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RAMONA, CA (BRAIN)–Fighting their way through ashy, smoky winds, Ellsworth Handcrafted Bikes' employees were stuck in gridlock traffic yesterday as they tried to flee a rapidly advancing wildfire on their Ramona administrative headquarters.
Luckily, because of the structure's environmental construction of concrete and metal, geothermically heated, and solar-powered, even if fire takes over the facility Ellsworth would probably sustain minimal damage.
"Luckily, our operations are fully intact as we have email functioning wonderfully, and our main fabrication facility is in Vancouver, Washington." said Tony Ellsworth, owner of the company. "All orders are still going out on time, and all questions can simply be emailed to us directly from the website at www.ellsworthbikes.com and www.ellsworthride.com."
Ellsworth went on to say he is very thankful for the changes he's made in the company's operations over the past year. "Our bikes and orders are fulfilled both in Ramona and in Vancouver and that's so helpful in times like these. We've set up a temporary administrative office center in Oceanside so all questions on technical needs and warranties, can all be handled via email as we wait out this fire. Unfortunately the phone system is down while Mother Nature takes her course."
Ramona's Main Street and all of its side streets were filled with cars, trucks and horse trailers after officials issued a mandatory evacuation order for Ramona and nearby San Diego Country Estates as the fast-moving flames of the Witch fire headed toward the area of more than 36,000 people.
Coincidentally, and because of the growth of Ellsworth Handcrafted Bikes over the past several years, a new company administrative and fabrication facility is already being planned in Battle Ground, Washington. "We may have the concern of a volcano erupting every couple of hundred years, but the location is pristine, green, and perfect for the Ellsworth environment, now so more than ever," he said.


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Sky Talk
Video: Emirates A380 takes off from DFW
Some days, work can be a lot of fun.
Today I got to spend most of my morning hanging out with Star-Telegram photographer Rodger Mallison as we roamed Dallas/Fort Worth Airport to shoot photos to use on Sky Talk and for our print publications.
While we were out there on the airfield, we were able to watch Emirates' daily flight to Dubai depart. I have seen the Emirates A380 land at DFW Airport several times but this was my first time watching the double-decker aircraft take off.

subset: commoncrawl


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Within those world famous stainless steel u-bolts manufacturers, CHUANGYI is the most reliable one. Welcome to wholesale cheap stainless steel u-bolts from our factory.
Our Company has been manufacturing and fabricating U-Bolts, Custom U-Bolts, Coated U-Bolts, Anchor U-Bolts, Specialty Bolts, Eye-Bolts, J-Bolts, Stud Bolts, U-Bolt Plates and supplying fasteners ,Our success has been possible through excellent service and a commitment to quality unmatched in the industry. We take pride in our dedication to efficiency and would be pleased to support all of your fastener needs.
We keep a wide array of custom and standard U-Bolts in our inventory.
In this industry, we realize that "Time is money", therefore, Custom U-Bolts, Eye-Bolts, J-Bolts, and Anchor bolts are made with short lead times. Engineered Fasteners are made with short lead-times as well. Regardless of the size or material, Our Company will make it happen.


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From January 1, 2017, new laws requiring all homes install interconnected, photoelectric smoke alarms will commence in Queensland, in a bid by the government to improve public safety.
The legislation applies to all dwellings across the state, and specifies the type, placement and operation of smoke alarms in homes. The laws will be phased in over 10 years, at different rates for new and existing homes, and aim to make sure all houses in Queensland are fitted with effective smoke alarms to prevent loss of life.
Why Are the New Laws Important?
Fire and Emergency Services Minister Bill Byrne introduced the bill in September 2016 in response to the coroner's report on Australia's worst house fire. Eleven people, including eight children were killed in the 2011 house fire in Slacks Creek, south of Brisbane. At the time of the fire, two smoke alarms were fitted in the house, but neither had worked for a number of years. In his findings, Coroner James McDougall stated there was a "reasonable prospect that all or some of the victims could have escaped" had the smoke alarms been working at the time of the fire.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Katrina Carroll says that working smoke alarms are critical in all homes, with research indicating they reduce the risk of death in a house fire by up to 50%. She welcomes the law's requirement that photoelectric alarms be used. "Photoelectric smoke alarms are more effective at detecting a wider range of fires and are good at sensing smouldering fires or thick smoke," she says.
What Do the New Laws Mean for You?
To comply with the new laws, all Queensland homes must have smoke detectors installed in every bedroom, and every hallway or area that connects the bedrooms to the rest of the house. There must also be at least one smoke alarm on every storey.
All homes must be fully compliant with the legislation within the following time frames:
- From 1 January 2017: new and substantially renovated dwellings that submit their building applications after 1/1/17
- From 1 January 2022: all domestic houses that are sold or leased
- From 1 January 2027: all other domestic dwellings.
The legislation requires that all smoke detectors used in homes must be photoelectric, hardwired to the electricity supply and interconnected. Interconnected smoke alarms warn everyone in the house if there's a fire – if one is triggered, all the smoke alarms will be set off. You'll need a qualified electrician to hardwire your smoke alarms, plus, they'll also need a backup battery.
As part of the phasing in period, there are some measure that are effective immediately for each type of dwelling, as outlined below.
240V AC9V DC photoelectric Smoke Alarm
240V Lithiam Iron DC photoelectric Smoke Alarm
Wireless Interconnected Smoke Alarm Interlink Base
Existing Dwellings
From 1st January, 2017, when replacing smoke alarms in existing homes, they must be of a photoelectric type that complies with Australian Standard (AS) 3786-2014.
Check all your smoke alarms and replace any that don't operate when tested, and any that were manufactured more than 10 years ago (the date of manufacture should be stamped on the smoke alarm). If you have any existing hardwired smoke alarms, they must be replaced with a hardwired photoelectric alarm that complies with the above standard.
Dwellings Being Sold, Leased or An Existing Lease is Renewed
From 1st January, 2017, the requirements are the same as for the existing dwellings above. Existing landlord's and tenant's obligations regarding the installation and testing of smoke alarms still apply. When a property is sold, the vendor must continue to lodge a Form 24 with the Queensland Land Registry Office stating the requirements of the smoke alarm legislation have been met.
New Dwellings and Dwellings Being Substantially Renovated
From 1st January, 2017, any applications lodged to build or substantially renovate will need to fully comply with the new laws as a condition of approval.
Placement of Smoke Alarms
Smoke alarms should be placed on the ceiling where possible and should not be positioned:
- within 300mm of a corner of a ceiling and a wall
- within 300mm of a light fitting
- within 400mm of an air-conditioning vent
- within 400mm of the blades of a ceiling fan.
If you have stairways, sloping ceilings, or ceilings with exposed beams, there are specific requirements explained in the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008 that need to be followed. Always be guided by your own unique circumstances – if the recommended placement locations are impractical (e.g. may be affected by steam from the shower or fumes from the kitchen), then you should place your alarm in another position that will provide adequate warning to occupants.
Evacuation of People with a Disability
While this law is to be applauded, when it comes to new legislation, unfortunately it is often reactionary, rather than proactively implemented. Too often, it takes a terrible event to happen before changes are made.
Currently, the Building Code of Australia does not include any prescriptive requirements to address building design that addresses the evacuation of people with a disability of any kind. This means there is no clear law that guides owners and occupiers on how to make sure that everyone, including people with a disability, can safely exit their building in the case of an emergency. Do we have to wait for a tragedy, where loss of life occurs because a person with a disability is unable to safely evacuate a building, before the legislation is changed?
To often AS 3745-2010 Planning for emergencies in facilities is used as a band aid to address shortcomings in building design.
Well, based on the Australian Building Codes Board report Emergency Egress for Occupants with a Disability, Final Decision RIS, it seems like the answer is "yes". After considering the "life safety of occupants with disability and the inability to evacuate buildings independently; and the obligations of building owners and occupiers to ensure as far as practicable, that dignified and equitable access to and within buildings, including its fire safety features, is provided for people with a disability" the report then goes on to recommend that "based on COAG best practice regulation requirements, this RIS (regulatory impact statement) recommends that the status quo remains".
Like so many things these days, it comes down to the almighty dollar, rather than the safety of ALL occupants.
Over to You
Have a question about photoelectric smoke alarms? Our team are happy to help! Or do you already have interconnected hardwired alarms in your home and have some tips for other homeowners? Share with our readers on the EvacuLife Facebook Page


