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Ten Reasons
Hire An Artist
Michael Shannon, 8/12/2016 [
Decreasing Abortions... and Tattoos
By Michael Shannon
In an effort to prevent a huge mistake ---- with dreadful repercussions ---- that can haunt one for the rest of their life, I'm advocating the required viewing of images before undergoing a particular out----patient medical procedure.
Many readers are now thinking this is an abortion column, and that I'm urging potential mothers be required to view a sonogram of their unborn child before submitting to an abortion. Not really, but that's how I plan to prove my point.
Sonogram images have saved lives and spared women future regret and guilt. I think images can make for an equally informed decision in other areas of modern life.
Michael New of the Charlotte Lozier Institute told me of a study done by the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates. Women who were unsure or conflicted about the decision to abort their unborn child visited the centers for counseling. As part of the process they were shown a sonogram of the unborn.
After viewing the image 83.5 percent of the women chose life for their baby.
Okay, so some may ask what about the women who weren't conflicted and just wanted to get it over with?
New says there are currently 23 states with informed consent laws where "women seeking abortions have the opportunity to see color photos of fetal development prior to the procedure." Even in a setting where their mind was already made up, anywhere from 2 to 7 percent decided to keep the baby.
And as the Left always says: If it saves one life, it's worth it!
Now I want to apply that protocol to the decision to get a tattoo. Before our culture decided to cheerfully jump into the abyss, particularly daring men and women might have had a tattoo branded on a patch of skin that was normally hidden by clothing.
That way the rest of us were spared watching the Mickey Mouse you had on your hip gradually elongate over the years into Goofy.
That mercy is denied us now as people have decided to become human billboards. For a generation that revels in spontaneity (the decision to get the tattoo), they are sentencing themselves to a life of monotony. Even worse they are paying tattoo "artists" $100 to $300 an hour and providing the canvas for free!
As my wise wife has pointed out, getting a tattoo is like deciding the wear the same tee----shirt for the rest of your life. And skin is less resilient than your compression wear.
Thirty years from now that tight tat of The Punisher's logo on your chest is going to look like Edvard Munch's The Scream after gravity and Anheuser Busch have done their work.
This is where my Informed Tattoo Consent law comes into play. Potential tattoo customers, after they've made their selection, will then watch as the design is placed on a computer simulation of the human body and they witness what happens to the "artwork" after aging has its way with it.
This solution to visual pollution has the advantage of using science. There is no discussion of short time horizons and poor impulse control. Or even the possibility that the Jerusalem Cross may potentially clash with the Playboy logo.
Which brings up another point. The vast majority of people simply aren't creative. It's bad enough when they decide to invent a name for their child. So what makes them think they can tastefully embellish the exterior of their body?
They can't, as sitting in the food court at any major mall will prove.
Furthermore, tattoos make social interaction just that much more complicated. It was distracting enough to hold a conversation with a woman without one's eyes wandering down to the canyon of cleavage that's so common these days. Now try concentrating on a spirited discussion of the weather without wondering if the ornate script on their upper arm spells out "Faith" or something else.
Sure the majority is going to remain hell----bent on going under the needle, but the percentage that change their mind based on the informed consent simulation are worth the expense. And the contribution they make to a one less tattoo future is priceless.
Meanwhile, I'm going to ponder the conundrum of a generation that won't commit to marriage, but will eagerly agree to spend the rest of their life with a tattoo.
© Copyright 2016 Michael Shannon, distributed by Cagle Cartoons newspaper syndicate.
Michael Shannon is a commentator and public relations consultant, and is the author of "A Conservative Christian's Guidebook for Living in Secular Times." He can be reached at email@example.com.
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Thursday, April 30, 2009
Craftstravaganza, Here We Come!
Hello everyone! This post may only be of interest to my fellow Minnesotans, but I wanted to send out a reminder about the upcoming 2009 St. Paul Craftstravaganza Rogue Art & Craft Sale going on this Saturday, May 2nd! This will be the 2nd year that Junk Mail Gems has been represented in the show. Last year we had a freak snowstorm, so this year is sure to be better! I am always so tempted to just leave my booth and shop because there are so many really cool artists there!!
And, I've got a good deal going on for all of you shoppers who stop by...I will be paying your sales tax for you this year! I figure, everyone else in the US who shops on my site doesn't have to pay MN sales tax. So, I wanted to take this opportunity to pass on that same deal to you!
My booth will be located towards the main entrance of the Fine Arts Building. If you enter and go to the left you should see me. This year I'll have some green fabric hanging from the wall with a blue banner that has my logo, so hopefully I'll be easy to spot.
You can download a pdf with all the details on how to get there and how to find the Junk Mail Gems booth HERE! Hope to meet you at the show! The first 100 shoppers get a free swag bag, so come early!
Posted by Gretchen Fleener at 2:04 PM
Labels: craftstravaganza
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What's going on in the world of Junk Mail Gems, along with other cool, hand-made "green" products, DIY projects, and more!

subset: commoncrawl


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Mountain Hardwear athlete Michelle Parker has been killing it lately. Seriously. With major roles in Matchstick Production's and Warren Miller's latest films, as well as a 2013 Powder Magazine Award for Best Female Performance under her belt, Michelle Parker is taking her skiing to the next level.
Below you'll find a collection of photos and videos from Michelle's latest adventures. Follow her on Facebook, and on Instagram and Twitter @myshellparker
Meet Michelle Parker from Mountain Hardwear on Vimeo.
Oh yeah, did we mention that Michelle is also a pretty rad photographer? Follow her on Instagram @myshellparker


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This buckle is handcrafted from Sterling Silver and Turquoise. The Turquoise stone is in the center, with a concho design around it. This is a very attractive accessory that can be worn by a man or a woman. It fits a 3/4" wide belt.
This product hasn't received any reviews yet. Be the first to review this product!


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Recently with my Celestron CGEM removed from the telescope pier to allow for the fitting of the adapter plate for my new telescope mount (post to come soon), the wet weather that we have been experiencing, and work commitments, I have not had a chance to do any Deep Sky imaging. Hence it is great that I have plenty of data to work with and get even more experienced with using Pixinsight. This time round, I worked on the data I had for the Cone nebula.
Imaging equipment: ZWO ASI178MM-cool, Samyang 135mm F2.0 lens, Astronomik H-alpha, O-III,S-II 12nm filters, iOptron ZEQ25GT mount.
Subs: 25 x 3 min H-alpha, 23 x 3 min O-III, 20 x 3 min S-II (just over 3 hours total integration time @ F2.0)
Now the image of the Cone nebula previously processed with StarTools.
These are the images calibrated, stacked and processed in Pixinsight with DrizzleIntegration to multiply the total pixels by 4.
It feels great to be able to us the many different tools in Pixinsight to bring out even more detail from the data that I managed to get previously. I'm much happier with the results now.


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Successful body builder Kevin Lawrence formed the BioNutritional Research Group, or BNRG, in 1991. Twenty years before, he had witnessed protein substrates play a crucial role in helping to cure his son from cancer. So he researched and developed a way to add them to bioengineered foods.
Within five years, the company had broken new ground by devising and testing the first commercially available Proto Whey protein. BNRG was quickly recognised as an industry leader in the area of whey protein hydrolysate research. It is a reputation maintained to this day.
Rather than coming up with a plethora of endlessly changing products, BNRG focuses on doing a small number of things exceptionally well. Their supplements are comprised of ingredients of the highest possible quality. They tend to be slightly more expensive than some of their competitors but many an elite athlete would argue the investment is worth every cent.
BNRG Proto Whey Protein
Proto Whey Protein contains 100% pure high-DH hydrolysed whey protein. Protein molecules, commonly known as peptides, are too big for the body to absorb, so BNRG has reduced them to between 1% and 4% the size of regular dietary peptides. This means they can enter the bloodstream quickly and easily, providing strength and support to your muscles, organs, brain and immune system. In fact, Proto Whey is, on average, absorbed two to three times more quickly than other commercial protein supplements. Its success depends on cutting-edge protein technology.
Proto Whey is comprised of at least 55% di- and tri-peptides, and is low in fat, carbohydrates and calories. It also contains SoftPsil fibre, which is a proprietary psyllium fibre that promotes efficiency of absorption and colonic health.
Five different, tasty flavours are available: vanilla creme, strawberry creme, banana, cafe mocha and double chocolate. Bottles come in 2 pound and five pound sizes. Proto Whey mixes easily (at a ratio of 2 scoops (32 grams) to every 200 ml of fluid) with water, ice, milk, tea, coffee and/or juice. Blending is unnecessary, which makes it very convenient.
BNRG Pept-1 Ultraburn
In yet another industry first for BNRG, Pept-1 Ultraburn is a powerful lipoburn, energy protein powder, which performs three important tasks:
- maximising focus, achieved through sophisticated protein technology. Your brain receives a burst of amino acids which enhance the neurotransmitters' ability to facilitate intense muscle use.
- increasing energy, through a unique blend of nutrients (including schizandra extract, glucuronolactone and taurine) that avoid the 'crash' effect often associated with caffeine.
- fat loss, through protein nutrition, which encourages the development of lean muscle, and the inclusion of an advanced psyllium complex carbohydrates. BNRG products are of the highest quality you can buy. Our children, families, friends use BNRG products every day - we're worth it so are you!


