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Jet black crystals adorn the cross that embellishes this silver chain bracelet. 7½" +2"
•Lead & Nickel free
We take pride in the quality of our jewelry. For this reason, all jewelry comes with our 30-day"If you don't love it, simply return it". policy. Fast and easy returns, just how it should be! Each jewelry item is packaged in a Park Lane designed jewelry box or pouch to protect and preserve its beauty for years.


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Job Description
About Our Client
A premium soft drinks company - in phenomenal growth
About the Role
This role will report into the Director of Innovation. In this role, you would have end to end responsibility for bringing new products to market - lots of ownership! You would be dealing with Flavour houses, Packaging agencies, Supply chain, Technical teams and the Brand teams on a day to day basis.
Our client is looking for an innovation specialist who understands innovation stage gate process and how to bring new products to market. They are a smaller business so can work in a very nimble fashion and are able to bring NPD to market with greater speed than a larger FMCG business.
Your main task will be to work on developing new skus across the portfolio, with a focus on the UK market to start with.
- Champion the innovation agenda across the business
- Identify and define innovation opportunities for the brand and bring ideas to market
- Own and run a variety of innovation and renovation projects
- Work with flavour houses and packaging agencies
About You
- Passion for and experience in end to end NPD
- Genuine fascination in innovation
- Ambitious to shine through clever work at a high standard
- Bringing enthusiasm, an interesting perspective and lots of ideas on how to propel the brand even further forwards
- You can roll up your sleeves and get stuck in - not distracted or uncomfortable with a start-up culture
- You need to be a self-starter and not fazed by complexity or speed - able to rise to seemingly impossible challenges.
- You are used to taking ownership for delivery of projects and whatever it takes to get the job done.
- Massive attention to detail
- A real multi-tasker
- Experience of working cross functionally, getting the best results through great relationships and collaboration
Need to Have
- A good level of commercial experience in an innovation or a marketing innovation role (innovation should have been a large part of at least one position you have held)
- Understanding and experience of end to end innovation - concept to launch in-market.
- Understanding and having worked in gate stage or similar process.
- Excellent project management skills
Need to Be
- Passionate, enthusiastic with great commitment to deliver with style and panache!
** Please note that due to the high number of applicants we receive, we may not be able to respond to every application. If you don't hear back from us within 3 days please assume that your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion. Please continue to visit our website and register for job alerts as new opportunities arise on a daily basis.**

subset: commoncrawl


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Because George lives in a CC&R controlled neighborhood, to keep neighborly peace, the military mast supporting either a 2-element Stepp-IR or TH-3jr is setup and taken down JUST for radiosport events. Otherwise, it's "antenna? whut antennas?"
This year was no different.
Running the FLEX-3000 into a KPA-500 amp (dialed back to 149 watts) we ran the contest until band closing Friday evening using the vertical. On Saturday morning I started up with the vertical while George erected the TH-3jr to it's 24 foot height (he repaired the mast since the last contest). I had a therapy client at 11:00 and turned the radio over to George.
After coming back from the office I finished the Saturday operation, calling it quits at about 02:30z - there was just nothing left to work. Getting the day off on Sunday I put in 8+ hours, running things right to the 00:00z ending. Similar to this years RTTY RU I observed people making QSOs past the 24:00z ending - what ARE they thinking? Those QSOs will be rejected by the log submission robot.
Propagation-wise, we experienced a nice opening to Europe Saturday morning but not so much on Sunday, which replaced Europe with a super opening to South America and Mexico; altho we only worked a handful of Mexican states. Multiplier-wise we worked all states but ID, MT & WV, also missing several of the rarer VE sections.
Did you work the 10-Meter contest?
Is N6GEO in your log? On BoTH CW & SSB?


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PUEBLO, Colo.—The Colorado Department of Education has suspended federal grant funding at four of Pueblo City Schools over low performance.
The state agency ruled that the final year of the School Improvement Grant funds for Pitts, Roncalli, Freed and Risley middle schools will not be awarded. The cuts will cost the schools more than $2 million this year.
According to the Pueblo Chieftain ( http://tinyurl.com/ckj2u2x), only one other school in the state, Gilpin Elementary in Denver, had its grant money suspended.
State education officials say schools were warned that if they didn't improve, there would be sanctions.
There was no immediate comment from middle school officials.
Information from: The Pueblo Chieftain, http://www.chieftain.com


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Salida Bed and Breakfasts
Located in the Upper Arkansas River Valley, Salida, Colorado is below the Continental Divide in the Banana Belt. Boasting 12 Peaks over 14,000 feet in elevation, Salida is... Read more
Located in the Upper Arkansas River Valley, Salida, Colorado is below the Continental Divide in the Banana Belt. Boasting 12 Peaks over 14,000 feet in elevation, Salida is known for its hiking, whitewater rafting, mountain biking, and skiing. Salida is also famous for its hot springs, fly fishing, and zipline tours. Being that downtown Salida is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it has a fine collection of significant buildings. It is actually Colorado's largest historic district. When you stay at a Salida bed and breakfast, a walking tour of the downtown district is a great thing to explore on a day trip. The local history is especially intriguing. Plus, according to Sunset Magazine, Salida was named "Best Arts Community" in the west. Visitors to Salida's downtown district will find a wide array of galleries set in historically significant buildings. The eclectic galleries exhibit stimulating works by local artists, sculptors, jewelers, potters, and goldsmiths. While in town to see the studio sights, stop by the Coyote Cantina for a bit of the Wild West and stunning views of the Collegiate Peaks of the Rocky Mountains. Don't forget to check out Bongo Billy's Buena Vista Cafe for great espresso, tea, baked goods, breakfast and lunch, and fresh roasted bulk coffees. These are but a sampling of all the great options available for Salida B&B patrons or those staying at a Salida inn or lodge. Less
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B&Bs in Towns near Salida
from $165
Holden House 1902 Bed & Breakfast InnColorado Springs, CO
'The Romance of the Past with the Comforts of Today!'...Read more


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Would be an easy QoL update to allow it to be spent. Even if its as high as 10 to 1. Allowing it would help longer term players a way to spend down a currency that is so slow to use.
Wookie_Green wrote: »I would much rather see an Ally Point store, where it rotates the all of the items in the Bronzium Data Card section, not all at once, but have it like the guild store, so it all rotates every 6hrs and offers lower players a chance to get gear easier for their lower geared toons.
Happy Foruming all
TheChampionBum wrote: »Yea it would completely break the game. I would not want this at all. I have 750k ally points and with this I would be able to get anything and everything that I want for quite awhile and while that would be awesome, It would cheapen the gameplay.
Tha_Phelyn wrote: »Have a redeem all button rather then just 250 at a time. Might break the system though lol
I like the ally points store option though for gear and character shards. That would be great
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!


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POR15 Motorcycle Fuel Tank Repair Kit
BRAND: Por15
Easily reline your motorycle tank with this POR15 kit!
POR-15 Motorcycle Fuel Tank Repair Kit have been designed for the special needs of motorcycles and other small fuel tanks such as recreational vehicles, snowmobiles, outboards, generators, etc.
Order a POR-15 Motorcycle Fuel Tank Repair Kit today, and experience its quality and durability for yourself!
- POR-15 Cleaner Degreaser to remove gum, sludge, varnish
- POR-15 Metal Prep to remove rust & prepare tank for sealer
- POR-15 Fuel Tank Sealer creates a permanently sealed tank
- CLOTH PATCH for sealing large holes or reinforcing weak areas
- BRUSH for applying patching system to exterior of tank
- DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS to take you easily through each step of tank restoration
SEE MORE: Carb Maintenance


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Most Recent Episode
LIVE! Recording Information
Day: Every Monday Time: 8:00pm PDT Twitch: Polygamerous
Recent Posts
Other Info
Game Reviews Archive
Ravon's Review – Plants vs. ZombiesPosted on November 14, 2010 | No CommentsPlants Vs Zombies is another great game brought to us from the amazing developers at Popcap games. Released in 2009 it became massive as an iPod and iPhone game.
Game Review – PortalPosted on November 7, 2010 | No CommentsRavonbrand here once again from wowtitans.net for another of Ravon's Reviews. This week we are going to cover another favorite of everyone's, Portal.
Polygamerous Review: Costume QuestPosted on November 1, 2010 | No CommentsAh, Halloween. Dressing up in costumes, trick-or-treating, rolling in piles of candy. You can relive a little of those days with Double Fine's Costume Quest.
Legacy Game Review – Warcraft IIIPosted on October 29, 2010 | No CommentsHey guys, Ravonbrand from Wowtitans.net here once again for a look at the old and favorite of many RTS players out there Warcraft 3: Reign of Chaos. OK so yes this game has been around for a decade and yes many of you have played it but then again a […]
Game Review – MinecraftPosted on October 26, 2010 | 2 CommentsWhat could I possibly write that hasn't already been written about Minecraft. In the last two months the game has gone from relative obscurity to virtual infamy. If you are a serious gamer, it is easy to sit back and view the Nintendo 64 era graphics and discount it as […]


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4B Australia presents a new line of large sized ultra-heavy duty elevator buckets designed for harsh agro-industrial uses such as port and river terminals, ethanol and fertiliser plants, or frac sand and aggregate operations.
4B's JUMBO CC-S is an extension of the proven and successful heavy duty CC-S elevator bucket range.
The new super strong JUMBO CC-S elevator buckets offer greater carrying capacity, along with ultra-durable and wear-resistant performance. Featuring a thicker front lip, front corners and walls for longer life, the JUMBO CC-S is a High-Efficiency elevator bucket available in six sizes ranging from 14x8 to 24x8.
According to Carl Braime, 4B Group Sales Director, the JUMBO CC-S offers a substantial upgrade opportunity for anyone requiring thicker walled elevator buckets.
Key features of JUMBO CC-S ultra-heavy duty elevator buckets:
- Incorporates the long lasting Iceberg edge front wear lip and unique tapered bottom
- Tapered bottom designed for close vertical spacing (up to 4.6 buckets/metre)
- Tapered bottom ensures efficient bucket fill and discharge, especially in low-profile configurations
- Design allows the buckets to nest inside one another, delivering transport cost savings and storage efficiencies


