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This world tour of mine has gone on for a very long time now. And it's a strange lifestyle, being both constantly on the move and on a restrictive budget. My daily existence doesn't bear much resemblance to what it was before I left home, or to any normal person's life. It goes without saying that there are a million incredible things I'll miss about travelling, but as any real traveller knows, it's not all fun. Budget travel, especially, enforces a huge set of constraints, compromises and behavioural adaptations, and I won't lie to you - sometimes it gets old.
I've left out all the obvious things that I'm looking forward to: seeing family and friends, being able to speak the language, having money, and that sort of thing. What I've got here are all the things - abstract or concrete - that you might not have thought of as being among the drawbacks of long-term budget travel.
This was originally going to be called something like "things I won't miss about travelling", but that seemed a bit negative and I'm trying to be more upbeat about the upcoming end of the trip. So, inverting the concept gives us the seventeenth in the series of World Tour Highlights lists. Here, in no particular order, are the things I'm looking forward to about going home at last.
1. My Own Bathroom
It's not a pleasant subject, but after four years of travel it's one thing that's definitely getting to me. Budget hotel after guesthouse after hostel, each with its own unique take on bathroom arrangements. For the amount of money I'm usually willing to spend, you're almost always looking at a shared bathroom. In some of the more disgusting hostels I've encountered, the bathrooms never get cleaned. Even when they do, you're sharing toilets with fifty other crusty backpackers and all their diseases and fungal infections. I don't think I've sat down on a toilet seat the whole time I've been away.
Not to mention the various hygiene rules in all the different countries. Throwing used toilet paper into the basket in South America rather than flushing it, for example - or not having toilet paper at all, and splashing with water instead, like in India or Indonesia. Squat toilets in Asia. Chemical toilets on buses and trains. Paying for toilets everywhere.
Cold water showers. Salt water showers. Showers with a dribble of rusty water or sparking electrical wires or dog-sized roaches. Showers like a high-school locker room with a row of nozzles and no privacy. Showers with a wad of other peoples' hair blocking the drain and ankle-deep scummy water.
A bathtub. I am very much looking forward to a bathtub, it seems like an unbelievable luxury to me. I don't even remember the last time I saw a bathtub (no, I tell a lie, I do remember, but there was no way in hell I was letting anything but the soles of my feet touch it). Hot baths are a thing you just have to give up when travelling. And a nice fluffy bath towel, I'm looking forward to that, too, I've been using the same wretched "quick-dry" camping towel for four years now.
What else? Not having to keep a cover on my toothbrush. Not having to squeeze shampoo into little bottles. Having a blow-dryer so I don't have to have wet hair all the time (freezing in cold climates, mildewy in hot climates). Mouthwash. Looking forward to mouthwash, it's too heavy to carry in a backpack. Rusty, septic disposable razors, I won't miss those. Ditto athlete's-foot powder.
This sort of thing can get on your nerves. It's not a life for the squeamish. I could rant for another thousand words about this, so I'll stop now. I'm really just looking forward to having a safe little clean room that I don't have to be afraid of.
2. My Own Kitchen
Similar to the above. Budget travel means that sometimes you have a kitchen, and most of the time you're eating street food or sandwiches. Years of terrible, unhealthy food have taken their toll on my health, and I've gotten to the point where I'd almost rather starve than eat yet another pile of greasy, salty, unidentifiable fried slop. Sheryl and I try to stay at places where there's a kitchen available, but that brings its own set of problems. Where does the food come from? You spend half your life running around trying to find a shop, market or grocer. And we always seem to be carrying a huge bag of food with us wherever we go, because we never really know where our next meal is coming from, and we've gone hungry enough times that we like to have something on hand to eat. That's heavy, and that's annoying. And again, on our budget, it's pretty much pasta and sauce all the time. It's almost impossible to have a balanced, healthy, cheap diet while travelling. I'm very much looking forward to having a kitchen and the chance to control my own diet. And to make all those dishes I've been missing and haven't been able to make - if I can even remember how to cook, any more. And I really can't wait to have some spices and condiments. You just can't carry a hundred little jars with you in your backpack, and so your diet gets blander and blander as you go on. A kitchen, even a small one, with an oven and a fridge, sounds like a pretty amazing thing right about now.
3. My Own Home
Home is only the place where you hang your hat, they say - whatever four walls and a roof you're currently inhabiting. It's true, to a certain extent, and nobody knows that better than me. But I've had 363 temporary homes over the last four years - do the math, that's an average of only four nights each. After all that, and after sleeping in a car for five months and a tent for three, I'm longing for a place to call my own.
Privacy is a big part of that. A budget traveller leads a very public life, sleeping in dormitories, eating on the street, and sharing bathrooms. It's rare that I have the opportunity to shut the world away behind a door. And as someone who has always needed a lot of time alone, that's been difficult.
But the small things get to you, too. I'm really looking forward to having my own bedroom, with nobody's feet in my face and nobody snoring. I'm looking forward to not having to dress in wet shower stalls every day, to having lampshades instead of bare ceiling bulbs, to clean walls, being able to control the temperature of a room, to windows that both open and close, and to not having to keep everything I own locked up or watched like a hawk every moment.
4. My Own Computer
I've been working with computers all my adult life, and I'm used to having a fairly powerful machine for my own personal use. But Sheryl and I have been sharing a crappy little netbook for almost the whole time we've been travelling. It's our main tool, we couldn't travel without it. It's our only way of editing photos, updating our websites, and keeping in touch with everyone we know. But there are two of us, and there's one computer, and that's been a big source of stress and negotiation. And it's tiny, cramped and underpowered. I'm looking forward to having my own computer back, all to myself. I'm looking forward to not having to squint at a tiny screen, to having a full-sized keyboard, and enough processing power to run Lightroom properly. I'm looking forward to having an automated backup and not having to make laborious manual backups every few days.
And I am so very much looking forward to never having to use goddamn Microsoft Windows ever again.
5. Laundromats
I used to complain bitterly about doing laundry. I used to think it was a huge pain dragging all my dirty clothes to the corner laundromat and then hauling the clean clothes back home. And then I started travelling. Coin laundries are a pretty rare thing, out in the world - mostly you have to pay by the kilogram for a laundry service when you're on the road, and that's a lot of money. Doing your own is a no brainer. Sometimes Sheryl and I break down and pay to have it done, when it's just too filthy, or it's a cold, rainy place and it will never dry on its own. But not often. I've spent most of the last four years hand-washing every piece of clothing I own, over and over (and, it goes without saying, wearing the same set of clothes until the smell is intolerable, but that's just part of the backpacker aesthetic). The idea of clean clothes, all the time, whenever I want them, with no more effort than popping over to the laundromat, well, that's a beautiful thing to me.
6. Debit Cards
I'm really going to love being able to pay for things with plastic again. Not having to carry a huge pocket full of coins, not having to worry about my pocket being picked, not having to constantly visit the ATM and decide how much to withdraw. And especially not having to constantly scavenge for small bills, or plot and scheme about how to break large bills. Most of the world still operates on a cash basis and, while it has definite advantages on occasion, taken on the whole it's a big pain in the ass. I'm looking forward with great anticipation to not having to deal with cash anymore.
7. Drinkable Tap Water
People in developed countries have no idea what a stunning, incredible luxury it is, that the water coming out of their taps is safe to drink. They take it for granted, this invisible thing that's saving their lives. I've spent too much time in too many poor countries (which is most countries) where you just can't trust the water. Sure, there are often ways around it. You can boil it, if you have a stove, or otherwise purify it, if you have the means. Or you can buy bottled water, if it's cheap enough, and as long as you're careful to check that the seal on the cap is still safe and it hasn't been refilled and resold, and if you can handle the burden of ecological guilt when you see the huge drifts of discarded plastic bottles. The idea of filling a glass from the tap seemed more like a miracle every month I travelled.
8. Bicycles
Cycling has always been an overwhelming obsession for me. It's my way of keeping fit, getting myself around, working out my frustrations, saving the planet and risking my life all at the same time. Ask anybody who knows me - I've always been the guy on the bike. I ride year-round, whenever I can. I do my own maintenance, I build bikes from spare parts, and when I left on this trip I had the legs of a bodybuilder. Giving all that up has been one of the biggest sacrifices I had to make in order to travel. To leave behind my fixed-gear alleycat bike and my beautiful Cervélo racer, in exchange for the occasional rented piece of junk, well… that hurt. Getting them back is one of the best things about going home, for me.
9. Gyms
It's virtually impossible to keep fit when you're on the road for a long time. Sure, you're more active on a daily basis while you're travelling. There's less sitting at a desk and more walking, climbing mountains and snorkelling and all of that, but there's also a lot of unavoidably unhealthy food and a lot of enforced idle time sitting on your butt on buses or trains. There's a net loss of fitness while travelling even when you don't factor in the negative health impact of constant sickness from bad food and water. Twice during the trip we've stopped long enough that I've been able to pick up a few weeks at a local gym and try to reverse a bit of that loss, but there's only so much you can do in a few weeks. I'm really looking forward to a regular gym routine again.
10. Clothes That Fit
The longer you travel, the worse your wardrobe gets. When your shirts wear out or you rip the butt out of your pants, you might not be in a place where you can buy clothes in a style you like, that look good on you, or that even actually fit you at all. As I write this, I'm wearing a hat I bought in Bolivia, a shirt from Australia, shorts from Fiji, underwear from Malaysia, socks from Indonesia and shoes I actually found left behind in a hostel in New Zealand. None of them fit right, none of them look good on me, and I wouldn't be wearing any of them if I had any choice. This is why so many backpackers look like skid-row rag heaps. Looking good, feeling good about your appearance, these are things you have to let go of as a long-term traveller. I don't get to dress the way I like, and the way I always have. I wear raggedy shorts, t-shirts with holes in them, and crappy sneakers or brown hiking shoes instead of the big black boots and long black coats I've worn all my life. I left that wardrobe behind when I left home, and although it's still there in boxes in Sheryl's sister's basement, I'm not sure how much of it will fit me any more. I'm especially concerned about the boots, since four years of carrying a heavy pack have flattened my arches. But I'm still very much looking forward to at least being able to control my own appearance.
11. Libraries
I've always been an insatiable reader and a constant user of the public library. When I'm at home I've always got a dozen books checked out. Travelling has had a massive impact on that - I can't carry a load of heavy books around, for one thing. And books are expensive even at the best of times - I could never afford to buy them while travelling. And we've spent most of the last four years in places where English books (or even French, if I'm desperate enough) are impossible to buy even if there is a bookstore to be found. As a long-term budget traveller, you're limited to the books you can find on the book-exchange shelves of hostels. Three-quarters of any shelf always seems to be in German (the best argument for learning German, I'd say), and the rest is a mixed bag indeed. I've been forced to read some of the worst trash that has ever been written, just because it's better than having nothing to read (to be fair, I've come across a few gems that I wouldn't otherwise have thought to pick up, but those have been rare). So the thought of a whole city-wide library system of books - in English, that I can read for free - makes me very, very happy.
