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About Adam
Background casting projects---
The Rental (2020)
The Birch Season 1 (2019)
The Water Man (2019)
Trinkets Season 1 (2019)
Shrill Season 1 (2019)
American Vandal Season 2 (2018)
Angie Tribeca Season 4 (1 episode, 2018)
Leave No Trace (2018)
Portlandia Season 8 (2018)
Life After First Failure (2017)
I Don't Feel At Home In This World Anymore (2017)
Odd Jobs (2017)
Portlandia Season 7 (2017)
Portlandia Season 6 (2016)
Various commercials (clients include: Nike, HP, OR Lottery)
Adam Rosko is the founder of Adam & the Backgrounds. Since moving to Portland in 2007, he has been the co-founder of Atomic Arts, where he co-produced and directed the wildly popular annual, outdoor stage adaptations of Star Trek, TREK IN THE PARK.
In 2015, he made the transition from stage to film, joining the crew of IFC'S PORTLANDIA as part of the casting department running the background for season 6. The unique situation of filming Portlandia had Adam not only finding and casting the background talent for each day of shooting, he was also on set helping direct each extra's full experience beginning to end.
Adam takes tremendous joy making sure each background player has a satisfying experience being part of the filmmaking team that day. And he should, his first job ever was being an extra in the film of his favorite superhero, 2002's Spider-Man!
After continuing doing background casting for Portlandia Season 7, the 2017 Sundance Grand Jury Winning feature film, I Don't Feel at Home In The World Anymore (now streaming on Netflix!), and various commercials and PSA's, he is breaking out and creating his own company specializing in background talent casting.
Join him on his journey to further enrich the blossoming film community in Portland by being a part of his team delivering the very best background talent to TV/Film & media!
He also has a three-legged cat named Buzz.
Have you registered to join the all new season of AMERICAN VANDAL?! All-new school. All-new crime… https://t.co/2jd9meUAvi
[PORTLAND] The hit NETFLIX series, AMERICAN VANDAL is coming to Portland this winter for its… https://t.co/zaYn1RzhlN
We're live! https://t.co/4HEih5EhoY


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Heart-rending family stories. Traditional and post-modern Shakespeare. Rousing musicals. The past year in San Diego theater was one to savor. Here are the best of the best:
All My Sons , Intrepid Shakespeare Company: At one point during this stirring production, I overheard two women sitting beside me crying. It was understandable: Encinitas-based Intrepid's realization of Arthur Miller's tense drama about the disintegration of a post-World War II family was as deeply involving as anything seen all year. Tom Stephenson and Brian Mackey stood out among a faultless cast under the direction of Christy Yael-Cox. The deceptive tranquility of a Midwest backyard was an ideal setting for a deconstruction of the American Dream.
The Who and the What , La Jolla Playhouse: Despite its copout ending, this world-premiere of Ayad Akhtar's treatise on love, faith and identity was the highlight of La Jolla Playhouse's year. ( The Who and the What began life in 2013 as part of the Playhouse's inaugural DNA New Works Series.) The filial and philosophical tug-of-war between a Muslim-American father (Bernard White) and daughter (Monika Jolly) made for riveting theater in intimate environs, with weighty questions left hanging in the air long after the lights dimmed.
Time and the Conways , The Old Globe Theatre: At first blush, there seemed to be nothing about this time-traveling costume piece to engender so much raw emotion. But the combination of British playwright J.B. Priestly's flamboyant characters and an extraordinary Globe staging by Rebecca Taichman cast an enduring spell. The slow movement of the interchanging sets, accompanied by the gentle playing of a piano, transitioned one era into another, conveying the bittersweet flow of time.
Crumbs from the Table of Joy , Moxie Theatre: A terrific performance by Cashae Monya distinguished Moxie's production of Lynn Nottage's lyrical play. Just a year ago, Monya, in a completely different kind of role, stole the show in Moxie's The Bluest Eye . Crumbs is a tale of connection, and an ensemble that also included Vimel Sephus, Jada Temple and Jennifer Eve Thorn was faithful to Nottage's theme. Moxie Artistic Director Delicia Turner-Sonnenberg, who'd been involved in Crumbs ' very first production in 1995, directed this sensitive staging.
Red , San Diego Repertory Theatre: The Rep's Lyceum Stage was transformed into the studio of abstract painter Mark Rothko, with startling results. Broadway veteran ( The Lion King ) John Vickery truly inhabited the role of the driven but internally conflicted Rothko, with able support from Jason Maddy as the artist's wide-eyed assistant, Ken. When the furious act of painting began, Red became theater within theater, a wildly entertaining but decidedly thought-provoking proposition.
El Henry , La Jolla Playhouse / San Diego Repertory Theatre: No production was more adventurous than this collaboration between the Playhouse and the Rep, directed by Sam Woodhouse. Staged in the outdoor SILO space at Downtown's Makers Quarter, El Henry was an apocalyptic, Mad Max -like retelling of Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part 1 , adapted by Rep artist-in-residence Herbert Siguenza. With its dystopian setting, low-rider cars and gang-war intensity, El Henry was thrilling site-specific theater.
Les Miserables , Lamb's Players Theatre: It's no surprise that Lamb's Players Theatre kept extending the run of this Broadway classic, directed by Robert Smyth and presented in comparatively cozy 350-seat confines. The Lamb's Les Miz was magical, not only for the feat of pulling off such a spectacle in a theater of that size but also for stalwart performances by Brandon Joel Maier as Jean Valjean and Randall Dodge as his relentless adversary, Javert. If only the over-celebrated film version from 2012 had been this exhilarating.
The Pianist of Willesden Lane , San Diego Repertory Theatre: To launch its 39th season, the Rep presented the touring production of Mona Golabek's one-woman show, adapted and directed by Hershey Felder. Golabek, a classical pianist, portrayed her mother, Lisa Jura, and told the story in words and music of Jura's quest to become a concert performer in the face of the Nazi regime. The mingling of earnest Golabek's monologue, her supple keyboards and historical screen projections made for an unforgettable evening.
Next to Normal , San Diego Musical Theatre: Give San Diego Musical Theatre credit for stepping out of its audience's comfort zone and presenting this Pulitzer Prize-winning show about a woman's mental illness and the family affected by it. Bets Malone was a wonder in the principal role of Diana, and 16-year-old Lindsay Joan, as Diana's daughter Natalie, flexes formidable vocal power. Next to Normal is a musical with no easy answers or tidy conclusions wrapped in a bow, but its messages of struggle and survival couldn't be more important.
Much Ado About Nothing , Intrepid Shakespeare Company: Delightful Shakespeare in the summertime, and not even at The Old Globe Theatre. Richard Baird, who recently founded the New Fortune Theatre Company, directed a thoroughly engaging Much Ado , which co-starred Sean Yael-Cox and Shana Wride as inevitable lovers Benedick and Beatrice. Support from Ruff Yeager, Matt Thompson, Tom Stephenson and others, along with tenderly rendered live music, ensured that this was definitely not a show about nothing.
Honorable Mention: North Coast Repertory Theatre's Freud's Last Session, Diversionary Theatre's Bare: a Pop Opera, New Fortune Theatre Company's Henry V, Cygnet Theatre's Spring Awakening.
Write to firstname.lastname@example.com and firstname.lastname@example.com.
Dirty Dancing : Yep, it's the stage version of the 1987 film about a teenage girl and the oh-so-sexy dance instructor with whom she's smitten. Presented by Broadway San Diego, it runs Jan. 6 through 11 at the Civic Theatre, Downtown. broadwaysd.com
Gidion's Knot : The intellectual single mother of a son who's killed himself confronts his teacher in a tense meeting that plays out in real time. Opens Jan. 2 at Patio Playhouse in Escondido. patioplayhouse.com
Steal Heaven : Famed activist Abbie Hoffman is in Heaven, running a boot camp for dead radicals who want to head back to Earth to be effective change agents. Presented by San Diego Repertory Theatre, it opens Jan. 3 at the Lyceum Theatre at Horton Plaza, Downtown. sdrep.org
Now playing
The Nutcracker : This is not the ballet! This is an updated musical-theater adaptation of the holiday classic, about a little girl who goes on a fantastical adventure as she grieves for her deceased brother. Through Dec. 31 at New Village Arts in Solana Beach. newvillagearts.org
Win Place or Die My Jockeys are Killing Me : Mystery Café's latest comic-caper dinner-theater production is set at the Thoroughbred Club at Upson Down Race Track. It's ongoing at Imperial House restaurant in Bankers Hill. mysterycafe.net

subset: commoncrawl


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• Glassdoor published its list breaking down the best companies of 2018.
• If you want to land a job at one of these organizations, you're going to have to bring your A game to the interview.
• Using data from Glassdoor, Business Insider took a look at what it's like to interview at these beloved organizations.
Considering the generous perks and envy-worth office environments of some of the companies Glassdoor listed in its annual Employees' Choice Awards, it's understandable why you'd be tempted to submit your résumé to a few.
But how easy is it to rock a job interview at these places?
Business Insider looked at Glassdoor's numbers on the percentage of interviewees who reported a positive experience, as well as the difficulty level of each company's interviews for the top 25 best companies to work for.
Glassdoor asks reviewers to score the interview difficulty out of four, with four representing the hardest possible interview.
Here's what we found:
Interview difficulty: 3.0 out of 4
83% of interviewees had a positive experience.
Sample interview question: "Tell me about a time that you were leading a project that you had major stakeholders that were not in support of the project — tell me how you handled it and the outcome."


