text:
Backlash 2016 had the somewhat unenviable task of re-introducing single branded "PPV" events to the WWE Universe after a ten year hiatus. With a main event like AJ Styles v Dean Ambrose and a supporting cast including Becky Lynch, Natalya, Kane, Dolph Ziggler and Bray Wyatt, but notably without the likes of John Cena, Randy Orton and American Alpha in action, could the Smackdown Live crew pull a rabbit out of the hat?
The main event would see Dean Ambrose's World Championship run come to an end after 84 days (the longest since Seth Rollins vacated the title in November 2015) as AJ Styles would win his first title in WWE in a slow burning 25 minute collision. I'm a big fan of a slow burner, the kind of match that you think isn't quite living up to expectations, but then a flurry of action in the final third with some cute call backs to earlier in the contest makes you wonder why you ever doubted two of the best wrestlers in the company. The one moment in particular that caught my attention was Styles managing to block a suicide dive in the earlier exchange by dropping The Lunatic Fringe throat first into the bottom rope, before Ambrose would be able to hit the move twenty or so minutes later in a satisfying bit of symtetry that would see the then World Champ finally kick into top gear and scrap with his challenger all over ringside.
The match was packed with little pockets of story, that kept things varied and interesting, like Styles going after Ambrose's knee after driving it into the canvas in the corner of the ring. This was used to set-up a series of Calf Crusher attempts, including the first which was a well-worked spot that saw Ambrose's knee give out on a suplex attempt and Styles transition seamlessly into the hold. I'd have liked to have seen this continue to be a theme after the spot had been used, as it was a shame that it seemed to be dropped later in the match, as it could have made the closing sections even more interesting. However, they added an extra level of drama to the bout with both men selling those moments and the build up very well, whilst also playing into the two other on-going storylines the match had going.
The bout was built around the basis that the veteran Georgia native was always one step ahead of the Champion, with a counter for almost all of Ambrose's offence, but was unable to put him away. This would become very clear in a sequence that would see Styles getting three near falls in quick succession, off a Ushigoroshi, a Rack Bomb and the Superman 450 splash. Personally, I think throwing in a move that Styles has regularly won matches with, like the Phenomenal Forearm, would have hammered the point home with a convincing near fall, but also could have ended up as a bit of overkill. All of this was building to the finish, as Styles took advantage of a ref bump, to kick Ambrose in the nuts (calling back to their testicle based antics on Smackdown Live over the last two weeks) before hitting an awkward Styles Clash for the win. It was supremely satisfying to see that narrative conclude in a logical way, that leaves the door open for a possible rematch at No Mercy next month and with the two perhaps holding back some of their top draw sequences, I've got a feeling that they could top this match next time out.
In what would become the show's semi-main event, The Miz and Dolph Ziggler battled over the Intercontinental Championship, in a match that far surpassed my expectations. That isn't to say that I don't think either Miz or Ziggler are talented or capable of having good matches, but it's not exactly the most inspiring fixture to see on the card, especially after Ziggler fumbled his big World title match at SummerSlam. However, the pair worked an especially clever match, chock-full of story and paced almost to perfection, that held my attention throughout it's admittedly lengthy 18 minute run-time. Ziggler and Miz have an odd chemistry within the ring, one that is perhaps a bit clinical, at times, there's an efficiency about it, without any real fire, however on this occasion that ended up suiting the setting and produced a very good match.
The contest had my attention from the beginning, featuring some interesting amateur wrestling from Ziggler, as the commentary talked about his background and upcoming Hall of Fame induction at his University, before Miz would take advantage of a rope break to get the upperhand. It was sound psychology that played off the storyline going in, that Miz was a coward and Ziggler had something to prove. Then there were the touches from The A Lister as he mimicked General Manager Daniel Bryan, by pulling out a number of very un-Miz like submissions, as well as Bryan's signature corner drop kicks. I think this could have perhaps been expanded upon later in the match, as Miz's obsession with Bryan could have been used to create some convincing near falls. There were some strong close calls though for both men, like Miz locking in the Figure 4 Leg Lock after we'd seen The Show-Off struggling to hit a superkick, followed up a Superkick where Miz would manage to get his foot on the bottom rope. The finish was a satisfying one though, as we came back to Miz's cowardly ways as his wife, Maryse, sprayed perfume into the eyes of Ziggler and a Skull Crushing Finale allowed Miz to retain. If these lads are allowed a similar stage for a rematch then I'd look forward to it much more than I did for this match.
Becky Lynch would become the brand's Women's Champion in a Six Pack Challenge, pinning Carmella last, after Nikki Bella, Natalya, Naomi and Alexa Bliss had already been eliminated. A little sloppiness aside, this was a cracking contest, that keep a number of storylines ticking over, whilst also making use of having six women in the ring, in what was a cleverly crafted encounter. The build towards the first elimination, gave each and every woman involved the opportunity to showcase themselves, with strong sequences between Naomi and Lynch, Bliss and Bella and Lynch and Bliss, as well as a sweet dives sequence and a tower of doom. Whilst the match seemed to be well thought out as it unfolded, I feel like the first woman eliminated was the one who impressed me the most here, as Bliss' performance throughout, whether that be trying to steal pin covers immediately after the Tower of Doom spot or scrapping with more experienced performers, she made the most of her time in the bout and looked great doing it.
The pinfalls would come thick and fast after Bliss had left the match, with Natalya stealing an elimination on Naomi after a Bella forearm, Bella eliminated Natalya with a TKO and Carmella catching Bella off guard with a jackknife cover. It was the Bella and Carmella story that would be the most obvious story running throughout the bout, with their battles being strategically placed to get the best reaction. The showdown after Bella was eliminated could have been played a little better, but with it coming just before Lynch would tap out Carmella to win the bout, anything stronger would have effected the quality of The Irish LassKickers submission win. The match did a good job of raising the profile of talents like Carmella and Bliss, whilst placing Lynch right at the top of the women's division, which has shown it has a lot more potential than I'd previously given it credit for.
As stories leaked earlier in the afternoon that Randy Orton had still not been cleared to compete after his TKO loss to Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam, it was clear that WWE would have to switch The Legend Killer out of his scheduled bout with Bray Wyatt on the PPV. It was a shame that WWE went down a fairly unimaginative route, having Wyatt assault Orton backstage before coming to the ring and celebrating a forfeit victory. It didn't really suit The Eater of World's gimmick and felt very weird seeing him involved in the backstage assault and even weirder seeing him basking in getting out of having a fight. With more than enough time to work out a creative decision on what to do with Orton (You'd have to think that a contingency plan should have been in place for if Orton hadn't been cleared by Sunday) I feel like the creative team should have been able to come up with a better angle than what was presented.
Luckily, they managed to redeem themselves by actually giving us Wyatt match, that was another surprisingly good bout as he went up against Kane in an impromptu No Holds Barred bout. Wyatt and Kane really went at each other in satisfying big lads action, with the No DQ stip adding just what the bout needed to take it above what I can only imagine would have been a fairly dull contest otherwise. It wasn't the most violent display you'll ever see, but it was plenty of fun, that included a cracking running senton through the announce table spot from Wyatt. Apart from that spot it had a cool house show vibe about it and considering the duo have had five or six Street Fight's opposite each other on the live event circuit this year, I'd guess that a lot of this match was going over what fans in Kalamazoo and Corpus Christi had got to witness earlier in 2016. Orton would manage to make it out for the finish, selling the knee that Wyatt had attacked like his life depended on it, before hitting an RKO that would gift The Big Red Machine the victory (following a Chokeslam of his own). It would be easy to moan about Wyatt putting Kane over, but the focus was all on the Wyatt and Orton feud which now has some extra fuel and hopefully the pair will get their bout in four week's at No Mercy in Sacramento, California.
HEATH SLATER AND RHYNO WON THE TAG TEAM TITLES! Does anything else really matter in this world? It was Rhyno's first title victory in WWE since he defeated Tajiri at Unforgiven 2001 for the WCW United States title and Heath Slater's first win since teaming with Justin Gabriel, as part of The Corre, to beat John Cena and The Miz and win what is now the RAW Tag Team Championship on a February 2011 episode of Monday Night RAW! This is the Heath Slater who won ONE match out of 132 last year. The Heath Slater who hasn't won a PPV match since early 2011. Slater has managed to build on the connections he'd made consistently doing his best with whatever shite he was given [3MB and Social Outcasts] and whilst others have moaned, complained and been released, Heathy Baby just kept plugging away and ended up getting rewarded for his hard work. The free agent storyline has been one of the best things about wrestling in 2016.
Okay, so that was me getting excited about the result, but that doesn't really matter if the match was a load of old shite, does it? However, it wasn't it was a good quality tag team bout that built well to it's finish and used the characters well to create a compelling bout. I've written barely any notes on this one, because I was so invested in the action, perhaps more than I've been in years for a WWE bout. The Usos were glorious as they turned up their heel meter up to cunt, doing dastardly things like suplexing Slater into the big ringpost. Slater put on a performance that made me like him even more, selling his beatdown wonderfully, whilst knowing his character and doing things like tagging himself back into the match moments after a Rhyno hot tag, because he was a man on a mission and that mission was to get Beulah a motherfucking double wide. And Rhyno, well Rhyno was just a bloody man beast and the moment when he dragged Slater into the cover after nailing a Gore on one of them Usos was pure wrestling perfection. HEATH SLATER AND RHYNO WON THE TAG TEAM TITLES!
The Usos got to debut their new look and feel opposite The Hype Bros [Mojo Rawley and Zack Ryder] in a match that was billed as a "Second Chance Challenge", after Jey & Jimmy had injured the previous Tag title Tournament finalists, American Alpha. This match outdid my expectations with the new gimmick for The Usos allowing Hype Bros to fit into the babyface role much better than previously, as Ryder scrambled against the cocksure Usos. In particular, the lengthier match allowed Rawley to shine, with a number of power spots, including running around the ring and nailing both Usos with a shoulder ram and sending them into the barricade. Plus Ryder was doing stupid moves like dropkicks off the apron and bumping like he wanted to cause himself somekind of bodily harm. The finish was especially busy, with Rawley ending up in same wall he pushed the Usos into and Ryder tapping out to an arm trap single leg Boston crab, cementing 2 time WWE Tag Team Champions as nasty heels and give them their match against Heath Slater and Rhyno.
The Kick-Off match was a bonus bout between Apollo Crews and Baron Corbin as the pair put in a solid outing before the main show began. When they announced the bout in a cheesy backstage segment, I have to admit that I wasn't exactly chomping at the bit to see a rematch from NXT Takeover: London but the lads actually managed to put on a good little match in their spot. The bout was structured well and told a strong story, as both were presented as strong and powerful, with Crews having the advantage on speed and Corbin being a bit more ring savvy. Repeating the spot where Corbin runs out and straight back into the ring was a cool moment and this managed to propel the contest into an exciting close sequence. The crowd seemed to get into the action as soon as the match came back from the ad-break, meaning that when Corbin managed to pick up the victory with End of Days it felt like both men had made some kind of gains in getting over with the audience.
The show started with a segment that can only be described as a time-filler, as Commissioner Shane McMahon and General Manager Daniel Bryan headed out to the ring and ran down the card for the evening. It was clear that the show was going to struggle to fill the three hour time slot, but this was a bit silly. McMahon and Bryan are always going to pop a crowd and keep them interested, because of their undoubted popularity, which is a good way to get the crowd warmed up at the start of the show, I suppose. However, on the actual PPV it stinks of desperation to fill space on a rushed event!
Best of the Rest
- Rhyno and Heath Slater went in hard during an interview with Tom Phillips in the Social Media Lounge, pulling out a series of above ground pool based references.
ATPW Scale Rating - 6.63/10
(6.57 with Kick-Off show)
Backlash 2016 was a good wrestling show, that didn't feature a single match that I'd consider below a good rating and entertained me throughout the majority of it's two and half hour run time. The main event was clearly the match of the night, with AJ Styles and Dean Ambrose producing a great World title clash, that was a gratifying watch. Having the World title change hands on the first of these new supercard events, instantly lends them some prestige that they perhaps didn't have going into the show and will hopefully make them feel more must-see events.
Outside the main event there were a number of sleeper bouts, that outperformed my expectations, such as Dolph Ziggler and The Miz's semi main over the Intercontinental Championship and the bonus match between Bray Wyatt and Kane. The Six Woman bout was also much better than I'd felt it would have been after the six woman tag they had together on this week's Smackdown Live. The Tag Team tournament offered a feel good moment with Rhyno and Heath Slater winning the belts, as well as the debut of a new exciting look and gimmick for The Usos. Had it not been for the filler at the beginning of the show, then Backlash 2016 would have gotten an even higher rating!
This was a great start to the new run of shows, taking a decent card and producing a PPV verging on being very good, that will hopefully make fans think twice before deciding to skip one.
All content - James Marston
Poster Credit - World Wrestling Entertainment


