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Chapter Excerpt
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Lucia pressed her ear to the oak door. Beyond, she could hear the clamor of
warfare, and the cries of dying beasts and men. She closed her eyes, taking a
deep breath to calm her racing heartbeat to distinguish the sounds of battle
from her mother's incantations. Out on the battlement, her mother, Dragon Maiden
of the Order, bent the elements of nature to her will.
Another violent clap of thunder vibrated the air within Lucia's chamber as if
her mother's fury was being released upon the Hall of Sylvain itself. Lucia
desperately wanted to go to her mother's side, to bolster her sorcery
with her own. But this her mother had expressly forbidden.
The beast's blood magic is beyond your craft, her mother had warned.
He will sense your abilities and yoke your strength to his own. Only I can
confront his wizardry. Whatever you hear, you must remain in your room.
The words still chilled her. Any evil that possessed enough power to vex her
mother so, was not to be underestimated. So Lucia obeyed without question when
the Harhn poured from the Vol Thaldane.
But as the hours passed, Lucia could no longer remain idle. The servants
scurrying about the Hall, the shouts of knights giving orders, and the sound of
battle raging outside lured her from her quarters. But every guard Lucia
addressed in her family's Longhouse only offered feigned assurances. You need
not worry, my lady, all is well.
She could sense their apprehension as they frantically dismissed themselves
from her presence. Lucia's mind raced with images of her mother and father. Her
steps had quickened through the Hall, their cadence matching the bustling
servants and guards. Women desperately cared for the wounded while men prepared
for the final assault. Dread was etched upon every face. This is what the Harhn
brought to Marcellus: unbridled destruction that upset the balance of all
For the people of Marcellus, the fall season would have normally been the
time for the Harvest Festival. But the fruits of their labor were now in
jeopardy of being set ablaze. For the first time in fifty years, the Harhn
arrived in vast numbers from the Vol Thaldane to wage war upon the domains of
Man. Their onslaught across the frontier served as an alarm for the Hugue to
prepare for war. But Marcellus was still ill-equipped for the horde amassed
beyond their low walls. Only a handful of her father's knights, scores of
men-at-arms and militia were all that kept the green monsters from breaching the
Hall's last defenses.
Lucia had raced upstairs to where she stood now. Her senses attempted to
extend beyond the door separating her mother and herself. Her body shook with
each clap of thunder, but longer periods stretched between each incantation. For
the first time in Lucia's young life, she could sense and hear fatigue in her
mother's voice. And then…there was silence.
Lord Baudouin gulped the last of the wine within his goblet before placing it
upon the upper-left hand corner of the map. The parchment was old, riddled with
stains of ale and wine. The edges were tattered, but the central features of the
cartography were sound: Mersalia, and the northern regions of its
neighbors–Grunehiem, Pratalsia, and Cadyrnia that bordered below. But the
spaces beyond, where Verslund would be in the north and Vhor should be in the
south – were maddeningly blank.
"No matter how long you stare at that bloody map, the landscape will not
change," a familiar voice said from the pavilion's entry.
Baudouin smiled. He gestured for his younger cousin to enter as he pulled
another stool closer to his own. "No word from the scouts?" Baudouin asked.
Flannery did not immediately respond. He walked to an adjacent table where
wine, cheese, and bread were laid out. After pouring a cup of wine and tearing
off a piece of a loaf, he seated himself next to Baudouin. "You know very well,
you would have been notified as soon as the camp-watch spotted them," Flannery
Baudouin nodded. "It's just the waiting. If it was a just a Harhn raid and
they returned to the frontier, we could proceed as ordered."
"We would be fooling ourselves to think this is just a mere raid. These are
Vasser lands. If there is another horde entering the Hugue, we cannot move this
army forward, and leave our domains and southern Mersalia unprotected," Flannery said.
"Tugdal does not share your sentiment," Baudouin replied.
"Who gives a squirt of piss what Tugdal thinks? This is your father's army.
No, it's your army. Tugdal and his House are just ambitious newborns,"
Flannery scoffed.
Baudouin smirked at Flannery's choice of word. But he understood the term was
commonly used by the Ancestral Houses – a slight against pedigrees with limited
"Our orders were specific. Tugdal is just complying with the King's decree."
Baudouin's eyes returned to the map, his finger tracing the route to Magdenhof –
where the Hugue Kings awaited his army.
"By the Goddess…don't defend that man. I have no idea what your late aunt was
thinking when she married that pig-heap's father." Flannery downed another
mouthful of wine. "I just want you to know, that regardless of what you decide,
Norris and I are with you."
Baudouin treasured Flannery's company. Besides being an accomplished warrior
and kinsman, he was a true friend. Flannery and Norris had been at his side
since childhood. Norris was the eldest; two years older than Baudouin, Flannery
the youngest. Baudouin, in the thirty-second year of his life, was an older man
by most accounting, but the Vasser line had proved resilient against the weight
of time.
His cousins had ridden with him and his father during the latter days of the
Frontier Crusade. All had earned their baptism of warfare against the barbarity
of the Harhn.
In appearance, they could easily be mistaken for brothers. All were just shy
of six feet in height, with the same auburn hair and welcoming dark-brown eyes.
Norris sported a well-groomed mustache which was the target of jokes since he
fussed with it so often. Flannery and Baudouin shaved on occasion, displaying a
rugged unkempt appearance. All had slim, muscular, well-proportioned physiques.
They may have been cousins by blood, but in spirit and heart, they were brothers
forged by friendship and combat.
"The army will have my answer as soon as the scouts return," Baudouin said
after Flannery's assertion eased his melancholy.
"Of course…to flatter you with my undying devotion and to drink your wine is
not the true reason I'm here."
Baudouin flashed the knight an inquisitive look.
"We have a guest in our encampment who requests an audience with you,"
Flannery said.
"Who?" Baudouin asked, straightening his posture.
"Sir Alaric of the Order."
"A Dragon Knight…here?"
"Not exactly," Flannery said and took another swig from his goblet. "He's an
"What does an Initiate of the Order want with me?"
"If you step away from your map, and stop brooding like a scorned mistress, I
will show him in," Flannery teased.
"You are quite the ass," Baudouin said as his eyes followed his cousin to the
pavilion's doorway.
"I must confess, my lord, that such a trait runs strong in the Vasser House."
Flannery grinned.
Baudouin smiled, flicking his wrist in a gesture for him to carry on. A
Temple Initiate to see me? he thought, recalling the tales he had heard
about the Order.
Two centuries ago, they were the Order of the Dragon, named after the Great
Dragon Shyrdasa that once lived within Dragon Peak. Legend told that a band of
knights came to the aid of the ancient creature by protecting her unborn young
still nestling within their eggs. Harhn had come to claim the eggs for their
magical properties while Shyrdasa slumbered. After centuries of hibernation, she
awoke to find slain Harhn strewn about her lair, and knights kneeling before
her, covered in the blood of the vanquished foe. For their valor, she awarded
them with secret knowledge that encompassed martial prowess and magic. It was
not long before the Knights' superior skills were evident upon the battlefield,
marking them as favored by the Dragon. Shyrdasa also chose women from throughout
the Hugue to serve as her Dragon Maidens, and bestowed upon them the secrets of
draconic sorcery.
Worship of the Dragon spread across the Hugue. Her following became as
prevalent as the ancestral worship of Shalruh-the Great Mother and her Maidens
of Virtue.
Following the harvest, nobility and peasantry spread fruits, flowers, and
livestock at the base of the mountain like an extravagant banquet. The people
beamed with excitement when Shyrdasa would soar through the heavens above the
Hugue kingdoms, her flight said to be a display of gratification for the gifts
bestowed. Fathers would tell their children stories of the Great Dragon, and
grandfathers would threaten their grandchildren to behave lest they incur
Shyrdasa's wrath.
Stories were all the populace had now, as Shyrdasa had not been seen in
decades. Some time before the Frontier Crusade, the winged spectacle in the sky
had stopped, and the magical mist that covered the mountain's base like a
morning haze had disappeared.
At the midpoint of the crusade, the Dragon Knights transformed into the Order
of the Secret Throne; a name they gave themselves to honor the Dragon upon her
mountain throne. At least, that's what they claimed the name signified. But the
Kings of the Hugue had always been skeptical
Following the crusade, the Order became more secluded, taking preference with
their agenda rather than serving the Hugue crowns. But history proved the Hugue
could count on them during her time of need…until recently.
"My lord, I present Sir Alaric of the Order," Flannery announced.
Word of the Initiate's arrival had spread through the encampment like
wildfire. His entry was followed by the captains of Baudouin's army.
"Welcome, Dragon Knight. I trust you've been offered a hot meal…"
"Forgive me, my lord," Alaric interrupted. "I must dispense with
pleasantries, for our time is short."
Baudouin was not offended by the interruption. The knight's powerful frame
and battle-worn armor were a testament to his experience in combat. His surcoat
was colored in the traditional initiate-red with the white charge of a Dragon
that still maintained its brightness. Combined with the mystique of his Order,
Baudouin could not help but be impressed with the Initiate. He sized the visitor
up, seeing the intensity in his eyes. He nodded for the Initiate to
"My lord, the village of Marcellus is under attack, and I fear Lady Joslin
and Lucia will not last the day unless we go to their aid at once," Alaric
"I have heard of an attack from fleeing villagers," Baudouin said. "Scouts
have been dispatched to…"
"I again apologize, my lord, but your scouts will only report what I already
know to be true."
"How do you know this?" Tugdal barked. "Did you come from there?"
"No, my lord, I have…messengers that spirited the information to me."
"How many Harhn?" Baudouin asked.
"I am uncertain, but I know Marcellus will be overrun unless we intercede,"
Alaric replied.
"Does the King know of this?" Norris asked.
"I have sent riders to Magdenhof, but in so doing, I fear I have sent them to
their deaths."
"What do you mean? Have the Harhn already besieged the fortress?" Tugdal
"No. The Harhn amassing near Magdenhof is a ruse," Alaric said plainly.
A collective gasp filled the tent. A moment of silence followed as knights
exchanged worried glances.
"How can that be? The Harhn are nothing more than savage animals. They only
fight in disorganized mobs. Stratagems are beyond their primitive minds," Tugdal
Murmurs ensued throughout the tent. Baudouin raised his hands to quiet the
council. "Please continue, Sir Alaric."
The Initiate walked closer to the table. "With your permission, my lord?" he
asked, gesturing at the map. Baudouin nodded, shifting to the left to grant
Alaric more space.
"As you know, the Harhn are at Magdenhof. The Hugue kings and their armies
are awaiting a siege that will most likely never come. While our armies are
entrenched there, two more Harhn armies are here and here," Alaric explained,
pointing to Marcellus and a point on the map in Grunehiem.
"May the Goddess and the Dragon protect," Flannery whispered.
The murmuring resumed.
"That is not possible," Tugdal argued. "There would have been word of such an
Alaric shook his head. "These attacks have just begun, and come with speed.
In addition to these two armies, dozens of small war bands are fanned out along
the main routes to block correspondence to and from Magdenhof. Behind the
fortress walls, the Hugue kings are unaware the Harhn have begun a rampage
through the heartland."
"By your account, they could tear from east to west by winter's first
snowfall," Norris said.
"They will feel the tip of our lances before that day," Baudouin proclaimed.
"If Marcellus is overrun, they will most likely strike Leonette or Verebur
"Leonette is not defensible…bad ground for repelling any large engagement,
and Verebur is closer. Should the beasts come, at least there we will have more
food and supplies," Norris surmised.
"I agree," Baudouin replied. "Verebur is where we will make our stand."
The tent filled with the sound of chatter and clanking armor as knights
shuffled within the tent.
"Wait, my lord," Alaric cried out, attempting to stifle the commotion.
"Gentlemen, please!" Baudouin spoke, silencing the occupants.
"Our first destination must be Marcellus," Alaric insisted.
"The village would be sacked by now," Tugdal said.
"Their defenses are still holding. We still have time to save the Viscountess
and her daughter," Alaric replied.
Tugdal stepped forward. "It's bad enough that we delay the army's march to
join the King. But now you expect us to commit this army to a village that has
already been lost…against a foe that outnumbers us? We require preparation
against a horde that size."
"No preparation will subdue this tide without the aid of sorcery," Alaric
"Please tell me you are not entertaining this folly?" Tugdal asked of
Alaric placed both his hands on the table and leaned toward its center. With
an intense expression on his face, he panned across the collection of captains.
"Hear me, gentlemen," he said in a deep monotone voice. "There are weapons other
than axe and sword working against us. We need the Dragon Maidens to
"The Hugue has plenty of wizards and mystics to fend off Harhn magic," Tugdal
snapped back. He mimicked Alaric's posture, leaning within inches of the
Initiate's face. "You just want us to save two of your own. Tell me, Alaric,
where is your Order? Why are they out seeking riches deep in the frontier
instead of being here to defend the Hugue? This is just another example of your
seditious Order serving their agenda instead of the Hugue crowns."
The Initiate was insulted. He pushed himself from the table into an upright
position, compelling Tugdal to reach for the hilt of his sword. The assembled
captains also instinctively reached for their own blades.
Baudouin raised one hand in protest, while grabbing Norris's sword arm with
the other. "Enough!" he yelled. "There will be no drawing of steel over heated
The silence that followed Baudouin's command was broken by a voice at the
pavilion's entrance. "My lord!" a male youth cried as he pressed inside.
"It's the scout!" a knight cried out.
"Come forth!" Baudouin waved the boy over.
The knights parted for the scrawny youth drenched in rain and sweat. He bowed
upon reaching the table.
"Speak boy!" Norris commanded.
The scout took a second to catch his breath before using his sleeve to wipe
the snot from his nose. "The stories are true. Harhn of great number have fallen
upon Marcellus," the scout said.
"How many?" Baudouin asked.
"A thousand…maybe more, but their attack has slowed."
Murmurs ensued.
"Slowed?" Alaric and Baudouin simultaneously questioned.
"The horde is still pressing against Sylvain Hall, but the majority of their
army is surrounding the hill rather than charging up the slope," the scout
"They are more concerned with preventing escape. They want to ensure the
capture of the Dragon Maidens," Alaric explained.
"That's nonsense," Tugdal blurted. "They are savage beasts without clarity of
reason that rampage, kill, and burn. They care nothing of ransoms."
"They do not come for coin. It's the magical essence of the Maidens they
covet," Alaric said with a contemptuous tone.
Before Tugdal could retort, Baudouin cut in. "Magdenhof will no better
prosper or falter from our absence. There is now a threat to the Hugue's
heartland. With that being said, we cannot march this army to Magdenhof,"
Baudouin declared.
"Do we go to the aid of Marcellus or rally at Verebur?" Norris asked.
"That decision I shall make shortly, but first I must speak to Alaric…alone."
"We should continue to Magdenhof at once. By the time this army marches
through the Besone Hills, the Harhn will…"
"I said I will speak to Alaric alone!" Baudouin said with a raised voice,
interrupting Tugdal.
He then took a deep breath and composed himself. "Afterwards, you and the
remaining captains will have my answer."
Tugdal grimaced, flashing Baudouin a hard look. "As you wish, my lord," he
said with spiteful inflection. He stormed from Baudouin's pavilion with his
entourage following upon his heels.
Once the remaining captains filed out of the tent, Baudouin filled two
goblets with wine. He handed one to Alaric. "When was the last time you slept?"
he asked.
The Initiate took the cup, nodding in appreciation. "Two days, my lord…but
I'm fine," he replied, taking a seat upon one of the stools.
Baudouin sat next to him, and for a moment there was an uncomfortable silence
before Alaric spoke. "I met your father once. I believe it was two summers ago
in Oriane. He was mustering a host to fight bandits in the frontier. A natural
leader…I see much of him in you."
Baudouin smiled. "Isn't flattery to achieve your own ends beneath a
Alaric released a deep chuckle, slapping his gauntlet upon the table. "You
are right, my lord. It's unbecoming for either beggar or king."
"As you said earlier, let us dispense with formalities, for the Hugue does
not have the luxury of time that our tongues can so easily squander," Baudouin
said plainly, but with a tone that would not be construed as an insult.
"Agreed," Alaric replied before swallowing another gulp of wine.
"As much as I empathize with your council concerning the Maidens,
wisdom dictates that we prepare at Verebur," Baudouin said.
"We must extend our glance beyond conventional wisdom. The Harhn have
sorcerers among them that are skilled in blood magic. Their immediate attack on
Marcellus is no accident. One can use the essence of other wizards to enhance
their own conjuring. This is especially the case when blood magic is used."
"So your council is to solely protect your own?"
"No, my lord. This is not like the predictable, mindless hordes we fought
during the Frontier Crusade. There is cunning and purpose hidden behind their
savagery, and these Harhn sorcerers are the heart of it…especially one."
"He's the strongest of them all, and he is at Marcellus. Saving the
Viscountess and her daughter should be our goal. With the absence of the rest of
my Order, it will take Joslin and her daughter's combined power to repel the
Harhn sorcerers," Alaric advised.
"I will not march this army to Marcellus in vain. Could we be too late?"
Baudouin asked.
"They are alive, I assure you. If their lives fade, I will know." Alaric
looked into his wine.
Baudouin rose to his feet, allowing their conversation and the scout's report
to swirl in his thoughts. He walked to the pavilion's lip. The air was filled
with moisture, but the rain had long ceased. The sun brought a mild comfort from
the chilled winds that blew. He marveled at the encampment as it bustled with
activity. The smithies were sharpening blades, squires were fussing with
saddles, and archers were filling quivers for their yew instruments of death. It
was as if the encampment itself was a sentient being, and all within were the
organs and fluids that sustained it. Everyone worked toward a purpose, and at
that moment, Baudouin discovered his own. He turned back toward the
"Make any prayers to your Dragon that you feel are relevant," Baudouin
suggested. "We ride to Marcellus within the hour."
Shadows of Kings Copyright © 2012. Jack Whitsel. All rights reserved
by the author. Please do not copy without permission.


