text: Figli di Madre Ignota is a band from Milano, Italia. A bunch of people who plays an aggressive mix of balkan music, evil polkas, klezmer made out of nothing, mean swings, breathless tarantellas, all made up with surfy electric guitars and a generous horn section: SPAGHETTI BALKAN! Music to dance wildly, but with lot of fun! They wear pardo fezs and dress in elegant lounge suites and the live show is electric and hilarious. If you can imagine a Balkan brass section playing with a twangy rock combo, you're close to the atmosphere of their show.


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I have been trying to figure out how to insert a chord change on the half beat or the "and" of the beat. Is this possible? Thank you!
I have been trying to figure out how to insert a chord change on the half beat or the "and" of the beat. Is this possible? Thank you!
I also would like to know how to do this. A song I would like to do this on is Desire by U2.
How do you Push Chords using I Real b?
I think this workaround might solve the problem:
Try adding an additional 4 'beats' in each measure of 4/4, for a total of 8 per measure. Each 'beat' will be interpreted as an 8th, so you conceivably could have eight chords in a bar of 4/4. Hope that works. I don't do it regularly, but had to do it recently.
I asked essentially the same question (see next thread in this forum) and iRb support said it currently can't be done. I tried the eighth-note approach suggested here and it didn't work. IRb refuses to play a tune that has the "wrong" number if chords in a measure.
Classically trained musicians expect the music (the printed thing on the music stand) to show every detail. When you switch to jazz, the "music" (the iRealB lead sheet or chart) is just diagrammatic, because the music (melody, rhythm, and harmony) has moved into your head, i.e., between your ears, no longer in front of your eyes. You get to (you are forced to, you are free to) choose how to syncopate, whether and how to alter chords or even reharmonize, to make up your own melodic line, etc, using the outline of the chart as a starting place. Try listening to a performed jazz tune while looking at the iRealB chart instead of the iRealB canned comping
I have found out a way to make a chord land on an upbeat (offbeat, half beat, whatever you wanna say) in a somewhat limited way:
Assuming you're in 4/4, you create a bar of 3/4, but (this part is important!) use FOUR spaces for that 3/4 bar. Then, place a chord on the 3rd space of that bar (the 3rd SPACE, not the 3rd beat) and that chord will play on the 2nd half of beat #2 of the 3/4 bar. Then, you have to make up for the missing beat by creating either a 5/4 bar immed. following, or another 3/4 bar followed by a 2/4 bar. 3 + 5 (or 3 + 3 + 2) = 2 bars of 4/4 - right? Don't forget to change the time sig. back to 4/4 after you do all this silliness.
The neat thing about this work-around is that it sounds different depending on which rhythm style you use. Many of the Latin styles (Samba, etc.) naturally place the piano chords ahead of the beat, esp. ahead of beat #1, & I try lots of diff. rhythm styles to get things just how I want. I suppose this kind of messing w/ the time signatures just to get some syncopation in the chord changes might work for placing chords on other off-beats (say, the end of beat #4), but I haven't been able to figure out how to do that yet.
If you really have to have lots of chords land on off-beats, my advice is:
a) use Band-in-the Box, it does a nice job of "pushing" chords. Just be ready to settle for the rinky-dink sounds of their rhythmic styles - whatever iReal's small shortcomings, I haven't heard one rhythmic style in BinB I'd trade for the realism of the sounds in iReal - to me, they aren't even in the same ballpark (kudos to iReal's developers!).
b) export your iReal song as a Midi file, & then put it into whatever software you have that can edit Midi files - I sometimes bring my Midi files into GrgBnd on my Mac, & push the notes/chords around as much as I want.
Last edited by MCJazzer; 02-18-2013 at 03:01 AM.
Thanks for your post, I am sure others will like to use it.
7 Eight Test - Unknown Composer
This is just an experiment I did after reading this thread
It wouldn't. Work in 7/8 with each space as an eighth note but it did work in 7/4 so you can simulate 7/8 by just playing it fast
1. Exported song in midi format.
2. Opened it on a PC with Reaper.
3. Edited the bass and piano parts.
4. Re-saved all 3 parts as a midi file inDropbox.
5. Stuck on how to import the edited midi file into iRealPro...maybe I'm missing something obvious, but help would be appreciated.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Earn points toward FREE PIZZA with Piece of the Pie Rewards
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text:
Hillary Clinton on Government Reform
Democratic Jr Senator (NY)
LAZIO: If you look at the average donation that I receive, it's like less than $100. In the House, of course I've been very active on housing issues.
Q: But have you gotten heavy contributions from the housing industry?
LAZIO: We've gotten contributions from a whole range of people with different interests that are important to the quality of life of New Yorkers
CLINTON: He received a million dollars in contributions from the home-building industry and from the manufacturers of homes. And in return, at least there is an appearance that he did several things. He fought to weaken the safety standards for manufactured housing and in-home building.
LAZIO: That's absolutely false. And you know it, Mrs. Clinton.
CLINTON: Well, Mr. Lazio, you just referred to The Daily News, which ran an investigative article which made exactly that point.
LAZIO: I voted for campaign finance reform. I have run this campaign abiding by McCain-Feingold. We have not raised a dime of soft money. I do not agree with public financing because the voters should decide who is elected. We should not have welfare for politicians.
CLINTON: I think we need to change the system of campaign financing. I just have to remark that Mr. Lazio's campaign violated the very simple agreement that we entered. Last month, Mr. Lazio said that this was an issue of trust and character. If New Yorkers can't trust him to keep his word for 10 days, how can they trust him for six years on issues like Social Security, Medicare, prescription drugs and education?
LAZIO: Mrs. Clinton, no lectures from Motel 1600 on campaign finance reform. I took a legitimate contribution of clean hard money. My opponent objected. Because I have a commitment to campaign finance reform and to this agreement, I refunded the money.
"I'm just glad this is finally over," Hillary Clinton said. Finally free of the issue that marred her tenure as first lady and the early part of her Senate campaign, Hillary Clinton expressed confidence Whitewater had been a non-issue all along, saying most people had "made up their minds a long time ago." She said, "I think that taxpayers have a right to ask why was all this money spent, especially since ... the conclusions were readily available five years ago."
CLINTON: In May I made exactly that offer. I said, "Let's forego soft money, but let's also be sure we don't have these independent expenditures." If you will get signed agreements from all your friends and will not be running so-called independent ads, will not be doing push polling, will not be doing mass mailings with outrageous personal attacks, I think we can have an agreement.
LAZIO: I'd be happy to get signed agreements, but I want to get it done right now. I don't want any more wiggle room. Here it is. Let's sign it. It's the New York Freedom from Soft Money Pact.
CLINTON: Well, I would be happy to when you give me the signed letters.
LAZIO: Sign it right now.
CLINTON: We'll shake on it.
LAZIO: No, I want your signature.
For example, I am a big fan of McDonald's. What about the kids working behind the counter? Would they be considered registered lobbyists because McDonald's has lobbyists? Would I not be able to go to lunch with my longtime friend who owns 12 McDonald's?
|Other candidates on Government Reform:
|Hillary Clinton on other issues:
Pat Buchanan
George W. Bush
Al Gore
Ralph Nader
Political Leaders:
John Ashcroft
Hillary Clinton
Elizabeth Dole
John McCain
Robert Reich
Janet Reno
Jesse Ventura
Opinion Leaders:
Noam Chomsky
Bill Clinton
Jesse Jackson
Rush Limbaugh
Ross Perot
Ronald Reagan
Party Platforms:
Democratic Platform
Green Platform
Libertarian Platform
Republican Platform
Civil Rights
Foreign Policy
Free Trade
Govt. Reform
Gun Control
Health Care
Homeland Security
Social Security
Tax Reform


text:
A research paper by physicists from Swansea University has been featured as a 'Research Highlight' in the online international journal Physics of Plasmas.
The paper, "Manipulation of the magnetron orbit of a positron cloud in a Penning trap", is authored by Timothy Mortensen, Adam Deller, Dr Aled Isaac, Dr Dirk van der Werf and Professor Mike Charlton from the University's Department of Physics, in the College of Science.
In the paper, the Swansea team describe a simple and versatile method to manipulate the amplitude of the magnetron orbit of ions stored in a Penning trap, applied to a cloud of low energy positrons.
By applying a pulsed voltage to a split electrode in the trap, which is normally used for rotating wall compression of the particles, the size of the magnetron orbit can be changed at will.
The method is quite general and should be applicable to any species of charged particle held in a Penning trap, for instance those found in mass spectrometric devices.
Physics of Plasmas is published by the American Institute of Physics with the cooperation of The American Physical Society, Division of Plasma Physics.
To view the paper visit http://pop.aip.org/ and see the Research Highlights section.
- Thursday 21 March 2013 00.00 GMT
- Thursday 19 September 2019 16.12 BST
- Swansea University, Tel: 01792 295049


text:
Spring 2015 Ready-to-WearZadig & Voltaire
Of the 25 looks representing the Zadig & Voltaire collection, only 10 will be produced exactly as they appeared at today's presentation. Artistic director Cecilia Bönström explained that the remaining three-fifths were essentially showpieces. So if you've singled out the woven asymmetric ruffled top, too bad: It may not ever make it to stores. This is not unusual for high-end luxury labels, where a designer sends out his or her most impactful work to prove what's possible when unencumbered by constraints. But for a high-end high-street brand, showing what will be available to buy is the usual modus operandi. Bönström, however, wanted to approach this season in a conceptual way, using the themes of architecture, freedom, black, and androgyny to develop a collection that would convey the Zadig & Voltaire Zeitgeist. From a series of tableaux vivants within a hôtel particulier that belongs to the brand, the crop tops under tuxedo jackets, skirt overlays, and a leather gilet captured the relevance no longer projected by a skull sweater. Gone were the prints; in their place, a knit plastered in strips like gaffer tape and a jacket in micro sequins. But neither, according to Bönström, will be produced for retail—and what will be produced currently remains a mystery, although the studded and silver-trimmed white sneakers are a safe bet.


