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Please be sure to refer back to Week 1: Up and running if you didn't get a chance to read the first installment of 21 days to a better blog last Friday. This week I am focusing on some of the devilish little details that separate a fun blog from one that has the potential to be a business generator.
Remember, I am laying out a daily publication schedule because that is the frequency that works for me. Adjust that part of the plan to fit your publication schedule. I would encourage you to post consistently at the same time and on the same day(s) each week.
Week 2: The devil is in the details
Day 8 Obtain a WordPress API key and activate the Akismet plugin. This is the plugin that protects your blog from comment spam. The instructions for obtaining the API key (requires you to set-up a WordPress.com account) can be found in the link listed earlier.
– proofread/edit your seventh post
– schedule your sixth and seventh posts for publication
– and write your eighth post
Day 9 Set-up a Google Analytics account and install support for Analytics on your blog by using a plugin like Google Analytics for WordPress. (Don't let this step discourage you. Google Analytics may not be right for you and I present alternative statistics on Day 11.)
– proofread/edit your eighth post
– and write your ninth post
Day 10 Install the Editorial Calendar plugin. Chris Brogan did a great job explaining why to Use an Editorial Calendar.
– proofread/edit your ninth post
– schedule your eighth and ninth posts for publication using Editorial Calendar.
– and write your tenth post
Day 11 Install WordPress.com Stats plugin. I like this plugin because it organizes the traffic and search terms used to reach my site in a way that is meaningful and useful to me as an author. There's more about the plugin on the WordPress blog filed under Sexy Stats.
– proofread/edit your tenth post
– and write your eleventh post
Day 12 Take some time to learn about and understand WordPress widgets. While plugins typically extend the functionality of WordPress widgets improve the appearance of your site.
– proofread/edit your eleventh post
– schedule your tenth and eleventh posts for publication using Editorial Calendar.
– and write your twelfth post
Day 13 Set-up a Feedburner account so your content can be distributed via RSS. Feedburner also allows readers to select delivery of content via email each time you publish a new post. About half the readership on this blog occurs via RSS feeds. You'll then want to install a plugin like the Freedburner Subscription Widget to make signing up for posts via email easy. (It's a plugin that makes a widget available to install on your sidebar.)
– proofread/edit your twelfth post
– and write your thirteenth post
Day 14 Add the ability to easily follow you on Twitter. Making yourself easy to find in the social space is important. Many times conversations about your blog will occur on other social media channels. Make sure your readers know where and how to find you.
– proofread/edit your thirteenth post
– schedule your twelfth and thirteenth posts for publication using Editorial Calendar.
– and write your fourteenth post
Make sure to check back next Friday when I tackle: Fine Tuning.
If you have been playing along at home please be sure to share a comment with you sites URL so we can all go check it out.


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Obituaries - Topics from December, 2016
Frances Varnadore Creamer
Tuesday, December 27. 2016
Frances Varnadore Creamer, age 69, of Lyons, died Wednesday, December 21, 2016 at The Oaks Bethany in Vidalia, after an extended illness. She was a native of Baxley and lived most of her life in Toombs County. She retired from Bellsouth and the Toombs County Clerk's Office, and was a member of the Ohoopee Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents, Archie Varnadore and Sarah Mildred Varnadore Peyton and one brother, William Varnadore. [Full Story »]
Robert Melton Crummey
Posted by Admin in Obituaries
Wednesday, December 21. 2016
Robert Crummey, 66, entered into the loving arms of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ during the early morning hours of Monday, December 12, 2016. [Full Story »]
Frank Lewis Bell
Tuesday, December 13. 2016
Frank Lewis Bell, age 93, died on December 3, 2016. [Full Story »]
Rebecca H. Thompson
Tuesday, December 13. 2016
Rebecca H. Thompson, 59, died Sunday, December 4, 2016. A native of Titusville, PA, she had been a Hampton resident for the last 15 years. She lived in Baxley for 20 years. She enjoyed sailing, gardening, fishing, and crabbing, was a coffee connoisseur and was a student of the word of God. She volunteered her time with the Community Services Board as a Patient Advocate for those with mental illnesses. [Full Story »]
James. B. "Jim" Branch
James. B. "Jim" Branch, 71, passed away Sunday, November 27, 2016 in Jacksonville, Florida. He was born October 5, 1945 in Baxley to the late Isham Branch and Sina Causey Branch. He graduated in 1965 from Appling County High School. [Full Story »]
Rhett E. Butler, Sr.
Rhett E. Butler, Sr., 71, of Brunswick died Wednesday, November 30, 2016 at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. [Full Story »]
Rev. James W. Carter
The Rev. James W. Carter, age 85, of Baxley passed away Saturday, November 26, 2016 at his residence. [Full Story »]
David T. Jennings
Miles-Nobles Funeral Home and Crematory announces the services for David T. Jennings, age 60, who passed away Thursday, December 1, 2016 at Jeff Davis Hospital due to illness. He was born in Atlanta on September 21, 1956 and lived the past 15 years in Baxley. [Full Story »]
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subset: commoncrawl


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Institute of Product Leadership welcomes its audience to an insightful event that will host a seminar on career anchor and product leadership as a career path. The day is tailored with dedicated seats to serve professionals looking for a career switch in the corporate hierarchy or to gain tenacity in the data-driven world.
Registration is now open :
Registration Form


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My last visit to MEATliquour (trust me, I've been many times before), at their newest London branch in Islington, went a bit like this: go in, look at the burger menu, ponder for a bit, pretend I'm a macho man and order the Green Chili Cheeseburger thinking how spicy can it possibly be, drink a beer, chat a little, see a beautiful tray with burgers and some Hippie Fries, have some fries, think those are some damn good fries but I'm here for the burger, grab the sleazy greasy and nasty burger, take a bite, this is great, tastes delicious, go in for another bite, chili kicks in and OH MY LORD THIS IS INSANELY SPICY BUT IT'S SO GOOD I WANT ANOTHER BITE, so I go for another bite, chili kicks in again THIS IS PURE PAIN I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE, but I can since it's absolutely magnificent…
So goes the tale. Rinse and repeat until there's no burger left, and two or three beers have passed, helping you withstand the fieriness of this burger cooked in the very pits of hell. It has all the classic ingredients: lettuce, cheese, pickles, mustard, but it's the spicy chilli butter that puts this burger in a different level. A very, very spicy level.
So try if you must, and feel brave enough. Just make sure you have some Hippie Fries (with magical hippie sauce) next to it to counter the hotness. You'll thank me later. If you survive…
Slimy? Messy as they come, you wont even have time to worry about the mess you're making when the chili comes for you
Satisfying? Holy crap this is spicy! But it tastes so good that you'll be going like "bring on the painnnnn"
MEATliquor N1
133b Upper Street, London N1 1QP (and other locations in London)


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Lawyer? Get Listed
Home » Best Drug Trafficking Lawyer In Ardmore OK
Finding the Best Drug Trafficking Lawyer in Ardmore, OK: 4 Traits He Must Have. Have you been attempting to locate the best drug trafficking lawyer in Ardmore, OK or concerned about the potential fallout of your drug charges? [dyna dynami="Images"]
Read more ›
DISCLAIMER: The information you obtain from this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. "https://oklahomainterstatedruglawyer.com" is not a law firm. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. Viewing this Website or even contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Any information sent to Oklahoma Interstate Drug Lawyer through email or contact form on the Site is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis. Attorney listings are paid attorney advertisements and do not in any way constitute a referral or endorsement by Oklahomainterstatedruglawyer.com. All operators will only forward your information to attorneys who advertises in your area. See our full disclaimer HERE.


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Below are all of the Emergency Food Programs provided through Food Pantries and Soup Kitchens in Alexandria, Louisiana and surrounding cities that I have located.
* Note: If you are searching for Alexandria Food Banks - Food banks are distribution hubs. They supply the food to the Soup Kitchens, Food Pantries, Shelters etc. They in turn provide that food to the individuals that need it. Food Banks do not directly serve individuals in need.
Alexandria, LA 71301
The Food Bank'S Mission Is To Alleviate Hunger In Central Louisiana.
Alexandria, LA 71301
(318) 445-7038
Pineville, LA 71360
2.02 miles from city center Alexandria
(318) 442-5803
We give 25 lb boxes for 1-2 persons. 50lb boxes to 3+. Distribution is the second Thursday of every month from 9-11:30 am.


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More About Diego
I had a very rough start at life. My siblings and I came from a hoarding situation. We never were properly socialized or knew what love is until I was rescued and went into my foster home. I have been receiving more attention there than I ever have in my whole life!
I still am very shy when it comes to new people. I warm up quickly once I gain your trust. Then once we become best friends, I am quite the snuggle bug! I could sleep on my foster mom's lap for hours on end. I love to shower her with kisses to let her know how much I appreciate her!
I am quiet and calm. I would like to keep my future home this way so it is best I go home with kids above the age of 13. I am fine with cats and other dogs. I am working on potty training and leash training. I never heard of such things before but I am eager to learn!
I wish for a family that will provide me with unconditional love and continue to properly socialize me so I can reach my full potential! I am quite the work of art and my personality is, too! I just need time and lots of TLC for me to show you!
W.A.R.'s goal is to find the perfect family dynamic and place our dogs in a loving, safe and permanent home. All of our dogs available for adoption are spayed/neutered, up-to-date on shots and microchipped.
Our adoption process starts with filling an application, home visit, meet and greet and then finalizing with an adoption contract and fee.
Adoption fees range from about $300-$600. These fees help defray costs of veterinary and foster care and are tax deductible.