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Go with the Flow: The Answer to Optimal Performance, Renewed Energy, Restored Balance
Just when you thought you were finished with your to-do list for the day, you get one more email alert, one more text message, one more reminder and perhaps, a phone call that comes with a request.
Sound familiar?
We live in an over-wired world with constant demands to always be "on" and always available, which can come with its fair share of consequences.
Workplace engagement is at an all-time low, while complaints about insufficient work-life balance are higher than ever. In their search for answers, people are increasingly turning their attention to flow.
Flow is all about joy, creativity and a total immersion in life.
First identified in the early 1970's, flow drew people to new ways of optimizing and restoring balance in their lives. Most recently, a surge of flow-focused living drives people to find and sustain the optimal place where they feel fully engaged, motivated to move forward, and open to love every minute of the process.
When in flow, you know where you're headed and you crave every step of the journey. Increasing flow by 15 – 20 percent, you can double your productivity!
As an organizational leader, imagine the possibilities if your entire team spends more time in flow!
Three ways being in flow can multiply productivity:
1. Optimize output
Getting into flow is about identifying goals and discovering the most efficient ways to achieve them. Flow is also about cleaning house – eliminating old habits and structures that are holding your organization back. Next, flow is about building new systems that efficiently advance progress. Once you discover flow, creating it will become very natural.
2. Expand creative potential
Innovation is an essential part of flow. When you're in flow, you're able to approach challenges from multiple angles and choose the approach that is fastest, easiest and least costly.
Another part of flow is failure. Experimenting and learning from your mistakes, and being engaged in purposeful struggle are inevitable when tapping into your full creative potential. The more time you spend in your "learning zone," the more likely you are to realize how innovative you can be.
3. Heighten well-being
Flow is designed to increase your impact at work, but it's ultimately contingent on your work-life balance. Flow runs best when you break down your workload into short, intense sprints. In fact, getting enough rest is a must for being in flow. Flow depends on your ability to pause for quality downtime, celebrate your accomplishments, and connect with your body and spirit, family and friends, and values that bring meaning to your life.
Learn about the five phases of flow, explore the neuroscience behind flow, and discover the power of adopting a hacking mindset to become more effective and impactful by joining us for the upcoming webcast, "Hacking Flow: Tips, Tools and Tactics to Perform at your Peak in an Over-wired World."


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INDIANAPOLIS -- Hakeem Nicks caught a pass that went for 36 yards on his former teammates, but appeared more intent on humiliating his old friends instead of getting the first down.
Nicks beat Trumaine McBride on a quick slant deep in Colts territory, but McBride recovered and chased Nicks toward the sideline. Before Nicks stepped out of bounds, he waved at McBride, which prompted McBride to nudge him on the Giants sideline.
That cost Nicks all 36 yards, but it didn't seem like he minded all that much.
The issue was the latest in a testy first quarter between Nicks and his former team.
On the Colts' first touchdown drive, Jacquian Williams lifted Nicks off the ground and body slammed him into the turf. Nicks caught a first-down catch on Williams later in that drive and made sure to celebrate his first down right over the linebacker.
Before the game, there were plenty of pictures of Nicks hugging his former teammates, mostly the receivers, but is there still some bad blood remaining?
like this at MakeAGif
There's no doubt Nicks wanted to show the Giants what they let go of tonight, and as of the 10:29 mark in the second quarter, he already has five catches for 53 yards. He was a captain before the game as well.
Nicks certainly looked like he was playing with more fire than he did down the stretch last season. What do you think?


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Instructor: Rachel Meadows of Honey Honey Calligraphy
Date: Saturday, February 10, 2019
Time: 2:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. (3 Hour Workshop)
Shop Address: 305-103 E. 4th St., Santa Ana, CA 92701
Class Size: 20 students maximum
Cost: $100 per person
Workshop Description:
This Introduction to Modern Calligraphy workshop covers all of the basics of modern calligraphy, including: introduction to all of the essential calligraphy tools, how to use a pointed pen, creating basic shapes, scripting the upper and lowercase alphabet, and word practice.
During the class you will receive hands-on instruction that will prepare you to practice the beautiful art of calligraphy. You will receive a starter kit that includes an assortment of pen nibs and holders, ink and a practice pad. There is no previous experience necessary, nor do you have to have good penmanship to take this class. All levels are welcome!


