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Sales: How do I view / restore a Deleted Sale?
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- To restore a Sale, click the checkbox in the Restore column and then on the Restore button at the bottom of the list
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About the Author
View more articles by Dennis P. Halpin
Dennis P. Halpin
Dennis P. Halpin, a former Foreign Service Officer and senior Congressional staff, is a consultant on Asian issues.
Resentment of China, despite claims of a relationship as close as "lips and teeth," has been an undercurrent in North Korean ruling circles from the earliest days of the DPRK.
The fact that Mao's People's Volunteer Army had to ride to the rescue of North Korea's founding father, Kim Il Sung, after his costly miscalculation that the United States would not intervene in Korea, was a source of deep humiliation. Dependency breeds resentment, as the United States has learned only too well in its position as senior partner in the more than six-decade-old U.S.-ROK alliance.
And then there is the disconcerting fact that while North Korea has made juche, a doctrine predicated on self-reliance, the cornerstone of its ideological justification, reliance on China is a fact of life. The International Policy Digest reported on July 2, 2015 that "North Korea is economically dependent on China for its basic necessities like energy and food which dominate the trade between the two countries. China provided North Korea with 70 percent of its food and about 70-80 percent of the country's fuel supplies."
Kim Jong Un's overtly expressed disdain for his Chinese patrons, therefore, calls to mind the old adage of "don't bite the hand that feeds you." But bite that hand he has repeatedly done with gusto.
Both Kim Jong Un's father and grandfather were famously more adept at handling "panda diplomacy," arguably North Korea's most vital foreign relationship, than is the Young General. Kim Il Sung very skillfully took advantage of the Sino-Soviet split during the Cold War to balance relations with and extract concessions from the then two Communist giants.
Kim Jong Un has not limited his disdain for China
Kim Jong Il, who had a reported fear of flying and who rarely traveled far from the Korean peninsula, nonetheless made seven visits to China during his 17-year rule. These included three trips during the last two years of his life, despite failing health.
Kim Jong Il also made it a point to inspect both Shanghai's stock exchange in 2001 and to copy Deng Xiaoping's famous 1992 "Southern Tour" of China's special economic zones in 2006. The Dear Leader was thus able to at least feign an interest in economic reform and opening, themes dear to the hearts of the Chinese leadership. Kim Jong Un, in stark contrast, has made zero trips to visit his key and only ally during his own over-five-year rule.
North Korean documentary on Kim Jong Il's 2011 trip to China
And Kim Jong Un has not limited his disdain for China and its rulers to a mere attitude of cold estrangement. He has actively flaunted his contempt for Beijing on repeated occasions. For example, when Chinese leader Xi Jinping made a historic visit to Seoul in July 2014 – the first time a Chinese leader had visited South Korea before meeting with the North Korean Kim family, according to Time magazine – Kim Jong Un chose a very symbolic means to express his displeasure.
A 2014 report in South Korea's Chosun Ilbo newspaper noted that "Images of pandas were used during a live-fire artillery drill staged on June 30 at an islet off the country's east coast." Kim Jong Un reportedly personally observed the military drill conducted just prior to Xi's Seoul visit. Images of U.S. soldiers, rather than of Chinese pandas, are the usual subjects of target practice in North Korea.
Earlier in 2014 there was an incident with a China Southern Airlines plane carrying 220 passengers from Tokyo to Shenyang. Time magazine headlined the incident on March 6, 2014, as "The North Koreans Nearly Took Out a Chinese Passenger Plane During a Missile Test." The article goes on to describe how the airliner "passed through the trajectory of a North Korean missile just seven minutes after it was fired, a South Korean official has revealed." Not a friendly gesture to an ally.
Then there is the issue of Kim's repeated conducting of nuclear and missile tests, despite admonitions from Beijing to cease and desist. A particularly galling example was the scheduling of North Korea's third nuclear test on February 12, 2013 – two days after the start of the Chinese lunar New Year celebrations. The timing seemed deliberately selected in order to send Chinese officials scrambling to head back to their offices in Beijing from their ancestral hometowns. Kim Jong Un repeated this symbolically defiant gesture toward China in 2016. North Korea fired a long-range rocket on February 7, the day before the start of that year's Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations.
How has Kim Jong Un responded to the latest Chinese pressure? With the bombast and defiance for which he has become famous
Kim has also eliminated family members who are suspected of having close ties to Beijing. Among the crimes cited in rationalizing the December 2013 execution of Kim Jong Un's uncle, Jang Song Thaek, who was widely seen as Beijing's point man in the Pyongyang leadership, was "selling off the land of the Rason economic and trade zone to a foreign country," a not very veiled reference to his uncle's China ties. Then there was the recent assassination of his half-brother, Kim Jong Nam, who was reportedly under the protection of Chinese security forces, at a Malaysian airport. This last action, however, may yet prove to be the straw that broke the camel's back.
Officials in Beijing, including Xi Jinping, the most formidable Chinese leader since Deng Xiaoping, have been incensed by the consistent disrespect displayed by "their junior," the 30-something leader in Pyongyang. Chinese netizens have also taken to their blogs not only questioning the value of the relationship with Pyongyang but also referring to Kim Jong Un in such derogatory language as "The Kid" and "Fatty the Third."
Beijing's patience with its troublesome North Korean ally may indeed be finally wearing thin. A concrete signal was given days after the assassination of Kim Jong Nam when Beijing announced the suspension of North Korean coal imports. China's Commerce Ministry announced the suspension of "all imports of coal from North Korea until the end of the year… Coal is North Korea's largest export item." China had previously made exceptions, despite UN sanctions, for imports of coal from North Korea intended for "the people's well-being."
In another sign that Beijing is getting increasingly fed up, the South China Morning Post reported on February 22nd that "China and the United States have agreed on the need to address the nuclear threat posed by North Korea after a phone call between Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi and the U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Tuesday."
Having Beijing assume greater responsibility for resolving the North Korean nuclear issue has been a major theme of new U.S. President Donald Trump.
Beijing's patience with its troublesome North Korean ally may indeed be finally wearing thin
So how has Kim Jong Un responded to the latest Chinese pressure? With the bombast and defiance for which he has become famous. Pyongyang's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) carried a commentary on February 23rd which attacked a "neighboring country, which often claims itself to be a friendly neighbor" for "unhesitatingly taking inhumane steps such as totally blocking foreign trade related to the improvement of people's living standard under the plea of the U.N. 'resolutions on sanctions' devoid of the legal ground."
The commentary further accused the unnamed country of "dancing to the tune of the U.S." The commentary also defiantly vowed to carry forward with nuclear development despite the indicated economic pain with the assertion that "it is utterly childish to think that the DPRK would not manufacture nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic rockets if a few penny of money is cut off."
So it seems that Kim Jong Un may finally be about to learn that repeatedly biting the hand that feeds you is not a cost-free exercise.
Featured image: Momentchensammler
Resentment of China, despite claims of a relationship as close as "lips and teeth," has been an undercurrent in North Korean ruling circles from the earliest days of the DPRK.
The fact that Mao's People's Volunteer Army had to ride to the rescue of North Korea's founding father, Kim Il Sung, after his costly miscalculation that the United States would not intervene in Korea, was a source of deep humiliation. Dependency breeds resentment, as the United States has learned only too well in its position as senior partner in the more than six-decade-old U.S.-ROK alliance.

