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Money, Opinion Propelled Prop. 36 / Drug treatments OKd By 61% of votes
The landslide victory of Proposition 36, the drug treatment measure on last week's ballot, appears to have been caused both by a genuine change in voters' views about drugs and a well-financed election campaign that buried its opponents.
Proponents say that the lopsided 61 percent yes vote demonstrates a sea change in public attitudes about drug policy and a disenchantment with the war on drugs that began during the Reagan administration.
Public opinion experts indicate that the measure's backers weren't exaggerating.
"We have asked a general question about public support for the legalization of marijuana for the last 25 years," said Tom Smith, director of social survey for the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago.
"Support went up in the '70s and back down in the '80s. But since 1990, it has been going up steadily -- from 16 percent to 33 percent this year."
"When you see a doubling of support for anything in a decade, that indicates a pretty substantial shift of public opinion about it," Smith said.
However, the landslide seems to have also been the result of a campaign that spent more than $3.8 million -- much of it on well-designed direct mail advertising.
Proposition 36 requires that first- and second-offense drug violators be sent to drug treatment programs instead of facing trial and possible incarceration. The measure makes $60 million available immediately to expand treatment programs and adds an additional $120 million each year afterward. It prohibits drug testing and also bars sending offenders to jail as soon as they violate probation for a drug offense.
According to campaign spending reports filed with the California secretary of state by Oct. 26, one week before the election, the California Campaign for New Drug Policies, organized and run by Zimmerman and Markman, a Santa Monica political firm, spent more than $1 million just on the petition drive to qualify the measure for the ballot.
The committee -- which was largely bankrolled by billionaire philanthropist George Soros and his allies, Peter B. Lewis and John Sperling, followed up with $1.6 million in television spots, $261,932 in slate mailers and other campaign literature, and at least $65,000 worth of radio advertising.
Direct mail slate cards from groups as diverse as the Parents' Ballet Guide and the Save Proposition 13 Committee carried the pro-36 message. In a canny move, proponents stressed the potential tax savings promised by the measure in order to convince conservative voters who otherwise might have opposed reducing the punishment for some drug offenses.
The spending blitz by Proposition 36's supporters left the measure's opponents in the dust. By Oct. 26, Californians United Against Drug Abuse had raised only $223,804 -- less than the amount the pro campaign spent on slate mailers alone.
They had spent only $32,223 on direct mail and other literature, and only $55,000 -- about one-thirtieth of the Pro-36 total -- on television ads.
Ray McNally, who ran the anti-36 campaign, said his group spent about $400, 000 in opposing the measure -- and were outspent nearly 10 to 1.
"When we got an opportunity to sit down with people and explain the shortcomings of Prop. 36, we were overwhelmingly successful in getting them to change their minds and vote against it," McNally said.
"If we had had the money to go over the details of the measure with the voters, it would have lost . . . But if you don't have the money to contact the voters, you can't change their minds."
All the advertising in the world will not convince people to buy a product they do not want. And proponents say that California's voters were simply ready for Proposition 36.
Tom Smith of the National Opinion Research Center told The Chronicle that U. S. voters have been slowly turning against the punitive approach on all criminal justice issues in recent years and have become far more supportive of less stringent law enforcement strategies.
"There has been a drop in support for the punitive or 'get tough' approach," Smith said. "In large measure, it is because the crime rate has been dropping and people just don't think of crime as being such a big problem."
Similarly, he said, the public has become a great deal friendlier toward a therapeutic approach for drug abusers instead of reliance on prosecution and incarceration.
"When we ask people about government spending priorities, more people support rehabilitation than simply spending more money on drug (enforcement), which has a more punitive sound to it," Smith said. "There has been a general drop in support for the punitive approach. The support has been for the public health approach over the punitive, and proponents have been arguing that it is simply more cost effective to do it that way."
The same sort of shift in attitudes among U.S. youth has been spotted in the "Monitoring the Future" opinion surveys conducted by the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan.
"In the 1990s we saw a reduction in the proportion of high school seniors who thought that personal marijuana use should be prohibited by law," said Lloyd Johnston, a principal investigator in the project.
Johnston said that in 1990, 56 percent of the youth who responded to the survey thought that smoking marijuana should be outlawed. Last year, the number had dropped to 39 percent. "That's a pretty substantial shift in public opinion, " he said.
Equally significant is the upswing in the number of young people who believe that marijuana should be legalized outright. Sixteen percent of the teens sampled for the study in 1990 said they thought marijuana should be legalized. Last year, 27 percent supported legalization.
"There's been a major shift in both of those in a more liberal direction, if you will," Johnston said.


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Maharashtra HSC paper leak news 2017, HSC maths paper leak news for Arts, Science & Commerce, HSC Statistics paper leaked 2017 of date 7 March 2017, 12th class HSC board paper leak on Whatsapp
The Maharashtra HSC paper 2017 leaked on messaging app updated by the officials on the board. The candidates must read the news before attending the examination in a well processed manner and fill the online application accurately. The first step is to take care of HSC paper leak news 2017. The next step is to fill all the personal as well as the academic details in the application form. If the entries are not accurate or appropriate, then the form will be disqualified and rejected, according to MAHA HSC board 2017.
HSC Paper Leak News 2017 – Subject Wise
In the HSC paper leak, the main step is to carry the scanned books and notes and the required study material at the time of exam. The format for the scanned notes is mentioned on this website(10thresultnamewise.in). The size and the format must be appropriate in order to fill the answer sheet accurately. The second last step is to make payment to paper cheaters for HSC paper leak news of maths subject. The payment can be made via offline as well as the online mode to the gang.
HSC Maths Paper Leak News 2017
All the candidates must download the leaked question paper from the official portal of the department. The entry in the examination is prohibited without the admit card. The long wait of the candidates is over now as the officials of the board has updated the HSC Maths paper leak news and the new date of paper on the website. The candidates can download the HSC question paper leaked through the direct links available on the different website. The provision has been made for the ease and convenience of the candidates.
|Board Name
|Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education(MSBSHSE)
|Name of the Exam
|HSC Exam 2017
|Total Students
|15.12 lakh(Expected)
|Exam Date
|28 Feb. to 20 March 2017
|Expected Result Date
|In May 2017
|Board Result 2017, Latest News
|Paper Leak Subjects
|Maths, Statistics, Physics & Marathi
Maharashtra HSC Paper Leak News of Statistics, Physics & Marathi
The official website of the board helps the interested candidates in all the necessary fields. Once the student logs on to the panel, he/she will be able to view all the crucial information of HSC paper leak 2017 available on this website.
The candidates only need to provide their name or the date of birth or the application number for which they have been registered. The candidates are not allowed to enter the examination hall with the mobile phone & Whatsapp as it is considered as the identity of the cheating.
For More Updates Maharashtra HSC

subset: commoncrawl


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news Archives
Dr. John Talks About Baby Unplugged on Fox19 in Cincinnati
The Baby Unplugged board book series for toddlers is the brain child of Dr. John Hutton, a pediatrician and children's bookstore owner in Cincinnati, Ohio. Baby Unplugged focuses on the importance of keeping young children away from the increasing influence of screens -- and remind their parents of other childhood joys.
Dr. John Talks About Baby Unplugged on KSL TV in Salt Lake City
Baby Unplugged is the brain child of Dr. John Hutton -- a series of books meant to take kids away from the increasing influence of screens -- and remind their parents of other childhood joys.
The books aren't just stories -- but activity guides -- each one pointing out the fun things that can be done -- like exploring the outside world, playing with a box or a blanket, or spending time with pets.
Dr. John Hutton Baby Unplugged: Tell Me A Story
Pediatrician Dr. John S. Hutton discusses the importance of "old-school," screen-free, primary experiences for young children, as celebrated by his award-winning Baby Unplugged series of children's board books. Dr. John is also the owner of the award-winning blue manatee children's bookstore and decafe' and affiliate (also award-winning) baby gift site, blue manatee boxes. This video was produced by Cincinnati Children's Hospital as part of their Tell Me A Story series about helping keep children healthy.
Bedtime Stories for Young Brains
By Perri Klass, M.D.--The New York Times
"This month, the journal Pediatrics published a study that used functional magnetic resonance imaging to study brain activity in 3-to 5-year-old children as they listened to age-appropriate stories. The researchers found differences in brain activation according to how much the children had been read to at home."
MRI Shows Association Between Reading to Young Children and Brain Activity
By Carla Kemp, Senior Editor--The American Academy of Pediatrics
"We are excited to show, for the first time, that reading exposure during the critical stage of development prior to kindergarten seems to have a meaningful, measurable impact on how a child's brain processes stories and may help predict reading success," said study author John Hutton, M.D., National Research Service Award Fellow, Division of General and Community Pediatrics, Reading and Literacy Discovery Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. "Of particular importance are brain areas supporting mental imagery, helping the child 'see the story' beyond the pictures, affirming the invaluable role of imagination."
Child's Play: Why It Matters
By Bonnie Jean Feldkamp, Cincinnati Family Magazine
John Hutton, M.D., clinical research fellow at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, co-owner of the blue manatee children's bookstore, and author of the Baby Unplugged book series, says, "Babies only really process language when spoken to by a real person." Audio, video and flash cards have no context to which the child can relate. What they relate to is their caregivers engaging them through play. Babies relate to holding familiar objects in their hands and hearing the words that label these objects coming from Mom and Dad. Apple. Shoe. Cup. All senses are engaged....The more you talk to your baby and engage in real-world playtime together, the more you support her foundation for learning as well as her social-emotional bonds."
Cincinnati Business Courier Names Dr. Hutton a 2015 Health Care Hero Winner
Cincinnati Business Courier * Spring 2015
Dr. Hutton is named a 2015 Health Care Hero in the Innovator Category for his role as researcher and practicing pediatrician, as well as for his groundbreaking Love Baby Healthy Series.
Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics Member Spotlight: John Hutton, MD, FAAP
Ohio Pediatrics * Fall 2014
An interview with Dr. Hutton centered on his efforts through blue manatee press to promote shared reading experiences beginning in infancy-- as well as health literacy with the Love Baby Healthy Series.
Blue Manatee Press Educates Parents About Infant Health
By Claire Kirch, Publishers' Weekly
Blue Manatee, a small press affiliated with Cincinnati's Blue Manatee bookstore, has found success in the marketplace by publishing picture books that educate parents about health issues while they read them to their infants.
The Owners of Blue Manatee Children's Bookstore Talk About Their New Children's Book
By Barbara Gray, WVXU
Dr. John Hutton & Leah Busch, owners of Madisonville's Blue Manatee bookstore, have now written their own children's book, Your Red Shoes, and they join Barbara Gray to talk about where the idea came from and how their collaboration works.
The Challenges Facing Those With Dyslexia and What Treatment Methods are Available to Help Them
By Maryanne Zeleznik, WVXU
Dyslexia is a lifelong condition that affects how the brain works, making it difficult to identify speech sounds and learning how they relate to letters and words. Joining us to look at dyslexia and what treatment methods are successful in helping those with the condition learn how to process information are Dr. Tzipi Horowitz-Kraus, Dr. Scott Holland, and Dr. John Hutton.
Bring Back Reading Aloud
By Sherry Hang, Cincinnati Family Magazine
Dr. John featured in an article about the importance of unplugging and reading together.
Bookseller Turns Publisher for 'Baby Unplugged' Line
By Claire Kirch, Publishers' Weekly
Concerned about children's brain development in an increasingly digitized society, pediatrician John Hutton, owner of Blue Manatee Children's Bookstore in Cincinnati, Ohio, decided to do something about it.
Baby Unplugged, A Novel, Market-Based Approach to Reducing Screen Time and Promoting Healthy Alternatives
By John S. Hutton, Clinical Pediatrics
Read about the inspiration for and science behind the Baby Unplugged initiative.
Cincinnati: Our City, Our Story
By Barbara Gray, WVXU
Barbara Gray welcomes Dr. John S. Hutton to discuss Cincinnati: Our City, Our Story.
Glass Artists Publish Childrens Book
By Barbara Gray, WVXU
Barbara Grey welcomes Sandy Gross and Leah Busch from Cincinnati's Brazee Street Studios.


