text:
The iconic Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco rises above a layer of fog over the Pacific Ocean
Tag Archives: Pacific Ocean
Majestic Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the one-mile-wide strait connecting San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean.
Opened in 1937, the single-suspension span is anchored by twin towers that reach skyward 746 feet, and was once taller than any building in San Francisco. To support the suspended roadway, two cables, each more than 7,000 feet in length and both containing 80,000 miles of wire stretch over the top of the towers and are rooted in concrete anchorages on shore.
Sunset Glow on Ocean Waves
Sunset over the Pacific Ocean casts a golden glow on the waves and clouds
Sunset Glow
Sunset over the Pacific Ocean creates a golden glow on the waves
A Tropical Paradise
Panama is a typical tropical country. Here is an image of the Panama Canal flowing into the Pacific Ocean without any ships passing through.
Sunset Light in Black and White
The setting sun over the Pacific Ocean creates silhouettes …
As requested by a viewer, I am posting the original version in color
A Bird Formation Over the Ocean
Birds flying in formation over the Pacific Ocean ….


text:
Worried about national security? Save Texas agriculture.
Agriculture is more than farmers and ranchers who work the soil or raise livestock. It's about national security.
Consider the entire system of production, processing, marketing and distribution of the food we eat, the beverages we drink, the clothes we wear and the gas that fuels our vehicles. The ability to sustain our complex systems that allow us to feed, clothe and power our country is a critical component of our national security. Yes, we import food and products from around the world. But we are not fully beholden to any other nation for food or fiber. However, all that could change. If we become overly reliant on imports for what we eat, drink and wear, then our nation will lose power and become vulnerable in an unpredictable global economy. Strong leadership at the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) is also critical to the security of the U.S. economy.
Texas farmers and ranchers power the agriculture system. Right now, the estimated economic impact of the food and fiber sector in Texas exceeds $106 billion annually. However, trade wars, urban sprawl, water scarcity, lack of infrastructure and other challenges all pose threats to Texas ag. TDA supports and markets Texas products, fills the gaps when our citizens must rely on community-based hunger relief efforts and offers consumer protections related to weights and measures, pesticide applications and food safety. Rural communities rely on economic development and healthcare to thrive. All these responsibilities require a budget of about $500 million annually, so you could fairly say that it's a role that calls for experience and diplomacy. If Texas fails to ensure real respectability and professionalism at the office of Texas Agriculture Commissioner, we put our whole system, and thus our national security, at risk.
So, what do we do now? First and foremost, voters must decide what kind of leader they want at TDA. Choosing a forward-looking leader will mean pursuing advanced technological solutions to ongoing challenges. At the top of the list is expanding broadband internet to rural areas to serve businesses, schools, emergency services and healthcare. Protecting farmland from reckless development and conserving water at all stages of use are also among the issues that can be addressed with technology.
Texas farmers and ranchers have much to lose. Choosing the right leader will make the difference between destructive trade disputes or productive diplomacy, as we rebuild trade relations. A forward-thinking leader will identify new markets and new opportunities and will work to make certain that Texans are positioned to reap the benefits.
Advocating on the national stage for Texas producers, bringing risk-management and economic development resources home to Texas and encouraging Texas consumers to purchase locally produced food and fiber products are also part of the future of agriculture in our state. With all this at stake, the TDA must interact positively with other organizations and entities; it must be prepared to properly manage budgets and human resources; and TDA must commit to meeting people where they are and representing the concerns of all Texans — producers and consumers, alike.
A strong leader can drive the economic, environmental and cultural sectors of agriculture, thus securing its sustainability for generations to come. Ensuring a future for Texas agriculture will result in the continued strength of our economy and security of our nation's food systems. Think Texas Agriculture when you think about national security!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
� On Feb. 23, 1836, the siege of the Alamo began in San Antonio.
� In 1861, President-elect Abraham Lincoln arrived secretly in Washington to take office, following word of a possible assassination plot in Baltimore.
� In 1870, Mississippi was readmitted to the Union.
� In 1927, President Calvin Coolidge signed a bill creating the Federal Radio Commission, forerunner of the Federal Communications Commission.
� In 1945, during World War II, U.S. Marines on Iwo Jima captured Mount Suribachi.
� In 1970, Guyana became a republic within the Commonwealth of Nations.


text:
Event media available
Upgrade your SmallsLIVE membership for unlimited access to our Audio/Video Archive.Sign up
"Since his arrival in New York in 2005, Israeli guitarist Yotam Silberstein has made an impact on the scene with his precision bebop lines and fleet-fingered improvisations." JazzTimes ...Artist profile
A thirty-four-year veteran of the New York music scene, Croft is a multi-instrumentalist, playing six instruments, and counting. Drums, vibraphone, keyboards, chromatic harmonica, bass guitar, and guitar are ...Artist profile
Jared Gold, organist and pianist, earned his B.A. in jazz performance from William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey. He received the 1998 Governor's Award for Jazz Performance ...Artist profile
No artist biography availableArtist profile


text:
Automobile - Parts / Repairs / Services / PaintingWe are an Independent Automotive Service Center featuring quality ACDelco Parts. We offer vehicle maintenance, service & repair.29166 Roadside Dr.Agoura Hills, CA 91301Serving the Local Community for 30 Years!
VIRGIL'S Autobody & Paint is a Full Service Collision Repair & Paint Shop with state of the art equpment and highly trained mechanics.3479 Old Conejo Rd. # E-11Newbury Park, CA 91320


text:
This project has garnered a lot of attention. Investors looking for safe investments should have their eyes on Gulberg Greens!
Gulberg Greens – apartment living to a whole new level
Gulberg Greens has transformed modern living to another level. The scheme's planning and rapid development has the potential to turn it into a new Islamabad.
Gulberg Islamabad: Current Updates
Gulberg Islamabad is a well planned and a very well organized housing scheme in the twin cities. Here are all the updates about Gulberg Islamabad you do not know about.
Gulberg Islamabad in the spotlight
Gulberg Islamabad has been one of the top 3 most popular areas in the city among potential buyers using Berqproperties.com. It is this exceptional popularity that convinced me to cover this project in depth. Continue reading "Gulberg Islamabad in the spotlight"


text:
- Death and Money in the Afternoon: A History of the Spanish Bullfight by Adrian Shubert (review)
- University of Toronto Quarterly
- University of Toronto Press
- Volume 73, Number 1, Winter 2003/04
- pp. 268-270
- Review
- View Citation
- Additional Information
- Purchase/rental options available:
268 letters in canada 2002 university of toronto quarterly, volume 73, number 1, winter 2003/4 occupied those frontiers. Best known in her day for conceiving and editing a series of popular histories of the rivers of North America that continued after her death and reached sixty-five volumes (many still in print), Skinner in her last years edged towards fame in her adopted country and is remembered by a medal in her name issued annually by the Women=s National Book Association and, more recently, by the Library of Congress for being one of the first women to rise to a position of power in the American book publishing industry. In Canada, Skinner was and is mostly unknown, forgotten by even such basic reference works as the Oxford Companion to Canadian Literature until resurrected by Barman. The implicit and by its final sentence explicit claim of Barman=s biography is that Skinner >deserves the recognition of posterity.= If that=s so, it=s not for her literary merits. Barman=s chapter on Skinner=s fiction is repetitive because the stories it discusses are repetitive, the kind of marketdriven writing that prompts phrases like >another of Constance=s stock frontier heroes= and >the requisite happy ending.= The chapters on her other genres are wisely less engaged with the product than with the process, less with art or even craft than with Skinner=s considerable grit and business sense. If Skinner does merit resurrection, it=s not because of what she wrote but because of her determination to support herself as a writer in a society unaccustomed to professional women writers or non-professional historians: the sections on Skinner=s run-ins with Canadian canon-keeper William Arthur Deacon and with the increasingly university-dominated historians of her time are the most interesting in the book. Barman=s account of Skinner=s life is perceptive, sensitive, and meticulously researched. But in this case it=s not the life that matters so much as the forces (to use a word Skinner hated) that created and constrained that life. Barman knows this, even if she doesn=t always remember it. Because a writer has been marginalized by her gender, genre, or place of residence doesn=t necessarily make her interesting: what makes a literary life interesting is either an exceptional individual or exceptional circumstances. For Skinner, meeting the challenge of the latter exhausted any potential for the former. As she wrote in a brutally honest moment, >I=ve never wanted anything in my life with a single-hearted desire, but writing B i.e. writing developed into art and it seems I can=t have that.= (NICK MOUNT) Adrian Shubert. Death and Money in the Afternoon: A History of the Spanish Bullfight Oxford University Press 1999. x, 270. US $24.95 In eighteenth-century Spain a doctoral examination offered one of the customary occasions for a bullfight. An elaborate ceremony surrounded the event, including an equestrian procession by members of the university, and the successful candidate painted his symbol in bull=s blood on the wall humanities 269 university of toronto quarterly, volume 73, number 1, winter 2003/4 of his college. This university custom continued to assert its presence even after the bullfights were no longer held, with red paint taking the place of blood. Like many of the striking historical details in Adrian Shubert=s excellent study, this account of the bullfight=s place in university life calls into question accepted interpretations of the bullfight as a vehicle for timeless values (such as bravery and honour) or conflicts (between nature and culture or male and female) inherent in Spanish culture. The doctoral examination is simply one of a large number of occasions for bullfights that Shubert records, and the shift to red paint indicates that the customs associated with bullfighting underwent changes and adaptations over time. In keeping with such questioning, Shubert=s central argument is that the Spanish bullfight is a >social institution= that has changed in response to shifting historical circumstances. His study places the bullfight in a complex and illuminating relationship to the general history of Spain. Shubert=s introduction reviews the three main theories that trace the...