text: I have had this problem over the years and never really pursued it, but now I am wondering why. Many times Nero Disk Speed will not recognize a perfectly good drive, one that burns fine, is recognized by Driver Manager & Imgburn. This has happened on all the Nero Drive Speed programs not just one. T.I.A.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
If you know how to access phpMyAdmin on your host, then you can edit these values directly to get you up and running again.
Trouble logging in? Simply enter your email address below and we will send you an email that will allow you to reset your login.
For faster and more reliable delivery, add firstname.lastname@example.com to your trusted senders list in your email software.


text:
The Victorian Auditor General notes that Victoria's population grew from 5.5 million in 2011 to about 6 million in 2016, and is expected to reach 10 million by 2051. That is in 34 years! Responding to this madness, the Auditor General has recommended the introduction of "a risk-based approach to development assessment processes and guidance materials, by developing clear, simple assessment pathways that ensure applications are progressed in a transparent way in proportion to the potential risk, impact and cost, and in accordance with community expectations reviewing efficiency indicators to support the application of a risk-based approach (see Section 2.2.2); [the strengthening] of accountability requirements for decisions by applying better-practice principles for discretionary decision-making and transparent public reporting, including publishing reasons for all planning decisions, and publishing advisory committee reports within three months of the committee handing its report to the Minister for Planning (see Sections 4.2 and 4.3.1). [It has also recommended working] with councils to complete the performance measurement framework for the planning system so that it provides the relevant information and data at the state and local levels to assess the effectiveness of the planning system, measure the achievement of planning policies and support continuous improvement of the planning system through monitoring the effectiveness of reforms (see Section 5.2)." Will this help Victorians and Australians to halt the environmentally dangerous and antisocial development push from growth lobby governments? This is an excellent and informative report that will be of use to anyone wanting to understand our current predicament and the relevant bits of the law. It includes the subject of loss of agricultural land and how so defined and a summary of the objectives of the Planning and Environment Act 1987, which have an ironic flavour under the present Victorian regime. [Emphases by candobetter.net editor.]
Access the Report
Full report as PDF (5.5 MB)
PDF of the presentation
The following are selections from the "Findings" part of the Report:
- assessment against state planning policies is difficult due to the vague policy objectives and lack of measurable indicators
- gaps in statewide guidance on challenging planning issues, such as housing diversity and affordability
- no statewide guidance on what the Act's concepts of net community benefit, sustainable development and acceptable outcomes cover, and how they might be assessed in a way that is in proportion to the scale, complexity and risk of the planning proposal being considered
- limited consideration of potential adverse environmental, social and economic factors
- in-house assessment report templates that do not adequately reflect the requirements of the Act or the VPP for integrated decision-making.
Past reforms have had little impact on fixing other systemic problems impeding the effectiveness, efficiency and economy of planning schemes. As a result, many of the issues prevalent before the 1996 overhaul of the planning system have re-emerged: These include:
- vague and competing state planning policy objectives and strategies, with limited guidance for their implementation, which reduce the clarity of the planning system's direction in meeting state planning objectives
- a lack of specific guidance to address key planning challenges, such as social and affordable housing, climate change and environmentally sustainable development
- an overly complex system of planning controls in local planning schemes—councils add and amend policies and controls to try to provide clarity and certainty to their schemes in the absence of clear guidance at a state level
- DELWP's and councils' performance measurement frameworks being unable measure whether the objectives of the Act or state planning policies are being achieved
- lengthy delays in the processing of planning proposals, leading to set time frames not being met and unnecessary costs for applicants.
- These systemic weaknesses exist because of the poor uptake and implementation of review recommendations. This is due to:
-a lack of clear prioritisation, time frames, actions or resources to support the implementation of recommendations by planning departments or government
-a lack of continuity in reform processes and commitment to their implementation due to changes in government or government policy
-poor project governance and oversight, with frequent machinery-of-government changes to the planning department and its systems, and the absence of a good project management structure to oversee the implementation of recommendations.
As a result, the planning system is difficult to navigate and implement, and it places an unnecessary burden on local government, DELWP and applicants to administer and use.
The objectives of the Planning and Environment Act 1987
Planning objectives, section 4(1)
Planning framework or system
Source: VAGO, from the Planning and Environment Act 1987.
Thankyou Matthew!!
This reminds me of one of those sagas most of us have read about in kids books and comics where the hammer has reached it's zenith and is about to come crashing down! You know it's going to hurt, you know the injuries that are going to be inflicted will be horrific, but you are to stupefied to do anything about. You are like stunned mullet with your eyes transfixed upon the hammer waiting for that crushing blow.
This is the Australian housing market! Unable to accept that it's overheated, it steps on the gas with an all too familiar result. Everybody knows that this is the case, but nobody (those who have control of the market - governments, banks, property developers, &c) has the intestinal fortitude speak up, to ameliorate the problem or even batten down the hatches. They don't care! They won't be the ones lining up at the soup kitchens, they've made their money. It'll be the stunned mullets watching the Great Australian Scam unfold.
What profession must make solid strategic plans, and always have to cater for excessive and ad hoc growth? The Plan now really is no Plan, just damage-control and retro-fitting to cope with unplanned growth! How many Plans have their been for Melbourne, all to be amended or superseded? They are shuffling the goal post in an effort not to avert the growth!.
It's just ad hoc, mayhem and about appeasing property developers and the mortgage industry. Would there really be any Master Plan that really catered and assessed the needs and values of future generations? We've had population booms in the past, when we had the Gold Rush, 19th century, and the great Post War immigration- but they were not scams that we have now- of "skills shortages"! Now it's growth without a purpose, simply to fill houses - our main industry now!
Did anyone watch Q and A last night (28 March 2017)?
Towards the end a young woman in the audience asked if government policies regarding immigration and foreign purchasers in the real estate market were affecting housing affordability for young Australians. Every panel member avoided this suggestion extremely adroitly, even a singer who I'd never heard of.
They all played it like poison ball, avoiding the issue, even the singer who uncomfortably declared that his children would probably not be able to get into the housing market.
It is more important obviously NOT to mention the "I word" or the "F.O. word" on television than to do something about making sure your own adult children get housed.
Dereliction of duty
When Treasurer Scott Morrison urges regulators to clamp down on loans to investors in the housing market, he reveals a disturbing trend among governments at federal and state levels – an abrogation of their responsibility.
While leaving decisions to an "independent" umpire may shield politicians from unpalatable outcomes (for example, the Fair Work Commission's decision on penalty rates), the public is denied the right to hold responsible the appropriate people. The blame does not lie with public servants or statutory authorities, but politicians. The government has levers to ease pressure in the housing market. We expect it to use them.
Ramesh Rajan, Camberwell


text:
Board member wants few restrictions for online learning
Internet courses will expand students' horizons as well as engage those who might otherwise choose to leave high school, he said. Students can even take college-level courses, he said.
On Tuesday night, Wellman encouraged fellow board members to revise a proposed policy that restricts students from earning more than three credits through online courses.
If students want to take these courses, and complete them successfully, he believes they should earn academic credit.
Wellman is a member of the board's Policy Committee.
He thinks giving students a chance to work at their own pace while taking courses as enrichment or as a requirement for graduation broadens the educational experience "in a breathtaking manner.''
"With some children, there is no question in my mind that while enjoying the social experience of high school, there are only certain subjects that grab their interest," Wellman said.
"With this kind of access available to them, kids would be able to fully explore their academic interest. We would be opening the doors wide to these kids.''
The proposed policy restricts students to taking online instruction or college courses that are not offered at the high school, or when the high school's course conflicts with their schedule.
The policy allows online classes for expelled students, those who require an accelerated or alternative learning environment, or those who have special needs.
All students who take such courses must get principal approval, a teacher or counselor recommendation, and pay any fees involved. They must also adhere to district attendance policies.
Board chairman Lisa Diamond said she does not see the proposed policy as restrictive, but rather as encouraging students to tap outside resources.
Board members Alexandrea Thomas and Wendy Faulenbach said they view the policy as a starting point. It could later be retooled based on how it works.
"I'm just pleased to see this introduced in some manner," Faulenbach said.
Wellman said he prefers as few restrictions as possible to maximize "a unique opportunity to supplement what we offer to students."
"To my mind, we are bureaucratizing and imposing unnecessary limits on what should be a marvelous educational opportunity," he said.
Contact Nanci Hutson at firstname.lastname@example.com or at (860) 354-2274.


