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I didn't make it to the Spanish premiere at Docúpolis in Barcelona two weeks ago, but I did make it to Ourense for the next Spanish festival. Ourense is nestled in the luscious green hills of Galicia, about 100 km from the Atlantic Ocean, and has a delightful old town along with a really funky new bridge – the Millenium Bridge. My first screening was poorly attended, and I was late to the Q & A because my scrumptious dinner at a nearby restaurant was dragging on and on. I had forgotten to plan extra time for eating in Spain. But the Q & A the next day went well, even if the audience was once again small.
Besides seeing some good films such as the peculiar spanish film "La ciudad de los signos" by Samuel Alarcón (an intriguing and enjoyable detective-like homage to Roberto Rossellini), I also got a chance to take in some of Danish producer Lise Lense-Møller's excellent master class on producing documentaries. She's been in the business for quite a while, but really shot into the limelight this past year with the incredibly successful doc. "Burma VJ" from Anders Østergaard.
It was fun hanging out with other filmmakers from Canada, the US, France, Spain, Portugal, and Denmark, and dining in high style thanks to the credit cards the festival provided us for a wide range of restaurants. That's a great idea I hope other festivals will adopt. But the highlight was definitely the party at the Outariz Thermal Baths. After a lovely buffet and drinks, we wandered off into an array of thermal baths of varying temperature, while a band played traditional Galician music to some funky projections on an outdoor movie screen. Heavenly!
The only odd thing about the whole festival was the virtual lack of an audience. I heard of long lines for some films and saw such photos in the newspapers, but all the filmmakers I met complained of having fewer than a dozen viewers at their screenings. Some shows were even cancelled because no one showed up. Hopefully the festival will find a way to better connect with the locals in the coming editions. That would make it into a really delightful regional event.


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Facial cream with gold.
The daily use of pure gold free from any alloys which, according to traditional Chinese medicine, has therapeutically properties, has been used since the dawn of humanity, by different cultures. Used in cosmetic products for topical use, it regenerates and stimulates the cellular capacity against the free radicals (antioxidant effect), besides stimulating the efficacy of other actives.
Apply daily in the morning to the face and neck when the skin is clean and dry. Apply with gentle circular massaging motion to facilitate the absorption of the cream.

subset: commoncrawl


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A camera...the one that transforms strangers into tourists in other people's world, travellers who go from unknown to a welcome visitor in an instant of a click and by the ilustration of its single print, disposed to everyone's eyes and interpreted only by a few. I call them fastfullovers, the ones who take their cameras with them everywhere, who are fast to love a moment, a shadow, a corner, and full on capturing it as if trying to hold on to a memory beyond its real time. To me it is still one of the greatest human inventions, a fascinating present, an addictive accessory that is more than an object, it has the ability to reflect someone's own way of living. My CLIP Special edition wish list #2 goes to unique cameras: Poloroid and Lomography. Whether you want to portray your family gathering this christmas in a diferent style, capture your holidays, design a photo album for yourself or as a gift, below are some suggestions on what's new and what remains excellent at the fastfullover's universe.
New instant digital Z340 poloroid camera
Holga 120 3D Lomography camera
Vintage SX-70 Poloroid camera
Diana fern green camera bag for lomography
New Fisheye Gold edition Lomography camera
Square photo album quattro for lomography
The polaroid book at Urban Outfitters


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More than 150 businesses and in excess of 1,500 people attended Durham Oktoberfest 2014, each playing a part in making it the most successful event to date.
Oktoberfest, which was once again held at the Xcel Centre in Newton Aycliffe, is the North East's most high-profile engineering and manufacturing inter-trading and networking event and a showcase of the region's world-class strengths and capabilities within these sectors.
Many of the region's largest employers, including Nifco, Parker Hannifin, Faurecia, Cummins, Ebac, Seaward Electronic, Durham County Council and Bel Valves, were involved in Meet the Buyer, while Meet the Funder – a new element added to this year's event to enable businesses to find out more about the funding packages on offer to them – attracted organisations and representatives from programmes such as Rivers Capital, Investment 4 Growth, NBSL and North Star Ventures.
Darren Race, chairman of the South Durham Engineering and Manufacturing Forum and Durham Oktoberfest project leader, said: "Oktoberfest has become one of the most important dates in the region's events calendar and that was backed up by the calibre of businesses and visitors which this year's event attracted.
"We said from the start that our aim was to attract some of the region's biggest and most recognised manufacturing and engineering companies and when you looked around the venue on the day, it was clear we achieved that.
"The feedback from attendees was so positive with the consensus being that this was our most successful event to date."
The core themes of Durham Oktoberfest 2014 were economic regeneration, addressing the skills gap and re-shoring – a term given to the return of manufacturing to the UK from low cost overseas supply chains – and each was addressed by the line-up of guest speakers, which included Mike Matthews, European operations officer for Nifco and managing director of Nifco UK; and Paul Watts, joint managing director of clothing manufacturing company the AMA Group.
Dr Simon Goon, chief executive of Business Durham, and Coun Neil Foster, portfolio holder for economic regeneration and development at Durham County Council, also took to the stage during the event.
Coun Foster said: "Durham Oktoberfest is so important, not just for County Durham but the North East as a whole. It's the premier event for manufacturing and engineering companies and a real celebration of our strengths within these sectors."
Durham Oktoberfest is delivered by the North, East and South Durham Engineering Forums in partnership with Nepic, the Advanced Manufacturing Forum, NOF Energy, the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) and BE-Group.
Regeneration on show across County Durham
County Durham is undergoing significant redevelopment thanks to millions of pounds of investment which is changing the landscape of the area for the better.
Whether it's the continued growth of inward investors including GSK, Caterpillar and NSK, or the home-grown successes such as Ebac, Seaward Electronic, Thorn Lighting, Kromek, Gestamp Tallent Automotive and Thomas Swan, the recent announcement that Hitachi has chosen Newton Aycliffe as the location of its European headquarters for high-speed rail or the expansion of the innovative NETPark, it's clear that County Durham has plenty to shout about.
Business Durham is responsible for driving forward the area's economic development and regeneration and is the first point of contact for businesses operating in the area.
The man at the helm of the organisation believes there are three sectors which are key to the area's continued growth; technology, engineering and manufacturing.
Collectively they account for 20% of the area's economy, compared to the national figure of just 16%, and employ 15% of County Durham residents.
And managing director Dr Simon Goon also stresses the importance of Durham Oktoberfest, the region's leading inter-trading and networking event, which enables companies within these sectors to meet potential suppliers and customers.
He said: "Oktoberfest is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the diverse range and depth of talent, the outstanding competitiveness and the innovation of engineering and manufacturing businesses in our region.
"These sectors form a major part of the county's economy and outperform at both local and national levels which is a great achievement for what is a relatively small area geographically.
"The value of the engineering and manufacturing sectors in creating jobs and prosperity in County Durham is clear: it should be recognised that these sectors have particular needs and challenges which must to be met if we are to effectively support them."
More than 60 businesses already confirmed for Oktoberfest 2015
Dozens of companies which attended Oktoberfest 2014 have confirmed attendance at nextyear's event.
So far 64 businesses have already registered for 2015 with five expressing an interest in being a sponsor.
It comes as companies which attended Oktoberfest, either as an exhibitor, buyer, funder or visitor, have given feedback about their experiences from the event, which attracted in excess of 1,500 visitors in addition to the exhibitors, buyers and funders.
Bernie Johnson, managing director of Teesside-based freight forwarder Johnson Partners, said: "Oktoberfest attracts the right kind of prospects for us in the engineering and manufacturing sectors. This year we made some excellent leads and have already generated new quotes in response to inquiries for both freight and project forwarding assignments.
"We'd certainly like to be involved next year and recognise the positive impact that this event has on business and our network in the North East of England."
Another exhibitor was Plymovent Industrial Solutions BV. Tony Ashall, its business director, UK and Ireland, said: "This was our first time at Oktoberfest and I can only say how pleased we were with not only the quality of contacts but also the quantity.
"We always say that we only need one good lead to make an exhibition but we had multiple good-quality leads which made the whole exercise more than worthwhile. We also felt that the attendance reflected the vibrancy of the industrial market in the North East and hopefully this will reflect well on the region in coming years.
"Together with our partners HLA Services we will be back next year."
David Bradley, marketing manager at OSE European, which was also exhibiting, confirmed his business will be back again in 2015: "Oktoberfest far exceeded my expectations and the number of exhibitors and attendees highlights the strength of the manufacturing and engineering sectors in the region.
"As a specialist provider of logistics solutions to the sectors, the event was highly worthwhile in gaining a number of new contacts and promoting OSE's services to a wider audience. We will definitely be attending again next year."
Jonathan Gold, director at Meet the Funder participant Rivers Capital, said: "The exhibition brought together a great concentration of engineering and business talent, a worthwhile visit for any business serious about engaging with the sector in the region."
Oktoberfest 2015: register now for 10% discount
Durham Oktoberfest 2015 will take place on Thursday, October 22, once again at the Xcel Centre in Newton Aycliffe.
Businesses which book before the end of December 2014 will receive a 10% early-bird discount and members of the regional engineering forums, NOF Energy, Nepic and NetPark Net will receive a 50% membership discount
To book your place email firstname.lastname@example.com or call 0191 303 7772, website: http://www.durhamoktoberfest.org.uk/


