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Don't trust the government?
Mineralab, a Prescott, Arizona, company that sells geiger counters, maintains radiationnetwork.com, "a nationwide grass roots effort to monitor the radiation in our environment." The network collects data from private citizens nationwide who keep their geiger-counters running, with data uploading automatically to the website in real time. The site recently added citizen monitors in Europe and Japan. The Radiation Network's map also displays potential sources of radiation across the U.S., including nuclear power plants, testing sites, waste collection facilities, etc. "Our Monitoring Stations have not yet registered a big, or even perceptibly significant 'Gamma event' from any radiation drifting over from Japan, so we can take a little solace in that," said Tim Flanegin, who operates the site.


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Affordable web design services for San Diego and the greater San Diego county area.
$689 flat rate for website, SEO, and training.
Recent Work (click to view):
[Please keep in mind that clients have made aesthetic changes to their websites after my original design.]
Let me know if you'd like to speak to my happy clients and I'll gladly connect you with them.
I provide one specific web design service. I create websites for clients using the user-friendly Squarespace platform, and then train the clients to be able to update the website themselves. This way, you won't be dependent on your web developer and have to pay them for every minor change you will want to make over time.
Whether or not you think you're up to the task of updating a website by yourself, I've been able to train people of every technical ability.
Web Services Includes:
Your business' Squarespace website
2 hours of training
Webmasters submission
Google places registration
Search engine optimization
Adwords consultation
Email account linking
Squarespace can do e-commerce!
About Jeeheon Cho
Hi! I'm Jeeheon Cho and I'm a photographer based in San Diego, California. I started offering web design services to my commercial photography clients after realizing that many clients didn't have a website up or had a defunct one. They were small business owners who didn't want to spend thousands and thousands of dollars on a website that wouldn't generate the same return. They also didn't want to have to pay their web developer to make minor changes to their website every time they wanted to update pictures or prices. So I used Squarespace, which is a content management system with beautiful website templates, to create a website for them knowing that I could train them to use it themselves no matter how proficient they were with computers. So if you fit into this category, give me a call and let's talk about how I can help!
The Process:
Consultation - We'll meet to discuss your needs and register your website!
I'll create the website based on what you tell me during consultation. This will take me as long as it takes for you to send me the content for your website. It's best to bring all your copy and images to our meeting on a USB.
I'll help you register your domain during the consultation.
I'll help you register a Google email address if you doesn't already have one and then link all of your email addresses.
After Consultation
I'll build your brand new website!
You will then be notified when website is finished. You should make note of everything you like, dislike, and would like to see modified prior to the training period.
Training - We'll meet again for one-on-one training!
You'll make the changes under my direction.
You'll be briefed on webmasters and Google places submission.
You'll be consulted on Adwords setup.
You'll be consulted on SEO
Price - $689 for website excluding hosting fees (hosting from Squarespace costs $16/mo or $144/year).
Call me anytime at (619) 990-8935 or email me at email@example.com
I'd also be happy to provide the phone numbers of the owners of the websites above if you'd like references!

subset: commoncrawl


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Knitwear at its most functional: this V-neck jumper is a reminder of the old saying, "less is more". Worn with a T-shirt, it is the centre of a weekend look, while a shirt instantly dresses it up for a more formal style suitable for the office, or a casual dinner out.
- Pullover
- Fine wool knit
- V-neck collar
- Emboridered logo
- Fall/Winter 18
- 100%Wool


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Love the look on that Sinclair girl on the right. Hilarious.
Sinclair Broadcasting, you know the kings of right-wing talk radio who also own more tv stations than anyone else and are soon to buy Tribune which would give them 72% if local TV stations. Sinclair has now forced their news hosts to repeat after me…
Hi, I'm(A) ____________, and I'm (B) _________________…
(B) Our greatest responsibility is to serve our Northwest communities. We are extremely proud of the quality, balanced journalism that KOMO News produces.
(A) But we're concerned about the troubling trend of irresponsible, one sided news stories plaguing our country. The sharing of biased and false news has become all too common on social media.
(B) More alarming, some media outlets publish these same fake stories … stories that just aren't true, without checking facts first.
(A) Unfortunately, some members of the media use their platforms to push their own personal bias and agenda to control "exactly what people think" … This is extremely dangerous to a democracy.
(B) At KOMO it's our responsibility to pursue and report the truth. We understand Truth is neither politically "left nor right." Our commitment to factual reporting is the foundation of our credibility, now more than ever.
(A) But we are human and sometimes our reporting might fall short. If you believe our coverage is unfair please reach out to us by going to KOMOnews.com and clicking on CONTENT CONCERNS. We value your comments. We will respond back to you.
(B) We work very hard to seek the truth and strive to be fair, balanced and factual. … We consider it our honor, our privilege to responsibly deliver the news every day.
(A) Thank you for watching and we appreciate your feedback.
And this is markets already saturated with right-wing talk radio, religious broadcasting and little else other than sports.
Here is John Oliver explaining it…


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Studying philosophy in the UK
What is philosophy?
Philosophy means 'love of wisdom', and philosophy as an academic subject involves the systematic study of deep and important questions about ourselves and our world. Studying philosophy will not, of course, guarantee that you become wise. But studying the subject is just about the best way to acquire those skills that allow you to become an independent and critical thinker, and to launch yourself on the path of wisdom both at university and in later life.
The Big Questions
Here are some typical philosophical questions. Is morality relative – to individuals or to societies? What is the nature of political power and authority? Is free will an illusion? What is the mind? Can we know anything at all about the external world? Is it rational to believe in God? Is beauty really in the eye of the beholder? What unifies these questions is not their subject matter, but rather the methods we need to use in order to answer them; you can't work out what makes an act right or wrong, for example, by doing a science experiment, a calculation or by reading a history book. Instead, philosophy encourages students to think about the nature of certain things, about the reasons people have for believing what they do about them, and about whether people are right to so believe. To do so, however, students need certain skills in thinking and reasoning; and the study of the subject in the UK is partly about the provision of these skills. Students learn how to construct arguments, criticise other people, develop creative solutions to problems, use your imagination, and defend your views against criticism from others. In addition, students learn about the theories and arguments of the great past philosophers, but normally only as a springboard for developing your own thoughts.
"... the great past philosophers"
Philosophy therefore teaches you what others have thought about these important issues; but it is, in the main, concerned with teaching you how to think for yourselves about them.
Philosophy in the UK
Philosophy is taught at some high schools in the UK. But in the main it is studied at university level. There are over fifty universities in the UK teaching philosophy at the undergraduate level, leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree (either single honours or joint honours); most of these universities also teach philosophy at the postgraduate level, leading to a Masters and PhD degrees. Different universities offer different patterns of study for BA degrees (three years in England, Wales and Northern Ireland; four years in Scotland) and different combinations for a joint degree. If you aren't completely sure whether philosophy is for you, a joint degree is an option; you can sometimes transfer into a 'single honours' degree in one of your chosen subjects later on. Philosophy is also sometimes taught as part of a 'combined honours' degree programme, where you study a number of arts and humanities subjects throughout your degree.
UK universities are world-leading in terms of research and teaching. Ten of the top fifty research universities in philosophy in the world are in the UK. Many other universities are in the top one hundred. The UK is second only to the US in the number of high quality peer-reviewed philosophy articles published in the English-speaking world. The standard of teaching in UK departments is very high, and the study facilities excellent. The fact that philosophy continues to flourish in the UK is no surprise, since it has been regarded as an essential part of university education in the UK for hundreds of years, and was a core subject when the very first universities were founded here.
What careers are open to me with a UK philosophy degree?
A UK philosophy degree equips you with a range of skills highly valued by prospective employers in a range of careers. These include the ability to comprehend difficult and complex materials, to think clearly and logically, to develop and defend original arguments, and to communicate well in both speech and writing. As a result, philosophy graduates are commonly found in fields where these skills are particularly important - for instance in the legal profession, education, government, computer science, journalism, and medicine.
But the skills you develop doing philosophy in the UK will put you in an excellent position for further study at the postgraduate level. For instance, studies in the US show that philosophy graduates do consistently better than graduates from nearly every other discipline in the Arts and Social Sciences on general tests for admission to postgraduate schools, and on tests for law and business schools in particular. Studying philosophy in the UK provides, therefore, an excellent grounding for both further study and interesting careers – as well as providing you with the ability to think clearly, critically, and independently on any issue you like for the rest of your life.
Michael Brady, Director British Philosophical Association http://www.bpa.ac.uk


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On January 20, 2009, Barack Obama was sworn in as the first Black President of the United States of America. Upon waving farewell to George Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush, President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama moved their family into the White House. For many Americans, the history of African Americans in the White House began in 2009. Not true.
Dr. Clarence Lusane, Political Science professor at American University, has written a book entitled, The Black History of the White House, which historically honors the contribution of African Americans as free and enslaved people within the most celebrated house in the United States of America. Dr. Lusane, aside from his formal scholarship, is no stranger to the Black community. Either directly or indirectly, Dr. Lusane has worked with many of the Member Organizations of the Black Leadership Forum, Inc, among them the TransAfrica Forum and the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies.
Prior to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW in Washington, D.C. being the address of the White House, the first President's House was located in New York and Philadelphia, respectively. For years, archeological evidence and the relentless efforts by progressive African Americans in Philadelphia have pointed toward a full public recognition that, despite historic omissions and falsehoods in the teaching of American history in classrooms, enslaved Black people were forcibly worked for free within the home of a sitting president. Many.
Two in particular, an African American lady named Oney Judd and a man named Hercules are featured in the book. According to Dr. Lusane, President George Washington words and deeds did not match on the subject of slavery. While President Washington spoke of his opposition to the institution of slavery, he enslaved Ms. Oney Judd and other African Americans. One evening, Ms. Oney simply walked out of the rear door of the President's House while George Washington and his wife Martha ate dinner. Following a search, Ms. Judd was found and was offered her freedom, if she would return to bondage. She simply replied, "I am already free", and did not return.
In another case, an enslaved African American man by the name of Hercules emancipated himself by escaping the bondage of George Washington on a trip from Philadelphia to the Mount Vernon, Virginia private plantation of George Washington.
Both cases are featured in The Black History in the White House that should be required reading in Sunday schools and public school systems. Until American education exposes students to all history—pleasant and unpleasant—our nation will not be able to fully address the issue of race.
Gary L. Flowers, Executive Director and CEO of the Black Leadership Forum, Inc.