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Beef with morel mushrooms in a rich creamy sauce.
Another recipe using morels, this time beef with morels, juicy rump steak medium-rare, cream sauce flavoured with shallots, garlic and chili.
Morels are in season form April to May…not a long season by any means, and if you can get hold of some, then better make the most of it. I was lucky as I found them in the supermarket, (imported from Turkey) and at the "small" price of £2, per 100g, a steal.
- For the steak:
- 1 piece rump steak 2-300g (or whatever steak you prefer)
- 1 spoon of butter and 25ml olive oil
- salt&pepper to taste
- For the sauce:
- 50g morel mushrooms
- 2 small shallots
- 1 spring garlic (or one clove)
- 1/2 red chili (optional)
- 50ml double cream
- 25ml olive oil
- salt&pepper
- Use whatever piece of steak you like or you can afford. This recipe works well also with chicken or even a pork chop. Slice the morels in half or even quarters if they are bigger.
- Heat the butter and the olive oil in a pan to a medium-high heat. It needs to be half oil half butter in order to keep the butter from burning. Season the meat with salt and pepper. I used a wild mushroom sea salt, use what you like or have available.
- Cook the steak to your liking. I cooked mine 3-4 minutes on each side this time. Remove and leave to rest on a warm plate until the sauce is done.
- In the same pan heat up the rest of the olive oil, for the sauce. Slice the shallots, the garlic (of spring keep some green for the end) and the chili. Sweat for 2-3 minutes and add the morels.
- Mix well and cook for a few minutes until the morels soften. Add the cream. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cook for just a bit longer until the cream comes to boil and the sauce thickens just a touch.
- Arrange the sauce on a plate and place the rested, sliced beef on the top. Garnish should you wish with the rest of the green garlic tops finely chopped, fresh parsley or a sprig of pea shoots.
Find Gustomondo on Facebook for more discussion, images and tips: https://www.facebook.com/Gustomondo.
Find Gustomondo on Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/gustomondo/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/gustomondo_net. Instagram: gusto.mondoCopyright secured by Digiprove


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Certified Medication Technician (CMT) Training
Classes Offered:
March 10th-May 26th
Tuesdays only
March 17th-June 2nd
Tuesdays only
Moberly Area Community College is offering Certified Medication Technician training. This training prepares individuals for employment as a CMT in an intermediate care or skilled care nursing facility. The program is designed to teach skills in administration of nonparenteral medications that will qualify students to perform this procedure to assist licensed practical nurses or registered professional nurses in medication therapy. The program cost is $600 per person and consists of at least 60 hours of instruction and a minimum of 8-hours of clinical practice under the direct supervision of an instructor. An individual must successfully complete a final written examination and a minimum two-hour final practicum exam before a certificate can be issued and that individual's name placed on the Missouri State Certified Medication Technician (CMT) Registry.
Classes are in Moberly at the Workforce Development Center. Actual dates for the start of classes are posted to the right.
Prerequisite: must be a Certified Nurse Assistant for at least 6 months prior to enrollment.
To register and/or receive registration materials or information, call or email Sarah Hardison at 660-263-5865 or . You may also file an online application HERE.
Certified Medication Technician Interest Form


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"Head-fake" ... "Swine"... Whine...
When it comes to making the call on US employment deltas, Les Depressionistas can't fight gravity. The chart below is what it is at this point and is, like all charts, a historical review of what's behind us. Market's don't trade on the past. They look forward. Now you know why we went straight up.
This week's jobless claims report provided the shock and awe required for that last brave soul standing to cover his shorts into the apex of the steepest short squeeze in modern history.
In the end, US employment improving should stabilize the US Dollar. This morning the economic data arrested the decline of the US Dollar and that, in turn, arrested the ascent of the stock market's squeeze.
Bernanke just walked America through what happens to interest rates as the economy finds her cyclical recovery - they go up. As they go up, this is one more factor that should allow us to start making some money on the short side again. With plenty of short covering out of the way, there are some fantastic entry points developing.
Our call has been to be long for the rollover in this chart. Now my call is to ring the register, take a deep breath, and wait to see where Mr. Market takes us next. All the while, remember that market prices don't lie; people do.
Keith R. McCullough
Chief Executive Officer


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I spent the last six weeks entrenched with a dynamic group of young people. As always, I end up learning more from them than I could ever teach them. There is something magical about youth and being child-like. Over the course of our time together we bonded as a family. We fought with each other […]
One of my biggest breakthroughs in life came when I read the scripture James 5:16, "Confess your sins to one another so that you may be healed." I was struggling with so much inside. My secrets and sins were overpowering me. As a man its usually not our custom to express our struggles with one another. I, however, was desperate.
I found some men who I trusted and I started to release everything that was holding me captive and I soon I started the path to healing and recovery. But, the first and usually most difficult step is exposing the the dark things in our lives. I learned "that its not the secret that holds you captive, its the keeping it that holds you captive." (Pervis Principles Volume 2).
Here's a fact: there really isn't nothing new under the sun. So it's not a matter of what it is that you may be ashamed of or the feeling that you may be the only person in the world going through something. Often we suffer in silence when we don't have to. Part of being great is being in tuned with your brokenness and humanity. See, only broken things in life can get repaired.
Don't fool yourself for one minute in thinking that you are the only person who has problems. I have problems, albeit I'm doing my best to work through them. Moreover, the same principle applies to me. I have to confess the things that are hindering me. As I said before, vulnerability is an amazing strength. It truly separates the great from the common. Allow yourself to come to a place of surrender and break the hold that those secrets may be holding over you.
I will guarantee you this, at first it may be a little overwhelming, but through processing it and facing it head on you will discover a newness of life and freedom you never knew. Today, embrace the greatness inside of you but exposing light on the dark things in your life.
Remember we have the ability to not only change our world, but the world as a whole….BE GREAT!!
Until Next Time,
Pervis Taylor, III is an Author, Life Coach, Speaker and Contributor. His books Pervis Principles Volume 1 and 2 are available exclusively on his website: www.pervistaylor.com/author. He resides in New York City. Follow him on twitter @pervistaylor or facebook www.facebook.com/pervistaylor3.


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Madre: Perilous Journeys with a Spanish Noun by Liza Bakewell
Published by W. W. Norton & Company
Madre means mother, right? Well, technically. Madre may mean mother in Spanish, but it means a whole lot else besides that in Mexico. There is an extensive list of madre idioms, nearly all of which have negative meanings along the lines of disaster or whore. How can this be, when mothers traditionally hold a very high place in Mexican society, in a land where the Holy Virgin, the mother of Christ, is so venerated? What question could be more fascinating to a social anthropologist with an interest in linguistics and feminist leanings from the United States living in Mexico? It was this first question, in fact, that turned Liza Bakewell from a social anthropologist into a linguistic anthropologist with a particularly interest in madre and the intersection of gender and language.
"It can be dangerous to say madre in Mexico. Underscored and italicized. His words would blow fire across the screen. A kind of watch-out fuerte, not only powerful, but really powerful. Like a match to gasoline, or a blow to the face." -p. 47
Out of this fascination came Madre: Perilous Journeys with a Spanish Noun. The subtitle of Madre is really the best description of what this book is. Far from a strictly academic treatise, Madre is more of a travelogue/memoir combo by someone who is simply very intelligent and likes to think deeply about issues of language and society. In spite of this, the chapters are organized topically within the larger subject of madre: talking about piropo and albur, the grammatical dominance of maleness even in a room predominantly female, las mentadas de madre.
Perhaps this begins to explain the origins of the symbolic dilemma of madre in Mexico. The Church believes the bride, once married, is Eve, not the Virgin. -p. 175-176
Maybe it is just me, maybe I missed my calling as an anthropologist, but I think that the intersection of gender, culture, and language is a fascinating place to linger and observe, and I'm so grateful that Bakewell brought me to this particular intersection. Even better, she does not manage to lose a non-Spanish speaking, non-linguist on her journeys. It could be occasionally disconcerting to have the very personal style interacting with the linguistic and anthropological insights, but overall it worked very well.
A very interesting book, if the concept interests you, then I can recommend Madre.
Buy this book from:
Powells | Indiebound*
* These links are all affiliate links. If you buy your book here I'll make a very small amount of money that goes towards hosting, giveaways, etc. Copyright protected by Digiprove © 2011


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Thank you Vallendri Arnout for taking the time to read my post and writting your own views about it!
Via tumblr
We are all born with a time limit; a conjoined, invisible hourglass attached to us. It is Time that has essentially created ageism; it dictates to us the phases of our life and as such, the order and outcome of it, thus adopting a co-master to our own fate.
These are the words spoken in a post titled Time |vs| Infinity, by "DiaryOfADeludedHeart"
Again, I found this post when I went to revisit someone who once came to visit me and left some footprints behind. Actually I hate this kind of blogger, because they write better than me. They write in this most high literary, melodically written words that make me feels sooo low classed. *rolling eyes* Ha ha. But there's a teeny little flick on my heart that tells me: "NO you are not hating them. You love them. And you NOT low classed…
View original post 897 more words


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Content Marketing Strategy
We tailor a bespoke content marketing strategy for each client. Our experienced copywriters know exactly how to make words sell.
Content Marketing builds communities, inspires engagement and increases rankings via creation and sharing of high quality, problem-solving relevant information, aiming to satisfy business objectives. It helps influence consumer behavior, with the end goal of boosting sales and increasing interaction between the brand and customer.
Content Marketing is an effective way to encourage conversions and its main objective is to build a content strategy to meets the needs of your target audience. It helps you stand out from the competition, provides a great resource to your customers and is highly shareable. Content Marketing is meant to improve your brand profile and online reputation.
Our full-service SEO team integrates content into a complex strategy to increase your site's visibility and conversions.
Industry News
Up-to-date industry related posts that inform, educate and entertain readers leading to an increase in social media engagement, improve your online reputation and gain credibility.
Case Studies
Inspire confidence in your target audience with in-depth reports to summarize projects from start to finish and explicitly document the results achieved in performance measures.
Content Strategy
Achieve your business objectives with a comprehensive business analysis Content Strategy provided by our highly qualified copywriters and analysts.
Interviews Writing
Gain authority in your industry or business by sharing comments from industry experts. Share their expertise and you will immediately see feedback from your audience.
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Boost your online profile and increase your website traffic with outstanding newsworthy stories about your brand, submitted to news portals and press release distribution services.
White Papers
Promote your business with high-quality white paper marketing that will substantially increase your social media engagement levels and solidify your position in the industry.
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Interviews Taken
We are aware of the importance of a successful content marketing campaign, which is why we create informative, engaging and persuasive content that captures customers' interest. We tailor a bespoke content marketing strategy for each of our clients.
We provide content that will convince web users to click through to your website for special offers, to purchase your products or contact you about your services, because our experienced copywriters know exactly how to make words sell.
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TestimonialsSee all testimonials
" Extiendo una recomendación para ASOLOUNCLICK proveedor autorizado para nuestra empresa desde 2010. Nos llevan todo lo relacionado con mercadotecnia virtual, imagen, sistemas, tienda virtual. Con unos excelentes diseños, atracción de clientes y resultados en aumento de ventas en Internet."
"ASOLOUNCLICK es una compañía con muchas ganas de crecer, por lo que los recomiendo ampliamente para cualquier trabajo. Son una compañía honesta,ordenada, y con un alto compromiso ante cualquier tarea o proyecto,encomendado."


