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Handymen from all over the country just love cheap fixes and jury rigged solutions. The one material that exists in every homeowner's first line of emergency fixes tool kit is a decent sized roll of good quality duct tape. Nothing comes close to it as the magical fix for millions of fix it now problems. Books have been written about Duct Tape and the magic performed with it.
But I did not come here to talk about Duct Tape. We Mainers know it's worth. Any one of us with half a brain is going to have 3 or 4 rolls of it kickin around handy and ready at a moment's notice.
No, today I want to pay homage to that magnificent, stupendous, and all around yard gussying up king--- The Blue Tarp.
Nothing gets Mother off your ass quicker than a 20x20 blue tarp from Marden's tossed over that '82 Chevy pick up with the broken plow. She might know it is still there, but you can at least meet her half way by not making her look at it.
The Blue Tarp is so sacred in this state, and often so rare to come by, when Marden's gets em in, they don't last the day sometimes. It's okay to purchase one from Home Depot or Lowes in an emergency, but if it came from Mardens, it's the real Maine Blue Tarp.
Yeah, some folks insist they all come out of the same 5 or 6 blue tarp plants in Singapore or East Gish China. And that may be. But until it has passed through the hands of the caring folks at Mardens, it is not the official unofficial Maine Blue Tarp.
In a world that seems lost in a quest to find a high tech answer for every problem, Mainers always seem to rely on tried and true low tech solutions first. Why build a barn to hold all six 427 Chevy engine blocks when all you have to do is cover em up with a $5 blue tarp. That Massey Ferguson tractor Father used for 40 years is in tractor heaven under the protective blue cover. It is the sign of real loyalty and care when a blue tarp is dragged over some rusting item or gizmo in the dooryard. Whenever I pass a property liberally sprinkled with blue covered lumps, I know that the owner has some special treasure they wanted to make sure has the protection it needs.
Even the critters of Maine have fallen under the spell of the blue tarp. As you can see, some enterprising local fowl found the fibers of the about to be discarded blue tarp in the back a very handy and convenient source of bombproof fibers for their nest.
Tim Sample , a Maine comedian is positive that the reason Osama Bin Laden has thus far successfully eluded capture is he is currently secreted away under a blue tarp up country somewhere near Augusta or Bangor. I don't know about that, but I do know it is very easy to walk around a pile with a blue tarp on it than walk around one that has not been so honored.


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If it's on Netflix you'll find it with our search engine. Search below to get started.
TV Shows
Signing Time! is a multi-sensory series that introduces children to American Sign Language (ASL), a hands-on second language used by millions. Sign, play and sing along with Emmy-nominated host, Rachel Coleman and friends Alex, Leah and Hopkins. For ages 1-8, yet entertaining and fun for all.

subset: commoncrawl


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Punica granatum 'Nana'
Common Names: dwarf pomegranate
Family: Lynthraceae
Origin: Mediterranean
Type: Evergreen shrub (mild winters)
Size: 3 ft. high, 4 ft. wide.
Flowers: Small orange-red single flowers, spring, summer, followed by small dry red fruit; leaves bright green to 2 in. long turn yellow in fall.
Uses: Borders, color and shape accent, raised beds, edible gardens, containers, slopes, near oak trees, in heat. Fire resistive.
Wildlife: Fruit and seeds.
Soil: Tolerates a variety of soil, including alkaline. Fruit production better in deep, moist soil.
Water: Medium.
Sun: Full sun.
Pruning: Prune for shape; remove old canes occasionally to stimulate new growth.
Pests & Diseases: Some, but primarily when grown as crop.
Notes: Juice is source of Grenadine. Shells of fruit used in tanning. Hardy to 10° F.


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The Kidnapped App is not a toy; it is a system that could help to save your life if you are ever threatened with a kidnapping or in danger of being kidnapped or hurt.
Do not tell anyone you have purchased the KIDNAPPED APP (except of course your CONTACTS). SECRECY is part of our power and your protection!
If you are deploying this APP to your Family please be sure to discuss the serious nature of the App in detail. Teach them how to use it and practise using the App as a Family in the TEST mode.
NOTE: Never have immediate family members as CONTACTS.
Please make sure to follow our instructions correctly as set forth here and TEST it once you are finished.
|Download the USER component HERE.
|As the component installs, follow the instructions, make sure it can access your GPS/Phone/Camera/Microphone, say yes to all or the APP will not function as designed.
|Take the time needed to complete your "Profile Section" and add 2 recent pictures, make sure the photos are only of you and show clearly your face and whole body pictures, make sure the pictures are recent and realistic. There is no need for vanity here.
Some questions are required to be answered, some are optional. The more data that you provide the more clues we will have to find you with and the more clues we will have to help us search.
|Next if you wish to provide us with a DNA sample answer YES to that Question and we will contact you with further instructions.
|STEP 4a.
Decide who good CONTACTS might be. You need at least 1 unless you engage the Kidnapped App Team. A good contact is someone who is:
NOTE: If you are travelling with a CONTACT remove them as a CONTACT immediately.
Once you have decided who your contacts could be, contact them and ask their permission and advise them that they will receive an email from you containing the link to the CONTACT component. Further discuss with them how you want them to RESPOND in the event of an EMERGENCY.
Once they agree, sign them up, they will receive an email with a link and they will have to download the component to their Phone and or PC then they will need to complete the sign up. Advise them they will receive a TEST Message from you in the near future and determine a password with them to be entered into the Contacts Section.
Please note the Contact will know your locations and all of the confidential sections of the sign up will be revealed to them when you activate an ALERT or the KIDNAPPED mode on the APP and they will receive critical, potentially lifesaving (or life taking) data about you.
|STEP 4b.
Please note for an additional fee our Team can be one of your Contacts.
We are a safe alternative and we are manning our computers and emails 7/24/365, we have no relationship with you and are complete unknowns to your inner circle. No one is better situated to serve you in the event of an emergency.
The cost to engage us as one of your contacts is US $ 19.99/month or 0.027 cents per hour.
|STEP 4c.
|The final section of the set-up is the "where are you now section". This section needs to be completed every time you are not situated where your normal home address is. Please keep this current. This section also remains confidential.
|STEP 4d.
Now you will complete the:
TEST the APP. Once the set-up is done and the CONTACTS are in the loop it is time to TEST the App. The TEST will use the same process as activating the APP in an Emergency except we open the PRACTISE section first on the APP.
The App will send a "test message" to your CONTACTS. Do this while you are in a safe area and not while you are at Risk
You CONTACTS will confirm that they received the TEST by cancelling the TEST as they would turn off an ALERT or a KIDNAPPED Alarm.
You can further confirm the TEST by calling your CONTACTS and asking them to tell you where you are now.
If you are teaching others use the PRACTISE MODE to teach your family how to use the App IF they are getting the App also.
|Now change the ICON on the App by……………………………
|In the future, the App will send you reminders once in a while reminding you to update your Profile/Where are you now and your CONTACTS.
Go about your business but remain diligent and keep your phone close.
Only your Contacts will be aware you have the system, it is like a "silent alarm" it is designed to be hidden so your abductors never know the system is activated and helping to save your life. Do not advertise to anyone beyond your contacts that you are employing the Kidnapped App. You never know who is a friend or a foe!