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Wishing you a new year filled with peace, prosperity, love and laughter.
Happy New Year!
From the A-1 Self Storage Team
Wishing you a new year filled with peace, prosperity, love and laughter.
Happy New Year!
From the A-1 Self Storage Team
San Diego, CA – December 27, 2012 – A-1 Self Storage, the premier provider of self storage in California, announced today their monetary donation to National Alliance on Mental Illness San Diego. NAMISD began around a kitchen table in 1970 where parents who had an adult child suffering from schizophrenia could find understanding and support. Over the next 30 years, NAMISD morphed into an unique support organization for both those diagnosed with mental illness and their families. Due to NAMI's bold endeavors, mental illness is no longer considered the fault of the parents. Rather than suffer guilt, parents are given an informative hug of information through NAMISD and hope through its programs. Family to family support is coordinated and peer to peer support is established for the one affected with mental illness. Seeing dramatic improvements in the lives of those they serve, NAMISD has great hopes for further increasing the visibility of their programs and organization to positively impact San Diegans.
For full press release, please visit: http://a1stor.co/WKQ2jb
Here is an update on the A-1 Self Storage auctions scheduled for 12/27/12:
10:00 AM at 4981 Spring St, La Mesa, CA has 7 units
11:00 AM at 8328 Center Dr, La Mesa, CA has 4 units
12:00 PM at 556 W. Main St, El Cajon, CA has 10 units
1:00 PM at 1370 N. Magnolia Ave, El Cajon, CA has 3 units
2:00 PM at 9893 Riverford Rd, Lakeside, CA has 4 units
* Please note – the number of units is subject to change without notice.
May peace, hope, and love be this season's gift to you.
Wishing you and yours all the best this holiday season!
From the A-1 Self Storage Team
With this being the last weekend before Christmas, you can expect the malls to be extra crowded and parking to be hectic and scarce. The holiday season is a time when busy people can become careless and vulnerable to theft and other holiday crime. A-1 Self Storage cares about your safety and offers the following Holiday Safety Tips from the Los Angeles Police Department Crime Prevention Section that can help you be more careful, prepared and aware while you're out and about this weekend.
Be smart and be safe this holiday season. For more Holiday Safety Tips, click here.
Source: LAPD Crime Prevention Section
Using self storage during the holiday season can help make things less stressful. Along with the holiday cheer and festivities comes the stress and chaos of shopping, family gatherings and overnight guests. Here are some self storage solutions that can clear up your home to help make the holidays more enjoyable.
Seasonal storage is an ideal way to stay organized during the hectic holiday season. A seasonal storage unit is definitely worth considering when you have items that you need but don't use very often. Please call us today and let the friendly staff at A-1 Self Storage help you determine the best size space to help you save space and money! We also offer a wide selection of boxes and packing supplies for one-stop shopping convenience.
The storage auction scheduled for 12/21/12 at 10:00 AM for our A-1 Self Storage location at 5296 Concord Blvd in Concord, CA will have 2 units.
*Subject to change without notice.
December 19, 2012 Press Release
A-1 Self Storage, the premier provider of self storage in California, announced today their monetary donation to Meals on Wheels. Meals on Wheels mission is "to start a national movement to end senior hunger by 2020: Our goal is to recruit 6 million people who are willing to stand up and pledge to do what it takes to end senior hunger." Utilizing a tripod approach, Meals on Wheels plans to conduct research, gathering the latest data to serve the hungry seniors as efficiently as possible, they will raise awareness nationally to increase their impact, lastly they will identify emerging trends in the demographic they serve and put in place a sustainable model. It is of utmost importance to honor the seniors in America and provide for them in their sunset years. This generation sacrificed and made possible a brighter future for today's working generation. Providing a meal both affirms their value and communicates our gratitude.
For full press release, please visit: http://a1stor.co/WpS0p0
Someone generously donated 300 Beanie Babies for Toys for Toys at our A-1 Self Storage La Mesa – Center Dr. location! These cute, little critters were overflowing from boxes throughout the office. The store associates were starting to get used to seeing their smiling faces everyday but they've finally left us yesterday as the Marine Corps Reservists came by to pick them up, along with the other 285 toys this location collected. While our Beanie Babies friends will be missed, we're happy to know that they'll soon be given a new home as Toys for Tots distributes them to deserving children this weekend.
Thank you everyone for your generosity and supporting Toys for Tots!
Here is an update on A-1 Self Storage auctions scheduled for 12/19/12:
12:00 PM at 301 High St, Oakland, CA has 4 units
2:00 PM at 1337 Old County Rd, Belmont, CA has 7 units
10:00 AM at 3040 Oceanside Blvd, Oceanside, CA has 8 units
11:00 AM at 1783 S Oceanside Blvd, Oceanside, CA has 3 units
12:00 PM at 124 Nettleton Rd, Vista, CA has 2 units
Please note – the number of units is subject to change without notice.


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I recently read that the first usage of the term "dinner party" came from Jane Austen's Emma. Whether or not this is true doesn't matter because when it comes to Austen's most frustrating leading lady I'm somehow not surprised that a whole term would come into being to suite her needs.
Here are some Emma-inspired tips for throwing your own dinner party.
1. RSVPs with all dietary options: Let's face it, Emma would want her guests to feel comfortable so she would make sure to accommodate all dietary restrictions; from lactose-intolerance to someone on the Paleo diet.
2. Live floral arrangements: While cut flowers are the standard I think the clever hostess would choose live arrangements for her table to be sustainable and chic. Plus small pots can double as party favors at the end of the night.
3. Place-cards: This is where Emma's match-making abilities would shine. She would use place-cards to strategically pair off her friends while showing off her customizing skills.
4. A specialty cocktail: While pairing wines with courses is a classic move, I think creating a special cocktail for the night would be more stylish. Not only does it make the dinner party seem more unique, it gives people a chance to try new things.
5. Matching linens: Yes, Emma would make sure her tablecloth, napkins and even table runner matched. Instead of something fancy I suggest going for a set of napkins and a tablecloth. It's classy and makes you feel like your life is a little more together than it actually is.
6. After dessert board games: Hopefully people will be so thrilled by the conversation over dinner that they'll will want to stay past dessert to continue mingling. Instead of putting on a movie I suggest taking out the board games. I've gotten to know many new faces a lot better over a good game of Clue or Risk.
7. Menu items that are locally sourced and in season: Chic and savvy screams Emma (although social savvy is one thing she often lacks) so why not check out local vendors and markets for extra unique menu items. Not only is it more sustainable to shop locally and in season, it shows that you are a considerate and knowing hostess.
8. Gifts: Yes, Emma would leave her guests with parting gifts. If you don't have individual plants for the table arrangements then try a little box of after-dinner mints or individual bags of tea and coffee.
9. Cheese plate before dinner: Yet another way to get people talking! Lay out some cheese and crackers before dinner so guests can get chummy while you finish up any last minute kitchen catastrophes.
10. DIY dessert: I feel like Emma would want to get her guests involved in dinner so setting up a DIY dessert would be a cute way to let people customize and feel like a kid again.
-Admin B is a journalist, filmmaker and nerd.


