text: Posted by admin on Dec 18, 2014 in Foundation NewsLine | Ninth "Day and Way" of Caring for the Caregiver ~ Give yourself a special treat at least once a month ~ Dear NNPDF Families and Friends, In support of all our Caregivers we wanted to offer you some fun and easy ways to treat yourself to a break that is neither expensive nor time consuming. You can have the opportunity to spoil yourself at least once a month ~ and more often if needed! You may not get a whole day at the spa, but you can learn to take advantage of those brief but windows of opportunity and down-time when they "pop-up". Share this!


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It is often said that Lu Bu was a mean fellow, a traitor and disloyal, working his mischief on poor Liu Bei. Reading the novel a second time, I can see quite some evidence to support a claim that dear Feng-hsien was not so bad a guy.
Let us examine:
1. He murders Ding Yuan, and goes over to Dong Zhuo.
Now this, I confess, is pretty much inexcusable. His motive appears to be nothing more than desire for more glory, which may fly when jumping from lord to lord, but not from father to father.
2. He murders Dong Zhuo, arousing the ire of Dong's followers.
Many see this as proof of Lu Bu's treachery and stupidity. But remember that Li Jue and Guo Si were meant to be executed, and were without an army at this point. They only managed to retake the capital with men they raised, and such a manuever would be difficult for anyone to predict. As for Lu Bu, it is worth noting that the argument used to sway him was that Dong Zhuo's death was more or less necesarry for the survival of the Han, and his failure to act would be counted as far worse.
3. He serves under Yuan Shao among others, makes his way to Liu Bei, takes his city.
Ah, but only after Zhang Fei, who was against him from the start, began drinking and beat Lu Bu's father in law. Remember that Lu Bu kept Liu Bei's family safe during all this, and forgave Zhang Fei after, while Zhang repayed this by stealing Lu Bu's horses. Lu Bu took it upon himself to save Liu Bei from battle, not on the advice of one of his men, but by his lonesome. It was only after the many quarrels with Zhang that Liu fled, and immediately took up arms against Lu. Who then is the traitor?

subset: commoncrawl


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Green Toys & LUNAR
Green Toys
Green Toys
Green Toys
This family of toys is made with recycled plastic from used milk jugs. Without losing an ounce of the fun, this line introduces innovative, reengineered and redesigned versions of classic toys that push the limits of sustainable materials and manufacturing, representing a new step in the greening of everyday objects.
GREEN TOYS Just Robert von Goeben, President and Co-Founder
LUNAR Jeff Servaites, Engineer Scot Herbst, Industrial Designer
Julie Lasky: The dilemma is as old as Dr. Seuss: progressive parents want their kids to play with handsome, environmentally benign wooden toys, while the kids prefer the flexibility and jellybean hues of plastic (plus, it hurts a lot less when you're conked with it). Leave it to a Northern California company to engineer toys that are not only 100% recycled and recyclable plastic but are also produced within 30 miles of San Francisco. Made from used milk jugs, the toys in this classically designed collection are attractive, durable and model citizens.
Rama Chorpash: Green Toys' harnessing of an overlooked waste stream (milk-jugs) and local industrial production shows how design might not only create great products, but take account for intentional by-products.
Green Toys
1. Summarize the problem you set out to solve. What was the challenge posed to you? Did it get you excited and why?
The challenge was to design toys that are not only sustainable, but safe -- a pressing concern for products that find their way into toddler's hands and mouths. At the same time, they had to be durable enough to withstand the kid torture test AND be cool enough for parents to want to have in their house. Oh, and we added the additional hurdles of making them completely within a 30 mile radius of San Francisco.
Because we wanted to create children's toys that were made from recycled materials and 100% recyclable, this meant no metal, plastic cellophane, twist ties, etc. This project represented a true challenge from an engineering and design standpoint: how to work creatively with a novel material (High Density Polyethylene) to also achieve the highest standards of safety and environmental sustainability. Through enthusiastic collaboration and imaginative solutions, the engineers and designers were able to push past the constraints of non-traditional materials, unforgiving manufacturing processes and eliminate the use of painting or printing to create objects that are singular, safe, and visually enticing -- and, of course, green.
We were excited because it had never been done!! No one had ever tried to roll recycled content, afterlife recyclability, great design and local US manufacturing into one product. We challenged ourselves to make a product that checked every box. In the end, among other products, we chose three classic designs: Tugboat, Stacker and Firetruck. The line continues to grow all the time, with more and more toys.
2. What point of view did you bring to the challenge? Was there anything additional that you wanted to achieve with this project or bring to this project that was not part of the original brief?
The designs for the toys needed to reflect the brand's signature aesthetic: simplicity, both visual and physical. This line of toys embodies that characteristic and features a bright palette and clean elliptical curves, for a softened, contemporary take on the classic playthings.
The designs also had to represent the goal of 100% recycled and recyclable product (while minimizing plastic volume), so we took a 100% no-compromise approach. We said we wouldn't take little shortcuts here and there, or make some components in China. We put together a very tough environmental standards list and we stuck to it.
3. When designing this project, whose interests did you consider? (Discuss various stakeholders, audiences, retailing, manufacturing, assembly, distribution, etc., for example.)
Together, the visual expression and design solution created for this line of toys are a sure draw for their intended consumers: green-minded parents who are looking for a fun and engaging toy that won't compromise their children's safety. The inherent simplicity of the designs, both visually and from a manufacturing standpoint, connects with parents who want honest -- and honestly-made – products, allowing us to pass the parental "organic food" standards test. That is to say, we wanted products that parents could ask us any question about (materials, packaging, etc.) and be able to tell them we exceed all chemical and mechanical safety standards.
In addition, the product had to be cool and different enough for retailers to want to carry it. There are thousands of toy brands and most toy stores are small so we needed to really distinguish ourselves with classic, almost retro designs.
Finally, everything else was for naught if the toy wasn't fun for kids. So the play pattern had to be something that kids would immediately take to.
4. Describe the rigor that informed your design. (Research, ethnography, subject matter experts, materials exploration, technology, iteration, testing, etc., as applicable.) If this was a strictly research or strategy project, please provide more detail here.
We started with a tremendous amount of research on vintage toys. We closely studied them from a dimensional standpoint—how big was a classic toy fire truck, how many rings should a baby stacker have, how flat is the bottom of a tug boat? Every physical characteristic was analyzed, dissected, decided, redefined, etc.
Next was surface detail—how realistic did we want to be? Were we a Matchbox car that strives to be an exact replica of a real life object, or a cartoonish toy that has wildly exaggerated features? In the end we decided on two main design criteria: 1) we would strive to be more realistic than stylized, so the ladders on the fire truck would look like real ladders, and the smoke stack on the tugboat was in correct proportion to the hull, etc., and 2) we chose a tight era of late 1950's to early 1960's as a vintage framework for ID. We felt like this was the most classic and iconic era for children's toys and would be the most appealing.
And last, but certainly not least, we had to be able to actually mass produce the product from 100% recycled high-density polyethylene from curbside collected milk jugs, which was the material we had chose for its strength, safety, and energy savings eco stats. That means it had to be moldable but keep all the design characteristics above, with no metal screws or fasteners.
From a production standpoint, design for manufacturability was quite challenging. The material cools differently than the standard injection molding materials (ABS, PC, etc.). When designing interacting parts, we had to consider part warp and material shrinkage. Features such as snaps had to be made much larger than normal, as the material is much less elastic than normal materials.
5. What is the social value of your design? (Gladdening, educational, economic, paradigm-shifting, sustainable, labor-mindful, environmental, cultural, etc.) How does it earn its keep in the world?
We are very proud of the fact that, given the high bar of eco, safety and design standards, we totally nailed it!! Our products are the *only* toys on the market that can even come close to claiming 100% recycled content, complete recyclability, a great design, and pass the mom-safety-and cool and kid-fun tests. We feel very proud that our products really are (and we mean really are) the gold-standard for earth-friendliness, safety, social consciousness and fun
6. If you could have done one thing differently with the project, what would you have changed?
While we are totally thrilled with how the toys turned out, we really wish we would have stepped back and had more fun during the process. We set such a high bar for ourselves, and we strove to achieve every single aspect of the social mission and design. This led to a lot of heated debates and sleepless nights. While we have a lot of fun making our toys, we take the responsibility very seriously. So, while the process wasn't always fun, it was the right thing to do.


