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Banks argued that loans of most lenders are funded primarily by retail deposits and not from the wholesale market as was the practice abroad
Banks are opposed to the move to link marginal cost-based lending rate (MCLR) to an external, market-linked benchmark, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has revealed in a rare dissemination of feedback on its website.
While it is standard practice for RBI-appointed committees to prepare their reports and seek feedback, those are not publicly disclosed, except in this case.
The internal study group, looking at the issue of effective monetary transmission, proposed in October 2017 that banks must take into account either of the three external benchmarks - the treasury bill rate, the certificate of deposit (CD) rate and the RBI's policy repo rate from April 1, 2018.
These proposals were met with resistance from Day One, with bankers commenting publicly that such linking was not possible when a bank's deposit rates are not linked to the market rate.
In an addendum on its website, the internal group said indeed such an asymmetry exists in the banking system, as depositors are not ready to invest in floating rate deposits.
"The IBA (Indian Banks' Association) and banks, in general, have expressed that the MCLR system is working well and it should continue.
"All banks, barring some foreign ones, are of the view that none of the three external benchmarks recommended by the study group can be adopted in the near- to medium-run, since banks' funding cost is not related directly to any of the proposed external benchmarks," the addendum said.
Banks argued that loans of most lenders are funded primarily by retail deposits and not from the wholesale market as was the practice abroad.
"Therefore, if interest rates on deposits remain sticky, banks cannot lend at rates linked to an external benchmark, which may change every day, unless they manage this interest rate risk well," the addendum said.
They argued in the absence of an effectiv interest rate swaps (IRS) market, banks cannot hedge the risk, for either their profitability will come under pressure or spreads will be higher than necessary as a compensation for interest rate risk.
"Banks have also highlighted that in the absence of a reliable term money market, use of any benchmark will leave the discretion on pricing the term premiums with the banks," the paper said.
Rather, the banks proposed, that more "ideal benchmark could be constructed based on deposit rates of the banking system as a whole".
Banks also said the reset period for computation of MCLR could not be fixed on a quarterly basis always.
The current practice was to match the tenor of the loan with a one-year reset period, thereby addressing the interest rate risk in the banking book.
"Moreover, Indian Accounting Standards (IndAS) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) also suggest compatibility between tenor of the loan and reset period.
"Even if an external benchmark is adopted, the reset period should be linked to the tenor of the underlying external benchmark."
While longer reset periods increase transmission lags, shorter resets increase interest rate risk for banks. Besides, customers would be averse to such frequent revision on their interest payment obligation, too.
Banks added "in a deregulated interest rate environment, spread over the benchmark – be it internal or external – must be the exclusive domain of commercial banks."
The spread could not be fixed forever for a variety of loans, as credit risk premium was time-varying and expected credit losses do change over time.
"According to banks, with the switchover to an external benchmark, the spread decisions may get even more complex, because of the uncertainty about managing interest rate risk, which may partly influence spreads."
Banks preferred market competition alone to lead to convergence of spreads, and regulatory prescriptions on whether the spread should change or remain fixed would not be in sync with the spirit behind deregulation.
Banks, therefore, preferred to continue with the MCLR regime, seeking more time to enable a fuller assessment of its performance on transmission.
"One and a half years, according to banks, is too short a period to assess the effectiveness of a new regime, given the normal lags in transmission."
Rather, banks voluntarily sought a sunset date for base rate customers to be converged to MCLR, something that the RBI policy advocated in its sixth bi-monthly monetary policy review on February 7.
Photograph: Ajay Verma/Reuters


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Blog - Real Deal English,Headlines
May 10, 2017: Saying something sucks is one of the easiest way to sound like a native English speaker. We'll examine this amazing little phrase in today's Learning Through Headlines!
You know what most definitely does not suck? Our new Real Deal English study bots! A unique way to practice your English easily and effectively. Check them out at https://m.me/realdealenglish
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subset: commoncrawl


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Skokie Lagoons
Skokie Lagoons is a nature preserve in Glencoe and Winnetka, Illinois, owned and managed by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County. The park is bordered by Dundee Road to the north, Forestway Drive to the east, Willow Road to the south, and the Edens Expressway to the west. Within the park, there are seven inter-connected lagoons totaling 190 acres (0.77 km2). Water flows southward from the Chicago Botanic Garden through the lagoons to the Skokie River. The overall water level in the lagoons is controlled by the main control dam at Willow Road. Three low dams keep the water levels below the inner islands. Recreational opportunities at Skokie Lagoons include biking, fishing, boating and birding.
Try plastic worms, crankbaits, night crawlers, husky jerks and jigs out on this water.


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Two days after we returned from Maui, my best friend E came to visit us from Georgia. Over the years, each trip seems to get longer and longer. There never seems to be enough hours together, and this recent visit was no exception. This time, we got her for 12 days.
There was also the added bonus that one of my cousins was going to be with us for a couple days too. It was going to be a full house, but one full of laughter and joy.
E and I maneuvered around my house like an old married couple most of the time. I usually got up first and put the coffee on, then she would get up and fix our coffees. She knows how I like it without asking. If dinner needed to be prepped, we sorted through the pantry, fridge and freezer making sure we had everything we needed based on the meal plan I have clipped to the side of my fridge. Most of the time the kids were still sleeping, so we could slip outside to sip our coffee on my deck. Luna snuggled in between us. On other trips, she has helped me paint, reorganize, pack, unpack and prep for a trip. This time we swept the decks and porch, cleaned out the flower beds and potted all of the pots and barrels scattered about the yard. It was nice to sit on my lounge chairs, listening to the morning birds sing their songs, admiring our hard work. A few days in, my cousin J.O. was added to the mix and we got to hang out with her on the deck as well. This is what I imagine having sisters would be like.
Besides the usual shopping, dinner and wine tasting, we found ourselves "playing" hairdresser one afternoon. I'm not sure how it started, but my cousin J.O., E, The Tortoise and I started combing through my Pinterest boards looking for interesting hairstyles to try. And before we knew it, we were four little girls crammed into my bathroom, with hair products, accessories and mirrors spilling out over counters and crevices. Of course, it didn't end there, and the afternoon wrapped up in makeup tips and trying clothes.
I guess little girls never really grow up.


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With all things DIY and craft seeing a resurgence in popularity thanks to websites like Etsy, Pinterest, Kollabora and Wool & The Gang (to name just a few), it was only a matter of time before QUILTING became popular again, and no big surprise that designers have jumped on the bandwagon with their own versions of this traditional Americana craft. If you were lucky enough to see the Workt by Hand: Hidden Labor and Historical Quilts exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum earlier this, you might have a better understanding of where this inspiration is coming.
Historically quilts were made by groups or families of women, combining their efforts to produce a beautifully crafted piece that would be passed from one generation to the next. If this tradition is part of what defines a quilt, then can the new versions, made by individuals such as myself, still be considered part of the craft? Lets disregard the mass produced versions on the market for the sake of this discussion (hopefully it becomes a discussion and you don't all leave me hanging!) and only discuss the one-of-a-kind hand-crafted pieces that designers and home sewers are creating. How will traditional American craft techniques be translated by the new generation of makers?
While you're pondering this question, have a looksy at our new Study Quilt section in the shop! I've had a stash of production and sample fabric scraps building up in my studio for far too long and have been wanting to convert it all into quilts at some point. Or now. Yeah, now.


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No one understands the machinations and motives of the Jewish criminal network currently controlling our national governments and media institutions quite like Christian author and radio host Texe Marrs.
"They constitute a secret government behind the government," Marrs says in one of his 2008 radio shows, explaining how the elders of Zion have used two devices — force and "make-believe" — to cement their control over the world. Through these means, he points out, "they have now gained control of the organs of American government, as well as the governments of Britain and France, among others."
To download this highly informative audio file — in which Marrs drives home "the absolute, incontrovertible fact that Jews rule America" — READ MORE.
You don't have to be especially religious to appreciate the information presented by Marrs, who, thanks to decades of tireless research, is an authority on critical issues seldom if ever discussed in the mainstream. These include the "Judaization" of the Christian church in America; the proliferation of occultic (more specifically, cabalistic) ritual and symbolism in the government and media; and, perhaps most importantly, the Jewish conspiracy — now in its latter stages — to usher in a totalitarian "New World Order."
In this radio show from early 2008 (when the Bush Jr. administration was still in the White House), Marrs asks how Israel can exert such tremendous influence over US policymaking — despite the relatively small number of Jews in the US. "Jews only constitute about 2 to 2.5 percent of the American population; out of 320 million people, only about 7.5 million are Jews," he says. "So it isn't voting power they have."
He then explains how prophetic writers George Orwell and Alduous Huxley "taught us that propaganda and 'make-believe' could be even more effective than brute force." Marrs continues: "In the very first of the Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion, the authors say — three times in a row — 'Our countersign is force and make-believe.' And that's how they intend to take over the world."
Marrs goes on to point out that over 70 percent of the members of the Council of Foreign Relations (CFR) — the influential "think-tank" that crafts US domestic and foreign policy — are Jews. "The CFR, which includes over 200 members of the George W. Bush administration, is a Zionist front," he says, noting that CFR President Richard Haas, a Jew, was made a "special assistant" to Bush Sr. during the latter's presidency.
Marrs also identifies numerous Zionist agents, whose primary allegiance is to the criminal state of Israel, within the Bush Jr. administration. These include Attorney-General Michael Mukasey, an orthodox Jew who advocates the use of torture and who was nominated for the post by Democratic New York Senator (and Jew) Charles Schumer; Homeland Security Director Michael Chertoff, a Jewish citizen of both Israel and the US; Special Envoy for Human Rights Jay Lefkowitz, also a Jew; Chief-of-Staff Josh Bolton, a Jew, who, according to Time Magazine, would open cabinet meetings with a reading from the Talmud; and Jewish IRS chief Douglas Shulman.
Marrs goes even further, pointing out that Jewish organizations are behind the proliferation of abortion and the promotion of homosexuality in America:
"You can't name a single evangelical Christian organization that promotes homosexuality and abortion," he says. "But I can cite numerous Jewish organizations that openly favor abortion and promote homosexuality: the American Jewish Committee; the American Jewish Congress; B'nai Brith; the Central Conference of American Rabbis; the Federation of Reconstructionist Congregations; Hadasa, the Jewish women's group; the Jewish Labor Committee; the National Federation of Temple Sisterhoods; the National Council of Jewish Women; the New Jewish Agenda; the Rabbinical Assembly; the Union of American Hebrew Congregations; and the United Synagogues of America."
Finally, Marrs points to the line-up of would-be US presidential hopefuls — all of them ardent Zionists — as proof of the Jewish stranglehold over the American electoral system.
"You can see their power when you look at candidates for president right now," he says. "Virtually all of them are Israel-firsters: Mike Huckabee, Rudy Giuliani, Hillary Clinton, and even Barack Obama, who, in a recent speech to AIPAC, declared: 'Our support for Israel will not be compromised if I'm elected president.'"
Download the entire Texe Marrs audio file HERE, give it a listen, then pass it along to every thinking person you know.
Texe Marrs: The fix is in — Jews rule America


