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This is shalini. I am an 18 year old girl who lives in Kolkata. I have recently been promoted to class XII of my school. I have got a fabulous figure of 36 24 26 and have got great breasts. They are quite large and perky.
I have got a pretty round ass and a full figure. I have always been very beautiful and fair, probably inherited from my mother who was a bharatnatyam dancer. Hence I have got a toned body. My most impressive feature is my ass which gets really highlighted when I wear Jeans.
Even Amerian size jeans are a perfect fit for me as they accommodate larger ass sizes. When I go out even my Elder brothers friends pass lewd comments.
Offcourse I have never complained as I am eager to flirt. I have never had any physical relationships with any boy or man but have fantasized. I tend to wear short skirts and tops as it is hot in Kolkata.
In my house I never wear bra and sometimes even go pantyless. The boy who works at our house had once seen me without my Panty while I was cleaning the kitchen and bending over.
My pussy hair was slightly exposed at that time but I recovered quickly. Now I was 16 at that time. Since that day the boy and his road side friends (he lives in a nearby slum) have sometimes followed me from school in the hope of a second flash.
So I have put myself in some embarrassing situations. This incident occurred while I had my school summer vacations. My Mom had gone to her native place in Gurgaon along with my brother and me and my father were staying alone. One day my father and his friends had come to our house to play cards and they had a bet. The bet was whoever loses would sponsor a trip to Digha which is a nearby beach, hardly a days travel.
Unfortunately my father lost the play and his buddies, Ramesh, Shyam, Sundar, Bappa, Pintu and Anirban started to press the bet.
My father was looking helpless as he could not possibly leave me any where and go out for 3-4 days. In order to ease his agony I said that I can also come along. Immediately my father took me aside and said that I might be uncomfortable with so many men and no girl or women in the group. I asked that maybe their wives whom I knew well could come too.
But my father corrected me saying that this will be sponsored by him hence it would be wiser if the group is small. I thought about it and wondered that it might be even better as being the only child I would be pampered by my father and uncles as we had a very good rapport. I said that it would not be a worry. So we decided to travel the same weekend.
Now this was the first time I was going to a beach so I wanted to enjoy myself thoroughly. The trip was for 3 days and so I packed in a couple of jeans and some tops.
I had heard that Digha was hot and humid so I put in my lightest of clothes. A couple of shirts and skirts. Since I had no new under garments I decided to try my mothers cupboard. There I found a couple of nighties which I thought would be OK for me. Since I used to sleep in my brothers old t shirts I never had any night wear. It was not a problem as everybody had a separate room. There was only one problem with the nightie. They were backless and the straps and neck were quite deep.
When I tried those on the nightie was not even till my upper thigh. It was just covering my large butt and the cleavage was more hanging out than tucked in. Even if I bent a little forward my ass would be exposed .I thought to myself that I have to wear those only during the nights so I took those. Next I shaved of my hair as I did not want to give anybody a fright. I was all set. On Friday when we boarded the train we were a happy bunch.
We reached Digha on Friday afternoon and started to search around for a hotel. Eventually we found one with a couple of empty rooms. Now my father and his 6 friends started consulting among themselves and decided to take the rooms and share them at the same charge. Now my jaw dropped. I started protesting that It will be better ig I had a separate room.
After a lot of bickering my father begged me to relent and said that me and him will stay in one room and the rest can share another. I was Ok with that so we just checked in. We decided to freshen up I decided to make first use of our bathroom.
I took out a skirt and top and went in As it was hot I did not take a bra and panty as we had decided to rest a bit. I freshened up and put on the clothes (I avoided coming out in a towel which I generally do) and as I came out I saw Ramesh, Shyam and Sundar sitting with my father and everybody wearing only their towels.
As I came out my father explained that to freshen up quickly he had asked them to share this bathroom also.
I just smiled and they smiled back. But I thought I saw them checking me out from head to tow. Their eyes were roaming around my exposed white and smooth thighs which had been been covered only by a mini skirt and my large boobs and nipples were poking out freely from the flimsy shirt. As I came in front of the mirror I saw that as my body was wet my nipples were also exposing my pinkish hue through the shirt which was clinging to the wet boobs.
Now I was embarrassed. There were hushed voices and in the mirror I could see every body was just checking me out. I decided to ignore them and bent down and opened my suitcase and as I did that I heard a few gasps. As I sat down a waft of cool air touched my pussy and I realized I was not wearing any panties as usual.
That was the reason of their gasps. I uickly stood up and as I looked into the mirror. I could still see them staring 8at my ass trying to catch a second glimpse. I understood I had put myself in another embarrassing position. I avoided eye contact as I was really very ashamed that what would they be thinking about a young girl who was giving a free for all. Anyway, by that time it was evening We decided to go for a beachside walk. I put on a tank top with no bra and Jeans.
Now I had a full figure and was still developing so the jeans was skin tight. As we came outI wondered what people would be thinking about our group. Seven middle aged pot bellied men in their shorts and a beautiful young girl among them emerging out of 2 rooms.
The room service guys were also ammiling looking at me. The tank top clung to my torso with the breats trying to burst out. The nipples had begun to protrude outwhile my navel was visible between the .top and the low cut jeans. To avoid any embarrassing situation I did not wear nay panties so that there would be no issues of people looking at my panty when I bent down. I knew my big round ass was a perfect view from behind as Ramesh had already whistled at me as I emerged out of the room.
We 8were walking alongside the beach with Rammesh and Shyam on my two sides chatting with mme. My father was busy with his other buddies. *Ramesh and Shyam both had a hand on my waist on both sides. They were just caressing my waist and navel uuunderneath the top. I* was wondering what it was looking liketo other people on the beach. I was also feeling a bit uncomfortable but I went along. Rammesh and Shyam uncle were the most handsome of the lot but were famous for their roving eyes also and .both were divorced.
Suddenly while chatting Ramesh put his hand on my butt inside my jeans pocket. As I looked at him he smiled.I smiled and pushed his hand away. After the walk we went back to the room after having dinner. Everybody retired to their rooms. As my father locked the room I went to the bathroom to change. I had taken my mom's night wear with me and wanted to surprise my father. I had never thought that I would be sharing a room but anyway since he was mmy father I had no issues.
As I put on the nightie I heard a few voices then a door was shut. I looked at myself in the mirror.
I was looking very sexy. It was a one piece nightie, back less and the curves were perfect for me. My breasts were covered at the nipples while the bulges were quite visible leaving very little to the imagination as the nipples were protrudimng out. As I loomked at the back what I saw made me gasp.
My entire back till my butt was visible. And the nightie hem ended at my buttocks. In the front too it was just about enough to cover my pussy My sexy thighs were visible and I started to shiver as I thought about going in front of my father like this. To complicate the situation I was not wearing any panties.
I decided that I would change back into jeans and tank top. With courage I opened the door and as I came out I was struck by a bolt of lightning. In the room were Shyam, Ramesh, Bappa and Anirban uncles and they were drinking with four glasses in the room and few bottles of liquor. As they saw me they usered me in and said that my father is in the neighbourimng room playing cards and so they were in here drinking.
They asked me to feel free and not to worry about them as they wpould be gone very soon. But suddenly they realized what I was dressed in. SEveryone was sipping their drinks and looking at me as I stood transfixed near the bathroom door covering my nakedness with the towel.
But it was too small. My thighs were completely exposed and since Ramesh was sitting at an angle to where I was standing he could also see may naked back and could guess how much of my back was covered. He was looking at me with lustful eyes. Ramesh stood up and said Ramesh " Come and sit with us Shalini", as he stood up and put his large rough hands on my back just above the buttocks pushing me forward into the room.
His hand lingered on and I started to shiver at his touch. Bappa who was bang in front of me " Just took away the towel and the clothes from my hands and threw them away and as he smiled his lusty smile everybody began to take in my nakedness.
I was just dumb struck and embarrassed at the situation I had put myself into. As I tried to push myself back I collapsed into Ramesh's frmae which completely covered me. He was in his lungi and open shirt and hence his hairy chest touched my naked back. As I looked back he amiled down at me and asked me to sit Ramesh "Why don't you sit down dear and give us some company" he pushed me onto the bed where I just dropped down and my position became even more precarious.
Now I was in the middle of four drunk and in all probability horny men with my boobs barely covered and a nightie with no back and no panties. I had pressed my legs together and was trying to make sure that no part of my naked pussy was visible. They had not yet realized that I had no panties onalthough now as I had crossed my legs they could see quite a lot of my thighs. I could not separate my legs nor could I sit in a pranayam position of Yoga.
Only option left was to cross my legs and pull down the nightie. I could not excuse myself to put on my pantie as that would have added fuel to the fire.
I was completely trapped and was hoping that they could finish their drinking session and my father would be back. Shaym "Shalini why are you looking so anxious, let yourself loose we will enjoy. You are 18 aren't you?", I nodded as Ramesh had put his hands quite near to me boobs and I had begun to squirm Bappa "So why don't you have a drink "offering me a glass.
I could just shake my head and blabberreed out a no Anirban "Come on have some, your father will not be back soon. We might be here all night" Bappa "Yes sure, now that Shalini is there with us" and they roared with laughter Now I had no option and I said "I have to sleep can you please excuse me". Immedialtey Ramesh held me and said "That was rude of you". I wanted to break free and said "Please let me go to the bathroom I have to change" Ramesh "Don't bother we are going to help you change if you don't mind" I understood that I was semi naked in front of 4 hungry men and was now trapped and begun to shiver.
I issued a warning "I want to call my father" Ramesh immediately handed over his phone and dialed his number and while putting his phone to his ears said "Sure let me call him for you and when he comes in he can see what his daughter was doing in that dress with us four guys" As my father picked up the phone Ramesh handed it over to me and started to push his hands up my naked butt pulling up my flimsy nightie along with it.
Everybodies eyes had widened while I spoke to me father on the phone. I knew I could not take the risk and just said to my father I am with the uncles and will not be needing him for the rest of the night. Now I had my butt exposed in front of four cheering men. As Ramesh was about to part me legs we heard a knock on the door. Suddenly I was relieved and taking advantage jumped into the bathroom and locked it. As Ramesh opened the door my father was standing outside. I heard a few laughs and then the room fell silent.
My father knocked on the door and said "Sorry darling I left you alone. When you called I immedialtely came as I did not want to leave you alone." I asked hime to hand over my jeans and top and I came out after changing my clothes.
I decided to forget everything as a night mare and just slept. In the morning as I awakened I saw my father dresses in shorts and tshirt and said "Come on girl, get ready we are going to the beach" I had already decided that I will avoid those people and excused myself saying I had no proper clothes only jeans which will not be good.
Immediately my father smiled and put in fron of me a gift packed box saying my beloved uncles ahd gifted me this saying that as discussed last night they owed me a present. I immediately askes "What did they say about last night?" Father "They just said it was enjoyable and they would not tell me anything saying that it was their word of honor not to say anything until Shalini decides to break their friendship, but requested that I make sure you get this gift which you had reuested of them.
And they said it is a beach dress as they knew you did not have one" I was a bit surprised and as my father went out asking me to get prepared. I( locked the door and as I opened the package I wondered what trouble I was in for. As I opened the package I understood immediately what was going to happen to me. Inside the box was a pair of black bikinis with a big scarf. I understood they wanted to take me to the beach in bikini and then flirt with me. And they would spill the beans about my provocative dress up last night if I did not comply.
Obviously since I had my mother's nightie they would be proved correct. I had no other choice but to wear it. As I put it on I realized how much of a slut was I looking. The lace panty rode into my ass crack and covered my pussy well but that was about it as everything about it was lace and their was just a thin string at the back which disappeared it my butt crack.
My butt was absolutely naked and if I stretched my legs apart even my pussy lips would be visible. The bra was decent compared to that, only my big nipples were protruding out and the breasts were not even half covered. All in all I looked more like a European bikini model and less like an 18 year Indian girl in Digha. All in all I was just semi naked and was going to walk out like that on to the beach with 7 meiddle aged gentlemen. I picked up a towel and wrapped it around my butt and with a heavy breth walked out of the room.
Outside the four villains were waiting or me. As I looked around for my father Shyam said. "Ohh don't worry about him, they have gone ahead, we assured him you were in good hands" Anirban added "Along with all you have got" and everybody laughed. They took mme out through the lobby of the hotel and I could see everybody's eyes roving over my entire body and raping me in their fantasies. Even the housekeeping staff where .whispering and giggling among themselves.
I knew they had not seen an Indian girl with boobs hanging out of a bikini bra with towel wrapped around her big butt and the entire navel showing, walking among 4 grown up men with a hand on her butt and another on her naked back. I was just sweating at my plight and wanted to sink into the ground. This was the most vulnerable I had ever felt. As we reached the beach they took me to the most secluded spot.
It was quite rocky there and hence there were not many people around. We sat down over there and spread a large blanket. Shyam took out country liqour from the packets and they started drinking Shyam "Common Shalini let us go for a swim" Anirban pulled me up and Shyam tugged at the towel I had wrapped around my butt and it gave way.
Now I was semi naked in a bikini on an Indian beach in front of everybody. Evryboy started to whistle appreciatively. A group of boys sitting at a distance where enjoying my show.
Bappa caressed my buttocks and everybody pulled me into the water. As soon as we got chest deep into the water I started getting mauled. My breasts were massaged and Bappa put his hands into my panties and started to finger me roughly. I was being fingered massaged and pinched at all of my smooth soft and swollen places inside the water and there was nothing I could do to protest.
Suddenly my panties came apart and someboy removed my bra completely. I looked at them and saw them smiling. Ibegged them to give me back my clothes but nobody listened. Now I was chest deep in water, completely naked with our hungry animals. There was no way I could come out of water now and so I just closed my eyes. Suddenly I heard a few voices. I opned my eyes and saw my father and rest of the group arrive at the spot.
Now I just wanted to run into my fathers arms. As they reached the spot all our who were in water just casually walked out of the water along with my bikini in there hands, hidden and went up to my father.
I was the only one in water as I was naked. I called out to my father. Bappa said "She still wants to play a bit, why don't you play with your daughter" My father waved at me and came inside the water alone. As he reached me he saw me naked and anger filled his eyes "You slut, what were you doing naked with those four guys" But as he said that his expression changed and his eyes got fixed on mmy nig milky white brea8sts which were glistening in the sun and on my open wet pussy which had been mercilessly fingered.
Suddenly he smiled and said "So you wanted to get fucked by my friends, you will get more than you want" He pulled out his rock hard dick fromm his Bermuda and hugged me and puhded the ick inside my swollen pussy.
I felt a searing pain as the rod was shoved in me. He kept on pumping in the water and pressed my buttocks with his giants hands. After some time I began to feel nothing and just collapsed on his shoulders. By then I was shormn of all embarrassment.
The few people nearby could only gues what was happening between an embracing couple in water. In the distance I could see my uncles laughing and clicking pictures. After ome time when my father was exhausted he pulled me out o water. Now I was walking on the beach butt naked and he he just threw me down on the wet blanket.
I just fell down on my stomach. I could see some boys running to see me naked. I was already surrounded by 7 middle aged people. As a group of all males was accumulating seeing a beautiful naked mermaid being pulled out of water I was only imagining what was going to happen to me.
Sudenly somebody picked me up and shoved his dick in my ass. I was now lying on somebody with my face being pulled up and a dick shoved in it. Another dick was shoved in my ass. Now I was plugged in all my hole and everyboy was enjoying seeing me getting fucked.
There were whistles and laughter. I heard my father collecting 100 rupees from everybody who was willing to fuck me. I was fucked for the entire day. I returned back from Digha after spending 2 days being fucked on the beach by many guys. Even the hotel guys fucked me after paying my father.
My father's friends video taped me getting fucked by everyone and told me that if I opened my mouth the tapes will be sent to every guy in my school. I could only imagine what would happen then.