text:
SKU: 1197950-1Be the first to review!
FREE Shipping Eligibleon orders over $35*
|Nature and Earth united with science.
|Hair Treatment
|Active Ingredients
|Alcohol Denat.; Hydrofluorocarbon 152A; VA/Crotonates/Vinyl Neodecanoate Copolymer; Octylacrylamide/Acrylates/Butylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer; Aminomethyl Propanol; Dimethyl Stearamine; Fragrance; Linalool; Limonene; Water (Aqua); Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate; Polysorbate 60; Stearic Acid; Palmitic Acid; Myristic Acid; Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride; Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Flour Lipids; Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil; Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate; Glycine Soja (Soybean) Sterols; Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide; Ceramide 3; Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate; Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane; Tocopheryl Acetate
|To lock in your finished style, hold can 12-14 inches from hair and spray.
|Get long lasting control for hard to hold styles. This technologically advanced formula provides superior hold and a brilliant sheen without flaking, dulling or causing buildup. Dries almost instantly to prevent stiffness and stickiness. Works great as a finishing spray or creative styling tool. Fortified with exclusive NEXXUSPHERE time released technology, containing nutrients, antioxidants and UV protectors. Experience Nexxus luxury. Scientifically developed. Salon proven. Never tested on animals.
|FLAMMABLE. Do not use product near fire, flame or sparks. Do not smoke until hair is thoroughly dry. Avoid spraying in eyes. Contents under pressure. Do not puncture, incinerate or crush. Do not expose to heat or store at temperatures above 120 degrees F (49 degrees C) as can may burst. Do not use if spray button is missing or defective. Keep out of reach of children. Use only as directed. Use only in well ventilated areas. Intentional misuse by deliberately concentrating and inhaling the contents can be harmful or fatal.
Content and information on Pharmapacks.com is provided for informational purposes only. It is not meant to substitute the advice provided by one's physician or any other medical professional. You should not use the information contained herein for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, immediately contact your health care provider. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. While we work extremely hard to ensure that all product information is correct, manufacturers sometimes change their logos, packaging and products. You should use our site as a reference, carefully read all product packaging, and contact the manufacturer with any questions before using a product. We are not liable for inaccuracies or misstatements about products. Customer reviews are provided for informational purposes only. Customer reviews reflect the individual reviewer's results and experiences only and are not verified or endorsed by Pharmapacks.com. Actual results may vary among users.
There are no reviews yet.Add Review
How do I take advantage of Free Standard Shipping?
Still have questions? You'll find additional information in our Shipping & Returns section at the bottom of any page.


text: When in big cities, stay active. Instead of grabbing buses and taxis, go on foot if your destination is just a mile or two away. According to university studies, as well as fresh air, it adds years to your life and strength to your heart.For example, in Paris, take a one-hour stroll along the beautiful banks of the Seine. In New York, hike through Central Park in early morning. In famed Italian canal city, skip the Venetian gondola rides and hike over the Rialto Bridge and around San Marco Square. Take the Royal Route in Prague, from Prasna Brana, an original gate into the old city, to Celetna Street. In Tokyo, roam Shinjuku Goyoen National Gardens, walk briskly past the ponds, pagodas and cherry trees. For good health, get out there and hike!


text:
Beavers Save Salt Lake City Water
Salt Lake City, thank your local beavers. Were it not for them, you might be drinking/watering/irrigating with diesel fuel this morning.
Salt Lake City, thank your local beavers. Were it not for them, you might be drinking/watering/irrigating with diesel fuel this morning.
Authorities have arrested six men in connection to the rape of a Swiss woman who was on a cycling tour with her husband in Madhya Pradesh, India.
The Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon, where the rowing events of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio De Janeiro will be held, was filled with dead fish earlier this week.
The 2013 Boston Marathon will take place without Ryan Hall, who holds Boston's American record (2:04.58 in 2011), has dropped out of this year's race with a quad injury.
Lindsey Vonn won her sixth-straight World Cup downhill title earlier today.
Enter: Wrigley's new "Alert" gum, a chewable pellet containing 40 milligrams of caffeine that will be released next month.
Retired French cyclist Laurent Jalabert was seriously injured this morning after being struck by a car while on his bike.
According to CEO Bob Dudley, BP—a.k.a. the company with the tagline "Beyond Petroleum"—is getting out of the solar-power business.
Dianna Hanson, a 24-year-old intern at a Fresno, California, wild cat sanctuary, was killed Wednesday after being attacked by a lion.
The U.S. and Russia are uniting against Canada in an effort to win a hockey gold med—er, no. They're uniting to try to ban the international commercial trade of polar bear products.
A good way to get your marathon canceled is to ban women from running, Hamas learned earlier today.
Ken Chase created a company that provides luxury tours for American conservatives. It's—this is important—not a place for angry Cambridge democrats. Also: "angry Cambridge democrat" is really...
A Bulgarian man is going on a hunger strike. While you may presume it to be some kind of protest relating to the fact that Bulgaria, at this very moment, does not have a government, you would be...
A pair of brothers in Utah have been arraigned on charges relating to their failed attempt to raise money to turn a Southern Utah ski area into an exclusive resort.
Want to start barefoot running? If so, according to a study to be published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, you probably want to ease your way into it.


text:
A supportive business leader offered the newly formed Norwegian Human Rights House a rent-free facility in Oslo. Six human rights organisations moved into the house at Urtegata 50 which soon became a hub for human rights activities in Norway.
The opening of the Human Rights House coincided with major changes in Europe including the Berlin Wall falling and the Soviet Bloc dissolving. People hoped democracy and human rights would flourish in former authoritarian states. Many human rights organisations around the world, including those now building a community in the first Human Rights House, focused their efforts on helping the emerging democracies.
A Human Rights House is home to independent non-governmental organisations working to advance human rights in their own country, and abroad. The organisations focus on their own specific human rights issues which range from Women's Rights, Freedom of Expression, to Mothers' and Children's Rights, Fighting Hate Speech, and to LBGT issues – to name but a few.
They ban together in a shared facility to reduce costs, lower overhead, and cooperate on common issues. Every House is founded on the principles of equality and is managed democratically, allowing room for debate, diversity of opinion, and differences in approaches. Working under the same roof creates solidarity which fosters motivation. Small organisations are able to concentrate on the most important aspects of their work and learn from others in the same field.
Impressed with the Human Rights House in Oslo, business leaders offered to set up a foundation to support it. The mandate soon expanded, and in 1992, the newly formed Human Rights House Foundation decided to not only support the Norwegian Human Rights House, but also assist with the establishment of new Human Rights Houses, in Norway and the former Soviet Bloc. The creators and supporters of the Human Rights House concept were confident the model could work for other countries.
And they were right. Today, 16 Human Rights Houses operate in 13 countries and are home to more than 100 independent organisations. They make up the Human Rights House Network, now marking its 20th year empowering, supporting and protecting the human rights defenders who are on the frontline of the struggle for universal human rights.
The birth of an idea to create a Human Rights House in Oslo led to the establishment of Houses from Moscow to London, Warsaw to Kiev, Bergen to Belgrade, and points between. The creators of the concept should be pleased their idea gave rise to a vibrant community of human rights defenders across Western Europe, the Balkans and the Caucasus. And they should be encouraged that the concept continues to attract the attention of human rights defenders around the world.


text:
TONIGHT, September 29th (7:30 PM), the Shadow Lounge (5972 Baum Blvd) presents the most internationally acclaimed collection of poets will be making a surprise stop in Pittsburgh.
Headlined by Derrick Brown (opening artist for The White Stripes; Cold War Kids), Andrea Gibson (Slam Champion, Pushcart Prize Nominee, and 1st Women of the World Poetry Competitions), Shira Erlichman (Pushcart Prize nominee; mesmerizing one-woman band), Anis Mojgani (two-time Individual National Poetry Slam Champion) and Buddy Wakefield (two-time Individual World Poetry Slam Champion, opener and Artist for Ani Difranco and Righteous Babe Records), along with TEN nationally recognized rotating 5th members, this powerhouse cast of poetry superstars have graced stages from San Quentin State Penitentiary all the way to The Tonight Show!
Link to facebook event


text:
Select a source for airport
Use custom airport file
You have to provide airport file in a .dat file.
Your .dat file must start with "I", contain only one airport and end with "99".
Select a file
Compute airport
Here you just need to click on the Process button in order to run genapts850.
Congratulations! You have generated your airport file, you can now download it:Download


text: Wake up and smell the bacon ZelooperZ is cooking because he's back with another screw-face, mosh-inducing rap delight that deserves your undivided attention. The Bruiser Brigade's rising star left the rap blogoshpere dazed once again with another gut punch single entitled "Saggin" that is expected to appear on his upcoming HELP debut project. ZeelooperZ's (?) flurry of vigorously psychotic non-sequitur's along with his absurdly high-octane delivery are proving to be his most compelling assets as he continues to black out over some of the strangest beats his posse has managed to produce up until this point. Stream above and look out for more info on Help in the coming weeks.