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Thursday 5th April 2018
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ASX-listed autoparts maker Bapcor has exited the last of the leftover Hellaby Holdings assets it didn't want with the sale of industrial asset maintenance firm TBS Group for $35 million, reaping more from the divestments than flagged.
The Victoria-based company today signed an agreement to sell TBS to an undisclosed buyer, with the deal set to settle later this month, it said in a statement. Some $2.5 million of the price won't be paid until September and is subject to certain conditions.
Bapcor will have generated $99 million from the sale of TBS, Hannahs, Number 1 Shoes, and Contract Resources, beating the $92 million it expected to generate from the divestments when reporting its first-half earnings in February. The autoparts firm took on the businesses when it bought Hellaby for $352 million and delisted the Kiwi firm from the NZX. But it was only ever interested in the New Zealand company's automotive unit, which has been tracking ahead of Bapcor's expectations.
"The divestment of the final non-core asset relating to the Hellaby Holdings Ltd acquisition is in line with Bapcor's strategy of specialising in the automotive aftermarket," managing director Darryl Abotomey said. "The total proceeds from the divestment programme are consistent with Bapcor's expectations."
Hellaby's directors tried to fend off the Bapcor takeover, urging shareholders to reject the deal as undervaluing the Kiwi company's different units. However, the Australian firm secured control and declared the deal unconditional.
At the time of the takeover, independent adviser Grant Samuel valued Hellaby between $352.2 million and $402.7 million, or $3.60 a share to $4.12. Of that, the automotive unit was the most important with an enterprise value of between $285 million and $313.5 million, followed by the resource services group at $123.8 million-to-$141.5 million, and the footwear division at between $26 million and $30.3 million.
Hellaby bought TBS three months before Bapcor launched its takeover bid, paying $45 million upfront in cash and scrip.
The sale of the unwanted Hellaby assets means Bapcor effectively paid $253 million for the Kiwi autoparts business, below the bottom range of the Grant Samuel valuation in November 2016.
New Zealand's auto industry has been enjoying record new car sales in recent years as an expanding population and robust tourism stoke demand for vehicles, while a strong dollar and cheap finance makes them easier to purchase. Government figures show retail sales of motor vehicles and parts rose 9.4 percent to $12.43 billion in the year ended March 31, 2017, accelerating from a 4.9 percent pace of growth a year earlier.
Bapcor shares were unchanged at A$5.60 on the ASX and have slipped 0.9 percent so far this year.
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NZ dollar falls with Aussie after Westpac's RBA rate cut call
Intuit juggernaut grows QuickBooks subscribers but momentum slows
Reaction to Budget rules relaxation shows balance 'about right', says Ardern
Augusta lifts net profit six fold as investors flock into new funds
Annual exports to China top $15 billion for first time
Gentrack posts $8.7M loss on CA Plus write-down
Westpac says RBNZ capital proposals would add $6,000 p.a. to an Auckland mortgage
Cavalier says market conditions still challenging
Ryman hikes dividend as annual earnings grow on wider development margin
24th May 2019 Morning Report


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With so much going on in the thriving LA tech and startup ecosystem, it is easy to miss some of the news in the space. We keep you abreast of a few of things that you may have missed in LA Tech news this week including the fundings, exits, and events. CLICK HERE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED IN LA […]
Miramar Digital Ventures
The LA TechWatch LA Startup Daily Funding Report: 9/12/17
Here are the latest venture capital, seed, and angel deals for LA startups for 9/12/17. This page will be updated throughout the day to reflect any new fundings.


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World Bulletin/News Desk
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hopes talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday will revive efforts to end a territorial dispute that has prevented the nations signing a treaty to end World War Two.
Japan also expects Russia to present a proposal for Japan's participation in building a pipeline connecting East Siberian gas fields and a planned $38 billion Vladivostok gas hub built by state-controlled Russian export monopoly Gazprom.
It is unclear whether Abe, whose talks with Putin will be the first full-fledged Russo-Japanese summit in Moscow in a decade, will leave with progress toward either of those goals, despite areas of interest that converge.
Japan is the largest importer of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and sees Russia as a strategic partner as it looks to diversify and cut the costs of LNG imports, which shot up after a 2011 disaster at its Fukushima nuclear plant.
Russia is seeking to firm up its footing in Asia as it warily watches China's growth - despite warm ties with Beijing - and the U.S. "pivot" to the Pacific. Russia could use Japanese money and know-how to develop its sparsely populated far east.
But Russia's interest in increasing commerce with Japan will not necessarily lead to progress in the dispute over four small islands in the Pacific, known as the Southern Kuriles in Russia and the Northern Territories in Japan.
The islands were seized by the Soviet Union after it declared war on Japan in August 1945 and days before Japan surrendered, forcing about 17,000 Japanese to flee. They are near rich fishing grounds.
The dispute has prevented Russia and Japan from concluding a peace treaty and clouded ties ever since.
Senior Russian and Japanese officials have discussed the territorial dispute repeatedly in recent years, including at bilateral talks between the heads of state on the sidelines of international meetings, but have made little apparent progress.
"I would like to agree on a new start to the protracted negotiations on a peace treaty," Abe said in an interview shown on Russian state television before the visit, speaking through an interpreter. He arrived in Moscow on Sunday.
Russia has frequently signalled that Japan should focus on economic relations and not get too hung up on the islands. The Kremlin last week repeated its message that a solution to the territorial dispute is not a prerequisite for increased trade.
"The Russian side proceeds from the position that dialogue (on a peace treaty) should be held in a calm, respectful atmosphere in parallel with the development of the entire range of Russo-Japanese relations," Putin's press service said.
Dmitry Medvedev, the ally Putin steered into the Kremlin for a four year term in 2008-2012, and is now prime minister, angered Japan by making the first visit to the islands by a Russian president in 2010.
Japanese officials have suggested economic ties would develop faster if the territorial dispute were resolved.
Abe will be accompanied by a 120-strong business delegation, Japanese Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroshige Seko told Reuters last week. He said one aim was "to convince Russia of the merits of having a good long-term relationship with Japan."
"Through forming strong personal ties between the leaders, we want to make Russia feel that by quickly solving the Northern Territories issue, Japan can contribute to the development of Russia and Siberia in particular," Seko said.
Abe's trip follows two months of talks on expanding gas-supply agreements in which Japan has been pressing Gazprom to present a detailed plan of the Vladivostok project that would spell out the potential role of Japanese companies.
Seko said Japan wants to sign up to 20 memoranda of understanding between Japanese and Russian companies during the visit, but that a major deal on the Vladivostok project was unlikely.
The Kremlin said the leaders will discuss international issues including tense situation on the Korean peninsula.Last Mod: 29 Nisan 2013, 11:41


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How can you improve customer satisfaction and increase sales?
Now Interact – a leader in the field of Predictive Intelligence – provides clear answers to such questions. Now Interact's CEO, Magnus Åström, said in an interview:
"After successful market penetration in our Scandinavian home, followed by the Netherlands and UK, we are now ready for further international expansion by establishing ourselves in the largest European market – Germany."
"The quality of service in Germany is steadily improving, but still has a lot of catching up to do; especially with regards to the customer journey as it moves between on and offline channels. This is where Now Interact can help. Our fully automated Predictive Intelligence system creates a better customer experience and increases sales, while at the same time reducing the cost to serve the customer. German service providers use older technologies and this has to drastically change in the coming years. I see great market potential for Now Interact in Germany" said Åström.
Now Interact's Predictive Intelligence platform optimizes the interaction between on and offline, and is proven to increase sales originating from web. Now Interact uses an algorithm to analyse the digital customer behaviour on a website, and automatically offers the customer the optimal support channel using Predictive Intelligence. The customer receives relevant support through the most effective channel at the right time. Agents receive important information in real-time about the customer and are thus better prepared for when the customer journey moves beyond the website.
Now Interact works with leading service providers including: Telenor, Three, Eneco, Folksam, Good Energy, Swedbank, SEB, Centraal Beheer and Achmea. Its expansion into Germany is through partnership with Smart @ Solutions GmbH in Hamburg. Smart @ Solutions is a customer experience Consulting firm that specializes in Financial Services and Technology companies.
"We are very pleased to support Now Interact in establishing a presence in Germany. Now Interact's solution is unique and very convincing and we're already seeing a lot of interest in the market. German service providers will be able to learn from digital pioneers in countries including Scandinavia, the NL and UK" said Sven Sahlberg, CEO at Smart @ Solutions GmbH.
For more information, contact Leslie McArdle – Marketing Manager EMEA, Now Interact on +44 (0)7949 936 051.


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Serving the Kern River Valley in Lake Isabella since 1976, Nelda's Diner is truly a southern Sierra Nevada icon. Nelda's was owned and operated by Nelda Bartell from 1976 to 2001 when she retired. Since then, her son Frank and his wife Donnie, have been in charge and continue to provide the finest in casual dining. Our menu is unmatched in the Kern River Valley and we are known especially for our 17 different burgers and over 100 milkshakes, which many deem "legendary," an archaic term thought to be synonymous with "off the hook."
Nelda's is a frequent stop for travelers going to and from Death Valley, the Trail of 100 Giants in Sequoia National Forest, and believe it or not, many hikers making the trek from Mexico to Canada on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). Hikers leave the trail at Walker's Pass and catch a ride into Lake Isabella to come to Nelda's for food and milkshakes, and a visit to the post office and laundry. We are listed and highly rated in the famous Yogi's Guide, the must-have resource for making the trek along the PCT. If you would like to know what the hikers think of Nelda's, there is a PDF file at the right side with Hiker Comments from their own journals. Interesting reading.
Our customers are as varied as the activities in the Kern River Valley. Fishing, hunting, camping, boating, skiing, wind surfing, whitewater rafting, off-roading, hiking, bird and wildlife watching, mountain biking, sightseeing, snow play, relaxing and even just general navel gazing! You name it, and someone is doing it!
The little things are what makes one restaurant stand out. At Nelda's Diner we batter our one of a kind onion rings to order, make most of our food from scratch, serve mouth-watering french fries with THE BEST ranch dressing, and sport a list of the the most unique burgers known to man.
We serve beer and wine, and have Sierra Nevada, Fat Tire, and the local brew from Kern River Brewing Company - Isabella Blonde on tap. Beer lovers will know what I mean! At Nelda's, we do our best to provide the widest variety and highest quality food and service to our friends, neighbors and visitors. Check out our menu under the "Docs" tab at the right.
A visit to the Kern Valley is truly not complete without a visit to Nelda's!
Be sure to check out our photo album, menu's, testimonials and Frank's story of a family's migration to the Kern River Valley under the PHOTOS and DOCS tabs!
Nelda's is also the home of "Nelda's Diner Distinctive Products," a small line of unique food goodies including our Smoky Cajun Rub & Spice, John Ray's Grilling Mix, Jalapeno and Habanero Jellies, Thick, Sweet Teriyaki, and Honey Kist Barbeque Sauce. These products are only sold at Nelda's.
Of course, nobody can work all the time, and Frank and son Joe are members of the local rock band Jest Reason along with James Hall. Many weekends you can catch us playing at the local watering holes. Rock & Roll! Hear some of our songs at: http://www.reverbnation.com/tunepak/3310278


