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The Magic Plant
Previous beliefs about cannabis need to be done away with: Can someone imagine there is a possible cure for cancer ["'Miracle' Cannabis Oil" Chris Roberts, feature, 4/24]? Those puritan fears [about cannabis] are the only reason that people, who could otherwise be saved, are condemned to death; because some close-minded reactionary who probably was wrong about Russia, communism, civil rights, woman's rights, and war, now feels that it's impossible that the weed he's feared for so long, could have any medicinal benefits. Rather than admit that he was wrong about marijuana, mom, dad, brother, sister, son and daughters can die. It will be an evil weed until GW Pharmaceuticals decides it isn't.
Another reader isn't convinced cannabis holds the cure: Potheads will believe anything. Marijuana cures cancer. The so-called health nuts are always claiming something is a miracle drug. Hucksters all. They are desperate to convince the world that a vice is a virtue.
Collision Course
Reader wants it like the olden days: Before 1906 there were cable cars across the whole city and they worked fine ["Running of the Bull," Joe Eskenazi, Your Humble Narrator, 4/24]. Imagine if residents had a city of cable cars and pedestrians! How many accidents, how many lives would that save from dangerous car or bicycle crashes, or those lumbering behemoth Muni buses? A slower city would be a saner city, and traveling across town would never be boring again.
May be cable cars this time, but story is nothing new: What is new about inept, inefficient, and expensive civic amenities? If Muni doesn't cover it, some agency will, and the taxpayers will continue to foot the bill. Does Joe Eskenazi propose to move [the funds] somewhere else, and does he expect that to be more efficient?
Blog Comments of the Week
Obama should have to foot the bill for his visit: They should definitely bill the White House just as S.F. should ["Insanely Wealthy Bay Area Town Sends Obama the Bill for His Visit," Erin Sherbert, the Snitch, 4/25]. There is no reason that the citizens of these cities, where at least some percentage of people don't even support Obama, should have to pay for his never ending campaign trail. How rich or poor they are is besides the point. If Obama came to my city, I most definitely wouldn't want to pay for his increased security. Typical liberal post bringing in the wealth factor when that's completely beyond the point.
Reader wants government to focus on domestic issues first: I think society needs to help these people lead a normal life ["City Attorney Says 'Patient Dumping' Is a Problem for San Francisco," Kate Conger, the Snitch, 4/24]. Also, there are homeless veterans and people going hungry, this should not be going on in America. The U.S. government should be helping the people instead of helping other countries first.
New restaurant doesn't bother to scrape off old Michelin stickers: I'll bet if those were negative health department ratings from the previous tenant, they would have been gone long ago ["Why Does Coqueta Have Michelin and Zagat Stickers In Its Window?" Anna Roth, SFoodie, 4/22]!


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- Targets $1bn from new tax scheme
….Jude Johnson
The Federal Government hinted plans to organise an all-encompassing national security summit to discuss myriads of security threats across the country, especially the Boko Haram terrorism, herdsmen attacks, and Niger Delta militancy among others.
This is coming as the Government is also targeting estimated revenue of $1 billion from the proposed Nigeria Voluntary Asset and Income Declaration Scheme.
The planned security seminar was disclosed on Thursday during the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The outcome of the NEC meeting was conveyed to State House correspondents by the trio of Abia State governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, Kaduna State Deputy Governor, Mr. Bala Bantex, and Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr. Babatunde Fowler.
Speaking the issue, Bantex said the Council members plan an extraordinary session to discuss security matters especially as it relates to the economy.
He said that the "decision to hold the session came following a briefing from the National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Mungonu on the Security situation in the country with particular reference to Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East, cattle rustling, ethnic militias/security outfits, Kidnapping, Armed robbery, Militancy in Niger Delta and proliferation of small arms across the country."
According to him, "the NSA fingered unemployment as the major threat to security".
Earlier, Fowler spoke on plans for estimated revenue of $1 billion from the proposed Nigeria Voluntary Asset and Income Declaration Scheme.
He said the scheme takes off on May 1st for up to six months and will offer a window for those who before now have not complied with extant tax regulations to remedy their positions by the provision of limited amnesty to enable voluntary declaration and payment of liabilities.
He said that NEC approved the scheme following a briefing by the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun at the meeting where she stated that the underpayment of tax via the use of Tax Havens and other evasion strategies which have not been helpful to Nigeria.
The scheme, he said, will also have incentives in place to encourage early participation. Under the scheme, taxpayers will be allowed up to 3 years to settle their liabilities.
According to Fowler, FIRS is targeting an increase in tax contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to 18 percent by 2020.
He said this will be done through a Voluntary Asset and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) approved by NEC on Thursday.
The VAIDS scheme is expected to simultaneously generate revenue and encourage investment and economic activity as only 214 individuals in the entire country pay N20 million or more in tax annually.
"VAIDS scheme targets to increase the tax to GDP ratios to 18 per cent from just six per cent by 2020", adding that the FIRS can actually surpass NEC's projected 15 per cent," he added.
The FIRS boss said only 14 million Nigerians out of 40 million eligible taxpayers
currently pay tax.
Fowler said a conservative revenue of US$1 billion is expected to be generated from
the scheme, adding that the VAIDS scheme will embrace all Federal and States' taxes such as Companies Income Tax, Personal Income Tax, Petroleum Profits Tax, Capital Gains Tax, Stamp Duties, Tertiary Education Tax, Technology Tax.
It is expected to cover all back taxes without any limit to time on how far back a tax assessment can go where a taxpayer has willfully defaulted.
"It is anticipated that at least 50 per cent of the funds recovered will belong to States who are the ultimate collectors of personal income taxes. A MoU will be gazetted and signed with each State Government", Fowler who briefed alongside the Abia state governor Okezie Ikpeazu and Kaduna state deputy governor Bala Bantex, said.
According to Fowler, under-payment of tax has been principally perpetrated by multinational companies and high net worth individuals, keeping Nigeria as a country with the lowest non-oil tax to GDP at six per cent.
"The proposed Nigeria Voluntary Asset and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) will capitalize on the considerable international goodwill built by President Buhari in his mission to rebuild Nigeria," he said.
The scheme is also expected to capitalize on the current global movement against tax evasion and illicit financial flows and offer a
window for those who have not complied with extant tax regulations to remedy their position by the provision of limited amnesty to enable voluntary declaration and payment of liabilities.
Adeosun also reported to Council that the balance in the Excess Crude Account (ECA) as at 15th March 2017 stood at US$2, 45,864,724.59, recording a marginal increase of US$2,458,382,882.03.
The ECA balance does not reflect the decision of Council last month to deduct $250 million for injection into the Sovereign Wealth Fund.
She also briefed the council on the Stabilization Fund Account (SFA), an account which is equivalent to 0.5% of the Federation Account.
The Finance Minister informed Council that the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) recently approved for disbursement (N39, 613,282,870.69) to a number of States. She said the stabilization fund now stands at N25, 793,400,290.00.
Council also deliberated on the need to accelerate and review the extant National Forest Policy as well as ensure its backing through the enactment of relevant Forest Laws.
Ikpeazu said council recommended massive afforestation/reforestation of degraded forests and landscape outside Forests and the establishment of take-off of the National Forestry Trust Fund through
contributions by Wood Products Exporters according to products classification (tally processed, semi-processed, charcoal) etc.
It also recommended the establishment of National Forest Model Estate in all the States and FCT, Improvement in forest governance and establishment of National Taskforce to effectively protect the forest Estate/Reserve as well as effective monitoring, evaluation, documentation of trade in wood and wood product

subset: commoncrawl


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San Mateo, CA 94402
Woodland Hills, CA 91367
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
Santa Ana, CA 92705
Fresno, CA 93720
San Diego, CA 92101
By appointment only.
The LISI Team
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Current: 2019