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11 February 2010, Vienna, Austria
To promote discussions around an Arms Trade Treaty by collecting and integrating national and regional contributions from Europe to the international process and contribute to identifying the scope and implications of a treaty.
Partners: Austria, European Union, Fondation pour la Recherche Stratégique (FRS, Paris), Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI, Stockholm).
Support from UNIDIR's core funders provides the foundation for all of the Institute's activities.
In addition, dedicated project funding was received from the European Union.
Speaker(s): Christiane Agboton-Johnson, Fabio Della Piazza, Consuelo Femenía, Mathew Geertsen, Paul Holtom, Elli Kytömäki, Perrine Le Meur, Daniel Prins, Bernardo Mariani, Alexander Marschik, Malcolm Russell, Christian Strohal, Ivan Zverzhanovski
This conference is part of the project Promoting Discussion on an Arms Trade Treaty


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You don't have to be a high-end collector to enjoy the professional services All-Star provides
We Can Do It All
From the front end of a NASCAR vehicle to small collectible coins and pins, All-Star Framing has built creative, custom frames and display cases in all sizes, shapes and styles to exhibit a massive lineup of items that deserve a distinct showcase in which to be enjoyed.
We Specialise In Custom Displays
Custom framing and display case options include lighting, engraving and rotary devices, and items can range from jerseys to artwork, photos to sports memorabilia and anything else in between.
Contact Us for more info or a quote on your own personalized frame or display case today. (480) 659-0941


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Report: Grammar don't mean nothing
LONDON, Jan. 19 (UPI) -- A British government-funded study has concluded schools are wasting their time teaching English grammar, The Independent reported Wednesday.
Researchers at the University of York said there was no evidence students' writing skills improved with grammar training, and suggested schools let children "learn to write by writing."
It recommended teachers concentrate on teaching children to combine short sentences into longer ones. This would improve their writing skills. It would also be more interesting.
Not everyone agrees.
"A knowledge of grammar and English language always must come before creativity," said Nick Seaton, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, a group which champions a return to traditional education methods.
He went on to describe the report as "absolute nonsense."
Formal grammar teaching is part of the national literacy strategy introduced in 1998. Teachers are required to teach children aged from 3 to 7 about nouns, verbs and pronouns. Older school pupils are expected to learn the names and functions of all the main parts of speech, as well as the grammar of complex sentences.
'Monday, Jan. 24' seen as worst day
CARDIFF, Wales, Jan. 19 (UPI) -- Winter in Wales is seldom pleasant and a Cardiff University tutor has used a mathematical formula to warn residents the worst day of the year looms.
Cliff Arnalls said foul weather, debt, fading Christmas memories, failed resolutions and a lack of motivation all will conspire to make Monday, Jan. 24 an especially miserable day, the BBC said Wednesday.
Arnalls' misery index is measured by the formula 1/8W+(D-d) 3/8xTQ MxNA, where W is weather, D is debt -- minus the money (d) due on January's pay day -- and T is the time since Christmas.
Q is the period since the failure to quit a bad habit, M stands for general motivational levels and NA is the need to take action and do something about it.
Arnalls also calculated the effects of cold, wet and dark January weather after the coziness of Christmas coupled with extra spending in the sales. He found Jan. 24 was especially dangerous, coming a whole month after Christmas festivities.
Any energy from the holiday has worn off by the third week of January, he said. By Monday, most people will have fallen off the wagon or abandoned the nicotine patches as they fail to keep New Year's resolutions, he added.
Hairdressers to offer counseling
VICTORIA, Australia, Jan. 19 (UPI) -- The City Council in Victoria, Australia, is training its hairdressers to act as drought counselors.
The city will offer a course that will teach hairdressers how to appropriately listen and respond to distressing client chitchat, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported Wednesday.
The council's drought officer, Marion Matthews, says hairdressers have an opportunity to help farmers and their families.
"They're in a very unique position because most people have a half hour to one hour appointment with them," she said.
"It's really important that those people are skilled in appropriate listening and responding to people."
Ring lost for more than 25 years found
DENVER, Jan. 19 (UPI) -- A city worker cleaning a giant storm drain near Denver found a class ring that had been lost more than 25 years and located its owner.
John Carlson, the Arvada city worker who found the gold 1978 Pomona High School ring, took it home and meticulously cleaned it, KMGH-TV, Denver, reported Wednesday.
He then used the Reunion.com Web site to find the owner, Gerry Duran, who lives in Del Norte, Colo.
Duran's mother picked up her son's ring Tuesday and recalled how it was lost more than 25 years ago.
"Gerry was getting ready for school and was going to take a shower. He took his class ring off and he dropped it and had just flushed the toilet so it went down (with) the stool," said Duran's mother, Margie Johnson, who also praised Carlson and his fellow workers.
"I think it's remarkable," Johnson said. "You hear about employees going the extra mile. I can't imagine wanting to even clean a ring that's been in the sewer system for 28 years."


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On June 17th, 2015, CCOG vice president, David Sablan met with Archdiocese of Agana Chancellor Fr. Adrian Cristobal. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss conditions of any future meetings between CCOG officials and Archbishop Apuron to bring about healing and unity within our Archdiocese. After the meeting, Mr. Sablan sent Fr. Adrian Cristobal an email confirmation of the conditions discussed at the meeting for his ready reference and discussion with Archbishop Apuron (see email below). Fr. Adrian responded, stating he will get back to Mr. Sablan. To date, CCOG has not received any response from the Chancery on whether the Archbishop will agree to the conditions put forth by CCOG to begin healing and unity, and to restore the trust the Catholic Faithful have in Archbishop Apuron.
On Jun 18, 2015, at 12:22 PM, David Sablan wrote:
Hafa 'Dai Fr. Adrian,
As we discussed yesterday, the topics of concern that must be resolved for harmony, unity and peace to be among our Faithful are:
- Reinstatement of Msgr. James Benavente and Fr. Paul Gofigan to their parish pastorship in Agana and Dededo, respectively;
- Public apology by Archbishop Apuron of all persons hurt by allegations put forth by the Chancery against these two priests;
- Rescinding the Deed of Restriction of the Yona property and building now used as the Redemptoris Mater House of Formation Seminary, the former Accion Hotel, so the property is returned back to the Archdiocese of Agana, Corporation Sole;
- Archbishop Apuron must remove himself from membership and affiliation with the Neocatechumenal Way movement, as his membership there is divisive, creating a "privileged class" of "Catholics" with a minority group within our Church; and
- Provide CCOG, Inc. with complete audited financial statements of the past few years of the Archdiocese performed by a CPA firm such as Deloitte Touche or Ernst & Young to show where funds come from, and how funds are used within the Archdiocese of Agana. We should be free to question the auditors with regard to any of their findings. We would be pleased to then report to the Faithful our findings and confirmations. This is transparency.
There are other issues of concern but the above are the ones that we need to see some definitive action from the Archbishop to begin the process for unity and healing.
Any meeting henceforth between representatives of CCOG, Inc. and the Chancery must be frank and based on the truth. Minutes will be taken and the proceedings may be recorded. As I advised there is a tremendous lack of trust and confidence with the Faithful in any pronouncements from the Chancery.
Father, as I said, if and when we do have another meeting next week with our respective representatives, and we determine that your team is not truthful with us, we will cease to discuss matters and will move forward with our own plans unilaterally.
We await your comments and advice.
David J. Sablan, Vice President
Concerned Catholics of Guam, Inc.
From: Adrian Cristobal
Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2015 1:55 PM
To: David Sablan
Subject: Re: Meeting – 6/17/15
Dear Dave,
Thank you.
I will have to review this and will get back to you.
God bless,
Fr Adrian
Sent from my iPhone


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How We Help You
At Advanced Physical Therapy, our training includes using our unique experiences, voices, and touch to promote your healing. No two patients are identical, so we customize therapies to fit your individual needs. Even our most challenged patients discover that they can restore muscle and joint function with hands-on therapy, a personalized movement program, and health education.


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Dear brothers and sisters -
It's not everyone…and it's not all the time. But sometimes I see it in a congregational member's eyes, or hear it in someone's voice…the hurt, the pain, the bewilderment, the anger. Where did my congregation go? I just want it to be normal again!
Grief and loss are hard, any way it comes to you. The loss of a job. The loss of your health. The loss of a loved one. The loss of a pet. And yes, the loss of a church as you once knew it. Sometimes it takes time to get over it. And sometimes you don't – at least not 100%.
My sister called me this week. Andrea and her husband recently retired and took a road trip to visit some National Parks south and west of their Sacramento home. One stop was Devil's Postpile National Monument, a place we last visited with our family over 50 years ago. After a hike to the top, as my sister started her descent, she just burst into tears – overcome with grief at the loss of my parents. My Dad has been gone 47 years. My Mom has been gone 41 years. Devil's Postpile was a great memory, but with such a layer of sadness.
If you are hurting – and even if you are not – I hope you'll make every effort to join us for worship this week on World Communion Sunday. We need to remember we are not alone, that we join with God's people across the globe to receive the grace of Christ. Some traditions call the communion meal eucharist. Dale Bruner points out that one word is two little words in Greek -eu meaning "good", and charis, usually translated "grace" or "gift", but Bruner connects to our word "caress", or "touch", or even "hug". And isn't that what we all need – God's good hug in Jesus Christ – to get us through all the hard times?
Be the church!
Pastor Heidi


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The Green European Journal is an editorially independent publication of the Green European Foundation. Its printed editions, released two times a year, take an in-depth look at topics from a range of different perspectives. The Journal also publishes analysis, debates, and interviews on its website year round, linked to current affairs and general topics of significance to the European green movement.
The European Venue for Green Ideas
The Journal was launched at the start of 2012 with the objectives of providing a platform to help debates and ideas to travel across Europe's cultural and political borders, and of contributing to the construction of a vibrant European public space.
The Journal seeks to provide a venue for European-level debate among Greens. To this end, the Journal collaborates with partner publications and individual contributors across Europe. We also organise regular events in connection to the themes explored in the publication, such as workshops, debates, and seminars.
As issues of inclusivity and diversity lie at the heart of the project, the Journal publishes articles from a wide range of different voices and sources, and in over 19 different languages.
Join the debate!
We hope that you find the content of the Journal to be useful and stimulating. We're always looking for new authors and new ideas, so if you'd like to get involved in what we do, you can find out how to go about it on this page. If you'd like to send us your comments or questions, please do so using the contact information provided. Make sure you don't miss out by following us on facebook, twitter, and subscribing to our monthly newsletter.
If you have a question about the journal and writing for the journal, please read our FAQs.


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Supreme Group Rebrand
Supreme Group a global logistics company tasked TBG with helping to take their brand to the next level. After competitive research we were tasked with coming up with the complete brand story, creative, photographic style, website and brand guide. I played a major role in the creative direction and development of all creative materials including web design.