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This month I will start the process of re-fashioning Savannah Rayne. For far too long, she has slipped away, unnoticed by most, silently through the literary world's cracks. I am a little stunned by how quickly I was forgotten and the few posts I managed to get done on social media sites received no "likes" or "comments". Most fans faded from being active on my page, to barely acknowledging my sporadic appearances. A few have remained steadfast and I thank you for being loyal; for allowing me to be human. Book sales declined and quite honestly had me feeling why bother? My life has been busy, stressed and sometimes unbelievably chaotic. That has played the major roll in my lack of consistent blogging, media socializing, promoting my published works and completing new ones. I've sadly let life's daily happenings dictate ME and how I go through my days.
Time still proves to be my greatest obstacle; there are just not enough hours in the day to meet my responsibilities and the needs of everything and everyone…however, that too will be changing. Come summer my full-time day job will become more part-time. Those "free" hours will then be dedicated to time I can write and focus on promotion to further my career as a writer. Eventually, as my day job comes to an end once the triplets that I care for start school, I have decided to "retire" from the childcare profession. Thirty-four years of caring for little people has been wonderful, but I need a change. I'm hoping by that time I will have made enough progress to become a full-time writer and still put food on the table.
So starting this month I will be having things re-designed to better fit Savannah Rayne and her style of writing. A new logo, banners/headers, swag and promotional materials will be done. I'm VERY excited about this! It's kind of like "redecorating" my house, and you know how I LOVE decorating and changing things up, lol. I'll also start blogging regularly again and hitting the social media circuit for some fun and laughs. Contests, giveaways and random surprises are just a few of the goings-on you can look forward to!
With a whole lot of luck (fingers crossed) I'm hoping to kick it all off with the release of a new book…or two.
Yep, it's going to be a VERY busy time for me/Savannah. No longer will I let life hold the reigns to my happiness. I'm back in the driver's seat and plan on staying there!
This won't happen overnight, but it WILL happen! If you love storms I hope you'll come along for the ride, just make sure to hold on tight to your umbrella!


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I'm growing more and more melancholy with the state of green design. Seriously, doesn't the miracle of new life deserve a proper bed? There is something just a wee bit off with laying a newborn in a cardboard box, recycled or not.
Post Script: I hereby pledge to leave my disdain off this blog. Thank you for letting me vent.
11 comments:
- Chakra Pennywhistle said...
Ha! Oh my! At first glance, I thought this was a toy. Is this for real???
I agree with you!
- December 02, 2009
- Green {Goody} said...
This is no joke, dear friend. I'll send you the link. It can be yours for 75 Euros.
- December 02, 2009
- alexkeller said...
omg - i thought the same thing - for a doll, perhaps. ugh.
- December 03, 2009
- Green {Goody} said...
I can assure you this is marketed for real human babies.
P.S. I love that you're commenting here!
- December 03, 2009
- Elise said...
I remember when my first baby was born and searching for the perfect small crib . . . it was so beautiful and I made all the sheets myself - you know the drill! Then wove ribbons in it etc.
This cardboard crib actually seems unsafe - plus, I would want to collage all over it . . .
- December 08, 2009
- Lisa said...
That is either horrifying or hilarious. Or both. I kind of doubt the anti-SIDs people would like that design. If you want a green option, how about using (or starting) a family bassinet that is passed from person to person. You can borrow ours :)
- December 09, 2009
- Green {Goody} said...
I wondered if I'd be the only one who thought this was just wrong. I love you people.
- December 09, 2009
- karen said...
"Yeah, my parents raised me in a cardboard box."
Come on people - there are so many ways to be eco-friendly without being stupid!
Besides, there are probably chemicals that went into making this crib that are dangerous to newborns.
- December 26, 2009
- sparkygalore said...
Like your blog normally, but sorry, not with you on this one. I spent my early months in a drawer from my parents' dresser. I'm sure I didn't feel any less miraculous because I didn't have a "proper" bed, and I'm glad they saved the $ to spend it on me when I could appreciate it.
- January 09, 2010
- Becky O said...
My husband and I are taking this design and going to lows and getting wood. I love the look of this cradle but with poo blow out and pee, spit up and all do you know how bad that cardboard will smell.
- January 12, 2011
- Green {Goody} said...
Please send me pictures of your final product, I would love to see how it turns out. Congratulations!
- January 12, 2011


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March 6 - 8, 2017 | Berlin
Thermal assessment of HD engine exhaust manifold with co-simulation method and optimization study for external heat transfer coefficient
In the automotive engineering, exhaust manifold which is mounted on cylinder head of an engine, collects the exhaust gas from the cylinders and dispose it to the exhaust after treatment system. Nowadays, increase of engine performance and overall system efficiency are the most struggling questions seen in the automotive industry. On the other hand; safety, fuel economy and price are the demands from the customer. To satisfy all these market expectations regarding to the emission and performance of engine, the temperature of the exhaust gas disposed from the engine becomes too high. During the engine operation, exhaust manifold is subjected to severe thermal cycling under harsh working conditions, resulting from high temperature exhaust gases, which also show transient behavior.
Exhaust manifold also requires the long running design verifications tests to be conducted in dynamometer test center which are very expensive and time consuming (up to 2500 hours). CAE is best method to minimize the costly hardware testing and reduce whole product development time. The current study presents the well-developed CAE process to predict the exhaust manifold metal temperature accurately which is used to carry out thermo-mechanical analyses to evaluate the design of the heavy-duty diesel engine exhaust manifold in terms of durability. As a first part of this study, performed the STAR-CCM+® Co-Simulation analyses via 1D engine performance data as boundary condition. It was managed to determine the non-uniform heat transfer distribution for external surface of manifold (without performing external aerodynamics analysis) via using DOE based optimization strategy. Also obtained metal skin temperature of manifold with thermal camera and thermocouple within the scope of this study to validate the CFD result with the experimental data.


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Sunday, December 30, 2012
Bagworm Cocoon
I think these cocoons are beautiful. An insect who builds his own log cabin? How cool is that?
I'm glad I decided to share this photo today. I looked it up. Turns out Bagworms are particularly distructive to evergreens. And now I'm wondering if this is what's wrong with our pine tree. Hmmmm.....
Well, enjoy the photo. Let's go spin our own log cabins. It could be fun, right?
Sharing with:
7 comments:
- Barb Brookbank said...
Well, I've never seen such a thing! Thanks for sharing this!
- December 30, 2012 at 10:36 AM
- JoAnn ( Scene Through My Eyes) said...
Quite interesting - it does amaze me the things I've never seen or heard of before - thanks for sharing the info and the picture.
- December 30, 2012 at 11:55 AM
Destructive perhaps, but what an interesting insect... I love what clever things they do! Thank you for sharing on Weekly Top Shot #63! I'm your newest follower...
- December 30, 2012 at 12:47 PM
- Carol L McKenna said...
Creative Photo! No so good for your pine tree ~
Happy New Year to you ^_^
(A Creative Harbor ~ aka ArtMuseDog and Carol ^_^)
- December 30, 2012 at 1:21 PM
- Ruth said...
Such a beautiful home they have created :) I've never heard of them before...hope your tree will be ok though!
- December 30, 2012 at 4:01 PM
- Pieces of Sunshine said...
The insect world is endlessly fascinating.
- December 30, 2012 at 4:24 PM
- Island Rambles Blog said...
that is a fascinating nest they create...each thing in nature has a place. It looks so large.
- December 30, 2012 at 5:45 PM
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I have been completely laid out with the flu this week, stuck in bed and asleep like I haven't been in I don't know when. All plans for meals, appointments (like with the accountant, the acupuncturist, visiting friends, departing relatives, seeing my old man in his rehab home, birthdays, yoga class), pottery glazing and shipping were shelved. All I managed to do was sleep, do some sketching, listen to podcasts, cough, keep up with the e-course through videos and posts, and cough. Our cleaning goddess came this morning, so I carried myself and my sketchbook upstairs to make some templates and begin working with this week's lesson- the mishima technique.
Mishima is the process of filling incised lines with colored slip, clearing away the excess in one form or another, then firing and glazing the piece. It is beautiful and delicate and a very immediate process- something I've very much wanted to learn. I've tried it on my own before with mixed results, but as with everything, there are tips and tricks you learn when someone with experience teaches you, vs blundering through on your own. I'm hopeful for these pieces, which I'll let dry and fire at the end of the course.
I made the drawings of the crimson clover while I was listening to Brooklyn Homesteader's webinar on urban beekeeping. Crimson clover has long been one of my favorite wildflowers and I made several drawings of the plant based on antique botanical illustrations. I took my favorite of the lot to make into templates for this course.
Next week, I plan to get back to work while my boy is on spring break- finish glazing and shipping orders that people are expecting - my apologies for the delay- and working on some outside projects if the weather cooperates.
Have a nice weekend, everyone.


