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Dan Bowen is the Founding Partner and CEO of Dempsey Ventures, LLC, a private equity investment firm formed in 2006 which primarily invests in medical device companies but also seeks opportunistic investments in real estate and other industries. Before founding Dempsey Ventures, Dan served as President and CEO of Aspen Surgical, a medical supply manufacturer. He started Aspen in 1999 with an acquisition of products from Imagyn Medical Technologies. Under Dan's management, Aspen became a market leader in surgical products, through multiple add-on acquisitions and aggressive new product development. He sold a majority interest to RoundTable Healthcare Partners in 2006 and remained an active board member and shareholder until Hill-Rom acquired Aspen Surgical in 2012 for $400 million. Dan received his Bachelor's Degree in Marketing in 1988 from Michigan State University. He has served on several boards including Tidi Products, Argentum Medical, Svelte Medical, Best Metals Products, and Beaver Visitec.
John Sommerdyke is the Managing Partner of Dempsey Ventures. Before joining Dempsey in 2013, John worked for over 20 years in private practice as a corporate attorney representing start-ups, growing businesses seeking venture capital, private equity funds and a diverse range of companies in merger, acquisition, and divestiture transactions. He previously served as Vice President of Business Development for Aspen Surgical Products, Inc. and a board member of Salamander Technologies, Inc., RF Identics, Inc. and Omega Medical Products, LLC. John currently serves on the boards of eAgile, Inc., SunMed Holdings, LLC and VN Industries, Inc. He earned his B.A. from Notre Dame University and his J.D. from the University of Michigan.
Randy Hoyt is an Operating Partner with Dempsey Ventures. Before joining Dempsey in 2018, Randy held the positions of Vice President of Manufacturing and Chief Operating Officer at SunMed for five years, leading the integration of four separate businesses into one. Before SunMed, Randy was the Executive Vice President of Operations for Aspen Surgical Products, Inc. where he led its global manufacturing team in operating room and wound care products for seven years. Through the vertical integration of products and acquisition of five companies, he helped transform the company into a major player in disposable surgical products. Randy has more than 30 years experience working in operational roles for manufacturing businesses including 24 years as an executive in the medical products industry. He has a global background and understanding of operations in Europe and China and has previously held executive management roles at Alliant Healthcare, Imagyn Medical, and Richard Allan Medical. Randy is a mechanical engineer, has a B.S. from Ferris State University, three U.S. patents and multiple awards for design innovations.
Brad joined Dempsey Ventures as Chief Financial Officer in July 2013. He brings 18 years of financial management experience. Before joining Dempsey, he spent 14 years in public accounting working with clients of various sizes on tax and consulting engagements. Brad received his Bachelor's Degree in Accounting in 2001 from Davenport University and earned his CPA license in 2003. He currently serves as the CFO of SunMed Holdings, LLC.
Dawn manages the daily activities of Dempsey's office and assists in various projects for our portfolio companies. With almost 30 years of experience in the disposable medical supply industry, she started her career in 1990 as a direct marketing and customer service representative for Richard-Allan Medical. She held multiple positions within the company until Aspen Surgical acquired several of its product lines in 1999. Dawn became the first employee of Aspen, developing and managing inside sales and customer service. In 2009 she left Aspen to become the office manager for Dempsey Ventures and assistant to Dan.


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Sourcing communities – supporting farmers
AUSTREX sources livestock internationally, providing income and employment for people living in those countries and giving them access to high value international export markets.
In Australia, AUSTREX has livestock agisted on 26 properties across Western Australia, Victoria and Tasmania, providing income and employment for those families and creating positive animal welfare outcomes.
Our operations create opportunities for other businesses in these communities, including mustering contractors, helicopter pilots, vets, trucking companies, feed suppliers, equipment manufacturers and more.
AUSTREX are leaders in the international ethical export of livestock and with offices around the world, AUSTREX has huge orders to fill. As a result we are looking for more Australian farmers to purchase livestock from to fill these orders.
AUSTREX is a leading international live exporter who support the ethical treatment of livestock throughout the supply chain. AUSTREX has a long and recognised history in exporting breeding and feeder cattle, genetics and other agricultural products. A global trading house, AUSTREX is one of the largest livestock export businesses in the world.
With recent events worldwide relating to food safety and animal welfare, consumers are progressively demanding more detailed, verifiable information and background on the products they purchase. The trading environment is changing, and Livestock Exporters, as a link in the global food supply chain must move forward in meeting this challenge. AUSTREX understands, manages, and leads the Australian Live Export Industry in this challenge.
AUSTREX is focused on delivering its customers high-quality supply chain solutions. An essential component of this process is assisting our partners in developing their local supply chain.
Australia leads the world in its livestock health status and continues to be strongly proactive in establishing and developing systems to maintain this status. As a result, Australia has developed an enviable reputation as a global supplier of quality livestock that meet a diverse range of different market conditions in respect to livestock type, specifications, health status and adaptability.
Within this environment, AUSTREX is forging a strong reputation internationally for integrity, quality and reliability and has become a leading International Livestock exporter capable of sourcing livestock from multi-origins in order to satisfy client needs.
AUSTREX has the expertise and experience to supply the following livestock categories:
- Beef Cattle
- Dairy Cattle
- Breeding Sheep
- Breeding Goats
AUSTREX wish for all our supply chain partners to benefit from their experience with us.
AUSTREX has over 40 years' experience in livestock export and is committed to the ethical and humane treatment of livestock throughout the supply chain. Our company has a respected track record of reliability and consistency in delivering livestock to customer specifications and timelines. Through this, we have built long-term customer relationships based on trust and transparency.
Customer communities – technology and training
In Australia, AUSTREX provides income and employment for families across 26 properties and positive animal welfare outcomes.
Selling your livestock
AUSTREX is focused on exceeding customer expectation, through exceptional customer service and superior quality products. Our employees listen to customer needs and work in-market to provide expert selection and delivery of livestock, alongside world best practice animal welfare practices.
AUSTREX is continually developing mutually beneficial business relationships with targeted suppliers around the world. Global operations give AUSTREX greater control over the supply chain, ensuring superior quality livestock are delivered to customers ethically and responsibly.
We tailor solutions to individual client requirements ranging from the provision of a full turn-key technology transfer implementation to providing brief technical inputs on nutrition, animal husbandry, traceability and farm management programs.
For more information contact us today.

subset: commoncrawl


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How I Met Your Dad pilot casts Meg Ryan in HIMYM spin-off
Fresh off the heels of the questionable How I Met Your Mother series finale, the hit CBS comedy's potential spin-off series has major casting news. Meg Ryan will voice the narrator in the How I Met Your Dad pilot. Just as Bob Saget was the voice of future Ted (Josh Radnor), Ryan will voice future Sally (played by Golden Globe-nominated actress Greta Gerwig). Similar to the original series, How I Met Your Dad would tell the story from the female point of view with an all-new story with different characters. It's still only a pilot, but there is a lot of excitement around the hit potential in a spin-off to one of the most popular comedy series of the last decade. Meg Ryan has proven comedy chops over the years with romantic-comedy hits like You've Got Mail and Sleepless in Seattle. Plus, who can forget that famous lunch scene from When Harry Met Sally…? If Ryan's narrator skills are as good as her fake orgasms, CBS may be quick to give HIMYD the greenlight!
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Be sure to subscribe to the weekly Laughspin Podcast on iTunes or on SoundCloud for all the latest comedy news, audio clips and more! Listen to the most recent episode below!


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Supreme Systems provides IT Support and IT Services for clients across a vast array of industry sectors in Birmingham the West Midlands the East Midlands Nationwide .
Our clients include Financial Institutions, Schools, Accounting Practices, Engineering Companies, Caterers, Recruitment Agencies, Churches, Mosques, Solicitors, Theatres, Printing Companies and Media Agencies. No matter what you do we can help!


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Daily Journal
In February 2015, Luka's mom, Julia, started a secret Facebook group to update about 30 or so close family and friends on the status of Luka's upcoming bone marrow transplant. Mainly, she wanted to "share the smiles along the journey," and focus on what it looks like to live in a hospital for those who haven't experienced "that life."
She had no idea that a year later, the secret group would grow organically — members can add new members — at a growth of 1,000%.
The daily journal is a testament to Luka's family's mantra, "If he can do it, then so can we." And, what Julia writes, "Without you, it's just words." The secret group is truly a lion's pride circle of love.
It's evolved to show how Luka's pride transitioned with him through the Bardos, the 49 days after his body dropped. Now, the daily journal shares our journey in creating the Luka The Lion Foundation to honor Luka's spirit by raising awareness for pediatric rare diseases and supporting patients and their families so nobody ever feels alone.
On this page are excerpts from the daily journal. The Luka The Lion Foundation Facebook group is now public and we'd love for you to join The Pride: Click here to make a request.


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|UW Marching Band drummers perform during
a football game at Camp Randall Stadium.
by Jeff Miller 2000
I've been married to my dearly beloved husband for 32 years and it has taken me most of that time to work out that he marches to the beat of a completely different drum than the one I'm busy marching to. He comes across as sensible and ordered and competent - and he is all of those things, but he is also creative and easy going and apparently (I only found this out a year ago) he doesn't like to make plans. This last revelation threw me completely - we always make plans! We know what is happening and where we are going and what we are doing weeks in advance. The penny dropped when I realized that we know these things because I make plans! Everything is so streamlined that I didn't notice that it was me who was the driving force.
|Burning Man 2013 by Tristan Savatier


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The Flower Bomb Collection can be described as something out of a fairy tale, overlooking a garden of flowers on a spring night or a burst of unimaginable beauty. These beautiful arrangements features fresh cut flowers selected and arranged by our Floral Designers.
The Flower Bomb arrangement is perfect for those who would simply like a beautiful boxed flower arrangement sent and don't have time to browse. Leave it up to the experts and let us create a unique and special arrangement for your loved ones.