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Photo by TAFE SA TONSLEY, CC BY 2.0
The fact that the world is slowly warming is no secret. Some 97% of the scientific community agrees that humans and the fossil fuels we emit are the main attributors to global climate change. And if not addressed, we can see everything from rising oceans to global droughts.
It's no laughing matter. That's why there have been huge attempts in recent years to find global alternatives to fossil fuels and the high-energy costs that come with them. As renewable energies are becoming more popular, the cost of dealing with fossil fuels will become even more expensive over the years.
Below are seven of the top alternative energies to learn about if you're interested in getting away from high energy costs. After you're done with this article, click here to learn more about the rise of renewable energy.
- Hydropower
Approximately 160 countries around the world already use hydropower as a source of energy. Creating dams to produce electricity is one of the main global alternatives to high energy costs and has been used throughout history in order to produce electricity.
- Nuclear Fission
A lot of the world's energy is already created by nuclear fission, but many people are still scared of the idea of nuclear power plants in their backyards. However, by and large, nuclear power plants are incredibly safe and have plenty of failsafe mechanisms to protect from a nuclear meltdown. Plus, they are great ways to get rid of our dependence on fossil fuels until a completely safe source of energy can be found.
- Biomass
You probably haven't even thought about it, but biomass energy has been humanity's main source of energy for most of our history until the discovery of fossil fuels. Biomass energy production includes the burning of trees, crop residue, and other biological material for electricity and heat. This could be used a great replacement for the fossil fuel industry, if harnessed efficiently.
- Wind
Along with solar power, wind power is one of the most common renewable energies out there that could relieve us from our dependence on fossil fuels. With the rise of renewable energies around the world, the cost of installing wind turbines has dropped dramatically, leading to a rise in manufacturing and investment in the sector.
- Geothermal
Geothermal could be a very useful energy source in some places of the Earth that have high amounts of heat coming up from the crust. However, in most places around the world, geothermal energy could not be used because the heat from below our feet moves around too slowly.
Geothermal could be a great energy source in places where there are hot springs or an exceptional amount of heat moving around in the ground.
- Solar
Solar energy is probably one of the most viable alternatives to fossil fuels out there. The energy we can get from the sun is endless and if harnessed efficiently, could solve all of our long-term energy costs.
Plus, with the decrease in the cost of solar panels thanks to the increase in manufacturing, more and more people are hopping on the solar panel train. This would have been unthinkable just a few years ago, when solar panels were still incredibly expensive. However, now even the most common American family can afford solar panels on their homes.
- Ocean Energy
Energy harnessed from the ocean's currents and waves are by no means huge factors in global energy production. No one has come up with a fool-proof way of harnessing this kinetic energy, but that hasn't stopped many people from trying.
At different places around the world where there are more waves and the tidal pull of the moon is stronger, harnessing the ocean's energy could be a viable way to get energy. The costs of such a project would be along the same lines of hydropower.
There are seven of the top alternatives to fossil fuels and high energy costs. These energies are the energies of the future and should definitely be kept in your mind if you're looking to invest in renewable energy or get involved somehow in the future.


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Two for Two
"It took two years to bring our son home through adopting from Korea. It was such a long and hard process emotionally that we weren't sure if we could go through that again. A few months later, we started to settle into our new family life and decided we would start trying to get pregnant. But then we got a surprising call. A baby boy needed a home and although we weren't supposed to be on the 'list', we fit the exact profile that his birth parents were hoping for. We were beyond scared but knew we had to say yes. This adoption took two days. If there is anything we learned through our processes, it is that God's timing is perfect and human beings were made to be resilient creatures. I didn't know if I would make it through motherhood on certain days. But looking back, I wouldn't trade it for the world."


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Less than 24 hours ago, a U.S. airstrike killed a top Iranian general. Since then, the top trending hashtags on Twitter have been #WorldWar3, #WorldWarIII,
Category: War & Insurrection
ISRAEL UNDER ATTACK… AGAIN: Palestinian Terrorists in Gaza Fire About 700 Rockets into Jewish State
In less than two days, about 700 rockets were fired into Israel from Gaza by Palestinian terror groups. Hamas and Islamic Jihad joined together to
LOVE YOUR ENEMIES: Threatening The Lives of Political Adversaries Is NOT The Way of "The Right"
"JESUS said, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you,
ISRAEL VS. HAMAS: Everything That You Need To Know About Their Clashes In 2018
Recent clashes between Israel and Palestine's Hamas terror group have many Middle East experts believing that another war, like the battle of 2014, is on
REAL "FAKE NEWS": As Palestinians Terrorized Israel, Lamestream News Media Portrayed Them As "VICTIMS"
As always, and as I had predicted in my previous articles, the global mainstream media completely ignored the facts on the ground this week when
HOLY LAND ON HIGH ALERT: Hundreds of Thousands of Palestinians Plan to Besiege Israel During Anniversary Celebrations
A former Israeli intelligence chief has described this month as "the most dangerous May for Israel since 1967," alluding to the month which preceded the
Not So "Peaceful" Protests: Thousands Of Hamas-Led Palestinians Violently Storm Israel's Border
Once again, as is always the case when Israeli forces clash with the violent Palestinian Islamists in Gaza, the lamestream liberal media is demonizing Israel.
ALLIED AGAINST ISRAEL: Is The Gog-Magog War At The Door?
This past weekend, the fuse may have been lit for one of the most infamous "Last Days" wars prophesied in the Holy Bible – the
A Year To Remember: 5777 Brought Historic Signs, Warnings, And Judgments
5777… There has never been another year like it in my lifetime. It did not disappoint my expectations, when I wrote that "I truly believed
Nuclear North Korea: The Threat Is REAL
While the chubby little leader of North Korea is a joke, his Country's nuclear capabilities and ability to strike the United States of America are
MODERATE ISLAM?: Linda Sarsour Calls For JIHAD In America, Tells Fellow Muslims To "Not Assimilate"
Palestinian-American Muslim Activist Linda Sarsour, organizer of this year's Left-wing "Women's March", publicly called for "JIHAD" against Republicans at the Islamic Society of North America
MIRACLE OF 1967: 50th Anniversary Of Israel's Victory In Six Day War And Reunification Of JERUSALEM
"They (Islamic nations) have said, Come, and let us cut them (Jews) off from being a Nation; that the Name of ISRAEL may be no


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Review: Miss Saigon
Posted by News Editor
Posted in News
David Cradduck watches Miss Saigon at The Mayflower.
Being a country bumpkin, I have not seen a great many big West End shows so cannot compare Sir Cameron Mackintosh's latest touring production of Miss Saigon with either the original 1989 show in Drury Lane (yes, it really is nearly 30 years ), or the 2014 revival at the Prince Edward Theatre. But I have seen many a cracking show at The Mayflower and I can safely say that this rates as one of the most spectacular in terms of staging, set, lighting and sheer complexity.
Complete with that now famous helicopter scene – the desperate last minute evacuation of the last US troops from the roof of the American Embassy as Saigon falls in 1975 – Miss Saigon is nothing short of a visual and audio spectacle that wears its budget on its imperial flag.
Based on the 1903 Puccini opera Madam Butterfly and set against the backdrop of that most controversial of wars, the Vietnam war, Miss Saigon traces the doomed love story of Chris, a young and disillusioned American GI, with a 17-year old Vietnamese peasant orphan, Kim, who has been forced into prostitution in what can only be described as a fairly grimy Saigon brothel.
The opening sequence sets the scene for most of the show with some fairly graphic, though carefully choreographed, portrayal of the seedy goings on as war-weary American troops are let loose amongst the 'easy' Asian women of the night. I am not prudish but there were times when I felt a little uncomfortable with the no-holds-barred presentation of this section of humanity that none of us should feel very proud of.
No spoilers, but of course Chris falls for Kim and Kim falls for Chris; they 'marry' in a ceremony held sacred locally but which would be regarded by the Western world as invalid. Kim has a son about which Chris, long since returned to America and a new wife, knows nothing. It is a story with an inevitable, doomed ending and reflects the larger picture of the futility of the war itself, the horrors and atrocities, the imperialistic clash of ideals and hopelessness.
All this is set to Boublil and Schönberg's music (equally famous for Les Misérables). Hardly a spoken word is uttered, the lyrics narrating the story. I don't know if it is just me and my ageing hearing but the sheer volume and power of the score and its 110% delivery is often to the detriment of actually hearing those all-important words. That is not to say that there are some great numbers (none of which are as well known as their counterparts in Phantom of the Opera), some powerful singing and amazing orchestration, but I struggled to keep pace with what was going on some of the time.
On press night, the lead role of Kim was played by alternate actress 18-year-old Joreen Bautista, unbelievably at ease in her debut professional role. Talk about in at the deep end. She gives a fine performance as the troubled victim of circumstances and the chemistry between her and an emotional Ashley Gilmour as Chris, is palpable. Indeed, emotions play an important part in the main story line and are as visibly present in the other main characters: Red Concepción as The Engineer, the seedy, sinister, selfish, ambitious pimp who sees Kim's son as his passport to a better life, is superb. He has some of the best lines and best songs (What a Waste, The American Dream) and is always the centre of attraction when on stage. His Fagin-esque character is both loathsome and lovable as he connives his egotistic ambitious way through the storyline.
Zoë Doano as Chris's all-American wife puts in a very pleasing and plausible performance, as does Ryan O'Gorman as Chris's buddy John. O'Gorman puts in a touching performance when John reminds his fellow countryman that the Bui Doi, the many children 'conceived in Hell and born in strife' as a result of liaisons between American servicemen and Vietnamese women (mainly prostitutes) are 'all our children too'.
But above all, the staging of this show is the main star – it is a big budget production and it shows. The lighting is some of the moodiest and most complex I have ever seen. No resorting to quantities of smoke and dry ice here; scene changes are slick, clever and extremely effective through clever use of lighting. The sets are amazing and the way they are turned and moved to reveal different views of the same scene is impressive – notably the storming of the US Embassy gates, viewed from both inside and out almost at the same time.
By way of complete contrast the chaotic choreography of the nightclub scenes with gyrating girls (the exploitation of women strikes a particularly resonant note these days), is the revolutionary guard's military marching scene below a huge metallic statue of Ho Chi Minh's face. Reminiscent of something from present day North Korea or 1930s Germany, it is a colourful (very red), precise, breathtakingly impressive display of stomping, flag waving and fanaticism.
There is no place for the expression 'less is more' in this musical; it bombards you visually and audibly from start to finish, so much so that there is the danger of sensory overload. The whole show is, for my liking, about 15 minutes too long – some scenes and numbers seem unnecessarily drawn out – and although there is plenty to cry and be angry about I found myself in awe rather than being emotionally moved by the storyline, which gets a little buried under the sheer bravado of the staging.
Perhaps I have been a country bumpkin for too long. My ideal theatre is to be entertained and to come away feeling enriched and grateful for it. I regret that Miss Saigon, for all its glitz and glamour, has left me yearning for simplicity and a return to story-telling in its essence. But I am glad to have witnessed it; there is no doubting that many more thousands of people will continue to come and soak up the sensory bombardment and admire one of the most extravagant examples of modern theatre.
Miss Saigon runs at The Mayflower until Saturday 17th March. For tickets, call the box office on 02380 711811 or visit www.mayflower.org.uk