subset: commoncrawl


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New publication: Scientific nationalism in a globalizing world
After a break from blogging to attend the recent and quite fantastic World Cup in Russia, I'm back with the good news that I have a new publication out.
This is a book chapter co-written with my supervisor Professor Creso Sá and is titled Scientific nationalism in a globalizing world.
It's part of a hefty new Handbook on the Politics of Higher Education, which also features chapters by luminaries in the field such as Susan Robertson, Rosemary Deem, Roger King and many, many others. The aim of the Handbook is straightforward: to address the growing politicization of higher education and offer a variety of perspectives on the politics of higher education that will improve our understanding and analysis.
Our chapter, part of a section on political economy and global governance, dives deeper into the politics of academic science. We take two notions – scientific nationalism and scientific globalism – that have different ways of conceptualising the purpose of science as well as how and why it is supported (and by whom) – but which both in different ways help to explain patterns seen in science policies around the world.
On the one hand, scientific nationalism offers a viewpoint of science as being of critical importance to nation states – even as they are increasingly intertwined in global affairs, the idea is that support for academic science will enhance national competitiveness or innovation.
On the other hand, the idea of scientific globalism is one that derives from universalist ideas of the pursuit of science being borderless and not something that can or should be privatized or commercialized. Cross-national academic communities of scientists working together on 'grand challenges' would be an excellent example of scientific globalism.
We studied national science policies in twenty countries across all continents and with a very wide range of economic and political contexts. Despite this diversity, we found the depth of commonalities across the policies remarkable. For instance, almost all of the policies expressed a desire to become (or remain) globally competitive, with great importance placed on science as a tool to achieve that goal. From Saudi Arabia to South Africa and from Canada to China, this positioning was embraced around the world.
In addition to similarities across the policies, we also identified a number of tensions that arise from the dual existence of both logics of scientific nationalism and scientific globalism. Whilst scientific nationalism is well anchored in a global institutional order, there was clear friction with ideas stemming from more globalist thinking. This is encapsulated well in how the policies talk about the mobility of scientists and researchers. Nations want their scientists to cooperate globally and to be able to travel around the world, but many countries also expressed a desire for said scientists to ultimately return to their home country to utilize the skills and experience gained abroad.
Written at the end of 2016 and start of 2017, we end the chapter by considering some areas for future research in this topic. For example, how will science policy making be affected by the emerging politics of neo-nationalism or nativism (e.g. Brexit in the UK, Trump in the US to name just two mid-2010s events)? And – worryingly – could scientific globalism be under threat from the rise of xenophobic right-wing populism?
The Handbook has had some very nice reviews already, being described by Simon Marginson as 'much the best available collection of its kind' (praise indeed!).
The attached flyer – Handbook on the Politics of Higher Education – gives more details about the book and how to buy it with a 20% discount. You can also access details on the publisher's website at https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/handbook-on-the-politics-of-higher-education. If you're based at a university/HEI, do please encourage your library to get a copy either of the heavyweight hardback or the e-book.
Hunger And Eviction: Money Woes Send Turkmen Students Abroad Scrambling (Repost from RFE/RL)
Not much is written about higher education in Turkmenistan. Its education system, like much else in the country, is generally closed off to the outside world. The only news that tends to get out is when some high cost project is launched (see e.g. British tabloid The Express on the opening of a new airport in the capital Ashgabat or the Majlis podcast on the 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games).
Sadly, the rare story that has surfaced from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Turkmen Service about higher education in Turkmenistan is not a positive one. There's no new glitzy university building or major scholarship programme in the works. On the contrary, the story tells of how many Turkmen students pursuing studies abroad are being cut off from finances in their home banks and the negative consequences this is having not only on their studies but their physical and mental health.
This seems to me to epitomize the clash between contemporary globalization and the persistence (persisting importance) of nation states. So, for example, the international finance system is unable to control the machinations of national banks employing global services (in this case, VISA cards). And whilst students have many more opportunities to study outside their home country than in the past, they are still curtailed by the legislative framework of the host countries (in this case, the rules of their host universities about debts and the visa regime that doesn't allow them to work).
I've reposted the story below, which is (c) RFE/RL's Turkmen service and available on their website at https://www.rferl.org/a/turkmenistan-debit-cards-financial-cutoff-students-hunger-eviction/29252238.html.
Hunger And Eviction: Money Woes Send Turkmen Students Abroad Scrambling
A Russian ATM machine's repeated rejection of his efforts to withdraw cash from his Turkmen bank led one student to cut up his bank card and try to cook it for a meal.
Video of the culinary first (he did add salt) that was sent to RFE/RL's Turkmen Service was a humorous attempt to express the utter frustration felt by many of the thousands of Turkmen students studying around the world who are unable to get money from their bank accounts back home.
But the problem is no laughing matter. It's left many students unable to pay rent or tuition, and some of those who spoke to RFE/RL this month said they were often even going hungry because they had no money.
"In December I was still pretty well fed, but then the [bank] cards stopped working and, as a result, I've lost 15 kilograms," said Merdan, a Turkmen studying in Ukraine who asked that we not publish his surname.
"Very often we do not have money — I have to borrow from friends and acquaintances," he added. "We all understand each other's situations. Sometimes I ask for a slice of bread — but they also need to eat. And besides, a hungry person will not be satisfied with a couple of slices of bread."
WATCH: Student 'Cooks' His Bank Card (in Turkmen, no subtitles)
Turkmen debit-cardholders living abroad were previously limited to taking out the equivalent of $15 per day, but that amount became insignificant once virtually any attempt to extract money — whether at ATMs in Turkey, Belarus, Ukraine, or Russia, among others — ended in failure.
"When I went abroad, I could not use my bank card, even though I had about 4,000 manats in my account," said a student named Gulrukh, citing the equivalent of around $1,143 at the official exchange rate. "When I went to Vnesheconombank, they told me that my card was blocked."
Many students in a number of countries told RFE/RL that occasionally their card would inexplicably work and they could retrieve $15 but those were unreliable exceptions.
RFE/RL's Turkmen Service has received dozens of messages and phone calls each day in recent months from Turkmen abroad complaining about the debit-card problem.
No Official Announcements
The cards, issued by various state-owned Turkmen banks, are most often embossed with the VISA logo, the complainants said, but others that have failed are MasterCard.
VISA told RFE/RL in a March statement that it had not cut off any services to owners of its cards in Turkmenistan.
"In the Republic of Turkmenistan, VISA continues to process and provide services to all partner banks as usual, we have not suspended the provision of services to banks in Turkmenistan and are working closely with banks with partners, trade and service companies and other market participants to ensure the stable operation of the payment system as a whole," Galym Tabyldiev, VISA's general manager for Central Asia, wrote.
VISA said anyone experiencing difficulty using the cards should "contact the issuing bank."
Banks in Turkmenistan have made no official announcements on the reason for the failure of the debit cards to work reliably, although some bank representatives, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told RFE/RL that VISA cards used abroad were being "completely suspended." The officials — from Bank Senagat and the Vnesheconombank — added that they did not know how long any purported suspension might last.
Chaotic Scenes
The dire situation has forced some parents with children studying abroad to rely on MoneyGram and Western Union to wire money to their loved ones.
But such transfers from Turkmenistan were limited to $300 and unusual conditions were placed on senders that included visiting certain central-bank offices to get a "service coupon."
The migration to money-wiring services led to chaotic scenes at some of the few MoneyGram and Western Union outlets in Turkmenistan, with crushes as lines sometimes ballooned into the hundreds, as in the Lebap region in February.
It's not clear why the banks might be blocking such withdrawal requests from abroad.
Some analysts speculate that it might be connected to the gap between the official exchange rate (3.5 manats to the dollar) and the black-market rate (22 manats to the dollar). They say paying out money at the official rate could expose banks to significant losses.
Others point to Turkmenistan's dire economic situation, which has caused shortages of many staple and consumer goods, including bread and sugar.
Those woes appear to extend to the government's coffers as well, as the state has reportedly fallen behind on some workers' salaries and pensions.
There have also been government efforts to encourage the return of Turkmen migrant workers and students abroad by pressuring parents and other relatives. In such circumstances, cutting access to money for Turkmen abroad could make the decision to return home much easier.
Regardless of the reason for the cash cutoffs, they continue to cause big problems for Turkmen abroad.
"I would like to make a big request of officials in Turkmenistan," wrote one student to RFE/RL. "Unlock our cards. We are in a foreign country, we do not have our own housing, we live in a hostel, we cannot even pay for it. We soon will be evicted. We cannot leave for Turkmenistan because we will not be released if we do not pay debts for the hostel."
Expulsions, Manual Labor
There have already been cases of Turkmen students being expelled from their university over unpaid tuition.
"We paid for our studies on February 20 by transferring money from banks in Turkmenistan, but the Turkmen banks have not yet transferred money to the university account in Belarus, and the university demanded that the money be transferred by April 1," one university student told RFE/RL in April.
He claimed that 42 students from Turkmenistan who had similar problems with their home banks had already been expelled for nonpayment of their tuition.
Other students have taken to doing manual labor to pay the bills, potentially risking legal problems.
An RFE/RL Turkmen Service correspondent in Russia's Astrakhan region reportedon May 15 that hundreds of Turkmen students were working on farms in their spare time harvesting fruits and vegetables.
He reported that some were working eight hours a day for 600 rubles (about $10) planting crops on the weekends.
"Students are forced to agree [to the low wage] because they have no choice," he said.
The activity is technically illegal because in Russia workers need to have a work permit, which costs 3,200 rubles per month (about $50), and most students do not have one.
"Because of the crisis in Turkmenistan, we are trying not to disturb our parents and relatives, we try to take care of ourselves somehow, pay at least part of our expenses," said one student in Astrakhan. "We do not know when the situation in [Turkmenistan] will stabilize, because we still cannot withdraw money from our VISA cards because of the blockage."
He added: "Many of us are in despair."
And the debit-card problem has hit more than just Turkmen students.
A Turkmen official who requested anonymity told RFE/RL that, while part of a high-level government delegation in Europe earlier this year for a meeting with a prominent international organization, he was unable to withdraw the money he needed from an ATM machine to pay his hotel bill.