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Hello Everyone and Welcome to 2017!
Yes, sir before the clock struck 12 last night, a lot of people said they would be very pleased to see the back end of 2016. Once midnight hit they let out a soul wrenching "Happy New Year", or texted a meaningful "Happy New Year", or screamed nonsense to the night gods and swore they will never drink again and please for the love of all that's holy, do not move me from this snow bank. You know, normal new years stuff.
And then, after the cheering faded away, and the attempted singing of Old Lang Syne lost its luster, they let out deep sigh of relief that 2016 was over and now hope with every fiber of their being that 2017 will be grand.
2016...not the best year, but was it as horrible as some people are saying? All years have tragedy, heartache, events that make us shake our heads. Every year we all go through a myriad of ups and downs with both the world and in our own lives. Every year we look at each other and ask, "Gah! When will this year end?" or say, "Fast the way the old year passes, fa la la la la", and yet, when we think about last January, it's hard to remember what we did, or what happened in the world. A year is a long time. Good things will happen. Bad things will happen. Events you planned, will come to fruition. Happenstances that you never thought would happen, will happen. People you thought were funky keen on January 1st could quite possibly be your enemy come December 31st. (It's good to have goals right out the gate.)
Well, whatever the reasons, I'm not going to dwell on the negative. A lot of sadness occurred, and events that I refuse to talk about because they send me into a white-hot rage took place. In my personal work bubble, I'm just going to say that I, and most of my co-workers, have found this year to be somewhat challenging. We all hope that work wise, 2017 will not be a repeat of 2016.
So, in celebration of hope, I'm going to go through my year and list positive happenings from every month. This is for me, mainly, but I join you to stick around and share in my reflection of 2016, the year many people were itching to say goodbye to.
January: I've got my calendar beside me, the big one we keep in the kitchen with all our what's happenings on it…And…wow, the memories are foggy. OH, a lovely man who has now directed me 4 times asked me to be in 2 plays this year. That was very flattering and I was happy to accept.
February: Oh boy…ok, not going to lie…this was a dark month. I'm struggling here. Right, on February 7th I went crazy and bought tickets for myself, my daughter Sorcha and her friend Cas for a Supernatural (as in the TV show) Convention. It was happening in October in Toronto. It was something to look forward to.
March: I had a couple days off to myself, but they weren't supposed to be. They were supposed to be spent with my daughter, during March break, but March break turned out to be the week after. This may seem mean to be happy to have time alone, but sometimes you just have to binge watch something silly to feel that all is right with the world.
April: On April 15th, I went to a play that had many people in it that I like and have worked with before, but this one was extra special because my husband was in it. Sean and I met in college in a drama program and we worked together in and out of school a lot, but the last time Sean had been on stage was almost 20 years before. I was so proud of him and I'm excited because this we get to be in a play together.
May: Through the Writers' Federation of New Brunswick, I received an honourary mention for a short story I'd written called, "Falling Into". I'm very proud of this story, but honestly, I wrote it to get rid of some demons and wasn't sure if anyone else would connect with the tale of a young lady who wakes up one morning to find that her spine, her metaphorical spine, has left her to go do all the things she doesn't have the courage to do.
June: At work, I took the plunge and joined a particularly challenging team. It almost broke me, and I only lasted 8 weeks, but I learned a lot and don't regret it. It may be strange to find something that brought a HUGE amount of bone crushing stress to my life to be somewhat positive, but it was. I won't do it again. Don't make me go back, but it was.
July: Very good friends of ours from Toronto came to visit for a weekend. They are some of our favorite people and always bring happiness and good vibes into our lives. It was lovely. Also, Sorcha and I took an overnight trip to Moncton to spend time with great people. These friends are always a breath of fresh air and it's always nice to spend time with them.
August: This is the month my year got better and it was in large part to going on a road trip around the east coast with one of my oldest and dearest friends. It was exactly what I needed to break from a lot of the stress chains that were preventing me from seeing how much good I have in my life. I can't thank Kim enough for that trip. It was beautiful.
September: Sean and I had a getaway to St. Andrews, New Brunswick. We went whale watching, ate at some great restaurants, stayed at a beautiful spot, saw a friend I hadn't seen in a few years and bought 2 of her beautiful paintings. If you've never been to St. Andrews drop what you're doing and go now. You won't regret it.
October: This month is usually our best month of the year and once again, it did not disappoint. I could go on and on about our trip to Toronto for the Supernatural Convention, but in brief I'll say it was an incredible experience. Not only was the convention itself a great time, but we had perfect weather, saw lots of good friends, and went to the Royal Ontario Museum. It was an exhausting, but highly memorable and exciting 5 days.
November: This was the month of plays. Both my daughter and I were involved in productions and they went up only a week apart. The play she was in, "The Lion King", was an absolute joy. All the cast and crew worked so hard to put on this much beloved musical. It was beautiful and I was, and am, so proud of all of them.
The play I was in, "Waiting for the Parade" was on of the best plays I've been in. It was perfectly written, with well developed characters and it was a challenge I needed in my creative life. I've been playing around on the piano since I could sit at one. I took lessons off and on in my teens, but had only played publicly once. (I was 14, it was a recital, I'm sorry Anne Murray for butchering one of your tunes.) In the play, my character played the piano and sang and ordered people around all at the same time. I was nervous, and thought I'd maybe taken too much on, but after I enlisted the help of the very talented and inspirational Margaret Craig, my confidence grew and I did it; I played the piano on stage, in front of people, and survived. Not only that, I screwed up, big time one night, and survived. And while I did a bit of...ok a lot of...ego beating back stage, once I'd settled down, I felt prouder of myself than I've possibly ever felt. I'd messed up in front of a live audience, I'd had to quickly find a way out of it, not melt down and stay in character. It was an actor's nightmare and I lived it in front of 200 people and pulled through. What's that universe? Why yes, I'll take that high five. Thank-you.
And finally,
December: A look at our calendar shows that the Rule's were a social bunch! It was month of dinners, phone calls to loved ones, parties and long chats with great friends. Last night, New Year's Eve was full of laughter and absolute silliness, a perfect ending to any year!
Other events, unfortunately trying ones, peppered our year and gave it a hue of stress that made for some tough times. My Mum suffered an injury so severe last February that we weren't sure if she'd ever be able to walk properly again, but she healed and overcame a lot of odds. She's a pillar of strength and I admire her beyond words. My job is beyond crazy, but I made it. I'm still standing and come January 3, 2017 I'll be back at my desk, working away, hoping things will get better. My daughter has had her ups and downs too and Sean, but we're a close family and we stick together. We have each others backs. We're each others rocks.
Strong family, wonderful friends, good fortune and a happy home. We had them at the beginning of 2016 and we still have them now.
So while for some 2016 was a year to forget, it gave us a lot to remember and to cherish.
2016...am I right? It was a pretty good year.


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Lately, I've noticed how much words impact my day, my mood, my outlook on life, my results AND the people around me.
Words are Freakin' Super-Heros! A kind word can lift you up or save a bad day. They can describe who we are/once were, who we are not, who we want to be. They can evoke emotion and inspiration.
Words can also be Villains and weapon-like. Words can hurt and break. When used irresponsibly or without thinking, they can do unthinkable damage…to you and to those around you.
Your words impact others. Words can help as much as they can hurt, hinder or scar. The words you choose can lift others up or knock them down.
Your words impact you.
- "I'm a loser"
- "I'm not good at …"
- "I never get a break."
- "I can't."
- "I never succeed at ___"
- "I'd like to, but I could never do that."
Ow! Those words hurt! Perhaps someone else has told you that:
- "you can't do that"
- "you'd aren't good at ___"
Those hurt too…yuck! When we hear something often enough, we start to believe it, whether it is coming from someone else or from ourselves. True story. The words you use when speaking to yourself can do terrible damage and hold you back from succeeding (or even trying for that matter) the things you want in life and being the person you'd like to be.
These statements or beliefs only hold you back if you let them.
Let's turn the statements above around to see how that can change the entire feel:
- "I love me, I'm human and sometimes make mistakes, but I've got this and I'm successful."
- "I am strong, smart and can learn new things."
- "Life may be challenging and hard at times, but I'm tough and appreciate the good things that come my way."
- "I can."
- "Although I may make mistakes from time to time, I can do the things that I desire if I put my mind to it and work for it."
- "That interests me so I'm going to give it a try. Everyone starts somewhere."
That's right, your words are powerful.
Surround yourself with words that lift you rather than squash you. Your words impact you and everyone around you.
I'm holding you accountable…
You are responsible for the words that come out of your mouth and that you use with yourself. Choose them wisely. Be the friend to yourself that you'd like someone else to be to you. Unconditionally love and support yourself to help you grow, excel and heal, if needed.
What should you do?
Choose your words carefully; adjust your words so they lift, encourage and support you. Use words and phrases that align with the end result that you're aiming for. Don't allow any other person on this earth to define what you are or are not. That's your job.
Be your own gate-keeper.
You control the words that come from you and the words that you hear or believe. You choose if and how other people's words impact you. If someone tells you that "you can't" do something, you decide whether that's true or not.
Now THIS is where the Magic happens. It's Your Turn!
- What is one thing you or someone else has told you that's holding you back in life?
- How can you flip that statement around to serve you – to support, inspire and encourage you?
You have a choice. What will you do with your words today, tomorrow and in the future?
You've got this baby!


