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Projev byl přednesen na debatě Ludwig von Mises Institute dne 22.6.2010 v Bruselu.
Madame president, ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests,
let me thank you for your invitation to a debate on the enlargement of the Eurozone. The title "Is an enargement of the Eurozone still desirable and possible" attracted me and made me formulate a few quite provocative remarks.
Having said that, I suppose the problem of the European common currency is an enormously interesting and important issue which will undoubtfully influence economic prosperity and social stability on the whole European continent.
I have decided to divide my speech into three parts.
First, I want to explain why the entrance into the Eurozone by the Czech Republic is not a hot issue in the domestic political agenda.
Second, I would like to stress the fact that a possible enlargement of the EMU is not a hot issue even for the Eurozone itself.
Third and finally, I will try to offer a brief description of a further possible development inside the EMU and a lesson for the Czech Republic.
Entering the EMU is not a significant part of the domestic political agenda
To put it bluntly, according to a recent public opinion poll, almost 34% of Czech voters who had been questioned, do not want to accept the euro and want to keep the Czech crown. The number of those who want to join the euro has been decreasing.
It is an important signal in a country which had been longing for its return the family of west European countries. It is not a trivial argument and it is being frequently repeated in political debates.
That is why I take this signal as a result of considerable and serious public mood.
More importantly, there is hardly a serious political, economic and public debate on pros and cons of adopting the euro. Such a debate must be a dominant prerequisite to a political decision. Without a fully-fledged, fundamental and non-biased debate it would be difficult to make a decision that will allow the transfer of a significant part of national sovereignty outside national borders.
Like almost all members of the Eurozone the Czech Republic does not meet the Maastricht criteria for the adoption of the euro. Meeting these criteria implies the necessity to carry out reforms of national social and health systems, reform the expenditure side of national budget and keep taxes as low as possible.
Enlargement of the Eurozone is not desirable for the EMU itself
The common currency is a political project. It was created for political purposes as a symbol of a European political integration. The Founding fathers even admitted that they had not taken into account economic principles and gave way to their political dreams.
Robert Mundell´s criteria of an optimal currency area have never been met. By and large, the euro has been a successful project for ten years because it has never been put under a serious economic pressure.
During the last decade of global economic growth there were few moments that may have endangered this wrong political project.
Needless to add, a parallel process of pushing forward so called "ever closer union" has been far from Misesian "human action" and has been a textbook example of an artificial "human design".
Ongoing problems of the eurozone are incorporated in its foundations: without strict fiscal harmonisations the euro can hardly work properly. But, fiscal harmonisation is impossible without a political union.
Czech contemplations on entering the Eurozone must primarily give answers on a question overarching the whole debate: do we really want to give up national sovereignty in strategic fields such as social policy, economic policy or taxes to Brussels?
The ongoing development inside the EMU is crystal clear evidence of my words.
The intention to create so called European economic governance, or in French translation "government" is just a first step to a political union. There will not be just the common currency; there will be a common harmonised balance sheet, further harmonisations of tax jurisdictions and fiscal policies.
This process will finally result into the "Europe of regions" - a dream of all europhiles.
What are our Czech interests and what we should keep in mind
Honestly said, the EMU is far from further enlargement. Estonia will be the last new member country for quite a long period. EMU members will have to find a viable way to mitigate and tame their problems with public finances.
I am almost sure, the eurozone will change. I would even expect a creation of a double-speed eurozone.
The pressure towards the establishing of a political union with the features of a federation will increase and be much faster.
"Less harmful competition but more fruitful harmonization" will become an official slogan.
In this atmosphere I would strongly recommend to the Czech Republic to keep the Czech crown as long as possible. We should keep a careful eye on visible and even hidden processes inside the EMU.
We must reform our public finances. Not because we should be fulfilling the Maastricht criteria but for ourselves. For sound development of Czech society.
We should stay as flexible as possible. In a global, fast changing world, it would be an enormously important advantage. Being a member of a political giant that will hardly be able to control its remote parts will not be advantageous.
And, we should not forget Ludwig von Mises legendary quote: "common sense is always enough to oppose all false intellectual phrases promising a better future".
Thank you for your attention.


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Organ Renovation Appeal - why is it important to us?
Leominster Priory is one of the dwindling number of churches that retains its historic and very active choral tradition. It has a Church Choir for the main Sunday Service and for a monthly Choral Evensong, as well as for special festivals within the Church year.
Under the guidance of the present Director of Music, Mr Vernon Thurgood, FRCO(CHM) training is offered especially to younger members through the RSCM scheme. When repaired the organ will function as a teaching instrument, used particularly with the Diocesan Organists Training Scheme and for other training opportunities.
The Priory, as the town's largest concert venue, is used for a wide variety of musical events, including visits by the Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra, as a venue for the Leominster Festival, concerts by the Leominster Choral Society, Organ Recitals, and many more.
The organ plays a vital role in offering an instrument of high specification and quality for these and other community occasions.
What is the situation?
It is generally recognised that a pipe organ requires a major refurbishment every 30-40 years. This is because they are extremely complex machines. They deterioratewith age and suffer from air leaks from reservoirs and pipe-work, deterioration of leather-work, rusting of wiring and relays, wood splitting, vermin damage, general accumulation of dust and dirt. These effects are minimised by regular maintenance which our organ has had over the years from Nicholson & Co. But even this cannot prevent deterioration. Our organ is overdue for a major renovation.
In addition, the effect of ingress of water due to the worsening condition of the roof meant that general humidity levels were high, affecting leather and wood components and hastening the rusting of relays and other electrical components. The organ is insured and the insurers have made a welcome payment but this is only around 15% of the total cost. The rest we have to raise ourselves.