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Review & Stream: Islands - A Sleep & A Forgetting
If Islands' 2006's debut Return to the Sea is the groups' master portfolio that showcased the wide range of what Nick Diamonds and company are capable of, then the latest A Sleep & A Forgetting is the work of a seasoned, matured Diamonds (now the more grown-up "Thorburn"), who may be over the hype and is ready to sincerely share his true artistry through honest, simple songs.
The former, like a carnival ride with sporadic stops at power pop sunniness and stylized polka-tinged ballads, and even the dance-y, synth-loaded 2009 release Vapours, seem to be Thorburn's effort to grab attention with catchy choruses and jig-inducing beats. Now that Thorburn has the attention, it's as if he can finally strip away the layers of jittery pop to reveal a simpler man. The former frontman of The Unicorns wrote A Sleep & A Forgetting after the end of a relationship. Recorded live in less than two weeks, the album sounds like the earnest confessions of a humbler Thorburn, an organized personal letter of sorts full of spilled out, unadulterated thoughts. The fact that Thorburn started writing on Valentine's Day only adds to a feeling of a thought-out closure with the album's release date of February 14.
With honesty comes transparency. With lyrics like "I loved a girl and I will never love again," Thorburn isn't flirting with subtlety. Instead, the album depends on rich instrumentation and simple delivery to convey meaning. With the album's narrative arc, more solemn blocks book-end the climactic middle, which has a lot of old Islands nostalgia bleeding through. Tracks like "Can't Feel My Face" and "Hallways" are reminiscent of the feel-good Vapours. Even Thorburn's characteristic voice is drastically different from some tracks to others. In "Can't Feel My Face," the vocals sound like they're being projected to the audience, contrasting those of "Same Thing," the closing track on the album which comprises of a much more soft-spoken Thorburn. The latter sounds like an intimate conversation as opposed to the former's anthem-like chorus that seems to be delivered from a separate stage rather than whispered to the ear. It's this contrast between the two extremes that makes the climactic middle sound like Thorburn is making light of his own sorrow with matter-of-fact statements like "I miss my wife." While these tracks show that Thorburn is still very much the same man who concocted the sing-and-dance-along-worthy numbers from albums past, his talent really shines through on the more effortless, stripped-down tracks.
"Oh, Maria" is the innocent standout of the album. Starting out with just an acoustic guitar and unfiltered vocals, the track tells the story of the widow of Buddy Holly. This serves as the singular song on the album in which Thorburn becomes allegorical with a third-person account. Yet, this, in a way, seems to be the most beautifully honest track. As a wavering solo piano softly seeps in with warm cymbal splashes, the song thickens with layers of rich orchestral tones and angelic vocal harmonies. Coming full circle, a solo guitar carries the melody briefly before Thorburn's voice returns to end the track: "Just think of me / when you're falling asleep. / When you wake up, / you'll be able to dream." Accordingly, the song ends with almost heart-wrenching leading tones and a satisfying, resolving cadence.
Much of the album depends on these rich orchestral swells with generous waves of cymbal rolls and deep piano chords. Coupled with cathartic lyrics, A Sleep & A Forgetting is Thorburn's, most honest yet. While past Islands albums are like the initial handshake of a first impression, this latest release is like the story a best friend confides to you at the late hours of the night. With no more tricks up his sleeve, Thorburn offers a simply-dressed, no-frills conversation of longing, sorrow, and heartache.
Stream 'A Sleep & A Forgetting' in its entirety here.


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Old Fashioned Botanical Perfume OIl
This perfume oil is just like our Old Fashioned Beard Oil. It smells of vanilla, spices, and orange peel. Infused with orange peel pieces. Naturally fragranced.
This drink is the drink that spawned Soap Distillery. Think of us the next time you treat yourself to one!
Our perfume oils are packaged in a convenient roller bottle that can be taken everywhere and used whenever you need a little pick me up. The oils are infused with botanicals that continue to boost the fragrance throughout the life of the oil. The base used for the perfume oils is a velvety blend of triglycerides and jojoba oil to leave the skin nice and soft without being oily. Packaged in a glass roller.
Approximately 0.35 fl oz
Ingredients: triglycerides, natural fragrance and essential oil blend, jojoba oil.
Product notes: Please keep this out of the sun to prolong the life of the product. Use caution as oil can make surfaces slippery. Make sure the oil has been absorbed before putting on lightweight clothing.
Back To Everything


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The state has notified all school nurses that the pharmaceutical company Sanofi US has issued a Nationwide Recall of Auvi Q(R) Due to Potential Inaccurate Dosage Delivery. Auvi Q is a brand of epinephrine auto-injector used for severe allergies/anaphylaxis. If you have this medicine in your home, please visit the following website for more details: https://www.auvi-q.com/ or speak to the pharmacy where it was purchased.
Month: October 2015
Online Math League Information
Online Math League Information
The Online Math Leagues for grades 3, 4, 5 and 6 will have their first practice session next week from Nov 3 – 6. The first contest will be during the week of Nov 16th. All grades except grade 5 will meet in the Art Room from 8:05 to 8:35. Grade 5 will meet in Ms. Magee's room (#30). If you have not sent in the permission slips yet, you may send them with your student on the practice day.
You can find more information along with permission slips in the virtual backpack.
If you have any questions please contact Mrs. Iyer at firstname.lastname@example.com.
The schedule for the first session is as follows:
Tuesday, Nov 3 Grade 4
Wednesday, Nov 4 Grade 3
Thursday, Nov 5 Grade 5
Friday, Nov 6 Grade 6
Homework Assistance at Boxford Public Library
The public library is offering after school homework help! Children can take Bus 14 to the public library right from our school! Please write a note to indicate that your child will be taking this bus if attending the homework help there.
Homework Assistance area is open Mondays and Tuesdays from 3:30 to 4:30 pm
– The area is open to any child who is old enough to work independently and requires minimal supervision, ideally for children in grade 3 and up.
– No advance registration is required
– Light Snacks are provided
– Children sign-in so we have a record of who is in the area
– Children remain in the area unless they need a resource from the library or need to use the restroom
– Adult Volunteers are present to a) supervise, b) provide assistance if a child has a question with their homework
– Homework area closes at 4:30 pm. Children not picked up by then will be moved into the library to await pick-up.
– For the safety of the children: all adult volunteers will have CORI checks, there will always be two volunteers in the Homework Assistance Area with the children, and children need to be signed out by a responsible adult when they are picked up.
Band Fundraiser
Reminder – the Spofford Pond Band will be selling Skida Hats & Headbands on Thursday, 10/29 from 12-1:30. If students wish to purchase something, they can visit the sale during their lunch period on Thursday. Prices are as follows: Adult hats $28 (these may fit older children), Kids hats $26, Headbands $15. They will also be sold at the PTO Halloween Party on Friday evening.
All items are priced below retail price. Cash or checks made out to Spofford Pond Band Parents will be accepted.
Food Drive at Spofford Pond School
We will be participating in food drive from October 30th to November 20th. We will begin this Friday with children making a non-perishable food donation if they wear halloween costumes or orange /black clothing.
Governor Baker's non-profit youth organization Project 351 is running their annual Fall Service program to end hunger in the Commonwealth by raising awareness, resources, and food donations for hometown food pantries. Boxford Ambassador, Alex DiBlasi, will be using The Spofford Pond School as Boxford's host site for non-perishable food donations which will be collected until Friday, November 20th.
Your much appreciated donations are for Our Neighbor's Table (www.ourneighborstable.org) in Amesbury. Did you know that 1 out of 16 people in the Merrimack Valley grapple with hunger every night? Our Neighbor's Table is an invaluable resource for our area. It has offered food assistance for decades to families in our surrounding communities. They have a Food Pantry which is stocked with groceries, hygiene items, and baby products and they host a weekly Wednesday evening dinner to over 150 hungry people! They also deliver hot dinners to people who cannot get out and supply holiday meals to over 400 families every season.
Think Central – Math in Focus
All parents and students in grades 3-5 have access to Think Central, which is the online piece to our Math In Focus program.
With this site, when you click on My Library, you have access to the student edition of your child's math textbook. There are also Student Interactivities, which are video tutorials and math games for most chapters. It also contains Math Background Videos that are an excellent resource for parents to watch if you are looking for more information about the Math In Focus Program techniques and philosophies.
Another good resource from the Think Central website is the glossary from the textbook. This may help students when working with Math Vocabulary. This can be found at the end of Volume B.
For the Think Central Website, most student's usernames are:
first name last name with no spaces
The password for all students is: mathisfun
Think Central
Think Central is the online tool to use with our Math in Focus program.
Go to http://www-k6.thinkcentral.com
State: select Massachusetts
District: select Supervisory Union 58, Boxford 01921
School: select Spofford Pond School
Username :____johndoe___________________
Password: mathisfun
Click on: My Library
This shows all of your available materials including your online book, workbook, background videos, student interactivities and virtual manipulatives.
Grade 6 students have access to their math materials at
Username: first name last name (no spaces)
Password: mathisfun
If you need further assistance, please see your teacher or contact Jennifer Sirmaian (Math Support Specialist) at firstname.lastname@example.com
Collecting Candy for our Heroes Overseas
As a way to give thanks to the men and women in our military, students in Mrs. Liacos' class are spearheading a community service project collecting candy for our troops. If your child has extra or unwanted Halloween candy please have him or her bring it to Spofford Pond School between November 2nd – November 6th. Every homeroom will have a designated area to store the candy. All of the candy collected will be donated to Operation Troop Support, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping active military and veterans. The candy collected during this drive will be included in care packages to soldiers who are risking their lives overseas. If you wish to learn more about this organization please visit www.operationtroopsupport.org. Thank you for caring!
PTO Halloween Party!
PIZZA, VEGGIES & DRINKS PROVIDED 5:30-6:30pm. ICE CREAM SUNDAE BAR.
(Gluten Free Pizza / Dairy Free Dessert available with registration)
For the Halloween Party contact Jill Thorpe at email@example.com.
For Chili Cook Off contact Julie McGee at email@example.com.
If links above do not work, please go directly to the sign up https://boxfordmapto.wufoo.com/forms/p1hmkjka1oqrnmh/
See payment instructions on the sign up form.
The Spofford Pond Band Fundraiser–Skida Hats and Headbands
Reminder – the Spofford Pond Band will be selling Skida Hats & Headbands on Wednesday, 10/28 from 9:30-11 and Thursday, 10/29
from 12-1:30. If students wish to purchase something, they can visit the sale during their lunch period on Thursday. Prices are as follows: Adult hats $28 (these may fit older children), Kids hats $26, Headbands $15.
All items are priced below retail price. Cash or checks made out to Spofford Pond Band Parents will be accepted.