12. Convenience Stores
Nothing mysterious here. I'm a little tired of the eternal traveller's problem of finding out where to buy a thing you need, then finding that tiny shop or market stall, then finding out they're closed for siesta or whatever. The convenience of convenience stores cannot be overstated, and I don't take them for granted anymore. I'm going to love being able to go down to the corner shop any time I want, for anything I need.
13. Freedom from the Tyranny of Publishing
Travelling these days comes with the heavy expectation that you're going to keep some sort of travelogue website going. Being a web developer by trade, I support the idea, and building this site and Sheryl's has been interesting and fun. But providing the content was never as much fun as building the sites. It was fine at the beginning. I've always liked to write, and when the trip was new and novel, and interest and feedback were strong, there was a lot of incentive to carry on writing. But the longer you travel the more the interest of your audience wanes, until after awhile it seemed like I was really just writing for myself, and then it became a chore. Travelling itself is a full-time job, and while keeping and publishing a journal seems like a great idea and a manageable thing during the early days, it soon becomes difficult to keep up to date. Besides the writing, I take a lot of photos, and editing, preparing and publishing those takes a lot of time too. Strange as it sounds, as much as I've complained in the past about how nobody's interested, I'm looking forward to the end of the trip as being the time when I get to lay down the self-imposed burden of my role as content provider.
14. Not Being a Guest
When you travel, you're a guest everywhere you go. Every minute of every day, you're a guest in a restaurant or a hostel or someone's home. Even at the highest level, your legal status in a country is contingent on your good and lawful behaviour. But more, being a constant guest carries an obligation to be sociable and friendly. Always a good idea, but being sociable and friendly 24/7 is not as easy as it sounds. And when you slip, there's always someone there to snap at you to go home if you don't like it here. And mostly there's going to be a big language barrier that prevents you from explaining or making amends.
It's way too easy to cause offence, to bruise feelings or egos or to violate any of a thousand unspoken local social rules. This is a big component of culture-shock, of course, and culture-shock is the hardest thing for a traveller, and the thing responsible for keeping most trips short.
But even more - for me, at least - being a guest means stepping lightly around your host's opinions. So learning the art of diplomatically avoiding an argument is an essential skill in a traveller's tool-kit, and that means reacting to unexpected nasty conversational turns. I can't count the number of times I've had to bite my tongue and smoothly change the subject when a host says something racist or vile or morally objectionable. At home I'd speak up, tell them they're wrong and stupid and closed-minded. But disagreeing with people (virtual strangers, most of them) and getting into arguments with them is a luxury you have when you're not dependent on their goodwill.
I'm really looking forward to being at home, that way. Not because I'll be surrounded by people with the same ideas as me of what's good and decent, though that's a minor factor. It's because at home (at least after the initial round of visits) I won't be anybody's guest. I won't have to care what anybody thinks of me, or worry about the immediate and possibly dangerous consequences of disagreeing with somebody.
15. Not Being an Ambassador
This is closely related to being a guest. When you're travelling, you don't just represent yourself, like it or not. When people meet you, be it a fellow traveller or a local, they're going to judge your whole country and everybody in it based on what they see in you. It's not fair, but it's true. People judge based on what they're shown. What else do they have to go by? But it's a burden, knowing that you're an unwilling ambassador for your whole country. And it's one more reason, among many in a very public life, that you're always required to be on your best behaviour. And believe me, it gets tiring knowing that if I'm having a bad day and I snap at a taxi driver in Cambodia he'll dislike Canadians from then on. Or if I let my guard down and get suckered by a money-changer in Slovenia he'll think Canucks are an easy target. It's a tough part of travelling, for me. Naturally it'd be easier if I just didn't care, but I think about these things, I can't help it.
I have found one way of temporarily escaping the pressure, though. Every time I've done something dumb, or if I just can't stand being polite for one more minute, I pretend I'm American. Nobody can tell the difference in accents anyway, and there has to be some benefit to always being mistaken for a Yank. A fair exchange, I'd say, for all the times I've caught Americans with Canadian flags sewn onto their backpacks.
16. Not Buying Things Based on Weight
I've been carrying all my worldly possessions around on my back for the last four years, and there's nothing better for teaching you what you really need and what you really don't need. At this point I'm not carrying a single gram that I can't justify. Sounds great, except that things get used up or wear out and need replacement. Of course I'm limited by price first, but quality isn't important to me anymore. Nor is durability. Clothing style, size and colour doesn't matter. The only thing that matters to me anymore is how much something weighs. Although it's more cost-effective, I can't buy that big bottle of shampoo, because it's too heavy. Can't take advantage of any volume discounts. Buying clothes, I buy thin things and layer them even if that's not as warm as heavy clothes. There are a thousand examples. It might take me years to get over this reflexive evaluation of the weight of a thing as a primary purchase consideration.
17. Free Medical Care
Being Canadian, Sheryl and I are used to decent, free (or nearly free) medical coverage, and it was a scary thought to be without it. Before we left we signed up for a year of travel medical insurance from RBC (who I can't praise highly enough). In my case it was a waste of quite a lot of money, but Sheryl used it in India to pay for her hospital stay, and she came out even or a little ahead. We never thought at the beginning that we'd be travelling so long, and a year seemed like enough. We were able to renew the policies for three more months after that first year was up, but after that renewal there wasn't an insurance company who would touch us and since then we've been working without a safety net. This is nerve-wracking, to say the least. We had to pay for Sheryl's second hospital stay in Indonesia out of pocket. We were lucky that it wasn't that expensive, comparitively speaking, but it certainly could have been. I've never been able to shake the constant low-level dread of the knowledge that accidents can happen any time. At home, it's comforting to know that if something happens you can show up to the hospital, present your health-insurance card and be admitted, no questions asked, and I'm definitely looking forward to that. Unfortunately I have to be resident in my home province for six months before I'm eligible again, so I'll just keep my fingers crossed until then.
18. Good Conversations
No offense meant to Sheryl, naturally, but we've spent twenty-four hours a day together for the last four years, and we've pretty much exhausted all the conversational topics at this point. But what gets to me, and what I know gets to a lot of other people while travelling, is the Generic Backpacker Conversation that you end up following with almost everybody. Where are you from? How long have you been travelling? Where are you headed next? Et cetera, et cetera. It's virtually impossible to break free from this conversational black hole when meeting a fellow traveller for the first time. When you're on the road, very nearly all your relationships with other people are only a couple of hours long, and you meet a lot of people, so you have the same conversation a lot. With complete seriousness, I'd estimate I've probably had that generic conversation or a close variation of it something like 1500 times, and I'm heartily sick of it. I'm really looking forward to having conversations that are longer, deeper, and about other things than travelling. That's if I even remember how, and if I actually have anything else to talk about, which is an open question.
19. Seasons
I hate winter, and avoiding that horrible season was one of my main reasons for long-term travel. But you can't spend all your time in the tropics, and after so many different latitudes, altitudes, climates and temperatures, I don't mind telling you that my body clock is seriously messed up. Even travelling slowly, like we prefer to do whenever we can, every place confronts you with a different temperature, weather pattern, and length of day. It's deeply unsettling in an almost indescribable way. Humans just aren't physiologically meant for constant travel - even nomadic peoples are predictable in their migrations. The subtle cost of our continual changing of place has taken a long time to show, and it surprises me how much I miss the orderly change and progression of seasons in my northern home. If I never see snow again I'll be a happy man, but after four years of as much summer as possible, I miss the autumn and the spring.
20. Never Having to Pretend to Care About Football Again
Football, or soccer if you like, is the thing that holds the world together. Everybody loves fútbol. It's a worldwide obsession and a common language. Kids play barefoot soccer in dusty fields in every country, dreaming their dreams of escaping into a better life. As a man, it's the one thing that I know, without question, that I can have a conversation about with any other man I meet, regardless of language or culture, anywhere in the world, from the slums of Buenos Aires to the deserts of Namibia. I can sit in a bar or a train station or a restaurant and if there's a match on the television, I can be less of an outsider, all of us brought closer through its universal bond.
It's such a shame, then, isn't it, that I just don't give a shit about football. I really don't. There, I've said it. I'm sorry. I just don't care. I've been faking, this whole time, just to be polite, to fit in and to have something to talk about.
Also, I don't care about cricket. Or rugby.
|May 6th (2 photos)
|May 2nd (3 photos)
|May 1st (2 photos)
|April 30th (2 photos)
|April 29th (21 photos)
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Believe it or not I can totally understand what your going through….and can agree holehearted!!!
hahaha this was great! I probably shouldn't have read it yet though since I am now longing more than usual for some of the creature comforts of home and we haven't even left Australia yet… well, enjoy the dirty clothes, greasy food and shared bathrooms while it lasts Chris, you will soon remember them fondly I'm sure.
I was wondering when you were going to get around to writing about returning home (hope I didn't miss an earlier one). And congrats on a well-written item. Reading it left me wondering about how the 4 years travel is going to affect you both in the medium-long term.
Your comments on clothing in #10 make it sound like you're shopping for clothes at any Wallmart store…
Even when I travel for only a month at a time I get some of those! I think it is going to be a bit of a shock to your systems when you get back - you will be mentally ready to go, and then you will think- hey, we don't have to! Going to be a little bizarre for you, but you will adapt I am sure.
Well written piece Chris! I gotta say I didn't fully understand what you two were going through in every part of your journey but you've certainly opened my eyes. It will be so lovely having you two home again. I can't wait to see both of you when you come back!
It's both highly informative and entertaining as well, thanks for the insight into traveling life on a shoe-string budget. I've 'lived' through most of your narratives vicariously as I know I would never be able to emulate your feat of a 4-year World Tour.
One thing I learned fast during my early traveling days was to say I was from the country south of the border when I committed a faux pas, which was plentiful as I navigated my way through strange & different cultures & customs. I chuckle when I read your fair exchange as a Yank.
I am sure you have assimilated back into the good old ways of Canadian lifestyle and reclaimed those perks that you've been yearning for.