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We update our weekly discount and z-score screens which you can find on our Analytics page.
We show the biggest discounts and premia in the table below.
FXBY – a tiny equity fund tops the discount table at over 30%. Due to its board structure, FXBY is difficult to attack by activist investors and because it carries a high fee the discount is probably justified.
SRF – an MLP fund with a lowish distribution rate is trading at a discount of 16%. MLPs have had a tough few weeks due to the sell-off in oil, however, we think this is overdone and there are a few MLP funds with attractive yields trading at discounts.


text: After seeing a discussion over at Digital Web Magazine I started thinking about which program I prefer and why. Pretty much since the beginning I've been a Photoshop advocate. I was an Adobe girl through and through and it was years before I had even heard of Macromedia (my first introduction was through Dreamweaver). When I found out about Fireworks I thought I'd try it out and see what it was like. I tried out Fireworks MX and my first impression was not good. The user interface was so different from Photoshop and it was difficult for me to find things. The simplest task seemed to take forever. I gave FW a few more tries and then gave up thinking that I would shun the product for eternity. A year and a half ago I started working at a location that had Adobe CS2 on all of the computers. Of course I ran to Photoshop but my coworker was a Fireworks advocate and I decided to try it out again. My opinion didn't change and at times I wanted to erase the program off of my computer. All of that changed when I went to Adobe's website and watched some videos about Fireworks CS3 and saw that the interface was more like Adobe products. I did some reading and I began to understand why some web designers worked primarily in Fireworks. For website mock-ups there were features that Fireworks did much better than Photoshop. I could see where I could cut time in my designs by using some of the symbols in the common library. Add to that the fact that Fireworks can now handle Photoshop files and I'm sold. Photoshop will still be my primary go to when it comes to doing photo manipulation and graphic design work but Fireworks has now won a place in my heart for web design work.


text:
The author has examined numerous scientific and technical textbooks, handbooks, reference works, periodicals, glossaries, catalogues, brochures and other documents. The resulting dictionary contains 2741 specific terms, plus synonyms and variants. All English/American entries are listed alphabetically with their equivalents in French, German, Spanish, Dutch and, where appropriate, Latin. An alphabetical list for each language is also included so that corresponding translations may be readily found. Certain terms are followed by a short definition in English and/or a qualifying label indicating the field in which they are used. Special attention has been devoted to such areas as: sugar beet and sugar cane growing, agricultural machines, diseases, weeds and pests, beet and sugar cane manufacture (processes and machines), types of sugar, economic terms, international sugar organizations, EEC terminology of sugar regulations.This dictionary should facilitates communication between all those involved, directly or indirectly, in the manufacture or marketing of cane and beet sugar: growers, manufacturers of insecticides and agricultural equipment, sugar technologists, sugar plant designers and manufacturers, sugar brokers, sugar research institutes, translators and interpreters.
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Medical errors have been getting a great deal of attention lately, mostly because of claims that they're one of the top causes of death in the country. Some professionals doubt the truth of this viewpoint. But regardless of its accuracy, hospitals still need to reduce their rates of preventable errors – and improving teamwork may […] [MORE]
Teamwork counts for successful hospitals
November 18, 2014 Comments (0)
Teamwork is crucial for clinical staff – especially when it comes to positive patient outcomes.


text:
From: http://researchprofessional.com
Academics raise alarm over US trade agreement
22nd May 2014
Higher education must be excluded from any future trade partnership between the EU and the United States to avoid an influx of private universities, according to university groups.
Concerns have been raised as discussions are under way about a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, designed to reduce barriers to trading goods and services. Discussions on the TTIP began in July last year and are proceeding on the basis of a negative list approach, meaning that unless a subject is explicitly excluded, it could be up for negotiation. If higher education is tabled, the implications are that both sides could open their borders to free competition from elsewhere, a stark change for many EU countries in which universities are state-owned and protected.
Howard Davies, an adviser at the European University Association, says higher education is a public good that should remain outside the remit of such an agreement. It's mainly a member state jurisdiction, and member
states should continue to have the right to run their systems as they please, he says.
Education International, the global federation of teachers unions, is also pushing for education to be exempt. 'Including it in an EU-US partnership would directly lead to an increase in privatisation, which we oppose', says
Guntars Catlaks, the unions senior coordinator for research. Negotiators are also considering agreements on the mutual recognition of professional qualifications, intellectual property, e-commerce and data protection, which could affect universities.
Some member states may support a TTIP higher education agreement as they are in favour of commodification. In the UK there are universities that have opened campuses abroad and the whole ambience is entrepreneurial, says Davies. But that's not true of other countries.
However, awareness of the TTIP negotiations in universities and rector associations remains low, which could be a problem if higher education is included in a final deal. If an agreement is reached, it will be presented to ministers and the European Parliament and there won't be much time for lobby groups to amend whatever has been decided, says Davies.
The Parliament and environmental groups have been pushing for more transparency in the discussions to aid public debate. Davies says this has made the negotiating parties more nervous about public opinion. But it will never be totally transparent because you can't conduct negotiations in a glass box, he says.
This article also appeared in Research Europe
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text:
Light calming body oil for all skin types.
Our gemstone body oil product concept is based on an understanding that our skin is a highly sensory organ and is receptive to the living energetic values which we believe in a subtle way, can help to restore balance and vitality for our overall well-being.
Herb-infused Amethyst Body Oil carries a light, calming aroma that helps to lift heavy mental activity and open the mind to higher awareness. The violet vibration of the Amethyst crystal relates to the pineal and pituitary glands, brain nervous system and supports balance in these areas.
Wildcrafted & Organic purifying body oil infused with herbs for whole-body well-being and aromatic essential oils that calm and moisturise normal to dry skin.
Ayurveda Balancing Dosha: Pitta
Herb-infused grapeseed oil, Jojoba oil, Olive oil, Lavender, Basil & Valerian extracts
Suitable for vegans.
All skin types
Renewed Body
Uplifted Mind
Apply all over the body as a moisturiser, or as a body massage oil.
Massage feet and earlobes (high receptive areas) for overall balance
Apply to energy points on the body (acupuncture points, marma points, reflexology zones or pulse points)
Use to remove heaviness from the body and mind, to calm the mind and emotions, to relax the mind ·
Use in bath water
Helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil; Helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, Vitis vinifera (grape) seed oil, Lavandula intermedia (lavender) flower/leaf/stem extract, Melissa officinalis (lemon balm) leaf extract, Ocimum basilicum (sweet basil) leaf extract, Trifolium pratense (red clover) flower extract, Hyssopus officinalis (hyssop) extract, Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract, Olea europaea (olive) leaf extract, Boswellia carterii (frankincense) gum, Rosa centifolia (rose) flower extract, Viola tricolor (violet) extract, Lycium chinense (goji berry) fruit extract, Valeriana officinalis (valerian) root extract*; Olea europaea (olive) fruit oil; Passiflora edulis (passion fruit) seed oil; Simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil; Lavandula angustifolia (lavender) oil; tocopherol (vitamin E); Citrus bergamia (bergamot) peel oil; Melissa officinalis (lemon balm) leaf oil; Pelargonium graveolens (geranium) oil; Rosa centifolia (rose) flower extract; Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract; embedded amethyst quartz crystal
NON-TOXIC ingredients FREE OF harsh chemicals and synthetics, sulphates, artificial fragrances or colours, animal products or gluten. No animal testing. Suitable for vegans.
Herb-infused Grapeseed Oil
Jojoba Oil
Lavender Oil
Called English lavender, this type offers the most medicinal properties. It has sweeter scented flowers because it contains less camphor (than French). These lavenders are used more for their therapeutic properties. They induce relaxation, reduce inflammation, relieve a headache, normalise the sebum glands, stimulate wound and burn healing without scarring, heal irritated skin, and act as a deodorant. They are anti-spasmodic, antiseptic, anti-microbial and are good for all complexions.


