text:
|Amaral L1,2*, Spengler G2, Martins A2,3 and Molnar J2
|1Travel Medicine of the Centre for Malaria and Other Tropical Diseases (CMDT), Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Lisbon, Portugal
|2Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunobiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
|3Unit of Parasitology and Medical Microbiology (UPMM), Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Lisbon, Portugal
|Corresponding Author :
|Amaral L
Travel Medicine of the Centre for Malaria and Other Tropical Diseases (CMDT)
Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Lisbon, Portugal
E-mail: [email protected]
|Received July 17, 2013; Accepted August 21, 2013; Published August 28, 2013
|Citation: Amaral L, Spengler G, Martins A, Molnar J (2013) Efflux Pumps that Bestow Multi-Drug Resistance of Pathogenic Gram-negative Bacteria. Biochem Pharmacol 2:119. doi:10.4172/2167-0501.1000119
|Copyright: © 2013 Amaral L, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Visit for more related articles at Biochemistry & Pharmacology: Open Access
|Multi-drug resistant bacteria; Efflux pumps; Genetic regulation; Mechanism of action; Inhibitors
|Efflux pumps are integral plasma membrane protein systems that recognize and bind noxious compounds present in the cytoplasm (toxic products produced by metabolism; compounds that have penetrated the cell), or periplasm of the bacterial cell and extrude it into the environment in which the bacterium resides [1]. The efflux pump machinery gives the cell additional protection to the one provided by the constituents of its cell wall (example: lipopolysaccharides), and provides an initial protection to noxious agents present in its natural environment that have penetrated into the cell (example: bile salts in the colon) [1]. The efflux pump machinery is divided into five superfamily classes; the major facilitator (MF), the ATP-binding cassette (ABC), the resistance-nodulation-division (RND), the small multi-drug resistance (SMR) and the multi-drug and toxic compound extrusion (MATE). With respect to Gram-negative bacteria, although they all play important roles in the protection of the bacterium from noxious agents present in the environment, the main efflux pump of the Gram negative bacterium is a member of the RND superfamily, and because multi-drug resistance of clinical isolates have been associated with the over-expression of this pump, it has received a great deal of attention [2].
|The first in vitro response of bacteria to a given noxious agent, such as an antibiotic, is to over-express its main efflux pump [2]. If the bacterium is serially exposed in vitro to increasing concentrations of that compound, it responds by increasing the effective number of its main efflux pump, as well as others that provide redundant protection [2]. However, if that "adapted" bacterium is now maintained at a constant level of a noxious agent, the level of efflux pump activity increases up to a maximum, followed by a gradual return of efflux pump activity to its basal level. Concomitant to this process, an accumulation of mutations of essential proteins located in the plasma membrane (example penicillin binding proteins), mutations 30 S component of the ribosome and gyrase take place [3]. These events suggest that when the organism is faced with an environment that contains a constant toxic level of a compound, and the cost for maintaining an energy consuming system, such as that needed for the energy dependent efflux pump, is too great a price to pay. Therefore, in order to survive in this unchanging environment, other mechanisms are activated. For example, activation of a mutator master gene is thought to be an important step at this level, which results in the mutation of genes that code for essential proteins, reversing the over-expression of efflux-pumps, but still conferring the bacterial resistant to the environmental pressure via other mechanism(s), yet to be understood [4,5]. This sequence of events can be an explanation for what takes place when a patient is treated with an ineffective constant dose of antibiotic(s). During such therapy, the level of resistance increases many fold higher than that of the initial infecting strain. Hence, clinical isolates from treated patients often show much higher levels of antibiotic resistance than that of their wild type counterpart (sometimes it can even present a 1000 fold increase) [6]. Moreover, at this stage, resistance is usually related with the presence of mutations, which reduces the survival of the resistant bacteria, once it is transferred to a noxious agent-free environment that contains the competing wild type counterpart [3,4]. However, depending upon when during therapy a clinical strain is isolated, its resistance to two or more antibiotic classes (multi-drug resistance (MDR)), may be due entirely to over-expressed efflux pumps; to a mixture of over-expressed efflux pumps and increasing accumulation of mutations; and only to mutations [3,4]. The degree of resistance due to any of the aforementioned possibilities can readily be determined with methods that employ compounds known for their modulation of efflux pump activity, such as phenothiazines [7] or phenyl-arginine-betanaphthylamide (PAβN), the latter which competes with the antibiotic as substrate of the efflux pump [8]. If in presence of such compounds, the MDR bacterium is rendered fully susceptible to the antibiotic(s) to which it was initially resistant, resistance is most likely due to its overexpressed efflux pump systems. Contributions made by accumulated mutations render the organism less and less affected by the EPI. This type of information is of great value to clinicians faced with long-term therapy of a bacterial infection that progresses to an MDR phenotype. It should be understood that although the Gram-negative bacterium has essentially one main efflux pump, such as the AcrAB (Escherichia coli) or the MexAB (Pseudomonas aeruginosa), the deletion of the main efflux pump results in the over-expression of one or more other RND efflux pumps, such as is the case for deletion of the AcrAB, followed by the over-expression of the AcrEF pump [2]. Redundancy of as many as nine RND efflux pumps [2], provides additional protection to the organism.
|Understanding the physical chemistry, physiology and regulation of efflux pumps of Gram-negative bacteria is, therefore, important for the development of drugs that may be used as adjuvants, in combination with antibiotics for therapy of an efflux pump dependent MDR Gramnegative infection. The main efflux pumps of Gram-negatives are members of the resistance-nodulation-division (RND) superfamily. The pumps belonging to the RND family form a tripartite complex together with the periplasmic proteins belonging to the membranefusion- protein (MFP) family and the outer membrane channels. RND transporters consist of a transporter protein that recognises and binds the noxious agent in the cytoplasm or periplasm and transports it to the contiguous channel (TolC), ending at the surface of the outer membrane. The transporter is attached to the plasma membrane by two or three fusion proteins, which are believed to assist the extrusion of the substrate by peristaltic actions [9]. Although the actual structure of RND efflux pumps in the cell envelop is not completely understood, the structure of the transporter, TolC and fusion proteins are well established for major Gram-negative bacteria [10].
|RND efflux pumps obtain their energy for activity from the proton motive force (PMF). The PMF results from metabolic activity of the cell. However, whereas at pH above 6.5, the efflux pump is totally dependent upon metabolic activity controlled by the ATP synthase, at lower pH efflux activity is independent of metabolism [11]. Because the dissociation constant of the bound substrate from the transporter is pH dependent (at pH of 7 dissociation is very slow compromising the activity of the pump), we have from many of our studies concluded that the PMF energy dependent efflux pump most likely needs the passage of hydronium ions through its internal cavity, for the release of the substrate that is in turn ejected into the TolC channel via the peristaltic action of the fusion proteins [11]. Because at low pH, the concentration of hydronium ions at the surface of the cell results in a pH difference of 2 or 3 pH units, as opposed to that of the milieu, the surface concentration of hydronium ions provides the force for the mobility of hydronium ions through porins leading to the acidification of the periplasm, and thereby, providing the low pH needed by the transporter for the release of the substrate. At high pH, these hydronium ions come from hydrolysis of ATP by ATP synthase, and are therefore, passed into the transporter, thereby reducing its internal pH, so that the release of the substrates can take place [11,12]. EPIs, such as the phenothiazines chlorpromazine or thioridazine, exert their inhibition at pH above 6, and are believed to affect hydrolysis of ATP, hence, denying the efflux pump transporter hydronium ions needed for release of the bound substrate [11,12]. The search for EPIs that are clinically useful continues, although with respect to thioridazine, this old neuroleptic has been shown to inhibit efflux pumps of pathogenic mycobacteria [13], and has been successfully used to treat extensively drug resistant tuberculosis infections [14].
|Moreover, the regulation of the main efflux pump of Escherichia coli may take place via distinct pathways. The induced synthesis of the transporter component of the AcrAB efflux pump, when the organism is exposed in vitro to a noxious agent, involves the activation of the stress gene soxS, followed by the activation of the local regulator marA, and then by the activation of the transporter gene acrB [8]. On other hand, in case of Salmonella spp. two component resistance mechanisms, such as the PmrA/PmrB system, directly activate the master efflux pump regulator ram A g ene [15]. The activation of the PmrA/PmrB system takes place readily when Salmonella spp. is phagocytosed due to the acidic nature of the phagolysosome [15], as follows: PmrB is a sensor that self-phosphorylates, and then transfers the phosphate to PmrA. PmrA activates a nine gene operon, which eventually codes for Lipid A that is introduced into the nascent lipopolysaccharide layer of the outer membrane. The increased presence of Lipid A renders the phagocytosed bacterium practically immune to everything, including the hydrolases of the phagolysososome [15]. It is for this reason that when Salmonella spp. that invades the peritoneum from a resected colon produces high mortality, even though the neutrophil has in essence done its job.
|The role of efflux pumps in the therapy of MDR bacterial infections is still evolving, and the need for adjuvants that are safe and effective for rendering the MDR bacterium susceptible to antibiotics is obvious. Moreover, because the EPI may render MDR bacteria susceptible to old antibiotics that have fallen out of use, their economic potential benefit is huge. Although some EPIs are in clinical trials, none have yet to reach the marketplace, mainly due to their common toxicity against healthy mammalian cells, affecting intrinsic mammalian efflux pumps, as for example those of the blood brain barrier. Lastly, it should be noted that compounds that inhibit the efflux pump of bacteria also have the capacity to promote the removal of plasmids that carry antibiotic resistant genes [16,17]. This alone has huge implications for the animal husbandry industry, and is worth considering.
|The study was supported by Szeged Foundation for Cancer Research and co-funded by the European Social Fund (TAMOP-4.2.2A-11/1/KONV-2012-0035), and by the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal (PEsT-OE/SAU/ UI0074/2011). AM acknowledges the grant SFRH/BPD/81118/2011 provided by the FCT, Portugal.


