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May brings a change of weather and a shower of news stories that slipped past mainstream media. From judges with a rivalry to a race horse that paints for the treatment it needs, the world has been able to conjure up some interesting headlines. After the past few months with tragedy and war, it's nice and often eye-opening to take a moment each month to think about what else went on in the world aside from the trending news stories you see on the throughout the day. So, let's check it out:
Mississippi Mortuary Sued for Refusing Gay Funeral: An 82-year-old man is filing a lawsuit with his nephew over alleged comments made by a funeral home. Mr. Zawadski was told by a member of Picayune mortuary that they didn't deal with their 'kind' referring to Mr. John 'Jack' Zawadski's sexuality when he had to bury his husband and friend of more than 50 years, Robert Huskey. They were legally married in 2015 and retired in Picayune. The owner of the funeral home, Mrs. Brewer denies the claims made.
Russia is "Curing" Gays with Hypnosis and Holy Water: So-called 'cures' are being offered in regards to Chechnya's persecution of gay men. One disturbing treatment involves hypnotherapy that can last up to eight hours. Another takes children as young as 11 and 13 and forces them to Church. The victims have holy water poured on them, forced down their throats and are then hit with rods while praying. These treatments sadly are not uncommon, while homophobia in Russia is.
RaceHorse Chooses to Paint to Fund His Own Treatments: Former racehorse, Metro, was rehomed after being retired due to the wear and tear on his knees from his years of racing. He is 14 and has expressed a liking of painting after his new owner brought his personal artwork to the barn to work on painting his horses. Metro would touch the canvas with his nose for treats, followed by touching and stroking a paintbrush on the canvas with the owner's help. Metro now paints about 8 canvas a week and sell about 2 a week from $50 and $500. These paintings helped fund his experimental treatment of directly injecting Tildren into his knees which showed to reduce the bone growth over time, improving his health. The proceeds now are donated to help retrain and rehome former racehorses.
Brad Pitt Admits to Starting Therapy to Deal with Angelina Divorce: Brad Pitt reveals in his recent GQ interview that he started therapy after splitting with wife, Angelina Jolie. Brad talks about his excessive drinking habits and how thankful he is to have stopped. He mentions that the divorce itself helped motivated him to change. He goes on to talk about his divorce and how he and Angelina are committed to working together through it to bring about the best possible outcomes for everyone involved.
Killer Whale Found Dead with Highest Amount of PCB Chemicals: A killer whale, Lulu, was found dead on the Isle of Tiree in Scotland after becoming tangled with fishing line. Tests have revealed 20 times higher than safe levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in her body which have built up over her 20 years of life. The UK had banned production of PCBs in their industries in the 70s but the environment is still rich in the harmful chemicals. These PCBs show to inhibit killer whales immune systems and affect reproductive organs as well as the brains of the smart creatures. Typically killer whales aren't found caught in fishing lines, so it is quite possible the high levels of chemicals were affecting Lulu's strength to get out of the line, or her brain activity might've decreased enough to the point where she might not have been aware of the line at all.
Manga is Helping Syrian Refugees Dream: Obada Kassoumeh is a Syrian student in Tokyo who received a scholarship to go to Japan for an exchange program where he became a translator of Japanese manga comics into Arabic. When his scholarship ended, he was able to stay in Japan by enrolling as a regular student and had the opportunity to translate "Captain Tsubasa," one of his favorites about a kid hoping to become a professional soccer player and the journey of working hard to make his dream come true. The original copyright holders were immediately ready to fund the donations and now the books are distributed to young Syrian children in camps across Europe, Turkey, and the Middle East.
Ontario Home Filled with Clowns For Sale: A bungalow in south-western Ontario is filled with hundreds of clown pictures, statues, and "knick-knacks" is up for sale. While having plenty of offers, the elderly couple who have lived there for 30 years is overwhelmed with the sudden attention. The clowns were collected to help curb the stepfather's drinking habits over the years, and the couple has decided to leave them all behind when they move.
The mainstream media these past few months has been highlighting quite the downhill slope, but there is still some hope left in the world. From horses supporting the art community to celebrities accepting of help and Syrian refugees finding out that there is still some hope in the world, it can only go up from here!
Collaboration with Cassandra Marie Vella
Featured Image via Pexels.


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Prior to meeting Jet, I was running on adrenaline, anger, fear with my world revolving competition and comparison. I was heading in the wrong direction. I was hospitalised from burnout and could have lost it all. Jet has educated me on how my emotions and brain work. How to be present, centred, alive and in flow. I now work smarter, not harder, within a team that I am building with his assistance.
Jed Wood Top Real Estate Agent
Working with Jet and his HIGH PERFORMANCE HUMAN SYSTEM helped me gain confidence and clarity. His step by step system and strategies helped me shift my mindset and his 360 approach to success allowed me not only to improve my business but many other aspects of my personal life as well. I highly recommend Jet and the HIGH PERFORMANCE HUMAN SYSTEM to anyone who wants to take their life and business to another level.
Aneta Siedlecka Integrated Wellbeing
I completely agree that people come into your lives at just the right time; if you're open and ready for the lesson, the teacher shows up! I realised today whilst on my walk, that you have shown me how powerful I am. I have the ability to improve the quality of people's lives doing what I love to do. It's effortless when you live your life that way. The quality of engagement I now have with people I'm in contact with, my team, my family, the community, has escalated phenomenally. I feel like I have purpose and direction and you've been so instrumental in that.
Andrea Tucker Owner, McGrath Ulladulla, NSW
With a team of 26 people it's vital I get the right people involved in my business. Jet has helped me be a better leader and the team has become more confident and gotten better results having him involved.
Ben Chick Owner, Explore Property Mackay
Jet knows how to get down to the nitty-gritty of what really matters in life. He gives valuable reminders that working smarter rather than harder can be literally life-saving in more ways than one.
Georgi Bates Partner, Cunninghams Real Estate
I did 18 months of training with Jet....He revolutionised my thinking on so many different levels, both personally and professionally... (and he's still my go-to man when I need some "centralising"). What I learnt about optimal performance and how I work best (the environment and conditions I need to work at my highest level) was one of the most powerful things he taught me!
Naomi Twyford
We have had the pleasure of inviting many guest speakers to our team of over 100 and hands down Jet left the team speechless, inspired and re-ignited; 10 out of 10 presentation
Director EVIEW Real Estate Vic
Thank you for the inspiring session you did for the Marshall White Group recently. We left your session motivated, inspired, thinking differently and wanting more from you! Thanks again Jet.
Marcus Chiminello Marshall White real estate Consistently rated amongst the top five real estate agents agents nationally

subset: commoncrawl


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Loganville Title Pawn Brings the 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways to Customers
What would you do with a partridge in a pear tree? While we may not give away a bird or a tree, the Loganville Title Tree is offering the 12 Days of Christmas drawing to qualified customers this holiday season. Oh, the "12 Days of Christmas." Just thinking of the ever-so-popular song lyrics brings forth […]Continue reading


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Riigikogu to discuss raising age of consent next week
The legal affairs committee of the Riigikogu will start handling next week the political and legislative aftermath of the scandal concerning a long-term football coach of the Nõmme Kalju FC football club, chairman of the committee Jaanus Karilaid (Center) told newspaper Postimees.
After stories were published last week about the football coach engaged in a sexual relationship with female football players when they were minors and, in one case, with a 14-year-old girl, public pressure has grown to raise the age of consent higher than the current 14 years.
In February, the opposition Estonian Conservative People's Party (EKRE) submitted a bill seeking to raise the age of consent to 16 years; however, Minister of Justice Maris Lauri from the Reform Party said that the bill contained a number of inconsistencies with criminal law.
The hearing of experts in the field is scheduled for March 23 in the legal affairs committee, and first, established case-law on sexual abuse and the constituent elements thereof will be examined in detail, Karilaid said.
"We'll also hear what prosecutors and judges have to say on the matter. Only then can we update or specify the relevant laws, if needed. A safe environment for development must be better ensured to young people in particular, however. Punishments alone are not sufficient for catching perverts, it is also directly linked to the vigilance of society and civil society organizations. All of this must be examined together," Karilaid said.
The age of consent in 17 countries in the European Union is either 14 or 15 and 10 countries say consent can only be given over the age of 16.
Follow ERR News on Facebook and Twitter and never miss an update!
Editor: Helen Wright


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2021 Ford Super Duty F-250 For Sale in Manchester, TN
The 2021 Ford Super Duty F-250 is available at Al White Motors, Inc. in Manchester, TN. With more power than ever, the 2021 Ford Super Duty F-250 is the most capable truck.
With a variety of exterior color options, new technology, more towing capability, backup assist, and tremor off-road packages available, you will feel confident the Ford Super Duty F-250 will keep up with you and get the job done.
In the Manchester, TN area? Stop by our showroom today to shop and test drive our 2021 Ford Super Duty F-250 vehicles or any new or used vehicles. Al White Motors, Inc. in Manchester, TN offers specials and service offers that will excite any shopper.
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Stop by the Al White Motors, Inc. showroom in Manchester, TN to view, test drive, and fall in love with a Ford Super Duty F-250 SUV today.


