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Launched in 2009 by ten Governors from Brazil, Indonesia, and the U.S., the Governors' Climate and Forests Task Force (GCF) was designed to advance jurisdiction-wide approaches to Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+) and low emissions development. Since 2009, the GCF has more than tripled its membership (from 10 to 35) and expanded its reach to include jurisdictions from nine countries (Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Spain, and the United States).
One-fourth of the world's tropical forests are in GCF states and provinces, including more than three-fourths of Brazil's and Peru's and more than half of Indonesia's.
The GCF Annual Meeting, hosted by the 2017 GCF Chair, East Kalimantan, is a unique opportunity to advance commitments GCF member states and provinces have made to build robust jurisdictional programs to protect forests and climate while enhancing livelihoods. In particular, GCF members are looking to achieve commitments made in the Rio Branco Declaration signed at the 2014 GCF Annual Meeting, in which GCF members agreed to reduce deforestation 80% by 2020, contingent upon the receipt of international financing. A provisional agenda with more details will be available in the resources tab.
The Annual Meeting is free to attend and open to all GCF stakeholders. Attendees must register in advance and are responsible for their travel expenses (transportation, hotel and meals). Interpretation will be provided throughout the meeting for GCF member languages: English, Indonesian, Portuguese and Spanish.
The Balikpapan Statement is an initiative designed to find practical solutions for reducing tropical deforestation. It is built on the understanding that national governments and many companies have made commitments to both reduce deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions, which they too have struggled to implement. Realizing these commitments requires that these diverse groups come together and agree on strategies which are locally relevant and mutually beneficial.
The Balikpapan Statement is a multi-phase process, beginning with the GCF meeting in Balikpapan, to find real and practical ways for reducing deforestation and fighting climate change. The Balikpapan Statement has three main pillars: (1) sustainable commodities; (2) financing; and (3) indigenous communities. The Statement is expected to give momentum to building inclusive green economies in the world's tropics, and is supported by all 35 Governors of the GCF representing 8 countries and over a third of the world's remaining tropical forests.
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Website Design
Perfect Options for the Proper Internet marketing Results
Access to the Internet has become quite affordable over the years, thanks to technological progress in the field of information technology infrastructure. As a result, home users and micro-enterprises more use the services of the global network in everyday life.
At the same time, there are people who benefit greatly from using websites to promote their services and products globally, as well as people who regretted investing in Internet technologies. Many Internet users do not know that having a website is not enough for a successful business. This article provides marketing tips for the Internet. Pay attention to these unusual and effective business strategies.
To find your website a search engine, it is vital that you implement its optimization. You can use a lot of online services, such as AddMe . These programs will add the site to the first lines of search engines such as Google, Yahoo or Ask.
This can be achieved by using keywords when creating site content. In search of optimal keywords you can help services available from Google. Perhaps you are interested in the article 10 of the most visited websites in the world. At the good at interent marketing you will be having the perfect deals now.
After the site began to work and deserved the attention of visitors to the network, do not stop there. To be successful in the Internet business, you must constantly respond to the changing needs of customers and adjust the content of the site. Accommodation on the site of interesting articles for reading will constantly attract the attention of visitors.
According to experts, the content of the website should be changed weekly in order to remain relevant.
This may seem a bit confusing for some people, especially for newcomers to the online business. Before deciding which link to add, it is important to conduct a preliminary study to find the most appropriate ones. For example, Back SEO offers useful information about adding a link to your site.
The last but not the least important rule is the use of blog networks. This service can allow you to promote products and services on the Internet. Blogs exist for many years. They have gained a certain popularity as sources for news, as well as entertainment. Pay attention to the 6 advantages of blogging .
In any online business, business relationships are everything. The above strategies were developed to allow you to establish yourself in the online market, receiving relevant information for solving business problems.
Four Things That Boost Branding Your Business
There are over thirty million small business all looking to get a piece of the action. They might not all be in your field of work, but enough of them are to give you a lot of competition. So how do you ensure that your brand stands out in this tug of everyone clamouring for attention? Building ones identity is an overcrowded field might sound difficult, but with the following tips is very possible.
Be original
One of the biggest mistakes marketers do is getting names that are too common or will obviously be used by an uncreative competitor too. Make originally your ace in the pack. Go for something no one else has thought of or is aiming for. The whole point is for you to stand out rather than blend in to the background with the rest. Take Kanida Chey for example, hes made his name his brand. His name is a pretty unique and so rare that a google search would bring him at the top of the list. So go for the one thing in your business and others can't duplicate, and when they do it will be a total phony.
Be consistent
Clearly define and serve what your brand is supposed to provide. Building a strong brand realises on how reliable your quality and performance is each time a customer is served. Being consistent with your brand standards whether online or offline affects how people respond to you. If you choose to have social media platforms then ensure theres always a time set aside for you to reply to questions and post new services. Making people familiar with your brand name by constantly giving feedback ultimately sets you apart from the rest. It adds a personalised touch to your business.
Understanding Your Target Audience
Your business obviously has a certain group of people in mind which it aims to serve. So how well do you know and understand this target audience? How well do you understand their needs and wants? Can you speak their language without it sounding forced? These are among the factors you need to consider when dealing with your customers. Creating a message that is relevant and can easily be understood by your target audience is an opportune way to get them to connect with you. You need to be flexible and flow with their change of communication and demographic. This involves a lot of research and interaction with your audience to understand them better and give them what they need.
Its a pretty simple way to stand out from your competition. Give better value of goods or services you're offering compared to your competition. If offering a smaller price on the same goods and services others are offering eats into your profit then there are other ways to boost your value. You could start by getting a stronger and more personalised customer service system. People like being treated a certain way when they get services, get yourself a professional team of workers who will make the customer feel welcome. You can also offer better information guides, more appealing office or store ambience and many more. Just tap in to your creativity and see how much better you can make the experience for the customer that will make them want to come back for more.
Wrap up
Branding relies heavily on how creative and out of the box you can get. Once you get your brand going, people will expect the same brand standards that you started with. So remaining consistent with your services will keep them coming in for more. Don't forget to constantly manage your online traffic too. A lot of people prefer looking you up online before they actually come to your store or office.
What Are The Advantages Of Digital Marketing
In today's internet world, there is no doubt that a large chunk of buying and selling and exchange of information takes place on the internet. Hence it is quite likely that most of who are into online selling would like to have a website which attracts as much traffic as it possibly can. However wishing traffic to your website is one thing and making it happen on the ground is a completely different ball game. Towards this objective you need to have a good campaign on the internet which will make this possible. Unlike the brick and mortar world you cannot afford to spend thousands of dollars on print, electronic and outdoor advertisements. Hence, in this article we will be looking at specific internet based advertising, marketing and other tools which are becoming extremely critical for survival in a highly competitive scenario.
What Is Digital Marketing
We will be spending some time understanding about the basic concepts of digital marketing which is becoming so very vital and important. Put in plain and simple words, when we talk about digital marketing we are referring to a number of activities on the internet which will help more traffic coming to your website. It will also help you in reaching information about your products and services to potential customers without having to spend thousands of dollars as is the case with conventional forms of brick and mortar advertising. However, this would call for hiring the best digital marketing Singapore professionals and this is no easy job considering that there are many options available.
How Does Digital Marketing Differ
When we talk about a comprehensive digital marketing approach we are referring to something that includes all form of internet based advertising and marketing. We talk about social media marketing, search engine optimization, link building exercises and much more. Hence it is all encompassing and is about hiring somebody who it good at digital marketing. It does take care of all methods by which customers can be made to visit your website or you could reach out to customers in an online environment. It also includes well thought out and planned email campaign amongst other things.
However, you must as a customer go through your due diligence and ensure that you choose the right digital marketing experts. You must ensure that they have the required experience and expertise and are able to offer both readymade and customized solutions keeping in mind specific needs and requirements. This calls for understanding some bit of social media marketing which is an important part of the overall gamut of digital marketing and this is what a good digital marketing Singapore specialist is all about.

subset: commoncrawl


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We have added Sahara Smoke hookahs, new accessories, new Starbuzz flavors, and new Fantasia flavors. Come check us out at http://www.texashookah.com.
Sahara Smoke hookahs:
Catalyst Hookah
Subzero Hookah
Candy Stripe Hookah
Twisted Sublime Hookah
Genie Hookahs
Fantasia new flavor - Black Martini
Starbuzz Shisha new flavors - Flower Power and Fuzzy Lemonade
Sunday, March 14, 2010
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Member Interview
Thank you for being a member of the Victory Circles. We are launching a new project in spring 2018 where we feature the members of the Victory Circles on our website. We want to the world to see all that you do!
Your interview questions are below and email me if you have any further questions or comments: email@example.com