text:
We worked with Jessica Strick on combining Light Play with the Make your own pulley exhibit, to see if anything exciting would come out of it. Here are some photos from the three-day session.
Pulley table before we started working on it.
Walter's oscillating light source.
Spinning mirrors, another Walter creation.
Karen's multicolored display. The discovery of dichroic glass was fundamental.
Luigi drilled 267 holes through two disks to get an organic-looking light-shadow interaction.
Walter made an awesome reflector-projector.
Jessica's display achieved complicated-looking movement without moving any object, just the light sources.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Is it still socially and politically correct to hit kids, even your own? I thought it wasn't… at least not in the developed West at least. On May 24th 2017 I was a front-liner on a Big Debate on this very topic entitled, "Hitting your children in acceptable." I argued …Read More »
Home / Tag Archives: children


text:
Chaos Army (2019 points)
Maulblade the Doomkin (Chaos Knight), 332 points
Heavy Armour, Magic Weapon (Enchanted Wound)
Wobblegnash (Chaos Marauder), 73 points
Heavy Armour
Stabb the Acolyte (Lvl 10 Sorcerer), 85 points
Rank and File
Chaos Warriors (11 models), 912 points
Double-Handed Weapons, Standard
Chaos Thugs (15 models), 150 points
Shields, Standard
Chaos Beastmen (10 models), 110 points
Troll (Moog of Marrow Moor), 65 points
Chaos Dwarf Berserkers (10 models, inc. Champion), 292 points
Level 15 Hero, Double Handed Weapons
I never dreamed this tiny army was worth so many points! I wonder if it's not overkill with Chaos Warriors and maybe I should demote them Chaos Marauders. The Doomkin weighs in at 332 points as well which goes against my play style - I prefer not to have more than 10% of my points tied up in a single model and no more than 25% points in a single unit. If the general is in the unit as I plan, that is one 1244 point target waiting for Curse of Years (or some equally terrifying spell) or a Morale roll of "12" (I CAN do it) and there goes over half of my army. I definitely need to get some protection from magic on the field. I don't think the extra points are worth the third rank bonus either.
I guess having too many points is a great position to be in! In a 3000 point battle I might use them as Chaos Warriors, but would probably only field 8-10 models in the unit and just rely on their WS6 instead of the extra +1 rank bonus. I need to bolster the Beastmen regiment and add another hard hitting unit like Ogres or Minotaurs to draw some of the attention away from the Warriors. I probably also need another spell caster, but I'm eventually going to use a sorcerer for my allied leader because I plan to add a unit of Chaos Goblins and Chaos Centaurs with my Chaos Dwarfs and the sorcerer is required if you mix more than one race in the contingent.
Anyway, I'm not finished with the list, but it was fun to find out where I am with this army! I need to add a couple more models to the beastmen regiment to make them a proper unit with a standard and


text:
Once we got into Boston, we wandered through an arts market just as it was about to end. I wish we had gotten there sooner, but we still had the chance to look at some beautiful jewelry.
We also bought some amazing smelling candles from a Boston-based business called Fifth & Madison. We got three candles: Molokai (Sea Salt, Gardenia, and White Musk) for Mom, Cosmopolitan (Pomegranate and Grapefruit) for Emma, and Spa Water (Rosemary and Eucalyptus) for me. They are nice and light summer scents!
|Me helping Dad with geocaching
While Dad waited in Quincy Market, Mom and I perused through Ann Taylor Loft where I got two shirts and a pair of sunglasses. We then walked down to the North End to go through the store Lit where I got a cute dress.
We had dinner at a new restaurant on Hanover St called Parla. I ate here last summer with Mom, which you can read about here. Now this is not your typical Italian restaurant with spaghetti and meatballs or pizza. They change their menu on a regular basis, so you can always try something new. We got beef carpaccio and grilled polenta to start. Both were yummy, but I liked the polenta more because beef carpaccio is not really my thing.
For the main course Mom had the roasted duck breast with carrots and sweet potato purée. She loved it and let everyone have a try. I love duck and I would definitely get that again.
Dad got the most interesting dish: a ramen "carbonara." Just like it sounds, it was a mix between ramen soup with spaghetti carbonara. He really liked it and it showcased how different Parla is from the other restaurants in the North End.
I ate the seafood pasta dish with haddock, scallops, shrimp, mussels and clams. While it was not the most adventurous thing on the menu nor my favorite seafood pasta, it was still pretty yummy. I'm not a huge fan of haddock but the rest of the seafood was perfectly cooked and sauce was delicious.
We had to get Mike's Pastries for desserts just because. I've never had Modern Pastry, but I will always go to Mike's to get a chocolate chip cannoli.
My parents and I had a great time going to Quincy Market and the North End. They are two of my favorite places to go in Boston and I have fond memories of them both. Since we live here, however, I cannot wait to explore new areas of Boston and try other restaurants. Any suggestions?
See you next time,


text: We're sorry, Two Door Wallpaper Cabinet By Nordal is no longer available Why not try one of these instead? Reclaimed Antique Bathroom Cabinet by WOODS VINTAGE HOME INTERIORS £159$283.99€184.15$215.54 free UK delivery Upcycled Vintage Pine Wooden Trunk Hallway... by THE RUSTIC WAREHOUSE £199$355.43€230.48$269.76 free UK delivery Reclaimed Wooden Wine Crate Cabinet With H... by Made Anew £215$384.01€249.01$291.45 free UK delivery Bayonne Corner Media Tv Unit White Or Grey by The Orchard £348$621.56€403.05$471.75 Pinch to zoom I'm in! Two Door Wallpaper Cabinet By Nordal by Bell & Blue £220$392.94€254.80$298.23 This item is no longer available Favourite Favourite Ask Seller View your favourites we're sorry we're sorry, This item is no longer available buy a gift card PRODUCT DETAILS Nordal vintage wall papered display cabinet A colourful, vintage distressed look is very on trend at the moment and we absoloutely love this vintage inspired shabby chic wall papered cabinet. The cabinet comes with 2 doors and two shelves to display your most treasured items on. This cabinet has a painted distressed painted finish with a wallpapered design at the back, the design is rustic with intentional worn spots and a rustic aged look. Please note: These products are designed to have a distressed or worn look and may have purposely made scratches or marks on them. All our products are uniquely sourced from Denmark. We keep a good quantity of stock in the UK, but we may sell out due to high demand. if your product is not available we will advise you via the notonthehighstreet CMS system and order it direct from our supplier, this can take 2- 3 weeks to arrive. made from: Made of pine dimensions: Size: H66.5 x W51.5 x D22.5cm product code: 188099 see more see less DELIVERY This product is dispatched to you by Bell & Blue. RETURNS You have 28 days, from receipt of cancellable goods, to notify the seller if you wish to cancel your order or exchange an item. Please note: goods that are personalised, bespoke or made-to-order to your specific requirements, perishable products and personal items sold with a hygiene seal (cosmetics, underwear) in instances where the seal is broken are non-refundable, unless faulty. Read more about our returns policy.Should you choose to return or exchange your order you will need to deliver the item(s) to the UK, where this seller is based.