subset: commoncrawl


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In the late 1990s my family spent several days in Waynesville, North Carolina. Our accommodations were a comfortable bed & breakfast called the Herren House.
Waynesville is nestled in the foothills of the Great Smokey Mountains. It offers rural quiet with convenient access to the famous Biltmore Estate and the other tourist haunts of nearby Ashville.
These days, that quiet has been disturbed by a small civil war raging among parishioners of St. John the Evangelist, Waynesville's only Catholic church. There is deep disagreement over the new pastor and some changes he's made in parish organization, financial management, and that ever-predictable source of discord: liturgy.
The conservative Catholic website, ChurchMilitant.com, describes the situation as stubborn resistance on the part of a dissident parish faction because Fr. Christopher Riehl "doesn't adequately channel the spirit of Vatican II." CM suggests that…
"the complaints seem to boil down to an impression that Fr. Riehl doesn't sufficiently adhere to a particularly modern interpretation of Vatican II. He's typically referred to disparagingly as a 'restorationist' [someone seeking a return to older expressions of Catholicism].
"One of the specific issues listed by protesters [is] Fr. Riehl's replacement of popular hymns with Gregorian chant ….
"Another alleged problem was Fr. Riehl's replacement of the former lay-led Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults with a pastor-led program centered on the Catechism of the Catholic Church."
About 20 percent of parish members appear to be actively engaged in protesting Fr. Riehl's changes (how many others are silent but support the protest CM doesn't say). Some people have taken to attending special Masses offered by a retired priest at an area retreat center. Others have suspended their Mass-going. Several have jumped ship completely, attending local Evangelical churches.
So far, the Bishop of Charlotte, Most Reverend Peter Jugis, in whose diocese Waynesville is located, seems to be standing by the pastor, despite a petition signed by some 140 parishioners. That may change, if the protest persists, news of it continues to spread, and parish revenues begin to feel the effects of member disaffection.
One can never be sure what goes on behind the scenes in church matters. Perhaps some arrangement is being made to restore peace at St. John's. We can only hope.
Meanwhile, this situation illustrates a poignant little drama being played out in Catholic parishes around the country — if with somewhat less public visibility.
Since the pontificate of Benedict XVI, an effort to "reform the reform" of the Second Vatican Council has gained momentum. What's referred to as the Neo-Traditional Movement seeks to re-Catholicize Catholic religious practice after decades of what it views as Protestantizing of worship, dumbing down of faith instruction, and a confusing overlap in the functions and responsibilities of priest and people.
The greatest success of the Neo-Trads has been the revision of language used in the Mass — introduced at Advent 2011 — followed closely by changes in liturgical music. This latter includes addition of sung antiphons, ritual responsory prayers and psalms that change every week and are often done in Latin.
While these adjustments had been in the works since the John Paul II era, it was the conservative predilections of Benedict XVI that made their imposition possible throughout the English-speaking Church. Many bishops resisted, but eventually bowed to heavy Vatican pressure. Acceptance among clergy and laity remains decidedly mixed.
I wrote a critique of the revised Mass language that appeared in New Oxford Review and was later reproduced on this blog. A commentary of mine on disagreements about liturgical music appeared in the priestly journal, Homiletic & Pastoral Review, last August.
The primary rationale given for all the changes is restoring an appropriate atmosphere of sanctity at Mass. And, indeed, the Neo-Trads/Restorationists/call-them-what-you-will do cite legitimate concerns.
A certain kind of free-spiritedness had crept into Catholic worship during the post-Vatican II years. Some innovations pushed the bounds of dignity and appropriateness. They even raised questions about orthodoxy in the understanding and presentation of Church doctrine.
I think, however, that there is a hint (more than a hint, really) of over-reaction in what we are witnessing now, and that this reform is, in some sense, misdirected.
In my NOR article I quoted a priest friend who observed …
"'This is a slap in the face of the [priests] who always played it straight. We weren't the ones who were tinkering with the prayers.' He laid blame for the whole situation at the feet of the bishops. 'If they had enforced the rubrics in the first place, we wouldn't be going through all this.'"
Four years into the new liturgical regime, I sense very little change in the level of sanctity. Now, as before, the atmosphere at Mass depends mostly on the sanctity that's apparent in the priest: the earnestness with which he lives his vocation; the time and effort he invests in preparing his homilies; the solemnity with which he consecrates and distributes the Eucharist.
Beyond that, I doubt much has been accomplished, other than giving a windfall to the publishing houses that are selling parishes their revised missals and hymnals.
Congregations now mumble through language that was intended to hew more closely to the Church's international Latin standard, but which comes off as old-fashioned and stilted (and is frequently at variance with proper English sentence structure).
Moreover, the musical repertoire at Mass has been cleansed of numerous post-Vatican II "folk" hymns that — for better or worse — had become worship standards. Where we were often distracted by poor songs and amateurish musical execution, now we have antiphons which very few Mass-goers even attempt to sing.
In all, people are left wondering, "What was the point?" Again, from my NOR article…
"As members of Christ's beleaguered Church, we face the combined challenges of radical secularism and radical Islam, not to mention the fallout from the clerical sex-abuse crisis. And the appropriate response to these grave challenges has been to change the words of the Mass. Really?"
My personal profile doesn't fit the conventional liberal-conservative divide by which Catholics generally take up sides in debates over worship. As I explained in NOR…
"I do not consider myself a man of the Catholic Left. I am pro-life, I am suspicious of many of the things that pass under the name 'social justice,' and I don't advocate for women priests or for reorganizing the Church along congregational lines."
At the same time, I'm an adult convert, having come to the Catholic faith in my 30s. And I've been involved in music ministry since the late 1970s. All of which puts me in a somewhat distinctive position from which to view the conflict that's on vivid display in North Carolina and playing out elsewhere.
Undoubtedly, there is a constituency for the new, more formalized, approach to Mass. But there is also one — I believe a much larger one — for the older style which the Neo-Trads/Restorationists wish to supplant. To describe that style as "casual" somewhat clouds the discussion, because all liturgy is firmly structured. But the old language was more conversational, and the music skewed more toward the contemporary. All of which conveyed a more personal sensibility — to me, anyway (of course, others may disagree).
But I'm convinced that everyone's needs can be accommodated, and by a practice that's rooted deeply in Catholic culture: High Mass and Low Mass. Since most parishes offer multiple weekly services, there's no reason more formal liturgy can't prevail at certain times, more "casual" at others.
I'd say Saturday evening vigil Mass is perfect for guitars and rousing renditions of "Gather Us In." (I would argue for use of the now-rejected 1970 missal in that slot as well.) You can even offer full-blown Tridentine (Latin) Mass for those whose spirituality is drawn to that (although, I'm aware of one parish in which a Latin revival was tried, and after several weeks of steadily decreasing attendance, abandoned).
Pray for an end to the Battle of Waynesville — which is really just the latest skirmish in the ongoing war over Vatican II. I realize there's more at stake in this fight than just liturgy. But liturgy is important. It's the way in which we come before God as the community of His people.
Perhaps with Christian charity, Fr. Riehl, the parishioners of St. John the Evangelist, and Bishop Jugis can resolve their disputes and bring peace back to the Great Smokey Mountains.
May it be so throughout Christ's beleaguered Church.
Here's a link to my New Oxford Review article as reproduced on this blog…
…and to my essay on liturgical music that ran in Homiletic & Pastoral Review…
Here's the ChurchMilitant.com report on the dispute at St. John the Evangelist Church in Waynesville. North Carolina…
If you'd like a view of the situation from the left, here's coverage in the National Catholic Reporter…
And, in case you're looking for a snug little place to stay the next time you're in the Ashville, NC area, check out Waynesville's Herren House Bed & Breakfast. We enjoyed it…


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Fireworks light up the sky to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year at Orange Island in Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province, Jan. 22, 2012. China embraced its lunar Year of Dragon on Monday.
President Hu joins public to celebrate New Year
Federer beats Tomic 3-0 at Australian Open
Chinese celebrate Lunar New Year
The Year of Dragon celebrations
2012 Australian Open
SINA English is the English-language destination for news and information about China. Find general information on life, culture and travel in China through our news and special reports or find business partners through our online Business Directory. For investment opportunities with SINA, please click the link "Investor" below.
| About SINA | Investor | Media Kit | Comments or Question? |
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I was chatting with my pastor the other day and he told me that his family does this thing called Letterboxing. He told me to Google it to learn more. (since his wife, who is really the one who knows all about it, wasn't there to teach me!) I went and looked it up and found two sites for it:
Letterboxing North America (which covers all of the North American Continent, not just the USA)
Atlas Quest (which covers the whole world!)
So what is Letterboxing you ask? Well, I'm glad you're interested! Let me enlighten you on this totally awesome family hobby! (It's totally free too!!)
A letterbox is any kind of waterproof container that contains a rubber stamp and a logbook. Here are a couple examples of the ones we have found:
|This one was in a heavy ziploc type bag.
|This was just in a Tupperware container.
When you find a Letterbox, you put the stamp in your logbook. We just used a three ring binder and blank paper for ours. Tammy had some page protectors for scrap-booking so we put the completed pages in those:
You also use your own stamp to stamp the logbook in the Letterbox and put whatever information you like in there. We put our names, the date, and where we are from.
Making a stamp was a lot easier than I thought it would be. I just carved it out of a big pink eraser with an X-acto knife and glued it to a small block of wood. There is a nice tutorial on how to do it on the Letterboxing North America website. Ours is pretty simple:
|That's our trail name, the Schafer Snoopers!
I might try to make a nicer one sometime but for now we like this one! :)
Now, you're probably wondering how one goes about finding these Letterboxes. Never fear, I have been saving the best for last!
These things are hidden by people all over the world! People who have discovered Letterboxing make their own and hide them. They then post clues on the websites so people can go find them. Once you find it and do your stamping, you put it back where you found it for the next person to find. There are literally hundreds of thousands of them hidden around the world! They can be hidden in any publicly accessible location. In our first day of searching we visited a public library and found one hiding inside:
We went to several cemeteries to find them hidden in various locations. Some of them were placed in honor of a loved one even.
We also spent several hours hiking through the woods in a huge park to find some:
One of them was really hard to find but we managed to locate it tucked behind some loose bark on an ancient tree:
|That's it peaking out right in the center of the picture!
Anyway, we spent an incredible day as a family, discovering new places and having tons of fun! It didn't cost us a dime (except for gas money and our lunch) but we loved it! We did it to celebrate Tammy's birthday and she said it was a wonderful way to celebrate!
This is an absolutely awesome hobby that anyone could enjoy, especially as a family! We intend to keep it up for a long time to come. We'll be hunting letterboxes when we go on vacation and any time we have an afternoon to spend together! You just can't beat it! At least that's my opinion! :)
So have any of you heard of this?


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Online number-crunching firm ComScore announced Wednesday that it has acquired M:Metrics, a mobile usage statistics company, for $44.3 million in cash and a handful of common stock options.
The reason for the purchase is pretty obvious: as mobile phones make up a bigger and bigger chunk of digital consumption, ComScore wants to be able to provide the relevant statistics to businesses and advertisers. M:Metrics operates mobile phone usage survey MobiLens, mobile ad statistic tabulator M:Ad, and mobile Web monitoring product MeterDirect. ComScore currently has about 950 clients, the company said, and M:Metrics has more than 180.
"With the substantial growth of 3G devices and Internet friendly handsets, we believe we are now at an inflection point in Internet usage on mobile devices," ComScore CEO Magid Abraham said in a statement. "Our acquisition of M:Metrics makes ComScore an immediate market leader in this space and positions ComScore to deliver significant shareholder value."
Gaining access to additional measurement technology could also help ComScore deal with the fact that many businesses still don't trust Web usage metrics, which often vary significantly from one tracking firm to the next. The Interactive Advertising Bureau requested last year that ComScore, along with competitor Nielsen/NetRatings, go through an audit to scrutinize its measurement methodologies.
As part of the acquisition, which closed Wednesday, M:Metrics co-founders Will Hodgman and Seamus McAteer will become part of ComScore's management team.