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In 1996 John Kotter wrote Leading Change* which looked at what people did to transform their organisations. Kotter introduced an 8-step change model for helping managers deal with transformational change. This is summarised in Kotter's 8-step change model.
For The Heart of Change* (2002) John Kotter worked with Dan Cohen to look into the core problems people face when leading change. They concluded that the central issue was changing the behaviour of people and that successful change occurs when speaking to people's feelings.
In this article Martin Webster explains how Kotter's 8-step change model gets to the heart of how successful organisational change actually happens and answers the question "how do you go beyond simply getting your message across to truly changing people's behaviour?"
You'll also learn how The Heart of Change can alter the way organisations and leaders approach change management.
Since this guide covers a lot of ground and is a long read (3,000 words) you may want to check out the table of contents below for some quick jumping around.
Table of Contents
- Successful Change Management
- Kotter's 8-Step Change Model for Leading Change
- Conclusions on Kotter's 8-Step Change Model
Successful Change Management
John Kotter's 8-step change model comprises eight overlapping steps. The first three are all about creating a climate for change. The next on engaging and enabling the organisation. And the last, implementing and sustaining change.
From experience we learn that successful change occurs when there is commitment, a sense of urgency or momentum, stakeholder engagement, openness, clear vision, good and clear communication, strong leadership, and a well executed plan. Kotter's 8-step change model recognises each of these characteristics.
Kotter's 8-Step Change Model for Leading Change
We highly recommend you read The Heart of Change* John Kotter and Dan Cohen. Whether you are a senior executive, in middle management or part of a project team the research, which is backed up with stories — mini case studies — and exercises, is invaluable.
The reading provides straightforward advice that makes much sense — undoubtedly you will have observed what is written.
Creating a Climate for Change
Many initiatives fail or at best fall short of their original aim because the organisation either lacks interest in the proposed change effort or spends too much energy resisting the change management process.
Increasing Urgency
We often see organisational change beginning with detailed analyses, the preparation of a hefty business case, and later approval by corporate management. Unfortunately this energy is often wasted and does very little to move the organisation toward transformational change.
The assumption is that information and analysis followed by executive management approval is enough to change behaviour. It is not! Whilst these may be necessary organisational steps they are not needed … right now.
Getting the bosses' approval and presenting new ideas to disinterested business units rarely secures agreement and inevitably results in resistance.
For instance, complacency, immobilisation, self-protection, deviance, pessimism, and holding back. The change effort doesn't start well.
Urgency sustains change
Rather than shoving a project down the throats of operational managers change leaders need to generate a sense of urgency about the task in-hand and get the right team together to deliver transformational change. Change comes about because there is some underlying crisis: customers are unhappy, costs are rising, budgets are cut, competitors have the advantage and so on.
Analysis has the effect of putting the brakes on. Yet crisis has to be dealt with. Sorting out a problem provides the platform to get people talking about what needs to change.
The Heart of Change suggests that we need to break from tradition and start using compelling, eye-catching situations to see problems and solutions. Honest facts and dramatic evidence — customer and stakeholder testimonies — show that change is necessary. Seeing something new hits people on a deeper emotional level without the usual negative responses and resistance.
Building the Guiding Team
Creating a sense of urgency helps to bring the right people together. And getting the right people in place is about getting the right team, commitment and trust to do the job. This is what step 2 is about.
Moreover, it's about confronting issues that are traditionally avoided. It means emotionally honest and open behaviour, speaking the unspeakable, connecting to the feelings of others, and doing so without fear of reprisal. For instance, what can you do if management doesn't even admit that a problem exists?
Most likely you will skirt around the issue and continue to build on a culture of mistrust. But organisational politics doesn't have to result in ducking and dumping. Before you can begin to build a guiding team — with the right skills, leadership capacity and credibility — someone has to persuade people that something needs to happen. That is, to face the issue. This may seem counter-intuitive.
However, successful change doesn't happen unless there is open and honest dialogue. Consequently, it can be a good thing to have periods of conflict which bring out the best (and worst) in people because a change leader will almost certainly emerge; someone who feels great urgency, pulls people together, and defines the guiding team.
Unfortunately this doesn't happen very often. Usually top management approve a change project and hand over responsibility to a senior manager who then forms a pseudo-project team or task group to manage the work. Rarely are these effective structures. They are made of the wrong people and usually have complex and unworkable governance arrangements.
What's more, most team members have other jobs to do and are unlikely to be fully committed to the change project. Of course, everyone is polite. And they say the right things. But words rarely translate into concrete actions when trust is low. People rarely say what's on their mind, problems surface, and so does blame! Therefore members of guiding teams must learn how to be trusting and candid with each other.
In The Heart of Change John Kotter and Dan Cohen use a brilliant story by Roland de Vries to illustrate how hopelessly difficult teamwork problems can be overcome with courage and confidence in conviction. Only then can the guiding team set a clear sense of direction.
Getting the Right Vision
What is our vision for the future? What change is needed? What do we need to do to realise our vision? Good answers to such questions will help the organisation to make the future they want more probable.
Yet so many people create no vision or sense of direction for change. We're back to the tome of a business case with plans and budgets that do little to show the future.
If you wish to make a future you must make it more probable
We need to remember that by creating compelling, eye-catching situations it is easier for others to see problems and solutions.
Creating a vision that can be conveyed in a matter of minutes is going to move people into action much more effectively than detailed analyses ever will.
However, transformational change is difficult — it's a venture into the unknown — needs to be done correctly. We need to take an unorthodox approach and avoid over analytic, financially based visioning exercises.
Instead develop a vision that moves people and pay lots of attention to the speed in which you can introduce change.
Prepare this way: first prepare a vision that takes you to an end state, second a strategy to show you how to achieve the vision, next step-by-step plans to carry out your strategy, and finally budgets to make sure you can afford your plans.
Engaging and Enabling the Organisation
Kotter's 8-step change model is about showing people a truth that influences their feelings. We've seen how a sense of urgency moves people to action and helps us pull together a guiding team that can go on to prepare a clear and simple vision of the future.
Communicating the vision and strategy comes next.
Communicate for Buy-in
Transformational change projects tend to generate lots of information. Unfortunately the message about organisational change is often lost and people fail to see why the change is needed.
They don't buy into the idea and start resisting our efforts; we create the wrong emotional response.
Deeds speak volumes
Kotter and Cohen use stories to illustrate how communicating for buy-in can work.
Moreover, we also learn what does not work:
- Under-communicating – the goal of organisational change is to get as many people as possible on-side, i.e. working toward the same goal. Information must be relevant and come with the opportunity to ask questions.
- Pushing information – good communication isn't simply about data transfer. Change inevitably leads to conflict. Accordingly, open and honest dialogue is essential.
- Not walking the talk – Kotter says "Deeds speak volumes." When there's a gap between words and deeds the destructive force of cynicism grows. Change is undermined. Therefore our behaviour must be consistent with the vision.
We need to keep communication simple and to the point and above all understand the mood before conveying our message and addressing people's anxieties, distrust, or anger.
And finally, we must clean up communication channels so that important messages are highly visible and understood.
Empower Action
Or rather remove barriers! One of the biggest barriers to change is the dis-empowering manager. People often get the message about change and want to do something about it.
But they can't do anything because their boss is an impossible obstacle. What do we do?
- Send the manager on a short training course?
- Do nothing?
- Confront the issue?
- Sack them?
Another cause of dis-empowerment concerns the organisation; it's structure, policies and processes.
These can bind the hands of those who want to make the vision a reality.
I recall a colleague leaving employment. In his farewell speech he said "You're a great bunch of people … but you could do so much more." He saw the crippling effect bureaucracy had on the organisation. Unfortunately, organisational culture — especially those that are used to incremental change or failed change — leads to the greatest barrier of all: the mind.
Dis-empowered people are programmed to learn what can and can't be achieved. They internalise a belief that they are incapable of achieving change; their feelings hold them back.
Thus, we need to tackle these barriers head on! As with all aspects of Kotter's 8-step change model the answer is in showing people why change is needed. Dis-empowering bosses should be given new jobs or roles that clearly show them the need for change.
Build optimism and self-confidence using inspirational stories from the workforce. Recognise and reward achievement. Use feedback to help people make better decisions (read the story Making Movies on the Factory Floor.) And make use of people who have change experience as they will boost confidence.
However, make sure they are credible and can convey success stories. Otherwise, consultants will be ignored and new recruits squashed by your organisation's culture.
Create Short-term Wins
Large scale organisational change needs momentum, a sense of achievement, and optimism. Therefore, it is essential that results are achieved quickly.
… with so much going on at once, you run the danger of getting nothing done very fast. People wonder where you're leading them — and whether or not you're taking the right approach.
Short-term wins serve four important purposes:
- Provide us with feedback about the validity of our vision and strategies.
- Give those working hard to achieve the vision recognition and encouragement.
- Build faith in the change project — attracting those who are not actively involved.
- Take away power from cynics.
We must avoid starting too many projects at once since this ultimately leads to chaos and is unlikely to offer an early win. Instead look for the low hanging fruit — short-term wins that can be achieved cheaply and easily — and make these as visible as possible.
Somewhere in the waves of change, you will have to attack the sturdy silos and difficult politics or you won't create a twenty-first century organisation. – Kotter and Cohen
Implementing and Sustaining Change
In Engaging and Enabling Change we learned that short-term wins are critical to successful change because they offer credibility, resources and momentum.
Step 7 is about maintaining that momentum — not letting up — so the early changes are built on. Finally, we learn how to make change stick by nurturing a new culture by developing positive behaviour and shared values through a series of successful changes.
Don't Let Up
In The Heart of Change John Kotter and Dan Cohen present a number of case studies to illustrate how we can sustain change. Some are straightforward — but often overlooked — whilst others are highly creative examples that lead to a radical transformation of the business.
The idea is to continue with wave after wave of change and not to stop until the vision is a reality.
The main message from don't let up is to create structures and situations that empower people to take risks and deal with problems without fear of reprisal. Removing structural obstacles is important: giving people enough power and leeway to innovate and solve those intractable problems often found in large organisations.
Successful change confronts embedded bureaucratic and political behaviours. We need to get rid of work that wears us down and work that has no relevance today. We need to free up time.
Typically, people assigned to change projects have to continue doing their day job. This is not the best approach; we should let someone else do the day job for a while and delegate upwards as well as down.
The workforce is easily tired of change when the sense of urgency is lost. People convince themselves that the change is complete and no more needs to be done.
However, this need not happen. A recurring theme from Kotter's 8-step change model is to show 'em, show 'em, show 'em! Change efforts succeed because people connect with the vision. They see how change addresses problems.
Using visual cues — quick wins, a light-hearted video or show, whatever — gives credence to what is often a vague, visionary idea.
In successful change efforts, the vision and strategies are not locked in a room … – Kotter and Cohen
Make it Stick
In a change effort, culture comes last, not first. This is the controversial and key point about Kotter's 8-step change model.
Change has to be embedded in the very culture of the organisation if it is to stick.
Change doesn't stop here. New ways of working must continue successfully for some time before culture truly changes. And culture cannot change until those new ways of operating are implemented. Making it stick is about:
- Achieving tangible results quickly and ensuring change is embedded.
- Tying results to new behaviours; showing people what the organisations really cares about.
- Reinforcing the new culture through training and coaching; telling vivid stories about the organisation, what it does, and why it is successful.
- Giving people who act according to new norms influential and visible positions.
- Not giving up until you get the needed behaviour and results.
Example is not the main thing influencing others. It is the only thing. – Albert Schweitzer
Conclusions on Kotter's 8-Step Change Model
According to Kotter and Cohen, successful change leaders find a problem or a solution to a problem and then show people using engaging and compelling situations to change behaviour.
They recommend a people-driven approach that helps people to see the reason for change. They argue that people change when they are shown the truth because this influences their feelings.
That is, emotion is at the heart of change. We see, feel, change:
- See – Compelling and eye-catching situations are created to help show people what the problems are and how to resolve them.
- Feel – Visualising ideas evokes a powerful emotional response that motivates people into action.
- Change – The new feelings change or reinforce behaviours that make people work harder to make a good vision reality. The change is more immediate but must be reinforced to keep up the momentum.
|New Behaviour
|Increase urgency
|People start telling each other, "Let's go, we need to change things!"
|Build the guiding team
|A group powerful enough to guide a big change is formed and they start together well.
|Get the vision right
|The guiding team develops the right vision and strategy for the change effort.
|Communicating for buy-in
|People begin to buy into the change, and this shows in their behaviour.
|Empower action
|More people feel able to act, and do act, on the vision.
|Create short-term wins
|Momentum builds as people try to fulfil the vision, while fewer and fewer resist change.
|Don't let up
|People make wave after wave of changes until the vision is fulfilled.
|Make change stick
|New and winning behaviour continues despite the pull of tradition, turnover of change leaders etc.
Kotter's 8-Step Change Model for Successful Transformational Change Source: Kotter and Cohen, The Heart of Change, p. 7.
I trust you found this article on John Kotter's 8-step change model beneficial.
Remember, it is about changing behaviour by making people feel differently about organisational change.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone leading change who wants to motivate people and overcome obstacles to achieve great results. Remember: we see, we feel, we change.
John Kotter is internationally known and widely regarded as the foremost expert on the topic of transformational leadership. His international bestseller Leading Change — which outlines an actionable 8-step change model for implementing successful transformations — has become the bible for leaders around the world who want to achieve great results.
Dan S. Cohen is a Principal with Deloitte Consulting LLP, where he focuses his consulting activities on large-scale organisational transformation. Cohen led the development of the firm's Global Change Leadership Methodology, as well as Deloitte Consulting's Human Capital Energy practice. He has provided consulting support across industries to Fortune 100 companies worldwide.
Buy the Book
The Heart of Change: Real-Life Stories of How People Change Their Organizations*
[Kindle*] [UK Edition*] [UK Kindle Edition*]
*Affiliate links.
Creative Commons image courtesy Nancy Regan.


