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|Signs of the times along the way.
By day 18, the road was wearing on the crew. Still, we had some hiking to do. I woke in Tricastela, ready to wander to Sarria, where I'd meet the rest of the gang. And we'd make our way Barbedelo, just 25 k ahead for July 27.
Roosters and chickens greet me as I make my way out of town. The girls have gone ahead for a night. I'll meet them in Sarria. It's a quiet peaceful road out of town through the ancient walking path.
There are so many things to see along the way. The straight path would leave so much behind. We are done with mountains for a while. From now on its flat ground. Yet, the hills still roll along with our feet. Crickets and trees greet me as I stroll through the countryside.
People make art; offer free coffee, and open spaces everywhere.
Walking through a Balsa, I see Occupy signs, with messages on cardboard.
One door is open to a courtyard with couches, people sitting about.
"Did you squat this place?" I ask.
"No we rented it. Want a cup of coffee Ben?"
"No thank you."
"There are a lot of old homes you can find in Spain."
Along this route, they were open for us all to see.
Some of the elders walked through the old town, seemingly oblivious to the kids along the way.
Another sign beckons pilgrims to a gallery full of objects, minerals, barn tools painted, the whole place a work of art, extending from the home out into the fields and trees, taking us back to the route.
I keep passing a young Italian woman, Carla, who I've seen for days. We see each other all day, greeting and walking. Sometimes we talk, sometimes just passing.
We all meet for lunch in Sarria, for the final 120 k stretch of the hike. The girls saw the funny Americans the night before, laughing together.
The noonday giant is always near. But we never know when he'll grasp us, making another step forward feel impossible without a good night's sleep.
"There's no choice here," number two reminds her younger sister. "We have to walk it out. Everyone wants to finish this."
"Everything is a choice," the nine year old retorted. "Even to live is a choice."
They've decided they want to finish the final 100 k in three days.
Really? I think to myself. 100 K in three days means at least 33 a day. But usually four. Thus far in the walk. 20 k days are still work. 25 are a lot of work. And 30 k days are epic. But we're in shape now. And everyone wants to get to Santiago and free themselves, ourselves of the hike.
We had make a reservation at Casa a Carmen, but when we see the sign for a pool at Casa Barbadelo, we change plans, taking a room there.
Most of our friends are there, sitting at the pool, drinking pints of beer, Americans, Germans, an couple from Ireland, California. Gradually, the four gal hiking together start to show up. Everyone enjoys a laugh and a plunge in the pool. There are moments when the Camino is grand. And this is one of them. We drink and take in the sun, swimming and sitting.
"Its about over," notes a young man from Germany, reflecting on his month on the trail. He'll go back to Berlin after the hike. But for today, the pool feels great.
Two women from Amsterdam sit up on the hill. Everyone hangs their clothes on the clotheslines. Dinner is lovely.
We share a room with two Italians, who come in hours after we go to bed.
By one or two in the morning, the bed bugs plague the gals. At this point in the trip, Caroline can't sleep until she is sure they are not there. Even then, she doesn't really sleep. On this occasion, she goes out to sleep in the field with the kids. They stay there until a dog starts barking in the distance. And they come back in, hustling and bussling, as we walk.
"Shhh…" I implore them.
We have a ton of walking to day in only a few hours.


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March 31, 2017
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Current Investigations
Recovery of Investment Losses in Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT II Have you suffered losses investing in Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT II? If so, The White Law Group may be able to help by filing a FINRA Resolution claim against the brokerage firm that sold you the investment. Resource Real Estate

subset: commoncrawl


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Issa to business: Tell me what to fix
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) wants the oil industry, drug manufacturers and other trade groups and companies to tell him which Obama administration regulations to target this year.
The incoming chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee - in letters sent to more than 150 trade associations, companies and think tanks last month - requested a list of existing and proposed regulations that would harm job growth.
Story Continued Below
"It was a broad net that we cast," Issa spokesman Kurt Bardella said.
Bardella did not have a complete list of groups that received an inquiry from Issa or their responses.
But a partial list obtained by POLITICO includes ones sent Dec. 13 to Duke Energy, the Association of American Railroads, FMC Corp., Toyota and Bayer. Others receiving inquiries from Issa over the course of the month included the American Petroleum Institute, National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association (NPRA) and entities representing health care and telecommunication providers.
The goal is to investigate the Obama administration's promise through the 2009 economic stimulus bill and other measures to create jobs, which "has gone unfilled, I guess is the nicest way to put it," Bardella said.
"Is there something that we can do to try to ease that [regulatory] burden and stimulate job creation?" he added. "Is there a pattern emerging? Is there a consistent practice or regulation that hurts jobs? Until you have all the facts, you really can't make a lot of determinations and judgments."
At the same time, Issa is getting his cue from and a voice to a chorus of largely disgruntled industry groups and companies that have collectively groaned about regulations in the pipeline and on the books.
"I believe for the last couple of years that we were honestly shut out of this debate at least on the House side," NPRA President Charles Drevna said. "Our policy positions haven't changed one iota. [But] is there a better chance of what I would consider a more fair hearing? Absolutely." Drevna received a letter from Issa late last month.
Issa has no qualms about giving Drevna and other administration critics a louder mouthpiece.
"As a trade organization with members that must comply with the regulatory state, I ask for your assistance in identifying existing and proposed regulations that have negatively impacted job growth in your members' industry," Issa wrote in a Dec. 8 letter to NAM. "Additionally, suggestions on reforming identified regulations and the rulemaking process would be appreciated."
The letter to NAM is a template for ones Issa sent other groups over the course of last month. In the NAM letter, Issa notes that federal agencies in fiscal year 2010 "promulgated 43 new regulations" ranging from new limits on "effluent" discharges from construction sites to rules for Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations. The "effluent" rule, Issa charged, will cost $810.8 million annually, resulting in the closure of 147 construction firms and the loss of 7,257 jobs.
The list of regulatory grievances appears wide-ranging.
Rosario Palmieri, NAM's vice president for regulatory policy, and Drevna both highlighted EPA greenhouse gas controls for major emitters that went into effect Sunday.
Palmieri said the group also highlighted in their response to Issa upcoming EPA decisions over whether to tighten limits on ground-level ozone and controlling hazardous air pollutants from incinerators and boilers.
Many Democrats and the environmental community certainly would push back on efforts to rein in EPA greenhouse and other controls simply in the name of preserving jobs. "The Clean Air Act is one of job creation, not job destruction, plain and simple," said Tony Kreindler, a spokesman for the Environmental Defense Fund. These controls give companies "the lead time and certainty to invest and bring products to the market and actually create jobs."


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The cool temperatures are here. I'm waiting for the temperature to warm up before I head out on my 4 mile recovery run this morning. Here's an update for the week.
Did 5 mile recovery run with 6 strides.
Did a little over 10 miles with 4x1200m @ 5k pace. Split times were:
I ran into some HR strap problems at the beginning, but by the time I got to the track, it had sorted itself out. I can honestly say that these VO2Max things seem to be getting easier. Now it could just be that the Yasso 800's that I did on the weekend made this interval workout feel puny by comparison, but I like to think it's because my fitness is improving. I'm looking forward to the 1600m interval workout in two weeks.
Did 10 miles at about 8:30 pace. I tried the garmin today for the second time and it seemed to be off in measuring distance. I usually run the first few miles of my "around the house" route along the same path where I know where the 1 and 2 mile markers are. The garmin has been right on with the distance the last time I used it, but today I ran past the mark and then an additional 30 seconds before the autolap function was triggered. I thought it may be that my HR monitor was interfering with the satelite reception since this was the first time I ran with both. Going to try it again today to see if I have the same problem. It was quite cool during the run at about 8C. By the time I got back home, my fingernails were a nice shade of blue.
4 mile recovery today and then 20+ miles tomorrow and then taper time! I wish all you Chicago hopefuls good luck on your 20 milers this weekend. Enjoy it cause you won't be running that distance again until October 22!


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Thought I'd start off my first Roundup post with links from some of my blogging buddies. Enjoy!
All links open in a new window.
Fun & Easy Recipes
Interestingly, these websites are not exclusively food oriented.
- Neville's Vodka Salad – Low(er) calorie drinking for the borderline alcoholic ;)
- "The kind of chili that kicks sand in your face and steals your girlfriend" – Martin's chilli recipe. Hurry! Before it gets too warm to make.
- Vietnamese Coffee Jello – I'm totally trying this out soon. I have all the ingredients! (This person isn't quite a friend but I loved this so much I couldn't wait til next time.)
Food Porn
- Would you eat Cock? – No? How about chicken testicles? MKL could easily start a bizarre foods blog.
- Thomas's food porn flickr – I've used some of Thomas's shots before. If you ever want him to shoot anything (weddings/events/headshots) around the Los Angeles/Orange County area, let me know!
- Photo Shoot: Salmon Sandwich: Jaden walks us through some food styling.
- Brain Cupcakes : Von of Vappy's Bakeshop made brain cupcakes for her classmates. Check them out! They give me an uneasy feeling.. soo… brainy.
- Star Wars Kitchen Items – Want a Star Wars Kitchen? Let Jose be your guide.
Possibly Related Blog Posts (automatically generated)


text: The Super Bowl took over New York for a week and StudioBooth was there to step it up. Chelsea Piers was transformed into a street fair for the Super Bowl Media Party. The party was massive and so we set up two Greenscreen Booths, each with its own concept. Guests were transported directly to the 50-yard line at MetLife Stadium or into a classic NYC subway scene.