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Marie Bullock, founder and president of the Academy of American Poets, died Thursday at her home in Manhattan after a long illness. She was 75 years old.
Mrs. Bullock established the academy, which is based in Manhattan, in 1934 to encourage new poets, reward poetry of excellence and to increase the appreciation of poetry generally.
A rotating board of 12 chancellors awards the academy's $10,000 fellowships, prizes and book awards, and its yearly awards to students at 150 colleges and universities.
In 1982, Mrs. Bullock received a Mayor's Award of Honor for Arts and Culture. She also had received the Gold Medal of the National Institute of Social Sciences, the Award for Distinguished Service to the Arts from the National Institute of Arts and Letters. She also received the King's Medal from Britain for ''service in the cause of freedom'' during World War II.
Mrs. Bullock was also an astronomer and a former member of Teachers Astronomy Course at the Hayden Planetarium in Manhattan. She also had been a member of the British Astronomical Association and the visitors committee in the Department of Astronomy at Harvard College.Continue reading the main story
Born in Paris to American parents, Marie Leontine Graves returned to New York in 1933 and married Hugh Bullock, an investment banker. Mrs. Bullock was a graduate student at the Sorbonne and also studied at Columbia University and the Juilliard School of Music.
She is survived by her husband, two daughters, Fleur Weymouth of Jaffrey, N.H., and Fair Alice Seymour McCormick, of Chestnut Hill, Mass., and three grandsons.
A funeral service is scheduled for 11 A.M. Monday at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Fifth Avenue and 53d Street.Continue reading the main story


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Henrietta Black & White Gingham
Perfect for a Summer day in the Bay...
where can I get these perfect shoes? These are my all time favorite shoe and the gingham is so up my alley...please let me know how to get apair since they are not even on site or even in the 'custom' site...ReplyDelete
Hi Leslee, these are a limited collection style that will be coming exclusively to our San Francisco boutique. Please phone 415 397 8088 to be added to a list so we can notify you upon arrival. Cheers!Delete
Hi Leslee,
The black and white gingham Henriettas are in stock at our San Francisco store! We have limited sizes so call soon if you are interested. Cheers!


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Multiple recruitment systems in ants
Via AntVisions:
Been surfing through the literature for signs of multiple recruitment mechanisms in any single ant species. I assumed there would be some work on Camponotus species as they exhibit tandem running (one-on-one & group recruitment), solitary foraging, and mass recruitment. Though there is quite a lot of work carried out on recruitment behaviour in Camponotus, they all seem to address one strategy in each species.
But, I found this interesting paper by non other than 'the duo', Holldobler and Wilson. Of the several interesting points in this article is that when the major workers cannot cross gaps to reach a terrain, they build bridges, to which other workers are visually attracted. However once the chains are formed, workers lay trail pheromones on this 'bridge' to recruit nestmates. The five different recruitment systems used by the African Weaver ant, Oecophylla longinoda as documented in this article are:
(a) recruitment to new food sources, mediated by odor trails produced from the rectal gland, coupled with tactile stimuli during mouth-opening, antennation, and head-waggling
(b) recruitment to new terrain, mediated by odor trails produced from the rectal gland and tactile stimulation through antennation
(c) emigration to new sites
(d) short-range recruitment to territorial intruders, during which the terminal abdominal sternite is maximally exposed and dragged for short distances over the ground to release an attractant from the sternal gland
(e) long-range recruitment to intruders, mediated by odor trails from the rectal gland and by antennation and intense body jerking
There are some fantastic sketches and close up photographs of these ants in the article.
Holldobler B and Wilson EO. 1978. The multiple recruitment systems of the African Weaver Ant, Oecophylla longinoda (Latreille) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Behav Ecol Socio 3: 19-60.


text: This app is only for professional pipe organ builders and technicians. It addresses the special tuning needs of building and maintaining pipe organs. Notable features: * Covers the note range of C0 (32' pipe) to C9 (1/16' pipe) * Handles mutation ranks (Quint, etc.) and Celeste ranks * Built-in compensation to track temperature changes * Calculates pipe cutoff for trimming new pipes to length * Optional connection to Bluetooth temperature sensor * Precision strobe-like display for very precise tuning * Can be calibrated to an accuracy of 0.02 cents * Provides many historical temperaments for period music (See our support web page for a complete list.) * Switches notes automatically up to 4 notes away * Provides a versatile display of the frequency spectrum Organ Tuner has two different displays that are visible at once. One is the strobe-like Phase Display. This is a band where black squares move left or right. You tune to make the squares stop moving. The other is a Spectrum Display. This is a graph that shows a peak for every pitch present in the sound. You tune to make a peak in the graph move to a central red line. Having both the Phase Display and the Spectrum Display visible at once gives you a more complete picture of the tuning than any single spinner-type or needle-type display. A detailed user's manual is available at our support web page. You should download and read this manual before buying this app.


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It's been called the Energizer bunny of the kid television world. It's also been a long-lasting bane to many a parent whose child has karate-kicked a classmate in a playground reenactment of the show.
"Power Rangers," now in its ninth year, is surviving in a TV marketplace where shows, especially those for young viewers, can burn brightly and quickly burn out. It's not the phenomenon it was in the early '90s, when parents camped out on sidewalks to buy then-scarce toys and kids went into a Beatlemania-style frenzy when the Rangers hit town, but it's far from being passe.
The Fox series has become a rite of passage for young boys, who consistently keep it at the top of the ratings in the 2-11 age group. And in the recently completed May sweeps, the show was No. 1 among both broadcast and cable series in its Saturday morning time slot with boys 6-11, according to Nielsen Media Research.
Though it's stylized and ironic, "Power Rangers" spawned legitimate concerns among parents, according to those who study the effects of action-oriented TV on kids. But the rise in recent years of more violent kid-targeted entertainment has made the show less of a target.


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Varone company brings new and signature works for seventh dance festival visit
Making their seventh appearance at the Bates Dance Festival, Doug Varone and Dancers will perform the stunning new works "Carrugi" and "Able to Leap Tall Buildings," as well as their signature work "Rise."
Performances take place at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Saturday, July 18 and 20, in Bates College's air-conditioned Schaeffer Theatre, 305 College St. For more information, please visit the website.
Tickets are $25 for the general public, $18 for seniors and $12 for students.
- Tickets may be purchased online;
- by phone at 207-786-6161 from 1-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday;
- or by mail or in person.
The company presents a free Show & Tell lecture-demonstration at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 16, in Schaeffer. Varone and dancers also hold talkbacks immediately following the mainstage performances.
Dance writer Hannah Kosstrin offers a pre-performance Inside Dance lecture at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 20, in Schaeffer.
Founded in 1986, Varone and Dancers have commanded attention for their expansive vision, versatility and technical prowess. On the concert stage, in opera, theater and on the screen, Varone's kinetically thrilling work makes essential connections and mines the complexity of the human spirit.
"Able to Leap Tall Buildings" is set to "Cruel Sister," a haunting score premiered in 2011 by Julia Wolfe. Varone's signature tour de force, "Rise," is inspired by John Adams' ecstatic music "Fearful Symmetries."
From the smallest gesture to full-throttle bursts of movement, Varone's dance can be breathtaking. The Village Voice wrote that the company comprises "superb dancers. Varone's choreography — with its hesitations, awkward tenderness, bravery and belligerence — emphasizes their humanity."
Varone and Dancers are the resident company at the Harkness Dance Center, at the 92nd Street Y in New York City. In opera and theater, the company regularly collaborates on productions that Varone has directed or choreographed. The company has performed in more than 100 cities in 45 states across the U.S., and in Europe, Asia, Canada and South America.
Venues have included the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Brooklyn Academy of Music, San Francisco Performances, London's Queen Elizabeth Hall, Toronto's Harbourfront Centre and the Venice Biennale, as well as the Tokyo, Bates, Jacob's Pillow and American dance festivals. Varone, his dancers and designers have been honored with 11 New York Dance and Performance Awards ("Bessies").
More about the Bates Dance Festival
The Bates Dance Festival, a summer series of renowned contemporary dance, enters its fourth decade as a leading American dance center. The festival is an important laboratory for artists noted for important contributions to the contemporary dance lexicon. In addition to presenting these dancemakers who have experienced significant artistic growth through the festival, the BDF continues to welcome emerging choreographers.
Founded in 1982 at Bates College, the Bates Dance Festival brings together an international community of contemporary choreographers, performers, educators and students in a cooperative community to study, perform and create new work.
The festival serves as an annual destination for artists, students and audiences to engage in a full range of dance activities and performances that foster a creative exchange of ideas, encourage exploration of new ground and afford access to a wide spectrum of dance and movement disciplines.


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The annual Forum reviews progress in attaining the global sustainable development goals (SDGs). Finland's model of implementing the goals has attracted wide attention.
At the High Level Political Forum (HLPF) starting on Monday 10 July, Finland will present examples of how various actors in a broad spectrum in society can be committed to the goals set in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Wide participation is considered to be a precondition for attaining the UN SDGs by the set date. While implementing the SDGs at the national level, Finland has created models that have attracted interest, such as Society's Commitment to Sustainable Development, through which different actors can make pledges to promote sustainable development. In the autumn, Finland will introduce a new system for monitoring and measuring progress in attaining the SDGs at national level.
"This is one example of models through which anyone can take part in the discussion relating to the progress made in the implementation and bring their voice to the discussion online," says Sami Pirkkala, Counsellor and 2030 Agenda coordinator at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
At the HLPF, Finland will also encourage discussion on the rights of women and girls. At a side event organised in cooperation with Plan International Finland, the Finnish maternity pack and a maternity pack for 11-year-olds will be presented. The purpose of the latter is to call attention to the number of underage mothers.
"Finland's support for sexual and reproductive health and rights promotes the UN's goals concerning poverty reduction, equality and health," Pirkkala notes.
Finland's delegation is led by State Secretary Risto Artjoki. This year's HLPF focuses on the goals related to poverty eradication, food and food security, health, industrialisation, and infrastructure and the state of the oceans. The meeting is held in New York on 10–19 July.