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August 7, 2007, - 9:41 am
Schlussel Quoted in Today's New York Times
By Debbie Schlussel
I'm quoted in today's New York Times, regarding the Muslim foot baths being installed at the University of Michigan-Dearbornistan, a story I broke on this site back in May. Here's the NYTimes quote:
On her Web site, Debbie Schlussel, a conservative lawyer and blogger in Southfield, Mich., posted, "Forget about the Constitutionally mandated separation of church and state … at least when it comes to mosque and state."
Unfortunately, it looks like New York Times "reporter" Tamar Lewin did little reporting, other than getting a couple of quotes pro- and con- the foot baths. She pretty much copied and repeated what was written in the Detroit Newsistan several weeks ago, including using the exact quote from my blog, the exact way the Newsistan identified me, and repeating false "facts" on the foot baths, like how much they really cost. And they claim the New York Times is "the newspaper of record"? More like the lazy, liberal echo chamber.
There's more to this, and I and fellow blogger, Dearborn Underground (who has been doing excellent work on this and many other issues), are writing a follow-up about the lies that U-M Dearbornistan has been telling and what they're really doing behind the scenes, none of which Ms. Lewin bothered to look into. Stay tuned.
In the meantime, if you are a Michigan taxpayer–but especially if you are a tuition-paying University of Michigan-Dearbornistan student–please let me know if you are interested in fighting this in the Courts. E-mail me with your name and phone number and permission to forward it on to a third party.
Thanks to Barry Popik for the tip on the NYT piece.
Tags: Barry Popik, conservative lawyer, David Lunde, David Lunde Unfortunately, Debbie Schlussel, Michigan, Michigan-Dearborn Islamist Campus, Michigan-Dearbornistan Campus, New York Times, reporter, Southfield, Tamar Lewin, The New York Times, The University of Michigan, University of Michigan


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David Rappaport of Bowdoinham, Maine has joined the roster of endorsers for Bridge of Light, the new cultural tradition. David is not only the Senior Program Officer of a healthcare foundation, but he's also a mystical seeker. He writes:
In these post-postmodern if not exactly post-Biblical times in which Christian and other fundamentalists seem to seek to create separation--spirituality from religion, reason from belief, individual from community--I believe it is important to counterbalance by working towards integration. Bridge of Light is a welcome step towards wholeness. I will disseminate information about Bridge of Light, and practice its rituals.
Glad you're joining us!


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The title of this research is the analysis of agricultural commodities inSambas district. National Development Goals is to improve the lives and welfare of thecommunity. In order to improve the welfare of the community, local authoritiesshould seek to increase people's income. Increase in income can be done throughthe development of existing regional potential through superior sector owned. If these advantages can be developed is expected to add to incomes. Thelargest sector contributing to GDP Sambas district is the agricultural sector, inorder to develop the sector, it is necessary to know what commodities areconsideredsuperior. This study has the purpose of: (1). Identifying agricultural commodities inSambas district, (2). Analyzing the various agricultural commodities in Sambasdistrict. This study uses secondary data. Where the secondary data obtained fromSambas Book Yearbook, Yearbook Kalbar Central Bureau of Statistics for the fiveyears from 2006-2010 observations.Analysis tool used is the Location Quotient, Shift-share and KlassenTypologi. The results showed that agricultural commodities rice, soy beans, greenbeans, fruit, coconut, pepper, coffee, cattle, goats, broiler chickens, ducks and seafishing.Sub-sectors that have higher competitiveness compared to similar sub-sector in West Kalimantan province is Crop sub-sector, fisheries and subpeternakan.sedangkan priority sectors to be developed is the plantation sub-sector.Growth in commodity structure is more advanced and is fast growingsoybeans, green beans, fruit, chicken meat, free-range chicken, sea fisheries.Commodities are classified as fast growing maize, cassava, yams, palm oil, cocoa,rubber, laying hens, public waters. Commodities are quite advanced but is slowgrowing paddy, coconut, pepper, goat. Commodities which are relativelydisadvantaged are vegetables, coconut Hybrida, pigs, buffalo, aquaculture.Keywords: Agriculture, Commodities, and agricultural commodity priorities
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Oh Miss Murphy, look how big and beautiful you are! Cow looks a little worse for wear, however.
Oh Miss Murphy, look how big and beautiful you are! Cow looks a little worse for wear, however.
Thanks for posting this, Bella, My BFF.
We have this little neighbor dog, a pit bull/terrier something or other on whom her owners don't exactly keep close tab. In fact, if she is acting up, the boyfriend owner justs kicks her out the door–and invariably, the girlfriend owner wanders the neighborhood looking for her, even though the dog will never come to her when she calls. Pretty sure that poor dog has been kicked around a bit, simply by the way it shies away from people. So even though she terrorizes the fenced up dogs in the neighborhood, you can't help feeling sorry for her. You can see her good dog potential. Her name is Karma. The owners should have been more careful with her name, methinks.
Anyway, she loves to play with Murphy. My husband sometimes lets her in the backyard with Murphy, and they have a grand time playing. Yesterday was such a day. He was working on the garage, and heard a yelp. He goes to investigate, thinking maybe Murphy sat on the little dog or something, but Murphy was the one limping. We have those yucky winter conditions right now: the snow has melted, been rained on, and refrozen. We think Murph slipped chasing Karma and hurt her paw. He made an appointment with the vet fot he next day. Murphy was limping significantly, plodding and favoring her left front paw. Newfs walk pretty heavy anyway; this felt like small earthquakes.
Murphy loves the vet. She loves Dr. Lawson and Dr. Welle. We love Dr. Lawson and Dr. Welle. And they love Murphy. At 8 months and change, Murphy weighed in at 90.8 pounds. There were the usual exclamations about her size. She was very excited–she loves people and that makes her forget her manners.
Today we get Dr. Welle. She is really amazing. She felt that Murph's injury was a soft tissue one, and gave her a few days of Rimadyl. We didn't want to take any chances, because big dogs can have so many problems with their legs. She gave Murphy a lot of love, said she was perfect, and was glad we weren't trying to make her humungous like some large breed owners do–it is so bad for their joints.
We talked to her about what we call Murphy's "demon eye"–the third eyelid regularly makes an appearance. We had been assured in the past that it was probably just a minor irritation, but it seems more like a tic, now. Everything else in her eye is normal–no excessive tearing, no inflammation. She said Murphy is actually controlling the muscle in her eye that retracts the eyeball, which is why the eyelid pops up. She agreed that it looked creepy and demonic, but it probably just a "Murphy thing". (Love Dr. Welle!)
After shaving the mats behind her ears (Murphy isn't terribly easy to groom–lots of biting the brush), she told us that while she was a crazy ginormous puppy, we were lucky because Newfies always settle down eventually. I gave Murphy a drink from the sink in the room (Dr. Welle thought that was a great trick!) and we went home. She's a good puppy.
The year we were married, my husband and I started sharing our home with two dogs, Simon and Smudge. They were brother and sister, but looked nothing alike. Simon was what we called the "Montana Black Dog"–a black lab mix with a white beard, white tipped tail, and white feet. Smudge was also part black lab, but looked like her father who was a Catahoula Leopard Dog. A what? Exactly. The state dog of Louisiana, apparently. Our friend always called her a Saskahootchie Marmot Hound, so we did too.
Anyway–to get back to the story, Simon and Smudge were generally great dogs, even though after the age of three, Smudge could not tolerate being around any other dogs except Simon and her mother Osa. They never really had much interest in the boys, though–Smudge always looked confused as to why they were still in her house day after day. She died a few years ago at the age of 11, suddenly, from a cancerous tumor bursting in her abdomen; it was, of course, very sad.
Her brother Simon received something of a new lease on life, though.
Finally he could go out in public again, to places where we hadn't been able to take Smudgie. He hung out with us in the front yard, went on road trips, went to River's Edge Park–it was great.
Then last year, when it became clear that he was losing weight, Simon was diagnosed with cancer of the liver. We babied him in his last months, but when it became obvious that he was miserable, we made the decision to release him from his pain. It wasn't an easy decision–why should we get to determine his last day alive? Still–it was the right one. When he was given his sedative, it was the first time in months that he seemed comfortable. Still chokes me up to think about it. I'm sure, selfishly, we kept him around longer than he wanted to be here.
The house was so empty. And clean. And empty. I had long said that our next dog would be medium sized, with a light colored fur. Our next dog wouldn't drool or get nose prints all over the picture windows. We ended up with…a Newfoundland.
If you know anything about Newfies, you know they are gigantic, usually dark furred, slobbery drool-y messes. When we picked Murphy up, she could rest on one of my fore-arms. Now, at eight months, she is a full head taller than me when I am sitting on the ground next to her.
Having a Newfoundland is an experience. She is still a puppy, and acts like it, but she is a nearly 90 pound puppy. We took her to obedience classes, and she knows her commands, but looks at us like we are idiots if we expect her to do anything without treats in our hands. My picture windows look like they have been finger-painted. She regularly wipes her drool all over everyone's arms and laps. She mumbles when she gets in trouble, like a teenager talking under his breath when being sent to his room. We can (mostly) get her to lie down when we are eating dinner, but she stomps her paw when we haven't paid enough attention to her. She walks well, as long as she is wearing her fancy pink Gentle Leader (that little device saved us!) and she knows how to ring a bell to go outside.
We have a few items to work on, though. She still jumps, is still mouthy, and pounds on our picture windows when she wants to come inside. And she barks–she takes to the perimeter of our fenced yard and barks at anything and everything. We don't keep her outside–that is where she prefers to be. She will come in for a while to play, but invariably she rings the bell to go outside to hang out on her Coolaroo elevated bed.
We adore her. I'm not convinced that she will become the giant, mellow gentle beast she is purported to be, but I suppose it could happen. We love her anyway.
Does anyone else have Newfie experience? Did you have a crazy Newf who eventually settled down? Any tips from Newfie veterans?
Can you really have a 2nd inaugural? I suppose the President will have a second inauguration, so I can have a 2nd inaugural blog post.
Along with thousands of others, I decided to write a blog. I was hesitant about the whole blogging thing–is it self-serving? self-aggrandizing? is it supposed to be? should I be an expert at something to deserve a blog?
I do love to read others' blogs, so while the answer may be yes to all of those questions, here I am.
The fact is, I am not an expert at anything, really. What I wanted was a place to bounce ideas off others, to share things I'm trying, and to opine about things that matter to me, and hopefully to others as well.
I live in Montana. Never in a thousand years (yes–I do love my hyperbole) did I ever imagine I would live anywhere other than West Michigan. I wanted to live in West Michigan–I loved it there. However, true love called and now I am living in a small town with Glacier National Park in my backyard. I am a cat person, but I now am mother to a gigantic, crazy Newfoundland puppy. I have two boys who often confound me with their humor and manner of play, as I grew up with all girls. I have a vegetable garden. I knit. I've started cooking. I hike. I've shot a gun. I am 2000 miles (give or take–not hyperbole) from all of my extended family members. I attended the University of Michigan and live in an area where my chosen party loses nearly every election in our county. The only thing that turned out somewhat as I'd planned was my career. I am a high school social studies teacher (with a bit of English thrown in). This is all amusing to me, because I am a planner. I had it all mapped out, but as Burns once wrote "the best-laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft agley".
That said, I would change nothing (except maybe to shed these last 10 stubborn pounds). I would live nowhere else. Don't get me wrong–I'd still like to retire someplace warm, like South Carolina, but some how, some way, this short West Michigan girl ended up exactly where she needs to be.
What about you? Have any of your carefully laid life plans "gang aft agley"?