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In the new age of fashion, the 70-year-old brand behind the outerwear of some of the industry's biggest players is ticking all the right boxes. Meet Herno.
If anything describes the millennial appetite for fashion and the effect it's now having on the menswear scene in particular, it's an almost pious awareness of authenticity. Rather than over-design and hybrids, this generation of consumers believes in the perfect wardrobe staples: real, well-made, honest pieces that you cherish, over the disposable fashion of the old world. It's why Herno's seventieth anniversary is significant, and why those who don't should know about the Italian heritage brand. While it may not be instantly familiar to the broad mainstream, Herno has steadily influenced and innovated clothes-making for over half a century. Founded as a purveyor of outerwear by Giuseppe Marenzi in 1948, the label would become synonymous with its classic raincoat: a double-face number cut above the knee, unassuming to the naked eye but designed with all the technical, durable and functional expertise it takes to kick off a fashion legacy.
Read more: The Best Street Style From Pitti Uomo Spring/Summer 2019
For its grand anniversary celebrations held in Florence during the Pitti Immagine fair in mid-June, Herno took out the sprawling Stazione Leopalda to remind and enlighten that millennial fashion climate of its impact through seven decades. Titled and styled L.I.B.R.A.R.Y., the exhibition put the traditional raincoat – known as the Imper – centre stage, elevating it – both literally and figuratively – to new heights. Archival takes on the wardrobe staple hung from the ceiling, hovering over installations featuring new takes on Herno's heritage designed by fashion students from Polimoda as well as Osaka Institute of Fashion in Japan. Herno was one of the first European brands to break the Japanese market in the 1960s and establish a creative exchange with the country's fabrication and manufacture. Guided by specialist dressmakers, the students had been educated in Herno's state-of-the-art machinery, fusing knowhow, technology and emerging ideas in one project for the future.
"I have been spending most of my summers at the company since the age of 15," Claudio Marenzi, son of Herno's founder, reminisced at the anniversary dinner. "I was no shining star at school. I preferred to be here, in the midst of production, cutting and ironing, playing at identifying the colours from the different steam smells." For a company as adept in its field as Herno, you'd wonder why you don't know it better. "Production organised itself immediately," Marenzi said, recalling his father's early success. "So much so that in the 1980s and 1990s, it was almost easier to work for third parties, for French maisons." In other words, the manufacturing expertise established by the company made it more lucrative for the Marenzi family to produce water-resistant outerwear for fashion's giants than promote themselves. In the past, their partners have included Giorgio Armani, Hermès, Ralph Lauren, Prada, Jil Sander, and Louis Vuitton.
Albeit a silent partner, you could say Herno was a frontrunner in the collaboration game that now consumes fashion. The Marenzi family has consistently backed up their production – for Herno and everyone else – with a green approach, which has seen the company invest millions in eco-sustainable technologies employed in their manufacturing over the past years. "My strategy has relied on the awareness of being able to develop our brand in an evolutionary, practical and tailoring way as we handle each stage of the process," Claudio Marenzi said. "Because we've been doing it for 70 years." In a fashion climate seduced and exercised by millennial values, the authenticity, design and beliefs of Herno are as relevant as ever, even at 70. Y.O.


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Endless Love (2014)
Endless Love (2014)
Endless Love (2014)
- 1h 44m
- 2014
age 14+
PRICING SUBJECT TO CHANGE. Confirm current pricing with applicable retailer. All transactions subject to applicable license terms and conditions.
When beautiful Jade (Gabriella Wilde) meets charismatic David (Alex Pettyfer), her sheltered world of privilege is turned upside down as the pair's instant desire sparks a reckless summer love affair. While Jade leaves behind her inhibitions and innocence as she falls for David, he works to prove himself worthy of her love. But when David's mysterious past and Jade's overprotective father threaten to tear them apart, their romance will be put to the ultimate test.
© 2014 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Rotten Tomatoes® Score
Critics Consensus: Blander than the original Endless Love and even less faithful to the source material, this remake is clichéd and unintentionally silly.
More on Rotten Tomatoes
Common Sense Media
age 14+
Common Sense Says
Only romantic teens will enjoy melodramatic remake.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Endless Love is the second adaptation of Scott Spencer's 1979 novel -- the first is the campy 1981 melodrama starring Brooke Shields -- an intense drama about a smart, wealthy girl who desperately falls for a mechanic's son much to her father's horror. The remake is less trashy than the original, but there's definitely still sexual content, although it's not graphic. Language includes "s--t," "a--hole," and a single "f--k," and violence is limited to a couple of punches and a car accident that leads to a brief hospital stay. Ultimately this is not quite the story of obsession it was in the original, but a tamer and sentimental exploration of first love that lasts.
A Lot or A Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
Positive Messages
Positive Role Models
Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
More on Common Sense Media
Additional Info
- Genre:Drama
- Release Date:February 14, 2014
- Languages:English
- Captions:English
- Audio Format:5.1
- Screen Pass Eligible:Yes
Resolution, color and audio quality may vary based on your device, browser and internet connection.Learn More


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S.3952 - Protecting American Intellectual Property Act of 2020116th Congress (2019-2020) |
BillHide Overview
|Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD] (Introduced 06/11/2020)
|Senate - Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
|Latest Action:
|Senate - 06/11/2020 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (All Actions)
This bill has the status Introduced
Here are the steps for Status of Legislation:
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To President
- Became Law
Subject — Policy Area:
- International Affairs
- View subjects
Summary: S.3952 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)All Information (Except Text)
A summary is in progress.


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Award for best practice in science and technology parks of APTE
The award for best practice in Science and Technology Parks arises APTE in 2014 to recognize the new best practices carried out by the management of the parks in its scope.
In this sense both the innovative aspect of the initiative and its impact on entities Science and Technology Park and its environment is valued.
The award has two categories: one for PCTs with less than 10 years old and one for those with more than 10 years old.
Here are the winners of these prizes since the first edition:


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We're planning something fun for the next Second Saturday Art Walk! We're hosting a mixer with our friends at Hashtag Creative.
On March 11th, from 5pm – 9pm, stop by Hashtag Creative (in the Warehouse Arts District) for the premiere of a fabulous art show featuring artist Andrea Pawlisz and photographer Laurie Ross.


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The selectors have named five players, who are yet to play their first test, in Sri Lanka's squad for the first test against Australia which is set to commence on the 26th of July at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.
Lahiru Thrimanne, who had a torrid time with the bat in England, has been dropped while Suranga Lakmal seems to have recovered enough to find himself a place in the squad. Milinda Siriwardene, who lead the Sri Lankan XI against Australia in the practice match, has also been dropped.
The squad consists of three spinners and four fast bowlers while eight batsmen make the rest of the squad.
Roshen Silva, whose selection into the national squad was long overdue thanks to his brilliance performance at the domestic level, finally found himself a place in the Sri Lankan test squad following his phenomenal performance in New Zealand and England. The right-handed middle-order batsman scored 109 versus Durham last month and he had scored 120 not out against New Zealand A last year. The 27-year-old has played 87 first-class games, scoring at an impressive average of 50.58.
Despite failing to get a single game in the test series against England, Dhananjaya de Silva, once again, has managed to earn a spot in the team and he will have to battle it out with Roshen Silva for the only remaining spot in the batting lineup. The right-handed batsman, who has already played in the Sri Lankan colors in T20Is, smashed a swashbuckling 81-ball 119 in the list A game against Derbyshire recently. De Silva is also a canny off-spinner and was the highest run getter and wicket taker for his club- Tamil Union- in the last premiere league tournament.
Lakshan Sandakan, who would go on to become Sri Lanka's first chinaman bowler if given a debut, is one of the three spinners in the squad along with Rangana Herath and Dilruwan Perera. Sandakan picked up a fifer in the tour game against Derbyshire for Sri Lanka A and was also the highest wicket-taker during the last premiere league tournament.
IN: Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Roshen Silva, Lakshan Sandakan
OUT: Lahiru Thirimanne, Milinda Siriwardane, Niroshan Dickwella, Dasun Shanaka, Shaminda Eranga, Chaminda Bandara
INJURED: Dhamikka Prasad, Dushmantha Chameera
Left-arm fast bowler Vishwa Fernando and right-arm fast bowler Asitha Fernando have also received a national call-up following their decent outings in England. Asitha Fernando, an eighteen-year-old pacer, was also a part of Sri Lanka's U19 squad that played in the U19 world cup. The rookie bowler shot to limelight when he picked up a five-wicket haul to help Sri Lanka A prevail over Pakistan A in a first-class game in England.
The left-arm pacer, Vishwa Fernando, has been in the Sri Lankan squads for some time since 2014 and was one of the few fast bowlers who have been earmarked by Chaminda Vaas as future prospects.
Niroshan Dickwella also misses out from the squad. Though he was part of the touring squad to England, the wicket-keeping batsman failed to get an opportunity in any formats. Dasun Shanaka, who debuted in the first test match in England, has also been dropped from the squad.
Sri Lanka' squad for the first test: Angelo Mathews (C), Dinesh Chandimal (VC), Kaushal Silva, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Roshen Silva, Rangana Herath, Dilruwan Perera, Lakshan Sandakan, Nuwan Pradeep, Suranga Lakmal, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando.