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After reading about the outstanding job of 2nd platoon, Company B, 1/26 INF in the Korangal River Valley it reminded me of some of the experiences I had working on the Afghan-Pakistan border of Paktika Province in 2006-07.
I had a joint observation post (OP) comprised from a platoon of my Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers and a platoon from the 10th MTN that was assigned to FOB Tillman. In the early morning hours on June 20, 2006 we came under a well coordinated attack of  intense enemy machine gun and RPG  fire. In the initial few minutes of the attack, the enemy was able to knock out our heavy weapons with well aimed fires. We quickly went through our claymores as we were soon surrounded by approximately 100 bad guys and they were too close to effectively use our artillery and air assets. As the NY Times article discussed critical times in a battle that can lead to getting out of hand, this was that point in this battle .  Â
What kept the tide of this battle from totally turning against the good guy side was discipline, pure intense will, and a little bit of luck. With the Americans using great trigger discipline and target selection, the intensity of the ANA fires (until they ran out of ammo!), and poor quality of the Taliban's hand grenades (there were 5 that didn't explode outside of our bunkers) we were able to hold onto this important OP that is only a few hundred meters from the Pakistan border. This firefight lasted for over 2 hours.  We believe the bad guys had also run out of ammo and that was the reason they withdrew from this well coordinated assault. Most of the Americans had less then 10 rounds and some with only their knives left.
Luckily the Americans only had a few scratches and just one of my ANA soldiers was wounded (he would fully recover from his gunshot wounds to the back and hand after a few weeks) during this intense early morning firefight. I respected our enemy before this fight but was impressed even more after this with their solid coordination of fire and maneuver tactics. As they retreated back across the border we counted 43 enemy personnel carrying 8 bodies. Those were the ones we could see and in that terrain, for everyone you see, there is usually 2-3 more around. What really added insult to injury was the route the bad guys took back into Pakistan; they went directly next to a Pakistan Military post, our allies on this porous border. They are our allies as much as I'm the next President of the United States.
Live free or die trying!


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our guide to looking great this summer
june is here, which means summer is just around the corner. it is our hope that you will embrace the season and take advantage of all that summer has to offer. whether you are at the beach, pool, waterpark, etc., use this helpful summer makeup guide below to look great wherever you go.
sheer color spf 20 tinted moisturizer. this water resistant product protects your skin and covers at the same time. what more can you ask for when you are spending a fun day in the sun?!
sparkle waterproof liquid eyeliners. line and go with your favorite color this summer. the sparkle will stay all day, whether you are at work or lounging on a raft in the pool.
lip and cheek stains. pick your favorite "crush" and apply it to your lips and cheeks for a healthy looking, long wearing stain. you won't look overdone, just a little better when you are at the beach – something we all want :)
happy summer stila fans!!!


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….with that you know.
Over the past few months I have been trying out new moisturizers. I had an abundance of samples from my birchboxes and Sephora Sun Safety Kit. I unfortunately did not find one that I loved. For whatever reason when the seasons change my skin, especially on my face goes through a rough couple weeks. I noticed this year that is was happening sooner than later. My skin was just really dry ( I know some of it was due to my lack of hydration….trying to be better about that), but I knew some of it had to be from trying 3 different moisturizers over the summer. So I decided to go back with what my skin knows and likes……..
I had used Hope in a Jar off and on since 2004. I always loved it. It always made my skin look great, but I felt that I wanted to see what else was out there especially when in the summer I switch to a moisturizer that has spf (in winter my primer has spf). I have noticed though that the spf moisturizers leave my skin a little thirsty and I believe that is what happened this summer. I have been using Hope in Jar (for dry skin) for about 2 weeks now and my skin is back to it's old self!
It is good to try new things, but it is always good to go back to the things that you know work for you!


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Children, parents and dignitaries have helped celebrate the opening of a school's £1.2million extension.
A special event was held at Forest Hall Primary School to mark the new features of the building.
Pupils sang a song they had written for the event before Mayor Norma Redfearn cut the ribbon to officially open the building.
Mrs Redfearn said: "I'm honoured to have been asked to officially open this new extension as the school has been looking forward to it for several years.
"I'm passionate about education and have been fighting all my life to ensure that the children of North Tyneside get the very best educational facilities from the moment they start nursery.
"Therefore I'm absolutely delighted that we have now been able to provide Forest Hall Primary with these fantastic new classrooms and a lovely garden and playground which are fit for 21st-century learning."
Headteacher Carmel Parker added: "I'm really proud of our children and what they can achieve.
"We absolutely love the design of our new extension and have been watching it being built over the past year. The classrooms mean our reception and nursery children are now together all under one roof and linked to the main school by a bright, wide corridor.
"I would like to thank the council and the builders Kier for all their hard work, our staff and parents for their support and, of course, our amazing and talented children who love their school."
The work was carried out by Kier North Tyneside on behalf of North Tyneside Council with funding from the Government's Basic Needs Fund.
It involved demolishing the old temporary mobile classrooms, building four new classrooms linked to the main school with a new corridor and relocating the school office and staff room to make way for a new ICT suite and playground.
Kier regional director, Mike Furze, said: "This has been an exciting project for Forest Hall Primary School, which includes excellent new facilities and an improved learning environment for its pupils and staff.
"We pride ourselves on making a positive contribution to the community of North Tyneside, so it's fantastic to have been involved with a project providing such valuable learning facilities for local children."


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Ice Age: Collision Course, is the fifth film in the Ice Age film franchise and follows on from the previous film, Ice Age: Continental Drift. The film brings back much of the original cast including the original trio, Sid (John Leguizamo), Manny (Ray Romano) and Diego (Dennis Leary), the trio's extended family consisting of Manny's wife, Ellie (Queen Latifah), his daughter, Peaches (Keke Palmer), Sid's Granny (Wanda Sykes), Diego's girlfriend, Shira (Jennifer Lopez), possums, Crash and Eddie (Seann William Scott and Josh Peck), and of course, Scrat, the speechless squirrel who throughout the series chases after the ever elusive acorn.
The film begins with the standard opening sequence as per the previous four films, that of Scrat's epic chase after an acorn. In this film, Scrat's desperate attempt into capturing the acorn accidentally sets in motion a series of catastrophic astronomical events that threaten the Earth, thereby kicking off the main plot of the film.
With another threat of extinction looming, the gang must band together to prevent the meteorite from hitting Earth. Sound familiar? That's because much of the plot of the Ice Age films are repeated and reused with minor changes made to make each film appear unique. An important question that this raised is how many disasters can prehistoric animals really face and overcome? In Ice Age Collision Course, the added bonus of the repeated storyline of having to save the world is the side story of Manny having to deal with being a protective father not wanting his little girl to leave home.
Despite its predictable and tired storyline, Ice Age Collision Course does well to bring back the key ingredient to the Ice Age franchise's success, silly and wacky humour. If you've seen the previous Ice Age films, you know full well and accept that the concepts and ideas within the film don't make much sense. It is this series of illogical moments within the film's narrative that adds humour and fun to the film. Though, the jokes and comedy in the film catered more for children rather than adults. I may have chuckled a bit here and there but the bulk of the humour was a bit on the overused side in my opinion.
Whilst funny and light-hearted, a mindless film in which one does not have to think, the film did prove rather disappointing to me personally. Overall, I had a small bit of hope that the story would be markedly different from previous films or at least there'll be a completely unpredictable twist that no one could foresee. Instead, Ice Age Collision Course adds a host of characters so large that I felt that there wasn't enough screen time for each and every character. I much prefer films that focus on a smaller group of characters rather than a large ensemble. It can often times be too distracting.
Visually, the film was bright and colourful, with plenty of amusing antics and misadventures to captivate young children. Considering the advances in technology and graphics, my personal view is that this could have been done better given the chance. To be fair, when thinking about the film's elements as a whole, I was in two minds. On the one hand, I can see the appeal of this film, particularly to children, but on the other, I couldn't quite fathom the reason for making yet another Ice Age film. I suppose, for me, what I enjoyed was the life lesson that was embedded into the film, which is that parents need to trust their children and learn to let go, an element of the film that I feel would have resonated rather well to all parents watching this film.
Ice Age Collision Course is a film that is fantastic for entertaining and distracting young children, particular now that the school holidays have arrived. If you are looking for a film to veg out to and not have to think, then perhaps this is the film for you. If substance and a well thought out plot with unpredictable moments is what you're after, move on to the next film choice. I do so hope this is the end of Ice Age, as each new film that comes out only decreases my enjoyment of the original films more and more. Let's give Scrat the chance to finally get that acorn. He's worked way too hard and has caused enough damage as it is.


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Laying the groundwork for a life in coffee, Foundations of Coffee serves as the introduction to all of the Pathways and builds a vocabulary, both spoken and sensed, that will serve each subsequent class in any chosen course of study. Lectures touching on varied subjects that impact coffee such as agronomy, earth sciences, economics, and sociology will bring to life the seed to cup journey as students explore the many steps along the global supply chain. Foundations of Coffee coursework will shift to a closer inspection of how the senses and chemistry collide, examining how coffees are evaluated through tasting exercises, cupping protocol, and a thorough introduction to flavor perception, as well as the theoretical and practical workings of brewing and extraction.
With two levels of dynamic content the Barista Pathway presents a series of classes designed to accelerate a student's professional trajectory with world-recognized instruction in espresso and espresso drink preparation, equipment operation and customer service. Upon completion, graduates have established a set of skills that are immediately relevant and ready to enhance the workforce in any coffee bar operation with a focus on high-level, high-quality execution to the standards and best practices of the Specialty Coffee Association of America.
Purchase this course here.