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Stir-fried chicken with cashew nuts is a timeless classic dish with gorgeous colors and tastes - it's quick and easy to make, perfect for a weeknight dinner. This dish is popular among Chinese people also because of its symbolic meaning. It means "a bumper grain harvest" - wǔ gǔ fēng dēng (五谷丰登) in Chinese.
Another saying is, cashew nut (腰果) resembles gold because the nut's shape symbolises the ingot of ancient times. So, we cook this dish during Chinese New Year in a bid to get wealthy.
Sunday, 15 February 2015
My "Happy Little Surprise" - Peanut Butter Cookies
小小惊喜 - 花生酥饼
I accidentally created these crunchy and fragrant peanut cookies last week. It's not the traditional melt-in-the-mouth peanut cookies, nor the peanut butter cookies made with peanut butter spread. It's made of real butter, ground peanut, and peanut oil. These are taste-bud-pleasing peanut cookies. By combining butter and oil, you end up with cookies that have the great buttery flavor and the soft crumbly texture that you ever could with pure butter or pure peanut oil. I call them my "happy little surprise". Brought some to the office, everyone loved them and requested for more.
Saturday, 7 February 2015
2015 Most Popular Almond Cookies 备受瞩目的杏仁酥2015
爱上了烘焙,就好象在我原有的生活空间里打开了一扇明亮的窗。透过它,我看到了外面色彩斑斓的美食世界。也是透过它,我才知道马来西亚有这么多擅长烹饪的高手。这源于马来西亚是东南亚风味美食的聚集地,传统美食在当地得到了很好的传承。尤其是槟城和怡保,无论是当地人还是游客,说起那里的美食都啧啧称赞。 食物,还是旧时的美味啊。
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You may hear the phrase "Guaranteed buyout" and think, "YAY! That's my ticket out of this house!" But is it, really?
In theory, a guaranteed buyout will let homeowners move forward with plans to build a home. They are guaranteed that if their home doesn't sell within a certain time frame, then the builder, a Realtor, or an investor will purchase the home. That way, your new build does not need to wait for your home to sell. The buyout amount is set in advance. This can also save you from having to make 2 mortgage payments if your first house doesn't sell before your next one is ready.
In some cases, though, a guaranteed buyout is not as great as you would hope. They are not all the same, and what your neighbor tells you might not be the same kind of program you will get (which is a reason why you need a REALTOR to help guide you through all of this).
Most people don't realize that a guaranteed buyout will usually offer you between 75%-95% of your home's market value. I have heard that 80% is a very common number in the Indianapolis area. If you do not have much equity in your home, you may end up bringing money to closing to make up the difference. Also, if you were hoping to use the equity as a down payment or for upgrades to your new home, that might not be possible.
It is very important that you do your homework and know what you are getting yourself into with a Guaranteed Buyout program. Will the buyer purchase it outright or only take over your payments? Will you get enough for the home to have any equity left over? Is their assessment of a fair market value really fair?
I can help guide you through the process, and help you determine if it might be right for you.


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For over 50 years, Hendersonville Pediatrics, P.A. has provided pediatric services to the children of Henderson, Transylvania and Buncombe counties. We have offices in both Hendersonville and Brevard and our on-call physicians are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The new school year is just around the corner! Having a current Well Visit/Physical visit on file is important for your child's participation in school and camp activities. Both offices have appointments available, but July and August schedules are filling quickly. Call today to schedule your child's appointment and avoid any delay in sports or other activity participation.
Hendersonville Pediatrics has after-hours and weekend appointments available for sick children.
Your children are our children and we take pride in the excellent care we provide here at Hendersonville Pediatrics. Please join me monthly (or every two weeks if my four kids allow me time to write!) and I will in turn provide interesting, helpful and maybe even comical blogs. Simply click here to see Dr. S' BLOG posts.
Dr. S new book, Let Them Climb, is now available! See more info here!


text: I bought my first Canon DSLR in 2009 and immediately I fell in love, since then I always tried to improve myself. It's part of my life, when I can I photograph. I never focused on a single topic, I just photograph whatever I want: a portrait, a reportage or a street, anything that deserves to be captured and shared with my camera or iphone.


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Darrell Issa committee subpoenaed in Roger Clemens case
California Republican Rep. Darrell Issa has pledged to wield his power as the new chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee to subpoena administration officials.
What Issa may not have anticipated is his committee finding itself, a little over a month into his tenure, on the receiving end of a subpoena.
On Friday, Issa's committee was subpoenaed by the defense in United States of America vs. William R. Clemens, the case involving whether former Yankees baseball star and seven-time Cy Young award winner Roger Clemens lied when he told Congress three years ago that he never used steroids or performance-enhancing drugs.
Clemens's testimony before the Oversight and Government Reform Committee took place in February 2008, when Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), not Issa, was committee chairman. The televised hearing became a public spectacle and was one of the highest-profile congressional hearings in recent years.
The subpoena calls for "all interview summaries, notes and memoranda" related to the 2007 Mitchell Report on steroids in baseball and "all related proceedings" conducted by the committee.
Oversight Committee spokesman Kurt Bardella said that the committee "intends to consult with the House General Counsel's office and will meet its obligations in this matter."
Clemens pleaded not guilty last August to six felony counts, including perjury and obstruction of Congress. His defense has until March 14 to request documents from parties such as the House committee in the case, which is being argued before the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
Felicia Sonmez
| February 11, 2011; 6:42 PM ET
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency
Save & Share: Previous: Democrats, Republicans spar over possibility of government shutdown
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Clemens may be a creep, but compared to the government he's a saint. Go Roger, give them a little chin music!
Posted by: jy151310 | February 14, 2011 9:53 PM | Report abuse
Too funny.
Posted by: rlj1 | February 14, 2011 3:54 PM | Report abuse
lying to congress is not a small deal. It is entirely appropriate that the committees charged with investigating the issue, follow through
Those decrying this as a waste of time and money are not sports fans, so anything that relates to a sport is meaningless to them. But, it isn't about whether or not you follow sports, it's about whether or not you think that you can lie to congress and it's ok.
Posted by: joecairo | February 14, 2011 10:22 AM | Report abuse
Was the 2010 election a mandate to stop steroid use by athletes? Why are they wasting time and money on such an inconsequential issue at the same time they are decrying excessive government spending? Let the privately owned ball clubs spend their own money to ferret out the cheaters and get back to the business of fixing the problems in the country. FFS!
Posted by: fingersfly | February 14, 2011 9:17 AM | Report abuse
Was the 2010 election a mandate to stop steroid use by athletes? Why are they wasting time and money on such an inconsequential issue at the same time they are decrying excessive government spending? Let the privately owned ball clubs spend their own money to ferret out the cheaters and get back to the business of fixing the problems in the country. FFS!
Posted by: fingersfly | February 14, 2011 9:17 AM | Report abuse
How stupid!! We have so many problems in this country and with this administration and these rediculous dems are still trying to prosecute Clemens? Who gives a rip if he took steroids. This is a pure example of their spend, spend, spend and accomplish nothing. Subpoena Obama and make him show his birth certificate and records. That id meaningful. We need to get rid of this administration. Reckon a riot would help?
Posted by: annnort | February 13, 2011 5:24 AM | Report abuse
Couldn't happen to a nicer guy! Take Issa down.
Posted by: ptgrunner | February 13, 2011 1:11 AM | Report abuse
Another plan not well thought out by the GOP. Issa was ordered to protect, defend Banks/Corporations and make false charges against the Obama Administration for two more years. Now Issa will have to fine a way of stopping the documents of guilty from coming out to save Clemens who is a close friend of President Bush sr. Clemens lied under oath but admitted it much later so this is a no brainer except Issa get's paid to protect Banks/Corporations and GOP friends. Issa is a great corrupt used car salesman and will be able to sale a story that surpasses Harry Potter if you can believe that.
Posted by: qqbDEyZW | February 12, 2011 6:10 PM | Report abuse
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Teresa & David - Grand Rapids, MI - Highlight Film
Teresa & David's peaceful wedding took place in Grand Rapids, Michigan under the canopy of beautiful trees. This wedding was quiet, homey, and wonderfully planned! We loved being a part of it!
From the bride
Mike and Ali were great to work with! We couldn't be happier with our wedding films!
Film info
- Cameras ~ Canon 5D Mark III and T2i, Samsung NX500
- Music ~ Ben Howard Old Pine
- Edited in Final Cut Pro X


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David Tennant has said that he "never once wavered" from the path to playing a Time Lord in Doctor Who.
The actor also told The Times that he understood the distinction between fiction and reality when he first watched the programme.
Tennant said: "I remember, after seeing Jon Pertwee turn into Tom Baker in Doctor Who, having a conversation with my parents at a very young age about actors and what they did.
"I remember getting the distinction between a character and an actor, as they explained it. I understood what fiction was very clearly."
He added: "I always feel uneasy when people talk about children not understanding the difference between fantasy and reality.
"I can only have been three, and was just enthralled. But I was quite clear that I didn't want to be a Time Lord - I wanted to be the person who played a Time Lord."
David Tennant will leave Doctor Who after this year's specials and be replaced by Matt Smith for the fifth series of the show.


