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One night stands have a pretty terrible reputation. You imagine the stumbling awkwardness of two strangers coming together after a long night of appletini's and shared misery. The sex is "meh" at best and leaves both parties feeling disappointed at best, and downright shitty at worst.
But I don't think it has to be this way. I have over the past few months started to open myself up to the possibility that good sex, or a good connection can happen between two people who don't necessarily intend on spending the rest of their lives together. As we get older, we tend to reserve our best moves and most intimate feelings exclusively for people who we are in a relationship with. This sounds great in theory, but in practice it means we can go for months without connecting sexually to someone. That sucks! It also makes finding a partner more and more of a lifelong mission and we slip into the "destiny mentality" that there is our One love out there, our Soulmate… which as you know, is bullshit.
Instead of rushing from relationship to mediocre relationship in order to connect sexually and intimately with someone, it feels absolutely mindblowing to create that connection with someone who you have no intentions of moving in with or having babies with. A person who treats you with respect and love and kindness can do so for the rest of your life, or for the rest of the afternoon. Either way, it's important to invite these people into your life and make the most of the time you have together.
Sounds idyllic, right?
But how exactly do you connect with someone and also let them go at the end of the day? That feels counterintuitive (but it really isn't).
The practice of inviting love, intimacy and a super-hot lover into your life, and then loving that person completely as you let them go on their way. This creates a constant flow of love in your life. And it feels freaking amazing. You breathe love, you move in love, and people can feel that shit!
This means when you meet someone who you DO want to spend the rest of your week, year, or life with, you are already in a place where it is easy for you to love. You don't have to remember how it feels, or get out of your selfish lifestyle in order to drag yourself back to a place where you can show love. Instead, you're living in the love already! It's so easy to invite someone into that amazing space. But intimacy isn't something you think about or talk about – it's something you do. And instead of spending a year going through a self-inflicted dry spell, consider practicing intimacy, one One Night Stand at a time.
Ok, now for the logistics:
Because this all sounds pretty fluffy and amazing, but reality is a little harder to wrap your brain around. Here are a few of the things I do to make sure the intimate One Night Stand works for me, my partner and my life.
Be safe
Nuff said.
Talk about what really matters
It is easy to create intimacy through shared experience, and if you've only got 45 minutes, the next best thing is shared knowledge. Knowing where someone went to high school, what the name of their pets are, whether their parents are boat people or motorcycle people; these insights are great for building longterm relationships but completely unnecessary in an intimate One Night Stand. And under no circumstances should you talk about your past relationships. period. These details can be counterproductive, since it might give you a reason to follow up on mundane details of someone's life after you've agreed to go separate ways. It's a tempting string to pull on when you feel lonely, but that's not a healthy way to rekindle a relationship that was meant to end. Instead of listing the details of your life, concentrate on telling great stories. Talk about your passions, dreams and things that make you laugh so hard you snort just a little. You've only got 45 minutes, make it hilarious!
Acknowledge how vulnerable you both are
It's important to acknowledge your feelings. Admitting that you feel a little scared or excited can make asking for what you need more comfortable. Women in particular, tend to put on a strong and sexy facade as a part of their "femme fatale" seduction process. This facade comes with communication barriers and sometimes the false sense of having no boundaries. You need those boundaries! and you need to make them incredibly clear. But vulnerability is not weakness, vulnerability is a huge turn on, and when you find someone who can communicate their insecurities and raw feelings, ding ding ding! you've found the perfect match for an intimate one nighter.
Don't make it more than it is
I once had the most amazing One Night Stand. Unfortunately, it lasted 14 months. We both felt such a connection that it was hard to accept that it would only happen this one (or 12) times. We both agreed, that the feeling was so strong and so soul-merging that we should definitely be together, despite the fact that we lived 3000 miles apart and were terribly incompatible partners. whoops. lesson learned. Don't feel bad for walking away from something that felt great. You can always come back to a relationship that pulls at your heart over time, but don't try to force something that was never intended to last more than a few nights. Maybe it turns into a Sorbet Relationship or just stays a one nighter. Accept it for exactly what it is.
Don't get hung up on the resume
It's easy to talk yourself out of a good time. He's not your "type", you only date people with PhDs, you need someone who understands art. For a one nighter? Really? Let it go snobby-mcsnobberpants!! Don't let logic kill a great vibe. You aren't taking them home to your parent's place for Thanksgiving, you're taking them to your apartment for a long and lusty night. Drop the pretensions and stereotypes and try something a little different. Intimate One Night Stands are the best way of testing some of your preconceived requirements for relationships. I mean, how is that list of "must-haves" working out for you? Maybe you've been looking for an academic who can keep up with your brilliance, but when you find an inspiring college dropout you find the real connection you've been looking for. Experiment!
Practice Letting Go
Wax on, wax off. That's my basic theory on love. Every lover that I've brought into my life and then let go of, has made my heart bigger and bigger. I never get filled to capacity. This isn't a tank of gas or a box of donuts that can only fit a dozen. (mmmm… donuts) Usually it's the ones that I hang onto for too long that piss me off. When you practice letting love come into your life and easily out when it no longer makes sense, the stress of finding a lifelong partner melts away. We get so hyper-focused on finding The One, but maybe we should start looking for The One who can teach us to appreciate foreign films, The One who shows us how to change a car battery, The One who makes us listen to the B sides of The Kinks albums. Every lover has a purpose and can be loved and let go of. This is crucial for creating the space we need to invite in The One who sticks around in a partnership for most of our life.


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You can support us in many different ways!
You can become a DEAR Friend, support Robo&Bobo workshops, or raise funds with your online shopping.
Become a DEAR Friend
Thank you! We have so many new ideas we want to implement: your help is crucial in bringing them to life.
Support our projects
Support Robo&Bobo FIND OUT HOW
Thank you, it's great to have your help! You can support the project with a single or monthly donation.
Your help contributes to turning hospitalization into an opportunity for teen and pre-teen patients to approach new technologies (3D printing, virtual reality, digital graphic design, etc.).
Your donation helps us keep workshops going, and supports our ongoing efforts to design new activities and research innovative technological material and equipment.
- Any amount
Donate as much as you wish
- 100 €
Help us buy a 3D scanner, so 3D printing workshops can be even more inclusive, even for sight-impaired kids
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Purchase a spool of filament for our 3D printer, so kids can experiment by making their own custom objects
- 25 €
Donate one workshop experience to a hospitalized kid
Support us via wire transfer
You can make your donation via wire transfer, cashier's check or bank check, made out to:
Associazione Dear Onlus
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Don't forget to mention "Donation for the DEAR Onlus association" in the description, as well as your name and email address, so we can thank you and always update you on the projects we carry out thanks to your support.
Check if your donation qualifies for tax deduction in your country: we know it does in Italy!
Support us with Helpfreely
Did you know you can help us raise funds and support us for free, thanks to your online purchases? Just start from our Helpfreely page!
- 1Register on Helpfreely.orgIt's free, quick and easy
- 2Select DEARMake DEAR Design Around Onlus one of your favorite non-profits!
- 3Download the appIt will even set reminders for you!
- 4Buy onlinePartnering online stores include Decathlon, FlixBus, Expedia, Booking, LaFeltrinelli, Libraccio, eBay – and many more!
- 5DonateIt doesn't cost you anything: a percentage of your purchases will simply be donated to our association on your behalf!
Corporate donations and support
Contact us at email@example.com and we'll be happy to design a custom project with your company.
Donations to DEAR may be tax deductible (we know they are in Italy!).
Check what the limitations and constraints are in your country, and whether payments must be made via traceable methods (Paypal, wire transfer, checks).
Tax deduction for donators (in Italy)
- Tax deduction equal to 30% of the donation
Limit: maximum amount of €30,000
Example: by donating €10,000 you can deduct €3,000 from your taxes
- Deduct up to 10% of your total declared income
Legal reference: art. 83 of Italian Legislative Decree 117/2017
What: tax deduction equal to the entire amount donated
Limit: none
Example: by donating €10,000 your company can deduct €10,000 from its income
Legal reference: art. 83 of Italian Legislative Decree 117/2017

