text: Yes, our prices include GST and other taxes. Our policy is to offer the same prices to Australia and New Zealand customers. However, Orders which are more than the equivalent of NZ$190 and shipped to New Zealand may incur GST, customs charges and duties charged by the NZ Customs Service once the parcel reaches its destination port and must be paid by the recipient directly to the NZ Customs Service or its authorised service provider. COSETTE is not responsible for and will not reimburse any of these charges and duties.


text:
Macau's faltering gaming revenue is raising concerns about a slew of expansion plans worth a combined a US$20 billion.
In April, revenue tumbled 39 percent to 19.17 billion patacas (US$2.41 billion) from a year earlier, the 11 straight month of decline which included a record 49 percent drop in February.
This year,revenue is down a whopping 37 percent, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.
The losing streak has been reflected in dismal earnings from Macau's six casino operators, sending their Hong Kong-listed shares down by an average of 45 percent and prompting analysts to question their plans for lavish new casinos.
These projects were launched when annual gambling revenue for Macau, a US$44 billion market that still rakes in seven times as much as the Las Vegas Strip, was growing by the size of the Strip's revenue each year.
Among the projects under way is Wynn Resorts Ltd.'s US$4.1 billion Wynn Palace, scheduled to open in March 2016.
On Wynn's earnings conference call last week, an analyst asked chairman and chief executive Steve Wynn why he doesn't slow construction of the project or scale it down.
Wynn interrupted him: "Hold on. You can't slow it down. It's being finished and there's bank obligations. You can't slow it down in Macau. The building is sitting there. The skin is on. They're getting ready to fill the lake. Staff is hired."
At the same time, Wynn said he is not getting straight answers from the government when he privately seeks clarity about policies.
"The government is tentative at best in responding to us. I think that's a reflection of a little bit of their own uncertainty under the circumstances," he said. "There's a new boss in China, Xi Jinping, and his agenda is something that everybody is adjusting to."
The first project to be completed — an expansion of Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd.'s flagship resort — is expected to open this month.
Las Vegas Sands Corp., MGM Resorts International and others are also planning multibillion-dollar resort openings in the coming years.
Macau has been struggling since President Xi's crackdown on corruption began to hit hard last year.
The campaign has brought down many top mainland officials and scared off the high-rollers who used to spend billions on baccarat in Macau, the only place in China where casino gambling is legal.
In December, as Macau observed the 15th anniversary of its return to China from Portugal, Xi paid a personal visit to the casino hub and stressed the need for the territory to diversify its economy, stating that an overreliance on gambling had caused "deep-seated problems".
On Las Vegas Sands' earnings call last month, chairman and chief executive Sheldon Adelson said of the outlook in Macau: "We're sailing in uncharted waters, and I hope we don't sink like that boat off in the Mediterranean."
First-quarter net profit was down 34 percent from a year earlier, to US$511.9 million as profit from Macau plunged 54 percent.
– Contact us at [email protected]

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Wow! This is really inspiring! I am very moved by this man's story.
Ben Zhang, Founder and CEO of Greater China, Advises Entrepreneurs to 'Think Big'
"If you discover someone's pain – what makes him sleepless – you've made a sale. When you find a solution for that pain, you've gained a customer for a lifetime. When you focus on meeting someone's needs, you don't just make a sale, you gain a friend."
-Ben Zhang, CEO, Greater China
Ben Zhang is CEO and founder of Greater China. Ben holds an EMBA from Cornell University and Queen's University. He is also a University of Washington and Harvard University Alumni.
Greater China is a manufacturer and importer of custom OEM product. The company sources product needs as simple as printed toy stickers, to as complicated as detailed injection molded OEM components used in manufacturing. Since its inception in 1995, Greater China has enjoyed steady growth and demand for high-quality, high-value import services.
Q: You have an amazing story about how you got started in business. Please share it with us.
A: In 1989, my cousin, who had studied in the U.S. for more than a decade, encouraged me to go to college in the U.S. I enrolled at Lincoln University in San Francisco, thinking that since it had a famous president's name, it would have a huge campus. It was one building in downtown San Francisco. I later learned that I had mistaken "Lincoln University" for The University of Nebraska in Lincoln.
My cousin told me about another, larger university, Fresno State. I spent 13 months there in the ESL (English as a Second Language) program and improved my English. One of my roommates at Fresno State got accepted as a computer science student at the University of Washington (UW). He told me Seattle was a beautiful place, the UW was a great school, and he encouraged me to apply.
I applied and moved to the Seattle area, but my English as a Foreign Language test scores were not high enough, and I didn't get accepted. So my friend suggested that I go to South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia. I went there for two years and studied Accounting. Then I went to the University of Idaho in Moscow, ID for a semester. I did very well there, so I re-applied to the UW and got accepted.
During my last quarter at the University of Washington, I took a course in Business Entrepreneurship and wrote a business plan for "Greater China." I submitted my business plan to my professor Shannon Hauser and he gave it a "C" grade!
A few months after graduation, in 1995, I rented a 10' x 10' corner booth at the Washington State Convention Center for the Seattle Gift Show. I had $770 in my bank account, and I spent $580 of it to rent the booth. I brought product samples from the business plan competition – promotional items such as tape measures, rulers, pens, gadgets, gift items… chotskies.
During the first three and a half days of the Gift Show, nothing happened. People stopped by and asked, "What do you have? What's the price for 20 of these and 40 of those?"
I was so disappointed. The fourth and last day of show, I got a copy of the Seattle Times newspaper and started looking for jobs. I was getting ready to take down my booth when four people walked up. They started picking up items from the table. I said, "There are more here," and I pulled out boxes of samples and put everything on the table.
They picked out about ten items and asked, "How much?"
"What's the quantity you're looking for?"
They pointed to items and said, "One hundred thousand of this item. A quarter million of that one. And a half million of this one."
My jaw dropped. "I beg your pardon? Why do you need so many? What are you going to use these for? Do you have a business card?"
They handed me a business card and explained that they sold advertising for promotional products to a large bank. "We put the bank's logo on these items. When customers come in to do their banking, they give them baseball caps and pens and the like that promote their brand."
While we were talking, the Gift Show closed, so I told the customers that I would have a price quote ready for them the following Monday, after confirming the production costs with my manufacturers in China. (I had contacts with five factories in China that had supplied the samples for my business plan.)
Two weeks later, my first and only customer issued me a deposit: seven purchase orders for $65,000 each. I went from having $190 in my bank account to having $455,000.
My customer didn't know if they could trust me, so they checked my references. On my list was the UW professor who had given me a "C" on my business plan. They called him and asked, "What's your experience with this student?"
The professor told them he thought I had integrity and was dependable. He added, "If for any reason, the deposit you pay Ben is not returned, come and collect it from me."
That professor believed in me. He called me and said, "I heard you're conducting a half million dollar transaction with your client. Make sure you deliver nothing but quality, and deliver their product on time. You're not only representing yourself and your company; you are representing me and the University of Washington Business School. Once you deliver these projects, I'll let you come in my class to share the experience with my students."
You can bet I delivered quality products, on time.
Q: Do you still abide by that same business philosophy?
A: Yes. We ask our customers what their needs are. We assess their requests, look at the risks and benefits, and if we can make it work, we do it.
We care about developing long-term relationships with our customers. I believe that if you discover someone's pain – what makes him sleepless – you've made a sale. When you find a solution for that pain, you've gained a customer for a lifetime. When you focus on meeting someone's needs, you don't just make a sale, you gain a friend.
Q: How has your company grown over the years?
We have clients all over the U.S. and some in Canada, and we continue to grow. We sub-contract with Chinese factories to manufacture eight categories of products, including Cut & Sew (bags, caps, clothing, uniforms), Custom Plastics, Custom Metals, Drinkware, Small Electronics, and more.
We have sales teams in Bellevue and Shanghai. We are opening a sales office in Philadelphia in September 2013. In the next two-to-three years, we will open sales offices in Texas and California.
Q: What advice can you offer young entrepreneurs in China who are considering attending university in America?
A: America is such a land of opportunity and freedom. My advice is to dream big. Have a goal. If you come here to study, particularly to study business, an American education offers lots of practical knowledge.
Q: What would a person from China find appealing about the Bellevue/Seattle region?
A: This area is unmatchable. I studied in California, New York, Massachusetts, and Canada. The Seattle area is so beautiful. The climate is mild and has many natural resources. During our long, rainy winters, people aren't tempted to go outside like they are in California. So they stay inside and think. As a result, a lot of creative, entrepreneurial people live here.
Geographically speaking, Washington State is the closest state to China, and it is the only state out of 50 that enjoys a trade surplus with China. Ocean vessels coming from Shanghai to Seattle can get here in as few as 10 days, which is excellent for importing and exporting. Hainan Airlines and Delta both have non-stop flights from Beijing or Shanghai to Seattle.
The business climate here is incredible. We have Boeing, Microsoft, Amazon, PACCAR, Starbucks, and Costco. There are hundreds of aerospace technology companies, biotech companies and e-commerce pioneers here. There is a reason why those companies are headquartered here. Bill Gates could have chosen anywhere in the world to live, but he chose to live here.
The education system in top-notch. I wish I had known about Bellevue College when I first moved to America! The University of Washington is one of the top-10 best public universities in the U.S. Several high schools in Bellevue are ranked in the top 40 in the nation.
Q: What is the secret to your success in business?
A: I'm a hands-on CEO. I work closely with my people in supporting them to succeed, and I don't micro-manage. Nobody wants to be micro-managed. I trust my staff and, like a family, we support each other – they work for me and I work for them.
A lot of companies put the company's interest first; they don't put employees first. I believe that's a mistake. When companies put employees first, they not only survive, they prosper.