text:
If a brand doesn't have a strong presence on the web, it simply doesn't exist. Whether it's shopping, researching, or communicating, we're obsessed with spending endless hours online.
Have you seen the end of a McDonald's commercial? Not only does the fast food restaurant include a link to its website, but it displays icons informing consumers they can connect on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Have you watched "Dancing with the Stars" on ABC? #DWTS is in the upper right corner during the entire show. Viewers can also go online and get a behind-the-scenes look of the live event.
A well-developed online strategy is more successful than basic advertising because it generates content: articles, blogs, forum messages, videos, and social media posts. As Nick Burcher explained in "Paid, Owned, Earned:"
Search engines match users with specific information, and developing content in line with search behavior can deliver a 'free' audience, reducing the need to use paid media to create attention."
When brands produce content, it increases the chances it is going to be seen by a wider audience. Burcher shared this excerpt from Malcolm Coles' Online Journalism Blog:
If you want to do well in Google for relevant searches, publish early, publish often, and put your keywords at the front."
The hit ABC show "Scandal" is a force to be reckon with on Thursday nights on Twitter. #Scandal is consistently one of the top trending topics, making the show one that no one wants to DVR. Adweek stated the premiere in September inspired 718,000 tweets that reached 4.16 million accounts. As the L.A. Times noted, the show is a new-media phenomenon:
Without Twitter to boost its profile and then its ratings, "Scandal" probably would have been canceled. Instead, it's held up as an example of social media prowess by networks and branding experts of every stripe, and its success further stokes the belief that somehow Twitter can save us all."
Look at what GQ Magazine is up to these days. The men's fashion publication is making it easier for readers to "Get the GQ Look." The editors select items from the pages each month and make them available on a special section of their website.
Don't forget about Jimmy Fallon! The host of NBC's Tonight Show is a content-sharing genius. He often encourages his celebrity guests to take part in entertaining skits, like a lip sync battle with Emma Stone. After the show, the segment is uploaded to YouTube. The video currently has more than 34.2 million views. These viral videos are helping Fallon boost his ratings each night for FREE.
In case you haven't realized, content pays off. Earned media carries more power than any other format.


text:
Olga Symphony
During that time of year beloved for traditions, what could be better than keeping one of the most beloved island traditions of the last 20 years alive and spending the Friday or Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend with the Olga Symphony and their friends? Melinda, Gordon, JP, and Anita will don their finest frocks and tuxes and hold forth with music old and new. This year, the concert will also include special guests Tom Rawson, Mandy Troxel, and Mel Urbanozo. The show runs Nov. 24 and 25, still at Orcas Center, still at 7:30 p.m., tickets are still just $5 and all proceeds go to local charities.
Leaves of Gold
The Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival's annual Leaves of Gold concert will be held on Monday, Dec. 11 at 6 p.m. in the Music Room of the Mansion at Rosario Resort. The Miró Quartet (pictured above), OICMF's Quartet-in-Residence, joins pianist Jon Kimura Parker in works by Clara Schumann, Robert Schumann, and Johannes Brahms. The concert, aptly titled "Love Triangle," will capture the hearts of audience members as they learn about the close relationship between Clara and the very young Brahms as Robert's physical and mental health deteriorated. The program will also have a few other musical surprises!
The Miró Quartet members, violinists Daniel Ching and William Fedkenheuer, violist John Largess, and cellist Joshua Gindele, are on faculty at the Sarah and Ernest Butler School of Music at the University of Texas at Austin, where they teach private students and coach chamber music.
A reception in the Mansion Dining Room follows the concert, featuring a buffet of hors d'oeuvres, desserts, and wines, prepared and served by executive chef Raymond Southern and his staff. The concert is underwritten by the Valerie and William Anders Foundation. Tickets are $150 ($75 is tax deductible). To reserve your seat, email email@example.com or call (360)376-6636.
Community band
The Community Band's concert is Sunday, Dec. 17 at 3 p.m. at Orcas Center. Admission is by donation. Enjoy sounds of the season, sing-a-longs, and a free dessert party afterwards.
Susan Osborn
Island to Island Christmas Benefit Concert for Puerto Rico with Susan Osborn and Friends will be held on Sat., Dec.23, 7 p.m., Emmanuel Episcopal Church. Susan Osborn will offer a one-night musical celebration of the season in Eastsound as a benefit for the people of Puerto Rico. Suggested donation of $20. Limited seating. Reservations available at (360)376-2352.


text:
Answered By: Mike E. Last Updated: Feb 09, 2018 Views: 2266
Answered By: Mike E.
Last Updated: Feb 09, 2018 Views: 2266
Kanopy and Hoopla both offer streaming video through libraries. They both operate on a credit per month system to help libraries control costs (as of February 2018, both services allow 5 credits per month per WPL cardholder). However, there are some differences:
- Hoopla also offers music albums.
- Hoopla also offers a download for offline viewing option but Kanopy only streams video, so you will always need an Internet connection to use Kanopy.
- Hoopla is aimed more at popular entertainment, where Kanopy focuses more on documentaries and independent and classic films. However both are great sources of entertainment.
- Kanopy has more online learning content than Hoopla.
Related FAQ Entries
Related Guides
Comments (0)
Ask Your Question By Email
Didn't find what you were looking for? Ask Us!
Contact Us
Contact Winnipeg Public Library:


text:
Will Cuming, aka LANKS, is a producer and singer-songwriter who makes textural, melodic electronic music from his Melbourne bedroom. His intricate layers of instrumentation, fuzzy percussion and infectious hooks give way to falsetto vocals that are rich in narrative.
Cuming's creative family is an interesting story in itself (his dad is a visual artist; his sister and manager, Lou Cuming, is also a musician; his cousin, Ry Cuming, performs in The Acid, Howling and as solo artist Ry X), and is celebrated through his new single Golden Age. His 86-year-old grandma, Valda Cuming (and artist in her own right), created its cover art.
Broadsheet: You grew up in Melbourne and are based there now – any favourite haunts you can tell us about?
Will Cuming: I don't want to say it too loudly, because it might catch on, but I spend a lot of time playing snooker/pool at Red Triangle with my housemate (who does all the LANKS design work), and [musician] Ben Abraham. We also generally take touring muso friends there. If I'm not there I'll probably be at Viet Rose on Brunswick Street getting a laksa.
BS: Where does a song start for you?
WC: It can start anywhere. Most often, though, I start with instruments or beats and things, then I start to develop a mood out of that. But there is no reason it can't start with the lyrics first. There's a great quote from Brian Eno about making art. He explained that it is like starting with a bullseye and then building the dartboard around it. Creating art is about searching for a little piece of magic, and when you find an idea that's special, you need skills to extrapolate that idea, and time to find more pieces of magic to build it with.
BS: Your grandma created the beautiful and unusual artwork for Golden Age. Can you tell us a little bit about her?
WC: Absolutely! My grandma, Valda Cuming, is an incredibly inspiring figure for me. As kids our time with her was always spent making sculptures, drawing and painting, and all our Christmas presents always had a sketchbook and fine-liner attached. The artwork for the latest single is one of many of her works that I absolutely love. I have been catching up with her a lot recently, and going through all her art and the stories behind it. She has mountains of paintings and sketchpads and is the most prolific creator I know, even now at 86. You can find her work on her Instagram that I help her run (@valdacumingartist).
BS: What can we expect from your Golden Age tour?
WC: There will be some new music, a really fun and spontaneous live set (I studied improvisation after all!) with some incredible musicians accompanying me. Also, with Golden Age and Heavy As A Heartbreak (my collaboration with Just A Gent), the set is becoming more energetic, which is exciting. There's nothing quite like hearing the records in a live setting and just letting that wash over you.
LANKS plays at the Moonshine in Manly on Thursday April 28 (free show) and Brighton Up Bar on Friday April 29.


text:
The challenge of volunteerism - People are willing to help, but...
"We care about our communities and we are happy to help." However, the effort of individual may lack enough power to make a change. Seedlinks helps people who care contribute to their communities. Seedlinks is a platform for neighbors to identify local community challenges, create and contribute to local projects, encourage action in physical environment, share knowledge, and nurture relationships.
Research & Process
We did a series of research on community strength, collective behaviors and volunteerism, including:
----- Interview
----- Survey
----- Field Study
----- Competitive Analysis
----- Affinity Diagram
----- Ideation
----- Speed Dating
----- Quick Prototype
Key Findings
People are frequently unaware of local issues and challenges. Most of them are information consumers rather than information hunters
People want to understand how they can contribute and want to have a say in what they do. Because of this, organizations frequently lose potential ongoing volunteers because they don't have the capacity to support people effectively.
People are motivated not only by seeing needs but also by building social relationships, seeing personal growth opportunities, and sharing values.
Despite constraints, recruiting people who care to volunteer and participate in their local community is not a problem. Ensuring alignment between community needs and people's expectations is.
Remapping the
The territory map raised lots of interesting questions are surfaced: Should volunteer always be the way it used to be? What if volunteer activity is community-initiated? What if local citizens, non-profit organizations and local businesses are able to join? What if we can empower everyone who cares?
Persona: Walter, the warm body
The group of people who care can be broken down into 4 personas based on their engagement in the community and their skills. We have the professional, the leader, the regular, and the warm body. We choose to focus on helping warm body who has less experience, and we call him Walter.
Seedlinks, empowering people who care
Building on data, Seedlinks is a space for neighbors to identify local community needs, create, nurture and contribute to local projects. Let's follow Walter's Seedlinks journey.
for projects
Walter filters the projects according to category, time and physical proximity
a project
When joining a project, Walter can contribute in many ways - attending the event, contributing online by bringing supplies. By working with others through a collaborative to-do list, he was able to understand the project goals and where he/she could help.
At the Event
At the event, Walter checks in. The mobile part of Seedlinks allows Walter to collect event data, take phots and connect with new neighbors.
The data collected by Walter is feed back into Walter's dashboard where is he able to track his growth over time though his achievement badges and see appreciation from people he has worked on projects with.
Create a New Project
Walter gradually gains experience and credibility to create his own project. When creating a new project, Seedlinks maximizes his chances for success by using previous collected data and offering tips for him.
Process &
Field Study
Motion Mapping
Affinity Diagram
Competitive Analysis
User Testing