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It is our aim at Al-Ashraf, Insha-Allah, to impart the highest standards of education to our children. Together with this, we also aim to build strong Islamic foundations, which include development of positive Islamic thoughts, good manners and respect and a deep sense of love for Islam as a way of life.
As parents, we must play our role in all this by ensuring that we provide a good Islamic environment at home, which will support the school's Islamic ethos. Likewise, it is important that we become good Muslim role models for our children.
Ofsted have completed their monitoring visits, with Al-Ashraf Primary School now meeting all Independent school standards.
Link to final monitoring visit report
Eid Mubarak to you and your family.
School will reopen on Thursday 6th June at 8:30 am, Insha-Allah.
As you may be aware, the year 2 and 6 children will be sitting their SATS tests this month Inshallah. We would like to notify you that as Al-Ashraf Primary School is a Data Controller, we are required by law to pass your child's information to the LA and DfE. Please refer to the school's GDPR policy on our website for further information on how your child's data is processed
If you require information on how the DfE process store and use your child's information, please follow this link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/data-protection-how-we-collect-and-share-research-data
As an independent Islamic Primary school run by local Ulama, we require £80,000 to save the school, and thus the Islamic education of our 200 or so children. We teach Quran and Islamic Studies and the national curriculum in an Islamic environment (read more).
|Main school entrance and parking gate open:
|8.10 am
|Parking gate locked:
|8.25 am
|Doors close and school day starts:
|8.30 am
There were over 200 items donated and they have been sent to GL Communities ready for distribution. JazaKallah to all students for donating and to the school for supporting us. We pray that Allah rewards you for your kindness and generosity during this blessed month.
On behalf of Gloucester Helping Hands
Al-Ashraf Primary School took part in Charity Week from 30th Oct to 3rd Nov 2017. Charity Week is a project of Islamic Relief which raises money for orphans and needy children. Alhumdulillah with everyone's hard work we raised a fantastic £1101.60.
We would like to express our wholehearted thanks to parents, children, staff and well wishers who all came together to make Charity Week 2017 such a brilliant success.
Alhamdulillah with the grace of All-Mighty Allah swt, the hard work of our students, staff and support of parents, Al-Ashraf Primary School can report excellent KS2 results for 2017.
The school is now fully embedded with Ofsted rigorous curriculum introduced 2 years ago, the standards intended to raise the bar in terms of expectations of young people in literacy and numeracy, marking UK primary school curriculum as truly world class. This year's results have proven that at KS2, Al-Ashraf Primary School continues to perform significantly better in all key areas, exceeding the national average. Masha Allah.
May our students continue to excel in their secular and religious education and may they be a credit to UK Muslim Society Insha Allah.
Al-Ashraf Primary School pupils will be taking part in this year's Hour of Code event.
We live in a world surrounded by technology. And we know that whatever field our students choose to go into as adults, their ability to succeed will increasingly depend on understanding how technology works.
But only a tiny fraction of us are learning how technology works. Fewer than half of all schools teach computer science.
That's why our entire school is joining in on the largest learning event in history: The Hour of Code, during Computer Science Education Week (December 4-10). More than 100 million students worldwide have already tried an Hour of Code.
Our Hour of Code is making a statement that Al-Ashraf Primary School is ready to teach these foundational 21st century skills. To continue bringing programming activities to your students, we want to make our Hour of Code event huge. I encourage you to volunteer, reach out to local media, share the news on social media channels and consider hosting additional Hour of Code events in the community.
This is a chance to change the future of education in Gloucestershire.
See http://hourofcode.com/uk for details, and help spread the word.
The Government emphasises that schools are required to ensure that key 'British Values' are taught in all UK schools. The government set out its definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy. (Read more)
We are seeking an enthusiastic, motivated Administrator to work closely with school and other administrative staff in supporting the daily activities of the School.
If you are a good team player, with substantial knowledge and experience of working a busy school or similar environment and can demonstrate friendly efficient service, along with a good level of written and spoken English, please email your interest (with CV) to firstname.lastname@example.com.
Click here to read our School Anthem.
To celebrate British Values day, the whole school took part in a British tea party. (Read more)
This year Al-Ashraf Primary school were involved in British science week. The children carried out Scientific inquiry skills, developing their knowledge and understanding of scientific ideas, as well as an understanding of how scientists study the natural world. (Read more)
Al-Ashraf Primary School held their very own elections on the 8th of June. The year 5 and year 6 children were grouped in to political parties and presented speeches to the whole school. (Read more)
No doubt, everyone will have seen the recent attacks on many corporate IT systems, including numerous NHS health services. Though the ransomware looks to have targeted large corporations, the same attack could also hit home systems which generally are less protected. So, what should you do? Well the Al-Ashraf Schools IT Team (yes, we too had a panic, all hands to deck this weekend to check everything once over!!!) have put together a few tips, that hopefully will help you to stay that little bit safer. (read more)
Click here to find out more about the genius who is Professor Poopenshtinken.
Click here to find out more about what world class detective Stately Holmes got up to.
Click here to find out more about what Wizard Potter got up to during 'Maths Cauldron' week.
Click here to find out more about Mathletics week. Jess Ennis and Mo Farah eat your heart out!
When it comes to solving Mind Boggling Puzzles we think Al-Ashraf is the best. Click here to find out more.
They've come to Al-Ashraf Primary School to teach all our pupils about mind blowing extreme maths.
Hello everyone and a sad goodbye,
Well there we go I've said it, weve just had our last day of our "Magical Maths Training" sessions.
We've got some pretty sad looking Magical Maths leaders here at HQ...I think they've really enjoyed being at Al-Ashraf Primary School – There's no other school like it .. not on this planet anyways !!!
I really, really hope that the children have had as much fun as we've had working with them! Could I just ask if you could send me an email to your school with your feedback of the club? What did your children think? Please let us know as we love reading them. We also take feedback very seriously...it helps us to keep providing the best clubs and making sure they provide more and more value for parents and students.
Look forward to reading your responses.
Tom Ward
Email : info @ al-ashraf.gloucs.sch.uk
For more detailsof the Magica Maths club visit https://magicalmathsclub.com/
Year 6 pupils made a collection of food items for local homeless people during the last week of Term 2.
This was related to work studied during Madrasah as part of the Prophet (SAW)'s generosity and concern for the poor and needy, irrespective of faith and creed.
We are also grateful to Emmaus, Gloucester for kindly sending a representative to speak to the class about their charitable work and also for collecting the items.
Posted: 2nd Jan 2017
We raised a massive £1620.63 for charity.
Al-Ashraf Primary School students took part in Charity Week starting 7th November this year.
Click here to read what the students had to say.
Jaza Khullah Khair to all those who took part, contributed and volunteered for the event.
Our Designated Safeguarding Lead (Deputy Head) attended a training session delivered by GSCB on Wednesday 2nd November 2016.
The training included:
Greater emphasis on the role all staff play in safeguarding
More information on 'early help'
Staff to receive regular safeguarding updates
Safer Recruitment checks
Clarification on role of DSL and updated job description
Internet filters
Teaching pupils safeguarding
Peer on peer abuse
Graduated Pathway
This year Al-Ashraf Primary School pupils were nominated as "Reading Legends" during the "Read for My School" competition.
The competition is a huge success at our school as it improves children's reading skills. It aims to challenge children to read as many books as they can for pleasure, explore new and different types of books and get talking about the books they've read.
Over 400 nominations from schools across England were received, so competition was fierce!
The judges were so inspired by Abdallah Omar that they named him the national winning Reading Legend Voyager in the year 3-4 category!
Abdallah, along with 4 other children, was invited to an awards ceremony on 13th June where he was awarded with a tower of books to celebrate his achievement. This was a VIP event with the author of the Murder Most Unladylike series, Robin Stevens, doing a Q&A and helping present the awards. Furthermore, the cast of the Horrible Histories 'Barmy Britain' show entertained them with some horrible history comedy.
It was an amazing fun filled opportunity for our children. Click this link to find out more.
We would like to thank Mrs Pandore for setting up this competition and accompanying our reading legends to London.
The Admissions Policy for Reception Class at Al-Ashraf Primary School is operated in two tiers.
Tier-one is offered as a priority admission for children who are enrolled at Al-Ashraf Nursery on the date applications are accepted.
Give your child the best opportunity for a place at the Primary School by enrolling them to the Nursery today.
To view Admissions Policy click here.
At Al-Ashraf Primary we take the issue of Internet Safety very seriously and on these pages you will find information that will support you as parents/guardians.
The school in keeping up with its obligations under the prevent duty has established formal links with the local Prevent Team. (PC Adam Large, Prevent Officer, Glos. Constabulary).
The Prevent Duty is the duty in the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015.
We will be liaising closely with the Prevent Team for advice & support.
Prevent Duty Guidance for England and Wales
The Prevent Duty - Departmental advice for schools and childcare providers
Certificate - Channel General Awareness Module
The e-learning includes information on how Channel links to the government's counter-terrorism strategy (CONTEST) through the Prevent strategy. It also provides guidance on how to identify people who may be vulnerable to radicalisation and how to refer them into the Channel programme.


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Sonaakshi Raaj Unveils Her First Flagship Store In Mumbai
You almost can't read (or write) an introduction without mentioning the much loved saree gown when it comes to Sonaakshi Raaj. Her saree-gowns are truly a standout and definitely on my wish list. You can now shop these beauties at the designer's very own flagship store.
Sonaakshi Raaj hosted a champagne evening to celebrate the opening of her first store at Khar in Mumbai. Bipasha Basu, Malaika Arora Khan, Kriti Sanon, Yami Gautam, Prachi Desai, Sophie Choudry, Perizaad Zorabian, Bobby and Reena Raaj, Malvika Raaj, Anita Raaj, Shivam, Yasmin Karachiwala, Vikram Phadnis, Wardha Nadiadwala, Narmada Ahuja, Aneesa Butt, Aparna Badlani, Azmina Rahimtoola, Rahul Rawail, Vikram Bawa, Gachui Homring, Poonam Dhillon, Saumya Tandon, Abhishek Pathak and Sabir Khan stepped out to support the designer.
Spotted Dressing in Sonaakshi Raaj at the event...
Sonaakshi Raaj
Turning Point Cooperative Housing Society Ltd., 16th Road, Khar (West). Telephone No: 022-40046333.
Happy Shopping!!!


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This is what our patients are saying about us...
"I have had chronic low back pain every year that I have been training on my road bike. Thanks to Dr. Crown's care, this year my training has been pain-free!" -Roger
"Dr. Snyder has been an integral part of my daughter's success as a competitive swimmer. She sees him before every meet, and also during particularly grueling practice schedules. Her success is definitely aided with the help of Dr. Snyder and the friendly caring staff at SouthEast Chiropractic."
"I had headaches and back pain. With therapy and adjustments, I have no more headaches and very little back pain." — Angela
"I have trusted Dr. Snyder with my chiropractic care for years. He has consistently applied passion to serving the needs of his patients, which has created a practice that is warm and welcoming." - Renee
"Thanks to Dr. Hoffman, I no longer wake up each morning with pain. I can play golf without suffering afterward and I no longer take any medication or use heating pads after playing. More than anything else, the positive atmosphere at SouthEast Chiropractic has changed my entire mental attitude, and that's a fact!" -Harold
"I [went] for low back pain and a herniated disc. I didn't get relief anywhere else but have improved 100% with [SouthEast Chiropractic's] treatment. Don't ignore pain. Chiropractic care is easy, painless and has given me 100% relief." — Bill
"I used to have neck pain. Since [going to SouthEast Chiropractic] I have greatly improved. [They have] done a great job of relieving my pain. I have seen several chiropractors and [they are] the best." — Gerald
"Dr. Snyder is a kind and compassionate chiropractor. I am a patient myself, and also refer my own patients to him." -Dr. E.
"We brought our daughter to [SouthEast} hoping [they] could stop the progression of her scoliosis and prevent spinal surgery. Before [going], the only relief was found with a brace. After starting care ... the curve has not progressed or worsened at all. We are thrilled." — Sally


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If we are filming any behind the scenes, gear reviews or small video projects, this case always goes with us. It includes everything we need to film and if we need better lighting or audio, we bring the light or audio cases along. There are no chargers or extra cables since this is a "run and gun" setup, we need this case to be as light as possible especially since the Pelican 1550 doesnt have wheels.
- Pelican 1554 (Pelican 1550 w/ dividers)
- Canon 5D Mark III w/ 24-105IS
- GoPro
Source: https://youtu.be/fyC5cbU1iDo


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A well established family run cafe dead in the centre of town. Mother Hubbards has prided its self on no nonsense, homestyle cooking for over 15 years and has built up a fierce reputation for the best Irish breakfast in the whole of Cork. All ingredients are sourced locally and meals cooked to order in an unpretentious and cozy environment. So don't shy and pull up a chair with the locals and enjoy simple and reasonably priced dining.
Open daily
Last updated 2015-09-22
Note: Map is an approximate indication ONLY. Please contact Mother Hubbards Cafe for directions and precise location prior to your visit.