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Rx for Summer Reading 2017 Program Site Information
Sign up below to participate in the Rx for Summer Reading Campaign!
Program Site Materials for Sometimes I Feel Sunny
Download the materials below to promote your event at your practice or clinic.
Promotional Materials Overview -- Provides an overview of all of the materials listed below.
Site Coordinator To Do List -- Use this check off list to help you implement the campaign in your practice or clinic.
Event Planning Sheet -- Complete this sheet and return to Salina at least two weeks prior to your event.
Help Me Grow Coordinators List
Summer Campaign Poster -- Print the poster on 11x17 paper. Contact Salina to design a poster specifically for your event.
Summer Campaign Flyer -- Hand out this flyer prior to your event as an "invitation." Print it front and back on 8.5x11 paper. Contact Salina to design a flyer specifically for your event.
News release -- Edit and send the news release to your local media to promote your event.
Leyendo de Juntos Library Go to the Library handout -- Use this handout during your event to encourage your patients and their families to visit the local library.
Photo Release Form -- Have parents sign a release form to give permission for their children's photo to be used by Reach Out and Read-Alabama.
Download all materials here as one PDF.


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Functionality is specifically important in selecting the right furnishings for a area. Green interior design and style is about analyzing all aspects of a building's interior – it really is parts and processes – to uncover ways to save power and water, to discover approaches to minimize greenhouse gas emissions, to make the interior free of toxic chemicals and to use materials that are the most environmentally friendly.
Dian interior design (DID) adalah suatu usaha yang menyediakan jasa pembuatan furniture yang mencakup dalam bidang interior. The interior of this car is plain at very best, but the components are satisfactory. Prospective staff, business partners and clientele going to the company can read a lot about your company by just hunting at the interior design and style. It doesn't actually matter either way how you go about it as extended as you get you residence interior design and style project off the ground. I have an selection for it. You should go to an interior decorator organization, they can surly recommend you the ideal. The interior appears cool and collected, prepared for a nightclub on a friday night.
Offering interior design and style solutions requires explicit communication of concepts and successful implementation of instructions in a technical skilled manner, through the use of detailed drawings, specifications, schedules, and mood boards.
Most interior designers render residential designs solutions and a very good quantity can even execute tasks that involve uncomplicated commercial projects (hotels, offices, restaurants). A nicely made interior can communicate your values and priorities, with an desirable interior playing an important function in generating an inviting environment. Terlihat gelombang P dapat merambat pada interior bumi baik yang berfasa padat maupun berfasa cair, sedangkan gelombang S tidak merambat pada Inti Bumi bagian luar yang berfasa cair.
Bahan pembersih interior mobil, meliputi: foam pembersih karpet (dalam tabung aerosol), cairan silikon, glass cleaner, air hangat, pelembab kulit jok/ leather moisturizer (spesial untuk bahan kulit hewan asli) dan odor killer. And although the creating may retain its existing exterior style, the transformation of its interior may be a point of great beauty. The look soon became a fad with young ladies with terms like Japanning" and Decalcomania" becoming an interior decoration term. Interior rumah mewah tentu adanya di rumah-rumah mewah yang hanya dimiliki oleh golongan orang-orang yang kaya raya seperti artis, pengusaha, konglomerat, dan pejabat tinggi. Interior Style entails the planning of all elements of interior space often by a licensed specialist.…


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Gru and his army of Minions may appear to be ruthless villains in constant pursuit of world domination, but that didn't stop audiences from showing Despicable Me some serious love at the box office. The weekend's other new release Predators was far behind, though it still performed admirably compared to past entries in the franchise. Holdovers The Twilight Saga: Eclipse and Toy Story 3 continued to play well, while The Last Airbender had a considerable drop-off. The Top 12 was up 36 percent from the same timeframe last year, when Bruno led with $30.6 million.Despicable Me raked in $56.4 million on around 5,200 screens at 3,476 theaters. While this number fell short of the openings ofg the summer's other 3D animated features Toy Story 3 and Shrek Forever After, it was still mighty considering Despicable Me had no built-in audience. In fact, it was the third biggest-grossing opening ever for a non-sequel, non-adaptation, non-Pixar animated movie behind Kung Fu Panda and Monsters Vs. Aliens. Despicable Me is the first release in a distribution deal between Universal Pictures and new animation company Illumination Entertainment, founded by former Fox Animation president Chris Meledandri. The movie couldn't have come at a better time for Universal, which hasn't had a bonafide hit yet this year, and Despicable Me's opening is the best for a Universal movie since Fast and Furious opened to $71 million in April 2009. Making Despicable Me's success even more remarkable was the comparatively small role 3D had in its grosses. Approximately 45 percent of the movie's earnings came from the 1,551 premium-priced locations, which was substantially lower than any of the other 3D animated releases this year. It's worth noting though, that those movies all debuted on more 3D screens. A better comparison is Monsters Vs. Aliens, which had a 56 percent share from 1,550 3D locations in its debut. According to Universal's exit polling, 55 percent of Despicable Me's audience was kids 12 years and under with their parents, and it scored a solid "A" from moviegoer pollster Cinemascore.In its second weekend, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse was off 51 percent to $31.7 million. This was a much better hold than predecessors Twilight and New Moon, which dropped 62 and 70 percent, respectively. With Eclipse burning off a lot of demand with its Wednesday opening and then spreading out its first weekend over a four-day frame, this comparatively lighter drop was to be expected. Through its first 12 days, Eclipse has grossed $235.4 million, which was only slightly behind New Moon through the same point.While it settled for third place, Predators opened to a respectable $24.8 million on around 3,300 screens at 2,669 theaters. This is the second highest-grossing start for a Predator movie behind Alien Vs. Predator, though the addition of the Alien brand surely aided in that movie's grosses. Predators also drew about the same estimated initial attendance as the first Predator, though that picture was relatively more impactful in its day. Excluding The Village and King Kong, which were sold primarily on their high-profile directors, Predators was easily star Adrien Brody's best opening ever. It's also the best start for a Robert Rodriguez-produced feature since Spy Kids 3D: Game Over in 2003. In spite of its solid numbers, Predators marked the third straight sub-$30 million start for a 20th Century Fox action movie this summer, following The A-Team and Knight & Day. Since genre movies like Predators tend to be very front-loaded, it's doubtful that this movie will ultimately do much to salvage Fox's mediocre summer. Fox's research indicated that 70 percent of Predators' audience was male, and 60 percent was over 25 years old.For more Despicable Me and Predators analysis, click here to read the Weekend Briefing.Toy Story 3 had its smallest decline yet, off 31 percent to $21 million. With a $340 million tally in 24 days, it has passed Alice in Wonderland to become the top-grossing movie from 2010. It also eked past Finding Nemo to become Pixar's highest-grossing movie ever, though it remains in the bottom half in terms of estimated attendance. After getting off to a great start last weekend, The Last Airbender fell 59 percent to $16.6 million. It's expected to cross the $100 million mark today to become the fourth M. Night Shyamalan movie to reach this level. Down just 17 percent to $15.8 million, Grown Ups also crossed the $100 million threshold. It's the 11th Adam Sandler movie in the past 12 years to reach this level, and no other actor has had that many live-action $100 million movies in that timeframe.
Related Story� Weekend Briefing: 'Despicable Me,' 'Predators' Take Aim at Audiences
Last Weekend� 'Eclipse' Swoons But Sweeps Up Over Independence Weekend
This Timeframe in Past Years:� 2009 - 'Bruno' Not as Brawny as 'Borat'� 2008 - 'Hellboy II' Sizzles� 2007 - 'Harry Potter' Flies with the 'Phoenix'� 2006 - 'Pirates' Raid Record Books� 2005 - 'Fantastic Four' Heats Up the Summer Box OfficeRelated Charts� Weekend Box Office Results� 2010 Grosses� All Time Fourth Weekends� All Time 10-Day Openings� Brand: Pixar
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Mutant Mudds
For some years now, independent developers have been paying homage to the glory days of 8 and 16-bit games, specifically 2D platformers. Some of these games aim to bring that aesthetic into a modern-day mentality while others work to recreate the challenging gameplay. Mutant Mudds falls into the latter category. While on paper it has everything a 16-bit platformer should, it's missing that spark the makes you want to keep playing. Ultimately, your enjoyment of Mudds will rest solely on your nostalgia for the platformers of yore.
In MutantMudds you play as a young lad armed with nothing but a water gun and jetpack who is tasked with ridding the world of an alien invasion of mutant blobs of mud. The gameplay itself is quite simple: You jump, double jump and shoot. That's it. But that's not to say that the game is easy. On the contrary, the game is actually quite difficult despite its simplicity. Mudds exhibits a challenge that is reminiscent of older platformers. All of the enemies you will face travel on a set path and because of this anything can be overcome with willpower and timing memorization. The only problem is that games have moved on from this style of gameplay. Most of my time with Mudds was spent replaying entire levels (with no checkpoints) by rote. Though levels are relatively short, the moment to moment gameplay in each level is stiff and slow enough that it fails to remain entertaining after 20th playthrough.
Mutant Mudds does have at least one interesting feature. You can jump between the game's foreground, midground and background. Sadly, this is little more than a graphical effect and does nothing to the gameplay. Still, it's neat to see our intrepid water gun toting hero jump between planes. The game also employs a power-up system that gives you a better gun, a longer lasting jetpack or boots to make you jump higher. But even these power-up fail to meaningfully change the game. Their greatest uses are in granting you access to secret levels.
Graphically, Mutant Mudds looks like it has time traveled from the early 90's. The art style is well done but it also seems like "just another game from an indie studio in the style of 16-bit games." Which is a shame because the game looks fine, it also happens to look like every other 16-bit indie studio style of game.
At the end of the day, Mutant Mudds is a great tribute to the platformers many of us grew up with. The art style is well done and the difficulty is spot on - it literally feels like it could have been made 20 years ago. The only problem is that games have changed a great deal since then and Mutant Mudds is left feeling stale and boring. If you're looking to play a platformer the feels harkens back to your childhood, then look no further than Mutant Mudds; otherwise you're probably better off playing something else.
Jonathan is the host of the DarkCast, DarkCast Interviews, and Gamers Read. He loves books, video games, and superheroes. If he had to pick favorites, they would be Welcome to the Monkey House, Mass Effect, and Superman respectively.