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Special session on FAQs on ICDS issued by CBDT
On 31 March 2015, the Ministry of Finance (MoF) issued 10 Income Computation and Disclosure Standards (ICDS) operationalising a new framework for computation of taxable income by all assessees in relation to their income under the heads 'Profit and gains of business or profession' (PGBP) and 'Income from other sources'. The ICDS are applicable to the specified assessees from the assessment year 2017-18.
However, certain changes have been made to them. They are as follows:
a) Revised ICDS issued: On 29 September 2016, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) notified revised ICDS and repealed its earlier notification no. 32/2015, dated 31 March 2015. These revised ICDS are applicable to all assessees other than an individual or a Hindu undivided family who is not required to get his/her accounts of the Previous Year audited in accordance with the provisions of Section 44AB of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (IT Act).
b) Revised Tax Audit Report (Form No. 3CD): On 29 September 2016, the CBDT also amended Tax Audit Report in Form No. 3CD in the Income-tax Rules, 1962 (IT Rules) and inserted a new sub-clause in the Form No. 3CD to provide details of adjustments with respect to ICDS and disclosures as per ICDS.
c) MAT computation formulae for Ind AS companies: The Finance Bill, 2017 (the Bill) introduced on 1 February 2017 proposed a separate formulae for computation of book profit for the companies that prepare financial statements under Ind AS. According to it, Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) would be calculated using the profits as per the statement of profit and loss before Other Comprehensive Income (OCI) as per Ind AS as the starting point. The Bill proposes certain adjustments to book profits for MAT computation. These proposals should be read together with the existing provisions for computation of MAT under Section 115JB of the IT Act, in particular the adjustments discussed in Explanation 1 to sub-section 2.
The proposed adjustments can be grouped into following two categories:
New development
The CBDT received a number of queries on various aspects of ICDS. Therefore, on 23 March 2017, CBDT issued clarifications in the form of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on issues relating to the application of ICDS.
On the call, we provided an overview and implications of these clarifications.
© 2020 KPMG, an Indian Registered Partnership and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative ("KPMG International"), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.
Request for proposal

