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The Eighty Eights Show:
Your Premier Traveling Dueling Pianos in Dallas & Fort Worth TX
The Eighty Eights Show is your top traveling dueling pianos show in Dallas, Fort Worth, Addison, and the surrounding areas. We offer a unique dueling pianos experience that compliments events of any style, size, and group. That's the versatility of a dueling pianos show – it's your show, your way, all the way!
Contact Us to Learn More & Tell Us About Your Event!
With The Eighty Eights Show, a personalized dueling pianos experience is truly as simple as 1, 2, 3! First, you choose the location or event space, second, you hire your dueling pianos players and third - you sit back and enjoy!
Do you have special requests? Or maybe certain 'no-play' songs? Do you have additional information for your piano players? A party vibe you want to project, people to callup? A tradition you want to uphold? Just let The Eighty Eights Show know and we will happily accommodate! That's the beauty of a dueling pianos show - it is as flexible as you are, making your personalized party that much more memorable - because we aren't just your musician, we're your DJ too!
From corporate events to fundraisers, restaurants, nightclubs, weddings, rehearsal dinners, and even receptions – The Eighty Eights Show is the perfect addition to your lively occasion or party because we adapt to the audience.
We know thousands of songs, and your guests get to choose the music. Think of us as your living, breathing jukeboxes, but with a lot more flair and a lot more fun!
Have you ever waited & waited to hear your favorite song played in a bar or club, or even just on the radio? You'll never have this problem with our traveling dueling piano shows - hear your favorite music instantly!
The Eighty Eights Show Plays What You Want, Where You Want, When You Want!
As one of the premier traveling Dueling Pianos shows in Fort Worth and Dallas TX, we look forward to creating the very best experiences, memories, and events for our clients. All of our dueling pianos shows aim to exceed your expectations and leave you and your guests full of music, laughter, and great memories. Because when you hire The Eighty Eights Dueling Pianos Show, you get the whole package - musician, comedian, M.C. and more!
With The Eighty Eights Show, it's all about making memories, because this isn't just another party…it's your party!
Engaging, entertaining, and energetic performances of chart-topping hits from all genres and generations is just a small piece of the experience we offer at our events and for our clients.
The best (and the most fun) part of our traveling dueling pianos shows is the interactions with the audiences all over Texas. That's what makes each show in Fort Worth, Dallas, and Addison different, and that's what keeps us all young at heart and energetic long into the night. Because with The Eighty Eights Show each song, each evening, and each event is something completely new and different - so it never gets old!
At The Eighty Eights Show, getting to know your names and your favorite songs, encouraging sing-alongs, dancing, crowd-participation, and creating a party that is uniquely yours is our absolute passion and ultimate goal. And after our years in the industry - we know how to meet that goal and give you an amazing performance you'll never forget.
Seeing the smiles on our audiences' faces from the start to the finish of your special event is what makes us proud to be your top, local dueling pianos show in Fort Worth and Dallas Texas.
Dueling Piano Players for Hire
Dueling Piano Bars & Private Parties
The biggest differences between dueling pianos for hire and going to a dueling pianos bar are both the freedom and the familiarity of fellow acquaintances, friends, and family. You can't always choose who you are sharing a dueling pianos bar with and not knowing your fellow show-observers can make you and your guests more hesitant to participate, have fun, or engage with the entertainment - and that directly affects the show and your enjoyment of it. We want you to be able to have fun, sing loud, and laugh even louder, which is why a traveling dueling pianos show is the perfect entertainment for your next party, reception, or event.
Every great dueling piano player knows that any performance is only as good as the crowd - that's why we focus on exciting & entertaining you!
Even if you rent out a dueling piano bar (so you have control over the crowd of your work, holiday, family, or friend event) there are still matters of the venue's rules and regulations, requirements and limitations. Maybe you have to go through in-house catering or guarantee a certain bar minimum. Maybe there are noise, group size, or time limitations. Or maybe you just can't have that personalized touch that you want for your party - we've heard this complaint about goingt to a piano bar many times...
So, what's The Eighty Eights Show's solution?
In our many years of working at both corporate and private events, we've learned that the thing people truly want – is freedom.
Freedom to choose their guests
Freedom to choose their songs
Freedom to choose their venue
Freedom to choose their menu
and everything in-between!
And that is the true difference between traveling dueling pianos players for hire and a dueling pianos bar or private event rental – the freedom to make your event exactly as you wish it to be.
Areas The Eighty Eights Show Serves:
We are happy to be your best traveling dueling pianos in Fort Worth, Dallas, Addison, Garland, Carrollton, Richardson, Frisco, Plano, Irving, and Arlington Texas.
Don't see your city? Are you in the area? Then we can still come to you! That's the beauty of having traveling dueling pianos – we're never far away, and we can make it to you, set up, and get your event rocking in just a couple of hours.
Contact us to learn more about The Eighty Eights Show's pricing, availability, and areas served.
We can't wait to make your next event the talk of the town!
500 Terry Francois Street
San Francisco, CA 94158
Tel: 123-456-7890
Fax: 123-456-7890


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MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – When Real Salt Lake's 2015 campaign ended without a playoff appearance for the first time in eight years, promising midfielder Luis Gil had a sit-down with club general manager Craig Waibel to discuss his situation.
It's no secret Gil's performance tailed off last year. In 16 starts, he only notched one goal and two assists. It was admittedly a step back for the 22-year-old California native considering his career year in 2013, when he recorded a career-best five goals and three helpers after starting 24 games.
"We both reached an agreement that I felt I needed a change of scenery," Gil said of his meeting with Waibel. "We ended on good terms."
So it was no surprise when Gil agreed to a three-year contract with Liga MX club Queretaro FC via a free transfer in December. The move to Mexico is allowing him to elevate his game, Gil said early Tuesday evening from Miami, where he was with the US Under-23 men's national team, which is preparing for a home-and-away playoff against Colombia's U-23 team beginning on Friday (6 pm ET, FS1/UDN). The team that scores the most goals will get the final berth in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
"To play in Mexico is something I always wanted to do," Gil said. "It was easy for me making the transition. I still have family out there. They are not far from where I am at. And I am growing as a player. I am getting a lot of minutes. Obviously, it's a different style of soccer. It's raising my game even more."
Now, he's soaking in his new club's success. In the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals, Queretaro beat D.C. United on Feb. 23 and tied the MLS club 1-1 on March 1, which sent the Liga MX team to the semifinals, where they are tied with Tigres ahead of the second leg.
"It was cool because I got to experience a different side of soccer," Gil said. "And it was awesome that we won as well [against D.C. United]."
Despite his busy schedule, he said he still tries to keep up with his first professional team, Real Salt Lake, on his off days.
"It's interesting to see how they are doing," Gil said. "I wish them luck."

subset: commoncrawl


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Maribel Aviles
For more than two decades, this unique and multifarious woman and interior designer has been a fundamental part of hundreds of clients. She has touched their lives by creating unconventional spaces, whose purpose is to be functional before being beautiful. She can offer a wide range of services including project management, single room solutions and an entire home or office makeover. She can ensure every attention to detail is made, without compromising on design.
Maribel Aviles always surprises her clients and spectators with a fabulous shot of creativity, using her passion to combine different design styles to create unique spaces.
Aviles specializes in residential and commercial design, handling projects throughout Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic. She gets inspiration from eclecticism and incorporates client ideas with her own expert vision, creating a space that reflects their life and own personal style. She likes to integrate diversity and uniqueness in every space she gets to create.
The design for website features custom fonts, color transitions, scalable vector graphics (SVG) and subtle text shadows. The creation of a custom theme was imperative in order to follow the design pixel to pixel.


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50 Cent tries his best not to be mean to his rivals.
50 Cent isn't a bully; if anything, he's helping Ja Rule and Ashanti! At least, that's what he thinks. In the past, 50 Cent's trolling has definitely bordered on bullying but most of the time, it's all in good fun. However, when he went after Ashanti for her low ticket sales, she took it as inappropriate. Ashanti's request for Curtis to "cut it out" has officially been met with a response and Fiddy is actually doing some good for Ashanti and her associate Ja Rule, promoting his rival's upcoming concert.
Despite sharing a link to buy tickets to Ja's upcoming show, 50's intentions appear to be riddled in his malicious ways, pointing out how low seats are selling for. "People think I'm mean so go see this," wrote the entertainer. "$15 bucks🤔 wait what l do now." It would be hard to believe we've come to a point in Ja and 50's feud where the two are rooting for each other but the Get Rich Or Die Tryin' rapper is trying his best not to come across as a jerk.
Earlier today, we shared an image that Fif posted from way back in 1995, showing off his decades-old hustle with his crew. He's been teasing the next season of Power on his social accounts, hinting that the upcoming episodes may be the last. Check out his response to Ashanti and Ja Rule below.


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It's not too early to dream of summer! Concordia Langue Villages offers some extra incentives to sign up for camp by December 1st.
Our Lodge scholarship deadline is February 15th and requires proof of registration so you may as well get it done early and enter the prize drawing. For more info on Lodge scholarships to Skogfjorden and Masse Moro, visit our Lodge website.
Here is the email today from Concordia:


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Get to know Mr Balloonatic
Mr Balloonatic, also known as Michael, is a PartyWizz entertainer and an international award-winning balloon artist! He has the reputation of being able to make anything out of balloons.
Memorably, he was once asked to make a troll on a motorbike jumping over 17 giraffes…Michael skillfully made the trolls on the motorbike and kindly told the kid it was feeding time at the zoo!
Although he says it's difficult to be sure, he estimates he has used more than 2 million balloons in his career.
Mr Balloonatic loves his job as he is able to bring colour, imagination, entertainment, smiles and unique creations to events while at the same time reducing stress for parents and organisers.
A few creations from Mr Balloonatic:
Quickfire questions with Mr Balloonatic:
We asked Mr Balloonatic a series of questions to answer off the top of his head. Here are some of his responses:
Favourite joke
What do vegetarians eat:
Ok… So what do humanitarians eat?
Why do you do what you do?
I love putting a simile on peoples' faces
What was your best ever show?
Performing in the first ever street performer's world championships.
What was your worst ever show?
Outdoor shows when it rains and no one wants to brave the elements for a balloon!
Something we wouldn't know about you?
I collect Swatch watches
How did you get started making balloons?
I blame my parents; They gave me a balloon modelling kit for my 8th birthday. The rest is history.
Why do you like PartyWizz?
It makes everything easier and hassle-free.
To learn more about Mr Balloonatic, and how to book him for one of your events, take a look at his entertainer profile page.