text:
FOCUS Equip provides an instant faith connection
The Fellowship of Catholic University Students, a fast-growing college campus outreach with a presence at nearly 60 universities in the U.S. has announced that it has launched a new mobile application, FOCUS Equip.
Building on the launch of its new website initiative, http://www.focusequip.org, the FOCUS Equip mobile app is a one-of-a-kind Catholic application that gives users access to Catholic resources that can be used for evangelization, personal formation, Bible study leadership and discipleship.
The goal of FOCUS Equip is to provide dynamic resources for college students, FOCUS student leaders and missionaries so they can continue to thrive in the faith and reach out to friends and family with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ and his church, said Kevin Cotter, director of FOCUS Equip.
The mobile application takes that goal to the next level by meeting students where they are and providing the resources right on their mobile device. Although resources are targeted to students on FOCUS campuses, they can also be helpful to all Catholics for use in their parish, with their families or wherever they might need it.
The FOCUS Equip mobile application includes:
- Electronic Bible studies.
- How-to articles on practical evangelization, discipleship and leading a Bible study.
- Video and audio talks that can be used for evangelization or personal formation.
The FOCUS Equip mobile application can be downloaded for free on iPhone, iPad and Android platforms. Search focusequip in a mobile application store to find the app. http://www.focusequip.org and the FOCUS Equip mobile app will be continually updated.
Find FOCUS Equip on Twitter at http://twitter.com/focusequip or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/focusequip.
FOCUS is a national outreach that invites college students into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and his church, inspiring and equipping them for a lifetime of Christ-centered evangelization, discipleship and friendships in which they lead others to do the same. For more information, visit http://www.focus.org.
Category: Colleges and Careers


text:
Immortalise and commemorate sweet memories with photobook to store timeless images of friends, families, and furkids. Design and create your own photobook to your liking and choose your favourite memories to include.
Sold out. Please check back soon!
Download the free app to browse hundreds of great discounted offers on-the-go
Product specifications


text:
Brand Secrets And Strategies Offers A Variety of Services
To You and Your Team
Save Time And Money Through Identifying Sales And Distribution Opportunities
Close More Sales With Impactful Presentations
Use Actionable Insights To Grow Sales
Achieve Measurable Results With Smart Business Strategies
Advanced Business Strategy Training
This training is designed to help you and your organization create solutions to overcome sales, distribution and merchandising challenges faced in today's market. You and your team will develop strategies, learn new skills, and implement work processes to compete effectively in any channel and economy.
Advanced Business Strategy Training includes the best practices used by the big brands without the additional overhead, resources or time commitment. The training includes advanced category management standards, leveraging the retailer sales data, consumer/shopper data, and cutting edge technology to grow sales and profits.
Speciality and customized training is also available upon request to meet the specific needs of your organization.
Save Time And Money With Proven Strategies
Greater Trade Marketing ROI
Drive Sales With Effective Merchandising And Improved Distribution
Category Leadership Across All Channels
A seasoned expert will work alongside you and your team to create strategy, build skills and improve business processes to compete effectively across all channels and markets.
Consulting is the perfect blend of on-the-job training and expert mentoring. Your organization receives the benefit of a senior level executive without the costs associated with hiring and employment.
This will save you valuable time and money helping you avoid making costly mistakes, providing solutions that help you get and stay ahead of the competition, keeping you aligned with your strategic objective, all while mentoring you to become a leader in your category.
Advanced Category Management Support When You Need It
Extensive Expertise In Multiple Categories Across Multiple Channels
Expert Guidance And Support To Meet Your Needs
Tailored Solutions To Achieve Your Business Goals
Contracted Services
Hands-on Contract Work is the perfect solution for a brand that needs an expert to roll-up their sleeves and dig right in. You get the benefit of adding a senior level executive to your team without the burden of adding head-count.
This includes instant access to the wealth of experience from a Certified Professional Strategic Advisor and industry thought leader. Profit from the best practice insights and strategies being used by the most successful brands across all channels and markets. Rest easy knowing that your project is being handled by an innovative and creative solution provider.
Save valuable time and money with end-to-end advanced professional category management support when you need to stand out on a crowded shelf.
Not Sure What Service Is Right For You?
We'll Discuss Your Goals And Assess Your Needs To Determine The Best Solution For Your Business.


text:
2012 - Queensryche (Rising West weekend)
Queensrÿche experiences a metal rebirth in the form of RISING WEST (then a week later reclaims the Queensrÿche moniker). This gallery documents the pair of debut shows at the Hard Rock Cafe in Seattle on June 8 & 9, 2012. Upon hearing the news, I immediately booked a flight and headed to Seattle, with an invite to shoot the show. It was epic - including 5 classic tracks from The Warning masterpiece, "Prophecy", and more.Read More
for more images, please "like" http://www.facebook.com/cdgimagery
for more images, please "like" http://www.facebook.com/cdgimagery


text:
This website uses cookies to help us give you the best experience when you visit our website.
By continuing to use this website, you consent to our use of these cookies.
Finnish Blueberry chocolates, mouth-watering chocolate reveals a delicious blueberry marmelade and milk truffel filling.
Sugar, cocoa butter, whole milk powder, cocoa mass, glucose syrup, vegetable fat, blueberry (4.1%), skimmed milk powder, emulsifier (soya lecithin), flavors (eg vanillin), gelling agent (E440), acidity regulators (E330, E331), preservatives (E211).
May contain traces of hazelnuts.
Does not contain egg
Does not contain gelatin / pig origin ingredients
Does not contain peanuts
Does not contain wheat / barley / rye / oats
Gluten-free <20 mg / kg


text:
Enter your email address and we'll send you a link to reset your password.
Watch Cats (2019) : Full Movie Online Free A tribe of cats called the Jellicles must decide yearly which one will ascend to the Heaviside Layer and come back to a new Jellicle life.
You must create an account to continue watching
Quick Sign Up!
It takes less then 1 minute to Sign Up, then you can enjoy Unlimited Movies & TV titles.
All of the Movies are available in the superior HD Quality or even higher!
Your account will always be free from all kinds of advertising.
It works on your TV, PC, MAC, Android, IOS & Game Console


text:
I've been making a new home in SL the last couple weeks… in between trying to get work done on other things. Before this I would log in on a platform in the sky somewhere surrounded by pose stands and random objects. I bet many of you know this scenario well. Those that do photography or blog, or even build… logging into a platform is pretty common. I would set a scene on this corner or that, take a photo, tear it down… it was always just temporary. It's been almost a year since I've had anything that resembled a real home in SL that actually stuck around, a place where I could invite people and say "this is my place" and not be embarrassed by the barren wasteland that I paid tier on every month. So it was time to lay down roots and move in. The fall always inspires me to decorate, in both RL and SL… as even my RL home is full of the warmth of fall colors. I love the earthy browns and natural textures and fabrics, distressed pieces, and knotty wood floors.. and lots of windows dappled with sunlight.
On a cool crisp day with the leaves rustling just outside, there is still a cozy home full of warmth, where lazy puppies snooze and curious kitties play. Oh! And there is always a steamy cup of coffee waiting for me…
…In my dreamy autumn home. My happy happy home.
Meribel House (RARE) – Scarlet Creative **NEW** @The Arcade
Meribel Day Sofa – Scarlet Creative **NEW** @The Arcade
Love Curtain with Pole – Scarlet Creative **from past Arcade Gacha
Sleepy Puppy (RARE) – Ispachi **NEW** @The Arcade
Breakfast Tray – Ispachi **NEW** @The Arcade
Cats in Motion #5 and #9 – (Fashionably Dead) **NEW** @The Arcade
Stacked Envelopes, leaf herbarium book, knitting basket – {vespertine} **NEW** @The Arcade
Gilt Frame, Frame Shelf, Carriage Shelf – Apple Fall **NEW** @The Arcade
Strung Branch Pendant Light, Recycled Wood Parquet Table, White Iris – Apple Fall **NEW** @C88
Pumpkin Clonch (Colours) – Apple Fall **NEW** @H&G Expo RFL Item
Milan Lounge (Crisp Linen), "Home Sweet Home" Heart, Reading Pile 25, Fashion Trunk (Classical) – Apple Fall
Leather Pouffes (cafe & chestnut), Floorwood Table, Cigars – Zigana **NEW** @TMD
White Rug – Zigana
Holden Radiator – [ARIA] **NEW** @FaMESHed
Gretchen Vintage Rug (cream) – [ARIA] **from past Arcade Gacha
Old School Wire Baskets – Sari-Sari **NEW** @The Arcade
Radio 1A579-A – Seven Emporium **NEW** @The Arcade
Old Floor Lamp (bronze) – Tarte. **NEW** @The Arcade
Constance Potted Orchids – DIGS
La Petite Joie Cafe – Hat Rack – 8f8 **NEW** @The Arcade
Engineer Boots (Dark Brown) – (Sleep Eddy) **from past Arcade Gacha
Artist's Cabinet – Cheeky Pea **past FLF Item