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Psalm 118:1-2; 14-24
O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever! 2 Let Israel say, "His steadfast love endures forever."
The LORD is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation. 15 There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous: "The right hand of the LORD does valiantly; 16 the right hand of the LORD is exalted; the right hand of the LORD does valiantly." 17 I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the LORD. 18 The LORD has punished me severely, but he did not give me over to death. 19 Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD. 20 This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it. 21 I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. 22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. 23 This is the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. 24 This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
2 Peter 3:11-15a
Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? 13 But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home. 14 Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; 15 and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation….
John 20:1-18
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him." 3 Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. 4 The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, 7 and the cloth that had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples returned to their homes. 11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; 12 and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. 13 They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him." 14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away." 16 Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabbouni!" (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, "Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"; and she told them that he had said these things to her.


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Procrastination ...it seeks to frighten..it attempts to paralyze....it makes even the simplest tasks intimidating and overwhelming. Procrastination is like a school bully.
But like a school bully you can fight against it. You can battle when the wave of procrastination seizes you and reduces your productivity.
Here are a few tricks to battle procrastination.
- Reduce the project's intimidation by breaking down big projects into small bite sized tasks/chunks.
- Encourage motivation to tackle a project by planning a reward after the completion of the project.
- Don't check email in the morning - rather spend the first hour or two in the morning working on an important task.
- Don't wait to work on a task believing that it needs to be perfect. Perfectionism can be a big contributing factor to your procrastination. It is better to have completed a half-baked first draft rather than not having worked on the project at all.
- Learn to say NO - to projects, appointments or activities that will take time and focus away from accomplishing what needs to be done.
- Reduce distractions. Don't give yourself excuses to take away your focus. But the pause button on social media/email/phone calls when working on an important project.
What tips or tricks would you contribute to this list?


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"Protidin" newspaper dated. 30th July 2015
Chief Minister Mr Tarun Gogoi formally inaugurated the first Spice Park of the North eats India at Koliabor in Nagaon district on Wednesday. Mr Ranjit Barthakur, Chairman, Amalgamated Plantations was present with the CM at the opening ceremony of this park, established by APPL, an associate of Tata Enterprise.
Social welfare scheme and tea garden community welfare programme at Hathikuli Organic, Misa Sports Complex for Heritage and tea tourism at Misa Polo Club were also inaugurated by the CM.
The Spice Park comprises of three processing units viz processing of tuber spices like turmeric and ginger in one line, seed spices like black pepper and mustard etc in the second and chillies in the third line. The enterprise also encouraged the use of alternative sources of energy for energy conservation.
It is expected that the spices produced by the farming community of North-east India will get a proper market linkage and also cater for specific market needs.
Translated by – Mr Haren Pathak


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08 May 2016
Geoff & Adrian win at the 2016 Express FM awards...
27 March 2015
On the Soft Rock Show at Express FM, on Monday 23rd March, Adrian Collis presented a tribute to Andy Fraser of Free, who sadly passed away the week prior.
05 February 2015
We need an Audio Editor, and would love a fan to do it!
29 July 2013
On 24th June, Peter Howarth of The Hollies fame came in to the studio along with Michael Armstrong to chat and perform live on the show...


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Amber Rose's "Slut Walk" is certainly causing a big amount of buzz on Twitter and elsewhere online. In fact, many of the photos from the so-called 'Slut Walk' that fights against rape culture are too graphic to publish. Nevertheless, Amber's name is trending on Twitter, especially since Rose's mom held up a sign that read "F*** yo 30 showers," as seen in photos on Twitter. That sign would've been a direct comeback against Kanye West, who said that Kim Kardashian made Kanye take "like 30 showers," as reported by the Inquisitr, after he broke up with Amber and began dating Kim.
"She's just soaking in the moment. If Kim had dated me when I first wanted to be with her, there wouldn't be an Amber Rose. It's very hard for a woman to wanna be with someone that's with Amber Rose. I had to take thirty showers before I got with Kim."
Amber co-signed with her mother's message to Kanye about slut-shaming on Instagram. On Instagram, that post showing Rose's mom's sign received more than 77,000 likes and a plethora of comments.
Apparently, Amber is turning the word "slut" on its head and reclaiming the insult as something positive. When Rose attended the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards, she wore an outfit emblazoned with all the labels that have been hurled against Amber and other women. Those labels not only included "slut" but gold digger and "h**s" and more.
On Twitter, Amber has garnered nearly 32,000 tweets about the Slut Walk led by Rose. Even as Amber says that she's no role model for children — and that her Slut Walk is for adults. As reported by E!, Amber wore lingerie and held up a sign that read "Strippers have feelings, too."
Other signs proclaimed things like, "my p****, my choice" and some more suspect signs, calling women the "n*****s" of the world. The Slut Walk began in 2011 in Toronto, and apparently it is growing in popularity each year as social media brings people from all over the world into the events of the Slut Walk.
Amber even raised $55,774 for Rose's "Slut Walk" on GoFund Me, which explained that the Slut Walk was hosted by a charity named The Amber Rose Foundation. The purpose of Amber's non-profit was to give a voice to women around the world. The money collected for her foundation was to be put to good use in the Slut Walk, wrote Amber, saying that HIV testing services and other sexual awareness services would be made available.
Rose wrote that Los Angeles is only one of the cities on her radar to expand the Slut Walk beyond, and that the Slut Walk aims to put the focus on double standards that are at times levied against women within a rape culture.
Previously, Amber – whose real name is Amber Levonchuck – appeared in the Light Girls movie on Oprah's OWN channel. Rose spoke about her own Creole family, and how they didn't accept her ex Wiz Khalifa, and thought they were better than him. On Instagram, Rose has shown off her waist trainers and throwback photos of a "young Ambs" when she was a pre-teen.
[Image via Scott Olson/Frazer Harrison/Getty Images News]


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Makoti you are so pretty and so natural I just love you and your wedding, you were so relaxed and I think you guys had one of the nicest weddings honestly, I hope God will never forsake you and continue showering you with his love and mercy.
Wow!!!!!!!!!! i'm speachless
cleo and lerato thank you for the beautifull and simple wedding these are the kind of pics we would like to see here!!!! #smitted
stunning wedding pictures…beautiful love story..May God bless ur union and let no weapon formed against it to prosper
Your photographer did a splendid job.Every moment & smile captured nicely.It was a beautiful wedding for beautiful people. Pic 28, thats too risky
WOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!! I love everything abt dis wedding, the cake is a wow, nothing to say, this was so top, May God bless ur union, i call this perfect and I love that your showed emotions u really kissed , I like!you are a beautiful couple.All d best.
wow beautiful
now i wana get married l0l, le ba bantle thata. may God bless u
wow this looks really good, i lyk how the pic came out…well planned and all around beauty!Job well done Makoti..Congrats to you and your hubby!!!
wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow this is lovely…you guys luk trully in lov n ur couple pics are fun to luk at coz of the playfulness…….congra n gud luck!!!
Wow Wow Wow!!! Yaze yayinhle into esiyibona lana. What an unbelievable story? People dont believe you can get a husband/wife on facebook. May God Bless you with beautiful kids and all the things you wish for. That was such a beautiful and lovely wedding you had, filled with love and nothing else.
Woooooow beautiful!!! lovely…eveything was perfect. May God bless your union!
wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow,very BEAUTIFUL//
@ Bubu same sentiments my sister,nami sengifuna ukushada manje :-)this is proof that true love still exits.
lovely wedding, lovely couple, may God bless your union.
shoo, beautiful, wishing you all the best in this beautiful journey – May you be blessed
FABULOUS!! Dats all I can say. and the best thing is both of you looked ever so happy. Everything looks fanatastic. May God add blessings to your Union as you continue to Grow in Love.
Woooooooow, excellent and perfect. Everything is beautiful, I love everything about this wedding. Modimo a le hlogonolofatse mo lenyalong la lena
Beautiful love story, I pray that your marriage becomes the same and please ke kopa le tshwarane ha monate tuu and May You Remain in Our God Almighty Blessings!
u guys look beautiful and u make a good couple too. you wedding was the best thanks for washing our eyes with your photo's hence. well organised wedding
I love picture number 48! Beautiful wedding guys….well done…


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John Cusack and Sean Hayes have joined the voice cast of Exodus Film Group's CG-animated feature comedy "Igor" says The Hollywood Reporter.
Cusack replaces Christian Slater as the voice of title characterf Igor, a gifted scientist who is born with a hunch on his back and is forced to serve a cruel scientist named Dr. Glickenstein.
Hayes is playing Brian the Brain, a brain in a jar who is one of Igor's sidekicks and inventions. Jeremy Piven, Jay Leno, Jennifer Coolidge, Molly Shannon, Steve Buscemi and John Cleese have already been cast.
Tony Leondis will direct and Chris McKenna wrote the screenplay. The Weinstein Company will distribute the film next Halloween.