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1/27/19 - upcoming lobby trip!
On March 14th, 2019, the anniversary of the national student walkout, Bay Area Student Activists (BAStA) will be heading up to Sacramento again to lobby for common sense gun reform. We want to remind the newly elected officials that this is a fight students still care about, and it is far from over. Please reach out to us with any questions at email@example.com. We would love for you to join us, if you are at all interested please fill out this form!
1/10/19 - Women's March Contingency
Join various student activists at the Oakland Women's March on Saturday, January 19th! We will be meeting at 10:30am by the intersection of Oak Street and Lake Merritt Blvd. We will then march with all the other contingencies to Frank Ogawa Plaza (near Oakland City Hall). Get your signs ready!
BAStA is excited to announce our next major event! We are holding a voter information forum on October 21st from 1-4 at the Berkeley Community Theater. This event will consist of tables representing various political and activism related organizations from across the Bay, so attendees can see the various opportunities available for them to participate in. We will then have candidates for city council, mayor and more in Berkeley and Oakland, who will speak on panels to educate young and old voters on their stances. We hope you'll be able to make it! Parents bring your 18 year olds, 18 year olds bring your parents! Let's get voters informed and to the polls! Register to attend here: tinyurl.com/bastavotingforum See you on the 21st!
6/26/18 - Mental health
With gun violence on the rise, and 2,737 kids dying each year from gun violence (Bradycampaign.org), teens and others are having to deal with the grief and trauma these events bring. Unfortunately, some individuals turn to drugs and alcohol to cope with these feelings. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, PTSD, or just need more information on how to improve mental health amidst these scary and confusing times, use the resources provided below:
5/25/18 -
Today, a number of gun control bills that BAStA supports passed a major hurdle in the California Legislature by getting out of the Appropriations Committees: AB-2222, AB-2382, and AB-3129 in the Assembly; SB-1100, SB-1200, SB-1281, and SB-1421 in the Senate. See our legislation page for more information on these important bills!
5/5/18 - Basta takes prom
Off-duty for the night but back to planning for upcoming events by Sunday!


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Sony has decided to step up its efforts to better compete with the likes of Apple, Samsung, and HTC in the smartphone market by taking full control of its own mobile hardware division.
The Sony Ericsson partnership has now become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony who has bought out Ericsson's 50% share for $1.45 billion. In so doing, Sony believe that it will be able to be more competitive, produce new hardware faster, and allow phones to "seamlessly connect" with other product categories e.g. laptops, tablets, and TVs.
Sony Ericsson was created 10 years ago on October 1st, 2001 and saw a lot of success before the advent of the smartphone. More recently the handsets being produced haven't been standout products when compared to the likes of the iPhone and more recent Android devices offered by Sony's competitors.
The buyout not only sees Sony take control of Sony Ericsson, but also includes a broad IP cross-licensing agreement with Ericsson including taking ownership of "five essential patent families."
Although this could be viewed as a split between the two companies, it seems anything but. Ericsson will now focus on the global wireless market, but has also setup a wireless connectivity initiative with Sony. The aim is to make it simple to connect different devices across multiple platforms.
The buyout is expected to be completed by the end of January next year. For consumers, it will be interesting to see how Sony now pushes ahead trying to grow its market share in the Android smartphone space. You also have to wonder how Sony will choose to use those mobile patents it now owns.
Read more at Ericsson, via The New York Times


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State lawmakers are taking steps to toughen laws on human trafficking to not only help those trapped in the cycle but to prevent others from becoming victims.
In what is called the slave trade of the 21st century, tens of thousands of people have fallen victim to the horrific act which generates $30 billion per year on the black market.
State Rep. Nathan Tate, R-St. Clair, said he was alerted to this growing epidemic after receiving information at his office in Jefferson City and plans to begin working with other lawmakers to propose legislation to end the practices.
"We can write all the laws we want, but it's not going to stop until we catch the people doing this," Tate said. "The St. Louis metro region is one of the top 20 areas in the country for human trafficking."
Tate said many of those who become involved in rings sometimes join willingly because of promises made by their eventual captors.
"They are drawn in because they want to be a part of a group," Tate said. "In the end, all of their personal identification is erased and they can't get out."
One of the most chilling aspects of human trafficking involves children.
Tate said the old terrors of kidnapping ending in the child's death have been magnified with the prospect of human trafficking.
"These children are sold into the industry, where they are tortured daily," Tate said.
Tate has reached out to a couple of groups to gather information on human trafficking including Thorn: Digital Defenders of Children, which builds software to fight human trafficking.
The organization was founded by actor Ashton Kutcher with his ex-wife Demi Moore in 2009.
In many cases, the victims are moved all over the country using major traffic corridors like Interstate 44 that runs through the heart of Franklin County.
"We know it is alive and well in the U.S but we don't see much here," said Sheriff Steve Pelton.
He added that deputies are trained to look for clues during a traffic stop, particularly along I-44.
"We try to train and teach them to dig a little deeper," Pelton said.
Deputies have come across instances when illegal aliens are traveling along I-44 to be used for cheap labor. The illegal immigrants sometimes are taken advantage of because they don't have any other options for money.
Capt. Chuck Subke has taken training with the U.S. Marshal's office to recognize signs of trafficking.
Clues as subtle as fast food containers, or candy bar wrappers, on the floorboard of a car could indicate that the driver is in a hurry to get somewhere and is not making long stops.
According to Subke, the Missouri State Highway Patrol is training troopers in what to look for on interstates.
"In Missouri there is more emphasis in training troopers, deputies and municipalities along the interstates to teach them what to look for," Subke added.
Truck stops can sometimes be a hot spot for trafficking.
"Truckers sometimes are transporting people," Subke said. "It is not prevalent but every now and then we get a call."
The most common type of trafficking in Missouri is conducted in large cities during large events, and sporting events.
Subke explained there are advertisements on websites like Craisglist.com or backpage.com featuring women from out of the area who are part of a trafficking ring. The ads are more common prior to major events.
Another form of trafficking targets illegal immigrants.
By Monte Miller | Missourian
Assistant Managing Editor Gregg Jones contributed to this article.


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DAVIS (CBS13) – UC Davis police are continuing their investigation into an arson attempt at a frat house on Sunday night.
Police say someone tried to blow up a Kappa Sigma Fraternity house at 642 Adams Street at around 1 a.m. by turning on gas burners on the kitchen stove and then trying to light a fire in the bathroom.
Students say they're glad police contacted them about the incident.
"It makes me feel secure knowing that the campus I go to will let me know if something is going on – will let me know that something is going on in the community, and if it's something that I need a heads-up for," said Inder Grewal, a UC Davis student.
"I think it's up to the students that go here to stop doing these things and get their things together," said Dylan Fakhimi, a UC Davis student.
About 40 people gathered at the home Sunday evening for a haunted house. Police are questioning those potential witnesses and warning students to be on the lookout for any suspicious activity.
Police are still following up on leads and are processing evidence found at the home.
There isn't a motive yet, but police say if it turns out to be a prank of any sort, that they would still consider criminal charges.
Related articles
- Police: Someone Attempted To Blow Up Davis Fraternity House
- 'Pepper-Spray Cop' Former UC Davis Officer Pike Awarded Nearly $40,000 In Comp Claim
- Sikh UC Davis Student Not Allowed On Amtrak Bus Because Of Ceremonial Knife
- UC Davis Hospice Taking Over Cancer Patients Care After Hospital Refuses To Come