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Re: PlotStyle will not distribute over Table
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg96659] Re: PlotStyle will not distribute over Table
- From: Kresimir Kumericki <kkumer at calculon.phy.hr>
- Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2009 03:34:50 -0500 (EST)
- References: <firstname.lastname@example.com>
Thank you for your answers, but unfortunately I oversimplified my problem: > Plot[Table[Sin[a x], {a, 1, 2}], {x, 0, Pi}, > PlotStyle -> {Hue[0.7], Hue[1]}] > > will have both lines with red color, while Namely, "Sin[a x]" above is actually a MathLink-ed function evaluated in Fortran for some value of x, and what's worse, this Fortran in the middle of evaluation calls back Mathematica and asks about the value of global variable parameter "par" which should be set equal to "a" before evaluation. I think this behaviour is equivalent to Mathematica function, e.g., fun[x_?NumericQ] := Sin[par x] Thus, what I originally had as an argument of Table[] instead of "Sin[a x]" above was (par = a; fun[x]) Then I cannot put Evaluate[] around Table because only the last value for par=a would be used in evaluation of all functions. In the meantime I have solved the problem by using auxiliary function, which serves only to break this whole evaluation in two steps: aux[f_, a_, x_?NumericQ] := (par = a; f[x]) Plot[Evaluate[Table[aux[fun, a, x], {a, 2}]], {x, 0, Pi}, PlotStyle -> {Hue[0.7], Hue[1]}] I don't know if this is the most elegant solution, but it works for me. Kresimir


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Katelyn DrewNerdy, Awesome Kid!!!
Sessions From Previous Years:
[2015] The Family Keynote
[2014] Scratch for kids!
Hi, my name is Katelyn, and I'm 15 years old. I love to spend my time on all things: -tech -forensic (both science and debate) -BBC Sherlock <3 -and pretty much anything that teaches me something new. :) When looking for topics to speak on, I like to find the topics that will get kids excited to learn, because having gone to all 6 years of this amazing conference, there have been so many things that have inspired me, and for me to have the opportunity to do that for even one person? It makes it all worth it. (BTW both of my parents are nerds. Nerds rock.)


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England | Scotland | Wales | Northern Ireland | Ireland
Get the latest NHS information and advice about coronavirus (COVID-19).
Check if you or your child has coronavirus symptoms
Find out about the main symptoms of coronavirus and what to do if you have them.
Self-isolation and treatment if you have coronavirus symptoms
Advice about staying at home (self-isolation) and treatment for you and anyone you live with.
Testing and tracing
Information about testing for coronavirus and what to do if you're contacted by the NHS Test and Trace service.
People at high risk
Advice for people at higher risk from coronavirus, including older people, people with health conditions and pregnant women.
Social distancing and changes to everyday life
Advice about avoiding close contact with other people (social distancing), looking after your wellbeing and using the NHS and other services during coronavirus.
GOV.UK: coronavirus – guidance and support
Government information and advice.
Upminster Medical Centre224 - 226 St. Mary's LaneUpminsterEssex, RM14 3DHTel: 01708 251407
Privacy statement – General Data Protection Regulation 2018: In the National Health Service (NHS), we aim to provide you with the highest quality healthcare and excellence in healthcare. To do this we must keep information about you, your health and the care we have provided to you or plan to provide to you. This privacy statement provides a summary ... Continue reading
The practice complies with data protection and access to medical records legislation. Identifiable information about you will be shared with others in the following circumstances:
If you do not wish anonymous information about you to be used in such a way, please let us know.
Reception and administration staff require access to your medical records in order to do their jobs. These members of staff are bound by the same rules of confidentiality as the medical staff.
Information about the General Practioners and the practice required for disclosure under this act can be made available to the public. All requests for such information should be made to the practice manager.
In accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and Access to Health Records Act, patients may request to see their medical records. Such requests should be made through the practice manager and may be subject to an administration charge. No information will be released without the patient consent unless we are legally obliged to do so.
If you ever have cause to feel that you wish to make a complaint about any aspect of our service, please be assured that we have a candid in-house complaints procedure. Initially, it would be best to drop a written note "for the urgent attention of Dr. MM Baig." Please be assured that we will endeavour to deal with your complaint promptly.
The NHS operate a zero tolerance policy with regard to violence and abuse and the practice has the right to remove violent patients from the list with immediate effect in order to safeguard practice staff, patients and other persons. Violence in this context includes actual or threatened physical violence or verbal abuse which leads to fear for a person's safety. In this situation we will notify the patient in writing of their removal from the list and record in the patient's medical records the fact of the removal and the circumstances leading to it.
Copyright 2006 - 2020 My Surgery Website | Privacy & Usage | Edit | Staff Home | Site Map | Accessibility | Site T&C's | Service T&C's


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Author: Emily Giffin
Published: 2005
Date Finished: July 2011
This book does not boast of surprising twists, Pulitzer prize-winning prose or a plethora of philosophical insight. My reason for loving this book is simple (so much I read the last part over and over again)…I imagined Ethan to be Zachary Levi. I love it when the cute nerd gets the girl:) It's an honest, real book, and makes you realize that Personality Disorders can be cured with some divine intervention of sorts.


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You've spent weeks (or months) getting your new IoT website ready and you're ready to launch. That's great! However, a new look isn't enough to make a website refresh a home run. If you're not also providing a range of different types of valuable content to your site visitors, then you're missing out on some great opportunities to convert website visitors into leads. Content can help you:
But more words on more pages isn't going to do the trick. Your site needs specific types of content that will have the most impact for the areas mentioned above. Here are five pieces of content you should add to your website immediately:
1) A blog, or maybe even more than one. Many companies have a blog already…but some still haven't taken the plunge. If you do have a blog, up the ante. If you post once a week, invest the time in two times a week on M2M/IoT topics that are valuable to your company and your audience. If you have one successful blog, weigh whether a second one makes sense to promote a different audience segment, for example, enterprise vs. service provider or wireless vs. wireline, or even for different vertical markets. Make sure you're providing an opportunity for visitors to sign up for automatic email updates each time you post. That converts visitors into followers, making them one step closer to becoming customers. One rule about blogs, however—don't make them all about you and your products, but rather focus them on providing valuable information to the industry you serve. You'll get more attention across the web that way than you would if everything is about you, you, you.
2) Case studies. You can tell your story well, but often your marketing materials may sound like….well…marketing materials. Instead, offer one or more case study (text OR video based) for each vertical market you are trying to reach. Consider using a third party to write them so they hit your salient points but are written in the customer's voice. Be careful not to overdo it; you want to provide your best examples, not EVERY example. Think "small, medium, large"—provide a use case from a small customer, a medium customer and a large one (where appropriate) in each vertical. If you want to acknowledge a customer without a case study, use their logo with permission.
3) One or more white papers. White papers are a great way to tout your company's deep knowledge about specific subject areas. They allow companies to be part of a conversation when they might not have a solution yet. They provide great reason for your sales team to connect with existing customers and those in the funnel. And, with a lead capture form in place, they are a great way to provide your sales team with a constant stream of new leads.
4) Press releases. When you're first getting started, show off as much news as you can. Stuck with "no news?" There are plenty of things you can "announce," including industry predictions, quarterly or yearly growth rates, traction in specific international markets, for example. Don't be shy about making announcements, but make sure they map to your overall marketing goals.
5) Press clippings. Stuck with no coverage? Ask your PR team to work with you on a few contributed articles or blog posts to sites that accept them, then add those to your site. Grow this area over time. Consider paraphrasing the headline and first paragraph of each external article to maximize SEO.
Of course, these pieces of content aren't valuable unless you're actively promoting them. Make sure each new piece across these five areas is heavily promoted on your social media streams, sent to your sales teams so they can send the links to their customers, added to your newsletters, and more. Your investment will pay off with new traffic and new leads for your company.
Want more marketing advice for your M2M/IoT company? Visit Calystp's new site, The IoT Marketer.
© 2020 Calysto Communications
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2017 Cochon Coteau des Vignes Chardonnay, Willamette Valley
Click To Enlarge
- Item #: CVC001
Opens with enticing fresh acacia, orchard blossom and honeyed lemon scents followed by hints of ripe yellow apple, poached pear and ginger with touches of toasted meringue, savory spices and hazelnut. The flavors follow the aromatics with a ripe core of orchard fruits, lemon curd, honey and toast. Medium-bodied, dry, with a creamy mouth coating texture balanced by a racy backbone of juicy acid which carries the wine to a lingering and delightfully elegant finish.