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Lower Back Pain
Causes: More than 99% of back pain is due to muscle or soft tissue sprain or strain. It is a stretch injury to the tendons, ligaments, and/or muscles of the lumbar area, and the pain is felt laterally to the spine. Lumbar strain most often occurs in the middle years, but can happen at any age. Other causes of low back pain include conditions such as osteo-arthritis, disc herniation, fractures, leg length discrepancy, spinal stenosis, pelvic misalignment, tumors, ankylosing spondylitis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Signs and Symptoms: The symptoms can be mild to severe, depending on the nature of the injury, and the pain is usually localized with the most common cause of muscular strain.
Treatment: For back pain due to sprain or strain, cold therapy followed by heat is indicated. Staying as active as possible within limits of pain is important to aid in recovery. Stretching, strengthening, and aerobic exercise, physiotherapy and massage therapy are appropriate treatments, as well as acupuncture. Spinal manipulation such as chiropractic or osteopathy are indicated where symptoms do not improve. Chronic low back pain is more commonly found in individuals who have suffered an injury requiring time off of work, those who fear that any movement will increase their pain, and those suffering from depression or anxiety. For chronic low back pain spinal manipulation has been shown to have an effect equal to other therapies. Therapeutic massage has been proven to be effective for chronic low back pain sufferers. For more information, or to book an appointment call 604-524-4446.
1). Wikipedia.org.
2). medicinenet.com.


text: Dutch artist Ted Noten exhibits in Maastricht 1 March – 19 August 2018 Museum aan het Vrijthof in Maastricht presents an exhibition of Dutch artist and designer Ted Noten. With the oeuvre-exhibition 'TED', the museum shows the versatility of the idiosyncratic artist. Bags, jewelry, 3D-printed objects, but also installations, projections and photography. The exhibition, during and around the international TEFAF art fair, takes place from 1 March to 19 August 2018. The exhibition 'TED' gives the public the opportunity to take a tour through the creative brain of artist Ted Noten. The visitor begins in a waiting room and ends in a recovery room. The various cabinets and period rooms, that are so characteristic of Museum aan het Vrijthof, lend themselves perfectly to show a different aspect of the artist at every turn. In addition, new and unknown work of the artist will also exhibited. Ted Noten (1956 Swalmen, Limburg) is one of the most idiosyncratic artists of the moment. His autonomous work has been extensively awarded and included in the collections of a large number of museums, among which the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Victoria and Albert Museum in London, Stedelijk Museum 's-Hertogenbosch and Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam. In 2012 he was proclaimed 'Artist of the Year' by Stichting Kunstweek. Worldwide his translucent acrylic bags – often made with materials from luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton and Prada, in which animals, jewels, cocaine and weapons are enclosed – have tempted collectors, confused authorities, inspired colleagues and challenged students. Beauty and violence, perfection and decay; these are recurring themes ever since he made the famous necklace in which a mouse wearing pearls was contained. With his work Ted Noten mixes street language with the strict marching order of the catwalk. He knows how to connect these within his oeuvre, revealing both the attraction and hypocrisy of the museum, fashion or bourgeois morality. As always, with his designs he raises questions about convention and habituation; about the obvious and the unusual. www.museumaanhetvrijthof.nl


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No Paul Newman or Doc Hudson in 'Cars 2' -- but watch for a tribute
Since Paul Newman died in 2008, "Cars" fans have wondered whether the actor would somehow make a posthumous voice appearance in the upcoming sequel, Nat King Cole-style.
John Lasseter, the Pixar chief creative officer and director of the movie, said that the studio debated incorporating the Doc Hudson character into the June 24 release but decided the best way to honor Newman would be to leave him out. "We have a lovely tribute to Paul in the movie," Lasseter told 24 Frames at the Oscars on Sunday. "But we didn't feel it would be right to include him or the character."
Lasseter didn't say how the film, which takes Lighting McQueen and Mater on an espionage adventure through the streets of Tokyo, would deal with the absence of Doc Hudson. Fans were particularly enamored with the character, a one-time champion car before a terrible accident ended its career. In his second life as a doctor, Hudson has become a respected town elder and guides a young Lightning, whom he sees as a little too close to his own hotshot younger self.
Previously, Larry the Cable Guy (who voices Mater) had acknowledged there may be some kind of tribute to Newman during the credits. Knowing Pixar's penchant for Easter eggs, we wouldn't be surprised if that tribute makes its way into the film too.
--Steven Zeitchik
Photo: Paul Newman's Doc Hudson and Owen Wilson's Lightning McQueen in "Cars." Credit: Pixar Entertainment
'Cars 2' tries to lap its predecessor despite shifting gears in genre
With 'Curious George,' Illumination looks to make more animation mischief
Is animation developing a success-quality gap?


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February 2, 2018 (Fort Langley, B.C.) – The Fraser Valley's first luxury condominium development is coming to Fort Langley with the launch of LILY TERRACE, a limited collection of 24 distinguished residences by Lanstone Homes. With the presentation centre set to open in just a few weeks and sales commencing in mid March, anticipation is building for what will be the first premium condominium offering in the region's most coveted neighbourhood.
"As second-generation home builders, we've been a part of Fort Langley's evolution into what many are calling "the Kerrisdale of the Fraser Valley" with its high end custom homes, boutique shops and trendy cafes," said Lanson Foster, Founder & President of Lanstone Homes. "LILY TERRACE will complement the community and appeal to a growing number of young professionals and downsizers with discerning tastes for a low maintenance, premium lifestyle in the heart of the region's most coveted neighbourhood."
Focused on premium residential living with a design aesthetic that blends modern luxury and classic heritage, LILY TERRACE is a curated collection of refined private residences located on the corner of Francis Avenue and Church Street in Fort Langley. Designed by Fort Langley-based, Site Lines Architecture with interior design by Sara Brown & Company, LILY TERRACE will honour the community's heritage while embracing contemporary design influences to become a cornerstone of Fort Langley's thriving heritage conservation area. Each LILY TERRACE home is designed to be unique and feature high design, exceptional quality materials and expert craftsmanship. Unit options will include walk up flats and loft style condos with custom 1 bedroom plus den, 2 bedroom and 2 bedroom plus den layouts ranging from 1,019 to 1,740 square feet. Homes will also feature premium design options and upgrades as part of LILY TERRACE's Heritage Collection or Refined Collection with standard luxury features that will include modern, gourmet kitchens with Sub-Zero and Bertazzoni appliances, open concept living and dining areas, spacious master bedrooms with walk in closets, designer bathrooms with heated porcelain floors, wide plank engineered hardwood floors, high ceilings, energy efficient fireplaces with marble wall features, built-in speaker systems and secured underground parking.
LILY TERRACE is just steps from Fort Langley's boutique shops, cafes, galleries, schools, parks and amenities, as well as the scenic riverside Fort-to-Fort trail. Known as "the birthplace of BC", Fort Langley has long been a popular tourist destination for its 1840s-era national historic site but it's also become a highly desirable residential neighbourhood. Over the past decade, Fort Langley has experienced a population increase resulting from several new residential developments, including Bedford Landing and Lanstone Homes' McBride Station. Even with the increased population, Fort Langley remains an exclusive community with a population of only 3,800 residents. It is also the Township of Langley's smallest community in terms of housing units at just 1,400 homes. 1,200 of those units are single-family homes with only about 200 apartments and condominiums.
The average detached home price in Fort Langley is now approximately 1.3 million dollars, which is almost double the average price for the rest of Langley. Municipal reports also state that Fort Langley also has the highest proportion of high-income households of any neighbourhood in the Township of Langley, with 19 per cent earning more than $150,000 a year.
"Buyers are willing to pay a premium to own a piece of Fort Langley because they value the kind of lifestyle the community has to offer," said Danielle Reed, VP Marketing, Frontline Real Estate Services. "With condos now being one of the fastest growing segments in the Fraser Valley, we're confident buyers will embrace Lily Terrace whether they're downsizers, young professionals or investors."
LILY TERRACE sales will begin mid-March with prices starting around the one million dollar mark. The LILY TERRACE Presentation Centre will be located at 9054 Glover Road and will be open by appointment only. Construction is expected to be completed by the spring of 2019. For more information, visit www.lilyterrace.ca
Project renderings, photos, interviews and site tours are available by request.
Lanstone Homes is owned and operated by Lanson Foster, a second-generation home-builder with two decades of experience in the construction industry. Since first stepping foot on a construction site as a young man, Lanson has worked on over one thousand residential projects across the Lower Mainland and developed a keen understanding of what it takes to make your dream home a reality. Past projects include McBride Station in Fort Langley, Zetter Place and Robertson Ranch Estates in Langley, and many custom homes throughout the Greater Vancouver area. www.lanstonehomes.com
Tanis Sullivan
Tanis Sullivan Communications
(604) 230-8008