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His approach to life is always head-on and his passion for helping others, a recurring theme. At the age of 17, in an effort to work full-time, he made the decision to homeschool—cue slinging lattes and customer service. Life as a barista helped his once shy demeanor fade into the background. By the age of 19, he received his nursing license; unfortunately, this is where we would like to think his hard work paid off, but in reality his dreams took a sudden detour. A close family member misused his name to commit fraud and embezzlement and as a result, he was stripped of his license by age 22.
Those moments were dark, but he prevailed.
Sleeping on a broken down futon and determined to better himself and his mother's life, he took every odd job you could imagine. From painting houses and cleaning toilets to renting The Rug Doctor and knocking door to door there wasn't a job he was above getting done. As shit would have it, quite literally, one of those toilets lead to meeting a very influential friend who was a professional poker player. Not only did this new hand he was dealt create a more comfortable standard of living, but it skilled him in two important keys to business success:
His friend would eventually make him a life-altering bet: Mikhail had to make enough in winnings to live comfortable for 3 months within 30 days or he would have to choose between getting a job or going back to school. Just shy of a few hundred dollars, Mikhail missed the mark and chose to find a job--always preferring to apply himself in real life than at a school desk. Enter a sales position at a boutique, SEO marketing firm where, within 3 months, he excelled as Top Sales Rep and within 2 years, grew a small sales team of 11 to 120 employees strong. There was just one constant frustration: his work ethic and, quite frankly, his morals did not align with his employer's questionable business practice. It was time to go back to the drawing board. With his sales and marketing knowledge in one pocket and a great vision in the other, he formed his first company in 2014.
MATTHEW 7:12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.
Taking the leap into entrepreneurship was the solution that not only allowed him to build a company on his terms, but it would serve as the gateway to helping others materialize their dreams of success too. He channeled this passion through Matthew 7:12 "do to others as you would have them do to you", and the mantra of his first digital agency was born, a digital and social media marketing agency. Like most ventures, it was not without hiccups. Shortly after establishing the company, he was fired from his job and faced an an inexplicable amount of pushback from his former colleagues. This setback, however, only built character, Mikhail's lead with love philosophy conquered-- and he continued to move onward with razor sharp focus.
The modern definition of success is no longer arriving at your so-called destination but understanding how important it is to enjoy your journey to this goal—whatever it may be. In the summer of 2017, Mikhail made the strategic decision to exit his company due to an unhealthy partnership. He describes this as one of the most difficult decisions of his career thus far but if anyone understands turning lemons into lemonades it's him. Sticking to his guns and following his intuition, he knew this would be the best decision for his clients and himself. Losing no time or gratitude, he constructed a team of inspired creatives to continue marketing and innovating.
When consulting a sales team or public speaking, sugarcoating the realities he faces in work and life are not in his interest, he talks openly about challenging times past and present. He teaches two things to anyone who listens:
Gratitude met with Perspective is a foolproof recipe for a winning attitude and to choose collaboration over competition.
Today, Mikhail is the President of ANSWRD, Inc., operating under Blue Light Media. He and his all-star team of marketers and creators are based in Orange County, CA. He is a featured writer on Enterepeur.com and gives regular personal brand talks at college campuses around the West Coast. Otherwise you can find him every Tuesday on Facebook on the Tuesday Show where he talks about everything from marketing to the latest social media tools.
Mikhail attributes his success to those who continually push him to be the best version of himself.


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I need you to keep me hopeful and daring. I need you to feel acutely my trivial joys and heartbreaks. I need you to give me grace as my own propensities toward greed, violence and power are unearthed and to choose to cling to my hidden goodness.Read More
A life force and a death blow, Like streams that come together, to create a great lake. So to do we become, mighty when we gather.Read More
I first came in contact with the 'Just Water' campaign through a trip I took to Costa Rica in January 2015. I had just turned 21 and was full of ideas about changing the world and playing a part in 'righting wrongs'. Me & Dayna had began our conversations about starting a business that would use our creative talents to help others and to make people realise they could really make a difference. We called it 'Just Threads'.Read More
"What could I possibly know of courage? I ponder it, sit with it, while sipping a coffee in a staggeringly white, middle class coffee shop. How am I possibly entitled to speak of such a thing? My sickeningly privileged frame of reference struggles to think of a time I have ever, truly needed it."Read More
So when we spoke that night & shared that dream of creating a community through Just Threads – it became clear that it has already started. They all believed in the power of being in it together, & had given their time and their money to help the lives of those that Jubilee House (our first partner charity) will work with.Read More
"We know that it's unrealistic to think that we can completely change that. But, we CAN do something. We CAN create an ethical clothing company that is socially responsible. We CAN channel money from our sales to support some of the worlds greatest causes. In doing so, everyone CAN be a part of the change for a better world - vendor, trader and consumer alike."Read More
Have you ever thought about who makes your clothes? Maybe even looked in to it a bit? Chances are if you're reading this you probably have had at least a hint of curiosity as to where your favourite high street brands get their supply from and chances are what you found was shocking.Read More


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Events pending while I settle in to my new home in Sydney, Australia
A storm of strings
Sunday, Dec 9, 2018 11am
Waterkloof NG Church, Dey Street, Nieuw Mucklenuk, Pretoria, South Africa
A faculty concert during the Gauteng Chamber Music Festival. Featuring works by Vivaldi, Mendelssohn and Bach's Badinerie for flute and strings.
May 24-27
operation opera
Thursday-Sunday, May 24-27, 2018
University of Michigan School of Music, Stamps Auditorium/ Hankinson Rehearsal Hall
The Four Corners Ensemble present a festival of new operas arranged for chamber ensemble and featuring composers and singers from China and the USA.
The Contrapuntal of the Subconscious by Leinshuo Ye
Hagar and Ishmael by William Cooper
The Shepherdess by Yi Yang ....and many more excerpts
Free - no tickets required
June 3
emblems quintet at university of oregon
Sunday June 3, 2018 4:30pm
Tykeson Hall, School of Music and Dance, Eugene, OR
Ruth Crawford Seeger - Suite (1952)
Finnur Karlsson - Mirrors (2010)
Brandon Scott Rumsey - Emblems (2016)
Nathan Thatcher - Terms of Venery (2018)
Learn more about us at http://emblemsquintet.com/
Mar 17
blue cathedral with a2so
Saturday, March 17 8:00pm
Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor
Higdon Blue Cathedral
Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 1
Schumann Symphony No. 1 "Spring"
Tickets: https://tickets.a2so.com/TheatreManager/1/online?event=0
Mar 30
Process: electroflute recital
Friday, March 30 8:00pm
Chip Davis Technology Studio, U of M School of Music
Fulvio Caldini Thelema's Hot Machine Philip Glass Piece in the Shape of a Square Mario Diaz de Leon Luciform Merryl Neille/Adam Beck Original works for flute and loop pedal
This performances completes Merryl's degree requirements for her Doctorate of Musical Arts at the University of Michigan.
Free - no tickets required
apr 4
process @ necto red room
Wednesday, April 4 8:30 for 9pm
Necto Nightclub, Liberty Street, Ann Arbor
This performance will be a repeat of many of the works played on March 30th and will also feature other electronic musicians.