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Tuesday, November 29, 2011
5th Uganda Barista Championship
Barista Jonathan Ddumba presents to Head Judge Clare and sensory judges Miriam, Richard, Evelyn and Emma.
A few weeks ago, I received a call from David Roche of the Coffee Quality Institute. He was calling to ask me if I would be willing to go to Kampala again to be the head judge and trainer for their barista championship. He said they had been asking for me personally. An honor.
Not too long later, I found myself boarding yet another trans-Atlantic and trans-African flight to Uganda where we would be holding two days of barista workshops, one day of judges training and then three days of competition.
Surrounded by competitors for a "photo op."
Last year, I thought it was a bit odd to have a barista training literally hours before the competition. I mean, how much could the competitors digest, make changes and (perhaps) improve right before the championship. But I was tasked to do a job and I did what I could and shared as much information as possible on how to compete, methods of flow and even ways to improve your scores.
While I was at first a bit skeptical, I'm now a fan of. One of the greatest problems in barista competitions is the disconnect between competitor and judge. One person within the USBC once remarked that the WBC Rules and Regulations are the only training manual you would need, but the interpretation of those rules can vary wildly from judge to judge and competition to competition. Add to that the WBC's reluctance, or outright refusal, to provide materials and information to illuminate these areas and you've got a situation where only a small percentage of competitors have the ability to truly be competitive.
Joseph Kyeyune rocks it to the Finals.
Of course, the pundits will argue that it's a "level" playing field and that one doesn't need to have money to win. These are also the same people who never comment that those who win have also spent time training with the likes of World Barista Champion Fritz Storm - whose rates are in the thousands. So much for the average competitor...
Which is what the majority of the competing world is comprised of: average competitors trying to learn finer points of our craft and doing a better job in the world. Everyone wants to do well and win a trip to Vienna, but not everyone has the resources available to them. And that's what the barista workshops are designed to do: bring the information to the competitors before the competition when they will have some time to perhaps make changes and incorporate them into their performances.
Daphne awaiting lunch.
And that's what I see here in Kampala. Lots of passion. Lots of interest and the desire to do well and improve. So, after two days of instruction, we're off to the races.
The competition itself went very smoothly. With a resident WBC Certified Judge, the duties of Head Judge were split between myself and Clare - relieving me of the intensity that comes from Head Judging 26 competitors non-stop.
As with any competition, we want to judge the competitors on the same level at the rest of the world. Meaning that a score of "5" is equivalent to a "5" elsewhere in the world. What we don't want is a "5" in Uganda to mean a "3" at the World Championship. We want a realistic evaluation according to world standards, which is a difficult proposition when you're trying to wrangle local judges who've never seen competition before (or maybe never outside of their country).
In my world, there's a bit of pushing, prodding and even outright challenge to judges' evaluations. Scores go up, scores go down, but always with lots of information, discussion and detail as to why. The hardest part is getting the judges to write enough information on their sheets to be helpful to the competitor later.
Finalists Emma Katongole, defending champion Mark Okuta, two-time champion Roberts Mbabzi and Joseph Kyeyune.
As the competition winded down and the finalists announced, I looked over the scores compared to last years competition and was pleasantly surprised. The average scores had improved considerably. Only one disqualification this year compared to four in 2010. And the finalists all performed very strongly - one could easily see the improvements from the previous year.
When the Finals got rolling on the last day, the excitement was palpable. The Defending Champion Mark Okuta versus the former two-time champion and a slate of some very tough competitors. Quickly, four of the finalists pulled away from the field. Nearly 100 points would separate the fourth and fifth positions. While Simon's cultural smoked milk electrified the audience, Mark's tour of the coffee bean was fascinating and Salim's dazzling performance rocked, it was the former two-time champion, Roberts Mbabzi who came a calling to reclaim his title as Barista Champion of Uganda.
They said I was looking "smart" at the barista awards party.
Many hours later, after the partying was over, some of the competitors came to me to ask how they had done. What they really wanted to know is: how could they have lost? And: how did Roberts win again? I understood their question because it's common amongst those who don't take the title. There's always the wondering if the competition isn't somehow, fixed. Especially for someone who always seems to win.
I sat down with them and pulled up the electronic scoresheets that I keep on file as the Certifying Judge for a national championship. And I compared their scores. Even without the actual notes of the scoresheets, the scores tell a lot. The top four were very close. Each of them within striking range of the Champion spot. An improvement in this set of espressos, or an improvement in your professionalism, plus a slight mistake on the part of the Champion could easily have switched positions. Even hitting an even 4.5 on cappuccinos taste balance could have scored you the title.
In the end, I discussed it with them to show that there's nothing rigged about the competition. The scores reflect the performance. Maybe that one puck was off and you served it because it would burn time to redo the shot. That shot got you 1.5 in scores. Maybe it would be worth it to burn the additional 30 seconds to grab a 3.5 in scores? All things that have to be considered by the competitive barista.
I think they all left understanding the process a little bit better. Perhaps still not happy that they "lost" but at least with a better understanding.
And if I can leave a place with a better understanding of our craft, then it's been a worthwhile trip.
Posted by onocoffee at 4:03 PM No comments: Links to this post
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December 14, 2016
The City of Brotherly Love was the home of founding father and inventor Benjamin Franklin. Now it appears that it is the home of a new type of broadband partnership. According to Light Reading, the city of Philadelphia will work with Comcast "to develop an Institutional Network (iNet) bundled with commercial broadband services." Comcast will …
© Copyright 2015 · Coalition for the New Economy
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If you trying to stay in shape and watch your weight, then you should let go of several habits that are unhealthy for you. Other than giving up junk food, you should try to avoid buying bread from your local shop due to many reasons, some of which we will mention below. Instead of buying bread, you can make your own healthy bread, with the help of a bread maker.
Store bought bread is generally full of preservatives to prevent it from going bad the next day. It also has sugar or other additives to make it taste and look better then how it normally looks like. Besides the problems already mentioned, when you buy bread from the store you should be aware of other several issues: the soil and wheat is treated with pesticide, chemical fertilizers and pesticides are not only toxic, but also xenoestrogens ; when making bread there are used all kinds of colorants to "help" maintain its appearance.
Bread is inexpensive and everyone can afford buying several loaves of bread a week, so you might think that there's no way you can save some money by giving up store bought bread. However, if you try making it at home, you can see that there's a big difference regarding how much bread you can make by buying a couple of ingredients. The ingredients are cheap and you can make a lot by using only what you have in your pantry. You will soon notice that it's a much better alternative to buying bread and you will manage to make some money savings at the end of the month by not having to buy bread everyday.
If you are an aspiring chef or you like cooking or preparing food, then you will love making bread at home. The main reason why most people prefer making bread at home is the fact that they know for sure that the ingredients used in making the bread come from reliable sources. Other than that, it's fun and very rewarding to make something on your own, without no help and see the results afterwards, especially if you use a quality bread maker, which does much of the work without requiring any effort from your part. If you look online for a bread-machine comparison, you will notice that most of the best bread makers of the moment are quite affordable.
Why bother going to the store every day and stay in line to buy bread when you can make it at home? As we've mentioned earlier, making bread at home is a great way to perfect your cooking skills and experiment with different recipes. However, if you find it difficult to make bread at home, you can invest in a bread machine that comes with a variety of features, so that you can make all kinds of recipes. Look for an online bread-machine comparison article, and search for a bread maker that allows you to play with the ingredients and cook different types of bread.
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I am so thrilled to once again welcome Dr. Miriam Greene M.D. as a contributor to the Olga's Secret blog. Dr. Greene has played a pivotal role in the development of Inner Intimates and she is truly dedicated to helping women feel empowered during this change called menopause.
Menopause Madness: The Weight Gain
By Dr. Greene
Weight gain seems to take up much of my time in the office. Many of my ladies simply complain of weight gain after menopause. I actually was asked to give a patient a prescription for Adderall in order for her to lose weight. Adderall is an ADD drug not a weight lose drug. But she had heard that it helps you lose weight. For the record, it does not.
The patient stated that she has tried everything! But simply cannot get down to where she was prior to menopause. Sound familiar?
I Simply Cannot Lose The Weight
The unfortunate news is that this is an actual side effect of menopause. When I went thru menopause I quickly gained 7 lbs. I did not pass go or collect 200 dollars. Boom! Just gained the weight. Okay I am not exploding with the 7 lbs. But no matter what I do I simply cannot lose it.
The New Menopausal Blueprint
Why? you say. Because our basal metabolic rate slows down after menopause and poof you're a cream puff. Accepting a few extra pounds may be the easiest part. The biggest challenge is replacing everything that you have been doing for your body, in terms of diet and exercise, with a new set of menopausal blueprints. There is no easy way to say this, but you will need to watch what you are eating, how much you are eating… and exercising is no longer optional, it is mandatory.
Dr. Greene's Practical Advice
During this transformation, your body will become less tolerate to carbohydrates or dairy products. I have found that the South Beach diet works well with reducing the intake of carbs and dairy, as well getting your eating habits under control. The first two weeks are strict. But definitely doable!
Walk Away From Big Portions
The key is to limit the amount of food in front of at any given time. Literally walking away from the portions or removing it from house or table at a restaurant will make a huge difference. If the food is sitting there and you will feel obligated to eat it. You are not going to die of starvation I promise.
Remove The Bread From The Table
Out to eat. I will usually order 2 appetizers. If the entree looks spectacular I will order it because you should never deny yourself anything (that's where the diet fails) and I just eat half, taking the other half home. I always order wine but I sip it slowly with the meal and never finish the glass. I will have 3 ounces though. The bread is always removed from the table because that could be a big downfall for many people.
Save Dessert For Home
Dessert? I usually save that for home. I bought these delicious fudge bars from whole foods, which are 100 calories. That is my treat.
So while a struggle it can be done. Make sure you have no medical problems that prevent you from losing weight such as a slow thyroid or glucose intolerance. Go slow and don't give up. Take it day by day.
~Dr. Greene


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Our Locksmiths
All of our locksmith and safe engineers are DBS checked (formerly CRB checks) for your peace of mind. We are health and safety accredited to SafeContractor, Constructionline and Altius .
We offer an emergency and non-emergency locksmith service. to arrange a locksmith call, please complete the form above. To speak to your local locksmith, click on the "call us back" button to arrange a call back.
Your Local Timpson Locksmith
Truro 01872 858 202
To search for a mobile locksmith in a different area just enter your town or postcode, select a distance and click 'SEARCH'.