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Our Acrylic Wall Sconces include:
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U-Channels are available in widths ranging from 3″ to 36″ with various projections to select from. Many are in compliance with ADA standards. All are available with and without a plastic back plate, back strip or return lip.
Available in many different sizes and designs, they are offered in a full-range of materials and finishes, including:
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Mr. Rochester and Mr. DarcyFebruary 25, 2011 at 3:44 PM | Posted in Books, Movies | 2 Comments
Tags: charlotte bronte, classic novels, jane eyre, literature, pride and prejudice
Imagine my excitement when I found out that there is an upcoming Hollywood movie based on one of my favorite classic novels, Jane Eyre. I love, love Jane Eyre! It's one of those books that has a personal impact in my life. Aside from Jane herself, Mr. Rochester is one of the most endearing characters in the book. He and Mr. Darcy (from Pride and Prejudice) are two of my favorite male characters in classic literature. And I think both of them are alike in some ways – aloof, wealthy, but who nevertheless fall for the strong-willed yet financially-challenged girl. But it's not the cliche love story that I love the most about Jane Eyre. It's the fact that the story has that air of mystery and intrigue in it. This was what initially attracted me to the book. Mr. Darcy is like that as well – mysterious and intriguing but eventually he'd win you over.
Perfect Equations and Beautiful ExperimentsFebruary 22, 2011 at 11:31 AM | Posted in Science | Leave a comment
Tags: equation, experiments, fully booked, the mind museum
Out of curiousity, I attended the Cafe Scientifique with Robert Crease last Saturday, February 19. I convinced my friend Jess to go with me, after which we were to have dinner together as previously planned. The talk was hosted by The Mind Museum, the Philippines' first world-class science museum, which is slated to open in December 2011.
Unfortunately we arrived quite late at Fully Booked in Bonifacio High Street, Taguig (where the public talk was going to be). But we still managed to catch the tail-end of the discussion. We witnessed a lively discussion among science geeks and questions from the audience were entertained and answered. Now my friend and I were not exactly Physics major nor did we ever excel in science as students so we stood out like a sore thumb, haha!
One After the OtherFebruary 14, 2011 at 11:33 AM | Posted in Books, Musings | Leave a comment
Tags: Books, reading, sylvia plath, umberto eco
Currently reading two books now – Sylvia Plath's Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams and Umberto Eco's The Island of the Day Before. I started reading Johnny Panic last month but it gradually bored me. Plath kept talking about the mundane (her domestic life, her childhood memories, etc.) and I have yet to like any of her stories. I eventually decided to put the book down unfinished and proceeded to read The Island of the Day Before. Now this I'm liking so far. Spent a few hours of my free time last weekend poring over it at the rooftop of my apartment building, where I found my new little corner of the earth. I enjoy hanging out there, especially during these humid days. I find myself spending more and more of my free time at home there just enjoying the cool breeze, gazing at the clouds and the city skyline, and reading a book.
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Hope! – Das Obama Musical (English: Hope! - The Obama Musical) is a German musical inspired by the personal life and career of U.S. President Barack Obama, from his time in Chicago, Illinois, until the 2008 U.S. presidential election.[1][2] The show premiered on January 17, 2010, at Frankfurt's Jahrhunderthalle, a 2,000-seat venue.[3][4] It is believed to be the first stage production portraying the life of a U.S. president while he is still serving in office.[1]
- ^ a b Connolly, Kate (January 17, 2010). "Obama das musical makes a song and dance of US election". The Guardian. Retrieved January 18, 2010.
- ^ Raz, Guy (January 17, 2010). "Yes You Can — See The New Obama Musical". All Things Considered. National Public Radio. Retrieved January 18, 2010.
- ^ Schwammenthal, Daniel (January 19, 2010). "Obama Mia!". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved January 18, 2010.
- ^ Tapper, Jake (January 18, 2010). "Ich Bin Ein Hope-Monger: Obama Musical Premieres in Germany". ABC News. Retrieved January 18, 2010.


text: Shyam and Tracey recently have choosen Bali as their wedding destination from 13 nov - 15 Nov 2017 , both of them on different religion . Groom shyam is Gujarati Hindu and Tracey is Catholic .Both of them respect both religion and therefore they have two different ceremony .Most of their guest stayed in sofitel nusa Dua and also wedding couple .They use 3 different place for their event . Henna a Jewel box sofitel nusa dua and welcome dinner at Presidential Suite garden ,Mandvo and Phiti ceremony taken place at Jewel box sofitel nusa dua,Indian wedding Ceremony at Klapa Pecatu.Catholic wedding at Maria Bunda segala Bangsa Church at Kampial Nusa dua followed with wedding reception dinner at Retreat Garden sofitel Nusa dua with a back up at Gambelan ball room


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The reason for the Saudi aggression against Yemen is to prevent a popular uprising from spilling over into the kingdom, writes Yuram Abdullah Weiler.
Who are the undercover beneficiaries of brutal Muslim-on-Muslim conflicts? Mehdi Ebrahim offers an answer.
Kaneez Fatima touches upon Pakistan's relations with Saudi Arabia and related developments regarding Yemen.
Seyed Mohammad Marandi gives his viewpoint on the issue of the Saudi-led aggression against Yemen and Iran nuclear talks.
Kevin Barrett writes of the Saudi-American-Zionist plot in the Arab world.
The Saudi aggression against Yemen is ushering in an 'Arab NATO.'


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Qantas Childcare Centre
Sydney, Australia | 2005
A children's gallery filled with light and natural materials.
Angela Ferguson was lead designer and client manager for this project prior to joining Futurespace. The briefing process involved the feasibility study of various sites, within the unusual constraint of being situated under a flight path. The final site was eventually chosen due to its large outdoor area, abundance of natural light, the spatial qualities of the interior and its availability. A range of consultants were co-coordinated during the project, including landscape architects and acoustic, traffic and services engineers.
Conceptually the theme was a global one – a notion of diversity which aligns with Qantas's core business – and was explored through the use of texture, color, spatial relationships and architectural detailing. Other important themes included the idea of the playrooms as gallery spaces, showcasing both the children and their artwork.
A high degree of flexibility was required within the centre in order to allow the Director to cater for various programming needs. Finishes and details throughout are durable and low maintenance and contribute to both an innovative and cost effective design solution.


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The Gloucester and Sharpeness Canal is 16 lock free miles long and Saul Junction is almost in the middle. The canal was built for ships up to 600 tonnes and is 3.7 metres deep. There are two immediate impressions. Numerous swing bridges but each has a bridge keeper to open it for you. There are large mooring bollards along the towpath side. However the bollards are located on the far side of the towpath? I doubt horses were used to pull 600 tonne ships so the towpath was probably used for canal maintenance.
It's easy to moor almost anywhere as there is plenty of water against the bank.
Another observation was the unique looking cottages located near the swing bridges. They were all a similar style with the "Roman" style columns at the front. It appears these might have been the bridge keepers cottages when the canal was a thriving commercial entity.
Saul Junction is where the 'new' Gloucester and Sharpeness canal bisected the existing Stroudwater Navigation. The latter has been abandoned but there are plans to fully restore it.
The Stroudwater Navigation joined the Thames & Severn Canal at Stroud. The two canals provided a link between Lechlade at the end of the Thames and the Severn estuary. These canals lost most of their trade when the Kennet & Avon Canal opened in 1810. However it continued to provide shareholders with a dividend until 1922 and was only abandoned in 1954. If the restoration is completed it would make an interesting large cruising ring avoiding the need to take a pilot between Sharpeness and Bristol.
You can see the route of the navigation in the following extract from Paul Balmer's Waterway Routes Map.
The water level of the Gloucester and Sharpeness Canal is four feet higher than the Stroudwater Navigation so a lock was built either side of the junction. CRT were in the final phase of replacing the lock gates on the lock leading down to the estuary.
The above photo was taken from the lower end of the lock and the canal actually terminates where I was standing. It did seem rather strange that CRT would spend so much money replacing four lock gates on a section of abandoned canal that is currently 70 feet long?
I walked the Stroudwater Navigation towpath going in the opposite direction (towards London). About 500 metres is in water and being used as linear moorings. This 'arm' also provides access to the rather large Saul Junction Marina.
The arm ends here…..
Obviously the bridge will have to be replaced if the restoration is to be successful.
Looking back down the arm to the junction
Saul Junction Marina.
The junction is an interesting mix of bridge keeper cottage and boatyard.
The boatyard was a bit of a concern as it had a galleon full of pirates moored against the wharf.
Notice the guns had been run out!
Somewhat of a relief to discover the pirates had returned from buccaneering and had converted the galleon into a café.