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Deconovo Sun Blocking Curtains
- Buy On Amazon:
- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N1SYR3M
- Classification:
- Classic
- Two Panels Per Package, each panel measures 42 W x 63 L.
- Deconovo rod pocket back tab blackout curtains are also thermal insulated and prevent from heat escapes and blocks sunlight from entering the room.
- They are silky, soft, drapery and very pleasant to touch and gives an expensive look to any room.
- These thermal insulated blackout curtains are made of 100% polyester, imported.
- Machine washable, easy to maintain.
Deconovo Thermal Insulated Sun Blocking Curtains
Luxurious and practical, these Deconovo sun blocking curtains are the perfect addition to your home. These stylish contemporary curtain panels will complement most modern decor themes, and can even be a nice accent to more traditional design schemes. You can choose from different kinds of colors and lengths of curtains to offer the best for your home. These room darkening curtains balance room temperature by insulating against summer heat and winter chill. The rod pocket style makes them easy to hang.
Features: sun blocking, noise reducing, energy efficient, thermal benefits
- Our curtains protect your furniture and art pieces from fading when the bright sun streams in.
- These sun blocking curtains are made of materials that reduce light. The darker the color, the better the light reducing capabilities.
- They also do not attract any kind of dust or mites. This means that you will not expose your baby to dust causing allergies.
- The curtain is made of thermal insulated material which is a good insulator of summer heat and winter chill. Helping you to save on energy bills.
- These room darkening materials do not allow a view through and provide complete privacy/security, keeping your inside activities from being seen, and you can enjoy the utmost privacy.
- They ensure that even if you are a light sleeper you will not be disturbed by the sound on the streets.
Care Instructions:
- These polyester curtains are made to last requiring minimum caring. Machine washable, wash below 86F. Gentle cycle, do not bleach, do not tumble dry, warm iron.
Our product pictures are real and shot by professionals. However, due to differences in computer monitors display, there can be color variations between the actual product and your screen.
Reviews (0)
Be the first to review this product.
Additional Info
- Buy On Amazon:
- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N1SYR3M
- Classification:
- Classic


text: DigitalTop New York Times Editors Prepare for ShakeupBy Chris O'Shea|January 11, 2013 ShareBy Chris O'Shea|January 11, 2013 Share With the deadline for accepting the buyout package offered by the New York Times looming, the paper's top editors are bracing for what Daily Intelligencer describes as "a three-year plan to downsize the company as it migrates to a new business model." That plan involves realignments as well as staff and budget cuts.According to rumors, Jill Abramson is "begging and pleading" with editors to accept the buyout so that they don't have to make too many cuts. Those feeling the heat the most include John Geddes, Rick Berke, Gerry Marzorati, Jim Roberts and Susan Edgerly.One top editor who is 100 percent in the clear is Larry Ingrassia, who Abramson said was going to take on a "larger role" in a memo sent out in early December. The recent rumors back that up:In the wake of the bloodletting, Larry Ingrassia, who recently departed as editor of the 'Biz Day' section, will rise to take a powerful leadership position atop a much-reduced masthead. His job will consolidate the roles of outgoing editors, including oversight of new digital and branding initiatives, conferences, and events. Sharehttp://adweek.it/2jHqwiO copy Adweek Adweek


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Sinal Photo, est. 2007 ( a.k.a. Boy Beauty ) congratulates BFH Productions with their 10 year aniversary!
BFHP takes your internet safety very serious as I do, installing the most up to date software on their sites. To provide you with conveniant browsing, no anoying adds or pop-ups all files checked virus free.
I think Sinalphoto can adopt their slogan "Like nowhere else", is there any comparable blog almost 7 years continuous online with such a huge collection inside?


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[video_player video="http://ondemand.snowboardermag.com/video/flv/snowboarder-100106-22-7-Eric_duhmer-swbs1-snowboardermag.com.flv" /]
SNOWBOARDER is bringing you a series of how to snowboard videos to help fill up that bag of tricks, and help you learn how to ride that snowboard a little better.
Erich Dummer guides you through the steps and how to's of learning a switch backside 180.
1. You're going to want to come in on your toe edge switch. Remember, when you leave the lip you don't want to pop too much.
2. Roll of of your toe edge and take off nice and easy. Don't pop too hard, or you might lose control.
3. When you're in the air, grab whatever feels most comfortable. I like grabbing switch Indy.
4. Keep looking over your back shoulder while you bring it around and prepare for the landing.
5. I like to land a little more on my toe edge so when I set my board down, I'm looking straight ahead and can see where I'm going and get ready for the next jump.
6. Repeat.
What tips helped you learn a switch backside 180? Let's hear 'em in the comments below.
Video by Gary Tyler McLeod