text:
Silent Selector Vol.1 Yukibeb
Silent Selector is a Mellow Orange mix series compiled by music enthusiast, who may or may not be relatively known. We hope to put a spotlight on our featured selector, just as much as we do with our music projects. Get acquainted with these selectors by getting in-depth with their stories, inspirations and influences.
Silent Selector Vol.1 - Yukibeb
"I decided to go back to my roots with this particular mix. I selected 90s jams which I used to listen to a lot in high school as well as some beats I discovered from Soundcloud digging. From classic joints by Slum Village, Pete Rock, Cella Dwealls and Edo G to Mr. Dibia$e, Fitz Ambro$e, Freddie Joachim, Moods and 14KT who are currently reppin' the underground beat scene. Although I've always been a music consumer from day one, I've discovered that it was my true passion at around 2011. I was constantly digging for instrumental music and also started making mixes for fun. Since I didn't have the patience to watch tutorials on Youtube, I trusted my instinct and let my ears guide me to blend my favorite tracks. To this day, I'm not even sure if I'm mixing the 'right' way. However, I believe there's no right or wrong with music, I see it as a way to express ourselves freely with no set rules. Each of us have different perceptions due to the experiences we've encountered in life, which get expressed through our creations.
Whether it's a track or mix, I love feeling the emotion and energy it conveys. Music has really changed my life, connected me with similar souls and also helped me discover my true self. I'm grateful for virtual communities like Soundcloud and Twitter, which are my main sources for my music and connections. Of course real life communication and relationships are important but I've also been able to connect with such amazing people online, which led to real life friends. I want to give a special thanks to the Mellow Orange fam for letting me do this mix for their new 'selector' series, as well as the constant love and support they continue to give me. I Hope to see you guys again soon in the near future; Tokyo awaits you! Much love & thank you for listening." – Yukibeb


text:
#MonthlyMotivation : August/
It's the 4th of August and I write this months post as a married lady!! Yup, it's official, I'm a Mrs. It goes without saying that July was an epic month!! Ingimar and I had thee best time in the run up to - ok, yes it was manic - and over the weekend of our wedding. But we had lots of friends and family helping out which made it so much easier (thank you). Lots of pals travelled to join us, some as far as HongKong, Singapore and India, and of course the Icelanders were there in full viking spirit. *more about the Wedding coming soon*
So, now that we're back in Iceland and getting back to the daily grind, I thought I would sit down and get the monthly motivation out there as it always set me up for the next few weeks. But first off, let's be honest, I plan on taking it a little easier for the next week (if I can allow myself) and take some time to de-stressing and re-energising after all the To-Do lists, DIYs and excitement of getting married.
I can hardly believe it, we are married!! I'm so happy and feel so lucky...I'm pretty sure that's how you're meant to feel but walking out the wedding hall as Mr & Mrs - (name to be confirmed), we both beamed with happiness and excitement "we did it". We had the best wedding, I'm not biased at all, but seriously it was fab and everything just felt so right. The set up was of course manic; getting everything to the venue and then decorating it ready for the big day, but we had a lot of help. In saying that, it was wonderful the have a venue that was completely ours to do what we liked with. We had it for the entire weekend so we could truly spend time with guests, catch up and party hard - it still flew by.
We hired a videographer to film our wedding day so I now have hours of footage to go through and edit into a short video, but I can't wait to watch it all, relive the day and share it with you. I've also planned a few side-down videos on advice for brides-to-be and DIY wedding decor.
Our home tour is still on the back burner until after all the wedding stuff is packed away or passed on to the next happy couple...currently the flat is full of beautiful and very thoughtful wedding cards, and some dried wedding flowers.
We managed a mini-moon and headed off for 3 nights to the north-west of Scotland. The weather was incredible for the first day but Scotland delivered its usual thundery showers thereafter. It didn't dampen our newly-wed spirits as we drove from Edinburgh up to Applecross, around Skye and then back down to Calendar. We visited some amazing sites from the Coral Beach on Skye to Eilean Donan Castle which I'd never been to before and was well worth a visit.
We are yet to research, plan and book the official honeymoon but I think CUBA is winning in our choices and I can not wait!!
After giving myself some 'time off' (if I can call it that) over the last few weeks, it's hard to get back into blogging, vlogging and instagramin'. I've sat down to finish writing this blog post over the last two days and each time I just wanna take a nap #WeddingFatigue (it's a real thing). Today I took myself for a nice long walk - in the rain - and went to the local coffee shop. I'm not a blogger that often hangs out and 'works' in a coffee shop but I got loads of brain storming done and am feeling a little clearer on some of my ideas and upcoming projects. And yes, I'll get round to that video or blog post on stress, updating the eCourses and all the other ideas in my new notebook.
HEALTH + EXERCISE (Roller Derby is back!!)
Well, we both fell well and truly off the low-carb-wagon pre-wedding and enjoyed the week before by eating what we liked and just enjoying life. Which is so important and I'm glad we did it. I was in no way on some crazy bridal diet, it's all about the lifestyle and so we are in it for the long haul. But having said that, the first Monday back we were both on the scales and back on the (semi) Low Carb living. I say "semi" as we are easing ourselves back in and making sure we opt for healthy, and as low carb, as we can find; food shopping is challenging on a normal diet here in Iceland. I'm back to my hard boiled eggs and spinach breakfasts, salads and natural Skyr with nuts and berries - see, doesn't sound all that hard. My sleep is on a winner right now as I'm getting 7-8 hours, I could sleep more but I am trying to stick to a routine. And finally, Roller Derby is back and we start practice again this week in the run up to skating in Reykjavik Gay Pride next weekend.


text:
I am linking up with Cara for Favorite Pins Friday.
Five for Friday will be back in August! Don't forget!!
I always prepare a couple of extra packs of "paperwork" incase I get a student after the first day.. but I never throw in things like deskplates, birthday stuff, labels, etc.. WHY? I have no idea! But, you better believe I will this year. This picture also makes me think I need to start getting organized.
Three weeks left of summer vacation for me.. BOO!
This pin did not link back to anyone.. but these birthday cups are fun! fun! The bottom has candy with paper shred on top, pencil stuck out like a straw and a blow-pop for the cherry on top. Just precious!
We have only lived in our house for 11 years.. and I still don't have anything hanging over our bed. It doesn't really bother me that much. But, I just happen to have a huge framed picture I am not using anymore.. this would be easy to do!
Oh Gosh, I am singing to the choir on this one! I worry about EVERYTHING! The nightmares have already started about school. …
My weakness is peanut butter.. I seriously can not get enough! This pie looks delish! YUM!
How clever and fun is this shape activity. And gosh.. I only have about 5,000 popsicle sticks! HA!
You can follow me on Pinterest below:


text:
"Josephine" 54" x 94" acrylic on canvas
"Circa 1950" 54" x 60" acrylic on canvas
"Soft Jazz" 44" x 52" acrylic on canvas
"Watching" 40" x 30" acrylic on canvas, original sold. giclee prints available
"Splashing" original sold, giclee prints available
"Two Brothers" 48" x 48" acrylic on canvas, SOLD
"Seminole Warrior"
Mardi Gras Series: "Revellers on Bourbon Street" 36" x 48" oil on canvas
Mardi Gras Series: "Bourbon Street Party" 23" x 23" oil on canvas
Mardi Gras Series: "Fat Tuesday" 36" x 40" oil on canvas
Mask Series: "Are You My Friends?" 30" x 24" oil on canvas
"Flight To Freedom" oil on canvas
"Am I Just Like My Mother" oil on canvas
"Personal Choices" oil on canvas
Mask Series: "Cordial Outside, Nasty Inside" oil on canvas.


text:
In just 10 years, we've become the industry leader in the car transport business. We have established a vast carrier network of the most professional truckers and a company culture of providing exceptional service to our customers.
Satisfied customers
We treat our customers' cars like they are our own. Our clients are continuously satisfied with their experience shipping through Montway.
In business
Our profound knowledge of the industry is what helped us grow to be the car shipping leader in the U.S. We've served hundreds of thousands of happy customers with our industry expertise.
Cars delivered nationwide
With hundred of thousands of vehicles delivered successfully, we're prepared to handle every possible scenario.
Trucker network
All of our truckers are chosen because of their dedication and high quality service standards.
Yes, we do. Just give us a call, and we will apply this discount to your order.
We recommend that you book your car shipment two weeks in advance before the first date the vehicle can be picked-up. The earliest we can schedule a shipment is 30 days from the first day the vehicle is available for pickup.
Your shipping time is calculated based on the distance you are moving your vehicle. We will give you this information in your quote and in your order.
Yes, it is. The insurance that will cover your automobile is the trucker's cargo insurance. We have special requirements for all the carriers that we work with in terms of the limit of their cargo insurance. Montway has contingent cargo insurance as well.
It is highly recommended that you'd be present so you can oversee the loading process yourself. In case you can't be there, a representative over the age of 18 must be present in your place.


text:
New York Cinema History Site Workshop
Instructor: Melissa Friedline (School of Media Studies)
Bachelor's Program for Adults and Transfer Students
Fridays 4:00 - 5:50 pm (offered in Spring 2015)
Explores the deep history of early American film industry and craft in the boroughs of New York City. This workshop focuses on the remaining and invisible traces of the Vitagraph Film Studios that were built around 1907 in the Midwood section of Brooklyn, NY. By engaging in a researched curatorial project of early silent film production in the neighborhood, students create critical juxtapositions of the era's dominant cultural values, US film industry history, and changing Brooklyn demographics against the presentday Midwood community. Considerations of place and questions of preservation from an economic, political and social lens are considered. Area experts and film preservationists visit (including guests from Urban Memory Project, City Lore, the Vitaphone Project, the Museum of Modern Art, and the New York Public Library) as students additionally research archives and collect oral histories in the neighborhood. The culmination of the workshop is a 1) student-curated and produced public screening of Vitagraph films for the Midwood community with workshop participants providing commentary and context and, 2) the production of a Midwood film history walking tour mobile app designed by workshop participants. Class meetings held first 5 weeks on campus and remaining production weeks off-site. Most class sessions will meet at Brooklyn location.


