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4 Shortcomings of a Printed Board Packetby Alexandrea Roman on and last update on March 18, 2020
A paper-based board packet for meetings sets plenty of limitations for a corporate board, especially one with forward-thinking directors. And out of all the shortcomings of a paper-based board meeting, the biggest is the physical constraint it puts on mobility.
Board Packet Logistics
The limitations begin with the board pack itself. Corporate secretaries print out pages after pages of meeting files and put them in a folder or bind them in a book. The more pages are included, the heavier the board package gets. This alone already poses a problem with sending out the copies to all directors. Delivery fees for heavy packets do add up when done regularly, therefore using up a significant portion of the budget in the long run.
To compute the cost of using printed board packet logistics, here's a handy paperless board meetings calculator..
In terms of portability, a printed board pack is not exactly easy to carry around, either. Directors are often on the go, so they can't be expected to take a heavy board pack when they travel. They either have to endure the heavy load or simply leave it somewhere, which makes it useless. The problem is multiplied if a director sits on multiple corporate boards and therefore, receives multiple board books as well. They can't take all these board packs with them, so some will be left behind untouched on their desk.
As for security, there isn't simply enough to protect a printed board pack. Security measures are merely preventive, but not reactive. A board pack can be protected from loss or theft by keeping it under lock and key, but once it falls in the wrong hands, all bets are off.
A digital solution, on the other hand, has several options for security such as encryption, authorisation, and automatic data purging.
Meeting Logistics
Then there's the actual board meeting to think of. Paper-based board meetings still call for face-to-face interactions, and for directors with packed schedules, finding a common denominator for their free time is a challenge. But even when a schedule is finally agreed upon, the next points of concern are the venue, transportation, and accommodation. Again, these things can eat up a big portion of the budget. If they didn't, then the MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) industry wouldn't exist. But it does exist, because there's big money to be earned when there's such a high demand.
This isn't to say that directors should never have to meet face to face simply because there's technology that allows them to meet virtually, such as board portal software. According to a Forbes study, Business Meetings: The Case for Face-to-Face, eight out of ten executives still prefer meeting people the traditional way as opposed to meeting them in a technology-enabled way. The results of this study go to show that the demand for face-to-face board meetings isn't going away — at least, not any time soon.
Nevertheless, an electronic board meeting running on a board portal software offers a kind of flexibility a paper-based board meeting can't. Companies that want to cut costs will save on travel expenses, while directors who are in remote locations will still be able to participate via an iPad or Android tablet. In the end, a technology-enabled board meeting serves as a viable alternative to — and not necessarily a replacement for — face-to-face board meetings. It enables directors to have more options, making it easier for them to do their jobs and focus on what's truly important, which is thinking of ways to improve their company.


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If you want something doing, do it yourself, right?
Here's a surefire way of halting your business growth and propelling yourself into a stress vortex — try to do everything yourself.
Delegation is a painful but necessary skill to master — and if you want to be a great leader or achieve business success, you're going to have to damn well master it.
I'll be honest; delegation didn't come naturally to me, and trust me, I have learned the hard way.
I'm guilty of thinking "it'll be faster, easier and better if I just do it myself", aren't we all? We all want to get things done now in the easiest and most painless way possible and we believe that doing it all ourselves is the answer.
Well, I tried it that way, it was an absolute fail. Here's hoping you might learn from my mistakes and bring people on board early enough so as not to lose any momentum whilst you're working hard to build a successful business.
So, here's how it is. When you're first starting out, you have to wear all the hats. You're a team of one having to be a team of eight — management, the product development/service creator, the sales executive, the PR executive, customer services, digital marketer, the caretaker and all things in between. You're working 16 hours a day to build an exceptional business and its working, it's exciting, and it should be!
It's now time to put a strategy together so you can begin to expand even further, but you can't.
Or you might want to take a few days off, but you can't.
Because guess what? It's just you. So, the phone needs answering and emails need sending and products need shipping and social media needs posting and…and, and…you get the picture.
At this point you'll have recognised you need more bodies, but how do you know you'll get the right person? What if the person who comes on board screws up your hard work? Well, you don't and they might. But, there are measures you can put in place to ensure your new team members are knowledgeable, confident and on the same page as you, so you can loosen the reins and start working on the business rather than in the business. Or, you could just take a week off. (*daydreams*)
Still not convinced? Start small. Delegate a single task somewhere and see how easy it can be for someone else to alleviate the strain. Then work up towards larger tasks, slowly building trust in your new teammates.
Delegation part 1: down
Decide what you can delegate downwards — these are often general administrative tasks where your time isn't being used well by doing them (think bookkeeping, mail shots, transcriptions, picking and packing, call answering, outbound sales). You can hire someone full time, part time or even virtually to do these things for you — they don't have to be sat at a desk outside your office anymore, they can be anywhere in the world so long as they have access to a laptop, telephone and a decent internet connection.
Delegation part 2: up
Next; decide what you can delegate upwards — these are the specialist skills, maybe accounting, legal work, marketing, graphic design or public relations. Here you're looking for people who are experienced and knowledgeable, so rather than you spending the next 10 days learning how to file a confirmation statement, you can have an accountant do it for you within the hour. Specialists are expensive, but they'll get things done quickly and for the most part, to a higher standard than you could have done them. In the long run, you'll save money and benefit from their experience in their field. More importantly, you'll have more time to build a bigger and better business whilst they do what they do best.
Delegation part 3: briefing
Be detailed in your instructions — give them all the information they need (think of them as complete beginners, even if they're not). Explain what the task is and why you've chosen them to do it. Ask them if they foresee any challenges with carrying out the task. Make sure there's a clear deadline and clear deliverables. Talk about progress reports and agree on how monitoring will happen. Ask if there are any questions about what's required, if they answer with "nope, no questions" ask then to repeat back to you exactly what the task is so you can be sure they have a clear vision of what needs doing and there's little room for misunderstanding.
Make sure everyone understands the purpose of the task you're delegating and how it fits into the bigger picture, that being your mission, vision and values (if you don't have them, write them!). The mission, vision, values and purpose will act as guidelines, which then allows you to push your team members out of their comfort zones to encourage a higher level of creativity, leadership and overall achievement.
Empower them to do the job — make sure you define the decision-making process — when can your team member make a decision and when does it need to be escalated to you? It's important that you're very clear on this. Then, trust them to do it right and if there are any issues, to come to you if need be. Allow them to make the decisions you've agreed upon so that they can work independently, and remember if they make a mistake, it's not the end of the world.
Stop striving for perfection — it doesn't need to be perfect, it doesn't need to be exactly how you would do it, it just needs to work — if you're expecting perfection, it's unlikely that anyone you hire will ever be able to live up to that. What's more, you run the risk of making your team member feel like a failure and becoming demotivated because they aren't able to reach your unreasonably high standards.
I often reference Apple in my blogs, and in life, firstly because they're easy to reference (you know who they are) and secondly because they always seem relevant. Apple are constantly updating and changing their IOS platform which provides a base for many of their products. If they waited until it was perfect to launch they'd still be in a garage. I repeat, it doesn't need to be perfect, it just needs to work.
Think about the long-term — train your people with a view to them working with you in the long term. If they're committed to the amount of money you've specified as payment for the project, you'll more than likely get a half-arsed result. If they become committed to you, they'll give you their best, usually with a lot of enthusiasm and diligence. You can gain that commitment from them by giving them the skills and support they need to do the best work they can. They may not stay with you for huge amounts of time but the more time you invest in upskilling, teaching and giving constructive feedback to your team, the better the results in the long term, for you and them.
Let. It. Go. — the biggest (and possibly, most annoying) Disney song ever, but also sound business advice. Don't micro-manage. Don't call your team every hour on the hour to just "check in" or "find out how you're getting on", set a checkpoint (maybe at the end of the day, maybe at the end of the week) and stick to it. Just trust in your own ability to bring great people on board as it's now out of your hands. Don't interfere in the process, you'll halt the progress. The best managers know how to get things done effectively through other people. There may be some parts of your business operations that you enjoy doing, but this still doesn't mean you should be doing them all. The idea is to remove yourself as much as possible from the everyday processes so you can focus on leading.
Say thank you — self-explanatory this one. It goes a long way.
Has expanding your team given you The Fear? How did you overcome it and what management advice would you give? Let me know in the comments, on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook @KymberleeJay.


text: John at Archidose points to The Snow Show, a showcase of collaborative designs in Finland's Lapland that use snow and ice as primary building materials. The Snow Show reminds me of IceHotel, a seasonal hotel built from ice and snow. The IceHotel is located in Lapland, Sweden, 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle.


