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Thursday, September 4, 2008
The Cucumbers - Who Betrays Me...and Other Happier Songs (1985, Fake Doom)
Like the afore-discussed Individuals, The Cucumbers operated in/around Hoboken, NJ, but were dwarfed by such hometown heavy-hitters as The Feelies, and a little later on, Yo La Tengo. An intermittent, but nevertheless long-running, coed outfit who have released records as recently as 2004's All Things to You, The Cucumbers beginnings date back to the early '80s. Who Betrays Me, issued on Fake Doom Records, was their debut full-length, preceded by a debut ep, Fresh Cucumbers two years earlier. Falling squarely between The B-52s and Let's Active, I surmise the Cukes were a sizable success on college radio - enough so to garner a deal with a very big indie at the time, Profile Records. A self-titled sophomore effort came out in 1987, and at the time I recall seeing a video from it on the USA Network in between b-movies, or something like that. Some critics suggested they lost their edge, but opinions aside, the album bombed commercially, and they were evidently dropped like a bad habit.
I was intrigued enough to take a chance on this album when I saw it at a used record dispensary last year. Not a desert island item, at least to my eardrums, but I'm sure I'll find a few takers here. Enjoy. You can also check out some Myspace action here, and edjumicate yourself about their entire discography, courtesy of Trouser Press.
01. Who Betrays Me
02. Walking and Talking
03. Everything Goes
04. Love
05. Want to Talk
06. Susie's Breakdown
07. D-Zep
08. Desperation
09. Feels Good
10. You're Still Here in My Arms
11. Don't Watch TV
6 comments:
- Low Line Caller said...
hello wilfully obscure. would you be interested in posting a new record from a austin, tx. band? if so, i can send you a link.
- September 5, 2008 at 8:52 AM
- Peter said...
Holy smoke I totally forgot about these guys...I remember they had a "big" hit in the early eighties with "My Boyfriend" and that it was a guilty pleasure of this punk rocker...Thanks!
- September 5, 2008 at 1:44 PM
- teadoust said...
i'd love to hear this again, but as ususal, the media player won't recognize the file. can someone please explain how that works or what exactly is it that i'm doing wrong.
- May 3, 2010 at 8:19 AM
- teadoust said...
haha! i finally got a goddamned file extractor! could somebody have possibly told my stupid ass about those effing things? goddammit.
- September 9, 2010 at 6:14 PM
- jb said...
Please consider updating this post. Thank you.
- December 7, 2014 at 2:49 PM
- spavid said...
The link has been updated.
- December 7, 2014 at 7:22 PM
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text:
"If the Premier is truly concerned about growing the economy, why would his government seek widespread concessions and takeaways that will greatly reduce the buying power of so many customers of small businesses." — Joan Jessome, NSGEU President
Halifax (26 Oct. 2015) — The Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union (NSGEU/NUPGE) strongly disagrees with the McNeil Government's proposals for a new civil service collective agreement. The NSGEU/NUPGE began bargaining on behalf of the members who work for the civil service on October 21 with the Public Service Commission.
McNeil showing little respect for public services and workers with concession bargaining proposals
"I can't believe a sitting government would attack their employees, the public sector, with what they tabled," says NSGEU President Joan Jessome. "Two years ago in an email sent to all civil servants, the Premier said he appreciated the great work they do and the differences their efforts make in the lives of Nova Scotians. Now, his government is seeking to undermine their wages and benefits with concessions and take-aways."
"They are not just threatening to cut wages, but taking away the public service award and job security," says Jessome. "The articles they have identified as eliminating are significant to the working life of our members and for the advancement for our members in the workplace — they are heavy duty concessions."
NSGEU/NUPGE offer fair and reasonable proposals with modest improvements
The NSGEU/NUPGE has also tabled their proposals which include modest improvements and a three-year term.
"It will be up to our Bargaining Committee to determine whether they can stay and negotiate with an employer that wants to take things out of their contract," says Jessome.
Members who work for the Civil Service do not have the right to strike. If bargaining comes to an impasse, the terms and conditions of employment will be set by a third party through a process known as interest arbitration. The decision to go to arbitration is made by the Bargaining Unit Negotiating Council and the Union Negotiating Committee.
Another bargaining date was scheduled for October 22 and other dates set aside if necessary.
Concessions in bargaining will mean public service workers have less discretionary dollars to invest in the local economy
Civil Service workers include: administrative professionals who keep public records accurate and ready for you when you need them; forest technicians, geologists, child-protection workers, food inspectors, fisheries technicians, accountants, planners, clerks, architects, youth workers, correctional officers, deputy sheriffs, archives and museum staff, fisheries and agricultural technicians, vehicle compliance officers, and many more.
"On the same day, the Premier is praising small businesses in Nova Scotia, he is bashing an important group that supports small businesses, namely, civil service employees. If the Premier is truly concerned about growing the economy, why would his government seek widespread concessions and takeaways that will greatly reduce the buying power of so many customers of small businesses."
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 360,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE

subset: commoncrawl


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Film studio gives University of Limerick a new direction
THE UNIVERSITY of Limerick has outlined ambitious proposals to increase their number of spin-out companies by 25% over the next five years.
The Minister for Skills, Research and Innovation, Damien English, this week launched UL's roadmap for future growth and development to 2020, at the launch of Excellence & Impact 2020 – a research and innovation strategy.
Among its aims over the next five years are to increase in the number of doctoral enrolments by 20%, increase the number of employment-based and part-time doctoral enrolments by 100%, increase the number of publications in top 10 percentile journals by 30% and double its income from European funding sources.
Speaking at the launch, UL's Vice President Research Dr Mary Shire said that "this is an exciting time for research and innovation at the University of Limerick".
"Our new strategy focuses on research excellence and leveraging our position as the leader in transnational research and partners of choice for industry while extending our global reach," said Dr Shire.
Other key targets include the desire to establish commercialisation and entrepreneurship training for all staff and students and expanded enterprise boot camp activities for second and third level students. UL also wants to see a 25% increase in new spin-out companies and a 20% increase in research income from industry. "UL has for long been regarded as a 'university of enterprise' in the Irish university landscape, positioning itself close to the needs of the enterprise base in Ireland, and this new research and innovation strategy is seeking to build on that innate capability," said Minister English.
The impending arrival of a major film studio in Plassey Technological Park, next to the college, presents a whole new opportunity for UL. "Delivering graduates to suit that film-making area will be very important for us and we will work closely with the studios in defining their expectations and needs," said Ms Shire.
UL's latest set of financial statements revealed that it made a tax settlement in excess of €110,000 to Revenue last year over a mix-up in how it deducted tax from contractors. UL claims the mistake arose out of its treatment of the contractors as self-employed instead of employees for tax purposes.
UL also acknowledged it had not complied with public procurement guidelines in respect of five instances involving expenditure of €356,000. The guidelines state that all contracts with a value in excess of €25,000 must be put out to tender. The financial statement revealed that the presidential salary for the 2013/14 academic year was €179,809.
The university's net assets are valued at €325m, while its revenue reserves of €97.8m are committed to current and future expenditure. Overall income for the year was up by €9.7m to €229.8m, with income from student fees rose to €83m.


text: Press Release 27 Mar 2012 Dublin, 27 March 2012--Sogeti, a Capgemini company, is to create 65 new jobs through the expansion of its Dublin and Galway offices over the next three years. The positions created will be a mix of high skilled and graduate roles in the IT sector, with recruitment already in progress. Sogeti, a leading IT consultancy and services provider, has had a presence in Ireland since 1979 and is a subsidiary of global consulting, IT and outsourcing company Capgemini. Today's expansion will see the company's Irish workforce increase to over 150 people and is a result of the company's strong growth and healthy pipeline of new business. Sogeti's services are a key part of the IT infrastructure of Irish based multinationals, helping them deliver their international business. Making the announcement from Beijing, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD, said: "The Action Plan for Jobs targets IT and outsourcing as key sectors where Ireland has the potential for major employment growth. The global ICT sector is expected to grow by 5 per cent per annum in the coming years, and with implementation of the right Government policies Ireland is extremely well positioned to take advantage of that growth. "Today's announcement that Sogeti, a world leading IT and outsourcing company, is further investing in growing its workforce in Dublin with the creation of 65 jobs, is an indication of what is possible. I am determined to implement the Action Plan for Jobs and ensure that this can be replicated across the country in the coming years". Speaking at the announcement, Jean-Francois Courtines, Chief Sales Officer and Head of Alliances of the Sogeti Group said: "We are delighted to be expanding Sogeti Ireland. We have experienced significant growth across Sogeti's service lines in recent years, and our future prospects are excellent. Sogeti Ireland is an integral part in Capgemini's global operations and its expansion is in no small part due to the track record of the Sogeti team in Ireland and the availability of a skilled workforce, matching the type of talented, motivated candidates that we seek. This further growth is being fueled by a strong demand around our current offerings of software quality, software development services, and ERP services. We look forward to many more years of success in Ireland". Also speaking at the announcement, Jeff Schmalbach, CEO, Sogeti Ireland said: "Sogeti Ireland is constantly improving and enhancing our service offering and we will be recruiting skilled and enthusiastic people to join our team to deliver a world-class service to our customers. Following on the news in November 2011 that we were named the world's #1 Testing services provider (Ovum Research) and the expansion of our other service lines, we view this growth as further investment into a market that has been a long time strategic market for the Group. Additionally, Sogeti is excited to bring more career opportunities to the Irish economy and be part of the overall solution". Commenting on the announcement, Barry O'Leary, CEO of IDA Ireland said: "Capgemini is world-renowned as a leading player in the IT services sector, and today's announcement by Sogeti that it is to grow its Irish workforce is further evidence that Ireland's IT services sector continues to perform extremely well despite challenging market conditions.The world's leading companies have chosen Ireland as the hub for their services activities because we offer an essential blend of skills, technology and a pro-business environment conducive to growth. I wish the company every success as it expands its operation here". About Sogeti Group: Sogeti is a leading provider of professional technology services, specializing in Application Development and Management, End to End Quality Assurance, and ERP Solutions. Working in a local operational model while leveraging the innovation and scale of 120,000 consultants worldwide, Sogeti brings a best of breed model to the Irish market. Sogeti is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cap Gemini S.A., listed on the Paris Stock Exchange.About Capgemini: Headquartered in Paris, France, Capgemini is one of the world's foremost providers of consulting, technology and outsourcing services and employs around 120,000 people in 40 countries. The Group reported 2011 global revenues of EUR 9.7 billion. Together with its clients, Capgemini creates and delivers business and technology solutions that fit their needs and drive the results they want. A deeply multicultural organization, Capgemini has developed its own way of working, the Collaborative Business Experience™, and draws on Rightshore®, its worldwide delivery model.Sogeti Ireland Jeff Schmalbach, CEO, Tel :+353 (0) 1 6390 100, www.sogeti.ie Recruitment contact: Lisa-Marie Cahill – Corporate Recruiter Email: firstname.lastname@example.com Phone: +353 16390100 Website: www.sogeti.ie Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Sogeti-Ireland/183768975016200 LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Sogeti-Ireland-2274370?gid=2274370&mostPopular=&trk=tyah IDA Ireland – IDA Communications Office: Tel: +353 1 603 4226