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|The Sims 3 Late Night icon
|Thursday, 21 October 2010 18:56
We have already showed you the icon of this new EP, btw here there is the official version of The Sims 3 Late Night icon!
(official link is: http://www.thesims3.com/images/gamebadges/ep3_icon.png)
Thanks to Simprograms and GeorgefPlay for this find!
|Last Updated on Thursday, 21 October 2010 18:56


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Do you like weekly challenges? My colleague and fellow blogger Amy Maranto at Photography Journal blog posted earlier this month that she has taken on a new challenge in 2018 – a 52-week photography challenge. Over the year she will be posting a new image each week inspired by the assignment for that week. I've noticed that many of my blogging colleagues participate in weekly or daily challenges, as a way to keep motivated, to develop new work, and to connect with a larger community through their work.
Amy's story reminded me that I, too, have taken on a weekly challenge for 2018. It's called "Eleven Stories," a writing program designed to build writing skills and to develop at least one submittable story per month in the next eleven months. So far this month we have been asked to work toward writing a 55-word story that we will complete by the end of the month. We've been doing supporting readings, practicing changing points of view (e.g., 1st person vs. 3rd person, varying narrators, etc.), and trying out lots and lots of 55-word stories.
Fifty-five words isn't very long. – But it's longer than 14-word stories, which we tried in Week 1! As an example, here is a 14-word story? poem? I wrote for an assignment about people in a cafe. In our Week 1 14-word story we were asked to compare a group of people to some natural event. Hah!
A gathering of faces in the café
sparrows pecking at seeds on the ground.
Then in Week 2 we were asked to write a 55-word story expanding our original 14-word story. Here is my attempt:
Some enclosed in booths by the window. Others exposed at small tables in the center. Chatter flows around feet, floats up among ceiling tiles. Three empty counter stools, the screen door slams guests in and out. Sparrows pecking at seeds on the ground, fluttering in a brown crowd, small beaks picking up a winter meal.
Next month (February), we'll be working toward a 101-word story, in March, 300 words, and so on, gradually reaching 1000 words in June, and then back to 750 words, 500 words, 300 words, etc., eventually back down to 55-words again in the second half of the year. Writing this short is hard. But it's also a great way to build one's metaphor, imagery, and language choice skills, something I greatly admire among poets' work.
How about you? Are you taking on a challenge, or a theme, for 2018? What projects do you have energy for? Are you creating milestones for yourself? Or do you like to let your work take its own time? Thanks for visiting!


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Cassava Enterprises is an internet company that provides secure online transactions to their Cassava bingo sites. The casino online 888.com (888 Holdings) owns Cassava Enterprises and they also manage a number of other operators for both 888 Holdings and the Dragonfish software arm of 888 Holdings.
The Cassava bingo list is quite complicated as they run a number of different branches under the 888 Holdings umbrella of companies, but the company owns those that they do run. Cassava provides the payment processing for 888 Holdings 9for the bingos sites they have under management.)
Cassava Enterprises are licensed and regulated in Gibraltar and they run the daily business of 888 and its business to customer divisions such as Dragonfish. They operate Poshbingo, and other Cassava sites such as Robinhood Bingo on behalf of 888 Holdings. Cassava does not actually own any of the online bingo rooms, their main corporate asset being that they provide online gaming services, payment processing, licensing and licensing compliance services.
Each of the websites listed below is operated or run by Cassava Enterprises and each of the sites are licensed in Gibraltar. Included in the list below are the new Cassava bingo sites 2013.
- Sing bingo offers £10 FREE when you register with no credit card required, themed about everything musical this site has lots of innovative free games and some excellent special prizes on offer.
- Fancy bingo offers its players a £5 trial bonus, you can try games for free and Fancy has a great 300% welcome offer up for grabs.
- Costa bingo utilizes Brigend software and is considered a safe and secure place to play your favourite game of bingo. It was the very first site launched by Mandalay Media back in 2009 on the premise of free bingo and fun.
- Gossipbingo is operated by Newco Entertainment Ltd and is licensed and regulated under the laws of Gibraltar through Cassava Enterprises. Gossipbingo has an ethos of community and has one of the most generous and fun welcome offers for new players that you can find anywhere on the net today.
- Moon Bingo accepts PayPal, the fast and secure payment method which is becoming extremely popular with the bingo sites. Moonbingo utilize Dragonfish software and have recently enjoyed an expanded games portfolio, so do check them out.
There are a number of Cassava sites that are independently managed, yet licensed by Cassava. Many of the games at Cassava offer a no deposit bonus so you get the chance to take a good look about the site to get the 'feel' of the way the site works before you decide to play for any of your own money, which is a great way to play, as free play will assist you in making that all important choice of where to play for real money.
Currently Cassava Enterprises licenses and/or manages 165 different online rooms which are homed on Brigend's software, the Dragonfish network, Cashcade's network and other 'hybrid' networks of sites. It appears that there are not many websites not owned Cassava in one way or another, although it is important to remember that when seeing the Cassava Enterprises name it does not mean that the site is actually owned by Cassava Enterprises, it means that they are responsible for all the financial transactions and gaming activity on the Cassava websites. Because Cassava Enterprises is a licensed online gaming operator, it is of great advantage for a potential owner of a site to allow Cassava to run and manage the site on their behalf as obtaining an online gaming site license is a costly business.
Cassava Enterprises has been providing these services for over a decade and through experience gained they have built up a solid and experienced team who can be depended on to deliver what they promise using the very latest in 128-bit technology.


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Be careful what you do in the first few weeks!
Ahhhh, you're in a new relationship and all things seem so wonderful! You may be feeling those butterflies in your stomach, you laugh at all your partner's jokes, and all feel warm and tingly inside. This is the time that you truly feel and believe that you may have met the right one!
Maybe he seems to display all the qualities about what women really want in a man. But, we've also been there and done that. All new relationships feel great, which is why we call it the honeymoon phase.
That phase doesn't last forever. Your relationship evolves over time, and you want to get off on the right foot. The following five tips will help guide and nourish your relationship in the early stages with your new partner. Rihanna's Reunion With Chris Brown: Good Or Bad?
1. Act natural. At any stage, it's important that you are always yourself. But the beginning of a relationship is especially not the time to pretend to be someone that you're not. If you are not yourself, you will have a very difficult time pretending to be someone that you're not for the entirety of the relationship.
An example of pretending to be someone else would be if you said that you liked to travel when you are afraid of flying. You can only make up a certain number of excuses before your partner clues in to the fact that you don't like to fly or travel.
If you are going above and beyond and in essence being "phony" just to impress your partner in the early stages, well you're only making things difficult on yourself because your new beau actually believes that you are sweet and romantic all the time. The minute that you start to relax and return to your normal average niceness, it will be noticed immediately. Lose The Baggage! How To Get Out Of Your Relationship Slump
I've heard countless complaints from couples and singles about how their partner changed over time. Well he "used to" open car doors for me and bring me flowers and all of a sudden one day it stopped. Please do yourself a favour and do not false advertise. This is a sure way for your relationship to come to an eventual end, and will leave you looking for advice on relationship problems.
You are at the early stage of a relationship. If you are thinking long term, you will have lots of time to impress your partner and give them attention and affection and occasional surprises for the length of the relationship. If you pull out all the stops up front, you will be struggling and challenged to keep it up.
More dating advice from YourTango:
This article was originally published at Dating Love and Sex Tips. Reprinted with permission from the author.


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A DL sized card inside a pocket today to share using Burger Tilda which I have had for an age and it has never seen ink and the worst thing is there are plenty more that I need to use.
Mat & layering, ovals cut on the Silhouette Cameo along with the Kraft pocket itself.
Hand stitched & coloured with Promarkers.
This is definately fully loaded so here goes - flowers, doily, love charm, spoon/fork charms, ribbons, sequins & pearls.
The bunting, honeycomb, cloud, bee, hexagons, foliage and sun are from various Doohickey Club kits. The sentiment 'Hope you're feeling special today' is from Stampin Up Garden in Bloom stamp kit heat embossed in silver. Lace green border. Shabby chic created using Gesso.
Last but no means least the papers are from NITWIT COLLECTIONS
Just one of many fabulous kits for all occasions.


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- Home
- About
- News and Events
- AFJ In The News: Chronicle of Social Change
- AFJ on #ICantBreathe
- Second Chance Session: AFJ Live with Joseph Wooten
- Live Yoga with AFJ Alum Jules Febre
- COVID-19 Resources
- Economist Article features Avenues for Justice
- COVID-19: Equipping Homes Digitally
- COVID-19: Remote Workshops
- COVID-19: 4 Steps to Managing a Remote ATI
- Telemundo: International Women's Day with AFJ!
- Success Stories
- Social Media
- Donate
- Contact
Collapsing Scenery Collaboration
On July 15th, Avenues for Justice (AFJ) will start a collaboration with the band Collapsing Scenery. Over the course of that day, the band members of Collapsing Scenery will do an Instagram takeover on their account and AFJ's account where they will promote their upcoming benefit concert in Tompkins Square Park on July 19th. The band members will also conduct a music workshop with our participants at our Lower East Side Robert Siegal Center.
Follow us and Collapsing Scenery on Instagram to experience the takeover and the concert in July. Collapsing Scenery's new album, titled "Stress Positions" was released on Friday June 28th and can be found on all streaming platforms.
Read on for a Q&A with band members Reggie and Don.
1. Tell us who you are.
We're Reggie Debris and Don DeVore, based out of New York City and Los Angeles. Our band is called Collapsing Scenery.
2. How did you hear about Avenues for Justice (AFJ)?
Our good friend Josh Baer, who has served on the Board for 25 years, introduced us to AFJ and its work. We feel strongly that our criminal justice system is a moral failure on many levels and were looking to partner with an organization that directly intervenes on behalf of youth who are caught up in a system that's designed to fail them.
3. What about AFJ struck a chord with you and led your interest in our program?
We were drawn to the Direct Action aspect of the program, and its focus on one to one relationships and meeting kids where they are with respect and belief in everyone's inherent potential.
4. What personal experiences draw you to support criminal justice reform, and social justice activism in general?
It's become clear to anyone who's paying attention that the great experiment of mass incarceration is a massive failure and a moral atrocity. I think those of us who benefit from the status quo have a special responsibility to stand up and say 'not in our name'.
5. How would you describe Collapsing Scenery's music and its ties to the work that we do at AFJ?
We've tried in our lyrics to address systems of power and their impact on the marginalized. AFJ is working with people on the weak side of a skewed power dynamic who can get swept into a system that should be working for them but all too often works directly against them.
6. Tell us about the collaboration between Collapsing Scenery and AFJ will be occurring next month.
One of the main objectives is to increase neighborhood awareness, community and involvement in the ever-changing neighborhood of the Lower East Side (LES) of Manhattan. In part there will be a youth workshop around the event on how to bring music and community together.
7. Why should other people support the mission of social and juvenile justice that AFJ embodies?
Youth everywhere should be treated according to their inherent worth and innate potential. Nothing less than the future of our society is at stake. It is in every single Americans interest to see that our young people are educated, respected, and given the full range of opportunities available in our society. Where we see basic failures in these commitments, we must stand up and fight.