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HP's New Consumer Desktop
Looking for a digital camerafriendly home PC that won't break the bank? Consider the new HP Pavilion a500 Desktop PC Series. The front-mounted FireWire port, USB 2.0 ports, and 9-in-1 media card reader make it easy to move pictures from your digital camera to the PC. Then the included HP Image Zone Plus software lets you download, manage, edit, share, print, and archive photos from within one easy-to-use application. Buyers can choose from a range of Athlon, Celeron, or Pentium 4 processors to suit their computing needs.


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Error: "421 4.7.0 [TS01] Messages from x.x.x.x temporarily deferred due to user complaints - 126.96.36.199" when sending email to Yahoo
This error indicates Yahoo is seeing unusual traffic from your IP address and/or that emails from your mail server are generating complaints from Yahoo Mail users.
Our recommendations
- The error is temporary. We encourage you to retry sending emails 4 hours after encountering the error.
- If you're not the administrator of the mail server in question, we suggest you contact the administrator directly to discuss the error.
- If you're an administrator of message content and mailing policy and you've deployed significant changes or you've received this error for more than 48 hours, we ask that you review outgoing messages for objectionable content or practices.
- See Yahoo's recommended guidelines for bulk mail senders and postmasters and note we don't disclose further information about our filtering practices.


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Call for Submissions: make/shift ISSUE 11
http://www.makeshiftmag.com/submissions.htm CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: ISSUE 11
Make/shift—a magazine creating, documenting, and engaging with contemporary feminist culture and activism—is seeking submissions for its eleventh issue (spring/summer 2012).
For Issue 11, we are seeking
--investigative journalism --photojournalism --critical essays --personal essays --profiles of feminists activists, artists, projects, and thinkers --fiction and poetry --art and photography --book, maga/zine, film, art, and event reviews --hybrid pieces
We are also seeking content for the following regular make/shift features:
--Everyday Actions: scenes of feminist action in everyday life (100 to 400 words); the theme for Issue 11 is family (chosen, of origin, or however you want to define it) --Documents: documents of feminist discourse in progress (doodle-covered meeting minutes, e-mail exchanges, and the like) --Make/Plans: listings for our international calendar of upcoming events (submit info for events occurring between March and September 2012) --Participate: opportunities for people to get active in art, activist, and community projects (deadlines should be ongoing or between March and September 2012)
Make/shift pays $.02/word plus two copies.
Send pitches or full-draft submissions to email@example.com. Please submit no more than three poems or two pieces of prose at a time. Feel free to pitch multiple ideas at once. Please send previously unpublished material only. We accept pitches and submissions on a rolling basis, but priority for Issue 11 will be given to those received bySeptember 10, 2011.
Please note that as a small, all-volunteer collective that publishes only two magazines per year, it sometimes takes us several months to make submissions decisions.


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Charleston has two brand new parks to be proud of: the small Theodora Park at the corner of George and Anson Streets, and the large Gadsdenboro Park between Washington and Concord.
I recently took a tour of Gadsdenboro Park. I wanted to point out the scale of the park. In this aerial plan you can see the approximate scale in relation to Marion Square.
So it is a decent sized park. Kudos to the City for making this big investment. This is a major amenity to the City and will help foster more development in this area.
This aerial shows a more detailed view of the park layout.
I would call this a ring park or a donut park. Or to be more descriptive, it is a park that is open in the middle, with a bunch of stuff around the perimeter. Similar to Marion Square. Perhaps the landscape architects out there can chime in with a more academic description of this park type?
The center area has been designed so that two soccer fields will fit. Since I wasn't going to be playing soccer, I spent my time walking around the perimeter looking at all the park features.
Here are some of the things I saw:
Lots of Pretty Flowers
Sure seems appropriate for a park right? They did a great job at planting a variety of landscaping. Lots of great colors.
Cozy Seating
The perimeter of the park includes lots of great little seating areas.
I met this great couple. Darby and Daniel have lived in this area for a long time and were happy to see this park get finished. They were spending the afternoon with their grandchildren. We talked a lot about all of the development occurring in this area. I bragged to them that my firm LS3P designed the bathrooms for the park. They thanked me and said they were very happy about the bathrooms!
Yay Bathrooms!
This may seam silly, but these little restrooms are a big deal. It is very hard to come across public restrooms in the city. For example, if you walk all the way down to the Battery and have to tinkle......well....you are out of luck.
Luckily the City wised up and had these facilities included in the plan. Hats off to my colleagues at LS3P, Brian Wurst and Ben Anderson for the design of this nifty little building.
Playground Equipment
There is an area in the park for the kiddies.
This sculpture is pretty rad. From a distance it appears to be a dinosaur skeleton. Upon closer inspection it is stainless steel seagulls. Of course I am a knucklehead and didn't take notice of the artist. A little help?
No Love for the Skateboarders!
The problem with skateboarders is that they like to grind on corners. So these brand new precast planters are likely to get covered in skateboard wax and get scuffed up. Hopefully that doesn't happen. But history says it will.
Great Materials
The concrete path along the perimeter was a little disappointing, but the hand-made bricks and granite edging are very nice. The precast planters look good and will last for a very long time.
More Pretty Flowers
I included these because Danielle wants to know what kind of flowers those are. Little help?
There are a couple of chess boards on the North side of the park. Danielle challenged Danielle to a match. Danielle won.
Did someone say bocce?
There is a great looking bocce court on the North side. Personally I am more of a beach bocce player. My strategy is to throw the bocce balls as far as possible. Turn it into a strength competition.
So what did I think?
Gadsdenboro Park is very attractive and it's biggest strength would be the variety of features. Places to play, places to sit and things to admire. A wonderful amenity!
My biggest criticism would be the lack of shade. The brand new trees are tiny and the shade structures are minimal. And I don't know if you noticed....but it is HOT in Charleston.
In five years those trees will be large and lush and it will be a different story.
I encourage everyone to make a trip down to Gadsdenboro park and tell me what you think.
Steve Ramos, AIA
Haven't gotten your fill of Charleston's beauty? Here are a few more goodies:


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Title: Unfinished Business
Series: Bastards of Boston Novel
Author: Carina Adams
Genre: MC Romance
Release Date: July 26, 2017
"Passionate, gritty, and emotionally gripping! Carina Adams returns to her writing roots and delivers one hell a phenomenal story!" - Read and Share Book Review
"I'm not sure what I was expecting going in to this books. But it surely wasn't this beautiful masterpiece!" - Linda from Goodreads
"I was completely and utterly blown away by this book." - Melissa from Goodreads
The Bastards of Boston live in a world most don't understand. They follow their own rules, only accountable to each other, the innocents they protect, and the people they couldn't save.
As president of the Bastards MC, Robert Doyle is the man behind it all. It's his responsibility to keep his club safe, to be the smartest man in the room, and be ten steps ahead of everyone. He'd give everything he had, and sell his soul to the devil, to protect the ones he loves.
Until Rocker comes face-to-face with the pain he thought he'd buried. Old wounds are ripped open. Revenge consumes him. Once again he's the teenager desperate to avenge his daughter's murder and nothing else matters.
He calls me his angel, but the halo I wear caught fire a long time ago. There is no line I won't cross, no law I won't break. I'll do whatever it takes to save him. If the road to hell is paved with good intentions, I'll happily burn.
When past and present collide, we're in for one hell of a bumpy ride.
Although this can be read as a standalone I would read the others in this series first to better understand the characters.
If you follow my reviews you know I'm very very picky with my MC reads. I either love it or hate it, theres never a inbetween for me with this genre. Luckily this was one of the love ones.
I actually didnt expect this book to be as emotional as it was. Nor did I expect to love a book that was set mainly in the past as I seem to struggle with books set in the past or that skip between past and present.
Rob and Cris are what make this book for me, the emotions and journey they go on was addictive, I could not put it down as I had to find out what happened next. Such a crazy and whirlwind of a ride yet addictive at the same time you will feel all the emotions reading this book.
An avid reader who loves epic and unconventional romance, Carina has an unhealthy obsession with Jason Statham, loves the sounds of Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson, is the crazy friend your mom warned you about, and believes one day she will go through the stones to meet Jamie Fraser.Carina has been writing and creating characters for as long as she can remember, allowing her to fall in love with the next man of her dreams with every new story. None of which are anything like boring Prince Charming. Thankfully, fate stepped in and granted her the ultimate wish - a life full of men. Carina lives in a picturesque New England town with her husband, the man who ruined the thought of all others, and two amazing sons who always keep her on her toes.


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- You Are In:
- Wastewater
- Be Careful What You Put Down The Drain!
Be Careful What You Put Down The Drain!
Our sewers are designed to cope with human waste and toilet roll - and nothing else! Putting unsuitable items down the drain can cause sewer blockages, which can in turn lead to sewer flooding.
Guernsey Water run an annual maintenance program to clean the sewers and often find deposits or partial blockages of FOG (Fats, oils and greases). The majority of blockages are caused by cooking fat and oil, which as well as being damaging to private pipe work, cool down in the sewer and congeal forming a thick layer around the pipe which prevents sewage from flowing. This can cause damage as well as flooding.
To stop this, its important to BIN IT DON'T BLOCK IT!
- Keep an empty metal can to pour oil and grease into. Allow the grease to cool in the container before throwing it in the bin.
- Use a paper towel to wipe out the remaining grease in the pan prior to washing.
Guernsey Water has to frequently clear out sewers around the Island when they are blocked by unsuitable products being flushed down the loo or washed down the drain.
Wet wipes and sanitary items contribute to some of the worst blockages and can lead to sewage flooding in people's homes.
The only items that can be safely flushed are human waste and toilet paper.
Items that cannot be flushed include:
- Baby wipes
- Sanitary towels
- Fats, oils and grease
- Cotton buds and cotton wool
- Hand towels
- Tampons
- Nappies
- Kitchen roll
- Food waste
- Incontinence products
- Colostomy bags
- Plasters, bandages or condoms
- Dental floss
BIN IT DON'T BLOCK IT! Flyer [550kb]