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Rating: NNN
LATITUDE (89 Harbord, 416-928-0926) A delightful addition to the Harbord dining strip, this latin cantina with attitude offers first-rate dinners with a South American twist. Couple a well-selected and reasonably priced wine list with staff formerly of Xango, and subtle fireworks happen. Best: pumpkin-seed-encrusted roast chicken breast with Asian greens, new-potato hash browns and smoked chipotle jus; grilled lemongrass Atlantic salmon with sticky-rice tartare and avocados; chili-marinated pork tenderloin with grilled veggie 'n' yucca terrine; salmon ceviche with mango-pineapple salsa; ham, pork and Swiss pressed Cubano sandwich; tiramisu-like coffee-tres-leches trifle. Complete dinners for $30 per person ($17 at lunch or brunch), including all taxes, tip and a glass of wine. Open Tuesday to Friday 11:30 am to 11 pm, Saturday and Sunday 11 am to 11 pm. Brunch Saturday and Sunday to 4 pm. Closed Monday. Fully licensed. Access: three steps at door, washrooms in basement. Rating: NNN


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Posts tagged 'unique wedding gift'
Live Wedding Event Painting on Canvas in Huntington, NY
Last night, I had a wonderful time live event painting a bride and groom's first dance at their wedding party at the Harbor Club at Prime in Huntington, NY. The wedding was joyful, cozy and romantic and I tried to capture this warm feeling in the live wedding painting. Here are some pics of the process:
I enjoy the speed, and challenge of painting the vibe and atmosphere at an event. I really enjoyed live event painting at this beautiful wedding on Long Island.
Love and Marriage- Wedding Storyboard Artwork
Congratulations to our repeat clients' marriage! A few years back, I created a custom storyboard of the happy couple's world travels, and just finished an updated version of their extraordinary life's adventures in this wedding storyboard. For this wedding storyboard custom art , the client provided photos and written details of different important events in their lives. I incorporated size scenes into a 16 x 20 watercolor custom artwork. Mazel Tov to the happy wedding couple!
and the preliminary sketch:


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Scottish Power has announced it will be taking steps to modernise its energy distribution infrastructure across parts of the UK power grid to improve reliability and lower customer costs.
The investment totalling around £5.2bn could create up to 2,500 new jobs in the sector, which could rise to 4,000 over the next decade.
SSE has announced developments which could lead to cheaper electricty prices for its customers by as early as 2015.
It plans on reducing distribution network costs by 10% for many customers in central southern England and northern Scotland.
Scottish Power Energy Supplier's main focus is an effort to protect against severe weather by renewing and strengthening power lines, cabling and substations relied on by many rural customers for their electricity supply. This includes more than 3.5 million in Scotland, Merseyside, North and Mid Wales.
CEO of Scottish Power Energy Networks Frank Mitchell said: "[The] investment will create thousands of highly-skilled jobs, as we will need a future generation of engineers and technicians to deliver upgrades."
He also has confidence the developments will provide supportive foundation for growth for "generations to come" in the energy and wider industries.
Customers who are adversely affected by interruptions in their electricity supply due to the restructuring will benefit from plans to provide better compensatory payments.


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8th April 2014
Venue: Crowne Plaza Birmingham City Centre
Take advantage of the Early Bird Booking Rate (valid till 28th Feb 2014). Limited spaces available! Book now!
CPD has been applied for at The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and we are expecting 6 points for this activity.
This year our one-day accredited meeting will be held on the 8th April 2014 at the Crowne Plaza Birmingham City Centre. We are pleased to offer an exciting programme provided by a number of national and international experts.
Sleep disorders are common in children and adolescents and are particularly frequent in the presence of disability or chronic illness. As many of the complications associated with sleep disorders are preventable, early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are vital.
This meeting will provide clinically oriented presentations highlighting modern-day principles of assessment and management of children and adolescents with sleep disorders. It will be of particular relevance to general paediatricians, paediatric neurologists, specialists in intellectual disability, child and adolescent psychiatrists, psychologists, primary care staff and others involved in child health, welfare and education.
The aim is to provide essential and up-to-date information on how to identify and effectively treat child and adolescent sleep disorders in order to improve patients' quality of life and that of their families.
The conference offers a variety of themes relating mainly to clinical practice, but is also relevant to research.
Plenary sessions will be interspersed with question and answer sessions and panel discussions. The meeting will provide a valuable opportunity to network, share knowledge and ideas, and consider collaborative projects.
Topics will include
Plenary sessions will be interspersed with questions and answer sessions and panel discussions. The meeting represents a valuable opportunity to network, share knowledge and ideas, and consider collaborative projects.
Professor Gregory Stores
Emeritus Professor of Developmental Neuropsychiatry,
University of Oxford
Welcome and brief overview and Problem sleep in children with traumatic brain injury
Professor Ian St James-Roberts
Thomas Coram Research Unit Institute of Education, University of London
Helping parents to prevent infant sleeping problems - using recent evidence to im prove health service practice
Dr Angela Moore
Consultant Paediatrician, Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
Sleep and Sudden Infant Death
Dr Neil Gibson
Consultant in Paediatric Respiratory Medicine, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Glasgow
Diagnosis and treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea
Professor Derk-Jan Dijk
Professor of Sleep and Physiology, Director Surrey Sleep Research Centre
Sleep and circadian rhythm disturbance in adolescents
Professor Leopold M.G. Curfs
Maastricht University Medical Centre, The Netherlands
Special considerations in the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders in children with an intellectual disability
Professor Paul Gringras
Evelina Children's Hospital within Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
Update on uses of melatonin in children
Dr Luci Wiggs
Reader in Psychology, Oxford Brookes University
Treatment of sleep disturbance in autistic children
General Paediatricians, Paediatric Neurologists, Specialists in Intellectual Disability, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Primary Care Staff and others involved in child health, welfare and education
The Crowne Plaza Birmingham is situated in a prime city-centre location, within a short walking distance of popular venues, such as the National Indoor Arena, the ICC and the Hippodrome Theatre.
It offers 312 newly refurbished bedrooms, including 2 suites and 2 superb Club Bedroom floors complete with private Club Lounge with a dedicated host and media centre.
Crowne Plaza Birmingham is one of the most popular hotels in Birmingham due to its ideal location and outstanding facilities. This includes the superb b1 Bar and Restaurant, the Club Lounge (for Club Room and Suite guest to network and take in the incredible views) and a state-of-the-art Fitness Centre. The hotel is also just a two-minute walk from the Mailbox complex, which features designer stores, such as Hugo Boss and Harvey Nicholls.
As well as their outstanding facilities, car park access and excellent transport links, they are also just a five minute walk away from Birmingham New Street train station.
Please download the Sponsorship PDF for detailed sponsorship opportunities.
The organiser is more than willing to discuss your ideas and adjust available opportunities for your existing materials, presentations or to convert our space to your idea, as long as this does not detract from the conference.
Fore more information and pricing please download the sponsorship pdf or contact us via email or phone:
Mr. Charlie Ioannou
Telephone: 0207 617 7374
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
To book this conference online please fill in the appropriate form and proceed with the booking in your booking cart!
If you want to book offline then download the Offline Booking Form and send it via fax to: +44 (0)870 3305859.


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If you're tired of bland - wake up your taste buds with the flavors of Thailand. When you dine at Kim's Thai Restaurant, you'll be tasting authentic Thai flavors!
Thai takeout is a favorite for a reason – we have everything you crave for affordable rates. By using only the finest ingredients, our experienced chefs serve meals that allow you to taste the diverse and intense flavors of Asia.
Ready to place your order? Call ahead to help us plan for your event or party.
When you're ready to order, call us today to see what we have in store and to get fast service. Not a fan of spicy options? We'll customize your dinner using a scale of one to ten to ensure your dish meets your needs.


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Here is small and quite practical domain model of organizing different kinds of events – like congresses, fairs or festivals. All these events can have several parallel tracks and each track consists of consequent sessions. Sessions have a subject or a tittle and from one to several performers. The members of listeners or audience are called participants. A sessions is event-moment type of object and all different roles are connected to the event trough participation-events. Each participant has exactly one participation event to connect the person to the event. Participation's state attribute in the event reflects the life cycle of that event.
I am trying to implement this model in an event management application. The application will provide means to register to the event and then the application will confirm the registration if there is available capacity left.
I am implementing this with Python and I am currently testing ZODB oo-db with this. I am still looking for a web framework. In my first tests I used tkinter GUI. I like the lightweight but oo structure of Python. It remains me a lot of Smalltalk with it's dynamic oo variable binding.
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Eccl.9:4 – For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
Your case is not hopeless and one hour is too much for God to change your story and that will be your testimony in the name of Jesus!
Favour is part of life. Man was created to enjoy favour and not to endure. Favour is special preference or privilege that gives someone an advantage over others. Scripturally, favour is all about the kindness of God.
Psalm 31:21 -Blessed be the Lord: for he hath shewed me his marvelous kindness in a strong city.
Divine favour is God's countenance shining upon someone. That will be your testimony from now! No matter the crowd, God's favour will single you out in the name of Jesus! The favour of God will distinguish you wherever you go from today in Jesus name!
Divine favour is above human favour because whatever is from above is above all. The moment a man has divine favour, it promotes the favour of men.
Psalm 44:3 -For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them.
You are the next in line for divine favour! The above scripture will find express manifestation in your life! The favour of God will locate you today and you will not struggle anymore in the name of Jesus!
Luke 2:52 -And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
When God favours you, men must favour you including those who don't like you because it is divine favour that provokes the favour of men. All-round favour is provoked by divine favour. From this day, may the favour of God locate you wherever you go! North, South, East and West, you will be highly favoured! Every document bearing your name shall be smelling favour in Jesus name!
Deut.7:6, 14 -For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. 14 Thou shalt be blessed above all people: there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle.
Divine favour is your heritage in Christ as a child of God.
Psalm 16:6 – The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.
Psalm 5:12 -For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.
From now, you will be known as A.K.A FAVOUR! You will be wearing favour as perfume! Begin to enjoy your heritage from now! May the God that called me shine His countenance on you and favour you always in Jesus mighty name –Amen!
God bless you