subset: commoncrawl


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Highlights done, base tan sorted, lashes permed, hair removal; check. The last thing to do before you board your flight is nails. Whether you're a gel nails, acrylic fan or like to do a weekly lick of nail paint these are my picks for summer 2017 nailspo.
Nails Inc in Chelsea Lane
I'm never going to opt for a peach nail unless it's high summer, which is why Nails Inc's Chelsea Lane is the perfectly appropriate peach hue for holiday. Although it's technically a pastel I found this colour packs more of a punch that most other pastel shades. I would recommend this colour for medium to dark skin tones in particular but if you're planning on tanning then this will look great on you.
It comes in their High Shine formula for a high-gloss, lacquered finish, which I don't find altogether different from the original Nails Inc lacquer formula.
Shop it
Nailberry in Minty Fresh
For the natural nail connoisseur Nailberry have launched their Summer Candy Collection featuring 4 very pretty pastel hues. My pick of the bunch is this mint-white colour called Minty Fresh. A stark white mani looks great in the summer but an off white, pastel or in this case, hint of mint is less harsh but still feels fresh, clean and perfect for holiday hands.
Nailberry's L'Oxygene formula is designed to let moisture and air through to the nail so nails can breathe. The formula is also 5-free too!
Shop it
Rimmel Super Gel in Dive Right In
Rimmel have added some new summer shades to their Super gel collection, aptly named Beach Ready. These are summer brights for sure and my fav of the bunch is this pure turquoise blue called Dive Right In. Perfect for someone looking for a bright, tropical jolt of colour. Bonus points that this type of blue offsets a tan amazingly also!
The formula is incredibly long lasting for a self- drying polish and longer lasting that most of the temporary colours that claims "gel life" effects. Invest in the topcoat too because it will definitely prolong wear by a few days.
Shop it
Sally Hansen Color Therapy in Sheer Nirvana
For the neutral nail lover I put forward Sally Hansen's Sheer Nirvana; a sheer white but buildable lacquer with a hint of pink. The formula has a jelly-like appearance and maintains some of it's sheerness when applied.
Sally Hansen has recently launched a new collection of polishes that is said to care for nails whilst you wear it. The formula is infused with Argan oil for nourishment
Shop it
OPI in Living on the Bula-vard
Opi has launched their Fiji collection for summer 2017 and as you would expect it is very very bright. I found many of these colours totally inappropriate (sludgy grey anyone?) but the one that took my fancy the most was Living on the Bula-vard, a shockingly bright orange-red hue. Perfectly tropical and fun on hands and feet.
I personally love OPI formulations and think they are some of the best salon quality polishes out there.
Shop it
Shop the post


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|Shilling attends Building the People's Budget Listening Session
|Elections, Elected Officials, Political Parties
|Written by Wisconsin Senate Democrats, Katie Iliff
|Wednesday, 19 December 2018 16:59
LA CROSSE, WI – Governor-elect Tony Evers and Lt. Governor-elect Mandela Barnes hosted a listening session in La Crosse as part of their Building the People's Budget statewide tour. The session gave participants an opportunity to share their budget priorities directly with Gov.-elect Evers and Lt. Gov.-elect Barnes.
After attending the listening session, Senate Democratic Leader Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse) released the following statement:
"I appreciate Gov.-elect Evers creating an open dialogue with residents in the Coulee Region and across the state. Feedback from students, families and seniors will help Gov.-elect Evers and legislators build a budget that reflects our shared values and focuses on efforts to improve health care, strengthen schools and fix our roads."
|Last Updated on Friday, 21 December 2018 17:18


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Adult Ministry
Adult Ministries exists to be a vibrant, engaging and influential ministry that equips, prepares and inspires people to know Jesus, love Jesus and share Jesus. We serve the Faith Sanctuary family by providing meaningful opportunities to be engaged and contribute to the spiritual enrichment of the body of Christ.
What We Do
Opportunities to Serve


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And now for something a little different… Today I thought I'd just share some fun facts about Alexandra and myself.
- My best freebie I managed to blag while working as a journalist were two tickets to see Dolly Parton's Better Day tour. One of the best evenings of my life!
- I used to drink Diet Coke every single day, now I haven't had a sip for over a year after going off the stuff the second I got pregnant!
- Vanilla is my favourite scent, we have a drawer constantly full of vanilla-flavoured candles.
- I changed my name by deedpoll because I wanted to take Dylan's surname but also wanted to keep my own, as I'm one of only a handful of people in the country with it and pretty much definitely the only person in the world with my name.
- I have to walk on the left side of people, it makes me feel a little funny to go on the other side!
- Really horrible, disgusting jokes make me laugh. The worse it is, the funnier I find it.
- Anything with owls on it makes me happy.
- I genuinely feel much less intelligent after a few months of not working full time, so I've made a pledge to start working my way through a list of 'must-read' books and catching up on the news much more often.
- Dylan proposed to me in a tiny village called Badger.
- I wrote a book in 2014 which I need to finish editing.
- Alex is Dylan's third daughter.
- Her middle name is Cavanagh in honour of my lovely nan who has the same middle name. It was her nan's maiden name.
- Had we decided to stay in the town I was living in rather than move in together in Dylan's hometown, Alexandra would have been born in the Alexandra Hospital.
- Her name was suggested by the mayor's PA at a charity skittles night. Had she been a boy, we were going to pick Alexander as a middle name but we hadn't considered the female version.
- For the first few months of her life she got freaked out by myself, Dylan or my mom wearing our glasses so we had to take them off around her!
- We were expecting Alex to be much bigger than she was so everyone ended up rushing out to buy her newborn outfits as we'd only got 0-3m stuff.
- She's my parents' first grandchild but Dylan's parents have four older grandchildren.
- Alexandra dressed as a pumpkin for her first Halloween and Mrs Claus for her first Christmas.
- She snuffled continually for the first couple of months and snored horrendously too!
- She's the best and most beautiful baby in the world…obviously!
Harriet and Alexandra x


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At Jackson Systems, we are all about making life easier for contractors. We figured it would be helpful to provide a quick overview of the 3 best wireless thermostats including what each of them offers and when they might be a good fit. All three of these models are easy to use and easy to install.
Jackson Systems WCT-32
This thermostat has a very small footprint (meaning it doesn't take up a lot of space) for the control module which is only about 4 inches long and 3 inches wide. This makes it very easy to mount the control module anywhere near or on the HVAC equipment, making this model a great option for times when space is limited.
This model can have up to 256 wireless thermostats at one location without any chance for cross communication. This is by far more than any other model on the market can offer at one location, making it a great fit for schools, hospitals, nursing homes or any place that has a large number of HVAC systems that need to be controlled wirelessly.
Another great feature is that the control module has an LED display that shows what the control module is doing from a standpoint of what calls are taking place, making it easy for the homeowner and contractor to know if the thermostat is working correctly with control module. It also features the ability to adjust temperature differential between stages, enabling flexibility so that a contractor can tweak the thermostat for specific applications.
The WCT-32 is the most economical wireless thermostat on the market and works as well as any other wireless thermostat, making it a great fit for any job.
Honeywell Wireless Focus Pro
This thermostat has a wide range of models that make it possible to get exactly what you are looking for. This is a good fit for those looking to add accessories such as the portable comfort controller. This controller looks like a TV remote and enables the homeowner to control the thermostat from any room in the house.
It also features a wireless outdoor sensor which monitors the outdoor air temp enabling you to set a low balance point for the purpose of the heat pump application.
The price depends on the configurations you opt for and will vary depending on what accessories you include. There are nine different kits to choose from.
White Rogers 90 Series
This thermostat offers an optional wireless sensor that can be configured for an indoor or outdoor sensor. It is the only model of out of the three that offers this feature. It also has a remote indoor sensor that allows you to take a reading from three different locations and average the temperature of the whole house rather than reading the temp in one location, such as a hallway.
It is also the only wireless thermostat on the market that has the optional choice of duel fuel control with wireless temperature sensors or duel fuel logic programmed in the thermostat. This allows for a low balance point to help heat pumps operate more efficiently when it gets 30 degrees or below. This feature will automatically turn off the heat pump and turn on auxiliary heat.
It is the only wireless thermostat of the three that has humidifier and dehumidifier control. The user sets the level they want to maintain and the thermostat will automatically adjust to maintain that level.
This is the most expensive of the three wireless thermostats, so it is a good option if the features are relevant to the needs of the home.


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Opening night time-lapse.
Creating, assembling and showing this work was a great experience. Thanks and praises to all who helped me to realize this, including:
James Peterson and David Paris of Art and Contraptions for masterful construction,
The artist known as Mocean Worker for a haunting tune that was surprisingly listenable,
Peter Mays of the LA Art Association for being such a strong promoter of my work,
Kim and Allison from the LA Art Show for providing me with show real estate,
Kristine Schomaker of Shoebox PR for getting the message out,
Lici Koch for determined and elegant needlework,
Barbie, Neal, Tina, Steph and Eric from LAAA for their long days helping out at the booth,
Marla and Dylan for their help and support with this and all my projects,
Lorraine for help with this and all the other things.


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Brain-Boy - smart and playful learning enhancement
Success and happiness in school and beyond - truly a core hope and dream for most parents. To help their children to improve and succeed in reading, writing and overall learning, parents do everything in their power to make it happen. Particularly children with dyslexia or learning problems often benefit too little from too much effort. But also good students can perform better when utilizing elements from the Warnke method.
Intensive learning efforts only help so much. It starts with the (often lacking) ability to actually distinguish all audible phonemes, particularly in a noisy school environment. If a child cannot discriminate the sound of "d" or "g" - how are they to establish a reliable brain model of each of these phonemes and connect it to the corresponding letters? If they mainly guess rather than detect key phonemes, how are they to develop exact visual images of all the words they are learning?
The solution: Playfully train and improve essential brain processing skills using the Brain-Boy. Process faster, understand better: This smart and playful brain training can improve key functions for language processing, possibly laying the foundation for faster comprehension, successful learning and better reading and writing scores.
Our Fit-For-School program
How do you best help your child to excel in school? While your new Brain-Boy can help to train and improve essential brain processing skills for better perception and language processing, the computer program ORTHOFIX allows to develop and establish a solid visual memory. Visual memory is one of the key factors for good and automatic spelling skills. You can use both tools (Brain-Boy and Orthofix) conveniently at home - supporting your child in a targetted and still playful fashion.