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Hey guys it's Sam, and after an experience with my brother's iPhone last night, I took a look at the list of achievements, and got a little inspired. Like a literal light bulb was lit over my head. And I'm here today to share that idea, inspiration, or "light bulb" with you today! No, despite the title, it is not another look iNSiDE the iPhone. (but stay tuned for those on Sammwak! :D) It's something even better…a whole list of achievements for the brain-munching iPhone version of Plants vs. Zombies to not only feed on the taste of success, but on more blogger points! If you don't have an iPhone, then…pffff….just invest in $428.00! 😉
boldfaced – ones from the real iPhone version
Note: Not all of the achievements. And sprinkled with the Sam Mwakasisi Loves This (SMLT) seal of approval!
Home Lawn Security – Complete adventure mode. (30 BP)
Spudow! – Blow up a zombie using a Potato Mine. (5 BP)
Explodonator – Blow up ten zombies with a single Cherry Bomb. (15 BP)
Morticulturalist/Master of Morticulture – Collect all forty-nine types of plants (including those from Crazy Dave's Twiddydinkies). (25 BP)
Don't Pea in the Pool – Complete a daytime pool level without using Peashooters of any kind. (20 BP)
Roll Some Heads – Bowl over five zombies with a single Wallnut in Wallnut Bowling. (20 BP)
Grounded – Complete a normal roof level without using any Catapult plants. (25 BP)
Zombologist – Discover the Zombie Yeti. (15 BP)
Penny Pincher – Collect thirty coins in a single level without letting one disappear. (18 BP)
Popcorn Party – Defeat two Gargantuars with Corn Cob Missiles in a single level. (22 BP)
Good Morning – Complete a daytime level planting only Mushrooms and Coffee Beans. (20 BP)
No Fungus Among Us – Complete a nighttime level without planting Mushrooms. (18 BP)
Last Mown Standing – Defeat the final zombie in a level with a lawnmower. (15 BP)
20 Below Zero – Immobilize twenty zombies with a single Iceshroom. (24 BP)
Flower Power – Keep ten Twin Sunflowers alive in a single level. (16 BP)
Pyromaniac – Complete a level using only explosive plants to kill zombies. (18 BP)
Lawn Mower Man – Kill ten zombies with a single lawnmower. (16 BP)
Chill Out – Feel the rhythm, feel the rhyme, you've got a level to destroy 3 Bobsleds, it's Jalapeno time! (20 BP)
Defcorn 5 – Build five Cob Cannons in a single level. (16 BP)
Monster Mash – Crush five zombies with a single Squash. (24 BP)
But that's not all the achievements! Check back this week for more brain-dead accomplishments, and more ways to get a full plate of blogger points! What…what's that?…well, you don't say! 😀 You want a couple more achievements just to fill your stomach? 2 more achievements, coming up, with a special side serving of two tablespoons of the Sam Mwakasisi Loves This (SMLT) seal of approval!
Blind Faith – Complete an extremely foggy level without planting Planterns or Blovers. (28 BP)
Pool's Closed – Complete a pool level without using water plants. (25 BP)
Check back for the humor that fans loved, the achievements that zombies crave, and more on Sammwak, where E = mc2 is my formula for awesomeness!
– Sam
p.s. Help donate to the Inside iPhone Fund to help raise money, power, and courage to make another delve inside the iPhone. With your subscription, we can change the world. Every action starts a chain reaction. One million begins with one.
Hello, all and I'm starting a new segment that I was planning long ago, but scrapped. But now, I'm fishing it out of the trash and putting it here on Sammwak! This segment is "Pic of the Day", a segment where I put up a humorous image, and request you to comment on it and vote on the polls for their opinions. Today's pic is powered from annoyingorange.com, where you can get hilarious fan photos 24/7. This post's pic of the day is…
This was a hilarious find because it was the perfect spoof of Plants vs. Zombies, but with a fruity twist! If you were as prone as me, you'd be doubling over. You would be LOL. You would be ROTFL. You would be LMAO. You would be ROTFLOL. You'd be OMGWTFBBQ by now. But anyways, if you're as prone as me still, please do leave a comment about this image, because it was either this or Paranormal Fruitivity.
Also feel free to vote:
That, my friend, is the pic of the day. If I'm not too lazy, check back for a post every day. Because no opinion is the fact.
Sincerely yours,
Hey guys, it's me Sam! And today I'm starting a new category that I'd like to call "Make a Story About…". It's one of those make-your-own type of things to do, and I'm letting you create a story about….ZOMBIES!!! The bloodthirsty, deceased corpses of humanity that hunger for some pretty decent flesh and brain cells!
Why did I choose zombies? I know over a thousand things that contain zombies:
Shaun of the Dead
Dawn of the Dead
Left 4 Dead
Left 4 Dead 2
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game
Okay maybe I don't know over a thousand, but your ordinary zombie story must have a virus of some sort, i.e. the "Green Flu" of the Left 4 Dead series. And it must have at least one survivor that's fighting their way through hordes and hordes of infected zombies. They must have some decent artillery, like 44's or machine guns, even. They have to have a couple med packs to heal themselves so they won't get the virus themselves. Wait…WH-WHY AM I GIVING YOU TIPS?!?! I practically gave you a new story! Don't copy this one please, or else you'll be disqualified from the contest.
"CONTEST? WHAT CONTEST?" you absentmindedly ask.
"The Make-a-Story contest," I calmly answer. "It's the contest that I hold in every Make-a-Story post from now on. All the viewers will make a story on my topic as long as they feel like it. If they want to bail out, it's cool with me. It's got to have some epic details to make the cut in the 3rd, 2nd, or even 1st places. If they do, they'll win a prize and an email congratulating them. They'll have a week to make the story, which is plenty of time on my watch. If they need an extra week, comment/email me so you can bail out. These posts will come up on Thursdays, but not every Thursday. Sometimes my laziness needs to kick in. I'll tell everyone to send in some juicy stories on Wednesdays, so they'll be ready for the final decision the next day."
"Ohhhhh…." you satisfyingly remark after being told all this information. "What's a story?"
I facepalm.
Anyways, here's an example with a young, unaware teenage girl and a zombie girl:
The teenage girl was lost. With no way out. Scared, terrified, alone, she wandered past gravestones, shaking in fear that she would never make it out. Luckily, a girl with long black hair skipped out of the darkness and into her direction. Her skin was as pale-white as the fearful teenage girl. Her eyes twinkled as she gave a grin.
"Could you walk me through the cemetery?" the teenage girl asked. "I think I'm lost."
"I feel your pain." the girl grinned. "You know, I used to be in your exact footsteps when I was alive."
That, my friend, is the start of a #1 zombie story. Speaking of which, you probably can make a story that good. Because my story was just the beginning. And no, you mustn't copy it, or else I'll kick you out of the competition. You won't get the prize. The good, good prize. And the e-mail. The good, good e-mail. And you can't have anything close to it; that will also ban you from the competition. I smell a copier even from here.
And that is the post. Send in some juicy zombie stories for me on Wednesday. Or the one after that. Or the one after that. Or the one after that…
L8trs, Sam
p.s. Yes, there are honorable mentions. 😀
Hey guys it's Sam and I need your help. Christmas is 20 days away, and I'm working on my wishlist. After playing the trial this morning, I may start believing that Plants vs. Zombies is getting pretty cool. I even now know a strategy to get sun quicker to plant plants quicker. So basically these are a handful of Pro-Tips.
Fed up with zombies eating your brains? Here's a tip that could just save your life. Always–and I mean, ALWAYS (like, write this down, bud)–have at least 3 Sunflowers on your lawn. Sunflowers give you sun without all the stress, and quicker too. How I do it? 3 rows of 6 Sunflowers, 2 Sunflowers a row (3 times 2 = 6). But when zombies start barging in, don't be planting more Sunflowers. Plant a Peashooter–BUT (this is extremely important, you better have your writing utensil ready)–in the zombie's lane. A Peashooter is worthless when it's not aimed directly at the zombie. Oh, and don't plant it in the back. Plant it 2 moves away (space for Sunflowers, kid!) to the right on either the D-pad or joystick. So your Sunflowers can still be giving you sun for more plants, but your Peashooters can still be holding off the amount of zombies on your lawn. Pretty soon, you'll be getting new plants, such as Walnuts (the defenders for your plants) and Cherry-bombs (the plants that blow up all the zombies on the lawn as soon as they're planted).
Now, you can mess with those tips I just gave you. But I need you to do another task for me. I need you to vote whether I should put this game on my Christmas wishlist or not. Because it's a console game, and it's also an XBLA game that charges 1200 Microsoft Points. Help guys, because fans' opinion is the best opinion of them all. (For me.) Here's the poll that you must decide in. Take your time to think it through. Once you vote there's no turning back…
Here's a gift for all your trouble: http://www.popcap.com/games/free/pvz
At the crack of the week of Christmas, I'll check back and see what you have to say, and I'll decide whether it's worth putting on or not!
L8trs, Sam
Hey guys it's Sam at Sammwak. No it's not another iNSiDE iPhone episode. It's something even better (I hope). It's…Zombigotchi?
If you have a Tamagotchi, you have a pretty good image of what this app's all about. Except your Tamagotchi is a zombie. You can poke him, pet or stroke him. Don't forget to feed him BTW. This app features 5 unlockable zombie-licious characters, 2 sub-games, and 25 zombie collectable cards. Great for Halloween, or any holiday. The great choice for kids and their discerning parents. For only $1.99, Zombigotchi can be bought for family fun, or for holiday occasions. Here are a few screenshots:
It would be surprising if you actually got the game. I have no experience of it whatsoever, and maybe I'll gaze at it in the future to come.
– Sam
Hey guys it's Sam at Sammwak, where I bestow cool upon the fools.
Now anyways, as you can see of the title, I have yet again started a new segment on Sammwak…VID GAMES! It's where I…we…discuss the latest, coolest, and upcoming video games. Now today, you may/may not know THIS game, but me and mah brother r rly into it these nowadays. It's called Plants vs Zombies. Odd name, eh? Yes I kno. Check out the cover:
Now the main basics of this game is that it's a tower defense game, which means that you have to assemble some towers and make sure some bad guys don't blow up ur towers or something. In this case, the towers are plants (flower towers? :D) and the bad guys…well, duh, they're the zombies. But the zombies aren't headed to ur towers. They're headed for the RESIDENTS to have dinner on their low-carb brains. 😛 Some plants include potato mines, peashooters, cattails, hypno-shrooms, and melon-pults.
But srsly come on. Potato mines? Peashooters? Hypnotic mushrooms? Catapulting melons? EPIC WIN!
But it's not just opinion. Get yo hands off yo mouse and go and get this game FO REAL, FO SHIZZLE!
Now, I don't like to brag, but um…IT'S AWARD TIME!
Nomination(s) – Interactive Achievement Awards – Casual Game of the Year, Outstanding Achievement in Game Design, Game Developers Choice Awards – Best Game Design, Innovation, Best Download Game
Award(s) won – Picked by Gamezebo as one of 2009's best games
WHAT U WAITIN FO? GET UP, GET OUT, AND GET PLANTS VS ZOMBIES FOR DA PC, DA MAC…OS X, DA iOS, DA XBOX LIVE ARCADE, AND DA DS!!!
Now I've seen gameplay, and from a scale of 0 to 10, I must give this game a score of…7 1/2 – ALMOST great. Do you have different thoughts? Vote 4 urself:
Check out a screenshot of typical level-1 gameplay:
So I believe that's alll for dis VID GAMES post.
Thx for reading, please like this post. And if u want 2, subscribe, so that u can receive notifications of new posts via email and all that other scrumdiddlyumptiously crazy wicked chiz.
I haz no commenter question today because it is the poll above. And speaking of that poll, videos shall be coming soon because for some unfortunate reason, I can't go on Youtube 😡


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On This Page
Our 2017 Annual Report is out
Every day, the College works to advance public protection in Ontario by influencing healthcare regulation. Read about some of the ways we do this in our new 2017 Annual Report.
Titled "Leading in Change," the report highlights just some of the work the College did in 2017 to uphold patient safety:
- making sure RN prescribing is safe
- protecting patients from sexual abuse
- ensuring NPs have the education needs to prescribe controlled substances
- changing the way we deliver practice support services to nurses
- piloting a new process for ensuring graduates are ready to practise safely
To help explain what we do, the College speaks directly to the public in this report. As well, it is more visual than ever before, using infographics to tell the College's stories. We created the infographics using just some of the data and evidence-based information that the College collects.
View the 2017 Annual Report now