text:
Today I traveled to Concan, TX to camp with my dearest friend. We spent our evening by the Frio River, listening to our favorite songs and then walking around campsites as the sun set over the hills. It was gorgeous, and once again I am learning that my days spent out doors bring me so much happiness.
I've become quite tired during the evenings, yet I must still find my strength to write. Colorado photos must be sorted through for they are far too beautiful not to share, as well as photos of the Stanley Hotel!
This year I told myself I would travel more, and I feel as though I have not let myself down. I don't need to travel across the country, traveling to any new destination, whether it's 96 or 1,256 miles away, I long for it all.
New rivers, new trees, new emotions.
This weekend I plan on going about 90 miles outside of my city to a town I've never ventured to. My best friend and I will spend a day and night in nature. My camera shall be loaded with film (or just fully charged) and my mind will be free of all woeful thoughts.
Nature, how I long for you. How you cleanse my soul. xx
Have you ever had a personal connection with nature? An overpowering, almost spiritual, connection? I've always loved nature, but today was the first time I felt an overwhelming connection to the natural state of life.
Adams Falls, hidden away in Rocky Mountain National Park, transformed me, if only for a moment. The water cascading down over rocks and enormous trees that had fallen from time. The known fact that the water was so much more powerful than you. It was the first time I had ever seen a waterfall.
The sound overpowered everything around me and all I could hear was peace; all I could see was beauty. Natural beauty, beauty untouched by human hands. The type of beauty that is forgotten in this day of technology- the day of filters, the day of photoshop, the day of altering everything around us. This waterfall, this piece of Earth, was beautiful, all by itself, it need not compete with the trees or foliage around it, merely complement it.
The metaphor, of course, that caused that one tear to brim my eye, was that of letting go and surrendering. Surrendering all of your vices, all of your pain, and letting them flow with the water, freeing you.
A place to say goodbye.
It would go against everything I spoke of to alter the photographs below, which is why I have not. Here is Adams Falls, in all of it's glorious beauty.
After a 12 hour car ride, my family (minus my older brother!), James and I have finally arrived to Colorado for a nine day vacation in the wilderness. Well, mostly wilderness. Tomorrow we will travel to a log cabin near Rocky Mountain National Park. I cannot wait to spend the days immersed in nature. Hiking up mountains, breathing in the fresh air, drinking coffee on the porch overlooking the trees transforming into their fall selves as I transform into one with the leaves. My metaphors make no sense at this hour, for I am quite tired.
Expect many pictures xx
Big Bend was breathtaking. The drive to the National Park seemed like an illusion. The mountains were so high above the clouds, that they appeared to be vague, blue shadows in the sky.
Once we were inside Big Bend National Park, James and I went to the Chisos Basin to climb Emory Peak. The next day we ventured down the path that led us to Santa Elena Canyon, a view my dad said I had to witness. The canyon towered 1,500 feet above you and all you could do was stare in silence.
These photos don't do Big Bend any justice. Without the emotions behind it, these are merely gorgeous photos and you can only just begin to enjoy the beauty. Nature, especially at this scale, must be experienced firsthand. xx


text:
Age-Related Fertility Decline Occurs In Men Too
The double fertility that are age-related is a natural occurrence, thus skewed fault of females in issues of virility should really be eliminated.
The decrease in virility begin for the thirties that are late becomes considerably pronounced from the forties. The entire quality that is sperm as years improvements. More mature boys will more and more be not capable of fathering extra offspring, or simply just subscribe to miscarriages that are age-related fetal irregularities.
Boys should generate conclusion in issues of replica very early sufficient, managing this along with other contending appeal like professions and development that is personal.
Your own reproductive strategies has to take membership of the latest years. Chances are you'll decide to deliver forwards, rather than wait childbearing if coming to the decade that is fourth. This could not at all times comply with your general aspirations, but ought to be considered should you harbor an interest that is eventual creating a family group.
Understanding of virility decrease ought to be in conjunction with a living that preserves optimum quality that is sperm. Puffing, chewing miraa and employ of additional drugs that are recreational all extremely poisonous to sperm high quality. It doesnt conclusion here. Sedentary life-style leading to obesity as well as other diseases like diabetic issues additionally subscribe to fertility potential that is declining. You intend to stay in optimal wellbeing and give a wide berth to conditions that are preventable may speed up the decrease in their reproductive possibilities.
But our company is residing a years where even plans that are best-laid reach a cropper. Just what exactly when you get trapped when you look at the humdrum of contending appeal, and possess to break the rules their projects for increasing a family group with the decades that are later?
Exactly like for females, boys have a choice of virility conservation. You might decide to freeze their sperms as a backup for future usage whenever problems for beginning a grouped family tend to be more beneficial. Better yet, you can freeze fertilized egg (labeled as embryos), if currently in a relationship that is stable perhaps not prepared however to begin a family group. Frozen sperms or embryos preserve their unique high quality till ultimate incorporate. But you can find outlay and dilemmas that are ethical such issues that you need to end up being prepared to deal with.
Recall also improvements in assisted conception method cannot completely make up for age-related virility decrease. Seek to seek services very early if conception doesn't happen within 6 months whilst for the age group that is advanced. Dont submit the feminine mate alone to a fertility center, it is wise to come with their when you might function as the any with a challenge. They doesnt situation you must accept the natural fertility decline that comes with getting older if you have fathered a child before.


text:
I had lunch with Hillary Clinton. Really. I was on vacation on the Caribbean island of Anguilla, at a hotel that's a mixture of villas-for-rent that stand right next to big houses owned by rich Americans.
One day, several black SUVs arrived—men in suits wearing earpieces got out. I asked another tourist, "What's that about?"
Read more at Reason


text:
|Less than a Treason
by Dana Stebenow
The long-awaited sequel to Bad Blood and 21st entry in New York Times-bestselling author Dana Stabenow's atmospheric Alaskan crime series.
Kate Shugak is a native Aleut working as a private investigator in Alaska. She's 5'1" tall, carrires a scar that runs from ear to ear across her throat, and owns a half-wolf, half-husky dog named Mutt. Resourceful, strong-willed, defiant, Kate is tougher than your average heroine—and she needs to be, to survive the worst the Alaskan wilds can throw at her. And throw their worst the wilds have: Kate and Mutt have both been shot.
"The dialogue is smart, authentic, and reminiscent of Elmore Leonard, had he trained his shrewdly ironic eye on the wilds of Alaska rather than the seamier side of Detroit. " —Starred Review in Publishers Weekly
"Crime fiction doesn't get much better than this." —Starred Review in Booklist
Follow Dana Stabenow:


text:
At the moment the thresholds are set at 350 CO2e for low, 450 CO2e for medium and 550 CO2e for high, but we don't have a lot of historical data to base these thresholds on, so we might shift them over time, or even seasonally. Our goal is to give users a realistic view of when emissions are at their worst and we should be working together to reduce our demand, and times when emissions are relatively low so we have as small an impact as possible when we use electricity.
What are the thresholds in CHOICE for low, medium and high emissions?Follow
0 comments
Please sign in to leave a comment.


text:
This is awesome! Thank you Lisa!
Featuring one of my original hand drawn artworks, this printable wall art is a quick and easy way to decorate a room. Simply Buy...Download...Print....Frame!
The instant download means you can print the art straight away at home, work or at a professional printer. PLUS! A very handy Printing Guide is included with tips and ideas on how to make the most of your wall art print. I've even included a list of some professional online printers for you.
US paper size
- 11 x 14
- can be scaled to 8 x 10, 4 x 5
International paper size
- can be scaled to A4, A5
Happy decorating!
This is awesome! Thank you Lisa!
A lovely tender swan printable wall art, perfect for a girl's room.


text:
- Bikes
- Services
- Components
- Clothing
- Accessories
- Brands
- About
Flag Bikes opened its Battersea doors in 2014. Just three short years later we were proud to be named one of Britain's Best Bike Shops by Cycling Weekly magazine. Since opening we have accumulated hundreds of 5-star reviews on Google & Facebook, together with thousands of Facebook likes.
Located directly on London's Cycling Superhighway CS8, our shop primarily serves commuter cyclists, recreational road bikers, and also local families with our large selection of quality kids bikes. We are never shy about getting people out on proper test rides, so bring some photo ID and go for a spin around nearby Battersea Park if a bike takes your fancy!
Friendly, Enthusiastic and Professional are Flag Bikes' core values. Combine these with our fabulous customers and you have the reason for our success. I'm very proud of my shop and my team. I hope you will become a customer and find out why!
John Hamlen, Managing Director