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There are basically two issues you'll have to consider when selecting your racks: Style and material. In a general sense, the style and material are linked. For example, VintageView-style racks are only made of metal. They display bottles sideways in single, double, or triple-bottle depth. It's an interesting way to display bottles, but one that does not make for a great use of space.
In general, though, you'll probably be installing wood racks in your wine cellar, so let's take a look at the general types that are available.
You'll likely find that you will be shopping for wall racks as well as aisle racking if your space is big enough. Let's begin with wall racks. A note before we proceed: One option worth considering here is that almost all wall racking can be ordered double-deep. What's that, you ask? Well, double deep racking is just that, one bottle in front of the other. It's a great way to maximize your use of space and is very cost effective. The only drawback is that you tend to bury your bottles a bit, resulting in either lost bottles or wasting of space when that back slot remains empty. It's a system that is better used by those who are able to maintain a very organized cellar.
First Topic: Individual Wine Bottle Racking
This article is part of a series on selecting wine cellar racks:
I. Individual Wine Bottle Racking
II. Diamond Bin Wine Cellar Rack
III. Rectangular Wine Cellar Bins
IV. Wine Cellar Case Storage
V. Aisle Wine Cellar Racking
VI. Wine Racking Wood Choices
Similar Topic:
Wine Refrigerator Guide


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After lunch in Torcello (last post), the farthest-out island in the Venetian lagoon, we hopped on the vaporetto to the nearby islands of Mazzorbo and Burano on our way back to Venice.
You can see how close the 3 islands are: Torcello, Mazzorbo and Burano.
It so happens that the lesser-known Mazzorbo is linked to Burano by a footbridge. And since it was right at the valporetto stop, we decided to visit it first.
It's tell-tale landmark is the bell tower of the Church of St. Michael Archangel from the 11th cent.
The tower is smack-dab in the vineyard of the Venissa Estate.
The bottom-right image is looking back from Burano later, so nearby.
It's a walled vineyard of 5 acres, whose Medieval walls were restored in 1727 (top row).
From outside the wall we looked back to the church in Torcello from that morning (center row)
...and then to Burano back across the wooden footbridge (bottom row).
There was more to see in Mazzorbo but it was enough to say we did it.
It was Burano we had stopped to see.
Remember how we had seen it from the bell tower in Torcello that morning?
These islands are like sisters, holding hands...so close to each other.
As you probably know, Burano is most known for it's small, brightly-painted houses.
The colours of the houses follow a specific system originating from the golden age of its development; if someone wishes to paint their home, one must send a request to the government, who will respond by making notice of the certain colours permitted for that lot. --Wiki
Can you imagine living there? I hope you're not color-blind!
Who knew you could do so much with color.
Impressions. Always impressions.
And lots of lace! Burano is also known for its lace...like Murano is known for it's glass.
Lace-making revived in 1872 when a lace-making school was opened.
But few have continued the time-consuming and expensive tradition, though much lace is still sold.
Of course, the tilting church tower of the 16th cent. Church of San Martino beckoned.
The 53-meter tower was built in the 17th century. It was hard to miss!
Lucky for us, the church was open.
We were especially glad to see Mother Teresa (top-right).
What is it about living near the water like this.
It grows on you, as we can attest from where we live here in the Netherlands.
But nowhere will you probably ever see such concentrated color, not even in the Netherlands!


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|Coordinates: 8°23′N 77°5′E / 8.383°N 77.083°ECoordinates: 8°23′N 77°5′E / 8.383°N 77.083°E
|Named for
|King Balaramavarama
|• Body
|Gram panchayat
|• Total
|10.53 km2 (4.07 sq mi)
|• Total
|• Density
|3,400/km2 (8,900/sq mi)
|• Official
|Malayalam, English
|Time zone
Balaramapuram is one of the panchayats that forms the city of Trivandrum, the capital of Kerala, India. It is the most urbanized panchayat in the Trivandrum district. Balaramapuram is the centre for the production of traditional varieties of handloom textiles meant for the contemporary cloth wearing style of Kerala. Balaramapuram is also known for mutton dishes, chicken dishes, oysters and fish items. Religious harmony plays a great role. St. Sebastian's Church festival during the month of January is an example of this harmony.
Balaramapuram is located on National Highway 47 13 km South east of Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) city in Kerala, India and 16 km North West of Parassala, the southern boundary of the state. Balaramapuram lies 77 degrees 5 minutes east longitude and 8 degrees 23 minutes North latitude.
During the regime of His Highness Maharaja Balaramavarma, from 1799 to 1810, handloom weaving was first introduced at Balaramapuram. The Maharaja and his Delava (Chief Minister), Ummini Thampi jointly decided to convert Balaramapuram and its surrounding places into an agro-based industrial belt with various traditional industries by the development of paddy and coconut cultivation, fishing, weaving, and oil extraction. Separate streets with a clustered at identified places, providing a comparatively better infrastructure for development.
The Delava of Maharaja brought seven weaver families (Shaliars) from Tamil Nadu to produce fabrics for the members of the royal family and made them settle at Balaramapuram in a separate location now called "Shaliar Street". Market places were opened at convenient locations to make the marketing of products easier. The present residents of the street are the descendants of these seven families. Among the prominent weaving masters, Mr. Ponnan alias Appu panicker from Thannivila is an acclaimed weaver who taught the business to others of this region.
The place Balaramapuram itself was named after the King who started industries in this region.
Shaliyar community structure[edit]
The people of the Shaliyar community speak Tamil and marry within their own community. The community settlement has four main streets on which the weavers are settled in row houses. The four streets are Single Street, Double Street, Vinayagar Street, and the New Street.
The temple of Agasthiar is placed axially along the main streets. The main deities are Lord Siva Agasthiar muni and Lopamudra . Lord Vinayaka, Muruga, Navagrahas, Naga and Krishna are also worshipped here. The current President of Agasthiar swamy Devasthanam is Sri Venkitachalam and Secretary is Sri Laxmanan.
The Double Street has two temples – The Muttaramman Temple and the Vinayagar Temple. There is a Ganapathi temple in the Vinayagar Street. For males above 18, membership in the temple committee is compulsory. The temple and the related functions form the social hub of all the activities related with the community development.
Urban environment[edit]
The Shaliyar community settlement spreads over an area of about 13 acres (53,000 m2) towards the South of NH-47. Main entrance is from NH-47 to the 9 m wide Single Street. The entry is not well defined. The Single Street with two story buildings on either side act as an axis with the Agasthiar temple being the focal point. The Single street, Double street and the New street are the main streets The Agasthiar temple is placed at the point of intersection of these streets. The streets form a major interaction space as the row houses abut the streets with no front yard.
The houses of the Shaliyar weavers reflect their culture, occupation, and religious beliefs. They have rectangular layouts with houses sharing common walls. All the houses have production units attached to them. The houses of the wealthier families have showrooms. The special kind of architectural detailing of the facades, internal courtyards, and the arrangement of rooms to suit the occupation of weaving, make the houses unique in nature.
There is very little open space or car parking facilities within the settlement. The streets are dotted with community wells. Lack of infrastructure like levelled roads, public water supply, street drains and sewerage are some problems faced by the community. In most places the streets are not levelled and are not accessible for vehicles.[1]
The weavers use a primitive type of throw-shuttle pit looms for the production of exclusively cotton fabrics with pure zeri. They do not use any type of improved appliances such as Dobby, Jacquard, Jala, etc. for the production of designs for cloth with extra warp and extra weft. Identical appearance of designs, including warp and weft stripes on the face and backside of the fabric is obtained by this technique of weaving.[2]
No change has so far been taken place in the type of loom or technology of weaving in producing such varieties. The variety known as "Pudava and Kavani" (veshti and upper cloth with pure zeri) still remains as a prestigious bridal gift in marriages. The designs with zeri or coloured yarn, using the age-old technique still has unparallel appeal which can attract even the most sophisticated customers.[3]
Five percent of the houses run agencies for hand loom items. These houses act as collecting points of hand loom clothes produced in the colony. Nine percent of houses do not have any home based activity. Twenty-seven percent of houses use traditional means of production, whereas 59% are based on new methods.
Present conditions[edit]
Presently, a major portion of the hand loom clothes produced in this area is sold to the Handloom Development Corporation and Hantex. Due to the emergence of power looms in the weaving industry and drop in the prices of related items, the inhabitants of the colony have found it difficult to persevere in the same field of activity as a result of which, the younger generations are pursuing higher education and alternate employment to make ends meet.
Another reason for this sea of change in the aptitude of the inhabitants is the low price per unit put into making these hand loom items; the overheads being much too higher for houses having lesser looms that the ones, mass-producing these items with the help of separate work place close to the residence. All such varieties, which were reserved for exclusive production in the hand loom sector, are now extensively and widely produced in power looms making the hand loom products not competitive in the market.
Nowadays, a new concept in handloom industry introduced in this area is Ayurvastra, a branch of Ayurveda, the ancient 5,000-year-old Indian system of Vedic healthcare. Loosely translated, "Ayur" is Sanskrit for health, and "Vastra" is clothing, Ayurvastra means Healthy Fabrics, Ayurvastra project is initiated and launched by the Directorate of Handloom, Department of Industries and Commerce and the Department of Government Ayurveda College, aimed at creating a niche for the eco-friendly wellness textiles ( Dyeing textiles using ayurvedic herbs and plants without using synthetic chemicals) Ayurvastra is manufactured and exported by a 50-year-old balaramapuram handloom firm Kairali Exports (kairaliexports.com) exports ayurvastra brand fabrics to US (ayurtex.com), Europe (ayurvastra.in)
Until 1990, the varieties of Balaramapuram had excellent market potential and the weavers there were getting reasonable income and could maintain a better standard of living. Nearly 5,100 looms were engaged in the production of such fabrics. No attempt was made to exploit the skill of such weavers, who are masters in their trade, to produce any other variety for expanding market demand.[4]
However, recently this seems to be changing and the demand for hand loomed products is high.[5]
See also[edit]
- Neyyattinkara
- Neyyattinkara Railway Station
- Amaravila
- Kanjiramkulam
- Thiruvananthapuram
- Municipalities of Kerala
- Upper cloth revolt
- Neyyattinkara Sree Krishna Swami Temple
- ^ "Stray dogs - Reader's mail". Chennai, India: The Hindu. 8 September 2004. Retrieved 19 August 2006.
- ^ Nair, N.J. (8 September 2004). "Balaramapuram handlooms set for comeback". Chennai, India: The Hindu. Retrieved 19 August 2006.
- ^ "History of Handlooms". Institute of Handloon and Textile Technology. Archived from the original on 15 July 2006. Retrieved 19 August 2006.
- ^ Richard W. Franke; Barbara H. Chasin. "Power to the (Malayalee) People". Critical Asian Studies. Archived from the original on 25 February 2005. Retrieved 19 August 2006.
- ^ Sebastian, Don (20 October 2005). "Kerala weavers heal the world with Ayur Vastra". DNA India. Retrieved 19 August 2006.