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Healthy Pizza, yes, for real!
Pizza holds a special place in many of our hearts. First of all, it's delicious. Second of all, it's often served during happy events like birthday parties and family dinners so it's associated with comfort and happiness. For these reasons, whether or not you're from Chicago like I am, pizza is often considered a food group in and of itself.
Finding new ways to eat the foods we love is essential to maintaining a real-food lifestyle which is why I was thrilled to find a delicious, nutrient-packed, gluten-free, and dairy-optional pizza recipe in my favorite new cookbook, Clean Start by Terry Walters. I've modified her recipe to include a variation for meat eaters and posted for you to enjoy.
Impossibly Delicious Polenta Pizza
Makes two 10-inch pizzas
Preparing Crust
3 Cups Vegetable Stock
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon fresh basil (or 1/2 teaspoon dried)
1 teaspoon fresh oregano (or 1/2 teaspoon dried)
1 teaspoon fresh parsley (or 1/2 teaspoon dried)
Freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 1/4 cups polenta
2 tablespoons cornmeal
Bring stock to a boil. Add all herbs, salt, pepper, and olive oil. Whisking continuously, pour in polenta and continue whisking for 5 - 7 minutes until smooth and thick. Pour into two 11-inch pie pans and spread evenly over the bottom of each pan. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or freeze for 20 minutes, until firm.
Preheat oven to 350. Remove polenta from the refrigerator, sprinkle pizza stone or baking sheet with cornmeal, transfer polenta to baking sheet and bake for 40 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.
Kale & Mushroom Topping
1 large leek, sliced
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons mirin
4 crimini mushrooms, thinly sliced
1 bunch kale, finely chopped
Sea salt and black pepper
1/4 - 1/2 cup pasta sauce (depending on how much sauce you like)
2 oz feta cheese (optional)
Poblano Pepper, Sausage, Mushroom, and Red Onion Topping
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
1/2 poblano pepper, thinly sliced
1 cooked turkey or chicken sausage, sliced
3 crimini mushrooms, thinly sliced
2 oz feta cheese (optional)
Preparing toppings
For kale pizza, place large skillet over medium heat and cook leek in 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil for 3 minutes. Add mirin and cook for 2 minutes longer. Add mushrooms and cook for 5 minutes. Add kale and cook for another 3 minutes. Drizzle with remaining olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat.
For sausage pizza, place large skillet over medium heat and cook red onion in 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil for 5 minutes. Add poblano pepper and cook for 2 minutes longer. Add mushrooms and cooked turkey sausage and heat for 5 minutes or until heated through. Season with salt and pepper and remove from heat.
Spread pasta sauce evenly over crust, leaving a 1/2-inch edge. Top with kale or sausage mixture and crumbled feta cheese (optional). Bake for 15 minutes. Cut with a pizza wheel and serve.
Note: This is more of a weekend project than a weekday meal. It took me a little over 90 minutes from start to finish but I also made my own pizza sauce (optional).
World's Yummiest (and simplest) Pizza Sauce
8 oz tomato sauce
6 oz tomato paste
1 tbsp fresh basil (or 1/2 teaspoon dried)
1 tbsp fresh parsley (or 1/2 teaspoon dried)
1 tbsp fresh oregano (or 1/2 teaspoon dried)
1/2 tsp salt
Red pepper flakes
Combine all ingredients and heat for 10 minutes.
Give it a try and let me know how it goes! Did I mention this is even better cold?


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I personally have a robot vacuum cleaner. It not only cleans my floor each day, it works out where walls and doors are in my house, it knows where its home is and when the battery is low it hooks itself up to the charger. When i come home at night I always find a dust free floor. OK, so it doesn't empty itself but I'm sure that's only because I'm cheap. If i put my hand deeper into my pockets I'm sure i could buy one from somewhere!
It is the best tech. gift for book lovers. If you know that, your friend loves to read anything, than this is one of the best products in the market. Paper white has sensitive touch and is easy to read during night. The gadgets battery life is excellent and it has a Wi-Fi technology. The cost of Paperwhite is only 9.
You can shop for future gadget at the local store or online store. The online store usually offers more variety of future gadget compare to the local store. The technology gadget can be as cheap as depending on the type of function it offers. If you buy the technology gadget online, you can save money by using coupons.
When buying, consider your needs. Do you want fully automated, hands off mowing? You are then best suited for a fully automated unit with a docking station. Consider the size and slope of your lawn when choosing a model. If you have slopes more than 15 degrees, a LawnBott is likely a better choice than a RoboMower. If you have a very large yard, LawnBotts have models designed for the largest spaces. Alternatively you can consider buying 2 smaller units to work in tandem. You should also consider your climate and grass type. Some models will cut higher than others, or they have bigger wheels to raise the height of the cutting blades.
Get your children off the couch and play with them for an hour or more or during your rest day. Your kids will definitely enjoy this game with you and sooner with their friends. This set up is great for your child's health. If your child is lousy before, they may be able to have their reflexes back in time.
If you have the guts and the wits to sell online, then do it! Many people are into this kind of online business these days. They are selling stuff they no longer need such as those antique jewelries which can cost a lot! If you will only clean and start rummaging your closet and your drawers, you will surely find great knickknacks hiding there which can bring in more cash! Have you heard about the saying 'there is treasure in garbage'? This is so true! Just spend some time cleaning your drawers and closets, and you will surely find something that might still be useful and priceless for others.
Some areas have very limited or without outlets at all. If you have been dreaming of bringing in a water fountain and lack of outlets slows you down, it's not a big deal. There are cordless water fountains just perfect for your needs. You can appreciate the peaceful and soothing sound of moving water in your home or office without having to worry where to plug the cords in. Battery powered water fountains eliminate the hassle of having to clean dirt build up.


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ADvancing States Friday Update
ADvancing States' Friday Update is an electronic newsletter that consolidates the federal level news on aging and disability policy and distributes it each Friday. Currently over 15,000 federal, state, and local policymakers, advocates, consumers, researchers and stakeholders receive the update.
Archived Friday Updates:
If you are interested in signing up to receive the Friday Update, please do so by clicking here.


text: Now that we're getting our April showers early, this is the perfect time to stay inside and create your gorgeous pin-ups! Throughout April, I'm offering (2) additional 5x7 retouched prints to every package & a gorgeous 5x7 card for your sweetheart! (Total $105 Value) Spring & Summer are our busy months so book early! We also create beautiful Custom Calendars & Albums, please inquire for more info. Also booking in NYC Saturday April 18th, only a couple slots left! Join us also at the afterparty that evening with Sassy Pole Girls, the hottest pole class in NYC! Looking forward to planning your perfect pin-up! xoxo Kelly


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Frederic Raphael on the director of Holocaust documentary, Shoah
Frederic Raphael of the TLS has written a retrospective piece on documentary-filmmaker Claude Lanzmann. The article traces the history of Lanzmann's life to reflect on his childhood, his philosophical interest in Sartre, and the European reception of Shoah upon its release:
The voluble author would amount to little more than a footnote in the épopée Sartrienne were it not for one masterpiece: Shoah. After seeing the film, Jean Daniel, the elegant editor of the Nouvel Observateur, told its maker: "Cela justifie une vie". Less directed than compiled, the film lasts nine hours and, for all the flair, persistence and courage involved in its composition, remains sui generis: to call it a work of art, as flatterers have, claims too much for its formal qualities and too little for its unblinking uniqueness. No other documentaries on the Holocaust (Alain Resnais's Nuit et Brouillard of 1956 was the first and, in its tact, the most artful) can match Shoah's implacable pursuit of the witnesses of what Raul Hilberg (an inspiring source) called, in his pioneering 1960 history of mechanized mass murder, "The Destruction of the European Jews". Avoiding rhetoric and discounting the agony of the victims, Hilberg adopted Primo Levi's tone, that of a "factory report", and concentrated on the German organizational apparatus.
Lanzmann cleaves to a similar line, but holds tight to real people rather than to statistics. The (sometimes hidden) camera lingers, sometimes unsteadily, often artlessly, on faces and places, while the microphone picks up speech that, by its raw flow or sudden caesuras, reveals what was for so long unseen and unsaid. The horror grows and grows, unalleviated by sententious phrases or clever montage. Lanzmann's thorny genius expressed itself, over a decade of assembly impeded by lack of funds, by threats and actual incidents of violence, and by the difficulty of locating survivors and killers, bystanders and escapees, in a work which at once bears a single signature and carries no evidence of having been rigged by a selfconscious auteur. Want of tact (even with regard to the bladders of the spectators) and unevenness of texture make Shoah a film that is never a movie. Not all memory's children are muses.
More on Claude Lanzmann:


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I received an email on Friday last which read in part:
Thank you for submitting your work for PhotoPlace Gallery's juried exhibition, "iPhone Imagery". Juror Karen Divine has chosen 31 photographs for the gallery exhibition, and an additional 31 photographs for display in the Online Gallery on the PhotoPlace Gallery website. It's a wonderful collection of work.
I am very pleased to tell you that one of your images was selected for exhibition in our Middlebury, Vermont gallery. Congratulations!
I am delighted that, after just a couple months since starting my the new snapshot project, one of my the new snapshot pictures was deemed worthy of inclusion in a gallery juried exhibition. I am especially delighted inasmuch as, after viewing the website of the exibition's judge, I didn't think that I had much of chance of being accepted. Coincidentally, the Bakery Window picture is the first the new snapshot picture to be printed large, framed and hung on a wall in my house.
FYI, all of the pictures accepted to the exhibit can be viewed HERE. The pictures are, as my email stated, "a a wonderful collection of (iPhone) work.


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Dear Friends and Sponsors of the Shreveport Geological and Ark-La-Tex Landman Societies:
It's that time of the year again to announce the upcoming SGS/ALTAPL Golf Tournament to be held at East Ridge Country Club on Friday, September 8, 2017. The event will proceed with shotgun starts at 7:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. followed by an evening of food and door prizes made possible by your sponsorship donations.
With this in mind, please consider and respond as soon as possible with your much appreciated sponsorship, so a realistic budget can be proposed by our planning committee. A prompt response will also assure that your contribution will be affirmed and recognized by all in attendance. All sponsors will be included on a banner which will be displayed at check-in and at the awards reception.
2017 Tournament Committee
Jeremy Harris
Scott Comegys
Leland Horton
Matt May
Joseph Collier
Cody Lenert
Email us at
We look forward to your involvement not only in sponsorship, but also in the camaraderie of the golf tournament. If you have any questions please call us at the numbers listed or email us at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Your 2017 Tournament Committee
Friday, September 8, 2017
Shotgun Starts at 7:30 and 1:00 P.M.
The golf entry fee includes green fees, golf cart, golf apparel, breakfast (morning flight), hamburger bar lunch, hors d' oeuvre' dinner, beverages, door prizes and the important Mulligans. The Social Fee includes dinner, beverages, door prizes and entertainment. *The social fee must be paid ahead of time as no money will be collected at the door.
The golf tournament will be a flighted four man scramble. Assemble your foursome with all handicaps as well as contact phone number, email address and SHIRT SIZE. A handicap MUST be listed for each member of your foursome in order to properly flight the teams. Prizes will be rewarded for flight winners, hole-in-ones, closest to the hole on all par threes and winner of the long drive contest.
Due to the overwhelming popularity of this annual event, the tournament will be held for society members and guests only. Please make sure your SGS & ALTAPL dues are current and please makes sure team payment is made accordingly! The deadline for entering will be Friday, August 25, 2017 and will be limited to a first come first served basis. Tee times will also be granted on a first come first served basis with the first forms received getting the PM shotgun (unless AM noted) until it is full. Once the PM flight is filled, the remaining teams will be placed in the AM flight. Please circle your preference of AM/PM on the bottom of the entry form.