text:
Adding a New Dimension – Bringing Therapeutic Sound into your Therapy Room
Do you use music in your therapy room? If so, what is your preference – classical, new age, traditional, contemporary? Something else? Have you ever wondered how and why certain tracks or sounds are better at relaxation than others? Have you ever struggled to find the 'right' music for your style of treatment?
I have been working with therapeutic sound and music since 1994 and have developed different techniques based on how our brains have evolved to respond to sound and music due to the way our brains have evolved over millions of years. Different sounds (whether they be music or nature sounds) can elicit different responses, so high pitched sudden and short sounds will stimulate the mind and body and low pitches will relax".
These days more research is being done to find out how we react to different instruments. For example, people will use words such as 'warm, rich and cuddly' to describe the sound of the Himalayan singing bowls whereas the crystal singing bowls were found to be 'cleansing, clear and cool'. A BAST Sound Therapist will use this 'sound psychology' as well as other techniques based on research to help improve health and wellbeing.
Therapeutic sound and music can be applied in your therapy room and I'd love to share my latest project 'LifeSonics RelaxÒ' with you. LifeSonics RelaxÒ is a 'music medicine' programme that will mainly be delivered in group relaxation sessions. Participants will be taken on a musical journey designed to improve health and wellbeing. As well as group sessions, you can download separate tracks to use in your therapy room or at home and/or work. This 'Consciously Designed Music' (CDM) draws on research in the fields of sound and music psychology, sound therapy, sound cognition and neuroscience together with creativity to create music for a therapeutic effect. Great composers such as Mozart used sounds to elicit different emotions and many great artists use music to tell a story – especially in film. Most composers use intuition and experience to create their music and there is nothing wrong with that – a lot of great music is created in exactly this way.
I also feel that reducing music just to a specific formula could take away its soul, which is something that I definitely don't want to do! I see my compositions rather baking a cake. The cake could end up being chocolate, carrot or lemon. The basic ingredients you need will always be roughly the same (eggs, flour, butter) but you can add extra ingredients until you get the exact flavour, size and shape you want. When I set out to create a piece for relaxation or creativity – just like baking two different cakes, once I have the basic ingredients in place I will then add different ingredients (instruments, musical intervals and 'motives', tempo, shape and time). I also try to use as many natural sounds as possible. A study by Ratcliffe et.al, (2013) found that 'bird songs and calls were….the type of natural sound most commonly associated with perceived stress recovery and attention restoration.'
I will sit with a piece for weeks and weeks sometimes. Listening to it and feeling the effect, tweaking one or two sounds, re-listening, re-tweaking – it can be a real 'fine tuning' process. In my last piece, 'Glow', I knew the last track needed something and yet I just couldn't find the sound I needed. It took months! One day I thought popped into my head – I need Gibbons! I found a lovely sample of some Gibbons in the rainforest and it has brought the piece to life.
Take a look at my compositions on my Soundcloud account – you can also go on to www.lifesonics.com and in exchange for signing up you can get a sample of 'Cosmic' one of the LifeSonics RelaxÒ sessions. When you are next considering what music to accompany your therapy session, think about how the tracks make you feel. Stop for a moment, take in what you are hearing and feeling – let your mind go and see what happens. If the music supports you, relaxes you and helps you feel refreshed it is perfect. If it distracts you, the tempo is too fast or there are too many high pitches, you may want to try something else.
By Lyz Cooper of The British Academy of Sound Therapy –
BCMA Independent School
All about You – Feelings, Healings & Chakras – a different way
Moments in Time, are they yours, are they mine?
The verse collection by Ceran
I am an holistic therapist and everyday kind of person, who for many years has practiced reflexology and working with Angelic vibrational energy to facilitate a way of healing the emotional, physical and spiritual body.
I believe in Angels, and during my lifetime, my intuitive connection to them has guided me on a path of discovery about myself, other people and the vast range of emotional challenges which life presents us with. Few of us realise what our soul's purpose is in life, but when we each are ready, and the time is right, our journey begins to gently unfurl and we are awakened to tread our own path of discovery in many different ways. My path has led me to expressing the whispers of Angels in verse creating a collection of very special books, to touch people's hearts and soothe their souls, and help them find a way to reflect, release and begin to heal negative emotions and situations with Angelic wisdom, purpose, positivity and love, each in their own way.
Let me begin by saying that I am not naturally a writer, and so it came as quite the shock when initially all of these beautiful, uplifting words of verse came to me so strongly that I couldn't ignore them and then more just kept flowing in. I hadn't really any idea of the reasons why, but responded in my usual way and I 'trusted and went with it'. Over time when all of the verses had been written, and there were no more words forthcoming, I realised I now held a complete collection of verse, to do what with? – I had no idea.- I 'felt' there was a purpose to it all and so I waited for the next 'intuitive update' of what to do with them, knowing it would come when the moment was right.
I showed a few of the verses to people across the age spectrum from teenage to mature years. The response from them all was the same. Each recognised that whichever particular verse they were 'drawn to' reflected emotional memories or a situation they were currently experiencing, or had experienced within their own lives. They each deeply resonated and connected with their chosen verse, for their own reasons and said they felt as if the verse could have been written personally for each one of them and felt they had 'got what they needed' from the words.
I began to understand and realise that the purpose of the words and the verses was to share them with others, to open an emotional heart and soul connection through their own recognition of the sentiments, and their intention to 'not feel stuck' any longer. The verses are uplifting, inspiring and offer a way of tapping into and reflecting the real life emotions which we experience regularly, and can create upset and worry and a dis-connect from ourselves. They help us to re-connect with ourselves and emotionally move forward in our lives.
It was then that the name Rainbow Inspired, the rainbow colours, the title of the books and the book format were now all revealed to me. So I trusted, took a leap of faith and last year walked on the path of self-publishing these precious books called The Rainbow Inspired Verse Collection. Moments in Time, are they yours, are they mine? by Ceran.
Time and time again, people are quite amazed when they choose a book they 'feel drawn to', turn the pages to a verse which 'jumps out at them' and recognise it reflecting exactly a situation or emotion they personally relate to. They are also quite surprised by the emotional realisation, release and reaction often experienced.
If recently you have been calling out for answers, guidance, support or help in some way… Silently ask your question…
choose your book and let the pages fall open where they may. Feel your heart and soul's response. Reflect on the Angel's spiritual wisdom in the verses. Be inspired, and embrace their reply with gratitude.
with love and Angel blessings, Ceran.
Web: www.rainbowinspired.co.uk
Email: email@example.com
Thank you to Ceran for sharing her journey – the BCMA encompass a wide range of therapies under our umbrella from bodywork to healing, some of them well known some are unique to the registered practitioner find out more – visit our website to find information on a therapy, a practitioner in your area or if you are a practitioner find out how you can join us.
BCMA Featured Members #2 Valerie Cheong
Nurturing Your Unique Brand – Wellbeing for the self employed and business owners
Valerie has worked in a number of fields: financial services and project management before starting her career as a self employed. Having made several career changes, Valerie has learnt to raise her own self awareness so as to make each career transition, a journey worth making. She worked for a number of years with business owners to grow and consolidate their businesses. She then joined a Pan African Trust to help beneficiaries carry out the projects that received funding from her employer.
Having to travel and work with people of different cultural and professional backgrounds, Valerie has learnt to look after her own wellbeing. She used her self help Reiki techniques as well as meditated regularly. She started her training as a Law of Attraction Practitioner so that she can use it to achieve her own personal goals. She is used to push the boundaries of her comfort zone and adjust to different cultural norms. She is now a Reiki teacher based on Eastern Principles ( Komyo Reiki Kai)
From Valerie's personal perspective, wellbeing encompasses many aspects – managing change and befriending your worries, time management and learning new tools such as financial planning are all essential to building your resilience when you are self employed or running a business.
Self employment can be a daunting project. Deciding on how to market your services, what prices would you be charging, how to work out how much you need financially to run your business, how to define your Unique Selling Points (USP) and use it to raise your visibility.
Valerie is now using her work experience to coach and mentor her clients who are looking to start their own business or grow their existing business or run their charities. She provides them support to improve their managerial skills, grow their comfort zone as well as their financial literacy. An understanding of financial planning is important for the personal wellbeing of the business owner or founder as finances is part of the lifeline for your self employment or organisation to be successful.
Valerie is a member of the International Coaching Federation and has a certificate in Professional Coaching. She is also a Neuro Linguistic Programming Practitioner and has received training in Coaching for Conflict Resolution. Find out more about Valerie and her work
Valerie is a registered therapist of the BCMA through her membership of the Association of Energy Therapists
Would you like to be a BCMA Featured Member? or find out more about the BCMA? contact Tracy at the BCMA Office
BCMA Guides Update
The BCMA announced the launch of the BCMA Guides, at our first ever Road Show on 18th May 2013, one of which I have helped to compile 'The BCMA Guide to Finding a Therapist' one of 4 guides released as either an online download or in paper format for a very low fee.
Other titles
'BCMA Guide to setting up a Therapy Organisation'
'BCMA Guide to setting up a Therapy School'
'BCMA Guide to setting up a Therapy Clinic'
These are available for pay per download from the BCMA website at a cost of £2.50*, a paper copy will be available in the future in A5 booklet form at a premium price, Please contact the BCMA office for further details.
*£2.50 is the BCMA member's price, non members will be asked to pay £5 but the difference will be refunded against future membership.
Which title would you be interested in? Are there any titles you would like to see added?
Tracy Smith BCMA Administrator
BCMA Featured Members – #1 Stef Watts
Stef at your4legs
Complementary Therapies for Horses, Humans and Canines
Stef has always had a passion for working with animals and spent several years researching the most appropriate Complementary Therapy courses to enable her to make the step change to becoming a self-employed therapist. Stef completed an Equine Sports Massage ITEC Diploma with Mary Bromiley in 2007, after first completing an ITEC Diploma in Human Massage with Bodybasics in Stratford . During the same period she was also busy studying for a MSc. In McTimoney Animal Manipulation, from which she graduated in December 2008. Following this, Stef has added a number of additional tools to her portfolio, including Deep Oscillation® Massage, Omega Low Level Laser and ArcEquine Therapy.
Although Stef had never seriously considered working as a human therapist, she thoroughly enjoyed the ITEC Human Massage course and, as a result, has a number of people with horse riding and other sports related injuries on her varied list of clients. To complete her portfolio, Stef launched Equipoise Equine Gait and Rider Position Analysis in March 2013. This analysis is aimed at identifying gait asymmetries in the horse and assessing the rider's balance using high-speed video work (up to 300 frames / second) and special gait analysis measurement software from Quintic Sports Consultancy. When Stef is not busy working, she likes to spend time with her "horse widower" husband and her own horse Mr G. She also enjoys a number of outdoor pursuits including mountaineering and running, having completed the Berlin marathon in 2013.
For more information visit Stef's website www.your4legs.co.uk
Congratulations to Stef for being our very first featured member.
Any BCMA Member associations, schools or therapists wishing to be featured please contact Tracy at the office
Dowsing for Health and Energy 17th May
Saturday 17th May 2014
St.Anne's Heath County Junior School,
Sandhills Lane, Virginia Water,SurreyThe course will be run by Keith Harmon and Jane Court who are both very knowledgeable dowsers in the health field, experienced therapists and teach health dowsing for the British Society of Dowsers. Click here for more details and a booking form
BCMA Spring Road Show
Unfortunately there was not enough interest in the Road Show in Newbury so sadly this has been cancelled. We will be contacting those that booked shortly
We will of course make sure to advise you of our next event as soon as we have details.
BCMA Office


text:
Napa Valley is well known as a wine and culinary destination but ten years ago, a festival was founded to establish it as a cultural power as well. Festival del Sole runs for ten days in mid to late July (next year: July 15-24) and attracts a panoply of well known artists. (Among the performers in past years: jazz musician Chris Botti, opera star Renee Fleming and six time Tony winner Audra McDonald. ) It also involves most of the major wineries in the Valley to host special lunches and dinners and it is during those events that festival regulars who come every year catch up. "It's like a summer camp for adults," said one regular who like many, comes up from her home in Los Angeles. "We look forward to seeing each other every year. We wouldn't miss this event."
There are obvious reasons. Wine lovers would obviously be drawn to a dinner at wineries such as Far Niente and Opus One. The settings are, of course, magnificent, including wineries such as Seven Stones and Darioush that are fascinating on their own as buildings, the former as a gallery of modern art, the latter, a copy of a Persian palace. The lineup of performers is world class and although financially subsidized, some appear simply because they're fond of the festival. "What we paid Herb Alpert wouldn't even have paid to bring up his band," says Rick Walker, the festival director. "But he wanted to be here." He and wife Lani Hall performed at twilight at the stone castle Castello di Amorosa to rapturous applause and a standing ovation. The Dance Gala featuring 12 soloists and principal dancers from leading companies such as American Ballet Theater, the San Francisco Ballet and the Royal Ballet earned the same reaction on one of the festival's last nights. So did actor and now singer Kevin Spacey performing at the Festival Gala.
Following the Gala, there was an auction with lots such as a red carpet appearance with Spacey, a private viewing of the Palio in Siena, and a trip to Cuba with Rick Walker plus dinner with Gloria and Emilio Estefan; over $2 million was raised to help bring free and low cost concert performances to local residents and increase arts education for students in Napa County schools. That, as organizers explain, is the real goal of the festival but experiencing exceptional performances in beautiful settings isn't a bad way to achieve it.
How to Get There: In style, of course. If you're flying into San Francisco and renting a car, it's very easy to get a car that's on par with the others driven by Napa residents. Enterprise's Exotic Car Collection has elite cars ranging from a BMW 585i to a Maserati GranTurismo Convertible with no more paperwork than renting a Nissan Altima.


