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Rolex Fastnet Race 2015 | J/111 Blur³
Let's start with answering the obvious question; "how was it"?
It was fantastic.
And different.
Compared to most other offshore races I've done there was another dimension, that I can't really put my finger on. It might be the fantastic nature and animal life with whales and hundreds of dolphins. It might be the intense competition with some of the worlds best offshore racers. It might be the mix of legendary landmarks and teams that inspired me to go offsore when I was young. It might be the welcoming atmosphere both in Cowes and Plymouth that made us fit right in.
It doesn't really matter what it was.
All I know is that I was on an emotional high for 96 hours straight and that the team worked harder than ever.
This is a race we should have done a long time ago.
I'll write a separate article (in Swedish) on preparations, as I know of several Scandinavian crews who want's to do Fastnet in 2017. This year there was 8 Swedish boats, and all did very well. And I'd expect even more to come along in two years.
We decided to do the race in December 2014. The alternative was J/111 Worlds in Newport, but none of us had done Fastnet (we all had it on our bucket list) so that would be the bigger challenge and demand more from the team.
It's so much easier to focus on one major event, so all spring training, qualification races and even transport were designed as a build up. And looking back I wouldn't want to do anything different.
Start -4 days
We arrived in Cowes a week before the race, and hade the boat ready-to-race when the crew arrived Wednesday. We spent two days sailing on the Solent from the start (at the correct time to match the current on Sunday) to the Needles to get a feel for the tide, and got to ask questions not even the locals had answers to. My take is that good homework beats local knowledge every time, and this would prove true in this case as well.
We also worked together with Aksel Magdahl on weather scenarios. We wanted to race as a team without any pros or local guys on board, but three of us worked together with Aksel to analyze the weather situation.
As Squid Sailing decided to give all their high-res models away for free to Fastnet competitors, we knew that everyone had good data. The big thing was to determine the impact of a low pressure and associated fronts over Ireland, and to manage a number of transitions; one at Plymouth on the way out and one at Scilly Isles.
NOTE: open up the YB Tracker in a separate
window to better understand our race below.
I'll add Expedition screenshots soon.
Start – Needles
Naturally there's a lot of drama in the morning. Check-in with the orange sails up, watching Spindrift and Comache swosh by, cheering on other boats, and having old and new friends wishing loch from everything that floats. Chaos. But a friendly chaos…
We watched the IRC3 and IRC2 starts and it was obvious that the tide took it's toll with many OCS in both classes. Good boats as Refanut and Courier du Leon spent a long time under spinnaker trying to get back to restart.
We had decided to be conservative, and we were in good company. With 4 minutes to the gun most of the fleet was sailing eastward, away from the line to avoid being early. With 25 boat-lengths to the line we got going.
We were about a third up along the line from the squadron and lost out to the boats that were closer, but soon hit the favorable current along the southern shore. We traded tracks with Ker 40 Keronimo and some other seriously fast boats and managed to hang on to them for quite a while.
We worked the south side down towards with our navigator monitoring currens closely. As soon as we lost just 0.2 knots we tried to get back in maximum current again. Here our work earlier in the week payed of and we managed to find a good balance between currant and wind pressure.
Before the start we decided on a number of boats we would monitor on AIS. This would help us keep our pace up but also serve as indicators of wind and current. Naturally the J/111s were perfect, as all of them were in IRC2 that started 20 minutes before us. And as most of them went right we could see that they were considerably slower than us due to less current.
Splitting tacks with some Scandinavian friends.
For a while we struggled, but decided to make one more tack in under a dark cloud in Newtown bay before changing sides to make the most out of the passage at Yarmouth and Hurst Castle.
Photo: Dolores Burkert who followed the race from J/111 Top Job, strategically placed just after Hurst Castle.
After Hurst we found that the strongest current was further south than expected and worked hard to stay with it. Most local boats, following "common knowledge", went hard right towards the Shingles and lost out. Super effort by our navigator, Patrik Måneskiöld, who nailed it.
The pay-off came at the Needles, where we were leading in IRC1… Absolutely amazing!!
This was one of the stages I worried about before the race, but in the past we've proved we can win the trickiest stages in Denmark and the Stockholm archipelago without any local knowledge. But by doing our homework.
Needles – Start Point
As the wind lightened throughout the evening, our routing had us going south along with most of the fleet. But we wanted to be on the right side to be able to make the most of the northerly that was supposed to fill in during the night. A short port tack put us in a position with 20% of the boats to windward, which felt very good.
Looking back, we might as well continued south, but before the race we decided to be very conservative. We should stay with the fleet and not take any chances. We knew we had speed and trusted our ability to hang in there, even if we didn't get 100% out of every opportunity.
And we got the proof early on when we passed the other J/111s. As they started 20 minutes before in IRC2 and we caught them in less than 3 hours of sailing. That was a boost for everyone on board. Afterwards we got good grades from the crew on British Soldier: "You guys are really quick".
During the night the wind went further and further west, and the current took the fleet south.
We made progress towards west, but away from the expected northerly wind, so we decided to tack north again to meet the shift. One alternative would be to anchor, like First 40 La Reponse, to be in a good position, but we valued a position further west and kept sailing.
Looking at the track, it's very similar to Courier du Leon (green), and it's hard to see that we could have done it very different? At 19.00 we were within sight of each other. The screenshot shows us at 02.00 just after the transition, and at 06.00 in the morning we had extended our lead to 14′.
After the northerly filled in we went to Code 0 and charged westwards. Here the fleet divided into a northerly group aiming to take advantage of the sea breeze in the morning and one southerly offshore group. Together with very experienced Grand Soleil 43 Quokka and La Reponse we lead a bunch of boats committing to the inshore route. We felt confident that those two boats and our routing all agreed on the same thing.
Corby 40 Crackling Rose and Ker 40 Hooligan was good benchmarks as they went south just ahead of us.
Start Point – Lizard
In the morning Quokka slowed down, then we and La Reponse. We though our positioning was ok, in front and to the right, but as others caught up they went even further north to avoid stopping. The process repeated itself as more and more boats came along, leaving us in a tough spot.
We managed to keep some speed, but still lost out to the group that went by on the inside. All the 14′ we had on Courier du Leon were gone.
When we finally got going we went right, to be on the right side of the pack when the northerly wind came back.
When we got Internet access the tracker showed us as 26th in IRC 1. Not fun after being in the lead, but still something to work with. Spirits were high and we sailed very agredssevly up the coast towards Lizard Point.
And we timed the northerly wind perfectly, went to Code 0 and then A3 ten minutes later. We found a good line slightly east of the majority of boats, that included both Alphalink and Excentric Ripper. We had slightly more current against, but better pressure. So we were able to catch the boats ahead, one by one. British Soldier opted for an offshore route that didn't pay.
Lizard – Scilly
At Lizard Point we went back to Code 0 and hit the corner and current (that now was with us) perfectly. Passed a bunch of boats and had great pace towards the TSS east of Scilly.
We knew we were hitting another transition with light winds, and we didn't want to be caught on our own. We gave up some westerly distance to position ourself ahead in a more conservative spot. Better safe than sorry…
It was a fantastic night. When I came on watch at midnight it was warm and we had hundreds of navigation lights astern. The lighthouse swept over a black sky filled with stars. We were the fastest boat in sight but didn't make a saound as we left a long trail of glowing sea sparkles together with dolphins and schooling fish.
A magical show that gave way to a beautiful sunrise at the Scilly Isles.
Scilly – Fastnet
Looking at the results we were again in the lead. Apparently we managed to crawl back from 26th to a 9th south of Fowey and then 6th at Lizard Point.
And now we could see both A13 Teasing Machine (committed to the south after Scilly) and Swan 45 K-Force (committing to the north).
Here's the situation at 10.04 Tuesday morning. We wanted to be left of the pack to get the SW breeze first, but not invest to heavily as each port tack was wasted distance when the wind hit. Again the strategy and positioning was very similar to Courrier du Leon:
At one point just after lunch we couldn't hit our targets. We found kelp around the rudder, and after som investigation with the GoPro, around the keel as well.
We stopped the boat, and Simon Kindt did a wonderful dive to clear he keel. Pretty absurd thing to do in the middle of the Celtic Sea. And yes, it's on film.
In the afternoon the wind increased at forecasted. We went from Code 0 to J2 to one reef when the wind topped 20 knots during the night. We struggled with performance, and had a hard time pushing the boat. Here it was obvious we hadn't trained in pitch black, fog and short waves. Also some of the crew got sea sick and we became somewhat passive for a few hours.
Compared to Courrier du Leon we lost 7.8' between 22.00 and 05.00 when they got to the TSS. That's more than 1' per hour or 10% of pace. Despite very similar routes.
Naturally the JPK 10.80 is a better machine at TWA 80-110 in 18-22 knots, with huge stability and ability to carry more sail. But the key factor was experience with 4 helmsmen with huge offshore and Figaro experience being able to push the boat during the night.