text:
Last year Oudeis (France) launched its first Digital, Electronic and Media art Encounter under the title « Trapped in Freedom ».
It was a one week event spred in three different places : the Espace Lucie Aubrac, le Château d'Assas and le P'tit Comptoir. Videos, installations and an ephemeral editing workshop invited the public to confront the frames of freedom through an artistic point if view.
Deadline : 30th october 2010
Contact :
0(+33) 467 688 719


text: DIV-S-STA024-IN10 The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri illustrated by italian artists and edited by Vittorio Alinari. Panel representing Dante speaking to Farinata degli Uberti in the circle of the heretics from canto X of the Inferno Format: 35 x 45 cm The e-commerce service is interrupted from July to September. Please contact email@example.com for more information.


text:
Center For Disaster Research & Education
About the Center
The Center for Disaster Research and Education (CDRE) takes great pride in its association with a number of educational and research projects across the nation. The CDRE has been involved in a variety of community-based research projects including the development of disaster plans, state hazard mitigation planning, business community branding and education.
The Center's faculty and students conduct research on various issues related to disasters, mitigation and planning. The CDRE has been involved in research funded through the National Science Foundation, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and in collaboration with other academic research centers.
CDRE Mission Statement
Provide Multi-Disciplined Education, Research, & Internship Opportunities
- current students interested in the field of environmental hazards and emergency/disaster management
Contribute to the Education of the Next Generation
- disaster researchers, emergency managers, and knowledgeable community members
Conduct Research
- behavioral and organizational response to disasters and terrorism, including the media
- risk and hazards assessment
Disseminate Research Findings
- previous & new research literature, in a language and format that is useful to the general public, mass media personnel, and emergency management personnel-as well as researchers
Contribute to the Communities within the Region and Nation
- pursuant to developing disaster resilient communities (FEMA)
Upcoming Events
This event is free and open to the public. Come and learn how you can be prepared for when disaster strikes
Student Chapter of the Year
The Millersville University's Student Chapter of the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) has been selected to receive the 2018 International Association of Emergency Managers Student Chapter of the Year Award. The Student Chapter of the Year Award recognizes an IAEM-registered student chapter which has made significant contributions in promoting IAEM, the Student Council and the field of emergency management through public awareness, increasing membership, showing leadership and initiative in education, and increasing the professionalism of emergency and disaster management. The Chapter will be presented with the award at the IAEM 2018 Annual Conference (Oct 19-24, 2018) in Grand Rapids, MI. Some of the officers including Amber Liggett Katie Prichard will attend the meeting to receive this award. This is the third time that the chapter has received this award since its establishment in 2010. Dr. Sepi Yalda serves as the Chapter's faculty adviser.
Emergency Management Program is "Best"
Millersville University topped the 2019 national rankings of Best Online Master's in Emergency Management...Read More
Emergency Management Program named "Best Value"
Millersville University ranked 6th in the 2017 national rankings of Most Affordable Online Master's in...Learn More
Emergency Management Program Named "Best Online"
Millersville University named Best Online Master's Program by BestColleges...
- For Prospective Students
- Social Media
Contact Information
Lancaster House
46 West Cottage Avenue
Millersville, PA 17551
Office Hours
Monday 8:30AM to 2PM
Tuesday 8:30AM to 2PM
Wednesday 8:30AM to 2PM
Thursday 8:30AM to 2PM
Friday 8:30AM to 2PM
Closed University observed holidays
Tel: (717) 871-7549
Contact Email
- Affiliations


text:
Japan's Chie Arimura shot a one-under 71 for a one-stroke lead over Karrie Webb of Australia after the third round of the HSBC Women's Champions in Singapore on Saturday.
Arimura had two birdies and one bogey for an 11-under 205 going into the final round. Webb shot a 70.
Read the rest of the story: Japan's Arimura Leads Webb at HSBC.


text:
New media evangelists proudly claimed that 2010 would be the 'Year of Social Media'. The real question for me as an Online Merchandiser is
how this technology can be harnessed to turn users into buyers.
Any exploration of the idea needs to come with some essential caveats. Firstly, marketers need to consider their audience carefully. Early adopters of new media networks, particularly younger people, don't tend to respond well to "their" networks being overtaken by people trying to sell them products.
A recent study by Roiworld found that 20% of teenagers now use Facebook less or not at all due to the advertising content. The brand was badly stung by privacy issues relating to advertising in 2008.
Generally speaking, web users don't mind being marketed to, providing that they have agreed to the nature of contact, and the content is relevant to them. Twitter is all too aware of this issue; as Dick Costolo mentioned at a web conference in Paris earlier this year, "Promoted tweets are not ads. They're only tweets."
Secondly, companies need to be very aware of the tone of their content. The rules of party small talk apply: it's generally best to steer well clear of politics, religion and other potentially controversial subjects.
Thirdly, consider the benefits and costs of this fast, direct and mass interaction with your web customers. It's as easy for an irate customer to post an angry tweet as it is for your best customer to sing your praises.
With that in mind, I present a list of key ideas for turning social media from an interesting diversion into a profit-making activity:
Get involved
Identify key brand advocates by using Google Alerts to spot your brand on blogs, then contact the bloggers and start to build up a relationship with them.
The benefit of having a network of (positive) content writers on tap cannot be underestimated. Also don't be afraid to respond to customer comments on blogs or tweets.
Be helpful, courteous and polite, and write to customers as if you're speaking to them on a shop floor, and you shouldn't go wrong.
Strike a balance
It's important to pitch your content in the right way, not too casual (you should be business-like) but also not too formal (customers like to see the personal touch behind the corporate face).
In my opinion, examples of brands that get this right are Topshop (read the Inside Out blog), Net-A-Porter's brilliant Facebook page, and Argos' enthusiastic tweeting.
Blog, blog, then blog again
Blogging is fantastic for SEO (which, by the way, is far from dead). Loyal customers will enjoy looking behind the scenes of your brand, and you can reward them by flagging up new product ranges, or perhaps giving early notice of sale dates.
Don't just mention your products in the text of your blog, link to them, offer a "quick buy" button if possible, and use images and video.
Measuring and testing social media activity is vital
Any web analytics package worth its salt will track social media conversions, as well as identifying referred sales. As with any online marketing, testing is the best way to evaluate the success of your campaigns.
Experiment with different forms of content (viral tweets, Facebook posts, targeted CPC advertising, blogging) and find out which works best for your customers.
Motivate your customers
Give your customers the incentive to engage with your brand. Why not run a competition for customers who comment on your blog?
A common Facebook trick is to offer a discount or promotion in return for "Liking" a brand. Similar promotions can be run on Twitter by asking customers to use a particular hashtag in their post.


text:
- Wednesday September 1st, 2010 :: 07:06 p.m. PDT
Extortion / Phone Scam
Recently, it was reported by a Grover Beach citizen that a male suspect called them on their cell phone and said they were a federal agent with the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration). The male suspect had an East Coast or Southern accent and he informed the citizen that they were being investigated for purchasing illegal drugs via an internet pharmacy. The suspect advised the citizen that their home was under surveillance and a warrant would be issued for their arrest if they did not immediately send $3,500.00 via a Western Union money transfer to an undisclosed location. In this particular case, the suspect strongly encouraged the citizen not to hang up the phone while they withdrew their money from a local bank and drove to a nearby supermarket where there was a Western Union transaction center.
The suspect used high pressure tactics and referred to legal codes in order to bolster his claims as a federal DEA agent. Fortunately, the citizen did not wire the money and the phone call was terminated.
The Grover Beach Police Department would like to caution anyone receiving these types of fast paced, high pressure phone calls from persons posing as federal agents or law enforcement officers. It is certainly not routine or acceptable for a peace officer to accept bail money via a Western Union money transfer. If a call like this is received, the receiving party should immediately terminate the call and report it to their local law enforcement agency.
Citizens can also report the scam to the following DEA hotline number: 1-877-792-2873
Grover Beach Police Department
711 Rockaway Ave
Grover Beach, CA 93433
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 805-473-4511


text:
"On Creches, Crosses, and Commandments: The Challenges of Religious Symbols on Public Property"/
December 9, 2011: John Witte
Religious symbolism cases are serious business. It's easy to be cynical about these cases — treating them as much ado about nothing, or as expensive hobbyhorses for cultural killjoys or public interest litigants to ride. But that view underestimates the extraordinary luxury we now enjoy in the West to be able to fight our cultural contests over religious symbols in our courts and academies, rather than on our streets and battlefields.


text:
EAFRD funding enabled the Monemvasia Winery to relocate to meet growing demand for Monemvasia-Malvasia wine.
Projects & Practice
project focusing on the protection and promotion of a breed of cattle specific to Western Macedonia, the Greek Red Kastoria-Kristalopigi cow.
An inter-territorial cooperation project between 11 LEADER Local Action Groups in Greece used culture as a tool to raise understanding of the unfolding migrant crisis.
Finest Greek Tastes is an ambitious LEADER cooperation project involving 21 Local Action Groups and more than 50 municipalities, working together to promote quality Greek products based on local culinary traditions and culture.
Protecting cultural and architecture heritage while creating a new tourism attraction.
A dairy company used EAFRD to finance its investment on the production of probiotic fermented products of top quality and high nutritional value (kefir).