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DEFY TO RELEASE IN DECEMBER – Two World Premieres Scheduled In Seattle & Orlando
The time has finally come. DEFY, The Danny Harf Project is scheduled to premiere in Seattle, Washington on Saturday, December 10 at Showbox Sodo, followed by another premiere in Orlando, Florida on Saturday, December 17 at The Beacham.
A BluRay/DVD combo pack will be available for $29.99, followed by an iTunes release later in December. We are working diligently to have the BluRay/DVD available in Seattle. If not, then Orlando for sure. The BluRay/DVD combo can also be ordered now at http://www.defythemovie.com and at your local Ronix dealer around December 15.
Thousands of fans from around the world are eagerly anticipating the release of DEFY, but no one more than the man himself. "It's been a long time coming," Harf said. "We are super excited to show everyone the result of three years of pushing ourselves and trying to capture wakeboarding like never before."
Co-producer Sean Kilgus has been spending every waking minute fine-tuning this masterpiece and believes that no one has seen wakeboarding like this before. "From the Red Epic cameras, to the helicopter shots at Blue Lake, to all the other scenic locations we traveled, I've never seen anything like this in wakeboarding," Kilgus said. "Not to mention the level of riding is everything we hoped for, and then some."
Harf would like to thank the sponsors of DEFY including Monster Energy, Ronix, Fox, Nautiques, System 2.0 and YOUR MOM WAKEBOARDING. They will all be on hand at the premieres with handouts and high-end raffle items.
For more, stay tuned to http://www.defythemovie.com
"Like" us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/defymovie
Showbox Sodo
1700 1st Avenue South
Seattle, WA 98134
The Beacham
46 North Orange Ave.
Orlando, FL 32801