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Mobile Food Pantry Delivery
Mobile Food Pantry Delivery
|Event Date:
|Event Time:
|Event Location:
|Marbletown Fire Department
|Contact Telephone:
Please note this is an archived calendar event.
The mobile pantry will be pulling into Newark and setting up at the Marbletown Fire Department located at 6416 Silver Hill Rd. in Newark NY.
The Mobile Pantry offers essential and nutritious food items to bridge the gap between hunger and abundance to those in need of food assistance.
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Participants will have a wide assortment of fresh and frozen grocery items to choose from including produce, meats, breads, dairy, canned foods, sweets, and more.
For more information about the mobile food pantry contact Sandy Thomas at 315-331-4867.
Submitted by: Krystal Kowalski, American Red Cross
The American Red Cross, a humanitarian organization led by volunteers and guided by its Congressional Charter and the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross Movement, will provide relief to victims of disaster and help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies.
Other calendar events submitted by organization...
Calendar Id: 0000005698


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Today we finally moved into our new house. For
the past few days, my owner had been there, directing where furniture should
be moved and helping to decorate the interior. According to her, all we'd have
to do once we got there was unpack the suitcases that we'd bring with us, and
as we arrived and I looked at the inside of the house, I found that she was
right. I wasn't given a formal tour of the house, but she did point out the
bedroom that was to be mine. The room was rather large, and it had soft, white
carpet and pale blue walls. My owner had gotten me a new bed, and it was set
up in one of the corners of the room and covered with several shell-shaped pillows.
I walked over in awe to touch the soft satin bedspread that was on the bed,
and my owner smiled.
"I've got a surprise for you," she said, motioning
towards a door on the other side of the room.
"Surprise?" I echoed, glancing over at the door
that she gestured to.
"Yes. Go look!"
I did as she said and was amazed by the contents
of the closet. Several shelves had been built onto the walls, and all of them
were filled with brand-new toys. The most amazing part of the surprise was a
gigantic dollhouse, complete with an entire set of new dolls and beautiful,
detailed, miniature furniture. I gasped at the amazement of the closet and immediately
fell in love with it.
"This is your own personal playroom!" my owner
exclaimed, appearing happy at my reaction. "I went and picked all the toys out
myself. And, although it's not much, I've got one more thing for you..."
"More?" I said in shock.
"Yes," she said, presenting me with an expensive-looking
school set. It included a white quill pen, a small inkwell, and a silver ruler.
"I know how you like to write in that diary of yours, and I saw this while I
was shopping and thought that you'd like to have it."
I was speechless for a moment but finally managed
to find my voice. "Thank you," I said, clutching it to my chest and placing
it on one of the (very) few empty spots on the shelf.
Most of the afternoon I spent in that closet,
playing with the intricate little dollhouse and its occupants. Several hours
after I started to play with the house, my owner called me down to dinner, so
I had to tear myself away. As I ate my dinner, she suggested that I look around
the house, since I'd spent nearly the entire day in my room. I told her I would.
I knew where the kitchen, dining room, and living
room were from my first glance at the inside of the house, but I hadn't seen
much of the rest of the house. The staircase to the second floor was right outside
the kitchen, and I decided to start at the top of the house and work my way
From the outside of the house, the second floor
looked like it was as large as the first floor, but it didn't seem like there
were many rooms there at all. All the rooms there were bedrooms. Mine was the
first one in the hallway, so I bypassed it. Next was a smaller bedroom, and
I guessed that it was probably a guest room, because other than furniture, it
didn't appear to have much in it. My thinking was confirmed as I came upon the
last bedroom on the second floor. Undoubtedly, it was my owner's. The walls
and floors were both a deep red, and the bed in the corner matched. It had a
red velvet bedspread that was embroidered with gold thread, making the whole
bed just look very... royal. I thought it was even more amazing than the bed
sitting in my own bedroom. My owner's closet doors were open, and I saw that
she had already unpacked and hung up her clothes in it. I looked through them
briefly, pushing all the hangers to one side to look at each outfit by itself.
Once all the clothes had been pushed to the side, however, I noticed something
in the back of the closet. A door.
Because of my curiosity, I walked behind
the clothes and was going to open the door to find where it led, but it had
no doorknob. How strange, I thought, starting to wonder if it was even
a door at all. I propped myself up against this section of wall to ponder what
this particular part of the wall was if it wasn't a door, and why it
had been put there, when suddenly... it moved.
The diary was becoming very interesting to Kalina,
and she started to read faster, her eyes flying across the page to absorb the
words as fast as they could. In the entry, Sury continued to tell what she found
behind the door, and Kalina couldn't help but wonder if the door was still there.
She nearly got up to go look but quickly realized that she couldn't. That door
would be in the closet of her owner, and it was the middle of the night now...
Her owner would be soundly sleeping in her bed and would wake up if Kalina decided
to go digging through her closet. Speaking of sleep... Kalina thought,
placing the diary back onto the small table beside her bed, I could use some.
As she moved to turn off the light, however,
a thought came to her. If Sury had written that the door in her owner's closet
hadn't had a doorknob and had opened because she leaned on it... perhaps the
door in her own closet worked the same. Yawning and rolling back out of bed,
she couldn't help but try. She promised herself that she'd go to bed once she
tried. Yeah right, her mind scoffed. If it does move, of course
you're going to want to explore tonight!
Kalina sleepily shuffled over to the closet,
completely forgetting that the doorknob had stuck the last two times she had
tried to open it during the night. This try was no different, and, disappointed,
she promised herself that she'd try first thing in the morning.
Well, "first thing in the morning" turned out
to be noon, which was how late Kalina slept the next day. "Maybe I should have
gone to bed earlier," she mumbled, looking out the window at the bright day.
Surprisingly, Kalina momentarily forgot about the closet and went downstairs
for some breakfast. "Or should it be lunch?" she asked, glancing at the late
hour that a clock on the wall showed.
Once in the kitchen, Kalina walked over to the
pantry and stuck her head inside. Nothing inside the pantry seemed to be quite
what she was in the mood to eat, so she decided to poke through some of the
other cabinets. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of a note
on the table, and she went over to read it. The note was from her owner, explaining
that she had quickly run into town to pick some fruits up from the local vendor,
and she'd be back soon. After reading this note, Kalina's memory was suddenly
jogged. Her owner... the door...
If her owner wasn't home, this was a perfect
time to try the door! She rushed up the stairs, eager to test the door, but
her plans were quickly ruined. Her owner's bedroom door was locked. "Locked?!"
she yelled, in disbelief. "Since when does my owner lock doors when she leaves?
Since when does this door even have a lock?" she asked, not remembering
seeing one on the door before. "Gaaaah!" she yelled in frustration, pounding
a single fist against the wooden door. Once she calmed down, she figured that
she could at least try the door in her closet. It was no longer night,
which hopefully meant that her closet door would be unstuck. "And there's no
way that my bedroom door is locked."
It, of course, was not locked, and Kalina strode
quickly across the room, only to find that she was still locked out of her closet.
"How could this be happening?!" she yelled, vowing to try later in the day.
"How could what be happening?" responded her
owner, who had just come home and was coming up the stairs.
"Uh..." said Kalina, trying to think fast, "I
was just mad about... uhh..." Her eyes frantically swept the room. "...My paint
set!" she finally said, naming the first object she laid her eyes on.
"Your paint set?" asked her owner, confused.
"Um, yeah. I'm... out of blue paint."
"Oh, that's all?" Her owner sounded relieved.
"We can go and get some later."
"Sounds good," she replied, her paw still on
the doorknob. Without thinking, she turned it on the knob... and the door was
To be continued...
Also by undeadfortune


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We report on controllable production of nanostructures embedded in a porous glass by femtosecond laser direct writing. We show that a hollow nanovoid with a lateral size of and an axial size of can be achieved by manipulating the peak intensity and polarization of the writing laser beam. Our finding enables applications ranging from direct construction of 3D nanofluidics in glass to clean stealth dicing of transparent plates.
© 2013 Optical Society of AmericaFull Article | PDF Article
OSA Recommended Articles
Yang Liao, Jielei Ni, Lingling Qiao, Min Huang, Yves Bellouard, Koji Sugioka, and Ya Cheng
Optica 2(4) 329-334 (2015)
Yang Liao, Wangjun Pan, Yun Cui, Lingling Qiao, Yves Bellouard, Koji Sugioka, and Ya Cheng
Opt. Lett. 40(15) 3623-3626 (2015)
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Opt. Express 22(26) 32361-32370 (2014)


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Both of these great little finds are a really purse-friendly version of some of Topshop's best-selling products.
I have wanted a pair of the Alvin boots for ages, but have been umming and ahhing over the £90 price tag. Thanks to LLYMLRS's LookBook, I found these amazing little ankle boots for only £24.95 on eBay. They're not real leather, so they're not going to last as long as the real deal, but I think they're a great little pair of boots.