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Network transmission solutions specialist AMG Systems will discuss the latest developments in environmentally robust fibre, analogue, IP/Ethernet, wireless and hybrid communication systems when the company exhibits at the Global MSC Security Conference and Exhibition 2017 in Bristol.
The two-day event is hosted by consultancy Global MSC Security, with this year's theme being that of 'Integrating Technologies'. The conference and exhibition is designed to bring together experts from across the security industry, sharing their knowledge with delegates from local authorities, hospitals, universities and both private and blue chip companies. This year's event looks into the ways that security is changing, integrating with other disciplines and adapting at a rapid pace to meet the demands of what end users now require from their security solutions.
Speakers and topics include:
*Daffydd Llywelyn (Dyfed Pewees Police and Crime Commissioner): Public Space Surveillance initiative
*Professor William Webster (director, Centre for Research into Information, Surveillance and Privacy): Body-Worn Video Research
*Tony Porter (Surveillance Camera Commissioner): National Surveillance Camera Strategy for England and Wales
*Detective Inspector Edward Heath (Avon and Somerset Police): Cyber Crime
*Bernadette Bashford-Payne (estate Control Centre manager, Canary Wharf): 'Inside a Large Control Room'
*Jim Burgess (associate director, Perform Green): 'Integrating CCTV in Bristol's Smart City'
*Mick Neville (ex-Metropolitan Police Service: SeeQuestor Review
Discussion of key security challenges
At the Global MSC Security Conference and Exhibition, AMG Systems is exhibiting on Stand 25. The company's business development director Sara Fisher said that the organisation is looking forward to meeting delegates and discussing the key security challenges that they face in their day-to-day operations.
"Our specialist transmission knowledge can provide enormous benefits for integrated projects, saving on infrastructure expenditure, time for install or upgrade and reducing complexity," said Fisher. "I'm keen to talk to any delegates who'd like to learn more about the way that legacy systems can be transitioned relatively simply to IP and Ethernet, with all the advantages that brings, and to those who'd like to discuss any other aspect of security and data network provision."
AMG Systems manufactures intelligent, industrial grade, robust edge-of-network transmission solutions which have been used extensively in CCTV and security systems, as well as in sectors as diverse as the oil and gas, Critical National Infrastructure, defence and transport industries.
AMG Systems is the only UK-based IP and Ethernet transmission product manufacturer and solution provider. The company's degree of in-house control mean that its products are less vulnerable to cyber security attacks than those from other companies, which rely on third party hardware and software.
The Global MSC Security Conference and Exhibition 2017 takes place on Monday 13 and November 14 at the Bristol Hotel on Prince Street in Bristol. For more information and to book a delegate place visit www.globalmsc.net/seminars-2/

subset: commoncrawl


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Puyehue Volcano Eruption Continues40.6S 72.5W
After a quieter spell, Chile's Puyehue Volcano released a large cloud of ash once again in late July (click link for more on the 2011 Puyehue volcanic eruption). The eruption began on June 4th.
While the main image focuses on the volcano itself, the detail image shows the ash cloud spreading east of the Rio de la Plata estuary. A change in wind direction caused the ash to blow over the estuary itself, causing flight cancellations from Buenos Aires and Montevideo.


