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This month's Featured Photographer doesn't need an introduction. You probably have his book on your shelf right now. Ejen Chuang is a busy man, but we caught up to him recently to chat with him about the past, present, and future of Cosplay…in America.
Cosplay Photographers: Thanks for joining us, Ejen! It's impossible to get a hold of you some times, you're such a busy man! Everyone knows you from your first project: Cosplay in America. I feel like that book came at the right time and really brought cosplay to the mainstream media as an art form. Do YOU think it helped shape the public's perception of cosplay at all?
Ejen Chuang: I like to think I had some small part in it, but truthfully I have no idea. The fact of the matter is it is up to all of us to shape the public's perception with what we do. The images, the videos, and explaining to people we come across who may have questions.
CP: Tell us a little about yourself and the origins of the first book? What made you want to do a whole book?
EC: The book came about in a dark time. The economic crisis had started to take hold, I had been working as a freelance photo assistant for a number of years by then and felt exhausted of always working on other photographer's gigs and not on my own. It was the chance meeting with Bill Eiseman who ran a little bookstore on the bottom floor of an building where I rented an office from that inspired me the most. Dare I say if it wasn't for Bill, Cosplay in America wouldn't have existed.
I had taken to hanging out at his bookstore for a needed break from work and struck up a friendship over several months. When I brought him photos I took at Anime Expo 2008, Bill suggested I do a book. Conversations lead to more conversations lead to a plan to travel to five cities for the first book. Eighteen months later, I had a book.
CP: And that takes us to your current project: Cosplay in America – Volume 2. What inspired this one?
EC: Ah, it is actually called Cosplay in America V2 ! I tried to stay away from saying 2 or volume 2 so I shortened it to V2.
After the first book, I really didn't plan on doing a second book. I was worried it would turn out to be similar to a Hollywood movie sequel. The first movie tends to be the best, the second gets worse, the third even worse. I didn't want my second book to seem like I was just doing the same thing over and over.
Luckily I hit on an idea I hadn't seen covered before in a book format – the behind-the-scenes cosplay! Most people's exposure to cosplay is through the internet – there are literally millions of photos of cosplayers at a convention. You see the cosplayer in their final form – makeup is done, costume is done to the best of their ability, it is photo ready.
What people may not see is what goes into making the costume – well, unless you happen to be a cosplayer or be friends with a cosplayer. So in addition to portraits done like the first book, I spent a week in a number of cities around the United States following cosplayers to fabric stores, hardware stores, to their backyards to watch them spray paint their props to convention – getting ready in the morning, the green room at a cosplay competition, the photo shoots done on the convention floor. I hope through these images to help educate people on what goes on behind the scenes. With education of what goes on behind the scenes, I hope there is a better understanding of the cosplay culture.
CP: What's the status of V2? When will V2 be available? How can someone get a copy of it? I need it now!
EC: Currently the book is being printed and shipped to the United States. The arrival date is slated to be mid-June. I'll have a number of books shipped ahead by airmail to make sure I have copies available at our booth at Anime Expo 2015. People can pre-order the book at www.cosplayinamerica.com.
CP: How much time do you think you've put into these books combined?
EC: Roughly six years of my life went into these books. Far more time than I care to admit. I don't think I can do another book on cosplay at this point.
CP: Do you feel it was easier or more difficult to do the second book?
EC: It actually got more difficult. To give you an example, the first book I travelled to 5 cities in the country over 6 months for the photos. For this book, it was 20 cities over 3 years for the book. The climate has changed though. It is definitely more mainstream than when the first book came out in 2010.
CP: What was your biggest challenge along the way? How did you overcome it?
EC: Exhaustion was the toughest challenge. You are always toughest on yourself and I think I went a little crazy over this project. Like any creative endeavor, there are days you wanna throw everything you done so far in the trash and start all over.
There were times I was exhausted going to cons, exhausted of making videos, I think I overdid it because I thought that was what people wanted. I realized if I didn't take care of myself, I would be burnt out fast. To overcome, I took things slower than usual at some points. I learned a lot about myself during this time. I learn to balance my life and not let cosplay overtake it.
CP: What did you enjoy the most about working on the books?
EC: The people I met were the greatest. They invited me to their homes, to their hotel rooms, to their workshops. They gave me tours of fabric shops. Some were cool enough to let me crash over. I've met so many wonderful people on this journey. So yes, for me, the best part wasn't exactly taking the photos, but it was listening to the stories people told me about how cosplay had influence their lives.
CP: Were there any memorable moments you had while working on this second book that you'd like to share?
EC: Sounds a bit strange but the memorable moments were the quiet times. Driving in the car on the way to Colorado Springs, CO staring at awe at the landscape, or the early morning in the con hotel as people slowly wake up, and start putting on make-up. The musical beeping a cosplayer's phone would give. The hearty laughter as a group of cosplayers shared drinks at the hotel bar. The thrill of victory when a cosplay group managed to make it to the top at a cosplay competition. There's so many memorable moments I would cherish.
CP: What's the biggest lesson you learned from doing the first book that you applied to doing the second book?
EC: Preparation! The first time around, I had no idea what I was doing so I tried different methods. Through trial and error I figured out what worked and didn't work. Preparation helped me with the second book but since the scope was larger, I ran into new situations I would have to solve. Biggest thing I can tell people is prepare the best you can and just do it.
CP: What advice would you give for someone wanting to do their own photography book on cosplay?
EC: Do not do what I do and order thousands of copies of the book ! You'll end up with boxes of books and the dread of paying off multiple credit cards hanging above your head. The idea of a book is far more glamorous than the reality behind it.
Instead, I suggest doing print-on-demand. yes, the book cost is higher per book but you won't be roped into ordering hundreds or thousands of copies. The one thing that motivated me throughout the first book was the fear of the credit card debts over my head. That was why I was so gung-ho and hitting up 20 cons a year to promote the book. For every book that sits at home, I was losing money. Thankfully it took only three years to get out of debt and made a little money too!
I will admit however that in today's climate, the internet may be a better medium to convey cosplay. It is relatively cheap to load photos up, you can get tens of thousands of eyes on it, and you have no inventory of books sitting at home collecting dust.
CP: Are there any more stories or angles of the cosplay community you feel still need to be told?
EC: I'm definitely interested in how transgender folks are using cosplay to experiment with gender roles. Within the cosplay community, it is a relatively safe place to test themselves. I don't think I could do a book on it but I definitely would like to explore this in the future.
CP: Are there any projects/people in the cosplay photography community that you feel is doing the next big thing?
EC: Not one in particular but I enjoy how the standard of quality in the production of media – i.e photography and video have gotten better and better. Photography is easier to master than video and there's a few video directors who put out consistent work. I also prefer to see more in-depth look at cosplay from people who are not necessarily in the community. Sometimes there is an echo-chamber effect going on which I like to see a more diverse point of view.
CP: For the gear nerds out there, what's your typical camera and lighting setup that you bring with you to shoot the images for your book?
EC: Ah, I'm the worst to ask about gear. My first book was made on a Canon 5D bought in 2007. My lighting set-up was a Profoto pack with beauty dish and a Thunder Grey seamless paper backdrop. I used to find camera houses in each town I visited to rent c-stands, sandbags, carts and other equipment but for the second book, I learn to use PVC pipes to do the same thing – but be more compact and lighter ! The second book was shot on Canon 5D and 5DII camera – usually I would focus on one aspect of the book at the convention – it was either portraits or behind the scenes. For portraits, I carried my Canon 5D – loved the idea I'm shooting the second book on the same body as the first book. For behind the scenes, I am using 5DII for their higher ISO for different situations. I also carried a flash as well.
CP: But you don't really take that setup to conventions anymore, do you? What's your favorite convention coverage tool now?
EC: Honestly ? My Samsung phone. It has Instagram, Facebook, Twitter all on it plus my relationship to cosplay photography has shifted since 2008. In the beginning it was to photograph cosplayers. Over the years, I've turned more to just hanging out and chatting and less photography-driven.
CP: How do you feel the smartphone revolution is changing cosplay photography?
EC: Definitely the future of communication within the community. There are cosplay-related apps now that have no traditional web presence – instead it is all on the phone.
As for social media, Facebook is not as important as it used to be – at least in my feelings about it. Instagram and Twitter are much better tools at this point, though since most people still have a Facebook, you still can't discount it.
CP: What advice would you give to cosplay photographers starting out now?
EC: Photography is pretty much like cosplay. You choose to do what you want to do. There's no rule or law saying you have to approach it in a particular fashion.If you want to run around and take photos on your phone, then do it. Want to carry an entire set-up of lights and light stands, then do it. Want to shoot in black & white or do unusual techniques, do it. What to charge money for it ? Do it. Want to do it just for fun ? Do it.
Learn techniques first before you can break the rules. The internet is at your fingertips with tutorials, lighting diagrams, examples and so forth. Remember this though – everyone has an opinion online so take everything with a grain of salt.
There is no one way to do something. If you like doing a certain thing and your friends laugh at you, keep doing what you enjoy. The worst thing is following trends because trends are trends, and everyone is doing it and in the end, everyone's work looks like everyone else.
CP: What's your next project? Would you do another book? Or maybe something less stressful?
EC: I have a few things I'd like to explore – fandom and tattoos is one. Transgender and cosplay is another. Probably not for a book, I think I'm gonna stay away from self-producing my own books for a while. It's a lot tougher than it seems. Making the book is simple enough. Marketing, distribution and getting people to buy the book is another ballgame.
CP: Is there anyone in particular that helped you a lot with the second book that you'd like to mention?
EC: Is there anyone in particular that helped me a lot with the second book? Got time ? I have 765 names ! By the time the second book seems like it was gonna happen, Kickstarter had been around long enough that people were familiar with it. I figured I would let the audience decide if they want a second book. If they funded the Kickstarter, I would devote the next few years to it. If the Kickstarter didn't funded, I would go on my merry way. I was actually pretty surprised I made it to the end because for a few weeks it looked like I wasn't gonna make it. True to my word, I spend 2013-2015 shooting the book and plan on spending another 18 months to promote it. Around 2017 I plan to stop traveling to promote the second book. So yes, I really have 765 people to thank for making Cosplay in America V2 a reality. Without them, this book wouldn't have existed.
CP: We're happy to be counted among the 765. Thanks so much for your time, Ejen! We wish you the best of luck on the upcoming launch of Cosplay in America V2!
If you found this article interesting, be sure to join our Facebook group, Cosplay Photography Discussion Group. It is a place for cosplay photographers of all levels to learn from each other. Don't forget to like us on Facebook as well!
Notice a problem with this article? Let us know.