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Straight up, I'm a Dashiki girl. I've been wearing Dashikis from my college days before it was trendy to do so. I got so excited when I found a store in Baltimore that sold them in every colour. Apparently it's supposed to be a top but I wore it as a dress and paired it with the crochet gladiator sandals from Crochet Eye Candy.
I thought the Dashiki was the perfect outfit to kick start February being it's Black History Month. I can probably also wear it on Valentines Day since it's red. (Though a red blanket would probably make more sense as the only place I'll be going on V-Day is to my bed.)
Thanks for visiting. If you like the posts, please share the link and remember to subscribe/follow so you can be updated when a new blog post is made.
Love xoxo,
Queen Stacia.
Follow on Instagram: @naturaliconbeauty
Like on Facebook: Click Here
Styling: @staciadavidson
Photography: @marz_jackson
Make Up: @lejounb.artistry
Sandals: @crocheteyecandy


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ARLINGTON: In the race to replace the Navy's controversial Littoral Combat Ship, the leading contender seems to be…. a better Littoral Combat Ship. That's the clear implication of what we've been hearing from Navy leadership, and it's clear from press briefings today that LCS contractor Lockheed Martin feels pretty confident it can do the job. (Lockheed builds the Freedom-class LCS; the Independence variant is by Austal and General Dynamics).
The incumbent's advantage here is time. Lockheed VP Joe North told reporters at the companys pre-Farnborough Air Show briefing that he expects "every shipyard across Europe" to take a shot. But existing European designs might take years to revise to the US Navy's requirements and an all-new design would take at least a decade. Of course, LCS is already in production, and while many in the Pentagon and Congress are deeply dissatisfied with the ship, Lockheed argues that its modular design makes it easy to upgrade.
"Whatever they decide they want for upgrades, they will start [putting on ships] as early as FY '17 [fiscal year 2017]," North said of the Navy. Lockheed can meet that schedule or even beat it by putting upgrades on 2016 ships if desired, he said confidently. "I can easily work these [changes] in," North said, and keep LCS production going without a pause: "If you do this right, we don't need to break production. I think that's huge."
So what would the LCS-plus look like? "We gave them lots of options," North said, "them" being the Small Surface Ship Combatant Task Force appointed by Defense Sec. Chuck Hagel to review alternatives to the existing LCS design; the SSCTF will report back to Hagel by August. Lockheed can build its LCS with a bigger main gun ("we've always been gun-agonistic," North said), a more powerful radar, or a less zippy but more fuel-efficient power plant — all diesels instead of the current diesel-turbine combo — if the Navy decides long range is more important than high speed.
Perhaps most important, Lockheed can build an upgunned LCS with Vertical Launch Systems (VLS), the Navy's plug-and-play launchers for a wide variety of missiles. The ship could accommodate eight VLS cell with a modest redesign to the bow, North told reporters, or up to 32 VLS if you cut the hangar capacity from two helicopters down to one. For comparison, the Navy's cutting edge DDG-1000 Zumwalt destroyer, a vastly larger ship, carries 80 VLS cells.
What about survivability, though? The most common criticism of LCS — including by the Pentagon's Director of Operational Test & Evaluation (DOT&E) — is that the hull is simply too fragile to survive in major combat. The Navy's own rating system puts the LCS at survivability level one, compared to level two for the FFG-7 Perry-class frigates it replaces and level three for the much larger DDG-51 Arleigh Burke destroyers.
But in fact, "we're more survivable than the FFGs," North said bluntly. The Navy's requirements for the various survivability levels have changed since the frigates were assessed, he asserted, and technology's improved: "We're using high-strength, low-weight steel that wasn't even around."


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One of the most agonizing marketing decisions a small retail business must make is whether to include printed Yellow Page ads in their plan and budget. This is a big decision because:
Set it and forget it no longer as valuable
In the past, the Yellow Pages were the only reliable resource for retail businesses seeking a local audience. After word-of-mouth, consumers relied heavily on the Yellow Pages for services in a wide range of industries. And it took little work: You placed the ad, it ran for a year and you waited for the phone to ring.
Not so today. Multiple studies confirm that consumers report using the internet first (80% of the time) when they need a new product or service, and printed Yellow Pages only second or third (about 50% of the time.) And even if the consumer does reach for the printed Yellow Pages, your ad still has to stand out (size, graphics and color,) which ups the expense of being in the book. The convenience of "set it and forget it" is now trumped by the more labor intensive but productive SEM options.
How to measure success
Advertising in Yellow Pages, on or offline, is not a branding exercise. It is purely lead generation. So, it is not hard to understand what your own ROI is for this marketing initiative, or at the very least where your break-even point is for each campaign:
|Cost of the campaign
|Value of one new customer
|Number of customers gained to break even
|Number of leads needed to gain one new customer
|Number of leads needed to break even
|Number of leads needed to achieve 100% ROI
In this case, if a Yellow Page contract is $4,000 for the year, you need to generate 400 real leads to break even. That is more than one call a day from your Yellow Page ad, in this example. Compare this to other marketing options you have, and calculate their relative break-evens.
What should you do at this point?
If you think the Yellow Pages still have value for your business, make sure.
The Bottom Line
People (especially older demographics) do still reach for the printed Yellow Pages when they need a local business in a hurry. For instance, plumbers should think hard before they ditch their local phone books. Personal injury lawyers should also track their incoming leads closely before deciding to stop their ads. There are lots of examples of businesses that service folks with urgent needs who may benefit from staying in the books.
But, if your phone isn't ringing or your dedicated landing page is not seeing traffic from your Yellow Page placements, stop investing in it, even if the


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Incorrigible and irrepressible, you believe in living life to its fullest, consequences be damned.
Prerequisite(s): Challenge class feature; Chaotic alignment; Dex 13
Benefit: You may expend a use of your Challenge ability to give yourself a luck bonus to all saving throws equal to half your cavalier level (rounding up). This bonus lasts for 1 round, plus 1 additional round at 5th level and for every 5 levels thereafter.
Special: You may only possess 1 Knightly feat.
Undefeatable: The Collected Feats Sourcebook, Copyright 2009 – 2010, Louis Porter Jr. Design, Inc. Undefeated, Copyright 2011, Louis Porter Jr. Design, Inc.


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SuperMax Tools Tool Stands
SuperMax tool stands help you organize tools and transport heavy equipment at home and in professional shops. These platforms transform stationary equipment into mobile workstations, and they frequently include other features, as well. Whether you need storage or mobility, you can find SuperMax power tool stands that suit your work area.
...Read More...
Depending on the size of your shop, SuperMax drum sanders may be some of the largest equipment on the floor. These heavy tools allow you to quickly cover large surfaces, and they need room to function. SuperMax drum sander mobile bases allow you to roll this heavy equipment from one side of the shop into your main work area, so you always have enough room to maneuver your materials. Once you finish with your task, unlock the wheels on the base to roll equipment back out of the way. This frees up valuable space in your shop and offers you the freedom to move some of your heaviest equipment. SuperMax tool stands support drum sanders and SuperMax sanding accessories, so you can keep everything in one place.
If you need a place to store your accessories, look for a support system that comes with its own storage containers. While not all SuperMax tool stands have wheels, you may find options with cabinets so you can organize your tools and materials. These storage spaces also support some dust management systems, which minimize the amount of dust your SuperMax tools kick into the air. Many of these stands work with specific drum sanders, and you can check compatibility before you select an option. Also make sure your stand works with any SuperMax tool roller stands you already have at your shop. These SuperMax power-tool stands should work in conjunction with material stands, so everything stays level while you run your machine.
Maximize the available space in your shop with wheeled supports for your heaviest tools and storage space for your most important equipment. These SuperMax tool stands provide the stability and maneuverability you need for the job.
...Hide Text...


text: I have been studying the quilt and border and have come up with a new ? I'm begining to think that the border is to dark for the body of the quilt and should be relpaced. Please feel free to offer up your opinion on this. Here is an idea with just the paisley border. Here is the original idea http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...r-t191950.html


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Copyright © Kemp Howland Photography. All rights reserved.
Senior Photo Sessions On Location - $195
Senior Athlete Photo Sessions - $250
Senior Performing Arts Sessions $200
We endeavor to provide the highest level of creative aesthetic to your Senior Portraits. Our approach is clean and creative in style, with an emphasis on achievement and lifestyle to round things out. Tell us how you want to be remembered during your senior year. Call us at 407.222.4847, or send us a quick email.
Kemp Howland Photography
Phone: 407.222.4847
Senior Photography


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First Flight on PilotEdge
If you're looking for some suggestions to get started, here is a short, simple flight you can try from a non-towered airport (Oceano, L52) to a towered airport (San Luis Obispo, KSBP) in a single engine training aircraft (a Cessna 172 or Piper Warrior, for example).
We specifically have you start from a non-towered airport so that you can connect to the network and get in the air without speaking with ATC first. Your first actual ATC interaction will be in mid-air as you begin your arrival at San Luis Obispo very shortly after taking off.
Here's what you need to do:
- Open the LAX Sectional chart and locate Oceano, L52, or use this shortcut to Skyvector.com.
- position your aircraft at L52 on the ramp (NOT a runway or taxiway, remember, other people might be flying, too)
- listen to the San Luis Obispo ATIS (120.60) and note the code (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, etc)
- tune to COM1 radio to published frequency for L52 (122.70)
- set the San Luis tower in the standby frequency: 124.00
- taxi to the runway of your choice. Once holding short, make the call on 122.70: "Oceano traffic, Cessna taking off runway [runway number], departing north, Oceano."
- once clear of the pattern, swap to San Luis tower frequency (124.00) and make the call, "San Luis tower, Cessna 123AB 6 miles south, landing with [atis code]"
- you'll probably hear, "Cessna 3AB, San Luis tower, report left base runway 29"
- respond: "report left base for runway 29, Cessna 3AB"
- line up for a left base for runway 29 (one 90 degree turn left before being on final), then make the call, "tower, Cessna 3AB, left base 29."
- you'll probably hear, "Cessna 3AB, wind [winds], runway 29 cleared to land."
- respond: "cleared to land runway 29, Cessna 3AB"
- land the plane, and exit wherever it's convenient for you unless tower instructs you to exit at a specific place as you slow down on the roll out
This is a dynamic environment. You might exit the runway before tower gets back to you, in which case, you can say, "tower, Cessna 3AB is clear to the left taxi to parking," or perhaps tower will address you as you're slowing down, "Cessna 3AB, exit next left, taxi to the ramp, remain this frequency."
Feel free to repeat this flight, and other similarly simple flights as an ice-breaker to become comfortable flying online with ATC.
If you've completed the First Flight and are looking for a structured program to work thorough, check out the very popular VFR CAT Ratings and IFR I-Ratings programs. Both of those programs step you through a logical series of flights that help you learn the ropes of VFR and IFR flying.
Here's a video of a flight conducted by Mark Hargrove, a PilotEdge user, showing the flight described above.