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RNs and NPs registered to practise in Ontario and employed in a Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) priority area may be eligible for a Nursing Education Initiative (NEI) grant to support their education and professional development.
Eligible education:
- Core courses of baccalaureate programs in nursing or graduate level courses leading to a master's degree or PhD in nursing or related discipline, and provided by an accredited college or university (must be on OSAP list)
- Courses that lead to a specialty certificate in a nursing program related to an MOHLTC identified priority clinical specialty, and provided by an accredited college or university (must be on OSAP list)
- Professional development courses and workshops, delivered in Ontario, in clinical, management or leadership areas identified on the MOHLTC priority clinical specialty list and that are three days or more in duration
Key Information
- Apply online.
- Monitor the status of your application online.
- Apply within 90 days of the last day of education: funds are limited, and late applications will not be considered.
- The grant amount is calculated based on the tuition paid (yearly maximum $1,500) according to the criteria provided by the MOHLTC.
- The amount paid in grant(s) is subject to income tax and T4As are issued to recipients for the year in which the grant(s) were paid.
- RNs and NPs employed in one of the MOHLTC priority areas are eligible
Applications must be completed using the secure online form on myRNAO.ca. You do not need to be an RNAO member to register for a free account on myRNAO.
Once you have applied, you can monitor the status of your application(s) by logging in to your myRNAO account.
Other eligibility criteria:
- Applicants can access a maximum of $1,500 in grants per year.
- The grant calculation will only consider the tuition paid for the course. Other expenses such as books, course material, salary replacement, student fees, travel, meals, and accommodations are not eligible expenses for the grant.
- Completed applications must be received within 90 days of the completion of the course.
- The course must meet the MOHLTC eligibility rules below and is subject to the MOHLTC priorities.
- Program criteria can change without notice.
- Applicants must be registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario and entitled to practise as RNs or NPs, both at the time of their application and while participating in the education session.
Grant calculation method
Grant calculation will be applied according to a pre-set algorithm (please see examples below):
- The application will be scored according to the MOHLTC criteria.
- A previous funding adjustment factor will be applied to take into account Nursing Education Initiative (NEI) grants received by the applicant in the previous year.
- A funds availability factor will be applied to take into account the funds available for the volume of eligible applications received.


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Tuesday, October 20, 2009
A pic from the front row of Cardone's Skull Island Show !
This is a pic of the stage they built me for the show .....notice the Guillotine ... I tempt my fate with it 4 times a night in front of a blood thirsty crowd of drunken maniacs!!! How wonderful !
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109283 Vita Spa TOPSIDE, AUX, AX10, WITH OUT OVERLAY
109283 TOPSIDE, AUX, AX10, With Out OVERLAY. Used on some 700 Series models. Does not include overlay. Overlay must be bought separately. Uses Overlay part# 109260.
This Spa Side / Topside Controller is a non-returnable electronic part. It cannot be returned or exchanged and so make sure it is the correct part. If you are unsure send us a picture of your part and we will identify the correct part.
This is a special-order part that will be coming directly from Vita By Maax Spas. Please allow 7-12 business days (excludes weekends and Holidays).
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- Item #: 109283
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Want to cheat on Oz Broken Kingdom? Read On!
Oz: Broken Kingdom is a game offered by Nexon M, and is compatible with all devices, both Android and iOS devices. The concept of this fascinating game is to battle the mighty darkness that has found its way into the peaceful land of Oz. You can join the kingdom's new heroine, Ophelia Shen, along with other legendary heroes of Oz-like Tin Man, Lion, and Scarecrow to restore the balance of magic, stop the evil, and preserve the kingdom's real glory.
In the Oz: The Broken Kingdom, the Land of Oz got its lore expanded which makes incredibly fascinating. The goal of this game is to save the Land of Oz from Great Darkness. Oz: The Broken Kingdom is a simple combat game, fast reflexes and the right attacks at specific periods are all automatic.
The key to overcoming the darkness that has befallen the Land of Oz is the knowledge of how to fight and when to attack. You need to use magic dust to do this, as well as collect corresponding cards, but the game's reasonably generous on this front. Upgrading abilities also provide experience for your team level. Upgrade your team level and you gain more energy, plus your whole team is substantially stronger. It's a convenient way to level up a little faster than simply through battles. Focus on special attacks and moves. You'll find some specific abilities tie into your playing style better than others.
You can gain up to three stars per level. The more stars, the more bonuses you earn. Sometimes it's worth going back to replay earlier stages for such advantages.
Don't forget to check your quest log. There are typical objectives that you can earn as you play. They can be things like using gem crafting a certain number of times or simply leveling up.Before each battle, take a look at what your recommended star number should be.
You should evolve each hero into powerful new forms, upgrade their unique abilities to devastating enemies and harness powerful gemstones to become a force for Good the likes the Kingdom has never known.
Oz: Broken Kingdom provides hours of fun for any individual who plays it. Unleashing special powers, fighting to save the realm, acquiring miraculous abilities and, dominating opponents in the land of Oz are kind of the to-do activities in the game which make the gameplay
amazingly entertaining.
Our newly released Oz Broken Kingdom Hack provides users with unlimited emeralds and essence. Emerald and essence are mandatory for the required and expected fun from the gameplay.
This Oz Broken Kingdom cheat is unique and real. All you need to do is to click on generate, fill in your gameplay username and, select the amount of emerald or gold coins you need. Afterward, open the game on your mobile device to check and confirm if what you required has been generated. Have fun!


text: SUSPECT PLEADS GUILTY IN BARONA CASINO CARJACKING CASE carjackingBarona CasinoKirell RybarevBarona carjackingCrime Beat February 1, 2012 (Lakeside)—Kirell Rybarev, an East County resident, pled guilty today to felony carjacking and felony battery on a peace officer. A judge at the El Cajon Courthouse sentenced him to five years and eight months in state prison for stealing a car from the Barona Casino in Lakeside after punching a valet attendant. Read more about SUSPECT PLEADS GUILTY IN BARONA CASINO CARJACKING CASELog in or register to post comments


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Dulljam is our annual game jam where we invite readers to create games about the most boring topics imaginable. It is plain and dry and will never end.
Zak Toms - Essay Writing Simulator: 2014 Edition
"It's probably not that great in comparison to other people's entries, but I had a laugh writing it and hopefully people will enjoy it. Oh and it has branching pathways and multiple endings depending on how you played, like a proper game!
Also, I know you've had a hell of a lot on getting them all out but do you happen to know where my shirt is?" -
Will Templeton - Sock Sorting Simulator 2014
"I'm colourblind and sorting similar-colour socks is a bloody chore and now you can all share in my pain." -
Nick Allen - The Wonderful World of Shaving
"It is about shaving and is a terrible tale of false hope." -
Owen Grieve - Game For Dulljam
"I messed this up a bit by putting a quite nice-sounding bit in, but don't worry it's well hidden." -


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Photographer: Samuel Cheung
photos by Samuel Cheung
April 6th 2014
2 weeks after the fire. Easter /Pascha Світлий празник Пасхи Господньої Saint Elias Church 20 April 2014 (Part-1)
During his visit to Toronto Patriarch Sviatoslav visited St. Elias one month after the fire.
KONTAKT Ukrainian Television Network. visits the church site after the fire.


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Donau Zentrum Wien, a major shopping centre in Vienna, is using Walls.io to run a combined Instagram and Facebook hashtag campaign for a big scale model casting competition. In the first phase (February 1 to 15) anyone could enter the competition by posting a photo of themselves to Instagram using the hashtag #DZ_casting. Or they could post the photo and hashtag to the Donau Zentrum Facebook wall instead.
Out of all the entries the shopping centre initially selects 25 photos and presents them on Facebook. Starting today, the community can vote for their favourites right there on the Facebook page. The five people who garner the most likes from the community will automatically advance into the finale. Five more finalists will get handpicked by the Donau Zentrum Jury.
We're talking to Lisa-Maria Neuhofer, Marketing Manager of Donau Zentrum, about how to pull off such a massive campaign.
Lisa-Maria, how many entries have you had on Instagram and Facebook?
In total we received around 1.500 applications: 1.200 entries on Instagram and 300 entries on Facebook.
Which criteria are you using to pick the semi-finalists from all the entries?
We've assembled a professional jury who will be evaluating the models on the day of the finale. They are also the ones making the first selections. For the Top 25 we're looking for exceptional models that fit our new magazine "Fashion 20TWO", which is launching in April.
How and where did you promote the competition, and do you feel like people easily understood the casting process using a hashtag?
We orchestrated a big campaign including billboards, print ads and online banners. Additionally, we sent out newsletters, push messages via the app and a press release. On our digital channels, we communicated the casting on the Website, on Facebook and on Instagram. In our shopping centre, the competition was promoted via digital screens and displays, flyers and by our model scouts who actively searched for and approached suitable candidates. The use of the hashtag was easily understood by all participants, and we received the first entries only a few minutes after the launch of the first Facebook posting.
What are the advantages and the challenges of doing a hashtag campaign?
What we love is the possibility of the specific search for hashtags. It's a challenge to keep track of all these great applications, and Walls.io is making it a lot easier. Thanks to the hashtag campaign it is fairly simple to collect and evaluate all postings via Facebook and Instagram. However, it is crucial to place the hashtag across all types of media to ensure the viral distribution in different channels.
How are you planning to use Walls.io at your casting finale at the end of February?
We want to integrate the Social Media Wall as a live stream on a screen during the finale at the shopping centre. The members of our jury, especially the juror who is a blogger, will post their very own impressions of the day as well. In addition, we will encourage the audience at the finale to post their own photos on Instagram and Facebook using the hashtag #DZ_casting. As a reward, we will be raffling off shopping vouchers among all the posters.
The #DZ_casting campaign again shows that in order for a hashtag campaign to be successful it is essential to communicate the hashtag crossmedia. It also helps to offer little incentives for posters, in order to encourage participation, the way Donau Zentrum Wien is doing with the shopping voucher raffle.
Starting February 18 you can cast your own vote for the finalists on the Donau Zentrum Wien Facebook page and you can head to Donau Zentrum Wien on February 28 to follow the #DZ_casting finale live. Just make sure you post a pic for us using the hashtag 😉