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Veggie Patties – Yum!!
4 tbsp Semolina/Rava/Cream of wheat
Oil for frying/sautéing Directions:
Boil and mash the potatoes. Heat the oil in a pan, and then add garlic and onion. Fry it on medium heat until the onion is transparent. Add Zucchini pieces and sauté for a minute. Add the spinach and the mashed potatoes. Cook for a minute. Add lemon pepper, black pepper, cumin powder and salt. Mix it well until the spices coat all the veggies. Take it off from heat and let it cool down for 10 minutes.
Transfer to a bowl and add gram flour to this mixture to form a thick paste. It acts as a binding agent. Add some pieces of bread or roll the patties in the breadcrumbs (do this after you make a round patty).Mix together and form the patties. Now roll them in semolina. Cover on both sides. Rolling the patties in semolina makes them less sticky and also gives a nice crunch. Heat oil in a pan, take the patties and fry them two to three at a time in medium heat. Shallow fry them on both sides until they turn golden in colour.
Serve as a Sandwich or eat with salad. I did take a picture of this but the photo sucks and the patties are all gone, so no picture of it this time. 😦


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- Page 1 Denon AVR-1713 Review
- Page 2 Features and Operation Review
- Page 3 Performance and Verdict Review
Denon AVR-1713 Features
The Denon AVR-1713's network functionality (AirPlay, internet radio, DLNA streaming) is one of the things that sets it apart from the cheaper Denon AVR-1513. The appearance of AirPlay on the spec sheet is a real boon. The ability to stream songs from the likes of the iPhone 5, iPad 3 or iTunes on a PC or Mac is hugely convenient and like most things Apple invents it's very easy to use.
We tried it out and it works a treat – when you start playing a song it switches to AirPlay automatically and displays the name of the song on the front panel. Volume can be controlled from the device or the slider on the iTunes interface, as well as track skipping and other key commands.
The network connection also puts thousands of internet radio stations at your disposal through the vTuner portal, and thanks to its DLNA certification allows you to stream music from servers on your home network, with support for FLAC HD, MP3, WMA, AAC and WAV files. And with a firmware update, it'll also stream Apple Lossless (ALAC) via DLNA and AirPlay, as well as supporting Gapless Playback, which is great when listening to live albums. You can also stream photos in JPEG format and create a slideshow with music in the background.
Additionally the Denon AVR-1713 provides access to Last.fm and Flickr, and with the Denon Remote App installed on your Apple or Android device such as the Samsung Galaxy S3 you can control every aspect of the Denon AVR-1713's operating system, from basics like volume, input and surround mode to more complex stuff like web radio browsing and network streaming. It's far more comprehensive than last year's equivalent app.
The front USB makes a handy alternative to the network connection. You can plug in storage devices or USB hard-disks and play the same file types as above, or hook up your iPod/iPhone and play music directly using an onscreen GUI or the front panel. It'll even charge your iPad, even though it's not 'Made for iPad', plus it can now be used to upload firmware updates – useful for when you're not hooked up to the network.
But let's not forget that the Denon AVR-1713 is designed for home cinema first and foremost, and on that score the spec looks good. Denon's quoted power output is 120W per channel (into 6ohms) with decoding for all the audio formats that matter (primarily Dolby True HD and DTS HD Master Audio).
You also get a wide range of Denon's DSP modes, Cinema Equalizer (which optimises high frequencies for home cinema) and Virtual Surround. The Compressed Audio Restorer feature aims to enhance the quality of digital music formats. There's no on board video processing though, which rules out upscaling and conversion of analogue signals for the HDMI output.
Denon AVR-1713 Operation
It's clear that Denon has made a concerted effort to make its 2012 receivers as easy to use as possible. Firstly there's an onscreen Setup Assistant that kicks in when you first fire it up, which sets the language and helps configure the speakers, set up inputs and connect to the network.
Along the way it also launches the Audyssey MultEQ XT auto calibration system, which uses the supplied microphone and test tones to set the size and number of speakers, the crossovers, distances, levels and polarities. Then it carries out room correction to avoid any acoustical problems, which it performs in up to eight listening positions so that the sound is optimised no matter where you sit. It takes a long time to complete though, so set aside lots of time to complete it.
Then there's the onscreen menus, which are incredibly basic in a ZX Spectrum sort of way, but that's possibly by design. The simple white text and blocky graphics on a black background make everything clear and easy to find, though it does feels a touch anachronistic in 2012.
Still, there's a vast amount to play with. The main menu is broken down into Audio, Video, Inputs, Speakers, Network and General. The Speakers menu is where you can set the distances, levels and crossovers manually if you don't trust the auto calibration system, while Audio contains the surround parameters, audio delay, volume and Audyssey settings. Despite the beginner-friendly approach, more experienced users will be more than happy with the level of control afforded by this setup menu.
The Network screen is a little more sophisticated, using colour icons against a black background, including Favourites, Internet Radio, Media Server, Last.fm and Flickr. The internet radio and Media Server menus use straightforward lists that leave little room for confusion, although it's quite a hassle looking for specific tracks if you have a large library.
Denon has simplified the remote too, stripping back the button count from previous remotes. The direction pad and volume keys are placed centrally under the thumb for intuitive navigation, with banks of input selection buttons at the top. Having tested plenty of receivers remotes with more buttons than Cadbury's, this is a refreshing change – it's the sort of remote that beginners can use without getting all confused.
But if you prefer a more modern way of controlling the Denon AVR-1713, then Denon has also created a terrific app for Apple iOS and Android devices. It's a vast improvement on last year's version, offering several new features, such as fast scrolling of internet radio stations and DLNA servers with album art, Blu-ray player control (when hooked up via HDMI), a multi-zone control interface and a customisable home screen.
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Marvel Studios is closing in on its ninth anniversary, and it's not slowing down any time soon, with 2016 raising the bar even higher for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In the last year alone, Captain America: Civil War became the fourth Marvel entry to join the billion dollar club, while October's Doctor Strange boasts an impressive 90% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critically and commercially, the MCU has come a long way since its 2008 debut.
But the more movies Marvel Studios puts out, the more issues are coming to the forefront. The MCU has a tendency to repeat stories, even in movies set all across the galaxy. It's a formula that works in setting up a comic book movie universe, but 14 films in, and fans are finally beginning to call out for Marvel to up its game.
Here are 15 Huge Problems No One Wants to Admit About the MCU.
15 Origin Stories
Of all the single-character origin stories released by Marvel Studios, only Iron Man really holds up. Captain America: The First Avenger, Thor, and Ant-Man are quite clearly attempts to set the characters up for sequels and team-ups. Doctor Strange at least stands on its own, but at no point does it challenge the formula introduced in Iron Man.
The bottom line is that every Marvel origin story follows the same pattern. It all starts with the main character: an unlikely hero, who is immediately unlikable but so easily redeemable that there was no point him being unlikable in the first place. While he falls for a woman far too good for him, one of his associates turns into a villain, and you know the rest. The only variable is at which point in the movie Stan Lee shows up.
We hope to see something a little different from Spider-Man: Homecoming and Black Panther in the coming months.
14 Comedy over Substance
Believe it or not, there was a time when Robert Downey Jr. wasn't quipping his way through every single scene. His comedic timing is evident in the first Iron Man, but what makes the movie so special is its ability to know when to take things seriously. Iron Man doesn't feel like a comedy; it feels like a mix of genres that work together to create a tone that Disney has never quite recreated. Following their acquisition of Marvel, the comedy in these movies has become so repetitive to the point of campiness.
We all love a bit of comic relief, and Joss Whedon was undoubtedly a good fit for the MCU, but The Avengers set in motion a line of superhero comedies. Tony Stark was a joke machine by Iron Man 2, Age of Ultron's gags were often derailing, and Doctor Strange tried to be something it wasn't. These should be superhero movies first, and everything else second. When a joke doesn't land, it only serves as a distraction from the plot, and even if the humor does work, it often becomes out of place in a universe that isn't quite sure if it's mature enough to tell more serious stories.
13 The Music
For a franchise 14 movies strong to only have one recognizable theme is quite an achievement. Alan Silvestri's "The Avengers" is perhaps the only memorable piece of music the MCU has ever produced. While the piece works for the superhero team-up, not one single character has their own theme. Iron Man's signature blend of already existing rock music and the Guardians of the Galaxy's '80s soundtrack are memorable enough, but neither are original scores. By contrast, the DC Extended Universe has clear, original themes for each of its characters after just two movies.
Marvel's bland musical themes are all the more surprising considering the names attached to the scores. Michael Giacchino (Star Trek, Rogue One), Henry Jackman (X-Men: First Class, Captain Phillips) and Ramin Djawadi (Game of Thrones, Westworld) have all composed Marvel movies. How can the man who composed that Game of Thrones title sequence not have come up with a single hummable theme for Iron Man?
12 The Characters Have No Edge
As far as the movies are concerned, the MCU gets by on churning out easily digestible blockbusters. It's a process that continues to turn over massive profits, so it makes sense that Disney is so unwilling to make a change, but it shouldn't have to come at the expense of three-dimensional characters.
Tony Stark is perhaps Marvel's most developed character, with seven MCU appearances and still more to come. We saw a new side of Tony as recently as Civil War, but even that doesn't compare to his tortured comic book origins, where Tony is famously an alcoholic. The MCU has touched very briefly on the subject, but Disney has never pushed the issue further.
A similar thing happened with Scott Lang. Rumor has it that Edgar Wright wanted his Ant-Man to be a straight-up, hardened criminal, but Disney once more ran with likability over character. As mentioned earlier, even characters who are traditionally unlikable (see: Peter Quill, Stephen Strange) are instantly redeemable after a quip or two. It's understandable that Disney wants to market its characters, but that doesn't mean they should lose their sense of character in the first place.