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People question whether Southeast Asia is capable of producing billion-dollar technology companies. The skepticism is well-founded if you are trying to predict the future based on the past – the number of $1 billion+ tech valuations that we have seen in ASEAN can be counted on two hands.
But if we look at the population and buying power of the top cities/countries in this region, the conditions are there for a company of significant value to be built from scratch.
I often hear complaints that ASEAN is a beast of multiple markets and regulations, but really it is about three or four main markets. If you look at the largest populations: Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam – that's over half a billion people (almost double the US population).
However, population is only one factor, and if we also take into consideration GDP, the data shows that numbers are large and growing:
The other way is to look at the top cities that tech companies in this region are targeting, and the aggregate size of that buying power (below measured as the population of the city x GDP per capita):
By looking at the numbers, we can extract that a technology startup that is able to dominate key cities or countries in ASEAN will be tapping into populations and income levels that are sufficient to drive the demand and creation of billion-dollar technology companies.
To get there, startups should be clear on what kind of consumer they are targeting. There is a huge difference in consumer behaviour between the person who is earning 2,000 USD income per year, or the person earning 12,000 USD. This should shape a start-up's strategy and expansion plans.
If your product is better suited for the emerging markets, then you should be looking at Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia etc, where you are targeting the consumer who may be earning 2,000 USD per year. You would be targeting the "grassroots" market (as the Chinese would say). An example of this type of company is YY in China, which enabled everyday people to reach a wide audience through the web, and also earn new streams of income (disclaimer: I am a director in YY).
If your product is more suited for developed markets, then perhaps you will be targeting consumers living in the metropolitan ASEAN cities who are earning 12,000+ USD per year. You would be targeting the "metropolitan cities" market. An example of this is Reebonz, which 'targets the region's insatiable appetite for luxury goods'. Naturally Reebonz would think about regional expansion by city, rather than by country (disclaimer: my partner Kuo-Yi's previous fund invested into Reebonz).
Chances are, you cannot build a startup that goes after both the grassroots market as well as the metropolitan cities. Be very clear on your target audience. And if you need VC funding, please make sure that the market opportunity is large enough that VCs would fund it.
Co-authored by Peng T. Ong and Lucy Luo.


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Holiday Cookie Remix
Treat yourself this holiday season and try something a little different this year with this great holiday remixes of our Dream Dinners gourmet cookies.
Appetizer — Homemade Turkey Parmesan Meatballs & Cavatappi Al Forno
Looking for more easy entertaining appetizers for your next holiday party? We recommend Dream Dinners' Homemade Turkey Parmesan Meatballs with Cavatappi. This meal plays double duty, you get two easy, homemade appetizers for the price of one.
October #DinnerEffect
At Dream Dinners, our mission is to grow great kids by promoting the family dinner. We are working continuously to strengthen American families by bringing the homemade meal back to the dinner table. For more than a decade, we have work to change the lives of our guests with our Homemade, Made Easy offerings.
Throughout the years we have heard many stories of sadness and hardship, but we continue to hear stories of joy, triumph and reasons to be thankful.
Kim A. — Plainville, MA ( October #DinnerEffect Winner)
Dream Dinners saved my family. Year 2013-our condo was for sale-in search of a house, we had great jobs, two kids under the age of three and expecting number three! That all started to change one random winter morning when our second son starting having seizures — soon being diagnosed with Atypical Uncontrolled Epilepsy; a horrific condition that keeps you in fear every minute of every day. In addition, we learned that we would be losing our unborn little girl due to complications. Our lives were turned upside down. Too many days off from work, too many hopeless doctors appointments, too many lengthy hospital stays. EVERYONE in our house was being affected right down to the core. We were falling apart-mentally and physically. This is where we are forever grateful for good friends!


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Vegas isn't ahead of the curve when it comes to Asian restaurants, but when we are talking Thai cuisine, things are different. Perhaps it's the influence of Lotus of Siam, which offers regional Thai dishes, or perhaps it's our large Thai population. Either way, we have become a reliable town for down-home Thai cooking.
Take Sakun Thai, a modest storefront run by a Thai woman named Gina and her chef boyfriend. The restaurant isn't new: In fact, my wife has been getting takeout here for years, mainly the spicy beef ball soup. Sometime this year, we discovered it had a bilingual Thai menu, filled with wondrous fare like beef salad Lao-style; steamed glass noodles with crab claw; and Thai pork stew. Now, we're regulars.
You won't be overwhelmed by the decor. It's small, simple and claustrophobic. At lunch, when the 10-table room usually fills up, the kitchen can be rather slow, so think twice about coming here if you are in a hurry. But as with most of our better Thai restaurants, that's a good sign. Real Thai dishes are slow food, as opposed to those Chinese Thai dishes cooked in a wok.
Restaurant Guide
- 1725 E. Warm Springs Road
- 617-3556.
- Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 3:30-9:30 p.m.
- Suggested dishes: Thai barbecued chicken, $8.95; beef salad Lao-style, $7.95; crispy catfish with green beans, $10.95; glass noodles steamed with crab claw, $13.95.
- Recently Reviewed
- Tommy's Pastrami
I'd advise you to look over the specials board above the cash register before you open the regular or Thai menus here. Because there is always gai yang, aka Thai barbecued chicken, on it, and it happens to be the city's best version of this dish. (There is pork egg foo yong up there, too, for those with boomer cravings.)
Sakun's chicken is served on the bone, crusted with yellow spices, fall-apart tender. It's on the spicy side, but it's not spicy enough to cause a fire. Eat it with sticky rice, served in a bamboo basket, and use the sugary, red dipping sauce sparingly. If you want to eat like the Thais, order papaya salad Lao-style, made with salted crab and eaten in the hollow of cabbage leaves, from the Thai menu, as an accompaniment.
The regular menu shouldn't be ignored. It includes a $6.50 lunch special, which offers a tasty house soup, egg roll, a chicken wing and a choice of brown, white or fried rice to go with dishes such as pad Thai, curry chicken or mixed vegetables with tofu.
It's also where you'll find old chestnuts such as stuffed chicken wing, kee mau noodle and satay, all well prepared. But as with most local Thai restaurants, the menu has lots of Chinese-influenced stir-fry dishes, and while they are tasty, they are not the reason I go to a Thai restaurant.
No, the Thai menu is my raison d'etre at this joint. I'm still dreaming about those glass noodles, presented steaming hot in a metal cauldron, laced with six or seven partially shelled crab claws, redolent of Thai spices. What sets beef salad Lao-style apart from a more conventional Thai beef salad? The beef is rolled in rice crumbs, which gives it body, all the better to absorb those chilies.
One of my favorite dishes from Sakun's Thai menu is crispy catfish with fried green bean, but it's not what the words lead you to expect. The fish comes in small, crisp nuggets coated with spicy red sauce, rather than in large, filleted pieces. It's one of those dishes that would be unthinkable without rice. But with the fragrant Thai Jasmine rice served here, it turns into a virtual feast.
Some of the dishes are acquired tastes. Anything that uses shrimp paste—purple stuff with a pungent aftertaste—for instance, might fall into that category. I liked the fried rice with shrimp paste, but I was the only one at my table of four who did. Perhaps you'd be better off choosing the green-curry fried rice, if you can stand the heat, or the crab fried rice, if you can't.
Other choices from the Thai menu include Thai eggplant salad, moo bing—or four giant skewers of char-grilled pork, served with spicy dipping sauce—and tod mun, house-made Thai fish cakes, eaten with crushed peanut and sliced cucumber.
So, I have let the cat out of the bag, and my wife is annoyed. When she wants that beef ball soup, she's just going to have to wait a bit longer.


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Returns Policy
If, for whatever reason, you are not 100% satisfied with your purchase, just send it back and we'll refund your money. But since we shipped it to you for free, you'll have to pay the return shipping. Better yet, just send us a note on the contact form and start a dialog. I'm sure we'll come to some arrangement to make you happy.


text: Support us Join our challenge events Inca Trail You begin your Peruvian trekking adventure in the Inca Capital of Cusco – a fascinating city full of colonial charm, hidden deep in the Andes Mountains. From here you'll set off on the trail with your guides. There are many trails throughout Peru, but only the original, not to mention glorious, Inca Trail leads along gushing rivers, through ancient tunnels and over high mountain passes to reach the Sun Gate. The sight of the magnificent lost city of Machu Picchu appearing through the morning mist is one that will live with you forever! This adventure is available in May, August and November. If you are looking for a trekking adventure with a difference, this is the one for you! Contact us on 0114 261 7800 or [email protected] Booking for this event has now closed. Book


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Hoodoo Gurus
Like Wow. For three decades the Hoodoo Gurus have consistently been one of the most inventive, lyrically smart and goddamn exciting rock'n'roll bands Australia has ever produced. Oh yeah, and they've done it with style, panache and a wicked sense of humour. From Stoneage Romeos and Mars Needs Guitars through to Mach Schau and Purity of Essence the Gurus have a slew of hits and tunes that have resonated with both long term fans and a new generation alike.
Joining the Hoodoo Gurus in this rare, intimate, and only Melbourne rock show, are local darlings Dallas Crane.
Dallas Crane have become a not only a lauded constituent of the Australian rock 'n roll scene, but a trend-proof mainstay that continues to exhilarate audiences wherever they bloody well set foot!
Village - you are in for one hell of a night. Like Wow indeed!