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The Illinois Department of Agriculture has funds available for the 2010 – 2011 Illinois Organic Cost Share Program through funds from the United States Department of Agriculture. The program will provide cost share assistance to organic producers and handlers receiving certification or continuation of certification by a USDA accredited certifying agent commencing October 1, 2010 through September 30, 2011. Under the Act, cost-share assistance payments are limited to 75 percent of an individual producer's or handler's certification costs up to a maximum of $750.00 per year.
To be eligible for reimbursement, an organic production or handling operation must be located within Illinois, comply with the USDA National Organic Program regulations for organic production or handling and have received certification or continuation of certification by a USDA-accredited certifying agent between the eligible dates.
One year of certification reimbursement is available: October 1, 2010 through September 30, 2011
Under Illinois' current agreement with the USDA, producers and handlers can make application for reimbursement to the Illinois Department of Agriculture by submitting the following documents:
- Illinois Organic Certification Cost-Share Program application
- W-9 form (Rev. 1/11)
- Proof of NOP certification issued or continued within the cost-share qualifying period, October 1, 2010 through September 30, 2011 such as a copy of the certificate or continuation of certification document from the USDA-accredited certifying agency with effective date within eligible range of 10/1/10 and 9/30/11
- Itemized invoice demonstrating costs incurred for NOP certification such as a copy of your paid, itemized invoice from your certifier
More details can be found on the Illinois Department of Agriculture's website: http://www.agr.state.il.us/marketing/Mkt_Organic_Cost_Share_Program.html
Based on the receipt of the completed application packet by the Illinois Department of Agriculture, reimbursements will be on a first-come, first-served basis until the limited program funds are exhausted.
For more information, contact Delayne Reeves at 217/524-9129 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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One of the beauties of teaching and living in DC is that education is "big" here. The average person here "cares" about education. This is not to say that people elsewhere don't "care." But if we measure how much people care about education by tallying the number of education-related events, then one might rightly believe that DC is education central.
Last week, I attended a documentary film premiere for "The Finland Phenomenon: Inside the World's Most Surprising School System" at the National Press Club. The doc was produced by Bob Compton, a venture capitalist and education filmmaker. I happened to have met him at another education-related event and he invited me to watch his new movie. Of course, I was excited to attend.
I sought to view the film with the goal of gleaning as much information as I could about Finland's education system. Finland, after all, is the only western country that has maintained its place in the top five list of high scores–alongside Asian powerhouses, China, South Korea and Singapore–on the PISA. And, as I've documented in the past, Finland spends far less than we do on education. What could explain this? Something teachable, right? Certainly.
Before the screening began, Finland's Ambassador to the United States gave opening remarks. The Ambassador caught my attention when, referring to Finland's unusual success, he said, "the path to excellence can be one of doing things differently." Could, or even should, the US (or another country, for that matter) attempt to replicate the style of education delivery that Finland uses? Implicit in the Ambassador's statement was the idea that one does not have to conform in order to succeed; pushing forward on a solitary path can be just as effective.
Indeed, we might be inclined to think that Finland has a set of circumstances that is completely unique and therefore non-translatable.
Can we in the US–a relatively, diverse and unequal country–really learn anything from Finland? As Bob Compton pointed out, Finland is a small country (population: 5.4 million); Finland is culturally very homogeneous; and Finland has little economic inequality. A skeptic might argue that it must be these blessed characteristics that guarantee Finland's success.
Yet, Bob Compton used the counterexample of Sweden to show that the story is not that simple. Sweden has many of the same blessed characteristics and, yet, placed 19th on the list of OECD countries. Demographics alone don't explain everything, Compton seemed to be implying. If it did, Sweden should be alongside Finland in the top 5.
There must be something else behind the "phenomenon."
With that prefatory note, we began the movie.
The narrative structure of The Finland Phenomenon was peculiar. Prof. Tony Wagner of Harvard's Graduate School of Education, an expert on the global achievement gap, served as both narrator and field researcher for the movie. Prof. Wagner visited a number of schools and interviewed various sources in an effort to paint a picture of the primary characteristics of the Finnish education system. I don't feel the need to rehash everything that was described, since others have already done a pretty good job of it.
What I would like to focus on are two concepts that stood out about the Finland phenomenon:
(1) Trust – The Finnish education system is fundamentally focused around the concept of trust. We can see this concept most clearly when we think about their approach to teacher training. The teacher education system sets an extremely high bar for entry into the profession and then, once trained, teachers are free to work at their schools unencumbered by evaluations and observations and other types of monitoring. They are free to grow and develop as trusted professionals.
Here in the US, we have the complete opposite. The bar for entry into the profession is unreasonably low. To make up for this, principals and school districts monitor the behavior of teachers by using performance evaluations and all the other "teacher quality" tools that are out there. The trust that exists in Finland seems to be nowhere in our system.
(Here's a little analogy drawn from my knowledge of retirement accounts: Finland : Roth IRA :: USA : traditional IRA. One of the big stresses about living in the US is the IRS. They like to take your $$$ away from you. Until you're taxed, you feel stressed (because you are still waiting to see your money get taken away). But, in Finland, just like with a Roth IRA, you get taxed on your way into the profession. Up-front, you lose a good amount, but once you've contributed to the account, you can grow what you've invested for the rest of your life, tax-free. At this point, you are trusted and relatively stress-free. In the US, as with a traditional IRA, you get taxed on your way out of the profession. As you are contributing to the account, you pay no tax. The trade-off is that you have to pay later. There is always the tax that is on the not-too-distant horizon–one that zaps your energy and, perhaps, makes you want to leave the profession (disclosure: I like Roth IRAs and have one myself).)
Trust permeates all aspects of education in Finland. Teachers trust the students to do what they need to do in order to learn (e.g. they are given 2-week long independent projects). It seems like trust is a critical element in Finnish society.
(2) Equality – Throughout the film, I got the sense that Finland truly lived up to the ideal of equality, particularly in the realm of education. One interviewed administrator made a comment about how schooling in Finland is about providing everybody the "same possibility," the "same opportunity," the "equality of opportunity." The movie made clear that Finland truly lives up to these words.
Finland made big steps towards fulfilling equality by forming comprehensive schools beginning in the 1970s. The idea, similar to those of the Common School Movement, was to provide the same sort of education to all. In Finland, there is no ability-based tracking. Yet, there is a differentiated curriculum that allows students to choose a more traditional "academic" program of study alongside a vocational one. These are not tracks, however, because they both equip students with the same basic set of thinking skills; they are, rather, applied to different ends. To address the diversity of learners in a classroom–particularly those with special needs–the primary focus in early education is to ensure that those with cognitive, social, or emotional gaps get the extra help they need to close those gaps before they become canyon-esque.
In other words, I get the sense that, in Finland, everyone is in it together, helping to ensure that all children get valued equally. They are each given the opportunity to succeed in life. The Finnish truly "get" equality and equity.
Sadly, despite all the talking we do here, I'm not sure we "get" it as well.
After the film there was a panel discussion featuring Cisco's Annmarie Neal, CCSSO's Gene Wilhoit, NYT's Tom Friedman and NEA's John Wilson. It was an interesting conversation that got each panelist giving their own views about the causes and consequences of the global achievement gap. At the end of the panel, I approached Prof. Wagner and got an autograph in my copy of his book.
Given that this took place on a school-night, I quickly zipped home and prepared for the following day's lessons. But I was glad to have been exposed to this phenomenon.


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"In the first place God made idiots. This was for practice. Then he made proof-readers." – Mark Twain, 1893.
The inimitable Mark Twain, never one to bite his tongue, had a notoriously turbulent relationship with his countless editors, printers and proofreaders — the very people tasked with ensuring his written words were fit to print. The following letter is a perfect example of his frustrations, written in 1897 to his publishers, Chatto and Windus, after discovering that his latest work, More Tramps Abroad (the English edition of Following the Equator), had been incompetently proofread by a "damned half-developed foetus."
Transcript follows.
(Source: Beverley Wright; Image: Mark Twain, via.)
Sunday, July 25/97.
Dear C & W:
I give it up. These printers pay no attention to my punctuation. Nine-tenths of the labor & vexation put upon me by Messrs. Spothiswoode & Co consists in annihilating their ignorant & purposeless punctuation & restoring my own.
This latest batch, beginning with page 145 & running to page 192 starts out like all that went before it — with my punctuation ignored & their insanities substituted for it. I have read two pages of it — I can't stand any more. If they will restore my punctuation themselves & then send the purified pages to me I will read it for errors of grammar & construction — that is enough to require of another who writes as legible a hand as I do, & who knows more about punctuation in two minutes than any damned bastard of a proof-reader can learn in two centuries.
Conceive of this tumble-bug interesting himself in my punctuation — which is none of his business & with which he has nothing to do — & then instead of correcting mis-spelling, which is in his degraded line, striking a mark under the word & silently confessing that he doesn't know what the hell to do with it! The damned half-developed foetus!
But this is the Sabbath Day, & I must not continue in this worldly vein.
P. S. These are not revises — they are first-proofs, & bad ones at that.


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EC Conference Call Notes Sep 1, 2010
2010-september-1-meeting-notes.txt — Plain Text, 2 KB (2318 bytes)
File contents
1. Public Policy (Jonathan, or Gerrit) Jonathan L has been active in working with getting policy issues aired within SIGCHI, including at CHI 2011. We now have an active listserver for CHI-Policy. Public policy info has been updated on sigchi.org. Our input to the National Academies Report has been included in the ACM response. Jonathan is inviting people to join the International Public Policy Committee. 2. Education (Jenny or Elizabeth) Update from Jenny Preece. Jenny and Elizabeth are in the process of recruiting a committee. Some thoughts on role of education efforts in SIGCHI, such as education-oriented activities and events at the CHI conference. Framing... curricula or best practices? What might be a good approach? An invited workshop on the topic would be a great start. One issue to consider: What's the scope? Graduate, professional, undegraduate? Jenny and Elizabeth will bring a plan back to the EC for approval. 3. Publicity (Elizabeth) Elizabeth is actively recruiting a potential Adjunct Chair for Publicity 4. Local Chapters (Gerrit) Gerrit is recruiting a potential Chair for Local Chapters. 5. Small conferences (if needed - Philippe) No update 6. Emma Candy Award (Gerrit) The SIG Governing Board has approved this, now it's being considered by the ACM Awards Committee. 7. Awards Dinner 2011 (Scooter or Gerrit) It will be hosted by the Vancouver Convention and Visitors Bureau. 8. CMC (Scooter) CHI 2012 Committee finalizing Papers Chair Starting with CHI 2011 - *all* authors of a paper must be registered in PCS Scooter has identified some potential candidate chairs for 2014. (Scooter's goal is to get all the CHI Conference leadership teams in place up through CHI 2014, so we can really concentrate on CHI 2015). CMC: Next step is for Scooter to arrange the first meeting. 9. CHI Communities (Dan) Update on software infrastructure development. Current contractor may not be the right person to do it (in his own opinion). Will work with ACM to see if there's another contractor they work with whom they think would be a better fit.
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I was looking for a poem to describe the massive changes taking place in my baby since he turned 1 a few weeks ago.
In the end, I wrote down a few of my own musings...
I cradle you in my arms
Spread over me, legs akimbo
How did you get so big?
A year ago you fitted half my arm
Now you're solid, walking, seeing
Everything; it's all there for your taking
As I watch, speechless, your willpower driving you
Able for anything, unafraid, so strong.
Exploring life - nay, attacking it with ferocity
You catch me watching across a crowded room
Smile, check in, carry on; headlong into
Friendships, adventure, danger, discovery
Nothing holds you back - I never will
I see you different now
Not a baby, more a boy
Watching you explore
I see your head bobbing
A cute blond little head
Bruises on either temple
Scratches and scrapes on your nose
You try to kill yourself every day
I save you repeatedly, thankfully!
Words are coming to you now
You delight in mimicking
"Kiss kiss" prompts a lunge to lips
Open, drooling - a proper wet snog
We laugh, it's cute
You know you have us
We're in the palm of your hands
Oh darling boy
Lorcan on his 1st birthday