11 Its Best Characters Are Stuck on Netflix
The characters who actually do have an edge are currently confined to Netflix, too busy dealing with smaller-scale issues to show up in the movie universe. Granted, the small screen heroes get far more time to develop, with 13 hours per season, but we can't hold that against the TV universe. The bottom line is that Matt Murdock, Jessica Jones, and Luke Cage are rounded characters. They each bring their own distinct wit to the table, but never does that humor feel forced. Instead, it is spread out enough that the jokes feel earned and natural.
Otherwise, the Netflix trio are true to life, clearly defined and ultimately vulnerable, despite their extraordinary powers. It also helps that the villains match them every step of the way, and somewhere in between is the Punisher – a Marvel character unlike any we've seen in the movie universe. As we approach The Defenders and a fully-realized superhero team-up, we're left wondering why Marvel doesn't attempt something similar for its big screen universe.
10 There's Too Much to Keep Up With
Die hard Marvel fans will tell you that you can never have too much of a good thing, but supporting Marvel across all platforms is beginning to feel like homework. As it is, the movie universe is the movie universe, the Netflix universe is the Netflix universe, and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is doing its own thing. Unfortunately, as we build up to Infinity War, which promises to unite all corners of the MCU, the pressure is on for fans and even casual viewers to catch up with every Marvel property for fear of being left behind.
Even before Infinity War debuts next year, four movies are scheduled for release; Iron Fist, The Punisher and The Defenders are coming to Netflix, and a further three shows are being developed for television. The sheer volume of material is sure to put off a few Marvel newbies, and even the long-time fans with dreams of seeing the Marvel universe unite against Thanos have a daunting task ahead of them.
9 Directors' Voices Are Sacrificed For The Big Picture
It's become widely accepted that the MCU directors are bowing to an overarching tone, put in place by Disney and Kevin Feige. It's the reason that only Joss Whedon, James Gunn and the Russo brothers have come back for seconds (Jon Favreau directed two Iron Man movies, but only one since the Disney takeover).
Meanwhile, Edgar Wright dropped out of Ant-Man, Kenneth Branagh declined to return for the Thor sequel, Whedon was left exhausted by studio restraints, and Favreau settled for a producing role for Iron Man 3. If you told someone most of the MCU movies were directed by the same person, they likely wouldn't argue with you.
The thing is – Marvel can't be held completely accountable for this one. Hulk, released in 2003, is Ang Lee's vision top to bottom, while Shane Black's Iron Man 3 is the one MCU entry to take after its director. Both movies divided comic book fans the world over, and while we would certainly like to see Marvel take more risks, you can hardly blame the studio for sticking to its guns on this one.
8 The Avengers Cause Every Event They End Up Avenging
In a world where we're supposed to revere the Avengers as forces of good, it's remarkable how little good they actually do. Not a single one of them goes out of their way to help civilians in their down time (though Spider-Man's introduction to the MCU should go some way to fixing that), but the problem is far greater than that.
The Avengers have twice saved the world from apocalyptic events, but it wouldn't have needed saving if not for the Avengers. In the first movie, SHIELD actually summons Loki to New York, while Tony Stark goes right ahead and creates a supervillain in Ultron. The team aren't avenging anything, but atoning for their own mistakes (although admittedly the Atoners doesn't sound quite as catchy).
Over in the solo movies, Bruce Banner literally gives his own blood to create his arch nemesis, while Iron Man's technology falls repeatedly into the wrong hands. Thor has even started a war that spans two realms. Good work, Atoners.
7 It Still Hasn't Topped Iron Man
For all of its critical acclaim, the MCU has yet to produce a truly classic comic book movie. Where DC has Christopher Reeve's Superman franchise, Tim Burton's Batman, and The Dark Knight Trilogy, Marvel is still some way off cementing its place in the superhero history books.
Iron Man is arguably the closest it's come. While The Avengers, Guardians, and The Winter Soldier all have a claim to the title of best Marvel picture, Iron Man is still the foundation from which the MCU has developed. Pre-Disney, Iron Man is Jon Favreau's movie. The director set up the character with all the humor you could ever need in the opening act, which allows the action to flow uninterrupted as the movie reaches its climax. It's ballsy, completely original, and it even went so far as to improve Iron Man's credibility as a Marvel character.
2008 was a huge year for superheroes, with Iron Man and The Dark Knight premiering within three months of each other. Box office aside, no other Marvel movie has impacted modern superhero movies like Iron Man, and the same goes for DC and The Dark Knight.
6 Character Inconsistencies
This is less about the characters' personalities, and more about their superpowers, which are basically as powerful as the script needs them to be. We'll start with Iron Man's armor, which has survived hits from the Hulk, Thor's lightning, and a full-blown tank, but fails to take a blow from your average truck come Iron Man 3. The Incredible Hulk ends with Bruce Banner in complete control of the "other guy", but he goes on a rampage pretty early on in The Avengers, only to master the transformation once more when the Chitauri invade.
Captain America has trouble with World War II soldiers and Crossbones, but is suddenly a super soldier again when he faces the Chitauri, Thor, Winter Soldier, and Iron Man. Along the same lines, Black Panther has a vibranium suit; why does that mean he can run anywhere near as fast as Cap and Bucky? Semantics, maybe, but good old-fashioned inconsistencies? Absolutely.
5 It Won't Kill Its Main Characters
Every Marvel hero has put their life on the line at some point, but in the MCU, it becomes a question of how they're going to get out of this one, rather than if they'll actually die. Peter Quill had not one, but two self-sacrificial scenes in Guardians of the Galaxy, while Tony Stark was supposedly dying through Iron Man 2, and both were ultimately a waste of time. Civil War, the monumental coming together of the most powerful beings on the planet, and the first real turning point for the Avengers, failed to deliver on the promise of losing a main character.
Even when it does supposedly off its characters, the MCU is still unwilling to follow through on the risks it's taken. Phil Coulson, Nick Fury, and Loki have all had resurrection scenes, and all three deaths are pivotal moments in their respective movies. The emotional impact of their deaths is rendered moot by their rebirths, which ultimately hurt the movies overall. Quicksilver is the only major character to have stayed dead through all this, and the MCU has to follow through with a bigger name if we're going to start taking things seriously.
4 There Are No Stakes
We know that Marvel won't kill its lead characters, but the reason the MCU has no stakes actually goes beyond that. In this age of publicized movie contracts and films being split into phases, we know that there is an end game to these shared universes. In Marvel's case, everything has been building up to Infinity War since phase one, which sort of makes all existing MCU material filler.
For example, the likes of Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, Star-Lord, Gamora and Nebula have only recently been confirmed to appear in Infinity War. Each one of these characters will make a movie appearance in 2017, so at least where they are concerned, you're essentially going to the theater to watch the build-up to Infinity War.
In the world of comic book movies, you expect good to triumph over evil, but you watch for the twists and turns along the way. The trouble is that it's hard to care about the twists and turns when everything is announced so far in advance, and you already know which characters are going to make it to the end game.
3 Lack of Female Solo Movies
By the time Captain Marvel drops in 2019, the MCU will have been around for over a decade without making a single female-led superhero movie. In the near future, Carol Danvers will follow Jessica Jones and Peggy Carter in leading her own Marvel franchise, while it should be noted that the Wasp has a title role in 2018's Ant-Man sequel.
Up until now, though, Black Widow has been representing Marvel's female superheroes almost single-handedly in the movies, with Scarlet Witch only recently joining the team and Ant-Man jumping through hoops to come up with a reason Hope van Dyne wasn't given Scott Lang's super suit. Netflix has a better track record with its female characters, but Jessica Jones is the only one with her own series. So why has it taken so long for Marvel to do something about it?
Simply put, female superheroes are a threat to Disney's tried and tested money-making formula. We haven't really seen a female-led superhero movie take off at the box office, but with the likes of Wonder Woman, Supergirl, and Jessica Jones doing so well on TV, there's no reason that a female superhero couldn't lead a successful big screen franchise.
2 It Doesn't Take Creative Risks
What this entire list has been building up to is this – Marvel simply won't take any risks. Even before you take into account that it doesn't kill its main characters, you have the repetitive storylines, the fact that almost every lead character has the same personality, the lack of female solo movies. Marvel is bending over backwards to make sure everything remains just the same.
Even Guardians of the Galaxy, which is the one risky film the MCU has taken on, has the same basic premise as the other origin stories, while the likes of Ant-Man and Doctor Strange could have gone in different directions altogether.
Civil War was supposed to be a game-changer for the MCU, and while it is true that Steve Rogers' place as an Avenger is up in the air, the movie ends with just about everything else back to how it was before the movie started. Tony Stark gives up the suit in Iron Man 3, SHIELD is brought down in The Winter Solder, Thor destroys Bifrost Bridge; everything returns to normal in the following film. Essentially, if Marvel is going to make its bed, it should learn how to lie in it.
1 Villains
If anything is certain in life, it's that with every Marvel movie comes an underdeveloped villain. Of all the MCU bad guys, Loki is the only one to have developed beyond the "plain evil" or the "drunk with power" villains that Marvel so famously recycles. Otherwise, the MCU has fumbled its biggest villains. Red Skull has barely any screen time in The First Avenger, while the likes of Whiplash, Malekith, and Ronan the Accuser are given next to nothing to work with.
Ant-Man at least tries to make Yellowjacket relatable, but to no avail, and Guardians goes some way to redeeming itself with Nebula. The only other interesting villain is Bucky Barnes, but he offers very few actual character moments during his time as the Winter Soldier.
The MCU simply cannot afford to make the same mistakes with Thanos. The Mad Titan has been built up for so long that his presence could make or break the upcoming Infinity War, and Marvel has only four movies left to find a working formula before Josh Brolin takes the stage.
What did we miss? Does the MCU have any more problems we should know about? Sound off in the comments!