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Frank Anderson
Frank Anderson, Former Chief, Near East Division, Directorate of Operations, CIA. Mr. Anderson is President of the Middle East Policy Council, a non-profit, non-partisan, educational organization that seeks to contribute to American understanding of the political, economic and cultural issues that affect U.S. interests in the region.
Mr. Anderson's involvement in the Middle East began 1n 1969 when he began studies at the U.S. Foreign Service Institute's Arab Language and Middle East Area Studies School in Beirut, Lebanon. Since then, he has lived in Lebanon, Libya Yemen and Morocco and worked extensively in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
His government service included a 27 year career in the Central Intelligence Agency from which he retired, as Chief of the Near East and South Asia Division, in 1995. Following his retirement, he spent 14 years providing information and advice, related to the Middle East, to American and international businesses and the U.S. and foreign governments.
Mr. Anderson's writing on the region has been published in the journal "Middle East Policy," the New York Times, Washington Times and Los Angeles Times. He has appeared on all three broadcast television networks, CNN, Fox News, PBS, the BBC and Russian TV discussing regional issues.
Mr. Anderson was educated at the University of Illinois in Chicago, where he graduated with a BA in Political Science, as well as at the Foreign Service Institute.
Mr. Anderson lives in Gaithersburg, Maryland. He is active in the lay leadership of St. Nicholas Episcopal Church in Darnestown, Maryland, twice serving as a vestry warden. His four children, 12 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren are spread between New York, Washington, Chicago, Salt Lake City, Singapore and Bahrain.


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1.Do The Dance
Lori Chaffer
Morning breaks
Fighting chance
You're awake
You do the dance
The dance
2.Life Of The Party
Lori & Don Chaffer
Some roads dead end some just disappear
Well I don't know but I've been told that I'm the kind that won't let you near
Most people tell you what you wanna hear
but sometimes what you need is not as bad as all the things that you fear
There is something on the other side of a dream
Come on down Come on down
Come and be the life of the party
There's a million ways to start a fire and then just watch it burn
When the sun comes out, we won't pout we won't criticize anybody
Just let it go, let it go don't hold on to it
Peter Peter Pumkin-eater lied
He said he had a standard to uphold and he would not compromise
And Dr. Jekyll had his Mr. Hyde
So play the game too long and all you're left with is your darker side
There is something on the other side of a dream
There is wanting
There is holding onto things
It can't be occupied or turned into a theme
Come on down, come on down...
Lori & Don Chaffer
I wanna go out and plant a seed
But we're too busy trying to build a new city
There's a market and a jail and an empty pier
And a woman with a tune we don't really wanna hear
Its all tied to a box and bunch of pages
That no one understands, not even the wise sages
I think its about time I defected
Cause I'm getting a little tired of feeling dejected
Grandmama she went out last night
Stared up at the moon cause it was such a safe light
She opened up a box with a bunch of pages
That she couldn't understand though it calmed her rages
She say "Cows make milk and bees make honey"
She sang "I don't need much I just need a little money"
Grandpa he danced the ol' soft shoe
He needed a chance to shake off the rhythm of the blues
Went out last night held the dirt in my hand
Nothing special, tasted bland
Wrote down names in hard black lead
Closed our books and went to bed
4.Accidents Happen
Don Chaffer
This is the story of Captain Breeze
And the way he moved with his injured knees
And the boy whom he once taught to climb trees
Before the Captain lost his way
And this is the story of Sam the kid
How he, for a couple of lousy quid,
Bought a jar of priceless jewels with a broken lid
And why he couldn't stay
Accidents happen; accidents do
Someone'll act like they're into you
But their axe'll fall in between violent and blue
Then the accidents come and start falling on you
Accidents come and start falling on you
Sam was out looking for cheap guitars
He was looking through other people's yards
When he found his blessing in a box of jars
And he bought it right away
When he thought of Breeze he felt himself tear
He thought, I probably should just let him share
But I can't be sure he'll even be there
So I'll wait 'til the end of day
They met on the bank by the river dam
Captain Breeze and the eager one, Sam
And the Captain said, no talking while we eat our ham
They were chewing not talking right then
And when lunch was over the captain spoke
He said, "You know, kid, you kinda seem like of a joke"
Sam didn't look up cause Sam's heart was broke
And he wondered when their talk would end
That night beneath the northern star,
Sam left with nothing but his jar,
And he had no plan except to get as far
As he could from his Captain friend
6.The Highest Branch
Lori Chaffer
I am so happy
To have climbed that tree
And I stand on the highest branch
Everything is underneath
Even my mother
Even my father
Especially my brothers
7.Lying In History
Lori & Don Chaffer
Something just isn't quite right
I'm not feeling alone tonightI know that you are gone
So why haven't I been able to move on
We were only children back then
At the place where anger and love begins
But what might have been never was
And so I do what anyone does
Why be a mystery
Lying in history
Some nights I can't picture your face
Barely formed and then taken away
Like the crash of a wave
Leaves a hole where a rock had once taken its place
Seven long days and then you were
Lying in history
Why be a mystery
A good woman who can find
Never sleeping, always kind
Strong and fearless with a right mind
Pretty soon she leaves herself behind
Lying in history
Why be a mystery
1.Right Before
Don Chaffer
The night before the demolition
An overweight man gave me permission
To go through the basement at the mission
And see what I could find
There was one stuffed bear and a can of kerosene
There was something about it that was almost serene
To be the last witness of these things
That were left behind
Right before it's burned down
Right before it's blown apart
Right before everybody gives up on it
It's in the air
Right before the wrecking ball
Right before the dynamite
Right before in the middle of the night
There's something there
The last time we kissed was at the station
She was heading off for summer vacation
We were both well done, it was just gravitation
That our lips met
So I placed the key in the car's ignition
While I re-thought our position
But if you won't let go, then you can't transition
You can only bet
Right before it goes off
Right before it walks away
Right before the last thing that you won't ever say
Right before you slip up
Right before the great regret
Right before everything changes
You're not okay
I don't know if anyone should
Given the chance, I don't think I would
I just know that if I don't admit it,
It'll haunt me, and I'll never quit it
Right before it comes again
Right before I lie down
Right before the last flight out
And the old black bear
Right before the buzzer sounds
Right before my time is up
Right before there's nothing left
There's something there
You gotta know that the night before the demolition
I sent out a brief transmission
I said somebody go and get me a good magician
I'm about to change
3.Okay, Okay, Yeah
Don Chaffer
I ran my fingers over the cloth and found the seam
I thought this isn't here or there; it's in between
And I always wished I could stand right where sky meets sea
But when I dreamed it one time, it seemed sad to me
Sad like a farewell written in the sand
Sad like a waterfall splashing in your hand
Sad like the sunlight in a marble hall
Maybe sad isn't quite the right word after all
I could go over everything again, and wonder why but
I don't think that'll give an answer to me anymore, cause
Now I've learned some things just refuse to come to the light,
and It's okay, okay, yeah
I said okay, okay, yeah
I was certain of hurt and I was scared to care
I thought falling would mean that I would land nowhere
Now I wonder if one is ever sure at all
Maybe you don't rise above maybe you love the fall
Fall like a toddler learning to stand
Fall like a satellite floats unmanned
Fall like a fool at a downtown bar
Maybe fall doesn't really go all that far
Go call off the dogs now
Sunset's setting in and
We won't find the body
Til another day begins and
I suspect they'll ask me
Once they find it in my head
Why I seek the living
Here in the land of the dead
4.You'll Be Fine
Don Chaffer
I would like to say something gentle like "Go"
No, this is far too rough
Go is never enough
Prepare along the way
Don't trust everything they say
If they won't take the peace you give, take it back
Don't take two changes of clothes or even a backpack
Fine. You'll be fine
I always hated hearing it
And it doesn't help in steering it, but
Fine. You'll be fine
I just had to get this down for the sake of the day that I'm not around
Okay, Okay, I'd like to say something easy like "Breathe"
No this is far too painful
Coursing through your brain, you'll want to speed it all up
But you can't; you've slipped up
So you go spend your oxygen until it's gone
Then draw it back in like a drowning man
And move on
Someday I'll be gone
I hope the sense of my approval lingers on
Okay, I'll say something wise then, like "Wait"
No this is far too easy
Would that life were breezy
What if someone needs you?
What if a knife bleeds you?
You can't just sit around and wonder what to do
You get up, you get moving or you're through
5.I Rolled Into New Year's Eve
Don Chaffer
I rolled into New Year's Eve
By way of a grey albatross
A tangle of feathers and arms and legs
And I think my wallet got lost
I had been working hard, man
Seventeen hours a day
Every fence had been torn down already, yeah
Everything was out of my way
I could make promises
And plans to change but then I just don't know
Making the promise and
Making it good are so
Different you know
Calendars do not have pages
Calendars only have screens
Nothing to cross off, and nothing to turn
You just click it and something goes clean
Click and then you feel a pounding
Click and then you feel a rush
Nothing is anything anywhere anymore
Nothing is turning to mush
I could've said "Haven't I? I hadn't noticed," but then I would have lied
Cause I noticed every last second that sneaked away late in the night
6.My Second Try
Don Chaffer
We were probably somewhere in Texas
I was trying to place a call
The words were going back and forth
Just the words, that's all
It was dry and pretty sunny
Rain was falling onto distant roofs
It was the smell of asphalt giving up
The thundering approach of hooves
Ashtrays made room for tin cans
Once they had all grown too full
Slippers took the place of shoes
There were no laces left to pull
The thing we all cannot even talk about
On the anniversary of the event
Is the barker's last and whispered words:
"Go on. Collapse the tent."
I'd take up the family business
If I even knew what that was
The creaking of the wooden floor
The lone electric buzz
You don't get second chances
That's how I heard it sold
I just smiled, but I kept my head down
Cause my second try was gold
Waterdeep: Pink & Blue
© 2008 Gentleman Adventurer's Songs (ASCAP)
Admin by Simpleville Music, Inc. All rights reserved.