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Chugach, day 18
Børge &Vincent just called in. They are camped at: 61.41326, -147.76488 / 3000m
It has been a gorgeous day but probably the hardest so far on the trip. They guessed they had covered some 17km finding the best way upwards and avoiding crevasses. Now they can't get further with full loads.
They will get some rest before starting early for the summit push and take advantage of the cold mornings and harder snow. Probably they will be on their way between 02 and 04.
They will leave the camp and go light with rope, climbing equipment, Iridium and PLB.
The weather has been great, and it looks better for Monday and Tuesday than the predictions yesterday. Clouds, they can already see them building out at sea, seems to hit around noon(local time), but they will be more scattered than faired, and they should keep good visibility for the return to camp.
All the best, Lars


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David Bloom, head of currency strategy at HSBC, is a pessimistic man, at least when it comes to the strength of the U.S. economy. Our guest host spent two hours explaining why the housing market has still not stabilized in the U.S. and why this will ultimately lead the Federal Reserve to slash interest rates (well, cut them at least twice before the year end).
Housing will be just one part of the overall story of slowing across the economy, but it will be an important one. The dollar is only going down from here says Mr. Bloom.
The good news, at least for global investors, will be the ability of the rest of the world to continue growing even as the U.S. slows down. No synchronized downturn for David, this will be the time for Europe and Asia to demonstrate their ability to de-couple from the U.S. consumer.
Fingers crossed, eh?
There was much prognosticating over the last 10 days. Was it China, the sub-prime debt market, U.S. mortgages, sun spot activity, etc. Needless to say there has been a lot of chest beating about the market falls. Were equities the victim of a liquidity trade? Funds that couldn't escape derivative positions or illiquid contracts sold out of what could be sold. Beware of the I-told-you-so brigade. Calling the markets overbought for the last 6 months isn't the same as picking the week or even month for a pull-back! So keep a skeptical ear open as analysts claim the market is doing just what they predicted.
How far does this go? There are still too many people saying its time to buy for my liking. They argue this is purely a market event and not prompted by a change in the economic fundamentals. Perhaps they are right, but I think this is going to take a little bit longer to work its way through.
Feedback welcome - here.


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Roar: Tigers Of The Sundarbans is a film unlike any other. Produced by Abis Rizvi and directed by Kamal Sadanah, it revolves around the majestic yet dangerous tigers of the Sundarbans area of West Bengal and their complicated relationship with humans.
The film not only had an international crew, but the makers also decided to incorporate some truly cutting edge VFX technology to create the complete experience. Now, Abis, Kamal and the rest of the cast and crew including Anibrain who executed the VFX are getting their due as they have been awarded the 'Best VFX Shot Of The Year' and 'Best VFX In a Motion Picture' awards at the FICCI BAF Awards 2015. It is interesting to note that in the Best VFX Shot Of The Year Category, all the nominations were from ! And in the second category, Roar: Tigers Of The Sundarbans was pitted against massive films like Happy New Year and the Tamil blockbuster 'I'. This is truly a momentous achievement for Abis and Kamal.
An elated Abis says, "It is a great feeling to see our hard work being appreciated." This was Kamal's directorial début and here's what he has to say about this honor, "To have the brightest minds in the media validate our film by honoring us with these awards is reason enough to add newer visuals of our expressions in this line of work and play ."


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Following months of speculation it has been announced that Rocketsports will be making it's American Le Mans Series debut with the Jaguar XKR GT2 at the Petit Le Mans later this month.
The team who will be competiting fully for the 2010 championship plan to use the last two events of this season to get up to speed for next year.
The car is currently undergoing extensive system tests at RSR's facility in Michigan.
Initial plans had been for the team to make a mid-season debut, but after manufacturing and production delays the debut had been pushed back.
"It has been difficult to be out of competitive racing for nearly a year," said RSR team owner Paul Gentilozzi. "We are most fortunate to be able to return to what we know, winning sportscar championships. In particular, winning them in Jaguars. We haven't spent our time idly; we've focused on engineering and construction of the Jaguar XKR. The luxury of time that we traditionally don't have in this process has been a great asset. We feel like our work with both the ALMS and the ACO will give us a car that is number one: competitive on the track, number two: representative of Jaguar's racing history, and number three: economically viable for customers in the GT2 series around the world."
With Fourteen GT2 machines currently entered for the 1,000-mile/10-hour road race classic, RSR will be in for a tough debut.
A full press conference is being held by the team on Thursday 24 September at Road Atlanta as they officially unveil the car and drivers for 2009.


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We all get nervous sometimes.
Recently, I did a few speaking engagements and I was really f-ing nervous.
What if I sound like an idiot? What if I fumble like I did that one time when I was tired and unprepared and thought I could wing it but didn't? (Success in winging it is never guaranteed by random past success, I learned.)
What if I say the wrong thing?
What if there's dead silence.
"Just stop worrying! You'll be fine!"
Oh, ok! Got it. All I have to do is stop worrying, since I'll be fine.
In reality, the What Ifs really do come true sometimes (or a lot of the time).
I really could forget my lines, get unsubscribes, mess up this interview, launch a product that no one wants — like I really did, more times than would be interesting to list out. (PS, speaking of launching products…)
And then?
And then I'm still here. What else can I do but keep showing up — fears, anxieties, hopes and all?
But, being an optimizer, I now have a toolkit (more below).
A recent Friday on the metro in Madrid, I saw a middle aged Spanish man playing Candy Crush Saga on his phone.
I was on my way to meet someone for the first time, and I was nervous.
I watched him watching the game, moving gems around with an agile right thumb, a tiny smile on his face.
Dude, I fucking love that game, I thought at him.
Somehow, this comforted me. A reminder of our shared silliness and tiny humiliations, all this loss of face that we endure each day despite our best efforts to mask our vulnerabilities.
In that moment, it eased my nerves, like imagining your audience naked (which I think would be super distracting and not helpful, don't you?), and brought me back to this reality —
— that at some point or another, we are all a balding, paunchy 50-something man delighting in a private Candy Crush moment, not giving a fuck if we are cool, if we are sexy, if we are right, if we are liked.
I wrote to my friend Gillian.
Gillian, I wrote, I think I might be making the biggest mistake of my life (this was a few weeks ago).
She looked me straight in the eye — through all that space and distance and those multiple inboxes — and she said to me:
Fear not mistakes, because there are none.
There's only experience, and you get to choose the experience that you want, Susan.
We grew up in a generation that taught sacrifice, perseverance and endurance as virtues we should aspire to. But these are only words that describe qualities of experience, not absolute right or wrong, not mistakes or non-mistakes.
Try what you've never done before. Try the new for you, and you'll know the true difference between one way and the other.
Public speaking makes me nervous.
Some people are great at it and can do it hungover, half asleep, distracted by whatever.
But these people have other stuff that takes them into their discomfort zone — maybe it's facing an emotional conversation, maybe it's being with an aging parent or family member, maybe it's colliding with someone else's suffering or anger or desire.
No matter where the edge of ease is located inside of us, we all have one — that drop-off into the unpleasant and unfamiliar.
I get nervous easily — it's not just public speaking but all of the tough TO-DOs we have to face: delivering disappointment to someone we love, sticking our necks out / names onto a totally untested, fully unoptimized endeavor, being honest inside yourself so that you can be truthful to the world outside.
In my life, a lot of random stuff brings me right to that edge. So, I've really had to work on how to deal.
Remember that thing about imagining your audience naked? For me it works better the other way around: Take off all that you're wearing, let go of all that you're carrying.
Here's my 3-step guide to leaping naked, in front of a crowd, with a parachute:
1. Be in your body.
2. Remember who you are.
3. Fill up all the space, all of it.
That's it!
Till next time and with love,


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Each week at In The Past Lane, the American history podcast, host and Historian-at-Large, Edward T. O'Donnell, brings you news, stories, interviews, and special features on all things U.S. history. His aim is to be both engaging and thought-provoking, inspired by the notion that history explains the world we live in and provides insights into how to achieve a more prosperous, peaceful, and just future. So come along with us as we journey In The Past Lane. www.InThePastLane.com www.EdwardTODonnell.com
In each episode of In The Past Lane, the history podcast, we take up topics in American history and explore them through feature pieces, interviews, book and film reviews, and more. Our guiding philosophy is that history is not just about the past - it's about our world, here and now. History explains why things are the way they are, everything from our economy, religious practices, and foreign policy, to political ideology, family structure, and rates of poverty. Our aim is to be both informative and educational, as well as entertaining and funny. We hope you'll join us for memorable journeys In The Past Lane.
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Put your travel plans onto your mobile.
Create beautiful lists of restaurants and locations to visit with Everplaces. It's free, mobile and anti-roaming. Curious?
Nice Thai food, it gets quite packed by dinnertime, so making a reservation can be a good idea. There is a lot to choose from, but you can never go wrong with their set menu options.
Save and share places you love
with Everplaces