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Can these 2 top-performing investment trusts help to make you a millionaire?
The last five years have been one of the most surprising Bull Runs for share prices in decades. Investor sentiment has improved dramatically since the aftermath of the credit crunch, when it was extremely downbeat. This has allowed valuations to move upwards at a rapid rate. Indeed, the FTSE 100 has posted capital growth of 23% during the last five years. When dividends are added to that figure, it is approaching 8% per annum.
However, during the same time frame, two investment trusts have posted significantly stronger returns. Could they continue to outperform the FTSE 100 and, in doing so, help make you a millionaire?
Strong performance
Reporting on Wednesday was the Standard Life Private Equity Trust (LSE: SLPE). Its performance in the quarter to 30 June 2017 was impressive, with its net asset value increasing by 5.9%. In the last five years, the company has recorded a rise in its price of 133%. This is clearly significantly higher than that of the FTSE 100, and is also well ahead of its Private Equity benchmark. It has increased in value by 90% during the same time period.
Despite such a strong performance over a sustained period, the trust still trades at a 10% discount to its net asset value. This suggests it may still offer good value for money. Furthermore, since it invests in funds, it provides considerable diversity. That's especially the case since it is geographically diversified. For example, 19% of the fund is invested in North American equities, while 18% is in European equities. This could help to reduce its overall risk, which makes its risk/reward ratio highly enticing at the present time.
Growth potential
Also performing well in recent years has been real estate investment trust (REIT) Big Yellow Group (LSE: BYG). The storage specialist has recorded a share price rise of 136% during the last five years as demand for its services has remained buoyant. The company has a strong position within its market, and with demand likely to grow in future years it could report a rising bottom line.
Looking ahead to the 2019 financial year, the company is forecast to record an increase in earnings of 8%. This is slightly above the FTSE 100's forecast growth rate and means that dividend growth could outpace inflation. In fact, the company's dividends per share are forecast to increase by 9% next year and this puts it on a forward yield of 4.4% from a shareholder payout that is due to be covered 1.25 times by profit. This suggests that dividend growth could at least match profit growth without putting the company's financial stability under pressure.
Certainly, there are concerns about the prospects for the UK economy over the medium term. Brexit is causing uncertainty to rise, and this may hurt overall economic activity. However, with a relatively defensive business model, Big Yellow Group could continue to be a strong performer over the next five years.
5G is here – and shares of this 'sleeping giant' could be a great way for you to potentially profit!
According to one leading industry firm, the 5G boom could create a global industry worth US $12.3 TRILLION out of thin air…
And if you click here, we'll show you something that could be key to unlocking 5G's full potential...
It's just ONE innovation from a little-known US company that has quietly spent years preparing for this exact moment…
But you need to get in before the crowd catches onto this 'sleeping giant'.
Peter Stephens has shares in Big Yellow Group. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.


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So, my daughter is … (I'm losing count)…. 2 years and 4 months old. She's a really cool human. She's been talking in complete sentences for a while, and what's wonderful for my mental health is the fact that she has stopped night nursing. Hoooooooray. People tell me all the time that when you wean toddlers from breastfeeding, you just have to "decide to do it" and there will be lots of crying and screaming. I don't think there has to be. We're down to about 2 or 3 feedings a day… shortly after we wake up, then after the work day ends, and then shortly before bed. Yesterday, though, we had a crazy record: 22 hours with no breastfeeding and not even asking for it. She didn't ask for it when we woke up, so we went out and about and didn't come home all day (which helps). Next thing I knew, almost a whole day had gone by.
Night weaning is really freakin' hard when you bedshare, as we do. So I'd started reading her a couple of bedtime books on occasion about night weaning. I can't remember the titles, and honestly, there aren't any fantastic ones out there (either the artwork or the story is weak, but who cares). They did help, I think. I kept conveying the message that we'd sleep better and that she was a big kid.
And now a cat is howling for some reason, so I better go check it out before something gets peed on.


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Stein, Judith E. I Tell My Heart: The Art of Horace Pippin. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1993.
The book, based on an exhibit, is well-organized, and includes contextual essays on the artist's life and times, a description of Pippin's art technique, and a thorough reference section.
Citation Type: Book
Referenced in:
Horace Pippin
Suffering and Sunset: An African American Artist's Impression of World War I


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Currency Displayed in
The Castlewood turns any outdoor area into a welcoming and relaxing living space. A large, high opening provides a dramatic view from across the yard, and a textured brick interior offers masonry-style looks at a fraction of the cost.
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The Ink Slingers Guild would LOVE for you to jump in and join the fun!
We have an exciting new project called Stories My Friends Started.
In a nut shell – you give us the opening line of a short story. Then one of our authors will grab the line, write out the story and it will get posted on the website. You get acknowledged for the opener and we get to have some fun!
To submit, go here and enter: SUBMIT MY OPENING LINE!
That's right! Go on over there and put us to work!


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High-Speed Nike Running Suit Inspired By The Golf Ball
Nike just unveiled the TurboSpeed suit that can supposedly shave off 0.023 seconds from an athlete's time in a 100-meter sprint. With the world record for men in the 100-meter currently 9.58 seconds, 0.023 seconds can make quite the difference! The "superhero-like" full body suit has small dimples covering the arms and and along the shoulders and back. These holes are inspired by the texture of golf balls that provide more aerodynamic movement and speed. This is much different than the current speed suits that fit athletes very tightly and leave a lot of skin showing!
According to an article in Runner's World, the new suit will be worn by runners from USA, Germany, Russia, and China at the London Olympics. And Nike is predicting that the high-tech sportswear could break personal best and world records.
See more photos of the track speed suits here and here.
So what are your thoughts? Will this be like the swimsuits from a few Olympics ago that were banned from competition fin 2009?
If you recall, Jan 1 of 2010, record-setting bodysuits or swimsuits were banned. Before being banned, the swimsuits had led to 108 world records in 2008 and many more in 2009. According to experts, some suits were suspected of creating "air trapping" effects that enhance speed. Read an article on the banning here. Not to worry, the USA swim team at the Olympics (the women at least) will be wearing a new design by an Iowan – the same guy that designed the banned ones four years back…Read up on it here.


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Home > Products > Sort By What's-made-from > Acrylic Displays > Top Quality Acrylic Box With Velvet
|Payment Type:
|L/C,T/T,Paypal,Western Union
|Min. Order:
|50 Bag/Bags
|Delivery Time:
|15 Days
Basic Info
Model No.: AP-C026
Kind: Box
Plastic Type: PVC
Usage: Cosmetic
Size: Middle
Type: Box
Surface Handling: Screen Printing
Transparency: Transparent
Logo Printing: With Logo Printing
Weight: 1-1.5 kg
Style: Leisure
Material: Acrylic
Length: 26cm
Depth: 20cm
Height: 7.5cm
Color: Clear
Surface Treatment: Laser Cutting
Additional Info
Packaging: carton of fancy acrylic wallet display stand:or following custmer\'s requirement
Productivity: 1000 pcs/month
Brand: green display
Transportation: Ocean,Land,Air
Place of Origin: Zhejiang, China (Mainland), China
Supply Ability: 1000 pcs/month
Port: NingBo,ShenZhen,ShangHai
Product Description
This acrylic box is made as a great gift idea for friends & family. Inspired by professional makeup artists, you will notice the difference in this box when compared to the industrial standard. From design to durability and functionality. Imagine owning a high quality and fashion makeup organizer that makes vanity enjoyable every day after. Our products are tailored to match a wide range of decor from Baroque to Mediterranean, whether it put in your personal bathroom, a vanity area or countertop.
This acrylic box series cover a wide range of capacity and usage. The small size ones would be perfect for lipsticks, brow pencils, eyeliners, mascaras, and makeup brushes,manicure; The medium type would be great for storing primer,eye shadow palettes, bronzer, blush palettes, and press/loose power; The large cases are made to accommodate large foundation bottles,full size perfume or products close in size and more.
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A: By DHL/UPS/Fedex express. Samples lead time is 7-14 days.
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A: ISO9001 Certificated, independent quality control team with 16 inspectors in our factory. Thrid party certificated and factory audit accepted. Third party quality control accepted.
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A: OEM/ODM is welcome, From the concept to finished goods, we have our own desighner, do all (design, prototype reviewing, tooling and production) in the factory.
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An extra showing of The Arsonists, a play by Max Frisch, directed by senior Jenny Davis, was added to Studio Theater's schedule on Saturday night. The Arsonists follows the events and turmoil surrounding the arrival of two homeless men at the house of a man who owns a hair tonic company through the destruction of his house and town. Featuring a modern Greek chorus of firemen, the play combined comedy, class conflict, and philosophy.
The show opens with Mr. Biedermann being visited unexpectedly by a washed up wrestler who used to perform in the circus. The wrestler eventually cons his way into moving into Mr. Biedermann's attic, against both his and his wife's better judgment. A series of arsons has been taking place across the town, all started by mysterious, homeless men arriving, staying the night, and then burning down the house in the morning.
The first night is uneventful, though the next day the wrestler's friend, a former waiter and inmate, arrives to stay in the attic with the wrestler. The two begin moving barrels of gasoline into the attic and installing fuses and detonators. Mr. Biedermann sees the gasoline and even helps to measure out fuses, continues to maintain that it is just an elaborate joke. The play culminates with Mr. Biedermann's house inevitably being burned down by the homeless men, an unheard statement by a mysterious philosopher, and the knowledge that Mr. Biedermann's former partner has committed suicide.
The actors were well prepared and very intense, particularly senior Michael Giese, the wrestler, and freshman Jack Dryden, Mr. Biedermann. All the other roles were very competently executed and the performances were engaging. The set, two floors, the attic and the dining room, with a table and chairs and armchair on the bottom floor and, later in the play, barrels of gasoline in the attic, filled the small performance space. However, much of the set, due to its size, seemed to go unused and its size also contributed to the small amount of seating (there were only 70 seats).
Additionally, though the acting was excellent, the play often felt inorganic, and the comedic timing seemed stilted in places. Overall, the play was a decent production, however, there were aspects of it that felt loose, though this may have been the result of the cast performing it twice, back to back, on Saturday night.