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|List of names as written
|Various modes of spelling
|Authorities for spelling
|Description remarks
|SKIRLING [parish]
|Sheriffs list of Parishes
Old Stat Acct [Statistical Account] Vol [Volume] 3 Page 254
Oliver & Boyd's Almanack
Fullarton's Gazetteer
Chalmer's Caledonia
Johnston's Map of Peebles
New Stat [Statistical] Account
Origines Parochiales Scotiae
|007 ; 011
|[Situation] In the western portion of the County of Peebles
A Parish in the West side of the County of Peebles, it is bounded on the East by Broughton; on the South by Kilbucho & Biggar Lanarkshire, and on the North by Dolphinton and Kirkurd, its extreme length from North to South is 4¾ Miles and breadth from East to West about 1¼ Miles; the Superfical Area about 2,640 Scottish Acres, 4/5 of which is Cultivated the remainder Wood and sheep pasture, the Soil though generally light is fertile; Skirling Village is situated near the Centre of the Parish, two fairs are held in it Annually for the sale of horses, sheep and Black Cattle in the year 1814 Various Ancient Coins of Adrian & Antoninus were found near a place Called Greatlaws in the North East Part of the Parish and Near the same spot some few years after stone Coffins Containing human bones were dug up by labourers when making the Mail Coach Road from Edinburgh to Dumfries. The Church is in a very Central possession and of very Ancient Appearance, the living is in the gift of Sir T G Carmichael Bart. [Baronet]
Continued entries/extra info[page] 3
Parish of Skirling
[Note] -- Boundaries Not Settled yet
Transcribers who have contributed to this page.
Moira L- Moderator, JOANMUIR
Location information for this page.


text:
Barnett (Mike)
An experienced surveyor, Mike is located on the UK south coast and is authorised to carry out a wide range of coding surveys on various material types
De Roock (Paul)
Experienced surveyor, Paul de Roock, based in Holland, is authorised to perform coding surveys on a wide selection of material types
Folkes (Matthew)
Based in Poole, Dorset Matt is available to work throughout the UK and Europe. He offers a friendly, approachable and reliable service providing customers with expert advice at a level they can comprehend. Matt is authorised for both sail and power vessels constructed of GRP. If you are interested in coding your vessel then please feel free to call to discuss the process involved and associated costs.
Heath (John)http://cpheathmarine.com
John is a well known and experienced surveyor in the Thames area who is authorised to carry out a wide range of coding surveys on various materials
Levy (Derek)http://www.spheredawn.com
Experienced surveyor, Derek Levy, is located on the south coast of France and is authorised to provide a wide range of coding services.
McCrea (Mark)https://mmmsurveys.co.uk/
Mark is authorised to conduct coding surveys on GRP & FRP vessels, steel and alloy vessels, RIB's and Simple Workboats. As well as undertaking simple heel test. Mobile telephone: +4407883363316.
Miller (Gary)
Material types: Gary is authorised to carry out coding surveys on GRP and Steel & Alloy vessels as well as RIB's Stability: Gary is authorised to carry out simple heel tests Mobile: +34 672043882 Qualifications: HND Marine Engineering / Mechanical Engineering
Moffatt (Steve)http://www.moffattmarine.com
Located in eastern England, Steve is authorised to perform a range of coding services as well as tonnage measurements
Moody (Christopher)
Chris is a vastly experience CA surveyor, based on the south coast, who is authorised to provide a wide selection of coding services
Noble (Fraser)http://www.mcgruer-boats.co.uk
Fraser is an experienced coding surveyor located in the West Coast of Scotland, but travels and is authorised to offer a range of vessel coding and stability services
Proudlove (Mike)
Experienced surveyor, Mike Proudlove is based in South Wales in the UK and is authorised to carry out a range of coding services
Rapp (Richard)http://www.sgsurvey.com
Richard operates throughout Europe and beyond, although most regularly in France, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Poland in addition to the UK South Coast. Richard is authorised to code GRP, steel and aluminium vessels and RIBs and to conduct heel tests, tonnage measurement surveys and MLC compliance examinations.
Roberts (Diana)http://www.dianaroberts.co.uk
With a background as a naval architect, Diana provides coding services from her Southampton base
Skov-Nielsen (Kim)http://www.yachtmarinesurveyor.com
A multi-linguist, experienced surveyor Kim can deliver a range of coding services in various languages and can travel to a range of countries.
Stratis (Yannis)
Based in Athens, Greece, Yannis is authorised to perform a range of coding services and to carry out tonnage measurements
Tuckett (Aidan)
Material types: Aidan is authorised to code GRP & FRP, Steel & Alloy, Wood vessels and RIBS Stability: Aidan is authorised to carry out simple heel tests Qualifications: Int. Boatbuilding Diploma Practical Yacht Surveying Mobile: + 44 776 535 2364
Waddington (Geoff)http://www.marine-surveying.co.uk
Geoff has 46 years experience in the industry both at sea and ashore. He is the Chairman of Geoff Waddington & Partners Ltd with offices in the UK in Hythe (Southampton) and the Algarve (Portugal). Geoff and his team of three other surveyors and two Office Administrators take instructions for Tonnage Measurement Surveys, SCV2 and WB2 MCA codings of both motor and sailing vessels up to 24 meters both in the UK and abroad.
Willis (Keith)http://www.youryachtconsultant.com
Keith Willis is an experienced surveyor based in the south of France, but prepared to travel.


text:
Instructions for businesses
The information service for businesses provides, among other things, basic instructions regarding customs matters, special instructions on customs procedures as well as tax border instructions for the Åland Islands. You can also enquire about payments or pending authorisation applications.
E-services' user support for businesses Customs offices that supervise warehouse operations Åland Islands tax border information service Intrastat instructions and statistics service
Trade between the Åland Islands and mainland Finland, advice concerning the ALA system and customs clearance
Log in and send your question
As a private customer, you can log into the service Contact Customs Information using your online banking ID codes, your mobile certificate or your certificate card. Companies can log in with a Katso ID. We strive to answer your enquiry within four working days.
Questions regarding periodic filings and payments
Requests for payment, payment arrangements and other matters related to debt collection
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Consumer protection; assignments to take samples of imported goods; health and quality inspections of fruit and vegetables
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Only pending authorisation applications
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Guarantee types, guarantee categories, reference amount, guarantee requirement. Customs does not calculate reference and guarantee amounts before the application for guarantee authorisation has been lodged.
Targeted training for Customs' interest groupsCustomer training
We want to improve our website together with our customers. You can give us feedback by clicking "Send feedback".Send feedback