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HOME SCHOOLED Most of our generation were HOME SCHOOLED in many ways. 1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE . "If…Read More
Keep Smiling
Sometimes, when I look at my children, I say to myself,' Lillian , you should have remained a virgin..' – Lillian Carter (mother of Jimmy…Read More
More Foreign Restroom Sign
What about this one? Foreign Restroom SignRead More
No explanation needed
For those who understand, no explanation is needed. For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible.Read More


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To mark our one month of operation, Southern Cross Bakery announces the PASTRY POINTS CARD. It's been great serving new customers, and especially satisfying to see them return for more. Your PASTRY POINTS CARD entitles you to one free pie or two free sausage rolls for every 10 visits, plus a free bag of Anzac biscuits (or other sweets/cookies we introduce). Each day you buy from us earns a point: purchases over $30 earn a second point.
If you've shopped with us before, let us know and we'll credit your new card with another point. Please note that we have also revised prices to further discount multiple purchases. Please see https://southerncrossbakery.com/contact-us/, and on signs at the market.
Southern Cross Pastry Points: More Dough For Your Dough


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"Tiki Goes Mainstream!" *sigh*0 comments Posted by Bettie Blogger at 7:08 PM
A slightly cloying article about the "high end" discovering "lowbrow", courtesy of the LA TIMES. Still, it name-drops Oceanic Arts, Shag and the always fun Tiki Central forum.
Bargain Alert: julie b! original art0 comments Posted by Bettie Blogger at 5:28 PM
Noted Los Angeles uber-kool "designer toy" artist, julie b., has a sale posted on her myspace page. Make her bad luck your good luck and pick up a piece of amazing original art fer cheap!
Note: "mother" is sold.
Interested in buying?
Contact her on her myspace page or email her at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Labels: julie b
Music Review: Dave Alvin - Best of the Hightone Years0 comments Posted by Bettie Blogger at 4:20 PM
Dave Alvin's THE BEST OF THE HIGHTONE YEARS is the stark, lonesome soundtrack to a desert roadtrip of the mind's eye. Put it on, and the slide guitars, folk rhythms and nuanced lyrics will have a listener in a classic Cadillac, nursing a broken heart, somewhere between the Inland Empire and the Texas panhandle, staring down a dusty ribbon of empty highway that stretches into the horizon.
What Alvin, an original member of the legendary Blasters, does brilliantly in his solo work is imbue the century-old country blues that obviously inspire him with the dexterous songwriting of a honed craftsman. In track after track, on songs such as "Dry River", "King of California" and "Fourth of July", Alvin uses a specific, blue-collar Los Angeles that is never mentioned in US Weekly and a metaphor for loneliness and longshots, giving transitory, sometimes frivolous Los Angeles a touch of pathos and, perhaps, stoic dignity.
Pick up this release if you want to hear what Country radio would sound like if they gave a damn. Dave Alvin expressed a desire to mix "blues, folk, rock and roll, R&B and country", grow as a musician and not be messed with too much. By the sound of it -- mission accomplished!
THE BEST OF THE HIGHTONE YEARS culls from a decade of Alvin's output: 1990-2000. It offers a solid overview of albums in this period, as well as some surprises: an amazing unreleased studio various of "Dry River", an original blues tune, "Dixie Highway Blues" and a few rarities, such as a duet with Katy Moffatt. As with any collection, THE BEST OF THE HIGHTONE YEARS faces the conflicting tasks of appealing to neophytes and purists, both. It speaks to the continuing quality of SHOUT! Factory packages that it succeeds so well. Both "newbies" and longtime fans should wear this one out.
THE BEST OF THE HIGHTONE YEARS hits shelves October 28th.
Buy on Amazon.
Labels: Dave Alvin, Hightone, Shout Factory
RIP Rudy Ray Moore, AKA "DOLEMITE"0 comments Posted by Bettie Blogger at 9:37 PM
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of one of Norton Records' premier stars, the incredible Rudy Ray Moore-- world famous movie star, recording artist and comedian, known throughout the world as the bad, bad Dolemite. We pass along some in-house memories here, adding to umpteen accumulating accolades.
It's so hard to imagine that Rudy Ray Moore is gone. The phrase "larger than life" seems to have been coined just for him. The Dolemite character of his movies and comedy routines became part of his every day persona. I remember one time years ago, when Miriam and I drove over to pick up Rudy at his sister's place in West Orange, New Jersey. When we arrived at the address, I realized we had no apartment number so I went to use the pay phone outside to call him. There were two characters leaning against the phone booth, one drinking out of a paper sack. They gave me some grief about using "their" phone and a little uneasy banter was exchanged until Rudy strolled out the front door, resplendent in a long black coat with white ermine fur trim and a massive matching chapeau. The guy with the beverage's eyes popped out like in the cartoons. "DOLEMITE!" he cried out. "IT'S DOLE-FUCKIN'-MITE!" I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall the next morning when that cat tried to sort out his hangover.
Rudy may well have been the single most respected person I've ever met-- admired and revered by people from all walks of life. Once I was driving Rudy to the airport and he was jockeying two calls on his cell phone. He had a hip hop big shot on one line confirming Rudy's appearance at a Player's Ball, while he had a priest on hold. Rappers in particular all cited Rudy's groundbreaking films and records as an influence. One day while I was hauling records in and out of Coyote Studio basement here in Brooklyn, rap star Nas was shooting a video upstairs on North 6th Street. It was obvious that I was in the way, constantly coming in and out of the front door while they were trying to film. A crew member brought my interference to the attention of Mike Caiati, the owner of Coyote Studios. Mike told them to cut me some slack, that I was a friend of Dolemite. Suddenly everyone was my best pal and I was swapping Dolemite posters for delicious gourmet sandwiches.
Nathaniel Mayer, a major fan of Rudy's, pointed out after having his photo snapped with Rudy, "Where I live, if you show anybody a picture of you with Dolemite, you got gold…"
We had the great pleasure in recording Rudy along with Andre Williams on a cover of the Crawford Brothers' I Ain't Guilty, the pair belting out the duet like none other. Rudy arrived in the company of the immortal Jimmy "Mr. Motion" Lynch. Those guys were a non-stop riot! (Rudy climbing the three flights of stairs to the studio: "Jimmy, ain't they got an elevator?" Jimmy: "Sure, Rudy. You elevate one foot and then you elevate the other.") While in the studio, we asked Rudy if he would record a Public Service Announcement on the topic of his choice. He immediately chose AIDS as his topic, and proceeded to cut an excellent, informative off-the-cuff PSA. He then asked to cut another version with "hard words" for FM, and proceeded with a belligerent, hi-octane anti-AIDS rant that took even his saltiest "party records" one better.
When I told him I was booking him room at the Marriott Hotel when he emceed our Norton Soul Spectacular a couple of years ago, he refused to stay there, accusing me of overspending. "Billy, you're just like Busta Rhymes!" Rudy was total class on that show, bringing to the stage one star after another with the same fiery delivery he brought to the screen in DOLEMITE or PETEY WHEETSTRAW. A bad motherfucker to the end and indeed, much, much larger than life.
Billy's always goofing on me for calling things "Old School". For me, that means the good stuff, better ways, the real deal-- as defined by Rudy Ray Moore! The man defined the limits of taste, humor, and style and left everyone around him agog with his regal personality. And you know, he wasn't pompous-- he just naturally oozed total class. Just gliding through a door, you knew with Rudy that you were in the presence of a true V.I.P. And when he spoke, in that astonishing baritone, he could make a simple sentence an awesome, lyrical pronouncement.
We first met Rudy many years ago at a comedy show. The Great Gaylord called and told us Rudy was going to be doing a show in Jersey City with Wild Man Steve. None of us really knew what to expect-- we loved the Dolemite movies and were crazy about his old 45s, but we didn't know how approachable he'd be with a bunch of goofy greenhorn fans. We needn't have worried. Rudy strode in from the shadows after Wild Man, a tall, insanely handsome man with a dazzling smile, and immediately the audience erupted into enthusiastic screams and applause, particularly from the women! From a ladies point of view, let me assure you girls (and Rudy had a delectable way of says "GIRLS" that could make a 90 year old blush and giggle) that when he started cat calling the big bottom dolls, baiting them with what might be considered insults to the uninitiated, it became obvious that this was a man whose craft was making everybody feel like part of the show. Even when he engaged various ethnic, overly-proportional, overtly interesting, and well, plug ugly, people, it was like a hazing into a esteemed club. Getting called out by Rudy was a badge of honor, a matter of pride. Rudy wrapped up the show by personally presenting the ladies in the audience with battery-operated, light-up, scented roses while reciting his Legend of Dolemite, which is as close to the Rime of The Ancient Mariner as rockin' folk care to teeter. We all jumped up for a standing ovation that went all for some time, and afterwards, we all bought Dolemite back scratchers and got autographs and pictures with the man.
It was obvious that Rudy wanted to reach everyone the world over with his talents. He was not content with being a Black icon in film, or heralded as the first Rapper. It was back at an early WFMU record show in a church basement in the East Village, that Billy and I started speaking with Rudy about his early musical days. He was somewhat shocked that anyone thought there was interest in his early R&B recordings. He was instantly on it, digging for scrapbooks, tapes, and any ephemera to help us document his early pre-comedy career. We started seriously pulling together old recordings, and began interviewing Rudy for biographical notes. Rudy told the stories with great relish. We had the tape recorder going in the car during a snow storm while Rudy was belting out Rally In The Valley and remembering the amateur shows in Cleveland, St Louis, New York, Los Angeles--- every city where there was a venue and audience for Black entertainers. Another time we were eating dinner with him at a hotel restaurant, again over a tape recorder, when Rudy pulled out one of his impromptu, gemaceous nonsequiturs. An airline pilot, evidenced as so by the uniform and hat, was eating alone at another table. Quite suddenly, Rudy called out to him, "Excuse me, young man!" and the pilot looks around and says, "Me?" "Are you flying to Dayton, Ohio this evening?" he asked with great pomp and circumstance, with an elegant English accent. Puzzled, the pilot shook his head, no. Rudy went back into his story with us, without missing a beat. Trust me, it was one of funniest moments, ever. Totally out of the blue, unexplained and OLD SCHOOL. Well, the R&B collection ended up as a double LP set called HULLY GULLY FEVER, the first collection of his early records, and the first thorough telling of his early days from the R&B chitlin circuit to his first moments in standup comedy. He said it reminded him of how much he loved to sing, and he took to including some musical numbers amongst his comedy routines.
The world will remember Rudy as an entertainment genius, as a man with great vision and daring, as a man who would continue working his craft until the end of his life. He will also be remembered as the last of the true gentlemen, a veritable Human Tornado whose work will never be forgotten and whose spirit will forever affect and inspire anyone who follows their heart, no matter what. We love you and miss you, Mr. Rudy Ray Moore.
Labels: Dolemite, Rudy Ray Moore
When Bands Collide0 comments Posted by Bettie Blogger at 3:51 PM
With rockabilly, the Stray Cats wrote great songs. Most bands just had that "1,4,5 Go Cat Go". They didn't break out of that. - Brian Setzer
This article's a few months old at this point, but its always great when musicians interview other musicians. Here, you have THE LIVING END's Chris Cheney interviewing his childhood hero, Brian Setzer about the end of the STRAY CATS and his next moves.
One of the most interesting bits is a discussion about how to be true to rockabilly, but not a slave to it. To a certain extent, the entire scene is about "authenticity", but using the past as a springboard for self-expression is just as important. The Living End left rockabilly behind a long time ago. Their early EPs rate as some of the best 90's era rockabilly, approaching REVEREND HORTON HEAT in energy. As they matured, they seemed to reach for 80's UK power pop influences and the rock/punk melange of the Clash. Now, you can barely hear the rockabilly in their increasingly complex sound.
Setzer crumbing on people's desire "to make it sound like it was done in 1955" is rich, considering the Stray Cats have always relied heavily on covers with similar arrangements to the originals and Setzer produced two albums consisting entirely of covers (STRAY CATS ORIGINAL COOL and solo effort, ROCKABILLY RIOT: A TRIBUTE TO SUN RECORDS - both are great!) Still, it's worth thinking about: is retro lifestyle really liberating our imaginations or is it a crutch... a uniform... that allows us to lazily avoid originality while still donning the cloak of "alternative" and "outlaw"?
Labels: Rockabilly, Stray Cats, The Living End
Blast o' Rockabilly!0 comments Posted by Bettie Blogger at 11:20 AM
1. Johnny Ace, "Pledging My Love." Romantic, haunting, creepy. This ballad from the tragic R&B star (he died in a Russian Roulette accident in 1954) has been used in many a movie, including Abel Ferrarra's "Bad Lieutenant."
2. Rufus Thomas, "Memphis Train." The clown prince of Memphis soul recorded for Sun Records and more famously, Stax Records. This raging R&B ode to love and trains is hard to beat.
3. Charlie Feathers, "That Certain Female." Why Mr. Feathers is only appreciated by a cadre of die-hard roots music enthusiasts and rockabilly nuts is beyond me. Check out the LPs available from Norton Records.
4. Billy Lee Riley, "My Gal is Red Hot." With a raw, gravely voice and a manic stage presence, Riley cut his best material for Sun Records, both as a front man and as a session musician. This song, covered by many a retro rockabilly, is one of his finest offerings.
5. Booker T. and the M.G.s, "Green Onions." Recorded at Stax Records, otherwise known as Soulsville, U.S.A., this is one of the best brooding, strutting instrumentals of the '60s from one of the South's first interracial music acts.
6. The Prisonaires, "Just Walkin' in the Rain." Just one of the many great groups obscured by Elvis Presley's tenure at Sun Records, the Prisonaires were actual Tennessee state prisoners that the warden allowed out -- accompainied by armed gurads -- to record at Sam Philips' burgeoning R&B studio. The 45 went on to sell over 250,000 copies.
7. Bill Justis, "Raunchy." Another killer instrumental from Sun Studios, this catchy and kooky number features the warbly-yet-wonderful sax work of Justis himself, who took over blowin' duties when the session player assigned the instrument failed to show up to the recording date.
8. Jerry Lee Lewis, "Whole Lotta Shakin.'" His personal foibles have been the subject of movies, documentaries and books, but the important thing to remember is that the Killer recorded some of the most energetic, foot-stomping songs of the '50s. This is just one of them.
9. Sam and Dave, "When Something is Wrong With My Baby." They may be best remembered for "Soul Man," but this hot buttered ballad, penned by Isaac Hayes and his Stax writing partner, David Porter, is a beautiful, juicy slice of classic '60s soul.
10. Carl Mann, "Mona Lisa." A love song penned around the famous portrait, this is yet another sadly underappreciated Sun Record, featuring smart lyrics, precise playing and a bouncy energy that can't be denied.
Labels: Rockabilly
Bettie Page Blog's Halloween UNICEF Fundraiser!1 comments Posted by Bettie Blogger at 1:21 AM
Labels: Bettie Page, Halloween