text:
- Time: 10:00am ~ 0:00pm
- Dates: November 24, 2015 ~ December 21, 2015
- Location: 11120 Golf Links Road, Jamestown, CA 95327
Free Tour 10 a.m. Saturdays through December 21.
Enjoy seeing the lush full growth of the summer and observe leaves begin to turn autumn color. Current varieties include Fruiting / non fruiting: strawberry, plum, fig quince and olive. Deciduous: Maple, oak, rain tree, fruiting varieties, flowering varieties, mimosa, amber, and gingko. Non-deciduous: rhododendron, and manzanita. Evergreen: Fir, pine, sequoia, cedar, juniper, shimpaku, and hinoki cypress. Open during snowy weather too! alsbonsai.com
Nursery open 8am to sunset Monday through Saturday.


text:
I bought discounted vouchers in Ensogo. It's P179 for a Gold Ticket. I thought it's a good deal. Wrong! Buy 1 Take 1 din ang Gold Center tickets in MoA. Sus, nag-Ensogo pa ko. No need pala. Toinks! 0_o
Eto pa: the Gold tickets sold in group buying sites pala are just Gold Center. Iba pala ang Gold Center sa Gold Seaside. I hate that location. Walang kwenta for taking shots. Pa-upgrade daw to a Gold Seaside ticket is P150. Hhmm. I asked if pwede magpadowngrade instead. May Silver Seaside kasi, for just P100 lang. The bouncers agreed na pwede magdowngrade. Yun na. Silver Seaside it is!
seaside area
Anyway, for those who want a comfortable & decent spot + food, you may avail the restaurants with best views of the pyromusical competition.
Veranda / Bay Restaurants in MoA with view of the Fireworks
Rate varies from P400-P1,200 per person
Ground Floor: Bo's Coffee,Avenetto, Seattle's Best, Cafe Breton, Bed Scene, La Mesa Grill, Marina, Gweilos, David's Tea House, Gerry's Grill, Don Henrico's, TGIFriday's, Fish & Co., The Creamery, Racks, Yakimix, Mongolian Rice Bowls, Coffee Bean, Ebun, Cafe Mediterranean
Second Floor: Abe, Red Mango, Tajimaya, Cafe Adriatico, Gumbo, Hongkong Emperor, Jatujak, Pepper Lunch, Tanabe, Healthy Shabu-Shabu, Italliani's
Bay Area: Starbucks, Giligan's, Padi's Point, Vikings, Buffet 101, Icebergs, Dampa


