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An excerpt from A Testament to Murder by Vivian Conroy - publishing 18 February 2019
Chapter One
"If you don't take your foot off the gas, you will get us killed before we ever reach the Villa Calypso."
Patty Bryce-Rutherford yelled the warning over the roar of the Triumph's straining engine. The road ahead led upwards, in steep curves to where the pale pink villa sat like a frosted crown on a bridal cake. Bougainvillea with its bright purple flowers twined around the marble pillars beside the front door, and the grass of the immaculate lawn sparkled emerald green in the sunshine.
"If you hadn't insisted on bringing so many cases, the ruddy thing wouldn't be so heavy," her husband of three months retorted, clenching the wheel and leaning forward like a race car driver. His rather too long blond hair was pasted to his thick sunburned neck, and he panted as if he had to push the car up the hill. Born and raised in California, Patty thrived in the heat, but Hugh wilted like a pansy as soon as temperatures rose over thirty degrees.
The wind that came from the bright blue ocean tugged at Patty's wide brimmed hat. Securing it with one hand, she clutched the edge of the car seat with the other. The days where she had giggled at Hugh's death-defying driving were long in the past. At the time she had done anything to lay her hands on a hyphenated name and a property in Cornwall, a place she had pictured as a castle from a fairy tale.
She had imagined herself throwing fabulous cocktail parties there and dress-up balls, but after its damp and dreadful glory had thoroughly ruined her wedding day – or rather her mother-in-law, who ruled there like a banished queen, had – Patty had ached to get away to the Riviera and buy something, anything, to remember why she had married Hugh in the first place.
Uncle Malcolm's invitation had come at the exact right moment. He had written to them that his doctors were certain he wouldn't last too long and would rejoice in the company of family during his final days.
Normally Patty would have been livid at the idea of spending the glorious days of summer with an old man nagging about his gout, but when that old man didn't have much time left to nag, things were different. They'd be kind to him, take him touring, show him the sunset or the moon, whatever he preferred, and then when he did die, he'd leave it all to them: his house, the money in the Swiss bank accounts, the horses back in England and the cars.
The plane even.
Patty suppressed a little squeal of delight when she imagined the plane landing in Paris and how she alighted from it, laden with dazzling emeralds a brighter green than the grass of the villa up ahead.
Hugh wouldn't have to travel home every few weeks to beg his father for a pittance, no, his father would have to come to him to ask for funds to restore the crumbling Cornwall facade. They'd be the ones in charge for a change, making others dance to their tune.
The car whirled through the last bend and shot past two stone lions leaning down from pillars beside the road. Potted palms lined the driveway that ended up before the pale pink house. The blinds behind the tall windows were closed against the afternoon heat.
Patty opened the car door while the engine was still turning and scrambled to climb out in her tight dress. Smoothing it down, she looked up at the villa's upper storey. "Poor Uncle Malcolm must be in bed. To lie about all day in this heat must be dreadful."
Hugh honked the horn.
She waved at him. "Hush, you're disturbing the old man's afternoon nap."
Hugh's brows drew together, and the scar on his right cheek turned white against his tan, as always when he got annoyed. "Don't act like you're so concerned for him."
"I'm deeply concerned for him. And I intend to show it." Patty reached into the back of the car and extracted the bottle of wine they had bought at a shop in the village nearby. "This will cheer him up. I could use a drink myself. My tongue is positively pasted to my palate. But it would have to be a cocktail. You think your uncle has some things around to mix a cocktail? Would be a shame if such a gorgeous house didn't have a good liquor cabinet. I could give parties here."
"All you ever think about is parties," Hugh scoffed. "Don't you see that the house is oriented on the south. That means the back is turned towards the north. Bright sharp light. Perfect for sculpting. And I think the old fox has a nice library too. I could sit there and type up some chapters on my novel. Between four and six in the afternoon of course. No decent writer ever wrote anything worthwhile in the morning."
His jovial, fleshy face contracted in a deep frown. "Or perhaps I should start around midnight. The tortured artistic mind can't sleep like normal people do."
"As long as you don't wake me when you get out of bed," Patty said, shaking the wine bottle at him.
"I tell you it should have been champagne," Hugh said gloomily, "or whiskey or something. Uncle Malcolm will point that out to me in no uncertain terms. Only my mother enjoys wine. With pheasant, I think. I don't suppose Uncle Malcolm ever eats pheasant here. We should have gone for the seafood."
Patty clicked her tongue. "Seafood could kill an old man. One bad oyster..."
"Exactly," Hugh said. "Isn't that what we are here for?"
Patty rolled her eyes at him and hopped up the steps leading to the villa's front door. Before she could even reach for the bell, it opened. A tall man with a skeletal face looked at her. "Yes?"
"Patricia Bryce-Rutherford," Patty said, her tongue caressing the well positioned r's. How lucky her first name really was Patricia and not Madge or something that would have totally ruined the whole. "We were asked to come."
"Ah, yes. Mr Malcolm told me to prepare the smaller guest room for you. Do come in."
"The smaller guest room?" Patty asked. Whatever happened to the bigger one? She gestured over her shoulder. "My husband needs assistance to park the car. I mean, he can park a car, he just needs to know where to park it."
"Yes, I suppose it will take some fitting to get all the cars into the garage," the butler said. "The chauffeur will see to it. Follow me."
Patty just caught a glimpse of a ruggedly handsome French-looking man going over to Hugh in the Triumph and was immediately sorry she hadn't stuck around to practise her rudimentary French. If they were to inherit this house, she had to speak the local language.
But she had to follow the butler up the stairs. He opened a door to their left, and gestured for her to step into the darkened room.
Breathing the scent of something chemical, Patty wrinkled her nose in disgust, but reminding herself of the money, she trotted to the bed with a smile and leaned down to kiss the man in the pillows on his sallow cheek. "Uncle! How delightful to meet you at last. I am Patricia."
"Oh, yes," Malcolm Bryce-Rutherford said in a creaking, parrot-like voice. "Hugh's American nanny."
Although it was true that Patty had been accompanying a rich family with children when she had met Hugh on the SS Sunrise, she would never have called herself a nanny.
Malcolm said, "From his mother's arms into the arms of someone trying to play a mother. He'll never have to grow up."
Patty shuffled her feet. "I have here..." she said trying to hold out the bottle, but Malcolm beat her to it. "Some terrible concoction to make me feel better? Put it over there with the other gifts."
"What other gifts?" Patty asked as she peered at the table along the wall hidden in the dusk. Suddenly her heart beat fast with concern that Hugh had been right and they should have brought champagne. She didn't want to look silly in front of other people.
"From the other guests of course." Malcolm pushed himself up to sit better. "The other guests who are here to keep me company during my last days on Earth."
As he said it, the door opened, and a woman came in, carrying something in her hands. She stooped like tall people often do, and moved with the solicitous air of someone who is doing something immensely important. A sweet scent filled the room as she crossed to the bed. "Pineapple, Malcolm. Cut up in small pieces so you can easily eat it." The woman placed the bowl on the bed, holding it as Malcolm didn't reach out for it. She glanced at Patty. "And you are?"
"Hugh's American nanny," Malcolm said before Patty could reply. "And this is my former secretary, Theodora, or Dodo as I used to call her. I never quite met anyone who…"
Theodora's eyes lit in expectation.
"Had such a good shorthand," Malcolm concluded.
The expectation died, and Theodora's eyes flashed with something quite different. She pointed at the pineapple. "Eat it while it's fresh. The taste goes off so quickly."
The door opened again, and Hugh appeared. He hovered on the threshold, terrified, as he had confessed to Patty on the way over, of the deathbed dramatics.
"Come closer, boy," Malcolm called. "I am not dead yet."
Hugh came up and stood beside Patty, feeling for her hand. She slapped it away, keeping her smile firmly on her face. Malcolm already seemed to think she treated Hugh like a baby. No need to reinforce that in his mind. She said in a brisk tone, "Hugh has been so looking forward to seeing you again, Uncle. And you have such a beautiful house here. The view is stunning."
"I get out so little," Malcolm said.
"Then we must change that. We will take you out, won't we, Hugh?" Patty glanced at Hugh, who stared like paralysed at the figure in the large bed. She prodded his foot with her own.
"Yes," Hugh said. Even this one word came out strangled.
Malcolm sighed. "It will not be that easy, girl. I use a wheelchair these days."
"Oh, we can take it along." Patty put confidence in her voice. "And if you want to walk around the garden, you can lean on my arm."
"Garden walks are taken care of," Theodora said from the door where she had lingered, listening in on the conversation. "You are far too short to be able to support him."
"I think we should let Uncle Malcolm decide with whom he wants to walk," Patty said sweetly, brushing back her hair. She let her gaze wander deliberately down Theodora's shapeless black gown. The former secretary's shoulders slumped even more as she backed up against the wall as if she wanted to blend in with the wallpaper.
Malcolm made a rasping noise, then broke into a hacking cough.
Hugh stepped back, muttered an excuse and left the room.
"It's his father's death," Patty said quickly. "He never got over that. He was only fifteen at the time." Her voice caught at the memory of the first time Hugh had shared his unhappy childhood with her.
"Seventeen," Malcolm corrected, "and he was in boarding school when my brother had his horse-riding accident. Hugh never even saw his father again until the day of the funeral."
Patty's eyes widened. On the steamer Hugh had told her, almost in tears, about his sick father whom he had tended for weeks, practically on his own. She had reached out and touched his hand and when he had looked up into her eyes, she had known she was going to marry him. For the double name and the money of course, but also because she felt truly sorry for someone who had lost his father that way.
Malcolm said, "Hugh should really publish a novel some day so his fertile imagination could serve some monetary purpose. Don't you think?" He gave Patty a sharp, probing look from under his heavy brows. He then pushed the bowl with the pineapple away and said, "I want the newspaper."
Theodora dashed off to get it. As soon as they were alone, Malcolm said, "I want you to know one thing, Patricia. It takes courage to be married to my nephew. For that courage you might be rewarded. With a mention in my will."
Patty stood motionless. She felt like the old man in the bed could see her heartbeat flutter in her neck. "Yes?" she whispered.
Malcolm leaned forward, moving his thin grasping fingers across the sheet. "Maybe… I could make you sole heir to it all."
Patty didn't dare draw breath in case this was a dream and moving but a muscle would wake her up. "You would?"
"Of course Hugh wouldn't like it. And the others might hate you for it. Would you mind?"
"Most certainly not." Patty straightened up. "I know what it is like when people envy you." The woman who had hired her to look after the children on the crossing from New York to England had been friendly, in a sort of patronizing way, until she had stumbled on Patty kissing Hugh and had fired her on the spot for being a siren. "It never hurt me before, why would it now?"
The dismissal had urged Hugh, who had felt hugely guilty for it, to propose to her. The proposal had of course been her intention all along, but the way in which her irate employer had contributed to it, she could never have thought up herself. Smiling to herself more than to Malcolm, Patty concluded, "I tend to think things turn out for the best, Uncle."
"So you wouldn't mind if I filled in your name? When the lawyer gets here…"
"The lawyer is on his way already?" Patty asked in a low voice. She glanced over her shoulder at the door.
It was half open.
The crack of bright light from the sunny landing seemed to smirk at her. Was there someone in the corridor listening in on them? Should she close the door before her little secret with Uncle Malcolm got out?
"He will be here soon," Malcolm said in a sigh. He closed his eyes a moment. "I am so tired."
Patty grabbed for his hand. It was bony and chill under her touch. "Don't slip away now, Uncle. You must…" Change your will to contain my name.
She picked up a glass of water off the side table by the bed and gave it to him. "Drink some water to revive you. It's hot outside, that must exhaust you. But I'm certain you're strong enough to stay with us a little longer. We need you."
Malcolm took a sip of water, then gave the glass back to her. She put it in place and retreated to the door. "You rest now."
In the corridor she saw no one. Theodora was apparently still looking for the newspaper Malcolm had asked for, and Hugh had to be in their room, working through his confrontation with imminent death.
Relief flooded her, and she rubbed her clammy palms together. Nobody knew what Uncle Malcolm had offered her. Nobody could know about it, until it was all arranged for.
Her high heels making no sound on the thick carpet, Patty went down the corridor to a door that was open. Hugh stood beside a double bed, onto which he had tossed his jacket. He loosened his tie and took a swig from his silver hip flask.
Patty made a disapproving sound. "It's not even dinner time yet."
Hugh said, "I can't stand this situation. The memories of…" He let the rest hang, sinking into a chair with the airs of a broken man.
Knowing now from Malcolm that Hugh had not even been around when his father had died, Patty wanted to tell him just what a pathetic little liar he was, but thought better of it. If Hugh didn't want to come near the dying old man, Malcolm would blame him for that. It only improved the chances that he would make her, Patty, the sole heir.
Imagine that. Her inheriting all that this rich man owned. Having this house and being able to throw lush parties here, inviting movie stars and splashing out on thousands of orchids that rained down on the guests from the ceiling after the final dance, without Hugh telling her it was silly or too expensive. He would have to live off whatever scraps she threw at him. It was just perfect. Better than anything she had ever imagined when she had set out to marry a wealthy man.
In the corridor Theodora stepped from behind the embroidered curtain covering the niche. It had its advantages to be "as thin as a broomstick" as Malcolm's first wife had often snidely described her. There weren't many hiding places she didn't fit into. That silly American girl had believed the corridor to be empty. She had believed that her little conversation with Malcolm had gone unnoticed.
She probably also believed that Malcolm meant what he said. How could she know, having just married into the family, what Malcolm was really like?
Theodora moved her long thin nose as if sniffing the air. Yes, she understood the situation perfectly. Malcolm had never meant for her to go get him a paper full of news he wasn't interested in. He had meant for her to overhear this conversation and speak her mind about it. She had always done so when working for him. Back in the old days. He had needed her opinion, even though he had never acknowledged that.
On his own he had just made silly mistakes. Two marriages, two mistakes. A disastrous death and a messy divorce, a scandal as his own business partner had snapped up his ex-wife before the ink on the divorce papers was even dry.
Not to mention the hidden scandals of the ballerina from Vienna and the lido hostess in Brighton. Luckily Theodora had always been there to solve things. To protect him from those who wanted to take advantage of his promiscuity. Men were silly, and they needed women to erase the consequences of their silliness.
With a fond smile Theodora crossed to the bed and said in the tone of a nanny finding her charge with a stolen toffee, "You can't mean that, Malcolm. You will not give that vain American girl anything. Let alone your entire fortune."
Malcolm's deep-set eyes studied her with an amused gleam. She knew what he was thinking and said quickly, "It makes no sense. She just walked in here. She is married to your nephew, not a blood relation."
"She suggested she could take me out, away from this dreary dim room, show me some sights, let the sun warm my skin."
"If that is what you want, I can take you out."
"You can't drive, Dodo. You've never been a risk taker. Besides, cars cost money, right? And you're also frugal. I know you well."
Malcolm's gaze fixated her like it had when she still worked for him and he would find a typo in a letter. He could see right through her into the cause of the mistake. Distraction as the phone had rung on another desk and she had listened in on the conversation. Or Malcolm's first wife had stopped by and Theodora had gazed longingly at the stole around her neck, not because she wanted a stole but because Malcolm's hands had put it there.
Malcolm said softly, "Are you willing to take a risk now, Dodo? You could become the sole heir to all I own. After all, you deserve it more than all the others. You worked so hard for it. All those years in the firm. So close and yet so far away."
Theodora's eyes burned with tears of shame that he knew her secret and even referred to it like it was something… to laugh about?
Malcolm continued, "You could be it. But you could also not be it. That will depend on whether you are willing to take risk. Wager."
Theodora had no idea what he meant, but knowing him, it would be something cruel only he could devise. She should never have come here.
Yet she knew she could never have stayed away. She had always protected Malcolm. She had always done what was best for him. She'd keep doing that, no matter what the price.
She said through gritted teeth, "I'd do anything to keep your fortune away from that American gold-digger."
"Anything?" Malcolm clicked his tongue. "That's a tall claim, Dodo."
"I mean it." He had no idea what she was capable of. "I'll prove it to you. Just tell me what you want me to do."
"I'll have a chance to see exactly what you are willing to do. Very soon."
"Why the riddles?" She reached out to him, pleading with her eyes. "Can't you tell me what you're planning? I used to know all of your secrets."
Malcolm's eyes flashed. "Don't remind me of that. Or I might regret having invited you."
Theodora froze. She should not have referred to the secrets. It was presumptuous. And even dangerous. There wasn't just Malcolm to consider, but also Howard, his former friend and business partner who had the firm now. Howard, who was also on his way over. Malcolm had not told her of course, but the butler had. Because Jenkins knew, like Theodora herself knew, that Howard would come for one reason only. And Howard should not succeed.
She wrung her hands, feigning the despair that came easy to her as she was really anxious enough about the outcome. "No, please, don't send me away. Let me stay. I'll do whatever you ask."
Malcolm's eyes fluttered shut. With the green veins on his temples he suddenly looked like a very breakable old man. His ragged breathing wheezed in the silent room. The shadows in the corners were so dark, like death was already waiting there, ready to pounce at the man on the bed as soon as he was least aware of danger.
Theodora fixated the shadows and told them in her mind to stay away. To not draw near this man who belonged to her and her alone.
She wanted to kneel beside Malcolm's bed and beg him not to leave her. Not to leave her alone, not even if he left her with all of his money.
But she knew it wouldn't help any. Malcolm had said he was dying. Malcolm had said that his time left with them was short. It wasn't possible to bargain with death as it drew near and reached out its icy hand to wipe everything away. Everything that had been and could have been. What she had dreamt of and hoped for was long past.
Death was inevitable. The outcome of death, however, was not.
If Malcolm wanted her to have all of his money, she'd have to ensure that his last will was executed.
Any way she saw how.
To be continued...
Pre-order A Testament to Murder now!
Suspenseful from the first page to the last, A Testament to Murder is perfect for fans of And Then There Were None, Murder on the Orient Express, and Crooked House.
A dying billionaire. Nine would-be heirs. But only one will take the prize...


