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Get Black Oil Sunflower Seeds @Bigdukesix said.
Pusha the cat, which adopted four orphaned baby squirrels and currently feeds and lives with them, lies at a local park of miniatures in Bakhchisaray, Crimea. REUTERS/Alexey Pavlishak
In a shocking plot twist, the the next morning the parents find the boy in bed dead, with his throat gashed open and his spleen and liver eaten. with 'Wild Thing' playing on repeat on the kids iPod.
Cats are killing machines - make no mistake about
Ask the folks in the middle ages what fetched the plague after getting rid of all the cats
The Arkansas D.O.T found over 200 dead crows on highways recently, and there was concern that they may have died from Avian Flu. A Pathologist examined the remains of all the crows, and, to everyone's relief, confirmed the problem was NOT Avian Flu.
The cause of death appeared to be from vehicular impacts. However, during analysis it was noted that varying colours of paints appeared on the bird's beaks and claws. By analysing these paint residues it was found that 98% of the crows had been killed by impact with motorbikes, while only 2% were killed by cars.
The Agency then hired an Ornithological Behaviourist to determine if there was a cause for the disproportionate percentages of motorbike kills versus car kills.
The Ornithological Behaviourist quickly concluded that when crows eat road kill, they always have a look-out crow to warn of danger.
They discovered that while all the lookout crows could shout "Cah", not a single one could shout "bike"
"Cah" sounds more like Massachusetts crows then Arkansas ones.
You get a rec since I can't smite for that pun.
You mess with me, you sleep wit da fishes. Capiche?


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Shhhhh, the world's most quiet destination
Washington's Olympic Peninsula is one of the quietest places on Earth.
You may have to go a little farther than you thought to find quite in today's world. A tiny plot of land there on the Olympic Peninsula – a five hour drive from Seattle and two-hour hike is what one expert says is the single quietest place in the lower 48 states. See Video.
In the man-made realm, the world's quietest room is in Orfield Laboratories in Minneapolis, Minn. Completely sound-proof, decibel levels in the room can reach an incredible negative nine – compare that to an airport's background noise of 72 decibels or 59 in a car or 57 in a quiet office.
"CBS This Morning" special correspondent Jeff Glor spent some quiet time at the Olympic Peninsula and at the Orfield Laboratories soundproof room, listening to the sound of silence in its many forms. Watch his experience in this video on the Olympic Peninsula.
Happy Birthday Sol Duc Hot Springs – 100 Years This May
On the Olympic Peninsula, the Sol Duc Hot Springs in the Olympic National Park celebrates its 100th year of operation.
The resort about 40 miles west of Port Angeles, will commemorate the milestone with promotions and a special event planned at the hot springs May 5-6. The event will be hosted by Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort, the National Park Service and the Clallam County Historical Society and will include food, entertainment and a special look at the history of the hot springs.
"Sol Duc Hot Springs has been the Northwest's premier natural hot spring destination for the past century," said Amanda Lovelady, district manager for Aramark Parks and Destinations, Olympic Peninsula. "The resort is deeply tied to the history of this area, and we hope to share that story with locals and our visitors."
The resort features three mineral hot spring soaking pools and one freshwater pool, with temperatures ranging from 85 to 105 degrees. An original Stanley Steamer Mountain Wagon on which early visitors rode the last part of their two-day journey from Seattle to visit the hot springs will be featured during the celebration.
For special 100th anniversary rates and more information, visit http://www.olympicnationalparks.com/plan/specials–packages/sol-duc-hot-springs.aspx

subset: commoncrawl


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The first thing you see is this great display about the area and house. And then you venture through the gate and enter Marjorie's world. One of the coolest things about the place is that the rangers wear period clothing. This really helps you imagine that you're there visiting Ms. Rawlings.
We perused the grounds for a while and saw the chicken coops, the barn, the garden, and the outbuildings. There were even chickens walking around, actual plants in the garden, and tools in the barn. We spent a lot of time looking at the equipment in the barn and at the period tools. I thought it was neat to see the car in the garage, even if it was explained later that the car wasn't hers. Of course we spent some time looking at the outhouse–my son wasn't so sure he would want to use one.
The tour started at 1pm that day after a brief introduction by the rangers. It was super neat to see the display of the typewriter and the desk she used. You could visualize Ms. Rawlings bustling about the house and in the kitchen. I enjoyed seeing all of her books and cooking items. The story about the roses in the toilet bowl during the party celebrating indoor plumbing was so funny! My son talked about that the rest of the day! It seems like Marjorie really led a fun life and found joy in the little things
This state park is a must-visit! Here's the website for more information: http://www.floridastateparks.org/marjoriekinnanrawlings/


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The following matrix equation might be a Lyapunov-like equation, but it seems hard for me to develop a simpler way to solve it. From the computation effort, I need some help for solving the special case of the following Lyapunov equation:
Let $X$ be an $n\times n$ symmetric matrix, and $I$ an identity matrix, and $A$ is a matrix whose entries are all between 0 and 1, and $A$ is invertible. I need to solve $X$ in the following equation:
Previously, I found some article discussing on using Krylov subspace to solve the following Lyapunov equation:
$$AX+XA^T=b \cdot b^T$$
where $b$ is a vector. Due to $b \cdot b^T$ being a rank-one matrix, Krylov subspace appraoch is highly efficient. Now in my case it is the identity matrix $I$, but $X$ in my case is symmetric. I found that in my equation $AX$ and $XA^T$ are symmetric. So by letting $Y=AX$, my equation can be reduced to :
$$Y+Y^T=I \quad \textrm{with } \ \ Y=AX$$.
I don't know how to continue this.
Another common way is to use tensor product to rewrite my equation as:
$$(I \otimes A + A \otimes I) vec(X) = vec(I)$$
but the LHS of the above equation is $n^2 \times n^2$ size, which is too large to solve.
Is there any other efficient way to solve this? Any advices are warmly welcome!


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Now, the haters never fully went away (do they ever, for any game?), but they did quiet down a lot after the first year, because there are only so many times you can shout "TORtanic!" about a game that continues to receive updates year after year and still continues to attract a considerable amount of players.
However, recently there has been a sudden resurgence of doom-and-glooming, which I suppose wasn't helped by SWTOR putting out less content in 2017 than in the years before that. It started with YouTube recommending a widely-viewed video to me which spent three quarters of an hour talking about how SWTOR is utterly dead. I have to admit that really annoyed me, mostly because it was released as part of a series that I had previously enjoyed watching, about MMOs that were actually "dead" in some way, as in shut down or at the very least put into maintenance mode. However, this one just felt like an attempt by the creator to get views by simply shitting all over a well-known game because he didn't like it very much himself. (And it worked - the video, which I'm not going to bother to link, quickly became the second most viewed video on his whole channel.) My favourite reply from the comment section was: "I hope you never become a doctor."
Then the rumour mill started to get going. MMORPG.com released an article with the title "The End of the Republic?" whose entire content could basically be summed up as: "SWTOR has been reasonably successful over the years, but now there are rumours that it might end! I mean, probably not any time soon, but I guess it was too good a subject line to pass up." This week, things came to a head when Kotaku published an article focused on Bioware's new property Anthem, which contained the following comments about SWTOR as throwaway lines:
"Over the past few months, BioWare has essentially transformed into a single-game studio as it harnesses its teams to work on the ambitious multiplayer action game Anthem, sources say. There are still small teams maintaining Star Wars: The Old Republic and piecing together the next Dragon Age, which was recently rebooted, but the bulk of BioWare's staff in both Edmonton and Austin are now on Anthem."
And even more damning:
"BioWare has also discussed ending development on the multiplayer online game Star Wars: The Old Republic, those sources said, although one person familiar with the studio told me recently that plans are still up in the air."
The latter in particular has had people going absolutely bananas, some of them seemingly expecting SWTOR to get shut down any minute now. Personally I think they are misreading that quote in two ways:
1. "Ending development on" is not the same as "shutting down". I'm not saying that the game going into maintenance mode would be a good thing, but I still think that it's an important distinction.
2. More importantly, everything that article references from "sources" is fairly vague. It's still bad PR and probably not something Bioware/EA are happy to have aired in public, but they're not exactly giving away company secrets. However, if that sentence was a definitive statement of intent basically leaked to a journalist before its official announcement, that would've been quite a severe faux-pas on the side of the person providing the information. I think a more likely interpretation is that putting SWTOR into maintenance mode was something that was brought up in a discussion and then not followed up on. Trust me, businesses regularly discuss a lot of options for the future without necessarily implementing even most of them. The reason it is brought up here at all is to emphasise the article's point of how desperate Bioware is to have Anthem be a success, to the point that they've considered all kinds of things just to get even more manpower onto the project.
Now, beyond that I'm not going to spend a great amount of time arguing about why I think that worrying about SWTOR being shut down or even being put into maintenance mode at this point is premature. Other people have already done that, such as Larry Everett on MassivelyOP and Xam Xam on her new site MMO Bits.
The only thing I would like to bring up, mostly because I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere else so far, is that few people seem to consider that, regardless even of what happens to Bioware after Anthem's launch, there are reasons for EA to want to keep SWTOR going, assuming that it makes any kind of money at all:
1. They don't need any more bad PR right now. You could say that they are already hated by so many that a few more gamer tears are nothing but drops in the bucket, but I think the recent hubbub about Star Wars: Battlefront II's monetisation has shown that they do care when it gets to the point of drawing negative attention from their investors. And if there's one thing MMO players are good at, it's expressing their anger loudly. How many people are out there, still condemning the shutdowns of City of Heroes and Star Wars Galaxies years after the fact? And I'm pretty sure SWTOR still has more players than both of those had put together (at the point when they were shut down). So a premature end to the game would draw quite a bit of ire from the community. Now, maybe the people in charge at EA aren't sufficiently clued in to actually consider this... but to me it seems like they'd really prefer to tread lightly right now and to not piss off paying customers unnecessarily.
2. Remember the outcry when EA shut down Visceral and said that they wanted to focus on multiplayer games that could feature ongoing monetisation? Well, guess what, SWTOR is exactly that kind of game. In fact, I would think that from a marketing perspective, EA should view SWTOR as a great opportunity to test and review what sort of monetisation methods have worked for games like that and which ones have not.
Anyway, those are just my two cents on the matter. As someone who is very active in the community, I always find it a bit depressing to see stuff like this. At the same time, I'm aware that as a highly engaged player, my own view tends to be somewhat skewed towards the positive - I remember just how much of a shock the free-to-play announcement was to me at the time, because it seemed to go utterly against my own experiences of a great and thriving game.
However, regardless of what happens to SWTOR and when, there's also this to consider: Even if we were to find out that SWTOR was meant to shut down next week - would you rather spend the game's last remaining days wailing on forums or actually playing it while you still can? I know which one I'd pick. With that, I'm off to play some more!
(Also, Keith has been dropping more hints about the next expansion. MMOs generally don't launch expansions just before throwing in the towel. Just saying.)