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Forex Lens | Live Trading Session – May 7
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Forex Lens – Your Eye into the Forex Markets
This is a beginner / immediate forex course which will teach you a professional trader's methodology of trading in the forex market.
You will learn how to break down the forex charts and find your own forex signals to trade with. You will learn price action, and how to use the #Ichimoku Trading Strategy, as well as Gann Analysis and the life's work of W.D. Gann – a founding father of #TechnicalAnalysis
This is the UNCUT VERSION of our daily live trading sessions in 2018.
Our clients paid $97 per month for this service in 2018, and you're getting it FREE OF CHARGE!
The analysis not be the relevant anymore, but the lessons taught in these daily live sessions is TIMELESS. You will have the benefit of hindsight to see how trades played out.
The CONDENSED and edited version will be available in 2020 for a one-time payment of $597 USD and will focus strictly on the lessons taught.
The course will focus on the #IchimokuTrading System and Gann Analysis. You will find many W.D Gann's teachings and trading techniques in this course that cannot be found anywhere else.
We will be putting hundreds of hours into going through these videos and editing them. Please LIKE and leave a COMMENT with some feedback and let us which topics you would like to see more of in the course. This would really help us with making the course!
We'll be uploading a video per day for the entire year! Please enjoy!
Our Trading Room 2.0 is launching soon. If you are interested in becoming a beta-tester, please email us at email@example.com and ask to be put on the waitlist.
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subset: commoncrawl


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If I'm being honest, Mazatlan has never been our favorite city. It is widely popular and does offer long, stunning beaches, but for a variety of reasons, we have never embraced this Pacific coastal town.
Tag Archives: Devil's Backbone
Braving Espinazo del Diablo~ The Devil's Backbone
Zacatecas became just a lovely memory as we headed towards the coast. Baja was beckoning but first, we simply needed to get down the mountain. Winter in Mexico's highlands is cold. In spite of its reputation as a country of sunshine and beaches the colonial hill towns of Central Mexico drop to freezing during the winter months and we were craving needed sun and sand between our toes. But first, we needed to brave the Espinazo del Diablo.


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Video: ABC Clinton/Obama Debate from Philadelphia, PA
Here is the entire video of the ABC News Democratic Debate from the National Constitutional Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 16th, 2008. It's in 10 parts hosted on YouTube, they should advance automatically:
Here's a report on it from Breitbart:
PHILADELPHIA (AP)—The furor over Sen. Barack Obama's words about bitter voters in small towns looms large as the Democratic front- runner and rival Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton are slated to debate Wednesday just days before the Pennsylvania primary.
The 90-minute debate at the National Constitution Center was the first for the two candidates in two months. They last met in Cleveland on Feb. 26, shortly before Clinton injected new life into her campaign with primary wins in Ohio and Texas.
The meeting will be the 21st debate of the Democratic nominating contest. It also may be the last.
Obama accepted an invitation to debate on Saturday in North Carolina. Clinton said she would debate there on April 27. Neither campaign has agreed on a date. North Carolina holds its primary May 6.
The Philadelphia debate came amid a heated back-and-forth between the two over Obama comments at a private San Francisco fundraiser in which he said residents of small towns cling to religion and guns out of bitterness over their economic plight.
Clinton has called the remarks elitist, while Obama said he chose the wrong words to express the economic insecurity many workers face. Both campaigns are running television ads in Pennsylvania that focus on the flap.
Reflecting the acrimonious tenor of the race, Clinton also criticizes Obama for accepting campaign contributions from oil company executives in a new ad. Obama answered Wednesday with a commercial in which he says he does not accept contributions from federal lobbyists and political action committees, as Clinton does.
So what did you all think? Leave comments below. Also, you can read analysis from Michael and I in this post.


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trueBy George Ntambaazi
In the remaining years of Barack Obama's presidency, the first African American to hold that office, I would like to call attention to some of the obvious consequences of his leadership.
During his campaigns, millions of people supported and admired him almost to the point of idolisation culminating into him winning the presidency in 2008 and consequently the Noble Peace Prize in 2009. There were fireworks, parties, tears of joy and thanksgiving. Kenya was specifically hysterical and African expectations by and large about Obama reached fever-pitch.
Many expected that with winning the presidency, Obama, born in the United States to a Kenyan father and an American mother, would immidiately come to his fatherland Kenya to celebrate his glamorous achievement.
Kenya's former president Mwai Kibaki specifically hailed Obama's victory as significant not only in the history of the United States, but also for Kenya, his ancestral homeland. He added that the victory of Obama was their own victory because of his roots in Kenya. This turned out not to be the case, as Obama had other plans.
Ever since his first inauguration on January 20, 2009, Obama has travelled to 46 different states internationally. In Africa, he has ironically only visited four including Ghana in 2009, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania in 2013.
He has, however, visited Indonesia, the land of his step-father Lolo Soetoro twice, first between November 9-10, 2010 and was slated for October 2013 last year which was postponed. Probably there is a missing link between Obama and his father, that can help explain his passivity to Africa.
Obama's father, was doing his studies abroad when he met Obama's mother Ann Dunham at the University of Hawai in 1960. He married her in 1961 and divorced her with a young son of three years in 1964. Obama Jr last saw his father in 1971, who took him to a jazz concert, before he died in a car accident in 1982. By that time, both Obama's parents had remarried.
Obama only visited Kenya in 1987 and as a Senator in 2006 but not as a President.
It is not surprising, therefore, that Obama who began his presidency with over 75% approval rating has gradually declined to almost below 40% in 2014. Ofcourse you can attribute this to his domestic and foreign mishaps but failure to ignite his home spirits strongly counts.
But of course some think that his failure and disappointment of many not to visit Kenya cannot obscure their admiration for his great leadership qualities and fine political career.
However, his passivity to the land of his forefathers and two, unwillingness to even contemplate coming back is an abomination to us Africans. However, we still harbour dreams and have the audacity of hope that Obama will finally come home.
Perhaps, some of you think issues of ICC indictments of Kenyan leaders prevent him, but those indictments were not there in his first term.
It is obvious Obama's visit to Kenya as a president would enhance its position in the world and would be hailed with delight. But now, should he decide to come, there is a likelihood of questioning his loyalty and deny him all the pomp he would have got had he come earlier.
I am certainly hopeful that next week, when he will be hosting a US-Africa Leaders' Summit of Heads of State and government, he will step back and reflect on the achievements of African descendants in America, and their transformation of the American Society.
The writer is a regional political analyst
Why President Barack Obama is not visiting Kenya


text: Welcome to a new post in my lovely series called "Coffee Chat." This series is focused on inspirational women who love their jobs and want to inspire other women to find their passions and transform their lives. Today's coffee chat features Mariya Bentz, who created MBM Digital Marketing and Design, an affordable freelance that produces amazing results. This babe isn't just an … Continue Reading


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Meaneor Women Plunge V-Neck Backless Polka Dots Skater Dress Spaghetti Strap Sundress
Look sweeter and sexier than ever in this plunging skater dress.
This dress is made in Polyester and back zipper closure.
Fully lined and no stretch.
Material: polyester
Style: A-Line
Season: Summer, Autumn
Collar: V-neck
Sleeve: Spaghetti Strap (Adjustable)
Waistline: High Waist
Length: Above Knee
Pattern: Polka Dots Print/ Solid
Zipper: Back Zipper Closure
Fit Style: Flare Slim
Opportunity: Casual, Beach, Party
Package Content: 1 x Women Dress
- Soft Material: 95% polyester and 5% spandex. Comfortable to wear.
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- Provides the finest and most trendy mini dress which can be worn in all occasions, such as Cocktail Evening Dinner Party Club, Beach wear and Casual wear.
- Dry, laundry or hand wash are available, Low iron if necessary
- Please read the specific size table before purchasing


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Cleaning.com is the premiere online destination for cleaning services, empowering customers and cleaning professionals worldwide through our marketplace and information hub.
Please keep the following notes in mind when coming up with your concept.
Tacky Icons
We would prefer to not have tacky icons that you would normally associate with the cleaning industry, unless it's done in a REALLY creative way or there is a unique spin to the concept.
Below are just suggestions of some font that we feel are decent. However, you may use any font you want that works best with your concept.
- Century Gothic (+/- web)- ITC Avant Garde Gothic Book- URW Gothic- Gibson Semi Bold (+/- web)- Geometric 706 Black (+/- web)
The symbology can tie in with the theme of the domain in a clever or subtle fashion, but please do not go with icons that are "cheesy" or something out of a clipart. We have seen quite a few of those and would prefer to stay away from those.
The GOAL of the logo is to communicate 2 things:
1 -- Brand Recall: We want to have an icon/symbol/effect that is unique enough that when a viewer sees it, they will instantly recall the BRAND "cleaning.com" while at the same time;
2 -- Theme Connection: It should be subtle, but familiar enough to have a viewer INSTANTLY understand and connect the logo to the concept of "cleaning services."
Ultimately, that is what we're looking for in EACH submission -- those two key principles.
If your design has been eliminated, it is usually because it didn't fit the above two criterion either in terms the font choice or the symbol selection.
Please review the "Description of the organization and its target audience" and "Contest subtitle" prior to submitting your design. Remember, we are a marketplace that will connect customers looking for cleaning services to cleaning professionals and/or maids that can perform those jobs.
Logos We Like
We like these logos because of how the concept as a whole connect to the brand through the graphic and typeface -- please understand the underlying principals behind why it works and apply it to cleaning.com, rather than trying to force fit their idea into your concept for cleaning.
- http://logofaves.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/spartan_r.jpg
- http://justcreative.com/wp-content/…-knife.jpg
- http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/chair.gif
- http://logofaves.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/french_m.jpg


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Pony Friends
What do you need help on? Cancel X
Pony Friends is a virtual pet game for the Nintendo DS where players get to emulate every cool aspect of owning their own pet pony. From grooming and accessorizing your pony with colorful custom gear to going on exciting trail rides where you encounter new wildlife friends, the world of Pony Friends offers a cool new interactive environment where kids learn how to care for their dream pony.
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Christmas Meal Appeal
Every year Mercy in Action does a Christmas Meal Appeal. This appeal, also known as 'Buckets of Love' provides a large family with food and other essentials to last them for several days over the Christmas period. Our appeal in 2014 was a huge success with over 300 buckets being given to some of the poorest families in the Philippines.
The appeal is currently closed, but will be relaunched in November 2015. Please check back then for more information on how you can purchase a bucket and transform Christmas for a family living in poverty in the Philippines.