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This is a version of salad nicoise, but adapated to what was in my fridge. I used a jar of anchoiade which I picked up from the gourmet shop at L'Hospitalet when I was in the Languedoc last year, but if you need a recipe there's one here. Use yellowfin tuna as bluefin is on the endangered list.
serves 4
125g green beans, cooked in boiling water until tender, drained and cooled
6 tomatoes, peeled, deseeded and cut into strips
1 head of cos lettuce, washed and torn into bitesized pieces
1 large shallot, finely sliced
half a cucumber, deseeded and roughly chopped
handful of black olives, pitted and chopped
juice of 1 lemon
2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
4 x 170g yellowfin tuna steaks
salt and pepper
1 tablespoon of olive oil
16 small new potatoes, cleaned and boiled
4 eggs, hard boiled and cut into quarters
4 slices of toasted wholemeal or sourdough bread
jar of anchoiade paste
Put the green beans, tomatoes, lettuce, shallot, cucumber and olives in a bowl, season with salt and pepper and dress with the lemon juice and extra virgin olive oil.
Season the tuna steaks with salt and black pepper. Heat the olive oil in a pan and sear the tuna steaks until cooked to your liking (I prefer mine medium rare).
Arrange 4 egg quarters and 4 potatoes on each plate and top with a quarter of the salad. Rest a tuna steak on the salad and serve with a slice of toast thinly spread with the anchoidae paste. A glass or two of Limoux Chardonnay would go down a treat with this.