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At first, sound doctrine is cherished. Enthusiasm for gospel ministry runs high. A generation or two later, the same congregation is on its last legs. Biblical convictions are eroded or abandoned. Fervency for the global expansion of the gospel is relic of the past. It's tremendously sad to read. It's even sadder to watch.
What's going to keep that from happening at KingsWay?
I've been grappling with that question for several years, and all the more since stepping into my new role as lead pastor. I think the answer is surprisingly simple. Don't make assumptions. Refuse to take a single one of our biblical values and commitments for granted. Instead, find ways to establish enduring, gospel-centered rhythms in our church life that regularly strengthen our vision for specific, biblical priorities.
Take international missions for example. God has charged us to go and make disciples of all nations. The day we assume that priority is the day we start losing that priority. We can't let that happen. Our role in the global expansion of the gospel is simply too important for us to neglect the priority of international missions. Hence the idea to establish an annual Missions Weekend where we do several things as a church:
- Remember why God is passionately committed to saving men and women from every tribe and tongue
- Rejoice in the amazing work God's doing through the missionaries and denominational ministries we support
- Pray for the gospel to go forth in power among specific unreached people groups
- Prepare for short-term mission teams going abroad in the next year
I'm thrilled to announce that our 2017 Missions Weekend will be held on March 11-12, 2017. Highlights include hearing Andrea Baker share how the gospel is transforming women coming out of prostitution in La Paz, Bolivia, watching video testimonies from missionaries we support in Thailand and Namibia, as well as listening to Mark Prater explain the work God is doing in Sovereign Grace churches around the world. Add to that extended times of worship and prayer, a break-out session on our 2017 mission trips, an international lunch, and you have the makings of quite a weekend.
The schedule of events is available here. We've worked hard to fit as much content as possible into a Saturday evening and Sunday morning you don't want to miss. I'm especially excited for Mark to join us. He was elected several years ago by the assembly of elders to serve as the executive director for Sovereign Grace Churches. Mark is passionately committed to seeing our denomination become a global family of churches. On a more personal level, he was a significant source of personal encouragement for me amidst the painful leadership transition we navigated in 2015. He is a peacemaker, a man of prayer, and eagerly accepted my invitation to spend time with our church. The fact that Andrea Baker was also willing to fly all the way from Bolivia to participate in our Missions Weekend is no less amazing.
God really is doing a new work in our midst. He's building a long-term vision for global missions. The ethnic diversity of our church is increasing. Giving to our International Missions Fund has gone up significantly in the last year. Folks who have never travelled abroad are applying for short-term mission trips. I'm already praying that our annual Missions Weekend becomes a catalyst God uses to raise up a harvest of missionaries from KingsWay who will take the gospel to lands where Christ is not known.
So mark your calendars for March 11-12. And if you have any questions about the event or want to volunteer, contact Serena Walker at email@example.com. We need all the help we can get to make it happen.
"May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations." – Psalm 67:1-2


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One of the big stories over the past few weeks is protests going on around the county by fast food workers demanding higher pay. In some cases, these people are walking off the job in protest. Fast food workers are protesting at McDonalds, Wendy's, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC and others. Many of these workers are upset because they believe they should be paid more, in some cases more than double what they are being paid today.
I think the workers have every right to protest, find other jobs or quit. The business model at these restaurants will not adequately support higher pay. The jobs are lower wage because they are repetitive in nature, requiring only basic skills. The jobs were designed for employees with limited training and that can be done will little supervision. Further, the customers of these fast food restaurants want low cost food. They want the restaurants to continue promotions, to continue their $1 menus and continue their discounted 'combo' offerings.
The real problem with this scenario is the people who are now working these low skilled, entry level fast food jobs. Traditionally, most of the fast food jobs were taken by high school and college aged students who might be living at home and in a position to make minimum wage. They were gaining good experience while at the same time wanting a flexible schedule where they might be only working 20-30 hours per week.
If you go into most fast food restaurants today, the employees are people in there 20s or 30s, sometimes older, who have children and families to support. No longer are these employees wanting to work part time with flexible schedules. They want to work 40 hours a week, have benefits and be paid a wage that will allow them to support not only themselves, but their family.
The real problem is the people who are in these jobs are low skilled workers who are unable to find other employment. Companies don't want to invest in training. They want to hire people ready to work and contribute day one. Further, there are a limited number of higher paid jobs, there are not enough manufacturing jobs in American that pay higher wages.
The real long term solution is to create an environment where companies can afford to manufacture goods in the US again. This will create higher demand for skilled works and will result in employers willing to hire and train the people they need.
There are many things that the President and Congress can do to improve the economic conditions and jobs in the United States. I hope that rather than make it more difficult for businesses to operate, with programs like Obamacare, they should be making a concerted effort to make it easier and less expensive. This will result in more higher paying jobs, this is the real solution that these fast food workers want and need.


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How to Loom Knit a Baby Blanket
Knifty Knitter Baby Blanket
This blanket is the size of an infant-receiving blanket. It is perfect for covering the infant's car seat, crib, or bassinet. It is loom-knitted using the fashion stitch on a blue long loom. I used two strands of worsted-weight yarn. Feel free to substitute any baby yarn by holding two strands of a lightweight yarn together as one strand as you knit.
You will need basic crochet skills to complete the cast-off and shell border of this blanket. If you've never crocheted before, I'm sharing videos you can learn from at the bottom of this tutorial.
The Fashion Stitch on the Blue Long Loom
1. Holding two strands of white yarn as if they are one, cast on to the loom (that means wrap the first row) using the eight wrap. You can see the eight wrap cast on in the photo above.
2. Each future row will be wrapped for the fashion stitch. Wrap the second row with the stitch (video at the bottom). After the second row is wrapped, knit by bringing the bottom loop of yarn up over the top loop, releasing it toward the inside of the loom. Knit around the loom until each peg on the long loom has only one loop of yarn left.
3. Using the fashion stitch wrap, continue to knit until you have 100 rows.
4. Without cutting the working yarn, cast-off (remove the knit from the loom) by using a crochet hook to slip stitch the working yarn through each loop as you remove it from the pegs. Make a single crochet stitch between each loop. Follow the path of the yarn wrapped on the loom as you continue to remove each loop from the loom. This is called the crochet cast off.
- If the crochet cast off seems too difficult, you can simply use a yarn needle and thread to sew through each loop as you remove it from the loom.
5. It's time to crochet the edges. The blanket was knitted using two yarns as one. Tie off and cut only one of these yarns. Use the remaining yarn to crochet around the edges of the blanket. Watch the videos below for more information.
- Crochet around the perimeter of the blanket using the single crochet stitch.
- Crochet around the perimeter once more using the double crochet stitch.
- Finally, crochet around the edge using the shell stitch.
- Tie off your yarn.
6. Thread the ribbon through a yarn needle and use it to weave the ribbon into the knit. I did this approximately one inch from the edge of the blanket. The pattern I used was to go over 2, then under 2, as I weaved up the rows. You can see this pattern in the photo. I used pink ribbon and green ribbon.
Fashion Stitch
Single Crocheting the Edge
Crocheting a Shell Stitch Border
Do you have any questions?
If you want to leave a question or comment about this blanket pattern, you can do so here. I'll get back with you soon.
© 2012 hsschulte
Questions or Comments? - Leave them here
Thanks for the pattern. My question is, is the "8 wrap" stitch only done at the beginning row and "fashion stitch" the remaining rows?
Does anyone have any advise on the length of this blanket. When i did the 100 rows and figure with the edge trimmings it does not measure to 3.5 by 2.5. It falls short by 11 inches.
I love this pattern, I have finished doing the 100 rows, and it only measures 26 inches. Shouldn't it be longer than that? Even with the border it wouldn't measure out 3.5 x 2.5. I would appreciate it if you could help. Thanks
is the center of the 22 inch loom to be more narrow then the ends?
There are videos online using a loom to create a shell stitch border then attaching it to blanket. I was thinking a crochet cast on and cast off was mentioned. As for MS loom you can find many videos on blankets.
Love your detailed videos, very helpful. However I can't find the one instructing how to remove the project from the loom.
Any help work be appreciated, thank-you
Can you show me how to cast off on the fashion stitch. Do you have a video that shows it if so were do I find it
I'm finishing up my 2nd blanket. This one has gone much quicker. Thank you so much for your ez to follow instructions and especially including the videos. I have never crocheted until making these blankets and now I have confidence to do more.
I really want to make this for my great niece. I wanted to do it and have it finished for Christmas but i didn't get to. So my question is I have and use the Martha Stewart loom and I have the tiny pegs in bc the yarn is very thin even when doubled. I have 124 pegs in it. Do you think the blanket will turn out pretty? Thank you
@paula-benson-9: I just started this blanket with a brand new long loom and it is so squeezed together its upsetting me.Since the pattern is so easy and pretty. Anyone have an idea what to do when it does this?
when making the fashion stitch baby blanket does the loom squeeze together in the middle when working the pattern
Do I need to finish the cast-on row (as I would a scarf) or will the row of single crochet take care of that edge. Thank you for the great pattern!
Hello again! I am up to the single crochet edging which I think I'll be fine with thanks to your video. I'm unsure how to start the double crochet as to where I insert the needles and the video shown for the shell stitch just starts with chains. I assume I crochet the shells right to the blanket but not sure how to start that also? Hope my question makes sense. Baby came early so I'm late, please help lol! Thank you!
How to knit the 3 stitches in front and last 3 and purl in the middle?
The video is great, but doesn't show how to get started. Can someone help with this?
This is so pretty. I have three questions. I'm using a baby yarn doubled but I think it may not be heavy enough weight. Can you mention what type of yarn you are using. My large skein? is 300+ yards, not sure if that is the same as what you'd consider large skein? Lastly do you start off wrapping the peg that has the slipknot to start? I'm doing something wrong because one end just ends up with one wrap instead of two. Thank you.
Hanging out trying to be a "badass contractor" over here in the desert...and found out I am just a softy that wants to knit a baby blanket for my little one coming in July :) If that goes well I would like to do some mittens (to prevent scratching) and a little hat. I have your site favorited and the order shipping from amazon...I cannot wait to get started. Welp time to go do something manly hahaha.
I am a beginner with the knitter loom and just started my first project.
there is a knitting or crochet jacket that im trying to make in the loom .can it be do
@anonymous: yes how do u cast the fashion stitch?
This looks like something which would be fun to try!
I can't seem to find the pattern for this blanket. I did find the video's for the different stitches. Am I missing something here?
How long is your blanket? Is the width, the width of the blue long loom, or did you double it?
how do you cast on for the fashion stitch?
I'll be making this one! Thanks for the instructions.
nice job on the knitting. you have a talent that not everyone have.
How do you change the colors in the weave?
can you do a video showing how you crochet the boarder? I have tried several times and I fail every time I just don't know what im doing wrong??