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Google is taking a cue from desktop speech recognition software, like the popular Dragon Naturally Speaking program, by bringing personalized voice profiles to Android's mobile Voice Search app.
So instead of the general speech models that Google has been relying on since it launched Voice Search two years ago, the app can now learn your voice and ultimately become more accurate.
By opting in to the app's new "Personalized recognition" feature, Voice Search will begin to associate the voice commands you send it with your Google account. It will then use that data to build your personal profile. Google says that accuracy improvements will begin quickly and will increase the more you use the app.
Google was bound to do this eventually. With Android, it is pioneering the use of voice commands in many areas where you would normally use text. For example, you can dictate a text message on your Android phone with your voice, something that isn't possible on the iPhone or other platforms (at least not natively). Building personalized voice profiles like professional speech recognition programs is simply the next step in improving its voice commands.
It's ironic, in a way, that as our phones are getting smarter, we're once again beginning to speak into them. As voice commands improve, I would wager most users would find them preferable to hunting and pecking on touchscreen keyboards.
The new Voice Search app is available on Android phones running version 2.2 of the OS or later. It's unclear if Google will bring the feature to other platforms, or if it even technically can given the restrictions of other mobile platforms.


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(this is an on-demand video)
Sponsored by - SIOS
The Dos, Don'ts and Good-to-Knows that can make a difference
Whether you've already gone through an AWS cloud deployment or are considering your options, this webinar will cover the dos, don'ts and good-to-knows of running SQL in a high availability cluster environment in AWS.
Join Tony Tomarchio, as he discusses the key issues related to protecting your mission-critical SQL Server applications in cloud from downtime. He'll answer key questions, such as:
To access materials please fill out the form below.


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Breast Reduction Houston
Breast reduction is a surgical procedure that removes fat and glandular tissue from the breast while tightening skin to produce smaller breasts that are more comfortable and in better proportion to the rest of the body. Large breasts may draw unwanted attention that can make a woman feel self-conscious and uncomfortable with her appearance. Women with large breasts who are unhappy with their appearance and/or have neck or back pain or other symptoms may benefit from a breast reduction.
If you have experienced any of these problems, Dr. Sato can surgically reduce the size of your breasts to not only ease the pressure on your upper back and shoulders, but also to provide you with a more proportionate figure.
In some cases, health insurance will cover breast reduction surgery. Check with your carrier for their guidelines and rules.
Breast Reduction Considerations
During your breast reduction consultation with Dr. Erika Sato, you will learn more about your options for creating your ideal breast appearance. She will discuss your goals and expectations for surgery, as well as inform you of the details of your chosen procedure.
This discussion is important for you to achieve the results you desire. Every procedure is customized to each individual patient. There are several different types of incisions that may be used for this procedure, and Dr. Sato will determine the best type for you after evaluating your breasts.
Who is a good candidate for breast reduction?
Ideal candidates for breast reduction surgery are women who have uncomfortably large breasts leading to medical problems, low self-esteem, and/or physical or social discomfort. If you are pregnant or a new nursing mother, however, you should not have a breast reduction procedure until after you are no longer breastfeeding.
What happens during breast reduction?
The surgery can take anywhere from 2-4 hours depending on the technique used and each patient's individual case.
The excess tissue is removed per the goals set by the patient and Dr. Sato, and the breasts are reshaped. The nipples and areolas are re-positioned to accommodate the new breast size.
What can I expect while recovering from breast reduction surgery?
Most women return to work 10 days to 2 weeks after breast reduction surgery. You will likely experience soreness, bruising, and swelling, which can last for several days.
Paper tape will be placed over the incision and left in place for 1-2 weeks. A surgical bra that will be worn for several weeks as your body heals. Scars will continue to fade with time and can usually be concealed by clothing, including bras, bathing suits, and low-cut tops.
Strenuous activities should be avoided until the skin incisions are healed, which can take up to 4-6 weeks.
Are the results of breast reduction permanent?
Breast reduction is a permanent procedure but the breasts can still change in shape and size over time due to gravity, aging, weight gain or loss, pregnancy, or breast feeding.
Learn More
Are you interested in breast reduction in Houston? Contact Dr. Erika Sato today for a consultation.


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Join us in January. Make 2015 a Resilient year! Visit takechargeofchange.com for more information.
Mental Skills Living
We often talk about the idea of mental skills training. Perhaps we invest for a bit of time, stop doing it and the benefits go away, so we get frustrated and abandon it altogether. But maybe we need to recognize that mental-skills-training is more a way of life? I think it makes more sense to figure out how you work. Continually learn about your vulnerabilities. And, rather than get frustrated every time they show up, notice your patterns and learn to manage them better. Challenge yourself to live a bit more fully each day by always learning how to get better.
Staff as unique assets
In high performance sport, athletes are seen as assets. They bring a unique skill to the table and it is highly valued. They run fast or jump far. And we do not think anyone else can do it as well as them. As such, we spend a great deal of time doing whatever we can to maximize the potential of this person. We see them as irreplaceable. No one else can do this skill as well as them, and as such we work with them to become their best. In work, do we do the same? Do we view each employee as a unique asset? Do we know each employee well enough to understand what they bring and how they can help make this place better? Do we create opportunity for them to bring their unique skills or gifts to the table? How much time to we spend truly understanding this person and how to maximize their performance? Perhaps it is worth the investment. Maybe we can work to bring the best athlete out of everyone? And if we do, we both win. If we operate from the standpoint that this person brings unique value, maybe they will believe that and do just that each day.


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Hey all,
This is Leah @ foodforthefresh. I am obsessed with fresh and seasonal food, and Susan has been so kind as to share one of my most recent and favorite treats with you! I made this cake for a friend's birthday, and it was a HUGE hit. It was also an easy crowd-pleasing meal -- I just sliced it up, put a big bowl of the Honey Whipped Cream topping next to it, and everyone went to town! I am also pleased to report that it was a big party with lots of desserts, and THIS RECIPE got "favorite dessert" from the birthday girl! (I saved myself some, and ate a huge piece for breakfast the next day. SO good.) It really is the perfect cake for late spring by featuring seasonal strawberries, and the compliment of tangy orange. It is fantastic even without the whipped topping, but I recommend it because it adds another note of a subtle, different type of sweetness. Altogether it is sweet, but not toooo sweet, so it will satisfy your dessert craving without weighing you down on these hot days. I really hope you enjoy it, and check out my other seasonal offerings! Stay fresh!
** STRAWBERRY-ORANGE YOGURT CAKE w/ HONEY WHIPPED CREAM**
* 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
* ½ teaspoon baking soda
* ½ teaspoon salt
* 2 teaspoons orange zest
* 1 tablespoon orange juice
* 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, room temperature
* 2 cups sugar
* 3 eggs
* 8 oz. plain Greek yogurt
* 12 oz. fresh strawberries, diced
Soaking Ingredients
* ⅓ cup orange juice
* 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
Honey Whipped Cream
* 1 cup whipping cream
* 1 tablespoon honey
* Preheat the oven to 325 F.
* Butter a 10" Bundt pan, and set aside.
* In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together 2 1/4 cups flour (reserving ¼ cup), baking soda, salt, and orange zest.
* Toss the diced strawberries with the reserved 4 cup flour, and set aside.
* In a large bowl with an electric mixer (or a cake stand mixer), cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy (this will take a few minutes).
* Beat in the eggs one at a time.
* Stir in 1 tablespoon orange juice.
* Starting and ending with the flour mixture, alternate slowly beating the Greek yogurt and flour mixture into your large bowl mixture, until just combined.
* Gently stir the flour/strawberry mixture into your batter.
* Pour the batter into the prepared Bundt pan, and bake for 60 minutes, or until the top is golden, and an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
* While the cake is baking, prepare the "soaking ingredients" by heating the orange juice and sugar over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Allow the soaking liquid to cool completely.
* Once the cake is done baking, allow the cake to cool for about 20 minutes, and then turn onto a cooling rack.
* Pour your soaking liquid over the top of the cake, and then allow to the cake to cool completely before slicing.
Honey Whipped Cream
* With an electric mixer, beat the whipping cream and honey together, until lightly whipped.
** Note: Be careful not to overmix!! Watch carefully; it doesn't take too long.
To serve, simply slice the cake, and top with the whipped cream! Enjoy!!
Stay Fresh,
Leah @ foodforthefresh.blogspot.com