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About Us
Systar was founded in 2004 in Brisbane Australia when we saw firsthand how software for safety, health, environment, carbon and corporate social responsibility management burdened companies with costly hardware and swarms of consultants. We also knew that these (sometimes competing) systems still struggled to keep pace with the changes in voluntary and non-voluntary sustainability regulations.
To answer this, we developed iSystain to be a cloud-based suite of software modules. Because we enable sustainable development while embracing innovation and change, we're proud to say that we are one of the originals in the field still around today.
For over a decade we've focused on developing long-term partnerships with companies at all stages, from start-up to blue chip. Today we have a global user base across industries including resources, construction, government, property management, travel, transport, manufacturing, retail, and accommodation.
iSystain is flexible and cloud-based to grow as your company expands or reporting standards change, so we grow as you grow. Thank you to our clients for innovating alongside us!
Jennifer Mulligan and Don Smy
Founders and Managing Partners


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We are thrilled to announce the return of Kylie McKenzie Soder as director of this year's Classic Conservatory for Young Adults production, Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare. Soder directed the CCYA 2015 production of Antigone by Sophocles to great acclaim.
Soder will use the Twelfth Night script developed by Island Shakespeare Festival for their January 6th (that's tonight!) Bard & Brew, a series of immersive staged readings at The Taproom at Bayview Corner. Find out more, here.
This news follows the November announcement of collaboration between WCT and Island Shakespeare Festival to relocate CCYA to WCT, satisfying many points of the organizations' missions. You can read more about the collaboration here.
Of returning to direct for CCYA, Soder says, "One year ago, a friend and mentor told me about a directing opportunity for a youth theatre program on Whidbey Island. I was fresh out of school, had never been to Whidbey Island, and had never heard of ISF or CCYA. But I trusted my friend's judgement; when he told me that the festival was absolutely "magical", I had high expectations.
In directing Antigone for CCYA, I must say that the experience did not meet my expectations... it far surpassed them. Working with so many talented teens in the beautiful town of Langley taught me what the true meaning of Magical is. Thats what we make in the program: magic in its purest form.
Not even a week after closing Antigone, I found myself homesick for the Island that had so swiftly worked its way into my heart. So, when I was approached with the prospect of returning in the summer of 2016, I was overjoyed.
It is my great pleasure and honor to be rejoining CCYA as the director of Twelfth Night. And so, my friends, I hope you will join me, the CCYA, WCT and ISF for another summer of magic."
CCYA is a four-week summer intensive program for young actors age 15 - 20. For more information, visit www.wctmagic.org/ccya


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"The mutual confidence and respect, cooperation, integrity and sharing of burdens of the community are the foundations of civilization." -Arthur E. Morgan
Community Solutions' founder, Arthur Morgan, saw the strong and democratic small community as both the seedbed of virtues and an antidote to the ills of globalization. During Community Solutions' 2014 conference, Richard Heinberg noted that the United States has become the most hyper-individualized and atomized society in history—he suggested that we need to relearn the skills of community in order to respond appropriately to the challenges facing all of us. In this vein, join us for presentations, workshops, tours, storytelling, and nuts-and-bolts demonstrations of tools for transition to a lower-carbon, higher-quality way of life.
For more information see our conference page.


text: "Human Interrelationships on the Big Mudball I Call Home." Catchy name for a book. I was lurking tonight checking out various comments and posts on Urban and I ran across a related link back to a blog in Elko, Nevada. Now I can't tell who runs this blog, and it doesn't sound like they know me. I grew up in Elko, however, so it's very interesting to me that these two virtual paths have crossed. I haven't been back in about a decade, but the blog brought back great memories.


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We believe technology is about people: the people who create it, the people who use it… and the people who apply it.
CREATORS: Create, Connect, Live is about visionaries who see technology as a means to add new, enriching layers to our lives. Much is said about technology's potential to dehumanize; CREATORS looks at people who understand that technology can unlock new experiences that make us more human.


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Carlton County board message to Legislature: Finance your own branch of state government
After two hours of haggling and lack of support for a majority position, the Carlton County Board of Commissioners last week reluctantly approved a resolution to the state Legislature that the local Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) has done a fine job for area residents, has space needs, and the state should decide how to fund a building program for their local Soil and Water Conservation needs.
Chairman Dick Brenner summed it up, "The current bill being considered in the Legislature is mandating that the Carlton County board should levy for the Soil and Water Conservation building needs. The Soil and Water Conservation board and its program is a state of Minnesota responsibility and they have the power to give the Soil and Water the authority to levy for this building project. They should not tie the hands of Carlton County."
Jim Nynas, former Carlton County commissioner and current board member of the Carlton County Soil and Water Conservation District, addressed the board requesting a letter of support for a one-time levy authority to guarantee a USDA loan for up to $2 million on a site next to the Carlton County transportation building. The original proposal called for a separate building housing Soil and Water, Extension, Economic Development and Twin Lakes Township.
Earlier in the discussion, Nynas said the board offer for space at the Vernon building next to the Carlton Post Office was declined by Soil and Water for several reasons. "There would be a heating savings," he admitted as compared with the facility they are now housed in, "but that does not compensate for the 36 percent loss of usable space that we currently have." Concerns included no lab facilities, no meeting room, lack of private offices to handle data privacy issues, no break room, no storage area, lack of handicapped parking and no loading zone.
Nynas pressed for the new building as he pointed out, "We need a permanent home — we have been bounced around for 50 years. State officials have criticized us for not having our own facility. We have a great working relationship with Carlton County government and we have had great support for our needs and program. After 20 years of planning for a new building, it is time."
Commissioner Marv Bodie replied, "We have been looking at an addition to the transportation building but we want to do it right. A separate building is not an efficient use public funds. This all takes time."
Auditor Paul Gassert explained that an SWCD levy would be a separate line on the tax statements. Borrowing from the USDA does not require a mandatory public hearing if the state Legislature gives the SWCD the power to levy for a building.
Commissioner Gary Peterson responded, "This whole discussion centers on committing Carlton County taxpayers to paying for a new building with no bond referendum and not even a public hearing. I am very reluctant to give any support for a one-time levy authority for the Soil and Water building even if it is the state's responsibility. Our taxpayers need to be consulted on this."
After three board votes, with Bodie, Proulx and Peterson objecting, the county board finally approved unanimously a resolution to the state Legislature acknowledging there are SWCD building needs, but saying the board was not opposing legislative action giving the SWCD money for a building. "The state Legislature must give the levy authority for their SWCD and not force the county board to levy for a state program," Brenner said to this reporter following the meeting.
When asked if this was enough to help move the Legislature to approve this one-time levy for Soil and Water, Nynas replied, "No." At this time the legislation remains locked at the Senate committee level.
Discussion continued on the effort of Lutheran Social Services (LSS) in flash flood of 2012 relief work in Carlton County.
Commissioner Peterson reflected support for LSS commenting, "There are 40 cases to complete in Carlton County. LSS is already working with these cases. We do not want these people to fall through the cracks. Eleven Quick Start loans amounting to $500,000 need to be completed. And most importantly, LSS will be in position to leverage more money for disaster relief if needed."
The board tabled any decision until County Coordinator Dennis Genereau had a list of county approved cases with LSS, explaining need and the steps and timeline to complete the work.
Duane Brownie, Veterans Affairs, updated the board on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs move to hire a coordinator for the region to run a bus system for veterans to and from the vet's hospital in the Twin Cities. In the past, the county has tried to provide transportation for the area vets.
At this time, 10 to 12 people from the local area have been providing their own transportation reimbursed by the VA at 45 cents per mile. This has been quite costly for the whole region and this new plan by the VA is being considered.
A form for agate pickers in the Moose Lake area, issued by the Moose Lake Area Chamber of Commerce for $3 with a map, was approved. County attorney Thomas Pertler commented that this does not let the county or the Moose Lake Chamber off the hook if someone is hurt in the county gravel pits and sues. "That's why you have insurance," he added.
The county Finance Committee will meet before the Committee of the Whole each month to give a recommendation to the county board on any county decision needed that is not budget neutral.