subset: commoncrawl


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Dear Mom,
I ended up going to Khane yesterday. The funny thing is that I wasn't planning to go, but guess what? The dance studio I really like to go to is only a few steps away from downtown Khane, literally.
I arrived at the studio earlier than I thought I would, and I had about half an hour before my class. So I walked into Khane just after first Du'a had started. And I sat downstairs, near the door, so I could make a quick getaway.
I know that sounds bad. It's not that I wanted to get out of there, or that I didn't enjoy any of it. But I have to take baby steps in getting into going there regularly, so I don't overwhelm myself. And I didn't want to be late for dance class.
This is the second time I have done this- gone into Khane before class. I go in dressed very casually, but it works just fine at Drake. I like that non-pretentiousness about the Khane in downtown. It's a nice feeling too, to not put any pressure on myself to have to sit upstairs in the prayer hall. I just sit on the chairs downstairs, and end up sitting next to interesting people who either have little babies, or are unable to get up the stairs as easily, or maybe, like me, they like to sit away from the rest of the crowd.
Yesterday, there was a man who sat next to me with the cutest little girl. She was clinging on to him with her tiny little hands, and her little feet were all warm and cosy, covered up in the most adorable pink slippers/socks. I just kept thinking about how you would have loved to play with her. Little kids always made your face light up. And kids seemed to like you too.
There was also this older man sitting closer to the door. When he came in, he took off this thick woolen toque with a kind of native print on it. And under the toque, he had a very bald, shiny head.
I also noticed younger girls come in- in their teens and twenties. And some of them wore beautiful beige or black heels, while others were in comfy runners. Some had perfectly streaked hair- gold and deep browns and reds highlighting their heads. While others had nose rings or jeans on. I loved the variety of people and outfits that walked through. There was no set way of what you should look like or how dressy or not you had to be. The feeling was just come as you are. And that's what I did.
You would have been proud of me, Mom. I didn't cry once during the Du'as this time. I did think of you every moment I was in there, more than I already do each day. And that is a lot, trust me. But I tried to just soak in the details of what was around me, just be in the moment, rather than getting down on myself for not concentrating or not sticking it out until the end. Oh yeah, I kind of left in mid tasbih, I guess you could call it? See, I don't even know the terms. I think it might have been Chandraat yesterday, because everything was more delayed and more involved than a usual khane day. And I could have sworn they said something about Chandraat majilis in one of the announcements, but again, I could totally be wrong. I haven't been keeping up on what is happening on which day.
I felt badly for leaving before it was done, but I was glad I went at all. And I think that is what I am going to keep in mind- the small steps I take to just surround myself with a little bit of that spiritual peace amidst the surroundings of the faith I grew up in. It did take dance to get me there. And you, I'm sure. But if it wasn't for my dance class being so close, and being at such an optimum time for me to get to khane quickly beforehand, I would probably not have been there.
It seemed silly for me NOT to go, the way the universe planned it like this. Dance Me Free. That's the name of my blog. Dance is even bringing me spiritual freedom, bringing me close to our place of prayer, giving me more incentive to sit with "my peeople" -haha!- (too funny, because anyone who knows me knows that "my people" are not restricted by any race, religion, colour or culture. I am so fascinated by diversity and multiculturalism. But, you get what I mean, I think) and connect with your strong beliefs. To connect with you.
Who knew that Dance would bring me more spirituality not just from its healing and its powerful movement of energy, but also bringing me back to my childhood place of prayer.
Although I was a little late for class, I am sure that something about the peace and prayers that I spent in during that half an hour at Khane, somehow got me more connected and at peace in my dance class, in my dancing, definitely in my body, and in the moment.
I told the owners of the dance studio that you, my mother, probably is thanking them for choosing that location for a studio. For helping me to find my way back "home" in some sense.
Thank you, Mom. You were and always will be my home. So really, I am just always trying to find my way back to you and your spirit. I will try to still be open to allowing Khane to be one of the avenues that will get me there.
Love, Tas


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Munich was almost completely destroyed in two world wars but has emerged as one of the great cities of Europe, forging ahead as a business powerhouse while carefully preserving its Bavarian heritage.
Oktoberfest is legendary, of course, but you can visit at any time of year and find much to see and do. Famed for its architecture, the capital of Bavaria boasts museums as impressive inside as they are on the outside.
Olympiapark, the site of the 1972 games, is a popular choice – you can skate on the Olympic ice rink and swim in the pool – and there's a surprising amount of parks and green spaces where you can watch the world go by.
Must Sees
1. Marienplatz, Bounded by Kaufingerstrasse, Rosenstrasse and Weinstrasse
This prominent public square, the largest in Munich, still stands as the centre of social activity in the city, much as it has throughout history.
The Neues Rathaus, or New City Hall, dominates the square and its central clocktower features a splendid mechanical clock from which twice a day the figures of medieval knights emerge to joust, followed by flag-waving and dancing townspeople.
2. Deutsches Museum, Museumsinsel 1
One of the world's largest science museums, visitors to this famous institution can easily get lost among the endless floors of fascinating exhibits, including a working mine.
Here you'll find real planes, huge trains placed in halls and plenty of interactive family fun.
Whether you fancy sitting in a cockpit or you're a compulsive button-pusher, there's enough here to occupy you all day.
3. BMW Welt, Am Olympiapark 1
The BMW Welt delights car buffs and art lovers alike.
See the latest BMW cars and motorcycles and learn about the technology and design elements used by the company.
The tour of the BMW plant, with its extensive robotics and varying models running the same assembly lines, is fascinating.
Lots of fun, loads of interactive exhibits for both kids and kids at heart and a museum right next door.
Fact File
Language: German
Currency: Euro
Time Zone: GMT + 1
Flight: Monarch flies four times a week direct from Birmingham to Munich.
Best Months: Spring is the perfect time to visit Munich if you want to be there before the crowds arrive in summer. Oktoberfest does what it says on the tin, and then some, but winter is, of course, time for the famous Christmas markets.
Visas Etc: No visa needed for UK passport holders.
Mandarin Oriental Munich, Neuturmstrasse 1
The five-star Mandarin can be found down the block from the Hofbrau Haus – centre of Oktoberfest celebrations – but is an oasis of calm.
It's a superb location from which to explore this grand old city, the lobby leading out on to cobbled streets.
Rooms are large and modern, with huge double opening windows for fresh air, and there's a rooftop bar area where you may be treated to complementary champagne.
Expect to pay from £420 a night.
Marienbad , Barer Strasse 11
This hotel is located in the middle of what used to be the government section of Munich in the 1930s and 40s.
The hotel itself once served as office space and sleeping quarters for a certain German political party of that vintage.
Located off the street, behind a new office building, it's quiet and has room for free parking.
It's also an easy walk to the centre of the old city.
Pay from £39 for a basic room with breakfast.
Eating Out
Shane's Restaurant, Geyerstrasse 52
Irish chef Shane McMahon has carved out an international reputation at the restaurant which bears his name.
Every day's set menu is a surprise because Shane makes it up as he goes along, depending on the finest, freshest ingredients he finds on the market each morning.
The six-course dinner menu is the talk of the town, and the wine list offers something for every palate, and every pocket.


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Phil Murtaugh Exits CEO Position at Coda Holdings
Phil Murtaugh, chief executive of Coda Holdings Inc., spent his last day on the job on Saturday. Murtaugh's last words as he left the company's office in Santa Monica, Calif. were, according to a knowledgeable source, "The last one out, please turn out the lights."
Murtaugh was hired in January 2011 to make a success of the struggling manufacturer of pure electric vehicles, that were primarily sourced from China. It had previously been run by investment bankers with a lot of enthusiasm for electric cars, but with little experience managing a car company—much less an automotive start-up. Although Coda Automotive produced pure electric vehicles, they were nonetheless selling cars. That was the thinking, so bringing in someone with Murtaugh's extensive industry background was viewed as a shrewd move.
The former head of General Motors China, Murtaugh resigned from that position when G.M. made Shanghai, where Murtaugh was based, the headquarters of its Asia Pacific operations. It also removed full responsibility for the China operations from Murtaugh and installed a management organization that divided the responsibility among several management levels.
Besides being a "car guy," Murtaugh has a deep understanding of the automotive market and industry in China. Coda sourced the body of its electric vehicle from China's Hafei Motors and had a battery-producing joint venture with another Chinese company, Tianjin Lishen.
But Murtaugh's time at Coda was marked by stumbles. He brought in executives that, according to Coda employees, were not a good fit. And, said one, "Phil strengthened a General Motors orientation that was already present at Coda, specifically a strategy of tight control of suppliers and (presumed) market dominance." For a small company such as Coda, that was problematic. It lacked the resources, and burned though cash.
"The core problem within the company is they didn't want to listen to people that had a different opinion," an anonymous inside source told PluginCars.com earlier this year, prior to the demise of its car business. "You couldn't disagree with the senior organization and be held in good standing." The source also said the company had a "spend mentality," explaining that executives were lured to the company with salaries above industry norms, made frequent flights to China in business-class, and despite low sales had at least a few more vice-presidents in the sales department than Coda required.
In interviews, Murtaugh barely contained his views that the Coda sedan was an unimpressive model—a view that became the consensus of auto reviewers. Under his direction, the company embarked on the development of a second electric vehicle—presumably with a more distinct design and more attractive amenities. In June, 2012, Coda announced it would work with another China automaker Great Wall Motors to develop an electric vehicle for China, European, and U.S. market. That fell through after, according to sources in China, Great Wall backed out because it already had EV technology.
Coda Holdings filed for bankruptcy in May of this year.
Coda is now focusing on its energy storage business, spokesman Matt Sloustcher told PluginCars.com. Coda Energy was previously a division of Coda Holdings. In June, the energy storage assets were acquired by a group of investors led by Fortress Holdings Investment Group. It kept the brand name Coda Energy.
The new Coda Energy is co-managed by Ed Solar, previously the head of the energy storage division at Coda Holdings; and Pete Norman, who led the core technology engineering team. "It is a new company. It is not the same company," Sloustcher told PluginCars.
Coda Automotive sold at most a couple hundred electric vehicles. Those can be serviced at the handful of Coda dealers, said Sloustcher.
New to EVs? Start here
Seven Things To Know About Buying a Plug-In Car
A few simple tips before you visit the dealership.
Incentives for Plug-in Hybrids and Electric Cars
Take advantage of credits and rebates to reduce EV costs.
Buying Your First Home EV Charger
You'll want a home charger. Here's how to buy the right one.


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Login with your Google accounts
You can now login with your Facebook account. A much easier way to view our Magazine! But if you prefer, you can still log in to Polite Society Magazine with your original user account.
If you don't want to use your Facebook account (or don't have one), you can still register with us by using the original Login system.
About Polite Society
"Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude."
-Denis Waitley


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Wanderlust Rainforest & Reef
I am currently enjoying the warm sunshine of Far North Queensland and have been taking my girls to explore the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef, two of the most iconic natural wonders in Australia, if not the world! So while I satiate my Wanderlust for Rainforest & Reef let's share some more travel stories.
Have you visited Far North Queensland's Rainforest & Reef?
Are you enjoying a holiday somewhere right now?
Join in this weeks #WednesdayWanderlust Link Party with a Photo or Post
Please only link up one travel post or photo per week.
Please visit a couple of your fellow linkers and show some support.
Share and let everyone know about the link party.
Follow me so you don't miss out each week.
You don't have to, but it would be nice if you linked back with the link button below or even just a text link.