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These tacos are delicious and pretty to look at too!
Corn tortillas
1 lb raw chicken tenders
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1 red onion
cilantro for garnish
all ingredients for Peach Salsa
Slice the onion into wedges. Cover the chicken in chili powder, paprika and dried oregano. Bake at 400 or grill until the chicken is cooked throughout, 15-20 minutes in the oven. All to cool and then slice into bite sized pieces. The onion can be roasted in the oven or grilled while the chicken is cooking. Prepare the salsa according to Peach Salsa. Heat the tortillas in a frying pan until the surface just begins to brown. Do this step right before preparing the tacos. Add the grilled or roasted onion wedges, chicken pieces and salsa to each taco shell. Garnish with cilantro and serve immediately!


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Daler-Rowney Screen Printing Supplies
These versatile and convenient mediums from Daler-Rowney will let you create an entire screen printing system from your favorite acrylic paints! Especially well-suited for use with System 3 Original Acrylics, these mediums can be mixed with acrylics to create printing inks, as well as mediums for marking out images and blocking off areas of the screen. The convenient starter kit is an excellent way to begin your screen printing adventures. Why invest in printing-specific inks when you can use System 3 and let your acrylics do double duty in both painting and printing?
There are no products matching the selection.


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The Riegelsville would be delighted to host your bridal shower, intimate wedding, birthday party, anniversary dinner or corporate get-together; and the Inn's uniquely sectioned layout offers a number of different dining areas for your party. Depending on your party size and desired setting, the following can be reserved: one or both of our first floor dining rooms, second floor private party dining room, second floor balcony or outdoor canal-side space. Events at the Inn are completely customizable; you'll work with an event coordinator to plan and budget your event. With some basic information on your interests, the coordinator will work with Chef Jeremy to create a menu perfectly matched with your event.
Want to book your next event at the Inn?


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NWSWA offers higher standards
A £250 red wine from Ribera del Duero has been chosen by a panel of top tasters as Best Wine of Show at this year's New Wave Spanish Wine Awards.
Viñedos & Bodegas García Figuero's Tinus 2006 also won Best Premium Red Wine Over £20.
OLN's Tim Atkin MW and an expert panel of judges, comprised of major buyers and wine writers, tasted nearly 900 wines before deciding on a list of 119 they felt best represented Spain's offering.
Trophies were awarded to 18 wines considered to be outstanding.
Tesco product development manager James Griswood said the competition showed that wines from Spain can "stand up on a global stage".
He added: "This year's competition showed a much higher and more even standard of wines compared to previous years."?Wine writer and consultant John Radford said: "The wine seems to get better and there were more arguments between the judges. There were some very good sweet wines."?House & Garden wine and food editor Joanna Simon noticed "quite a high number" of faulty bottles and advised wine producers to use screwcaps for appropriate styles such as whites and young rosés.
She too spotted a gradual improvement in quality year by year.
"The competition highlights the quality of the very best Spanish wines and draws attention to the variety and diversity of styles, regions and grape varieties available," she added.
This year's winners – page 18-19


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The closest major airport to Pella, Iowa is Des Moines International Airport (DSM / KDSM). This airport is in Des Moines, Iowa and is 52 miles from the center of Pella, IA. If you're looking for domestic flights to DSM, check the airlines that fly to DSM.
Search for direct flights from your hometown and find hotels near Pella, IA, or scroll down for more international airports or domestic airports. You can also browse local airports if you're a pilot.
52 miles: Des Moines, IA (DSM / KDSM) Des Moines International Airport
239 miles: Kansas City, MO (MCI / KMCI) Kansas City International Airport
278 miles: Minneapolis, MN (MSP / KMSP) Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport
294 miles: Saint Louis, MO (STL / KSTL) Lambert-St. Louis International Airport
52 miles: Des Moines, IA (DSM / KDSM) Des Moines International Airport
102 miles: Cedar Rapids, IA (CID / KCID) The Eastern Iowa Airport
110 miles: Kirksville, MO (IRK / KIRK) Kirksville Regional Airport
111 miles: Waterloo, IA (ALO / KALO) Waterloo Regional Airport
21 miles: Knoxville, IA (OXV / KOXV) Knoxville Municipal Airport
27 miles: Newton, IA (TNU / KTNU) Newton Municipal Airport
40 miles: Ottumwa, IA (OTM / KOTM) Ottumwa Regional Airport
46 miles: Ankeny, IA (IKV / KIKV) Ankeny Regional Airport
74 miles: Marshalltown, IA (MIW / KMIW) Marshalltown Municipal Airport
Travelmath helps you find the closest airport to any city, as well as a list of smaller local airports. You can use these pages to plan your trip and figure out the easiest way to get to your destination. Many times there are multiple airports near the city you want to visit, so you can often find a cheaper flight into a different airport. This is especially useful if you are getting a rental car, since it might be better to drive a bit farther in order to save money on airfare. If you're booking an international flight, you probably want the closest major airport, otherwise if you're a pilot you may be looking for a local airport. Use this tool along with the flight distance pages to plan your travel.


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Yesterday I visited *LEA25 – The Jewell Theatre – SNOW. And from the Land Description, 'Welcome to your new reality. In a dystopian future, made white with ice and snow… Welcome to the world of SNOW, the Jewell Theatre's latest play.' You can read more about the upcoming performances here at https://jewelltheatre.wordpress.com/snow/ and all about … Continue reading
Tag Archives: snow
In the darkness before the dawn In the swirling of this storm When I'm rolling with the punches and hope is gone Leave a light, a light on https://youtu.be/BQeMxWjpr-Y Teleport to IASWAS – Groenland Continue reading
The same moon
Back in the day, when I missed the someone I loved, I used to comfort myself by thinking about however far apart we were, we both looked up at the same moon. Two souls staring up, thinking the same thoughts, connected in that way. It made the distance disappear almost, and the earth felt very … Continue reading
2 free gifts at my MP gallery
In the spirit of Xmas (bah humbug lolz) I have decided to put two free gifts at my Marketplace gallery. The second picture is new and the other one is from last year which I have modified a bit. Both pictures have animated snow effect because, Xmas. And because I like it. If you like … Continue reading
I'll protect you from all the things I've seen
I took these pictures at the remote and desolate Khodovarikha, 'a weather station located on the freezing Barents Sea'. Described as 'one of the loneliest places on earth', I certainly got that feeling as I wandered around exploring. I was listening to the music stream too which really added to the atmosphere. The buildings are … Continue reading
Winter at Q Lounge!
I have written in this blog a few times about Q Lounge Trance Club, which this year celebrated it's 8th anniversary in SL! And is one of my favourite places to party and socialise. So I was excited this afternoon to be able to get a sneak preview of the Xmas build for the club, … Continue reading
A trip North
Today I fancied doing a bit more exploring in SL, and went to check out 'North', a build by Kate Bergdorf that, quoted from the information notecard, is 'inspired by the raw and serene Scandinavian and Scottish northern landscapes'. The NC gives more detail about the build and the vision behind it, as well as … Continue reading


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Should voters decide how county supervisors are elected? No way, says the supervisors themselves.
In a 4-1 vote on July 13, the board rejected a proposal from the county charter review committee that voters decide in November whether the supervisors should be elected county-wide, as they are now, or by district, the way supervisors are elected in every other county in California.
Twice in the 1990s, voters rejected a change in the way supervisors are elected, noted board President Rich Gordon, who cast the sole vote to put the question before voters again in November.
(San Mateo County does have supervisory districts. Candidates must live within the district they represent, but they must run county-wide. Mr. Gordon is in District 3, which includes Menlo Park, Atherton, Woodside and Portola Valley.)
The 16-member county charter review committee, which held 13 public meetings over six months, had recommended on a 14-2 vote to put the question before voters.
The committee made other recommendations, including:
● Changing the methods for filling vacant seats when elected officials resign. The Board of Supervisors agreed to put that on the ballot.
● Appointing rather than electing the treasurer/tax collector and auditor/controller. The supervisors rejected that recommendation.
● Reviewing the need for each of the county's 49 boards and commissions. The supervisors approved this with conditions.
Electing supervisors
The charter review committee actually expressed opposition, on an 11-4 vote, to changing how supervisors are elected, but on a 14-2 vote said the question should be decided by voters. They were "persuaded that there was enough energy and public debate of the issue that the voters of the county should be allowed to select the method of electing their representatives to the board," the committee said in its report.
Mr. Gordon agreed that the matter "really needed to go to the ballot for the citizens to make the decision."
No, it doesn't, said his colleagues. "Every resident gets five supervisors and I think that's the way it should be," said Supervisor Carole Groom.
And the voters? "The Board of Supervisors decides what goes to the voters and the board has made its decision," she said. "Why clutter the ballot?"
Supervisor Rose Jacobs Gibson did not respond to an interview request.
The committee's recommendations, said Supervisor Adrienne Tissier, are the board's to "accept or reject. I didn't feel the need to change (the election procedures)."
"The board has the discretion to make decisions to not put a particular matter on the ballot," said Supervisor Mark Church. "We are elected to make these kinds of decisions."
"Wow. That's surprising," said Woodside mayor and committee member Dave Burow upon learning of the board's vote to not authorize a ballot measure. "Obviously, as a committee member, I'm disappointed."
As was Portola Valley Councilwoman Maryann Derwin, who reported on the board's decision at the June 14 meeting, and added, "I'm very disappointed."
Accountable to voters
On the issue of changing the county treasurer and auditor to appointed, rather than elected, positions, the charter review committee noted several concerns, including whether these officials should be accountable to voters or county officials.
An argument for appointment is that a for-hire official would have to demonstrate expertise in a job interview, for example.
The supervisors voted unanimously to keep things as they are, noting that expertise in particular areas, if needed, can be hired.
These officials are now accountable to voters, Mr. Church told The Almanac. "You lose that accountability if that position is appointed."
"I think it would put too much power into the hands of the county manager," Ms. Tissier said.
The board had approved in February an ordinance setting qualification standards for the county treasurer, but the standards won't be effective until the 2015 election, Supervisor Groom noted. "I was in favor of putting them into effect now," she said.
In addition to supporting by-district supervisor elections, Woodside Mayor Burow wanted these finance officials appointed. A final comment? "I guess there's just strong support for the status quo," he said.