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Preventing Loops with Spanning Tree
The obvious way to prevent loops is to follow the same advice a doctor might give you when you complain, "It hurts when I do this"—don't do it! Of course, in the real world, there are many variables that are out of your control. I've seen more than one network go down because someone decided to plug both network drops under his desk into the little switch he brought in from home. Heck, I've seen network administrators do it themselves.
Having more than one link between switches is a good idea in terms of redundancy—in fact, it's recommended. The trick is to have only one link active at a time (or combine them into a single logical link). If you configure two links between two switches and shut one down, you'll solve the loop problem, but when the live link fails, you'll need to manually bring up the second link.
Spanning tree is a protocol designed to discover network loops and break them before they can cause any damage. Properly configured, spanning tree is an excellent tool that should always be enabled on any network. Improperly configured, however, it can cause subtle problems that can be hard to diagnose.
How Spanning Tree Works
Spanning tree elects a root bridge (switch) in the network. The root bridge is the bridge that all other bridges need to reach via the shortest path possible. Spanning tree calculates the cost for each path from each bridge in the network to the root bridge. The path with the lowest cost is kept intact, while all others ...
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Following the arrival of Robin van Persie from Arsenal, Blues manager Roberto Mancini reiterated his belief the Red Devils are favourites to take away the crown his own side won so dramatically in May. Ferguson just scoffs at the suggestion, as he does with Mancini's claim that United are the ones with the best array of strikers.
"We are favourites every week according to him (Mancini)," said Ferguson. "Is he ever going to realise he has got a decent team himself? Our biggest threat this season are Manchester City."
He added: "Chelsea have won the European Cup, which is the trophy Roman Abramovich has been after. Now he has got excited again and loosened the purse strings to sign a few players.
"I am almost certain they will be challenging. But I look at Manchester City as our biggest danger."
Van Persie goes straight into Ferguson's squad for Monday's trip to Everton, even though he is likely to start on the bench due to a lack of recent match practice.
However, the United boss is just delighted to have snared his number one summer transfer target, who at the end of last season, he felt there was no chance of landing.
"We never thought we could get Van Persie," said Ferguson. "I thought Arsenal are not going to let him go.
"When I read he had refused a new contract that is when we acted. It has been a long haul and he (Wenger) got a great price - he could win a poker school in Govan. But we are happy the matter is concluded."
A cynic might suggest Ferguson went for Van Persie because, having celebrated his 70th birthday, the United boss simply does not have the time to wait for a new team to emerge as bona-fide challengers to City.
Source: PA
Source: PA