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We've all been there – when a legal job interview veers from softball questions to the Inquisition-type gotcha questions that we dread. Be prepared, and also make sure you are up to speed on other tips that can help you land an in-house counsel job:
"'Why should we hire you?' 'How are you doing academically?' 'What are your greatest weaknesses?' These gotcha-type questions are famous for stopping some job interviewees dead in their tracks, their mouths agape and minds furiously brainstorming a good answer. Provide a good answer, and your chances of landing the job increase. Give a poor answer…well, it's back to the job search. The key to acing gotcha questions is preparation. You should think about the types of gotcha questions that you'll be asked and carefully prepare a response that you can give in an unscripted manner to the hiring manager. Here are a few challenging interview questions and strategies on how to answer them without breaking a sweat…"
Read: How to Answer "Gotcha" Questions in a Legal Job Interview at Vault


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San Francisco, Oakland Bay area, is filled with graffiti prints that affect the beauty of the city and your business. It poses a serious impact on the legitimacy and authority of the business as it can damage the professional appeal of your establishment. As a result, there is a possibility that you will lose the respect and the loyalty of your consumers. Fortunately, Professional Power Washing and Maintenance provide a solution to these annoying problems. With our graffiti removal service, we can guarantee that we will successfully eradicate these graffiti down to their tiniest details.
The Benefits of Hiring the Graffiti Removal Service of Professional Power Washing and Maintenance
It is very critical to remove this graffiti as soon as possible. Every minute that it stays on your property creates a significant impact on the reputation of your business as well as drastically reduces the ability to remove 100%. A wall with graffiti also invites these youngsters to also create their own print on the wall. They can easily assume that it is a nice place to write their own print.
Graffiti Removal Service Contributes to a Clean-Looking City
With the help of the graffiti removal service of Professional Power Washing and Maintenance, you can contribute in maintaining the beauty of San Francisco, Oakland Bay area. Imagine the Oakland Bay where all the graffiti in the walls have been removed and only walls that have been clearly painted remains. A clean wall creates a better mood and it is aesthetically pleasing to the eye. We can provide an expert service that will not ruin the authentic luster of the walls. We have the right equipment & experience to clean the different types of walls, from limestone, brick walls to concrete.
Have an Access to the Professional Service
In the event that you decided to take care of the graffiti on your own, you will realize that it is tough to get rid of the paint completely. Using cleaning solutions rarely do their job and may damage the original color of the wall. That is why it is essential to seek the help of a graffiti removal service of Professional Power Washing and Maintenance. Aside from a thorough cleaning of the wall, you will also receive professional advice such as the paint you should use to avoid the negative impact of the graffiti on our professional.
Save Time
For people who are running their own business, they have no adequate time to waste on cleaning the graffiti. The graffiti removal service of Professional Power Washing and Maintenance will take care of the complex job for you allowing you to focus on managing your business.
With our years of experience in providing our graffiti removal service, we can guarantee that we will be able to get rid of the annoying graffiti in an instant. We have the right cleaning solution and equipment to keep the quality of your paint and wall intact. We offer these various benefits to you for a very reasonable charge. Call our hotline right now and let us take that burden away from you.
Service Area
San Ramon, Danville,Walnut, Creek, Alamo, Dublin.


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Listings in Talent Buying, Social Media, Consultants and Family & Community
California Women for Agriculture
PO Box 382
Indio, CA
California Foundation on Aging
73 Colgage Drive
Rancho Mirage, CA
California Desert Association of Realtors
in Family & Community, Associations
The California Desert Association of REALTORS® is the trusted source for real estate and the protection of private property rights.
44475 Monterey Avenue
Palm Desert, CA
(760) 346-5637
Fax: (760) 568-3779
Bob Hope USO Palm Springs
Throughout our country's history, Americans have felt profound appreciation and gratitude for the dedication and sacrifice of our troops and their families. The USO provides a tangible way for all of us to say thank you, as it has for 70 years.
210 N. El Cielo, Suite 102
Palm Springs, CA
Bargains Thrift Shop Inc.
Our mission is to send kids to camp for a safe, nurturing, life changing experience and to serve our community by partnering with organizations in a shared commitment of values and purpose.
77932 Country Club Drive, Suite 2-1
Palm Desert, CA
Associates at Idyllwild Arts Foundation
PO Box 303
Idyllwild, CA
84573 Anchora Way
Indio, CA
Queen Bee Fundraising
in Consultants
Successful Fundraising Events Start Here
23801 Calabasas Road Suie 2031
Calabasas, CA
Aurora Philanthropic
in Consultants, Cause Marketing
2550 Rosemont Avenue
Ardmore, PA
(610) 517-1681
Fax: (610) 642-3425
Strategic Philanthropy Ltd
in Consultants
At Strategic Philanthropy, Ltd., we believe that truly effective philanthropy is a partnership, and the impact- the social return on charitable investments- is driven by transparency, best practices, knowledge and creativity.
1700 W. Irving Park Road
Chicago, IL


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Maybe you secretly love the planet. With a bit of introspection, you could discover that you're a closet tree hugger. That's cool, we don't judge. But if the fear of coming out has prevented you from getting in on the electric bike bandwagon, with their proudly bland aesthetics that purposely scream "Look at my eco-conscious getup!", then perhaps the Marrs M-1 could change all that. It's an electric bike that combines the lines and handlebars of a 1920's Harley Davidson, with the geometry and general allure of a cruiser. We dig it, big time. It offers a 20 mile range with speeds that are electronically limited to 20mph, by law. "The bike [also] features a 48V lithium battery, brushless DC rear hub motor, hydraulic disc brake, air cooled battery box, 3-piece crank case, as well as motorcycle quality wheels, tires, hubs, controls, seat, and grips."
Sadly, like anything pretty, so is the price tag: $7,500. They should be available later this year.
[ Product Page ] VIA [ Gadizmo ]


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MLK Day Potluck with Reading of Letter from Birmingham Jail & Selma movie viewing
Sponsor(s): Graduate Christian Fellowship (GCF)
Monday, January 20, 2020
5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Effective March 10, 2020, all Duke-sponsored events over 50 people have been cancelled, rescheduled, postponed or virtualized.
Please check with the event contact regarding event status. For more information, please see https://coronavirus.duke.edu/events


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Happy New Year!
{image via}
Hope you ring in the new year both gorgeous & glam! Happy 2013!
Here are some interiors that are both gorgeous and glam!
For more inspiration, follow me on Pinterest.
Interior designer based in Los Angeles and Orange County, California. Specializing in commercial and residential interior design.


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Sometimes while researching genealogical roots of various individuals, I stumble upon an unexpected example that shows the atmosphere of a historical era. That's how I found this yewel! 🙂
During the first half of the 20th century it wasn't uncommon for a husband, as the head of the family, to leave Croatia and go earn a living in a different country, usually to the USA. In this particular case the husband left, but his wife Rozalija stayed at home and didin't go with him (which wasn't strange). However, during her husband's stay in America, Rozalija found comfort in the warm embrace of her neighbour Petar and had a baby with him. How the story unfolded after that the records don't show 🙂
The text reads: " Ovo diete rodilo se u odsutnosti muža Rozalije, koji već više godina boravi u Americi te navodi da je otac ovom djetetu Petar B….." (This baby was born in the absence of Rozalija's husband, who has been living in America for years. and she states that the father of this baby is Petar B…)


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Renovation of a specific historic house where an oblique hole serves as an empty pivot that organizes life..
Jette, 2018, private client
The garden -royal to Brussels standards- is one floor lower. Instead of connecting to the living floor of the bel-etage house, she connects cleanly with the basement level. With the previous homeowners this was apparently not experienced as an obstacle, moreover, there were added even some more structures between the garden and the historic house, which ensures that the garden and the house have nothing to do with each other. The house needs some reorganization, with an eye for more quality of life and more practical added value of the available space. The garden and the house need to get acquainted again. Old friends from long ago.
Sometimes you can solve something better with a hole rather than with mass. It must be a good hole. An opening in the floor is made in the rear space of the entrance level. Basement and living floor get into contact, literally, there is a staircase in the hole, so we are quickly down and quickly at the garden. The hole makes some space by being slanted. This allows the window in the rear wall to become a door so that we end up on a raised terrace. The slanted line continues into an office pavilion that is a bit separated from the other rooms, but not so much. An additional hole is made in the vicinity of this zone, in the wall this time, so that the existing staircase is involved in the new circulation. There is also a cooking island under the hole. The kitchen, with a play and dining area on the garden side. At the front of the basement: practical matters, such as a window through which you enter your bike.
The home and the garden have found each other again; through a slanting hole in the floor, which allows a number of experiences around it as an empty spindle; the swing squeaks at the back of the garden, someone jumps from it and now runs to the house. The cake is being cut.
vue from living room
vue from kitchen