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Hello from Edinburgh!
The Edinburgh Yarn Festival is over and I had a fab time. I did indeed have a suitcase with me to BUY ALL THE THINGS, as I said I would. After three hours I filled it half way and decided that was enough. Well, okay, I did add a yarn bowl just before leaving the venue. And some totes. And a bagde...
Right now I am enjoying the final days in Edinburgh, but I promise there will be more details about all things woolly once I am home and settled again.
See you soon!
* I apologise for any wonkiness in this post: I am trying to blog from an app on my phone for the first time.


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I look out my loft window Wednesday evening and I watch a plane come in for a (still distant) landing. People coming in, people leaving.
I'm thinking -- in a few hours that'll be me, with only a carry-on back pack, heading overseas.
More later.
Thursday, May 03, 2007
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07 Juni 2010
F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and F-35 Lightning II (photo : USAF)
Boeing plans to offer an F/A-18E/F Super Hornet with large-area cockpit displays similar to the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter as the company pursues new foreign sales from Canada to Japan.
The cockpit upgrade for the Super Hornet is intended to equalise one of the perceived advantages offered by the F-35's multifunction, touchscreen display, which measures 8 x 20in (20 x 51cm).
The single display can be configured to digitally mimic the Super Hornet's existing cockpit layout, or allow pilots to overlay data from several sources on to a single screen, Gibbons says. The displays can be integrated into both seats for the F/A-18F.
Boeing has evaluated a display with the same dimensions as the F-35, but found that pilots have preferred a larger 11 x 19in screen, says F/A-18E/F programme manager Mike Gibbons.
Boeing has evaluated a display with the same dimensions as the F-35, but found that pilots have preferred a larger 11 x 19in screen, says F/A-18E/F programme manager Mike Gibbons.
The technology remains in developmental form, but can be integrated in time to meet the timelines for any future sales in foreign markets, he says. Boeing is evaluating bids from undisclosed suppliers to manufacture the displays.
The US Navy, however, has already rejected Boeing's overtures to retrofit the display on its fleet. Although Boeing believes the upgrade would reduce lifecycle maintenance costs, the service does not want to operate two different display technologies at the same time, Gibbons says.
The new cockpit display made its public debut at the Navy League exhibit hall in early May. Boeing also showed off the new technology in Ottawa in early June at the CANSEC conference and exhibition.
Boeing plans to offer the F/A-18E/F for Canada's requirement to replace its ageing CF-18 fleet later this decade. Canada has invested $150 million to participate in the F-35 development programme, but plans to stage a competition for the procurement contract.
Meanwhile, Boeing is also offering the Super Hornet to buyers in Brazil, Denmark, India, Japan and Kuwait.
The F/A-18E/F's first international buyer, Australia, has no plans to order the upgraded cockpit, having already received the first five of its 24 two-seat aircraft.


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Years ago, as a naive 21-year-old stacking shelves in a branch of a now-defunct chain of bookshops, I was drawn to the heavy, black cloth binding of a book containing what appeared to be a serious collection of manga, with stately Japanese characters marching down the spine. It didn't have much in common with the pocket-sized cartoonish mangas teeming with violence and superheroes; nor did it sit easily with the classic American and European graphic novels also sharing the shelf. It was The Push Man and Other Stories, Drawn & Quarterly's first collection of Yoshihiro Tatsumi's work in translation. Short strips were spread across 30 or so pages, in black and white with heavy lines showing sad, hunched characters in Japanese cafes and bars, hostess clubs and dingy flats. I read it straight through in an hour.
Tatsumi died of cancer at the beginning of March in Tokyo, at the age of 79. Born in 1935, he drew a postwar Japan, at a time when old values were coming into conflict with new pressures. The grief and horror of Hiroshima were to the fore; there was a resistance to the American influence creeping into society, and an ambivalence about modernisation. In the late 60s and early 70s, Tatsumi cemented a new style he called gekiga: "dramatic pictures". This was a more sober, grownup version of manga, aimed at an adult audience and dealing in social pressures, responsibility, tradition, human impulse, guilt, and regret.
His vignettes, collected in three volumes – The Push-Man and Other Stories, Abandon the Old in Tokyo, and Good-Bye – were written around the late 60s and early 70s, but only translated to English in the second half of the noughties. From them, I learned about the nuances of life in urban Japan at that time. The demands placed on individuals were drawn out in scenes such as the mother carried dutifully on her son's back across the city to a new apartment, where she would be abandoned a few frames later, the son complimented on his maternal devotion as he struggled with his burden. Scenes like this contained more information than a whole book on family and honour in post-war Japan.
In Tatsumi, the old and the new come to blows in day-to-day life. He dealt frequently with sex, a regular source of guilt and self-loathing for his characters, such as the lacklustre illustrator who is inspired to draw again by some obscene toilet graffiti, and is later caught doodling on the inside of a stall by an attractive woman. The women are either crass and cynical or naive and careless, invariably humiliating or over-burdening Tatsumi's weak male protagonists, such as the sick, demanding mother and needy fiance in Abandon the Old in Tokyo. The men make bad decisions which result in short-term gain and long-term regret. They sometimes look like Tatsumi, with a broad snub nose, heavy brow and straight mouth. His stories are contemporary parables, but with no clear moral message. He was sometimes voyeuristic, but more often prodded societal expectations to see how poorly they fitted with simple desires for freedom and affection in a period of modernisation.
A Drifting Life, published by Drawn & Quarterly in 2009, traced his time as an aspiring manga author from his first childhood drawings through to his early 20s. As a striving journalist still in my early 20s, A Drifting Life showed me the paradox that often lies at the heart of success: that someone as talented as Tatsumi did not recognise his own skills. The young Tatsumi worked relentlessly, afraid of failure and not often able to appreciate successes. He frequently compared himself to his contemporaries and came up short. But in this time full of worry, he produced Black Blizzard, a story more in line with traditional manga, and soon after developed his gekiga style, and began writing the stories in Push Man and other collections.
Tatsumi had that magic touch all great storytellers have, illuminating many corners with economical light, telling simple tales that unfolded to reveal many subtexts, implications and messages. He used and abused the manga tradition, repurposing the format to interrogate a national culture, with real human characters who were bored, horny, frustrated, and lonely.
With gekiga, he developed a way to tell stories that passed across decades without losing any of the mundane affects of daily pressures or cultural subtext. It retains all the subtleties of interaction and expectation in speech, thought bubbles, and body language. He is present, sometimes as himself, and sometimes as the omnipotent illustrator. His characters are never likable, but they depict the true breadth of human society and individual action.
Tatsumi is not someone I go back to for advice, or comfort. He drew ugly aspects of society, but with humanity; people are grotesque, but never disgusting. Taboos don't exist, and the frankness of his subject matter is comforting. In his books, teeming with characters, the one that stood out was always him, whether hunched over a low table in A Drifting Life, worrying, sweating, and working, or reflected in the faces of the characters he drew.


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At the award ceremony on 3rd Sept. the Royal Faculty were joint winners of the Faculty of the Year award with the GBA.
Well done to all involved and congratulations to the GBA.
Well done also to all the other winners http://www.thelawawards.com/results
The Annual General Meeting of the Royal Faculty of Procurators in Glasgow will this year be held via a Zoom...
Up to date guidance in relation to criminal business in Glasgow and Strathkelvin Sheriffdom.(order no 15 of 2020) I would be...
Coronavirus - Order Refixing Solemn Criminal Business (No 14) (21-05-20)
RFPG CPD SeminarsWebinar - Brave New Worlds: A look at the lessons learned during lockdown and some of the questions that may lie ahead
Thursday June 11, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
FREE Webinar No sooner have firms come to terms with lockdown, furloughing and remote working than it is time to look at how to deal with the new realities ahead. Whether a convey... Read More Find more RFPG seminars
RFPG CPD SeminarsWebinar - Residential Tenancies Conference
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Royal Faculty of Procurators in Glasgow
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0141 332 3593 (tel)