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text: VyushtaVyushta is day break vyuSTa 2 mfn. dawned , become daylight , grown bright or clear SBr. MBh. &c. n. daybreak L. ; fruit , result (= {phala}) L. m. Daybreak personified (as a son of Kalpa , or as a son of Pushparna and Dosha , or as a son of Vibha-vasu and Ushas) BhP. {-trirAtra} m. g. {yuktArohy-Adi} Kas. (v.l. {vyuSTi-tr-}). 18 vyuSTa 3 mfn. one who has passed or spent ({rajanIm} , a night) MBh. (= {pary-uSita} L.)


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Chinese Big Sister Ai Cheng Joins International Co-Production by MGTV and Discovery
Under the instruction of the State Council Information Office, the world's first internationally co-produced reality show "The Day I Ran China"—featuring foreign volunteers trying out new job experiences in China—has successfully wrapped production. The show is co-produced by domestically and internationally renowned media platforms MGTV and Discovery Channel. The show's global auditioning process brings together outstanding young volunteers from "One Belt One Road" countries to convene in China to learn about the latest "Chinese Kungfu" in the era of Internet+ innovation. Ms. AI Cheng, founder and capital partner of iAsk Media, was invited onto the show as a "Chinese Big Sister" and a role model for the Chinese youth.
"Many foreign friends come to China from faraway lands to seek out a renowned master and learn Kungfu. The Day I Ran China, which wraps today, showcases the Chinese smart manufacturing, the Chinese speed, and the Chinese spirit." said Chinese big sister Ms. AI Cheng at the opening of the show's finale and press conference for release announcements.
After over 100 days spent across several provinces and delving into cutting-edge industries to take on challenging internship assignments, bilingual big sister Ai led a team of young entrepreneurs from Singapore, Vietnam, Russia, South Korea, India, and Philippines into the water towns of southern Yangtze River and the Gobi deserts of the northwest, where they combated desert sands, languished on sunlit islands, looked into the world-leading logistics system at Yiwu's logistics center, researched the sand control technology at Kubuqi Desert, and learned about the Skynet surveillance system with the police in Hainan.
As to why the show invited Ms. Ai Cheng onboard, Mr. Vikram Channa, Senior VP for the greater China region of Discovery Channel, explained, "Discovery and MGTV had hoped to invite a role model for Chinese youths with a global perspective, and we needed someone whose talent spans show hosting, entrepreneurship and investment, and Ms. Ai is the best candidate for the Chines big sister." As the only Chinese national among seven international apprentices, big sister Ai said, "I am grateful for the hundred days we spent together, and I'm honored to have shown the apprentices a real and advancing China. And I'm even more honored to join them as a young entrepreneur myself. I will continue to uphold the standard of being a Chinese big sister, and go on assisting more business founders from within and beyond China to create positive energies for the global new economy. "
The show has successfully wrapped production on July 15, 2019 in Hainan. It's set to go online on September 4 this year at mgtv.com and Discovery Asian Pacific's Southeast Asia Channel, South Asia Channel, and Australia New Zealand Channel.
COMMENTARY: Will China's Bull Resume, Along With GDP Growth?
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COMMENTARY: India's Ban on Chinese Apps Raises the Stakes in Tech War
COMMENTARY: China Tries to Show It Can Fight off a New Outbreak
Asset Pro Wins Top Wealth Management Platform Award
Gloria Ai Interviews Chen Xingjia | iAsk Public Welfare Leaders