subset: commoncrawl


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Writing below is courtesy of Neva Crystall: - http://nevacrystall.com/2015/09/25/saint-pete-city/
Neva writes: - As the glorious sun slowly sets upon the new city, there is a magical light that comes not only from the sky above but also from something deeper, something that you can not only see but feel, something that resonates with the spirit. You encounter a warmth that surrounds you, a comfort, and a home.. a distant sense of timelessness.
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You realize that perhaps you may never want to leave.
So come take a walk to our destination for today: -
Destination: - Saint Pete City…


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By Lora Davis | Submitted On May 12, 2016
When you decide that it is time to remodel your kitchen starting with your cabinets, which should you choose? Should it be custom cabinets or stock cabinets? Both cabinets have their own advantages and disadvantages but only after you look at your requirements and lifestyle should you decide which one to buy. Both can serve your basic purposes and look great.
Custom cabinets
This type of cabinet is made to fit your requirements in any given space and is made-to-order. There are no specific features of this type of cabinet except that you can add the following and more from custom cabinets.
• Silent hinges
• Drawers that are soft closing
• Corner shelves
• Cabinets that are customized according to your utensil size
• Crown molding that is ornate
• Sliding cutting boards
• Designer pulls and knobs.
With custom cabinets you have the ability to include almost any feature you want with more options in texture, finish, and design. These cabinets can be made so that they will fit into odd spaces such as angular or curved walls. They also have a longer lifespan, which can be fifteen to twenty or more years. It is easy to refinish them and they can be designed to accommodate large items like big pots and pans. There are also drawbacks with these cabinets and one is that they can become very expensive. Since they are customized, the work to build them can be done on or off site.
Stock cabinets
This type of cabinet is built on a big scale with the wall cabinets built one day and the next day the base cabinets are built. These are the cabinets that you just order from the shelf by looking at a brochure and letting the sales clerk know which ones you want and hope that they will fit into your kitchen. Some of the features of stock cabinets include:
• They are assembly ready.
• Come in sizes with three inch increments starting with nine inch widths and ending with forty-eight inches
• The standard height is between thirty and thirty-six inches
• The standard depth is twenty-four inches for the base cabinets and twelve inches for the wall cabinets.
• The material most often used is particle boards
• Standard hardware
These cabinets are affordable and available with fast delivery and installation immediately. There is a wide array of finishes. The drawbacks are styling options are limited, cannot be refinished, and have a short lifespan of ten years.
If you are remodeling your kitchen and want to make it unique choose custom cabinets.
This article is penned by Lora Davis for Diamond Remodelers who are the leading company providing remodeling in Miami services. From custom cabinets to interior painting they do it all.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Lora_Davis/2146280


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As someone recovering from anorexia I have real issues with cravings. Food is scary, it has been for years now. Yet I crave it.
I eat what an average person eats or more, yet still I'm always hungry. I go through phases of having no appetite at all to wanting to eat everything all at once. It's horrible.
I want control, I want to feel like I am choosing what I eat. I don't even know why, surely it doesn't matter? My brain is so illogical at times yet I can't seem to help it. Obviously I am trying to change things and break habits, but it's hard.
Sometimes I will have extras, I'll be craving something so I'll have it. And this is so, so terrifying to me. The guilt that comes afterwards is unbearable, I don't know how to manage it and it comes with a whole other host of emotions I won't go into.
But I keep fighting. I tell myself there is hope.
"It will be ok in the end. If it's not ok, then it's not the end"
What is a craving?
Oxford dictionary definition:
A powerful desire for something
Some personal advice for anyone suffering from eating disorders:
Before jumping to the conclusion that you are out of control and awful, consider whether it is harmful or not. If you're craving chocolate and you haven't eaten maybe as much as you should have that day then it's important to realise the craving isn't your enemy, in fact that is simply your body telling you it needs more fuel. Like a warning light of a car. You wouldn't ignore that so why ignore your body?
Ways to conquer cravings:
• Distract yourself
• Listen to your body
• Record a diary
• Talk about it in therapy if you have any
I wish I could give more helpful advice but I struggle with cravings myself and don't know how best to conquer them, I'm open to any suggestions and can always add to my list. It's only small but it's a start eh?
I hope you enjoyed the post, it's a bit more personal than usual and I don't know whether that's good or bad; please do leave comments and let me know what you think, whether you want more of my personal experiences or less!
Thanks for reading.


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West City One
This was a new-build project of 42 luxury apartments and a doctors' surgery in Islington, London. The rooflights were required to provide natural light, ventilation, low maintenance and added security.
In addition, project architect John Bennett wanted the rooflights to be aesthetically-pleasing, as most of the new apartments overlook them. Six white Plateau Rooflights measuring 1200 x 900mm were selected because they complied fully with the set criteria.