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9 years ago
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
'Modern Marvels' episode about tea
Last week I watched an episode of "Modern Marvels," a series on the History channel that promotes industrial boosterism by examining the various whizz-bang technical creations behind modern manufacturing and consumption.
The episode on tea is interesting — and eye-opening — for its footage of several tea factories, from Bigelow's U.S. factory to the Celestial Seasonings sinus-clearing mint room. The clip below (the full episode used to be on Hulu but has now expired) shows the Charleston facility — its conveyor belts, its shredders, all kinds of whirring blades and spiraling screws that'll make you appreciate the hand-rolled stuff. Interesting, though, to peer behind the curtain a bit ...
Posted by Thomas at 8:00 AM
Labels: Black teas, Brands, Video
1 comment:
- Amy ElaineSeptember 28, 2011 at 2:53 PM
So interesting!!! Thank you for sharing this!!ReplyDelete
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Used oil analysis: Proper sampling produces more reliable results
Whether you are operating heavy duty on- or off-road vehicles or fixed industrial equipment, it pays to have a used oil analysis performed routinely by a specialized lab. Checking the oil that's flowing through your equipment for contaminants and general stability helps you determine appropriate drain intervals and helps protect your equipment by uncovering the causes of wear. For instance, if the analysis turns up excessive levels of dirt, iron, aluminum or chrome, you could have an air leak, or perhaps you need a new filter or breather. A used oil analysis will give you an indication of the issues you need to address to protect your equipment.
In North America, Chevron contracts with two independent labs for routine oil testing, and we put them through a rigorous vetting process. Many of our customers work directly with labs of their own choosing. Some larger companies even invest in their own testing facilities – the so-called "lab in a box." Regardless of who does the analysis, getting results you can act on starts with proper sampling.
Collecting oil samples is not as easy as it sounds, and companies need to recognize the importance of good sampling practices. The lab is going to be looking at particles of less than 10 microns in size. If particles in the air, or from external sources, get into your sample after you've taken it, which can easily happen, it will skew your results. Following a few simple steps can ensure you get a good, clean sample that is representative of the oil in your system.
Take samples consistently from the same spot. It's best to sample from an active stream in the system, while the equipment is running and the oil is fairly warm. What's most important, however, is sampling from the same place consistently. Otherwise, you might see widely-varying results from one analysis to the next.
Take samples at regular intervals. If you wait too long between samples – say 1,000 hours versus 100 – you are bound to see signs of wear that appear abnormal. Sample often enough and regularly so the lab can establish a good baseline to monitor change in your system.
Never sample from the drain pan. Some people think it's the easiest place to take a sample, when in fact it is full of contaminants from earlier drains and debris around the drain plug.
Use a clean, dry bottle. Don't open the bottle until you're ready to take the sample. Make sure it is clean and seal it quickly once you have the sample. You're probably only taking around 4 ozs. to represent a reservoir holding hundreds or even thousands of gallons of oil. The lab will use only a fraction of that for each of the many tests it performs.
Don't fill the bottle to the top. Leave a little room in the bottle so the lab technician can shake it up to disperse particles that have collected at the bottom.
Label the sample accurately and thoroughly. Be sure to identify the exact oil viscosity or SAE grade in addition to the brand and product name. Show the type of equipment, the number of hours on the unit and the hours since the last oil change as well. Identify the equipment with the exact same nomenclature each time – otherwise, the computer will think it's a different piece of equipment and start a new database. The more accurate information you give the lab, the more precise an analysis they can give you.
Assign a designated sampler. Ideally, you will have one person who becomes familiar with the process to ensure consistency.
Send it in quickly. Don't leave samples sitting on a shelf until the end of the year. Send them immediately, and then check the results when you get them.
Regular used oil analysis can help you extend equipment life and optimize lubricant life, avoid unforeseen breakdowns and reduce your maintenance costs. Providing clean and consistent samples to your lab will produce results that tell you what you need to know.


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By Andrew Liszewski
Brilliant! The only thing worse than a rainy day is having to carry around a wet umbrella when you get inside. I usually carry a plastic bag so I can stash it in my messenger bag, but that leaves you with a wet plastic bag to deal with as well. The problem appears to be a minor issue in Japan though, where you can find these clever umbrella bag dispensers.
The dispensers can accommodate tall or compact umbrellas, and when you get inside you simply collapse and insert your wet umbrella where it will be encased in a waterproof bag via a set of old-fashioned springs and levers. No electricity needed. And so you don't have to deal with removing a soggy bag when it's time to head back out into the deluge, the machines take care of that for you as well. Check out the following video to see one of them in action.
With a price tag of about $1,800 plus the cost of replacement bags it might not be an economical solution for every company, but the worry of someone getting hurt and litigious after slipping on a wet floor might just make it a worthy investment.
[ Japan Trends – Umbrella bagger dispenses, collects on rainy day ]


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In an ideal world, you can generate infinite leads and conversions for little to no cost. This, unfortunately, isn't quite the way things work in reality. But don't give up. There are still many things business owners can do to get more sales in a way that won't dramatically increase spending.
Here are nine affordable ways to boost your ecommerce business.
#1 Use Content & SEO
Content marketing and search engine optimization (SEO) are two perfect examples of how you can get more people visiting your online store in a cost-effective way. These things require some time and effort, but can be accomplished with no capital investment if you take care of them yourself. Creating relevant, engaging content will draw more potential customers to your site. Keywords and metadata will help you rank better in organic search results, which is key to getting new customers from search engines and online users.
#2 Run Viral Promotions
Executing a creative, well-made viral promotion is one of the best ways to quickly generate leads without spending a ton of money. You're essentially only putting up the capital to give away an item. The actual marketing aspect will be done for free by people sharing your contest with their connections. Make sure you have a plan before running a promotion like this, as you'll want to get people to sign up for your email lists or follow your social media channels in exchange for entry.
#3 Upgrade Your Ecommerce Platform
What is an ecommerce website in today's world without stunning, professional-grade templates, mobile compatibility, fast load times, and easy customizations? Not worth your time or money, that's for sure. Fortunately, there are affordable options out there for entrepreneurs looking to upgrade their ecommerce platform. Take a look around to see what providers make the most sense for your needs and budget.
#4 Give Customers a Reason to Follow Your Social Media
Social media is one of the best ways to keep in contact with your top customers. But not all social media strategies are the same. Simply making posts isn't going to cut it when other brands are doing things to drive deeper engagement. Creating high-quality social media that actually provides value to consumers costs you nothing but is extremely important to boosting customer loyalty.
#5 Retarget Abandoned Carts
It's estimated that $4 trillion was abandoned in online shopping carts just in 2017. That far exceeds the total amount of merchandise actually purchased through ecommerce channels in the U.S. Recover some of those abandonments by retargeting consumers with email and ads.
#6 Get More Out of Your Loyal Customers
It's typically more cost-effective to spend time focusing on your existing customers than trying to get new ones. Customer acquisition cost is one of the most troubling metrics for many ecommerce stores. Additionally, building loyalty through rewards programs and other measures will get people who already appreciate your brand to like it even more.
#7 Use Better Photos
Images are essential to a beautiful and engaging ecommerce website. You aren't going to sell many goods if all your photos are unappealing to consumers. Think about resolution, as well as composition and size of your photos. However, you don't want to go overboard with using too large of image files. This can slow down your website, which will lead to higher abandonment rates.
#8 Cross-Sell
Cross-selling products is one of the best ways to boost your bottom line without having to spend more money. The process is basically just offering consumers other suggested items they might also want based on their searches. Businesses that do a good job cross-selling are motivating customers to spend more money, just by pointing them in the direction of other products they might like.
#9 Streamline Your Checkout
Along with high shipping costs, a convoluted checkout process is one of the top reasons for people abandoning their online carts. You can lower the incidence of this by making your e-store's checkout process quick and easy. The fewer hoops people have to jump through, the more likely it is that they'll actually complete a purchase.
Every entrepreneur should be looking for affordable ways to generate more business. These are some of the most effective methods for boosting your ecommerce conversions, without draining your cash reserves.


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Malaysia Cosmetic Industry Monitor Report (2018/3)
Industry Overview
Malaysia is a country with many famous cosmetic brand branches. According to statistics, there are about 100 big and small cosmetic brands in the country.Beauty and health products account for 19% of all e-commerce turnover. Let's study the performance of these international cosmetic brand in March in malaysia.
1. Top 10 Brand Volume Ranking
In this report I-Buzz conducted research into the top 20 leading international brands's performance in Malasia word-of-mouth market.The number of reputation(means topics plus responces) from top 20 brands reached 22971.
Based on Figure 1:The total number of reputation of the top10 reached accounted for 86.01% with 20 brands.Topping the list is Maybeline.In March, the brand achieved 5747 reputation and accounted for 29.09% of the top 10 brands.Then, Innisfree (3476 reputation), The Body Shop (3333 reputation) and Laneige (2324 reputation), Here are three brands proportion of 17.6%, 16.86%, 11.76%.Generally,these brands are in the mid range and they seems suitable for Asian women's skin.
2. TOP10 Channel Volume Ranking
Now we look at the facebook page with comments related to these brands in this section.We conducted for the top 10 most interactive pages in the country with a total of 17989 reputation.
The first is Pakejpercutian,which is with the up to 3853 reputation and leading in the top 10 pages accounting for 21.41% in the top 10. Referring from this page, the advantage of this site is the large followers of 628,050.The number of people interacting with the site is big because the site has posts related to tourism, life, cosmetics...updated day by day.
The second is The body shop Malaysia (3119 reputation),then Zoey (2874 reputation), Goody25.com (2255 reputation) accounted for 15.6%, 15.97%, 12.53% respectively.The Body Shop malaysia is the official fanpage of the Body Shop in malaysia.The advantages of this site are always updated official information from the company specializing in beauty. They post everyday,each post has an average of 80 to 100 likes and comments.It is stability in the interaction with the user.
Zoey with a strong follower reached 1,101,733 this is the page of an individual.it is very often published information related to art, food, travel and makeup.This page also receives large and frequent interaction from users.
Goody25.com is one of largest fashion and entertainment platform in Malaysia.It combines beauty,traveling,food,TV show...even job information,so it's facebook page also has a great interaction with it's members.
3. TOP10 Hot Topics
An extremely interesting part ,top 10 hot topic netizens commented in March.Let's discuss in this analysis section.
First one,March's hot topic could not fail to mention the shocking Maybeline's topic about price in early March. The event was posted on the Pakej Percutian fan page quickly attracted the attention of netizens who express their excitement and look forward to the product.On The Body Shop Malaysia fanpage on 03/16 recently was posted a special discount event from 03 /16-25 throughout the system.A lot of products are sold at preferential prices to the customers. The event attracted huge comments from netizens.The next event on 3/23 on Zoey page posted launch of a new set of Innisfree lipstick products.The event was posted on Epop's fanpage promoting a showcase of a famous artist's performance with the appearance of Laneige.
Through some of the above analyzes, we can see that most of the events that attract the attention of customers and the internet community are special discount, product trial, buy one get one or launch new product...the types of products interested by fans most are lipstick, moisturizing mask, eyeliner, cleanser.
Based on the data collected, manufacturers are also particularly interested in implementing promotions to attract customers' attention such as: Maybeline was the most discussed brand of the month by their marketing events, It is constributed by discount and promotion.
4. Characteristic Group Radar Chart
The graph represents the number of reputation-of-mouth characteristics of the subject.There are 6 groups to consider.
Negative reviews,positive reviews,Price,Services,Marketing,Product features,with all reputation is 1750.
Product features with a total of 1305(in other word,74.57%).
It can be seen that customers are particularly interested in the characteritic of products for the Malaysian market in March.
Positive Reviews(139 reputation) and the services(116 reputation), marketing (103 reputation),with 7.94%, 6.62%, 5.88% respectively.
Price (65 reputation) and negative reviews (22 reputation) accounted for 3.71%, 1.25%.