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The beginning of the Atlantic hurricane season may begin in the next 48 hours, according to the Nation Hurricane Center (NHC). As reported by NHC, the first tropical storms or depression have a 70 percent chance of forming. The storm will head towards the coasts of North Carolina and South Carolina, hitting area with strong winds a very heavy rainfall.
If the storm has sustainable winds upwards of 39 miles per hour, it will be classified as subtropical storm, which will be named Ana. The current forecast for the weekend in the Carolinas shows that two to five inches of rainfall is expected. Winds are calculated to between 30 and 35 miles per hour.
Aircraft from the NHC are currently investigating the growing storm cell. They stated it is located around 230 miles south southeast of the border between North Carolina and South Carolina.
Although the hurricane may hit the coasts, it is suspected that there will be minimal damage to buildings and no threats to residents. The storm should hit Saturday morning.
By Alex Lemieux
Photo by Shannon-S – Creativecommons Flickr License


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If you need to return a product, please call us at 1-305-599-8447 or email us at email@example.com within 14 days of receiving your order. We will issue a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) number which is required to process your return. Products (including packaging) must be returned in new, resalable condition.
If we sent you an incorrect (not the product you ordered) or defective item and you contact the above email address within 14 days of receiving your order, we will replace the product or process your return at no charge. Incomplete orders or damaged orders must be reported to the above email address within 72 hours to avoid return shipping fees. If for any other reason you need to return an item, you are responsible for all return shipping charges. Please check all merchandise for damage or defect when you receive your order, and before the item is used or installed.
In the case a replacement product was sent, we will send you a UPS Return tag to return the incorrect/defective product back to us. Otherwise, when shipping an item back to us, we recommend using a shipping method that offers signature confirmation, tracking, and insurance, as we are not responsible for lost or damaged packages.
Return Merchandise packages should be shipped back to us at the below address:
Ogatti Corp
Attention Returns
8355 NW 66th Street
Miami, FL 33166
Returns will only be accepted within 14 days of the customer receiving the product, and ONLY if a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) number has been issued. Ogatti.comreserves the right to refuse any package returned to us without authorization. Returns will be processed within ten (10) business days of receipt (not including weekends, holidays, and the day the package is delivered).
Customers are responsible for all return shipping charges unless they receive an incorrect (we shipped the wrong product) or defective item.
When shipping an item back to us, we recommend that you use UPS, FedEx or any other carrier that offers signature confirmation and insurance, as we are not responsible for lost or damaged packages. Only the signature of an Ogatti.com employee will suffice as proof of delivery. The customer agrees to bear all shipping and insurance charges, and all risk of loss during return shipment.
We will not accept a return of an item that is damaged or defective if it has been used/installed please inspect all orders as soon as you receive them and contact firstname.lastname@example.com within 72 hours. We will not accept any returned items that have been installed, used, painted, modified, or damaged in any way. All parts that have been pre-approved for return, must be in its original condition to be submitted for a refund. This means it must include all of its components, nothing can be disassembled, painted, mounted, and/or damaged because of improper installation. No credit will be issued for any item that is missing pieces. We are not responsible for installation errors, incorrectly ordered item(s), shipping & handling charges, towing expenses, labor expenses, rental car expenses, and/or any additional repair expenses due to a part that has been installed incorrectly and/or is defective.
If the product is damaged during shipment, Ogatti.com will replace the product at no charge.
In the case a replacement product was sent, we will send you a UPS return tag to return the product back to us. If the original item is not returned within 14 days the customer will be responsible for the cost of the replacement item that was sent.
If any component of the returned product is missing, we reserve the right to reject the entire return or impose additional charges for replacement of the missing component(s). The condition of the product will be determined at our discretion. Products sent back with damaged or missing packaging will be refused or returned to you at your expense.
Installation costs will not be covered by Ogatti.com for any returned product.
Ogatti.com reserves the right to change or amend the return policy and procedures at any time without notification.
If you receive a defective product please contact us within our 30 day return policy period, and we will process your return free of shipping charges. Contact firstname.lastname@example.com to process your return.
In the event of a defect that occurs outside our return policy, but within the manufacturer warranty, please contact the manufacturer directly to process your return. The manufacturer will have sole determination of the outcome of the claim. As a courtesy to our customers, Ogatti.com will be happy to try to facilitate a thorough review of the claim, but we have no final say in the decision made by the manufacturer (i.e. approvals, denials, fees, etc.).
Ogatti.com is not responsible for any labor costs which occur as the result of the installation of wrong or defective parts.
Some items may require pictures or a shop report to have an RMA issued.
We try our best to prevent damage to all packages during transit by packing each order carefully. From time to time, though, damage will occur despite our precautions.
If you receive an item that has been damaged in shipping, please call us within 72 hours of receipt and we will have a new product sent to you, and initiate a UPS claim for the item.
Please hold on to the original packaging and packing material because UPS, in most cases, will need to inspect the items. A UPS representative will contact you to set up a convenient time to inspect and pick up the package for return. If UPS does not come to inspect the package, or does not take it with them when they do come - please call us, and we will send you a UPS Return tag to send the damaged product back to us.
If you have not received your order even after the tracking shows it was delivered, contact us within 15 business days to start a UPS tracer.
If you return a product without first contacting our Returns Department at email@example.com for a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) number, it will take up to 3 weeks to be processed and we may charge you a 20% restocking fee at our discretion.
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Packages will be returned back to us by the carrier if they cannot be delivered due to incomplete or incorrect addresses, are not picked up from a UPS facility, or if the recipient refuses delivery. All packages returned to us for the above reasons can take up to 3 weeks to be processed. We may charge you a 10% restocking fee at our discretion.
Returns will not be accepted for any of the following items: Chips and Tuners, DiabloSport and SCT products, Wheel/Tire Packages, Opened Clutches (removed from original packaging), Opened Exhaust products (removed from original packaging), Hoods, Body Kits, Shaker Kits, any custom-order or made-to-order items, non-defective items that have been used, painted or installed on a vehicle. American Muscle gift certificates are non-refundable. These products are only up for exchange in the case of a defect. Issues with these items must be taken up directly with the manufacturer.
Used or mounted wheels (including Wheel/Tire Packages purchased from us), cannot be accepted for return. Any damage done to wheels mounted & balanced outside of our facilities will not be covered by AmericanMuscle.com. Please check your wheels for damage before mounting and/or balancing.
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If you need to change the address on an order in transit with UPS, please call us. There will be a fee of $10 per package. Orders shipped with USPS cannot be changed while in transit.