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Caroline Flint is tough. I know this because she tells me so. Several times. "My life hasn't been a garden of roses," she says at one point, shaking her head as she speaks so that her blow-dried black-brown hair wobbles like an under-set jelly. "You have to be quite tough."
She says that when she became the first-ever woman MP to represent the South Yorkshire mining community of Don Valley, "it was quite a tough crowd to win over". But then "I come from a pretty ordinary working class background... I think I'm quite tough."
She seems at pains to emphasise this fact, as if I might be about to dismiss her as a lightweight flibbertigibbet who thinks GDP is a brand of hair straightener. Has she ever experienced sexism among her older, male colleagues? "No, not really," she says without hesitation. The unspoken subtext seems to be: they wouldn't dare.
I suspect part of this defensiveness is to do with her looks, which are not the sort we are accustomed to seeing on the dandruff-flecked green benches of the House of Commons. Amid the sea of balding scalps and protruding paunches, Flint, the 47-year-old minister for Europe, stands out like an exotically plumed peacock in a farm full of battery hens.
In person she resembles a cross between a young Elizabeth Taylor and a character from Mad Men: cheekbones, black eyeliner, neatly packaged curves, and an imperfectly sexy gap-toothed smile. She was part of a cohort of women who entered parliament in the 1997 New Labour landslide but probably the only one who truly deserved the title Blair Babe.
Last October there was much tabloid salivation over her appearance at Gordon Brown's first budget wearing a split skirt. Male profile writers tend to refer to her "raven tresses". Flint never seems to walk: she "sashays". She is routinely voted among the most fanciable MPs in Westminster. "It's a bit daft, really," she says of the dubious accolade. "I've had some of my male colleagues over the years saying: 'How do we go up the list? How do we get on there?'"
But she wouldn't for one moment want you to think that she's a soft touch. In fact, from the first minutes of our meeting she exudes a polite guardedness, a determination not to be charmed or to give much away. For some reason, we are speaking in the flock-wallpapered office of David Miliband, the foreign secretary, so there are no revealing personal touches to be snooped at, and to begin with the answers she gives to questions seem designed to be similarly impersonal.
Does she find the media attention paid to her appearance insulting? "I think it is when it gets in the way of the other things I hope to contribute. It is difficult because these sorts of things are often said about women in a way that they're not applied to male politicians. It's a bit of a double-edged sword how you look - I don't think you can win on it. But I'm in a very fortunate position - I have a power in a way that many other women don't have in many other walks of life. So I think that when these things get you down, it's just worth reminding myself about that."
It is a textbook politician's answer: seemingly comprehensive at the time and yet, when you read it back, not actually all that revealing. For the first 20 minutes I am left wondering if Flint is as impenetrably stony as her surname suggests.
And then she bursts into tears.
Neither of us is expecting it. It comes during a conversation about her mother, who died at the age of 45 from alcohol-related liver problems. Wendy Beasley was a 17-year-old typist when she gave birth to her daughter in a home for unmarried mothers in north London. Flint never knew her biological father and was adopted at the age of two by her stepfather Peter Flint, a television services manager. He and her mother split up when she was 13.
It was a tough upbringing. Flint has said in past interviews that her earliest memories were of living in a one-room flat: "My sister and I slept on one side of the wardrobe and my parents on the other." She was the first in her family to go on to higher education - she studied American literature and history at the University of East Anglia.
I am interested in working out where her drive comes from and what moulded Flint's tangible sense of ambition. Is it, I wonder, connected to witnessing what her mother went through? So I ask her how it feels being 47, two years older than her mother was when she died.
She starts to answer in exactly the same professional tones she has used in reply to every previous question. "Yes. Well, I, you know, it's... I think it's always been difficult with me, how it was with my mother dying." Then, suddenly, she breaks off. Her eyes are watery. She gets up and leaves the room, apologising as she does so. The special adviser rushes off to fetch some tissues. The press secretary sitting in on the interview looks slack-jawed with shock.
After two minutes Flint comes back in. She sits on the sofa, balled-up tissues in hand, and makes no attempt to hide what just happened or gloss over it, and this open acknowledgement of her own depth of emotion makes me warm to her. "Sorry," she says. "I didn't expect you to ask about that level of personal detail. It's OK." Later she apologises again - "I suppose one day I will say some more about all of that, but it's hard" - and when the tape recorder is switched off she explains what it is about her mother's death 20 years ago that she finds especially difficult to confront. At the moment it is all still too raw to talk about publicly.
But the tears seem to change things. It is as if, having burst out crying, Flint no longer needs to talk about how tough she is. Her answers become more expansive. Her shoulders seem to relax. She even launches into an amusing anecdote about her 22-year-old son when he was at primary school. "The kids were all chattering and a teacher said: 'Stop talking, you're just like those politicians up in parliament' and my son very sweetly turned round and said: 'They do a very good job you know.'"
It is true that Flint has never been afraid of hard work. She became a member of the Labour party at 17, starting out as a grassroots activist putting leaflets through letterboxes and gradually working her way up through the ranks. She came into parliament with Tony Blair and was viewed as an arch-loyalist, the sort who would plant deliberately friendly questions during house debates. Does she miss Blair? She looks momentarily taken aback. "Well, you know, yeah. I suppose in some ways, yeah. He was part of the political landscape for a very long time."
Her success has not been universally welcomed - anonymous colleagues are occasionally quoted in the media portraying her as "ambitious" and "bossy".
"I've always just wanted to do the best job I can," she says when I put this to her. "I don't know quite why that is reported about me. Like anyone, I like to be valued for doing a good job. But, erm, I do think again it's that old thing of: men are assertive, but women are aggressive; men are defined on their 'potential'; women have to prove themselves. Ultimately, you just have to be true to yourself and get on with things."
She is similarly straightforward when I ask her about her first marriage to Saief Zammel, a 28-year-old Tunisian stockbroker whom she met on holiday in 1985. The couple had two children - Karim, now 22, and Hanna, now 20 - but split up after a series of incidents, one of which led to Zammel's arrest on charges of violent disorder and his deportation. They separated in 1988 and divorced two years later. "My colourful, racy past," she says dryly. "I'd rather not get into that because I've had problems since a certain newspaper got in touch with my first husband." Did she ever consider converting to Islam? "Oh no. No. That was never an issue."
The upshot of it all was that Flint was left back in the UK single-handedly bringing up two children under the age of two. At her lowest point she got turned down for a job at Woolworths because she was overqualified. Eventually she was appointed the head of the women's unit at the National Union of Students, a post that allowed her to take her baby daughter into work for the first six weeks while she found a child-minder.
"I wanted to be as independent as possible," she says now. "I've always thought that childcare [looking after a child at home] is very important, but having a working parent in a child's life is important as well. There's no such thing as a perfect parent... but actually I think, for me, doing the best I could to support my own family was important."
When she became an MP in 1997 she split her time between the family home in Doncaster and London, often spending the night in a sleeping bag in her office for late votes. Did her children ever complain? "Oh well, it depends what day of the week it is. I think, like any family, when your children want to have a go at you as a parent they say: 'Oh you weren't here for this, you weren't here for that.' On the other hand, you know, I'm very proud of my kids. They've all done well, gone to university, and they're all very opinionated."
In 2001 she married her long-term partner Phil Cole, a former public relations executive, after faxing him a marriage proposal (oh the romance!) on 29 February in a leap year. Phil, who has a 23-year-old son, Nick, from a previous relationship, now acts as his wife's constituency office manager. How does her husband feel about working for her? Flint laughs. "It has its moments... We are quite good at relaxing and switching off from the daily grind of politics - but I can say things to him I would probably never say to anybody else, and he can do the same to me."
They spend their spare time watching films - Flint's favourite is The Searchers, the classic John Wayne western - and they have an annual pass for their local cinema. "We usually go and see several in one go - my record is six in one day. Sad, isn't it? There were a lot of nachos and coffee and sprinting between one studio screening and the other. I had to do a radio interview in the car park between shows, and Phil went in to bag the seats."
She describes her career as a "job share" and claims it wouldn't be possible for her to do what she does without Phil keeping things running smoothly at home.
Unsurprisingly, given this nacho-chomping partnership of equals, she is a supporter of more equal terms for maternity and paternity leave, and unlike her colleague Harriet Harman, the equalities minister, Flint does not believe the global recession will hit women harder than men. "In some of the sectors, particularly retail, there is a disproportionate number of women. But if you look at construction, on the other side of the equation, as a former housing minister, I know that construction is an industry that is dominated by men.
"I know that, from my own constituency, when the jobs went in mining, often it was the men that were out of work but the women started going into work as a result of that. So I think we've got to take a closer look at this and just look sector by sector at how this is going to work."
She believes that real gender equality can only be achieved by changing the cultural mindset rather than simply passing more legislation. "Laws are great, but it's how they're implemented and how they're accepted and how they become part of our culture that's the big challenge."
Having heard about her background - the family struggle, the single motherhood, the hard-won success in a male environment - I had expected her views on women in the workplace to be more forceful, but she is measured, almost detached, in her responses. When I ask if the majority of professional women still face a glass ceiling at senior level, Flint replies: "There are still areas where we have to overcome assumptions about what women can and can't do." So are there enough young, female MPs coming up through the system? "I don't think there's necessarily a shortage... I think actually we have got more women coming through."
Perhaps she is worried about upsetting her male counterparts, but it does seem an oddly upbeat assessment, given that there are only 126 women MPs and more than 500 men, which, as a percentage, leaves us lagging behind Iraq and Afghanistan for female political representation.
Maybe this reticence springs from Flint's own good fortune. She considers herself extremely lucky to be an MP - "It was the proudest moment of my life to be elected" - and presumably doesn't want to be seen to be whingeing about something she regards as a privilege. "If I can do something to break some of the stereotypes about what woman can and cannot do in life, [especially] if you haven't started with the silver spoon in your mouth, that's something I'll be very pleased with."
Yes, that's all very well, but what about the really important election results? Will she ever be able to improve on her number seven ranking in the Most Fanciable MP list, voted for by Sky News viewers? "Honestly, I think as long as Phil still fancies me, that is what's more important than anything else. Andy Burnham was top of the list and I was after Ed Miliband, so perhaps I can take a back seat now and let these men take over."