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Shinsuke Nakamura Vs. John Cena was one of the most important fights of the year. Not because of the quality of the meeting itself, but because it was the first time in history that both individuals faced each other. Also, the fact that it happened in SmackDown and not in a PPV makes it even more striking.
The end of the contest was the most shocking, as Nakamura applied Cena his Reverse Exploder, receiving the American the impact on his neck.
So yeeah John Cena's probably dead sorry @michaelbay #SDLive pic.twitter.com/v6rOJXbsLX
Then Nakamura finished off his opponent with his classic Kinshasa and won the victory along with the opportunity to challenge Jinder Mahal for the WWE World Championship at SummerSlam.
KINSHASA !!!!! @ShinsukeN is GOING TO #SummerSlam !!! #SDLive @JohnCena pic.twitter.com/yUiWDgnD90
– WWE (@WWE) August 2, 2017
However, as reported by Dave Meltzer in the latest Wrestling Observer newsletter , WWE had prepared another situation to occur in the middle of the fight, which is as follows:
"The original plan was for Corbin to try to interfere to attack Nakamura, but in the end he would do Cena, thus allowing Nakamura to win."
In effect, Baron Corbin attacked both Cena and Nakamura, but instead of doing so during the fight, the assault by Mr. Money on the Bank was perpetrated after SmackDown was no longer issued.
John Cena Saves Shinsuke Nakamura From Baron Corbin's Attack


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Blackham Resources Ltd to Undertake Significant Recapitalisation
- Standstill agreement defers the 31 December 2017 repayment date of Blackham's non-amortising term loan ("Term Loan")
- Discussions are well progressed to refinance the Term Loan during the standstill period and ahead of a broader recapitalisation
- Blackham to undertake an entitlements issue to raise ~A$36 million, to be launched in mid-January 2018 following the refinancing of the Term Loan
- The recapitalisation plan is underpinned by the intended support of Blackham's secured lender (Orion) and key mining contractor (MACA)
- Milan Jerkovic to become Executive Chairman, strengthening the executive management team
Blackham is also well advanced with negotiations to refinance the Term Loan, with settlement expected to occur by 15 January 2018.
Immediately following the refinancing of the Term Loan, Blackham will undertake an entitlements issue to raise ~A$36 million. All of Blackham's Directors will be participating in the entitlements issue to the extent they are able to finance their respective entitlements.
The recapitalisation strategy being pursued by Blackham, comprising the standstill agreement, Term Loan refinancing and the entitlements issue, is underpinned by the intended support of Orion, MACA and Pybar Mining Services Pty Ltd of Blackham's 6.5Moz Matilda-Wiluna Operations, which are transitioning to stable production and strong operational cashflow.
As part of the recapitalisation strategy, Blackham's Non-Executive Chairman Milan Jerkovic will become Executive Chairman, taking a leading role in the operations and management of Blackham.
Mr Milan Jerkovic (Non-Executive Chairman) said "The entitlements issue will provide the opportunity for eligible shareholders to increase their holdings at an exciting time in the Company's Matilda-Wiluna Gold Operation. Whilst 2017 has been a tough year for Blackham, the 2018 operational outlook for our Matilda- Wiluna Gold Project is very strong. I am looking forward to taking a more active role with Blackham as Executive Chairman in what I expect to be a transformational year of strong operational performance which will generate significant operational cashflow for Blackham and its shareholders.
The recapitalisation will ensure that Blackham is fully financed with a strong balance sheet to enable it to close out its finance facility with Orion in 2018 and to execute on its forward plans, which will include significant ongoing exploration drilling targeted at both new deposits and at increasing gold reserves (currently some 15Mt @ 2.5g/t for 1.2Moz) by converting more of Blackham's ~6.5Moz of gold resources (65Mt @ 3.1 g/t for 6.5Moz) to reserves."
Mr Bryan Dixon (Managing Director) said "The support from Blackham's lender and mining contractor demonstrated their belief in the potential of the Company's Matilda-Wiluna Gold Operation."
The Company will remain in Voluntary Suspension until the earlier of 15 January 2018 or the announcement of the completion of the re-financing and re-capitalisation plan.
To view tables, please visit:
About Blackham Resources Ltd:
Blackham Resources Ltd. (ASX:BLK) (OTCMKTS:BKHRF), is an emerging gold producer focused on its Matilda Gold Project in Western Australia where mining and production is imminent. The Matilda/Wiluna Gold Operation incorporates over 1,000 square kilometres of tenements containing total JORC 2012 resources of 63Mt @ 3.2 g/t for 6.4Moz of gold. These tenements cover around 55 kilometres of strike along the Wiluna Mine Sequence and 10 kilometres of strike along the Coles Find Sequence. The Wiluna Mine and Coles Find Sequence has historically produced 4 million ounces of gold.
All the deposits are within 26 kilometres by existing haul roads of Blackhams recently acquired Gold Plant. With exploration prospects at Mt Poole, Monarch, Carroll Prior, Red Lady, Zenith, Island and Albion in the Lakeway area provides the company with excellent exploration areas for potential future projects.
Bryan Dixon Managing Director
Blackham Resources Ltd.
Office: +61-8-9322-6418
Milan Jerkovic Non-Executive Chairman
Blackham Resources Ltd.
Office: +61-8-9322-6418
Jim Malone
Investor Relations Manager
Blackham Resources Ltd.
Office: +61-419-537-714
John Gardner
Media Enquiries Citadel Magnus
Office: +61-8-6160-4901


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This week we examine a debt instrument denominated in Swiss francs, from one of Europe's most reputable insurance companies, SRLEV N.V. This high yielding investment grade (BBB-/BAA3) bond has a first call date in 2016, at which time it will either be called by the company, or it will reset its coupon rate to the 5 year CHF swap rate (the Swiss National Bank's key lending rate) plus the initial spread of 5.625%. We have targeted acquiring this bond at below par value, which would return its holders a yield better than its 7% coupon rate. This is the best rate that we have been able to find for investment grade debt denominated in Swiss francs, and believe this to be a great opportunity for adding this traditionally strong currency into our Foreign and World Fixed Income holdings.
Wealth Preservation Concerns
As the weapons for global economic warfare continue to be invented or forged by the illuminati of central bankers, political leaders, and sovereign wealth funds around the world, wealth preservation and risk aversion remain top priorities for many of the more common and "less enlightened" (and fading fast) middle class. Declining equity and property prices, ultra-low interest rates, minimal pay raises, elevated inflation, ineffective politicians, potentially increased taxes, and the Fed's (and the ECB's) easy money policies, have all precipitated into a widespread erosion of wealth that will likely continue until the aforementioned conditions begin to change. What little progress might be being made stands in significant danger of being squashed or wiped out by the looming fiscal cliff that current political leaders seem perfectly content to ignore until after their re-election (or firing) this November.
Last week, ECB President Draghi introduced the new "Outright Monetary Transactions" (OMT) program aimed to reduce sovereign bond yields of troubled eurozone countries. I can hardly think of a more befitting name, unless there some way to sterilize it in some way similar to their intent to "sterilize" their bond purchases. While it may prove itself to be much less effective that the Fed's "Quantitative Easing," perhaps the boldness of its name may give it an added jolt. One might initially (or even logically) think that this might or would result in a weaker euro. Against some foreign currencies, perhaps, but evidently NOT against the US dollar. The FX markets evidently knows that no one can provide a better or faster stimulus than own Helicopter Ben Bernanke can. If anything, it appears to have simply been taken as a sign the euro will live to fight another day. But, as U.S. central bank official James Bullard forewarned previously while speaking behind closed doors in Beijing, nations that tie their currency to the dollar are at risk of importing inflation in the current environment.
Here at Durig Capital, we have undertaken the effort to protect our client's assets against the persistent destruction associated with an ever increasing supply of federal dollars, by scouring the globe in search of sound investments in the strongest global economies, and it is why we have chosen this high yield, 5 year re-adjusting (floating) rate, perpetual Swiss franc bonds as This Week's Best Bond.
Switzerland's Economy
Switzerland is a peaceful, prosperous, and modern market economy with low unemployment, a highly skilled labor force, and a per capita GDP among the highest in the world. Switzerland's economy benefits from a highly developed service sector, led by financial services, and a manufacturing industry that specializes in high-technology, knowledge-based production. Its economic and political stability, transparent legal system, exceptional infrastructure, efficient capital markets, and low corporate tax rates also make Switzerland one of the world's most competitive economies. The Swiss have brought their economic practices largely into conformity with the EU's, to enhance their international competitiveness, but some trade protectionism remains, particularly for its small agricultural sector. The fate of the Swiss economy is tightly linked to that of its neighbors in the euro zone, which purchases half of all Swiss exports.
The demand last year for the Swiss franc by investors seeking a safe haven currency resulted in the independent Swiss National Bank (SNB) conducting major market interventions to prevent further appreciation of the Swiss franc, as the franc's strength made Swiss exports less competitive and weakened the country's growth outlook. In the final quarter of 2011 exports fell 6.8% due to its strong currency. While unemployment is low at 3.1%, GDP fell to 1.4% in 2011, and the debt to GDP remains lower than most nations at 55%. The inflation rate for Switzerland was reported at -1 percent in March of 2012, with expectations for more to the downside. However, judging from the SNB's own quarterly report (released today) on the inflation forecast, it appeared to be heading towards a bottom, then a gentle upwards slope.
As deflation concerns begin to wane, there will be increasing pressure for an exit strategy from the EURCHF "floor", along with other unconventional policy strategies. Furthermore, there is increasing evidence of international and internal pressure to limit continued intervention. The SNB took a huge risk, which has paid off so far, in their strategy but the SNB's balance sheet is slowly expanding, increasing the risk that the 1.2000 floor might come with a heavy price. From a historical perspective, the last time the SNB pegged the franc to another currency (the Deutsche mark) it lasted for about years before it was unwound.
Public debt to GDP
Budget Deficit
(26.5 Billion)
197.9 Billion
173.5 Billion
United States
|US$ 1.29 Trillion
|1.474 Trillion
|2.239 Trillion
Swiss franc (CHF) per US dollar –
0.937 (current)
0.939 (2011)
0.945 (2010)
1.029 (2009)
1.081 (2008)
1.119 (2007)
1.214 (2006)
1.327 (2005)
About SRLEV
SRLEV N.V. provides insurance services in the Netherlands. The company was formerly known as REAAL Levensverzekeringen N.V. and changed its name to SRLEV N.V. in July, 2009. The company was incorporated in 1904 and is based in Alkmaar, the Netherlands. SRLEV N.V. operates as a subsidiary of REAAL Verzekeringen N.V., the insurance division of SNS REAAL. The group formed by SNS REAAL and its subsidiaries has a long history that is closely related to the social democratic movement and the worker's movement, and its roots lay in two insurance companies connected to those movements incorporated by the trade union at the beginning of the twentieth century. In 2007, SNS REAAL acquired Zwitserleven from Swiss Life Holdings, making it the second largest life insurer in the Netherlands.
In the first half of 2011, SRLEV, the legal entity comprising most of the life Insurance activities of SNS REAAL, successfully placed € 400 million of 30-year Tier 2 notes and CHF 105 million of perpetual subordinated notes. These transactions were part of the capital management of SRLEV and were related to the replacement of internal funding by external funding, a significant portion of which were to the Dutch government. The Supervisory Boards of SNS Bank NV, REAAL NV and SRLEV NV are composed of the same individuals as the Supervisory Board of SNS REAAL.
While Moody's currently rates these bonds at Baa3, most aspects of SRLEV's Insurance Financial Strength rating scorecard (including market position and brand, product focus and diversification, asset quality, capital adequacy, liquidity and ALM, reserve adequacy, and financial flexibility) all received the higher A rating. Weakest in the overall rating was their diversity of distribution and geographic diversification. Moody's also includes the financial flexibility at the SNS REAAL Group level in its analysis, and earnings are expected to remain under pressure, in line with expectations of constrained profitability of both the insurance and banking operations. Standard and Poor's evaluation of the strong stand alone credit profiles of both REAAL Verzekeringen N.V. and SRLEV N.V. was reduced one notch (BBB) as a result of a notional group operating rating for the SNS REAAL group.
In our opinion, SRLEV's life insurance business appeared to have a higher portion of stronger fundamentals than the parent banking group (SNS REAAL), and the additional benefit that would more normally come from the "bank guarantee" associated with this bond might actually be bringing with it the perception of added risk.
The default risk is SRLEV N.V.'s ability to perform. While the higher yield of this debt issue reflects a higher degree of risk typically associated with hybrid/perpetual issues, given its sound business fundamentals, its quality investment grade rating, and its hefty 5.65% spread above the CHF swap rate, it is our opinion that the default risks for these rate adjusting bonds is quite low relative to the remarkably high yields that they offer.
The currency risk of the Swiss franc could and will affect the returns of these bonds and possibly in a negative way as it exposes investors to Switzerland's economy and the policies of the Swiss National Bank.
Accessibility and Liquidity
Aside from owning various emerging market funds and ETFs that blend together various winners and losers into a mixed yield cocktail, the question arises as to how a retail investor might own or acquire individual, maturity definite Swiss franc denominated bonds. Many times broker/dealers require an institutional sized single bond purchase. However, with a broker and advisor's assistance, it is possible for a number of retail clients to be combined together in order to make a larger institutional sized purchase. Previously, we have been able to facilitate purchases as low as US $10,000.
We continue to search for individual corporate instruments denominated in the currencies of growing economies that yield higher than average returns to help protect our clients against the erosion of wealth that results from a constant devaluation of the US dollar. We acknowledge that a stronger US dollar would directly reduce the total returns of this Swiss bond. Conversely, if the US dollar continues on the longer term path of relative weakness to the Swiss franc that it has been on, this alone would add significantly to the already higher positively accruing returns of this bond.
The combination of offering a remarkably high yield, some protection against a further loss of wealth with a continuation of the US dollar's weakness against the Swiss franc, and a diversification away from heavily overweight US dollar based assets into one of the world's top tier fiscally conservative countries is why we are adding SRLEV N.V. bonds at this time to our Foreign and World Fixed Income holdings.
First Call: 12/19/2016
Pays: Annually
Rating: BBB-/Baa3
Price: 97.55
Current Yield: 7.17%
Durig Capital clients may currently own these bonds.
Contact our Fixed Income Specialist for questions at 971-327-8847.
Durig Capital clients may currently own these bonds.
To know more about this SRLEV bond call our fixed income specialist at 971-327-8847
Reason for Durig A+ RatingDurig.com | Bond-Yields.com
Tell us what your looking for, or if you have questions about the Swiss franc bonds.