Hats off to Géry and his crew.
One of the most capped of all RORC sailors, Géry Trentesaux finally won the Rolex Fastnet Race on this, his 13th attempt, following his first attempt in 1977. The French sailor, who previously led France to Commodores' Cup victory in 2006 and was part of their winning Admiral's Cup team in 1991, this year sailed a JPK 10.80, the latest model from the French manufacturer based near Lorient, whose 10.10 model won the race overall in 2013.
Courrier Du Leon's performance this year was all the more remarkable, after an uncharacteristic and costly error caused her to be over early at the start. In no wind and adverse tide it took her almost 40 minutes to return to recross the start line successfully. Despite this, the French team managed to gain the lead in IRC 3 on the water while passing the Lizard late on Monday evening. They then pulled ahead of all of IRC 2 amid the giant armada of boats setting off across the Celtic Sea to the Fastnet Rock.
Ultimately Courrier Du Leon won by 2 hours and 20 minutes over her sisterhip Arnaud Delamare and Eric Mordret's Dream Pearls, which finished second both in IRC 3 and under IRC overall.
Aside from having a good boat, Trentesaux also had one of the best crews – Aubry Arnaud, Antoine Carpentier, Jean Louis Couedel, Francois Lamiot, Pierre Ghewy and Figaro sailor Jean Pierre Nicol. Five had sailed with him regularly since the 1999 Rolex Fastnet Race, while Lamiot has raced with Trentesaux ever since they both competed in the Figaro during the mid-1980s.
"I think we are very tough on the boat," said Trentesaux. "If I ask them to hoist the spinnaker, then five minutes we take it down and five minutes we put it up – there are no questions…
Experience matters…
Fastnet – Scilly
When the morning broke we could see Fastnet Rock through the fog. The rough conditions was exactly how we imagined the rounding, and it felt great to be able to tick the box.
This was a moment to remember for all of us.
And a great achievement to be able to be here as 9th boat in a super competitive class.
I dowloaded the latest weather that indicated that the low over Ireland would stay there and we would sail into less and less wind on the way to the finish. We decided to make the most of it and set out big "whomper" A2 and went low in the stronger winds. We would have the opportunity to come back up in the lighter winds.
Fast and fun sailing when we passed boat after boat. We tried to do the most out of the conditions and peeled between A2, A3 and A5 to maximize our speed towards the TSS west of Scilly.
Unfortunately we didn't really do our homework on the TSSS. We were so focused on hitting the SW corner that we didn't really evaluate the option of going on the inside. It would have been faster to stay low and head up with the current close to the islands, but 80% of the boats stayed south so that might still have been the conservative choice?
We'll put this up as a beginners misstake. As this was our first race, it was hard to change perspectives. Going from the big picture, with many options, to managing each leg, and then back up again to re-evaluate is hard when everything is new. When the competition have done 10-15 races, they've seen (or even tried) most alternatives.
Scilly – Finish
Not very dramatic, but we still worked hard. Changed back and forth between A2 and A3 in the pitch black night to make the most out of every change in conditions. At Lizard Point we tried to find maximum current, but obviously the pay-off was much smaller this time.
In general, in 8-12 knots downwind we don't really have an edge over other boats, but we stayed in contact with Farr 45 Nature and some other fast boats.
After short gybe behind the breakwater in Plymouth we passed the finish line at 12:31:58.
Photo: Linda Bottinga (who raced on Farr 45 Nature.
1 GOA Ker 39 FRA35439 1.117 Samuel Prietz 3 – 21:11:03 4 – 08:05:12
2 Tokoloshe II GP 42 GBR1682R 1.267 Michael Bartholomew 3 – 10:31:57 4 – 08:34:07 0.5%
3 Teasing Machine A13 FRA38757 1.168 Eric De Turkheim 3 – 17:36:32 4 – 08:39:47 0.6%
4 Lisa First 44.7 GBR4947R 1.103 Nicholas Jones 3 – 23:34:55 4 – 09:25:37 1.3%
5 Codiam Grand Soleil 43 FRA36777 1.101 Nicolas Loday 3 – 23:48:28 4 – 09:29:04 1.3%
6 Blur J/111 SWE69 1.110 Peter Gustafsson 3 – 23:11:58 4 – 09:40:17 1.5%
7 Moana First 47.7 BEL4701 1.107 Mathieu Goubau 3 – 23:33:39 4 – 09:47:09 1.6%
8 Jings J/133 GBR8633R 1.109 David Ballantyne 4 – 00:19:06 4 – 10:49:01 2.6%
9 Erivale III Ker 39 GBR236R 1.112 Michael Greville 4 – 00:05:09 4 – 10:50:51 2.6%
10 Desperado of Cowes Swan 65 GBR1665 1.102 Richard Loftus 4 – 01:03:23 4 – 10:57:22 2.7%
11 Coin Coin Sydney 43 GTS NED342 1.189 Bastiaan De Voogd 3 – 18:13:06 4 – 11:16:11 3%
12 Imagine X 41 GER6960 1.125 Streckenbach Holger 3 – 23:32:20 4 – 11:28:53 3.2%
13 Cracklin Rosie Corby 40 GBR851R 1.107 Steven Anderson 4 – 01:20:10 4 – 11:45:04 3.4%
14 Antix Ker 40 USA1253 1.210 Anthony O'Leary 3 – 17:09:48 4 – 11:53:15 3.5%
15 Rebellion Carkeek 40 Mk 2 GBR8449R 1.267 Whitehead/Blue 3 – 13:21:38 4 – 12:09:07 3.8%
16 Warhorse First 50 FRA36780 1.120 Nicolas Gourio 4 – 01:11:03 4 – 12:50:47 4.4%
17 Baraka GP Ker 40 NED40010 1.203 Harmen J de Graaf 3 – 18:33:13 4 – 12:56:10 4.5%
18 Keronimo Ker 40 GBR6889R 1.191 Andrew Williams 3 – 19:28:09 4 – 12:56:23 4.5%
19 Noonmark VI Swan 56 GBR5698R 1.176 Sir Geoffrey Mulcahy 3 – 20:46:33 4 – 13:06:16 4.6%
20 Leu JV 45 One Off GER6009 1.180 Claus Loewe 3 – 20:31:05 4 – 13:10:17 4.7%
21 Night Owl II Mat 12 GBR562R 1.136 Ed Hall 4 – 00:06:12 4 – 13:10:24 4.7%
22 K-Force Swan 45 USA18 1.179 Jan De Kraker 3 – 20:39:03 4 – 13:14:07 4.7%
23 Lady Mariposa Oyster 625 GBR6255X 1.155 Daniel Hardy 3 – 22:59:48 4 – 13:43:16 5.1%
24 Vinga Swan 45 GER7193 1.170 Philipp Kay 3 – 21:49:25 4 – 13:46:25 5.2%
25 Hooligan VII Ker 40 GBR741R 1.193 Edward Broadway 3 – 20:05:53 4 – 13:52:23 5.3%
26 Andrasta Iceni 39 GBR917R 1.168 Henry Bateson 3 – 23:03:57 4 – 15:02:13 6.3%
27 Eclectic Azuree 46 GBR759R 1.132 Colin Campbell 4 – 02:09:09 4 – 15:06:31 6.3%
28 Incisor Corby 45 GBR8248 1.163 Cowes Race School / James Gair 4 – 00:09:46 4 – 15:50:14 6.9%
29 Merena Class40 BEL8000 1.185 Alexis Guillaume 3 – 22:29:01 4 – 15:57:47 7%
30 Bienne-Voile M34 SUI22 1.154 Thierry Bosshart 4 – 01:30:06 4 – 16:31:01 7.5%
31 Visione ILC 40 AUT15764 1.162 Nikolaus Knoflacher 4 – 00:52:50 4 – 16:34:31 7.5%
32 Palpatine Stimson 42 GBR907R 1.126 Mr Richard Thisby 4 – 03:58:42 4 – 16:34:32 7.5%
33 Anna Mobile 53 RUS931 1.228 Mikhail Mataruev 3 – 19:55:44 4 – 16:53:19 7.8%
34 Katsu Reichel/Pugh 45 RP45 1.242 Richard Fearon 3 – 19:19:15 4 – 17:25:14 8.2%
35 Broader View Hamburg Andrews 56 GER5500 1.238 Torben Muelbach 3 – 19:46:52 4 – 17:37:30 8.4%
36 Titania Swan 68 GBR6821R 1.249 Richard Dobbs 3 – 19:05:42 4 – 17:46:40 8.5%
37 Persevere Hanse 545 USA60545 1.157 Colin Rath 4 – 03:07:34 4 – 18:41:20 9.2%
38 Bingo Pogo 40 FRA37573 1.176 Yves Haudiquet 4 – 01:38:12 4 – 18:49:15 9.3%
39 Nature Farr 45 GBR4545R 1.210 Jur Ringers 3 – 23:09:21 4 – 19:08:19 9.6%
40 Juno IV AC 45 GBR8217T 1.124 Mr Peter Burwood 4 – 06:39:25 4 – 19:23:11 9.8%
41 People Farr 45 GBR4512R 1.210 Pieter Visser 3 – 23:39:44 4 – 19:45:05 10.1%
42 Lutine X 55 GBR809 1.195 Neil Armstrong 4 – 01:50:37 4 – 20:55:23 11%
43 Hope & Glory/UNICEF Humphreys 50 GBR641 1.143 Robert Gibson 4 – 08:34:14 4 – 23:31:27 12.9%
44 Cv7 Clipper 68 GBR9356T 1.215 Adrian Bannister 4 – 03:52:06 5 – 01:20:24 14.2%
45 Pogo 1 Class40 GER6002 1.175 Thomas Wentzel 4 – 07:41:10 5 – 01:49:52 14.6%
46 Challenger 1 Challenge 72 GBR8871R 1.210 Stephen Durkin 4 – 05:21:27 5 – 02:38:33 15.1%
47 CatZero Challenge 72 GBR2289L 1.206 Daniel Watson 4 – 08:05:55 5 – 05:32:35 17.1%
48 Challenger 2 Challenge 72 GBR8872R 1.210 Ricky Chalmers 4 – 15:38:10 5 – 15:04:47 22.9%
49 Endeavour Challenge 67 GBR7801T 1.124 RNSA Richard Tarr 5 – 00:19:20 5 – 15:14:32 23%
50 Challenger 4 Challenge 72 GBR8874R 1.210 John Farndell 4 – 15:54:49 5 – 15:24:56 23.1%
51 Challenger 3 Challenge 72 GBR8873R 1.210 Elizabeth Terrell 4 – 16:27:50 5 – 16:04:53 23.5%
52 Nightfall Arcona 430 GBR6643R 1.121 Tom Sperrey 5 – 01:50:43 5 – 16:35:19 23.8%
Wrap up
Our goal was to finish Fastnet Race in the best way we could and get the most out of bopth the boat and the team. We were all new to the race, but wanted to do it without local knowledge or other expertise on board, as this would be more demanding (and maybe rewarding).
We had no expectations in regards to results, so to finish 6th in IRC1 which included over fifty of the best pro teams in Europe is absolutely marvelous. And to beat legends as Antix. Erivale and Hooligan really makes our result something out of the ordinary.
Personally I had three moments that defines our accomplishment:
1. Leading IRC 1 at the Needles, after a tricky start we trusted our speed and homework and beat the rock-stars at their own game.
2. Coming back from 26th place to lead again at the Scilly Isles. No negative vibes. Just focus, hard work and confidence in the team.
3. Rounding the rock :-)
The team
I'm especially proud of our team effort. Everyone worked harder than I've ever seen before and also helped each other reach a higher level. I've done more and more shorth handed racing in the last few years, but when a crew perform at it's full potential it's magical.
Our watch schedule with two hours on, two hours stand-by and two hours off (three watches) let us push the boat hard and when fresh guys came up every two hours it really felt like a well oiled machinery.
Blur Sailing Team (left to right): Peter Gustafsson (helm + skipper), Pelle Pedersen (helm), Mattias Bodlund (trim + mast), Andreas Turesson (trim + bow), Patrik Måneskiöld (navigator + trim), Mats Björk (keyboard), Simon Kindt (bow) and Magnus Hansson (helm).
The team also include David Johansson (bow). We usually race with nine, but IRC limited our crew to 8. David still did the race with SunFast 3600 La Primera, and has a big part in getting both them and us to Cowes and around the rock.
It was great to see eight Swedish teams on the starting line, and I'm sure we'll see even more in 2017. Let us know if you're interested and we'äll do what we can to support you.
IRC1 6th J/111 Blur Peter Gustafsson
IRC2 3rd Arvid Laurin 48 Classic Anahita, Carl Urban
IRC2 12th First 40 Tarka II of Hamble, Rolf Tannergård
IRC2 14th S&S 63 Refanut, Fredrik Wallenberg/Gustav Dyrssen
IRC2 26th Sun Fast 3600 Laprimera, Peter Lundgren
IRC2 38th First 40 Sailplane, Jonas Sandberg
IRC2 61th Reflex 38 PRD Konsult Puma, Peter Westerlund
VO65 1st Team SCA Carolijn Brouwer
A big thank you to our partners. Without you we wouldn't be able to perform: GVA, Henri Lloyd, North Sails, Liros, Spinlock, 24Hour Meal and Happy Yachting.
I'd also like to thank RORC and all local sailors that welcomed us with open armes, helped us in every way and hosted some great parties.