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I received the following e-mail today:
Don't Regret Missing Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy
Natalie and Donnell are going to put on a night to remember!Award winning Cape Breton musician, Natalie MacMaster, began her fiddling career at 16 releasing her debut album Four on the Floor. Her musical venture now spans over three decades, completing 11 albums, performing thousands of shows and collaborating with a multitude of world renowned artists.The most recent album by MacMaster, Cape Breton Girl, has been self-described as a "straight-ahead, traditional record." The album is filled with an invigorating collection of toe-tapping jigs, reels, and strathspeys that embodies her most cherished values, her family and home, tradition, and faith.
I hereby promise not to regret missing Natalie and Donnell in the slightest. Partly because I have never found strathspeys particularly invigorating. Partly because there has been no independent analysis as to whether Cape Breton Girl is either straight-ahead or traditional. But mostly because I can't trust Natalie and Donnell to provide me a night to remember if they can't even remember to tell me who Donnell Leahy is or what he will contribute to the evening. He might just be the guy who taps his toe during the jigs.


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HolidaysView All Events
July 4th Weekend
July 03, 2019 - July 07, 2019
Agendas and More InformationAgenda
Event Description
Fireworks at Blackberry Farm never grow old. Like big kids, we look forward to the red, white and blue splendor that lights up the dark Summer night for miles around—and enjoy the awestruck expressions on our own children's faces. Independence Day weekend at the Farm is a much-loved, fun-filled tradition that many of our guests have made their own—and it simply wouldn't be complete without our annual BBQ Battle, a test of the best technique, sauce and taste of barbecue from a handful of our talented chefs. Before the evening festivities begin, we'll have a golf cart parade and Camp Blackberry activities for the kids all day long, so parents can enjoy a little patriotic fun of their own.
Highlights & Features
- Annual BBQ Battle
- Fireworks over Blackberry Farm
- Golf cart decorating contest
- Family Bingo


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Rangewear by Scully Double Pinstripe Vest - Big & Tall
RangeWear by Scully
Item # 075362
- Rangewear by Scully Double Pinstripe Vest - Big & Tall
- Item # 075362
$49.95 Original Price
Additional Information
Features & Description
- Dress to impress wearing this Rangewear by Scully vest!
- Pinstripe design throughout
- Notched lapels
- Adjustable strap in back
Take your style up a notch wearing this Rangewear by Scully vest! Rangewear is a part of the Old West Collection by Scully. This double pinstripe vest has a sophisticated and classy "old time" look. Features notched lapels, covered buttons, two front welt pockets and an adjustable strap in the back. Fully lined. Made of 100% Polyester. Imported. Sizes: S(38), M(40), L(42-44), XL(46-48), 2XL(50).


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Fable Legends has shut down and is no longer available to play.
The game's closure - and that of Lionhead - was announced last month, but the curtain finally drew this afternoon.
A message on the game's website added: "All of us here at Lionhead Studios would like to thank you for participating in the closed beta and being a part of the game's development. All stories have to end eventually, but the memories of Heroic triumphs and Villainous plots will last forever. Thank you for your support - you are all Legends!"
Refunds to players are currently being processed.
Source: Fablelegends.com


text: Olmert: We will wait for a month, two months ... six months Ehud Olmert, the prime minister, and senior members of his cabinet, which was sworn into office last week, have said the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority must renounce the use of violence, recognise Israel and respect previous mutual accords for the talks to become a possibility. If Hamas does not accept those terms, Olmert will then push on with his so-called convergence plan under which Israel intends to keep parts of the occupied West Bank regarded by the Palestinians as an integral part of their promised future state. "We will wait for a month, two months, three months, six months, and if we see no change, then we will probably move forward even without an agreement," Olmert told a group of visiting foreign mayors on Tuesday night. "If the Palestinians do not accept these conditions, Israel will have to determine its borders by itself." Olmert has made fixing the borders the prime task of his administration, with or without agreement from the Palestinians. Settler pullout Under his plan, Olmert would pull about 70,000 Jewish settlers out of the occupied West Bank. In return, he would take permanently the large blocs where most of the 250,000 settlers live. Olmert is set to pull about 70,000Jewish settlers out of West BankTzipi Livni, the Israeli foreign minister, said: "This does not signify that Israel is going to leave [parts of the West Bank] in six months, but I understand that Mr Olmert is laying out the path which he intends to follow. "For Israel, it would be better to have international agreement, but the prospects of having a Palestinian partner appear sadly non-existent." Haim Ramon, justice minister, was the first Israeli official to set a deadline for the Hamas government to renounce violence and recognise Israel. "Through the end of this year, 2006, there will be honest attempts to talk to the other side," Ramon told Army Radio. "If it becomes clear by the end of the year that we really have no partner, and the international community is also convinced of this, then we will take our fate into our own hands and not leave our fate in the hands of our enemies," he said. Palestinian reaction Reacting to the statements, Ghazi Hamad, a Palestinian government spokesman, said: "Haim Ramon's assertion that Israel is ready for negotiations is no more than an attempt to trick the public. Haniya's government facespressure to recognise Israel "They don't want negotiations, and even if there were negotiations, they would not give us our rights." He repeated that Hamas was prepared to grant a long-term truce if Israel would agree to retreat to the lines it held before the 1967 war - a condition Israel categorically rejects. Saeb Erikat, a Palestinian negotiator, said Israel had a negotiating partner in Abbas, widely known as Abu Mazen. "President Abu Mazen stands ready to immediately resume permanent status negotiations," he said. "At the same time, we urge the [Hamas-led Palestinian] government to accept the two-state solution, but this should not stand in the way." Hamas says it has no objection to Abbas starting political negotiations with Israel. Khaled Suleiman, the spokesman for Hamas MPs at the Palestinian Legislative Council, said the movement was not a stumbling block to negotiations. International peacemakers say Israel cannot draw its final borders on its own. SOURCE: Aljazeera + Agencies


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Curious about your Slovak roots but don't know where to begin? This webinar will provide an overview of how to begin the research process using both traditional and online sources. Learn how to identify your ancestral village, locate and interpret vital records, trace ancestors through census and immigration records, utilize the Family History Library, tips for contacting possible relatives, writing to Slovak archives, and how to find and hire professional researchers. The basics of organizing your research and strategies for overcoming the most common pitfalls and problems specific to researching Slovak ancestors will also be discussed.
Lisa A. Alzo M.F.A. is a freelance writer, instructor, and internationally recognized lecturer, specializing in Slovak/Eastern European genealogical research, writing your family history, and using the Internet to trace female and immigrant ancestors. She is the author of ten books, including the award-winning Three Slovak Women, and hundreds of magazine articles, and writes the blog "The Accidental Genealogist."
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by Lisa Alzo
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by Lisa Alzo