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Today's 7 Most Important Stories.
SAN FRANCISCO -- The California Supreme Court ruled unanimously Thursday that a Mexican immigrant without a green card may be licensed as a lawyer, though his employment prospects will be limited. In an opinion by Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, the state's high court said a law passed late last year by the Legislature enabled the court to admit Sergio C.
A meal of fish and chips was a welcome change on Jan. 1 for a Seattle woman who had just completed a year challenge to eat only Starbucks products. Beautiful Existence (yes, that is her real name) says she committed herself to consuming only Starbucks-affiliated drinks and foods, including Roy Street Coffee & Tea, Tazo Tea and Evolution Fresh, for 365 days.
Indiana 35-year-old Bonita Lynn Vela has been arrested on preliminary charges of battery with a deadly weapon and criminal confinement with a deadly weapon. A central Indiana woman is accused of holding a man against his will at a house trailer and using a box cutter to cut his penis.
Just as it seemed the news surrounding the "Duck Dynasty" cast was dying down, the A&E reality family made another splash as a video announcing their new gun line began circulating online.
Talk about animal magnetism! Scientists discovered that dogs across a variety of breeds align their body axis with the Earth's magnetic field (MF) when relieving themselves. 70 dogs out of 37 different breeds -- beagles and dachshunds and Yorkshire terriers, oh my!
Wal-Mart is giving customers in China refunds on 'Five Spice Donkey Meat' after discovering it was tainted with other animal products. Wal-Mart is recalling donkey meat in China after it was found to be contaminated with other animal products. Wal-Mart said it was recalling the meat in Jinan, the provincial capital of Shandong.
Canada is having a cold snap at the moment. This week, in Southern Manitoba, the temperature reached a blisteringly frigid -31 degrees Celsius, or nearly -24 Fahrenheit. (Wind chill values in Winnipeg-in case you were curious and/or in need of some meteorological schadenfreude-dipped to -58 Fahrenheit.)


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Have you seen it? Have you read the amazing book yet? If not you definitely should! I'm pretty sure I damaged my eyes with all the copious crying I did today. The amount eclipsed my tears shed when Sirius died in book 5 of Harry Potter and the end of the Notebook combined. So don't say I didn't warn you.
Anyways, I did give myself a headache so I had to kick back and relax a bit before hopping on the computer to bring you your next sweet treat. I promise I haven't forgotten you wonderful followers (and visitors) of mine!
In case if you're new around here, here's how it works:
- Swing by the blog on Saturdays to snag a sweet free treat
- See a sneak peak of the Sunday Super Steal Deal item (or items)
- Super Steal Deals start on SUNDAY and last all week!
- Facebook Fans have an additional opportunity to win the Sunday Steal Deal (make sure you're a fan!)
Today's sweet treat comes from my newest creation, Stationery Central. There are 4 different cute pencil pages included to support the various levels of your writers:
I don't know about your class, but my kiddos love to write letters and notes to each other! I usually introduce different kinds of letter writing throughout the year in conjunction with dramatic play. For example, around Christmas we learned how to write letters (we practiced first by writing to Santa Claus) and cards.
Around Valentine's Day we add postcards into the mix, so that at the dramatic play post office the kiddos can choose between post cards or sending a letter.
After letter writing has been introduced, the materials remain available in the writing center for the kiddos to choose during Work on Writing if they want. I keep it fun and engaging with different seasonal stationery templates. You can find the letter writing stationery, anchor charts, launch lesson plans and more in the pack below- which you can grab for a STEAL of a deal all next week!