text:
At the beginning of the year, I had a goal to make 3 new recipes a week. I was signed up for 2 races, then a third. I was in the most peaceful relationship of my life. In February, for my 29th birthday, I visited my cousin just outside of Las Vegas, where we enjoyed meaningful conversation, delicious food, and we ran a half marathon relay together and I PR'd everything. I was hoping (and planning) to ride that momentum through the entire year.
In April I got shin splints and had to cut back on training a lot. I started adding in more trails (less of an impact on my body).
In May that peaceful relationship ended—which was fine, but it was hard to lose such a close friend.
Also in May, I realized that any pavement running caused my shins to ache, so I moved completely to running trails. I ended up dropping out of my June half marathon (more on that here).
I kept my July half marathon on the schedule, but I had just barely started adding pavement runs back into my schedule so the race was pretty rough. I felt so good as I started the race—but I soon realized that I went out too quickly. I started out at my usual pavement race pace, but I was NOT prepared or trained for that (trail running is very different—my pace is slower and I do a lot of power hiking). I crashed FAST. By mile 5 I hit the wall. I stopped and slow walked, calling Kathryn and leaving her THE MOST pathetic voicemail. I finished though, and am glad I did the race. But man oh man, I think it burnt me out more than I realized.
It's been about 4 weeks since that race. My third planned race this year is next month, and my new training cycle was supposed to start yesterday. Every time I even THINK about running right now, I feel like my body gets 20 times more tired and I feel like crumbling into a ball on the floor. SO.
I feel like my body is craving slowness and gentleness. At the beginning of the year I taught a 3-class series of gentle yoga classes, but by the time I finished teaching those classes my focus had turned more to running. I felt like I was done teaching yoga—at least for the foreseeable future, and maybe forever.
But now I feel like it's time to come back. To be gentle to my body. To come back to that space.
The year so far is not how I planned it to be. My hips are wider than I expected them to be (despite exercising more intensely and eating better than I did last year, if I'm remembering correctly), my bank account is about where I expected it to be, and I have run far fewer races than I had planned to.
And yet, this year is so much more than I thought it would be. I have healed from multiple heartaches faster than I ever have in the past. I feel SO much fulfillment in my job—a job that has grown over the last few months in really great ways, and I am so grateful. My heart has healed in miraculous ways, and things that would have triggered trauma in the past no longer shake me like they used to. I have been blessed with greater closure from past heartaches than I ever thought I'd receive. I have the joy of serving in the LDS Temple every week, which is bringing me more joy, light, peace, and clarity than I ever expected it to. I upgraded my living space to include more space and light. I'm learning how to care for my body better. I made really good cookies last week, and on Sunday I cooked my first roast! Monumental times over here! 😉
This year so far isn't what I expected it to be, but despite the setbacks, losses, errors, and what have you, this year has led me to exactly where I need to be right now. I have no idea what the rest of 2018 will hold, but I have a feeling that it will yield some of the greatest gifts I'll ever have.


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Video Entertainment
Pro Tint's one of the more established , knowledgeable and dealer friendly outfits your likely to do business with in the San Gabriel Valley. Call us and find out why so many others prefer us over most of our competitors. You'll love our attention to detail and fast turn around. Don't worry, we accept purchase orders.


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Today I want to share a new project I created for a friend's daughter using the new Photo Card set seen below with the black and Gold stickers, mini cards and envelopes.
You will also spy the fabulous Instax printer nestled in amongst all those embellishments too.
I used the cards, envelopes and stickers to create a beautiful photo banner for her bedroom.
I also used some of the new Stickers, Washi Tape, Fabric Bows and Tags from the Sticker collection to embellish each tag.
So pretty and girly for any 8 year old girl!
I began by punching some circles from the Pink, Gold glitter and Pink striped papers from the Marquee Love 8x8 paper pad before adhering them back to back. I then stitched them into a banner. You can see I used the washi tape from the Mixed Media collection to act as a sewing guide so the stitching stays in the centre of the circles every single time.
Let me share some close up details of each card. On the left I used one of the 3x4 Project Life cards from the Prismatic Core kit , over laid with the red Clear word from the Sticker collection. On the right I simply added that laugh sticker from the Card set for a quick embellishment.
Here I layered the Kraft tag also from the Sticker collection over one of the envelopes in the Card set. I then added the Black fabric bow and some washi that also comes in the Card set.
I want to share quickly how I made my glittery clothes pins. Easy as wiping some of the Marquee Love glue over a plain peg then sprinkling on some Gold Marquee Love glitter!
More layering with glitter tags and Bows!
Here I used one of the Mini envelopes and laid down some pink fabric off cut then the photo. I adore the pink washi tape on this one too!
Simple tags, the one on the right is a 3x4 Project Life card trimmed down, then layered with the glittery tag and Clear Gold and Pink word stickers. On the right another small envelope with that Chipboard heart from the Sparkle Value Project Life kit!
Clips and Bows create pretty embellishments!
Finally tucked into one of the envelopes is a little love note my son wrote to his sweet friend. Tucked safely inside for her to read.
I do hope she loves this banner, it was a labour of love creating it. Its not very often I get to go girly so it was lots of fun!