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Minecraft Stenciled Shirts
This week I am going to feature a ton of Minecraft projects I did for my two middle boyz birthday party. Today I am showing you the Minecraft Stenciled Shirts I did for the whole family!
I am going to show you the step by step using Daddy D's Minecraft Chicken Shirt. The process, however, is exactly the same for all of the shirts.
First I did a Google image search for the Minecraft character I was looking for. The pixelated nature of the images are perfect for easily stenciling these shirts. I just printed the image as an 8 x 10 on regular paper from my printer.
The key to this project is the freezer paper. I personally use online here. It can probably be purchased in your local grocery store, or online here. I have used the same roll for over a year now on a lot of different projects. It is the same one from when I made the Avengers Shirts.
Now, before you start tracing your pattern, look at it with a critical eye. I didn't want to do four separate stencils for all four colors, so I decided I could do two stencils each with two colors.
I then traced the pattern of the image onto the stencil. This is stencil two and will be the black eyes and orange part of the bill.
After you have drawn out the stencil, cut it out with an craft knife.
Then you are ready to start painting your shirt. These are my two stencils ready to go.
Next, iron the freezer paper to your shirt. Yep. Iron the freezer paper right onto the center of the shirt.
Next up, actually painting the shirt. My favorite paint for stenciling is Tulip Soft fabric paint. I used black, white and this Amazon.com Widgets of primary colors. I also love the Amazon.com Widgets for painting with. It allows me to apply the paint evenly and quickly.
Here are both stencils. I did the one on the left and then waited for it to dry thoroughly overnight prior to doing stencil 2. My best tip is that you should CAREFULLY remove the stencil (it pulls right off of the shirt) immediately after you are finished painting while it is still wet. This gives you the cleanest, most professional looking lines.
Then you are all set! Here is Daddy D rocking his Minecraft Chicken shirt at the party…
And here are the shirts for our family of six…
Nate's Creeper Shirt
Gabe's Enderman Shirt
Seth's Ghast Shirt
This one is a little different in that I added cut strips of gray jersey material. I just cut them with scissors and sewed them on the bottom.
Eli's Cow Shirt.
Yep, he's saying Moooo for you!
And Daddy D and I in our Chicken and Pig shirt…
I purchased most of these shirts on sale at the craft store for $2 a piece. The freezer paper and pouncers I had on hand. The paint cost me about $15 for all colors for all shirts. Out of pocket was approximately $27, less than $5 a shirt for the six of us. If you like a shirt, be sure to use that nifty pin it button over the picture and share!
Tomorrows blog post? Party games and activities! Check back and see what we did at our Minecraft party.
Amazon.com Widgets


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Wednesday TV Wrap: Origin Pulls 2.53 Million, Making It 2018's Most Watched Show
As was to be expected, last night's State of Origin has proven a rating bonanza, pulling 2.53 million viewers for Nine and making it the most watched show of 2018.
NSW won the match 22-12 and, interestingly, the numbers were exactly the same for the first game in the series last year. Viewer numbers were also up in Melbourne, vindicating playing the game at the MCG.
Last night's encounter saw off the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony (2.01 million) as the year's most watched show. Last night's OzTAM numbers also don't include an estimated million-plus fans who watched the game in pubs and clubs.
On the back of the footy, Nine smashed all-comers for audience share last night, boasting an impressive 46 per cent of eyeballs. Seven had to settle for just 19.6 per cent, Ten had 15 per cent, the ABC 14.4 per cent and SBS mustered a mere five per cent.
League aside, Nine's news (1.01 million) got a halo effect from Origin and beat rival Seven's bulletin (one million). Seven's House Rules took a beating as viewers ditched if for the footy, it could only muster 343,000 in three cities.
Over at Ten, MasterChef (733,000) proved a good alternative for football haters, while The Project had 591,000.
The ABC appeared rather unaffected by the footy, its night went thus: ABC News (727,000), Gruen (643,000), Julia Zemiro's Home Delivery (594,000), 7:30 (581,000), The Weekly with Charlie Pickering (512,000), Corey White's Roadmap to Paradise (245,000) and Think Tank (238,000).
The SBS' best was a repeat of Untold Australia that pulled 168,000.


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Fine » Long Pixie Cut With Bangs For Medium Thick Hair
First of all, we have to say how much were adoring this hair color. Its dark and luscious, perfect for fall and winter seasons, being accented gorgeously with deep shades of purple. The hair color gives the overall look a glossy appearance while the long layers frame the face beautifully. Were simply in love with this pixie cut!


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Edward Philip
I grew up in London and the South East of England before graduating from Exeter University, reading French in 2004. During that time I was fortunate enough to spend two years living overseas in Asia, Australasia and Europe.
Having studied and qualified as lawyer in London in 2008, I later joined one of the World's leading recruitment firms in June 2013 and have subsequently worked for a leading corporate governance search firm in Asia.
In 2016, I joined the Black Swan Group to build out their regional legal capability, having spent 4 years in Singapore recruiting lawyers across the in-house financial services industry. We now have offices in Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia and have worked mandates in Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Thailand and India.
Outside of work I enjoy travel, skiing and surfing where I am always looking for new places to explore.
Speak Directly with an Expert
If you would like to find out how the Black Swan Group can assist you today, please get in touch via either of the below:


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Visualizing contour maps in Google Earth.
Visualizing contour maps in Google Earth.
|kmlStr = ge_contour(X,Y,M)
|kmlStr = ge_contour(X,Y,M,Parameter,Value)
|kmlStr = ge_contour(X,Y,M)
Visualizing contour maps in Google Earth. "X" contains the location longitudes whereas "Y" contains the location latitudes of the data in the 2D numerical array "M". "M" should at least be 2x2. Both "X" and "Y" must be monotonically increasing. "X" must be a vector of length size(M,2); "Y" must be a vector of length size(M,1).
|kmlStr = ge_contour(X,Y,M,Parameter,Value)
In addition to the above, a number of options can be set regarding the appearance of the contourmap. Assigning values to the parameters can be accomplished by inclusion of an alternating sequence of parameters and their value. The table below provides an overview of the authorized options. The order in which the parameters are included does not matter. Please be aware that the options are case-sensitive. Examples are provided further down.
|Height difference relative to the plane of reference (see parameter 'altitudeMode').
|Specifies which plane of reference to use. Must be one of 'absolute', 'relativeToGround' or 'clampToGround'.
|Specifies the value to which the maximum of the colorbar should apply. Default is max(M(:)).
|Specifies the value to which the minimum of the colorbar should apply. Default is min(M(:)).
|Specifies the colormap to use for visualizing the grid cell colors. Default is 'jet', but any MATLAB colormap can be used.
|A description of objects can be included using this parameter. Its value must be passed as a character array. It will be displayed in the Google Earth Viewer within a pop-up text balloon.
|See Extruding objects.
|When lines do not end at the location where they started, they are sometimes automatically connected by the OpenGL renderer when displayed in the Google Earth Viewer. By setting this parameter to true, this is avoided by plotting lines from start to end and back. This will force all lines to end at their starting point. Note that this will increase file size. Default is true.
|When no line color is specified, the function assigns colors to each contour line individually. The 'lineAlpha' parameter can be used to set its transparency.
|Line color specification, including transparency. Color value format must be passed as a character array according to the format string 'TTRRGGBB', with 'TT' representing transparency; 'RR', 'GG', and 'BB' representing red, green, and blue colors, respectively. Intensity values are denoted as two-digit hexadecimal numbers ranging from 00 to FF. For example, '80FF0000' is semi-transparent red and 'FF0000FF' is fully opaque blue.
|Width of the contour lines.
|Nx1 vector whose length will be the number of contour line levels, and whose values are the level values. (Not to be used in conjuction with parameter 'numLevels')
|Defines whether verbose feedback is provided by the function when it is accessed and when it finishes. Default is false (which is equivalent to logical(0), but quicker).
|This character array will be used within the Google Earth Viewer 'Places' pane to identify objects.
|Number of contour levels to use. Default is auto generated.
|A short description of the feature. In Google Earth, this description is displayed in the Places panel under the name of the feature. If a Snippet is not supplied, the first two lines of the description are used
|See Tessellation.
|See Dynamic visualization.
|See Dynamic visualization.
|Whether the object is initially visible. Must be passed to ge_contour() as a numerical value 1 or 0. Visibility state can be changed within the Google Earth Viewer by clicking the object's checkmark in the 'Places' pane.
Latitudes on the Southern hemisphere must be passed as negative values. Same for longitudes on the Western hemisphere.
Latitudes and longitudes should be passed in units of decimal degrees (also known as fractional degrees). Google Earth uses Simple Cylindrical projection (also known as Plate Carée) with a WGS84 datum.
demo_ge_contour provides an example of the use of ge_contour(). It will generate a *.kml file that looks like the image below when opened in the Google Earth viewer.


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DIY Essential Oil Reed Diffuser
In search of a final minute handmade hostess present this Vacation? Likelihood is you in all probability have already got a lot of the provides available for this beautiful (and helpful!) DIY challenge for the house. Important oil reed diffusers naturally add perfume to the air by drawing up a vital oil serum by means of picket reeds and releasing the scent into the air. They're tremendous straightforward to make at residence and make nice common presents!
- .5 ouncesGlass apothecary bottle with cork or cap
- four ouncesof Vegetable glycerine (obtainable at any well being meals retailer akin to Entire Meals)
- 20 Drops lavender essential oil or your favourite important oil scent
- 7 Wooden kabob skewers (obtainable on the grocery retailer)
- Clear tape
- 1″ Thick ribbon
- Recent rosemary sprig (optionally available)
Step 1.
If giving as a present, you'll need to bundle the bamboo reeds collectively, and safe with a band of tape on the midpoint. Put aside. Should you're merely creating one on your house, skip this step.
Step 2.
Pour the four ouncesbottle of vegetable glycerine into glass bottle.
Step three.
Add roughly 20 drops of important oil, and if giving as a present, prime the bottle with the cork or bottle cap. If utilizing in your personal residence, place the reeds within the bottle, and luxuriate in!
Step four.
If giving as a present, you'll need to connect the reeds to the bottle, in order that it's one concise package deal on your giftee. Wrap ribbon across the midpoint of the bundled reeds.
Step 5.
Then wrap the ribbon across the thickest level of the glass bottle, tie a bow, and garnish with a rosemary sprig.
When prepared to make use of, unwrap the reeds from the ribbon, and place within the jar. Wrap the ribbon across the bottle an additional time, and safe it in a knot or bow. The reeds will draw up the scented glycerine and launch it into the air.