text: Gingrich Closed Tiffany Account Sorry, Callista By Tim Karan, Newser Staff Posted Jul 25, 2011 6:12 PM CDT 13 comments Newt Gingrich and wife Callista look at one another after a road sign with the White House address on it, during his 68th birthday party, Wednesday, June 22, 2011. (AP Photo/John Amis) View 1 more image (Newser) – Newt Gingrich's much-derided interest-free credit line at Tiffany & Co is no more, reports the Washington Post, citing personal finance records that were released today. In May, financial disclosure forms for his wife, Callista, indicated the family had a credit line between $250,000 and $500,000 with the jewelry company between 2005 and 2006, and the Post reported last month that a second line between $500,000 and $1 million was opened in 2010. The disclosure statement also revealed a promissory note of up to $25 million from the Gingrich Group LLC to Callista Gingrich's documentary production company. Check out the entire report here. (Read more Newt Gingrich stories.) View 1 more image My Take on This Story Report a story error Show results | 64% Annoying 28% Hilarious 6% Intriguing 0% Depressing 0% Brilliant 2% Scary


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Do you smoke weed using marijuana glass products or do you just smoke a blunt or joint that you rolled yourself? Some people go out of their way extensively searching for the best marijuana glass products and when it is found, you will find that they stuck to it for a while. They do not deviate, if it is not necessary. There are certain occasions where they might switch up; … [Read more...]
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If you want variations in the way you consume medical marijuana oil or hash oil, then a choice of glass pipes will give you a better smoking experience. This is especially true when you truly enjoy smoking without having to deal with the harshness in your lungs. Why would you stop with one glass pipe when you can have a variety? With that many options, many marijuana smokers … [Read more...]


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A number of years ago, when it was common to advertise tobacco products on television, there was one commercial I especially enjoyed. It was a cigar commercial for a brand of cigars called "White Owl" cigars. And at the end of the commercial, the camera zeroed in on one distinguished looking older gentleman holding a "White Owl" cigar while he made the final pitch.
Looking down with great affection at the White Owl cigar which he was rolling and caressing in his hand, he offered this memorable slogan. "We'll get you now or we'll get you later." (pause) "But sooner or later, we're gonna getcha."
Actually, I figure that's the same way it is with God. God is gonna get us now. Or maybe God will get us a little later. But sooner or later, in this world or in the next, God is gonna get us.
Nonetheless, there have always been a few people in the world who like to put God to the test. Who will take on a good challenge just for the sake of the challenge, no matter the odds. Who are so stubborn they don't want to admit the inevitable. Yes, there's always somebody who will lace up their running shoes and run away from God as fast as they can possibly go.
The prophet Jonah was one of those people. Jonah tested the limits. He was always up for a good challenge. Stubborn as a mule, Jonah had his own agenda and he wasn't particularly interested in what anyone else had to say.
But one day, Jonah met his match. One day, "the word of the Lord came to Jonah, son of Amittai, saying, 'go at once to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before me.'" God had something important for Jonah to do. God wanted Jonah to straighten the people of Nineveh out. Put them back on the straight and narrow. Whip them into shape and get them back in line. Because God was dismayed and more than a little fed up with the Ninevites' wickedness.
Now in fairness to Jonah it helps to understand more clearly what God was asking Jonah to do. For God to tell Jonah to go and cry out to the people in the middle of the streets of Nineveh would have been the equivalent of God throwing Jonah to the wolves. It would be like God appearing out of nowhere and telling one of us that we had to sit down and have a civil conversation with one of the leaders of ISIS. Or God telling some of us we had to go out and buy front row tickets for the first heavy metal concert that comes through the state of Connecticut this summer. Or maybe it would be like God telling us to sit we had to go to a forum and listen to various FIFA officials tell us about the importance of ethics and following the law and good sportsmanship.
It suffices to say that God wasn't asking Jonah to do something easy. God wanted Jonah to go into the heart of enemy territory and inform them in no uncertain terms the very things they did not want to hear. And Jonah wasn't too happy about it.
However, Jonah at least had enough sense to know that it wasn't a great idea to argue with God. So picture the conversation for a moment.
"Jonah, this is God…I want you to go up to Nineveh and make those people repent from their evil ways."
(Silence) "Okay God…I'll get on that right away." But Jonah had no intention of going north to Nineveh. What did Jonah do instead? He put on his running shoes and headed south to Tarshish. "Okay God, I'll go anywhere you want to go. Nineveh? Perfect. And then just like the Roadrunner speeding off from Wily Coyote. "Beep beep…and bvvvvvvt," Jonah went in the exact opposite direction.
God waited for Jonah to head to the north. Meanwhile Jonah was running full tilt to the south. And for a moment, it looked like Jonah was in good shape. He got on a boat, paid his fare, watched the crew lift the anchor, and sat back while the boat set sail for Tarshish.
Then we come to verse four in the first chapter of Jonah. And how does verse four begin? "But the Lord." But…the Lord. You have to take careful note in the Bible when you read those words at the beginning of a sentence. But the Lord… You see God had some other ideas. And God wasn't about to let Jonah get all the way to Tarshish.
"But the Lord." Where would some of us be in this life without those three words? How many times have we heard someone say, "I thought it was going to be the end for me, BUT THE LORD…? How many times have we said it ourselves? I thought I would never come out of the hospital and go back to my own house, BUT THE LORD… My life was heading down the wrong road and I was on my way over the edge of the cliff and into oblivion, BUT THE LORD… I never thought I'd stop drinking. I never thought I'd ever speak to my friend or my family member again. I never thought the x-rays would come back clear. I never thought the other car was going to swerve out of the way…BUT THE LORD…
God has all kinds of other ideas for us in our lives. No matter how stubborn we are. No matter how much we argue and protest. Even when we give up and give in. God is right there with a different plan in mind.
Jonah was sailing along with a crew of sailors on a calm, quiet sea. "But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and such a mighty storm came upon the sea that the ship threatened to break up." All at once the mariners began to panic. They tossed the luggage overboard. They screamed and yelled and pleaded for their own salvation. Each man cried out to their own God.
Then the captain went down below deck and found Jonah sleeping. Talk about a man in denial. "Call on your God and perhaps your God will spare us from death," the captain urged Jonah.
Working his way timidly toward the upper deck of the ship, Jonah found the sailors huddled together in fear. And then they cast lots to find out who was the cause of their impending doom. As fate would have it, the lot fell to Jonah.
"I worship the Lord," Jonah confessed, "the God of heaven who made the sea and the dry land." But Jonah's attempt to calm his shipmates fell upon deaf ears. In fact, the Scripture tells us that the sailors listened to Jonah and grew even more afraid. For they knew that Jonah was fleeing from the presence of the Lord.
You cannot run away from the Lord. Or maybe in the words of one of the heroes of an old action adventure TV show, "you can run, but you can't hide."
Sooner or later, God is gonna get us. We can spend all the time we want trying to deny that God is out there working in the world. We can avoid going to church. We can scoff at the stories in the Bible. We can look at the pain and suffering in the world and snicker skeptically wondering why God won't do something about it.
In truth, we can talk about God's demise. How the church is in a downward spiral. How religion is becoming less and less relevant in our society. How old fashioned morals and values are going down the tubes.
We can even lace up our running shoes and get going. Change our address. Take a new job, start a new life, close our eyes and ears. Travel to the ends of the earth. All the while heading in exactly the opposite direction God wants us to go.
There are a whole lot of people in the world who have been running away from God and hiding from God for a long time. Actually, there may even be a few people in this sanctuary this morning who are running away from God. And you decided to hide in a church on a Sunday during a worship service? Hmmmmm. Of all the places a person could run away and hide, daring God to find them, I hope a church sanctuary would be one of the first places God would look…
Jonah thought he had it made. But it didn't take long for God to find Jonah. And it wouldn't take long for God to redirect and reorient Jonah. All the way back north to Nineveh with Jonah kicking and screaming the whole way.
Running away from God. If God could find Jonah once upon a time, the truth is God can find anyone. Even you and me. Sooner or later…God is gonna get us. Amen.


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Hi Jean Luc,
thanks a lot for your new update! I will try this afternoon the new update and also a big thank you to Jacques for your work!!! Nice to see that some guys can help Jeehell in this case!
One question, what's are your plans with the Instructor Station App?
Looking forward to the test this afternoon and today evening online flight.