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Why do we go to conferences and how do you make the most of it? Allow me to give my very unqualified opinion in the form of a guide. This is part 1.
Author: Tea & Tales
It's 9PM on a Monday, I'm in Canterbury for a Conference, and I'm Drinking Wine from the Bottle: 2nd Year PhD Retrospective
So it's been a hot second since I've last written on this blog, for which I sincerely apologise - not that anyone is reading, but it does not show great discipline. The reason why I have been largely absent online is because I am currently nearing the end of the second year of my three-year … Continue reading It's 9PM on a Monday, I'm in Canterbury for a Conference, and I'm Drinking Wine from the Bottle: 2nd Year PhD Retrospective
Insecurity, Heartbreak, and the PhD
A PhD is not all fun and games.
Welcome to Night Vale
In which I have a brief rave about my latest obsession: the wonderful podcast Welcome to Night Vale.
A Day Trip to Soho
Although life in Cambridge is wonderful, and I am equally in love with my friends and my work, sometimes I have to leave the bubble. So after hearing about a secret cocktail bar in Soho with a children's literature inspired menu, my partner and I figured we might as well go for a cheeky day … Continue reading A Day Trip to Soho
Nation – Terry Pratchett
That's what the gods are! An answer that will do! Because there's food to be caught and babies to be born and life to be lived and so there is no time for big, complicated, and worrying answers! Please give us a simple answer, so that we don't have to think, because if we think, … Continue reading Nation – Terry Pratchett
Peacock's Tearoom – Ely
When life in a Cambridge college gets too claustrophobic, chances are high that you are going to go on a day trip to the nearby village of Ely. (Pro-tip: Saturday return tickets are only £2!) Ely is an adorable, pictoresque little village. It's very small and very, very English. After doing the prerequisite touristic wander … Continue reading Peacock's Tearoom – Ely


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...what a sinus infection feels like. This pretty picture is me! It neglects the painful teeth though. And the cough I'm now sprouting thanks to the post nasal runoff.
It's wet enough around Georgia now to grow sinus infections from the earth, on little vines, waiting for noses to happen by and inhale them like jasmine.
Everything changes even while we're sick. The net stands still less and less often these days. I think that when we die we'll be summed up and remembered and forgotten before our bodies touch the earth. We will be vintage in 5 years or less. The age of an online antique reduced from 100 years to ten.
All the while, infectious agents will hold fast to the insides of sinuses everywhere.


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These beautifully majestic depictions of Buddha are expertly cast in deep, inky black resin from India. They display a wonderful level of complexity and detail and make for an excellent centrepiece.
There are several variations in the depiction of Buddha and each has its own significant meaning. These variations in hand gesture are known as 'mudra.' The mudra shown in this resin Buddha is known as the 'vitarka' or discussion mudra. The tips of the thumb and index finger are held together and the other fingers point upwards. This hand position is used when engaging in the teaching or debate of Buddhist ideas.
Approx: 18cm × 27cm × 15cm