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Martine today!
Kylie is always a pleasure to book with. Nothing is too much trouble and we will certainly be booking our next trip with her."- Sheila P
Why Clean Cruising?
- Family owned & operated
- Australian based team
- Same consultant from start to finish
- Free printed documentation and ticket wallet
- Combine with flights, hotels, insurance and save
- Flexible payment options
They are designed with the lowest instalments possible while still meeting the cruise line payment deadlines.
Also, there are no fees or late charges, while payments are always flexible to suit your own budget.
We recommend payments be made by direct deposit or BPAY for your convenience and to further reduce your bank fees.
Your cruise consultant is an expert on lay-by plans and can answer all your questions!
Celebrity Infinity cruise from Barcelona to Lisbon
- Cruiseline
- Celebrity Cruises
- Ship
- Celebrity Infinity
- Departs
- Barcelona
- Returns
- Lisbon
- Departure Date
- 29 Sep 2021
- Duration
- 10 nights
Departure Date: 29 Sep 2021
Duration: 10 nights
Ship: Celebrity Infinity
Star rating:
Departs: Barcelona
Returns: Lisbon
Ports of call: 8
Layby from only $70 per week after the initial deposit is paid - learn more.
Itinerary and Ports Show / Hide Port Details
|Wed 29 Sep 2021
|Barcelona, Spain
|Barcelona, located in Catalonia Spain, is Europe's largest metropolis on the Mediterranean coast, and one of the world's major global cities. Today, Barcelona balances itself on the cutting edge of architecture, intellectual life, and style. Indeed Barcelona won the 1999 RIBA Royal Gold Medal for its architecture, the first time that the winner has been a city, and not an individual architect. The 'Gothic Quarter' is the centre of the old city of Barcelona, where many of the buildings date as far back as the Roman settlement. The Art Nouveau architectural style has a great number of buildings listed as World Heritage Sites. more info
|Thu 30 Sep 2021
|At Sea
|Fri 1 Oct 2021
|Cartagena, Spain
|Cartagena is a Mediterranean city and naval station located in the Region of Murcia, SE Spain. The rich Carthaginian heritage extends as far as the Sea Wall, built by Charles III in the 18th century, and which defines the old quarter. Overlooking the Mediterranean there are two elements that are clearly connected with the sea: the prototype of the submarine by the inventor Isaac Peral; and the National Museum of Maritime Archaeology. The museum is home to the National Centre of Underwater Archaeological Research that highlights aspects of naval construction from ancient times. more info
|Sat 2 Oct 2021
|Malaga, Spain
|Malaga is a lively, prosperous city on Spain's fabled Costa del Sol aside the Mediterranean Sea, just 100 km east of the Strait of Gibraltar. The city's warm winter temperatures (average daytime of 17 C) make it an ideal place to visit any time of year. The archaeological remains and monuments from the Phoenician, Roman, Arabian and Christian eras convert the historic centre into an 'Open Museum' displaying its rich history of more than 3,000 years. Visit the unfinished Gothic cathedral, surrounded by traditional balconied buildings, narrow pedestrian streets and some of the best tapas bars in the province. more info
|Sun 3 Oct 2021
|Gibraltar, United Kingdom
|Gibraltar shares a northern border with Spain, but is a UK Overseas Territory located near the southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula, overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar. It has an area of 6 sq.km. and a 1.2 km border with Spain. Under its 2006 constitution Gibraltar governs its own affairs, though some powers such as defense and foreign relations remain the responsibility of the UK Government. The Rock of Gibraltar dominates the entrance to the Mediterranean between the southern tip of Spain and the continent of Africa 14 km to the south. Both famous and enigmatic, Gibraltar contains some of the most extensive military fortifications in Europe, spanning over 1200 years of Moorish, Spanish and British history. more info
|Mon 4 Oct 2021
|Cadiz, Spain
|Cadiz is a city and port in SW Spain. It is the capital of Cadiz Province, an autonomous community of Andalusia. Due to its small size one is never more than a few blocks from the sea, and this engenders a safe, relaxed, and easy-going atmosphere. The oldest continuously inhabited settlement in Western Europe, it has a history of around 3,000 years, and the old central quarter is famous for its picturesque fascination and spectacular buildings. Discover the narrow cobbled streets that open out onto pretty little squares dotted with cafes where people relax and absorb the amazing Moorish architecture. more info
|Tue 5 Oct 2021
|At Sea
|Wed 6 Oct 2021
|La Coruna, Spain
|Located in the NW corner of Spain, La Coruna is part of the Spanish autonomous community of Galicia. It's a region of vast green landscapes with a rich Celtic and Roman heritage that keeps, to this day, a mystic and magic allure. Once protected by walls on three sides and by the sea on the other, the lively streets of the early medieval town with good examples of preserved Romanesque architecture, make for a fascinating visit. The city also offers a variety of modern museums, devoted to fine arts, science, anthropology, and even old clocks. more info
|Thu 7 Oct 2021
|Oporto, Portugal
|Located in the scenic estuary of the Douro River with swathes of vineyards clinging to the hills, Oporto - aka Porto - is Portugal's second largest metropolis, and one of Europe's most charismatic cities. The city is home to monuments by leading world architects from the past and the present, and some fantastic baroque carvings. Then there's the world-famous sweet wine, and Ribeira - Its historical centre - that was awarded World Heritage status by UNESCO. Understandably, it is considered the economic and cultural heart of the entire region. Oporto is also well known for its enterprising spirit, distinctive culture, and local cuisine. more info
|Fri 8 Oct 2021
|Oporto, Portugal
|Located in the scenic estuary of the Douro River with swathes of vineyards clinging to the hills, Oporto - aka Porto - is Portugal's second largest metropolis, and one of Europe's most charismatic cities. The city is home to monuments by leading world architects from the past and the present, and some fantastic baroque carvings. Then there's the world-famous sweet wine, and Ribeira - Its historical centre - that was awarded World Heritage status by UNESCO. Understandably, it is considered the economic and cultural heart of the entire region. Oporto is also well known for its enterprising spirit, distinctive culture, and local cuisine. more info
|Sat 9 Oct 2021
|Lisbon, Portugal
|Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, lies in the western Iberian Peninsula aside the Atlantic Ocean and the Tagus River. As one of the oldest cities in the world, it is rich in Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque, Modern and Post-Modern constructions. The city is also crossed by historical boulevards and monuments along the main thoroughfares. The Lisbon Coast hosts some fine sandy beaches at Cascais and Estoril and fishing villages like Sesimbra. With a little travelling, visitors often visit Sintra to appreciate the stunning views from Europe's westernmost point, and to explore its royal palaces and the country's best kept secrets, the historic villages. more info
Don't miss out on Celebrity Infinity over 10 exciting nights on the Celebrity Infinity cruise from Barcelona to Lisbon exploring Europe - Western & British Isles. This cruise sails from Barcelona, the cruise will take you to 8 ports in 2 countries before disembarking in Lisbon. Your 4 star cruise from Celebrity Cruises has 1 forward departures. Our exclusive specials start as low as $305 per person/day, twin share. So call now and get expert, friendly advice.
Celebrity Infinity Overview
Celebrity Infinity alternates between the Mediterranean and the Caribbean annually. In the Mediterranean from May to September Infinity sails out of Barcelona, Civitavecchia (for Rome) and Venice over seven to 12 nights. Just look at the ports visited, and the quality of Celebrity, compare with other similar cruises, and make your selection. All of the Caribbean cruises are short 4- and 5-night breaks sailing from Miami. The 4-night cruise visits Key West (USA) and Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, with one sea day. The 5-night cruise also visits Key West, and Cozumel in Mexico, with two sea days.
Four out of five cabins have an outside view, and of these three-quarters have a private balcony. Standard cabins have a sofa or convertible sofa bed, twin beds that convert to a double bed, plenty of storage space, personal safe, mini-bar/refrigerator, interactive TV, and good-size bathroom. The cabins are nicely decorated and appealing with warm wood-finish furniture. Suites have more space, butler service, more and better amenities and personal service. Those at the stern are in a prime location. There are no single cabins, and 26 wheelchair-accessible cabins available in the Sky Suites. Her AquaClass staterooms are new.
Food and Dining
The two-deck Trellis Restaurant, with its grand staircase and musicians' gallery overlooking the sea through a huge glass wall, offers excellent meals and service at two dinner seatings. The décor adds to the fine dining experience. The first alternative dining venue, the SS United States (reservations-only, extra cost), serves classic French cuisine in absolute style – allow three hours. The other alternative is Qsine ("Cuisine") with an iPad menu. AquaSpa guests dine at Blu with a Mediterranean menu. Japanese à la carte lunch and dinner is available at Sushi on Five.
The 900-seat Celebrity Theatre is the three-deck venue for production shows, major cabaret acts and big-screen movies. During the voyage relax in solitude, or select your level of conversation and excitement. Daytime activities include a broad range of classes and competitions. For evening entertainment there are soloists at the cafes and bars, participation in karaoke, and of course the casino. The Celebrity Life enrichment program is divided into three themes. "Savor" focuses on wine appreciation, mixology (of drinks), and cooking. The "Discover" program draws on the educational expertise of famous institutions. Passengers learn about the history, culture, art and architecture of destinations; and broaden their exposure to language study, photography, modern digital technologies and dance, to name a few.
Other Ships
What's included?
- Gratuities & bar service charges
- All main meals on-board
- Coffee, tea & milk 24 hrs
- Open/anytime or traditional/set time & multi-venue dining
- Alternative specialty dining (Suites)
- Cocktail or champagne reception
- In-cabin dining at no charge
- Use of ship facilities - indoor & outdoor
- Entertainment - live music and/or shows, movies
- Activities - organised & individual
- Specialty lectures, workshops, classes & programs
- Bridge director on select cruises
- Infant crèche, kids clubs & teen programs
- Cruise Director & all English speaking staff
- Butler & valet services (select cabins)
- Priority dis/embarkation (selected suites)
- Special needs requests & service animals allowed
- Ship-shore-ship transfers
What's excluded?
- Airfares, accommodation & transfers not specified
- Shore & land excursions and meals not specified
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05 March, 2013 | (01 hr)
Sign In to access this Webcast
The marriage of time-tested innovation principles with emerging internet capabilities is driving new growth for 3M, a global diversified technology company. Raj Rao, head of 3M's eBusiness, will highlight what it takes to plan and deliver internet-based innovations that align with customers' strategies and drive new revenue. Using numerous examples from the APAC and Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) regions, Rao will demonstrate how 3M's approach works in diverse customer segments.
This webcast also provides a sneak peek of the upcoming Innovation Master Class, where speakers will demonstrate how bold ideas can be harnessed for new growth.
Audience: Professionals responsible for innovation at their companies, IT leaders, global business leaders, marketers, communications professionals, customer experience professionals, and strategic planners
Raj Rao
Raj Rao is Vice President for Global eTransformation with responsibility for accelerating Digital Marketing and eCommerce capabilities at 3M. His team has the worldwide charter of championing strategic "e" initiatives in the areas of Social Business, eCommerce, 3m.com customer experie...Full Bio
Anne Greer
Anne Greer began working with The Conference Board in 2012. Along with Rita Shor, she directs the annual Innovation Master Class, designed for advanced learned among Fortune 500 executives responsible for leading innovation in their companies. She is Co-Program Director fo...Full Bio