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Prostitution is legal in Canada, but governed by provisions within the criminal code. On Friday, the Canadian supreme court struck down three of these provisions as unconstitutional, deeming them incompatible with the rights of sex workers. The court ruled that three key pieces of legislation – against keeping a bawdy house; living off the avails of prostitution; and soliciting on public streets – endanger the nation's sex workers. Should it rise to the challenge, Stephen Harper's conservative government has just one year to draw up a new legal framework for Canada's sex industry.
The women who brought the case to court – Terri-Jean Bedford, Amy Lebovitch and Valerie Scott – are delighted by the ruling, which they see as a step towards ensuring the dignity and safety of Canada's sex workers. I very much hope they're right: that any new legislation will be in keeping with the liberal spirit of Friday's judgment, and that a failure to legislate will not expose Canada's sex workers to exploitation. But I have qualms.
It's highly unlikely that Harper will push for criminalising prostitution, as per, for example, the United States. This move would be contrary to the rights-based thrust of the ruling, and we'd soon end up back in court. But, realistically, with Harper at the helm, how permissive is Canada's new prostitution legislation likely to be?
Just last month a conservative party convention in Calgary resolved to "develop a Canada-specific plan to target the purchasers of sex and human trafficking markets through criminalising the purchase of sex as well as any third party attempting to profit from the purchase of sex". This is basically the Nordic model, pioneered in Sweden, in which people paying for sex rather than prostitutes are criminalised. And I, for one, think it's ludicrous. The model has cut down on trafficking and street prostitution, sure, but a 2004 report suggests that it is making things more dangerous for prostitutes, who are now experiencing increased violence, lower payments and pressure to have unprotected sex at the hands of customers who are not afraid to engage in criminal activity.
Here's the kernel of the problem: legislation seemingly focused on sex workers often has negative repercussions for the people it aims to protect. Canada's provision regards living off the avails of prostitution, for example, was originally intended to protect against parasitic pimps; in reality, it stopped women from hiring legitimate drivers and bodyguards, and put them at greater risk.
But the kind of loosely regulated system that would result from a failure of the Harper government to legislate is no better option. In 2005, just five years after the Netherlands legalised prostitution with the goal of protecting sex workers, reports made plain that Amsterdam's ballooning red light district was a hotbed of criminal activity, coercion and violence. The Netherlands remains a major global destination for human trafficking. Germany's decriminalisation in 2002 also led to an increase in prostitution, and Germany too is now a focal point for human trafficking.
Into all this doom and gloom I will insert the tale of New Zealand, where, since 2003, prostitution has been legal, but coercion is illegal, as is immigration to perform sex work and investment in the sex industry. In dialogue with prostitutes, the government developed a health and safety structure for the industry, meaning that anyone selling sex has a legal responsibility to use a sheath. In 2005, someone was even charged for slipping the condom off without a prostitute's knowledge. A report commissioned five years after the legislation showed that the sex industry still had many problems – stigma and violence among them – but there was no increase in prostitution, and sex workers were more empowered.
Canada has the chance to do something groundbreaking here – to learn from experiments with liberalisation and legislation around the world, and to develop a new framework to protect and empower prostitutes while disenfranchising their would-be exploiters. But it may be too much to hope that Harper listens to voices from within the sex industry and, in the spirit of this supreme court ruling, helps to lift vulnerable sex workers out of the shadows.


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Jun 24, 2018 - 6:57 am
it has now been over two months since I was diagnosed. After tests on my pancreas and colon (long story) which all proved to be benign, i am now ready for the surgery. I was so scared at first, now, I have left this in the hands of God or fate. I am no longer afraid and will take this one step at a time. Tuesday it is. one week later, I will know the stage. I am ready to fight this and may the best (wo)man win.
Jun 24, 2018 - 8:16 am
Keep us updated. The fight is one we fight together on here. Will be thinking of you on Tuesday.
Jun 24, 2018 - 12:33 pm
I will say a few prayers for you!!! I found that the hysterectomy was easier than I anticipated. Waiting for final diagnosis is a bit harder. Think positive! Praying it is stage 1, grade 1! Just remember to heed the advice that you can find on this board to take with you to the hospital - Gas-X, Belly Binder and pillow. This advice was a game changer for me. The Gas-X especially because that was the most troubling problem for me even a few weeks after surgery. Also, the Doctor will tell you know lifting for 6 weeks (even with robotic surgery), don't think you are all healed when you are feeling better and try lifting anything heavy. You don't want a hernia on-top of everything else. I also tried not to take the hard drugs but relinguished after 8 hours -- boy was I stupid not to take it immediately. I stayed pretty comfortable with Percocet and slept alot - which is what you need to heal!
Good luck!!!
Jun 24, 2018 - 3:17 pm
Fraussie, I've been away from the board for a while so didn't see whether you are having a robotic or open hysterectomy. I can speak to the first one and let you know that I had an extremely positive experience. The hardest part was remembering not to lift anything, even a bottle of laundry detergent, a carton of milk or my kitchen chair at dinnertime. Wishing you the best! I was very scared and found literally all of my fears to be unfounded.


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Project report for klinik
Project report for Clinic is as follows
Healthcare has become one of India's largest sectors - both in terms of revenue and employment. Healthcare comprises hospitals, medical devices, clinical trials, outsourcing, telemedicine, medical tourism, health insurance and medical equipment. The Indian healthcare sector is growing at a brisk pace due to its strengthening coverage, services and increasing expenditure by public as well private players. The private sector provides majority of secondary, tertiary and quaternary care institutions with a major concentration in metros, tier I and tier II cities.The healthcare market can increase three fold to Rs 8.6 trillion (US$ 133.44 billion) by 2022.The healthcare services industry in India has grown over the years on account of an increase in demand for modern healthcare facilities,rise in awareness about diseases, health consciousness among people, increase in per capita income, changing lifestyle, transition in disease profile etc.However, the demand for healthcare services is led by households that have a spending capacity as thepoor and vulnerable sections of society have restricted demand for such services.India is a land full of opportunities for players in the medical devices industry. India's healthcare industry is one of the fastest growing sectors and it is expected to reach $280 billion by 2020. The country has also become one of the leading destinations for high-end diagnostic services with tremendous capital investment for advanced diagnostic facilities, thus catering to a greater proportion of population. Besides, Indian medical service consumers have become more conscious towards their healthcare upkeep.
Product / Services & process
Market potential & Strategy
India is a land full of opportunities for players in the medical devices industry. India's healthcare industry is one of the fastest growing sectors and it is expected to reach $280 billion by 2020. Clinics are the largest segment of the healthcare services industry in the countryand accounts for about more than half of the industry's size. The services offered under hospitals reachthe population through two routes, public and private. Indian healthcare sector is much diversified and is full of opportunities in every segment which includes providers, payers and medical technology. With the increase in the competition, businesses are looking to explore for the latest dynamics and trends which will have positive impact on their business.The health care industry is growing at an annual rate of 16-17% per pear. More over the industry is the only livesaving factor for the rural Indians. Also the industry provides health to the rural communities and also provides treatments to small diseases and provides a lot of employment opportunities.