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Archive for the 'neck pain exercise' Category
Range of Motion Neck ExercisesFebruary 27, 2008
Posture Pulley Neck ExerciserFebruary 27, 2008
Studies show that loss of cervical curve and poor posture often lead to progressive disc degeneration, osteoarthritis, tension on the spinal cord and nerve roots, as well as anterior head translation. In fact, a translation of even a single inch may increase work for the posterior neck muscles by a factor of ten.With the Posture Pulley™, you can enhance your posterior head stabilization muscles, which reinforce an anatomically correct head and neck posture. When used on a regular basis, you will see and feel a noticeable improvement.
Fast. Easy. Effective.
- Place the dark neoprene section behind your head
- Grip the soft foam handles with both hands
- While maintaining a level head position, slowly extend and straighten both arms at eye level
- Hold for 5-10 seconds, retract and repeat
If you suffer needlessly from poor posture work with the Posture Pulley Neck Exerciser to see and feel a noticeable improvement.

subset: commoncrawl


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A few years ago, we broke the story on bratwurst as the cure for swine flu. Based on that find, the results of this latest study should not be a surprise — especially to lifetime residents of Wisconsin. (We always said we were progressive!)
Right on time for Memorial Day festivities, a far-reaching clinical study just released by the prestigious Masbur Foundation has proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that eating bratwurst significantly increases life expectancy. The quantity providing optimum effectiveness is 69.7 lbs. per person annually, with larger quantities producing no additional benefits, but not posing any health risks, either. Apparently "too much of a good thing" only means … more enjoyment of a good thing.
In the study, which covered a dozen brands of bratwurst, consistent consumption of Johnsonville Brats seemed to provide the greatest benefits. Data analysts surmised that bratwurst-induced longevity might be connected to body-healing chemicals released through the taste buds, thereby explaining why Johnsonville had the edge on the other brands.
The study also suggests that generous doses of sauerkraut consumed in tandem with bratwurst helps the anti-aging process.


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Protect, Inform and Engage Your Congregants
What would you do in the event of an intruder?
Instilling the mindset of "See Something, Say Something" has always been important in preventing harm from happening to others. While this has mainly been spoken about in public settings, it's time to foster that approach in places of worship.
We have partnered with church security leader, Strategos International, to bring you an educational webinar on how to gauge and respond to potential and threatening intruder situations.
Webinar Partner: Strategos International
In this presentation, you will learn about:
- How to assess the risk of violence to your organization
- The importance of "Awareness" in relation to prevention and mitigation
- Church lock-down protocols and principles
- Recognizing traits of suspicious behavior and armed individuals
- Verbal conflict management and de-escalation
- Best practices in communicating emergency situations.


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Datawind has announced the launch of VidyaTab-Punjabi, the first-ever Punjabi education tablet.
For this launch, Datawind has partnered with Vismaad, a developer of educational content in Punjabi.
The tablet is priced Rs.3999/-.
The launch event was marked by the presence of Bardish Chagger, Canadian Minister of Small Business and Tourism and current Leader of the Government in the House of Commons.
With this initiative, Datawind hopes to rejuvenate the Punjabi language, which is facing extinction on many parts of the world. The tab comes with over 1000 apps that help users learn Punjabi language and understand the Punjabi culture.
In addition to educational videos based on History, folk stories and contemporary issues in classical cartoon animation, the tab also contains interactive games in Punjabi.
All the apps in the tab are developed by Vismaad.
On the occasion of her visit to India, Canadian Minister Bardish Chaggar said, "SMEs are the backbones of our two economies and I am looking forward to encouraging greater interaction between them as that is how we will achieve greater growth."
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Thursday, 21 May 2015
Yarn ends...
17 comments:
Indeed questions we have all struggled with at one time or another! Lol 😃 What pretty stripes though! Happy weekend, xxReplyDelete
Ah, I think it just means that you are just like the rest of us!! xxReplyDelete
Definitely something we've all done! The stripes are looking good though. xxReplyDelete
I know, this is the worse part of all isn't it? Nice to see you back!ReplyDelete
Caz xx
Be firm with yourself, I say that all the time but it still doesn't happen. Have a great weekend.ReplyDelete
I know! They're almost as bad as washing up after the kids and hubby have been cooking!!ReplyDelete
No you won't. It's part of the making process. I am nearly finishing a blanket for my friends Birthday. I made it too wide, so now the stripes will be going vertically - and I have all the ends to sew in. I always plan to sew as I go , but I never do :-)ReplyDelete
They are the sting in the tail (pardon the pun, couldn't help myself...!) XReplyDelete
Sighs, I know how you feel! I always leave it to the end too and hate the process of weaving each little bit in!ReplyDelete
Fingers crossed you will conquer these ends soon!
Take care
Anne (Crochet Between Worlds)
Just keep thinking how much more beautiful your blanket will be once all the ends are sewn! Good luck!!! XReplyDelete
Ends stink. It's real and true. But still a means to an ends. Ends, ugh? !ReplyDelete
I had just finished weaving in lots of ends having left them all until last and wondering why I do this to myself when I came on here and saw your post! Thank you for popping over to visit my blog, it was lovely to see you there. HxReplyDelete
So recognisable :-) Good luck with those loose ends!!ReplyDelete
Happy weekend!
Madelief x
They're such a pain aren't they? A good film on TV and you'll get them done in no time. Have a great weekend xxReplyDelete
The very questions I often ask, I alway say I'll do them once a week, but never do, they are such a annoying part of crochet,I feel your pain on this one, have a great weekendReplyDelete
Clare xx
same problem for me!ReplyDelete
sometimes I think I should let them to give my project a boho style!!
I am the opposite, I can't stand to see them so I weave them in right away.ReplyDelete


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May 13, 2017
How To Schedule Whatsapp Messages On Android
How To Schedule Whatsapp Messages On Android Today we are going to share an interesting trick on scheduling WhatsApp Messages on Your Android Smartphone. Here in this post, we have mentioned three working methods to schedule WhatsApp message on Android. Read out the full post to know the methods. Numerous of you will agitate to


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Managing the science/policy boundary after a disaster : the research response to the 2010-2011 Canterbury earthquake sequence (2015)
Embargoed for:6
Type of ContentTheses / Dissertations
UC Permalinkhttp://hdl.handle.net/10092/11596
Thesis DisciplineGeology
Degree NameDoctor of Philosophy
PublisherUniversity of Canterbury
AuthorsBeaven, Sarah Janeshow all
The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 finds that, despite progress in disaster risk reduction over the last decade "evidence indicates that exposure of persons and assets in all countries has increased faster than vulnerability has decreased, thus generating new risk and a steady rise in disaster losses" (p.4, UNISDR 2015). Fostering cooperation among relevant stakeholders and policy makers to "facilitate a science-policy interface for effective decisionmaking in disaster risk management" is required to achieve two priority areas for action, understanding disaster risk and enhancing disaster preparedness (p. 13, p. 23, UNISDR 2015). In other topic areas, the term science-policy interface is used interchangeably with the term boundary organisation. Both terms are usually used refer to systematic collaborative arrangements used to manage the intersection, or boundary, between science and policy domains, with the aim of facilitating the joint construction of knowledge to inform decision-making. Informed by complexity theory, and a constructivist focus on the functions and processes that minimize inevitable tensions between domains, this conceptual framework has become well established in fields where large complex issues have significant economic and political consequences, including environmental management, biodiversity, sustainable development, climate change and public health. To date, however, there has been little application of this framework in the disaster risk reduction field. In this doctoral project the boundary management framework informs an analysis of the research response to the 2010-2011 Canterbury Earthquake Sequence, focusing on the coordination role of New Zealand's national Natural Hazards Research Platform. The project has two aims. It uses this framework to tell the nuanced story of the way this research coordination role evolved in response to both the complexity of the unfolding post-disaster environment, and to national policy and research developments. Lessons are drawn from this analysis for those planning and implementing arrangements across the science-policy boundary to manage research support for disaster risk reduction decision-making, particularly after disasters. The second aim is to use this case study to test the utility of the boundary management framework in the disaster risk reduction context. This requires that terminology and concepts are explained and translated in terms that make this analysis as accessible as possible across the disciplines, domains and sectors involved in disaster risk reduction. Key findings are that the focus on balance, both within organisations, and between organisations and domains, and the emphasis on systemic effects, patterns and trends, offer an effective and productive alternative to the more traditional focus on individual or organisational performance. Lessons are drawn concerning the application of this framework when planning and implementing boundary organisations in the hazard and disaster risk management context.