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Little Things That Make Me Smile
Choose Your Quiet Place
If happiness were sold over the counter ,along with personal growth capsules ,with maybe some spiritual joy snack bars thrown in for good measure ,someone would no doubt be a millionaire !but its not....
How-ever its the Little Things that make us happy, and if pay attention those things are more available than you think.
My face loves to smile, sometimes I even smile when Im feeling sad. I dont know why face does that , but maybe its because it has learned to be patient and if I just smile the feelings will follow.
Yes,thats it tell your face to smile (alot) and eventually the emotions will follow.
When I was a young mother with two step sons , a teenager , toddler playing at my feet and nursing a 4 week old cranky baby I read those words ' choose your quiet place' and laughed til I almost cried...............yea right.!
So of course trying to imagine the unimagineable while juggling a busy workload is a laughable suggestion ,however the seed is planted and just as all good gardeners know the next best thing to do is simply ..........wait
Not Long Now....
Contentment Arrives
- Little Things that Make Me Smile
- People who keep their word.
- The early bird who gets to sing his song first
- sunrise
- the smell of babies as they snuffle and latch on to feed
- smell of fresh bread wafting through the house
- clean fragrant bedsheets
- happy smiling children playing
- a man protecting his loved ones
- loved ones ,brothers n sisters openly showing encouragement
- hot soup on a cold cold day
- iced water on a hot summers day
- kind strangers who offer a smile or word
- unexpected beauty like seeing a brand new butterfly land nearby
- message from a friend or family
- looking at photos down memory lane
- spondaneous hugs
- soft voices
- good music
- handmade gifts
- fresh flavorful coffee
- rivers and lakes to remind me im alive.
If youd prefer not too vote ,scroll down and listen to a great song!
Whats In It For You?
Does money buy Happiness?
That was a great hub about the little things in life that matters. Well done Eaglekiwi.
I think we face many problems in life and if we seek the oppourtunity carried behind the problem, we may get success and happiness. Every day we should smile. Smiling while takling with other make talk impressive and increases our persionality.
Your article certainly made me smile. I loved it.
Here's my list: stimulating conversation, spending time with my kids and granddaughter, spending time with my best friend, ice cream, a good book, a wonderful old movie, dancing, time off from work, sitting by the lake in the park, soft mood music, dinner out with a dear friend, browsing for or buying antiques, searching fleamarkets for that million dollar item (hah!), puppies/kittens, my two cats, rain on my roof, the first snowfall, Christmas, the ocean, seagulls, pets adopted from shelters, good health, talking with the elderly, volunteering for the pet therapy program for the nursing homes, falling in love, board games and finally, sleep :)
great list, we have to remember the little things
neat list -- the whole hub is uplifting, thanks!
Eagle, it's a wonderful list! I like *your* sense of humor too ("choose your quiet place....yea right"). So true! Like when my doctor told me to "get more excerise". I had a 6-yr-old and a toddler at home, and I was taking a full load in college. Hellooo...exercise was *not* the issue...*sleep* was the issue. ;D
My greatgrandparents had 11 kids (9 made it to adulthood) in a tiny home, she used to put her apron over her head when she wanted to be alone.
Lots of nice thoughts, Eaglekiwi. I couldn't vote in your poll, though, because my answer would be: "No, but it helps."
Your Right! Its those little things that can make such a big differance!
That was a great list
Thanks. =) I appreciate!
VERY cute and uplifting Hub.
You make me smile. =)
I like to see kids playing, stranger's helping one another out...someone teaching teens to be good young adults...etc.
very nice list very good hub
Awww very sweet and I love that song....Thanks for the wonderful reminder...and glad to meet you...G-Ma :O) Hugs
"Someday you 'll wish upon a star...and find your dreams are behind you" great video.......
That's a great list to remind you that small things in life really do bring a smile to your face. Almost every person that respond to this request said the same thing?! Thanks for responding to my request.


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Conflict Curve Theory and How It Fits High Potential Startups and Their Investors/
The dynamics of people working with each other is complex. Humans have been relating for many thousands of years and through special talents we humans have like; empathy; the ability to reconcile; the ability to work cooperatively; understanding the reciprocity of relationships; and having the capacity to forgive; we've done a darn good job getting to where we are today. All of the five core capacities listed above help us work in teams at a level that is creative, productive, and brilliantly intelligent. This area of strong relationships and extreme idea exchange is called the Creative Tension Zone.
Teams fall out of the Creative Tension Zone for a variety of reasons. This blog post won't discuss those reasons or how to navigate them but is instead intended to help you build a greater awareness around the idea that tension can tip into conflict and is predictable. I believe that in any part of our businesses, being as aware as possible of what is happening all around us, in real time, is the key to making good decisions and staying in high growth mode. The last post talked about warning signs that conflict is brewing. Here I'll broaden that view a little by talking about the Conflict Curve. It's fascinating!
When I first saw a diagram like this, it was in a class designed to help mediators understand the big picture of how and when different types of intervention can be applied to help people resolve conflicts (the full drawing below shows points where everything from trainers, to facilitators, to mediators, to lawyers and judges, to police, to military can be injected into the situation). The concept hit me like a ton of bricks for two reasons; One was because it simplified conflicts I had been in myself in the past and gave them some context in the bigger world of human interaction; and two, the conflict curve can be applied to any and all conflicts from a neighbor's barking dog dispute to a war between two countries.
Here's the learning part:
Take a moment to look at the various points on the curve. Can you relate any of the conflicts you have encountered in your life to various points along the curve? Think about the relationships you are in now and where they are riding on the curve. Practice the skill of conflict curve awareness by pulling a story from a news post and trying to identify where the conflict sits on the curve. What do you notice?
The key awareness/theory here is that the further along the downward slope of the curve you find yourself, the harder it is to return to normal productive relations and the more management time it takes to deal with all the crap that goes along with being low on the curve. Simple right? Not so much so when you are in the middle of a disagreement with a co-worker or investor, or members of your team are, and everyone is determined to hold their ground. For an outsider coming in to help people with an in progress conflict, like a mediator, one of our key discoveries is to see if and how far beyond the "Loss of Trust" stage the relationship(s) has gone. Once trust is lost, it becomes harder and harder to recover the relationship and resolve the conflict in a way that is good and productive to everyone. For leaders of high potential startups it is a critical skill to be able to identify where individuals, and the team as a whole, are on the curve. Each manager will need to find unique entry points to manage the conflicts in their own way. Make no mistake, one must manage it or it will manage you. Understanding that there is a conflict curve with a variety of entry points is the first step. Seeing them in real time is a skill worth practicing and mastering.
Next time, let's dive into the Conflict Spiral, another awareness tool I hope you will find useful with your team.


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Jim's Reflection
When reflecting on the last month - or when looking ahead - where should a person of faith start when writing a newsletter? Justice issues, political unrest, misuse of political power, environmental issues, misguided clergy and religious leaders, and sadly so much more.
Reversal of DACA, white supremacy, Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma, North Korea, Joe Arpaio, and the Nashville Statement are just a few of the recent news items. So how are we, as Christians and as a church, to respond?
We start by showing up. On Sunday mornings, where we can be community, supporting one another, encouraging each other, and listening to what God might be calling us to. Or throughout our week, where we are the hands and feet of our God, caring for those close to us, and those around our world. We work to be models and voices of God's love, mercy,
and justice. When a group of religious leaders write a statement that condemns those who are homosexual or transgendered, we are people and a church that models inclusion. When political leaders speak of deportation, we work to accompany and support. When a warming
climate leads to destruction, we respond with generosity and concern, and we work to care for our environment.
One way we do this is through our Justice and Mercy Ministry. Over the next couple months, we will be introducing the different agencies we have chosen to work with this year, and determining as a church how much we should distribute to which agencies. [The agencies are IM4Human Integrity, Friendly Manor, Stand, Shelter Inc., Water 1st International, Common Hope,
BAYC Youth, and Habitat for Humanity] Our Endowment Board has elected to tithe a portion of our spendable income to Justice and Mercy programs, so we have a total of $7,500 to distribute in 2017.
Just this week, on behalf of the church, Justice and Mercy has put $1,000 of our money toward Hurricane Harvey has put $1,000 of our money toward Hurricane Harvey Relief - $500 to the Houston Food Bank, and $500 to UCC Disaster Relief. And we as a congregation contributed another $850 to the UCC through personal donations.
Looking ahead
I am excited about the many things that are ahead of us as a church this year. Our fall is packed with fun events, meaningful programs, and new initiatives. And part of this will be monthly opportunities to live out our faith through service activities, sponsored by Justice & Mercy and Children & Youth.
Be sure to save time after church on Sundays, as we have a great assortment of programs for our 2nd Hour Forums
- What is the UCC?, Sports and Religion, Conversation with our Muslim Neighbors (Oct. 15) - not to mention a Guatemala Luncheon and our Annual Auction (Nov.5).
The Neighbor points to the many other events that are starting back up this September, and there are even more on the horizon.
And lastly, this fall will offer our chance to discuss what is next for us as a congregation.
I look forward to the year that is ahead of us, and the chance to be the church with you.
Jim's Blog September 2017
Jim's Reflection


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Anyway. Today we are talking about Narwhals! The good folks at Narwhals Ate My Duck, a crazy bunch of nutters who live in those Wormhole things (I dunno), asked me to create an Alliance logo for 'em. And maybe a Wallpaper. Well now, how could I say no to that? Just the name alone meant I had to have something to do with it!
So the in-game icon was a blast to create. Originally I thought I'd try something more symbolic, representational, but despite some cool paths it just didn't work. Then I happened upon this sketch I had done years and years ago, a series of clipart icons I had designed for the National Geographic Magazine believe it or not. Hey, I am not above re-using and recycling my art. The series was about whales and sure enough there was a Narwhal among them. I cleaned it up a bit, rotated it cause the Alliance name does happen to be plural and the rest you can see for yourself.
|The Icon in-game
Then it was time to create a wallpaper to celebrate the new logo. Here I was a tad stumped. Sadly I haven't spent much time in the Great White North, so my supply of available Narhwal photos was a tad... well I didn't have any. Nor illustrations, nor napkin sketches, nor nothing.
Luckily I have resources. I found surprisingly little in the way of Narwhals, but I did find this awesome photo that just might work. It took some doing but I think it turned out pretty kewl. I did a bunch of different versions for them, and these are two of them. Feel free to download and enjoy them yourselves.
And a more "grindhouse" version:


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2015 October Shop Tour
I don't often start a shop tour post by saying there's nothing to see here. However, in this case there is nothing to see. October's tour is a brief tribute to my lack of productivity in the shop in September.
Don't forget about the +Modern Woodworkers Association Podcast. We talk woodworking with Guests from around the world of woodworking every other week. Subscribe to the RSS feed or iTunes today.