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Sweater// Chloé, Trousers// Chloé, Leather jacket// Ganni, Shoes// Gianvitto Rossi, Bag// Chloé
I think fall is my favorite season clothing wise. And every year I fall in love with all the beautiful colors (both in nature and clothes). This season I have to buy something midnight blue and something camel toned (great to have a goal when you are out shopping). And of course I have to buy a new cosy sweater (although I just bought two!).
Contains affiliate links


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We are almost at the 'pressing send and holding our breath with fingers and toes crossed,' stage of our funding application.
Although we have been quiet recently, our Creative Producer – Tracy and Creative Director – Jayne, have been planning, prepping, attending training, developing and fundraising…lots of things with 'ings', including tweeting (on which we have just gathered our 500th follow = @hamletinlove).
So thank you for your patience. Please keep in touch and look out for some exciting Unanima news in the next few weeks.


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Reserve Library Meeting Rooms Online
Roselle Public Library District offers meeting room space for eligible organizations. The Business Office is currently accepting requests to reserve rooms through August 30th. Use our new online room request form to reserve a room for your group.
It's as easy as 1-2-3!
1. Select a Date
2. Select a Room
3. Select a Time
Complete the required information and "Submit." It's that simple.
Following your request, the Business Office will contact you to confirm the reservation, or to request additional information
Please read the Meeting Room Policy for eligibility requirements or contact Pam Delaney in the Business Office, 630-529-1641 ext. 313, for additional information.


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What is STREAM?
Family Home Challenge
Skills and Standards
Useful links
Educational Websites
St. Damian STREAM LAB
The Marshmallow Challenge
Build a structure out of spaghetti noodles and tape that can hold the weight of a marshmallow on top!
The Paper Chain Challenge
Make the longest paper chain using only 1 piece of construction paper and glue!
The fifth grade made the longest chain - 12 feet long!
Highest Structure Challenge
Build a structure out of tooth picks and mini marshmallows that can withstand a natural disaster!
Index Card Challenge
Create a free standing structure made from index cards and tape that can hold the weight of a beanie baby!
Animal Habitat Challenge
What happens to animals when the weather gets really hot? Really cold? Windy? Rainy? They need a shelter either found in nature, something they can build or built by a human. Our little engineers built animal homes and created shelters.
Air and Bubbles
The preschool and kindergarten students learned about air all around us and how bubbles need air to form and to float.
Farm Animal Habitats
The preschool engineers have been learning all about farming and they made farm animal habitats! They had to remember to provide a safe and secure shelter, food, and water.
Sink or Float?
The Kindergarten and First Grade Engineers experimented with apples
and water to see if an apple will sink or float.
Fall Leaves
The preschool - 3rd grade students collected and examined leaves.
They compared color variations, size, and shape and created a graph.
St. Damian School
October Family Home Challenge
What can you make with a cereal box?
Building a Bridge
The 4th-8th grade classes researched, collaborated, and built bridges out of craft sticks and glue. They used their researching, teamwork, and imagination skills. The 4th and 5th grade students tested their bridge strength and durability with a toy car. The 6th-8th grade students tested their bridge strength with pennies, books, building materials, and even people!
Candy Corn Experiment
1st-5th Grade students use the scientific method in STREAM class to investigate which liquid would dissolve candy corn the fastest. They made predictions and tested their theories! It was interesting to see the waxy outer layer of the candy
pull away first. What a great group of scientists!
Chicka Trees
The preschool and kindergarten students
are working on their engineering skills in STREAM class. They built Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Trees and competed to see how many letters they could stack on top before the tree fell over!
The Raisin Experiment
When a raisin is dropped into Sprite it does a little jiggly dance!
Halloween Masks
The preschool students made funny Halloween masks and
showed off their dance moves!
St. Damian School
November Family Home Challenge
What can you make with an aluminum can and/or a plastic water bottle?
St. Damian 2017 Variety Show
Save Fred!
The 5th-8th grade students were given the challenge to save poor Fred the Worm from drowning! Fred was boating on the Great Lakes when a gush of wind capsized his boat. He was left stranded on the top of his boat with no life preserver and he can't swim! The students had to work with a partner to get Fred's life preserver from under the boat and get Fred in it...but there is a twist! They couldn't use their hands, they had to save him using paper clips!
Rockets, Rockets, Rockets!
The preschool - 8th grade engineers built straw rockets and learned how rockets are powered. The 6th - 8th grade students researched and wrote a paper on the history of rockets.
Snowman Snowball Toss Game
The preschool and Kindergarten Engineers created a Snowman Snowball Toss Game. They created the snowman cups and competed to see which team could get the most golden snowballs in the cups.
Valentine Heart Challenge
The St. Damian Engineers in grades Pre-K through 5th grade
were challenged to build a stable structure out of Valentine Heart Candy. They had to work with their partners and compete against their classmates to build the tallest structure.
St. Damian School
February Family Home Challenge
What can you make with yarn or string?
Straw Boats
The St. Damian 1st-8th Grade Engineers created boats out of drinking straws and plastic wrap. They challenged themselves and their teams
to build a sturdy
The preschool and kindergarten engineers are learning all about dinosaurs and built dinosaur habitats in STREAM class!
St. Damian School
March Family Home Challenge
What can you make out of tin foil?
Leprechaun Traps
St. Damian Engineers worked together to create traps for those tricky leprechauns running around the night before St. Patrick's Day!
St. Damian School
April Family Home Challenge
What can you make with an egg carton?
The St. Damian Engineers tested GRAVITY with hand made parachutes. They concluded that a parachute that weighed more has more mass and will fall to the Earth quicker than a parachute that was lighter with less mass.
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What is STREAM?
Family Home Challenge
Skills and Standards
Useful links
Educational Websites


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I am a Solution Focused Hypnotherapist as trained by Clifton Practice Hypnotherapy Training CPHT.
I supply my clients with the knowledge to understand their problems and use Hypnotherapy to communicate with the subconscious mind helping to create long term changes, "rewiring the brain" to get you back to your old self or even better.
I help a wide range of issues including Anxiety, Depression, Anger, Stress, Sleeping issues, Weight management, Phobias, OCD, IBS, Tinnitus, Chronic Pain and more.
Consultations are free and informal, come and see me to learn more about Hypnotherapy and how it can help you.
Visit my website for further information and please do contact me if you have any questions.
Danny is a member of the AfSFH and the CNHC. He also has an advanced DBS check (used to be CRB) for working with children and vulnerable adults.
Complete the form below with your details and therapy requirements - Danny will then contact you to discuss making a booking....


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Plug-In Electric Vehicle (PEV) Charging Rate Incentive - Xcel Energy
Xcel Energy offers two rate options to qualified residential customers for charging PEVs. The Electric Vehicle (EV) Rate and the Time-of-Day Plan are optional and require a separate meter. For rate information, including how to qualify, see Xcel Energy's EV Rate Options page.