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About Us
Delightful and original shows based in Bristol, will travel to Bath, Somerset, Gloucester and beyond…to any child or adult who needs entertaining.
Amy Lloyd-Jones' puppetry career started 10 years ago. She has performed at festivals, children and adults' parties, schools and libraries from Somerset to Manchester to London.
She has extensive teaching and theatrical experience and makes all her puppets and props.
Following a break to raise her son, and a move back to the West Country, Amy has returned to her profession and is currently touring with the fantastic casts of "Susie Sparkle" and "Mavis and The Green Giant from Outer Space". Lots of audience participation, singing and laughing followed by a chance for everyone to see how the show operates. Amy is also developing drama and puppet making workshops to accompany the shows.
Shows are performed from a bold and funky wooden booth.
"Mavis and the Green Giant was thoroughly engaging and really got the childrens' imagination going. Their faces were filled with wonderment throughout the whole show" Flora Johnstone (drama teacher)
"Highly entertaining and lots of suprises!"
Margaret Paul (spokesperson for Sefton Park PTA, Bristol)
"A remarkable one woman show…I just could not believe there was only one person behind all the different characters and voices, singing and explosions! I enjoyed it just as much as the kids did!"
Marina Jonus (Wedmore First School, Somerset)


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By Fred Wallace
Hi, this is Fred Wallace with " Off the Wire ".
Are you primed for the Super Bowl ?
Every year the game gets hyped to the max, but in the case of Super Bowl 52 between New England & Philadelphia, there are a number of compelling storylines.
You'll notice I said New England & Philadelphia and not the other way around, as I firmly believe the Patriots are the smart choice.
That's not to say the Eagles don't have a lot going for them.
Philadelphia, like New England posted a 13 & 3 mark on the regular season and got to the big game by thumping Minnesota on their home turf, the very same turf they'll be playing on this weekend.
You might guess my faith in the Patriots is based on Tom Brady being at quarterback for them, as opposed to Nick Foles for the Eagles.
Not so.
Brady is a still-playing legend in the game, but castoff Foles has done a terrific job filling in for the injured Carson Wentz for a month & a half and there's no reason to suspect he'll be anything less than his best in the Championship Game.
In the end, my money is on New England because they've got a date with history & destiny staring them in the face.
1) the Patriots are looking to become back to back champions.
& 2) the Patriots are seeking to become the first team to repeat as Super Bowl champs since they themselves won the Super Bowl in 2004 & 2005.
New England. That's my call for Super Bowl 52.
I'm Fred Wallace


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ahead of us
It gets cold enough to need a sweater most nights. Labor Day is over and a grand fall is ahead of us.
A lot has happened in the past few days here at the farm. We lost a hen to a natural death. I walked into the coop one morning and there she was on the straw, as if asleep. Walking in on a dead chicken used to mildly bother me. Now I simply grab a pair of gloves, pick her up by the feet, and walk her far away from the farm into the woods.
Besides the dead chicken—a lot more is happening which I hope to write more about soon. I think I'll have some big announcements in the next few days but right now I need to heed Hemingways's advice and remember "You lose it if you talk about it" But stay tuned. Big things are in the works. Mind you, nothing huge. There's no television network asking to make a TV movie about me (headline news was walking a dead chicken into the woods, if you recall...) but smaller things are happening. And the farm gate feels closer every time it does.
Two people have reserved a spot at the Strum & CLuck so far. Two other people emailed with great interest but when I wrote back to them I was told my email was rejected. So if you wrote and I didn't get back to you, please try again and send me a phone number or another way to contact you. If you are looking for lodging check out Sandgate's information-packed website for lists of inns.


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We bring you awesome templates that would make your visitors convert to clients.
Your photography website should be clean and organized with amazing colors and features to boost the elegance of your services being sold.
Your website not only needs to be stunning but also should ingeniously highlight your services in a compelling and first class manner. You can have your services and details well designed with the builder.
Most of your visitors are going to be mobile users, so we optimize how your website will look to mobile devices with awesome images and forms.
Awesome looking images and galleries, get updates and emails from your phone.
Engage on the social level. Boost your website with regular content and attractive offers to draw more visitors. The power of social media cannot be underestimated.
SEO is essential part of the platform and easy to set up in minutes. Be search friendly and social trendy!


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This beautiful paper is a statue my dear Father had been painting. I couldn't finish it for him. Eventually I put it in the yard under Curly, our Twisty Baby Honey Locust tree. Over the years it has developed the most awesome character from the weather. He never could have imagined that his artwork would be seen around the world one day! Pretty cool! He didn't live to see the internet age. He also didn't accept Jesus Christ as his Savior, unless there was a dying conversion at the last moment. Don't let this happen to you. Don't leave this pain and fear for your loved ones. Repent and be saved TODAY and be faithful until death!!! Enjoy the paper.
These are some of my autumn kits available for purchase very affordably. Click images to see details and Buy It Now buttons.Here's your freebie paper - enjoy!If you download, please leave me a comment at the bottom of this post as I have disabled 4shared comments. This helps me to know what you like for the future and please support this blog by shopping my PayPal store. God bless you!
Download here. Check out my TERMS OF USE here.
The password is jesuschristislord.


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Business Rental Properties
1. You Need Start-Up Capital
Even though you might be renting property to a business instead of a family, you're still going to become a landlord. You'll need capital to invest into a building that is zoned for commercial purposes and then you'll need to make sure that property is up to current codes.
2. Most Business Rental Properties Need To Be Built Out
In order for a business to function, there are certain requirements that will need to be met. A retail establishment may need a built-in register desk. A restaurant would need kitchen equipment, venting, and fire suppression equipment included with the building. You may need to front a portion of this build out cost to attract a renter.
3. You Need To Be Proactive About Collecting Rent
A majority of business tenants are very good about paying their rent on time. When a business isn't going well, however, it is easy to see how a renter might try to get out of paying the rent on time. You can always pursue a business owner through the legal system for your contracted income, but that means notices, collection activities, and the ability to confront a delinquent renter.
4. There Are Always Going To Be Certain Problem Tenants
Most business owners want to stay on the good side of their landlord because they're trying to create a win/win situation. Some tenants, however, can only be classified as problem tenants. Some stop paying the rent. Others add upgrades to the property that weren't agreed upon. There will be some that cause damage to the property. Being able to handle those issues and remove a business when necessary must become part of what you're comfortable doing.
5. Evictions Are Never An Easy Thing
When a business owner fails to meet their payment deadline, you want to give them every chance to succeed. You might even need to improve your building because it is getting run down. The problem is that any eviction is going to cost you money. It's never an easy thing to keep paying out into an asset without income, but sometimes that's life with a business rental property.
6. Keep Up With Your Taxes
The taxation on your income can get to be very complicated when you've got a business rental. There are certain costs that depreciate and then there are certain costs that are write-offs on the first year. Not only do you have your income taxes, but your property is being taxed as well and commercially zoned properties tend to have higher rates than residential properties.
The Landlord Tenant Board: What it is and When it is Needed
Many times, there are issues between a landlord and a tenant that need to be resolved but are failed to do so, because both parties have gone too far with their actions, and have retaliated in the... More
How to Create a Residential Lease Agreement
Where there is a landlord, there will also be a tenant, and it is no surprise that these two parties can only work together once there is some sort of agreement, contract or a binding deal in place.... More
The Best Sites for Rental and Lease Agreement Templates
Many landlords find it difficult to write and draft a lease agreement. Since every State has its own general template, it can also be difficult to make sure your lease agreement meets all the criteria... More
The Best Landlord Associations for Landlords to Join
If you're a landlord and want to manage your business in a better way, you should endeavor to get in touch with those industry experts who have the experience and the skills to help you do it. This is... More
Unpaid Rent
When you talk about the most common disputes arising between landlords and tenants, nonpayment of rent has to be there in the list. People rent their properties to earn money, and when a tenant... More
Section 8 Landlord Pros and Cons
If you have ever rented a living space and have had to move many times, you'd already know how difficult it is to find decent, affordable and secure living premises. A person has to deal with the same... More
Landlord Inspection Checklist: Rights, Letters, and Reports
Landlords across the state have the prime responsibility to make sure they inspect and up keep their property once they have rented it to the tenants. Inspections can occur monthly or yearly depending... More
Landlord Maintenance Costs and Responsibilities
Everyone knows that a landlord's job is not easy. These folks have specific duties and responsibilities that they must perform in order to be fair. Being a landlord is not a position but it is, in... More
When to Withhold Tenant Security Deposit
Asking for a security deposit is quite common in property dealings. The reason to ask for a security deposit is to have something that would help a property owner recover some of their financial... More
How to Report Bad Tenants
Bad tenants are the worst-case scenario for any landlord; no one wants them, and if someone has them, they want them out in any way possible. There are times when landlords try as much as they can to... More


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Wells Gray RV Resort & Campground
Located in one of British Columbia's largest provincial park, Wells Gray Golf Course & RV Park is the ideal destination for family trips, reunions or retreats. With Hemp Creek running alongside our RV Park, we offer fantastic creek side and open campsites that feature power, water and private firepits. Campers have a choice of various campsite sizes to suit their particular needs. For you convenience, we have updated, deluxe shower houses and a coin operated laundromat available for use. We also accommodate for larger groups and have a fantastic gazebo and large common firepit for the group to socialize. Our large property offers open green space for kids to run around and families to play recreational games. Being located in a provincial park we are near to many activities, including canoeing, rafting, kayaking, fishing, hiking and more! Join us for a challenging round of golf at our championship golf course.
Lodging/Campground Information
|Total Sites
|Camping Rates
|RV Full service sites $45 No power $35 Tenting $30
|Rooms with Kitchens
|Total Rooms
|Room Rates
|$300.00 - $1,200.00