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Posted by Chris Boylan on September 22, 1997 at 15:28:02:
In Reply to: David and Dunlops posted by robmoz on September 21, 1997 at 15:23:41:
Hmmm...how's this for interesting?
Dunlop Tire Corporate HQ in West Amherst NY happens to employ someone by the name of
David Insull. Just a coincidence? You decide...
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One of the things that strikes me about MS is that everyone has such a unique story to tell and we have all gone through such varied experiences to get to where we are today. It can feel like an incredibly isolating situation at times when experiencing weird (painful and distressing) symptoms that you don't … Continue reading Up Close and Personal
Month: May 2019
10 Things never to say to someone with MS
We all know the score - you try and say something helpful to someone when they are going through a rough patch and inadvertently end up saying completely the wrong thing. The same goes when you have MS. The people that you love around you are often scrambling to say something to say that will … Continue reading 10 Things never to say to someone with MS
What self care is… and what it really isn't
What is it all about? The phrase 'self-care' is thrown around these days as some super chic, of the minute, trendy buzz word that everyone just 'has to be doing' to be en vogue... but really what the hell is it anyway? Shouldn't we all care for ourselves anyway? NHS England suggests that self care … Continue reading What self care is… and what it really isn't


text:
Get lawn care in Cypress by
Tx Platinum Landscape
Completed Work Gallery4 Images
This Pro Story
James and Andrea started Texas Platinum Landscaping to provide fast and professional services to local Houston, Texas homeowners. The couple started their business and have been providing dependable services for over 5 years now. "We knew that we could build a business in the community that we both enjoyed doing and also something that we could grow," James says. "Andrea and I both enjoy being outside and working with our hands."
The couple have lived in Texas most of their lives but reside in Cypress, Texas. "Texas has been our home and we have loved being able to build a business and service the people of Harris County," Andrea explains.
Texas Platinum and their crew service most of Harris County but mainly mow grass in Cypress, Texas, Jersey Village, Houston, Northwest Houston, Energy Corridor, Cinco Ranch, Fulshear, Copperfield Place, and even cut lawns in Katy, Texas.
They have grown their business to over 80 happy homeowners and even have various commercial properties that they service in the area.
Communication and quality work is what they attribute to their success. "Our motto is that Quality is our #1 priority," James boasts. "With quality comes knowing what the customer wants and needs so that you can give them exactly what they ask for. Without knowing their expectations, it's difficult to please them and keep them as a customer. So we make sure that we give every customer what they ask for."
The crew at Platinum not only handle regular lawn maintenance but can also handle your mulch, shrub and bush trimming, pressure washing, gutter cleaning, aeration, low level tree trimming, landscape design, and planting. "We can basically handle anything outside the home that is needed or wanted," James says. "Our company wants to be the go-to when anyone thinks lawncare in Texas."
Being able to work together and being outside is what drew the couple to this industry. "We always loved working in our own yard so we just took that passion and are very meticulous when it comes to landscaping," James says. "It's like having a passion for something and then getting paid to do it!"
When they are not running their lawn empire, the couple loves to relax and spend time with family and their two dogs. "This is truly a family business," Andrea says. "We get to do what we want and spend time together."
Looking for a dynamic duo to knock out your lawn care wishes? Let Andrea, James, and the crew at Texas Platinum Landscaping turn in your lawn in the envy of your neighborhood.
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text: The combustion chamber of the WOLF Thermen does not have to be removed for cleaning or maintenance, but is simply swung out with a few simple steps. In the case of oil condensing boilers, the control box becomes an "integrated workbench" on which the burner is suspended for maintenance. All components relevant for service are easily accessible and quickly cleaned or replaced.


text:
Do you have an The Platinum Card® from American Express? If so, there's a top-shelf cocktail, premium snacks and a comfortable lounge with free Wi-Fi and other luxuries waiting for you at any of nine airports.
Centurion Lounges are part of a network of more than 1,200 lounges across the globe available to cardholders of The Platinum Card® from American Express.
The network includes Delta Sky Club and Priority Pass Select lounges, but the Centurion Lounges just might be the swankiest. They include custom drinks created by a nationally renowned mixologist, a member services desk that can help with your travel plans, semi-private workspaces and, in some locations, shower suites, a spa and even a wine-tasting area.
» Learn more: 5 reasons you should be using airport lounges
Centurion Lounge access is exclusively available to cardholders of The Platinum Card® from American Express and to Centurion members (a privilege reserved for folks who spent somewhere in the six figures on an American Express card in a prior year and either got an invitation to join or requested access for their high spending). You can't purchase a membership or a day pass to Centurion Lounges: Cardholders and members only.
How do I get into a Centurion Lounge?
To get in, show The Platinum Card® from American Express, your boarding pass for travel that day and a picture I.D. card. You can bring up to two guests for free and additional guests for $50 per person. Pets are allowed in carriers, service animals are allowed on a leash or harness, and admittance for emotional support animals varies from lounge to lounge and is subject to certain rules.
The American Express cards that offer Centurion Lounge access, not surprisingly, carry steep annual fees. They include:
- The Platinum Card® from American Express has a $550 annual fee and has the following welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases in your first 3 months. Terms Apply.
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has a $595 annual fee. Its welcome bonus is as follows: Earn 75,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on qualifying purchases within your first 3 months of Card Membership. Terms apply.
- The American Express Corporate Platinum Card has a $395 annual fee.
Where can I visit a Centurion Lounge?
All Centurion Lounges come with some basic perks, including gourmet snacks, premium bar, high-speed Wi-Fi, power stations, large flat-screen TVs and staff to help with your travel arrangements. Some lounges come with extras, including hot meals, showers and spas.
There are the nine airports where you'll find officially designated Centurion Lounges. But AmEx also operates seven other lounges worldwide that offer similar amenities, and five more Centurion Lounges are slated to open in 2019 in Denver, New York-JFK, Los Angeles, London and Charlotte, North Carolina.
Here are the nine Centurion Lounges you can currently visit:
- Seattle-Tacoma. Concourse B, across from Gate B3. Open 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Snacks, premium bar, showers.
- San Francisco. Terminal 3, near Gate 74. Open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fresh seasonal cuisine, family-room, wine-tasting area, shower suites.
- Las Vegas-McCarran. Concourse D, opposite Gate D1. Open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fresh seasonal fare, family room, conference space, shower suites.
- Dallas-Ft. Worth. Terminal D, across from Gate 12. Open 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fresh seasonal cuisine, spa, family room, shower suites, conference space.
- Houston. Terminal D, access via elevators near Gate D6. Open 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Locally inspired cuisine, family room, shower suites.
- Miami. Concourse D, fourth floor near Gate D12. Open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fresh seasonal cuisine, family room, shower suites, spa.
- Philadelphia. Terminal A West, near Gate A14. Open 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Locally inspired cuisine, shower suites.
- New York-LaGuardia. Terminal B, pre-security on the third floor. Open 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Friday and 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Fresh seasonal cuisine.
- Hong Kong. Terminal 1, take the escalator just before Gate 60. Open 5:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. Locally-inspired cuisine, shower suites.
How to maximize your rewardsYou want a travel credit card that prioritizes what's important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2020, including those best for:
- Airline miles and a large bonus: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- No annual fee: The Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card
- Flat-rate rewards with no annual fee: The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
- Premium travel rewards: The Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express
- Business travelers: The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Planning a trip? Check out these articles for more inspiration and advice:
Centurion Lounge to open at Charlotte airport
So you've got airport lounge access? You sure?
How to make the most of your Priority Pass this winter


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The daily marker - day 16
Sugar pea designs #44 - sketch/colors
Artistic inspirations #202 - anything goes/fathers day
The sisterhood of crafters - animal crackers
Jo's scrap shack #238 - anything goes
QKR stampede #300 - anything goes
OMG Billie ... what a cute image! Thanks so much for joining us at The Sisterhood's 'Animal Crackers' challenge and please come back again soon!
one of the 'Sistahs'
The Sisterhood of Crafters
DAR'S CRAFTY CREATIONS Please come for a visit!
Haha, this is so cute!! That image is adorable!! I love the sentiment!! What a fun card!! Have a great weekend!! Big hugs :)
A Mermaid's Crafts
Love that sentiment and the cute little puppy! Great job with the tic-tac-toe challenge, and thanks for sharing at Jo's Scrap Shack!
DT Member
So cute! That face is precious! Love it. xx
lovely card. Thank you for joining us for the QKR Stampede challenge.
OMGosh, I totally love this, made me smile right off! Thank you for joining our challenge at The Sisterhood!
Diane TSH DT {Nellies Nest}
This little guy is SO cute, and I love that sentiment! Thanks for joining the Mix It Up Challenge at SugarPea Designs!