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Hourly Rate: $105
Oil Change: $169.99 Plus Oil
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AOG Fee: $250
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*Tire changes include a disposal fee of $4.99 per tire.


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pork: sugar and spice and everything nice.
My friend knows how to collect good recipes. When my kitchen is on the brink of a lull, all I need to do is call her up for an injection of inspiration. In fact, it was through her that I finally found a chicken curry I could trust. And now, this. She has done it again: supplied me with a blue ribbon recipe, another recipe that my family will adopt, adapt and come to adore.
Now as much as I am a sucker for high quality and time considerate recipes, I will gladly take a fabulous recipe and try my hand at cutting down on the extras (like trimming a budget of unnecessary glut). Bring me an impressive recipe with a long list of ingredients and an even longer lister of 'to-do's' and I will roll up my sleeves, grab my delete key and get to work. I enjoy the challenge of keeping the preparation and ingredients as simple as possible---without, of course, sacrificing the final outcome.
So in the case of this pork, with what seemed a lengthy coconut rice recipe, I decided to make a reduction sauce from the pan drippings with coconut milk. I made sticky rice, and the pork, then we poured the sauce over (fyi: this is especially handy when one of the kiddos isn't into coconut or sauce and is more than happy with 'plain' meat and 'plain' rice).
Island Pork Tenderloin 2 tsp coarse salt 1/2 tsp coarse pepper 1 tsp cumin 1/2 tsp chili powder 1 tsp cinnamon 1 pork tenderloin (for family of four, I use a 1 - 1 1/2 pound loin, if I have guests I use 2 loins)
optional:2 T brown sugar 2-3 cloves minced garlic 1 tsp cardamom 2 tsp Tabasco
Jasmine or sticky rice 1 1/2 cups chicken stock 2 T flour 1/2 cup coconut milk
Heat oven to 400. Combine first five seasonings; rub all over pork. Brown pork in skillet over medium high heat (in 1 T olive oil, 1 T butter). Optional: combine brown sugar, cardamom, garlic and tabasco and rub over top of pork just before inserting into oven. It isn't necessary but really punches up the flavors. In same skillet, add chicken stock, 2 T flour and coconut milk, let simmer. Make sticky rice. Roast loin in oven for 20-25 minutes; remove, drain drippings into saucepan. Let meat sit 10-15 minutes before serving (I cover the meat with a foil tent; also this is the perfect amount of time for your sauce to finish simmering).
You caught me, my family enjoys pork (and I like how easy it is to prepare, with great results). Here are two other pork recipes my family loves:
- Honey Garlic Pork (plus thyme, cream, dijon...)
- Soy Braised Pork
- Brandon Eats offers Roast Pork and Sage
- Kalyn's Kitchen brings Pork Chops with Balsamic Glaze
- Karen from FamilyStyle Food shows us how easy it is to make Tuscan Style Pork
- FoodBlogga nails the season and give us Persimmons 101 with her Pork Chops, Persimmons and Pomegranate
- Find Mandarin Pork & Rice on Kristen's Dine and Dish


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North Male Atoll
Distance from Airport:
45 kilometres
approx. 20 minutes by seaplane or approx. 55 minutes by boat
Resort Size:
1000 metres x 350 metres
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20 Garden Rooms (50m2)
77 Beach Villas (50m2)
83 Jaacuzzi Beach Villas (80m2)
27 Water Villas (60m2)
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02 Honeymoon Suites (90m2)
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Air-conditioning, ceiling fan, sitting area, bathroom with shower, in-room safe, mini bar, coffee / tea making facilities, IDD telephone, CD player, in higher categories TV, DVD player, internet.
Services & Entertainment:
5 restaurants, 5 bars, coffee shop, souvenir shop, jewellery, library, 2 swimming pools, children´s pool, tennis courts, spa, fitness, beach volleyball, badminton, table tennis, darts, snooker, billiards, football table, petanque, bicycles, football, Glf Driving Range, Putting Green, 9 Hole Pitch & Putt Golf Course, water sports centre (windsurfing, canoes, catamaran, etc.), diving school, excursions (snorkeling, fishing, island hopping, etc.), internet, laundry, evening entertainment (Bodu Beru, disco, movies, crab race, etc....). All Inclusive or All Inclusive Plus Programs.
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Meeru Island is surrounded with beautiful lagoon. Great snorkeling conditions. Resort for those, who want to spend active holidays. For couples or families with children.
Winner of TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence (years 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015).


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Welcome to the book blitz for The Stolen Twin, a young adult psychological thriller by Michele Pariza Wacek. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
About Book 1
Title: The Stolen twin
Author: Michele Pariza Wacek
Publisher: Creative Concepts and Copywriting LLC
Release Date: November 16, 2015
Genre: Young Adult Psychological Thriller
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
On the surface, Kit Caldwell has it all. A senior in college with her future ahead of her, lots of friends, lots of parties…not to mention also having the eye of Tommy, the star quarterback of the football team.
But underneath, Kit's life is a charade, built on a foundation of secrets and lies, including one so dark it threatens to tear her world apart: her twin sister, Cat, was kidnapped when they were both seven, never to be heard from again.
That is, until one dark Halloween night.
But is it really Cat? Or is it someone else, someone playing a sinister and deadly game?
To save herself from imminent danger, Kit, with the help of Tommy and her friends, is forced to go back in time and confront her own personal demons, as she finally discovers what really happened to Cat, all those years ago.
My life has been dominated by two dreams.
In the first, I see my twin sister Cat at seven, the last time I ever saw her. She is all pink and golden – hair hanging in yellow ringlets, dancing blue eyes, rosy cheeks. She is beautiful, my sister. Light, sweet, charming. My opposite.
My father is pulling her as she sits in a little red wagon, laughing and waving. They're in a wild, grassy field. Birds are twittering, crickets chirping. A butterfly flits by. Gently swaying grasses and colorful wildflowers brush against her, stroking her soft skin, loving her. She laughs and caresses their long, flowing stems.
But there is more in this field than plants, insects and birds. Fairies live here too – although they usually hide when people walk by with their heavy crushing footsteps, unnatural smells and callous voices. My father, plowing through with bent back and plodding footsteps, sends them cringing and scurrying away as well.
But then they hear the tinkling sound of my sister's laughter.
Peeking from behind brown-eyed Susan's and pebbles, they see Cat in the wagon, clutching a dandelion in her fist, rubbing the yellow petals against her face. She astonishes them, seduces them, hypnotizes them. They've never seen anything like her before. Gradually, they creep out and move closer. Cat virtually sparkles in the sunlight, bright and shining. As she catches sight of the fairies, she laughs and blows them kisses.
The fairies, now completely under her spell, swarm over to her, nuzzling her face, soft arms, slender neck. She smiles, touching them back – fingers grazing over delicate wings not much more substantial than a cobweb.
More fairies emerge as my father guides her deeper into the field. The grasses become thicker, taller. The fairies cling to the blades, reaching their tiny hands out to caress Cat as she drifts by.
Finally, the queen herself comes forward, tall and majestic. She wears a dress made from white tulips and daffodils, sparkling with dewdrops. Her long, silky, golden hair is entwined with white daisies. Large green eyes peer out from under her mass of hair. Her face is cold, all sharp angles and pale skin, but beautiful.
"This is the one," the queen says, her voice like breaking glass.
Cat looks up, fairies tangled in her hair. She blinks as her gaze meets that of the queen's. They stare at each other, each mesmerized by the other. Then, slowly, the queen reaches down and gathers my sister into her arms. The fairies dart out of the way, hovering above them like a cloud of gnats. The queen turns, Cat cuddled in her arms, and they disappear, vanishing into the thick grass.
My father pulls the wagon a few seconds longer before realizing something is wrong. Seeing Cat missing, he drops to the ground and begins searching fruitlessly through the grass. "Cat," he yells over and over. "Cat, come back. Come back!"
Nothing answers him, not even a chirp from a bird. He cries her name over and over, begging her to come back, while the fairies croon over their newest prize.
My second dream is completely opposite – much like the difference between Cat and me. It begins with me and my parents in the car. We're going to Milwaukee to visit my grandparents, but suddenly my parents take a detour. We drive down an old country road filled with potholes and thirsty cracks. My chest begins to take on a familiar heaviness.
We're at a church, a white country church with a tall steeple and an elaborate stained glass etching of Mary and Jesus in the manger. A bell rings, deep and melodious. I'm having trouble breathing.
We walk to the graveyard behind the church, my parents in front of me, talking quietly, ignoring me (as usual). The bell continues to ring, the sound growing louder, echoing in the stillness. I stumble, trying desperately to breathe, to draw air through lungs now shrunken into a tight ball of twine. I need my inhaler, but don't know where it is.
My parents continue to ignore me. I gasp and start to fall, but now I'm floating, floating, toward the graveyard. All I can hear is the tolling of the bell. I can't breathe at all. My lungs burn, a bright fireball in my chest. This is it, I realize. This is the end. This is where I die.
I wake then, gasping and reaching for my inhaler. As uncomfortable as it is, I prefer it to the hot tears and heavy sick feeling that follows the fairy dream. Cat is the chosen one. I'm the disappointment.
These were the dreams that dominated my life. If I had other ones, I never remembered them. Only these two. I never told a soul about my dreams – they were my penance, my burden, my personal hell.
Until the day Cat came back, turning my life into something worse than any nightmare I ever could have imagined.
About the Author
When Michele was 3 years old, she taught herself to read because she wanted to write stories so badly.
As you can imagine, writing has been a driving passion throughout her life. She became a professional copywriter (which is writing promotional materials for businesses), which led to her founding a copywriting and marketing company that serves clients all over the world.
Along with being a copywriter, she also writes novels (in fact, she just published her first novel, a psychological thriller/suspense/mystery
She holds a double major in English and Communications from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Currently she lives in the mountains of Prescott, Arizona with her husband Paul and her border collie Nick and southern squirrel hunter Cassie.
Where to Find Michele Pariza Wacek
Goodreads | Website | Facebook | Twitter
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You need to be covered by a TV Licence to watch or download BBC programmes on iPlayer – live, catch up or on demand. This applies to all devices and providers.
Don't forget, you also need a TV Licence to watch or record programmes on any channel as they are being shown on TV, or live on an online TV service – on any device.
Find out more about when you need a licence for live TV and downloading or watching BBC programmes on iPlayer.


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Mon, 9 November 2015
We often want to focus on certain changes in our lives, yet we end up somewhere completely different. On today's episode author and podcaster Erik Fisher talks about focus being "the target." And just like hitting a target, you must have a clear vision of what it looks like. Today Erik is showing us how to sharpen our focus so we can hit the target every time.
Direct download: 1_Simple_Thing_-_Erik_Fisher_-_Episode_326.mp3
Category:Business -- posted at: 12:00am CST


text: old man emu 2,183 #1 Posted June 18, 2013 I don't know if I'm correct in this, but recently I made the following observation involving E10 petrol. As you know, I've got an old Harley, and they say that if it doesn't drip oil, there's none in it. Well, I was putting a sheet of oil soaked plywood under the bike to protect the garage floor. It seems that the float valve got stuck, and overfilled the bowl. The excess fuel dripped down onto the plywood. Now here's the observation. After a couple of days, I saw quite a few, large beads of water on the oily plywood where the pool of leaked fuel had been. There was no fuel left on the plywood. That got me thinking. Had the water been absorbed into a fuel by the ethanol in the E10 fuel, and been released when the fuel and ethanol evaporated? If I'm correct, would that send alarm signals to you about using E10 in an aero engine? Old Man Emu Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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Raise awareness
We aim to raise awareness about the problem of human trafficking within Merton by building links with various community groups and professionals, holding community education events and working in schools (for more information see 'education' section).
Lobby / advocacy
We aim to speak out where we can on behalf of victims of trafficking by taking action such as writing letters to MPs and the government, raising awareness within local schools and other community groups. We seek to use as many ways as possible to encourage the Merton community to take action and speak out to help stop the trade of trafficking.
Direct action
We have already carried out significant research to uncover the scale of the sex industry within Merton, as we know that a large proportion of trafficked women and children end up working in the sex industry, in illegal brothels. We aim to take action to close down establishments that sell sex, thus reducing the supply and demand for the sex industry in Merton. We are also linked in with a support network to be able to offer help and advice for anyone affected by trafficking in Merton.
Finding out about trafficking is difficult, as it is a trade which operates underground and behind closed doors. However, we will continue to look for ways in which we can uncover this modern day slavery and take action to stop it.


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What Is Your Chicago Style Annotated Bibliography
If you are writing an academic paper of any level that requires some form of research you are expected to reference the works that you have used to form you opinions or to support your arguments. This is often done with a simple bibliography, reference section or works cited list. Sometimes however it is required that you add what is called an annotated bibliography in the specific format of your written paper.
So if you were producing a research paper in Chicago format you would create a Chicago style annotated bibliography. This differs from the standard bibliography with regards to the "annotation." Your annotation is a summary or some form of evaluation of the work that you are referencing allowing the reader to see exactly what that work was about and what impact it had on your own research.
Creating Your Annotated Bibliography in Chicago Style
The Chicago style annotated bibliography format will differ from the many other formats in only minor ways with regards to the number of characters that paragraphs have to be indented, margins and so forth.
If you need to view a Chicago style annotated bibliography example you can do so through this link.
The best time to start writing your Chicago style bibliography is when you first begin your research although most students tend to leave it until the end of their writing as the section will often fall on the last few pages of their work.
The start is by far and away the best time as this is when your recollection of what each paper is about is freshest. Trying to summarize dozens of references or write meaningful reviews of them months after you have read them would be very difficult. However, this is often the situation that many students find themselves in when they sit down to write their Chicago style annotated bibliography.
Using Our Chicago Style Annotated Bibliography Generator
Our writers can quickly and efficiently generate a full bibliography for your work. They can either do it at the outset of your work providing you with additional help and guidance on conducting your research or they can help you with formatting your bibliography at the conclusion of your work. Even if you have failed to keep the required notes our experienced staff have the subject knowledge to generate your bibliography based on the information contained within your paper.
The staff member tasked with helping to generate your Chicago style annotated bibliography will be a PhD or at a minimum Masters qualified individual with significant research and writing experience. Working for this service means that they will have a huge knowledge of the writing that covers your field of research and access to many sources. They can provide you with a plagiarism free Chicago style annotated bibliography no matter how much information you have to hand to support them.