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Pepperdine University president Andrew K. Benton convened a group of higher education leaders in Los Angeles on March 30 to discuss the potential challenges from the Obama administration's proposals to increase access to higher education.
Obama's goal is to have the highest college graduation rate in the world by 2020, and he is calling for as much as $50 billion in funding to help make it happen. Benton, the former chairman of the board of the American Council on Education (ACE), underscored that the changes will have significant impact on higher education providers and that it was important for the institutions to remain abreast of major developments.
The meeting was attended by more than a 36 college and university presidents and administrative leaders from public and private colleges and universities across the state. Terry Hartle, ACE senior vice president for government and public affairs, was also present. He gave a candid, up-to-the-minute briefing on topics including Obama's fiscal year 2009 and 2010 budgets, the recent reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (stimulus bill), the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act, and the president's proposals to reduce the deductibility of charitable contributions, create a Pell Grant entitlement, and mandate direct loans.
Hartle, who is based in Washington, D.C., has directed ACE's comprehensive efforts to engage federal policy makers on a broad range of issues including student aid, scientific research, government regulation, and tax policy for more than a decade. Hartle earned a doctorate in public policy from The George Washington University.
While there is a "wait-and-see" period as the President's higher education plans move through Congress, Hartle said that forecasting the outcome of an Obama-backed proposal to reduce the value of charitable deductions is fairly straight-forward saying, "It's not going to happen."
To learn more about the future of Pepperdine University, visit the Annual Report Web site.


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LANCASTER, Pa. – Franklin & Marshall's volleyball team delivered a 3-1 (25-9, 22-25, 25-20, 25-16) victory over Neumann on Wednesday evening.
The Diplomats improved to 2-3 on the year while the Knights, 4-1, were dealt their first loss.
F&M took a quick 5-0 lead to start the match thanks to back-to-back service aces from Carly Ostrowski. A Carlita Bozzo ace, followed by a kill from Delaney Hahn increased the lead to eight. Sparked by a kill from Allison Franke, the Diplomats went on a 7-0 run with Grace Maggiore behind the service line to take a 22-6 advantage and were able to take the first set 25-9.
The Knights came out strong to start the second frame, but F&M was able to bounce back with a 4-0 run with Chloe Kong serving to take an 8-6 edge. Neumann responded with short runs throughout the set, eventually taking it 25-22.
With the third frame tied at 4-4, F&M took back the momentum with a 5-0 run that included back-to-back aces from Hahn. The Diplomats kept the pressure on with Neumann falling behind on their own errors, and a kill from Caroline Elgut sealed the set 25-20 in F&M's favor.
Consistent serving from Bozzo early in the fourth set helped F&M to a 10-4 lead. The Knights fought back to come within five at 17-12, but F&M maintained the momentum, tallying two more aces, and ending the match with a block from Casey Morrow and Maggiore.
Franke paced the offense with 13 kills, followed by Hahn (7) who also recorded three aces. Maggiore notched a double-double of 32 assists and 10 digs while Kong led the defense with 17 digs.
F&M travels to Lebanon Valley on Saturday for the Dutchmen Quad, first taking on Penn St.-Altoona at 11:00 a.m. before squaring off against the host at 2:00 p.m.


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So after last week's burn fiasco, I decided that I needed to make the two sauces I didn't finish making in class. On Friday I not only made these sauces but paired them with dishes so it would seem less wasteful to practice just for the sake of practicing. I made a mornay sauce which I served over toast, turkey sausage and a poached egg. I also made bearnaise sauce which I served over steak, classic combo! I think both sauces turned out well and hopefully if I'm asked to recreate them in class for my practical exam they will be a smashing success :)
Today, we had a substitute chef in class as my chef is at a conference for a few days. He was hilarious and awesome and reminded me of Wolfgang Puck, one of my favorite chefs. He actually did a lot of demos in class, which I really enjoyed and learned a lot from. We learned how to make a consomme as well as some brown sauce compounds (I made a madeira sauce). Also we worked on our knife cuts, and today the chef used mine as an example to the class on what they should strive for, and it of course made me feel pretty awesome! We're going to be tested on those as well, so although mine are far from perfect, I'm glad that they are in really good shape. Check out the photo above for some of my knife cuts. They're still a work in progress, but clockwise from the left we have julienne (1/8" by 1/8" by 1 1/2"), brunoise (1/8" dice), and macedoine (1/4" dice).
At lunch today I experienced a couple of firsts. I tasted my first sweetbread (thymus gland), which was delicious as I expected it would be. I also had venison (deer) for the first time, which was good but had an unusual "gamey" flavor which I wasn't really expecting. Still, it was tasty. It was cooked sous vide, which was my third first since I'd never eaten anything cooked sous vide (vacuum sealed and cooked slowly in water) before. All in all, I think it was a pretty productive day!
Toast with Turkey Sausage, Poached Eggs, and Mornay Sauce


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Locksmith Training
UK Training
Due to the vast number of woefully under-qualified Locksmiths flooding onto the market thanks to the unscrupulous training providers and wholesalers putting profits before public safety, we will no longer offer any training to UK based persons.
The UK market is saturated with "Locksmiths". The majority of these are very poorly trained, under-skilled and with no background in skilled manual work. They work part time as there are not enough easy jobs to make a living at full time, they make their money from their full time minimum wage job and supplement their earnings by taking on simple locksmithing jobs on the side.
Rockley Lock & Safe cannot in all good conscience recommend anyone to become a Locksmith in this current climate, and therefore will no longer be offering training for the UK.
Worldwide Training
We still offer training to those based outside of the UK, either at our UK training centre or at your location worldwide.
Currently we offer training in Auto Locksmithing from the Novice to Expert level, covering all marques by OBD and EEPROM.
All training is designed around customer requirements to ensure maximum effectiveness and value.
This does however make it difficult to publish accurate prices here. The following prices are a GUIDE ONLY.
Example minimum prices:
1-1 Training in the UK, £350 Per Person/Per Day.
2-1/3-1 Training in the UK, £250 Per Person/Per Day.
1-1 Training in the EU, £450 Per Person/Per Day.
2-1/3-1 Training in the EU, £350 Per Person/Per Day.
1-1 Training outside the EU, £600 Per Person/Per Day.
2-1/3-1 Training outside the EU, £500 Per Person/Per Day.


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Gus Poyet quits as coach after Shanghai Shenhua fall to 12th in China
Gus Poyet has resigned as head coach of Shanghai Shenhua after the club suffered a fourth straight defeat in the Chinese Super League (CSL) on Sunday evening at the hands of Henan Jianye.
The 2-1 loss saw Shenhua slip to 12th in the standings and prompted the Uruguayan to tender his resignation to the club after a difficult season in charge in Shanghai.
"Mr. Poyet formally offered his resignation to Shanghai Shenhua today," the club said in a statement.
"After considering the decision, the club has agreed to accept Mr Poyet's resignation. From today, Mr Poyet will no longer be head coach of the club."
Poyet was appointed in late November last year after the sacking of Gregorio Manzano and he was tasked with building of the Spaniard's third place finish in last season's Chinese Super League.
But a defeat in the AFC Champions League playoffs to Brisbane Roar saw the campaign begin in disappointing fashion before a run of inconsistent form throughout the season saw Shenhua struggle.
Poyet's tenure was dogged by injuries, suspensions and constant speculation over the future of Carlos Tevez, the club's high-profile signing ahead of the new season.
The former Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea midfielder had been plotting success in the Chinese FA Cup, with Shenhua leading 1-0 after the first leg of the semifinals against second division side Shanghai Shenxin.
"I think we have a chance because everybody knows how important it is," he told ESPN FC recently.
"It's not about pressure, it's about accepting that we need to finish the season very well."
Michael Church has written about Asian football for more than 20 years and mainly covers the Chinese game for ESPN FC. Twitter: @michaelrgchurch
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Contains the following articles dealing with "accelerated cultivation" of fast-growing species in Italy [cf. F.A. 22 No. 1828]: Accelerated cultivation of woody species in the agri-silvicultural economy (G. Piccarolo); The present and future situation of production and consumption of wood in Italy...
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With the introduction of two new variants this month, BMW claims that its 7 Series is now the world's broadest range of luxury cars with 12 models to choose from.
The newcomers are six-cylinder petrol and diesel engine variants, the 730i and 730d, both of which are claimed to use revolutionary engine technology. BMW says they are the world's first luxury cars with a six speed automatic gearbox, but Jaguar's new XJ, on sale next month, features a similar transmission which has been available in the S-Type since last year.
Both cars are available in standard and SE trim levels with petrol models costing from £46,850 to £51,450 in long wheelbase SE trim. The 730d, at £44,555 the cheapest model in the 7 Series line-up, is BMW's first luxury sector oil burner and is expected to become the best seller in the range.
BMW is also introducing a Sport pack which will be available on six and eight cylinder standard wheelbase cars, for an extra £2,200 and featuring sports suspension, 19" alloy wheels, leather sports seats, a three-spoke sports steering wheel, high-gloss window trims and matt wood interior trim.