text:
Midnight Blue can be purchased in two ways.
To purchase a a regular audio CD, click on the Add to Cart button in the upper section below $20.00 CA. The CD will be shipped to you.
If you prefer to download music digitally to your computer for use with electronic devices (smartphones, tablets, etc.), click on the Add to Cart button in the lower section below $14.00 CA. Following your checkout and payment via credit card or PayPal, an email with a download link and instructions will be sent to you within 24 hours. This link will enable you to download the mp3's in a "zipped" file which will need to be "unzipped" or "extracted" into separate mp3 files. Download time will average 15 minutes with a high speed internet connection.
Music Samples:
From time to time I get asked what my
favourite kind of music is. I have often
realized that a piece of music which has instant
appeal to my own taste, usually has it's roots
in one of the old classical compositions - and
so it is with the title track on this album.
Beethoven's 'Pathetique' was the inspiration for
'MIDNIGHT BLUE', a contemporary arrangement that
was recorded by Louise Tucker, a British band,
in the early '70's. This song commanded a
lengthy reign of popularity on the 'hit parade'
Most of the songs in this collection have been
on somebody's 'hit parade' some time or another.
However, a few of these titles will be
unfamiliar. Over the years, a number of
compositions have come along bearing the title
'Ave Maria' - 'Ave Maria no morrow' is one of
the lesser known pieces - none-the-less, it's
very pretty.
A long time ago I attended a 'Trad Jazz' concert
in London that featured many of Britain's finest
jazz musicians. One of these musicians was a man
with the unlikely name of 'Acker Bilk' - a
clarinet player who introduced his new song,
'Stranger on the Shore', at this concert. It was
an enormous hit that still gets airplay on some
of those stations that still play instrumental
During a conversation I was having with a
friend, I was saying that some of my most
cherished music is included in my LP collection.
Later, I overheard her young son ask, "what's an
LP, mum" - more recently, I was explaining to a
lady that we weren't able to get cassettes
anymore. Her young daughter made us all laugh
when she asked "what's a cassette" . .'not
really that old are we! So, in my old LP
collection I have a favourite album called 'The
most beautiful German Folk Songs'. It is one of
seventy albums I have by 'Klaus Wunderlich', a
musician I have admired and appreciated for many
years. On this album is a medley track that
includes three songs: 'Little Ann from Tharau', 'Gold and Silver is What I Truly Love' and
'Lullaby' by Brahms. Three beautiful melodies
'Love is Blue'. . surely not! . . I think that
love is a sort of warm Rose colour. This
haunting melody has such warmth and richness,
and I took full advantage of it's wonderful
possibilities for counter harmonies.
Being an unabashed romantic, I am always
enchanted by Offenbach's 'Barcarolle'. The
musical poetry in this composition is sweet,
gentle - and, yes, certainly romantic.
I decided to finish this album with something a
little bit more boisterous, because you may be
nodding off by this time. From the mists of my
early memories comes 'Heykens Serenade'. This is
one of those songs that I always enjoyed
hearing. It's a marching song, most often played
by brass bands or pipe bands. It was also
popular in the dance halls of old England as a
dance called 'The Palais Glide'. I arranged this
piece 'brass band' style and followed it up with
'The Grand Old Duke of York' as the grand
"He marched them up to the top of the hill, and
he marched them down again".
I dedicate this memorable old nursery rhyme song
to the kid in all of us. :)