text:
Think Agatha Christie novels like the Murder At the Vicarage without the high body count .
My neighbours are all completely besotted with box topiary- though thankfully you won't find a life size steam engine cut out of box here, or one of those frightening monstrously big squirrels.
It's more box balls, cones and spirals.
So I thought I would share with you how you can get your box spiral topiary on a budget and how to cut your own topiary spiral .
Just be brave, get those scissors out and you will have your own topiary for next to nothing !!!
Your first step : hunt around for some basic box shrub at a garden section of a hardware store.
You are bound to get it most cheaply there-I managed in the past to get box balls, priced down at the end of the season for £5,-.
Let it grow for a few seasons till you reach a height of about knee-high.
This would be your starting point for your spiral. I took me about 3 years to grow this from a 1 foot high box shrub to this height.You can also buy the box much bigger but basically , the smaller the box, the more inexpensive.Just buy a small plant, put it in a corner of a garden and let it grow.
Keep that picture in mind while you are cutting.
Start with the lowest tier.Cut and remember, the line needs to go UP.
Here you see that the horizontal line going up is cut. Piece of cake! Bit of dog on the picture as well, they were trying to see who could break my concentration first ....by running around like mad....
And again, you cut a vertical wall on top of the second horizontal tier.
Get your scissors out and give it a go !I think Maud won the contest by the way of who runs circles fastest.
this post, as my lovely neighbour had managed to get an enormeous amount and kindly let me share in it.
So the front has gone from this.....
Such deliciousness!!Can't wait for these babies to grow!
And more surprising good news- I have won another blog award !!
Thank you Mariette from Mariettes Back To Basics
I am so thrilled!! What a lovely surprise
Go check out her lovely blog- it's so full of beauty, love of gardens, love of animals and love of people- worth a visit and a follow !!!
.There are so many blogs that are fabulous but I would love to pas the award on to the following bloggers :
1. Munchkin Munchies.Check out this lovely blog full of surpising and beautiful recipes and gorgeous looking biscuits.Sue's rainbow cookies are sure to put a smile on your face this weekend when you bake them !! Go and spread the blog-love if you can and become her follower!!
2.Crejjtion. Maaike from Amsterdam in the Netherlands has a beautiful ( English ) craft blog with fantastic photography- her projects always make your day better.Whether you look at her crochet projects or her pictures like this Christmas teacup , it always delights and puts you in a happy mood.
3.Melissa's Cuisine .This talented lovely lady shares her love for cooking and baking on a fabulous blog where she posts recipe after wonderful recipe.You are strongly recommended to become her follower - such great recipes like this giant double chocolate cookies . MMMmmmmm!!!
4.Primp . Michelle from Primp is an incredibly talented creative spirit and decorator.Just check out her inventive book pumpkin for instance ! Another really interesting blog that you really should follow..Check it out and be in awe!!
5.Mod Vintage Life .Nita's blog not only shares her love for beautiful interiors, but for animals as well, so she really is a woman after my own heart ... and her posts are always so pretty..like the fabulous bathroom she did .. and then of course her posts when she helped poor Zippy , a lovely dachshund, to find a home- which ended happily with Zippy being rehomed.So a woman with style, taste and a great heart.The world should be full of Nita's and we would be in much better shape !!!
6.Me, you and a wiener .Not only a talented decorator and artist, which you can see from this makeover post here.( Bri managed to make a simple Ikea chest of drawers into a very stylish designer bit of furniture which looks just fabulous..) but also a very funny girl- Bri's blog had me weeping with laughter with her cartoon on her blog about how she would defend her dog till death in the worst case scenario if her Timmy would be threatened by a bear.Go and visit and become her folllower ! You won't regret it !
7.Cocina Diary .Angie is such a stylish cook and her blog is beautifully presented and gorgeous.Look at these delicious flaky pastry cookies for instance- I only wish I had more time to make all her recipes.Strongly recommended for popping by and for a follow!!
Well, I am off now to let all the candidates know about their award.Hope you visit them all and follow them- have a nice browse this weekend and enjoy!!
Happy weekend!!
I am linking this to
Masterpiece Monday
Amaze me Monday
Tutorial Tuesday
All things related Tuesday
Tuesday Garden Party
Outdoor Wednesday
Wow us wednesdays
transformations and treasures
Swing into Spring
Transformation Thursday
Time travel Thursday
Thrifty Thursday Bloghop
Fertilizer Friday
Project Party weekend
Weekend wrap up party
Inspiration journey linky party
Sunday Favourites


text:
Dream Stays Bath T&C's
please read carefully...
1. The Contract
Dream Stays Bath (DSB) are the owners and sellers of all DSB properties. The contract for a short-term holiday let shall be made between the Visitor and the DBS. It will be entered into once the booking form has been completed, the deposit processed and DBS has issued a holiday confirmation letter.
2. The Property and Occupancy
Although we make every effort to ensure the details and images on our website are accurate at the time of your booking, we cannot accept any liability for discrepancies.
The number of persons occupying the property must not exceed the number agreed at the time of the booking. Dream Stays Bath reserves the right to refuse entry to the entire party if this condition is not respected. If knowledge of additional guests is made aware once entry to the property has already been made, DSB reserves the right to do one of the following:
Ask the whole party to leave immediately without any refund of money paid for unused days
Agree an additional charge for the extra people and take payment accordingly
3.Arrivals and Departures
Rentals commence, unless otherwise agreed, at 3 p.m. on the day of arrival and terminate at 11:00 a.m. on the day of departure. Failure to vacate all or part of the property by the requisite time may result in further charges. Check ins later than 8pm on the day you will be required you to collect the keys from Haringtons Hotel 8-10 Queens Street bath BA1 1HE, no meet and greet will be available from 8pm.
Prior to your arrival you will be given details of key collection and who your contact person will be during your stay.
A deposit equal to 50% of the total rental cost is to be paid at the time of booking.
Balance of rent, along with the damage deposit, is due at least 49 days before the beginning of the holiday. Failure to pay the balance on or before the due date shall be construed as a cancellation on your part and any deposit paid will be forfeit (unless otherwise agreed).
In the event that a booking is made less than 49 days before the commencement of the rental, full payment, by cleared funds is required at the time of booking.
We are pleased to accept the following forms of payment:
1.Bank Transfer: Pounds sterling (all charges to be paid by the Visitor). Bank details available upon request
2.Credit Cards - Visa or MasterCard accepted Switch, Visa Delta, Solo cards accepted (No transaction charge applied). American Express accepted (3% transaction charge applied)
One set of keys will be issued to the guest upon arrival (TWO for Beau Street properties). In the event that keys are not returned upon departure from the property, or in the event of lost keys, a charge of £180 plus VAT will be made to the Visitor. Should a Visitor be locked out of the property and need to gain entry between the hours of 6pm and 8am, DSB reserves the right to charge a call out fee of £40 plus VAT before 10pm and £80 plus VAT after 10pm.
It is the Visitors responsibility to keep the interior and contents of the property in the same state of repair and cleanliness as at the beginning of the letting, allowing for reasonable wear and tear. In the event of any breakages, damage or extra cleaning required after the Visitor has vacated, DBS will notify the Visitor by e-mail within 2 weeks of vacating the premises advising the damages caused and any costs incurred. Dream Stays Bath reserve the right to add a reasonable administration fee to cover the time incurred dealing with the damages.
In the event of any complaints of noise or disrespect and damage to the property Dream Stays Bath have the right to ask you to leave with immediate effect and without any compensation for unused days.
5.Chargeable Services
As part of your contract the property is cleaned on a weekly basis with linen change on the changeover day for any stays 8 nights or longer. Should you wish to have the property cleaned on additional days this can be arranged at a cost of £15 per hour with a minimum of 2 hours per day. Please kindly arrange this prior to your arrival..
Travel Cot and High Chair
Travel cots and High Chairs are available to hire at no charge.
Special Requirements
We appreciate that getting ready for a holiday can be a manic time and we would be more than happy to take some of the pressure off you. Whether it be booking tickets for a show or tour, or simply stocking the fridge with some of your favourite foods or drinks please do not hesitate to ask for our help.
6. Cancellation Policy
All cancellations must be made in writing.
In the event of a cancellation we will make every effort possible to re-let the property you have booked. If we are successful then full repayment of any funds paid will be made provided we can re-rent the same property, for the same or greater amount, less an administration fee of £50. If the amount the property is rented for is less than your original booking, you will only be refunded the difference, less the administration fee. However, if we are not successful in re-letting the property then any funds paid will be forfeit. We therefore strongly recommend cancellation insurance.
If we are forced to cancel your booking for reasons outside our control we will endeavour to first offer you alternative comparable accommodation at no extra cost to you. Should we not be able to provide a suitable replacement property we will reimburse any sums already paid by you in respect of the accommodation. DBS will be under no further obligation or liability for any losses or expense arising from these alterations.
There are no further circumstances for which DSB will be liable for a refund.
We reserve the right to cancel any letting should you or any member of your party cause damage to the property, its furniture or contents or should you create a serious disturbance to any adjoining neighbours.
7. Right of Entry
DSB shall be allowed access to the property at all reasonable times for purposes of inspection or to carry out any necessary repairs or maintenance.
8. Complaints
We take every care to ensure a successful and enjoyable holiday. However, in the event of a complaint, please get in touch with the Dream Stays Bath office immediately. Please kindly note complaints are more easily resolved while you are still in the property.
9. Liability and Insurance
DSB, its Employees and Agents do not accept third party liability in respect of breach of contract, negligence, misrepresentation or otherwise. We cannot in any circumstances accept liability for any personal injury, loss of life, damage, loss or accident to personal property.
Visitors are advised to ensure their own insurance covers any loss or damage to personal property during their stay and to ensure adequate personal and travel insurance is taken out.
10. Facilities
DSB facilities will vary per property and are listed under each property page. However, all properties will be provided with electricity, fuel, wifi, linen, and towels and are included in the rental cost. The property will be serviced weekly for stays of 8 nights or longer. Your accommodation will be cleaned, the beds changed and towels replenished.