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La Jolla Hawaiian Bungalow
For the past few months we have been working, from the ground up, on a new home in La Jolla Village. During this first phase, the key is to build a strong design foundation; we are currently collaborating with the architect to create an exterior design plan that meets the home owners' dreams, both in form and function. In a sense, the world is our oyster, as our options are limitless, and this can become overwhelming for clients. So we really emphasize listening in this stage, not only to their expressed wants and needs, but also to what may be under the surface, hiding behind those grand visions. These particular clients travel to Hawaii every year, and they love the feeling that the architecture there emotes. So we want to emulate that , but be sure to add details that contribute to home's sense of belonging in its neighborhood. Be sure, we are not trying to teleport a Hawaiian oasis, complete with tiki bars and hula girls, to La Jolla Village, instead, we are trying to seamlessly integrate the best of both into a refined yet relaxed seaside home.
The kick off meetings usually look like this: inspirational images, fabrics, our concept board and a mole skin chock-full of notes. We drew inspiration from our client's blue and white Portuguese plate that has been in her family for ages. I love the warn cream crackled field that is well, not so perfect. It has a warm presence and shows that it has had a well loved life. My clients, like the plate, are a bit of both worlds, traditional, yet extremely casual and warm. This is a house that they want their kids and grandkids to feel at home in.
When I was in France I picked a set of beautiful antique dining chairs that we will re-cover, and a daybed we are planing to use in the family room. The shipping container is set to dock in just a month and I cannot wait to see these pieces begin their new lives in California!
I can't wait to see this project come to life. It is extremely inspiring and I just love pushing my design limits by incorporating different styles and sensibilities. It keeps me on my toes and stretches my vision, hopefully helping me to grow. Aloha everyone!
Want to keep the conversation going? Follow me on: Instagram- amymeierdesign and twitter- amymeierdesign


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flat assembler
Message board for the users of flat assembler.
flat assembler
> Examples and Tutorials > Animated gif viewer with gdi+
Several compiler solutions for and animated and simple gif viewer, 32 and 64 bits. With the following considerations:
- Fasm. I have attached a "doesn't work" version that is similar to the 64 bit version except that the first one has a parameter in the prDrawFrameGif subroutine, that in the working version is a global variable.
- TinyC. Both 32 and 64 bits version don't work. The api function GdipLoadImageFromFile gives an error. Its two parameters seems to be ok. If anyone find a solution, please, let me know.
I'm interested on fixing the TinyC version, if anyone find a solution, please, let me know.
Siempre aprendiendo
|09 Dec 2016, 07:38
Very nice and useful, i have just tested the Win32 version with various gif images.
|09 Dec 2016, 09:57
Thank you, Picnic. There are yet some things to be added, but the goal is just do it work.
- If the gif has a transparent background, it doesn't clean the background. It can be fixed using a double buffer to avoid the flickering. If you use a background for the client area, you will get flickering.
- Read the ellapse time between frames, not always 100 milliseconds.
|09 Dec 2016, 10:19
As always, very good job. just the comments not in english, but wo cares? it's your code
I used your old GDI demo (xor texture) to introduce fool in the EZ gdi world
|16 Jan 2017, 10:33
Thank you, edfed, nice you like it
Siempre aprendiendo
|16 Jan 2017, 13:53
Hello. A revision of the animated gif viewer with gdi+. This enhanced version work well with all the compilers: fasm, masm, nasmx, PellesC and TinyC for win32 and win64. Now transparent gifs do not blur the background. Besides now you can open any other gif than the default one, bearing in mind that need to use unicode chars for that.
BTW. To open a file you have to press the button "1"
Greetings to John Findley
Real programmers do credit. Do you?
Siempre aprendiendo
|28 May 2017, 16:05
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Umami Burger is Coming to The Lakes at Thousand Oaks/
Today we sadly learned that another local deli in Thousand Oaks closed its doors.
But the good news is that a brand new restaurant is coming soon to The Lakes!!! Something completely different!
Update 3/23/12: No update on timing of Umami opening at The Lakes. Stay tuned though...
Umami Burger is coming to The Lakes! Umami (I think it is pronounced "Eww Mommy") according to their website "is a Japanese word describing the pleasant and savory taste imparted by glutamate, a type of amino acid, and ribonucleotides that occur naturally in foods. Umami as a taste is subtle but it blends with other tastes well to expand your experience while eating."
While eating glutamate and ribonucleotides doesn't sound particularly appetizing, this Umami Burger has received rave reviews, including this December 2010 "Burger of the Year" article in GQ Magazine. In that article, the author notes the savory umami sauce is the "fifth taste," after the basics of sweet, sour, bitter and salty.
Obviously I have not eaten a Umami Burger but I'm looking forward to trying one! Currently Umami Burger has locations in Hermosa Beach, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, La Brea, Los Feliz, Studio City and San Francisco. Welcome to Ventura County, Umami Burger!
Check out the menu and you will find some interesting items, including a dozen or so Japanese inspired burgers, side dishes and draft beer. I see a truffle burger with truffle cheese and truffle glaze. OK my mouth is watering now. I also see turkey, ahi tuna and veggie burger options on the menu for those not inclined to eat red meat. Check out the Studio City menu here.
Giada De Laurentiis, of Food Network's The Best Thing I Ever Ate, likes Umami Burger in Hollywood for their unique burger combinations. Heck, I'll eat anything Giada tells me to eat!!
No information on opening date at this time. Read more about Umami Burger at www.umamiburger.com.


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Augmented Reality - Aurasma
5 comments
This app sounds awesome! I will have to check it out! Kim from Life Over C'sReplyDeleteReplies
Thanks so much, Kim! I'm excited about the possibilities! :DDelete
This is amazing! This year my school has been focusing on professional development in the area of technology and the last in-service and the next one, focuses on apps to use in the classroom... now I will have something really neat to share with my co-workers! Thanks so much for sharing!ReplyDelete
I is for InspireReplies
Hi Jacqueline! Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting! I, too, am very excited about the possibilities of this technology. I definitely have more research to do! Credit must go to Laurah from Tools For Teachers for bringing it to my attention! :) I hope your co-workers love it as much as you do. Have fun! :)Delete
Thanks for sharing so many good tips about how to use Aurasma in the classroom. When it is stated so simply and accompanied by video examples, the process seems easier!Delete


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Hatch attending Somerset Fly Fishing Show
It's that time of year again when we get to see our East Coast friends in the cold climes of the Northeast at the Somerset Fly Fishing Show. Show times are Jan. 24-26, Fri. 10:00-6:00, Sat. 8:30 – 6:00, Sun. 9:00 – 4:30. Hatch will be at Booth# D22-23. We look forward to seeing you there!
Somerset, 2013


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Leland Yee, one of the most virulent anti-gun voices in the California legislature, has been CONVICTED, of what? Gun trafficking! I guess he figured that the more legal guns he could dispense with, the more ILLEGAL guns he could sell. That this is "hypocrite personified" goes without saying, and brings into question the motives of other anti-gun fools.
ABSURD DEMANDS: Gay activists are now saying we need to "get rid of all the heterosexuals!" Of course, that ignores the fact that heterosexuals are in the MASSIVE majority. Gays are but a very SMALL MINORITY. And how are we supposed to "get rid of all heterosexuals?" Kill them? Wow! These fools are really feeling their oats! Somebody needs to sit them down and explain to them the facts of life. I have nothing against homosexuals. But I DO have something against gay ACTIVISTS who make such foolish remarks.
THEY HAVE NOTHING: Democrats are searching HARD for something to criticize Trump or any of his close associates over. Fresh off criticizing Trump for putting ketchup on his steak, they're now having a hissy fit about Kellyanne Conway putting her feet on a couch in the Oval Office. If that's all they have to complain about, they're in big trouble! Ladies often sit like that. I don't see how it could be comfortable, but then, I'm "pushing 80. I couldn't even bend my legs that way.
SELECTIVE EDITING: That's one form of blatant "twisting" of the news. And that's what the New York Times did in reporting on Trump's remarks at the GOP PAC the other day. Trump talked about gang members, murderers, and other kinds of gangsters that were illegal aliens and "throwing them out of the country." When NYT reported it, they left all that out, making his statement SEEM to be that we need to throw ALL illegal aliens out of the country. This is the kind of "reporting" that is costing them readers and putting them into a "death plunge.
RACISM DISGUISED AS DIVERSITY: Wanna talk about blatant racism against white people? Look at what this school band in Spring Lake Park, Minnesota is doing. They've decided to stop using music composed by white people, and to do at least one song written by a female, I assume is black, or a "person of color," as liberals call them. This is all part and parcel of the current drive to CREATE black against white racism. They SAY they want to make those "of color" in the band to feel welcome. But you can't do that by EXCLUDING white people. And what about the "feelings" of the white members of the band, who are most likely in the majority?
KIM MURDERS AGAIN: He murdered FIVE of his former officials with an anti-aircraft gun, whose bullets can tear a man to hell. An anti-aircraft gun is Kim's favorite means to kill people, though N. Korea has many methods to use, including tying a man to a stake and killing him with a flame thrower. Kim LIKES to kill, personally. Kim Jong Un is a good example of what you get when you give a CRIMINAL absolute power. He kills indiscriminately, with impunity. One former official was murdered after falling asleep while Kim was making a speech! Talk about narcissism!