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Not making Progress? Don't quit!
So, we are well into the new year of 2017 and most people would have made the pledge to make 2017 the year to hit their fitness goals, most of those goals being to lose weight. However, it is also this time of year where people start to quit as they feel they are not seeing the results they had hoped for. If you're one of these people, don't throw in the towel just yet, read on and consider some of these factors first.
- Be very honest with yourself, have you stuck to your training routine? It is easy to start falling into the habit of just missing one training session a week, but then maybe it's two? Before you know it you aren't putting in the work you should be to create the deficit needed to lose weight, therefore you stop making progress. Start to be more mindful, instead of making excuses to skip sessions, think about how you can fit them in and start to prioritise your training again. Perhaps mark down on a calendar training sessions you actually did do to hold yourself accountable or even consider having a PT or attending group training if you're starting to lack motivation.
- Ok so your training might be spot on but how about your nutrition? As I have pointed out in a previous blog, it is ok to enjoy the odd piece of chocolate or even the odd off plan meal once in a while, as long as you have been consistent with your nutrition for the majority of the time. You can surprisingly counterbalance all that hard work training with eating badly, and the result of counterbalancing this hard with unmindful eating? A halt in weight loss. If this is the case, then it is simply a matter of refocusing and sticking to your nutrition plan, batching cooking and planning what you are going to eat ahead will help you achieve this.
- On the other hand, maybe you are going too hard too fast? Sometimes we can get into the mind set of more is better, so slash the calories down a lot and up the exercise to pushing your limits will make you lose weight right? Well yes, but not for long! Whilst this approach will make you lose A LOT of weight to begin with, it is not sustainable to dive into the deep end and your body will adapt quickly to make sure you don't continue to lose weight so drastically. In a nut shell, go too hard too soon you will mentally and physically burn out and your body will start to slow down meaning weight loss will stall. Although it may be attempting to eat a little less and do more than your PT or coach suggests, slow and steady will always win the race (I have a blog explaining this in more detail). By suggesting that you take things slow and steady, your PT/coach is actually looking after your health optimally.
- Speaking of slow and steady this leads into my next point. You ARE making progress, but not quick enough, so you feel like quitting. If I had an actual pound for every time someone said "…but I've only lost a pound this week" I'll be booking a luxury holiday right now! One pound IS PROGRESS, in fact 1 pound a week is great progress as it is at a healthy and steady rate. Sometimes we are not patient enough and although you might not see one pound difference straight away, 3 months later that is a 12 pound difference, almost a stone! So, do have the mind set of progress is progress, no matter how big or small it is.
- Lastly, you may need to consider different ways to track your progress other than the scales. Although using scales can be a great indication at first, building lean muscle tissue whilst loosing fat can start to stall the number on the scales, the solution? Take weekly photos, measurements with a tape and even see how your clothes are starting to fit. You'll be surprised looking back at old photos when you think you haven't made progress.
So don't quit! Reflect and re-adjust. It may be that you aren't consistent as you thought you were with your training and nutrition or you have built some lean muscle mass which is why the scales haven't changed but your physique is actually looking leaner. If you are feeling like all hope is lost then don't hesitate to reach for help from a professional who can help.


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Middle East Eye
Russia tells Assad there is no 'military solution' for Syria
Russia has told Syrian President Bashar al-Assad that there is no "military solution" to the country's conflict, despite pro-government forces claiming victory over rebels in eastern Aleppo, according to a key Russian adviser to the United Nations' Syria envoy.
In an exclusive interview with Middle East Eye, Professor Vitaly Naumkin, the president of the Moscow-based Institute of Oriental Studies, said that Russia would continue to press Assad to accept a coalition government that would include members of the opposition. He did not specify which "opposition" groups he was referring to.
He also said he believed that Assad was more likely to make concessions at the next round of peace talks as a result of the recapture of formerly rebel-held territory in Syria's largest city.
"I hope Assad will not be reluctant but more responsive to pressure from his own constituency, from the people of Syria who are divided – there are a lot of loyalists and there are opponents – as well as more responsive to the pressures of his partners and accept a political process," Naumkin told MEE.
Naumkin is one of four senior political advisers to UN envoy Staffan de Mistura, who has been trying to mediate between the war's many players since July 2014.
Russia, along with the US, is a co-chair of the International Syria Support Group, a working group of nations and global organisations seeking a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
He rejected the view, suggested by some analysts, that the pro-government forces' victory over rebel forces in eastern Aleppo would harden Assad's position and tempt him to try to retake every area held by opposition fighters.
"On the contrary," he said. "First of all, Assad is obliged to his partners, including Russia which has been supporting him in his victory.
"Number two: In my view he understands that without some reforms and without some change, he cannot succeed in establishing control over the whole country and hold it and neutralise the opposition. So he has to make concessions. Russia is telling him that there is no military solution."
After the recapture by pro-government forces of eastern Aleppo, the main task now was to move towards direct talks without preconditions in Geneva between Assad's representatives and the opposition, Naumkin said.
Two earlier rounds of "proximity" talks, in which mediators met the rival delegations separately, had made no progress after the Western- and Saudi-backed High Negotiating Council had insisted on Assad's resignation.
"The HNC was a spoiler," Naumkin told MEE. "Their role was to spoil any talks until [Hillary] Clinton came in and armed [the rebels] with sophisticated weapons."
Clinton, the former US secretary of state, was defeated by Donald Trump in last month's US presidental election.
This was positive, Naumkin said, "if he [Trump] sticks to his campaign promises to improve relations with Russia and consider fighting terrorism, including in Syria, as his main file".
"There is some hope that Trump will be active in pressing the opposition to join negotiations with the government without preconditions."
Western media and politicians routinely describe Russia as treating all Assad's opponents as "terrorists". But Naumkin says this is inaccurate.
According to him, the core of Syria's conflict is a civil war between Syrians, a position mirrored in the Russian press, which describes the anti-Assad forces in Aleppo not as terrorists but as "illegal armed groups," "the armed opposition" or simply as "fighters".
Naumkin said one obstacle to constructive talks was the fact that the HNC did not represent all of the groups involved in fighting on the ground, notably the Islamic State (IS) group and the Nusra Front, which are both widely recognised internationally as terrorist groups.
Nusra Front, which has operated alongside other opposition groups in rebel-held areas, changed its name earlier this year to Jabhat Fateh al-Sham and said that it had cut its previous ties with al-Qaeda.
But Naumkin said talks could take place even if IS and Nusra carried on fighting, suggesting that there were many examples in history of peace talks between governments and armed groups without a full nationwide cessation of hostilities.
"What happened in Palmyra demonstrates that the Syrian army should be ready for more battles," Naumkin said, referring to the ancient desert city in central Syria which was recaptured by IS from government control earlier this month.
Asked why the Syrian government was allowing rebel fighters to be transported freely to another opposition-held area in Idlib province, he said: "They're doing it under international pressure and trying to avoid more civilian casualties."
Naumkin accused Nusra-aligned fighters of using civilians as human shields and of using schools and hospitals to store weapons and ammunition in eastern Aleppo.
"They were forcing people to fight. They were forcing people to live under them," he said.
The UN's commission of inquiry on Wednesday noted allegations that fighters from "terrorist" groups Nusra and Ahrar al-Sham were "preventing civilians from leaving," as well as opposition fighters embedding themselves within the civilian population, thus heightening the risk to civilians of being killed or injured.
However, Russia and Syria stand accused of deliberately bombing hospitals and civilian areas in eastern Aleppo and of targeting the White Helmet rescue volunteers, resulting in wounded victims of air strikes and artillery fire being left trapped under rubble, according to sources in eastern Aleppo.
'Yes, it happens unfortunately… There are inevitably victims' – Naumkin on civilian deaths in Aleppo
Zeid Raad al-Hussein, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said the Syrian government and its allies subjected the people of eastern Aleppo to "terror and slaughter" amounting to war crimes.
"The UN Human Rights Office has received credible reports of scores of civilians being killed – either by intense bombardment or summary execution by pro-government forces. Dozens of bodies reportedly litter the streets of a number of east Aleppo neighbourhoods," Hussein's office said in a statement.
Naumkin said of the killing of civilians: "Yes, it happens, unfortunately… There are inevitably victims, but the Syrian government, pressed by Russia, agreed to let them go to Idlib. There will be a big concentration of Nusra [fighters] which is alarming."
Naumkin also drew comparison between the assault on eastern Aleppo and the ongoing assault by Iraqi government forces, Kurdish peshmerga fighters, Shia militias and a US-led international coalition on the IS-held northern Iraqi city of Mosul.
"Nobody is speaking about civilians killed in Mosul. I don't know where more civilians have been killed in recent weeks, in Mosul or Aleppo," he said.
Naumkin said much would depend on Turkey, whose President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repaired diplomatic ties with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin since Ankara and Moscow fell out over the Turkish downing of a Russian fighter jet near the Syrian border in November 2015.
Turkey has been a longstanding supporter of opposition rebel groups in Syria and has called for Assad to relinquish power.
But Naumkin described this as part of the "information war" against Syria and alleged that Ankara was softening its stance on Assad, while hardening its policy against the Kurdish YPG, which controls substantial territory in Syria and is seen by Turkey as an ally of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
Naumkin said this posed problems for the US, which is backing the YPG in the fight against IS, but also a NATO ally of Turkey.
Russia was ready to help find an agreement between the Syrian Kurds and Turkey in which each side would recognise red lines, Naumkin said.
The Syrian Kurds should accept that Turkey would not accept a Kurdish-dominated belt all along Syria's northern border with Turkey. The Turks in return should respect Syria's sovereignty and not expand their intervention inside Syria.
Some Russian officials have floated the idea of supporting federalism in a new Syrian constitution.
Naumkin said this was "totally rejected by the Syrian government".
But he added: "Public opinion in Russia thinks there should be some sort of decentralisation. It's a very fragmented society and there should be some compromise, not into ethnically based regions but to protect the rights of minorities everywhere.
"Ba'athist policy is based on Arabism and one Arab nation in Syria, but the minorities want more guarantees."
His studies in history and background in the media industry have given him a keen insight into the use of mass media as a creator of conflict in the modern world.
His favored areas of study include state-sponsored terrorism, media manufactured reality and the role of intelligence services in manipulation of populations and the perception of events.
Due to the nature of independent content, VT cannot guarantee content validity.
We ask you to Read Our Content Policy so a clear comprehension of VT's independent non-censored media is understood and given its proper place in the world of news, opinion and media.
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Sugar Coating
After we got Sugar last year, we did some quick little fixes here and there. Removed the rear metal bumper, re-built the entire door, and re-built the dinette table. We just didn't have the time to dedicate all of our free time (What is 'free time'? We have kids.) to fixing Sugar up right after… Continue reading Sugar Coating