text:
Population is the theme of this year's Moving Mountains Symposium on Friday, May 25, kicking off the 34th annual Mountainfilm in Telluride film festival, which runs through May 28 over Memorial Day Weekend. The full roster of speakers for the symposium was just announced. "This theme synthesizes many issues Mountainfilm has examined in recent years, such as energy, water, food and extinction," said David Holbrooke, Mountainfilm in Telluride's festival director, in a statement released Tuesday. "The population was at 4 billion in 1974, and when that number is compared to estimates of 9 billion, or sometimes even 11, by 2050, it's hard to look at any issue we face -- such as food shortages, water depletion, energy consumption or disappearance of wildlife -- without factoring in population."
Mountainfilm in Telluride has traditionally featured a mix of films focusing on outdoor adventure and environmental issues, and in recent years has added the Moving Mountains Symposium to help take action on the latter and help engage festival fans and filmmakers. Themes have included Energy (2007), Water (2008), Food (2009), Extinction (2010) and Awareness Into Action (2011). This year's theme concerns all of the above, and couldn't be more timely: The global population recently passed the 7 billion mark.
Mountainfilm in Telluride executive director Peter Kenworthy sent us the complete list of symposium speakers yesterday::
Paul Ehrlich, author of the ground-breaking and controversial 1968 book titled The Population Bomb
Purnima Mane, former deputy director of the United Nations Population Fund and current president and CEO of Pathfinder International, a reproductive health care organization
Richard Heinberg, author of The End of Growth: Adapting to Our New Economic Reality (2011)
Dan Buettner, bestselling author of Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who've Lived the Longest (2008) and Thrive: Finding Happiness the Blue Zones Way (2010)
Dave Foreman, founder of Earth First! who now runs The Rewilding Institute, an organization dedicated to continental-scale conservation in North America
Eliza Griswold, author of New York Times bestseller The Tenth Parallel, which explores the regional fault lines where Islam and Christianity meet
Scott Wallace, author of The Unconquered, a tale about traveling into the Amazon to gather information on an isolated tribe without making contact
Peter Gleick, a scientist on leave from the Pacific Institute who focuses on global freshwater challenges
Roz Naylor, director of the Center on Food Security and the Environment and professor of Environmental Earth System Science at Stanford University
Kathleen Parker, writer who specializes in population issues in the Southwest
Tickets for the full-day Moving Mountains Symposium are $65 and are also included with some of the festival-pass options available at Mountainfilm.org.
We Believe Local Journalism is Critical to the Life of a City
Engaging with our readers is essential to Westword's mission. Make a financial contribution or sign up for a newsletter, and help us keep telling Denver's stories with no paywalls.


text:
New Milton Performance Pavilion
The Performance Pavilion is an original design by Kate Maddison of Chrysalis Arts that was commissioned by New Forest District Council and created in collaboration with blacksmith/ fabricators Chris Brammall Ltd and the Council's landscape architects.
The Pavilion is a spectacular and elegant structure providing a covered performance space at a raised level to the surrounding recreation park with new landscaping and paths to improve access and enhance this dramatic amenity. It provides a facility for seasonal performance, music, drama, dance, shows, exhibitions, outdoor gym classes, cultural events, and is a permanent park shelter and meeting point.
The Pavilion structure has the geometry of an eight-meter square over-laid on an eight-meter diameter circle. The square roof arches in two directions, the resulting shape is reminiscent of a leaping manta ray with two raised and two lowered corners. The raised convex curves of the pavilion create two natural focal points in opposite directions allowing directional performance either side. The design is inspired by New Milton's close proximity to the sea and appears like a Giant Manta Ray to have leapt from the sea, this metaphor is reflected in the landscape surrounding the pavilion. The concept design by Kate Maddison was proposed by Chrysalis Arts and selected through a design competition. It was manufactured and installed by specialist metalwork company Chris Brammall Ltd. The pavilion was commissioned by New Forest District Council on behalf of New Milton Town Council.
Project & Date: Performance Pavilion 2012 – 2013
Location: New Milton, Hampshire
Commissioned by New Forest District Council and New Milton Town Council
Project development by Neil Williamson NFDC
Lead artist: Kate Maddison, Chrysalis Arts
Other designers: Chris Brammall, Claire Penny NFDC
Manufacture & Installation by Chris Brammall Ltd
Landscape by The Landscape Group
Photos by Kate Maddison & Michael Angus


text:
2012 Union County Teen Arts Touring Exhibit
September 29 through October 26, 2012
The exhibit consists of 61 pieces of art selected from more than 700 visual art works shown at the 2012 Union County Teen Arts Festival held in March at Union County College. The annual event is administered by the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs in the Department of Parks and Community Renewal.
"The artwork in this exhibit is exceptional," said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. "The fact that the artists are teenagers makes the show even more outstanding. I encourage everyone to get out and see this fun, lively exhibit as it goes on tour throughout Union County."
For information about the Teen Arts program contact the UnionCounty Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs at 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth 07202; telephone (908) 558-2550. NJ Relay service users should call 711, or email: firstname.lastname@example.com.


text: If you're a big cottage cheese fan you'll be all over these bad boys, ok, maybe that's not a fair comparison, but the so called "Rhinestone" Chuck Taylor All Star from Converse certainly has an interesting look. Though these don't shine, they still feature Rhinestone's, and the texture created is truly something you don't see very often, if ever, in the sneaker world. A hint of orange makes an appearance on the outsole, and it's certainly a unique design, a design that can be copped now.


text:
The Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) is designed especially for highway and freeway driving in order to reduce the risk that you accidentally depart from the lane in use.
When LKA is enabled, there will be graphic on the screen that's meant to represent at the glance the system knowledge of the lane in front of the car.
When "Visual & Haptic" is selected, two additional options will come into play: "LKA Sensitivity" tunes the distance to the road markings in order to define the moment when the system will start to apply a steering torque. "LKA Strength" defines the corrective steering torque value in order to have a stronger or weaker trajectory deviation.
You're Not Like Everyone Else
The Maserati of SUVs
An Icon of Italian Elegance


text:
We're excited for the final market of the 2018 season and this week's featured vendors. Come out and hear Royce Johns in the music tent, too. POP-POP's Kettle Korn is a market favorite, and among the longest vendors in Beaverdale. John and Mary take pride in thePlant the seed... →
Featured vendors for the next-to-last week of Beaverdale Farmers Market are Yer's Veggies and popular gluten free options from Not Your Mother's Loin food truck. NYML menu includes vegetarian options and items such as tenderloins, french fries and chicken tenders that even people with severe gluten allergies canPlant the seed... →
Only three more weeks to enjoy Beaverdale Farmers Market, and we're celebrating a good season. Featured vendors for week 13 are The Side Garage and The Petite Sweet. In the music tent, welcome Aaron Earl Short, a solo singer-songwriter-guitarist. Aaron also performs with Kat Darling as ThePlant the seed... →
Featured vendors for week 12 of Beaverdale Farmers Market include an embroidery artist and a coffee shop. Freedom Blend Coffee sells coffee beans, beverages and merchandise at the market. Freedom Blend was founded in 2011, and in 2017 opened a coffee shop at 2329 Hickman Road, Des Moines.Plant the seed... →
Featured vendors for Tuesday, August 14 are Bigelow Family Farm and Sweet Magnolia Foods. Bigelow Family Farm near Winterset is owned and operated by Jake and Crystal Bigelow. All of their animals are born and raised on the farm, and nearly all the food they eat is grownPlant the seed... →
We're celebrating National Farmers Market Week with great music and vendors on August 7th at Beaverdale Farmers Market. Geneviève Salamone: The One-Woman Symphony will be "on stage" with her violin to play classical and pop tunes you love. Storybook Orchard is one of the featured vendors forPlant the seed... →
Jon Reinders will entertain market visitors on July 31 with guitar and vocals. There's plenty of seating, shade trees and activities and play spaces for kids. Featured vendors this week are Rolling Smoke BBQ and Shutt's Garden Center. Rolling Smoke BBQ is new to Beaverdale FarmersPlant the seed... →
Come and listen to the big band sounds of a market favorite: Junction Jazz Society. A sunny evening to enjoy, sit at our tables or dance in the street. Find something delicious to eat or drink from the many vendors – cold bubble tea, a pupusa, BBQ,Plant the seed... →
Randy Burk (of Randy Burk and The Prisoners) brings his Americana rock to entertain market visitors on July 17 (remember to leave some cash in the tip jar :)! Featured vendors offer a variety of high quality produce. Mao's Gardens have been vendors at Beaverdale Farmers MarketPlant the seed... →
A band new to Beaverdale Farmers Market performs on July 10: Anthony Koester and the Skunk River Band. Their modern country sound can be sampled on Facebook and of course heard live on Tuesday. Featured food vendors this week are familiar to long-time market visitors: Cinful Creations and Rolling Wok.Plant the seed... →


text:
Reviews of Hoodia Desert Lodge
They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa.
Great day in the dunes at Hoodia
We had three great days at Hoodia lodge, we did the all day trip to Sossusvlei which was excellent, again scenery from another planet but don't let the guide take you to a shortcut for Big Daddy, yes it is shorter but it is on virgin sand and very steep, consequently we only made it part way up. The guide provided an excellent lunch under the shade of a tree including hot water in a canvas "hand basin" and wine chilled in ice!!!
We also did the sundowner, another great experience with drinks and snacks and lanterns made from candles in paper bags - very atmospheric.
Hoodia was also a great place to relax with a very attentive staff, lovely swimming pool, great food and the owner, Thomas, who couldn't do enough for you
Hoodia Desert Lodge review
Thomas and Henrietta run this extraordinary place. Can't do enough for one. What a nice couple 9 out of 10. (nothing is perfect!!)
The sunset Honeymoon (???) sundowners was fun. The sand dune trip , coffee break, and lunch in the sticks was just such fun. Well done Tom et al.
Fantastic setting with wonderful staff
We loved Hoodia Desert Lodge. The staff were lovely and nothing was too much trouble. The rooms were luxurious and every detail had been thought of.
A very enjoyable stay!
From the moment we arrived we were made to feel special by Thomas, the owner. The room was superb, the views excellent and our guided trip to Sesriem & Sossusvlei was excellent.
Food was very good, but not quite excellent. Some people may think that a little harsh but when you visit a place like Hoodia where pretty much everything is excellent, but that was our opinion.
What a wonderful location. We were there for our wedding anniversary and they made it very special.
The trip to Sossulvlei was outstanding (I never thought I'd get to the top of the dune but was so pleased that I did!) and finished off with a veritable banquet with sparkling wine set amongst the dunes. We were made to feel very special. The host was very attentive and spoke to us each night we were there to check that things were OK.
Fantastic place and people.
A highlight of our trip.....its in a beautiful setting, the accommodation is great and such a unique experience...we loved this place.
The owner and staff are great, as was the food! Not to be missed!!
Hoodia Desert Lodge review
A wonderful welcome to the beautifully secluded situation of Hoodia. The most breathtaking views.
Accommodation and the main building are superb, as were the meals.
Service excellent, very friendly staff and the guides were the best. I'm sure they will remember almost carrying me up the sand dune!
Hoodia Desert Lodge review
The place was great, and our guide to Sossusvlie, Jonathan, was the best of the entire trip.
The drive to and from the area was exhausting (roads are difficult - and it took most of one day to get there from Bagatelle and one day to get to Swakop). Not much one can do, but we were not prepared for how tiring it could be on those drives - with no place to take a break.
We adored Hoodia. From the warm welcome, rapid provision of lunch because we arrived unexpectedly early, to the super room, great food, extremely well informed guide and quite excellent trip to the dunes, everything was perfect.
The owner/manager was extremely solicitous about problems we had encountered before our arrival and made sure we were well looked after.
Didn't want to leave this super place.
Wonderful stay
I cannot recommend Hoodia Desert Lodge too highly, we had a wonderful stay and we're able to get close to the desert elephants.Read more about the whole safari