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Learn the best bushcraft and survival skills,
on this page you'll find information about the skills you might need when you want to stay for a short or longer period in the forest. I've learned my skills by reading books, searching the internet and above all by practising it and by adapting the information to the actual context of my forest. Get inspired and start adapting the information from this page to your environment!
Bushcraft and survival are both oriented on minimalism. Only use what you can find in the surrounding area. As nobody can start from scratch, and it is also more comfortable to have anything along, you can find information about products I use in the forest on this page.


text: One of my favorite things to catch on camera is love, and these two were full of it. Goofy, lighthearted, heart-warming love. The way that their eyes light up when they look at one another made me smile. You can rest assured that you have the kind of love that everyone else wants when it radiates and makes others light up as well.


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With eyeOS you can access your data and your applications anywhere, anytime. A virtual office in your hands, no need to install anything in the computer. Everything lives in the browser, for you and your work colleagues. eyeOS is open source and free software. Set up freely an account on our servers or, if you prefer it, install it in your server. Make your life easier with the virtual word processor, calendar, file manager, messenger, browser and other applications. And if you want more applications, just visit the eyeOS Application Database!
Page created in 0.023 seconds with 28 queries.


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Hans Andersen Brendekilde – private collection. Title: The First Anemones. Date: 1889. Materials: oil on canvas. Dimensions: 125.7 x 158.7 cm. Inscriptions: H A BRENDEKILDE 89 (lower right). Auctioned by Sotheby's in New York, on April 24, 2009. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:H._A._Brendekilde_-_De_f%C3%B8rste_Anemoner_(1889).jpg.
November 13, 2015 | Categories: Hans Andersen Brendekilde, private collection | Tags: Hans Andersen Brendekilde | Leave a comment
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CalPERS Long-Term Care ProgramCalPERS Long-Term Care (LTC) coverage pays for the extended care that would be needed when, due to a chronic illness, injury or frailty of old age, help is required with basic activities such as dressing, bathing, or eating. LTC plans can help pay for extended care at home, care in an assisted living facility, adult day care center, or in a nursing home. Typically, health insurance and Medicare pay for no more than 100 days in a nursing facility for any reason. After that, care would be paid for out-of-pocket by the patient or by a LTC policy, if one is in effect. The CalPERS Long-Term Care Program is one option to consider.
The CalPERS Long-Term Care Program is available to all California public employees, retirees and their spouses, parents, parents-in-law and siblings (age 18 and older).
Information regarding the CalPERS Long-Term Care Program can be found online at the CalPERS website. To review highlights and key features of the program, calculate a premium rate for a plan, or request an application kit, visit the CalPERS website at www.calpers.ca.gov or call 1-800-266-1050.
The CalPERS Long-Term Care Customer Service Center can help enrolled participants with change of address, change in coverage, claiming of benefits and other matters. They can also answer questions regarding status of application from people who have already applied. The customer service center can be reached at 1-800-982-1775, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Tulare County Office of Education
Human Resources Division
All mail to: P.O. Box 5091, Visalia, CA 93278-5091
Physical address: 6200 S. Mooney Blvd., Visalia, CA 93277
John Rodriguez, Director
(559) 733-6306 • fax: (559) 627-4670
Tim A. Hire, County Superintendent of Schools
Tulare County Office of Education
All mail to: P.O. Box 5091, Visalia, CA 93278-5091
Physical address: 6200 S. Mooney Blvd., Visalia, CA 93277
phone: (559) 733-6300 • fax: (559) 627-5219
| Home Page | Site Index |
Please direct web site problems or comments to email@example.com.
Copyright © 2020, Tulare County Office of Education


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Jan 14, 2017
On the foothills of the Southern Alps lies an onsen (hotspring) village known as Sumatakyo.
Among the eight onsen hotels in Sumatakyo, Suikoen is the oldest, having established in 1965. Apart from the soothing onsen experience located on its ground floor, the next best thing about staying at Suikoen is that it comes with a sumptuous dinner at one of their restaurants called Kuchinashi-tei. The hearty meal highlights some of the freshest and most delicious regional produce, including mountain vegetables and yamame (a Japanese native trout), prepared
in a variety of ways, from green
tea shabu-shabu to tempura.
279, Senzu, Kawanehon-cho, Haibara-gun,
Shizuoka 428-0411
Tel: 0547-59-3100
Whether you wish to rest your tired feet after a long trek or simply soak up the calm and serenity of the village, check out Seiko Udoku, a young café with two guest rooms launched just last autumn. The best spot is along its balcony, where you can enjoy an onsen foot bath while indulging in Seiko Udoku's light and creamy original cheese cake for the perfect spot of relaxation. The café also sells a plethora of rice crackers, such as the souvenir-worthy Sekitan Okaki, whose colour and shape are inspired by the coal used in Oigawa Railway's steam locomotives.
Seiko Udoku
316-1, Kawanehon-cho,
Haibara-gun, Shizuoka 428-0313
Tel: 0547-59-2333
There's an unlikely "guard" standing (and sometimes sleeping) in front of Sato: a golden retriever with flowers on its ears. The adorable dog is probably guarding the 55-year-old eatery's signature snack, Yama Imo-mochi, or yam cake. Unlike Imo-mochi – a mix of potato and mochi that's available in Hokkaido – Yama Imo-mochi is made of Japanese yam, mochi, and sticky rice. An original creation introduced 20 years ago, Yama Imo-mochi is available exclusively at Sato, so be sure to give this yummy treat a shot!
Sumatakyo, Kawanehon-cho, Haibara-gun,
Shizuoka 428-0411
Tel: 0547-59-2387
Because of Oi River's high volume of flow and fast current, the river is peppered with dams to control and stabilise the water flow as well as to develop hydroelectic power. With the abundance of dams on Oi River and its tributary streams, it comes as no surprise that Oigawa dams have become a tourist draw in the region. At least one restaurant in Sumatakyo, Kuretake Shokudo, serves a unique curry dish called dam curry. Dam curry isn't exclusive to this region; the dish consists of rice that's shaped like a dam across the plate, with curry on the other side. At Kuretake Shokudo, however, the "dam" is not made of rice but a slice of bread, cutely carved to reflect the verticle rails of the nearby Oma Dam. Available in two meat options (deer and wild pig), the dam curry was introduced in March 2015 and has been a popular item among its diners – this, despite it not being on the menu!
Kuretake Shokudo
352, Senzu, Kawanehon-cho, Haibara-gun,
Shizuoka 428-0411
Tel: 0547-59-2985


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In another example of the strengthening ties between talent agencies and production financing, Screen Capital Intl. and the William Morris Agency announced on Saturday the creation of a $100 million film-financing company that will be used to fund up to 50 movies over the next five years.
The Cassian Elwes- and Rena Ronson-led William Morris Independent will rep the venture, Incentive Filmed Entertainment, and supply a steady stream of potential projects.
Initially, films will have production budgets under $15 million. WMAi will rep worldwide rights to all films financed by the fund.
Incentive, which opened for business on May 15, is backed by a line of credit arranged by JPMorgan Chase, with the U.K.-based Aramid Entertainment Fund, in which Screen Capital is a major shareholder, and private investors providing the balance of the capital.
Incentive also will take advantage of domestic and foreign tax incentives.
First film to be financed by Incentive is Griffin Dunne's "The Position." Pic, produced by Nick Wechsler, begins lensing this summer.
California state labor regulations bar conflicts of interests by talent agencies, meaning agents can't produce projects that would hire clients. However, the issue of film financing isn't addressed in the regs.
The fund was announced in Cannes by WMA chair-CEO Jim Wiatt and his team, along with Screen Capital managing director and Aramid chair David Molner. Wiatt and Molner assured everyone that Incentive's relationship with WMA is on safe ground. Wiatt said his agency is not acting as a producer.
He said the launch couldn't come at a better time, considering the slowdown in production because of labor unrest and a decision by some of the major studios to cut back on the number of movies they make. Also in recent days, Warner Bros. shuttered specialty divisions Warner Independent and Picturehouse.
"This financing facility will be used to create employment opportunities," Wiatt said. "We are not going to be producers, and we won't be picking the movies. We're actually representing the fund."
Former Intermedia general counsel-chief operating officer Noel Lohr has been tapped to lead Incentive. She will join Molner and producer Robert F. Simon on Incentive's board of directors. William Morris won't have a seat on the board.
Ronson and Elwes said having Incentive will streamline the process of securing film financing. In the past year, their unit has helped find financing for 27 films; doing such projects on a piecemeal basis is difficult and time-consuming. That's not to say that WMAi won't package some projects without Incentive, however.
Molner said WMAi's involvement is crucial to the success of the fund, noting Ronson's and Elwes' experience in packaging indie projects.
"This is a great way of harnessing talent and a steady stream of product without reinventing the wheel," Molner said.
Specialty distributors in Cannes said the creation of Incentive is a double-edged sword.
On one hand, it means distribs don't have to become involved early on in the production process. On the other, it could give William Morris more control and power at a time when production has slowed down because of ongoing labor unrest and a weak overall economy.
Last year, former Endeavor agent Modi Wiczyk and partner Asif Satchu's Media Rights Capital said it was committing $250 million to eight films. Endeavor has a minor stake in MRC, and many of Endeavor's clients are involved with MRC projects.
Screen Capital, a film-financing specialist that advises on domestic and foreign tax incentives and media lending, worked closely with WMAi in executing the business plan for Incentive.
Screen Capital designed the structure and sourced the investment capital, and it is intent on monetizing production tax incentives and other "soft money" benefits.