text:
They feel like they have some unfinished business to take care of.
With six solid starters returning, strength up the middle, and added outdoor practice time thanks to Mother Nature, things are shaping up nicely already for the Petoskey High School softball team.
The Northmen, who earned a Division II district title last season and finished 24-13, like many other schools across the state have been taking full advantage of the warmer spring temperatures.
"It was great," said Petoskey coach Dave Serafini, who's now in his 11th year at the helm. "We never got outside for that amount of days and had that quality of practices. There's no doubt we're way ahead of where we were last year."
Serafini said that having a veteran squad including three players who earned All-Big North Confernece honors in 2011 has allowed the Northmen to focus more on game situations.
"For us, that bodes well because we were able to get right back into practices like we were having at the mid-point of last year," he said.
Petoskey key strength will be up the middle with the return of pitcher Annie Hansen, shortstop Kristen Espinoza, second baseman Tori Thompson and center fielder Katie Kidd. Hansen is a junior, the other three are seniors.
Hansen, an all-league second team selection at third base, takes over as the ace from the graduated Carly Searles, who's now playing at Trine (Ind.) University.
Hansen went 8-6 last season with a 2.78 earned run average and struck out 74 over 96 innings.
"She did a good job for us," Serafini said. "She pitched us to a district championship last year and she's really improved from her sophomore to junior year. She has a great work ethic and she's put a lot of time into it. You can see her improvement and she's gained a lot of confidence."
Serafini added Hansen's biggest improvement has been her command of pitches.
"She throws four pitches for strikes and she can command all of them," he said. "We have a lot of confidence in Annie and not only is she a good pitcher, but she's a good fielder. Being up the middle where there's a lot of play, that's a big help."
Hansen will be throwing to junior Erin Rautio, who will serve as the team's main catcher after junior Reilly Philliben, last year's starter, suffered a knee injury during the ski season and will miss the entire softball season.
"Losing our catcher could have been troublesome, but we're fortunate we have another catcher who can step in," Serafini said. "We brought (Rautio) up late last season, she has a lot of experience and has played a lot of travel ball."
Espinoza, an All-Big North first-teamer and all-region player last year, hit .402 and drove in a team-best 34 runs last spring.
"She batted cleanup for us and she'll be there again," Serafini said. "She's been a really good two-way player and she brings a lot of experience to our lineup and will be a team captain along with (Thompson)."
Thompson, who enters her third varsity season, returns to her starting spot at second base where she forms a solid keystone combination with Espinoza. Thompson recorded a team-best 67 assists last season.
"From last year to this year, Tori by far is our most improved player," Serafini said. "She started slow last year, but she came on strong and had the game-winning hit for us in districts and that carried on through summer ball and winter workouts and this preseason. She's always been a really good defensive player, but now she's added another aspect of her game and she'll bat third."
Serafini said Thompson and Espinoza are quite comfortable playing together.
"Kristen and Tori know each other inside and out," Serafini said. "They do well together with the pivot on double plays and they know where each other are at at all times. They both have great gloves and outstanding arms. It's a big plus having those two up the middle for us."
Kidd, a second-team all-league pick a year ago, returns as the starting center fielder. The speedy leadoff hitter led the Northmen with in stolen bases, 11, and hit .319 a year ago.
"Katie was another player who made great strides over the year," Serafini said. "She didn't see a lot of time early (last year), but she got hot and played a lot. She's our table-setter and if she gets on base, it's almost like it's an automatic double."
Also back are seniors Ellen Loper and Caitlin Strobel. Strobel plays left field, while Loper starts at first base and is the No. 2 pitcher.
"Caitlin is another player that put in a lot of time in the gym and in the offseason," Serafini said. "She continues to work hard on both her offense and defense."
Rounding out the outfield is junior Jenna Proctor, who will start in right.
"She's one of those players who will run through a wall for you," Serafini said. "She brings great intensity, she's a great athlete, and that helps her on the field. She'll be our No. 2 hitter and she handles the bat pretty well."
Junior Emily Kent is up from the JV and will start at third base.
"She's won the job and she improves every day," Serafini said. "She's just a tireless worker who keeps improving, she's made great strides."
Among the newcomers are juniors Breanna Merriam and Maria Tuck.
As for the unfinished business, the Northmen are eyeing a Big North Conference championship, something that slipped through their hands in 2011.
"We were disappointed we didn't win the Big North Conference last year," Serafini said. "We stubbed our toe right out of the gate against T.C. West and had two poor games, but we went 7-1 after that and finished 7-3."
The Northmen finished tied for second last year in the league with Cadillac, while Alpena won the conference title.
"I know the girls are hungry to regain the title," Serafini said. "We won the previous three years and our main goal is to win the Big North title. With the talent and with the players we have, it's very possible.
"We'd also like to have a long tournament run. I think we can compete with any team in our district."
Natalie Cantrell begins her eighth season as the Vikings' coach, and, with most of her starting lineup back, this could be one of her best teams.
The Vikings have never won a conference championship under Cantrell, but this could be their year.
"I told them, 'That is a goal that I would like you to obtain," Cantrell said. "I said, 'You have the talent and the ability and the know-how.' We just have to put it in motion."
A quartet of experienced seniors return in Becky Madden, Alyssa Graham, Becca Lynn and Alivia Litke. Those four, along with leadoff hitter Madison Stonehouse, a sophomore, comprise the top five hitters in the lineup.
Madden, the No. 2 pitcher behind the graduated Sarah Mathew a year ago, moves up to the No. 1 spot. She not only throws hard, but she has good control and brings a measure of poise to the circle, Cantrell said.
"She has really put in a lot of extra time in the offseason to develop herself as a pitcher," Cantrell said. "She's very much committed to that position. And she works with the younger kids, helping them develop their skills too."
Another returning starter is Sierra Oliver, who plays third base. Litke (center field), Stonehouse (left), Lynn (first base) and Graham (catcher) are all returning starters, while Becker moves to shortstop after seeing significant playing time at third base and in the outfield a year ago.
Two freshmen, Leah Sierra and Amy Pitman, will start at second base and in right field, respectively.
Boyne City
The Ramblers are putting together the pieces of a puzzle, one piece at a time.
"We have a lot of experience in our three seniors, one junior, and sophomore players," coach Sandy Clausen said. "But, in that group we have two transfer players, and welcomed back another after a season off. We have some questions that will be answered as the season plays out, but all of the girls have had a great attitude this Spring."
Boyne City has good leadership in senior pitcher/utiltiy player Ketrin Hocquard.
"Ketrin has a great attitude, and will be the team leader at the plate and on the field this year," said Clausen, who welcomes East Jordan transfers Rainy and Tanner McCune..
"Both are good athletes, and can be used to fill some pitching holes for us," Clausen said.
Senior Tess Seeyle, after a season off, is back in a Rambler uniform, while junior Jesse Selissen will add depth and versatility.
"Tess is a solid player and had a good sophomore season, but has some catching up to do," Clausen said. "Jesse is a talented player, and can play any position for us."
With a veteran-laden varsity and a revived junior varsity team, things are looking up at Charlevoix.
Second-year coach Ken Hoffman has six seniors on his 12-player roster, and the Rayders are coming off a 24-6 campaign during which they earned a share of the Lake Michigan Conference title and won a third consecutive Class C district championship.
Hoffman has big shoes to fill with the loss to graduation of standouts Hannah Hybl and Emily Mielke, but there are more than enough veterans poised to step in.
Among the top returnees are Kristen Mielke and Chelsie Hoffman, along with junior Katie Hybl, who enters her third year on the varsity.
"It's nice to have these girls as captains," coach Hoffman said. "They know what they are doing and usually have the team going at practice before the coaches even get there."
Kristen Mielke, who went 11-2 last year and will next season at Lansing Community College is the top pitcher. Hybl is the No. 2 hurler and led the Rayders with a .500 batting average a year ago.
Chelsie Hoffman, Kristen Mielke and center fielder Anna Moon all posted solid numbers at the plate last spring as well.
Among the other returning veterans are Nicole Pischner, Addis Loper, Paige Montgomery, Rachel Shull and sophomore Jennifer Archey.
East Jordan
The Red Devils return a solid core in the likes of Val Peters, a two-year starter, power-hitting Emily Crick, catcher Kara LaVanway, along with Lissa Vincent and Jordyn Bacchus.
"We are excited to get the season started," East Jordan coach Meg Kitson said. "We believe that we will be in the thick of the conference race. We have a tough conference this year. Each win will be earned, there are no easy games, and our girls will be prepared for each win.
"All of the girls, have a great attitude, and will provide quality team leadership. They work hard, and are great teammates.
Sophomore Tommie Outman will make a solid contribution to the Red Devil pitching staff.
"Our program has benefitted from a great JV program," Kitson added. "Nikki Skrocki does a great job developing and preparing our players for the next level. Tommie Outman is a great example of the growth in our program."
Harbor Light
The Swordsmen may be down a bit in numbers, but they return two standouts are the key spots: pitcher and catcher.
Kaila Schutte returns to the pitcher's circle, where she struck out 212 and posted a 1.92 earned run average a season ago. Emily Lechowicz returns to her starting spot behind the plate.
"Kaila is a very good pitcher," coach Greg Garn said. "She has great velocity and keeps the hitters off balance with a variety of pitches. And Emily has worked hard, she has a quick release to second and allows few passed balls. they are a good battery combination for us."
Schutte and Lechowicz hit .457 and .429, respectively, a year ago, while mainstays Mariah Lambert and Annie Fila also return.
Fila provides good speed at the top of the lineup, while Lambert hit .351 last year.
Among the others Garn said he expects to contribute are Joselyn Clark, Hayley Huffman and Sarah Bellmore.
Harbor Springs
Kay Paige, an All-Lake Michigan Conference pick last spring, returns to the pitcher's circle to lead the Rams in 2012, while Marissa Halfacer is another solid returnee for coach Mike Matthews.
"Both girls have leadership qualities," Matthews said. "Kay was one of our top hitters with a .357 average, and Marissa is versatile with speed and a good arm in the outfield."
Juniors Tessa Groleske, Tori Allore and Laura McQuarter each is entering her third year on the varsity.
"All three girls have skills that will make them valuable members of our lineup," said Matthews, who has a solid corps of sophomores as well.
"Our sophomores will surprise some teams," he said. "They have some good softball sense, and have work hard to improve their all around game."
Among them is Rhyan Boeve, who hit a team-best .400 last season, Brooke Paige the team leader in RBI a year ago, Morgan Reeves and Jane Hickman.
"We are a young team, we know that we have to be patient and eliminate mental errors," Matthews said. "But as the season goes along, we will get better, and make improvements necessary to contend."


text:
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Author: Laura McNeill
Available Formats: eBook, Paperback, Hardback, Audio
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Publication Date: 07-14-15 Pages: 318
In the blink of an eye, she's married, has a new baby, and life is grand.
Or is it?
When her picture-perfect marriage begins unraveling at the seams, Ava convinces herself she can fix it. It's temporary. It's the stress. It's Mitchell's tragic history of loss.
If only Ava could believe her own excuses.
Mitchell is no longer the charming, thoughtful man she married. He grows more controlling by the day, revealing a violent jealous streak. His behavior is recklessly erratic, and the unanswered questions about his past now hint at something far more sinister than Ava can stomach. Before she can fit the pieces together, Mitchell files for divorce and demands full custody of their boys.
Fueled by fierce love for her children and aided by Graham Thomas, a new attorney in town —Ava takes matters into her own hands, digging deep into the past. But will finding the truth be enough to beat Mitchell at his own game?
Center of Gravity weaves a chilling tale, revealing the unfailing and dangerous truth that things—and people—are not always what they seem.
My So-Called Review:
Laura works at Spring Hill College as the school's web content and social media manager and is active in her community—participating in fundraisers for the American Cancer Society, Ronald McDonald House, and Providence Hospital's Festival of Flowers.
Laura was recently awarded a 2-book deal with Thomas Nelson Publishing, a division of HarperCollins. Her novel, Center of Gravity, set in Mobile, Ala., will be published in July of 2015. Laura is represented by Elizabeth Winick Rubenstein, president of McIntosh and Otis literary agency in New York. Her writing awards include those from William Faulkner-Wisdom Creative Writing Competition, Writer's Digest, RWA, and the Eric Hoffer competition.
She holds a master's degree in journalism from The Ohio State University and a bachelor's degree in English from Clarion University of Pennsylvania. She is currently pursuing a second master's degree in interactive technology from the University of Alabama. She is a native of Upstate New York and currently resides near the Alabama Gulf Coast with her two children.
a Rafflecopter giveaway This event was brought to you by Goddess Fish Promotions