text:
If you've made "Lose Weight" an item on your New Year's Resolution list, you're not alone.
In fact, according to Statistic Brain, losing weight is the number one New Year's resolution. Sounds like a lot of Americans are hoping to shed some pant sizes this year.
But what are you supposed to do when you want to be healthy and lose weight, but can't afford a costly gym membership? Or expensive produce?
Not surprisingly, coming in at number three on the Top 10 New Year's resolutions from Statistic Brain is "Spend Less, Save More."
It seems a bit like an oxymoron to want to lose weight but also spend less. These days, it seems like there are countless commercials and gadgets that are designed specifically for losing weight, but they cost a pretty penny.
If you're serious about getting fit this year, don't let money hold you back in your decision to be healthy. Here are five tips for staying healthy on a budget.
Skip the Gym
It's a big misconception that you need an expensive gym membership to lose weight and be healthy. In fact, I haven't had a gym membership in over three years, and still manage to exercise pretty frequently.
There are plenty of free, or low-cost activities, you can do to help you get some exercise that won't break the bank in the process. Here are some ideas:
- Running around your neighborhood
- Workout DVDs rented from the library
- Groupon, LivingSocial or Yipit deals for studio classes
- Find a workout buddy
- Join a fitness bootcamp through your city community classes
Shop the Right Way
A big complaint from people who start their journey to healthy eating is how expensive eating healthy can be. But it's a big misconception. It's actually pretty cost-effective to eat healthy, it just takes a little bit more work on your end.
Learn to save money on your groceries with these tips:
- Meal Plan: Plan yours meals for the week by basing your meals on whatever is on sale at the grocery store that week. Meal Planning is the number one way to save money on groceries.
- Shop what's in season
- Visit your local farmer's market
- Grow your own veggies!
Educate Yourself
Maybe you just have no idea where to start on your get-healthy journey?
While it would be great to splurge on a fancy nutritionist, a lot of us just don't have that luxury. Yet, there are still plenty of ways to educate yourself on proper nutrition. The internet is a good place to start, but be wary of sources of information.
Another great place to learn more would be the health section at your local library. There you can find lots of free information by nutrition experts.
Track your Food Intake
Writing down what you eat will help you stay accountable and on track with you nutrition goals. Use a free calorie counting site, like My Fitness Pal or LoseIt to help you keep track of everything you're eating.
Get Cheaper Gadgets
If you insist that you really do need that fancy $100 exercise gadget, test out a cheaper version too to see how much you stick with it.
I really wanted a FitBit, but the $100 price tag scared me. So I started off by buying a $20 pedometer from Walmart. When it broke several months after I got it (by my own fault), I went ahead and splurged for the FitBit. But by then I had already made it a habit. And to be honest? The $20 pedometer worked just as good.
How do you fit health and fitness into your budget? Do you value having a gym membership, or do you find other ways to exercise?


text:
Czech Construction Output Continued to Drop in 2012, Claims PMR
21 Mar 2013 • by Natalie Aster
The Czech construction market still continues to decline at single-digit pace and certain growth in output is only likely to return in 2014-2015. Cancelled civil engineering construction, particularly in the road infrastructure sector, combined with weaker development in the non-residential segment are lowering expectations for marked recovery in output sooner than 2015.
The report "Construction Sector in the Czech Republic 2013" by PMR, looks at the reasons why 2012 was not a good year for the Czech economy. Since the second half of 2011 it has been in technical recession; deeper and longer than expected. Furthermore, the expected recovery may come later than originally forecast. The report also examines the hopes for 2013, when a modest revival of aggregate gross fixed capital formation expenditure is expected.
Report Details:
Construction Sector in the Czech Republic 2013
Published: March, 2012
Pages: 118
Price: US$ 2,240.00
Czech construction output continued to drop in 2012, the fourth consecutive year of decline, as economic pressures continue to adversely affect demand for construction. In fact, 2012 recorded the steepest decline in output, over 6% reaching some CZK 423bn (€16.7bn), a figure below 2005's construction output.
Value (CZK Bn) and Change (%) in Construction Output in the Czech Republic, 2007-2012
Despite a major decrease, civil engineering construction continued its dominance of construction output in 2012. Maintaining this position since 2008 has been aided by the decline in non-residential construction, which saw years of complete freeze in some segments such as retail development. Preliminary data indicates that civil engineering, which suffered a much steeper drop in output in 2012 than building construction, saw its share of total Czech construction output drop by at least 3 percentage points in 2012 reaching 41%.
Civil engineering's weak condition is a result of cuts in public investment expenditure in 2012, while the deterioration of residential construction may be due to falling real disposable income and much worse sentiment in the household sector. Hopefully, the 2013 budget envisages no further cuts in public investment. In fact, public investment may even increase slightly, given the availability of still large European funds, which must be contracted by the end of 2013 and spent by 2015.
In non-residential construction, the number and value of building permits for new buildings recovered slightly in 2012. The recovery came, however, after a major slump in 2011. The year that followed saw a recovery in developers' interest in purchasing land for the construction of offices and other non-residential space. Whereas in 2011 developers had focused on land suitable for the construction of industrial schemes, 2012 saw a shift towards land fit for offices. The focus in the non-residential sector is therefore likely to be on offices in the coming years and the take-up in that segment is expected to recover. However, the construction of retail, industrial and warehouse facilities is likely to continue to be low in 2013 and possibly the following two years as well.
The residential construction market continues to be extremely volatile with developers still very cautious as demand for residential space is yet to pick up. Housing completion recorded another dive in 2012, when it dropped by almost 20% year on year, reaching approx. 23,000 units. This is a record low in the past decade. However, the number of housing completions is expected to pick up slowly from 2013, but the growth will remain moderate in a single-digit percentage. Prague is expected to continue to dominate the market, with some 40% of the total number of completions coming in the Prague and Central Bohemia area in 2013-2015.
Several factors bear favourably on the forecasts for Czech construction in the coming years: plans for rail construction have been reinvigorated, investment in power construction are likely to pick up and help the civil engineering sector develop positive momentum, and low interest rates will help maintain a certain level of demand for residential space. It's also worth noting how a surging demand for office construction will influence the non-residential market. The Czech Republic has one of the highest shares of urban population in its total population (74%) among CEE countries, a fact that should also influence construction activity in the country's major cities.
More information can be found in the report "Construction Sector in the Czech Republic 2013" by PMR.
To order the report or ask for sample pages contact [email protected]
MarketPublishers, Ltd.
Tanya Rezler
Tel: +44 208 144 6009
Fax: +44 207 900 3970
[email protected]


text:
Talk:Nothing comes naturally
From WikiFur, the furry encyclopedia.
nocona Redirect?[edit]
We've got a metadata problem here. A search for "nocona" only lands you a hit on the relevant page indirectly. Isn't it safe to set up a redirect page? I'm asking because I can't tell. Oooh, do I ever want to do it, though. --Mass Treble 10:15, 7 April 2007 (UTC)
- Seeing as how it appears to be a commonly used abbreviation for the comic, I don't see a problem with a redirect. All set up!----DuncanDaHusky(talk) 12:28, 7 April 2007 (UTC)
Who is Cerine?[edit]
Is the Cerine in the article this Cerine? Seems like it; is there a reason the links don't point there? Simba B 00:14, 17 September 2006 (UTC)
- I don't think so. The main reasonis that this other Cerine is from America, but this strip is Canadian. ISD 09:14, 17 September 2006 (UTC)
- I think you may be right. ISD 20:39, 17 September 2006 (UTC)
- You are right, but the info on the linked page is a little old. I'm also not sure I really want to be writing an autobiographical wiki page - smacks of narcissism. Thought of removing the links but thought better of it - kept the one that mattered and I'll prettify the user page in a little. Oh, as for the question of who is Cerine? I think people have been asking that for a while now. :) Cerine a. Mephit 15:19, 10 October 2006 (UTC)