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The Daytona 500 is the first NASCAR anything I have seen all season. I missed the Clash because we were in the midst of a 52 hour power outage thanks to hurricane force winds that showed up with one of the many rain storms this area has received over the past several months. I always miss at least one of the duels because of work and this time I missed both duels. I don't usually watch qualifying or practices for work reasons as well.
So settling in to take in the Daytona 500 was my first experience as a driver-less race fan as far back as I can remember. You may have noticed I have purposely not made a sweeping declaration of whom I will be supporting because I feel that will have to come organically and naturally as it did back when I picked up being a Tony Stewart fan way back when I did. Since no one applied to by my favorite driver I am forced to adopt a wait and see attitude driver wise. I have a certain pool of drivers that I pull for but we will see who ends up being a stand out. As for the race itself- I have decided I want to discuss certain components of the race before I give my thoughts on the race as a whole.
Missing Drivers and Semantics
The retirements of both Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards were discussed extensively during speed weeks, pre-race coverage and even during the national broadcast. Who wasn't mentioned at all that I heard were the names Casey Mears or Greg Biffle. I guess we are left to assume they have moved on. I guess it's no surprise that Casey Mears was replaced by Ty Dillon- I mean he hasn't had a performance year in several seasons. And while Greg Biffle hasn't had a good season lately either fans of both drivers deserved at least some sort of acknowledgement of them not being in their cars.
And while we are on the topic of drivers who have gone by the wayside since last season, can we talk about semantics for a second? I have heard this phrase more than I care "Clint Bowyer in the 14 for Tony Stewart." Chris Meyers even said it during the national broadcast. Using that terminology makes it sound like Clint is just filling in temporarily- much like Mark Martin, Brian Vickers, and Ty Dillon did during Tony's broken leg and then broken back injuries. That is so not the case. The 14 is now Clint Bowyer's ride. It shouldn't be referred to as anything other than Clint Bowyer in the 14. I didn't hear anybody say "Ty Dillon in for Casey Mears" for instance during the broadcast.
Race Segment Format/Subsequent Points Format
This perhaps the biggest change in the Monster Cup series this year. Each race will now contain three segments (length of segments varies by race). At the end of each race segment the top ten cars get points and the winning car gets a championship point. The segments are separated by a caution period where drivers have the option of pitting or not. When I first heard about this segment thing my knee jerk reaction was to thing that they were turning NASCAR into a circus. I then considered the idea that it might help the super speedway races at least (remember I don't like super speedway racing).
After seeing the segment formats now I honestly don't see how it enhances the racing product. NASCAR and the commentators keep shoving down our throats how great this format is but I honestly just don't see it. To me it seems to make an already long race longer. I don't see the racing action being any better yet. And don't even get me started on the points. I don't understand these points and championship points. Do the championship points also count as regular season points? I am confuddled about that. I am sure I will figure it out eventually but keeping track of points shouldn't be this complicated on a fan level.
The Five Minute Fix Rule
This to me is perhaps even more of an issue than the format issue. In a nutshell- this season if a driver is in a wreck and they can drive the car back to pit road, the team gets five minutes to attempt to fix the car on pit road. New parts can not be used- just tools and tapes I guess. Within the five minutes drivers must get out on track and be able to maintain whatever minimum speed for that particular race is. If the car is not fixed within five minutes or the car can not maintain minimum speed that car is no longer allowed to race.
Because of this rule there were only 25 cars on the track at the end of the 500 (of which 17 were on the lead lap and 11 were in the lead pack). I really really hate this rule. Why? Because if a driver is in a wreck of any consequence, that driver's day is pretty much done. That driver no longer has the ability to get back out on the track and try to better points positions. As a fan- it would really stink to have your driver have to pull behind the wall and then have to sit their the rest of the race knowing your driver is out. You will no longer have the hope that your driver's crew might get that car back out and that your driver might pick up a point or two. There is nothing more boring than being at a track surrounded by people cheering for their driver when you know your driver is done. Honestly- if my driver was knocked out of the race it would make me want to beat horrific race traffic and leave if there is no hope of my driver not coming back out on the track. I really don't know what NASCAR is thinking with this rule.
My thought is that they instituted this rule to try to keep them from driving too aggressively in the segments. We see how that worked out in the 500 with Jamie McMurray didn't we? It's an asinine rule.
I will say one good thing about this rule though- and that is that if a driver goes behind the wall after a wreck that they have to go to infield care center as part of their new improved concussion protocol. THIS is a good idea. Previously drivers only had to go to infield care center if their car was no longer able to be driven. I think that this part is a good idea. The rest of the rule? Is bull hockey.Take the drivers out of the car and make them go to the care center while the crews work on the cars. If they are not considered concussed they should be allowed to get back on the track.
Overall Thoughts on the Daytona 500
Eh. I have never been a big fan of super speedway racing anyway as to me the risk to equipment and possible injury to me outweighs the overall racing product in my opinion. I guess I am just more of a short track girl. I much prefer to see cars mixing it up and rubbing over a car getting slightly out of line and ending up taking 16 cars out of contention with him or her. I have always felt this way about super speedway racing- just look back in the BadGroove archives for any of the races at Talladega or Daytona. I drone on about it incessantly. To me the race segment format did nothing to enhance the racing at the track. Racing at Daytona and Talladega is more luck than skill and that to me isn't racing. I really think that they should make them exhibitions if you must keep them.
As for not having a "horse in the race" I guess it made it so I paid more attention to the overall race than concentrating on one team. I don't necessarily think that this is a good thing or a bad thing- it's just a different way of watching for me. I didn't listen to any team radios- just watched the race and paid attention on twitter for the things that I couldn't find out on the national broadcast. It was just a different more mellow experience for me I guess.
One thing I found humorous about the national broadcast is when Jamie McMurray seemed to be the cause of a couple of the "big ones" that happened towards the middle of the race, Jeff Gordon mentioned how aggressive Jamie McMurray was racing. I found that humorous because during his last couple of seasons he had taken exception to McMurray's driving style.
I also found it interesting how at the beginning of the broadcast they mentioned the cars that had to go to the back of the pack because they were starting in back up cars but didn't mention that there were cars that also went to the back of the pack because of failing post qualifying race inspection- namely Martin Truex Jr. This was a big issue with the 78 throughout last season- I see nothing changes there. Also I was surprised that Kasey Kahne wasn't dinged for being late to driver introductions (as in he didn't show up) but they apparently excused him because he had trouble getting through the crowd (hmm maybe he should have planned for that methinks).
I have to say that I was absolutely DELIGHTED that Kurt Busch won the Daytona 500. That is the team's first Daytona 500 win and their first win in a Ford- so good for them. You could tell Kurt was delighted as were his owners Tony and Gene. Way to go Stewart-Haas- it's a good boost for the start to the 2017 season.
Drivers Who Impressed Me: Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, Kurt Busch
Drivers Who Disappointed Me: Jamie McMurray
Oh and am I the only one who think that the new CARS movie looks awesome?
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Amputee Resource Directory Submission Information
All content contributions should be sent using the form below or to firstname.lastname@example.com.
If you are posting video content, post the video initially at my Facebook page, located at Amputees Amplifed here:
https://www.facebook.com/amputees.amplified/ .
The best videos will be added to my Amputees Amplified section and rotated occasionally.
Requests for additions to my Resource section should be made using the form below. Your site should be related to amputees or disabilities of some kind to be considered.
Resource Listings are available at a cost of $30 CAN per year. You can make your payment here and then send me the directory listing information:


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The Last Trial
Game Description
It is time for the last trial. Get on your bike, do the full throttle and try to perform the most impressive trick in your life. But remember - you have only one try. One man, one bike, one chance to be on the top of the podium.
Arrow keys or WASD to drive and tilt.
Q to free your hands.


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We received a full price cash offer with a signed purchase agreement and earnest money deposit in late April.
This transaction was completed in early May when we delivered the boat to her new home on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska.
We will miss the opportunity to use her as a guest boat and runabout this summer in southeast Alaska, but on the other hand it is great to divest ourselves of yet another item we don't really need to go cruising...
Original post: [16-March-2015]
Now that we are above zero in Fairbanks, it is time to start planning for summer. [Everything is relative...]
One of the things we have been planning for this spring is to sell our fun big/little trailerable sailboat/powerboat, Second Wind:
She helped us keep our sanity the last few years by providing us the option of exploring Prince William Sound for weeks on end each summer (and occasional dips into freshwater lakes along the way...)
So if you know anyone who may be interested, please refer them to our Second Wind website for details. Thanks!
If we don't find the next home for her we will take her to Wrangell and have a guest boat! (Like when you lend your spare car to your guests...)


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No, this is no joke! Our analysts have been very busy over the last month and they have a lot to show for it. Today, we published more than 860 updated charity ratings. We also added almost two dozen new charities to our site. And 5 charities earned their 10th consecutive 4-star rating!
10th consecutive 4-star ratings went to:
- United Way of Central Alabama
- Robin Hood Foundation
- National Christian Foundation
- Kids Alive International
- The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta
- 4-star Doctors Without Borders, USA
- 3-star Heifer Project International
- 2-star Friends of the National Zoo
- 1-star Save Our Wild Salmon
- 0-star The Rusty Staub Foundation
- 4-star Marine Conservation Biology Institute
- 3-star Abraham House
- 2-star National Headache Foundation
- 1-star African Leadership
Photo by Liubov via Shutterstock.com.


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* Growth tops poll forecast of 5.7 pct
* Construction booms, thanks to govt projects (Adds cenbank governor comments, byline)
By Shihar Aneez and Ranga Sirilal
COLOMBO, June 17 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's first quarter economic growth beat market expectations, which economists attributed to high state investment in construction that compensated for sluggish private sector expansion at a time borrowing costs are high.
Government data released on Monday said the economy grew 6.0 percent in the first quarter from a year earlier. That was slower than the annual pace of 6.3 percent in the last quarter of 2012, but above a Reuters poll forecast for January-March of 5.7 percent.
"The broad market was expecting slower growth because the consumption of the private sector and consumers were somewhat slow due to higher interest rates in the first quarter," said Danushka Samarasinghe, head of research at TKS Securities.
The slack private sector activity "was compensated by continuous government investment activities predominantly in construction activities", he said.
The construction sector expanded 27.6 percent in the first quarter from a year earlier to 174.37 billion rupees ($1.36 billion), while government services grew 13.7 percent to 111.64 billion rupees, data from the Census and Statistics Department showed.
The service sector grew at 4.3 percent year-on-year in the first quarter, the industrial sector 10.7 percent and agricultural sector 2 percent.
The economy had 8 percent annual economic growth in the first quarter of last year.
For all of 2013, the central bank has forecast 7.5 percent expansion.
"With this 6 percent growth, we are on track of achieving 7.5 percent growth," Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal told Reuters.
He expects private sector growth will expand in the second half with the measures the central bank has already taken including a policy rate cut in May.
In 2011, Sri Lanka had record growth of 8.2 percent, and the following year the pace cooled to a three-year low of 6.4 percent.
The International Monetary Fund has estimated growth of 6.3 percent in 2013, attributing the slower rate to sluggish demand from Sri Lanka's main export destinations such as Europe and the United States.
Sri Lanka's central bank has said economic growth has been slowed by commercial lending rates that have stayed high despite reductions of policy rates by 75 basis points to one-year lows since December.
On June 7, the central bank kept key policy rates steady after slashing them 50 basis points in May. The repurchase rate and the reverse repurchase rate are at one-year lows of 7.00 percent and 9.00 percent, respectively.
Last week, the central bank said it could take more steps to reduce lending rates if commercial banks do not fall in line with monetary policy rate cuts. (Reporting by Shihar Aneez and Ranga Sirilal; Editing by Richard Borsuk)