text:
Forgot your password?
Don't have an account? Get Started
Already have an account? Log in here
Offset Carbon Emissions Credibly ENDS has published a ground breaking guide and website to help companies to offset credibly and with maximum environmnetal effectiveness. The ENDS guide to Carbon Offsets will help you identify high quality offsets and offset providers and select the right provider for your business. Key benefits include: ● ...
By Environmental News and Data Services (ENDS)
This paper explores the potential for financing small-scale high-benefit sustainable development projects through the voluntary and retail sector of the carbon market.Through a literature review and interviews with offset retailers and buyers from the private sector, the non-profit sector and government, the paper looks at how the voluntary and ...
By Earthprint Ltd
Originating in negotiations for the United Nations Kyoto Protocol, a global carbon market has recently evolved. A number of distinct markets are encompassed within its remit, including a voluntary retail arm. Although the volunatary retail market is very small in comparison to other segments, it has large growth potential as it can extend to ...
Practical Information from Leading CompaniesOrder this report and you'll: Understand why you should get involved in carbon trading, for strategic and regulatory reasons; Know all the necessary technical terms, and their practical significance to you; Receive a review of all the available emission trading and offsetting mechanisms, including ...
By Ethical Corporation - part of the FC Business Intelligence Ltd group
Report 4700: Carbon Markets focuses on Carbon Markets; it offers estimates of regulated and voluntary carbon trading activity. It also looks at carbon emissions brokerages, voluntary carbon offset markets, agricultural and forestry carbon offsets, the participation of consulting and engineering firms in the carbon market, and individual company ...
By Environmental Business International (EBI)
Need help finding the right suppliers? Try XPRT Sourcing. Let the XPRTs do the work for you
Join our growing community of environmental professionals who are currently subscribed to weekly newsletters, product alerts, job alerts, and our monthly event updates and article newsletters. Stay up-to-date with the global environmental industry. Sign up for one or all of our free newsletters and alerts today.
Past issues
The personal data that you provide is subject to our Privacy Policy.
Thank you for subscribing to our eBulletins
You can modify your subscriptions at any time by logging in to your Environmental XPRT account.
Minimum 250 characters
Already have an account? Login here


text:
Convertible car rental Hong Kong-wanchai, Hong Kong
Convertible rental cars in Hong Kong-wanchai
Honda Jazz
x 5
x 2
x 5
from $65 per dayView
Ford Fiesta
x 5
x 2
x 3
from $82 per dayView
Toyota Camry
x 5
x 5
x 4
from $83 per dayView
Toyota Noah
x 7
x 1
x 5
from $100 per dayView
Volkswagen Scirocco
x 4
x 1
x 3
from $107 per dayView
Mercedes A Class
x 5
x 3
x 5
from $120 per dayView
Toyota Vellfire
x 7
x 1
x 5
from $125 per dayView
Mercedes CLA
x 5
x 4
x 4
from $141 per dayView
Toyota Alphard
x 7
x 3
x 5
from $201 per dayView
Mercedes E Class
x 5
x 5
x 4
from $201 per dayView
Convertible car rental near Hong Kong-wanchai, Hong Kong
Convertible car rental in airports near Hong Kong-wanchai
Convertible rental cars in downtown around Hong Kong-wanchai
Hong Kong-mtr Station
1.13 mi / 1.82 km
Kowloon - Tsim Sha Tsui East
1.7 mi / 2.74 km
Kowloon Mtr Station
2.19 mi / 3.52 km
Hong Kong-sha Tin
8.27 mi / 13.31 km
Shenzhen - Futian Port
17.91 mi / 28.82 km
Shenzhen - Zhuzilin
20.42 mi / 32.87 km
Shenzhen Bay
21.47 mi / 34.55 km
Convertible car rental in other locations around Hong Kong-wanchai
Dream to feel the wind playing with your hair while you are gaining speed? Congratulations! You have already found a right place to make your dream come true! Convertible car rental is absolutely real and simple with RentalCars24h.com – you're just adding your request to the form and then choosing among the best top modern convertible car rental models. And you have an opportunity not only to get the price, but to choose a price you like comparing rates in all the leading car rental companies!
Convertible car rental models are characterized with a possibility to change a roof mode to an open-air mode. Designs of the roofs and its materials differ widely. Convertibles may also be fond as a cabriolet car rental model or a cabrio car rental one.
You can choose convertible car rental fleet in any car rental company you like using our services. Use our car rental form to compare convertible car rental prices in such companies as Enterprise, AVIS, Budget, SIXT, Hertz, Thrifty, Alamo, Dollar, Fox, Payless, Ace, National, Europcar, E-Z and 800 more companies to choose the most affordable! You'll get the best convertible vehicles from the top car rental companies with the help of our long-term relationship with these market leaders.
Map of Convertible car rental around Hong Kong-wanchai, Hong Kong
Search nearest car rental locations by address
Made a booking at home. No hassle, no problems.
Excellent service every time!
Valuable service. Made my vacation!
Always the most affordable prices!
Luxurious car. My boss was satisfied
Why use RentalCars24H.com?
- No Hidden Charges
- Lowest price guarantee
- You are guaranteed a car from a leading supplier
- Amend or cancel your booking online quickly and easily
- Break Down Assist


text:
she said:
"I was able to heal with the help of God and my family. I talked to myself because I know I had so much to give out there.
"I was surrounded with people that were encouraging me to move on with what I wanted to do and not give up on my dreams and I took their advice. Now I am a stronger and better person."


text:
The Row Simmons silk-georgette blouse
The Row blouse has a collar, a curved hem, concealed button fastenings through front and is partially lined. 100% silk. The Row's sleeveless blush silk-georgette blouse is a deluxe work-to-weekend piece.
The Row Simmons silk-georgette blouse
Peach silk-georgette sleeveless blouse.
Team it with tailored pants for the office or give downtown dressing a feminine spin with a pair of leather shorts.
Check out this link for more The Row women's designer clothing 2011


text:
Cheapest Flight from Perth to Sydney is onSee Fare Calendar
Book your flight tickets from Perth to Sydney at lowest airfare. Get best offers on international flight bookings when you fly from Perth to Sydney. Also Check flight schedule, status and low cost airlines for Sydney to Perth flight. Use promo code YINTSALE and get flat 25% eCash (Up to Rs.15,000 Off).


text:
Today is the big day for many Forza Horizon 3 racers around the globe looking to get their hands on one of the many pieces of Stuttgart's finest up for grabs. In a special one-day only Forzathon, players can earn the much sought-after 2014 Porsche 918 Spyder.
Other than it featuring the Porsche badge on the front, this vehicle is highly desired by the Forza community for a good reason. The 918 Spyder is an all-wheel drive hybrid pushed by a 4.6 liter V8 and two electric motors putting out a combined total of 887 hp, all placed in a carbon fiber tub. Combine that with the fact it speeds up from zero to 60 mph in the short time of 2.2 seconds, you can see why this machine is a dream for FH3 players.
The below is what you'll have to accomplish to acquire a piece of the Holy Trinity and some other prizes:
- Meant To Do That – Perform 10 Crash Landing Skills to win 3 Wheelspins
- Dirty Half-Dozen – Perform 6 Trashman Skills to earn 35,000 XP
- Can You Believe It? – Complete 3 Two Wheels Skills to receive 80,000 CR
- Airborne Hero – Perform an Airborne Pass Skill to win the Porsche 918 Spyder
As stated previously, these Forzathon challenges will only be active for today, so it may not be in your best interest to procrastinate.


text:
When it was my turn I hit the ball, I hit the ball far and I went to home base. Then it was another persons turn to bat. Cola said batter up, then it was Jesse's turn to bat. He hit the ball close and he ran fast and he made it. Cola said safe on one. It was another persons turn to bat and he got out. It was time to swap sides and Cola said I was on base one I got someone out .
They were getting in a line it was fun playing baseball they had good hits. Lorenzo did a good hit but he got out from me. It was a out from me out he goes. It was another persons turn to bat then
it was time to go to our classroom to eat morning tea .


text:
Congratulations to all our A Level students receiving their results today. We are immensely proud and delighted with the excellent academic achievements of our students. An impressive 12% of all grades were awarded at A*, 63% at A*-B and 84% of grades were awarded A*-C. These results are truly a reflection of the hard work and commitment of every single one of our students and their teachers.
125 students gained 3 or more A Levels at A*-B, which is a phenomenal achievement.
We are very proud of our students and absolutely delighted by this year's A Level results. Our students have collected their results this morning and seem overjoyed with their results. We wish them every success in their future careers. Our talented staff have worked incredibly hard to support the students and deserve the highest praise.
Twins Caitlin and James Webb are celebrating great A Level success today. Both gained 3 A* grades at A Level and are going to study at Cambridge. Caitlin gained A*s in French, Politics and Spanish and will study Modern and Medieval Languages. James gained A*s in German, History and Spanish and will study Modern Languages.
Judith Child
Comments are closed.