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胡杏儿 Evolve
Do you like her as an actress ? I sometimes find that while she act well, she does seemed always to be acting the righteous and goody two shoes in her TVB serials who could do no wrong (or at least, always want to do the right things). Such stereotype roles does make her less versatile than her counterparts such as the 佘詩曼.
She now has just released her album. Evolve contains several songs from the hit serial 野蛮奶奶大战戈师奶, including one she sang with her boyfriend, 黄宗泽. Of course, this is NOT the first time she sang songs from her serials.
For example, she had sang「猪小姐」from《肥田囍事》and "幸而" from《乱世佳人》(which I like a lot). She also sang quite well in the TVB 2008 Station Anniversary recently.
I wish her all the best for this album and her acting career !
2008 : 胡杏儿 Evolve
Track Listing
01. 单身旅行
02. 浪漫世纪
03. 时间不等我
04. 幸而
05. 猪小姐


text: A scandal has hit the front door of Kimora Lee Simmons and her current husband, Tim Leissner, as they are both named in a lawsuit by none other than her ex-husband, Russell Simmons. Although divorced many years ago, Russell and Kimora have been able to amicably co-parent and co-exist. But …Read More »


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Security Alert – U.S. Embassy Port-au-Prince, Haiti (November 22, 2018)
The market near St. Jean Bosco Church in Petionville.
Delmas 40 B and 48.
Reports of rocks being thrown in the vicinity of the market near St. Jean Bosco Church in Petionville.
Reports of gunfire between Delmas 40 B and 48.
Actions to Take:
– Avoid the area.
– Do not attempt to drive through barricades or protests.
– Avoid large gatherings of people.
- U.S. Embassy Port-au-Prince
- 011-509-2229-8000
- email@example.com
- State Department – Consular Affairs
- 888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444
- Haiti Country Information
- Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security updates
- Follow us on Facebook and Twitter


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Nora Bezel Choker Necklace
Sold out
The Nora Bezel Choker Necklace will look gorgeous around any neck. Every detail, from each of the 9 dangling bezel set diamonds to the adjustable solid yellow gold chain has been carefully crafted to give you the perfect accessory.
- made from solid 14 karat yellow gold
- featuring 9 bezel set diamonds weighing approximately 0.17 carats
- choker length is adjustable from 14 to 16 inches
This necklace is on backorder and will be ready 6-8 weeks from date of purchase.


text: Laure 10 Posted June 28, 2006 Share Posted June 28, 2006 Hi - my troop is in the process of starting accounts for each scout (as described in the "fundraising accounts" topic below). We have a pretty good idea of how to distribute proceeds between the troop and the participating boys for each event, and we're learning more as we go along. The committee now is working on a set of rules for what the money in a boy's account can be spent on. Summer camp, yes. Camporee fees, probably. Troop outings (such as amusement parks), maybe or maybe not. How about camping equipment? Uniform purchases? What else are we not thinking about? Do any troops allow boys to make deposits, as well? We're in the early stages of scout accounts in the troop, so any advice is welcome. Thank you! Laure (a proud Bobwhite) Link to post Share on other sites


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By Semih Idiz, Al-Monitor,
President Erdogan has renewed his call for a referendum to determine if Turkey will continue with its European Union (EU) membership talks or end them once and for all.
Addressing the TRT World Forum in Istanbul on Oct. 4., Erdogan said the EU has kept Turkey waiting for membership since 1963.
He said countries that had not fulfilled the EU's "Copenhagen Criteria" on democracy and human rights had been fully admitted as members in the meantime in a show of leniency that was not provided to Turkey.
Indicating that there is nothing to show that Ankara's membership path was open today, Erdogan called on the EU to come clean and declare whether it wants Turkey as a member.
Underlining that the EU was holding back from doing this too, Erdogan said, "Our duty then is to go to 81 million [Turks] and ask them. … As the leader of my party, my friend and I will bring the subject to the table, and the minute we say 'OK' [to a referendum], we will take the required step instantly."
This has in fact been a hobby horse for Erdogan for some time now. He even called on Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2013 to help Turkey join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization so that Ankara could end its bid to join the EU.
Although Erdogan has called for an EU referendum in the past, he has not acted on this to date, leading many to assume that he is only engaging in political rhetoric.
Given the right alignment of factors in Turkey and Europe, though, Erdogan's repeated calls for a referendum could turn into a self-fulfilling prophecy, especially since he has been courting nationalist quarters as much as religious ones to shore up his domestic support base.
Dumping the EU would mean little for these quarters, which — like Erdogan — have traditionally looked on Europe with resentment and suspicion. High EU standards on democracy and human rights — which are, technically speaking, prerequisites for membership — have also been seen by these quarters as traps designed to undermine state authority in Turkey.
Erdogan's referendum call is also at odds with some members of his administration. For instance, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu underlined in an interview with the Greek Ta Nea newspaper in September that EU membership remains a "strategic choice" for Ankara.
"We see our future in the EU," Cavusoglu said.
Some of Erdogan's former associates in the Justice and Development Party (AKP), like former President Abdullah Gul, have supported Ankara's EU membership bid because this has played a role played in pushing through reforms in Turkey.
For Erdogan, however, pushing for EU membership has never been part of his populist political platform. His anti-Western rhetoric, on the other hand, has brought him votes and great support from expatriate Turks in Europe.
Erdogan is a believer in the majoritarian approach to democracy as opposed to a pluralistic one, and he supports strong control over the country by the executive branch. He is aware that he would lose much of the political power he wields today under the EU's democratic criteria.
Many believe it is his anti-democratic steps at home that pose as much of an obstruction to progress in Ankara's EU membership talks as negative views about Turkey in Europe do.
Disingenuous as it may appear, Erdogan has nevertheless paid lip service to the notion that Turkey wants to continue with its EU vocation if it gets a fair deal from Europe. His policies, however, rarely point to a politician who is committed to securing EU membership.
In maintaining his current line on the EU, Erdogan relies on the culturally and religiously driven reluctance by key European countries like France and Germany to accept Turkey into the EU, even if Ankara fulfills all of the requirements for membership.
Burhanettin Duran, the general coordinator for the Ankara-based and government-funded Political, Economic and Social Research Foundation (SETA), believes Erdogan's call for a referendum is his way of forcing the EU to recalibrate its strategic calculations regarding Turkey.
Duran argued in an article for the pro-government Sabah daily that Europe's new policy on Turkey is based on ending tensions with Ankara and developing bilateral ties in order to continue cooperation on vital issues like trade and migration and thus keep Turkey tethered to the EU without admitting it as a member.
"I believe that Erdogan's [referendum] message is the result of his opposition to this policy," Duran wrote, going on to maintain that the existing situation with the EU cannot be sustained indefinitely.
Recent surveys in Turkey indicate that while there is still over 40% support for EU membership, the majority of Turks believe that Turkey will not get a fair deal from Europe.
This is why a referendum on Turkey's EU membership bid is not likely to cost Erdogan much domestic support and might even be useful at a time when Turkey is heading for crucial local elections in March 2019.
Remarks by German politician Manfred Weber — who is currently vying for the job of president of the EU Commission — in which he stresses that he will end Turkey's membership talks if elected also provide grist to Erdogan's mill.
None of this means, of course, that Erdogan is turning his back on Europe. He appears more interested in shoring up bilateral ties with key European countries today than with pursuing EU membership.
His recent high-profile state visit to Berlin shows that key European countries are not unreceptive to his overtures in this regard.
There is also a technical cooperation infrastructure between Ankara and Brussels on vital issues like migration, terrorism and economic cooperation that has been built up over decades. This is unlikely to be dismantled if Turkey decides to end its EU membership talks.
Many also believe that ending Turkey's membership bid will not mean that European companies lose interest in Turkey, even though they admit this could initially cause some economic turbulence.
Those who support this argument point to the economic opportunities the United Kingdom has been chasing in Turkey in recent months as it plans its post- Brexit future.
There are also those who believe that if Erdogan had been a Reformist leader, he would have had a much stronger hand against European politicians who are opposed to Turkey's EU membership.
Retired Turkish Ambassador Oguz Demiralp lays a big portion of the blame for the current state of Turkish-EU ties on Ankara.
"We cut down on the work necessary for attaining EU standards. We regressed in terms of democracy, the rule of law, and human rights," Demiralp wrote for the news portal T24 in a commentary on Erdogan's call for an EU referendum.
"If we had made headway instead with regard to EU standards, which is also necessary for ourselves, then our hand would have been stronger against the EU," he added.
Demiralp argued that European leaders would not have been able to obstruct Turkey's EU path as they do today had Erdogan been keen on democratic reforms.
In order to bolster this argument, those who think like Demiralp recall that influential European leaders opposed to seeing Turkey in Europe, like former French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing, could not prevent the opening of formal membership talks with Ankara in October 2005 because Turkey appeared to be making headway in terms of reforms at the time.
Sedat Ergin, a seasoned foreign policy expert who writes for the daily Hurriyet, believes that ending Ankara's EU bid could have dire consequences for Turkey's ties with the West.
Ergin noted in his column that if Erdogan opts for a referendum, he is also likely to support ending EU membership talks.
"A possible result of the scenario in which [Erdogan] takes a position against full membership could be the serious loss of ground in Turkey's Western perspective and the river bed being diverted to a different course," Ergin wrote.
This, however, may be a moot point at this state, since Erdogan has not refrained from the kind of brinkmanship that has already undermined Turkey's ties with the West.
*is a columnist for Al-Monitor's Turkey Pulse. He is a journalist who has been covering diplomacy and foreign policy issues for major Turkish newspapers for 30 years. His opinion pieces can be followed in the English-language Hurriyet Daily News. His articles have also been published in The Financial Times, The Times of London, Mediterranean Quarterly and Foreign Policy magazine.


