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Freedom! March 2, 2019Posted by wmmbb in Australian Politics.
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I was discharged from hospital two days ago. I enjoyed the experience, or I became institutionalized very quickly. They fed you, and even make your bed. They do not let you go, if they are any question marks over your health, for example higher than the norm blood potassium readings.
Eight Weeks and Eight Days July 11, 2016Posted by wmmbb in Australian Politics.
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The election ran for eight weeks, and then the count took days to sort out who had a bare majority in the House of Reps to form the government. I tired of being told seemingly endlessly that the 76 members represented an absolute majority.
Invasion Day: Ignoring History January 28, 2016Posted by wmmbb in Australian Politics.
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History, we are told is written by the victors. If history is not is not accurate it has little value as memory. Propaganda can be very serviceable. Means have a habit of presaging ends. Orchestrated delusion, or at least failure to address the truth of the past, or worst to embrace ignorance, does not serve the larger of cause of humanity.
GET A WARRANT! March 25, 2015Posted by wmmbb in Australian Politics, Human Rights.
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In this instance, Get UP were nicer than I am prepared to be. They merely suggested a specific warrant is necessary, as in the case of that other country moved to oppose and dispose the general warrant of the King, now 239 years ago. Now we are under officially surveillance by the state. This is both totalitarianism, and of doubtful utility for achieving its stated objectives. Representative Democracy necessarily involves trust which when broken goes deeper than a mere constitutional crisis. (more…)
THE CLIMATE CHANGE PROBLEM February 10, 2015Posted by wmmbb in Australian Politics, CLIMATE CHANGE.
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Climate change is a problem that will not go away. It is as Kevin Rudd said: "the greatest moral, economic and social challenge of our time" I would prefer to describe it as "the defining issue of our time" – a rhetoric co-opted for income inequality.
ARISE SIRE ABBOTT! February 9, 2015Posted by wmmbb in Australian Politics.
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The chances are good that Tony Abbott will be given his priors today. And then again he might survive the ship wreck. The problem with shipwrecks is that the boat cannot float any longer. Ask the captain of the Costa Concordia how that goes.
WHERE TO FOR THE FEDERAL LNP? January 30, 2015Posted by wmmbb in Australian Politics.
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I don't claim any special insights into Australian federal politics. I am just wondering.
AN UNQUALIFIED FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION? January 12, 2015Posted by wmmbb in Australian Politics.
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The denizens of Catallaxy are too concerned with matters of great moment to be bothered to response to my propositions this morning. Furthermore, I might well have been censored.
CORPORATE TRIUMPHALISM, DEMISE OF DEMOCRACY? December 23, 2014Posted by wmmbb in Australian Politics.
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If this is the challenge, how do we meet it? Let me quote myself from a comment posted in response to "The Ship of Fools":
MORALITY AND REFUGEE POLICY December 5, 2014Posted by wmmbb in Australian Politics.
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Green Senators spoke with emotion on the treatment of refugees in the last evenings debate on the amendment to the legislation. The debate, such as it is, was delivered to a near empty Senate chamber.This is a moral case, and as democratic citizens we have to take responsibility, and hold those who presume to rule us to account.
DEMOCRATIC REVIEW AND PROSPECT November 21, 2014Posted by wmmbb in Australian Politics, Humankind/Planet Earth.
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Australian democracy is in crisis. The crisis is exemplified in the observations and comments of the prime minister.
SYNTHESIS REPORT OF IPCC'S FIFTH ASSESSMENT REPORT November 6, 2014Posted by wmmbb in Australian Politics, CLIMATE CHANGE.
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The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is an interesting institution within which climate scientists from around the globe work together. What is possible for science, remains impossible for politics. I notice that the report is dedicated to the memory of Stephen H. Schneider 1945 – 2010.
CLOUD COVER AND OCEAN CYCLES October 3, 2014Posted by wmmbb in Australian Politics, CLIMATE CHANGE.
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It may seem odd that political attention and resources are focused now on Sunni extremists, the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, and not on the Ebola outbreak in West Africa or Climate Change. We are told that the Government's focus is to keep Australians safe.
INTENTIONALITY, AUSTERITY AND UNEMPLOYMENT August 7, 2014Posted by wmmbb in Australian Politics.
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Gary at Public Opinion posted on "tabloid politics" and the unemployed. The facts of the situation seems to be there is a mismatch between the available advertised positions and the applicants.
UN(FOR)SEEN IRAQ June 27, 2014Posted by wmmbb in Australian Politics, Modern History.
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So who is ISIS? Where do they get their money from? Why are they so well trained and effective? Are they part of a holy war that might loosely be interpreted as a jihad or struggle?
DUSTING OFF THE NEO-LIBERAL PLAYBOOK June 20, 2014Posted by wmmbb in Australian Politics.
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The budget was unanticipated and a shock. Neo-liberalism is the Government's pervasive ideology.
WAR AGAINST THE HUMAN FUTURE June 13, 2014Posted by wmmbb in Australian Politics, Humankind/Planet Earth, US Politics.
2 comments
This is a provocative suggestion. However, for governments to allow the cutting down forests, the source of oxygen,thus destroying ecosystems we cannot recreate, and particularly refusing to take effective actions on climate change the case is clear.
HOMELESSNESS May 19, 2014Posted by wmmbb in Australian Politics, Human Rights, US Politics.
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Now that border fascism has been brought home by the cruelty of the Federal Budget, as could have been predicted, the question and ramifications of homelessness might merit consideration.
A BUDGET REFLECTION May 15, 2014Posted by wmmbb in Australian Politics, Democracy.
1 comment so far
The Federal Budget will affect everybody, perhaps in different ways, including those people who live and work, or at some future point once lived and worked around the neighbourhood.


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Success in life = the people you meet + what you do together
I first read that quote in a book (Never Eat Alone) back in 2014 but I only started to really see it in 2018.
So who are the people that help make WebMedic a success?
First my parents, if it wasn't for their endless support I wouldn't be able to do what I am doing today.
Since a young age my parents always provided us with books, the best education we can afford and the unconditional love that makes you feel invincible — thank you Mom and Dad!
Second would be our early customers who believe in WebMedic (some before we are WebMedic), their understanding on the issues we faced and allowing me to work on their websites made it possible to realize our potential and grow the business.
Thank you Shawn Low, Shen Loh-Lim, Louis Lee, Marvin Yong, Vyonne Lim, Brent Kocal, PX Liew, Kenny Aw, Samantha Mah, Pang Wee Tak and Zayan Yassin.
And third would be the friends and team members, if it wasn't for their support we wouldn't have been able to grow.
Notable people that helped WebMedic:
Adam Hirsch who helped re-ignite my passion while working for him at The Nest co-working space, if it wasn't for his guidance and the experience at The Nest; I would most probably be working for some company with my Masters degree, and fuck that. #KEEPTHEFIRE
James Miles-Lambert who taught me that I am in the business of understanding other businesses and helped guide my first proper website proposal starting with drawing it on paper, which I still do to this day. Thank you!
Tinashe 'Nash' Chikanda arguably the most visible addition to WebMedic is Tinashe's, before Tinashe: Webmedic, after Tinashe: WebMedic. 'nuff said.
Andrew Guan with his diverse talents and knowledge in the web, he helped in the planning and putting together our Care Package proposal (the service WebMedic was built on).
Jesper Ryynanen who is truly a walking encyclopedia, there are no questions he doesn't have the answer for. He helped by giving feedback on the Care Package proposal and referred one of the best early customers who would want our service.
Stephanie Wijaya AKA the godmother of the cats. She let me (and my cats) stay in her apartment when I had no place to stay, helped in the planning of our Care Package proposal and referred one of the best early customers who would want our service.
Lisa Tsjin and Carol Yaw are two of the kindest hearts whom without their guidance, support and good company WebMedic journey would be tougher than ever.
Noel Ninal is easily one of best designers out there, he not only has an eye for good design, he also has an understanding of User Interface and User Experience that makes his designs not only beautiful but functional.
Genesis Aquino is WebMedic's first team member that is helping us with something I was afraid and unsure of getting help with — project and account management.
He has proven to be a great team member by not only making sure our projects are done on time but also by recruiting some of our best talent.
And of course we wouldn't be able to deliver results to our clients without our talented team of developers:
Frank Canlas, Catherine Maglalang, Rheejee Polbo, Lucky Dinawanao, Lovely Hernandez and Gil Concepcion Jr — thank you for your continuous support!
And what kind of results would we deliver if it wasn't quality tested under different conditions and made sure all the little details are taken care of, thank you Zcion Aquino!
We are always looking for more talented freelancers to work with, we are in the middle of interviewing many more to join — if you are interested, get in touch with me on [email protected]
Looking forward to accomplish more together!

subset: commoncrawl


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SOUTH FALLSBURG — Federal regulators ordered Murray's Chicken to cease processing at its South Fallsburg poultry plant Tuesday, throwing hundreds of workers into limbo as the company disputed government concerns about food safety.
SOUTH FALLSBURG — Federal regulators ordered Murray's Chicken to cease processing at its South Fallsburg poultry plant Tuesday, throwing hundreds of workers into limbo as the company disputed government concerns about food safety.
Steve Gold, Murray's vice president of sales and marketing, said the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service allowed the company to ship chicken packaged Monday but ordered it otherwise closed until it corrects "facility issues."
"It has nothing to do with the food safety of the product," said Gold. "We're doing everything we can to make sure our employees get back to work."
Neither Gold nor Brian Mabry, an FSIS spokesman, would identify the specific issues underlying the shutdown. But Mabry said FSIS' concerns are directly related to food safety.
The agency sent Murray's a written warning in January concerning "salmonella controls," he said. The concerns centered on Murray's ability to identify and minimize contamination by pathogens such as salmonella, said Mabry.
The written warning was followed by a notice in April about sanitation concerns and noncompliance with FSIS regulations, said Mabry. FSIS issued another notice Monday telling Murray to suspend operations.
"While FSIS is sympathetic to the economic implications of the suspension, our primary concern is to fulfill our regulatory responsibility to protect the public health," said Mabry.
Gold said he was not aware of any FSIS issues with food contamination. The company frequently tests on its own and just passed a USDA test for salmonella on July 23, he said.
"Either you pass or you fail," he said. "We passed."
Murray's has spent hundreds of thousand of dollars addressing ongoing FSIS complaints about its aging plant, said Gold. Because of that effort, owner Murray Bresky and company officials were shocked when they received the shutdown notice, he said.
"For some reason, it came to a head yesterday," he said.
Murray's 350 employees process about 35,000 chickens a day at the South Fallsburg plant. A group of five men stood outside a Murray's office on Main Street Tuesday afternoon but refused to comment about the closure.
Fallsburg Supervisor Steve Vegliante is confident the plant will reopen shortly. "I fed my children Murray's chicken on Monday night, and will continue to do so," he said.