text:
Geoff Crockford BSc Hons
Archaeological Applications
Dowsing is a familiar practice to Archaeology. It is used generally to find physical objects and structures in the ground. There is no doubt it has its successes but it also has its failures. Often the dowser locates energies, which are interpreted as real things in the ground, but on excavation nothing is found.
Such was the case during an extensive dowsing survey at the Historic Chenies Manor House in Buckinghamshire 2004.
During the survey of the grounds and adjacent fields the dowsing implied there were extensive physical structures in the ground namely foundations and tunnels.
Several tunnels under the house gardens exist and can be accessed. The purpose of these tunnels has given rise to considerable conjecture. This has included their use as escape tunnels, secret passage ways to move around the manor estate undetected and even to garrisoning and mobilising soldiers to protect Chenies distinguished guests and residents such as Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I.
Permission to investigate by excavation was given by owner Elisabeth Macleoud Matthews.
Applying the Paramagnetic and Diamagnetic model of dowsing it was clear the magnetic fields were real. Their source materials could be identified clearly using witnesses and the geometry, behaviour and interactions of the fields demonstrated.
Plotting Form is an essential technique in Biolocation. Form represents the point on the ground at which the dowser detects a magnetic field from a source in the ground by walking through it as it emerges above ground. The pattern that the source material is laid out in and the associated form lines have been shown by experiment to be synonymous. Therefore form on the surface can be interpreted as plan or blue print of the source material below ground.
Plotting has to be careful and meticulous. It is easy to get conditioned into following straight lines and regular geometric patterns and miss curves, zigzags, irregular shapes, changes in direction and even breaks in the line. Different lines can intersect or overlap and a wrong turn can be taken so to speak.
After careful checking by two different dowsers the form was interpreted as being walls or at least foundations or debris in the ground and possibly tunnels linking up with the tunnels around the house.
Systematic trench excavations revealed nothing and even drilling down in several places some 15 feet failed to find any physical structures. This was at first disappointing and certainly puzzling particularly because the dowsing responses were strikingly clear and convincing.
It was known that the fields from very small quantities of material could be detected and in fact powdered material and chemicals as a non-physical form could be dowsed. It was hypothesised a source of material in the soil having a non- physical form was responsible. A technique was developed to test this hypothesis whereby excavation trenches were precisely dug across form lines and the soil under the lines removed carefully in layers a few inches deep. Each layer was carefully placed in a bag and kept in the correct order of removal. As each layer was removed the trench cavity was dowsed and the bag containing the soil layer dowsed.
As the excavation progressed the form line could be dowsed as it was on the surface of the soil over the trench with no response from the soil in the bags.
Eventually a depth was reached when no dowsing response occurred over the trench but did when the removed soil was dowsed.
Subsequent removed soil layers and the trench produced no further Reponses.
This showed quite clearly there was a distinct layer of soil vertically down in the ground that was responsible for the dowsing.
Further techniques and experiments quickly established these extensive physical structures being dowsed were in fact layers of chemical material in the ground that produced quite intricate form.
The composition of these chemical layers was determined using witnesses and this showed them to contain the chemicals associated with bricks, mortar and flint. So in fact what was being dowsed was the chemical residue a combination of dust and possibly the actual chemical molecules from the material in the soil.
This discovery quickly led to the realisation that this process could be an extremely important revolutionary technique in Archaeology. Further research revealed buildings, other structures, activities and processes produce and deposit material and chemicals on the ground the nature of the deposition acting as a form of stencil.
If the ground is undisturbed the material will migrate down into the soil as a distinct layer maintaining the pattern as stencilled on the surface. In the case of Chenies what was being dowsed was the complete detailed magnetic blueprint of a working Tudor manor estate (originating from material some 2 feet down in the ground).
The survey showed up another aspect of the complexity of the dowsing phenomenon. The drainage ditches running from the estate were dowsing the same way as the tunnels in the house grounds during the survey. It was difficult to distinguish between them and as known tunnels were dowsed in the gardens it was logical to assume the similar dowsed features in the adjacent fields were also tunnels. However the extent of the engineering necessary to build such a system did give cause for concern. Techniques were eventually developed to distinguish between the two.
The ditches were long since filled sealing in their chemicals and preserving their geometry. The confusion with tunnels was further exasperated because the ditches ran directly into the tunnel system that then coursed under the manor house gardens. They opened out onto the side of a river valley well beyond the manor house. To distinguish between tunnel and ditch system required a detailed understanding of the behaviour and interaction of their magnetic fields. They could not be distinguished between by traditional dowsing. The purpose of the tunnels then became clear. They were a waste and effluent system carrying such material from the estate under the manor picking up its waste and effluent and away to the river valley. The chemicals from this effluent could be clearly dowsed in the ditches and tunnels right down into the valley.
Chenies provided conclusive evidence of chemicals forming distinct layers in the soil. Important principles using this process as an investigative technique were established. It can be visualised as an elaborate stain developing on the ground that migrates down into it over time as a complete system. The older the stain the deeper it penetrates. Its chemicals persist for hundreds even thousands of years.
The stain just a few inches thick is very intricate two dimensionally. Stains when dowsed produce magnetic fields that can be detected and drawn on the ground surface like a detailed set of plans or blueprints.
Different periods have different plans with their source having a characteristic chemical composition associated with that period.
Since Chenies techniques have been refined and developed and applied to a number of archaeological investigations with incredibly detailed and precise information being extracted from the magnetic blueprints dowsed.
One interesting application of this technique has been the study of Ley lines. Much has been written about the dowsing of them. As long linear corridors of energy they certainly exist and dowsers from all walks locate them skilfully. The interpretation of what they are varies considerably and of course they hold pride and place in the world of mysticism and spirituality. Many have been studied using Biolocation and these have quite clearly been shown to be old tracks and roads spanning hundreds even thousands of years. The reason they are corridors of energy is because the use of the surface for transport has resulted in an enormous cocktail of chemicals being deposited in a regular pattern. This cocktail set up a staining process precisely recording all chemical activity on the surface. It can be shown quite clearly, as at Chenies that in the Ley lines studied the energy is magnetic with its source being stains in the ground. For archaeology this means that these corridors have a complete record of the its use and activities going on along it. It is stating the obvious the importance of roads and tracks in connecting places and events in time and History. The development and use of wheeled transport throughout history follows a well-defined chronology and all this is evident in the stains underneath these tracks and roads.
There has been one such investigation that has connected places in time and history with astonishing results. Investigation into Iron Age sites has resulted in the development of an incredible if not contentious picture of what pre roman Britain was really like.
From extensive field research carried out all over Britain it has emerged that up to the Roman invasion a magnificent civilisation flourished in Britain with the druids at its very core. It was at the very least as magnificent as the Aztec or Egyptian civilisation. Its magnetic blueprint can be found all over the country and is more spectacular than any physical remains or ruins. They were superb engineers. They built magnificent temples and terraformed the landscape with roads and huge earthworks. Having an essentially a wood based technology there are very little physical remains for conventional archaeological techniques to find .The magnetic blueprint shows how Britains ancient sites such as stone circles, ancient earthworks and hill forts are all connected. The society was fundamentally peaceful by intent, intellectual and very spiritual.
Then the Romans came.........
The magnetic energy from the chemical stains of this civilisation penetrates up through Britains fields, our gardens, and even the concrete of our roads to this very day.
It has a dramatic story to tell to those who want to find out what Britain was really like before the Romans came and what happened when they arrived.
|Copyright © 2007 N. Hughes & G. Crockford


text:
A cloudy, windy day on the allotment
The summer raspberries had all this year's fruiting canes taken out and the new canes which are this year's growth and which will fruit next year reduced to 4/5 per station. The old canes were added to the pile for our New Year bonfire.
We made a start on preparing the beds for the winter and managed to get one well forked over and a layer of leaf mould added.
The comfrey which we use as a green manure had its last cut and the leaves were added to the compost heap. There was poor pollination on the apples this year but Discovery seemed to have set well and have a reasonable crop. But the fruit has turned out diseased, badly misshapen and now started to rot so the netting was taken off and apples left for the birds to enjoy. We picked some vegetables for the FEDAGA show at the weekend and put together runner beans, marrows, carrots, Kelsae onions and potatoes for exhibiting – a small selection compared to what we have had in previous years but it has been a very difficult year for growing. Showing means finding for example 5 runner beans, all the same size, straight and undamaged, or more difficult, 3 carrots, same size and no damage – you can find you are pulling up all your carrots to find 3 suitable ones! But showing is fun and good to see how others have managed and a good time to pick up on how other varieties do.
We had been looking forward to some early leeks this year but they are all going to seed. Fortunately we planted others later on so we will have a crop for later in the winter. The Autumn raspberries are slow in ripening but at lunchtime, I saw a young pheasant making its way towards them so that is possibly the reason we are not finding any ripe fruit. We haven't had to net these in previous years but it seems we need to do this from now on.
Jobs for next Thursday: Weeding round the hazels and autumn digging.
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.


