fairy thing 3:"You're a Fairy?" M:"Well.." 3:"Said you were!" M:"Grown up joke" 3:"ARE YOU REAL FAIRY OR NOT?"
I talked on the adoption blog about the importance of words. I've also talked about how we have used the poo fairy to our advantage.
Here's a cautionary tale that links both together and explains how, sometimes, I can get it horribly, embarrassingly wrong.
Our three year old arrived in the kitchen one afternoon wearing her fairy costume. White, with lots of chiffon and a now rather droopy wand and wonky wings it's one of her favourites.
"Daddy," she announced loudly, "I want to be a fairy"
"Careful what you wish for darling, that's how Daddy started!" Oh how I chortled at my own little grown up joke there.
"You're a fairy Daddy? Can you help me be a fairy please?" Our little girl implored.
That stopped the chortle. "Umm, no sweetie, sorry."
Three year old daughter's lower lip poked out. "You said you were a fairy? Why can't I be one?" droopy wand was being to be tapped on the open palm of her non dominant hand in a dangerously sinister manner.
"It was a grown up joke, sorry!" I was back-pedalling fast.
"Are you a real fairy or not?" Steel had entered our little girl's voice.
Should have never mentioned the fairy thing. "No, darling, I'm sorry I'm not. Daddy was being silly."
"Humph," our daughter flounced off, clearly still feeling cheated as her chance of fairydom that had appeared to be so close was snatched away.
J arrived home.
As usual he was greeted by our daughter throwing herself at him. "Dad, Daddy said he's a fairy!" Her opening gambit confirmed she wasn't going to let this one go.
J fell into the same trap as me before I could stop him. "Hah, Daddy's a blooming great big fairy!" He answered.
"NOOO!" I shouted. J was looking quizzical as I made frantic slashing movements with my hand across my neck.
Our daughter was triumphant. Legs akimbo, hands on hips she fixed me with her steely gaze. "Hah! You ARE a fairy!"
Distraction techniques worked wonders until, the following morning, this happened.
The children were eating breakfast. I thought we'd forgotten fairies. Our daughter hadn't. In a matter of fact manner, between spoonfuls of rice crispies she told her brother, "Daddy's a fairy!"
Our seven year old son was unimpressed. "Can't be, he's too hairy!"
"He's a Hairy Fairy?" Our three year old daughter said innocently.
Now, if there is one thing our son has learnt from me it is that when another immediate family member makes a verbal slip never, ever, let them get away with it. Way too much fun can be had at their expense as a result.
Our son's eyes twinkled. "Yes, yes he is. Daddy's a Hairy Fairy!"
Oh God! This one was going to run.
It went on through breakfast. And showers. And getting dressed for school. Finally, in the car on the way to school I broke.
"OK, stop calling me a fairy!" I tried to use my firmest tone of voice, knowing deep down that both children wouldn't view it as serious enough a misdemeanour to take any note.
"Why?" Our son was up for the challenge.
I'm NOT a fairy," that was my best shot.
"You said you were," our daughter chimed in.
"It was a JOKE! A silly, grown up joke. Silly Daddy!" I was squirming but determined to try and put this one to bed.
There was a sharp intake of seven year old breath from the back seat. "You LIED! That's terrible. Daddy told you a LIE, <Name>"
We belong to a small local gym, that has a creche. So that's where our daughter and I headed after we had dropped our son at school.
We know the ladies at the creche quite well by now, as we've used it fairly regularly for a couple of years. As usual, our little girl went in quite happily.
"Daddy's a Hairy Fairy!" She proudly told the creche lady.
I'm standing there in shorts and rugby shirt. "Hmm," says the creche lady, looking me up and down. "He looks like one!"
Great, just great! This means I'm going to have that nickname at the gym from now on. As it's clientele is largely butch bodybuilders and little old ladies this isn't good news.
Home again that afternoon we wait in for our grocery delivery from Sainsburys. We go through the normal procedure of the phone ringing and the, invariably new, delivery man asking how on earth he finds us.
Arriving he begins to unload the various bags into the hall.
Our daughter arrives at my side and proceeds to strip. I'm trying to handle bags full of fish fingers, chicken nuggets and other kiddy treats and also encourage her to keep her clothes on at the same time.
Waving her trousers above her head our daughter addresses the already slightly startled delivery man. "My Daddy's a Hairy Fairy!" she shouts and then dissolves into fits of giggles.
The delivery man looks nonplussed and visibly speeds up his bag unloading.
"Sorry, she calls me that, it's a term of endearment," I mumble trying to save the situation.
By this point our daughter is jumping up and down wearing only her underpants, pointing at me and shouting "Hairy Fairy, Hairy Fairy." The delivery driver backs away from the door as quickly as possible.
He's never been back again. Strangely.
That night I put our daughter to bed. As usual, I tell her a story, turn out the light and hold her hand as she falls asleep.
She yawns, rolls over and whispers, "I love you Hairy Fairy."
That makes all the embarrassment worthwhile.