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Top 20: Best things to pack for a holiday
1. Noise cancelling head phones - Boarding a plane is like a box of chocolates - you never know what or who you're going to get. If you are next to a screaming baby or a heavy snorer, these headphones will become your best friends. 2. Notepad & pen - Technology is great, but nothing beats pen and paper to write down tips you hear along the way, exchanging details or impromptu drawing to combat any language barriers.
3. A printed itinerary - Customs is becoming increasingly strict and many places require you to have printed itineraries and hotel bookings. I have learnt that lesson the hard way and trying to find an internet cafe with a printer after a long haul flight is not a great way to start or end a trip. Don't think that you can get away with just showing them your iPhone!
4. A camera - this one might be obvious but with smartphones becoming more popular, people are becoming less inclined to pack a quality camera. Good luck trying to make that 'totz amazeballs' instragram photo look good blown up in the pool room.
5. Extra memory cards - don't be left with no memory on your camera, better too many photos than not enough.
6. Paw paw ointment - this little red tube is full of goodness. It is a lip balm as well as an insect bite, burn and rash cure all in one. It even cures nappy rash... hey, you never know.
7. Multi vitamins - there is one thing worse than being sick, and that is being sick while travelling. Berroca is a good way to start the day as it is packed with vitamins so you can get on the front foot and avoid getting sick. It even helps with self-inflict illnesses aka. hangovers.
8. A book - ads and kindles might be convenient, but when your battery is flat or you're stuck on the tarmac, you'll regret not packing a good old fashioned paper back.
9. A rain coat - Good weather is never a sure thing so you have to be prepared for wet weather. Don't sit around complaining that rain ruined your holiday.
10. Warm socks - Even if you're going to the Middle East in summer, you must pack these. There is nothing worse than being caught on a plane unable to sleep because you're so cold. They can also double up as a camera or sunglasses case or to put delicate new purchases in.
11. Travel money cards - No one enjoys forking over cash for credit card fees and currency conversion fees and they can add up quickly. Save yourself the money and hassle and get some prepaid travel cards that act like credit cards without the ATM withdrawal fees. You can also buy them in advance if the exchange rate is in your favour.
12. iPad - long lay overs or planes without entertainment can become bearable with an iPad loaded with your favourite TV series and movies. You can also download the Kindle app and load up your Lonely Planet guide instead of lugging it around.
13. Snacks - plane food is the pits and I have a theory that is clogs your digestive system. Do you think airlines want 200 plus people all needing to go to the bathroom on a 14 hour flight? I think not...
14. Small bag - a long day of exploring a city can be a drag with a huge, heavy handbag. Pack a small one so you can travel as light as a feather. For the men reading - man bag stigmas go out the window when travelling, embrace it.
15. A Turkish towel or sarong - These are the perfect travel companion as they are light, take up minimal room and can become everything from a scarf, pillow, towel, sheet, or something to wrap yourself in when visits temples or mosques.
16. Hand sanitizer - I recently read that the NYC subway system carries bacteria that can be linked to several types of cheese and the bubonic plague. I want to sanitize my hands just thinking about that.
17. Face wipes or wet ones - these are God sent for those holidays when showers are few and far between. They are also hand cleaners, face cleaners and toilet seat cleaners.
18. Tissues - from sad goodbyes to emergency toilet stops, tissues always come in handy.
19. A watch - travel is one time that punctuality is completely necessary. Don't miss a flight because your phone died.
20. A large lightweight bag - make sure it can be folded into a tiny ball. It is unrealistic to think you won't go shopping at least once on a holiday. Save yourself the hassle of the last day rush around trying to buy an extra bag to carry all your new purchases home.
Oink oink, Truffle Pig.
P.S. I am assuming you are all smart enough to remember a passport and tooth brush!


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Washington DC (PRWEB) January 16, 2014
The inaugural Financial Educators Day will be recognized on April 25, 2014. For those organizations and individuals desiring to recognize the people who promote financial wellness, the National Financial Educators Council is making turnkey campaign resources available.
These complimentary resources will include educator appreciation cards, financial literacy lesson plans, proclamations, social media postings, posters, and guides.
The National Financial Educators Council also honors financial educators and advocates by providing them with Certificates recognizing their efforts. Award recipients are those with a demonstrated commitment to creating positive change in people's financial behaviors, raising awareness about financial literacy, and/or supporting sustainable financial education programs that have lasting impact on people's lives for years to come.
All nominees will receive recognition by the NFEC via electronic certificate during April, which is Financial Literacy Month. Select individuals will receive certificates and additional tokens of our appreciation via direct mail.
Trevor Stoll, Director of Operations for the NFEC, contends, "There are people coordinating financial education programming, teaching workshops, advocating for financial literacy, and participating in numerous other tasks that contribute to the overall financial literacy movement. Financial Educators Day recognizes their efforts and commitment."
The National Financial Educators Council is a social enterprise organization that promotes financial literacy. The NFEC develops comprehensive campaigns to raise awareness and help people gain access to a practical financial education.


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The light from one lamp can change the ambiance of a room entirely. As I was buying lamps for my home in Nicaragua yesterday I started thinking about a term in yoga we use quite frequently - light, or inner light.
As I walked through the cobble stones streets of San Juan del Sur I stumbled upon this Italian Artist who recently opened up a store called Vastu. This aspiring new artist in town is creating lamps and home furnishings out of recycled materials. Vastu is the effort to harmonize the flow of energy called Prana (Sanskrit word for life force.)
Upon walking into the store, the glow from the lamps drew me in like a moth to a flame. People are attracted to light, why do you think Christmas is so popular - all the beautiful sparkly lights. At this moment I made eye contact with this petite Italian man and immediately drew my hands to my heart center in Namaste a traditional Indian greeting of respect and thank you, with spiritual and symbolic meaning. This is done with your palms pressed together in the middle of your forehead (third eye) or at your heart. I lightly bowed my head to him as a way to say thank you kind sir for sharing your light, your art - your purpose. I whispered to myself, the light and love in me honors the light and love in you. The inner light in me recognizes the inner light in you to be the same, in oneness, Namaste.
Inside of our bodies there is space for energy. This is where the light resides. I always envision my light to be kept in my heart. The light inside my heart has been filled with love, compassion, truth, and forgiveness. You must fill this space with love or it dies and darkness floods in. If this light turns dark, it can cast a shadow onto everything you do and project.
A yoga Guru is one who leads a seeker from darkness to light. When a yoga teacher shares out loud what the Inner Light is saying, many times the silence in mediation is active and it causes this Inner light to glow. A little history: The doctrine of the inner light was defined by Rufus Jones, who first brought the phrase into popular use in 1904, thus: "The Inner Light is the doctrine that there is something Divine, 'Something of God' in the human soul."
I've been wanting to write about light but have learned that my readers want to read about love. You see, no matter what culture, race, religion we inhibit, we live in a world of mirrors where each person we encounter is a reflection of ourselves. Our mirrors reflect light whether bright or dark, rays of blissful sunshine or endless dark clouds. Everyone seeks the answers to a successful healthy loving relationship. But first, this love starts with you.
Light shines from your core, your heart center and when it reaches another it has an effect. A loving embrace can change everything. Love is the best source of light but the rays omitted can be healing and a burn can be painful. At the end of the tunnel, what we pay most attention to in life defines us. Where are you directing and shining your light?
When you have filled yourself with love only then will you have the ability to project a glimmering light attracting love and light back - like a mirror. Shine a clear bright honest light and if you do, soon so many people will be knocking on your door you won't know what to do! Love can be a major turning point in your life, a moment when destiny comes to greet you and you can either embrace it, or turn it away. You can run like hell for the hills or you can fall to your knees and surrender. Love can be scary but it is these pivotal moments that can bring the most spiritual growth to your soul, where thoughts and obsessions can be mastered and where wisdom and light can be discovered.
Back to the lamps.
"No one lights a lamp in order to hide it behind the door: the purpose of light is to create more light, to open people's eyes, to reveal the marvels around." --Coelho
So I brought my three new lamps home, stoked, barely surviving the bumpy steep dirt road that leads up to my home in the jungle. I brought them in and turned them on. The sun was still shining outside so there wasn't a big difference at first but they still looked blissful in the room. Once the sun set, I turned on the lamps and magically the rooms had transformed. The light produced a warm elegant soft glow and this light energy was a strong reminder that when we shine our inner light outward, it casts warm rays of love energy into the universe and lights the way for anyone who is unable to cast their own at the moment. Light can lead the way.
Light and love can change the world. When you are happy, living Santosha (contentment) naturally your heart will have that beautiful glow, from the inside out. Think of E.T. and his heart. When he was happy his heart lit up and you could see it glowing from his chest. His glowing heart is immortalized in song. Neil Diamond wrote the powerful ballad "Turn On Your Heart Light" after watching the Spielberg's award-winning documentary "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial." E.T.'s finger also lit up, as to point the way to the universe. E.T wanted to go "home." The universe is home, or God, whatever word you want to use. Without getting into a religious debate I will say that we are all members of a Universal family, sharing and reflecting love and light.
Together, in oneness, one light bulb at a time, together we change the world. Light is the way to the universal path. There are no divisions when it comes to people. Light does not have walls. Through light energy we speak mind to mind, soul to soul. We are no different in our deepest needs and desires. We are all human beings just trying to find our way from the light and love in our hearts. Illuminated love awaits you but first you must seek the inward journey. Once nature has kissed your soul your inner light will shine outward and light the way for a path that you may follow or it may light the path so another may find you.
What are you seeking?
Hear the song from E.T.