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Vet-Kem Siphotrol X-Tend Handheld Yard & Patio Fogger 14 oz
List Price:
Sale Price: $10.99
Sale Price: $10.99
Code: sipxfog14
When the flea, tick and mosquito burden outside your house needs to solved, turn to the Siphotrol X-Tend Handheld Yard & Patio Fogger. It is important, more than ever, to protect against mosquitoes due to increase risk to pets of the West Nile Virus
- Quick knockdown of fleas, ticks and mosquitoes which may carry the West Nile virus
- Broad spectrum insecticide is also effective against ants, bees, centipedes*, cockroaches, crickets, earwigs*, moths, scorpions, spiders and wasps
- 14-ounce aerosol treats up to 10,000 square feet
For Outdoor Use Only - Shake Well Before UsingHold container upright and spray.
OutdoorsPoint spray nozzle away from face. Hold can on slight downward angle. For best results, spray when air is calm. Allow a few minutes for product to take effect. Spray with wind if breeze is blowing. Repeat treatments to infested areas as necessary at intervals of 14 days or greater. Do not make more than 6 applications per site per year.
Pests On Outside Surfaces Of BuildingsFor control of building infestation due to Ants, Clover Mites*, Crickets, Earwigs*, Millipedes*, and Sowbugs* (Pillbugs*): Spray foundation of building where insects are active and may find entrance, up to a height of 2 to 3 feet. Hold can 2 to 3 feet from surface to be treated and spray to slightly moisten surface. Apply as a residual spray to outside surface of buildings where insects tend to congregate. Spray areas include (but are not limited to) screens, window frames, eaves, porches, patios, garages and refuse dumps.
Flying InsectsFlies, Mosquitoes, Gnats, Small Flying Moths, Hornets and Yellow Jackets : Allow fog to drift over area. Direct spray toward bushes or grass from at least 4 to 6 feet away. Give special attention to breeding areas such as garbage cans and compost piles.
Crawling InsectsAnts, Cockroaches, Crickets, Mole Crickets, Centipedes*, and Silverfish*: Hold can 2 to 3 feet from surface to be treated and spray infested surface of patio or picnic area, hitting as many insects as possible. Spray to slightly moisten the surface. Also spray legs of tables and chairs to repel ants. Spray ant trails and hills. Ants, Ticks, Crickets, Fleas and Earwigs*: Apply thoroughly to infestations in bushes, grass or weeds.
|Piperonyl Butoxide
|Other Ingredients:


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Enrichment Ideas for Teachers
There is a lot of information on our site.
This page is designed to help you find enrichment activities for your students, whether you are looking for a ready-to-use program, or strategies to differentiate instruction.
Homeschooling parents, classroom teachers and specialists, and involved parents are all welcome to these instructional resources.
Please take our survey: what books do you read and discuss with students?
I. Books & Reading
Find links to resource related to literacy instruction, from lists on online book quizzes, to discussion questions and vocabulary for specific books, as well as strategies for differentiating literacy instruction.
Book Recommendations
Book Activities
II. Writing & Vocabulary
These links include resources for vocabulary instruction and writing activities. Daily Writing Activities include sentences for students to edit, as well as writing prompts. Students can work with the vocabulary lists on this site (drawn from high-frequency words found in the chapter books recommended here) and take the free, online vocabulary quizzes.
Writing Instruction
Ideas for Managing Writing Time in the Classroom
Group Norms for Writing Time
Student Writing Contests
Daily Writing Activities
Sentence editing and writing topics
Grades 2-3
Grades 4-5
Middle School / Grades 6-8
Books with Writing Activities
Books with Discussion Topics/Prompts
Students - Submit Book Reviews
Vocabulary Lists and Quizzes - Beginner
Vocabulary Lists and Quizzes - Intermediate
Vocabulary Synonym Memory Game
Themed Vocabulary Lists - Spice up student writing; create your own
III. Problem-Solving, Math, and Logic
Send those early finishers to this website to solve math problems and send their answers to us. Each math problem includes relevant U.S. Common Core standards, and students who solve problems correctly are included in the Problem-Solving Hall of Fame.
Math Problem of the Week
Students submit answers to each math problem of the week, and students with correct answers are added to the "Menu of Excellence" on each problem page.
Students with multiple correct answers earn virtual badges in the Problem-Solving Hall of Fame.
Problems are built around a cafe theme, and each one includes related U.S. Common Core Standards for math.
Logic Activities
IV. Other Kinds of Enrichment
From independent study project ideas to information about differentiating instruction, find links to challenge your students.
Enrichment Instruction
Enrichment Landing (Blog)
Differentiation Strategies
New Resources for Teachers - new book titles, math problems, and features added within the last month
Independent Project Ideas
Project Format Ideas
Science and Social Studies Project Ideas
Miscellaneous Project Ideas
Creative Book Project Ideas
Brand New Website from the creator of Conversation Pieces Learning . . . try the interactive creativity challenges at
Creative Challenges for People Like You (www.youcancreate.org)
Instant Challenges
RAFT Menus
Landmarks and Monuments Quiz
Enrichment Links
Adventures in Challenge - Family Creativity Project
Student-Generated Questions: to consider, write about, & research
Some Thoughts about Enrichment in the Classroom
With so many demands on teachers, enrichment can easily get pushed aside. Sometimes, teachers tend to stick with whole-group instruction when they feel pressured to meet overwhelming directives, but that can frequently backfire when students are operating at different levels of readiness. Some students need more individual support to complete assignments, while others mastered the objectives before they entered the room. Roughly 2/3 of students in a given class may not be active participants in a whole group lesson that targets grade-level objectives, so differentiation and enrichment are essential to maximize instructional time. All students can benefit from enrichment. The question is, when and how can teachers incorporate enrichment in addition to everything else they manage?
There isn't one right answer, and teachers have to find a comfort zone. Sometimes it can be hard to relinquish control, because it seems like it is easier to have all students doing the same thing at the same time. Here are several ways teachers can incorporate enrichment into existing routines:
There isn't one right answer, and teachers have to find a comfort zone. Sometimes it can be hard to relinquish control, because it seems like it is easier to have all students doing the same thing at the same time. Here are several ways teachers can incorporate enrichment into existing routines:
- Give all students access to activities on this site when they arrive in the morning, before the bell rings
- Encourage students to set independent reading goals, and use the site to find new books
- Encourage students to use a Six Picks Reading Menu, read the books, and take the online quizzes
- Allow students to take online book quizzes for completed books as part of independent reading time
- While some students meet in guided reading groups, other students read independently, meet with partners to discuss books and share recommendations with each other, journal about books (students can respond to discussion questions on this site, craft their own "thick" questions about what they're reading, study vocabulary from the book, submit comments about the book to this site, complete writing activities inspired by the book, respond to "big picture" questions on student pages of this site, and more), or craft book reviews
- Encourage students to respond to Discussion Questions for specific chapter books in writing journals
- Offer a book club twice a month after school, using the Discussion Questions on this site. Encourage students to take the online book quizzes and submit book reviews when they have finished discussing each book.
- Invite students to select a creative book project instead of assigning identical book projects to all students
- Organize a contest with other classrooms at your grade level, and see how many students can earn spots in the Book Quiz Hall of Fame from September to December
- Require some students to correctly answer one online math problem per week, to be completed during assignment work time, or to replace practice with a skill they have already mastered
- Use the Math Problem of the Week as part of a math group's problem-solving lesson
- Require some students to pass one vocabulary quiz per week with a score of 80% or higher, to replace spelling practice if students have mastered the weekly spelling list
- Offer the vocabulary lists and quizzes as a center during literacy block or writing time
- Give students access to the writing prompts in the Daily Writing Activities section of the site, and require students to develop 3 of those pieces per marking period to revise, edit, and publish
- Give students access to the sentences to edit in the Daily Writing Activities, and meet with small groups to address specific misconceptions about grammar, punctuation, verb tense agreement, and common spelling errors
- Encourage students to enter Student Writing Contests
- Incorporate Interest-Based Differentiation, Pre-Testing, and Readiness-Based Differentiation


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Not sure if this is normal or not but....
it all started when we were on vacation in 2010, she would just out of the blue say things like "don't mind me" or "hey i'm going to get naked in front of you, i'm sorry" obviously not naked but she would be wearing her panties... I'll say "oh thats ok i don't care".
She never use to be like that. She would always hide or be discrete like any normal girl. she has gone as far as wear short shorts, tank top thats etc thats what normal girls do when they walk around or bum around. she's only 18 so she dress flirty. hell i couldn't even see her in a towel!
she just came to my house from college to visit her sister (my gf) and as normal i said "hey whats up" and we were just hanging out. at night though, she was in her room and my gf told me to get her a blanket. i get up from my bed and try to find her a blanket. i passed her room and her shorts are down to her knees and she's sitting on the bed. and she looks at me and i ask her "heyy.... do you mind a quilt?" and she said umm that's fine. i go get her a quilt and i return like in 5-7 seconds later. when i return, she's still in the same position sitting down with her shorts down to her knees and she's wearing sexy panties! then i can't help but look she gets up and puts her shorts back on. i went to my room and i couldn't stop thinking about her...
i woke up the next morning and i walk into my bathroom with my boxers which i had to pass her room and i know she saw me. I returned all cleaned up and i run to her room and jump on her bed. she has her legs kinda spread open because she had to make room for her laptop. i started chit chatting etc. then my gf comes in the room and starts talking to us. then her sister gets up and reaches for her jeans. i thought maybe she was going to the bathroom (like normal people would) and change..noooo instead she takes her shorts off in front of me and my gf. i was like holy<removed> she has a nice ass. i tried very hard to keep focus but i noticed she would look at the corner of her eye to see if i was looking. she had her shorts off for at least 3 mins. then she puts her jeans back on. i thought she was soooo hot.
my gf pulled me to the side and said "i saw you looking at her ass". i said "no i glanced at it but nothing more". shes like "i'm kinda mad at my sister because she was in her panties for a long time. i was about say put some <removed> clothes on". i said "don't you think it's weird that she changes in front of me?" we discussed it for a good while and basically couldn't come up with any legit answer other than maybe she's comfortable around me. she also said "i know you don't like my sister but i didn't like it when you looked at her ass".
her sister doesn't give me vibes like she's interested conversationally. she's actually pretty quiet. but she does speak her mind when given the chance to talk. but i'm starting to have a huge crush on her and i don't like it. i love my gf but damn her sister is sexy.
Is this normal? am i just taking it to the extreme?