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Released by: Vinegar Syndrome
Released on: January 31st, 2017.
Director: Robert Vincent O'Neill/Alex Nicol
Cast: Peter Carpenter, Eric Allison, Vicki Peters, Tony Crechales, Dyanne Thorne, Joel Marsten
Year: 1970/1971
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The Movies:
Vinegar Syndrome continue to release some choice catalogue titles from the vaults of Crown International, this time pairing up two Peter Carpenter films!
Blood Mania:
Going by the skin quotient in this one, it should have been called Boob Mania, as there's a lot more bare female flesh on display than there is bloodshed. Long a staple of the VHS discount bin since the advent of home video, Robert Vincent O'Neill's film takes place in 70s era Los Angeles where Dr. Craig Cooper (Peter Carpenter) toils away taking care of the aged Ridgeley Waterman (Eric Allison). The once mighty Waterman, a former hospital big wig, has been crippled by a stroke that has left him bedridden. Waterman's former right hand man, Larry (Arell Blanton), turns coat and decides to blackmail the poor old bastard by threatening to go public with some rather damning evidence that will prove he performed illegal abortions while interning.
Hunky Dr. Cooper, however, has his hands full trying to evade the lustful eye of Waterman's hot but spoiled daughter, Victoria (Maria de Aragon), the barer of the aforementioned boobs, and what a great pair they are. Cooper tells Victoria he needs to come up with a bunch of money for back taxes and, being madly in love with him, she figures her ailing father won't mind if she dips into his lush bank account to help out the object of her affections in return for some much needed lovin' from Cooper. When Waterman turns up dead, it seems Victoria went all the way and poisoned the old man, leaving Cooper wanting to call the cops on her, but with that sizeable amount of cash dangled in front of him, he keeps quiet and reports that a second stroke did the old man in. Everything looks like it's going to go in their favor until the family lawyer (Alex Rocco) shows up with Victoria's sister Gail (Vicki Peters), who looks set to inherit pretty much all of the family fortune. Victoria's understandably upset, while Cooper notices just how foxy Gail is, and so desperately in need of a hunky doctor's touch!
A fantastic animated opening credits sequence starts this poorly paced though moderately sleazy thriller off with a bang but from there it takes a good forty-five minutes or so for this picture to really go anywhere. The ample nudity helps a bit but the story is pretty tepid. The last half hour redeems the picture enough that it's worth waiting for but much of this one plays out like a bad soap opera, albeit one with considerably more cleavage than most.
Point Of Terror:
Point Of Terror, a Crown International film from 1971, isn't really a horror film but it is the real gem in this set. The cover art (taken from the original poster art, and rightly so) would certainly lead you to believe that and the trailer for the film absolutely tries (and nearly succeeds) to pass it off as one, but this is basically an insane soap opera with some naked boobies that come courtesy of Ilsa herself, Dyanne Thorne. Oh, and then there's the inimitable presence of one Peter Carpenter - singer, dancer, fighter, lover, a true renaissance man if ever there was one.
Carpenter plays a man named Tony Trelos, a lounge singer who is the house act down at the Lobster House, which isn't actually a house nor does it appear to have any lobster in it but which is in fact some sort of night club that features buxom waitresses and shiny silver curtains galore. Here Tony belts out his signature tune, 'This Is Me,' over and over again. You'll also hear it on the menu screen and over the opening credits. At any rate, one day Tony's lucky enough to meet a big titted blonde chick on the beach that she owns. She's not too upset about his trespassing, but instead heads out that night to check out his act. One thing leads to another and before you know it, she's back at Tony's place, which she likens to being decorated by Bela Lugosi despite the fact that it is not in the least bit vampiric or Hungarian in appearance. She tells him that her name is Andrea Hilliard (Dyanne Thorne) and that she basically runs National Records since its founder, and her husband, Martin Hilliard (Joel Marsten), landed himself in a wheelchair permanently. With her jealous beau confined to a cripple's life, she gallivants around town drinking and pill popping and making it with would be lounge singers like Tony, who is only too happy to skinny dip with her if it means a record deal.
One thing leads to another and before you know it, Tony's got the wrong idea and Martin winds up dead. He wants to take Andrea to Tijuana to get married but all she wants are kicks, much to the dismay of her lush hanger-oner, Fran (Leslie Simms), who wouldn't mind a piece of Tony for herself. Rejected, Tony finds solace in the arms of Andrea's stepdaughter, Helayne Hilliard (Lory Hansen), who has bad teeth and strange two-toned eyebrows. Will Tony's record career ever take off? What's going to happen when Helayne finds out Tony's diddled her step mommy's Skittle? How many more times are we going to hear the only two songs it seems Tony knows? Where are all those odd primary lighting gels coming from and to what purpose are they there? Will Tony spin Andrea around on his back like a wrestler?
Let's get one thing straight right now: Point Of Terror is horrible. Really, it's a complete mess made by a director who can't figure out where to take it and with a cast who overdo it every chance they get. The plot has nothing going for it and there is absolutely no suspense whatsoever. Even if 'twist' at the end (and calling it a twist is being generous) somehow manages to be completely wrong and yet somehow predictably inevitable at the same time. This movie is really and truly a disaster in every sense of the word.
Now, with that out of the way (and read that as the caveat to serious cineastes that it's meant to be), let's make a second and more important point about the picture - it's absolutely hilarious, ridiculously entertaining and endlessly watchable. Yes, for all the wrong reasons, but Point Of Terror turns out to be quite a good bit of comedy gold if you're in the right frame of mind for it. Peter Carpenter, whose eyes do seem to periodically go in two different directions at once, is responsible for most of head scratching moments, be it his red fringed jumpsuit, his rad dance moves, the completely unexpected penchant for wrestling that he shows in the film's big finale or his tendency to show off his manly physique whenever he feels like it, he proves to be a true dynamo of bad movie leading men. His screen presence in Blood Mania was good, but it's nothing compared to what he brings to this one. But we also get amazing scenery chewing from Joel Marsten, a man with only one emotion - seething anger! He's perpetually pissed off and is prone to throwing drinking glasses around the pool side and trying to run over big breasted would be Nazisploitation stars with his wheelchair and the movie is all the better for it. Of course, Dyanne Throne's generally odd screen presence is the icing on the cake, her stern and matronly features make for a perplexing sight but you know once that top comes off and her stone filled jugs come into play that Peter's done for. That's just how it has to work.
Going into much more detail than that really would be a disservice to those who haven't yet had the experience that is Point Of Terror. It's got so much going on that has so little to do with... anything, really, that you can't help but fall for it. While it's certainly true that it's in most technical and critical ways a filmic turd, it's at least one that was shat out in an interesting shape and that is fun to watch for somewhat inexplicable reasons. If only Peter Carpenter had graced us with more than just a scant handful of films before he passed away, maybe more could have come of this or his fledgling recording career (he not only stars but co-wrote and co-produced and did all of his own singing). Sadly that was not to be. At least we have Point Of Terror and Blood Mania to remember him by.
Both films are presented in new transfers taken from 2k scans of their original 35mm negatives and offered up in their original widescreen aspect ratio of 1.85.1, both films sharing on 50GB Blu-ray disc. How do they look? In short, excellent. Both films are really pretty colorful, especially Point Of Terror, and those colors pop nicely here without looking artificially boosted. Black levels are nice and strong here too, and the transfer provides good shadow detail without any noticeable compression artifacts or crush. The image for both films is also very clean, showing very little in the way of print damage outside of a few 'blink and you'll miss it' white specks. There's a good amount of natural film grain and no obvious digital noise reduction or artificial sharpening/edge enhancement. Both of those movies have been released on DVD before and these Blu-ray presentations provide substantial upgrades in picture quality for both titles.
English language audio options are provided in DTS-HD with optional closed captioning provided in English only. Again, the audio shapes up nicely. The single channel tracks are clean, clear and nicely balanced and there are no issues with any hiss or distortion. Optional English language closed captioning is provided.
Extras start off with a commentary track for Blood Mania that gathers up director Robert Vincent O'Neill along with actresses Leslie Simms and Vicki Peters. This starts off with Simms talking about Peter Carpenter, who was one of his students and who wrote a part for her in a screenplay he co-wrote. They also talk about Alex Rocco's involvement in the picture, noting that it is one of if not the first film he ever appeared in. O'Neill talks about filming the nightmare sequence that opens the picture and how he got it to look the way it looked, the effectiveness of the lighting used in the movie, where some of the supporting players came from and what they brought to the movie and how more often than not none of the actors us used in the film blew any takes. They also talk about some of the fashions on display in the film like the 'sexy nurses uniform,' a few of the locations that they shot on and quite a bit more. There is the occasional instance of quiet here and there but overall this is a pretty engaging discussion with all three participants sharing some fun memories for this film and this period in their lives and careers.
O'Neill also pops up in a separate video interview that runs just over eight minutes. He talks about how he got into the film business after directing theater for twenty years when he wound up doing props for a various movies including Easy Rider and Psych-Out. He learned on set by doing, and eventually he wound up moving up the ladder a bit and took on the role of a director with his first picture, a nine day shoot called Like Mother Like Daughter. He then talks about writing different scripts, working on a few different films as a director like The Psycho Lover and how that led to Blood Mania when that film's original director got sick and wouldn't be able to take the job. He then goes on to praise pretty much everyone that he worked with on the film, the importance of the locations used in the movie and how shooting everything in the singular house location allowed them to get the movie in the can in twelve days.
Simms also gets her own separate video interview on the disc that runs fourteen minutes. She talks about how she got into the business at fourteen when she found out her teacher was a producer and she wound up doing radio work. From there she goes on to talk about how her parents moved the family to Los Angeles. She then talks about how she got to know Peter Carpenter, whose real name was Page Carpenter, after meeting him at an actor's workshop describing him as a hit with all the women and a wonderful jazz dancer, which led to her being involved in Blood Mania. From there she talks about working on both films contained on this disc, what it was like working with director Alex Nicol, the difficulty they ran into shooting the underwater scene in Point Of Terror, her thoughts on Dyanne Thorne's work in the picture and how after meeting her she decided her character should be a blonde (which is why she's wearing an obvious wig in the film – she wouldn't let them bleach her hair!).
Blood Mania is available to watch with an optional video intro from O'Neill. Theatrical trailers, TV spots and still galleries are both provided for each film on the disc.
As this is a combo pack release, a DVD containing SD versions of the new scans and identical extras is also included in the Blu-ray keepcase. The limited edition release of this set also includes a separate DVD that holds the alternate TV versions of each movie! These standard definition presentations are fullframe and not nearly as clean or colorful looking as the HD feature versions but they are interesting variants and a nice bonus. Oddly enough the TV version of Blood Mania runs 1:30:29 versus the theatrical cut at 1:20:30 so there's some extended bits and pieces tossed in here. The TV version of Point Of Terror clocks in at 1:31:24 versus 1:27:38 for the theatrical cut, so it too is long. Both version cut out all the nudity scene in their theatrical edits. The biggest difference in Point Of Terror is a really strange scene that runs almost ten minutes wherein Tony recounts via flashback how, as a kid, he used to work as a shoeshine boy. One day he wanted to go to the beach but his mom, a hooker, told him no. He did it anyway and after buying a snack and wandering around looking at waves and seagulls, gets chased and then robbed by an older kid. There's also a weird montage sequence at the end that sort of replays most of the highlights of the film before the end credits roll.
The Final Word:
Vinegar Syndrome's Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack release of Crown International's Point Of Terror/Blood Mania is a great one. These two entertaining b-movies movies look and sound better than they ever have before and there's a great selection of extras here too, highlighted by an interesting audio commentary and the two alternate TV versions of both features.