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In this series, we've been interviewing some of our favorite fashion bloggers around the world, today our featured blogger is Fabiola of Cutting Edge.
Fabiola, tell us a little bit about yourself (who you are/what you do/where you're from, etc.).
My name is Fabíola Carlettis, I'm 23, I'm portuguese, I'm a journalist and a fashion blogger.
How would you define your style?
Sometimes it's more classic, other times more rock'n'roll… But black is definitely my colour!
How did you find your sense of style?
My style depends on my mood.
What inspired you to start a style blog? What motivates you to keep blogging?
I really love fashion and I love to write, and with my blog – Cutting Edge – I can do both.
How did you choose the name of your blog?
I've always liked and used a lot the english expression "cutting edge" to describe something avant-garde, pioneer, revolutionary, trendy… and that's what I want my blog to be.
What was the best comment you ever received from a reader?
Everytime a reader says that I inspire them, I feel great and I feel that my work and passion for Cutting Edge is recognized.
What are your favourite pieces in your wardrobe?
Winter: I can't live without black leggings, UGG boots and a leather jacket. Summer: Denim shorts, blouses and sandals.
What is your top fashion tip?
"Less is More"
What advice do you have for new bloggers or people considering starting a blog?
Be creative, be one of a kind and chase your goals!
Your first thought in the morning?
"What am I going to wear??!"
What is your favourite thing to do when not blogging?
Going to the cinema, shopping or go to the shops to be inspired to blogging later, read, read other blogs.
For you, what is the world's most fashionable city?
New York City
Do you find Fabiola's style inspiring? Let us know in the comments!
Here are some Fabiola's tips for shopping on Giglio.com:


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Hey, I think I saw around here somewhere that the APP was removed from Google Store due to inestability. What happened? I was using it perfectly on my AndroidTV (Xiaomi Mi TV Stick), I just upgraded to a Chromecast with Google TV 4K and, first of all I was surprised to can't find it in the Google Store, then is when I found somewhere here that was removed... but it was working great for me! Do you know when is going to be back and/or fixed? is there any other way and stable version available to download somehow?
Thanks! SS-IPTV is my favourite player by far, wouldn't like to go throught the hassle of looking a new one...
SS-IPTV for Google TV
SS IPTV App for LG Smart TV discussion
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Program Description
Construction is about pride and craftsmanship. Whether building a home, an office, or a business, the construction industry provides a great hands -on career choice essential in developing our community, state. and nation! In this program. students learn all aspects of the construction industry including blueprint reading, safety procedures, carpentry/framing. masonry, roofing, and siding. Students obtain the skills, technical knowledge, and work habits necessary to succeed in the construction industry. Throughout this two -year program, students participate in a variety of building projects including learning how to construct a home and other careers such as electrical and masonry. Professional Industry-related certifications and the opportunity to join and compete in SkillsUSA, a national student organization, build students' skills and confidence. College credit may be earned at Delta College.
Program Content
Personal Management and Employability Skills
Construction Math
Blueprint Reading
Wood Building Materials, Fasteners, and Adhesives
Floor Systems, Wall, Ceiling, and Roof Framing</span/>
Windows and Exterior Doors
Reading Plans and Elevations
Distance Measurements and Leveling
Concrete and Reinforcing Materials
Exterior Finish and Roofing
Thermal and Moisture Protection
Stairs, Drywall, Interior Finish, and Cabinet Installation
Technical Communications
Special Features
Apprenticeship opportunities with the Carpenters Local 706
Students may participate in SkillsUSA, a national organization that provides opportunities to develop teamwork, presonal leadership, and career skills valued by employers.
12th grade students will complete and present senior projects.
Students may build a house off site.
Unpaid work experience
Co-op and paid work experience may be available.
Tech Prep program
4.0 cr. Building Construction
Student Certifications
Personal Management & Employability Skills
CareerSafe Safety Education Training
Program Requirements
Safety Requirements:
Safety shoes
Eye protection (provided for nonprescription)
Students must adhere to all OSHA/MIOSHA rules and regulations
Students must compete safety competencies before working in the lab or project house
Physical Requirements:
Able to manipulate power and hand tools
Able to lift and move building materials
Able to climb scaffolding and ladders
Good muscular and eye-hand coordination, physical stamina, and strength
Academic Requirements:
Basic math, measurements, decimals, and fractionsAble to apply algebra and geometry to solve construction related problems
Text reading level: 7th grade
Other Requirements:
Ability to work well as a team memberAbility to work within precise limits or standards of accuracy
Students may be involved in off site construction projects
Students must be free of allergies from dust
Able to work independently with minimal supervision
Career Possibilities
Finish Carpenter, Rough Carpenter, Construction Laborer, Safety Manager, Estimator, Project Engineer, Project Manager, Construction Foreman, Mason, Wholesale, Roofer, Architect, Apprentice Carpenter, General Contractor/Builder


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The Research
A Hack Education Project
The Blockchain in Education: More Links
This post first appeared on aud.life Update: I'm still researching how/if the blockchain would work in education. I'm incredibly grateful for the help and feedback I've received from folks so far. I plan to publish my work at the end of March, following an "Indie Ed-Tech" event I'm attending at...
The Blockchain in Education: Links
This post first appeared on aud.life I've started a new research project on the blockchain and what it might offer for education. I'm interested in gaining a better understanding of the technology, and I'd like to be better positioned to weigh in on the discussions in which blockchain is increasingly...
I've kicked off a new research project on the blockchain. I think I'm beginning to have a decent understanding of how cryptocurrencies and the blockchain work. But I am still unclear on whether or not this is something that education should utilize.
New Blog
This site does not get updated regularly, but I'm starting a blog here nonetheless.


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Beni, Marianne & the FLEXRENT team look forward to meeting you!
Welcome to FLEXRENT
We offer you every kind of winter sports rental; whether you are a beginner, a ski fanatic, a couple, family or group!
We are a friendly family-owned business with your best possible winter experience in mind. We stock some of the leading brands and models in the winter sports market today. And pride ourselves in a personal, fast, efficient and hassle-free service.
Open all winter season (opening times), why not visit us or contact us for further information.


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Request the Free Book: Print or PDF
If you're an art director, art buyer, graphic designer or editor you qualify for a free copy of our Directory: either printed book or as a PDF/eBook.
Please fill out the form below to receive the free book or PDF/eBook.
Note: Our Directory is only available to be mailed within the United States. If you are outside the United States you'll need to pay for the shipping costs. Or try out our PDF.
You can also follow the Directory on Instagram
If you want a printed copy of previous years' Directories, they are available for purchase.


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Teradata acquires Big Data Partnership
NEW DELHI: #Bigdata analytics company #Teradata on Monday announced the acquisition of London-based firm Big Data Partnership to broaden its open source analytics services across international marketplace, including in Asia. "Big Data Partnership brings exciting new capabilities and broadens our analytic services portfolio, enhancing Think Big's expertise and giving our customers more choices and outcomes tailored to their goals," said Rick Farnell, Senior Vice President, Think Big, a Teradata Company, in a statement. Big Data Partnership has expertise in disruptive technologies, including #Apache #Hadoop and helps its clients discover how to become more data driven and data savvy through data science and the adoption of the latest big data technologies, Teradata said.


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Secondary Education Certification Track (SECT)
The Secondary Education Certification Track (SECT) program prepares candidates to teach either Math, History, Biology, or English, grades 6-12. Upon successful completion of the program, the candidate will possess a Bachelor's degree in their selected content area and a certification to teach in middle schools and high schools across the state.
During the first two years of the SECT program, candidates are immersed in content area studies. After being admitted to the SECT program, candidates begin their Education experiences, with a wide range of focused courses intended to provide deep understandings of the theory and practice of teaching modern secondary students.
The program culminates in the senior year with intensive, immersive field experiences in actual classrooms. These engaging and rigorous experiences provide candidates with the first-hand knowledge that only real-life teaching can provide. The final semester is composed of clinical practice, in which candidates work full-time in their partnering schools, with a highly-qualified cooperating teacher in supervision.
If you are interested in becoming a secondary teacher, please contact the Secondary Education Certification Track coordinator, Dr. William Gary Cole:
Additional information on the different content areas may be accessed by clicking the links below and scrolling to the Secondary Education Track sections.


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Project Management Services
What sets us apart from our competition is that we are a true one stop shop with in-house project management services. This mitigates loss of time and translation between the owner, project manager and design consultants. The project manager is the single point of contact to the client/owner. Responsibilities include: documenting meeting minutes, evaluating project design, construction documents/drawings, permitting, and project construction budget between the owner/client and the architectural and engineering design team.
With this business model, the design team can strictly focus on implementing the project requirements into the building design. In return, the owner/client is relieved of the exorbitant amount time spent managing the flow of daily project correspondence and ensuring deliverable schedules are executed. Core Design Impact is most proud of having successfully completed all commercial and residential projects without errors or omissions.
Core Design Impact also has the capability to provide Project Management Services for the following categories:
- Site Assessment / Land Acquisition
- Programming / Planning / Budget
- Project Design Team Coordination
- Permit Review Process
- Project Bidding / Negotiating Review
- Construction Submittals / RFI Correspondence