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Every baby should have the softest baby blanket. This Alimrose 100% cotton blanket is perfect for the cot, pram or cuddles.
While being snug as a bug little one can enjoy themselves with the perfect cloud rattle to match. Hand Made, safe and a treasure that will be kept for years to come. Perfect size for little hands.
Alimrose Pink Cloud 100% Cotton Blanket
Full Tilt Nanna Hand crochet Cloud Rattle, Australian Made


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For those looking for eco-conscious packaging solutions, Seufert will present its new PET Blue Ocean material, designed to reduce unused packaging waste and conserve the world's oceans. The new design has been created as an alternative to standard PET and utilises up to 100% recycled content in the central layer of the polyester material. The virgin PETG outer layer provides an optimal barrier for food contact making it suitable for use throughout the food sector and the wider packaging industry.
Similarly, Staeger Clear Packaging will showcase its transparent packaging made from recyclable PET. The material used is made from a minimum of 60% post-consumer waste and is suitable for direct food contact. Supplied in flat sheets, the material is then converted into bespoke designs for a wide range of markets including food, confectionary, personal care, houseplants and flowers, and general gifting. The company will also discuss its ability to reduce lead-times after investing in new machinery to allow the procurement of the material from the UK rather than the EU.
Organoid UK will showcase its natural surface packaging, which is bonded with bio-based resins, for the first time at a packaging exhibition. The biodegradable design retains the organic texture and scent of the 100% natural material and highlights the potential of agrarian products in the industry.
Shredhouse will display its range of shredded void fills, including cellophane made from wood pulp. All of its papers are biodegradable, fully recyclable and sustainably sourced, offering an eco-friendly option in a wide range of colours and finishes.
For those looking for the latest in labelling designs, Tinware Direct will be launching a new service at the show which will allow customers to create bespoke labels in an array of design options available in limited runs. The company will also display two new designs; the rose gold heart and rose gold seamless tins, to offer an attractive alternative to the existing gold and silver variants.
Applic'Etains will showcase its personalised adhesive pewter labels. Available in sheets for manual administration or rolls for automatic application, labels can be customised using a range of shapes and colours to suit individual needs and can be applied to a host of products from spirit bottles to candles.
For the beauty sector, Sampling Innovations will present its range of cosmetic solutions, including Self Sampling®. The unique machine has been developed to dispense a single fragrance or makeup sample at the press of a button, specifically designed for the retail market.
Premi Spa will display its eco-friendly collection of packaging for the beauty industry made from Green PET. The plastic used is derived from sugarcane, rather than petroleum, a renewable resource which benefits from lower carbon emissions compared to traditional PE plastic. As well as being sustainably sourced, the collection offers a refillable solution for the cosmetics industry to further reduce the impact packaging can have on the environment.
Also on show, previously specialising in producing bespoke embossed tins for the confectionary industry, Allan & Co will launch its new design service for the wider packaging market.
James Drake-Brockman, Divisional Director of Easyfairs' Packaging Portfolio, concludes: "We are very proud to have established Packaging Innovations and Luxury Packaging London as the premier packaging event in the capital and are thrilled to be celebrating the 10th anniversary of the show this year.
"We are delighted to welcome back so many exhibitors from last year's show after 78% rebooked their stands, and we are also excited to host a series of new suppliers, all with innovative and exciting packaging solutions to share. The launches taking place at the show offer visitors the unrivalled opportunity to visit the future of packaging by experiencing the most cutting-edge products on the market. I for one can't wait to walk the aisles and see it all first-hand when the show opens."


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Doubt is Acceptable
Inaction is Not
Q: Whenever an opportunity presents itself to me, either at work or in a social situation, I doubt myself to an extent that it has sabotaged some potentially great things in my life. What can I do? -Bettina
A: Bettina, doubt is normally a fantastic part of our human psyche, because it helps us assess situations to avoid physical or emotional pain. It is kind of a safety valve for us when assessing an opportunity. For some of us, doubt can quickly grow out of control and either paralyze us or slow us down enough that we miss an opportunity. On the flip side of the equation, if you jumped at every opportunity that came along, you might make some less-than-ideal decisions.
Healthy doubt keeps you safe, while unhealthy doubt robs you of taking advantage of good opportunities. The source of your doubt may be somewhere in your childhood (a parent or other influence installing a belief around being cautious), but that is the realm of working with a psychologist, which you may want to look into if you are curious. In the meantime, you can prepare yourself for the next time doubt wells up in you and potentially hinders you.
This can be done through meditation, or simply sitting down and thinking about this exercise. Consider consciously that doubt can keep you safe, so be grateful that it is present within you. At the same time, think of it like an overly sensitive smoke detector that you are often fanning innocent smoke away from. Prepare for the next situation of doubt and plan for it by consciously making an advantages and disadvantages list for the opportunity at hand. If the disadvantages outweigh the advantages, then go ahead. If the disadvantages win, stay put. After that situation passes, you can look back and ask yourself if that process worked and how you might tweak it for the next time. In this way, you are conditioning the mind to work for you instead of against you.
With practice, you will make a shift in how doubt influences your behaviour and allows you to make better and better choices throughout life.
Combining over 30 years in the field of self-development, Rod is the CEO of the Certified Coaches Federation, one of the largest coach education companies in the world, and a speaker, coach and author. For more information on the Certified Coaches Federation, visit www.certifiedcoachesfederation.com and for more information on Rod, visit www.indestructiblehuman.com.
Want to ask Tonic's Coach a question? Send a brief email to email@example.com describing your challenge in 50 words or less, and one question will be selected per issue.


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In celebration of having reached $3 billion in assets in 9.5 years of doing business, Franklin Synergy Bank held a "sweet success" doughnuts and coffee event Friday morning at all 12 of its branches in Williamson and Rutherford counties.
Ellie's Old Fashioned Doughnuts food truck served up its warm, sugar-sprinkled specialties at the bank's headquarters on Columbia Avenue.
Richard Herrington, the bank's chairman and CEO, said the special event was to show appreciation to the loyal customers. Starting out with only 20 employees when Franklin Synergy opened in 2007, the bank is now comprised of a team of 270 employees.
"We are very proud. We went from the smallest to one of the four biggest banks in Tennessee in less than 10 years," Herrington said. "We are not in business to be the biggest bank. We are trying to be the best bank and are just using those numbers to measure success."
You can view the original here.


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Unplug. Pack light. Get productive your way, all day. Collaborate on projects, perfect a presentation, manage email, and stream a show when it's all done. From office to home, airport to open road, power your life on the move with new Surface Pro 6, the laptop that adapts to you — now faster than ever with the latest 8th Generation Intel® Core™ processor.
Your laptop, your way. Across town or around the world, the new Surface Pro 6 is your perfectly light, incredibly powerful travel partner — now with the latest 8th Generation Intel® Core™ processor and up to 13.5 hours1 of all-day battery life.
More powerful than ever. Next-generation Surface Pro 6 features the latest 8th Generation Intel® Core™ processor for faster multitasking, professional grade hardware to run your desktop apps, and all-day battery life.1
Complement your day-to-day style. Personalize your new Surface Pro 6. Choose from two classic colors — Platinum or bold, new Black.4 And, make it a full laptop with our Signature Type Cover,* Surface Pen,* and Surface Arc Mouse* — all in colors you can mix or match.4
The Windows you know. With Windows 10 Home, enjoy the familiarity of Windows and create your best work with Office 365* on Windows. Take advantage of helpful time savers, including password-free Windows Hello sign-in and Cortana,5 your personal intelligent assistant.
Work, play, stream, catch up. Chase your dream by day and unwind with your favorite show at night. Next-generation Surface Pro 6 handles it all with ease, with up to 13.5 hours1 of battery life and a new 8th Generation Intel® Core™ processor.
A new classic. Discover next-generation Surface Pro 6, with the latest 8th Generation Intel® Core™ processor. Now in two colors: Platinum and bold, new Black.
- Tablet Type: Surface Pro 6
- Colour: Silver
- Display size (inches): 12.3
- Resolution (Pixels): 2736 x 1824
- Screen Resolution: Pixel Sense Screen
- Processor Type: Intel Core i7
- Processor Model Number: 8650U
- Processor Clock Speed (GHz): 1.9
- Processor Max. Clock Speed (GHz): 1.9
- SSD Storage: 256GB
- Total Storage: 256GB
- Graphics processor: Intel UHD Graphics 620
- Rear Cameras (MP): 8
- Front camera (MP): 5
- Webcam: Yes
- HD recording: Yes
- Bluetooth: v4.1
- Wi-Fi: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
- Card reader: Micro SDXC
- Mini DisplayPort inputs: 1
- USB 3.0 Ports: 1
- Headphone output (3.5mm): Yes
- Battery life: Up to 13.5 hours of local video playback
- Tablet Operating System: Windows
- Manufacturer's warranty: 1 Year