text: FAR-FLUNG CORRESPONDENTS about the Caribbean island of Montserrat, and volcanic activity there… The sound of the first rockfall was almost faint, like billiard balls cracking together. Next came what could have been the roar of a freight train–so close that it seemed that at any moment the speeding avalanche of rock, superheated gas, and ash would vomit out of the mist to engulf us…. Volcanoes, in direct proportion to their deadliness, seem to attract tourists of a particularly foolhardy sort. Pliny the Elder, who was perhaps the most celebrated of them, suffocated in the eruption of Italy's Vesuvius in A.D. 79–killed by curiosity… I had come to the thirty-nine-and-a-half-square-mile British dependent territory of Montserrat to see the Soufriere Hills volcano, which, on July 18,1995, had waked up from a four-hundred-year nap… Writer accompanies guide George Skerritt to take microgravity measurements… The island is revered as a nerve center of the international calypso scene and also as the home of the Beatles producer George Martin's AIR Studios, a recording facility popular with the likes of the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Buffett and Sting… After the eruption began in 1995, an international team of scientists, from Trinidad's Seismic Research Unit, the United States Geological Survey, and the British Geological Survey, arrived to advise it during the crisis… At the twenty-four-hour monitoring facility, in a vacation villa. Dr. Rick Hoblitt, a visiting U.S.G.S. volcanologist, explained that Soufriere Hills had been steadily building a potentially dangerous lava dome which increased the danger of a sudden violent explosion and a massive pyroclastic flow… In the course of evacuations, some eight thousand Montserratians have been displaced. More than three thousand have left the island entirely… Three times daily, between calypso tunes, activity reports from the observatory are read over the government's radio station, to which people listen avidly… Despite their precarious situation, the Montserratians I met had not chosen to attribute any "motive" to the mountain's violence, but instead seemed to be accepting it soberly and practically–perhaps in the hope of calming the volcano by example… If it is the fate of volcanoes to become tourist attractions, then Montserrat is sure to become an A-list destination for thrill-seekers.


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David Fung
David Fung, piano
Described as "stylish and articulate" in the New York Times and having "superstar qualities" by Le Libre, pianist David Fung is widely recognized for performances that are elegant and refined, yet intensely poetic and uncommonly expressive. Mr. Fung appears regularly with the world's premier ensembles including the Cleveland Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, the Israel Symphony Orchestra, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the National Orchestra of Belgium, the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, the New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, the San Francisco Symphony, and the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra, and with the major orchestras in Australia, including the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.
In July 2016, Mr. Fung's highly acclaimed debut with the Cleveland Orchestra at the Blossom Music Festival was "everything you could wish for" (Cleveland Classical) and he was further praised as an "agile and alert interpreter of Mozart's crystalline note-spinning" (The Plain Dealer). In the following week, he performed Rachmaninov's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini at the Beijing National Stadium for their Olympic Summer Festival. Other highlights of the season include performances at Caramoor, Tippet Rise Art Center, Bravo! Niagara Festival of the Arts, and Schloss Elmau, as well as his New York recital debut presented by Lincoln Center's Great Performers. In 2017-18, he has solo recital debuts at the Brussels Piano Festival and the Kennedy Center, presented by Washington Performing Arts, and performances with Orpheus, Albany Symphony, and Marin Symphony. He returns to Ravinia Festival and Lincoln Center's Great Performers this season.
As a recitalist and chamber musician, Mr. Fung is a frequent guest artist at prestigious festivals and venues worldwide. Festival highlights include performances at the Aspen Music Festival, Blossom Music Festival, Edinburgh International Festival, Hong Kong Arts Festival, and the Ravinia Festival. At his Edinburgh International Festival debut, the Edinburgh Guide described Mr. Fung as being "impossibly virtuosic, prodigiously talented... and who probably does ten more impossible things daily before breakfast."
Mr. Fung garnered international attention as a winner in two of the "top five" international piano competitions (the Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition in Brussels and the Arthur Rubinstein Piano International Masters Competition in Tel Aviv). In Tel Aviv, he was further distinguished by the Chamber Music and Mozart Prizes, awarded in areas in which Mr. Fung has a particularly passionate interest. Mr. Fung is the first piano graduate of the Colburn Conservatory in Los Angeles and is a Steinway Artist.


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Walking through Mirkwood
Posted by docbushwell in Botanical Pornography, Habitats and Humanity on May 30, 2009
A few of those Chimp Refuge readers who inexplicably followed the troop to this new already beshatted domain are not doubt familiar with J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, or There and Back Again, soon to be released as cinematic fan fiction under the guidance of Guillermo del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth, Hellboy 1 and 2 — although I think Quentin Tarantino would have been the better choice for director) as The Hobbit Movie. Anyway, I live in Mirkwood or something that approximates it. Let's compare:
More yammering and photos below the fold including flower porn
Sarcasm useful in diagnosing dementia
Posted by docbushwell in Botanical Pornography on December 15, 2008
Scientists at the University of New South Wales, which is right up there with Harvard and Oxford in terms of its renown as a research locus, have proposed that sarcasm may be useful in diagnosing certain types of dementia.
The researchers … say patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) or Pick's disease, have trouble reading emotions and are often unable to sense when someone is being sarcastic.
Being unable to pick up when caregivers are angry, sad or depressed, can be upsetting for those involved and sometimes makes managing such patients a difficult task.
Even though FTD is the second most common form of dementia in younger people (i.e. under 65) it is often misdiagnosed as a personality disorder or sufferers are dismissed as strange, and often ostracised because FTD can lead to sexual disinhibition, rudeness and a lack of empathy.
Because we all know that only clinically demented people are overly horny or act like jerks.
The researchers devised a simple and non-invasive test where patients are merely asked: do you get the joke?
Yeah, that sounds conclusive, all right.
Friday Flower Porn: The V-Word
Posted by docbushwell in Botanical Pornography on June 6, 2008
Courtesy of S.T., intrepid Chimp Refuge photographer on assignment, I offer a cast member of the V Monologues for your consideration.
Friday Flower Porn: More Purple Prose
Posted by docbushwell in Botanical Pornography on April 18, 2008
Now what pollinator could resist this fine beard?
The rest of the flower and a little Darwinism (of the Erasmus variety) follow.
Dropsy, Digitalis and Darwin (Erasmus, that is)
Posted by in Better Living through Chemistry, Botanical Pornography, More Art, Then Science on April 2, 2008
So. It's National Poetry Month. Type that key phrase into the "search" query field on the main page of SB, and you'll find that April brings forth a veritable poetry slam among Science Bloggers. In this fine tradition, I will don my black trousers, turtleneck, jaunty (but dirty) beret, take a drag from my half-smoked Gauloise ciggie and go Boho here with a selection from the original Botanical Pornographer, Erasmus Darwin, Charles' grandfather. Today, I have chosen his ode to digitalis. Cue bongo drums.
Friday Flower Porn: The Movie
Posted by docbushwell in Botanical Pornography on February 8, 2008
Cue boom-chukka-chukka soundtrack.
First, hat tip to loyal reader Suesquatch for calling my attention to the photos that have been making the rounds. In a vain attempt to find credits for the work, I stumbled across a video by LukaIsntLuka (that link is rated SI for extreme self-indulgence but with a certain appealing eccentric banality) on the ubiquitous YouTube.
The film is below the cut. I would say "not safe for work" but these are plants fer Chrissakes. Well, some are rocks, but there you go. The images are also subject to interpretation. For example, I'm not sure whether that's a recumbent and erect eggplant with Peyronie's disease or a vegetative caricature of Richard Nixon at rest.
Friday Flower Porn: Sexing Up Plants with Erasmus Darwin
Posted by docbushwell in Botanical Pornography on January 11, 2008
Finally, the much anticipated return of Friday Flower Porn! For you debauched botanical voyeurs, I have two offerings for you today: a purple posy and turgid Darwinian prose.
Friday Flower Porn: Pump Kin!
Posted by docbushwell in Botanical Pornography on September 28, 2007
Er, make that just pumpkin. This little critter was caught crimson fisted packing her saddle bags with pumpkin pollen recently. I wonder if they fly around looking for some nutmeg and cinnamon, too?
In any case, in spite of the numerous pumpkin blossoms that have been produced in the garden over the past couple of months, not a single pumpkin has emerged. Of course, this particular pumpkin patch was a bit of a lark, coming from the seeds of last year's jack-o-lantern. My guess is that this particular variety isn't particularly fertile, in spite of the bee's knees.
Note: This was originally posted by Jim, but due to a software error appeared well in advance of its scheduled appearance. Our apologies for the offense.
Friday Flower Porn: Purple Gaping Maw
Posted by in Botanical Pornography, Doc Bushwell on September 14, 2007
The deck plantings looked innocent enough. Trite flowers and greenery were stuffed into cheap plastic containers, crammed together like so many commuters in a suburban horticultural subway car. Those frilly purple dames though. If he could only get a closer gander at them. They were so coy. Were they as virtuous as they seemed? He buzzed in for a closer look.
Then it hit him. These were not chaste flowers. Not at all. These were turgid violet temptresses. He knew he was taking his chances. If he flew too close, he would be sucked into the gaping purple…gaaaah!
I'm not sure of the genus & species of this plant, but close-up, it's a little more exciting that at a distance.
Friday Flower Porn: A Double-Headed…
Posted by jim in Botanical Pornography on August 10, 2007
…coneflower Echinacea purpurea. Double your pleasure, double your fun; two heads, as they say, are better than one:
Friday Flower Porn: Hot Brazilian ISO Samba Partners
Posted by docbushwell in Botanical Pornography on July 13, 2007
This spicy babe doesn't need a thong to look good. The plant is colloquially known as Brazilian Jasmine and more formally as Mandevilla sanderi. Its original habitat was in the hills above Rio de Janeiro, but it no longer grows in a native state there. Here it struts its stuff to a bossa nova beat on my front stoop in Einsteinville.
The not so hirsute blossoms declined to comment on their preferred waxing procedures.
Friday Flower Porn: Watch out for those pricks
Posted by kemibe in Botanical Pornography on July 6, 2007
This is an Echinopsis lageniformis cactus of the monstrose variety, a plant that flourishes in the high deserts of Bolivia. ("Lageniform" means "bottle-shaped" or "flask-shaped.") Previously known as Trichocereus bridgesii, the cactus produces a number of psychoactive alkaloids, among them the celebrated hallucenogenic, mescaline.
The monstrose and cristate mutants of this species are reportedly much more slow-growing than their standard counterparts. For obvious reasons, we at the Refuge are not buying that one.
Friday Flower Porn: Sweeeeet!
Today, small, simple, pale white, and dare I say it, almost virginal. But soon, red, swollen and sweet on the tongue.
Yes, we're talking Rosaceae fragaria, strawberries. This particular cultivar is an everbearing variety called Berry Basket. About a half dozen plants sit in two long window boxes on our elevated deck. The berries are fairly small but sweet. They're no match for the Cabot and Cavendish June bearers in the garden, but then there's nothing quite like a little late season fruit to perk you up.
Friday Flower Porn: Sweeeeet!
Today, small, simple, pale white, and dare I say it, almost virginal. But soon, red, swollen and sweet on the tongue.
Yes, we're talking Rosaceae fragaria, strawberries. This particular cultivar is an everbearing variety called Berry Basket. About a half dozen plants sit in two long window boxes on our elevated deck. The berries are fairly small but sweet. They're no match for the Cabot and Cavendish June bearers in the garden, but then there's nothing quite like a little late season fruit to perk you up.
Friday Flower Porn: Maybe a Doc Should Check Those Spots
Posted by jim in Botanical Pornography on June 22, 2007
The common foxglove Digitalis purpurea is certainly one to affect your heart. Literally.
Foxglove is, of course, the source of the cardiac drug digitalin. Ingestion of foxglove can be fatal, so no munching, no matter how much you may be attracted to it. Symptoms may include nausea, hallucinations, and bradycardia (slowing of heart rate).
A much less toxic avenue to bradycardia (usually taken as a heart rate less than 60 bpm) is copious application of aeorbic exercise. Accompanying nausea is infrequent except at the end of particularly grueling races and any hallucinations tend to be pleasant.
This particular specimen inhabits our backyard with numerous brethren. We started several years ago with just a few plants and spread the resulting very tiny seeds about in following years. It now appears all over, sometimes popping up in spots I never expected. The originals were of the color shown above but subsequent offspring have ranged from near white to very deep purple-magenta. The flowers are covered with tiny hairs although they can only barely be seen in the photo (note the sun glint on the one in the lower left). The flower spikes routinely hit three feet in height and we have had some over five feet tall. For whatever reason, they seem to like it here and we're happy to have them.
Friday Flower Porn: Lily Fair
Posted by jim in Botanical Pornography on June 15, 2007
Lily fair, lily fair, around the house, everywhere! Yes, we've got all types: Oriental lilies , Tiger llilies, Daylilies, and the ever-so-shy but pungent Lily of the Valley.
Interestingly, most of those mentioned above aren't true lilies (the exception being the Asian or Oriental types). I can sort of understand the confusion with the Tiger and Daylily due to the blossom, but the the Lily of the Valley? If a true lily is a horse, a Tiger lily might be a zebra, but a Lily of the Valley would be a hyrax.
Not ones to "do it in the road", these Lilies of the Valley like to cluster-flock by the side of our garage, in the shade of some very tall red maples.
Friday Flower Porn: Metal Leaf
Posted by docbushwell in Botanical Pornography, Doc Bushwell on June 8, 2007
Today's offering is a departure from the usual floral genitalia.
I found this specimen at Marquand Park in Princeton. This park sports a variety of ornamental trees. I believe this is a leaf of Fagus sylvatica, the European beech, likely the atropunicea variety, the same species as the "copper beech" shown in todays Orgasmic sparklers and single cask malt Scotch entry. Carotenoids and anthocyanins contribute to the coloration.
The Wellesley College Web of Species has a good description of Fagus sylvatica.
Beeches of both European and American origin have smooth grey bark, and have provided a tempting canvas for graffiti for years. From the Wellesley site:
Because of its soft, smooth bark, the beech is intimately connected with the written (or carved) word. It is believed that the first Sanskrit characters were carved on the bark of Fagus sylvatica. In fact, our word 'book' comes from the Anglo-Saxon 'boc', meaning letter or character, which derives from 'beece', beech.
Even Virgil succumbed to carving beech bark:
"Or shall I rather the sad verse repeat
Which on the beech's bark I lately writ?"
-Virgil, 70-19 B.C.E.
Friday Flower Porn: Zip It Up, Buddy!
Posted by docbushwell in Botanical Pornography on June 1, 2007
What's that hanging out of the Dutchman's trousers?
A Dicentra spectabilis specimen displays its cash and prizes near the Princeton campus.
Friday Flower Porn: Blue B*lls.
Posted by docbushwell in Botanical Pornography on May 18, 2007
Aching, congested and heavy, but not a bee of relief in sight.
Fortunately, there were no blue laws prohibiting this porn shoot near the Princeton campus.
Friday Flower Porn: on hiatus
Posted by docbushwell in Botanical Pornography on April 20, 2007
…until Movable Type will allow me to embed one of my own images, and that nasty Forbidden message stops taunting me.
Or I'll take that as one more hint that this Friday feature's entertainment value is minimal at best.