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General Regulations
– Players` Team Format: 5 vs. 5 (Team Match, 5 players per team, 4 assault Rifles & 1Sniper or 5 rifles in a team)
– The game client using for this event is the live server client.
– 9 Wins AUTO SWITCH (1st and 2nd round is Dead Round)
– 1st and 2nd round is Dead Round (TK) for both teams
– Score in game must be 1-1 (not counted)
– Scoring will start at Round 3 (0 – 0)
– The first team get 8 WINS will win the match
– Before starting the 9th round there will be an Auto switch Mode
– The organizer may install multimedia programs and/or join as an observer for tournament operations and livestream purposes, such as verifying match results, gathering match data or for live cast purposes.
– In the event that any unexpected incidents or delays, not mentioned in the rules herein may occur, the organizer will decide use its sole discretion to determine the outcome. All decisions made by the Chief Referee and/or Referees are final.
– The rules and regulations are subject to change by the organizer at any time without prior notice.
Official Notice from the Chief Marshal [Please read]
– Official will assign PC area for competing team. Teams cannot complain of their place unless the PC is broken.
– Before the start of a match, players must be done with their computer accessory settings during given minutes (10 minutes).
– In the event that any unexpected incidents or situation may take a place, the Head Marshal has the right to extend player's setting minutes under his solely authority.
– The Head Marshal has the right to give out a "warning" if a match gets delayed due to the corresponding team players' fault.
– If computer accessories that players have brought into are unusable and there is no spare accessory available for its replacement, players will be advised to use other computer accessories that the organizer provides with.
– The Head Marshal or Marshals are entitled to warn when abusing bug-plays listed as below.
* High Jump through explosion from grenade
* Grenade Bugs (i.e. Objective Penetration)
– No Dead cam once the player died. Players need to click First Person View when get killed.
– In case of any problems occurred during a match, only team captain can appeal to marshal(s).
– All participants are required to play fairly, conforming to the rules of good sportsmanship.
– All decisions made by the Head Marshal and/or Marshal are final.
– The team forfeits a referring match if their total warning reaches 2 times.
Substitution Rules:
1. Teams can nominate 1 player to be their 6th man.
2. 6th man cannot play for another team once nominated.
3. A team is not allowed to change their team line-up during the match. They can only switch players when the next map is being changed.
4. In case a team is lacking of 1 member, then can still play with a handicap match 5 vs 4. But if a team is lacking of 2 members, they will disqualified in the tournament.
Game Rules
1. Team/Game Settings
– Each team must have 5 players which are formed of 1 sniper and 4 assault rifles or 5 rifles. Any other team format (i.e. 2 snipers and 3 assault rifles) is not allowed and will result in team disqualification.
– Players are allowed to use Add weapon type D and C and they can change weapon during the match. Make sure that they will only have 1 sniper per round. 2 or more snipers in a team during each round are not allowed. The team will get 1 warning point if they will violate this rule.
– A single PC unit will be provided to each player before a match starts.
– Players can only occupy the first 5 top slots in the room.
– Spectating GM's will take the last 2-3 slots per team, since there is no spectator mode in this client.
– Players must make any final adjustments (all necessary settings in the game and computer accessories) as well as complete team match practice 10 minutes before the start of a match.
– If a match gets delayed due to matters of computer hardware/software (i.e. computer hardware, system error, computer accessory that a player has brought into, and/or more), a team which causes such a delay will receive one (1) warning point and all decisions will be hereinafter subject to the rules of "Pre and Post-gunfight" under the organizer's sole discretion. If two (2) warning points are given during a match, team(s) will forfeit the corresponding match.
– Players are only allowed to use five (5) kinds of their personal computer accessories such as keyboard, mouse, headset(or earphone), mouse pad, and mouse wire holder.
2. Match Procedures
– Players can use any items, weapons and gears except RGD and VX Smoke in this tournament.
– The competition method is 5 vs. 5 team match. A match is played in best of 7 rounds auto switch (9 wins room settings).
– If two (2) warning points are given during a match, team(s) will forfeit the corresponding match. *All decision will be made under the organizer's sole discretion in due course.
3. Abnormal Situation & Other Regulation
a. Bug Relations
– In case of Known Grenade Bugs (i.e. Objective Penetration), only team captain can appeal to Marshal(s). The team leader must provide accurate information about when and how grenade bugs are occurred, and the referee(s) will cease a match and get started to investigate replay based on information provided by the team leader.
– In case that provided information is true, a team which used grenade bugs will forfeit the corresponding round.
– In case that provided information is false, a team which provided faulty information will forfeit the corresponding round.
– If a team has forfeited two rounds due to grenade bug abuses, their all rounds related to a corresponding map are forfeited.
b. PC & Client Issue/Network Disconnection
– In the event that any delays and errors occur due to matters of PC and game client, network disconnection, and if any; all decisions shall be made based on the regulation of pre and post-gunfights.
– In case of situation that may become an issue and it is in pre-gunfight, all players are required to create a new game room in order to continue to play a match.
– In case of situation that may become an issue and it is in post-gunfight, the corresponding round is continued (its result score is recorded) and the following round is played on a new game room.
c. Pre-gunfight/Post-gunfight
– Pre-gunfight situation is defined that all players (5 vs. 5) are still alive in a round regardless of how much HP they get damaged. It means a round must be restarted.
– Post-gunfight situation is defined that at least one (1) player is killed and out of a round. It means the corresponding round is continued to end and its result score is recorded. After the round ends, the following round is played on a new game room.
– All decisions made by the organizer and/or referees are final.
SF Official Contents
|Team Battle: Train, Shanghai, Crossroad, Missile, Nerve Gas, Venezia, Desert Camp, Satellite
|WEAPON Restriction
|Assault rifle & Sub-machinegun
|Secondary Weapon
|Throwing weapon
|RGD and Green Smoke
|Functional Item
Weapons that are NOT allowed in the Tournament
Game Settings:
– Private Room
– Password: Marshal will provide
– Auto Team Balance: ON (Auto Switch Mode)
– Max Users: 16
– Quick Play: Unchecked
– Spectator: TEAM
– 3rd Person View: OFF
Game Scoring Sample
Close Match
|In Game Settings: 9 WINS
|In Game Scoring to WIN: 8 WINS
|Actual Scoring to WIN: 7 WINS
|Score in Game
|Actual Score
|Round 1st
|Dead Round
|1 – 0
|0 – 0
|Round 2nd
|Dead Round
|1 – 1
|0 – 0
|R 3rd
|2 – 1
|1 – 0
|R 4th
|3 – 1
|2 – 0
|R 5th
|3 – 2
|2 – 1
|R 6th
|4 – 2
|3 – 1
|R 7th
|4 – 3
|3 – 2
|R 8th
|4 – 4
|3 – 3
|Auto Switch
|R 9th
|5 – 4
|4 – 3
|R 10th
|6 – 4
|5 – 3
|R 11th
|6 – 5
|5 – 4
|R 12th
|6 – 6
|5 – 5
|R 13th
|7 – 6
|6 – 5
|R 14th
|7 – 7
|6 – 6
|R 15th
|7 – 8
|6 – 7
|R 16th
|Dead Round
|R 17th
|Dead Round
Fast Match
|In Game Settings: 9 WINS
|In Game Scoring to WIN: 8 WINS
|Actual Scoring to WIN: 7 WINS
|Score in Game
|Actual Score
|Round 1st
|Dead Round
|1 – 0
|0 – 0
|Round 2nd
|Dead Round
|1 – 1
|0 – 0
|R 3rd
|2 – 1
|1 – 0
|R 4th
|3 – 1
|2 – 0
|R 5th
|4 – 1
|3 – 0
|R 6th
|5 – 1
|4 – 0
|R 7th
|6 – 1
|5 – 0
|R 8th
|7 – 1
|6 – 0
|Auto Switch
|R 9th
|8 – 1
|7 – 0
|R 10th
|R 11th
|R 12th
|R 13th
|R 14th
|R 15th
|R 16th
|Dead Round
|R 17th
|Dead Round
All Rules & Regulations are subjected to changes at the discretion of the organizer.
SFPC Tournament Client will be used if there is any issue during the tournament or with the discretion of the Head Marshal.
Tournament Client: http://bit.ly/SFPCTourMech


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Research Seminar: Craig Lewis
Speaker: Craig Lewis, Madison S. Wigginton Professor of Finance, Owen Graduate School of Management, Vanderbilt University
Title: Do Fraudulent Firms Produce Abnormal Disclosure? (co-authored with Gerard Hoberg)
Abstract: Using text-based analysis of 10-K MD&A disclosures, the authors find that fraudulent firms produce verbal disclosure that is abnormal relative to strong counterfactuals. This abnormal text predicts fraud out of sample, has a verbal factor structure, and can be interpreted to reveal likely mechanisms that surround fraudulent behavior. Using a conservative difference-based approach, they find evidence that fraudulent managers discuss fewer details explaining the sources of the firm's performance, while disclosing more information about positive aspects of firm performance.
Download the full paper (pdf)
Craig M. Lewis is the former Chief Economist and Director of the Division of Economic and Risk Analysis at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). In May, he returned to his position at Vanderbilt University where he is the Madison S. Wigginton Professor of Finance at the Owen Graduate School of Management.
He has conducted research on volatility in stock and futures markets, margin adequacy, corporate earnings management, corporate financial policy, executive compensation, convertible debt, and herd behavior by equity research analysts. While at the SEC, he spearheaded the Agency's efforts to improve the economic analysis supporting its rule makings and began a data analytic program designed to identify outlier behavior among registrants. One example is the Accounting Quality Model or "Robocop" which is designed to identify firms that make unusual accounting choices. His research has been published in the Journal of Financial Economics, Review of Financial Studies, Journal of Econometrics, Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, among other places.
You do not need to be registered in order to attend the seminar!