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Originally published at Siam Voices on January 29, 2015
Frankly speaking, I did not expect to be writing about this topic so quickly following my blog post from yesterday, but here I am again further musing on the delicate art of international diplomacy.
What happened on Wednesday morning though can be regarded as an escalation of some sort by the Thai military junta. After already voicing its displeasure about the critical remarks made by Daniel R. Russel, the United States Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, the junta seemingly doubled down as the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned W. Patrick Murphy, the US chargé d'affaires, to voice their displeasure again.
We reported yesterday in detail about Russel's visit and his remarks about the political situation in Thailand, so I won't repeat them here. What does bear repeating though is that it was so far the highest-ranking US diplomat to come to Thailand since the military coup of May 2014 and the subsequent departure of former Ambassador Kristie Kenney. And it was this significance that gave Russel's remarks considerable weight.
Apparently, two whole days and a tantrum by junta leader and Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha (in which he called himself a "soldier with a democratic heart"!) later, the Thai powers-that-be threw the diplomatic equivalent of a hissy fit with the summoning of the US Chargé d'affaires - a relatively normal procedure for any country wanting to give another country's diplomats a high-level earful.
While both sides insist that it was not a summoning but rather an "invitation" (more on that later), the public remarks by Thai Deputy Foreign Minister Don Paramatwinai were as blunt as they were contradictory:
According to the Thai Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Russel's remarks caused many Thais to be "worried and disappointed."
"Mr. Russel spoke about politics, instead of using the opportunity to speak about good things, especially topics that promote the relationship between Thailand and the United States," said Don, who used to serve as Thailand's ambassador to Washington DC.
"The aforementioned speech did not benefit anyone. It became news that negatively affected the reputation of the country. It is deeply disappointing. It is an interference in Thailand's politics." (…)
"(…) The United States does not understand Thailand's political situation."
"If we comply with the [US] and lift martial law and it leads to problems, how will those people who are asking for the lifting of martial law take responsibility?" Don said. "In reality, Thais don't even know there is martial law. A majority of Thais accept it and are not worried by it. The people who are worried about it are the minority." (…)
"I insist that the military takeover in Thailand is not a coup, theoretically speaking," he said. "It was in fact a revolution to install stability."
"Thai Military Govt Summons US Diplomat After "Disappointing Speech"", Khaosod English, January 28, 2015
So, apart from the fact that he claims that Thais both are unaware yet aware enough to be not bothered by the ongoing martial law and his rather curious definition of a hostile military takeover, he gives the impression that any criticism against the junta's work is forbidden.
The junta Prime Minister Gen. Prayuth himself later beat the same old schtick as well:
"It saddens me that the United States does not understand the reason why I had to intervene and does not understand the way we work, even though we have been close allies for years," Prayuth told reporters.
"Thailand warns U.S. to mind its own business over politics", Reuters, January 28, 2015
Ah yes, "they don't understand Thailand!" That's the old killer argument to discredit any rational debate on political progress regression in recent years, no matter from where it comes from.
Of course it's incredibly naive to still regard the United States as infallible world police considering its track record this past decade alone, but that does not and should not lessen the validity of their criticism nor does it or should it lessen the severity of the Thai junta's repressive actions ever since the coup.
It is evident that the military junta responds to criticism with the only way the army knows best: resorting to assertive bullying tactics as a demonstration of absolute, undisputed power. But that is just a sign that the junta is overzealous yet very insecure, as simple silence might have been a better option in this case.
Also, a "summons" or "invitation" by the Thai military government is still something entirely different to a foreign ambassador than it is for any Thai citizen. And as if it were trying to prove it point, the junta has summoned Surapong Tovichakchaikul, former Thai foreign minister under Yingluck Shinawatra, for his recent criticism of the junta. A military officer was quoted nonchalantly saying that Surapong may be "let go home, or invited to stay overnight at our camp to adjust his attitude (…)."
To go back to my original point: a certain nuanced approach is required when dealing with international relations. US diplomat Russel opined that relations with Thailand "have been challenged by the military coup", not a surprise given the downgrade in diplomatic and military relations ever since.
It's called "diplomatic" for a reason when one tries to bring across a criticism in the least offensive way possible. But to respond to that with an indignant outburst of hurt national pride is quite the opposite of that and - given the junta's ongoing quest got international approval - distances it from any serious endorsement whatsoever.


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wildflower earrings - glossy
wildflower earrings - glossy
Summer on P.E.I. brings wildflowers galore!
sizing: I make two sizes of earrings. Each small earring weighs a little less than two dimes (approx. 3.6g) and hangs about 1 1/4 inches from the hole in your ear. Each medium earring weighs a little more than two dimes (approx. 4.2g) and hangs about 1 1/2 inches from the hole in your ear.
Add To Cart


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Technology-driven Staffing
for a Modern Workforce
Bringing companies, clients, and employees together
AXIS is an online software solution created by staffing professionals who understand the needs of the staffing industry. It's designed to save you time by streamlining the daily processes that are critical to your staffing enterprise.
AXIS brings all your staffing functions and tasks onto one, easy-to-use platform.
Packed with Features
For Agencies
By automating rate confirmation, placement/start notifications, work orders, time cards and invoicing, just to name a few, AXIS is packed with features that empower staffing agencies to get a handle on all their daily functions, so nothing slips through the cracks. Staffing agencies run better with AXIS.
For Clients
AXIS allows staffing company clients the ability to manage placement requests and time cards. Your Clients can now see who will be arriving at their job, their rates, and the status of all open and pending work orders. Axis keeps clients in the know, providing peace of mind and efficiency.
For Employees
Employees receive a reviewable time card via email, allowing them to check the accuracy of their time card prior to pay day. They are also sent all the line out and job information from AXIS, ensuring they have every detail just right so that they can show up on time, prepared, and ready for the job.
Saving Time & Energy
"It's keeping me more organized. I can categorize by trade, client, and specific city. I can refer back and check quickly on open orders. It provides convenience for clients because they know what to expect, and it saves me time because I always have a quick way to reference what employees are placed where."
"Before Axis, I used to have to call all our employees and check on the hours. But now, employees get their time card sent to them directly so they can check it for accuracy. It's made our Fridays a lot less crazy!"
"Axis shaves off a day's worth of work trying to track down time and submit time cards and invoices manually. It sends an automatic aging report to clients every week, preventing frustration on the client and employee side."
"Axis allows me to quickly see an overview of job openings, send out rate confirmations to clients, monitor all invoices open and still unpaid, and to monitor my staff and our business as a whole, really quickly."


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Armando Iannucci is one of the UK's most prominent comedy writers, producers and performers, having helped create shows like The Day Today and I'm Alan Partridge among many others. His new film, which he both wrote and directed, is In the Loop. It follows a group of mid-level government policy personnel and their PR flacks as they steer the US and UK towards a war very much like the war in Iraq. The film opens in staged release in the US on July 24th.
Fans of Morris and iannucci, be sure to check out 'Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle.' The 'red button extras' for that show are excellent interviews being hosting by iannucci (who was EP on the show), and the scripts were edited by morris and armando as well.
Good interview jesse, thanks. There's another good interview from 2004 where armando talks about his education as a jesuit and his early standup/writing days which is very insightful.
brass eye


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I'm happy to announce that the release candidate for version 1.0 of imgAreaSelect is now available for download on GitHub and jQuery Plugins.
The code has actually been sitting in the repository since August 11th, but there were a few unresolved issues with the test suite on mobile browsers that I had to sort out — and I finally found a window of free time big enough to do that.
Adding support for mobile browsers was the most requested feature, and I'm glad it's there at last (especially considering how painful it was to develop and test). The plugin was tested to work in Safari on iOS, the stock browser on Android 2.x and 4.x, and the mobile versions of Firefox, Chrome, and Opera on Android 4.x — which I think is good enough to say we have it covered.
This version is still strong in terms of backwards compatibility — while it is intended to be used with jQuery 2.x, it works just as well with jQuery 1.9, 1.8, and 1.7. Hell, it even pretty much works in IE6 — sounds perverted these days, doesn't it? However, don't take it for granted that it will stay that way in upcoming 1.x releases, as my plan is to focus on jQuery 2.x and the browsers that it supports.
That's it for now — before I drop the "rc.1″ part and do a proper 1.0 release, I need to update the plugin homepage and documentation, and generally wrap things up. I also hope to get some early feedback, especially from people using the plugin in mobile web apps, so be my guest and try it out!


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Star Guardians - Chosen of the First Star, a slightly silly title for a slightly silly comic about Star Guardians Lux, Poppy, Jinx, Lulu and Janna, and their misadventures in high school life and epic monster fighting. Love, friendship, giant Kaiju attacking the city and more!
Interested? Then READ IT HERE.
Tim made a deal with a devil (he's named Craig) for money and power. The price was just a little bit of night-time possession. What could possibly go wrong?
Depression Comix
I live with occasional depression and anxiety. When it overwhelms me I tend to try and exorcise it through comics. These are mostly not funny.


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1) What is/are your store name(s) and number(s)?
Studio #91999 – Liz Lollypop Ohio Cutie
2) Please give our readers an introduction on yourself, your store(s), and the role you play in bringing these fetish clips to life.
Hi, I'm Liz. I'm a professional escort and domme, these are my home movies of some of the freaky things I do with friends and clients.
3) When did you first develop an interest in the fetish world? What attracted you to this scene?
I started as an escort 5 years ago, and started trying more fetish activities and loved it.
4) What specialty is your studio most known for, and what are some of the other fetishes viewers will see in your videos?
Facesitting and trampling, also some nice hard fucking, toys, chastity and more.
5) What do you personally like to see in porn, and what turns you on in your personal life?
I'm really into medical fetish. I also like trampling.
6) What are some of your turnoffs – both in porn and your personal life?
Rude people. Cocky guys.
7) In your opinion, what makes a good fetish scene?
Good lighting and the people are really into it.
8) Are there any fetishes that intrigue you, but you've yet to explore for one reason or another?
I've never tried diaper fetish before.
9) Will you be attending any conventions this year? Any industry events fans should look forward to?
No, i'm not.
10) What do you like to do when you're not making fetish videos?
I do a lot of arts and crafts, graphic design, and I have a cat.
11) Fetish activities aside, what's your idea of the perfect evening?
Nice dinner and a movie on TV at home.
12) If you had to define yourself in one word, what would that word be and why?
13) Please share an unknown fact that your followers would be surprised to learn about you?
I don't know. I'm a pretty open book.
14) What does the future hold for the fetish film world in your opinion?
The internet is really modernizing things and many fetishes are becoming more mainstream.


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Angelika Books- a new boutique publishing house based in Berlin hosted one of the most elegant events during this year's Berlin Fasion Week at Camera Work Gallery. An exclusive collaboration of Angelika Taschen, Fabien Baron and Anna Bauer brought to life an exquisite book publication that is an artistic guidline to a contemporary fashion world. The most prominent personalities are being portraited on polaroid snapshots taken at the backstage of most glamorous fashion shows.
The presentation of the book was accompanied by the eponymous exhibition- Anna Bauer BACKSTAGE, that showcased a selection of portraits featured in the book. Pavleye Art and Culture is proud to collaborate with Angelika Books to make this unique publication available in Czech and Slovak Republic.