text:
Beings who only existed in stories.
Bible stories especially.
But I have grown to know that Demons do not necessarily have to be mystical beings.
Demons are the battles we fight, the addictions we can't let go of, the scars from our past that haunt us, the decisions we wished we had made, and the outcome of decisions we made.
I realised this after facing my demon.
You'd think I was addicted to drugs or alcohol.
You'd think I was addicted to masturbation as most people my age were.
But no.
I was addicted to this demon called sex.
It was a craving.
One that needed to be met at every point in time.
I cared less with who or where.
I just wanted the feeling of orgasms.
I wanted the highness that comes with it.
A different kind of highness.
One you wouldn't get from alcohol or drugs.
It was euphoric.
I thought I was "living my life".
But I was dying.
I knew it.
I just couldn't bring myself to face the truth.
You know deep down we all know our actions are wrong, but we never face them.
I was a coward.
But that changed when I decided enough was enough.
I didn't want my addiction to get the best of me anymore.
"I can't continue this way", I said to myself.
I knew I was more than this.
I just didn't know how to be more than this.
So I sought for help.
And I got help.
It was one of the hardest decisions I had to make.
I was deprived of my demon.
I missed it for a while.
I fell back to it at some point.
But I got back up.
I knew I was more than that.
Till I overcame.
Now you've read about my demon.
I know you have yours.
Are you ready to face it and be better?
Reach out for help.
Confide in someone.
And you'll be better.
I know you're more than this.
P.S. This is fictional and all characters and situations are not linked to the author.
Have a good read.


text:
Ukrainians are urging women to "not give it to Russian men" in the bedroom. If that's not sexual politics, we don't know what is. (The Atlantic)
The artist formerly known as Puff Daddy will now be formerly known as Sean Combs, as he's reprised the latter. (Huffington Post)
It's taken 40 years, but KISS has finally landed the Rolling Stone cover it rightly deserves. (Rolling Stone)
A gay clergyman has been granted permission to marry his partner, marking the first of what's (hopefully) a shift in homosexual rights in the eyes of the Church. (The Daily Beast)
It's never too early to talk about Hillary Clinton, but how are presidential hopefuls going to win over millennials? That's the conversation we need to be having today. (CNN)
Now, for some bonus talking points: The Nets about to become the Russian basketball team. Make of that what you will. (The New York Times)
Photo: Courtesy of Не дай русскому.


text:
Tracey Fergeson
Originally born in Michigan, Tracey Ferguson was raised in Texas in a wildly creative family. "I SO belonged in Texas…Yee Haw! [laughs] My dad courageously overcame fantastic obstacles [to become] a physician and my mom is from a long line of ghost writing political journalists; so it was in me to step out and do something a bit against the grain."
After snagging degrees in both Journalism and Communication, Tracey went on to become Marketing Manager for both the Theatre Under the Stars, and the Houston Museum of Natural Science.
The entertainment expert continued excelling as a marketing professional until 2005 when her book club meetings incited inspiration for Jones Magazine. A reflection of the women in her book club, she wanted to create a publication that catered to the 'savvy, professional woman'.
Since 2005, JONES magazine has served as the premier luxury shopping and lifestyle resource for African-American and multicultural women. What distinguishes JONES from other glossies is that we have successfully honed in on the lifestyle and shopping needs of today's contemporary women of color. This group of women shares a penchant for what's new, now and next. When they pick up JONES they see women who look like them living a similar fashion-forward lifestyle. JONES is much more than a magazine; it's an experience that bonds a very diverse group of women together.
With the success and growth of Jones Magazine, Tracey Ferguson is focusing on continuing her balance of family and work. This petite powerhouse has taken a sabbatical from running the magazine as Editor-in-Chief to manage her daughter Kendall's budding music career as a newly signed artist to Atlantic Records. Both Tracey and Kendall plan to set the industry on fire.
A self-proclaimed Hyper-opinionated professional nitpicker and lifestyle pundit, Tracey is intent on making her mark in multiple mediums.


text:
I've been having a hard time with...well...time.
And like the seasons that come and go, my little guy's 'seasons' seem to cycling far more quickly than I'm comfortable with. He seems so much older these days and as I watched him getting a book the other night, I noticed where the top of his head came up to the dresser.
Did I shrink all of these clothes that I've washed and dried a hundred times or could it be that he just grew half an inch over night?
And a week ago yesterday...my grandmother passed away.
I knew this was coming and still wasn't prepared for...letting go.
A deep sense of relief for her peace mixed with an urgency to sift through the memory bank of my mind. Her face, the way she talked and laughed. I clearly remembered her kitchen -- that was everything Nan, and the way she loved with her hands.
Meat pies, partridge berry jam, bread, buns and muffins. Oh and don't forget Nan's pickles.
The smells, the tastes, the coming together at Christmas with family or summer vacation...all now just memories.
I have a hard time with letting go...of these moments that my heart is so immersed in.
Minutes turn into days, turn into months, turning into years. Where honestly is the time going?
And it's never the obvious big moments.
It's the small and subtle, day to day, not so obvious, sometimes mundane, that slowly begin to weave the most beautiful tapestry you've ever laid eyes on. Your life....and theirs.
I can't help and think that a year from now, we'll be in this exact same season again, and you my little boy, will be so different.
I grieved looking through these photos when I realized that there will come a day when you no longer fit in the sled, dad no longer pulling you...that you're already so heavy for me to carry, and everything is changing so quickly before my eyes.
So pay attention.
Linger and love every minute of all the seasons.
What could be more important than giving this moment all of your attention?
It's all we have.
And all we'll have left to remember...
...Rest in peace Nan. Thanks for all the wonderful memories. You are forever in my heart.