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National Insurance contributions are paid to build an entitlement to a number of state benefits, particularly the State Pension. Other benefits which depend on your contribution record are the contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Bereavement Allowance and contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance. They are also applicable to Maternity Allowance and Incapacity Benefit.
The scheme was first introduced in 1911 and has been repeatedly amended since then.
Mandatory contributions are paid both directly by employees and by employers on their behalf. Self-employed workers contribute through a fixed regular payment in addition to a percentage of their net profits once those reach a certain level.
Over the years, the National Insurance has become a significant contribution to government revenue: in 2010/2011, this amounted to 21.5% of the total collected, or £96.5 billion.
All contributors have a personal National Insurance number, which identifies them uniquely and is used to claim benefits.
Contributions are paid on a sliding scale and fall into different classes.
Class 1 contributions are paid by employees and their employees. Those who earn between £139 and £817 per week pay 12% of the amount earned above £139. On incomes above £817 per week, an additional 2% of the excess is also paid. These contributions are deducted from wages by the employer.
Class 2 and Class 4 National Insurance contributions are paid by self-employed workers.
Class 2 contributions are paid at a flat rate of £2.50 per week while Class 4 contributions are a percentage of annual taxable profits. For profits between £7,225 and £42,475 a contribution of 9 per cent is paid and a further 2 per cent on profit which exceeds that figure.
Self-employed contributors whose profits are expected to fall below £5,315 may be exempt from Class 2 National Insurance contributions.
The lower earnings limit for Class 1 National Insurance contributions increased in 2011/12 to £139 from £110 in the previous year, with the upper limit being decreased from £844 to £817.
NI Tax Code
The rates at which contributions are paid by a worker and their employer vary on the basis of a number of factors. HMRC uses an alphabetic code known as the NI Table Letter to each possible combination of rates. The determination of rates is complex and the HMRC publishes a set of tables for each table letter to assist with this. Fortunately computers have taken much of the difficulty out of calculating rates.
It is important for employees who are working for more than one employer to ensure that they are not overpaying national Insurance. In such a case it is possible to defer contributions from one employer to prevent the overpayment.
Contributors who have a break in their National Insurance contributions may need to top up with voluntary contributions. These may be paid for any of the six years prior to the year of payment, although in some circumstances concessions may apply for other years.
Thirty qualifying years of contributions must be paid in order to receive the full Basic State Pension. Proportionally lower rates of pension are applicable to a shorter qualifying period.


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Skyline Blue Hour Urban Downtown Seattle Cityscape
You can also exhort them by inviting our photographers one cup of Coffee. If it is so great, please share with your friends.
The pictures on Max Pixel be freely distributed with a Creative Commons Zero - CC0.
Our photographer was tagging for this picture: Skyline, Downtown, Seattle, Cityscape, Urban, Blue Hour. resolution of image 7000×4667 pixels, you can download it with JPEG format.
Our team would like to recommend to you a few photos in the same category:
|Image type
CC0 Public Domain
Free for commercial use
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At SportRχiv we accept submissions from those working in all aspects of the disciplines of sport and exercise science (also known as kinesiology and movement science), sport and exercise studies, rehabilitation and therapy, through to theatre, dance, and performance studies. Sub-disciplines include biomechanics, development and management, history, philosophy, physiology, physiotherapy, psychology, and sociology — to name a few.
Submissions fall under two major types of article: (1) Prepublication versions of manuscripts (i.e., preprints) that have been submitted or are in the final stages of submission to a peer reviewed academic journal, and (2) Previously published research that you wish to make Open Access. Please note that we do not accept the publishers typeset Version of Record, but rather the the pre- (Author's Original Version) and post-(Accepted Manuscript) print versions. If you are unsure, please email us and we will be happy to help.
We accept the following article types: original research, current opinions, commentaries, review articles, case studies, technical reports, and short communications. However, we do not accept blog posts, dissertations (submit such documents to thesiscommons.org), or other communications that do not adhere to academic publishing standards. Before sharing your work, we suggest you check your target journal's policy on the posting of preprints and/or the SHERPA/RoMEO service for details of permitted use. General Submission Guidelines
At this time we kindly request that all manuscripts be submitted as PDF. Under the current submission system the file type cannot be changed once submitted.
As with traditional publishing models, it is a requirement that all co-authors are aware of, and have agreed to, submission and all named authors will be notified upon upload. A co-author agreement statement is required before the work will be accepted.
Before submission, we advise that manuscripts are carefully checked. Unlike traditional journal submissions, the burden of quality control lies with the author. A thoroughly prepared preprint will help to build your scientific reputation. However, a poorly prepared preprint with scientific errors and/or even grammatical mistakes have the opposite effect. Although not a requirement, we suggest all submissions undertake some form of typesetting to aid legibility. Free software such as LaTeX is available to help with this process.
Before acceptance, a note on the front page stating whether the manuscript is a pre- or post-print is required. If the article is a postprint feel free to include a link to the journal article.
A note on how to cite the work, and the DOI, must be included on the cover page. We encourage the use of the automatically generated citation produced by the OSF when submitting the work. Once a DOI number has been issued, it is also worth updating the manuscript using the inbuilt version control system to include instructions on how to cite the work.
Many publishers will allow for preprints to be updated post peer review. However, it is important to note that options for the submission of post-prints can be more limited. In general, it is advised that you utilise our version control software to keep track of revisions and to make sure your work can stay in the public domain.
One of the key features of submitting a preprint is accessing constructive feedback. As such, we require authors to state the corresponding author's email address on the title page. We also encourage authors to list their Twitter handle as this aids community interaction with the research.
All submissions will go through a basic screening process to check for conformation with these guidelines. Submissions that do not meet these guidelines will be removed, and the authors notified.
All submitted work must be related to sport, exercise, health or physical activity research. Furthermore, all research must be correctly classified and
Please note that these guidelines are subject to change and view our FAQ page for a broader explanation of what can be submitted.
Also, we understand that conforming to guidelines can be difficult. Therefore, we have created template documents that authors can use for their own submissions. Click this link to see the templates.


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After the long winter hiatus, the warm weather this weekend had me suddenly spending the whole day out and about in the sun. While I was pleased with myself for remembering to layer my moisturizer with sunscreen, I was even happier to have a final layer of SPF in my foundation.
Tag Archives: foundation
Choose a Foundation With Sunscreen to Get "Made in The Shade"
Filed under Beauty Products, Fight Fine Lines, Sun Protection
Watch Your Tone, Missy! The 4 Best Toners to clean up your act.
Naturally, your face wash removes most of the grime that manages to coat your complexion throughout the day, but it's not always enough to give you the radiant glow you hope to see in the mirror every morning. Over time, tiny amounts of dirt and makeup can build up on the surface of your skin, and prevent its true beauty from shining through.
Filed under Anti-aging Products, Beauty, Beauty Products, Facials, Fight Fine Lines
Permanent Pretty. The Art of Tattoo Makeup and Micro-pigmentation.
You know those nights when you're just too tired, too tipsy, or too "something else", to take off your makeup before you go to bed? Well, imagine never having to worry about waking up with smudgy raccoon eyes again. Imagine your lipstick stuck on your smoocher instead of your sheets. Imagine ditching your overflowing collection of brow pencils and stencils. Over the past few months I've watched three of my city-chic coworkers save tons of money and time by opting for perennial pretty with permanent makeup. Hmmm… maybe they are on to something.
The Dreaded "Man Tan". Sun Goddesses Beware!
About a year ago, after several months of working too hard, and playing too little, my boyfriend and I decided to skip town and head to Barbados for a relaxing break. Since I've experienced the the amazing embarrassment of the "Man Tan" before, I bathed myself in sunscreen thinking that would do the trick, but no dice. When we got back to our hotel room after an incredible day on the beach, I couldn't help but notice that my man looked like he had something he wanted to tell me. "What's that on your lip?"
Filed under Melasma, Sun Protection
Time marches on… my face!
The Birthday Girl! Ahhh, that one day a year when it is all about you; the cake, well wishes, gifts, and paparazzi-like picture taking that accompanies your celebration. Just about a year ago, after a fabulous evening of partying, a dreadful revelation occurred. I looked at the photos my friends had snapped and realized my face had changed… alot… overnight! It's not that I thought it would never happen, I just expected it to be a bit more subtle, like how your hair grows out. or how your shopping bag fills up at Saks.
Years of gentle cleansers, moisturizers and sunscreens had convinced me that I was going to be exempt from the tests that Father Time gave me as I moved from my 20's to 30's. Not so! I wash my face at night and look up to see that apparently my eyebrows were not waterproof. My usual sunscreen and hat on vacation did not protect me from the affliction of a "sunstache" over my lip. A little less luster, a few more spots, a tiny crease, and another tiny crease, and another- ladies, we are under attack!
So here is the battle plan: Fight Fine Lines! We are going to launch a assault on aging. From the inside out, head to toe, product to program, this is where our arsenal builds up. Check in with us several times each week for the latest strategies. We can rethink our routines, refresh our energy , and renew our armor. Age gracefully? Not without a very beautiful fight!
So, about that "sunstache"….
Karin Ruiz Social Media Coordinator MAS Media / Manhattan Aesthetic Surgery www.ManhattanAestheticSurgery.com
Photo Credit: istockphoto.com
NOTICE: None of the celebrities or individuals discussed here have ever received treatment, surgery, medical advice, or evaluations from any author, physician, surgeon, or representative of this blog. All images and photos in this article represent models only. No actual patients or clients are shown.