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White House
Cheney condemns Obama's probe of CIA interrogations
WASHINGTON — CIA interrogators were justified in exceeding even the broad authorizations the Justice Department gave them to handle terrorist suspects, former Vice President Dick Cheney said in an interview for broadcast Sunday, suggesting that any aggressive tactic was justified in the goal of preventing another terrorist attack.
A CIA inspector general's report released Monday documented how interrogators menaced "high-value" detainees with a gun and a power drill, threatened their families and used other methods that went beyond even the permissive interrogation rules set by the Bush administration Justice Department.
Cheney, who strongly opposes the Obama administration's new probe into alleged detainee abuse, was asked in the Fox News interview whether he was "OK" with interrogations that went beyond Justice's specific legal authorization.
"I am," the former vice president replied.
"My sort of overwhelming view is that the enhanced interrogation techniques were absolutely essential in saving thousands of American lives and preventing further attacks," he said. "It was good policy. It was properly carried out. It worked very, very well."
"Enhanced interrogation techniques" refers to waterboarding, or simulated drowning, and nine other tactics — some of which are considered torture.
Cheney said in the interview with Fox's Chris Wallace, according to a transcript, that he was aware of the waterboarding, "not specifically in any one particular case, but as a general policy that we had approved."
Cheney was a leading advocate in the Bush administration of the tactics, and since leaving office he has emerged as the chief public defender of President George W. Bush's national security legacy.
He called the new investigation ordered by Attorney General Eric Holder "very, very devastating" to morale at the CIA, noting that the cases of alleged abuse were reviewed several years ago by federal prosecutors, who chose not to proceed with cases.
Cheney also said that Obama, who declared at the beginning of his term that he wanted to avoid revisiting Bush-era policies, should've been more involved with Holder's decision. The White House has said the probe, a preliminary review, was properly an independent decision made by Holder.
"The president of the United States is the chief law enforcement officer in the land," Cheney said. "I think he's trying to duck the responsibility for what's going on here. And I think it's wrong."
In a related development, the Justice Department was scheduled Monday to respond to the America Civil Liberties Union's request for a new batch of about 270 war on terror-related documents, including a Sept. 17, 2001, presidential directive authorizing the CIA to set up secret prisons.
On Friday, Justice Department lawyers told the ACLU that it didn't plan to release the documents, but instead would be filing a justification for withholding them.
On another topic, Cheney acknowledged that he was "a bigger advocate of military action" to arrest Iran's suspected nuclear weapons program than his Bush administration colleagues. "It was not my decision to make," he said.
(Marisa Taylor contributed to this article.)
Read The Inspector General's report on the CIA
In waning days, Bush officials backpedaled on terror memos
Is Obama following Bush's lead on official secrecy?
ACLU tests Obama with request for secret Bush-era memos


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Emily works with clients from all over the globe via Skype, Facetime and phone.
In special cases she can be available for house calls, on-set support for artists and on-field support for athletes.
Please contact Emily vanSonnenberg if you would like to inquire about:
- private psychological and behavioral healing sessions
- speaking and workshop engagements
- consulting for film and television
- consulting services for creative projects and apps
- private and small group Science of Happiness classes
- rates for services
firstname.lastname@example.com | @evansonnenberg


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Now, my issue is, what do I do with the tile, wallpaper, and paint color? Do I use all that or is it too much? Here are some quick scenarios:
|Walker Zanger chevron tile for the floor and wall paneling
|Using all the tile options (I'm thinking this is too much)
|Not using the Walker Zanger chevron tile (makes me sad) and using wall paneling on wall


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Source Extra Energy – On the 22nd March 2017, the ExtraEnergy Pedelec Awards were presented to the winners of the Autumn 2016 test season. First ExtraEnergy test with 85 bikes. Twelve vehicles achieved exceptional ratings across thirteen product groups.
At Taipei Cycle Show 2017, the Pedelec Awards were awarded to electric bikes in the product groups business, fold/compact, easy, family, classic, lifestyle, sport offroad, sport road, tour, city-comfort, cargo family, commercial cargo 120 kg+ and commercial cargo 50 kg+.
With these product groups, ExtraEnergy uses a tool for customers and the industry alike to differentiate and distinguish different products for different customer requests.
Stromer ST2 S best business pedelec March 2017
Stromer has set a new benchmark with the ST2 S: perfect ride performance, integrated design and top-end specification make this the well-deserved test winner for business pedelecs.
Haibike SDURO Trekking 4.0 best easy pedelec March 2017
Pure riding fun, good reliability and great service life. The Haibike SDURO Trekking 4.0 rode to test victory in the hotly-contested easy pedelecs product group.
Kalkhoff Sahel Compact Impulse best folding/compact pedelec March 2017
The Kalkhoff Sahel Compact Impulse, with a minor facelift, took a superb test win in the folding/compact category, repeating its victory from 2013 and 2016.
Utopia Kranich pedelec best family pedelec March 2017
An all-out all-rounder, the Utopia Kranich pedelec rode its way to the test win in the product group family, a "Very Good" in the tour and to a "Good" as an easy pedelec.
Stella Copenhague best classic pedelec March 2017
The Stella Copenhague pushes gently and then accelerates constantly. Overtake Racing bikes on the mountain – no problem! The Flying Dutchman with Knight Rider's running light display received the test win in the product group classic pedelec.
Klever X-Speed best lifestyle pedelec March 2017
An extraordinary appearance which, after a gentle start, gives the sense of "seven-league-boots". Sturdy frame and wide tires ensure good running characteristics and safety. Test win in the product group lifestyle pedelec for the Klever X-Speed.
Focus JAM² Plus Pro best sport offroad pedelec March 2017
Trail machine with great handling behaviour. Test win in the product group sport offroad for the Focus JAM² Plus Pro.
M1 Sterzing best sport road pedelec March 2017
The best sport road pedelec in the test shows its qualities also in the product group business. The M1 Sterzing is a great machine for commuting to and from work, will bring you lots of fun and the feeling of full security.
Riese & Müller Delite touring HS best tour and best city-comfort pedelec March 2017
Long-range champion who does not only eat kilometers, but also levels bumps on the way. A top class pedelec 45 for the long tour but also for commuting to and from work.
Riese & Müller Load touring HS best cargo family pedelec March 2017
The full suspension "Load" comes with double Bosch batteries. The long range and high performance make the "Load" the most successful all-rounder on test.
Pedalpower Long Harry E-Cargo Marquardt best commercial cargo 50kg+ pedelec March 2017
The powerhouse of the PedalPower stable. All wheel drive makes this LongHarry an absolute power colossus – and a test winner of the product group commercial cargo 50kg+.
Urban Arrow Family CX-500 best commercial cargo 120kg+ pedelec March 2017
The Urban Arrow Family CX-500 is a well-developed cargo pedelec with many clever details, a high quality specification and, thanks to its separable frame, it is very versatile and modular. Test winner commercial cargo 120kg+.


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Sole Cleanup
On the bottom you see the Raw Scan. On the top after Cleanup.
The complete Scan was retopologized mainly in C4D. Each part of the sneaker needed to be separated for more realism.
Some Progress sent to the Client
Mesh in C4D
Final Sculpt with Leather Detail added


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We would like to cordially invite you to a special Wine Maker dinner. We have partnered with one of the finest restaurants in the Bay Area - Le Papillon. Executive Chef Scott Cooper credits reading, experimenting and, above all, travel for the development of his style of cooking. He has taken numerous trips to Europe, the Pacific and Asia, which has influenced and broadened his understanding of the world of food as a whole. But his visits to France have proven most inspirational in the development of his cuisine at Le Papillon. Matt has worked closely with the Chef to pair our wines with a unique 5 course meal made from the freshest seasonal ingredients.
This is part of our new Wine Club only Wine Maker dinner series this year and will be limited to the first 40 guests to ensure an intimate and private affair with both Fernwood Cellars and Le Papillon.


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Tyre checks vital to keep scooter commuters safe
Tyre safety organisation is reminding scooter riders of the need to perform regular tyre checks to stay safe on daily commutes. With the Motorcycle Industry Association's (MCIA) Ride to Work Week at full throttle, TyreSafe is reminding scooter commuters to …
Real Driving Emissions testing approval at Millbrook
The Millbrook facility for performing real driving emissions testing using portable emission measurement systems gains VCA approval. Millbrook Group has been appointed as an approved facility to provide real driving emissions (RDE) testing by the UK's approval authority, VCA. The …
New Government urged to address local highways
The Road Safety Markings Association is calling on the government to make progress on delivering improved safety to local road networks. In the wake of the General Election, the Road Safety Markings Association has written to new and returning Members …
XC60 features in safety technology film
Volvo releases film demonstrating the value of advanced driver assist systems and autonomous control in avoiding accidents. "Sometimes the moments that never happen matter the most." This is the beguiling thought that lies behind Volvo Cars' new XC60 film. But …
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It's an oddly exciting day at the National Park I work for (Mississippi National River and Recreation Area)--the river is flooding and it's odd to be excited by the flood and watch what the water will do. Since our visitor center is based in the Science Museum lobbby, we're right on the Mississippi River in St. Paul, MN. We have an awesome view. That's a giant tree working it's way down towards Raspberry Island (which is mostly submerged at this point).
St. Paul has closed Sheperd Rd. from behind the museum all the way to Hwy 61 in preparation for the flood. One of the officers I spoke with said parts were already under water. I spent a majority of Sunday afternoon roving and interpreting the flooding--what ranger wouldn't rather be outdoors on a sunny day? The river is in flood stage at 14 feet and when I was at the river it was at 16.4 feet. It's expected to crest on Wednesday at 19.5 feet!
Across the way, Harriet Island was flooding. The police were trying to clear people off of it, but would have a better shot at herding cats. As soon as they would get one group to move on, 12 more people would walk in from the other side. Once church let out, the Harried flooded with people and the police seemed to give up. I have a feeling that tonight some serious barricades will go up and Harriet Island will be off limits for real tomorrow.
The Padleford boats are still docked at Harriet but barges have been placed in front of them to prevent debris from damaging them. If you watched the water up against the barges you could really get an idea of how strong the current was flowing. Here's a video I digiscoped:
Did you hear the house finch singing on territory in the background? Here he is:
He was duking it out with another male for space in this tree outside the museum--prime real estate in downtown St. Paul and relatively safe from flooding...I wonder if the river will affect some of our early nesters like wood ducks, mallards and Canada geese?
If you want to watch some of the flooding, there's a great view from the Science Museum and be sure to visit us at the Mississippi River Visitor Center in the lobby. To watch the predictions for the crest, check out NOAA's website.