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I use baby wipes
They get me clean enough for the 1-2 night trips I do.
that and a can of spray deodorant (we call the can of deodorant an englishman's bath here)
I do have a bottle of hand sanitiser to use before food prep
Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers
or t n ttt for short (tnttt.com)
MidTNJasonF wrote:tfunk wrote:The 5 gallon Cornelius kegs work well. Have a dip tube. One in one out, pressure relief at 35 psi built in, stainless steel. Typically 25$ at a home brew supplier.
I have been using a 10 watt pump. 35 psi @1.2 gpm, hooked it up with 3/8 air and water hose. The high pressure allows me to use less water.
I wish you could find them for $25. They are $60 to $75 for ball lock style and about ten bucks cheaper for pin lock fitting kegs.
Supply and demand. The supply is drying up and the demand is growing.
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Any bad habit starts with believing a lie. Some ideas are widespread in today's society and can very quickly destroy a marriage. (Suite of the series) Lie # 3: "My private immorality does not affect my marriage" "I can watch pornographic images in my private area at home.
Category Prayers
I have a message for a person who is in the breach for the restoration of his marriage this morning: do not give up. Do not get discouraged. Persists. Insist, using all kinds of prayers: supplications, thanksgiving, declarations ... Because contrary to what your circumstances show you, something is happening in the spiritual world.
The decrees manifest heaven on earth. By this means we bind the works of darkness and bring forth the manifestation of God's reign and will on earth. You were made kings / queens and priests by Christ at your new birth. Do you declare and decree regularly in your prayers?
The natural world is controlled by the spiritual world. Everything that happens in the natural world first existed in the spiritual world. By faith, we understand that the universe has been harmoniously organized by the word of God, and that the visible world has its origin in the invisible. (Hebrews 11: 3, SEM) That's why, for every situation you go through, you have to learn how to deal with the situation in the spiritual world (through prayer) before you manage things in a natural way.
How to pray effectively for the restoration of his marriage? This is the question many are asking. After our first week of fasting and prayer, it is my heart to share with you this very important subject of prayer, but all too often neglected. Persevere in prayer, watch in an attitude of gratitude.
I give thanks to the Lord for the number of people who have responded to this call to fasting and prayer. We are currently more than a hundred to participate. Thank you, Lord, for raising this army of passionate people, lovers of God who are thirsty for more of You and want to see Your glory appear not only in their own lives but also in all the families of the Francophonie!
We have recently talked about very important keys to be effective in prayer and to have spectacular prayer prayers. We talked about the importance of praying according to God's will and perseverance. Today, I share with you a new super important key to be effective in prayer.
Several single people asked me how to pray to find a husband or a wife. Today I share this video from the program Prière Inspirées animated by Pastor Jérémy Sourdril. In this video, Pastor Mohammed Sanogo also explains why some people find it difficult to break their celibacy and cites some obstacles to praying for those who aspire to marriage.
What level of assurance do you have in your prayers? When you pray, do you really expect an answer? How long are you willing to persevere to see the glory of God burst into your home and the enemy's grip on your marriage broken, broken? How long are you ready to persevere?
We sometimes lack inspiration to pray for our couple, for our home. The Bible states in 1 John 3: 14-15 And this is the assurance that we have before God: if we ask for something that is according to His will, He will listen to us. And if we know that he is listening to us, we also know that the object of our demands is ours.
Hello everyone, Many of you are enrolled in the fasting program and praying with others in the breach for the restoration of their marriage and I thank the Lord for that. The first week was great and testimonials begin to arrive !!! We believe that God will do great things in our lives!
Who are you, great mountain, before Zerubbabel? You will be flattened. He will lay the main stone amid cheers. (Zechariah 4: 7) Mountains rise up against you in your home? Do you have financial difficulties, opposition in your workplace, illness, infertility, blockages of all kinds?
This is a message to all partners of the fasting and prayer relay. We are several hundred to participate in the relay (even if everyone is not yet registered on the common prayer calendar) and the sending of mails becomes complicated with the mail servers that consider some of our emails as SPAM.
It is impossible to pray effectively for the restoration of one's broken marriage if one does not KNOW that God has a horror of divorce, that it is in His will that the marriage be restored. God hears the prayers again today. Yes, God wants and can restore your marriage in difficulties.


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For anyone who loves the spotlight, mothering can be an ideal role — for a while. The mother is a singular star to her baby, whose gaze follows her around the room with the watchfulness of an obsessive fan. For the stars Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, that dynamic seemed to linger well into Ms. Fisher's childhood: Ms. Fisher was the reverent observer, her mother the adored and observed.
"When my mother was at home on weekends, we stayed with her as much as possible, which frequently meant we were very involved in watching our mother," wrote Ms. Fisher in her memoir "Wishful Drinking," including her brother, Todd Fisher, in her recollections. Sometimes, they watched her sleep; often, they watched their mother transform into someone "not of this world," a trick carried off with makeup and glitter and silk. "When our mother dressed," Ms. Fisher wrote, "the man behind the curtain became the great and powerful Oz."
Over the years, Ms. Reynolds and Ms. Fisher had a relationship as conflicted and layered as any other mother-daughter story in show business, but with an ending that they might think implausible, or even sentimental, had they read it in a script. First Ms. Fisher died on Tuesday, of heart attack at 60; a day later, her mother, 84, succumbed to heart failure of her own, although technically she was likely felled by a stroke.
There is something about celebrity mother-daughter acts like the one lived by Ms. Fisher and Ms. Reynolds that capture the imagination in a way that famous father-sons simply do not. Think of Kris Jenner and the Kardashian sisters, Joan and Melissa Rivers, Judy and Liza. Even the most narcissistic of movie-star mothers seem to have enough psychic energy to love a child passionately, or at least to include the daughter, a younger version of herself, in the realm of things emotionally essential.
As glitzy or extreme as their lives are, those mother-daughters represent, in the push and pull of their relationship, something familiar to so many other mothers and daughters, something they recognize in their own lives: the turn-taking in the role of caregiver, the pleasure and suffocation that comes with being worried over. Whose turn is it to watch? Whose turn is it to be watched?
Ms. Fisher characterizes her memoir as just one more "pathetic bid" for the attention she did not receive as a young child. Ms. Fisher, it turns out, has plenty of distracting sparkle of her own: With humor, her writing tap dances around her relationship with her mother, whom she describes (twice) as "eccentric" and whose troubled marriages Ms. Fisher mines for comic material. She and her mother were both clever, heads-held-high victims of those laughably imperfect men.
But the public's impression of the mother-daughter pair was probably more fully formed, fairly or not, by the film "Postcards from the Edge," the script of which Ms. Fisher adapted from her autobiographical novel of the same name. The daughter in that film, played by Meryl Streep, clearly resents her self-involved movie-star mother, who infantilizes but also cares fiercely for her while she is in recovery.
In one complicated scene, the mother, played by Shirley MacLaine, steals the show at a party supposedly thrown in her daughter's honor. We see a momentary flash of loathing on her daughter's face, which gives way — quickly — to admiration, even pure joy, in the song her mother performs for the crowd. She is her mother's biggest fan, as only a child can be. When they are offstage, she is also her toughest critic, as only a child can be.
Ms. Reynolds and Ms. Fisher took their mother-daughter show on the road, performing together in nightclub acts from the time Ms. Fisher was very young, and then performing again, in some version, on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," in 2011. In a lengthy interview, they spoke of their trials, including a decade-long period in which Ms. Reynolds claimed, dramatically, that they did not speak. "We talked, really badly," Ms. Fisher clarified. She explained that at the time, she needed to separate — "to forge some kind of character out of … nothing," she said, her famous wit momentarily leaving her.
In "Postcards from the Edge," the middle-aged actress is still asking her mother: "Why do you have to completely overshadow me?" But on Oprah, and also in her own life, Ms. Fisher more than held her own, playing a tough, smart-talking princess in "Star Wars": She, too, was an icon of her time, and she, too, was not quite of this world.
If her mother was forever an ingénue, albeit one who could land a wicked zinger, Ms. Fisher was a blazing comic, a teller of truths with little patience for costume and cover-up. From what she called "nothing," she forged something big and bold and every bit as brilliant as the woman who raised her, less glittering, more glaring. Mothers and daughters who watched them on Oprah saw a mutuality in their regard for one another, and reconciliation in their rapport. There was humor and acceptance — not so much a fairy-tale ending as a loving truce, bound by devotion.
For the entirety of her childhood, Ms. Fisher had to endure the public's fascination with her mother, an experience she felt most keenly when they went out in public. "I did not like sharing her," Ms. Fisher wrote in "Wishful Drinking." But toward the end of her mother's life — Ms. Fisher did not know it was toward the end of her own life, as well — she wanted to show the world the person whom she saw, the mother and human, the Oz behind the curtain whom she loved.
That was one reason, Ms. Fisher said, that she consented to having a documentary made about them both, called "Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds," which will be broadcast on HBO on Jan. 7. At times, one of the documentary's directors, Fisher Stevens, was frustrated by just how hard it was to capture the real Ms. Reynolds — sometimes, he told The Washington Post, she asked for her lines, and seemed incapable of dropping a performer's pretense in front of the camera; one interview concludes with her throwing a kiss, as if she were ending a telethon. Ms. Reynolds, offstage, was a gift she reserved for her daughter and family alone.
On the Oprah special, Ms. Reynolds said of her daughter, "I always feel, as a mother does, that I protect her. Who will do that when I'm gone?" she asked.
And yet at the end, it was the daughter who protected the mother, hovering over her, in the documentary, when Ms. Reynolds insists on performing despite obvious frailty. Ms. Fisher brings her mother meals, begs her to rest, agonizes over logistics so Ms. Reynolds could comfortably accept a lifetime achievement award she was receiving from the Screen Actors Guild in 2015.
When her was daughter was unexpectedly gone, on Tuesday, Debbie Reynolds perhaps felt, at some level, that the show that mattered most was over. When she exited the stage a day later, it was her last and most exquisite bit of showmanship — a performance surely of love.