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The American Toad
There is no shortage of native toads to be found in the U.S.-for free-but these awesome creatures may still deserve a space among the herptile pets that retailers offer for sale.
When I was a boy growing up on the edge of the Everglades, my mom always let me feed my pets. Every evening, right about sunset, she would take a pie plate, spread some wet dog food out across its bottom, and then hand it to me. I would go out on the back porch, place the doggie dinner at the bottom of the steps, get comfortable and wait. As the sun loomed larger and dimmer on its inevitable downward arc toward the horizon, golden eyes would appear amongst the leaf litter behind our house. Slowly but assuredly, an army would assemble, moving resolutely like a phalanx of zombies toward me and that pie plate. I would often giggle with joy seeing them advance, when I wasn't simply transfixed with their majesty. These were my toads.
They were, in fact, not natives. I was witnessing one of the invasions of foreign animals to South Florida; this wave of foreigners were South American marine toads, which have caused environmental havoc to not only South Florida, but, famously, Australia. The documentary film Cane Toads covers the subject, and it is one of the most entertaining disaster films you are ever likely to witness; I highly recommend it.
I also vividly remember the venomous walking catfish scare, and the incursions by both Bahamian and Cuban anoles. The latest brouhaha over Burmese pythons is laughable in this context; Florida's native animals have been in competition with an onslaught of foreigners since Europeans made their initial landfall.
But today we are discussing native American toads, which are among the more omnipresent forms of wildlife across the continental U.S. They are, in fact, so commonplace that, even with amphibians being the victim of worldwide decline, our local toads seem, by and large, durable and stolidly passive observers of the danger. The reality is that some toad species are in trouble, as well, but nowhere near as ubiquitously as frogs. Consequently, I know of no one making an attempt at commercial breeding projects for them, though that does seem inevitable. There is also not much place for them commercially in the pet trade. They certainly aren't as flashy as most species of frogs. They don't particularly display well in tanks. And why purchase something you might well find in your back yard? That said, I do always try to keep some toad representatives on hand in the store. They do have their fans, of which I am one.
Let's dispel some of the myths about toads. Of course, the biggest, which I still hear with alarming frequency, is that toads cause warts. The genesis of this myth is the preponderance of small bumps, called tubercles, on the skin of most toads. Warts are caused by viruses, and their similarity to tubercles is nothing more than that: a similarity. More on those tubercles anon.
Toads have a historical reputation for ugliness, which is as undeserved as it is common. My older brother used to tease me by saying I looked like a toad. Multiple fairy tales use toads as a standard of human ugliness. Writer Edgar Allan Poe's short story character "Hop Frog" was, in the classic film Masque of the Red Death, renamed Hop-Toad. Another film, 1953's The Maze, has as its central horror a royal Scottish family genetically predisposed to turn into giant toads.
I like to tell kids that, in fact, toads are a lot like us. I tell them that everybody is beautiful in some way, but sometimes you have to search it out. With toads the beauty is often in their eyes. Look closely. Their eyes will have flecks of gold, green and even red offset by the deep, dark luster of their pupils.
I am always surprised by the myths people have as to what differentiates toads from frogs. Firstly, just as tortoises are a subset of turtles, toads are actually a subset of frogs. When you ask people what the difference is, you will get some very commonplace generalizations that have enough exceptions to be useless: land versus water, dry versus wet, slimy versus bumpy, jump versus hop, and on and on. There are really only two factors that separate frogs from toads, and the first one doesn't help with a visual ID. Frogs tend to lay their eggs in clusters; toads lay their eggs in strings. That helps at the pond, but what about looking at the actual animal?
There is one visible difference—and one difference only. Frogs manufacture protective toxins throughout their skins. Toads produce their toxins in specific bumps on their skin, the largest of which are located directly behind their eyes. These are called parotoid glands. All toads have them, and frogs do not. That is the sole difference.
I mentioned earlier that I always keep some toads in stock, despite their lack of flash and the ease of finding them in most parts of the U.S. Here's why: Toads are incredibly easy to set up and maintain. They are almost always inexpensive. They are durable. But mostly, they are incredibly charming creatures and often exude a real sense of magic.
Even if you opt not to carry toads as a part of your livestock inventory, you should know their basic setup and maintenance anyway, for customers who will inevitably come in with the toad they found in their backyard and want to keep it as a pet. While toads include a huge variety of species, the care for the vast majority of them generally boils down to very similar basics.
Most of them require a 10-gallon tank, outfitted with potting soil and leaf litter. Keep them moist but not wet; a water bowl is generally recommended but not necessary. Room temperature will suffice in most circumstances. Like any herptile insectivore, their crickets should be supplemented with a good powder vitamin and calcium. Let them teach you how much they want to eat. If you drop in six crickets, and they eat them all, you know they will want more. Clean out and refresh the entire tank from time to time. That's about it.
As most species produce a mild toxin in their skins, children are advised to wash their hands after handling. As with almost every animal I sell, I recommend no more than 15 to 20 minutes of handling per day.
As I mentioned, most American toad species are remarkably similar, differentiated by comparatively subtle morphological variations. There are a few species that differ enough from the herd to deserve special mention. Three in particular stand out to my mind:
• The Spadefoots (Scaphiophus and Spea sp.): This is a complex of particularly attractive burrowing toads that are often desert species. They lack the scowl that characterizes the face of most true toads. Instead, they have a rather soulful sweetness to them. They can have some vivid coloration as well. They are happier in a mix of soil and sand, and like it fairly dry.
• Green Toads (Bufo debilis): Another desert species, these diminutive toads are unusually green and very attractive. Again, they prefer a sandier tank.
• Cane Toads (Bufo marinus): These are the giant—over six inches—interlopers I discussed at the start of this article; these beasts fear nothing. The toxins in freshly caught specimens are surprisingly strong, and they even have the ability, when really ticked off, to squirt poison out of their parotoid glands in a stream. The are, perhaps, not the best choice for kids—depending on how you feel about the kids.
Owen Maercks has enjoyed being immersed in the world of professional herpetoculture for nearly 30 years. His store, the East Bay Vivarium in Berkeley, Calif., is one of the oldest and largest herptile specialty stores in the U.S.


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This: I finished Haley's Apron:
I am so happy with the way it turned out that I am going to make one for my friend's 2 year old son, kinda a late bday present. Joann's here I come! This is the tutorial I found
That: Now that I have complete all of two projects, I have have what my momma calls "the bug." When I saw this dress, I said to myself "Dude, I can make that!"
A. Yes, I say dude, a lot, to anyone, regardless of gender
B. I have no idea if I can actually make this. Remember, I got my sewing maching for Christmas and I am barely a novice at this. But thanks to the internet, I found another tutorial. YAY! One step closer to Project Runway.
This: Somehow my coffeemaker broke… Okay I did it! I was trying to clean it out and broke what just happens to be a VERY important piece, the thingy that keeps the coffee inside the tank and not all over my counter. So until my replacement tank shows up in the mail (I was able to call HamiltonBeach and buy a new tank instead of a new coffee maker), I get to brew coffee like this
Ever so often I have to pour the cup back into the tank so it stays warm. And I have to keep a pretty close eye on it while it brew or we have a pretty big mess on our hands (learned that one Monday). Maybe this doesn't seem all that dire, but coffee is extremely important to me, and I like it pretty hot. And…
That: The reason I was going all Monica Geller on my coffee maker is because my momma sent me two bags of my favorite coffee. I wanted a nice clean coffee maker to make my awesome CBLT Mocha Java. Now that it's broken, I have to wait longer to make this wonderful coffee. I know, life's tough! At least I have Caribou Coffee to help me through this difficult time in my life…
Linking up again with Katie for


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Ko Lao Liang
Ko Lao Liang is located in Mu Ko Phetra National Park, Thailand. It is made up of two islands: Ko Lao Liang Nuea (the smaller inhabited island) and Ko Lao Liang Tai (the larger uninhabited island). They are separated by only 300 metres of water.
Trang is the closest major city. Getting to these isolated, undiscovered paradise islands requires a 45min boat ride from the mainland.
Ko Lao Liang Nuea is where the boat lands. Ko Lao Liang Nuea is known for its white-sand beaches, deep emerald and azure blue sea, and protected rich coral reef that can be accessed by simply walking in from the beach. The beach is hemmed in by 100 metre limestone climbing walls that draw in off-the-beaten-track rock climbers from all over the world. Deep-water soloing options also exist. Island accommodation is limited to tent camping. Only up to 50 people can stay at a time. The island has a kitchen and seating area where meals can be served buffet-style. Communal bathroom facilitates exist.
Ko Lao Liang Tai is a deserted paradise island known for its beautiful azure seas with a curving white sand beach that looks out to karst islands on the horizon. There is a dark cave that looks though to the beach. The island also has some abandoned ramshackle beach huts. There are no services or facilities on Ko Lao Liang Tai.
The islands are only open from October to April.
As Ko Lao Liang is in a national park, special permission is required to film there and restrictions are in place to preserve the location.
Thailand Fixer & Camera Crew
Contact us if you're looking for deserted paradise island options for your next film or photography project. If you are looking for a Thai fixer or production service company, our local team would be happy assist you with your shoot in Ko Lao Liang or anywhere else in Thailand. We are also able to recommend Thailand based photographers, videographers, cameramen, directors of photography. and directors.


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this is volume 19 of poolSynergy. welcome back, and thanks for reading this post.
the topic for volume XIX is "pool mecca".
for the main page of volume XIX, visit the link below. it contains a list of all the posts on this month's topic.
main page for poolSynergy volume XIX
also, visit the link below for a complete list of poolSynergy's monthly topics.
below is my post for this month. enjoy.
for the month of may, our host john barton (of instroke and jb cases fame) has decided that "pool mecca" should be the theme. unfortunately i've not been to a place i'd consider my personal mecca, so i'll write about an imaginary one. (no, my imaginary friend didn't write this for me.)
my pool mecca will be a highly customized pool hall. personally, i think a pool mecca should be impressive in size. i mean, a place measuring 500 square feet will hardly inspire awe in any pool player. i'd want my pool mecca to have at least 40 tables, and at least one table per type of pool/billiard game (e.g., pool, billiards, snooker, russian billiard, so on). there will be at least of 10 feet of space (in any direction) between tables so players won't bump butt cheeks, plus tables and comfy chairs for the players to sit. the pool mecca will have spectators' areas along the walls on the second level, so people can watch the matches from above without disturbing the players. the entire place will have wifi available so customers can stay connected. the counter will have several ball cleaning machines to keep the balls spotless. tables will be brushed after every use, and re-clothed regularly. a great sound system will pump out good tunes, and a killer a/c system will keep everyone comfortable.
a pool mecca should also have a nice shop in case us players want to get some equipments. the usual compliments should suffice: a decent range of cues, various accessories, a lathe, and a technician/cue maker on-site to service/repair cues. the shop should also be able to sell/service various types of tables, should the customer want a game room at home.
one of my biggest gripes about pool rooms is the food; good food and pool seem like antonyms. so for my pool mecca, decent food is a must. (nothing fancy, just good solid fares that can beat the hunger.) the menu will include various types of food, from frialated goodies and burgers, to good deli sandwiches, soups, and some basic asian cuisine (e.g., thai fried rice, udon). a full bar with big screen tvs will entertain the guests of course, with one tv dedicated to pool matches (the mecca will have a library of match dvds or on a hard-drive system). the food/bar area will be soundproofed and kept away from the playing area so diners won't bother the players. (people tend to get loud when good food & drinks are present.)
the pool mecca will have a separate spectator's arena for tournaments and challenge matches; this space will be detached from the actual pool room and has space to seat 1000 people with stadium seating, as well as space for multiple cameras and a soundproofed commentator's booth. big screen tvs set up like the jumbotron at basketball arenas will be hung from the center to showcase feature matches and replays. dedicated internet connection will be set up in the tournament arena to make sure live streaming won't be interrupted. borrowing the idea from various conventions, there will be a media room for bloggers and media reps to work on live stories and posts; tvs inside the media room will keep the media folks up-to-date on the actions in the tournament arena.
outside the pool mecca, there will be security and ample parking. the parking lot will be periodically maintained, and the parking spaces will be large enough to accommodate large vans and suvs. (i hate to squeeze between biga~* cars when i park.) and yes, the security team will issue parking tickets to crappy parkers. 😀
i was going to add sharks with frigging laser beams, but the pool mecca probably doesn't need them. 😛