text:
> select price
Autumn Joy
Product DescriptionWhat fall flair this bouquet has. Orange roses and dark orange lilies are combined with bronze button spray chrysanthemums and burgundy copper beech leaves for a lovely autumn touch. Situated inside our signature ceramic pumpkin, it's ready for the festivities!
You might also be interested in these arrangements
When you order custom designs, they will be produced as closely as possible to the picture. Please remember that each design is custom made. No two arrangements are exactly alike and color and/or variety substitutions of flowers and containers may be necessary. Prices and availability of seasonal flowers may vary.
Our professional staff of floral designers are always eager to discuss any special design or product requests. Call us at the number above and we will be glad to assist you with a special request or a timed delivery.


text:
$5 per class, pay by the class.
Cash check or credit card
**Things to bring: mat, hand towel and water. We have a few extra mats and blocks if you are a new student.
What can you expect at Firefly Yoga? A great community, a great vibe, and great yoga. The first time you come to the studio, please arrive 15 minutes early. This will give you time to register at the front desk, fill out a waiver, and get prepared for class. We suggest you wear clothing that you can move in, as well as enjoy a comfortable sweat.
What will you need? If you do not have a yoga mat already, we have mats for new clients. The key to a good mat is traction. It can get slippery when it gets wet. Bring a towel.
Come equipped with an open mind and an open heart and you'll have a head start to discovering a truly life-changing practice. Like anything else that is worthwhile, your yoga practice requires patience as you familiarize yourself with the poses, alignment and flow of the class. You'll see results right away, and with time, your practice will become a natural part of your own expression. Not only will you find strength physically but you'll develop yourself mentally with every practice.
We look forward to meeting you!


text:
Kendrick Lamar has been dropping one surprise after the next with the direction of how his now number one album,"To Pimp A Butterfly," was promoted and last night (March 24th) the TDE rapper took to Twitter to announce a surprise concert on a moving truck in Hollywood.
Vibe reported that the concert was in support of the Reebok's #GetPumpedCampaign for the shoe company's latest running shoe the ZPump.
Watch some footage of what K. Dot performing "Money Trees" below.
Photo retrieved from Consequenceofsound.net


text:
February Monthly Meeting
February 23, 2017
6:30 PM to 9:00 PM
Add to Calendar
Centennial Building - Regal Room
416 Centre St. S.
Whitby , ON
Topic: Let's really talk about the performance evaluation and feedback back process for Project Individuals
We will start this presentation with a review of some of the practices and processes that are in use in most organizations when it comes to performance evaluation and feedback for individuals that work on projects. There has been a lot of talk lately about the connection to this process and engagement of individuals at work. We will soon discover that evaluation and feedback is not as clear cut as you can imagine for individuals that work in an environment defined as temporary, creating something unique and progressively elaborated. Our work does not fit nicely in yearly processes.
The second part of the presentation will engage you in a large discussion with the group around lessons learned from your experiences in the field, good and best practices that you have encountered and finally trying to come up as a group with a model that might suit most needs. This part of our group presentation will be documented and posted to the website with the earlier slides so that anyone wanting to revamp or develop a performance / feedback process at their company can have all of our hard work to start with.
Be prepared to participate and contribute. Your experiences, comments and recommendations will make this a value-added presentation for anyone having issues with their organization's process.
Speaker Bio:
Sylvie Edwards
SRE Solutions
Sylvie has been involved in Project Management in a number of varied industries for the past 25 years. Sylvie previously worked for a top 5 Consulting Firm, where she was in charge of projects in the Information Technology, Banking, IT, Government and Securities sectors as well as a Manager in the Risk Management practice.
Sylvie also worked closely with the Consulting Practice to establish processes, strategies and develop methodologies. Sylvie was instrumental in the development of methodologies for Project Management Office as well as for the evaluation and review of projects in peril. Sylvie also worked on the establishment of a Project Maturity model for both practitioner and organization.
Sylvie has since 2002 started her own consultancy practice (SRE Solutions), which caters to clients in need of project management education and project risk management, PMO setup/evaluation or recovery services. Through her work in education, Sylvie delivers training at several Universities and Colleges across the country in both French and English.
Sylvie is a member of the Project Management Institute and has received her PMP® certification. Sylvie also served on the Board of the PMI Durham Highlands (Ontario) Chapter for more than 10 years in a variety of roles.
PDUs: This PMI-DHC meeting will qualify for 1.5 PDUs (1.0 Technical and 0.5 Leadership)
Tickets (HST not included)
$17.70 PMI-DHC Members
$22.12 Guests/Non-Members
$13.27 Guest Student (Student ID required at door)
$26.55 Member At the door
$26.55 Guest/Non members At the door
Support Feed the Need Durham by bringing in your donation of a non-perishable food item or cash to the monthly meeting. For every item brought in, you will also get an extra raffle ticket! Support Feed the Need and increase your chances to win great prizes! All cash donations will be matched from the PMI-DHC charity reserve.
Photography & Filming: Photographs, audio, and video will sometimes be captured during PMI-DHC events. By registering, attendees hereby grant PMI-DHC and its representatives permission to photograph and/or record them at events, and distribute (both now and in the future) the attendee's image or voice in photographs, videotapes, electronic reproductions, and audiotapes
Tickets (HST not included)
$26.55 Member at Door
$26.55 Guest at Door


text:
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms, Professor Dr. Ahsan Iqbal on Friday said the government was committed to developing quality human resource for the future of the country to transform Pakistan's economy into a Knowledge economy.
The minister reviewed the progress in implementation of "Pakistan US Knowledge Corridor", envisioned by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during his last official visit to Washington in October 2015, in meeting with senior officials of the State Department and the USAID at the Embassy of Pakistan, Washington DC.
Ambassador Jalil Abbas Jilani also joined the meeting, says a press release received here from Washington DC.
Building on the discussions held during the last meeting of the Working Group on Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal said, "Pakistan is fast emerging as a success story in Asia due to economic reforms introduced by the government."
He said China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) had put Pakistan in global investment map.
The minister said the Initiative to train 10,000 Ph.Ds in next ten years at top US universities was a critical element of Vision 2025, which seeks to put Pakistan in top 25 economies of the world. Government had allocated funds for this project.
He said the first phase of the project with a cost of Rs 18.5 billion had been approved by ECNEC recently.
An important element of the Knowledge Corridor was to work with the US educational institutions for producing 10,000 Pakistani Ph.Ds in the next ten years from well reputed US universities in various disciplines.
The minister urged the US officials to expedite necessary formalities particularly the internal coordination between the relevant US agencies in order to facilitate the early roll out of this critical initiative for development of Pakistan's human resource.
The US officials assured the minister that they were working with the concerned departments in order to complete the necessary homework.
A visit by the relevant US officials was expected in the next few weeks to complete the formalities for early commencement of the initiative.
Upon request of the US officials, minister Iqbal also briefed them about the major projects in the domain of energy and infrastructure development under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor.
Minister Ahsan Iqbal was visiting Washington DC to attend the annual National Prayer Breakfast ceremony. A large number of prominent national and international personalities attend this event which was also graced by the US President.


text:
Lobbyist Exposes Obama's True Views on Second Amendment• by Richard A. Pearson via LewRockwell.com
I lobbied Barack Obama extensively while he was an Illinois State Senator. As a result of that experience, I know Obama's attitudes toward guns and gun owners better than anyone. The truth be told, in all my years in the Capitol I have never met a legislator who harbors more contempt for the law-abiding firearm owner than Barack Obama.
Although Obama claims to be an advocate for the 2nd Amendment, his voting record in the Illinois Senate paints a very different picture. While a state senator, Obama voted for a bill that would ban nearly every hunting rifle, shotgun and target rifle owned by Illinois citizens.
That same bill would authorize the state police to raid homes of gun owners and forcibly confiscate banned guns. Obama supported a bill that would shut down law-abiding firearm manufacturers including Springfield Armory, Armalite, Rock River Arms and Les Baer.
Obama also voted for a bill that would prohibit law-abiding citizens from purchasing more than one gun per month.


text:
Patronizing franchises is a way of life for most Americans. An established name offers a business owner immediate creditability with the public and with successful systems already in place, the opportunity can offer a relatively low-risk, turnkey operation. SAN FRANCISCO STYLE SOURDOUGH EATERY knows what works and provides guidance and training.
The kinks are already worked out. A lot of planning and trial and error go into starting a new business from scratch. With SAN FRANCISCO STYLE SOURDOUGH EATERY, we have made mistakes, learned from them and developed systems that work. We have found the best ingredients, the right suppliers, and the best prices. We provide detailed educational manuals that explain who to buy from and how to effectively produce market and deliver our product.
The power of brand recognition and built in demand can be huge. The cable car logo is a welcome site. People seek out familiarity and that's good news for our franchise owners. Advertising increases brand awareness and helps keep our product on people's minds. When consumers stop for a sandwich they know that SAN FRANCISCO STYLE SOURDOUGH EATERY is a brand they love and won't disappoint.
As part of the SAN FRANCISCO STYL E SOURDOUGH EATERY family, franchisees benefit from the lower prices that come with our increased buying power. We work to secure the best prices on supplies and services and have access to bulk-rate discounts that are unavailable to independent business owners.
SAN FRANCISCO STYLE SOURDOUGH EATERY has established systems designed to promote your chances for success and longevity, than if you were to start a business on your own. If you prefer a proven plan and a ready-made system for success, and if you're up for the challenge, complete the online application located on the contact page.