text:
And 5 people and groups that almost definitely don't.
Europe's highest court has ruled this week that people should be able to ask Google to erase information about them that they want to be forgotten from the search engine's results, even if that information is published on third party sites.
"If, following a search made on the basis of a person's name, the list of results displays a link to a web page which contains information on the person in question, that data subject may approach the operator directly and, where the operator does not grant his request, bring the matter before the competent authorities in order to obtain, under certain conditions, the removal of that link from the list of results," said the judges from the Court of Justice of the European Union.
The case, originally sparked by a Spanish national whose information about his repossessed home deleted from Google, has brought contention from internet freedom campaigners but has been heralded as a step forward by privacy advocates.
In light of the new ruling, CBR brings you a list of five people that most probably would like their information deleted from Google search results.
Ex-Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel
Last year, US megastore Target was the victim of a large cyber attack that left customers' details and credit card information vulnerable.
Earlier this May, Target announced that CEO Gregg Steinhafel was to resign, following the reputational damage done to Target following the data breach. Experts said that his departure was the first major case of a CEO having to leave because of a security breach proving CEOs are now ever more at risk as the blame travels up the chain of command.
Max Mosley
Back in 2008, former president of the FIA motorsport association Max Mosely was caught up in a media storm after the now defunct News of the World newspaper printed images of him being involved in a reported orgy with five females.
Mosley took the News of the World to court over privacy concerns.
Mosley subsequently took successful legal action in a French court to force Google stop linking to the images.


text:
Injuries serve as life lessons for Rutgers senior
Briyona Canty arrived on campus as a prized recruit in the summer of 2011, poised to restore promise in Rutgers women's basketball after the memory of the Scarlet Knights' Final Four run in 2006 had long since faded.
Fresh off capturing the New Jersey Non-Public B crown her senior year at Trenton Catholic Academy, Canty emerged as the No. 1 guard and No. 6 overall player in the nation, according to ESPNU HoopGurlz 100, scoring 17.9 points per game.
It appeared Rutgers was destined to return to prominence, with Canty serving as a catalyst to a recruiting class that included 2015 WNBA Draft pick Betnijah Laney.
Canty had the world at her fingertips, but the world had other plans.
Three months before she had an opportunity to play a collegiate game, a preseason physical conducted by team doctors revealed an irregularity in Canty's heartbeat, sending her family into a puzzled spin.
"I just was shocked," Canty said. "I didn't understand. Why now? You go to the doctors when you're younger and you get checkups. Now it's like, I get to college, and they actually find something serious that's wrong with my heart."
The problem, a small hole between the chambers of Canty's heart, had gone unnoticed prior to July 2011.
Standard screenings for school, the various AAU teams she played with in her youth and her four preseason physicals at TCA had failed to uncover any healthy issue.
Even the medical staff for the U.S. Youth National Team, which Canty played with as a 16-year old, had issued her a clean bill of health.
The open-heart surgery was scheduled to follow the 2011-2012 season, affording the 5-foot-9 point guard more time to recover.
With the medical staff's permission, Canty played out her freshman year under the lights, before going under the knife in the offseason.
Although she knew it was necessary, the prospect of open-heart surgery made Canty cringe.
"It was stressful," she recalled after practice on Feb 24. "I think you start to — you have negative thoughts and I think that's where a lot of people mess up. In the beginning I was like, 'Man I don't know what I'm going to do. This could happen, this could happen, that could happen.'"
Briyona's mother Jesse was still trying to lift herself from the floor after learning of the diagnosis.
Eighteen years of perfect physicals and now heart surgery was a necessity for her daughter to live a healthy life.
"No one picked it up all those years," Jessie Canty told NJ.com in 2013. "It's scary. It's still scary."
Fortunately for the Canty family, the surgery was successful.
The next challenge for the rising sophomore was the rehab, a debilitating prospect for an athlete of such ilk.
"With the heart surgery," Canty said. "You can't use your arms, you can't move. You really are stuck."
Just two years prior, she was flying around the court, touted the best guard in the country, but now she's "stuck" in a bed at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, wondering what was next.
Then it clicked.
In the midst of coping, Canty saw the smiles on the faces of the children on her floor, many of whom were dealt a more difficult hand.
"You know, they don't have what I have," she remembered thinking. "They come in the hospital, maybe missing an arm or missing a leg, but they're still happy, and they're trying and that made my heart melt. Now I understand."
With her newly imparted wisdom in-tow, Canty spent over a year recovering, until finally making it back out on the floor.
After taking a medical redshirt, Canty returned to the court healthy in 2013.
Or so it seemed.
Canty had played her freshman season with chronic knee pain along with the heart irregularity.
"It became so painful that I couldn't make it through a practice without crying," she said.
Early in the 2013-2014 season, Canty's knee began to bark again.
And just like that, after 15 months working to recover from open-heart surgery, she would be sidelined again, this time for microfracture surgery on her right knee.
"The recovery from my heart surgery — it was ok. But my knee? No. That was painful."
Still, Canty was determined to will herself back onto the court.
The grueling days of rehab consisted of waking up in the early morning hours for treatment, before going to practice, followed by weight training and more treatment, and then she would head to class.
She would repeat the daily routine until returning to the team for her junior season.
With her once-blazing speed now diminished, Canty knew she had to change the way she played the game.
"I think the knee surgery actually did me good because it slowed me down," she said. "That was honestly probably my problem, I was going too fast."
Canty made the transition from scorer to facilitator, eventually going on to finish her senior season at Rutgers ranked sixth in the Big Ten in assists.
But in her junior year, when it finally looked like all was well in the world of Briyona Canty, a scare during a team scrimmage sent her back to the hospital.
"I couldn't breathe really," she recalled. "I ended up going to the hospital and they were just like '(your) iron is low.'"
After some alterations to her diet, Canty's iron count stabilized, allowing her return to the team.
Now nearly two years later, the Knights season is complete after a 71-55 loss to Virginia in the second round of the WNIT March 20.
The once a prolific scorer finished the season averaging 5.8 points per game.
Her ability may no longer be that of a McDonald's All-American, but she has adjusted, finding other ways to help her team.
And on occasion, Canty demonstrates that remnants of greatness remain.
Trailing Northwestern by three with the clock running under 11 seconds Feb. 10, Canty fed teammate Tyler Scaife with a chance to tie the game.
Scaife missed the mark, but Canty collected the rebound at the foul line with eight seconds left on the clock, scooted back beyond the arc and buried a 3-pointer to tie it.
Rutgers would go on to win on a last second layup by Scaife.
In a five-second span, Rutgers' Hall of Fame head coach C. Vivian Stringer saw five-years worth of Canty's growth.
"I think that she's become much more comfortable," Stringer said of Canty, "I just look at where she was as a freshman and where she is now and it's outstanding."
You won't hear her name called at the WNBA Draft in April, and there is a strong possibility she won't play professionally overseas.
But Briyona Canty will depart Piscataway with a pair of Bachelor's degrees, and a doctorate in perseverance.
Although there were no banners raised during her tenure at Rutgers, Canty will leave the Banks with the heart of a champion.
And if given the chance to rewrite history, the Knights' point guard said she wouldn't change a thing.
"I think both of those injuries really helped me grow, on and off the court. Especially heart surgery helped me understand other people's weaknesses and what they go through. Now I really understand, like full-circle, about other people."
For updates on the Rutgers women's basketball team, follow @KevinPXavier and @TargumSports on Twitter.
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LCD Panels is a stocking supplier and independent repair facility of the Hosiden HLM8619 and thousands of other LCD's.
The Hosiden HLM8619 price is based on quantities of 10 or less. For bulk pricing or a long term supplier relationship, please call or email us to discuss.
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Manufacturer: HLM8619
Part Number: Hosiden
Size: 5.7"
Type of Display: LCD
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Contrast Ratio: 25 : 1 (Typ.) (Transmissive)
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Disability Insurance
Do I Need Disability Insurance?
Many of us are fine as long as nothing happens to rock the boat, but the first wave can capsize us. As you take a look at your financial status, are you prepared for something completely unexpected to happen? If you were in an accident tomorrow and couldn't work for a week, a month, a year, what would that do to your overall financial picture? What about cancer? We have a 1 in 3 chance of receiving a cancer diagnosis in our lifetime. Cancer is currently the #1 cause of disability claims. Are you prepared? How long could you make it without your paycheck? Would you be able to support your family, pay for your house, car, food?
With disability insurance,YOU get paid so you can keep up with your living expenses and prevent financial disaster. That's the other "half" to your health insurance plan.
Don't think disability will ever happen to you? Well, we have a plan for that, too! Return of premium optional rider will refund your money if you don't use the policy. Ask Jeanine for details. Jeanine represents several disability insurance carriers and not all carriers offer the same benefits. She will recommend the carrier who would be best suited for your situation.
The Council For Disability Awareness
The Council for Disability Awareness, a non-profit group formed in 2005, is dedicated to helping American workers become aware of the growing instances of disability and its financial consequences. It provides a wide array of educational resources that include:
• Disability Awareness Quiz: Take it to see how much you really know about disability.
• Five Questions Every Worker Should Ask: A single-page primer that can give you a better understanding of how prepared you truly are for an unexpected illness or disability.
• Personal Disability Quotient (PDQ):A free-of-charge, first-of-its-kind online calculator that lets you estimate your chances of a disability. It helps quantify your risk of becoming disabled—and helps you proactively manage that risk.
To learn more about the likelihood of disability and what you can do to increase your financial security, visit www.disabilitycanhappen.org and contact Jeanine Kinzie to discuss your paycheck protection needs.
Contact Jeanine for a FREE no obligation consultation.
*As opposed to other web sites, your information will go ONLY to me.
I am Jeanine Kinzie and I will personally handle your quote.
*As opposed to other web sites, your information will go ONLY to me.
I am Jeanine Kinzie and I will personally handle your quote.