text:
Bayard Printing Group | One Maynard Street | Williamsport, PA 17701 | Phone: (570) 326-7634 | Toll Free (800) 432-8738 | Fax: (570) 323-8538
This site and its contents are protected by United States and International copyright law. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited.
Welcome to Bayard's private portal for customers and authorized guests to access posted proofs for review and approval.
Our system avoids potential email problems allowing direct access via any desktop, laptop, iPad, iPhone and Android web browser.
Enter your assigned "FileCode" to access posted files from wherever you are.
Resolving e-Direct Issues
To access files please type your personal "FileCode" exactly as received in the above field and click "SUBMIT"
You will be automatically redirected to our new eProof site in four ( 4 ) seconds.


text:
Tirinhas Dr.Pepper
Postado por Wendeu
Peguei algumas aew =D
Quer ver mais acesse: Dr.Pepper
This entry was posted on October 4, 2009 at 12:14 pm, and is filed under . Follow any responses to this post through RSS. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Assinar: Postar comentários (Atom)


text:
Small Valve Allows Multiple Outlets from One Inlet
The Spartan Scientific Series 35KR 2-way, 2-position normally closed or normally open internal pilot diaphragm solenoid valve is a variation on the Series 3500, featuring a miniaturized size relative to flow rate allowing the user to manifold multiple outlets with one inlet. . The 35KR's detailed intermediate orifice design creates an uncomplicated sealing pattern that can be mounted to integrated equipment and varied, complex manifold configurations with simple mounting screws, reducing leak points and required connections. The 1.5 inch nylon valve body can be gang mounted for extremely small envelope packages with many outputs, while the 12mm orifice promotes full flow. The 35KR has a pressure range of 0 – 150 psi with ¼" to ½" NPT, an ambient temperature range of -10° to +50°C, a push, non-locking manual override, and is compatible with air, oil, water, emulsion and insert gases.
• Function: 2-way, 2-position normally closed or normally open internal pilot diaphragm • Orifice Sizes: 1/2'' • Flow Factors: Up to 2.45 Cv • Temp. Range: (Fluid max. 90°C) Ambient -10° to +50°C • Response Time: 20 to 80 ms complete cycle


text:
This sweet Ocicat-Bengal mix is named Hannah. We like to call her Homebody Hannah because she's so very thankful to finally have a home after living on the streets. Hannah was rescued from an apartment complex off of Buford Highway after a volunteer who feeds a feral colony there spotted her, and realized that all Hannah really wanted, after all, was a home to call her very own. So, our volunteer took Hannah to a temporary foster home while we find the perfect forever match. Hannah is between 1 and 2 years old.
Hannah's favorite thing in the world is wet food, and she has the most to say to her foster mother when she hears a can opening! She isn't shy about asking for affection and pets when she wants them, and likes to have her tummy rubbed, and enjoys having her flanks firmly patted.
Like many cats, Hannah is perfectly content in her cat solitude. She would be an ideal only cat for someone who wants companionship, but doesn't need constant attention from a pet. Hannah likes to hang out around humans, but isn't a lap cat at her foster mother's home. Because Hannah is in a home with a lot of other cats, her personality could be a little different once her environment changes. She tolerates other cats and is never aggressive, but doesn't like bullies! Hannah should be an only kitty, or with a small number of equally laid back feline friends. SNAP has never seen Hannah around dogs.
As you can see from the pictures below, Hannah has very long, tilted, wise green eyes and a refined profile, typical of Oci-cats. She has the combination coloring of a traditional brown tabby and a calico, with washes of orange fur spread throughout her coat. She has a beige-pink nose, outlined in dark brown, and long white whiskers that tilt up at the corners like a dapper man from the 1890s. You can see that Hannah has some amazing striations in her coat, a testament to her Bengal heritage.
Homebody Hannah is just itching to get her feet under your table (so to speak). We would love a chance to introduce you to her – we know that getting to know prospective roommates is very important – so drop us a note and we'll be glad to set it up. If you're sure Hannah is the one for you – and why wouldn't she be? – you can also pre-apply to adopt her online.


text:
- Phone:
- 317-278-8331
- Email:
- email@example.com
Albert Chanthaboury, M.A.
Coordinator for Asian/AAPI Student Services
Albert Chanthaboury serves as the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Service Coordinator at IUPUI where he will support various student organizations and develop programs to address the stigmas, stereotypes, and common barriers that the AAPI community experiences at IUPUI. He plans to continue his efforts to empower and develop the AAPI students at the institution using multiple platforms to engage in their success. Albert is committed to not only being an activist and voice for the AAPI community but rather a pinnacle focal point for resources and support systems at IUPUI.
Leading to this role, Albert was born and raised in Chicago, IL and a proud POSSE Scholar, Cohort 9. He also holds a double bachelor degree in International Studies, Chinese, and a certificate in Asian American Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and received his M.A. in Higher Education from Northeastern Illinois University. Albert also contributes a tremendous amount of time within his fraternity and involvement with MAASU which continue to inspire him for his continued work.


text:
Health & Safety is a tremendously important issue not only within the workplace but also in all areas and aspects of life. Myself I did a year long course on the subject back at the turn of the century plus I have attended a few one day health & safety refresher courses. The point of discussion that I am bringing up although is on a personal basis when I did my main course I found the subject of health & safety to be extremely boring, and although I am not guilty of falling asleep during lectures it is not an exaggeration to say that it was not a rare event to start hearing snoring in the class room! Even the lecturer admitted on more that one occasion that it was the most boring subject to teach. I would be interested in hearing other peoples opinions or views on this subject, could it have been the lecturers fault and the way that he taught the subject as if he found it a boring subject then obviously this can not have helped his teaching style! Or is it just a plain boring subject?
Domestic Cleaning Franchise | Work From Home | Home Based Business | Franchise Business Opportunity | Management Franchise | Franchise Advice | Be Your Own Boss
Robin Harrison is the managing Director of Dolly Char (UK) Ltd. Dolly Char (UK) Ltd is one of the fastest growing domestic cleaning franchise companies in the UK today giving people the opportunity to work from the comfort of their own home.
Monday, 15 September 2008
Health and Safety important but wow how boring!
Posted by Franchise Business Advice at 09:33
No comments:
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Global Multi-Asset Income
Investment Objective
Schroders Global Multi-Asset Income strategy aims to provide income and capital growth over the medium to longer term.
The strategy offers investors the potential to fulfill a broad range of goals, including the enhancement of income, the growth of capital and the reduction of risk - both in and out of retirement. It seeks to maximize risk-adjusted income by dynamically investing across a diversified portfolio of global equities, global fixed income and alternative asset classes, aiming to generate an attractive level of income on a sustainable basis through security selection and active asset allocation. The team takes a benchmark-unconstrained approach, which can invest flexibly across countries, sectors and markets, and implement a robust risk management process.
Management Team
The strategy is managed by Aymeric Forest, members of the Schroders Multi-Asset Investments team, and draws upon the research and experience of over 200 investment professionals from the Multi-Asset and Fixed Income teams.
Investment Philosophy
We believe that the key to delivering sustainable income is to generate yield from a range of sources without taking undue risk. A multi-asset income approach looks not only to bonds, but also to dividend-paying equities, real estate investment trusts (REITs) and other income-producing assets across the capital structure to provide investors with the potential to achieve consistent, sustainable income across market environments as well as providing capital growth, lower volatility, a level of downside protection and protection from inflation. We take a disciplined, yet flexible, approach to building a directly invested portfolio diversified across global equities, global bonds and alternative asset classes.
Investment Process
For nearly 70 years, we have been managing multi-asset mandates for clients around the globe. Our investment process focuses on quality, diversification and liquidity with the goal of generating income while mitigating risk.
Key Features
- Strategy based on pursuing a target annual yield of 5% (gross of fees) with an annual return target of 7% (gross of fees) over a full market cycle
- Flexible, directly invested portfolio diversified across global equities and global bonds
- Focus on quality: we do not chase the highest yields, but rather seek investments that generate sustainable yield and are backed by stable fundamentals, while also offering capital growth
- Active risk management with target portfolio volatility of between 5% and 7%, and never over 10%
Investment Options*
- Separate Accounts
- Sub-Advisory
Please consider a mutual fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. For access to the prospectus, please click the following link: prospectuses. To obtain any further information on any Schroders fund, please read the prospectus, call your financial advisor or call Schroder Mutual Funds at (800) 464-3108 for Individual Investors or (800) 730-2932 for Intermediaries/Financial Consultants. Read the prospectus carefully before investing.


text:
T. L. De Book, R. L. Petrilli, P. J. Davis, E. K. Motoyama; EFFECT OF PREHEDICATION ON PREOPERATIVE ARTERIAL OXYGEN SATURATION IN CHILDREN WITH CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE. Anesthesiology 1987;67(3):A492. doi: https://doi.org/.
Download citation file:
© 2019 American Society of Anesthesiologists
We have emailed you at with instructions on how to set up a new password. If you do not receive an email in the next 24 hours, or if you misplace your new password, please contact:
ASA members:
Contact WK Member Services
US and Canada: 866-489-0443
Worldwide: 301-223-2300
Non-member individual subscribers:
Contact WK Customer Service
US and Canada: 1-800-638-3030
Worldwide: 301-223-2300
...but there is no email account associated with it. To get started with Anesthesiology, we'll need to send you an email.
To add an email address to your ASA account please contact us:
ASA members:
Contact WK Member Services
US and Canada: 866-489-0443
Worldwide: 301-223-2300
Forgot your password? Enter your username and email address. We'll send you a link to reset your password.
Forgot your username? Enter your email address. We'll send you your username identified by your email account.