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for LOCAL CONTRACTORS in
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We'll Generate More Calls to your Business Increasing Your Bottom Line.
Specialists In Search Engine Marketing For Local Contractors In Boston Massachusetts
People are on Google searching for your services, are you showing up at the top of their search or even on page 1?
Those people have Buyer Intent at that moment and are looking for a company to solve their problem.
Who is Local Contractors Marketing For?
We work with business from a wide variety of home service industry contractors, including:
Septic Systems
Arborists and tree care
Damage restoration
Swimming pool
Home Remodeling
Pest control
Window Installation
And Many More!
Our Core Values
Very Effective Service: We'll do what is right for our client. Reasonable cost approach to online marketing that generates revenue thorough digital marketing & sales blueprints, traffic, to leads, sales.
What Local Contractors Are Saying About Us!
"Paul Leary has been nothing short of a perfect example of customer service, attention to detail and a positive end-user assistant. Utilizing the technical aspects of the web is not as easy for some of us and Paul made it and I'm starting to get more views to my landscaping website than ever before great company, and great Support I'm so glad I found them. My business is going to Boom!!"
"We have spent several thousands of dollars over the years for SEO work with different companies that were out of state. It is really hard to speak to anyone in those companies to find out what is actually going on without the campaign. With Local Contractors Marketing, this is not the way it has been for us now. They are a responsive local company that has transparency and shows that they care. Paul and his team have been great to work with. All this for half the cost of those other guys that call your phone incessantly looking to boost your online presence."
"Fantastic to work with, they blew my expectations completely out of the water, these people are extremely knowledgeable and are a great asset to my HVAC company. I Highly recommended!"
We Work With "All" Home Improvement Industries
Search Engine Optimization for Contractors In Boston Massachusetts
Few things are more ubiquitous than Google, and it's a tool that your business will need to harness if you plan on making an impact this year. Over time, Google has gotten increasingly granular with their approach, and the result is millions of local searches happening for businesses like yours every day.
Here's what that means to you:
- 97% of search engine users use sites like Google to research local businesses
- 46% of Google searches are for local businesses
- Four out of five of these Google searches convert to new business
No one is using the phonebook to find your business anymore. Word of mouth is an incredibly powerful marketing phenomenon, but it shouldn't be the only tool in your arsenal. So, how can you harness more of the local business that's out there, actively searching for the services you can provide?
The answer is local SEO. With the right strategy in place, you'll be able to position your contracting business as an authority in your area. Let's take a closer look at the ways in which local SEO marketing can send more customers through your doors.
What is Local SEO?
Search engine optimization, better known as SEO, is a variety of different processes that exist with the sole goal of driving more organic traffic to your website. Organic traffic refers to the visitors who come to your website through natural means, like typing your address into a search bar or clicking on your site from a list of search results.
This traffic is "free" in the sense that there's no cost directly associated with the user's visit. But, a strong SEO presence takes a significant amount of time, effort, and knowhow to develop. Wise construction business owners generally outsource this work to a marketing firm so they can focus more on delivering exceptional service to their customers.
More specifically, local SEO is the process of increasing your visibility and delivering more organic traffic to you on a local level. This concept is critical for contractors, electricians, restaurants, and any other local business that provides services in the neighborhood.
A strong local SEO campaign will help you outrank your competitors, increase your visibility among people who are searching for the services you provide in your area, and ultimately deliver more customers to your business. In 2020, it's absolutely critical that local SEO is part of your internet marketing efforts.
Does Your Boston MA Business Need Local SEO Services?
If someone in your neighborhood is searching for a contractor, and they don't see your company listed, does your business exist to them? While this example may seem grave, the truth is, you can't attract new customers if your potential customers can't find you when they're searching for a business like yours.
You could provide the absolute best services in your area, but it won't amount to a thing if customers are unable to find you when they need you. Gone are the days where you could take an ad out in the Yellow Pages or engage in a direct-mail campaign in order to attract new customers.
Twenty years ago, these were considered great tactics to engage in for growing your business. But, the truth is, this is no longer the way your customers are looking for you, and in order to win their business, you need to meet them on their terms.
Nobody is rummaging through a phone book or unpacking a Rolodex of business cards to find you anymore, and the sooner you adjust to this new reality, the faster you can grow your business.
If you own a local business or franchise, and you cater to a specific service area, a local SEO consultant is going to be critical to your ability to attract new customers. Today, you need to position your business in the area where customers are looking for you, and they're looking for you online.
What a Local SEO Marketing Team Can Provide
Our team of experienced local SEO specialists works with each of our clients to develop a fully customized approach that addresses all of the business' customer acquisition needs. While each company may be different, here's what you can expect from our local SEO services.
Local Analysis
Our first step to developing a successful local SEO campaign for our Boston Massachusetts clients begins with a careful analysis of the market factors that affect their business. We start this process by learning more about your area and the challenges you face, particularly with regard to customer acquisition.
Our next step is to perform an analysis of your competition to find out how many of your competitors are outranking you, where they're outranking you, and what they're doing that's driving their success.
From there, we'll analyze local search terms and search volume in your area to complete the picture of what your business will need to achieve success on a local level.
Citation Management
Once we have a clearer idea of the challenges you face and the competition in the area, we begin auditing and improving the quality and quantity of your online citations. These citations, which include your business' name, address, and phone number, are critical to attracting new business from an online search.
If you've performed a Google search recently, you've probably noticed the local listings section occupying prime real estate on the search engine results page. This is an especially important citation, and careful management of these listings can be a significant new business driver for your contracting business.
Once we've performed a careful audit of your existing citations, we ensure that they're uniform across the board. Then, we begin searching for new citation opportunities to expand your reach in the local area further.
Website Optimization
The next area we focus on is your website, which has the power to make or break your online marketing efforts. We begin with targeted research to better understand how the people in your area are searching for a contractor, and what keywords they're using when they perform these searches.
Armed with that knowledge, we're able to craft customized website content for your site's visitors. This content is hyper-local, and signals to potential customers that you're an authority when it comes to construction, and your business can be trusted to handle any future remodeling projects they undertake.
Next, we improve local business listings through Schema markup, which will make the best aspects of your business' online presence stand out when local people are searching for you.
Finally, we develop customized landing pages so that those who are searching for you receive a customized website experience that delivers them with all the information they need and nothing they don't.
Tracking and Analysis
The final piece to the puzzle, and perhaps the most important, are the robust tracking and analysis measures we take. These measures allow us to track and analyze how people in your local area are responding to your local listings and website content.
Using proprietary tools, we're able to collect data on how people are interacting with your local listings, citations, and website, and identify challenges and roadblocks that may be costing you, customers. Armed with this knowledge, we refine our approach to deliver more value to your customers and more new business for you.
We recognize that this information is just as valuable to you as it is to us, so we make it easy for our clients to view this data themselves in a way that makes it easy to understand what you're reading, and how it affects your goals.
Why Your Business Needs Local SEO Marketing Services
You aren't just a contractor. As a local Boston MA business owner, the hat you wear is always changing, and you're responsible for coordinating tons of different moving parts to ensure your business is running correctly. As is, there are hardly enough hours in the day to manage the various aspects of your business, and that's before you even think about time for yourself and your family.
All things considered, when are you supposed to find the time to manage the online image of your business? Managing your business' local presence online is a job in itself, and it's a job that's constantly changing and evolving.
Google, Bing, and other major search players are constantly changing their algorithms to serve their search customers better, and these changes can have a profound effect on your online visibility. Your firm needs a capable partner who can navigate the changing SEO landscape to keep your company on the cutting edge of local search.
Cost is an essential factor for every local business, especially when it comes to how they spend their marketing dollars. As a small business owner, keeping costs down while maximizing the effectiveness of your marketing efforts is of paramount concern.
We're a bespoke marketing agency, and we pride ourselves on providing each of our customers with a fully customized solution to their local SEO needs. Each customer is unique, and the work we do for you will vary based on your individual needs and goals.
If you're ready to take your business to the next level, give us a call so we can discuss your vision and create a tailored marketing plan according to your needs and budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
We've worked with countless companies within the home and commercial service industries throughout the country. While each business is unique, we find that most business owners have many similar concerns and questions, like the ones below.
Q: What's the most effective way for me to grow my business?
A: When it comes to widening your customer base, it's essential to take a two-pronged approach to growth. The first part is entirely within your control, and that's the services you provide to your customers. On your end, focus on providing your customers and clients with the utmost in service and quality.
The other piece of the puzzle is your marketing. You could be the best contractor in your state, but if the people in your service area aren't finding you, it isn't going to matter. That's where we come in. With our precision-targeted local SEO services, we'll be able to put you in front of the people who need you most, at the exact time that they need you.
Given the marketing landscape today, the most effective way to grow your business is to provide excellent service while also investing in local digital marketing.
Q: My other marketing efforts are working for me; why should I stop?
A: If your other marketing channels are humming along, there's no reason to stop what you're doing. Many of our clients maintain a diverse marketing mix that includes print advertising, targeted mailers, and other traditional advertising methods.
But, if your business still has the capacity to grow, focusing on local SEO can prove to be one of the most cost-efficient and effective ways to attract new customers.
Q: How much should a contractor spend on their marketing?
A: Unfortunately, there's simply no short answer to this question. Are you hoping to add an extra few customers, or could your company take all the business it can get? Do you work residentially, commercially, or both? Do you already have a well-developed online presence?
As you can see, it's difficult to approximate all of these questions and provide a "rule of thumb" for what you should spend on marketing. Once we learn more about your business, we'll be able to offer a much clearer picture of what your marketing investment should look like.
Q: Do you work with other contractors?
A: We work with businesses of all shapes and sizes, from mom and pop breakfast cafes to handymen to commercial construction firms. Each of our clients is passionate about providing exemplary service, and we're passionate about delivering them, new customers.
We're proud of the work we do with other contracting businesses, and we pride ourselves on being the best SEO Company for your unique needs. We look forward to helping you to grow your customer base.
Our Local SEO Marketing Firm Can Help Your Business Succeed
Whether you're looking for a full-service SEO agency or a company that can provide services on an a la carte basis, our team of dedicated digital marketing professionals is eager to help you take your business to the next level.
Call or email us today, so we can discuss the challenges your business is facing and create a tailored plan to help you reach your goals.
We are servicing all local contractors in Boston MA
Visit our Google Business Page
Boston is the capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the
United States, and the 21st most populous city in the United States. The city proper
covers 49 square miles (127 km2) with an estimated population of 692,600 in 2019, also
making it the most populous city in New England, and is the seat of Suffolk County
(although the county government was disbanded on July 1, 1999). The city is the economic
and cultural anchor of a substantially larger metropolitan area known as Greater Boston, a
metropolitan statistical area (MSA) home to a census-estimated 4.8 million people in 2016
and ranking as the tenth-largest MSA in the country. As a combined statistical area (CSA),
this wider commuting region is home to some 8.2 million people, making it the sixth most
populous in the United States.
Boston is one of the oldest municipalities in the United States, founded on the Shawmut
Peninsula in 1630 by Puritan settlers from the English town of the same name. It was the
scene of several key events of the American Revolution, such as the Boston massacre, the
Boston Tea Party, the Battle of Bunker Hill, and the Siege of Boston.