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Melbourne, Australia
Client: QIC / Seventh Wave
Design Team: Softroom Architects, ACME, Universal Design Studio, Gross Max, Space Agency
Local Consultants: Buchan Group, Electrolight, Probuild
With full completion in 2016, this high profile retail project is the product of intense collaboration between London based emergent designers and Melbourne based executive team. The visionary development is comprised of a new extension to the 1960's shopping centre, a new Town Square and public realm areas, redesigned community library and innovative facade facelift to car park structures. Eastland establishes a vibrant night time destination for leisure and retail - a new urban centre. Architectural lighting is utilised to enhance each of the character areas while also merging the different zones in a seamless manner.
Photo Credits: Stephanie Rooney Photography
Munich, Germany
Client: IBM
Team: Universal Design Studio, Switzer Group, VokDams
The Highlight Towers in Munich, Germany, are now home to the new global Headquarters for IBM's Watson Internet of Things businesses for customers interested in innovative use of integrated IoT and Watson cognitive technologies, bringing it closer to everyday users. Universal Design Studio was appointed to develop a new design language to represent IBM Watson IoT and an approach to explaining the complex nature of cognitive computing and the Internet of Things by using physical installations and experiments rather than the traditional over-use of screens. For UDS, digital themes like light & scale, multiples and granularity served as inspiration for determining material choices like black and white terrazzo, timber panels, concrete and machined Corian.
Lighting technology and lighting integration carried the same level of sophistication and application within each of the client spaces starting at the ground level feature reception and exhibition area, moving up to the 20th floor where Client Experience zones create an immersive journey by taking customers through the story of IBM IoT Watson technology. Lighting control systems and lighting choreography are programmed to work with interactive use of IBM IoT simulations to clearly demonstrate their new innovative technology. Whilst the back-end relies on a sophisticated lighting technology, considerations for front-end lighting ensure elegance and simplicity in the architectural lighting design.
Photo Credits: ©Eduardo Perez Photography
Geneva, Switzerland
Client: HSBC
Team: MAKE Architects, Itten+Brechbühl, Rigot+Rieben
Since its completion in 2014, HSBC Quay des Bergues is widely recognised for its quality of space and refined use of artificial light. A series of seven renovated buildings with historically listed facades are merged together in a single development to become the new corporate office headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Architectural lighting is thoroughly ingrained in the fabric of the building, permeating the entire project from the centralised feature grand atrium, typical office levels, to the trading floor, staff floor amenities and restrooms. From spaces conducive of productivity to those made for focus and intimacy, architectural lighting is fundamental to the success of the project.
2014- FX International Interior Design Awards - Winner - Global Project of 2014
2014- FX International Interior Design Awards - Shortlisted - Workspace Environment
2015 Lighting Design Awards - Shortlisted - International Project (Interiors)
2015 Building Awards - Shortlisted - International Project of the Year
Canberra, ACT - Australia
Client: QIC / Seventh Wave
Design Team: Universal Design Studio
Local Consultants: Mather Architects, S4B, BLOC
The design scheme includes restoring and redeveloping the historic 1963 centre, housing both Ainslie and Monaro Malls, with a new masterplan and newly designed facades, interiors and exterior spaces. The lighting was carefully designed and integrated within both new and existing architectural elements celebrating the new modernist design by Universal Design Studio. Harking back to 1950's and 60's lighting influences of simple yet bold shapes, the lighting language of illumination, hidden luminaires within architectural details and use of metal finishes threaded together three main designed environments connecting Ainslie Mall, Monaro Mall and the flagship Beauty Precinct as a new and innovative shopping experience in the city of Canberra.
Photo Credits: Diana Snape, Tom Ross
Paris, France
Client: Galeries Lafayette
Team: AL_A, Patriarche, Terrell, Theatre Projects, VPEAS
SEAM is delighted to be working together with AL_A and a team of talented design consultants on the transformation of the flagship Galeries Lafayette department store located on the Boulevard Haussmann in Paris for three levels of the iconic retailer.
Photo courtesy of AL_A
London, UK
Client: Tsujiri
Team: MIMStudios
Tsujiri is a tea shop in London designed by MIMStudios with the inspiration from traditional Japanese art and architecture. With wood elements creating a simple and clean design, SEAM has provided indirect lights hidden inside the ceiling and joinery that emphasise the warm material palette in the room. Uplighting along the mezzanine creates a bright and cozy atmosphere for the seating area at the upper floor.
Images: ©NAARO
Castle Hill, NSW - AUS
Client: QIC/Seventh Wave
Team: UN Studio, Universal Design Studio, The Buchan Group
Local Lighting Partner: PointOfView
SEAM, in partnership with PointOfView is delighted to be working together with award winning UN Studio and Universal Design Studio on along awaited expansion to Castle Towers Mall as an urban renewal leisure and retail lead development for Castle Hill, located 30km outside of Sydney. The development will comprise of refurbishment and rehabilitation to the existing Castle Towers Mall, new F&B premium and fine dining outlets and outdoor square park turning the shopping center into a prominent world class destination.
Photo courtesy of Hill News
Bangkok, Thailand
Client: PACE Development Corporation
Team: PACE Development Corporation, Buro: Ole Scheeren, Palmer & Turner Co., L49
The pinnacle of lifestyle, retail and luxury living are intertwined at Mahanakhon Tower to create a 24 hour destination where the complexity of life is active around the clock. SEAM is providing lead architectural lighting design for the iconic 77-storey tower in the centre of Bangkok, including the programmable 'pixelated' exterior facade, landscape plaza areas, retail interiors, outdoor retail terraces as well as the Ritz Carlton Residential Guest Areas. SEAM is working closely with Buro:Ole Scheeren, Palmer & Turner and David Collins Studio to provide a modern, elegant lighting design language for the MahaNakhon development. Crisp architectural details are sharpened with integrated lighting that give precedence to geometric precision in line with the architect's conceptual aspirations. Simultaneously, intelligent systems design allows for fine tuning of the lighting environment to suit the flow of activities and lifestyles.
Currently under construction
Images ©PACE Corporation
Bangkok, Thailand
Client: Central Pattana Public Co.
Team: Synthesis Design + Architecture, A49 Architects, Foundry of Space, Trop Design
The Central World Expansion is a new retail centre with upscale food & beverage outlets, designed by London and Los Angeles based Synthesis - Design + Architecture for Central Pattana Corporation. As a new icon for a well established retailer in Southeast Asia, the new Central World Expansion building is designed as a sculptural feature giving CPN presence on the main shopping avenue along Ploenchit Road. The former Central World shopping centre was set back from the main touristic traffic. New lighting technologies are incorporated into the architect's perforated cladding system. For the interiors, integrated lighting features the organic surfaces of rich materials that clad and hide the bulkhead services and storefront systems that feature the individual retail tenants. The geometry of the open retail circulation is based on vortexes derived from an analysis of pedestrian flow and serve to connect the main routes from street level and the BTS elevated rail to the existing Central World shopping centre. Within these vortexes are areas for rest, events and performances that tract activity and increase dwell time.
Completed December 2013
""The client wanted their new courtyard to be 'Talk of the town', in terms of commercial activities and Wow effect, in order to compete with their competitors, other High-end malls in the area." - archdaily.com
Photo Credits: ©Synthesis-DNA
New York, New York
Team: Jeffrey McKean Architects/Swanke Hayden Connell Architects
Fulfilling the aspirations of creating a prestigious new address in Manhattan, the Taiwanese Consulate is a renovated corporate office building and home to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Offices. SEAM provided lighting design services for public areas and typical office floor lighting, from concept through construction. A defining architectural statement is created in the grand double height atrium where custom feature wall provides a flexible exhibit display for curating cultural artifacts. Additionally, the lighting system designed for the atrium is multi-modal allowing the atrium to double as a performance space for special events that opens into art galleries at ground level and Mezzanine level. Theatrical performance lighting and architectural lighting are integrated into the lower ground floor auditorium including illuminated "skylights" that shine through the atrium floor above. A world class work environment and private offices are created on the upper levels.
Images: Jeffrey McKean Architects
Beirut, Lebanon
Client: Majid A l Futtaim
Team: SKP, ACME, Design Inc, Barbanel, Francis Landscapes
Beirut City Centre, a development by Majid Al Futtaim, is a large $300M retail complex, that comprises of over 60,000m² of retail space housing 200 stores located in Beirut's Hazmieh district. SEAM as specialist lighting designer, joined an international design team led by Samir Khairallah Partnership of Beirut, including London-based ACME for the feature roof light design, and DesignInc for the food and beverage outlets. Beirut City Centre is due to complete in 2013 delivering a world class standard, redefining shopping and leisure experience in Lebanon.
Images: ©Acme
Dubai, UAE
Client: EMAAR
EMAAR group invited SEAM design to Dubai to review the lighting and architectural design for the Dubai Mall set within the larger Dubai Downtown Development. Lighting and architectural assessment took into consideration the current design, pedestrian flows, key views and analysis. SEAM provided lighting design strategies and recommendations to reduce visual clutter, create a more comfortable retail environment with proposed improvements to the installed lighting systems, lighting controls and light balance.
Damascus, Syria
Client: Majid Al Futtaim
Team: ACME, AKT, ZEF, Conser, Davis Langdon, Sectorlight
Facades ornately adorned with Arabesque patterns of stonework are unified under a bespoke roof canopy structure. SEAM joined a design team lead by ACME to provide lighting design services for this unique visitor's gallery and showroom for the Khams Shamat Master Development located outside of Damascus, Syria. The structure consists of 4 pavilions arranged around individual feature courtyards celebrating the 5 'beauty marks' – the ancient cities of Greater Syria : Aleppo, Antioch, Damascus, Jerusalem and Tiberias. These pavillions are comprised of exhibition galleries, administrative offices, small theatre/auditorium, executive offices and lounge spaces. SEAM's lighting designs incorporated all public interior and exterior areas, including feature facade lighting.
Images: ©SEAM Design @Acme
Brackenell, UK
Client:Stanhope plc
Team:Nick Hancock Studio
Ocean House Reception is located in a mixed use retail-commercial development located in Bracknell. The project consisted of refurbishing all reception areas from the previous design enhancements completed in the 1980's. SEAM was brought on board to provide lighting design services for an updated interior fit out with clean materials and fresh lighting design.