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Plumbing and Radiant Heating are the most important part of our daily life. PEX plumbing system is quite new to our society but has a significant impact on our daily life.
|PEX Tubing
|PEX Cutter
|PEX Crimp Tool
|PEX Clamp Tool
|PEX Fittings
|PEX Manifolds
|PEX Crimp Rings
|PEX Clamp Rings
So, what are PEX Plumbing and Radiant Heating? So, let's jump out to find what makes it great. Let's start with PEX Plumbing.
## PEX Plumbing
PEX is a full form of High-Density Polyethylene(HDPE). It has become the most popular piping system for different types of applications. It has several advantages over other pipes.
It was first invented in Europe around 1968. After around a decade, It came to the USA and the usage of PEX pipe has blown up since then.
This pipe is durable and flexible at once. Yes, it's a bit odd, but PEX can carry a high load of water supply even in 90-Degree. And also you don't have to use any elbow connection for this.
Now, it's get used for resident water supply, radiant heating, temperature-based water supply. Also, it gets used in high-voltage electricity pipe insulation.
After all, not to mention that PEX also works well in sewage/wastewater supply. The natural gas transportation is another odd usage of this piping system.
So, it's clear that PEX piping has great usage around the industry. It works far better than alternatives like PVC, CPVC, and copper piping. Unlike other pipes, PEX doesn't get corrosion and holes.
Due to its easy installation, PEX is popular among beginners and professionals.
According to the colorings, the red pipe carries hot water, blue for cold and white for neutral.
## Advantages of PEX Plumbing
Let's recap some of the advantages of PEX pipe over other traditional pipes.
- PEX pipe comes with proper flexibility. Due to its flexibility, you can carry the pipes without cutting into pieces. And it can bend up to 90-degree and more.
- It's less weighted and easy to transport with minimal costs.
- The PEX pipe doesn't need many fittings like alternative pipes.
- It can merge with existing copper or PVC connection with correct fittings.
- PEX doesn't carry heat too much and preserves the energy in the pipes.
- The pipe doesn't get rusted with long usage. Also, it won't create unwanted layers inside.
- Water flows faster and with little sound in PEX pipes. That eliminates the water noises you hear from usual water supply lines.
- With blue and red coloring anyone can detect the hot and cold supply line.
- PEX can bear high-temperature supply up to 120 °C without any effect.
- It expands when the water freezes inside the pipe. When the water goes back to normal, the PEX pipe goes into the original position. This avoids pipe-freeze breakage.
Needless to say, it's the new generation piping system. And it's the future.
## Types of PEX Plumbing
PEX pipes are available in main 3 separate categories. Yet, those category doesn't define its quality, rating, and standard. Those state the manufacturing process of the pipe.
Here's all in details.
- PEX-A: It's made by Engel method. That means it's the highest uniform and flexible PEX pipe in the market. It's known as the best quality pipe and cost more than other categories.
- PEX-B: This PEX pipe made of the Silane method. It's the latest invention of PEX piping. It's a little bit less flexible than "A", but cost much lesser. Also, it has built-in memory coil that helps it get into the original shape after bending. It's a recommended pipe for residential and water supply usage.
- PEX-C: This type of PEX pipe is the result of Electronic Irradiation. So, it's the less flexible PEX pipe to use. But, it's suitable for short time usage and where you don't have to bend the pipe. Thus, it does not have a built-in coil and much cheaper.
By the way, you can also get two types of PEX pipes depending on Oxizen briar. The one with Oxizen briar gets used in the heating system. And the non-Oxigen-barrier PEX pipe gets used in the hot and cold water supply.
## Types of PEX Connections
PEX pipe supports many types of connections. Those lets you create PEX to PEX or PVC and other pipes connection.
Here's the common type of PEX connection that you can use.
- Crimp connection: It's the most used connection in PEX piping. In this connection, we use a copper crimping ring to make a connection with PEX or other pipes. First of all, input the crimp rings into the pipe and insert the fittings. Now crimp the ring on the pipe using PEX crimping tool. That's it.
- Clamp connection: The clamp connection use a clamp ring to secure the fittings. It's a bit cheaper choice over crimp connection. Because the Clamp rings very easy to use. Now insert the ring over PEX and fit the fittings. Take the PEX crimping tool and press it on the clamp ring. It will provide you compelling watertight-seal like, crimp connection.
- Expansion method: This method works with an expansion tool to make connections. Here you have to insert a plastic crimping ring on the PEX pipe. Then take the expansion tool and insert it into the pipe. Once you expand the pipe up to the mark, set the fitting into PEX. Finally, move the already inserted plastic ring over the fitting aria.
- Push-fit method: It's the easiest PEX connection to go with. Primarily, insert the Push-fit fittings over PEX pipe and you will be good to go. This will give you full water leakage protection. You can use the removing kit to remove the Push-fit fittings.
So, those were the PEX connection that you can use all the time. Along with those, you will also find the compression fitting connection. But, this connection costs more than standard PEX fittings. That's why it doesn't get used that often.
## Types of PEX Fittings
We have many kinds of PEX fittings in the market. Every fitting are suitable for their specific PEX connection. Most of the fittings are available in brass, plastic or bronze.
Firstly, we have PEX crimp fittings. You can use crimp or clamp rings to set crimp fittings into PEX pipe. It's mostly used and available fittings in the market.
Then we have push fittings for PEX. This works with Push-to-connection mechanism. it only works with PEX-A pipe. However, you will have a disconnect tool to remove the fittings.
The expansion and compression fittings are only compatible with their respective connection methods.
At last, there's also a press PEX fittings. Here you can install the fittings with a button push. You would have to use a press tool to complete the PEX fittings.
Most of the time the clamp fittings are the most effective and economic PEX fittings.
## PEX Tools Available
There are different kinds of tools available to help you to work with PEX. Generally, those tools come in combine kit for a fair price tag.
Let's take a look at all those PEX tools that you will need during installation.
PEX Crimper tool: This is the most used tool for PEX plumbing. It simply lets you crimp any copper crimp or clamp rings on the pipe. The crimper tool comes with two default category. first one will offer you interchangeable crimp heads to work with all kinds of crimp rings. And the other one is specially made for clamp rings. And you can use one tool to press all sizes of clam rings.
PEX De-Crimper tool: You can easily remove the crimp rings using a De-Crimper tool. Place the tool on crimp rings and press hard. Then you can remove the ring. Yet, you can still use the fitting.
PEX Expander tool: Its get used in the expansion method fittings. It expands the PEX sleeves to insert fittings and seal the rings over it.
PEX Cutter tool: This tool lets you cut PEX pipes with the proper angle. You must cut the pipe correctly, before inserting the fitting.
Whether you are DIYer or professional, those tools are great to work on PEX plumbing projects. The price can vary according to the manufacturer. But, can go for kits that come with all those tools including crimping rings.
## Disadvantage of PEX
Although PEX is ideal on the go plumbing solution, it has some downside to follow. Keep those in mind when using it.
- You must keep the PEX pipe out of direct sun-light contact. It may get weaker if you leave it outside. So, You must shield it from the sun.
- Sometime you may face problem to connect the PEX to brass fittings.
- Those are the things to watch out for. Outside of those factors, you will get a great range of facilities.
## Main Usage of PEX Plumbing
We can use PEX pipe on every plumbing situation. But, PEX is mainly popular for it's hot & cold water supply and Radiant Heating.
It's extremely popular in residential water supply lines due to its diverse facilities. It's also safe for drinking waters usage.
Another main application of PEX is radiant heating. The Oxygen-Barrier PEX gets used in this type of heating system. Radiant floor heating is the most used application of this sector.
## Radiant Heating
The Radiant Heating system is the most popular heating system for housing. This home heating system works using reading heating technology. It's safe, efficient and works great.
In radiant heating, you don't get to see the heating particles. It radiates the heat to all objects in the room.
Usually, we use different kinds of radiant heating system with own purpose. The option is the radiant floor heating system.
A radiant heating system can work with the air and hydronic(liquid-based) mechanism. You can get an evenly hot feeling throughout the aria.
Above all, this doesn't create polluted air. instead, it keeps the air clean and oxygen reach.
## Advantage of Radiant Heating
There's a lot of advantages of radiant heating over the conventional heating systems. With those facilities, the popularity of radiant heating is high of all time.
Here are some of the reasons that make the radiant heating the core of our eyes.
- It's safe and healthy than other heating systems. It does not create any polluted or allergic air during heating.
- Radiant heating consumes less energy thus saves your bill for your heating system up to 10%.
- Heat-up any specific area evenly to give you thermal comfort. According to CBE's research, radiant heating provides save thermal comfort as all-air buildings.
- Don't get too hot or cold like another heating system.
- It's can maintain a specific temperature for a long time.
- You can also control the radiant heating temperature using Wifi or other tools.
It would be the best heating solution for your house. It's also easy to install if you are starting a new project or re-innovate your home.
## Types of Radiant Heating
Currently, there are mainly two types of Radiant Heating are available. First one is Hydronic (liquid-based) and anther is air-based.
In Hydronic radiant heating system, we use hot water to flow under the floor through PEX pipes. The hot water comes from a boiler or other small heating source.
The water-based radiant heating system is economic and powerful. Because it's needs less power to get an even amount of temperature.
On the other side, Air based radiant heating uses hot airs to work with. At first, we pump the hot air into the floor slabs. Then after some time, the floor starts to get heated. it's not that efficient heating method to use.
There's also electrical redient heating available to use. Here you have to install electrical padding under your floor. It uses electrical power to warm up your home. It won't be a good option as it can cost you the most with the electric bills.
Both Hydronic and air-based Radeient heatings get used on the same applications. We will feature those applications in the next section.
## Applications of Radiant Heating
Radiant heating technology has three types of applications. Whatever the situation, Those are the basic application to work with.
- Radiant Floor Heating: It's the most efficient and cheap application for use. PEX pipes are gets installed into the floor to heat the space. Here you will get an equal warm feeling in ever places of the area. The heat comes from the floor and heat all the objects in its pathway. Your room will start to circulate the hot air to make the environment equally balanced. The floor doesn't get too hot at any moment. And it can keep the temperature consistent throughout the time.
- Radiant Wall Heating: In this application, you have to install radiating panels at the wall of your house. Due to its position, you can only feel the heat if you are close to the radiation panels. It won't be your best heating system, as it will need much more energy to heat the area evenly.
- Radiant Ceiling Heating: It's the less used application of redient heating. Here you have to install the radiation unit at your ceiling. This method is not suitable for residential use. Most of the time, it get used in warehouse, sports center, and open public places.
So, those are the Redient Heating application that you can go for. Popular places like Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport are using radiation heating method. And the latest building that used radiant heating is Exploratorium of Sun Fransico.
## Suitable Flooring for Radiant Heating
In Radiant floor heating system, you can use specific types of flooring. Some work good with radiant heating and some may not. Let's find it out.
The recommended flooring option you should go for is concrete ceramic tiles. The radiation of heat will work best with those type of flooring option. As you can easily control the temperature of your floor, it would be a big step to save your heating bill.
But, make sure that you don't use a very thin slab of concrete or ceramic in your flooring. It would be difficult to heat the floor if it's thicker then required.
If you want to go for a wooden floor, then you must laminate the wood before. The fluctuation of the temperature may cause breakage of wood. So, laminate your wooden floor properly.
lastly, avoid using thicker carpets on the floor. In case you use carpets, those should be thinner with high density. It would be best if you use carpet as less as possible. Any insulation on the floor may reduce the effect of radiant heating.
But, you can also use other types of flooring as radiant heating can work with many kinds of flooring. But concrete or ceramic tile floor is ideal for the radiant heating system.
## Disadvantage of Radiant Heating
The radiant heating might be the core of the new-age heating system, but it still has some drawback to look on.
Here we have listed them.
- Installation Cost: Radiant heating installation bills can vary according to your location. Also, the labor cost can play a vital role to set up the installation cost. You may have to spend 6 to 15 dollar for each square foot, sated This Old House.
- Floor height: the radiant heating system may slightly increase the floor height.
Despite some issues, Radiant heating is an efficient way of heating.
## Popularity of Radiant Heating
The popularity of radiant heating is getting high for all kinds of works. Radiant floor heating is extremely popular for residential usage. Wall and ceiling heating panels are popular in the warehouse and outdoor facilities.
Whatever your project is radiant heating provides you a properly working heating system. And it's cost-effective as well.


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Have you ever fancied being on Radio?
Radio Wymondham is a local community radio station based just a few minutes from Wymondham Town Centre.
We are looking for new enthusiastic, motivated & fun presenters to join our growing team.
Absolutely NO experience required!
If you love music, have a strong passion, love to talk or maybe you're just a people person – This role is for you!
*Please note this is a voluntary position.


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We consider how flexible working can support staff and the delivery of a quality service
Jon Tricker, Managing Director of KPMG Gibraltar, considers how flexible working can support staff and the delivery of a quality service
Make KPMG your next move.
Our work impacts clients, the marketplace and society at large. We want to work with people who share the belief that what we do matters.
It isn't just about the work you do, it's about making every day count.
Find out about the services we offer clients and where your skills may be best suited.
Commitment to our communities is one of our core values
KPMG combines our multi-disciplinary approach with deep, practical industry knowledge.
At the core of our vibrant culture are a set of values that bring out the best.


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The dad and mom of a drunken driver killed in an automotive crash final 12 months are using Tiger Woods, blaming him and his girlfriend for his or her son being intoxicated after which getting behind the wheel. In a lawsuit filed Monday, the dad and mom of Nicolas F. Immesberger say their son, who labored as a bartender on the golfer's Jupiter, Fla., restaurant, The Woods, was served extreme alcohol there after his shift after which allowed driving, the Los Angeles Times reports. As well as, they are saying Woods' girlfriend, Erica Herman, the restaurant supervisor, recruited Immesberger to be a bartender regardless of realizing that he was an alcoholic. Immesberger died Dec. 10 after dropping management of his automotive on a Florida freeway, in line with the Occasions. His blood alcohol stage was .256, more significant than three times the authorized restrict.
Immesberger's dad and mom, co-managers of his property, declare of their swimsuit that after their son's shift was over Dec. 10, "the staff, administration and house owners of The Woods over-served a younger man they knew was struggling with the illness of alcoholism," CBS Information experiences. In keeping with the criticism, Immesberger drank for about three hours earlier than the staff at The Woods "[sent Immesberger] out to his automobile to drive residence. On account of this negligence, Immesberger crashed his car and died."Neither Woods nor Herman have been on the restaurant that night time, the Occasions stories.
Nonetheless, as CBS notes, the lawsuit argues that because the proprietor, Woods is "instantly liable for making certain that his staff and administration" weren't overserving its staff and prospects. Reporters caught up with Woods at a PGA press convention Tuesday in Bethpage on New York's Lengthy Island."We're all heartbroken that Nick handed away," Woods mentioned when requested in regards to the go well with. "It was a horrible evening, a horrible ending. And we feel dangerous for him and his whole household. It's miserable."