text:
PLYMOUTH, Mass. - Matt Norton (Weymouth, Mass.) won the men's 800 meter, Bernice Boateng (Danielson, Conn.) placed first in the 60 meter dash to pace the Regis (Mass.) men's and women's track and field teams at the Panther Invitational Saturday hosted by Plymouth State.
Fred Mathieu (Miami, Fla.) and Matt Malone (West Roxbury, Mass.) also had solid performances in the men's competition where the Pride finished fourth in the overall team standings. Mathieu placed second in the 200 meter dash with a time of 24.34 and fifth in the 60 meter dash at 7.45. Malone had a second-place finish in the 60 meter hurdles with a time of 8.83.
The men's field events saw Dan LaFlamme (Watertown, Conn.) and Taylor Garner (Richmond, Vt.) both have third-place finishes in the shot put (12.17) and weight throw (12.08), respectively.
Boateng and Ahriyan Brown of Eastern Connecticut both crossed the tape in 8.37 seconds but Boateng won on the tiebreaker. The Pride had a handful of other solid performances on the women's side. Keegan Dugay (Watertown, Mass.) was narrowly edged by Alanna Murphy of Southern New Hampshire in finishing second in the 60 meter dash (3:11:14.34). Megan Bubello finished 4th in the 500 meter dash with a time of 1:33.47.
ChiChi Akanegbu (North Easton, Mass.) placed third in the women's shot put with a throw of 11.02 meters and Jennifer Marra (Groveland, Mass.) put up a personal best throw of 10.58 meters. The Pride finished fifth in the women's team standings.
Regis next competes Saturday, Jan. 28 at the Tufts Stampede Invitational. First events start at 10:00 a.m.


text:
TapeFlips – What is the future of furniture? from TapeFlips on Vimeo.
Track: "Good Times"
EGGPICNIC from Eggpicnic on Vimeo.
Little Veggie Patch Co: The Edible Gardeners from The Little Veggie Patch Co on Vimeo.
Track: Sad Cyclops
for a day iOS from Brian Phan on Vimeo.
Convergenze from LaTestuggine on Vimeo.
diy baroque sweatshirt ft. A Pair & A Spare from A Boy Named Sue on Vimeo.
Track: "Happiness Is"
SurPrice from Cabeza Rota on Vimeo.
Track "Twinkle Toes"
#Popathon arrives to Barcelona in november from Learning to count on Vimeo.
Track: "La Di Day"


text:
ICMI is part of the Informa Tech Division of Informa PLC
This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 8860726.
Long gone are the days when customers only sought service through phone and email. For worse or for better, customers are now turning to social, chat, and mobile for help with their problems. Perhaps your contact center has plans to roll out new service channels this year. If so, you're not alone. But just because you build it, doesn't mean they will come.
Read through the action packed recap below for advice you can use to successfully manage a new channel implementation. Looking for more tips? Check out this related complimentary webinar.
Join us again next week as we explore maximizing productivity in the small contact center. @NealTopf will host the one hour discussion. We meet at 1pm ET each Tuesday and all are welcome! Just follow along and use #ICMIchat on Twitter to participate.
Erica Marois is the Content Manager at ICMI. She manages ICMI's robust network of community contributors, hosts ICMI's weekly tweet chats (#ICMIchat), manages the Global Contact Center Awards program and produces content initiatives like the Contact Center Insider weekly newsletter. Follow Erica on Twitter (@EricaMarois) and join her each Tuesday at 1pm ET for #ICMIchat.
Please sign in to leave a comment. If you don't have an account you can register for free here.
Forgot username or password?


text:
The Making of National Economic Forecasts
Edited by Lawrence R. Klein
Chapter 7: A High-frequency Forecasting Model and its Application to the Japanese Economy
Yoshihisa Inada
Yoshihisa Inada INTRODUCTION The purpose of this chapter is to evaluate the weekly forecast performance of the Japanese economy by a high-frequency forecasting model that the author developed at the Department of Economics at Ritsumeikan University. In the following pages we first explain the development of the postwar Japanese economy for better understanding of the current Japanese economy. Then we explain the features of our high-frequency model and the forecast method in Section 2. We introduce the application to the Japanese economy of high-frequency model building based on the history of the method of estimating the preliminary figures of quarterly GDP in Section 3, followed by the presentation of a forecasting model. The forecast accuracy of the Japanese high-frequency model is evaluated in Section 4. Recent examples of forecasts based on the high-frequency model are shown in Section 5. Finally, the development of the highfrequency model forecast in the future is discussed. 1. DEVELOPMENT OF THE POSTWAR JAPANESE ECONOMY The Japanese economy in the postwar era can be divided roughly into five periods. First, the era from the end of the war to a full-fledged high growth period is explained in 'Postwar recovery, 1945–55'. It was in 1955 that the industrial output exceeded the peak of prewar days. The second is the 'High-growth period, 1956–73' that continued, and ended with the first world oil crisis. The third period is an 'Adjustment period after the collapse of high growth, 1974–91', followed by a shift from high growth to...
You are not authenticated to view the full text of this chapter or article.
Elgaronline requires a subscription or purchase to access the full text of books or journals. Please login through your library system or with your personal username and password on the homepage.
Non-subscribers can freely search the site, view abstracts/ extracts and download selected front matter and introductory chapters for personal use.
Your library may not have purchased all subject areas. If you are authenticated and think you should have access to this title, please contact your librarian.


text:
How pretty! The mini's are so cute...and their colors are so vivid.
Welcome to OrchidTalk Orchid Forums
The Friendliest Orchid Community on the Internet!
OrchidTalk - "Bringing People Together to Grow Orchids Better!"
Let us help you grow your Orchids better; Join our community today.
YES! I want to register an account for free right now!
Register or Login now to remove this advertisement.
This is a discussion on Sigmatostalix graminea within the Orchids of Other Genera IN BLOOM forums, part of the Orchid Photography category; A delightful tiny species. Flower is about 0.2"...
A delightful tiny species. Flower is about 0.2"
How pretty! The mini's are so cute...and their colors are so vivid.
Very pretty.
Tom - stunning orchid! So healthy and the bloom is brilliant. The lighting in your photographs is superb! You are an artist!
Thank you all.
Although individual flower will only last 10-14 days, the tiny plant will be in bloom for a long while.
Oh that is NICE! Excellant close up shot too, btw
Very nice!!
I bought one taged S. graminea but it turned out to be S. radicans!


text:
chemisette[ shem-uh-zet ]SEE DEFINITION OF chemisette
Chemisette of fulled muslin, confined with bands of needlework.
Beneath it a white under-dress, having a chemisette front down to the belt, and long white sleeves down to the wrist.
The chemisette is composed of alternate rows of narrow plaits and insertion, and is edged with muslin embroidery to correspond.
The chemisette is of lace, to match that upon the skirt, and is fastened at the throat by a simple knot of pink ribbon.
Below, and two or three inches from the edge of the chemisette, is attached a variously coloured petticoat of very bright hues.
Just before he spoke to her, he observed that she had a chemisette in her hand, the frill of which was laced through with ribbon.
A chemisette of the finest cambric appeared within the bodice, and covered the bosom.
She wore a robe of emerald Genoa velvet, with an open bodice, laced over a chemisette of fine-wrought Mechlin lace.
Cambric chemisette, made quite up to the throat, and cambric under-sleeves.
Chemisette of lace, finished at the throat with a fulled band and petite ruffle.


text:
The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Wednesday that a four-year extension was approved for Ukraine under the Extended Funding Facility.
The board also said a Stand-By Arrangement was canceled by the Ukrainian government.
The extension will allow an immediate disbursement of approximately $5 billion and an additional $2.7 billion for budgeting support.
"Demonstrating strong resolve, Ukraine's authorities have developed a new program to restore macroeconomic stability and address long-standing structural obstacles to growth, including weak governance," IMF First Deputy Managing Director and Acting Chairman David Lipton said. "The authorities recognize that the resolute implementation of the program is critical to restore confidence and growth, bring inflation to single digits, keep external deficits manageable and replenish international reserves."
Lipton said Ukraine has shown a commitment to the stabilization of the nation's financial system, helping to boost international confidence in the nation's currency. The full arrangement amounts to approximately $17.5 billion.


text:
One girl, one bike, one harsh winter. What will happen when their worlds collide?
Hi there! I'm Bri and everyone I know thinks I'm crazy. I live the car free life in rural Northern New York. In the coming months I am going to tackle my biggest challenge yet: living car free in winter. Can my bike and I survive? I have no clue but I am gonna find out.
This blog will document my biking journey. I was just gonna keep an old-fashioned journal so I could remember for next year what worked and what didn't, but I figure the more people talking about winter biking online the better. It might help someone else look less crazy.