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Fireplaces, Interior Design
Fireplace Inspirations – Part 1
Even though we are having 60 degree temperatures, fireplace weather is just around the corner. I have an amazing collection of great fireplaces. Too many for one blog post. Whatever the season a fireplace is a focal point for the room and all of these images have outstanding fireplaces. Whatever your decor I am sure you will find plenty of inspiration.
This one is very unusual with the over mantle built out the same depth as the fireplace. Love the cornice on the top.
For a less formal fireplace this design has interesting proportions.
Decorators Supply has a wonderful fireplace piece very similar to this.
#27092 Flemish Plaster Shield 35-1/2″ x 12-5/8″ $223.37
Simple panel above a gorgeous fireplace. Effective use of wall color with the furnishings.
The mirror, fireplace screen and candelabras really make this fireplace stunning.
The Fireplace and Mirror combination offers endless possibilities.
Paris Apartment Thomas Pheasant
Maurice Fatio
If you have a plain fireplace, adding swags is a great addition.
This is a fireplace and cabinet makeover we did using composition ornament.
More swags.
I love the fireplace but the over mantle treatment doesn't work for me.
Lonny Hotel
Champagne and Wilde, Paris
Benjamin Dhong
In my next post I will continue great fireplace inspirations Part 2 with stone and antiques that have some great ideas for adding ornament and faux finishes to existing fireplaces. In the meantime, Thursday, November 21st is the last day to qualify for my book giveaway of Howard Slatkin's wonderful Fifth Avenue Style. Here is a link to comment and like it.
About Author
I like your approach. I like some designs of fireplace but i think over mental treatment does not work. I like plane fireplace. I prefer adjustment of fireplace in my room just to make my room cozy. I think fireplace is important part of room in winter.
I love fireplaces! It can make any room look more classy. I like Benjamin Dhong's. Also, I agree, mirror, fireplace screen and candelabras make fireplaces stunning.
Gorgeous! I'm lucky to have 2 fireplace mantels at my mother's home. They are so fun to decorate for the holidays.
Wow the fireplaces really compliment the décor well with its Victorian style finishing! Particularly like the third to last picture! Contemporary at its finest!
Greetings! I've been reading your weblog for some time now and
finally got the bravery to go ahead and give you a shout out from Houston Texas!
Just wanted to say keep up the fantastic work!
good photographs great ideas
Amazing photos – Looks like a mix between transitional and traditional design. http://www.floridalivingquarters.com


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County Fellowship
Forty members of 'The County Fellowship' met for their Spring Meeting at Deer Park, Cowley. The Fellowship started their day with morning tea and coffee welcoming fellow members from around the County of Gloucestershire. A brief business session, during which time Joint County Commissioner Karen McFarlane updated members of the activities and events held across all sections of Girlguiding Gloucestershire throughout the past six months. Members were pleased to see in action the 'Weather Station' which was on display, having been purchased by Fellowship for Deer Park giving weather information for the area, allowing planning of activities accordingly within the scope of the weather.
The Speaker for the day was Mr Tim Thorn, formerly head of security at De Beers Diamond Company – Talking on 'The Millennium Star Diamond', he outlined the history of the finding of the diamond, how it was cut and polished. Its journey to London and value. De Beers decision to display it in the Millennium Dome, the building of the concrete and steel viewing vault in which it was kept. Tim went on to outline to members of the six aborted attempts by robbers to steal the diamond, and the eventual capture and prosecution of the gang. At all times telling members of his part in 'The Story'.
Members completed their day with a three-course lunch provided by Regal Cuisine of Cheltenham and singing Taps before their farewell.
Annual Review 2017
Our Annual Review of 2017 took place at The Pavillion in Cheltenham where we tried a new style of event; an afternoon tea! We were joined by Leaders & Commissioners from across the County as well as our Region Chief Commissioner, Carole Pennington, our Region President, Ruth Sara, and a variety of dignitaries and special guests.
Visitors had the opportunity to view a variety of displays from Divisions, County Events, International trips, etc. before we joined together in the main auditorium to celebrate everything that we have done in Gloucestershire in the last year. We were delighted to award Sue Cooper from Cheltenham our Uniformed County Award, Wendy Lewis and Linda Raggett, both from the Forest of Dean, with a Non-Uniformed County Award, as well as a Walking Level 1 and Peer Education Bronze Award. Carole Pennington also presented Belinda Murphy with her Queen's Guide Award.
Below are the presentations we gave at the event, one is a general Annual Review 2017 and the other focuses on the fantastic Rainbows 30th Birthday Celebration Day held at Deer Park last summer. We were also able to take some photos of today's proceedings.
Louise Dembny received BEM
Louise Dembny was presented with the British Empire Medal for her fantastic service to the community, including to Girlguiding in her local area. The award was presented by Dame Janet Trotter, the Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire, during the morning service at Christ Church, Nailworth, where Louise is an active member of the congregation.
As Dame Janet read the citation, she made us aware of the huge number of community and international areas that Louise has been involved in including being a supporter at the Christ Church, 30 years of being a Leader for Girlguiding, fundraising for several charities both at home and abroad.She spoke of her work at the Job Centre where Louise has helped to transform the lives of numerous clients with health issues or disabilities to get into or back into work.
Louise showed how she is always thinking of others when she read her own piece to the congregation and the first thing she did was to acknowledge and thank everyone who has helped her along the way to being awarded the BEM.
Congratulation Louise. We think it was definitely well deserved.
BP Adventure Weekend
A group of Guides and three County leaders had a wonderful weekend on their BP Adventure in Worcester!
The girls completed a murder mystery, tried to escape from CyberQ escape rooms and went bowling! Everyone enjoyed their weekend and the girls all made plenty of new friends!
Gloucester Gang Show 2018
The Guiding and Scouting community came together again to present the Gloucester Gang Show 2018. And what a show it was. With singing and dancing that could only put a smile on your face, our Guiding members showed that #GirlsCan. Well done to everyone involved.
It was lovely to see some local units also went along to support the show as well as the local and County Commissioners.
If you'd like to get involved next year then why not check out the Facebook Page for the gang show and watch out for auditions later in the year?
Girlguiding Gloucestershire
Here you will find articles about events, etc. that have taken place in the County from local reports to County ones and beyond. If you have something you would like included on the News page then email us at email@example.com
June 2018


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There is: natural, lazy natural and then there's me. If there is a natural hair short cut, I'll find it. On wash days, I am hyped enough to go all out LOC (leave in conditioner, oil and plenty of cream/butter). Thereafter I follow a simple routine to keep my hair moisturised. It starts with a spritz bottle(any refillable bottle with a spray action). I've tried a few recipes, some I found too oily and others left my hair sticky. In the trial and error process, I made a spritz that suits my hair needs. So I am sharing my recipe with you in the hopes that it will treat you as well it treats my 4C hair. Continue reading "I found the best way to keep my hair soft and hydrated and it's pretty simple"
Author: Of Curls and Colour
Do you have an obligation to tell your social media followers that your post is sponsored?
Before I started my blog site, Of Curls and Colour, I was somewhat unaware of the workings of social media. I would see a person I follow rave about a lipstick or a hair product that she had used and loved and think that the views expressed were always sincere. Little did I know that she might have been sent that product to review or as a gift. Which brings me to a potential moral dilemma; as a so called influencer, are you obligated to tell your network that the product you raved about was sent to you? That the lippie you love so much is actually an ad? Continue reading "Do you have an obligation to tell your social media followers that your post is sponsored? "
Hello and welcome to the new year.
I've been quiet, pondering life and love and everything in between. I have happily made it into 2018 and I am thrilled that you here with me. My first post for the year is a bit of a homage to home. Home being, the place that birthed me, that birthed my parents, my grandparents and those before them. Can you tell that I am that person that believes in the power of ancestry and lineage?
Are you dream chasing, paper chasing, or lucky enough to be doing both?
I am of the belief that while I am making a living and building a career, I also want to have a positive a social impact in my chosen field. This has been, and remains one of the driving forces of my career choices. I often have debates with the people in my life about why I focus more on passion and less on money. Don't get me wrong I like being paid as much as the next person but I also have an altruist personality, which has me balancing the money and passion. Continue reading "Are you dream chasing, paper chasing, or lucky enough to be doing both?"
LED Facial Treatment, My Experience
An aesthetics boutique opened a short distance from my office. Who can resist such temptation? I picked up a brochure and skimmed over it for a couple of days, pondering and calculating. Weighing up this and that, until I decided why the heck not? Let me go for a consult and see what happens. I've been to the dermatologist for my skin on different occasions (check out this post) and thought it might be worthwhile to try a different approach for my oily, acne prone skin. Continue reading "LED Facial Treatment, My Experience"
An Ode to the Sisterhood
Its almost the end of August (women's month in SA) and I cant let it pass without an ode to the many amazing women I cross paths with.
Shall we start with a bit of history? I'll keep it brief. On the 9th of August, we celebrate National Women's day in South Africa. This auspicious occasion in commemorates the day on which thousands of women marched upon the Union Buildings (the seat of government) in 1956 to protest unjust pass laws. The laws required South Africans, of African ethnicity to carry special documentation that restricted their freedom of movement. This show of unity from women of diverse backgrounds is celebrated throughout August. Continue reading "An Ode to the Sisterhood"
Skin deep
An update on my skin woes
If you've read my previous posts here and here you'll know that I have acne prone skin. I've been suffering with acne since puberty. I was on heavy prescription medication in my first year of varsity and I hated it. The side effects were terrible. It left my skin dry , itchy, discoloured and no amount of vaseline could moisturise my lips. But I haven't had a problem since then, aside from the occasional breakout, until this year. Continue reading "Skin deep"


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Vector TD
ألعاب صغيرة
The year is 2067, and Earth is under attack from a race we have codenamed 'Vectoids.' What you are holding in your hands is a computer simulation designed to train commanders in the art of defending from the ongoing threat they pose. The simulator comes compiled with 8 of the most common paths used by these enemies and the full range of attacking towers at our disposal.
Eliminate each wave of Vectoids before they reach the end of the path by constructing towers. There are seven species of Vectoids, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Can you defeat the quick Yellow Sprinters? Are you equipped to deal with the armored Hard Greys? Only strategic placement of eleven types of towers, plus upgrades and boosts to enhance them, can ensure a victory against the Vectoid threat.
Can you survive all 50 waves?
Memory Stick Duo™ Compatible: 15MB
Download of this product is subject to the Sony Entertainment Network Terms of Service/User Agreement and any specific additional conditions applying to this product. If you do not wish to accept these terms, do not download this product. See Terms of Service for more important information. One time fee for use of downloads on up to 2 activated compatible Home Console* systems and 2 activated compatible Portable Console* systems.
* See Terms of Service for further information.
Vector TD TM2009 Candystand, Funtank LLC All Rights Reserved.