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Newsletter: From Evidence to Action
Children's participation
Children's Participation is one in a series of topical guides developed for PAN:Children that provides key information on the current state of affairs in South Africa related to child participation in issues that affect them. It highlights practical guidance, lessons learned and case studies (both national and international) that will be helpful in policy development dialogue and knowledge sharing. The focus is on: tThe mismatch between the level of legislative protection of the right of children to participate and the recognition and implementation of the right at all levels of government and within social structures at a community and family level, culture and custom is a barrier to participation of children, access to information for children is a key barrier to exercising their rights to participate, and,limited understanding amongst all stakeholders of the value of children's participation as an added value to the policy-making / decision-making process.


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You really scared me when you suddenly started demanding attention.
"You really scared me when you suddenly started demanding attention. You'd throb. Pulse in the night willing & daring me to touch you. My head was horrified. It thought that the nocturnal demands of the fleshy maw were disgusting, shameful, dirty, even sinfuleven though I'd never been to church & had been brought up totally secular. So to satisfy both head & flesh I would reach down and gently rub in circle until the throbbing culminated in the most unfathomably deep release. And then I'd pray to a God I'd never been introduced to for forgiveness of my disgusting weakness.
It took me a long time to become reconciled with the mind, the flesh & the spirit, but now at 31, I'm the happiest & most satisfied than I've ever been. God bless! LOL"
Story submitted at the Sydney 101 Vagina exhibition 27-30 June 2013.


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By Farrell & Co.
Designed to carry more than the average bifold, this wallet is secure enough to hold credit cards, cash, and even your phone. Chrome-tanned leather and brass hardware.
This item is made to order. Please allow 5 – 15 business days for delivery within the U.S. International orders may take longer to ship depending on location.


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Mobile Spy Application for iOS 8
Apple Company's new operating system iOS 8 came with many features and provides lot easiness to its users. Since iPhone are the mobile phones which are used very much all around the world people wonder mobile spying application for iOS 8. This topic is one of the most frequent searched issues on the web. In this article we will try to recommend you some issues before deciding to buy a mobile spy application for yourself.
There are many applications available on the internet about the mobile spying application for iOS 8 but most of them are totally useless. We have been providing services in this sector for many years and have enough knowledge about all the programs available in the industry. That is why we offer some reviews about the best mobile spying applications in or web page to provide you an idea. All of the applications in our website work in cooperation with the iOS 8 smoothly. All you need to do is purchasing one of them and let them operate on behalf of you.
iPhone mobile phones have really great security and pay enough attention for the customers' safety. However it is possible to spy on those people very easily one you set up the needed application to their mobile phones, after which you will only need to track the records which will be delivered to your mobile phone or computer systems. If you are looking for a mobile spying application for iOS 8 then all you have to do is checking our reviews.


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The Best Snorkeling in Belize
Belize is a small country on the east coast of Central America that also shares borders with Mexico and Guatemala. Unlike most other Central American countries, Belize's official language is English, which can be an advantage as a tourist. There is also an abundance of Belizean Creole and Spanish.
Belize is very well-known for biodiversity on land, as the location between North America and South America provides an ideal climate for a variety of life. However, the most popular tourist destination for those seeking an outdoor adventure is not the dense forest, but is the Belize Barrier Reef.
Belize Barrier Reef
The Belize Barrier Reef is an incredible snorkeling destination. It's actually a 190 mile long section of the 560 mile long Mesoamerican Barrier Reef system which extends into Mexico. One of the main reasons the Belize Barrier Reef is popular for snorkeling is because of the shear abundance of marine life.
Here, you can find 70 hard coral species, 36 soft coral species, 500 fish species, and hundreds of invertebrate species.
What's even more impressive is that it's estimated only about 10% of the species living in or around the Belize Barrier Reef have been discovered! No wonder Charles Darwin described it as the most remarkable reef in the West Indies!
Belize Barrier Reef Snorkeling
The Belize Barrier Reef is one of the most popular spots to snorkel in the world. Some are surprised by this, but in general, Belize doesn't see the influx of tourists to the same extent that places like Hawaii or Australia may see. Nevertheless, Belize has lots to offer, particularly the snorkeling, which is top notch!
The marine life in the Belize Barrier Reef is wide spread; however, names of different sections of the reef may help indicate what species predominantly populate that area during a certain time of year. Examples of the creatures you may see when snorkeling Belize include, but are not limited to, a wide variety of coral, sea fans, gorgonians, tunicates, manta rays, spotted eagle rays, nurse sharks (especially in Shark Ray Alley), tons of colorful fish, and sometimes even a whale shark! The list goes on, but all you need to know is that the marine life is abundant in the waters of Belize.
Snorkeling from the Shore in Belize
If you're interested in doing some snorkeling in Belize, but are not interested in snorkeling tours or charters, you can still enter from the shore in some great spots. One thing to note, the more popular snorkeling spots in Belize like Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye are pretty far out (literally), and also packed with boats holding scuba divers and snorkelers, that sometimes it's just not practical or safe to get to these areas on your own as they are still about a half mile out into the water.
Snorkeling Tours in Belize
Although there is lots of good snorkeling from the shore of Belize, some of the cooler and more popular areas to snorkel in the Belize Barrier Reef are much more accessible by boat, and helps make your trip more efficient and also provides local tips and tricks to the specific area.
Below are some of the best and most popular snorkeling tours in the Belize Barrier Reef.
Carnival Snorkeling Excursion
Destination: Rendezvous Caye
Rendezvous Caye is great for all levels, as it is protected from ocean swells and winds by the reef itself. Lots of interesting marine life to see in a beautiful exotic environment with a great view. Snorkeling is followed by relaxing beach time.
Cost: $79.99/adult, $59.99/child (min 8 years to snorkel)
Cost includes high quality snorkeling equipment, instruction, beach mat, and water and juice on the boat. Drinks and snacks available for purchase on Rendezvous Caye.
Phone: 1-800-764-7419
Email: Click here to fill out form
Website: www.carnival.com
Belize Snorkeling - Ecological Tours and Services
Destination: Can choose from Goff's Caye or Shark Ray Alley (the latter may be accompanied by another location or two depending on tour and conditions).
This snorkeling tour company has a few different options which is nice. Trips are 4 or 5 hours in duration. Goff's Caye is a natural sand coral island, which offers stunning views, relaxing lounging time, great water to play in, and of course, awesome snorkeling.
Shark Ray Alley is a super cool area populated by sting rays and nurse sharks, both of which are safe to snorkel around when accompanied by guides. This incredible experience may be followed up by beach time on Caye Caulker or shopping at San Pedro.
Goff's Caye Cost: $60/adult, $49/child (under 10 years). Includes snorkeling equipment, water, and rum punch for adults.
Shark Ray Alley Cost: $60-$135/adult per person depending on exact tour selected. Includes snorkeling equipment and drinks, but not lunch (available for purchase).
Phone: 011-501-223-4874
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.ecotoursbelize.com
Grumpy and Happy Private Snorkeling Trips
Destination - Ambergris Caye area (specifically, Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Shark Ray Alley, Mexico Rocks area, and Coral Forest).
This is a very personal snorkeling tour company. They take groups of 1-6 people and offer personalized trips based on your wants and needs combined with their knowledge and expertise. This represents a great alternative to packed charters with strict schedules.
Cost: $360/half day, $720/full day, rates are constant no matter how many people in boat.Cost includes mask, fins, snorkel, snorkeling vests, snacks, and water. Prescription masks available.
Lots of different options for combinations of different spots you can visit to snorkel, based on your preferences and current conditions. Very personalized trips.
Phone: 1-888-273-9226
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.grumpyandhappy.com
Coral Breeze Snorkeling Tours
Destination: Caye Caulker, Shark Ray Alley, and Coral Grdens (begins at Beize Tourism Village). Full tour takes about 4 hours and 45 minutes.
The main snorkeling spots include Coral Gardens and Shark Ray Alley, as well as some exploration on Caye Caulker. Highlights include seeing harmless sting rays and nurse sharks, as well as pristine beautiful coral formations and other colorful marine life. On land you can explore, shop, eat, and relax.
Cost: $72/adult, $60/child ages 3-12 (children under 3 are free). Cheaper rates available for observers (as opposed to snorkelers). Cost includes snorkeling equipment, instruction, water, fruit, and rum punch (non-alcoholic available).
Phone: 401-946-4544
Email: Click here to fill out form
Website: www.coralbreezetours.com
Best Spots to Snorkel in Belize - General Info
There is a ridiculous amount of information available online about snorkeling in Belize. Depending on how much time you have to research, this could either be an advantage or disadvantage. With tons of info getting into specifics about man different snorkeling spots, there's everything you need, but it can be really difficult to narrow the options.
Therefore, if you don't want to spend a hug amount of time researching snorkeling spots in Belize, especially when you won't even be sure about your choices, we suggest one of the snorkeling tours we listed above, or at least contacting the ones in areas you are interested in and getting their perspective first. A really good company to contact could be Grumpy and Happy tours, as they are less likely to sell you on a tour, and more likely to provide accurate and useful information.
Generally speaking, Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker are the most popular spots for snorkeling in Belize, as each caye has a variety of snorkeling spots within it, as well as developed infrastructure on the islands themselves, so you can enjoy some great food, drinks, beaches, shopping, etc, al in addition to amazing snorkeling.
However, as mentioned previously, often times the best way to get to these popular spots is via a snorkeling tour. If this isn't for you, we would recommend contacting a smaller snorkel charter company like Grumpy and Happy, and seeing if they would be willing to arrange a trip that works for your budget and needs, and that allows you to snorkel from the shore of Belize and explore on your own, and later be picked up and transported to some even more awesome snorkeling spots by boat.
At the end of the day, our main piece of advice is to not worry! Of course, you want to get the most out of your snorkeling trip to Belize, but when it comes down to it, there are so many great snorkeling spots and experienced guides and charters that can direct you, that it's extremely unlikely you won't get to experience some of the best snorkeling in te world!