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Maybe you like to keep up with landscaping trends on a regular basis, or it's just time for a change. Regardless of which category you fall into, our Point Cook driveway specialists have you covered. We've collated a list of stunning driveway ideas that are sure to spruce up your front yard for the New Year.
1. Exposed aggregate
This is always a popular style for driveways. Exposed aggregate is created using a special concrete mix that exposes smooth textured stones and pebbles – completing the finished look. This is a popular concept as it is available in a wide variety of colours and sizes and it allows you to showcase some great effects at a low cost. A practical aspect of exposed aggregate is its non-slip surface that has a life-span of almost a decade without the need for any major maintenance. Our Point Cook Driveway specialists are experts in the exposed aggregate concrete department so please let us know if you need any further information on this type of concrete.
2. Asphalt pavement
Asphalt paved driveways are the most common type of driveways. It is the same sort of concreting method that is used on most street footpaths. It is a durable method and can last up to 20 years if installed properly. Asphalt pavement does need to be resealed every few years to fully take advantage of its effectiveness.
It is important to maintain the asphalt by cleaning it at least twice a year. If you identify any cracks or holes then they should be repaired as soon as possible using the appropriate sealant or repair materials.
3. Concrete driveways
Simple concrete driveways might seem dull and boring, but simple is trendy nowadays, and they're extremely strong and long-lasting, requiring little to no maintenance in their 30-year life-span. Though standard concrete driveways are more expensive than asphalt driveways, when you factor in their longevity they're actually well- priced, especially considering you aren't likely to have to alter it again. If you have any further questions regarding concrete driveways our Point Cook driveway specialists would be more than happy to provide you with any assistance you may require.
4. Stamped concrete driveways
Stamped concrete driveways are a great way to add a bit more excitement to a standard concrete driveway. It adds a whole lot more variation in colours, patterns and textures. Stamped concrete is quite literally concrete that is stamped with a template to give off a patterned look that resembles another material such as stone, or tile. It is also cheaper than using most of the other materials on this list.
5. Cobblestone pavers
Cobblestone pavers is a much pricier option than the last four we've looked at but is definitely a stunner when it comes to stylish driveways. Cobblestone is made up of granite rock, which is very hard rock. Some great aspects of granite are that it doesn't crack or split, it isn't affected by the weather and it is stain resistant.
Maintenance-wise, cobblestone pavers should be washed every few years. Occasionally weeds may grow through, however, you can simply just pull them out if that happens. Otherwise, a cobblestone paver driveway could last you over 100 years if installed correctly.
6. Bluestone pavers
Bluestone is a type of sandstone that can make for a really modern driveway. Bluestone can come in a variety of sizes including gravel. It is a durable material and can be cut into any shape or size that is required. As the name suggests, it holds a deep blue colour – which will fade to grey as it is constantly exposed to sun and the other elements. This means its colour range is limited but it does have the natural allure that other types may lack.
Even though they have a smooth surface, Bluestone pavers are non-slip. They're also very dense, holding a high resistance to permanent to staining of any sorts.
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Re-doing your driveway is no small task, so you'll want to make sure you make the best choice when it comes to concrete specialists. Prestige Concrete Services have over 20 years of experience in the concreting industry. Our services include driveways, paths and pavement for a variety of different clients. You can also take a look at the full range of concrete types we specialise in here.
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Lubrizol LifeSciences: Looking at long term partnerships
Mark Mitchnick, MD, CEO at Particle Sciences, CMO at Lubrizol LifeSciences spoke about the company's new facility that features 3,000 sq. ft. of flexible suite space.
The facility, which will be up and running in Q3 this year, is purpose built around several technologies, including nano-milling, homogenization, aseptic processing
"We expect the capacity of this facility to be occupied pretty quickly," said Mitchnick. He added that the company has already begun "expansion of the expansion" and is looking to establish additional long-term relationship with companies.
DCAT Week CDMO annoucements Normaco: New strategic partnership BioVectra: North America's market need Datwyler: Largest ever investment Patheon: Simplifying the supply chain CordenPharma: Closing a market gap Novasep: Greenfield facility ready for operations CMC Biologics: Business as usual Mayne Pharma: Building for the future Lubrizol LifeSciences: Looking at long term partnerships Catalent: $1bn over the past 5 years Olon S.p.A.: Integrated toolbox Siegfried: Critical size key


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On Thursday, March 19th at approximately 4:30PM, information was received that the body of 63-year-old Arlando Smith was found dead in his apartment located 3.5 miles south of San Pedro Town. Reports indicated that the body was found by a housekeeper who had entered the unit for a scheduled clean-up.
While police are speculating that Smith passed away due to natural causes, as postmortem examination will be conducted at the Karl Huesner Memorial Hospital in Belize City to certify the cause of death.
Smith, an American award winning director, has been a long time resident of San Pedro and even directed the first episode of La Isla Bonita Telenovela. He also contributed to several American television series including All in the Family, Silver Spoons, 227, The Richard Pryor Show, Shes the Sheriff, The Rober Guillaume Show, Whats Happening Now, The Jeffersons, and Malcolm and Eddie.
A potluck will be held on Sunday, March 22nd to commemorate his life and contributions. All friends are invited to Black Orchid Restaurant and Lounge from 2PM to 6PM. Those attending are being asked to bring food and beverages of their choice (the restaurant/bar will not be open for service).
Click here to read the rest of the article in the San Pedro Sun


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Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center
Providing high quality health care for those who need it most
Newsworthy items, events and activities for you and your family
Read the latest about what's going on at Virginia Garcia.
Check out our schedule of events, buy tickets and read about upcoming activities at Virginia Garcia.
Friday, June 28, 2019
July 20, 2019
REX HILL Winery
August 5-9, 2019
Friday, September 27
Sentinel Hotel
Stock photos, press releases, contact information and more.


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Friday, May 25, 2012
339.3 kms: Rose Bridge-Dalston-Carlisle.
There is a pub on the other side of that picture by the way. I am not otherwise in the habit of knocking back pints in churchyards. It just seemed a cool place to sit—and all the funky people are here, lots of sleeves and coloured hair and a very drunk, bust-enhanced girl tottering about in a very short dress. Oh good, someone has rescued her from herself. Someone's child is running around spraying his water bottle at everyone and has just thrown beer on one of the particularly blonde and tattooed young things who is taking him in search of his parents—they appear to have left him behind (small wonder). Oh no, there we go, someone is owning up to him.
Needless to say I was not up at the hoped for five or six am and away from my hidey hole. The night was long and it is only the particular strange thoughts that turned out to be dreams that indicate I slept at all. I'm too old for the stiffness that sleeping on the ground (or extremely hard youth hostel mattresses) brings. (I am getting so soft! I should also, based on other trips, be at 400 odd k's today not a measly 339.) Back to camping: by morning I am usually so exhausted that the slight increase in warmth sends me off. I had misjudged where the sun would rise (getting it to rise on you makes two things happen. One, it gets you up quick smart as sun and tent material are an extremely warm combination—I remember one morning, day after Fourth of July, in a campground in Rapid City, South Dakota where we had to crawl out of the tent at about six am and hide under the picnic table because we were very hung over and very, very hot). And two: it dries all your gear up. Neither happened and so I was packing up wet gear at about eight when I saw a couple coming across the adjacent field. I ducked down behind my weeds. They didn't seem to notice me and were nearly through my field when suddenly I heard them calling out to what I assumed were their dogs. Eek! Out of nowhere a deer was running toward me at great speed. It saw me and diverted. Two great big dogs charged past a couple of seconds later—one looking over at me hiding behind the weeds and saying 'What the ...?'
They chased the deer up and over the hill behind me. It seemed all was well but then the owners started walking towards me. They seemed to locate their dogs and turn back but then that dog with its obviously good memory came back to see what it had seen. I had to sit up—probably scared the bejeebers out of them. I mumbled something about just staying the night. A great black lab and a greater Rhodesian ridgeback licked my face (eeuuw, suntan lotion, Bushman's Plus, sweat and dirt, possibly slug parts) while I tried to have a casual conversation with a man who had just discovered me lying in a bush. His wife kept a distance.
Why do I always get sprung camping? I have trouble remembering times when I have got clean away without some sort of awkward wave or chat.
Otherwise it was a quick walk into Carlisle (see left) where I tossed up moving on or staying, and figured I would have more option for accommodation in a city rather than a small village on a Saturday night. By two-ish I was sequestered in a B&B with a taciturn owner. By three-ish I was back out in the city, sitting around in free wifi cafes drinking coffee, wandering around the sights, sipping beer in churchyards and having one of the four best meals I have had here (starting to sound like it isn't that unique). Smelling heavily of garlic I am going to lock myself in my room and relax while Carlisle goes mad on a Saturday night. Tomorrow I am heading for the start of Hadrian's Wall. Another day, another long distance walking path.
Good night to Carlisle, good night to you.
Only, I'm not actually because I have come back to find two men with Eurovision on the telly ready to go with sweet wine and snacks. I had forgotten it was on. Thank God they didn't. What a night of entertainment! Did you see the Russian babooshkas?
Once again I'll try: good night!
Posted by List Addict at 4:17 PM
Labels: Carlisle
2 comments:
Hadrian's Wall featured in a comical line during 'The Builders'' episode in Fawlty Towers. I will be keen to know what it's like. Sequestered and Taciturn are amongst my favourite words.ReplyDelete
I read your blog late at night when a quiteness takes over the home, as has the chill of the Melbourne winter. The thought of sun falling on my back is lovely as is your marvellous prose which takes me to where you are sipping beer from a cup in danger of crumbling at your very touch.ReplyDelete
Miss you and love you always
Look forward to more
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How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got a Life
Kaavya Viswanathan
Little, Brown & Co., 2006 (2006)
Hardcover, CD
Reviewed by Kerrily Sapet
pal Mehta has spent her entire life striving towards one goal - getting into Harvard University. Her parents have given up successful careers in India and dedicated many of their decisions to the plan known as
or '
How Opal Will Get Into Harvard.
' As the top student in her high school, involved in every activity from student council to science club, Opal is crushed when her early admission interview at Harvard goes awry. The interviewer tells her she needs more than excellent grades, she needs a life and personality that ranges beyond math camp attendee.
pal's parents immediately regroup. This time their plan is code named
or '
How Opal Will Get A Life.
' Opal is subjected to becoming the most popular girl in school by watching trendy tv shows, practicing slang with flashcards, and undergoing dramatic fashion makeovers so she can describe herself as '
' Her parents are so dedicated to the cause that they arrange to be out one night so Opal can throw a bash for her friends. Although
works in some ways, it quickly goes awry and Opal is forced to discover who she really wants to be and what is important to her.
aavya Viswanathan blends the perfect mix of humor, sorrow, and tension in this fun read. A sophomore in Harvard herself when she wrote the book, Viswanathan is an author to be watched. She swears her family didn't resort to slang flashcards to prepare her for her Harvard interview though!
Editor's Note:
This novel has been withdrawn from the market after accusations of plagiarism from Megan McCafferty's
Sloppy Firsts
(2001) and
Second Helpings
Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons.
Find more Contemporary books on our
or in our book