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Items where Author / Artist / Editor is "Hui, Rui"
|See full list of headings
Gao, Xiaohong W. and Hui, Rui and Tian, Zengmin (2017) Classification of CT brain images based on deep learning networks. Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine, 138 . pp. 49-56. ISSN 0169-2607
Qian, Yu and Hui, Rui and Gao, Xiaohong W. (2013) 3D CBIR with sparse coding for image-guided neurosurgery. Signal Processing, 93 (6). pp. 1673-1683. ISSN 0165-1684
Gao, Xiaohong W. and Qian, Yu and Loomes, Martin J. and Barn, Balbir and Comley, Richard A. and Chapman, Alex and Rix, Janet and Hui, Rui and Tian, Zengmin (2012) Retrieval of 3D medical images via their texture features. International Journal On Advances in Software, 4 (3&4). pp. 499-509. ISSN 1942-2628
Gao, Xiaohong W. and Qian, Yu and Hui, Rui (2011) The state of the art of medical imaging technology: from creation to archive and back. The Open Medical Informatics Journal, 5 (1-M8). pp. 73-85. ISSN 1874-4311
Gao, Xiaohong W. and Hui, Rui and White, Anthony S. and Tian, Zhengmin (2009) A new approach to estimation of non-isotropic scale factors for correction of MR distortion. International Journal of Computer Assisted Radiology and Surgery, 4 (s1). s349-s350. ISSN 1861-6410
Book Section
Qian, Yu and Gao, Xiaohong W. and Loomes, Martin J. and Comley, Richard A. and Barn, Balbir and Hui, Rui and Tian, Zenmin (2011) Content-based petrieval of 3D medical images. In: eTELEMED 2011, The Third International Conference on eHealth, Telemedicine, and Social Medicine. Gemert-Pijnen, Lisette Van and Ossebaard, Hans C. and Hämäläinen, Päivi, eds. IARIA, pp. 7-12. ISBN 9781612081199
Conference or Workshop Item
Gao, Xiaohong W. and Hui, Rui (2016) A deep learning based approach to classification of CT brain images. In: SAI Computing Conference 2016, 13-15 Jul 2016, London, UK.
Hui, Rui (2015) Towards development of automatic path planning system in image-guided neurosurgery. PhD thesis, Middlesex University.


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There's ups and downs in life that lead us into somewhere. You know, I read that there's reasons why someone couldn't make it into your future. And I do believe that now.
The feelings are totally different. I thank my past[s] for leading me in to the present. And I hope my present could be the best and greatest for my future. Insha Allah, this time it's for the rest of my life.
♫ ♪ No Doubt - Running ♫ ♪


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If you need assistance with the Acalog Publisher, please send us an email at firstname.lastname@example.com or call us at one of the below.
If you need training and access to the Acalog Publisher, please email us at firstname.lastname@example.com
2017-2018 University Catalogs Published: After much dedication and hard work from across the University of Pittsburgh, the 2017-2018 University Catalogs were published on July 3rd, 2017 for the academic year. As a result of the new course inventory process, the course catalog is now fully updated. There have been several new schools, departments, programs and courses created as well as deactivated. Be sure to check out all of the important dates for this upcoming school year from the Academic Calendar found on the Catalog's main menu. Finally, if you need to reference the 2016-2017 University Catalogs, simply click the Archived Catalogs on the Catalog's main menu.
UPDATES: Since we went live with the online catalogs in December 2016, there has been some great feedback throughout the University. Some key features for users and catalog editors include the ability to easily search the catalog, up-to-date course descriptions readily available, and the capability of managing their own content. The University also implemented a new course inventory process. To see the process, simply click the link posted on this page, located under the University Catalog Resources. Our office will also be creating PDF print versions of each University Catalog and adding the link to each Catalog Home page. Finally, after attending the DigArcU conference, we will be looking into new additional features to implement to the 2017-2018 catalogs.
December 19th, 2016: As a result of a new catalog management system implementation, the University Bulletins have been replaced by shiny, new University Catalogs. The new University Catalogs contain the great majority of the same information that the University Bulletins contained, but have a user-friendly, modern design and several new features. The information in the new University Catalogs is updated by Catalog Editors within various University schools, departments, administrative offices, and regional campuses via the new catalog management system (Acalog Publisher). The Information Systems and Support group within the Office of the University Registrar provides support to these Catalog Editors. Check out the new catalogs by clicking on one of the below.
To gain access to the Acalog Publisher, please email us at email@example.com to schedule training. Once training has been completed, access to the Acalog Publisher will be granted.
If you need assistance with the Acalog Publisher, please send us an email at firstname.lastname@example.com or call us at one of the below.
If you need training and access to the Acalog Publisher, please email us at firstname.lastname@example.com
The Acalog training videos and documents are available to assist in maintaining the information in the Publisher. To access these resources please log in to the Pitt Box and locate the "Catalog Editor Files" folder. If you do not have access to this folder, please email firstname.lastname@example.com.
University of Pittsburgh
Information Systems and Support Group
220 Thackeray Hall
Pittsburgh, PA 15260


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Little Violet's Laundry Stain Remover
Naturally effective whitening & stain removal, all active ingredients tovanish stains.
Simply add 1 dessertspoon to yourViolet's 100% naturalLaundry liquid or powder or your regular laundrydetergent.
Use as a pre-soak for stubborn stains.
Great for "real" nappies,sportclothes etc. Sanitises and deodorises as well.
Earth friendly bleach, sodium carbonate, sodium sesquicarbonate, natural soap


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If your Settings are configured to automatically send Client Intake Forms, clients will continue to receive a request to complete one at the time of booking until it has been done. Once on file, the client no longer receives the request. If a client wishes to update their existing form, or if your business requires them to do so, you can resend an email request at any time.
- Navigate to your Business tab.
- Select Clients.
- Search for the client and click on their name to open their record.
- Select Intake Form.
- Select Send request to update.
Note: The option to resend will only display if the client has an email address and completed form on file.


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Top Reasons to Live in Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Hot air ballooning capital of the world! The first week of every October, balloonists and ballooning enthusiasts from across the region and around the world gather for a unique and exciting tradition. This week long celebration features a daily "mass ascension" that decorates the skyline with a breathtaking array of colorful hot air balloons, followed by musical performances, races, an evening launch session and fireworks. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta attracts the best practitioners of the sport in a global-minded gathering of different cultures. Watch the action during brunch at the nearby Farm and Table restaurant or from ground zero Balloon Fiesta Park.


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The following elections will be held by postal vote on Saturday 8 October 2016. (Single Transferable Vote Electoral System)
- Election of ONE Mayor
- Election of FIVE members At Large (Districtwide)
- Election of ONE member for the Ōtaki Ward
- Election of ONE member for the Waikanae Ward
- Election of TWO members for the Paraparaumu Ward
- Election of ONE member for the Paekākāriki-Raumati Ward
- Election of FOUR members for the Ōtaki Community Board
- Election of FOUR members for the Waikanae Community Board
- Election of FOUR members for the Paraparaumu-Raumati Community Board
- Election of FOUR members for the Paekākāriki Community Board
Candidate names will be listed in Alphabetical order by surname on the voting documents.
Nominations for the above positions open on Friday 15 July 2016 and must be made on the appropriate nomination paper for each position, available from the Electoral Officer.
Completed nomination documents must be received by the Electoral Officer no later than 12 noon on Friday 12 August 2016.
Each nomination must be accompanied by a deposit of $200 incl gst, payable by eftpos, cash, cheque or Internet banking. (Please call 04 296 4700 or 0800 486 486 for details of Internet Banking.)
Profile Statements
Candidates may submit a candidate profile statement (150 words) and photograph for sending out with voting documents to electors.
Profile statements and photos must be lodged with the Nomination Form.
The requirements for profile statements and photos are set out in the Candidate Information Handbook. (If you require an Information Handbook please contact the Electoral Officer.)
Early Processing of Voting Documents
Returned Voting Papers will be processed throughout the three week voting period starting 16 September.
Electoral Rolls
Preliminary electoral rolls for the above elections can be inspected at the following locations during normal office hours from Friday 15 July 2016 to 12 August 2016.
- Kapiti Coast District Council Civic Building, 175 Rimu Road, Paraparaumu
- Waikanae Service Centre, Mahara Place, Waikanae
- Ōtaki Service Centre, Main Street, Ōtaki
- Paraparaumu Library, 9 Iver Trask Place, Paraparaumu
- Paekākāriki Library, Paekākāriki Tennis Club Building, 14 Wellington Rd, Paekākāriki
Electors may enrol or amend their enrolment details on the Residential Electoral Roll by:
- Completing an enrolment form available at Post Shops
- Calling 0800 ENROL NOW (0800 36 76 56)
- Visiting the Electoral Commission website (www.elections.org.nz ).
Updates to the preliminary electoral roll close at 5pm on Friday 12 August 2016.
Applications for registration as a ratepayer elector are to be made on the nonresident ratepayer elector enrolment form available wherever copies of the electoral rolls are displayed and must be returned to the Electoral Officer before 5pm Friday 12 August 2016.
Jude Wadsworth Electoral Officer – Kapiti Coast District Council
175 Rimu Road, Paraparaumu 5032
04 296 4700 or 0800 486 486


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Hard Rock Cafe Marbella Memorabilia
John Entwistle
In addition to being the best rock bass player who ever lived, John Entwistle was an accomplished artist. He drew this stylized spider (a recurring motif in John's art) on letterhead for ML Executives – a London-based sound company. Townshend and Daltrey were gracious enough to sign the piece as well.
Ian Paice
Drumhead from the Perfect Strangers
This drumhead is from Deep Purple's mid-eighties tour in support of their massively successful comeback album, Perfect Strangers. This album saw Purple back in action with the "Mark II" group – Richie Blackmore, Jon Lord, Roger Glover, Ian Paice, and Ian Gillan. This is almost universally regarded as the quintessential Deep Purple lineup and was responsible for such '70s classics as "Smoke on the Water", "Space Truckin" and "Highway Star".
Eric Carr
Denim Jacket
This simple denim jacket was worn by the late Eric Carr during KISS' 1988 Crazy Nights tour. Eric replaced original drummer Peter Criss in 1980 and stayed with the group for eleven years until his tragic death from a very rare form of heart cancer in 1991. Yes, this jacket is "stonewashed" and incredibly nerdy, but you probably had one just like it back in the '80s.
The Beatles
Original animation cel from Yellow Submarine
This original animation cel from Yellow Submarine depicts the character Jeremy Hilary Boob Ph.D. In the film, Jeremy describes himself as an "eminent physicist, polyglot classicist, prize-winning botanist, hard-biting satirist, talented pianist, and good dentist". He's instrumental in the Beatles' defeat of the Blue Meanies.
Marc Bolan
One of our greatest pieces of memorabilia from the all-too-short life of Marc Bolan is this passport. Issued very early in his career, it was his ticket to the first few T Rex gigs outside of England. It's pretty much impossible to overstate Bolan's influence on rock and fashion in the early '70s. He almost single-handedly created the Glam Rock movement that dominated the charts on both sides of the Atlantic and still resonates strongly today. This passport is, of course, issued in his real name – Mark Feld. Check out Marc's ultra-mod look in the photo and how he wrote "none" in the space for "special peculiarities". Apparently, being a pint-sized rock God in makeup and a feather boa doesn't qualify as peculiar.
Ritchie Blackmore
Fender Blackmore Model Stratocaster
When guitar virtuoso Ritchie Blackmore left Deep Purple and formed Rainbow in 1975, he created a vehicle for his incendiary guitar playing that few band members could keep up with. Blackmore went through no less than 23 members in the group's run – including four different lead singers – but always managed to turn out some very vital-sounding heavy rock. His Strat mastery inspired Fender to create this Blackmore signature model, which was played on Rainbow's 1995 reunion tour.