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French Grain Sack Typography Table/
While shopping at the thrift store, this French Provincial table practically screamed 'take me home.' I had it in mind for a particular client to accompany a set of vintage striped bergere chairs. I actually had it completely painted in my mind before I ever got it home.
It was in really good condition but we were completely puzzled why this was attached. Leave it to my 7-year-old to figure out that it fit a smart phone perfectly. Hmmmmph.
Since I was painting the table to match these chairs, I went with the same color scheme.
Starting with General Finishes Driftwood as the base, I added Winter White glaze lightly on top.
The original top was damaged marble so since it needed replacing we chose to build a wooden replacement. Look at the perfect fit! Triple Threat does high caliber work.
A grain sack stripe was the perfect accent to coordinate with the bergere chairs. Using painter's tape, I measured off the width I wanted for the stripes.
Then I filled in the stripes with General Finishes Lamp Black.
I am pretty proud of how perfectly I taped that grain sack stripe!
Once the stripe was completely dry, I went over the entire new top with the Winter White glaze to soften the finish.
It seemed like it was missing something (more racing stripe than grain sack) so I decided to add a stenciled wreath. Nine is my favorite number and has a lot of significance in our family so I spontaneously free-handed that inside the wreath.
My client decided to put a floor lamp instead of a table between the bergere chairs so this French beauty is for sale. Although, I've been thinking it would be a perfect printer table for my office. I'd finally have a pretty place to store all my paper. ;)


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Whether you are considering medication for BPH or erectile dysfunction, or debating between radiation therapy and surgery for prostate cancer, you need to review your options carefully. This report, which provides an objective assessment of the risks and benefits of various procedures, can help. More than a primer on the most common prostate conditions, this unique publication includes roundtable discussions with experts at the forefront of prostate cancer research.
A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test measures the level of a protein called prostate-specific antigen (PSA), which is made by cells in the prostate. Doctors use the test to detect prostate cancer. Since its introduction in the late 1980s, the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test has been hailed as a way to detect prostate cancer in its earliest, most curable stage. It has been called one of the most important tests a man can have. So why are many experts now stepping back, and even discouraging the use of widespread PSA screening?
Concerns about PSA screening
The shift comes on the heels of a growing body of evidence that shows the benefits of PSA screening may not outweigh the potential harm of unnecessary treatment. PSA screening has always been somewhat controversial. That's because PSA tests often alert doctors to the presence of cancer, but there is no precise way to determine, definitively, whether the cancers detected would have ever caused symptoms or harm during a man's lifetime. One study estimated overdetection to rise with age, from 27% at age 55 to 56% by age 75.
Despite this, to be on the safe side, most men with elevated PSA levels will opt for treatment, frequently suffering side effects such as incontinence and impotence. Increasingly, there are questions about the effectiveness of PSA screening for prostate cancer. Just how many lives are actually being saved? And is the emotional and physical toll on the millions of men who are being overdiagnosed and overtreated worth it?
What the research says
Two long-awaited studies—one conducted in the United States and the other in Europe—were supposed to help settle the debate over the value of PSA testing. Instead, the trials, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in March 2009, seemed to come to opposite conclusions. The Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial reported no survival benefit with PSA screening and digital rectal examination, but the European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC) found a 20% reduction in prostate cancer deaths. The ERSPC study estimated that for every life saved, 48 men are treated and 1,068 men are screened.
Although experts are somewhat split on the value of PSA tests as a screening tool, there is widespread agreement on two major points: overdiagnosis and overtreatment rates are far too high, and there is an urgent need to refine PSA testing to be a more effective screening tool. The principal investigator of the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial and his colleagues wrote an editorial in The Journal of the American Medical Association in October 2009 that took a closer look at the issues. They pointed out that while the amount of prostate cancer diagnosed has risen dramatically since PSA testing began, there has not been a proportional decrease in the number of men with metastatic tumors. It appears screening may be detecting a disproportionate number of lower-risk cancers, while missing many of the most aggressive tumors, which may advance too rapidly to be found with periodic testing.
The debate over the effectiveness of PSA screening has quickly filtered into the offices of general practitioners and urologists. On a daily basis, confused men are asking their doctors: "Should I have a PSA test or not?"
What you should know about PSA screening
- Screening doesn't lower your risk of having prostate cancer; it increases the chance you'll find out you have it.
- PSA testing can detect early-stage cancers that a digital rectal examination (DRE) would miss.
- A "normal" PSA level of 4 ng/ml or below doesn't guarantee that you are cancer-free; in about 15% of men with a PSA below 4 ng/ml, a biopsy will reveal prostate cancer.
- A high PSA level may prompt you to seek treatment, resulting in possible urinary and sexual side effects.
- Conditions other than cancer—BPH and prostatitis, for example—can elevate your PSA level.
In the past few years, more and more men who undergo PSA screening and later learn that they have cancer have opted to pursue active surveillance. This strategy involves frequent monitoring of the disease through PSA tests and biopsies—and postponing treatment until the cancer shows signs of increasing its activity. In short, these men choose to live with prostate cancer until it advances, sometimes avoiding potentially life-altering side effects for several years.
PSA testing guidelines from the American Cancer Society emphasize discussing the pros and cons of prostate cancer screening with your doctor, including your individual level of prostate cancer risk, before having a PSA blood test.
Does hormone therapy cause dementia?
Q. The Women's Health Initiative found that hormone therapy wasn't helpful for avoiding dementia; there was some suggestion that it might even cause cognitive problems. Am I at risk for dementia by continuing hormone therapy?
A. You're right about the results of the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS), the largest clinical trial to date of the effects of hormone therapy (HT) on cognitive function and dementia. Women ages 65 to 79 took HT (estrogen alone or estrogen combined with a progestin) or a placebo. After four to five years, the researchers found that taking HT didn't improve cognitive function. Moreover, the women who took combined estrogen and progestin were twice as likely as the placebo takers to develop dementia.
These findings don't square with animal and laboratory studies suggesting a favorable effect of estrogen on cognitive function. And there's strong biological evidence that estrogen is important for brain function in women. Estrogen receptors are found throughout the brain, and many interactions take place between the brain and the reproductive endocrine system. Some research suggests that ovary removal during hysterectomy increases the risk of cognitive problems, presumably due to the loss of estrogen.
So what accounts for the WHIMS results? Some researchers think the problem is in the timing; they suggest that HT is more likely to benefit the brain if it's started in early menopause. A five-year clinical trial called the Kronos Early Estrogen Prevention Study (KEEPS) is now addressing this question. Results are expected in 2011.
Based on what we know right now, HT won't improve your thinking or stave off dementia. But could it increase your risk for cognitive problems? Here the evidence is less compelling. We do know that taking HT increases the risk for several serious conditions, including blood clots, stroke, heart attack, and breast cancer (when estrogen is combined with a progestin). Unless you have burdensome hot flashes or vaginal atrophy that can't be controlled any other way, I suggest that you taper off HT, which is recommended only for the short-term relief of such symptoms. There are several non-hormonal, risk-free strategies that may help your memory and thinking, including these: get regular exercise; keep learning — through work, hobbies, or pursuits such as reading; get enough sleep; and review your medications, to make sure you're not taking anything that could interfere with your thinking.
— Celeste Robb-Nicholson, M.D.
Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch
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Writing Tip 6: "Write a lot, and read a lot."/
Instead of getting blocked by my outstanding post on Outlines, here's another tip: Keep reading.
When I did my Ph.D., I used to think anything that did not push the dissertation forward was a case of Thesis Procrastination. Procrastination is many things, and it might be helpful, but my self-diagnosis was misguided. I was wrong because I included reading for pleasure in the list of what counted for procrastination.
In fact, throughout graduate school, my friends and I complained that we had stopped reading novels.
The quality of our writing suffered, as a result.
Writing Tip 6: "Write a lot, and read a lot."
The advice is not mine; it is straight out of Stephen King's On Writing. King call's it "The Prime Rule."
The first part of the rule should be obvious: To be a good writer, you have to write. The second part of the rule, read a lot, is as important.
What I didn't understand in graduate school is: To be a good writer, you have to read good writers.
King writes:
"You have to read widely, constantly refining (and redefining) your own work as you do so. It's hard for me to believe that people who read very little (or not at all in some cases) should presume to write and expect people to like what they have written, but I know it's true. If I had a nickel for every person who ever told me he/she wanted to become a writer but "didn't have time to read," I could buy myself a pretty good steak dinner. Can I be blunt on this subject? If you don't have the time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.
Reading is the creative center of a writer's life. I take a book with me everywhere I go, and find there are all sorts of opportunities to dip in … Reading at meals is considered rude in polite society, but if you expect to succeed as a writer, rudeness should be the second-to-least of your concerns. The least of all should be polite society and what it expects. If you intend to write as truthfully as you can, your days as a member of polite society are numbered anyway."
In graduate school, we learned to read with purpose. We learned to read to know the literature; to engage in arguments; to understand a theory; to be in dialogue with someone; to start a conversation; or to do our own work. It was work.
I read to go to class and discuss the readings; I read to teach classes; and I read to break down arguments and write essays. Today, I spend hours reading for work. I take lots of notes. Part of the work of a scholar is to read within a discipline. The problem? Academic writing is full of passive voice, adverbs, and, let's be honest, awkward turns of phrase.
For scholars, what matters are ideas and arguments. The writing—as writing—takes second place. I would wager, however, the best scholars are the ones who combine solid argumentation and solid writing. I think a consequence of reading just within a discipline, is that we internalize bad writing.
King's antidote, reading widely, is worth a try. This means reading for pleasure, not work. It might be fiction, narrative non-fiction, memoir, or, in the case of what I do, certain forms of ethnographic writing. Every day, I try to take the time to read for no immediate purpose.
I read at night after I've stopped work for the day. A few weeks ago, I was reading John Vaillant's The Golden Spruce. Last week, I read Philip K. Dicks's classic The Man in the High Castle and F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. At the moment, I am enjoying Ursula K. Le Guin's Left Hand of Darkness.
Ursula K. Le Guin—who I discovered via her excellent Steering the Craft: Exercises and Discussions on Story Writing for the Lone Navigator or the Mutinous Crew has a list of books that have changed her life. It's as good a place as any to start.
I don't read to break those book's down or deconstruct them. I do it for fun, and to observe Stephen King's Prime Rule: Read a lot.
One should never read instead of writing, but one should also never write instead of reading.