text:
Since Fuji appeared on the scene we have been spoilt by intuitive cameras delivering wonderful images & amazing JPEG´s - Hey, some photographers didn't´t even wanna touch RAW´s ! And now that the new 24 MP X-Trans CMOS III sensor is here (Fuji X-Pro2, X-T2 and the new X100F) we get as bonus the ACROS film simulation mode for smoothly gradated black and white JPEG´s with deep blacks and a beautiful film-like grain texture. Interested how to get the best out of ACROS ? Please read on !
Since going digital I´d always missed that "organic" film kinda look I got from my beloved Kodak Tri-X negs (man, I loved that film ...). Now, finally I can get it in digital - just compare below crop of a RAW file, developed in Capture One Pro 10 (left image) to crop from the original SOOC JPEG, which sports a subtle but distinct grain effect:
This grain is amazingly "organic", way better than the more "sterile" digital grain which is applied in post as a generic image overlay eg. with 3rd party software ! ACROS has some kind of magic algorithm built in which selectively applies analogue grain, depending on ISO level and tone - you get "photographic" looking images with wonderful smooth gradations and a subtle "film-like" grain, right off the bat:
To achieve such JPEG images SOOC and still get sufficient "punch" in the shadows I apply following settings in my X-Pro2´s Q-menu (saved as preset):
- ACROS-R film simulation
- GRAIN effect OFF (ACROS has its own built-in ISO dependent analogue grain effect)
- -3 NR (noise reduction)
- DR auto (auto dynamic range)
- -1 H-TONE (highlights contrast)
- +3 S-TONE (shadows contrast for sufficient "punch")
- +1 SHARP (sharpening)
I´ve discovered that the sweet spot (detail rendering vs. micro-contrast vs. grain) for ACROS simulation is around 2000 ISO. To compensate the JPEG´s reduced highlights & shadows recovery latitude (vs. doing RAW development) I set the highlights tone to -1 (increased highlight tonal range) and my dynamic range to "Auto" (automatically adjusts dynamic range to the subject contrast), see example image below:
I´ve really fallen for this ACROS film simulation, and you can't get it any other way except by shooting JPEG´s ! So I set my camera to record RAW´s & Large/Fine JPEG´s. This allows me to speed up my workflow by primarily using JPEG´s and having the RAW as a back-up in case tricky post processing is needed (only in approx. 10% of the cases). Another benefit is that the image review on the camera´s LCD uses this high quality JPEG rather than the embedded low quality one when shooting RAW only
Hope y´all enjoyed this post & there was something interesting in it for you ? Thanks for looking by and of course you´re most welcome to leave me constructive critique and/or questions in the comments section below or on my "about" page !
Best regards & have fun shooting !
I hope you enjoyed reading this post - If you like you can support me by sending me a small donation via PayPal.me/hendriximages ! Helps me run this site & keeps the information coming, many thanks in advance !


text:
In response to The Daily Post's writing prompt: "Be the Change."
What change, big or small, would you like your blog to make in the world? ~ Daily Post 1/2/15
It is highly unlikely that my blog would make any major changes in this world. But if I can make a difference for the better in even just one person's life, it will have been worth it.
This world has too much hate, bitterness, and ugliness. What is needed is people who love, care, and understand each other and the more this happens, then this world becomes a better place.
My blog may not make bells ring or fireworks explode, but when I feel I have made the difference, for the better, in someone else's life, then those bells ring and fireworks explode for me. (And hopefully, also for the other person).
Who knows? Maybe we can end wars, stop hate, bigotry, and bitterness in the world – just one blog at a time. My blog and your blog.
All of us together as one, can make all the difference that this world needs – to change.
Post Idea
In Due Time at Christmas
Why, Daily Post, is my Daily Prompt for today not showing up
on the grid?
Deadlines. I both hated them and loved them during my working life. I hated them because, well, they were deadlines. (We called them, "drop dead"). I also loved them because they were a challenge to conquer. Challenges helped me to learn and become better and it felt good to have them conquered.
Holidays always approached, bringing along a great deal of stress. There were lists to be made, gifts to purchase and wrap. Next, I would have to stand in line at the Post Office to mail them. There were decorations to put up and a Christmas tree to decorate. There were meals to plan, food and ingredients to purchase, then all the food to prepare. There were endless tasks to complete to make sure the occasion was perfect for family and friends. There never seemed to be enough time to complete them all. The stress would gradually increase and exhaustion would slowly consume me.
The celebrations would be wonderful and 'almost' perfect. Next, the disappointment of it all being over would envelope me. There always seemed to be a sadness when the celebrations were over.
Now that I am retired and my children have homes and children of their own, I understand this sadness much better. There comes a time when that houseful of family with hectic schedules and endless things to do, will be gone. The duties will have been handed over to the children to do for their children. Even though there is a sigh of relief, there is even a louder sigh of quiet despair. The despair that says, "It will never be the same again."
The other day I went to the store to make a purchase. As I was standing in line to pay out, I noticed the cashier was heavy hearted. We began talking about the upcoming holidays and she told me she was going to be alone.
"It's okay to be alone for Christmas. We can still have a nice Christmas," I told her with a smile on my face. (We both knew that wasn't completely true). After I had given her the cash, I asked her, "I would really like to give you a hug, would it be okay if I give you a hug?"
She looked at me with tears in her eyes and answered, "Yes," and held out her arms.
I left the store a little happier than when I went in, and something tells me that she was happier too.
Remember those people who are alone this Christmas. Give them a big bear hug and enjoy the happiness that single act will bring.
And… may yours be Merry and Bright.
Daily prompt: http://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/in-due-time/
Ten Minutes of Me
Daily Post Prompt for November 12, 2014: Free-Flow Writing
We are to write for ten minutes about anything that comes to our mind.
What comes to my mind this morning is about writing. I know that I am not a very good writer and submitting my stories is a leap of faith. Actually, probably more than that. I know that there are problems throughout my writing; poor grammar, poor sentence structure, keeping the readers attention, choosing correct wording, improper use of adverbs and adjectives, and on and on.
Inspite of all my misgivings, I have decided that although I do care about all of these writing problems, the best thing I can do for my writing is to submit it – no matter how bad I think it is. No matter how much others may scoff at it, laugh at my poor writing, no matter how embarrassing it is for me. Why? Because I also know that the only way to become a better writer, is to write.
Someday I will be able to submit stories and other pieces of writing that I will not feel inadequate about submitting. Someday, all my incorrect grammar and poor writing will be a thing of the past. Not only will I be a much better writer, I will also have thicker skin.
Those who read my writing and like it makes me feel very good but still leaves me wondering, how could I have written it better? Will people feel comfortable enough with me to give me constructive feedback? I hope so because only by their constructive feedback will I become a much better writer.
I only have two minutes left of this free flow writing and I am asking everyone that reads this to please give me some constructive feedback.
I read everything that comes across WordPress that will help me improve my writing; information that will help me publish work that people will feel is "well done."
Thank you for reading! (The beeper is beeping!)
Extraordinary Language Translator
Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a special power to be able to speak and understand any language in this world? If you could choose any language, other than your own, which would you choose? Well, I am a bit greedy in this matter because I want the ability to speak and understand ALL of them.
While I was contemplating this, I realized this may not be too far off the possibility scale. In time, I think there will be a "gadget" and software that will allow us to do just that. After all, who would have thought, in the 1700's there was going to be automobiles and airplanes? Or, in the 1800's there would such a thing as television and computers, or that we would put a man on the moon? Or in the early 1900's that we could actually be far away from a person and see them and talk to them at the same time? Obviously, someone imagined these ideas sometime in the past. As long as mankind is still on this earth, there will be many more wonderful and amazing inventions.
For this reason, I truly believe that someday we will all be able to understand one another no matter what country we live in or which language we speak. I can see it being part of our computers, iPads, Phones, and tablets. I can also see a headphone you can put on which hears the foreign language and translates it into your native tongue. When you communicate with the other person, you talk in your native tongue and their headsets will do the same for them. Who knows? Maybe it already has been invented but is being fine-tuned before release.
As with every new invention, it's first introduction is of a product that is large and bulky, but in time, it is fine-tuned into something that is streamlined and practically weightless. So will it be with this Extraordinary Language Translator.
Someday, when we are all outfitted with this gadget, you will remember this post and think, "Dang, she was right!" And I will be thinking, "Why in the hell didn't I patent that idea?"
My Special Ingredient
I have a secret. There is an ingredient in my kitchen that I absolutely cannot cook without. When I do try cooking without it, my meals are just "so-so". When I use this ingredient, my cooking is fabulous!
I found the seeds of this ingredient when I was a very young child. Once I planted these seeds, the ingredient started growing ferociously. When it blooms, it is instantly ready to use in my meals.
This ingredient really isn't a secret. In fact, every kitchen has it. Sadly, many cooks choose not to use it.
Personally, I cannot cook without it. Well that isn't really true. I can cook without it but I choose not to. I want my meals to be more than so-so. I want my meals to be fabulous.
Every recipe has "ingredients" specified. My special ingredient is found in-between the lines of those recipe ingredients.
When the recipe says, add 1/4 cup of such and such, my mind sees it as saying, "add 1/4 cup of such and such PLUS a little of this and a little of that."
When the recipe says, "add 2 teaspoons of this," my mind sees it as saying, "add 2 teaspoons of this PLUS a pinch of this and 2 pinches of that."
This ingredient isn't found growing in vegetable gardens. Instead, it is found in the fertile garden of our minds. The seeds are planted while we are very young children. With proper care, the ingredient continues growing, making our personal worlds all the more wonderful. We see more colors, smell more smells, feel more wonderous things and taste many more delicious foods. We become so much more than we could become without it.
Try using this ingredient next time you cook. It is called imagination. Search in-between the lines of your recipes and these special ingredients will jump right out at you. It makes cooking so much more fun, and eating the food much more enjoyable.
Now that my secret is out, everyone is going to be cooking extra delicious meals.
That's okay though. It's been lonely up here at the top.
Daily Post: Ingredients: What is the one item in my home that I cannot cook without?
Me Versus Household Tasks
Today's Daily Prompt today: What household tasks do I dislike doing the most? Why? Is it the task or something more?
Housework makes me think of the age old saying, "Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today."
The first thing I hate doing the most is cleaning the bathrooms. I hate hate hate cleaning the bathrooms. They get done of course. Once I start the task of cleaning them it isn't so bad after all, but I still have a looming dread prior to the task.
The other household tasks, I really don't mind doing and most of the time, I am motivated in doing them. I want my home to be clean and fresh and even more so now that it is on the market.
However, this week for some reason, I have had some lack in motivation. On Monday of this week, I put my furniture polish and rag on top of my old television with the purpose of dusting. Today is Thursday and the polish and rag is still there (and I haven't dusted). This week I am procrastinating.
I think it is okay to procrastinate once in a while and give yourself a break. For me, it is like a pat on the back for ever doing housework at all.
It helps me to remind myself, "IT IS OKAY TO GO ONE WEEK WITHOUT DUSTING. IT IS OKAY NOT TO BE PERFECT. IT IS OKAY TO NOT WORRY WHAT OTHER PEOPLE WILL THINK."
I get wrapped up in, "What if someone comes over and sees dust on my furniture? Or, what if potential buyers come in and see dust on my furniture?"
GUESS WHAT!? THE WORLD WILL NOT END! With that in mind, I think I will simply do blogging today.
Besides, why do today what you can put off until tomorrow?
Hee Haw Hee Haw
The Daily Post challenge: Embarrassment.
When I was working for a large company in our area, I was in charge of our yearly "Awards Banquet" for quite a few years. As part of the Awards Banquets there was always an "employee entertainment" where employees put on "skits" (short plays) for the attendees.
In order to put together the Awards Banquet I had to chair an "Awards Banquet Committee."
One year, several of the people on the Committee came up with the idea to base our skits on "Hee Haw." Hee Haw was a popular weekly television show in the 1960's-70's. We all agreed this would be our theme for that year. Together, we began writing out our various skits. We had a lot of fun writing the scripts and came up with great ideas.
Everyone on the committe had some type of role in the skits, as well as any other employees that we could "rope" into it.
We all practiced faithfully and came up with some great skits, costumes and props.
Finally, the Awards Banquet night came. We were all excited and of course, very nervous. I was particularly nervous because of having to get up in front of so many people and "act." I'm not the type of person that enjoys making a fool out of myself, particularly in front of all the supervisors and managers of this company, including the President and Vice Presidents who came down from Headquarters to attend.
One of the last times I had gotten up on stage in front a room full of people was when I was six years old. Our classroom had to get up on stage and sing Christmas songs for our annual Christmas pageant. I was so scared that I started nervously giggling (instead of singing) and snot came running out of my nose. (I had a cold). That upset me and embarrassed me so much that I then peed my pants. Obviously, after that, I was not enthusiastic about getting on stage in front of a lot of people.
Everyone at the Banquet was dressed very nicely. The women wore long beautiful gowns and the men wore fancy suits. Those of us on the committee wore men's flannel shirts under old worn out denim overall bibs carrying pitchforks and brooms. Our faces were adorned with freckles and we women wore our hair in "pigtails." We looked just like we were suppose to look; hillbillies from the backwoods of the Ozarks.
Because I was the head of the Banquet, I had to go through the evening as if nothing happened.
(At least I didn't pee my pants).


text:
Sears, Roebuck's West Coast management is pushing an expanding experiment in merchandising--the Sears surplus store.Now in the 23 Western states, the giant catalog-retailer has opened 10 of these own-brand discount units.
According to regional spokeswoman Rita Ergas, this is a nationwide trend giving Sears a wider opportunity to liquidate its own broken size ranges in some soft lines and discontinued models in appliances.
"The sales volume itself at present," said Ms. Ergas, "is almost minuscule in percentage terms. But we feel the Sears surplus store idea has several advantages for the future. First, it offers low prices on perfectly good, new merchandise to customers in outlying areas where transportation is being restricted.
"In the Los Angeles district, for example, we have put stores in places like Norwalk and Huntington Beach--away from big-city shopping. Secondly, since almost all of our stocks carry Sears brand names as well as the Sears money-back guarantee, we feel this merchandise should continue to be offered for sale by Sears--not by a jobber who might not back it up."
Sears surplus stores, according to Ergas, have the advantage of separating "orphan" goods from the basic lines carried in retail stores and displayed in catalog pages. Because the surplus goods are isolated in these experimental stores, these can readily be reduced--as expounded in separate surplus store explanatory ads--as much as 60 percent from former prices without affecting regular stocks.


text: Here are a few photos of my work in the pottery over the last few weeks. I've been very focused with my head down and hands at the wheel making lots of pots for a new restaurant. Luca opens on St John Street, London, in November, and is owned by the boys behind The Clove Club. The restaurant will serve Italian food made with a British influence and ingredients, so I've been making pasta bowls, olive bowls and two types of rimmed plate for antipasti. I developed these shapes over the past few months with chef Isaac McHale and I'm excited for them going to their new home. This order is honestly quite large for me and I was worried about managing such quantity, but decided to just pull my socks up and get on with it. Several hundred pieces of pottery later, I'm glad I did.


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Forbes Billionaires: Bill Gates Remains World's No.1, Dangote Africa's No. 1Posted by Finintell on Tuesday, 21 March 2017
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has once again topped the Forbes magazine list of the world's more than 2,000 billionaires, while US President Donald Trump slipped more than 200 spots to 544th, the magazine said Monday.
Nigeria's Aliko Dangote remains Africa's richest man with $12.2 billion net worth and 103rd in the world, while Mike Adenuga is Africa's third richest and 250th in the world, with wealth estimated at $6.1 billion.


text: My amazing boyfriend gave me my early birthday present yesterday. Isn't she beautiful, I couldn't be happier. Just looking forward to a day off with each other now so we can pootle off for a ride and picnic :) He even thought to put ET in the basket! Im a very lucky lady indeed :)


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How do you do it?
How do you go to work, every day, 9-5, 10-6, 8-8? Do you work eight hours? Do you work twelve? Do you work in an office? Behind a desk? With different variations of the same things happening each and every day?
I had grown accustomed to the freelance life of long hours, weird locations, and different teams of people, featuring very little repetition. You are always working and I do mean ALWAYS, but you aren't always working also. My traditionalist 'normal' job parent's still can't fathom being a freelancer and now I think I understand why. You forget! Like a mother forgetting the pains of childbirth, I had forgotten the 'pains' of the 9-5 before I went back to work and now, as I am entering my sixth month (WOAH) of normal employment I am forgetting the 'pains' of being freelance...
Up until today I hadn't really given it much thought. I clock in, I do my job, I clock out. I have healthcare and all that comes with it. But you guys... do you realize what you can do with eight and a half hours of your life!?
I woke up, ate breakfast, went on a copiously long walk, talked to my parents and a dear friend, went grocery shopping, ate lunch, read, prepped food for the week, took a 'nap', showered, AND did some research online- all in the same amount of time that I stand behind a desk each day.
My question is becoming this- is this the best use of my time? If it isn't, what is?
Obviously I need to work. Money is nice and having insurance is pretty damn great. But I can't shake this feeling.
I had a session with a business coach a while back and he challenged me to think about the things that I am uniquely good at and how I can use them to serve the world in a positive way (and, of course, get paid for it). This challenge made my brain run in circles for a week (ok... it's still running but it has slowed down a bit). He set the percolator on the stove and now things are beginning to brew.
Obviously it is too early to expose these fledgling ideas to the world at large. However, one thing I do know is that I miss this. I miss writing all the goings on in my brain. And so, for now, I will tell you that I have committed to coming back here, at least once a week, to write you a note of the goings on in my head, my heart, my stomach (recipes any one?) and my soul.
That being said, what would you like to know? What do you want to read? Hear about? Feel? etc.
Sending you love from the South.