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Maileg Big Sister Dancer Mouse, Giselle
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Seen+Heard: Build your best budget
If you've ever struggled to find the right numbers, gain consensus from team members or make your marketing budget process more like a discipline and less like a guessing game, then this week's "Best of the web" is for you.
The Harvard Business Review shares three quick tips for creating a realistic budget.
Every Friday, Seen+Heard presents a link to some of the best B2B marketing thinking on the web. Have a great B2B article to share or a topic you'd like to see? Tweet me @ThinkSpringMktg or contact me.


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[SatNews] RR Media (NASDAQ:RRST), formerly known as RRsat Global Communications Network Ltd., is going to be collaborating with leading sports media services company deltatre.
Together the companies will deliver a complete solution consisting of a full ecosystem of services to acquire, prepare, manage, distribute and monetize interactive and engaging sport content. As part of the relationship, RR Media is providing its smart global distribution network which optimizes content delivery via a combination of satellite, fiber and internet connections, reaching over 95 percent of the world's population in a wide variety of content formats.
From its enhanced media centers across three continents, RR Media is able to provide localized content preparation, management and playout services to broadcasters and digital content owners across the globe. RR Media delivers live content for some of the biggest sporting events in the world including the 2014 World Cup, NFL and the NBA. deltatre will provide management of the video workflow including scheduling and distribution to end users across digital platforms.
With access to a wide variety of sports content from many of the world's leading sports federations, deltatre is providing its media asset management system, FastForward. It delivers an immersive and interactive experience to users across multiple devices, either live or on demand via its data integrated video application, Diva. In addition, the Diva player is able to provide monetization options for its partners and advertisers by providing analytic information on user behavior, as well as branding opportunities.
Additionally, the company will be showcasing its new automated online video dubbing solution at their stand.
The latest addition to RR Media's global media service platform, Video Dubber offers a highly cost-effective and time-saving dubbing solution for broadcasters and content owners, enabling them to break into new markets and territories. Video Dubber is a pioneering online service that automates the manual labor needed for dubbing, using patent-pending technologies. Its automated cloud platform enables customers to add dubbing and voice over in over 30 languages to their videos within minutes, with just a click of a button. Part of RR Media's global media services, Video Dubber facilitates fast and simple content localization, enabling new revenue-generation opportunities.
Using Video Dubber, all dubbing services can be centralized and controlled within RR Media's global media centers, as part of the company's one-stop-shop for digital media services.
Visit RR Media at stand B24.
The RR Media infosite may be accessed at http://www.rrmedia.com/
The deltatre infosite is located at http://www.deltatre.com/


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Hello, I'm Deidre from Shaky Isles.
Visit me at my blog www.stash-rehash.blogspot.com
I love many, many, many things. Here are some of them:
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- op-shopping, collecting and making things.
- refashioning, remaking, restoring, remodelling, rethinking, reusing, recycling, rebuilding, upcycling!
- native New Zealand plants, birds and butterflies, walking in the bush, finding cool fungi,
- repeating patterns,
- beautiful functional everyday objects that last and last and are a joy to use, wear or look at everyday (think Dilana Rugs, Lorimer Knives, Duncan Sargent furniture, Camper shoes, Thunderpants!)
- things with personality and character that never go out of fashion because they are mad, (Enid Collins handbags)
- Selvedge magazine, Object magazine,
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Favourite quote:
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Favourite design sentiment:
"Don't make something unless it is both necessary and useful; but if it is both necessary and useful, don't hesitate to make it beautiful." Shaker lesson


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Frames Printing
Mug Printing/T-shirt Printing
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Design Own Art Services had a vision to personalize existing gift items. we wanted to seal a memory and pass it on to loved ones in different shapes and sizes. So we opened our first outlet in Madina Mall in 2014. Back then we only personalized mobile phone covers. Later, we evolved into a company which now focuses on its 3 main pillars-
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Fusion of tracking techniques to enhance adaptive real-time tracking of arbitrary objects
Poschmann, P, Huber, P, Raetsch, M, Kittler, J and Boehme, H-J (2014) Fusion of tracking techniques to enhance adaptive real-time tracking of arbitrary objects In: 6th International Conference on Intelligent Human Computer Interaction (IHCI), 2014-12-08 - 2014-12-10, Evry, FRANCE.Full text not available from this repository.
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|Conference or Workshop Item (UNSPECIFIED)
|Divisions :
|Surrey research (other units)
|Authors :
|Date :
|1 January 2014
|Contributors :
|Uncontrolled Keywords :
|Science & Technology, Technology, Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Theory & Methods, Computer Science, Adaptive tracking, Particle filter, Optical flow, Sliding window
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|Symplectic Elements
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|17 May 2017 13:44
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|23 Jan 2020 18:48
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Inga Ābele in World Literature Today
The new issue of World Literature Today is now available, and filled with great stuff (an interview with Anne Carson, feature on Naomi Shihab Nye, profile of 2014 Neustadt International Prize for Literature winner Mia Couto, a feature on Arabic books for teens), but in addition to the magazine, WLT has an outstanding blog and just today ran a feature on Open Letter author Inga Ābele:
Inga Ābele, born in 1972 in Riga, has written plays and screenplays, collections of poetry, stories and novels. Her play Dark Deer was staged in Latvia, at the Stuttgart State Theatre, the Bonner Biennale, and in Greece, being made a feature film in 2006. Iron Weed was staged in Latvia, Denmark, and Finland; Jasmine premiered in Latvia and was staged in Lucerne. Her poetry collections include Night Pragmatist and a collection of prose poems, The Horses of Atgazene Station. Her 2001 novel, Fire Will Not Wake You, was published in Lithuanian in 2007. Her story collection Notes During the Time of Snow won the Annual Award for Literature in 2004, and another collection, Still Life with Pomegranate, was published in French translation in 2005. Ābele's 2008 novel High Tide was published in in Swedish translation in 2009 and in English translation in 2013.
I'm going to interrupt here to remind you that Open Letter was the press that published High Tide, and it was translated by our editor, Kaija Straumanis.
In other words: You should really buy this book. (You can even get the ebook directly from our site for a mere $9.99.)
This interview is as much about Inga's life out in the country as it is about Lativan literature, but, and I'm sure Kaija can back this up, Inga's living arrangement sounds pretty ideal:
Seven years ago Ābele left Riga to live in deep in the forest near Sigulde, site of an ancient castle, with her hot-air balloonist partner, Gunars Dukste. [. . .] They live on a smallholding that belonged to a baron in the 1800s: wild boars come at night to dig up the lush grass with their snouts and eat it. A tower is set up for a neighboring hunter who hasn't had any luck yet. They've built a perfect, snug house on the foundations of what was once the cattle shed, with the weathered old outbuildings still standing about, a great stack of wood ready for winter. Gunars takes haunting photos of the countryside of Latvia while floating over it.
Another interruption: Gunars's book of hot air balloon photos will be available in English in the not-too-distant future. (Kaija also translated this.) More info on that in a future post.
And finally, about Inga's forthcoming books:
She is finishing up a novel titled The Wicker Monk, which has been three years in the writing. The "wicker" in the title comes from the way in Latgale, where the protagonist lives a life of celibacy, everything is woven together for strength, large families hold together. After that she has a contract to write a historical novel about collectivism in the 1950s in Latvia, due to be finished in 2015.
Maybe Open Letter will bring out one-both of these in the future . . . But for now—check out High Tide: it's a stunning book that combines lush, provocative prose with a gripping plot about a love triangle and a killing. (Although this plot is told in semi-reverse chronological order . . . so the killing only makes sense at the end of the book. It's like an anti-mystery novel, I suppose.)