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The latest freebies in Crewe, VA
(updated May 30, 2020 at 9:32 am EST)
- Free EnergiOne Vegan Superfood Bar
- Free Personalized Water Bottle
- Free Wildflower Seeds
- Recovery Cards Project
- Voltaren Arthritis Pain Relief Gel Sample
- FREE University Online Courses By OpenUniversity - Over 100+ Courses
- Free Kid's Meal At Taco Cabana Mon-Fri, 11AM-12PM
- T-Mobile Tuesday 5-26-20: Free Impossible Whopper With $1 Order At Burger King, 30% Off Shoes + Free Shipping At Crocs, $8 Off + Free Shipping At Overstock, 3 Months Free TIDAL Premium, 10c Off Per Gallon At Shell
- The Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board Is Offering Free Native Wildflower Seed Blends Specially Designed For Eastern Washington. Help Feed The Bees And Other Wonderful Pollinators Right In Your Garden 🐝
- Burger King: Free Whopper For National Burger Day (Mobile App) Exp. 6/2/2020 - Enter Code "LUCKYWHOPPER"
- Free Krispy Kreme Donut June 1st-5th!!!
- Free Garnier Fructis Sleek Shot Styler
- Free Sample Pack Of Hydrate & Recover Electrolyte Fuel From Working Athletes
- Free Seeds
- Free Real Deal Go Train Supplement Sample
- Free Arthritis Pain Relief Gel Samples
- Free Subaru Badge Of Ownership
- Krispy Kreme Is Giving Away Free Doughnuts For Five Days Straight, Celebrating Its First Ever National Doughnut Week (June 1-5)
- Free Thickening Powder Sample
- Free Fullsize Miage Lip Treatment!
- Free National Park Cleanup Kit
- Free BLOOM Full Size La Milpa Lip Treatment
- Free 4 Week Course Provided By Yale
- Free Copy Of Borderlands: The Handsome Collection On Epic Games Store
- MassMutual's HealthBridge Program Free 3 Years For Frontliners
- Trackmania 2020 Free Available For Pre Purchase On EPIC Store
- Free Reusable Water Bottle From Waterbottles.com
This is the list of freebies you can potentially get in Crewe, VA.
Please don't hold your breath that you'll get it all. Companies are often have limited quantities of items to give away. So move fast, click, and request while it's fresh.
If you requested some free stuff before and haven't got it in a month or two, politely write to a company and ask what happened. They often re-send free samples if you ask.
Please note: we only provide links to other websites. We don't send out any freebies.


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Advocate can only receive 30 rewards per month. To qualify for a promo code, the referred person must (i) be a new customer, (ii) use a referral link to obtain the promo code and (iii) make a purchase on framefox.co.nz in an amount greater than the minimum amount specified in the referral offer prior to the promo code's expiration. Referring customers will receive a referral credit via email after the referral is confirmed and the referral credit is approved by a customer service member. Referring customers may only earn one referral credit per referred person. In the event a referred person returns a purchased item and their lifetime order value decreases below the minimum purchase amount, the referral credit awarded to the referring customer will be rescinded. Customers may not refer anyone who has an existing framefox.co.nz account under an alternate email address.
Any abuse of this offer, as determined by us in our sole discretion, may result in the rescission of the referring customer's referral credit and the referred person's promo code as well as both parties' inability to participate in this or future promotions. Referral credit cannot be applied to previous purchases, is not redeemable for cash and cannot be combined with other promotions. This referral program is subject to modification or termination at any time without notice in our sole discretion.


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We read in the Bible about people having remarkable encounters with God, like Moses and the burning bush. When, and where, and how are those kinds of experiences available to us?
*Christ's Church is a strategic partner of Grace Chapel in Lexington, MA and features the teaching of Pastor Bryan Wilkerson and the Grace Chapel Teaching Team.


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Russia's isolated banking sector is hoping for a swift end to sanctions and capital flight, the chief executive of one of the country's largest investment banks told CNBC.
Alexei Yakovitsky, global chief executive and chairman of VTB Capital, a key part of the VTB investment banking group, told CNBC that the country's banking sector has struggled to access external sources of funding due to western sanctions on Russian business activity.
"Generally, I think that whenever the lifting of sanctions happens it's going to be a major positive shock, a major positive outcome for the market and you'll see a significant improve across all fronts and obviously VTB Capital will be a big beneficiary of this," Yakovitsky told CNBC in Moscow.
Russia's economy has been on a rollercoaster ride over the last couple of years since the government's annexation of Crimea in March 2014 and role in the pro-Russian uprising in Ukraine resulted in the European Union and the U.S imposing sanctions.
That economic isolation, coupled with the low price of oil, has weighed greatly on the country's currency, the ruble, and its economy which is expected to experience a 3.8 percent contraction in gross domestic product (GDP) in 2015.
Read MoreNot optimistic sanctions will be lifted in '16: Russian FinMin
Sanctions have crippled Russia's financial sector and a number of lenders, VTB included, have had to be recapitalized by the Russian government. VTB, Russia's second-largest bank by assets, was the subject of a $5 billion of state recapitalization program in July, implemented as part of a wider state plan to help stimulate lending amid a wide economic slowdown.
Despite having to receiving state aid, Yakovitsky said VTB Capital's range of services and financial products had allowed it to increase its share of the industry, although the sector itself had got smaller.
"We've a product suite that allows us to remain relevant for our clients throughout the entire business cycle…you have to realize that with the markets being shut down for a significant period of time with our clients having no or very little access to external capital, the demand for internal financing went up, our market share generally went up because our clients needed more from us," he said.
Read MoreEurope's crisis of confidence
"The pie shrank -- temporarily, hopefully -- but our share of the pie increased very significantly." When asked if VTB would make a profit this year, however, he was elusive, saying "hopefully."
Despite the tough economic backdrop, Yakovitsky was optimistic that Russia was starting to recover slowly.
"Obviously, Russia's economy has been going through a fairly tough adjustment, largely driven by external shocks. I'd say we're either at the bottom or pretty close to it. I think we're starting to see the early signs of things turning the corner- the economy is adjusting fairly quickly," he said.
Read MoreRussia ready to meet OPEC to talk oil prices
"But I think you're looking at a marginally positive result (in terms of GDP) in 2016, this will be driven by import substation, by the impact of the weak ruble and just the latest statistics show a reversal of capital flight with capital coming back in, which is also an early positive sign," he said.
Speaking to CNBC in Lima on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund/World Bank annual summit, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said the Russian banking sector was not expected to see "any significant growth of banking sector profits" this year.
"For the banks and the financial sector – for the so-called non-trading sectors – it's a different situation because of the reduction in capital inflows and the fall in the oil price. Taking this into account, last year the government decided to issue one trillion treasury bonds, in order to inject this money into capital banking system of the Russian Federation."
This act had "allowed many of the banks to make necessary provisions towards non-performing loans without creating further pressure on their capital and to help them promote credit financing which is a very important thing at this time for the Russian economy," he said.
- Written by CNBC's Holly Ellyatt, follow her on Twitter @HollyEllyatt. Follow us on Twitter: @CNBCWorld


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In addition to framing a gorgeous fireplace, mantels serve as the main focal point of our living rooms, making them an important piece of our homes and typically the first thing our guests see. The way you style your mantel can either make or break your space: adding too much makes it feel cluttered and disorganized, not adding enough makes it feel stark and cold, and adding the wrong things can make it feel off-balance.
If you're not sure where to start, there seems to be a tried-and-true formula when it comes to styling your mantel like a pro. Start by using these four basic elements as your blueprint, then get creative and infuse our own style and personality. The end result? A gorgeous, Insta-worthy mantel your friends will swear was styled by a professional.
1. A large centerpiece
This should be the main focus point of the entire mantel. It needs to be significantly larger than anything else on the mantel, and placed in the center to balance the entire look. Some great and popular options include a decorative mirror, a meaningful piece of art or a framed vintage map.
2. Vases, pottery or containers
Make sure to pepper in a variety of vessels that can either stand alone, like these modern white ceramic styles, or a vase that holds fresh flowers or succulents. The containers bring dimension to your mantel while the fresh foliage brings life and vitality.
3. Different levels and heights
The best way to add instant interest, texture and shape is by incorporating different levels to your mantel. Easy options include adding beautiful boxes, candle sticks of different heights or stacking a few books with pretty covers and binding. Another unique option is framing a few pieces of textile – again, adding new textures — and layering art pieces of different heights.
4. One wild card — fun objects!
Here's your chance to let your personality shine: add at least one fun, unexpected object to your mantel to make it uniquely yours. This can be anything from funky geometric sculptures to rose gold-plated accents to decorative faux deer antlers.


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One of the most common flavors in Indian and Middle-Eastern cuisine, this seed is fresh, pungent, sharp and definitely unmistakable. Tex-Mex cuisine is lost without it, and taco seasonings always have a large dose included. Try toasting the seeds and adding them to breads, or whip up your favorite curry recipe with our extra fresh supply.
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I used the 'Hotel' paper as a base, making slits to insert objects and people. Added modge podge for glue, a couple of found objects, assembled and mounted it on a piece of card stock edged with inca gold.
Try it on Tuesday
Love your fun Halloween Hotel, but I'm not sure I'd be wanting to spend a night there on the 31st! So good to see you joining in challenges again, and thanks for joining us at Art Journal Journey, hugs, ValerieReplyDelete
Great fun page love itReplyDelete
A fantastic page Donna.. Love what you have made here! Thank you very much for joining Art Journal Journey!
Happy new week to you!
What a great story about the hotel, it would make the basis for a novel.
This is very imaginative, but like Valerie I think I'll stay away. Even the pumpkins look frightened.
Thanks for a fun entry to the challenge.
Hi Donna, thanks for joining us at TIOT with your wonderful journal page, love the story, too! Hugs, ValerieReplyDelete
Enjoyed hearing the history of the hotel, and all the details on your page, right down to the key on a ribbon!ReplyDelete
Your whimsical hotel story and illustration are fantastic. Thank you for playing along with us at TioT.ReplyDelete
What a clever and fun piece you created. I love how it is Halloween but not black and spooky. Plus what a great little story and history you had for us too! I really enjoyed your post.ReplyDelete
I enjoyed reading your hotel story! This wonderful art journal page is really spooky and I love all the fabulous details here! Awesome design!
Thank you so much for joining in our '31 Days Of Halloween' challenge at Anything But Cute!
Branka DT x
Love this! The history of the hotel is really interesting! Your guests unfortunately do not look very friendly so this is one hotel I will not be checking in to! !! So pleased you shared this at Try It On Tuesday! ChrisxReplyDelete
Ooooh! How I love your story connected to your art journal page! So spooky, as it should be! Hotels to me smack of mysteriousness, and you have really done a great job of portraying that on your page. Love the raven on the branch; looks like a witches broom! And your 31 stands tall and proud--no missing that! Thank you for joining our 31 Days of Halloween challenge at Anything But Cute! Hugs! Sara Emily DTReplyDelete
A fabulous make!
Thank you so much for joining our 31 Days of Halloween challenge at Anything But Cute!
Samra DT
Paper Talk with Samra