text:
"[The Early Stories of Truman Capote] succeeds at conveying the writer's youthful rawness. . . . These stories capture a moment when Capote was hungry to capture the rural South, the big city, and the subtle emotions that so many around him were determined to keep unspoken."—USA Today
"A window on the young writer's emerging voice and creativity . . . Capote's ability to conjure a time, place and mood with just a few sentences is remarkable."—Associated Press
"Blueprints of the august, confident, and delightfully acerbic writer-to-come."—The Los Angeles Review of Books
"Dazzling."—The Columbus Dispatch
"[Capote's early] stories are special. Not just because they give a glimpse of an author finding his voice; or for the traces of his masterpieces. But also because they stand in their own right as lovely vignettes of the lives of the lonely, broken and troubled. . . . If you consider they were written when he was a child—aged between eleven and nineteen—then they become breathtaking in their precocity, craftsmanship, simplicity and the tenderness he became renowned for."—The Independent (U.K.)
"These ten-plus stories were written when Capote was a teenager and young man and will shed light on his subsequent work while remaining sharply observed pleasures in their own right."—Library Journal
"[A] gathering of the great American prose stylist's earliest pieces, published for the first time . . . Students of both Capote and the short story will find this instructive and entertaining."—Kirkus Reviews


text:
This video is hosted on the YouTube video platform. Therefore, playing this video requires embedding the YouTube video player by YouTube LLC, USA which belongs to Google LLC, USA. By accepting, you agree that we embed their video player, which is able to set third-party cookies, including those used for advertisement and tracking, and may transfer your browser information and IP address to Google servers. For more information, see Google's privacy policy.
Learn Power, Vinyasa Yoga warm up series, Sun Salutes
Learning yoga is not easy. One of the most challenging aspects is being able to link movement and breath. When you are a beginner its hard enough to move and figure out how to get into the correct position for your own body so moving with your breath is and added challenge you should look forward to. The more you practice the better you get. Don't be afraid to be a beginner. If you can keep up with this flow and move with your breath your are ready for more challenging aspects or another level of challenge such as jumping or flying or double push ups. Good luck learning yoga. Keep up the diligent work and practice daily!
LicenseDefault YouTube License


text:
Things do not always work out as planned.
Yesterday I took Mary for a second acupuncture appointment at 9:30 AM…that part worked out okay. When we returned to the motorhome at VFW Post #10567 at Southaven, Mississippi, I found a note on our door indicating I needed to come inside and talk to the Bartender. She informed me the city had called and said we had stayed too long and that we needed to leave…NOW…or they would be fined. Not wanting that to happen…we left.
A day earlier than I had planned, I ended up driving the motorhome the about 75 miles east to Thousand Trails Cherokee Landing RV Resort near Saulsbury, Tennessee. We are Thousand Trails members and you can read about this resort by clicking this link…
As always you may left click upon an image to see an enlarged view and then click once again to see an even larger view…
Here's the view from the dinette window…
Through the windshield we have a peek-a-boo view of the small lake…
It's pretty, peaceful and quiet here. Our current plans are to leave here on Monday. After a hectic week in the Memphis area, we need a bit of a rest.
Enjoying pretty, peaceful and quiet places is another joy in the life of a full-time RVer!
The red dot on the below map shows our approximate location near Memphis in the State of Tennessee. You may double left-click the map to make it larger…
Enjoying 65-75 degree temperatures most of the year is a primary joy in the RVing lifestyle!
"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving"…Albert Einstein
On October 27, 2012, I created a two-minute video titled America The Beautiful. The music America The Beautiful is by Christopher W. French. The photos, which I randomly selected, are from the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Tennessee, Washington and West Virginia (not shown in that order)…are mine. Yup, That's me standing in front of the Post Office in Luckenbach, Texas…Y'all!
Click this link to start the video. Make sure you have your speakers turned on and go to full screen asap.
If you have not checked out my Ramblin Man's Photos Blog, you can do so by clicking this link…
All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2013
For more information about my three books, click this link:


text:
It is said that we are exposed to around 5,000 advertisements a day. Advertisements have become such a common sight in daily life they are accepted without a second thought. They come to us in so many different ways.
In this Episode of Press Plus, we will discuss the role of advertisement in manipulating modern man's desire to consume.
Press TV's website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:


text:
2017.9 is the 9th release to Barium Live this year and the last upgrade before summer.
It brings additional enhancements to designing Form Rules as well as brand new configuration capabilities. The "Token Trail" that shows the path that a process has taken is now clearer and we have added the usual bug fixes and general improvements to Barium Live.
Form rules editor enhancements
The rules editor user experience has been improved even more since our previous upgrade. We have also added a new condition that is available to use regarding viewmodes. Viewmodes can now be used as a new condition in form rules.
Improved "task trail"
The ability to easily track tasks in apps and see which path the process has passed to get where it is right now is a very useful feature In Barium Live. You get a quick and precise overview by looking at the process model and see exactly what has happened earlier in the app. We have now improved the process view to be more helpful and visual to get that quick insight.
Read the 2017.9 Change Log to learn all about these features and more that are included in this release.
Best Regards,
Jonathan Franze


text:
Items where contributor is "Talzi, Igor"
Group by: Date | Item Type | Refereed | No Grouping
Jump to: 2011
Talzi, Igor and Monti, Massimo and Meyer, Thomas and Tschudin, Christian. (2011) Force-based navigation in wireless sensornets. In: IEEE International Conference on Distributed Computing in Sensor Systems and Workshops (DCOSS), DCOSS 2011, 6 S.. Barcelona.


text:
Automatic package creation, which one to choose?
I'm currently developing a complete packaging stack based on Docker to easily make different kind of packages for several Linux distributions. This for MySecureShell project.
This stack will be used to build packages in destination of upstream Linux distribution packages. But I'd like to provide a simpler and faster way to create custom repositories mainly for Debian, Ubuntu, CentOS and Fedora. In addition if packages could be automatically created when a new tag is pushed to the GitHub account, it would be perfect.
Hopefully this kind of solution exists, but I'm not sure about which one is better. I've found Bintray and Packager. Both have nice features but they do not looks to do exactly the same thing.
That's why I would like some feedbacks of some who already used it. If you've got any other suggestions, I'm interrested in!
Thanks in advance my readers :-)


text:
Larry Birkhead, Actual Anna Nicole Smith Baby's Daddy, Hangs with Goofy, Speaks Upby Mischalova at .
Thank goodness for the Internet. It allows us to provide fans with Hollywood gossip at all times.
It allows Travis Barker to react to a divorce party thrown by his ex-wife, Shanna Moakler.
And now it's allowed Larry Birkhead, the probably father of Anna Nicole Smith's daughter, to speak out against his former lover and for his current child.
In a statement posted on Larrybirkhead.net, the disgruntled papa blasts the Anna Nicole: "I constantly wonder what kind of person would steal a child from another. I thought at first maybe because your brother was taken from your mom was the reason, but then I realized she started planning on keeping you from me all the way back in May."
Birkhead also talked directly to the infant Dannielynn, claiming he tried to go to Disneyland to cheer himself up, but the trip backfired.
"I couldn't help but thinking, after seeing all of the kids, what it would be like to take you there one day."
We hope justice falls your way, Larry. But a word of advice: if you do end up with custody of Dannielynn, do NOT buy her the Ali Lohan holiday album for Christmas.
We're just sayin.


text:
When I first had the idea to create my game, it was a struggle deciding which of the many frameworks out there I would use. Phone Gap, Titanium, Xamarin, Unity…the list goes on. Then I found Corona SDK, which used this scripting language I had never heard of called Lua, and I fell in love with the ease and simplicity of everything.
Today, Corona Labs announced that their SDK is completely FREE! Corona always had a free tier, called Starter, which was actually very generous with the amount of features that you could use. But if you wanted access to certain plugins and features like in-app-purchases, then you had to upgrade to either Basic or Pro.
Not anymore! Under this new structure, everybody gets access to all plugins and daily builds without having to open their wallet. I am very excited to see how I can integrate these new features into my game, and to see what other developers will create. I think this is excellent news for developers everywhere!