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Midi Skirts Make a Come Back
by Elle
Hello All,
I hope you are having a great week. Recently, I have been loving midi skirts. I love its classic cut and worry free length. For petite women like myself, sometimes it is harder to wear a midi skirt without feeling a little overwhelmed. I like to find skirts that I can wear high waisted. I also like wearing nude heels with them because it helps to give the illusion of being taller.
How do you wear your midi skirts? Let me know and share your tips.
CARDIGAN unbranded
TOP topshop
SKIRT vintage find from barrio vintage
SHOES sam edelman
BELT forever21
ACCESSORIES stella and dot, gorjana, homecoming honolulu, 7 for all mankind, leslie danzis


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From the beginning of my study I was interested in wild animals, their health, conservation and other relations between wild animals and humans. The last 10 years since I was employed, I have spent working with wild and exotic animals, mostly reptiles, amphibians and birds. The chance to start the residency programme was a great opportunity and a logical step for me to learn more about the wildlife, especially about the animals I haven't worked with before, and about the management and conservation of wild animals. It was also the opportunity to get more skills in the methods I didn't use in my everyday routine. I started my programme in October 2016 and was immediately involved in the activities with a lot of different wildlife species, which made my everyday job even more interesting and fulfilled.
The benefit of the programme is that one can be involved in, and learn more about some very important fields of veterinary medicine which has not been his/her primary work assignment before. Therefore I am now more involved in pathology cases of all types of wildlife, from the gross pathology to histological procedures, thanks to our Pathology Department and its involvement in the programme. Due to the concept of the programme I am now looking forward to be involved in more veterinary procedures I am still not familiar with.
My daily tasks include clinical work and diagnostic procedures for birds, reptiles and amphibians. This includes laboratory diagnostics using standard and molecular microbiological techniques, and the treatment of diseased animals. Since our Institution is in charge for the diagnostics and treatment of diseased and injured marine turtles at the Marine Rescue Centre Pula, I have to go there from time to time to examine and treat the animals and to make decision whether the particular animal is ready to be returned to the sea. My additional work in Zagreb Zoo helps me a lot, so that the knowledge I gained working with captive animals can be translated to wild ones.
Research is important component of activities at our Institution, so that I am involved in many interesting research projects related especially to our native animal species, their health and conservation. One of interesting field tasks I would like to mention is an ultrasound health examination of the olms (Proteus anguinus). It was performed in cooperation with our colleagues and experts, Prof. Thomas B. Hildebrandt and Dr. Susanne Holtze, as part of the Olm Conservation Project in Croatia jointly realized by the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagreb Zoo and the Croatian Institute for Biodiversity. The examination was completed with the assistance of speleodivers in a very cold and very snowy part of Croatia. Owing to good organization and remarkable team we made a great job and one step more in conservation of these very special and endangered amphibians.
Our job also includes teaching and research activities with the students. As part of these activities we try to motivate the students and to involve them more in the wildlife health and management issues.
At the very beginning of the programme I joined the Wildlife Population Health Residents Group comprised of the colleagues from the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium and Switzerland. The Group is very enthusiastic and started to organize journal clubs, wildlife literature collection and workshops. This is a great way to keep you informed and up to date, and to encourage you to learn more and more.
However, 24 hour day is sometimes too short for all of the interesting and important tasks you want to accomplish. Therefore, my suggestion for the future residents would be to enrol only if they really love what they do and have a great enthusiasm in that field.
As I already mentioned above, I just started my residency programme and already have a lot of interesting tasks to do, owing to my supervisor Associated Professor Dean Konjevic and all of the colleagues involved in the programme. They make a great effort to involve me in their everyday activities related to the wildlife, so that I am looking forward to continue the programme and acquire new skills for better management of wildlife-human relations and their improvement.
Maja Lukač, DVM, PhD
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb
Resident in Wildlife Population Health Specialty
1 - Releasing of Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) after rehabilitation
2 - Ultrasound field examination of the olms (Proteus anguinus)
3 - Examination of young Griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) prior to releasing


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Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) is an internationally accredited qualification designed to assist organisations in bringing about change on a large scale. It provides those involved in programme management with a best practice approach that can be applied to virtually any type of organisational programme. Practicing and aspiring programme managers will gain more knowledge about the leadership that is required, rather than just the management skills that they need.
Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) is a cutting-edge programme management framework for bringing the required business benefits from major change, while also addressing the need for sensible governance and control over multiple projects.
A programme consists of a set of projects and other activities determined by an organisation. Together these produce a number of defined strategic objectives that will facilitate the realisation of benefits, and thus a significant change in the business. Typical benefits that may come from change include the lower cost of providing benefits, a lower cost base, increased market share and increased customer retention.
You want your child to make the transition from not being able to drive themselves around to being mobile, so you buy him or her a car. However, it is not just about getting them the car. In order to complete this transition they have to learn to drive first and pass a driver's test. This demonstrates how transformation programmes often focus more attention on delivering new capabilities (the car), and give inadequate attention to whether the organisation can utilise those new capabilities (passing the driver's test).
A programme can only do well if the projects within it succeed. To continue with the analogy, passing the driver's test and getting to drive the car is of little use if your child is reckless and unwilling to change his or her behaviour. So without programme management, the projects would possibly still be able to deliver their outputs but they wouldn't be co-ordinated or integrated in a way that will achieve the strategic goals.
This training is beneficial to any organisation or individual who recognises the need for a controlled, yet flexible approach to programme management. It is suitable for programme managers, experienced project managers, strategists, programme office members and senior managers from any discipline, whether the public or the private sector.
Managing Successful Programmes provides individuals with leadership skills and techniques not common to project managers, thus providing them with another skillset.
Once successfully completed, delegates will be able to:
Snap Tech is uniquely qualified to provide Best Practice management services that conform to the highest international standards, integrating industry best practice with your organisation's culture, process and structure for improved performance.
This event is a special learning experience, which includes a lot of practical sessions and individual and team exercises that encourage active delegate participation. Managing Successful Programmes is facilitated by one of Snap Tech's internationally accredited and highly experienced trainer consultants.


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Northland Septic provides residential and commercial septic services in Backus, including septic design, septic installation, septic pumping, septic system repair, drain cleaning, waste hauling and compliance inspection. Count on us for all of your Backus sewer and septic needs.
From septic system installation in Backus to maintenance, rentals, repairs, our team of highly trained professionals has the equipment and expertise necessary to provide you with unparalleled efficiency and service. Septic services in Backus include:
If you are experiencing any of these issues, please contact Northland today. These symptoms may indicate a failure in your septic system, which cause serious problems if not repaired. Common problems include:
For Residential permit applications in Backus, MN, please visit the city website at www.backusmn.com
Good afternoon. I just wanted to pass along some positive feedback regarding your team. Dale, from the Hackensack location, has been out to our place a few times this winter to help out with our septic issues. I can't say enough great things! He's knowledgeable, courteous, and does an excellent job. It's easy to tell he truly enjoys his profession and wants to help people as much as possible.
Northland Septic Maintenance Inc.
4207 16th Street NW
Backus, MN 56435
Main Phone: 888.454.4999


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Kris Wilder will be hosting the MU seminar in Bellevue, Washington on Saturday May 20th.
There will be a pool of instructors, each hour five of the instructors will offer different classes for the students to choose from. You can sample a variety of different styles or concentrate the time on one instructor or two instructors.
It's fun.


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Artist – J.D Doria
Doria Joseph Drori, Born 1961, interdisciplinary and independent artist, lives and works in Tel-Aviv.
Maturing into painting coagulates a background in Cinema and Stage Art with a love for writing, combined with years of study and experimental research into territories of human thought and metaphysics, and on the overall an autodidactic and Dadaistic approach to life. My recent work reflects a growing interest in the 'Future', and in a radical 'reading' of Aesthetic.
Work – Painting as Multitude
Painting, in its historic nature and form, converges into one image; yet, incorporating technology and cooperative intelligence, allows to expand and examine the medium's borders beyond the exclusivity of the one image.
We are at a crossroads, in the 'middle' of radical transition. We are crossing over from the development of intelligence, based upon designed constraints, to development of intelligence based upon a complex and rich fabric of opportunities within soft and active reality. In soft and active matter there is no privileged identity, neither an a-priori privileged moment, nor a single-privileged image. There is however an ambiguous zone, there are fuzzy landscapes, non-linear intuitions and bifurcating events, so we need to develop an intelligence that curates becoming as a multitude.
Painting as a Multitude is the technique I am using to explore the moods and tides of emergence, where I extend the act of authoring upon technology and collective intelligence, in order to release the fixed artistic constraint of the single image, into a multitude of moments and scales captured in a dynamic evolution. Extending the Artist's sphere of action-ability through technology and collectivity is a way of radically changing the conditions and possibilities of the painting. With technology, painting becomes a continuous event and a Rhizome-like phenomenon.
I usually begin with a small work on paper, using liquid materials (colors) such as ink, glass paints and acrylic. When working out a composition and laying out these materials, I take account of the chaotic process. In the process, the paints do not merge entirely but maintain their disparate identities, while the chemical interaction between the colors creates forms and processes, which generate images that retain fractal qualities.
Technology is incorporated into the works through two main techniques. The first involves the use of a 3D scanner on the painting, to extract a high-resolution digital image. The out coming image provides the basis for a process of selection, to capture (through a manipulation of scales) a series of other images, that lie locked in the base painting. The images extracted are then finally blown up and printed on various mediums.
The second technique involves the usage of a digital camera during the painting process, The camera exposes and briefly captures the images in the making that subsequently unfold into a resting point in time. These images (that are usually lost without trace) take form while the painting process is taking place, in various areas of the work, as a result of the interaction between the different painting materials.
At the end of the process, the work comes out as a multitude, a series of images that are both a plural form of the base state of the painting and also independent images of their own accord.
In the process I found myself attending a threshold of mind, between a creativity that unfolds through the designed constraint of a privileged image, and a creative process that carves its way within soft and active matter where multitudes of opportunities co-emerge.
Today, the act of painting is an open-ended technology. In opening itself to a network of technological extensions and in augmenting the author (artist) into a web of interactions, painting is constantly enabled to re-expose its open ended potency: painting as a technology of articulation, signifying and negotiating at the border of visibility, with a multitude of images of intelligence.


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The study findings have come almost too fast to digest, and they suggest that the sleeping brain works on learned information the way a change sorter does on coins. It seems first to distill the day's memories before separating them — vocabulary, historical facts and dimes here; cello scales, jump shots and quarters over there.It then bundles them into readable chunks, at different times of the night. In effect, the stages of sleep seem to be specialized to handle specific types of information, the studies suggest.
. . .Dr. Carlyle Smith of Trent University in Canada has found a strong association between the amount of Stage 2 sleep a person gets and the improvement in learning motor tasks. Mastering a guitar, a hockey stick or a keyboard are all motor tasks.
. . . "The implication of this is that if you are preparing for a performance, a music recital, say, or skating performance, it's better to stay up late than get up really early," he said in an interview. "These coaches that have athletes or other performers up at 5 o'clock in the morning, I think that's just crazy."
I planned my high school schedule around taking the required PE first period, here in Florida. Being less than alert or slipping on the wet grass seemed preferable to dehydration, sunburn, vomiting, passing out, or heat stroke. I don't think our physical mastery of sports skills (or general health) was being much enhanced, no matter what time of day we endured PE.
It is likely during REM, some scientists argue, that the brain proceeds to mix, match and juggle the memory traces it has preserved, looking for hidden connections that help make sense of the world. Life experience is cut up and reordered, sifted and shuffled again. This process could account for the cockeyed, disjointed scenes that occur during dreams: the kaleidoscope of distilled experience is being turned.


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Professional Patek Philippe Calatrava replica watches.the best imitation Patek Philippe Calatrava watches online with cheap price. The difference between our Patek Philippe replica watch and original watch is in the precision of the manufacturing. Some exterior details may be closer to the original and the exterior features of the watch may be more exact on the Swiss models. All our replica watches are water resistant but not waterproof.you cannot submerge your watch in water and you should remove it before taking a shower or swimming.
Replica Patek Philippe Calatrava Automatic White Dial 18 kt Rose Gold Men's Watch 5196R
Brand Patek Philippe
Series Calatrava
Model 5196R
Gender Men's
Movement Automatic
Case Size 37mm
Case Material Fixed 18k Rose Gold
Band Type Strap
Band Material Brown Alligator Leather
Clasp Tang
Check out related Patek Philippe Calatrava replica watches.


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Today i'm reviewing the latest single i've been sent from the lovely people at Independiente Records (Home to Travis, Embrace, and Gomez amongst others).
The track is called "Go To Hell" and comes from British based singer/songwriter, David Ford.
David Ford is a Singer/Songwriter from Kent, in the UK. Before becoming a solo artist, he was the frontman for an Indie band called Easyworld, who released two full length albums before splitting up in 2004. Since that point he has extensively toured the UK, ranging from small intimate shows to supporting bands such as Starsailor, and even his own sold out headline tour. That was in support of his critically acclaimed debut album "I Sincerly Apoligize For All The Trouble I've Caused".
After touring and releasing that album in the UK, Ford turned his attention to the US. The album received excellent reviews in magazines such as Rolling Stone and Variety, and he supported artists such as Richard Ashcroft and Ray Lamontagne.
This brings us to 2007, and the release of his new album, titled "Songs For The Road".
Single Review - "Go To Hell"
This is the opening track from the new album, and is clearly a statement of intent. It is lyrically aggressive towards himself, deeply emotional, and very powerful stuff. The track starts slow and quickly moves through the gears as more elements are added. Each time you listen to it you pick up on something new, a particuarly attractive element for music listeners.
What really stands out on this track compared to Ford's previous releases is the production. Everything sounds so powerful, you can really hear each element within the music. Ford himself recognised this difference between his releases, stating that "My first album was basically bedroom demos with ideas way above their station, this one sounds more like a record." He enlisted the help of producers James Brown, Kevin Bacon, and Jonathan Quarmby to acheive the sound he wanted, and its definatley lifted him to a new position.
The single "Go To Hell" is out now. The new album "Songs For The Road" is released on Independiente Records on the 15th of October 2007. But you can download the album by going HERE
He will be on tour in the UK during October to support the release of the album, you can check the dates by going to his MYSPACE.


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Photography is a difficult art form to master. You need some degree of talent to succeed as a photographer, but the most important part of successful photography is putting in the effort to learn photographic techniques. This means that you have to be willing to take classes, try new things, and educate yourself in order take pictures that you can really be proud of.
Choose what will be in the picture. Imagine a window through which you see only a selected portion of the subject. Don't try to crowd too many things into the picture. If you want a better impression of a subject, take as many photos as you can.
Shutter Speeds
When working on snapping an excellent photo, it's best to keep your settings as simple as possible. Often, you can create a magnificent photo without having to play with different color settings and motion settings.
Play around with shutter speeds to find out what kind of effects you can achieve. Different shutter speeds allow you to get quick action shots, as well as blur several seconds worth of time together. When photographing objects in motion, use a fast shutter speed. Slower shutter speeds are ideal for photographing landscapes and still life.
Overcast skies can present problems when you are taking pictures, so exclude them from the image frame. If too much gray sky is in your picture, it will look muted and bland. For a photo that will include a large section of overcast sky, black-and-white may be a better choice. If the sky is blue and beautiful, include it as much as you want, but pay attention to the light.
When preparing to shoot, you should hold your camera close to your trunk and grip it firmly on the sides and bottom. This will help to steady your hands and prevent blurry shots. Holding the camera from the bottom and underneath the lens also helps prevent dropping your camera accidentally.
The process of taking excellent pictures is no mystery. You will gain more and more experience as you take your pictures. With digital photography, you don't have to develop every shot you take, or keep them. You can get better by taking pictures of what you see and later judging it to see if it can be better.
Often during a landscape shot, photographers will focus on the background, However, the foreground is what critics and viewers alike will focus on. Compose the foreground of your shot to create a more striking frame and increase the appearance of depth.
If you are visiting somewhere new, attempt to find out what the local attractions are for photographing. Have a look at the closest postcard rack for inspiration of where to begin. Postcards generally have landscape pictures of different attractions that you may find to be interesting.
Consider joining a photography based club, or simply going out and taking some pictures with a fellow photographer. Listen to any technical tips they have, but be sure to keep your own style. You can even compare photographs of the same subject with another photographer and discuss the differences.
Your landscape photos need three important things. They are a foreground, a mid ground, and a background. These are not only fundamentals basics of photography, but of a lot of other types of art as well.
Learn a valuable art in composition by learning that less is more when it comes to your photos. Make sure that you do not have too much clutter going on in your photos as the setting stands, or by adding it yourself. Know what the focus of your shot will be and maintain a simplicity of message, so that it can be fully understood by viewers.
Are you itching to shoot some dewy, rain-spattered subjects? Create the effect yourself by carrying along your own spray bottle and gently misting some "rain" on the subject that you need to photograph.
Balance is prized in most endeavors, and there is a natural tendency to prioritize what lies at the center of an image. Perfection may be the desire of most, but shooting a photograph which is slightly less than perfect, off center, for example, can create an effect that is astounding. Be careful with auto-focus that locks into any object in the lens center. Use manual focus instead, and lock your focus before snapping the picture.
Keep a keen eye out for patterns, whether artificial or naturally occurring, when you are shooting a subject. Patterns can make a photo interesting. These patterns are not only great for interesting photos by themselves, they can also add an eye catching background for whatever the main subject of your focus is.
Even though people think white is great to wear during a photograph, it is generally a bad decision. Cameras whose automatic features are enabled will often scan all of the shades and tones that appear in the photo. White clothing usually looks washed out in these pictures.
You can improve your photography by framing your shots. It doesn't have to be just a metal or a wooden frame, you can use a more natural one as well. Look really closely at the subject of your shot. Are there any elements around it that can be used to create a frame to enhance it? This approach is an easy way to improve your composition.
Add a new dimension to your photos with silhouettes. It is most common to use the sunset when creating a silhouette, though there are many other methods to try. Any background that is substantially brighter than your subject will create a silhouette. Using an "off" camera flash behind your subject or using a bright window behind them can create your perfect silhouette. Occasionally, this type of shot might have a face or body outline that is less than flattering.
Good photographs happen when your camera is kept in focus on your subject. If you need your photos to have good composure, keep your camera in focus at all times. When you are just getting started, keep your subject centered in the picture and in view. At this point, don't be too concerned about the background.
Make sure you are aware of where sharpness appears in the picture and how it works. Sharpness usually appears in the center of your lens, where the focus should be. The closer you get to the edges, the more distortion you get.
Proper knowledge of how to adjust the ISO setting of your camera is essential to getting great shots. When ISO levels are higher, you will find more grain in both the viewable and printable versions of your images. This can result in awful photos; unless your picture requires that type of effect.
When you want to get a camera that uses film, knowing what kind of film to purchase is important. Most photographers at all skill levels have developed a fondness for a particular type of film. While there aren't major differences among the major brands, you may like one over another. This is a personal decision.
It is necessary to invest in quality equipment, and find something that works well for you if you intend to pursue photography as a lifelong hobby. Most photographers go with the Big Two: Nikon and Canon. However, there are other reputable equipment manufacturers out there.
A tripod is your best option if you're looking to photograph the landscape. Using a steady base under the camera can be great for landscapes, since you can adjust the settings without worrying about the camera shaking.
You should know where sharpness appears in photos and how it works. Many people focus the sharpness of their photograph around the center of the frame. You can tool around with sharpness through the adjustment knob on your lens. As it reaches the outside edge of your camera frame, it can start to become distorted.
If you are taking pictures of a moving object, apply the correct settings to your camera, so that your subject does not appear as a blur. If you increase the ISO, it will be easier to do this. This setting will create clearer photos of fast moving subjects.
It is possible to use your camera's built-in features as valuable resources for setting up your shots. Switching to a shallow field depth will blur the background and make your central subject stand out.
Having now finished this article, you can see that it is possible to master photography and turn it into a lucrative career with perks unmatched by other occupations. Taking pictures is much more than just pointing a camera and clicking a button. Photography is about taking the artistic beauty that is present all around you and having it immortalized forever.
You are at the mercy of nature when it comes to lighting and taking a landscape photograph. It may seem that there is really no good natural light anywhere you'd like to photograph, and this can be discouraging. So, what do you do? See if a computer program, like Photoshop, can help you adjust the lighting after the shoot.
Emli photography
Danish wedding photography
Wedding Day
My photography