text:
Experience Tranquility, Harmony and Inner Peace
Spa Mukul is a place where you can leave behind the stress and monotony of your daily life and experience tranquility, harmony and inner peace. We offer you personal time and space that is dedicated to revitalizing your body, mind, and soul. Our expansive list of services will allow you to receive rejuvenating treatments in an elegant and serene environment. Our attention to detail allows us to provide pampering and enriching services uplift and revitalize both body and soul.
The Spa Mukul includes six experiences housed in six individual, private spa suites, each harnessing a different ancient healing tradition and utilizing local Nicaraguan ingredients.
Just as with the entire resort, the Spa Mukul is blessed with the luxury of space. Artfully designed by renowned spa consultant Angel Vezina Stewart, all six spa suites are home to a different theme and sequence of treatment experiences available for three hours, half a day or a full day. Treatment rooms are large luxury suites with private steam and tropical showers, changing areas and relaxation spaces with outdoor pools. This is your own private resort within the resort - stay as long as you like.
The Healing Temple
The healing temple offers signature Asian-inspired experiences all with the purpose of ridding the body, mind, and spirit of harmful toxins and energy bringing you to a place of relaxation, peace, and wholeness.
The ritual begins with an exotic Indian herbal scrub. The herbs help improve general health and rid the body of toxins, while improving circulation and respiratory function, relaxing muscles and reducing stress. The detoxifi cation process continues in the spa garden where you alternate between the hot and cold plunge pools. The heating up of the body will stimulate blood circulation and help evacuate toxins and the cleansing of the skin. Alternating with heat and cold stimulates the blood system and triggers the creation of adrenaline while the body is suddenly cooled. This also allows the elimination of dead cells and regenerates new cells, slowing the aging process. A healing massage follows your plunge pool experience and includes Shirodara and Marma points therapy.
• Foot Ritual
• Aromatherapy Personalized Ritual
• Indian Herbal Scrub
• Hot & Cold Plunge Pools
• Massage (From our Massage Selection)
• Shirodara and Marma Points Therapy
• Abhyanga -Balinese -Thai
• Ashiatsu
The Ancient Temple
THE EXPERIENCE (3.5 hours)
The mood of yesteryears inspires the imagination and treatments of the Ancient Temple. In Pre-Colonial time, the native people of Nicaragua were culturally similar to the Aztecs and Maya; they have been a source of inspiration for centuries. Nicaraguans carry on with their ancestral traditions, including the ecologically sound use of native plants and herbal potions in healing and their deep respect for the earth and the ocean. A "living pharmacy" of locally grown medicinal plants, spices, regional flowers, volcanic clay, sea salt, sugar and herbs are used by the therapists to create unique and regional healing treatment recipes and protocols.
Regional volcanic clay or organic cacao is first applied to detoxify the skin and body. As the minerals infuse the skin, muscles are relaxed and impurities are drowned from the system. After the body mask has dried and you have showered off, you are guided to experience a traditional citric bath to relax and cleanse the body and spirit. Following is a full body massage using local coco oil packed with moisturizing Vitamin E as well as an organic facial mask to allow the powerful healing essences to be absorbed by the body. This ends our suggested Indigenous experience.
• Foot Ritual
• Body Scrub or Mask (Volcanic Clay, Organic Cacao, Aloe, or Coffee)
• Bath (Citrus or Herbal Bath)
• Traditional Nicaraguan Facial
• Massage (From our Massage Selection)
Our Recommendation of Massage Selection
• Swedish Massage
• Deep Tissue Massage
• Refl exology and Scalp Massage
The Crystal Temple
The crystal energy, auras, chakras healing session begins as soon as you walk into the dramatic high crystal spa where you will experience a visual and melodic concert of light and sounds. Rays of sunlight reflecting on flowing quartz crystals and stones create a magical dance of prisms and colors while you are enveloped by the deeply soothing sound vibration that comes from the skillful playing of the "crystal singing bowls".
A mint and sea salt bath starts this signature experience. As water and aromatherapy become infused with energy, they provide effective, fast-acting remedies on a spiritual, emotional and physical level. They relax the body and mind and prepare you to receive the aromatherapy scrub, massage and radiance beauty facial treatment that follows.
• Foot Ritual
• Aromatherapy Personalized Ritual
• Mint and sea salt bath
• Mint scrub
• Massage (From our Massage Selection)
• Radiance Facial
• Hot & Cold Stone Massage
• Holistic Raindrop Ritual
• Craniosacral Therapy
• Reiki
The Hammam Temple
Hammam means "spreader of warmth" . In creating Mukul's Hammam, we studied the sensual history of the Orient and its ancestral beauty traditions. Walking into a Hammam is like walking through time in a spacious and ornate sanctuary, a quiet retreat in an atmosphere of half-light, silence, seclusion and heat. Silence is an integral part of the cleansing process and helps the body and spirit liberate itself from excess and the superfluous. Guests come out of the Hammam session with a glow of sublime peace and euphoria.
The Hammam traditional ritual involves several steps to cleanse, detoxify, and help you relax. Your experience starts at the navel stone, a heated platform at the center of our Hammam. Once your body and limbs are relaxed, you are stretched by your therapist to take away aches and pains. Following this, you'll experience one of the world's most ancient traditions, a black-soap cleanse, followed by a cascading cold-water rinse. This prepares your skin for an invigorating scrub, which leaves you soft and free of accumulated toxins and impurities. After another rinse, a Ghassoul mask of Moroccan volcanic clay is applied to the body, face and hair. After the Ghassoul has been washed off, you are enveloped by a sensual and refreshing mist of floral rose water. The last step of this centuries-old practice of purification is the relaxing massage using pure Argan oil, Morocco's precious youth elixir.
• Relaxing time on the heated Navel Stone
• Stretching
• Black Soap Cleanse
• Exfoliating glove Scrub
• Ghassoul Mask Body and Hair)
• Massage
• Swedish Massage
• Deep Tissue
The Secret Garden Temple
What is Watsu? A unique massage therapy performed in a warm, specially designed pool that encourages complete relaxation through a combination of water and Shiatsu massage. The under-water pressure-point massage helps lubricate joints, lessens edema and arthritic swelling, and increases lymphatic drainage. The level of relaxation and mobility achieved from Watsu is deeper and more therapeutic than the typical Shiatsu massage. The daily stress, aches and toxins are eased away as breathing becomes stabilized, fatigued muscles unwind, and circulation is improved. Harmony of mind, body, and spirit is achieved.
The experience begins with the discovery of the Watsu Pool inviting you to "let go" and forget the outside world. This is a holistic and totally relaxing experience, floating and being held and stretched in the arms of your therapist. After coming out of the pool, enjoy a Nicaraguan floral body scrub followed by a relaxing massage using the essential oils of local Nicaraguan flowers.
• Foot Ritual
• Personal Profile
• Watsu
• Floral Scrub
• Floral Massage
• Swedish Massage
• Therapeutic Massage
• Deep Tissue Massage
The Rainforest Temple
In the Rainforest temple, guests can experience sea-inspired masks or scrubs. The hydrotherapy rituals are tailored to provide absolute well-being. You'll receive an invitation to ease all tension, relieve pain and soreness, reduce inflammation of joints, relax muscles and recharge the body with energy as it absorbs the proven benefits of sea-minerals and pure organic essential oils.
This experience combines the proven benefits of essential oils and hydrotherapy. Treatment begins with traditional European dry brushing to remove impurities and dry skin cells, followed by a sugar scrub or firming mask to detoxify, rejuvenate, and re-mineralize your skin. The scrub or mask is washed away by the rhythmic waterfall of the Vichy Shower followed by Mukul's signature purification massage, leaving you renewed, uplifted and feeling lighter. While you fall into a blissful state, your face is treated to a radiance facial.
• Foot Ritual
• Dry brushing
• Sugar Scrub or Firming Mask
• Vichy Shower
• Purifying Massage
• Radiance Facial
• Purifying Massage
CLASSIC SWEDISH (60 / 90 min.)
This classic, full body massage utilizes organic aromatherapy essential oils for maximum benefits. A relaxing gentle to firm massage relieves tension, soothes tired muscles, enhances circulation and improves muscle tone. The perfect choice for first timers.
DEEP TISSUE (60 / 90 min.)
For those familiar with massage this stronger, deep tissue massage helps to relieve stress and pain in problem areas such as shoulders, legs, and lower back. This promotes the release of toxins and relief from recurring muscular tension, strain and inflammation.
THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE (90min.)
An exceptional therapeutic treatment incorporating neuromuscular and trigger points release to affect muscular imbalance and structural alignment problems, the cause of chronic pain. The alternative use of hot and cold stones all over the back for tissue repair and stress reduction may be applied.
ASHIATSU BAREFOOT MASSAGE (60 / 90 min.)
A remarkable deep-tissue massage in which therapists use the heel, the arch of the foot and sometimes the entire surface of the foot to apply a more concentrated firm pressure, along with a less intense force where it's needed for longer periods. This helps relax, soften and lengthen rigid muscles, eliminate toxins from veins and lymph channels, reduce inflammation, increase blood circulation and a feeling of well-being.
WATSU (60 min.)
Watsu is a combination of Shiatsu massage and stretching in our specially designed Watsu pool. Enjoy this holistic and totally relaxing experience while floating and being held in the arms of your therapist. The level of relaxation and mobility achieved from Watsu is deeper and more therapeutic than the typical Shiatsu massage.
MOTHER TO BE MASSAGE (60 / 90 min.)
This gentle massage is designed to relieve the discomfort of edema and stress on the lower back that can occur during pregnancy. Pregnancy massage has many scientifically proven health benefits such as stimulating the blood and lymph systems, removing toxins, stabilizing hormonal levels, and adding tone and flexibility to muscles.
THE BALINESE MASSAGE (60 min)
A meditative massage based upon the history of Indian, Chinese and European influence in Bali. The Balinese massage offers a variety of techniques and tempos of acupressure, rolling motion, long strokes and percussion to invigorate the muscles, energize, and significantly increase blood circulation.
THAI MASSAGE (60 / 90 min.)
Thai massage is often called "yoga massage" because during the treatment the body is gently stretched into yoga-like positions, and if necessary, vigorous pressure, pulling and stretching the body is part of the routine. Some of the benefits of Thai massage include release from stress and muscle pain, improved circulation of the blood and the lymphatic system, body realignment and better flexibility and digestion. (Please wear loose clothing).
REFLEXOLOGY (60 min.)
Calling upon the centuries old Chinese science of reflexology, pressure is strategically applied to various parts of your feet and hands that correspond to specific organs, glands and other vital systems of the body. Reflexology is believed to increase circulation and release blocked energy, relieving stress and resetting your body's natural equilibrium.
SHIATSU MASSAGE (60 / 90 min.)
Based on the Oriental meridian system, Shiatsu allows harmonious energy to course through the body. Special finger pressure techniques are applied by a skilled and dedicated therapist with the goal of removing interruptions in the body's energy flow.
REIKI (60min.)
The Japanese word Reiki means "Universal Life Force Energy." Gentle therapeutic touch promotes the healing process, restoring harmony to mind, body, and spirit while enhancing deep relaxation. It can help you sleep and reduce high blood pressure, migraines, stress and pain.
CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY (60min.)
Craniosacral therapy is a holistic practice that uses very light touching to balance the craniosacral system in your body, which includes the bones, nerves, fluids, and connective tissues of the cranium and spinal area. Ideally suited to relieve migraine headaches, fibromyalgia, chronic sinus and middle ear infections as well as neck and back pain.
HOT & COLD STONE MASSAGE RITUAL (90 min.)
Melt into relaxation with this heady combination of massage and nurturing. Penetrating heat from warm, smooth, basalt stones relieves tension in targeted areas, while an ancient indigenous smudging ritual balances the emotions, calms the mind and renews energy.
HOLISTIC RAINDROP RITUAL (90 min.)
This ritual involves dripping ten pharmaceutical grade essential oils along the spine in sequential order to encourage the body's structural alignment and fight viruses. Excellent for boosting the immune system, releasing muscle spasms and reducing inflammation.
HAMMAM & MASSAGE (90 min.)
Luxuriate in the Hammam stone and experience a Moroccan black-soap cleansing, followed by a revitalizing massage using the traditional Argan oil, "the liquid gold" of Morocco.
Facial Skin Care
THE CLASSIC EUROPEAN FACIAL (60min.)
One of our most elaborate, complete facials, customized and recommended for any age, centers on deep cleansing regimen of four successive steps carried out with sea based products and the utmost care. This facial focuses on the improvement of skin functions, producing an awakened and dewy complexion.
CALMING AND SOOTHING (60min.)
Sensitive skin types can cool down with this soothing marine facial that reduces redness, blotchiness and stinging, while providing deep cleansing and skin detoxification. A desensitizing and decongesting facial with a probiotic, anti-inflammatory mask to produce a balanced, calm and serene complexion.
ULTIMATE ANTI AGING (90min.)
A unique anti-aging facial treatment blending the latest advanced technology of plant derived stem cells. Niacin to detoxify skin cells, fight free radical damage, stimulate DNA repair, increase cell renewal, boost hydration and improve the overall health and quality of the skin. Your complexion will look brighter and more evenly toned.
REJUVENATING AND RENEWING (90min.)
The "super-hydrating star" for dry and dehydrated skin. An immediate moisture booster and a high-performance elasticity enhancer. Boluses filled with pure seaweed and seawater pearls are massaged into the skin to bring vitality, nourishment and suppleness. A porcelain heating mask nourishes your face while your aesthetician performs an eye and hand treatment, completing this ritual.
HAMMAM HAIR & FACIAL RENEWAL (60min.)
First an orange-blossom Argan oil hair mask is applied to strengthen your hair and allow it to regain luster and shine; also recommended for dandruff or hair loss. This is followed by a rejuvenating facial that starts with a Rose d'Atlas cleansing gommage followed by floral water mist and an anti-aging facial massage using a precious orange flower and Argan oil regenerating cream.
Masks & Scrubs
FIRMING & HYDRATING BODY MASK (90 min.)
This mask stimulates circulation, firms the skin and detoxifies. The treatment begins with a traditional European dry brushing to stimulate the lymph system and is followed by a firming mask wrap and purification massage, leaving you with a light and renewed feeling.
ALOE MASK (90 min.)
Aloe is grown in abundance in Nicaragua and is ideal for soothing and hydrating sensitive skin that has been overexposed to the sun, wind and salt water. Includes a deep-hydrating lotion application.
ROMANTIC CHOCOLATE DREAM MASK (90 min.)
Experience the benefits of chocolate while hydrating your skin with this full body treatment. The treatment will begin with the chocolate fondue application. While wrapped in warm linens, you will experience a relaxing scalp massage. Our chocolate scented massage oil along with a very relaxing application will surely soothe your senses. A hot chocolate drink will complete the experience.
ORGANIC NICARAGUAN COFFEE SCRUB (90 min.)
A coffee scrub provides several skin benefits, including improved skin texture and circulation with a temporary cellulite reduction. Coffee grounds are a mechanical exfoliate, meaning they can be used to scrub away dead skin to reveal new, healthy skin underneath, whereas chemical exfoliates remove skin cells with enzymes or acidic properties. To complete the exfoliation ritual, rich moisturizer is applied over the entire body.
INDIAN HERBAL BODY SCRUB (90 min.)
This ancient ritual, originally reserved for Indian royalty and aristocracy, uses herb-infused oils and a botanical body mask to exfoliate, cleanse, detoxify and nourish the skin. A light application is followed by an herbal oil designed to combat the aging process.
MINT & SEA SALT GLOW (90 min.)
After a few minutes in the steam, this special scrub mixture is massaged onto the skin, paying special attention to dry spots including feet, knees and elbows. Treatment ends with a body rinse and an application of a silky smooth body lotion. Smells great and works wonders on dry skin. Try it and get your glow on!
ORGANIC RAW CANE CRYSTAL SUGAR SCRUB (90 min.)
This gentle scrub helps to cleanse, exfoliate and stimulate circulation to the entire body. Includes a deep-hydrating lotion application. Ideal before sunbathing for a longer lasting tan. (Please refrain from shaving or sun bathing two hours prior to treatment.)
NICARAGUAN VOLCANIC CLAY BODY SCRUB (90 min.)
Used in ancient Nicaraguan culture during their purification ritual, the application of volcanic clay is designed to exfoliate, nourish and detoxify the skin and body. To complete the purification ritual, rich moisturizer is applied over the entire body.
OCEAN CITRUS BATH (60 min.)
This rich bath is filled with cleansing and therapeutic essential amino acids contained in water. Slices of fresh citrus fruit and organic aromatherapy oils are added to the bath to refresh and remineralize the skin. Step into this gorgeous citrus bath, relax and revitalize.
HERBAL BATH (60 min.)
Get back to nature and relax in an herbal bath infused with Mukul's own "bouquet garden" made from a mixture of locally grown organic scented dried flowers and herbs. The sensual ritual of bathing will restore your vitality, calm your mind and reinvigorate your body, while softening your skin and leaving you feeling truly pampered renewed feeling.
AYURVEDIC ABHYANGA MASSAGE (60 / 90 min.)
A traditional full-body Ayurvedic massage includes the anointment of warm herb-infused oil that penetrates deeply to detoxify and nourish the nervous system and bring true balance and healing to body, mind, and senses. The practitioner mostly works with the knowledge of the marmas or indian pressure points that provide relaxation, circulation and elimination of toxins.
SHIRODHARA AND CHAMPI HEAD MASSAGE THERAPY (90 min. )
Shirodhara is an ancient Ayurvedic therapy used to restore an inner calm to the mind and balance to the emotions. The treatment begins with a gentle stream of warm herbal oil trickled continuously over the forehead area of the "third eye", which calms the nervous system and soothes the senses, similar to deep meditation. The herbal-infused oil is massaged into the hair and scalp, followed by a mini Marma points facial and a light body massage using herb-infused oil. Please let us know if you have chemically treated hair prior to the start of the treatment.
AYURVEDIC NIRVANA INDULGENCE (120 min. )
Indulge and take a voyage to renew your entire self with this "ultimate bliss." A deluxe combination of our most celebrated services. This therapeutic journey consists of a complete head-to-toe herbal body treatment and mini Marma point facial, followed by a traditional Abhyanga massage and then a Shirodhara session to melt away tension and provide an ultimate sense of bliss and tranquility. Ideal in times of high stress and prior to important events.
THE JAVANESE ROYAL LULUR (120 min.)
A luxurious ritual from the Royal palaces of central Java Indonesia dating back to the 17th century to cleanse, soothe and beautify the skin. Escape to Bali while receiving a Balinese massage combining Hindu, Chinese and European influences with jasmine-frangipani massage oil followed by an invigorating skin scrub containing turmeric, rice and jasmine. Continue with a cool yogurt splash, followed by an application of moisturizing flower oil.
Beauty Salon Services
NAIL CARe
SPA MANICURE (40 min.)
A professional manicure includes a bubbling hand soak, nail shaping, exfoliation, cuticle trimming, a moisturizing hand and arm massage with polish application that leaves hands and nails well groomed.
SPA PEDICURE (60 min.)
A professional pedicure includes a foot soak, a scrub to eliminate calluses, dry, rough and cracked skin. Nail shaping, cuticle trimmingand a moisturizing foot, ankle and leg massage is performed to bring relief. Followed by a polish application.
HAND TREATMENT & MANICURE (90 min.)
Organic raw cane crystals with almond oil mildly exfoliate then melt to release a glycolic action on the skin to even tone. The exfoliation is followed by a hydrating chocolate wrap and a therapeutic pressure point massage that focuses on stressed joints and over worked muscles of the hand and wrist. Includes a manicure.
FOOT TREATMENT & PEDICURE (90 min.)
Sea salt crystals with eucaliptus oil mildly exfoliate then melt to release a glycolic action on the skin to even tone. The exfoliation is followed by a hydrating chocolate wrap and a therapeutic pressure point massage that focuses on stressed joints and over worked muscles often associated with high heels. Includes a pedicure.
POLISH CHANGE (20 min.)
Hair Services
Women's shampoo & hair cut
Men's hair cut
Shampoo & Blow dry (short)
Shampoo & Blow dry (medium)
Shampoo & Blow dry (long)
Shampoo & Flat iron
Bride hair style design
Repairing hair treatment & scalp massage
Repairing hair treatment & blow dry
Each spa temple includes its private lounge and pool area and these facilities can be booked on their own or in conjunction with a 90-minute treatment. For full 3.5 hour signature experiences, the time included to enjoy the facilities can also be extended upon request.
Email: email@example.com
Dial: Ext. 7006
Cancellation Policy: Guest who cancel an appointment with less than 6 hours notice will be charged full price.