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JDK Audio V12 - Compressor - 500-Series Module - API (Formerly Arsenal Audio)
by JDK Audio
Save Liquid error (product-badge line 32): -Infinity%
£639.00 inc. vat
£532.50 ex. vat
£532.50 ex. vat
Usually Ships in 1-3 Business Days.
JDK Audio V12 - Compressor - 500-Series Module - API (Formerly Arsenal Audio)
The JDK Audio V12 is a 500 series compressor module featuring a single channel of API's patented award winning circuitry originally designed for the ATI Paragon mixing consoles. The JDK Audio V12 also features API's patented THRUST circuit which helps protect the high frequencies when using heavy compression.
The V12 compressor is easy to use with simple threshold, ratio and gain knobs and switches to change the knee, thrust toggle, bypass and stereo link. Individual LED meters indicate the amount of gain reduction and output so both can be monitored simultaneously unlike many other compressors where the meter alternates between the two.
JDK Audio V12 Compressor Features:
- Patented THRUST circuit
- Variable Threshold, Ratio, and Make-up Gain controls
- Individual metering of output level and gain reduction
- Above threshold LED indication
- Switchable Hard or Soft Knee compression
- Switchable In or Bypass mode
- Linkable for stereo operation with true RMS power summing
- Fully balanced XLR input and output.


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About us
The mission of VCU's Office of Development and Alumni Relations is to maximize philanthropic support by engaging stakeholders with our institution working in partnership with all VCU schools, programs and campuses as one development and alumni relations community and implementing the best practices and efficient strategies to achieve a comprehensive development program.
Office of Development and Alumni Relations Leadership Team
|Jay E. Davenport [View Image]
|Jay E. Davenport, CFRE, vice president of development and alumni relations (Jay's bio)
|Magnus Johnsson 2015 [View Image]
|Magnus Johnsson (M.P.A.'10/GPA; Cert.'10/GPA), senior associate vice president for development (Magnus' bio)
|Samantha Marrs April 2016 [View Image]
|Samantha Wheeler Marrs, senior associate vice president for development operations (Samantha's bio)
|Henry Davis September 2014 [View Image]
|Henry Davis III, director of finance and budget (Henry's bio)
|Laura Kottkamp April 2016 [View Image]
|Laura Kottkamp, executive director, School of Business Foundation & Corporate Relations and executive director, VCU Foundation
|Philip L. O'Connor [View Image]
|Philip L. O'Connor, executive director, College of Engineering Foundation and Corporate Relations
|Margaret Ann Bollmeier CORRECT April 2016 [View Image]
|Margaret Ann Bollmeier, president, MCV Foundation
Departments within the Office of Development and Alumni Relations
The Office of Development and Alumni Relations provides all VCU development offices in schools and units with central services.
Office of the Vice President
Led by Jay E. Davenport, the Office of the Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations provides the leadership and specialized knowledge necessary to promote and expand private gift support.
Annual Giving
The Office of Annual Giving cultivates annual giving to the university through increased participation by alumni and friends. The office assists academic and nonacademic units with their annual fundraising to increase gift support for the university. At VCU, annual giving includes gifts of less than $50,000 given by alumni and friends on a regular basis. Meet the Annual Giving staff.
Advancement Services
Advancement Services provides support to all development and alumni relations efforts universitywide through the following areas: Gifts and Records Management, Development Research and Prospect Management and IT, Online Services and Reporting.
- Gifts and Records Management provides consistent, timely and accurate depositing and recording of revenue transactions to VCU and its affiliated foundations. Gifts and Records Management ensures that gifts are receipted within IRS guidelines and that accurate and timely pledge reminders are sent. Gifts and Records management is also responsible for effectively maintaining VCU's constituent records database.
- Development Research and Prospect Management provides relevant, timely and actionable intelligence and management support to the development community at VCU. The core functions of the office are prospect identification, prospect/donor research and reporting, portfolio support, moves management, and prospect strategy.
- IT office provides end-user support for DAR applications to all users involved in fundraising and alumni activities at VCU.
- The Online and Reporting Services team assists in developing ad-hoc reports, online giving forms, event registration forms, electronic communications, web sites, application development, vendor and data integrations, and other internal application development.
- Meet the Advancement Services staff.
Alumni Relations
Alumni Relations, through VCU Alumni and its constituent organizations, nurtures lifelong relationships with and among current and future VCU alumni. As a committed partner of the university, VCU Alumni offers valuable benefits and programs for alumni and creates support for VCU. Meet the Alumni Relations staff.
Corporate and Foundation Relations
The Corporate and Foundation Relations office secures private support for university priorities by fostering relationships with corporations, foundations and other philanthropic organizations. Meet the Corporate and Foundation Relations staff.
DAR Communications
DAR Communications develops and implements comprehensive, strategic communications that engage alumni and donors and increase participation through giving. Meet the DAR Communications staff.
Donor Relations
The Donor Relations office inform donors about the ways their gifts are being used, involves them in the life of the university and thanks them for their contributions in distinctive, visible and memorable ways. Meet the Donor Relations staff.
Gift Planning
The Office of Gift Planning exists to support develop staff and to assist alumni and friends of the university as they consider the impact they would like to make at VCU and how best to achieve those philanthropic goals in a tax wise manor through current gifts, planned gifts and estate gifts.
Regional Giving
The Office of Regional Giving exists to increase contact and major donor activity in strategic regions outside of Richmond, Virginia. The office is dedicated to supporting the fundraising goals of the Office of Development and Alumni Relations. Meet the Office of Regional Giving staff.
The Office of Gift Planning exists to support develop staff and to assist alumni and friends of the university as they consider the impact they would like to make at VCU and how best to achieve those philanthropic goals in a tax wise manor through current gifts, planned gifts and estate gifts. Meet the staff.


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Anxiously awaiting for the cold to break drives me crazy every January. The cabin fever resulting from being indoors gives me a chance to plan and plot for the coming year's garden. It also makes me horribly anxious to get planting. So anxious, I felt it wouldn't hurt to get a jump start on some herbs. Things I can grow in pots on my windowsill. The herbs have sprouted and with them my hopes for the garden.
This is the month to plant cole crops if you want to push the season, but the best plant in my opinion is Mustard. Mustard is an amazing plant to me. I get giant leaves and after it goes to seed, I find mustard growing in every nook and cranny around the yard by fall. I have some in a pot on my porch that have survived the cold of winter. I noticed one yesterday in the cracks in my brick sidewalk. So easy to grow and excellent for cold weather. Tasty too.
Mustard can be harvested young for salad greens, or for sauteing or stewing. Large leaves should be cooked in a good stock or with a ham bone. Flowers can be used as edible garnish. The seed can be ground to make your own homemade mustard.
Plant mustard in flats or in rows 1/8th inch deep. Mustard will last quite a while before bolting in cold weather. In warm weather, it can bolt in as little as 30 days.
- Black Mustard Greens
- Southern Giant Curled
- Chinese Mustard
- Jio Taou Niao
- Tainong Emperor Heading
- Garnet Giant
- Golden Frill
- Golden Streak
- Jeok Gat
- Ruby Streak
- Wasabina
- Chirimen Hakarashi
- Miike Giant
- Osaka Purple
- Red Giant
- Yanagawa Takana
- Gai Choi
- Serifon
- Hatakena
This is by no means a complete list, but it should be enough to send your imagination soaring. I tried not to include hybrids, please forgive me if I did. Kitazawa Seed Company seems to have the biggest selection of greens out there.
If you want to try something different, make your own mustard. There are many recipes out there for mustard sauce. I have had a lot of luck with this one that I redacted several years ago for a food festival. Amounts of everything are really flexible. If you want to start with the ground mustard seed and experiment with the amounts of other ingredients you will probably find interesting combinations that suit your pallet more than this one.
Medieval Mustard
- 1/2 C Mustard Seed
- 1 TBS honey
- 1/4 C red wine
- 1/4 C vinegar
- more wine as desired
Toast mustard seed in a dry cast iron skillet until it begins to pop. Grind it in a mortar. Add honey, wine and vinegar to make a thick paste. Thin as desired with more wine. If you prefer a sweeter mustard, add more honey. Substitute vinegar and wine as desired to alter flavor.
(Based on recipe in "The Forme of Cury" ca. 1390 Lumbard Mustard)


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Ordnance Survey launches OS Road maps in UK
Ordnance Survey's road map series OS Road returns this month after a seven-year hiatus.
The eight map sheets covering the whole of Great Britain are back and with a new twist that is aimed at helping tourists see even more of Britain.
For the first time the road maps, which also have a new look and design to their predecessors, will show designated beaches and National Parks visitor centres.
They are also OS's first maps to include the appearance of the Forth Road Bridge.
Nick Giles, managing director of Ordnance Survey Leisure, said: "Sat-navs and digital mapping are fantastic for getting road users from A to B, but they can be very restrictive when it comes to more leisurely driving and discovering something new.
"Since we last published OS Road, we have had a constant stream of customers telling us that the beauty of the road map is in laying it out on the table to study and plan with.
"At a glance, information and new places to explore leap out.
"The maps make you very curious to learn about this country and see more of it. So due to the overwhelming interest to see them return, we decided the time was right to bring these handy glovebox-sized maps back."
Since 2009 the number of A and primary roads and motorways in Britain has gone down, but the actual length of these roads has increased by 174 miles to
49,674 miles.
The entire length of Britain's road network is 215,940 miles.
If you travelled at an average speed of 40mph, it would take 224 and a half days to drive every road in Great Britain.
Take a look below to find out more:


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Some Simple SEO Tips
Search engine optimization (SEO) is something you've likely heard about before. It can help you attract organic (unpaid) traffic to your website. There is a lot more to SEO than keywords to learn about. This post is not comprehensive; but it will give you the meat of what SEO is, the different types of SEO, what it does, and how to do it. Now to the simple SEO tips you need as an online entrepreneur…
On Page SEO
Essentially on-page SEO is any SEO that you do directly on each page of your website and it all starts with content. But, it also includes architecture, and the actual code within your website.
Anything you put on your website that disseminates information to your audience is content. Posts, articles, memes, images, and graphics – all of it is content. You want to have a variety of different types of content for maximum SEO value.
- Quality vs. Quantity – While it's true that you want to put up a lot of content for your audience it's more important for the content to be of high quality. You do want to put up content more often than monthly but you don't need to put up several things each day if it will compromise the quality of the information you put up for your audience.
- Keyword Research – Many people choose not to do keyword research but if you do it, you'll waste less time creating content that doesn't get results and end up with more time to create awesome content that does get results.
- Use Words Strategically – Try to figure out what type of power words make your audience feel something and want to do something. There are general power words that you can use such as "devastating blow" or "majestic views" or something that gets their attention and makes them feel.
- Hot Topics, Updated, and Fresh – A great way to make use of the time you have to create content is to focus on hot topics and trends of the day. Keep the content updated and fresh by using headlines of the day to evoke curiosity. Warning: Don't try to trick your readers with clickbait. It only works a few times then it stops working and you've lost something important: Trust.
- Horizontal & Vertical –You want a combination of both types of content. Think of it this way, horizontal content that covers everything on your website is full of content on all pages like your "about" page, or home page and is consistent throughout. Vertical content concerns itself with a specific topic and goes across all channels and how they work to improve your website. This is discussed more full in an article entitled "Are Vertical and Horizontal Content Strategies Still Relevant?" The two content strategies are described by as:
Horizontal Content Strategy
This strategy focuses on a holistic approach. It covers "meet the team" pages to descriptions on product pages to contacts, community comments, blog posts, and everything in between. With this type of strategy, you're always thinking about how one page (or one area of content) is working to help your overarching content goals or general business goal. This means analyzing how content works together as well as individually. This is probably the most common approach used by ecommerce companies.
Vertical Content Strategy
While this strategy also thinks big-picture (what strategy doesn't?), it does put a heavier focus on one specific content aspect—a section, a topic, a type of content, a piece of content, etc.—at a time. This means taking one of these aspects of content and figuring out how it works best across different platforms or with different audiences. This is what many marketing and PR pros think about when they think about content strategy.
- Provide Solutions – Your content also should seek to provide solutions for your audience. They want you to help them solve their problems. They should be able to solve some of their problems without buying anything and your content can fulfill that need.
- Authoritative – Longer more in-depth content such as long blog posts, white papers, and articles as well as guides can help people and search engines know that your site is serious and that you are there to help your audience. I recently created a Focus Guide that is almost seven thousand words in length, and this can most definitely be considered as authoritative content.
When it comes to content and SEO you have a lot of ways that you can improve your content by using good SEO practices such as using keywords within the first paragraph, the title, subheadings and headings as well as anchor text. It is my hope that these simple SEO tips will be helpful in your business. What are your thoughts on this topic?


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Over at NPR, my old buddy Eyder Peralta has an interesting blog post on the slash, as in /.
Apparently, according to Anne Curzan, "slash" has entered the language as a conjunction. Frankly, I've heard it in speech for at least 15 years.
Here's a bit from Curzan's piec in Ligua Franca:
Let me explain. Lots of us use the slash (/) in writing to capture two or more descriptions of the same thing, with a meaning something like "or," "and," or "and/or"—e.g., "my sister/best friend" or "request/require." The slash typically separates two things that are the same part of speech or parallel grammatically; and we can say that slash out loud if needed: "my sister slash best friend."
Now I wouldn't write that phrase down that way, with the slash spelled out, but students tell me they now often do. A student kindly sent me some real examples from her Facebook chat (shared with her permission):
1. Does anyone care if my cousin comes and visits slash stays with us Friday night?
2. I have been asking everyone I know in the Chicago area if they're going slash if they'd willing [sic] to let me tag along slash show me around because frankly I'd have no idea how to get around Chicago on my own
Here's a post from 2010 from those adorkable scamps at language Log.
There is no catch. Slash is a coordinator. But it isn't so blatantly obvious, for at least two reasons, the first being that some people were wildly wrong about it. But more seriously, there is an alternative: slash could be at first sight be a preposition. Prepositions (unlike nouns or adjectives) can stand between nouns: must have study near guest bedroom; corkscrew with bottle opener, etc. So it is at least conceivable that preposition might be the right answer, and Chris gave no arguments against that.


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Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Latin for
"Who watches the Watchmen?"
- What do you do when those charged with the defense of the Republic are the very ones trying to destroy the Republic?
- The FBI-NSA-CIA Complex is the new American KGB. Your every move, text or email is being watched and recorded 24 hours a day by Big Brother.
(Daily Caller) - Even as a new Rasmussen poll shows a majority of voters believe senior law enforcement officials broke the law to stop Trump from beating Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election, rank-and-file FBI agents who want to testify against their superiors to Congress feel they can't due to an ineffective whistleblower protection law.
These agents believe the sluggishness of the law exposes them to an inordinate risk of reprisal, so they have remained in hiding and afraid to speak the truth.
This story is based on interview transcripts with two FBI agents that one former White House official provided The Daily Caller. A third Special Agent also reached out to TheDC to provide information about the current state of the Bureau.
|"We know what happens when one lies to the FBI. But what is the punishment when the FBI lies to us?"
Matt Drudge
The former White House official who maintained direct contact with at least two agents told TheDC they are "hunkering down because they see good people being thrown to the dogs for speaking out and speaking out does nothing to solve the problems." He believes that "Congress and DOJ are so weak and clueless and can't be trusted to follow through."
According to transcripts he shared with TheDC, one special agent said, "It's a question of basic credibility — Congress, the executive, and oversight are not seen to have any gravitas or seriousness. The inmates have been running the asylum and they don't respect, much less fear, their overseers. We know we'll be hung out to dry."
The agent added, "And don't get me wrong, there are still a few good people scattered about, but main Justice and the bureaucrats are running the show, want to run out the clock on this administration, and keep the status quo."
Another special agent, when asked about being subpoenaed, said, "This is a great opportunity for senior or [soon to be retiring] guys, not for someone like me. It'd be suicide. I hate to say it, but neither the judiciary nor the executive branch is wielding any kind of effective oversight right now, and the top managers know it."
He continued, "You still have a ton of bad people in place. Unless that changes, and I haven't seen any degree of seriousness on the part of ranking members nor staffers, I'm not meeting with anyone nor willing to be subpoenaed. I'm not coming forward until they get their act together. Right now, it'd be sacrificing a career for cheap political points."
TheDC has learned that the bureau has already warned agents that the agency will come back viciously against all those "behind destroying their narrative, and will go after their families and friends, too."Read More . . . .


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A jury this week awarded Microsoft almost $15 million in damages in a dispute with Motorola Mobility.
The dispute concerns the licensing of standard-essential patents held by Motorola Mobility, now owned by Google. Motorola Mobility had sought 2.25 percent of Microsoft Xbox sales to license its intellectual property associated with the 802.11 Wi-Fi standard, as well as the H.264 video codec standard.
Standard-essential patents are supposed to be licensed under "fair, reasonable and nondiscriminatory" (FRAND) terms. Those terms aren't set in stone, but standard-essential patents do get established via various standards bodies. The idea is that companies can use the technology by paying a royalty that's considered "fair," although the amount isn't typically specified. In this case, a jury in the U.S. District Court in Seattle unanimously decided that Motorola Mobility had breached its IEEE and ITU contractual commitments, according to an account by The Seattle Times, as well as the jury verdict (PDF).
The award to Microsoft consists of $3 million in legal costs plus $11.5 million for Microsoft's costs in relocating a product distribution center from Germany. Microsoft relocated the distribution center after receiving an injunction in German courts against selling products that used Motorola Mobility's standard-essential patents.
Microsoft had claimed that the 2.25 percent royalty on Xbox sales sought by Motorola Mobility would have amounted to $4 billion in payments per year. In an earlier phase of the trial Judge James L. Robart had tried to estimate the royalty rate. Based on that reformulation, Microsoft estimated that the royalty rate actually should have amounted to $1.8 million per year, according to The Seattle Times.
A statement from a Motorola Mobility spokesperson suggested that the company might appeal the award.
"We're disappointed in this outcome but look forward to an appeal of the novel legal issues raised in this case," stated Motorola Mobility spokesman William Moss.
About the Author
Kurt Mackie is senior news producer for 1105 Media's Converge360 group.
Microsoft announced that its Surface Duo pocket-sized device can now be preordered, but just by U.S. users.
Microsoft released August security patches on Tuesday, addressing 120 common vulnerabilities and exposures.
Microsoft announced this week that's it's now possible for Office 365 users to import table data from Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) files into the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet program.
IT pros are working long hours right now to keep their organizations afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic. But that shouldn't be the expectation once the crisis passes.
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The best-selling author of Stiff and Bonk explores the irresistibly strange universe of space travel and life without gravity.Space is a world devoid of the things we need to live and thrive: air, gravity, hot showers, fresh produce, privacy, beer. Space exploration is in some ways an exploration of what it means to be human. How much can a person give up? How much weirdness can they take? What happens to you when you can't walk for a year? have sex? smell flowers? What happens if you vomit in your helmet during a space walk? Is it possible for the human body to survive a bailout at 17,000 miles per hour? To answer these questions, space agencies set up all manner of quizzical and startlingly bizarre space simulations. As Mary Roach discovers, it's possible to preview space without ever leaving Earth. From the space shuttle training toilet to a crash test of NASA's new space capsule (cadaver filling in for astronaut), Roach takes us on a surreally entertaining trip into the science of life in space and space on Earth.
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Mary Roach is the author of the New York Times bestsellers STIFF: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers; GULP: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal, PACKING FOR MARS: The Curious Science of Life in the Void; and BONK: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex.
Her most recent book, GRUNT: The Curious Science of Humans at War, is out in June 2016.
Mary has written for National Geographic, Wired, Discover, New Scientist, the Journal of Clinical Anatomy, and Outside, among others. She serves as a member of the Mars Institute's Advisory Board and the Usage Panel of American Heritage Dictionary. Her 2009 TED talk made the organization's 2011 Twenty Most-Watched To Date list. She was the guest editor of the 2011 Best American Science and Nature Writing, a finalist for the 2014 Royal Society Winton Prize, and a winner of the American Engineering Societies' Engineering Journalism Award, in a category for which, let's be honest, she was the sole entrant.


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Christine Brodien-Jones tells us about her latest novel, The Owl Keeper, and also offers some fantastic promotion tips. Read more about her new novel at www.owlkeeper.com.
What inspired you to write your latest book?
My inspiration while writing The Owl Keeper (Delacorte Press/Random House) can be traced to all the futuristic, post-apocalyptic novels I'd read over the years, ones like On the Beach, The Chrysalids, 1984, The Drowned World, The Handmaid's Tale, The Children of Men. And I remember Stephen King reading out loud from The Stand in a class he taught at the University of Maine. Recently, it struck me that my protagonist Max's journey north to the Frozen Zone mirrors the flight of Victor Frankenstein and his monster to the Arctic Circle. I loved the book Frankenstein—and the Boris Karloff film, too.
I started writing The Owl Keeper in late 2001, after the events of September 11th. Not surprisingly, the bleakness of that time found its way into the book, which is set in a grim and hopeless future. The idea for the story began with a mysterious image of a boy standing beneath a tree in a dark forest, looking up at an owl. I kept thinking about him and wondering what he was doing there.
Other influences came from unexpected places. The oppressive government in the book, the High Echelon, is based on my experience living in Spain under the dictator Francisco Franco—while there, I always had a sense of being watched. Max's aversion to sunlight was the result of reading an article about certain children who are unable to tolerate ultraviolet light. Also I saw a strange Gothic film called The Others, about two siblings who are fatally allergic to sunlight, which stayed with me long afterwards.
How do you keep from getting distracted when you're writing?
Good question! Most days I'm up early—the best time of the day for writing. I check my emails first thing and try to restrict Internet browsing for the rest of the morning. Fortunately, I live near the ocean's edge, where the loudest sounds are seabirds, so most days it's quiet here.
When my writing is going well, or if I'm working on revisions, I'm able to focus for long periods of time. When I get stuck, I try to keep writing, maybe on a different piece of work, or on elements of my book that need more developing.
I also do yoga on a regular basis. Exercise is important (both physically and mentally) to counterbalance all those hours at the computer. Discomfort can be distracting, which I found out the hard way: sitting in a wooden chair to type did a number on my back. Now I have an ergonomic chair.
The bottom line with distractions is this: I sit at my desk and type. I keep putting words on the page, even if they're rubbish. Discipline is the key and writing is hard work. It's not always exciting or fun, and although other people can help you a lot, you're essentially on your own.
How is eBook technology changing things for you as an author?
Speaking as a children's author, I'd say eBook technology hasn't really changed things much for me so far. I write books for young readers, and whether they read the hardcover book, the paperback, or the eBook makes no difference: the main thing is that they're reading!
I think eBooks definitely have a place, especially among tweens and teens growing up in this new digital world with Kindles and Nooks. But I don't think books will become obsolete any time soon. I believe children's books especially will always be popular in book versions.
It's interesting to see what some authors are doing with eBooks: Cory Doctorow, for instance, gives away eBook versions of his books, encouraging his eBook readers to buy a print copy and give it to a school, a library or friend. And J.K. Rowling is now making the Harry Potter series available as an eBook on her interactive website Pottermore, saying she wants to "bring the stories to a new digital generation."
What else can an author do besides promoting their books on Twitter and Facebook?
In 1992, when my first book The Dreamkeepers (Simon & Schuster) came out, publishing was a totally different world: promoting books was done mainly by publicists. By contrast, today there are countless opportunities to promote your book online, so be selective and choose what works for you. And work with your publicist! Publishing companies have limited PR budgets, and publicists welcome talent, enthusiasm and book promotion suggestions.
An absolute must is creating a website to feature your book, book trailer and information about yourself. I set my site up through the Authors Guild using their Site Builder. Be sure, too, to seek out a niche for your book: what makes it unique? With The Owl Keeper I contacted local wildlife centers and combined a reading with a winter "owl walk." I also adopted a rescue owl.
Blogs are a great way to get noticed. I use WordPress; another popular one is Blogger. Blogs, however, require time and commitment—lots of it. Alternatively, contribute to a group blog. There are lots out there, ones like Smack Dab in the Middle (http://smack-dab-in-the-middle.blogspot.com/), for middle grade authors, and fantasy writers' The Enchanted Inkpot (http://enchantedinkpot.livejournal.com/).
Book trailers are a great way to showcase your book. They're fun and you don't have to pay a fortune to get one made. Look around for untapped talent. I hired a music student from Boston to make a trailer for The Owl Keeper and, as a bonus, he composed the music for it! Another option is making your video: take an Apple workshop, for instance, and learn how to use iMovie.
Connect with bloggers/reviewers who are enthusiastic about promoting authors. Be a guest blogger on Cynthia Leitich Smith's fabulous site Cynsations (http://cynthialeitichsmith.blogspot.com/), or connect with a promotion site like Authors Now! (http://www.authorsnow.com/) where they'll feature your book on their site. Blog tours are getting big: The {Teen} Book Scene (http://theteenbookscene.weebly.com/) will help you set one up. Join Goodreads and give away copies of your book. Set up an author page at Amazon Author Central.
If you write for children, join the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (http://www.scbwi.org/). SCBWI is a fantastic resource, including information about promoting your book. I've attended many excellent workshops on book marketing/publicity at SCBWI conferences. Connect with other authors through SCBWI, JacketFlap, and/or Scribblerati.
You can learn about book promotion from bloggers—check out author Nathan Bransford's blog (http://blog.nathanbransford.com/), Shelli Johannes-Wells' Market my Words (http://faeriality.blogspot.com/), Jeff Rivera's The Gatekeepers Post (https://www.gatekeeperspost.com/). Of all the books out there, my favorite is Jeff Vandermeer's "Booklife: Strategies and Survival tips for the 21st-Century Writer."
Traditional, offline ways to promote your book: teaching creative writing workshops, appearing at local schools and libraries, speaking at conferences, showing up at book festivals. These are all ways to connect. And don't forget to give out business cards, bookmarks and postcards (I design mine at iprint.com) – kids love 'em!


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Meeting client expectations while managing digital agency expectations while meeting your own personal expectations can be a tough business. I think it's important to recognize that success in every sense of the word is an elusive creature. Whether you're starting out as a new digital agency owner, or you're freelancing and managing multiple clients, I think it's safe to say that this is a tough job. Regardless of this, we have to determine in every situation what success means to us personally. Making that distinction requires laser focus and the ability to manage a multitude of expectations.
How Do You Manage Agency Expectations
I'm going to ask you a serious question. Moreover, I am only going to let you choose from two possible answers.
As a business owner, how do you spend most of your workday?
- Putting out fires created by clients, your staff/coworkers, or just general everyday operations issues?
- Proactively and methodically working through your strategic To Do List?
You chose A didn't you? It's okay, I will not ask you to say it out loud. Instead, I'm going to show you some straightforward ways to manage your agency expectations to help allow you to get your business (and your sanity) on a positive and proactive path forward.
Take note, I said straightforward, not easy. Because it isn't going to be easy. Though, those of us, entrepreneurs are no strangers to hard work. The key is working smarter not harder. Now let's get started!
Getting Started With Managing Agency Expectations
The biggest hurdle and typically the longest to come to terms with before being able to move forward in a proactive way regarding running your business and your life is realizing that YOU ARE THE REASON that you aren't achieving and maintaining your daily, weekly, monthly, and annual goals. That's a big pill to swallow. Like, a cow sized pill and have you seen one of those? They're enormous.
I know you have to go and get work done. SO. If you're reading this I'm sure this isn't the first time you've read about productivity, nor will it be your last, but I'm going to share with you my top three strategies for getting and maintaining your ish together.
Top 3 Ways To Help Manage Digital Agency Expectations
Set A Goal
If you're not used to making them, there's plenty of books on how to make a goal. But the most important part is to implement strategies every single day that will get you closer to that goal.
Take Away :: MAKE A LIST
Recourse :: The Slight Edge (book) – no this is not an affiliate link it's just an awesome book
As an entrepreneur we have two major things in common. To begin with, we are constantly in charge and at the helm of absolutely everything in our business. Raise your hand if you read 'control freak' in-between those lines. Secondly, what we have in common is that we love to learn new things. The interesting thing about both of these points is that they can either be the bane of your existence or you can manage them to be productive for you. The best way I have found to manage myself and my expectations of my business with these two borderline obnoxious traits is that I OUTSOURCE work that someone else is capable of doing.
Take Away :: Outsource what other people can do and what is not your strength
Resource : www.upwork.com
Plan Your Day
The biggest thing that has moved me from putting out fires all day and being at the beck-and-call of my email is to make a list. Sounds simple, right? I struggled with this area the most.
I have a master document list that outlines all the open projects I have and the large stroke needs to complete it. Then I have a smaller daily list that outlines the most-important-cannot-wait-to-get-done tasks for each day. No more than 3 of those tasks in any given day.
I only check email once a day and I respond to emails 4 times a week- to manage this, I utilize an auto-responder on my email that sends an email telling senders of the days and times I respond to email. This was THE HARDEST thing for me. But guess what- nothing breaks. Nothing. People who need me, call me. As for the rest just wait. It is glorious.
Take Away :: Without your schedule you will not meet your goals.
Resource :: The 4 Hour Work Week (book) – no, this is not an affiliate link it's just an awesome book
I hope this list helps you when managing your digital agency expectations take control of your day and meet your goals. There are many options for spending our time. It is, above all, important that we choose the one that will help us meet our goals. Example: You can choose to implement a strategy to meet your goals. OR. You can spend the better part of your workday on Facebook. The choice is yours.
What strategies do you use to manage your expectations of yourself and your life?