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David Droga knows a thing or two about advertising.
A wunderkind who became a creative director in his twenties, he has gone on to a distinguished career that has landed him in the Art Directors Club Hall of Fame and the American Advertising Federation Hall of Achievement, and has led the agency he founded, Droga5, to success. He is the most awarded creative at the Cannes advertising festival. But he is also a vocal critic of the industry, calling out creative laziness and praising a digital age that lets consumers ignore bad ads more easily than ever.
Mr. Droga spoke with The Globe and Mail about advertising that works, and what's coming next.
You were recently named chairman of the 50th International ANDY Awards. Is there actual value in award shows for advertising?
There are certainly a lot of award shows – we may rival the entertainment industry. There are generally speaking, globally, too many shows. But then, there are a handful that are very important … they're more than just an ego stroke. It's a way of recording how we're moving forward, and setting benchmarks for next year and the year after. … Once something's been awarded, it forces us to move on and be more original. It allows clients to realize there are people in the same categories as them, or in neighbouring categories, who are pushing, and setting benchmarks they may want to aspire to. The ANDYs has been around for 50 years and it's always done that. From a judge's perspective, I also like the fact that it's comprehensive. Award shows have become so big now that they're segmented into categories so much. As a creative person, you only get to see one very narrow part of the industry. You might just look at television, or cyber, or mobile. The ANDYs is comprehensive. You really get to see the ecosystem of our industry in all its glory, and how things interact. I think that's why it's always a treat for the people who do judge it. You get to really do a cross-section of the state of the industry, as opposed to just one dimension of it. That's why it's important. … You need to be motivated, and nothing motivates you like seeing great work other people have created.
As president of the new Innovation jury in Cannes this year, you said you were encouraged by the opportunity to award "ideas and thinking not necessarily limited to a single brand, moment or campaign." Why is that important now?
We are not just creating advertising that fits into a 30-second commercial … Sometimes that manifests itself in a 30-second narrative, and sometimes it can be a new product. ... Not everything we create is a disposable advertisement. Sometimes it can be long-term product thinking, a strategic road map for the brand, or partnerships and alliances they haven't thought about. We may have the creative hat, but we can have business boots.
Droga5 nabbed quite a few awards for its work for Prudential Insurance, which told real stories of people's first day of retirement through photos and intimate short films. This kind of storytelling seems to be more common. Why do you think that is?
Nothing connects with people like humanity. That doesn't mean you have to tell slice-of-life stories all the time. But you know, with so many options in technology, the consumer's not really that interested in advertising. … They are interested in great stories. That transcends any medium. … Life insurance and financial services has been quite a patronizing category for the last 30 or 40 years. We wanted to try and humanize it … Instead of scaring [consumers] that they're all going to retire poor or trick them into thinking they're all going to retire with a yacht, make them realize there are people just like them going through things just like them, and make them realize that we're on their side. There's honesty and truth in that. ... As huge as reality TV is now in the world, look, what's the reflex to that? Reality TV is not going anywhere but, the backlash to that has been this influx of great programming, great storytelling on all these cable channels – and you've got Netflix now – HBO, Showtime. Not everyone wants to skim and graze. We're moved by emotions, and characters, and stories. We love that.
At the same time, you wrote in Esquire recently that a lot of agencies are pushing the panic button right now. How has technological change forced advertising to rethink what it is?
The fundamental principle of the industry hasn't changed. We are there to create connections, to inspire, to educate, to sell. But how we do it has changed. The rules have changed drastically. It was an industry built on assumptions, that there was only a certain amount of media that people would consume and the disruption of advertisement – whether in a magazine or on a radio station or a television channel – consumers kind of accepted that. That was the price they paid for giving them great content or programming that they wanted. But then technology changed. You can't necessarily just spend your way into consumers' attention; you have to earn your way into their attention. That's a great thing for the industry, because it stops us being so lazy. … It puts the onus back on us to be more interesting, more strategic, more relevant – back on us to just be good again. A lot of the industry is panicking because we've sort of backed ourselves into a corner. It was all ticking boxes. It became very formulaic. That's why advertising had this bad reputation. I love the power of this industry, and I love some of the thinking that comes from this industry, but a huge proportion of it sort of goes through the motions.
Advertising has become fundamentally lazy?
It's not like we don't work hard. People work all the time, work weekends. I wrote [in Esquire]: No industry has worked harder at being lazy. We're doing the same thing over and over. And it gets harder and harder – the consumer doesn't want to be interrupted. I mean, I'm in advertising and I fast forward through the commercials. There are whole industries built on technologies to avoid what our industry creates. If that isn't a wake-up call that we need to be better, and smarter, and more tactical and timely, and more in sync with the consumer, I don't know what is. But when it's done well, it's second to none. There's myriad great examples of brands that have been built on the back of great advertising; pop culture referecnes that are built on advertising. … I'm not singing from the hilltops that our industry is going to disappear. But I'm saying that it has to reinvent itself. … Our industry has some of the best, diverse thinkers. If we just point it in the right direction, we can do wonderful things. It's not just creating effective advertisements, or new products, but also contributing to raise awareness for some of the biggest social issues.
What are some of your favourite ads recently?
Old Spice took a dying brand and just contemporized it immediately. That became as much pop culture as it was a success in the boardroom. … What Dove did about "Real Beauty" is really interesting. … Dos Equis, the most interesting man in the world. The winners, now … it isn't the person who spends the most. That's what it used to be. There's so much advertising on television that I find just lazy, just so lazy, I'm like why are they doing that? 'People like cute kids, let's just put cute kids in ads.' There's nothing discerning, or interesting, or ownable, or sincere, or authentic. Some people still go through the motions. Those that don't, win over the consumer.
You mention Dove, but with social media there is now so much more conversation around brands, people calling them out. Every time Dove does a "real beauty" ad, consumers complain – more loudly than ever, it seems – that Dove's parent company also makes Axe. Do you worry about people's perceptions of advertising for being hypocritical, or lying?
There's no question, everything's transparent now. ... A brand that owns a portfolio, not every brand can stand for the same thing. … Each consumer has the power of their wallet and their voice. They can exercise that. If they think the positive messages of Dove should be erased because Unilever also sells Axe, what's the winning strategy there? They shouldn't take that positive messaging?
With 2013 drawing to a close, what do you think the next year holds in store for this industry?
I wish I did have that crystal ball. ... We're getting back to the basics of great storytelling, more transparency, more social good – the body language of a brand has to match what's coming out of the mouth, more and more, and that's a good thing. … It's going to be hard for some of the generic agencies. It's going to be easier and better for some of the premium ones. I'm not saying all big agencies are bad and all small agencies are good, it doesn't work that way. It's the quality of the work, the leadership, and the intentions. But I feel it's going to be less glitz and more strategic rigour in the work. That's something that's imperative.
What's the question you wish people would ask you more often?
Why aren't more clients demanding better work? That's one. A lot of [chief marketing officers] are in a transient job – they're only doing it for 18 months so their biggest objective is just not to screw it up as opposed to trying to be distinctive. … I always find it really fascinating, where a category can go along unnoticed and looky-likey all the same, and then one brand in a category has the courage to step out and do something that elevates it above everyone else, and then suddenly everyone follows suit. So car insurance will be boring and terrible and someone does something interesting and everyone thinks they have to do a gecko, like what's their thing? There's always one leader and so many followers. In every category. It's amazing. It always pays dividends for the first to do it, but very few want to be the first. It's crazy. I always find that a shame.
This interview has been condensed and edited
Droga's career highlights
1992: At age 22, becomes partner and creative director of OMON Sydney.
1997: Named executive creative director at Saatchi & Saatchi Singapore at age 27. The following year, the shop is named Advertising Age's Agency of the Year. 1998
1999: Becomes Saatchi & Saatchi's executive creative director based in London and in 2002 the firm is named the Cannes Global Agency of the Year.
2003-2006: Worldwide Creative Director at Publicis.
2006: Founded Droga5 in New York. Droga5 is named to Advertising Age 's agency A-List in 2010, 2011 and 2012; Adweek agency of the year in 2012; Creativity Magazine's agency of the year in 2007 and 2011; and is on Fast Company's list of the "world's most innovative companies" for 2013.
Among his awards: 2012 Art Directors Club Hall of Fame 2005 American Advertising Federation Hall of Achievement
David Droga's work is awarded both at industry shows and by the clients who he says pay a premium for his agency's services. Here are some campaigns that stand out (see links to the video above):
A classic campaign from Droga's time at Saatchi & Saatchi in London, that played on a very relatable insight: that people can't always trust themselves when they are trying to make big career moves. The "beware the voices" campaign used dark humour about people making bad decisions and encouraged them instead to seek out some solid career advice.
Droga5 has done a lot of good work for Puma, and some – like this one from 2011 – show off the artistry and craft that can go into an ad. The strategy was to market the brand to "after hours athletes."
Why take out an ad when a news hoax will get your message out online, on television, and all over – for free? That's what Droga5 proved in 2006 when it mocked up a plane to look just like Air Force One and made a video that looked like security footage capturing graffiti artists painting the words "still free" on President Bush's ride. It was the perfect fit for the brand created by designer and graffiti artist Marc Ecko. The story racked up more than 100 television news appearances, coverage from 17,000 news outlets, and 23-million visitors to stillfree.com in its first two weeks alone.
Insurance and financial services advertising, in Droga's eyes, was "patronizing." Retirement planning ads either fooled consumers into thinking they could retire like kings in tropical climes, or used fear-mongering to make them worry about not having enough money for old age. In 2012, Droga5 decided instead to tell real people's stories on "day one" of retirement. The agency received more than 5,000 photographs from people cataloging that day, and went on to make touching, intimate short films about how they were facing this new stage of life.
More than a billion people in the world don't have access to clean, safe drinking water. So the Tap Project sought to actually brand something that nobody owns: tap water. It enlisted restaurants in New York City to invite customers to pay a dollar for the tap water that is normally free, all going to UNICEF. The project attracted media coverage on World Water Day, and raised about $100,000 from restaurant diners. Following the first campaign in New York, it spread around the world. UNICEF said this was its most successful campaign in 56 years.


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Listening to the birds chirping outside, enjoying the smell of freshly baked cookies, experiencing the sensation of grass caressing the bottoms of your feet: These perceptions, say people who can't use their sight to experience the world around them, are the things that make life beautiful.
In an inspiring video created by Buzzfeed, a group of blind men and women describe how they experience beauty.
"Losing my sight has been a blessing," one man says, a smile spreading on his face. "I don't care what nationality somebody is, I don't care how tall somebody is, I don't care how big or small they are. A person is beautiful because they are true to themselves."
The video, which went viral this week, has struck a chord with many viewers.
"This video is beautiful," wrote one YouTuber on Wednesday.
"I feel so bad I take this kind of stuff for granted, I'm gonna turn off my phone and the TV and go outside and look," wrote another.
This isn't the first time that our perceptions have been challenged by someone without sight. Tommy Edison, a popular radio personality and film critic who's been blind since birth, has uplifted and inspired us many times over with his astounding YouTube videos about his life as a blind person.
In 2012, for instance, Edison released an awesome video about the perks of being blind. He also made a wonderful clip last year about how blind people experience intangible concepts, like space, the sun and the sky.
"The sky to me is really just this big wide open thing with nothing in your way at all; as long as you're above all the trees and buildings and stuff, there's nothing blocking you," Edison muses in the video. "You can just go and go and go and go. It'd be fun. I need a place like that on Earth!"


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Cheesecake with strawberries without baking
500 g strawberries;
100g butter biscuit;
2 tbsp (28 g) was melted butter;
360 g of cottage cheese;
1/2 cup (125 ml) sour cream;
100 g of sugar;
1 cup (250 mL) whipping cream;
mint leaves.
Crush cookies into fine crumbs.
1 tbsp sugar and 2 tablespoons Mix melted butter with biscuit crumbs.
Mix the cottage cheese, sour cream and sugar.
In a separate bowl whisk together the cream. And then carefully fill in the curd mixture.
The stacked layers of glass cookie, cream, chopped strawberry halves.
Top cheesecake decorate with mint leaves.
Bon Appetit!


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2015 Flatridge Zinfandel
Trione 2015 Zinfandel
Flatridge Ranch, Sonoma Coast
The Vintage
The opinion of many is that 2015 was an excellent vintage, although drought conditions were all that was talked about for most of the year. Dry conditions lead to an early bud break. The growing season was warm and for most of the period, mild. It was these conditions and relatively light crop that made 2015 one of the earliest harvests on record. For Trione, we began bringing in grapes for our sparkling on August 12th and finished with the last of the Flatridge Zinfandel the first week of October.
Flatridge Zinfandel is a very special wine and vineyard. The vineyard was planted with a selection of zinfandel sourced from a 100-year-old vineyard next to St. Peter's Church in the northern Sonoma County town of Cloverdale. The church's vineyard has been the source of plant material for many well-known producers of Zinfandel in the Rockpile Appellation of Sonoma County. It was made in small open top fermenters in a style similar to pinot noir, hand plunging the cap three to four times daily. The wine was also made with a special strain of yeast selected from a Rockpile selection of Syrah.
Tasting Notes
Blackberries and blueberries are the first impressions; beautiful soft entry with a well-knit tannin structure, supple yet with firm mouthfeel and finish. This wine develops in the glass from subtle fruit aromatics to ever evolving notes of plum, allspice and black currant. It is developing with intensity and substance and should continue to do so for the next 4-7 years.


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Vehicle Reviews:
2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Review
There was a time when there were only one or two trucks that could really compete in the full-size pickup class. That's all changed over the past couple of decades, and the field is getting more crowded every year. Drivers in State College, Port Matilda and, Lewistown are getting more discerning and demanding every day. They want a truck that not only performs with great power, reliability, hauling, and towing capacity, but which offers supreme comfort and technology options as well.
That significantly narrows down the field and among the class-leaders is the Chevrolet Silverado. This full-size pickup comes in so many options it's dizzying and offers performance to match. Read a full and detailed review of the 2017 Chevrolet Silverado from The Lake Dealerships, its options and features, and learn where you can go to get behind the wheel today.
2017 Chevrolet Silverado Upgrades
The 2017 Chevrolet Silverado is a full-sized pickup for moderate duty needs. It offers tons of interior room and a vast selection of engine styles, which provide solid fuel efficiency. It delivers strong hauling and towing combined with fast acceleration and superb handling, supreme comfort and ideal customization.
The Chevy Silverado also has an array of options and trim levels for supreme customization. It comes in seven trim levels: WT, LS, LT, Custom, LTZ, High Country and Z71. For more customization, they further split up among two bed lengths—six and eight feet, respectively—and three styles of cab: two-door regular, four-door extended, and crew cab styles. Some trim levels are only available in certain cab configurations.
Base Features
The base WT features include xenon headlights and daytime LED running lights, bed lighting, tinted windows, cruise control, power locks, split bench front seat, a 4.2-inch color display with driver information display, USB and auxiliary audio ports, with adjustable lumbar support and upgraded cloth upholstery as an option.
Depending on which cab configuration you choose you might also get folding rear seats, power windows, and four or enhanced six-speaker audio. Optionally, you can add on the MyLink infotainment interface with a seven-inch touchscreen, a WiFi hotspot, smartphone app integration, Bluetooth, and voice commands.
New Technology Features
The 2017 Chevy Silverado features a selection of new technology features from chrome bumpers to heated powered mirrors, remote entry, satellite radio, fog lights, an auto-dim rearview mirrors, heated seats, a security system, navigation, driver memory settings, and more. You can even add safety features like a rearview camera, a lane departure warning and intervention, forward collision warning, emergency braking, parking sensors, and much more.
Performance and Safety
The standard engine for the Silverado is a 285-horsepower V6 which delivers a combined EPA-estimated 20 mpg. There are, however, a number of upgrade choices including: a 5.3L, 355-hp V8 which delivers 19 mpg combined; and a 6.2L V8 putting out 420 hp at 17 mpg. This mileage is estimated and, of course, varies based on transmission and drivetrain. Still, 4WD is optional at all levels and towing capacity tops out from 7,600 to 12,500 lb, depending on configuration.
Safety-wise, the new Silverado scored a perfect five-star rating from the federal government, and the top Good rating for moderate-overlap front-impact, roof strength, and side-impact tests from the IIHS.
Drive the Chevy Silverado at The Lake Dealerships
If you're looking to get behind the wheel of the 2017 Chevrolet Silverado for yourself, there's only one place to go. The Lake Dealerships is the leading dealer of Chevy vehicles in the Lewistown area. Stop into our showroom for more information about options and trim levels, or schedule a test drive online.


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Archive for September, 2010
Questions you MUST ask any carpet cleaner!
Here are 3 questions that should be asked of any prospective carpet cleaner before they enter your home:
(1) Are you IICRC certified? This is important for many reasons. Here are two: First, the carpet mills now require that you have your carpet cleaned at least every 12-24 months, and that it is cleaned by an Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration certified technician! Second, a certified carpet cleaner means that really knows what he is doing. He has been educated and tested and is knowledgeable about dyes, fabrics, chemicals, etc. You will get professionally cleaned carpet and upholstery.
(2) Do you guarantee your work? If he cannot offer a 100% No-Risk guarantee, then he has nothing to lose by taking on your job, but you could be left with a big mess on your hands.
(3) Will you inspect my carpet and give me a firm price BEFORE you clean? Most do not want to bother with doing a pre-inspection. Since they don't guarantee their work, inspecting what will be cleaned ahead of time isn't an issue for them.
Please click here to get Sponge & Sparkle blog updates via email.
About the author:
Raina Raflo owns Sponge & Sparkle, Atlanta's oldest and most reputable independent maid and house cleaning service. (404) 633-9652.
Read more Atlanta maid and house cleaning service customer reviews on our site.
Request a cleaning quote.


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PACCAR Australia together with the Box Hill Institute saw fifteen PACCAR employees graduate in the Diploma of Engineering this week.
Fortnightly classes were held over an 18 month program, both delivered onsite at Bayswater head office as well as some sessions facilitated at Box Hill.
Partnering with Box Hill Institute and offering this diploma is one of the ways PACCAR Australia create skills pathways for the workforce, provide flexible non-traditional ways to develop employees, while enabling PACCAR to design and develop the next generation of trucks.
The Diploma of Engineering provides graduates with an opportunity to gain both Engineering skills as well as a formal qualification with Australia's biggest truck manufacturer.
Managing Director Andrew Hadjikakou presented the qualification to the graduates together with Tony Watson and Merrilyn Wolf from Box Hill Institute. Special thanks to Ian Turnbull for lecturing and coaching the students.


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Getting your tickets on sale is easy
Using the moshtix control room is quick and easy, register instantly to start selling tickets straight away from any device. Customise your events to be as simple or as complex as you need. Setup multiple ticket types to offer more choice to your customers. The moshtix control room supports any event no matter the size or complexity.


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Espionage Cosmetics' Beta Box The Third
The beta of Espionage Cosmetics' subscription box has drawn to a close. So this will be the final unboxing. Try not to cry.
There is a ton of awesome in this month's box, though, so let's get right to it.
This time, we had four nail wraps and one delightfully sparkly glitter. It was a little bittersweet opening the box for the last time. Good thing what's inside was fabulous enough to take my mind off it.
First up, we have Teleporter, an amazing purple glitter. If, like me, you love glitter polish but hate the mess it makes of your nails, Teleporter is perfection personified. It has a lovely depth and as much sparkle as Espionage could cram into one wrap.
Ludicrous Speed is an amazing tribute to "Spaceballs" that is every bit as charming and offbeat as the movie itself. It also features a glow-in-the-dark Easter egg, so be sure to check that out.
Killer would be perfect for any "Hannibal" or slasher flick fans out there. It features a white background with glittery red blood splatter. It's evocative without being gruesome and would be great for Halloween. It's been discontinued, so grab it while you can!
The final nail wrap this month is Unicorn Blood, which was a backer exclusive from Espionage's Kickstarter campaign. I actually originally got the matte version of this and adored it. The glitter version is just as delightful. It features a black background with rainbow glitter blood running down it. This nail wrap is serious business. (Pro tip: Wear while reading Patrick Weekes' Rogues of the Republic trilogy and listening to the Pancake Sex Book Club about "The Palace Job.")
Finally, we have Invincibility, a bright yellow glitter. Though at first glance it may seem hard to wear, I've seen some amazing looks on Espionage's Instagram feed using this.
New look by Nerd Makeup Ambassador and MUA @thepryncess using our glitter in "Invincibility"! Available online at www.espionagecosmetics.com! For more details on this look, visit Sasha's IG profile! #EspionageCosmetics #AwesomeIsAColor #ForNerdsByNerds #NerdMakeup #GlutenFree #CrueltyFree #TalcFree #MineralMakeup #NerdyMakeup #MUA #lotd #motd #Pixar #Glitter #EyeMakeup
I had the most success wearing it as an eyeliner.
And that's all, folks. Keep an eye on Espionage's social media accounts if you're interested in signing up for the box subscription service. The company plans to open signups in December with the first boxes being shipped out in January.