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Omega-three fatty acid fish oil can increase the immune system specially when taken with the right multi-nutrient supplement. In other words, by addressing the actual lead to of the autoimmune condition, often times giving minimal nutritional assistance to the thyroid gland will be fine. The supplement of vitamin B1 also named Thiamin keeps the nervous method wholesome and is necessary for energy metabolism. It appears that the immune program attacks wholesome cells and in the case of allergies, substances that would not trigger infection, major to inflammation. But if you are at your optimal baseline, you can not make your immune function far better.
Scientists simulated situations of nutrient deficiency employing animals and by offering a specific meals found the exact advantage from that food. In addition, animal research have shown that the immune program can be substantially compromised with even a 25% reduction in adequate protein intake. Bottom line is that iodine is a quite essential supplement for many men and women, but it is contraindicated with this illness because it flares the immune technique, and makes the issue worse.
A current study in Canada concluded that of the men and women surveyed who used wellness and dietary supplements, far more men and women utilized herbs to enhance immune system strength and particularly Echinacea than all the other dietary and health supplements combined. Vitamins – A, B12 and E are identified in modest amounts while traces of all other people are also present in colostrum.
The Sea of Energy (CV 6) tones the abdominal muscle tissues and intestines, and assists fortify the immune, urinary, and reproductive systems. Whether the increased rate of illness is caused by malnutrition's effect on the immune method, even so, is not particular. Researchers are exploring the effects of diet program, exercising, age, psychological tension, and other variables on the immune response, both in animals and in humans.
Stressful life with less physical and mental rest outcomes in compromise of their immune system. Several vitamins, trace elements and phytonutrients are important to make certain that the immune technique functions usually. Infants need to get 150 mg every day, toddlers and preschoolers 250 mg, and older kids and teens 500 mg. Vitamin C drops, chewables, and capsules are obtainable at any wellness meals or drug shop. By clearing up other areas of the body, and then giving some nutritional assistance to the thyroid gland, this gland will regularly begin functioning at a regular level once more.


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Happy first day of Spring! OK, I know it might not be very spring-like outside yet, depending on where you live. I'm in New York, gearing up for the fourth Nor'easter in about two weeks to hit, so believe me, I understand. But that doesn't mean that I can't try to ignore the weather patterns and start living for those sunny, warm weather feels that I know are on their way. In fact, it's moments like these where I tend to turn to books the most. If it's not going to spring outside, it can at least be spring on my TBR. Luckily for me, and for you, these upcoming YA books will get you in the spirit of warm weather in no time at all.
The 15 picks below are all being released between now and June, and all are set either in the spring or summer seasons, so you know they'll be full of sunshine, dips in the pool, ice cream, and tons of heat — and I'm not just talking about the rising temperature. You might still be donning your winter coat now, but adding these to your reading list is the best way to lose yourself in the new season:
'Chaotic Good' by Whitney Gardner
Cameron's cosplay is finally starting to earn her attention she hopes will get her into college. But when Cameron's family moves the summer before her senior year, the only comic shop in town is owned by a dudebro who challenges every woman who comes into the shop. Cameron dons her brother's clothes and waltzes into the shop as Boy Cameron, where she's shocked at how easily she's accepted into the nerd inner sanctum. But as she gets more entrenched, Cameron's portfolio falls by the wayside — and her feelings for the handsome Lincoln threaten to make a complicated situation even more precarious.
'Starry Eyes' by Jenn Bennett (April 3)
Ever since last year's homecoming dance, best friends-turned-enemies Zorie and Lennon have made an art of avoiding each other. But when a group camping trip goes south, Zorie and Lennon find themselves stranded in the wilderness. Alone. Together. With no one but each other for company, Zorie and Lennon have no choice but to hash out their issues. But fighting each other while also fighting off the forces of nature makes getting out of the woods in one piece less and less likely.
'The Summer of Jordi Perez (And the Best Burger in Los Angeles)' by Amy Spalding (April 3)
Seventeen, fashion-obsessed, and gay, Abby Ives has always been content playing the sidekick in other people's lives. When she lands an internship at her favorite local boutique, she's thrilled to take her first step into her dream career. She doesn't expect to fall for her fellow intern, Jordi Perez. Then again, nothing is going as expected this summer. Suddenly, she doesn't feel like a sidekick. Is it possible Abby's finally in her own story?
'Leah on the Offbeat' by Becky Albertalli (April 24)
When it comes to drumming, Leah Burke is usually on beat — but real life isn't always so rhythmic. She's the only child of a young, single mom, and her life is decidedly less privileged. She loves to draw but is too self-conscious to show it. And even though her mom knows she's bisexual, she hasn't mustered the courage to tell her friends — not even her BFF, Simon. With prom and college on the horizon, tensions are running high. It's hard for Leah to strike the right note while the people she loves are fighting — especially when she realizes she might love one of them more than she ever intended.
'Love Songs & Other Lies' by Jessica Pennington (April 24)
Two years after a rock-song-worthy heartbreak, Virginia Miller is looking forward to a fun, carefree summer. Her friends just landed a spot on a battling bands reality show, and Vee is joining them for her dream internship on tour. Three months with future rockstars seems like an epic summer plan. Until she learns she'll also be sharing the bus with Cam. Her first love, and her first heartbreak. Now Vee has more than just cameras to dodge, and Cam's determination to win her forgiveness. With cameras rolling, she'll have to decide if her favorite breakup anthem deserves a new ending.
'Stay Sweet' by Siobhan Vivian (April 24)
Summer in Sand Lake isn't complete without a trip to Meade Creamery — the local ice cream stand founded in 1944 by Molly Meade. Since then, the stand has been owned and managed exclusively by local girls. Amelia and her best friend Cate have worked at the stand every summer for the past three years, and Amelia is "Head Girl" at the stand this summer. When Molly passes away before Amelia even has her first day in charge, Amelia isn't sure that the stand can go on. That is, until Molly's grandnephew Grady arrives.
'9 Days and 9 Nights' by Katie Cotugno (May 1)
Molly Barlow isn't that girl anymore. She's reinvented herself after everything that went down a year ago. Slowly, life is getting back to normal. Molly and her new boyfriend, Ian are off on a romantic European vacation together, starting with scenic London. But there on a Tube platform, the past catches up to her in the form of Gabe, her ex, traveling with new girlfriend Sadie. Now Molly has to spend nine days and nine nights with the boy she once loved. Will she make it through as new, improved Molly, or will everything that happened between her and Gabe come rushing back?
'Everywhere You Want to Be' by Christina June (May 1)
When Matilda Castillo gets a opportunity to spend the summer with a New York dance troupe, nothing can stop her from saying yes. Tilly's mother allows her to go on two conditions: one, Tilly will regularly visit her abuela in New Jersey, and two, after the summer, she'll give up dancing and go to college. Armed with her red vintage sunglasses and her pros and cons lists, Tilly's determined to turn a summer job into a career. As the competition heats up, Tilly's future is on the line. She must decide whether to follow her mother's path to college or leap into the unknown to pursue her own dreams.
'The Way You Make Me Feel' by Maurene Goo (May 8)
Clara Shin lives for pranks and disruption. When she takes one joke too far, her dad sentences her to a summer working on his food truck, the KoBra, alongside her uptight classmate Rose Carver. Not the carefree summer Clara had imagined. But maybe Rose isn't so bad. Maybe the boy named Hamlet (yes, Hamlet) crushing on her is pretty cute. Maybe Clara actually feels invested in her dad's business. What if taking this summer seriously means that Clara has to leave her old self behind?
'Puddin' by Julie Murphy (May 8)
Millie Michalchuk is ready for a change. She has gone to fat camp every summer since she was a girl. Not this year. This year she has new plans to chase her secret dream — and to kiss her crush. Callie Reyes is the pretty girl who is next in line for dance team captain and has the popular boyfriend. But when it comes to other girls, she's more frenemy than friend. When circumstances bring the girls together, they will surprise everyone (especially themselves) by realizing they might have more in common than they ever imagined.
'From Twinkle, with Love' by Sandhya Menon (May 22)
Aspiring filmmaker and wallflower Twinkle Mehra has stories she wants to tell and universes she wants to explore, if only the world would listen. So when fellow film geek Sahil Roy approaches her to direct a movie for the upcoming Summer Festival, Twinkle is all over it. The fact that it gets her closer to her longtime crush, Neil Roy —a.k.a. Sahil's twin brother? Dream come true x 2. When mystery man "N" begins emailing her, Twinkle is sure it's Neil, finally ready to begin their happily-ever-after. The only slightly inconvenient problem is tha she's fallen madly in love with the irresistibly adorkable Sahil.
'Listen to Your Heart' by Kasie West (May 29)
Talking to other people isn't Kate Bailey's favorite activity. She'd much rather be out on the lake, soaking up the solitude and sunshine. So when her best friend, Alana, convinces Kate to join their high school's podcast, Kate is not expecting to be chosen as the host. But to Kate's surprise, she turns out to be pretty good at the hosting gig. Then the podcast gets in a call from an anonymous guy, asking for advice about his unnamed crush. Kate is pretty sure that the caller is Diego Martinez, and even surer that the girl in question is Alana. Kate is excited for her friend ... until Kate herself starts to develop feelings for Diego.
'The Summer of Us' by Cecilia Vinesse (June 5)
Aubrey has only two weeks left in Europe before she leaves for college, and she's nowhere near ready. Good thing she and her best friend, Rae, have planned one last group trip across the continent with their friends Clara, Jonah, and Gabe. But when old secrets come to light, their trip turns into a complete disaster. For starters, there's Aubrey and Gabe's unresolved history, complicated by the fact that Aubrey is dating Jonah, Gabe's best friend. And then there's Rae's hopeless crush on Clara. How is everything going to be resolveed when they're moving to different sides of the world in just a few weeks?
'Save The Date' by Morgan Matson (June 5)
Charlie Grant's older sister is getting married this weekend at their family home, and Charlie can't wait — for the first time in years, all four of her older siblings will be under one roof. Charlie is desperate for one last perfect weekend, before the house is sold and everything changes. She wants to focus on making the weekend perfect.The only problem? The weekend is shaping up to be an absolute disaster.
'Summer of Salt' by Katrina Leno (June 5)
Georgina Fernweh waits with growing impatience for the tingle of magic in her fingers — magic that has been passed down through every woman in her family. Her twin sister, Mary, already shows an ability to defy gravity. But with their 18th birthday looming at the end of this summer, Georgina fears her gift will never come. When tragedy strikes, what made the Fernweh women special suddenly casts them in suspicion. Over the course of her last summer on the island, Georgina will learn the truth about magic, in all its many forms.