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What Are Pull-Up and Pull Down Resistors?
The terms "pull up" and "pull down" resistors confused the heck out of me but I get it now.
A resistor limits current. In the water analogy, current is the speed of the flow of water. But I never knew what a pull up/pull down resistor was. Until a few weeks ago when I started building a set of buttons for a project I'm working on…
Essentially a button is a switch, when the switch is closed the current flows, when it's open the current doesn't flow. Now if your switch is open, without anything driving the circuit, the value on the line is going to float all over the place, sometimes high, sometimes low. Any electrical noise will cause a change in the circuit. This causes a problem as when reading a value off the circuit you might think the switch is closed when in fact it's just floating high.
The circuit on the left uses a pull up resistor. If Vcc is +5Volts, that goes through the 10k resistor and has nowhere to go but to pin 1. So when the switch is open, pin 1 is showing +5Volts (but very low current due to the 10k). Pin 1 will be steady, it won't float up or down since it's got some power to it.
When you close the switch, the current flows to ground. It's always going to go to ground if it can so Pin 1 will show 0Volts.
The pic on the right is the pull down resistor. Same thing but the 10k resistor is between the pin and ground, causing it to "pull down" whilst the switch is open. Once it's closed the majority of the current flows through the pin vs going to ground hence the pin reads +5V.
It's making sense to me and now that I've actually built some stuff from scratch, I've actually experienced this voltage float and fixed it with a pull down. This blog will help me remember it in a year.
P.S. The Image is from "Resistance 2″ on the PS3. Pardon the pun.


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If Fairies are nature's powerful guardian angels, and they can miraculously assist you with your self esteem, relationships, health and career. With the help of those 44 oracle cards, you can have a deeply personal relationship with the amazing fairy realm. The fairies can help you find new inner strength and confidence, and guide you in treating yourself with greater love and respect. There are no negative or frightening cards or images in this deck, as God and the nature angels love you very much! These are beautiful fairy cards with very bright and colorful imagery that really captures the imagination and allows us to have a strong connection to the fairies about us. Never stop believing in the FAIRY'S, they will always be true to you.~ TMF^\ Follow the guidance of Fairy's will give you, they would never lead you into strife or harm.~ MJ^\
If you would like a Personal Reading, please
complete and submit the form below.
This will bring
up a "THANK YOU" page
where you can pay using your Debit/Credit Card,
or PayPal account, by clicking on
The cost of the Personal Reading is Ł10.00 GBP
(all currencies will be converted).
* If you are going to pay with a friend or relative's card, please enter their surname in
brackets in the "NAME" box, if it differs from yours.
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Essential Tips & Tricks for New Nintendo Switch Owners
Got your hands on a brand-new Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch Review: Play Zelda on the Toilet Nintendo's back, reinventing themselves after the dismal performance of the Wii U. The Switch is a combination of home console performance in a portable package – the best bits of the Wii and DS brands. Read More ? We've got the tips, tricks, and solutions that you won't want to miss.
There's a lot to the new portable hybrid that isn't immediately obvious 15 Questions You Have About Nintendo Switch Answered The Nintendo Switch is here! We've got one, and have answers to the top questions about the system. Read More , like the ability to access the Japanese eShop or lock down the console with the parental controls feature.
Spotted something we've missed? Let your fellow Switchers know in the comments following this post.
Access the Quick Menu
While doing anything on the Switch, you can press and hold the Home button to access a quick menu. From here, you can adjust screen brightness, toggle airplane mode, and put the system in sleep mode (the same as pressing the power button). This doesn't pause the game, so make sure you're not doing anything first.
There's No Need to Turn It Off
This might seem like an obvious point, but your Switch is designed to be left on all the time just like a modern tablet or smartphone. Sleep mode is incredibly power efficient, with the console only dropping a few battery percent overnight based on personal experience.
That goes for games too. While it's always good to save your game before you stop playing, you can also simply suspend the Switch while playing anything and return to it later. No need to return to the system menu or kill the software.
Note: If you do decide to turn the system off by holding the power button, you'll also kill the currently-running game.
Don't Cover the Air Vents
Many users seem to think the vents on the back of the unit near the USB-C connector What Can You Shove In a USB C Port? Look closely at the ports on your laptop. If you bought one in the past year, you'll notice a tiny, rectangular port you've probably never used. That's the USB C port. Read More are speakers. This isn't the case, and they are actually used by the Switch as air intakes as part of the unit's active cooling. Put your hand above the fan vent at the top of the unit and you'll feel a warm breeze, but that air entered the unit much cooler near the bottom.
This means you should avoid lying the Switch down on soft materials, even if you're just taking a break. The unit heats up considerably when these intakes are covered even for a short while so to prolong the life of the hardware inside How Heat Affects Your Computer, And Should You Be Worried? From time to time, we all get concerned about our computer's temperature. But should we be worried? Read More , don't cover them while you're playing games.
Browse the Japanese eShop
There are more digital games on the Japanese store than in other territories. Since Nintendo is a Japanese company, much of the software is coming from Japan. The delay in bringing these games to other territories is due to localization, translations, and sometimes a perceived lack of demand from Western audiences.
But you can access these releases simply by creating a Japanese Nintendo account:
- Head to the Nintendo Accounts page (you'll need to log out first, or use an incognito window Not Just for Porn: Other Uses For Private Browsing Private-browsing mode has many other names, including "incognito mode" in Chrome and "InPrivate Browsing" in Internet Explorer. Some people refer to private-browsing mode as "porn mode", but it isn't just for porn addicts. It can... Read More ) and click Create Your Nintendo Account.
- Fill in the details, using a different email address and nickname from your primary account and set Country/region of residence to Japan.
- Once you've finished the process, create a new user on your Switch under System Settings > User > Add New User.
- Launch the eShop app, select the new account you just added, and link your Japanese Nintendo account by tapping Sign in and following the instructions.
In order to purchase games here, you'll need a compatible credit or debit card that allows for international transactions. You may also be charged a foreign currency fee, so check with your bank. While these titles are in Japanese, many of them have English language support including the upcoming Disgaea 5.
There are more arcade games available, as well as demos of Puyo Puyo Tetris (shown above) and upcoming Dragon Quest Warriors titles (all in Japanese). Games you download can be used by any account on the console, though DLC is restricted to the Japanese account on which it was purchased.
VentureBeat confirmed that purchases made on the Japanese store are carried over to your local eShop when the software is made available in your region.
Restrict Games & Purchases With Parental Controls
If you want to lock down the Switch so that certain users can only access certain games, or to restrict purchases made in the eShop, you're in luck. Nintendo has built that functionality into the Switch from day one. Head to System Settings > Parental Controls to get started.
The best way to do this is using the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls smartphone app for iPhone or Android. This allows you to monitor the console on the go, check play statistics, and even lock the console down completely. Some users have taken to using the smartphone app for analytics purposes, so they can see exactly how long they've played Zelda and other games.
You Can Play Imports
Switch games are not locked to any particular region, so you don't need to worry about physical retail cartridges not working in your Switch. If you're traveling abroad, any games you buy will be compatible with your console, though be aware some titles may lack English language support.
That also means you can import games from retailers like Play-Asia 3 Websites To Buy Imported Japanese Games Thanks to the Internet, the process of importing these games is easier than ever. Read More .
The Dock Might Scratch the Screen
Even though Nintendo is skeptical, there are plenty of reports of the dock possibly scratching the tablet. Nintendo used a plastic screen in the Switch — most other portable devices ship with glass screens that offer far better scratch resistance. The rough plastic of the dock and questionable "closed" design choice also raises concerns.
The news has sparked a wave of "fixes" online in the form of dock screen protectors. These cover the screen side of the dock, providing a smooth surface between the two surfaces. However, many have speculated that such covers may potentially cause more scratching by trapping dirt and sand over time. Fabric covers may also cause heat dissipation issues.
The solution is simple: get a screen protector. The cheap official plastic screen protector is notoriously bad, so we'd recommend opting for a tempered glass screen protector like this one from Orzly (UK). Tempered glass is stronger, bubble-resistant, easier to apply, and much more pleasant to touch and look at.
Orzly Glass Screen Protectors compatible with Nintendo Switch - Premium Tempered Glass Screen Protector TWIN PACK [2x Screen Guards - 0.24mm] for 6.2 Inch Tablet Screen on Nintendo Switch Console Orzly Glass Screen Protectors compatible with Nintendo Switch - Premium Tempered Glass Screen Protector TWIN PACK [2x Screen Guards - 0.24mm] for 6.2 Inch Tablet Screen on Nintendo Switch Console Buy Now On Amazon $8.99
Think your dock scratched your Switch? Talk to Nintendo about it by contacting support in your region.
Repurpose Your Wii U Stand
A few weeks ago I came across the Wii U Gamepad stand that I received with Nintendo's last console, still in its plastic packaging. I nearly threw it out before realizing it might be useful for the Switch. That was before I knew how truly awful the built-in kickstand is.
Turns out it's a perfect fit, and holds the console at a kinder angle than the fold-out stand. You still can't play and charge, but it's worth digging out if you still have it.
You Can Use Wired internet
If you have a USB to Ethernet adapter, there's a good chance it will work with the Switch. In addition to the official wired network adapter ($40), there are reports of the original Wii Ethernet adapter and other third-party adapters working too.
Not sure if this has been mentioned, but wired internet in handheld works. from NintendoSwitch
While the official adapter uses USB type-A and connects directly to the dock, it's also possible to use a USB type-C converter to connect to the main tablet itself.
Transfer Screenshots Without Sharing
In terms of software, the single biggest issue with the Switch is a complete lack of save game and other data management. Oddly enough, you can transfer your screenshots. Simply insert a microSD card and head to System Settings > Data Management > Save Data/Screenshots > Manage Screenshots.
Here you can choose a default save destination (tip: choose external storage), and copy both to and from the internal or external memory. By transferring directly via external storage, you'll avoid Facebook's compression for better image quality.
Nintendo May Replace Your Left Joy-Con
Have you had connectivity issues with the left Joy-Con? This is due to a manufacturing issue which affects the antenna within this particular controller, resulting in a patchy Bluetooth connection. Nintendo has vaguely acknowledged the issue, and some customers have started to report that the company is replacing their controllers.
If you bought your console at launch then you may be affected by this issue, but environmental factors (like interference from other devices) can make it considerably worse. If you're having problems, let Nintendo know.
Homebrew Could Be Incoming
News has broken of a 19-year-old Italian tweaker by the name of Lucas Todesco having repurposed an old WebKit exploit to run code on the Nintendo Switch. Another group called ReSwitched publicly released their hacking tool PegaSwitch with the aim of exploring "the functionality of the Switch from the domain of the WebKit process."
Neither of these exploits are that big of a deal at this stage, but they represent an important step towards giving hackers the tools they need to run their own code on the Switch, including homebrew applications. Nintendo has yet to respond, but after the rampant homebrew effort seen on past consoles they'll likely do something to try and avoid another Wii situation Looking For Wii Homebrew Apps? These Are The Places To Go At this point you've probably played most of the games for the console you were interested in, but if you want to find another use for the biggest console of the last decade, homebrew just... Read More .
Share Your Switch Tips
Got a cool trick we missed? Why not share it with us and the rest of the community? If it's really good we'll even add it to this article!
Thinking longterm, what are your predictions for Nintendo's latest console? Does the Switch have what it takes to make Nintendo's venture a success 5 Things the Nintendo Switch Needs to Succeed The Nintendo Switch has been revealed! Here are a few ways Nintendo can make the best of its new hybrid console! Read More ? Let us know what you think in the comments!
Explore more about: Gaming Tips, Nintendo, Nintendo Switch.