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Home Brew-Off
Ladies and Gentlemen Start Your Kettles for the 12th Annual Garrison Home Brew-Off
This year's Style will be 21B. Specialty IPA: New England IPA for details about the style click here
This year's entree fee is $15 and includes a souvenir glass, one free entry to the gala and a complimentary Growlito and fill with the Garrison beer of your choice. To download the complete competition details click here
Beer Entries are due by end of day Monday March 2nd. To download the registration form click here
The 2020 Home Brew Off Awards Gala will be March 19 at 7pm at Garrison's Seaport Hall.
Good Luck & Drink Independently!
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Community Events Page
Holy Craft Beer we like to stay busy! Check out the events below that we'll be having fun at and make sure you drop by and say hello… or we may just come & find you!
Crave – November 3rd 2018 – The Canadian Progress Club – Halifax invites you to indulge in an all-inclusive evening of eating, drinking and partying – sip on crafted beers, fine wines and specialty drinks while enjoying a wide selection of exceptional cuisine. When you've had your fill, trade in your cups and plates for dancing shoes with entertainment from True North DJs. 100% of the profits generated from CRAVE go directly to local organizations that provide support to individuals of all ages with special needs. Our charities include The Club Inclusion, Kings Meadow Home, Special Olympics Nova Scotia, IWK Health Centre, and more.
Cape Breton Beer Fest – The 3rd Annual Cape Breton Beer Fest will take place Saturday December 1st, 2018 at the Joan Harris Cruise Pavilion (The Big Fiddle). There will be ONE Showing. from 7:00pm-9:30pm. VIP Ticket Holders may enter at 6:00pm to get an early start on sampling. Taps will be shut off at 9:30pm, you have until 10:00pm to finish you conversations and samples.
- Cape Breton Beer Fest – Sydney, NS – Dec. 1st 2018
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The Environment Makin' Green Beer!
Can craft beer be green? Absolutely (just not for St. Paddy's Day!) At Garrison we strive to make great beer with as little impact & as much sustainability as possible. It's a commitment we stand behind & here are a few ways we live it:
- Wastewater – we capture & direct all operations wastewater to a single point, sample & test in-house, separate & dispose of all high-strength discharge (yeast, trub, waste beer, etc.) & screen off the solids before sending on for treatment. Over to you Halifax Water!
- Spent Grain – after we've removed the starches (sugars) & flavours from the grain, Bovidae Farms in Falmouth comes & takes it away to feed their dairy cows (no tipping please). Thanks Bob!
- Solids Separation – We work with suppliers to reduce their waste materials at source. After that though, nearly everything gets broken into separate streams: paper, plastic, cardboard, pallets, scrap wood & steel
- Energy Efficiency – Building our new brewery & refurbishing the older market brewery has allowed us to invest in improvements throughout: natural gas steam boiler, VFD pumps, energy-efficient lighting, water & heat recovery
- East Coast Beer Gear – Most of our brewing & cellar equipment is designed & built in Prince Edward Island. Thanks neighbour!
- 3R's of Packaging – All beer packaging is either returnable (bottles & cans), reusable (growlers & kegs) or recyclable (cardboard trays/boxes, boxboard packs & metal crowns)
- Corn Starch Cups – We've been using these nifty compostable/biodegradable cups for nearly a decade & we wouldn't serve you any other way. Guaranteed to break down in whichever stream they end up, it's just the right thing to do. Cheers to Green Shift Inc.!
- Old Buildings/Good Bones – The Halifax Seaport has given us not one but two amazing opportunities to repurpose, refurbish & otherwise return to service an old, derelict building. Brick, steel & rough-cut wood, they just don't make 'em like that anymore!
- Environmental Partnership – Garrison is thrilled to be a Sustainability Ally of Ecology Action Centre! By partnering together on the Backlot Bash we're making our event more green, fundraising for EAC causes & highlighting the environment while having a serious good time. Cheers partner!
& add to that, Garrisons' Market Brewery, retail store & participation in events, festivals & trade shows are now… Bullfrogpowered! That means that Bullfrog Power, Canada's leading green energy provider, puts 100% clean, green electricity from wind and low-impact hydro sources onto the grid to match the amount of electricity this facility uses. This clean & renewable energy displaces regular energy from nonrenewable or polluting sources. We're proud to do our part as a leading craft brewer & we're in pretty good company. Here's a few other Bullfrogged brewers: Beau's, Steam Whistle, Granville Island, The Grizzly Paw, Alley Kat, Trolley No.5, Picaroons, Upstreet, North, Sleeping Giant & Schoolhouse!
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Craft Beer Kitchen
Beer and food naturally just go together, so why not have food with beer in it! This page is devoted to recipes submitted by our friends, families and neighbours who have used our craft beer to make amazing, meals, appies and desserts! If you would like to submit a recipe email Justin at email@example.com
Jackie Fraser-Dunfield's Fantastic Nut Brown Braised Beef Short Ribs
4 pounds bone-in beef short ribs, cut crosswise into 2-inch pieces
Salt and freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 large onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
1 tablespoon cornstarch or allpurpose flour, prepared with water in a cup
1 bottle Nut Brown Ale, Garrison Brewing Co.
2 cups beef broth
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon Garam Masala
1 bunch fresh thyme & rosemary
6-8 large mushrooms, chopped in quarters
2 tablespoons tomato paste
6 whole tomatoes (canned) or cherry tomatoes
2 bay leaves
Fresh parsley, chopped parsley to taste
Browning sauce is optional to darken
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Pat the short ribs dry with a paper towel and season generously with salt and pepper. Heat the oil over medium high heat. If using a Dutch oven, you can do it all in one pot. If using a cast iron roasting dish, then brown ribs in a frying pan and transfer. Brown the short ribs on all sides, about 2-3 minutes per side, working in batches if necessary. Remove browned short ribs to a plate and discard most of the fat, leaving about 2 tablespoons in the pan.
3. Lower the heat to medium and add the onions, garlic, carrots, celery, leeks or green onions & mushrooms. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and fragrant. Place short ribs in roasting pan and add aromatics (vegetables) to the ribs.
4. Add the beer and beef broth, cornstarch, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, tomato paste and garam masala in a mixing bowl. Pour over short ribs and aromatics (vegetables). Cover with tin foil and place in preheated oven. Drop oven temperature to 325 F.
5. Cook until the short ribs are very tender, about 2.5 hours.
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Contest or Promo's
The Garrison Brewing – TEXT TO WIN 2 TICKETS TO BACKLOT BASH Contest (hereinafter, the "Contest") is being held by Garrison Brewing Co. (hereinafter, the "Sponsor"). The Contest starts at 12:00:01 a.m. Atlantic Standard Time (" AST") on April 29, 2019 and ends at 11:59:59 p.m. AST on June 2, 2019 (the "Contest Period").
The Contest is open to legal residents of Nova Scotia, Canada who are nineteen (19) years of age and older at the time they enter the Contest. Employees of Garrison Brewing Co. or the Nova Scotia Liquor Commission (NSLC), its advertising and promotional agencies are not eligible to participate. PLEASE DO NOT ENTER THE CONTEST IF YOU ARE INELIGIBLE. Participants must have valid identification and/or documentation in order to be eligible to win the prize. To be admissible, your ENTRY must be received within the Contest Period. All eligible Entries received during the Contest period will be entered into the random draw.
Send a text with the word BACKLOT19 to the toll-free number 18882008260 . Following receipt of your TEXT MESSAGE, you will receive a return TEXT MESSAGE message within ten (10) minutes that confirms receipt of your contest entry. Entries limited to one (1) entry per person. All Entries must be received by 11:59:59 p.m. MST on June 2 2019. Winner will be chosen by random draw.
- There is one (1) Prize (the "Prize") available to be won throughout the duration of the Contest
- The Prize will consist of two (2) tickets to the 2019 Backlot Bash, one (1) night in a hotel room, one (1) gift card to a local restaurant, and 1 (1) Garrison prize pack.
- The Sponsor and its associates make no express or implied warranties or conditions of any kind with respect to the prize. Approximate retail value of the Each Prize is $500 CAD. Odds of winning a Prize will depend on the number of entrants.
- Prizes are non-transferable, cannot be substituted, may not be sold, combined with any other offer or redeemed for cash. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute the Prize or a portion of the Prize for a prize of equal value for whatever reason.
The following conditions apply to the prize:
- All costs not specifically stated as being part of the prize will be at the sole expense of the winners.
- The Prize will be picked up by the chosen winner.
- Entrants (i) acknowledge compliance with these Official Rules including all eligibility requirements and, (ii) agree to be bound by the decisions of the Sponsor and contest administrator, made in their sole discretion, which shall be final and binding in all matters relating to the Contest. Entrants who have not complied with these Official Rules are subject to disqualification.
- Entries generated by script, macro, robotic, programming, or any other automated means are prohibited and will be disqualified. Sponsor is not responsible for late, lost, damaged, misdirected, mutilated, garbled, illegible or incomplete entries. Proof of transmission (screenshots or captures of game play etc.) and/or e-mailing does not constitute proof of delivery. All entries become the property of Sponsor and in no case shall be returned to sender.
- If a dispute arises regarding who submitted an entry, the entry will be deemed to be submitted by the authorized account holder of the phone number provided at time of entry. Authorized account holder is defined as the natural person who is assigned to an email address / mobile phone by a cellular service provider, Internet access provider, online service provider, cellular phone provider or other organization responsible for assigning a telephone number email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted email address.
- Sponsor and the Promotion Entities do not warrant that access to or use of the web service website service will be uninterrupted. Sponsor and the Promotion Entities are not responsible for any problems that may arise, including but not limited to; (a) lost, interrupted, inaccessible or unavailable networks, servers, satellites, Internet Service Providers, Web Services sites, or other connection, availability or accessibility problems arising in connection with or over the course of the Contest; or (b) communications failed, jumbled, scrambled, delayed, or misdirected computer, telephone or cable transmissions or hardware or software malfunctions, failures or difficulties; or (c) failure of personal computers and/or software and hardware configurations, any technical malfunctions, failures, or difficulties, printing errors, clerical, typographical or other error in the offering or announcement of any prize or in any prize notification documents; or (d) for any errors of any kind in connection with the Contest, whether human, mechanical, clerical, electronic, or technical in nature; or (e) the incorrect or inaccurate capture of information, or the failure to capture any information in connection with the Contest; or (f) damage to a user's system occasioned by participation in the Contest or downloading any information necessary to participate in the Contest.
A random drawing from all Entries will be held in Halifax, Nova Scotia at approximately 11:00 AM on June 3 2019 to select one participant to be eligible to win the prize. The first participant whose Entries are drawn in the random drawing and who otherwise comply with these Rules will be eligible to win the prize. Odds of winning will depend on the number of eligible Entries received during the Contest Period.
The Contest Administrator will make reasonable attempts to contact the selected participants by phone within three (3) business days after the drawing. To be confirmed as the winner and claim the prize, the selected participants must: (i) correctly answer, unaided, a time-limited mathematical skill-testing question; (ii) complete, sign and return a Release form, including a publicity release, within ten (10) business days of the date he or she was contacted by Garrison; (iii) supply any and all information reasonably required by Garrison to administer the Contest and award the prize; and (iv) otherwise comply with these Rules.
If the selected participants (a) cannot be reached within three (3) business days of being contacted, (b) does not complete, sign and return the Release form within ten (10) business days of being contacted, (c) do not correctly answer the mathematical skill-testing question in the manner described, (d) is not eligible, (e) refuse the prize, (f) do not supply any required information or documents within the period specified, or (f) do not otherwise comply with these Rules, they will be disqualified and will not win the prize. In that event, an alternate entrant may be selected in accordance with these Rules or the prize may be annulled at PMA's sole discretion. The prize will be awarded to the confirmed winner only.
The prize must be accepted as granted and cannot be converted to cash. The prize cannot be exchanged for another prize. The prize cannot be sold or transferred to any other person. Refusal to accept the prize absolves Wine and Beyond and PMA Canada of any and all obligations relative to said prize and any and all obligations towards the selected participant.
All Entries received will become the property of Garrison Brewing Co. and will not be returned. Proof of submitting an Entry will not be deemed proof of receipt.
The winners must abide by these Rules.
By entering the Contest, participants agree to be bound by these Rules and any subsequent amendment(s) made by Garrison Brewing Co., and agree to be bound by the decisions of Garrison Brewing Co., which shall be considered final, binding and irrevocable in all aspects relating to the Contest.
The selected participants must supply, on demand, official proof of age to Garrison Brewing Co. and all other Contest partners.
If the identity of a participant is disputed, the authorized account holder of the cell phone number submitted at the time of entry will be deemed to be the participant. For the purpose of these Rules, "authorized account holder" of cell phone number is defined as the natural person who is assigned to a cell phone by the service provider or other organization responsible for assigning cell phones for the phone associated with the submitted telephone number.
Any false declaration by a participant, or failure to comply with these Rules will result in automatic disqualification of the participant and forfeiture of any prize.
Garrison Brewing Co. shall not be held responsible for any error or omission related to the printing or advertising of this Contest.
Garrison Brewing Co., its affiliates, administrators, partners, directors, employees, agents and representatives (the "Released Parties") shall not be held liable for defective functioning of any computer hardware or software, lines of communication, or network communications related to the loss or absence of network communications or any other defective, incomplete, incomprehensible or erased transmission via any computer, network or server that could limit or render impossible the capacity for any person to participate in the Contest. The Released Parties assume no responsibility or liability for lost, late, unintelligible/illegible, falsified, damaged, misdirected or incomplete Entries, Releases, notifications, responses, or replies. The Released Parties are hereby totally absolved of any responsibility for any damage or loss that could be directly or indirectly caused in part or in whole by uploading or downloading any software or information including the transmission of any information related to participating in the Contest.
By participating in this Contest, attempting to do so, or accepting the prize, all participants agree to release and hold harmless the Released Parties from any and all liability, including without limitation, for any loss, harm, damage, injury, cost or expense, personal injury and/or death, which may occur in connection with participant's participation in the Contest, or possession, acceptance, participation and/or use or misuse of the prize and for any claims based on publicity rights, defamation or invasion of privacy. Garrison Brewing Co. is not responsible if the Contest cannot take place or if any element of the prize does not take place or cannot be awarded due to reasons outside of Garrison Brewing Co.'s control including weather.
All participants hereby agree not to deliberately interrupt or corrupt the smooth running of the Contest, not to stop other people from participating in the Contest, and not to interfere with the legitimate running of the Contest. Furthermore, they agree not to, in any way, act contrary to the Rules with the understanding that any such act shall result in automatic disqualification of the participant and that he or she may be prosecuted under the full force of the law at Garrison Brewing Co.'s discretion.
The use or reproduction of any copyright material or trademark related to this Contest is strictly prohibited, except with the prior express written consent of the rights holder.
In the event that an authority with jurisdiction declares any portion of these Rules invalid, illegal or unenforceable, said judgement shall not in any way affect any other aspect of these Rules, which shall remain valid and in effect. This Contest is void where prohibited by law.
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Important News Items
Check Out our amazing news on the New Oxford Taproom!
For Immediate Release
Tuesday, February 12, 2019
Long live The Oxford on Quinpool (Part 1)
Garrison Brewing set to open new Taproom in Halifax this Spring!
(Halifax, NS) — Garrison Brewing, one of Halifax's original craft breweries, is answering the call of west-enders looking for a place to gather and socialize. Centered in the old Elegant Touch Beauty Salon, and attached to the iconic Oxford Theatre, Garrison's new venture will include a pilot-brewery, street-front taproom and retail store, backyard terrace and second floor community space.
As homage to the 82-year old building, Garrison's new venture will be aptly called The Oxford. With its vintage, speakeasy vibe and classic cinematic elements, the taproom space will evoke the Oxford Theatres important past. Exposed brick, 14' wood ceilings and vintage subway tile will add character to a small test brewery and wide range of locally crafted Garrison beer and cider.
"We're excited and honoured to breathe new life into such a landmark space while celebrating its amazing history. The taproom will be a comfortable and welcoming throwback to old Hollywood, and you may even recognize some classic items from the original Oxford theatre," says Brian Titus, President of Garrison Brewing.
Scheduled to open in late Spring 2019, the space will provide locals in the area with a family (and pet) friendly place to fill a growler, sample fresh craft beers, or host a community event. The Oxford will have a limited offering of snacks; however, patrons will be welcome to order-in food from the many great neighbouring restaurants. "Change and development are coming to the area, but Quinpool will always be known as a great food destination" says Titus. "Many of the surrounding restaurants have been long-time customers of ours and we look forward to promoting them through pop-ups and catering".
"I am sure I speak for everyone on Quinpool Road when I say that we are absolutely thrilled that the building will not be demolished," says Karla Nicholson, Executive Director of Quinpool's Mainstreet District Association. "The Oxford development is definitely exciting, and we look forward to seeing many of our businesses benefit from it. It's also exciting that community groups and non-profits, like our Association, will have a place to meet and collaborate on Quinpool."
The building and property were purchased over a year ago by Quinpool veterans and promoters, the Nahas family (King of Donair). Their vision has always been to see the building renovated and remain a long-term asset for the community. In addition to The Oxford taproom, plans are nearly complete on a development within the original theatre space. Details on this equally exciting venture will be announced shortly, but it is also anticipated to be a family- friendly business for community gathering.
For updates on design, renovations and finishing touches, follow us socially here: @oxfordtaproom.
About Garrison Brewing Company
Since 1997, Garrison has strived to create exceptional craft beer – real beer made with passion, hard work and East Coast pride. Garrison offers an exceptional range of premium and distinctive beers, all crafted in the historic Halifax Seaport and (soon) at the Oxford Theatre building on Quinpool.
For more information, contact:
Justin Zinck, Garrison Brewing
(902) 802-8582 / firstname.lastname@example.com
Wendy Phillips, Phillips Public Relations Ltd. (902) 492-0960 / email@example.com