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Ahhh, after a few days of technical issues, I am finally back online – this time to share with you the photos from my latest studio shoot 🙂
The theme for my women's moda session was romance. I wanted subtle tones and varied patterns, all of which had a romantic twist. Being students, we don't get the chance to waltz into Prada and demand their latest collection (just yet..!), so it was about being extra creative – think borrowing bikes, using scarves as tops etc 😉 All the tricks of the trade! And with the help of the stylist, Eloisa, we created some awesome looks.
Although I'm generally not a studio lover, working with a beautiful blue background and flattering soft-box gave the exact feel I was going for. The gorgeous model, Whitney, was great to work with as well, because thanks to her background in dance she understood her body. Of course, ultimately looking through the lens you know what works best, but a model who knows how to place herself makes things all the more fun and easy to work with.
I've got three more shoots coming up this week, as we are slowly coming to the end of the course *tear* – I can't believe how time has flown! So watch this space for more pictures to come!!
Model: Whitney Birch, Women Management
Styling: Eloisa Damico
MuA + Hair: Roberta Miglioretti, Anna Mauriello


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- "Many have heard the beginning of its low, sustained shriek but few the end."
- ― Midnight Banshee, Magic: The Gathering
The power to use the abilities of Banshee. Variation of Mythic Physiology and either Fairy Physiology, Ghost Physiology, or Spirit Physiology.
Also Called
- Bean Sidhe Physiology
- Wailing Woman
User with this ability either is or can transform into a banshee (from Irish: bean sí, "woman of the barrows") a feminine spirit in Irish mythology, an omen of death and a messenger from the Otherworld who begins to wail if someone is about to die. Traditionally they are either faery-women or ghosts: often of a specific murdered woman, or a mother who died in childbirth.
Modern banshee tend to be more direct and are able to cause the death(s) they predict, either by lethal wail or direct attack.
- Clairaudience
- Decelerated Aging, Semi-Immortality, or Immortality
- Fairy Physiology, Ghost Physiology, or Spirit Physiology
- Precognition
- Supernatural Detection
- Animal Morphing
- Death Inducement
- Death Sense
- Death Whisper
- Healing via singing
- Sonic Scream
- Sound Manipulation
- Sound Nullification, Voice Manipulation and Deafness Inducement may dull the user's power of sonic screaming.
Known Users
See Also: Our Banshees Are Louder.
- Banshees (Charmed)
- Lisa Drake (DC Comics)
- Jeanette (DC Comics)
- Siobhan McDougal/Silver Banshee (DC Comics)
- Banshees (Epic Seven)
- Carmainerose
- Mistychain
- Pearlhorizon
- Gloomyrain
- Requiemroar
- Banshees (Folklore/Mythology)
- Banshee (Gargoyles)
- Bansha (Lego Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu)
- Banshees (Lost Girl)
- Scarah Screams (Monster High)
- Banshees (RPGs)
- Misery (Ruby Gloom)
- Misery's cousins and ancestors (Ruby Gloom)
- Lydia Martin (Teen Wolf)
- Meredith Walker (Teen Wolf)
- Banshee (Winx Club)
- Isaac (Dusk)
- Banshee (Valkyrie Crusade)
- Banshee (Monster Girl Encyclopedia)
- Banshee (The New Shmoo/Hanna-Barbera)
- Banshees (City of Devils)
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.


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I have two RES, got them the same time but one grows much faster than the other, but seems always to have some shell problems since it's as a baby. As you can see in pics, the big one has darker shells and less vibrant colors, as if there's some mineral deposit on the scutes. It looked fine in water, but when taken out and dry for a while, almost the entire shell turns to a flaky white mess. I was afraid it's shell rot, thus took it to the vets and got some betadine , but the vet is not very experienced with reptiles, and I don't think it helped very much.. I use the betadine to clean its shell weekly anyways just in case I can't spot any real infections (hence the yellow ish color in picture). Also the big buddy never shed entire scutes. I don't recall seeing any shed ever, the little guy has done some regular shedding and has less of the white spots (still a little bit on the side). Sometimes if I pick on the dried shell for the big one, I could peel off flakes of the white layer, and the original color would show underneath. Other than this they seem to be doing fine, regular baskings and feeding and pooping and kicking very strongly (I can barely hold the big guy in my hand anymore with all his kicking). Is this something I should worry about or try to scrub it off? For setups I have a picture included too, I removed any excessive gravels to keep the tank clean.
How big is your turtle? 4.5 inches
How long have you had it? 22months
What is the water temperature? 78F
Did you use a thermometer? No
Are you using a water heater? Yes
How much water is in there? 15-20 gallon
Are you using a water conditioner? Yes
Are you using any filtration? Yes
What is the basking temperature? I'm not sure exactly..it's definitely warmer than water
Is there a basking light? Yes Both heating light and UVB light
Is there a basking platform that is easy to climb on? Yes
What kind is it or what is it made out of? The floating dock
Is there a UVB light? Yes
What have you been trying to feed it? Pellets only
When was the last time your turtle ate? I feed them every day or every other day
How big is the tank/pond/enclosure? 33 gallon tank
Is the tank near a window? Yes
Is the tank in a room with a lot of activity? In corner of living room, but nobody is home during the day as we both off to work and no kids around house
Have you read the Basic Care section? Yes
Have you searched the forums for similar situations? Yes, but couldn't exactly the same situation thus posting here
Is there any other unusual activity/symptoms? Not really..


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CSM: 9+ RL: 4.8 – 5.6 Rating: PG Content: Death of a major character, peril, dark themes
Margaret Haddix is the talented author of many children's books, bringing a compelling voice to complex, and sometimes dark, themes. The Shadow Children series is one of those thought-provoking reads that appeal more to older tweens (ages 9-12). The setting is a dystopian future world where poverty is widespread, food is scarce and third children have been outlawed. These third children are forced to live in the shadows, so they are not taken away by the Population Police. It is a chilling premise, but sets the stage for a series of books with compelling moral questions. I've only read the second book in this series, Among the Imposters, but found it to be utterly engrossing from the first sentence:
"Sometimes he whispered his real name in the dark, in the middle of the night."
The series starts with Among the Hidden, where a forbidden third child hides from the Population Police. A major character is killed, but it is not described in the book. The second book, Among the Imposters, follows Luke as he pretends to be an ordinary, non-third, child in a boarding school, but fears being betrayed. Betrayal, and difficult ethical choices, are a major themes throughout all seven books. While the dystopian future portrayed is stark, it is the moral choices and fast-paced action that will keep tween readers glued through all seven slim volumes in the series. Shadow Children is appropriate for children 9+, with some caution for dark themes of betrayal. Advanced readers will not be challenged by the reading levels, but the intense moral themes are great to get young minds thinking.
Haddix also has a discussion guide and book club activities for the first book, Among the Hidden, on her website.


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This group contains a lot of stuff of the C&C community. Mod news, game screen shots and C&C humor(funny c&c moments). Join us if your a great fan of...
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DoomDb is a group in Moddb where you can share all the best kinds of Doom WADs out there! Join our sharing and recommendation society, read the rules...
doomdb - the official doom wad sharing group!
If it's information about Mod DB and ramblings about mods in general that you are after - then you have come to the right place. Welcome to the official...
mod db
This group is serving as a platform for presenting and hosting community content for Edain mod.
edain community content
This is a group for all people who love or grew up with these 5th gen games. the 5th gen is also known as the 32-64 bit era and is the time of the atari...
5th generation gamers
This is a group that was created for anyone who loves Star Wars, may it be the books, games, films and modding. This is the place for you to enjoy star...
star wars fan group
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command & conquer westwood fans
This is a group for all modders of JK3. All JK3 modders are welcome here. Jedi Knight Jedi Academy mods.
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Collection of all best dragonball games and mods.
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Welcome to the digital candy store! Tasty, Sweet, Funny, exciting and or interesting stuff about what we are all addicted to: GAMES
video game art realm
Are you shy to share your knowledge about those classic NES cartridges? Maybe shy of talking about classic games on PS1? Then here is your place! Share...
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The place for showing off, and getting help with, hacking any Zelda 64 game.
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From the planet of Korriban we emerged.. surrounded in darkness hate and anger... our time has come. The Galaxy will be ours.
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Hey! Doyou like DBZ or DB? How about DBAF or DBGT? Well this is the Group for you Talk about you favorite DBZ Character Upload your Favorite Episode
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Dance of the Dragons modding group, in place to create the Dance of the Dragons mod for the upcoming The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
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No groups were found matching the criteria specified. We suggest you try the group list with no filter applied, to browse all available. Start a group and help us achieve our mission of showcasing the best content from all developers. Join now to share your own content, we welcome creators and consumers alike and look forward to your comments.


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This Three Layer Microwave Oven Rack Is A Convenient Way To Add Additional Space And Organization To Your Kitchen. Vegetables Will Remain Fresh And Clean, And Your Cruets, Cookware And Other Groceries Will Be Neatly Organized. And The Kitchen Will Be Neater And Have More Free Space. Brand New And High Quality. Multi-Functional Bakers Rack In A Sleek Chrome Finish. Shelf Height Is Adjustable. With 4 Swivel Wheels For Easy Movement (Two Lockable). Perfect To Store Your Microwave Oven, Toaster, And Other Baking Accessories. Overall Dimension: 23.6″ L X 13.4 W X 50″ H. Product Weight: About 13 Lbs. The item "3 Tiers Kitchen Baker's Rack Microwave Oven Stand Storage Cart Workstation Shelf" is in sale since Friday, October 21, 2016. This item is in the category "Home & Garden\Kitchen, Dining & Bar\Kitchen Islands/Kitchen Carts". The seller is "furnitureplus" and is located in US. This item can be shipped to United States.
- Brand: Unbranded
- MPN: Does Not Apply
- Material: Metal+PP
- Room: Kitchen
- Type: Rolling Cart Island
- Color: Silver