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Below are addresses and contact details for local services including hospitals, schools, police stations, Sefton Council, churches and buses. To immediately link to the relevant websites, please click the names below.
Aintree University Hospital
Longmoor Lane, Liverpool, L9 7AL
Telephone: 0151 525 5980
Merseyside Police
Nearest station: Copy Lane, Bootle, Merseyside
Emergency only: 999
Anything else or 101
Sefton Council
Bootle Town Hall, Oriel Road, Bootle, L20 7AE
Telephone: 0345 140 0845
Aintree Davenhill Primary School
Aintree Lane, Aintree Village L10 8LE
Telephone: 0151 526 1162
Holy Rosary Primary School
Oriel Drive, Aintree Village, L10 6NJ
Telephone: 0151 288 6206
Aintree Park Group Practice
Moss Lane and Oriel Drive
Telephone: 0151295 8350
Westmoreland GP Centre
University Hospital, Longmoor Lane, Aintree, Liverpool L9 7AL
Telephone: 0151 525 6286
Kelly's Pharmacy
Altway, Aintree Village, L10 6LB
Telephone: 0151 526 8140
Aintree Pharmacy
Molyneux Way, Aintree Village, L10 2JA
Telephone: 0151 526 7087
Asda Pharmacy
Asda Superstore, Ormskirk Road, L10 3LN
Telephone 0151 531 7778
Boots Pharmacy
Unit 5b Aintree Retail Park, Ormskirk Road, L9 5AN
Telephone 0151 523 7349
Hope Community Church Aintree (Baptist)
Pastor Lee Jennings
The Hope Centre, Aintree Lane, Aintree Village, L10 2JJ
Telephone: 0151 291 6640
Mobile: 07500 535 448
Old Roan Methodist Church
Minister, Revd Neil A. Stubbens
Altway, Aintree Village, L10 2LQ
Telephone: 0151 922 2836
Mobile:- 07543 108494
St Giles Church
Minister, Sam Korn
132 Aintree Lane, Aintree Village, L10 8LE
(firstname.lastname@example.com) (firstname.lastname@example.com)
Telephone: 0151 476 5554
Minister: Father Philip Inch
Altway, Aintree Village, L10 2LG
Parish Priest: Fr Philip Inch
Telephone: 0151 526 8468
Aintree Village Youth & Community Centre
Oriel Drive, Aintree Village, L10 6NJ
Telephone 07950 960 131
Aintree Racecourse
Ormskirk Road, Aintree Village, L9 5AS
Telephone: 0151 523 2600
159 Bus Timetable
345 Bus Timetable
Copyright © 2020 Aintree Village Parish Council - All Rights Reserved.


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It was as if the pause button was pressed on his life. He was stagnant. He was without direction and was passionless.
He became desperate for inspiration. His life passed by with repetition and sleep. He wonder if there was more.
Is there more to life than what is expected? Could he escape to a new world and invent something new? Could he be happy?
He went to work like all the other days, but this day, ideas started filling his head.


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Anthropology Research Workshop
Just announced! A drop-in workshop on Anthropology resources in the library will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 10th at 10 am. The workshop will be held in Room 211 in the library. Attendees will learn how to use the library catalog to find books and also how to search databases like Anthropology Plus and JSTOR.


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Episode 91 of CasterQuest recaps chapters 61-63 of "The Wise Man's Fear" the second book in the best-selling fantasy series "The Kingkiller Chronicle" by Patrick Rothfuss.
In this episode Kvothe finds himself embroiled in the plot to poison the Maer, and his control over the situation is deteriorating quickly. Is it too late to just cut his losses and make a run for it?
What motive could Caudicus have for poisoning the Maer? Will the Maer trust Kvothe to save him, or will Kvothe fall victim to the suspicions of Alveron? What role does Stapes play in this?
What's the difference between an alligator and a crocodile? Find out!
Leave CasterQuest a review on Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/casterquest-game-of-thrones-the-kingkiller-chronicle/id997376997?mt=2
Visit the ESO Network, your station for all things geek! esonetwork.com
As always, we are incredibly thankful to the talented musicians who have granted us the use of their music.
Opening track: "The University" from "The Name of the Wind: The Unofficial Soundtrack" by composer Mark Haas. Available on itunes or at markhaasmusic.com
Closing track: "Maple, Maypole" by Anna Bosnick (aka Anna Phyllis Smith) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0M8g7JFYabg
Podcast: Play in new window | Download


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Artist Talks: Alexandra Sassé and Janice Gobey
Join current exhibitors Alexandra Sassé and Janice Gobey for a Saturday afternoon finissage as they talk about their arts practise and their exhibited works.
Alexandra Sassé holds postgraduate qualifications in Fine Art from both Victorian College of the Arts and Monash University. Her work is regularly exhibited in national curated shows and she has completed commissioned work for a range of private clients. In April 2012 she will attend an Artist Residency in Cyprus awarded by the Cornaro Institute.
For more information visit her website www.alexandrasasse.com
With undergraduate studies in Psychology and Sociology Janice Gobey harbours a fascination for the human condition and in particular the dynamics between men and women.
Janice graduated from the Victorian College of Arts, University of Melbourne with a Masters in Visual Art, obtaining first class honours. Her art practice encompasses painting, installation, text and other media. Janice will shortly be packing her fur coat and jetting off overseas to undertake an artist residency in Berlin.
More information can be found at www.janicegobey.com
Two bright and brilliant artists…
Two vivid and thought-provoking exhibitions…


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There's a lot about the Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 that makes us happy. It has a Super AMOLED, 18.5:9 screen, a triple camera setup, and runs the same interface as the flagship Galaxy S9 range, all at a lower price.
No phone is an island though, and the Samsung Galaxy A7 has plenty of other mid-range phones for company – and cheaper options like the Nokia 7.1, Honor Play and Motorola One offer comparable specs for less.
The question is whether, with such stiff competition, Samsung can still get away with charging more than its competitors for its A series smartphones?
Samsung Galaxy A7 (2018) price and availability
You can pick up the 64GB Samsung Galaxy A7 now for $459 or £309. No Australian release has been confirmed.
In addition to SIM-free options, the phone is available on contract for around £19 per month in the UK.
Key features
- Three rear cameras
- 6-inch FHD Super AMOLED display
- Looks like a flagship, performs like a mid ranger
Sporting a glass front and back coupled with a plastic frame, the Galaxy A7 2018 features a mix of mid-range and flagship materials.
It does however feature an impressive Super AMOLED screen, amongst the best you can get in this price range. The 1080 x 2220 resolution is perfectly respectable and the 6-inch size is big, without being overly cumbersome.
The A7 is running Android 8.0 Oreo; it's a shame it didn't get Android 9 Pie, the latest version of Google's mobile operating system, although app support will still be excellent thanks to Google Play store support. It will get Pie, but no time-frame has been given by Samsung.
The Exynos 7885 chipset powering the A7 is distinctly middle-of-the-road, and is paired with 4GB of RAM. As for the cameras, the triple-camera system on the rear of the phone is a first from Samsung, with one wide, one ultra-wide and one depth-sensing camera.
With 3,300mAh of battery power on tap, the screen to battery ratio is promising too. Connections and biometrics are also fair, thanks to the inclusion of a headphone port, 4G, face unlocking and a fingerprint scanner; however, the Galaxy A7 is also the only £300/$450+ device we can think of that doesn't feature a USB-C port, making do with the older micro USB connection.
- Plastic and glass design
- micro USB charging
- Flat surface
Priced at the upper end of the mid-range spectrum, the A7 2018 is competing with the Huawei Mate 20 Lite, Motorola One and Nokia 7.1.
Like the competition, the Samsung A7 features a glass back and front. It looks good, but has a slightly hollow feel, so is bested by the beautifully designed Nokia 7.1 in this respect. The sides are also plastic and they feel it, further attesting to the phone's mid-range positioning.
Still, at 7.5mm thin it's slender, and the AMOLED screen tech separates it from the pack, while you have a good choice of color options, with the A7 available in black, blue, pink and gold. It's a clean design, interrupted only by a couple of logos and a slight camera bump around the back.
Two volume buttons and a flat, recessed, easy to hit power button are on the right-hand side of the phone, while on the left is the SIM tray, with our dual-SIM version supporting two SIM cards and a microSD card.
The power button doubles as the fingerprint scanner, a design decision borrowed from Sony phones of old. While it's not as quick as flagship fingerprint scanners, it works reliably, not even requiring a full press to unlock the A7 securely – and there's also Face Unlock to work in tandem and get you into your phone fast.
It's great to see a headphone jack on the phone's bottom edge, though the micro USB port next to it is something of a letdown for any phone that costs over £200/$300.
If all your devices still use this connector it isn't a big deal, but if you've started to migrate your arsenal of tech away from micro USB and towards USB-C, having a brand-new phone packing a last-gen port will mean a multi-wired life until you upgrade, again.
As for the A7's durability, Gorilla Glass keeps the front and back relatively protected, although there's no official IP rating, so you'll want to keep it dry.
- 6-inch 18.5:9 LCD screen, 1080 x 2220 pixels
- No notch
Samsung has paired the A7 with a seriously good AMOLED screen packing a Full HD+ resolution. Getting down to digits, that means 1080 x 2220 pixels, which at 6 inches delivers 411ppi.
A couple of things set this phone apart from Samsung's flagship Galaxy S9. First off, it's got some pretty beefy bezels, with a 74.4% screen-to-bezel ratio in contrast to the S9's 83.6%.
The screen isn't curved either, and it doesn't offer the same levels of color accuracy or detail as its flagship counterpart's.
For the price, though, it impresses, packing punch and depth – more so than the IPS competition. The one area where it isn't always reliable is white balance, with an old-school OLED red or blue tinge to ebooks or web pages with a lot of empty space.
For photos, movies and general UI swiping though, the Samsung Galaxy A7's screen nails it.
UI and performance
- Android 8
- Samsung UX over the top
Android 8.0 is paired with Samsung's proprietary interface to serve up an experience similar to that of the S9 at a cheaper price.
This may sound like a good thing, and it is – but it also isn't. Samsung is notoriously bad when it comes to getting the latest software on its devices, and in this instance Android 8 is a generation behind what we would expect from any phone released now.
If hearing this doesn't bug you, however, and you're not fussed about having the latest software, it likely won't put you off the A7. Samsung skins Android so heavily that you'll be hard pressed to notice tangible differences between Oreo and Pie, and you still get access to all the Android apps in the Play Store.
The fundamentals of the UI are all familiar – home screen, apps tray and notifications bar, but there are some useful Samsung customizations. Secure Folder, for example, lets you lock files and folders to keep prying eyes at bay. It's also more customizable than stock Android – you can change the home screen grid size, and download a range of themes to shake up the look and feel of the UI.
The Galaxy A7 also has the optional Bixby Home screen, a screen to the left of your main home screen that replaces the stock Google home screen. It displays similar information to its Googley counterpart – news updates and weather information, although it also connects to Facebook, Spotify, Twitter and Uber, so serves as a more holistic hub. We found it a little busy and turned it off, but if you're not a fan of opening apps, and use those four a lot, you may find it handy.
What's also good about the UI is that it's zippy. There's none of the choppiness that can rear its head when using other mid-range phones such as the Motorola One, with the A7's Exynos 7885 Octa keeping things ticking along nicely.
The benchmarks aren't mind-blowing, but that doesn't mean the A7 can't handle 3D games, with apps like Monster Hunter Stories playing without too many frames dropped.
Thanks to the Google Play Store, the selection of free and paid-for games is plentiful, and the 64GB of storage will be ample for getting a decent selection loaded on your phone.
The Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 also delivers solid battery life.
The 3,300mAh capacity is plenty big, able to keep the mid-range internals going for a full day, and if you're careful with your screen brightness you could even get a day and a half out of this phone with light to moderate use.
Samsung also loads up a bunch of power-saving options for those times when you want to stretch the battery life, and even if you don't use them screen-on time is competitive, with the battery only dropping around 11% after 90 minutes of Full HD video playback at full brightness.
There's no fast charging here, with a charge time of over two hours to take the A7 from 0-100%, so it isn't all good, and there's no wireless charging either – so every time you need to power up you'll be forced to use that dated micro USB port.
- Triple camera
- 120-degree ultra wide lens
- AI powered software
The triple-camera system on the Galaxy A7 is a first from Samsung, as is the quadruple camera system on the new Galaxy A9. Such arrays are likely the shape of things to come on the upcoming Galaxy X, although the odds are that the X will offer significantly better image quality.
That isn't to say image quality from the A7 is bad – it's absolutely what we'd expect from a mid-range phone, but part of us would have preferred one excellent camera over three inconsistent ones.
Starting with the specs, there's a primary 24MP sensor (f/1.7, with phase-detection autofocus), a 5MP depth sensor for better portrait mode pictures, and an 8MP sensor (f/2.4, 13mm equivalent focal length) for wide-angle shots.
In good light the 24MP sensor fares really well, capturing bags of detail. Samsung loves to process its pictures heavily, and pictures taken on the A7 are no exception – colors are boosted, as is contrast, and these images don't leave a huge amount of scope for editing once taken, although they're generally social media-ready.
It can also get pretty close to a subject – about 6-7cm, enabling you to take some stunning macro shots. Low light shots aren't terrible, but the pumped contrast and processing means they look much better zoomed out.
Start pinching into pixels and you'll notice the mediocre dynamic range, and heavy noise reduction and softening.
As for the wide-angle camera, this doesn't have autofocus so is limited to landscape shots, and fares worse in poor light than the primary camera.
It delivers GoPro levels of distortion, with barreling being more extreme than from wide-angle lenses from LG on the G7 or Huawei on the Mate 20. This all means you get stylized pictures that don't look all that realistic, but which could be just the ticket if you're after dynamic-looking shots.
Where the wide camera falls down is low-light video specifically, with significantly worse light grabbing capabilities than the main camera and worse noise handling. In fact, low light video is probably the only area where the Galaxy A7 just can't hold it together across the board, with quality crumbling to unusable levels pretty quickly.
Another impressive feature, though, is the stabilization when shooting video; it's not flagship level, but we wouldn't expect it to be at this price, and it's certainly better than what you'll find on most sub-£350 /$450 smartphones.
Happily, we're going to end this section on a couple of highs. The first is depth perception and bokeh effects – this works really quickly and relatively well. Even flagships like the Pixel 3 can take a bit of time to make the background actually blur, on account of only having one lens, so this suggests that the third, depth-sensing lens isn't just a gimmick – it actually saves you time.
The final camera highlight is the front snapper: 24MP, f/2 and packed with modes, from beauty mode and AR emojies through to a selfie bokeh mode – if you're looking to have a bit of fun with your selfies, the Galaxy A7 could be just the ticket.
Additional camera samples
Storage and connections
- 64GB storage
- micro USB charging port
An impressive feature here is that Samsung gives you 64GB of storage on the Galaxy A7, the same capacity found in flagships like the Galaxy S9, Razer Phone 2 and Sony Xperia XZ3, not to mention the entry-level model of the new iPhone XS.
There's also a microSD slot, so you can bump up the internal storage by an additional 512GB, plenty for any movie nut or music hoarder. The 4GB RAM likewise matches many flagships, while the A7 offers 4G connectivity up to Cat. 6 (301Mbps).
The Samsung Galaxy A7 is, for the most part, a great mid-range phone. It delivers a punchy screen for the price and a solid user experience, while the camera system is really versatile. It also has great battery life and plenty of storage.
Beneath its sleek exterior, however, the A7 does feel a touch hollow, with the plastic frame paling in comparison to the rich metal on the cheaper Nokia 7.1, while the micro USB port and lack of fast charging are disappointments.
If none of that phases you though, and you want a great user experience, you can pick up the Galaxy A7 with confidence.
Who it's for
If you don't want to pay flagship bucks for a good-looking phone with a versatile camera system and a great screen, the A7 could be for you.
It'll even serve casual gamers well, and with its ample storage should keep movie fans happy. The 3.5mm headphone port is also a plus.
Should I buy it?
Yes, if you don't mind the plastic frame, slightly hollow finish, dated charging port and not having the latest version of Android on your phone.
It's also worth noting that there's no manual camera mode and that pictures taken on the A7 are processed a fair bit, so amateur photography enthusiasts may not always love the results.
If, however, you're happy with a phone that makes the decisions for you when it comes to picture taking, is reliable and snappy, and has a killer screen for the price, go for it.
Before you buy the Samsung Galaxy A7 (2018), why not check out the competition?
Honor 8X
Costing almost £70 less than the Galaxy A7 in the UK, though not available in the US, the Honor 8X gives you much of what makes the A7 great, as well as more screen, more battery and more power.
You aren't getting the Galaxy S9-esque user experience, but with more manual camera modes and such a big saving, anyone who wants a bigger screen and doesn't mind forgoing a few Samsung niceties could profit from checking out the 8X.
Read our full Honor 8X review
Honor Play
Honor is nailing it in the mid-range market right now, and the Honor Play crams in a huge amount of power thanks to the Kirin 970 chipset, while costing less that the Galaxy A7.
This also guarantees it speedier 4G speeds, and better gaming performance. The all-metal body gives it a more industrial look too, while the inclusion of a USB-C charging port makes it feel a bit more future-proof.
Read our full Honor Play review
Nokia 7.1
The Nokia 7.1 outdoes the A7 when it comes to the design and in-hand feel. It's also an Android One phone, so has a stock take on Google's mobile OS and will get software updates sooner.
Its Achilles' heel, however, is the 32GB onboard storage – half that of the Galaxy A7, although like the A7 it offers microSD expansion.
Read our full Nokia 7.1 review
First reviewed: November 2018


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South Sound pizza chain Farrelli's new location is now open at Point Ruston.
The new location has a rooftop bar and balcony that show off the views of the waterfront apartment and shopping complex.
The 8,500-square-foot location can house 300 patrons. It's part of the Grand Plaza at Point Ruston and overlooks the splash park and waterfront.
Founded in 1995 in Lacey, Farrelli's has expanded to multiple locations around the South Sound.


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Xander Oval Lava Stone Dining Table
Xander Oval Lava Stone Dining Table
in Grey Stoke Top or Weathered Teak Top with Dirty Steel Base
Suitable for Outdoor Use, Chair Clearance: 26.5″
Also Available with Large Teak Oval Table Top
Also Available As Bumble Outdoor Oval Dining Table
Suitable For Use on Covered Porch or Sheltered Area. Cover or Store When Not in Use. Furniture Used Outdoors Will Change and Weather Over Time. This Includes Changes in Color, Tone, Fractures and Movement.
Concrete Surfaces Can Be Rustic in Nature with Variations in Texture and Color. These Are Not Considered Imperfections as They Are Characteristic to This Material.


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(Anchorage, AK) – Superior Court Judge Erin Marston sentenced Paul Harris to serve 52.5 years on multiple counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in the First Degree.
Assistant District Attorneys Betsy Bull and LuAnn Martin established at trial that Harris sexually abused a neighbor child under the guise of taking her for a ride on his mobility scooter. Harris took the child up the road and then into a wooded area adjacent to the sidewalk where the abuse occurred.
The child disclosed the abuse to her father, who immediately called police. Harris also called police, asking for help because he feared the child's father was going to hurt him. During Harris's call to 911, Harris admitted he sexually abused the child and that he knew she was very young.
At sentencing, Assistant District Attorney Bull asked the court to impose 52.5 years to serve because Harris "is every parent's worst nightmare" and has no prospects for rehabilitation.
Because of his lengthy criminal history, Harris faced a sentencing range of 40 to 60 years to serve. In sentencing Harris to 52.5 years, Judge Marston noted that this case was incredibly serious and involved a stranger taking advantage of an innocent child. Judge Marston observed that Harris's criminal history of 19 prior convictions began in 1985 and has been accelerating to more serious crimes ever since, and emphasized that the Legislature has spoken loud and clear on appropriate sentences for people who commit these horrendous crimes.
The Anchorage District Attorney's Office thanks the victim's family, who participated in trial and sentencing on behalf of the minor child, for their courage throughout the proceedings, and thanks the Anchorage Police Department, particularly Detective Deven Cunningham, for the hard work in investigating the case.