text: What You Can Do About Slow School WiFiFree WiFi is one of the best things about school and college. But, school WiFi can also be painfully slow. It can take forever to download files, especially big files like movies and games. But, you don't have to be stuck with slow school WiFi. Once you understand what's causing it, you can … Read More


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time for r & r
See Victoria on the southern tip of the island and Nanaimo is north of it, part way up the eastern coast. We also plan to visit Tofino (Lorinda's recommendation) over on the west coast. Lots to see!
AND, the coolest thing ever! I'm getting to meet a couple of my blogging buddies: Jenn of Just Add Water Silly who actually lives in Nanaimo (what are the odds?) and Lorinda of Everyday Endeavors who lives in Victoria. I'm SO excited to meet these talented ladies and talk art and life and just hang out for a bit. Dan....well, he'll have to find something else to do without me for awhile!
I won't have computer access, so will fall woefully behind in blog reading, but will be eager to catch up and see what everyone has accomplished while I'm gone.
14 comments:
Looks great, have fun! ValerieReplyDelete
Can't wait to see you Terrie!!! xoxoReplyDelete
cool! I hope you have a wonderful time.ReplyDelete
- Anonymous9:37 AM
Have fun! I love Vancouver, though it's been nearly 20 years since I've been, so I'm sure a lot has changed :). Enjoy your blog artist visits too!ReplyDelete
Stay inspired!
I was offline for two days and was trying to catch up when I saw this. How wonderful that you get to meet Jenn, too. I know you'll have fun during both visits. Have a super time.ReplyDelete
Super fun!!!ReplyDelete
Enjoy ~xx
- Anonymous3:56 PM
Oh sounds like a great trip. Take lots of pics so we can see and your blog pals too! Enjoy. xoxReplyDelete
We love that area! We have family on Gabriola Island (a short ferry ride from Nanaimo) so have spent a lot of time there. I tell my family if I ever have a nervous breakdown, they are to take me there to get well. It is a beautiful, soothing, interesting place to visit. Have a wonderful time.ReplyDelete
How exciting Terrie,ReplyDelete
It sounds like you'll have a fantastic trip...with lots of fun!
It'll be great I'm sure :D
I'll look forward to hearing all about it once you're back in blogland ;D
Lucky you! I would love to meet some of my blog followers. They are such a supportive group.ReplyDelete
As soon as I saw Nanaimo, I thought of Jenn--how wonderful that you will get to meet tow blogging friends. Wow! Have a wonderful trip!ReplyDelete
How exciting to get to meet some of the blogging friends, and a vacation on top of that!! Sounds like a lot of fun, hope you get some great pictures! they don't have internet where you are going? I would have major withdrawals!! waving hi from the sandy beaches of Florida ;0ReplyDelete


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Mon-Thur 8:30-4:30
Friday 8:30-12:00
6885 Belfort Oaks Place, Suite 110
Jacksonville, FL 32216
A urine culture confirms the diagnosis of a UTI. The culture report will indicate the name of the bacteria causing the infection and the type of antibiotic(s) that will treat your specific UTI. A simple UTI can typically be treated with a three-day course of antibiotics. Length of antibiotic treatment depends on the severity of the infection as well as the type of antibiotic prescribed. If your UTI symptoms do not improve after using the prescribed antibiotic treatment, additional examination and testing may be required to diagnose an alternate condition.
If you experience three or more UTIs within a year, it is known as a recurrent UTI and should be addressed with your physician immediately.
Because the elderly often do not experience or report obvious symptoms that younger people have, urinary tract infections can be easily overlooked. UTIs can cause a change in behavior in older people, such as fatigue, agitation, delirium, or feelings general discomfort. The person may not be able to communicate how they feel, therefore it is very important to be familiar with the symptoms of UTI and seek medical help to enable appropriate treatment.
If you have symptoms of a UTI or have been referred by your doctor, please contact us to schedule a consultation.


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In Kenya during Al-Shabaab standoff (September 24, 2013)
On 22 September 2020, André Vltchek quietly passed away on a night-ride from the Black Sea in Turkey to Istanbul, accompanied by his wife, Rossie. He just fell asleep in the back seat of a chauffeur-driven car and didn't wake up. His legacy is diverse, heavy in substance and revealing – revealing about the world, about the dark forces that command the world. He never really referred to them as "dark forces" because for him the wars he investigated, photographed, the conflicts he witnessed, the misery he experienced and filmed – were real. The "Dark Forces" came to the surface – no shade, no cover – NO LIGHT.
André was always there where it was burning – or where there was great danger that soon it might burn – and the population blown apart.
We had some remarkable experiences together on the Greek island of Kos, following the refugee tracks. Refugees from Turkey to Greece, to the European Union. Their sad fate in refugee camps with the most horrifying sanitary conditions – their patience, their HOPE. Hope is what makes these refugees tick and breathe. Not just those who come from the Middle East and Africa to seek a better future mostly for their children in lush and wealthy Europe. Refugees all over the world live from hope. If we lose hope, life ends…
Similarly, we visited Puno in Peru, and from there to Rinconada, the world's highest gold mine, a series of many small and large independent gold mines – controlled by a deadly mafia – some 5,100 – 5,400 m above sea level with indescribable conditions of cold and misery. Some 70,000 people are living there in extreme destitution, but all on a voluntary basis, all in the hope to finally "hit the riches" – GOLD. They work for 29 days a month for free and what they find on the 30th or 31st day they may keep. That's an old mining law that is still the rule for many of the Andean mines.
No heat, no running water, girls of all ages make a living as prostitutes to uncountable miners, who leave their families behind in the HOPE to get rich. Huge fields of garbage – endless plastic waste – and ever-so-often in the midst of such mountains of waste a cross protrudes – a grave.
These are some of the experiences André and I lived together. They created a bond, and throughout the years we knew each other from writing, from exchanging ideas — friendship in the virtual world, practiced in the real world – philosophizing during half a night in a cheap café in Athens — are unforgotten; their richness cannot be taken away.
André, you are dearly missed.
May your soul rest in Peace.
And remember: VENCEREMOS!


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June 20th, 2021
11:31 p.m. EDT
Hello Deer Hearts,
First off — Happy Father's Day to all you men who are fathers. May you be a magnificent example of a loving person to your children, so that they may model themselves after you.
How are you all feeling about Spring already diving into Summer? Our normal certainly keeps changing all the time. The wildlife, plants, and tree growth is also quite prolific — at least here on the East Coast. Let us send prayers for balance to the parts of the country experiencing drought and very high temperatures.
Today, I am sharing with you one of the guided poems in the series I've been writing since the beginning of December. I hope to have a chapbook of them available sometime this year. I feel this one is particularly appropriate, since summer, and this summer in particular is about starting fresh. May each of you and your loved ones enjoy a beautiful new beginning.
In kinship,
Cie Simurro- Thunderbird Starwoman
Cie Simurro
One scoop of GENTLENESS
to stroke ourselves
as we let go of the old,
yet have no idea where we are going
One scoop of HUMOR
as we scan the mistakes and foibles
of the past,
knowing there will certainly be more
Two scoops of POSSIBILITY
No matter what has transpired before,
all things can be new and fresh
if we let them
A spoonful of SWEETNESS
makes the days and nights
more palatable
with something to look forward to
A dollop of ENERGY
gives that boost
that makes us want to create
and to manifest results
A ladle of BEAUTY
to inspire
and refresh the body
and soul
Topped off with
a sprinkling of HAPPINESS
that makes us look forward
to the adventures ahead
© Cie Simurro 2021


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Galileo Research Fact Sheet #162: Can Galileo Training improve movement efficiency?
This basic study investigated the short-term effects of Galileo Training on movement efficiency. To assess this, the maximum joint torque, muscle activation (EMG), cocontraction and the disynaptic reciprocal inhibition (DRI, an objective measure for movement efficiency) was measured. All measurements were performed before and after the Galileo application (30Hz, pos. 2, 10° knee-angle, fore-foot stance, 1 min., 2sets with 8 repetitions each). While torque stayed constant the used muscle activation was decreased (-4% and -12%) but especially DRI was reduced by -60% - therefore an identical muscle function / muscle output was generated using much less muscle activation and less cocontraction which means that the efficiency of the movement increased significantly. A reduction of cocontraction is a typical training effect, because cocontraction means a higher joint security in theory but it also means less power output by increased muscle forces, which makes the mo0vement much less efficient. The results of the study therefore explain why Galileo Training can be used so effectively for coordination training as well as for warm-up.
Common - Movement Efficiency, Warm-Up
Topics: Training & Study Support, Training with Galileo®