text:
32,507 Likes 1,610 Dislikes
Purchase the best Soccer, Basketball and Football cases.
http://sportzcases.com?aff=184 Use Promo Code: SportVines For 10% Off!!
I Hope You Enjoyed This Sport Vines 2018 Compilation !
Please Like, Share and Subscribe !
"YouVidi" Video Enjoyment Video Find! You want to watch, what have you.
Funny Videos | Animal Kingdom | Watch Movie | Listen Music | Watch Sports | Beautiful Makeup | Blogger
©2011-2017 All Right Reserved. www.youvidi.com DesignedBy Tasarımlık.com email@example.com
Follow @youvidi


text:
My Super Grown-up Anti-Fear Technique/
Sometimes I fight fear by being louder than it is. By snarling back. By singing fight songs and shouting rah-rah-rah and doing a few high kicks. Sometimes that's what works.
But sometimes, when fear throws itself at me, I duck.
A few years ago, I was ready to walk away from writing. I'd tried, I'd failed (or so I thought). I wouldn't miss writing, and writing wouldn't miss me.
And in the midst of my certainty that I was done-done-done... I got this beautiful novel idea.
A middle-grade fantasy meets magical realism meets historical meets I'm still not very sure what.
I fell completely in love with this story.
But for some reason, every time I worked on the draft, I panicked.
I got all skittish. Twitchy. I found myself backing away from the desk.
Something about this project ignites all kinds of fear for me. And I'm still not 100% sure why.
Maybe because it's full of the things I care most about: moments of beautiful truth, light versus dark, what it means to be a family, and finally a bunch of outcasts fighting for the sake of a city (which seems to be what I write about, time and time again).
It's quirky, funny, very dark, very bright. It haunts me.
I was terrified to write it.
After a few weeks of "writing"--which was really me wandering around and doing anything but write--I figured out what to do.
I didn't get serious about making progress no matter how I felt. I didn't post motivational quotes all over my work space. I didn't make a big show of cheering myself on.
I went to bed.
I glanced over at my desk, over at fear, and I said, "oh, don't mind me." I dragged my papers over to my bed, arranging all my reference material. Off-handedly. Casually.
This isn't a big deal, I told myself. Probably I'm just going to nap.
But I didn't. I snuggled under those covers, I turned my bed into a writing cave, and I wrote that story.
I coaxed myself forward, one page at a time, one paragraph at a time. "I will just write this next sentence," I'd say. "And isn't it nice and cozy in here?"
Fear was still nosing around at my computer, so I just stayed in bed. I stayed in the place where I felt like I was whispering my story, like I was telling secrets. I ate cookies. I said, "We'll just see what comes next."
And that's how I got the draft done.
Ducking fear every step of the way.
I know that I tend to take the opposite route. After all, fear bullies us around plenty. I like bullying back, when I can.
But some manuscripts are too fragile for shouting.
When things are hard--when they are really hard, when it's storming inside--here's what you do.
Be ridiculously nice to yourself. Do outrageously kind things for you and your writing life.
Do whatever it is that makes a safe zone around you. Tell yourself whatever it is that you need to keep you safe.
What would that look like for you? Light some candles. Crawl under your coziest blankets. Buy yourself a few armloads of fresh flowers and put them all over your office.
Maybe you surround yourself with photographs of everyone who believes in you. Or maybe you eat all the chocolate, or maybe all the cheese. (And then have some carrots with dinner, okay, because health and stuff.)
Create a safe place. Tell yourself it's okay. And believe it, when you say it.
And from that safe place, with the blankets around you and the candles lit and the good music on:
From that place, you write.
Wanna keep reading? Check out Go and Be the Adventurer You Are and 3 Fears that Stop Us from Beginning Something Good.


text:
- vess5
- 6 years ago
- Wedding: April 2014
Please share your ideas for items I can add to my registry for around $30 and under!
Please share your ideas for items I can add to my registry for around $30 and under!
Lots of kitchen gadgets fall in this range; you can register for exactly the pices you want or need instead of sets. Casual serving bowls, Pyrex, bakeware – many of those pieces can be easily found under $30.
Towels, especially hand towels and wash cloths.
A fun vase, print, throw pillow, picture frames.
What sorts of things do you do or use regularly?
@RedHairing: I just took another look at my registry (I made it a looooooong time ago) and there are many more under 30 items than I thought! Mostly made up of the things that you suggested! I actually think I'm in pretty good shape 🙂
@HourThyme: What food chopper do you use? I do not have one of these listed yet.
def pyrex, love mine.
@yehyehgirl I guess great minds think alike! 🙂
Things that I got & loved under $30 were plain white bath towels from Target. They are huge and fluffy & I just love them. We also got thing veggie/fruit chopper called the "Vidalia Chop Wizard" which I really like because I can cut veggies for soups and stews, and it doesn't make a mess of my counter because it keep the veggies in the little container, plus it measures the veggies for you too, which is kind of cool. We also got a 13 piece set of pyrex, which is quite nice.
The topic 'Ideas for Registry items under $30?' is closed to new replies.