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The early symptoms of hemorrhoids commonly escape our attention. Small spots of blood that follow a stool and mild itchiness are some of the first signs that you are developing piles. This condition becomes more problematic as your rectal veins increase in size.
Without proper treatment, you might soon have to face awkward public situations. Before your piles become a daily nuisance, you should check these natural solutions for distressing symptoms associated with hemorrhoids:
The combination of salt and warm water creates a natural relief for rectal wounds. Piles are inflammations of your anal veins caused by intense pressure and constipation. To alleviate the burning sensation that comes with the first stages of this condition, you can use this brine-type of remedy two or three times per day.
For a more efficient cure for hemorrhoids, you should use Venapro – a reliable treatment for anal inflammations that does more than just take away the rectal pain. Its 100% natural composition ensures a rapid shrinking of your piles and soothing relief from the constant itchiness.
If you can get your hands on pure Aloe Vera extract, you should use it in the first stages of piles development. This plant has potent anti-inflammatory properties that help you forget that you have hemorrhoids for at least a few hours after you rub it on your swollen anal glands.
Try to avoid creams and lotions that have not been proven to treat piles. Even if they contain a hefty dose of Aloe Vera extract, they will not offer more than a short-time relief from the itch. To prevent the possible embarrassing situations that arise from hemorrhoids, a much safer and efficient solution is Venapro. This clinically tested remedy for anal inflammations reduces the size of your swollen glands and maintains your health in the long term as a result of consistent treatment.


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Mark your calendars, Monterey, because the first week of July will be busy. Between 4th of July celebrations, a sleepover at the Aquarium and the Scottish Games & Celtic Festival, we at Believe Inn Monterey and Carmel Hill Lodge are wondering how to fit everything in!
A. 4th of July events
Celebrate the 236th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence by:
- Watching a parade at 10 a.m. through downtown Monterey.
- Enjoying a BBQ in Caledonia Park from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pay just $5 for kids and $10 for adults.
- Tucking into a BBQ beginning at 11 a.m. at City Hall on Pacific Street. Free admission.
- Partaking of free food and games at Devendorf Park from noon to 4 p.m.
- Celebrating the blues and enjoying BBQ, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., at Outdoor Forest Theater in Carmel.
- Oohing and aahing at the free Patriotic Concert and Laser Light Show at Jacks Ballpark, from 8 p.m. until approximately 9:30 p.m.
B. Summer Night Sleepover, Monterey Bay Aquarium, July 7
The ever popular Summer Nights Sleepovers are back! Starting at 6 p.m., you can enjoy live music and wine tasting. The doors close at 8 p.m., allowing you to explore the Aquarium without daytime crowds. See the new Jellies Experience, visit the updated Ocean Travelers exhibit, and enjoy special programs and a bedtime snack. The evening ends with a late-night nature movie before you go to sleep in front of your favorite exhibit. Wake up with the fishes and enjoy a continental breakfast.
C. 45th Annual Monterey Scottish Games & Celtic Festival, July 7 & 8
For two glorious days, everyone's Scottish and Irish in Monterey! Events at the Monterey County Fairground include athletics, children's activities, and gatherings of clans, highland dancing and traditional music, whiskey tastings, historical re-enactments and sheep dog demonstrations. And, of course, there will be plenty of food and vendors on hand.
Remember to double check dates and times for all events and please book in advance to avoid disappointments and tantrums. And if you have friends visiting Monterey for the summer, Believe Inn Monterey and Carmel Hill Lodge are great places for them to stay. Call us on 831-373-3252 or 1-888-551-4455 and we'll be happy to make reservations.
Image By: unclebumpy


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On August 13th, 2014, I had the opportunity to announce the Glee Choir in front of Calabasas City Council. I was honored to stand before the council members and share my passion and joy in providing music therapy programs for families of children with special needs, especially the Glee Choir program.
A few days after the meeting, I was thrilled to receive a request for an interview from Sylvie Belmond, who is a reporter for The Acorn newspaper.
Sylvie had lots of questions, and we talked for almost an hour. She wanted to know more about music therapy and the Glee Choir program that I had created. At the end of our interview, Sylvie said she felt it was important to let others know the importance of music therapy and how it is very different from music lessons. A few weeks later, Sylvie's article appeared in the September 4, 2014 edition of The Acorn.
I am very grateful to Sylvie for writing such a wonderful article, and to The Acorn for publishing it. I also want to thank Debi Frankle, MFT/Owner of Calabasas Counseling and Grief Center, Calabasas and Ping Ho, Founder – UCLArts and Healing for contributing to the story.
Credits to: Sylvie Belmond – Reporter at The Acorn
Click here to read the article: http://www.theacorn.com/news/2014-09-04/Community/Glee_Choir_for_adults_with_special_needs.html
Let's Stay in Touch!
Please share, pin, like and leave your comments below as we love to hear from you!
For FREE songs, videos and tips on how to support children with special needs through music click here.
Image Courtesy of Stuart Miles/freedigitalphotos.net


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Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy caused quite a stir this summer when he spoke out against gay marriage, saying that redefining traditional marriage is "inviting God's judgment on our nation."
Now, in one of his first interviews since the kerfuffle, Cathy is reiterating his stance.
He talked to 11Alive's Matt Pearl last weekend at the Cathy family's ranch.
From 11Alive:
" Families are very important to our country," Cathy said. " And they're very important to those of us who are concerned about being able to hang on to our heritage.
" We support Biblical families, and they've always been a part of that."
The company has made multiple attempts to clarify its stance since the initial controversy.
Its latest was on September 20 in response to Chicago alderman Joe Moreno's claim that Chick-fil-A had agreed to stop funding anti-gay marriage groups.
The statement says:
A part of our corporate commitment is to be responsible stewards of all that God has entrusted to us. Because of this commitment, Chick-fil-A's giving heritage is focused on programs that educate youth, strengthen families and enrich marriages, and support communities. We will continue to focus our giving in those areas. Our intent is not to support political or social agendas.
So, what, exactly, is a 'Biblical family?'
NOW SEE: Meet S. Truett Cathy, The 91-Year-Old Billionaire Behind Chick-fil-A >


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By Andrew Kwiatkowski
The Australian Catholic Youth Festival 2015 kicked off with a bang on the 3rd of December with the opening plenary energising the young crowd and setting the tone for a faith-filled and exciting weekend. It was great to see such a large gathering of around three and a half thousand young people enthusiastically getting together and proudly embracing their faith.
Being part of the Melbourne Vocations team, the majority of my time was spent at our stall encouraging discernment for religious vocations in particular the diocesan priesthood. Additionally, we were also promoting the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage as a spiritual journey as a means to deepen our faith which can also help with discernment.
However, during my breaks I did manage to sneak off and see Jason Evert's presentations. In particular, his first talk on "What's so great about being Catholic" was a standout as he was able to passionately walk through the beauty and richness of our faith through his faith journey and life experiences.
Moreover, the most important and the heart of the event could be found in the upstairs chapel. In there, many young people were heeding Pope Francis' call to Mercy and living it out through the Sacrament of Confession and spending time with Our Lord in Adoration.
Overall, I found the festival to be an enriching and heartening event that shows the future of the Church is alive and strong.


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A girlfriend of mine recently walked down an aisle of a chapel wearing a stunning off white fishtail gown to besee the love of her life standing a few metres away. She was simply radiant. I was honoured to have been a part of her special day and to have attended her (rather hilarious) hens night a few weeks earlier.
A black and pink girls night out was all she was after and I made these sweet little gluten free peanut butter & chocolate cakes , that fitted (pretty close to) perfectly with the black and pink theme. I promised I'd post them here, and here they are with love and happiness for the gorgeous bride and good friend; Laura. To you and El - wishing you happiness (and cake!) in your adventure together.
Gluten Free Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake
This recipe is adapted to a peanut butter chocolate sheet cake from my Gluten Free Triple Chocolate Cupcakes and I sandwiched them together with some (crunchy) Peanut Butter Frosting!
120g butter
150g chocolate
1 cup (125g) almond meal
1/3 cup (60g) potato flour
1/3 cup (35g) cocoa
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/3 cup (95g) smooth or crunchy gluten free peanut butter
1/3 cup (70g) castor sugar
1/4cup (60ml) milk
Preheat oven to 165DegC and line a lamington tray with baking paper.
For cupcakes:
Line a 12 hole cupcake tin and cook at 180DegC for approximately 12-15minutes.
Melt butter and chocolate by your preffered method. Allow to cool.
Mix together dry ingredients with a whisk to ensure there are no lumps and flours and baking powders are evenly dispersed.
Whisk eggs and add to flour mix along with peanut butter and the cooled chocolate mixture. Mix to combine but do not over beat.
Pour into lined tray and bake for approximately 15minutes. This will depend on the size of your baking tray, so make sure you check the cake with a skewer.
Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
Peanut Butter Frosting
100g butter, softened
1tsp vanilla essence
1 1/2 cups (240g) gluten free icing suar, sifted
1/4-1/2 cup gluten free peanut butter (smooth or crunchy - it's up to you!)
1-2tblspn milk
Beat butter, 1/4 cup peanut butter and vanilla essance until smooth. (if you used crunchy peanut butter, then clearly, it won't be 'smooth'). Add 1/3 of the sifted gluten free icing sugar, beat. Repeat with remaining icing sugar in batches. Beat on high for 3-5minutes. Add a tablespoon of milk to reach desired consistency. Add food colouring as you wish.
Taste test and add remaining peanut butter if you wish.
Frost cakes and enjoy the looks on people faces when they realise the frosting tastes like peanut butter!
To Assemble Peanut Butter Sandwiches:
When the cake has cooled completely remove baking paper and place on a cutting board. With a cookie cutter (don't use anything too detailed or it will break, stick with scalloped circles, hearts maybe or plain squares and circles) carefully cut shapes out of your sheet cake.
Keeping the cutout shapes on the board. Use a piping bag to frost half the shapes with Peanut Butter Frosting or any flavour you like!(This can be done by spreading the frosting on with a knife or spatula however, you are more likely to have breakages.) Place the plain shapes on top of the frosted halves and gently squeeze together.
Transfer to a cake stand or place in a tin for transportation.