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Deep Relaxation, Gentle Exercise, Health Awareness … we can arrange any or all of this for your perfect yoga holiday in Cordoba ….
Imagine a holiday where you seamlessly dovetail meandering around the Córdoba Mezquita or Granada Alhambra with a customised yoga practice before walking through the beautiful mountains of Andalucia and return to a gourmet six course dinner … Or where you spend whole days practicing yoga, eating sumptuous lunches, stretching some more before a glass of cava in the hot tub and shooting stars providing the evening entertainment …
Amanda Hamilton, Casa La Celada´s owner and qualified Yoga Teacher runs Yoga retreats both in the UK, Cazorla and at Casa La Celada. Working with your abilities, not against them, a yoga course will be tailored to suit your requirements.
Courses can be arranged throughout the year. Maximum number of participants is five with shared occupancy, three with single room occupancy.
Please speak to us – we will organise it together!


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Dimensions: 1.5" x 7" x 11" Packaged.
Melissa and Doug: Animals Stamp Set
$35.99 $28.79
Brand Melissa and Doug
Animal lovers, here's the stamp set for you! Mix and match the detailed stamps with images of wild and domestic animals from land and sea, to create hundreds of beautiful scenes.
All the pieces, including 16 stamps, 7 colored pencils and a durable inkpad, store in the sturdy wooden box.
Washable, non-toxic kid-friendly ink.
Dimensions: 1.5" x 7" x 11" Packaged.
Recommended Ages: 4+ years


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2 Comments
I would love a little bit more info on the club. I work a weird schedule so I was wondering if there were set days a week you guys met to practice or if it changed depending on pool availability. And what the cost is to join?
Hi Jeremiah! Thank you for your interest in iSWIM! Our current practice schedule is posted on the website at http://iswimmasters.com/iswim-practice-times-and-locations/
Sometimes we have to cancel practices due to pool closures, so please check our FB page for updates: https://www.facebook.com/iSWIMMasters
Feel free to drop by any practice to try it out and learn more!
Comments are closed.


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VeMoFo#26: Happy black&white camper
October 26, 2009 in Uncategorized | Tags: cookies, vegancookies, veganmofo 2009 | 8 comments
Guess what came in the mail todaaaaayyyyy!
Thusly, a half hour later, my very own, first ever NYC black and whites, with extra lime zest, making me feel better about having no vegan bakery in this city. Something to remedy someday, but for to-day… I couldn't be happier! I'd seriously run out of cookie recipes in the books I had already, which you might believe at the rate that I make them, and that was stumping me all over the place.
I'm thinking PB blondies and Irish Whiskey Cremes next. Somebody hide the sugar from me!
Super Closeup Time ::: one of my favourite buttons, it says Fruit Spirit, kawaii kawaii. :O