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R. Eliezer Ben Durdaya and Hillel
A study in the narrative of two fascinating and seemingly unrelated heroes- and the incredible relationship between their life stories (which ultimately is our life story).
Acher- the meaning and message of the life of Elisha be Avuyah
A deeper look at the fascinating life of Elisha Ben Avuyah- and what it has to say to us.
People who learn Torah but are as if they have no God
There are two types of people who are involved in Torah but Chazal refer to as Godless. Who (big surprises!)? Why?
Should We Say Hallel on Yom HaAtzmaut?
Should we be saying Hallel on Yom Haatzmaut? Are we living in Atchaltah DeGeula? How should we relate to our era in Jewish History?
Between Penuel and Machanaim- a view on Life's Challenges
Many fascinating surprises emerge from a close reading of the Biblical text surrounding the journey of Yaakov. Along the way we will learn about the subtleties of the Peshat and understand some seemingly strange midrashic statements. This shiur sheds much methodological light on the study of Tanach, midrash- and a key dimension of life!
Kidush Hashem: The Prime Directive
The one thing we all need to understand about being a Jew.
The Key to Wisdom
What does Tanach teach us about the essential key to wisdom?
The Deeper Meaning of Tzizit
A fascinating but enigmatic Aggadetah holds the key to the secret of Tzizit and its message for all of us.
Chidush and Talmud Torah
In some circles there is a fairly new tendency towards fearing original creative interpretation of primary sources. It is one of the radical ideas passed off as traditional in recent times. This shiur focuses on the basis for Chidush as a central positive component in Talmud Torah.


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Pune Warriors surrendered in front of CSKApril 20, 2012
Chennai Super Kings beat Pune Warriors by 13 runs. Pune Warriors won the toos and deciede to field first and CSK manage the score 164 by the loss of 5 wickets.As a reply Pune just manage 151 runs by 7 wickets.
CSK pur the great effort in the field by taking some fantastic catch and save few runs. The problem is there is no big partnership of Pune batsman. They tried very well but short of 13 runs.So Dhoni take revenge of the last match that was lost against Pune.


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Teen Dating Violence Awareness MonthFebruary 22nd, 2017 - jfsbroward
Do you remember your first relationship? Most men and women begin dating in their teenage years, a time filled with new experiences and happy life events. But did you know nearly 1.5 million teens experience physical abuse from a dating partner? Nearly 1 in 10 teens are physically harmed by their dating partner. Even more staggering is that 1 in 3 teens experience emotional, sexual and physical abuse from their dating partner.
If these statistics weren't daunting enough, 81% of parents are not even aware that teen dating violence is a prevalent issue, and only 33% of teens are educated on the dangers of dating violence. Goodman Jewish Family Services wants to be the first line of defense, ensuring that all teenagers learn the dangers of dating violence. Assisted by our experienced staff and KOLOT Coalition volunteers, we can tailor a presentation for your school or temple. Please contact us to schedule a training seminar.


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2016 Audi A4 Allroad review: first drive
When Audi launched the Allroad quattro in 1999, the crossover wasn't really a thing. Oh sure, there were a fair few soft-roaders on the market, but the Nissan Qashqai – credited as being the first car to be dubbed a crossover – wasn't even a glint in the Almera's eye.
Today, the crossover and SUV segments are on a mission to take over the world, unprepared to sleep until they've killed the hatchback, saloon, MPV and estate car, or any other vehicle that dares to stand in their way.
So you could argue that the jacked-up off-road estate car has had its day. An already niche segment, about to be pummelled into the ground by the relentless march of the crossover. Audi disagrees, which is why it has launched a second generation A4 Allroad, complete with a new variation of its famous quattro all-wheel drive system.
This new system – dubbed quattro Ultra – makes its debut on the A4 Allroad 2.0 TFSI and, in very simple terms, works by deactivating all-wheel drive when not required. So in effect, this is the first Audi quattro to operate as a front-wheel drive car, although all-wheel drive is permanently and instantaneously available. Audi claims the A4 Allroad can switch between front- or all-wheel drive in a split-second, often before you'd think you actually need it.
Among the headlines for the all-new A4 Allroad is a weight saving of 90kg across the range, resulting in CO2 emissions 21% lower than the previous generation. Ground clearance is raised by 34mm compared with the regular A4 Avant, while some additional body-cladding marks the Allroad out as an estate car ready to hit the rough stuff.
The question is, can the Audi A4 Allroad hold its own against the might of the crossover-SUV, or does it feel like a niche that's well past its sell-by date? We travelled to Munich to find out.
On the road
With the huge caveat that we were driving on some of Germany's typically smooth roads, the A4 Allroad is is arguably one of the best riding Audis you can buy. All the test cars were riding on 18-inch alloys (standard on the top trim Sport quattro), but this did little to spoil what is a supremely comfortable ride quality. The 2016 A4 Allroad might not have the air suspension of the original Allroad, but in optional Comfort mode you simply don't need it.
The small pay off is a noticeable increase in the amount of lean during hard cornering, but if you've bought an Allroad, kissing the apex won't be high on your list of priorities. Should you wish to firm things up, simply engage Dynamic mode and enjoy the best of both worlds. There's also a full-fat Off-Road mode, but sadly, the only less-than-smooth surface laid on by Audi happened to be some gravel placed on the floor during the press conference.
The standout engine is undoubtedly the 272hp 3.0 TDI, which enables the A4 Allroad to feel at its most regal and sumptuous best. Mated to a new eight-speed tiptronic transmission, the 3.0 TDI unit feels refined and serene, while delivering its ample power with a kind of composed urgency.
By comparison, the 190hp 2.0 TDI feels run-of-the-mill, everyday even. Given the negligible differences in terms of fuel economy, we urge British drivers to fly in the face of Audi's own forecasts and consider opting for the 3.0 TDI, either in 218hp or 268hp guise. It's a peach of an engine, but note the eight-speed tiptronic transmission is only available on the higher-powered version. The other 3.0 TDI 'makes do' with the seven-speed S tronic transmission.
The fly in the ointment is the 2.0 TFSI, which benefits from the new quattro Ultra system. On the move, you'll find it impossible to notice the shift between front- and four-wheel drive, as the transformation is as discreet as it is rapid. You just know it's there when you need it and that it will automatically switch back when you don't.
Sadly, while the 2.0 TFSI unit is smooth and free-revving, it can sound a little strained when pressing on. The six-cylinder diesel is the most tuneful, yet it also settles down to near-silence when cruising. It turns a great Allroad into a great Allrounder.
On the inside
The A4's interior is a masterclass in fit, finish and feel-good factor, making it the pick of the new breed of compact executives. It's let down by a bewildering array of switchgear, which is at odds with the industry's move towards minimalism and simplicity, but claws back some brownie points thanks to the optional, but must-have, Virtual Cockpit.
Not that the A4 Allroad scrimps on standard specification. As the current flagship of the A4 range, the Allroad benefits from a powered tailgate, electric load area cover, three-zone climate control, MMI Radio Plus, smartphone integration, DAB digital radio, eight speakers, multi-function leather steering wheel and paddles for automatic models. Upgrade to the Allroad Sport and this is boosted by rear privacy glass, 180-watt Audi sound system, and front sport seats with twin-leather upholstery.
Audi claims the new Allroad offers increased head- and shoulder-room compared to the outgoing model, although rear seat passengers may thank you for opting for the larger A6 Allroad. The boot offers 505 litres of space, extending to 1,510 litres with the split rear seats folded.
We'll give a special mention to Audi's new trailer assistant, which made its debut on the new Q7. Although we will have to wait for the UK launch for a demonstration, on paper at least it has the potential to give the A4 Allroad an edge over its rivals.
Using sensors, cameras and on-board screens, the trailer assistant turns the steering wheel and directs the trailer on the desired course, with the driver controlling its path using the rotary/push-button control on the MMI. Ideal for those who tow horseboxes, boats and track cars.
Running costs
Prices start from £35,560 for the 2.0 TDI, rising to £42,145 for the 3.0 TDI Sport quattro. Like for like, the Sport quattro trim commands a premium of around £3,000. Naturally, Audi will be keen to tempt you into ticking some must-have options boxes, including damping control, wireless phone charging, Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system, dynamic steering and matrix LED headlights.
The cleanest and most efficient A4 Allroad is the 2.0 TDI in standard trim, which emits 128g/km CO2, while offering 57.6mpg on a combined cycle. The least efficient is the 2.0 TFSI in Sport quattro trim, with figures of 152g/km C02 and 42.8mpg.
Audi is predicting a retained value of 63% after 18 months and 30,000 miles, which is significant, as – unlike other A4 models – the Allroad is likely to major on retail and user-chooser sales. This is a car bought as a result of a conscious decision, as opposed to picking your way through a list of names on an email sent by your fleet manager.
First year road tax starts from £0 for the 2.0 TDI (band D), rising to £180 for the 2.0 TFSI Sport quattro (band G). Subsequent years range from £110 to £180, figures that would be alien to the majority of SUV drivers. The A4 Allroad is like having your off-road cake and eating it. But, as Audi pointed out, this isn't "as tough as an SUV" so you probably won't want to venture too far off the beaten track.
Somehow, the Allroad feels like so much more than a jacked-up A4 Avant. The excellent ride quality certain helps, but the well-chosen cosmetic upgrades also play a part. In such an image-conscious sector, lifting the Allroad above the common or garden sales-rep special will be all important. On this evidence, Audi has played a blinder.
In isolation then, it's a thoroughly convincing and highly likeable product. We'll reserve final judgement until we've a) driven it on UK roads, and b) tested it on surfaces other than silken German roads. There's also the enemy within, in the form of the Audi A6 Allroad, which is both larger and benefits from the addition of the brilliant 3.0-litre bi-turbodiesel engine.
But if you're in the market for a premium wagon and you don't expect to venture further off road than the point-to-point car park, the Audi A4 Allroad is a seriously impressive machine. Just make sure you don't tick the box marked body-coloured cladding. The Allroad looks its best in authentic off-road spec (see below) and marks you out as a driver of fine taste.
Far from being an ageing dinosaur, Audi has proved that there's still life in the off-road estate car. And right now, the Allroad is the pick of the bunch. Still want that me-too crossover with the daft name?
Audi A4 Allroad 3.0 TDI: specification
Price: £39,180 (prices from £35,560)
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbodiesel
Gearbox: 8-speed triptronic
Power: 272hp
Torque: 442lb ft
0-62mph: 6.6 seconds
Top speed: 143mph
Fuel economy: 53.3mpg
CO2 emissions: 139g/km