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Terms & Conditions
ertifiedshop.com shall not be responsible for any inaccuracies, typographical errors or omissions found on this web site. We reserve the right to make product information and pricing changes without notice. Specifications, features and promotions about products found on this web site are obtained from our manufacturer and may be changed by the manufacturer without our knowledge at any time.
If a product page says "will ship within x-x days" This basically means that the item is not in stock at our warehouse but can be ordered and will be available to ship within the time frame listed. If the item is not available at our distributors, customer will be informed within 24-72 hours.
Availability: Watches displayed as available may have already been purchased. Availability is updated as often as possible. If a watch displayed as available when the order was placed, but we no longer have the watch in stock, we will inform you of this fact and your credit card will not be charged.
Prices and availability are subject to change without Notice. All items are subject to prior sale*
If the address to which your order is being shipped differs from your billing address (the address to which your monthly credit card statement is sent), please use the toll-free number on the back of your card to contact your credit card company and create an "Alternate Shipping Address", which is simply a note on your account authorizing purchases that are delivered to a destination other than your billing address. Failure to do so may cause a considerable delay in the processing of your order. We do not ship to hotels or motel, NO EXCEPTIONS.
Shipping, Handling and processing Time
All orders may take 24 business hours to process, our cut off time for express and overnight orders is 11am. We do not guarantee shipments on order date. All packages shipped from Certified Watch Store are fully insured to your doorstep. For security purposes, signature is required for all deliveries, No Exceptions.
For your convenience, We accept the following forms of payment: . MasterCard, VISA, American Express, or Discover card. . Bank Wires, Please Wait at least 7 Days for Money Orders and Checks to clear.
We are NOT responsible for any fees you may incur by your bank or Credit Card Company.
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ertifiedshop.com is not and does not claim to be an Authorized Dealer of any brand advertised on our website. We specialize in discounting only the highest-grade Swiss timepieces. We trust these timepieces to be of such high caliber that we warranty all watches for a periods listed below. You CAN NOT expect and WILL NOT receive the factory warranty on any watch we advertise.ertifiedshop.com is the sole warrantor of ALL Brands sold on our website. Since we are not authorized dealers for any brand sold on our website, we do not offer any warranty on manufacturer's defects beyond the return policy period.
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Certified Watch Store offers repair services. A fee will apply for any service or repair item that may seem abused or altered in any way. Please call a representative for further details.
All items listed on our website are subject to availability. With the high volume of orders we receive and the items we carry, at times, an item may be sold before we are able to update our site. If an item is out of stock, a sales consultant will personally and promptly contact you to help you search for a comparable item.
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ertifiedshop.com reserves the right to refuse service or sales or cancel any order at its sole discretion. We reserve the right to make changes to our site and policies at any time. If any of these conditions shall be deemed invalid, void, or for any reason unenforceable, that condition shall be deemed severable and shall not affect the validity and enforceability of any remaining conditions.
Management makes every attempt to ensure that our expansive online catalog is as accurate and complete as possible. In the event an item is listed with an inaccurate description or incorrect price due to data-entry or system error, we reserve the right to correct any and all errors and cancel any orders placed for the item listed at the incorrect price or with the inaccurate description. Due to pricing fluctuations in the diamond market, our prices are subject to change without notice.
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We DO Not guarantee all watches sold on our website to have their serial numbers intact, for legal purposes these watches can not be deemed as Brand New, even though they were never worn. Some of our vendors remove the serial numbers for their protection, however we Do guarantee the Authenticity of every watch listed on our website.
We take fraudulent chargebacks very seriously. Should you fraudulently charge back your credit card we will automatically charge you a $50 processing fee plus the maximum amount of damages allowed by law. Furthermore, we will dispute the chargeback with supporting documentation and report the fraudulent chargeback to law enforcement authorities and related financial agencies.
Should we be unable to collect this fee we may report your account to a collection agency (damaging your credit) to collect it for us.
Customers who prematurely issue chargebacks for non-delivery, mis-delivery, order cancellation, refund, exchange, etc. without working through us or the delivery carrier, etc. are also liable for chargeback fees. Failure to reverse a premature chargeback will result in us turning the account over to collections including a $50 chargeback fee and applicable collection fees and fines as allowed by law.
Chargebacks should be the last line of customer protection used in obviously fraudulent situations. Quickly posting a chargeback or threatening to post a chargeback against us for shipping mishaps, etc or situations out of our control - could be a costly decision if used frivolously - and because of our business ethics and customer care programs - should never be necessary. Always work with us on issues - we are more than happy to help as possible.
Price Protection- Due to the fact that our prices are based on acquisition, we do not offer any price protection. Our prices are based on market costs at the time of purchase. As a customer you can not send back a watch that you paid a higher price for, to repurchase at a lower cost. NO EXCEPTIONS. We do not offer any price any price guarantee on any product that we sell.
We have the right to refuse ANY order.
By purchasing any of our items, you acknowledge reading and accepting these Terms and Conditions as well as our return policies, and you represent, warrant and agree that you are not in violation of our terms of use listed on this page. You further agree that, should you violate any of these terms you will cause us damages equal to or greater than the amount of your current purchase, which will be forfeited.
If you have any questions or concerns in regards to your purchase, please contact one of our knowledgeable representatives to assist you.


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- Are you discouraged or coerced from talking with family, friends or co-workers?
- Is he/she jealous of your time, your career, or other people in your life?
- Does your partner insist on going everywhere with you?
- Do you have to discuss your plans, people you will be with, and why you are going to do something with him/her before you can do them?
- Does he/she play mind games?
- Is he/she jealous of your success?
- Does he/she act negatively to authority figures?
- Does he/she believe that the man/woman makes the decisions?
- Does he/she call you names?
- Does he/she belittle or talk down to you?
- Does he/she blame you if something goes wrong?
- Does he/she put down your opinion, feelings, ideas, etc?
- Does he/she get violent when he/she drinks alcohol or takes drugs?
- Does he/she come from an abusive or highly dysfunctional home? While not everyone is a potential abuser if they come from an abusive or highly dysfunctional family, there is reason to consider their long-term behavior versus their current 'win-you-over' behavior. Signals of an abusive person can be extremely subtle. Such as: Mini-bursts of anger; Frequent swearing; Disregard for other's rights; Frequent negativity; Mind games; Hostility toward authority; Declaring murder and/or abuse as something she/he deserved.
- Does he/she use shame and/or guilt to control a situation or get his/her way?
- Does he/she lose his/her temper and throw things, hit objects or abuse animals?
- Does he/she down-play any act of aggression as being a minor incident?
- Does he/she characterize domestic violence as an exaggeration or myth?
These indicators are more than indicators--they are varying degrees of emotional abuse and a precursor to possible physical abuse.
Those who are in an abusive relationship seldom consider they are a part of the equation. In other words it takes two people to create domestic violence. How do you fit the equation? Answer the following questions.
- Do you have low self-esteem? People who abuse others seek out people who they deem are easy to control, manipulate and create power-over. Low self-esteem sets the stage.
- Did you come from an abusive or highly dysfunctional home? As noted above being from an abusive or highly dysfunctional family does not mean you will attract an abuser, however, the likelihood is significantly high. Growing up in an abusive and/or dysfunctional home fosters the imprint that the highs and lows of abuse is equated to love--after all the people [your parents], who claimed to love you the most emotionally and physically hurt you. And although you didn't like it; you then seek out someone who will give you the same 'kind of love'-- the kind that hurts--because it feels so good between the hurting.
- Do you believe in traditional, stereotypical relationship roles?
- Do you accept responsibility for disagreements or arguments--other than your own behavior?
- Do you accept responsibility for his/her behavior to keep the peace?
- Do you walk around on egg shells to keep the peace?
- Do you accept the myths about domestic violence?
- Do you tell yourself--"I can handle it, its not that bad."
- Do you feel guilty if he/she becomes enraged or jealous?
- Do you allow yourself to be controlled because you believe the person would not do it if they didn't love you?
- Do you believe jealousy is proof of love?
- Do you believe some abuse is par for the course in an intimate relationship?
These indicators are emotional, but keep in mind that emotional abuse precedes physical abuse without fail. The emotional abuse is simply a warning sign and if you heed the warning sign(s) you can protect yourself by avoiding being in the relationship. If you are already in the relationship, because you missed the warning signs (there are warning signs without fail), you will be able to heed them and get out before they escalate to physical abuse.
Call 1-888-DV LINKS or The National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or your local law enforcement (IN AN EMERGENCY CALL 911).