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07/13/2010 // Orlando, FL, USA // Social Media Gal // Lyn Giguere
Orlando, FL – July 19, 2010 – (WiredPRNews.com) Although there are 400+ million active Facebook users, not everyone is taking full advantage of what the site has to offer. Have you ever wished Facebook would bring back the "dislike" button or that you could hide updates from select users? To move past the ordinary user experience here are some tricks to spice up your Facebook status updates.
Bring Back the Dislike Option to Your Status Update
Thanks to the work of Status Magic, users can add a Facebook app that will allow a dislike button to be added to specified status updates. The Status Magic app even goes a step further than bringing back the dislike button and gives users the ability to customize a second emotion, such as "disagree" or "OMG."
Adding Fun Text and Symbols to Your Facebook Status
Simile faces :-) and hearts have become standard emotion symbols for Facebook users. Facebook-symbols.com opens a whole new world to those in search of quirky ways to jazz up their text. This website is a collection of computer and Facebook text symbols. With a little work users can even learn to flip text upside down.
Word clouds can also be a fun and colorful way to view status updates. The Status Analyzer 3D app will look at what it is you've been posting, generate a keyword list and then create a colorful animated cloud collage of words. Once your cloud is made you can share the results by posting it to your friends' walls or by adding it to your profile.
Hide Status Updates from Certain People
Facebook is constantly changing how privacy settings work. Currently by using the general settings a user can select whether everyone, just friends or friends of friends can see their status updates. To narrow the field even further and single out certain people to block from viewing select updates click the padlock icon below where you type your status and a drop down menu will appear. By selecting "customize" Facebook will provide more options including "hide from". This feature can be useful when trying to keep your personal life from co-workers or secrets from friends.
Pre-Schedule Status Updates
If you are using Facebook for business many times it would be helpful to pre-schedule updates. Services like SocialOomph, Sendible, HootSuite and Later Bro allow you to put updates into a queue to be sent out at predetermined times.
These are just some ways to bring the fun and functionality to Facebook status updates. Give them a try and watch your friends envy your new found knowledge!
These Facebook tips and tricks are brought to you by Business Exposure Specialist, Lyn Giguere. Lyn helps companies gain a greater online presence through internet marketing, blogs and the use of social media sites like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Lyn also provides ghost writing and press release writing services.
Media Information:
Phone: 407-504-4416
Url: http://socialmediagal.visionsmartnews.com/bring-back-the-fun-and-functionality-to-facebook-status-updates_1331.html


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Break the curse
Tackle unscrupulous evil in a modern reimagining of classic 2D-adventure games from veteran director Koji Igarashi.
A spiritual return to some of yesteryear's most beloved platform-RPGs.
Fight your way through huge, interconnected environments in a gothic side-scrolling action-platformer from the veteran director of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Koji Igarashi.
Take on the role of Miriam, an 18th-century orphan with a terrible curse, and enter a huge demon-infested castle that has been summoned into the mortal world. To save humanity - and herself - Miriam must fight through its vast corridors and vaulted halls to defeat the wicked summoner, Gebel.
Collect, craft and unlock a vast array of weapons, equipment and loot to defeat the countless minions and demonic bosses that await.
Define your playstyle as you progress, unlocking spells, powers, weapon upgrades and more alongside special item that alter your appearance.
Experiment with a range of online and offline modes like Boss Rush, Speed Run, Classic, Nightmare and Roguelike, offering hours of replay after the main story.
Traditional 2D gameplay meets sleek 3D visuals, with all environments, characters and items fully rendered in 3D against side-scrolling 2D motion.
See it in action
Into action and platforming?


text: Well last night we traveled to Madison to visit the Rost Family. We all ate pizza and then Jon and Corey sighted in their guns and then saved money (as they call it) by filling there own bullets. Anyways so Amber 2 and I took the kids to the park and after they played for a while we went to another park. Then we jumped on the trampoline and then played on the slides, it was a night filled with excitement! Trevor and Raena get along really well together so it made it fun to watch them play so good together.


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If you believe God is directing you towards mission work overseas, there are some initial steps you can think about taking. The starting point is prayer – talking to God about what He wants, praying with your partner or close friends, praying with people who you trust including your church leadership. Committing this venture to God and being accountable from the beginning is essential.
If God has directed you to a country or a particular ministry, get in touch with agencies that work in this field and start a conversation with them. All agencies will have a dedicated person that works with people who are taking their first steps, and it is their job to help you explore where the Lord might be directing you. If you are based in the UK, consider looking at these website to help you search for the right agency:
Do you know anyone who has served abroad, or who is serving now? Talking to people who have experience is very important, as they can give you realistic advice and help you discern where God might be leading you.
Probably the next step will be to visit somewhere on the field – either though the agency you have contacted or through your own personal contacts. Short-term teams organised by agencies and churches are also an excellent way to do this as well, helping you get a taste for a country and its culture, while not jumping in at the deep end quite yet.
You may find our FAQ's helpful?


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Lately I have been getting queries from my readers about how to start an online store. This post gives you more than a heads up to the new but popular stream of business of starting an online store and earning some bucks from it.
We all love online shopping but have you ever thought about selling your own products online. Yes, you can also sell you products online and earn money. The online money making machines are called online stores and what you need for starting one is e commerce [electronic commerce] platforms.
But if we are shopping online we can sit in our bed with our parents or friends or family and without much strain and we can go to any online shopping websites and search for the thing we want. If we take the example of buying things to go for a marriage, first we can look for the kind of dress like ethnic or western or South Indian or North Indian clothes all at the same time in the same place and then we can look for all other thing we want in the same site. So shopping online has a lot of advantages over 'going for shopping'.
You will get the following payment gateways which are supported in India.
We all love online shopping but have you ever thought about selling your own products online. Yes, you can also sell you products online and earn money. The online money making machines are called online stores and what you need for starting one is e commerce [electronic commerce] platforms.
What are e commerce [electronic commerce] platforms?
E commerce is defined as commercial transactions conducted electronically on the Internet. These commercial electronic transactions are what everybody needs [you know what i am talking about!] and we can induce these commercial transactions by selling goods or services. They include both business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) business activities.
E commerce websites are popular itself and they are used to display various products and cost.
E commerce websites will have images of products, price list, shopping cart, wish list, payment system, complaint cell etc.
Popular e commerce platforms you probably know about are built using e tools like LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP), .NET, Java, etc. Eg; Oracle, IBM, demadware, hybris etc. So which one is more suitable for your online store and serve your need?
Online Shopping: A Way Forward
Online shopping is the main source of e commerce transactions and you know people love shopping. The famous online stores are Amazon, FlipKart, Snapdeal etc. These giant companies are coming with pretty good ad campaigns like Great Indian Summer Sale from Amazon and 20 days, 20 smart choices Kids Clothing Offer by FlipKart Let me give you a female teenager's perspective on online shopping. I am pretty sure that you will like it.
A Teenager's Perspective on Online Shopping
"The joy of shopping online cannot be compared to any other way of shopping. If we are going out for shopping we have to get dressed, put our makeup, take a car or if we don't have one take a bus or call your friend to take you to the nearest mall. After going there we have to go to many shops and have to waste our time because we have to talk to the shop keeper and the salesman to get the things we want. Some times after going to many shops we won't get the thing we want. For example; if I want to go to a marriage I have to get the appropriate dress, shoe, bags, accessory, make up etc, we have to go to different shop.
|Online shopping
Online shopping websites shows us 1000 of different brands with good offers vibrant colors and any sizes. We get to buy tops, tunics, trousers, jeans, stalls, churidars, skirts, lingerie, sportswear, saree, all kinds of shoes & bags and jewelry.
If we want to buy books then also online shopping is very good. In a shop we will have to get assistance from the book keeper or his assistant but in online shopping if it is available we can buy it in the cheapest price in the market. The only problem is that we will have to wait for a week or so.
Another important thing about online shopping in general is that we need to pay only when it is delivered. Or you can pay with a credit card card or debit card. If we purchase it with credit card sometimes we even get cash back offers also. If we did not like and if we can send it back and they will credit the money also. These are few advantages of online shopping.
Most girls like window shopping but if we are going in a shop the shopkeepers may persuade us to buy things in that shops, this is also an disadvantage of shopping.
If we go for shopping with our parents, they can see and if they feel that it's not needed they can deny it also, so if we buy online we should just show them the picture and most probably they will allow us to buy that. - by, Gayatri Menon"
How to start an online store to sell the products?
You may need an e commerce platform to start your own online store. There are two types of e commerce platforms - hosted and self-hosted. In hosted, the company will host your online store which means that they will deal with all the technicalities. This is pretty much easy and the company will provide you with dedicated support but you will incur an additional monthly fee. In self-hosted, the company will give you hosting space but you have to host the website yourself which is quite tough if you are a newbie. It's not that tough once you get the DIY kit.
How eCommerce platforms are hosted?
There are two ways it is hosted. One is called on-premise hosting where your website is hosted in a server that is situated in your companies building. Another way is called "on demand, or cloud hosting" where a bunch of companies will host their online websites in a server which is located with the hosting company.
Hosted Platforms
Shopify - It is a popular eCommerce platform. It starts at $29 per month. Good thing is that you will get many add on apps with this. Some examples of online stores in India used by shopify are Yellow Fashion, PosterGully, The Beach Company, XTEAS, Mandira Bedi Designs, and Pinkshink.
|Create Best Online Stores
You will get the following payment gateways which are supported in India.
• 2Checkout
• Airpay
• Citrus Payments
• GoCoin
• MasterCard Internet Gateway Service (MiGS)
• PayDollar
• PayU India
• PayU Money
BigCommerce - The user interface of the admin panel of BigCommerce is simple and neat and starts at $29.95 per month.
Volusion - It is only $15 per month, which is almost 50 percent cheaper than Shopify. But it cannot be customized easily as shopify. As for starters with small number of products, you can try it out. Their inventory management with product uploads and tracking is good and you can try their services for 14 days as a trial without any credit cards.
Self hosted Platforms
Magento – It is a famous open-source content management system. There are criticisms that it is slow to load, I think trying it out may be is a good option, so that you ca find it out.
best online store platform
There are bunch of other e commerce platforms such as,
WooCommerce, BigCommerce, osCommerce, Wix, Weebly, SquareSpace, PrestaShop, 3DCart
, ZenCart, GoDaddy, MoonFruit, 1&1, BigCartel. Even Facebook is also coming with the idea of online stores too.
The article by Sara Angeles about 16 E-Commerce Solutions for Small Businesses may give you more details in this.
If you like the article, kindly subscribe us for more tips.
Kindly spend 5 seconds to share this post


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Beauty Tips That Every Woman MUST Know!
Beauty Tips That Every Woman MUST Know!
Cammy White February 25, 2017
About The Author
Cammy White
A fashion blogger and art enthusiast currently living in NY, US. I have done my Masters in Science with Food and Nutrition as major. Since I have a deep inclination towards niches like women's health, beauty, fashion and lifestyle I regularly write on these topics. In my free time I love swimming and hit the gym and cycle riding.


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We know many of our supporters have important mental health stories to tell. If you can tell yours on video, you may want to take a look at The Videoblogs Dialogue.
The Videoblogs is an upcoming independent film about depression, anxiety, and the impact of sharing our stories. The Videoblogs Dialogue is an accompanying video competition. If you submit your own video about mental health or personal struggle, you could be eligible to win a mentorship package that will help you make your own short film.
The prize package available to be won by a participant aged 18 – 24 is impressive: a $2,000 grant to help fund your short film about mental health and mentorships from film producers, crowdfunding experts, and other industry professionals to guide you through its creation. Older participants can also submit their stories for the chance to have them appear in the credits for The Videoblogs.
Ashley Esqueda, member of our advisory board, Tomorrow Daily host and CNET senior editor, will be one of four members of the jury for The Videoblogs Dialogue, alongside comedian Paul Gilmartin, writer/performer Grace Parra and acting teacher Alice Spivak. The deadline for entries is June 20, so you still have lots of time to find just the right way to continue the conversation about mental health.


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Kurt Nimmo
April 21, 2010
Police raided the Southern California homes of dozens of white supremacists on April 20, according to the Associated Press. Federal and local officers converged on 35 homes and took 16 people into custody in Riverside County in connection with an investigation into deadly booby trap attacks targeting police officers.
|The government, the SPLC, and the corporate media have attempted to portray patriot groups as white supremacists.
None of the arrests were directly related to the alleged attacks that have plagued the small Hemet Police Department since New Year's Eve, but police believe the arrests will lead to suspects, according to Hemet, California, police Captain Dave Brown.
"They are upset with our aggressive posture against all gangs," District Attorney Rod Pacheco told the AP. "White supremacist gangs have been very violent, especially toward law enforcement."
Hemet police officials initially suspected the Vagos motorcycle gang may have been behind the attacks but a number of arrests did not lead to any charges.
Last year the Department of Homeland Security issued a report attempting to link patriot groups and returning veterans to white supremacists and militias.
The Department of Homeland Security's "Right-wing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment" document connects white supremacists with the militia movement, advocates of the Second Amendment, activists opposed to illegal immigration, and other loosely defined "antigovernment" groups.
The Strategic Analysis Group, Homeland Environment and Threat Analysis Division of the DHS created the document during the Bush administration and it was revived by the incoming the Obama administration. Veterans in particular took exception to the report because it claims "returning military veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have joined extremist groups."
- A d v e r t i s e m e n t
- {openx:49}
A FOIA request subsequently revealed that the Department of Homeland Security's report was not based on any reliable supporting evidence. A response to the FOIA filed by Americans for Limited Government revealed that the DHS "undertook no statistical analysis at all, failed to conduct any interviews with the groups it went on to demonize and complied the report based purely on a scattering of web posts from some extremely dubious sources," Steve Watson wrote on August 12, 2009.
A document created by the Missouri Information Analysis Center (MIAC) entitled "The Modern Militia Movement" specifically names Ron Paul, Chuck Baldwin and their supporters as dangerous domestic terrorists. The MIAC document also attempts to connect the patriot movement to white supremacist groups. The MIAC document was leaked to Alex Jones last year and has since gained national notoriety.
In June, 2009, the government "authenticated" a video by a supposed al-Qaeda recruiter who claimed he had the ability to smuggle a biological weapon into the United States via tunnels under the Mexico border. In the video, Abdullah al-Nafisi also suggested that al-Qaeda might collaborate with "members of native U.S. white supremacist militias who hate the federal government."
Also in June of 2009, Glenn Beck said 9/11 truthers are in league with al-Qaeda and white supremacists. Beck said 9/11 truth activists consider the late James Von Brunn a hero. Von Brunn allegedly shot to death a security guard at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington.
There is ample evidence that many if not most white supremacist groups are directed by the FBI and the government. During the trial of white supremacist Hal Turner, it was revealed that he worked closely with the FBI as an agent provocateur.
In addition, the SPLC has been linked to white supremacist groups. In 2004, a declassified FBI memo obtained by an Oklahoma newspaper revealed that the SPLC had operatives inside the Identity settlement in Elohim City, Oklahoma.
The California raids are a significant development and will likely be exploited by the government and the SPLC to bolster their fallacious argument that patriot groups are racist and violent.
The Emergency Election Sale is now live! Get 30% to 60% off our most popular products today!


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Michael Hortons recent discipleship writing, ""the Great Commission actually begins with a great announcement. Before there can be a mission, there has to be a message".
1 How to prioritise a productive day: dont be a victim to load, speed or artificial efficiency!
2 Richard Rohrs great writing as ever:- 'Divine love is received by surrender instead of any performance'
3 12 ways to preach (like Rob Bell!) without being a heretic!
4 Rachel Held Evans on what moves her to feel 'ashamed'……..you?
5 from ++Justin, in the recent reconciliation conference:-
"Grace crept into the cracks of the church and began to heal them, and the space for grace was opened by their own knowledge of the love of God. Pope Benedict XVI wrote: "God's love calls us to move beyond the limited and the ephemeral, it gives us the courage to continue seeking and working for the benefit of all,"


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Julia Roberts: People Were Nicer When I Was Starting Out in Hollywood
In the modern age of anonymous internet criticism and constant tabloid attention, it's hard for actors to succeed these days, at least according to Julia Roberts.
The Normal Heart actress stopped to talk to ET's Brooke Anderson on the red carpet at the SAG Awards on Sunday, where she opened up about the challenges up-and-coming actors face in Hollywood today.
VIDEO: The Best, Worst, Most Awkward Moments at the SAG Awards 2015
"I think it was easier back when I was starting, probably than it is now," Roberts, 47, told Anderson when asked what the odds are of young actors making it in the industry. "People were nicer, I think."
"There's just a lot of anonymity now for critiquing people and pretending that you know people, and I think that that becomes complex," Roberts explained. "There are just a lot of people who hide."
PHOTOS: The 9 Best Dressed Stars at the 2015 SAG Awards
In terms of advice for actors trying to climb the ladder, she had one simple suggestion to offer.
"Don't take advice from actors," Roberts said. "Ever."
Check out the video for more from Roberts outside the SAG Awards, before she went on to provide one of the ceremony's more awkward yet adorable moments.


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Importance of Working Capital Management
This content was COPIED from BrainMass.com - View the original, and get the already-completed solution here!
Explain why working capital management has become increasingly important in the current business environment. Provide at least two examples of organizations that have good working capital management policies, and two examples of organizations with poor working capital management policies. Be sure to explain why the policies of your selected organizations are effective and ineffective.© BrainMass Inc. brainmass.com October 1, 2020, 8:00 pm ad1c9bdddf
Solution Preview
In a competitive business world, successful organizations understand the importance of critical-thinking in the decision-making process. To make sound business decisions, organizations must combine strategic planning with comprehensive data analysis, which includes the evaluation of financial and non-financial records and processes. Management and those involved with maintaining the company's financial health use a variety of tools, methodologies, and performance metrics to gain a better understanding of the company's current financial state, create reliable forecasts, and formulate and implement solutions for the company.
Organizational leaders realize that to make the most optimal decision, the company has to fully evaluate all aspects of the company's operations including policies and procedures. The working capital policy is imperative to a company's success because the policy serves as a strategy on how the organization can maximize its resources. "The working capital policy is the firm's policy about its working capital level and how its working capital should be financed... decisions about how much to keep in its cash account, what level of inventory to maintain, and how much to allow receivables to build up" (Danh, 1999). The working capital policy also includes handling creditors, debtors, inventory, and possible sources of additional working capital. The working capital policy will assist companies in making sound business decisions on how it shall finance its existing assets. Good working capital management is important. According to the Treasury of New Zealand's (2007) website, if a company is "operating with more working capital than is necessary, this over-investment represents an unnecessary cost." The website further added that excess working capital means "operating inefficiencies." Even with excess assets, it is considered inefficient because the assets can be used, invested, and generate additional income for the company.
The following are just some of the various components of a working capital:
Current Assets
? Liquid Assets (cash and bank deposits)
? Inventory
? Debtors and Receivables
Current Liabilities
? Bank Overdraft
? Creditors and Payables
? Other Short Term Liabilities
Provide at least two examples of organizations that have good working capital management policies, and two examples of organizations with poor working capital management policies. Be sure to explain why the policies of your selected organizations are effective and ineffective.
Some of the companies that have been successful at managing their working capital are Ford Motor, Dell, Kitty Hawk, General Motors, Texas Instruments, Prometheus Print, etc. On the other hand, companies that have been unsusccessful at managing their working capital are Larry's Market of Seattle and Dephi.
Texas Instruments - Factoring of Receivables (Factoring)
Invoice factoring, also known as factoring or accounts receivable factoring, is a financial option available to organizations. By factoring, businesses are able to liquidate outstanding receivables to financial institutions, referred to as factors, for immediate cash funding. Business organizations that factor out their receivables sell their outstanding receivables to factors. The organizations are able to have quick access to cash; however, the cash received for the receivables sold is less than the face value of the total receivables sold. In turn, the factors (financial institutions) perform the collection for these outstanding invoices and potentially receive the full amount when the ...
Solution Summary
This solution goes over the increasing importance of working capital management, providing examples of ideal and poor policy.