text:
Pinterest follow button is a very simple & attractive plugin allows WordPress blogger to reach it maximum followers on his Pinterest account. Pinterest is a web and mobile application company that offers a visual discovery, collection, sharing, and storage tool. Users create and share the collections of visual bookmarks as boards. Boards are created through a user selecting an item, page, website, etc.
- Pinterest Follow Button
- Pinterest Follow Button Widget Settings
- Customizable Widget Title
- Follow Button Size
- Multiple Follow Button For Different Pinterest Accounts
- New: Pinterest Follow Button
- New: Pinterest Follow Button Widget Settings
- New: Customizable Widget Title
- New: Follow Button Size
- New: Multiple Follow Button For Different Pinterest Accounts
Docs & Support
You can find docs, FAQ and more detailed information about Add Pinterest Follow Button on Weblizar. If you were unable to find the answer to your question on the FAQ or in any of the documentation, you should check the support forum on WordPress.org.
We Need Your Support
It is really hard to continue development and support for this free plugin without contributions from users like you. If you are enjoying using our Add Pinterest Follow Button plugin and find it useful, then please post a Feedback. Your feedback will help us to encourage and support the plugin's continued development and better user support.
Please contribute to translate our plugin. Contact at
contact (at) weblizar (dot) com.
- Upload the entire add-pinterest-follow-button folder to the /wp-content/plugins/ directory.
- Activate the plugin through the Plugins menu in WordPress admin.
- Activate your follow follow button in any sidebar widget area.
Please use WordPress support forum to ask any query regarding any issue.
Suradnici i Programeri
"Add Follow Button For Pintrest" is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin.Contributors
Prevedite "Add Follow Button For Pintrest" na svoj jezik.
Interested in development?
Browse the code, check out the SVN repository, or subscribe to the development log by RSS.
* minor bug fix.
* compatible with wordpress 5.4
* Version update & tested with WordPress 5.3
* Version update & tested with WordPress 5.2.4
* Updated : Security and permission check.
* Fixed : some other issue fixed.
* Banner change as per violations color
* Display name changed
* version compatible with wordpress 5.2.2
* fixed jQuery related issue.
* version compatible with wordpress 5.2
* bugs fixed
* version compatible with wordpress 5.1.1
* fixed the issue related to button background in footer area.
* version compatible with wordpress 5.1
* fixd up minor issue related to button size in widget.
* version update compatible wordpress 5.0.2
* add custom css (Pinterest follow button)
For more information, see Weblizar
version update compatible wordpress 4.9.8
version update compatible wordpress 4.9.5
version update + button size setting no more required
version update + compatible wordpress 4.9.4
version update + compatible wordpress 4.9
1.0.5 26/08/2017
version update + compatible wordpress 4.8.1
1.0.4 29/11/2016
- Update
1.0.3 07/11/2016
- Update
1.0.2 10/10/2016
- Small update
1.0.1 16/09/2016
- Small update
1.0 16/05/2016
- Small update
0.9 02/04/2016
- Small update
0.8 02/04/2016
- Small update
0.8 14-March-2015
- Small update
0.7 31-Dec-2015
- Small update
0.6 28-Dec-2015
- Compatible with WordPress 4.4
- Small updates in plugin file
0.5 22-Sep-2015
- Compatible with WordPress 4.3.1
- Small updates in plugin file
0.3 06-June-2015
- Compatible with WordPress 4.2.2
- Small updates in plugin file
Version 0.2 22-Apr-2015
- New: WordPress 4.2 Compatible
- New: Pinterest Follow Button
- New: Pinterest Follow Button Widget Settings


text:
Operations Manager 2012 Dashboard Widgets
I wrote this as a reference for the Out of the box (OOB) Widgets in Operations Manager 2012 SP1. This is intended to help in putting together custom dashboards using the OOB functionality. A great example of putting this all together can be downloaded here http://blogs.technet.com/b/momteam/archive/2012/06/12/free-windows-server-2008-dashboards-for-opsmgr-2012-and-tool-to-help-create-your-own-customized-dashboards.aspx (Download and import the Xml management packs – Windows.Server.Summary.Dashboard.xml and Windows.Server.Task.Pane.Dashboard.MP.xml):
Also a great recording from MMS 2013 on customizing your dashboards more above and beyond what is OOB can be found here: https://channel9.msdn.com/Events/MMS/2013/IM-B401
My good buddy Mr.Holman has a nice blog on publishing your all-signing, all-dancing dashboards to SharePoint too: http://blogs.technet.com/b/kevinholman/archive/2013/04/03/publishing-scom-2012-dashboards-to-sharepoint.aspx
Two of the widgets are based upon SLAs, so there is a section that talks briefly about SLA Configuration at the end of this post.
There are 4 types of dashboard that can be created through the UI:
- Column Layout
- Grid Layout
- Service Level Dashboard
- Summary Dashboard
Here are some examples each of these layouts:
Column Layout:
The Column layout enables up to 5 vertical columns to displayed in a row in the dashboard.
Example 2-column:
Example 4-Column:
Grid Layout:
The Grid layout allows layouts of 1,2,3,4,5,6 or 9 cells in the following configurations:
Example: 5-cell Dashboard:
Service Level Dashboard:
The Service Level dashboard takes a pre-configured SLO and shows the data for it. The bottom pane updates as you click on a specific instance in the top-left widget:
Summary Dashboard:
A summary dashboard adds an 'Object by Performance', 'Performance' and 'State' widget in a 3-cell configuration:
Once created, you set the scope for each widget, depending on what you want to display:
So once you've decided on your dashboard layout from the 4 options shown above, your next consideration is what widgets you'd like to include on the dashboard, and what you would like each widget to display.
Objects by Performance Widget:
This is also known as the 'Top 10' dashboard, but it can actually do from a top 1 to top 20, and can also do bottom results. 'Top results' can be useful in scenarios such as highest CPU usage. 'Bottom Results' can be useful in scenarios such as % Free Disk Space.
Note the (all) instance cannot be used in this view. Therefore you can choose an instance like 'C:' and then all the 'C' drives will be shown.
Note, if you don't see the path, be sure to have System Center 2012 SP1 UR2 deployed. Rather than just looking at the KB for the download and installation instructions, it is always fun to see what 'feline' representation our good friend Mr.Holman has allocated to a given CU / update rollup (and he has some pretty nice guidance on deploying it too!)
Object SLA Widget
With this one, pick an appropriate Object (instance of a class) or a group that has an SLA applied to it.
Performance Widget
This widget creates a performance graph for the selected group / object. In this widget, it is possible to use the (ALL) instance.
State Widget:
This widget can be based on one of three configurations:
- All instances of a specific class (you can skip the group selection)
- a specific group and all of it's member instances, regardless of class type
- a Specific group narrowed down to a specific class type contained in the group
Example – SQL DB Engine State:
SLA Widget:
This widget just requires selection of one of your pre-configured SLAs, and will use the group / class that the SLA is scoped on.
SLA Configuration:
The above is based on the following example SLA configuration (Authoring>Management Pack Objects>Service Level tracking):
Alert Widget:
Allows the display of alerts, narrowed down to a specific group of object, and it is also possible to narrow down on Severity, priority, and Alert Resolution State.
The alert widget on the far right has the 'Enable Alert Details inline' checkbox checked.
Details Widget:
This widget is context-sensitive based on what is selected in a state or alert widget in the same dashboard view.
Example – Alert Details:
Shows the Detail of the Selected Alert:
Example – State Details:
Shows the Detail of the object selected in a state view:
Instance Details Widget:
Unlike the 'Details' Widget, this is not context-sensitive and will show the details of a selected group or instance, as selected during configuration of the widget.
Example – SQL DB Engine on ComputerX:
SLA Configuration Note
More detail on configuring SLOs can be found here: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh212753.aspx
Below is a very brief 'quick-start' style summary though! They are configured in the Authoring pane under Management Pack Objects> Service Level Tracking.
Two types:
- Monitor
- Performance Collection Rule
For a Monitor, it is important to know the class that the Monitor is targeted too (which you can find by looking at the monitor properties).
For a performance collection rule, it is important to know the class that the Performance collection rule is targeted to (which you can find by looking at the rule's properties).
Example of a performance one:
(The example of a monitor-based Service Level Objective can be found above in the SLA Widget section)
You can test your SLA data by running the "Service Level Tracking Summary report' which can be found in the Microsoft Service Level Report library Folder in the reporting pane.
Here is the example output report:
Happy Dashboarding!!!!


text:
The best thing about this post is that I really have nothing to say.
I am doing good. I'm finding my groove and I feel like I'm winning this battle.
This week wasn't any harder than usual but it wasn't easier. It was just another week, and frankly, that feels pretty good.
I don't recall ever really feeling this in control before. If I forget to eat, or miss my vitamins or don't finish all my water, I no longer feel a sense of defeat. I don't feel like spending the rest of the day eating cookies and drinking pop. The desire to just pack it in and give up seems to have left me. I hope it stays away.
The week of nothing. Best week ever.
Week Eleven gave me these things:
~ More inches gone, and 3.5 more pounds have hit the road.
~ 3 people joined my team of Losers and I'm so excited to help them on their journey.
~ I found a new place to meet my friends for lunch, and for anyone that is trying to cut out sugar and bad fats knows, that is hard to find. Who knew Safeway & their fancy new salad bar and eating area would become my new hot spot? Lunch date anyone?
~ I tried some new Ideal Protein products this week and have found a new fave. Mushroom and Parmesan Couscous Risotto is delish, and is a perfect addition to my big lunch salad.
~ I had to buy new underwear, cause mine were falling off. Big ol' panties that slide down under your butt when you walk, is not a good thing. 🙂
- CONSIDERING JOINING ME ON IDEAL PROTEIN? There's still lots of room on my team. I have an excellent coach & team The Medicine Shoppe in Sherwood Park. They've graciously made an offer for all of my friends that want to join me in this adventure. If you let them know that you read this blog and want to join my Dream Team of Losers, they'll take 50% off of your registration costs. If you want more info, send me a message. Or reach out to the Coach here.
Tagged: diet, ideal protein, salad bar, weightloss, winning


text:
The BioMat is a "pad" which is placed on the massage table.. It converts electricity through a computerized control panel, produced by Texas Instruments, into Far Infrared Rays (FIR), nature's invisible light. You'll feel the tired muscles relax as the dry heat warms and penetrates your skin. FIR was discovered by NASA to be the safest, most beneficial light wave. This reduces swelling and increases blood flow.
The BioMat also produces Negative Ions, nature's energizer, which deliver a molecular level massage. This accelerates and deepens all healing and cleansing processes. It balances pH by decreasing acidity and is considered the "Master Power Switch" which activates the body's entire cellular communication system, making every body function work better! Negative Ions help to alleviate allergies, migraines and sinus problems.
- Relieve Pain and Joint Stiffness
- Reduce Stress and Fatigue
- Boost Energy and Vitality
- Induce Deep Delta State of Relaxation
All massages are conducted on a biomat.