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Zen Mind Control sounds like a steady input of brainwashing or a Nazi Training Camp. Is this something I want to incorporate into my life and how would I do this even if I wanted to. Has anyone every told you …you are really in the zone and without even trying everything positive is happening… as if descending from the heavens.
This is partially true as this is cosmic energy that you can easily develop and put you and your life on Zen automatic pilot. Every day just like deleting your messages from a cell phone or clearing your computer you need to practice clearing your mind of unwanted and unnecessary stuff.
This is a bit harder than it appears since we are constantly being exposed to the media, intense human relations, and day to day living pressures. The secret is to start with a ten minute mind clear each morning and each night before you go to bed. This mind clearing and deleting stuff will allow the cosmos to give you direct energy and zen mind control with no effort and your life becomes a mirror image of the cosmos where everything is possible without any limitations.
QUOTE: While you are continuing to clear your mind, week after week, year after year, your experience will become deeper and deeper, and your experience will cover everything you do in your everyday life. The most important thing is to forget all gains and ideas. In other words, just practice clearing your mind and do not think about anything without expecting anything. Then eventually you will resume your own true nature. That is to say, your own true nature resumes itself. Zen Teachings
THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW: "When you start to wander about in some delusion which is something apart from you yourself, then your surroundings are not real anymore, and your mind is not real anymore. If you yourself are deluded, then your surroundings are also a misty, foggy delusion. Once you are in the midst of delusion, there is no end to delusion. You will be involved in deluded ideas one after another. Most people live in delusion, involved in their problem, trying to solve their problem. But just to live is actually to live in problems. And to solve the problem is to be a part of it, to be one with it." -Shunryu Suzuki
THINGS YOU MAY WANT TO SAVE: Not much! Can't take it with you and clutters your mind.
ZENTRAVELER SAYS: Clear your mind daily for easy to achieve zen mind control.
From here to Infinity and Beyond is a relatively short ride! The next leg takes eons and eons as you fly through the Barycentric Dynamical Time Zone! …and on and on and on. Follow the Zentraveler Blog often for Travel, Health and Zen-like stories and such. Where else can you get a three in one blog for the price of free.


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Nambu Ironware Lacquered Cast Iron Trivet or Paperweight
Led by third-generation master craftsman Nobohu Miya, Kamasada Studio has been making Nambu ironware for more than a century. The traditional Japanese handicraft – a specialty of Iwate Prefecture, on the northeastern coast – combines simplicity, artistry and practicality. This cast iron trivet adds modern design to the mix. Finished with a coat of urushi lacquer, its rich black surface is resistant to rust and ready to protect surfaces from hot pots, pans and serving dishes.
5" L x 5" W
Cast iron
Care Instructions
Handwash with mild soap and dry thoroughly with a soft cloth.
This item is out of stock. Please enter your email and we'll notify you as soon as it's available!Test Response


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Small financial incentives might make a big difference in encouraging newly insured low-income patients who do not have a regular source of care to visit a primary care physician.
That's what researchers found when they offered as much as $50 to participants in a study that tracked how likely they were to make an initial primary care visit. The likelihood that individuals would make such a visit within six months of enrollment rose in relation to the amount of the incentive. The study, "Small Cash Incentives Can Encourage Primary Care Visits By Low-Income People With New Health Care Coverage,"(content.healthaffairs.org) by Cathy Bradley, Ph.D., and David Neumark, Ph.D., was published in the August issue of Health Affairs.
Low-income individuals without consistent insurance coverage are often reluctant to visit a primary care physician for multiple reasons, the authors wrote, even though such a visit can help new patients address long-ignored or emerging health care needs.
"Patients may view such a visit as unnecessary or daunting, particularly if they are unfamiliar with making appointments and communicating with physicians," the authors wrote.
Study participants, who were newly enrolled in the Virginia Coordinated Care (VCC) program, were randomized to one of four groups: a $0 incentivized, a $25 incentivized, a $50 incentivized or a nonincentivized group. Those in the three incentivized groups initially received $10 to complete a telephone survey to gather information about their health status. After completing the survey, individuals were then told to which of the three incentivized groups -- each made up of about 400 individuals -- they had been assigned.
The incentivized participants were told they had six months to schedule an appointment but received no reminders to do so. Control group participants were not contacted by researchers.
Seventy-seven percent of individuals who received $50 completed a primary care appointment within six months. The rate dropped to 74 percent for those who received $25 and to 68 percent for those who received $0. Sixty-one percent of those in the control group made a primary care visit within six months.
Participants who were older and female were more likely to make the visit. Individuals who said they receive most of their care in the ER were less likely to see a primary care physician.
The average age of study participants was 46, and approximately two-thirds of the members of each incentive group were African-American. Demographics of each incentive group were equal in terms of income, employment, smoking, drug or alcohol use and mental health.
To be eligible for VCC, patients must have a household income no greater than the federal poverty level, they must have no other source of health care coverage, and they must live within 30 miles of the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center in Richmond, a safety-net facility with an urban and primarily African-American patient population.
The authors wrote that their findings probably apply generally to urban safety-net settings but may have limited application in other settings.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act expanded the ability of public insurance programs to offer financial incentives as a way to encourage patients to maintain healthier habits. One 10-state Medicaid pilot program that paid participants to lose weight, stop smoking and schedule wellness visits reported mixed results(content.healthaffairs.org). Other studies indicated that when patients assume some shared cost for ER visits, they will reduce their nonurgent ER visits(www.nejm.org).
The new research indicated that small cash incentives can be a contributing factor in encouraging development of a regular source of primary care and driving down overall health costs.
"If the use of primary care is shown to reduce overall health care use and improve health in this high-cost population, cash incentives may be a cost-effective way to steer low-income patients away from more expensive services and help them establish a relationship with a primary care provider," the authors wrote.
Related AAFP News Coverage
Graham Center Forum
Panelists Highlight Unique Value of Primary Care Research
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Usually I just scroll by or hit the delete tab, but this time I didn't. Maybe the picture of an international city on my bucket list to visit or the tag line appealing to my growth mindset were the draws. Regardless, I clicked on the embedded video link in this email from the advertiser that I'd still not yet 'unsubscribed.'
You know you are loved, she says, this beautiful woman gowned in a dress that flows gracefully to the top of her knees, and wearing such high-heeled shoes that I wonder if she practices walking on stage prior to addressing the few hundred woman that attend her conferences.
The camera spans across the women at white-clothed tables, women eager to better themselves and their businesses, of different nationalities and faith.
Her bracelets dangle as she sweeps her arms up and around as if to embrace someone. You are absolutely loved and it is from knowing that love, that you can give your best to the world, she continues.
And I'm first convicted as I'd judged this woman, thinking she might be too secular for me to engage. Yet, she's got it. Instead of telling these women that they need to love themselves first, a popular view point to achieve dreams, she declares they are loved.
Something I so needed reminding.
As it is first in the knowing that we are loved before we can love ourselves and serve others.
We, though, are going to love—love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first.1 John 4:19
When we know that God is love, accept that we are made in His image, and that He loves us we naturally then fall into loving ourselves.
And with this understanding of how much we are loved, we can follow His second commandment of loving others as ourselves.
The second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself. No other commandment is greater than these. Mark 12:31
And it is then, with this knowledge of knowing we are loved beyond measure that we can forgive our trespasses and those that trespass against us.
Treat them like native-born Israelites, and love them as you love yourself. Remember that you were once foreigners living in the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 19:34
"You are not to seek vengeance or hold a grudge against the descendants of your people. Instead, love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD." Leviticus 9:18
Simply put, the scriptures teach us that if we do not know God's love for us, we cannot love ourselves as God loves us and thus, cannot love others and forgive others as God calls us to love and forgive.
If we do disobey, He calls us not condemnation as that will only lead us to not love ourselves and to not love others as He shows us.
Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. Romans 8:1-2
Thankfully, He's lovingly given us the Holy Spirit to convict us so we are aware of our sin but are never to condemn. Instead correction is His way to turn us back to the knowing of His love for us.
So my beloveds,
1.Know you are loved first
2.then you naturally love yourself (and not be in condemnation)
3. and love (and serve and forgive) others as yourself.
Without number 1 and 2, 3 cannot be. Being your best for yourself and others always starts with the knowing of how much He loves you.
You are loved…