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One of my favorite parts of the annual Philly Farm & Food Fest is the Libations Lounge, where area wine, beer and spirits makers get to show off their sustainable boozy beverages. Two years ago, I tasted my first brew from Victory Brewing Company in that Libations Lounge, their Swing Session Saison, a beer perfect for warm weather. It was my first introduction to Saison style beers, and I loved it.
Since then, I've taken every opportunity to try Victory Brewing Company's beers whenever I can, and right now as the weather turns chillier, I'm enjoying their Victory Storm King Imperial Stout.
This dark beer is so deep brown in color that it's almost black. It had flavors of dark-roast coffee, chocolate, and sweet caramel, but also a bitterness that's appealing to me. As I learn more about beer, I'm learning that bitterness comes from hops and while I'm not particularly crazy about the hoppiness of many IPAs, I do enjoy the bitterness from hops in a stout. I'm trying to figure out why one appeals and the other doesn't, and that will come with more education and tasting.
I don't often pair stouts with food. I tend to drink them on their own, and I usually order them when I'm bowling or playing pool. But, when I make my Slower Cooker French Dip that calls for dark beer, I usually add a stout. This beer would pair well with my French dip or a hearty stew.
Victory has been a sustainably-minded brewery from its inception in 1996. The owners re-habbed an old building instead of building new when they first opened. A focus on energy efficiency finds them using both solar energy and recovering some of the energy they use. They're also involved in water management and conservation.
Victory is a Philadelphia-area craft brewery, but their beers can be purchased throughout the U.S. You can use Victory's Beerfinder on the website to find stores where it's sold or pubs where it's poured. If you live in the Philadelphia region, you can visit Victory's Brewpubs in Downingtown and Kennet Square.
Also on MNN


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Certificates of Deposit (CDs)
Opening a share certificate is a smart way to diversify your portfolio. Putting money into a share certificate is just a matter of waiting to cash in on your increased funds.
You're in control. You choose the term and lock in your rate. How long you wait is up to you — but the longer the wait, the higher your rate of return.
- Summary
- Savings with guaranteed returns
- Earn competitive fixed rates
- Terms vary from 3 months to 5 years
- Longer terms earn higher rates
- Penalty for early withdrawal
- NCUA insured


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01954 233 110
Request Information
CRVpro 4 basic package with:
Free air displacement
Pumping speed
Standard applications
CRVpro 6 basic package with:
CRVpro 8 basic package with:
The new CRVpro family of direct drive vacuum pumps offers increased reliability and longer service interval vs. other direct drive rotary vane vacuum pumps. The CRVpro family consumes up to 36% less oil than comparable pumps. Three features drive these benefits:
The CRVpro family includes all the features you'd expect in a direct drive rotary vane pump:
Gas ballast
Forced oil lubrication
Anti-suckback mechanism
Thermal overload protection
Suitable applications include freeze drying, degassing, vacuum ovens and concentrators.
We would appreciate your feedback.
Start now
No, thank you.


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Are you owed a refund for your Allianz car
or motorbike add-on insurance?
Allianz is refunding up to $45.6 million to 68,000 customers who
bought add-on insurance through car dealerships across
The refunds are being paid because customers were sold insurance
that provided little or no value.
Here we explain what insurance products are being refunded, who
is entitled to a refund and how to contact Allianz if you have any
questions about the refund process.
You may be entitled to a refund if you bought Allianz insurance
products when you bought a car or motorbike from a dealer between 1
December 2010 and 30 November 2017.
The refunds cover the following four Allianz add-on insurance
Check your car or motorbike loan documents if you're not sure
whether you bought insurance, or what brand it is.
Allianz will write to all affected customers with details of its
refund offer. We expect this will begin in late March or early
April 2018. In the meantime, if you have any questions about how
the refunds program affects your policy, you can call Allianz on
1300 548 165.
If you receive a letter from Allianz but do not contact them for
a refund, they will assume you would like to keep your policy and
don't need a refund.
Allianz will offer refunds to customers in the following
You will receive a partial refund of your premium if you:
You will receive a full refund of your premium (unless you
choose to keep the policy) if you paid a significant deposit when
buying your car. This is because you would receive little or no
value from your motor equity insurance policy.
If you were under 21 when you were sold the policy, you
will be offered a refund for the cost of the life and trauma
elements of the insurance (unless you choose to keep the policy).
This is because you were unlikely to have had dependents who would
need the car if you died or could no longer earn an income.
If you were sold the policy when you were self-employed or not
in full-time permanent employment, you will receive a full refund
of the 'involuntary unemployment' element of the premium. This is
because you were sold cover that you could not claim under.
You will receive a full refund of your premium if you had a
claim denied because you had modified tyres and rims when you
bought the tyre and rim insurance policy. This is because you would
never have been eligible to claim and should not have been sold
this insurance.
If you were sold a higher level of cover than you needed, you
will receive a partial refund for the difference between the
premium paid for the tyre and rim cover sold to you and the premium
for the cheaper option available to you.
If you purchased Allianz warranty insurance for a car with a
7-year manufacturer's warranty, you will receive a full refund of
the premium (unless you choose to keep the policy). This is because
many consumers are likely to trade their car in within the 7-year
manufacturer's warranty, so would get no benefit from having
extended warranty insurance, which starts after the manufacturer's
warranty ends.
If you are not happy with the refund offered by Allianz, you
should discuss this with them by calling 1300 548 165 or by
emailing email@example.com.
If you are not happy with how Allianz handles your complaint,
you can ask for it to be reviewed by their internal dispute
resolution team.
For tips on lodging a complaint, see how to
If Allianz takes more than 45 days to respond to your complaint,
or if you're not happy with their decision, you should contact the
Financial Ombudsman Service on 1800 367 287 or visit fos.org.au
You can complain even if you accept Allianz's refund.
Allianz's refund program covers customers ASIC has identified
were sold insurance with little or no value.
However, other customers may also be entitled to a refund. For
example, you may have bought the policy because the sales person
said you had to buy the insurance to get the loan.
You can raise concerns about your policy or how it was sold to
you by calling Allianz on 131 000 or lodging a complaint online at
If you are not happy with Allianz's response to your complaint
you can contact the Financial Ombudsman Service on 1800 367 287 or
visit fos.org.au
You can also receive information or help from:
There are many different types of add-on insurance policies that
might be sold to you when you buy a car at a car yard. To find out
more, see our page on add-on insurance.
ASIC is concerned that Allianz sold add-on insurance that
provided little or no value to customers because:
To find out more, see ASIC's media release.
ASIC has identified unfair conduct by a number of insurers who
offer add-on insurance and extended warranties by car dealers or
finance brokers. As a result, these insurers have agreed to refund
over $120 million to customers who were sold these products.
For more information, see add-on insurance.
Before you buy add-on insurance from a car
dealer, find out what insurance you already have so you don't get
more cover than you need. If you do decide to get add-on insurance,
make sure you understand its benefits and exclusions and consider
paying for it up-front instead of adding it to the cost to your
Last updated: 05 Dec 2018
calculators &
more life events...


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Louisa Catherine Johnson to John Quincy Adams, 6 December 1796
Louisa Catherine Johnson to John Quincy Adams
London Decbr: 6th 1796
Agreable to my promise of the 29th of writing to my beloved friend once a week I now contrary to etiquette enter upon the pleasant occupation—
Surely you will acknowledge—when I tell you you are indebted to me four letters I have amply compensated for my former omission— I have vainly expected to hear from you but the winds are unfavorable in a word every thing seems to conspire— I will only say to teach me patience
There are I find two Mails due Oh may they prove auspicious to my wishes in bringing me letters—
I will not mention the subject which has caused our mutual uneasiness lest it give you pain— I have promised to exert fortitude and will endeavour to fulfill that promise reason tells me I shall at least acquire resignation if not happiness—
Never my beloved friend let my weakness lessen your affection for me but write to me constantly and if possible teach my rebellious heart gently to acquiesce without murmering— Adieu think of me often and believe me with unalterable affection yours
Louisa C Johnson1
RC (Adams Papers).
1. LCA still had not heard from JQA by the following week. In a letter dated 13 Dec., she again complained about this lapse and apologized for her letter-writing abilities (Adams Papers).