text: Share: Comments Print August 30, 2014 at 9:01 AM Seahawks Daily Top 10: Cutdown day looms, and Times special section on-line Posted by Bob Condotta 1, The big news today will be the cutdown from 75 to 53, which began yesterday with the release of Terrelle Pryor, as well as the reported waiving of fullback Kiero Small (who wouldn't be a surprise to see land back on the practice squad). The deadline is 1 p.m,., and we'll have full coverage here. Also, make sure to follow @JaysonJenks on Twitter, if you are not, as he will also be following and reporting cuts today. 2, In the meantime, you can begin perusing the Times' special NFL section, which will be in print on Sunday but much of which is already on-line (that's one of the feature photos above, taken by John Lok). Stories include my look at the challenges of repeating as Super Bowl champs. 3, A centerpiece of the section is this feature on the coaching methods of Seahawks coach Pete Carroll from Jenks. 4, Times columnist Jerry Brewer, meanwhile, says one is not enough for the Seahawks. 5, Larry Stone writes that while a repeat won't be easy, the Seahawks will be better than a year ago. 6, And here's a breakdown of every game on the schedule for 2014.7, Also included is this review of the 10 key plays of the Seahawks' 2013 season from Jenks. 7, Also in our Saturday paper is my look at what we learned in the preseason. 8, Pro Football Focus praised the play of Jordan Hill and Benson Mayowa against the Raiders but wondered about the game for Malcolm Smith. 9, Reports out that the Rams may look at Pryor. 10, Here's a good way to track every cut throughout the NFL. Comments


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Failed to play MKV files on Sony TV through USB port? You can easily fix the issue by transcoding MKV to Sony TV compatible format. Here is how to do it.
As a big entertainment in
our daily life, Sony TV always brings us great movie enjoyment via USB flash drive or Wifi connection. However, it is really a embarrassed thing when you tried to play common video formats like
MKV on Sony TV, only to find your Sony TV can't read the MKV file. So what's the matter? It is officially stated MKV is listed as a supported format in Sony TV tech support. If you've trouble
playing MKV files on Sony TV, read on for details.
Why Sony TV won't play some certain MKV files?
As far as we know, video codec, bitrate, resolution all decide the compatibility of the video on Sony TV. An MKV is a container. Different MP4 files tend to contain different video and audio codecs. The MKV files with unsupported audio (i.e. MKV DTS files) or video codec certainly can't be played on Sony TV.
How to make these incompatible MKV files playable on Sony TV?
To solve "Sony TV not playing MKV" issue, a widely recommended solution is convert MKV to Sony TV more compatible MKV format for USB playback.
All tools you'll need to convert video to Sony (Bravia) TV:
1. USB mobile hard disk or flash disk. The disk file systems should be FAT12, FAT16, FAT32, or exFAT for Sony TV acceptable.
2. Video Converter software - Here Dimo Video Converter Ultimate is an easy-to-use tool to help you fast and batch convert MKV to Sony TV supported file formats with zero quality loss on matter what models your Sony TV are, like Sony Bravia TV, Sony KDL-46HX820 TV, Sony KDL46EX521 TV, Sony KDL-46EX520 TV or other models. The program also supports encoding/re-encoding many other popular video formats like MKV, FLV, AVI, VOB, MOV, MP4, AVCHD, Tivo, MXF, MVI and more.
Besides, it has editing tools to help you trim, rotate crop add effects, watermarks, etc. to your MKV videos before you convert them. The program can convert videos at high speed while ensuring quality output. The conversion takes a few minutes, and it preserves the original quality of audios and videos thus ensuring zero quality loss. Dimo Video Converter Ultimate is compatible with Windows 10/8/7/XP/Vista, macOS 10.7 or later, including 10.11 El Capitan and 10.12 Sierra. If you're using a Mac, simply turn to the Mac MP4 to Sony TV Converter, which has the same function with the Windows version. Here is how to do it.
Free Download Dimo Video Converter Ultimate (Win/Mac):
Other Download:
- Cnet Download: http://download.cnet.com/Dimo-Video-Converter-Ultimate/3000-2140_4-77472903.html
- Soft32 Download: http://dimo-video-converter-ultimate.soft32.com/
- Top4download: http://www.top4download.com/dimo-video-converter-ultimate/nsyrihrb.html
- Softpedia Download: http://www.softpedia.com/get/Multimedia/Video/Encoders-Converter-DIVX-Related/Dimo-Video-Converter-Ultimate.shtml
- windows7download: http://www.windows7download.com/win7-dimo-video-converter-ultimate/bpphgnww.html
Steps to convert
MKV to Sony TV compatible formats
Step 1. Load MKV files
Launch the MKV to Sony TV Converter and then click "Add File" button to add the MKV files. You can also directly drag and drop your MKV videos to the program.
Step 2. Choose the output format
Click "Select Format" bar to select "Sony TV" from "TV" as a proper format for playing on Sony TV. The preset is specially designed for Sony TVs and also contains the best video settings for playback on your Sony TV.
Tip: Before start the MKV conversion for Sony TV, you can click the Settings icon and adjust the video size, video bitrate, codec, frame rate, audio sample rate, etc parameters, so that you can get a decent video on your Smart TV.
Step 3. Begin the conversion
Hit the big "Start" button to kick off the MKV to Sony TV conversion. After the conversion, you can transfer the files onto your hard drive and then play it back on your Sony TV via the USB cable, or share converted video files to Sony TV wirelessly.
Free Download or Purchase Dimo Video Converter Ultimate:
Kindly Note:
The price of Dimo Video Converter Ultimate for Windows is divided into 1 Year Subscription, Lifetime/Family/Business License: $43.95/Year; $45.95/lifetime license; $95.95/family license(2-4 PCs); $189.95/business pack(5-8 PCs). Get your needed one at purchase page.
Related Software:
BDmate (Win/Mac)
Lossless backup Blu-ray to MKV with all audio and subtitle tracks; Rip Blu-ray to multi-track MP4; ConvertBlu-ray to almost all popular video/audio formats and devices; Copy Blu-ray to ISO/M2TS; Share digitized Blu-ray wirelessly.
DVDmate (Win/Mac)
A professional DVD ripping and editing tool with strong ability to remove DVD protection, transcode DVD to any video and audio format, and edit DVD to create personal movie.
Videomate (Win/Mac)
An all-around video converter software program that enables you to convert various video and audio files to formats that are supported by most multimedia devices.
8K Player (Win/Mac)
A mixture of free HD/4K video player, music player, Blu-ray/DVD player, video recorder and gif maker.
Contact us or leave a message at Facebook if you have any issues.
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Printing with Natural Dyes Workshop: June 23
Students will learn how to use natural dyes and screen printing techniques to create their own handmade projects. Students will leave the course with a basic understanding of the principles of natural dyeing and fundamental screen printing knowledge. Each participant will leave with a stack of decorative handmade paper that they hand printed.
Friday, June 23 | 5:30-9:00 PM
Polka! Press, 2132 Fordem Avenue Suite L1
$75 per student | Ages 18+
Registration required. Class space is limited. Please note by registering for this class, materials will be purchased for your use. Please contact the instructor ASAP if you will not be able to attend so that we can allow another student into the class.


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It's been a strange summer in Gibraltar, with tensions rising between the British and Spanish governments over the building of an artificial reef close to the Rock. When the Spanish retaliated by introducing tortuously slow border checks for anyone crossing to the island, the British sent a gunboat – HMS Westminster – in an old-fashioned (and pointless) display of force. But according to a fascinating article in The Guardian, the "great summer of discontent is keeping everyone happy. The government in Madrid has its useful diversion; the Gibraltarians can do what they love doing – fly their flags, embrace the navy and revert to the siege mentality that has always defined them".
Click on the image below to read the article, and to see a photo gallery of recent protests by Spanish fishermen.


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As the crowds swelled below the podium where AFP had a spot and a very long lens, the scene lay out below me reminded me of the history books. Of the black and white photographs of African independence from the sixties. The Colonialists handing back the countries they had taken, and ravaged. Here in Juba, Omar al-Bashir, the president of the previously unified Sudan, was in attendance, ready to hand over South Sudan to Kiir and his men.
Thousands had come out, and sat through the day under a baking Juba sun. The lines of soldiers, many who had fought through the long, bitter war with the north, occasionally had someone drop amongst their ranks. The sun taking its toll as Red Cross stretchers whipped away the feinted.
The armoured vehicles of South Africa swept in, their gunmen training their huge rifles on the thousands gathered as Jacob Zuma made his way to his seat. Museveni's entourage seemingly went on for almost as many years as his rule.
I had had two hours sleep since last night's celebrations, little water and less food. We wrestled with the over protective security, freshly laminated badges hanging around our necks. Elbows were out. Tempers were fraying with some of those around me who were fresh to South Sudan and its protocol.
Everything was inevitably delayed. Speeches went on. And on. There were not enough seats for the dignitaries; but the generals of this army chivalrously gave up theirs for these fresh-faced "guests of honour", amongst them, Britain's own foreign secretary. (We heard rumours that someone had the unenviable job of advising him to wear a cap to cover his balding head from the Sudanese sun.)
But I felt immensely fortunate to be here, six months after covering the referendum and its subsequent results announced preliminarily in Juba and then formally in Khartoum. Honoured to be here at this moment in history, to be one of the (many) photographers to capture this moment and leave a record on the history books.
As the sun dropped, I jumped on the back of a motorcycle and sped across the eerily empty streets of this new capital, a dash to file my images.
Tables of exhausted journalists sat around our usual haunt, and despite resolves for an early night, a few of us stayed up until the following sunrise, high on the adrenaline of the day.