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When a company is facing change in their business, there is often a degree of uncertainty about the best approach to managing the change. How the business handles change could mean success or failure and there may be lack of clarity on what is right for their own organisation.
The ultimate outcome will depend on having a clear, shared view of what the change means to the business and how it can be managed.
These are some of the most frequent questions asked when starting a change journey:
"How important is it to start early with a change strategy?"
"Is there a rulebook we need to follow to ensure success?"
"Do we need to have external advisors to lead the change or can we manage it ourselves?"
"What's the best approach for us to use?"
So, what IS the right approach to take?
One way of both learning more about change management and arriving at a balanced view of the most appropriate change approach is to have informed and open discussions during the planning phase of a project. There may be people within the business who have done change management before who can bring insight into the discussions, or everyone could be starting from scratch. Whatever the scenario, bringing a diverse cross-section of people from the business together facilitates discussion on the subject of business change and assists discovery of the most appropriate approach to the management of the change. A facilitated workshop can be a good way to bring people together and get the creative juices flowing, encouraging discussion and informed decision-making.
'Discovering Change Management' is an innovative workshop, facilitated by OrganisationsWork. The workshop is totally collaborative, with the objective of increasing business insight into the management of change and building an approach to change management that fits the company culture and appetite for change.
The workshop is designed to create ideas, but at the same time, consider what will work and what won't work when it comes to designing the change management approach. Participants use a blend of brain-dumping, fact-finding, presentation and discussion to explore all aspects of change management.
By the end of the workshop, participants will reach a collective agreement on their change management approach and devise the 'roadmap' for their change programme and the assignment of roles and responsibilities within the project team for putting the plan in place. Groups vary, of course, but some workshops have resulted in a prepared presentation to the project board for approval of the approach agreed during the workshop. Now, that's a result!
Here are some comments from happy workshop participants:
"The workshop gave me valuable insight into how change management works"
"I now know how much there is to do!"
"We were definitely challenged during the workshop – in a good way!"
"We channelled our thought processes into something tangible and useful by the end of the workshop. Great result. Thank you"
'Discovering Change Management' is a one-and-a half or two-day workshop, depending on the size of the group and the business roles of participants. It is usually run off-site, as a large space is needed to accommodate the workshop activities. To kickstart your change journey, a group of 10-12 people is the ideal size for this workshop.
Charges for the workshop will depend on the number of participants and the venue.
OrganisationsWork also provides support in various ways:
- An advisory service to augment the knowledge gained in the workshop and to give guidance to internal team members moving into the change management roles. Advisory is provided throughout the project lifecycle to an agreed number of days.
- A full change management consultancy service to those companies who don't have sufficient internal resources to cover the change management roles. Requirements are assessed and agreed on a client-by-client basis.
- A half-day workshop designed to broaden the scope of executive leaders' involvement in the change process. This workshop is designed and facilitated in collaboration with project sponsors and business leads.
For further information on these workshops and the services offered by OrganisationsWork, please contact us at email@example.com


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Brian Austin Green says face masks helped him bond with Sharna Burgess: 'It really helped us connect'
Brian Austin Green credits an unusual thing for boosting his bond with Sharna Burgess when they started dating last year amid the pandemic: face masks.
The couple appeared on Australia's Kyle & Jackie O Show and the Beverly Hills, 90210 alum was asked about how they got together. The romance was made public in December when the duo vacationed together in Hawaii for the holidays, a month after he and estranged wife, Megan Fox, filed for divorce.
"It started during the pandemic," Green, 47, said. "So everything — connections with people — were much more tangible."
He continued, "One of the positives that I think has come out of wearing masks, which nobody likes doing [because] they're terribly uncomfortable, people have reconnected again. I can't tell you how many people I have looked at in the eye and really connected with that I didn't before."
When it came to his early dates with the 35-year-old Dancing With the Stars pro, "For us, sitting at coffee shops and doing what we could — within the confines of that and the [COVID] rules — it really helped us connect more," he added.
The Australian Burgess said it also helped that they were "not rushed" because the world, and their work schedules, had come to a halt. She said they were able to "just take time to actually connect."
Amid the pandemic, it also took them four dates until they shared their first kiss, Green said.
In March, Burgess spoke to Entertainment Tonight about the early days of their romance, which began in October.
"We took out time and we really got to know each other for who we are on the inside," Burgess said. "And we really built something beautiful... It was a different way of dating" amid the pandemic. "There's less outside distractions. I'm not traveling as much... It allowed us time to get to know each other."
Burgess has also gotten to know Green's children, especially the three he shares with Fox. Green recently shared a photo of her playing with them in the pool. He's also dad to a son with ex-fiancée Vanessa Marcil.
Green confirmed his split with Fox in May 2020 after Fox was seen quarantining with her Midnight in the Switchgrass co-star and rock star Machine Gun Kelly. Green explained that Fox returned from filming a movie in late 2019 and said she wanted to separate. The couple, married nearly 10 years, was living apart when she met Kelly (real name: Colson Baker) on set in February 2020 and there was an immediate attraction.
Fox filed for divorce in November — after making her red carpet debut with Kelly. They've since made more PDA-filled appearances — and they likely won't slow down as Midnight in the Switchgrass is set for release on July 27.
The trailer for the film was released Wednesday:
Read more from Yahoo Entertainment:


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The nation's average household income rose at a record pace of 12.7 percent in the second quarter, but the real or inflation-adjusted consumption expenditures of households inched up a mere 0.4 percent to mark the slowest rate in 15 months, according to Statistics Korea, Thursday.
The data suggests that the increase in income is not great relative to inflation, which surged to a 24-year high of 6.3 percent in July.
The average monthly income of households stood at 4.83 million won ($3,700) in the April-June period, up 12.7 percent from a year earlier and the fastest year-on-year increase since 2006, when the statistics agency began compiling related data.
The agency attributed this household income increase to the massive government relief aid for pandemic-hit businesses, the recovery of the in-person service sector following the easing of limits on the size of private gatherings and multi-use facility operating hours, as well as the increase in the number of new jobs.
"The relief aid was especially noteworthy," a senior stats official said during a press briefing, referring to the record extra budget of 62 trillion won created in May to support small businesses that experienced losses caused by the pandemic.
During the cited period, the income earned through wages jumped 5.3 percent to an average of 2.89 million won per month.
The average monthly income from business operations increased 14.9 percent to 927,000 won.
Transfer income, which is largely backed by state support, soared 61.5 percent to 679,000 won.
However, the overall household income grew only 6.9 percent year-on-year when adjusted to inflation.
Concerning spending, the average monthly consumption expenditures jumped 6 percent year-on-year in the second quarter, which is the highest for any second quarter since 2010.
But when adjusted to inflation, the increase of the average monthly consumption expenditures turned out to be at a 15-month low of 0.4 percent.
Measured by the percentage of consumption expenditures out of disposable income, households' average propensity to consume dropped 5.2 percentage points year-on-year to 66.4 percent.
The figure was the lowest for any second quarter since 2006, and marked a fall for the fourth consecutive month.
Meanwhile, the income gap between the haves and have-nots widened in the second quarter for the first time in four quarters.
The average monthly income of the bottom 20-percent income bracket rose 16.5 percent year-on-year to 1.13 million won.
In comparison, households in the upper 20-percent income group earned 10.32 million won per month, up 11.7 percent from a year ago.
The country's distribution ratio for disposable income, a key barometer of earnings equality, reached 5.6 in the second quarter, up from 5.59 the previous year. A higher ratio means increased inequality in income distribution.
Statistics showed that the top 20-percent income bracket had 5.6 times more earnings than those in the bottom 20 percent over the cited period.


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The Jeff Malka Sephardic Collection
Gibraltar Census 1791
The British captured Gibraltar from Spain in July 1704 after which most of the Spanish population fled. The first detailed census was taken in 1777 at which time Gibraltar had 3,201 inhabitants. The 1791 census showed the population had decreased to 2,890 inhabitants of which over 725 were Jews. Some of the census records were blank so the records of 680 Jewish inhabitants from the 1791 census are retrieved here.
The early population "registers" (census) of Gibraltar are available online at Gibraltar National Archives website which also contains civil and military records. Another useful website is Professor Sawchuk's website which contains the downloadable "Gibraltar Explorer" app.
This searchable database of Jewish inhabitants of Gibraltar in the 1791 census is provided by Kevin Martin.
This database contains the following data points:
from Zeni Lebl's book (in Serbian)
We acknowledge the tremendous contributions and lifelong dedication of Mathilde Tagger, z"l who made this index available. For many years, and right until her untimely death, Mathilde Tagger was a very close friend and collaborator with Jeff Malka. Together they worked to promote Sephardic genealogy research and educate the public about its enormous potential.
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The walls of Manchester United's training ground have seen more than their share of stars down the years.
And one man who knows the place more than most is thrilled to be back.
Ryan Giggs spent his entire 24-year playing career with United, and returned to the clubs Aon training complex in Carrington with his Wales team this week.
The United legend is busy preparing his side for Wednesday's friendly with Trinidad and Tobago, and revealed his players have been inspired by their surroundings.
Giggs said: "Obviously I spent a lot of time here, both as a player and then, towards the end, as a coach. To see so many familiar people is great. It's great to be back.
"I'm really thankful to United for letting me use the facilities.
"We have a facility in north Wales which isn't quite ready yet so I jumped at the chance, knowing both the facilities would be good and the excitement it would generate within the squad because training at the ATC is something you don't get to see every day."
Giggs is hoping to lead Wales into Euro 2020 after they missed out on a place in the 2018 World Cup.
The Dragons begin their qualifying campaign by hosting Slovakia on Sunday, as they look to improve on their semi-final place at Euro 2016.
With the likes of Gareth Bale, Joe Allen and Aaron Ramsey amongst his squad, Giggs has no shortage of talent at his disposal.
But the former wing wizard has set his sights on getting things right off the pitch, just as much as on.
He added: "I'm trying to drive the professionalism and standards and, obviously here, you see that.
"It's great for the pitches and beforehand with the pre-activations for the warm-up."