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Real Techniques Cheek & Lip Set Review & Swatches
The Real Techniques Cheek & Lip Set ($19.99) is a new, limited edition Real Techniques Trio of Makeup Brushes that arrives for Spring 2016. I know of you really love the Real Techniques line of makeup brushes, and I can't blame you as I have quite a few I love and use daily. They are super budget friendly, well made, and they built to last!
Here's a look and the new Cheek & Lip Set!
If you're new to Real Techniques, this is a nice set to wet your feet with. If you're not this set might not be for you as it does contain the popular Duo-Fiber Contour Brush which you might already own. I'd recommend grabbing it anyway as this set contains the exclusive Cheek Brush! You could always gift away the Contour Brush if you already own it!
The set includes:
- Cheek Brush (A wide brush head and UltraPlush bristles evenly apply gel or cream blush to your cheekbones for a rosy glow)
- Duo-Fiber Contour Brush (a longer bristled brush to apply gently contour product around your cheeks for a sheer and sculpted finish)
- Lip Brush (A ultra-firm tapered tip expertly lines the contours of the lip while the flat side blends product onto the rest of your lips for a smooth, colorful pout)
I actually don't use lip brushes so I multitasked with this one and ended up using it as an eyeliner brush and it actually worked out fab as such! My favorite brush in the set is the Cheek Brush, though. This is a really a great brush for cream blush as it does, in fact, give that sheer, natural rosy glow I want from my cream blushes. The soft bristles go a long way at sheering color out, so it appears as a natural flush on my cheeks. I tend to be very heavy handed with blush but this brush prevents clown cheeks and makes application very easy, so I get a nice, gentle flush!
These are very sturdy brushes with hot pink metallic barrels and black accents. They have 100% Cruelty-Free soft bristles that wash easily with absolutely no shedding or splitting issues.
Loving this set!
The Real Techniques Cheek & Lip Set is available now at Ulta and Ulta.com or at kohls.com.
What are some of your fav Real Techniques Makeup Brushes?


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What used to be called apologia
So much of what is published on the internet by apparently non-specialist writers is a chance for people to 'air their opinions', have an argument or engage in a dialogue, and I am not averse to the latter as long as that is what it is.
This is particularly so for subjects which are not considered to be academic, scientific or practical disciplines, subjects not protected by a body of accepted work, research, professional standards and so on. Such subjects are generally considered to be the property of anyone who cares to form an opinion, however uneducated or unresearched. I love the expression that George Gurdjieff uses to describe the liberal dissemination of such views: 'wiseacreing'. The word is perfectly descriptive of the phenomenon.
Some of these pages are not so much a forum as a resource that I am offering from my life's work. Therefore I will not be prefacing every statement that diverges from the cultural norm with 'I believe', or 'in my opinion'. I am offering this work simply because I have sat on it for so many years that it has become a habit to generally hide it away except in unusual circumstances or in conversation with someone who has signalled an interest. This is the extent of my apologia for what follows. If you don't like it I invite you to close the tab on your browser.
If you have already understood that your perception of reality is filtered by a complex series of brain and neurological programmes, then please understand that this introduction does not intend to patronise you, just to be polite to the average brain and to protect and uphold my integrity.
What will be written here is based upon a lifetime of research, study, learning, teaching and living and particularly in the last four decades in a focused and dedicated engagement that includes such study according to defined and learned principles and disciplines, and is not in my view any way lesser than any other discipline in which a person might obtain a G.C.E., BA, Bsc, Bed, MA, Phd, DLitt and so on. In fact 40 years of disciplined study amounts to a lot more, to a Research or Post Doctoral Fellowship.
There is an extensive body of writings, videos, tapes and books written mostly by the man whom I will call my teacher which might one day be published as a library although I think it likely that such a library would only comprise a certain proportion of his work (for several reasons) but this material is not generally available as far as I know, and I would have neither the rights nor the inclination to publish it for many reasons, not necessary to elucidate now.
One reason is important to know, however, and it applies universally to this set of writings also. There is no such thing as absolute 'Truth' with a capital 'T', and it is likely that this is the last time you see the word capitalised here. The Universe is a moving diagram. It is in constant development, expanding, contracting, growing and more. I perceive reality as having changed over millennia, and so its description, in order to retain integrity, must change and evolve also. Much of what is written is esoteric or gnostic or other in origin and nature and in these domains the rules of physics mathematics and logic, even the the rules of consistency, do not necessarily apply.
Furthermore things exist in different domains, some of which may be separated into octaves which means that what is true in one sphere or octave may not be true in another and often the reverse is true in the next octave. It's in the symbol 'X' which if you will draw large shows 2 vectors reversing at a crossing point.
There are physical examples of this. When pilots first started to break the sound barrier they had difficulty in controlling the aircraft and in many cases the aircraft crashed until a phenomenon called control reversal was identified. As an example this meant that instead of pushing the stick left to go left, they had to push it right. Many other phenomena such as a change in the power-to-weight ratio of the propeller in propeller-driven aircraft also applied, a problem for which the jet-turbine engine became a solution.
The law of octaves is apparent in the behaviour and properties of matter in different states of solid, liquid and gaseous, the unexpected behaviour of mercury at room temperature, of freezing water, even of the algorithms that govern musical tones, vibrations and harmonics, which is as close to the meaning of octave as you can get. Then again at the arcane levels of non-Newtonian physics we encounter paradoxes and anomalies that are music to my love of reality and sense of awe.
Another application is that as a person develops in faculty, perception and other ways that affect her/his position in relation to other things, phenomena and understandings, what they may perceive and express one year on a specific matter may well be perceived and expressed quite differently the next.
Lessons from Bushmen and city-kids
Laurens Van der Post, author of books on and student of the Kalahari bushmen, told a story about the time he invited a group of bushmen to see a film of themselves that had been made. They were ushered into a theatre, and when the lights dimmed they all turned to face the source of light, the projector. They were then invited to sit in the seats and face the screen, and the documentary was shown.
At the end, Laurens asked them "What did you think of yourselves?" They all giggled (unspoiled bushmen giggle a lot), and when the question was repeated one of them said "What do you mean? What should we think of ourselves?" Massive giggles. "I mean the moving pictures of yourselves on that screen", to which one answered "Oh, you mean all those pretty coloured lights? We enjoyed them!" They saw what was there quite accurately, not what their brains had been programmed to see.
The assumptions our culture makes based upon what we have been programmed to expect, to think and to interpret make the reception of anything outside our culture difficult. I bet that in the company of those bushmen they would be saying to us "Can't you see that antelope? It's right there behind those grasses!" Nor could we find water without a divining rod, but to an unspoiled bushman it is a regular occurrence.
I had a similar experience with a group of city-wise children from London when I was asked to drive them to Woburn Safari Park. I stopped at one point as on the distant horizon I spotted a herd of giraffe feeding from the top leaves of some trees. They were quite clear against the sky if you focused your eyes correctly. For at least a minute, in some cases more, none of the children could see them until I and one of their mothers had been to some pains to get them to really look and to extend their focus. My understanding of this phenomenon was that these children were not used to picking out detail on a horizon that far away, possibly half a kilometre, because they were so rarely asked to. Their brains had not learned to do so in a dense, urban environment. The ramifications of this and related educational poverty that abounds will be examined elsewhere.
We are deeply conditioned not just to expect cultural norms of behaviour but of perception and interpretation, of the consistent stories about reality that we are fed. Throughout the last two centuries this reality has become harder, more sharply defined, more exclusive. The culprit is what passes for education.
First saying from my teacher:
You can only enjoy your life according to the extent and quality of your education.
Empirical and downright different
Much that is going to be written here runs quite contrary to, adjacent to, offset to or very differently to accepted cultural norms as they have developed particularly from the 19th through the 20th centuries to this point. Throughout my life I have encountered a majority of people who want 'proof' for everything, and although attitudes among some specific groups are changing, I still hear this today.
In fact there are some people, many quite well-known, who become quite angry, and even one or two who aggressively pursue opportunities to totally 'disprove' and ridicule anything that that does not pass their scientific scrutiny. This latter behaviour I consider to be a disorder, an irrational reaction to an unfortunate upbringing or set of experiences, such as a dominating mother who believes absolutely in the spirits that guide her every decision or a catholic father who intimidates his offspring into accepting his faith as gospel, forcing them to go to church schools, mass and the whole nine yards.
But who is more likely to survive a year in an Amazon jungle? A well-educated, proof-seeking professor of botany, anthropology or zoology or an adult native of the region?
If that is the kind of proof you seek, then you are in the wrong place. If what you seek is argument, then you will not find it here. If you believe in your opinion more than your senses, well….. have a good life.
The Land and Teachings of La-la
However, neither will you find mushy escapism or the fashionable flashing or indiscriminate bandying about of mystical or cool terminology or buzzwords. Language is vital, and many important terms will be defined while some of the writings will contain language that is hard work. The language of our culture, even the rhythms and colour of it may not always be up to the task, but I will try to keep it as simple as possible, to offer reference and analogy, and stories and yet, to quote my teacher, there will be times when I have to confuse the truth so that it can be understood in time and in the right way.
Please understand that as much as possible what I will write here will be from an established platform of my experience from my perception of reality and from my outlook, like looking out from a spotting platform high over the forest. I offer everyone the respect that I expect in return, and while I have not planned to close the pages from comments, I will be monitoring them and removing abusive or aggressive material, as well as anything which may strike me as delusional and/or misguided, damaging or dangerous.


