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The bbm message came for an umpteenth time.
"John 3.16: For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. Whosoever believeth in him shall have the gates of heaven open to him… This Sunday, I profess peace and tranquility into your home, success ahead of your week and a big surprise in your life. If you truly love God, send this message to at least 5 friends. If you send to 10 friends you get a big surprise tomorrow, you would receive a call. If you send to more than 20 friends, God will show himself to you. If you send to 40 or more friends, the rest of your life would be changed forever. God said he is a jealous God and we must not make him compete with any other. When last did you buy a new Bible? Yet, you have changed so many phones! We find it easier to forward funny/ungoldly texts yet we fail to spread the scriptures. God said if you are ashamed of me on earth, I would deny you when you stand for judgment…"
And bla, and bla, and bla the bla! It's annoying, it's disgusting, yet scary.
I used to fall for it; forwarding the message with immediate (emphasis on immediate!!!) effect to a number higher than the maximum specified in the message. Yes na, who no want God blessing? Lol!
The message quoted here was not done verbatim, but I bet you can relate to such messages because we all get them all the time (email, facebook, bbm, twitter, everywhere!) and a lot of people fall victim and forward them around. There is absolutely nothing wrong with forwarding them and I have nothing against those that do (at least up till some weeks ago, I used to do the same). But I have every problem with the mentality adopted in coercing people to forward them. God is the omnipotent and omniscient, so everyone has got fear for him, and it is easy to exploit that.
I actually stopped after I sent one of such messages around and was rebuffed by a good friend of mine whom I would rather describe as religious, very Christianly, SU and all that. Shocked, I asked him what he thought about such messages. And he told me deletes them immediately, or copies parts of the message he feels contain the real message and send to his friends without the subtle threats. Whao, I got born-again immediately (emphasis on immediately!!!). He felt it was sort of bullying to exploit God's word to coerce people into doing such things.
But friends, come to think of it. We are in the 21st century and social media, X-rated music, movies and texts have taken over the physical and virtual spaces. Bibles are truly being bought at a lot lower rates than BlackBerries or ipods. I send around jokes and job postings to a lot of friends who probably don't see the messages through the same medium as I do. More jokes fly around than Biblical texts. Church attendees go only once a week, and at that, millions still don't go to church whereas Clubs are attended by all religions on multiple days of the week. The evangelists need a strategy that is attention-grabbing and also delivers the needed result: pass the message around, even if the sender or sendee (receiver, I know!) do not necessarily believe in its content. They need to keep the word of God a constant part of our lives. And most times, they succeed.
But I have 3 simple reasons why I don't think this practice is right.
1. With the little enlightenment I have of the Bible and its teachings, I have an understanding that God is truly a jealous God. He said it himself as a part of the 10 commandments. He doesn't want us to ever serve another God or put him in competition/contention with any other God. All those other ills we indulge in are competition for him, so we failed there. But in my view, so also is any conscious attempt by anyone at forcing us to propagate his message against anyone's free will.
2. I don't think this is the kind of war God wants to fight. Everyone who has a relationship with God has a personal relationship. Imagine setting up a twitter war between these Godly messages and the jokes/explicit messages (Which camp forwards more texts of either Biblical or secular origin) and the latter win, what does it mean? Does it mean God lost? Haaaa, we need to be careful how we incur the wrath of the Almighty! If anyone ever receives a slap from heaven, me no dey oh! Which pastor wan beg make the curved jaw return to normal??? Frankly, we need to be very conscious of the kind of implication these actions might have. God is winning souls every day, performing miracles and watching over us, without our help. Forwarding messages doesn't add any value to him. Am inspired by the Holy Spirit to say this, trust me. All God ever asked for was Thanksgiving, praise and adoration.
3. Finally, God has never done, is not doing and will never do a sales bonanza! Why have different categories of rewards for different targets of people you send messages to? I know the Bible says that he whosoever recognizes his sins, confesses them and asks for forgiveness would have his slate wiped clean! Clean, spotless! And there isn't 25% spotless, 50% spotless or 76.982% spotless depending on how many people you killed or raped, or how loud you were while confessing or if you ended up shedding tears. No condition. Clean slate. So, we need to apply this same philosophy to the way we spread God's messages. We need to always ask, would he approve?
Most Biblical texts (and am very sure same is true for the al Qur'an) are not to be read and understood literarily because many of them contain complex literature, metaphors and proverbs you need to be wise to understand. So, we should also weigh the implications of our actions and what it means when we send such messages with subtle threats.
So, in a nutshell friends, please stop sending them! No? Ok, send them but remove the threats. Let your messages be Blessings unto our lives and let the reader decide if he/she wants to also bless someone else with it. Trust me, it's more likely that I will forward such a message.
And if this came as a relief to you, I didn't say don't send or receive, I only said do it responsibly. And yeah, am divinely guided here. So do it (no threats, lol).
Stay blessed!


text: You work hard and have worked hard all of your life to get the things you have. Its time you enjoy those things. Just a few hours a week or every two weeks will help maintain those things. That's all it takes and that is why you should call Jenny Maid's. Just one call (316) 210-1900. Find out how hard we will work for you. We are dedicated, loyal, bonded and insured for your comfort and ease of mind. We work with your schedule and within your budget. We are your house cleaners (or at least we want to be!) Call us today and visit us on the web to find out more about our services, www.hellojennymaids.com. Remember, our estimates are free. At Jenny Maid's We Love 2 Clean! @JennyMaidsICT @BabyBoomers @BoomerSmarts @GoWichita @BonnieBing @DiningWithDenise @CarrieRengers @WichitaMomsBlog

subset: commoncrawl


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…nachos. Yeah, ok – you were hoping for lemurs in leisure suits, but they were a no-show. But hey, I had nachos tonight. My life overfloweth with cheesy excitement.
I had a sleepy evening yesterday and decided it was far to early to retire, so I stepped back into the horrific world of The Suffering to stay awake for awhile longer. What could've been a rather geriatric bedtime of 8PM, ended up pushing past midnight as I cleared checkpoint after level through increasing numbers of unpleasant creatures to slaughter. Kill or be killed is not the way to wind down before bed!
Today was a bit more domestic in general. (No virtual guns blazing so far though I wield a mean sponge.) Washing-up and laundry was attacked instead of monsters (though I swear that pile of underpants could walk on its own). I suppose I could've saved the borough some water by just putting it all outside in the garden, but though rain was frequent today I doubt it was powerful enough to satisfactorily power out the grime from cereal bowls and [special] towels.
Since the lemurs aren't coming over, I'm off to do a bit of writing and will try to avoid the PS2… tempted as I may be, I need to get some sleep tonight! (Perhaps I should go turn off the cappuccino machine – to have caffeine past 8PM would not be wise, would it. 😉 )
Technorati Tags: regularjen


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So your vision's to be the market leader in whatever it is you do. Nice.
Why though? All your rivals say that too.
Is it because all your customers will choose you if you're the best?
Sorry, but that's obvious. Again, your rivals want that too. And it still doesn't shed any light on the real motives behind why you do what you do. Because they're what people truly connect with.
Come on: think hard. Think really hard
What got you into this? Why do you want to make a difference? What do you stand for?
If you're still struggling, don't worry – you're not alone. The scenario described above is fairly typical. And it usually takes a couple of hours' intense scrutiny with my copywriting clients until the truth emerges – the beliefs behind a vision.
And the trick to unveiling it is the unspoken art of inference.
By that I mean listening carefully to what you say, paraphrasing it back at you (to make sure I've understood you correctly) and then chasing an idea to its logical conclusion. It involves intuition, listening for verbal cues and recurrent themes. There's a healthy amount of creative suggestion too, ones we'll rule out, or explore together.
To continue our example, your cause might be setting the record straight because the market's filled with shysters who give your trade a bad name. Maybe it's because customers keep getting treated unfairly and you're on a mission to rebuild trust. Or perhaps you're just difficult buggers who get off on disrupting the status quo.
Inference plugs the gap between what you say and what you really mean. And it's my job, as a meticulous, persistent freelance copywriter, to keep going until I'm satisfied we've answered these difficult questions.
A pleasant byproduct of immersive copywriting
I've often found that everyone comes out the other side of this immersive process having learned a little more about themselves and why they're dedicating their time to their cause.
In fact, its not uncommon to hear client say "well, I never thought about it like that", or suddenly thump the desk and exclaim "that's it, that's us in a nutshell – you've hit the nail on the head!". These are the little clues that tell me we're onto something.
If you fancy truly revealing why you do what you do, you know what to do.


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FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – November 9th marks the start of the 2019 Coats for Kids Campaign sponsored by the Volunteer Center. Guest of Honor, Mayor Tom Henry, will kick off the campaign by distributing coats to the children at MLK Montessori School, 6001 South Anthony Blvd. on Tuesday, November 12th at 10 a.m.
This is the 20th year for Coats for Kids, traditionally providing more than 5,000 warm winter coats to local underserved children. To date, over 66,000 coats have been delivered to over 100 area schools and social service agencies in the area.
Beginning Saturday, November 9th, donations of new or gently used winter coats (Children's Size 7 & above to adult sizes) are being collected at partner locations including Peerless Cleaners, Kroger, YMCA, Adams Radio Group and Parkview Ortho Hospital. Collections will continue through Sunday, December 1st.
Volunteer Center's Executive Director Ani Etter states "This is one of the most impactful programs the Volunteer Center coordinates. With almost 20% of children age 18 and under living in poverty in Allen County, this is an opportunity for the community to provide tangible help to a child in need. The Fort Wayne community is very giving and has always opened their hearts to help support this cause. "
Cash donations are greatly appreciated and helps with the purchase of additional coats that are always needed. $25 will provide a new coat, hat, scarf and mittens to a child in need. Secure online donations are accepted here
Fort Wayne Firefighters, YMCA team members and community volunteers will deliver the coats to schools and social service agencies during the week of December 10th, prior to the holiday break.