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This year there are no excuses. With the discount for purchase online Estalella and our special offers, everyone can pass a brilliant and included saving verbena!


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'Sometimes you feel one voice doesn't make a difference': How small business changed paid parental leave
Tess McCabe cried when she found out the law around paid parental leave for small business owners is going to be changed.
"Sometimes you feel like one voice doesn't make a difference," McCabe says. "I was so shocked. It was exactly what self employed people want, the choice to take those blocks of paid parental leave in the first year in a way that suits them."
Read the full article at The Age.
Stop the fear-mongering around STP, says software providers
ASIC fears companies are not prepared for financial reporting changes


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Spanish is the second-most spoken language in our country. With a minor in Spanish, you'll be betterprepared to work with Spanish speakers right here in the U.S. A minor in Spanish pairs well with any major at Wayne State College. As America becomes more diverse every day, careers in education, business, government, social sciences, agriculture, media, health, counseling, and law enforcement are in high demand of bilingual communicators. Through coursework in the minor, not only will you learn to read, write, and understand the language, you'll develop cultural competence. This can have a profound effect on your personal growth and serves to enrich the daily interactions you'll have with others in your personal and professional life.
Required Courses: 21 hours
A minor must include a minimum of 12 hours unduplicated by your major(s) and minor(s).
- SPA 210 Intermediate Spanish I (3)
- SPA 220 Intermediate Spanish II (3)
- SPA 230 Conversation and Composition (3)
- SPA 301 Spanish Civilization or SPA 302 Spanish-American Civilization (3)
- SPA 316 Introduction to Hispanic Literature (3)
Plus 6 hours of electives from the following (with no more than 3 hours from a non-SPA prefix course):
- Any SPA 300-level or higher course(s) (3-6)
- ENG 384 World Literature (3)
- GEO 370 Geography of Latin America (3)
- CNA 467 Intercultural Communication (3)
- CNA 418 Health Communication (3)


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16 Apr. - 17 Apr.
Per night/room
11 Apr. - 12 Apr.
Per night/room
11 May - 12 May
Per night/room
Hotels are a great option for a quick flyby, but a wise wanderer wants deeper insight into a new place. Booking an apartment is your opportunity to really taste the flavor of Providenciales and become a temporary resident. We can help you secure the cozy or luxury apartment you want to make your adventure as chic or comfy as you desire.
With an apartment, you feel right at home—even in the heart of a new city. Choose an apartment with a full kitchen or kitchenette so you can whip up a scrumptious breakfast in the morning, or pack a lunch before beginning your adventure for the day. Would you rather stay in with your someone special? Enjoy the privacy your apartment offers as you sip wine and settle in for a well-deserved evening on the couch.
Travelocity offers apartments throughout Providenciales, including luxury apartments where you can gaze out at the sweeping views of local landmarks from a grand balcony. Would you rather spend your vacation funds on amazing concerts or that gastropub right on the corner? Then opt for one of our cheap apartments near the best destinations to stretch your dollar as far as it will go.
Choose from many different apartments for the one that best suits your travel style. Studio apartments are an excellent choice for lone wolf or business travelers who need a snug den to relax in between outings. Planning on bringing the whole family? Serviced apartments mean cleaned sheets and vacuumed floors, so you can feel at home without having to actually perform the domestic drudgery during your time off.
If you want to eat, breathe, and live like a local in Providenciales, then there's really only one choice. Check out our many apartment options throughout Providenciales. Your perfect retreat is calling your name!
Nestled on the beach, this Providenciales resort is within 1 mi (2 km) of Salt Mills Plaza and Grace Bay Beach. Pelican Beach and Leeward Beach are also within 3 miles (5 km).
Situated in Providenciales, this beach resort is within a 15-minute walk of Turtle Cove and Pelican Beach. Coral Gardens Reef and Grace Bay Beach are also within 3 mi (5 km).
Nestled on the beach, this Grace Bay West resort is within 1 mi (2 km) of Pelican Beach and Turtle Cove. Grace Bay Beach is 1.7 mi (2.7 km) away.


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Uygur Autonomous Region, which is located in the
heart of the Eurasian Continent known as the Western
Regions in ancient times. It borders upon Mongolia,
Russia. Kazakhstan, Kirghizstan, Tajikstan, Afghanistan,
Pakistan and India, covering an area of 1.66million
sq. Km, about one-sixth of the national total.
The Silk Road in Xinjiang was divided into three
routes: the southern, the middle and the northern.
Along the 2,000km Silk Routes there are numerous
ruins of ancient cities, beacon towers and cultural
relics. Lining the routes are many multi-national
region marked by distinctive features of both
spoken and written languages, music and dancing,
and customs of the ethnic minorities in accordance
with their different background of history and
civilization and religious beliefs.
is one word that best describes the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous
Region: exotic. There is no other province quite like
it in all China. Taking up more than one-sixth of the
country's landmass, Xinjiang is China's largest province,
bounded by a 5,000-Kilometer (3,125-mile) frontier which
borders no fewer than eight other nations. It embraces
the Taklamakan Desert, the largest in China, as well
as some of the country's highest mountain ranges. In
winter, the temperature is well below freezing. In summer,
it is scorching. It is not just geographical splendor
that makes Xinjiang special. The ancient Silk Road passed
through this region, linking China with faraway ports
on the Caspian and Mediterranean seas. Those Links left
a strong impression on the region that remains today.
Xinjiang is home to many magical oasis towns that were
once crucial staging posts on the most celebrated trading
route the world has ever known. This is where you will
discover one of Xinjiang's greatest attraction-its people.
The natives of the province are Uygurs, a Muslim race
who appear more Central Asian than Chinese. Some
even have fair hair and blue eyes. The Uygur speaks
a language which is Turkic in origin. Indeed, the influence
of civilizations to the west is strongly seen and felt
everywhere across Xinjiang, notably in the long Uygur
tradition of showing hospitality to outsiders. Their
music, dance and custom are fascinating and delightful.
As for the food? The smell of delicious barbecued lamb
and mutton Kebabs is omnipresent. Visiting Xinjiang
is like entering a strange and exciting world.
Every year Uygur people celebrate a number
of religious festivals. The most celebrated highlights
in the life of Uygur are the Lesser Bairam and the Corban.
The dates of Muslim festivals change annually for they
are based on the Islamic calendar. According to Islamic
doctrine, the ninth month on the Islamic calendar is
a month of fasting. On the night of the last day of
the month people will see if the
crescent moon is out to decide if the next day (the
first day of the 10th month) will be the day of fast
-breaking. If the moon is not seen, people will continue
their fast but the extension period will be on more
than three days.
Kashgar, a town of over 100 mosques, Muslims
are led by local imams to the Idkah Mosque for a whole
city celebration. From dawn to noon, people pouring
into the square. Each group is led by an imam clad in
a robe wearing turbar. On the way they will stop after
walking a short distance to recite the Koran and repeat
this seven times. By 2:00pm. a gathering of 100,000
strong is found in the square in front the Idkah Mosque
and the ceremony now officially begins. The Corban festival
is in 24,Feb, 2002. The Muslims great each other and
pour our of the mosque and square. Music is heard coming
from the tower of the mosque to mark the beginning of
a great fanfare. On
the street all you can hear are the footsteps and Koran
reciting by Muslim disciples. All the shops in the city
are closed and people mustn' t go to work.


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In life, there are times when situations are less then we desire them to be. Unfortunately, it is also at these times where there is nothing that we can do to alter the reality of life. Therefore, we need to make the best of it. Often, this is as simple as altering our mindset.
I had such a situation this weekend. A few of use were invited to go on a boat to watch the space shuttle take off. There were 6 of us in all, 2 groups of three. We knew the owners of the boat moderately well and figured it would be a wonderful time. Sadly, we were mistaken.
From the outset, it was obvious this was going to be a strained interaction with 2 groups of three. The hosts and their friend proceeded to ignore the rest of us. Their was limited communication with no social skills shown. In short, we were completely ignored. It even got to the point where we asked ourselves, "why were we invited".
Bear in mind this was an overnight trip since the launch was due to go early the next morning. Around midnight, I determined that all was lost from the social standpoint. That is when I decided to make the best of it. We were going to be within a few miles of the launch of the space shuttle, something that few ever experience in life. I thought that if nothing else we could get some incredible pictured which would offset the other experiences.
Notice how I was "trapped" by the situation yet was determined to make the best of it. Since we were on a boat, there was nowhere for me to go. I was physically trapped by the circumstances. The only way I could alter what was transpiring was to focus my attention on producing some "gain" out of it.
This is where another monkey wrench was thrown into the mix. Due to mechanical issues, the shuttle launch was scrapped. There would be no pictures on this day. Witnessing something from a vantage point few get to see went out the window. Now I was 0 for 2 in my experiences.
Again I had to turn to a different outlook. The couple who owned (and ran) the boat were determined to remain on there until mid-afternoon. Thus we would not be returning for another 6 or 7 hours. I had the choice to sulk about the treatment I was receiving and the missed opportunity with the shuttle or to alter my mood. I chose the later.
How many people get to spend the day on a nice boat experiencing the water and sunshine. It is something that people spend thousands of dollars to do when they are visiting here on vacation. And this was costing me nothing. Therefore, I committed to enjoy the day as a tourist would. Swimming, sunbathing, and throwing the football around filled the remaining time on the boat.
In the end, I worked on my tan a bit more while enjoying a relaxing day at sea. It was not the trip I first envisioned when I received the invite during the week. However, it did turn out positive in spite of the setbacks. Would I put myself in the same position in the future? No I would not. I learned a valuable lesson with these people. Nevertheless, since I was in a situation I could not physically change, I made the best of it. Overall, it was a positive experience because of my mindset.
Try this the next time you find yourself "cornered" in life. You will be amazed how you can turn a negative situation into something positive. This will automatically raise up the quality of your life. Less negativity means more positivity.
Share and Enjoy!
Making The Best Out Of Everything
Posted by Dennis Harting at Sunday, June 14, 2009
Labels: 20 success tips, achievement, dennis harting, mindset, motivation, negatvity, success
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"Flora and Vegetation of Israel" is a shared initiative of the late Prof. Emeritus Avinoam Danin and his son Barak Danin. The aim of this website is to provide scientific information concerning the plant life of Israel and its neighbors: their photographs, distribution and habitat data, morphological diagnostic characters etc. The database of this website is an outcome of more than 50 years of research by Prof. Danin and computerizing by his son Barak who started already his tight "relations" in his teens in the 1980's. When I am about to take a photograph I ask myself what shall I say to the viewer upon displaying. When inserting the photograph to the species page I add this sentence as caption.
Today website is run in collaboration with the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens.
Our team:
Manager Barak Danin, Scientific editor Ori Fragman-Sapir
Editors : Zalman Baumwol, Dr Noam Bar-Shai, Dar Ben-Natan, Miriam Milo, Yael Orgad, Dr Sheila Hattis Rolef and Bar Shemesh.
Scientific commitee : Dr Jean-Mark Dufour-Dror, Dr Aaron Liston, Dr Margareta Walczak
Our website has its roots in the website of the Jerusalem Botanic Gardens, constructed by Gilad Ashkenazi. A considerable progress was initiated by Udi Oron who constructed the first "Flora of Israel Online" in 2006. A parallel website entitled "Photo Flora" was erected in 2013, opened to receive missing plant photographs from amateurs. The aim of that Photo Flora is to construct a high quality photograph bank of the entire flora of Israel.
The website has no profit and given for free to the public and partly supported by public offerings.
Use of pictures:
The copyrights of all pictures in this website belong to the photographers that took them. It is not allowed to use them without a permission from the relevant photographer
Danin, A. & O. Fragman- Sapir. 2016+ Flora of Israel Online. http://flora.org.il/en/plants/


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Fakepath removal
How do I remove the fakepath from foxfire and chrome when I try to upload a file?
Could you please explain more about the problem in detail. Please provide its screenshot if possible so that we can give its solution.
No one post a way to get rid of this.
On every upload, you get this fakepath issue or for any particular upload/website?
Please provide fakepath's path
Could you please provide the screenshot of the fakepath so that we can diagnose the issue Exactly.
We are looking forward to your reply.


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Phagia® Puree Mix, Corn
Ingredients - corn powder, fiber (digestion resistant maltodextrin), xanthan gum, sodium alginate, guar gum, butter, sea salt
Entire Bag -
Pour 1 qt. (32oz) water into mixing bowl
Add contents of bag to water
Whisk until dissolved and thickened
Heat & serve.
ONE serving -
Yield: (18g) makes 134 grams prepared
Pour ½ cup (4oz) water into mixing bowl
Add 2 Tbsp & 1½ tsp corn puree to water
Whisk until dissolved and thickened
Heat & serve
Serving Size: 18g
Shelf Life: 1 year
Phagia Corn Mix, 1/5oz
0.75Item Yield: ~13.5
Price: $5.00
Phagia Corn Mix, 3/5oz
2.00Case Yield: ~27
Price: $13.40
Phagia Corn Mix, 6/5oz
3.00Case Yield: ~54
Price: $23.95


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- About This Property: Located on a quiet cul-de-sac in the highly desirable West Creek community in Valencia, this exceptional 2-story Home features 3 spacious bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and an open floorplan of almost 1850 sf (apx). The great room is bright and airy from the natural light and features a dining room with a gorgeous chandelier, a large family room and a kitchen perfect for anyone that loves to cook with tons of stunning dark wood cabinets, high-end appliances, granite countertops and center island with breakfast bar. The spacious master suite includes a large walk-in closet and private master bath with dual sink vanity, sunken tub and separate shower enclosure. Beautiful tile flooring throughout the first floor and lush carpet upstairs, custom wood blinds throughout, Solar Sunpower 1.8 unit, 2-car attached garage, laundry room off of the master suite with built-in cabinets, backyard features a stained paved patio and grassy area. Built in 2013, this home is immaculate with an amazing location, close to shopping, dining and award winning schools!
- Listing information courtesy of: Cyndi Lesinski, JohnHart Real Estate *Based on information from the Association of REALTORS/Multiple Listing as of Apr 03 2020 and/or other sources. Display of MLS data is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate by the MLS. The Broker/Agent providing the information contained herein may or may not have been the Listing and/or Selling Agent. Property may have been sold while Agent was with another brokerage, and may have represented the buyer in this transaction.
- 661.510.5516
- firstname.lastname@example.com
DRE: #01343529 Cyndi Lesinski is a Multi Million Dollar Real Estate Top Producer in Valencia, CA. Her vibrant personality and ability to connect instantly with people is a HUGE strength in every step of the real estate transaction process. Her unique background also makes her a very special kind of real estate agent. Born in California and raised in rural Pennsylvania (Amish Country), she combines hard-working Midwest values with the spirit of the West…


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@Raju – Yes. I can't wait to see more designs and who gets to win the top prize. Although I really wish I could join this contest. :(
Do you love blogging? I definitely do! If you love blogging and also got design skills, then I'm sure you'd love to hear about and be a part of this new contest sponsored by WordPress and Infectious, a company that specializes in designing vinyl car decals and laptop and iPhone skins.
WordPress have recently partnered with Infectious to launch the "I <3 Blogging" design contest, to create laptop and iPhone skins just for bloggers. The contest is open to anyone, and there is no fixed theme so its basically up to your imagination and interpretation but also, the design should be an image that represents the voice of bloggers everywhere.
I <3 Blogging Design Contest details:
1st place wins:
* A WordPress Hoodie, mug, and t-shirt
All winners recieve:
* 5% of Net Sales
* $400 of Infectious product
* A WordPress t-shirt
Deadline: March 31, 2009
So far, here the designs that I like:
As a bonus, especially for WordPress fans, Matt Mullenweg will be using the winning design on his next laptop, which he will be bringing with him around the world in various events so the design will be getting a lot of exposure.
Btw, I have a brilliant idea for a cool design but I'm not good with designing/graphic design so if anyone who's good in Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop or the likes and would like to collaborate with me, feel free to leave a comment or contact me.
Think you have a cool idea or have mad skills to create a design for a laptop or iPhone skin design? What are you waiting for? Start working on your design and submit it! You still got until March 31st to do it and your design could be a winner.
That's gonna be interesting. High time that WordPress started to advertise its brand.
Rajus last blog post..15 Websites to Create Fake Magazine Covers with Your Own Photo
The prices are cool. But I'm still starting out Photoshop and learning techniques on how to design sites with that cool modern look. It would also be cool to have that design featured on Matt's laptop!
Gems last blog post..Positive Energy for Friday the 13th


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Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Oh! Its Oct 2nd...What's the Big Deal???
There is this favorite moment I have had with Gandhiji. It is a feeling I will cherish forever. It was during my MS days and I was walking to work on a campus road which stretched out in a straight line and ended up in an undergraduate student housing building. It was dark, close to midnight and there was this one light shining from a room, which seemed to guide me on ahead. Like most guys, the first fancy that came to my mind was seeing a girl in that room, in a state of undress. As I kept getting closer, the faint outlines of a picture on the wall caught my attention. I couldnt make out who it was, but it held me transfixed until the shape of the Mahatma grew clearer and clearer. Besides him on either side was a poster of Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King. I smiled to myself and wondered what possible source of inspiration could the Mahatma be to a person in the most affluent country in the world, when even Indians don't care anymore. There are moments like these, when you recognize the presence of a great man in your life, and you acknowledge his contribution to making your life a better one. Isn't that what is called immortality? Some months later we were walking on the street, when a homeless guy sniggered at us, "Gandhi Boys!" It may have been a racial taunt but we smiled, and I shouted back at him, "Thank You!" and would have loved to add, "But we don't deserve the compliment!"
Gandhiji's outward political postures, even if not in spirit are kept alive and kicking in our country, if you see the kadar clothing, bandhs, hartals, jathas, satyagraha what not. We have politicians to thank for that...if Gandhi was just a politician he wouldnt have survived...even he displayed selfishness and lack of grace at times. But his greatness was that he had lessons for ordinary people too. Even between politics he taught the importance of hygiene and a clean environment...it is funny that when ministers like Kamal Nath fight for India not to be brought under purview of greenhouse emission, he hides the fact that global warming is hurting India more than any other country in the world. I feel it...the biggest challenge before India in coming years is not democracy, corruption, economy or insurgency...it is climate change. In India, every man grosses wealth, in the safe knowledge that he is doing it for his children, but when it comes to anything that is global wealth, these same men exploit it without realizing they are digging their grandchildrens' graves even before they are born. Man is always helpless, for centuries we feared and grappled with the challenges earth posed, now we are so in the grip of technology and modernity, and acknowledge we face an earth we have tapped at indiscriminately, but cant face upto even a few minutes of power-cut, loss of transportation, air-condition or connectivity!
One moment, I make all these utopian(maybe even gandhian) schemes on how I should lead life...next moment, I find that same me, doing the exact opposites of what I thought of earlier. Truth, Non-Violence, Conquest of the Self...such impossibilities for us pampered people. For me the biggest challenge has been to win over my baser instincts...a lazy nap, porn, mindless movies, pointless net-surfing, companionships past their shelf-date and associated habits...the first book that ever gave me the tools to deal with it was no Bible or motivators like Dale Carnegie, Lee Iococa etc...but Gandhiji's My Experiments With Truth. Once you finish reading the book you realize that it wasn't an accident of history that a man like Gandhiji lead India to freedom. In his seemingly-pointless-for-us abstinence, vegeterianism, brahmacharya, etc he toughened his soul to give him the courage to face the higher aims of his life like truth, non-violence and India's freedom. It is the simplest yet most profoundly touching and inspiring book you can lay your hands on for as less as Rs.30. Truth, Non-violence and probably most of his experiments in the book are i guess beyond what we mere 21st century zombies can aspire for, but it also has lessons in simplicity, time-management, humility, health, social commitment and work-ethic we still can commit to, which can help us succeed and feel good about, in our busy lives. Gandhiji once lived amongst us, he still lives in us, we rarely seek to find out...a brilliant Rajkumar Hirani makes a Lage Raho Munnabhai and we rave about Gandhigiri for a while, every year we have an Independence Day and a Gandhi Jayanti, but if each of us truely want to celebrate him, his life and the freedom he and his men won for us, pick up his book, buy it for your friends, who knows...you or that person might discover a Gandhian thought in some simple action of yours, and who knows...we might even end up saving Earth! Happy Birthday, Gandhiji.
P.S - Albert Einstein, the man who pipped Gandhi to the 'Time Man of the Century' Award said of Gandhiji, "Generations to come will scare believe such a one as this in flesh and blood, walked the face of the Earth". I wonder if Einstein's fine statement will become a prophesy...Gandhiji becoming some unattainable freak great soul rather than the very human being he was...he will be remembered for sure...but how he is remembered lies very much in how much of him we can find in our lives, we the youth of India who are a link between a morbid, stagnating recent past and an exciting but hazardous near future owe atleast this much to that man.
4 comments:
- joseph said...
I too almost forgot... until I came across a discussion about long weekend plans in India.
Its his 138th b'day :)
I remember some blck/white malayalam film scenes depicting Gandhi's statue that used to come in DD4. Most often depicting an independence day scene, where children clean the statue. Wonder if the new directors still give the same kind of importance to such a scene.
Anyway lets hope this gen and the coming generations get to know about Gandhi, not just as a the person who got us freedom, the simple things that he taught us. No wonder he is the father of our nation.
I am sure the pampering that you talked about is really spoiling us. Nice read Jabba.
- October 03, 2007 4:51 pm
- silverine said...
Slightly OT...I have always regarded Gandhi as a spoil sport as I have a couple of old Gandhians in my family. The type who advocate 'Prohibition' and other kill joys. Later Gandhi represented a black and white photograph in boring History text books. For most of us Indians, this what Gandhi is all about. I think his greatest legacy was that he was accepted as a universal leader and he motivated an entire nation to rise against the British. And knowing the lethargy that grips our masses in public matters, this was no mean feat :)
- October 06, 2007 8:53 pm
October 2nd is my birthday too! =)
- January 20, 2008 8:19 pm
- kochuthresiamma p .j said...
tragic that the world relegates gandhi to text books.
and the young generation looks at hm as a pain in the neck(comments to your blog).
but he can never become mere history.
what has never failed to amaze me about the great man is his guts to be totally and completely honest with himself - and the world.
and still be a master manipulator of massses!
by the way akkamma cherian has got a makeover-and i hear crows no longer sit on her. dunno how that's managed:--))
- February 22, 2008 11:35 pm