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Ref: 66
Splendid Excellent cards! (27/11/2013) -
great i bought these cards for my mother-in-law, who is left handed. and because they are marked on all 4 corners, they are great for everyone to use. thank you (19/08/2008) ann marie -
Excellent idea !! I originally bought these playing cards for a left handed son of a friend but ended up ordering 3 packs - one for me, one for my sister and one for my friend's son ! Makes life so much easier - no struggling to fan the cards backwards so you can see what cards are in your hand - another brill idea! (07/01/2009) Sarah Anstey -
Has cut down on the friction between the children when they are playing, as the left handed child can now see the cards and play as quickly as the others. (28/11/2013) -
Two thumbs up!! I'm so glad I found these cards! Funny thing is, I'm right-handed, but I'm a left-handed card player, and it's no fun at all, to be playing a game, and having to turn all the card around all the time. I'm a European living in the US and I'm sure glad I found these, Thanks. (03/02/2013) Meidje - Kearney, NE, US
What a surprise ! My fiancee wasn't aware that these even existed - now we can play cards without any awkward card fanning movements !! Thanks LeftHandShop ! (29/02/2012) -
excellent solution to a long time problem Got these for the lefty in my life. His mind was blown that he could actually play cards without having tondo some kind of awkward fan with them. This product is amazing. A total game changer! (09/01/2015) -
amazeballs!! So comfortable to use allows me (left hander) and right handed friends to play card games in our common room in sixth form (03/02/2013) hayley - lincoln
Wow! Simple and effective, love these !!! (11/09/2010) Evonne - North Wales
Grand Aye, very good cards. Don't stick together like a lot of playing cards and very clear too. (04/02/2013) -
To see all reviews, click the link in brackets below
Find out what makes our products left handed
© 1999-2019 Anything Left Handed Ltd


text: Can someone please show me how to turn off the lines thru shaded view in areas where lines meet or body parts merge together? i'm not sure how to describe the issue. I've attached an image so you can see what i mean.I added the these lines after the word Aqua was cut. Any thoughts on what this is? It's really annoying! Thanks for your help in advance.


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Comfortable on eyes, soft to touch, blocks light, let people know you are sleeping! Elastic band for comfortable fit one size fit all . Stop unwanted light stimulating your eyes.
A ground-breaking invention in lighting technology the Laserpod wows all who come across it. Invented by light artist Chris Levine in the UK who has tremendous experience in this sector for numerous years, especially in regards to music and light, producing amazing visuals for many well-known bands.
Add a warming glow and comforting ambience to rooms with this Flameless Real Wax LED Candle. Beautifully crafted from real wax, the LED wax candle looks best huddled together or illuminating an object.
Bring your sleep to the next level with this lavender filled sleep mask. The soothing lavender fragrance from the lavender flowers held within the mask will lull you into a restful night's sleep. This mask effective light blocking, soft to touch mask has an adjustable Velcro strap for a secure and comfortable fit.
The Sweet Dream Eye Mask is extremely breathable, light weight and comfortable, perfect to unwind from your everyday schedule and relax whenever you want.
Dress up your room with Oriental Secret Natural Tea Light Candle. These unscented candles are made from 100% Palm Wax and Pure Cotton Wicks, a combination that burns toxic free, clean and bright.
One set comes with 3 boxes, 15 pcs per box.


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Music - Dance - Theatre - Visual Arts - Film
Thanks to all of our audiences and supporters for a great online season this summer! Stay tuned for 2021 updates in the coming months! Click here to revisit App Summer Festival Online 2020.
Pick 5 Discount
Purchase any 5 adult tickets and receive 10% off! Some restrictions apply. Discount only applied to purchases at the box office or by phone (800.841.ARTS).
Every summer, violinist Gil Morgenstern, Artistic Director of the Broyhill Chamber Ensemble and his Reflections Series International, assembles some of the nation's most exciting and acclaimed musicians for an exquisite concert series embracing a diverse repertoire of chamber music works. The series opens on June 30, with additional concerts on July 16, 23 and 25.
Gil Morgenstern, violin
Grace Park, violin
Kathryn Lockwood, viola
Caroline Stinson, cello
Reiko Uchida, piano
June 30 Program
Piano Trio in G major ("Gypsy Rondo"), Hob XV:25 - Joseph Haydn
String Trio in D major, Op. 21. C - Sergei Ivanovich Taneyev
Quintet for Piano and Strings, Op. 44 - Robert Schumann
The Broyhill Chamber Ensemble is an extraordinary association of internationally acclaimed musicians which, in association with Reflections Series International, presents an alternative to the conventional approach to chamber music programming.
Reflections Series International presents solo and chamber music along with works of different artistic disciplines, engaging its audiences in combinations of music, text and images. Using both existing and original works, and with the collaboration of a superb ensemble of creative and performing artists representing all art forms, Reflections programs present works that both reflect upon one another and invite the audience to reflect anew on universal themes.
Acclaimed for his artistry and technical brilliance, violinist Gil Morgenstern is devoted to expanding the traditional classical music concert experience. His vision is to unlock the mystery surrounding classical music by presenting the audience with a more complete concert experience, meticulously curated from start to finish, placing music in an historical and artistic context, and organically integrating it with other artistic disciplines in innovative and unexpected ways. The New York Times describes him as a "brilliant and musically curious artist."
Morgenstern founded Reflections Series International with the goal of creating original programs combining music, visual art, cinema, dance, poetry and prose. Morgenstern invites audiences to reflect on the relationships between artistic disciplines and to reflect anew on universal themes. Since its inaugural performance in 2007, Reflections Series International has grown to have a presence throughout the United States and Europe.
A violinist with a long history of performing in the world's great concert halls, Morgenstern's career has taken him to international venues including Wigmore Hall, London; Cultural Center Concert Hall, Hong Kong; the American Academy, Rome; Salone dei Cinquecento, Florence; El Teatro Sucre, Quito; and Arts Centre and State Theatre, Melbourne, Australia. Morgenstern's discography includes works by Beethoven, Fauré, Copland, Ravel, Kodaly, Sessions and the award-winning American composer George Tsontakis. His latest recording, 20th Century Duos for Violin and Cello, was the No. 1 classical CD for over a month on emusic, the largest online store for independent music in the world, and was one of the top ten best selling classical music albums on Amazon. The New York Times raved, "the music is terrific and the performances compelling on this surprisingly exciting and excellently engineered recording."
Gil Morgenstern's many honors include a command performance at the White House when he was just 21 years old, a performance at the inaugural festivities for President Clinton, and a citation from the floor of the House of Representatives entered in the Congressional Record for outstanding service in the arts.


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More and more brands are using social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram to promote their products and services. One of the most popular approaches to foster consumer loyalty and interactivity is to conduct contests where consumers are invited to submit user-generated content such as photos or videos relevant to the theme at-hand. Who doesn't love videos of kids playing in the snow or an oblivious parent getting hit by a stray snowball (for winter themed promotions) or pictures of tailgating parties celebrating the big game (in honor of Super Bowl Sunday)? While these types of promotions—often referred to as UGC contests—have significant benefits, brands must be careful how they are conducted and wary of potential intellectual property (IP) and promotional law issues that lurk in the background.
There are a host of IP issues that need to be considered, and the UGC contest rules must clearly enumerate how these issues will be handled. Here are three issues to consider.
- Does the entrant have permission from everyone in the photo/video to submit it as an entry in the contest?
If not, there are potential privacy and publicity rights of these individuals that may be impacted. The safest approach is for the contest rules to limit submissions to photos/videos including only the entrant. In reality (and notwithstanding our infatuation with selfies), this approach might be too limiting in many marketing campaigns. More practical considerations will need to come into play whereby the contest sponsor advises entrants (through the rules) that they must have the consent of all of those included and/or featured in the submission, and conditioning the award of contest prizes on affirmation of this.
- Does the entrant own the copyright in the submission or have permission from the owner to submit it?
With a selfie or other picture taken by the entrant, this is generally not an issue as the photographer (or videographer) would own the relevant copyright in the submission. However, if someone else takes the picture that an entrant submits, ownership in the submission does not automatically flow to the entrant. While the entrant could certainly have obtained certain rights from the photographer/videographer to submit it in a promotional contest, the contest rules must clearly describe what is and is not acceptable.
- Are entries that include third party marks (such as the Starbucks' logo that appears on the coffee cup of the parent watching their child frolic in the snow) permissible?
The safest course of action is to prohibit entrants from including all third party marks, brands, etc. except for those of the contest sponsor (which the sponsor would grant entrants a limited license to use in the contest subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Official Rules). The use of a third party's mark, logo, name etc. in a UGC contest will almost always have some inherent risk, though such risk can be minimized (from a practical standpoint) depending on a number of factors such as the prominence of the mark in the submitted photos/videos, the prominence of the contest, and whether the sponsor uses a photo/video with third party marks outside of the applicable social media platform.
The key to successfully navigating all of these issues (and others) is to make sure that the UGC contest rules clearly and logically identify the submission requirements and restrictions for that promotion, and for the sponsor to follow those rules when administering the contest. I repeatedly see brands recycling the rules for a prior UGC contest, and not truly understanding what they say or not following them. Disgruntled losers will notice these inconsistencies and will be quick to point out that the selected UGC contest winning photo features a family when the rules state that only the entrant can appear in the submission. UGC contests are designed to engage people in a brand. The last thing that a company wants is for its marketing campaign to be the focus of consumer complaints, third party challenges and government enforcement officials' scrutiny.