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Experts: Christian doctrine is causing the Zika virus outbreak to explode
Experts say that the Zika virus outbreak, which has been linked to birth defects, is exploding in part because Christian doctrine against contraception and abortion.
World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan warned last week that the Zika virus "is now spreading explosively" throughout the Americas. The mosquito-borne virus corresponds to a "steep increase in the birth of babies with abnormally small heads and in cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome," Chan said.
Brazil alone has already seen 4,000 cases of babies born with microcephaly to mothers infected with the Zika virus. According to the CDC, the virus can also be "transmitted from a pregnant mother to her baby during pregnancy or around the time of birth."
Experts agree that contraception and abortion are two of the best tools for combating the impact of the Zika virus outbreak, but Christian doctrine either forbids or discourages both in many cases.
Quartz reported that abortion is completely banned in five Latin American countries, and only 52 percent of women in the region have access to birth control, which makes recommendations to delay pregnancy unrealistic.
David Vanderpool, a Tennessee missionary doctor working Haiti, told NPR over the weekend that Christian doctrine complicated responding to the outbreak.
"People assume that women in Haiti, you know, would have the same access to birth control that American women would, and it's just not true," he explained. "The Haitian woman may not have a choice in sex. The sex may not be consensual at all. And so just enjoining people not to have babies is probably not going to be very effective."
"It's easy to wax philosophical when we're in an air-conditioned building in the United States surrounded by all the food and water that we need," he continued. "We have so many examples of women who had to prostitute themselves because their children were starving to death. Well, you know, that's not a philosophically discussed question, but that is a real question; that's a reality."
Although the Catholic Church forbids contraception, Vanderpool said that his organization had found that opposing birth control was not realistic in developing countries.
"In fact, we give out contraception," he said. "Many of our ladies will be pregnant 16 times in their life. About half of those pregnancies, the children will survive until age 5. We see that with each pregnancy, they lose about 20 percent of their body weight, and the toll is extreme."
But Vanderpool said that he discouraged abortions regardless of the consequences.
"You know, in my opinion, abortion is not a good answer. I think that our answer's going to lie in proper birth control and adequate vaccines," he insisted to NPR. "We could have come up with a cure many, many years ago so that we wouldn't even be having this conversation."
Aid groups have warned of a rise in deaths from unsafe abortions due to a lack of access.
Katja Iversen, chief executive of the Women Deliver organization, called it "a cheap shot for governments to say postpone your next pregnancy if you don't make contraception and access to safe abortion readily available."
"It is interesting to see how the focus is on the big epidemic, but even though women are carrying the burden, they are still an asterisk," Iversen said.
Ed. note: This article has been updated with the CDC's warning that the Zika virus can be transmitted from mother to baby.


text: 2017 News Releases Oregon superintendents use tee time donations to help fund research assistant position at Oregon State by Mar 27, 2017 | Sarah Huerter Brian McDonald, research assistant at Oregon State University, is grateful for the Rounds 4 Research donations so that he can continue to study conditions that directly affect golf courses in the Northwest. A portion of McDonald's salary is funded through Rounds 4 Research. Rounds 4 Research is a the national tee time donation program administered by the EIFG. The 2017 online auction runs May 1-7. National Rounds 4 Research program offered through Golf Course Superintendents Association of America benefits all local chapters, including Oregon GCSA. Lawrence, Kan. (March 28, 2017) – It was five years ago that the Oregon Golf Course Superintendents Association took a leap of faith and decided to help fund a research assistant position at Oregon State University. Today, Brian McDonald is grateful for the chance to continue studying conditions that directly affect golf course superintendents in the Northwest, such as moss control on putting greens and bluegrass control in cool-season grasses. "Brian's research has helped us in dealing with Microdochium patch, which is a serious turf disease here in the Northwest," said Chuck Wolsborn, president of the Oregon GCSA and superintendent and general manager at Gresham Golf Course, an 18-hole facility east of Portland. "Research funds are drying up, and our commitment to research is important to us because we benefit directly from Brian's work." Each year since 2013, the Oregon GCSA has contributed $25,000 toward the salaried position that McDonald has held for almost two decades. In 2016, $3,500 of that total was earned through Rounds 4 Research, the national tee time donation program administered by the Environmental Institute for Golf (EIFG), the philanthropic arm of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA). The program also has the support of The Toro Company, which donates $50,000 annually. "It's critical for me to have their backing so I can focus on projects that directly help them," said McDonald, who is a senior faculty research assistant at Oregon State. "I have tremendous respect and admiration for superintendents. They have a difficult job, and I want to find solutions that will make their jobs easier." Oregon superintendents donated tee times at 19 courses throughout the state in 2016, including a highly regarded stay-and-play package at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort and rounds at Bend Golf and Country Club. "The more we can raise with Rounds 4 Research, the less we have coming out of members' dues," continued Wolsborn, a 23-year member of GCSAA. The 2017 Rounds 4 Research program is scheduled for May 1-7 on the online auction site biddingforgood.com/eifg. This year the program will have additional promotion and donations through a partnership with the Golf Channel during "Go Play Week." "We think that the Golf Channel will help us take Rounds4Reseach to a different level," said Mischia Wright, associate director of the EIFG. "The EIFG has distributed more than $435,000 to chapters and turfgrass organizations since 2012. This is a great opportunity for golfers to enjoy a great round and contribute to something special."


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24Mar 2015
Cancun, for couples who crave adventure.
I love a good getaway; the good kind that captures all of your passions and senses in one experience. For me, a good vacation includes a heavy dose of adventure, great local food, an abundant cultural scene coupled with cozy accommodations. That's the kind of getaway I can't get enough of. It's all about discovering a new place, soaking in the location by day and...
Read More


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Comparison of the Best Forum Software
Are you looking for a forum tool for your web site? Here you will find the best online message board software capable to create a powerful online discussion system where your visitors can share their opinion and write about their interests and hobbies.
PhpBB is the most widely used free Open Source forum tool and certainly the most popular one on SiteGround servers. It is a powerful, multi-functional, and easily modifiable bulletin board package. phpBB has a user-friendly interface, simple installation and administration, and helpful tutorial and documentation.PhpBB is an open source script, which means you are allowed to modify its source code to your convenience.
Simple Machines Forum (SMF) is free, elegant, feature-rich community forum software. It has a comprehensible and intuitive user interface. SMF has large online community with developers and other users able and willing to help. SMF offers easy-to-modify theme support and has highly optimized database structure and queries are suitable for small and large forums. SMF is not an open source software, so users are not allowed to modify the copyright notice and redistribute the software without written permission from its owners. However, users can modify the source code.


text: By any yardstick, Chicago guitarist John Primer has paid his dues. Prior to making The Real Deal for Mike Vernon's Atlantic-distributed Code Blue label, Primer spent 13 years as the ever-reliable rhythm guitarist with Magic Slim & the Teardrops. Before that, he filled the same role behind Chicago immortals Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon. All that grounding has paid off handsomely for Primer. His sound is rooted in the classic Windy City blues sound of decades past: rough-edged and uncompromising and satisfying in the extreme. He's one of the last real traditionalists in town. By the time he came to Chicago in 1963, Primer was thoroughly familiar with the lowdown sounds of Waters, Wolf, Jimmy Reed, B.B. and Albert King, and Elmore James. He fronted a West Side outfit for a while called the Maintainers, dishing out a mix of soul and blues before joining the house band at the Southside blues mecca Theresa's Lounge for what ended up being a nine-year run. Elegant guitarist Sammy Lawhorn proved quite influential on Primer's maturing guitar approach during this period. Always on the lookout for aspiring talent, Willie Dixon spirited him away for a 1979 gig in Mexico City. After a year or so as one of Dixon's All-Stars, Primer was recruited to join the last band of Muddy Waters, playing with the Chicago blues king until his 1983 death. Right after that, Primer joined forces with Magic Slim; their styles interlocked so seamlessly that their partnership seemed like an eternal bond. But Primer deserved his own share of the spotlight. In 1993, Michael Frank's Chicago-based Earwig logo issued Primer's debut domestic disc, Stuff You Got to Watch. It was a glorious return to the classic '50s Chicago sound, powered by Primer's uncommonly concise guitar work and gruff, no-nonsense vocals. With the 1995 emergence of The Real Deal — produced by Vernon and featuring all-star backing by harpist Billy Branch, pianist David Maxwell, and bassist Johnny B. Gayden, Primer's star appeared ready to ascend. He soon transferred back to the Wolf label for sets such as 1997′s Cold Blooded Blues Man, 1998′s Blues Behind Closed Doors, and 2000′s It's a Blues Life. These solos Discs: 2000: Knocking at your door (Telarc) avec Larry McCray et Matthew Skoller 2003: Blue Steel (album-hommage de reprises d'Elmore James) 2009: All originals Ces Participations : 1992: 44 blues de Magic Slim & The Teardrops (Wolf Records) avec Bonnie Lee 2009: Chicago Blues : a living history 2010: Joined at the Hip de Pinetop Perkins Filmographie: 2005 : Live at B.L.U.E.S (Chicago) Ces derniers concerts en France : -in 2002 Cognac Blues Passions Festival in 2012, the Chicago blues festival Talant (near Dijon) – In 2013 the festival Aulnay All Blues "tribute to Muddy Waters" WEBSITE : www.johnprimerblues.com


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Queen Bees
Anyone who does the hard, often dangerous, work of challenging restrictive norms of gender, benefits everyone. Yas queen.
One of an open edition of giclée prints. Printed on 300gsm lightly textured, acid-free cotton rag paper.
The printed area (excluding the border) is 15cm x 15cm. These look great in an 8 inch square frame (I recommend black wood, but you do you). The frame is not included (but you can get them cheap online).
This print will be signed by the artist, Henry James Garrett.
£5 from the sale of each print sold online will be split between the following charities: Mermaids, Rape Crisis National Helpline, Give Directly, Stonewall, and Southall Black Sisters.
(The print does not have the @HenryJGarrett watermark on it. That's just in case people share the images from the shop.)