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Frank Smith delves into the high-tech world of Internet security, considering the present and future dangers that cyber-criminals pose to our global society, and steps that can be taken to counter them.
The Ukraine war has given the impression that the greatest threat of international geo-political conflict still resides in the territorial encroachment of one power upon another.
In reality nothing could be further from the truth and the next major conflict is likely to be fought without force of conventional arms but through high-tech cyberspace, disrupting and disabling the beating computer hearts of modern societies. And more specifically, the financial and commercial power of the West.
The United States has now become so concerned that its allies must be alerted to the scale of the problem and the immediacy of the threat that it has despatched Admiral Michael Rogers, commander of US Cyber Command, director of the National Security Agency and the Central Security Service, to brief the City of London under the auspices of the Royal United Services Institute.
'Geopolitics is now a game best played with financial and commercial weapons,' said Professor Sir David Omand, visiting professor at the Department of War Studies, King's College, London who hosted the 30-year navy veteran at the London Stock Exchange. The professor, who was for ten years director of GCHQ, the heart of Britain's intelligence operation, warned businesses that the most pressing issue facing commercial enterprises in sharpening their cyber capabilities was to understand that it was no longer solely an issue for the IT department but something that must be tackled at the board room level. And preferably with the company treasurer in charge because he, best of all, would understand the potential damage to the firm's financial standing while at the same time being able to approve the necessary expenditure.
The professor paid tribute to US-UK cyber co-operation, saying it was a remarkable asset for the country which was essential to its future security and prosperity because 'we have sold our souls to the Internet.
'The great American blues man Robert Johnson at midnight at a crossroads sold his soul to the devil in order to play the blues like no-one else had played them before.
'One day, of course, the devil comes calling and on the Internet we sold our soul. We took advantage of the speed, the connectivity, the reduction in costs and overheads and all the rest of it and plunged into a system of systems that was never designed to be secure.
'The devil is now calling in the shape of bad guys of various shapes and sizes. Our economic future is wholly dependent on having a safe, open secure Internet for business.'
It had taken only a few years for the Internet to become irretrievably enmeshed in the financial life of nations as well as being at the heart of the control of great national assets essential to life, such as power and water.
'As a network of networks the Internet is already capable of storing almost unimaginable volumes of data including data that can be identified with us as individuals and that can be used for good and for ill.
'So all advanced economies now have multiple dependencies', with the integrity of markets and big data resting on the control systems, and that dependency has increased as global reliance on the Internet increases.
'It's an obvious point to make but it is important to recognise that the communications of the bad guys and the good guys are all mixed up: everyone is using the same mobile devices, everyone is using the packet switch networks of the Internet and the same Internet protocols. The shift in the availability of personal information and the potential to remotely access infrastructure and control systems and the ability to use the Internet to affect market sentiment are all new sources of vulnerability for society and the nature of the mobile devices they all carry and use on the wireless networks offer additional ways for networks to be penetrated.'
In the United States 43 per cent of companies experienced some kind of cyber breach last year and Price Waterhouse Cooper of the UK reported that 81 per cent of large corporations and 60 per cent of small businesses had some kind of breach. The average breach cost $20 million in larger businesses and less, at $12-13 million, in the technical and communications industries.
In the US Ebay, American Express, J P Morgan Chase and Home Depot have all experienced attacks, while in the giant Target attack they were forced to admit that they had lost 70 million people's personal details in addition to the 40 million credit card details that were stolen.
The attacks in Britain have been of a less costly nature but one in ten smaller enterprises which suffered attacks had to change the nature of their businesses. And while just over half of British businesses have insurance to cover themselves against such an eventuality, that figure falls to 35 per cent for smaller organisations.
'The financial sector finds itself in the front line,' said Sir David. 'Don't be surprised to see a major cyber theft campaign against the global banking industry. The group that gained access to one bank network then used malware to manipulate the ATMs into dispensing cash without a legitimate withdrawal and transferring the cash into a network of accounts controlled by the attackers. That campaign targeted banks in more than 30 countries in the US, Germany, Canada and Ukraine. It was believed to be based in the Russian Federation and has probably been involved in attacks against American retailers.'
A typical attack of that nature takes from two to four months to prepare and involves taking low-grade video footage of customers, looking at work flows, coding and processes.
'This was not a cheap and cheerful "throw a brick through the window and grab what you can". This was a very sophisticated attack and they made a lot of activity logging fake transactions to hide their withdrawals.
The infamous American bank robber Willy Sutton observed that he targeted banks 'because that's where the money is', but today's cyber-criminals know that that's not the only place they can find a rich seam of wealth as stockbrokers, money managers and their well-heeled clients join their list of potential targets. 'Expect criminals to be much more selective about who they target,' said Sir David, 'using Facebook pages to identify potential victims.'
But cyber vandals were 'a different kettle of fish. They set out to embarrass or humiliate the most visible parts of market capitalism. It's much safer than trying to smash up the City wearing a Guy Fawkes mask.'
Much of this is down to defending websites that people had been too lazy to protect properly. Some of it is denial of service attacks to keep clients out and point them to alternative services on the web. The tools for this are readily available on the markets of the so-called Dark Net.
But a more direct threat to capitalism comes from cyber rogue traders and further attempts to spook the market can be expected.
The classic example was the hacked Twitter feed that reported explosions at the White House, with the US president injured. 'That's not a new thought, that you might short the market in anticipation of rumours that you are about to spread, but the internet makes it extremely easy to do.
'The Dow Jones lost 140 points in six minutes and the S and P 500 lost market capitalisation of $136.5 billion before the rumour was exposed, while traders had plunged into ten-year Treasury Bonds in self-defence.
'Who claimed responsibility? The Syrian Electronic Army. Why? Because they support President Assad and they thought US policy was getting too aggressive towards Assad.
'State attackers are going to try and get access to economically sensitive information.'
Another area of which ordinary employees need to become more aware is the use of so-called 'spear-fishing' attacks in which emails are sent to key employees with attachments which appear to be entirely innocent communications sent from family members which arouse no suspicion, or a from a perfectly legitimate subcontractor to gain access to a computer system to corrupt it or inject malware.
Governments are increasingly aware that they need to be able to show aggressive intent if they are deter the more prolific cyber attack nations-Russia and China.
The most graphic example of cyber-aggression was the US-Israeli attack on the Iranian nuclear programme, which many felt at the time was the equivalent of a declaration of war. It involved the deployment of the Stuxnet malware.
The attack was successful on a number of levels: not only did it cause the physical destruction of the all-important centrifuges creating the necessary nuclear fuel for Iran's nuclear programme by making them run at the wrong speed and so self-destruct, but it was also able to disable monitoring systems which would have indicated to Iranian scientists that something was wrong, and it was able to cover its tracks.
But the attacks don't have to be as sophisticated as that to be devastating for the target while being relatively easy for the aggressor to carry out. This can be achieved by merely flooding target computers with requests for massive amounts of data, as happened in Estonia in 2007 when a 'distributed denial of service' ensured all the country's main computers stopped working and banking and other commercial operations stopped working.
Seven years later, 'Dragonfly' targeted dozens of computers in key Western industries, mainly energy and pharmaceuticals. It used rogue websites and bogus emails to feed malware into computers that could then be used for sabotage and spying in an attack that is believed to have originated in Russia.
But perhaps the most striking raid was against the US Office of Personnel Management, which stores the details of millions of US Govt employees. By a process of elimination—through identifying personnel not listed-it would have been possible for the attacker, believed to be China, to identify those staff working abroad who were operating undercover.
No wonder that the British government is planning to boost funding for cyber warfare to ten times its current spend, or an annual budget of £400 million, amounting to about £2 billion over the next five years. There are expected to be some 300 new cyber warfare specialists recruited who will be looking to develop malware to take on the new threat.


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CRAZY OVER YOU by Daisy Prescott is now LIVE!
Buy it now:
Amazon: http://smarturl.it/coyamazon
iBooks: http://smarturl.it/coyibooks
Barnes & Noble: http://smarturl.it/bncoy
Kobo: http://smarturl.it/coykobo
My savior isn't prince charming.
I'm not that lucky.
He's my worst nightmare.
He's my one night stand from two years ago.
And he doesn't remember me.
What happens on vacation doesn't always stay on vacation. Especially in a place like Aspen. I moved to the mountains for my dream vet job. I never expected to run into the man of my dreams. Again.
I never thought I'd see her again.
My Cinderella didn't leave me a shoe to find her.
Not that I'd need random footwear to recognize her.
Her kiss is something I'll never forget.
Work hard. Play hard. I'm paid to be a nice guy on the slopes, but what I do in my off time isn't always about making good choices. That's the fun of living in a ski town. I stay while the women come and go.
Crazy Over You is a standalone romantic comedy and the second book in the Love with Altitude series.
Add the book to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book /show/34371407-crazy-over-you
NEXT TO YOU (A Love With Altitude Novel, #1)
Amazon: http://smarturl.it/nty amazon
iBooks: http://smarturl.it/nty ibooks
Barnes & Noble: http://smarturl.it/ntyb n
USA Today Bestselling Author Daisy Prescott writes romantic comedies with heart.
Her Modern Love Stories feature characters in their thirties and forties finding and rediscovering love in unexpected and humorous ways. Her Wingmen books star regular guys who often have beards, drive trucks, and love deeply once they fall. Look for her new Rom Com series, Love with Altitude, in 2017.
Born and raised in San Diego, Daisy currently lives in a real life Stars Hollow in the Boston suburbs with her husband, their rescue dog, and an indeterminate number of imaginary house goats. When not writing about herself in the third person, Daisy can be found traveling, gardening, baking, or lost in a good book.
To learn more about Daisy and her writing, sign up for her mailing list here (copy and paste this link):eepurl.com/xhXb5. Send her an email at: daisyauthor AT gmail DOT com Or chat with her on Twitter (@daisy_prescott) and Facebook: /daisyprescottauthorpage, and follow her on Instagram: /daisyprescott
Website: http://www.daisyprescott.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/daisy_pres cott
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dai syprescott/
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1TIVUHONewsletter: eepurl.com/xhXb5


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On Track Singapore: Many Architectures, One City
Eunike, Eunike
Colman, Scott
Master of Architecture
The scholarly interest is the sway singular architectures can have on the collective aesthetic of a generic city: How to exploit this capacity and better orchestrate an impact? The obsession is with Singapore — a city Rem Koolhaas describes as "all foreground and no background," without geometry, fabric or legible urban form that physically defines the city's aesthetics. Singapore is necessarily a sum of its architectures, and is still waiting for a greater aesthetic to emerge from its heterogeneous collection. The initiative: to revitalize the former Malayan rail lands, a site spanning the full width of the country. The plan follows Singapore's recent practice: building distinct, free-style architectures on shifting sands — only this time anchored by a formless, yet permanent and straightforward high-speed axis that induces continuity and reinforces the island's status as a singular, cohesive entity. Only extreme differentiation, held in tension by the thinnest infrastructural line, can induce a forthright sense of direction in a capitalist city that must necessarily adopt multiple architectural solutions.


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Microbiology and Infectious Disease
Master of Science (MSc)
Add degree to comparison list
Program overview
The Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Master's program provides students with a strong foundation for doctoral studies while opening many research-oriented career options. Faculty research ranges from lung infections in cystic fibrosis and systemic infections such as sepsis to molecular diagnostics and therapeutics and vaccine development. The program is associated with several research groups, including the Immunology, Bacterial Pathogenesis and Gastrointestinal Research Group, as well as the Inflammation Research Network. Ambitious students will find many opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaboration, and will enjoy studying in the heart of a vibrant, young city that is one of the cleanest in the world and on the doorstep of Alberta's Rocky Mountains.
Outcomes and next steps
Pharmaceutical industry – researcher, project manager; Academia, including post-doctoral research; Government, Clinical Microbiology, Consulting, Alberta Health Services.
A master's degree in microbiology and infectious disease will give you the pre-requisite for a PhD.
Degree at a glance
Completion requirements
Two courses
Program requirements
Class delivery
Two years full-time; four years maximum
A supervisor is required, and must agree to oversee the student's research before the student applies for admission
Fees and funding
Flat annual fee; guaranteed funding
Related programs
If you're interested in this program, you might want to explore other UCalgary programs.
A supervisor is required for this program. Students must list a supervisor who has agreed to supervise the student when applying to the program.
Showing 6 of 13
Jeroen De Buck
- Bovine bacteriology
- Vaccinology
- Biosensor development
- Bacterial genomics
- Microbiology
accepting inquiries
Kunyan Zhang
- Molecular Evolution, Molecular Epidemiology, Virulence and Pathogenesis of MRSA
accepting inquiries
Michael Parkins
- Cystic Fibrosis
accepting inquiries
Otto Vanderkooi
- Vaccinology
- Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases in Pediatrics
Rebekah DeVinney
- Extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli ST131 (ExPEc ST131) pathogenesis and ecology.
- E. coli and acute hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HGE) in dogs
- Vibrio parahaemolyticus interactions with molluscan and mammalian hosts
Robin M. Yates
- Biochemistry, Immunology, Cell Biology, Comparative Biomedical Sciences
accepting inquiries
Additional supervisors may be available. Contact the Your Program of Interest for more information.
Completion requirements
Topics may include medical microbiology and microbial diseases, gene expression in bacteria and others.
Research Ethics
Students are required to attend Research Integrity Day sessions in the first year of their program.
Students will be required to submit and defend an original research thesis.
Students will present an annual seminar in an applicable research group.
Research proposal
Students must defend a written research proposal to their supervisory committee.
Admission requirements and information
Requirements for the Microbiology and Infectious Disease Program
GPAA minimum of 3.3 GPA on a 4.0 point system, over the past two years of full-time study (a minimum of 10 full-course equivalents or 60 units) of the undergraduate degree.
Minimum educationA four year baccalaureate degree, or equivalent from a recognized institution.
Work samplesNone
Reference letterTwo
Test scoresNone
English language proficiency
An applicant whose primary language is not English may fulfill the English language proficiency requirement in one of the following ways:
- TOEFL score of 105 (Internet-based). Our institution code is 0813
- IELTS score of 7.5 (Academic version)
- MELAB score of 86, or higher
- PTE score of 75, or higher (Academic version)
- Tier 3 of the International Foundations Program with minimum grades of A,A,A (Writing & Grammar, Reading Comprehension, Listening Comprehension & Oral Fluency)
For admission on May 1
Canadian and permanent residentMarch 1 Application deadline
InternationalDec. 1 Application deadline
For admission on July 1
Canadian and permanent residentMay 1 Application deadline
InternationalFeb. 1 Application deadline
For admission on September 1
Canadian and permanent residentJune 1 Application deadline
InternationalApril 1 Application deadline
For admission on January 1
Canadian and permanent residentOct. 1 Application deadline
InternationalAug. 1 Application deadline
If you're not a Canadian or permanent resident make sure to read and learn about international specific requirements
Tuition fees and funding
All graduate students must pay general fees each year, as well as program fees.
Estimate for full-time students
Canadian and
permanent resident
General fees
12 months of study
Program fees
First 12 months of study
Total fees
For first year of studies
What are annual continuing fees?
Domestic Continuing Fees: $1,627 CAD
International Continuing Fees: $3,693 CAD
Continuing fees apply after the first full year of studies.
Funding availability
All students who are accepted into the Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Master's program will receive a minimum stipend of $21,000.
Fees listed here are estimates only, and have been rounded to the nearest dollar. These amounts should not be considered accurate. All amounts are in Canadian Dollars.
Fees are subject to change.
For more details and the most accurate information go to the Academic Calendar
For more general information, see our Fees and Funding Guide
Highlights of the Microbiology and Infectious Disease Program
Learn more about this program
Cumming School of Medicine
Health Sciences Centre
Foothills Campus, University of Calgary
Calgary, ABT2N 4N1
Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases - Graduate Studies
Room G347B, Health Sciences Centre
3330 Hospital Drive NW
Calgary, ABT2N 4N1
Go to our contact page and connect with the right person to answer any questions you might have


text: Coastal Living has announced its sixth annual top ten list of America's Happiest Seaside Towns and Langley is identified as one of the top ten. Between now and midnight PST on October 17th you can vote for Langley as Coastal Living's No. 1 Happiest Seaside Town in America. Vote early and vote often on Coastal Living's website!


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Okay guys, new rule. Anyone who thinks that "Revelation" is still a suitable subtitle for any piece of media nowadays should be taken up against a wall and shot. Although, they've already shown themselves to be such a soulless little penny pinching corporate drone that perhaps only driving a stake through their heart would be of any lasting effect by this stage. It reeks of "oh well, it'll do, let's take an early lunch." Providing a sequel to a movie that didn't one based on a game series that didn't need a movie, Silent Hill: Revelation is almost transcendent in its ability to be such a multi-leveled pile of trash.
2006's Silent Hill was actually pretty good as movies based on games going, managing to keep some of the atmosphere that made the games such a success. Those days are long gone. Throwing out any continuity whenever he feels like it, the director creates a poorly acted generic slash-a-thon where blood and gore abounds in plentiful amounts. Ooh, I'm so scared. I say this is the director's fault rather than the actors, as this film stars both Sean Bean and Kit Harrington, notably for their roles as Eddard Stark and Jon Snow on Game of Thrones. So clearly there's some talent here, so I have to believe the director tricked them into signing a contract that said they should act as woodenly as is humanly manageable, possibly by employing some sort of evil Hollywood sorcery.
This film has no redeeming features, which is not unexpected when it comes to bad horror movies. But with the amount of money and talent behind it, it becomes almost sickening at what has happened. Almost anything would have been a better use of the money for this. So I guess what I'm trying to say is, I think it would be best if every person should feign ignorance and pretend this movie never existing, and put their fingers in their ears and go "la la la" loudly if anyone mentions it. It's for the good of everyone, trust me.
[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMWrZmD0AN4′]


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The Prayer of a Tired Mom
The house is still dark now, Lord. The quiet…oh, the blessed quiet. The only sounds as I whisper this prayer to You in my heart are that of the ticking Cuckoo clock in the hall, and the deep, steady breathing of the ones I love most slumbering deep in their beds.
I'm torn, though, Lord. Torn between getting up, sneaking downstairs and stealing a few minutes alone with You. Alone with my thoughts. Alone with my coffee.
Torn between the paradise of sitting at Your feet, and the paradise of sleeping soundly in these covers for five.more.minutes.
Because that's about all the time I have, Lord. Before little bodies stir, bleary eyes open, and the chaos and crazy of a new day ensues.
Help me, Lord.
Help me when those sleepy, shuffley feet patter to my side and ask me to "actually make" breakfast, not just open it. Help me to smile at the gift of this day. Of these kids. The gift of the chance to start the day right – with a smile and something yummy to eat.
Help me as I struggle to wake up fully to these round-faced cherubs…because it appears I chose the five minutes of extra sleep over getting up before them so I could get my own morning grumpies out first.
Help me as I pour milk, usher cereal to bowl, wipe up milk. Help me to see it as a blessing to my kids; not the bane of my morning to actually have to function when all I really want to do is sit on the couch and stare into nothing until the coffee pot is full.
Let my words speak life. Joy. Love. Peace. Kindness.
Let my actions be full of Goodness. Faithfulness. Gentleness. Self-control.
I'm afraid to pray for patience today, Lord. Because the last time I did, You sure gave me opportunities to practice it!
But here goes…help me be patient when they ask for the umpteenth time if they can watch kid shows. Or paint. Or have a snack even though they didn't finish their lunch because they swore they couldn't eat another bite or they would pop.
Help me relish it when the little man in my life, with the still-dimpled hands and grown-up hair cut asks me to read that one book. Again. And then again.
Help me ask their forgiveness when I heave the heavy sigh because I just sat down and the call came again: Mooooooommmmm!!!!
Better yet, help that heavy sigh leave on the next train outta here and never come back.
Let me see the everyday miracles You inject into this house. This family. Our lives.
Give me strength when the splinters just go a little too deep; when the cut is too big; when the hurt too immense and I can't fix it.
Muster in me, somehow, by some miracle of Your sheer strength the energy to run with them when they squeal and stop halfway down the hall, "Chase me, mama!!"
Lord, they want dinner again. Again! If I have to plan one more night's food I may just scream. Or cry. Or both.
I'm going to get out of bed now, Lord. You know I'm already dreaming about when I can climb back in – though who knows if I'll get to stay in it all night this time.
There is no way on this green earth I can make it through this day; this all-consumming fatigue without Your help. So come now, Lord. Let's get this day started.
Because its only just beginning and I'm already oh-so-tired.
But I'm so thankful, God, to get to walk through these days with this crazy crew and laugh, cry, snuggle, discipline, repeat.
Here they come now, Lord.
Let's do this.
The Better Mom Prayer Journal offers a simple outline on each page for you to write out your prayers, make a list of requests and keep track of praises. Affiliate link included.
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We gave our Outdoor Gear Lab Best Buy Award to the Wild Things Mule Duffel. It was a tough call between it, the Helly Hanson duffel and the Gregory Long Haul. All the three of these duffels are close in price and weight. What set the Wild Things Mule apart was durability, it was just straight up one of the most durable duffels we have ever used. We have used the Mule duffel for over 10 years of expedition travel around the globe and it looks better than some duffels after 3 or 4 trips. All the Wild Things duffels, the Mule, Burrow, Goat and Carry On are all 100 percent made in the USA. They are also nearly the lightest in the review — only slightly heavier than a Gregory Long Haul Duffel but more than a pound lighter than the next closest model and over two pounds lighter than the heaviest duffel. The Mule Duffel is the longest bag we looked at, making it a good choice for people with abnormally-sized items or someone who needs a duffel that holds longer two-section trekking poles. This duffel has a clear information window and an external pocket but otherwise does not have many bells and whistles. These duffels are not they easiest to haul around because they lack shoulder or backpack straps. We used this duffel on more than 20 trips, proving it is durable and well made. If you are looking for a lightweight, burly, long duffel for extended climbing trips or expedition travel and don't need all the bells and whistles, then the Wild Things Mule, Burrow, Goat, or Carry On could be a great option.
Wild Things Mule Duffel Review
Cons: straps aren't as comforatable for heavier loads
Manufacturer: Wild Things
Our Verdict
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Wild Things Mule, Burrow, Goat and Carry On are nearly the lightest duffels we tested, and are only marginally heavier than the Gregory Long Haul. They are also the only duffel bags we tested that are made in the USA. The large, clear information window pockets helped it stand out while in a pile of bags. At first glance the Wild Things Mule Duffel appears not as tough as some of the others because it uses ballistic nylon material versus the now more common urethane or coated vinyl. But after extensive testing on dozens of trips we found these bags to be extremely durable. We didn't love the fact that there is only one strait-across zipper (we prefer a D-shaped zipper opening). But because of the narrower profiles of these bags, the straight zipper works okay. We do think that the Wild Things models are slightly easier than the similarly zipping Gregory Long Haul duffel. We also like it that volume options for the Wild Things duffels range from 42 to 144L.
The biggest drawback is that there isn't a good way to turn this bag into a backpack for longer distance carries; you can use the handles as shoulder straps but they dig in with heavier loads.
The side pocket is a little hard to access when the bag is full, but at least it was accessible without having to break into our commonly over-packed bag. The Wild Things duffels are near the bottom of our review for water resistance. That said, we used them on glacier sleds in the Alaska range where they worked fine because of the cold temps and only having to deal with snow.
Compared with the similarly priced non-shoulder/backpack strapped Gregory Long Haul Duffel, it is only $10-$15 more expensive, size to size. The Wild Things Mule is less expensive than most of the duffels we tested and is one of the toughest. It is a good, no frills duffel that is super tough but still lightweight, all for a good price. If you need a dependable long-lasting duffel but don't want to break the bank and are willing to sacrifice a few luxuries, then the Wild Things duffels are good models to check out.
— Ian Nicholson