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Jiro Yonezawa
"Bamboo basketry for me is an expression of detailed precision. These baskets represent a search for the beauty and precision in nature and a way to balance the chaos evident in these times."
Jiro Yonezawa has been a bamboo artist for the best part of forty years and he has honed his craft inside the distinct cultures of Japan and the United States, and across three formative periods in his life. In Japan, from 1981 onwards, he studied at the Beppu Vocational Arts Training Center, apprenticed with Masakazu Ono, and furthered his training at the Oita Prefectural Beppu Industrial Art Research Institute. In 1989 he moved to the US where his exposure to the contemporary art scene had a profound and liberating effect on his work, with his baskets becoming bigger and bolder until they graduated into the large sculptural pieces he is now recognized for. In 2008 he returned to his hometown in Japan and built a new studio in Saiki City, Oita Prefecture, where he has matured his practice and become actively involved in the local art and craft communities.
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Airbnb guest severely injured traversing stairs in home of Airbnb host: Is Airbnb liable?
eTurboNews –
In this week's travel law article, we examine the case of Carroll v. American Empire Surplus Lines Insurance Co., Civil Action No. 16-2589 ( E.D. La. 2017) wherein the Court noted that "This action arises from injuries as a result of the collapse of a staircase. Andrew Callard…rented a property at 1423 Royal Street in New Orleans, Louisiana (the Property) from its owners, Defendants Mark Hamilton and Lynn Schwarzhoff (the Owners), using the website maintained by Defendant Airbnb, Inc. Plaintiff Justine Judge Carroll, a friend of Callard's, also stayed at the Property during Callard's rental. On April 10, 2015, the wooden stairs that Carroll was ascending to access the Property collapsed, causing Carroll to fall approximately ten feet. Plaintiff Carroll alleges that he sustained severe musculoskeletal and neurological injuries as the result of the fall. Carroll asserts tort claims against Defendants Hamilton and Schwarzhoff, several of their alleged insurers and Defendant Airbnb…Defendant Airbnb now moves for summary judgment dismissing the Plaintiff's against it, arguing that under Louisiana law Defendant Airbnb owed no duty to Plaintiffs and that Airbnb had no knowledge of the defect that allegedly caused Plaintiffs' injuries". Motion granted.
Terror Targets Update
In Halbfinger, Kershner & Walsh, At Least 41 Palestinians Killed in Protests as U.S. Opens Jerusalem Embassy, nytimes (5/14/2018) it was noted that "Palestinian officials say at least 41 people have died in the latest round of protests. At least 1,700 Palestinian demonstrators were also wounded along the border fence with Gaza, the Health Ministry reported, as the mass protests that began on March 30 and that had already left dozens dead erupted again. The relocation of the United States Embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv was set for Monday, timed to the 70th anniversary of the formation of Israel-a move that many Israelis have celebrated but that has enraged Palestinians…A mass attempt by Palestinians to cross the fence separating Israel from Gaza quickly turned violent, as Israeli soldiers responded with rifle fire…Tens of thousands of Palestinians took part in the Gaza protests, which spread on Monday to the West Bank, in opposition to the embassy move".
Sumatra, Indonesia
In Sword-wielding assailants shot dead after attacking police station in Indonesia, travelwirenews (5/16/2018) it was noted that "Indonesian police have shot dead four men armed with swords after they attacked a police station on the island of Sumatra. One policeman was reported killed and three people injured in the attack….the perpetrators were armed with Samurai swords…Just two days ago…10 people were injured in a suicide bombing as two motorcycles drove into a checkpoint at a police station in the Indonesian port city of Surabaya".
Exploding Cricket Match, Anyone?
In Ghazi & Nordland, Rare Attack on Cricket Match in Afghanistan Kills at Least 8, nytimes (5/19/2018) it was noted that "At least eight people have been killed and dozens of others wounded in a series of blasts at a cricket match in eastern Afghanistan…The Taliban spokesman…issued a statement denying that the group was involved in the attack late Friday night on the stadium in the city Jalalabad".
Texas School Shooting
In Fernandez, Fausset & Bidgood, Texas School Shooting: 10 Dead, 10 Hurt, and Many Not Surprised It Happened, nytimes (5/18/2018) it was noted that "A nation plagued by a wrenching loop of mass school shootings watched the latest horror play out in this small Southeast Texas town Friday morning, as a young man armed with a shotgun and a .38 revolver smuggled under his coat opened fire on his school campus, killing 10 people, many of them his fellow students, and wounding 10 more…Law enforcement officials said they found two homemade explosive devices left at the school during the rampage".
Cubana Airline Crash Kills 100 Plus
In Gladstone & Robles, More Than 100 Die as Aging Cuban Airliner Crashes, nytimes (5/18/2018) it was noted that "A Cuban state airliner crashed and burned moments after takeoff from Havana on Friday, killing nearly all 114 people aboard the nearly 40-year old plane. It was one of the worst airline crashes in Cuba, which has been struggling to operate with a decrepit fleet of planes that has been blamed on the longstanding economic embargo imposed by the United States"
Chinese Ride Hailing Rape & Murder
In Chen & Ou, Killing Spurs Didi, China's Ride-Hailing Giant, to Revamp Its Service, nytimes (5/16/2018) it was noted that "Didi Chuxing, China's wildly popular ride-sharing service, said on Wednesday that it would overhaul its app and its safety and security practices, after reports that a passenger had been raped and killed by her driver. The passenger, Li Mingzhu, 21, a flight attendant, was found dead last Saturday after hailing a ride downtown from the airport in the northern Chinese city of Zhengzhou on May 6…Didi Chuxing has faced a widening array of complaints from female passengers in recent days, as nationwide attention has focused on the company in the aftermath of the killing. Didi Chuxing is similar to Uber, and indeed bought Uber's business in China nearly two years ago. The Chinese company which has been expanding at a breakneck pace within the country and around the world says it has 450 million users".
British Tourists Kidnapped In Congo
In DRC park suspends tourism after kidnapping and murder, travelwirenews (5/16/2018) it was noted that "The management of Democratic Republic of Congo's Virunga Park announced on Tuesday that it has temporarily halted tourist activities after the murder of a guard and the kidnapping of two British holidaymakers (who were) freed after two days. The UK pair were unharmed…One of the most important conservation sites in the world, Virunga Park covers 7,800 square kilometers along a swathe of eastern DRC abutting the border with Uganda and Rwanda. It also covers most of Lake Edward and the Ishasha river valley".
Sichuan Airlines Windshield Shatters
In Ives & May, Windshield Shatters on Plane in China, Pulling Pilot Partly Through Window, nytimes (5/15/2018) it was noted that "A Sichuan Airlines plane heading for Tibet made an emergency landing on Monday after its windshield shattered and a co-pilot was partially sucked out of the cockpit…Flight 8633 left the southwestern metropolis of Chongqing at 6:26 a.m. and was scheduled to land at 9:05 a.m. in the Tibetan capital, Lhasa…But the windshield later 'shattered with a loud sound'…'When I looked over to my side, half of my co-pilot's body was hanging out of the window'. 'Fortunately, he was wearing a seatbelt'".
Russian Airline Engine Failure
In Russian Boeing 737 lands after reported mid-flight engine failure, travelwirenews (5/19/2018) it was noted that "A Pobeda Boeing 737 reported to have 170 people on board has landed in Moscow with only one working engine. The plane had to turn around mid-flight en route to the Russian city of Astrakhan after its right engine failed".
EU Flight Delay Judgment
In Compensation of passengers in case of flight delay: European Judgment, travelwirenews (5/13/2018) it was noted that "The judgment delivered by the Court of Justice of the European Union on 7 March 2018 (dealt with) the compensation of passengers for the delay of a flight and the competent jurisdiction in the case of a dispute appears between the passenger and the airline responsible for the delay…The airline which has carried out the first segment of a connecting flight, in a Member State, may be attacked before the courts of the final destination in another Member State. This is the case when the individual flights have been booked for the entire flight and the significant delay on arrival is due to an incident that took place on the first of the flights".
Uber Wants To Know, Now
In Uber will track even more about your trip with new mid-ride feedback, travelwirenews (5/14/2018) it was noted that "Instead of waiting until you're safely at your destination to let Uber know your driver was on the phone the whole time (or, alternatively, the most attentive listener with killer dinner suggestions), the ride-hailing app is letting you share your thoughts while you ride. That's rights, giving tips, ratings, compliments and other feedback is now a mid-ride event. Don't worry, the driver won't get the feedback until after you exit the vehicle".
Uber Waives Arbitration In Sex Cases
In Wakabayashi, Uber Eliminates Forced Arbitration for Sex Misconduct Claims, nytimes (5/15/2018) it was noted that "Uber said on Tuesday that it is eliminating forced arbitration agreements for employees, riders and drivers who make sexual assault or harassment claims against the company. Before they could use Uber's ride-hailing app, customers have had to consent to a terms-of-service agreement that required them to resolve any legal claims with the company in an arbitration hearing, rather than in open court [See e.g., Meyer v. Uber Technologies, Inc., 868 F. 3d 66 (2d Cir. 2017)(arbitration agreement enforced)]. Now, customers can take those claims to court or join a class action lawsuit, the company said").
Luxury Paris, Anyone?
In Vora, How to Get to and Enjoy a Luxury Trip to Paris for Less, nytimes (5/16/2018) it was noted that "Interested in a late summer vacation in Paris, but think that peak travel season means it must be completely out of reach? In fact, the opposite is actually true: August happens to be one of the most affordable times to visit the city, with even luxury hotels offering rates and inclusions that aren't usually available during the rest of the year. Airfare to the city, it turns out, is also cheaper compared with other months".
Volcanos, Anyone?
In Blinder, It's Not Just Hawaii: The U.S. Has 169 Volcanos That Could Erupt, nytimes (5/14/2018) it was noted that "Volcanos are full of tricks. They can build to a major eruption in a crescendo of shudders and spatters or explode without almost no warning. They can lie in wait under a magnificent snowcap, the centerpiece of a landscape of beauty that they can obliterate tomorrow, or in 10,000 years, or never again…The Unites States Geological Survey counts 169 potentially active volcanos in the country…About 50 of them in six states are rated high priority of highest priority for monitoring".
Best Baguette In Paris
In Nossiter, Sons of Immigrants Prop Up a Symbol of 'Frenchness': The Baguette, nytimes (5/14/2018) it was noted that "Beware that basket of limp crust in front of you. Not all French bread is created equal. So sacred is the classic baguette that French law strictly codifies it, protects it and regulates it. There are in fact few things more closely associated with France than the baguette, that long crusty stick that announces its nationality like no other bread. So, the mastering of that symbol of Frenchness by Mahmoud M'sddi, an immigrant's son and this year's winner of the Grand Prize for Best Parisian Baguette, is about more than great baking…Mr. M'seddi's triumph challenges the very notion of what it means to be French".
Sports Betting, Anyone?
In Liptak, Supreme Court Ruling Favors Sports Betting, nytimes (5/14/2018) it was noted that "In a boost for the prospect of commercial sports gambling across the nation, the Supreme Court on Monday struck down a federal law that effectively banned such gambling in most states. The case concerned New Jersey, but it has implications for other states eager to allow and tax sports gambling. Americans are estimated to annually place $150 billion in illegal wagers on sports. The betting law, called the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992, prohibited states from authorizing sports gambling. It exempted Nevada, where sports betting has long been legal, along with sports lotteries in Delaware, Montana and Oregon. Other states were given a year to opt in, but none acted in time".
Another Foot Washes Ashore
In Bilefsky, In Canada, Theories Swirl With the Tide as 14th Human Foot Washes Ashore, nytimes (5/12/2018) it was noted that "The mystery has haunted Canadians for more than a decade: one by one, human feet clad in running shoes have floated ashore on British Columbia's southern coast with gruesome regularity. Last weekend, foot No. 14 was discovered by a man strolling on a beach on Gabrola Island, a sleepy and picturesque enclave, population 4,000, that is known for its captivating sandstone and close-knit artistic community. This time, the foot…wore what appeared to be a hiking boot…The discoveries have fanned speculation…that the unattached feet could be the work of a tsunami, a human trafficker, a Mafia hit man, a deranged foot fetishist or a serial killer who had spread body parts out to sea…Nine of the feet have been identified, two of them from the same person, according to the Caroners Service. Most of the feet were men's. In at least three cases, the shoes were size 12. Not all the remains belonged to Canadians".
Marriott's Travel Geeks
In Blinder, Meet the People Who Can't Get Enough Hotel Points (You'll Learn Something), nytimes (5/15/2018) it was noted that "There are not many gatherings where a senior vice president of a hotel chain counts as a spot-on-sight celebrity. But on that Saturday evening in late April, the Marriott executive David Flueck has arrived in Northern Virginia for just such an event: a meeting of about 50 Marriott Rewards points aficionados who connected through a decade-old internet forum. They spend hours freely dolling out ideas and recommendations online and they affectionately call their in-person gathering "TIPPLE", shorthand for 'The Insider Points, Pints and Liquor Extravaganza'…With every answered question and shared strategy, they act as screen-named guides to a lucrative world governed by 'Megabonus' promotions and fine print, category changes and free night certificates. Their insights-fueled by a mix of practice, speculation and maybe a bit of projection-are an open-ended Google search away".
Goodbye Old Ice, Was Nice Knowing You
In White & Pierre-Louis, In the Arctic, the Old Ice Is Disappearing, nytimes (5/14/2018) it was noted that "In the Arctic Ocean, some ice stays frozen year-round, lasting many years before melting. But this winter, the region hit a record low for ice older than five years. This, along with a near-record low for sea level over all, supports predictions that midcentury there will be no more ice in the Arctic Ocean in summer. As darker, heat-absorbing water replaces reflective ice, it hastens warming in the region. Older ice is generally thicker than newer ice and thus more resilient to heat".
Japanese Railway Apologizes
In Japanese railway company apologizes for train leaving 25 seconds too early, travelwirenews (5/15/2018) it was noted that "Never late, never early…But in Japan, where the railway system is famous for being consistently punctual, no more or less, leaving too soon doesn't quite fly with authorities. After a train left 25 seconds early last Friday morning, railway company JR West posted an apology and press release on its website". Bravo.
Lightning Strikes In India
In Lightning strikes, freak storms kill & injure 200+ across India, travelwirenews (5/15/2018) it was noted that "Over 80 people have been killed in India by lightning strikes and thunderstorms that swept across five states. With hundreds of others injured, the National weather service is predicting more heavy rain and gusty winds".
Travel Law Case Of The Week
In the Carroll case the Court noted that "Plaintiffs bring negligence claims against Defendant Airbnb asserting that Airbnb knew or should have known of the defect that caused the stairs to collapse and negligently failed to correct the defect or remove the Property from its listings. Negligence liability in Louisiana flows from Louisiana Civil Code article 2315 (which) employs a duty-risk approach…Whether the defendant owed the plaintiff a duty is a threshold issue in any negligence action…Additionally Louisiana Civil Code articles 2317.1 and 2322 provide that a person who owns or controls a building is liable for harm caused by its defect, but only when the plaintiff can prove the following elements: (1) ownership [or control] of the building; (2) the owner knew or, in the exercise of reasonable care, should have known of the ruin or defect; (3) the damage could have been prevented by the exercise of reasonable care; (4) the defendant failed to exercise such reasonable care; and (5) causation".
The Parties' Arguments
"Defendant Airbnb argues that it is not liable to Plaintiffs for two reasons: a) Defendant Airbnb wed no duty to Plaintiffs because it neither owned or controlled the Property on which Plaintiff Carroll was injured and b) Defendant Airbnb had no knowledge of the defective condition of the stairs. Plaintiffs respond by pointing to two sources of duty that they claim Defendant Airbnb owed to them. Plaintiffs argue that Defendant Airbnb ad a special relationship with either the Plaintiffs or Owners such that Airbnb had a duty to prevent the Owners from harming third parties like Plaintiffs. And Plaintiff argue that Defendant Airbnb had sufficient control over the Property so as to become liable under Louisiana Civil Code articles 2317.1 and 2322″.
A Special Relationship
"Louisiana courts have fund that if a defendant has a sufficiently close relationship with a wrongdoer, the defendant may owe a duty to third persons to protect them from harm caused by the wrongdoer. The examples in Louisiana Tort Law-the only source regarding this type of special relationship that Plaintiffs cite-are limited to parent or guardian over minor child, master over servant, jailer over his charge, and perhaps a psychiatric hospital over its committed patients. Each of those relationships involves a defendant exerting a degree of control over the other party far exceeding even the amount that Plaintiffs allege that Airbnb exercised over the defendant Owners".
Airbnb As Gatekeeper
"At most, Plaintiffs allege that Defendant Airbnb was a 'gatekeeper' to the Property, with the right to inspect the property at any time and delist the Property at will. Such a relationship does not involve the direct control, and corresponding responsibility, of the more custodial relationships that have traditionally given rise to a duty to protect third parties…Airbnb's Terms of Service specifically disclaim any control over, or responsibility for, the actions of hosts and guests. Instead they describe Airbnb's role as facilitating a transaction between property owners and guests…Airbnb merely offered a platform on which the Defendant Owners listed the property".
Airbnb As Mere Intermediary
"In keeping with the characterization of Airbnb's role as a mere intermediary, Plaintiffs state that 'Airbnb provides on online platform that provides property owners, or Hosts, access to Guests, individuals seeking lodging. Plaintiffs also describe how Airbnb allows property owners to create a profile and collects information about their property as part of the listing process. On the other hand, Plaintiffs claim that 'Airbnb must accept a potential Host before the Host is allowed to make their property available for rent on Airbnb's website and frequently refers to the fact the Airbnb retains the right to remove a listing for any reason…(However) plaintiffs offer no evidence that Defendant Airbnb actually exercises those rights with anything approaching the care and discernment of a business hiring an employee".
Airbnb Similar To Real Estate Agent
"Instead, Defendant Airbnb's role is more akin to a real estate agent, who works to connect the parties to a transaction and often facilitates payment. A real estate agent also retains the right to accept and terminate listings, just as Airbnb does. Under Louisiana law real estate agents have the duty to disclose those defects of which they have knowledge, but no duty to inspect the property they advertise".
Not In Best Position To Prevent Harm
"Defendant Airbnb was not in the best position to prevent the harm that occurred. Airbnb has no right to inspect the Property before the incident and no right to authorize repairs. Exclusive control of the property remained with the Defendant Owners, and thus they were in the best position to mitigate the risk posed by a defective staircase". Accordingly, Defendant Airbnb did not owe Plaintiffs a duty because of a special relationship between Plaintiffs and Airbnb".
Duty Arising From Custody Or Garde
"Plaintiffs also assert that Defendant owed them a duty to care because of the custody or control over the Property that Airbnb retained. The duty of a custodian of a building…is to 'keep [it] in a reasonably safe condition [, and to] discover any unreasonably dangerous condition on his premises and either correct the condition or warn potential victims of its existence'. Defendant Airbnb argues that it does not owe that duty to Plaintiffs because it lacked custody, or garde, over the Property. While ownership of a thing is usually sufficient to establish garde, the principle of imposing liability on the entity best able to mitigate risk is broader than ownership alone and thus more than one party may have garde. To determine whether a person has garde over a thing, courts look to (1) whether the person bears such a relationship as to have the right of direction and control over the thing; and (2) what, if any, kind of benefit the person derives from the thing'. Plaintiffs cannot establish the Defendant Airbnb had garde over the Property because they fail to identify a dispute of material fact as to whether Defendant Airbnb had a right of direction and control over it…Plaintiffs cite no evidence that the right of Defendant Owners to grant access to their Property to whomever they like was in any way uninhibited by their contract with Airbnb. …Plaintiffs point to no evidence suggesting that Defendant Airbnb had the general right to inspect the :Property before the incident in question and conceded so at oral argument".
Actual Or Constructive Notice
"Even if Defendant Airbnb did have garde over the Property, Plaintiffs have produced no evidence that Airbnb knew or should have known of the defect in the stairs…In order to recover under a theory of custodial liability, 'a plaintiff must prove that the defendant had actual or constructive knowledge of the vice or defect…To establish constrictive notice, plaintiff must prove that the defect casing the injury existed over a sufficient length of time to establish that reasonable diligence would led to its discovery and repair. Plaintiffs do not dispute that Defendant had no actual knowledge of any defect in the stairs and they also fail to city any evidence that Defendant Airbnb should have known of the condition of the stairs".
"Plaintiffs fail to establish a dispute over a fact material to the question of whether Defendant Airbnb owed a duty to Plaintiffs under either the general negligence obligations of article 2315 of the obligations associated with custody of a thing under articles 2317.1 and 2322″.
The author, Thomas A. Dickerson, is a retired Associate Justice of the Appellate Division, Second Department of the New York State Supreme Court and has been writing about Travel Law for 42 years including his annually updated law books, Travel Law, Law Journal Press (2018), Litigating International Torts in U.S. Courts, Thomson Reuters WestLaw (2018), Class Actions: The Law of 50 States, Law Journal Press (2018) and over 500 legal articles. For additional travel law news and developments, especially, in the member states of the EU see IFTTA.org.
This article may not be reproduced without the permission of Thomas A. Dickerson.
Read many of Justice Dickerson's articles here.