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Ivrea, Olivetti's democratic Factory-city
A Piedmontese destination that the international tourism must relaunch
Above the title: the modern enlargement of ICO Workshops, realized in Ivrea between 1939 and 1942 by Figini and Pollini. There was such an atmosphere in Ivrea during those years that the employees were pervaded by a new feeling of belonging, while entering the factory.
Above: at the release of the new "Valentina" designed by Ettore Sottsas, light portable typewriter from the 60's; the promotional campaign makes use of new and sophisticated communicative techniques, based on the public's tastes but also on the spread of a common need of new culture, which was able to overturn fears and frustrations into positive.
The Ivrea-Museum has been living for some years but it doesn't look so alive like it should be, since you don't hear much about it unless you live in Ivrea.
It's been a while that the press has ignored the matter, and this total silence is hanging over the touristic promotions. Who knows how the situation is abroad, since not much appears from the baedekers, and even less from the magazines dedicated to tourism: maybe it isn't considered a touristic destination anymore?...Not even for cultural tourism?
Luigi Figini and Gino Pollini, drawing of a piece of the long facade made out of steel and glass of the new Olivetti factory in ivrea, in Jervis street , whose construction has been started at the and of the 30's. The new rationalist italian architecture, inspired by the first concrete experiences of Bauhaus, and from the new International teorie of the CIAM (International Congresses of Modern Architecture), moves its first steps in Ivrea, feeding on enthusiasm and spreading vital optimism.
We believe that the situation described isn't really flattering, and that we've got to do more to pay homage to the big Olivetti's democratic dream, and to increase some interest not only in a specialistic but also in a touristic way, around its realizations; those ones that have made Ivrea, strarting from the 30's, a breeding ground of initiatives that involved production logics, work environments, social structures, the idea of free time itself, so that everything could become a new idea of city, a new architecture, but also a new idea of society, and new lifestyles for those working classes become protagonists in the new social structure.
The new Corporate Identity Olivetti, (Xanti Schawinsky , Giovanni Pintori, Marcello Nizzoli, Renzo Zorzi, Walter Ballmer, Giovanni Ferioli), has found, starting from the 50's, the support of a graphic art and a poster designing able to bring a true innovation of taste, making an Olivetti product identifiable for the first time as a product of high technological qualities, affordable for the big masses. In this poster, it becomes a present-object.
Today all of this appears really far, in time and space, and swallowed by history; it seems impossibile that a chapter so important of industrial, social and economical culture of our Country, but also worldwide, has been neglected in the past years, and it is not considered an important touristic destination anymore like it should be (especially since the beauties of antiquity and history of art have stopped being the only key factors for International tourism).
A portrait of Adriano Olivetti in front of the new ICO enlargements, built on the new values of the democratic factory-city, spread by him through the pages of Comunità magazine, which was founded by him in 1952 and was edited by Renzo Zorzi
"Mamivrea" defines itself "Virtual Museum", since it's not constituted by works hanging on the wall of a museum or an art gallery: the city becomes a museum of itself, being made out of buildings that have become part of modern architecture history in the world, and a symbol of a whole age, the one that Adriano Olivetti has marked with its strong personality of enlightened businessman; he has been a specialist in town planning, architecture and design, and the proponent of a "factory ethic" that could highlight the social themes as an integral part of a new way of production.
Ivrea, the oldest wing of ICO workshops (Engineer Camillo Olivetti, Adriano's father,
founder of the factory in Ivrea)
During the period in which Adriano, keeping his father's work alive, started in first person his "utopia of reality", some vanguard productions were being lanched in the field of office instrumentation, with calculators and typewriters that filled up all the world markets, able to unify technologic excellence with aesthetic qualities, and born with the collaboration of engineers and designers famous all over the world.
One of the first advertisement of Olivetti, in the age of ICO officines (Eng Camillo Olivetti), 1896
In that angle of world that Ivreas was, the modern design was born, together with the most innovative methods of the new town planning, based on the principles ratified by the CIAM (International Congresses of Modern Architecture). Ivrea was also a fertile field for the experimentation of Olivetti's modern sociology theories. The city also gave start to really effective experiments in the field of communication and promotion, following techniques never experimented until then.
The Divisumma MC 24 of 1956, deprived of its body. It's been the electromechanical calculator most sold in the world. Divisumma 24 is the result of an extraordinary and complex whole of cinematic devices. Projected by Natale Capellaro with Marcello Nizzoli's design and produced in 1956, Divisumma was a product of technologic vanguard in its times; it had an extraordinary commercial success in italy and on International markets. The technologic innovation and the excellence of the product allowed to apply really gainful prices: in 1957 Divisumma was sold for 325.000 liras, when the cost of a FIAT 500 was 465.000. For Olivetti this machine, kept on the market for about 15 years, became a real fount of profitability: the gross margin, in fact, during the first period was close to 90%. (Source: historical archive Olivetti)
Comunità magazine, edited by Comunità Editions, founded by Adriano Olivetti in 1964, was a chance of success for the most famous names in the sociological, economic, didactic, artistic, urban, architectonic, graphic, planning, historiographical field, in the experimentation of new theories.
Ivrea, the Olivetti establishments in an historical postcard, where you can see Jervis street, with the new Figini and Pollini officines of 1939-42. Many Fiat "Topolino" and "Giardinetta" already appear on the platforms, outlining the consumerist image that modernity was adopting in the eyes of a working-class of people who didn't even believe they could belong to it. The product Olivetti, in this scenery, was assuming the same valencies.
In the social field Adriano was always inspired by the idea of making his employees' well-being an integral part of the new philosophies applied to the factory. In 1956 Adriano Olivetti officially reduced the working hours from 48 to 45 weekly hours, thing that today can make you wince if you compare our social, economical and political situation with that one. This result was one of the components of the general well-being that the factory wanted to offer to the city, almost entirely utilized in Olivetti, together with other benefits that the citizens could enjoy, even out of the working hours.
Olivetti Studio 42, of 1935, designed by Xanti Schawinsky with Figini and Pollini. It's been the first portable typewriter in history.
It was a breeding ground of ideas that met on the pages of the monthly magazine and that measured themselves on a real field, Ivrea, with its factories, its offices, its new schools, its new social centers, its structures for amusement and free time, its new residential districts, born around the one-to-one needs of the big factory and of the working-classes that were emancipating themselves.
Advertisement of Lettera 22, designed by Marcello Nizzoli in 1950. It became famous because it was the work tool of Indro Montanelli (great italian journalist and writer, 1930-2006). The poster was created by Giovanni Pintori.
Peolpe have been talking about Ivrea's virtual museum since, in 1996, the administration of the city has charged some scholars with tuning a project that could recreate the interest for those works that had made Ivrea, starting from the 30's, a unique place. In 2000 this initiative was finally launched, through the activity of Archland association, which was in charge of the works' cataloguing, the museum planning, its communication and services, so a sto create the Virtual Museum of Modern Architecture of Ivrea in 2001 (Mamivrea.it). In 2007, 3000 visitors every month were added, exceeding the threshold of 90 visits every day.
Realized by Figini, Pollini and Fiocchi, this is the third enlargement of Olivetti Officines, of 1949, characterized by shutters made out of cement
What is the Museum collection constituted by? It is mainly made out of buildings with the modern and rationalist achitecture created by Adriano Olivetti with the architects Figini and Pollini. And before them, it was constituted by the factory created by Camillo Olivetti in 1896. The most significant parts of this rationalst architecture are: the first enlargement of the old ICO officines (Engineer Camillo Olivetti), realized by Figini and Pollini between 1934 and 1939. Between '39 and '42 the second enlargement, characterized by the long facade completely made out of glass on Jervis street, always realized by Figini and Pollini. Between '47 and '49 the third enlargement completed the long facade on Jervis street (Figini and Pollini), and added an indoor part (architect Fiocchi).
A picture of the inner court of the new Centre of Social Services on Jervis street, realized by Figini and Pollini in 1959. In the background you can see the officines of the First Enlargement of '39-'41. This building already denotes the new harsh tendency of the visible cement.
Between '57 and '62 the new ICO, and the new body of connection completed the modifications on Figini and Pollini's project while the new modifications were started by architect Vittoria, with Sudi and Experiences Center, with the new thermoelectric station. Then, in 1959, Figini and Pollini created the new social center and Gardella created the cafeteria in 1961.
Ignazio Gardella, the new Olivetti cafeteria , realized in 1961. Once the officines, the daycare center and the new Social Center were completed, Ivrea started to adopt, thanks to Adriano Olivetti, some new structures like this cafeteria, the offices and numerous residential and commercial districts aimed at completing the fatory-city in each one of its parts, follwing the most advanced theoretical models. Ivrea became in a few years a testing ground for new territorial politicies, showing itself as a worldwide model.
Beyond the area of the big factory, in Olivetti Suburb, in 1941 the daycare centre rose up, followed by the first lodgings in 1942, at the hand of Figini and Pollini. Between 1942 and 1947 the Catellammonte distric was realized, with numerous units of experimental lodgings, created by Figini, Pollini, Nizzoli, Oliveri, Gabeti and Isola, all famous italian architects who were commissioned by Adriano Olivetti himself. Between 1964 and '88 the main buildings for offices were realized, at the hand of the architects Bernasconi, Fiocchi, Nizzoli and Valle.
Social and Residential Est Services Center (later become Hotel La Serra) by the Venetian architects Iginio Cappai and Pietro Mainardis. The building, which is similar to the Parisian Beauburg by Renzo Piano in many ways, was constructed in Ivrea about 10 years before.
Between 2008 and today, in Mamivrea (http://www.mamivrea.it/collezione/cronologia.html) some sections regarding Olivetti design and products for graphic and advertising communication have started.
As a crowning achievement of the activity that Adriano Olivetti carried out, in 1957 he was awarded a special prize for the "vanguard action in the field of international business management" by the General Management Association of New York.
Unanimously considered a masterpiece, the shop that Adriano Olivetti has personally wanted in Venice, in San Marco Square, realized by Carlo Scarpa. After decades of neglect, the shop has today been restored and entrusted to FAI, which will open it to the public.
Olivetti ended up reaching an amount of more than 36.000, half of them abroad.
Ivrea, February 5th 2011 (versione originale in italiano)
Enrico Mercatali
(traduzione dall'inglese di Penelope Mirotti)
(traduzione dall'inglese di Penelope Mirotti)


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Inspired by the classic barrel duffels of the 20th Century, we set out to design a timeless and stylish everyday carry. The Bomber Barrel redefines style by presenting itself in a modern and simple barrel structure: pure austere and clean. The Bomber Barrel is an ultra grade nylon duffel bag designed for you - the athlete, the adventurer, the professional, and the minimalist. It was created to accommodate the lifestyles of the ambitious, the motivated and the driven. With its minimal design, lightweight and black-colored nylon ripstop; its versatility is endless. Its black color creates depth and radiates its bearer's extravagant elegance.
The Bomber Barrel was conceived out of necessity. We wanted to create a timeless duffel bag design that could be used by anyone, all the time, and be an essential item to take with you to the office, gym, on hikes, and in all of your adventures. We want Bomber Barrel not to only be used for its functionality, but to be an extension of you. We want it to inspire you, to push you to the limits and enjoy what life has to offer.


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It was a pleasure working with Justin, Christine and Graeme at the West End deli, building their new, mobile-responsive website.
Pretty tricky stuff though, editing food pics first thing in the morning before breakfast...
mmmmm baaaacon.
Please visit their website here: westenddeli.net.au
Many thanks to Jessica Wyld Photography for her stunning food shots. Thanks Jess.