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PinPost: How to not show excerpt
leowu, in DMS & Legacy Products
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By Johnny Z
When using pinpost, the title and excerpt are split mid-word. http://www.ctrguns.com/gun-news/
Viewing in Google Chrome it looks fine. However, the problem is when viewing in Internet Explorer or Firefox.
I can't seem to figure out how to fix the problem. I tried changing typography settings, but it did not fix problem.
Perhaps there might be some styling class code that could solve the problem?
By hugheskh
HI, I have just joined pagelines family for not more than 24 hours,
I would like to ask can i customize the excerpt that is shown on pinpost?
i want to use some designated text like the classic post excerpt, I would also like to change the metas shown like the date, the category, or the number of words that can be viewed.
but it seems it doesn't support this, am i correct?
how can i customize it, thank you~


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"a spiritual teacher does not tell us what to do, they show us who we are." (Lawrence Freeman)
"before I can tell my life what I want to do with it, I must listen to my life telling me who I am. I must listen for the truths and values at the heart of my own identity." (Parker Palmer)
"the whole purpose of spiritual direction is to penetrate beneath the surface of our lives, get behind the façade of conventional gestures and attitudes which we present to the world and draw out our inner spiritual freedom." (Thomas Merton)
to continue to discern inner wisdom's invitation towards personal wholeness, authentic communal belonging, and joyful humility and reverence for the mystery of being human within a wondrous universe. (Kaye Twining)
Personal spiritual mentoring is an ancient spiritual practice reclaimed for our Time. In its reclaimed form, the practice involves a mentoree meeting monthly with a qualified spiritual mentor in order to express, explore, discern, integrate, and celebrate their own spiritual questions in relation to meaning and belonging. As each mentoree explores their own spiritual questions and discerns their own responses, they articulate their own unified narrative from which to source their experience of identity, purpose, values, and experience of belonging. In turn, they can celebrate their own growing awareness of their self-in-the-world.
As each mentoree continues to grow in Self understanding they may live within, and act upon their world, with inner freedom, personal wholeness, and authentic communal response-ability. In this way, the formal practice of spiritual mentoring follows a bi-directional pathway, i.e., towards the mentoree's inner being and towards their outer world.
The labyrinth symbolizes such a bi-directional pathway. A labyrinth pathway twists and turns its way from the outer edges – to the centre, or, the deep – then back out again. Therefore the pathway commences and concludes at the outer edges. The outer edges relate to the shallows of daily life. The centre, or the deep, refers to the inner ground of being, or innermost orientating reference point. Why does the pathway commence and conclude at the outer edges? We are not called to make our home in the deep. We are called to live authentically in the shallows – on the other side of the deep. Such an understanding aligns with a Buddhist teaching: before enlightenment, wash potatoes – after enlightenment, wash potatoes. As a result, the practice of spiritual mentoring draws from and flows back into daily life.
By way of symbol the labyrinth encompasses four particular movements:
- Drawn to engage in the inner journey and choosing to take the first step.
- Following the inward path of recognizing and accepting the reality of current lived experience and attending to the meaning giving questions arising.
- Reaching the centre – allowing deep change to take place in our ground of being.
- The outward journey of integrating a transformed ground of being with the outer world; of living authentically in daily life, with inner freedom and personal wholeness.
One model of spiritual mentoring
Because spiritual mentoring has traditionally been viewed as a religious practice, most of the present day models sit within the context of an existing religious or spiritual tradition. Such models are extremely valuable for mentorees who are seeking to explore their personal spiritual questions within an existing religious or spiritual tradition. At the same time, numerous people are now seeking to explore their spiritual questions within a framework beyond that of god and/or religion. The model presented below offers a different orientating reference point for the exploration of personal spiritual questions.
Spiritual mentoring, beyond god and religion
We each view ourselves-in-Life through a particular frame of reference, or world view. Our frame of reference both informs and limits our current view. Frames of reference are not static. They continue to change and evolve in response to an expanding knowledge base and beliefs regarding how the world came to be/continues to be and the human place of belonging within that. Beyond an existing religious and/or spiritual tradition, one new frame of reference is that of evolutionary spirituality drawing from a world view of conscious evolution. Conscious evolution here involves: intentionality in the form of a considered and deliberate choice to participate in the ongoing dynamic Life process of being and becoming. Evolutionary spirituality has been described in the following manner: "an integral way of thinking and being in the world grounded in a personal, meaningful experience of the epic of evolution as one's own creation myth, or cosmological sacred story." (Wikia.com) Integral here means that each part is necessary to, and included within, the whole. An integral way of thinking and being gives rise to the principle of unity with diversity.
Two themes within the framework of evolutionary spirituality, via the principle of unity with diversity, are: 1. The greater Story of Life itself, which is forever and continually in the making, and 2. The human tradition. Within the theme of the greater Story of Life itself, we choose to locate our personal identity within the dynamic "Big History" (Barbara Marx Hubbard) of the universe Story. Within such a big history context, we each know ourselves to be unique human beings in our own right seeking personal realization, and that we are intrinsically connected and response-able to a greater whole. We recognize that we participate in both our own, and Life's, wondrous transformative dance of both being and becoming. Such an understanding of participation within the whole, transforms our inner ground of being and animates our daily lived experience with purpose. In terms of the human tradition, it is a tradition which draws from the rich tapestry of wisdom, beliefs, knowledge, and values accumulated within human experience from ancient times through to the present. The human tradition includes that which continues to resound in our time and place in history and transcends that which does not.
Within the framework of evolutionary spirituality drawing from a world view of conscious evolution, contemplative Self discovery guides us towards fully embracing our humanity-within-the-whole, with all the attendant strengths and limitation involved, rather than seeking to transcend the human condition. Fully embracing our humanity-within-the-whole shapes our experience of meaning and belonging in the following manner: 1. self-in-Life: joyful humility and reverence for the mystery of belonging to Life's creative dance of being and becoming; 2. self-in-community: giving rise to relationships built on trust rather than similar belief systems, and response-ability emerging from a shared values system which seeks the flourishing of all life; and 3. self-in-lovingkindness: giving rise to personal wholeness in the form of the inner freedom to live authentically in daily life. As we each undertake our own adventure of fully embracing our humanity-within-the-whole, we are enabled to grow towards becoming the change we want to see in the world.
Lawrence Freeman, Jesus, Teacher within
Barbara Marx Hubbard, Conscious Evolution
Parker Palmer, 40-Day Journey
Thomas Merton www.thomasmerton.org
John O'Donohue, Anam Cara
Anne Hillman, Awakening the Energies of Love


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Thank you Basic Invite for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own.
When it comes to planning a birthday party, the invites set the tone and theme for whatever you have planned. I'm big on themed parties, whether it's Lego, Science or Pinkalicious, we go all out when it comes to birthdays around here. So when it comes to picking an invitation that gets our guests excited about the party, we love the options Basic Invite has to offer.
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Monday, February 29, 2016 - 20:00
The Police Service says that Marlena James, the 12-year-old schoolgirl who was reported missing on Sunday 28th, February, 2016, has been found.
A statement from the Police Service says James reported to the La Brea Police Station with her mother yesterday, Monday 29th February, 2016.
It says the Child Protection Unit is continuing inquiries into this matter.
The TTPS is thanking the public for its assistance in ensuring the teenager's safe return.
FOR MORE TOP STORIES: http://www.cnc3.co.tt/latest-news


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Food-based art supplies: natural Easter egg dyes
We've had a number of folks ask recently about making natural dyes for coloring Easter eggs. Whether you're crafty or culinary, or you just want to try something a little different this year, there are lots of ingredients in your cupboard and your crisper drawer that produce richly-colored natural dyes.
We talked about natural egg dyeing several years ago, in this article, and we also go into some detail about the basic egg-dye recipe (with helpful tips for making unique and funky designs) in a more recent post.
What follows here, is a little background on how natural dyes work, and some more ingredient suggestions that will help create the perfect shade for your eggy work of art.
How does it work?
Man-made or natural, dyes are made of pigments, which color the fabric or egg or other thing which is being dyed.
Dried and powdered herbs and spices will dissolve in the heated vinegar solution and yield their natural color.
On the other hand, fresh ingredients like berries, leafy greens, sliced beets, onions and so on will need to be boiled in order to let the pigments escape the plant material.
Vinegar, the other key ingredient of the natural food-based dye, is a natural preservative (think: pickles!), and acts upon the fresh ingredient while it boils to preserve the boldness of the pigment. Fresh lemon and lemon juice has the same preservative effect.
Fresh or canned? Hot dip or cold?
Fresh fruits and vegetables in your dye solution will produce a deeper or more intense color. Canned fruits and veg will yield a paler result.
The darkest, deepest colors will come from boiling the eggs in the dye. This also yields the most uniform color, as every part of the egg surface gets rolled around evenly in the dye. Place eggs in a single layer in a saucepan and add vinegar-water-dyeing agent solution until the level is 1″ – 2″ higher than the eggs. Bring to a rolling boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 – 30 min. Rinse with lukewarm water.
Softer, more translucent colors come from dipping eggs in dye solution that has been boiled, strained, and cooled at least slightly. Dip the eggs for up to 30 minutes or more. The longer the "dip," the deeper the color.
Hot, cool, coolest. You can also make no-boil dyes, and color eggs by covering the (already-hard-boiled) eggs with water, add dyeing materials, about a teaspoon of vinegar, and chill the eggs, in the dyeing solution, in the refrigerator until the desired color is achieved.
Which ingredients make what color?
Orange – Paprika + vinegar
onion skins, boiled in vinegar water
Yellow or Gold – Turmeric + vinegar
Orange + Lemon peels
Carrot tops and greens
Yellow mustard, ground
Saffron (this is a very expensive way to dye eggs – might want to choose a less expensive ingredient)
Curry powder
Daffodil blossoms
Green – blend your blue + yellow dyes, or…
Yellow-green – 1 Cup spinach cooked with vinegar water
Blue – Blueberries + lemon
Red cabbage, boiled in vinegar water, cabbage leaves left to steep in the water while dye cools
Purple – Concord grape juice concentrate + vinegar
Red – Pomegranate juice + red onion skins + vinegar
Hibiscus flowers dried (or Hibiscus Powder)
Red wine (no vinegar needed)
or – allow the egg to soak in your deep orange onion dye for a very long time
Pink – Raspberries + lemon
sliced beets, cranberries, and/or red currants cooked in vinegar water
Brown – coffee granules + vinegar
Golden brown – Dill seeds
What should you do with all those dyed, hard-boiled eggs when you're done admiring them? Here's a post with lots of recipes that call for hard-boiled eggs.
Easter egg photo (at top) credit: Natural Easter egg dying, by Luz on Flickr


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« AnteriorContinuar »
With joy was heard the ancient seer,
"A Virgin shall conceive, and bear
With joy we hear the angel bring
"Hail, favour'd one, from thee shall spring
Blest Lord, who did'st not scorn below
And us the Father's glory shew,
Now for our sake incarnate made,
Or in a lowly form arrayed,
We lift our hearts, O Lord, to Thee,
The Three in One, the One in Three,
In His temple now behold Him,
Ancient prophets had foretold Him,
Now to praise Him His redeemed
In the arms of her who bore Him,
While His aged saints adore Him,
Alleluia! alleluia!
'Tis the Incarnate God Most High!
Jesu, by Thy presentation,
Thou who cam'st in lowly mien,
Make us see our great salvation,
And present us in Thy glory
Prince and Author of salvation,
Jesu! praise to Thee be given
With the Father and the Spirit,
jffgtitoal* of apostle*, ittartpris, Set. 308. c. M.
The Son of God goes forth to war,
A kingly crown to gain,
Who follows in His train?
Who best can drink His cup of woe,
Triumphant over pain,
The martyr, first, whose eagle eye
Who saw His Master in the sky,
Like Him, with pardon on his tongue,
In midst of mortal pain,
Who follows in his train?
A glorious band, the chosen few
On whom the Spirit came,
And mocked the cross and flame.
They met the tyrant's brandished steel,
The lion's gory mane, They bowed their necks, the death to feel;
Who follows in their train?
A noble army, men and boys,
The matron and the maid,
In robes of light arrayed.
They climbed the steep ascent of heaven
O God, to us may grace be given
O Thou who didst with love untold
And bade the eye of sense behold
Grant us, like him, with heartfelt awe,
And from his hour of darkness draw
And while that wondrous record now
Of unbelief we hear,
In self-distrusting fear.
And grant that we may never dare
Thy loving heart to grieve,
Who see not, yet believe.
Our Lord and God, Eternal Son,
To Thee all glory be;
Through all eternity. Amen.
310. s. M
O What, if we are Christ's,
Keen was the trial once,
Bright is their glory now,
Boundless their joy above,
Where on the bosom of their Q-od
They rest in perfect love.
Lord, may that grace be ours -.


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02 Dec Quick Tips to Handle Knee Joint Pain During Pregnancy
Pregnancy may be a transformative period in a woman's life, but it can also put a great deal of stress on a woman's body. From morning sickness and heartburn to cravings and joint pain- there's a lot to handle at the same time.
A lot of women experience joint pain during pregnancy, particularly pain in the knee joint, and due to several possible reasons. Are you too, troubled by knee joint pain during pregnancy? Well then, read on to discover 7 easy actionable tips to handle it better.
Low Impact Exercises
Probably the biggest mistake most women make during pregnancy is that they totally avoid exercise. Engaging in low impact exercises during pregnancy has many benefits- it keeps weight in check, helps you stay active and fit, improves joint health and stability and prevents knee joint pain as well.
Slow walking, low leg raises and pool exercises turn out to be excellent options for women who are pregnant. If you have an existing condition that has affected your knee joints (such as arthritis), light exercises in the swimming pool can be the best option for you, since exercising in the water tends to reduce stress exerted on your knee and other leg joints. Make sure you exercise under the guidance of a professional trainer, and avoid engaging in high intensity workouts or strenuous physical activity.
Yoga and other forms of meditation exercises are also extremely effective ways to combat knee pain, and many other forms of joint pain during pregnancy. Performing simple deep breathing exercises on a daily basis can help you stay focused, concentrate better, improve the flow of oxygen into your body, strengthen your internal organs, and yes, also relieve joint pain, particularly joint pain associated with arthritis.
Take out a few minutes everyday to simply lie down and take deep, slow breaths, and if possible, also try mindfulness meditation. Many studies have confirmed that meditation is indeed, an extremely effective tool to deal with different forms of physical and psychological illnesses, including chronic pain.
Weight Management
Weight management is another important factor to be considered when it comes to handling knee joint pain during pregnancy. Excessive weight gain during pregnancy can exert a lot of stress on the knee joints, which can in turn, cause knee pain. Follow your doctor's advice about the ideal calorie intake everyday, and stick to a natural diet to make sure you have a healthy pregnancy. Also make sure you engage in some light physical activity everyday to stay active and energetic during your pregnancy period.
Correct Footwear
If you're exercising, but still experiencing pain, focus on your footwear. It is important to wear the correct shoes during exercising- ideally, your shoes should provide adequate cushioning and must also have arch support which can help absorb the shock on your knees. During the last trimester of your pregnancy, stick to comfy sneakers or slip-ons and avoid high heeled shoes that make you feel cramped and uncomfortable.
Knee Braces
Knee braces are basically elastic, donut-shaped braces that work by supporting the ligaments and tendons around the knee, and thereby help relieve knee pain. You'll have the option to choose from basic to advanced level knee braces depending on the cause behind your pain. You can also find knee pillows and knee wraps online- all designed with the same idea in mind- providing support to the knee area and helping calm down knee pain.
Ointments and Creams
The use of certain pain relieving ointments and creams meant for topical application can also prove to be effective in targeting knee joint pain during pregnancy, but the effectiveness of these creams last for only a short period of time. It is best to avoid the use of painkillers during pregnancy, but if you must, always have a quick talk with your general practitioner first to make sure you're on the right dosage and opting for painkillers that are safe for use during pregnancy.
Other Approaches
There are several other simple approaches that could be helpful in dealing with knee joint pain in particular.
- Apply a warm compress to your knee- it acts as a natural pain reliever for moderate form of joint pain.
- Use pillows and cushions to support your body during sleep, especially if you're experiencing joint pain during the later trimesters of pregnancy due to lack of comfort during sleep.
- Avoid sitting or standing for too long- give your legs some movement often- get up for a short walk around the house every hour or couple of hours- sitting in a single position for too long can also lead to knee pain.
- Have a talk with your doctor about using supplements– certain herbal extracts and supplements can help calm down joint pain effectively, but it is best to discuss with your healthcare provider before consuming them during pregnancy.


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1. James Gandolfini was born and raised in Bergen County, North Jersey.
2. Then he attended Rutgers, New Jersey's state university.
3. He always returned to his roots, filming commercials for Rutgers football and raising money for charities.
Then there is Jim Gandolfini, who seems to thrive on the apartment-hopping life. Since moving to New York City four years ago, Mr. Gandolfini, 26 years old, has never had his name on a lease, never paid more than $400 a month in rent and never lived in one place more than 10 months. His wanderer's existence has given him sojourns, some as brief as two months, in Hoboken, N.J.; Astoria, Queens; Clinton and the Upper West Side of Manhattan, and Park Slope and Flatbush in Brooklyn.''Moving, to me, is no big deal,'' said Mr. Gandolfini, whose calling is the theater but whose living comes mostly from bartending and construction. ''I have a system down. I throw everything in plastic garbage bags and can be situated in my new place in minutes. Without my name on a lease, I'm in and out. I have no responsibilities.
5. After years as a working actor, he landed his landmark part: Tony Soprano, a Jersey gangster for a new age.
6. He also won the admiration of his fellow Garden Staters.
7. He was a big Jets fan.
8. Even went to a Nets games at the Meadowlands before they left town.
9. Of course, Gandolfini enjoyed the Jersey Shore.
10. He lived the dream of every Jersey kid — hanging out and co-starring with Stevie Van Zandt.
It's an awful shock. James Gandolfini was a fine actor, a Rutgers alum and a true Jersey guy. I was a huge fan of his and the character he played so authentically, Tony Soprano. I have gotten to know Jimmy and many of the other actors in the Sopranos cast and I can say that each of them are an individual New Jersey treasure. Mary Pat and I express our deepest sympathies to Mr. Gandolfini's wife and children, and our prayers are with them at this terrible time.


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Jeremiah Kerry laments an Israel that wouldn't heed his warnings
A better, safer future is available, the secretary argues in a bitter valedictory appearance, but the settlers and their champions are destroying it
David Horovitz is the founding editor of The Times of Israel. He is the author of "Still Life with Bombers" (2004) and "A Little Too Close to God" (2000), and co-author of "Shalom Friend: The Life and Legacy of Yitzhak Rabin" (1996). He previously edited The Jerusalem Post (2004-2011) and The Jerusalem Report (1998-2004).
It seems increasingly unlikely, though not impossible, that the Obama administration will lend its hand to a resolution that might discomfit the Israeli government at the UN, or otherwise seek to bequeath a framework for Israeli-Palestinian peace. Outgoing Secretary of State John Kerry did a great deal more than discomfit the prime minister and his coalition on Sunday, however. In remarks at the Saban Forum in Washington, DC, Kerry unloaded almost four years of bitter frustration at Benjamin Netanyahu and his colleagues, warned that Israel is "heading to a place of danger," and cited the settlement enterprise as the central catalyst for that potential disaster.
A different, brighter future, he indicated, was attainable for Israel. But the settlers were destroying it, he said. And his unfortunate role, he made sadly clear, had been to serve these past four years as the prophet who can see the tragedy approaching, but whose warnings go unheeded.
No, said the secretary, ceding a point to Netanyahu, who had spoken by satellite just before him, the settlements "are not the cause of the conflict." But, Kerry repeated several times, they most certainly constitute a core "obstacle" to its solution. "Let's not kid each other here," he advised. "You can't just wipe it away by saying it doesn't have an impact. It has an impact."
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He didn't blame Netanyahu personally for utilizing settlements with the deliberate goal of ensuring that there can be no two-state solution. But the Israeli right, Kerry said, was strategically bringing more and more Jews into the West Bank, and locating them in very specific locations, with precisely that goal — to ensure that there could be no viable Palestinian state. And Netanyahu was presiding over the process.
Twenty-thousand more Jews now live in settlements beyond the security fence than when President Barack Obama first took office, he said, dozens of illegal outposts were in the process of being legalized, and this ongoing process "narrows and narrows the capacity for peace," he lamented.
Plainly determined to use the event, one of his last opportunities as secretary, to set out his vision and the reasons for his failure to bring it to fruition, Kerry insisted that he spoke as a friend of Israel, as a diplomat who had never sought to impose a solution, and as a strategic ally who had always respected Israel's security needs.
The way he told it, his has been a thankless task — essentially trying to save Israel from itself, and specifically from the short-sighted, right-wing settlement-builders, the advocates of Greater Israel who will either cost Israel its Jewish majority or its democracy, or both, by gradually preventing separation from the millions of West Bank Palestinians. "Sometimes there's a proclivity to kill the messenger," he observed wryly.
Most of the current Israeli ministers are on record opposing Palestinian statehood, he noted unhappily. And the settlements are their tool. The ongoing settlement building is backed by the right "because they don't want peace," he said flatly. They want it "to block the peace, because they want those places to belong to Israel. That's the history of the settler movement, my friends."
Vouchsafing new details of his 2013-2104 deal-making efforts, now that he's so close to the end of his term, Kerry detailed some of the security provisions that, he argued, could enable a substantial Israeli withdrawal, and facilitate a small, demilitarized Palestinian "city state" in the West Bank. The Jordanians were ready to build a sophisticated security fence on their side of the Jordan Valley, and the Palestinians on their side. Israeli troops would have been able to helicopter to trouble spots in minutes. There were "all kinds of ways" for Israel and the Palestinians to have joint troops and joint operations, he said, referring to the proposals memorably castigated by then defense minister Moshe Ya'alon in 2014 as "not worth the paper they're printed on."
Plainly still unpersuaded that Israel's objections were truly based on concerns about extremist forces filling any West Bank vacuum left by a departing IDF, the secretary referred vaguely to "political decisions" in Israel that had thwarted his efforts — apparently suggesting that Netanyahu, though he recognizes the dangers of a binational state, has lacked the will to face down the hawks in the wider interests of the country. Stability and tranquility were not out of reach for Israel, Kerry suggested, but wouldn't be attained if "all you're doing is building up your presence" in what the Palestinians see as their state. And as for that idea beloved by Netanyahu of a regional Arab peace first, and accommodation with the Palestinians somewhere down the line, forget about it. "There will be no separate peace between Israel and the Arab world," he insisted.
And was it too late for two states, now, he was asked? "No, we haven't (passed the tipping point)," he sighed, "but we're getting…" He trailed off.
In resisting the Obama-Kerry effort, Ya'alon had reportedly declared in January 2014 that Kerry was "messianic" and "inexplicably obsessive" in his quest for an accord and that "all that can save us is for John Kerry to win a Nobel Prize and leave us in peace." Kerry didn't get his Nobel, of course, and Israel, it would appear, managed to deflect him quite effectively.
Kerry never dented Netanyahu's conviction that today's Middle East, with its vicious unpredictability, is no place for high-risk territorial compromise. And Netanyahu never dented Kerry's belief that Israel's fundamental self-interest requires working energetically toward a two-state accord. With Netanyahu's satellite time from Jerusalem concluding just before Kerry spoke, Sunday thus marked possibly the last round in their dialogue of the deaf.