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Japan's nuclear evacuees denied Canadian refuge
ORONTO – A Japanese woman who claimed exposure to radiation from damaged nuclear reactors has been denied refugee status in Canada almost one year after that nation was rocked by an earthquake and tsunami that left more than 100,000 people homeless.
The woman's identity has not been released by an Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) since she's seeking asylum in this country. She is among several dozen Japanese nationals who filed refugee claims to stay in Canada following the disaster and is one of the first decisions to be reached by the IRB.
"The claimant feared risks of exposure to radiation," an IRB member said in a ruling. "She was not convinced by the Japanese government's assurances of safety from radiation."
The woman was one of hundreds of Japanese citizens who sought refuge in other countries following the March 11, 2011 catastrophe caused by a magnitude 9.0 quake and tsunami that left more than 15,000 dead and nearly 3300 missing.
The acts of nature crippled the Fukushima nuclear plant, leading to core meltdowns at three of its six reactors, and ongoing leaks of radioactive material.
A board member ruled the claimant "feared being a victim of hazards that emanated from a combined natural and man-made disaster."
The member said the claimant's risk "is characterized as being widespread and prevalent in Japan."
The Rest…HERE


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Have ever wondered about the constellations in the sky? Where they came from? Why do many different nations all use the same stars to describe a story? Or have you ever wondered what makes up a constellation? Just as all things testify of Christ, so do the constellations.
In each class you will learn:
- one zodiac constellation
- three decan (companion) constellations
- stories about these constellations and
- how they testify of one of Christ's mission
Once you've registered you will have immediate access to all the recordings and the workbooks that go with each class.
When you have completed these courses you will know
- the meaning and history of constellations
- the meaning of the zodiac
- the ALL 12 zodiac constellations
- 36 other constellations and where they are in the sky
- the color and tribe for each of the zodiac constellations
- how these zodiac constellations testify of Christ
- the stories told about these constellations from different nations
- and so much more . . .


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My Cosmetic Clinic Newcastle
Find the best version of yourself at My Cosmetic Clinic. This is the place to go for exceptional and affordable beauty. Owned by surgeon Dr Ansari, non-surgical procedures are facilitated by a friendly and highly experienced team of medical professionals, mostly registered nurses. Conveniently located in seven locations around New South Wales Balmain, Baulkham Hills, Botany, Crows Nest, Erina, Frenchs Forest, Newcastle and Wollongong My Cosmetic Clinic caters to everyone. Offering anti-wrinkle injections, dermal fillers and chemical peels as well as surgical interventions like liposuction, eyelifts, facelifts and breast surgery, the team at My Cosmetic Clinic believe beauty enhancement should be available to everyone.
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- Beauty Salon - Cosmetic Clinic
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book now call 1300 85 49 89
Choose the spa gift card that more Australians loveBuy Now


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Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses. Look upon my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.
– Psalm 25:16-18 (NAS)
And He said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a lonely place and rest a while." For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.
– Mark 6:31 (NAS)
In 2014 the Guardian published an article entitled, "Loneliness: a silent plague that is hurting young people most". The article outlined that while our social media technology helps in many ways it does not alleviate the struggle of loneliness. In fact the a study by the University of Michigan in 2013 indicated that that certain social media platforms like Facebook tends to reduces life satisfaction, technology can help us find and meet new people (Guardian, Natalie Gil, Sunday, July 2014)
Being Lonely – We can all identify with being lonely. David's Psalm is a remarkable insight into a phase of life that seems filled with turmoil and strife. We often see David as a great warrior, a great man of faith, and relentless in his pursuit of God. Certainly he had some large and problematic appetites that put him between a rock and a hard place at times but being lonely does not seem like our first headline with him.
But obviously, David is just like us. He has moments of great courage and faith and some moments of being deeply rattled by his circumstances. In this lament / penitential Psalm he uncovers a precarious element of his own heart and emotions – "I am lonely and afflicted". The idea of loneliness is the idea of being solitary and alone. Often this occurs when we are feeling overwhelmed by something. David cries out to God because there is no other source of encouragement but he knows that God is his best source of hope in the midst of his despair. Being alone and being lonely are not the same thing. One is a matter of circumstance while the other is about our attitude and perspective. When we lose perspective, we lose hope. God never promises that we will never face challenging circumstances that may leave us in lonely place but it does not mean that we are alone. God is faithful to be with us in every situation.
Being Alone – On the other hand I have noticed that being alone, at times is the best thing in the world. No that is not a peculiarity of introverts; being alone is often the place to gain great spiritual perspective. Mark 6:31 indicates that in the chaos of life there is great value in getting apart from people and responsibilities to spend time alone in a solitary place for rest and prayer. Mark 1:26 tells us that Jesus regularly went out early in the morning to a solitary (lonely) place to pray and commune with His Father. With our frenetic, chaotic and ADD lifestyles it is actually hard to find people who can get away to a lonely or solitary place AND use that time, not for self-pleasure but to seek the Lord through the avenue of prayer.
It is interesting how we can find ourselves in the same circumstances discovering two different ways of life. Sometimes we are overwhelmed by our circumstances while at others times we find spiritual wisdom and power in spite of our circumstances. We can struggle in our loneliness or find ways that even being alone does not mean we need to be lonely. God makes the difference.
Brad Little


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Rich Kessler of Rich Kessler Designs, one of our Fairfax, Virginia wedding photographers, recently had the pleasure of shooting the nuptials of bride and groom, Amanda and Mike. Here are some of our favorite photos from this beautiful Northern Virginia wedding:
For more information on this Northern Virginia wedding, visit Rich Kessler Designs' blog: http://richkesslerdesigns.com/blog/amanda-mike-married/ or website: http://www.richkesslerdesigns.com/.
Categories : weddingsno comments


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If you're a plumber, electrician, roofer or other tradesman, you'll often have trade scrap to dispose of. Phelps can help you out by efficiently disposing of a range of scrap, including:
- Copper wire.
- Piping.
- Fixtures.
- Steel.
- Ferrous and non-ferrous metals.
- Radiators.
- Boilers.
- Lead.
Collection service
We offer a free collection service within the local area (see map for details of the catchment area). Outside this area there will be a small charge. Please ring 01452 418513 or email us for details of the current charge.
Alternatively you can bring your scrap to our site.
We'll pay the best prices on the day.


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Carrots as appetizers? You bet! These Cheesy Carrot appetizers will have your friends and family doing a double-take…and for good reason!
This past Easter I made this adorable cheese and "carrot" appetizer plate to bring to my parent's house to snack on before dinner.
I don't quite remember how I found out about these adorable carrots, but I do remember that the originator and creative mind behind this recipe is Amy of She Wears Many Hats, but I adapted it ever so slightly.
Amy has a lot of really cute pictures of her carrot appetizer on her blog, surrounded by crackers and looking all cute.
My crackers were already packed in the car (so I wouldn't forget to bring them) so unfortunately my bunch of carrots looks a little naked sitting all alone on their big white plate.
I'm afraid you'll just have to use your imagination and pretend they're surrounded by some yummy, crispy crackers.
Still, though, I think you'll get the idea of how cute an appetizer this was and what a fun and conversational Easter snack it turned out to be.
Trust me when I tell you that every bunny was pleased and very hoppy to snack on these before dinner.
6 ounces cream cheese (I used reduced fat), softened
8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (I used reduced fat)
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 tablespoon dried, minced onion
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
A few sprigs of fresh, curly parsley
-Combine all ingredients in a medium-size bowl and, using your impeccably clean hands, mix well to combine all the ingredients until you have a uniform orange color.
-Divide the cheese into 5 or 6 portions and shape each portion into a longish carrot shape making sure to taper one side down into a point.
-Using the back of a knife (or something similar), make the lines on each carrot. *Note – I used cooking spray (oil) on the blade to keep the knife from sticking too much to the cheese. This was very helpful.
-Arrange the carrots on a platter.
-Trim the parsley (so the stems are relatively short) and gently push the parsley (stem end first) into the thicker end of each carrot.
-Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
-Allow to warm slightly before serving and serve with crackers or assorted veggies.
These would be super cute at a garden party too so don't just think Easter.
Break out this cheesy carrot appetizer all through the summer BBQ season! Even those who don't particularly like veggies will be digging into these babies!
What's up with that, Doc?
Until we eat again,