text:
Head Great Joy Ski Review
|Approx. Weight
|Feels Normal
|Skier Level
|Intermediate - Advanced
|Ski Style
|Ski Width
|Ski Shape
|Directional Twin
|Camber Profile
|Core Material
|Turning Radius
|14.3m @ 168cm
|Manufactured in
|On Snow Feel
|Turn Initiation
|Edge Hold
Where To Buy
No obligation, but these links & ads support the site
Head Great Joy 2017 - 2016 Review by A Better Ski
The Head Great Joy is an aggressive carver with a wide base to play off piste. It seems pretty versatile and capable in a lot of different terrain and snow.
Head Great Joy On-Mountain Video Ski Review
Size: 168cm
Days: 1
Riders: Lauren
Conditions: Soft Chop, Groomed, Hard Pack
On the Snow Feel: The ski feels pretty aggressive and was stable on edge.
Powder: We haven't had the chance to take the Head Great Joy in any deep snow, but with its 98mm waist and big nose, we feel like it would plane and float pretty well. It does have a pretty flat directional tail, so it may not be the easiest to maneuver in deep snow. Still, it should be capable on moderately deep days.
Turn Initiation and Carving: We found the Head Great Joy to be a pretty aggressive ski and it does take a bit of driving to get it on edge. Once there it responds quickly and holds an edge really well. The ski wants to be on edge and we had fun carving longer radius turns. The ski is pretty powerful, and feels like a pretty substantial ski underfoot. It's quick from edge to edge, but we would call it smooth and stable more than quick and nimble. Still, its light enough to feel maneuverable and easy to pivot. But it really feels at home on edge, and the harder you push it the more it rewards the skier.
Speed: The Head Great Joy holds up pretty well at speed. It has a pretty stable platform and with a nice stiff flex. We found the harder we pushed it the more it came to life. It is pretty light weight, but surprisingly more stable and damp than we expected.
Uneven/Variable Terrain: The big nose and stiff flex seem to help smooth out variable terrain pretty well. The light weight made us worry that we were going to get bounced around, but as long as it was on edge, the ski cut through tracked out snow really well.
Bottom Line: The Head Great Joy feels like a pretty aggressive all-mountain carver. It has decent energy, and stability, and rewards skiers that can push it a bit harder. It's seems to want to be on edge, and carve anything from short to long radius turns. It's wide enough to also have some fun on soft snow.
DThis review reflects the OPINION of our testers based on their personal experience with a particular product. We do not guarantee that you will have the same experience with, or opinion of, a product as our testers did. This review
should only be used as a general guide.
Head Great Joy Specs
Head Great Joy Images
Head Company Information
Head Great Joy User Reviews


text:
Dark Side of the Crown
Direct from Los Angeles, USA, Dark Side of the Crown explores, celebrates and re-imagines Middle Eastern dance for the twenty-first century. This theatrical dance show, featuring world renowned choreographer Jillina and a cast of highly respected Middle Eastern dancers, musicians and hip hop artists, blends Eastern and Western dance in a dark tale of murder and deceit.
"…Jillina is certainly a 'superstar' in that genre, & as such worthy of the name. Her dance & choreographic skills are brilliant…" – Michael Jaworek, The Birchmere
- Directed by: Jillina
- Original music by: Paul Dinletir
- Original story by: Brad MacDonald
- Produced by: The Hathor Dance Studio and Bellydance Evolution
- Location: Riverside Parramatta
- Date: Sunday 16 March 2014, 7:30pm
- Learn the Repertoire with Q+A: Thursday 13 March 2014, 10AM-12:15PM, Connect Studios (price includes a ticket to the show on Sunday)
- Tickets: Adult $71.60 / Senior $38.30 / Child 16&U $27.75 / Group 10+ $60.50*
- School Tickets: Workshop & Show $25 / Show Only $20
*Transaction fees may apply
Proudly sponsored by Squashlands Gym and Fitness


text:
http://fuckenjoy.live registre satirique def Accountable in Action is a peer network for women to pursue personal excellence, cultivate leadership and discover career potential.
prima play jak se stavi sen Accountable in Action is a non-profit organization created specifically to help women pursue http://forgivepassed.live/2019/06 pique déco jardin personal excellence, cultivate voir everything everything there leadership and discover flugzeugträger der us navy here career potential through the powerful tool of accountability.
http://escapehard.live motel detective twitter installer contrôle parental windows go Watch this video to learn more!
'It's A Movement' Blog
rc motor explosionszeichnung Check out our "It's A Movement" blog. Learn workplace and goal setting tips, read real stories, and get to know spotlighted women in the community. It's fuel for today's modern woman.
Networking Events
schwebebad dresden bewertungen check Increase your social capital by joining us at the next Accountable in Action social event and see how the women in this organization will motivate, challenge and inspire you.
Accountability Allies
filme online sehen deutsch view Join an Ally Group and take advantage of a network that helps craft self-set goals, encourages each other's progress, and supports group members as they strive toward personal growth.
Join the AinA community.
http://londondrop.live/2019/04 alessandro baricco novecento pianiste Accountable in Action is an organization for women driven to succeed. As a member of Accountable in Action, you will gain the support of other like-minded women through mentoring, monthly socials and networking events.


text: Skye, the domestic short hair grey colored cat, is our KBOE/KMZN Pet of the Week. Skye, estimated to be 8 months old, is a very friendly, loving little gal who loves to play and be loved on. She has been spayed and is looking for her forever home. Her pregnant mother was found and brought to the Stephen Memorial Shelter where Skye was born. Skye is ready for adoption now so submit an application to give her a loving home. Call Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter at (641) 673-3991 for more information about Skye or a wide variety of other loving and adoptable pets!


text:
Posted: Jul 24, 2014
CARROLLTON, Georgia – The West Georgia Tech men's basketball team represented the school at Southwire's Back-to-School Supply Giveaway last Saturday.
West Georgia Tech players and coaches greeted kids and their parents as they came through the line and encouraged each child to nominate their favorite teacher for Southwire's My Favorite Teacher Contest.
"We really enjoyed getting out and interacting with the kids and their families," said WGTC men's basketball coach Niki Okolovitch. "Within our program we stress the importance of giving back to the local communities and also the need to increase the awareness of our brand to these local kids. Who knows, we could have met some future Golden Knights out there last Saturday."
The appearance was part of a community outreach program within the West Georgia Technical College athletic department.


text:
December 2, 2016
However honestly and passionately entrepreneurs might believe in a disruptive power of their solutions, most of them mistake some sort of innovation (business model, operational, UX, etc.) for a massive transformative force. Meanwhile, innovation is not always disruptive and should not always be considered as an existential threat to institutional providers. Instead, innovation can be supportive and be facilitating for mainstream players and just create new opportunities for institutions instead of replacing incumbents.
Adding another layer of security in a financial application, redirecting surplus from unpaid claims to charities, or creating a better online experience is not really a disruptive innovation, but it certainly is a great security-focused/marketing/operational efficiency/customer-centric move, to be fair.
Not to say that technology startups worldwide are not a source of disruptive innovation, but it is worth mentioning interesting advancements such as the use of alternative ways to score customers, replacement of legal counsel with AI, bringing behaviometrics into scene and more. These types of solutions are not shuffling parts of the existing ecosystem to put them together in a new way, but are creating different, better ways to look at the same thing/process.
Disruption defies the conventional state of a particular industry and proves (through a reality-check, not a VC funding flow) that a completely different way of doing something or an application of different technology can be more successful than the way things are done traditionally. Insurance and lending are probably the most vivid examples of industries, where the innovation of the business model is widely mistaken for a potential disruption and replacement of institutional players.
While InsurTech startups and alternative lenders often tend to antagonize institutions, they often forget to (or don't want to) mention that the same institutions stand behind a substantial part of funds those technology startups spend on covering claims and lending out through so-called P2P platforms. In addition, the same institutions have built the supportive ecosystem that allows startups to prosper and gain any minor traction they gained in recent years (it is really minor if we compare AUM of banks and tech companies, for example).
In alternative lending, the capital lent through leading P2P platforms is, in most cases, institutional money and has nothing to do with P2P at all. For example, in April last year, Prosper, one of the largest online marketplaces for credit, announced a $165 million Series D financing, led by Credit Suisse NEXT Investors along with JP Morgan Asset Management, SunTrust, BBVA Ventures, Neuberger Berman Private Equity Funds, Passport Capital, Breyer Capital and others.
Or let's take a hedge fund called Third Point, which led a $200 million investment round in SoFi in February 2015. FinTech-focused VC firm Life.SREDA brings a lot of similar examples, listing Goldman Sachs, BlackRock, Alibaba, and even Google as making deals in the space.
Alternative lenders serve as an institutional channel to reach groups of the population that cannot be yet considered eligible for an institution or are just more attracted to a tech-savvy solution. Successful alternative lenders like Prosper are innovating loan distribution channel, but cannot be really considered an alternative to institutions as they just redirect institutional money under a different dressing. The fact that three of the largest FinTech investors are international financial institutions – Citi Ventures by Citi, followed by Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan, speaks of the real source of 'innovation' in this space.
Same goes for InsurTech startups. MetLife, Aviva, Axa, Allianz (which recently invested in an InsurTech startup) and other global insurance companies are the ones shedding barriers for startups to enter the most complex and highly regulated industry, where making it on your own has historically been quite mythical. The InsurTech space is extremely fragmented with startups often focusing on a particular type of insurance as opposed to comprehensive services offered by institutional players.
Most importantly, the model of innovation in the insurance industry resembles the one in 'alternative' lending. Some partnership examples here include Munich Re's coverage partnership with Slice Labs and with Trov, Liberty Mutual's partnership with home security startup Canary, Amica Mutual's partnership with a weather data sensor startup, Understory, and more.
Nowadays, innovative solutions appear to be playing more of a supportive role for mainstream companies rather than disruptive. Technology startups bring operational efficiency by offering infrastructure, automation, new pools of customers, matching platforms, etc. Startups also convey new methods of conducting business, which is based on greater transparency and simplicity.
Tech-savvy entrepreneurs are an extremely important talent pool that allows large institutions to source ideas, to look at traditional models from a different perspective and through venture arms and innovation labs develop and test possible iteration for elements of their business.
In his annual letter to shareholders, Jamie Dimon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of JPMorgan, paid special attention to the role of technology and FinTech in the banking business. As he noted:
While many FinTech firms are good at utilizing new technologies, we should recognize that they are very good at analyzing and fixing business problems and improving the customer experience (i.e., reducing pain points). Sometimes they find a way to provide these services more efficiently and in a less costly manner; for example, cloud services. And sometimes these services are not less expensive but provide a faster and simplified experience that customers value and are willing to pay for. You see this in some FinTech lending and payment services.
Moreover, Dimon emphasizes that it is unquestionable that FinTech will force financial institutions to move more quickly: services will be rolled out faster, and more of them will be executed on a mobile device. He also noted the inclusive role of financial technology, which makes financial services easier and often less expensive for customers, leading to many more people, including more lower-income people, joining the banking system around the world.