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Thoughts while waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting for an opposing league bowler to return to the lanes to take his turn:
Every time I write a bowling story, I recall the advice of the late Barry Gurney, perhaps the top bowler to come out of the San Fernando Valley. "Fred," he instructed me, "we don't call them bowling alleys anymore. They're bowling houses or bowling centers."
Barry, who died one year ago, was not only a great bowler and a great bowling coach, but he was a much-appreciated critic and coach for my bowling stories. He was a true ambassador of the sport. His goal was to give back to the sport as much as he could and it was mission accomplished. . .
What's going on at Canoga Park Bowl? Rosie Bates and Marsha Martinez both blasted near-perfect games. Rosie averages in the 150s and Martinez in the 180s . . .
Correction: Those near-300 games were rolled at Winnetka Bowl, the new name for historic Canoga Park Bowl. The 54-year-old bowling center (thank you Barry!) is located in Winnetka. . .
As for Rosie and Marsha, perhaps they were buoyed by the presence of Johnnie Englehart, who bowls in the same Monday night league. Englehart (shown in photo) has drilled more than 50 perfect games and 60 800 series. . .
As for Bill Plummer's extremely rare back-to-back 300 games, it should be noted that his extremely rare feat occurred at Corbin Bowl in Tarzana, considered one of the more challenging bowling houses in the area. . .
Kudos to the Chicago Tribune for its story this week recognizing a bowling trend. Its headline: "Bowling alleys fight sport's decline by going upscale. As league popularity ebbs, sites add fine dining, fancy drinks, hip décor."
Tribune reporter Richard Webner provided good analysis and the story pretty much supported the contention of Bowlmor AMF Chief Executive, Chairman and President Tom Shannon that bowling can be a growth industry.
Webner cited statistics from Tom Martino, president of the Bowling Proprietors' Assn. of America, that higher-end bowling centers with fancy arcade games and menus are growing "at a rate of about 40 to 50 a year."
Said Martino: "People want a little more in their lives. They want more variety, the party atmosphere. I just think they want the whole ball of wax." . . .
So where does that leave league bowling? Even though it's in decline, it's not going anywhere and perhaps one day it will enjoy a renaissance.
People still like that sense of accomplishment of making difficult shots and knocking down a lot of pins. And even though a perfect game is unlikedly for the very, very vast majority, it's something to shoot for.
And rolling a personal best – or even bowling above one's average – goes a long way to providing a satisfying and exhilarating feeling that can last a day . . . or longer.


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I am an international student. I would like to purchase the plan of visitors care. Is it a travel insurance? ( I cannot buy a travel insurance for my study) My age is 34. The period would be from Jun 17, 2016 - Dec 31, 2016. Please see attached the requirements from my school on Health Insurance Waiver form. ( It seems that the requirements are the insurance from a US-owned company and headquarter is in US.). I checked that UCLA extension that they do not have a strict benefit coverage. Can you check if the plan is eligible according to my school requirement? Is the rate is $123 for above period since it states $123 for this period?
Another question: If I would like to buy insurance for OPT later, may I know if this plan can cover OPT as well?


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Dayna Blush Petal Dress
Product Description
Look sophisticated and classy in this body shaping design. Made in a beautiful and elegant abstract floral print, this style is perfect to wear to your next function. Complete the glamorous look with nude or black heels.
Scoop neckline, cap sleeves, invisible zipper at back.
Printed Polyester/Elastane solid stretch jersey, full jersey lining.
Suits average bust, hourglass, rectangle and pear shapes.
Length falls to the knees measuring approx. 102cm from shoulder to hem.
Australian sizing, generous fit. Choose smaller size if you are a between size.
GARMENT MEASUREMENTS: Measured when garment is unstretched. Garment is stretchy and will comfortably stretch out for another 5cm.
In cm Bust Waist Hips Size 8 90 74 92 Size 10 94 78 96 Size 12 98 82 100 Size 14 102 86 104 Size 16 106 90 108
Delivery & Returns
In relation to the Corona virus spread, Australia post currently still operates as usual. However for your safety, Australia Post staff will sign on your behalf and parcels will have 'Authority to Leave'. There may be also delays with your parcel delivery. We use the express Post service which is the fastest delivery option. However, parcels may take few extra days to arrive.
Fast Express Shipping all year round - Australia wide FREE delivery on orders over $120! We are based in Sydney and deliver all our orders to you via the Australia Post Express Service. If your order is placed before 2pm Sydney time on a business day, we will send it out the same day so you can get your parcel quickly.
- Postage within Australia is a flat rate of $8.95 and FREE on all orders over $120!
- Free pick up is available from Caringbah. Enter code "PICKUP" at checkout so you won't be charged for postage.
DRESSxox pick up & drop off point
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8:30am - 5:30pm
370 Kingsway
Caringbah NSW 2229
Visit our FAST DELIVERY page for more details.
- Trackable Airmail to New Zealand is a flat rate of A$12.95 (3-7 business days)
- Express shipping to New Zealand is a flat rate of A$29.95 (2-4 business days)
- International Airmail trackable is a flat rate of A$25 (6-10 business days)
* You will be responsible for any taxes or custom charges within your country.
Easy returns on all items including sale items
You can try on the garments in the comfort of your home and return the ones you don't want to keep within 30 days of receiving the items. We can issue you a refund, a store credit or if you wish to exchange, we will pay the postage to send you the new garment. Click here for more details RETURNS >
General size guide
All our brands are Australian brands and are generally a standard fit. The fit however can vary depending on the cut and how stretchy the fabric is. See also our fit comments and garment measurements. To determine your size, compare your body measurements with our size chart below. If you are unsure, we are more than happy to help you. CONTACT USIt is best to get someone to take the measurements for you.Bust: Measure the fullest part of your bust while wearing your bra.Waist: Measure at smallest part (usually about 5cm above your belly button).Hips: Measure around the fullest part of your hips.
Size 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 fits bust - cm 84-88 89-93 94-98 99-103 104-108 109-113 114-118 fits waist - cm 74-78 79-83 84-88 89-93 94-98 99-103 104-108 fits hips - cm 91-95 96-100 101-105 106-110 111-115 116-120 121-125


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In recent years, Javea has become a tourist destination highly prized by the international public. And it's easy to understand why. With more than 20 kilometres of coast, Javea has the largest variety of coves and beaches in the entire province of Alicante, offering varieties for all tastes.
From Cabo San Antonio, which separates Javea from the neighbouring town of Denia, to the Cap Prim, we find the variety of flatter beaches, such as Playa de la Grava, which is located near the picturesque port. The Playa del Montañar forms an extensive flat promenade, popular for cyclists and runners. Along the coast there are distributed several beach bars or chiringuitos where enjoy a mojito with beautiful views and sea breeze.
For those who prefer sandy beaches, the cosmopolitan and multicultural Arenal Beach is the best option, with great gastronomic offer and nightlife.
Another extensive rocky beach links the Arenal with Cala Blanca, the first of a large number of beautiful coves along the coast, frequented by swimmers on the beach and boats on the sea. Cala Sardinera is appreciated for its privacy because to reach it we need to do a walk of about 20 minutes that then continues to the Cap Prim.
The attraction of the Playa de la Barraca are the traditional houses of the fishermen, renovated that could be rented to enjoy the holiday in front line of the sea. Playa del Ambolo is Javea beach suitable for nudists (we have said that in Javea there are options for everyone!). Further south, between Javea and Moraira, is located the award-winning Granadella Beach, chosen as one of the most beautiful beaches in Europe.
Whether you prefer sand or gravel beach, the privacy of the coves or more animated beaches, you will find in Javea your oasis. Enjoy Javea and its beaches and if you fall in love with the city and would like to stay here or come more often, do not hesitate and contact us, we will help you build your private paradise here!
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261: One Hot Dog, Uncloseted His Life – Mark Asquith
20 years ago a hot dog impacted his life. Yes I said a hot dog. This hot dog was so impactful it caused him to come out of his closet…bun and all.
No longer willing to work for "nob heads" any longer, Mark Asquith decided to try his hand at digital product development and began working with some of the UK's biggest organizations, including the NHS, JCB and Ministry of Defence. But that wasn't enough, he struggled with the effect that the famous "hot dog incident" had on him and decided that the only way to actually control his own lifestyle was to work truly for himself.
This is his closet story.
Show Highlights
* Discover what happens if you dance to Michael Jackson (or at least what he thought would happen)
* He sold out for an extra $2k per year and here's what didn't pay off
* Power Question: Which version of the answer are you going to regret the most?
* What do cash and control have to do with it? Everything.
* The biggest secret of life is this…but you'll have to listen to learn
About Mark
Mark Asquith is a serial entrepreneur who has built globally successful design, marketing, software and digital businesses since he quit his real job in 2005. A passionate podcaster, global keynote speaker and helpful bloke, Mark is the co-founder of Podcast Websites and the creator of Excellence Expected. He has a terribly embarrassing beard.
In 2008 he set up his first "real" business.
Less than 12 months later he royally screwed it up, having on 60 pounds in the bank and having let his whole team and offices go.
Since then, the Hot Dog Kid has learned his lesson and has gone on to found a globally successful design agency, two tech startups, the UK's #1 business podcast and a personal brand that has created an audience of worldwide fans of his "no shit" attitude.
Following a blaze of glory burnout in 2012, he is a regular speaker across the world at tech, business and media events, particularly in the United States.
* A straight talking, no bullshit millennial speaker.
* Talks on productivity, startups, work/life balance, personal branding, digital product development, user experience and all aspects of modern marketing.
* Spends all his speaking fees on hot dogs and beard products.
* Once heckled Rick Astley enough to upset him
Connect With Mark


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Shanghai 3 days tour (Tour No. AST-SH-06)
Day 1: Shanghai (L)
Your local guide will pick you up at the airport upon your arrival in Shanghai and take you to your hotel. Then visit the Oriental Pearl Tower, the world's third tallest TV and radio tower (after Toronto and Moscow).
Day 2:Shanghai (B/L)
In the morning, visit the Jade Buddha Temple, one of the main touristic highlights in Shanghai and one of Shanghai's few active Buddhist monasteries still remaining. Visit a Silk Factory . Then, tour the Yuyuan Garden, a classical, peaceful and comfortable garden in the heart of bustling Shanghai. In the afternoon, you can relax in the Bund.
Day 3:Shanghai (B/L)
One-day tour to Zhujiajiao water town. In the evening, transfer to the airport for your departure.
Tour prices include:
1) Air-conditioned tour car/mini Van/Coach
2) Admission fares
3) Three Chinese lunches included
4) Well-trained English speaking tour guides
Tour prices do not include:
Gratitude tips to drivers and guides; we suggest you give them around US10$/pp/day.