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It's the 50th anniversary of the Beatles first appearance on American television. Read on to see how Louisville is celebrating!
Louisville.com talks to Chris Getsla of Beatles' tribute band, BritBeat, about February '64.
Are you looking for a way to celebrate 50 years of the Beatles? Look no further! Louisville.com has all the details for such a celebration!


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VOLT Power Button
When you "Safe down" a VOLT make sure you tape a cardboard shield over the "Power Button" before you remove the Orange Safety Plug or disconnect the 12 volt battery (in the hatch area floor). Why you ask? If you push the "Power Button" while the "Safety Plug" is out the onboard computer sees this as a procedure that may harm you. The HPCM and HPCM2 computers will be taken off the CAN bus and not allowed to communicate with the rest of the system. You are locked out for being unsafe.
At "Up Your Voltage" in May of 2011 the class and ACDC learned this valuable lesson. The GM engineers have designed their software to keep anyone that starts to work on a GM hybrid or EV safe. Here is their thinking. If you do something that the onboard computer sees as a procedure that may harm you by allowing high voltage to go to a part of the car you may touch, the HV Battery computers (two) will be taken off the CAN bus and not allowed to communicate with the rest of the system. You are locked out. So, it is important to know two things; how to be safe and what NOT to do so the computers do not give you an "F" on your report card.
If this happens you will need a factory scan tool (GDS) and help. Just don't screw up is the best advice.


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Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
Line two 18 cm cake pans.
1 Cream the butter and
sugar together until pale.
Beat in the eggs. Sift over
the flour and fold in using
a large metal spoon.
2 The mixture should have
a dropping consistency. If
it doesn't, add a little milk.
Divide the mixture between
the cake pans and gently
spread out with a spatula.
Bake for 20 minutes or until
a skewer comes out clean.
Allow to stand for 5 minutes
before turning on to a wire
rack to cool.
3 Sandwich your two cake
layers together using the
vanilla icing and cover the
sides and top of the cake.
4 Stick sour candy strips
around the outside, packing
them close to each other.
Trim with scissors.
5 At the front of the cake,
trim the candy strips and
cake so it looks like some
of it has been dug away.
6 Crush the cookies to look
like rubble. Sprinkle the
rubble in the middle of the
cake. Decorate with sweets
and toy trucks.


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The Clever Coffee Dripper is a full-immersion pour-over device that yields around 4 cups of coffee. It consolidates the full-immersion usefulness of a French press with the cleanliness of a filter paper from a pour-over procedure. For lovers of the French press, it yields a cleaner cup with the same full body experience. The Clever Dripper is an incredible home brewing device that is easy to prepare, simple to clean, and takes standard filters that can be helpfully available at your nearby market.
How to Brew Coffee in a Clever Dripper
- Pre-heat your water to between 195° and 200°f.
- Take a filter and place it into the Clever Dripper. For better positioning fold a couple of creases along the perforated seams.
- Pre-wet your filter with hot water, evenly covering it entirely. Leave about half of the water for brewing.
Measure your coffee and grind it coarsely during the boiling process.
- Drain the Clever Dripper by placing it on top of a carafe or mug. The flavor of the paper filter is now gone, and your carafe or mug is nicely warmed up.
- Add coffee and shake the Clever Drip to level-off the grounds.
- Check your water temp, and slowly pour, making sure there are no pockets of dry coffee.
- Wait about 3:00 minutes for the coffee to infuse. Total brewing time is about 4:00
- Remove the lid, and give the brew a few gentle stirs. Place the Clever Dripper on top of your carafe with about 1:00 minute left, and keep the lid on top.
- Pour your coffee from the carafe into the mug of your choice.
- Time to enjoy! Give your clever drip a quick rinse.
TIPS TO CONSIDER (Clever Coffee Dripper):
Time, temperature, coffee quantity, and grind are all variables you can play with to assure your final cup of coffee is where you want it to be. There are some important tips which will be helpful to make your brewing more easy and worry free.
Never pour the coffee directly on the edges or onto the filter paper.
If you find your extraction time is longer than anticipated, coarsen your grind. If it drains through too quickly, make the grind finer.
While using clever dripper it is important to keep the lid on top for heat retention.
Don't stir too aggressively. Stirring increases agitation of the grounds, and too much can over-extract.


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By Todd Cohen
GREENSBORO, N.C. — A new website features a community arts-and-cultural calendar for Greensboro and an inventory of local artists, arts organizations and public art.
Another new initiative is recruiting corporate employees to volunteer for arts groups, serve on their boards and help manage their projects.
Expected soon are the results of a study tracking the impact of the arts on the local economy, and a plan to help guide the structure, funding and staffing needed for public art, while two new awards will recognize arts educators and business support of the arts.
Playing a key role in all those efforts has been the United Arts Council of Greater Greensboro, which aims to champion and secure support for the arts, and build them into community life as a resource for everyone and a vehicle to help fuel the economy and meet community needs.
"Our strategic vision represents a whole new way of thinking about the arts," says Jeanie Duncan, president and CEO of the United Arts Council.
The council recently completed its biggest annual fund drive ever, raising nearly $1.46 million and exceeding its goal by over $16,000, and has set a goal of $1.5 million for this year's drive.
Chaired by Harry Wellons, a certified financial planner with Smith Barney, this year's drive has enlisted more volunteers to solicit donors and will focus on securing more donors who give $1,000 or more, Duncan says.
The drive also aims to reach more workplaces and spread the message that the arts serve and add value to the community, she says.
The 2006 drive, which was chaired by Rob Kidwell, a lawyer at Smith Moore, received nearly $144,000 from 15 new donors who gave $5,000 or more, bringing to 45 the number of donors at that level.
Helping to raise $100,000 in gifts from new donors and bigger gifts from existing donors were $27,500 in matching funds from the Weaver Foundation, Cemala Foundation and Marion Stedman Covington Foundation.
The foundations will provide those matching dollars again if the 2007 drive can raise another $100,000 in new funds.
The 2006 drive also featured new efforts to solicit employees of professional firms and targeted calls for corporate support for the new arts web portal and volunteers-for-the-arts initiative.
Building on those efforts, the 2007 drive will field 110 volunteers to solicit donors, up from 85 in 2006 and among 300 volunteers overall working on the drive.
It also aims to increase by 20 percent the number of individual and corporate donors giving $1,000 or more, up from 141 donors who gave over $901,000 at that level in 2006.
At workplace campaigns at the 25 biggest companies in the drive, the United Arts Council also will be recruiting employees to volunteer with arts groups, and will be promoting a speakers bureau to coordinate people to talk about the arts to civic and business groups.
And its campaign message will promote the new arts portal, www.GoTriadScene.com.
Reflecting the council's overall vision, Duncan says, its new awards, for arts educators and business supporters, are designed "to recognize the power of the arts in our every day."