text:
Our building will have a power failure at a particular time. You may want your computer to stay on til just before the power goes out due to various reasons:
- It may be a web or file server serving other clients around the world.
- You may want to access it from a remote location
Choose Start->Control Panel->Scheduled Tasks. Right click (or hit the Context menu button on your keyboard) and choose Open. (this avoids the Scheduled Task Wizard)
Choose File->New->Scheduled task and give it a name. Hit Enter or dbl-click on it to tell it what to do. I want it to run the Shutdown command in a command prompt.
Be sure the Run As, password are set, so the task has the rights to run.
So type in "cmd /c shutdown –f –s" and schedule it as you like.
Usage: shutdown [-i | -l | -s | -r | -a] [-f] [-m \\computername] [-t xx] [-c "comment"] [-d up:xx:yy]
No args Display this message (same as -?)
-i Display GUI interface, must be the first option
-l Log off (cannot be used with -m option)
-s Shutdown the computer
-r Shutdown and restart the computer
-a Abort a system shutdown
-m \\computername Remote computer to shutdown/restart/abort
-t xx Set timeout for shutdown to xx seconds
-c "comment" Shutdown comment (maximum of 127 characters)
-f Forces running applications to close without warning
-d [u][p]:xx:yy The reason code for the shutdown
u is the user code
p is a planned shutdown code
xx is the major reason code (positive integer less than 256)
yy is the minor reason code (positive integer less than 65536)
Over the years, I've used the task scheduler to run various processes (like compiling or syncing) automatically.
There is also the AT command:
The AT command schedules commands and programs to run on a computer at
a specified time and date. The Schedule service must be running to use
the AT command.
AT [\\computername] [ [id] [/DELETE] | /DELETE [/YES]]
AT [\\computername] time [/INTERACTIVE]
[ /EVERY:date[,...] | /NEXT:date[,...]] "command"
\\computername Specifies a remote computer. Commands are scheduled on the
local computer if this parameter is omitted.
id Is an identification number assigned to a scheduled
/delete Cancels a scheduled command. If id is omitted, all the
scheduled commands on the computer are canceled.
/yes Used with cancel all jobs command when no further
confirmation is desired.
time Specifies the time when command is to run.
/interactive Allows the job to interact with the desktop of the user
who is logged on at the time the job runs.
/every:date[,...] Runs the command on each specified day(s) of the week or
month. If date is omitted, the current day of the month
is assumed.
/next:date[,...] Runs the specified command on the next occurrence of the
day (for example, next Thursday). If date is omitted, the
current day of the month is assumed.
"command" Is the Windows NT command, or batch program to be run.
See also
How To Use the Remote Shutdown Tool to Shut Down and Restart a Computer in Windows 2000
You Cannot Schedule a Windows XP-Based Computer to Shut Down and Restart by Using the AT Command with Shutdown.exe


text:
I recently visited the beach that my family frequented when I was a child. I saw a house that I remember admiring as a little girl, which is now for sale. Part of me thinks how amazing it would be to live at the beach, in this beautiful home. Serene, tranquil sanctuary. But then the Spirit reminds me how detrimental that thought process is.
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money." Matthew 6:19-24
Comfort does not lead to happiness, it leads to complacency. If I am comfortable here on earth, then my focus becomes about me, and my comfort. As comfort becomes my idol, as I continuously seek it, then I slowly become increasingly complacent until I cannot see past my own life. Suddenly those in need around me can cause me to turn my head and avoid acknowledgement.
Except, we don't have to own a million dollar home on the beach to become complacent. Living in a first world nation makes it all too easy to live our rich lifestyles (Approximately 56% of the world's population lives on $730/year or $2 a day so we are, in fact, rich in comparison), focusing on topics such as style trends, celebrities and latest electronic devices, turning our proverbial cheek to those in our own neighborhoods, our own country and around the world struggling to get through the day. In 2010, approximately 49 million Americans were living in food insecure households. In 2011, there were approximately 635,000 homeless people in America. Approximately 885 million people worldwide do not have access to clean and safe drinking water. According to the Christian Orphan Alliance, there is currently 153 million orphans worldwide.
We are called to find our comfort in Christ. The comfort we find in a delusional reality of riches is sedating and deadening. The comfort we find in Christ, and serving Him out of love to reach those in need, is enlivening and uplifting, not because it is easy but because it is worthwhile.


text:
Reclamation, Native & Wildflowers
Reclamation, Native & Wildflower Seeds
Chesapeake Valley Seed is a supplier and distributor of wildflower, reclamation and native grass seed species for government agencies, municipalities, landscapers and contractors. Through personable communication and close examination of your unique needs, our seed sales and distribution staff will help you identify the best seed mixes and varieties for your specific requirements. Contact us today for more information on our reclamation, native and wildflower seed varieties, blends and mixes.


text:
The Senate on Tuesday soundly rejected efforts to impose a ban on congressional earmarks, throwing a wrench in House efforts to significantly curtail pet projects this election year.
With 15 Republicans joining most Senate Democrats, the Senate rejected by a 29-68 vote an amendment by Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) that would have established a one-year moratorium on earmarks. The measure, proponents said, would restore trust in Congress at a time when ethical controversies involving earmarks have roiled Capitol Hill.
The Sunlight Foundation has been making the case that the answer is not earmark bans but greater earmark transparency. Agreed.
What Congress really needs to do is pass real earmark reform. Earmark reform that makes the process totally transparent and encoded in rules or laws. Committee imposed rules or bans can easily be changed or circumvented — this includes the committee's imposed rules on earmark transparency.
Congress will always find a way to wriggle out of outright bans. That is just the way it is. They will shift money around or ask colleagues to request it to "hide the money trail." Emphasizing transparency will eliminate these loopholes.


text:
Keys - Skins - Cards
Online Games
£ Currency
You need help with tedious or monotonous quests in World of Warcraft? You don't want to go on a lengthy hunt for a specific item? You lack of time or motivation to handle long-tern quest chains? Then our WoW Quests are the optimal solution for you!
Let us take care of your daily quests, gather equipment or acquire all flight points in WoW for you! No matter which kind of task an NPC demands from you, here you will find a wide selection of quests that we can handle for you, including repeatable quests, gathering tasks, long-term quest chains (several successive tasks which will lead to a certain result), quests to improve your reputation, or tasks which only World of Warcraft players who belong to one of the opposing sides (Alliance or Horde) or even only characters of a specific class can take on.


text: Carol is talented beyond words. She comes up with things that are out of this world. Her painting is beautiful, her ideas are amazing and they are always different. No two things are like. She did both my home and office and did everything from the window treatments to the bedding. She is really great to work with.


text:
Although this headline was already used, it fits best to the current state I am seeing myself in:it's strange. In my thoughts I am still in Madrid with my friends over there, thinking about the good times we spent there over the last months.
Missing it a lot on the one hand, on the other hand I have to face my present, which will take place here for the next upcoming six months. But it is quite hard seeing that little town with its "weird" inhabitants. Trying to escape to Ulm, which is supposed to be the next bigger city, doesn't help me out that much neither.
But I was very happy and thankful to have my best friends around me in my first days being back home. On the on hand Guido from Munich joined me, on the other hand Sandi and the girls were out with us as well and some other close friends could be met as well. So... this was, how I could spend some hours without thinking of Madrid and obviously being sadish... Here are some pictures of the nice sunny days I had thanks to Guido and the others. Thx therefore.


text:
Mother charged with DWI after 17 injured in crash
STOKESDALE, N.C. (WGHP) – A mother driving with her baby faces charges of driving while impaired in connection to a crash with a van that injured 17 people.
Diadra Rachel Shaffer, 35, of Stokesdale, has been charged with driving while impaired, careless and reckless driving, misdemeanor child abuse, driving left of center and driving with a license revoked.
Crews responded to the scene shortly after 7 a.m. after authorities said a Chevy Blazer driven by the suspect headed northeast on Hwy. 158 crossed the center line in the area of 9010 Hwy. 158.
The bus went to the right to try to avoid the crash and the two collided, causing the bus to overturn, according to Trooper J.T. Mitchell with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.
Seventeen people were injured at the scene, including 15 from the bus and two from the Blazer, according to Mitchell.
See images from this story:
See Gallery
Fifteen were taken to hospitals by an ambulance and two were airlifted. The suspect, who drove the Blazer, and her 1-month-old child in the Blazer were injured, with the driver being serious.
The van contained one serious injury and others having minor injuries, according to Christopher Knox, North Carolina State Highway Patrol master trooper.
Five patients were taken to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, two that were airlifted and three taken in an ambulance.
Seven were taken to Moses Cone in Greensboro, three were taken to High Point Regional and two other patients taken to Moses Cone MedCenter in High Point.
Highway patrol said the suspect was under the influence of an impairing substance other than alcohol.
The driver of the Ford van was identified as James Edward Martin, 60, of Martinsville, Va.
The van was a rental vehicle and the people inside were a group from the Kingdom Hall Jehovah's Witnesses of Martinsville, Va. traveling to Salisbury, according to Knox.
US-158 was closed for several hours due to a hazmat spill of gasoline from the Ford van, but has since reopened.