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You lost a couple sleeves of balls and your scorecard is littered with double- and triple-bogeys.
You walk off the 18th green — which you three-putted, of course — feeling a little down about the sorry state of your game.
So what do you do?
Go to the driving range or putting green? Nope, that can wait.
You instead need to head immediately to the 19th hole, where any kind of bad round can be salvaged by good company and some ice-cold beverages. Not necessarily in that order.
Let's face it, the 19th hole is a much easier one to birdie than the previous 18.
We have polled some of the brightest minds in B.C. golf — basically, a couple of people in the industry we know enjoy the odd drink — and came up with a highly subjective list of a few of the best 19th holes in the province. Here they are, in no particular order:
Nicklaus North, Whistler
A good 19th hole requires a great patio and Nicklaus North certainly has that. At 4,000 square feet, the patio at Nicklaus North is the largest in the Whistler area and offers some scrumptious views. It's just a chip shot from glacier-fed Green Lake and Harbour Air seaplanes dock right in front of you. Visitors also get a view of the 16th tee, where they can catch a glimpse of other golfers struggling on one of the most difficult finishing stretches in B.C.
"We are blessed with a pretty cool spot," says general manager Michael Zuccolin. "Oru restaurant and patio area is for everybody, not just golfers. And we're family friendly. We have croquet on our back two putting greens, badminton, beanbag tossing, big chess sets."
Sagebrush Golf & Sporting Club, Quilchena
This highly regarded Merritt-area course that sits high above Nicola Lake is home to an especially unique 19th hole. It's called Terry's Hideout and is actually located between the 12th green and 13th tee. So you visit it during your round, but you're welcome to return after as well. The resident chef will barbecue you a burger while you relax on a large outdoor deck that sits next to a lake stocked with rainbow trout. Grab a complimentary fly rod if you like and catch (and release) a fish. Only at Sagebrush do you have a chance to record an eagle, birdie and a trout during your round.
Tobiano, Kamloops
You may notice a trend here. Great golf courses tend to have terrific 19th holes. Tobiano is no exception. The patio area at Tobiano offers drop-dead gorgeous views of Kamloops Lake and the entire property. It's a great spot to sip on one of their signature Snakebite Caesar cocktails after your round.
"To me every one of your senses is invoked on that patio," says Tobiano general manager Don Brett-Davies. "There is the visual obviously, the red rock and the pine trees and the sunset and so forth, but audio-wise you can listen to the meadow larks, there is the smell of the sage. It is a patio that definitely triggers all senses."
Whistler Golf Club
No one does patios like the Whistler area. "You come to Whistler for the outdoors and our patios here accentuate that," says Alan Kristmanson, general manager of Whistler Golf Club, where a 140-seat patio sits directly behind the 18th green and first tee. "When you are done you can watch your buddies if they are behind you and stare right at them or look at Whistler Mountain, or watch the bears walk by if they are out that day. "Palmer's Design, Whistler's Attitude is kind of our tag line so we have got the music on, the beers on ice on the deck and we want to make sure people feel comfortable hanging out after their round."
And if you happen to imbibe a little too much on the patio, Whistler Village is an easy walk.
Big Sky, Pemberton
Fescue is where many of my golf balls go to die. Fescues is the name of the restaurant and outdoor patio at Big Sky. From here you'll get a great post-round look at magnificent Mount Currie, which towers over the course. You may even see or hear some of the regular mini-avalanches or rock slides that occur on the mountain. If it's early or late in the season, there are heaters to keep things cosy. In midsummer, when the Pemberton Valley absolutely bakes, Fescues provides misters to keep things cool and comfortable. There aren't many better places to end a day on the links.
Best of the rest:
Predator Ridge, Vernon: Once a week the patio here is filled with the music of Okanagan performers, who play live.
Meadow Gardens, Pitt Meadows: Perfect place to decompress after depositing three balls into the water while trying to hit that island green on No. 18.
Swan-e-set Bay, Pitt Meadows: Enjoy that peaceful, easy feeling sitting outside this club's magnificent clubhouse.
Northlands, North Vancouver: After that long walk up the 18th fairway, you can huff and puff your way to this scenic patio.


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When I was a kid, I lived for snow days! Growing up in North Carolina, we would get them every once in awhile and it was so exciting to not go to school! As an adult, snow days are very rare but today is the exception.
Nashville is under a Winter Storm Watch and is experiencing freezing temperatures and sleet mixed with snow. Nashville doesn't have the road equipment to take care of winter weather so the city is pretty much closed today. The forecast is calling for snow/freeing rain all day and general yuckiness and colder weather for the rest of the week.
I'm not sure what tomorrow will bring but today I am enjoying my snow day. I have some photography work to do but when I'm done, I'm going to curl up with the cats and a good book. Oh, and I'm not getting out of my jams!
Stay safe, Nashville. Stay warm, rest of the country. Enjoy the snow day.


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The small South American country of Costa Rica has Panama and Nicaragua as its neighboring countries to the south and north respectively. Costa Rica has remained a hot travel destination for nature enthusiast tourists since the 1980s. The well established protected areas and national parks give Costa Rica a competitive advantage. It also boasts of rich flora and fauna, world-famed beaches along the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean as well as active volcanoes that are safely visited, binary tourists. A great number of tourists visiting Costa Rica are largely engaged in eco-tourism related activities like trekking, fauna, flora, rural visits as well as bird watching. Nevertheless, the country is still a great destination for adventure and it is listed as one of the 10 best world's ethical destinations.Since historical times, Costa Rica has enjoyed relative peace free from the political turmoil that has largely affected its neighboring countries. Costa Rica is also listed as the world's greenest country and also the happiest country to live in the world. The nation of Costa Rica has diverse climates, cultures, landscapes, flora, and fauna. Its tourism resources range from dry tropical forests to rain and temperate forests, to pacific and Caribbean beaches, to volcanoes to marshy lowlands and high mountains. The least visited area in the country is the Caribbean Costa Rica due to its many mosquitoes and relative isolation despite being a great destination for sea turtle seeing and whitewater rafting. Most of the people live in Central Valley with central Pacific being the most visited Costa Rica region thanks to the many beaches, national parks, and accommodation facilities found here.
The first capital was Cartago before being changed to San Jose. Dominical city is well known for its natural beauty and incredible biodiversity. Other touristy cities in Costa Rica are Alajuela home to the international airport of Juan Santamaria, Heredia, Puerto Limon, Liberia, Quesada, and Puntarenas. Other major destinations in Costa Rica include the Cahuita National Park, Cocos Island National Park, Chirripo National Park, and Corcovado National Park, the Arenal Volcano, and other national parks and protected zones. Apart from bird watching which is the major activity in the country, there are other popular places to visit especially the beaches.
The main beach is Corcovado and Dominical beach offers the best nightlife scenes and the best surfing destination. The wide rivers in Costa Rica make the country a great destination for water rafting. Sportfishing is increasingly becoming very common in Costa Rica where tourists go to catch and then release the fishes back into the waters.
Surfing hotspots in Costa Rica are incredibly many and biking seems to be the order of the day especially in the big cities. Costa Rica is one of the countries that experience a large number of tourists and its relative security and safety make it a worthwhile place to visit. Traffic in the big cities can be dangerous and you need to be careful and as always, using common sense will be of great advantage to you.


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To apply totally free legal help from Iowa Legal Aid, name 1-800-532-1275 Monday-Friday from 9 to eleven am or from 1:30 to three:30 pm, except Thursday afternoon. At this level, you also needs to be planning on how one can proceed paying in your authorized expenses as well as how much you need to have the ability to dwell independently and comfortably, particularly when you have children. For instance, it's the difference between telling someone what to do (authorized advice) versus how to do it (authorized information). If you need to forge forward and deal with your legal issue your self, do your analysis and provide you with a plan. First you need to determine whether you might have a authorized subject or just a problem.
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stellar is based on the flexbox layout mode and is build using LESS mixins.
behind the scenes
why I did it
The flexbox model
- helps building responsive layouts without frameworks
- decreases the code needed to position elements
- makes adjusting width and height intuitively easy
LESS mixins give the opportunity of renaming flexbox properties and values in a semantically more sensible way.
why use stellar
stellar hides the flexbox model behind what we all can get our heads around:
x and y-axis positioning.
Vendor prefixes are included.
It keeps your HTML clean and tidy.


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Local Farmer Raises Concerns over Quality of Drinking Water
FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, Iowa -- "I said that people are drinking crap."
Chris Henning, a farmer in Franklin Township (rural Jefferson), does not mince words when it comes to speaking out about the impact she believes Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) are having on the public`s drinking water.
"When you and I flush each day, we flush and we put two and a half gallons of water with our flush," said Henning. "Well, a pig poops four times as much as you and I do...and the only water that goes in with their poop is their urine."
Graphic as that description may be, Henning believes it's important to spell out exactly what`s going on, so people understand the danger.
"When you have 2400 pigs, four times as much, you`ve got a town double the size of Jefferson in a building and all of that poop in a pit, okay, you know and I know that in town the water with its load goes to the sewage system and they treat it," said Henning. "They don`t treat hog waste. They put it on the ground, ripe, awful, ecoli full, whatever is in it."
And when it rains it goes into the ground, into the tile, and into the creek.
Henning says her well has failed tests for bacteria.
"And when that happens, you pour bleach in the casing..."
Henning raised her concerns to the Greene County Board of Supervisors at a recent public hearing.
"The Supervisor...Mick Burkett from Grand Junction, whose son just happens to have a CAFO, oh, isn`t that interesting, told me that if my well, wouldn`t pass, maybe I ought to drink bottled water," recounted Henning. "There was an audible gasp in the room. I went, yeah, like that`s an answer?!?!"