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For many centuries the presence of copper in the Lake District mountain rocks above Coniston Water provided a livelihood for people in the area. Now Coniston coppermines are mostly visited by walkers and mine explorers (scroll down for video). Looking at the area today it is not easy to imagine a time (much of it before modern-style industrialisation) in which people living on the slopes of Coniston Old Man made a living from iron, copper and slate.
Coniston is not the only Lake District area to have a copper-producing history. The Keswick area was another centre of this metal extracting industry, especially the Newlands Valley. In their early years the Coniston copper mines sent their output to Keswick by packhorse to be processed. After the smelting facility there was destroyed in the late-1700s the ore was taken by boat down Coniston Water from a quay at Coniston Hall to the Nibthwaite Quay. It was then carried to the coast by cart. From the port at Greenodd, and later from Ulverston through its canal, much of the ore went to St. Helens in Lancashire. There it was smelted and and made into copper cladding for the hulls of sailing vessels.
Coniston Copper Mines: The Early Years
The Coniston coppermines certainly go as far back as the 1500s, and possibly longer, although most of what is still visible on the surface dates from the mid-19th century. The mines were worked up until the English Civil War of the 1640s but then there was a break before they were revived. For some of the time, as also at Keswick, the enterprise was led by experienced German miners. The Company of Mines Royal, which had also run other copper extraction enterprises in the Lake District, had control of Coniston's "Coppermines Valley" toward the end of the 16th century.
The Antiquities of Furness (1774)
In 1774 the antiquarian Jesuit priest Thomas West wrote in his book, The Antiquities of Furness, as follows:
"The fells of Coniston have produced great quantities of copper ore. During the rage of the civil wars the copper mines in Coniston fells were shut up. After the Restoration, Sir Daniel Fleming had an inquest of all the old workmen then living, concerning them, with their opinion of the charges necessary for recovering the said mines. The following abstract is given here, as it may be of some service to future adventurers. The original is at Rydal hall. … "
[West then lists nine different areas of working with depths, thickness of the seams, and comments on the quality of the the ore, including mention of other metals present such as lead, silver and gold. He then continues …. ]
"About 140 workmen were employed in these works, and the ore was carried on horses backs to the smelting-house at Keswick. About 20 miles distant from some of the works the ore was raised at different prices, according to its goodness, from 2s.6d to 8s per kible, every kible being near a horseload. The ore was first beaten small, and washed and sifted then weighed or measured.
"Before the works were left off, a proposal was made for erecting a smelting-house at Coniston, as more convenient for building houses, a nd better supplied with wood and peat, with the convenience of an iron forge, then at Coniston, being only seven miles from the sea-port at Penny bridge, five of which were by water down the lake, and two miles of land carriage on a good road."
For reasons now unknown West does not mention in his 1774 Antiquities that the Macclesfield Copper Company reopened the Coniston coppermines in 1758. For almost the next forty years they were again in production but then there was a hiatus of about thirty years before they were once again reopened. This time production took off in a big way controlled by the firm of John Barratt, and copper became the basis for several generations of local prosperity, at one point employing as many as 400 men.
Coniston Coppermines in the 19th Century
This prosperity rubbed off not only on Coniston village itself but also on the surrounding area. The 1851 census describes John Biggins of neighbouring Torver as a "calker-maker". As John Dawson says in his history of Torver, "Calkers are pointed pieces on horseshoes placed so as to prevent slipping; no doubt in regular demand at a time when so many horses would be working up and down the steep and slippery ways to the mines and quarries. Numbers of horses were also employed inside the Coniston copper mines to haul out wagon-loads of ore, a situation in which calkers would give the animal a better grip where the surface was wet and uneven." Dawson also mentions other makers of industrial equipment such as pick and hammer shafts.
Coniston Water now became an even busier commercial route than it had been previously. Boats were already carrying slate from the quarries. Now they also carried copper ore. At Nibthwaite Quay, near where Coniston lake becomes the River Crake, two buildings became known locally as the "Copper Houses".
By the late 1840s the Furness Railway had its line running from the Furness area and up the coast of Cumberland. Already thought was being given to the possibility of a branch line to Coniston. After an earlier false start the line was opened in 1859. It was promoted heavily by the owners of interests in the Coniston copper mines because getting the increased volumes of copper ore down to the coast by the traditional water and land route was becoming more and more difficult. In the following year the line was extended to run beyond Coniston to the Copper House at the mines. Although in later years the Furness Railway emphasised the tourism aspects of the Foxfield-Coniston branchline, its reason for existence was copper.
The End of Coniston's Copper Era
Copper-based prosperity did not last. Good quality ore became available in large quantities from other parts of the world, especially South America, at prices with which the Coniston copper mines could not compete. By the end of the nineteenth century it was all over.
Coniston Copper Mines Today
Today the Coppermines Valley is virtually silent apart from voices of walkers. Many signs of the old industry survive and remain the subject of great interest to many thousands of visitors each year as well as to industrial archaeologists.
There are, however, considerable dangers lurking behind the entrances to the mine workings. Visitors to the area should under no cicumstances enter the mine workings unless properly authorised, equipped and accompanied. Unless you're an experienced caver or mine explorer and are properly equipped look at them from the outside only, and when back down in Coniston village take a look at the Ruskin Museum where you'll find a wealth of information about Coniston copper. For now as well you can take a look at this YouTube video from AditNow, Jun 25, 2009:
(NOTE:This post is a revised version of a 2009 page on our old Lake District site.
Related Posts:
Coniston Coppermines – includes links to interesting and useful books.
Lake District History and the Future
Where to Go and What to Do in the Lake District: South & Central


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To gain guild notoriety, one team must complete guild tasks. The more tasks they complete, the more Exploration Points they earn, which labels them in terms of how well they execute as a team. The teams with the most Exploration Points typically get the best jobs as well as the most dangerous.
Important Members:
Crimson the Chimchar- Leader of the Crimson Guild.
Tag the Turtwig- Second in command of the Crimson Guild.
Domingo the Samurott and Dobro the Pangoro- Head Trainers of the Crimson Guild.
Pert the Plusle and Meryl the Minun- Job Board Management Team.
Unix the Dragonite- Leader of the Dragonite Transportation System, a network of Flying-Type Pokemon that carry Pokemon to any destination in any region they wish to go.
- 73 posts here • Page 3 of 3 • 1, 2, 3
"We do get bags, right? It isn't a smart idea to go off without something to carry supplies in. Ako made that mistake once, it's not fun to reconcile that mistake on the fly."
There were a few grunts of effort as he spoke before finally fishing out two bags, "Hoooh man they were packed in there!" He slid the two knapsacks towards the both of them before going into the closet one more time, searching for the cloths. "What color cloth do you both want?"
As they opened their knapsack, they would see the contents within: a travel blanket and pillow, a few days worth of dried fruit and vegetables, a flare gun with matches, several pieces of paper and a pencil to write with, a map, and a headlight to see through the darkness.
"Not a bad kit," Pitch commented as he sifted through the items, "What color should we pick, Ako?"
Shirako slid her badge off her head into her bag and then made sure the bag was tucked nicely around her neck so it rests under her chin.
"Ako is fine with any colour."
"Yellow it is then! We've got quite a few of those, actually!" Pert emerged from the closet, holding two yellow neckerchiefs out in front of them.
"They don't have any designs on them. You can get them engraved later when the tailor comes back with whatever symbol you want to represent yourself. How do you wanna wear it?"
"On my neck, please," Pitch bowed his head and Pert wrapped the cloth snugly around his neck, tying it with a knot.
"And you?" Pert turned to Shirako.
He had a smile on his face as he stood back, examining the two.
"Man, you both look like twins!" he clapped as he laughed, "Alright, so it's off to Sinnoh you both go! When you head out the guild entrance, follow the path out of the Guild HQ area and make a right at the crossroads in between here and the Pokemon Village. Follow that down and you should reach a clearing where a bunch of Dragonites will be hanging out. That's the Unix Dragonite Transportation Service. Flash 'em your badge and they'll take you anywhere you wanna go."
"We've got several teams in that area, so you might run into a couple of them," Meryl added, walking towards them, "Be nice and friendly and they'll be nice and friendly back. Try not to shout at them..." she gave a stern look over to Shirako, "And you'll do just fine. Explain to the wildlife what's going on and to start finding some shelters. Underground is their best bet, but if they can build a sturdy enough shelter, then that'll work. Remember, we're not trying to cause a panic. We're just trying to keep people as safe as possible while we figure out how to deal with this threat."
"And have fun!" Pert gave them a thumbs up, "I know things are serious right now, but that doesn't mean you have to be. That's what Miss Fancy Pants Diancie wants us to be...fearful. And the more smiles we pass around, the less successful she will be in the end."
Ako proceeds to shake a little bit like a dog who just got out of water. The bag and neckchief stayed on tightly. Satisfied with that she turns to look at Pitch.
"Hmmm, we do look alike, but Ako's ears are not that short... and your ruffle is a little puffier on the right than Ako's. You said you were eight, right? Ako is fourteen. We'll be spending a lot of time with each other so if you have questions, feel free to ask~"
Pitch nodded in understanding in response to Ako's request.
"Well, you both must be off then!" Meryl said, walking back towards the counter, "Be careful! It is the wild after all!"
"Have fun!" Pert encouraged giving the two a wink, "We're rootin' for ya!"
As they walked outside, ready to head out in the direction Pert had told them about, Pitch turned around, "Hold on! I have to grab some things."
He turned towards the side of the building, where another knapsack lay. Unlike the one they now had, this one was fairly old and ragged, having seen a lot of wear and tear. He opened the pack and started picking up items, placing them into his knapsack. After a few seconds, he stopped, turning back around to face Shirako.
"I...guess I should share, huh?" he said with a sheepish smile on his face.
With that, he began separating the items he had collected, which included several Oran berries, a couple Sitrus berries, a Rawst berry, a Quick Seed, and two days worth of food. He split the Oran Berries evenly, six for each of them, and a Sitrus berry to complement.
"I'll take the Quick Seed if you want the Rawst Berry," he offered.
As she deliberated, he pulled out one more thing...a rather shiny stone that glimmered brightly in the sunshine. He slid it into his own knapsack, intending to keep it.
Shirako pulls out a piece of human candy from her ruffle, which was inside a tiny hidden sack inside the ruffle. After putting it in her mouth, she took another one out and put it on the ground, offering it to Pitch. It was a Jolly Rancher, it seems she had a stash with her.
He glanced over towards Ako, reflecting for the first time. She was definitely a bit weird, he decided. He hadn't commented on her lack of using the word "I", though he had come close a couple times. Still, it wasn't like he was too weirded out or anything. He had come across a strange group of friends at one point, so things like this weren't anything new. She seemed to care for his well-being, at least. But he was worried that would come to a head and she would start looking after him, trying to protect him. He was capable of taking care of himself. He didn't need a baby sitter.
But all in all, she seemed like a nice Pokemon...good company to be around. She was no Glow, but then again...no one was.
After putting everything that was his into his backpack, he turned to see the small candy she had placed in front of him. Speaking of Glow...
That took him back to the days of Nimbasa City, where he ran around the busy tourist-filled streets where the only instinct was to survive. He had to scavenge for every bit of food he could get, even causing a little girl to drop her ice cream cone so that he could eat it. He had to survive out there, after all.
"Thanks," he gave a small smile and accepted her offering, putting the candy in his mouth Green Apple...he noted as he began sucking on it. One of his favorites.
"Pitch. We're partners in this, alright? Equal standing. You have just as much say as Ako does so don't go pulling the babysitter card. Unlike them, Ako can see that you've been around the block, probably more times than Ako has. Don't take what Ako says wrong, she will jump in to protect you at times. It's a team of 2, not 1+1, ok? I...Ako doesn't need to see another loss. So back up your story of being able to handle yourself with some conviction and physical proof, alright? Ako just wanted to let you know how things stand and that she's not trying to baby you like Meryl was. That's all... Excuse Ako's inability to explain properly."
Shirako finishes packing and hope she sent the right message with that jumble of words. She hated being treated like a little kid when she was his age, no reason for her to do that to him, not on purpose anyway.
"Previous subject matter aside... Those inside Coronet should be fine, as well as those underground in the various caves. Where do you think we should start then? Snowpoint and work downwards?"
He didn't fault Meryl over her hesitation in telling him the dangerous stuff. He understood his age and what that meant for others. And the Minun seemed like a worrywart, more so that what she was probably used to. The situation was dire, to an extent. Times of crisis tended to change people. But when his life could go from easy to frantic in a split second, those times shaped who he was as a person. He grew accustomed to it...adaptable. There was no way Meryl could possibly know that.
So he turned to Shirako and smiled, not a polite smile, not a small smile, but a genuinely warm and inviting smile. "We are a team. You can count on that."
They started walking together, looking for the path Pert had indicated, "Well, we've got to reckon some of the teams are already out there. Many of them will probably go to the warm climate areas first, unless they're a team of Ice-Types. So yeah...we can start at Snowpoint City. I'm a familiar face around there, I think. I haven't talked with anyone, but I'm sure a couple people have seen me around."
They followed the path down to the exit of the Guild HQ. From there, they saw the branching paths and took the one leading right.
"So...are you good at talking to people?" he asked, "Cause if not, we might be in trouble..."
As she asked him what he knew, Pitch started to recall times he had used each move. "Well, I know Baby-Doll Eyes..." That time I had to escape Dim and joining his Family... "...Tackle..." Fending off Castol from taking my home... "...Tail Whip..." A scrum in an alley for a rare fresh batch of cookies... "...Sand Attack..." The second time I had to stop Castol... "...and I recently learned Bite and Double Kick! What about you?"
OK SO I FUCKED UP. SHE DOES NOT HAVE LAST RESORT, SHE HAS DOUBLE EDGEby Ritnio
A moment later, the two were walking into the clearing. There was a small group of Dragonite gathered around, talking about general stuff and their duties and what not. Two of them whipped around, spotting the newly made Crimson Guild Members approaching. One of them peeled off from the group and stepped towards them. This one was a little bigger than the other Dragonites in the area, which meant from Pitch's and Shirako's perspectives, she was massive.
"Well you two don't look familiar," she said, giving them a once over, "But you look like Guildies. Can I see your badges?"
Pitch fumbled around in his pack, searching for the item he'd just been given. Finally finding it, he pulled it out with his mouth and held it up so that she could see.
"We're heading for Snowpoint City in the Sinnoh region as directed by Pert and Meryl. We were told you could help us get there?"
Shirako moved the candy around in her mouth after she finished speaking.
One of the Dragonites stepped forward, "I can take 'em there. I haven't had much action today."
Unix turned around, seeing who had volunteered before pointing in his direction, "Agave over there will take ya where you need to go. When you're ready, hop on."
Agave lied down on the ground, revealing the traveler's saddle on his back. It was a large, circular seating area for them to ride on while he was in the skies. There were several sections of rope, each rope with a clasp on the end.
"Hook two clasps to your knapsacks when you board, one on each side," Agave explained, "That way, you don't go flying off when I take off."
"Ako would like to make a request... When we get to Jubilife, Ako would like to visit a certain house... Is that alright? A-Ako...I made a promise to somebody special to at least show up when possible..."
His words were interrupted by the sudden lurch in his stomach and the wicked force that sent him flying backwards. Fortunately, the harnesses were there to keep him from flying off the back of Agave as he lifted off and suddenly beelined for the sky. The Eevee's eyes were wide, his teeth gritted, and his fear prevented him from speaking as he glanced over to Ako to see how she was holding up.
"Almost there, you two!" Agave called to them.
Indeed, the rapid ascent was slowing down as their perspective began to go flat again. Little by little, the harness relieved pressure while the Dragonite began to decline from their original trajectory. It went from the only thing keeping the two from flying off to almost no resistance against gravity at all. Pitch tested his footing on the ground. It was stable.
"Keep the harnesses on," the Dragonite warned, "Less chance you'll fall that way. And enjoy the view!"
Pitch glanced around at the atmosphere and couldn't help but gape in awe. He'd seen many cool perspectives in his lifetime, but none from the air. The land beneath them looked minuscule. Even the tower in the center of Lumiose City looked like a small toy model from their altitude. The clouds whipped past, flowing with the breeze. The wind was catching and blowing against Pitch's fur, making him feel exhilarated. He couldn't help but smile.
"Ako! This is amazing!" he cried out in joy, "I've never been so high up!"
Agave snorted in amusement, but said nothing.
After everything was stable she let go and spit some hairs out of her mouth.
"Careful Pitch."
"This is amazing! I've never been so high up!"
"Haha. It really is amazing. Ako has done this before but that doesn't make it less cool to be this high in the sky. The view is always great. It's why Ako used to make the trek up to Spear Pillar every now and then. Agave here is much faster than the Charizard Ako rode on before though, so this speed is a new feeling entirely!"
And Pitch whooped in splendor and triumph, "WOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"
But he knew deep down what he was accepting, what he was truly going to take on. For all the cool moments and opportunities being in this guild provided, skipping the introductory process along the way, there was a burden to bear. He'd been ready to accept it for some time now, but he had yet to feel the weight on his shoulders. Right now, the moment was sweet. But when the going got tough, would he get going? That feeling was there, albeit hidden behind the exhilaration. Even then, the importance of the task was ever present in the back of his mind...as were the consequences of failure. Living beings would now be impacted by his actions. Was he ready to handle that?
He would find out, as the Dragonite named Agave flapped his wings...carrying Pitch and Shirako forward headlong into their first adventure together.
Duplicate post. Should be deleted.by NeverEndingFlip
- 73 posts here • Page 3 of 3 • 1, 2, 3