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Black Caviar Trail Tour
Be inspired by Nagambie's legendary undefeated racehorse Black Caviar
Discover Victoria's prime thoroughbred breeding region, exploring the recently launched 'Black Caviar Trail'.
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We will indulge in a wine tasting at 1-2 wineries, stop for lunch at internationally acclaimed Bank Street Wood Fired Pizza & Gardens
and of course, our tour would not be complete without visiting Nagambie where this beautiful mare has been immortalised in a bronze statue situated on the foreshore of the picturesque Lake Nagambie.
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Stephanie Kleiner with the Zeitlin & co., Realtors, was referred to me by our niece who was very impressed with Stephanie, which resulted in a first time buyer purchase. That said, I called Stephanie and after our very first conversation, I knew that Stephanie was the one who I felt would be best for the job ! The Matrix so to speak. I didn't even consider shopping around or interviewing any other realtors. Our search from remote in Middle Tennessee started over a year ago and my wife and I found a property we were very interested in. We put in an offer and was accepted by the seller, but after all of my inspections, I decreased our offer and the seller wouldn't even renegotiate. We lost that one and it was somewhat disappointing, but there was Stephanie coming right back saying "don't worry John Dee, we'll find you a better property". Low and behold, 1 year later we found one. Better, bigger, more private, lots of space to breath, and no more of that congested city feeling. Stephanie was right on it, and in no time flat, we were on our way to closing. Stephanie's commitment was absolutely above and beyond the call. She arranged all inspections, constantly communicated progress to us through text messages, emails and phone calls. All this and the many other clients she represents at the same time raising her family and maintaining one of the busiest schedules I have ever seen. To sum it all up, Stephanie exhibits an extremely high level of professionalism, focus, passion, care, and drive. Best words that I would like to share with everyone about Stephanie Kleiner and her team at Zeitlin are: Stellar, Brilliant, Awesome, Elite, Astounding, Highest Standards, World Class, First Rate, Refined, and Unforgettable. For those of you who take the time to read this, look no further for realty representation. Whether buying or selling, Stephanie Kleiner and the Zeitlin & Co., Realtors team are the best you can get! Stephanie, from the bottom of our hearts, we Thank You. We are so happy, and couldn't have done this without you. Sincerely, John Dee-- John Dee (Buyer)
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Boss Floor Guitar Effects
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Simplifying the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) would remove a key barrier to college access, particularly for lower-income students, said Nancy McCallin, president of the Colorado Community College System, at a U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions hearing Tuesday.
Committee Chair Lamar Alexander (R-Tennessee), who once served as U.S. education secretary, said he aims to include a simplified FAFSA in the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA), which the committee plans to take up in early 2018.
The overly complex FAFSA – with 102 questions on 10 pages plus 66 pages of instructions – discourages lower-income students from applying for student aid and is the "single biggest impediment" for students who want to take advantage of the Tennessee Promise, Alexander said.
Alexander added that he is working with Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colorado) to reduce the FAFSA form to just 15 to 25 questions by automatically incorporating tax information from the Internal Revenue Service.
Hurdles to aid
"Community colleges persistently have the lowest FAFSA application completion rate of any sector of higher education," McCallin told the committee. "This is especially troubling given the fact that, overall, community college students and their families have lower incomes than students in any other non-profit sector of higher education."
Ten percent of community college students don't apply for financial aid because the FAFSA application is too difficult, and 15 percent don't understand how to apply or don't think they are eligible, according to McCallin.
While about 94,000 students in the Colorado system submitted a FAFSA last year, only about 53,600 actually completed the financial aid process, she said. Just over 37,000 were selected for verification, and 45 percent of those students completed the verification process.
"The complexity of the form is one of the reasons for the reduced number of students actually receiving aid," McCallin said. "Simplification of the FAFSA form and process could make a significant difference in the ability of students to access federal and state aid to pursue their college degree."
Students need help
In Colorado, financial aid administrators spend 25 percent of their time helping students fill out the FAFSA and verifying students' financial data, McCallin noted.
If they didn't have to spend so much time on the verification process, they could instead focus on academic advising, mentoring, helping students address financial emergencies, helping them apply for scholarships and outreach to high school students.
Elaine Williams, a shelter diversion specialist at the YWCA of Richmond, Virginia, told the committee she would have appreciated a simpler FAFSA and more help from college advisers when she tried to access financial aid as a homeless student. She urged the committee to reduce the documentation requirements and require colleges to designate a single point of contact for homeless youths.
Judith Scott-Clayton, an associate professor of economics and education at Teachers College, Columbia University, said when students receive help filling out the FAFSA, enrollment and retention increase by 8 percent.
The complexity of the FAFSA isn't necessary to predict how much aid students should receive, Scott-Clayton said. Both Pell Grant eligibility and the expected family contribution can be replicated with only a few questions. Basing Pell awards on data the IRS already has would maximize transparency while making the application process much easier, she said.
Students who receive federal benefits from Supplemental Security Income or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program should be automatically eligible for a Pell Grant, proposed Justin Draeger, president of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.
For students who file a 1040 tax return, the federal government would already have enough information to determine their eligibility for student aid, Draeger said, while students with more complicated tax returns should have to submit more information.
Three key questions
Kim Rueben, a senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center at the Urban Institute, said the application for a Pell Grant only needs to have three simple questions regarding family income, family size and family structure? – and that data could be downloaded from the IRS.
McCallin agreed with that proposal and noted the Colorado system could adapt the same form to determine the amount of state aid students could receive. "Access is far more important than having 100 percent accurate data," she said.
Simplifying the FAFSA is a good first step in revising the Higher Education Act, said Sen. Patty Murray (D-Washington), but much more needs to be done, such as addressing college affordability, reducing student debt, ensuring a safe learning environment on campus, and providing students enough information so they can make good choices about their future.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) urged her colleagues to look at the bigger picture. While the committee is talking about the need to improve a form, she said, Congress is planning tax cuts that will amount to "a giant tax giveaway to billionaires and corporations" that would "add trillions to the national debt" and ultimately make college less affordable.
New FAFSA app
U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos lauded the committee for taking on simplifying the FAFSA as it looks to reauthorize HEA. During a speech in Orlando, Florida, at the Federal Student Aid Training Conference, DeVos announced that ED will create a mobile app for FAFSA.
"We will make the financial aid process modern, streamlined, more accessible and simply easier for students," she said in her prepared remarks. "This initiative also includes cyber security to protect personal data. This is a responsibility the department has neglected for too long. We are making marked improvements because there are serious and ever-iterating threats."
ED this year closed an online tool that allowed students and families to tap IRS data for information to include on their applications after it was apparently hacked.
What looms ahead
At the conference, DeVos also re-emphasized the need to address access to all postsecondary education and not to just focus on four-year degrees.
"There are many avenues to gain what individual students need: industry-recognized certificates, credentials and licensures, badges, micro-degrees, apprenticeships, two-year degrees, four-year degrees and advanced degrees," she said.
Also, in what could be a glimpse into what the Trump administration may want to see in HEA reauthorization, DeVos called HEA a "child of the 1960s" that has to be revised to meet current and future opportunities.
"Government doesn't have all the answers," she said. "Business leaders, community and faith leaders, parents and students do. So let's empower them instead."
She added that she looks forward to working with the Senate HELP Committee and Congress to "complete this important work and send a student-centric, forward-thinking bill to the president's desk."