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BRANSON, MO. — At first glance, Branson is an abomination.
And as I write that, I can imagine millions of Chicago readers--readers who have never been down here--congratulating themselves on never having been to Branson.You're wrong. Stay with me through these obligatory negatives here, and you'll see why.
OK . . . abomination.
The main drag--called Highway 76 or Country Highway 76 or just "The Strip"--is an absolute mess. Traffic, if it moves at all, creeps. It is a riot of out-of-control signage.
The shows? A partial listing: 14 Karat Country, Country Tonite, Grand Country Saturday Night, Keepin' It Country, Presleys' Country Jubilee.
It is also possible to come here and spend three solid days watching shows--morning, afternoon and evening shows--and see only dead people.
List of current "tribute shows": Two John Waynes, Red Skelton, Jim Reeves, multiple Elvises and Patsy Clines, Mark Twain, Liberace, two Hank Williamses, three-quarters of the four deceased Rat Packers (Does anyone do Peter Lawford?), Norman Rockwell (Doing what? Elvis caricatures?), a John Denver Dinner Show is about to open, and I'm sure I've forgotten someone.
One of the John Wayne shows features John Wayne, dead, talking to Gary Cooper, also dead.
Wayne: "I was the first singin' cowboy."
Cooper: "No, you weren't."
Wayne: "How do ya know?"
Cooper: "Because I was."
The guy doing John Wayne in full Duke regalia was also the guy doing Gary Cooper. He would nod so his "Hondo" stetson covered his face, and out from behind the brim would come Lou Gehrig's voice. In fact, his Cooper was better than his Wayne, but never mind that.
Total crowd in the theater watching this: 2 1/2 people, plus a guy in the back of the house working the spotlight, plus a reporter. When the star called on the audience's only non-working male to join him onstage and re-enact a scene from "Red River," his wife clapped, their kid was busy squirming, and the reporter was fleeing the theater.
My first lunch in Branson was a bad chicken-fried steak, which I'd always thought was impossible. Dinner, in an "Italian" restaurant, was awful, but the food was better than the waiter, who was, to his credit, apologetic, which saved his tip.
Lodging? Trigger, who is stuffed and on display at the Roy Rogers- Dale Evans Museum here, even now is faster than the elevator to my fourth-floor motel room.
Want to party? In spring, nearly half the visitors are 65 and older. In fall and around the holidays, it's still 40 percent.
Happy now? Worst fears reinforced?
Now, here's the rest of it.
Branson is a hoot.
The traffic is horrible, most of the time, but there's not much you can do about that, so you learn to leave a little earlier.
The shows?
I've seen 17 of them. These are not junky productions, by the way. Shoji Tabuchi, the violinist, doesn't just stand on his mark and play "Orange Blossom Special" on an empty stage. Jim Stafford, early in his show, sings and dances (sort of) with two other Jim Staffords. It's hilarious.
Only one of the 17, the Presleys' show, is 100 percent country--and it was fun. And John Wayne, accompanied by America's Yodeling Sweetheart, was busting it for those 3 1/2 paying customers.
Several shows, including the Presleys (who, at this writing, have representatives of four generations on stage at the same time), are families performing. I've seen shows by the Lennon Sisters (plus assorted cousins) and the Lennon Brothers. Shoji goes onstage with his wife and daughter.
The Brett Family Singers show stars the Brett Family, singing. Bobby Vinton had his mother out there.
Stafford's son Shea sings and plays piano in his show. His daughter G.G. plays piano and harp--and a dance number she does with a second dancer would wring tears out of a bowling ball.
Audiences have kids in them.
"There's something sweet," says Stafford, "about families trying to put on shows for other families."
In fact, even with the clutter and congestion and everything else, what makes Branson irresistible is the sweetness.
Here's a story.
The King of the Cowboys was gone, and the Queen of the West, based in California, was in a wheelchair. It was 1998. Branson was putting on a "western festival."
"They asked my mom to come," said Roy Rogers Jr., called "Dusty" by everyone. "This was just a few months after Dad passed away, and I didn't think she'd want to come--but she wanted to get out of the house a little bit.
"When we drove her up `76,' every marquee said, `Welcome, Dale Evans.' My mom was just blown away by that."
By 2003, with both his folks having passed, not many people were showing up anymore at the Roy Rogers-Dale Evans Museum, then in Victorville, a dull California town on old Route 66.
"We had two options," said Dusty Rogers. "Either move it someplace where people come, or just close it down.
"Mom had said to bring it here, so that's why we're here."
Rogers, backed by the High Riders, sings cowboy songs ("We don't do any `country' music at all.") in a theater alongside the museum, mostly for people--and there are plenty of us--old enough to know most of the words to "Tumbleweed Trail."
In Branson, a lot of the time the show's stars make the effort to meet the audience afterward, shake hands, sign autographs. Dusty Rogers, moments after closing his show with (what else?) "Happy Trails," was chatting, shaking and signing.
Later, we talked.
"I just had one lady out there talk to me," he said, "and she says, `Y'know, my father was not a good father. He was very mean to my mom and beat on the kids--and your dad was kind of my surrogate father.'
"Now, to me"--Rogers almost lost it, telling this story--"that's worth the whole thing, right there."
Dan Lennon, a singing brother of the singing sisters who is vice president of marketing for the Branson chamber of commerce, knows all about that.
"People feel personally paid-attention to here in a way you may not feel in other places," he said. "There's sort of a personal relationship that often develops between the visitor and the entertainer or the visitor and the person at the restaurant. It's `small-town' in that way--and in a positive way."
To amplify Lennon's point: The struggling waiter mentioned above, along with apologizing roughly 41 times, also took the cost of my martini off the tab, which he didn't have to do (and, this being a small town, the $5 probably came out of his pocket).
One additional point, since we're talking about kindness, and this relates to that awful traffic: There is, in this town, something that should be called the Branson Wave. In no other town I know are people more willing to stop and wave merging drivers into their lane or into a turn--or to stop for pedestrians crossing streets between intersections. The waves are usually accompanied by smiles, which are almost always reciprocated.
Branson is more than shows. Silver Dollar City is a pleasant theme park that's got enough rides and distractions to keep whining to a minimum, plus a serious cave if the whining gets to be too much. There are five 18-hole golf courses and a couple of 9-holers in the area, including a Nicklaus-designed par-3 layout. There's fishing for bass and some of the best trout fishing anywhere, and trails for hiking and biking.
If this is sounding like a commercial, well, maybe it's because I know how much Branson is misunderstood.
"The farther away people are," said Lennon, "the more they think of us as a street with theaters on it. The ones who understand a little about the Ozarks understand what a gorgeous place this is.
"Once they come, it's always, `Wow . . . '"
But more than any of the physical realities, there's just a feeling about Branson. Even with plans for a monster development downtown--Branson Landing--that could change the scale of everything.
Even with traffic that has no answer.
That's why Trigger is here.
"The thing I like about Branson--and I think Yakov Smirnoff says it best--is, `People come to Branson to see how America used to be. I think people should come to Branson to see how America ought to be,' " Dusty Rogers said.
"When you have a town of 6,000 people that you get 7 million visitors to a year, there's got to be something here people like--and they just keep coming back, year after year after year . . . "
- - -
Take the interstate highways that replaced old Route 66 (Interstates 55, 44) to U.S. Highway 65 at Springfield, Mo., then south to Branson. About 540 miles; figure 8 1/2 hours, with stops. Alternatively: American, United and US Airways fly non-stops into Springfield-Branson Regional Airport, about 50 minutes away. All-inclusive motor coach vacations are a popular Branson option; see your travel agent.
Just about every motel franchise you've ever heard of is represented, along with many independents, plus Marriott and Radisson, plus resorts (some on water) of every description, including very rustic. Rates (and lodgings) are all over the map, but you should be able to find something pretty good.
Lots of restaurants geared toward family and value dining, including some buffets. With most shows starting at 7 or 7:30 p.m., "fine dining" isn't a priority.
Locals looking for a special evening especially like the venerable Candlestick Inn on Lake Taneycomo, across from downtown. For hometown country cooking and a more casual excuse to go downtown, try the Farmhouse Restaurant or Branson Cafe, especially for breakfast. Near Andy Williams' theater, McGuffey's is consistent and, unusual here, serves until 11 p.m. Plus, of course, Shoney's, Denny's, Fuddruckers, Applebee's, etc.
Top of the Rock Restaurant, on Top of the Rock Road, about 7 miles south of town off U.S. 65; 417-335-2777. If your image of Branson cuisine is grits, this will blast that to smithereens. Wood-oven pizzas, fresh made pastas, knockout crab cakes and inventive preparations (pan-fried pork scaloppine with a Dijon mustard-spiked breading and aioli and pesto sauces, glorious). Plus a killer view of Table Rock Lake.
Good as it gets. Silver Dollar City (10 miles from the center; $53 plus tax for adults, $43 for kids) mixes rides--including two serious roller coasters--with crafts, farm animals, fun foods and music; sister properties Celebration City (more rides) and White Water (a water park) add options, for a price. Add go-karts, mini-golf and other amusements, along with lake fishing, swimming and boating. Most lodgings have pools. All shows are family-suitable, most have discounts for kids, and a few let 'em in free.
The show season: March through mid-December, though some shows start later or trim their schedules in quieter times. A few are year-round. . . . Who goes when: In general (there are no rules on this), spring and fall draw older crowds and the heaviest volume of motor coach tours; summers are mostly families with kids; Christmastime (they do Christmas well here, especially onstage) draws a nice mix. . . .
Show tickets: Particularly at Christmas, they're best gotten in advance. Call the theaters directly or get the names of ticket agencies from the Branson chamber (see Information, below). Prices vary; most average about $25 or a little more, but some prime draws are higher. Expect many shows, especially "country" shows, to include at least one gospel song and something patriotic ("God Bless America" is a favorite), and many will ask veterans of the military to stand and be recognized. That's Branson.
That's also Branson. . . . If you haven't pre-booked shows, ask at lodgings for $$-off coupons on some of them. Talking just a buck or two. Not much serious discounting around, but if you can stand the pain, some time-share and "vacation club" promoters (they'll find you) offer free or 2-for-1 tickets in exchange for your listening to their spiels. At your risk. . . . Leave early for shows: Attempts to push visitors onto secondary roads to ease the crush on the main drag are noble, but everything crawls around showtime.
Yes, you can get a cocktail in Branson. Just not everywhere. . . . For a good, grownup time--and a refreshing break from cherry-pie sweetness: Catch pianist-organist Jimmy Nicholas' act Thursday through Saturday nights downtown in the bar at Rocky's Italian Restaurant after 9, when (thankfully) the kitchen shuts down.
Contact the Branson Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce, 800-296-0463; www.explorebranson.com.
Population: 6,000
Claim to fame: A choice of more than 100 shows, plus fishing, golf, theme parks and other amusements in an Ozark setting.
Nearby: Historic Eureka Springs, Ark.; Springfield, Mo. (home of Bass Pro Shops' mother ship); Carthage, Mo. (Precious Moments Chapel); caverns.
-- Alan Solomon
America's kind of town: Branson
BRANSON, MO. — At first glance, Branson is an abomination.