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Charles Fort
Contact Details
Address: Summer Cove, Kinsale, Co. Cork.
Telephone No: +353 21 477 2263
Fax No: +353 21 477 4347
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Opening Hours
Open All Year
November - Mid March: Daily 10.00 - 17.00
Mid March - October: 10.00 - 18.00.
Last admission: 1 hour before closing
Average Length of Visit: 1 Hour
Admission Fees
Adult: €4.00
Sen/Group: €3.00
Child/Student: €2.00
Family: €10.00
Exhibition Centre; toilets, toilets for visitors with disabilities.
Charles Fort is a venue for Civil / Humanist Wedding Ceremonies.
Mid-March , April & October - Saturdays & Sundays 10.00 - 18.00
May, June, July & September - Daily 10.00 - 18.00
Seating Capacity: 50
Charles Fort is a classic example of a late 17th century star-shaped fort. William Robinson, architect of the Royal Hospital in Kilmainham, Dublin, and Superintendent of Fortifications, is credited with designing the fort. As one of the largest military installations in the country, Charles Fort has been associated with some of the most momentous events in Irish history. The most significant of these are the Williamite War 1689-91 and the Civil War 1922-23. Charles Fort was declared a National Monument in 1973. Across the estuary is James Fort designed by Paul Ive in 1602.
Location: 3km from Kinsale - turn off Cork-Kinsale road (R600) 2km from the town.
Bus Route(s): Contact Bus Eireann, Travel Centre +353 1 8366111.
Guided Tours:
Max No: 40
Duration: 1 hour
Leaflet/Guide book: English, Irish, French, German, Spanish, Dutch, Italian, Polish
Seasonal Events: Please check in advance using contact details listed above.
Photography / Video allowed: Yes, but permit required for commercial purposes
Additional Information: Visitors are advised to wear suitable footwear due to uneven terrain. Walking/standing on top of the walls (parapets) is strictly forbidden. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Partial access for visitors with disabilities. Exhibition centre is fully accessible to visitors with disabilities.


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Please enjoy this selection of picture books.
A quick note for publishers, authors and other team members regarding reviews and other media promotions:
Please contact Bug in a Book if you need to contact an agent and have not received an email from us.
Updated agent details for Bug in a Book:
Angela Hall – Editor – 0-6 years
Please also use this contact for any other matters.
Kylie Calwell – Agent – 7-15 years
Cassandra Griffin – Agent – 15+ years – Adult


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Jalapeno-Blue Cheese Burgers
Jalapeno-Blue Cheese Burgers
Blue cheese, jalapeño and Swiss cheese round out these huge grilled burgers.
Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Cook Time: 10 Minutes
Ready In: 30 Minutes
Yields: 4 servings
2 pounds ground beef
6 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped
8 ounces crumbled blue cheese
2 tablespoons onion powder
2 tablespoons garlic powder
2 tablespoons tamari or soy sauce
2 teaspoons salt, or to taste
4 slices Swiss cheese
4 hamburger buns, split
Preheat a grill for high heat.
In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, jalapeno peppers, blue cheese, onion powder, garlic powder, tamari and salt. Mix well using your hands. Pat lightly into 4 large fat patties.
Place patties on the grill, and cook for about 8 minutes per side, or until well done. Place a slice of cheese on top of each patty, and cover the grill until the cheese melts. Serve on buns with your favorite toppings.
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Katarzyna Wałasek is a PhD candidate at the Institute of Russia and Eastern Europe at Jagiellonian University in Cracow, Poland. She has been conducting research on the problems of geopolitics in Eurasia with an emphasis on Russian thought since the dissolution of the Soviet Union. She is currently working on her doctoral thesis, 'Post-Cold War Geocultural and Geopolitical Projects as An attempt to Define the Cultural Identity of Modern Russia'.
Russian-Polish relations have had a tumultuous history. Since the advent of the so-called 'New Cold War' heralded by Vladimir Putin in his 2007 Munich speech, the two countries have ended … Read More


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Last week I went to a baby shower for a friend of mine. It was a lovely shower held outside on a beautiful sunny day. It was one of those days when the sky is so blue that it looks like you could just reach out and touch it. For all of my friends in the north, do your best to remember one of those days. Anyway, it was just a great day and we were all enjoying being together. Just adults. No children. I don't ever see these ladies without their little ones so it was like seeing a different side of them.
We were doing the normal shower things; oohing and ahhing over pretty pink things, discussing the benefits of organic diapers, eating, and laughing alot. Somewhere in the midst of all of this, I was caught by an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for this group of friends. Being my introverted self, I was just looking around and I was struck by the strength of each one of these women. I felt honored to be in their company.
The mother-to-be is currently undergoing treatment for cancer. She could be very bitter that a time that should be so happy is, instead, so uncertain. She isn't though. Peace radiates from her beautiful smile. My dear friend, Sumi, was there. Her precious little girl, Jenna, went to Heaven just two months ago. I watched Sumi as she focused herself on celebrating this new life while, in her heart, she must have been feeling her loss so greatly. Another friend is dealing with the adjustment of taking care of a sick and needy mother-in-law who has moved in to her home. Yet another has dealt with some medical issues with one her children this year. Others are struggling financially. So many overwhelming circumstances were represented at that small gathering of women. Yet we were able to enjoy each other and recognize that life is still a gift. We are all walking down paths that we would have never chosen, but we are walking them together and with grace. I felt so proud to be in their presence that day and so grateful to be one of them. The world has such a distorted view of what "woman power" is. I experienced true "woman power" last Sunday. There is no greater power than that of allowing God to carry you when you can't take another step on your own. There is nothing more powerful than lifting your hands in praise when you are in the middle of a storm.
I am reminded over and over that we create a family, wherever we are, by nurturing the relationships with the people God brings into our lives. I struggled so much with moving to Florida. I still experience homesickness. I am learning, though, that what I am missing is not a place, but a time, and I can never go back to that time. Instead, I can focus on this wonderful family God has given me right now and right here. I am so blessed.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Precious Friends
2 comments:
- Unknown said...
You have such an amazing way to express yourself so eloquently. I truly enjoy every post of yours and rarely finish reading a post without shedding tears (in a good way).
It has been a couple weeks since our last e-mail…how's it going?
Leanne :)
- April 21, 2008 at 12:24 PM
- sumi said...
I am honored to be mentioned in this post! Sorry I have been so quiet lately.
Would it be difficult for you to go to Jenna's grave with me? I practically drive past your house on the way there.
If you'd rather not, I can pop in one day on my way to or from the cemetary, or we can meet for tea somewhere nearby. I don't go to visit Jenna often, but I will let you know next time I do.
- April 25, 2008 at 5:06 PM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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At the opening of the River Bio-Bio, Concepcion is a famous city with intense rainfall. Located at about 520 Kilometers to the south of Santiago region, it is a main city of Chile. You can visit the area with car rental in Concepcion to explore the architecture of the region. You will find that the economy, everywhere in the region has some meaning to explain about the past life. It has been condensed in a way that it showcases the operations of most important designs trying to express the innate meaning of the beautiful work in the region.
If you really want to witness the wonderful architecture of Concepcion, the Cien House is the best model to walk around. The work done by famous architects such as Mathias Klotz, Cecilia Puga and many more can be seen I this house. This is one of the most prominent studios, if you see it as a modern architectural sight. Mostly, single-family houses will be found here. A huge collection of monolithic architecture can be seen here with a compact work that depicts the ancient time. A visit to the Parr House is also a good option to see the best architecture styles used in the creation of stunning courtyards here. This place describes distinct art works done by the famous architects that attracts tourists due to its fabulous abstract painting. Land Art is the specialty of the place with its momentary pavilions which are worth praising. The Arco House is another architectural building with its concise design of similar – sized pillars which is amazing.
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FREE Wills, Estates, Powers of Attorney & Appointments of Guardian Seminar
Date(s) - 20/10/2020
6:45 pm - 8:30 pm
Breakers Country Club
As part of the 2019 Brazel Moore Lawyers Seminar Series, this free public seminar is being given by Brazel Moore Lawyers to help people understand what to expect so they know where they stand in –
- Making a Will
- Challenging a Will or defending a Will from Challenge
- Making a Power of Attorney
- Making an Appointment of Guardian
The theme is to educate people about the options and choices available to them, alerting you tot he pitfalls and procedures in dealing with Estate Planning, Wills, Powers of Attorney & Appointments of Guardian and how you should best deal with them.
Mr Geoff Brazel, Solicitor, will present the seminar on Wills, Powers of Attorney & Appointments of Guardian to help you through the maze of legal regulation.
The seminar will be presented in a friendly relaxed atmosphere and there will be plenty of time for your questions.
You'll be helped a lot in understanding the system and will then be able to confidently consider what Estate Planning steps you need to take to properly plan for your own Will, Power of Attorney or Appointment of Guardian.
Every attendee will receive a Voucher which can be redeemed to cover the cost of a simple Will.
Call Joanne now on 4324 7699 to reserve your seat.