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By Binu Subedi About a month ago, Khemraj Dallakoti from Bhandara VDC in Chitwan, Nepal went on a trip with his family. They paused their journey for a while at Daunne, a small settlement on the edge of the highway, to look for a place to rest and eat. But despite their fluttering stomachs, they … Continue reading Finding Manurupa: The Heart Whisperer
A hotel, particularly one that is located on a highway, is traditionally a place where women in Nepal are considered to be unsafe. Their home, on the other hand, is meant to be a safe haven where women are protected…And yet a group of radio producers in Nepal have chosen a hotel on a highway … Continue reading Samarjhdari
The Story of Us: Part III – Pramila and Ribraj…The Winner's Story
The search started 9 monhts ago, and finally we have found them. Meet the winners of our Most Understanding Couple campaign
The Story of Us: Part II -Rekha and Lekhnath's Story
The Change Starts at Home Project team have been on the hunt for Nepal's Most Understanding Couple. Meet our second finalists Rekha and Lekhnath and hear how they overcame societal pressures and found happiness together
The Story of Us: Part I – Radhika and Bedraj's Story
Who are the most understanding couple in Nepal? Meet Radhika and Bedraj - the First of our 'Most Understanding Couple' Competition Finalists...
16 Change Stories in 16 Days: Day 16 – Thank you all!
On day 16, the final day, we extend our thanks to all those that are working to end violence against women in their communities.
16 Change Stories in 16 Days: Day 15 – Nawaraj
"Instead of members of a listening and discussion group, we are more like a group of very close friends who share even the most intimate details with each other" Read more about how the group dynamics have helped everyone change in Day 15 of our 16 Change Stories in 16 Days from Nawaraj


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Watersports & Camping on the Muskegon River
The beautiful Muskegon River is located in the Western portion of Michigan's Lower Peninsula in the State of Michigan. The headwaters of the Muskegon River are on Houghton Lake in Roscommon County. It flows southwest to the Newaygo County Area and then continues on towards Muskegon Michigan where it empties into Muskegon Lake. Muskegon Lake connects to Lake Michigan by a mile long channel.
A kayaking, rafting, canoeing, tubing or camping trip along the Muskegon River should be a part of any Pure Michigan™ Getaway Vacation. Chinook Campground is nestled alongside the Muskegon River in Grant, Michigan just 25 miles from Muskegon, 10 miles from Fremont, 5 miles from Newaygo and about 40 miles from Grand Rapids.
Learn more about our camping rates by visiting our Camping Rates Page – click here.
Learn more about our kayaks, canoes, raft and tube rentals by visiting our River Trips & Waterports Equipment Rental Page – click here.


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News Search Result for 'MyDala'
Deal Site Mydala.com eyes buys in food health and beauty space [Type: News]
Even as the several hyper-local players and deals sites are focusing in the top 10 cities of India, Mydala.com, one of the earliest entrant in the segment, is going beyond the urban market. The company is also looking to clos ...
Info Edge invests Rs. 14 crore in Canvera Digital Tech & Happily Unmarried Marketing [Type: News]
Info Edge has invested an additional Rs 10 crore in Canvera Digital Technologies Pvt. Ltd. and Rs. 4 crore in Happily Unmarried Marketing Pvt. Ltd, reports the Hindu Business Line. Info Edge, which runs portals like naukri.com, jeevansathi.com, s ...
e-commerce boom in India by Discount and deal sites [Type: News]
As online shopping grows in India, deal sites that offer cash-back and discount coupons have emerged, helping retailers to add customers and widen the market. E-commerce entities such as Amazon have started to realise the importance of these deal sit ...
Mydala aims for 10 lakh merchants on its platform in next 3 years [Type: News]
Coupon and discount marketing platform mydala.com plans to get 10 lakh merchants on its platform in three years, a more than six-fold increase, a top company executive said. "We have about 1.5 lakh merchants on board currently and we are target ...
Online Photography Startup Canvera Digital Raises Rs 15 Cr From Info Edge [Type: News]
Bangalore-based online photography startup Canvera Digital Technologies Pvt Ltd has raised Rs 15 crores ($2.2 million) from Info Edge (India) Ltd, which runs consumer internet properties such as Naukri, 99acres, Jeevansathi and Shiksha. With ...
Coupon sites gaining prominence among net users in India: ComScore [Type: News]
Digital marketing intelligence firm comScore's latest report for the month of June reveals that about 10 per cent of the online population in India accessed coupon sites. The report revealed that 4.6 million Internet users aged 15 or above h ...


text: Oh Cheri! is offering a great deal on Uppseedaisees pajamas! This is a special discount for one week only. My fave is this Skivvies Pajamas Shorts Set; it's made of soft, pre-shrunk cotton with a built-in uplifting bra, perfect for lounging around, watching a movie before bedtime. It's $59.95 from Oh Cheri! Shopalicious readers, use discount code UPPSEE30 at checkout for 30% off. Offer expires March 23. Check out their entire collection of Uppseedaisees pajamas!


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Last week a group from a church in Maine came to the OAC Boston office for evangelism training and experience. I believe they were "baptized in fire" as there were quite a few "intense" moments last week. The team did fantastic. We had a number of great adult evangelism times, […]
- About Us
- The Big Why's
- A Jew Who Believes in Jesus?
- Free Resources!
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We are currently looking for two Associate Veterinarians to join our small animal clinic team. Surgical experience is preferred, however new graduates are encouraged to apply. We are a multi-doctor practice and have a great support staff. We have in-house CBC/chemistry analyzers in order to get quick results on bloodwork. We have the latest technology in our radiology equipment, including an ultrasound machine, surgical monitoring and laser therapy. There are no after hour calls taken since we refer these to a local after hour emergency clinic.
We see a wide variety of cases from routine wellness visits to emergencies; such as; hit by cars, fractures, lacerations, uroliths, toxin ingestion & many more. This is a great practice to get all types of experience. We do many surgeries on a daily basis. This is a great practice for someone that is interested in gaining surgical experience.
If you are a new graduate, there are always three to four doctors working on each shift, so you will never be left alone. Our doctors enjoy mentoring new graduates. Our doctors also enjoy learning from our new graduates.
We are a laid back practice, allowing you to use the knowledge that you learned in school and apply it to real life situations. Since 1979 we have had the privilege to help many new graduates to become very successful, and get the experience they would not be able to find at many other practices.
We believe that you will not be disappointed if you come to visit our practice.
How does working only 14 days a month and still full time sound? Our new veterinarian will also have a three day weekend off twice a month. We offer competitive wages, 401K retirement plan, VSP, Aflac insurance, Delta Dental insurance and BCBS insurance. We pay for annual state license renewal, DEA renewal and an annual stipend for continuing education hours. We offer forty hours of paid vacation time, after the first year. Salary commensurate with experience. Please send resume to firstname.lastname@example.com or email@example.com.
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine


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Another one currently on display at the Sunrise Gallery.
Monday, September 26, 2011
End of the Day
5 comments:
Wow. I am absolutely blown away. This is just incredibly fantastic.ReplyDelete
XO Barbara
Thanks Barbara!!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousSeptember 27, 2011 at 3:53 PM
How dramatic Tammy. love it!ReplyDelete
The colors and thick paint are delicious!! Another wonderful painting Tammy!ReplyDelete
I love the use of blues in this picture. There's a nice value range and the clouds are very dramatic and intriguing. Beautiful amazing work.ReplyDelete
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2013 Nissan Sentra Overview
What's New for the 2013 Nissan Sentra
The Nissan Sentra is completely designed for the 2013 model year with a roomier interior, better fuel efficiency, and a new electronics interface. The SE-R and SE-R Spec V models are also now discontinued.
2013 Nissan Sentra Exterior
For the 2013 Sentra, Nissan takes traditional sedan styling and turns it on its head, incorporating bolder, swooping body lines and a modern styled grille in the Sentra's new redesign. The little details, such as a slight curve of the headlamps, add character to the sedan, making it more appealing than ever before.
2013 Nissan Sentra Performance
A 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine powers each 2013 Sentra, generating 130 horsepower and 128 lb-ft of torque with a standard six-speed manual transmission on the base model. All other Sentra models come standard with a continuously variable transmission (CVT)
2013 Nissan Sentra Efficiency
EPA-estimated fuel economy for Sentra models with a CVT is 34 mpg combined.
2013 Nissan Sentra Interior
Quality materials and a modern design create a feeling of elegance within the newly revamped Sentra cabin, particularly in the SL trim, which features beautiful wood-tone accents and an abundance of soft-touch materials. NissanConnects makes sure the driver remains connected at all times with its 5.8-inch touchscreen and ability to stream either Pandora or Bluetooth audio. One of the most appealing aspects of the sedan, though, is its roominess. All seat, both back and front, have an abundant amount of legroom, making the Sentra one of the most spacious cars in its class.
2013 Nissan Sentra Safety
Government crash tests rated the Sentra an overall score of four stars out of a possible five. Standard safety features include antilock brakes, stability control, front-seat side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, and active front head restraints.
The News Wheel is a digital auto magazine providing readers with a fresh perspective on the latest car news. We're located in the heart of America (Dayton, Ohio) and our goal is to deliver an entertaining and informative perspective on what's trending in the automotive world. See more articles from The News Wheel.