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Posted on February 22, 2017.
By Graham Sweeney
The Independent
A 12-lot residential subdivision is being considered on more than 5 acres in Collierville's Historic District.
The town's Historic District Commission is scheduled to discuss Thursday night whether to grant a "certificate of appropriateness" for a multi-lot subdivision on two jigsaw shaped parcels of land on the east side of Mount Pleasant Road between Natchez and Washington streets.
The Homewood Place subdivision would add 11 additional lots to the parcels while maintaining the existing historic residence at 243 Natchez Street. Two of the nearby "accessory structures" would be demolished in the process.
Private alleys would be added for rear access to the new lots.
"The district," wrote Nancy Boatwright, the primary project planner for the project, "with its irregular lot patterns and home sizes, rural roadways, southern architectural styles and lush lawns, represents a microcosm of small town life in the nineteenth and twentieth century's in Western Tennessee."
If the town's Historic District Commission grants the certificate of approval the Planning Commission will then have to approve the rezoning of the property.
Issues like drainage, detention, infrastructure, sidewalk installation, easements, etc. would then be addressed.
John McCarty with Homewood Place Partners said the intent of the development is to "create a traditional neighborhood with rear load garages and/or carriage houses."
He said four lots would front Washington Street, with three more lots on Mount Pleasant and four new lots, along with the existing structure, on Natchez Street.
The new lots will vary in size from 7,262 to 13,698 square feet. The existing home is on a 26,705-square-foot lot.


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Need plumbing or HVAC assistance? Schedule your service with Wallner today! Call us at (530) 475-6687.


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Thirty-two global fashion and textile companies, including Adidas, Chanel and H&M, have signed a Fashion Pact, committing to achieving practical objectives together in three areas: climate, biodiversity and oceans...
27 Aug 2019
Holmes Brothers, the Afrocentric surfer style menswear brand that originated in Durban, has successfully launched in Japanese retailer The Freak's Store...
18 Jul 2017
TOKYO, JAPAN: Sony will not renew a multi-million-dollar sponsorship contract with FIFA, reports said on Tuesday, as the money-losing firm undergoes a painful restructuring and football's governing remains embroiled in controversy...
26 Nov 2014
TOKYO, JAPAN: Robin Williams fans are asking Nintendo to name a character in the next instalment of its popular "Legend of Zelda" series after the Oscar-winning actor, who died last week.
20 Aug 2014
TOKYO, JAPAN: Sony says that global sales of its newest PlayStation have past the 10m mark in less than a year, a record for the Japanese electronics company.
14 Aug 2014
TOKYO, JAPAN: Japanese videogame manufacturer Nintendo posted a $97 million quarterly net loss, with higher costs tied to sales of its Wii U console hurting into its bottom line as worldwide sales weakened.
31 Jul 2014
TOKYO, JAPAN: Sony shares rose on Wednesday (15 May) after a US hedge fund called for the partial sell-off of its entertainment unit, in a rare bid by a major foreign shareholder to penetrate Japan's staid corporate culture.
16 May 2013
NEW YORK, US / JOHANNESBURG, SA: McCann "Truth about Wellness" global research study reveals multiple contradictions & cultural upsets around the world. More than half of respondents (54%) think that technology is making us healthier while 46% think it is making us sicker; globally 94% of consumers agree brands have a role in supporting their wellness needs.
16 Jan 2013
NUREMBERG, GERMANY: Worldwide, the trend is moving towards high-quality cameras. New products with smartphone features are being offered and are winning an entirely new customer base. Japan, Russia, the Ukraine and Kazakhstan are posting double-digit growth on photo-products, while markets in Western Europe are characterised by increasing value creation.
25 Sep 2012
NEW YORK, US: The 55th New York Festivals International Television & Film Awards, announced this year's winning entries at the 2012 awards ceremony on Tuesday, 17 April at the annual NAB Show in Las Vegas. Geoffrey Mason, senior production specialist for ESPN, was awarded the NYF Television & Film Awards Lifetime Achievement Award.
19 Apr 2012


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Wednesday, April 18, 2018
7:30 am – 6:30 pm, Fifth Avenue Entrance
8:00 am, Chantry Chapel
12:00 pm
On Mondays through Fridays at 12pm we offer prayers and intercessions at the shrine of Our Lady of Fifth Avenue.
12:10 pm, Chantry Chapel
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm, Saint Thomas Church Parish House
5:30 pm, High Altar
Sung by the Saint Thomas Choir of Men and Boys.
6:15 pm, High Altar
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm, Andrew Hall, Parish House
This month, we discuss Walter Miller's A Canticle for Leibowitz.


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Below are a few kind words from recipients of All Faiths Pantry.
Below are a few kind words from recipients of All Faiths Pantry.
|"Would like to take a minute to say thank you to the people who bring my food. I thank God for you doing this. As I am sure every one else does also. Keep up the good work. Thanks to every one at the All Faiths Pantry! P.S. Thanks for checking up on all of us in this very cold weather!" ~ M
|Nov 13, 2012
"My name is Jean ___. I am 62 years old. My husband passed and I had to move to a senior trailer park. I get $1,132.00 from social security. I get medicare with a copay. My 1977 trailer is paid off. I also have a truck my husband left behind. Because of this I am awarded $16.00 a month food money. I am diabetic. I am weak. And my memory is not good. I am also slowly loosing [sic] my sight. I only go out if I have to. I do have good days too. I would really appreciate being added to your list. Thank you." ~ J.S.


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I'm hoping to really knock out several questions I have in my mind with just this one. I've been doing a lot of practice problems on this topic, and although I get the right answers, I really don't know what the answers mean. So there's a theorem that says
If F is a vector field defined on all of $R^3$ whose component functions have continuous partial derivatives and curl F=0, then F is a conservative vector field.
So that's great, but it really doesn't give me an understanding of what that really means.
First of all, what does it mean for all of its component functions to have continuous partial derivatives. I mean I know how to determine if they are or not, but what does it mean if they are all continuous or if some are not, and how does that change what a conservative field is?
Second, what does it mean that the curl F=0, and why is it such an important occurrence that we gave it a special name such as conservative?
And lastly, (this I should know but sadly not), is there a difference in a vector field being defined on all of $R^3$ compared to a vector field being continuous on all of $R^3$. Do those mean the same thing?


text: Amanda + Matt had me come out to his family's farm in rural Tuscola last week for their engagement session. I grew up on a farm myself, so whenever I get a chance to get out again with the dirt, cattle & tractors, I am all for it! And they had the right color of tractors and all (RED), so we were all set. I even texted my dad about halfway through to send him a picture of the "prop" tractor we were using. He said he didn't know I could afford such extravagant props! Ha! Anyway, Amanda + Matt, thanks for having me out to the farm to traipse around the countryside, and for letting me get to know you a little better before the wedding. We've just got to loosen Matt up a bit more in the next 50 or so days. :) Can't wait for it!


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This week I want to talk about the idea of "pushing ourselves." Lately my clients (and I) have been walking that fine line between pushing and surrendering. In an effort to accomplish tasks, pursue our life's work, and make the most of ourselves, we often forget that the Foundation for what we create is self-love and self-care.
Life is not about how others define "success." It's about surrendering and letting go of control. It's at those moments when we are most successful, no matter what our purpose may be.
This morning, I came upon a quotation by Thoreau that really resonated with me:
"If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them."
Instead of approaching this from the task-oriented, boot camp-loving, control freak side, I see this as an invitation to surrender and melt into that yummy space where we give ourselves the love, acceptance, and validation we yearn for. Most of my clients right now have HUGE goals for themselves. They want to change the world! However, when asked why, I find that they often are doing it from a desire to serve AND a desire to be recognized, to feel validated, and to be deemed successful by others. These motivations struggle to coexist. When our desire to achieve is not based on OUR desire, but based on external pressures, we set ourselves up for failure.
In Thoreau's quotation, the Foundation is not the time management skills and desire to squeeze more effort out of every minute. It is surrendering to our inner guide and letting that part of us lead us to building those castles. The same way that a structure needs a foundation, we need to create from a place of abundance, not lack. Proof of this can be seen everywhere:
When you work or give more to others than you do yourself, you feel:
- Sick, not healthy.
- Tired, not energized.
- Stressed, not resilient.
Thus, when we work from a place of lack, we are setting ourselves up for burnout.
Now all that is well and good to say, but living in NYC or "wanting it all" a la Liz Lemon, is not an easy feat. Surrendering to self-love involves a shift in perception.
Here are 3 steps to set yourself up for success and lay the foundation for a Kick Ass Castle:
1. Shut up and listen.
Do you ever have a strange feeling that you shouldn't be somewhere or that something just isn't right? Honor it. Our intuition is begging to send us messages, but often times we are preoccupied with work, relationships, food, etc. to honor it. That moment when we choose to listen and honor that voice is the moment when we hear the old AOL email voice saying, "You've got mail!" It's like there's a message in your inbox and your inner guide was patiently waiting for you to login and check it.
2. Being selfish is sacred.
Let me tell you something about most of my past relationships. I was crazy-codependent. I sacrificed, thinking that by helping others I would be happy. And you know where that wound up? Nowhere. The biggest thing I learned from my relationships with family, friends, lovers, and coworkers is that prioritizing our needs is the only way to ensure our efforts are sustainable. So what does that look like? Asking yourself what you truly need and then being still and silent long enough to hear the answer. The kicker is then following that guidance. For me, it means I give myself:
- Time to meditate.
- The space in my schedule to prepare healthy foods.
- Exercise in whatever way my body needs that day.
- Plenty of quality sleep (even if it means I can't stay out as late as my friends!)
- Lots of water.
3. Feel the crap.
This one is huge! We typically do anything we can to get OVER a problem and not THROUGH it. What's the best way to HEAL? To FEEL! This tip sucks in an amazing way. When we're trying to accomplish, we often ignore our painful feelings because we think it gets in the way of our productivity. I can attest that those feelings need to come out and when they go unaddressed, they will come out with a vengeance. What we resist will persist. So compartmentalize when you must, but remember to open up that box and give yourself the gift of feeling those emotions.
The Takeaway:
The Foundation of any castle, whether that be a job, a project, or a relationship is self-love. To truly succeed, you must surrender and prioritize yourself (your health, your happiness, and your spiritual assignments) above all else.
What are your thoughts on self-love? What's the Foundation of your life? I'd love to hear your story! Share it below in the Comments section!