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So, we're going to mom's this morning and hopefully get home early afternoon. I have a lot of things I need to get done around here, kinda precludes spending the entire day over there at her place.
I bought a cleaning kit a few days ago and took the .40 Sigma apart (it's basically a Glock wannabe) - which isn't terribly difficult to do. In fact, you can have thing in 4 pieces in less than 30 seconds. I watched a video on YouTube - well a couple of them - to make sure I wasn't going to do something wrong and maybe have a gun exploding in my face next time I attempt to fire it, which would be this morning. I still haven't cleaned the shotgun, but it is a new gun and has had only 5 rounds shot through it, so no biggies. I don't think I am going to shoot that thing this morning anyway. There isn't much to shooting a shotgun: aim in the general direction of your attacker and pull the trigger.
So, cleaning out the bore and oiling everything and then wiping off the excess, I was happy enough that I had done a thorough and correct job of the cleaning and oiling and reassembling.
So, in about 15 minutes, we're taking off - gotta stop at Walmart first though, I only have one set of ear muffs and eye glasses and I need 2 if Caleb and I and mom are going to be in there shooting. Last time, mom didn't shoot, she just waited for us, but I am hoping this time she will go in and fire off a few rounds. I have never seen my mother shoot anything but a small caliber handgun that had snake shot in it, she was attempting to kill a rattlesnake with it and it was doing absolutely nothing to the snake. I was laughing at her while I took a shovel and cut the snake's head off and that was the end of that problem.
There are all kinds of snakes up at her property - Garter snakes being most populous. Sounds bad, but they keep the rodent population down which is a good thing, because rats or mice like to find ways into trailers and do some damage. I'm hoping that with all the doors locked shut and everything closed I won't have to deal with that problem, I guess I'll find out.
Yesterday, after work, I decided to stop at a "new" place to get my hair cut. This time I decided I would be having it cut well down for the summer. I sometimes let it grow a wee bit long during the winter, but it becomes a hassle and a chore to deal with it. Anyway, walking into this somewhat dilapidated place- the floor was not exactly appealing in it's coloration and there was a huge crack all the way down to the other end of the structure in the concrete foundation - I was greeted to the sight of 5 ladies. 3 of them hair stylists and 2 of them customers. Well, there was a guy in there as well getting his hair cut, but who cares about that, right? lol.
I got my hair cut down and looked into the mirror, rather shocked. My hair is going from grey to white now. I am only 48 years old, thank you. I thanked her for the nice cut but started grumbling about the lack of color in my hair. Suddenly, I have 2 ladies in my face attempting to talk me into getting my hair dyed with this "great" product for only ten bucks the first time. I hesitated. I have given it consideration but it seems such a drastic thing to do - going from grey and white to brown hair in the matter of 20 minutes time. However, I got over it, especially for that price and decided to give it a try. If I didn't like it, I figured I would get a military cut and have practically no hair on my head to get rid of the new look.
It actually looks pretty good, but it isn't dark enough. My brown hair - or what used to be brown anyway - was much darker than this color and I think it would look better with a deeper shade of brown, but I am happy enough with it. I have certainly been getting some double takes from people and I am sure that Monday at work will be no different.
It was supposed to rain today, but the sun is shining and I don't see any clouds from where I am sitting. So blah to the weather man who usually doesn't get it right, anyway. Of course, I was just looking at the radar: it's all out east, nothing over where I am at right now. Blah again.
So, Caleb starts asking me some questions last night about a presentation he had gone to. A man had invited a small group of him and his friends to show them how they could make a lot of money very quickly. Yup, that sent alarm bells off instantly. He then said the man wanted "just" $500 from each person to start their own "business". More alarm bells. I listened to the whole thing and then educated my son about scams, scammers, smooth talkers who can make a piece of dog dung sound likes it's a precious gem and gee, doesn't seem a bit odd that you are going to have to pay him to start working for him?
He then gave me the name of the company, which I looked up on the internet. Of course, multi-level marketing, they pyramid scheme. What else could it have been. I asked him if he had given that man $500? No, but his friend had. I informed him that his friend basically just threw away 500 bucks and if you - Caleb - are smart, you won't follow suit. Just watch what happens with your friend and you will see for yourself. He will do a lot of work and make very little money. The complaints about that particular company online are numerous and not few. Well, you know the old saying: if it sounds too good to be true, IT PROBABLY IS!!
I fell for one of those scams when I was much younger, but I had given the guy so much money - almost 3 grand - that I became infuriated when I found out 1: how stupid I had been giving him that much money for nothing in exchange and 2: the man laughing at me on the phone and telling me he wouldn't be giving me my money back.
I guess he thought that since he was in Las Vegas and I was in Phoenix, nothing could happen.
Yes, well it's only 3 or 400 miles to Las Vegas, and yes, I stormed into that man's office and I pretty much told him - well I won't say what I told him here, even though I am sure the statute of limitations is long since over with - I didn't actually DO anything to the man, but at that time in my life? I would have knocked the guy silly if he hadn't given me my money back. He got that impression quickly and I was handed a check.
I went straight to the bank and cashed it.
Well, anyway, I have to be outta here.
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Decatur, Alabama. Got there last night - decided I didn't have enough hours to offload - about an hour and 15 minutes on the clock, tak...
This will be the first of an on-going series of how to own a dog - or several dogs - without having to shell out a fortune in keeping them h...
It will be a total of 10 days off. I was good at 7. Manager finally called and said are you ready to go back to work. Yes please. So tom...
So. Will this corporate lady be able to get anything accomplished today? I dunno, but I'ma rootin' for her! lol. I don't know...


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ROAL Motorsport - The team led by a legend of touring cars racing
ROAL Motorsport is the racing team from Legnaro, Italy, founded in 2001 by the former racing driver Roberto Ravaglia who is considered as one of the best touring car drivers of all times.
With BMW from the first day
A couple of years after he ended his very successful career, former Italian driver decided to create his own team under the name Ravaglia Motorsport. Backed by BMW, his team in 2001 entered the FIA European Super Production with two BMW 320i cars, driven by Peter Kox and Norman Simon. The start was excellent after Kox became a champion while Simon won the title in the Under 23 class.
After a blistering start, the new team in 2002 entered the FIA European Touring Car Championship under the name BMW Team Spain with Jordi Gene and Fabrizio de Simone as drivers. The results weren't glorious after only one podium finish was scored. In the following season, Fabrizio Giovanardi and Antonio Garcia were behind the wheels of two BMW 320is. The results were something better. A total of seven podium finishes were scored before Garcia and Giovanardi finished 8th and 9th respectively. Interestingly, Alessandro Zanardi made his comeback to racing after a horrible crash in 2001 when he lost both legs. Driving the ROAL Motorsport's specially modified BMW in the final race of the season at Monza, Zanardi finished 7th.
In 2004 Zanardi was teamed with Garcia but the team again failed to score a maiden victory in the ETCC. After scoring three podiums, Spanish driver took the 7th place in the Drivers' championship, while the Italian driver was 15th overall.
Zanardi scored maiden victory for ROAL Motorsport
Since 2005, the team is competing under its current name – ROAL Motorsport. The ETCC became World Touring Cars Championship and those changes were lucky for the team. Alex Zanardi at Oschersleben scored a maiden victory in the series and Garcia also drove in fine form during the season. Zanardi also won the title in the Italian Super Touring Cars Championship, bringing the first trophy in the team's showcase. Alex also finished 3rd in the first edition of the European Touring Car Cup.
Zanardi stayed with the team in 2006, while Marcel Costa and Duncan Huisman shared the second driver seat of new BMW 320si. Italian driver won in Istanbul and scored two more podiums before finishing 11th in the standings. In the following year, Felix Porteiro was teamed with Zanardi and Spanish driver did relatively well in his first year. He won the race at Automotodrom Brno and finished 12th in the Drivers' championship, while Zanardi somewhat underachieved and with only one podium finished dropped to the 15th position in overall standings.
Brno was the lucky circuit
Both drivers remained with ROAL Motorsport in 2008 and at Automotodrom Brno they scored maiden 1-2 finish for the team in the WTCC race, with Zanardi as a winner. The Italian driver almost scored double that day but finished 2nd in the main race, narrowly losing to his compatriot Gabriele Tarquini. Porteiro later in the season triumphed at Oschersleben and took the 10th place in the championship, while Zanardi was 13th.
The same year ROAL Motorsport developed the BMW M3 for the Superstars Series and Italian driver Luca Rangoni scored a victory in his first race. In the following year, Gianni Morbidelli won the title in the Superstars International Series driving the BMW M3 sedan prepared by ROAL Motorsport.
In 2009 WTCC Zanardi drove alongside Sergio Hernandez. They won both races at Brno and, interestingly, those were the only podiums scored by the team that year. Hernandez and Zanardi finished 11th and 12th in the final standings respectively.
A short break and return to the WTCC
ROAL Motorsport left the FIA World Touring Car Championship in 2010 and focused solely to Superstars Series with the new BMW M3 coupe. That was the very fruitful season for the team after Thomas Biagi won both Italian and International Superstars Series titles, scoring a total of six wins for ROAL Motorsport.
In 2011, Italian team returned to WTCC with the new BMW 320 TC and Tom Coronel as a driver. The experienced Dutch driver won the race at Suzuka and scored other four podiums before finishing 4th in the Drivers' Championship. Alberto Cerqui became the champion in the Superstars Italian Series at the wheel of the BMW M3.
Coronel in 2012 failed to score a victory in the WTCC but still had a good campaign and had five podium finishes before taking the 5th place overall, while Alberto Cerqui was 8th in the Yokohama Drivers' Trophy. At the same time, ROAL Motorsport entered the Italian GT Championship with the BMW Z4 GT3. Thomas Biagi and Stefano Colombo claimed the title, amassing a total of five wins and the same number of pole positions for the team. ROAL Motorsport won the Teams' title in 2013 Italian GT Championship, having an all-Italian driver line-up of Michela Cerruti, Stefano Colombo, and Stefano Comandini.
ROAL Motorsport won 2014 Yokohama Teams' Trophy
The season in the WTCC also was fine. Coronel won the races in Slovakia and Japan before taking the 10th place in the final classification, while Darryl O'Young was 6th in the Yokohama Drivers' Trophy. ROAL Motorsport finished 5th in the Teams' Trophy that year.
The season of 2014 was one of the best so far. ROAL Motorsport lost BMW factory backing in the WTCC and switched to Chevrolet to compete in the Independent entries championship with Tom Coronel and Tom Chilton as drivers. British driver scored the only victory for the team in Beijing but thanks to many strong finishes of both drivers ROAL Motorsport won the Yokohama Teams' Trophy.
Blancpain GT Series was a new challenge
Roberto Ravaglia's squad will enter a specially modified 2014-specificated BMW Z4 GT3 for former ChampCar-champion and Paralympic gold medalist Alex Zanardi for the Blancpain Sprint Series. He finished 20th in the standings, while the second car driven by David Fumanelli and Stefano Colombo was runner-up in Silver Cup. Finally, ROAL Motorsport was 10th in the Blancpain GT Series Teams' Championship.
The same year ROAL Motorsport also entered the Blancpain Endurance Series and won the Pro-Am class in the season-opening race at Monza. In the following seasons team continued to race in the Endurance Series but without too much success.
Another WTCC Trophy was won in 2015
ROAL Motorsport left Blancpain GT Series in 2015 but continued in the WTCC and defended its Yokohama Teams' Trophy title. Coronel and Chilton again were behind the wheel of two Chevrolets and even being unable to score a race win, they were in the consistent form over the season. At the same time, Chilton was 3rd in the Yokohama Drivers' Trophy standings.
In 2016, the team reduced its presence in the WTCC to one car with Coronel as a driver. Dutch veteran surprised many by winning in two races, in Morocco and Portugal, and finishing 3rd in the WTCC Trophy standings. At the same time, ROAL Motorsport was the vice-champion in the WTCC Teams' Trophy.