text:
From Gorkhapedia, the free Gorkha encyclopedia that anyone can edit
|This article is a stub. You can help Gorkhapedia by adding information to it!
|Administrative Zone
|Allied Category
|16th May 1975
|Largest City
|Balmiki Prasad Singh
|Chief Minister
|Dr. Pawan Singh Chamling
|540493 (28th)
|76.17 /km2 (197 /sq mi)
|Official Languages
|Nepali (lingua franca), Bhutia, Lepcha (since 1977), Limbu (since 1981), Newari, Rai, Gurung, Mangar, Sherpa, Tamang (since 1995) and Sunwar (since 1996)
|Time Zone
|7096 km2 (2740 sq mi)
|Official Website
|Official Seal
Sikkim (Tibetan: 'bras ljongs; Denzong1; "Demojongs i.e. the Goodly Region, or Shikim, Shikimpati or Sikkim of the English and Indians…."2) is a landlocked Indian state nestled in the Himalayas. It is the least populous state in India and the second-smallest state after Goa.3 This thumb-shaped state borders Nepal in the west, the Tibet Autonomous Region of China to the north and the east and Bhutan in the southeast. The Indian state of West Bengal borders Sikkim to its south.4 Despite its small area of 7,096 km2 (2,740 sq mi), Sikkim is geographically diverse due to its location in the Himalayas. The climate ranges from subtropical to high alpine. Kangchenjunga, the world's third-highest peak, is located on the border of Sikkim with Nepal.5 Sikkim is a popular tourist destination owing to its culture, scenic beauty and biodiversity.
Legend has it that the Buddhist saint Guru Rinpoche visited Sikkim in the 9th century, introduced Buddhism and foretold the era of the monarchy. Indeed, the Namgyal dynasty was established in 1642. Over the next 150 years, the kingdom witnessed frequent raids and territorial losses to Nepalese invaders. It allied itself with the British rulers of India but was soon annexed by them. Later, Sikkim became a British protectorate and merged with India following a referendum in 1975.
Sikkim has 11 official languages: Nepali (lingua franca), Bhutia, Lepcha (since 1977), Limbu (since 1981), Newari, Rai, Gurung, Mangar, Sherpa, Tamang (since 1995) and Sunwar (since 1996).6 English is taught at schools and used in government documents. It is the only state in India with an ethnic Nepalese majority. The predominant religions are Hinduism and Vajrayana Buddhism. Gangtok is the capital and the largest town. Sikkim has a booming economy dependent on agriculture and tourism.
The most widely accepted origin of the name Sikkim is that it is a combination of two words in the Limbu Su, which means "new", and Khyim, which means "palace" or house, in reference to the palace built by the state's first ruler, Phuntsog Namgyal. The Tibetan name for Sikkim is Denjong, which means the "valley of rice".7 The Lepchas, original inhabitants of Sikkim called it Nye-mae-el or paradise,[7] and the Bhutias call it Beymul Demazong, which means the hidden valley of rice.8 In Hindu religious texts, Sikkim is known as Indrakil, the garden of Indra.[8]
Related Topic History of Sikkim
The earliest recorded event related to Sikkim is the passage of the Buddhist saint Guru Rinpoche through the land in the 8th century. The Guru is reported to have blessed the land, introduced Buddhism in Sikkim, and foretold the era of monarchy in the state that would arrive centuries later. In the 14th century, according to legend, Khye Bumsa, a prince from the Minyak House in Kham in Eastern Tibet, had a divine revelation one night instructing him to travel south to seek his fortunes. His descendants were later to form the royal family of Sikkim. In 1642, the fifth-generation descendant of Khye Bumsa, Phuntsog Namgyal, was consecrated as the first Chogyal (king) of Sikkim by the three venerated Lamas who came from the north, west and south to Yuksom, marking the beginning of the monarchy.[9]
Phuntsog Namgyal was succeeded in 1670 by his son, Tensung Namgyal, who moved the capital from Yuksom to Rabdentse. In 1700, Sikkim was invaded by the Bhutanese with the help of the half-sister of the Chogyal, who had been denied the throne. The Bhutanese were driven away by the Tibetans, who restored the throne to the Chogyal ten years later. Between 1717 and 1733, the kingdom faced many raids by the Nepalese in the west and Bhutanese in the east, culminating with the destruction of the capital Rabdentse by the Nepalese.[10] In 1791, China sent troops to support Sikkim and defend Tibet against the Gurkhas. Following Nepal's subsequent defeat, the Qing Dynasty established control over Sikkim.[11]
Following the arrival of the British Raj in neighboring India, Sikkim allied with them against their common enemy, Nepal. The Nepalese attacked Sikkim, overrunning most of the region including the Terai. This prompted the British East India Company to attack Nepal, resulting in the Gurkha War of 1814.[12] Treaties signed between Sikkim and Nepal resulted in returning of the territory annexed by the Nepalese in 1817. However, ties between Sikkim and the British weakened when the latter began taxation of the Morang region. In 1849 two British doctors, Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker and Dr. Archibald Campbell, the latter being in charge of relations between the British and Sikkim Government, ventured into the mountains of Sikkim unannounced and unauthorised.[13] The doctors were detained by the Sikkim government, leading to a punitive British expedition against the Himalayan kingdom, after which the Darjeeling district and Morang were annexed to India in 1853. The invasion led to the Chogyal becoming a titular ruler under the directive of the British governor.[14] In 1890, Sikkim became a British protectorate and was granted more sovereignty over the next three decades.[15]
In 1947, a popular vote rejected Sikkim's joining the Indian Union, and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru agreed to a special protectorate status for Sikkim. Sikkim came under the suzerainty of India, which controlled its external affairs, defence, diplomacy and communications, but Sikkim otherwise retained autonomy. A state council was established in 1955 to allow for constitutional government under the Chogyal. Meanwhile, the Sikkim National Congress demanded fresh elections and greater representation for the Nepalese. In 1973, riots in front of the palace led to a formal request for protection from India. The Chogyal was proving to be extremely unpopular with the people. In 1975, the Kazi (Prime Minister) appealed to the Indian Parliament for a change in Sikkim's status so that it could become a state of India. In April, the Indian Army took over the city of Gangtok and disarmed the Palace Guards. A referendum was held in which 97.5% of the voting people (59% of the people entitled to vote) voted to join the Indian Union. A few weeks later, on May 16, 1975, Sikkim officially became the 22nd state of the Indian Union and the monarchy was abolished.[16]
In 2000, the seventeenth Karmapa Urgyen Trinley Dorje, who had been proclaimed a tulku by the atheist Chinese Communist party, escaped from Tibet to the Rumtek Monastery in Sikkim. Chinese officials were in a quandary on this issue, as any protests to India would mean an explicit endorsement of India's governance of Sikkim, which the Chinese still regarded as an independent state occupied by India. China eventually recognized Sikkim as an Indian state in 2003, on the condition that India accepted Tibet Autonomous Region as a part of China.[17] This mutual agreement led to a thaw in Sino-Indian relations.[18] New Delhi accepted Tibet as a part of China in 1953 during the government of then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.[19] On July 6, 2006, the Himalayan pass of Nathula was opened to cross-border trade, further evidence of improving relations in the region.[20]
The thumb-shaped state is characterized by wholly mountainous terrain. Almost the entire state is hilly, with an elevation ranging from 280 metres (920 ft) to 8,585 metres (28,000 ft). The summit of the Kangchenjunga is the highest point which falls on the border between Sikkim and Nepal.9 For the most part, the land is unfit for agriculture because of the precipitous and rocky slopes. However, certain hill slopes have been converted into farm lands using terrace farming techniques. Numerous snow-fed streams in Sikkim have carved out river valleys in the west and south of the state. These streams combine into the Teesta and its tributary, the Rangeet. The Teesta, described as the "lifeline of Sikkim", flows through the state from north to south.[citation needed] About a third of the land is heavily forested.
The Himalayan ranges surround the northern, eastern and western borders of Sikkim in a crescent. The Lower Himalayas in the southern reaches of the state are the most densely populated. The state has 28 mountain peaks, more than 80 glaciers[21], 227 high-altitude lakes including the Tsongmo Lake, Gurudongmar and Khecheopalri Lake, 5 hot springs, and more than 100 rivers and streams. Eight mountain passes connect the state to Tibet, Bhutan and Nepal.[22]
Sikkim's hot springs are known for medicinal and therapeutic values. The most important hot springs are at Phurchachu (Reshi), Yumthang, Borang, Ralang, Taram-chu and Yumey Samdong. They have high sulphur content and are located near river banks. Some also emit hydrogen.[23] The average temperature of the water in these hot springs is 50 °C (122 °F).[24]
The hills of Sikkim mainly consist of gneissose and half-schistose rocks, making their soil brown clay, and generally poor and shallow. The soil is coarse, with large amounts of iron oxide concentrations, ranging from neutral to acidic and has poor organic and mineral nutrients. This type of soil tends to support evergreen and deciduous forests.[25]
Most of Sikkim is covered by Precambrian rock and is much younger in age than the hills. The rock consists of phyllites and schists and therefore the slopes are highly susceptible to weathering and prone to erosion. This, combined with the intense rain, causes extensive soil erosion and heavy loss of soil nutrients through leaching. As a result, landslides are frequent, isolating the towns and villages from the major urban centres.[26]
The climate ranges from sub-tropical in the south to tundra in the northern parts. The tundra-type region in the north is clad by snow for four months a year though the temperature drops below 0 °C (32 °F) almost every night.[27] The peaks of north-western Sikkim are perpetually frozen.[28] Most of the inhabited regions of Sikkim, however, witness a temperate climate, with the temperatures seldom exceeding 28 °C (82 °F) in summer or dropping below 0 °C (32 °F) in winter. The mean monthly temperature in summer is 15 °C.[29] The state has five seasons: winter, summer, spring, and autumn, and a monsoon season between June and September. The average annual temperature for most of Sikkim is around 18 °C (64 °F). Sikkim is one of the few states in India to receive regular snowfall. The snow line ranges from 20,000 feet in the north to 16,000 feet in the south.[30] During the monsoon, heavy rains increase the possibility of landslides. The record for the longest period of continuous rain is 11 days. In the northern region, because of high altitude, temperatures drop below −40 °C (−40 °F) in winter. Fog also affects many parts of the state during winter and the monsoons, making transportation perilous.[31]
Sikkim has four districts, each overseen by a Central Government appointee, the district collector, who is in charge of the administration of the civilian areas of the districts. The Indian army has control of a large territory, as the state is a sensitive border area. Many areas are restricted and permits are needed to visit them. There are eight towns and nine subdivisions in Sikkim.
The four districts are East Sikkim, West Sikkim, North Sikkim and South Sikkim. The district capitals are Gangtok, Geyzing, Mangan and Namchi respectively.[32] These Four Districts are further divided into Subdivisions. "Pakyong" and "Rongli" are the subdivisions of the East District. "Soreng" is the subdivision of the West District. "Chungthang" is the subdivision of the North District. "Ravongla" is the subdivision of the South District.[33]
Flora and fauna
Sikkim is situated in an ecological hotspot of the lower Himalayas, one of only three among the Ecoregions of India. The forested regions of the state exhibit a diverse range of fauna and flora. Owing to its altitudinal gradation, the state has a wide variety of plants, from tropical to temperate to alpine and tundra, and is perhaps one of the few regions to exhibit such a diversity within such a small area. Nearly 81% of the area of Sikkim comes under the administration of its forest department.[34]
The flora of Sikkim include the rhododendron, the state tree, with a wide range of species occurring from subtropical to alpine regions. Orchids, figs, laurel, bananas, sal trees and bamboo grow in the Himalayan subtropical broadleaf forests of the lower altitudes of Sikkim, which enjoy a subtropical-type climate.
In the temperate elevations above 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) are Eastern Himalayan broadleaf forests, where oaks, chestnuts, maples, birches, alders, and magnolias grow in large numbers, as well as Himalayan subtropical pine forests, dominated by Chir pine.
The alpine-type vegetation is typically found between an altitude of 3,500 to 5,000 metres (11,500 to 16,400 ft). In lower elevations are found juniper, pine, firs, cypresses and rhododendrons from the Eastern Himalayan subalpine conifer forests. Higher up are Eastern Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows, home to a broad variety of rhododendrons and wildflowers.
Sikkim has around 5,000 flowering plants, 515 rare orchids, 60 primula species, 36 rhododendron species, 11 oak varieties, 23 bamboo varieties, 16 conifer species, 362 types of ferns and ferns allies, 8 tree ferns, and over 424 medicinal plants.[35] A variant of the Poinsettia, locally known as "Christmas Flower", can be found in abundance in the mountainous state. The orchid Dendrobium nobile is the official flower of Sikkim.
The fauna include the snow leopard,[36] the musk deer, the Himalayan Tahr, the red panda, the Himalayan marmot, the serow, the goral, the barking deer, the common langur, the Himalayan Black Bear, the clouded leopard,[37] the Marbled Cat, the leopard cat, the wild dog, the Tibetan wolf, the hog badger, the binturong, the jungle cat and the civet cat.[38] Among the animals more commonly found in the alpine zone are yaks, mainly reared for their milk, meat, and as a beast of burden.
The avifauna of Sikkim consist of the Impeyan pheasant, the crimson horned pheasant, the snow partridge, the snow cock, the lammergeyer and griffon vultures, as well as golden eagles, quail, plovers, woodcock, sandpipers, pigeons, Old World flycatchers, babblers and robins. Sikkim has more than 550 species of birds, some of which have been declared endangered.[39]
Sikkim also has a rich diversity of arthropods, many of which remain unstudied even today. As with the rest of India, the most studied group is that of the butterflies. Of approximately 1438 butterfly species found in the Indian subcontinent, 695 have been recorded from Sikkim.[40] These include the endangered Kaiser-i-hind, Yellow Gorgon and the Bhutan Glory.[41]
This is a chart of trend of gross state domestic product of Sikkim at market prices estimated by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation with figures in millions of Indian Rupees.[42]
|Gross State Domestic Product
Sikkim's gross state domestic product for 2004 is estimated at $478 million in current prices.
Sikkim's economy is largely agrarian. The British introduced terraced farming of rice,[43] in addition to crops such as maize, millet, wheat, barley, oranges, tea and cardamom.[44] Sikkim has the highest production and largest cultivated area of cardamom in India.[45] Because of the hilly terrain, and lack of reliable transportation infrastructure, there are no large-scale industries. Breweries, distilleries, tanning and watchmaking are the main industries. These are located in the southern reaches of the state, primarily in the towns of Melli and Jorethang. The state has a high growth rate of 8.3%, which is the second highest in the country after Delhi.[46]
In recent years, the government of Sikkim has extensively promoted tourism. As a result, the state revenue has increased 14 times since the mid-1990s.[47]
A fledgling industry the state has recently invested in is gambling, including online gambling. A casino was opened in March 2009, the Casino Sikkim, and seven further casino licences are being considered by the state government.[48] The Playwin lottery has been a commercial success and operates all over the country.[49][50]. In October 2009 the government of Sikkim announced plans to offer three online sports betting licences.[51] Among the minerals mined in Sikkim are copper, dolomite, talc, graphite, quartzite, coal, zinc and lead.[52]
The opening of the Nathula Pass on July 6, 2006 connecting Lhasa, Tibet to India is expected to give a boost to the local economy, though the financial benefits will be slow to arrive. The pass, closed since the 1962 Sino-Indian War, was an offshoot of the ancient Silk Road, which was essential to the wool, fur and spice trade.[20]
Sikkim does not have any airports or railheads because of its rough terrain, however, the first airport of the state is expected to be ready by 2011 in Pakyong, 30 km (19 mi) away from Gangtok.[53] The closest airport, Bagdogra Airport, is near the town of Siliguri, West Bengal. The airport is about 124 km away from Gangtok. A regular helicopter service run by the Sikkim Helicopter Service connects Gangtok to Bagdogra; the flight is thirty minutes long, operates only once a day, and can carry 4 people.[54] The Gangtok helipad is the only civilian helipad in the state.
New Sikkim Railway Project has been launched to connect rangpo town of sikkim with sevoke whic is expected to complete in 2015.
National Highway 31A and National Highway 31 together link Siliguri to Gangtok.[56] The Sikkim National Transport runs bus and truck services. Privately-run bus, tourist taxi and jeep services ply throughout Sikkim and also connect it to Siliguri. A branch of the highway from Melli connects western Sikkim. Towns in southern and western Sikkim are connected to the northern West Bengal hill stations of Kalimpong and Darjeeling.[57] The state is connected to China by Nathu La.
Related Topic Sikkimese People
The majority of Sikkim's residents are of Nepali ethnic-national origin who arrived in the 19th century. The native Sikkimese consist of the Bhutias, who migrated from the Kham district of Tibet in the 14th century, and the Lepchas who are believed to have migrated from the Far East. Tibetans reside mostly in the northern and eastern reaches of the state. Immigrant resident communities include the Biharis, Bengalis and Marwaris who own most of the shops in South Sikkim and Gangtok.[59]
Hinduism is the major religion in the state, followed by Buddhism. Sikkim has 75 monasteries, the oldest dating back to the 1700s.[60] The Christians are mostly Lepcha people who were converted by British missionaries since the late 19th century. Among other minorities are Muslims of Bihari ethnicity and Jains.[61] Though tensions between the Lepchas and the Nepalese escalated during the merger of Sikkim with India, there has never been any communal violence, unlike most other states.[62]
Nepali is the lingua franca of Sikkim. Bhutia and Lepcha are also common. English and Hindi are also spoken and understood in most of Sikkim. Other languages include Dzongkha, Groma, Gurung, Limbu, Magar, Majhi, Majhwar, Nepal Bhasa, Rai, Sikkimese, Sherpa, Sunuwar, Tamang, Thulung, Tibetan, and Yakha.[63]
Sikkim is India's least populous state. In 2001 it had 540,851 inhabitants, with 288,484 males and 252,367 females.[64] It is also one of the least densely populated states with only 76 persons per square kilometre. Its growth rate is 32.98% (1991–2001). The sex ratio is 875 females per 1000 males. With 50,000 inhabitants, Gangtok is the state's only significant town. The urban population in Sikkim is 11.06%.[33] The per capita income stands at Rs. 11,356, which is one of the highest in the country.[65]
Related Topic Music of Sikkim
The Sikkimese celebrate all major Hindu festivals such as Diwali and Dussera. Nepali festivals like Tihar and Bhimsen Puja are common.[66] Losar, Loosong, Saga Dawa, Lhabab Duechen, Drupka Teshi and Bhumchu are Buddhist festivals. During the Losar (Tibetan New Year) most offices and educational institutions are closed for a week.[67] Muslims celebrate Id-ul-fitr and Muharram.[68] Christmas has also been promoted in Gangtok to attract tourists during the off-season.[69]
Western rock music and Hindi songs have gained wide acceptance among the Sikkimese. Indigenous Nepali rock and Lepcha music are also popular.[70] Common sports in Sikkim are Football and cricket. Hang gliding and river rafting have also been introduced in order to promote tourism.[71]
Noodle-based dishes such as the thukpa, chowmein, thanthuk, fakthu, gyathuk and wonton are common in Sikkim. Momos, steamed dumplings filled with vegetable, buff (buffalo meat) or pork and served with a soup, are a popular snack.[72] Beer, whiskey, rum and brandy are widely consumed.[73] Sikkim has the third highest per capita alcoholism rate amongst all Indian states, behind Punjab and Haryana.[74]
Government and Politics
Related Topic Elections in Sikkim
Like all states of India, the head of the state government is a governor appointed by the Central Indian Government. His/her appointment is largely ceremonial, and his/her main role is to oversee the swearing in of the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister, who holds the real executive powers, is the head of the party or coalition garnering the largest majority in the state elections. The governor also appoints the cabinet ministers on the advice of the Chief Minister. Sikkim has a unicameral legislature like most other Indian states. Sikkim is allocated one seat in each of both chambers of India's national bicameral legislature, the Lok Sabha, and the Rajya Sabha. There are a total of 32 state assembly seats including one reserved for the Sangha. The Sikkim High Court is the smallest high court in the country.[77]
The White Hall complex houses the residences of the Chief Minister and Governor of Sikkim.
In 1975, after the abrogation of Sikkim's monarchy, the Congress Party got the largest majority in the 1977 elections. In 1979, after a period of instability, a popular ministry headed by Nar Bahadur Bhandari, leader of the Sikkim Sangram Parishad Party was sworn in. Bhandari held on to power in the 1984 and 1989 elections. In the 1994 elections Pawan Kumar Chamling from the Sikkim Democratic Front became the Chief Minister of the state. The party has since held on to power by winning the 1999 and 2004 elections.[14][54] It won all the 32 seats of the state assembly in 2009.[78]
State symbols
|State day
|May 16 (day of accession to India)
|State animal
|Red Panda
|State bird
|Blood Pheasant[75]
|State tree
|State flower
|Noble orchid[76]
Although roads in Sikkim are often exposed to landslides and flooding by nearby streams, the roads are significantly better than the equivalent roads of other Indian states. The roads are maintained by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), an offshoot of the Indian army. The roads in South Sikkim and NH-31A are in good condition, landslides being less frequent in these areas. The state government maintains 1857.35 km of roadways that do not fall in the BRO jurisdiction.[33]
Sikkim receives most of its electricity from 19 hydroelectric power stations.[47] It has achieved 100% rural electrification.[79] Power also obtained from the National Thermal Power Corporation and Power Grid Corporation of India.[80] However the voltage is unstable and voltage stabilisers are needed. Per capita consumption of electricity in Sikkim is 182 kWh. The state government has promoted biogas and solar power for cooking but these have received a poor response and are used mostly for lighting purposes.[81] 73.2% of the total households have access to safe drinking water,[33] and the large number of streams assures sufficient water supply.
The southern urban areas have English, Nepali and Hindi dailies. Nepali language newspapers as well as some English newspapers are locally printed, whereas Hindi and English newspapers are printed in Siliguri. Important local dailies[82] are the Samay Dainik, Sikkim Express (English), Sikkim Now (English), and Himalibela. The regional editions of English newspapers include The Statesman and The Telegraph, which are printed in Siliguri and available in the same day, as well as The Hindu and The Times of India, printed in Kolkata, which are received with a day's delay in the towns of Gangtok, Jorethang, Melli and Geyzing. Himalaya Darpan, a Nepali daily being published from Siliguri is one of the leading Nepali dailies in the region. The Sikkim Herald is an official weekly publication of the government. Online media covering Sikkim include the Nepali newspaper Himgiri, the English news portal Haalkhabar and the literary magazine Tistarangit. Avyakta, Bilokan, Journal of Hill Research, Khaber Khagaj, Panda, and Sikkim Science Society Newsletter are the registered publications in Bengali, Nepali, and English published out of Sikkim in weekly, quarterly, half-yearly, and annual periodicities.[82]
Internet cafés are well established in the district capitals, but broadband connectivity is not widely available. Satellite television channels through dish antennae are available in most homes in the state. Channels served are the same available throughout India along with Nepali language channels. The main service providers are Dish TV, Doordarshan and Nayuma. The area is well serviced by local cellular companies.
Literacy in Sikkim is 69.68%, which breaks down into 76.73% for males and 61.46% for females. There are a total of 1157 schools, including 765 schools run by the State government, 7 central government schools and 385 private schools.[83] Twelve colleges and other institutions in Sikkim offer higher education. The largest institution is the Sikkim Manipal University of Technological Sciences, which offers higher education in engineering, medicine and management. It also runs a host of distance education programs in diverse fields. There are two state-run polytechnical schools, Advanced Technical Training Centre (ATTC) and Centre for Computers and Communication Technology (CCCT) in Sikkim which offer diploma courses in various branches of engineering. ATTC is situated at Bardang, Singtam and CCCT at Chisopani, Namchi. Sikkim University a central university, began operating in 2008 at Yangang, which is situated about 28 km from Singtam.[84] Many students, however, migrate to Siliguri, Kolkata, Bangalore and other Indian cities for their higher education.
- Evans, W.H. (1932) The Identification of Indian Butterflies. (2nd Ed), Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai, India.
- Haribal, Meena (1992) Butterflies of Sikkim Himalaya and their Natural History. Sikkim Nature Conservation Foundation.
- Hooker, Joseph Dalton "Himalayan Journals" Ward, Lock, Bowden & Co. Assistant-director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
- Holidaying in Sikkim and Bhutan – published by Nest and Wings – ISBN 81-87592-07-9
- Sikkim — Land of Mystic and Splendour – published by Sikkim Tourism.
- Manorama Yearbook 2003 – ISBN 81-900461-8-7
- Strachey, H. (1854). "Physical Geography of Western Tibet." Journal of the Royal Geographical Society, Vol. XXIII, pp. 1–69, plus map.
External Links
- Official website of the Government of Sikkim, Maintained by Department of Information Technology
- "Details of the census". Archived from the original on 19 June 2006.
- Sinlung News
- Buddhist Monasteries of Sikkim
- China backs India's bid for U.N. Council seat; Amit Baruah; The Hindu 12 April 2005
- Sikkim Railway Link Project
- Historic India-China link opens, BBC News
- Sikkim at the Open Directory Project
- Sikkim travel guide from Wikitravel