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The Addiction Solution Podcast
Addiction during Christmas
If you are someone who identifies as "in recovery" everywhere you look you'll see and hear dire warnings about how tough the holiday season is for you. In support group meetings the weeks and months leading up to the holidays are always filled with discussions on how stressful and dangerous this time of year is for a special class of people known as addicts. "Newcomers" (people in "early recovery") are encouraged to attend multiple meetings per day. In many cities around the country and world there are meetings available around the clock on and around Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's. But are the holidays actually more stressful for people who are "in recovery"? Are the holidays a "trigger" for relapse? And are these warnings helpful or hurtful? Beware, what you believe often becomes your reality.
1 Comment
Angel on December 22, 2018 at 1:54 pm
Its scary at times because this is my worst holiday.it triggers me into wanting to just hurt myself Idk why.could be at this time 3 yrs ago I lost everyone that loved me.thought I found that special one to find happiness in my life. well that didn't last long guess I always made his life miserable .it's funny because I thought I brought happiness but guess we both wanted something different. so here goes my first or second Xmas alone.it's ok though because although I may struggle I don't need to be called names and verbally attacked when I was at my lowest myself.I felt like my heart was torn out and why at this time when people know your struggling.Idk why people would want to hurt someone that's already hurt.so I'm putting my big girl panties and get through this I won't throw three and a half yrs of sobriety away.over anyone or anything and believe I've had the thoughts.I worked to hard to get to were I am today I'm human I feel I'm no one's robot they can turn on and off when they want.
I wish everyone a merry Xmas I will be celebrating the birth of Christ I don't care about getting anything but gods peace for him to give me the strethgh to do his will.lord once again I surrender myself to thee.
God bless
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January News Letter
Wow hard to believe another year has gone by!
2017 saw us at CPC Training Solutions go from strength to strength which enabled us to introduce many new training solutions to individuals and companies. Our new online transport managers course has proved to be very popular and hope to continue with helping candidates succeed with the OCR examinations to enable them to qualify to become transport managers in their own right
We are proud to announce that we have signed the armed forces covenant and will be offering discounts on all our training courses for ex personnel
Voting time is here again. We came highly recommended in the top 100 businesses 2017 from the Best of Walsall awards and won a gold standard award for customer satisfaction and hope to do so again this year
2018 has already seen us take many training courses out into the local community and this will mean we will be involved with after hours clubs for schools teaching first aid to young people, as well as courses for local charities in the local area.
Owing to the increased interest in our training courses we have now opened two new classrooms to cater for the demand at our main office in Oldbury
Quick reminder to coach companies that many of their drivers CPC Qualification cards are due to run out on the 9th Sept this year.
Should you require to book places please phone Donna on 0121 552 6806 and she will be happy to help you


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Oakland, Berkeley, And East Bay News, Events, Restaurants, Music, & Arts
Page 2 of 2
Do you think you're going to get all of these things for Christmas?
"Probably not, but I might get a couple."
What are your top items?
"Probably the two video games and clay."
Those are your main priorities?
"Those are my main priorities."
(Full disclosure: Tony Richards is my nephew.)
"I would like for Christmas, I really like Nintendo Switch games so I'll take Super Mario Odyssey, and also I'd like some LEGOs."
What kind? "I like Batman. I'm also very into baseball, so you should get me baseball stuff, and I'm also into electronics, so get me electronics if you want."
What kind of electronics?
"I'm kind of into iMacs and computers. And I'm also into buildings so building blocks. I'm also into slime."
Where do you get slime?
"I have no idea. I have two more things I want: I also want remote-controlled cars and those big cars that you can get inside and drive."
That's a lot of stuff. Do you think you're going to get all of that stuff for Christmas?
"Yes, I think so."
You think all of that is going to fit into Santa's sleigh?
Really? What if it doesn't? What if you could only ask for one thing?
"Top of the list is the iMacs, like the computer."
Do they even make iMacs anymore?
"I don't know. But I do like computers."
What would you do with it?
"I would basically type in my codes and do games and stuff. I can create my own games and play my own games."
What's one thing you definitely don't want for Christmas?
"Of course, baby toys."
Taylor: "I would like a teal KitchenAid mixer, baking supplies, fondant, gum paste, hm... what else? I think that's it."
Jayla: "This is what I'd like for Christmas: An iPhone 8 plus gold 256 gigabytes, Maverick gray slim-fit marled joggers, Jake Paul It's Everyday Bro Hoodie, Comfort Spaces: gray comforter and fake fur pink and cream pillow, and gray pillow slips, so a new bed set."
How did you decide you wanted these things?
Jayla: "For the iPhone, it's 2017 and I'm in middle school. I need a phone."
Taylor: "Can I add something to my Christmas list?"
Taylor: "I know it might be illegal to have these in California but I would like a go-kart."
Jayla: "I thought you were going to say hedgehog."
Taylor: "Oh yeah, and a hedgehog... I would name it Reggie."
Why do you want that?
Taylor: "'Cause they're cute, and I want to show that I'm responsible, and I have a love for hedgehogs."
Why do you love hedgehogs so much?
Taylor: "Oh! Because I know that they're endangered and since I lived in Atlanta, it was very woodsy ... I fell in love with animals. So, I like deer, and since we lived in the South I was okay being around bugs and being around animals because here it's like, 'Oh no, we don't do bugs, we don't do animals, we don't do mud.' But I do mud.... And I would love to protect hedgehogs because I know they're endangered. I remember I wrote a letter to the governor of California."
What'd you say?
Taylor: "I talked to him about this issue: We're not really allowed to buy hedgehogs here, but you can have one here, because of endangering issues because what if someone wants to drop them off in the wild? It's not safe because we have bobcats here. But I think we should form some sort of team that can rescue hedgehogs and care for them and find them good habitat where they won't get eaten."
Anything you want to add?
Jayla: "Yes. Also, there are YouTubers nowadays, vloggers, named Jake Paul and Logan Paul. There are two different groups of the YouTube channel thing. ... So, I would like to have merch because middle-school now, the trend is merchandise."
Taylor: "Like Liza Koshy and David Dobrik. They have a cute hoodie that I really want, it says 'Clickbait.' And then the Maverick hoodie, I want it bad."
Jayla: "It's in [Logan Paul's] music video, 'Help Me Help You.' You can also find his merch on LoganPaul.com/shop."
Why is merch so big?
Jayla: "It shows your love for the YouTubers."
Taylor: "And giving them support basically."
Jayla: "It's a movement."
Taylor: "Yeah, it's a movement. Like the logangsters [Logan Paul's fans], Logan Paul basically wants you to not be afraid of going at it."
Jayla: "Being a maverick. Maverick Enterprise."
Taylor: "Basically doing what you want to do — well, without getting into trouble — trying to accomplish your goals, and if you have a dream, go for it and don't let anything stop you."
Contact the author of this piece, send a letter to the editor, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.
The Best Bars for Reuniting Your Crew