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Accessibility aspects related to Android applications
Android applications appear to increase their accessibility by various means, one of which is an audio feedback where the users can hear the user interface content when interacted with the application.
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Various android apps have let the business owners to profit from niche marketing and connect with their customers.
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Often business owners think that they cannot make the most from Android apps, which is an overestimated understanding.
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In a recent interview with Harper's Bazaar, the legendary pop star recalled her pre-fame years as a dancer in New York, and the terrifying incidents that nearly drove to the brink
Madonna is now the most instantly recognizable performers in the world, with a multi-decade career that has remained strong since the mid-1980's. Getting to where she is now took much more than a few talent show auditions and chance meetings however, as the singer has revealed in a moving interview with Harper's Bazaar, in which she remembered when she first moved to New York to try and make it as a dancer.
Madonna has overcome all the obstacles in her life to get to where she is now
In the November edition of the magazine, known as the 'Daring Issue,' the singer recalled how her move to the Big Apple from her native Bay City in Michigan wasn't a walk in the park. In fact, her first few years in the city were more like a nightmare, where the prospect of finding fame couldn't have been further away, as she wrote about how she was robbed on numerous occasions, held at gunpoint and was even raped whilst being held at knife-point.
She wrote in the her revealing, personal essay: "New York wasn't everything I thought it would be. It did not welcome me with open arms. The first year, I was held up at gunpoint. Raped on the roof of a building I was dragged up to with a knife in my back, and had my apartment broken into three times. I don't know why; I had nothing of value after they took my radio the first time."
Despite being subjected to such life-threatening crimes, the singer managed to recover and as she first began flirting with fame it was here where she claims that she decided to begin challenging boundaries, not just in her music but in every aspects in her professional life. She wrote, "If I can't be daring in my work or the way I live my life, then I don't really see the point of being on this planet."
The singer is no stranger to a bit of controversy
The pop icon went on to discuss her humble origins back in Michigan, and how she always felt like an outcast during her teenage years. It was her desire to be different that led to her desire to push boundaries and want to make a name for herself in New York, continuing even when faced with potential failure and various threats to her wellbeing. She remembered, "Trying to be a professional dancer, paying my rent by posing nude for art classes, staring at people staring at me naked. Daring them to think of me as anything but a form they were trying to capture with their pencils and charcoal. I was defiant. Hell-bent on surviving. On making it. But it was hard and it was lonely, and I had to dare myself every day to keep going."
Through it all though she has taken the controversy that has often blighted her career on the chin, and it has helped her get to a point in her life where she is happy at last. Still, she doesn't understand why certain aspects of her life arouse controversy, such as the time she adopted her son, David, from the African nation on Malawi. But even though the unwarranted backlash she received brought her to a "real low point in my life," the singer managed to survive and is still going strong today. Even at the age of 55, we doubt she'll stop pushing boundaries and slowing down any time soon.


text: Three Cloud Companies present at Geekwire Cloud Summit - Amazon, Google, Microsoft June 9, 2017 Dave Ohara I went to Geekwire Cloud Summit and it was a mini reunion of Gigaom's publishing staff. Barb Darrow posted on the big 3. It is no understatement to say that public cloud computing is revolutionizing how technology is used. Executives from the top three public cloud providers—Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform—spoke at the GeekWire Cloud Tech Summit in Bellevue, Wash. this week.Here are three lessons you need to learn now.Managing partnerships is critical—and hardMicrosoft (MSFT, -0.13%) and Amazon are courting major software companies to run their operations on their respective clouds, and many—Tableau (DATA, +1.44%), Salesforce (CRM, -0.44%), Workday (WDAY, +0.92%)—are doing so."We want to win both big customers and the software companies selling to those customers," Scott Guthrie, Microsoft's executive vice president of cloud and enterprise, said at the conference. — http://fortune.com/2017/06/08/cloud-amazon-microsoft-google/ Another good talk was the VC chat which had 3 people I used to work at Microsoft. Cloud computing is changing the technology world and creating opportunity for hundreds of new companies — so how are investors thinking about which ones to put their investment behind?Three Seattle-area venture capitalists — Frank Artale of Ignition Partners; S. "Soma" Somasegar of Madrona Venture Group; and Sheila Gulati of Tola Capital — spoke on stage Wednesday at the inaugural GeekWire Cloud Tech Summit about the state of the cloud computing industry and opportunities they see for related technologies and startups.The panelists all agreed that it's an exciting time for cloud technology — and that this is only the beginning."We are early in this game, and it's a game that is fundamentally changing how computing happens," Gulati said. "Cloud is the new operating system."The discussion, moderated by Seattle angel investor Charles Fitzgerald, ranged from the most attractive cloud-related areas of investment to how Seattle is becoming the cloud capital of the world. — https://www.geekwire.com/2017/heres-venture-capitalists-thinking-cloud-computing-companies-technologies/