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Annual Giving
Annual gifts, of any amount, shape the daily lives of Caltech's students and faculty. Such gifts help to enhance Caltech's educational environment, accelerate bold research with high-impact potential, and provide students and faculty unparalleled opportunities to realize their full potential.
The Caltech Fund
Brings together Caltech's diverse network of supporters—alumni, parents, employees, students, and friends—to contribute to Caltech's impact and legacy with annual gifts.
The Caltech Associates
A vibrant organization of 2,300 members who annually invest in Caltech research and education at a variety of giving levels.
Reunion Giving
A way to honor your class reunion.
Membership Organizations
Strengthen your engagement with and support of Caltech through one of these membership organizations and associations.


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Living Walls and Green Installations
Living Walls
We design, build, and install free standing Living Wall systems. Our Living Walls can stand on their own so they do not need to be attached to the house or garage. They can be put virtually anywhere!
The wall can be 8' tall by 8' wide, 4' tall by 2' wide, hanging, or what your wishes may be. We will come to your site, talk with you about your needs, what type of Living Wall you would like and we will create your custom system.
The possibilities are endless! Do you need to hide an ugly air conditioner, nosey neighbour, or concrete wall? Do you want privacy on your your patio or hot tub? They are a perfect solid screen!
Living Elements Landscape LLC is a one stop shop for your Living Wall. We do all of the work from start to finish. Please contact us for more information.
Read the Oregonian newspaper article!
Listen to the interview from Destination DIY radio show
Living Towers
Living Towers are our newest installation. They are created in the same fashion as the walls, specifically for the spot, care in the plant choice, a special soil medium, and an irrigation system. This garden patio is located at the Hawthorne Hophouse at 4111 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR. It was installed in October of 2010.
Green Roofs
Living Elements Landscape LLC can help you with your green roof by choosing and designing appropriate plants for the roof.
I have had training for designing green roofs with the city of Portland and The Oregon Garden.


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Daddy Daughter Snowball Dance
The Young Professionals of Greater Dowagiac are hosting their annual Daddy/Daughter Snowball Dance February 3, 2018 at the Dowagiac Middle School (Located at 57072 Riverside Drive in Dowagiac).
Tickets are $5 of bought before the dance and $10 the day of the dance/at the door. Please visit their facebook page for more information.


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XSign in by: Email Mobile
|EXW Price:
Price above includes all cost to deliver in Yiwu only
|Snowman toy
|Light emitting toy type: LED lamp toy
|Applicable age: |7-12 years old |4-6 years old 1-3 years old
|Country of origin: Yiwu
|Applicable people: no limit
|Features: luminous
|Whether imports: Domestic
|Packing: color box
|Toy material: plastic
|Ability: the intellectual development of | interest cultivation | parent-child communication | emotion | interactive toys | | | | other visual sensory grasping ability
|Whether imports: Domestic
|Color: mix color
|Whether foreign trade: Yes
|Whether dynamic: no
[product name] hardstock luminous ring Mickey
[Specification] 36 / box 1152 / piece
[packing] color box
[color] color (pink, yellow, green, white )
Luminous toy of
category luminous toy according to the luminescent materials of different luminous can be divided into light emitting electronic, chemical and light emitting two.
A, electronic light emitting light-emitting toys: in the toy into the battery, in the color of the LED lamp, a light color, products are: electronic luminous rod, electronic shook his stick, flashing stick, wand, and some LED luminous lamp, luminous characters.
B, chemical luminous products. Fluorescent stick, by two chemical reaction and luminescence, fluorescence bracelet, fluorescent straight bar, fluorescence stick, fluorescent float, fluorescence jewelry, wedding fluorescence activities, and various fluorescence stick composed of various modeling toys.
|Snowman toy factory
|Main Products:
|Toys, flashing toys, light emitting toys, luminous light bulb, luminous ring, flash stick, massage ball, elastic ball
|86 57985557079
|2854, 9 Street, 1F, 18 Gate, E-International Trade Mart (District 1),Yiwu,China


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Mistakes to Avoid
Purchasing a white label casino is easy. Many casino platform providers are grateful when you jump without a proper evaluation into a deal. Since many of these providers make a living solely out of charging the setup-fees, they won't look if your casino concept has a chance to succeed or if your background (skills, market experience) are sufficient. The list below is not exhaustive but outlines the typical mistakes of newcomers in the casino business:
Poor casino brand
Most successfull casinos have a strong brand name. Before you start to do anything else, you should ensure that you have a great casino name, a correlating domain name (only .com or .casino) and a clear casino concept which envisions how the casino shall look alike and to which markets and market segments you want to target. You also need to have a solid concept from where the traffic is coming (SEO won't do it). Rushing into a casino deal without ensuring to have completed this homework is a main reason why so many white label casinos are failing in the market.
Lack of financing
The biggest mistake newcomers in the gambling industry can make is to miscalculate the financial requirements. Making an online casino profitable requires a solid investment. The competition in the market is huge and only with a top product and professional player services you will have a slight chance to attract and retain players. There are thousands of online casinos in the market and nobody wants to spend money in a sloppy developed, cloned casino with irrelevant games and poor services. If you think different, forget it. You are dead-wrong.
A professionally developed and well working online casino costs money. There is no short-cut. Period. For starting a professional online casino you must have a liquidity of approx. $50,000. Everybody who tries to lure you into a deal with promising you a licensed and converting online casino with less financial requirements should be treated with caution. Next to the setup fee (payable to the casino platform provider) you also need liquidity for paying players and affiliates during the first weeks of operations. Many casinos are going bankrupt during the first weeks when a player wins big. Factually there are only two scenarios:
You have good games where the game outcome is purely based on certified RNGs:
In this case you have the risk that a player can win a huge amount of money.
You have crap games in your casino where the outcome is manipulated:
In this case you will avoid the risk of big losses but players will stay away from your casino because playerrs aren't stupid and they don't want to get cheated.
White label casinos where the casino provider is carrying the financial risk use mostly manipulated games (with a bad reputation). Your chances to make money with such games is close to zero because no experienced player will deposit money in such a crap casino. The only chance to make a casino successful is to offer good (certified) games and with these games you are exposed to the risk of huge payouts. If you still have the idea that there is a way to manipulate the payout rate of games then you are living in "la la land" and you seem to have zero clue what is required to make a casino business successful.
The biggest mistake is to look what budget you have and then to search around which casino product you can get for this amount of investment. The ONLY way to get a converting casino is to calculate first what is factually required to launch a competitive casino and then - in a second step - to check if that is in your financial reach. If not, please work for a while with conventional casino affiliation until you have saved the amount which is required to have a professional start. Not following this advise bears the risk that all your investment will be lost. We have seen this hundred times.
- You have good games where the game outcome is purely based on certified RNGs:
Lack of market experience
There is no substitute for a detailed knowledge of the gaming industry. We get approached every day by many persons who claim they know SEO and website development and think that this will qualify them to launch a successful casino. If you are in the fraction that you think you can make an online casino successful based on your SEO work than your investment is already lost. There is NO chance for a newcomer casino to get via organic traffic a sufficient amount of traffic to break even in a foreseeable amount of time. Experienced casino marketeers have a clear idea from where they will get players - and SEO is not on that list.
Player acquisition in a casino is only one side of the medal. Player retention and other services are the key elements to make a casino striving. Creating a marketing strategy which visitors/players accept requires market experience. The best strategy is to partner up with an entity or person who is experienced in the field of casino marketing. Otherwise your casino will die a silent death in the Internet.
Lack of persistence
Successful online casinos earn a lot of money. But the way from a new white label casino to operating an established online casino is a long and winding road. There are no short-cuts. It requires months and years of hard work and a high level of peristence and frustration tolerance to succeed. There is also a lot of try and error involved and the willingness to optimize details. If you are looking for quick money, running an online casino is clearly the wrong choice.
Lack of skill
Being a sucessfull Casino operators requires a broad range of skills. Next to technical, financial and marketing skills the ability to communicate clearly with providers, partners, affiliates and players is decisive. On top of that a lot of creativity is required. Due to the crowded nature of the gaming industry you need to invent always new things to keep your casino attractive for players and affiliates. Getting realistic with what you can deliver might protect you from experiencing severe disappointments.
Lack of due diligence
The gambling industry attracts many hasty people who are looking for quick money. To find the right casino provider, to create a great casino brand, to develop a working marketing strategy and to operate a casino successfully - all that requires a lot of due diligence and working on constant improvements. The bar is quite high and that is the main reason why 95% of new white label casinos are rapidly going down the drain.
Use our free consultation services to evaluate your casino concept and to select the best suited casino platform provider for your specific project requirements.