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Imagine the beauty & the emotional connection to your fine jewellery is supported by conflict-free, fair labour and authenticity. Imagine that, one day, with a click on your cell-phone you can trace from it's inception to production, the history or the past ownerships. One of the biggest challenges of fine jewellery specifically the diamond industry is the convincing fakes, the swags and the misleading claims.
Resolving these issues requires integration of innovative solutions into the trade such as Blockchain Technology. The transparency and the verification systems provided by this technology, corroborate trust and significantly reduce frauds whether in insurance realm or counterfeits. By creating immutable records to track and protect the valuable goods through Blockchain Technology, manufacturers and brands set the seal on the authenticity & ethical trade. Ultimately creating a progressive world where everyone is a winner.
The disruptive technology promotes socially fair transactions, prevents compromising reputation, and establishes personal connections between the customer and the brand. The industry is warming up, leveraging Blockchain Technology to generate value for it's customers and reduce costs. One of the technology companies, offering solutions underpinned with Blockchain Technology for diamond industry is Everledger. A global start-up creating thumbprints across the supply chain pipeline to protect the ownership, authenticity, reputations and the challenges that bear a heavy cost not only for the owners, insurers, but to all parties involved.
Industry leaders such as Debeers are also investing in new platforms supported by Blockchain Technology to create highly secure database to record the activities throughout the supply chain while making sure that the sensitive data will remain between parties involved in the transaction. Thanks to Blockchain Technology, the ownership joy of DeBeers refined collections is largely expanded.
Reign Sapphire Corp., is another custom and branded jewelry company, that is incorporating Blockchain Technology to authenticate sapphires as a conflict-free and accepts Bitcoin as payment via Bitpay on reignsapphires.com. They offer Australian sapphires, designed in Beverly Hills with chic and modern aesthetics appealing to millennials.