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Different Types of Stage Decoration and Its Growing Importance
Most of the Indian weddings are grand events with mythological rituals, decorations, customs, traditional dresses and heavy embellishments. The ceremonies are quite grand and it can be quite difficult to plan wedding decorations. Decoration is one of the vital and most significant parts of Indian wedding ceremonies. Different places are decorated during weddings which include stage decoration, table and chair decoration and hall decorations.
Stage decoration holds immense prominence as it is the scared place where the wedding vows are exchanged. It is also known as Mandap in Hindu marriage ceremonies. In the earlier days, mandap decorations were based on traditional rituals and beliefs. Today it is decorated in different styles to suit individual preferences.
Growing Business of Stage Decoration
Wedding mandap decoration is one of the most flourishing businesses in India and abroad. The mandap is usually placed on an open ground near to the bride's home. It has four posts which depict the four Vedas of the Hindu mythology which include Samaveda, Rigveda, Atharvaveda and Yajurveda. It also denotes the four karmas of Hindu myth. All the rituals of the Hindu marriages can be traced back to the traditional periods. As these scared rituals are performed under the wedding mandap, it is quite important to decorate the stages extravagantly. Today stage decoration has become a flourishing business prospect.
Three Different Styles
It is usually done in three different ways which include the following.
Traditional style: Most of the people who live outside India prefer traditional decoration themes as it exudes a unique aura of homely feelings. Different types of traditional props such as candles, diyas, lamps, rangoli, colorful drapes and flowers are used for traditional styles.
Contemporary style: Modern wedding stage decorations include contemporary styles with amplified lights and sound systems. It also includes colorful balloons, stars, glitters and disco balls. Today there are many professional decorators available in many of the online stores.
Theme based: One of the most popular mandap decorations include theme based decorations. The entire venue of the wedding is decorated on the basis of a specific theme which includes matching fabrics used for tables and chairs, matching flowers and many other details. Even the wedding cakes in the theme based decorations are made to match with the wedding theme.
Professional decorators include an entire team comprising of florists, photographers, catering and so forth. It is important to arrange wedding mandap according to the theme if the bride and the family have specific interest in theme weddings. Different types of fabrics are used by professional decorators to enhance the beauty of the arena. Lighting is another important aspect used for decorating purposes. A unique combination of lights and fabrics will add to the beauty of the entire wedding function.
Today there are many event management service providers that showcase incomparable expertise in the field of mandap decoration. The accommodation, catering, décor, audio visual, entertainment, logistics, transport, staging and creative designs are maintained by these companies efficiently. A professional wedding planner can also be arranged to decorate wedding mandap beautifully and elegantly.
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1900 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1900 Atlantic hurricane season featured seven known tropical cyclones, three of which made landfall in the United States. The first system, Hurricane One, was initially observed on August 27. The final storm, Tropical Storm Seven, transitioned into an extratropical cyclone on October 29. These dates fall within the period with the most tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic. Every storm of the season except Tropical Storm Seven existed simultaneously with another tropical cyclone.
|1900 Atlantic hurricane season
Season summary map
|Seasonal boundaries
|First system formed
|August 27, 1900
|Last system dissipated
|October 29, 1900
|Strongest storm
|• Maximum winds
|145 mph (230 km/h)
(1-minute sustained)
|• Lowest pressure
|936 mbar (hPa; 27.64 inHg)
|Seasonal statistics
|Total depressions
|Total storms
|Major hurricanes
(Cat. 3+)
|Total fatalities
|Total damage
|At least $31.45 million (1900 USD)
|Related articles
Of the season's seven tropical cyclones, three reached hurricane status. Furthermore, two of those three strengthened into major hurricanes, which are Category 3 or higher on the modern-day Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale. The strongest cyclone of the season, the first hurricane, peaked at Category 4 strength with 145 mph (230 km/h) winds. Upon striking Texas shortly after peak intensity, it produced a devastating storm surge in the Galveston area, with devastated city and caused at least 8,000 fatalities. Nicknamed the "1900 Galveston hurricane", it remains the deadliest natural disaster in the history of the United States. The hurricane also caused about $31.35 million (1900 USD) in damage. Impact from other tropical cyclones was generally minor, though the remnants of Tropical Storm Five resulted in 1 death and at least $100,000 in damage in Atlantic Canada.
Season summaryEdit
Tropical cyclogenesis began with the development of the first hurricane on August 27 well west of Cape Verde. It was the strongest storm of the season, peaking as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 936 mbar (27.6 inHg).[1] This was abnormally late, as the average date of development of the first tropical storm between 1944 and 1996 was July 11.[2] In comparison, the latest date of the first tropical storm during the satellite era was Hurricane Anita on August 29, 1977.[3] During the month of September, which is the climatological peak of hurricane season, three additional tropical cyclones formed, two of which were hurricanes. After the third hurricane dissipated on September 23, activity went dormant for nearly 2 weeks, until the fifth tropical storm formed near the Lesser Antilles on October 4. As it was becoming extratropical, a sixth tropical cyclone developed in the Bay of Campeche on October 10. The final system formed in the eastern Caribbean Sea, crossed Hispaniola, and transitioned into an extratropical cyclone between Bermuda and the East Coast of the United States on October 28.[1]
By far, the storm that caused the most devastation was Hurricane One, nicknamed the "Galveston hurricane". Its storm surge submerged much of Galveston Island in Texas, killing between 6,000 and 12,000 people.[4] Official estimates put the death toll at approximately 8,000. As a result, it is currently the deadliest natural disaster in the history of the United States.[5] At the time, it was also the second deadliest tropical cyclone in the Atlantic basin, behind only the Great Hurricane of 1780, which killed at least 22,000 people in the Lesser Antilles. However, the Galveston hurricane was surpassed in 1998 by Hurricane Mitch, which caused more than 11,000 fatalities in Central America.[6] The storm was also among the deadliest in Canada, where at least 102 people were killed.[7][8] Few other tropical cyclones during the 1900 Atlantic hurricane season caused any damage or fatalities.[9] However, the extratropical remnants of Tropical Storm Five brought moderate damage to Canada. The storm caused 1 fatality and about $100,000 in losses, mainly to railroads.[10]
The season's activity was reflected with an accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) rating of 81.[11] ACE is, broadly speaking, a measure of the power of the hurricane multiplied by the length of time it existed, so storms that last a long time, as well as particularly strong hurricanes, have high ACEs. It is only calculated for full advisories on tropical systems at or exceeding 34 knots (39 mph, 63 km/h) or tropical storm strength.[12]
Hurricane OneEdit
|Category 4 hurricane (SSHWS)
|August 27 – September 11
|Peak intensity
|145 mph (230 km/h) (1-min) 936 mbar (hPa)
The Great Galveston Hurricane of 1900
Early on August 27, a ship encountered the first tropical storm of the season, while located about 1,160 miles (1,870 km) east of the southernmost islands of Cape Verde. It slowly strengthened while moving steadily west-northwestward and entered the northeastern Caribbean Sea on August 30. The storm moved south of Puerto Rico and made landfall in Dominican Republic as a weak tropical storm on September 2. It weakened slightly while crossing Hispaniola, before re-emerging into the Caribbean Sea later that day. On September 3, the cyclone struck modern day Santiago de Cuba Province and then slowly drifted along the southern coast of Cuba. Upon reaching the Gulf of Mexico on September 6, the storm strengthened into a hurricane, while situated near Dry Tortugas.[1]
Significant intensification followed and the system peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) on September 8. Early on the next day, it made landfall near modern-day Jamaica Beach, Texas with winds of 140 mph (220 km/h). Around that time, its minimum barometric pressure of 936 mbar (27.6 inHg) was observed. It weakened quickly after moving inland and fell to tropical storm intensity late on September 9. The storm turned east-northeastward and became extratropical over Iowa on September 11. The extratropical system strengthened while accelerating across the Midwestern United States, Ontario, Quebec, northern New England, and then New Brunswick before reaching the Gulf of Saint Lawrence on September 13. Later that day, the extratropical remnants struck Newfoundland. It then reached the far North Atlantic Ocean and began to weaken, finally dissipating near Iceland on September 15.[1]
The storm brought heavy rainfall to Cuba, with up to 12.58 inches (320 mm) in a 24‑hour period in the city of Santiago de Cuba. Much of Florida experienced tropical storm force winds, though no damage occurred.[9] In Texas, strong winds were reported in the Galveston area, reaching 120 mph (190 km/h).[13] Storm surges between 8 and 12 feet (2.4 and 3.7 m) inundated the entire Galveston Island.[14] Every house sustained damage, with at least 3,636 destroyed.[13] In Galveston alone, approximately 10,000 were left homeless, out of a total population of 37,000.[15] The actual death toll is unknown, though it is thought to be at least 8,000. Thus, the 1900 Galveston hurricane was the deadliest natural disaster in the history of the United States.[5] Property damage from the storm was estimated at $30 million.[13] Hurricane-force winds and storm surge inundated portions of southern Louisiana, though no significant damage or fatalities were reported.[16] Further north, the storm and its remnants continued to produce heavy rains gusty winds, which downed telegraph wires in Illinois, Kentucky, New York, Michigan, and Ohio.[17] Another fatality occurred in New York City when gusty winds knocked over a sign and struck a 23-year-old man.[18] The remnants brought severe impact to Canada. In the province of Ontario, losses reached about $1.35 million, with $1 million to crops. There were at least 107 deaths in Canada, mostly due to sunken vessels near Newfoundland and the French territory of Saint-Pierre.[8]
Hurricane TwoEdit
|Category 3 hurricane (SSHWS)
|September 7 – September 19
|Peak intensity
|120 mph (195 km/h) (1-min)
A ship reported strong gales in the vicinity of Cape Verde on September 7.[19] Thus, HURDAT indicates that the second tropical storm of the season formed early on September 7, while located about 220 miles (350 km) west of the southernmost islands of Cape Verde. It quickly strengthened to a strong tropical storm on September 8, but then maintained that intensity for nearly 5 days.[1] The system was not tracked until being encountered by the steamship Hungaria on September 13, at which time it was already a hurricane.[20] Originally, the system was listed as Hurricane Four, it was operationally believed to have developed after the next two tropical cyclones. Later on September 14, it strengthened further into a Category 2 hurricane while moving northwestward.[1]
Re-curving northward, the system intensified into a Category 3 hurricane on September 16. At 1800 UTC, the hurricane peaked with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h). However, it weakened to a Category 2 hurricane later on September 17.[1] Shortly thereafter, the storm bypassed southeast of Bermuda, bring gusty winds but little impact. It then re-curved northeastward.[19] The system weakened back to a Category 1 hurricane on September 18. Later that day, it weakened to a tropical storm and then to a tropical depression early on September 19. The storm persisted for several more hours, until dissipated about 390 miles (630 km) southeast of Cape Race, Newfoundland.[1]
Hurricane ThreeEdit
|Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS)
|September 8 – September 23
|Peak intensity
|100 mph (155 km/h) (1-min)
Ship reports indicates that a tropical storm developed on September 8 at 1200 UTC, while located about 175 miles (280 km) east of the Bissagos Islands, Guinea-Bissau. The storm gradually strengthened as it was heading west-northward. By late on September 9, the system strengthened into a hurricane. It passed southwest of Cape Verde on the following day. The storm then intensified slowly, becoming a Category 2 hurricane early on September 12. Around that time, the hurricane peaked with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (155 km/h). Later on September 12, it re-curved north-northwestward. After turning north-northeast, the storm began executing a small cyclonic loop on September 14.[1]
A weakening trend soon occurred, with it weakening to a Category 1 hurricane early on September 15. About four days later, the hurricane completed its cyclonic loop and then headed west-northwestward. The system weakened to a tropical storm early on September 20. During the next few days, the storm decelerated and turned westward. Late on September 22, it weakened to a tropical depression. The depression continued westward, until dissipating at 1800 UTC on September 23, while located about 745 miles (1,200 km) east-southeast of Bermuda.[1]
Tropical Storm FourEdit
|Tropical storm (SSHWS)
|September 11 – September 15
|Peak intensity
|50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min) ≤1005 mbar (hPa)
Weather maps first indicated a tropical storm over the northwestern Caribbean Sea on September 11.[20] Heading northwestward, the system brushed the Yucatan Peninsula as weak tropical storm. Late on September 11, it peaked with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 1,005 mbar (29.7 inHg), while located in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico. Early on September 13, the storm re-curved northeastward and began weakening. At 0600 UTC on September 13, it made landfall near Venice, Louisiana at the same intensity. The storm weakened slightly and briefly moved offshore, before making another landfall near Ocean Springs, Mississippi with winds of 40 mph (65 km/h).[1]
Early on September 14, the storm weakened to a tropical depression. It weakened slowly while moving northeastward across the Deep South, before dissipating near Athens, Georgia on September 15.[1] Operationally, it was considered the third tropical cyclone of the season.[20] A telegraph from the Weather Bureau headquarters in Washington, D.C. warned vessels to remain in port for portions of the Gulf Coast of the United States. Strong gales were experienced along the coast from eastern Louisiana to western Florida and severely disrupted telegraph services in the region.[19] The winds and tidal inundation exacerbated crop damage caused by an earlier storm along the Mississippi River in southeastern Louisiana. Growing rice was damaged in Cameron Parish but left unaffected in other parts of the state.[21] The remnants brought heavy rains from Virginia to New England. Rough seas along the coast of New Jersey washed the schooner Willie ashore.[19]
Tropical Storm FiveEdit
|Tropical storm (SSHWS)
|October 4 – October 10
|Peak intensity
|70 mph (110 km/h) (1-min)
Observations from a ship indicate that the fifth tropical depression of the season developed at 0600 UTC on October 4, while located about 230 miles (370 km) northeast of Anguilla. Initially, the system remained weak and failed to strengthen into a tropical storm until October 7. It began to execute a cyclonic loop by early on the following day. Further intensification occurred and the storm peaked with winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) early on October 9. Eventually, it accelerated north-northeastward and became extratropical early on October 10. The remnants moved northward and eventually curved northeastward. Late on October 11, the extratropical remnants struck Nova Scotia. It continued rapidly across Atlantic Canada and re-emerged into the Atlantic. By October 14, the remnants dissipated near the southern tip of Greenland.[1][19]
The remnants of Tropical Storm Five brought severe impact to Canada. In Nova Scotia, 13 schooners were grounded, while 2 were destroyed. Strong winds downed telegraph wires in the eastern end of the province, while barns were de-roofed and trees were felled in Bayfield. High tides in New Brunswick inundated portions of Saint John, with some houses having up to 18 inches (460 mm) of water. Other low-lying areas were flooded. Washouts disrupted the Canadian Pacific Railway service and swept away portions of the tracks. The cost to repairs the tracks was estimated at $100,000. There was also damage to highways and bridges. A child drowned after attempting to cross a swollen creek. On Prince Edward Island, winds damaged small buildings and knocked chimneys of some houses. Electrical wires were reported down in Charlottetown.[10]
Tropical Storm SixEdit
|Tropical storm (SSHWS)
|October 10 – October 12
|Peak intensity
|45 mph (75 km/h) (1-min) ≤1008 mbar (hPa)
The sixth tropical storm of the season developed in the Bay of Campeche on October 10.[1] Operationally, it was believed that the storm originated over eastern Cuba.[19] Moving rapidly north-northeastward across the Gulf of Mexico, the storm peaked with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 1,008 mbar (29.8 inHg) early on October 11. The storm re-curved east-northeastward and made landfall near modern-day Horseshoe Beach, Florida at the same intensity early on October 12.[1]
It emerged into the Atlantic Ocean late on October 12, shortly before becoming extratropical while located about 35 miles (56 km) east of Jekyll Island, Georgia. The remnants moved along the East Coast of the United States, striking the Outer Banks of North Carolina, Long Island in New York, and New England. It continued inland over Canada, until dissipating over Labrador on October 15.[1] Impact from the storm was generally minor. Rainfall and gusty winds were reported between Florida and the Carolinas. Further north, it brought brisk to strong winds to New Jersey and southern New England.[19]
Tropical Storm SevenEdit
|Tropical storm (SSHWS)
|October 24 – October 29
|Peak intensity
|50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min)
Telegraph reports indicate that a tropical depression developed in the eastern Caribbean Sea on October 24.[19] The depression moved northwestward without differentiating in intensity before making landfall near San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic with winds of 35 mph (55 km/h). It did not weaken while crossing Hispaniola and instead strengthened into a tropical storm shortly after emerging into the Atlantic Ocean near the northwestern tip of Haiti. Late on October 27, the storm re-curved north-northeastward and pass through the eastern Bahamas. Around that time, it peaked with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h).[1]
Early on October 28, the storm accelerated and re-curved slightly to the northeast. At 0000 UTC on October 29, it transitioned into an extratropical cyclone while located about 310 miles (500 km) northwest of Bermuda. The extratropical remnants persisted until dissipating later on October 29.[1] No impact was reported in either Dominican Republic or Haiti. Much of eastern Cuba reported light rains, particularly in the provinces of Camagüey and Santiago de Cuba. Strong winds were reported throughout the Bahamas, though no damage occurred. As far east as Jupiter, Florida, sustained winds reached 32 mph (51 km/h).[19]
See alsoEdit
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT version 2)" (Database). United States National Hurricane Center. May 10, 2019.
- ^ "Average hurricane dates". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
- ^ Doyle Rice (June 30, 2009). "Hurricane season off to a typically slow start". USA Today. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
- ^ K.C. Wildmoon (September 12, 2008). "Hurricane destroyed Galveston in 1900". CNN. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
- ^ a b Neil L. Frank. The Great Galveston Hurricane of 1900 (PDF) (Report). American Geophysical Union. pp. 129–130. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 25, 2009. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
- ^ Mitch: The Deadliest Atlantic Hurricane Since 1780 (Report). National Climatic Data Center. January 23, 2009. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
- ^ Notable Canadian Tropical Cyclones (Report). Environment Canada. January 30, 2012. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
- ^ a b 1900-1 (Report). Environment Canada. November 20, 2009. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
- ^ a b Edward B. Garriott. Monthly Weather Review (PDF) (Report). United States Weather Bureau. pp. 375–276. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
- ^ a b 1900-5 (Report). Environment Canada. November 20, 2009. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
- ^ Atlantic basin Comparison of Original and Revised HURDAT (Report). Hurricane Research Division. March 2011. Retrieved July 1, 2013.
- ^ David Levinson (August 20, 2008). 2005 Atlantic Ocean Tropical Cyclones (Report). National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved July 1, 2013.
- ^ a b c Isaac M. Cline (September 29, 1900). Special Report On The Galveston Hurricane Of September 8, 1900 (Report). United States Weather Bureau. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
- ^ Hurricanes in History (Report). National Hurricane Center. May 30, 2012. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
- ^ Kathryn Westcott (September 22, 2005). "Flashback: Galveston's great storm". BBC. Archived from the original on 15 September 2008. Retrieved September 9, 2008.
- ^ David M. Roth (April 8, 2010). Louisiana Hurricane History (PDF) (Report). Weather Prediction Center. p. 28. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
- ^ "Wires to Galveston" (PDF). The New York Times. September 13, 1900. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
- ^ "City swept by high winds" (PDF). The New York Times. September 13, 1900. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Jose F. Partagas (1996). Year 1900 (PDF) (Report). Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. pp. 114–125. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
- ^ a b c Jose F. Partagas (1996). Year 1900 (PDF) (Report). Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. pp. 114–125. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
- ^ Blythe, W. T. (September 1900). "Louisiana Section" (PDF). Climatological Data. Washington, D.C.: United States Weather Bureau. 5 (9): 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 12, 2019.
External linksEdit
|Wikimedia Commons has media related to 1900 Atlantic hurricane season.