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Facing the landfill challenge
Britain is running out of landfill. But what happens when a county such as Devon actually fills its last landfill site?
It's not a problem we all think about, when we mindlessly chuck out rubbish out for collection, but where does it all end up? As a consumer nation, the downside is that we throw away a staggering amount of rubbish, and our landfill sites are taking the full force of it. But what are we going to do when we run out of landfill sites? The time to consider the answer to this question has come, with landfill sites quickly filling to bursting point, and action is needed straight away.
Recently, Devon County Council have announced that they are facing the possibility that in 6 years time, they could run out of space in all their landfill sites. With time running out, schemes are being put in place so that next year, only 12% of Devon's rubbish will be going to a landfill site. Most of the rubbish will be recycled, reused, composted or sent to energy-from-waste facilities.
Food which is still within its use-by date often ends up in a landfill site, but the Devon and Cornwall Food Association aim to stop this. They plan to redistribute tonnes of good food amongst those who need it the most, in food banks and shelters. This can help to reduce the sheer volume of waste going into our overflowing landfill sites.
One thing we can all do to help is to stop and think before throwing something into your general waste bin. Try to recycle as much as you possibly can, it's far better for the environment in so many ways than just binning it, and it really does not take up much of your time.
Many County Councils provide recycling bin schemes, for items such as food, plastic bottles, cans and paper; all of which being collected from your doorstep, and there are similar directives and schemes for businesses. If something is still in good order, why not consider giving it to charity, instead of chucking it in the bin? Reuse is so much before than burying your waste in a hole in the ground
These habits are easy to get into, and can save the environment, as well as saving your local council money which could be spent in other much-needed areas.
Call us on 0800 211 8390 - or complete our Free Quote Form opposite.
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Normally, the French presidential election isn't the focus of, literally, the entire political world.
However, after Brexit and the election of Donald Trump in the United States, we can definitively say these are not normal times.
Emmanuel Macron's resounding victory showed that while voters are excited about something new—his party En Marche! is just a year old and is focused on working with both the left and right—the overwhelming majority of French citizens want a progressive leader, new perspectives, a hopeful outlook, and more than anything, a belief in a better future.
Macron's victory also has lessons for both recruiters and executives. In a forthcoming post, I will talk about the lessons for executives.
In this post, I will focus on three major lessons recruiters can take from the election:
1. Don't let youth stop you from hiring the right candidate.
At 39, Emmanuel Macron is the youngest current leader of a major nation. To give some perspective, he was born just two years before Barack Obama started college.
Macron is, without a doubt, young for his job. But being young isn't the same thing as being unqualified. Macron has extensive experience as a political leader, having served as France's Minister of the Economy, Industry and Digital Affairs prior to running for President.
When you're hiring for a leadership position, look at the type of experience a candidate has, rather than focusing on age. Youthful leaders can bring a fresh perspective, as Macron clearly did with his first major hire, Prime Minister Édouard Philippe—who comes from the opposite side of the political spectrum.
Recruiting is about the future, and not the past. It's about potential, and what your company can achieve in the future. The saying "past performance is no guarantee of future success" is proven statistically, time over time.
Keep that in mind when recruiting your next leader.
2. Selecting the right person can bring a lot of enthusiasm to stakeholders.
His decision to select a Prime Minister from the center-right Republicans is just one example of why the French—and much of Europe—are excited about Macron's victory. In recent years France has experienced economic challenges and multiple terrorist attacks, yet Macron's election has clearly brought new hope about the country's future.
Just like in politics, in business a new leader may bring the enthusiasm and inspiration your company needs. Your business faces disruption from new technology, changing customer preferences, and a variety of other challenges. Those challenges—like France's—are conquerable, but you'll need leadership that has fresh perspectives and embraces the opportunity to do big things.
While one person certainly can't solve every problem, the right leader can engage his or her team in collectively creating a brighter future.
3. Globalism is here to stay—and you need executives who are comfortable working with multi-culturalism and diversity.
Having executives who are comfortable in multi-cultural, diverse environments is important. Clearly, Macron was the candidate who was most comfortable with multi-culturalism and diversity, and French voters understood that and voted for a leader who knows that succeeding in the future means being able to build relationships with people from a wide variety of backgrounds.
Successful leaders of big organizations—be they governments or companies—will need to understand that diversity and multiculturalism are strengths, not weaknesses. You need to recruit executives who value diversity not because they are told to, but because they truly believe building a team of people with a wider range of experiences make your company stronger.
The way forward for companies and countries is understanding that the 21st century requires embracing an open world and elevating inspirational leaders with fresh perspectives.
As a recruiter, look for the same skillsets in candidates and your clients will be well served.
Pierre Collowald is a Senior Partner at Robertson Associates, a European Executive Search and Leadership Solutions leader. Pierre is working out of Brussels, Paris and Zurich. email@example.com


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Paul McCloskey, the unbeaten European 140lb champion from Northern Ireland, undefeated International Boxing Federation lightweight world champion Joan Guzman, and Lamont Petersen, who has previously challenged for the World Boxing Organisation 10-stone title, are all in the frame.
However Asif Ali, Khan's business manager, told Telegraph Sport on Monday that talks were being stalled by "ridiculous financial demands" from his rivals.
"There are several opponents under discussion for Amir's mandatory defence but they need to get realistic and not treat him like a cash cow," said Ali.
Khan's mandatory defence of the World Boxing Association title will be aired as a pay-per-view event on Sky Box Office.
Shah Khan, the Bolton fighter's father, told Telegraph Sport on Monday: "They get the chance of fighting Amir, and seem to think they can add a couple of noughts on the purse.
"I don't know where they get the notion from that we are awash with money for his fights.
"McCloskey still holds on to his European title, win or lose, yet he has the chance to make his name if he can beat Amir.
"The same thing happened a couple of years ago with Jon Thaxton, and the fight never happened. Thaxton has since retired and never got the opportunity."
Victory in his next contest notwithstanding, Khan insists he aims to unify the division this year, and is expecting to face the winner of the light-welterweight unification contest between Devon Alexander, the World Boxing Council title-holder and Timothy Bradley, the WBO belt holder, at the Silverdome, Michigan, on Saturday week.
Khan is expected to return to the Wild Card Boxing Club gym under the tutelage of Freddie Roach between the first and second weeks next month.
He will be training in tandem with Manny Pacquiao, who will also be returning to the Hollywood gym, where he will be preparing to face Shane Mosley, for the WBO welterweight title on May 7.
Elsewhere, Robert Smith, Secretary of the British Boxing Board, has said he believes that Dave Haye will eventually box one of the Klitschko brothers.
Ricky Hatton has revealed that he "misses boxing every day", Pacquiao has unveiled a plan to fight six more times before retiring in 2013, and Matthew Hatton has "verbally agreed" to face ginger-haired Mexican Saul Alvarez at welterweight, in Anaheim, California, on March 5.
Alvarez, 20, unbeaten in 35 contests and the youngest of seven brothers who have boxed, is touted as the rising star of Mexican boxing, and already has a major following in that country.


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Sorry about the delay...
Sorry about the delay... news post from TweakTown's online news computing and technology content pages
... but everyone around here has been flat out lately doing reviews, looking after the site and watching lots of p... well, I'm sure you get the idea. Here's some slightly late news for you all:
- Seems like people can't seem to get enough of the new Pentium 4 stuff. Here's some more reviews from t-break (ASUS and IWILL motherboards), Hexus.net, LostCircuit and finally Active-Hardware. Now when are Intel going to send me one of these new processors and motherboards? Everyone else seems to be getting one.. :-(
- ABIT Siluro GF4 MX440 review @ Tweakers Australia
- Cybernet Zero-Footprint PC review @ VIA Hardware
- ASUS V8440/DVI Series GeForce4 Ti 4400 review @ GotApex
- Abit IT7 MAX review @ Legion Hardware and Hexus.net
- Sapphire Radeon 8500LE review @ HardAvenue
- Visiontek Xtasy GeForce4 Ti 4400 review @ EXHardware
- Thermaltake Hardcano 2 & 5 review @ Overclockers Online
Not much of a post, I know... but I'm tired like everyone else around here. Hopefully I'll be able to do something a little more informative tomorrow.. Until then.


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For easy to use pens then take a look at Promarkers
These pens took the cardmaking world by storm when they were launched onto the market, and they have been around for sometime now.
They are another brand of Alcohol Marker pens that are the grown up version of the felt tip pen.
These are not the ones to let the children loose with ... oh! no!
They were originally introduced for the professional artist but they are so easy to use that cardmakers everywhere have fallen head over heels in love with them.
They are so versatile and they will give you the excellent results you want even if you can't, or don't like colouring in for your self.
They come in a vast range of colours but the best way to buy them is in sets, and there are many to choose from.
They range from Seasonal colours, darks, pastels, brights, skin tones and skin accents... as well as sets for foliage or florals
But don't think that the skin colours are just for coloring skin because some fantastic results can be achieved just from this group of colours.
All of them blend together so easily, and the more you apply the colour, the deeper it goes, so one colour can be used to add shade and tone to your images.
Both of these delightful wee boys have been coloured using these markers and the results look as if they have been printed out....and I am not a trained artist.
But if you play around with the pens, experiment to see what you like and enjoy them you will see your work improving every time.
But keep them away from the kids...these are just for you!
Colouring In
Colour Wheel
Spectrum Noir
More Projects
Novelty Cards
Kinetic Cards
Cardmaking Ideas
Return from Promarkers to Homepage


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Sheep Heap - Cross Stitch Pattern
Designer: Plum Street SamplersSee Some Similar Items
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In Stock. Usually ships in 1-2 business days.
Item: 18-2036 - Type: Cross Stitch Patterns.
Model stitched over two on 36 Ct. Oaken by Picture this Plus, using Weeks Dye Works and Classic Colorworks. (DMC alternates are 310 783 822 902 3011 3012 3722 3727 3779 3787 3740 b5200) Stitch count 54x93.
123Stitch.com ships via the U.S. Postal Service to anywhere in the world. Orders to the U.S. typically arrive 3-5 days after we ship.
Shipping charges are shown in your shopping cart every time you add an item.
If you are not completely satisfied with any of our products, you can return it to us within 30 days for a full refund.
|Reviews From Customers Who Purchased This Item
from United States on 03/28/2019 - Sheep
So very cute.
from United States on 02/27/2019 - Plumbing street
Nice pattern
from United States on 06/29/2018 - Plum Street does it again!
123Stitch has become my go to place for my needlework charts, fabrics and threads. Even local stores haven't had the kind of inventory you do, long before you came into being. And, I just LOVE this series of charts! I have already stitched two of the three sheep on this piece, and have the other two charts waiting to be stitched. Will finish as a pincushion/pillow like the model.
|More Items Like Sheep Heap - Cross Stitch Pattern
Cross Stitch Patterns, Cross Stitch Kits, Fabric, Floss, Thread from 123Stitch.com


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…ever feel that when you read blogs of people you don't know and wish that you could be real-life friends with that person? I do. There's no real way to overcome the Internet Gap, but I do so enjoy scrolling through blogs and thinking me too me too…
I wish for real conversations. That's when I know that there's not enough in this quick typing and posting. I still want more.
Who are your blog-friends that you wish could become real-friends?
p.s. any of you can come stay with Matthew and I and we'll cook you a meal, lend you a book, listen to music, and talk talk talk.