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Alex and Gracie's Engagement Party
Alex and Gracie are so happy to be able to celebrate their engagement with their friends…
Okay, it is no secret that Alex asked Gracie to marry him on Valentine's Day… But it is a secret how the day unfolded. Alex knew that Gracie was the girl for him from the moment he first laid eyes on her, but commitment doesn't come easy to the men in this house… So like his father, he fought the idea of marriage. But then one sunny day he decided to surprise Gracie… He found her in the garden. When he saw her from a far, she had a dreamy look on her face. He hoped she was dreaming of him, but he wasn't so sure…. And that worried him. He knew that he couldn't risk living his life without her by his side… so he threw caution to the wind, grabbed his daddy's Amex card and got Gracie the biggest diamond he could get his paws on…. He prayed she would say yes…
She of course said YES! Alex was over the moon… Gracie was thrilled too… They couldn't keep their paws off each other….
I have never seen two cats more in love… and they can't wait to share their special day with their friends and family!
Let's get this P-A-R-T-Y started!!!
Let the toasts and gifts begin!
If not for Alex's friend Brian, this engagement party would never be happening. When Alex first met Brian he only expected to have made a friend. He never imagined that he would fall in love with Brian's sister Gracie. Alex is beyond thrilled that one of his best friends will soon be his brother-in-law.
Cody is one of the first friends that Alex made in the bloggy world. So, in a round about way, if not for Cody and his mom Caren, this engagement may not even be possible…
Alex's friend Chandler, from Cindy Lu's Muse offered this toast to Alex and Gracie with a nip of advice: Never go to nap angry. Congratulations, wishing you nine lives of wedded bliss!
Some special friends (one being Gracie's brother Brian's girlfiend Scylla) sent the happy couple a beautiful tea set and an Irish toast
We offers this toast to you
Here's to the wings of love,
may they never molt a feather,
till Gracie's little paws and Alex's big paws are under the bed together.
For each petal on the shamrock this brings a wish your way.
Good health, good luck, and happiness for today and every day
May the light of friendship guide your paths together.
May the joy of living for one another trip a smile from your lips, a twinkle from your eye, and lots of contented purring.
(Irish Toast adapted to the occasion)
We hopes you like the tea set we choose for you. We have harvested some fresh catnip and catming from our garden and blended a special catnip/mint tea for your enjoyment. ~Fenris, Socks, Scylla (and paws crossed Artemisia will be home to wish you well too)
(Please pray that Arty Mouse comes home soon) – hilary
It seems that Alex and Gracie aren't the only hot couple in the cat blogosphere… Another Gracie has found her man cat Tamir (or so she and I hope). I purrsonly think they make a great couple… They sent this card…
And if that wasn't enough Gracie and Tamir also sent a lovely gift..A double hammock.. Gracie said it was Tamir's idea. I think it is the purrfect gift… but I wonder, how did they know I fell in love with Alex's dad on a hammock?
The Zoolatry girls also sent a wonderful gift to Alex and Gracie…
A special poem came from Old Kitty (AKA Jennifer) and Charlie too
A Toast to Gracie and Alex:
To Gracie and Alex we give
Lots of joy and happiness to live
A happy and wonderful life
Together as husband and wife!
With the help of their mom, Beth Ann, sent the happy groom this message:
Though we have never met in "catson" we feel as if we know you! We are so excited that you and Gracie have found one another! We can not imagine not having each other to be with and even though "our" relationship is different than yours and Gracie's –it is still companionship. I mean, after all, we are brother and sister so we can't be girlfriend and boyfriend, can we??? That would just be weird. Our wish for you is that you two will be happy forever!! Enjoy each other, take lots of cat naps in spots of sunshine, eat your Mr. Chewy's treats together and just enjoy being best friends like we are!!! Helping keep each other clean is another thing that you might like to do when you aren't snuggling up sleeping !! We are particularly fond of keeping each other's ears clean . We are both sure that you are going to have a lifttime of happiness together and that your humans will make sure that all of your wants and needs are taken care of just like our humans do. Make sure you tell them thank you for throwing you this party—-they really love you as do all of the rest of us out here in the blogosphere!
We love you and wish the very best for both of you as you enter this new time of your lives!
Buddy and Holly
Gracie and Tamir aren't the only ones coming to the party as a couple. Noodles said:
Alex (and your betrothed Gracie) that he would love to attend the celebration of L-O-V-E. He also asked if he could bring Sunshine the Cat as my date?
Of course Alex said yes! Not only does the groom love that there is romance in the air he loves that Noodles and Sunshine were able to look past their differences and see each other not for their physical attributes but for what is in their hearts. Love should have no bounds! Way to go Noodles and Sunshine!
Alex is thrilled that his canine friends are joining in the celebration…. Including Leland aka Fluffy
Like any sensible canine, Leland made his assistant, Angela, draft up his message to Alex:
Hi Alex and Gracie-
Congrats on your engagement. This is way too awesome! I think you guys have won the most innovative way for the best couple there is in the animal kingdom! Thanks to your mom. She is so cool! –Maybe Leland aka Fluffy (my dog) can adopt her as well.
I am so happy for you two!
Since this is a party, and Alex wants to focus on happy thoughts and only good times he didn't want to share that he told Leland that he could have her. He explained that Leland clearly doesn't know his mom too well. After all, how could she be considered "cool"? A cool mom would wake up at 3:00 AM and run downstairs to get breakfast on the floor, not roll over and sleep until (shudder) 5:00 AM!
Alex and Gracie's friend Madi went all out! She sent two presents and a toast!
My mom and I are are Southern gals. She told me the 2 leggers often have a type of party for couples called 'Stock the Pantry'! Staples like flour, sugar, rice etc are given to the happy couple. So, Picture #1 is my 'Stock your Pantry' gift. Case of Fancy feast, Whiskas so that the lovely Gracie will not have to cook
This picture is my offering of entertainment for you and Gracie which includes a nip pillow with a very regal Crown because I know Gracie is a deserving Princesses, nip rat for you so that you can show Gracie your best bunny kicks and a feather nip that we hope will tickle Gracie's Fancy.
And here is Madi's toast as she raises her niptini into the air:
Alex, my friend
I hope you understand
From this day forward
It is you, my man,
who will be cleaning
the (litter) pan!!
I have to admit, Alex laughed at that toast. Him, clean? Yeah right… But he was thankful Madi mentioned the cleaning part. He wants to make sure that his beautiful bride is spoiled and never has to lift a paw. So, he imediately drafted a memo to his staff to instruct them of the upcoming changes to their workload….
Mahoney and her daughter Maggie offered this toast to the happy couple:
'We wish you both such a great union. We think that each on of you is a special kitty and so deserve each other. We wish you the best life ever.'
From Abby, Boo,Gracie, Jinx & Ping
Our toast to the beautiful couple:
Antoine De Saint-Exupery
And now here is my secret, a very simple secret; it is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye.
Concats on your engagement
All of us from ManxMnews
Kozmo and Penelope from The Cat From Hell also sent Alex and Gracie Concatulations!
Alex is thrilled to be meeting new friends. As he told the 3D cat's – any friend of Gracie's is a friend of his!
Hi Alex,
In case you don't us, we are the 3-D Cats We are called the 3-Ds because each of us has a name that starts with a "D". Dante is the big red Maine Coon, Dylan is the medium-sized cream tabby (they are both males), and Domino is our little lady tuxycat.
We would be pleased to attend your engagement party. We are so happy for you and Gracie (who is a long time friend of ours). We are bringing some 'Congra-rats" as a gift. The rats can dance AND double as appetizers afterwards!
We're really looking forward to it. See you on Monday!
Dante, Dylan and Domino
Mozart from the Random Felines also offered congrats…
The Island Cats like to make sure they don't come to a party empty pawed…. Look what they sent over…
Dear Alex and Gracie,
Congratulations on yoru engagement! We're so happy for the two of you!
We would like to attend your party on June 11. To help you celebrate, we'll bring a big tub of catnip! We hope there will be enough here for all the party guests. We cannot wait celebrate with you!
Wally, Ernie & Zoey
The Island Cats
I think they sent enough!
Sending our most heartfelt congratulations on your engagement !!!!!
Purrs Tillie and Georgia,
Tiger,Treasure and JJ
Although Taffy doesn't yet have a blog
She offered Alex and Gracie this message:
Congratulations Gracie and Alex! We think you will make beautiful mewsic Together!
Best wishes for the future.
Alex's Grandma, Loretta, said:
I wish them all the luck in the world for the remainder of their lives which I hope will be a very long time. I love Alex & I'm sure I would love Gracie if I had the chance to meet her. Happiness always…
When I asked the groom's dad if he had a toast for Marc he replied, "HUH? Alex doesn't eat toast!" But after a little explaining, Marc had these words of wisdom for his son:
"Life will not be easy everyday, but try to find the fun in it. And, keep her laughing… it worked for me!"
As for me… I told Alex while doesn't need to tell Gracie he loves her every day, he has to make sure to show her everyday. After all, actions speak louder than words….
And enough words already…. It's time to P-A-R-T-Y!
A special thank you to Ann at Zoolatry she created the engagement party annoucement, sent out so many invites to the bride and groom's friends, and captured the garden pictures of the happy couples! We couldn't have done this without you Ann! Another special thank you goes to Alex's future father-in-law Terry. Alex is one lucky man cat, not only to have found the girl of his dreams, but a girl who comes from such an amazing family who does so much for so many cats in need!


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Player Injury Fund FAQS
How do I change the details of the Injury Fund Administrator?
If you wish to update details for the Injury Fund Administrator, follow the steps below:
- Navigate to the Player Injury Fund tab on the left hand side and you will see a table containing details of all the years that the Player Injury Fund has been paid.
- Under the column 'Year' if you click on '2019' you will be brought to the PIF History page.
- Scroll to the very bottom of the page and you will see a section called 'Injury Fund Administrator Details'.
- You can make the necessary changes here.
- When you have made the changes press 'Save'.


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Along with superior knowledge, skills, experience, and current certifications, which are absolute necessities for inclusion with our home care referral registry, Professional Caregivers should radiate genuine passion for their chosen career and have a proven track record for delivering exceptional care. In addition, only those applicants who satisfactorily complete the background, TB, and DMV screening process are converted to active registry status. If you have a passion for your work and believe your attributes exemplify the very best in your profession, please contact us to be considered for inclusion in our home care referral registry.
Professional Caregivers listed with Vitalitas Home Care Referral Agency are empowered to determine the hours they work, the home care companionship services they provide, as well as all other factors that affect whether or not they will accept potential in-home care engagements. Similarly, the professionals listed with our registry negotiate fees and conditions directly with their clients prior to beginning the engagement and are free to re-negotiate all terms at any time thereafter. As a referral agency that understands and values the contributions Professional Caregivers make every day on behalf of their clients, our objective is to listen to each candidate's needs, preferences and requirements and then connect them with prospective clients who appear to be an optimal match – one that conforms with each caregiver's stated parameters, as well as leverages their unique qualifications and talents.
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777 East Tahquitz Canyon Way, Suite 200-135
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Vitalitas Home Care Referral Agency is a referral agency as defined by and operating in accordance with the requirements set forth in the California Civil Code.
Proud members of The California Coalition of Domestic Referral Agencies, Inc.


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Firefighters tackled a fire at a timber yard in Wardle, Nantwich.
Crews from Nantwich, Crewe and Chester fought the fire which broke out in extraction pipes.
They said it started in an induction pipe for shredded timber.
No one was hurt in the incident on Green Lane.
One eye-witness, who works at Rowlinson, said the fire happened in the extraction pipes.
He said crews left at 10.30pm yesterday (May 11) after six and a half hours on site making sure it was safe.
"The dust in the factory can be very combustible and they had to make sure it was clear," he said.
Utility supplies to the building had to be cut and platforms set up for crews.
Pipework was cut away and a hydraulic platform was used to cool a tower on the outside of the building.


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Last night marked the biggest television wedding since Monica and Chandler or Luke and Laura when Jim and Pam got married on The Office. The episode actually surpassed my expectations, and the entire cast got some really funny moments. The episode was chock-full of great moments; Dwight hooking up with Pam's best friend, Andy tearing his scrotum, Michael hooking up with Pam's mom, Kevin losing his shoes, Oscar getting offended by Pam's sister thinking Kevin was his boyfriend, Jim's slip-up during his toast, and Michael's awkward attempt at a save. And then, of course, there was the wedding party dancing down the aisle to Forever by (Rihanna-beater) Chris Brown, based on a real-life wedding youtube sensation hit. Let's suspend disbelief for a moment and not question why all of Jim and Pam's co-workers would, for some reason, be allowed to walk/dance down the aisle in addition to the wedding party, because, well, the show IS called The Office and a moment like this without the cast of the show wouldn't feel right. Here is it for those who missed it:
And, the original, as performed at Jill and Kevin Heinz's wedding (and how awesome is it for them that not only did it become such a huge viral hit, but is now also referenced in one of the most iconic moments on one of the best shows on television?):
All in all, the episode wasn't nearly as sappy as it could have been, and I thought they did a good job balancing the schmaltzy Jim & Pam stuff with the crazy hijinks that the show does so well.


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Bumbling Yeti Podcast
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The creation and journey of Rudy's Tint
Carl Rudegeair describes himself as having the brain of a goldfish, however throughout episode 1 of AquaRyno Inspired he takes us through his journey and evolution of being a small business owner. Rudy talks about the day he was asked to try tinting windows by a friend all the way to today where he has his very own shop. We are thinking that after this episode, many people will wish they had a brain of a goldfish...
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The Traveling Golfer Video provides a network of websites that will host "The Traveling Golfer" video each month, along with a variety of television broadcasts. Together, these sites and TV stations reach millions of households.