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The Financial Trust Index was created by Professor Paola Sapienza (Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University) and Professor Luigi Zingales (The University of Chicago Booth School of Business) as a means to study the changes in trust in the financial industry and its impact on investors' decisions. It is calculated annually on a sample of 1,000 American adults.
The mission of the Financial Trust Index is to monitor the level of trust Americans have in banks, the stock market, mutual funds, and large corporations, and to regularly assess how current events, policy, and government intervention might affect this trust. The initiative is sponsored jointly by the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and the University of Chicago Booth School of Business; the survey is administered by Social Science Research Solutions.


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Love it or Hate it: Jane Eyre
It's back! Our love it or hate it featured post was on hiatus for many months but we are bringing it back this year.
Have you ever noticed how some books seem to drive a wedge between people? You check the reviews and find almost no middle-of-the-road ratings. Instead people either seem to love it or hate it. Well, welcome to the Love it or Hate it post category! Each month, we'll pick one book to review and two contributors will battle it out to convince you to pick it up or throw it out.
This month's selection is the classic Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. Considered to be a gothic masterpiece, Jane Eyre makes it onto several "best of" and "must read lists," including Boxall's 1001 List of Books to Read Before you Die. But the book also has its detractors. So the question is… do you Love it or Hate it? Continue reading to find see our two reviews and cast your vote in the debate.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
First Published in:
Find it here: Jane Eyre
Synopsis (from Goodreads): Orphaned into the household of her Aunt Reed at Gateshead and subject to the cruel regime at Lowood charity school, Jane Eyre nonetheless emerges unbroken in spirit and integrity. She takes up the post of governess at Thornfield, falls in love with Mr. Rochester, and discovers the impediment to their lawful marriage in a story that transcends melodrama to portray a woman's passionate search for a wider and richer life than Victorian society traditionally allowed.
With a heroine full of yearning, the dangerous secrets she encounters, and the choices she finally makes, Charlotte Bronte's innovative and enduring romantic novel continues to engage and provoke readers.
Love it (Reviewer A): If you hate this book, you are dead to me. I LOVE Jane Eyre. I have read it at least 4 times and own a beautifully illustrated Folio edition of the book – yes, I shelled out over $60 to buy this classic. I first read Jane Eyre as a teenager and I credit it for being one of the books that lead me to seek out and devour a great number of classics including every other work by the Bronte sisters.
Why did I love it? Jane Eyre is one of those classics that feels intimate and mesmerizing. Jane talks to the reader confiding her innermost thoughts and passions. It's also one of the few books of it's era that yields significant power to a female narrator. Jane is no fragile flower to be placed on a pedestal to be admired. She is the ultimate female heroine (granted within the context of the time period in which it was written). Jane's struggle for self-realization, her perseverance in the face of adversity, and her strong personality and wisdom make her one of the few examples of strong women in Victorian literature. For a Victorian-era woman she was spunky, outspoken, and entirely captivating to me.
When I read the book as a teen I liked the love story and the ultimate conclusion. As an adult, I think Rochester is kind of a jerk and there are parts of their relationship that make me cringe. But regardless of my age I have continued to find the story captivating specifically because the strength of the Jane and the ways in which Bronte managed so cleverly to pull us into experiencing Jane's inner thoughts and emotions.
Hate it (Reviewer B): I remember in high school many girls thought it was "so romantic!" Huh? Not that any of us much experience with romance; I certainly didn't at the tender age of 14 as a freshman in Sister Audrey's English class. But I did NOT understand my fellow classmates swooning over the man. Rochester is an insufferable jerk who has already admitted to using a woman in France, and who now ignores the child. Newsflash … giving her nice dresses and providing her with a governess does NOT equal being a true father to the girl. He's also manipulative; e.g. the gypsy garb scene. And I'm not even getting into his lying about his marital status and keeping his insane wife locked in the attic. Jane was right to run away.
Of course then she comes in contact with her distant relatives. St John Rivers is even worse, in my humble opinion. Jane, dear, you are better off alone! But no …she runs back to Rochester and even winds up calling him "my master." Gag me with a spoon (a BIG one).
Sr Audrey didn't agree and I only got a 'C' in her English class. Oh, well.
I re-read it (March 2007) only because our book club wanted to read a classic and we chose this one. I actually recommended it, hoping that, with maturity, I'd have more appreciation for it. I guess I do appreciate it more, and can look critically at the ideas presented (and how radically feminist it was in its day), but I still don't like it.
What do you think? Vote in our poll and tell us if you love it or hate it. If you haven't read it, you can vote on whether you want to or not.
Diane #
I read Jane Eyre for a book club and we all had trouble getting through it. It took us 2 months to read. I think it was the style of the writing, Charlotte is very wordy and descriptive if I remember correctly. I didn't hate it but I didn't love it either. I am currently reading Wuthering Heights which I am liking much better. Yes the characters are unlikable but the style of writing is better for me. I think the Love It reviewer is Nicole.
LikeLikeJanuary 16, 2017


text: Northumberland County Council Councillors & Democracy Councillors, Committees and Meetings Councillors Committees Meetings Calendar Forward Plan Meeting Committee: Castle Morpeth Local Area Council Date/Time: Monday 10/08/2020 at 16:00 Venue: Venue to be confirmed Status: Cancelled Access: This meeting is open to the public Description: Please note that some Local Area Council meetings deal only with planning applications, whereas other Local Area Council meetings are divided into two parts. For the meetings that are divided into two, the first part deals with local planning applications. The second part deals with other local area council business. You may not wish to attend for the whole meeting. Please refer to the agenda letter for further details of timings. Meeting Documents No documents found Member Attendance CouncillorRoleAttendedArmstrong, Eileen ChairNot yet knownBawn, David Lee MemberNot yet knownBeynon, John Ace Vice ChairNot yet knownDickinson, Scott James MemberNot yet knownDodd, Richard Robert MemberNot yet knownDunn, Elizabeth Vice Chair (Planning)Not yet knownFoster, Julie Denise MemberNot yet knownJackson, Peter Alan MemberNot yet knownJones, Veronica MemberNot yet knownLedger, David MemberNot yet knownSanderson, Hugh Glen Howard MemberNot yet knownTowns, David James MemberNot yet knownWearmouth, Richard Watson MemberNot yet known For assistance, please contact Democratic Services as follows: Democratic Services, Corporate Resources Directorate Northumberland County Council County Hall Morpeth Northumberland NE61 2EF Telephone: 0345 600 6400 Email: email@example.com


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Security Seals
Metal bolt seals are basically high security bolt seals that are precisely designed and developed to safeguard high value cargo. This seal comprises a body made of carbon steel and coating of ABS plastic to provide indication of tampering through enhanced visibility. To increase the security, both the body and bolts is laser etched through matching numbers. We provide these in customized options as per our client requirements for different colors, variable numbering, clientâs name etc. Also, these are available in various options like Heavy Lock Seal, One Time Lock Seal, High Security Custom Seal, and Rail Wagon Seal etc.
Some of the significant characteristics are:


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Sylvester was a beautiful black and white cat. The family had loved him since he was born and took good care of him. However, his litter mates were jealous and tried to make him feel bad. They would tell him that he was nobody and that the family just felt sorry for him. He heard that so much that he started to believe it. He started telling himself that he WAS a nobody which made him feel very sad. He started sleeping more and eating less.
One night while the family was sitting at the table eating dinner, the conversation was about the fact that people make mistakes because nobody is perfect. One of the children had made a mistake and the parents were trying to encourage them to not feel so badly about it. Sylvester happened to be lying in the corner listening to this and suddenly started to feel better.
He kept hearing that "nobody is perfect" which started him thinking about his situation. He was a nobody!! So there is only one conclusion that he could reach. Life, all of a sudden, became good again!