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There's a Little Wheel A-Turning in My Heart
I have very fond memories of teaching There's a Little Wheel A-Turning to my elementary music classes in the 70's. It is a soothing kind of folk song, and it seemed to calm the children down. For the second verse we would sing, "There's a little song a-singing in my heart." Sometimes the classes would make up more verses and now I don't know which are part of the folk song, and which ones we made up.
I arranged this for some of my students who wanted a Valentine song that was more challenging. I didn't want to make it TOO challenging, because there's only 2 weeks to Valentine's Day. That's why I changed the 8th notes to quarter notes in the second measure. Also, I left out the dotted eighth notes in the melody because that just makes it look too hard. However, if you're students can do it, add them in.
For those of you who use Finale, I had trouble notating the last measure . I wanted the final F to be a tie. I had to make a different layer to do it. Is it done correctly and clearly? It's hard to be a one woman publishing company. When I learned to write music, computers took up entire rooms and there was no such thing as a personal computer, much less one that you could print out your own music. I'm totally self-taught on the computer!
One final note, children now days don't seem to know folk songs! That's why I like to arrange them and pass them out to children.


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POWELL, Ohio — Ohio Dominican cross country seniors Jalyn Devereaux (Carroll, Ohio) and Chad Ellis (Brook Park, Ohio) led ODU XC at the Ohio Wesleyan Invitational at Liberty Park in Powell on Saturday.
Devereaux notched a personal best in the women's 6k en route to the seventh-fastest 6k time in ODU women's cross country history, crossing the finish line in 23:07.8 to place 16th out of 237 runners, averaging a mile time of 6:12.0. Junior Capria Hall (Zanesville, Ohio) notched the second-fastest time for the women's squad, finishing in 26:09.0.
Ellis placed 36th out of 212 competitors to lead the men in the 8k, finishing in 26:58.6 with an average mile of 5:25.7. Three additional Panther men's runners finished in the top half of the field, including Justin Carroll (Berea, Ohio), Wes Pipher (Attica, Ohio) and Bobby Bogantz (Sunbury, Ohio).
Overall, the men's squad placed ninth with 312 points, and the women notched a 15th place finish with 439 points.
Ohio Dominican will compete next at the Spartan Invite at Michigan State University on Friday, September 15.
Contact: Aaron McPherson


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Homemade raw banana chips is ideal munch with tea or as fasting recipe. It is easy to made raw banana chips at home. Homemade banana chips are healthy and tasty fasting snacks. You can bake banana chips like sundries potato wafer also. In air-tight container, you can store banana chips for 20-25 days easily.
Banana Chips – Kela Wafer
- 4-5 medium size Raw Banana
- Black Salt to taste
- Black Pepper powder to taste
- Oil for deep frying
Peel banana and slight cut it both side ends.
Heat oil in a pan at medium flame.
Make wafer directly in hot oil by using slicer.
And deep fry till it becomes crispy.
Sprinkle black salt and black pepper powder on it.
Mix well, Raw Banana wafer is ready to serve.
Store in a air tied container for 20-25 days.
I am trying my hand on Video:
[youtube id="tlKl1_tlaGg" width="620″ height="360″]


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So here is the cover once the album is full. I added a tie on the binding, as the album was a little bulky. I was going to try to go "tie-less" but I decided that it really does perform a function of condensing the album and keeping the loose cards in the pockets from falling out (although mine were a pretty tight fit).
I noticed this year that many of the photo cards are double-sided. I wanted to mount my photo cards without losing the back side which had additional photos or messages. So I created some hinges using cardstock that were super easy. I just cut 3/4" strips that were scored at 3/8". I glued one side of the fold to the card and the other to the page. I also attached a small piece of ribbon to the cards with the hinges that will remind me of the hinge. I absolutely LOVE that I didn't lose the backs of these photo cards.
Below are some of pages showcasing some gorgeous homemade cards and photo cards from friends and family.
|Love that vellum poinsettia . . . and a hinged photo showcasing a friends brand new house!
|Another hinged photo card and a handmade card which I trimmed the edges from so it would fit vertically . . . I thought those sledding children silhouetted in black were perfect under Santa's sleigh silhouetted above in white on the page.
|You can clearly see the hinge on this one. I thought about putting additional cards under the hinge, but decided against it. another gorgeous handmade card on the right.
|This photo card was adhered straight down, and another handmade card on the right. Handmade A2 cards fit perfect on the pages, while the larger cards are better in the pockets.
|Photo card on the left, adhered straight down, and a handmade card that my mom made on the right (she went to a Stampin' Up workshop!)
|And here is a shot of one of those pockets. The larger cards fit in nicely, and you can "tag" them with a ribbon pull.
Christmas of 2013 is literally "in the book." These albums make great gifts. I made a few for gifts this year. They're always fun to make, but the true effect shows once they are filled up with your holiday greeting cards.
Happy New Year!


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- Strategic Services Helping brands achieve positive business results.
- Events and Hospitality Managing every detail of first-class events from A to Z.
- Sponsorship Marketing Enhancing the value and image of a property or event.
- Property Development and Management From idea inception to full-fledged property.
Men's and Women's Soccer Candidates Announced for 2019 Senior CLASS Award
We're hiring!
Blue KC and Sporting KC Honor Local Kindergarten Teacher
Reflecting on 2017
Like most people, we enjoy looking back over the year as it winds down to celebrate achievements.…


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Kori bustard, Africa, 150 cm (5 ft) long Bustards are ground-nesting birds that live on the plains of Africa, Europe and Asia. They have heavy, brown bodies and long legs. They feed mostly on leaves, seeds and invertebrates, especially grasshoppers, beetles and caterpillars. The kori bustard and great bustard are the world's heaviest birds capable of flight. Although they are strong flyers, they rarely take to the air. Most species of bustard are in decline, due to habitat loss and hunting.
A great bustard male displaying to attract a mate
Great bustard males seek to attract a mate by displaying their impressive feathers. Males strut with their tails held high. They take in gulps of air to inflate an air sac under their throat, which puffs out yet more feathers. To complete the spectacle, males stamp on the ground while spinning around.
The kori bustard and great bustard are the world's heaviest birds capable of flight: they weigh up to 21 kg (46 lb).
Find the answer


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I borrowed a couple of watercolour books from the library the other day and they both mention (with photos as well) the use of masking fluid. It looked great in the books. Useful and fun to use. So I found some in an art shop and tried it the other day.
After sketching my design in a grey watercolour pencil I painted the areas I wanted left white with the masking fluid. It's a rubber latex solution.
Once dry I painted over the area in watercolour using quite a bit of water in my mix.
Once that dried I rubbed and pulled the masking fluid off to reveal a nicely kept white space.
Then I got out my watercolour pencils and did some colouring.
Then I painted over it with water using my watercolour paint brushes which hold more water in the bristles than a regular paint brush. This turns my colouring into a paint texture. I don't do it like this much now. I tend to prefer this method...
I pick up the paint directly from the pencil and just paint it on. I think it gives a smoother look like regular watercolour painting. Sometimes colouring first and then painting with water can look a little streaky. Either way the pencils allow me to control the paint a lot more than using a tube.
I've done a few pictures now though this one was a bit of a quick do just to use my new masking fluid. Not as happy with it as with the others I've done. I think I'll do a couple more and then send them in and see if they like my work enough to buy it. Hopefully they do coz it would be fun to be "published" and the money will help me with my UK plans. In the meantime, I'm having fun.


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International Experience Canada Visas – Are They For You?2012-02-29
In this post I'm going to discuss international experience Canada visas (also known as "working holiday visas") and why you should consider them in your plans to move to Canada, either temporarily or permanently.
What are International Experience Canada Visas?
International Experience Canada Visas are unique in our immigration. They are designed to allow young people from around the world to live and work in Canada, and experience our culture and people.
These visas are granted through bi-lateral agreements with other countries. These agreements allow Canadian to work and live in other countries under the same or similar rules.
What can an individual do in Canada with an IEC Visa?
An IEC Visa is essentially an open work permit that allows an individual to work in Canada in any occupation and for any employer. They are unlike a work permit in that they are not tied to an employer and the applicant does not have to show any particular skills to qualify.
For example, many workers at the Whistler ski destination and the Alberta oil patch are foreign workers working under an IEC Visa.
How does one qualify for an IEC Visa?
Requirements for an IEC Visa vary depending on the country you are in, as each bi-lateral agreement is negotiated invidually. I've provided a link below for more information on the IEC program.
Generally, individuals must be 18 years of age through 30 years of age, unmarried with no dependents to qualify (however, as mentioned, these can vary depending on the country involved).
The individual can not be otherwise inadmissible (i.e., serious criminal or medical issues).
Can IEC Visas be renewed once in Canada?
No, IEC Visas can not be renewed. However – depending on the country involved – an individual may be able to apply for a second IEC Visa while he or she is in Canada (so long as that person does not require a temporary resident visa and still has legal status in Canada).
If that individual qualified for a second IEC Visa and receives it in Canada, he or she will simply have to go to the border to have the visa confirmed.
Will an IEC Visa help with a permanent resident application?
Depending on the length of work and type of work in Canada, it may count toward points for work experience in Canada in a permanent resident application.
There may also be a possibility of a Canada Experience Class application, but this would be rare for an individual with experience under an IEC Visa in practice. You would need 2 years of experience and experience in the National Occupational Classification 0, A or B.
Click here for more information on working in Canada through an International Experience Visa.