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The PhoneSpector support team is available to answer your questions and address your concerns. Contact us by email at email@example.com and one of our friendly, helpful representatives will respond typically within 24 hours.
Thank you for using PhoneSpector.


text:
OCR's Authorization, License & Permit Solutions allow companies to monitor every authorization required for international trade. These comprehensive solutions increase workflow efficiencies within organizations by providing improved reporting and auditing functions.
Managing an authorization is more than just ensuring Exports do not exceed the authorized quantity or value. Company officials and executives have a duty to ensure all provisos and conditions of the export authorization are strictly followed, including filing periodic reports with the licensing authority when required.
Mismanagement of authorizations processed manually may lead to higher labor costs, lengthier fulfillment cycles, shipment delays, upset customers, and exposure to regulatory penalties. Our solutions can help:


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Our professional installers will remove your old carpet, lay the padding, and cut perfect seams for a flawless finish. Contact us today for an estimate on carpeting for your home or business.


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Liverpool's new ferry terminal, designed by Northern Irish practice Hamilton Architects, may be at risk of flooding after planners ignored warnings about the high-risk site, it has emerged.
The £10-million Merseyside terminal, currently under construction, is one of 16 major developments granted planning permission in 2006 and 2007 against the advice of the Environment Agency (EA), the government body responsible for managing flood risk.
Scheme-backers Merseytravel did not submit a flood risk assessment of the scheme to planners even though the site is classed as high risk. Liverpool City Council then ignored the EA's recommendation that the application be turned down on this basis.
Five more of the major developments listed by the EA are in high risk areas. They include the restoration and reconstruction of the Perran Foundry in Truro, the extension of a factory in Leek, Staffordshire, and several residential developments. Major developments at slightly lower risk included a new primary school in Slough, a business park in Northumberland's Blyth Valley, and the extension of a shopping centre in Wood Green, London.
Hamilton Architects has already taken a bashing for its three-storey terminal in front of the historical Three Graces on Liverpool waterfont. Kim Herforth Nielsen of Danish practice 3XN, responsible for the concept design of the neighbouring Museum of Liverpool, spoke out against the design two years ago, angry that he had not been consulted on it.
The EA later received a letter of apology from the council and said Merserytravel has now commissioned a flood risk assessment ahead of the terminal's opening.
'The flood risk assessment will ensure that flood resilient measures are incorporated into the final development and that safe evacuation measures to both the public and emergency services are in place prior to the opening of the terminal,' the EA said in a statement.
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Now it's time to post an outfit for today. Once again for the second time this month, I am wearing this shirtdress. I opted for a more casual, preppy, yellow belt this time, simpler earrings that also have a charcoal gray stone in them and my cute navy, peep-toe ballet flats. Once again I am makeup-free but I truly believe that despite wearing very little or no makeup during this pregnancy, this baby has given me an even more glorious smile, if you will. I believe in Pregnancy Glow, what can I say!! I hope I have it. =))
Dark Gray, Breezy, Empire-Waist Shirtdress: Calliope.
Skinny, Silver Rectangle, Drop Earrings w/ a Smoke-Gray Stone in the Middle: White House Black Market.
Wide, Twisted, Silver Bangle: The Limited.
White & Yellow, Casual, Stripped, Cotton Belt: Terra Nova.
Canvas, Black & White, Polka Dot, Peep-Toe Ballet Flats w/ Bows: Steve Madden.


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It's finally here!
Through much hard work and the dedication of lots of people behind the scenes, this league was born on November 12th 2012. Today, August 30th 2013, WNY Flash host Portland Thorns FC in the very first NWSL Championship game. Who would have thought this was even a possibility on May 18th 2012?
There really are no words for how appreciative I am of everyone who made this day possible. I love you guys. You idealists, dream makers, Federations, fans, sponsors, owners, players, staff, even you naysayers because without you this day wouldn't be as sweet.
My Boston Breakers didn't make it into the playoffs and my FC Kansas City Blues didn't make it into the finals, but that won't dampen the enthusiasm I have for today's championship game. Many of my favorite players will be on the pitch today, so I have no lack of people to cheer for.
I probably will be watching the non-marquee players the most, the ones who haven't been here before. I'm sure the big names will step up, it's what they do. I'm interested in watching the joy and determination on the faces of players fresh out of college, or who thought they'd never get this chance in the U.S. As much as this league is meant to feed the USWNT, it's also a chance for homegrown talent to showcase what they've got in front of family and friends. And I could never forget the international players, the league has definitely been made better by their presence.
I wish all the members of both WNY Flash and Portland Thorns FC, the fans, and anyone remotely responsible for today a very exciting and fun-filled experience.
Regardless of the outcome of the championship, I think we all win.
Is it 2014 yet?


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May 01, 2017
TU-Automotive Detroit
Come see Perrone Robotics and their current reference vehicle "Linc" – a 2017 Lincoln MKZ which will be performing maneuvers out in the parking lot directly across from the main entrance. We'll be highlighting the flexibility of our platform to perform different maneuvers, run on different platforms, and adapt to obstacles. Inside, stop by our booth (B79) near the main entrance of the show for deeper discussions and meetings with the team. Also look for Paul Perrone, PRI's founder, who will be part of the panel "From Test Track to Highway: Autonomous Testing Shifts Up a Gear".


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The monitoring system for risk assessment criteria creates new mechanisms for bribery instead of the declared fight against corruption. This was announced during the meeting of the Committee of Small and Medium Business Entrepreneurs, said the executive director of the National League of Transport Business Alexei Musatov.
The monitoring system for risk assessment criteria creates new mechanisms for bribery instead of the declared fight against corruption. This was announced during the meeting of the Committee of Small and Medium Business Entrepreneurs, said the executive director of the National League of Transport Business Alexei Musatov.
According to this , these data are unofficial, it were received while working with businessmen who systematically suffer from blockages. To understand the magnitude of the problem, after re-launching the system in March 2018, the National Transport Business League together with "Business Help!" started a public examination of the Ministry of Finance and the SFS. The first studies found that the number of blocked billing, compared with the same period last year, decreased by 30%, and blocked amounts – by only 15%. At the same time, the ratio of blocked by the system of overhead and unlocked "in manual" has not changed.
"In 2018, the SFS unblocked the tax invoice at 84%. In manual mode, officials make a decision that the lock is incorrect. We looked at the figures for 2017: the same percentage – 84% of tax invoices. There are 2 conclusions: either the system works incorrectly – and in this case, why it is needed, or "they" driving business in the corrupt scheme ", – summed up Alexei Musatov.
The entrepreneurs present at the event spoke against the SMCOR. According to them, they are stably suffering from the blocking of invoices, often – without understanding its grounds and the opportunity to correct the situation.
"The bill did not pass. We call: tell, what's wrong, with what documents is the problem? We send all the list. And we have a note: "Not enough". What does "not enough" mean!? "- one of the present entrepreneurs can not withstand, referring to the representative of the SFS.
"The package of documents for unblocking, then appeals, fifteen times to lawyers – we have managed to prove that we are not blame. You have to prove that we are guilty! "- sounds another replica.
Lawyer of the company "Dictum" Svetlana Moroz, said to avoid blocking tax invoices possible only by cancel VAT. So far this not happened – we must learn to work in Ukrainian realities.
"Every day SFS carries out an analysis of enterprises falling under the principles of riskiness. In order to avoid blocking, we must carefully prepare for the submission of documents in the SFS, pay attention to the smallest details, because even tiny deficiencies lead to blocking ", – explained Svetlana Moroz.
By 2018, according to the rough estimates, the victim of monitoring the system has become every twelve medium-sized enterprise. At the same time for any "circuit" not suffered.
"The SFS did not provide any documents on who, by decision of the court, was considered a fictitious "scramble ". So now it's possible to say one thing: the current system of blocking the invoices did not justify itself and the realities force us to look for new and really effective methods of control ", – summarizes Alexei Musatov.
As a result of the meeting, the attendees agreed that by June 27, the business community must make an argumentated list of claims to the work of the monitoring system, which will further serve as the basis for an official appeal to the SFS and the Ministry of Finance.
Certificate. The monitoring system for risk assessment criteria creates was introduced in Ukraine in 2017. According to the decree of the Cabinet of Ministers, small and medium-sized businesses are subject to monitoring. The system was supposed to eliminate illegal tax evasion schemes. But the fact of its launch has led to a massive distraction of working capital and, as a consequence, the creation of problems in the work of enterprises (delayed salaries of employees, loss of contracts, courts). This caused resentment of businessmen, and from January 1, 2018, the mechanism of blocking VAT-invoices was suspended for two months with a view to refinement. The new system has been operational since March 1, 2018.


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Sree Amman Trust, pioneers in the field of education and technology for more than a decade, has cherished with ten educational institutions since 1986, in Erode, COimbatore and Chennai established by Tmt. T.Jayalakshmi, M.A., Founder and Chairperson of the trust.
In addition the trust manages " SAN Academy of Architecture", vision of the beloved Chairman.
Ar. T. Giri. M.Arch., Secretary Sree Amman Trust, is the driving force of San Academy of Architecture. He obtained his Architectural degree in the year 1999. He has gained tremendous knowledge in the world of Architectural marvels by running his own firm The GRID (Architects and Builders) and delivering guest lectures of various architectural institutions. His scholastic exuberance would lead SAN Academy of Architecture to higher planes.
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you on behalf of our students, admin., faculty and staff members.We take great pride to offer an exceptional learning atmosphere with modern facilities in which students can achieve their best.
Secretary Sree Amman Trust, is the driving force of San Academy of Architecture. He obtained his Architecture degree in the year 1999. He has gained tremendous knowledge in the world of Architectureal marvels by running his own firm THE GRID.
SAN Academy of Architecture envisions to address the global needs towards creating a equitable society by enabling young individuals to bridge the socio economic divide.Our Vision
We encourge the students to adapt, cultivate and improvise better skills in the forth coming world.
To evolve, synthesize and spread the power of knowledge that embraces emerging technology. The institution gives a competitive edge to its students by focusing on industry - academia linkage and by providing exposure to sustainable, green architecture development.Our Mission
To provide practical knowledge, to facilitate the learning hub with all allied activities ans on job training to all the young learners with world calss infrastructure.


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Back again for my favorite: Music Love Tuesday! Some new music has appeared since my last music post, incuding Nashville's Christmas album. Have you guys heard it yet? I have to say ... I'm disappointed with it and haven't bought any of the songs. Coming from a show that's known for original songs, wouldn't you think they would have included several such Christmas songs? But there are only a couple on there that aren't your usual, run-into-the ground songs. And having Clare sing "Santa Baby" and Connie sing the "Grinch" song, of all things? Really?? And who wants a duet of "Luke and Rayna" singing, when 98% of fans hate Luke? Sigh.
But! Clare Bowen and Sam Palladio are both working on albums to release next year! AND THIS IS HOW EXCITED THAT MAKES ME!!! !!!!!!!!! :D :D :D :D!!!
Moving on...
More new music released in the past week or so is Angie Miller's long-awaited EP. This girl turned down a record deal to let her faithful fans help fund her first album through Pledgemusic, which is both gutsy and interesting. (Though I cannot now find where I read that.) I looooved her when she was on American Idol what now feels like ages ago. However, like the Nashville album, I haven't bought any of her songs either... I don't know why; it's not that they're all bad (a couple kinda are though...), they just don't make me have to buy them. Maybe her next album will.
So while a couple of new releases have not won me over, one in particular has!
|And they replied! :D The little things...
Anyone remember Pia Toscano back from American Idol season 10 in 2011? She's one of those people that are SO good and so perfect you know they won't win. Know what I mean? America's odd like that. And she made it to 9th place. But now she's formed a duo with Jared Lee called 7EAST and released a single, which I promptly watched. And it was good, though for some reason it didn't feel like a song that would take off. And I also kind of wanted Alex & Sierra to be singing it, as it sounds a lot like them (especially Jared). So I moved on with other things, and then had the urge to listen to it again. Then over and over again. So I bought it. And now I listen to it over and over again. So I say, well done. ;)
And popularly paired with that song on repeat is this song I mentioned in my last MLT post:
Same story with it: it was good. Then I decided I love it. It's all about Audra.
And while I'm listening to that song of hers, I might as well listen to this one too. Which is exactly what I've been doing.
Other songs that have been rotated constantly the past couple weeks are, of course, Taylor Swift's new ones, namely Wildest Dreams, Clean, and Wonderland (which I would include here but can't find on Grooveshark or Youtube).
And! I managed to find a new favorite this past weekend, thanks to Pandora:
I had never heard of Tracy Chapman, and this song got my attention right away. I just knew it was a new song, as it totally sounds like it could be current (reminds me of Passenger, who I don't like, but anyway), however it's from 1995. Crazy!
So! What music have you been loving lately?
Have anything stuck on repeat like me?


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Get DVD Talk Feeds
The Movie:
Call me a typical film critic philistine, but I didn't see the 2004-2007 high-school-set detective series Veronica Mars before I was assigned to review this new feature-film continuation. In all fairness to me, I did squeeze in the first few episodes of the TV show before I sat down to watch the 2014 Veronica Mars, to get a sense of the show's tone and style.
Now, considering my vast knowledge of the series, I can confidently say that this new movie pretty successfully captures the flavor of a typical episode, except that the cast is noticeably older and, perhaps coincidentally, the storytelling style is a little more leisurely. Then again, this could also be because the story gets to stretch out over a full two hours. Some of my fellow philistines have complained that Veronica Mars spends too much time on supporting characters from the TV show who don't particularly serve the main push of the film's story. This did not bother me. I also do not support the common quibble I've read that the film is too constrained by a TV visual vocabulary so that it never becomes truly cinematic.
For me, it boils down to this question: Is the film entertaining? Yes. Case closed.
Cowriter-director Rob Thomas, who created the series, does a decent job of recapping the broad strokes of the original story in a tidy opening sequence. In the mid-'00s, Veronica Mars (Kristen Bell) was a smart and sassy teenage private investigator, helping her former sheriff dad Keith (Enrico Colantoni) with his P.I. cases and working on others as well. She had a love-hate relationship with the extremely wealthy ruling class of her fictional hometown, Neptune, California, as typified by her hot-and-cold romance with Logan Echolls (Jason Dohring), the troubled son of a movie star.
As the film opens, Veronica has successfully escaped from Neptune's clutches -- or so she thinks. Despite a burgeoning career as a New York lawyer and a quiet domestic life with Stosh "Piz" Piznarski (Chris Lowell; the internet tells me this character was introduced in season 3), Veronica finds herself drawn back home, after Logan becomes the number one suspect in the murder of his current girlfriend, pop star and Neptune High alum Bonnie DeVille. These events also happen to coincide with her high school class's ten-year reunion, and while Veronica tries to avoid attending, just like Martin Blank, she finds herself sucked back into the high school world she thought she had left behind.
The prime directive for Rob Thomas and his crew obviously was to meet fan expectations; after all, more than ninety thousand of those fans helped pay for the production of the film via a well-publicized Kickstarter campaign. But, watching the completed movie, it is clear that his ambitions didn't end there. The finished film is an interesting mix of mystery, comedy, romance, and social critique. Only that last element ends up under-served in the finished product: a subplot about Neptune's corrupt sheriff's department unjustly targeting underprivileged, innocent suspects just peters out into a frustratingly pat resolution.
The film offers a generous roster of returning cast members, including many faces who are familiar from their work outside of this show, like Breaking Bad's Krysten Ritter, New Girl's Max Greenfield, and former child star Tina Majorino, plus some fellas that later appeared on Thomas's similarly beloved but prematurely cancelled show Party Down, Ryan Hansen and Ken Marino. Party Down's Martin Starr also joins the assortment of new visitors to the Veronica Mars universe, such as Jamie Lee Curtis as Veronica's potential boss, Gaby Hoffman as a potential murder suspect, and James Franco as a potentially self-aware James Franco.
Fans of the series are sure to be more intensely moved or shocked by the turns of the plot, but newbies like myself should still have a good time with this cleverly scripted, enthusiastically performed whodunnit.
The Blu-rayThe Blu-ray comes with a code for an Ultraviolet streaming copy.
The Video: No complaints. There is no noise or banding in this AVC-encoded 1080p 2.40:1 transfer. The black levels are strong. The color palette is a little muted, but the colors themselves are nicely saturated. The image looks a little soft, but this is so consistent throughout the film that this seems not to be a mistake, but a stylistic choice, maybe to give this digitally-shot movie a more analog feel.
The Audio: The original DTS-HD MA English 5.1 audio delivers a nicely balanced soundtrack. The movie is mostly talk with only a few brief action sequences, so the surround speakers only really come into play during the music cues. The music sounds good, though, with a surprisingly robust bass response that I'm sure startled my downstairs neighbors when I initially had the movie turned up too loud. The disc also offers dubbed Dolby French 5.1 and Dolby Portuguese 5.1 audio tracks, with English SDH, plus French, Spanish, and Portuguese subtitles. For some reason, the Portuguese audio and subs options are not listed on the packaging, but they are definitely accessible on the disc.
Special Features:
Final Thoughts: If you're interested in getting into the Veronica Mars TV show, it's probably worth holding off on this movie, since there are plenty of spoilers and plot twists that could make going back feel less than rewarding. Otherwise, if you don't want to bother with the TV show and just want to watch a movie, I expect you'll still be solidly entertained. Also, if you are a diehard who already bought the digital download of the movie the moment it went live, you might still find yourself getting a kick out of the new supplements on this physical release. In other words: Recommended.
Justin Remer is a filmmaker, oddball musician, and frequent wearer of beards. His new album, Dream Journal, is now available to stream or download on Bandcamp, Spotify, Amazon, Apple, and wherever else fine music is enjoyed.


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Présentation de Catherine Bobtcheff (TSE - CNRS)
En collaboration avec avec David Alary (Toulouse School of Economics) et Carole Hartichabalet (Université de Pau et des Apys de l'Adours (UAAP) et Toulouse School of Economics)
This paper discusses the decision of the European Commission not to renew the antitrust exemption for the setting up of syndicates in the insurance industry. Pools are constituted to provide insurance for undiversifiable and/or new risks for which insurers with private expertise are capacity constrained. Our objective is to study if such syndicates improve insurance supply. Organizing this supply amounts to sharing a common value divisible good between capacity constrained and privately informed agents with a reserve price. Pools turn out to operate as a uniform price auction with an "exit/re-entry" option that we compare to a discriminatory auction where no specific agreements are needed. Both auction formats lead to different coverage/premium tradeoffs. If at least one insurer provides an optimistic expertise, the pool offers both lower premiums and higher coverage. This result is reversed when all insurers are pessimistic about the risk. Static comparative results with respect to capacity constraints and reserve price are provided.


text: Each Thursday in their stores Scrapbooker's Paradise has a $2 card to make which uses different products! This week the North store featured Flower Soft. I've never used this before, so I thought I'd try it out. It is so neat! For this card we simply cut pieces of wire, dipped them in the Flower Soft glue and rolled them into the Flower Soft and then let them dry. After drying we stuck them onto a large glue dot on the card, added some curled pieces of thinly cut vellum, and placed a vase over the bottom, securing it to the card with some Glossy Accents. The flowers can then be adjusted to lie however you want. I've also seen the Flower Soft used with a hedgehog stamp, so that's my next project :)


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2013, James Murphy, William Duke, and key members of the Afterburner team
developed an unprecedented career planning program for transitioning veterans
called the Military Leader Transition Seminar (MLTS). Designed as a preparation
framework, the program empowers exiting service members by establishing the
approach to transition as a stepping-stone of professional development rather
than a solitary life event. Down Range takes
the content of this day-long seminar and condenses it into a portable guide for
civilian career transition.
Down Range is not simply
a guide to transition from the military to the civilian world nor is it a guide
to getting a job; Down Range is a
manual for developing and executing a post-military career plan, not just for
the first few days, weeks or months after active duty, but for the rest of that
veteran's employed life.
Down Range is unique in a
number of ways, most notably because it is sourced from the experiences of
successfully transitioned veterans. But beyond this, the impact of Down Range lies with the unparalleled
experiences of Afterburner's Executive Consultants, whose insight into the
corporate world stems from years of consulting with the world's top
corporations. Outside of imparting the Lessons Learned of fellow veterans, Down Range leverages a simple and
effective planning process used by today's top businesses, The Six Steps of
Mission PlanningSM.
"Simply outstanding! This book
is a must read. The Afterburner team guided me in my successful transition
using this same methodology resulting in my civilian job offer six months prior
to retirement."
Mark C. Gardner, COL, USA (ret)
"Down Range gives veterans the
direction and advice they need to translate their military skills and
experiences into the workplace competencies that companies so desperately
Judy Morris, VP of HR, Sitel Americas
"Down Range gets our Vets
pointed in the right direction and empowers them to take control of their
post-military careers. It gives them the tools to become highly successful
leaders in the civilian business world."
Doug McClain, RADM, USN (ret)
"A must read for every Marine
preparing to transition to the civilian work force. Down Range lays out a very
practical way for a veteran to maximize outstanding military career experiences
and bring that experience to the corporate work force."
Gary G. Tolar, SgtMaj, USMC (ret)
D. Murphy
D. "Murph" Murphy, is the Founder & CEO of Afterburner, Inc.,
established in 1996. A former U.S. Air Force F-15 fighter pilot, Murphy
established Afterburner to teach skills inspired by his military service to
business leaders all over the world. He and his team of veterans led
Afterburner to its three-time recognition by Inc. Magazine for "fastest-growth"
including the "Inc. 500 List" twice. He has been featured in The Wall
Street Journal, BusinessWeek, Inc. Magazine, Newsweek, and has appeared on CNN,
Fox News, and Bloomberg News. He is the author of the bestselling books
Business is Combat and Flawless Execution and is co-author of The Flawless
Execution Field Manual and The Debrief Imperative with William M. Duke.
M. Duke
M. Duke is a retired U.S. Navy Surface Warfare and Human Resources Officer with
23 years of combined active and reserve service. He was also an educator before
working as an operations and hiring manager in a U.S. Fortune 500 company for 8
years. For the past 6 years he was worked as the Director of Learning and
Development for Afterburner Inc. where he consults and trains corporate managers
in a wide variety of industries. He is the co-author of The Flawless Execution
Field Manual and The Debrief Imperative with James D. Murphy.


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It's no secret Ron Paul opposes public education as being unconstitutional and a dismal failure. Recently he announced a solution. It's genius, really — and perhaps in the nick of time : The Ron Paul Homeschool Curriculum. "Phase 2 of the Revolution," The Ron Paul Homeschool Curriculum is based on the "history of liberty" and teaches the "biblical principles of self-government." Paul's schooling alternative not only bypasses the establishment indoctrination camps mislabeled as public education here in America, it also guarantees his message will live on by creating future generations of liberty-minded young people with a penchant for Austrian Economics.
Tag Archives: United States
Say WHAT!? (Translating President Obama's Lies)
You know what's actually been lost in translation? Our freedoms.
What's your best 'Obama-speak' translation?
Add it in the comment section below!
Dear President Obama, If war or terrorism negates the Constitution
– What is it, exactly, we are fighting to preserve?
20 Obama Lies Caught on Video
Obama denies drawing a line in Syrian Sand and 19 more blatant lies…
The IRS Wants to Know If You're a "Patriot"
Matthew Spalding, Ph.D. (HERITAGE .ORG) – Across this great land, patriotic Americans are behaving subversively.
We're quoting from our pocket Constitutions, starting reading groups to discuss our founding documents, even gathering together to "petition the government for a redress of grievances."
Uncle Sam is not amused.
12 Blatant Examples of The New World Order Openly Mocking Us
12 Images That Demonstrate How The New World Order Openly Mocks Us
If you know what to look for, it quickly becomes obvious that the elite of the world are not even trying to hide their insidious plans for the planet. They hope to unite the entire globe under their leadership, and they don't think that we are strong enough or smart enough to stop them.
Lincoln on Presidents' Day: Image vs. Reality
But Lincoln's birthday, February 12, appears to have lost some of its former aura, since all presidents are now supposedly covered by the amorphous, all-purpose "Presidents' Day." (Let us now praise Millard Fillmore.) That is ironic, because despite the energetic work of some recent revisionist historians, Lincoln remains the most revered — some say "deified" — of all our presidents. Historians have repeatedly ranked him the greatest U.S. president, with FDR coming in second.
Troops Support Ron Paul with President's Day March On White House
The Truth and Consequences of Pre-Emptive War
RON PAUL'S TEXAS STRAIGHT TALK – Last year more US troops died by suicide than died in combat in Afghanistan. More than 20 percent of military personnel deployed to combat will develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Some 32 percent of US soldiers reported depression after deployments. More than 20 percent of active-duty military are on potentially dangerous psychotropic drugs; many are on multiple types. Violent crime among active duty military members increased 31 percent between 2006-2011.
Driven Down Upon My Knees… Nowhere else to go
Abraham Lincoln on Prayer
"I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me, seemed insufficient for that day." -Abraham Lincoln
How often, as Christian patriots, do we feel this strongly about our time in prayer? How often are we reminded that our own wisdom is insufficient?
In times of trouble, the Enemy seductively whispers into our ears that prayer doesn't help, but that's because he fears it. He knows prayer is our greatest weapon during personal trials or in times of national crisis. Perhaps you feel your prayers don't matter; you may feel your prayers can't possibly
RNC Delegates Break from Huddle Shouting, "Ron Paul!"
PATRIOTS AND PAULIES POLITICS AND NEWS – Ron Paul supporters from Maine huddle in the hall way during the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012. See it here: http://flic.kr/p/dWyDC2 (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Facebook Still Using Face Recognition in US Despite Suspending Service in Europe Over Privacy Controversy
Facebook terminates face recognition tool in Europe, while depleting privacy in the US (RT.com) – US social media giant Facebook is deleting facial recognition data collected from European users and plans to terminate the feature there soon. Meanwhile, the software is gaining traction in the US, attracting apps that now recognize faces in public.
When users "tag" a friend in a photo uploaded to Facebook, the service stores and remembers facial features that identify that unique individual. Facebook is then able to suggest "tags" on newly uploaded photos to match pictures with names. Since 2011, the Ireland-based Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) has led an investigation into Facebook to see if the social media giant complied with European privacy laws. Continue reading
Ron Paul: When the Fed talks about independence, what they're really talking about is secrecy…
"When the Fed talks about independence, what they're really talking about is secrecy. What the GAO cannot audit is monetary policy. It would not be able to look at agreements and operations with foreign central banks, and governments, and other banks, transactions made under the direction of the FOMC [Federal Open Market Committee], and discussions or communications between the board and the Federal Reserve system relating to all those items. And why this is important is because of what happened 4 years ago. It's estimated that the amount of money that went in and out of the Fed overseas is $15 trillion. How did we get into this situation where Congress has nothing to say about bailing out all these banks?"
—Congressman Ron Paul
Obama & Congress Belong in Orange Jumpsuits
From GunnyG (GunnyG.wordpress.com)
Should Obama And Congress Be Arrested Under The NDAA?
John Aziz (Azizonomics) – Should President Obama (alongside Lindsay Graham and John McCain) be wearing an orange jumpsuit?
The Militarization of Western Society
Are Western governments waging a war on people power? The signs of a sprawling police state in the U.S. are abundant and conspicuous: a specialized military police trained for civil unrest, a wall-to-wall spying apparatus monitoring ordinary citizens, media censorship, re-education camps, etc.
Hackers Turn a Deaf Ear to NSA Recruiting Offer
Def Con: NSA Boss Asks Hackers to Join the Dark Side
Damon Poeter (PCMAG.COM) – Help me help you or help me hurt you? National Security Agency chief Gen. Keith Alexander's first-ever direct appeal to hackers to assist with national security was greeted with polite applause at the DefCon conference in Las Vegas on Friday but afterwards, it was a different story.
"The people who would say we are doing that should know better. That is absolute nonsense," Alexander said, referring to former NSA employees who have told the media that the agency does just that.
Your Security's a Joke (and you're the butt of it.)
THAT MAKES NO SENSE! The National Security Complex and You
TOM ENGELHARDT (TOMDISPATCH.COM) – When my daughter was little and I read to her regularly, one illustrated book was a favorite of ours. In a series of scenes, it described frustrating incidents in the life of a young girl, each ending with the line — which my tiny daughter would boom out with remarkable force — "that makes me mad!" It was the book's title and a repetitively cathartic moment in our reading lives. And it came to mind recently as, in my daily reading, I stumbled across repetitively mind-boggling numbers from the everyday life of our National Security Complex.
Audit The Fed Passes the House 326 – 99
Posted by Tenth Amendment
Congressman Ron Paul Before the U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Financial Services, Hearing on HR 1098: the Free Competition in Currency Act
I. The Problem
John Maynard Keynes once stated that "There is no subtler, no surer means of overturning the existing basis of society than to debauch the currency. The process engages all the hidden forces of economic law on the side of destruction, and does it in a manner which not one man in a million is able to diagnose." Such a situation is exactly what faces this country today, as the Federal Reserve seems hell-bent on destroying what little purchasing power remains of the U.S. Dollar.
If Ron Paul Were President… Would Anything Really Change?
What Would Really Happen If Ron Paul Were To Be Elected President?
by Bill Sardi
(LewRockwell.com) So what would really happen if Ron Paul were as elected President?
President Paul would immediately push for $1 trillion cut in federal spending (per year, not the $3 trillion that Democrats proposed over 10 years with half of that from increased taxes.)
President Paul would have the authority as commander-and-chief to withdraw troops from overseas, within limits of treaty commitments which must be honored (US supplies defense for Saudi Arabia, many other nations.) To the extent possible, the US would cease being the world's policeman and plunderer of foreign economies (Iraq, Libya). The US would cease being a war economy. President Paul would also push to…
Related articles
- Why is Ron Paul the clear choice for President? (independentmike.wordpress.com)
- Poll: 93% have favorable view of Ron Paul (dailypaul.com)
- RNC confirms Ron Paul will be up for nomination (prn.fm)
- Ron Paul at the GOP Convention? (circuswagon.wordpress.com)
- Ben Swann Claims Ron Paul Has Plurality of Delegates in 'At Least 6 States' (Radio Interview) (libertycrier.com)
- Ben Swann – Facts: Clarification from the RNC rules committee, Ron Paul has 6 states (dailypaul.com)
Ron Paul is a Far Better Option than Choosing Between the Lesser of Two Evils
Ron Paul is the Best Option in Election 2012
(PolicyMic.com) – During the 2008 Presidential campaign, I (along with many others) tried to argue that there was no legitimate difference between the grumpiest old man John McCain and the constitutional law professor turned Hope and Change motivator Barack Obama. It was clear that neither candidate was going to rollback the war profiteering military industrial complex. McCain's hawkish attitude towards oil rich foreign lands, including his infamous "Bomb, Bomb, Iran" ditty, and Obama's foreign policy adviser of choice, Zbigniew Brzezinski, who founded Al-Qaeda (at that point as a foil against the Soviets in Afghanistan) and authored The Grand Chessboard were tell-tale signs that the imperialist foreign policy would continue unabridged. It was also clear that neither candidate intended on curtailing the runaway casino financial system that benefits the 0.1% at the expense of the taxpayer. Both McCain and Obama stressed the urgency of the bailouts that sent trillions to Wall Street — who just happened to be the main campaign contributors for both candidates.
Today, exposing the false Left-Right paradigm is much easier. Goldman Sachs (R) vs. Goldman Sachs (D). Romneycare or Obamacare? Neither candidate is offering peace. More wars. More big government. The same old song and dance.
Drones Putting US Cars in the Crosshairs-for Practice
VIDEO: Ron Paul Suddenly Seems Electable
From Sovereign to Serf – Facebook shared a YouTube video via John Kacarab.
This is great. It is wonderful to hear all these leftists saying Ron Paul is Right!
Related articles
- MSNBC – Ron Paul Could Be Nominated At The Republican National Convention (libertycrier.com)
- Ron Paul's New Primary Goal Is "internet Freedom" (tech.slashdot.org)
- Lawyers for Ron Paul: Our Legal Position is Well Founded. Romney Camp Has Organized Criminal Acts (libertycrier.com)
15 Reasons Why Obamacare Spells Mind Blowing Disaster For America
Michael Snyder, Contributor
Activist Post
It was a 5-4 decision to uphold Obamacare, and the swing vote was Chief Justice John Roberts who was appointed by George W. Bush.
Map: How China May Divvy Up "The Land of the Free" With Foreign Powers
From Frank Jacobs —
Russia to US: You're Breaking Up (Too)
Endtime prophecy is not the province of the religiously excitable alone. Even the die-hard materialists of the Russian intelligence service FSB (formerly the KGB) dabble in apocalyptic musings – although the scope of this particular prediction is not global, but limited to the imminent demise of that old-and-new archenemy, the United States.
Bankers Play by their Own Rules
Related articles
- Bankers Under Fire as Facebook Slips 11% – WSJ.com (mbcalyn.com)
- Video: CNBC Admits We're All Slaves To Central Banks (patriotsandpaulies.wordpress.com)
Dr. Paul Diagnoses Dr. Obama
PAULTICAL TICKER with Jack Hunter (The Daily Caller) – Ahead of the Supreme Court's Thursday ruling on Obamacare, Texas Republican Rep. Ron Paul explained that government is already too involved in health care…
"It is obvious that Obamacare's legal apologists either are wholly ignorant of constitutional principles, or wholly lawless in their blatant disregard for those principles," Paul wrote on his online feed, "Texas Straight Talk."
Ron Paul-ies Cry Foul Over Massachusetts GOP's Move to Invalidate Caucus Ballots
A vote for Mitt Romney is a guaranteed vote and support to reelect Obama both which in turn, are votes for The Banksters and Wall Street Big-Money. Eating right out of the hands of The Powers That Be! I hope you Romney supporters realize this fact. Bye-bye our way of American life… Jamie Trent – FB
— Stephanie Ebbert (The Boston Globe)
A month after Mitt Romney's loyalists were trounced by supporters of Ron Paul in the former governor's home state caucuses, the Massachusetts Republican Party is trying to invalidate some ballots.
From the East Came the Feared Paulies
From the East came the feared Paulies. The villagers were frightened as rumors told of great changes. What could they do as they only outnumbered the Paulies by over one hundred to one?
It Takes A Village
— JAKE SEZ (THEPATRIOTSCORNER.COM) – There was once a village with the name of Establishment. In the village of Establishment lived the rulers of a great republic. The people in Establishment considered themselves rulers because they got to make the rules that everyone else in the republic had to follow. Everyone except that the rulers of Establishment. They were usually exempt from many of the laws that the others had to follow.


text:
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Mighty Machines Bloodhound Misty 49024 15
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Post 9-11 Security: Few Changes, Business as Usual Rules
Related Articles
- PRIVACY:. // Telecom Asia;Feb2002, Vol. 13 Issue 2, p40
No abstract available.
- Seaway Security Tightened. Parker, John // Traffic World;4/15/2002, Vol. 266 Issue 15, p32
Reports the enhancement of security procedures on sea travel by the U.S. and Canada. Inspection of ships; Impact of the September 11 terrorists attack; Improvement of marine security.
- Building Owners Assess Security. // Association Management;Sep2002, Vol. 54 Issue 9, p24
Cites a survey by the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA), which shows that security systems and procedures were already widely employed in U.S. office buildings prior to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Use of building alarm monitors, lobby security controls, surveillance...
- WHAT PRICE SECURITY? Longton, Linda // Overdrive;Nov2001, Vol. 41 Issue 11, p7
Focuses on the effect of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the people in the United States. Inspections on trucking industry; Effort of the government to check criminal background of drivers; Implications on the tight security measures implemented.
- SECURITY HAS TO MAKE SENSE. Coffee, Peter // eWeek;11/26/2001, Vol. 18 Issue 46, p45
Comments on the security measures in the wake of the terrorist attack in the United States. Prohibition of private cars in Los Angeles airport; Experience of the author at the Comdex show; Views on the security system.
- Homeland Security. Acomb, Deborah L. // National Journal;11/10/2001, Vol. 33 Issue 45, p3542
Presents results of polls regarding the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States. Result of a poll for CBS News and New York Times about the trust of the people to the government; Number of those who are in favor of privatization or federalization of the the airport security; Opinion...
- SECURING AMERICA: LESSONS LEARNED. Stepanek, Laura E. // SDM: Security Distributing & Marketing;Aug2002, Vol. 32 Issue 8, p46
Part I. Deals with security technologies and applications after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States. Market for retrofitting of integrated security systems; Factors driving demand for upgrades; Features desired by clients seeking access control retrofits.
- Post Sept. 11th, Security Re-evaluates; Expects Impact Through 2002. Zalud, Bill // Security: Solutions for Enterprise Security Leaders;Dec2001, Vol. 38 Issue 12, p17
Discusses findings of a survey of security directors and managers in the United States, on the impact of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the security industry. Percentage of security departments that re-evaluated their operation; Security measures undertaken by respondents; Risks that...
- Picking the Right Technology. // Security: Solutions for Enterprise Security Leaders;Dec2001, Vol. 38 Issue 12, p56
Discusses the New York City and the Securing New Ground conference, a meeting of top security equipment manufacturers and service providers, focusing on the impact of the September 11 attacks on the security industry and purchasing in the United States. Results of the 'Security Magazine' and...


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Posting temporarily disabled due to a rather aggressive spambot...
Art critics and their ilk
Are there any worth reading? Or are they all just paid by the big name galleries and artists to write reviews?
|Paddy Johnson of Art Fag City is pretty fantastic
|Dec. 9, 2012, 9:09 p.m.
|John Yau of Hyperallergic... one of the last critics writing actual reviews, and not just regurgitating endless combinations of the same 50 pretentious art words.
|Dec. 13, 2012, 12:28 p.m.
|Both Paddy Johnson and John Yau are bloggers... which might be the future of art criticism anyway. Official critics for the New York Times, etc. are becoming less relevant, Art Forum no longer has criticism either, just elaborate descriptions.
|Dec. 16, 2012, 10:28 p.m.


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Tranquil Twilight Spa Package
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NEW 2020 Events added for "Pamper & Party Package"
/ Event, News, Offers, Spa Package
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Fantastic Friday Offer
£45 per person – Please contact the hotel to check if this offer is open on the date you require as it is subject to availability! Based on 2 sharing a Double or Twin Standard Room Full use of leisure […]Continue reading
Secret Escape Spa Day
/ News, Offers, Spa Package
Available Daily. Price: £110.00 Per Person The deluxe spa experience package. Package includes: Access to leisure club facilities including swimming pool, sauna, steam room & spa pool 9am until 6pm 60 minute spa treatment– Hands On Facial, Holistic Massage, Deluxe […]Continue reading
Late Availability 2020 Wedding Package launched
We have now opened all our remaining dates* for 2020 on our late availability package. The £2750.00 package includes: Complimentary function room hire An event manager to assist you throughout the day Artist easel for display of your table plan […]Continue reading


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A second home in Cannes remains the ultimate dream place to be; close to all international activities such as the Mipim, the Midem, the Lions and the International Film Festival. But yes, Cannes is so very popular that living here is precious. In addition, the land is scarce and the mayor would rather not want any new building projects in the busy city. Fortunately, there are sometimes possibilities that shine a new light on the options; like this project consisting of 5 buildings.
Buy a second home in Cannes, close to CroisetteBuy a second home in Cannes, close to CroisetteBuy a second home in Cannes, close to Croisette
A second home in Cannes, overlooking Esterel mountains
An almost Spanish architecture with hail-white plaster and open-cast panels on the roof. Deep terraces to place a dining table and lounge area for maximum outdoor life fun. Living in Cannes suddenly comes into another dimension; here you live in a large new domain with swimming pool and a total of 181 apartments. The completion is 3rd quarter 2019, but time goes fast and so will the bookings that start next month.
A second home in Cannes, in 10 minutes on the Croisette
Your apartment is surrounded by tall palm trees and green gardens, the ideal setting for the 300 days of sunshine a year. The building is built according to the latest ecological standards and meets the strictest criteria for thermal insulation. The summer style that radiates the building can be found in all apartments, from studio to 1, 2 to 3 bedroom apartments. This project is perfect for many holidays in Cannes and offers the upper neighbors views of the red rocks of the Esterel Mountains. And if you, like many celebrities, own a private jet, it's just 10 minutes to the Cannes-Mandelieu jet-set airport.
Example Prices New Construction Cannes
Two bedrooms, 59 m2 living and 12 m2 balcony 310,000 euro incl parking
Three bedrooms, 83 m2 and 27 m2 terrace 450.000 euro incl parking
Interested in a second home in Cannes, near the Croisette? Make an appointment to view this and possibly other items. Contact us via ref PB-COG. Call Ab and Jo in France + 33 770186203. Or email us via firstname.lastname@example.com for all information about houses, villas, penthouses and apartments around and in Nice, Menton, Antibes, Biot, Cagnes sur Mer, Juan les Pins, Cannes , Mougins and Theoule, Saint Maxime and Saint Tropez.
Your dream home in southern France
Living on the Côte d'Azur provides a professional and fast service as the first contact point for international people who want to buy real estate on the Cote d'Azur. We are open seven days a week and are happy to assist you. If we can represent you when purchasing your property, you can make free use of our additional services. Living on the Cote d'Azur has full access to all databases to find the best houses and apartments in Southern France for you; From luxury villa, exclusive resort, cozy apartment to a super luxury penthouse.
'A message from the South of France' newsletter
If you are interested in buying luxury real estate in South France, you can subscribe to our monthly free newsletter. The easiest way to stay in touch with the Côte d'Azur and read about the latest projects and special offers. Every month we send this newsletter to you. You are the boss of your registration yourself; Changing or unsubscribing a new mailing address is quick and easy. Your connection to Côte d'Azur real estate starts with one click. Well, two actually. It starts here. Sign up for our monthly newsletter.
Property Features
- Prices incl parking
- Swimming pool
- Top floor view on esterel


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Suledin Keep is an old elven fortress in Emprise du Lion.
Involvement Edit
The keep has recently been seized to serve as a base for the Red Templars as part of their offensive to seize control of Emprise du Lion. They are also conducting experiments on giants by infecting them with red lyrium. The operation is overseen by Imshael, a desire demon and one of the The Forbidden Ones. After dealing with Imshael and driving out the Red Templars, Suledin Keep becomes a stronghold of the Inquisition.
Characters Edit
Quests Edit
- Main article: Quests (Inquisition)
Call Me Imshael
Capturing Suledin Keep
War Table Operations Edit
- Main article: War Table
Collections Edit
Bottles Edit
Abyssal Peach - Inside Suledin Keep past the cages and your first Giant encounter, before the lyrium tents.
Skyhold Customizations Edit
- Inquisition Banner - Capture one Keep.
- Inquisition Banner Crowns - Capture all Keeps: Caer Bronach, Griffon Wing Keep, Suledin Keep (sometimes bugged).
Crafting Materials Edit
Herbs EditArbor BlessingArbor Blessing
Tier 3 Common Herb
Tier 3 Rare Herb
Prophet's LaurelProphet's Laurel
Tier 2 Rare Herb
Tier 2 Common Herb
Enemies Edit
- Imshael
- Pride Demon
- Rage Demon
- Red lyrium infected Giant
- Red Templars
- Red Templar
- Red Templar Marksman
- Red Templar Guard
- Red Templar Shadow
- Red Templar Horror
- Red Templar Knight
- Behemoth
Notable items Edit
Veilfire glyphs EditFire Rune SchematicFire Rune Schematic
Rune Schematic
Adds fire damage to each weapon strike.
- Found in a cave that starts just south of the Suledin Keep map marker. Veilfire torch is at the end of the cave, the glyph is about halfway through, almost directly west of the Suledin Keep map marker. Just past the loot box on a small ledge.
Loot EditAmulet of RenewalAmulet of Renewal
Unique Amulet
The wearer of this amulet regenerates mana or stamina at a higher rate. - Possible reward from Call Me Imshael quest.
Note: Requires Trespasser DLC.Ardent BlossomArdent Blossom
Unique Helmet
"So I said to the fellow, 'You want a what?' And it turns out I heard him right the first time. A helmet of flowers, he said, with a vein of lyrium running through it to keep them flowers alive. I thought for sure this had to be some elven thing, something for frolicking in the woods, but no. It's for a duel, he said. Bloody Orlesians. Dwarven pride demanded I make the damned thing effective, at least."
Requires: Level 19
Armor: 39-41
+24% Sunder When Hit - Found down the endless staircase near Suledin Keep during The Tiniest Cave quest.
March of the EverlastingMarch of the Everlasting
Unique Shield
This shield may have been forged in Arlathan, like the varterrals that guard ancient elven tombs. If so, it fell into the hands of Tevinter conquerors, who reshaped it with their own magic. During the Black Age's Exalted Marches, Orlesian Circle Mages re-enchanted it and gave it to the chevaliers.
Requires: Level 17
Armor: 29
+30 Front Defense
+27 Maximum Health
+8% Melee Defense
+4 Strength
+5% extra damage for each enemy within 8 meters - Possible reward from Call Me Imshael quest.
Pure Spirit EssencePure Spirit Essence
Rune Material
(x3) - Possible reward from Call Me Imshael quest.
Sad SplintersSad Splinters
The despondent remains of a once-proud keep door.
- Looted after destroying the keep gate during Capturing Suledin Keep quest.
Superb Corrupting RuneSuperb Corrupting Rune
Unique Rune
Inflicts bonus damage against humanoids, beasts, and animals on each weapon strike.
+50 Damage vs. Living - Possible reward from Call Me Imshael quest.
Unique Staff
Following the Dalish clans' diaspora from Halamshiral in the Glory Age, one of the Keepers became famous for his vicious attacks on Orlesians. Known among humans as "the Pale Demon," he blasted unprotected merchants or soldiers with a blizzard from his staff, even in summer. The attacks lasted until chevaliers killed the Keeper and his entire clan.
Requires: Level 20
Damage: 76-77 Cold
+72% Barrier Damage Bonus
+7% Heal on Kill
+20% focus gain - Randomly sold by the Suledin Keep Merchant for
000001714817148 .
Note: Requires The Short List Inquisition perk.
Codex entries Edit
Codex entry: The First Blight: Chapter 4
Codex entry: Suledin Keep Documents
Codex entry: Trading with Kal-Sharok
Notes Edit
- If you have trouble finding the way inside Suledin Keep, go to the Tower Camp, then head west across a wide wooden bridge. The path to Suledin Keep should then be rather linear.
- Inside the keep there is an indoor area with lots of barrels. The platforms above are reachable by jumping and there is a chest on one of them. It contains random leveled loot (see Gallery).
- On the way to the Keep there are several hidden chests with random loot located on top of the ruins. They can be reached by walking up the bent trees and jumping from one branch to another.
Bugs Edit
- If you rebuild "Judicael's Crossing" before speaking with the Baron Edouard Desjardins, the They Shall Not Pass quest will not be triggered but the quest icon will be permanently shown on the map.
- If you kill any High dragon in Emprise du Lion before speaking with the Baron Edouard Desjardins, the Breeding Grounds quest will not be triggered but the quest icon will be permanently shown on the map.
Gallery Edit
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.


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Doug and Sharon McBride have been farming together since 1984. The road to organics began with a little farm in Campbellville, Ontario. A few years later we settled in Oro Township and that is where McBride's Organic Farm as you know it came into existence. In 1994 we became full-time farmers and the following year we committed ourselves full-time to organic farming. We started farming organically for ourselves initially and later, we recognized a demand for local organic produce. McBride's Organic Farm was then certified organic in 1996.
In our 12 (or so) acres of garden, we grow just about every type of vegetable, along with lots of herbs, and some raspberries and strawberries! This year, we are adding a section for cut flowers.
We start all our own organic seedlings while the snow is still on the ground and transfer them to our greenhouses when conditions allow. Our tunnels also allow for season extension to make the most of our growing season and provide you with local organic produce as late into the year as possible. In fact, our last root crops come out of the ground in November and are sold through the winter months at market.
From the greenhouse our seedlings are planted out to the garden, and harvested all summer long. We succession plant our greens (spinach, chard, kale, lettuces and salad mixes) to keep the fresh produce coming! The bulk of the remaining 95 acres of McBride's Organic Farm is dedicated to our beef herd as pasture land and space for growing hay and grain crops. All the food and bedding for our cattle is grown right here, and on nearby farms that we have transitioned to organic certification.
Every week, we also pick up certified organic fruits and vegetable that we either don't grow, or are not currently harvesting. We deliver, or you can come later in the morning to the market, without missing out. If you don't like heading to the market early Saturday (not everyone does..!), you can order ahead from our weekly selection found at "This Week's List":
You can order fresh, farm food electronically via our weekly email listings or visit us at the Barrie Farmers Market and Orillia Farmer's Market. Drop by and say, "Hi" to us when you are at the market. We love to meet our neighbours.


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Travel Guide to Baguio: The City That Kissed the Clouds Edit
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Cover photo by Jazzminyah. Graphics by Manel Solsoloy.
At a Glance
Located in cloud-capped mountains, Baguio is the country's highest city, lending a cool yet ethnic ambiance. It is American designed, with vast public parks, cultural museums and villages, pilgrim sites, and shopping centers. Come January, its streets are filled with floats of fresh flowers in celebration of the Panagbenga Festival.
Wrapped in mist and clouds, Baguio is the Philippines' loftiest city. It is most known for its numerous American-designed public parks, which offer sweeping views of the surrounding Cordilleran mountain ranges. Baguio is also the cultural center of the Cordillera region, paving way to a number of art museums and ethnic villages. These distinct characteristics coupled with its crisp cool air mark Baguio City as the Summer Capital of the Philippines.
Fragrant with thousands of pine trees, Baguio is built with sprawling outdoor parks, designed by the American architect Daniel Burnham. Some of its best listed parks include Mines View Park, Burnham Park, Wright Park, and Botanical Garden. The most recommended attraction is the 690-hectare Camp John Hay, a former vacation and recreation facility for American soldiers.
What differentiates Baguio from all other cities in the Philippines is its indigenous culture and art. Notable artsy sites in the city include the four-storey BenCab Museum, the indigenous village of Tam-Awan, the nearby art gallery Arko ni Apo, and the eclectic Ili Likha Artist Village. Interestingly, visitors also go to Baguio for ghost-hunting in interesting places such as the Laperal Mansion, the Old Diplomat Hotel, and at Teacher's Camp.
During Holy Week, pilgrims in and around Baguio flock Baguio Church, or take a 252-step ascent to Lourdes Grotto. Those looking for a natural kind of high can take a one-hour climb up Mt. Cabuyao before dawn and wait for the dazzling sunrise as the surrounding views bleed into color. The best time to visit Baguio is during its Panagbenga Festival, when the streets are filled with thousands of freshly picked flowers and wonderful scents!
8 Chillout Activities that will make your next Baguio trip UNFORGETTABLE
Words by Colleen Cabili
Asin Hot Springs
Just a mere 30-minute drive from the city proper is a series of resorts that source their water from below the ground. These natural pools are frequented by tourists and residents during the summer season, since the warm temperature of the water evenly balances out the cool but dry winds from the mountains.
Baguio Craft Brewery
Baguio Craft Brewery, the city's go-to hangout place for freshly brewed, high-quality beer, started out as a passion project in the garage of its owner, Christopher Ordas.
Session Road
Being Baguio's commercial center, this highway is usually every visitor's go-to after an exhausting day of touring the city. Lined with a healthy mix of homey and commercial restaurants and establishments, even the pickiest eater will surely leave Session Road burping! Must-tries in the area are Visco's delectable strawberry shortcake and Pizza Volante's Pizza Marengo.
Ili-Likha Artists Village
This vibrant art and food hub by film director and writer Kidlat Tahimik can be found right in the middle of the busy Session Road.
Botanical Garden
This spacious park at downtown Baguio has an art gallery maintained by the Baguio Arts Guild and several souvenir shops that carry native handicrafts for all ages. Amidst the towering pine trees are pocket gardens filled with flowering bushes and life sized relics of an Igorot Village.
Tam-awan Village
Established by BenCab and the Chanum Foundation in 1998, the village contains authentic Ifugao huts alongside permanent exhibits, cafes, and stores that showcase the rich cultural heritage of the region.
Harrison Road
At night, the lanes of Harrison Road experience a different kind of traffic—foot traffic, that is. This busy strip transforms into one of the country's biggest outdoor markets as rows upon rows of vintage and brand new clothes, shoes, accessories, and even electronics are sold at a much affordable price. Don't hesitate to practice your haggling skills here!
BenCab Museum
This four-level building in Tuba serves as home to National Artist Ben Cabrera and his extensive collection of contemporary Philippine art. The in-house restaurant located at the basement, Cafe Sabel, opens to a lush garden with a gazebo in the middle.
Where is Baguio City
How to get to Baguio City
From Manila, the fastest way to get to Baguio City is by car, which takes 5 to 6 hours. Buses bound for Baguio can also be found in Cubao, Avenida, and Pasay. Travel time can range between 6 to 8 hours, at about P400/head. In Baguio City, the fastest and most comfortable way to get around is by taxi. The city's main public transport, however, is the jeepney. Getting from one location to another in the city requires some walking and getting familiar with the jeepney routes.


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Lionsbridge Contractor Group is a national group of contractors dedicated to providing the highest quality service to howneowners and property owners. Our partnership with insurance companies that handle policyholder property and casualty claims truly separates us from the competition. Shareholders of Lionsbridge, receive qualified leads that come from insurance claims and property owners in need of home repair and restoration services. The claims process is managed through our system for quality assurance, customer service and estimate accuracy.
We integrate the following principles in every insurance restoration project that we do:
Excellent Communication — Our electronic estimate auditing process and our customer satisfaction surveys are just a few of the ways that we gauge the performance of the insurance repair contractors in our group. We give our clients total communication and evaluation power.
Dynamic Performance Metrics — We communicate key performance indicators in our comprehensive client report. We evaluate each customer touch point throughout the entire casualty claim process as we measure cycle times. We also provide comprehensive loss cost measurements.
Quality Assurance — We guarantee timely completion of you or your clients' property and casualty jobs. Our insurance restoration specialists are vetted, experienced contractors that will always get the job done right.
Lionsbridge contractors are held to the highest standards and credentialing requirements. Below are the standards by which we hold all of the contractors in our network accountable:
Positive Track Record — Must have proven success and customer satisfaction.
Honest and Professional Business — Must perform business that is integrity driven.
Courteous Customer Service — Must commit to serving their clients first.
Record of Efficient Performance — Must have proven record of completing projects as quickly and inexpensively as possible while providing high-quality work.
Verification of Liability Insurance
Proven Company Financial Competency
Criminal and Violent Crime Background Checks on All Employees
We are bridging the gap between policyholders, insurance carriers and contractors.
Let us show you how Lionsbridge can add additional value and customer service to your company.


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Teaching reflection 1 – operating department practice
Posted by knockels on 18 November, 2008
Operating Department Practitioners (ODPs) work with patients before, during and after surgery, and have to acquire a diploma qualification. The Medical School runs such a course, and the library has had an input since the course started.
I have an afternoon (in practice, 2 hours) to teach database searching skills. The session has become set like this: first, they search the internet for recipes to satisfy both of 2 friends (one cannot eat dairy, one cannot eat wheat). This is an exercise that Sarah W devised and which we used with medical students. Then we look on the internet for "nil by mouth", and then we move into Medline and look for peer reviewed journal literature. The first exercise gets them thinking about choosing search keywords and combining them, and the second gets them thinking about alternative terms (try the "nil by mouth" search and see what you get, remembering who the students are).
I've been pleased with this session, and have run it like this for the past three or four times (it runs twice a year, as there are two cohorts a year). This time I threw in using the voting handsets, and for the past couple of times we have had a "step by step" handout to lead us through Medline. But this time I did feel that the session was too bitty. I like the recipe search (it assumes that they do already search the net), and I like the nil by mouth search, as it might show them how to use search engines efficiently. Medline is certainly a must – they are expected to use journal articles in their assignments and not rely on things found through Google. I do wonder (as I do for other groups) if PubMed would be better than Medline, but mostly I am thinking that this session is now comprised of too many, too different, parts. Something – perhaps the step by step handout (we used this with another group, successfully), and perhaps the handsets, might have to go.


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Steve's Digicams have recently posted their review of the Canon PowerShot SD430 Digital ELPH, a 5.0 megapixels (CCD) digital camera with 3x optical zoom ( 35-105mm f/2.8-4.9), 2.0″ Color LCD with Night Display Control and a built-in wireless control for image transfer and printing.
"The SD430's 5-megapixel Large Superfine images are awesome, with image quality being what we have come to expect from Canon's models. Our outdoor sample photos are sharp, show good overall exposure, and color saturation is very pleasing. There was slight softness around the edge of our images, but this amount is very minute and it's very unlikely the average users would even notice it. The Canon 3x optical zoom lens offers the a typical focal range of 35-105mm (35mm equivalent), providing a moderately wide angle field of view for interior and scenic shots, and telephoto coverage useful for portraits or to bring your subjects a little closer. I noticed moderate barrel distortion at wide angle, but relatively no pin cushioning at telephoto. Chromatic aberrations are well controlled, with only the slightest amount of purple fringing detectable in high contrast areas. Noise levels were very low, especially when the ISO was at 50 or 100, becoming more noticeable as the sensitivity increased. "
>> Canon PowerShot SD430 Review Roundup
>> Canon PowerShot SD430 Latest Price


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My Lecco
When I ask visitors if they have been to Lecco, the usual reply is, "Why should I go there? It's so industrial." Really? Let us take a look. Lecco is easy to get to by either train, bus, car or boat. Your first trip there must be by boat. It is the most dramatic & beautiful of any trip on the lake. Instantly, as the boat rounds the Bellagio promontory, you will see what I mean. Heading down the Lecco branch, the landscape, colors and mood are different from anywhere on the lake.
The mountains are more jagged,
The cafes and villages appear nearly empty, while at the same time, the Como branch is swarming with tourists. You will still see fantastic lakefront villas.
Entering the harbor, it would seem impossible for the setting to become more gorgeous, but looking around, it does.
The harbor area is stunning.
Lecco's passionate, war and peace monument is situated in this area,
and is the most dramatic of any monument around the lake.
All Italians are familiar with Alessandro Manzoni's classic novel, The Betrothed (Promessi Sposi), as it is required reading. Lecco and the Adda River are the featured setting for this romantic masterpiece.
The shots below were taken from along the Adda River.
Very dreamy.
Here are a few parting shots to end this blogger's love affair with Lecco: It is also a serious water sports destination for any kind of wind anything, & is a location for world-class rowing competitions, – see viewing stadium below;
More beautiful sculptures, old buildings, really nice shopping & an excellent, full-service train station complete what goes on in Lecco. I like it there.
One Response to "My Lecco"
Really loving the mountain photography! These are some of the best photos on the internet!


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As an analyst on the product marketing and management (PMM) team at SiriusDecisions, I listen every day, and sometimes multiple times a day, to the suffering of B2B professionals due to the lack of alignment in B2B organizations. It's saddening to witness bright, successful, driven people – who all just want to see their company grow and be prosperous – downtrodden by imbalances in workflow processes or conflicts resulting from accountability tension between product, marketing and sales.
Let me share some best practices observed where business leaders have achieved coordinated, aligned processes between product marketing, product management, research and development, engineering, manufacturing, product development and sales.
Usually, the first instinct is to go to the org chart and start moving boxes to fix things. However, while proper organizational structure is pretty basic to alignment, for many reasons (e.g. politics, culture, timing) touching the org chart might not be an option, or it might cause more confusion than clarity – exacerbating the alignment problem even further. But I'm here with hope to say that org chart reconstruction is not the only way to get to alignment. Alliances can be formed via matrixed processes and virtual teams that overcome the gaps created by organizational silos. Leaders must form networked processes and cross-functional teams that enable operational effectiveness and prevent communication breakdowns as offerings are brought to market.
So, before running to your computer to start moving the boxes around in the org chart, I recommend a better first step when addressing an alignment issue: Use a fact-based approach like our industry-standard PMM Model to audit existing workflow processes, identify where resource gaps and redundancies are really problematic, and isolate necessary process improvements in order to engineer better alignment. While organization design might be one output of that analysis, we observe that companies are also using training, skills development, more crisply defined role definitions, standard templates, formal interlock, and consistent workflow processes as ways to bridge alignment gaps.


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Long long ago, our dear own Megz had tagged this mere mortal to an awesome awesome meme both on the external and corporate blog portals. Both the blog-o-spheres were taken by a storm and everyone fell into the pool of abstraction and title-less poetry.
I am really late in taking up the meme. But, I guess, for Megz, it was a calculated risk that she tagged ME to take it further. And indeed it was with an intention of pumping life into this utterly dead blog. Your efforts have finally paid off Megz. It took me almost a month to be in this state when even Lindor truffles and Tim Horton's hot chocolate do not seem to be doing a good job of mood elevators and here I am with my reckless bantering in abstraction…
Why does it rain, when it is dry inside?
Why does it pain, when it blossoms outside?
Why do I search for colors in the dark?
Why do my dreams make reality so stark?
Why do I avoid looking at the mirror?
Why do I smile pleasantly in a mysterious fear?
Why do I hum a tune not composed by anyone?
Why is the ruptured divinity of my heart left undone?
Why do I barter my deeds with fate, with a meek hope to win?
Why do I seek solace so soon, despite my self-pitied chagrin?
Why do I have broken walls around, which I try to mend?
Why do I always begin something, of which there is no end?
I wrote most of these couplets at different times and they mostly made their way into my empty head when I was making a genuine attempt to think about "myself" and the series of polluting agents that revolve around this word.
Well, now that I get a chance to pass on this abstraction bug to someone, I tag Borna to take this meme ahead. The rules are simple:-
> The TITLE of the post should be the same as above
> The tags should include poem-with-no-title
> The poem should preferably be just random thoughts and abstract-ish


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When you're in a military family, moving is part of life, and often it is a frequent part of life. According to USAA, a common task that military families face when preparing for a move is making sure that their possessions are minimized so that the move itself will be smoother and easier.
Of course, minimizing possessions does not mean that you have to get rid of things. More and more families are turning to long term storage solutions. The challenge that they face then is keeping track of what they own and what is in what storage container in what city. Fortunately, there's a solution when you're going through the process of streamlining your possessions in preparation for a move.
Inventory Possessions Before Putting Them into Storage
If you're not 100 percent sure of everything you own, then it's easy to get confused and accidentally purchase duplicates. The only solution to this is inventory tracking through asset tracking software. It's not that complicated, and it doesn't take much time. Since you're preparing for a move, this is the perfect time to do it.
As you are going through your possessions, you can easily snap pictures of your possessions and catalog them in Asset Panda's online app. When you are going through and updating this, just take a few seconds to make note of where each item is. The location should not include just the box number but also whether this is something that you are planning to take with you or something that is going into storage. If you plan to put it into storage, then make sure that you include the storage location. It's not uncommon for families to have things in storage in multiple locations.
Since Asset Panda allows you to keep track of the active and non active items in your inventory, you may even want to make note of those things you are giving away. This is particularly important if you are giving something valuable away. After the move, you might forget that you gave it to someone, and this could cause a great deal of frustration and panic. Additionally, documenting through the app what you have donated or given away can help you later when you need to demonstrate your charitable giving on your tax deductions. Try to be as specific as possible. Include the name of the person or the organization, the date, and the value of the item given away in the notes section.
Use Cloths to Wrap Precious Belongings Rather Than Newspaper
One of the problems when moving is that there never seems to be enough space. This is doubly true when you're trying to downsize for your new home. But you can save a significant amount of space by wrapping dishes and breakables in towels, linens, and even clothes. Cloth material makes up a significant portion of most home moves. When space is a major concern, you might as well use this padding rather than purchasing peanuts or using newspaper. If you keep up with the inventory tracking, you don't risk losing anything with this method.
To make unpacking easier, try to keep like linens together. For instance, if you have three sets of sheets and seven sets of towels, try to keep the sheets in one box wrapping the breakables rather than mixing and matching with the towels. If you have people helping you to unpack when you arrive at your destination, you may want to take the time to mark that the linens and towels have breakables wrapped in them. This way, no one whips out a towel and smashes your vase.


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All photos by yours truly
So I've been in the Galapagos for 5 days, and it seems like every dispatch I've written brims with doom and gloom—I've hit on the islands' huge water management issues, the problems with education, and an illegal ongoing sea lion penis harvest, to name a few. I feel like I haven't adequately addressed why these islands are worth such extraordinary consideration and attention.
Put simply, the reason is this: They are awesome.
Today, I accompanied the teachers on our first immersive tour of the Galapagos Islands' illustrious ecosystem. We embarked for Espanola, one of the scenic, uninhabited islands in the Galapagos archipelago.
It was easily one of the most stunning places I have ever been.
Rather than merely explain what I saw, I thought a few photos would do better justice to the island's singular beauty. Bear in mind that these pictures were taken by yours truly, the most amateurish of amateur photographers, and that all were taken in a span of about two hours. I hope they at least begin to convey the almost alien nature of the spectacular ecosystem: giant marine iguanas lounge about in the sun oblivious to the sea lions' gargling calls on the beach, blue-footed boobies engage in mating rituals while tourists stand merely feet away, and sea lion pups curiously waddle up to you while waved albatrosses and Galapagos hawks soar overhead.
Anyhow, here's a look:
An Amateur Photo Essay of Espanola, Galapagos
Blue-Footed Boobies and Marine Iguanas
Sea lion pup
A curious Nazca bird
Marine Iguana close-up
The Galapagos Hawk
Me and a sea lion pup
Selected Reactions from the Teachers Upon Touring This Island:
"This is a biologist's heaven . . . I think I'm going to teach only the Galapagos for the rest of the year." - Pat Arndt
"This is the most incredible place I've ever seen." - Elizabeth Lockwood
"It's a visual orgasm. There's nothing else to say." - Eduardo del Solar
30 of the top teachers in the US are making a trek from the Florida Everglades to the Galapagos Islands in order to engage a series of global conservation issues in the Toyota International Teacher Program. I'm traveling alongside the educators to report on what we discover about the threats and wonders on modern day Galapagos.


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Today I attended a birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese. My favorite game there is Whack-a-Mole because I have found that beating little gopher heads with a hammer releases the negativity and anxiety that are common by-products of my association with large groups of frenetic, unsupervised children. Imagine my disappointment to find that it had been replaced by Hammerhead Sharks, which did not provide the same level of satisfaction. I LIKED trying to take the heads off those cute and cuddly gophers, and hitting a mean and scary shark just isn't the same.
My aversion to kids parties came home to roost when I picked my daughter up from school one afternoon, and a kid next to her said, "Leah, is that your REAL mom?" Because I dropped the kids off in the morning, and either Mark, a grandmother, or another relative did the afternoon pickup and all parties, this child hadn't seen me in a year; therefore, I didn't exist. I think that one of the reasons I don't like these events is that I have to spend all my time listening to the other moms talk about the 15 activities their Einsteins are involved in this week, and how they spent the summer raising sheep to provide the wool for the Pope's new vestments, or some other accomplishment of magnificent proportions, all the while trying not to gorge myself on forbidden foods such as Cheetos and chocolate cake.
This party was different. I met a nice lady from Poland whose son is the same age as my daughter. She and her husband are both physicians, although she is not practicing due to raising the children without a family network in the area. We discussed the complete insanity of the current move in the government to take over health care. Because she came from a formerly socialist country, she cannot believe that our government is moving toward socialism. "Why don't they study history?" she asked. Why, indeed? My limited explanation was that the people making the decisions were more concerned with re-election than with making the right decisions. I didn't have time to clarify this, because we had to cut the cake and open presents.
Renata is not my newest, bestest friend because of our similar political views, but because after eating pizza and talking about carbs, proteins, and the effect of estrogen on aging, she complimented me on my skin and wanted to know what kind of moisturizer I used. She said I had pretty skin and I think she meant it. That, girls and boys, is one way to win friends– sincere compliments.