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Welcome to www.debutantegloves.com
Master Glove-Cutter Jay Ruckel has crafted more than 20,000 pairs of custom-made debutante gloves during the last quarter century at LaCrasia Gloves.
We specialize in pure white, supple leather fully measured with precision from the bicep to the fingertips. We make these gloves every day, and Jay has never missed a Debutante deadline.
As Diane Sawyer said on "Good Morning America" when Jay Ruckel hangs up his cutting shears, it may well be the last stitch in time for the white Debutante Glove Made in America".
Shipping and Handling via Priority Mail. Next Day Express Available on request. E-mail your glove order using the CONTACT form include your phone number or call us at 212/686-5428 to order.
|LaCrasia Gloves
Our address is: 270 West 38th Street, Suite 1202, NYC 10018
Phone number: 212/686-5428
We make gloves for Hollywood, Broadway, Rap & Rock stars & You!!!
© Copyright LaCrasia Gloves 2017 All Rights Reserved.


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Delhi Belly: A Review
Delhi Belly – Dir: Abhinay Deo; *ing: Imran Khan, Vir Das, Kunaal Roy Kapur, Vijay Raaz, Shenaz Treasury, Poorna Jagannathan
Say it loud: I'm lewd and I'm proud!
Oh boy, is this going to be akin to trying to do the flamenco on a floor full of exploding eggshells! Because it's almost a given, given the nature of the beast that is Delhi Belly, that you'll up end offending someone no matter what you say, either those who think this outrageously daft little film is some sort of sign that judgment day is upon us, or those who think it's not fit to be seen in polite company (and it isn't, unless your circle of polite company includes people who can cuss the ears off a sailor), or those who think it's the greatest work of raunch since Walter Lantz decided to call his animated avian hero Woody Woodpecker.
Small-time journalist Tashi (Khan) and his slacker-esque roommates Arup (Das) and Nitin (Kapur) loll about their squalid apartment hurling insults at each other and waiting for life to happen to them, which it does when Tashi's airhostess girlfriend Sonia (Treasury) inadvertently turns them into contraband diamond mules for a mafioso (Raaz), who doesn't take it too kindly when he instead ends up with the contents of the perennially incontinent Nitin's stool sample. Needless to say, much expletive-ridden mayhem ensues, in the midst of which, Arup is dumped by his rich girlfriend and fantasises about disrupting her impending nuptials with an unmentionable revelation concerning his unmentionables, Nitin anonymously blackmails the landlord with nudie pics while trying to deal with his explosive rectal issues, and Tashi is waylaid, in a manner of speaking, by salty, corkscrew-haired fellow journo Menaka (Jagannathan). Add to the mix a joke about making earrings out of the family jewels, and the best, funniest visual burqa gag since Saad Haroon's notorious viral hit 'Burka Woman', and you have some idea of what you might be faced with here.
To see puppy-eyed Khan take a bodily fluid-smeared swipe at his chocolaty image is refreshing, but obviously not without peril; not everyone is going to go for this sort of switcheroo, and everyone is certainly not going to display a penchant for the proudly juvenile antics at work here. Writer Akshat Verma and director Deo have thrown caution and good taste to the wind and they are playing with fire a little bit. The faint-hearted might also be scarred for life to know that this unpretentiously dirty film comes from the house of Aamir Khan, whose previous productions have included such earnest fare as Taare Zameen Par and Dhobi Ghaat.
Not to put too fine a point on things, Delhi Belly is NOT a 'family film', nor is it for a 'universal audience' – it is rude, it is crude, it is potty-mouthed and it has, well, shit for brains, which, as it turns out, is not necessarily a bad thing in this case because it's also (for some) a toilet bowl-load of fun, fast-paced, tightly scripted and well-acted (Raaz is, as always, a standout). In a similar vein to The Hangover and the Judd Apatow 'kidult' comedies, DB is obviously going for an 'anarchy in Bollywood' scenario, with its shockingly in-your-face sexual humour and unabashedly irreverent tone. And like its Hollywood predecessors, there is only the remotest of chances that anyone will sit on the fence on this film; you're either going to slap your knee and guffaw at its unfettered, gleeful celebration of barely-subliminal filth ('DK Bose'), cunning linguists, and fecal flavoured humour (and I apologise till kingdom come for employing that turn of phrase), or you're going to cry yourself hoarse and froth at the mouth denouncing the very same. One thing's for certain though, Delhi Belly cannot and will not be ignored so you'd best be ready to deal with it as it unapologetically farts in your general direction.


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'Their sub-HD resolution sensor produces merely satisfactory video.'
'The HDR-CX160 features several automated modes for better recording, including Optical SteadyShot for more stable videos, Tracking Focus to keep focus on a moving object, and Wind Noise Reduction. '
Great battery life
'Merely OK video quality'
'Images were exceptionally sharp in optimum lighting, with plenty of detail remaining in shadowed areas of the picture.'
'Good HD video quality'
'It fits comfortably in the palm of my hand, with the large lens and two built-in mic inputs on the front end and the battery, start/stop record button and video mode/photo mode indicator lamps on the back.
'Like many ultracompact models, they really do seem optimized for shooting below eye level, or at least holding the camcorder as if you are; the traditional grip simply isn't comfortable. '
'solid video performance'
'Compact size.'
'Sony has put the worst video quality setting as default here and I don't know why they did it. '
'Lens focuses relatively fast..'
'This camcorder has a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 25x optical zoom lens that allows you to take tight shots from far away. '
'"Exmor R" CMOS image sensor delivers bright, vivid, spectacularly detailed video footage, as well as 3 Megapixel still images. '
'Capable of 1080/60p playback via HDMI and compatible HDTV providing stunning clarity and incredibly detailed playback of your memories.the HDR-CX150 with built-in 16GB embedded Flash memory can record and store up to 6 hours of high definition video footage (HD LP mode), or up to 4 hours of standard definition footage (SD HQ mode).'
'Excellent HD Camera'
'colours are warm and well saturated – reds particularly eye popping and skin tones bright and healthy looking – with detail and sound impressively clear when viewed back on a flat panel telly.'
'remarkably smooth video'
'Supports manual focus, which helps intermediate users to tape in hard-to-focus situations.
'camera's mediocre image quality'
'Mediocre image quality..'
'The VPC-WH1 offers a 30x optical zoom, 2-megapixel still photo capture, and Sanyo's new noise reduction technology. '
ReviewGist helps you find the best products to buy by making sense of online reviews.
We are currently aggregating 376,500 reviews
covering over 29,474 products.
© 2020 ReviewGist.com. All Rights Reserved.


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Wailing Wall
Post written by: MattCasey
Just an FYI… Last week while in Israel for work my team and I were invited by FedEx Isreal to an exclusive tour of the "Old City" followed by a business dinner at the Mamilla Hotel. Although we were not able to make it over to Jerusalem in time for the tour, we did make it there a bit early for the dinner. We had just enough time for my Israeli colleague to drop my boss and I off in front of the Western Wall entrance to the old city ("Batei Mahase"). I ran up and placed the memorial prayer card from Dad's service in the wailing wall, and said a little prayer for him and the family. They say that wall has a direct line to the big guy upstairs!


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Carmel Fine Rug. we are serving monterey peninsula and carmel.carmel Valley.
One-of-kind Rug from around the world. Rugs from Afghanistan, Persian (iran) India, China,and Pakistan.
Tribal rugs Cucassian, Kazak, Fabulous collection of antique Persian and Oriental rugs,
Contact us for a free estimate of Rug wash and Repair of oriental rugs in your home.
Expert handwash, Repair and Restoration of Oreintal Rugs
Free Pick up and Delivery.


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My Honey Honey top is finished!
Sorry about the crappy picture. I finished this one at about 3:30am, and couldn't wait to post about it! Can you spot Charlotte? She was helping ;-)
I trucked through and finished the rows and borders in one sitting. It was pretty quick, except for all the pinning! I'm a little particular about my corners - remember these?
I fiddled around with the block layout for about a week or so, trying to even out the values and trying not to put prints in different color ways next to each other. That didn't work as well as I would have liked, I tend to find a print I like and buy it in every color it comes in ;-)
This baby finishes out at 71x86, and the solids are Kona white and candy green. The prints, of course, are Honey Honey by Kate Spain.
It might be a while before I will quilt is one, I forgot to order backing fabric, so that may take a hot second... Decisions, decisions...


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Istanbul (Constantinople), Turkey (Painter)
Mehmet Ruhi Arel (Rouhi, Mehmet Ruhi Bey) (1880–1931) had trained as a naval architect and shipbuilding engineer but chose to become a painter. He studied design and watercolor painting in Constantinople at the Turkish Academy and in Paris at L'École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts. He was the founder of the Ottoman Painters Society (Osmanlı Ressamlar Cemiyeti).