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To: Disability Benefits Carriers Writing NYDBL Coverage
Date: October 18, 2013
In recent years, New York State statutory disability benefits policies that provide indemnity payments greater than the statutorily prescribed benefit have become commonplace. Most of these policies offer this enhanced indemnity benefit and no other variation. These policies are currently submitted to the Workers' Compensation Board's Plans Acceptance Unit using the paper Form DB-820/829 and accompanying Form DB-820.1, which describes the enhanced benefit. The Board's Bureau of Compliance processes these forms manually.
To further streamline proof of coverage (POC) submissions, the Board has determined that these disability benefits policies should now be submitted electronically. Carriers should submit these policies in the same manner that they currently submit electronic POC. The DB-820.1 is no longer required when the only change is increased indemnity payments.
Carriers may immediately start submitting electronically. However, carriers may also continue manual submission for the next six months while converting their computer systems. After April 1, 2014, the Board will no longer accept paper submissions of Form DB-820/829, except as noted below.
Paper Forms DB-820/829 and the DB-820.1 must continue to be manually submitted when the policy enrichment includes something other than increased indemnity payments such as increased duration of benefits or a waiting period that differs from the statutory seven days.
If you have any questions, please contact the Plans Acceptance Unit at email@example.com.
Robert E. Beloten


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The Tsurumi Pearl is located in Yokohama.
|1-21-13 Tsurumi-Chuo Tsurumi-Ku
Yokohama 2300 | vCard |
|45 5018080
|45 5027159
|Check In Time:
|2:00 pm
|Check Out Time:
|11:00 am
|Nearest Airport:
|Narita New Tokyo International (NRT)
|In Rooms:
|Air-Conditioned. Movies. Hair Dryer. Iron & Ironing Board.
|Wake Up Service.
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|Report Closed. Is this property still open? Please let us know.
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Let's explore! This family-friendly volunteer opportunity takes us to Ohio where we'll be conducting an inventory of plant and animal species in a newly added section of Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Join volunteer citizen scientists from around the country in this one-day event that's sure to delight, challenge and inspire participants of all ages.
Accommodations are not provided but free tent camping is available for volunteers that would also like to spend a night in the park. Don't forget to pack binoculars, food and a field notebook.
We look forward to seeing you and putting our identification skills to the test! Let's join forces with park rangers and biologists to make sure this special place is conserved for future generations.
Do you know a teen between the ages of 16-18 that would love to spend even more time in our national parks? Tell them about the Cleaning and Greening Program!


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Confessions of an HSP: Hermit Mode
How Sudden Ruptures Trigger Extreme Reactions
Sometimes life hands us lemons. As an introvert, you may want to make lemonade — but you want to make it alone. And you also don't feel like sharing it. I am here to say: That's fine. Let us keep our lemonades. Because they are just what we need to properly refuel.
My former student life yielded many an abrupt and consequential change. Every three months, semesters were cut off by semester breaks, which were again cut off by new semesters. Never were the three months long enough to develop a routine. Once I was used to the new semester plan, the semester was over. Once I had gotten a grip of myself and resorted to self-disciplined paper writing on my breaks, the break had already flown by and a new chapter had begun — with yet an entirely different rhythm to it. As someone who identifies with the term Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), these continuous changes — though entirely foreseeable — were nerve-wrecking. Ditto, anyone?
Then there was everything disruptive apart from my education: the work schedule of my part-time job was never reliable and changed from week to week. Whenever my boss was ill, it was up to me to keep the institution running spontaneously, dropping all of my other duties right away. Whenever she wanted to go on vacation, that was me, too. In my position, there was no Easter, no national day, and often either very little Christmas or no New Years. In addition, we had and have visitors over at least monthly — and if they are not visiting, we are trying to see our families. Yet both my husband and I have to fly to different countries in order to be reunited with loved ones.
These changes have a particularly devastating effect on me. Every time my life used to switch from semester to break, for instance, I would undergo a little multiple-week crisis involving obsessive planning, calculating, and panicking about the phase that had just begun. I switched jobs and cities a couple of times, and those moments were accompanied by a couple of months of severe anxiety attacks. By now, I can at least tell when I am slipping into that abyss of worry and fear, but I have not yet found a way to put an end to it other than crawling up into my little beautiful shell of a comfort zone and retire entirely to myself. And so I watch myself undergoing lengthy periods of almost exclusive introversion accompanied by energy levels that do not allow for me to experience the wish to see or inspire others. All the strength I have is automatically directed inwards; socializing becomes a chore.
I keep mainly to myself in those kinds of weeks. There is nothing wrong with that; we all have protective mechanisms, and this is mine. I am an introvert by nature; I draw energy from quality solitude, so it is my way of keeping myself as emotionally relaxed and stable as possible. If life is especially demanding, my introvert needs sky-rocket.
Don't get me wrong; I am usually having a blast! I spend oodles of time in my kitchen, making delicious things, mostly. My apartment is my sanctuary. If I absolutely must see people, I invite them over for dinner. I read books, I have creamy coffees in my favorite cafes around the corner. The worrying of these phases persists, but my introvert coping strategies keep the pain at a bearable minimum.
I started this blog in September 2014 with the wish in mind to portray life and its marvels as an HSP in her twenties — hoping to encourage others to be kind to themselves, to see beauty in their everyday lives, to advocate self-knowledge and understanding. My first post, On Seeing, was a door to the amazing difference perception can make. There is so much to admire in the world, and it isn't farther away from you than the way dust particles dance in the space of your living room when the sun hits that one gloriously luminous angle. I don't need much to be quite happy, and that is a gift worth sharing.
It has soon been a year, and this blog has been a truly enriching experience to me all the way through. I have been fortunate enough to get in touch with precious souls out there who are abundantly encouraging, kind, intelligent, beautiful. This has been a very special privilege.
But for the past few months, I have not been so present in sharing the marvels of this world. This is because I have experienced a series of ruptures that have kept me in my life-sustaining introvert mode for pretty much all of the time.*
You can only imagine the number of what must add up to entire weeks I have spent in our kitchen.
May I just say that I have recently dedicated myself with much passion to the art of making cheese. Does that say enough? I think it does.
Then, a few weeks ago, the miracle happened: a large chunk of my worry was lifted (I was offered a position starting September 1). And that is how, with one big swoosh, the cloudy haze overshadowing my mind was blown away.
The impact of knowing that a fundamentally existential question has been solved is instantaneous and miraculous. I am still spending most of my time in my kitchen, because in general I love being on my own and making things from scratch in complete silence. This is who I am. This is how I work. But because my poor, overburdened HSP-brain can now finally relax, my energy levels are gradually rising to the degree that it becomes imaginable to not just experience joy, but to also share it in this blog. Perhaps one day I will venture to leave the kitchen, too.
I have had many special moments in the past few months that I have not been able to pass on.
Once again, it was the comfort of books and the toasty solitude of my steamy kitchen that have effectively saved me. It has pained me to know that my blog is lying there, mostly untouched. But the obvious incapability of sharing the joy I experienced on a daily basis helped me to understand an important part of myself as an HSP — and as a human in general. As this post said already: We do not have endless amounts of energy to give. Sometimes, it is our time to take. This is especially true in times when life is asking a lot.
HSPs see and feel and process deeply. Therefore, we often need more time than others to replenish our energy stores.
And that is simply a fact. You can either expect too much of yourself and push yourself beyond your limits — say by meeting friends even though you don't feel joy at the prospect. Or you can give yourself what you need so that one day soon you are ready to go back out there and give to others.
The kitchen is where I get to take. For you, it might be scrap-booking, running, or fishing. It may not be understandable to others, but when you find something that makes you feel safe in times of upset, hold on to it. If you are an extrovert, it might be team sports, board games, karaoke with friends (I'm sorry, I obviously have no idea what extroverts do with their time).
Resorting to your energy-saving mode does not have to be seen an 'escape strategy.' Some people have been accusing me of 'hermitting' in a sense that I 'retract' from friends and family. But I personally do not perceive these phases as unproductive moments of paralyzed nothingness. On the contrary, these valuable past-times may be the very key to remaining as calm as to NOT escape. The kitchen gives me enough energy to face what I want to face with the amount of strength I need. It is a vital mechanism to help me get through times that simply have to be gotten through. I'd like for people to give me the necessary energy but alas, they don't. They are wonderful and exhausting. So. The kitchen it is.
Thank you so much for sticking with me in times of my hermit-mode. I wish you the courage value yours. In the meantime, I will put together a few posts to update you on the many marvels I did experience — even though I was entirely, wonderfully, happily alone.
*For those interested, here is why:
- For those of you who have been following my journey for a while, you may know that there were irreconcilable complications with my boss around the beginning of this year. I decided that the job had become too toxic and set my quitting date to March, as I had originally promised — hoping that I would be able to take it until then.
- In March 2015, I was diagnosed with insulin resistance, or pre-diabetes. This, although technically a downer, was simultaneously a step forward in many, many ways. For once, I was finally sure that all those years I had not been imagining things. And secondly, I finally knew how to help myself. But my low-carb regimen became even more drastic, which has been a special struggle up especially with regards to traveling or social situations.
- March and April passed — and although at least my upsetting job situation was finally a thing of the past, I now had to summon all of my energy to write an MA thesis while applying for jobs following the delivery of said thesis. The thesis was a challenging project on its own, of course — but what was much harder on me was the threatening unemployment looming darkly ahead of me.
- Towards the end of April it looked like I was about to sign a contract. This eventually did not happen, and the disappointment ran deep. I experienced panic attacks that catapulted me into the office of a doctor.
- Berlin is a tough market, and it is particularly tough in the creative section. Time progressed towards May, then June. I handed in my thesis on June 12 but was still without a prospect for employment.
- In addition, I was now quite traumatized by the careless and disrespectful way job interviewers had been treating me and many of my friends, most of whom are in similar situations.
And thus my worst HSP nightmare had become true. Sadly, the handing in of that neat stack of paper meant that I was out there without a place to go, vulnerable, and subject to perhaps the most abrupt change I could imagine: going from an 8-year stretch of being extremely busy with a full-time student program, a part-time job, multiple visitors all of the time, and my own little projects running alongside everything — to nothing. Nothing. Except a lot of question marks.