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NARTREK Cadet Program
JonRocket.com is pleased to support the National Association of Rocketry's NARTREK Cadet program. The NARTREK Cadet program is designed specifically for modelers under age 18 and is open to both members and non-members of the NAR.
For information on the NARTREK Cadet program, please visit the National Association of Rocketry's web site:
In addition to the certificate and pin awarded by NAR, we are offering a FREE ROCKET KIT (of our choice) to each child that completes a level of the NARTREK Cadet program.
When you (or your child) completes a level of the Cadet program send a copy of the certificate to us at firstname.lastname@example.com. You can scan the certificate or send a digital photograph of it. If you wish, you can also include a photo or two for us to include in our blog. Please include the child's name, the NARTREK Cadet level completed, and your shipping address.Fine Print: This offer is only available to new Cadet program participants. Certificates must be dated June 1, 2013, or later. The participant must be 18 years of age or younger. Please contact us if you have any questions.


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The Phobia of Electric Cars/
As the electric car revolution starts to roll, many out of the ordinary stories have started to come up about electric cars and chargers. Amongst them is a Danish town refusing to allow the installation of electric car charging stations, specifically from the battery provider Better Place unless these installations are painted green.
Another story is from the French Ministry for the Environment unveiling guidelines regarding electric car chargers. Among them is the regulation of having only one public charging station per floor of a public parking garage or require parking lot owners to separate electric vehicles being recharged with firewalls.
In another version, the law would require public charging stations to be installed fifty feet apart or placed together in a partially confined space which increases the cost of installing many charging points significantly. The guidelines also covers home charging stations limiting the charging of electric cars on domestic outlets. This means charging from a 230-volt power outlet would be allowed but the government wants to restrict the charging current to 12 amps. This would leave the normal charging time for a car to about twelve hours. Should an owner want to increase the available amperage or have a dedicated hard-wired charging station, they need to pay more and have more inspections. This would definitely increase the overall costs of maintaining and operating an electric car.
The laws were reactions to news reports of electric cars bursting into flames when being charged because of poorly designed battery packs. One report from Hangzhou, China last April showed an electric Zotye Multipla taxi burst into flames. Despite firefighter efforts, the fire could not be controlled and the vehicle quickly turned into a fireball.
In another news report from Barkhamsted, Connecticut, a Chevy Volt is said to the cause of fire in a family garage. According to eyewitness accounts, the electric hybrid vehicle was being charged overnight. The high electricity requirement and the old wiring in the house clearly was a combustible mix, resulting in an overload of the circuit breakers and the consequence of fire.
Thus, in the electric car revolution, there are still many factors and aspects that need to be upgraded to accommodate the needs of the electric car. Not only would the car technology improve, but also accessories such as charging points and home capacity need to be addressed to make the electric car go full blast.


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Farmer Florist Workshop
Swallowtail Farm
Alachua, Florida
Saturday May 19th - Sunday May 20th 9:30- 5:00pm
We are excited to open our farm for a collaborative hands-on flower farming and design workshop! Nestled in the rolling hills of North Central Florida, students will find inspiration from fields of seasonal flowers in peak bloom. Day one will focus on growing fundamentals, including soil fertility, variety sourcing and selection, harvesting, and post harvest handling. Day two students will learn about the principles of floral design and have the opportunity to design their own personal flowers and centerpiece. It's sure to be a weekend full of hands on learning and creativity! Please join us on this inaugural intimate event and meet like-minded flower lovers from the surrounding area and beyond. All skill levels welcome.
Day One: Growing Fundamentals
Led by Mariana Riehm of Ladybug Blooms
The first day of the course, we will focus on all things growing, from soil preparation, seed sourcing and sowing, bed design, planting, weed management, harvesting, tools of the trade and favorite varieties. In the morning we'll tour our propagation house, practice different seed starting techniques, and explain how we've evolved our practices over the years. We'll take a walking tour of the farm to examine our crop planning and succession sowing. We'll also cover irrigation, fertigation, and fertilization. Be prepared to get a little dirty during this stroll as we'll fill buckets and take snips to the field to harvest blooms together! You'll learn the how to identify the proper stages of harvest, efficiency of movement, and post harvest handling. In the afternoon we'll dive into variety selection, and how to develop a plan for a well-rounded selection of flowers throughout the season. We'll explain how our small business has developed strategies to wear the many hats of a farmer florist and balance successful management of production, sales, marketing, communication, and design work.
About Mariana:
Mariana began farming in 2008 after studying Anthropology and Organic Crop Production at the University of Florida. She was fortunate to find a mentor in Rose Koenig, of Rosie's Organic Farm where she learned to manage a 10-acre certified organic vegetable, herb, and flower farm and 100 member Community Supported Agriculture operation. In 2013 she joined the team at Swallowtail where she founded Ladybug Blooms, the Floral Design Studio at the farm. She now manages all things floral on the farm including crop planning, wedding and event design, market bouquets, and CSA bouquet subscriptions. Her passion for flowers is infectious and her desire to continue learning about them is insatiable.
Day Two: Principles of Floral Design
Led by Amy Armstrong of Conservatorie Floral
Our second day together will begin at 9:30 as we wander the fields and make some choice selections to add to the flowers you'll be designing with throughout the day. We'll cover the principles of floral design as we tackle each arrangement beginning with personal flowers. Each student will have the opportunity to make a bangle wrist corsage, a head wreath, a boutonnière, and a hand tied bouquet. The later afternoon will be spent constructing a centerpiece using a ceramic urn made locally by ceramic artist Bridget Fairbanks. The vessel is yours to take home at the end of the workshop. The main goal of the workshop as a whole is for a hands on in depth experience with plenty of one on one time. You can expect each arrangement we make together to be demonstrated at the beginning of each segment. You will then be let loose with the tools and flowers needed to make your own creative version. Feel free to bring your own clippers, or knives, however we will have a few handy if you need to borrow some.
About Amy:
Amy Armstrong has been a floral designer for the past 10 years. After receiving a degree in marketing she decided to embrace the life long passion she had with flowers by obtaining a floral design certificate from the South Florida School of Floral Design. She worked in several florists learning the laws of the land and all sorts of techniques before branching out on her own. She owned her own wedding and event business for about 8 years collectively. In that time, she recognized her passion for sustainability in the industry and now owns and operates her own small farm in Saint Augustine called Conservatorie Floral. Her Father, Danny plays a big role in her floral passion as he has quizzed her on the names of plants from a young age and laid the foundation for her love of gardening by teaching her how to use a shovel, plant seeds, and roll up a hose when she was young. He has joined her on the farm as they start growing flowers for the first time together this season.
$700 per person
Interested in setting up a payment plan? Just email us!
This workshop is an immersive experience and we're so excited to grow and share with you! We highly encourage attendees to stay locally and hang with us! Our farm is open throughout the two day workshop to engage in conversation, partake in farm chores, and explore the farm at your own pace. Camping IS an available option for free and is totally encouraged. Feel free to pitch a tent and join us at the bonfire! We have a 7 student minimum to host this class.
Cancelation: All class registrations are non-refundable. Workshop will be held rain or shine.
Materials: All materials, supplies, and clippers included. Florals will be sourced predominantly from Swallowtail Farm, The Conservatory Gardens, and foraged foliage and blooms as well as some of our other favorite local flower farms.
Food: Farm to Table lunches provided by Fables Catering & Such each day. All refreshments included.
Lodging: Attendees are responsible for their own lodging. List of recommended hotels/accommodations available upon request. Camping IS an available option for free and is totally encouraged. Feel free to pitch a tent and join us at the bonfire!
What to bring: Students are encouraged to bring a water bottle, light weight long sleeve shirt, sunscreen, and gloves if desired for sun protection during harvesting & time spent in the field. Closed toed shoes are recommended for field walks as we do have some fire ants on the farm. If you have a favorite pair of clippers, feel free to bring them too!


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Kampala (Fides Service) – "Father Lawrence Oyuru is the latest of the countless victims of this war forgotten by everyone" Archbishop John Baptist Odama of Gulu, northern Uganda, tells Fides Service with regard to the death of Father Lawrence Oyuru, parish priest of Ochero in the diocese of Soroti, killed on 1 September in an ambush staged by the Lord Resistance Army rebels LRA. In the attack on a local bus twenty four other passengers were also killed.
"Soroti diocese has been subjected to similar attacks for a month now" Mgr Odama says, "road blocks and ambushing are the rebels' main system of spreading terror and death among the innocent civilians". Soroti lies 150 km east of Gulu, an where the LRA guerrillas previously focussed their attacks. This move towards Soroti is new and we fail to understand the reason" the Archbishop affirms.
The Lord's Resistance Army, formed of mostly Acholi tribesmen, has been fighting since 1986 the Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni who took power in that year overthrowing a military junta made up mostly of Acholi men. The former militia of the ethnic group, taking refuge in Sudan formed various guerrilla groups one of them being the LRA. Besides being an ethnic group the LRA is also based on ideology of religious syncretism mixing elements of Christianity and Islam with those of traditional African religions. Aware of this, local religious leaders have taken an active part n promoting talks with the rebels to restore peace. Members of Catholic Church have often been a victims of LRA violence. We recall that on May 11 this year the rebels kidnapped a group of seminarians from Lachor seminary, and many priests have been among the number of those killed by the rebels in recent years. In March this year the LRA declared a cease fire but it never came in force. LM (Fides Service 3/9/2003 EM lines 30 Words: 344)


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Dave 101
Are you new to The Dave Bowman Show? Never heard of the Dave Diamond Experience? This is where you start or get a refresher on who and why Dave is.
This page is not a biography (for that you can go HERE), this is more of what used to be called an FAQ page, but with a twist. Here you will find Dave himself, in small snippets and in full episodes, explaining the basic concepts, ideas and inside jokes of The Dave Bowman Show.
If you're new to the show, this is a great place to start.
If you're an old hand on board the show, this can serve as a reminder of some of those core concepts and ideas.
Dave Diamond – When Dave first started at KFIV in 2006, he also worked for a local non-profit, which was "uncomfortable" with him being on the air under his real name. The Station agreed to let him have a "radio name," and several ideas were floated, including, Randy Dolphin, Herb Foccacia (Dave's favorite) and "something baseballish, since Dave had been originally hired to do sports. After the dust had settled, Dave Diamond was the agreed upon nom de guerre. To say that Dave hated it would be an understatement, and after several years, particularly when John was added to the show, he more or less dropped the "Diamond" part and just went with "Dave." In 2013, the Station Management insisted that Dave use his real name, because "Dave Diamond sounds gay."
At any rate, here are some segments and show bits that help explain things that might need explaining as you listen to and experience Dave…
Dave often says that liberty and freedom are NOT the same thing. Here's why he says that:
Why Don't Jews Vote For the GOP?
A question that Dave gets asked all the time: "Why Don't You Jews vote for Republicans?" It's a stupid question, but one to which there really is a simple answer. It's all about communication. What do you mean when you say…?