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Another Massacre, Another Veto
Nov 14, 2006
Last week end the United States vetoed its 80th United Nations resolution. It was the 30th time the US has vetoed a resolution intended to prevent the Israeli oppression or killing of Palestinians.
The use of Veto power has encouraged the Israelis, who know that they can literally get away with murder, knowing that the United States will back their right to oppress and kill Palestinians in the name of war or security. This is a bipartisan issue, of course. Both Democrats and Republicans have had nearly identical policies in this regard since 1948. The recent elections in the US will not result in any change of policy in regard to the Palestinians and their right to exist.
Israeli policy has always been aimed at driving out the Palestinians from their land. In late 1947 the UN partitioned Palestine--which only angered both sides, who wanted all of it. The difference is that it was not the Palestinians who immigrated to Europe to take over land owned by Jews. It was the other way around.
While it is certainly true that many Jews purchased land in Palestine in an honorable way, it is also true that once they came into power, they began to seize land in every way conceivable. As Jewish author Robert Friedman reports in his book, Zealots for Zion, it often happened that a Jew offered to buy a Palestinian's land. If he refused, the Jew would simply forge a bill of sale, and then show up one day with military force, and evict the Palestinian from his land.
It has always been the unofficial Israeli government policy to make life as miserable as possible for all Palestinians, so that they will leave on their own accord. Once they leave, they are forbidden by law ever to return. Most Palestinians stay, of course, mostly because they have no other place to go. And so Palestine continues to compete for the title of Most Wretched Place on Earth.
Some do fight back, of course, and these are then labeled "terrorists." How dare they fight back! Do they not know that the Israelis have a right to security and self-defense? Those who fight back are thus used as "proof" that the Israeli policies are necessary to keep law and order and to keep Israeli citizens secure.
The most recent Israeli incursion into Gaza is just another of a long string of war tactics designed to kill more Palestinians, keep the pot boiling, and ensure that more Palestinians will finally lose all hope. Out of despair and hatred, they will turn themselves into suicide bombers, which in turn will provide the Israelis with more "proof" that they were right all along.
With such a policy of expulsion by oppression, the world looks on aghast at America's partiality toward the Israelis and cannot understand how we can talk about human rights everywhere except in Palestine. Our partiality in judgment shows the world that we are a hypocritical nation that bases its foreign policy on the idea of Jews being God's Privileged People.
This is why my book, The Struggle for the Birthright, is so vital today. Christians do not care about anything other than the single idea that the Jews are God's Chosen and that they are fulfilling Bible prophecy to set up the conditions for the second coming of Christ. They are so focused upon this goal that they do not care about the means to get there. They do not understand Paul's statement in 2 Tim. 2:5 that "a man is not crowned except he strive lawfully."
Winning is not everything. You can win all the races ever run, but if you violate the rules, you are disqualified and will not be crowned the victor.
In my book, I quote almost exclusively from Jewish sources in order to avoid the charge of using biased sources. Those who do not believe that Jewish terrorists were vital instruments in the establishment of the Israeli state in 1948 ought to read Prime Minister Menachem Begin's book, The Revolt: Story of the Irgun, published in 1951. They should read Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir's book, or Ariel Sharon's book about the massacre at Kibbya that he was ordered to do. These books are not written by Neo-Nazis, but by Israeli Prime Ministers. Most Christians ignore them or do not even know that they wrote their own biographies.
I did my homework, and I actually believe what they wrote. Read how they bombed bridges and buildings, invented letter bombs, poisoned Palestinian wells with typhus, stole land, and drove out the people of the land by terrorism. The Christian town of Birim, for example, was told by the Israeli military to evacuate for a few days for security reasons. They were never allowed to return. Soon their houses were demolished, and nearly every trace of its existence was eradicated. A new Jewish settlement was built in its place. The Christians there were not terrorists, but this is how they were rewarded.
But having been raised a Christian Zionist myself, I understand one thing clearly: Listing the Israeli atrocities will have little effect upon the Christian mindset, because in their minds all is justified by that one great principle: God's Chosen People. To a Christian Zionist, this allows any Jew to act immorally toward anyone standing in the way of the fulfillment of Bible prophecy.
For this reason, I trace the problem back to the beginning to see if the premises of the argument are sound. I studied both the Bible and history and found a surprising lack of basic historical knowledge on the part of the Christian Zionist teachers. The most important piece of historical knowledge that is missing is the fact that the descendants of Esau (Edom, or Idumea) were conquered and absorbed into the nation of Judah (or Judea) in 126 B.C. From that point on, there has been no nation of Edom separate from the nation of Judah.
This means that the present people that we call Jews are fulfilling two sets of Bible prophecy. The first is the prophecy of the fig tree of Judah in Matt. 21. The second is the Old Testament prophecies of Edom. No other group is capable of fulfilling all of those prophecies, for if Edom no longer exists, then how will those prophecies be fulfilled? The Zionist state called "Israel" is a mixed bag, for it is fulfilling the Zionist aspirations of both the fig tree of Judah and of Esau-Edom himself, as expressed in Mal. 1:4, Ezekiel 35:10, and 36:5.
When we understand the laws of tribulation in Leviticus 26, where God says that His people would not be allowed to return to their land until they repented and acknowledged their "hostility" (NASB) toward God, we get the second major piece of the puzzle. For many years, Christians taught that the Jews would first repent, and then God would bring them back to Palestine. But when this did not happen, the whole subject was dropped without searching it out and finding out why God would allow them to establish the Israeli state in unbelief.
The simple answer is that the Israeli state was not founded upon the prophecies of Israel's restoration, but upon the prophecy of Isaac to Esau (Gen. 27:40) after Jacob lied to his father to obtain the blessing. The day would come when Jacob would have to give the blessing back to Esau's descendants, in order to allow Esau time to prove his unworthiness to receive that blessing.
This is what happened in 1948. The descendants of Esau-Edom within Jewry itself were given the dominion mandate, as Isaac had prophesied. Even as Jacob had pretended to be Esau in order to deceive his father into making him "chosen," so also has modern Esau pretended to be Jacob in order to deceive the Christian people of Isaac into giving them God's blessing and making them the "chosen" people. Read the book.


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6 Reasons – Why Canon EOS M50 camera is better than 7D Mark II
Take a look at the reasons why Canon EOS M50 is better than Canon EOS 7D Mark II camera. Starting from the most attractive one feature.
1. Canon EOS M50 vs Canon 7D Mark II – Video
Canon EOS M50 features 4K video on the other side we have Canon 7D Mark II camera that remains limited to Full HD video One of the most initial difference between these two camera is the presence of 4K video inside the Canon EOS M 50
Possibly due to the introduction of Advanced image processor Canon EOS M50 is able to record 4K high quality videos with more rich colour and less noise as compared to the Canon previous generation of cameras
2. Canon EOS M50 vs Canon 7D Mark II – ISO Range
If we talk about the standard ISO range 7D mark 2 camera then we have 100-16000, Canon EOS M 50 offers standard ISO range starting from 100-25600. But at the end The Expendables high ISO range about the camera exactly same.
Canon EOS M50 have More standard high ISO range and advanced Digic 8 image processor with completely redesigned image processing algorithm as well as new generation of C RAW, we do expect that Canon EOS M50 will give more cleaner images at high ISO range.
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Canon EOS M50 camera features compact design as well as half body weight compared to the Canon 7D Mark II camera. Having a lightweight and compact camera is very important for a long run. And you are getting all this without sacrificing the image or video quality of the camera.
4. Canon EOS M50 vs Canon 7D Mark II – Display
This is one of the most important aspects of photography. having a very angle display screen gives you compositional freedom, and it helps a lot while creating server videos the most important thing for Vloggers out there.
5. Canon EOS M50 vs Canon 7D Mark II
You get new generation of file format support with the new Canon EOS M50 camera as well as a new C-RAW file which is 40% smaller then the conventional RAW file format support.
And as we know that the with Canon 7D Mark II camera you can use the EF and EF-S lenses support at the moment the EF-M lens are bit limited but with help of new adapter.
6. New Digic 8 Image Processor
Canon Digic 8 image processor is more advance compared to Dual Digic 6 image processor. 10FPS @ 20.2MP and EOS M50 can also shoot 10FPS @ 24MP. Additionally the EOS M50 records 4K and supports new image decoding and AF algorithms.
With the introduction of new image processor we get a lot of new things
1. More cleaner High ISO images
2. More smooth and Rich Video recording.
3. Improved AF algorithms to improve AF speed.
4. Improved Noise reduction in Videos
5. More details at Min aperture
6. Improvement in Overall speed of the camera
Well at the end you will get better image quality, new generation of RAW format and better video quality with the camera. So, we recommend Canon EOS M50 over the Canon 7D Mark II camera.