text: On a planet far away an evil King has made a clone of himself to create an even more powerful ruler. This clone has been sent to planet Earth to grow stronger and breed an army to take back home. Play the role of a blood-thirsty alien sent to planet Earth to grow stronger and breed an evil army to take back home. Point-and-click to interact with the environment. There are 2 bonus scenes after win the game. There are 2 different endings in the bonus scene #2. WARNING: RECOMMENDED ONLY TO THOSE AGED 17 OR OLDER. Screenshots:


text: Theater 'Aftermath' Illuminates Lives Of Uprooted Iraqis September 26, 2009 Composed almost entirely of interview transcripts, the off-Broadway play focuses on ordinary citizens whose lives have been upended by the conflict in their home country. It's a powerful look at conflict from the inside. 'Aftermath' Illuminates Lives Of Uprooted Iraqis Listen · 6:57 6:57 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/113211306/113237115" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript


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ALEXANDRIA, VA. (August 16, 2012)—As the largest volunteer child advocacy association in the nation, National PTA is committed to developing programs and partnerships that benefit children and bring valuable resources to its members. As part of this commitment, National PTA announced today that eTrak, Powered by Verizon, is now a National PTA Member Benefits Provider. eTrak is a safety product that allows parents to know the whereabouts of their children and receive an instant message if they wander "off track" or need help. Utilizing eTrak's patented GPS+ technology, parents can instantly see their child's exact location on a map from a smartphone or any computer.
For a limited time only, PTA members can order the eTrak device for free (regularly $99) at https://etrak.com/pta. There is an activation charge of $39 and a monthly fee of $15. eTrak will also donate $6 to a member's local PTA unit and $2 to both the member's state PTA and National PTA for every subscription order they receive.
"Child safety has always been a top priority for National PTA and we pride ourselves on providing parents with supportive tools and resources. We are pleased to provide our members with this unique opportunity to obtain a technologically advanced tool at a great discount to help them keep their children safe," said National PTA President Betsy Landers.
About the size of a domino, and lightweight—less than an ounce—eTrak can fit almost anywhere: pockets, backpacks, purses, glove compartment, on a belt or keyring, or worn as a pendant.
Parents can "ping" eTrak anytime they want to see where their child is, or eTrak can provide updates without a specific request. eTrak contains an exclusive "Safety Circle" feature. The Safety Circle is a very simple feature that allows parents to type in an address and set up a specified distance around where they expect their child to be, whether at home, school, or activities. When the child goes beyond that Safety Circle, eTrak will send emails and texts to parents and two other people that the child has gone beyond the circle. eTrak will also send a map with the child's exact location, and turn-by-turn directions to get there. If the child moves, eTrak will keep updating the user on the child's location. Parents will always know their child's location.
eTrak also contains a 'Panic Button' used to send emergency requests for help. If a child is in danger, lost, or has an accident, the child simply presses the Panic Button and eTrak sends an instant text and email to parents and two others with the message, "Emergency, send help to this location." The person(s) receiving the alert will receive a map with the location of the emergency.
GPS-only products rely on satellite systems to provide the location or position of the device. The problem is, when the device is indoors, or not in a clear line of sight to the sky, it doesn't work. eTrak's patented technology utilizes the wireless access system across the United States to accurately provide a precise location, both indoors and outdoors. The system triangulates the position of the device using WiFi, cell towers, and GPS, thus the patented GPS+ system.
eTrak CEO, John Harris, has spent a lifetime developing products that change people's lives. A former Senior VP at Mitsubishi Electronics, Executive VP at Uniden, President of Miracle Systems, Inc. and CEO of RangeStar Wireless, John built the world's largest RF Engineering firm with Dell and Intel as partners. His track record in electronic technology and engineering has led to numerous patents. But, John is most proud of eTrak, "Helping to ensure the safety of children and our most vulnerable populations was my primary motivation in developing this technology – I'm proud to partner with PTA to make this cutting-edge safety tool easily accessible to parents."
Parents can learn more about how to take advantage of this limited offer at https://etrak.com/pta.
National PTA® comprises millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of parent involvement in schools. PTA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit association that prides itself on being a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education. Membership in PTA is open to anyone who wants to be involved and make a difference for the education, health, and welfare of children and youth.


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Every model you could ever want, all available at Maus Nissan of North Tampa
At Maus Nissan of North Tampa, your next new Nissan Frontier, Altima, Rogue, Kicks and Sentra are available to you at the click of a finger. Search from hundreds of new Nissan Trucks, SUVS and Sedans. Hit the road in your new Nissan Coupe or even set up your day with one of Nissan's award winning commercial and passenger vehicles. Maus Nissan of North Tampa is your one stop destination to find your next new vehicle with special financing and competitive rebates and incentives.
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(04-07-2016, 02:56 PM)Rhazak Wrote: I followed hovatek forum(installing mediatek manually) sp flash tool now detect d fone
Then I now click only the format @ d top but it reply
format fail possible given a wrong format range,please check d format settings
I made it a point not to comment on anyones problem thread cos of the selfiishness of people over here but i care too much; and I dont receive such care from people concerning my problem which is giving me headache.
You are getting that format error because the phone ia not yet detected by flash tool. Press and hold down the volume up key whiles connecting the phone for flash tool to detect it faster but make sure the battery is removed if removable.


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Don't copy and paste your way through life. While it is easy to go along with what others are doing, what others like and what others don't like, we need to nurture our own individuality.
While we have all the sayings like "The world would be a boring place if we all liked the same things", really think about this statement.
If everyone liked the same sports team, where would the drive come from for friendly rivalry? If we all liked the same restaurant, we would never get a seat. If we all liked the same travel destinations, we would never explore our world.
When you go your own way, others will find you interesting and respect you for not jumping on the band wagon. Of course you will have some that don't agree with your point of view and they have a right to do that just as much as you have the right to form your own opinions.
The path of least resistance may be to follow others however, if you suppress our own feelings and opinions the price to pay will be your own happiness.
Be yourself and don't worry what others think of you. Don't spend your life trying to please everyone else all the time. Be original you!


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Hypnosis for Self Improvement
Don't Be Shy Hypnotherapy 3 track MP3 Hypnosis Download
Don't be shy hypnosis download
Is shyness spoiling things for you?
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In time you learn to accept yourself and to love who you really are. Imagine the sense of achievement when you look back at this time in your life where you decided to change, to just be you, and to feel so good about yourself, and you made it happen. Change can happen quite rapidly when using hypnosis, but even if you don't see immediate change, stick with it and it will come.
Includes 3 tracks:
1. Overcome shyness, listen & wake hypnosis
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You are here
Electrical Schematics
Base of any Powerful Systems Design
The schematic diagram is the beginning of any successful electrical systems design project.
LDorado Gole SE allows creation of the entire logical relationships. Every car's wire connection is defined on single or multi-sheet diagrams. And the project structure of the electrical systems is displayed and documented hierarchically.
A complete variants and options management is available in LDorado Gole SE.
Already existing connection lists, system diagrams and cable plans may be imported via standardized KBL or Elog-XML on demand.


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Read More
The residence comprises fully equipped 1 bedroom apartments suitable for up to 5 people, all including private balconies with views of the Paradisksi ski area. Unlimited access to the heated outdoor pool is included, and the sauna and hammam is just 50 metres away. Residence Bellecote has plenty of shops, restaurants, a cinema and a games room to keep everyone entertained.
Meal delivery service


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You are currently browsing the tag archive for the 'Amélie' tag.
Stumbled upon this moving video clip on Youtube. The creator, Syeraph paired footages from Planet Earth, a BBC documentary with Comptine D'un Autre Ete L'apres Midi, a wonderful music piece by Yann Tiersen, from the soundtrack of Amélie. The series was broadcasted on both BBC and Discovery Channel.
The clip highlights our beautifully jungles, on the other hand, the music reminds us how fragile they are. Overall it really moves hearts, despite the stillness of the subject, trees.
Here is a link to a clip on the documentary: Planet Earth – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loL2eM8F_Dc&feature=related.