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Just before 2pm on Saturday, the sun burst through the clouds which had gathered over Dublin all morning, and an enormous cheer went up from the Rally for Life. Thousands of pro-life people, of all ages, set off through Dublin 's busy city centre in a colourful and lively pro-life march which saw another rise in numbers rallying against abortion.
"We had face-painting and balloons for the kids, music and banners and a really enthusiastic crowd coming together to protect human life, " said Eoghan of the Rally's organizing committee. "It was superb to see just how many people came out to support the right-to-life and to Keep Ireland Abortion-free. " Saturday's event was an All-Ireland Rally, organised by pro-life groups both North and South, including Youth Defence, the Life Institute and Precious Life.
Keeping Ireland abortion-free was the theme for the day, but the Rally organizers emphasized that threats to the right-to-life were now coming in myriad forms right across Ireland. "We're dealing with an attempt by the Department of Health in the north to introduce abortion on broad grounds by attempting to introduce new so-called abortion guidelines, " said Bernie Smyth of Precious Life, who organised busses to the Rally in Dublin.
Eoghan also pointed to the push for embryo research in UCC, the abortion case being sponsored by the Irish Family Planning Association before the European Court of Justice, the Health Service Executive 's recent comments regarding abortion and disabled children, as serious matters of concern. "The majority of people in this country are pro-life," he affirmed. "But we need to make sure our voices are heard, since together we are the voice for the voiceless. "
At the rally's conclusion at Dáil Éireann, the huge crowd cheered speakers, from Ireland, Scotland and the US, who urged them to be active on pro-life issues. Niamh U í Bhriain of the Life Institute told the crowd that they were sending an important message to politicians. "We will not falter and we will not fail, not while our children's lives depend on it. We will stand together, work together, and pray together and we will keep Ireland abortion-free, " she said to sustained applause.
L'Angelus – a popular Cajun Rock band – perform at the beginning of the Rally for Life and at the Celebrate Life event that evening, which was also be addressed by Norma McCorvey. Ms McCorvey, from Dallas, Texas was the Texas was the plaintiff in the Roe V Wade decision of the US Supreme Court, which legalized abortion in all 50 states. In 1995 she became a pro-life Christian. She then went on record to say she never had an abortion and is seeking to overturn her case that made abortion legal. Norma 's story has been called the "most dramatic conversion stories ever told in the history of the global abortion debate ".
Norma McCorvey of Dallas, Texas was the plaintiff in the Roe V Wade decision of the US Supreme Court, which legalized abortion in all 50 states. In 1995 she became a pro-life Christian, and went on the record to say that, in fact, she never had an abortion. She is now seeking to overturn her case that made abortion legal. Her testimony reveals the lengths the pro-abortion lobby will go to achieve their aims
Norma's life was turned upside down as a result of being used as the test case for Roe V Wade. She battled with alcohol and her conscience and found it incredibly difficult to break away from the destruction that is inextricably linked with the abortion industry: "As the plaintiff in the infamous Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade, my life was inextricably tied up with abortion. Though I had never had one, abortion was the sun around which my life orbited. I once told a reporter, This issue is the only thing I live for. I live, eat, breathe, think everything about abortion. "
Her life changed forever one day when she noticed a foetal development poster. The humanity of the unborn child dawned upon her and she then realised the true horror of the industry that she had been involved in. She said, "I felt crushed under the truth of this realization. I had to face up to the awful reality. Abortion wasn 't about 'products of conception'. It was about children being killed in their mothers' wombs. All those years I was wrong. Signing that affidavit, I was wrong. Working in an abortion clinic, I was wrong. No more of this first trimester, second trimester, third trimester stuff. Abortion-at any point-was wrong. It was so clear. Painfully clear. " Ever since, Norma has worked tirelessly with the pro-life group Operation Rescue in the US and has founded her own


text: Rustic, Italian-Inspired Paso Robles Banquet Spaces Designed by Proprietor Douglas Ayres to celebrate "la dolce vita" and to bring joy to the lives of everyone who walks through its doors, the Allegretto is an inviting, European-inspired backdrop for functions that elevate the senses. Families, guests, professionals, and planners find themselves inspired by our catering team's focus on locally sourced, sustainable and organic ingredients, fusing the wine culture of the region with the freshest flavors of the California Central Coast. Mediterranean-inspired cuisine pairs with decor that calls to mind a rustic, Italian villa, boasting global and spiritual accents. Our own Cello restaurant and Murano Dining Room seat dozens of your closest guests, indoors and out, while our courtyard provides room for hundreds to celebrate.


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Simon Wolfe of Capsule Computers writes:
"There seems to be an appeal to translating a visual novel into an anime, after all a plot already exists, art style is already established, and the characters have already been created. Well, that last one may not be true all the time, as visual novels will sometimes utilize a bland or flat main character for its audience to displace their own personalities into. Which isn't really how that sort of thing is done with an anime. Hiiro no Hakera is based on the visual novel series of the same(ish) name on the PS2, PSP, and DS, with this background does it succeed as an anime?"
Actually saw this reverse harem. It seems like all of them copy that one i saw some years ago i cant remember the name of it though.


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In China, qualifications and degrees are two separate types of credentials represented by separate documents – Qualification Certificate and Degree Certificate respectively. Qualification, also named as diploma or graduation certificate, is a state-recognition of the holder's education experience.
We are a non-profit organization dedicated to helping international students and professionals achieve their educational and professional goals in the United States and Canada. Founded in 1974, we evaluate and advocate for the recognition of international education qualifications.
My eQuals is the official platform for Australian and New Zealand Universities to issue digital versions of certificates, transcripts and other academic documents. My eQuals works with CHESICC to allow Universities in Australia and New Zealand to receive academic qualifications from Chinese applicants in a secure digital format
A delegation of CHESICC attended the 2017 Groningen Declaration Network Annual Meeting in Melbourne, Australia from 26 to 28 April under the theme Extending Engagement.
Recently, CHSI found that some individuals illegally use CHSI Help Desk (firstname.lastname@example.com) to send emails with subject of "高薪工作升职提拔晋升快速全搞定" and disseminate false information about "issuing qualification and degree certificates".
Mr. Ghaleeb Jeppie, Chief Director for International Relations of the Department of Higher Education and Training of South Africa, accompanied by delegates from South Africa Qualifications Authority (SAQA), Engineering Council of South Africa, and Embassy of South Africa in China, paid a visit to CHESICC on 27 June. Dr. Lei Chaozi, Director-General of CHESICC, and Mr. Ning Xiaohua, Deputy Director-General warmly welcome the South African education delegation.
Established in 1999, Digitary enables Higher Education Institutions to certify, deliver, and authenticate academic credentials online in a secure digital format that fully respects data protection principles for both institutions and for the individual. Academic achievement records such as transcripts, European Diploma Supplements, HEARs, and Degree Certificates are all supported.
Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. ECE?, a charter member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, is a non-profit public service organization with thirty-five years of experience of evaluating educational qualifications gained outside of the United States.
DUO (Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs) is the Dutch government's executive agency for education. DUO finances and informs participants in education and educational institutions, and organizes exams.
Parchment Inc. is a trusted company which collects and disseminates credentials of learners to educators, associations and employers by securely sending and receiving education credentials online in simple and insightful ways. The Parchment platform has helped millions of people and thousands of schools and universities to exchange more than 12 million transcripts and other credentials globally.
CHESICC participated in International Forum on Service for Self-funded Study Abroad on CACIE 2014 and made a presentation about "electronic service for China credentials verification" on Oct. 25th in Beijing.
A delegation of CHESICC attended the 26th Annual EAIE Conference in Prague, Czech Republic, September 16-19, 2014.
A delegation of CHESICC, headed by Cheng Weixing, Director in Information Division, participated in the 2014 CollegeNET User Conference from July20 to 21, 2014 in Portland, Oregon, USA. During the conference, Cheng gave a presentation in a China-themed session.
AACRAO International Education Services (IES) provides evaluations of academic credentials from all countries of the world. Its extensive network enables it to accurately research any educational credential and produce in-depth reports.
China's Ministry of Education (MOE) made a STATEMENT on its website on May 14th, about the importance and authoritativeness of qualification verification from CHESICC.
China is implementing dual-credential system of educational qualification and degree.
A delegation of CHESICC, headed by Mr. Ning Xiaohua, Deputy Director-General, participated in the Groningen Declaration Third Annual Meeting from April 7 to 9, 2014 in Washington D.C. USA.
Four representatives of CHESICC exhibited on AACRAO's 100th annual meeting in Denver, U.S. from March 30 to April 2, 2014.
The National Student Clearinghouse (a nonprofit formed in 1993) is the trusted source for and leading provider of higher education verifications and electronic education record exchanges, handling more than 700 million verification requests and 250 million education record exchanges annually.
CollegeNET, Inc. is a leading developer of web-based systems for higher education and nonprofit organizations, serving more than 1300 clients worldwide. The company helps improve efficiencies, reduce paper consumption and cut costs by providing advanced tools for managing resources, streamlining information, and better serving students and applicants.
Starting from October 2011, CHESICC began to carry out China College Student Satisfaction Survey to investigate students' overall satisfaction, campus environment, campus life, educational quality, campus setting, and employment satisfaction, etc.
Digitalization of China higher education student information started in the early 1990s. With the rapid popularization of PC, universities developed student information management software, but only for off-line system. In the late 90s, with the development of internet, networking of applied system became a trend. E.g. MOE made an experimental online college admission test in Tianjin in 1999, and then expanded to nationwide.
Qualifications and Degrees: A Simplified Outline
In China higher education qualification certificate (including Zhuanke, undergraduate, master, and doctoral levels) registration, there is a whole-process dynamic management, beginning with admission records, going with freshmen student record registration, then with in-school student annual registration, and finally leading to qualification registration, in which each step should be based on the prior one.
China Education Expo 2013 opens in Beijing yesterday. As the guest country of honor, Spain has long been inferior to other European countries, such as UK, France and Germany, in appealing to international students.
In China, there are 40 million records for students in school, and all higher education institutions register students on CHESICC's platform. Study record and qualification verification are provided in different forms, including personal review, individual verification, member verification, batch verification, and web service or XML.
Institutes under Ministry of Education of China have verified over 56,000 Higher-education Qualification Certificates in 2012, in which fake certificates were 3%.
Chinese Graduate Student Entrance Examination is a unified concept of some examinations organized by education departments or admissions institutions to select graduate students, which is the necessary examination for being a graduate in China (except a small number of exam-free recommendation students), just like taking the College Entrance Examination to enter a university.
AACRAO 99th Annual Meeting was held in April 14-17, San Francisco. There were experts of more than 2,400 high schools and related institutions from 36 countries taking part in this annual meeting. China Higher Education Student Information and Career Center (CHESICC) was invited. The list of staff going for this visit includes: ManKaijie(Director of verification Department of CHESICC) and ChengWeixing (Director of imformation Department of CHESICC)
How to apply for universities easily? How to identify true or false qualifications? How to define the authenticity of overseas qualifications obtained by students? These headaches, for students, colleges and enterprises, are expected to be solved by cooperation and communication through global digital student data depositories. Digitized storage of student information has become a world trend.


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Sheared Fire Hydrant Spews Water
(Photos and video by John Palminteri / KEYT)
By Roger the Scanner Guy
Hit and run on a fire hydrant at La Cadena on the East Side, water is shooting a hundred feet in the air.
7 Comments
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Not necessarily, it goes into storm drains and then into the ocean. The desal plant then pumps ocean water back into the system after it's gone through reverse osmosis purification. Most likely a drunk idiot who will get caught with damage from his or her vehicle


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HAPPY NEW YEAR, ROOMIES!!! Wow can you believe it's 2015?? I have a feeling it's going to be an incredible year, with loads of luck at Robin Hood Bingo of course.
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Take your festival experience to the next level, and treat yourself to some unique perks! Skip the lines with expedited festival entry, complimentary mobile charging, and air-conditioned restrooms. Get the best view of the show at the Queen's Domain VIP viewing deck, or refresh and rehydrate in our relaxation areas. And enjoy a selection of gourmet food trucks and a variety of drink options at our cash bars. All this and more await you with the Beyond Wonderland VIP Experience!
To enter VIP areas, you must be 18+ and present a valid photo ID. Beware of scalpers and scammers! See our Ticketing FAQ for more information.
- VIP viewing deck at Queen's Domain
- Areas with picnic tables to relax, refresh and rehydrate
- Dedicated VIP gourmet food trucks
- Dedicated VIP cash bars featuring beer, cocktails, water, and non-alcoholic beverages
- Interactive photo booth with props
- Beyond info booth: concierge available to answer all questions about your VIP experience
- Beyond Unity Wall: share your message of love on our giant chalk wall
- Dedicated VIP entrance for express entry into the show
- Air-conditioned VIP bathrooms
- Dedicated cell phone charging stations


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Pumpkin or white gourd is very good for the heart, destroys the excessive humors of bile and phlegm in the body, very nourishing, semen builder and nourishment to the pregnant woman during their pregnancies and also clears away the constipation during that time.Uses
- It is a very common vegetable used very extensively in our diet. It is used as "fruits" during fastings.
- Drinking the juice of pumpkin extracted in the night but taken in the morning on empty stomach kills all the worms.
- Eating the "kheer" of pumpkin pulp develops the semen, it is also good for a pregnant woman. It makes the heart strong.
- Pumpkin prevents constipation and is "cool in nature effect.
- Juice extracted from pumpkin and mixed some honey and sugar in it has very cooling medicinal properties and it is beneficial in cooling down the heat of the body, inflammation in the throat, impurities of the blood, boils, plethora, increase in temperature of the blood, blood coming out from the throat etc.
- The crushed pulp of pumpkin wrapped in a piece of cloth, if tied on the forehead, brings the temperature normal, increased because of fever.
- The juice extracted from the leaves of the pumpkin if applied on the affected part of the piles is beneficial.
But one word of caution…….
Please remember to wash your hands thoroughly after cutting pooshnikaai as its juice can whiten the hairs easily..
|250 g
|White pumpkin diced
|1 cup
|Toovar dal
|Tomato (chopped)
|Green chilli (slit open)
|Curry leaves ( little)
|1 Lemon Sz
|Tamarind (lemon size)
|Salt as per taste
|½ tsp
|2½ tsp
|Sambar powder
|2 stks
|Coriander (finely chopped)
|2 tsp
|Rice flour
|1 tsp
|Mustard seeds
|½ tsp
|Methi seeds
|2 tsp
Soak Dal for 2-3 hours and pressure cook upto 2 whistles. Take out, add rice flour and mash using MATHU. Keep aside.
In a pan, take oil, add mustard seeds. After they crackle, add methi seeds, cut pooshnikaai, tomato, curry leaves, green chilli and saute for 2 minutes.
Add tamarind pulp, salt, haldi, sambar powder, hing and mix well. Cook till raw smell of sambar powder goes and in semi thick state.
Add mashed dal and mix well. Give it one boil. Switch off gas and garnish with coriander leaves. Serve hot with plain rice and curry/poriyal of your choice.


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Alice Gold
BBC Album Review
An album that transcends any accepted conventions for female singer-songwriters.
As 28-year-old Londoner Alice Gold unveils her debut album, she finds herself lumped with two tags: the obligatory 'female singer-songwriter', and the textbook 'new face'. And while there's little to contest the former, the tales of loss, guts and adventure she imparts prove she's no wet-behind-the-ears newcomer.
Seven Rainbows is bookended by futuristic folk-pop – opener Seasons Change is a breezy, modest number, while The End of the World's pensive blues brings proceedings to a close. But it's everything in-between where Gold really means business.
While her aptitude for a gentle, swaying melody would lend itself to a whole album of unassuming acoustica, there's nothing resembling such an easy ride here. Jittery beats, abrasive licks and clandestine electro-squelches shift the tone pretty quickly; to where it's shifted exactly is hard to determine, but that's all part of the fun. The same quandary extends to Gold's voice, a superbly versatile, venom-flecked instrument which hovers over the label of dulcet for mere seconds, before disclosing a resolute, punchy quality.
Wisely, producer Dan Carey (Franz Ferdinand, Sia, Miles Kane) has allowed the unrestrained, commanding vocals to take the lead, building his vigorous twangs around Gold to great effect, best demonstrated on the kooky shuffle of Orbiter and the unruly, confrontational Fairweather Friend.
Seven Rainbows stubbornly insists on beating a path exclusively its own, and while its key pleasures come in the form of its off-kilter darkness, those same aspects may scare off a broader audience. Who that audience is raises another question – Gold may be turning heads at Radio 2, but it's a wonder Radio 1 haven't yet latched on to the noise-making, attitude-laden passion displayed here.
Not that demographics matter a great deal. Given even the smallest opportunity to shine, Seven Rainbows will take care of itself nicely. Not only does it offer a bejewelled porthole into the flair of Alice Gold, but it's an album that transcends any accepted conventions of 'female singer-songwriter', and lays the foundations for a rock star.
Al Fox
Read the online version here.
Download 'Seven Rainbows' on iTunes.
'Wondrous Place' Out Now!
Hey everyone
As some of you may have heard my version of 'Wondrous Place' by Billy Fury has been used on the new Carling advert, which has been blasting the tv the past week! And if you've been digging it, you can download my version on iTunes now!
Did you know Billy Fury had 24 hits in the 60's?! This song is definitely my favourite track and I am thrilled that the AG version has been going down so well. I recorded an acoustic version too which I will be able to show you very soon.
If you haven't seen the video yet, you can take a look below. Would love to know what you think!
Big love AG x