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Rain pounds the sidewalks. I duck into a pizza place on the corner of North Winchester Avenue. Across from me sits a scruffy kid, thumbing through a paperback about African Gray parrots (the same birds that decorate his sweatshirt). I lean back in a booth and dig out my Moleskine. In the past few months, the pages have swollen twice their original size.
As I scribble, I notice someone gawking at me: a boy with a trucker hat and a bandanna looped around his neck like a bank robber. Tattoos swirl down his pasty biceps (I spot a portrait of Edgar Allan Poe carved in his skin.) He hunches in the corner, talking to a clump of people about an "ex-friend."
"He was drinking all day," says Poe Junior. "I was like, 'Can't you come out for an hour?' I mean, I was only in town for the weekend. I'm so over it, man."
Seems like I've heard this conversation before...in another city...weeks ago. I can't remember anymore.
Poe Junior storms out. He jumps on his bike (fixed gear, of course...the handlebars strapped together with tape) and pedals into traffic.
I think about all the stories taking place around me. Stories with no ending...
During this trip, my PR team booked several events on a single day. The events took place in different suburbs (in different directions!) I was staying in Wicker Park, at a sweet little spot called The Ruby Room (like chilling in your own secret apartment above a Zen-like spa!) I woke before the sun and hopped in my cab. It took about an hour to reach Joilet (pronounced like the Shakespearean heroine, not "Jo-Lee-Hey," as I'd been mumbling with a French accent).
I wandered through the halls, lost as usual. As I passed the auditorium, I heard muffled voices. ("Maybe they have another speaker?" I wondered.) No worries. I always arrive early. I finally found the main office and an English teacher lead me back to the auditorium.
"They've been waiting," she told me.
Wait a second. I checked email on my cell phone. "It says I start at nine?"
"Uh...no," the teacher said.
Somehow...something got mixed up.
I asked, "How much time do I have?"
"Fifteen minutes," she told me.
I glanced at the stage, which swarmed with metal chairs and music stands. The teacher told me to project my slides on the burgundy curtain because they couldn't lower the screen, due to the stuff on the stage. It took a few minutes to set up my laptop (luckily I'd brought my VGA display adapter). As I sped through my presentation at light speed, I noticed Kathleen from Anderson's Bookshop, looking just as confused as me.
The students asked a couple questions ("How much money do you make? Have you met Oprah yet? What's your book about?") and then, they marched out.
"Sorry I missed everything," Kathleen said, as I sat cross-legged on the stage, signing books for the library.
"I missed everything, too," I told her.
"Wasn't it supposed to start at nine?" she asked.
The teachers ushered us outside. They kept talking about a "vampire book club," and the upcoming prom. A skater boy with a chain belt wandered past us, looking lost.
"Where are you supposed to be?" the teacher asked him.
He gawked at a crumpled sheet of paper. "Uh..."
She snatched the paper away. "Go to Attendance," she said, sighing. "See," she said, turning to me. "That's why we're working on our literacy program."
Kathleen drove me back to the bookstore in Downers Grove, where I caught the lunch hour train and rode back into the city. Next stop: Evergreen Park Library.
I spent the afternoon teaching a creative writing workshop for teens. When I finally had a chance to rest, I chatted with Gigi, the teen librarian, and she took me on a tour. I'd never seen a library with its own fireplace...all the bookshelves arranged at right angles, so you never feel lost. A gleaming display case featured a collection of mermaid toys.
"I started collecting anything Little Mermaid when I was a year old," said a handwritten note. "We have Ariel in every room of our house, on my walls, in the kitchen, the bathroom, and covering my bed."
Back downstairs, I spoke to a group of families with special needs kids. They asked a lot of tough questions, and I talked about the experiences that gave birth to my book. After the presentation, I chatted with the librarians as I waited for my cab. They cracked jokes about the characters who hang out all day in the computer lounge (like the woman who "talks to outer space" through the internet).
I hopped in a cab and sped back into the city. I closed my eyes, half-sleeping as we bumped over potholes. My boyfriend was waiting in Millennium Park. He wanted to swing by the Holiday Club, a Sinatra-style, old-school watering hole.
In our free time, we nibbled goodies at spots like Earwax (once a record store, now a veggie joint), and Avec, (local chef hangout), and combed the boutiques of Bucktown, where I snagged this Midwest t-shirt, courtesy of Campfire Goods.
At the Theater On The Lake, we saw, "As Told By The Vivian Girls," based on the stories and collage paintings of Henry Darger. Instead of simply watching the performance, we interacted as characters in Darger's fantasy world, in which several stories take place simultaneously in different rooms. The audience must wear paper masks and wander through the hallways and staircases in the sprawling theater, exploring multiple narratives, much like the "Choose Your Own Adventure" books that I devoured as a kid.
The performance was designed by Dog and Pony Theatre Company who managed to translate Darger's 15000 page novel, "Realms of the Unreal," into a ninety-minute glimpse inside an alternate reality.
I left the theater in a daze...the same dreamy fog that lingers after reading a favorite book. After all, I don't read books to "watch" a story. I read books to "become" the story.
We had become the story.


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As stars like Jay-Z and Will Smith come out to support Obama's position supporting marriage equality, the question remains - how much do celebrities influence social change? Kenneth Jost with CQ Press just released a fantastic whitepaper that explores the good, the bad and the ugly of celebrity advocacy. Full description below -
More and more, celebrities are using their star power to promote causes ranging from fighting poverty and protecting the environment to safeguarding human rights and working for world peace. More than 2,800 celebrities now support slightly more than 1,800 causes. In a celebrity-obsessed society, entertainers and athletes can help focus public attention on global trouble spots, raise funds for disaster relief or increase public awareness of little-known diseases or medical conditions. The idea of looking to celebrities to educate the public about important issues may seem paradoxical, but some celebrities work hard to master difficult issues. The singer Bono has met with world leaders on global poverty issues, for example, while actor George Clooney has helped document Sudan's war against the breakaway state of South Sudan. Celebrity advocacy is likely to increase, experts say with social media such as Facebook and Twitter increasingly used to air views, raise money and engage supporters.


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The universe always mirrors what needs transforming for us to continue to grow and evolve our consciousness.
It does this by putting a big fat spotlight on what has been festering in the dark. So we can make a choice to look at what has been in the shadows and by doing so allow the light to heal and transform our consciousness with its love. Or, we can disown what is being mirrored and therefore choose to enable it to continue to grow and mutate in the darkness until it becomes so large that it risks changing us for generations. That is what is happening now.
In the past, your personal reputation was your most valuable currency.
Now it is your brand as if you are a commodity that can be bought or sold to the highest bidder.
In the past, you were concerned with whom you associated with because you knew you risked "guilt by association" if you hung out with people whose deeds and actions you did not approve.
Now, it doesn't matter if you associate with liars, crooks or morally despicable people as long as they beat up your "foes" and you win.
In the past, you never called people names because you knew it reflected on you and your upbringing.
Now calling people names is seen as strong and powerful and the more demeaning the name even better.
In the past, honesty and integrity were at the top of the list of principles we cherished.
Now we seem to think lying and lack of integrity are justified because everybody does it so really it is no big deal. It 's just what you got to do to make in the world.
In the past, we were taught to turn the other cheek or not to get down in the muck with the mudslingers.
Now we relish that if we get hit, we hit back harder. If mud is slung, we will happily roll around in the mud and do it better than you.
In the past, how you played the game mattered and revealed character.
Now the end justifies the means, and character is seen as a hindrance to success and wealth –the new standard by which we judge all people.
A lot of what is going on is not new. These behaviors have been around for eons. The change is the rate with which they have escalated and seeped into all areas of our lives.
The good news is none of these changes have to be permanent. We have a choice to either be the kinds of people and society that choose light and love in all areas of our lives even when it is hard or be the kinds of people and society that choose the easiest route and see nothing wrong with occasionally dancing in the dark. It is our choice. It is always our choice.
I believe in the end we will always choose to dance in the light.
Are you willing to own your part of the shadow that is being revealed during these times? The quicker you do, the quicker we can all be dancing not only in the light but with the light.
Until next time be the light the world needs and stay in love for all.
Joffre McClung is the author of two books The Heart of the Matter: A Workbook and Guide to Finding Your Way Back to Self-Love and *How Learning to Say Goodbye Taught Me How to Live. You can catch her video series on Self-love on her YouTube channel.
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text: Kolkata: Elected unanimously as the leader of Trinamool Congress legislature party, Mamata Banerjee on Friday met West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi to stake claim to form the new government. A day after the Trinamool stormed back to power with 211 seats in the 294-member assembly, the victorious members congregated at Banerjee's residence at city's Kalighat where she was elected as the leader of the party. She later went to Raj Bhavan to stake claim for the new government which will sworn in on May 27.


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When Nevada GOP candidate for Congress Sharron Angle isn't insisting that young rape and incest victims be forced to carry their assailant's baby, she's targeting one of the very things that can make it easier for a woman to choose to continue her pregnancy: maternity leave.
Though Angle has been doing a better job lately of keeping her self-incriminating mouth shut, audio and video footage of her gung-ho anti-woman stance keep inconveniently popping up. In the latest, as Brie Cadman reports on the health blog, Angle speaks to Tea Partiers about the outrage she considers maternity leave coverage to be. (She also has some charming air quotes surrounding the word "autism.") "How about maternity leave? I'm not going to have any more babies, but I sure get to pay for it on my insurance. Those are the kinds of things we want to get rid of."
Well isn't that nice. Just because Angle is, I assume from her age and statement, past menopause, nobody else should get any kind of support in raising children. (Don't even get me started on the abysmal state of maternity leave in this country to begin with.) I mean, when Angle was having babies, maybe that would be a different story, why should she have to pay? In fact, why should insurance cover anything she isn't expecting to happen to her?
When Angle says rape is "part of God's plan," and if impregnated by your rapist, you should just make "lemons into lemonade," she doesn't actually want to lift a finger to help you with that tasty drink. It says a lot about anti-choicer claims that they're "just pro-life, not anti-women," when attacks on reproductive rights go hand-in-hand with a refusal to support mothers. Instead, Angle wants to heap more lemons on survivors, without giving them a spoonful of sugar necessary to making lemonade. And, honestly, I think she's handing them some rotten fruit at that.