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19 April 2018
Advanced ticket sales to The National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs' (NFYFC) Annual Convention in Blackpool are the highest recorded in the last decade, and organisers are anticipating a record number of young farmers to flock to the seaside town this May.
More than 5,700 tickets have already been sold to the annual event, which will be held at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool from 4-6 May for the 24th time, and organisers are predicting more sales on the doors over the weekend. Tickets are no longer available to be purchased in advance and members can now only buy a wristband on the door during registration times at the Winter Gardens.
A record number of YFC members attended the Convention in Blackpool in 2016 with 6,000 young farmers enjoying a weekend of entertainment, competitions and debate. It is now anticipated that this year's event will be even bigger after impressive sales of the early-bird packages.
The flagship event has attracted sponsorship from leading industry organisations, including KUHN Farm Machinery UK, Isuzu and Massey Ferguson.
Farming Today presenter and NFYFC President Charlotte Smith will chair the 86th Annual General Meeting during the weekend. Smith will also facilitate at the AGRI Big Ideas Brunch on the Saturday, where three leading entrepreneurs will impart their advice on establishing a successful future career in the industry.
As well as national competition finals for Pantomime performances, Senior Member of the Year, Jump Rope and Disco Dancing, there are also guest DJs entertaining young farmers in the evening.
Weekend highlights include:
The increase in numbers of members attending the Convention is also good news for a local charity as a donation from every ticket sale will be given to the Lancashire Air Ambulance.
This year, more than 100 Young Farmers are planning to cycle or walk a combined total of nearly 1,000 miles to get to Blackpool – all in aid of raising money for causes close to their hearts. YFC members from Essex, Leicestershire, Staffordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Cornwall and Pembrokeshire are all training for their challenges, which should see them raise more than £10,000 for local causes.
NFYFC Chairman of Council Lynsey Martin said: "It's great that so many YFC members are attending our Annual Convention weekend. It's the highlight of the YFC calendar and a chance for many of our members, who live and work in isolated rural communities, to unite with friends from across England and Wales.
"The weekend is growing in popularity every year and it's due to the range of activities on offer for members across the three days. It's also a chance to acknowledge all of the amazing fundraising work our YFCs do throughout the year to support not only our members but also our rural communities.
"We have built strong working relationships with the police, the local authority and businesses in Blackpool to make sure this year's event is entertaining and safe for young farmers and local residents. Our members really enjoy visiting Blackpool and all it has to offer."
The Annual Convention starts at 1pm on Friday 4 May and closes on the evening of Sunday 6 May 2018.
For more information and to see the full programme of activity about NFYFC's Annual Convention, visit www.yfcconvention.org.uk.
08 April 2018
Members of the National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs (NFYFC) will discuss their hopes and fears for a rural future post-Brexit with Farming Today presenter and NFYFC President Charlotte Smith at the organisation's AGRI Brunch in Blackpool on 5 May.
Joining Charlotte will be a panel of industry stalwarts who have enjoyed successful agri careers. They will offer critical advice to the next generation of farmers on diversifying businesses and tackling the challenges ahead.
The event, called the Big Ideas Brunch, which is sponsored by Kuhn Farm Machinery UK and supported by Defra, will be held on Saturday 5 May in the Pavilion Theatre at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool from 10.30am.
The AGRI Brunch is an important part of the Annual Convention weekend for YFC members and representatives from the agricultural and rural industries. This year's discussion will highlight any concerns that young people are having about working in the industry now that Brexit negotiations are underway.
The panel includes Rob Boole, agronomist, owner of Boole crop specialists and founder of Greenway Training, Sir John Campbell, founder of the multi-million pound business Glenrath Farms and Chris Cardell, a Cornish tenant farmer.
NFYFC President Charlotte Smith, who will be facilitating the session at the Winter Gardens, said: "NFYFC's AGRI Brunch is a great opportunity for young farmers to get a load of insider advice from people who have been there, done it and succeeded!
"NFYFC's panelists will offer crucial advice about developing businesses and embracing change. I can't wait to hear their stories and learn how they have managed their careers."
The AGRI Brunch is organised by NFYFC's Agricultural and Rural Issues (AGRI) Steering Group and a new topic is chosen annually.
AGRI Chairman James Hutchinson, from Wiltshire Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs, said it was important to give young farmers the opportunity to discuss their rural futures with experts who had achieved plenty in the industry.
James Hutchinson said: "There's never been a greater need for a highly-skilled and efficient workforce to keep the countryside thriving, producing great quality food, sustainable tourism and natural habitats - and boosting brand Britain!
"Any YFC members who are into technology and training, food, farming and the countryside should join us for this event to share their views and questions about their rural future. Our panel of experts are a great example of what can be achieved in this vast industry and we hope that everyone will be inspired by their ideas and wisdom."
Kuhn Farm Machinery also sponsor the AGRI Steering Group as well as the AGRI Brunch event.
Siân Pritchard, Managing Director at Kuhn Farm Machinery (UK), said: "As an active supporter and sponsor of the NFYFC Agri and Rural Steering Group, the Big Ideas Brunch is understandably one of the highlights in KUHN's year with NFYFC. It's the perfect platform for young farmers to learn from industry leaders, but also gives them an opportunity to share their point of view on today's post-Brexit environment. We look forward to a lively discussion!"
The AGRI Brunch starts at 10.30am with free bacon rolls and a chance to network with young farmers and industry exhibitors before the debate begins at 11am.
Follow the discussion on Twitter using #yfcagribrunch. To find out more about the event and to see biographies of the panelists, visit the Convention website.
03 April 2018
A huge charity fundraiser is being organised in Lincolnshire after news that its County Chairman Matt Denby needs a kidney transplant.
YFCs in the County are helping to support Matt by selling hundreds of tickets to a dinner and dance on 21 April at Lincolnshire County Showground – and some YFC members have even offered to give him their kidney as Matt searches for a potential match!
Matt's father and uncle are currently undergoing tests to see if either will be a good match but Matt says he's had at least five serious offers from Young Farmers too.
"I'm not at a critical stage of total kidney failure or needing dialysis yet," said Matt who will need a transplant in the next couple of months. "The plan is to hopefully have the transplant from a living donor before I need dialysis."
Matt's failing kidney function made him want to use his YFC connections to raise money for Kidney Research UK. He is now organising the dinner and dance with an aim of raising £15,000 through a raffle and auction that includes a three-day holiday on a private yacht and a bottle of whisky signed by the Prime Minister Theresa May MP among the auction lots.
Matt said: "I quickly realised I would never have such an opportunity again in my lifetime to have the potential to raise as much money as hosting a Charity Ball as the Chairman of Lincolnshire FYFC, with all the communication methods and connections being County Chair brings.
"My personal circumstances triggered the idea of hosting the fundraiser for the great work Kidney Research UK do to increase organ donations and the research and development to cure kidney disease."
Since Matt became Lincolnshire's Chairman, he has been focused on raising awareness of the fundraising work all of the YFCs in the County do for a range of charities. He introduced a County Cup for the most charitable club and the YFCs are taking on the challenge to raise as much money as possible through events and activities.
And the local YFCs have certainly be doing all they can to support Matt's event too with more than 700 tickets currently sold - and Matt's expecting 1,000 by the booking deadline.
County treasurer and Wragby YFC Chairman Alex Olivant completed the #RunForResearch by running a mile each day in January and raised almost £500, the president of the newly reformed Laceby YFC is running the marathon for kidney research and a local Open Farm Sunday is raising money for the charity with YFC helping with games, tombolas, tractor trailer rides and the bar.
"I would like to thank everyone who has kindly donated raffle prizes and auction lots," added Matt. "Without their generosity the event wouldn't have the capability of raising anywhere near as much money."
Anyone interested in buying tickets should contact Lincolnshire FYFC by Saturday 7 April or you can donate to Matt's fundraiser here.
Designed by Kevyn Williams


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SSAA NSW welcomes Jai Rowell as new ED & CEO
The Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (NSW) Inc. (SSAA NSW) today confirmed the appointment of long-standing Member for Wollondilly and former NSW Government Minister, Jai Rowell, as its incoming Executive Director & Chief Executive Officer.
Mr Rowell announced in February he would retire from a long career in politics after having served first in local government and then State Parliament.
SSAA NSW President, Lance Miller said Mr Rowell was the standout candidate from an excellent field of applicants.
'On behalf of the SSAA NSW Board, employees and volunteers, I congratulate Jai on his appointment and welcome him to our Executive Team,' Mr Miller said.
'Jai comes to the role with a wealth of experience in government at all levels and a proven ability to shape policymaking and the development of sensible and effective legislation.
'He has a solid grounding in the key issues of importance to our members having lived in and represented a semi-rural electorate with more than 3,300 registered firearm owners and around 1,000 SSAA NSW members.
'Jai also has an excellent record of getting results as an advocate for his constituents, as demonstrated by his ability to consistently secure funding for new infrastructure and services across a range of areas including health, education, civil works, law and order, roads and sports and recreational facilities.
'We look forward to Jai building on the great platform that outgoing Executive Director Ms Diana Melham has laid and providing strong leadership to everyone connected with the organisation at an important time in our evolution.'
In addition to representing his electorate of Wollondilly, Mr Rowell has held several prominent roles during his time in NSW Parliament, including:
• Assistant Minister for Health
• Minister for Mental Health
• Special Advisor to the NSW Premier and the NSW Government on Science, Industry and Innovation
• Government Whip
• Chair and / or Member of several Committees including the Legislative Assembly Committee on Law and Safety, the Committee on Investment, Industry and Regional Development, the Committee on Planning and Environment, the Committee on Electoral Matters, and the Committee on Parliamentary Privileges and Ethics.
Prior to becoming a member of the NSW Legislative Assembly, Mr Rowell was a Campbelltown City Councillor for 8 years and a political advisor and later a Chief of Staff in the Federal Government. He also completed a law degree at the University of Western Sydney.
Mr Rowell said, 'I'm delighted with the opportunity to lead the SSAA NSW and look forward to getting on with the job of delivering results for its 55,000 members, many of whom contribute their time and energy as volunteers.'
'Sporting shooters are a significant group in the NSW community and there is a need to ensure they are well catered for in areas such as access to ranges and facilities, ongoing training and education, and sensible regulations.
'In my limited spare time, I have enjoyed shooting at ranges within my region. A big highlight for me was opening the 2013 World Benchrest Championships at the Silverdale Rifle Range. As a licenced firearm holder myself and in my new role, I look forward to spending more time at our ranges and getting involved in all of our disciplines.
'2019 is going to be a great year for the SSAA NSW. I look forward to starting work, getting out and meeting as many members as possible and listening to how we can strengthen the SSAA NSW.'
After more than eight years as SSAA NSW Executive Director, Ms Diana Melham announced earlier this year her intention to leave the organisation she has led with distinction.
'I wish SSAA NSW and all of our members and volunteers all the best into the future.'
The April 2020 Edition of the NSW Shooter is now online
To view previous editions