text:
Peter Hannan recipient of the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from Irish Food Writers' Guild
Best Ribeye Steak & Best Fillet Steak with our Himalayan Salt Aged Beef at this years Blas Na HEireann #Blas2018 Food Awards.
Peter Hannan and Pat Whelan have joined forces for a product that will be '10 times as powerful'
Great British beef cuts the mustard
Great Taste Supreme Champion 2016 is awarded to Glenarm Shorthorn 4 Rib Roast from Hannan Meats
Celebrating the very best in food and drink, Great Taste, the world's most coveted blind-tasted food awards, has reached its grand finale for 2016.
Fiona Beckett is an award-winning journalist and blogger and writes for the Guardian about wine and other drinks.
For other suggestions, check it out her own website matchingfoodandwine.com.
We don't think twice about sharing a weekend roast so why when it comes to steak do we feel we have to have our own? You could argue I suppose that a couple might, like Jack Sprat and his wife, prefer different cuts or degrees of 'doneness' but even they managed to 'lick the platter clean'!
A shared steak enables you to enjoy a bone-in cut like a T bone with all the additional flavour it gives you. Even fillet can be shared (and stretched more economically). And given that you can cook it ahead and serve it at room temperature it makes for a simple Valentine's night supper leaving you plenty of time for …. no, I won't go into that.
So what to drink? The assumption is that steak needs a full-bodied red - something like a cabernet sauvignon or a malbec from that land of steak, Argentina but that's not invariably the case.
Delicate fillet, for example, pairs perfectly with fragrant pinot noir (New Zealand, better known for its sauvignon blanc, is a more affordable and consistent source than burgundy.) Or try another light, juicy red, the charmingly named Saint-Amour, one of the 'crus' or villages that have their own appellation in the Beaujolais region. A creamy mushroom sauce will make this style of wine taste even more delicious.
Fattier cuts like ribeye work well with reds that have a bit of acidity to them like Chianti Classico or other Tuscan reds.
If you like your steak medium to well done you'll find it goes best with more mature reds like aged red bordeaux, barolo or rioja gran reserva that might be overwhelmed by heavily charred rare meat.
Serve a rich béarnaise on the side and you may be surprised to find you can drink an oaky chardonnay - a good option for those who don't really like red wine.
Then yes, by all means enjoy your big hearty red whether it's cabernet, malbec, merlot or shiraz. They're best with a rare steak and/or a rich red wine sauce. Just bear in mind - the rarer the steak the bigger the tannins (the slightly bitter sensation you get when you drink an oak-aged wine) and level of alcohol it can handle. To put it in a nutshell big reds need rare beef!
*Oh, and a final tip. If you want a young red to taste smoother and more velvety 'double decant' it. In other words pour it from the bottle into a jug then back again into the bottle (a funnel helps you do this without spilling the wine). It lets air get into the wine more effectively than just decanting it - though you can of course leave it in a decanter if you prefer.
Fiona Beckett is an award-winning journalist and blogger and writes for the Guardian about wine and other drinks.
For other suggestions, check it out her own website matchingfoodandwine.com.
There's so much to think about at Christmas, worrying about what wine to drink might seem way down your list of priorities but it can definitely add to your and your guests' enjoyment of the day. Don't be afraid to break with tradition though - food and wine matches are not set in stone.
Here are some wines you might not have considered:
Turkey (or chicken)
Most people would think of red wine with turkey and of course that works but you might be surprised that a rich white wine like a chardonnay can be equally good especially with a fruity apricot stuffing or a light gravy. In terms of red wine I'd pick a good hearty Côtes du Rhône or Languedoc red that will cope with the stuffing and sides. Or even an Aussie shiraz.
You might feel you should splash out on an expensive bottle of Bordeaux but you know what? You don't have to. Almost any full-bodied red will go with a good piece of beef. Most people adore Malbec these days so that's a safe bet but a good cabernet sauvignon or cabernet blend from the southern hemisphee would also hit the spot. Look out for wines from South Africa's Stellenbosch or Australia's Margaret River regions
Pork is another meat that can take white or red. Chenin blanc or viognier are reliable white wine choices though a dry riesling can also be delicious, especially with pork belly. Try a modern Spanish red like a Mencia if you fancy a red.
One of my best matches this year was The Meat Merchant's bacon ribs with parsley sauce and a Meursault but a smoky southern Italian red* with an intriguing hint of cloves was a close runner up. (Cloves and roast ham being a well-honed combination.) And never mind wine - cider and bacon are absolutely cracking together!
One of the simplest pairings to remember. Pinot noir loves duck, duck loves pinot noir. Doesn't have to be burgundy. You find great value pinots from Chile and New Zealand these days.
Smoked salmon
Always associated with champagne (or, these days, prosecco) but actually delicious with many still wines too. Try it with New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc or - if you're a sherry fan - a chilled glass of fino or manzanilla sherry. It's lovely with a light malt whisky too. Try it with a tot of Bushmills!
Christmas pudding
Depending on your recipe (EVERYONE thinks their mum's is the best) it can be light and fruity or dark, dense and sticky but either way it's still pretty rich especially once you add some boozy cream! Look out for an orangey Spanish moscatel like Moscatel de Valencia - one of the best value dessert wines out there.
Mince pies
Who puts out a glass of sherry for Santa to drink with his mince pies? Well, it's a good choice! Cream sherry, though much maligned, is delicious with mince pies but so are other fortified wines. Try a sweet madeira for a change.
Chocolate log
Light elegant dessert wines like Sauternes can be overwhelmed by the richness of chocolate desserts so go for a sweet red instead. A young ruby port (usually labelled vintage character or reserve) or a Maury from the south of France are two good choices.
Port is the classic choice, of course, but why not try a nutty 10 (or even 20) year old tawny rather than a late bottled vintage or vintage? Or - and this is brilliant I promise you - a wee glass of sloe gin!
* a blend of nero d'avola and nerello mascalese for those of you who like to know these things
I recently popped over to Fortnum & Mason for lunch. This was billed as a beef lunch to test out one of their new products, Hannan Himalayan Salt Cave Beef…
From Sunday Life Feb 2013… A LOCAL firm of butchers has been hailed as the supplier of the "best steak in the world" by an influential critic…
Hannan Meats Moira break all records at this years Great Taste Awards, the Oscars of artisan foods across the UK and Ireland.
Here is a fantastic piece on Northern Ireland artisan food producers on "The Food Programme" on BBC radio 4. Valentine speaks with Peter at 10 min 50 secs but the whole programme is really worth listening too!
As a major supplier of meat to leading hotels and high–end restaurants in Northern Ireland, London and other UK cities, Hannan Meats is using a 12ft high solid wall of Himalayan rock salt bricks to offer foodservice clients dry–aged beef with an exceptional flavour.
The translucent blocks which vary in colour from white to orange and a myriad of shades of pink were imported by Hannan Meats from mines in the foothills of the Himalayas in Pakistan's Punjab region, which date back over 250 million years. Each of the 1,000 salt blocks was individually hand cut.
The health and therapeutic benefits of Himalayan salt have been known for centuries, but its benefits in the dry–ageing of meat are only a recent phenomenon.
Through a process called ionisation, the negative ions from the salt counteract the positive ions of meat, and result in a totally unique sweet and flavoursome end product. It is not the salt alone, but a combination of temperature, humidity, and UV light combined, that deliver supreme dry–aged meat.
Peter Hannan, managing director of Hannan Meats, commenting on the company's decision to invest in the wall, says: "We're really excited by the stunning flavour of the beef that we are now able to offer our chefs. The Himalayan salt is exceptional in terms of purity and its flavour enhancing qualities.
"The wall of salt enhances the overall ageing process over a period of 28–45 days. We're using the new ageing room to dry–age premium beef sourced from local suppliers which ensures provenance. All of our Glenarm Shorthorn, and European Angus beef loins and ribs will now be aged in the Salt Chamber.
The salt wall creates the perfect environment over the ageing period, and concentrates the flavour of the meat. It purifies the air in the room, producing a clean and fresh atmosphere," . "Working in the Chamber is like going for a walk on the beach".
Whether it's science or alchemy, or a combination of both, the result is aged beef with a purity of flavour not often encountered before


text:
The Cutting Room Floor
When it comes to preaching, my weekly challenge is not having enough to share, it is having too much to share. It seems that most every week I am wading through a river of Greek and Hebrew exegetical helps, a number of biblical commentaries, historical sources, and then topping it off with healthy dialog with trusted friends on our staff. In the end, I can't include everything I have studied in a sermon, only what I sense are the essential things that contribute to the message God has for that week. Of course that leaves me with pages of notes that at times end up "on the cutting room floor."
Here you can reach down and retrieve some of those notes. We'll take a behind-the-scenes look and see what God might be speaking to us as we do.
When it comes to your relationship with God, is your focus information or fellowship? Jesus saved you for . . .
When it comes to your relationship with God, are you a "son" or a "slave"? The answer may surprise you.
This week in the Cutting Room Floor I unpack one word that is critical to being Jesus' disciple.
Preaching on forgiveness always raises some great questions. Here are two and a reminder of the big reason we forgive.
There is life beyond life ... that's what Jesus says. This week's Cutting Room Floor explores what Jesus meant in Luke 14 when he talked about "the resurrection of the just."
God's people get to bring hope to those traveling in the desert of life. Here's how ...
In Luke 5, Jesus is showing grace to the outcasts and marginalized of society. We think his focus is the tax collectors and sinners. Look closely, there are some familiar faces in that crowd.
In Joshua 1:8, God promises "prosperity and success." Hearing those words we may be thinking dollar signs, but looking deeper we find that it is so much more than that!
In this week's Cutting Room Floor we revisit Psalm 118:10-12, "In the name of the LORD I cut them off." What does the psalmist mean by "I cut them off" and what are the implications for you?
Could it be that it takes "fear" to get rid of fear? In this week's Cutting Room Floor, I discuss the fear that drives out every fear.
This week in The Cutting Room Floor we are going to explore the importance of resting in the reality of the resurrection -- what keeps us from that, and how to do it.
Jesus' departure had profound implications for him. It has profound implications for you too. In this three-minute video Tommy takes you back to the Mount of Transfiguration and from there right to where you are today.
When it comes to love what is the difference between "covenant love" and "contractual love"? In this week's edition of The Cutting Room Floor, Andy Nelson explains the difference and why it matters.
In this week's edition of The Cutting Room Floor we'll take a look at the "reverse of the curse." You'll discover what happens in marriage as God renews our desire.
What is heaven like? To some, eternity brings images of clouds, harps, and eternal worship services. It's really so much more than that. In this week's Cutting Room Floor, I take a look at what we mean when we say, "I believe in the life everlasting."
In this week's edition of The Cutting Room floor I take a look at the often troubling phrase in the Apostles' Creed: "I believe in the Holy Catholic Church."
This dream has been a long time coming, but it is finally here . . . the first edition of The Cutting Room Floor.
When it comes to preaching, my weekly challenge is not having enough to share, it is having TOO MUCH to share. Take this past Sunday. I preached on The Warning That Sobers Us from Romans 12:11-14. One would think that breaking down five verses would be the proverbial cakewalk. Actually, it was more like preparing a seven-course meal. Here are the sources I consulted: