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Since I've been posting on how not to engage with the other side recently, here's a piece on good, science-supported ways to do it. I've been focused on this topic a lot, mainly because it's what I spend time thinking about. I have ideas for more theological/philosophical posts in the future. This was originally posted at No Religion Required, please check the blog out for more posts of this type.
With the fallout of the election, a lot of us skeptics have been doing a bit of soul searching (for lack of a better term). Skeptics have been fighting the good fight before I was even in diapers, yet many humans seem impervious to pure, demonstrable facts, to the point where our president elect is a denier of clear unambiguous science. Donald Trump denies the existence of anthropogenic climate change as well as the efficacy of vaccines, and his followers are not far behind. Perhaps this is unsurprising, coming from a man who led a movement that literally thinks Obama is a Kenyan (the movement still isn't dead, soon to be ex-sheriff Joe Arpaio tried to restore legitimacy to birther claims with an amateur investigator in mid-December). As a result of an apparent surge in terrible reasoning, the election has apparently lit a fire under our asses to bring critical thinking, skepticism, and reason to the forefront and redouble our efforts.
Unfortunately, even the cold hard facts are not enough to change the minds of humans, and, in fact, sharing facts can even make things worse. Science has shown us that the backfire effect contributes to our strongly-held beliefs, such that when we are presented information that contradicts what we already think, it can cause us to become even more certain in our poorly-held beliefs.
This means that if we share the cold hard facts and nothing else, this causes people to reject the facts even more? So we shouldn't use facts to try and convince people?
That's not necessarily the case. We should of course make sure that all of our arguments and positions are supported by the evidence and the facts. But the point is if we actually care about convincing people to a more evidence-based worldview, merely presenting the evidence alone won't get the job done. Humans aren't perfect logic machines; we can't simply give everyone certain inputs and expect them to arrive at the same reasonable output. Our approach counts for a lot.
Along with other skeptics, I've been working on trying to reach out to "the other side" to find people who are reachable. While I'm hardly an expert in interpersonal conflict, psychology, or debate (mostly the opposite, I'm baffled every day at how humans function), there appear to be some approaches that have better efficacy than others. Nothing is a silver bullet, and we should never go into a disagreement expecting to change the minds of others, as that will lead to unnecessary disappointment more often than not. But if we want to set out to plant a few seeds and give the other side some food for thought, and perhaps reach the people on the fence, then it would behoove us to adjust our approach.
1. Humanize yourself to the opposition
This approach admittedly has a limited scope, and is mostly applicable to issues of bigotry and prejudice. But when it works, it works incredibly well. Often this is the case when people are biased against certain demographics, such as gender, sexuality, and race.
What does the evidence say? Even a very brief conversation with someone opposed to your nature can drastically change the way you are perceived. A study found in Science set out to find how voters react to meeting gay and transgender individuals. The abstract for their paper is as follows:
Existing research depicts intergroup prejudices as deeply ingrained, requiring intense intervention to lastingly reduce. Here, we show that a single approximately 10-minute conversation encouraging actively taking the perspective of others can markedly reduce prejudice for at least 3 months. We illustrate this potential with a door-to-door canvassing intervention in South Florida targeting antitransgender prejudice. Despite declines in homophobia, transphobia remains pervasive. For the intervention, 56 canvassers went door to door encouraging active perspective-taking with 501 voters at voters' doorsteps. A randomized trial found that these conversations substantially reduced transphobia, with decreases greater than Americans' average decrease in homophobia from 1998 to 2012. These effects persisted for 3 months, and both transgender and nontransgender canvassers were effective. The intervention also increased support for a nondiscrimination law, even after exposing voters to counterarguments.
When someone is convinced that we need to ban gay marriage because gay men are depraved perverts who walk around in leather and feathers all day to recruit children, introducing them to a gay person melts away these stereotypes. When someone thinks that trans women are really men in dresses trying to sneak into restrooms, introducing them to an actual trans woman will make them drastically rethink them. It turns out when you live within the bubble of how your go-to media outlet describes an issue, you thoroughly lack the full picture and the human aspect of why something is important.
It's not hard to see real-world examples of this happening. It's often most visible in politicians whose positions on certain issues are very public, and will occasionally change drastically. We're familiar with cases like former Republican Vice President Dick Cheney, who supported the standard Republican position against gay marriage until his daughter came out as a lesbian, and since then has even lobbied for gay marriage. Tim Ryan, a previously "pro-life Democrat", changed his mind on why people should have access to abortion after discussing with female constituents on why those issues affected them. It turns out that gay people aren't trying to recruit all Americans into orgies, they just want the same access to society that everyone else has. It turns out that women aren't just trying to get rid of a fetus because it's inconvenient for their next vacation, they simply want bodily autonomy. As a straight male, no matter how good my arguments could possibly get against someone, I could never humanize their cause in the same way that a gay person or a woman could.
What does this mean for people who care about issues on prejudice? It means visibility is incredibly important. It means coming out en masse has worked wonders for the LGBTQ rights movement, and why the National Coming Out Day is more than a mere celebration of being one's self. It's the reason why the atheist movement has been pushing visibility, in efforts like the Out of the Closet Campaign or Openly Secular which are based of the successes of the LGBTQ rights movement. It looks like a black man joining the KKK to ease racial tensions. It looks like putting a trans person on the stage of the Democratic National Convention, or making sure there is more racial representation in our films and television shows. It could also mean someone showing that they need access to healthcare despite their pre-existing conditions, and that plans like the ACA are actually necessary for their well-being. This is more than simply making an appeal to giving everyone their fair share, this actively shifts the way we think.
To be clear, the only people who have the ability to use this technique are people affected by prejudice, bigotry, and misinformation. It's not for me to tell any individual that they should put their self in a position that compromises their safety for the sake of changing minds. But it'd be a mistake to not show that this is a powerful tool. I'm happy to help put a friendly face on atheists, though.
2. Social pressure
Humans are social creatures, and if we're going to try to influence the behavior of other humans we have to understand the mechanisms behind what causes people to change their mind. This is somewhat related to the first point, but more broad and large scale. This is not something we can accomplish overnight, and it's not something that we can control directly, but this is something we can do in the spaces we have influence over.
We've known for over half a century that the opinions of those surrounding us influence us greatly. This has been known since the 50s when we started doing experiments on this. A good example is the Asch conformity experiments, which found that subjects were likely to give a clearly wrong answer when everyone around them gave a largely wrong answer. Subjects were given two cards, one with a single line, and one with three lines of varying lengths. While only one of the lines clearly matched the length of the other card, when a subject was surrounded by people who give the same wrong answer, the subject was far more likely to pick the same wrong answer. There are many of other examples and experiments that since then corroborate these findings (such as the humorous elevator example).
It's important to note that this is simply an aspect of human behavior. I am not advocating groupthink or tribalism, but simply describing how humans act. As skeptics, we should be aware of the way this can harm people. It's a contribution to the fact that many Trump voters on Twitter seemed to operate in a completely separate universe from everybody else, likely along with conspiracy beliefs like Pizzagate and anti-vaccine theorists. As critical thinkers, we should be well aware of the effect this can have on our own beliefs, and we should try and ward off any effect this can have.
But we should also recognize the power this phenomenon comes with. Creating environments that allow certain ideas to flourish, while at the same time making it hostile for other ideas, is actually a good thing. This is why even though atheists don't necessarily have to agree on almost anything, I make it a priority to make sure that the environments that I curate are welcoming to the marginalized and hostile to anti-racism (cue accusations that I'm forming a bubble here). The idea that people of different skin colors are substantially different or that women are weak are evidentially dead ideas, and they should be shunned in every way possible. As I mentioned before, merely showing someone the evidence that "no, their brains are not smaller than ours" may cause them to double down on their beliefs. Instead, once we have evidence that some ideas are bad, outdated, and harmful, we should make it clear that we have no need to revisit them.
We can see the effect this has on people around the globe and over time. We know, for example, that the religious belief you have as an adult is not so much a function of which religious belief makes the most sense to the person, but more of a product of the environment and culture you grow up in. We know that children born in the past couple of decades are far more accepting of LGBTQ people than people born eighty years ago, and that is a good thing. What if we were to create a culture where skepticism and critical thinking were the largest ideological motivators, instead of religion or conspiracy theories?
This also provides pushback against a few ideas that have been floating around since the election. It's commonplace to make fun of "social media activists", since speaking out on Facebook and Twitter appears to do nothing. But every time you speak out on a controversial position, or challenge a piece of bullshit on someone's wall, you provide a small bit of more social pressure towards a certain position. Not only that, but you encourage others to do the same, helping push towards reason. It's not a silver bullet and it's not the majority of the work getting done, but it's a step.
Furthermore, we've also been told that we shouldn't be shaming people or "calling out" others for having bigoted or racist positions. To be clear, simply calling someone a bigot isn't going to change their minds, but calling someone a racist or a xenophobe to their face directly isn't what I'm advocating. When we shame someone's positions, we also induce social pressure against them. When we shame someone for something that's terrible, we are signaling to others that a certain position is unacceptable. While many positions are worth debating, some things are simply not worth discussing anymore. We've settled the fact that gay people aren't pederasts, we know that homeopathy is a scam, and atheists aren't evil. Anyone holding those positions should feel shamed. Perhaps we can reach certain people with cautious and respectful discussion, but for those we can't, we should signal to others that this is an unreasonable position that deserves to be completely disregarded.
3. Appealing to their values, not yours
In keeping with the fact that we humans are not logic machines, we build our opinions and conclusions on a lot more than the mere facts. When we construct a moral and ethical framework, we must have a moral foundation upon which we build our most cherished and important tenets. As members of a social species we would assume that most of these foundations are mostly the same, but that doesn't appear to be the case.
According to research by Feinberg and Willer, people who tend to identify as either "liberal" or "conservative" tend to value the foundations of their moral systems differently. Those who identify towards the political left tend to value care and equality, while those on the right value things such as tradition and loyalty. Both groups value these things to a certain extent, but in different amounts. You can find a more in-depth discussion on this topic and even discover more about your moral foundations here.
The relevant research, though finds that we tend to make arguments in terms of our own values. For me, gay marriage absolutely makes sense based on the fact that all people should be treated equally, but apparently to someone with a more conservative mindset this argument doesn't quite cut it. For someone who values tradition more than I do (which is not hard to do), gay marriage seems unprecedented and therefore is something to be wary of. However, according to this study, a good way of convincing a conservative that gay marriage is a good thing is to appeal to in-group identity as Americans.
They then conducted four studies testing the idea that moral arguments reframed to fit a target audience's moral values could be persuasive on even deeply entrenched political issues. In one study, conservative participants recruited via the Internet were presented with passages that supported legalizing same-sex marriage.
Conservative participants were ultimately persuaded by a patriotism-based argument that "same-sex couples are proud and patriotic Americans … [who] contribute to the American economy and society."
On the other hand, they were significantly less persuaded by a passage that argued for legalized same-sex marriage in terms of fairness and equality.
To me, appealing to in-group identity seems dishonest and fallacious. However, the American identity is something that conservatives hold dear. And reframing my arguments to focus more on "tradition" and "purity" seem just as bad. In fact, we have named informal logical fallacies after appealing to those values. In that sense, if I reframe my arguments in terms of those values I feel like I am cheating. However, the facts are the facts and it appears to work. I have to consider the desired outcome of my discussion. If someone is not going to be compelled by facts and reason (at least within a reasonable timeframe) would I rather them believe bad things for bad reasons, or would I rather they believe good things for bad reasons? I'm leaning towards the latter. Perhaps, after they start to develop reasons for believing the "right" things, they also reframe their own morals and cognitive processes such that they eventually believe things for the right reasons anyway.
Hell, we know that we occasionally have trouble selling skepticism and critical thinking as a valid epistemology when talking to religious folk. Perhaps after we reframe why critical thinking and skepticism are important using their value system, they could eventually come to better conclusions based on those methodologies as a result.
It's worth noting, again, that this is hardly a silver bullet. We should not expect to ever change someone's mind during a single discussion, and even the results of the paper do not indicate that someone who responds favorably to this "reframing" is even likely to completely shift their position. Reframing arguments in terms of these moral foundations only has a small effect, albeit a significant one.
As a skeptic, I really enjoy arguing with other people (perhaps too much). With us going into a terrifying presidency, it will be important for us to establish a better way of helping people come to better positions. What people believe matters, as we all act on our beliefs. I look forward to finding better and better ways to convince people. These are the best I've found for now, and they all have their strengths and limitations. It'd be nice if skepticism and critical thinking could always win by default as a result of being stronger, but that's simply not the case. We need to put in the work, and apparently the approach matters. So let's care about that in the future.


text: In this set of exercises we will use lattice package. Firstly, we have to install this package with command install.packages("lattice") and then we will call it library(lattice) . Lattice package permits us to create univariate, bivariate and trivariate plots. For this set of exercises we will see trivariate plots. We will use a dataset example

subset: commoncrawl


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Wintershall Scores Second Most Operatorships in 2013 APA
- Business & Finance
Wintershall is continuing its growth course in northern Europe: in the current licensing round APA 2013 ("Award in Predefined Areas"), the Norwegian Petroleum and Energy Ministry has awarded eight new exploration licenses to Germany's largest internationally active oil and gas producer.
Wintershall Norge will be the operator in five of these licenses. This means that Wintershall received second most operatorships out of the 50 competitors right after the majority state-owned energy company Statoil. The licenses awarded to the BASF subsidiary comprise four new licenses (three operated) in the North Sea, three licenses (one operated) in the Norwegian Sea and one operated license in the Barents Sea.
License success secures head start into 2014
"The Norwegian Ministry has granted us eight promising licenses – this proves once again the expert knowledge and professional preparation of our exploration team. While we are working in full speed on the Maria and Skarfjell developments, our success in the APA round secures us a strong and promising license portfolio for the future", says Bernd Schrimpf, Managing Director of Wintershall Norge January 22nd, the Ministry awarded a total of 65 licenses to 48 companies as part of the 2013 licensing round. 29 of these companies received operatorships. In this year's APA round more companies than ever before handed in their license application. Wintershall now holds more than 40 licenses in Norway, more than half of them as operator. This doesn't include the new licenses yet, since the official awarding of the licenses will take place later this year.
As such, the oil and gas company is one of the largest license-holders on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.
Guy Oakes, Exploration Manager of Wintershall Norge, who led the work of preparing the application, adds: "Our APA application showed that we still strongly believe in the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS). Nevertheless we needed further acreage in order to maintain our high level of activity. With the outcome of the current licensing round, we will be able to fulfill this plan." From the first APA round in 2003, the APA area has been expanded several times and for the APA 2013 comprised a total of 199,054 square kilometers, an increase of 860 square kilometers from APA 2012. Up until the deadline of September 11th 2013, the companies could apply for the offered acreage.
Press Release, January 23, 2014
List of related news articles
Posted: 22 days ago
World's largest crane vessel lifts Wintershall Dea's Nova topside module
The world's largest crane vessel, Sleipnir, has lifted Wintershall Dea's Nova field topside module f...Posted: 22 days ago
Posted: about 1 month ago
Wintershall Dea strikes oil close to Maria field
Oil and gas company Wintershall Dea Norge has made an oil discovery near the Maria field in the Norw...Posted: about 1 month ago
Posted: 2 months ago
Norway to include 36 new blocks in this year's offshore licensing round
Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy has proposed to include 36 new blocks in this year'...Posted: 2 months ago
Posted: 2 months ago
Norway to include 36 new blocks in this year's offshore licensing round
Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy has proposed to include 36 new blocks in this year'...Posted: 2 months ago


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Furniture Row has recently furnished an entire home to help benefit St. Jude's Dream Home Giveaway! A ticket can be purchased for $100 to be entered into the raffle to win the Castle Rock home here in Colorado, as well as several other large prizes. This video gives a full tour and details on the features throughout the Oakwood home was featured on KDVR.com and KWGN.com.
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My name is Eva Mignault, I was born in Ecuador, South America. My mother is french Canadian so I have always lived in the 2 countries.
It has always been my dream to go to Asia. I finally made it on February 2014, I arrived in Thailand where I discovered Backpackers Asia magazine, it showed me lots of magestic places to discover. After I went to Vietnam and arrived in Cambodia in April, which is now one of my favorite countries in the world. The bio diversity in animals, plants and nature is magnificent. The people have big hearts and they irradiate love and hope of a good future even though the hardship they had to go through not long ago.
When I was travelling accros Cambodia I visited Kampot, and I went to Teuk Chhou Zoo, I am like many I did not want to go to zoos because I know the conditions are terrible but someone asked me to take food to the animals so i did, On my first visit, I was very upset to see the animals living in horrible conditions with no food or water, and in very small cages. I stayed longer in Kampot and visited the zoo many times to take food to the animals.
I started Investigating and the zoo is private, owned by Cambodia's Senior Minister H.E. Nhim Vanda, First Vice President of the National Committee for Disaster Management. And he owns 2 zoos in Cambodia. Prey Veng Zoo is also known as Bayap Zoo (Wikipedia)The zoo is about one hour from Phnom Penh in Kamchay Mear District, Prey Veng Province. The animals have no food, no clean fresh water, no shade from the sun, and no grass or soft ground to walk on. The birds are in small cages and cannot fly. There are many bad reports on Tripadvisor.
I had to continue my travels but I decided to start a petition the old way, going up to people and telling them what I saw. I collected more then 200 signatures in 1 month while visiting Cambodia.
Now I'm back home and campaigning to give voice to the poor animals I saw dying in Cambodian zoos.I have sent the petition, asking the Forestry Administration in Cambodia to visit the 2 Zoos and close them down immediately. They took the campaign very seriously and sent investigators. They replied me only once, saying wellfare of animals is concerning And that they will discuss further with the owner on possible improvements.
I hasked my friend, who is travelling Asia at the moment, to go to Prey Veng Zoo and he took photos and video. The situation for the animals is even worst than Kampot Zoo. They are dying and need our help.
So now I started an on-line petition (7500 signatures collected in 1 month) on care2 petitions : The Zoo of Death - Close down Prey Veng Zoo in Cambodian l http://www.thepetitionsite.com/556/869/973/the-zoo-of-death-close-down-prey-veng-zoo-in-cambodia/
Facebook page : The Zoo of Death - Close down Prey Veng Zoo in Cambodia.
This is the video of the animals on youtube : Zoo of Death - Close down Prey Veng Zoo in Cambodia March 2015 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pE2HlzOgCAM
the Cambodia daily newspaper has done a story.
And the Animals for Asia Coalition sent a letter to the Government. In regards of the information and petition that I sent.
I really need your help to get more signatures, send it to your friends and lets help those animals.


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Always treasured the cold cherry soup, smoked goose and red cabbage, not to mention the left-wing politics and this important fact: "One of the things about the Gay Hussar is you can drink and you don't get chased out."
My take on books, canoes, running, current events, movies, music (especially jazz and fado), science, technology and life its ownself
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Saturday, February 21, 2015
My winter half in a "warm" place
Fort Yargo, Ga., built in 1793, after the Thrill in the Hills trail half marathon this morning, which started at the fort. That's two. I'd whine about the 30 degree temps and the brief sleet, but it was 2 degrees when I left home yesterday. You get what you get, it's all how you use it.
Saturday, February 14, 2015
Chill wind makes you a little loopy
Who's the man who won't cop out when the cold wind ices his snout? He's a bad mo... Shut your mouth! (Helps get you through a frigid long run if you're a little twisted.)
Saturday, February 07, 2015
Going long, then talking about it
I had a marvelous run this morning and then spent a wonderful afternoon listening to the great Traci Falbo, and some other people who can run a whole lot farther a whole lot faster than me, offer good advice on ultra running, and now I am going to listen to Count Basie's Big Band at the Jazz Kitchen. Mr. William Basie has actually been playing a date in heaven for some time, but I am sure he and Lester Young are here in spirit. Yeah, I'm weird, that's just the way it is.
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- M2 Equipped Ebook $29.99
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Interested in training with our team of dedicated lifters? Give us a call or drop by OBB to check out what we have to offer. Orlando Barbell is conveniently located in the Aloma Business Center directly behind the Mobile gas station, between Dean Road and 417. Keep scrolling for a map of the area.
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Adding Site Filters to DMS Reports with Sitecore 6.5
July 19, 2012 4 Comments
DMS does not have a Site Filter for multi site enviornments in the latest version of Sitecore 6.5 but I found adding one is quite easy so here is a little tutorial.
Step 1 Create a Filter
- Browse to /sitecore/system/Marketing Center/Analytics Filters/Report Filters.
- Insert a new 'Filter' named Site.
- Set the Type to 'Sitecore.Analytics.Reports.Filters.ValueListFilter, Sitecore.Analytics'
- Set the ColumnName to 'MultiSite'
Step 2 Add Filter Values
Select your new new 'Site' Filter and insert two new 'Predefined Filter Values' name them 'website' and 'site2' and set their values accordingly.
Step 3 Add the Filters to each Report
- Browse to the reports in /sitecore/system/Settings/Analytics/Reports SQL Queries. ( for this example I used 'Latest Visits' )
- Add the column [Visits].[MultiSite] to the SQL fields.
- Add the new 'Site' filter to the Filter field.
Step 4 Go Test the filter on your report
- Open the Report from the 'Engagement Analytics' Menu Option.
- Test your new filter with the Filter Button up top.


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This term came to public with Margeret Thatcher: TINA – There Is (said to be) No Alternative
It's basically just bullshitting the public by politicians – that either do not know what they do – or just don't care.
At the same time admitting – that democracy – the law and order state is dead or at least bankrupt – and all state debt is hold by a privately controlled bank – now defacto making the laws.
Well if there is no alternative – what is the use of democratic decision making system? zero.
Who says there are no alternatives? The elites. Because they want THEIR AGENDA. Because as always in life – there are ALWAYS alternatives.
Some good some bad. Some even better than what your politicians want to sign to law.
What could have been the alternative?
… because there always are alternatives – but leaders won't tell you. The alternative could have been: Finance Ministers sit together – to make a law – that the ECB/EZB should give the about-to-collapse private banks (e.g. Commerzbank… ) 0% loans… as they do now 2017 ANYWAY. As easy as that. So you see – there is a different agenda going on behind the scenes than the one we are told – and some politicians are stupid enough to actually believe it.


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Alright I couldn't resist, I have to announce a poll for these :)
I will buy the jeans before they become unavailable so I can gift them after the results are out!
Comp lasts as long as the jeans are available in the plaza!
Must reach at least 20 entries!
Must reach at least 20 entries!
Create an outfit using this HB and post the pic in comments. Don't forget your Stardoll Name.
Entries will be placed in poll for all to vote.
Remember the HB should be the focal point of the outfit!
Win $25sd OR the HB Celebrations Denim + another gift worth 10 sd or less.
2nd place: wins a gift of choice worth 10 stardollars or less.
Please remember:
~ NO PHOTO EDITING OF DOLL OR CLOTHES. Background is allowed only.
~ You must create a Disqus account to post your entries. Guests won't be accepted.
~ You must create a Disqus account to post your entries. Guests won't be accepted.
~ You must be a follower of both this blog and member of club Hotbuys_Bazaar.
~ Screen print must be large and clear. Please crop to show only your entry.
~ Can be created from Starplaza
~ Post pic in comments, I will not view links.
~ Don't forget to leave your Stardoll Name
~ No cheating by entering more than once under other accounts and/or copying other peoples entries.
~ The HB must be well seen and not covered up too much. It should be the focal point of the outfit.
~ Be creative AND stylish
~ Be creative AND stylish


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Thanks, Sid, for having me on your blog to talk about After Christmas Eve, released today by MLR Press. Being here, as part of my Release Party, is a pleasure. Thanks so much for all you and your reviewers do to spread the word about new novels in the genre.
My holiday-themed murder mystery/thriller includes a little romance, a sprinkling of gay history, and a dash of humor. Though technically a prequel, you don't need to have read Until Thanksgiving to enjoy After Christmas Eve. Here's the tag line:
On Christmas Eve, 1966, Philip Potter drops off gifts to the homeless shelter, an act of generosity that later makes him a suspect in the murder of a male prostitute.
Philip Potter plays a supporting role in my first novel—the uncle of a main character. Fans adored him and shared my interest in learning more about him. I was especially interested in finding out what had motivated his interest in homeless gay teenagers. With not much else in mind, I drafted out three-sentence descriptions of the first thirty chapters.
Writing a novel is nothing like I'd imagined. For decades, my preconceived notions about the process prevented me from even trying. Finding out I could make stuff up as I went along, rather than having to plan everything out ahead of time, was a revelation.
Going through the publication process was educational too. I love working with editors and know their job is to make my story better. Whether about a character, the plot, wording or whatever, I almost always agree with suggestions for change. The single exception so far involved a demand to write out a year with words rather than numbers. I refused because, in my opinion, words made the passage more difficult to read.
Working with editors has made me a better writer. Fixing the same or similar problems a few times keeps me from repeating the same mistakes again—mostly. Christie and Kris—my editors at MLR Press—have been super. I'm tickled pink with the final version and hope you and your readers will be too.
To celebrate today's release, I'm giving away 10 copies (ebooks) through my After Christmas Eve Eleven-Stop Blog Hop. Details are available here (http://wp.me/p1Htlv-LB). Each stop on the hop features a different excerpt from the first three chapters, in serial form. If you can't wait for the next segment, you can buy the book here (http://www.mlrbooks.com/books.php).
Here's the blurb:
As Philip Potter wraps up his last minute shopping on Christmas Eve, 1966, James Walker, his lover of six years, takes his life. Unaware of what waits for him at home, Philip drops off gifts to the homeless shelter, an act of generosity that later makes him a suspect in the murder of a male prostitute.
Two men drive yellow Continentals. One is a killer, with the blood of at least six hustlers on his hands. Both men have secrets. And as Philip is about to discover, James had kept secrets, too. But James wasn't trying to frame him for murder…
BUY LINK: MLR Press
Visit my website (http://rupured.com), like my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMichaelRupured), or follow me on Twitter (@crotchetyman).


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Still shambling the streets of the city Nelson Algren defined, I am the Monster in a madhouse refined. Burma Shave.
Friday, February 5, 2010
There might be a connection here...
There is an entire cult out in the real world who can quote from the famous Boner issue of Batman (#66, mid 50s) page by page. But I don't think anyone has ever thought that ten years after that issue came out, those same readers read the comic in bed. Under the covers. With a flashlight. And the Raquel Welch pillow. While their wives were watching the kids or doing the laundry. (Welch Pillow courtesy of Adam Barnett over at Comics Make No Sense.)
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URN is the University of Nottingham's multi-award winning student radio station. We broadcast live from University Park Campus 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Keep up to date on our socials @urn1350
Listen on campus on 1350AM or online at urn1350.net for the best new music, great entertainment and news that's relevant to you. We also have a brand new online TV channel, URN.TV.
Get involved with URN as a presenter, producer or reporter and you'll get all the training you need to make it on-air. If news is your thing, then URN is a great opportunity to get broadcast journalism experience in our professional studios.
If you're more technically minded, we're always looking for new recruits to keep our studios in tip top condition, work on a variety of outside broadcasts and develop exciting new audio and computing projects. We're also always looking for Students interested in marketing or finance to help us out with sponsorship deals!
To find out more visit urn1350.net and check out our get involved pages
Useful Links
Our website: http://www.urn1350.net/
The University of Nottingham Students' Union is a registered charity no. 1136986 and a company limited by guarantee registered in England no. 7229624.
UNU Services Ltd is a private limited company registered in England no. 02223522.


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There are many useful accessories manufactured by Cambo. A recent introduction to the product range is the QR-6 Quick Release Set.
On my travels I have spoken to photographers that have purchased 3rd party Arca Swiss compatible products. However when receiving them, they have found that the plate is too wide so cannot be tightened or too narrow so the camera mount cannot be inserted.
I was pretty surprised to hear this and witnessed a few well known products that had this problem. Let's hope they have corrected these issues. The QR-6 is a true fit, engineered and measured precisely to give you reliable functionality for many years to come.
When Cambo introduced the Actus it was designed with a camera rail to be used with an Arca Swiss tripod head. At the same time, a new ball head was introduced the CBH-6 which has a quick release head. The quick release plate is used for your camera and when removed the Actus rail fits into the Arca Swiss jaw and holds the camera rail firmly in place.
This type of fitting has proven to be very popular with professional photographers. Cambo then decided to introduce the QR-6 quick release unit, for 2 reasons.
The first was to give an option to add the Arca QR fitting to a tripod that didn't have it. The second was so that when you shoot on a copy stand the QR-6 fits directly to the camera platform. You don't really want to use a ball and socket head on a copy stand as it can be very difficult to align the sensor parallel to the copy board surface.
The QR-6 has a 3/8th thread to fit to your tripod and a 1/4inch camera thread in the release plate. Measuring 55mm(w) x 60mm(l) x 26mm(h).
A spare top plate is available QR-7 if you have several cameras that require quick change over.


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These features make Chipex the best option on the market for tackling road rash. Try it now!
The Rover 45 was a facelifted variant of the Rover 400, which had already enjoyed two generations after being introduced in 1999. A sportierhot hatch' version of the Rover 45 was marketed as the MG ZS.
Road rash is the name given to the cumulation of tiny paint scratches left on vehicles after loose stone chips collide with their bodywork.
Chipex Rover 45 Touch up Paint is a bold new answer to the problem of road rash.
Chipex paint is an exact colour equivalent, uniquely matched with the paint code of your Rover 45.
Simple instructions, all the accessories you need, ready-to-apply paint and a choice of three sizes make Chipex the market leader in user-friendly paint repairs.
The perfect finish will astound you.
Chipex is kind to your wallet, unlike a full respray or a repair by a professional paint scratch repair company.
The roads habitually spit grit and loose stone chips at the bodywork of cars, causing a spray of paint scratches to form. This is called road rash.
Chipex 45 Touch up Paint is the road rash repair solution you've been waiting for.
Traditional Touch-up Paint Can Not Achieve a Repair as Simple and Seamless as ThisBuy Now


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Take an Extra 20% off Cole Haan on SALE items today with a wide selection of signature shoe styles including Loafers, Sneakers, Oxfords, and Chukka shoes.
Look good whether at work or at play, and believe that a sense of style and a sense of humor is the perfect compliment.
Men : http://bit.ly/1J5C87z
Women : http://bit.ly/1SeQxPT


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. . .Read more
Offset commercial printing is the best choice for those materials you know you will use on a consistent basis
Digital printing is a great choice for short-run quick-turn projects. Rather than discarding outdated materials, you can
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I've never been a huge fan of massage, for a host of reasons - but mainly, it feels just too private and personal to have someone that isn't my husband rubbing my naked body down with oil.
A hand or foot massage, particularly if they are paired with a manicure/pedicure, is more my comfort level. But this has its draw back as well, because my feet are crazy ticklish. Recently I had told this to a manicurist, who assured me that it was only because the pumice stone hadn't been used properly or firmly enough.
I replied that was that was all well and good - until I kicked him in the face. He was deeply offended by this remark, but I noticed he remained a good arm's length away from my feet for the rest of the pedicure.
On a different visit to the nail salon, I was wearing my favorite ring: a pink and white enamel Hello Kitty ring with a rhinestone bow. The women fawned over my ring, one of them asking if I had more of the same ring available for purchase. Sadly, I did not. That was when my manicurist laid her hand on my arm and confided, very seriously, "Hello Kitty, she is a good listener."
I've recounted this story many, many times - and find it just as funny now as I did then. Call me crazy, but maybe Hello Kitty is a good listener because she has no mouth? Just a thought.


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Download Java Runtime Environment 8.0 build 102 32 / 64 Bit - Java software allows you to run applications called "applets" that are written in the Java programming language. These applets allow you to have a much richer experience online than simply interacting with static HTML pages.
Java Plug-in technology, included as part of the Java 2 Runtime Environment, Standard Edition (JRE), establishes a connection between popular browsers and the Java platform. Java allows applications to be downloaded over a network and run within a guarded sandbox. Security restrictions are easily imposed on the sandbox.
Many cross platform applications also require Java to operate properly.
Key features Java Runtime Environment 8 :
- automatic memory management
- advanced exception handling
- rich set of filtering I / O
- a set of standard collections such as array, list, stack, and so on
- availability of simple tools for building network applications (including the protocol RMI)
- existence of classes that perform HTTP-requests and process responses
- built into the language tools for creating multi-threaded applications
- unified access to databases
- at the level of SQL-queries – based on JDBC, SQLJ
- at the concept of objects that are able to store in a database – based on java Data Objects (English) and the java Persistence API (English)
- template support (version 1.5)
- parallel execution of programs
Language: Multilanguage
Link Download
32 bit
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Via Multiupfile
64 Bit
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Via Multiupfile


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People who say they don't like board games are probably playing shitty games. What's not to like? You get to hang out with friends and scratch a competitive itch while pretending to be a business tycoon or ruler of the world. That's a good time! Well, it is as long as the game you're playing doesn't suck. Anyone whose experience of board games begins and ends with old chestnuts like Sorry!, Risk and Monopoly has good reason to dislike board games; those games are fucking terrible. But plenty of other great games are out there, waiting to fill your stay-at-home evenings with good times, stirring victories and the occasional crushing defeat. This guide to a few of my favorites -- most of which are considered classics in the board-game community -- should soon have you hooked, to the point that you, too, will stay home Friday nights in order to move tiny plastic men around a board in pursuit of abstract goals. Or maybe you'll be inspired to head to this weekend's conclave of gamers...
See also: Five games that changed my life -- from Halo to Sorry!
Ticket to Ride If your favorite properties in Monopoly were the railroads, you'll love Ticket to Ride. Actually, you'll love it regardless of your approach to Monopoly, because it is fast to learn and super-fun. You start with a map of the U.S. (or other places, depending on the version you're playing) and a shitload of plastic trains. Collect color-coded cards that allow you to develop railway lines between the cities you're assigned as goals until someone runs out of trains, then score it up and play again. Unlike a lot of these games, Ticket to Ride is just about equally fun with any number of players, up to five -- and it's simple enough to teach anyone (even kids) while still retaining some strategic depth. Plus, toy trains! Lost Cities Go all Indiana Jones on sunken temples and desert ruins with Lost Cities, which calls on you to use your resources -- in the form of numbered cards -- as efficiently as possible while maximizing your progress. It's another simple-to-learn game with some strategic depth (not a lot, but some), and it's super-fast to play. This one is especially good as a two-player game, which is nice for those nights at home with your better half when there's nothing good recorded on the DVR.
Keep reading for more great board games.
Carcassonne In Carcassonne , players use tiles to sculpt a medieval landscape, placing portions of cities, roads and farms on the table, matching up the edges until the world takes shape. It's an interesting way to compete, since every action you take builds on the plays of your foes. The basic gameplay is quite simple, but there's a huge amount of depth there for dedicated players. Plus, there are about a million expansions to buy if you fall in love with it, so there are always new twists and pieces to add once the basic landscape shaping gets old. Two players are plenty, but you can rock up to five, even six with some of the expansions. Settlers of Catan This is it -- the grand poobah of strategic board games. In contrast to the other games listed here, the gameplay is somewhat complex in Settlers of Catan, and it can take a while to get the hang of it. Four players (five or six with some of the expansions, or three if you're desperate) settle an island, building and improving settlements, collecting resources based on the die rolls and trading with the other players. The game may last an hour or two -- sometimes longer -- but it offers unparalleled depth to dedicated players, and the opportunity to beg your best friend to trade his wood for your sheep, which sounds kind of dirty even if it isn't.
You can try these games -- and a hundred or so more -- this weekend at Conclave of Gamers at the Crowne Plaze DIA, or find them at your favorite games retailer (Settlers and Ticket to Ride are even available at most Target stores).
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Find me on Twitter, where I tweet about geeky stuff and waste an inordinate amount of time: @casciato.


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Know Your Enemy: Understanding the Motivation Behind Cyberattacks
We are often asked what motivates cyberattacks — why attackers do what they do. Sometimes it's obvious: If a data breach yields credit and debit card details that are then sold on the Dark Web, profit is quite clearly the motive. Then again, an obvious motivation such as money can be a smokescreen hiding a different, deeper motivation for an attack.
What's the Motivation for Attackers?
The single greatest motivator for cyberattacks in today's world is, arguably, profit. It comes as no surprise that cybercrime is estimated to become a $2.1 trillion problem by 2019 — and there's no shortage of attackers who want a share of the pie.
Methods of attack that lead to monetary gain abound. Cybercriminals use financial malware such as Carbanak, Dyre, Dridex, Rovnix and Shifu to steal funds directly from victims' bank accounts. Or they extort money from victims through ransomware such as Cryptolocker and Tesla. Another profit-motivated attack is extortion by distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, which has grown in popularity over the last few years.
Retailers, both online and physical, face a serious threat from profit-motivated attackers who are after user and financial transaction details. Such attacks can involve malware that targets point-of-sale (POS) systems.
It's Not Always About Money
But profit isn't always the motive for cybercrime. For example, a private company that develops technology for the military can be the target of industrial espionage. At risk is sensitive information that could have military, economic and political value to the attacker or to the attacker's paying customer. In this case, attackers could be state-sponsored or a for-profit criminal group acting on behalf of a state or even corporate entity.
Organizations that run industrial control systems (ICS) — power companies, chemical companies, water systems and the like — could be the target of attackers motivated by sabotage. These cybercriminals in turn can be motivated by underlying political, patriotic or ideological beliefs.
Vanity, Revenge, Outrage and More
There are also more personal — or more vindictive — reasons to explain why attackers do what they do. Companies or individuals can be the target, and the consequences can range from annoying to downright dangerous.
Interested in emerging security threats? Read the latest IBM X-Force Research


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|Back to TV
Ryan Gosling as Adam
Dan Aykroyd as himself
Paul Miller as Prof. Connor Doyle
Nancy Anne Sakovich as Lindsay Donner
Psi Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal is a Canadian science fiction drama television series which was filmed in and around Toronto and aired 88 episodes over four seasons from 1996 to 2000. The presence of Dan Aykroyd opening and closing every episode and emphasizing the legitimacy of the organization it was inspired by led some viewers to take the show somewhat more seriously than intended, though it was in fact a scripted drama.
Aired for the first time on 28 September (1996), Ryan had a small role in the very first episode (Series 1): Dream House / Ufo Encounter.
Watch the entire episode.
Part 1 - Dream House - When building their dream house, the McCallisters are plagued by unexplained phenomena, which result in daughter Dixie in hospital. When Hendricks, Axon, Donner and team investigate, an accident puts several team members in hospital. Dixie has nightmare visions of what might be the future, and Hendricks persuades Blaine McCallister to move his family away.
Part 2 - UFO Encounter - Two boys sneaking home late one night are attacked by what they claim to be a UFO, and anomalous lights are seen in the sky by people all in the same small town. Doyle, Hendricks, Axon and team investigate and discover that not everything is as it seems when Axon and Dr. Natasha Constantine encounter two nocturnal, crop-dusting helicopters.


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Abril Nature
Cell Innovate
Cosmetics with stem cells of a vegetable origin. Stem cells represent one of the most fascinating fields in modern biology. They have very significant characteristics, and they are a key factor in the regeneration of the skin and hair, due to two basic properties which distinguish them from the rest of the cells: they can create a wide range of specialized cells of the same tissue, and they have the significant capacity to renew and regenerate themselves throughout the whole life of a person.
With bioactive ingredients with hair rejuvenation capacity.
With biotechnological actives capable of penetrating through the hair cuticle, up to the cortex.
With renewal action in the internal part of the fibre.
With effect of repair and straightening of the external part
Splendor Essence
A blend of plant stem cells culture extract with natural oils from argan, damascus rose, green tea, black tea and wheat germ, which provides anti-oxidant and anti-aging action.supplementary treatment to Cell Innove,
Oil extract from argan and damascus rose to provides an extra shine and a silky touch to hair
anti-oxidant and anti-aging action by means of green tea, black tea and wheat germ oils
makes the colour of dyed hair brighter, without greasing.
Sublime Treatment Line is a powerful treatment for repairing the hair that has been damaged by aggressive hairstyling treatments, at both in the cortex and in the cuticle level. With long-lasting effect.
The line is formulated with the most innovative actives in the scope of long lasting hair repairing, which act on all hair damage, restoring the properties of a virgin hair.
With 18-methyl eicosanoic acid derivative which restores hair cuticle and locks cuticle cells into their original flat position
Plant protein complex: repairs the keratin chains in the cortex.
Plant stem cells culture extract: recovers hair youth.
Caviar extract: anti-oxidant effect by means of its content in vitamins A, D, E and B12.
Argan oil: helps regenerate the hair and, instantly, provides a powerful shine
Shea butter: moisturises and protects hair


text: Caspar NSL series off grid solar system is designed to meet customer's demand. Generally speaking, it is a solar charge controller with inverter function, or an inverter with solar charge control function. This product is designed with the China red in the Caspar logo, iron shell.The built-in controller is a PWM controller, PV maximum panel connected is 200W, and the battery fit for 12V lead-acid battery, gel battery. Also lithium battery is a settable choice.Inverter givespure sine wave power and provide AC output as well as dual DC USB output.


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An official with Sudan?s referendum commission said the commission is set to officially respond Wednesday to petitions seeking the group?s dissolution ahead of next month?s referendum.
George Benjamin, spokesman for the referendum commission, told VOA his organization is set to receive ballot papers that will be used for the scheduled 9th January referendum.
?The petitions that have been filed against the commission by different groups, at almost the same time, would indicate that some organized move is being cooked (prepared) or it has been cooked somewhere in order to derail and disrupt the work of the commission,? said Benjamin.
?We will deal with it, of course, as the situation requires in a responsible and legal manner. And, as long as these (petitions) come before a court of law, it will require a legal and sensible response from the commission.?
Sudan?s Constitutional Court recently demanded the referendum commission answer the allegations, including fraud and intimidation, during the recent voter registration process.
Several groups petitioned the court seeking the dissolution of the commission claiming alleged irregularities during the registration process will undermine the credibility of the referendum.
But, Benjamin said there are reasons to believe that some of these groups want to derail the upcoming referendum. He also said the commission is capable of organizing a credible referendum, despite attempts to hamper activities of his commission.
?The commission has already gone a long way in implementing the process of the referendum, and quite successfully. Despite difficulties that surrounded its formation and the short time that was given to it, it has, by far, succeeded in implementing and putting in (the) process of all the stages required by the referendum,? said Benjamin.
Meanwhile, Sudan?s neighbors have vowed to respect the outcome of the referendum following a meeting in the capital, Khartoum.
Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Sudanese leader Omar Hassan al-Bashir, as well as southern Sudanese leader Salva Kiir, met Tuesday to find ways to resolve ?tensions and controversies? surrounding full implementation of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).


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Help me with my math homework- that is something you'll find most students saying. Finishing your regular homework on time is a great habit that you should be looking to develop. Homework is usually given based on topics that are taught in class. This is done in an attempt of making you revise and practice what you have learned. Students tend to complete homework on time if the related subject is something they find interesting. As far as other subjects are concerned, students tend to leave it for later, often not even getting around to it at all.
Mathematics usually falls into the category of subjects that students do not find interesting. When it comes to assignments and homework on math, students try to push it to last possible minute. Anyone who has the basic knowledge of the subject would tell you that Mathematics is hardly as terrible a subject as it is widely considered to be.
Finishing math homework on time is a great way of keeping track of the lessons and prevent falling behind at the same time. If you are really serious about help me with my math homework, you will be able to use methods for solving sums in an easier manner with proper guidance and help.
Math Homework Cannot Be Avoided
Not all parents are gifted with children who are naturally good at math. If you ask people, the most of them would definitely concur that coaching students about math can turn out to be a frustrating job. It is difficult even for a father or a mother, who would rather leave it to tutors for coaching their kids.
No matter how much the parents or students hate, math is an unavoidable subject. You will require help with subject as long as you are in school, and even after that. There is simply no way of evading it. As long as you are studying mathematics, you will be coming home with homework and assignments.
You will need to solve the problems in this homework or assignment whether you like it or not. Homework can be difficult. Sometimes, you can spend hours on a particular problem and still not get a viable solution. This is when you would want to say "help me with my math homework."
Seeking Help
Now, since math homework is unavoidable, students would obviously require help in whatever form they can get. Actually, most parents would personally want to offer their children the help they need. Still, parents have a lot to deal themselves, and there are generally days when they are already worn out by the work they have to do. As a result, they are unable to guide their children with their math homework. This is the reason why most parents rely on the services of tutors for helping their kids out.
Finding a good teacher who can provide proper help and guidance to students with mathematics is tough. Even if you are lucky enough to find a superior tutor, there are high chances that they will already be preoccupied.
Online help
Today, an effective place to find professional tutor is internet. Online homework help is easily accessible. All you require is connectivity to the Internet, which most have anyway. If your children request to help me with my math homework, you can definitely consider hiring such a service for your young ones. A simple search on the internet and you will find various websites offering math homework help services. These services cover all levels of study and all sorts of topics, including algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus, statistics and a lot more


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Some Of The Best Cities To Visit In The World – To Any Taste
These cities offer a high standard of living and are among the best cities to visit in the world. The major parameters used in deciding them are the per capita income of the population, crime rates, and safety parameters. Interestingly, London, Paris or New York is not in the list but there are surprising entrants, from Luxembourg, one of the smallest countries in the world to Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark. Do check them out!
Montreal, CanadaSource: msjingw via Instagram
The city is among five other Canadian best cities to visit. It has slowly established itself as a center of technology, finance, and commerce. It has a high standard of the quality of life among the locals.
Brussels, BelgiumSource: jdalbertos via Instagram
Brussels is ideal for solo travel. The capital of Belgium is a major hub of international politics and is home to several international organizations. It is incredibly safe, as well and filled with museums, eateries, and parks for soaking into the history and recreational activities.
Perth, AustraliaSource: ijustloveaustralia via Instagram
The 'city of light' has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the world and offers its citizens a high standard of living. It is the capital of Western Australia and is home to some beautiful beaches which makes it one of the best cities to visit in the world.
Stockholm, SwedenSource: saltis77 via Instagram
It is considered to be one of the best places to live in because of the effort put into creating the perfect harmony between a job and life. It is also an efficient manager of safety and environmental issues and its per capita income is among the top 10 in Europe, which makes it a popular city to live in.
LuxembourgSource: judyw.0611 via Instagram
The small sovereign state in Europe is among the wealthiest countries with the highest per capita income in the world. The violence and crime rate is very low. The secretive financial laws of the country make it a safe haven for some of the wealthiest people in the globe to keep their money in.
Hamburg, GermanySource: robertbado via Instagram
It is a major port city and the second largest city in Germany. It is a transport hub and one of the most affluent cities to live in Europe. It is an important financial center and is home to the world's second oldest bank, the Berenberg Bank.
Ottawa, CanadaSource: raquelalvesteixeira via Instagram
Ottawa is the capital of Canada and has developed into an important center for political and technological prospects of the country. It is the most educated city in Canada and has the highest standard of living in the nation.
Melbourne, AustraliaSource: adingattamimi_photography via Instagram
Melbourne is the capital of the Australian state of Victoria and its inhabitants are known as Melburnians. It rates highly when it comes to advancements in the field of education, health care, sports, and tourism. It is a leading financial player in the Asia-Pacific region and is among the top 30 cities in the world in the Global Financial Centers list.
Toronto, CanadaSource: msjingw via Instagram
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and one of the most populous cities in North America. It is an international center of business, finance, arts and culture and is recognized as one of the best cities that has a multicultural and cosmopolitan environment.
Bern, SwitzerlandSource: gulcindrm via Instagram
Bern is the facto capital of Switzerland and its old town city center has been declared as a UNESCO world heritage site. Statistically, it is considered as the second safest city to live in, it features highly in the agricultural and traditional industry and has a very low unemployment rate of 3.3 percent.
Berlin, GermanySource: flope_wanderlust via Instagram
The capital of Germany has one of the most populous metropolitan areas with over six million people hailing from over 175 countries. The temperate climate, along with the thick greenery covering more than 30 percent of the city area makes it for an ideal place to stay. It is also an important center of the transportation network, culture, politics, and science. And it houses some of the most advanced industrial sectors in the field of automobiles, research, and electronics in the world, it truly is one of the best cities to visit in the world.
Wellington, New ZealandSource: patglobetrotter via Instagram
Wellington is a port city and handles some of the most important inter-nation trades in the Pacific region. It also the country's political capital and makes for an ideal choice to live in because of its friendly climate, the ease of setting up a business and employment opportunities.
Amsterdam, NetherlandsSource: matteofiorentini_photography via Instagram
Amsterdam is the commercial capital of the Netherlands and is considered as an alpha world city – a city considered to be an important node in the global economy. Many of the world's largest companies such as Philips and ING are based here. It is also considered as the cultural capital of the Netherlands and is home to some famous museums which include the Anne Frank House and the Van Gogh museum. The city's affluent lifestyle gracefully co-exists with the medieval era and is a popular tourist destination and one of the best places to see in the world.
Sydney, AustraliaSource: jacks_trotter via Instagram
The economy of Sydney is very strong and is more advanced than most others in the field of finance and tourism. It is home to a number of foreign banks and multinational corporations and is the leading financial hub in the Asia-Pacific region. Its landmark, the Sydney Harbor Bridge, along with the opera is extremely popular and is frequented by tourists from all over the world. It is also home to a multicultural society – more than one-third of its citizens speak a language other than English at home.
Copenhagen, DenmarkSource: visitcopenhagen via Instagram
Copenhagen was earlier a fishing village as early as the 10th century and is now considered as one of the happiest places to live in the world. Since the beginning of the 21st century, it has seen rapid developments in the urban and cultural aspects of life and is now one of the major financial centers of Northern Europe. The city is characterized by a number of parks, bridges and promenades and museums which are all a major tourist attraction.
Geneva, SwitzerlandSource: geneva_mgz via Instagram
Geneva is a global city and one of the most important financial centers in the world and is host to numerous international organizations, including the United Nations. It has one of the most compact metropolitan areas among any city in the world and offers a high standard of living to its citizens.
Frankfurt, GermanySource: want_get via Instagram
Frankfurt is a major hub for commerce, culture, and tourism in Europe and hosts some of the largest trade fairs in the world, including the Frankfurt Motor Show and the Frankfurt Book Fair. It is home to many educational centers, botanical gardens, and museums, making it a culture-rich place of stay.
Dusseldorf, GermanySource: rosalita_tomoka via Instagram
Like Frankfort, Dusseldorf is also renowned for its trade fairs and is also an international business and financial center, with the city also being the host to several Fortune 500 companies. It is also rich in culture and is known for its academy of fine arts and its influence on electronic music.
Vancouver, CanadaSource: seaside_signs via Instagram
Vancouver is one of the largest cities in Canada and is home to one of the most linguistically diverse communities of the world, with more than 52 percent of its residents having some other language as English as their first language. It is consistently named as one of the most livable cities in the world in terms of the quality of life offered.
Munich, GermanySource: kevinrawalsh via Instagram
The metropolitan region of Munich is home to 5.8 million people. The city enjoyed a strong economic growth since the 1980s and is a major hub in the field of innovation, technology, finance, business, and education. Its residents enjoy a very high standard of living and it is considered as an alpha world city since 2015.
Auckland, New ZealandSource: 10stopphotography via Instagram
The city is based around 2 large harbors making for an idyllic setting. It has a well-balanced economy, a high level of safety for its citizens and has been classified as a global city. The picturesque beauty gracefully co-exists with the concrete jungle which makes for a very affluent setting.
Zurich, SwitzerlandSource: shelovespolkadots via Instagram
Zurich houses one of the largest financial centers in the world despite its relatively low population. It is home to some of the banking giants and is also a leading center for research and development. The low tax rates and the cryptic financial laws make it a win-win situation for both organizations and clients to set it up as the financial capital of Europe. The city also has a fair share of museums, theaters, and art galleries and regularly features as one of the most livable cities in the world.
Vienna, AustriaSource: gregsideris via Instagram
Vienna is home to over one-third of Austria's population and tops the list as one of the best cities to visit in the world. Its city center is a UNESCO world heritage site and is home to the largest congregation of music, arts, and theater. It is rich in architecture and is home to some of the finest medieval era architectures in the numerous castles, gardens, and monuments which adorn the city. It ranks highly in innovation and is the major hub of congresses and conventions.


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With the release of the new Veer-Myn Reserve and Mega Forces comes the arrival of two new miniatures for the Veer-Myn – the Tunnellers and Tunnel Runners. I say 'miniatures' in the loosest terms as these are both sizable plastic vehicles! Epitomising the Veer-Myn's deadly yet haphazard ways of war, these provide valuable reinforcements for rat players everywhere.
The Tunnel Runner is the smaller of the two Veer-Myn vehicles. Cast in the same detailed PVC plastic as the Brood Mother, Night Terror, and Rumbler Weapons Platform, these mono-wheels can be used in games of both Deadzone and Warpath. It comes armed with twin Chem-Spitters, as well as vicious blades mounted on the front to ram into foes.
The arm and head connections on the pilot are designed to be compatible with the Nightcrawlers sprue, so you can use your spare parts from you core troops to customise the drivers to your taste. Beyond that, the Tunnel Runners are simple to slot together and ready to field in no time. Players have been having particular fun fielding these in Deadzone using the recent Veer-Myn beta list – which will be given the same treatment as the GCPS and Asterian lists soon! They can also be used in Warpath and work well entering play behind a Tuneller to act as support, or using their speed to range ahead of the main force and pick out weak targets.
The Tunneller, meanwhile, is in a league of its own. This Hard Plastic boring machine measures over 14 cm long and 8 cm wide, not including the weapon fittings. The drills are designed to be open to reveal an inner hatch (with a choice of closed or open options) which can either be used as an access point for Veer-Myn Infantry or the mounting for a heavy weapon. Like the Tunnel Runners, this kit also slots together quickly and easily.
In games of Warpath, the Tunneller excels at Shock and awe tactics. Literally burrowing out of the ground the enemy stand on, the Tunneller can swiftly either deploy Veer-Myn troops on unleash its own powerful weaponry upon nearby foes. It can field either the close-range Chem-Sprayer or Super-Heavy Ray Gun, which is more suited to armoured targets. Once the Tunneller has deployed, other Veer-Myn units can use its entry point to follow on to the battlefield. This I most notably used by the Tunnel Runners who surge out of the passages created by the Tunneller's transit to engage with the enemy as quickly as possible.
If you are looking to pick these units up for your Veer-Myn, then the best choice is the Reserve Force which includes a Tunneller, 2 Tunnel Runners, 2 Rumbler Weapons Platforms, 5 Creepers and 5 Maligni – at a great discount versus purchasing these units separately If you want to make a start on a completely new Veer-Myn army, then take a look at the Mega Force, which includes a Veer-Myn army of 66 miniatures – including a Tunneller and 2 Tunnel Runners – large enough for any game of Warpath. These units will be available to purchase individually too in the coming months.


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The Gunsmith
In 1876 Captain Grant Marsh was piloting the riverboat "Far West" up the Bighorn River, to bring Colonel George Armstrong Custer supplies and ammunition. But when he heard of the massacre that occurred at the Little Bighorn, his mission became one of rescue. In order to take on wounded soldiers as passengers, Marsh had to bury $375,000 in gold bars that he was carrying for miners somewhere along the shorelines of the Bighorn River. A friend of Clint Adams' decides to search for that treasure and asks for his help. Of course, there are others searching for it as well, and Clint has to keep himself and his friend alive long enough to hopefully find the gold.


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Heavily threaded stitching sets off the reversed fleur-de-lis at the coin and back pockets. Machine wash cold, tumble dry low.
Hem can be unrolled for a longer length. The item "Rock Revival Bruna Shorts 27 $129 NWT Roll Up Or Down" is in sale since Monday, February 29, 2016.This item is in the category "Clothing, Shoes & Accessories\Women's Clothing\Shorts". The seller is "denimfinds89" and is located in San Antonio, Texas. This item can be shipped to United States, to Canada, to United Kingdom, DK, RO, SK, BG, CZ, FI, HU, LV, LT, MT, EE, to Australia, GR, PT, CY, SI, to Japan, to China, SE, KR, ID, to Taiwan, ZA, TH, to Belgium, to France, to Hong Kong, to Ireland, to Netherlands, PL, to Spain, to Italy, to Germany, to Austria, RU, IL, to Mexico, to New Zealand, PH, SG, to Switzerland, NO, SA, UA, AE, QA, KW, BH, HR, MY, TR, BR, CL, CO, CR, DO, PA, TT, GT, SV, HN, JM.


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Thanga Magan Tamil Movie Critics Review & Star Rating Report Dhanush Amy Jackson Samantha Ruth Prabhu :- The much anticipated Tamil romantic comedy film written and directed by cinematographer-turned-director Velraj titled Thanga Magan has been released today on 18 Dec 2015 in theatres worldwide with high hopes that its makers are having from this thriller. The biggest reason of concern for this Dhanush Amy Jackson and Samantha Ruth Prabhu starrer is that it is releasing on the same day as other Bollywood biggies like Bajirao Mastani & SRK's much hyped venture Dilwale is going to hit the floors.
Thanga Magan has drawn a lot of attention through the promotions. Importantly, the trailer and the music of this Tollywood movie has impressed the audience a lot. Hence, there are a lot of expectations from this film. Moreover the collaboration of Dhanush and Velraj had earlier delivered hit film "Velailla Pattadhari". So, the audience have a reason to have high expectations.
Thanga Magan Experts Review and Public Response
Speaking about the review of Thanga Magan Tamil film well below are some of the comments given by critics and viewers who have watched and analyzed this movie :
Shubha tweeted, "#ThangaMagan – friendship, comedy counters, love before & after marriage, songs & RR, villainy, action. @Samanthaprabhu2 @dhanushkraja."
Babu Vj says, "#ThangaMagan Whole theatre enjoying!!!! @dhanushkraja bro. Rocking @anirudhofficial @actorsathish Best casting Selection by @VelrajR sir."
Common Man Sathish said, "If it is #AarilirunthuArubathuVarai 4 Superstar, it is #ThangaMagan for @dhanushkraja He steals the show completely @aditi1231
#ThangaMagan – A perfect family entertainer to watch with your family members this week"
Thanga Magan Tamil Star Rating 4/5*
TaazaUpdates.com verdict for Thanga Magan Telugu Film : If you are a fan of Dhanush and Samantha Ruth Prabhu than don't give this film a miss as Thanga Magan is a complete family masala entertainer which has all the qualities to emerge as a superhit blockbuster.
Stay tuned with us for more updates of Thanga Magan Tamil movie


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Abstract Posters – Monday 23rd April at WFNMB2018
Theranostics Australia's Dr. Danielle Meyrick (Chief Scientific Officer) displayed TWO abstract submissions as posters yesterday in the Exhibition Hall at the #WFNMB2018 Conference.
(3) 68Ga-PSMA-PET/CT is Superior to Contrast CT in Rising PSA Post Definitive Treatment for Prostate Cancer (P140).
(4) Initial Experience with 1 year Follow Up in 22 Patients Treated with Lu-177 I&T PSMA for Advanced Prostate Cancer – Safety, Efficacy and Quality of Life (P199).
All 4 of TA's posters from the WFNMB Conference will be made available this week.


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Date: 11 December 2018
Time: 12:00 pm (CST)
Join us for a live webinar co-hosted with Supply and Demand Chain Executive.
SDCE's annual Executive Outlook educational webinar brings together industry executives for a roundtable discussion of the top-level trends and developments taking shape in the supply chain sector and what that means for the year ahead.
Rich Hoffecker
Product Director - Supplier Integrity®, The Red Flag Group®


text: Rachel and Rebecca Schroeder (pictured) of Bryan were among 34 high school students from throughout Ohio who visited Washington, D.C. and other points of interest June 10-16, 2016 as part of Ohio's Electric Cooperatives, Inc.'s Youth Tour to the nation's capital. The week-long trip included a visit to the U.S. Capitol and other areas of historical significance. The students were awarded the tour in a scholastic competition sponsored by North Western Electric Cooperative, Inc., of Bryan, a Touchstone Energy® cooperative. The high school students joined approximately 1,600 other rural students representing 42 states. As part of their tour of the nation's capital, students met with members of their Congressional delegation, visited Arlington National Cemetery and attended a performance at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Rachel and Rebecca are the daughters of Gary and Mary Ann Schroeder.


text: That's interesting. During the summer I have been working on my Erlog (Prolog in and for Erlang) interpreter. Instead of writing the tokeniser by hand I use leex. Unfortunately you can't write the parser in yacc. Now I intend to make leex fit for human consumption, the generated scanner is fine but I need to clean up the code, and I was thinking that it would not be difficult to add a compiler to regexp to make it faster. either by gernerating a DFA which you interpret or a function which is compiled. I personally don't think that a bif is the way to go. A bif tends to imply something which is part of the language, not just a "normal" library function. This quite apart from the problems of bifs maybe blocking the emulator. A port would be much cleaner. A final point is that grep is not really a good name for the function. It is said to mean "global regular expression print", and you are not printing just trying to find a match. I hope. :-) Robert Mats Cronqvist wrote: > Ernie Makris wrote: > >> Hello Erlangers, >> >> One thing I wanted to start a discussion on is getting pcre style >> regexps in erlang. The question >> I pose to the list is: What would be the best way to integrate the pcre >> library into erlang. >> The possible approaches I've seen so far are: >> - create a linked in driver >> - create a port program >> - create new bifs (I'd really like this) > > > a bif is the way to go, imo. > >> My obvious concerns are: >> - How stable is the C pcre library for long running servers >> - Stability implies: >> - Memory leaks >> - SIGSEGVs >> >> I would love the library calls in erlang to be bifs. Are there any >> external examples, aside from just looking at the source that >> demonstrate how to cleanly add a new bif? > > > two weeks ago me and a colleague implemented two new bifs; re:grep/2 > and re:compile/1. > > documentation is a bit scarce; > > re:compile([RegExp]) -> [RegExpC] > re:grep(Str,[RegExp]) -> [MatchItem] > RegExp = string() > RegExpC = term() > MatchItem = no_match | {int(Beg),int(End),[string(SubMatch)]} | > {error,{string(ErrorStr),int(ErrorChar)}} > > we have not yet observed any problems with stability. > > OTP has indicated that they will not introduce any bif that does not > execute in bound time, or yields. i believe this can be met by limiting > the length of the string and the regexp. > > if there is interest, we can probably make the code available. > > mats >


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With .NET Core now becoming mainstream, you might ask how you can run NServiceBus endpoints in an asp.net process. After all, it sounds pretty trivial, but turns out maybe not as easy as it sounds. Let's see why. Continue reading
NServiceBus Sagas are a powerful feature that would allow you model long running processes without managing the state on your own or having to juggle correlating messages. Since they manage the state for you and messaging systems being distributed and things running concurrently, they also do concurrency control via Optimistic Concurrency.Continue reading
The version 2.7 of Farsi Library is now released through Nuget. As stated in the roadmap last year, I'm now integrating the existing functionality into other 3rd party suite of controls. This version integrates with DevExpress controls and supports the new theme and animations. There are two packages targetting DevExpress version 15.2 and 16.1 so you need to pick the right version. Due to amount of breaking change in each major version, I will need to publish new releases targetting each major DevExpress versions. For minor versions you might be able to get away with assembly redirects, depending on the amount of breaking changes in them.Continue reading
Back in 2003 I started to work on a library to use on my line of business applications to address the short-comings around Persian calendar and date controls with proper RightToLeft support. My needs were simple. I was developing business application that needed to be multi-lingual with correct rendering and date displays. Not much to ask, but even simple things like date calculations was not possible as there was not Persian calendar out of the box in .NET framework 1.1.Continue reading
This has happened twice for me in last month so here's how I document it since if something happens twice will happen more again.Continue reading
Domain event is a very useful concept in Domain Driven Design that allows you to separate concerns in your domain via events. You can also offload the side effects of the actions in your domain to an event handler and let that run asynchronously. For things like sending emails and notifications this makes perfect sense since those are inherently asynchronous anyway.
Continue reading
If you've worked with JSON endpoints and WebAPI, you know how seamlessly it works when sending out objects that will be serialized into JSON. Continue reading
In DDD, the value object is used when your entity conceptually does not have an identity and it is all about the data. Now the question of something being a value object or an entity - where we care about the actual Id - is a business question but think about an address in a ordering management system where a customer has addresses. You probably don't care about the address as something on its own, so you don't care about it's identity and as such, two addresses are the same if their values are the same. Another away about the value object, is that it is immutable, meaning if you want to change an address, you need to create a new one and replace an existing address as it is not possible to change an existing address.Continue reading
You're going to think I'm jumping on the F# bandwagon as well. Well kind of but that's not the point of this post. The thing is, people ask me all the time: Why should I even care about F#? I have my own C# language that I love, why go through the burden of learning another language, and more importantly, another way of thinking, as functional programming is not only about the language but more conceptual way of thinking.
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In this series, I'm going to write about some of the challenges we've been facing with DDD. If you want to adapt DDD on .NET stack, this hopefully will be useful for you. Along with concepts I'll talk about what works (or doesn't) well with EntityFramework, but most of it will still be useful with other ORMs - or even without one.Continue reading
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What I Want To Be When I Grow Up
I've always been a little bit of a mixed bag. When I was a youth director at East Lake Community Church, my small group girls were never quite sure which side of Lexi they were going to get. Deep Bible studies on the book of Romans or lessons on how to properly TP a house. Conservative theology. Liberal lifestyle. So, I would imagine that curiosity about my teaching style is not scarce.
As a teacher without a degree in education, I think I held my own. I assure you that my methods weren't typical, but they worked for me. I approached teaching the same way that I approached youth group. (No, we didn't play weird food games.) I liked to start my yearbook class off with something humorous or fun. Examples include: a silly Jimmy Fallon clip, an old school Run DMC jam session, or just good ol coffee and tea time. I figured that students were more willing to work if they were having fun and if they liked their team, including their captain (the boss).
Sometimes my youth group tactics bit me in the butt though. I let the students in my class call me by my first name, so all BFA students called me by my first name (whether I knew them or not). I let students miss my class on special occasions, so they asked to miss class all of the time. I let students dance on the furniture for advertisement videos, so they wanted to dance on the furniture daily.
There were times when teaching yearbook caused me to feel like a zookeeper trying to put all of the escaped animals back in their cages. After I got half of the class on task, some monkey would jump over and open a few more cages. I'm seeing video game potential here.
When I led the fun, I felt like I had some control. When they led the fun, the zoo went nuts. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the challenge. I threw everything I could think of at these kids (FIGURATIVELY). Technology at it's finest. Google Docs, Youtube clips, camera tutorials, Apple tv, interactive games, you name it. Yet, it all boiled down to relationship. Those other things worked, but they weren't nearly as effective in keeping my students on task as pure love and respect.
I loved my students and I can confidently say that they loved me. In an educational surrounding, that meant caring about the student instead of the grade. Ideally, this should be the mindset of all teachers. I can say that it was a lot easier for me to achieve at BFA though. Grace was encouraged. I took full advantage of that. My students still had to work very hard for their A's and B's, but I tried to make sure that they always rose to that standard. When they failed, the got the chance to work harder to make up for it.
Teaching art classes gave me the opportunity to get to know the students and to see their talents up close. I had the chance to encourage them and to see them grow. There were times when I felt more like an IT department, hopping from computer to computer to fix problems. At other times, I felt like Verrocchio guiding da Vinci. They were the brilliant ones. I was just there to teach them how to use their brilliance.
I was invested in the lives of my students inside and outside of my classroom. It changed everything. It was often confusing. I saw students unsure how to balance my roles. Like the small group girls balancing deep Bible studies with playful pranks, my students never seemed quite sure when they were supposed to behave and listen as apposed to indulging in immaturity. In one day, I could be giving an art history lesson to a student that I would end up making goofy music videos with (at their dorm) that night.
After 3 years, I decided that focusing on mentoring and discipleship was more important to me than teaching. Balancing those roles with teaching was hard. Friends who asked me what was next, after BFA, got an ear full about how I was ready to focus solely on youth ministry. I'm not sure that I knew what that meant. I just didn't like having to be in a role where I had a project hanging over my head and dictating the way that I spent time with the teenagers entrusted to me.
I've had more time to reconsider this decision. I have many missions/ministry opportunities before me. The one that I currently feel drawn to offers the role of teaching to me again.
For those of you who don't know… I concluded my time at BFA because I felt like God was moving me on to a place where He was not known. All of the programs and ministries that I have been a part of have been completely worthy causes. I believe that God has guided all of my steps. Yet, my heart is burdened for those who don't know Him at all. For those who have taken up arms against him.
This school that I may have the opportunity to teach at is an international school in Germany. The city is incredibly atheistic and in need of Christ. The school is not a Christian school, unlike BFA. Mentoring and discipling teenagers in a place where the church is not present doesn't usually come about naturally. I need a different environment for cultivating these relationships.
This opportunity may not work out, but I will admit that it's guiding my actions right now. I'm on track to complete my counseling masters by Christmas and I'm working on teaching certification with the state of Florida. I'm also in the process of becoming a long-term missionary with The Evangelical Alliance Mission.
Teaching appeals to me. If you know me, you know that my interests are varied. I get bored with monotony. I want to teach, to mentor, to do photography, to film, to edit, to play music, to counsel, and to make coffee. Ok, that last one is just for my own benefit. That doesn't make it less true though. My point is that I love jobs that allow me to exercise more than a few skills. Being a youth director capitalized on many of my skills, but that's not really an option where the church hasn't been built (or no longer exists). Teaching also allowed me to exercise multiple skills. So, I'm not ready to give up this idea yet. I'm moving forward.
Does that answer the question of "What's next for you?" Don't ask me what I want to be when I grow up. I hope to be married? I don't know. I guess that I just want to be in a place where I know that I am serving God with everything I've got (LITERALLY).


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8 participants Cost: Starts at $250 $12-$15 for each additional participant (Maximum 16 guests)
Have a great idea for an art and/or science party? Looking for a team-building session? STEAMboat Studio is most likely able to make it happen! We have the know-how to help you create a memorable, engaging, creative experience. Contact us today to speak with a team member about creating your unique event and to receive a quote.