text:
Holyoke Hercules Turbine Web Page
The first hydraulic turbines I worked on were at the North Village Hydroelectric Plant in Webster, Massachusetts. They were Holyoke Hercules turbines manufactured by the Holyoke Machine Company in Holyoke, Massachusetts. They were the first true mixed flow runners of a high efficiency. James Becheno Francis developed the first mixed flow turbine. His machine did not have the circumferential discharge buckets on the bottom of the runner. It took John B. McCormick to add the classic discharge buckets to Francis' turbine.
Holyoke, Hercules, McCormick, turbine. 50 KW exciter turbine at Red Bridge Station, Ludlow, MA.
The following is the Hercules Turbine Waterwheel Catalouge No. 13 for your perusal:


text:
Amazon has announced that Fire TV Stichas strated shipping.
"Fire TV Stick has been our most successful device launch ever," said Dave Limp, Senior Vice President, Amazon Devices. "We built a ton of these, but customer demand still outpaced our supply. We're excited by the overwhelming customer response and the team is working hard to build more as quickly as possible."
Fire TV Stick, which retails in the US at $39, is a small stick that connects to the HDMI port on HD TVs for instant access to movies, TV shows, music, photos, apps, and games.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login


text:
Cudjoe Key, Florida
Unlike the rest of Florida, the Keys have been pretty dry and sunny this winter, which is okay with me. We have noticed it was a little cooler here than previous winters, but certainly not cold. The grass had started looking brown and rain was definitely needed here.
The last front that moved through Florida and caused all the flooding in the panhandle, finally reached us and brought us a decent amount of rain. We sure needed it.
Last week we had 4-5 days of really hot weather. When you'd open the door to the motor home, the heat would almost knock you out. It made us lazy. We had hoped for a trip into Key West for sunset, but the heat seemed to tire us out, so we haven't made it yet. It might be next year before we get back down there.
The stifling heat is gone and it's now just "regular" hot. Fortunately, most of the time there is a nice breeze at our campsite, so we enjoy sitting outside in the late afternoons and evenings.
Most of our neighbors have headed back up north to their summer homes, so the block is getting pretty quiet. One of our neighbors has a little rental on the canal across the street from us and has offered to let us keep our boat there. Since we haven't had the boat out for a while, we haven't yet taken advantage of their offer, but it sure would be nice to keep the boat in the water. Thanks Rosalee and John!
Al didn't feel well for a few days, so we stayed pretty close to home.
He felt well enough for happy hour though, so we went to Springers last night. It's one of our favorites and is popular with the locals. It's the place where we met the woman who told us about finding all the "square grouper."
When we walked in the door last night, the place was crazy, and people had on strange hats. Oh yeah…..it was Derby Day and they celebrated it Keys Style. You should have seen the hats. One was a buoy like the one we have hung as a decoration in the picture below.
These buoys are used to mark lobster and crab traps. The guy last night had one mounted to a helmet style hat. It was definitely a Keys style derby hat.
Al wanted me to take some pictures, but I didn't want to look like a tourist!
One woman had on a hat that was more typical of the Kentucky Derby. It was covered with small roses. When we walked in hatless, she took pity on me and gave me a couple roses! I put them behind my ears and we joined in the festivities.
We met a couple who are staying in Bahia Honda State Park. They come to the Keys often and always stay in the state parks. I asked how they managed to get reservations and she told me her "secret." I still can't quite figure it out though! I guess I don't really need to worry about it anymore though.
Although we haven't gotten back out to Looe Key Reef, I wanted to add some more snapshots from the videos that I took.
My little Intova Underwater camera takes videos and still photos. I found it easier to use it on video mode, since the viewfinder is so small and I really couldn't compose any pictures anyway.
These next ones are of the giant 300 pound Jewfish aka Goliath Grouper. He was so sweet.
You can see how big he is when you compare him to the bottom of our boat.
The next one is of a parrotfish. This is the fish that "smiles" at you. I am not at the correct angle though, and much of his vibrant green and red colors has been absorbed by the water column.
When you look at objects in the water, your eyes can see the colors better than the camera lens, but the deeper you go, and the more water between you and your subject, the more color you will lose.
These pictures I took of Looe Key were taken without a strobe, so much of the color was lost in the picture, although I could see them with my eyes.
The following is part of an article I read about how colors are absorbed in water.
Water absorbs different wavelengths of light to different degrees. The longest wavelengths, with the lowest energy, are absorbed first. Red is the first to be absorbed, followed by orange & yellow. The colors disappear underwater in the same order as they appear in the color spectrum.
Even water at 5ft depth will have a noticeable loss of red.
At what depth underwater does color disappear?
- Red - 15ft
- orange - 25ft
- Yellow - 35-45ft
- Green - 70-75ft
I'm hoping to find a better underwater camera by next year. They have certainly changed a lot since I last used a 35mm film underwater camera! I have a lot of research to do, since I don't want to spend a fortune.
Not sure what today will bring. Anchor hunting? Looe Key Reef? Fishing? Being Lazy?
And last but certainly not least, here is a recent picture of Mr. Baxter.


text:
a sad day
There really aren't words for the measure of the voice we've lost, and how sad a day this is.
Much love, Steve, we will miss you.
Much love, Steve, we will miss you.
.comment-link {margin-left:.6em;}
thanks for sharing your thoughts on Steve k/o.
I'm kind of searching right now. Steve was a great writer and great person and he'll be missed.
By 1:27 AM, at


text:
Picture one of those TV documentaries where the camera pans across deserted icy tundra... and you have Iceland! The unparalleled natural scenery makes it the perfect place to take a road trip like no other.
Driving in a strange country in wintery conditions can be daunting. You could take a tour, but the freedom of being able to pull over whenever you want just to take a look at something beautiful was what made it feel like a true adventure to me.
Ready for your road trip? Here are my ten top tips to help you plan an unforgettable journey:
1. If you're visiting in winter, bear in mind that the F-roads that cross the middle of the country are closed and don't open until June or July depending on the weather. Even if it is summer and you're feeling brave, you'll need a serious 4×4 to take them on.
2. Hold on to the... doors! There's one thing that no rental insurance in Iceland will cover, and that's having your door blown off! You might think that sounds unlikely, but as soon as you feel the strength of the Icelandic gusts you'll believe it. When you're getting in and out of the car, hold on to the doors to avoid a chilly, red-faced drive back to the rental company and a big bill.
3. You don't need to worry about getting lost. Every road tripper's fear, there's only really one main road so it's hard to go wrong! We had a sat nav as a back-up, but the trusty old road map would have been enough. Speaking of which...
4. It's important to map your journey in terms of distance travelled before you set off. Though gas stations are fairly frequent, in the more remote parts you can easily go 200km without one so it's worth thinking it through in advance or getting a spare gas tank (or both!).
5. Take some cheap crampons. Imagine the situation: you get to a picturesque icy waterfall far off the beaten track. It's snowing lightly. As you try to get nearer you realize it's basically a skating rink, fall on your backside countless times, and have to give up and admire it from afar. Don't be that person!
6. Traffic isn't an issue -- we passed about one car an hour on average -- but what will slow you down are the unplanned stops to check out the incredible scenery. Whether it's to get the perfect picture or just admire the view, factor in plenty of breaks to your journey time.
7. Take snacks! The only bad thing about Iceland is the food. Between an abundance of overpriced lamb or junk food served in a delightful gas station setting, it won't be the highlight of your trip. If you don't want to pay $10 for a pack of Pringles, make sure you're well stocked with car snacks before you land.
8. As roads are mostly de-iced, the toughest part of Icelandic driving is the cross wind. When the wind is up, you find yourself gripping the steering wheel really hard to stay on an even keel -- even after just an hour of driving my wrists and forearms were aching! Make sure you have both hands on the wheel as sometimes the wind can whip round the mountain and take you by surprise.
9. The Blue Lagoon ain't all that. Despite being a bucket list staple, it was a bit of a letdown. Having driven round Southern Iceland and seen all the untouched natural beauty, the Blue Lagoon suddenly felt crowded and commercial. If you can fit it in on your way to/from the airport great, if not, don't worry about it.
10. Allow enough time. Done right, this will be the road trip of a lifetime. Make sure you allow enough time to enjoy Iceland at its best -- outside on a glacier! Booking tours and mini adventures will mean you don't get sick of driving, and get to appreciate Iceland.
This was just my take on Iceland. Do your research to find out what's right for you: Travel and expat forums such as InterNations or Trip Advisor can be a great place to ask locals and other travellers to create your prefect road trip.


text:
President Donald Trump on Sunday asked whether his supporters might "demand" he not leave office after two terms.
Trump made the suggestion while attacking the New York Times and Washington Post on Twitter.
"A poll should be done on which is the more dishonest and deceitful newspaper, the Failing New York Times or the Amazon (lobbyist) Washington Post! They are both a disgrace to our Country, the Enemy of the People, but I just can't seem to figure out which is worse? The good news is that at the end of 6 years, after America has been made GREAT again and I leave the beautiful White House (do you think the people would demand that I stay longer? KEEP AMERICA GREAT), both of these horrible papers will quickly go out of business & be forever gone!
The 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1951, states a president shall be elected to the office no more than twice. It was ratified six years after the death of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the only president to be elected to four terms.
It's not the first time Trump has made such a suggestion in regards to presidential tenure.
In a speech before Republican donors in March 2018, President Trump commented on how Chinese President Xi Jinping had recently been able to suspend term limits in his country, essentially allowing him to become president for life.
"Maybe we'll have to give that a shot some day," Trump said in an audio obtained by CNN. In the audio, Trump did not specifically reference his own tenure.
Jerry Falwell Jr. suggested in May that Trump should have two years added to his first term for what Falwell called a "failed coup." It came after the completion of Robert Mueller's investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a May 4 interview with the New York Times that she believes Trump would not voluntarily leave office if he loses by a slim margin in 2020.


text:
Applying for a School Bus Driver Position has never been easier!
SafePUPIL Boot Camp
SafePUPIL Club
Louisiana Schools Hiring Bus Drivers Apply Today
Grant Parish School Board
If you don't see a school in your area please click the below link. Fill out the short application and we will do our best to locate a school in your area.
Contact Us
About Us
Privacy Policy.
Copyright © 2015 USschoolbusdriver.com and Vertical Alliance Group, Inc. All rights reserved.