text: Pictures of the Day – May 1, 2018Odd Stuff Beach trash art. by Liina Klauss 1st of May in Berlin. by Timor Kodal Legoland Japan has set a new Guinness World Records title, after building a life-size sakura tree using over 800,000 Lego bricks. via Heavy Metal. via The night they ended prohibition in the USA, December 5, 1933. via My boss got a goat, so now my day consists of me hanging out with a goat. via Beautiful open road in Arizona. by Matt Wilczek I married my best friend on Saturday, we celebrated on a bouncy castle. via Sand art. via Rivendell in real life. I caught the light in the perfect moment at Multnomah falls, Oregon. via Mount St. Helens eruption in 1980. via I Found Falkor from The Neverending Story. via Here comes the glacier express! by Long-Nong Huang Abandoned railway tunnel in Paris, France. by Myrabella A thunderstorm I photographed in my homestate of Nebraska last spring. by Erik Johnson This beautiful girl was starved by her previous owners and scared of everyone. A week after she came home with me, she won't leave my side. via Mount Everest from my plane, flying at 31,000 feet. via Downtown Manhattan from a Helicopter! via I managed to take a pic just as a seagull was stealing my son's sandwich. via Just a Polar Bear taking a picture. by Roie Galitz Add to Flipboard Magazine. FacebookTwitterPinterest


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How did the Maine Coon come to have its name? Several tales are floating about regarding the derivation of the name. One stems from a legend of a domestic cat released outside (released or escaped is what I still am wondering…) & this feline interbred with a raccoon. The result was the Maine Coon. This tale was initiated because Maine Coon characteristics resemble that of a raccoon. This is biologically impossible; however, with the Coon's luxuriant tail & the fact that the classic brown tabby is the most common of their colorations, a myth was born…
Another tall tale is that the Maine Coon received its name from a ship's captain. Captain Coon was responsible for this domestic cat reaching America's New England shores, it's also said that another tale has Maine Coons stemming from Marie Antoinette's six escaped cats she sent to Maine (Wiscasset) from France during the French Revolution. But know body really knows for certain.
Natural selection plays a part in the Maine Coon's history. In the 1600-1700's domesticated cats brought across the ocean from Europe faced climate changes in New England. The harsh winters, such as they had, brought about natural selection. In order to survive, the Maine Coon had to adapt, developing into the large feline with a water resistant coat (It rains a lot in Maine!!!!!!!) & ability to survive most climate conditions.
Still…the majority of people believe that Maine Coons derived in cross breeding domestic short hairs & Angoras or long hairs conveyed to North America by the Vikings. Maine Coons appear similar to the Norwegian Forest Cat & the Siberian.
We know Maine Coons are renowned for their size, however, they are also known for their high liveliness & acumen quotients. Because of this, they have been labeled "the Gentle Giants" in the feline world.
Male Maine Coons can weigh up to a staggering 12-14kg's with the standard being between 10- 12kg's for males. Females weigh between 6 – 8kg's this is twice the size of a normal domestic cat, reaching 10kg's for the biggest girl.
Maine Coon cats are not considered full grown until they reach four to five years of age. Therefore, if your eighteen month old precious fur baby appears huge to you now-just you wait!!!!
Maine Coons do not have the long coat like that of a Persian; rather they have middling thick (plush) fur with a ruff (beard) around their neck & chests. This exterior is akin to a lion's mane. They also have the longer hair around their legs (pants).
The fur of a Maine Coon is derived of two layers. An undercoat & a supplementary tier of longer guard hairs. This multi- stratum coat is what gives the Maine Coons their noticeable appearance. (The guard hairs on the tips of their ears are called tuffs.) They require only minimal grooming!!!!
Maine Coons can be polydactyl – like Hemmingway's cats-having six or more toes on their paws.
The hairs on the tips of the ears are called lynx tips and the fur inside the ear is often referred to as ear tufts (or ear furnishings).


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For all you folks that are following us on Facebook and Instagram and Yelp you'll see that we are in the process of to Big remodels in Newport Beach Newport Coast. First properties located at Sea Terrace in Newport Coast. We have completely remodeled all the bathrooms and replaced the plumbing valves with Kohler fixtures and Moen valves. We have tile tub showers to the ceiling and installed in the master bathroom a new oval tub. All the flooring throughout the house is hardwood floors we will be posting photos of this work on our website. we've been stalled a new kitchen with a waterfall feature countertop. And all new recessed lighting throughout the entire home
We are finishing up a few jobs that we are doing some remodeling on here in Newport Beach, Newport Coast. We are pleased to announce the upcoming build of a custom 15000 square foot home that we are going to build in the city of Newport Beach,Harbor Ridge.
OC home builders and restoration follow us on Facebook Yelp and Instagram


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SanDisk 32GB Cruzer Force USB 2.0 Metal Pen Drive
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So, I was a bit apprehensive because I wasn't sure if connecting a female serial cable to this - and then plugging the assembly would work well via USB. But it did on the first shot. I was able to talk to the scale on COM 7. (Posted on 4/7/2018)
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Price Value Quality
From the product box I could tell this was solid item. The box has a small plastic handle on the top to hook it on store shelves and this has nothing to do with the product in itself but finer detail like this makes all the difference when you perceive quality.
As instructed, installed driver from supplied CD in my Windows 8.1 laptop. Plugged USB end of connector to laptop, it got recognized and listed in device manager as Cadyce adapter - another finer touch. No-name adapters are usually hit or miss with drivers. Unfortunately solar controller had female receiver with plug secure screw holders which shouldn't have been there by standard and was not allowing male and female to mate. So I had to tooth extract those from both sides of Cadyce male plug connector. I was able to upload firmware on charge controller without a hitch.
This USB to Serial adapter has been one of the very few device that worked out of the box without driver issues. (Posted on 4/7/2018)
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