text: Editorial Editorial Creative (RM) Creative (RF) NFL Content NFL AP Content Advanced search Advanced Search X Advanced Search Back to search results 2,187 of 5,223 results MLB: AUG 18 Brewers at Nationals Overview Get price WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 18: Washington Nationals center fielder Gerardo Parra (88) holds the photographers 1948 Speed Graphic in the dugout during the game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Washington Nationals on August 18, 2019, at Nationals Park, in Washington D.C. (Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images) Use Information This content is intended for editorial use only. For other uses, additional clearances may be required. Contributor: Sports Contributor ID: 19231003042886 Creation Date: August 18, 2019 10:18:47 AM Submission Date: August 19, 2019 12:05:07 AM Photographer: Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire Source: SPTSW Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS Special Instructions: FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. Icon Sportswire (A Division of XML Team Solutions) reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this image. Resolution: 3900 x 2700 3.14 MB Subject: Professional baseball, Baseball, Sports, Baseball, Men's sports, MLB baseball Location: Washington, DIST. OF COLUMBIA, UNITED STATES Transmission Reference: 339282 Byline Title: CTR Usage Notes: This content is intended for editorial use only. For other uses, additional clearances may be required. X Message Box Cancel Ok No Yes


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AKA and Anatii - Be Careful What You Wish For
Available on iTunes at R89.99.
As far as commercial hip-hop goes in our country, AKA and Anatii represent the ceiling. We're all familiar with their first single, street anthem The Saga, and the beef and shade that came afterward. And now, the reunion, the make-up tape - Be Careful What You Wish For (BCWYWF). They feature no samples on the beats, with all of it hand-crafted by Anatii. Tracks like Bryanston Drive and Jesus Plug have menacing instrumentals with a unique styling. Of course this record has a lot of trap nuances. I don't know if it would kill homies to kick some boom bap. Less can be more.
I dig the sound effect they use in between tracks, a rasta-sounding vocal, similar to the way The Alchemist or DJ Drama would blend joints on their mix tapes. What I could not bear is the autotune vocals. Remember that track Baddest by AKA? His delivery was playful and heavily autotuned, and it seems this is now his go-to flow. It has to go. Two brothers on one tape with autotune on almost every song ... it's a lot.
My pick off this would be Angelz, a sinister-sounding beat that gets the most out of Anatii, who spits/sings in vernacular on the hook – it's sure to be a street banger. Anatii's flow sits perfectly and that choppy delivery could make you mosh-pit at Taboo.
The album doesn't push the envelope as much as it could. I was expecting some harder punches and complex schemes, and figured these two were about to flex on the game, maybe introduce a fresh direction.
Lyrically I expected AKA to have grown, maybe talking about perspectives he's gained at the top, but instead it's the same party and chill anthems we've heard from him before. BCWYWF is radio friendly, a poppy crowd-pleaser. It will translate to some good live performances, but this is by no means a classic and I wonder if we'll still be bumping it come August 2018.
What do you think of the album? SMS the keyword BCWYWF and your thoughts to 35697. You can also email us at firstname.lastname@example.com. SMSes cost R1.50.


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Chris will be speaking on:
The Poetry of the First World War from Wilfred Owen to Gerrit Engelke
Venue: Prince Michael Hall, Dean Close School
Hatherley Road, Cheltenham, GL51 6HE.
Please use the same entrance as for the Bacon Theatre on Hatherley Road.
There is ample parking on site.
Admission is free
Refreshments available
(Please do not use the main school entrance on Shelburne Road)


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The difference between the genius and the ordinary man is, no doubt, a quantitative one, in so far as it is a difference of degree; but I am tempted to regard it also as qualitative, in view of the fact that ordinary minds, notwithstanding individual variation, have a certain tendency to think alike. Thus on similar occasions their thoughts at once all take a similar direction, and run on the same lines; and this explains why their judgments constantly agree — not, however, because they are based on truth. To such lengths does this go that certain fundamental views obtain amongst mankind at all times, and are always being repeated and brought forward anew, whilst the great minds of all ages are in open or secret opposition to them.
A genius is a man in whose mind the world is presented as an object is presented in a mirror, but with a degree more of clearness and a greater distinction of outline than is attained by ordinary people. It is from him that humanity may look for most instruction; for the deepest insight into the most important matters is to be acquired, not by an observant attention to detail, but by a close study of things as a whole. And if his mind reaches maturity, the instruction he gives will be conveyed now in one form, now in another. Thus genius may be defined as an eminently clear consciousness of things in general, and therefore, also of that which is opposed to them, namely, one's own self.
The world looks up to a man thus endowed, and expects to learn something about life and its real nature. But several highly favorable circumstances must combine to produce genius, and this is a very rare event. It happens only now and then, let us say once in a century, that a man is born whose intellect so perceptibly surpasses the normal measure as to amount to that second faculty which seems to be accidental, as it is out of all relation to the will. He may remain a long time without being recognized or appreciated, stupidity preventing the one and envy the other. But should this once come to pass, mankind will crowd round him and his works, in the hope that he may be able to enlighten some of the darkness of their existence or inform them about it. His message is, to some extent, a revelation, and he himself a higher being, even though he may be but little above the ordinary standard.
Like the ordinary man, the genius is what he is chiefly for himself. This is essential to his nature: a fact which can neither be avoided nor altered, he may be for others remains a matter of chance and of secondary importance. In no case can people receive from his mind more than a reflection, and then only when he joins with them in the attempt to get his thought into their heads; where, however, it is never anything but an exotic plant, stunted and frail.
In order to have original, uncommon, and perhaps even immortal thoughts, it is enough to estrange oneself so fully from the world of things for a few moments, that the most ordinary objects and events appear quite new and unfamiliar. In this way their true nature is disclosed. What is here demanded cannot, perhaps, be said to be difficult; it is not in our power at all, but is just the province of genius.
By itself, genius can produce original thoughts just as little as a woman by herself can bear children. Outward circumstances must come to fructify genius, and be, as it were, a father to its progeny.
The mind of genius is among other minds what the carbuncle is among precious stones: it sends forth light of its own, while the others reflect only that which they have received. The relation of the genius to the ordinary mind may also be described as that of an idio-electrical body to one which merely is a conductor of electricity.
The mere man of learning, who spends his life in teaching what he has learned, is not strictly to be called a man of genius; just as idio-electrical bodies are not conductors. Nay, genius stands to mere learning as the words to the music in a song. A man of learning is a man who has learned a great deal; a man of genius, one from whom we learn something which the genius has learned from nobody. Great minds, of which there is scarcely one in a hundred millions, are thus the lighthouses of humanity; and without them mankind would lose itself in the boundless sea of monstrous error and bewilderment.


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StayWell Holdings and Prince Hotels Inc. launch The Prince Akatoki
Prince Hotels Inc. have announced the launch and creation of a new, 5-star international hotel brand, The Prince Akatoki.
· The Prince Akatoki will complement the wider portfolio of brands managed by StayWell Holdings, offering a luxury 5-star hotel brand to the group's already successful portfolio.
· The new brand will combine visual elements synonymous with Japan, and signature experiences that are unique to Japanese hospitality.
StayWell Holdings and Prince Hotel Inc. have announced the launch of a new luxury hotel brand offering – The Prince Akatoki – which will target the international market (outside of Japan) and complement the brands already operated by StayWell and Prince Hotels.
Prince Hotels Inc. has agreed that StayWell Holdings will be assigned the rights to use The Prince Akatoki as the 5-star brand for future global development opportunities.
Mr. Simon Wan, President and Director of StayWell Holdings Pty Ltd said The Prince Akatoki will provide travellers with an opportunity to experience luxury services and amenities expected of a 5-star hotel brand reflecting certain elements of Japanese refined hospitality and culture.
"Japanese hospitality is renowned for service, tranquillity, and its peerless aesthetic. This is precisely what The Prince Akatoki will deliver. For international travellers, it offers a unique and authentic Japanese flavour."
"The travellers we anticipate as guests of The Prince Akatoki brand are those actively seeking high quality services and amenities when visiting from gateway cities worldwide, with a specific focus on London, New York, Singapore, Bangkok, Mumbai, Hong Kong and Shanghai," he said.
While developing the brand, Mr. Wan said the decision was made to keep the connection to "Prince" to capitalise on the prestige and reputation of Prince Hotels in Japan, however noted there will be a strong distinction between the existing brands and The Prince Akatoki brand. "
Akatoki is an old expression of Akatuki meaning sunrise, before dawn, a new beginning and speaks to a new time for Prince Hotels and Resorts, reflecting the international growth of our business."
"Customers in Japan are familiar with the Prince brand, so they will easily recognise the new brand when they are looking for a hotel overseas," Mr. Wan said.
"For travellers who have not yet experienced Prince Hotel brands, The Prince Akatoki will be their first brand experience, and will build positive sentiment and greater brand awareness globally, whilst increasing inbound tourism in Japan.
Prince and StayWell have expanded their portfolio to include four brands, namely "Policy," "Park Regis," "Leisure Inn Plus," and "Leisure Inn." With the addition of The Prince Akatoki, the group will bring the polished Japanese style hospitality that Prince Hotels Inc. to the world, accelerating the inbound strategy and global development that StayWell has been practicing.