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3. Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
The Galapagos Islands are no ordinary place – it is one of the most incredible gifts bestowed on Earth by Mother Nature. This is easily the best island vacation if you're interested in nature. The dozen or so islands are home to an amazing array of animal and plant species including penguins, sea lions, turtles, iguana and of course the giant tortoises.


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House pest administration services have got excessive credibility in such a market. garden pest control They make ideas to eradicate the actual pests from your environment. They find alternatives which have been productive as well as lower cost. These kinds of best top quality expertise also present speedy outcomes on the customers. They supply recommendation about prevention of pests in the long term additionally.
If you are searching for your residential pest control actions, you will require a supplier that may essentially deal with the most common pests of the domestic life including the mice, rats, bedbugs, fleas, ants and wasps and so on. These kinds of pests can make serious problems when they get entered into your house and thus, it might be essential for you to deal with an established and specialist firm that actually works in this regard.The possibility of the pests within the London houses is quite great and the built-up environments provide a heaven for all this kind of kind of pests to reside and enjoy meals on.
Sometimes rodent pest control preventive steps don't work by themselves. Sometimes it demands the identification of the problem source so a treatment method can be developed. Unless of course a mouse infestation is particularly bad, you might never see one. However you might notice commercial dog food or other kinds of food totes torn open and consumed. The inevitable sign that creates most home owners to cringe is the tell-tale poop that will show around entry and nesting areas, and meals sources. Additionally, pungeant smells, specifically of rodent urine may be present.
Retaining our environment clean at first location is the easiest method to stay away from pests. That is why it is important to ensure that it stays free from waste products, dirt, and other stuffs that will make it a popular breeding floor for these visitors that you a lot hate. We should regularly utilize disinfectants to keep our own homes free of harmful bacteria that cause illness. Make it a habit to check cabinets as well as drawers for clutters. Every now and again, clean surfaces and also corners that you seldom notice. Likewise, using pest control products for your house will help you get rid of pests in no time. Make an effort to take as many measures as you can to keep your home and office as pest free as possible. . The difficult part is always that these pests are hard to detect till it's past too far.
Bed bugs are blood-sucking insects that need blood to survive. There are many pesticides and insecticides you can purchase that are specifically intended to eradicate bed bugs. Since these chemicals can be extremely hazardous, therefore choosing the help of an expert pest control agent is advised.
When choosing a rodent pest control you can find important factors any particular one must take under consideration before choosing how to remove or eliminate the problem mice. You must also think about virtually any pets or even children which can be in or around your home when identifying a method with regard to eradication, as his or her safety is very important as well.


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A Squared Enterprises was formed by Newcastle accountant,
Anthony Wardley
, to assist people in better understanding finance through apps for iPhone, iPad and Mac. Anthony is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and works in public accounting practice for a firm in Maitland (regional NSW).
Our iPhone, iPad and Mac Apps
my Tax
my Tax
is an app with a suite of Australian tax calculators to assist accountants, bookkeepers, financial planners and business owners quickly make tax related calculations.
Percentages 5-in-1
Percentages 5-in-1
is an app that allows the quick calculation of different common percentage related calculations.
my Tax (for Mac)
my Tax for Mac
includes a suite of Australian tax calculators for your Mac. It is similar to the iOS versions but has been optimised for a larger screen.


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QuakeCon 2008 - Paint, Glue & Sponge Bob (Page 2)
The Truly Wicked Cases
These cases are deemed the best of the best at QuakeCon 2008.
If I were a judge and needed to declare a winner of the cases found in the BYOC at QuakeCon 2008, this would be it. The builder found this hard foam Sponge Bob while driving past a yard sale and quickly pulled over to purchase it for 4 Dollars. Once home, he spent the next few days carefully carving the foam out and put a small form factor PC inside. The builder stated to us that every year be builds a one off custom case to take to QuakeCon.
The Halo Helmet mod received a lot of attention at the event. I was not able to speak with the owner of this mod but you can tell a lot of time went into planning the mod and I can say that the outcome was a very clean looking mod.
The Lego Case was very interesting; definitely one that drew a crowd.
The builder of this system spent a great deal of time finding the right mix of add-on parts and innovative design to make a great looking, clean mod.
If you can't fit it all in one case, you might as well mould two together to make a case that is over 5 feet tall. The two cases are bolted together at the bottom, making a mirror image of each other.
Two UFO cases made the list. These cases are very large and make adding mod items very easy. More importantly, they make really good case mods.
The second UFO case mod goes above and beyond simple plug-in mods. The LEDs were custom and are very rare. Each LED can switch between red and white and all of the LEDs are synchronized to change at the same time. The flush mount LCD display at the top of the case adds to its appeal. I want a system like this!
The pictures of this kickarse Grill Case mod were kindly sent to me by its owner after the event. I had heard about this wicked mod during my rounds but was never able to see it in the flesh unfortunately.
Last updated: Apr 7, 2020 at 12:27 pm CDT
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Time is an odd concept that comes into greater focus at the end of the year. It has set the limit for a start to a so-called "fiscal cliff," while two of our branches of government struggle to find a new or old solution. But in music, time is fuzzier and more continuous; it's a theme that challenged many of our more established artists and groups--Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, the Rolling Stones, and Bruce Springsteen all toured (in the Stones case, a little anyway) and all put out decent new albums or a decent new song (in the case of the Stones again) that were generally traditional, yet seemed to fit today's themes, and were essentially timeless.
But time especially challenged the reunited version of another 50th anniversary group, the Beach Boys, as they struggled to rewunite, only to re-split after much of their tour was completed. Their live performance was finely tuned and well-harmonized and very enjoyable and even energetic with the many songs they performed. But it seemed especially odd and ironic for this group with youth-themed beach, car, and school song, now in their 60s or 70s were singing "Be True to Your School" or "When I Grow Up to Be a Man." In their own words, "it won't last forever," but it almost did. Their new album "That's Why God Made the Radio" had a mixture of timeless and timed-out songs, but the title track had that classic Beach Boy set of ingredients for celebrating the eternal summer of youth, and that's what they did in their 50th Anniversary tour.
The dying ember of print media's time is even more fragile than the music of this time--as newspaper fight on in abbreviated manners, the magazine that once illuminator of news, music, and sports was even more dated and dying as the printed Newsweek faded into it last printed edition as a newsweekly, just as Life and so many others had faded before it. This was the year, that I found the music publication Word--but just a little late, as it too faded out of print into wordlessness. And Spin also seems to have come to a stop and left the printed scene. While others like Filter, and Off the Radar, stay alive, along with the rebirth of the cultural iconic magazine, Arthur. And still from across the sea, Mojo, Q, and Uncut continue their printed runs, with their interesting take on past, present and future music, while providing free cds.
And so the musical tale of rock and roll goes on and on, as its business model continues to break apart and evolve and sputter, caught in receding world of bricks and mortar and the printed paged physical world, as parts of what was once the key elements of our real world fade away teetering on the virtual brink of extinction with nary a crutch holding them up and keeping them alive for another year. The music industry still tries to right itself with new models of streaming, You Tube-ary, and some royalties, but it is still in an evolutionary period of spinning into ever-changing new forms.
Times waits for no one as we put behind us another year, and we file away the sounds and themes to mark it and commemorate it so that it that may reappear in later years unharmed. It will be rediscovered and sampled and evolved back into new music as the rock process continues through time. Some things continue to get better as making complex music and distributing it gets simpler and more available to all. And as we can stream everyone's top 40 or top 100 songs and albums of the week, month, year endlessly on the Internet.
Every year and it's music has its own adventure and character. And this year is no different, as the music industry has also been falling away and declining, and there are new tools for streaming, making new sounds, mashing, and mixing, and new genres magically appear while we rediscover some of the old and weathered sounds too. So once again this year was a mixture of the past, present, and future, in this remarkable, swirling cauldron of sights and sounds. While this may be another year in which "rock just spun its wheels," it continued its dazzle and reinvention in new and interesting ways.
Last year was the timeless year of a well-voiced Adele, and this year she continued her popularity, but she left room for many others, some of whom became popular almost exclusively through the web. The ear worm song of the spring was Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know" which spread through the world quickly and painlessly and effortlessly reached and stayed at Number 1 on the charts for many a week. In the summer "Call Me Maybe" by the Canadian singer-songwriter, Carly Rae Jepsen went viral. While the song was overplayed everywhere, it had a well-constructed freshness that made it almost tolerable. Speaking of overplayed and overhyped, we had Lana Del Rey, who hit the charts at the end of last year and spread viral-ly with her "Video Games." It was catchy and held some promise of legitimate stardom until Lana's fateful "not ready for prime time" turn on Saturday Night Live, when her thin-voiced vocals let the air out and pierced the promise of her star-making machinery balloon. This was also the year that Jack Rose, finally got part of his due as a talented and lamented guitarist, but that is only some of the history.
My personal top ten or so includes the aforementioned Dylan with his "Tempest," a musical play that is soaked in tradition; Cohen's "Old Ideas," which is just what it is (although well done old ideas); and the Beach Boys, new old album of the summer. On the newer side is Grimes' "Visons," an electronic cotton candy conconction, Frank Ocean's open and expansive "Channel Orange," Tame Impala's Austrodelic "Lonerism," Sharon Van Etten's well-crafted "Tramp," First Aid Kit's sweet and simple, "The Lion's Roar," and the Lumineers' pleasant-minded eponymous album. With a new lease on life, I also enjoyed David Byrne and St. Vincent's work as a duo on "Love This Giant" and Donald Fagen's jazzy "Sunken Condos." Close by were albums by Divine Fits, and Django Django's adventorous eponymous album.
Bubbling up under the Top Ten or so were the talents of Sarah Jaffe, Anna Ternheim, and Hannah Cohen, and Susanna Wallumrød passing herself off as Susanna and the Magical Orchestra. I also enjoyed Julia Stone's talented "By the Horns," the innovative Simone Dinnerstein and Tift Merritt, Bat for Lashes' "The Haunted Man, "the Orphan Twins, Air Traffic Controller, the Weepies, Sea of Is, the Tiny Vipers, Jesse Ware, K'naan, steampunk band, Abney Park, Ellen Berrys' "Look at Me," Ludovico Einaudi, Margot and the nuclear so and sos, Augustina's "Boston, " Passenger's "Let Her Go," Thea Gilmore, Michael Kiwanuka's soulful "I'm Getting Ready," and the ultimate rockabilly of J.D. McPherson in his "North Side Gal." It was a good year for Taylor Swift, but she was Nashville's loss and pop's gain, but the TV version of Nashville introduced us to Striking Matches' beautiful "When The Right One Comes Along."
The rock music was joined by its companion literature movement which must be mentioned before we bring the year to a close. After Keith set the stage for biographies, well-received books were prodcued by Peter Townsend, and Neil Young, and they were joined by David Byrnes' exploration of "How Music Works" and Sylvie Simmons' engrossing and well-researched "I'm Your Man," the life and times of Leonard Cohen.
And so, another crazy mixed up year in rock and roll comes to a close and is now in the record books--just in the nick of yes, time. Time, that creature of our mind, that is just where we started and end for now. While I continue to look in the new year for more adventure and more artistic genre bending and time bending music, this is a good place to stop and put a bookmark in the year behind.