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Over 30 gardens open, along with the Hunt kennels and a Flower Festival in our beautiful church. Teas and Plants for sale. Organ recitals and bell-ringing feature in the Church Festival. Weekend opens with a Hounds parade and Horn Blowing.
Cattistock village Open Gardens and Hunt
Past event 1-5:30PM Saturday 1 - Sunday 2 July 2017
Event location: DT2 0JH


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Planting the Seeds to Grow a Conscious Generation
Rainbow Pammy is dedicated to spreading mindfulness, empowering kids, promoting wellbeing and sharing the foundations of yoga with families everywhere. We are passionate about applying the benefits of yoga as a therapeutic tool to encourage physical, social and emotional wellbeing and development.
We believe that by providing children and families with the skills and love of yoga, we are ensuring the future health of our planet. Imagine having practised the skills and mindfulness of yoga from a child. How differently you would tread this world and cope as an adult.
Rainbow Pammy Kid's Yoga Tribe
Rainbow Pammy Yoga, together with Kids Yoga Tribe, is an ever growing, conscious and mindful community of families and friends who live the yoga lifestyle everyday.
Here we teach and share tools of mindfulness for growing a conscious generation:
- Environmental awareness
- Social and emotional development by encouraging interaction
- Encouraging children's creativity and confidence
- Teaching the foundations of yoga by developing physical skills and health living practices
- Balance
- Strength and flexibility
- Pranayama
- Nutrition
- Guided visualisations with centring and calming techniques to develop Focus and Mindfulness
- Exploration and discovery
- A sense of community and belonging!
We endeavour to bring colour, love and light to little yogis throughout the community. Our Rainbow Family are living proof of how yoga can be part of the positive change families need. You can see just how easy it can be with just a few simple steps to a brighter outlook on life.
The Latest from Rainbow Pammy's Blog
Day 10 Isolation
They said 2020 was going to be big, but I wasn't expecting this. Ramblings from my Isolation diary's.
Design The Life You Love With Gratitude
create a simple, gentle life you love with gratitude and awareness.
The Art Of Journaling And Why To Create One.
"Your Journals Are The Key To the Future. Make Them Your Most Radicle Works Of Art"


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Rainbase is one of the few cities within Alabasta that continued thriving even during the drought, mostly due to the gambling industry. Due to this it has been referred to as the "City of Dreams". It also appeared that this city was not very much effected by the drought, having a moat surrounding Rain Dinners. The city was the Baroque Works' main base operated by Crocodile and Miss All Sunday.
Rain DinnersEdit
Rain Dinners was the casino that Crocodile used as his secret base in Alabasta. It is most noticeable by the golden bananawani that is located on top of a pyramid-like structure. After Crocodile's defeat, the casino was closed.[2]
- ↑ One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 14 Chapter 126 and Episode 76, Crocodile is seen sitting in his office at Rain Dinners.
- ↑ One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 24 Chapter 217 (p. 7) and Episode 130.
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.


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There are some great resources that help with deciding what should be put aside for emergencies based on the number of people be provided for as well as other factors. Here are a few that have I've been looking at and that have me thinking about how to implement them for us.
How to Make a 72 Hour Kit for Emergency Preparedness
And here are some articles on this subject that I've been reading and found interesting.
Biblical Survival Planning
Is Preparing For An Emergency Showing a Lack of Faith
I would love to know your thoughts on this subject. Do you have an emergency preparedness plan?


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In the years before Cameron's Health and Social Care Act, the National Health Service (NHS) ran a combined £10 billion surplus. Now it faces bankruptcy.
In the 6 years before the Tory Health and Social Care Act became law the NHS ran a budget surplus of a combined total of more than £10 billion. This is shown in the table above and can be confirmed on page 9 of the report document – please see here. Of that £10 billion surplus, more than £2 billion of the surplus came from NHS Trusts in the years preceding 2012.
After the passing of the Tory Health and Social Care Act, however, the combined surplus in the NHS Trust Sector has declined sharply. For example, in the most recent year, the NHS Trust surplus halved. This is confirmed on page 20 of this report – shown here – and shown below.
View original post 199 more words


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Vote and Comment for ALL these Awesome Nonprofit Panels at SXSW!
Conferences, Influencer Strategy
The SXSW Interactive Festival (scheduled March 11-15, 2010 in Austin, Texas) is a mega huge social media industry event. The final program is done through a combination of an open submission and voting process. The panel picker process has opened – so you can vote for the panels you think are worthy of being on the program until August 27th.… Read More


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There's nothing like having your entire country cheering you on as you cross the finish line. Such was the case last June as 65,000 Bermudians rooted for Team BDA in the Finals of the Red Bull Youth America's Cup racing held in the Great Sound in conjunction with the Louis Vuitton America's Cup festivities. Skippering the Bermuda boat was St. Mary's College sailor and native Bermudian Mackenzie Cooper.
Cooper and his eclectic crew of sailors and local athletes were selected by a rigorous process that weighed sailing experience and athletic ability to find the right combination to represent the tiny country in the prestigious Red Bull competition.
"It was an honor to represent my country," said the unassuming St. Mary's College senior. "I took a year off from school to train here with the rest of the team. The experience has been phenomenal."
The Bermuda team bested four other national teams (including Next Generation USA) to qualify for the Finals. A series of four fleet races pitting the best eight youth teams from around the world vied for the championship. Team BDA won the first race in the Final and then faltered down the line to finish last.
"The America's Cup has a saying: 'there is no second place,'" says Team BDA coach Richard Clarke. "But the way these kids beat the odds to make it to the finals gives them a podium finish in my book."
In point of fact, Team BDA only lacked one strong race from finishing in the top four.
The Red Bull Youth America's Cup series was conceived by Austrian Olympians Hans-Peter Steinacher and Roman Hagara. The Bermuda event was the event's second iteration. The goal of the program is to serve as a training ground for future America'sCup sailors. More than a dozen of this year's AC team members are Red Bull alumnae, including AC Champion New Zealand's helmsman Peter Burling.
The boats the sailors (aged 18-24) sailed were the same 45-foot foiling catamarans that the America's Cup teams campaigned in the Louis Vuitton World Series events earlier this year. The cats are capable of speeds of up to 50 miles per hour. There are no hydraulics on these boats, so every foil change has to be accomplished by old-fashioned winch power.
Mustafa Ingham is one of the athletes selected for the Bermuda team. A giant of a man, he stands at six feet, three inches tall and weighs over 220 pounds. A former rugby and soccer player, Ingham is a grinder on Team BDA. The Bermudian quit his job as a baggage handler at the airport to train with the team.
Cooper enjoyed a respectable career at St. Mary's prior to his Red Bull experience. He sailed 420s and FJs. He has been on the racing team for the past two years, helping the team garner a third at Nationals in 2016.
Cooper's biggest takeaway from his America's Cup experience was the ability to help put together a team that gave its all for their country. "We had two men of color and one woman on Team BDA," Cooper says. "We were the only team in the field to have this diversity. It's a testimony to our country that we were able to put team and country first, ahead of skin color or gender."
St. Mary's coach Adam Werblow has this to say: "We at St. Mary's College are proud of Mackenzie and the growth and leadership he displayed throughout the RBYAC process. We were especially pleased he was able to have such an excellent experience that included spectacular coaching and training over the year. Mackenzie has already begun discussing how he would like to bring some of the training program back to the Seahawks, and we certainly look forward to that."
Werblow continues, "It is our hope that the experience he has gained foiling can be passed along to the rest of the team as they enjoy the new foiling WAZSP the team purchased this summer for cross-training. Coach Conner Blouin has been one of the country's top talents in the new class, and having Mackenzie's experience will just make it all the more fun.
by Craig Ligibel


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Casey Cumz is a horny young lady with an appetite for real men. While spying on her dad's friends, Jordan and Ramon at their BBQ, she gets it in her head that both of them will fit the bill. One by one she seduces dad's buddies, culminating in the threesome of a lifetime! Will Jordan and Ramon get away with it? Collapse
Available formats
Niche & Categories


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Boy, Lady M really brought it last night. It only took 7 1/2 years and untold billions of dollars – butt behold, a FLOTUS who's ready for prime time.
Dress, age appropriate; voice, toned down (sorry, pretty sure that's a sexist microaggression of some sort). And I think she's been taking speech lessons from Hillary's voice coach. Unfortunately, even with the coaching, she still schtruggled a little with those pesky "st" words like "schtronger," "schtrength," and "shtriving:" butt bless her heart, she tried.
"We cannot afford to be tired or frush-trated or cynical."
All while managing to keep race front and foremost - because we all know that's even more important than having a vagina:
"That is the story of this country, the story that has brought me to this stage tonight, the story of generations of people who felt the lash of bondage, the shame of servitude, the sting of segregation, but who kept on striving and hoping and doing what needed to be done so that today I wake up every morning in a house that was built by slaves. And I watch my daughters, two beautiful, intelligent, black young women playing with their dogs on the White House lawn.
And last night was all about the children, because terrorism, trade imbalances and the economy are really Republican
issues Problems:
I want a president who will teach our children that everyone in this country matters. [ed. that shounds dangerously close to "All Lives Matter" – which we now know is not true.] A president who truly believes in the vision that our founders out forth all those years ago, that we are all created equal, each a beloved part of the great American story. And when a crisis hits, we don't turn against each other. No, we listen to each other, we lean on each other. Because we are always schtronger together.
Because you see, now that Obama is passing the torch to the first female president, it's all about the children, again:
You see, Hillary understands that the president is about one thing and one thing only, it's about leaving something better for our kids.
Something like this?
Yep, if we elect Hillary she'll wake up everyday in a house built by slaves too.
Slaves to Wall Street, Big Corporations, Foreign governments
Linked By: BlogsLucianneLoves, and Free Republic, Thanks!
Cross-Posted on Patriot Action Network


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theSandfly Sunshine And Sex!
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Guide to image uploading
Select the gallery button from the menu bar at the top of the screen and then the 'Upload Photo' link on the gallery page.
The Upload Photo page will appear and is shown in the image below with each of the sections numbered. The descriptions for each of the numbered sections appear beneath the image - scroll down to see them.
1) The Category Selection Box. Please choose the gallery that best fits your photo. If you have set up a gallery for an individual boat leave this as members galleries and select the gallery using the list at option 2
2) Only needs to be used when using one of your own galleries , If you haven't set up an album of your own, no worries, ignore this space.
3) Image Selection Box. You may upload 1 image at a time by selecting the image using the Browse button and choosing the image from its location on your PC. Alternatively you can place a number of your images for upload into a ZIP file and simply select the *.zip file from your PC using the first of the browse buttons. Please note that the size of the ZIP file should not exceed 3Mb.
4) Photo Title Box.Please use this box, a recommended title is the boat name and reg number and provide any other information in the description box ( the next page allows you to enter all relevant details )
5) Description Box. A description is not essential, but it's better to provide at least some idea of where the boat was and when, or what piece of equipment is in the photo. Any description is good, but if you can add a "where", a "when", or a "what" , that's better. You can always come back and edit it another day.
(just below (5) )Keywords Box. The additional terms that may be useful to someone searching for the subject of your photo ( needs to be filled in on the page after this section ).
6) Submit ButtonBefore clicking on this button remember that this certifies that you have the 'right' to be uploading the image.
7) Extra Options. If you have uploaded images to your directory previously, but not yet processed them then you can check the box here, hit the submit button and you will be taken to the processing area, as if you'd just uploaded the images. In addition you can opt to receive an email if someone leaves a comment on one of your images.
User File Limits. This gives a summary of your allowances on Trawler Photos.
Images on Trawler Photos will be displayed at a maximum size of 1024 x 768 pixels. If your images are larger than this then they will probably be rejected by the server when you try and upload them. To save yourself time during uploading, and to help the server processing load you should resize your images before uploading them making sure that the photos are in a .jpg format.
If you have a lot of images then there is a Windows program I'd recommend for doing a lot of images in one go. The Visualizer Photo Resize program is free for personal use and is available from:http://www.freeimagebrowser.com/resize/
It's also a good idea to rename your photos to something meaningful, rather than the basic file names given by most digital cameras. I can recommend an application I use to rename a lot of photos in one hit. Rename Master from joe joesoft is free and is available here:http://www.joejoesoft.com/vcms/108/