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The story of The Cardigans was one that many critics, American ones anyway, tried to peg from the start. Winsome Swedish group, specifically from Jönköping, emerge in the early-to-mid-1990's on the back of an ironic blend of heartbreaking lyrics and saccharine 60's mod-swinging pop-rock. Said group will remain in the niche they began in to appeal to hipsters the world over; no evolutionary bounds and leaps to be made. The end? Not so much. As it turned out Peter Svensson (guitar), Magnus Sveningsson (bass), Bengt Lagerberg (drums, percussion), Lars-Olof Johansson (keyboards, piano) and Nina Persson (vocals) were really pop exhibitionists at their cores. The Cardigans revelled in the best chameleon luxuries the genre had to offer. What did that mean for their fifth long player Long Gone Before Daylight (2003) and inherently, the group itself?
The History
After their arctic trip-hop excursion on their fourth LP Gran Turismo (1998), The Cardigans took a sabbatical. In the four years that divided Gran Turismo from Long Gone Before Daylight, each of the members became involved in other musical matters and personal affairs. Notably, frontwoman Persson ended up starting another alt-rock-pop crew called A Camp whose eponymous album appeared in 2001. Its lullaby and country gems were intriguing to hear from someone whose previous musical diversions had included various strains of 60's and late 90's pop. When it came time for The Cardigans to assemble for their fifth record, they all returned rejuvenated. Interestingly, they took an overarching nod from A Camp's country-pop-rock remodel that'd later induce shock, awe and revulsion equally in fans and critics.
The Record
The Cardigans were ready to sit in the driver's seat of their own long player and Long Gone Before Daylight offered that chance. Guided primarily in songwriting by Persson and Svensson, the other members each acutely contributed their instrumental gifts to an album that reverberated on a wholly rustic sensibility. The Cardigans gain in power still allowed for Tore Johansson, their primary producer on their four previous recordings, to co-produce; Per Sunding was also brought in to contribute ideas. Regardless, Long Gone was a Cardigans baby and their attention to detail was all at once full and arousing.
The opening and, as Persson and Svensson confessed during the press junket for the LP, classic "Communication" pulled back the curtain for Long Gone Before Daylight. Its teary-eyed tug was complete with violins-held-at-bay that met striking bass and accentuated guitar / drumming; immediately it set the scene of hope colliding with a world-weary sense of knowledge in love. A listen to the content of "Communication" drove home Persson's unique ability as a singer, "You always seem to know where to find me and I'm still here behind you, in the corner of your eye. I never really learned how to love you, but I know that I love you through the hole in the sky!"
Persson's vocal, somewhere between disinterest and investment, spirited the lyrics with a sense of sweetness and melancholy that easily could make fellow contemporaries Dolores O'Riordan (of The Cranberries), Shirley Manson (of Garbage) and Gwen Stefani (of No Doubt) blush with envy at her effortless turn of phrase. Persson further revealed her powers on the violent ideas of romance contained in "You're the Storm," "And Then You Kissed Me" and "A Good Horse." But Persson wasn't doing this alone, her bandmates showed that a singer is only as good as the canvas they're working on top of.
Whether it was the sear of Svensson's guitar on "You're the Storm," the thunderous backbeats of "A Good Horse" via Lagerberg, or the coiling bassline and keyboards of Sveningsson and Johansson (Lars-Olof, not Tore) in "And Then You Kissed Me," The Cardigans were playing in top form. A worthwhile mention is that "And Then He Kissed Me" was a disturbing (in a good way) rewrite of songwriter Carole King and her ex-husband Gerry Goffin's 1962 number "He Hit Me (It Felt Like a Kiss)" by The Crystals; the original was produced by the mad genius, Phil Spector.
The quiet, but brisk music continued on the gingery "For What's It Worth" and "Live and Learn," both playfully kicked up the tempo a notch and were eventually tagged for single release, wisely. Still, the songwriting remained the height of the album's character, as heard on the wistful restlessness in "03.45: No Sleep" and the kissable "For the Boys"; the latter was a bonus cut that appeared on the American pressing of Long Gone Before Daylight.
At 14 cuts deep, give or take three-to-four additional songs that were earmarked for different international representations of the record, The Cardigans had made their most focused project to date. The question was after the mixed reception of the heavy and noisy Gran Turismo, how would a reserved and patient Cardigans be greeted?
The Impact
When The Cardigans unveiled the first single from their fifth LP, "For What It's Worth," how the song was received depended on the territory it was released in. Britain who had shown (waning) favor with The Cardigans rewarded the track with a Top 40 placement on their singles chart (#31).
Sweden was far more rapturous for the first single and "For What It's Worth" landed at a lofty #8 in their singles chart. The album itself had a similar fate when it finally dropped, courtesy of Stockholm Records, on 3/19/03: U.K. #47, Sweden #1. America didn't get the project until a year later, 4/25/04. In spite of its deluxe repackaging through the indie-label Koch Records, it didn't make waves outside of the indie brackets majority of The Cardigans fans moved in.
Taking it back to 2003, two more singles were pulled from Long Gone Before Daylight: "You're the Storm" (6/2/03-U.K. #74, Sweden #10) and "Live and Learn" (12/3/03-U.K. D/N/C*, Sweden D/N/C). The album proved to be a perennial in a touring context, taking The Cardigans on another world walkabout that had fans rejoicing to the new material.
How the critics met Long Gone Before Daylight also depended on the audience that was privy to what the group was trying to achieve. The United States had notoriously turned their backs on the Swedes in 1998. As evidenced by this particular view from American critic John Bush on All Music Guide, the consensus was that The Cardigans took themselves too seriously:
Long Gone Before Daylight is understated and well-designed, a musicians' record, one that sounds more like an MTV Unplugged session than the high-energy chamber pop of their early recordings. Unfortunately, it's also over-produced to within an inch of its artistic life, and lacks the quality songs and exquisite productions that the group had made a hallmark.
There were a few dissenting opinions Stateside and Slant Magazine provided an interesting look into Long Gone Before Daylight from its writer Sal Cinquemani:
For their first studio album in over five years, guitarist Peter Svensson furnished his band with some of its strongest—though sometimes understated—melodies, while Persson's lyrics are simultaneously burdened and resilient. "Oh, I wish my arms were wider," she says simply on "Feathers & Down," attempting to rehabilitate a drowning lover. She's an object to be excavated, punched, kissed, reaped and sown, not only on "You're The Storm" but on tracks like "And Then You Kissed Me" and "Lead Me Into The Night," which softly evoke Fleetwood Mac. Persson's finely graveled voice, however, is more Sheryl Crow than Stevie Nicks.
The United Kingdom's soft spot for the group carried on even with their sliding commercial fortunes there. The frank and fickle NME (New Musical Express) had Peter Robinson report a fair finding on the new long player:
Where the cold production wedges of Gran Turismo were distant and aloof to the point where they ignored the songs themselves, the flourishes here are sparse enough to let them bloom. Best of the bunch are country-tinged opener "Communication" and the Spector-referencing "And Then You Kissed Me"; heartbreaking pop with an unstable psyche and a fresh, naked charm. This is an album powered by its own radiance – like a solar-powered torch stringed up to a pair of mirrors, driving itself on forever, and still going strong, even by daylight.
"You're the Storm"
Directed By: Amir Chamdin
Long Gone Before Daylight unsurprisingly only certified in Sweden, platinum two times over. The glory days of their Japanese, British and American reign had certainly concluded. Yet, as mentioned The Cardigans had successfully continued their pop reinvention with the charming Long Gone Before Daylight.
Much like their Swedish cousins that came before them with The Visitors (ABBA, 1981) and Flowers (Ace of Base, 1998), The Cardigans weren't content to be a predictable pop pony from abroad. Instead they blazed their own path in a defiant, but hushed way that had them raging against the preconceived notions of what pop could be. Ranking: Classic
[Editor's Note: *=denotes "Did Not Chart." Long Gone Before Daylight is available physically and digitally. For more information on the The Cardigans, visit their official site.-QH]


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iPhone and Droid apps are becoming increasingly popular amongst small businesses. But how do you know when your company should invest in a developer to create a custom app and when it is simply a waste of time?
Think About the Needs of Your Clients
Most likely, your customers do business with you to satisfy some sort of need. For example, if you are a doctor, they are most likely ill. If you own a restaurant, they are probably hungry. If you own a retail store, they probably have a need for a certain item you sell. Deciding to have an app created breeds off the client's particular need for your business.
Think About the Wants of Your Clients
Once you know what they need, think about what they want. For example, does a doctor's patients want to be able to schedule appointments via their smartphone? Does an restaurant patron want to see the menu or make reservations before they arrive? Does a retail customer want to be able to see what items you offer and purchase them directly from his or her phone?
Decide Whether an App is a Good Way to Blend the Two
App creation can be a bit costly, especially when compared to other local internet marketing choices. Thus, it is usually best to be able to give your customers a few different features instead of just one or two. (Keeping with the above mentioned restaurant example, a restaurant goer could use a proposed iPhone app to see the menu AND order takeout. )
When Creating an App is a Waste of Time
If you have thoroughly examined the needs and wants of your clients, but cannot find a way for them to utilize their smart phone to meet them, then creating a custom app for your business is probably futile.


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TWB Post Graduation Program in Technical Communication (PGPTC)
This program, the only one of its kind on offer, creates chiseled professionals well grounded in the principles of technical communication. Conducted over a full year, this program has in-depth, well structured, professionally created training material by industry veterans. PGPTC is thus designed to impart knowledge in Technical writing, Instructional design and Business communication.
First, by first building a strong foundation in the fundamentals of writing, followed by, understanding key elements of technical communication and finally, by creating deliverables in each of these areas.
The salient points of this course are:
- Keen insight into the profession – both conceptual and practical
- Intensive training and writing experience
- Internship and live project opportunities
- Multimedia enabled classroom learning experience
- Support from highly experienced trainers
A key aspect of working at TWB includes working on in-house and customer projects that provides the required experience and interface with industry seniors. This helps the students get the opportunity to understand true challenges and solutions in customer scenarios. Therefore, TWB's PGPTC offers an entry into the USD 1 billion technical communications industry.


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Warriors 1 by George R.R. Martin
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Warriors 1 brings together short stories from across all genres by authors whose only criteria were to write about a warrior. This is the one of three paperback volumes of the whole anthology edited by George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois in which Martin is joined in contributing by Joe Haldeman, Steven Saylor, Tad Williams, Cecelia Holland, and Robert Silverberg.
Save for the opening story, this volume is packed with great writing and stories. Of the five stories that are truly outstanding two are historical fiction, one is science fiction, and two are fantasy. Not all the stories are full of action as seen in Robert Silverberg's "Defenders of the Frontier" is more a psychological study but still a well written and compelling narrative. Only two of the stories featured in this volume are connected in some way to established universes by their authors, Joe Haldeman's Forever War universe and Martin's own world of A Song of Ice and Fire. But while Martin's "The Mystery Knight" is compelling story with action and intrigue, Haldeman's "Forever Bound" just doesn't seem to really connect to a first time reader of his work. I would be remiss if I forgot to praise the excellent historical fiction stories by Steven Saylor and Cecelia Holland that featured Romans, Carthaginians, and Vikings.
While the opening story doesn't seem to connect well, the rest of the stories in this volume more than make up for it. These tales of warriors whether based in our own history or worlds far off in space or in a fantastical realm are excellent reads. The same is true for action, political intrigue, and psychological struggles. I really loved this collection of short stories and highly recommend it to those interested in get or reading this volume.
Individual Story Ratings
Forever Bound by Joe Haldeman (3/5)
The Eagle and the Rabbit by Steven Saylor (5/5)
And Ministers of Grace by Tad Williams (4/5)
The King of Norway by Cecelia Holland (5/5)
Defenders of the Frontier by Robert Silverberg (4.5/5)
The Mystery Knight by George R.R. Martin (5/5)