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Pronyk, Paul; Rogers, Braeden; Lee, Sylvia; Bhatnagar, Aarunima; Wolman, Yaron; Monasch, Roeland; Hipgrave, David; Salama, Peter; Kucharski, Adam; Chopra, Mickey; +1 more... UNICEF Sierra Leone Ebola Response Team; (2016) The Effect of Community-Based Prevention and Care on Ebola Transmission in Sierra Leone. American journal of public health, 106 (4). pp. 727-732. ISSN 0090-0036 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2015.303020
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Use this Digital Object Identifier when citing or linking to this resource.
OBJECTIVES: To examine the acceptability, use, effects on early isolation, and contribution to Ebola virus disease (EVD) transmission of Community Care Centers (CCCs), which were rapidly deployed in Sierra Leone during an accelerated phase of the 2014-2015 EVD epidemic. METHODS: Focus group discussions, triads, and key informant interviews assessed acceptability of the CCCs. Facility registers, structured questionnaires, and laboratory records documented use, admission, and case identification. We estimated transmission effects by comparing time between symptom onset and isolation at CCCs relative to other facilities with the national Viral Hemorrhagic Fever data set. RESULTS: Between November 2014 and January 2015, 46 CCCs were operational. Over 13 epidemic weeks, 6129 patients were triaged identifying 719 (12%) EVD suspects. Community acceptance was high despite initial mistrust. Nearly all patients presented to CCCs outside the national alert system. Isolation of EVD suspects within 4 days of symptoms was higher in CCCs compared with other facilities (85% vs 49%; odds ratio = 6.0; 95% confidence interval = 4.0, 9.1), contributing to a 13% to 32% reduction in the EVD reproduction number (Ro). CONCLUSIONS: Community-based approaches to prevention and care can reduce Ebola transmission.
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|Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health > Dept of Infectious Disease Epidemiology
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Several river and ocean cruise lines are offering goodies and bonus commissions to celebrate Travel Advisor Appreciation Day.
Hurtigruten Expeditions is offering a free cruise to agents booking three nine-day Galapagos cruises for travel this year. Bookings can be made anytime this year. Once the guests have sailed, agents are eligible for a free cruise on the same itinerary.
Atlas Ocean Voyages is offering $500 in bonus commission for all new bookings in May for 2022 voyages.
Virgin Voyages is offering weekly giveaways on SeaCiety, an online Facebook group for travel agents. Every week in May, agents have an opportunity to enter to win Virgin swag. Winners are announced on Thursdays.
Scenic Group U.S., which includes Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours and Emerald Cruises, is offering 5% bonus commissions on new Europe and Southeast Asia river cruise bookings made for the 2022 season and 2% bonus commissions for the 2023 season. Bookings must be made on the ExpressBook system by June 30.
Scenic Group will also give away five free cruises to advisors, with extra entries earned for bookings for the Arctic, the West Coast and South America.
Source: Read Full Article


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I'm returning to Austria in January and giving two talks at two seminars at the 7th Langenlois Woody Plants Seminar on 21st January with focus on woody edibles
and the day after at the 29th Langenlois Herbaceous Perennial seminar
..and I'm happy to say that I won't be flying. It actually only takes two days from Vienna to Trondheim with one night on the Rostock Sweden ferry and the Oslo – Trondheim night train! I'll be travelling via a family visit in England!
I'm also talking at the University of Graz on 20th January! See


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So much better than the photos! All of our photos are taken in bright light to show the true condition, color and as much details as possible! Nice quality sturdy versatile bar cart with lots of wonderful details. Full deep and wide pull out drawer. Three tier slide in area to adjust the two wide sturdy wire baskets included.
Wheel locks to securely stay in place. Weight on its own before no packaging or box: 27 pounds. Please look at all 28 photos taken in bright light.Please look at all of our photos and very detailed description and don't hesitate to ask a questions! Comes from a smoke and pet free environment! The item "Bar Serving Beverage Cart Wheels Storage Trolley Table Food Server Butcher Block" is in sale since Saturday, January 16, 2021. This item is in the category "Home & Garden\Furniture\Bar Carts & Serving Carts". The seller is "knateb" and is located in Indialantic, Florida. This item can be shipped to United States.


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Hello Dear Reader!
It is my absolute pleasure to be introducing this blog I'm a massive fan of Outside Ideas and what Pete and Sarah are achieving.
At Twenty Eighty Online we design and build websites that aim to add value to businesses. One of the best books I've read for getting a great view on how to position your business (which helps you work out what value your website adds) is Building a Story Brand by Donald Miller. It's an amazing book with some really solid, actionable advice to help businesses find and solidify their identity. One part, in particular, stood out to me. As people, in our everyday lives, we look for things that help us 1) survive and 2) thrive.
I believe we should be applying this line of thinking to the content on our websites. How does your business help someone survive, and then thrive? Can you explain that in a few sentences or less? The products and services we offer serve a purpose for our target customers, but articulating that value can often be a challenge. Thinking about it in terms of how you help them to survive and thrive is an exercise that might lead you to discover brand new ways of positioning your business that make the benefits crystal clear to them.
As the world opens back up, we're going to be faced with new challenges. There will be potential customers who are still very much in survival mode, while others will be looking for products and services to help them thrive in this new environment. There's no reason why we can't support both, we just have to make it clear how.
Jon Walter,
Owner Twenty Eighty Online


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The current exhibition "Metamorphosis: Give Me Your Wings" at Lehmann Maupin Gallery in New York presents new works by Japanese artist Mr. The centerpiece is a huge, complex installation composed of garbage and everyday objects from Japanese life. The piece deals with the devastation and nuclear disaster in Eastern Japan following the earthquakes and tsunami in March 2011. A counterpoint to this thoughtful installation is the colorful and uplifting paintings the artist has created for the exhibition. The new paintings are part of Mr.'s ongoing exploration of otaku, the Japanese subculture that is characterized by the obsession with manga, animé, video games, and sci-fi literature.
Mr. was born in 1969 in Cupa, Japan. He lives and works in Saitama. Mr. graduated from the Department of Fine Arts, Sokei Art School, in Tokyo, in 1996. As former protégé of Takashi Murakami has been closely involved with Murakami's studio and his enterprise, Kaikai Kiki Co. Mr. has been participating in exhibitions such as "Krazy: the Delirious World of Anime + Comics + Video Games + Art" at the Vancouver Art Gallery, and "Little Boy: The Arts of Japan's Exploding Subculture" at Japan Society, in New York.
For more videos covering contemporary art and architecture go to VernissageTV.


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Friday, 21 June 2013 - 09:20
India and Netherlands' Innovation benefits tuktuk drivers
According to Enviu, the Three Wheels United has made it to the top 100 innovative solutions by Sustainia. The company has improved the lives of a million tuktuk drivers through social advancement, financial services, and cleaner technology. It generates a 20 percent raise in the revenue and provides energy-efficient tuktuks to drivers. Magda Wojtyra/flickr India has an estimate of 5 million active auto rickshaws drivers today. They work over 12 hours daily and earn 3 dollars. They have no access to financial and social services. Three Wheels United's initiative was to build a business model that can give financial and social services, other ways of earning revenue, and clean technology for auto-rickshaw engines. This innovation has benefited tuktuk drivers by raising their revenues at around 70 percent. Drivers can also avail of loans and change their engines to eco-friendly ones which can decrease up to 40 percent C02 output. "Three Wheels United is a sure shot successful business model because it has been developed on the principle of co-creation where every stakeholder is involved in its creation. We provide very unique and innovative solutions to tackle a clearly identified social problem with a scalable and disruptive solution We currently have 145 new vehicles on the road and are ready for scale," Three Wheels United entrepreneur Ramesh Prabhu said. Three Wheels United's objective is to put 50,000 tuktuks on the road in five years, while improving the lives of 200,000 locals. It has existing plans to expand to other cities in the country and eventually help 1 million tuktuk drivers and their loved ones in the future.


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Mr.Coffee Specialty Coffee Drip Bag's Box Set (5x10gr)
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Selected Single Origin Coffee's perfectly sealed in 10grs Drip Bag's for office, on the go, camping or at home. Just pour hot water over it to enjoy a delicious cup of coffee.
Selected Single Origins : Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia, Uganda, Papa New Guinea
Roast : Medium
Content : 5 Drip Bag's x 10 gr
Sustainably sourced & created with real passion.
Enjoy better coffee.
Proudly Roasted and packed in Hong Kong.


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Why is it important to expand your network?
"Building a professional network is particularly important for the success of any business. For the recruitment niche, it means meeting new people, broadening your circle, and cultivating meaningful relationships"(LinkedIn).
Make your business stand out from the crowd, build relationships, and stay connected; it gives you more options should you need to start looking for new talent!
Some ways to expand your network:
Look for online recruiter communities on LinkedIn or other social media sites.
Many recruiters are already active LinkedIn users. You can look for recruiting groups based on location or specialty, or start your own group that serves your specific needs. Veronica Blatt at NPAWorld.com
Follow Your Followers
Masshire says "Comments by professional colleagues on your company social media postings can source active and passive candidates. Cultivate these relationships with follow-up communications about your company and your talent needs. They may become candidates themselves for current or future openings".
Go to Events
Michael Stenger at NIA Agency suggests "Attending a local event centered on your niche is a sure-fire way to meet collaborators. These events are designed for that express purpose.
Not only will you meet new people, you will also learn something new.
It's not uncommon to come away from a networking event with a stack of business cards that come in handy later.
You can find events in your area through a site like MeetUp or a simple Google search of your niche could suffice".
Don't limit yourself to your industry
"Are you already part of a professional organization? Already a regular on your industry's networking scene? Don't assume that networking should only be limited to events specifically targeted to your career field! If you have a hobby or special interest you feel passionately about, don't shy away from attending these types of events as well. While building up your professional network with people within your industry is important, it's also valuable to expand your network with those who may not work in your field, but do share a common passion with you" (Catherine, at execu search group).
Expand your geographical range
This will increase your applicant pool and you never know who is waiting to make a move, literally.
Before the pandemic, remote jobs were scarce and hard to come by but since the pandemic, there has been a jump in remote work. It's been made away that there are many positions that can be done remotely