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City of Eden PrairieHome Menu
Outdoor Center Birthday Parties
Step out into nature with an Outdoor Center birthday party!
The Outdoor Center is the "natural" place for children to celebrate their birthdays. Each party allows for 90 minutes of action led by our naturalist, including a short hike, seasonal activities and meeting one or two of the animals who live at the Outdoor Center. The activities are followed by 30 minutes to serve cake and ice cream, open gifts and more.
Outdoor Center parties are designed for children ages 5–12 with maximum attendance of 15 children and three adults. Because of limited space, we are unable to accommodate additional guests or adults. We ask that your decorations and activities not include confetti, glitter or a piñata.
Extra party favors (i.e. flashlights, paint sets, pencils) are also available for an additional fee.
Up to 15 children: $159
Party Availability
Saturdays and Sundays, 1–3 p.m.
A $25 surcharge is added if the booking family does not live or work in Eden Prairie.
A variety of party choices are also available at the Community Center and the Art Center.


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|An all to familiar sight - a bank closure notice
Bank closures, often by stealth, are a fact of life for many communities across much of rural and urban Wales – back on January 11th HSBC announced that branches in Ruabon, Chirk, Amlwch and Menai Bridge will close in April. Back in June 2015 Natwest announced its plans to close 11 branches in north Wales in September (St Asaph, Denbigh, Corwen and Llangollen in Denbighshire, as will the branches in Abersoch, Blaenau Ffestiniog and Tywyn in Gwynedd and those in Abergele and Rhos-on-Sea in Conwy, Buckley in Flintshire and Rossett in Wrexham).
The BBC noted that more than 600 bank branches have closed across Britain over the past year, with rural areas worst affected and that parts of Wales, Scotland and south west England lost the most per population between April 2015 and April 2016. The figures obtained revealed that five of the top 10 areas losing banks are in Wales: Powys, Denbighshire, Gwynedd, Conwy, and Carmarthenshire. The data revealed by BBC Breakfast - came from the big six High Street banks: Lloyds, Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), HSBC, Santander, Barclays and the Co-operative.
Now sadly this is nothing new, at the end of October 2014 Lloyd's announced that it would close 150 branches (7% of its 2,250 branches) and shed some 9,000 jobs (the bank has incidentally already shed 43,000 jobs since the largely bank driven financial crash back in 2008). In October 2014, Vince Cable, the then Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills was apparently going to write to UK banks to demanding that the banks commit to keeping 'the last branch in town' open. Sadly was probably a little late as a growing number of communities in Wales, which already have no bank (28 as of December 2015), and the forty-seven which only have one bank, as noted by the Campaign for Community Banking Services.
The problem of closing banks affects all parts of Wales, while it is more readily identifiable in rural communities; but it also affects our urban areas as well – inconveniencing both personal and business customers. Bank closures proportionally hit older people harder as they may have problems with access to regular public transport. Age Cymru also noted that having a local bank that was convenient for older people was "vital" for ensuring they did not become socially isolated and that older people were at increased risk of financial abuse because of the branch closures.
More locally in Newport there has been a stealth-like closure of local high street banks -Caerleon's HSBC branch in Backhall Street (closed on 2nd November 2012) – despite a campaign to save the small town's only bank from closure, which had gained the support of hundreds of people who signed a petition against the closure. HSBC had already closed the next nearest branch to Caerleon, on Caerleon Road, in St Julian's (which was closed June 2011) – so much of listening to their customers.
While Lloyds in 2011/2012 was in the frame for a raft of closures, HSBC had already systematically closed branches across much of Wales - Presteigne, (which closed on Friday 9th March 2012) despite over 500 people signing a petition against the closure), and Blaenafon, in Torfaen (which closed on the 11th May 2012) despite over a 1,000 people signed a petition against the closure of what was literally the last bank in the town). The excuse was that both banks had seen a significant decline in the numbers of customers using their services and the branches were no longer commercially viable.
Campaigners against bank closures rightly claim that businesses in an area where a bank closes suffer and that residents (especially the elderly) who are reliant on public transport to bank in a nearby town are disadvantaged. Just for the record HSBC had closed six branches in Wales between September 2010 and December 2011, including Llandysul, Ceredigion, and Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant in Powys.
The company has closed 17 "under-used" banks in Wales (since 2009) in both urban and rural areas. HSBC, Barclays and the rest have been quietly closing small rural banks in recent years, and NatWest and Barclays have also reduced bank-opening hours. The British Bankers' Association says more customers now go on-line and banks must examine branch-running costs.
Despite the spin (about the growth in on-line banking and it's use – if you have no choice what else are people going to do) this is about nothing more than cutting running costs, the banks have little (or no concern) for their relatively unprofitable personal customers or the concerns of their local business customers or our smaller communities. As has been noted by the US Senate, some banks have other more pressing interests than those of their domestic customers like helping to launder money for drug dealers, dictators and terrorists, so much for being a local bank.
Local banks are good for the high street and local communities, they help to promote vitality and vibrancy and make it easier for local businesses to operate. Local businesses to a degree benefit from the existence of local high street branches by picking up passing trade from bank customers. Once local bank branches close, the impact will be felt locally especially by older residents and local business owners who have to trek further and further to pay in their taking and the subsequent drop in passing trade – this situation has been aggravated by the demise of many building societies. It is of course important to remember that one result of the demise of the regional banks was the rise of the big 4 banks which led to the growth of the reckless casino banking and cheap credit that brought about the financial crash.
When you factor in the ruthless Post Office closure programme that has been pushed through by the then Labour Government, and the Con - Dem coalition government prior to it's privatisation of the Post Office which in turn was preceded by the rapid floatation and rapid demise of most of our building societies you can clearly see how we got here - sorting the mess out is not going to be easy. It is perhaps a pity that we don't have some sort of risk free Post Office Savings bank – save for the fact that it was recklessly sold of by a previous Conservative government.


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Kim Kardashian Opens Up About Kanye West's Appearance on Show
Kim Kardashian, 31, is speaking out about her relationship with 34-year-old music mogul Kanye West after weeks of speculation, saying that the world will see it unfold on her show.
The reality television star recently admitted that West would be on the next season of her E! network show, "Keeping Up With the Kardashians." Still, the star said there would be limitations to what the public sees about her relationship.
"I'm not going to be taking a bubble bath and drinking champagne or on a sex swing [on camera] like Khloé and Lamar do," Kardashian told E!. "It's not going to be like that."
However, she said the cameras would still capture some of their intimate moments together.
"If we are having dinner and he does show up, I'm sure we're not going to go, 'Stop the cameras!'" she said.
Although Kardashian has not spoken directly about her and West's romantic relationship before her interview with E! News, many have speculated that they have been dating for months after the pair were spotted together at his fashion show and the rapper released a song about her. Still, Kardashian insists that she will approach love differently this time around after a high-profile 72-day marriage to NBA player Kris Humphries ended in Aug. 2011.
"My heart's a little more guarded," Kardashian told E!. "I showed so much of myself in the past. You almost get embarrassed showing this big wedding, which I would have had cameras or not. So I think you want to just guard yourself."
Although West has been tight-lipped about the pair's relationship, he released a song last month called "Way Too Cold" about his love interest. In the song, West mentioned that the reality star's relationship with Humphries may have kept her away from the rapper and insinuated that he had the power to pull strings with close friend Jay-Z, who also partially owns the NBA player's team.
"I admit I fell in love with Kim / Around the same time she fell in love with him / Well that's cool baby girl / Do your thing / Lucky I ain't had Jay drop him from the team," West rapped.
Still, Kardashian said she will let her fans experience her relationship with West on the seventh season premiere of "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" on May 20.
"I want to show my life" Kardashian told E!, the network her show will premiere on Sunday.


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First French Forestry Department
South of the Landes, in Aquitaine
In the heart of the Landes forest
5 km from Lac Léon
15 km from the sandy beaches
A completely renovated site
Huttopia Landes Sud campsite is a new destination, just a few miles from the ocean. Huttopia Landes Sud invites you to stay in a beautiful natural woodland area with a variety of species of tree (pines, oaks…), bordered by a river you can canoe down.
First French Forestry Department
South of the Landes, in Aquitaine
In the heart of the Landes forest
5 km from Lac Léon
15 km from the sandy beaches
A completely renovated site
The campsite boasts a range of facilities for you to enjoy: a bright and modern central lodge opening out onto a lovely terrace, two beautiful swimming pools and a paddling pool, a playground, bright washrooms…
USEFUL! From 06/07 to 21/08 – A free Town-Beach shuttle bus runs past the campsite every day so you can enjoy an afternoon at Saint Girons beach. In half an hour, you can reach the ocean with its beautiful sandy beaches, surf schools and lively open-air cafes.
Enjoy a wide range of sports amid the beaches, dunes, and forests
After a busy day of activities, relax on a sun lounger beside the heated swimming pool, have a bite to eat at the Pizza-Grill restaurant, or enjoy a friendly game of beach volleyball… While younger kids will love the children's playground.
Camp in the midst of nature!
Set up camp on a large, flat pitch or choose our comfortable rental accommodation, which is all pleasantly furnished and situated in the shade.
3* – Surface area: 5,5 ha – 210 pitches – disabled access
Originele en comfortabele huuraccommodaties
Voor 4 tot 6 personen
At Huttopia Landes Sud campsite, choose a Wood & Canvas tent for a stay in the midst of nature, or opt for a chalet or wood trailer for a holiday with all the comforts.
Originele en comfortabele huuraccommodaties
Voor 4 tot 6 personen
Classic 4 tent20 m² - 4 pers. This tent has 2 bedrooms, one with a double bed and one with two single beds, a kitchen area with everything you need for cooking, storage space, crockery... Discover
Classic 5 tent25 m² - 5 pers. The Classic 5 tent offers even more space. Designed for families of 5 people, it has a pleasant living area opening out onto a lovely wooden terrace. Discover
Sweet tent25 m² - 5 pers. Tents with the added luxury of a private bathroom! A kitchenette with a sink, sleeping area with real beds, and a bathroom with a toilet. Discover
Chalet Evasion25 m² - 5 pers. The Chalet Evasion is a warm and cosy accommodation that offers all the comforts. Ideal for a holiday for five in the heart of the Landes forest. Discover
Roulotte21 m² - 4 pers. The wood trailer has a kitchen area, 2 bedrooms, and a bathroom. Ideal for a couple with young children! The wood trailers are located near the central lodge. Discover
Trappeur Tent25 m² - 5 pers. Brand new at your Huttopia Landes Sud ! Sleep under a canvas roof beneath the stars... Awaken the adventurer within you, while enjoying the comfort of a good bed and a private bathroom. Discover
Ottawa Chalet33 m² - 6 pers. This cottage offers maximum comfort with its 3 bedrooms, private bathroom, equipped kitchen, and living area. Make the very most of the open air with its large terrace and big glass doors. Discover
Family Tent14 m² - 4 pers. An ideal tent for families: 2 bedrooms separated by the dining area, as well as the comfort of an equipped kitchen and real beds for a camping-style holiday at Huttopia Landes Sud. Discover
Chalet Ontario35 m² - 4 pers.
With its access ramp, large bright living room, 2 bathrooms and large bedrooms, the Ontario has been designed in partnership with a company specialised in disability needs. Discover
> Weekend stays until 4 pm on Sundays! (outside July and August)*
> Sheets and towels for hire upon reservation
> Optional cleaning package
> Baby kits (cot + high chair) provided upon reservation (free outside July and August)
*Subject to availability – reservation by phone only
Camp in the Landes on a pitch in the heart of the forest!
Huttopia Landes Sud campsite is a brand new nature campsite situated 5 km from Lake Leon, nestled on the banks of the river in the heart of 5 hectares of woodland.
You will find 210 flat, shady pitches set out on the dunes, offering a beautiful undulating landscape. Come and camp with your tent, caravan, or motorhome and enjoy a natural, peaceful, family-friendly environment.
Camp in the Landes on a pitch in the heart of the forest!
Nature PitchHuttopia Landes Sud offers a number of Nature pitches without electricity, for an ultimately simplistic camping experience! Discover
Comfort PitchSet up camp in the heart of the Landes forest, at one of the sunny pitches, or those in the shade of the pine forest. The Comfort pitches at Huttopia Landes Sud all offer electricity. Discover
Comfort Plus PitchThese are our Landes Sud campers' favourite spots! They offer prime positioning, and always have a picnic table and electricity available. Discover
Huttopia Landes Sud campsite has two large and comfortable washrooms built using simple materials in the typical architecture of the Landes. There are baby areas for campers travelling with babies. The washrooms are also suitable for people with reduced mobility.
Huttopia Landes Sud campsite offers a range of dedicated services for campers to make your stay practical and easy:
> Barbecues and fridges for hire
> A campers' corner at reception where you can buy all the basics if you have forgotten anything
> A bread service for a real French breakfast…
> A dedicated service area for motorhome owners
During your stay at camping Huttopia Landes Sud, Huttopia services are there for you. Next to the heated and paddling pools and the terrace, you will find the Reception, the Pizza-Grill and a lounge area to relax and enjoy the family moments.
You just arrived? A friendly reception with all the information you need for a great stay is waiting for you. The reception team is at your disposal throughout your stay to communicate all the tourist information about Leon and its surroundings, hiking, nature activities …
A computer is available at Reception for you to check your emails, plan your day trips …and free WiFi at the Central lodge for you to stay connected.
The grocery corner
Did you forget to buy salt, milk or other necessities? Are you missing an accessory for camping?
We have a small grocery store located at the reception. You will also find some regional products to taste the local gastronomy.
A range of amenities is available in the village of Léon, close to the campsite:
>Supermarket: 6 km
>Bank: 6 km
>Tourist Office: 6 km
For a bite to eat
Enjoy simple, friendly cuisine during your stay at Huttopia Landes Sud. The Pizza-grill, open from 5 July to 2 September, is offering homemade pizzas, grilled meat, french fries and fresh drinks for you to eat on the terrace or take away.
Fresh bread every morning!
Order your bread and pastries the day before. The next morning you will enjoy your breakfast!
Because we are committed to working with local producers, bread and pastries come from the village bakery.
- Tourist information point
- Central Hall
- TV area
- Board games and library corner
- Internet terminal at reception
- Wifi access agt reception
- Free baby kit except in July-August
- Pizza-Grill (from 20/05 to 24/05, from 29/05 to 01/06 and from 03/07 to 30/08)
- Bar service (from 20/05 to 24/05, from 29/05 to 01/06 and from 03/07 to 30/08)
- Breakfast service (from 20/05 to 24/05, from 29/05 to 01/06 and from 03/07 to 30/08)
- Bread and pastries upon order
- Grocery corner
- Fridge and barbecue hire
- Laundry room
- Motorhome service point
- Bike hire
- Baby kit hire (July-August)
- Sheet and towel hire
- End of stay cleaning
Relaxation and leisure on the campsite
Huttopia Landes Sud campsite has a heated swimming pool with a paddling pool, opening out onto the site. Sun loungers and parasols are available for your use so you can enjoy sitting out on the wooden terrace and relaxing in the heart of nature.
Leisure facilities
You can play volleyball, table tennis, table football, or petanque with family or friends, or have fun with your little ones in the children's playground, just next to the swimming pool.
In the summertime, children aged 5-12 can enjoy mornings filled with laughter and discoveries at Huttopia Landes Sud! We've put together a programme of fun and creative activities for kids to enjoy, including circus skills, land art, and sports tournaments…
Freedom, discovery, games, the great outdoors, new friends… Paradise!
Around the campsite, full of nature activities
Water activities
Swimming, surfing, canoeing, splashing about, windsurfing… With the ocean just a few kilometres away and Lake Léon within easy reach… Simply pick your favourite activity!
The freedom of cycling
Set out by bike from the campsite through the forest to reach Lake Léon, the coast, or the typical villages of the Landes. Take the Vélodyssée cycle paths and enjoy the blues and greens of the varied landscape… the pine forest and Moliets golf course… the villages of Messanges and Vieux-Boucau. The cycle paths lead to the beautiful sandy beaches of Seignosse and Hossegor, some great surf spots, and the bustling port of Capbreton.
USEFUL! From 06/07 to 21/08 – A free Town-Beach shuttle bus runs past the campsite every day so you can enjoy an afternoon at Saint Girons beach. In half an hour, you can reach the ocean with its beautiful sandy beaches, surf schools and lively open-air cafes.
In the summertime at Huttopia Landes Sud Campsite, we offer original activities for free or at discounted rates with our local partners. During the day or in the evening, discover some examples of the activities we offer this season:
electric mountain bikes
Enjoy true freedom at Huttopia Landes Sud, with our brand new, electric mountain bikes, available for hire (half or full day). Perfect for invigorating bike rides on all kinds of terrain!
If you prefer traditional cycling, our classic models of bike are still available for hire too.learn more
Basque gamesDiscover the Basque culture while having fun, every Sunday at the camp site! Lifting games, bale tossing, Toka, wood chopping games… tackle the challenge as a family or amongst friends with Gaïa!
CanoëFor active family holidays, on Friday afternoons come and explore Lake Léon in a canoe… Change of scenery guaranteed!
ArcheryOn Friday afternoons, children and adults are all welcome to come along for an introduction to archery. Learn tips and tricks for hitting your target!
ArcheryOn Friday afternoons, children and adults are all welcome to come along for an introduction to archery. Learn tips and tricks for hitting your target!
Live concerts!After an action-packed day, enjoy poetic moments together on the terrace of the Pizza-Grill restaurant at Huttopia Landes Sud.
Open Air FilmsCome along as a family to watch an open air film, with a new movie showing every week.
List of activities
- Heated pool (from 15/05 to 20/09)
- Paddling pool (from 15/05 to 20/09)
- Kids Club (from 05/07 to 28/08)
- Family activity (from 05/07 to 28/08)
- Playground
- Petanque court
- Volleyball court
- Ping pong tables
- Electric mountain bike rental (€)
- Access to the Léon lake (6 km)
- Hiking
- Heritage
- Fishing (600 m)
- Watersports (5 km) (€)
- White water sports (1 km) (€)
- Tennis (6 km) (€)
- Horse riding (11 km) (€)
- Golf (14 km) (€)
A little tour of the Landes to lose yourself in enchanting scenery…
Discover the region
Courant d'Huchet nature reserve
A natural wonder: explore the Courant d'Huchet, known as the "Little Amazonia of the Landes"
From Lake Léon to the ocean, discover the diversity of the flora and fauna. You can explore this nature reserve independently or go on a guided tour. Don't miss the chance to go down the river with a boatman. The river mouth, which opens out onto Moliets beach, is an ideal place to swim.
Enjoy local specialties such as asparagus mousseline or a Landes salad with a slice of foie gras. For those with a sweet tooth, you can choose between millas from the north of the Landes, the famous Landes pastis with crème anglaise, or a succulent apple tourtière with Armagnac flambé. To accompany these mouthwatering dishes, discover local wines such as Tursan, Côteaux de Chalosse, and the vins des sables. A treat for the taste buds!
The Landes is a friendly and traditional French department, with the largest expanse of forest in France. An ideal destination for relaxing in total harmony with nature and getting back to the source.
Typical towns and villages
As you travel between the towns and villages, admire the lovely architecture of the half-timbered houses of the airials and sheepfolds of the Landes. Visit St-Michel-Escalus surrounded by woodland.
Leon with its lake where you can enjoy water activities, and Contis with its rare and unspoilt quality of life.
Breathe in the fresh air as you admire the exceptional panorama from the top of the lighthouse.
Going on holiday in the Landes region, also means the pleasure of discovering towns steeped in history and culture such as Dax with its ferias, Seignosse, Mont-de-Marsan, Hossegor, Biscarrosse, Capbreton, and Mimizan.
Customer reviews
Well organised, good communication, quiet, clean, friendly staff, good pool and lovely pizzas available.
We loved the site, well looked after and friendly staff
Great campsite, excellent facilities, perfect ambience.


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Muhammad Ali was born on the 17th of January 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky. He was the undisputed heavyweight boxing champion in 1964 and remains the only three-time lineal World Heavyweight Champion. Ali has been nicknamed "The Greatest", winning 56 of 61 total fights, and was named "Sportsman of the Century" by Sports Illustrated. His fights with Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier, and George Forman are some of the most historic matches in boxing history.
Dual Signed Ali & Frazier
Close Up Photo
Exclusive to Autographed Collectables


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Many thanks to those who have volunteered to help at the Men's Cross Country this Saturday.
I ask that all marshalls meet me at 1300.
If any are free to help set up the course, we will be doing that from 11am.
The boys run at 1400 and the men at 1430.
Thanks in advance.


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Archive for September 12, 2012
Floyd County – one of America's Promise Alliance 100 Best Communities for Young People!
At today's live webcast from Washington D.C., America's Promise Alliance announced the winners of their 100 Best Communities for Young People competition. For the second year, Floyd County, Indiana was selected as one of the winning communities.


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Posted for Skywatch Friday
The below picture perfectly sums up the current status of Monsoon in Jaipur. Elusive!
The onset of monsoon was delayed as predicted by meteorological department,but Jaipur is yet to experience "monsoon magic"! With El-Nino effect in full swing last year, there were very few rain showers. Here's hoping that things will change soon. The rain bearing clouds are missing and so are rain showers!
Jaipur is yet to experience Monsoon season. Awaiting rain showers. Skywatch Friday!
The above picture was captured at Achrol, near Jaipur.
Monsoon is a weather phenomena that brings rain to Indian sub continent and elsewhere in Asia after a long spell of hot and dry summer season. Indian agriculture and economy depends greatly on good Monsoon season.
This post joins other bloggers' skies at SkyWatch Friday
Click Here to check out my earlier posts on Skywatch Friday.
Stay updated with Jaipurthrumylens!! via:


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Jeff Rath's new poetry collection, The Old Utopia Hotel describes a world marked by sorrow, loss, and decay. This is a hard book. Its beauty lies in its honesty and its craft. While one might think poems about sorrow, loss, and decay are a bit heavy– and some are heavy– the craft, the delicacy, and the surprising language make this collection beautiful. These poems are true. We do hard things to one another. The randomness of our world creates brutal wrinkles in human lives. But Jeff Rath's poems, in their brave, unblinking stare, are gathered and sewn together so beautifully, so powerfully, we are able to spend time beside the hard truths of our lives.
Besides the Amazon link above, you can also get this book through the wonderful independent bookstore, DogStar Books, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Simply put, I love this book. Its poems face the world I know. These are not the poems about daisies and sunshine. These are poems about the world we live in, the world we sometimes create.
This book, published by Iris G. Press and its masterful poet-publisher Le Hinton, holds four sections of twenty-four poems. (one is a prologue) Here are some thoughts on a few that I will keep with me.
The first section, "Bone Dust and Ashes," opens with an epistolary poem, a letter from Tom to Maggi. Tom lives in a room behind a gas station with a small store and he is ready to close for the night. But he's clearly got Maggi on his mind and he writes to her of the weather, the day, his life, his memories with her. He tells her that
The road crew's due by soon
so I just brewed a fresh pot of java
an' microwaved a couple donuts
on a paper towel to soften 'em up.
He feels a responsibility to anyone out on this brutal night. So he keeps a light on. He recalls a time he and Maggi were hitchhiking, tells her he still has "that black Camaro" but
It's up on blocks now til I get the scratch
for new tires an' a few small repairs.
Everything for Tom seems to be "up on blocks." He recalls Maggi in "hot cut-off Levis," an icon of an earlier, more hopeful time. This is the world we know. A world where most people do not wait for one another. A world where our lives move on– and often away– from others. He tells her at the end of the poem that
The service bell is always on.
Stay warm.
He's speaking to Maggi. He could be speaking to the whole human race.
In one of the book's most evocative poems, at least to me, Rath takes on the voice of Joseph, husband of Mary, father (foster-father?) of Jesus of Nazareth. This Joseph is elderly, he has lost two sons. Jesus, the one we all know about, and apparently another lost to history. Joseph muses that others see him as cursed, certainly as unlucky. He notes that
Villagers huddle in the market place,
whisper among themselves,
watch me drag home my tool pouch
at the end of each day:
they don't see God's thumb
pressed against my
forehead, the bite marks on my heart.
Who would imagine Joseph as worn and perhaps bitter at what God has made of his life? This poem is a gem. He wonders at the end
I don't know who can calculate
the cost of God's love.
Then thinking of both lost sons he laments
And though the first-born
may have been the Son of God,
the second son was mine.
In the poem "Company Town," the poet gives voice to the economic devastation many in Rath's local Pennsylvania town might feel. He uses the first person to speak these sorrows.
Fifty years ago my family
stood here, wrinkled and edgy,
a week cramped in a battered Ford,
reeking failure, clothes stuffed in grocery bags.
Rath writes movingly of the shame and ache of poverty and homelessness. He knows he and his family are small pieces of a larger economic wound and in that wound, he doesn't count for much, not to a big company. The poem closes with a devastating couplet
Here one must pay dearly
for even the illusion of escape.
Another poem that took me completely by surprise is "Psalm." This poem is masterful. Here, Jeff Rath takes the structure of Psalm 23, normally "The Lord is my shepherd…" But this poem opens
This Glock is my shepherd
I shall not want for firepower.
It sleeps under my pillow
leads me down
this city's mean streets with impunity.
The speaker is convinced of his need for this weapon, and of the security it will provide.
I am formidable in the sight of my
enemies. Glock's firing mechanism
is lightly oiled, and its clip
runneth over.
The poem, "The Bus to Eternity" looks at the world in front of the Utopia Hotel and sees the sadness of a world broken and lost.
No one will see
the magic of it, though.
God's left hand
palming the ace of hearts.
His right misdirects the eye–
rolling like a startled marble
across the universe
past a black-draped Greyhound bus.
In this poem, even God cheats. In this world, very little, perhaps nothing, is fair.
In the book's last section, we go inside the Utopia Hotel itself. "#1-1954" relates what the speaker would do if the hotel's bar were still open and alive. The speaker wishes he could blow up the old bar.
I'd punch every button
on this old juke box.
It would be 1954
all over again:
the old man and me–
my first time here–
a grape Nehi
and a nickel bag of Planters.
Some might say this book offers us a dystopian landscape. I don't know. It looks like a landscape I know. The world doesn't work for many people. You don't have to leave the United States to find hopelessness, loss beyond what most of us could carry. In this beautiful collection, Jeff Rath invites us, with precise and rich language, to take a clear look at part of our world. It's beautiful. It's littered with broken glass. Maybe seeing it and naming it can also redeem it. I am not sure. I am sure, however, that I love this book.


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Shazia Mirza doesn't tend to stay in one place for very long. The award-winning stand-up comic, originally from Birmingham, England, has toured throughout Britain, the United States, Canada, Pakistan, France, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Germany, the United Arab Emerits, and India. Coming from a Muslim immigrant family in Britain, Shazia wasn't expected to end up in a career in comedy -- and in fact, she was a science teacher before she got behind the mic for the first time. However, over the last decade and a half, she's shown that comedy is definitely her true calling.
I got the chance to speak to Shazia over the phone from her home in London (the time difference meant it was a nearly-incoherent 6:00am on my end) just before she jetted off for some shows in India, one night back in the UK, and then her dates here in Canada at the Winnipeg Comedy Festival. We chatted about her unlikely start in comedy, her growth as a comedian and writer, her past experiences in Winnipeg, and the peculiarity of good comedy writing not always equating to the most laughter.
Of course, if you happen to find yourself in Winnipeg this week, you can catch Shazia at this year's Winnipeg Comedy Festival on the Saturday Evening Gala ("The Middle Ages") at the Pantages Playhouse Theatre on Saturday, April 11 at 7:15pm, or as part of the Sunday, April 12 taping of CBC's The Debaters at the Club Regent Event Centre at 2:00pm.
Download the Podcast Episode (right click/save as)
Listen Now:
When ShowbizMonkeys.com gets a chance to interview someone cool, but it's not part of one of our other featured podcasts, then it falls to our long-running (and always insecure) Kinda Sorta Maybe Like a Podcast. With no discernible format, we do get to talk to some really awesome folks, including comedians, musicians, actors, filmmakers, and more.
Often hosted by Paul Little, other contributors include Andrew Lizotte, J.D. Renaud, and Mark McLeod.
Tags: Shazia Mirza, Winnipeg Comedy Festival, England, Great Britain, British comedy, stand-up, The Guardian
Paul Little is the founder and Managing Editor of ShowbizMonkeys.com. When not interviewing his favourite musicians and comedians, he can also be found putting on and promoting music and comedy events with The Purple Room in Winnipeg, or co-producing the live comedy game show Pants on Fire. (@comedygeek)


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Q: You recently discussed options and best ways to protect data when donating a computer. Well, my laptop finally died big time and I"d like to recycle it. Ideas on permanently destroying the data on that hard drive?
A: Thank you for choosing to recycle it vs. tossing it in the dump. Many stores now will take your old electronics for recycling for free. Ways to remove data from a donated computer are similar when recycling a computer.
They include using software to permanently erase and overwrite the hard drive, to reformatting it and reinstalling the OEM software disks. There are also other methods, but one way I like to do it when my laptops and desktop PCs die is to take the hard drive out of the case and take a hammer or sledgehammer to the drive.
This will most definitely and permanently destroy any hope of using the hard drive or recovering data in the future. Normally on a laptop, there is a door on the bottom of the case held by a couple of screws.
This will access the hard drive easily — you can pop the destroyed hard drive back in if you"d like for a neat and tidy recycle handoff at the store.
Q: I am about to get a new car this spring, and am looking at a model with Bluetooth hands-free calling capabilities. Do these work well and are they reliable?
A: In California driving while talking on a handheld cell phone, no less texting, is against the law and subject to a handsome traffic ticket.
Hands-free devices, whether built into the car or as an accessory, are permissible. That said, Bluetooth devices generally work pretty well, but can be prone to interference and voice quality issues.
Usually pairing the device with the Bluetooth accessory is pretty easy to do. My general issue with them is that the voice quality tends to make you sound like you"re in a tin box or the ambient road noise creeps into the conversation.
I have been on the receiving end of that kind of call, and it drives me nuts trying to hear the caller. So my recommendation is to use it sparingly for those really important calls.
Final note — studies have demonstrated that even hands-free calling can distract a driver to the point of an accident. So please be careful if you use one, and conversely, be more aware of drivers around you who may be driving distracted while on a hands-free device. A telltale sign is when the driver behind you is talking but there is no one else in the car.
Terry and Clarence Low are co-founders of Byte Technology, a web design firm based in Monterey, Denver and Minneapolis. Their personal technology column appears on alternating Saturdays. Read more news on their blog at www.byte-technology.com/blog. Send questions to firstname.lastname@example.com, or write to Bits "N" Bytes, 30 Ragsdale Drive, Suite 110, Monterey 93940, Attention Clarence Low.


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It's a little early to know for sure how the ELD (Electronic Logging Device) mandate has affected businesses in the trucking industry, but so far, the response seems to be a mixed bag.
Some say they haven't seen any changes to their business and some have thrown in the towel and closed up shop saying the mandate is too cost prohibitive.
The compliance deadline for the ELD mandate affects three million drivers and went into effect December 18, 2017. It requires commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) involved in Interstate Commerce, to use an ELD.
3 Main Areas of Impact for the Electronic Logging Device Mandate
Based on what we've seen so far, it looks as if the three areas that are most likely to see the biggest impact from the new mandate are insurance rates, productivity, and cost.
Insurance Rates
Safety is the driving force behind the mandate imposed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA). The FMCSA has said, "The electronic logging device (ELD) rule – congressionally mandated as a part of MAP-21 – is intended to help create a safer work environment for drivers, and make it easier and faster to accurately track, manage, and share records of duty status (RODS) data."
The idea is that ELDs (as opposed to the paper and pen method) will capture Hours of Service (HoS) more accurately and ensure that drivers are following safety and compliance standards, which should in turn reduce the number of accidents caused by fatigue.
According the FreightWaves, driving more than 12 hours since the last main sleep is associated with an 86% increase in crash risk and driving more than five hours without stopping (getting out of the driver's seat) more than doubles the risk of an accident. The FMCSA estimates that the ELD mandate will prevent about 20 fatalities and 434 injuries caused by driver fatigue every year.
Safer roadways and fewer accidents should produce lower truck insurance premiums. ELDs may also reduce or possibly eliminate lawsuits in which the plaintiff alleges that fatigue due to driving outside the HoS limits is the cause of an accident. Fewer lawsuits should also equal lower insurance premiums.
Plus, some ELDs offer more features and reporting capabilities – such as GPS tracking and engine data reporting – that can be used to improve asset utilization and increase preventative maintenance. Carriers that use these more-advanced devices may be able to use this information to lower their auto insurance premiums.
Increased Cost Per Truck Annually
Complying with the mandate carries with it some up-front costs. FMCSA estimates that the average annual cost of an ELD is $495 per truck, with a total range of $165 to $832 per truck on an annualized basis. That may not sound like much, but consider a carrier with 10 vehicles that did not have ELDs prior to the mandate. They're looking at an additional yearly cost of almost $5,000. In an industry with tight margins like the trucking industry, $5,000 every year can have a significant impact.
On the flip side, the FMCSA projects that ELDs will save more than $1.6 billion each year from paperwork savings alone. Add to that expected decreases in maintenance costs, reduced truck downtime, and lower crash rates, and that's a pretty impressive savings.
Driver Productivity - Up or Down?
This area is the biggest mixed bag. The general mind-set is that automating any process, should save time. ELDs will eliminate the time required to write driver information in a log book. Everything will be done automatically for them.
However, some companies – particularly smaller companies - haven't been fully complying with HoS restrictions prior to the mandate. With the information now being logged electronically, they'll have no choice but to follow those restrictions or risk expensive fines. These companies will see a drop in driver productivity.
According to FreightWaves, smaller carriers, which make up 90-97% of trucking companies, will experience a 4-20% decline in productivity.
Another problem some drivers have reported is that many shippers and receivers aren't ready for the mandate, and long hold times are creating problems for drivers who are spending too much time sitting at the dock.
In a DAT blog asking for feedback from carriers, drivers, freight brokers, and shippers about the new mandate, Marina Andreyreva commented, "ELDs were installed in all my trucks before the ELD mandate. There have been many changes in dispatching. So far, all delivery times have been rescheduled due to long hold times at the shipper. Problems at shippers now heavily reflect on drivers' hours. This must be addressed in order to operate efficiently for both drivers and company owners. Brokers need to be aware of HOS and understand the law in order to build freight accordingly."
We Can Help Smooth Your Transition to ELD
Only time will tell the full impact of this new mandate, but American Insuring Group is here to help smooth the transition for our trucking insurance customers. As a representative of Progressive Insurance, we can offer participation in their SMARTHAUL program.
With the SMARTHAUL program, you have two options:
- The free use of an ELD
This includes the monthly subscription/service fees as long as you share your driving data with Progressive. The device would need to be returned if you decide to opt-out or cancel your coverage with Progressive.
- The compensation program
If you purchase your own Rand McNally ELD 50 or DC200 and agree to share your driving data with Progressive, you'll receive $100 for plugging it in and an additional $100 for each quarter that the device stays plugged in – up to $500. You will be responsible for the monthly service fees, but the $500 compensation should cover those costs.
Save Big on Trucking Insurance with American Insuring Group
To learn more about the SMARTHAUL program, or to start saving BIG on trucking insurance, give American Insuring Group a call at (800) 947-1270 or (610) 775-3848, or contact us online.
But don't wait; the program is only available for a limited time.


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Always-cautious prognostications for the Mets dropped off a cliff last fall when Matt Harvey went under the knife for Tommy John surgery.
But the Mets didn't retreat into a shell with their best player on the shelf for all of 2014. They went out and signed a legitimate outfielder in Curtis Granderson and added a top-of-the-rotation pitcher, if aging, in Bartolo Colon.
Now they'll just have to convince fans to come to the ballpark and see them. The task begins in spring training where plenty of youth should be on display from a ripe farm system.
1. Will the real Ike Davis please stand up?
Ike Davis' make or break season comes in 2014. So he better start proving he can be an everyday player in March.
The good news is he started the spring with a home run in his first game. The bad news is he's already dealing with some calf tightness, and was scratched Monday.
The Mets seem preoccupied with playing Lucas Duda at first so Davis better impress this spring or it may be his last in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
2. Wheel's up
Zack Wheeler said on the first day of spring training he wanted to start on Opening Day.
And while Jon Niese is probably the favorite, Wheeler has a chance this spring to prove his rookie season in 2013 was just a forebearer of something truly special. He will get his start Tuesday.
3. Pen-t up
Neither guy would win any nice-guy awards, but both Kyle Farnsworth and Jose Valverde are in camp and have a legitimate shot at making the club out of the bullpen. The volatile former closers could be nice additions if they recapture former glory.
4. Coming up short
Few people, manager Terry Collins included, were thrilled with Ruben Tejada last season.
But he starts this spring as the man at shortstop largely because they have no other options.
Stephen Drew is out there to be signed, but the Mets are likely waiting for his price to drop.
5. Waiting on Syndergaard
Like Harvey and Wheeler before him, the wait for top pitching prospect Noah Syndergaard will be a painful one for Mets fans.
The 6-foot-6 righty blew away the Braves — including stars Jason Heyward and Justin Upton — with high-90s heat on Monday and carries a plus curveball. Enjoy him in March, because he starts 2014 in Triple-A.
Follow Metro New York Sports Editor Mark Osborne on Twitter @MetroNYSports.


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Latest news
Tag / ESVAGT Standard
Safety at sea strengthened by dedicated volunteers
Press releases • Feb 21, 2019 08:30 CET
ESVAGT colleagues spend their spare time together making the South Funen Archipelago a safer place to be. 27 rescue operations in 5 months.
Making a difference – every day!
Press releases • Mar 09, 2018 11:52 CET
I am proud to work in ESVAGT where part of the culture and company-spirit, is to look after each other and make sure that everyone comes home from work safely.
You learn how to sail FRBs here…!
Press releases • Feb 21, 2018 13:02 CET
One of the major plusses of sailing the group 3 vessels is the experience you get in sailing Fast Rescue Boats (FRB).
Sertica ensures uptime and quality
Press releases • Oct 09, 2017 09:35 CEST
Every ESVAGT vessel now has the Sertica system implemented for purchasing and maintenance. It ensures quality, reduces the risk of breakdowns and can eliminate error related costs.
My ESVAGT: "I can't imagine anything more positive than saving lives for a living"
Press releases • May 10, 2017 10:29 CEST
Ole Ditlev Nielsen turns 60 on the 11th May 2017. He joined ESVAGT almost 25 years ago as the company's first safety and quality coordinator. He will now work with the future development of the company.
Safety and quality strengthened by developing boat handling competences
Press releases • Apr 25, 2017 09:00 CEST
"Whether the job is rescuing people in high seas or sailing wind technicians safely around an offshore wind farm, the skills of those on board the vessels are critical for ESVAGT's success. That is why we are mapping and developing the competences on board our vessels", says Steffen Rudbech Nielsen, Head of Ship Management, Operations.
Leadership education strengthens the vessels and the ESVAGT culture
Press releases • Mar 28, 2017 09:22 CEST
Since autumn 2015, a total of 30 officers from the fleet have completed 'ESVAGT Leadership Education'; the first tailor made leadership training course in the history of the shipping company.
'Esvagt Charlie': 25 years with Zero LTIs!
Press releases • Mar 02, 2017 13:51 CET
Congratulations to 'Esvagt Charlie' - today celebrating 25 years without any Lost Time Incidents
Experience at sea incorporated into STB12
Press releases • Oct 28, 2016 11:08 CEST
The STBs have been particularly busy in their first year. Crew and charter have offered constructive suggestions for improvement for the next generation.
Internal flexibility has secured crews
Press releases • Oct 14, 2016 12:51 CEST
In a branch under pressure, ESVAGT has managed to keep its employees.
"We are writing the manual for SOV work"
Press releases • Aug 15, 2016 10:40 CEST
The first year of SOV operations has been rewarding and informative. Experience with STBs is being integrated into upcoming designs.
FPAL Verified Assessment 2016
Press releases • Apr 14, 2016 10:07 CEST
ESVAGT was assessed by FPAL on 10 and 11 March 2016.
ESVAGT 2015 Full Year Results
Press releases • Mar 15, 2016 10:15 CET
Revenue for the ESVAGT Group in 2015 was DKK 1,002.8m against DKK 946.5m in 2014. EBITDA for the year is DKK 435m compared to DKK 417m in 2014.
One hand for the ship, one hand for yourself
Press releases • Jan 29, 2016 09:02 CET
The classic maritime tip revived to reduce occurrence of minor injuries.
Every department and every vessel must be a flagship
Press releases • Jan 27, 2016 09:27 CET
The 'Ambitions by Function' and 'Ambitions by Vessel' projects were introduced in 2014 and 2015 respectively to help all departments within the shipping company to set goals for their work.
Good cooperation on Service Operation Vessels (SOV)
Press releases • Dec 15, 2015 10:23 CET
Good experience is being gained during work at the offshore wind farms Baltic 2 and Butendiek.
'Ambitions by Vessel' kick-off: Every ESVAGT vessel is a flagship!
Press releases • Oct 29, 2015 11:24 CET
Apart from doing our job, what do we want to do with our vessels?
Good performance at the Port State Control
Press releases • Oct 05, 2015 12:04 CEST
ESVAGT has been classified 'high performing' after unannounced vessel inspections.
Solid example of the 'ESVAGT Standard'
Press releases • Sep 20, 2015 12:55 CEST
The identity and values behind the shipping company are united in the 'ESVAGT Standard'. The latest rescue operation in the North Sea shows that this standard lives and thrives.
ESVAGT Standard
Press releases • Feb 10, 2015 06:25 CET
Employees have used their own words to describe ESVAGT's DNA. This has become the ESVAGT Standard, which is what makes ESVAGT unique.


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To anyone whinging about bob jane/jax or your local tyre shop charging more for a alignment when you've got adjustable everything(toe, camber, caster), you have no idea how long it takes to get it all right
Most tyre shops have a set price and thats for a simple front & rear toe and maybe the occasional camber adjust, and the reason is coz it generally won't take more than 30-45 mins to do it properly, so labour isn't much and the price is low
Now when you wanna get done a 2 hour wheel alignment for the price of a 30 minute wheel alignment you can't really complain if 1. they make you wait, 2. they charge you more and 3. if they fuck it up because they're not used to it
Its the equivalent of taking your supra into a toyota dealership to upgrade your turbo, fit a bigger intercooler, fit other aftermarket parts etc etc
Keiran is a top bloke who knows his shit and he's on jdmst as well
And yeah he drift his s13
The wheel alignment bloke - aaron is another top bloke
He will spend 2 hrs if he has to just to get the right spec you wanted
I've had numerous wheels stripped and fitted without any dramas
Wheel alignment always 100% satisfied with it
Highly recommended
Last edited by CH45EN; 26-06-17 at 12:54 PM.
Yea Jax liverpool is good. I go there.
S15 T28BB on 9PSI = 1min 10sec @ Wakefield Park
If you can't be the fastest.
Be the most entertaining.
took my car to a tyre shop in moorebank to get new tyres fitted.. guy took the car for a drive and came back walking, said my wheel had fallen off!


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Cannon Alone Flash Game
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You're the last best hope for your people. Stop the attacking enemy force with the one remaining super laser cannon your dying civilisation has!The cannon is slow to respond early on - but gets faster as you upgrade it. New upgrades become available
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The company will work with PlanetM, a Michigan state networking partnership of mobility organisations, educational institutions, research and development groups and government agencies working together in the automotive sector.
RoadBotics will provide Detroit transportation officials with its standard Artificial Intelligence pavement assessment as well as a new AI Maintenance (AIM) tool for unsealed cracks. The company says Detroit will be the first city to pilot the AIM tool, which will assist Detroit in taking a preventative approach to road maintenance.
Oladayo Akinyemi, deputy director at Detroit's Department of Public Works, said the data will be used to expand the city's road asset database as part of Detroit's broader data-driven asset management strategy for the City's Right of Way project.
RoadBotics, based in Pittsburgh, emerged from the Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University, also in Pittsburgh. RoadBotics has used the same technology that moves autonomous vehicles - deep learning-based image processing. It incorporates a proprietary app and standard smartphone, placed on the windscreen of any vehicle, to collect roadway image data.
The image data is uploaded to the RoadBotics platform where deep learning is applied to isolate the road from other objects in each image, assess the road condition, and automatically generate a condition rating for the road surface.
The objective rating is based on the presence, type and density of the road surface features and distresses that pavement engineers are trained to identify when visually inspecting roads. Finally, RoadBotics renders the complete assessment on its interactive, online mapping platform called RoadWay.
Mark DeSantis, co-founder and chief executive of RoadBotics, said that more than 90 customers in the US are now using the company's technology. In Australia, RoadBotics is working with engineering firm Fulton Hogan to offer its technology across the South Pacific region.
The Detroit contract comes as the company raised nearly US$4 million in financing, led by Boston-based Hyperplane Venture Capital.
RoadBotics also recently announced that the city of Savannah in the US state of Georgia will continue with RoadBotics technology to finish their assessment of the rest of the city's 1,125km road network that started last summer. The city plans to make RoadBotics' assessment of road conditions available to the public.
RoadBotics has been chosen to use their machine-learning technology to assess the city of Detroit's entire 4,185km road network.


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Teen driver dies
Sean Kristopher Milliron, 16, of 364 Heritage Circle, Pulaski, died Monday after a one-vehicle accident around 4 p.m. Sunday on Route 108 near East Westfield Road, North Beaver Township.
State police said he was flown to St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown, Ohio, where he died Monday from his injuries.
Police said Milliron was speeding on Route 108, went off the road on a curve and hit a tree.
Assault, drug charges
Ellwood City police filed assault and possession of marijuana charges against Gregory L. Brown, no age reported, of Crescent Avenue, Ellwood City, around 5 p.m. Oct. 8. Police were called to a residence on Mount Vernon Drive, Ellwood, for a report of a domestic dispute. The person Brown is accused of assaulting was not named. Police said they found marijuana while arresting Brown.
Burglary investigated
Ellwood City police investigated a burglary that took place Oct. 8 at a residence in the 200 block of Park Avenue. Police said the resident noticed around 3 p.m. that someone had been in her home, rummaged through her bedroom and that a prescription was missing. Police said there was no sign of forced entry and neighbors did not notice anyone around the house.
Tires flattened
Someone flattened two tires on a vehicle parked in the 200 block of Park Avenue on Oct. 9, Ellwood City police said. Police ask that anyone with information call them at (724) 758-7564.
Juveniles cited
Five juveniles were cited with underage drinking after a car they were in was left on railroad tracks near the Second Street overpass around 9:30 p.m. Oct. 9, Ellwood City police said. One of the juveniles was cited with possessing tobacco as well.
Road rage report
Anthony James Cherichetti, 23, of New Castle reported that a man pointed a gun at him around 11:30 p.m. Sunday in an apparent road rage incident, state police said. The incident took place near Pleasant Hill Baptist Church on Route 488 in Perry Township, police said.
Student arrested
A 15-year-old boy was arrested by state police for making a bomb threat at Mohawk High School on Wednesday. The boy surrendered to state police at the Neshannock Township barracks on Friday, police said. He faces one count of aggravated assault and two counts each of making terroristic threats and threatening to use weapons of mass destruction. The boy is accused of handwriting a note in a boys restroom at school. He was placed in the Keystone Adolescent Center in Greenville.
Crack cocaine found
An employee of the Youth Development Center reported to state police that he found three rocks of crack cocaine at the facility on Sunday. The crack was found in a smoking area used by employees. An investigation is continuing.
Charges dismissed
Charges of simple assault and criminal trespass have been dismissed against a Beaver Falls man.
According to court records, charges against Marlin Thomas, 29, who was accused of breaking into a city woman's house recently, were dismissed because the woman did not show up for a preliminary hearing scheduled for Thomas on Thursday.
Amy Lynn Cisco, 33, of 619 Meadowridge Drive, Ellwood City, around 1 p.m. Oct. 2 at Route 18 and Arthur Street in Koppel. Borough police reported a blood-alcohol level of 0.125 percent.
Nicole Marie Ridenour, 25, of 4437 Fourth Ave., Koppel, around 1:30 a.m. Oct. 7 on Fourth Avenue in Koppel. Borough police said her blood-alcohol level was 0.119 percent.


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A friend welcomes me back in Majnu Ka Tilla after I stagger off the night bus directly linking the two Tibetan communities. McLeodganj was roiling sickness and a blank wall in a darkened bedroom, but I've been uncorked, and I wouldn't be able to handle the intensity of what is to come otherwise. There are a few significant spots left on my list, and I've decided to finish out November with a couple of them: Bodhgaya (the spot where the Buddha attained Enlightenment) and Varanasi, the city of death, life, and the Ganges.
My friend, Jyoti, is Belgian and lives in Nepal. We drink lemon ginger honey tea, sitting on a bench outside a tiny counter-in a-window-sized store; rest for the afternoon; and go out to Paharganj, the budget neighborhood in the old market area near the train station — we want a night out, a mini (technically Thanksgiving) celebration.
The metro releases us into the crowd moving up and into the New Delhi Railway Station. A phalanx of auto rickshaws waits at the curb, but they don't bother us as we weave around and across and between the lanes and people, taking the short cut through the station to get to Paharganj. Passengers wait in clusters, facing inward, some sitting on small plastic or cotton sheets. We climb the tall stairs to the enormous walkway stretching across dozens of tracks, staircases branching out and touching down on platform after platform, destinations flashing between Hindi and English on the overhanging screens.
Down the other side, another line of autos and taxis, and into a larger-than-usual crowd. A real crowd, not the typical it's-a-crowd-to-an-American amount, filling and spilling out of the main drag.
We move closer and realize that there's a parade!
The turban-bound men quickly indicate that this is a Sikh holiday, although neither of us know what it is. We add ourselves to the masses slowly moving alongside the parade line. The volume of people isn't distressing… it's a light, happy atmosphere, with delighted children and a fair mix of women. There are stalls handing out free food (this is a Sikh event, after all) in pressed-leaf bowls, spicy curries and some mashed sort of thing I do not recognize. The volunteers scurry to scoop and deliver the steaming dishes.
Various bedecked vehicles define the parade, with laughing smiling waving children. And there are serious pilgrims carefully dressed in traditional uniforms with sashes. The parade line is sprinkled with groups of sweepers brushing garbage and the random to the curbs, followed by groups of pilgrims walking barefoot. Men come cheering and dancing, but not in a dangerous fervor. Lights drape buildings and stretch across the street; people peer down from balconies and rooftops. It is cheerful chaos, and eventually the sacred book rolls by in a glass-encased trailer, tended by priests — the climax.
I feel comfortable, welcome, safe; able to join the swirl of people without being overwhelmed. Able to add my joy to the vibrancy, brightness, jubilation. The giving, feeling, expressive experience of life dancing through streets in the happy commotion.
We slip across the road, following a burst of people crossing the parade, and find the narrow staircase. The cement steps pass through a fabric store and climb farther in tight turns to a rooftop restaurant. We order our Thanskgiving meal — falafel, hummus, pita, dal makhani, naan — and settle in to watch the parade streaming by below.
A wide circle forms in the street and performance fighters take the space to dance with blades. We have a perfect view, watching their acrobatic lunges and spinning demonstrations. It's the last event, grabbing the parade line's caboose for attention.
Eventually, they move on too, and the road slowly empties into normalcy, save for an elephant or two wandering away into the night.
In the afternoons at Brahma Vida Ashram, I am free to rest, read, and reflect. I spend my time speaking with the older sisters, the ones who have been at the ashram for decades. This post is a compilation of two interviews with a particular lady in her eighties. She is devout, informed, and dedicated. May I share her words well.
"'I, me, mine,'" the elderly sister tells me, leaning forward from her pillow in earnest, "that has created all the problems."
Her simple room near the ashram's gardens is dark and cool in the afternoon heat. She sits on her bed next a table stuffed with books, an alarm clock, a radio, and bits of paper. Her gray and white hair is cut short, a radical style for India; sometimes she takes a deep breath as she speaks, wind in her chest emphasizing her most important points. "A calm state of mind is essential, all the time observing your breath," I am told. She squints slightly at me, serious but kind. Sometimes she augments our conversation with a book pulled down from the shelves behind her – something on Vinoba, the ashram's founder, or various aspects of life. The conversation flows from her travels in America to questions about my work. At this particular moment, we are discussing the future of humanity.
"From the moon, there are no lines on Earth. […] The identity of "I" is fake, it has no meaning. When we get rid of the I-ness, I am nothing, I am an instrument in the hands of a power, I want to keep links with that power." Her eyes are calm but grave. "These wars, the bloodshed, exploitation, trying to find some place for myself, I depend on this person — I don't depend on any person, I am empty."
She tells me stories: how she gave away her inheritance after keeping just enough for her needs, how Gandhi was careful to take no more than his share, Vinoba's simple way of life. Producing a pair of pink pants made from thick, handmade cotton, her hands perform the movements of sewing a patch — for twenty-two years. She owns a summer outfit and a winter outfit. Waving at the things on the table beside her, she tells me, "Objects are here with me temporarily, they will move on," her hand flings out and I imagine the books speeding away from her. "We have to use objects to their ultimate end, you can't use and then throw away." Counting on her fingers, she explains that mass production and consumption mean mass waste.
Our conversation turns to India, its problems and heritage. "India is a land of unity in diversity," she explains, her voice soft but her words railing against corporate systems, the dangers of globalization, the monopolization of seeds and that variety will be finished, that regular folk won't be able to get seeds from the fields, as they always have. Vinoba's peace walk for land reform floats up from my memory; I hear the vital role of agriculture in her words, echoing the man who started the ashram seventy years ago.
Thinking about role of giant corporations in America's government and economy, I ask the question I've carried with me for the Gandhians: how can young people have hope?
"When we see positive and negative things in this world, we get confused. But there is — positivity is in a bigger number than the negativity. And the whole world is standing on some harmony. In human society, negativity is in bigger number than positivity. But because God has created this whole universe, Divinity will be more successful… there is a survival instinct in human beings, in insects and everything. Through violence, we cannot survive, we need nonviolent means. The language of love need not be learnt, any individual animal or insect understands the language of love. […] So our mission of life is to give love, to everyone who comes into your life flow — serve them with a compassionate and loving heart. If I can do that, then my life is worthwhile. You will be so much happy, and so much enjoy. On a certain level, that's how the Divine power works. People catch our vibrations, and it becomes something magical."
I scribble notes and promise to write something that my university community back home could read.
When we say our goodbyes, she hands me a book of poetry on nature's beauty, and takes my hand. "I have realized the significance of your name. Bridget. You build bridges between people."
Remembering Chicago, the interfaith community, and their nickname for me, I know it is not a great leap to make but I still stagger away from her room in awe of the experience.


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1100 13th Street, NW, Suite 1000Washington, DC 20005202.887.6400Toll-free: 800.544.0155
All Contents © 2020The Kiplinger Washington Editors
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Investment Adviser Representative,
Blackston Financial Advisory Group
Phone: 352.633.9046
E-mail: email@example.com
Drew Blackston is a Registered Financial Consultant, Certified Retirement Counselor and investment adviser representative with the Blackston Financial Advisory Group. He lives in Florida. He and his father, David, are co-authors of the book Have You Ever Been Bitten by an Elephant: The Definitive Guide for Retiring Well.
Seriously, you can do this. Here are the basics for retirement planning, boiled down to three steps. Step 2 could take some time, but Step 1 and Step 3 are pretty easy, so get started.
See More From: Building Wealth
The answers can show you whether this financial professional is really helping you manage your finances or just selling you products.


text:
With more than 2,300 members the WordPress NYC Community is one of the largest in the country. Of course having a lot of members doesn't mean they all show up. We talk with organizer Steve Bruner about getting people to show up, how the group works and more. Steve runs the WordPress development company SlipFire and co-created the WordPress rapid development framework Piklist.
What's a typical NYC meetup like?
Steve: Our meetups usually range from 80-100 or more. For some meetups we could have had 170, but we've never had a venue that held that many people.
We ask each member to pay $5 when they RSVP. During the first few years, this was more to keep them honest than to fund the group. When we didn't ask for money, 90% of the attendees never showed up. Now 95% do. Over the last year, the fee has helped pay for some of our expenses.
I usually start the meetup with a brief intro of the group and let them know about our community site. The site is built on BuddyPress and provides support to the members. We also built it live at the meetup and recorded it. After the intro we usually have one to two mini-presentations that last about 15 minutes each. Maybe it's a new plugin developed locally or a lawyer guiding us through copyright law.
We may take a break (and have pizza if we didn't have to pay for the venue), and then the main presentation starts.
The majority of our meetups are two and a half hours (6:30-9). However, when we have a hot topic and pizza, it can easily go to 10 p.m. Sometimes it takes me 20 minutes to get everyone out—they really love networking.
How did the NYC group get started?
Steve: Back in Nov 2007 I RSVPed to attend the meetup on a Saturday afternoon at a Starbucks. I think 12 people RSVPed, but only five of us showed up… the organizer did not. I emailed the organizer to ask about the status of the meetup, and even offered to take it over. I don't believe I received a response.
Then one July morning, I woke up early, checked my inbox and saw an email from Meetup.com notifying the group that the organizer stepped down and if someone didn't take over the meetup would go away. I pressed "Keep this group going" and I've been running it ever since.
What's involved in putting on a WordPress meetup?
Steve: Speakers, speakers, speakers and venue, venue, venue. I find it hardest to find qualified speakers and a venue (hopefully free) that can hold 80-plus people (would love 100-plus).
It sounds like finding speakers is hard—what's worked best to land speakers?
Steve: A few things:
- Time: I'm able to ask past speakers to speak again.
- Meetup members: As the meetup has grown, more members are at a level to present.
- WordCamp: We had about 100 speaker applications for the last WordCamp NYC. I've spoken to all the local ones and asked them to speak at the meetup.
- Staying in touch with the community:Two examples of this:
- Mark Jaquith tweeted about an "Epic Post" on WordPress, which lead to one of our best and unique presentations (you can watch it here).
- WP Candy wrote that Darcy Clarke from Themify was moving to NYC. I contacted him… BAM! Meetup presentation (you can watch it here).
With all this, I still find it hard to schedule speakers sometimes, especially when one cancels at the last minute.
Also sounds like venues can be a problem. Do you have any tips or best practices for finding a free or cheap event space?
Steve: Two tips:
- Co-working spaces have been the best. Especially ones that are just starting out. They usually do it for free to try to get members.
- Companies that use WordPress. CBS Local hosted the meetup three times for free! Even bought us pizza the first time.
What's the advantage of having video of all your presentations?
Steve: We record everything because:
- Members who can't make a meetup, or have attended and want to review, can view the video.
- Our videos have benefited the global WordPress community and that's awesome! We have a pretty popular Youtube channel. Our community site offers the same videos but tagged a little better than YouTube.
What tips do you have for someone looking to start a WordPress meet up?
Steve: A few things:
- Charge a minimal amount for attendees.
- Be prepared to be the main speaker most of the time. I'm pretty sure I did most of the presentations for the first few years.
- Keep it on the same day of the month to help other tech events organize around you.
- Find a cheap (or free) venue!


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Hearing Dogs
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People trains clever dogs to alert deaf people to sounds they would otherwise miss – simple but important sounds that many people take for granted like the doorbell, alarm clock and even danger signals like the fire alarm.
However, our clever canines do so much more than alert their deaf recipient to sounds. Deafness can be a very isolating and 'hidden' disability, so a hearing dog also brings a sense of independence, confidence and companionship, making a profound difference to deaf people's lives.
With no government funding, the Hearing Dogs shop helps raise valuable funds so that Hearing Dogs for Deaf People can help more deaf children and adults across the UK.
Visit the Hearing Dogs shop here:
(Please note this is an external website)


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INFORMATION REGARDING COVID-19 CORONA VIRUSWe are still shipping out orders, and will do so as long as it is safe, and we are following the Norwegian governments guidelines. DHL is still shipping parcels, but this can change at any time. The information we are given is that the virus does not spread thru shipments. We also take precautions and use alcohol based disinfection and gloves during packing. Stay safe everybody!
We are on (a small) vacation from Wednesday 27th of May till Thursday 4th of June. You may place orders and we will try our best to ship them Friday 5th of June and Monday 8th of June. Dismiss


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This last series is offered with six-cylinder engine and only wear the color Sapphire or Black Metallic azurite. The car that we're talking about was the BMW 3-Series E90 which will soon be a long sleep, and soon will be present version of the BMW 3-Series 335i Carbon Sport Edition as the end of production
BMW 3-Series 335i Carbon Sport Edition comes with the M Sport package, which borrows a few accessories and alloy wheels 19-inch M light alloy. For the interior will be filled with premium features. Like Harman Kardon audio system, which was completed with special leather and others. Prices for the BMW 3-Series 335i Edition Sport Carbon is 61.995 Euro


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Was chatting recently with a woman who works for Group Home X. She said that she finds that people coming out of DSW programs are too idealistic and have no idea how things "really are."
She has worked in developmental services for many years and said that it's very hard to secure full-time employment; mostly it's cobbling full-time hours from a series of part-time jobs. I'm OK with that, but am feeling discouraged by her attitude.
I found her to be a bit condescending, actually, when I explained some of the concepts we're learning, especially about helping people live their best lives. She claims that the reality is that most of the people she supports have no capacity/the wherewithal to even know that their lives could be any different and that I'd do well to "let go of my Pollyanna ideas." I gently tried to persuade her otherwise, but gave up as soon as her eyes glazed over.
I am still bothered by the exchange this morning.
I guess I'm looking for the right words to use in these situations - how to gracefully assert that there most certainly is another way to support people, without coming across as condescending myself. And I suppose I'm looking for reassurance myself, that I will indeed have the confidence/tools to truly make a positive difference for people, in the face of this kind of complacency.
In the overall, it makes me more determined than ever to remember and absorb all that we are learning, which feels good. And right. But...there is a niggling sense that I will muck it up, somehow.
I know that my absolute responsibility is toward those I support - in many ways, this feels a lot like coming up against different parenting styles and following my own heart regarding the ways in which I parent my own kids, despite the opinions and influences of others. Despite my overall confidence, I worry daily that I will, in the end, muck it all up.
|Photo courtesy of Photobucket
Is this something that you struggle/d with, when you actively support/ed people? Feeling a bit like you're up against it? How do/did you remain steadfast on a day-to-day basis? And how did/do you guard against feeling discouraged by the prevalent attitudes of those around you?
I am hoping (hopeful) that more time absorbing all that we're being taught will help strengthen my resolve (much like time to become confident in my parenting skills...erm, most of the time)
It's all well and good for me to express shock and dismay and indignance about the ways in which people with disabilities are treated, here from the comfort of my comparatively charmed life, but it's not enough. Every day, it seems, I read another article/story/anecdote about the horrible ways in which society's most vulnerable are treated. In fact, I'm finding that these stories are piling up at an alarming rate. Not sure if it's that because society is becoming more aware or it's just that *I* am, but the truth remains the same: things must change.
I know that I must be part of that change as so many, many things in life have led me to this point, this place, this knowing and I feel compelled to do this work. But still, I worry that I too will -eventually -become complacent and de-sensitized.
I hate feeling this way. Hate feeling that I will do the wrong thing, muck it all up, fail at such an important task...even before I've tried.
Is this normal? Please, tell me that this concern - this fear - is normal and not some deeply-rooted personality flaw.
Your Student


text:
Tonight I had the pleasure of spending a class with the 4th and 5th graders of Capitol Hill Church of Christ, an inner (way inner) city mission church. I have to say my white bread, spoon fed, silver platter view of my bubble was challenged. I have seen the "ghetto" and even been quite comfortable with those inside it (my kids father lives there) but I had not seen the inner city as anything different from the ghetto. It is. Here's why…
three out of the 7 kids asked for prayers for death, "bad things" parents were doing and loss. One girl came in with fresh tears, later I found out she had gotten in trouble in school for asking a boy to sleep with her (she's nine) and she said her mother "beat her up", she had marks on her arms and legs, and a red scrape on her face. She spent the class with the female teacher talking, begging her not to call CPS on her mother because she hated foster care. A boy I talked with said that he was trying to get his dad to stops doing bad things, he kept asking me to color with him, he wanted to talk and watch me color.
WTF is up with parents?? I mean, I have lost my tempter and yelled too loudly, spanked the toosh, been a insensitive parent while hearing the story of the wierd kid in school for the 5th time, oh yeah and had those days where I feel like a complete douche bag parent! BUT… I have never beaten my children.
So again, WTF is up with parents? I know the economy, no jobs, feeding the family and deadbeats to deal with but, i was just broken for these little hearts that are SCREAMING and literary jumping up and down and doing cartwheels for someone to just sit down with them and be interested in their voice.
MY HEART IS SCREAMING for these kids and at the same time I am so totally freaked out and scared of these kids. Scared about their germs, their unkept clothing, their parents who lash out at the world and teachers, worried that their primary school gangs are going to run after me, scared that they will get my attention and call me for everything they need, worried that I might actually fall into their hell and not be able to get out without turning it into something resembling life.
These kids need something more than a prayer and a bible story. They need a friend, stability, balance, understanding, ears that listen to them, a soft place to land, a blank page to vent out all the BS they deal with daily! Then and ONLY then are they going to be able to hear that bible story you are pushing. Because to them, God is absent, he is a fable, a myth, a hope for and a never seen, God is something that is mentioned when a mom yells or a dad stumbles into the table after being drunk all day, God is not a savior, that 15 yr old kid that offers them a 500 dollar bonus for selling the bag of rocks he has and another 1000 when he sells two more – that is his savior because he can feed their family and turn the lights back on and get their moms next drink so she will wake up and act like a mom for a couple of hours. THAT is THEIR CLASS.
So now what? All these ideas are running though my mind. Run in there and save the day, bring the passion from my side of the tracks to theirs, show them God, show them God? What God, the one that allows me a college education with a price tag of 100k, or the God that kept me from being engulfed in the gang lifestyle and the God that delivered me from a promiscuous life, that let me live when others are dying of addiction? That is not their God. I want to go into that classroom and change everything, bring videos and media and songs and worship. I want to meet with directors and suggest tons of things. Nope. Just love. Not force, just love.
What are your thought?? Be honest!