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Tagged: app
Teachers talking about teaching…
For the first time in a while I feel like CPD is making an impact on my teaching. This year it has stopped me in my tracks a few times and made me think, tweak and reassess what I am doing. Since a new leadership team started at my school in September a lot of changes have been made (for the better!) and as a result CPD has focused much more on outstanding practice with an emphasis on sharing. Many members of staff have already run CPD sessions and many more waiting to deliver. The new leadership team has built an ethos which has shifted the school from focusing on WHAT and HOW we do things to WHY we do things. Focusing on the WHY has to a reflective culture in the school with staff taking more risks in lessons in order to move students forward in their learning and offer new and exciting learning opportunities.
For the last two terms in CPD sessions teachers have been working in different groups (which they opted into depending on their interest) looking at different ways to improve teaching and learning. Groups were formed for topics such as differentiation, questioning, using data, e.t.c. I have been working with a group of teachers focusing on ways to increase student enthusiasm. Working with teachers from different subject areas gives a fresh perspective on the same students but being able to choose what I wanted to investigate is very powerful indeed. Regular meetings, lesson observations, brain-storming sessions, e.t.c led to each of us coming up with something new to try in lessons in order to increase student enthusiasm for our subjects. I was specifically looking at starters and picked up some great ideas from my English and Drama colleagues about getting students to use their imagination more and tie that in with literacy. Might sound obvious, but sometimes its easy to fall into the bubble of your subject area and lose the wider perspective that is needed to develop.
The end product was three fold
1. A mini teaching conference after school in the main hall where teachers were able to walk round and see what everybody had been working on and discuss ideas – Teachers talking about teaching!
2. Best practice card was created by each group with tips, 'quick wins' and longer term strategies that could be tried.
3. Once a week we have a 'teaching briefing' for all staff which is led by teachers. Groups took it in turns to present back what they had found out.
Understanding WHY we teach and re-focusing on that has provided me with a renewed determination to give the students I teach the best possible chance of success.


text: Are you expecting a baby and wondering how your toddler will react to splitting Mom and Dad's time? Here's a quick guide on how to bring home baby to a toddler so your family can live happily. Worrying over something like this is a legit concern,. However, after you've gone through it and realize how…Read More


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Request a brochure for more information on our wide range of adventure holidays.
Grand American Adventures is now part of Exodus Travels.
I've just booked on the Mt Toubkal climb departing on 3 May & would love to hear from anyone else going on this trip!
I'm going on the trip 3rd May. I think there a few others. The photos look great from other trips.
Hi, I have recently booked on this trip! I'll be flying into Marrakesh on the morning of the 3rd on the RyanAir flight from Luton. Anyone else arriving early?
You have not posted anything in the forum yet.
Please create a topic or reply to a topic to see your forum activity.


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I got no requests for charts (and I will ask again at the end of this post) so I decided today to comment about the potential longer-term reasons that the Peoples' Bank of China executed a Yuan devaluation versus the United States Dollar. This action might actually be the beginning of a decoupling move to secure the future of the currency, and not a desperate attempt to shore up what recently has been a sputtering Chinese economy. Many of you may add me to the 'wingnut' classification of bloggers on this topic, but I think some careful consideration should be made about this topic. This attention is cogent given how the world seems destined to follow that old 1980s IMF model of "devalue and export" it used to rescue the then emerging and third-world markets from their mounting debt. That debt and fiscal deficit in many cases caused crushing currency inflation problems. I have commented in the past about the race to zero currency value in this post as well as others in the past.
Take a look at this chart. It is a trade weighted valuation of the Yuan versus the dollar over the last 10 years. That 3.6% devaluation in the context of the chart really doesn't look that severe does it? The truth is, it isn't really. The Yuan has quietly (and under the stepwise "market maker" adjustment of value the the Peoples' Bank of China (PBOC) has administered) INCREASED in value steadily against the U.S. Dollar in that time frame. That strategy is described in this article from The Economist.
Why then, did the PBOC decide to make such an adjustment? The author of this article states:
"Instead, another event seems the main trigger for the central bank's actions. Later this year the IMF will decide whether to include the yuan in the select group of currencies it uses to calculate the SDR, its unit of account. Inclusion would amount to declaring the yuan a global reserve currency. Just last week the fund hinted that the yuan is still too heavily controlled. For the PBOC, getting into the special drawing rights (SDR) has never been just about prestige. Rather, it has been using this objective as a means to push for reforms that remove some of the policy distortions still hobbling the economy. Introducing a truly floating exchange rate is an essential part of its programme."
Taken in its longer term context, China is attempting in the best way it knows how to prepare to become one of the world's reserve currencies. The PBOC at some point would want its currency to freely float as other major currencies. That condition would require a sterner test of China's financial reserves (including gold). That situation would likely also require increased transparency in the reporting of economic growth. China's economic data has come into question many times, particularly in the last 3 years.
I don't think there is much question that China DOES face a slowdown, as car sales are slumping (Ford is predicting the first slowdown in Chinese sales since 1990), and that industrial production seems to be flattening, so there is a real chance that a Chinese (and perhaps even world) economic slowdown is at hand, given the declines oil, copper, and other key commodity prices of late.
However, I think Peter Schiff may actually have a point about the U.S. Federal Reserve's dilemma with zero interest rates. To keep equity and real estate prices afloat, it has no choice but to stand pat (watch the video associated with this article). This past week, gold rose both in U.S. Dollar terms AND Yuan terms, as other currencies turned down.
What we could be witnessing, given in relative terms a small devaluation in the Yuan, a first attempt for PBOC and China to decouple itself slowly from a U.S. Dollar peg. When still working a slower growing economy ( at or just below 6% GDP growth of late), why not devalue to some degree to gain and edge in exports to other countries AND to the US? If the Yuan can gain reserves through SDR and by expanding their gold reserves, China will eventually be in a better position over time to float the currency freely. What the US has to be worried about longer term is that a decoupling from the dollar would mean a lack of interest in buying our debt, which is priced at unrealistically low levels of interest for other nations to be interested in. Our mortgage market and stock market valuations are dependent upon low rates as our GDP continues to grind at growth rates that are lower than the 3 to 3.5% rates of the last 3 centuries. If we cannot finance the burgeoning welfare state we continuously create, then our currency will become worth much less than other currencies on a value-to-economic-growth basis. That situation would put our financing costs over the edge. When one realizes that we have 200 trillion U.S. dollars worth of unfunded liabilities to cover, the financing costs would indeed cripple our economy. The American standard of living would dramatically decrease, and decrease rapidly.
The United States Federal government needs to fully assess these issues and not let world market events dictate our policies. A 30-year vacuum of leadership, statesmanship, and over-regulation of market forces have led us to this point. Americans can still take control of this situation if they choose to learn the economic lessons of history. Our leaders need to steer a path of fiscal restraint and fiscal responsibility. If we don't reduce debt and dependency, then will become the willing victims of change that will sweep away what was once the economic juggernaut of the earth. The future is right here and right now, as this 1 year old video suggests. Fiscal responsibility and economic freedom are the tickets for the bus. Trust me, it is better to take a ride on the bus, than to be hit by the bus.
The United States can still be the economic leader, but without fiscal responsibility and economic independence, it and not China, will end up being the emperor with no clothes.
OK folks, no requests for charts? Then there are no charts ( at least not this week). As I get the survey together, I will begin to fully understand what you want. In the meantime, however, if you want me to take a look at something, leave a comment in the post and I will dig into it.
Once again, thank you for supporting this blog!


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What was the reason for the wall?
The idea for the wall came from Soviet premier, Nikita Khrushchev. He needed a way to stop the East Germans from fleeing to West Germany. Of course in the beginning, this was not a problem. Many East Germans left to go to West Germany due to Communist rule. West Germany was also more advanced than East Germany. This caused a problem in both the East and the West. In the East, many of the people who left were very skilled and needed in the East. In the West, the population soon became extremely large causing an economic stress. On August 13th 1961, the Russians placed a simple barbed wire fence up to block the entrance in to western Berlin. Many Germans protested but they were not acknowledged. By August 16th, the wall was completed with concrete.
Nikita Khrushchev
TIME magazine's interpretation of the grim life that lied behind the Berlin Wall.
What did the wall do?
The Berlin Wall blocked East Germans from fleeing communist rule in Eastern Germany. Not only for the good of East Germany but for West Germany as well. The west didn't want any socialists entering their fascist country.
The wall was built from barbed wire and concrete.
The Wall finished


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Hi Guys!
Isn't it just the biggest pain when some of your favourite US brands just don't ship to the UK? (Colourpop for example) and others that do ship here, charge an extortionate amount for postage – Too Faced, I'm looking at you, seriously a minimum of £15 for shipping, without even adding taxes is just ridiculous!
This is where My Mall Box comes in – this company offers the perfect solution to our US shopping woes. My Mall Box is basically a shipping company that you can use to deliver items from the US that you may not be able to get otherwise – what a genius idea!
So how does it work? Well it's very simple, you sign up to their site (which is free of charge) and MMB will assign you your very own US postal address. This is basically a PO Box at their warehouse which you can then use as your shipping address on your US orders. Simple!
My Mall Box invited me to test out their services to see if it really was all it's cracked up to be. So let me talk you through my experience –
I decided to order a few beauty bits (of course) and ended up with a Sephora order, a Marc Jacobs order and a LA Splash order. When making my Sephora order, I thought everything was ok until I went to find out where my parcel had got to as I'd received no updates, and they had cancelled the order without informing me. It turns out Sephora do not allow orders to PO boxes. Now I know what you're thinking – why didn't I just order from Sephora and have them ship direct to the UK, because they can and will ship here. Well I just wanted to see if it would work out any cheaper via MMB when it came to shipping and taxes really. Though I couldn't get Sephora to deliver to my US MMB address, luckily My Mall Box offer a 'buy for me' service. This is where they literally buy the item for you and hold it at your MMB address until you arrange for it to be shipped on to you. I did wonder why on earth anyone would want to use it to begin with (as there is a small fee per transaction) but in this instance it was the perfect solution.
So this was lesson number 1 – Sephora will possibly cancel your order if you use your MMB address as your postal address. Now I say possibly as this happened to me, but I've heard of others that have successfully had their Sephora orders sent to MMB. To be on the safe side, if you're desperate to get your hands on that must have item, My Mall Box will buy it for you.
I know what you're thinking – BUT WHAT ABOUT THE FREEBIES? Regular Sephora shoppers will know that you get a minimum of three freebie samples per order, well the good ol guys at My Mall Box will also include these in your order, but you must specify when completing the 'Buy for me' information which ones you want.
I also fancied picking up a few Physicians Formula bits from Ulta, so I tried to place an order there too, but the issue here was that their system wouldn't accept my payment method as I'm in the UK. I ended up going with a rather gorgeous product from Marc Jacobs in the end, but I could have got My Mall Box to 'buy for me' from Ulta if I'd really want them to.
The only downside that I can see with the buy for me feature, is that the My Mall Box team have their own accounts at various stores, so many of you will know with Sephora and Ulta, the more you purchase the more your points you will receive – well you'll miss out on points as the orders aren't on your own account. It's not necessarily the end of the world but I think this is definitely worth mentioning.
Ok so I ordered a couple of STUNNING Laura Mercier Highlighters from Sephora, which I got My Mall Box to buy for me, as well as a Marc Jacobs highlighter direct from Marc Jacobs – these items aren't available in the UK yet so I thought I'd treat myself! I also ordered some LA Splash liquid lipsticks which I bought 'myself' by just adding my MMB address as the shipping address – reviews will be coming up of everything very soon!
One thing I like is that My Mall Box keeps you informed every step of the way, when they have placed an order for you, and when the package arrives with them. I waited for all my orders to be delivered then asked MMB to 'Repackage' everything. This basically means they open all your packages and re-package them into one box – which will save you money on shipping.
You are also given different shipping options, of course the faster ones are more expensive, and my parcel ended up costing $32 via DHL express service, and it only took a few days to arrive, which I thought was fantastic.
If you're thinking of ordering from the US and fancy saving yourself some money, please feel free to sign up to My Mall Box via my referral code here, this will give you a credit to your account for your first use.
I think I've covered everything but if you have any questions please feel free to ask away in the comments and I'll try my best to answer.
I hope you enjoyed my post xxx
This post is sponsored by My Mall Box, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
(I also have a brand new beauty giveaway – Check it out here!)
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Venue hire
Vine Church has a variety of spaces available for hire Mondays–Saturdays at 196-200 Albion St, Surry Hills in Sydney.
Our venues are suitable for dance classes, community meetings, functions and weddings.
If these spaces don't suit your needs, please check out these venues around Surry Hills:
Meeting Times
- ServicesSunday 10am, 4.30pm
St Michael's Anglican Church
Cnr Flinders & Albion St, Surry Hills
- Community groupsMidweek over dinner at
various locations


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I am now 3/4 done with the pure torture of finishing this series. Could it get any more sappy, whiny, and boring?
I am trying really hard to find anything of real good to pull from these books. Teenage (yawn) romance. I hope the last book gets better. I have even been skipping big chunks and still am not missing a beat with the story. There is no real climax in this book. You might call that battle in the forest the climax, but it was so poorly described. Many pages wasted on describing and re-describing non-essential items in the book. Why do we need to repeat, repeat, repeat, and repeat some more the same descriptions, the same plot – blah blah blah.
The book could have been immensely better if not for the gaping holes in the story (unrelated to skipping the descriptive crap that was repetitive). I also thought it was the wrong move to allow the youngling to be killed by Jane.
Oh well, just another book that was not worth the time it took to read it.
Rating: D


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SI/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report 2-8 December 2009 10 December 2009Posted by admin in activity reports, Ambrym, Caribbean, Chaitén, Chile, Colima, Dukono, eruptions, Fuego, Guatemala, Hawaii, Indonesia, Japan, Kamchatka, Karymsky, Kilauea, Kliuchevskoi, Llaima, Mexico, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Rabaul, Russia, Sakura-jima, San Cristóbal, Shiveluch, Soufrière Hills, Suwanose-jima, United States, Vanuatu, Weekly Volcanic Activity Reports.
Tags: Global Volcanism Program, volcanic activity reports, volcanic eruptions
Click on the map for a larger version (1280 x 898 pixels).
The Smithsonian Institution/United States Geological Survey Weekly Volcanic Activity Report for 2-8 December 2009 is available on the Global Volcanism Program website. The following is a summary and not a substitute for the full report.
- The current report: Weekly Volcanic Activity Report.
- Previous reports: Weekly Reports Archive.
- The SI/USGS map of volcanoes discussed this week.
New activity/unrest: Llaima (Chile).
Ongoing activity: Ambrym (Vanuatu), Chaitén (Chile), Colima (Mexico), Dukono (Indonesia), Fuego (Guatemala), Karymsky (Russia), Kilauea (Hawaii, USA), Kliuchevskoi (Russia), Rabaul (Papua New Guinea), Sakura-jima (Japan), San Cristóbal (Nicaragua), Shiveluch (Russia), Soufrière Hills (Montserrat), Suwanose-jima (Japan).
Note: a.s.l. = 'above sea level'.
Llaima (Chile). Steam-and-gas plumes were observed rising from the main crater and E flank during 14 November-1 December. Although seismicity generally decreased, a new type of long-period, low-frequency earthquake was detected. An overflight on 4 December revealed fumarolic activity and some sulphur dioxide emissions coming mainly from fissures on the N crater wall and outer E and W flanks. The Alert Level was raised to Yellow, Level 3.
Ambrym (Vanuatu). A diffuse plume from probably largely composed of sulphur dioxide was visible on satellite imagery acquired by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on 3 December.
Chaitén (Chile). Buenos Aires VAAC reported that emissions from the lava-dome complex drifted 15 km SE on 8 December.
Colima (Mexico). On 1 December a white plume rose 100 m above the crater and drifted E. On 2 December, incandescent tephra was ejected 50 m above the crater towards the SE. Later that day, a white plume rose 50 m and drifted SW.
Dukono (Indonesia). Darwin VAAC reported that during 5-6 December ash plumes from Dukono rose to 3 km a.s.l. and drifted 55-85 km NE and SE.
Fuego (Guatemala). Multiple explosions on 4 December produced ash plumes that rose to 4.2-4.7 km a.s.l. and drifted 15-18 km W. Ashfall was reported in communities downwind. Rumbling noises and incandescent block avalanches were also noted.
Karymsky (Russia). Seismic activity was above background levels during 27-30 November and 1 December. Data were not available during 2-4 December due to technical problems. Analyses of satellite imagery revealed a daily thermal anomaly and ash plumes that drifted 165 km E during 29-30 November and 1-2 December. The Level of Concern Color Code remained at Orange.
Kilauea (Hawaii, USA). During 2-8 December lava flowed SE from beneath the Thanksgiving Eve Breakout (TEB) and rootless shield complex through a lava tube system to reach the ocean at multiple locations between Waikupanaha and an area 700 m farther to the W. Thermal anomalies detected by satellite and visual observations revealed active lava flows on the coastal plain. Incandescence was occasionally seen from Pu'u 'O'o crater; on 2 December, incandescence originated from vents on the E wall. The vent in Halema'uma'u crater continued to produce a white or off-white plume that drifted E, W, and SW, and dropped small amounts of ash downwind. Incandescence originated from multiple spattering holes in the deep floor of the vent cavity.
Kliuchevskoi (Russia). During 27 November-4 December seismic activity was above background levels and lava continued to flow down the ESE flank. Strombolian activity ejected tephra 300 m above the crater. Satellite imagery revealed a large daily thermal anomaly at the volcano. The Level of Concern Color Code remained at Orange.
Rabaul (Papua New Guinea). During 27 November-3 December dense white plumes and gray ash plumes rose from Tavurvur cone. Strong explosions produced ash plumes that rose 1.5 km above the summit and showered the flanks with lava fragments that were incandescent at night. Shock waves rattled windows in the Kokopo area, about 20 km SE. Incandescence from the summit crater was occasionally noted. During 2-4 December, ash fell in Rabaul town (3-5 km NW) and other villages downwind. Based on analyses of satellite imagery, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 5 and 7-8 December ash plumes rose to 2.4 km a.s.l. and drifted 45-55 km E.
Sakura-jima (Japan). Tokyo VAAC reported that explosions during 2-8 December produced plumes that rose to 1.5-2.7 km a.s.l. and drifted in multiple directions. On 4 and 8 December, pilots 30-65 km S of Kagoshima airport reported ash plumes that rose to an altitude of 1.8 km a.s.l. and drifted SW and NE.
San Cristóbal (Guatemala). Washington VAAC reported that on 6 December a gas-and-steam plume with possible ash drifted SW, and also noted smoke from local fires.
Shiveluch (Russia). During 27 November-4 December seismic activity was above background levels, possibly indicating that ash plumes rose to an altitude of 4.5 km a.s.l. Fumarolic activity was seen with a video camera. Analyses of satellite imagery revealed a large daily thermal anomaly from the lava dome and gas-and-steam plumes, possibly with ash, drifting 70 km E on 27, 28, and 30 November. The Level of Concern Color Code remained at Orange. Tokyo VAAC reported that on 4 December an eruption produced a plume that rose to an altitude of 5.8 km a.s.l.
Soufrière Hills (Montserrat). During 27 November-4 December activity from the lava dome continued at a high level. Pyroclastic flow activity was concentrated to the NE and W. The largest pyroclastic flows traveled NE down Tuitt's Ghaut on 27 November and 2 December, reaching within 200 m of the sea. Associated ash plumes rose to altitudes of 4.6-6.1 km a.s.l. Pyroclastic flows also traveled W down Gages Valley, S down the White River valley and Gingoes Ghaut, and into the upper reaches of Tyers Ghaut (NW). One descended the Tar River valley to the E. Rockfalls cascaded directly from the summit of the lava dome into Tyers Ghaut. Ash venting from the S part of the lava dome was noted several times. Ashfall containing accretionary lapilli, reported from Salem, Old Towne, and parts of Olveston on the evening of 27 November, was associated with a pyroclastic flow down Tuitt's and White Bottom Ghaut. The Hazard Level remained at 3.
Suwanose-jima (Japan). Tokyo VAAC reported an explosion from Suwanose-jima during 5-6 December. Details of possible resulting emissions were not reported.
The foregoing is a summary of the Smithsonian Institution/United States Geological Survey Weekly Volcanic Activity Report covering 2-8 December 2009. It is provided for information only, and is based on but not a substitute for the full report, which comes with its own criteria and disclaimers. The map base is derived from the Smithsonian Institution/USGS/US Naval Research Laboratory This Dynamic Planet website.
For all our coverage of the SI/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Reports: Weekly Volcanic Activity Reports « The Volcanism Blog.
- 1. Boris Behncke - 11 December 2009
Activity seems to be escalating at Soufrière Hills on Montserrat – the current hazard level has been raised from 3 to 4 (out of a maximum of 5), as pyroclastic flows are growing larger on the north flank of the volcano:
- 2. Rubén - 12 December 2009
Nicaragua's Concepcion volcano has erupted, spewing gas and smoke almost 150 metres into the air and dumping ash on three nearby villages. 11-Dic-2009 14:40 UTC
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