text:
Website Design & Marketing Strategy for the 21st Century
Located in Yorktown, Virginia, we help companies of all sizes and from across the nation execute focused marketing strategies that target hot prospects at precisely the right moment. Starting with a business-generating website design and strategy, we use an integrated approach to marketing in order to establish and strengthen your presence on the web. We also develop customer service and community marketing strategies that allow you to build trust and create loyalty to your brand. Proximo Marketing Strategies offers website design services, search engine optimization (SEO), marketing strategy consulting, creative services and execution planning – all designed to help your business use the future of marketing to create and nurture enduring relationships and catalyze growth. Not sure where to start? Don't hire just any ad agency; let us guide you.
If you're looking to build a website in 2018, it's time to talk to a new breed of website designers. Talk to the experts at Proximo Marketing Strategies for unbiased advice on building a website that will actually help you grow your business. Understand how the rest of the Internet plays a role in attracting customers to your business. If you're ready for a stunning website that will turn your visitors into customers, fill out the short form on the right and one of our specialists will contact you.
Talk to Us
Ready to take your business to the next level? Complete the form below to request a quote or a free consultation today and learn how Proximo works to grow your business.
Website Design
We're dedicated to website design driven by strategy. Every element of your website's look and functionality should be dictated by what actions you want your visitors to take.
Marketing Strategy
21st Century consumers interact with companies who engage in 21st Century marketing strategies. We help companies identify how best to use technology to reach customers and grow.
Graphic Design
Great design is rooted in a solid foundation of brand establishment, company culture and creative vision. Great design will define your organization's success and reinforce its purpose.
Learn About all of the Services We Offer
In The Media
Secrets of Facebook Reactions
Showing a little love goes a little further than before. In February 2016, the social networking site launched its emoji reaction feature, as an alternative to the iconic "like" button. Users can now choose from "Like", "Love", "Sad", "Angry", and "Wow" reactions. But for businesses, this means more than just cute face below their posts. Because of the algorithm changes … Read More
Inside Business – Courtney's Women of Excellence Nomination
At work Courtney Buzzell is the owner of Proximo Marketing Strategies, a full-service marketing firm based out of Yorktown and serving clients all across the country. She also works as adjunct faculty member at Thomas Nelson Community College, educating students on best practices for marketing in the 21st century. Home and family She is the proud parent of a spunky … Read More
Inside Business – Courtney's Top 40 Under 40 Nomination
At work: I am a partner and marketing consultant at Proximo Marketing Strategies, where my main area of focus is business in-house marketing strategies and communications, as well as developing cooperative marketing efforts and quality customer service. I also oversee the social media department and head up my firm's keynote presentations. Home and family: I am the proud parent of … Read More
Inside Business – CreateAthon offers select nonprofits a 24-hour marketing blitz
Proximo Marketing Strategies of Yorktown is again participating in CreateAthon, a 24-hour national and local blitz to provide creative marketing services to nonprofit organizations. The best part of that: It's on a pro bono basis. Proximo, a digital marketing agency founded in 2012 by Courtney Buzzell, recently relocated from Williamsburg to Yorktown. This is the fourth consecutive year the company … Read More
Recent Projects From Our Portfolio
What Our Clients Are Saying
Proximo has been great to work with! They helped me develop my website and have given me great marketing/business start up advice. I would recommend them highly to anyone!!
I am sending a most heart-felt 'thank you' to Brittany Shaffer for gently, and patiently, ushering me into the 21st Century with our social media! Without giving away my age, suffice to say, the whole idea of social media terrified me. Brittany entered into our relationship in a non-judgmental …
★★★★★These people really know what they are doing and their customer service is amazing! #ProximoRocks I recommend them to all of my business associates.
We hired Proximo Marketing Strategies over two years ago to attract more new patients to our practice. We saw immediate results after we started our campaign and have continued to see results ever since. Unlike the national dental marketing companies we researched online, Proximo understands the loc…
Courtney and Shelley offered a very informative and comfortable presentation!
★★★★★Sometimes marketing, online advertising and search engine optimization can leave business owners feeling confused and wondering who they can trust. Proximo is professional, intelligent and full of integrity. They stand by their promises and have great results. Our website was fully redesigned…
You both did a wonder job! I learned so much and really needed this because I don't use social media (Facebook) at all and LinkedIn is very new to me. Great presentation!
[Courtney Buzzell is] no short on ideas and information on marketing…Proximo Rocks!
[Courtney Buzzell] really knows what she's doing. She's been so wonderful to share her knowledge, not only for the benefit of PWN, but for the benefit of it's members… That's what's really great about the company. I sat down with Will and he said "hey, where do you see this long term, and how do you…
On behalf of the Williamsburg SCORE chapter, we thank you for the high quality workshops which you have presented for our chapter. The material which you prepared for the workshops was excellent. Your presentation of the material was outstanding. You expanded and explained the visual material in …


text:
*SALE* Triangle Chain Pillowslip in Sunshine SET of 2
or make 4 interest-free payments of $11.25 AUD fortnightly with More info
This product is currently sold out.
SALE pair of king pillowslips
100% Cotton King Size Printed Pillowslip
Block printed by hand. Perfectly imperfect.
50cm X 90cm
Machine Wash in Cold Water
Cool Iron Only
Do Not Tumble Dry


text:
Stories are not told by one person.
Royce Pharmaceuticals has released six new products: Happy, Affection, Calm, Inspiration, Alert, and Lust-each applicable through a convenient adhesive patch. Shortly after their release, Sara's mother begins to lose her battle against cancer. Her father begins to use Happy and Calm just to make it through the day. A college graduate working at a coffee shop, a young nurse who relies on Alert, a high school boy trying to do better than his parents, a businessman from Royce-everyone has a story to tell, and each is beginning to entwine.
A Package of Moods is my debut novel, and can be purchased online from the retailers listed here as well as from any of the brick-and-mortar stores who choose to sell it. Bookstores where A Package of Moods is available includes: Bookburgh Books, Cornerstone Bookstore and Lake City Books (Plattsburgh, NY), The Bookstore Plus (Lake Placid, NY), Bear Pond Books (Montpelier, VT), and Phoenix Books (Burlington, VT).
Amelia Stevens was not buried too far from where Gerod hopped the fence. Her gravestone was freshly set, the letters clean and so far unscarred by wind or snow. Gerod extinguished his flame and let his eyes readjust to the darkness. While they did, he listened for the guards. The wind curled around his ears and snow caught in his hair, but he did not hear anything besides the little gusts. Gerod removed his coat and put his shovel into the soil before the gravestone.
-an excerpt from an early version of The Ember Trade
If things go as planned, the fantasy project I'm working on now will be my second novel. It begins a new story set in the fictional land of Averreach, a colony of the mighty Ceppic Empire, where crime is commonplace and many whisper good tidings to those who were once a member of the destroyed rebel army. In the shadows sorcerers are ambushed, killed for the power their bodies contain. Their embers–magical stones beside their hearts–are harvested, ground to dust, and sold to the highest bidder.
The Ember Trade is still in development, but it is actively being improved with the help of some excellent folks willing to read the rougher in-progress versions. Check back here for more information on it–I'll be sure to share what I can as quickly as I'm able.


text:
Jamie Dimon has some advice on how to deal with bad employees: Fire them.
JPMorgan Chase's CEO said Thursday that poor-performing workers will "destroy your companies," The Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch reported Friday.
Dimon also said U.S. economic growth is being slowed down by the political climate in Washington. "We're growing at 2.5 percent," he said. "We should be doing better."
Dimon was speaking at the Columbus Chamber of Commerce's annual meeting.


text:
Copa Libertadores
Vélez Sarsfield vs Peñarol
Velez Sarsfield must win in the Jose Almafitani tonight to have any chance of making the final for the second time. Penarol are also looking to cut short a long dry spell in the Copa, 1987 being the last time they reached the final. You can watch Vélez Sarsfield vs Peñarol Live Streaming in LiveStreaming.Spec2010.com
[caption id="attachment_606" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Velez vs Peñarol Live Streaming"][/caption]