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Level 10 SGT Edit
First off, we need to get as much as possible out of those first 5 levels:
Human barbarian 1/samurai 1/fighter 4/vindicator 4
Attributes: 20/11/14/8/8/8
Strength +4 rage, +4 belt.
Hitpoints: 12 + 49.5 + 20 = 81, 101 raging
Feats: Bastard sword prof (samurai), 1 race+4 levels, +3 fighter
- Bastard sword prof (samurai)
- Power Attack
- Weapon Focus
- Weapon Specialization
- 5 left
Attack +10/+5, +17/+12 +10/+10 strength, +18/+13 2d8+12/2d8+12 focus+spec, +20/+15 2d8+14/2d8+14 rage strength
AC = 10 + 8 armor -2 rage = 16
Power attack for 4: +16/+11 for 2d8+22/2d8+22
- Better AOs
- Better damage at +16/+11: 31/31 vs 36/18
- more flexible with power attack
- better armor
- 1 more feat
- Only need one magic weapon
Human Barbarian 1/Samurai 1/Fighter 2/Ranger 2/Vindicator 4
Attributes: 20/11/14/8/8/8
Strength +4 rage, +4 belt.
Hitpoints: 12 + 38.5 + 9 + 20 = 79, 99 raging
Feats: 1 race+4 levels, +2 fighter
- Bastard sword prof (samurai)
- Two weapon fighting (ranger, light armor only)
- Oversized two-weapon fighting. Use one-handed weapon in off hand with only light weapon penalty
- Monkey Grip (normally only applies to main hand, and would give -2 to attack, +4.5 damage, instead we use this to wield a large bastard sword (2d8) as a medium two handed weapon with a -2 penalty. Our exotic weapon proficiency: bastard sword allows us to wield what would be a two-handed bastard sword as a one-handed weapon, and oversized two-weapon fighting lets us wield a one-handed weapon in our off-hand)
- Weapon focus, bastard sword
- 4 left
Attack: +10/+5, +19/+14 rage strength, +17/+17/+12 two weapon with "light" offhand, +15/+15/+10 2d8+9/2d8+9/2d8+9 large bastard swords, +16/+16/+11 weapon focus
AC: 10 + 4 armor -2 rage = 12
- 40' instead of 20' move
- None until much more strength, magic weapon bonuses
Heh, I suck too much at making fighters to even get a decent one at level 6 to start with. Here's how the SGT goes no-matter what:
- A hallway filled with magical runes. Loss
- A Fire Giant. Loss
- A Young Blue Dragon. Loss
- A Bebilith. Loss
- A Vrock. Loss
- A tag team of Mind Flayers. Win.
- An Evil Necromancer. Sometimes win.
- 6 Trolls. Loss
- 12 Shadows. Loss
This doesn't work -Cedges 23:42, June 2, 2010 (UTC)
- Might actually want to put it on stop of something that doesn't completely suck for the SGT--say, a warblade 5 who uses Stormguard Warrior for damage and Moment of Perfect Mind to counter those nasty will-targeting spells and effects. --Ghostwheel 08:55, June 3, 2010 (UTC)
- Wow. That class is much more like what the fighter should have been. I don't think he'd going to need perfect mind once he gets into the vindicator class. I like the exercise to change feats thing. When I played a strong hero in a d20 modern campaign he'd spend lots of time exercising and working out, and it just annoyed everyone else playing and the DM, because there was no game reason for him to be doing so. -Cedges 22:32, June 3, 2010 (UTC)
Try 2:
Warblade 5/Vindicator 5
With stormguard warrior, we want to get as many attacks in one round as possible, and as many damage rolls as possible (criticals help here), to square the damage from combat rhythm.
Starting attributes: 18/10/14/9/8/8
- (1) Combat Expertise
- (race) Weapon Focus (Scimitar)
- (3) Ironheart Aura
- (5 bonus) Stone Power
- (6) Stormguard Warrior
- (9) Improved Critical (Scimitar) (Or something else, this can be gotten for 16k at higher levels from a scabbard of keen edges)
- 1st (3) Wolf Fang Strike, Steel Wind, Charging Minotaur
- 2nd (2) Wall of Blades (Counter), Action before Thought (concentration as reflex)
- 3rd (1) Bonecrusher (Strike 4d6 damage, +10 to critical permanently)
- 1st: Punishing Stance (+1d6 damage, -2 AC),
- 2nd: Blood in the Water (1st) (+1 attack, damage each critical)
We get to ready 4 maneuvers, so we usually take Bone Crusher, Charging Minotaur, Wall of Blades, and Action before Thought.
Equipment: +1 flaming scimitar (8315), +3 Chain Mail (9300), +3 Steel Shield (9170), belt of giant strength +4 (16000), Amulet of natural armor +1 (2000), Gloves of dexterity +1 (4000)
Attributes: 24/10/14/9/8/8
Attacks: +10/+5, +17/+12 (strength), +20/+14 (weapon focus, +1).
General tactics: Throw up Blood in the Water, and use combat expertise and Stone Power. Use Stormguard Warrior to make melee touch attacks like crazy, doing no damage, but wracking up criticals (which only help Blood in the Water). The attacks are +10/+4 touch.
- Don't go for Stone Power or Combat Expertise (not that you qualify for the second one). If you need to get close, pick up a tower shield and use it for full cover until you're close and then throw it away. Improved TWF with double kukris will get you another two attacks, which gives you more opportunities for Blood in the Water to take effect, and allow you to "charge up" for one round with Stormguard Warrior, dealing +20 damage with every attack the next round. Or pick up Shield Bash if you want to keep the shield, and use it as an offhand weapon for the same combo (hitting with it as an offhand attack to proc Stormguard Warrior. Remember that the best defense is a great offense--you should be bringing down the fire giant without too many problems around 50% of the time. Use a potion of fly to go after the dragon and use readied charges to catch it if it does fly-bys. Close-Quarters Fighting (Complete Warrior) will stop the bebilith from grappling you, which will spell a win. How are you automatically resisting the mind flayers' mind blasts? How are you winning against the necromancer? (Unless it's a cleric one, and then the PrC might actually do something.) Trolls shouldn't be a problem whatsoever--if they're a problem, you're doing something wrong. Hit them hard, knock them to unconsciousness easily, and choke them to death. Stop caring so much about survivability--kill them before they can kill you, and you'll win a hell of a lot more often. If you do decide to go with a single weapon, go with a falchion or greatsword. And check out Emerald Razor - that with full power attack means +20 damage, which will multiply on a crit (which is fairly often with Improved Crit + Falchion for 2d4+20 (power attack) +10 (str) +1 (magic) x2 + 1d6 or 75.5 damage on average on a crit). --Ghostwheel 22:55, June 3, 2010 (UTC)
- A hallway filled with magical runes. Loss
- 0-5% A Fire Giant. Close on the giant using cover and taunts. Bull-rush in for the final close. Almost die to 38 damage when he 5 foots and full-rounds with greatsword, use wall of blades to reduce this by about 10 to about 28. 5 foot back under, recharge, ten temp hitpoints, +5 ac full round touch, Hit 1.8 times with half a crit. Get hit for 19 damage (9 after temporary). Hit with bonecrusher at +11.5 (half the time) for (5d6+7+9+crits) averaging about 19 damage, and losing only 9 more in next round, or at +21 (all the time) for 38, and losing ~28 in next round, either way we trade hitpoints one for one with the fire giant and DIE, even with our increasing attack bonuses from blood in the water. Almost certain loss.
- Draw A Young Blue Dragon. Draw. Our 15 concentration with action before thought beats the breath weapon's save DC 90% of the time, and then we reduce it by 10 temporary hitpoints. Pull out a composite longbow and shoot the thing till it runs away.
- 0-10% A Bebilith. Pinned. Ouch. Die.
- Draw A Vrock. Draw. Vrock is forced to run away.
- 99-100% A tag team of Mind Flayers. Win.
- 50-90% An Evil Necromancer. Usually win.
- 0-50% 6 Trolls. Probable loss. It just takes too long to kill them all with only 1d6 of fire damage, and the attrition catches up with us.
- 0-5% 12 Shadows. Loss
This isn't that great, winning 30-40% of fights. The AC can't actually be cranked high enough to stand in front of a giant unharmed, building up attack bonuses that will destroy it while continuing to fight on the defensive. It needs another 10 AC, 3 of which could come from more dexterity or from full plate. -Cedges 22:32, June 3, 2010 (UTC)