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Selena Gomez misses the "safety net" of hit TV show Wizards of Waverly Place following its finale last month.
The singer/actress shot her final scenes for the popular children's series last year and almost 10 million viewers tuned in when the last episode aired in the U.S. on January 6.
Gomez admits wrapping the show after four years was "one of the hardest things" she's ever experienced, but she has only fond memories of her time spent with her co-stars and workers.
She tells London's Evening Standard, "Ending the show was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. I love everybody involved with Wizards. I love everybody in the cast and everybody in the crew. They all helped me grow up and become the person I am today. I'm really going to miss that safety net.
"Working on Wizards Of Waverly Place has been an amazing experience and I will always remember the fun times we had shooting in front of a live studio audience. We'd perform every week and I really enjoyed it. It became easy and I was very comfortable with the show."


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Government Employees Demands Pay and Pension Increase 100 & 50 Percent respectively – Daily Dunya Forum
Rawalpindi (Daily Urdu Dunya Report / Sunday, June 2nd, 2013) – Daily Urdu newspaper Dunya Rawalpindi organized a survey forum. The topic was Govt. employees and coming fiscal budget 2013-14, what government workers are demanding.
Talking to forum govt employees of different department of Punjab demanded increase in Salaries and Pension 100% and 50% respectively.
Govt. employees also demanded followings:
1- Residential housing colonies for public servants.
2- Social security hospital in every district.
Who participated in forum:
District and Municipal administrations departments employees. Tahir Mehmood Khan, Ghulam Muhammad Naz, Raja Muhammad Majeed, Ansar Butt, Raja Ejaz, Raja Zameer, Malik Gazanfarullah and others.


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Today is Sunday and all rainy but also hot. It's muggy and it basically means that it's the perfect Sunday because I have no plans to go anywhere. Sunday is also maybe my favourite day because it's so chilled and the perfect time to get stuff done. I have some things that aren't particularly glamorous but are the perfect thing to do this miserable Sunday.
Washing makeup brushes is a total pain, but nothing quite matches the feeling of Monday morning when all your brushes are so clean and just begging to be smeared in foundation once again.
Wash the sheets and make sure all the laundry is done because sliding into clean sheets on a Sunday night is surely one of life's great pleasures. I just can't. Extra bonus points if you're in bed before 10pm.
Shower SOS. I'm talking leg-shaving, hair masks, face masks, pedicures and all the rest. Having some serious me-time and feeling like a goddess when you lie on the sofa and drink loads of tea. Mmm.
Do some meal prep for the week and clean out the fridge so that everything is organised. Then for the next couple of days you can feel super smug when you grab your lunch in the morning and know that Pret won't be taking a fiver from you today, no sir. Vegetarian chilli is the best, and is cheap and healthy. Win.
Binge watch Netflix and treat the mission as if it's time-sensitive. My aim for today is to gun through as much Orange is the new black as possible. The aim is for Netflix to have that little box pop up saying 'do you wish to continue?'. You're damn right I do, Netflix.
What are your plans for today?


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A blog about gluten-free eating in and around Edinburgh. Twitter: @GFreeEdinburgh
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Wok & Wine
Apologies for not posting anything in a while. But back in December, I enjoyed a wonderful meal at Wok and Wine (57 Frederick Street EH2 1LH). The food was wonderful, with a separate gluten-free menu (viewable from their website), and includes some "breaded" items. I had spicy bits of John Dory (which doesn't seem to be on the online menu) that were enjoyable. Our meal was more of a tapas-like assortment of "light bites" that we ordered, and seemed to be from a different menu (but possibly because we ate during the holiday season).
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One thought on "Fake news doubling down on the Trump-Putin lie"
5 new brain disorders that were born out of the digital age
By Tammy Kennon
"Cognitive neuroscientists say all that time we now spend in front of screens has changed the way we read and comprehend. Internet browsing has shortened both our attention spans and our patience. And it's doing a number on our memories.
The world now has fear " of No-Mobile Phobia" or "nomophobia" — the feeling of panic one has upon being separated from one's phone or tablet."
Technoference is our digital which might be making us feel a bit panicky.
"Fauxcellarm, phantom ringing, and ringxiety are new to our lexicon, thanks to the universal presence of our buzzing, pinging smartphones."
"Cyberchondria refers to people who research and diagnose their own illnesses online."
Truman Show Delusion, the false perception that their lives are being broadcast. Truman Show Delusion is a product of our overly connected, media–driven lifestyles.↓


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An ideal introduction to the history of Buddhism. Andrew Skilton – a writer on and practitioner of Buddhism – explains the development of the basic concepts of Buddhism during its 2,500 years of history and describes its varied developments in India, Buddhism's homeland, as well as its spread across Asia, from Mongolia to Sri Lanka and from Japan to the Middle East. A fascinating insight into the historical progress of one of the world's great religions.
Buddhism: Introductions
Andrew Skilton
263 pages
Windhorse Publications, 10/01/1998
Click here to buy this book online (we earn a small commission on sales).


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I'll be going into this in more depth when I get unburied from the vacation backlog in my email queue, but this is too good to wait. Here's a quote from Bill Crounse, Microsoft's healthcare guru, about Surface Computing: Implications for the healthcare industry.
I first told you about surface computing last July when I met with colleagues at Microsoft Research to produce a video segment for my House Calls for Healthcare Professionals series. In that video, Dr. Eric Horvitz and surface computing guru, Andy Wilson, and I talked about the technology and possible implications for the healthcare industry. At the time Andy's work was going under the code name Play Anywhere. My head was literally spinning with ideas on how this new user interface could be used in radiology, physical therapy, anatomical pathology, and other disciplines. It also occurred to me that this new way to interact with a computer, manipulate screen images, and navigate through data could be immensely important to clinical work-flows demanding a more hands-free, no-touch solution such as might be desirable during surgery or certain medical procedures.


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Old City
From the Benjamin Franklin Bridge approach down to Chestnut, from the Delaware River west to Sixth Street.
William Penn envisaged a beautiful waterfront for his city — something similar to the embankment in London, but this was not to be. The area early became a scene of great commercial activity, and wharves, warehouses, and taverns sprang up, as they have for centuries, in waterfront cities throughout the world. The district is thus one of the oldest and most historic in the city, for it was from the banks of the Delaware that Philadelphia grew westward toward the Schuylkill River.
There were dwellings here — Elfreth's Alley and Loxley Court attest to that — but they were modest homes in contrast to the larger ones to be seen in Society Hill. Perhaps, this is the reason for the 19th Century attitude toward those who were born or lived "North of Market." They were beyond the pale socially. However less socially acceptable and however less affluent these residents were, they were still craftspeople and artisans, a solid, sturdy lot, the backbone of the young colony and the even younger republic. Eventually the area became populated with industry, supplanting the goods of the craftspeople.
As the city's manufacturing center moved out of Philadelphia, Old City was left abandoned. In the 1960s, as Society Hill started attracting younger, more affluent residents, Old City benefited, too. Cheaper rents now again attracted artisans and craftspeople. The spacious 19th century buildings offered a perfect locale for contemporary art galleries and stores offering the fine crafts of this new population — particularly furniture. Today, Old City is home to more than 30 galleries (many are listed in our Where to Shop page).
- On the first Friday of each month, from October to June, the galleries stay open late, and the neighborhood throngs with artists, musicians and craftspeople, indoors and out, while art-lovers sip wine and nibble on hors d'oeuvres. First Fridays in old city are a lot of fun.
- Tourism information: Historic Sites on our Virtual Tour that are in Old City include:
- Arch Street Friends Meeting House
- Betsy Ross House
- Christ Church
- Elfreth's Alley
- Fireman's Hall
- Historic St. George's United Methodist Church
- Olde St. Augustine Church
- Old First Reformed Church
- Free Quaker Meeting House
- The Philadelphia Mint