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Established in 2016, O+ is Singapore's latest contemporary eyewear label founded by David Hwang, a veteran in the global optical industry, along with his two sons, Silas and Shamus. O+ symbolises bloodline and passion, which is imbued in the brand's promise of offering timeless and classic frames without compromising on quality and style.
By marrying fine detailing with high quality control, O+ creates artisanal eyewear that fits customers perfectly, accompanied with a diverse range of preferred proportions and fit. Created with the individual in mind, its range of eyewear gives customers the luxury of choice from an array of different frames that celebrates the individual's uniqueness and personal style. A trip down to O+ will not disappoint.
"When you put on a pair of O+glasses, you are putting your trust in us to frame your world. And we don't take that trust lightly." – O+
Opening its doors at OUE Downtown Gallery — which is also the brand's flagship boutique in Singapore— the eyewear emporium boasts a sophisticated set-up with a minimalistic gold-accented interior. Its lush décor translates the aesthetic vision of O+ , grounded by the concept0 of simplicity, classicism, and splendour.
This season, O+ will be launching a collection of new frames that will stir the hearts of classicists and style mavens alike.
Check out their latest promo vid below:
O+ is located at OUE Downtown Gallery, 6A Shenton Way, #01-07, Singapore 068815


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Philips Scale DL8780
Buy Now...
While this is perhaps the most 'healthy' device of the five, for some trying to gain or to more likely to lost weight is a big health issue.
The scale is 31.5x31.5x2.5cm the last figure can be increased if required by larger feet that are supplied. The scale itself weighs 2kilos.
The clear 7x5cm display is backlit. The unit is powered by 4x'AAA' batteries that are supplied.
There is an A5 five language User Guide with the first thirteen in English. A fold out front sheet has diagrams and numbers that are referenced in the manual.
While it can be used as a basic single use scale this is much more than that, it can store information for up to eight people and as it has Bluetooth that can be passed to previously reviewed Philips Health Suite App.
This is a serious scale as it can cope with people up to 180Kg weight.
For those who need – or want – it BMI and body fat index can be shown when you connect to the App, while weight can be measured with socks on the BMI and body fat index needs you to be in bare feet.
Older people still prefer to know their weight in stones and pounds and the display can be in pounds or kilos both in .1 increments. Turn the scale over and a sequential toggle switches between stones, pounds and kilos.
While there is Bluetooth it will only communicate with the Philips Health App not the multitude of other Apps out there.
The Philips App can store information from all its products either automatically by syncing or manually by entering the results manually in the App.
All information can be deleted from the scale by following the instructions in the user guide.
I mentioned earlier that the scale is useful for those trying to gain or lose weight. While there are far more obese people out there – me included – the degree of obesity is important so a body mass index (BMI) that makes you obese is something to note rather than perhaps lose sleep over however this depends of the amount you are obese by. Remember this can support people up to 180Kg which is well over twice my weight and I am still technically obese.
For some especially those with eating disorders gaining weight is vital and for them the .1 increment could be vital as encouragement to continue what they hate eating.
While a scale does one job on the face of it the device can be vital in helping those who desperately need to lose or gain weight, they will probably hate what it says most of the time but used with other health devices it could SAVE YOUR LIFE.
The Philips DL8780 scales are available from Amazon fpr £69.99 with free delivery in White; it is also available in Black at a higher price.
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The month of March in Romania is a special
month for women. We organized an special
event for women as church, on 8th March, to
celebrate the Mother's Day. We have had the
blessing to host 40 women and most of them
are not christian. They were exposed to the
Scripture, where I have seen interest for the
message. The message was about God's
promises. Please join us in prayer for these
women as they have heard the Word of God
and, the Holy Spirit to touch their mind and
Also, we had the privilege to give eyeglasses
to over 60 people from Comani. We worked
together with a team from America and few
members from "Hope" Church, that came to
help us in distributing the eyeglasses and
counseling people. Please pray for the people
that came to remember what they were told
about God, and to repent of their sins.
For one week we worked with an
international team from "OM" organization.
These ten young people were very organized,
and full of life. For five days they shared the
Gospel with the puppet and the kids were very
receptive and happy. The youth had special
meetings for them were the Word of God was
explained in according with their understanding.
They had such a great impact. . Besides this we
had visits at people's houses, street evangelism
and prayer walk.
With God's help we managed to raise some
money to help two families with their monthly
income. The two green houses will help them
live better and we hope they will see God's
We are happy to experience God's love in
a different way, because He is answering our
prayers. Vali Nistor is a woman that we invest in.
On 1 March her husband was released from
prison. Please pray for them! Because of the
distance that was between them, they go
through difficult time. Please continue to pray
for their salvation.
Wisdom in working with people.
More workers for God's Kingdom, in Comani.
To be guarded as family from the attacks of evil
March 2017
The month of March in Romania is a special