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After the hassle of excess baggage fees, really heavy hand-carried luggage and a slight delay at Indonesian customs, I have finally arrived in Bali. Days before I left, it all seemed so surreal. I couldn't believe that I was going to be away for a whole month! As the plane touched down at the Denpasar airport , my mind shrieked, "I'M IN BALI!"
Katz (accompanying AirToo artist for this trip) and I met King at the exit. King was with Andy, a friend he met from the Rotaract. Andy drove us to our lodging place, some 30 minutes away from the airport. One of the first things that reminded me that I was in foreign land was when we got in the car. The steering wheel was on the right side. The drive was pleasant and smooth. I asked Andy what he did and he said he sells silver jewelry online. He sports a silver stud on his left ear so I suppose he's really into it.
On the way to the house, King tells me and Katz that we're going to a gathering of some Rotaract people. I had my first taste of Bintang Beer. It's a very popular beverage here. King says it tastes a lot like Pale Pilsen. I really wouldn't know. But it's genuine Indonesian beer so, yay!


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Sectional aquarium tanks
Aquarium Technology Ltd specialise in the design and manufacture of sectional aquarium tanks and displays.
ATL can be relied upon to create stunning sectional aquarium displays in operational aquariums, zoo's and other 'open to the public' visitor attractions. The demand for ever larger tanks inevitably results in difficult access installations. Operating visitor attractions are constantly seeking to expand the volume of their display portfolio to allow them to keep and display different species.
Recently we have completed the design, manufacture, transportation and installation of an 82m2 GRP composite display tank in SEALIFE Oberhausen, Germany. The tank is located on the upper story of the building and therefore had to be designed to suit the available floor loading conditions. To meet this strict criteria building a concrete tank was not possible and therefore needed a light weight structural design approach. ATL's structural engineers worked closely with the German approval authorities to develop successful aquarium design.
The GRP composite tank was produced in 14 individual sections and the entire tank was trial assembled at ATL prior to delivery to Germany. Once on site each tank section had to be craned up to the first floor and sized to fit through the only possible access route- a first floor fire escape doorway! Inside the building the pieces of sectional tank were positioned, reassembled and waterproofed by ATL's technician team. Our team worked flexibly around the operational needs of this busy attraction, keeping noise and nuisance to a minimum.
Once assembled the tank perimeter was glazed with a mix of ATL thermoformed and flat acrylic viewing panels. The tank also incorporates a kids crawl through tunnel featuring a central 1m diameter acrylic pop up dome. This gives the little ones a feeling of being amongst the creatures on the seabed and ofcourse provides a great photo opportunity for mum and dad!
After the ATL team left site, a specialist German theming contractor completed the decoration of this stunning display.
Over 11 years ago ATL completed the original SEALIFE Oberhausen aquarium development. This new display tank area is due to open to the public soon and is the very latest addition to this ever popular German aquarium attraction.


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App Design/ MOUNPICKS
Mountain Media Hub was a computer lab specialized in creating, developing and prototyping new products.
The business challenge was to design a new iOS App dedicated to outdoor sports and outdoor exploration guides. We undertake an extensive research about international outdoor applications and a qualitative research about sport trendsetters and outdoor bloggers.
The research process included a selection of service design methods and tools such as stakeholders map, contextual interviews, service safaris and analysis of secondary data. With the first findings, we initiated the creation of personas and we followed the research with the application of idea generation, the five whys, cultural probes and, finally, design scenarios. To funnel the results we presented different service prototypes in addition to the visual identity and icon design. The process helped the team prioritise and define the decision-making.
As a result of the analysis, some of the critical conclusions that emerged were to prioritise: 1) To preserve the battery of the phone 2) To allow users to work without Internet connection and, 3) to have the alternative to guide people with the minimum use of GPS.
We worked as an integrated team inside the company facilitating a co-creation process for a period of 10 months by helping the company to develop their new idea and also, giving solutions to day to day design needs of other clients and projects including web design, marketing and research of new clients and opportunities. Our last contribution was to introduce the development team Mountain Media Hub to ThingThing that is currently the winner of Disrupted by Mobile in the 4YFN at Mobile World congress and one of the most promising startups of Barcelona in 2016.


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Parking and arrival
We're based on a business park with plenty of parking and a team in high-vis jackets to guide you to a space.
To help you settle in from your journey, we offer free coffee, tea, juice and water, as well as a bite to eat.
If you're looking for something a bit different; a cappuccino, latte or perhaps something more substantial to eat,
our café is open from 09:00 to 14:00, 17:30 to 19:00.


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Photo: LUKE MACGREGOR/Corbis.
Angela Ahrendts, Burberry CEO and soon-to-be retail chief at Apple, can now add a new title to her list of credentials. Ahrendts is to be been made a Dame of the British Empire.
She will share this accolade with Melissa Gates, the businesswoman and wife of Microsoft founder Bill Gates. As both Ahrendts and Gates are non-British nationals, they will not receive the honor from the Queen, but from a government official, which seems a shame in our books. Who doesn't want to shake the hand of HRH?
The Guardian reports a minister at the Department for Business Innovation and Skills will present Ahrendts with the award for her outstanding services to business. And, while that may not carry the cache of an intimate tête-à-tête with the Queen of England, it is apt that she receive recognition from this particular department. After all, it is Ahrendts, alongside Christopher Bailey, who transformed a traditional and — dare we say it — fusty gentleman's outfitter into a global, luxury, fashion brand respected and championed the world over. We're sure Apple will also reap the benefits of her exceptional business acumen when she joins the company later in the year. Brava! (Vogue)


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The devastation to unborn children from abortion is obvious. However, with over 58 million abortions in our country, it is hard to imagine that they would be the only children impacted.
Time after time, I have kids come up to me to tell me about their aborted siblings and their mother's pain. What most of them fail to go into is the pain that abortion has caused in their own lives.
It is remarkable how many kids, when they learn of an abortion in their family, react with the statement, "so now things make sense." It is as if a missing piece of their lives that they were so aware of, suddenly has put the puzzle of life together for them.
It doesn't seem to matter if the abortion was before or after their birth, the impact remains in the fabric of the family, affecting every member to some degree.
I can never adequately express the sorrow and regret I feel for the pain my children went through as a result of the abortion I had when a teenager. Though their lives would not come into being until many years later, they certainly lived with the consequences of their wounded mom. From the person I chose to marry, to my inability to be the mom they deserved for years, they suffered from my sin.
These living siblings need to be allowed to express their feelings without reserve. It is only in working out their feelings and walking through their own pain that they will be able to free themselves from the guilt, anger, confusion, and pain they are experiencing.
With the same Mercy that freed us, our children can learn that they have always been wanted and loved. They realize that they have an advocate in heaven who desires their peace. And most of all, that we have a loving, merciful God who heals us.
Please help us to spread the word about our next postabortive sibling weekend retreat which will take place on September 22-24, 2017. Fr. Fidelis Moscinski of the Friars of the Renewal will direct the retreat. There are scholarships available to help defray the cost of the retreat. Please call 1-877-586-4621 for information and details. Begin your journey of healing from abortion today.