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Review for Wizard or Warrior by LD Doornbosch
Title: Wizard or Warrior
By: LD Doornbosch
Publication Date: February 11, 2016
Genre: Non Fiction - Self Help
Amazon US - http://amzn.to/1Y2qbq6
Amazon UK - https://goo.gl/C9RSqd
Amazon CA - https://goo.gl/LxmgIq
My Review
L.D. Doornbosch's "Wizard or Warrior" is a fun read. A great look at personality types in the context of tarot cards. I don't know a super lot about tarot, but I could still access and understand this book. I figured out I'm a bit of a *juggler* and a *wizard.* I liked how each description talked through the good, the bad, and the sex life for each personality type! I think I might check out "Finding Keepers" soon as a complement to this.
4 out of 5 stars
Amazon US - http://amzn.to/1OwUfGI
Amazon UK - https://goo.gl/nLH7gk
Amazon CA - https://goo.gl/fKgX2R
Social Media Links
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/lddoornbosch/


text:
Gear: Mini Tripod & Cellphone Mount
The guys from Xtreme Xccessories hit me up with a challenge. Take a Mini Tripod & cellphone mount, and make some magic. Never one to shy away from a challenge, I hit the outdoors in search of the perfect shot!
Table Mountain at sunset never disappoints, and there is this little ravine called Dassie Valley that I've always wanted to tackle. The timing was perfect as the light hit the mountains in the most glorious way, basking it in a golden glow. That light, and my new gadgets, made taking the million dollar shot so easy!
The mini tripod has a very functional adjustable strap, which can be tied around the wrist or any quick access point from your backpack. The tripod legs are super durable, flexible and remain very stable on any uneven surface, perfect for the rough rocky terrain I was exploring.
I first tested the tripod with my GoPro and was very happy with the stability and positions I managed to achieve, balancing it in all sorts of precarious positions and angles. Gone are the days where the perfect photo opportunity is out of reach!
I then quick sticks swopped my GoPro for my phone to test the cellphone mount, and what a pleasure! I love the fact that you can shoot horizontally or vertically, depending on your scenery or object. The mount also includes a soft foam bumper, stretchable rubber arms and protective rubber lips. It fits any tripod or selfie stick with a 1/4"-20 threading.
I also swapped out my phone with my GoPro using the cellphone mount and it also worked like wonders. Versatility at it's best!
Overall I am super stoked with the quality and functionality of the tripod and cellphone mount.
Any outdoor adventurer will tell you that you only get one chance to take the perfect picture, when the moment is gone, it's gone. Therefore, quality, accessibility and reliability is key, and the guys from Xtreme Xccessories totally get that as well. Shot guys! (pun intended!)