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REBOOT Course Renewal Kit - 10 Participants
After you finish your initial REBOOT course, when you're ready to start additional course cycles, we make it easy for you to relaunch with our REBOOT Renewal Kits. These kits include the tools you'll need to promote and lead additional courses at the same location and are available in three sizes based on the number of participants you expect.
Included in this Renewal Kit for 10 Participants:
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The containment of psychiatric labelling, the reductionism, the psycho-spiritual isolation, and the social pressure placed on those who are so labelled IS the "stigma" and it always has been. Being defined in this way changes the people defined and it also changes all the people around that one, who accept the definition and then make the person "fit" into it. Even people who actually KNEW you BL (before labelling ) change the way they see you, hear you and relate to you for now you are a disease process, not a regular person, and experts have made it so.
Labelling human beings as "less than" or inherently "inferior" to the "normal" humans sends a clear message to those who are so "glad" that "we" aren't defective like "them."
It is also like waving a red flag for the "Bulls"(ies) in society which signals to the ass-holes of the world; "we can feel free to abuse this defective person just as much as we like since no one is going to believe someone who has been labelled as defective and crazy for "believing' she has been harmed by others."
Though the psychiatrized may well have been the targets of group abuse before labelling, it will pale by comparison to the level of abuse generated BY the official labelling of the individual's experience of life from his/her OWN point of view, now understood by others as irrelevant, imaginary and nothing but the product of a bad brain chemistry or defective genes.
Label = Stigma
If you pay attention you will notice that there are TWO types of labelled people who still promote the label while fighting the "stigma." Those who don't promote the labelling, and there are MANY of us, are mostly ignored by the system for our dissenting opinion based on our own experience. We are often labelled "non-compliant" as I was, for refusing to deny our own reality and co-operate with the diagnostic pigeon holing which tells us, and others, that we "just have no insight into our own condition" for if we DID, then surely we would be embracing our labels with gratitude and not worry about any "stigma."
I have a question for Gordon Warme, M.D.
Warme tells us in one of his books that he has the same problem with those labelled schizophrenic as he does with the Jews of the Holocaust and that is; "the taking of a victim stance brought it all down on their own heads."
This is all part of the ever popular, "we can't blame others" bit.
My question is: are YOU not, right there in that statement, "blaming others"? If so, and you really believe that "blaming others" is a "symptom" of mental illness, should you, and all those like you, be picked up and taken for a psych evaluation?
Or is it different when it is you doing the blaming?


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30 June 2016
June Monthly Favourites: 2016
Wow, can you guys believe we are officially halfway through 2016?! That is just so hard for me to get my head around. I feel like it has literally flown by before my eyes, but at the same time I know I have already done a lot this year! This month it has been quite chilly here in Brisbane, which isn't a sentence you hear often. Nothing compared to the weather that I grew up with as a child in Eastern Canada, but after being here for several years now I have acclimatised and I can feel the cold too! I've got a random mixture of favourites for you this month, but each one has been a product I've had a hard time putting down. I love writing about my new discoveries and I can't wait to share these with you!
27 June 2016
RosehipPLUS: Organic Skincare Review
With winter well and truly here in Australia, my skin has gone from being combination with quite a bit of oil through my t-zone to being normal/dry in many areas. This has meant needing to change up my skincare routine quite a bit by leaving the charcoal masks and heavier exfoliant scrubs behind and replacing them with more hydrating products. The RosehipPLUS range has been a welcome addition to my skincare routine although it has taken me a while to start using the products. I like to introduce new items into my routine one by one to ensure I don't have any bad reactions and to avoid any unnecessary breakouts from product irritation. I think RosehipPLUS is definitely a skincare brand worth knowing about and after using these products for about two months, I thought I could share my thoughts and let you know my top picks from the range!
LABELS: cleanser , moisturiser , serum , skincare No comments
20 June 2016
MY VIP Dermalogica Experience
Recently, I was lucky enough to be given the chance to visit the Dermalogica Education Centre in South Brisbane. I was offered a VIP facial treatment which included a skin mapping analysis to get to know my skin a little better, a personalised facial treatment and finally the chance to discuss some future product recommendations with a Dermalogica expert. This Centre is mainly used for training purposes, however every now and then, Dermalogica may invite people to visit and spread the word about their products and treatments. Just a disclaimer, this is not a sponsored post, and although the treatment provided to me was complimentary, it was completely my choice to write this post and tell you a little more about my experiences with Dermalogica. I hope you find this post helpful and informative!
16 June 2016
BH Cosmetics + Shaaanxo 18 Colour Eyeshadow & Lipstick Palette: Review & Swatches
This much anticipated collaboration between well-known NZ Beauty Youtuber Shannon Harris and BH Cosmetics features nine matte and shimmer eyeshadow shades and nine satin lipstick shades in a dual-sided palette. Shaanxo is quite well-regarded for her successful Youtube channel where she is known to her followers as Shaaanxo and also has her own xoBeauty line which is quickly gaining in popularity with their lashes and brush sets. The BH Cosmetics + Shaaanxo 18 Colour Eyeshadow & Lipstick Palette ($22 USD) is quite reasonably priced and today I'm providing my thoughts along with lots of swatches so you can decide if it's worth your investment!
13 June 2016
The Best Makeup Products for Concealing Acne and Blemishes: High-End and Drugstore
As someone who identifies as having very problematic skin and always having a blemish or two to fight on a daily basis, I definitely have had my own struggles with self confidence when it comes to my skin. Those who suffer from acne will know that you feel so self-conscious and sometimes makeup is the only solution to getting a break from your own paranoia that everyone is looking at your bad skin. I suffered with moderate acne as a teenager which was part of the reason why I discovered makeup very early on and learned how to use it to help improve my confidence levels.
These days my skin is looking a lot better than what it used to, however recently I went through a really bad breakout that lasted several weeks and my confidence levels dropped significantly again and I was dreading have to attend activities or important events because of my skin. The whole emotional rollercoaster we go through when it comes to acne inspired me to write this post with my top recommendations for covering up blemishes. This post covers the products I swear by that really work for me when my skin is really bad but I want to feel better and go out to face the world.
LABELS: acne , advice , base , foundation , makeup , moisturiser , primer , skincare No comments
09 June 2016
Bloggers United AU Brisbane Event: My Experience as an Attendee
Bloggers United AU is an amazing idea founded by Nikita from NJT Blogger and Jasmine from Sweetaholic Beauty.Bloggers United AU was founded in late 2014 but officially launched in February 2015. The main aim of Bloggers United AU is to make an amazing Australian community even better, to support all bloggers and help them gain more exposure, meet other people in the blogging community, have opportunities to meet fellow bloggers face to face, make new friends and to have fun doing what they love – blogging!
Last weekend I was lucky enough to be able to attend the Bloggers United AU event being held in Brisbane. This was very exciting and special for me since Brisbane rarely has events for bloggers, especially within the niche of beauty blogging and I often miss opportunities that come across my desk for events in Sydney and Melbourne. Of course, I sprung for the chance to meet up with lots of my blogging friends, meet new bloggers and also network with brands. This post is all about the event and how I found it as an attendee. If you'd like to know more about what went behind organising the event and some more behind the scenes information check out Tahana's post here, as we decided to do a collaboration!
*All images are my own except those with watermark which are from the event photographer Peter Cabral
LABELS: chit chat , lifestyle No comments
06 June 2016
Beauty Bin: May Empties 2016
Hi beauties! I've got another installment of my Beauty Bin Series for you today taking you through all the products I've managed to use up during the month of May. If you'd like to read some of my previous Beauty Bin posts, you can check them out here. Some of you have been asking for a Project Pan Update as well since it has been just over 6 months since I started, so I will try to get that up for you soon. Until then, let's get into some of these empty products!
LABELS: beauty bin , brows , eyes , face scrub , Hair , makeup , skincare , tools No comments
02 June 2016
May Coffee Break: 2016
Hey babes! I'm back to you with another post from my Coffee Break Series where we catch up and I tell you a little more about what has been happening in my life! If you'd like to read my previous posts from the series, click here. So if you're keen to have a little chit chat and hear what I've been up to, keep reading!
LABELS: coffee break , personal No comments
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TOMMY RYMAN @tommyryman
Tommy Ryman grew up with a new-age, folk singing mother and a traditional, Lutheran insurance-agent father. This XY equation evidently equals: acclaimed comedian. Ryman has earned the title of Semifinalist on NBC's Last Comic Standing. Roseanne Barr, a professed fan, raves she has "never seen anything like Tommy before in her whole life, he is one-of-a-kind, fantastic!" Ryman also recently won the title of Best of the Midwest at the prestigious Gilda's Laugh Fest. Ryman's act can be described as absurdist and clever, masked behind a very likable and innocent demeanor, often thought of as awkwardly charming. He is a favorite among audiences at top clubs, corporates, and colleges around the nation.


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Media is buzz with the 'looming civil war' in Libya, and rightly so.
Stay informed on our latest news!
HyderabadDaily will empower people working for a peaceful, healthy, prosperous world through the power of information. We aim to expand into an influential, international web platform providing news, publicity and social media tools to people who care worldwide.


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Sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride through Atlantic City. Situated on the historic Absecon Island and home to nearly 40,000 people, you'll discover where to go and what to do while visiting our great city. Best known as the "Welcome Tour of AC," you will be introduced to its charming neighborhoods, landmarks, and historic sites. This tour includes 50 points of interest in this 17.4 square mile resort. You will be treated to a historical narrative of today and yesterday, salt water taffy, area meal coupons, professional tour guide and host, and citywide transportation.
Saturday, December 8 2018Location
Tour Departs from Brighton Park
124 Park Pl.
Atlantic City, NJ 08401
View Map | Get Driving Directions
Contact Information


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