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Antigua is a UNESCO world heritage site, famous for its Spanish Baroque-infrastructure and ruins. Antigua was the highlight of my time in Guatemala and was one of my favourite places in Central America. With an abundance of things to do, great nightlife and an easy-to-navigate city, Antigua makes for the perfect destination in Guatemala.
Here are some of the best things to do in Antigua:
- Hike Volcano Acatenango
- Roast marshmallows on Volcano Pacaya
- Traditional Guatemalan cooking class
- Have a Spanish lesson
- Free walking tour of Antigua
- Visit the markets
- Scenic views from Cerro de la Cruz
- Walk under the iconic Santa Catalina Arch
- The chocolate museum: ChocoMuseo
- Enjoy the bars, restaurants and nightlife
- Treat yourself to some RnR – spas, hairdressers, salons…
Related Post: My 2-week Guatemala Itinerary
1. Overnight hike up Volcano Acatenango
Acatenango is not for the faint hearted, but reaching the top is an incredible achievement and will give you once-in-a-lifetime views of Fuego. Climbing and camping on an active volcano was truly an unforgettable experience.
I've written a detailed post on my experience climbing Acatenango; with tips on making the climb more bearable and what to expect. It is a challenging hike, but absolute worth it the effort! Don't let any reviews put you off. Although it's hard, everyone makes it up in their own time and you. can take as many breaks as required.
Our group was large and consisted of families, couples, friends and solo backpackers. Making it perfect for any type of traveller and a great way to make new friends.
It's recommended to climb Acatenango towards the end of your stay in Antigua, to give you time to acclimatise to the altitude. Visiting nearby places, like Lake Atitlan or Xela, beforehand will help too. It's advised against hiking Acatenango shortly after arriving from a beach/scuba diving trip. A few people from our hostel, who had arrived straight from Belize/Belizean islands, had to wait a few days due to altitude acclimatisation.
We hiked with Wicho & Charlie, who were absolutely fantastic! However, there are many different tours to choose from, depending on what you're looking for, the gear you need to rent and your budget.
Related Post: Volcano Acatenango: Surviving the Overnight Volcano Stay
2. Roast Marshmallows at the top of Pacaya Volcano
Roasting marshmallows over lava, on an active volcano, was a definite pinch-me moment. This half-day tour is an ideal trip for anyone wanting to have a taste of Guatemala's many volcanos, without the cost or effort of climbing Acatenango.
Read my detailed blog post on our experience climbing Pacaya Volcano.
There are several different tour options to choose from, including sunrise tours, sunset, added lunch and thermal spas etc. Walk around Antigua to gauge your options and the different pricing available. Pacaya was arguably one of the best things to do in Antigua and I'd highly recommend it!
Related Post: Volcano Pacaya
3. Take a Traditional Guatemalan cooking class
Antigua is home to numerous cooking schools who make fresh, authentic Guatemalan meals. We went with the lovely La Tortilla school. We were able to visit the local market to buy fresh ingredients, before going back to start cooking. At the end, we sat around the table to enjoy our efforts, whilst hearing about everything Antigua has to offer. It's also a great way to meet a nice mix of other travellers!
There are many cooking schools available, all offering different packages, so make sure to ask around. I'd recommend choosing one that includes buying ingredients from a local market. This gave us a more in-depth look into local life in Antigua, whilst broadening our understanding of how the Mayans influenced cuisine and cooking in Guatemala.
Related Post: Volcano Telica – Craters, Beers and Sunsets
4. Have a Spanish lesson
Take advantage of the many Spanish schools Antigua has to offer. Considerably cheaper than neighbouring countries, this is a great place to brush up on useful phrases for travelling or perfecting intricate gramma. You'll be spoilt for choice with private one-on-one lessons, group classes and home-stays.
Finding a school that provide just 1-2 hour classes, as opposed to minimum 10-20 hour weekly classes, proved to be difficult. But I came across, Modern World Language School, who provided 2 hour lessons. I went twice and they were fantastic! I met many people who based themselves in Antigua for several weeks/months at a time, just to focus on their Spanish. Many language schools are dotted around the city for you to choose from.
Typically, you have 4 hour classes in the morning (private or group), before spending the afternoon working on any homework or enjoying Antigua. You can also join Spanish school with a homestay included. These are more expensive, as meals are often included too, but it means you'll likely improve on your Spanish even quicker.
5. Free Walking Tours of Antigua
The best way to see new place, and uncover what it has to offer, is through a walking tour. Whether that's done through an organised private tour, a free walking group or a self-guided walk, this is an absolute must to explore Antigua.
My sister and I found numerous tours on TripAdvisor and through our hostel, all ranging from £15-75 and lasting between 3-8 hours. These included tours of Antigua, food tours and excursions to nearby ranches and the infamous volcanoes nearby (Pacaya and Acatenango).
We joined the daily free walking tour organised by Guru Walk. Like most free walking tours around the world, it's free to join but a tip is expected/appreciated. The tour operates at 3pm daily, lasts approximately 2 hours and is available in both English and Spanish. I highly recommend this as you can really learn about the history of Antigua and get some great local tips on restaurants, bars and things to do.
Or consider doing a self-guided tour of the city yourself. Although you miss out on local knowledge and have to organise it yourself, this gives you the freedom to go at your own pace and see the bits you want to see. I highly rate using GPS my city for pre-planned self guided tours; with maps included and key landmarks/attractions highlighted on each route. Their 6 main self guided tours:
- Introduction Walk of Antigua
- Museums of Antigua
- Antigua Nightlife
- The Ancient Ruins of Antigua
- Shopping Walking Tour
- Parque Central Walking Tour
6. Visit the markets
There are several markets worth visiting in Antigua. The Central Market is the largest, and was definitely my favourite. The front section is filled with souvenirs and freshly cut and packaged fruit, aimed at tourists. However, once you walk past this and further into the market, you get a real taste of Guatemalan life. The atmosphere here is buzzing and every corner is bustling with all sorts – it's hard not to get lost in it all!
Weekends are the best time to go, as the market is joined by vendors from neighbouring villages! Prices are reasonable, but you'll find they're inflated for tourists – particularly at the front of the market.
Other markets worth checking out include the Artisans Market, Antigua's Municipal Market and Nim Po't. These offer everything from fresh foods and local delicacies, to fabrics, clothes and souvenirs.
We found The Culture Trip's post on Antigua Markets helpful when we were there.
7. Take in the scenic views from Cerro de la Cruz
Cerro de la Cruz is an elevated spot a short walk north of Antigua's old town. A 10-minute walk up the stairs will give you unobstructed, expansive views of Volcan de Agua and Antigua itself. Alternatively, ride a tuk-tuk to the top and walk down. Be sure to visit at sunrise or sunset too, for great photos and to avoid the heat of the day.
There are several vendors at the top, if you need some refreshments. I would be careful about taking any valuables here! We were warned by our hostel that the area can be a bit dodgy and a few people we met had things stolen here. Be sure to just take small change and essentials.
8. Walk under the iconic Santa Catalina Arch
Dating back to the 1600s, this iconic archway is one of Antigua's most recognisable landmarks. With Volcan de Agua looming in the distance, this makes for the perfect shot! The Santa Catalina Arch is often an attraction stop on walking tours, in which case you'll get to hear about the Arch's history.
Originally, the Arch was built to connect the Santa Catalina convent to a school. This allowed nuns to pass from one building to the other without having to go out onto the street. The clock was later added in the 1830s.
9. Visit the ChocoMuseum
Guatemala is the birthplace of chocolate! Thanks to the Mayans, who believed chocolate was the food of the Gods…they weren't wrong.
Chocomuseo lies in the heart of Antigua and is worth a visit if you're in the city. We had a tasty hot chocolate in their cafe, before exploring their free small museum. This details the history of chocolate and the process of production.
Workshops are also available everyday at 11:00, 13:30 and 16:00, for all ages. These include a truffle workshop, a mini chocolate workshop and 'bean to bar', where you make your own chocolate from cacao beans. Adult tickets cost Q180, with children tickets costing Q120.
There are several shops here too, giving you the opportunity to buy local jewellery and clothes, along with lots of high quality chocolate.
10. Grab a beer at one of the many hidden bars
Antigua comes alive at night, with the many discrete bars on offer. Our favourite during our time there was 'Cafe no Se' and the rooftop at Lava. I loved the mix of locals, expats and tourists. A few bars that were recommended to us, but we didn't have time to try, included Tabacos y Vinos, Monoloco Antigua, Lucky Rabbit and Las Vibras de la Casbah.
Another place worth checking out – particularly UK residents who have been away from home for a while – is The Londoner! They have proper pints and roast lunch…Yorkshire puddings included!!
11. Treat yourself to some RnR
Surprisingly, Antigua has a wide array of salons, spas and beauty bars. After backpacking for 5 months, I treated myself to a haircut and a 30 minute massage. Many places have group offers for nails, facials and massages. I found it easy to book an appointment, and many places had walk-in slots available. These typically aren't 'backpacker prices' but after 5 months of hostels and street food, I was able to justify a larger spend.
Related Post: My 21 days in Nicaragua
A few things to keep in mind when visiting Antigua
Antigua is largely paved with cobblestones. Although this adds to the city's charm and uniqueness, it does mean it's less accessible for wheelchairs.
The other small negative from my time in Antigua was having to be very wary around Parque Central. Although police were always around, we did get harassed by scammers a few times. Like any tourist place, be mindful of your belongings.
After an amazing seven days in Antigua, I had to say goodbye to my sister and start the long, PAINFUL journey to Leon, Nicaragua. I managed to travel from Antigua to Leon by bus, without any overnight stops!
Let me know your favourite part of Antigua!
Happy travels x