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It looks like your browser is out of date.
To use all features of KLM.com safely, we recommend that you update your browser, or that you choose a different one. Continuing with this version may result in parts of the website not being displayed properly, if at all. Also, the security of your personal information is better safeguarded with an updated browser.
The experience of visiting the Van Gogh Museum is one beyond comparison: nowhere in the world will you find such a large collection of paintings by Vincent van Gogh. This way, visitors can keep close track of developments in the artist's work. In addition to the permanent collection, the museum also hosts various temporary exhibits.
Although Van Gogh is considered one of the most famous Dutch painters in the world today, he sold but one painting during his life. Especially when he was working in France, Van Gogh painted at a feverish pace, sometimes creating several paintings a day. The museum displays no less than 200 paintings and 500 drawings, as well as a large selection of his letters. Even though it is a matter of taste and therefore impossible to compose a top 5 of the works on display in the Van Gogh Museum, the following 5 works are certainly some of the most popular pieces.


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National Doughnut Day 2012 Today
National Doughnut Day 2012 has arrived on Friday, June 1, and bakeries across the U.S. are celebrating.
The holiday originated as a fundraiser for the Salvation Army, which took place on the first Friday in June for the last 74 years.
This year, the Salvation Army is teaming up with baking company Entenmann's in celebrating National Doughnut Day. Entenmann's will donate proceeds from sales and offer customers a chance to win free donuts for a year by entering a contest on its Facebook page. Entenmann's baked goods are sold at grocery stores.
While the special fried dough confectionery is spelled both doughnut and donut, there is no dispute about its popularity. The sweet snack is prepared in various forms that include many flavors and toppings. Donuts can be iced, filled, and often come complete with sprinkles, in addition to many other toppings.
Donut varieties are also divided into cake and various risen type doughnuts, and include shapes such as rings, balls, flattened spheres, and twists, among others.
At Dunkin' Donuts, customers may receive one free doughnut with a purchase of a beverage. The offer will last all day Friday until supplies last.
On Twitter Friday, Dunkin' Donuts became a trending topic as National Doughnut Day swept the internet and Dunkin fans expressed their excitement.
"Oooo def goin to Dunkin Donuts and get me one of them maple joints #bomb," wrote Slim.
"Apparently it's national free Donut Day at Dunkin Donuts," wrote Ariel. "That is of course if you buy a drink WHICH I DID. FREE DONUT YA'LL."
Additionally on National Doughnut Day, world-famous Krispy Kreme donut chains are offering customers free treats, no purchase necessary. The franchise is celebrating its 75th year in business this year.
Along with Dunkin' Donuts, Krispy Kreme also became a trending topic of Twitter Friday.
"Happy National Doughnut Day," wrote Zoey. "I'm going to Krispy Kreme for my free doughnut… Free tastes better than anything else #happy"
Angela wrote, "FREE DONUT DAY! Obviously I'm hitting up Krispy Kreme to cash in on my Friday freebie and you should do the same."
"National Doughnut Day," asked Twiz. "Guess I might need to get some Krispy Kreme action today. lol"
Twitter user Sweetie wondered which donut vendor to visit on National Doughnut Day, writing, "It's free doughnut day!!!! Dunkin donuts or krispy creme???? Hmmmm."
Dunkin' Donuts and Krispy Kreme are not the only stores celebrating National Doughnut Day 2012. Numerous smaller donut vendors across the nation are also celebrating by offering free treats.


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Stir things up..
I'm having some creative differences with myself... some sort of artistic ADD... self-doubt...feelings of going back to my gemology job... and to shake those feelings off and get back into my happy place, I am going to try some different things this weekend. Small projects...different surfaces....different products... I want to re-visit processes I experienced a long time ago... get back into it (so to speak)..
Want to play a game this weekend? Do something you DON'T usually do this weekend... imagine you are "Opposite (insert your name here)". I'd LOVE to know what you come up with!
I LOVED receiving this email earlier this month:
Message: I bought the Pixels and Paint Workshop years ago, and I've hung on the PDF and the old password, yet I've not actually ever done the course! I've continued with photography and graphic design and have completely avoiding the art that has been calling to me for so long - mixed media. I'm finally trying to do something about it. Life is short. You're inspiring. Thanks, Julie.
No....Thank YOU so much for writing!!!!
Have a great weekend! More tennis tournament for the girl...wish us luck!
PS- remember when my daughter was born? Yah....she's 5' 6" now...wearing a size 10 ladies shoe. {shock!}


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"The thoughts of a ball awaken the joyful parts of our imagination. The ball holds out the prospect of something mysterious that may perhaps change your life."
—Jacqueline, Countess de Ribes (1929– )
Until February 21, 2016 the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art has an exhibit of elegant as well as extravagant items from the personal wardrobe of Jacqueline, Countess de Ribes. Beginning in the 1950s this member of France's nobility, both by birth and by marriage, became internationally recognized for her style, originality and grace. These qualities helped establish her as one of the leading fashion personalities of the 20th century.
This photo of the countess in profile greets visitors to the exhibit; it was taken by Richard Avadon in 1955. She was 26 years of age.
The show, titled "Jacqueline de Ribes: The Art of Style," features sixty ensembles, both haute couture and ready-to-wear. Also on display are three outfits that she created to wear to high society costume balls. She concocted these fantasies by cutting and repurposing her own haute couture clothes. Photographs, video, and numerous magazine articles tell her remarkable story. You will learn how her interest in fashion evolved over the years, from her childhood fascination with her grandmother's dress fittings, to the apex of international fashion, to founding her own design house.
Richard Avadon often photographed the countess, whom he said had the perfect nose; in this 1962 picture she is wearing a dress designed by Yves St. Laurent.
Embroidered in white and ivory silk, seed beads, and sequins, this ivory silk organza evening dress was part of Valentino's 1970 spring/summer collection.
On the left, the white cotton guipure evening dress with a black silk/viscose band was the countess' design in her spring/summer collection of 1986. She wore the dress to the opening of an exhibit of Faberge eggs belonging to Malcolm Forbes; the exhibit was held at Paris' Musée Jacquemart-André . On the right, an evening dress made of white cotton guipure and black coin-dotted silk gazar; it is from the countess' 1988 spring/summer collection.
On the right, an evening ensemble of white pleated silk crepe is the countess' design from her 1990 spring/summer collection.
The countess served as inspiration to such haute couture designers as Yves St. Laurent, Valentino and Dior. These and other designers allowed her use of their drapers, cutters, and fitters to realize her own designs. This was their way to show their high regard for her taste and originality. From 1982 to 1995 she established and directed her own successful design business. The exhibition is not limited on her fashion sense. Her professional life included theatrical impresario, television producer, interior designer, and director and organizer of international charity events.
This trio of identically styled evening dresses differs only in their color. All are made of silk charmeuse. The blue dress dates from the 1981 spring/summer collection of Yves St. Laurent. The countess asked that the orange and the blue/green versions be made in 2000 before the designer closed his atelier.


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There is need to introduce home-stay tourism to promote underdeveloped regions, Tourism minister Dan Mwanzo has said.
Home-stay tourism involves tourist staying in people's homesteads instead of hotels, especially in areas where there are tourist attraction sites but no hotels to accommodate the tourists.
This way, the family that accommodates the tourists get a certain percentage of the revenues accrued from the tourists. The minister accused the public of opposing innovation in the industry. He said the country can reap much more from the tourism industry if good investment plans are made.
Speaking in his Voi backyard over the weekend, Mwazo said development of home stay and other potential areas will see tourists visit more places in the country. He said there are unexploited areas in the country which have tourism attraction but the country has not planned well for full utility. "Our tourism industry is only concentrated on the beaches and Safaris. We need to create home stays which will be approved by the ministry. This will enable tourists to come and stay at certain homes hence promotes tourism in lowly developed areas," said Mwazo.
Uganda Tourism news, Uganda safari news and gorilla trekking


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8 medium Prawns
150g Squid
1 small Onion
1 tsp minced Garlic
2 tbsp Shrimp Floss
1 tsp Oyster sauce
1 tsp Seasame oil
2 tsp Olive oil
3 tbsp Water
Chopped Spring onion to sprinkle
- Peel onion and cut off ends. Rinse and slice.
- Remove prawn shells, devein and rinse. Keep heads if you like.
- Clean cuttlefish and slice it. To have patterns, make criss-cross slits on the underside of the cuttlefish.
- Heat oil and sautéed onion till fragrant. Throw in garlic.
- Add seafood and oyster sauce and fry till fragrant. Throw in shrimp floss and mix well.
- (Optional) Top with more shrimp floss. Serve your Spicy Shrimp Floss Seafood hot!