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Know English? Teach English & Much More: Steve & Karen Ray
Judy Popineau Wick
ELIC offers creative access to many countries in Asia and other parts of the world through teaching English. Consider joining our dear friends, Steve & Karen, this summer in Mongolia---no age restrictions! Visit ELIC's website for more information about many opportunities, both short- and long-term. If not now . . . when?


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for Seniors and Pensioners
NSW Transport will be holding an information session on the Seniors/Pensioners opal card at Woodrising Neighbourhood Centre on Tuesday 13th October at 10.00 am
From 1 January 2016, most paper tickets will no longer be sold, including:
Pensioner Excursion tickets
MyBus TravelTen tickets
MyMulti Weekly tickets
MyFerry TravelTen tickets
The only paper tickets available will be single Adult and Concession tickets (trains, buses, ferries and light rail) and return Adult and Concession tickets (trains, ferries and light rail).
To assist with the transition, oOh! Edge, on behalf of Transport NSW, will be providing a free community engagement presentation at Woodrising Neighbourhood Centre on Tuesday 13th October at 10.00 am.
Transport department staff will be available at this time to assist you to sign up to Opal (before 1 January 2016).
If you'd like to book in for this presentation please
call Chris, Marie or Judy on 4959 4624
at the Woodrising Neighbourhood Centre.


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Girls Night Out
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And so, during the girls' night out last Friday we chatted about many topics; men, life, work and weight loss methods! One of the girls is worrying too much about her weight and her wedding is like less than 2 months to go.
All preparations are almost done and she said she can handle them all. […]
Amazing Home
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I don't know how some people could be so rich at such young friends and they are not born with silver spoon in the mouth!
One of my friend just bought a huge house and the renovation was awesome. Every room was perfectly designed and there is a small pub at the garage. We were invited […]
Skincare from Korea
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My friend has just came back from Korea and she brought back a huge bag full of skincare and cosmetic. According to her, it is dirt cheap over there and the quality is good. She gave some sample to me and ask me to buy if any of my friends is going there again.�
However, I […]
Home System
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So many of my friends have become victim to robbery and theft in their very own house! This makes me really worry about the safety of the city and neighbourhood.
It makes me start to think seriously on how I can protect my home from being a victim and how I could manage my house easily. […]
Hair To Men
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Women generally are more concern over their skin than their hair. And man, they are more worried about their hair. At least that is my observation all these years.
Many of my female friends spend a lot of time and money on skincare as well as cosmetic. But much lesser money is spent on hairs than […]
Cause of Low Water Pressure
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According to my friend that condo water supply should be in quite high pressure since the water tank is located at the top of the condo. Well, that makes a lot of sense but we realised that the water in the kitchen is flowing very slowly even if we switch on the tap to maximum. […]
How To Improve Productivity
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Work is getting a little hectic these days with so many projects and even though our teams are growing double the size it used to be, the projects that are coming in is growing exponentially!
All annual leaves are frozen unless it is a 'valid' emergency leave, to be approved by a few managers. I heard […]
The Bad Traffic Jam
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This morning I was stucked in a horrible traffic jam! Imagine taking triple the normal duration to reach office than usual. I could have taken a short nap in the car and the lane wouldn't have budged.
After nearly an hour in that stretch of road, we finally found out that there was a car stalled […]
The Soccer Matches
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Not a big fan of soccer, I never knew when the big matches are or which team is playing against which team. I never keep track of the soccer trophies by the winners or who get a yellow or red card.�
But with many friends as avid soccer fans, there is always a surge of soccer […]
Cheap Flowers?
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This year is the first year my good friend S moved to another country to be with her boyfriend. And thus for her mom birthday, she sent her a bouquet of flowers!
And her mom was so touched that she cried. According to S, her mom hasn't been receiving flowers for years and was really touched […]


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Description4 ports super charger features smart charging technology, it was design to charger all the smartphone tablets, detects the device and deliver its fastest possible charge speed.
Such as iPhone, iPad , Samsung tablets, Samsung, LG, Motorola, Blackberry smartphone, etc. It can charge Mp3, Mp4, camera also.
Specification:Brand: ORICO Product Name: 4 port USB Smart Desktop ChargerProduct Type: ORICO DUB-4PColor: Black / WhiteSize: 105mm * 68mm * 25mmMaterial: High Strength and High Temperature ABS fireproof materialProduct Features: smart, safe, and practicalSafety Certification: CE / FCC / ROSH / PSE / CCCProduct chip: Smart detection ICCircuit Protection: overcurrent, overvoltage, short circuit protection, intelligent current limitingRated Input: 100-240V 50 / 60HzUSB Output: 5V (0.1-2.4A / MAX) intelligent current, 48WLED indicators: LED Power supply status light - blue lightCompatibility: 5V USB charging mobile phone, tablet, mobile power, Bluetooth headsets, sound, LED lights
Package1 x ORICO DUB-4P Charger1 x User Manual1 x Service Card1 x 12V4A Power Adapter


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Shark wars: attacks put sharks on political agenda
Port Macquarie engineer and surfer Dale Carr has a joke about how he got bitten on the "fart gun".
But there was nothing very funny about his experience one August afternoon in 2015, when he was attacked by a 2.7 metre shark, about 150 metres from the shore at Lighthouse Beach. The lacerations to his buttocks meant he lost two-and-a-half litres of blood and needed three rounds of surgery before he was able to go home to his wife and kids.
Since the attack, Carr has been keen to share his experience with other survivors through a members-only online forum called Bite Club. But he quickly decided not to express a public opinion on how to deal with sharks. When Carr awoke in hospital, he was bombarded with insensitive Facebook messages from trolls telling him he deserved the bite because he had gone into the water, while others called for all sharks to be killed.
In his view, sharks should be added to politics, religion and sex as conversation topics best avoided. "I have never seen anything like it. It is so polarising."
Sydney University public policy lecturer Christopher Neff, who has researched shark bites for the last 10 years, says sharks are politicised in Australia "in a way I haven't seen anywhere else in the world".
There is certainly a long history of community anxiety and passion about sharks, thanks in part to Jaws' efforts to promote them as scary monsters. There have also been reports of fatal attacks in Australia since the earliest days of European settlement.
But a recent spate of high-profile attacks and deaths has put sharks at the forefront of public debate.
Northern NSW has been severely shaken by a number of attacks since 2014, including two fatalities. In March this year, 17-year-old Laeticia Brouwer was killed by a shark while surfing with her family in Esperance. Last Sunday, a man was knocked off his bodyboard by a shark in Bunbury. Meanwhile, there are anecdotal reports of more sharks in the water: in Melbourne, there were three reports of shark sightings at city beaches over three days in February.
Politicians are feeling the heat. Sharks are on the agenda for the the Liberal Party's federal council meeting next weekend, with WA Liberals pushing to have white sharks removed from the vulnerable species list. Shortly before he stepped down last year, former NSW premier Mike Baird announced a trial of shark nets in his state in a significant policy backdown, while former prime minister and dedicated surfer Tony Abbott has been among those calling for lethal methods to deal with sharks.
In Canberra, the Senate's environment committee is holding an inquiry into shark mitigation and deterrent measures, due to report later this year.
Overall, the numbers of fatal shark attacks remain steady and relatively small. According to the Australia Shark Attack File, kept by Taronga Zoo, there were 26 unprovoked and provoked shark attacks in 2016. Of these two were fatal, 16 involved injuries and eight did not involve injuries. This is slightly up from 22 attacks in 2012, which included two fatalities and 14 injuries.
There is no hard evidence that the shark population is increasing. The CSIRO told the Senate inquiry there is no reliable data about the numbers of tiger, bull or white sharks, and therefore it is impossible to say whether numbers are growing or not. The Australian Institute of Marine Science cautions that because may shark species that interact with humans are "apex predators" (at the top of the food chain), they are few in number and spread out.
"It is extremely difficult to predict where attacks will occur, when they are likely to occur or even define why they occur," it says in its submission to the Senate inquiry. It says smart tagging technology and satellite and drone developments over the last decade are starting to build more information, but it is still "early days".
Jessica Meeuwig, director of the Centre for Marine Futures at the University of Western Australia, says the increase in shark bites is more probably due to an increase in people in the water, not an increase in sharks. Professor Meeuwig is also adamant that killing sharks, whether through culls, nets or baited drum lines, is a "really dumb idea".
"We have no hard evidence that lethal methods decrease the frequency of shark bites," she says, cautioning they can also kill other species. Along with several species of shark, the NSW government's recent trial of nets has caught turtles, tuna, dolphins and rays, among other marine life.
Chair of the shark inquiry, Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson, agrees shark nets indiscriminately kill marine life and wants to see more government attention given to technology-based deterrence measures. Shark Shield, which make personal devices that emit electrical waveforms, is working on something that could cover a whole beach.
As a mad keen surfer, Whish-Wilson understands people's fear of sharks but stresses there are no fail-safe solutions. "Giving people a false sense of security is one of the worst things we can do," he says.
However, opinions differ on the committee. Another Senate inquiry member, WA Liberal senator Linda Reynolds, is unconvinced nets and drum lines do not work, noting there has only been one fatal attack in Queensland in over 50 years at beaches where these measures are in place. She is also concerned about anecdotal reports from local WA commercial fishers that sharks are increasing in number and are more aggressive in their behaviour.
Senator Reynolds says all measures need to be on the table as the Senate inquiry makes its recommendations. "It's very simple, it's human lives over the lives of fish."
One thing lost in all the talk about shark attacks is that far more people drown at our beaches each year than get bitten by a shark. Since 2004-05, the lowest number of drowning deaths per year has been 69, while the highest number of shark fatalities has been four. In 2015-16, coastal drownings were up 24 per cent on the year before to 130 - in part due to a warmer summer and more people swimming - but this has not seen politicians or the public up in arms.
"The shark is revered and feared at the same time by the general community. It invokes that passion and ignites those fears," says Surf Life Saving Australia's national coastal risk manager Shane Daw. "If you're going swimming, no one sees that as a general risk. Swimming's swimming."
While not downplaying the tragedy of shark attacks, Surf Life Saving Australia says more focus is needed on broader safety in the ocean.
And as emotions and politics swirls over sharks and policymakers look for answers, victims, their families and communities are left with the ongoing trauma of a shark attack.
Dale Carr got back in the ocean eight weeks after his attack. But he finds himself having shorter surfs now.
"Every time you watch the TV and you see another shark attack victim, you know what they've been through," he says. "You relive the experience again in your mind, dredging up [the] trauma."


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The temperature is climbing; it hit 99 here yesterday and felt like a blast from a furnace. The norm is between 57 and 76 for May. Some ice cold root beer could be refreshing, however, I'll opt for water; lots of it!
Some good news: As the temperature climbed, so did the level of creativity!
It's in all of us; it's playful, fun and insightful. You gain insight into yourself and reveal your expressive self when you share that creativity with others.
For us folks that were mainly utilizing the left brain assets for many years there's a feeling of guilt that pangs up now and again, along the lines of "this is too much fun so it can't possibly be work."
Well, I've got right brain fever. It started last night when I remembered a photo I had taken a few days ago of a Victorian house; actually just the roofline of the house. I turned the camera so that the photo would be angled in an unusual way. Then I thought of the word spired …kind of like inspired.
Here was the result:
And that was just the warm up. Took a short walk this morning in the warm sunshine just before the temps rose to where you could fry an egg on the concrete! And what did I see? Lots of things: Peaches, gardens, a house being tented for termites, interesting cracks in the sidewalk, and a low wall with flowers growing beneath it.
I even took some photos of grass, freshly wet from sprinklers doing their daily job.
And for nearly every photo taken I thought of a use for it! Many will wind up on Facebook; some will wind up on my personal profile, others on Groovy Reflections, and others on ModlandUSA. A portion of them will be on Google+, Twitter, and Pinterest too.
Fever pitch: The possibilities are endless!
It is okay to be creative. Incorporate what you see into your everyday work. Share it; it's a part of you and a part of how people see you both professionally and personally.
No doubt Southside Johnny had a fever when he sang this tune and Bruce Springsteen might have been feverish when he wrote it (see below)! If you need to have your marketing heated up, stop by our website, or visit us on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+.


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GLOW Magazine!
One of the best Album Mag's there is. For an album ForgottenHope has done a fabulous job and I am very impressed.
Glow's Autumn issue has just been released making this the 4th issue so far. If you want to see it for yourself click here.
Zoe xoxo


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This position is responsible for Hospital IS Operations across the Tenet Enterprise including, but not limited to, Hospital Is Field Services, Desktop Support, Local Data Center Operations, Local Application Support and departmental budget. This leader formulates and oversees the organization's information systems planning, policies and practices in collaboration with executive leadership teams.
Responsible for influencing and directing strategy development, planning, and management of critical projects through the use of technology, clinical systems, and innovation. This individual leads critical initiatives in collaboration with the VP of Client Delivery, Home Office IT Leadership, Home Office Operations and Hosptial Senior Leadership (A-Team). The leader must baseline and define business objectives aligned with strategy, articulate the planned evolution, and successful execution thereof. It�s imperative that relevant and measurable metrics are developed, tracked, and communicated effectively to all leadership teams.
Background: Bachelor's Level Degree. Bachelor's or Master�s degree in Information Technology preferred or equivalent experience
Experience in: Ten years of progressively responsible experience with 5 years of leadership experience required.
Employment practices will not be influenced or affected by an applicant�s or employee�s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status or any other legally protected status. Tenet will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities unless doing so would result in an undue hardship.


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Asia and Pacific: South and Southeast Asia made strides in prosperity gains
From the 2016 Prosperity Index:
Four of the five countries with the largest prosperity gains in absolute terms between 2007 and 2016— Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and Nepal—come from South and Southeast Asia.
Two factors are at play. First, easing of ethnic tensions and victory over military insurgents have allowed resources previously used to maintain security to be channelled into economic and social programmes. Second, proximity to fast-growing China has created numerous opportunities. China's enormous appetite for primary commodities and consumer products has boosted export industries and facilitated local economies' integration in the global production chain. Moreover, businesses squeezed out of China by rising costs can easily migrate south to benefit from the cheap, educated labour and business-friendly policies.
Divergent domestic circumstances set Nepal and Afghanistan apart
Enjoying similar levels of wealth per person, Nepal and Afghanistan have followed starkly contrasting paths over the past decade, emphasising the importance of safety and stability to prosperity-building in developing countries.
In Nepal, the transition from monarchy to republic, after the peaceful resolution of the civil war, brought better governance and enhanced civil liberties. In contrast, recurrent conflicts in Afghanistan devastated the economy, aggravated ethnic divisions, and foiled international and domestic efforts to create effective and clean governance. The divergence between the two countries' trajectories is clearly captured in the Prosperity Index: while Afghanistan continues to struggle at the bottom of the ranking table, Nepal has made a 15-rank jump since 2007, to become in 2016 the 94th most prosperous country globally – and this in spite of the devastating effects of the earthquake in 2015.
China and India in need of greener development
China and India's unprecedented economic growth has lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty, substantially raised their people's living standards, and its increasing beneficiaries have kept pressing policy-makers for deeper economic reforms.
These achievements have come at a cost, however. Increasingly acute environmental deterioration in both countries exposes a darker side of their developmental stories. While both can boast a marked over-delivery in Economic Quality, their considerable deficits in Natural Environment – larger than any other Asian country's, with the exception of conflict-torn Pakistan and Afghanistan – indicate a long journey before they achieve comprehensive prosperity. Moreover, both countries face challenges from unbalanced prosperity paradigms: while China's long-term prosperity development may be constrained by its below-par Governance and Personal Freedom scores, democratic India struggles to improve its Education, Health, and Safety & Security performance.
Social Capital crisis in East Asia?
Already at a low level, Social Capital in China, Japan, and South Korea took a further hit over the past decade, while countries in other parts of Asia saw theirs steadily accumulating. People in these countries have historically been reserved in expressing opinions, which may explain some of the deficit. A more convincing explanation, however, highlights globalisation's impact on traditional family - and community - based social structures. This is reflected in a decline in the help extended within and between families, and in the alienating effects of rapid urbanisation, demonstrated by a widespread mistrust of strangers in China.
Divergent paths for Australia and New Zealand in the Pacific
Australia and New Zealand long enjoyed similar levels of prosperity, but in the past six years have markedly diverged.
The cause of this divergence has predominantly been structural. While in many ways New Zealand has been improving structural competitiveness, Australia's has been declining. Be it labour market flexibility, government transparency, regulation, judicial independence, or effectiveness of government, the two countries have been moving in opposite directions. For example, on hiring and firing flexibility, Australia has fallen from 71st in the world into the bottom ten, while New Zealand has risen from 107th to 58th.


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State Correction Officers and Security Hospital Treatment Assistants Plan
For ERS Tier 1 and 2 Members (Section 89)
World Trade Center Presumption
- 1
If you participated in the World Trade Center rescue, recovery or cleanup efforts, and you were a member of the Retirement System at that time, you should be aware of the benefits provided by the World Trade Center Presumption law.
- You may be eligible for an accidental disability retirement benefit if you become permanently disabled and unable to perform your job due to a qualifying condition.
- You may be eligible to reclassify your service or disability retirement benefit to an accidental disability retirement benefit if you develop a qualifying condition after you retire.
- Certain family beneficiaries may be eligible to receive an accidental death benefit if you die from a qualifying condition.
There are specific eligibility requirements and filing deadlines that must be met for these benefits. For more information, visit our World Trade Center Presumption page.


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The Madras High Court on Friday dismissed with cost yet another petition challenging the acceptance of nomination papers of AIADMK and DMK candidates in the Aravakurichi assembly constituency election slated for Saturday.
Watch What Else is Making News
A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice R Mahadevan imposed a cost of Rs 3,000 while dismissing the petition by A P Geetha of Desiya Makkal Sakthi Katchi, a candidate in the election.
The court noted that the matter of acceptance of nomination of the AIADMK and DMK candidates had already been raised in different proceedings and the court had answered this question in view of the Election Commission having accepted the nomination and allotted the symbol.
"We find, thus, such repeated endeavours a complete wastage of judicial time and consider it as a fit case where not only the petition should be dismissed but also cost should be imposed on the petitioner," the bench held.
Contending that the Election Commission had earlier annulled the election to Aravakurichi constituency in May due to malpractices allegedly adopted by DMK and AIADMK nominees K C Palanisamy and V Senthil Balaji, the petitioner said the EC ought to have rejected their nomination for the current election.


text: Our most valuable resource are those people who commit their time and energy to improving the quality of life of those we serve. Volunteers contribute many areas at Misericordia Health Centre and Misericordia Place serving residents, clinics, programs and services. We have a diverse group of volunteers with a variety of skills and talents; their contributions are essential to operations at MHC and the health-care system overall. Learn more or apply by visiting our Volunteer Services page.