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"There's pretty food, and then there's beautiful food," says Erin Andrews, owner of Sideboard Neighborhood Kitchen and Coffee Bar. Pretty food has a distinctive aesthetic appeal: a perfect, architecturally crafted dessert, for instance. Beautiful food, on the other hand, celebrates exquisite simplicity—such as a classic pie.
"Take a cloud egg, for example; that's pretty food," Andrews says, referring to the whipped-fluffy whites that are baked in a pile, then topped with yolks and finished in the oven. "Now, two poached eggs on toast? That's beautiful."
In her eateries, Andrews doesn't mess around with anything overtly fancy. Instead, she lets the natural beauty of the ingredients shine through in her dishes.
Andrews—who operates two always-busy Sideboard restaurants in Danville and Lafayette—went to culinary school in Paris before using her classical training to create a style all her own. Here, she shares her expert tips and tricks for making eggcellent huevos five ways. sideboardkitchen.com.
The Basics
Before getting started, it's important to keep in mind some ground rules. Eggs are all about time and attention; show them some love, and they'll reward you in return. Next, when using a pan, it must be hot; crank that burner up to a cruising medium. Finally, it's best to cook with room-temperature eggs. While Andrews uses eggs fresh from the fridge at her restaurants, when she's at home she lets them rest on the counter before introducing heat.
Andrews finds that many people tend to rush scrambled eggs, often throwing them in a skillet unmixed. But taking the extra step of beating them with a fork before putting them on heat makes a huge difference.
Additionally, she says, "It's important not to let the eggs sit in the pan; you've got to keep them moving the whole time." That technique, coupled with a lightly oiled or buttered pan (Andrews uses a well-seasoned cast iron) and silicon spatula, can create fluffy magic. Just make sure to take the eggs out of the skillet when they look like they're almost done, as they will continue to cook even after they're removed from the heat.
The prospect of poaching eggs can often make home cooks quake in their aprons, but Andrews insists this method is quite simple. The key? Use a big pan and plenty of white vinegar (roughly one part vinegar to 10 parts water).
"Make sure there's enough vinegar in your simmering water by tasting it, and really swirl the water around before adding the eggs," Andrews advises. The moving water is crucial for the egg whites to collect around the yolk, while the vinegar helps coagulate the whites. From there, you wait, and swirl, and gently tap the yolk to see if it's ready after a few minutes.
Over Easy
Whether you call it fried, sunny-side up, or over easy, this is a classic breakfast preparation. Once the pan is hot enough, crack the egg into your oil and give it a little twirl around the skillet. Be patient and watch until the whites have just set before flipping to the other side. For sunny-side up, cover the pan with a lid to let the top cook.
Soft Boiled
"When my grandma used to make a soft-boiled egg, a three-minute egg was a three-minute egg," Andrews says. And that's exactly what it is. Andrews insists on putting the egg in a pot filled with cold water, then bringing it to a boil. Once the water reaches a rolling boil, turn off the heat and let the egg sit for—you guessed it—three minutes to achieve the ideal, jammy yolk. If you prefer a firmer, hard-boiled yolk, leave the egg in for 12 minutes. Pro tip: Using slightly older eggs (about two weeks old) ensures easy peeling.
A fancy name for baked, shirred eggs are a Sideboard signature that Andrews serves up at lightning speed on busy mornings. Traditionally, an egg is placed in a buttered ramekin with savory ingredients—such as ham, mushrooms, and cheese—then baked for about 15 minutes. To save time, however, Andrews half poaches her egg before finishing it in a 400°F oven for a mere two minutes.


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Goa beach accommodations are the closing destination for households of all ages searching for amusing inside the sun. All of us love a seaside holiday for motives more than one. We listing out some. Continue reading Resorts in Goa : Perfect Relaxing Getaway
Day: April 3, 2017
Vivid Categories of Meetings in Shimla
Meetings in Shimla are a part and parcel of life, it's not just businesses that have them, almost all organizations need to have conferences and therefore, this is rampant both in the public as well as private sector. Continue reading Vivid Categories of Meetings in Shimla
Find Finniest Accommodation in Shimla
Located in the south-west ranges of the Himalayas, at an altitude of 2200 meters above sea level, Shimla is located on seven major hills, namely Observatory Hill, Inveram Hill, Summer Hill, Prospect Hill, Bantony Hill, Jakhoo Hill and Elysium Hill. Continue reading Find Finniest Accommodation in Shimla


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Peace of Mind
What I like to call "The Dance of the Planets", is certainly evident today! Venus, which has been sailing backwards for over 40 days through Scorpio, and more recently Libra, turns Direct today; and, within hours of that shift Mercury turns retrograde for 21 days, until December 6th. It is not often that you will experience a double-shift of planetary motions like this, so you would be wise to consider what these modulations mean for you.
The 42 days of Venus retrograde were a time to go within yourself, a pause to allow you to dig deep into the nature of your experience of Value, Beauty and Love. Venus is your Avatar of Love and she reminds you that within you is a Supernal Light, which you will equally see as the light shining through the eyes of those who love you too.
With Venus retrograde, you were offered another opportunity to consider the true nature and source of your Value, which is that you are a spark of the Divine and your true worth or value is beyond measure; and to see that what is all around you, this radiant world of Beauty, is shining precisely because that same Divine energy sparkles through the entirety of Creation; and, to know that what is there within you, what you know and feel as the Love of the One, is equally a guide for you as to how you must be with one another, for you are here quite simply to love one another as you are loved too.
The lesson of Venus retrograde reminds you that "true love" is never to be found "out there", until you have met your beloved within you. Until you experience the inner marriage of your self with your Self, you cannot truly see or find the love that is all around you too.
Now that Venus is moving forward once again, you are ready to relate to yourself and your world with a new-found assurance of your own value, which is beyond questioning since you are formed by spiritual love; and you have a better understanding and appreciation for the beauty in your world; and, you are more aware that the love you share with one another is the whole reason for this life, for you are truly here for one another.
But today you will equally feel a shudder, shake (and you will have to roll), as Mercury pauses and turns around one more time this year. Yes, yes it seems that whenever this happens life seems to get even more complicated, confusing and frustrating. Although it seems "the gremlins are let loose" during such a time, you should know by now that your fate is in your hands, and it is not Mercury's purpose to mess with your life.
The reason life seems to become more challenging at times like these is because you have failed to notice the changing conditions of your own mind, and equally failed to appreciate how the general mentality and nature of communications have been altered. You are here to "Wake Up" and so you need to pay attention to these shifts of energy-forms and work with them. Mercury retrograde is here to help you. It is here to help you to let go of your misunderstandings, doubts and fears which have prevented you from living in the Greater Reality.
On the heels of re-evaluating your experience of value, beauty and love in Venus Retrograde, you will now be asked to consider once more the way in which you think about yourself and your world. That is what Mercury retrograde is for. It is meant to be a time of introspection and reflection; it is a precious opportunity for review and repair of your perceptions and consciousness.
If we lived in a culture that accepted and accommodated these shifts of spiritual energy, then we would all make time to calmly go within and earnestly consider how we make our reality through our thoughts. We would be able to bend our thoughts back upon ourselves and be more self-critical and self-aware, as we quietly considered and re-centered our mentality.
But we live in a culture that is careening from one crisis to another, and we work harder and harder, live faster and faster, and there seems no time to catch one's breath, let alone time to contemplate, step back and consider what is really happening. We are all "in the moment", but we are rarely present or prepared to make the best of it before the next shock to our equilibrium is upon us. But you must remember this, the only thing you can and must control is yourself, and this starts with your mind.
Mercury retrograde offers you a time to pause precisely because you cannot "go forward" easily now, because you are supposed to "go in" now before you "go out". You need to reflect and collect your thoughts and become clearer and calmer.
Right Thinking is something to work for, strive for and it is essential in times like these so that you may separate the wheat from the chaff in your world. This is truly something that you should do every single day. A self-aware person, a more centered and balanced individual, will begin every day with mental preparations of attunement and alignment; and then they will hold themselves in quietude and self-observation throughout the day; and then they will finish their day with a time for review of what was right or wrong in that day, and so prepare to meet the world with a clearer consciousness tomorrow.
The way to do this, the way to begin to establish your mind in a place of peace, is to anchor your mind upon the firm foundations of fundamental truths. Whether Western or Eastern, the Perennial Truths are the same the world over and they will provide comfort and guidance no matter what is troubling you today.
This is the true meaning and message of Mercury retrograde in Sagittarius; it is time to return to the bedrock of Truth found in all great teachings. Turn away from the noise and chatter, away from mere opinions and half-truths. Do not entertain these nor pass them on. Your mind is your sacred temple for understanding, and your mind must be clear and not shadowed by fear.
Return to the sources of Wisdom, which you feel and know to be true because all these sacred stories of spirit are there in your heart as they are written for you in the stars above too.
May Hermes show you the way out of the darkness.
Let Mercury retrograde release you from fear.
With your Mind truly open, and your heart full of Love.
May you be wise as a serpent, and gentle as a dove.


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Aprons are an ideal addition to a uniform when working in the hospitality environment. Splashes from food or drink can damage your clothes or work uniform and make an otherwise pristine establishment look messy. Front of house or chef aprons are a simple way to keep looking clean and tidy at work, especially in a customer facing role.
At Yarmo we have many different options of kitchen and waitress aprons in a variety of styles and colours. You can also order custom aprons which are a great way to carry company branding through to staff uniforms or enable staff to have their names or initials added to their clothing.
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