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20 Songs to Spark Competition Between World Series Contenders
Pitchers' duels, home runs, and late-inning rallies have led us here.
This past weekend, the penultimate round of the MLB playoffs reached a thrilling conclusion, and baseball fans across the country are now gearing up for a World Series between the Boston Red Sox and the St. Louis Cardinals. The Sox and the Cardinals had the best records in their respective leagues during the regular season, making this the first time the two best teams will face off in the World Series since 1999, when the New York Yankees met the Atlanta Braves.
While Boston and St. Louis are two of the bigger markets in baseball, TV ratings for the World Series have been steadily falling over the past several years. With both teams recent World Series champions (Red Sox in '07; Cardinals in '11) and no clear underdog pull on either side, how can a neutral fan become invested in the series?
By choosing which team's city has produced the sweetest beats, of course.
We have a Music Monday playlist that showcases the best musical offerings from both Boston, Mass., and St. Louis, Mo., so you can decide which city to throw your support behind.
Boston boasts The Dropkick Murphys and Pixies, and Aerosmith's heavy guitar riffs may have you tempted to support the BoSox. The Boston fan base has also adopted the catchy stadium anthems "Sweet Caroline" by Neil Diamond and "Dirty Water" by The Standells.
However, Chuck Berry's legendary status and Nelly's smooth hits may sway you to become a St. Lunatic for the series. We also had to include Busch Stadium's celebratory anthems "The Heat Is On" by Glenn Frey and "Shout It Out Loud" by KISS.
The choice is yours. Do you think you'll go to Boston, or will we find you in St. Louis? Who do you like to win it all?
Is this playlist missing your favorite Boston or St. Louis song? Share it with us in the comments below or on Spotify, and we'll add it to the playlist.
How to Share Your Song With Us
1. To follow Mashable on Spotify, click here. If a popup window asks you to launch an external application, accept. This just means the browser will open up Spotify.
2. Follow Mashable or send us music by clicking "Send Music."
3. To send music while browsing tracks within Spotify, follow the MashableHQ account. Then right-click (ctrl + click) on the song you want to send and click the "Share" option.
4. By default, Spotify pulls up the "Post to Feed" option. Instead, select the "Send to Friend" tab, type in "MashableHQ" and hit the blue "Send" button.
If "MashableHQ" doesn't show up when you're trying to send a track, make sure you're following the account. If you're still having problems sending a song after that, let us know in the comments section below, and we'll help you fix the problem.
Image: Flickr, Sean Winters


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The upgrade to what is proving to be the innovation of 2013 is the v.t.g. "photo luminescent" also known as Phölume, this upgraded v.t.g. enables urban or dark game players to find their v.t.g. in the dark. It boasts the ability to absorb UV "ultra violet" light and emit a green glow in the darkness. During tests it has the ability to absorb, incandescent and led lighting which allows the casing to generate photons, which in turn produces light. The Phölume will stay lit for up to two hours and will react immediately to lighting sources, thus enabling players to find it easily in the dark. Please note the whole casing is made from the photo luminescent material, this is not a sprayed on low grade paint. The v.t.g. boasts multiple shells size capability as always and full warranty and after sales service. Certain criteria are to be followed by all potential owners of the v.t.g. this is to satisfy potential changes from the home office for blank firing devices. (Please read the required section of the balnkfiringgrenade.com web site before purchasing a v.t.g.) Compatible with the old versions of blank firing grenades the v.t.g. offers airsoft players the ultimate tool for effect and game enhancements, with a wide range of different options for the user. Weather woodland or urban the v.t.g. is an essential part of any player's kit. (18+ ONLY AND MUST BE AN ACTIVE AIRSOFT PLAYERS UNDER THE VCR BILL CRITERIA) We refuse the right not to sell any blank firing devices to the general public, so don't ask We refuse the right not to sell any blank firing devices to the general public, so don't ask -INTERNATIONAL WORLD WIDE DELIVERY AVAILABLE
v.t.g. 9mm pak ammo adapter
£17.00 *
v.t.g. safety pin assembly
£2.50 *
Delivery weight: 0.1 kg
v.t.g. alloy loading cap:
£18.00 *
bfgx-training device black / tan:
£65.00 *
v.t.g. brass bullet valve:
£12.50 *


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This is rather nice. The stylish Royalcraft Cannes Ebony Black Rattan Bistro Set is a fabulous spot for a morning coffee or a spot of lunch on a summer's day.
Please note there is no parasol hole - see above for details on cantilever parasols.
Weather Shield Fabric cushions offer enhanced protection against rain showers and accidental spills. They are made to withstand the elements and can be left outside all year round. The fabric is also fade and stain-resistant and is easy to wipe clean.
Features of Rattan Flat Weave:
Straightforward self assembly.
Please see Related Products below for details of more furniture in this range.
A-MIR & Co have been established since the early 1990's and pride themselves at being at the forefront of garden furniture and barbecue market in the UK. They offer quality garden products at competitive prices.
For this product, free delivery is available to most UK mainland addresses.
A surcharge applies for deliveries to: Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Aberdeenshire, Scottish Highlands, Scottish Islands - Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands, Outer Hebrides - please contact us for a quote - 0117 3600 505 or email@example.com
Delivery to the islands below can only be made to a mainland UK port of choice for onward delivery at your own cost to your home address:
Isle of Man, Channel Islands, Isle of Wight and Scilly Isles
For the larger sets of furniture you will be contacted prior to delivery of your order to arrange a convenient delivery time.
Kerb-side delivery only.
For smaller items of furniture, cushions, etc., that are sent by parcel delivery with Citilink, a card will be left should you not be at the property at the time of delivery.
For more information on delivery please see our Delivery FAQs.
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Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler!
Panama City Beach Mardi Gras
Take everything that you would get at an authentic Mardi Gras celebration and add in the fact that is is just steps away from the beautiful beaches and emerald green waters and you have got the Panama City Beach Mardi Gras and Music Festival. In conjunction with the Krewe of Dominique Youx's great Mardi Gras at the Beach parade, the festival is always held the weekend before Fat Tuesday and features entertainment for the whole family.
Families can expect a whole lot of fun, live music, and a very family friendly atmosphere. Kid's will have their very own "Kids Zone" and it will feature fun activities for kids such as arts & crafts, caricatures, and face painting. Another popular activity is the exciting Costume Contest that is open for both kids and adults.
*Photos courtesy of Visit Panama City Beach.
Meet Me By the Bayou…or the BEACH!
Get ready to dance as there is live entertainment throughout the Panama City Beach Mardi Gras. Shake your tail feathers to some of the best Cajun and Creole music this side of Bourbon Street. The music starts early in the day and runs through the night. Past performers include Vince Vance & the Valiants, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, and Aaron Neville.
The highlight of the Panama City Beach Mardi Gras is the Float Parade. Main Street of Pier Park becomes the parade route and floats from various Crewes and businesses ride from the beach towards center stage and toss beads and goodies to the thousands that line the streets. This is a family-friendly parade so make sure that you bring your little ones so they can catch some beads!
As soon as the main parade is over, its time to head down towards the beach to watch the fireworks display that takes place right off the City Pier. It's a perfect end to a fun and entertaining weekend!
Panama City Beach Mardi Gras takes place the weekend before Fat Tuesday.
Don't Miss the 2020 Mardi Gras Festival February 21-22, 2020
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DiMarzio DD2241 Steve Vai ClipLock Quick Release Guitar Strap Green Universe
Click Image for Gallery
DiMarzio ClipLock Quick Release Guitar Straps were the first to feature the heavy-duty plastic clip that allows you to easily change from guitar to guitar with a little fingertip pressure. ClipLock Quick Release Guitar Straps are the industry standard for strength, security, and quality. They attach securely to your guitar with two sturdy bushings and extra-long screws sized to fit the strap bushing screw holes on most electric guitars and basses. The DiMarzio ClipLock Quick Release system is the most secure and unique fastening method available to safeguard your guitar.


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The FBI Academy taught me how to face my fears. By the time I graduated, this was my thinking: Drop me into the middle of any squad or any situation, anywhere, anytime. Heck, throw me into the middle of a swimming pool with a gun (one of our physical fitness tests!) I will not be scared because I am confident I will succeed wherever I am.
I became mentally stronger by facing my fears. If my coaches weren't pushing me into a discomfort zone, they weren't doing their job.
Your success depends upon your ability to face your fears when confronted with stiff competition, adversity, economic downturns, and other sources of stress. Setbacks are a part of any business endeavor. If you react to them productively, you're game-ready for whatever comes your way.
Here are 6 ways to face your fears:
My shetland pony bucked me off when I was 6 years old. I started to cry and walk away but my dad made me get right back on. And it had to be right then and there, not later when I'd plucked up enough resolve to have another go at riding the pony.
Research shows that new memories remain unstable for a short period of time after the event. During the unstable period, memories are being coded and consolidated into your consciousness.
We can erase our fear if we can alter our memory of it, and the best time to do that is during the unstable period. If we can interrupt the coding and consolidating, we can change our memory about an unpleasant event.
How To Make It Work For You: If you experience a terrifying event or situation, the best thing you can do is replace that memory with a better one—right away. Take the opportunity to update and transform your memory. It is important, however, that you make sure your environment is safe before trying to extinguish your fear-conditioned memory.
Fear can be a great way to alert you to a dangerous situation. Moderate amounts of fear can sharpen your focus and decision-making skills.
It can also keep you on your toes because when we become complacent, mistakes can start to happen.
How To Make It Work For You: When you face your fears, you can keep them manageable. Accept that some fear can work for you and learn to distinguish the healthy fear from that which paralyzes you or produces unhealthy doses of stress. Don't let it get so big that it turns into panic.
Whether you hang tough or give up often depends upon your ability to adapt to stress. A resilient person is not someone who avoids stress; it is someone who learns how to nip it in the bud.
Researchers have discovered that the neural circuits that govern fear interact with the ones that govern reward. As a result of these connections, how you face your fears is related to your ability to remain upbeat under stress.
How To Make It Work For You: The area of the brain that is producing anxiety and fear overlaps with the area of the brain responsible for positive emotions. This is one of the reasons it's hard to be stressed out and happy or content at the same time. Strengthen the positive emotions so they can tampen down your fear.
When we focus our attention on our fear, or on the negative, precious energy is being wasted fretting about our situation. One of the best ways to face your fears is to starve them of attention.
Instead, think of the bigger goal at stake. As Simon Sinek suggests, focus on your why. It's important that your mission and goals be important to you. When the goal has value and meaning for you, you have only one choice: either back down and fail, or forge ahead.
How To Make It Work For You: When you are afraid, turn your attention away from the thing that is creating the fear. Instead, focus on your goal.
Much of our fear is associated with embracing the unknown. We fear what we don't know.
FBI agents making arrests face the unknown because they can't predict how an individual will react when arrested. To alleviate the fear they may experience, they do several things.
First, they practice arrest scenarios with red handled guns that do not have firing pins. This provides them with experience in difference situations so they are exposed to as many potential arrest scenarios as possible. This helps them from being surprised by the unknown.
Second, they collect as much information about the person to be arrested as possible. The agents can prepare if they have reason to believe the suspect might be armed and dangerous.
Third, agents qualify in firearms 4 times a year so they are constantly fine-tuning their skills. By the time they actually make an arrest, they do not need to think about what to do because they've done it before so many times.
How To Make It Work For You: Find out as much as possible about what you fear. Practice how you can overcome this fear until it becomes second nature to you.
When you are a member of a tribe, you have an acute sense of belonging—you feel accepted and safe when things go wrong.
During my first 3 weeks of the FBI Academy, new agents like myself were not allowed to leave the Marine Corp base. We spent 24 hours a day with each other—building the trust and familiarity that creates a tribe.
How To Make It Work For You: In times of stress and anxiety, it's easy to feel neglected. It's impossible to instantly create deep bonds of familiarity and trust. Don't wait until things go wrong to start finding your tribe. Start now.
© 2017 LaRae Quy. All rights reserved.
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Author of "Mental Toughness for Women Leaders: 52 Tips To Recognize and Utilize Your Greatest Strengths" and "Secrets of a Strong Mind."


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