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Slide with STYLE!...If you want to take the guesswork out of a custom slide product, then check out our River Run Series! The River Run Series slides is a series of popular, pre-designed BYOS 2 designs that are ready to order without the need of the quoting process. There are 11 available colors to choose from including 8 stunning granite colors that will blend well into any custom backyard design. If you want a pre-designed landscape slide to fit your backyard oasis, then a River Run Series slide product is the perfect choice!
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Photo: Victoria Falls Steam Train Co. With an exciting agreement between Zambia and Zimbabwe in place, the Victoria Falls Steam Train Company has developed a unique and historic activity for visitors at this wonderful destination. The authentic steam train No. 512 is a class 14A Garratt and one of the last of its kind still in use in Africa.
This steam locomotive was designed and built by Beyer Peacock in the United Kingdom at Manchester in 1953. The train consists of a boiler with a steam engine mounted on either side plus vintage carriages which offer dining, bar and lounge facilities with different configurations depending on requirements.
The Steam Train ExperienceAll tour options depart from the station opposite the Victoria Falls Hotel in Zimbabwe. The steam train crosses the historic river bridge and travels into the adjacent Big Five Zambezi National Park in Zimbabwe. Half way across the bridge the train stops so that guests can admire the spectacular views while enjoying chilled refreshments and delicious gourmet delights.
The Victoria Falls Bridge is over 100 years old and built across the mighty Zambezi River which is the natural border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. The bridge, which is 111 metres (364 feet) above the water, is actually 'no man's land'. From the carriage you will experience full views of the Victoria Falls and a stunning sunset if you cross at the end of the day.
The Sunset Bridge RunSundowner memories with Victoria Falls as your back-drop, are made of this! Enjoy a 2 hour trip which includes bubbly and gourmet canapés at sundown on the bridge and a return journey via the Zambezi National Park.
The Moonlight Dinner RunThe evening begins with sundowners and delicious treats on the bridge at sunset followed by a gourmet dinner in the Zambezi National Park - this can also be a themed event with entertainment. Dinner is served in the carriages or under the night skies.
Zambezi Lager Party ExpressAll aboard the party carriage which has its own bar on a scheduled Sunset Bridge Run. This option is truly affordable as all drinks are included in the ticket price.
The African Safari DinnerGet your cameras ready for wildlife viewing at sunset in the Zambezi National Park. This journey begins with welcome drinks on the station platform before you travel to the park enjoying champagne and canapés along the way. In the park the train stops so you can take pictures of any passing wildlife. Later you will enjoy a bonfire, traditional African entertainment and a gourmet dinner.
The TramThe quaint Victorian Tram takes a gentle turn through town, passed a wildlife area and the rainforest for 20 minutes before going onto the bridge, where it stops mid way for views of the falls. This journey can be combined with a rainforest tour, an historic bridge tour, refreshments at the Bridge Cafe and bungee jumping demos. You can also experience the adrenalin rush of a bungee jump, bridge slide (child friendly) or bridge swing, before your return tram journey.
Steam Train JourneysThere are 4 exciting tour options to choose from, or you can join in on a planned event such as a Christmas Eve, New Year or Valentine's Day celebration. The train is also available for corporate and private functions, or how about an unforgettable wedding reception? Toast to your new life together aboard this elegant and romantic vintage train and then celebrate at a function in the Zambezi National Park.
Enquiries / Questions


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Their school, Morris Jeff, was in the middle of the Aug. 5 flood that paralyzed the city and seeped into homes. So when they learned that the subject of a LEGO robot competition was water, they didn't have to think hard to come up with a problem. Since then, they've been working on a solution.
Charter School Board
Morris Jeff Community School, Inc.
Morris Jeff student robotics project takes inspiration from summer floods
Two city charter schools engaging with teachers unions for bargaining
Morris Jeff charter school again approves teachers union for collective bargaining
Principals discuss study that found charters tried to exclude some students
Two more charter boards stick with RSD, while two others think about it another month
So far, no charter boards have returned their operations to Orleans school board
Proposed Morris Jeff budget for 2014-15
State releases elementary and middle-school standardized test scores
Morris Jeff releases board meeting agenda
Neighbors complain about construction hours at new Morris Jeff school in Mid-City
Neighbors complain about construction hours at new Morris Jeff school in Mid-City
Financial books are in order, but unpaid aftercare bills worry Morris Jeff board
Live blog Thursday: Hammond's holds forum on school bus safety
Morris Jeff windfall will hire special ed teachers, expand middle school
Refusal to return charter schools to OPSB sign of distrust of locally elected boards
Morris Jeff staying under Recovery School District governance
Morris Jeff will vote tonight on return to Orleans school board
Morris Jeff board considering policy changes
Morris Jeff board to take December vote on school governance
More charter schools now eligible to join Orleans Parish School Board, but will any take the leap?
Charter boards overseeing 17 schools must decide by the end of the year if they want to move from the Recovery School District to the Orleans Parish School Board. But there are still reasons for schools to stay put, such as funding issues and concerns about the management and leadership of the local school system.
Morris Jeff board looking to improve communications
Morris Jeff board touts score improvement
Morris Jeff board considers charter amendments
Cost of busing students in New Orleans rises as parents exercise school choice
It will cost $30 million to bring students to and from public schools this year, compared to $18 million the year before Katrina. The increase appears to be a consequence of citywide enrollment and the shift from a centrally-run school system. A few schools are working together to negotiate busing contracts.
Morris Jeff school's income better than expected
For some New Orleans students, school choice means pre-dawn bus pickups
Some students who have to travel across town, or across the river, must be at their stop before 6 a.m. Martin Berhman, located on the West Bank, starts picking up kids in eastern New Orleans at 5:42 a.m. Parents say they're willing to deal with early mornings in order to send their kids to better schools.
Check here for Orleans public schools' opening days
Union leaders meet with Morris Jeff school's governance committee for first time
Morris Jeff charter school board embraces new teachers union
Morris Jeff prepares for federal funding cuts in 2013-14 budget
Morris Jeff's $3.9 million budget anticipates growth of 75 students
Morris Jeff seeks public input on its $3.9 million 2013-14 budget proposal
Morris Jeff prepares for move to Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church
Inactive member voted off Morris Jeff board; Dave Matthews guitar brings $2,400
Lens reporter finds doors to Morris Jeff board meeting locked
Morris Jeff leaders fear the school is paying twice for property insurance
Morris Jeff Community School still looking for new location
Morris Jeff board focuses on governance
Lacking a quorum, board reschedules meeting for Dec.
Board hopes for increased enrollment, considers possible locations for new campus
At the monthly Morris Jeff Community School board meeting Thursday, Principal Patricia Perkins said the school met its goal for 275 students, as of the official Oct.1 count. To accommodate the growth, board members considered an array of temporary locations, ranging from the West Bank to New Orleans East.
Morris Jeff board meeting agenda released
Board eyes space for a new playground and gym; enrollment at capacity
Board agenda released
Morris Jeff sees enrollment boom while some test scores are a bust
While the line of students hoping to enter its doors grows, Morris Jeff still needs to bolster achievement inside school walls, the board learned at its meeting June 21, which included a discussion of the school's budget. Already one over its sixty student cap for pre-Kindergarten, the school has a 76-student waiting list.
Morris Jeff looks to new site, plans to ramp up savings with new budget
The Morris Jeff board of directors discussed expanded operations and a projected year-end surplus this time next year at its 2012-13 budget hearing on May 24. Principal Patricia Perkins is anticipating surpluses for the next two years as the school rebuilds its reserve fund and prepares to move to the former Fisk-Howard site on Rendon Street in 2014-15. With $3,045,960 in revenues and $2,967,110 in expenses projected for 2012-13, next year's budget is predicted to produce a $78,850 surplus.
Projected budget for 2012-13 school year released ahead of Friday's public hearing
Morris Jeff's proposed budget for 2012-13 anticipates a bigger school and correspondingly higher costs. With at least 60 additional students expected to enroll next fall, revenues are projected to jump by $500,000 to $3 million while expenses rise by $400,000, also to $3 million
With the incoming pre-kindergarten class and expansion to fourth grade, next year's student count is projected to hit 335.
Budget, building plans set for public review; slight deficit noted
Morris Jeff 2012-13 budget available for review
Parent involvement and admission applications both high; board eyes lots near new campus
More than 200 parents participated in April's student-led parent conferences, the highest number in the school's history, board members learned at their April 26 monthly meeting. Preliminary application data for the coming year show high demand for Morris Jeff Community School, principal Patricia Perkins reported. One hundred thirty-four pre-kindergarten applicants made Morris Jeff their first choice.
Plans for new campus dominate board meeting; adjacent lots eyed; reading tests show progress
The Morris Jeff board of directors focused on plans for a new building at their monthly meeting, March 15, and principal Patricia Perkins said she is determined to have the building ready for the beginning of the 2014-2015 school year. As part of the ongoing community engagement phase, the Recovery School District and the Verges Rome architecture firm are seeking input on where to put the building, how far it should be set back from adjacent streets and other topics.