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All tours begin at our office, located at 502 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20774, near the intersection of 23rd and E Streets in Columbia Plaza.
Washington, DC has one of the world's safest and most efficient subways, known affectionately as the Metro. The Foggy Bottom Metro Station (Blue, Orange, and Silver lines) is just a short walk from our office.
Simply exit the Foggy Bottom Station, take a right and walk down three blocks. Just after you pass Virginia Avenue, we will be in Columbia Plaza on the right side of the street across from a huge round circular building that looks like an air filter!
We are always on the lookout for fresh faces to help provide the best tours possible in Washington, DC. For more information on our positions and how to apply, please see our Employment page.
There is a parking garage in Columbia Plaza (the building we are located in). It is operated by PMI Parking. Note the address of the parking garage (2400 Virginia Ave NW) is slightly different than our address (502 23rd St NW), but they are in the same building. There is also street parking available near our office, but be sure to check the meters as they may restrict the parking time to 2 hours. Or, they may not allow parking during certain hours.
Though parking is available, we always encourage our guests to use the metro to avoid street closures, heavy traffic and difficulty finding parking.
For safety reasons, minors (anyone under the age of 18) must be accompanied by an adult on the tour.
Unfortunately, due to the risk to both child and mother, pregnant women are not allowed to participate on our tours.
At this time, our tour are only offered in English.
Unfortunately we do not enter the museums and other attractions listed on our tour page as we devote as much time as we can to the tour itself. We will make short stops to learn about the museums and other attractions and give you a great orientation of the city so you'll know exactly where you will want to go after the tour!
City Segway Tours was the very first Segway tour company in the world, so when you ride with us you know you are getting years of unrivaled experience. In addition, we offer both three and two hour tour options for nearly the same price as their one and two hour tours. This means we guarantee you will see more with City Segway Tours than any other Segway tour. All of our tour guides are officially licensed by the District of Columbia and provide great insight into our nation's capital. Lastly, our group sizes are small and personal. That means you'll have time to stop, take pictures, and ask questions, throughout the tour as well as having easy access to our tour guides who can provide you with great insight for your time in D.C.
The National Mall Tour is a three hour Segway tour and costs $75/person whereas the Segway Experience is two hours and costs $65/person. Each tour will visit the White House, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial and just about everything in between. The National Mall tour will add stops down Pennsylvania Avenue, the Capitol Building, the National Mall, Smithsonian Castle and more. And if you are looking for a little more time to visit the Jefferson, FDR or MLK Memorials which are not included on either of these tours, you can check out the Monuments and Memorials Tour.
Unfortunately, we do not rent our Segways out to individuals without a guide. Since our tours are virtually always full, we need all machines for our tour customers.
For your riding safety, guests must be at least 16 years of age and weigh at least 100 pounds and not in excess of 260 pounds. The age restriction is City Law and there are no exceptions.
Unfortunately, not. There are absolutely no exceptions to the City Law which requires all riders be at least 16 years old.
Space is limited on our Segway tours and though we may have upwards of 30 guests going out, we guarantee small groups with one of our many highly trained tour guides. For these reasons, we do require reservations. When you reserve a tour, we schedule our exceptional guides and support staff to make your Segway tour the best experience possible.
For this reason we require a minimum of 72 hours (3 days) notice for cancellations and/or rescheduling of tours. If you fail to meet your appointment, we still incur the same expenses, we probably have turned away others guests that would like to go on tour, and tour guides may have shown up just for your group. Therefore, there are no refunds for those guests who fail to show for a reservation or cancel without 72 hours notice.
No, all of our tours run rain or shine. In the event of rain, guides will have ponchos that are free of charge.
Reservations are required for every tour we offer. All walk-up customers will be accommodated in the best possible manner based on guide and Segway availability. Our tours fill to capacity on a regular basis. For this reason we highly suggest making a reservation online or contacting us directly to make a reservation. We don't want to fill our tour and miss showing you around!
We have had several people with disabilities join our tours. The necessary range of motion required to operate a Segway is similar to that of being able to transfer weight from one foot to another while walking. Also, riding a Segway does require the need to be able to stand for long periods of time.
Our tours operate in groups of 8 people per tour guide.
If the party is larger than 8 the group will be split up for safety reasons on our standard tours. We can take larger groups as private tours; however those are subject to different pricing and plans and must be made in advance to make allowances for tour guides and machines.
Your tour will start promptly at the scheduled time, therefore please arrive 15 minutes prior to tour departure time in order to complete the necessary paperwork. Each member of your party will be required to complete and sign a liability waiver form. Minors under the age of 18 will need a parent or guardian to complete their paperwork.
Please be aware that we have multiple tours departing throughout the day, therefore if you arrive more than 30 minutes early we may still be working with other guests. This means that even if you arrive early, your tour will still begin at the normaly scheduled time
We do not take a deposit, though we do ask one member of your party to provide us with a credit card to save on file while you are on tour. Your card will not be charged unless there is damage caused to the Segway and card information will be deleted immediately upon completion of a damage-free tour.
Your safety is always our highest priority; therefore, we begin each tour with a very thorough orientation of the Segway and its use before going out to enjoy the city! Each of our tours will begin with a short safety video followed by time to practice in our training area across the street and instruction from your tour guide. We will practice on the Segways until everyone feels comfortable.
We do our best to make accommodations for returning riders once we get out on tour, however please be aware that we prefer to train new riders first to give them as much time as possible to practice. While some returning guests wonder why they can't simply be set up on their machines and left to explore, we ask that you remain patient while we allow first-time riders to get acclimated with a minimum of distractions or other riders in the training area. These delays are usually 5-10 minutes at most and help us keep our training area as safe and efficient as possible.
Reservations are not required for our D.C. bike tours but are highly recommended to guarantee that there will be space on the tour. If you have children in your group, if you are booking a large group (8 or more) or if you are looking to book a night tour, reservations are strongly recommended.
We offer 100% refunds on all tours if the reservation is cancelled more than 72 hours (3 days) before the scheduled tour. We do not offer refunds for any reason once we are within 72 hours of the scheduled tour.
No, our tours run rain or shine. We have free ponchos available for anyone that needs them in our office. We encourage all guests to take a look at the forecasted weather and plan how you dress accordingly.
Unfortunately, we cannot enter the museums due to time constraints on the Day and Night Bike Tour. We do reserve time to walk around some memorials on tour (for example, the Lincoln Memorial, the Korean War Memorial and the Vietnam Memorial). Our bike tours are designed to enjoy the city from a broad perspective so that's what we're going to do!
Absolutely! We love hosting families and our tours make a great family-friendly activity. You can see all of our bike options, including kid's equipment by clicking here. Please note that no kids options would be available for the Electric Bike tours.
For some parts, but most of our tour is on the National Mall or on large bike/pedestrian paths. We carefully designed tour routes with safety as the top priority. Whether on the street, bike lane, or pedestrian path, you always have a tour guide who is an expert and safely maneuvering your group around the city.
Yes. Your safety is top priority for us and studies have shown that helmets can reduce head injuries by at least 85%. Therefore, we do require all riders to wear helmets on our tours.
Along with one of our phenomenal tour guides, every guest will recieve a bike, helmet, and a bottle of water. Additional waters are available for purchase in our office for $1 and we also have a water bottle filling station that is available to use for free.
The difference is day and night! Our day time bike tour will take you to the White House, U.S. Capitol Building, the National Mall, Lincoln Memorial and everything in between. Our night bike tour will go to the Lincoln, Korean, and Vietnam Memorials then around the Tidal Basin to check out the Martin Luther King, Franklin Roosevelt, and Jefferson Memorials. The night bike tour is a perfect mix of biking around our beautiful city and walking around the memorials, where the day bike is scheduled to maximize the number of sites visited while still keeping a leisurely pace.
Note, the night bike tour will NOT visit the U.S. Capitol Building.
You can see all of our standard bike options, including kid's equipment by clicking here. Please note that no kids options would be available for the Electric Bike tours.
Rentals are $7/hour per bike, toddler seat, trailer, or tagalong. We have a flat $40 maximum for an all day rental.
All bikes must be returned back at our office by close of the shop that day. Between March and November the shop is open till 6pm, and between December and Feb we close at 5. Bikes arriving after the specified time will be charged for a 24 hour rental.
All rentals will receive a bike, helmet, and one lock and key.
Bike renters may opt not to wear helmets, only if they are over 18, but are asked to sign a waiver saying they have been recommended to wear a helmet at all times. This option is only available for those who are NOT taking the tour, but are RENTING the bikes without a guide on an hourly/daily basis.
When you arrive at our office we will take a digital imprint of a credit card to make ensure you return with the bike and that it is in working order. Per the rental agreement you will sign upon arrival, you are responsible for damage or loss of the bike.
Although reservations for rentals are not required, we do recommend making one as walk ins are handled on a first come first serve basis. If you have children or need a tag along or trailer we strongly recommend making a reservation or checking with us as we have a limited amount of each.
ou can see all of our bike options, including kid's equipment by clicking here. Please note that no kids options would be available for the Electric Bike tours or rentals.


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For any New Yorkers who haven't witnessed the ad-covered 6 train announcing the opening of Target's newest NYC-based location, the megastore will open its doors in Harlem's East River Plaza on Sunday July 25.
Now style mavens hoping to get their hands on the newest designer collaborations, like the forthcoming Tucker collection on September 10, will have an alternative to Brooklyn's Atlantic Terminal. For discount seekers, the multi-level center, which also houses a Best Buy and Costco, offers even more incentive to head uptown for bargains.
East River Plaza's Target opens July 25 at 116th Street and FDR Drive.


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With its bustling central downtown and its nearby countryside offering picturesque views of rolling hillsides and the Susquehanna River, York County is the perfect setting for unforgettable vacations. Take your pick from fun ways to explore the region, from free factory tours to interactive historic sites to wine and brewery trails. We've got seven ideas to get you started.
1. Experience the area's rich railroading heritage on historic train rides.
See gorgeous scenery while peeking into the past on one of the many train rides in York County, such as the Stewartstown Railroad Company, one of the oldest continuously running common-carrier railroad companies. At Steam Into History in New Freedom, experience the days of the Civil War as you ride aboard a faithfully replicated steam engine and interact with costumed living history interpreters, musicians and even "outlaws" on the ride. Dating back to 1832, Strasburg Rail Road will take you through Amish countryside aboard an authentic steam-powered train.
2. Sip and sample your way through wine country with fascinating winery tours.
Escape to the idyllic countryside, where picture-perfect rows of grape vines sprawl across the verdant valleys, and charming wineries offer samples of their boutique wines. One of the stops on the year-round Mason-Dixon Wine Trail is Moon Dancer Winery, Cider House & Tap Room in Wrightsville, where its French country chateau overlooks the Susquehanna River.
3. See how your favorite snacks are made on special food factory tours.
Explore York County, the Factory Tour Capital of the World®, as you go behind the scenes to see how famous brands make their beloved snacks and treats. Take a family-friendly tour at Martin's Snacks in Thomasville, Sweet Willows Creamery in York, York City Pretzel Company, and Snyder's of Hanover.
4. Glimpse into the craft beer scene with local brewery tours.
Craft beer lovers will have plenty to explore on the Susquehanna Ale Trail, a route of 13 breweries and brew pubs to sample local beers. Along the way, try easy-drinking beers at Aldus Brewing Co. in Hanover, a vast selection of creative brews at Collusion Tap Works in downtown York City, and hard cider made from locally grown apples at Wyndridge Farm in Dallastown.
5. See what it takes to make a legendary Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
Get out on the factory floor with a Harley-Davidson Factory Tour in York, and go behind the scenes to learn about the manufacturing and assembly processes of the Touring, CVO, and Trike motorcycles. Then, sit on current production motorcycles, and pick up a souvenir at the gift shop.
6. Go sightseeing as you ride your bike along the scenic rail trail.
History and outdoor recreation seamlessly intermingle at the Heritage Rail Trail County Park, which features a 21-mile trail alongside historic railroad tracks. Watch as heritage locomotives chug along the rails, and stop into train museums along the way, located at Hanover Junction Train Station and New Freedom Train Station.
7. Get in the "spirit" when you tour local craft distilleries.
Imbibe innovative cocktails handcrafted with locally made spirits—everything from bourbon and rye whisky to gin and moonshine—when you follow the Keystone Craft Spirits Trail to craft distillers throughout the region. At Old Republic Distillery in York, York County's first distillery since Prohibition, sample small-batch vodka, rum, and even flavored moonshine.
Find even more things to do in York County during your vacation.


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Klingon Wedding in Britain for Swedish Fans of 'Star Trek'
A Swedish couple made history when they had what's believed to be the first Klingon-style wedding in Britain this weekend - complete with the costume and face makeup that characterizes the warrior race from the "Star Trek" series.
The unusual nuptials took place on Friday in London at a convention for fans of "Star Trek," the hugely popular science fiction series that started on television in the 1960s, spawning TV spinoffs and movies to satisfy legions of ardent fans.
The groom, Sonnie Gustavsson, 29, was a longtime "Star Trek" fan and he introduced his bride, 23-year-old Jossie Sockertopp, to it, Reuters news agency reported.
RELATED: 'Star Trek: The Original Series': Where's Are They Now?
Gustavsson told Reuters that he was inspired by an episode of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" in which Worf, a Klingon Starfleet officer, marries Jadzia Dax, a Starfleet science officer, in a traditional Klingon ceremony.
"We saw the clip from the series … and we thought it was very romantic about beating hearts and a battle for each other. We really liked it, that's why we want to do this," Sockertopp told Reuters.
The BBC reported that the bride had to be persuaded to have the Klingon wedding.
"The ceremony was his idea. I thought about it a lot and then I said 'let's do it'. It's a once in a life time thing," Sockertopp said.
The ceremony reportedly included some phrases in Klingon, the language spoken by the fictional warrior race. Gustavsson wore a crimson tunic over black pants, while Sockertopp wore a crimson dress. Both wore dark wigs and facial prosthetics to give them the prominent brow ridge that's typical of Klingons.
Gustavsson and Sockertopp had a legal wedding prior to their Klingon ceremony.


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Little Miss Paisley needed a fitting announcement for her name! I was thrilled when I found this paisley font online, and couldn't wait to share the design with mom. Her mom, Erin in South Dakota (a loyal blog reader and BFF of a good friend of mine) requested pink & green, with paisley and polka dots! She was very pleased with the results!
Monday, July 6, 2009
Baby Announcements: Paisley for Paisley!
Posted by Kim - The TomKat Studio at 10:27 PM
Labels: baby announcements, happy customers
6 comments:
- Unknown said...
I'm all over this, considering my new business is named Paisley! Very,very cute!
- July 7, 2009 at 4:27 AM
- Imjustagirl said...
Super Cute!!
- July 7, 2009 at 6:25 AM
- Amy @ Living Locurto said...
- July 7, 2009 at 6:49 AM
- sarah @ life {sweet} life said...
Absolutely adorable!! And what a perfect find on the font...such a cute touch! :)
- July 7, 2009 at 8:02 AM
- Amy said...
I just found your blog and it is adorable! It is filled with incredibly cute ideas. I will be back to visit often. :)
- July 7, 2009 at 9:31 AM
- Meredith said...
WOW, super cute Kim!
- July 7, 2009 at 11:45 AM
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|Sighting Report
|Occurred : 11/1/2003 16:00 (Entered as : 11.1.2003 16:00)
Reported: 11/4/2011 6:33:59 AM 06:33
Posted: 12/12/2011
Location: Oshawa (Canada), ON
Shape: Sphere
Duration:20 seconds
|Low flying basketball sized translucent spherical bubble
On November 1st 2003, while in my backyard in Oshawa at exactly 4:00pm.
I noticed a translucent round spherical bubble moving quite low over the houses.
This thing moved across over the roofs about 10 feet above the homes.
It came in from the north moving southwest.
The size looked like that of a basketball.
I watched in disbelief as it passed by only 80 -100 feet away.
This thing witnessed ,only lasted in visual contact for about 20 seconds.
It was not moving very fast - maybe 5 mph.
I called a Toronto Rock station to report what I had seen.
Then I heard the person talking to another person at the station.
I could hear there was also another UFO sighting earlier in a western town outside Toronto.
This one was a strange one to witness.
It was no way just a big bubble.
If it was due to it's size.
It should have popped ! Yet in appearance.
It did look in features of that of a large bubble.
There were no other witnesses- dang !


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Hurricane Irma and Maria
Hurricane Irma devastated the island of St Maarten on September 6, 2017, and unfortunately, The Horny Toad was not spared her wrath.
We lost the roof and complete second floor structure, with extensive damage to unit 5 on the lower level. The only 2 units that were partially spared were units 6 and 7 but the rain from Irma and later from Maria a few days later caused extensive water damage and mold to these two units.
After much soul searching, and advice from a structural engineer, we decided that the wisest choice would be to demolish what remained and rebuild a completely new "Main House"
We hired an architect, IXI Design, and spent many hours working on the new design to optimize the space available and also to create new unique units all with ocean views. After the devastation caused by Irma to the many wood framed structures on the island, the decision was also made to construct the new building totally out of reinforced concrete. We chose Vascon Engineering for the structural design.
Our goal is to be open late October, a very aggressive schedule, especially with the amount of ongoing construction all over the Island. We will keep updating our progress on this website.
So, while the new building will have very many differences from the old one, we feel the essence of "The Toad" will remain, as that is truly a reflection of the guests who keep coming back year after year.


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Caught at Glow! Round 35
By Elise Smith in DJ's, Echostage, EDM News, Soundcheck
Wednesday, June 14, 2017, 12:05pm. (Updated: 6/15/17 at 2:42pm) Add comments
Wednesday, June 14, 2017, 12:05pm. (Updated: 6/15/17 at 2:42pm) Add comments
Let's see who was Caught at Glow…
How it works:
Every two weeks, we look for fans showing love for Glow with hashtags #ClubGlow, #Echostage, #CaughtAtGlow or who have checked in to Echostage or Soundcheckdc on Instagram and Twitter. It can be a picture of anything! Not just a picture from a show (although we do love those pics). Share with us how you show off your Glow, Echostage and Soundcheckdc pride! Dress your animals up. Dress your grandma up. Show us your Glow love and we'll show love back. Each of the five winners gets a pair (2) of tickets for an upcoming show of their choice (this does not include festivals). Good luck!
Winners, please contact: email@example.com
Hydration is key to a good time tbh
Nice picture! Enjoy 2 free tickets to your next Glow show!
Isn't Alpha9 just amazing??
Gotta love when you can meet your fav artists! Here are 2 free tickets to your next Glow show!
So glad you got to finally see Andrew Rayel! Enjoy two free tickets for your Glow adventure!
2 Responses to "Caught at Glow! Round 35"
Comments (2)
I posted the picture of the girl raising her arms at the Galantis concert. How do I claim tickets?
Thanks so much!


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The beautiful crown in Mehta's Indian trilogy
Go to showtimes
'You've come a long way, baby," cigarette ads once chirped to female smokers.
But women worldwide have far to go, as dramatized in last week's The Beauty Academy of Kabul and in this week's Water.
Water is set in India, where Hindu widows traditionally have been banished to a life of cloistered deprivation. Though the film begins in 1938, a postscript states that millions of Hindu widows are subjugated even today.
Mahatma Gandhi's pacifist revolution against British colonialism challenged this tradition in the 1930s. In that context of hope and change, a small child in Water is widowed by a man she's never met.
Torn from her family, feisty Chuyia (Sarala) is flung into a widows' ashram, where her head is brusquely shaved and she's wrapped in concealing clothes. Young and old, residents are destined for a marginalized, impoverished existence.
But during brief trips outside, one young woman (Lisa Ray) meets an idealist (John Abraham), and they discreetly fall in love. Though even discretion can't avert harsh consequences, Water also flows with currents of humor and joy.
Beautifully acted, scored and photographed, Water is the third part of writer-director Deepa Mehta's trilogy of Indian stories, following 1996's Fire and 1998's Earth. It's also the most important. Mehta has said she could retire now, having seen this film through after a tempestuous first attempt to shoot it.
Yet below its surface, Water isn't about religion, politics or even India. It's about timeless and universal divides between people, when humanity is eclipsed by self-serving subjugation.


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The 6 Gadgets You Should Immediately Install in a New Smart Home
So, you've heard about the smart home revolution, but you're not sure where to begin. It's understandable — there are hundreds of devices and apps vying for your business.
Starting your smart home setup on the right foot is important, because it can save you heartache further down the line. Perhaps more importantly, it'll stop you from wasting money on unnecessary and overpriced devices.
If you want to start kitting out your house with smart home technology, keep reading. We're going to look at the first things you should install or buy. All these devices are readily available and easy to install. You can worry about the more complicated stuff later.
1. Smart Lighting
I've been a vocal critic of some smart lighting systems in the past. In particular, I think the Philips Hue system is pointless and overpriced.
But that doesn't mean I'm not an advocate of smart lighting in general. Used correctly, it can save you money on your electricity bill and improve your home's security. You just don't need the Hue system to get started.
Instead, consider some of the cheaper alternatives Here Are the Best Multi-Color Smart Light Bulbs of 2017 There are so many options for Smart Home lighting that it can be overwhelming! These colorful bulbs offer you the best features available today. Read More . There are lots to choose from. My personal preference is the TP-Link range. The lights are ideal for beginners because they do not need a hub to work. They simply connect to your Wi-Fi network. You can control them using the accompanying smart phone app.
The lights are also compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. More on that later.
TP-Link offers four models to choose from. The cheapest white lights only cost $19.99 per bulb.
Kasa Smart LB100 Dimmable LED WiFi 800LB TUNABLE, SMART BULB, 50W Equivalent, Soft Warm White Kasa Smart LB100 Dimmable LED WiFi 800LB TUNABLE, SMART BULB, 50W Equivalent, Soft Warm White Buy Now On Amazon $79.98
2. Smart Thermostat
Sticking with the theme of saving money, installing a smart thermostat is another way you can shave a significant amount of money off your annual electricity bill.
Again, you have lots of different systems to choose from. They all have varying degrees of complexity, so it's important to make the right choice.
For example, systems such as Nest and Netatmo are ideal for smaller homes. They can work with different zones, but they're primarily designed to replace your central thermostat and adjust the house-wide temperature.
If you live in a larger home, consider something like Honeywell Evohome or Heat Genius. Their systems replace the valves on your radiators, allowing you to control each heating unit individually.
If you're just starting out, the Nest range is probably the best choice. It's easy to use and costs less than $250. Like the TP-Link lights, it also works with Amazon Alexa.
Google T3007ES Nest Learning Thermostat 3rd Generation, Stainless Steel, Works with Amazon Alexa, 1 Google T3007ES Nest Learning Thermostat 3rd Generation, Stainless Steel, Works with Amazon Alexa, 1 Buy Now On Amazon $239.89
3. Smart Security System
Congratulations, you've now installed two of the most common smart home devices. Next up, a smart security system How Smart Home Security Systems Save Money and Keep You Safe Customization smart home security systems can protect you and your family and give you control over exactly how you want to secure your home, for a fraction of the price of traditional security systems. Read More .
Smart home security can be divided into three parts: network safety, alarms, and smart locks.
I won't dwell on network safety — just be aware that with more devices on your network, you're more at risk from hackers and cyber criminals. Buying a high-quality VPN The Best VPN Services We've compiled a list of what we consider to be the best Virtual Private Network (VPN) service providers, grouped by premium, free, and torrent-friendly. Read More and a new smart router 5 Things That Make Smart Wi-Fi Routers Worth Buying Today, you can buy a new class of "smart routers", specifically designed to cope with the demands of running a smart home. Here are five things that make smart Wi-Fi routers worth buying. Read More will allay most of these concerns.
Smart Alarms
Smart alarms are an emerging category of smart home devices. At the very least, you need a system that can monitor your entry points and detect motion. If the sensors are triggered, your alarm will sound and you'll get a smartphone alert.
In truth, you should consider spending a bit more and purchasing a system that also has Wi-Fi connected cameras. That way, you can monitor your home remotely, no matter where you are in the world.
At the upper end of the scale, you'll find systems that include carbon dioxide detectors, smoke alarms, and water leak sensors. Some of these are provided by third-parties — you'll need a hub Which Smart Hub for Home Automation Is Best for You? For a while, people thought of the idea as nothing more than a gimmick, but recent product releases have shown that smart home automation is starting to live up to its promises. Read More to link them all together.
For a happy medium, check out iSmartAlarm. The company's $100 Preferred Package comes with two contact sensors, two remote tags, a motion sensor, and window stickers. At a later date, you can buy some of its add-ons. They include cameras, smart switches, and keypads.
Smart Locks
If you want a complete smart security system, you should also think about buying smart locks Everything You Need to Know Before Installing a Smart Lock Smart locks are increasing in popularity, but there are still a lot of valid concerns about their security. These are the facts you need to know before making a purchase! Read More . They might not be absolutely essential for entry-level smart homes, but if security is a priority for you, they are an important component in your system.
Two of the leading brands are August and Kwikset Kevo. Both offer similar functionality: your Bluetooth device will unlock the bolt as you approach, you'll get alerts if someone gains unauthorized entry, and you can see the lock's access history through a smartphone app.
The August locks also work with Amazon Alexa. Notice a pattern?
August Smart Lock, 2nd Generation, HomeKit enabled (Silver) August Smart Lock, 2nd Generation, HomeKit enabled (Silver) Buy Now On Amazon $130.00 ($4.78 / oz)
4. Smart Speakers
Smart homes don't only have to be about boring stuff that none of your guests will ever notice. They can also be fun.
The area of entertainment that's leading this charge is music. You can find lots of smart speaker systems, ranging from the $30 entry-level Chromecast Audio, right through to top-of-the-range speakers like Sonos and Bose SoundTouch.
Again, many of these systems function in a broadly similar way. You can control your music from anywhere in the home using a smartphone app, and they can play content from premium music streaming services How to Pick the Best Music Streaming Service for You Do you use a music streaming service? If so, how do you know you're using the best one for you personally? Read More like Spotify and Google Play Music (assuming you have an account).
And if you enjoy a bit of tech-based DIY, you can even hack them to play voice notification when certain events occur. We've explained how in detail How to Send Voice Notifications to Sonos Speakers Today, I'll show you how to set up voice notifications on your Sonos system, using IFTTT recipes, OpenHAB integrations, and more. Read More elsewhere on the site.
5. Smart Garden Automation
If you have a large garden, you need to think about it when setting up your smart home. It makes no sense to have the inside of your home running like clockwork, only for the exterior to look like something out of a horror movie.
If you've got green fingers, you have a lot of devices you can deploy to help keep your shrubbery in check.
For example, Edyn makes both a smart water valve and a smart garden sensor. The water value performs as you'd expect, watering plants on a user-defined schedule. The sensor device can monitor the soil, light, and moisture conditions, then send information back to your smartphone. It will even recommend which types of plants to grow based on the results.
Edyn (EDYN-001) Wi-Fi Garden Sensor, Yellow/Gold (2.125 x 2.87 x 2.87 Inches) Edyn (EDYN-001) Wi-Fi Garden Sensor, Yellow/Gold (2.125 x 2.87 x 2.87 Inches) Buy Now On Amazon
6. Amazon Echo
You knew it was coming, didn't you? Amazon Echo devices are like a lazy boy armchair for the 21st Century.
Obviously, you get all the Amazon-based benefits they introduce. That includes having the news read to you every morning, listening to music, ordering groceries, and access to the endless list of skills 18 Awesome New Amazon Alexa Skills You Need to Try The Amazon Echo's list of skills is growing all the time. Let's take a look at the most useful and silliest skills from the past few months. Read More that can do everything from ordering a pizza to calling an Uber.
More importantly, at least from a smart home perspective, you can use the speaker to control a vast number of smart home devices with your voice. As mentioned, many locks, lighting systems, and thermostats are Alexa-compatible, but so too are ceiling fans, smart TVs, smart switches, and garage door locks 4 Ways a Smart Garage Door Opener Will Simplify Your Life Garages are great, garage doors are frustrating. Smart garage door openers can help. Read More .
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Dig Even Deeper
If you follow all this advice, you'll have a great smart home foundation in place. But why stop there?
You could try focusing on a particular room. There's plenty of technology that can help you in the kitchen Create a Futuristic Kitchen With These 7 Smart Devices It's hard to know where to draw the line between useful and gimmick when discussing smart home devices for the kitchen, but these devices are sure to impress! Read More or make your daily bathroom routine go more smoothly Smart Devices in the Washroom? It's Not as Crazy as You Think Technology may seem out of place in the washroom, but these smart devices might just change your mind -- and your morning routine! Read More . Or you can keep adding individual devices — why not pick up a Roomba to do your vacuuming?
Which gadgets would you recommend as "must-haves" for beginners? As always, you can leave all your opinions and suggestions in the comments below. And remember to share this article with your friends to see what they think.
Image Credits: dotshock/Shutterstock
Related topics: Alexa, Amazon Echo, Home Automation, Smart Lighting, Smart Locks, Smart Sensor.
Affiliate Disclosure: By buying the products we recommend, you help keep the site alive. Read more.