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Bösendorfer Factory – Viena 2017
- November 8th, 2017
- Posted in Live Performances Photos
- Write comment
I want to thank Bösendorfer for all their support, love and dedication. I want to introduce you to the new generation of the Vienna Concert 280. Really amazing! Thank you Mira and Ferdinand for these wonderful days……
Visit the Bösendorfer Website!


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Let's start with where Bioware went right when it comes to story. Some of the new companion characters and the NPCs are quite good. The Welsh-tongued Merrill - an Elven bloodmage - is a wonderful character, and her story arc was the more memorable of the side quests. I also couldn't help but like the carpet-rug-of-a-chest charming Dwarven rogue Varrick=, quick with a wit and his shotgun-like crossbow Bianca. Some of the other companions (more on them in the not-so-good section) have some redeeming qualities or amusing dialogue or quests. The other good part of the game is the excellent background information provided via the Codex entries (the character's in-game journal), and additional background information revealed through inter-character dialogue. I was particularly happy to see more information on the intriguing Qunari race and culture. Some of the NPC dialogue in the game is very sharp - I particularly liked the writing for the Viscount of Kirkwall (the city where the bulk of Dragon Age 2 takes place in). The main plot is for the most part a huge disappointment, but parts of it were well-written and frankly would've made a much better main plot than the actual complete plot of the game.
And then the storytelling begins to break down.
I have a strong feeling that Bioware - drunk with success of Dragon Age 1 and Mass Effect 2 - went on a creative spree, and then got bogged down in committee politics and couldn't decide the story idea to go with. So they picked three (or four or five - depending on the interpretation of the Dragon Age 2 plot) ideas and mashed them together hoping that they'd get an epic story out of it. Sadly what they got instead was a disjointed weird mess that never succeeded in really gripping me and getting me interested in the ultimate fate of the characters and the world. It did not even significantly advance the plot of the series. Some of the Downloadable Content (DLCs) for the first Dragon Age, and the Dragon Age expansion, did a better job of that, than the entire Dragon Age 2. Bioware went with an idea that once seemed very fresh in gaming, but now seems to be getting a bit stale - the game is a story told by a character in game (not by the main character, however, like in Prince of Persia) to another character. That allowed Bioware to do a lot of fast-forwards, by as much as 3 to 5 years at a time. Unfortunately what it resulted in was a disjointed and stunted story that fails to engage the player. Just when you think you're getting a handle on the story and the characters the story ends abruptly and a new one begins, and the time in between is not adequately explained. In fact, I would say that most of the character growth happens off-screen, and that brings me to the next strike against Bioware.
In the first Dragon Age I could create my own character, give him the name I wanted and generally make him a blank canvas (aside from the opening background adventure). In the second Dragon Age, however, the character - named Hawke - already has history, family, friends, and rivalries. Bioware clearly wanted to duplicate the tight storytelling of Mass Effect with its use of Commander Sheppard, with the decision to replace a player-created character with game designer-created Hawke. However, the travails of Hawke and his/her family just never really engage. First of all, everyone in the world seems to know more about Hawke than the player does, and much of the dialogue is incoherent, incomprehensible, or flat out boring as a result. Secondly, Hawke does not really grow as a character, and the decisions that Hawke does make just don't seem like the decisions of the player; I couldn't shake the feeling throughout all 40+ hours of the game that I was just along for the ride because Bioware wanted to make a game with a fully voiced dialogue. Thirdly, I just couldn't bring myself to give a damn about Hawke or his/her family and problems. The family members either spend most of the time off-screen or are flat out annoying and unlikeable. Hawke's problems seem rather illogical and forced upon a player. After Act 1 of the game Hawke becomes very rich - surely s/he can just choose to leave Kirkwall with the family now, but oh no the writers don't even give that as a dialogue option! The character - and the player by extension - is simply not given an option to contemplate that there is another way the character's problems can be resolved! Very sloppy and ham-handed writing guys, seriously.
Finally, while I did quite like Merrill and Varric, other companions, however, were far more lacklustre, and felt more like cardboard cutouts with cliché-ridden quests for the most part. An ex-slave Elf with anger management problems, an asshole younger brother (or a slightly less bitchy younger sister option), an honour-and-justice guardswoman, a sex kitten pirate lass, and a certain apostate mage from Dragon Age making an appearance. Hrm, I think I have seen characters very much like these in... wait... I'll remember... Oh that's right! Every other Bioware game all the way back to Baldur's Gate! Some of these have some redeeming qualities (Isabella is at least hot and has actual character growth, Aveline is hilariously bad at wooing a fellow guard), but these are not frequent. Some companion stories and quests never actually get resolved (here's looking at you Fenris who exacts his revenge and yet doesn't really change in any meaningful way, and Merrill who just seems to shrug off the terrible tragedy inflicted on her), but I was most disappointed with Anders, who was one of my favourite characters from Dragon Age. It's not the fact that he comes out of the closet in Dragon Age 2, it's that he loses anything that made him a fun and interesting character in the first game, and instead he becomes a dour, whiny, and unlikeable would-be rebel. The rather abrupt and annoying plot twist at the end helps transform Anders from a likable and interesting character into a total prick whom I was happy to dump (as a party member and um - more).
Finally, as much as I have already said about the overall story, and how disjointed it felt, I have to single out the ending of the game in particular, because it sneaks up on the player with little build up. In fact, it's fair to say that the first two acts of Dragon Age 2 have less overall impact on the end of the game than a few seemingly innocuous quests. And the two big reveals at the end (yes there are two, and a disappointed groan was my response to each WHAT A TWEEEST! reveal) were so ludicrous that I am very tempted to dismiss these as massive exaggeration on the part of the character who tells the story of Hawke, rather than events that actually happened. The cherry on top is that the game actually ends on a "Ooooooh, there's something mysterious going on and it's linked to the Warden from Dragon Age 1 and is so mysterious that we cannot possibly tell you more!" I, however, basically felt that the 40+ hours I sank into Dragon Age 2 were completely wasted and did not advance the story of the series one iota. This game might be played as a feeling of completion ("Hey, I played Dragon Age, so I should play Dragon Age 2 as well"), or for the gameplay (which frankly has its own slew of issues), but sadly - unlike other Bioware games - it shouldn't be played for the good story.