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2016 StFX X-Men Football News
Gary Waterman named head coach of East team for upcoming U SPORTS Valero East-West BowlMay 09, 2017X-Men head coach Gary Waterman will lead the East Team as head coach at the 2017 U SPORTS Valero East-West Bowl to be played Saturday in Quebec City.
Kay Okafor drafted 21st overall by Hamilton in CFL Canadian DraftMay 08, 2017X-Men defensive lineman Kay Okafor was selected 21st overall by the Hamilton Tiger Cats in the third round of the 2017 CFL Canadian Draft.
Kay Okafor moves up four spots in final prospect list for 2017 CFL draftApril 15, 2017StFX's Kay Okafor, a defensive lineman from Enugu, Nigeria, moved up four spots in the final rankings since the previous list was published in December. Okafor is the lone AUS player to crack this year's prospect list.
Sarah Bujold and Tivon Cook named StFX student-athletes of the yearApril 03, 2017The StFX Athletic Department honored the athletic accomplishments of their varsity athletes Monday evening at their annual awards gala at the Charles V. Keating Centre. X-Women hockey forward Sarah Bujold was named the StFX Female Student-Athlete of the Year, while X-Men football quarterback Tivon Cook was awarded StFX Male Student-Athlete of the Year honors.
X-Men football athletes participate in CFL and NFL combinesMarch 28, 2017Several athletes from the AUS champion X-Men football team have been busy as of late participating in various NFL and CFL professional combines.
X-Men football welcomes Jon Svec as new defensive coordinatorMarch 02, 2017X-Men football head coach Gary Waterman is pleased to announce the appointment of Jonathon (Jon) Svec as StFX's new defensive coordinator.
Socholotiuk, Czaja and Kuntz to play in U SPORTS East-West BowlMarch 01, 2017X-Men running back Jordan Socholotiuk, offensive lineman Jacob Czaja and linebacker Adam Kuntz have been selected to compete for the East Team at the annual U SPORTS East-West Bowl this May.
Warren Goldie named new X-Men football offensive coordinatorFebruary 16, 2017StFX football head coach Gary Waterman is pleased to announce the appointment of Warren Goldie as the new offensive coordinator for the X-Men program.
StFX Athletics celebrates 2015-16 U SPORTS Academic All-CanadiansFebruary 09, 2017The StFX Department of Athletics honored its 2015-16 U SPORTS Academic All-Canadians Thursday morning at their annual celebratory breakfast.
X-Men football defensive coordinator Bob Mullen accepts position with U of TFebruary 06, 2017X-Men football Defensive Coordinator Bob Mullen will be moving on from the X-Men program as he has recently accepted a new coaching opportunity as the Defensive Coordinator with the University of Toronto.
Bishop's Gaiters sign deal to compete in 2017 AUS football seasonJanuary 23, 2017Atlantic University Sport held a press conference today in Halifax for the official signing of the agreement which will see the Bishop's Gaiters join in the Atlantic conference football league beginning in the 2017 season.
Student-athletes, university sports conferences and Bell Let's Talk team up to grow the mental health conversation on Canadian campuses nationwideJanuary 10, 2017Bell Let's Talk, Canadian universities and Atlantic University Sport (AUS), Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ), Ontario University Athletics (OUA), and Canada West Universities Athletic Association (CWUAA) today announced a national student initiative to promote mental health on campuses across Canada.
X-Men football offensive coordinator Steve Snyder moving on to new coaching opportunityDecember 20, 2016X-Men football head coach Gary Waterman has announced that Offensive Coordinator Steve Snyder will be moving on from the X-Men program to explore a new coaching opportunity with Western University in the New Year.
Bishop's Gaiters football program to compete in AUS starting in 2017December 15, 2016The Bishop's University football program and Atlantic University Sport (AUS) have agreed that the Bishop's Gaiters football team will compete in the AUS beginning in the 2017 season.
StFX X-Men football launches Touchdown ClubDecember 14, 2016StFX X-Men football head coach Gary Waterman is pleased to announce the launch of the X-Men Football Touchdown Club. In partnership with StFX Athletics, the mission of the X-Men Touchdown Club is to provide support to the StFX X-Men football program and its desire to be 'Leaders & Champions' on and off the playing field.
Vernon Sainvil invited to 2017 Tropical Bowl all-star football gameDecember 12, 2016StFX X-Men football offensive lineman Vernon Sainvil has been invited to the 2017 Tropical Bowl all-star game. The Tropical Bowl is a premier Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) Division I level college football all-star game played in Daytona Beach, Florida annually in mid-January.
Kay Okafor ranked in Top-20 CFL prospect listDecember 08, 2016X-Men football defensive lineman Key Okafor is ranked 19th on the CFL's Top-20 prospect list heading into the CFL draft.
Steve Snyder named offensive coordinator with U18 national teamDecember 06, 2016StFX X-Men football offensive coordinator Coach Snyder has been selected to coach Football Canada's U18 national team at the 2017 International Bowl as their offensive coordinator.
StFX Athletics to host Night of ChampionsNovember 28, 2016StFX Athletics is pleased to announce that they will be hosting a 'Night of Champions' event on Thursday, December 1st at the StFX Oland Centre main gymnasium.
Sainvil, Julien-Grant, Martin & Socholotiuk named U Sports All-CanadiansNovember 24, 2016X-Men football offensive tackle Vernon Sainvil and receiver Kaion Julien-Grant were honored as U Sports first team All-Canadians, while receiver Dejuan Martin and running back Jordan Socholotiuk were named U Sports second team All-Canadians.
Martin, Peters & Heidebrecht receive final X-Men football athlete of the week honors; recognized as AUS football athletes of the weekNovember 21, 2016Wide receiver Dejuan Martin, defensive back Hayden Peters and kicker Jonathan Heidebrecht were honored as the X-Men football athletes of the week for the week ending November 20, 2016, as well as receiving AUS football athlete of the week recognition.
Underdahl sparks Calgary's return to the Vanier Cup with a 50-24 win over StFXNovember 19, 2016Sparked by the return of Underdahl to the lineup, the University of Calgary Dinos earned a trip to the Vanier Cup Saturday with a 50-24 win over the StFX X-Men in the ArcelorMittal Dofasco Mitchell Bowl at McMahon Stadium.
Uteck and Mitchell Bowls: A head-to-head lookNovember 15, 2016The stage is set for the U Sports football national semifinals on Saturday, when the last four teams still standing will battle for a berth in the ArcelorMittal Dofasco Vanier Cup on Nov. 26 at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton.
X-Men sweep AUS football athlete of the week awardsNovember 15, 2016The StFX X-Men have swept the AUS football athlete of the week awards for the week ending November 13, 2016.
Ridley, Bell and Heidebrecht named X-Men football athletes of the weekNovember 14, 2016Receiver Christian Ridley, defensive back Dylan Bell and kicker Jonathan Heidebrecht were honored as the X-Men football athletes of the week for the week ending November 13, 2016.
X-Men repeat as AUS Loney Bowl championsNovember 12, 2016The StFX X-Men are the 2016 Subway AUS Loney Bowl champions. Led by game MVP Christian Ridley (Dubai, UAE), the X-Men made it back-to-back conference titles with a 29-8 victory over the Mount Allison Mounties Saturday afternoon at StFX Stadium.
2016 Atlantic University Sport football major award winners and all-stars announcedNovember 11, 2016Atlantic University Sport has announced the 2016 football major award winners and all-stars as selected by the conference's four head coaches following regular season play.
Montreal's Caron, StFX's Cook round out Hec Crighton nominationsNovember 11, 2016uarterbacks Samuel Caron from the University of Montreal and Tivon Cook from St. Francis Xavier University round out the nominations for the prestigious Hec Crighton Trophy, which later this month will be presented for the 50th time to the most outstanding player in U Sports football.
U Sports Football: A look at the conference finalsNovember 10, 2016Only three weekends remaining on the 2016 of U Sports football schedule, and eight teams left standing on the road to the 52nd ArcelorMittal Dofasco Vanier Cup. Here is a look at Saturday's conference finals.
Three StFX teams in latest U Sports Top Ten rankingsNovember 01, 2016There are three StFX teams in the latest U Sports Top Ten rankings released on Nov. 1st, including X-Men Football (No. 10), X-Men hockey (No. 3) and X-Men cross country (No. 8).


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Out of all of the senses, the one that sighted people rely on the most is their vision. We depend on our eyes each and every day to send us messages about our world, and this determines how we interact with it. As we get older, exposure to the elements and the natural effects of aging make our sight more vulnerable. Many of us will reach a point in our lives where we require glasses, and some of us may even need surgery. Now that vision technology and medical care is increasingly advancing, depending on the condition of the eye, it's possible to choose between the two.
Which is for me?
If you have the opportunity to choose between surgery or glasses, here are a few factors you may want to consider:
- How do you react to surgery? Is laser treatment something you feel you could undergo? What about recovery time?
- If you don't already wear glasses and/or contacts, would you be able to adapt to them? Or would you prefer the convenience of not having to use either?
- Would glasses and/or contacts be a more feasible alternative to surgery?
- Most importantly, which is guaranteed to offer the most beneficial, long-term health improvement for your vision?
Certainly, corrective surgery is an option that is becoming more readily available. Many clinics now make this highly accessible; you can book a cataract surgery in Houston, New York, Los Angeles, or any city, and receive effective treatment that is life-changing. While there are risks involved (as with any surgery), the outcome has a high success rate.
Being beautiful with lenses:
Some of us may opt for glasses instead, and the most important factors to consider here are durability and comfort. Beauty is also a strong factor, and fortunately, glasses have come a long way from the horned spectacles that used to weigh like anchors. Now, glasses are light, strong, flexible, and sturdy. Glasses also make stunning accessories. There are a variety of shapes, sizes, and styles to choose from, designed for virtually any face as well as lifestyle. Have angular features? There is a great variety of half-rim, cat eye glasses to match you aesthetically. Enjoy sports? You can find a sturdy but trendy pair.
The four big factors to consider are: contrast, color, proportion, and shape. These will determine which is the best fit; for example, choosing top-heavy frames for an oval face, or rectangular frames for a round face, etc. Many opticians will be able to help you find a pair that works for you in the looks and comfort department.
Stay healthy:
Ultimately, the most effective treatment is prevention. While it's perfectly natural to need glasses or surgery at an older age, that doesn't mean we can't offset it by taking care of our health. As well as taking care of our eyes (say goodbye to the nights of reading under the blanket with a flashlight), maintaining a rich vitamin diet and healthy lifestyle is the best way to keep our vision in its prime condition.


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This is not your average "success" book. We're not here to tell you how every successful person is the same or how getting up an hour earlier will change everything. But we do give you research-backed facts and pair them with insights and strategies from CEOs and business leaders for getting more out of your day, closing more deals for your business, and earning more money—all while living a life you're genuinely happy with.
Take a deep dive into Entrepreneur Voices on the Science of Success and you'll discover the key science-backed strategies of experts, founders, and entrepreneurs like you that will help you to: