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Lenny King and Nick Archer rescued thirty boys in the house the FBI raided, then they rescued another thirty boys in a truck and finally discovered Ethan thanks to the help of one of the boys rescued.
Three boys joined the Home after their mother died of cancer. Their grandfather donated horses to the Home, one hundred of them. Each boy at the Home was given a horse to take care of.
Several days had passed since the Home officially opened. There were ninety-nine boys residing in the dorms. Patrick was back to sleeping in his own bed with Jake sleeping beside him on most days. It was seven o'clock and the doorbell rang; Patrick went to answer it. There stood a man that he had never seen. "Can I help you?"
"I'm here to see my son, Zac Schoen," the man said.
"Sorry, you have the Bolt residence. I don't know any Zac Schoen."
Zac had come to see who was at the door, "What are you doing here?"
"I'm your father, what do you think I'm doing? Tomorrow is your birthday."
Patrick looked confused, "I thought Grandpa Vince was your dad."
"He is," Zac glared. "This man took off when I was your age, never paid child support until Dad gave him the money so he would sign papers, so I could be adopted, and he could stay out of jail." Zac turned to the man, "Louis, you may have donated the seed for me to be born, but you are NOT my father. When you lived with Mom and me, you never did one damn thing with me. And since you left, this is the first time you've made any kind of contact."
"And that's my fault, I know. I regret every bit of that."
"Then what took you so long? I feel like you are here wanting something."
Louis looked down, "I was hoping…" As Louis paused, Zac looked at his birth father, hoping for the best but expecting the worst. "I was hoping that I could borrow some money. I only need a thousand dollars and you have this nice ranch, and…"
Zac interrupted him, "HELL NO!!! You come back into my life after all this time JUST to ask for money?"
"What do you need it for?" Patrick inquired.
"No, Patrick, I won't let you give him any money. You may need it someday and once you give it to this man, it will be gone."
"The boy has that kind of money?" Louis questioned. "I will tell you what I need it for, kid… gambling debts. If I don't pay today, DiMarco is going to break my legs."
"Then you better get a wheel chair," Zac spoke coldly.
Patrick looked sympathetic but said, "You shouldn't bet what you don't have. Papa is right, even though I do have that much saved, I can't give it to you, not for that."
"I always knew you were worthless. I wish Marilyn would have aborted you like I told her to do."
"You've said enough, get off my property or I will call Dad, he's Head of Security for the ranch. Or I may call my father-in-law, the Sheriff. If I ever see you on this property again, I will have you arrested." Zac closed the door.
Patrick watched as the man got in his truck. He didn't leave right away but drove through the corral. Fortunately, no horses were in it at the time. Zac called Nick, then Vince and finally the insurance company.
"I'm glad you're nothing like him," Patrick commented.
Zac smiled, thinking, That's the nicest thing you could have said.
On the morning of the sixteenth, Patrick rushed out of his room. Today was Papa's birthday and he wanted to hurry and wish him a happy birthday. As he ran out into the hall, he bumped a black stallion statue. The statue started to fall so instinctively, Patrick went to grab it. He managed to get ahold of the leg, which snapped off in his hand.
Jim and Zac were in the kitchen making breakfast when Patrick walked in. Patrick looked as if he were nervous and said, "Dad, Papa, I have something to tell you, but I am afraid you will get mad."
Jim looked at Patrick and stated, "First, thank you for coming to us, and second, never let fear keep you from telling us anything. If you've done something wrong and we discover it before you tell us, we will be more upset than if you tell us right away. Do you understand?"
"Yes sir, I do," Patrick's tension eased a little, but he was obviously still nervous. "You know that statue in the hallway upstairs?"
Zac questioned, "The black stallion?"
"Yeah, well as I was coming out of my room, I must have come out too fast. I ran into it and it started to fall. I tried to catch it, and almost had it, but then the leg broke off."
"It wasn't intentional?" Zac inquired, knowing full well that Patrick wouldn't have done it on purpose.
"Oh, no Sir. I promise, it was an accident."
Jim questioned, "Do you think it can be fixed?"
"Maybe, but I don't know if it'll look right."
"Well, thank you for your honesty," Zac replied, then asked, "What do you think a fair punishment should be?"
Patrick started to cry, "I don't know, I would just replace it, but I don't know how much it costs, and I didn't work while Trevor was here, so I won't get a paycheck until next week. I do have some in my bank."
Jim put a hand on Patrick's shoulder, "It was an accident; why don't you see if you can fix it. And if it doesn't look right, you can replace it, but I don't want you using the money in your bank."
"But I just said that I won't get a paycheck this week," Patrick continued sobbing.
"But you did keep an eye on Jake while you were camping; we can give you an allowance this time for that," Zac offered. "Besides, we know you have money in your bank."
"How much will a new statue cost?"
Jim responded, "That statue was $89.95, and you watched Jake for four days while you were camping. We'll give you a hundred dollars"
"Thanks, Dad," Patrick offered while giving Jim a hug, then he turned to Zac, "Thanks, Papa."
"Again, thank you for telling us right away. We love you."
"I know, and that helped make telling you easier."
Next, they heard a crash and Jake saying, "Uh oh."
Zac chuckled, "Maybe that wasn't the best spot for that statue. Dad and I will replace it this time, and still give you the allowance. Just be careful in the future." Jim ran up to check on Jake.
Patrick looked at Zac, "With breaking the statue, I almost forgot why I was rushing out of my room. Happy Birthday, Papa."
"Come here so I can give you birthday spankings," Zac teased.
Patrick smiled and shook his head, "No way, I'm supposed to give YOU birthday spankings."
"Oh," Zac chuckled, "is THAT how it's supposed to work."
Jim returned with Jake, "That statue is gone."
"With how it sounded, I had a feeling."
Jake started to cry, "I'm sorry."
"What did Daddy tell you?" Jim asked.
"That Patrick ran into it, too, and you know it was an accident."
Zac told Jake, "The fact that you care makes me feel good, but don't let it upset you."
"Okay Papa, and happy birthday."
Jim looked at Patrick, "Do you know what else today is?"
Patrick looked thoughtful and almost said "no." Then he realized, "It was Papa's birthday when I moved in with you last year."
"Yup, you've been living with us for a year."
"It's hard to believe that my parents died a year ago yesterday," Patrick lamented.
"You want to go to the cemetery?" Jim asked.
Patrick shook his head, "They're not there, that was just a shell they used. I talk to them in my heart all the time."
"Still, sometimes it helps to go to their gravesite. I went to my dad's once a week when we lived in Montana."
"Thanks for asking, but I feel their presence with me and they are happy for me," Patrick offered. "Besides, if I go to the cemetery, I might break down."
"If that is the case, maybe you need to go. I admit, when I saw Dad's tombstone, I cried every time. Even today, I still miss my dad," Jim had tears forming.
Patrick inquired, "Would taking me to the cemetery help you?"
"It might," Jim responded.
"Then, can we go after breakfast?"
"Not right away, we need to take care of the horses and then we can go."
That was one thing the hands at the ranch always admired. Jim and Chris helped every day with the horses even though they were part owners. Zac helps occasionally, but not as much as Jim and Chris. Jackson checked up on them and helped when needed, but again, not like Jim and Chris.
As the boys were sitting down to breakfast, Jake looked at a plate that had a few bacon crumbs on it. "Where's the bacon?" he asked.
Zac teased, "Patrick, did you eat it?"
"No, you must have, but it is your birthday, so I guess it's allowed," Patrick answered.
Jake started to pout until Jim brought over a plate full of bacon. "We were just playing a trick on you, Jake."
"Mean trick," Jake giggled.
Later in the day, Sebastian Hardin was dropped off. Zac looked at him, "I thought you had three more months before you got out."
"I did, but thanks to overcrowding and good behavior, I was let out early. I was told to come here right away to get on the payroll," Sebastian answered.
Zac smiled, "If you would like to come in the office to fill out your paperwork, we can start you working tomorrow."
"Cool, that will give me time to find a place to live after."
"I have a place in mind if you would like," Jim suggested.
Sebastian turned his head, "Not with you, I hope."
"No, Sebastian, you would live alone, but the property is owned by a boy in the Boys' Home, so you would need to go through Joe."
Sebastian asked, "How much will the rent be?"
"Property tax averages out to $510 a month and I know Joe would like the boy to get a little extra to help cover normal wear and tear," Jim started.
Sebastian's eyes went big, "How big is the place? That's quite a bit for one person, and with utilities and having to repay Chris's medical bills, I may still be in debt when my probation is over."
"It was just a suggestion. I know the judge ordered twenty hours a week, but if you can work forty, you'll make enough to afford it. And the place has three bedrooms. If you know anyone that can share the rent with you…"
"I might," Sebastian stated, "but I would like to see the place before I commit."
"That sounds logical. Let me see if Joe will be able to take you after you are done here."
While Zac had Sebastian filling out his paperwork, Jim went to speak with Joe and Peter.
Joe went into the office. Part of him wanted to go off on Sebastian for shooting Chris but part of him understood about the boy being hurt by Wallace. That didn't excuse him, nor was Sebastian giving any excuses. He did take full responsibility.
"Jim said that $600 might be a little too much for you."
"But he also said that if I work forty hours instead of twenty, I would be able to swing it. And I could get a roommate or two."
"What if we drop the rent to $550 a month unless you get a roommate. If you get any roommates, it'll remain at $600. Any damage beyond normal wear and tear, you will be responsible for."
"That sounds fair. I appreciate you working with me on the rent. That's not much of a discount, but I can understand wanting to get at least enough to cover taxes and some extra for normal damages. When can I see the place?"
"Have you finished your paperwork?" Joe inquired.
"I have one more signature to write."
"Then as soon as you write your name, we can go over. Do you have a vehicle?"
Sebastian shook his head, "No, I was dropped off."
"Peter actually owns the place. He will be riding with me, you can too, if you would like.
When Joe let Sebastian into the house, the first thing he noticed was all the furniture. "Will all of this be staying, or will I need to buy some?"
Peter answered, "Everything you see will be staying unless you have your own furniture. Grandpa just took his television and his bed. He left the beds in the smaller rooms."
"Awesome, that will save me having to buy anything, well, other than a TV. And I won't be in a rush for that. And I can swipe one of the beds from another room for now."
"This was Grandpa's bedroom," Peter stated as he opened a door off the living room. "The other two bedrooms are upstairs."
"Two bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs?" Sebastian inquired.
"Two bathrooms. Each bedroom has its own."
Sebastian commented, "And it looks like a full bathroom through this bedroom."
"That is correct, plus you have a half bath off the kitchen," Peter grinned.
"Are the barns part of the property?"
"You can use them to park, or if you get any horses. Each barn has fifty stalls."
"I doubt I'll get THAT many horses. I'll be lucky if I get one."
Joe chuckled, "It'll surprise me if you don't."
"I really do like this place," Sebastian admitted, then he looked at Joe, "I know you must hate me or at least be mad at me for shooting one of your brothers, so why are you helping me?"
"Sebastian, we believed you when you said you didn't know the gun had a round in it. I saw your face and you were genuinely scared when it went off. Yes, you were doing a hate crime at the time, and we understand your reasoning for hating gays. It is our goal to prove to you that not all gays are like Wallace. We hope that you will see we are no different than you other than who we love. We hope to maybe be friends, nothing more."
"I believe you," Sebastian started to cry. "I would love to rent this home, but I won't have any money until I start getting paid."
Peter looked at Sebastian, "If it's alright with Joe, I'll let you stay here the rest of this month for free and then you can start paying the first of the month."
"It's your house; if you want to do that, we can sign a lease at the first."
Sebastian inquired, "What about a deposit?"
"You can make payments on it," Peter offered.
"I don't deserve this, and I am thankful. Joe, I hope you do earn my trust and we CAN be friends. Moreover, I hope I earn your trust. I did wrong by your family and know I have a long way to go."
"Probably not as long as you think. Do you need to go back to the ranch or someplace to get your stuff?"
"No, everything I own, I am wearing. Dad threw out anything I had when I went to jail."
"I'm sorry to hear that. If you need to go any place, just ask for a ride."
"Thanks again, Joe."
Wednesday, 17 August 2016
Sebastian started working at 6:00. Jim and Patrick were teaching him about caring for the horses. Sebastian was surprised when Jim started cracking jokes. Patrick looked at him and asked, "Have you ever seen the Catskill Mountains?"
"No, but I've seen them kill mice," Jim chuckled.
"Daaaaad," Patrick whined.
"You mean you were serious?"
"That's where Mr. and Mrs. Gavin took Scott."
"Who's Scott?" Sebastian asked.
Patrick got excited, "He's my boyfriend!"
"Oh," Sebastian turned serious. "So, were you gay before Jim adopted you?"
"As a matter of fact, I was. I didn't know it at the time, but I am gay, and it wasn't a choice," Patrick lectured. "I didn't turn gay any more than you turned straight."
"I never turned straight, I was born straight," Sebastian assured.
Patrick nodded and smiled, "Exactly. So, you are the one who shot Uncle Chris?"
Sebastian slowly nodded his head and tears started coming out of his eyes, "I wish I would have made sure the gun was empty, or better yet, not grabbed it at all. I was being totally stupid."
Patrick looked at him, "You were, and you seem too smart for that."
"Thanks, kid. I'm not sure everyone would agree with that."
"Sebastian, you are not stupid," Jim argued, "You made a stupid mistake, but you learned from it, right?"
"I see where you are going. I don't deserve this, but I see where you are going and thank you, fag."
"Will you stop calling Dad a fag? Yes, he is one, but how you say it sounds mean."
"It's alright, Patrick, Sebastian just hasn't gotten all the anger out from what Wallace did to him. If it helps, I can take it."
Sebastian looked at Jim in disbelief, "You are serious, aren't you?"
"Do I like you calling me a fag like that? No, but if it helps you, I am willing to take it. I do ask however, that you refrain whenever any of the boys from the Home are around."
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't call you that."
Around noon, Sebastian asked, "Do you mind if I take off my shirt? You have me working up a sweat."
"I don't mind, just don't think anything of it if I catch a few glances. Mind you, I will always be faithful to Zac, but I am still a red-blooded American gay boy and you do have a nice body. We take our shirts off all the time." As if to make a point, Jim removed his shirt. Sebastian didn't hesitate.
With the last of the stalls mucked and the horses all taken care of, Jim asked Sebastian what he knew about riding horses. "I grew up on a farm around horses," Sebastian claimed.
"Good, grab Psycho Mare and her saddle, then go to the cross ties."
"Who named her that? She seems like a good horse," Sebastian spouted.
"She is, or I wouldn't have you ride her for your first time of me seeing you ride. As for her name, her previous owner named her. I think he was trying to be funny."
Once Sebastian had Psycho Mare tied between the cross ties, he started brushing the mare. Patrick asked, "And why do we brush the horse before we ride?"
"Because we want her looking pretty," Sebastian joked, but then added, "no, seriously, we want to make sure no burrs get under the saddle. After I've brushed her, I need to check the saddle."
"I guess you do know something about horses," Patrick acknowledged.
"Being a hundred percent honest, I can't think of a time when I have ever lied. I won't say that I never had, but I don't recall ever lying, even to get out of trouble, so when I said I grew up on a farm, I meant it," Sebastian chimed.
Patrick was amazed, "Wow, I know I can't say that, but I don't purposefully lie."
"The thing about a lie is, you have to remember what you said and who you told. If you stick with the truth, you only have to remember what happened."
"I will say this about you, Sebastian," Jim started, "you have a good moral compass, at least in THAT aspect. Trying to force me to have sex with you, not so much, but thank you for sharing about having to remember lies."
"I know, I shouldn't have done that. I was being a stupid bully. The judge wanted me to think about my actions while I was in jail, and I did just that. Everything I've done just made you mad and hurt Chris. It didn't do anything for me except get me in trouble. My only true regret is, I started trying to bully you. If I hadn't, nothing else would have happened, Chris wouldn't have been shot, I wouldn't have gone to jail…"
"Okay, enough of that, let's put that behind us and move forward. You have a fresh new opportunity staring you in the face, I suggest you take it."
"Thanks, Jim." Patrick smiled when he heard Sebastian call his dad by his name instead of "fag."
Sebastian had just finished saddling the horse and was getting ready to mount when a man approached. Sebastian, introduced him, "Jim, this is my probation officer, Bill Zeigler. Bill, this is one of my new bosses. He's also the… the guy I tried to bully in school."
"I see you've learned to quit calling him a fag," the man noted, then he held out his hand to Jim, "Pleased to meet you, as Sebastian said, my name is Bill. If Sebastian gets out of hand, don't hesitate to call me."
"I don't think that will be necessary. We have a way to go, but I think Sebastian will be a great asset for the Ranch. Even after his probation is over, if he wants to stay on, I wouldn't have a problem," Jim shook Bill's hand. "Name is actually James, but I prefer Jim."
"Well, I was just making sure Sebastian was following the court order of coming here to work twenty hours a week."
"They supplied me with a place to stay and said I can get forty hours," Sebastian clarified. "I have my address written down and was hoping you would come out to check." Sebastian pulled out his wallet, then the slip of paper on which he wrote the address.
Bill took the paper, "Thank you, Sebastian. I'll be by sometime to check it out."
"It's just on the other side of this ranch in that direction," Jim pointed toward the house where Sebastian will be staying.
Bill left, and Sebastian asked, "Did you mean what you told Bill?"
"Wouldn't have said it if I didn't. I wish I would have seen this side of you when we were in school. Your life could have been so much different."
"I have a feeling, I'm going to like working here, even with you being gay."
"I'll like working with you, that is once you realize that gay or straight, it doesn't matter."
Sebastian grinned, "I am learning, I am learning."
"Good, now mount that horse and let's go for a ride."
As they approached the lake, Patrick asked, "Sebastian, you want to go swimming?"
"It sounds like fun, but I don't even own a swim suit."
"We normally don't wear any as long as no girls are around," Jim informed Sebastian, "but we do keep some in the cabin. If it'll make you feel more comfortable, all three of us can wear suits, and I'll let you keep the one you wear."
Sebastian didn't respond but looked thoughtful. Jim surmised that he must be considering it. Once they were at the lake, the horses went into the corral and their saddles were removed. Jim started toward the cabin and Sebastian finally spoke, "If you don't mind wearing a suit, I would appreciate it, at least for now. As I get more comfortable around you, maybe we can skinny-dip, but for now…"
"We totally understand. One thing about this ranch, we don't believe in forcing someone into doing something they are uncomfortable doing, unless it is work related."
"Come on, Sebastian, I will help you select the suit you want," Patrick offered.
It was getting late in the afternoon and Zac started wondering where Jim and Patrick were. He began walking toward the barn when they came riding in. "I hadn't heard anything from either of you and I started to worry."
Thinking Zac was referring to him, Sebastian responded, "I'm sorry, I was with Jim, so I didn't think anything of it."
"Relax, Sebastian. One thing you will learn about this ranch, as long as you get what you need to do done, we don't care how long or quick you are. If you get done quick and have time to go swimming, that's good."
"I hope you don't mind, but Jim gave me a pair of the trunks that were in the cabin. I didn't have any and…"
"That's cool, it's one of the reasons we keep trunks out there. Joe told me that everything you own is what you are wearing." Sebastian hung his head and nodded. Zac continued, "When you clock in tomorrow, we'll take you to Jake's Trading Post, so you can get some clothes. Jake will let you charge it as long as you are working at the Ranch."
"Your youngest son has a trading post?" Sebastian seemed confused.
Jim laughed, "No, this is Jake Shadetree. Counting our son, we actually know three Jakes, but one goes by Jacob."
"So… how much will I have to pay him out of each check?" Sebastian was trying to be careful with his money, especially with not being sure how much he will have.
Zac stated, "The ranch will pay the bill in full the first month, and then you can pay us back as you are able. I think it's smart of you asking that."
"What if I don't think I can pay anything for a while?" Sebastian asked.
Jim slapped his hand onto Sebastian's shoulder, "We'll cross that bridge when we get to it; if we get to it. Just relax, let us help you and don't worry."
At that time, Chris came riding to the corral. "Hey, Sebastian. I heard you got out early and started working here."
"Chris… I… umm… I am… umm… so sorry for shooting you. I never meant to hurt anyone?"
Chris looked at Sebastian, seriously looked at him, "So you keep saying. If you really mean that, quit mentioning it. I have already forgiven you. All that I ask of you is to leave it in the past, move on, do the work that needs to be done and enjoy the work we do."
Sebastian wiped a tear from his eye, "I can do that, thank you."
Zac informed Sebastian, "Okay, with Jim taking you to the lake, you put in a full day here, so if you want to head home, you may. Might I suggest using a horse, or one of us can give you a ride."
"Can I use Psycho Mare? She's a good horse."
Jim chuckled, "I had a feeling you would like her. If you head to the Home, go to the right of it and head north, that will take you home. If you want, Patrick can ride with you the first time."
"Do you want to ride with me, Patrick?"
"Sure, Sebastian, I would be happy to help you figure out the best way to get home."
Will and Peter Collins were talking at the Home. Will asked, "What do you know about the new guy at the Ranch? I think his name is Sebastian."
"He's going to be renting my place until I am old enough to live there. Why do you ask?"
Will responded, "I think he's cute, and I wouldn't mind dating him."
"Joe said that he's straight and very homophobic," Peter warned. "I heard that the deputy that was arrested last year had raped him when he was younger."
"In that case," Will was thinking, "I guess I will just be his friend, but if he does decide he wants to be with a guy, I wouldn't turn him down."
"Good luck with that," Peter chuckled.
"What about you?" Will asked, "Are you gay?"
"To be honest, I've never given it much thought. I mean, I haven't been with a guy or a girl, but I have seen a few of each that I would consider experimenting with."
"Whoever you decide to be with better consider themselves lucky," Will assured.
"I… I… I wouldn't mind experimenting with you," Peter nervously declared.
Will was taken aback… "Seriously? You think I'm cute?"
"Cute is only part of it, but yes, I think you are very cute. I also think you have a great personality and I feel like I can trust you."
Will smiled, "Okay, we can experiment together, but if you discover that you are straight, please let me know. I don't want to do anything if it feels uncomfortable to you."
"Can we kiss?" Peter asked.
Will put his arms around Peter and pulled him in for a hug. Then he leaned down and pressed his lips to Peter's. At first, the kiss was a bit sloppy, but once Peter figured out what to do, it became beautiful.
Joe and Maurice were cleaning up the cafeteria area after supper when a redheaded boy came walking in. Joe stopped what he was doing and walked up to the boy, "Can I help you?"
"Ummm… I need a place to sleep and was hoping you could help."
"What's your name? Why do you need a place to stay? What happened to your family and your home?"
"I'm Tom Harper; my dad was in the military and died in Iraq. Mom remarried two weeks ago, and today, my stepdad found out I am gay."
"Did he throw you out?" Joe inquired.
"No but… after supper… he came into my room, hugged me and kissed me."
"Okay, you mean like sexually?" Joe was clarifying.
"He stuck his tongue in my mouth, and then his hands caressed my rear. He told me that he loved me and wanted me. It creeped me out, so I got out of there. I'm not sure what to do."
"And he's your stepdad? How old is he?"
"He's closer to my age than Mom's. He's almost two years older than me."
"And you are?"
"I just turned seventeen on June third," Tom replied. "Ralph will be nineteen in October. Mom turned thirty-seven in March."
Joe was trying to wrap his head around all of this. He decided someone more qualified should handle it. "Tom, you are welcome to stay as long as necessary. Maurice, can you take Tom to one of the beds."
After Maurice took Tom to one of the beds, Joe called Nick.
Thursday, 18 August 2016
Tom was the first boy to show up for breakfast. Joe asked him, "How'd you sleep?"
"Well, I was surprised with how comfortable the bed was. I slept great."
"Good, Sheriff Archer would like to speak with you while you eat."
Reluctantly, Tom spoke with Nick and told him everything. He told Nick about the hugging and kissing. When he was done, Nick replied, "It sounds like he hasn't broken any laws yet but might have been on the verge of it. I'll go talk with him."
Tom started to cry, "You do that, you might break up Mom's marriage."
"He should have thought of that, but I need to let your mom and him know where you are and why," Nick stated.
"Do I have to go? I don't want to see him again and I'm afraid Mom will be pissed at me."
Slowly shaking his head, Nick replied, "No Tom, for now, stay here. After I've talked with your family, I will let you know what will happen."
Author's Note: You should NEVER try to bully anyone for any reason. If you think it makes you look superior to them, you are wrong. If someone is bullying you, don't bully back. As the saying goes, two wrongs don't make a right. You do have the right to defend yourself, but don't instigate anything. If you are still in school, let someone in authority know about it. If you are under the age of eighteen, let your parents know.
I hope you enjoy the story and that it draws you in, wanting more. If you have any suggestions or concerns, don't hesitate to email me. Thoughts and suggestions are always welcomed and may or may not be implemented. Concerns will be considered and addressed as much as possible.
Also, I have created a mailing list. If you would like to be added to it to be informed of new submissions, please contact me at Zarek A Dragon... Please let me know that you read it on The Story Lovers' Website.
If you would like to help make this ranch a reality, you may donate at the Another Chance GoFundMe Account.


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A new classic from a classic band…
Loudblast is the French institution of extreme metal. I know that since a friend of mine got the split album with Agressor "License to Thrash"… Since then the band has evolved from another good thrash metal band to a great death/thrash band with melodic hints… A use to say that if Netherlands has Pestilence as their forefathers, France has Loudblast!
A Bloody Oath, the opener shows extreme dexterity and complex compositions showcasing constant changing of tempos and right dosage of aggressiveness. This is highly technical, yet it contains a organic sound (without the overdone gimmicks of a super polished production), and this is what separates Loudblast from other bands: although they are an old band, their relevance is undisputed, and they are here to teach the new guys how a good thrash/death is done… Fucking ace!
Darkness Will Abide is even more destructive, and I, as an old headbanger, have goosebumps when I hear this one. It throws me back in the day with its plenty of good and high pitched soloing, and abrupt changes of phrases with lots of information… Well, it's sufficed to say that "technical" started somewhere in the past (and no it wasn't the great Suffocation who invented it)…
Soothing Torments is another great thrash metal number (or death metal, depending the angle you are), with great vocals, and a drumming which resounds as a chopper!!! Eventually the tempos change…
By the end of CD, mainly in the track The Void, the album seems to get another path, a melodic death metal one, and albeit this track is not bad, it sounds kinda anticlimactic given the nature and the gestalt of the whole opus, but for an acute ear, Burial Ground as a whole is a win-win situation.
Loudblast proves over again that their (sometimes underrated) importance is still active and they are the masters of their own game.
Burial Ground is out now on Listenable Records.
(Daniel Death)
Please, follow Dark Souls United on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DSUblog
Also you can communicate with us directly through Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/darksoulsunited

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Animal Health AdvisorSponsored by
The relationship between animal health professional and producer has never been more crucial, and this award will recognise their often unheralded contribution. Open to vets and SQPs of all disciplines the judges will be looking for clear tangible benefits you have provided in terms of productivity and welfare, and therefore profit. The winning candidate will be viewed as a key part of the farm management team and be capable of demonstrating a commitment to wider industry aims such as antibiotic usage reduction.


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Historically, Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise's Wi-Fi strategy has been to be an Aruba OEM. Given Aruba's high market share and strong technology, this makes sense because it gives Alcatel-Lucent a credible set of products to build a business around.
However, as is the case with all things in life, one size doesn't fit all, and Aruba's products, as good as they are, aren't for everyone. Aruba makes great technology, loaded with features, but they are a premium-price vendor and some customers have budget constraints.
The Alcatel-Lucent Stellar line of access points
To address this part of the market, last year Alcatel-Lucent introduced its own line of access points (AP) under the brand name "Stellar." These products are designed to be lower cost and easier to deploy.


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Large Forex brokers provide platform where money managers offer their PAMM (Percentage Allocation Management Module) to you. In short, PAMM is a Collective Fund meaning it's a Managed Account, or a sort of mini-version of a mutual fund for mainly Forex trading. You choose the specific PAMM account to generate profits for a predetermined commission.
- Safety – It's a collective fund but the trader can't withdraw your money but only trading in the broker, so your money is basically scam-free.
- Low Minimum – threshold of managed account with dedicated trader is very high like over $100,000 but PAMM may start with $100.
What's PAMM All About?
PAMM Overview
PAAM (Percentage Allocation Management Module) is actually a software application, which is primarily used by foreign exchange (Forex) brokers to allow their customers to attach cash to a particular trader managing one or more accounts, appointed on the base of restricted legal powers a.k.a. Power Of Attorney such as below image;
The PAMM solution enables the trader to handle infinite amounts of managed accounts concurrently on one trading platform. Each managed account has its own PAMM ratio, depending on the amount of the payment. The outcomes of trade activities (commerce, profit and loss) are assigned according to the proportion between the managed accounts.
How PAMM Works
A money manager trades on his PAMM account using his private assets ($300) as well as his investors ' funds ($100 from Client 1 / $60 from Client 2 / $40 from Client 3) in the below example. As said in the previous section, this money manager & 3 clients are contracted through the POA. The money manager can trade the clients' fund but can't withdraw it.
If the manager in the graph above continues to trade on his PAMM account using their private assets as well as their investors ' funds.The better their place in the rating outcomes from the trading of the manager.
The quantity of money on the PAMM account rises if the manager earns a profit and the profit is spread between the manager and the shareholders depending on the quantity of their original assets. If the profit produced 200% and the balance of the account had increased to $1,500 in our instance, the new fund balance for the manager & each client would be as below;
In compensation, the investors pay the manager some of their profit specified in POA. In this example, the compensation of the manager is 50% of the profit of the investor as below;
How To Find The Best PAMM Money Manager
to analyse all about PAMM including the methods to identify the Best PAMM account, Visit;
PAMM Investment Ultimate Guide – 7 Secrets To Find The Best Account
PAMM Account Provider
There are several PAMM account providers (mainly FX Brokers), some of them are;
Alpari Caution
Although Alpari collected the highest votes, Alpari (UK) Limited actually went into insolvency caused by the SNB (Swiss National Bank) & subsequent SAR (Special Administration Regime), the company's US NFA membership was revoked, preventing them from offering their services in the United States.
Alpari Research & Analysis Limited, which shows a London address though it provides only research and analysis and is not licensed to trade. However, accept any UK Trader (in fact I myself could register and trade freely), and they keep sending me the newsletter.
Whatever loophole they use, it's the fact that they are not licensed to trade in the UK and surely they are not regulated by FCA. In other words, the clients' money may not be segregated meaning your money may not be held entirely separately to the company's own funds. So if any bad thing happens, you have large risk of not recovering your money. Therefore, we strongly suggest you keep away from Alpari.
The Highest Score Forex PAMM Account Broker
Among the list, the PAMM account that achieved the highest score is FXOpen, being regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in UK. Means your money is segregated & basically safe. See further details of their PAMM account and they list PAMM Account Rating like below;
You may want to take advantage of FXOpen NDB (No Deposit Bonus), if you're interested.
Alternative Passive Tradings & Own Trading
Other 2 Passive Tradings
PAMM – Percentage Allocation Management Module is the 2nd of 3 Passive Trading, the others are;
If you are somehow sceptical about trading Forex PASSIVELY, then suggest you first read the below report;
【 3 Practical & Safe Ways To Succeed In Passive Forex Trading 】, which gives you better insight into how it works.
Forex Own Trading
For those who still would like to pursue self-trading, strongly suggest you go through:
These reports comprehensively explain how you can evolve Forex Trading successfully by using world top-class tools & the full list of them. It includes the introduction of Trading For A Living: Lucrative Trading Business, Travel the World And Work For Less Than 20h/week.
Good Luck!!
Joshua Walker (bio)
Editor – Global Extra Money (GEM)


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Lyca Productions decided to postpone 2.0 after being assured that Rajinikanth's Kaala Karikaalan would release on April 27 instead. Shankar is now working day and night to complete the final edit on the movie, but the makers are still remained tight-lipped about the new release date.
Recent reports suggested that the makers were planning to release 2.0 either on Independence Day or Diwali 2018. However, we can now exclusively tell you that the makers have decided to release 2.0 during Diwali 2018.
As a close source revealed to us exclusively, "The makers want to release 2.0 during Diwali, so they tried to discuss things with Aamir Khan as his movie – Thugs of Hindostan is scheduled to release on the same day. However, Aamir said a resounding no when they first approached him. The actor feels Diwali is the perfect time to release Thugs and hence, he is holding on to the date."
We are waiting for the actual release date of the Rajinikanth and Akshay Kumar's 2.0


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|Compatible and Organized. Equipment and cable management issues continue to lead the list of challenges for professionals installing rack-mountable electronics in small or enclosed spaces. VMP offers numerous solutions to help answer these concerns by providing easy-to-assemble rack products. Our offering of functional and compatible racks, shelves, brackets, mounts and accessories meet the challenges faced by such tight and component-laden low voltage installations.
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(CNN)Driving beyond South Africa's Limpopo province, into the village of Chivadini, people and grassland are scarce. But the oldest living organisms in Africa — baobab trees — are abundant.
These spectral behemoths blend into the Saharan countryside and have been an icon of the African savannah since millennia.
As the oldest seed producing trees in the world, their resilience — some are more than 2,000 years old — have earned them many names in myths, legends and folklore.
The baobab has been called the tree of life, the monkey bread tree and the upside down tree — owing to its fat trunk with roots meandering toward the sky.
But these strange looking giants are dying.
Some of the oldest and biggest baobab trees in southern Africa have died recently, and it may be due to climate change, according to a 2018 study published in the journal Nature Plants.
Some of the trees located in Zimbabwe, Namibia, South Africa, Botswana and Zambia dated back to the times of the ancient Greeks.
Baobabs have endured harsher conditions
Researchers found that nine of the oldest 13 baobab trees and five of the six biggest ones have partially or completely died in the past 12 years.
The baobab tree, can live to be 3,000 years old, and can grow as wide as the length of a bus and tower 20 meters above us, according to the website of Kruger National Park in South Africa.
Given their age, the trees have withstood conditions often harsher than what they faced today.
"Over the last 1,000 years in Southern Africa the baobabs have endured way worse droughts than we're enduring, and they've had much wetter periods," said Stephan Woodborne.
In Johannesburg, where he is senior scientist at iThemba labs, Woodborne uses accelerator mass spectrometry, a form of radiocarbon dating, to determine the ages of these trees.
"Of the oldest trees that we've looked at in Southern Africa, the three trees that are older than 2,000 years, in the last 10 years, they've all died. Of the 11 trees that are in that age 1,000 to 2,000 years, six of them have died," he said.
"When you look at the locations where these millennial and very large baobabs have died, they're all located in Southern Africa. It's not baobabs in general. It's only baobabs that are at the southern margin," said Woodborne.
"We suspect that the demise of monumental baobabs may be associated at least in part with significant modifications of climate conditions that affect southern Africa in particular. However, further research is necessary to support or refute this supposition," the authors of the 2018 report wrote.
Thousand-year-old tree comes crashing down
Baobabs often have hollow trunks. In the past humans have used their massive internal cavities as storage houses, prisons — even drinking dens.
For more than two decades, the Sunland baobab in South Africa was a popular attraction where tourists could order a glass of wine from a bar built inside the tree's more than 1,000-year-old hollow trunk.
That is until last year when the tree split, following earlier breaks in 2016.
"It was 4 o'clock in the morning and we all woke up thinking a jumbo jet had landed in the garden. A few minutes later, 10 minutes later, then the big crash happened," recalled Heather van Heerden, who owned the bar inside Sunland baobab and on whose farm the tree stood.
"When the tree collapsed, I just felt absolutely devastated and so sad, like a part of my soul had collapsed too."


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Fleet industry news 20 Jun 2019
Fleet managers 'forced' to rethink their European car policies
That's according to Thibault Alleyn, global consulting director at FleetVision, the fleet and mobility consultancy arm of TÜV SÜD Group and sister company to Fleet Logistics.
Fleet industry news 30 Oct 2018
Fleet managers must take a "proactive approach" to WLTP, says FleetVision
Fleet managers need to take a pro-active approach to vehicle selection following the introduction of the new Worldwide harmonized Light vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP) or face escalating fleet costs, warns FleetVision.
People news 27 Mar 2018
FleetVision strengthens consulting team with Alain Duez and Wim Buzzi
Alain Duez and Wim Buzzi bring a wealth of fleet management, change management and procurement knowledge to the business.
Fleet industry news 2 Aug 2017
TÜV SÜD Group reorganizes its fleet consultancy business
Fleet consultancy specialists TCOPlus and FleetVision have be absorbed into the Fleet Logistics Group, by owner TÜV SÜD.


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· Česky · English · Magyar · Tiếng Việt ·
Players with the quick specialty can feature in special events during a match.
- Quick forwards and wingers can generate a chance for their team by rushing past their defending opponent. If this defending opponent is also quick, or has sufficient defending skill they can stop this chance.
- Quick defenders and inner midfielders can negate an opponents quick forward or winger. They can not create chances themselves with their specialty.
All players with the quick specialty have a chance of losing scoring- and defending ability in the sun as well as in the rain. This affects forwards and defenders the most, but also midfielders with a high defending skill can be affected.
The following contents are based on the opinion of Hattrick users — which means that their veracity and accuracy have not been confirmed by any official statement, and consequently they do not necessarily reflect the game reality. Please take this into consideration!
Quick is generally regarded as one of the best specialties in the game, and forwards and wingers with this specialty command higher prices than those without the specialty.


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Mature birds tend to become secretion once a year within the spring, once the quantity of natural lightweight is longer than the quantity of darkness. Birds area unit "photosensitive," which means that area unit sensitive to lightweight and its cycles. Some birds don't show abundant modification once the spring comes, and others could become sullen, aggressive, remarkably loud and territorial.
and some hormones has an effect on reproductive migration stress
Some could lay eggs although there's no mate around, and a few can embark on to make a nest out of no matter it will realize.
read too: ten strange birds behavior
When your bird is behaving hormonally, it's vital to not handle the bird in an exceeding method that may be misconstrued as sexual behavior. This includes smooching down on the rear and inspiring regurgitation behavior.
If your bird is in an exceeding secretion part, take away something that may be viewed as a nest, together with all huts and boxes. Don't encourage nest building. If you do, the sole issue you'll wear your hands is associate degree aggressive bird that's bent on defensive its nest.
read too: how to read birds body language


text: HookEmHorns 401 Posted May 24 Report Share Posted May 24 Found this post for NOB. Thought it might offer something here. You decide for yourself. I saw on the NBC "news" tonight that IF they open the schools in the fall, there would only be 12 students per classroom and the buses would run at 1/8 the capacity. NOT BELIEVING EVERYTHING I HEAR, I did some research of my own to find out the number of coronavirus deaths there have been in each age group. The results I found were ridiculously LOW in the age group 0-24. (I'm a nerd--I made a spreadsheet.) The narrative that schools will have to be closed or operated very differently (social distancing, masks, online learning, etc.), is completely unjustified. Think about what FURTHER financial effects this would have on families where both parents work (and don't have jobs where they can work from home). Is one parent going to be forced to quit their job in order to transport their child to/from school during staggered hours/days AND in order to teach their children at home on a part-time basis? If both parents continue to work and the child(ren) go to daycare when they are not in school, how will they pay for such a large expense? If children receive free breakfast and lunch at school because of the family's low income, what is their risk of going hungry at home? If young students don't have the internet at home, will they be able to do their school work or will they have have to wait until their parent gets home to use their cell phone? What about sports? What about extra curricular activities? Life needs to return to NORMAL for all of us, especially for children and teens. Last but not least--WHY are they making this decision in MAY??!! (You can screenshot the photo if you would like to share.) #questioneverything #numbersthatjustdontaddup #falsenarrative #wewantourlivesback Quote Link to post Share on other sites


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Elnoka, the untold story
The Notice of Application for Elnoka, issued by the Department of Community Development on May 9, 2007, hit most Oakmont residents like a thunderbolt out of the clear blue sky. The document described a project of 295 units of apartments, condominiums and townhouses and a 5,000-square-foot shopping center to be located on 9.2 acres of a much larger parcel, designated for Age Restricted Planned Development, owned since 1992 by a Japanese company.
For years, neighbors of this property believed that an adult community akin to Oakmont would eventually be developed. The zoning APD was anchored in Santa Rosas 25-year General Plan. How could a change from low to medium density occur without anyone being notified?
To find out, I sat down with Wally Schilpp, co-chairman of the Oakmont Property and Development Committee, who has led the opposition to the proposed project for the past 3 years. According to him, the City of Santa Rosa in 2002 fell short of affordable housing units and was to be sued by the Housing Advocacy Group. In an astonishing move, the City Council asked the director of the Department of Community Development to choose 110 acres throughout the City for rezoning to higher density.
In a matter of two hours (!) the task was accomplished, and behind closed doors, without due process involving the Planning Commission, 20 parcels, including 13 acres at Elnoka, changed their designation with a Negative Declaration in the General Plan.
In 2005 Bill Gallaher, a well-known developer (he built 600 homes in Oakmont) purchased Elnoka from the Japanese, and submitted his building application after the statute of limitations for appeal to the zoning change ran out in 2007.
The battle for Elnoka began. At the first public hearing, it was noticed that one apartment building with 100 units was located outside the changed zoning. The developer withdrew the plans and re-submitted them a few months later, when it was pointed out that the City had not changed its zoning from that of the General Plan. Oakmont Senior Living LLC, Gallahers company, requested that the Planning Commission amend the City Plan. Rebuffed at first, the Commission was forced to reverse itself upon the order of the City Attorney.
In March of 2009, after further withdrawals of the project, the result of ongoing design and technical challenges, followed by new submissions, the Department of Community Development sent out notices of the tentative map, conditional use permit, density increase and design review.
At yet another hearing, opponents to the development demanded that an Environmental Impact Report be filed, which Gallaher considered unnecessary, since the zoning change, five years earlier, included a Negative Declaration, meaning that no adverse impact on the environment was found.
The opposition prevailed and on April 21, 2009, the City approved of the necessity of an EIR, due to a host of unresolved problems with the plan. Environmental Impact Reports are in-depth analyses of a projects impact on the environment, from buildings and view corridors, to noise and air quality, to traffic impacts, geology and cultural resources. Where difficulties arise, mitigation measures must be carefully thought out and explained in the document.
To the opponents of the projects, the substantial increase in traffic on Highway 12, among other considerations, remains a major concern. First rejected and then included is the addition of a traffic light, just a few hundred feet from an existing one at Melita Road. The size of the main apartment building, six stories high, is wholly incompatible with the neighborhoods. The main objection by the opposition lies, therefore, with the failure to address the EIR Section H-A-4 of the General Plan which stipulates that the goal of meeting Santa Rosas housing needs, through increased density should be consistent with the preservation of existing neighborhoods, and developments must be designed in context with existing surroundings.
The Elnoka parcel manifestly contradicts this policy, and the fact that the change took place in 2002 in violation of planning procedures, combined with the failure by the City to address this inconsistency of zoning with the General Plan, as required, will be the basis of the appeal to the City Council, now that the Planning Commission has certified the Final EIR.
Wally Schilpp who has worked tirelessly for years on Elnoka, appears optimistic that the City Council will deem the Final Environmental Impact Report incomplete, and will take action to eventually re-establish the former zoning of Adult Planned Development, thereby paving the way for a project in closer harmony with its surroundings and neighborhoods.
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Aaron Danzig is a patient of Arkham Asylum. He was turned into a murderer by Jack Gruber's electrical experiment and escaped with him during a prison riot.
Originally a docile inmate at Arkham Asylum, Aaron was an unfortunate victim of fellow Arkhamite Jack Buchinsky's quest to create a perfect henchmen through the use of crude electrical lobotomies. Unlike Buckinsky's other victims, Danzig lobotomy was successful, leaving him open to suggestion and extremely aggressive. Telling his new partner to kill the guards, Danzig and Buchinsky escape Arkham together.[1]
Danzig followed Buchinsky, now being called "the Electrocutioner" by the press because of his electric-based weapons of choice, as Jack attempted to get revenge on the criminals that had turned their backs on him, causing the Electrocutioner to get arrested in the first place.
When Buchinsky's attempt on Sal Maroni's life was thwarted by James Gordon, Danzig was captured along with the Electrocutioner and sent back to Arkham.[2]
Season 1
- Press-releases and IMDb pages of episodes originally suggested Aaron Danzig to be Aaron Helzinger. It was probably so on the early stages of writing and maybe even filming (as surnames "Danzig" and "Helzinger" are very similar and could be dubbed and lip-synced in already filmed sequences with relative ease), but was likely abandoned and changed the last moment, as Aaron Helzinger was largely written into first episodes of Season 2.
- As such, the Gotham Season 2 Red Band Trailer shows footage of Aaron Danzig from the episode "Rogues' Gallery" to show Aaron Helzinger's past.[3]
- ↑ Chung, Sue (writer) & Scott, Oz (director) (January 5, 2015). "Rogues' Gallery". Gotham. Season 1. Episode 11. FOX.
- ↑ Edlund, Ben (writer) & Egilsson, Eagle (director) (January 19, 2015). "What The Little Bird Told Him". Gotham. Season 1. Episode 12. FOX.
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxXJ9lsKMYQ


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Image: i-Images/Andrew Parsons for Action Against Hunger
Children play near the camp for internally displaced people in the centre of Bhaktapur, 6 months on from when the earthquake struck.
A special video to thank you for supporting our Nepal emergency appeal
Thanks to your support, we've reached thousands of people in Nepal since the first earthquake struck
Oct 27 2015
In the Independent on Sunday: Six months on from the earthquakes that devastated Nepal, its people's famed resilience is being tested once again, with 60,000 in camps unsuitable for the coming winter and others living amid rubble while political infighting delays reconstruction (by Karen Attwood). Read more in the @IndyonSunday
On Saturday, April 25th, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake devastated Nepal. It hit the country and its people hard, in urban and rural communities alike. On May 12th, another powerful magnitude 7.3 quake hit the country.
Our teams have been active in Nepal for nearly a decade. We were on the ground when the earthquakes struck, which allowed us to quickly mobilise our emergency response.
Six months on, we'd like to thank you for helping us save lives and rebuild livelihoods in Nepal.
Thank you
Image: i-Images/Andrew Parsons for Action Against Hunger


text:
Angie's List Answers is the trusted spot to ask home improvement and health questions and get answers from service companies, health providers and consumers. For ratings and reviews on companies in your area, search Angie's List.
*Updates every 4 hours
POH stands for Pages of Happiness--a section of the Angie's List Magazine where we feature companies who've done great work for our members.
Answered 8 years ago
by Cas
Report It


text:
diy project: rubber lace coasters
the other day i was walking through my local hardware store looking for fun new materials, and as usual i was not disappointed; in the contact paper aisle i found these awesome rolls of grip drawer lining made of foam rubber! the material is non-adhesive and easy to cut with scissors, but the best thing is that you can easily wipe it clean with a damp cloth, making it a perfect material for coasters or place mats. these are quick to make and super inexpensive, especially if you already own a craft punch. if you don't want to make this design, or if you want to do a place mat instead, you can really cut these into any kind if silhouette or shape you want using scissors or a craft knife for a clean cut. have fun! –kate
CLICK HERE for the full how-to after the jump!
1. scissors
2. cutting mat
3. grip drawer liner (this is found with other contact paper and drawer lining products in hardware stores)
4. craft hole paper punch (this allows you to punch holes anywhere on a sheet of paper. it usually comes with three size tips for making small, medium, and large holes)
5. hammer
roll of grip liner: $5
hole punch: $6
1 hour
1. find something circular to trace that is a good coaster size. unroll your grip liner sheet and trace the circle shape on the backside of the material.
2. find something circular with a smaller circumference and center it inside the bigger circle. trace this on the back as well.
3. using the small circle as a guide, punch 8 large holes, spaced evenly along the circle's circumference. to punch the holes, place the punch down on the surface of the materials and tap it firmly with the hammer. lift up to see a clean hole. if the materials did not come off completely, place the punch down in the exact same place and tap harder with the hammer.
4. punch 5 medium size holes evenly spaced around each large hole, like petals of a flower.
5. punch two small holes on either side of each "flower" you just punched, along the line of the circle you traced.
6. now you can add holes of various sizes anywhere you'd like. you can also vary this pattern to create different lace patterns.
7. use your scissors to cut out the large circle shape. if you want petal shaped edges, then cut around the flowers you punched, leaving about 1/2 inch of space between the flowers and the edge.
8. repeat all steps three more times to get four matching coasters (or make each coaster different).


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KXIP vs RR 38th IPL Match of Indian Premier League, 2018 will play on 3rd may, 2018 at Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore. At cricbettingtip.com you will get KXIP vs RR 38th IPL Betting Tips and IPL match prediction. Visit regularly here to get IPL betting tips online, cricket match prediction, cricket betting tips and ipl betting tips.
KXIP vs RR 38th IPL Betting Tips
Winner Team – In Paid Service
Venue Scoring Pattern
Average 1st Inns scores 156
Average 2nd Inns scores 158
Highest total 199/2 (15.3 Ov) by MI vs KXIP
Lowest total 97/10 (18.3 Ov) by RR vs KTK
Highest score chased 199/2 (15.3 Ov) by MI vs KXIP
Stadium: Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore
Hosts to: Indore
City: Madhya Pradesh
Weather Report: 34°C
KXIP vs RR Team Player:
Kings XI Punjab Team Player: Ravichandran Ashwin (C), Akshdeep Nath Mayank Agarwal Mayank Dagar Ben Dwarshuis Aaron Finch, Chris Gayle, Manzoor Dar David Miller Mujeeb Ur Rahman Karun Nair Axar Patel Lokesh Rahul (W), Ankit Rajpoot, Pradeep Sahu, Mohit Sharma, Barinder Sran Marcus Stoinis Manoj Tiwary Andrew Tye Yuvraj Singh
Rajasthan Royals Team Player: Ajinkya Rahane (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Jaydev Unadkat, Ben Stokes, Ankit Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Rahul Tripathi, Jatin Saxena, Shreyas Gopal, Heinrich Klaasen, Zahir Khan, Mahipal Lomror, D Arcy Short, Jofra Archer, Aryaman Birla, Dhawal Kulkarni, Stuart Binny, Ben Laughlin, Anureet Singh, Dushmantha Chameera, Prashant Chopra, Krishnappa Gowtham, Sudhesan Midhun
For more cricket Betting Tips and Kings XI Punjab vs Rajasthan Royals Match Prediction, you can follow our social pages.
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text:
Upwork Business Plans Test
|Exam Type:
|Upwork (oDesk) Skill Test
|Expected Positions:
|Last Update
|September, 2020
Pass This Exam
Our Expert will clear your test via TeamViewer or Skype 24/7.
Exam Detail
If you have good marketing skills you can put them to use by working as an Upwork freelancer. Upwork Business Plans Test is mandatory for you to clear with high score and TOP 10%, TOP 20%, TOP 30% positions because it will reflects your business planning skills and give your profile a professional and trust worthy look.
Every business needs marketing. As the products being prepared by every company have already many competitors in market and it needs to stand out in the market. The way to make your product reach its right customers is through marketing and every business requires one. If you want to make a carrier as a business planning consultant then you should have a way to assure your clients that you are the right person for this job. There is no better way to show these skills other than having high score for this skill test in which we will help you achieve high score and TOP positions. You can deal with your clients and bid on new projects while we help you establish your profile as a business planner with TOP notch score for this skill test.


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James Purdy
Fans of James Purdy don't read his books for the fun of it, but rather for the heart- breaking emotion that lingers. His work has been criticized as obscene, gruesomely savage, and even weird. Others have hailed Purdy for a darkly-comedic style so original that it defies classification.
A native of Fremont, Ohio, Purdy's fiction continues to be more highly-respected in Europe than in the U.S. Since he began writing in the 1940s, Purdy has composed countless poems, short stories, and has written 19 novels, including the 1959 underground classic, Malcolm. Much of his fiction examines the abuse and exploitation of young rural Americans trying to escape the misery of destructive family origins. Reviewers of his fiction have said that, despite his somber subject matter, Purdy attracts readers through a flat, ironic prose that creates black comedy.


text:
Submitted with iBMR App Version 1.00. Sent from my iPhone
2 thoughts on "PP What fun, theDragonslayer back in the lair. Hello to all and can't wait till next time!"
Congrats to Paul Slaton, Paul Tong and Mo Bob for completing the Iron Butt Rally!!!
still have not got my shirt not trying to be a pest …gentle reminder 2xxl


text:
Charitable Organizations Comic Strips
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View 1 - 9 results for charitable organizations comic strips. Discover the best "Charitable Organizations" comics from Dilbert.com.
Saturday January 26,
Tags #charitable organizations, #have a dream, #recycled software, #busy week, #recycled, #old software, #math programs
Wally: I had a busy week. I recycled all of our old software and donated the zeroes and ones to math programs in poor towns. My dream is that someday every child will be able to count to one.
Monday December 16,
Tags #charitable organizations, #competition (psychology), #raise money, #shave head, #bald man
Boss: If we raise $40,000 for charity, I will shave my head! Wally: And if we raise no money at all, I will shave my head. Boss: That's messed up. Wally: Is it?
Tuesday May 06,
Tags #charitable organizations, #corporate charity, #deception, #no boss fooled, #teaching interview techniques, #trained umemployed, #work ethic, #job skill
Wally: Last week, I did my corporate charity work by teaching unemployed people how to interview for jobs. Boss: Don't they also need job skills? Wally: Nah. I taught them how to look busy. Boss: No boss will be fooled by that. Wally: Do you believe I trained unemployed people last week?
Thursday August 21,
Tags #charitable giving, #unintended consequences, #hobo, #east side, #human flesh
Dilbert says, "Our charitable giving has caused some unintended consequences." Dilbert says, "It sparked a hobo war. The east side of the city is in flames." The Boss says, "Well, it could be worse." Dilbert says, "They tasted human flesh, and they like it."
Monday May 05,
Tags #managers & supervisors, #mathematics, #work ethic, #work time, #donate, #1% work time, #charitable cause, #110% to job, #learn math, #asking employess, #business
Boss: Our CEO has asked each of us to donate 1% of our work time to a charitable cause. Dilbert: Last week you told us to give 110% to our work. Does this mean we can back off to 109%? Boss: No, you should give 110% to everything you do. Dilbert: Maybe my charitable cause could be helping you learn math.
Monday August 01,
Tags #actions & defenses, #computers & peripherals, #internet & world wide web, #international data security standards group, #security prcedures, #bed sores
Boss: Dogbert is chairing the international data security standards group. Dogbert: The goal of our organizations is to make your security procedures so inconvenient that you give up hope and die from bed sores. We take pride in being independent from the companies that fund us.
Thursday December 28,
Tags #king dogbert, #first ruler, #internet, #bow before me, #internet is millons individuals, #until now, #dogbert fancies himself king, #technology
Dogbert stands on the desk and says, "I declare myself 'King Dogbert,' the first ruler of the Internet!!" Dogbert raises his paws over his head and yells, "Bow before me or be expelled from the kingdom forever!!!" Dilbert enters wearing a bathrobe and asks, "Are you aware that the Internet is comprised of millions of individuals and organizations that operate independently?" Dogbert replies, "Until now!"
Saturday August 24,
Tags #computer programmers, #international economic integration, #unemployed, #immortal, #preventer of information, #services, #outsiurced, #buzzkill
Mordac: I am Mordac, the preventer of information services, and I am immortal! Dilbert: Actually, in a few years your function will be either distributed across existing organizations or outsourced. Mordac: Well, that was a total buzzkill.
Saturday September 19,
Haircut Illuminati
Tags #secret society, #organizations, #illuminati, #hair, #hairstyles, #haircut, #barber, #Politics, #politicians, #success
Dogbert: I became a member of the Hairdresser Illuminati. Dilbert: The what? Dogbert: It's a shadowy organization that controls the world by manipulating the hairstyles of political candidates. Boss: What is my barber doing here? Dogbert: That haircut will never become your next president.


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Drywall restore or fixing a hole in your home's drywall is usually a challenging venture if it is not accomplished accurately. We discovered the regular straight corners at Lowe's, however we had to go to a special drywall provide retailer to get a bendable one for the arch. If you have children or teenagers in your home, chances are high that you'll finally get a large gap in your drywall just like the one shown on the left. Measure the opening, and visit your local ironmongery shop or dwelling improvement middle for a package.
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Immigration Fraud – Prevention and Control
Immigration fraud is rampant these days. There are 10s of companies and individuals that claim to help you get PR visas just like that, even without knowing the what and how of immigration procedures. No wonder, they fail to live up to their promises.
Therefore, Y-Axis being India's No. 1 immigration consultant has set up guidelines to help people keep away from such fraud. Free counseling. Detailed profile evaluation to check eligibility. A strong anti-fraud policy and much more to protect you from falling prey to fraud.
And all of it is backed by immensely talented and knowledgeable teams. They help you stay away from fraud and let you file your immigration petition with ease.
Here's what you should do
Check Company Profile – The first and foremost thing to do is check company profile: how old they are in the industry, their experience and success stories. These will help you understand whether a company can help you file your petition successfully.
For example: Y-Axis has been in the industry for 16 years, has 1000s of successful client stories to share.
Company Reviews and Ratings: Talk to the people who have availed services earlier. Listen to what they say and read reviews. This will give a clear picture of how the company works. In case of Y-Axis Overseas Careers you would find many Y-Axis reviews that talk about great services provided by the company. That apart, Y-Axis ratings are also the highest in the industry.
What you shouldn't do
Hire without research – When hiring an immigration consultant, do your research well. You wouldn't want to be fooled by someone with no experience in the field. Doing your own research to zero-in a company will help you realize your migration dream.
Do not pay without receipts – Sometimes, you pay the money but not ask for a receipt. Avoid doing that. Ask for a receipt. That's what Y-Axis tells all its clients. This is also clearly written in Y-Axis Anti-fraud policy that helps the company counter Y-Axis fraud claims.
Following these few dos and don'ts will help you file your immigration petition for Australia, Canada or any other country you are eligible for.


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Chapter 244: A New Mission and Nolan's Warning
"They're here!"
It was early evening when the Shadowfiend Corps valley outpost finally welcomed the arrival of long-awaited reinforcements and the medical team responsible for transporting the injured.
Considering the number of healthy arcane masters remaining within the outpost, this new squad of twenty arcane masters seemed incredibly majestic as they entered the valley.
"Nolan? Sarina?" Ayrin shouted in surprise upon seeing two familiar faces within the crowd as he excitedly ran forwards to greet them.
"Nathan?" [1. Originally Nason (first appears chapter 195)]
As Ayrin approached, he realized that he also knew the person beside Nolan and Sarina. It was Nathan, the member of Silver Trout Academy's team who used the Tyrant Eye and had beaten Rinloran offstage during the competition.
"Ayrin, Rinloran, how come you are here?"
Nolan, Sarina, and Nathan were astonished when they saw Ayrin and Rinloran.
"The Office of Special Affairs gave us a mission. We came here as reinforcements."
Ayrin scratched his chin as he smiled and continued, "What about you? I thought only the teams which entered the quarterfinals of the national tournament were allowed to participate in these missions. How come you all are here performing missions too?"
"Aren't you looking down on us a little too much?" Nolan helplessly looked at Ayrin, "I am here because I have graduated and joined the Southam Demon Corp's trainee team. Nathan is the same."
"What about Sarina then?" Ayrin tirelessly continued to ask.
"You brat, can one not participate if they haven't entered the quarterfinals?" Sarina also felt slightly aggrieved due to Ayrin's questions as she annoyed replied, "I was suddenly transferred over."
"Wait, all of the quarterfinal teams been sent over? The national tournament has called an intermission?"
"You guys didn't know? Because of this great conflict, the tournament has changed some rules. The champion and runner-up will be decided based on the completion of missions here."
"Black Necromancer Gaia, the Green Snake arcane team, Steel Ghost Angus… such a strong line up of opponents, yet they were able to defeat them. No wonder Sarina, Nolan, and Nathan lost to them during the competition."
While Ayrin, Nolan, and the others busily chatted, the Shadowfiend Corps' Demon Chaser arcane team briskly conversed with Zorn and the rest.
All of the team members, including their captain Zieg, had expressions of great disbelief as they watched Ayrin and Rinloran.
Many of the members of this arcane team were coincidentally from Silver Trout Academy. As they had fought Steel Ghost Angus in the past, they knew very well just how strong of an opponent he was.
"Just what is going on right now? Why was there such an offensive around this outpost?" Rui asked as he looked towards the white haired Zieg, who seemed to be the same height and age as him.
"According to the latest information, the Evil Dragon Followers are still not willing to give up their Fallen Shadow Valley. In the scheme of things, they are desperately trying to prevent us from launching an offensive against it."
Zieg continued, "However, we have too many peak level arcane masters after joining hands with the Kingdom of Doa. In all the previous large-scale battles, they have suffered great losses. We believe that they, as they cannot compete with us, are enacting what they call "plan zero" and have split up into smaller groups of arcane teams and performing guerrilla tactics."
"Although they are weaker, these tactics can allow them to achieve a certain effect and present them with the chances to kill quite a few arcane teams. However, it shouldn't be enough to swing the tide, so why?" Rui responded after silently thinking to himself.
"Naturally." Zieg nodded, "We believe there are two likely possibilities. First off, it's possible that they have set up something special within Fallen Shadow Valley which must be kept, preventing them from giving it up. The other possibility is that they are trying to delay our assault on Fallen Shadow Valley to stall time for some of the thirteen bishops to return."
After pausing for a slight moment, Zieg looked at Rui and Zorn and added, "If the first assumption is correct, then it is likely that this Fallen Shadow Valley has some relation to the Evil Dragon's bloodline. Perhaps there is a shrine which allows the Evil Dragon Followers to obtain the Evil Dragon's blood."
"Or perhaps there is some special formation which can resurrect the Evil Dragon as rumored." Although Rui's expression didn't change, his tone became colder as he replied to Zieg.
"Thus…" Zieg started speaking as he looked Rui in the eye, but then stopped as he turned his head and looked at Ayrin and Rinloran.
Rui calmly stared at Zieg, "What is it?"
"We were given another mission outside of helping transfer the injured and acting as reinforcements. The Office of Special Affairs has given a new mission to your Holy Dawn Academy team."
Zieg awkwardly looked at Rui as he followed up, "Based on the Office of Special Affairs' initial plans, this was to be your first real mission. When they told you to come here as support, they didn't expect for such a large number of powerful enemies to attack."
"There's a new mission?" Ayrin abruptly exclaimed.
Although he had been busy chatting with Nolan and the others, his attention was fully diverted the moment he heard the words "new mission."
"What? Did you think that we would be too exhausted and unable to carry out any more missions after that one battle?" As Ayrin stared down Zieg, another thought ran through his mind as he turned and looked at Rinloran before saying, "Don't worry about Rinloran. When he came here, he already couldn't move one arm. Although he now cannot move either arm, he can still fight just fine!"
"What a strong fighting intent… Ayrin really doesn't know fear and danger."
After hearing Ayrin's words, everyone present was completely speechless.
"But…" Having never witnessed Ayrin's fighting intent before, Zieg couldn't help but open his mouth to reply.
"We will never give up until victory is achieved!"
The moment he heard the 'but' come forth from Zieg's mouth, Ayrin had already interjected. "Although I do not know what Chris' half of the team and Morgan's squad are doing right now, I know that if they were in our shoes, they too wouldn't give up."
"What is the mission?" Rui straightforwardly asked as he looked at Zieg once more.
Because the situation was always changing during war, all missions were presented by the leading members of the Office of Special Affairs who were directly on the front lines of battle such as Zieg. Thus, there was no care for secrecy as a map was laid onto the ground.
"This is the approximate position of Fallen Shadow Valley," Zieg said as he pointed towards one of the most prominent dark purple valleys on the map.
From his position beside the map, Ayrin could immediately see the countless interweaving red lines located densely around the valley.
"We call these the Paths of Evil," Zieg explained as his finger landed directly atop one of the red lines. "These are the passageways which the Evil Dragon Followers normally take as they leave and enter Fallen Shadow Valley. Based on the information which we have gained so far, the two sides of these Paths of Evil are always either two cliff faces or lines of traps. Because these passages are also extremely narrow, only one arcane team can pass through them at a time, making them very unsuited for a sudden large-scale assault. Moreover, there are usually Evil Dragon Followers scattered throughout these passages acting as sentries. In a sense, this Fallen Shadow Valley is a giant labyrinth cave. The only way for us to assault it is to enter all the Paths of Evil at the same time. As of right now, the plan is to first try and seal all these Paths of Evil to prevent Evil Dragon Followers from entering and exiting the valley. This will isolate the valley and prevent them from obtaining supplies."
"Your mission is to enter one of these Paths of Evil and block it."
"This can basically be considered an outpost assault then?" Ayrin asked as he raised his head and looked at Zieg following his explanation. "Since they are competing with us, Dragon Breath Academy should have the same task?"
"I believe so. Each team will have raid a nearby Path of Evil," Zieg replied with a nod.
"When?" Rui only said a single word as he raised his head.
"It is planned for five days from now. The current goal is to finish the encirclement of Fallen Shadow Valley within the next four days. This means that you all must reach this Path of Evil within these next four days.
"Four days?" Whereas Ayrin didn't think much about it, Rui did as he slightly furrowed his brows.
"Yes. Considering the distance from here to Fallen Shadow Valley, even with four days, you will have to be moving at near full speed." Zieg turned his head and looked at Ayrin as he continued in a serious manner, "Let me remind you that there is no one within the entire Doraster continent who has a complete and detailed map of the Southam Demon Forest. Although these simpler maps that we have make clear the number of mountains, valleys, rivers, and lakes and their positions, they do not note what beasts and monsters appear where. As you near the Path of Evil, there will be archers and warriors of the Evil Dragon Followers as well. There will be countless unforeseen dangers. This is by no means a simple task, even for the strongest arcane teams."
"If it was some easily completed mission, then how would the winners and losers be decided?" Ayrin looked back at Zieg as he added, "Furthermore, if one doesn't dare to execute a mission because of the danger, then can one still call themselves an arcane master?"
Zieg speechlessly stared at Ayrin for a long time.
"This fellow, he is truly an innate battlemaster!"
Nolan felt complex emotions surge through his mind as he watched Ayrin accept the mission. Taking a deep breath, he said, "Ayrin, I just have a single reminder for you, and that is to be cautious of Abel Academy should you come into conflict with them."
"Be cautious of Abel Academy? What do you mean?" Ayrin asked blankly.
"There are bad rumors about them flying around. It's said that they are not shy about resorting to underhanded methods, and have done so before in previous national tournaments," Nolan whispered to Ayrin.
"Big Beard also seems to have also said something like that to me before," Ayrin responded as his eyes widened and he scratched his chin.
"Big Beard?" Nolan and Sarina asked out of confusion.
"Winterfell Academy's Rekai of course. How come you guys don't know?" Ayrin surprisedly asked.
"… Although Rekai's beard is quite a lot, his face is still young… how are we supposed to know you are talking about Rekai when all you say is Big Beard?" Nolan and Sarina felt very helpless.
"You all must be careful."
Zieg turned towards Rui as he added, "Based on our sources, there is at least one of the thirteen bishops active within this part of the Southam Demon Forest, the Plague Bishop Ancenoli."
Previous Chapter Next Chapter


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Reed, Courtney, College Student Body Presidents Unveil Plan to Keep Need-Based Student Loans Affordable
Legislation locks in low interest rate for two years so long-term solution can be crafted
WASHINGTON, DC – In an effort to strengthen the economy and ease the burden of student debt on families nationwide, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and U.S. Representative Joe Courtney (D-CT) today joined with student advocacy groups Young Invincibles and the National Campus Leadership Council, and college student body presidents from the Big Ten and campuses across the country, to announce new legislation to ensure the interest rate on subsidized Stafford student loans for undergraduate students do not dramatically increase this year.
The current fixed interest rate on Stafford federal subsidized loans is 3.4 percent, but that rate will double to 6.8 percent on July 1, 2013 unless Congress takes action. However, Congress is not expected to begin consideration of the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, the primary law governing federal investment in higher education, until after the "doubling" deadline.
The Reed-Courtney legislation would lock in lower rates for two years while Congress works on a long-term solution to slow the rapid accumulation of student-loan debt.
"Congress must work together to address the student loan crisis. A college education is an important investment for both individuals and America's global competitiveness. We need a better educated, better trained workforce. But the rising tide of student loan debt – which has now crested above $1 trillion -- is putting a college education out of reach for some and affecting the life trajectory of young people and our economic future. It is in our national interest to try and keep student loan rates low and college more affordable," said Senator Reed. "While we work toward a viable long-term solution, it is vitally important Congress stops the interest rate hike on July 1st. This is a sensible, short-term fix that buys some time to enact long-term changes that make sense for both students and taxpayers. Any long-term solution should include a cap to limit how high student loans rates can go."
"A college education is key to success in today's economy, but for many students, the spiraling costs of higher education are creating an immense barrier and impacting real-life decisions like when to get married or whether to buy a house," said Congressman Courtney. "Last year, with a tremendous push from students across the country, we successfully postponed the interest rate from increasing. Unfortunately, we are again staring down a July 1 deadline to act. This legislation will not only defuse the ticking time bomb and provide certainty for two years, but it will also provide the Congress with time to craft a thoughtful long-term solution to address this growing problem that is weighing down young people as they enter the workforce."
Research by FICO Labs found that in 2005 the average student loan debt was just over $17,000. In 2012 it rose above $27,250 – a 58% increase in just seven years. And according to the New York Times: "Student loan borrowers graduate with an average debt of $27,000, and the scheduled interest rate increase on subsidized Stafford loans would cost almost 10 million borrowers about $1,000 more over the life of their loan, for each year of college."
Reed and Courtney noted that high student loan interest rates create a drag on our economy. As student loan debt has risen, home ownership and car ownership have declined for young households. Keeping the cost of borrowing low will help reduce the amount students owe and help give them purchasing power that can improve our overall economy.
It is estimated that maintaining the current 3.4 percent interest rate for two years will "score" about $8.3 billion. However, the student loan program currently generates savings in the federal budget, with the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimating that the subsidized loan program will save $13.90 for every dollar borrowed in Fiscal Year 2013, and $12.49 for every dollar borrowed in Fiscal Year 2014.


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A Guide to Nightlife in Mayfair – Hostalworld Guide To Mayfair in London
Are you planning to visit London? This Hostalworld guide to nightlife in Mayfair gives you the inside track! Choose from restaurants, bars and nightclubs in Mayfair, and enjoy your nights in style!
A Guide to Nightlife in Mayfair
Mayfair is considered to be one of the most exclusive areas of London, with many of the super-rich owing homes there. With property prices at a premium, and high rents, you would be right in thinking that any restaurants, bars and clubs are aimed at a more upmarket crowd. This is an area where you can have a good time in the company of celebrities and even royalty, but keep in mind that prices are high, and some clubs are for members only.
Restaurants in Mayfair
It would be extremely hard to pick a bad restaurant in Mayfair, as every one provides an amazing experience. As this is the area that the rich and famous choose to dine out in, it may be wise to book a table in advance though, especially at the most respected establishments. Helene Darroze at the Connaught offers superb French cuisine, whilst over at Rextail on Albemarle Street there may be a room full of the super-rich. A less pricey alternative is Moroccan restaurant Momos on Heddon Street, which has a warm, friendly atmosphere, but sacrifices none of the detail, quality of food and excellence of service.
Pubs and Bars in Mayfair
The pubs and bars of Mayfair range from sophisticated and elegant through to fun and kitschy. A cocktail in the Connaught bar could be followed up by another in Samoan themed Trader Vic's and yet another in Mahiki. For a pint of British Bitter, Audley on Mount Street is the place to head for. There are plenty of others to visit as well of course, which include the Masons Arms, City of Quebec, Barley Mow and Duke of York. For people interested in visiting as many as they can, its worth asking the bar staff in each one what others they might recommend.
Clubs in Mayfair
Many of the clubs in Mayfair cater for the social elite, and most have members only policies. You can find a variety of music being played, which includes commercial chart songs, R and B, hip hop and house. FunkyBuddha on Berkeley Street has modern decor and VIP areas, and draws in many celebrities looking for a good night out. Young, well-heeled city folk also head over to places like Jalouse on Hanover Square, whilst Aura is open six nights a week as a late night bar and club that has attracted many A-list stars over the years. Other clubs include China White, Whisky Mist, Vendome and Luxx.
Other Entertainment in Mayfair
Other evening entertainment in Mayfair can take the form of live music or comedy nights. The Audley Cellar Bar occasionally puts on comedy nights, whilst the Dover Street Restaurant and Bar hosts jazz bands. Theatre lovers may want to check out the Criterion Theatre, not only for the plays, but also for its décor, and if you would like to watch a movie before completing your night out in the Mayfair area, the Apollo West End is just a short distance away.


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'- Long dress with long sleeves
– Feminine V-neck
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– Cotton material
Ramnami maxi dress KD-15c Canaria soft green/white
Login to see prices
'- Long dress with long sleeves
'- Long dress with long sleeves
Relaxed and casual is what you go for with this look. The dress is calm
and has a Bohemian style. The item is suitable for any occasion!
The strings at the neck and the little waves in the skirt make this dress unique.
Additional information


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Experience a unique evening with Justin Terveen photographing the iconic Dallas skyline from different vantage points.
Downtown Dallas is a marvelous photography destination, especially after dark. This photo tour will focus on composition skills at night as well as the issues related to taking pictures in low light conditions. You will get the opportunity to photograph colorful Dallas skyline, experiment with light trails and shoot our bridges over the Trinity from several different vantage points especially selected by Justin Terveen, the premier Dallas Skyline photographer.Create a Reservation
Bring your clients, colleagues, and employees together for a memorable experience.
Send an email with your requirements to firstname.lastname@example.com, or create a reservation below so we can start preparing for your visit and reserve a vehicle. And remember, it's never too early to start planning, as space is limited!


text: The IA Tokens concept aims to revolutionize the real estate industry using Blockchain technology through the development of the IAT Platform. Funds raised from this ICO will be used to develop the IAT blockchain and our existing management company that is currently operational will undertake the asset management. The Platform will cater to the Philippines market first and we look to expand into other developing markets in Asia.


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Remember the good old days? Gas was $.99/gallon, bread was affordable, and the state of CA did not siphon funds from our budget to repair THEIR mismanagement? Times have changed.
Santa Clara Schools have utilized savings, rented unused space, and applied cutbacks and layoffs to cover the property tax shortfall. If the state managed THEIR funds and applied cuts appropriately, they would not require us to pay a 'fair share' (over $35M to date) to close THEIR budget shortfalls.
Don't let kids pay the price for mistakes of state politicians. Measure A won't solve the problem, it's a start. It will prove that we care about our property values since they are directly related to quality of public schools and more importantly, we care about basic education for the kids in our community.
If you are a senior, you can exempt yourself and enjoy the benefits of increased property values – a win-win for you. Please vote yes on Measure A.


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Difference Between Ounce and Troy Ounce
Ounce and troy ounce are units to measure weight. Ounce is approximately equal to 28 grams and other two systems for measuring weight are avoirdupois ounce and troy ounce.
Avoirdupois ounce is known as ounce and is common in many parts of the world. Troy ounce is used in measuring weight of precious metals. You may not realize but if you do not know the difference between them then you may be in loss while dealing in gold and silver.
1 avoirdupois ounce is equal to 437.5 grains or 28.35 grams and 1 avoirdupois pound has 16 ounces which is equal to 453.6 grams.
When you buy silver or gold you are paying for it in troy ounce and not in ounce and when you buy grocery then you pay for the weight in ounce. Troy ounce weighs 10% more than ounce and has approximately 31.1 grams while ounce has 28.35 grams.
Troy ounce was used in middle ages in Troyes France and is older unit of weight than ounce. Troy pound has 12 troy ounces while avoirdupois pound has 16 ounces.
We can convert grocery ounce into troy ounce by using the given formula
Regular ounceX0.912 = troy ounces


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Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko made a one-day trip to Okayama Prefecture on Friday and met people affected by the deadly downpours in western Japan in July.
The Imperial Couple visited areas hit by torrential rains, which caused widespread landslides and flooding that killed more than 200 people mainly in Okayama, Hiroshima and Ehime prefectures.
They flew to Okayama Airport by plane and then boarded a Self-Defense Forces helicopter to visit the city of Kurashiki, before returning to Tokyo in the afternoon.
They had planned to visit both Okayama and Hiroshima prefectures on Thursday, but were forced to push back their schedule and give up on their Hiroshima visit due to bad weather. They will visit Hiroshima later.
Before the visit, the Emperor and Empress invited the governors of Okayama, Hiroshima and Ehime prefectures, which were severely affected by the rains, to the Imperial Palace in July and August to discuss the damage.
A day trip to Ehime is also being arranged for the couple on Sept. 20, according to the Imperial Household Agency.
Their last visit to a disaster-affected area took place in June when they traveled to Fukushima Prefecture to check on reconstruction work from the March 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis.
Hoping to lessen the security burden on local governments, the Emperor and Empress often choose to make day trips to the disaster-hit areas, sometimes using helicopters.
In May 2016 they flew to Kumamoto Prefecture on a chartered flight about a month after strong earthquakes hit the southwestern region, before boarding an SDF helicopter to visit those who evacuated because of the quake.